My Deepest Desire (End)

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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After separating herself from Ichigo, Retsu returned to Ichigo's side and leaned her head on his shoulder. Ichigo could feel Retsu had become considerably closer to him emotionally. The invisible barrier that used to veil her had disappeared. He felt like he could truly see Retsu for the first time. He was sure if he asked, Retsu would tell him about her past.

Ichigo, however, didn't cross the boundary even if he was allowed. He believed that Retsu would tell him when she was ready. Besides, he felt wrong asking her about the past she hid and did not reveal the truth behind his origin. Of course, most importantly, there was no actual urgency for him to dig up Retsu's past which he already knew about.

After some time, Yoruichi joined them. She looked at them with a frown on her face, but that frown didn't last long. She met Ichigo's eyes and looked at him seriously as she walked to him. Sensing the somber atmosphere, Ichigo and Retsu straightened themselves. They waited patiently for what Yoruichi was about to say as she sat down before her.

"I am going to show you something interesting, but you must promise me you will not freak out," she said seriously.

"If it's about lewd stuff…" Ichigo trailed off after receiving Yoruichi's glare. It was the moment he realized Yoruichi was not messing around. "Tell me what is it."

"Seeing is better than hearing."

"Then, why don't you show us what this interesting something is, Shihōin-san?" Retsu said stoically.

Yoruichi nodded her head and then stood up. Ichigo and Retsu quickly followed suit. Yoruichi walked in the direction of the District 69 residence. Ichigo and Retsu wondered if Yoruichi had found a spiritually gifted soul. It was interesting, for sure, but they couldn't understand why it warranted their attention.

Knowing that it must be more than that, they were anticipating what was to come. When they arrived at the residence, they immediately headed to a particular cottage. The residents parted to give the Shinigami way. Some of them hated the Shinigami, but none of them dared to make a displeased face.

Upon getting in front of the house of their destination, Yoruichi stopped and turned to Ichigo. She looked at him stoically as she put her hand on his shoulder.

"My best advice is don't expect much."

"I don't get it," Ichigo muttered confusedly. "What is this all about?"

Bam!

Before Yoruichi could answer, the door of the cottage was slammed open. A girl no older than 9 came out with a panicked look.

"Karla, what happened?" Ichigo asked, recognizing the girl.

"Ichigo-nii! The woman is waking up! She needs Reiryoku," the girl, Karla said frantically.

"The woman…?"

With a frown, Ichigo stepped into the cottage. His eyes soon fell on the feminine figure lying on the bed made out of hardened clay. Dressed in a rag was a woman with long, wavy orange hair. The sweat covering her body made her fair skin glisten as it reflected the light. Even in such a humble outfit, she still managed to look stunning.

"Ugh…"

The woman groaned and twisted her body slightly, making her face Ichigo. Her face was strained, but it didn't diminish her beauty. When her eyelids raised, her brown eyes met Ichigo's golden orbs. She was scared by the domineering look at first, but his orbs quickly swallowed her whole. For a moment, she forgot her pain.

"Your soul is dissolving as it doesn't have enough Reiryoku to maintain it," Ichigo said, awakening the woman from her reverie.

"I… don't get it," she grimaced.

"Don't worry. I will help you."

The woman watched as Ichigo delicately took her hand in his. He grasped it gently and then channeled his Reiryoku into her body through her hand. She winced at how intense the Reiatsu was but immediately got accustomed to it. Her pain quickly subsided and her soul stabilized. She felt full and powerful by the end of the session.

As Ichigo let go of her hand, she quickly sat up. She carefully put her feet on the ground to get a feel for it and then stood up. A smile crept up her face as she found out she was as strong as she felt. When she returned her attention to Ichigo, she found him tensing up. He had also distanced himself from her.

A part of her mind dreaded that her smell pushed Ichigo away. Regardless of her state, she didn't want that to be the case. She was a woman, after all.

"Uh, sorry. Do I smell? I just want to thank you. I am not going to touch you," she said awkwardly, cheeks red from embarrassment.

"…no, you don't smell," Ichigo said absentmindedly.

"Then, why do you look so revolted?"

"That is…"

Ichigo's smile dropped as a frown crept up his face. The woman wondered if she had somehow annoyed him. Ichigo who noticed the nervous look on her face smiled wryly and waved his hand dismissively, causing the woman to ease up. Ichigo sighed lightly and ran a hand through his hair. He couldn't believe the situation he found himself in.

He knew the woman. It was impossible not to know her. However, he refused to immediately believe what his eyes perceived without thinking. It could be a coincidence; someone who looked similar.

"Ah, thank you for saving my life." The woman bowed. "May I know the name of my savior?"

Ichigo smiled thinly as he looked at the woman's bright gaze.

"Silly me!" She knocked her head lightly as her eyes lit up in realization. "I should introduce myself first, shouldn't I? My name is…" she trailed off as a frown crept up her face. "Huh… I can't remember my name. Oh, wait, I remember it! Hello, my name is Masaki—just Masaki without a surname."

Ichigo could feel Yoruichi and Retsu's gaze on his back. He chuckled lightly at the situation. He didn't know how to properly react to the situation. His chuckle made Masaki tilt her head in confusion. He smiled lightly at the scene and then extended his hand.

"Ichigo. I have a surname, but let's get to know each other better before I tell you that."

"A pleasure to meet you, Ichigo."

"… a pleasure to meet you too, Masaki."

Yoruichi told him not to expect much. He could understand why. The woman before him was Kurosaki Masaki in the soul, his mother. She looked, sounded, and behaved just like Masaki. However, at the same time, she was not Masaki. She didn't have any memory of him or her old life. She was a reincarnated Masaki who had ties with but not related to him.

'I thought she would be reincarnated as building materials,' Ichigo joked in his mind.

Ichigo was mostly happy with the development, but a small part of him wished that Masaki never appeared. As elated as he was to see her alive before him, she was not the mother whom he adored. She was Masaki who didn't belong to him and his family; a stranger with ludicrous familiarity.

'In the end, you can never get back the family that you lost.'

Ichigo wished for the power to protect and go beyond. Hōgyoku heard it and helped him balance the contradicting powers inside him. He had thought that was the end of it. However, Hōgyoku was serious when it told him to express his deepest desire.

To have the power to protect everyone he cherished was not his deepest desire. He wished to have his family back. He knew what an impossible wish that was, so he buried that deeply in him. Hōgyoku heard it. It had spent most of its power to make Masaki stand before him. Balancing his conflicting powers was not a taxing task for Hōgyoku, as it turned out.

"Anyway, what happened to me? Where am I and why am I here?"

When Hōgyoku told him it didn't have enough power to perfectly help him, this was what it meant. It could bring Masaki back, but not the Masaki whom he had known for the early years of his life.

"This place is called Soul Society. You have died."

"I have died!?"

"Let me explain."

Ichigo taught Masaki about the afterlife and everything she needed to know as a resident of Soul Society. Masaki was terrified at first but quickly accepted her situation. She had a strained smile by the end of the explanation but remained calm. It was still hard for her to accept her situation, but she didn't lament it.

"So… you are a god?" Masaki asked with a twinkle in her eyes

"We don't have God, but I am planning to be like one," Ichigo answered with a smirk.

"Eh?" Masaki blinked her eyes, eliciting a deep chuckle from Ichigo.

"It was a tasteless joke from me. Don't dwell on it."

"You sounded serious." Ichigo waved his hand dismissively, prompting her to chuckle. "Anyway, what should I do?"

Ichigo hummed to himself upon hearing the question. It was a valid question. It was simple, but he couldn't give her the answer. People are told to do good, so they can enjoy the eternal afterlife in heaven. Soul Society was not heaven. It was generally shittier than the real world. What you should do in such a shitty place?

Do your best to survive! He couldn't say that to Masaki.