Disclaimer insert here: No, I do not own Bleach or Sekirei much to my disappointment.

All OC characters are for entertainment value and for my use only. An M rating is for future violence, language, and of course, if any adult situations should arise, warnings for such scenes will be given.

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Response to Reviews Corner: Has been moved to the bottom.

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Beta by regfurby.

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"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

'Memories'

"Kyōka Suigetsu"

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'It will be a place where you and Uzume can truly live freely.'

Kurosaki Shiba Ichigo

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Minaka Hiroto slowly taps his fingers on his desk as he stares at the image currently displayed on the largest of his monitors. Sitting in his glass-like cage, Shūkurō Tsukishima appears to be sleeping once again, but the CEO of MBI knows that it is nothing more than a ruse. As forthcoming as the man had been at the beginning of their strange relationship, the Fullbringer now seems reluctant to speak of Afterlife and those beings who rule it; the Shinigami. It was only thanks to an accidental slip during one of their last conversations that Hiroto had found out that Miya's Ashikabi is a hybrid of those spiritual warriors; something Tsukishima called a Vizard. That one little slip is the reason why he is still in his office; he is waiting for a call from one of his intelligence teams currently scouring Karakura for any records of the mysterious young man's early life before showing up less than two months ago.

He is so engrossed in his thoughts that he nearly jumps out of his seat when his private phone begins ringing. Calming his thumping heart and inwardly thanking himself that no one else is around to see him, he picks up the phone and listens to the speaker on the other side of the line.

"Nothing Sir. We found absolutely nothing except one thing. A grave with the name Kurosaki Masaki. I'm sorry Sir, all the records from those years were destroyed under mysterious circumstances by those we interviewed. Sir, I don't believe in coincidences but being unable to find even one single piece of this man's early life is just not normal. We'll keep looking, but I will be honest, whoever is hiding this person's past is a pro. Top-notch work."

Sighing disappointedly to himself, Minaka knows that sending them to Karakura after the first teams had disappeared is a calculated risk on his part, but keeping his personnel there any longer runs an unacceptable risk of that man's associates finding out and reacting once again. After seeing what happened to the team he had assembled to bring Kurosaki in for a private chat, he no longer intends to risk the lives of men and women not trained for that level of combat, not for next to no rewards.

"No, you have done enough Tanimoto-san; bring your teams home immediately. If you didn't find something within the eight hours I allowed, I doubt very much that you will find anything at all… Wait, leave a camera to watch over the grave, make sure no one can find it."

"Yes, Sir."

Hanging up the phone with a scowl, Minaka Hiroto opens the folder that had grown in thickness over the last two weeks. For someone who values his privacy, Kurosaki has made no effort to hide himself or the numerous unidentified individuals photographed or recorded within the city limits of Shino Teito proper. All attempts to gain any information about the strangers ended with disastrous results; beatings were the usual result, but there were also two disappearances. He doesn't know if they had run off or if the people surrounding Kurosaki had employed more extreme measures; either way after only a few days, he had been forced to issue orders to his reconnaissance teams to pull back and give those mysterious individuals a wide berth whenever they visited the city.

Placing the folder back inside his desk, Hiroto twists his chair and stops so he can look at the far-reaching cityscape through his office window high atop of MBI Headquarters, a single thought brooding in his mind.

'Are the dead really that powerful?'

XXXX

Doing his best to ignore the sniggers and stifled giggles behind him, Ichigo can't help but know that the current dilemma he is now facing is of his own doing. Standing before him with her fists on her hips is his once sweet-and-innocent younger sister who is glaring at him. He can feel the small thread of sweat building on his forehead as he tries not to look Yuzu in her eyes: he knows if he does, he is going to cave into her demands.

"Kurosaki Shiba Ichigo! I want you to promise me that you and Miya-nee-san will come home in two weeks for dinner. I know if you make a promise you'll keep it. Now promise! And don't you dare tell me you can't, because you already promised Karin that you would visit her next week!" Her finger jabs him in his chest to emphasize her demand.

"Yuzu, I can't promise you that! You know what's going on around here and I can't…."

"Then I am staying. I'm sure the Fourth can do without me for a few weeks…"

"What!?"

Before he can argue anymore, he feels it, a strong killing intent coming from behind his sister. Gulping, he eases his head to stare past Yuzu and the sweat that had promised to fall now begins to run freely down the side of his face when he sees his step-mother smiling sweetly at him.

"Ichigo-kun." It takes only that one word from Shiba Retsu to make him cave into his youngest sister's demand.

Throwing up his hands in defeat, he drops his head and gives his promise. "We'll see you in two weeks Yuzu. I promise."

And like a light bulb going out, the killing intent disappears, and his sweet-and-innocent sister returns in that fraction of a second as she throws her arms around him and gives him a strong hug.

"Thank you Ichi-nii! Miya-nee-san we'll talk next weekend when you come to Soul Society so we can plan on what we are going to make for dinner, okay?"

Miya can only nod her head as she fights to keep her laughter from spilling out of her mouth with one hand, her other hand waving to the others now standing before the open Senkaimon gate.

Stepping back from the hug, Ichigo looks at the departing Shinigami and smiles as he waves goodbye to them. "I guess I'll see you all in two weeks. Katsuro, we'll talk next weekend about you and Karin, I'm sure the Shiba Elders will wish to meet with you soon to start planning the wedding. Karin… I know I'm acting overprotective, but take it easy until after you give birth… please."

Karin rolls her eyes at her older brother's concern but nonetheless agrees as she grabs her fiancé's hand. "Yeah, yeah Ichigo. No Hollow hunting… Does paperwork count?"

"Yes," Ichigo smirks when he sees the darker-haired twin's eyes light up. "Get your lazy-ass boyfriend to do it for you."

"What!? Ichigo, you can't be serious!" The Kuchiki-Shihōin male immediately protests.

Yoruichi narrows her eyes at her distant cousin and utters a question. "Kuchiki Katsuro, is there a problem with helping your pregnant girlfriend and future Tsuma?"

Stiffening, then snapping his head back and forth between his Captain, her second Lieutenant and his girlfriend, he finally sighs when he realizes he is not going to win against either woman or future brother-in-law. "No Taichō, no problem."

She gives him a feral smile. "Good. Now get going, I'm sure the Squads have slacked off enough these past two weeks, it's time for everyone to get back to work. I'll be hopping back and forth between here and Soul Society until the situation here in 'Shin' Tokyo gets resolved. Rei will be returning on the days I can't unless we are both needed for any emergency that might arise." Yoruichi remarks to the group of departing family and friends.

Ichigo feels Miya's hand slipping into his as he waves to each of his friends who step into the glowing gateway back to Soul Society. The last to leave is his family, starting with his Dad and pregnant step-mother, followed by Yuzu, Hanatarō and his niece, Akiko, then finally Karin and Katsuro. Several seconds later the gate fades from view and the cavern under the Inn is silent once more. Ichigo doesn't dwell on the brief pang of sadness he feels at seeing his sisters stepping through the Senkaimon to return to Soul Society without him. He isn't given a chance to dwell on anything when he hears a throat clearing behind him.

Turning around, he sees his godmother glaring at him with narrowed golden orbs. "Ah, something wrong Yoruichi?"

"Is that how you address your Taichō, Fukutaichō?" Yoruichi replies with a hint of heat in her voice.

'Okay, what the hell!?' He wonders as he stammers a reply. "Ah… ah, I don't… know?"

"Not the right answer Shiba Fukutaichō. I saw you, Kisuke and Kyōraku Sōtaichō speaking in whispered tones a few times these past few days, so whatever it is you could speak to Shunsui about, you will tell me. Now spill it because I could see in his eyes that he learned something he found very disconcerting."

For several seconds Ichigo can only stare at Yoruichi, inside him, he feels her presence become very clear as she speaks to him.

"She certainly lives up to her reputation Ichigo, and I don't want you to have to hide me from those you cherish. Sooner or later, they will have to know the truth as to who is inside you and why Zangetsu is no longer… 'so lifeless'."

'Are you sure you want to do this? You aren't exactly… you know. Between Tia and Yoruichi, I don't know which of those two will try and destroy you first once they realize who you are.'

"I must do this for myself and for you Ichigo. Hiding me is not a choice either of us has; sooner or later someone is going to notice Zangetsu no longer possesses dull blades. They will wonder and ask questions as to how you managed such a feat. It will end better if we start off with those you know you can trust absolutely with this new development. If you can't trust Tia-sama, Yoruichi-sama or Orihime-sama, who will you be able to trust once you return to Soul Society besides Urahara-sama?"

"Ichigo." A stern voice interrupts his thoughts.

Ichigo's eyes dart first to his impatient godmother then to the lively plushie resting comfortably in his niece's hands. "Shaolin, I need to borrow Chappy for a few minutes."

"Okay, Oji-san." Yoruichi's daughter walks up to him and hands him the doll that is currently housing Rukia's former Gikongan.

"Thank you," Ichigo says after he gently removes the green pill from the stuffed animal and swallows it.

Exiting his body, Ichigo rotates his arms while looking at his body strangely. Shaking off the momentary feeling of tightness, he finds Yoruichi's eyes questioning his unspoken intentions.

"I need all of you to stand together. Tia; you, Orihime, Rei and Yoruichi need to shelter Miya, the kids, and the others with your Reiatsu."

"Ichigo, what are you… Oh, shit!" Rei shouts as she sees her fellow Lieutenant grabbing his twin Zanpakutō. "He's going Bankai!"

Miya doesn't move at first; instead, she watches her husband closely and seeing him give her a wink, she steps back until she feels Reiatsu forming a barrier around her and the others. Her heart begins beating faster and faster as she feels Ichigo's power rising dramatically through their bond.

"Bankai. Tensa Zangetsu."

The wave of powerfully dense Reiatsu races over the barrier, followed by a shockwave that causes the immediate area to become obscured by a cloud of loose soil and debris. Moments later the dark and thick dust is blown away to reveal a different Ichigo standing before them.

"His, his Bankai changed." Orihime remarks with awe in her voice as she stares at Ichigo's revealed form.

"What?" Miya says as she looks towards burnt orange-haired healer.

Tia answers for her lover. "His attire has changed since we've last seen it, Miya. His Bankai cloak used to be all black, now it's white with black trim. The strap that used to hold Zangetsu over his back has also changed from red to… purple. The same color as your hair."

Seeing his Captain frowning as she studies him carefully, naturally wondering as to why he had called upon his Zanpakutō's final release, Ichigo nervously rubs the back of his head. "Yoruichi, Tia, I need both of you to give her a chance to explain what is going on. Promise me you will."

Tia and Yoruichi are both startled and confused by his request, and the looks in their eyes convey their feelings to him. The former Queen of Hueco Mundo voices her uncertainty as she looks at the Sekirei Pillar in the room, Miya looking just as confused as she is. "Do you mean Miya? Why would we not give her a chance to speak?"

"Not Miya, Tia-sama." The blonde-haired Arrancar freezes at the unfamiliar female voice, and she sees Ichigo turn his head slightly to his side, towards the figure slowly appearing next to him.

Confusion reigns on all the faces of the females in the group as they look over the person who is materializing next to Ichigo. No one knows what to make of the silver-haired woman until Yoruichi suddenly realizes that her appearance has to be related to Ichigo using his Bankai release. She immediately starts connecting the dots, and her eyes widen in horrified understanding when they drift down towards the Tsuka sticking out from the woman's silver obi, the green silk hilt wrapping leading to a hexagonal Tsuba causing the Squad Two Captain to inhale sharply through clenched teeth, before shouting out loud.

"Shunkō!"

Immediately, her Reiatsu skyrockets and her uniform explodes off her upper back and arms as she builds up enough energy to release her signature attack and destroy that cursed blade once and for all, only for Ichigo to hurriedly step between them.

"STOP!" His angry bellowing voice fills the entirety of the cavern. "Stop Yoruichi! Please, just stop... give us a chance to explain."

"Why should we Ichigo!? Why shouldn't we destroy her!?" Tia screams as she hurriedly pushes Orihime and Kiyomi behind her, her Reiatsu flaring wildly in recognition of the woman. "She is HIS Zanpakutō…"

Ichigo's soft voice cuts her off. "No Tia, she isn't; she's my Zanpakutō spirit now."

"What?" Rei asks in a strangled voice. The Squad Two Lieutenant has kept quiet thus far, but she is unable to hold herself back at this new bombshell. "She… she is responsible for the Winter War, for the deaths of so many Shinigami... how can you claim she is yours now?"

To their surprise, Kyōka Suigetsu is the one who speaks up. "Hisoma Fukutaichō, Aizen was responsible for the atrocities committed before and during the Winter War. Yes, I was his Zanpakutō. Yes, he used me for evil intent. Yes, he wanted to dispose of the Reiō and claim the throne for himself. But I. Am. Not. Him." Her voice is as cold as steel, and she pauses as she glances at her new wielder.

"As to how I now belong to Ichigo-sama, it is rather simple Fukutaichō: I didn't want to spend eternity trapped with Aizen Sōsuke as he sits in bondage. I wanted to live, to live without fear or loneliness. It seems my wish was granted when I woke up and I found myself in Ichigo-sama's inner-world. We suspect that the Hōgyoku answered my deepest desire to live free of Aizen and allowed me to enter Ichigo-sama's soul, to become his Zanpakutō. If you haven't noticed by now, Zangetsu is no longer an empty blade. I am slowly replacing the life of Ichigo-sama's Zanpakutō."

Yoruichi and Tia's eyes snap to inspect the fearsome blade hanging at Ichigo's side, the simple, yet elegant, pure white katana gleaming brighter as it reflects the artificial light of the training cavern, no longer dull in appearance as it had once been during the war against the Quincy. The former dullness was an indirect result of an unintentional side-effect that had occurred after the Quincy Emperor had tried unsuccessfully to steal Ichigo's Bankai with his medallion early in the war. Instead of allowing themselves to be used against their wielder, Ichigo's Zanpakutō spirits had forced themselves to merge back into Ichigo's soul to protect his Shinigami, Hollow and Quincy powers. The devastating side-effect of doing so was that the merger was permanent; neither Zangetsu nor the Quincy spirit existed in his inner-world as separate beings anymore, and both Ichigo's Shikai and Bankai reflected that dull, painful emptiness. Now though, his Zanpakutō is once again gleaming in the hands of its wielder.

"Impossible…" Yoruichi growls out. "No Zanpakutō can jump from one Shinigami to another. It has…"

Kyōka Suigetsu shakes her head as she interrupts. "Tōsen's Zanpakutō was not his; it once belonged to his dead friend, the one who he had sworn to avenge when he joined Aizen. It is possible for a Shinigami to claim a discarded Zanpakutō and make it his or her own. If you need another example, Kenpachi Zaraki would be such an example Shihōin-sama."

"That's different!" She immediately protests.

"How so Yoruichi?" Ichigo asks quietly. "How is so different for them but not for Kyōka Suigetsu?"

Stunned by his question, the female assassin steps towards him. "How can you even ask that question? You saw what happened to us when we tried to fight Aizen. He decimated us with her help!"

"Yeah, he did Yoruichi, but that was largely due to that fucking marble he had. Granted, Kyōka Suigetsu helped him get there, but isn't that what she was supposed to do? Help her wielder achieve his goals? Isn't that what all Zanpakutō are supposed to do, give aid to the Shinigami who helped give life to them? She made her choice; however, she jumped ship to leave Aizen because she didn't want to be stuck with him in his prison forever, not after he rejected her so openly. Tell me Yoruichi, when has that ever happened before? Geta-Bōshi already looked for such an example and has yet to find one before Kyōka, so why can't she change and be her own self? If she chose me as her new partner to find that chance, I am more than willing to give her that chance…" Pausing, he grabs the Zanpakutō spirit's hand and gives her a brief smile before speaking again. "Besides, there is one other fact as to why I am willing to give her that chance Yoruichi, and if would trust me, we can show you."

"I trust you Ichigo."

All eyes snap towards the Shun Shun Rikka wielder, Tia shocked by her lover's statement. "Orihime?"

Brown orbs stare into emerald orbs as Orihime's hand lifts to stroke the blonde-haired Arrancar's cheek. "I have trusted Ichigo with my life more times than I can count Tia. From the day he first became a Shinigami to the end of the war against the Quincy, Ichigo has never betrayed us, given us reason to doubt him, or ever put himself first: he has always put US before himself. Even you Tia. He didn't have to rescue you when you were held prisoner by Yhwach, he could have left you to die, but he didn't when your Fracción came and begged him to help them rescue you. They never told you, did they? They couldn't because they felt they had failed you after your capture. They never thought about leaving you behind even once. Instead, when they found the help they needed they abandoned their pride to beg for your life, and he gave them his aid without asking for anything in return. That one act should be the only reason you need to trust him."

Smiling gently at the stunned Tia, Orihime walks past her to stand next to Miya who has been listening quietly and intently. "I trust you Ichigo, I always will."

"Thank you, Orihime." Ichigo smiles before he shifts his gaze towards the other women. "How about Yoruichi? Tia? Rei? Will you let me show you why I trust Kyōka Suigetsu?"

Ichigo watches as the women mull over his request. Out of the three, Tia is the one who he worries will not trust the female Zanpakutō, and he would never blame her after Aizen had betrayed her by using Kyōka Suigetsu's ability against her to cut her down from behind. Yoruichi is grimacing, but the density of Reiatsu from her Shunkō diminishes slightly, while Rei remains merely in a defensive posture, continually glancing at each person in the room, although she mostly switches between staring at him and Kyōka Suigetsu.

Finally, Yoruichi does release her Shunkō, and Ichigo breathes a sigh of relief even if the glare on her face doesn't change at all. "If I even think you are under her influence Ichigo, I will do what I have to, to keep Shaolin and Hisana safe." The purple-haired Shinigami informs him.

"I understand Yoruichi." Ichigo remarks. "Tia?"

Conflict evident in her emerald orbs, the blonde-haired Arrancar stares at him before she finally closes her eyes and gives a barely perceptible nod of her head.

"If Taichō is okay with this Ichigo, I'll go along with this," Rei adds as she takes her hand off of her Zanpakutō, seeing that there will be no immediate hostilities taking place.

Ichigo grins at her. "Trust us, and you'll understand why. Kyōka are you ready?"

"I am Ichigo."

Neither Kyōka Suigetsu nor Ichigo flinch when both Yoruichi and Tia's Reiatsu momentarily spike as the Zanpakutō places her hand on her Tsuka and begins to draw the blade from its sheath. At least, that is what they think she is doing: slowly so that they can see everything she is doing, Kyōka draws forth the bladeless hilt of her weapon and then holds it up for the surprised women to inspect.

"I am no longer the Kyōka Suigetsu that you once knew, Yoruichi-sama. Who I was, was destroyed that day. He tossed me aside to fuse my power with that of the Hōgyoku." A faint tremble goes through her voice, but she continues to speak stoically. "A bladeless Zanpakutō... is of no use to anyone."

Horrified, Rei immediately turns around and begins vomiting, while Yoruichi stares dumbly at the space that should have held an edged blade. The others have no idea of what is going between the three Shinigami, with Miya being the first to ask what is going on.

Ichigo is the one who answers his question. "Kyōka Suigetsu is or rather was the reflection of Aizen's soul, Miya. Once he felt that she was no longer needed, he tried to absorb her and give her powers to the Hōgyoku, effectively mutilating his own soul." Seeing the non-Shinigami blanch in understanding, he continues. "However, it appears that the little marble could answer even the deepest desire of a Zanpakutō. Kyōka's desire is what any Zanpakutō would desire, to help and guide their Shinigami to achieve their goals, but with Aizen trying to erase her from existence, she gained a new desire to live without Aizen. So, the Hōgyoku answered her wish by placing her in me, but she slept for almost thirteen years, and it wasn't until Miya and I bonded that she woke up and we agreed to become one. Kyōka Suigetsu will become my Zanpakutō, giving life to my blades just as Zangetsu and Yhwach did before they sacrificed themselves to protect my powers from being stolen, and protecting and guiding me just as they once did for me, and she once did for Aizen."

Huffing, Yoruichi folds her arms beneath her chest, completely disregarding the ruined state of her clothing. "Is there any other surprise you want to spring on us tonight Ichigo, or is she it?" She grouses out, much to Ichigo's relief, but before he can answer Kyōka suddenly makes a request.

"Actually, I would like to spar against you and Tia-sama."

Ichigo's head snaps back to Kyōka in shock. "Are you insane!? How the hell are you…"

Kyōka lifts her hands, and the entire group is shocked when both of Ichigo's Shikai blades form in them. "If I am to succeed Zangetsu and Yhwach, I must fight against someone other than you, Ichigo. Besides, look at Tia-sama and Yoruichi-sama, really look at them."

Reluctantly, he does as she tells him to, and immediately sees what she has seen. "The moment I said I wanted to spar against them, their eyes reflected the truth that they are more than happy to take their anger out on me, anger that is completely justifiable, and I am more than willing to oblige them so long as it helps to secure their trust in you and me. Even though I am still not used to your blades and will not be able to fight well or for long, I none-the-less wish to find out how much I must improve if I am to safeguard your life in the future."

She looks at her wielder with sincerity in her eyes. "Please Ichigo, let me do this."

Stepping beside him, Miya gently takes his hand. "I agree with Kyōka Suigetsu, Ichigo... if she is to gain the trust of those closest to you, then this is a necessary step for her to take, to show everyone that she is willing to own up to past faults and to suffer for you. Let her do this for her sake and for yours, Husband." She looks to Kyōka, seeing a look of gratitude in the Zanpakutō's eyes. "I too wish to see how far she will go to ensure your safety. If I am to trust her implicitly, I must see for myself what she is capable of."

"Yeah, let her show you Ichi-bou." Yoruichi smirks, gripping her fists tightly with a deadly look in her eyes. "She wants to show us how far she is willing to safeguard you; then I say let her spar against Tia and me."

"I must insist she spars against us as well Ichigo. If I am to believe she has your best interests at heart, then this will certainly go a long way in proving that to me." Tia adds as she moves to stand next to Yoruichi, her eyes sharp and ready for combat.

Closing his eyes in frustration, Ichigo understands the reason why all three women want to go through with this. Kyōka, to prove to all of them that every word she just spoke is the truth. Yoruichi and Tia, because they want to see if Kyōka words are real, but also to get some payback for the defeat and humiliation they had suffered at Aizen's hands, even if the Zanpakutō spirit wasn't entirely at fault. Despite that, Ichigo knows that this is a necessary step to build the bonds of trust between the three women... However, he is also well aware of just how much he and Kyōka are syncing as partners, which is why he finally opens his eyes and gives Kyōka a wry and perceptive grin.

"Don't push yourself Kyōka; I'd like to keep you around for more than a few years, okay?"

Her expression softens as she smiles at him. "Of course, Ichigo. Yoruichi-sama, Tia-sama, let us move to the other side."

"Are you going to fight us wearing that?" Yoruichi asks.

Kyōka Suigetsu smirks. "No, Yoruichi-sama, I have a different outfit I will use, one that I sprang on my new wielder the first time we sparred in an attempt to distract him, successfully."

"Kyōka!" Ichigo shouts too late.

Releasing a brief surge of Reiatsu to cover her body, the Zanpakutō spirit grins as she stands before them in her new very revealing attire. No longer wearing a silver Kimono, covering Kyōka Suigetsu body is a black-trimmed silver one-piece body suit that does little to hide her physically fit form, showing no visible skin other than her hands and face. She laughs when Ichigo covers his face with both his hands muttering softly to himself.

"I… see." Yoruichi can't help the smile tugging at her lips. "I completely understand how you got under his skin."

The silver-haired Zanpakutō spirit smiles in return. "I have you to thank for this form Yoruichi-sama. I have seen all of my wielder's memories, every single one of them and this outfit is based on how Ichigo felt when he first saw you wearing something similar to it. Luckily for…." A tan hand suddenly covers Kyōka Suigetsu's mouth.

"N-no need to tell them that Kyōka, private remember… So, so just go and get your ass kicked." Ichigo says hurriedly.

Four women think the same thing. 'What is he hiding that has him so nervous?'

Miya shifts when she understands the feeling she is getting from her Ashikabi, embarrassment, and dread. Covering her mouth, she tries not to laugh at her memories from their first few conversations about his Bankai training with Yoruichi quickly resurface in her thoughts. Now, she understands her husband's dread and embarrassment. Deciding that a bit of payback is in order for those times he had stared unrepentantly at her bottom, she speaks her thoughts.

"Does he stare at your rear when he fights you Kyōka Suigetsu? I understand he has a slight… fetish for that part of the female body?"

"Tou-chan, what does fetish mean?" Kiyomi innocently asks her father.

"N-nothing you need to understand Kiyomi. Ignore them because they are… dammit, just never mind." Ichigo mutters in defeat.

"We'll discuss it further as we spar Yoruichi-sama, Tia-sama. I would love to hear your point of view on my wielder's… less than proper thoughts." Kyōka disappears first, followed by Tia and Yoruichi, leaving a flustered Ichigo staring at the spots they just vacated.

Once the three women move to the other side of the vast cavern, Rei finds a place to sit next to Ichigo. Sensing that she is bothered by what has transpired; Ichigo nudges her to gain her attention.

"Ichigo?" Her voice is curious, if still somewhat reserved.

"I can see it bothers you Rei. Trust me; I was just as shocked as you were when I first saw her, I honestly thought that Aizen had planted her in my Soulscape as part of some twisted delayed attack in case he was defeated. It wasn't until after she told me the truth and showed me her Zanpakutō that I found myself willing to give her a chance and trust her. That is part of what Kyōraku, Kisuke and I were discussing over the last few days, her willingness to help me as she still has the detailed knowledge of Aizen's early life and she even informed us that there are still a few places he has hidden from our observation out in the Rukongai. Sōtaichō is going to start sending out patrols to find and mark them, while Kisuke, Hachi, and Tessai will be the ones to break into them in case they have any active Kidō to dissuade intruders." He pauses so he can raise a barrier to surround those watching the spar taking place, then continues to speak.

"She's a fragile being Rei. Despite who and what she is, she has been used, abused and finally tossed aside without a second thought by the man whose soul she was molded from. She deserves a chance to be wanted, to have a wielder who won't subjugate her; I'm going to give her what she wants, I want her as my equal, my partner. I don't expect anyone to accept her with open arms, but I do want everyone to at least give her a chance. that's all I want anyone to give her, a chance."

Rei wraps her arms around her knees and stares towards the cavern when another blast of Reiatsu had washed over their position just moments before, Ichigo's shield easily keeping everyone safe from any stray attacks. Casting a glance at her fellow Lieutenant, she sees him staring towards the same spot with worry in his eyes. Sighing, she recognizes the same care on his face as he had shown whenever he had to send members of the Onmitsukidō out to fight against the Quincy. In her heart, had anyone else had accepted Kyōka Suigetsu as their Zanpakutō, she knows she wouldn't have hesitated to kill that person, but she had paused when it was Ichigo who revealed Kyōka because he hadn't changed from what she knew of him. Hadn't changed from who he was when he first invaded Soul Society over fifteen years ago to save someone he had only known for at the most two months. Hadn't changed when fighting with everything he had against the god-like Quincy Emperor. No, he only changed when he lost the woman he was going to marry. Changed when his best friends died fighting. Changed when they had lost so many beloved family members, friends or comrades in those brief weeks of fighting the Quincy.

Now, seeing him after ten years of separation, she is deeply satisfied to find that her friend has changed once again due in part to meeting Miya and the other Sekirei living in the Izumo Inn. The lost and dead look that had once filled his eyes is gone; now there is life and desire to protect those he loves once again. Even a Zanpakutō spirit wielded by Soul Society's wickedest traitors deserved a second chance in his eyes. It was that flaw that allowed Grimmjow Jaegerques to live and then join in the war against the Quincy along with the other surviving Arrancars that Aizen had created. She smirks as she thinks about one Arrancar in particular, the blonde-haired Tia Halibel, the mother of Ichigo's daughter.

"I'll give her that chance Ichigo. If you believe in her as I believe in you, then she deserves to have your faith in her proven to be correct."

"Thanks, Rei."

XXXX

Yoruichi shakes off the pain she is suffering after getting caught by Kyōka Suigetsu's use of Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō. Laying next, to her, Tia is also breathing a bit harder unlike earlier when she thought that fighting the silver-dressed Zanpakutō was going to be an easy avenue for getting some paybacks against Aizen's former partner. If anything, Kyōka is proving to be as difficult to fight as Ichigo had been to spar against once he had achieved his balanced powers.

"Ichigo is going to pay for this." Tia seethes out as she watches Kyōka Suigetsu twirl the bigger Khyber blade of Zangetsu by the short length of black chain attached to the end of its Tsuka while tapping the smaller trench knife-like weapon against her outer-thigh, the smirk on her face clearly seen by both women.

"I don't think we can really hold it against him, Tia... Ichigo is perhaps one of the strongest Shinigami to have ever lived. Unlike most of us, once he learned the truth about his Zanpakutō, he reached a balance with them that most Shinigami today will never come close to achieving. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Kyōka spar nightly when he goes to bed; unlike the rest of us who have to perform Jinzen to speak to our Zanpakutō, he's been able to speak to his without the need. If you need any other proof, you're looking at it right now, Ichigo said his Hollow would taunt him by swinging his Zanpakutō the same way Kyōka is doing before he would throw it at Ichigo like a spear." The golden-eyed assassin says as she pops her shoulder back into place with a grunt.

"Tia-sama, Yoruichi-sama, are you able to continue?" Kyōka's infuriatingly-polite voice calls out to them.

"I don't know who I am mad at more, Ichigo or her." The blonde Arrancar seethes from the apparent taunt.

"If you wish to take a break, I'm more than willing to let you rest a bit more."

Yoruichi growls her agreement. "She's definitely mirroring Ichigo's cockiness with annoying accuracy."

"Fine, then we'll show her how we used to punish him when he got that cocky." Tia springs forward while swinging Tiburón. "La Gota!"

Yoruichi follows behind Tia, and the two women renew their violent exchanges with the smirking Zanpakutō spirit.

XXXX

The child spirit looks up at the cloaked woman who is covering her face with one hand, her voice barely audible as she continuously comments about the Zanpakutō spirit now fighting against two of Soul Society's strongest warriors.

"What does 'masochist' mean?"

"You are looking at one fighting now. That is what it means."

"Oh." The youngest spirit looks away still confused as to what the word means.

XXXX

Kyōka Suigetsu grins as she looks up at the ceiling high above her, the dual blades she had been using now returned to their place inside her, to be called forth whenever she needs them again. Less than three feet away, she hears Kiyomi's mother breathing harder and the occasional curse directed at Ichigo and his damnable abilities being inherited. Yoruichi though is laughing as she leans against a small boulder.

"How often?" The purple-haired woman asks.

The Zanpakutō knows what the Shihōin is referring to. "Every night Shihōin-sama, we spend hours reviewing his fights critiquing his style while giving him options he could have used, then we fight. Oh, he is improving to such a degree; I'd say that when we are done, his skills will rival those of the former Sōtaichō."

"Was Aizen that good Yoruichi?" Tia inquires from her prone position.

Yoruichi leans back against the rock and stares at the former Arrancar. "The few times I saw Aizen fight with… well, when he fought with Kyōka Suigetsu sealed he was a true practitioner of Kenjutsu. His forms were flawless and classical, but he showed talent in improvising quickly to any surprise his opponents sprung upon him. What was he like when he sparred against you Kyōka?"

"He was an ass. Cocky, brash and so sure of himself that he didn't bother coming to see me after he achieved his Bankai. I lived a very lonely life after that Shihōin-sama; Ichigo is very different, he comes and sees me every night, and occasionally we speak when he is at work when he becomes stressed at what he sees his patients are suffering from." Pausing Kyōka turns her head towards the blonde-haired woman still lying near. "I have seen his memories from birth to the present; he takes on burdens that he shouldn't have to take on, and still takes on. I will never leave him as he needs me as much as I need him now."

"Do you swear to keep him safe, always, Kyōka Suigetsu?" Tia softly asks of the Zanpakutō.

"I do. Will you keep his heart whole Tia-sama? You, Orihime-sama and Miya-sama?"

The blonde nods her head. "We will. Even if I can no longer be what I want with him, he will be the only one for me. I chose him that day for a reason, and he is the only lover I will have other than my mate Orihime."

"Good. Then I will offer something I have noticed about the Sekirei; they are not monogamous as they seem Tia-sama. When we were in the hospital, Ichigo was subconsciously detecting that several of the Sekirei shared the same lover. Keep that in mind Tia-sama." The Zanpakutō fades away before the blonde can interrogate her on her statement.

"Yoruichi, do you know what she is referring too?"

The purple-haired woman smirks. "Maybe. Remember when I told you and Orihime to keep an open mind? Keep that mind open and you'll understand soon enough what she meant. So, do you trust her or not?"

Tia frowns slightly. "I'm still on the fence. Leaning towards trust." She reluctantly admits.

"If she keeps sparring the way she does, I'd have to agree with you." Yoruichi on the other hand doesn't seem to have a problem admitting it.

Tia throws one arm over her eyes. "If there is one thing this spar taught me today, it is that I have become too lax with keeping up my skills. I look forward to our next spar; maybe you'll join me in a two on two bout Yoruichi?"

The woman's laugh is answer enough for the Tercera.

XXXX

'So, you enjoy getting your… handed to you?' Ichigo feels the smugness coming from Kyōka Suigetsu at his deliberate omittance.

"Don't hide your thoughts from me Ichigo; your fetish has already been outed. Honestly, I can understand how hard it is for you not to stare with such prime examples living with you. Miya-sama, Yoruichi-sama, Orihime-sama…"

'Alright, I get it! Shhh, is nothing sacred?'

Kyōka laughs. "I'm sorry Ichigo; it was too easy to pass up."

Ichigo scowls at the Zanpakutō spirit's teasing, but he's unable to maintain his expression for long. 'So, how did it go? I only got vague feelings from you and, and Tia.' He asks after a few moments of silence.

The Zanpakutō sighs with content. "Enjoyable. I... I haven't had that much fun in over a century or more. Tia-sama definitely put her heart into trying to kill me; I shall enjoy sparring against her soon. Yoruichi-sama is as sneaky as her training proves, I was certain she'd have put a better fight, maybe next time. Which reminds me, would you be interested in a joint sparring session, then we could take them on together?"

He smiles at her. 'I think I'd like that Kyōka.'

XXXX

Seo Kaoru's eyes wander about the room he is sitting in again. During the three days he and the girls spent at Miya's inn, his simple life had changed forever after meeting those people. Shinigami. Death Gods of the Afterlife, and Miya just had to marry one of their kind; a hybrid is what the braided-haired woman called her step-son. A human whose father was one of those Shinigami, they refused to tell him what else Kurosaki Shiba Ichigo was, all they would say to him is that he would live longer by not pissing off the orange-haired Vizard, whatever the hell that is supposed to be.

Thinking about Miya's new husband makes him shiver as he remembers the only time he watched the man, who looked years younger than him but was in fact two or three years older, sparring against the purple-haired Miko-themed woman that he had first taught how to cook years ago. He sends a prayer to his former friend, Miya's first husband Takehito, and asks that he watch over him and the Sekirei for what he had agreed to after watching that spar. The purple-haired Shinigami Yoruichi had sweetened the deal for him, gifting him the small apartment he now resides in with Hikari and Hibiki, plus a nice monthly stipend for the rest of their lives. It is a modest amount, but with the girls working, he'd live comfortably for the rest of his life.

He reaches for the new phone that the Shinigami had installed in his apartment as it begins to ring, wondering who is calling; answering it on the third ring, he nearly pulls it away when Hikari's screams almost causes him to go deaf.

"Calm down Hikari! What's going on?!" For all his faults, Seo is a very capable Ashikabi, and he knows his Sekirei are in trouble. A brief explanation later he revises his thoughts; they are in REALLY big trouble.

Jumping to his feet and grabbing his coat while rushing to the front door, he barks his orders into the phone. "Keep them busy, don't let them kill her or the kid! I know it's the Disciplinary Squad! Just fight until I get there dammit!"

Slipping into his shoes, Kaoru cuts the call then hits the first speed-dial number he had added to the phone as he rushes out the door. It took only one ring before a woman's voice answers. "The Disciplinary Squad is trying to kill your kid! Yeah, Minato! No, I don't know why dammit, my girls are fighting with them now, but if Karasuba decides to get involved I told them to run, your kid will be on his own then."

Cutting the call without waiting for a reply and tossing the cordless phone through the apartment's window onto his couch, the man rushes for the elevator; only to freeze when a feminine arm wraps around his waist. "Don't get the wrong idea playboy, but I need to get you to your Sekirei."

Heart thumping wildly, Seo Kaoru turns to face the person speaking to him and finds only a masked face that reveals just a set of beautiful blue eyes staring back at him impassively from behind a full face mask.

"I am Squad Two Fukutaichō Hisoma Rei and a good friend to Ichigo and Miya. We understand each other?"

"Yeah, yes we do," Seo remarks, the memory of that black wave of energy destroying the mountain hidden in a cross-dimensional underground training room enough to stifle his usual antics when he is near a beautiful woman.

"Good, hold on." She tightens her grip.

"Hold wh-AAAAAHHHHH!"

Neighbors living in the same block look around in confusion, trying to locate the source of the now-fading high-pitched screaming.

XXXX

Minato drags himself down the alleyway towards the sounds of the fighting, Musubi and those strange twins who had initially started harassing them, at least until they were interrupted by those other two women screaming about 'paybacks'. At first, Musubi and the twins had the upper hand until the pink-haired woman did something that somehow disoriented his Sekirei or whatever Musubi called herself and messed with the twins' ability to wield electricity. Rounding the corner, he quickly clasps a hand to his nose when he sees the destruction done to Musubi and the other four women's clothing.

He tries to move forward again when the pain in his leg becomes excruciating and causes him to collapse against the brick wall of the abandoned house. Squinting his eyes to wait out the violent waves of agony rushing from his leg to his head, he hears Musubi running towards him, shouting his name before the pain in his leg suddenly lessens and a woman's voice speaks to him.

"Don't move, you're injured and need medical care immediately. Just hold on." The voice pauses before she begins yelling, causing him to flinch at the reminder of his mother and sister. "Dammit Hikari, Hibiki, let 'em go! You can kick their asses later! Seo-san get them under control now! I don't care if this is personal to them, the kid's bone is sticking out of his leg!"

'Bone? Sticking out?' Baffled, Sahashi Minato looks down and sees a bit of white poking through the red-stained fabric of his pants' leg. 'Oh…'

He doesn't protest as his world fades to blackness.

XXXX

Rei almost drops the dead weight of the young man when he faints in her arms; a growl leaves her lips as she signals for help. "Get him to Orihime-sama as fast as you can, but mind his leg; it looks pretty bad."

"Hai!" Her masked subordinates reply before taking the dark-haired boy from their Lieutenant and carefully Shunpō away.

Pinching the bridge of her mask-covered nose, the Onmitsukidō Lieutenant pulls an unmarked plastic bottle out of her modified Shihakushō and twists the cap off then shaking two small white pills into her hand. Pulling her mask down, she swallows the pills and grimaces at the chalky taste. Normally she wouldn't do something this unprofessional, but this situation is already promising to spiral out of control and she needs her head at its best to deal with what is to come.

"I can see why Ichigo always carries aspirin with him all the time now." She grumbles as she continues to watch Sekirei number: Eighty-eight still trying to fight the more experienced Disciplinary Squad members even though the Lightning Twins had already pulled back.

"Enough!" She shouts while using an incantation-less Bakudō Number: Seventy-Seven Tenteikūra to ensure her command is obeyed. "Hibiki, Hikari, stop that girl from fighting!"

Grimacing, Hikari and Hibiki grab Musubi and pull her away from Benitsubasa and Haihane the instant they hear the Shinigami's order, the busty brunette apparently too startled to try and fight them too. The pink-haired and grey-haired Sekirei snap their heads towards the ninja-garbed woman and freeze in recognition, the pink-haired Sekirei beginning to scream at the Shinigami.

"This doesn't concern you or that orange-haired ape, you freak! This is our fight, a personal issue, so just fuck off!"

Rei closes her eyes and counts to ten in her mind; she only reaches seven before she snaps and releases the full might of her Reiatsu upon the Sekirei in front of her, smirking at seeing the look of awe and fright when the mouthy pink-haired alien is caught by surprised and slammed hard into the broken asphalt of the lot. Her grey-haired partner is holding up better, having taken up a defensive stance and is now struggling to hold herself upright. Walking towards the trapped women without releasing her Reiatsu, the Lieutenant catches the gaze of the grey-haired member of the Disciplinary Squad.

"We don't care about who or what your problem is Sekirei, what we do have a problem with is that you strayed into our territory, territory which is off-limits to you. All Sekirei and Ashikabi not invited beforehand have been warned of the consequences of disobeying our mandate. Do we need to set a harsher example to those who would test us?" Hisoma asks as she slowly lets up on her Reiatsu.

Gritting her teeth, Haihane slowly moves over to her partner's side and helps her to her feet. For her part, the hot-headed Fist Sekirei wisely remains silent, although her eyes and bruised face are spitting venom at the masked Shinigami before them. "No. We apologize, we didn't realize how close we were to the Hannya of the North's lands."

Hisoma nods curtly. "Good, now leave before he decides that he needs to take a look."

The grey-haired woman nods once before assisting her partner to jump to the roof of the nearest building then moving away rapidly with her. Feeling their tama fading as they leave, Rei turns to see Kaoru talking to his Sekirei after separating them from the confused and anxious Sekirei Eighty-Eight, Musubi.

"Where is Minato-kun?!" The air-headed brunette wonders, looking around as if she expects her Ashikabi to crawl out from under a garbage can or something.

"He is being tended to, Number Eighty-Eight: Musubi." Rei remarks as she turns her attention towards the wide-eyed Sekirei. "You'll be allowed to see him under one condition; you do exactly everything you are told to do, nothing more, nothing less, do you understand and agree?"

"Mou... Musubi doesn't understand, but Musubi agrees. Minato-kun is my Ashikabi." The innocent looking woman answers.

Rei fights the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. She already knows this one will be trouble. "Good. Seo-san, we'll speak about this later." A narrow-eyed look is directed towards the two sheepish-looking Lightning Twins.

The scruffy-faced man blanches as he thinks about what that conversation might entail, but he realizes he doesn't have a choice. "Understood. Come on Hiki, Hibi. Let's get you two showered and…"

"We'll shower alone beast!" Hikari seethes as she and her sister jump to another rooftop and leave their startled Ashikabi behind. Seo can feel the shame, anger and embarrassment coming through from their bonds with him, and a brief moment of thought tells him of the most likely cause for these feelings.

With a sigh, the former construction worker drops his head while stuffing his hands into the pockets of his light jacket. "They aren't happy with the deal I made with you guys."

Rei arches one eyebrow while responding to the human. "Tough; if they would like to try and renegotiate the terms of the deal with Miya-sama and Ichigo, we'll be more than happy to arrange it so your Sekirei can personally speak to them."

Seo Kaoru frowns at the hidden threat from the Shinigami. "You Shinigami don't believe in fair play, do you?"

"Would you argue with Death?" Rei asks him rhetorically, but at his unimpressed look she concedes. "We of Soul Society are still dealing with the aftermath of events from fifteen years ago. We don't intend to get caught by surprise ever again, so some of the tactics we use can seem harsh, but trust me, centuries ago, most wouldn't have even been given a choice. Count yourself lucky that the former Sōtaichō is no longer in command. He was very strict."

Seo grimaces. The stunts the Shinigami are pulling right in the backyard of Minaka's turf are both heavy-handed and ludicrous, and the most unbelievable part to him is that they are actually succeeding, with remarkable ease even. If this is what they consider 'being reasonable', he has no intention of ever seeing what they would consider 'strict'.

Seeing that her message is delivered and understood, Rei pulls the confused Musubi close to her body and Shunpōs from the deserted alleyway, leaving Seo to find his own way home.

XXXX

The young dark-haired man groans as muted voices disturb the unusual dreams he had been having about strange women fighting, even stranger women healing with orange shields and then…

"Ah, my head. What happened?" Sahashi Minato moans while struggling to sit up.

Two sets of hands help him up as a woman's voice he vaguely remembers from his dreams speaks. "You were badly injured last night Minato-kun; you lost a lot of blood so you may feel weak for a day or two until I heal you again."

"My leg. It was broken." The dark-haired male manages to recall as his eyes focus on his surroundings and found himself in a spacious room with several unfamiliar women sitting on either side of him and the woman who had unexpectedly dropped into his life and now appears to be sleeping on the bed beside him.

The first woman has burnt-orange hair and a generous figure that rivals Musubi's own, her brown eyes studying his face kindly while her warm smile causes the tension he didn't realize he has to lessen. The blonde-haired woman next to her has the brightest emerald eyes that he has ever seen; reminding him of expensive jewelry, and her body is also full-figured. The last two women both have purple hair, but that is where their similarities end; one has fair skin with penetrating clear red eyes, while the other has dark skin and mischievous, cat-like golden orbs.

"Where are we?" He carefully asks as he shifts closer to the completely oblivious Musubi.

The purple-haired woman with red eyes raises the sleeve of her sky-blue yukata to her mouth as she speaks. "You are in my home, the Izumo Inn."

"Erm... Did you save us? And what happened to my leg? I know it was broken, I saw the bone sticking out..." He trails off confusedly. Was it just a dream?

"Oh, I healed that last night when you were brought in." The burnt-orange-haired woman answers him cheerfully from her seat.

He stares at her in incomprehension. "You. Healed. Me. How? It was a broken bone! I don't have a cast on my leg and it feels great… I… I don't understand how that's possible! Who are you people even? though…" Minato's voice squeaks in disbelief.

"We'll explain later, right now though; we need to ask you a few questions if you feel up to it Minato-kun?" The golden-eyed woman asks, interrupting his tirade.

Trying to gather his scattered thoughts, just as he is about to answer, the young man is stopped as the shoji to the room slides open and draws his attention to his surroundings, and three children appear with several trays of food and drinks. Standing behind the girls is a tall orange-haired male who scans the room once before moving away. The young man follows the young girls as they enter the room and wordlessly places the trays near him and the sleeping Musubi; once they are done, they bow in unison and leave the room without speaking.

"Ah, is this is for us?" The young man inquires as he looks at the food and a rumble from his stomach causes him to blush. "Ah, we haven't eaten much since yesterday, but I don't have much money..."

"Don't worry about your Sekirei; we know what kind of appetites they have." The purple-haired red-eyed woman remarks with a knowing smile.

Minato freezes as he registers the fact that they have used a word that he had only just learned the day before. Looking at the purple-haired woman who had spoken, he gets very nervous as he remembers the warning that the strange white-haired man had issued him from the TV.

"S-Sekirei? What is that?" He tries to feign obliviousness.

Chuckles immediately come from several of the women around him, and if it wasn't for the fact that they had claimed to heal him he would have been completely unnerved by now. Noticing his unease, the blonde-haired woman answers him with a grin. "We know all about the Sekirei, the so-called "Plan", and more importantly what the jackass running the show is trying to plan for them. You, Sahashi Minato, are an Ashikabi, just like the man that you just saw enter the room earlier."

The purple-haired red-eyed woman speaks up next. "I am his Sekirei, the one known as the Hannya of the North, Kurosaki Shiba Miya. I will be your Sekirei instructor from this moment onwards, Minato-kun; you will be training both with me and my husband, Ichigo." She finishes with a small smile.

"Training for what exactly? I-I don't even know what that man meant yesterday, and I didn't have much time to ask before we got thrown out by my landlord for keeping a woman in my room!" The bewildered young man immediately protests.

"Why don't you eat and we'll explain a few things to you. If you aren't convinced when we are done, we'll let you and your Sekirei leave, no strings attached." The darker-skinned woman offers as she takes a steaming cup of tea from the tray nearest to her. "However, we think you have what it takes."

Minato freezes again, his instincts telling him to do everything he can to run and hide. "Takes? Takes to do what?"

"Why, to win of course." The red-eyed woman answers him with a genuine smile on her face.

XXXX

Standing outside the room and listening, Ichigo smirks as his wife and his family begins informing the young man as to what he has gotten involved with. Shaking his head, he makes his way to the second floor and knocks on a wall and waits for the hidden panel to slide open. Seeing Matsu wave him in, the human Vizard takes the spare seat placed behind Sekirei Number Two and relaxes as he watches her fingers dance across her keyboards. A few minutes later, she turns to him and speaks.

"You ready Ichigo? He'll only be able to see and hear you." She points to a camera mounted on the ceiling that she had configured so her work area and herself couldn't be seen by it.

"Might as well, I'd like to see the reaction on his face when he gets the message that we can get to him anytime we wish." Ichigo admits.

Matsu nods once before turning back towards her workstation and picking up a pair of headphones. She hits several keys and places it on her head before speaking once again.

"You're on Ichigo in three, two and …"

Ichigo smirks when he sees the white-haired man sitting at his desk, oblivious to the fact that his much-vaunted security has been hacked and bypassed, again.

XXXX

"Nice place you have Minaka-san."

Snapping his head up in shock and surprise at hearing a voice in his empty office, Minaka Hiroto immediately stares at the most prominent screen in his command center, the one he uses to watch the Sekirei fighting, and finds himself looking at the amused face of the man who has eluded him since his arrival in Shinto Teito. Hiding his rage at seeing the man on his screen after his entire IT department had sworn they had rewritten the operating system to be immune from any further compromises, something that he himself had checked and confirmed, the CEO of MBI pulls out a sliding shelf from beneath his desk. Discreetly keying in several commands that he hopes is hidden from prying eyes, he pushes himself away from his desk and walks towards his equipment while waiting for his orders to be carried out.

"Kurosaki-san, hacking is considered illegal, punishable by several years in prison if convicted, but I think that it wouldn't bother someone like you, would it? Considering that you are not completely human and could easily escape if you chose to do so." He comments lightly.

The brown-eyed man shrugs his shoulders. "You are one to speak, raising aliens to fight in a game for your amusement? Or are the Jinki really that powerful? It makes me wonder what will happen when they have been gathered together again, don't you?"

The white-haired CEO has to school his face to hide his growing anger at the fact that this hated person knows about one of the most important secrets to his Plan. "You couldn't possibly imagine Kurosaki-san, but I don't believe that is why we are having this conversation, is it?"

Again, the younger man shrugs. "Fine, I'll get straight to the point, we're in."

The brain of the white-haired genius nearly stalls; there are so many possible translations of that statement that he doesn't quite know where to begin. "We? Who would that be exactly?"

The orange-haired male grunts. "Don't play at stupid; it doesn't suit you."

Minaka glares at the screen, ironically feeling offended that this orange-haired imbecile would expect him to be intelligent enough to understand his vague and cryptic statement, and unable to comprehend how this man can cause him to react so illogically. Still, his answer narrows down the possibilities sharply. "Miya. Someone I am certain wouldn't be a part of this after her declaration. Answer me one question Kurosaki-san, how is that you were able to wing her? She is the strongest of her kind, I doubt even you have the strength needed to bond with her, so how?"

"I don't kiss and tell Minaka-san." Comes the flippant reply.

MBI's CEO seethes at being put at such a disadvantage with this man. Furthermore, his own curiosity is slowly driving him crazy: all logic points to the fact that Miya should have been unwingable by normal human standards, so how is it that Ichigo Kurosaki could do so when no one else could? Was it truly because of his inhuman heritage? Or is it something special that can be unlocked in normal human beings? "So, you want in. Are you willing to abide by my rules?"

"No. I don't think so. However, I will give you something to look forward to. Miya and I won't get involved directly; we'll be acting more like consultants to the Ashikabi that we've decided to back. You might know him, Minaka-san... after all, Sahashi Minato is supposed to be your son."

"No! Don't you dare get my son involved!" Startled by the sudden shout, both men swivel their heads to look towards the woman who had stormed into Minaka's control center and interrupted their conversation. "Please Kurosaki-san, please don't..."

Hiroto nearly panics at seeing his lover ignoring him to beg from Kurosaki, knowing that this would only means her retribution on him will be that much more painful. He ignores that behind her, Karasuba is glaring at the screen. "Ah, dear, why don't you wait outside…"

"She doesn't know, does she? Wellll, this is awkward. It looks like you got some explaining to do, so when I need to speak to you again, I'll give you a ring. Oh, one other thing, don't bother with changing your OS again, it won't help." The orange-haired man makes a slicing motion under his neck and the screen blips out.

Minaka stares at the now black screen, trying in vain to come up with an explanation within the next three seconds as to how he had gotten his oldest child involved with his scheme and who his son is now living with, based on the insinuation in Kurosaki's words.

'Can I kill someone who is already dead?' He muses absently, feeling his own death approaching. The miasma of death slowly encircles him as he hears icy words being spoken from less than three feet away from him.

"Minaka Hiroto, what was he talking about? Why is our son even near that man?"

XXXX

Matsu swivels her chair back towards the orange-haired Shinigami and sees the smirk on his face. "So… what was that? I thought you and Miya were going to take part, so why did you tell him you weren't?"

Ichigo's smirk deepens as he stands to his feet and stops for a moment. "Miya has her reasons, and when she's ready to tell us, she will. For now, we'll just go with what she and Yoruichi planned."

"Aren't you curious?" She asks him curiously.

The Vizard shakes his head in answer. "Not really, she has her reasons for not telling me. I think's it only fair as I have a few secrets I can't speak of yet. Oh, don't be late for dinner tonight Matsu, Orihime doesn't like it when you hide up here only to eat later on alone."

"Hai hai... I gotcha, Ichigo."

After Ichigo leaves, Matsu turns back to her monitors and switches on the camera in their newest resident's room. Looking at the dark-haired man as he sits listening to the women sitting with him, she feels her breathing deepen and her body reacting to the man, a trickle of drool coming unconsciously out from the corner of her mouth.

"My Ashikabi. I can't wait to get winged by such a handsome young man, ufufu."

XXXX

Minato stares at the women one at a time before he drops his face into his hands. "What have I gotten myself into? I don't understand any of this, all I wanted to do is go to University. Not this…"

Orihime reaches out with one hand and gives the confused young man's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Minato-kun, everything will turn out okay for you and Musubi-chan."

He glares at her. "How can you say that?! Musubi is an alien, you people know all about this madman's plan, and you say 'I'll be okay!' How can I be okay with any of this?!" He pushes Orihime's hand away roughly. "I don't want any part of this! I just want to go back to how it was before I meet her!"

A hand snaps out and slaps the nearly hysterical young man. "Enough."

Turning his red face to angrily stare at the person who slapped him, Minato quails away slightly when he is met by a pair of golden orbs that stare back angrily into his own eyes. "Fifteen."

"Huh?" He doesn't understand.

"They were only fifteen, almost sixteen when I first met the group of young teens who had gotten involved with something they had no right to be a part of, a war between feuding factions whose powers could have leveled this city without batting an eye. Each battle, each obstacle, each hardship they faced, they found the strength to overcome their trials. They helped secure our victory only to get involved in another one of our damn wars less than eighteen months later that nearly destroyed not only my world but this world. When it was over, we lost three of them. Ichigo is one of those who survived, and for ten years he has been trying to find a reason to fight again, to protect those who can't. He found it here, with the Sekirei, with you. You want to stick your head in the sand, go ahead, but sooner or later someone is going to come for Musubi, and only you can save her as her Ashikabi." Yoruichi pauses then gets up and turns, facing the living room.

"Minato-kun, we will give you a day to think things over. If you don't want to take part in the plan, we'll relocate you and Musubi to another place until it is over. However, if you stay and decide to win the game, we'll make sure you win."

Minato stares after her, his mouth working as he considers what to say. Honestly, a large part of him wants to tell them to shove it where the sun doesn't shine, but on the other hand, Musubi... "I-I want to talk to Ichigo first. I want to hear it from him why he did what you claimed he did. I want proof. None of this is real to me, and I won't be able to decide unless I see evidence of your story."

"You want proof; we'll give you plenty of it Minato-san." A male voice suddenly cuts in.

The young man head turns towards to the speaker and his eyes widen as he sees the man from earlier standing in the hallway with black energy visibly radiating from his body. "You want proof, we'll need to take this somewhere where I can show you that proof."

XXXX

A white-painted faced man gleefully rubs his hands together as he leaves Central Forty-Six's central chambers, his wide eyes filled with cunning and greed.

"I knew they would see it my way. Sekirei. They should prove interesting once I get one back to the labs for study."

XXXX

AN: So, after 2 years or more, I finally get back to Destiny's Path. I can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote for this story. Just to let you all know, things are almost normal with my stories, the only documents that I lost and truly wish I had keep a proper backup were the re-edited chapters for Naberius Heir and Destiny's Path. That is what I have been working on these past few months, cleaning those stories up, fixing minor storylines, and general ideas that snuck in as Bleach ended.

Next story that is going to get updated in The Lost King, followed by Naberius Heir. So, hopefully I'll see you all before Christmas with 2 new releases.

Liam.

P.S. Don't forget regfurby in your reviews for smoothing out my stories.

Response to Reviews: None. Thanks to all of you still following/fav; I'm really sorry it has taken so long to get back here.

Translations List

Honorifics

-san (さん) : Used to address people with a generic level of respect (equivalent to Mr/Mrs/Ms)

-sama (様) : Used to address people with a higher level of respect (equivalent to Master/Madam)

-chan (ちゃん) : Used to address people with familiarity (usually females)

-kun (君) : Used to address people with familiarity (usually males)

-dono (どの): Used to address people with great respect (equivalent to Lord/Lady)

-ue (上) : Used to address one's parents with great respect

Addressing people by their family name without honorifics can be seen as disrespectful.

Addressing people by their given name without honorifics implies a high degree of familiarity.

People may not always use the same honorific when addressing the same person; it depends on the situation and what they are feeling at the moment.

Special

-tachi (たち) : Used as a suffix to refer to a group

Family Titles

Chichi (父) / Otō (お父) : Father, usually addressed as Chichi-ue or Otō-san/sama (also written as Otou)

Haha (母) / Okā (お母) : Mother, usually addressed as Haha-ue or Okā-san/sama (also written as Okaa)

Ani (兄) / Onī (お兄) : Older Brother, usually addressed as Aniki or Onī-san/sama (also written as Onii)

Ane (姉) / Onē (お姉) : Older Sister, usually addressed as Aneki or Onē-san/sama (also written as Onee)

Otōto (弟) : Younger Brother, usually addressed as Otōto-san/chan (also written as Otouto)

Imōto (妹) : Younger Sister, usually addressed as Imōto-chan (also written as Imouto)

Sofu (祖父) / Ojī (お爺) : Grandfather, usually addressed as Ojī-san/sama (also written as Ojii)

Sobo (祖母) / Obā (お婆) : Grandmother, usually addressed as Obā-san/sama (also written as Obaa)

Oji (叔父) : Uncle, usually addressed as Oji-san (not to be mistaken with Grandfather/Ojī-san)

Oba (叔母): Aunt, usually addressed as Oba-san (not to be mistaken with Grandmother/Obā-san)

Itoko (いとこ) : Cousin (can be written with different Kanji depending on age, gender and which side of the family they come from)

Oi (甥) : Nephew

Mei (姪) : Niece

Kyōfu (教父) : Godfather, usually addressed as Kyōfu-san/sama

Kyōbo (教母) : Godmother, usually addressed as Kyōbo-san/sama

Ōoji (大叔父) : Great-Uncle, usually addressed as Ōoji-san

Ōoba (大叔母) : Great-Aunt, usually addressed as Ōoba-san

Sōsofu (曽祖父) : Great-Grandfather, usually addressed as Sōsofu-sama

Sōsobo (曽祖母) : Great-Grandmother, usually addressed as Sōsobo-sama

Keifu (継父) : Stepfather

Keibo (継母) : Stepmother

Mamamusuko (継息子) : Stepson

Mamamusume (継娘) : Stepdaughter

Relations

Otto (夫) / Goshujin (ご主人) : Husband, usually addressed as Goshujin-san/sama

Tsuma (妻) / Oku (奥) : Wife, usually addressed as Oku-san

Musuko (息子) : Son, usually addressed as Musuko-san

Musume (娘) : Daughter, usually addressed as Musume-san

Magomusuko (孫息子) : Grandson

Magomusume (孫娘) : Granddaughter

Ryōshin (両親) : Parents (also written as Ryoushin)

Sofubo (祖父母) : Grandparents

Keifubo (継父母) : Step-parents

Fūfu (夫婦) : Married Couple

Kyōdai (兄弟) : Brothers (can also refer to Siblings in general)

Shimai (姉妹) : Sisters

Itoko (いとこ) : Cousins

Kodomo (子供) : Children

Mago (孫) : Grandchildren

Kazoku (家族) : Family

Shinseki (親戚) : Relatives

Dōhōshu (同胞種) : Siblings

Nakama (仲間) : Comrades

Tomodachi (友達) : Friends

Senpai (先輩) : Senior (also written as Sempai, can be used as a suffix '-senpai')

Kōhai (後輩) : Junior (also written as Kouhai, can be used as a suffix '-kouhai')

Sensei (先生) : Teacher, Doctor, Respected Person

Deshi (弟子) : Student, Apprentice

Informal

Tō-chan (父ちゃん) : Dad (also written as Tou-chan)

Kā-chan (父ちゃん) : Mom (also written as Kaa-chan)

Nī-chan (父ちゃん) : Big Bro (also written as Nii-chan)

Nē-chan (父ちゃん) : Big Sis (also written as Nee-chan)

Jī-chan (父ちゃん) : Gramps (also written as Jii-chan)

Bā-chan (父ちゃん) : Granny (also written as Baa-chan)

Disrespectful

Oyaji (親父) : Old Man

Jiji (爺) : Old Geezer

Baba (婆) : Old Crone

Bō (ぼう) / Bōzu (ぼうず) : Boy (also written as 'bou/bouzu', can be used as a suffix '-bou/bouzu')

Boya (ボヤ) : Boy (literal translation, used as a suffix '-boya')

Insulting

Teme (てめ) : Jerk, Bastard etc. (can be used as a suffix '-teme')

Dobe (どべ) : Dumbass, Moron etc. (lit. Dead Last)

Baka (バカ) : Stupid

Hentai (変態) : Pervert

Chibi (チビ) : Midget, Runt

Gaki (ガキ) : Brat (can be used as a suffix '-gaki')

Speech

Yare Yare (やれやれ) : My my (exasperation)

Ara Ara (あらあら) : My my (surprise)

Maa Maa (まあまあ) : There there (comforting / calming down)

Moshi Moshi (もしもし) : Hello (greeting over a phone)

Hai (はい) : Yes

Ano (あの) : Umm...

Are (あれ) : Huh?

Yosh (よし) : Alright! (excited)

Yosh yosh (よしよし) : Good good (approval)

Itadakimasu (いただきます) : Let's eat (appreciative)

Gochisousama deshita (御馳走様でした) : Thank you for the feast (appreciative)

Arigatō Gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) : Thank you very much

Dōitashimashite (どういたしまして) : You're welcome

Ohayō (お早う) : Good morning

Konnichiwa (今日は) : Hello/Good day

Konbanwa (こんばんは) : Good evening

Nicknames

Geta-Bōshi (ゲタ帽子) : Hat-and-Clogs (refers to Kisuke's choice of clothing)

Yagi-Ago (山羊顎) : Goat-chin (refers to Isshin's scruffy beard)

Ichigo (苺) : Strawberry (a play on Ichigo's given name)

Ichi (一) : Shortform for Ichigo (一護)

Tats (竜) : Shortform for Tatsuki (also written as Tatsu)

Suki (好き) : Shortform for Tatsuki (also means to Like)

Hime (姫) : Shortform for Orihime (also means Princess)

Yori (ヨリ) : Shortform for Yoruichi

Soul Society

Sōtaichō (総隊長) : Head Captain (also written as Soutaichou)

Taichō (隊長) : Captain (also written as Taichou)

Fuku-Taichō (副隊長) : Vice-Captain / Lieutenant (also written as Fukutaichou)

Kidō (鬼道) : Way of the Demon, the Shinigami Spiritual Arts (also written as Kidou)

Hadō (破道) : Way of Destruction, Spiritual Arts focusing on attack (also written as Hadou)

Bakudō (縛道) : Way of Binding, Spiritual Arts focusing on capture (also written as Bakudou)

Kaidō (回道) : Way of Returning, Spiritual Arts focusing on healing (also written as Kaidou)

Locations

Seireitei (瀞霊廷) : Court of Pure Souls, the Inner District of Soul Society

Rukongai (流魂街) : Wandering Soul City, the Outer Districts of Soul Society

Dangai (断界) : Precipice World, a Dimensional Corridor linking Soul Society to the Human World

Daireishokairō (大霊書回廊) : Great Spirit Book Gallery, the Repository containing all the Knowledge and History of Soul Society

Shinōreijutsuin (真央霊術院) : Spiritual Arts Academy

Urahara Shouten (蒲原商店) : Urahara's Shop, owned by Urahara Kisuke