3. Scene Change: Outside

When Ichigo collapsed, Urahara quickly grabbed his body and brought him to the Fourth Squad for medical care. The healers quickly finished healing all physical damage, but Ichigo ended up in a coma-like state. Many people went to see the Hero of the Winter War once the healers said it was fine to visit.

Ichigo remained in that state for about two days and Urahara soon told the Shinigami that the teen needed to go back to the human world. He explained that Ichigo was slowly losing his reiatsu due to the Final Getsuga Tenshō. They then transport him back Urahara Shōten and, a few hours later, Ichigo woke up.

"Did we win?" was the first question that Ichigo asked.

"Yes, Ichigo, we won. Aizen is dead." Urahara answered with a smile.

"I see. Are we still in Soul Society?"

"No. We got you back to the human world."

"Alright. How long until I lose all of my reiatsu, then?" Ichigo questioned with a frown.

"Well… according to my calculations, I believe you have a few hours left before you lose it all." Urahara said with a frown of his own.

"Alright then." Ichigo nodded. "Who is here right now?"

"Well, your human friends, Kuchiki-san and Abarai-san; they are all here."

"Can I talk to them?" Ichigo asked as he sat upon his futon.

"Sure, I will call them in." Urahara agreed, getting up and leaving the room. A few moments later and Rukia, Chad, Orihime, Renji, Uryū, Tatsuki, Chizuru, Keigo, Mizuiro, Yuzu, Karin, and his father walked in.

"Hello everyone, as you know I have a few hours left, so I want to tell you everything that happened in these few months." Ichigo then started retelling his journey as a Substitute Shinigami, rescuing Rukia and later Orihime and the battle with Aizen. "Alright then is the- HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ichigo suddenly yelled in pain.

"What is going on!?" Yuzu and Karin asked, shocked and worry over their older brother.

"It's finally happening. Ichigo is losing all of his remaining reiatsu." Isshin said.

"Everyone thanks for your support and help throughout this journey," Ichigo told them before the pain took over and he fell unconscious.

***

1 month later

Ichigo woke up a few days later and Urahara quickly explained that, due to using the Final Getsuga Tenshō, he lost all of his reiatsu. The shopkeeper then quickly brought Ichigo to his body and placed his soul back in it. During the following days, Ichigo finally lost his reiatsu and the ability to see spirits.

Currently, a month has passed since the end of the Winter War and Ichigo already noticed an immediate change between him and his friends. When Ichigo asked to talk to either Chad, Orihime or Uryū, they would make an excuse to leave him hanging. Ichigo soon realized that his former friends either think he can't handle not associating with spirits or no longer want to associate with him.

This sudden change in attitude from his friends made Ichigo doubt their friendship. The feeling only got worse when it was explained to him that, even when he regains access to his powers, no one will be able to sense his reiatsu.

"Hey, Hōgyoku, it has been one month, can you finally explain to me how come no one can feel my reiatsu?" Ichigo asked the purple-haired beauty. However, it was Kyōka that answered him.

"Well Ichigo-Kun, the reason is very simple. Your reiatsu is completely different from all of your friends and family." Kyōka explained. "It is composed of Shinigami, Hollow, and Quincy reiatsu all working in harmony."

"What do you mean working in harmony?" Ichigo asked.

"Ichigo-Kun, think of it as a three-way scale." A picture of a scale with a Yshape on it appeared. "The upper left side represents your Shinigami side, the upper right is your Hollow side and the lower central side is your Quincy side. Do you understand right now?"

"Yes, Kyōka," Ichigo replied.

"Good. Now, when you just started to use your powers, you would use most of your Shinigami reiatsu." Kyōka began and Ichigo saw that the scale dramatically dropped to the upper left side. "As time progressed on, you slowly used your Hollow reiatsu as well." The upper right began to lower itself about halfway, where the upper left side is. "When you used the Final Getsuga Tenshō, that's when officially your Shinigami and Hollow reiatsu synchronized while your Quincy reiatsu unofficially synchronized. But now, you officially accepted all three types of reiatsu, making all balanced out." Kyōka finished and the scale's plates were perfectly balanced.

"That explains how strong my reiatsu can become, but how come I could sense Aizen's reiatsu but he couldn't sense mine?" Ichigo inquired.

"Well, think of all of this as a hierarchy of the dark ages. The three individual races and all imbalanced beings are the slaves. The beings with a balance between two of the three races, for this instance Aizen and natural Arrancars, are the nobles. While you Ichigo now have a balance of all three races, making you the king." Kyōka explained in detail.

"Wait, if the Vizards and unnatural Arrancars find real balance, they would be on the same level as Aizen?" Ichigo asked.