Even with his current location and after what had just happened... or maybe it was a while ago, there was no way to know. He had been lost in thought for so long that it seemed like days had passed. It allowed him to notice something. This place was… unusually peaceful. It wasn't unlike his time in the Dangai so much had happened as if it were another lifetime had passed him by but in reality, maybe, only a flicker had passed. Maybe.

Ichigo Kurosaki was his name. But everyone who knew him, gave him other names like the rebellious teen, the unkempt individual and the hero of the winter war. Before coming to this place he had still been in the process of loosing all his powers, maybe that was why Kokuto had been so hard to defeat because he hadn't been at his prime... But now...

Raising his arm, now cladded in a shining golden bone armor, up to his line of vision and clenching it into a fist, he realized that after everything that had transpired he was calm. Something some would call unusual. All his power had returned to him along with the gift of Hell. Perhaps it was this gift from the Kushanada that made him view Hell of all places as peaceful and serene.

When he had been travelling down through the levels of the tormented he hadn't noticed it. Maybe because his mind had been so focused on finding Yuzu that he hadn't taken in the scenery and with his hollow raging out of control he needed to keep control over himself. But now, once again, his hollow lay dormant even as he sat on the skull of a Kushanada close to where he had fought Kokuto deep into the abyss where he never thought he would find a slight shimmer of peace.

Like now, with his back leaned up against the large form of his zanpakuto simply enjoying the quiet.

In all retrospect's he should be mad but he found that he couldn't be. None of the Captains stationed outside of the gate of Hell had let him exit with him having this gift the Kushanada had given him. He understood that with this power there would be complete and utter turmoil in the Soul Society, Hell gifting anyone with any kind of power was simply unheard of... probably. That word was familiar with him, too familiar. His situations gave probably a new meaning. Sighing he rose the same bone clad hand and ran it through his orange hair before letting a small smile come to his face.

"At least Yuzu is safe, right now that's all that matters." He breathed out. It was followed by a smirk.

"Who's Yuzu?" A voice behind him said.

Ichigo turned around, peering around the broad edge of Zangetsu, and taking in a sight he truly hadn't expected to see. This new voice belonged to a girl, by the looks of it, barely older then Yuzu herself is. The girl had long black hair down until her hips. Her ears have elven-like pointed tips, although her long black hair made this feature difficult to notice. She was simply staring at him with grey eyes, awaiting his answer. Ichigo didn't see any chains of hell surrounding her and couldn't feel any latched onto her so it appeared that she wasn't a Sinner from Hell. "Who's Yuzu?" She questioned again tilting her head slightly.

"My sister." Ichigo stated not moving from where he was sitting, he found it odd that there would be anyone but Sinners in Hell but he figured if he was here then there was bound to be others, right?

"Is that the girl who was brought here?" The girl questioned as she looked over the large desolate planes that were made from the bones of countless Sinners. "Did you rescue her?"

"Yes." Ichigo nodded as he leaned back up against his Zanpakuto and taking in the view once more.

"Why didn't you go back with your sister?" It was instant and Ichigo was surprised that she appeared right beside him leaning past Zangetsu with an ever-curious look on her face. "You don't belong here." She continued.

"No. I guess I don't." Ichigo nodded before the girl stepped forward dusting off her black dress before simply plopping her self down in Ichigo's lap surprising him as she tilted her head back and meeting his brown eyes with her grey.

"Ophis," she said.

"Ichigo Kurosaki." He returned her introduction, as she looked towards the front once more, both simply looking over the desolate land before them. Ichigo didn't know how long they sat there in silence but he never found her presence awkward or irritating. It was simply like she was a force of nature that belonged but there was also the minor feeling he got that she was displaced somehow. Even the massive overwhelming power that Ichigo felt coming from her had managed to calm him more than unnerve him.

"It's peaceful," breaking the long line of silence between them.

"It's odd for a human to think so." Ophis returned. "Do you like games Ichigo Kurosaki." She questioned tilting her head up once more as Ichigo glanced down, meeting with her grey eyes. "I like games."

"What kinds of games do you like, Ophis?" Ichigo questioned.

"All kinds." She answered never breaking eye contact with the orange haired teen. "Do you want to play a game?" Ichigo wondered for a moment about what could come of it if he actually played a game with her. He had no idea who she was, what she was or even what she could possibly want. Was it possible that she simply wanted to play a game with him? Not waiting for an answer, Ophis pushed herself out of his lap she turned and sat cross legged in front of him before a chess board appeared between the two of them, white pieces on her side black pieces on his.

"This is a well known game in the underworld." Ophis stated making Ichigo glance up at her. "Do you know of it?"

"It's chess." Ophis nodded her head as she picked up her white pawn that was in front of her king and moved it from e2 to c4. Ichigo simply responded by moving one of his black pawns from c7 to c5. Ophis continued silently as she picked up her knight at b1 and moved it to c3. Ichigo picked up another pawn at g7 and simply moved it to g6.

The game continued on like this for a time, Ophis being the first to take one of Ichigo's opposing pieces, his knight. Pieces continued to be taken from both sides as the game continued, both concentrating hard on the game as it continued for longer then an hour. Finally after almost an hour and half of moving pieces along the board it finished in a draw as only their Kings were left leaving no other pieces to be able to take each other's kings. Ophis simply stared at the two kings on the board Ichigo smiling lightly, he couldn't even remember the last time he played chess or where he had learned to play. He remembered playing with Tatsuki, once, when he was younger but never had he felt like that during a game.

"Are you a King, Ichigo Kurosaki?" Ophis questioned looking up from where she was crouched down close to the chess board a slightly curious glint in her eyes.

"No." Ichigo shook his head. "I'm just a..." He was about to say a normal human but that wasn't exactly the truth. I'm a something came to mind but he didn't say it.

"Would you like to be a King?" Her question caused him to raise an eyebrow at her. "The Soul Reapers won't let you leave Hell if you can't seal the power of Hell within your soul." Ichigo eyes now widened, slightly, at just how much this girl might know. The game board disappeared and the chess pieces with it. Then Ophis held her hands out in front of her before darkness began to emit between her palms before it started to form into a chess piece of all things, a pitch black King piece. "Will you become a King, Ichigo Kurosaki?" She questioned.

"Why offer something like this to me?" Ichigo questioned. Wondering what would happen if he took the King piece from her.

"I like games." She answered. "You becoming a King will put you into the game I'm playing." This explanation brought him only more confusion. "Who would you fight for Ichigo Kurosaki, Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels if you had the choice?" Her voice hinted at curiosity.

"I'm not sure." Ichigo told her. "What kind of game are you playing?"

"A fun one." She replied and Ichigo had to smile in amusement, which Ophis returned in kind. This was the only emotion Ichigo had seen on her face since meeting the strange girl. "Become a King and fifteen pieces will be yours, to create the ones who you want to follow you into battle. Then choose a side or make a side of your very own."

"Which side do you fight on Ophis?" Ichigo questioned as the black king piece floated in the air between them.

"I fight on no one's side Ichigo Kurosaki." Ophis said. "I simply want to return to that which I was born and rightfully belong but cannot do so until the one who has taken my spot vacates it. That is why I play this game." Ichigo leaned forward and examined the chess piece floating before him.

"If I take it, what will happen to me and my power?"

"The Final Getsuga Tensho drained you of your strength." How many times had her answers surprised him so far? "Upon receiving the gift from Hell that power you once held has been restored and you now wield the very power of this place in your hands." Ichigo glanced down to his golden bone armor covering his arm. "Take the gift I offer and become King and keep the power you now obtain." Ichigo's eyes once more turned to the piece. "You will be reincarnated as a Devil."

"A Devil," Ichigo asked and Ophis simply nodded. "So becoming a devil will allow me to keep my Soul Reaper powers and the powers of Hell?" She nodded again.

"And the dormant powers that still lay deep within you." Her remarks, once again, made him raise an eyebrow. "Will you take the piece and join this game that involves so much more then what you could even comprehend?"

"I can go home if I take it? To my family?"

"If that's what you choose, I can even take you there." She explained and in an instant Ichigo's hand wrapped around the king piece and he instinctively brought it to his chest and it glowed a gold colour to match the same power that the Kushanada had given him as it sank deep into his chest. Ichigo's eyes widened as he felt the armour radiate around him before feeling something prod from his back. Glancing over his shoulder, Ichigo saw two black and leathery wings emerge from the armour at his lower back. The wings retreated back into their docile state and Ichigo rose his bone clad hand up and the armour seemingly evaporated into gold particles, leaving him in his simple tattered shihakusho. He turned to Ophis and smiled at her.

"Thank you Ophis, I mean it. Thank you," He bowed.

"You gave up your humanity, just to see your family again." Ophis smiled. "You are interesting Ichigo Kurosaki." She said before rising to her feet and dusting her dress off as Ichigo rose also, picking up Zangetsu and returning him to his back.

"Who are you, Ophis," Ichigo said. "Really?" The girl stopped dusting her dress and gave him a genuine smile.

"I'm Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God." She told him, with a slight curtsy. "Shall I return you to the human world?" He nodded but before she took him anywhere she once again rose her hands up in front of her and a small black velvet bag fell into her hands and she offered it to Ichigo. "Your remaining fifteen pieces. If you wish to know more, ask Kisuke Urahara about it. I'm told he knows more then he lets on."

"Don't I know it." Ichigo chuckled as Ophis grabbed his hand. Then, in an instant, Ichigo was in his living room and his new friend was no longer with him. Scratching at his cheek he opened the small velvet bag to see that within were several red chess pieces sitting inside, he found it odd that his own piece had been black while the remaining ones had been red. He spotted a white piece of paper within.

It read. 'Thank you for the game, it was fun.'

He heard something smash and turned to look to find Karin standing there looking straight at him the tea spilt on the floor.

"Ichigo?" Her eyes mirrored saucers.

"Uh..." Ichigo glanced around. "Hey Karin..." He tried to say.

"I can see you." Karin said and Ichigo scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Usually there is always something missing, or something is distorted but I can fully see you." Her explanation made Ichigo frown, had the chess piece somehow altered his soul form to that of a physical one? Was that one of the powers he now possessed as a devil?

"Let me just go get in my body and I'll be back down... ok." Karin nodded dumbly as Ichigo made his way for the stairs only to stop and look back at his sister. "Is Yuzu doing ok?"

"She woke up just a little while ago." Karin told him before he moved towards the stairs and up to his room. An unusual sight greeted him, making him queasy.

His body was fading. Right in front of him, on his bed, Ichigo watched as his body faded from existence, breaking down into golden particles he had seen before. His legs were gone when he had walked in, now the top half of his upper body remained, as the particles gathered above.

"What the," was all he managed. The particles began to en-circle him, then gently collided against him. He felt slight warmth as they collided with him until they faded, as did the last bit of him on the bed. Somehow, he felt whole. Like he was back in his body and no longer in soul form. He reached for Zangetsu, to find his zanpakuto still on his back.

Somehow, someway, his physical and spiritual body had become one.

"Is this because I'm a devil now?" Ichigo questioned before looking down the length of his blade before closing his eyes and concentrating before the blade disappeared into more gold spirit particles. "That's handy at least." Pulling off his tattered shihakusho he got dressed in some of his clothes before heading over to Yuzu's door and popped his head in.

"Ichigo." Yuzu smiled happily up at him. "Karin said you came home, I'm sorry for worrying everyone." She bowed her head slightly from where she was propped up in her bed.

"It's fine Yuzu, as long as you're safe." Ichigo smiled as he opened the door and walked into his sisters' room taking a seat on the chirpier one's bed. "What's the last thing you can remember?" His question had caused her to lift her chin slightly.

"Um, walking home with Karin from school." Yuzu told him. "I'm really sorry for fainting like that, I'll be sure to slow down so I don't worry anyone again."

"Get some rest, alright." Yuzu nodded happily as Ichigo rose from her bed and tucked her in making her smile up at him as he headed for the door.

"Ichigo." Ichigo stopped at the door and looked back at his sister.

"Yeah?" He questioned.

"You seem different, are you ok?" Ichigo's eyes widened momentarily but were replaced with a smile of relief. "Every thing is fine Yuzu, trust me. Ok."

"Ok." She happily smiled across the room at him.

"Now get some rest." Yuzu nodded and snuggled into her pillow as Ichigo closed the door behind him. Karin was waiting outside the room for him, leaning up against the opposite wall with a small frown on her face. "You ok Karin?"

"It's over right Ichigo?" She questioned softly. "Yuzu's not in danger any more, right?"

"Trust me Karin, every thing's going to be fine." Ichigo smiled at his sister. "I've got to go out for a while, I'll be back soon." Karin nodded and entered her room as Ichigo sighed softly, everyone thought that he was still losing his power. Maybe it was best if the Soul Society thought that the entirety of his power was gone, even now he could feel the enormous amounts of reiatsu flooding through him, just like when he fought Aizen that final time. He doubted anyone would be able to feel anything from him any more.

If they knew he still had his powers and the powers of Hell... he didn't even want to think what Central Forty Six might do. Perhaps it was for the best if he let the Soul Society simply move on without him, he could deal with hollows that threatened his family and friends and not draw attention to himself from the spiritual beings. If anyone knew how to disappear from the Soul Society or even if it was a good idea, it was Kisuke. Plus he might be able to shed some light on what Ophis told him about this so called game of hers.