A Crazy Proposition (2)

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The Urahara Shop's living room was the silent witness of the confrontation between a lying father and his stoic son. Kisuke was watching from the sidelines with his mouth hidden behind his fan, only talking when Isshin was asking for validation. Ichigo already knew what Isshin told him. His only reason for asking Isshin to tell him everything was to see how much Isshin trusted him. Isshin believed him enough to tell him everything.

Befitting a former Shinigami Captain, of course, Isshin didn't take a one-sided interrogation. After explaining himself, he asked Ichigo about how he knew that his mother was a Quincy.

"It seems you are closer to Ryūken Oji-san than I gave you credit for," Ichigo remarked, figuring out who told Isshin about his Quincy discovery. "I trust Kisuke and Yoruichi enough that they won't blurt anything about what they see during my training."

Kisuke didn't react much, but the look in his eyes told everyone that he, indeed, kept everything to himself. Isshin had the gall to look betrayed as he turned to Kisuke, but the shop owner promptly ignored him.

"My Zanpakutō are quite cooperative, you know. It didn't take me long to figure out from whom I got my Quincy power. Although, they didn't tell me anything about this old fossil called Yhwach and the Auswählen that he did. It contributed a lot to Mom's death, but you were still… forget it."

Ichigo cut himself short before he could blame Isshin. The man was powerless, so there had been no way for him to know what happened around Masaki. Besides, under normal circumstances, Masaki also could have defended herself. It wasn't Isshin's fault that Yhwach decided to do Auswählen that day. Besides, if he hadn't dumbly approached that illusionary girl, Masaki wouldn't have ended that way.

"No one but Yhwach was at fault for what happened. You don't dwell on the past more than you need to. Weep and mourn; yet don't drown yourself in it. Masaki wouldn't want her baby to cry for her for the rest of his life."

Ichigo closed his eyes to squash any lingering melancholy and self-loathing before opening them again. Isshin's words made him steel his gaze. He wanted to get angry at Isshin. He wanted to tell Isshin that he hadn't only lost his mother in this life but also his family in his past life. The grief he felt was greater than what Isshin had felt.

Yet, he didn't. He only stared at Isshin silently, making peace with his not-so-sweet past. He couldn't blame the man or undermine his grievance. He didn't know how deeply Isshin was hurt by his wife's death, just like how Isshin didn't know how crushing the grief he felt. No one was hurting more than the other. In suffering, comparisons are unnecessary.

"You are right. I am sorry for the unsightly sight," Ichigo agreed, gaze softening. "I was just quite indignant you didn't let me do more to that bastard."

Relieved that the talk had ended, Isshin sighed. His weary look was immediately replaced with a goofy grin as he thought that he could have a normal relationship with his son.

Ignoring his father who had become more relaxed, Ichigo turned to Kisuke. "Kisuke, I think it is time for me to meet Shinji and the others."

"Ah, about that, I wonder where you found out about them. You knew Hirako-san before he introduced himself and I am sure I have never told you about them," Kisuke wondered aloud.

"Let's reveal each other's secrets when you are ready to reveal yours," Ichigo nonchalantly answered, dismissing the inquiry. "Now, can you take me to them?"

Before Kisuke could open his mouth, someone opened the door to the living room. No one was surprised as they had sensed the person's presence a few seconds ago, but they wondered about the impeccable timing.

"I will take you to the rest of us, Ichigo," the intruder, Hirako Shinji, announced. Grinning widely, he added, "About time you embrace your inner Demon."

Kisuke squinted his eyes at Ichigo as he wondered, "I believe you are already enough as you are, Ichigo-kun. Why are you so rushed to tame your Hollow?"

"A storm is brewing. I would rather disperse it than get drenched surviving it."

"I see…"

Urahara Kisuke was a bright man. He knew what Ichigo meant and he was surprised that the young Shinigami shared his sentiment. He felt like Ichigo knew what was going to happen next. Of course, it was a ridiculous notion even for himself. After all, a little bit of paranoia would allow one to think that another wave of Arrancars would possibly come soon.

Kisuke snapped out of his musing when Ichigo stood up. He lightly nodded his head when the young Shinigami bade his farewell, noting the broad back that might shoulder the fate of the world in the future. So young, yet so many responsibilities. He could understand why Isshin had been shielding his son from the supernatural world.

Ichigo had a thorn-filled path that was forced upon him.

'Would none of this happen if I had destroyed the Hōgyoku?' Kisuke mused, clenching his hand and imagining destroying the accursed stone to pieces. 'It was my greatest invention and mistake. Sometimes, my genius frightens me.'

…

A few series of Shunpō brought Ichigo and Shinji to the warehouse that housed the exiled group of Shinigami who called themselves Visored. Shinji touched the barrier covering the warehouse, prompting it to part. He stepped inside before motioning for Ichigo to follow him. The young Shinigami followed after him, idly noting how he couldn't feel any resistance.

As soon as Shinji opened the gate of the warehouse, he disappeared into the darkness engulfing the inside. Ichigo calmly stepped inside, duly ignoring the slamming gate behind him. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness of the room. Looking around the warehouse, he found Shinji joining seven other people standing on the higher ground and looking down at him.

"Well, this is quite a welcome, I have to say," Ichigo commented with an appreciative nod. "Thank you, but I don't need it."

"Interesting," a bespectacled young woman, Yadomaru Lisa remarked.

"Well, don't get us wrong, Ichigo. We are indeed welcoming you, but we still need to make sure that you are up to our standards," Shinji grinned.

"Is this some kind of recruitment?"

"In a way, it is."

Ichigo hummed before shrugging. "I think I will be fine without becoming part of the Visored. I will just go home and avoid this hassle."

"You need to tame that Hollow inside you, don't you?"

Zangetsu sneered in Ichigo's Inner World. Ichigo also had a small amused smile on his face. While it was right that he needed the Visored to help him train with his Hollow power, it didn't mean that he didn't know how to use it. He only needed proper opponents and they happened to be the ones. He didn't need to convince them to train with him if they didn't want to.

"Well, why don't I humor you?"

Still, training with the Visored was better than what he initially had in mind.

"Don't hold back on me. Use your Shikai."

"How bold of you, Ichigo."

Shinji grinned as some of the more prideful members either sneered or scoffed. They immediately straightened their postures when Ichigo blasted them with his intense Reiatsu, though. Their wide eyes projected their disbelief at the absurdity of the situation. Ichigo might as well have said that he was using Bankai and they would have believed him.

"If you think your Reiatsu is enough to discourage us, you are wrong, baldie!" Hiyori, the smallest member shot at Ichigo.

Clank!

Ichigo met her Zanpakutō with Zangetsu. The air exploded but Ichigo didn't budge in the slightest. Hiyori immediately retreated, already figuring out how outclassed she was. Standing a few meters from Ichigo, she watched him warily before releasing her Zanpakutō.

"Chop them, Kubikiri Orochi!"

Her Zanpakutō morphed into an oversized cleaver with a serrated blade. There was a slight but not significant increase in Reiatsu, but it was deniable for Ichigo. He watched in interest as she flashed to him, swinging her Zanpakutō. Ichigo blocked it with ease. The fact that he blocked it with his smaller Zanpakutō irked Hiyori to no end.

"Use everything you got, bal—"

Bam!

Before Hiyori could finish her sentence, Ichigo buried his foot deep in her solar plexus. The daylight was immediately knocked out of her and her body shot past everyone like a bullet. That was the cue for the others to move. Everyone but Shinji and Kensei used their Shikai, causing a great clash of Reiatsu inside the warehouse.

Ichigo flawlessly blocked each one of their attacks. He was not that occupied by the fight, though, and everyone who came at him knew this. He was more intrigued by the members who remained in their spots: Lisa and Hachigen. He could understand Hachigen since the big man needed to maintain the Barrier lest they would destroy the warehouse, but he was curious why Lisa chose not to partake in the test.

'Maybe she thinks it's boring. I am afraid I have to agree with her.'

Boom!

The clash abruptly stopped as Ichigo forced everyone to back off with his two-handed horizontal slash. Everyone's clothes but his were ruffled. There was a hint of displeasure in their eyes, but it was overshadowed by the look of respect. It was not hard to conclude that he had passed the test.

"Why don't we notch it up a bit?"

Ichigo's remark was not one that the Visored expected; even more his next action. When he made a tearing motion before his face, they instinctively felt dread. Much to their disbelief, a Hollow mask materialized and covered his face. It had the sharp teeth that often decorated a Hollow mask and a pair of sharp horns.

"We can't do that here!" Shinji shouted.

The intimidating details of the mask aside, the crushing Reiatsu told them it wouldn't be wise to continue the fight.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Adan Smith

Venerable Immortal Haider Alkefaji

Venerable Immortal B0mbaCl0ckBob

Venerable Immortal Jack Wright

Venerable Immortal Rollo

Venerable Immortal Star Dragon Bahamut

Venerable Immortal Wilfrid Calixte Killian