Chapter 15
SHADOW make a MOVE, UNCLE with many CONCERN
000
In the throne room, a commanding figure sat upon the throne. His aura demanded both obedience and unwavering loyalty from all who surrounded him. This man, radiating an unfathomable power, was Yhwach, the Almighty. He governed Schatten Bereich and led the Quincy in a holy crusade against the Shinigami.
Yhwach appeared as a tall, middle-aged man. His long face featured a broad chin and pronounced cheekbones. His reddish eyes, framed by thin eyebrows, seemed to peer into the very futures of those before him. Long black hair flowed down to his lower back, complemented by well-groomed mutton chops and a connected mustache, while his cheeks remained clean-shaven.
He wore a striking white, double-breasted trench coat adorned with the Wandenreich symbol. The coat had large buttoned cuffs and lapels. Beneath, he donned white trousers and trench boots. Over all this, a tattered maroon-black cloak cascaded to his ankles, fastened at the neck with a red ribbon and a prominent button.
Suddenly, the door to the throne room swung open. Quilge Opie entered, the Sternritter J and Executive Hunting Captain of the First Jagdarmee. His head was mostly shaved, with only a small patch of black hair remaining on top. Round spectacles perched on his nose, adding to his keen appearance. Quilge wore a variant of the Wandenreich uniform: white trousers, black boots, and a white top secured by a decorative black belt. A short white cape flowed behind him, and his white hat, trimmed in gold and featuring a black peak, completed his look.
Quilge Opie was fiercely devoted to Yhwach, holding him in the highest regard. His loyalty knew no bounds; he would follow any command, even at the cost of his own life. As a member of the Wandenreich, he carried immense pride, embodying the fanatic loyalty expected of Yhwach's most devoted subjects. He kneels in front of His Majesty, awaiting His commands.
"Sternritter J, Quilge Opie. A new task awaits you," Yhwach declared, his voice steady and commanding.
Quilge, ever the devoted servant, responded eagerly, "What is your command, Your Majesty?"
"You are to observe and recruit Kurosaki Ichigo to our cause," Yhwach instructed, his gaze unwavering.
"Understood, Your Majesty! I will fulfill your wish!" Quilge affirmed, his enthusiasm palpable.
"However," Yhwach continued, his tone shifting to one of gravitas, "you must not coerce Ichigo into joining us. His willingness is paramount."
Curiosity sparked within Quilge. "May I inquire why, Your Majesty?"
Yhwach's expression darkened slightly. "One of our formidable adversaries, the Special War Potential, Hyosube Ichibei, has been watching Kurosaki Ichigo since birth. If he learns of our intentions, it could sway the war against us. We must recruit Ichigo carefully, without drawing attention to our plans."
Quilge nodded, his loyalty unwavering. "I will proceed with caution, Your Majesty."
"Quilge Opie, your task is clear," Yhwach proclaimed, his voice resonating with authority. "You must educate Kurosaki Ichigo on our Quincy heritage and abilities. Act as his mentor. We can't afford to make him resentful towards us. While we can't secure him as an ally right now, we can at least ensure he doesn't join forces with the Shinigami. Maintain a neutral stance around him, and avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourself."
"Yes, your Majesty," Quilge replied, unwavered by the task.
"Recruiting Kurosaki Ichigo is vital. We will offer him a monthly salary for his services. Should he contribute to our cause, his remuneration will increase. Treat him with professionalism. He is to be my successor, understood? His role is crucial for our victory." Yhwach declared.
"Understood, Your Majesty," Quilge affirmed, as he left. With that, Quilge Opie made the preparation to depart from Wandenreich, opening Daten to find all intel about his future charge and His Majesty's successor, Kurosaki Ichigo.
000
Naruki City
Ishida Ryuuken took his son, Uryuu, for a check-up yesterday. He found that any life-threatening wounds were healed. However, Uryuu's Saketsu and Hakusui were irreparably damaged. This left Uryuu without the ability to use spiritual power.
On the surface, this seemed to be a blessing. Uryuu would avoid any involvement with the Spiritual World, and thus, he wouldn't face dangers from Hollows. Staying away from spiritual activity was safer for him, especially after the Auswählen incident a month ago.
Once the check-up concluded, Ryuuken admitted Uryuu as a patient at Karakura General Hospital. He then returned to clean his father's patient room, which was stained with blood and Hollow Reiatsu. After his father's body was sent to the morgue, Ryuuken decided to head home. It was already noon.
As he walked, a voice caught his attention from the training room at Ishida Manor. Ryuuken approached, knowing the room was made of Soul-Made Silver. This material could mask one's Reiatsu.
Inside, Kurosaki Ichigo was in distress. He had been using Shadow Travel to evade Yamamoto Shigekuni, seeking refuge in the training room.
"AaRrrgGhh... It hurts!" Ichigo groaned, trying to heal third-degree burns from Yamamoto's flames. His hands were in ruins from Yamamoto's attack, but he was regenerating quickly. Ryuuken opened the door and was taken aback. Ichigo's hands were mere embers, and his body was covered in burns. Yet, right before Ryuuken's eyes, the injuries began to vanish.
"What happened to your arm, Ichigo? Didn't you return home yesterday?" Ryuuken's voice was sharp, filled with concern and disbelief.
Ichigo looked up, surprised. "Huh? Ryuu-ojisan?" He hadn't noticed him enter, likely distracted by the pain.
"Explain why you're injured, Ichigo.....when you seemed fine yesterday," Ryuuken pressed, his tone steady and cold.
"Remember when you saw me in the Ishida Souken room? That wasn't me. It was a Reishi-made doppelganger I sent to save them. Meanwhile, I was attacked by five Arrancar." Ichigo explained his situations.
"You were attacked? And what happened to those five hollows?" Ryuken's voice was steady but probing.
"I killed them," Ichigo replied, his tone flat.
"Your injuries came from that?" Ryuken asked, scrutinizing him.
"Not exactly..." Ichigo hesitated.
"Explain," Ryuken demanded, his expression unyielding.
"After I took out the hollows, two Shinigami Captains arrived. They set up a barrier to block anyone from sensing what was happening. I fought them, but they unleashed powerful Kido spells. I lost. They took me to Soul Society. I was shackled with Seki-seki cuffs, tried by Central 46, and thrown into Muken, a prison for the worst criminals." Ichigo recounted, his voice low.
"You ended up in such a place? How did you escape?" Ryuken pressed.
"While in Muken, I had to fight a dangerous inmate. He wanted me dead, so I killed him first," Ichigo stated.
"And then?" Ryuken's tone remained cold.
"After that, I found a way out. But as I escaped, a Shinigami spotted me. He attacked with a lightning-based Zanpakuto and even invoked Bankai. I killed him too. Then an old man appeared. He was strong. He unleashed his fire-based Shikai. We clashed, and he used his Shikai to attack. I realized he wouldn't let me go alive. I needed to use his flames to mask my escape with my shadow ability. But that meant I had to make contact with his attack. That's how I got these injuries... Ryuu-ojisan."
"That clarifies everything. Do you require my assistance?" Ryuken asked, his tone still detached.
"I... I... You're not angry with me? Even after I killed someone? Why?" Ichigo stammered in disbelief.
"I won't be angry, Ichigo. If you wish, explain why you killed them. I'll listen," Ryuken offered, his demeanor still logical but still concerned of Masaki's son.
"It's for my survival, Ryuu-ojisan. I don't want to die. I'm scared," Ichigo admitted to his Quincy uncle.
"Thank you for your honesty, Ichigo. There's nothing wrong with fighting for your life. It's normal to feel fear. You've faced a lot."
"Thank you, Ryuu-ojisan."
"Rest at Ishida Manor. Stay in your mother's old room. You must be exhausted."
"Really? Thank you, Ryuu-ojisan."
"Consider this my way of showing gratitude for saving my family, Ichigo," Ryuken replied, his tone finally softening just a fraction.
As Ishida Ryuuken walked, his mind raced. So much had transpired in just one day. His father had fallen to a Hollow.
His son lay unconscious, a victim of trauma after witnessing Ishida Souken's violent end. Even Ichigo, who had once saved his family, was now a target—attacked, imprisoned, and nearly burned alive.
When Ryuuken spotted Ichigo in the training room, he looked worn out. He guided Ichigo to Masaki's old room. Ichigo sat on the bed's edge, visibly drained. Ryuuken contemplated calling Ichigo's father, but Ichigo quickly interjected.
"Ryuu-ojisan, please don't call my dad."
"Why not? He is your father."
"Mmm… Dad and I don't see eye to eye... we're in disagreement...." Ichigo murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Disagreement?" Ryuuken asked, intrigued.
"Yeah. Every morning, Dad wakes me up with flying kicks and punches. He says it's training. It happens down the stairs, at the door, in the kitchen. Even when I ask him to stop, he just insists I need to toughen up." Ichigo explained with small voice.
Ryuuken's expression hardened. Hearing a child describe ongoing attacks from their own parent raised alarm bells.
Was Shiba Isshin channeling his grief over Masaki's death into this abuse?
"Ichigo, when did this start?" he pressed.
"Not long after my mom died. Ryuu-ojisan, please don't tell my dad I'm here or about what happened with the Hollows and Shinigami. I just... don't want to see him. I'm really tired of his training." Ichigo said, tiredness clouding his voice.
"I understand," Ryuuken nodded slowly.
"Thank you for confiding in me, Ichigo. It takes courage to speak about your father's actions. I won't inform him. You can trust me."
"Thank you, Ryuu-ojisan?" Ichigo's brow furrowed.
What did Ryuu-ojisan mean by courage? Was he really going to keep his involvement secret?
Ichigo decided to press Ryuuken for more information.
"Ryuu-ojisan, can I ask something?" Ichigo's voice was tentative.
"What is it, Ichigo?"
"When I was detained, a Shinigami Captain spoke to me. He called my father Shiba Isshin, but isn't he a Kurosaki? How does a Shinigami Captain know Dad? Was he really a Shinigami? He also mentioned Urahara Kisuke."
Ichigo feigned confusion but deep down, he understood his father was a Shinigami. Aizen Sousuke's words lingered in his mind, unsettling him. Aizen, someone who created the Arrancar, knew his father. They might've been acquaintances. Urahara Kisuke was involved too.
Had Dad changed his name? Ichigo felt a surge of determination. He needed to uncover the truth about the Shiba family. If his father and Urahara were plotting something against him, he would confront them.
"Shiba Isshin was indeed your father's name before he married Masaki. He was a Shinigami, as you've guessed. He held the rank of Captain. When he married Masaki, he took her last name. I don't know why, and I never asked. As for Urahara Kisuke, he was your father's acquaintance. They kept in touch. That's all I know," Ryuuken explained, his tone cold yet firm.
"Okay... The Shinigami who visited me called himself Aizen Sousuke. He sent those Arrancars to Karakura. He referred to me as an interesting test subject, offering to help me escape if I waited for him. I don't trust him. I decided to break out on my own."
"Good. Avoid assistance from someone like Aizen. You're not a test subject, Ichigo. You're safe. Rest," Ryuuken replied.
Exhausted, Ichigo let sleep take over. Meanwhile, Ryuuken decided to pay a visit to the Kurosaki Clinic. He had questions for Shiba Isshin.
What Shiba Isshin had done to Masaki's son?