Chapter 4: Is it light or is it something else?

KARAKURA TOWN

Ichigo was able to see Pluses for as long as he could remember. He could see them so clearly, as a child, he could not tell the living from the dead. This resulted in him appearing to other people to be looking at deserted places and talking to himself. This caused people to say he could see ghosts and in many ways he was indeed seeing ghosts.

But the problem was he was too impulsive in his actions. He acts without thinking and stumble into a lot of problems because of this attitude. Often times his twin brother Indra had warned him about his attitude and tried to correct him but he never listened.

Ichigo knelt on the ground where his brother and mother was buried. He blamed himself for their deaths and he hated himself for surviving that day. From what the investigators said Indra died trying to protect his mother from some lunatic waving a blade and his mother died protecting him after Indra fell. His memories of that day was hazy. All he remembers was a ghostly image of a girl trying to jump into the river.

After that incident Ichigo would skip school to wander around the riverbank in search of his mother. This happened for many days until his family found out what he was doing and with their help he gradually overcame the crushing despair he felt in his heart. From then on he decided to live his life and be strong enough to protect his two sisters Karin and Yuzu.

It was not easy for his family to recover from loosing Masaki and Indra but his father's goofy persona distracted his sisters from the reality of their house and secretly he was thankful for his father as well even though he would never accept it publicly. While his father acted like an immature goofy person, Ichigo acted as the mature hard character in their house. Later on he began to use this front outside his home as well. Nowadays Ichigo had a permanent scowl plastered on his face but that doesn't mean he was a heartless cold person. No, far from it actually. He was very king to the dead souls that he alone could see and regularly brought them flowers or toys and sometimes he talks to them as well regardless if it makes him a weird person to others.

But his penchant for courting trouble never seems to leave him. His orange hair was a reason for conflict with some local thugs as they would make fun of him. During one of these fights, he received help from Yasutora Sado. Shortly after, Ichigo returned the favor when he rescued Sado from two gang members roughing him up. When the thugs later abducted Sado, Ichigo found them and knocked down their leader, Yokochini. After Sado was freed, they made a pact to protect and fight for each other.

Tatsuki and Sado where the only friends he could claim he was close to. There were some other friends as well like Keigo and Mizuiro but he was more close with the first two. His tough personality generally made other students from befriending him. But Tatsuki's friend Orihime Inoue was an exception. Ichigo saw her for the first time in his father's clinic after an accident robbed her of her brother's life. After that incident she lived nearby Tatsuki's home and she came to know about Ichigo. Since then Orihime had a crush on Ichigo but she never had the courage to say it to his face even though they were in the same class.

The Kurosaki family was coping with the tragic loss of its two members as time moved on. But Isshin knew that it was only matter of time before the spiritual world caught up with his family and he hoped to regain his powers by then so he can protect his family and let his children enjoy their life.

HUECO MUNDO

"I am a little surprised that you are not forcibly taking command of Hueco Mundo from me. You have the power to do so." Aizen remarked as they walked along the corridors of Las Noches.

"Is there a question somewhere." Indra asked

"Just curious why you decided to not take over the Espada." Aizen commented airily

"And do what with them. I don't have any grudge against the Shinigami. So I won't be needing an army to invade soul society. But you have ambition to do that so I am interested where this will go." Indra said as they rounded a corner

"Interesting. You don't feel shame to be working with someone weaker than you." Aizen prodded

"If I understand you well that will no longer be the case soon enough. I am eager to see how you will accomplish that." Indra commented

"Hmm, how very perspective." Aizen complimented as he pushed his glasses up

"Now it's my turn to ask questions. How is it that there is a sky over Las Noches with a sun while the rest of Hueco Mundo is covered by a night sky." Indra asked curiously

"That is possible because if Kidō." Aizen answered

"Kidō?" Indra questioned

"It is a special branch of Shinigami arts that use spells to achieve various results. There are binding spells, barriers, seals, destructive spells, healing spells and many other forbidden spells in this shinigami discipline." Aizen explained

"Hmm. They are versatile in nature. That's impressive." Indra said

"If you are intersted I can teach you to use Kidō." Aizen offered

"If you have time to spare then I will be happy to learn from you." Indra commented

"You are quite unusual you know. Any other hollow would have been offended by ny offer." Aizen put forth his opinion

"Then it is good that I am not like other hollows." Indra said

"Yes of-course. We are here. This is your chambers." Aizen said as he stood before a white door and pushed it open. The room was gigantic. The floor was paved with blue tiles and the rest of the walks were painted white. There were more than enough furniture and several separate rooms inside.

"We shall speak more in person Indra. For the time being I must return to Soul Society as I am still playing my role as a Captain. The room with the black door houses a modest library. It contains some books on the Shinigami arts like Kidō. I had a common library here in Las Noches but no other Espada seems to be interested in it other than Szayle who is the only inquisitive mind around here. But now that he has a separate one in his lab I thought it might interest you. Anyways I will see you soon." Aizen said as he disappeared on a flash step

"Master, forgive me for asking. What did the Shinigami mean by you achieving transcendence." Nymeria asked confused

"It means in simple terms I have gone beyond the state of an Arrancar and achieved a perfect balance between my Hollow and Shinigami powers." Indra answered as he sat down on a couch cross legged

"Close that door and see to it that no one disturbs me." Indra ordered

"Yes master." Nymeria obeyed as he told and sat on the floor observing him

Indra unsheathed his Zanpakuto and placed it upon his lap and concentrated. As he closed his eyes he suddenly felt a change and he opened his eyes in his inner world.

"You have a strong connection to your soul which is good. It makes our syncing more easy and for you to understand my powers. Still there is a lot more to our power you should learn." Kagetsu said as he floated down to the top of a building

"That is why I am here." Indra said as he drew his sword

"Good. Then I will explain how my power works. You already know my light has a special ability that can destroy any physical forms but do you know how that is possible?" Kagetsu asked as he moved closer

"It is not light that is emitting from the sword is it. It is something else that you are camouflaging as light." Indra guessed

"You are correct. What I am emitting is essentially anti-matter as small packets of energy in it's most divisible form. It can penetrate even into the inner world of a Shinigami and destroy them from within. All it needs is someone to be exposed to my light at-least once in their life and with a thought you can destroy them at any time even after years have passed. But the anti-matter can only be activated in my released state." Kagetsu explained

"That is a useful technique." Indra commented as he silently released the Zanpakuto and the blue veins spread across his sword and silver flames danced at its edge

"The name of this technique is Busshitsu yōkai (matter dissolution). Now use it upon that building. Let's see whether you can get it the first time." Kagetsu challenged as he pointed to a building in the inner world

Indra placed the Zanpakuto horizontally and with a thought the sword pulsed briefly emitting a flare of light. He concentrated upon his spirit energy and he could feel the anti-matter that was now inside the building.

"Busshitsu yōkai" Indra called out the technique and the building became consumed in a bright white explosion that began to consume the surrounding buildings as well. Soon the explosion died down and there was nothing left but a huge crater where the building once stood. Suddenly buildings began to regenerate at a speed that baffled Indra.

"The anti-matter cannot cause permanent damage to us. We are the only one immune from this power. Anything else will cease to exist in the universe if you use this technique." Kagetsu informed him as he observed the newly created buildings

"You are strong Kagetsu. I am impressed." Indra complimented

"There are other techniques as well using my light. But that can wait as you need to learn another technique that is not connected to my light. I think you understand which one I am taking about." Kagetsu said

"Yes I understand. Let's do this." Indra said as he raised the sword and began gathering spirit energy into the blade. Kagetsu mirrored his action and they brought down their sword at the same time shouting Getsuga Tenshō.

Two dark blue wave of destructive energies met and began fighting for dominance. Finally the energy exploded outwards blowing away debris everywhere. The smoke cleared and Kagetsu was sporting a smile on his face.

"Perfect these two techniques and return here. Then I will teach you about the other techniques as well." Kagetsu promised

Indra nodded and with a thought he pulled himself out to the real world. He opened his eyes to see Nymeria sitting before him with with a curious look on her face.

"We rest for a few hours. After that we will train with our new powers. Until then do what you like.," Indra said to Nymeria

He stood up from his seated position and decided to explore the books Aizen mentioned.

SOUL SOCIETY (secret location)

"One more piece has fallen into our hands. As of now my Espada is complete." Aizen said to his co-conspirators

"Well well Captain Aizen. It seems you have finally completed your little plan for Hueco Mundo. Now all that is left is to take the Hogyoku from Urahara-san." Gin smiled widely

"Don't be so sure to celebrate yet Gin. There are still a great number of threats we have to be cautious about." Kaname Tosen warned

"Kaname is right. We are yet to start the main event but soon we will change the world." Aizen promised

"So do you want me to look into the schedule of squad 13, lord Aizen." Kaname asked

"Not yet but monitor Kuchiki Byakuya. I don't want him to unexpectedly intervene in our plans." Aizen ordered

"Don't worry Aizen sama. I will be directing some time intensive works to the sixth division that will engage him for the time being." Kaname assured them

"Good. I will also have to take some time away from the soul society for some time. It seems Indra wishes to learn more about Kido and I am curious about the effects his spirit energy will have on the spells." Aizen said

"Is that really wise Aizen sama. You will be empowering a hollow and he could turn on you if the opportunity arise." Gin warned with a wide smile

"That's why I have kyoka sugetsu with me Gin. Even an ascended being is not immune to my complete hypnosis afterall. You both concentrate on Soul Society and Gin, it would be better if you subtly provoke captain Hitsugaya. We have less than two years so be very thorough." Aizen ordered

"Gladly Captain Aizen." Gin said as they returned to their squad barracks

ROYAL PALACE

A being stirred awake inside a crystal glass with some effort. The eyes of the being are very unusual, consisting of four black circles which can change alignment at any time. The being does not appear to have any arms or legs beyond short stumps. This deforned being was the Soul King that controlled the flow of souls into and out of Soul Society and keep the flow stable. Without the Soul King, the balance is lost and everything that is linked to Soul Society or made in it, as well as the Dangai, Hueco Mundo and the Human World will fall apart.

But one of the main power of Soul king Precognition. It was this power that had warned him of the birth of an ascended being in the world. Interestingly the Soul king was the first ascended being in the world and every other being like Yhwach was born from his imprint of power which was the reason he had placed himself behind powerful barriers. His unique energy accidently came in contact with a soul and that soul later became Yhwach.

Yhwach was not the second ascended being but only the third. The second ascendant was the reason he had lost his limbs. But that was before the formation of Shinigami at a time when the world was in chaos. Compared to that Yhwach was a small fly on the wall. The only reason the Soul king never directly intervened in the first Quincy war was because of the injuries he sustained from that devil in Hell dimension. Fortunately the newly formed thirteen court squads under the leadership of head Captain Yamamoto managed to seal the first Quincy away.

In a sense Yhwach was his son and now another seems to take birth in Hueco Mundo. It seems all the major dimensions like Soul Society, Hell, Human world and now Hueco Mundo have one ascended being that draws power from it thereby equalising the dimensions.

Has this been the play of nature all along, the soul king wondered. All these millennia he had blamed his own carelessness for the birth of all these super powered beings but this time he was sure his energy had not escaped the containment field and yet a strong being was born. He needs to think about this more in detail but he dearly hoped this new power did not have any ideas for world domination as there was already enough of those lunatics to go around in every corner of the world.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

First of all I would like to thank 'Poharan' for pointing out the story "White". Never knew such a story was there in the first place and I am reading it right now and I have to say that is the best bleach fic I have ever read thus far. Too bad the author has stopped updating further.

Anyway a small part of Kagetsu's power is explained here. Hope you guys liked that as the power over Antimatter is essential for his special power I have in mind. I mean Yhwach has reishi manipulation and the power to imprint his soul on others along with other variety if powers. The soul king has spatial manipulation powers I guess as he created a separate dimension for his home and also the power to regulate souls. Then there is Ichigo who can read a person's heart in midst of battle through his zanpakuto. The Hogyoku have the power to manifest a person's desires. So Indra must also have a set of special powers and I have some ideas but your opinions are also welcomed and appreciated.