Chapter 10 – A forgotten life and the power of trust

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach!

The day I died

The tenth chapter – A forgotten life and the power of trust

The trip to outer Rukongai took longer than any of them expected, Ichigo sighed; the sun was setting already. He was about to tell them that they weren't going to take breaks, only to be faced by a panting shinigami. Ichigo frowned "We're going to take a break, start a campfire and find a spot to rest." Rukia and Ichigo were stood next to each other, keeping an eye out, while the three newbie's prepared a campfire and found a spot to rest, Hanataro on the other hand looked into his bad; counting his bandages and medicines.

Ichigo sighed before sitting down, the pain from the reiatsu absorption was gone and he could finally move without pain. Rukia notices Ichigo relax, she heard of his fight with Zaraki. He amazed her; he was a novice shinigami in terms of how long he's in service, but a master or even higher in terms of fighting. "I've heard of your fight with Captain Zaraki, Ichigo…"

Ichigo raised an eyebrow in interest "Have you know?"

"You might even become a Gotei captain one day…" Rukia said, kicking a small rock.

Ichigo glanced at Rukia "Who knows… I don't really have plans for the future…" he looked up to the, now starry, night's sky.

Rukia raised an eyebrow "You haven't even thought about it once?"

Ichigo nodded "I've been too busy with shinigami work… I know almost nothing but how to shinigami."

'I thought plusses keep some of their memories for their past lives, did I mess up my Konso?" Rukia eyed Ichigo curiously "Do you not remember anything from your life?"

Ichigo turned to face Rukia; his eyes filled with confusion "My past life? I don't remember a single thing. I lived before this?"

Rukia inwardly cursed her inexperience; '…something must've messed up with my Konso!' She had to tell him.

Ichigo continued while leaning back slightly "I wonder what my past life was like… Who was I? Am I different than I was then?" his eyes saddened.

"Ichigo…" Rukia began; her voice soft and comforting "I… I'm truly sorry." Her eyes watered slightly "…It's all my fault, my lack of experience caused you harm…"

Ichigo's eyes widened, Rukia was always strong and confident. She wouldn't cry for nothing, Ichigo stood up and hugged Rukia's small frame "…It's alright. I'm completely fine, what harm are you even talking about?" he chuckled lightly.

Rukia shook her head; her face burrowed into his shihakushō "It's not alright, Ichigo. It's my fault you lost your memories! How is that alright?" new tears forming in her eyes as she looked up to see Ichigo's worried face "It's my fault you're separated from your family, from your two beautiful sisters, from your friends, from your life…" her body trembled in shock, she expected him to berate her, hit her even.

Ichigo did quite the opposite, he hugged Rukia tighter and pat her head "You're really amazing Rukia, you know that?" He smiled as her calmed self looked up to him "I have two beautiful sisters? You have to tell me about them, I want to meet them again! I want to meet my friends again too." His smile was warm and his voice was comforting "You don't have to carry this burden. I won't forgive you..." her eyes widened at his words "…because there's nothing to be forgiven. Captain Ukitake taught me that it's a shinigami's job to send plusses to Soul Society. You did nothing wrong." He tried to reassure her.

She shook her head "But it was because of my lack in strength that you died in the first place. I was too late to save you from the hollow, how isn't it my fault?"

Ichigo ran his hand through her silky smooth hair and smiled "Because it wasn't you who killed me and separated everything for me, Rukia…" she could swear she just heard an angel talk, his voice was the softest she's ever heard. His body was warm and gave her comfort, he must be an angel. "You have to believe in yourself, Rukia." He smiled.

She smiled back, brushing the remaining tears off her swollen face 'I'm such an idiot, berating myself over nothing...' She gladly rested her head on his chest while he hugged her.

They we're too busy to notice the bushes rustle. Three silhouettes watched Ichigo from a distance.

The left one spoke first "Are you sure about your plan, Aizen-sama? Watching his growth is one thing, but affecting it directly is one step too far, don't you think?" it was none other than Captain Tōsen.

Aizen was standing in the middle, grinning at the sight "He is still too weak to fight me. He won't be able to comprehend my true power…"

Gin smiled sheepishly "Then, shall I release the beast?"

Aizen nodded "My corpse should be found in a minute or two. We'll have to force Ichigo's hollowfication; his opponents weren't that tough to begin with… But this fight will force him to undergo hollowfication." Aizen smirked at his new plan.

Gin did not reply, instead he opened a small garganta revealing a hollow. It wasn't a random hollow, but one of Aizen's hollowfication experiments.

Aizen smirked 'The last one was powerful, captain level even, but this one is in a completely new league. I really wonder if Ichigo can defeat him, after all, Ichigo is the host of my last White.' The idea was intriguing, the old version versus the new.

The new White could communicate and had some intelligence, not acting completely on instinct "You called, Aizen-sama?" he kneeled in front of Aizen.

"Yes, I want you to defeat that orange haired shinigami, but before I want you to modestly wound the small black haired one…" Aizen had to get it this time or his own will fade.

White nodded and focused his eyes on Ichigo, he couldn't feel a threatening aura coming off from Ichigo, and he tilted his head at the sight. 'He doesn't seem like a threat at all. The more I look at him, he looks inviting… Too bad Aizen-sama ordered me to destroy him…' He was reading his body, stretching and massaging some of his sore muscles.

He dashed quickly, unseen to the average shinigami. Ichigo let go of Rukia only moments earlier, he focused his vision to the approaching silhouette. His eyes widened when he turned to face Rukia and noticed that she was bleeding from her chest, she fell to the ground, her coughing up blood.

Ichigo turned to the attacker; his eyes yelled 'murder' and so did his Zanpakuto "Hanataro!" Ichigo shouted, his eyes not leaving his target. Hanataro quickly appeared, gasping in shock at the sight "Take Rukia to the camp and heal her, I'll take care of this guy…" his cold voice frightened Hanataro, but he chose to ignore his fear for now, lifting Rukia's small frame and quickly dashing to the camp.

Ichigo narrowed his sight 'His reiatsu… definitely a hollow… It's pretty damn heavy.' He took a deep breath "You're going to regret attacking this shinigami…" his voice even colder than before 'The distance is perfect, it won't hurt them…'

Ichigo's scowl deepened "Cast away fear; Zangetsu!" two blades appeared after the sudden force that seemed to push everything away from Ichigo.

White seemed surprised 'Two blades… interesting...'

Ichigo smirked "Your reiatsu definitely is heavy and you seem strong, but this isn't a fight you could ever win… Not after hurting her." His narrowed his sight, before taking another deep breath "First Moon Slaying; Eternal Darkness!"

White's eyes widened at the sight of nothing, it was black; everything was black. He tried to move his hand, only to notice that he couldn't feel his hand. He panicked, releasing more reiatsu than before. His eyes widened even more when he noticed a bright light appear in front of him, it was Ichigo in a battle stance 'Eternal Darkness lasts for a few minutes… It should keep his paralyzed for long enough.' Ichigo's grip on his blades tightened "Getsuga Tenshō!" his black blade shot a blue energy wave; the reiatsu considerable lower than when he fought Zaraki.

White kept on releasing more reiatsu; he could feel his body again. His eyes widened only a moment before Getsuga Tenshō hit him, hardly managing to dodge it. Eternal Darkness lost its effect and brought White back to the forest he was in only moments earlier. 'I can't allow him to use another of those abilities; it will be the end of me if he does!' His arms quickly turned into blades as he quickly dashed closer to Ichigo, believing into his close combat expertise.

Ichigo parried White's quick blade, only to be cut by the other; quickly jumping away from Ichigo, before dashing for another quick assault.

Their swords clashed multiple times, clinking sounds of metal could be heard even in the surrounding quarters of Rukongai. A few souls went out to check who was fighting only to be met by a strong wind blowing from the forest, the force behind Ichigo's and White's attacks was incredible, each strike made the ground quake and each parry made the clouds move.

Hanataro was trembling, hardly managing to stay conscious and heal Rukia; the three newbie's were already on the floor unconscious, the reiatsu being too much for them to handle at this distance. Rukia's eyes shot open, her breathing was rough. Hanataro's face lit up in joy "Rukia-san! You're fine!" he smiled brightly before passing out.

Rukia's eyes widened, it was only in an instant, but she was cut across her chest by some sort of shadow. She turned her head towards the rumbling sounds 'That has to be Ichigo, I should go and help him!' she said inwardly, pushing herself off the ground, only to be brought to it again but the sudden increase of reiatsu released by White and Ichigo. Her breathing was out of rhythm and rough, her body was trembling.

Ichigo's sight narrowed, his body was full of cuts and he was bleeding hard. White wasn't much different from Ichigo, just that his wounds were deeper and burning with Ichigo's reiatsu. 'He's extremely powerful… I'll have to use the second stage…' he took a deep breath "Second Moon Slaying; Nights Approach!"

White's eyes widened again 'He has multiple abilities? This one must be even stronger than the first!'

Aizen smirked at the sight; Ichigo's left eye was starting to turn black 'Just as I planned. His white blade absorbs reiatsu. So if he were to absorb hollow reiatsu, his inner hollow would start to awaken rapidly!'

White was confused by Ichigo's second ability; he couldn't detect any difference in his reiatsu… He could only see that Ichigo got a lot slimmer.

Ichigo cursed inwardly, this was the second ability taught to him by White Zangetsu, and it wasn't meant to be used frequently, only in dire situations. It tremendously increased Ichigo's speed to the point where it would seem impossible, one single wrong move and he would hurt himself more than the enemy. Ichigo frowned at the thought of losing after using such an insane ability.

White was slightly alert by Ichigo's glare, he wouldn't allow Ichigo to win that easily. He locked his sight onto Ichigo and prepared himself for something new.

"That's a great stance; sadly I won't work on people who are faster than you can comprehend." When White finally heard Ichigo's words, it was already too late; he received a deep wound across his back, knocking him to the ground.

Ichigo released this form; the physical stress put on the body was too much even for him. He was about to leave White for dead, only to be cut across his chest by White's blades. His back was completely healed; he possessed instant regeneration, something rare among hollows.

Ichigo regained his stance, he glared at White 'The aftereffects of my second moon slaying are still too much for my body, I can hardly move…' he muttered a curse. White didn't allow him to get even a second to recover, going straight for the kill. Ichigo's neck felt the sensation of cold steel; the blade went straight through his neck.

Gin's eyes widened at the sight 'He actually lost? Was the hollow really that strong?'

Aizen smirk at his success, it was quickly followed by a wide smile.

Ichigo had a partial hollow mask on his face; his left eye now fully black.

Ichigo's motionless body quickly stood up, White's eyes widened at the sight. 'How is he still alive?!'

Ichigo's attacks were now random, stronger and faster than before "You shouldn't hold back, even against weaklings like him, Ichigo!" White Zangetsu cried, now in control of Ichigo's body "Watch closely Ichigo, this is how you fight a hollow!"

White couldn't react to Ichigo's attacks, receiving more cuts by the second, bleeding profusely. Ichigo threw his white blade into the ground and grabbed, the still conscious, White by the neck, his grip tightening. "You're not worth my time, trash!" He snapped White's neck, his fingers crushing all bones in White's throat. His head was sent flying into some random bushes. Ichigo's laugh echoed throughout the forest.

Aizen stepped forward from his hiding place, clapping at the victor "You did well, but this is as far as you get. You'll be banished from the Seireitei and live secluded in Hell!"

Ichigo tilted his head at Aizen, not understanding what he meant. He dashed for Aizen, only to be blocked by both Gin and Tōsen.

Ichigo laughed again "I said before, you're not worth my time!" He kicked Gin into his stomach sending him flying towards another mountain.

Tōsen on the other hand dodged Ichigo's continued kick barrage. Ichigo laughed as he continued his assault "I'm sorry Ichigo, I just held back for the sake of fun!" He quickly cut Tōsen across his chest. The power behind the cut was too great for his body, dividing the top and bottom of his body into two separate entities. Tōsen's mouth was quickly filled with blood; he couldn't react to Ichigo in time, suffering the coincidence: a cruel death.

Before Tōsen's mind went black he thought his last thought 'In the end I wasn't able to follow the path with the least bloodshed… I'm sorry Komamura, my dear friend.' His mind faded to black.

Aizen tilted his head "It's a big mistake to take me lightly Ichigo. I'm not the same as the other captains that are weak. I possess power beyond your wildest dreams…" he smirked at Ichigo's confusion.

Ichigo was still in his inner world, unconscious. He was shook awake by Black Zangetsu "What a relief, you're fine" Ichigo nodded "White Zangetsu took control over your unconscious body. He might cause even greater harm to your body if he goes on a rampage, you have to stop him…" he lied. Black Zangetsu knew full well that White Zangetsu's actions were of pure intention; to protect Ichigo. White Zangetsu smirked when he felt Ichigo's determination to win over his body and inwardly thanked Blacky for lying.

Ichigo quickly left his inner world and took over his body 'I will come back! I'll take over your body next time for sure, if you get any weaker, I'll snatch it away!' White Zangetsu screamed in Ichigo's head. 'That's not going to happen, any time soon.' Ichigo noticed a mask on his face and captain Aizen in front of him "So you plotted this, why?!" he demanded answers.

Aizen took something out of his pocket and displayed it to Ichigo; it was a small gem that emitted a purple glow "This is the Hōgyoku… It was hidden inside Rukia's soul… I has the power to transcend one above the boundaries of normality." He smirked "Now my plan is complete, I'll take my leave. Also…" he was about to leave through a garganta he made "You should leave Seireitei, flee to the living world… If you don't, you'll only hurt the ones around you. Your new power will only cause harm to your subordinates!"

Ichigo was about to dash for Aizen, only to be stopped in place by Aizen's only Zanpakuto "I don't think you understand what I just said, Ichigo. You're wounded and should retreat…"

Ichigo smirked, grabbing onto the captain's shihakushō "Bakudō #62: Hundred Step Balustrade" a glowing spear appeared from Ichigo's hand and shot into Aizen. A split second before it hit Aizen directly it multiplied by a hundred, pinning him to the ground.

Aizen's eyes widened 'He put a lot of reiatsu into this ability, what is he planning?'

Ichigo narrowed his sight; he quickly spoke out the incantation "Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness. Shooting hands unable to reflect the blue sky. The road that basks in light, the wind that ignited the embers, time that gathers when both are together, there is no need to be hesitant, obey my orders. Light bullets, eight bodies, nine items, book of heaven, diseased treasure, great wheel, grey fortress tower. Aim far away, scatter brightly and cleanly when fired" Ichigo narrowed his sight "Hadō #91: Thousand-Hand Bright Heaven Culling-Sear!" Ten pink energy bullets generated around Ichigo's frame, he pointed his finger towards Aizen, the bullets suddenly expanded into larger energy bullets, shooting straight into Aizen.

'Direct... Hit...' Ichigo fell to his knees; he couldn't balance his weight any longer, his strength slowly fading. His eyes widened when he saw the fruits of his labor; Aizen picked himself up, his body was covered in burns and his left arm was riddled with gashes, bleeding profusely.

Aizen glared at Ichigo "You are the first person to ever wound me, I congratulate you, Ichigo. But that doesn't change the fact that I've won. You'll be framed for Tōsen's and my death, it's only a matter of time until they find you… I will live and prosper and you will die and rot away!" he laughed evilly.

Aizen opened another garganta and left Soul Society. Leaving behind his past, his role, his comrades and most of all, his shinigami self. He left it all for his own selfish hunt for power; he wanted to become the almighty god that will smite anyone who dares cross the line, but most of all, he wanted to know the truth about this world and the point of existence.

Ichigo panted in exhaustion, he groaned with every step he took. He had to check on his subordinates, even if it would kill him. His mask was still present on his face, slowly crumbling. He arrived at the camp site with wide eyes, the three newbie's were breathing heavily, their very being was crushed under the weight of Ichigo's and White's reiatsu. He noticed Hanataro only moments after, also unconscious slightly further away from the other three. His breathing was rough, but he seemed to have having fallen unconscious due to the shock of the situation "Thank goodness you're alright, Hanataro, I'm sorry…" Ichigo whispered; his voice hoarse.

Ichigo turned his attention to the last shinigami, she seemed to be panting as well, trying to muster some of any strength to stand. Ichigo rushed up to her "Don't force yourself!" his voice full of concern.

Rukia's heart skipped a bear at the sound of Ichigo's voice "Ichigo?" she whispered through her dry lips. There was a hole in her abdomen; Aizen forced himself into it, ripping the Hōgyoku out of the depths of her soul.

Ichigo rushed to her side, allowing her to rest in his lap "Rukia, you're wounded!" he brushed some strands of her hair off her face.

She smiled when she saw Ichigo's body; still not looking at Ichigo's face "Think about your own health for once, this is nothing…" she coughed up some blood.

Ichigo put a hand onto her deep wound 'I have a little reiatsu left…' his hand lit up in a green glow, slowly healing Rukia's wound. She groaned in pain "Its healing slowly, you'll have to endure a little more…" The pain in her abdomen lessoned, but didn't disappear. Ichigo increased his reiatsu ever so slightly; he had to heal her quickly, before it was too late. He gritted his teeth as he had to watch Rukia suffer through his rough treatment, he was no healing expert and he only learned a single healing ability. It was a first-aid Kaidō that Unohana forced him to learn before leaving her office. His rough and wild reiatsu wasn't suited for healing and primarily should be used for combat. With his reiatsu, any healing ability would hurt as if a hundred bees stung at once. His treatment was quickly over, Rukia groaned in pain; Ichigo's eyes were filled with relief.

Rukia decided to thank her savior; she was hanging on to dear life, her life being held by a thread. Her eyes slowly opened to face Ichigo's, only for her to jump in shock "Are you really Ichigo?!" her voice full of concern, but mostly fear.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow "Of course I'm me, who else would go through the pain to save you?" he deadpanned, only to remember his mask still glued onto his face.

Rukia calmed down slightly at the sight of Ichigo's worried eyes. They were sparkling with concern, he turned away from Rukia "I didn't mean to scare you, sorry…" his voice trembled slightly.

He learned of his inner hollow during his reiatsu compression training in his inner world. It only took a night in Seireitei, but Ichigo was training for weeks. During his time in his inner world he was taught three new abilities, or better said, three stages of 'Moon Slaying'. It was one of Black Zangetsu's enhancement abilities, excluding the first one which is meant to be a decoy. When he absorbed enough reiatsu from the enemy, he could enhance his body's abilities. During his training with White Zangetsu, he'd put on his mask when he felt extremely exhausted and wanted the upper hand again, Ichigo felt the mask emit a terrifying aura. White Zangetsu fought differently than other times, he seemed to be interested in Ichigo's growth more than anything, and he kept on attacking Ichigo's former weak points and exploiting Ichigo's openings. His maniacal grin wasn't present either; he seemed calculated, as if he was worried about something. Ichigo ignored it and thought the heat might have gotten to his head. Black Zangetsu later told Ichigo of White Zangetsu's true intentions: "He's trying to push you to your limits Ichigo; he needs to confirm your growth as a shinigami and determine if you're ready for the next stage of growth…" Ichigo was greatly relieved; he would never admit that he knew Black Zangetsu's intentions, but just knowing that he had someone watching his back was more than enough.

Rukia lightly pulled onto Ichigo's shihakushō "I'm not frightened by you; it's just that I was shocked by its sudden appearance. I've never seen you have it on…" he voice was soft, calming Ichigo down.

His mask almost fully crumbled away, revealing that it was in fact Ichigo, Rukia sighed in relief, she wasn't completely sure herself and seeing Ichigo with the mask made her remember Kaien. Those forcefully forgotten memories were meant to stay forgotten and never brought back. Ichigo's back was facing her, he didn't turn again. He didn't want to be seen with this mask on, even when he wore it; the mask still emitted the evil aura.

As soon as Rukia found strength to stand she rushed over to Ichigo, hugging his back "I'm truly not frightened by your appearance… It just brought back bad memories…" she said softly, reassuring Ichigo that he hadn't scared her off.

Ichigo smiled, his mask completely gone now "Thank you…" he whispered.