Bleached

Chapter 15: Revelations

Disclaimer: Yeah, I wish I had Kubo's money, but as that's never happening.

§ Captains' meeting room §

Byakuya sent Ichigo a glance. The orange haired man had trained the Kuchiki Lord achieve bankai in three years. Shortly thereafter Kuchiki Ginrei had resigned, to nobody's surprise, and let Byakuya take over both as Clan Head, and as Captain for the 6th. Those three yeartas had solidified their friendship, and Byakuya considered himself to be Ichigo's brother just as Kaien did. But Byakuya also considered himself to know Ichigo. And the raven haired man had always known that Ichigo hid something. Byakuya didn't bring it up, allowing Ichigo to come to terms with his secrets, and hoping that one day the orange haired man would let his best friend in.

It seemed like today was that day. Ichigo had even called a Captains' meeting. No surprise there, as Ichigo considered everyone to be his friends. And vice versa. Kaien and Toshiro looked a little confused as to whether or not they were allowed there, as they were Vice-Captains, but Ichigo just motioned for them to sit down. Soon everybody was seated, and small talk of the reason for an emergency was made. Even Yamamoto was there, sending knowing looks towards Ichigo. Huh, Byakuya thought. So the Captain-Commander knew. Ichigo looked supremely uncomfortable, before he cleared his throat, and began to speak.

"Good evening. I am sure you're all wondering what we're here for today. As it was I who called this meeting, I want you to know that this is a more personal matter than a military one. You see, I consider you all to be my friends, yes, even you, Komamura-taichou, and I want to tell you all of a secret I have been bearing for the past 50 years." Pin drop silence greeted Ichigo's admission. The captains exchanged glances, though Kyouraku Shunsui looked unpertubed for some reason. Byakuya was barely containing himself from yelling at Ichigo to get on. Which he did. Get on, that is.

"It all started when I was 15, living like a normal teenager in Karakura Town, Japan, though one with exceptionally high reiatsu. The year was 2005, approximately 100 from now." the silence was deafening, before it was broken by a quiet laugh from Hirako Shinji.

"Good one, Ichigo. I don't know when you got into pranking, but you have to do better that." Several others looked to be i agreement with the eccentric captain of the 5th. Ichigo's expression turned stormy, and he rose to his feet.

"I'm not lying you shithead! If you just heard me out, you'd understand! This was why I didn't wnat to tell anyon-" before Ichigo could finish his rant, he staggered. Kaien, who was the closest to the orange haired man, lept to support him, only to jump back, as if burned. Ichigo fell back into his seat, looking distressed. Shinji looked worried. So did everybody else for that matter. Kaien seemed to have lost his voice.

"H-h-he's burning up! Unohona -taicho!" Everybody looked shocked, as Unohona set onto checking Ichigo's temprature. The healer looked worried, as she revealed what she'd found.

"He's running a very high fever, 108 degrees at least, and he seems to have had it for quite a while. He needs to be hospitalized ASAP." Byakuya blinked in shock, but it soon turned to anger. Why hadn't the idiot said anything?! Everybody's attention was again snapped as Ichigo sat up, obviously struggling.

"No, I won't go to the fourth just yet. I have to tell you my story. I am tired of holding it in. Just let me tell it, please.." was the man's request. Unohona seemed conflicted, before she nodded. Ichigo took a deep breath, before launching into his story.

"As I was saying. I was a 15 year old teen, able to speak to ghosts because of my high reiatsu. But since I had no control over my power, as I didn't know of it existance, I attracted hollows like a magnet. My high reiatsu was a result of my parents union, one Masaki Kurosaki, one of the last pureblood Quincies, and my father, Isshin Kurosaki, better known as Shiba Isshin, a member of the Royal Guard. They met because of a hollow which Aizen had experimented on..." the captains were taken on a roller coaster of a journey of revelations. Byakuya had to stifle gasps of shock several times. Others were not as good with self-control. Especially Komamura seemed to be surprised when Ichigo revealed that the captain of the 7th had let go of his disguise in the future, and had been accepted for his looks. The man, revealed to be a were-fox, took off his disguise then, his belief in the truth of Ichigo's seemingly crazy story strengthened when the orange haired man just gave a weak thumbs up.

"...and then Kisuke shoved a small black box into my hands, and the next thing I know, I wake up on a futon in a stranger's house." Ichigo finished his story, letting the captains mull over the information he'd let them in on. Shunsui just smiled, as if one of the greater mysteries of the universe had been solved.

"Ah, now I see why your aura put me off. Really, I should's guessed that the strange reiatsu you emitted was because of your hollow-zanpakouto and the watered down version of the Quincy King in your head, not because you were a demon sent from hell to exterminate the existance of the Soul Soceity." Ichigo (and the rest of the room) blinked, before smirking, as if remembering something. Knowing what they did he probably was.

"You were always a right bastard Shunsui, even after Juuhabach cut off your tongue." with that, the orange haired man fainted.

And all Hell broke loose.

Courtesy Kaien, of course.

§ Fourth division, Ichigo's room, three days later §

One captain of the 10th squad opened his eyes blearily. The last thing he remembered was...ah, he'd told his friends of his past. And then fainted. Ichigo frowned. He'd never thought that his 'light fever' was that. Though he'd never had an actual fever to compare with before this, but still, his father had been a doctor, idiot though he was. The prodigious war hero ran a frustrated hand through his hair, which he noticed was in a braid. Now that he noticed, he was wearing different clothes as well. Weird. Ichigo's attention was brought to his surroundings. He immediately noticed Byakuya and Kaien dozing off in chairs beside his bed. Ichigo was slightly shocked to see them there.

The war hero was a bit nervous to confront them, if he was honest. He had lied to Kaien, and the man had taken him in as his brother, though he was related, he'd still lied to him. And swindling a Clan Head was a crime no matter how you looked at it. And Byakuya...well, he was Ichigo's best friend. But he was also a version of the man who'd willingly given up his sister for execution.

Suddenly the door opened, revealing a slightly disheveled Unohona. The woman looked dead tired, before she noticed that Ichigo was awake. A smile made its way to her face. Ichigo hesitantly smiled. Unohona's smile turned scary. Ichigo flinched inwardly. In his inner world, Shiro cursed. Colourfully.

"Ah, Shiba-taichou, you are finally awake. After three days of constant healing, and I mean constant, you are finally, finally awake. Do you have any idea what you put your family, friends, division and even your fangirls through? Or for that matter, what you put me through? I thought you died at least ten times every. . I don't know how long you were bearing that fever, but it must have been at least three months. And you were terribly underweight as well. Though it might not have shown on your body, you were almost anorexic. Now, you are to take a nice, long vacation. And you will follow my meal plan for the entirety of it. Healer's orders. Am I clear?" As the temprature seemed to have dropped to arctic levels, Ichigo thought it was in his best interest to nod frantically. Which he did. Unohona seemed satisfied, before her visage softened.

"I know that you have been through a lot, Shiba-taichou. And I know that you are a very independant individual. But everybody needs a shoulder to cry on. Please be aware that you are surrounded by people willing to lend you their shoulder, their sword, and give their life for you. Now, you are to take these medicines..." Ichigo hid his surprise from hearing this from Unohona of all of people. A small snort brought the orange haired man out of his reverie. It seemed like Kaien and Byakuya were awake. Both of them looked dead on their feet. And they weren't even standing. Ichigo felt a pang of guilt.

"Kaien, Byakuya, I am sorry for what I put you through. And that I lied to you as well, of course, but you have to understand that I-" another snort cut Ichigo's apology off. The Shiba Heir sent a nervous look towards Kaien, who looked impassive and unimpressed. Even Byakuya looked a little disappointed. Ichigo's heart fell.

"I am not disappointed that you didn't tell me about your sickness and about your past. But what does piss me off is that you don't trust us enough to tell if you are having a good or a bad day. That you don't take care of yourself. That you won't stop until you are on the ground bleeding from a hundred wounds. That WE CAN HANDLE IT! THAT WE WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU!" Kaien was breathing heavily at the end of his rant. Ichigo looked a littlr lost, and a bit angry.

"Do you think I wanted to hold it in for so long? Of course I am going to fear losing you! I fucking lost everyone! Every. Single. Person. Just because I wasn't strong enough to protect them. Because they were my weakness. And both Juuhabach and Aizen exploited that! You know, I saw the fucking bastard kill my sisters. My sweet, sweet, Yuzu and strong, strong, Karin! Do you know what Aizen said before I killed him? Standing knee-deep in the blood of my friends, he told me how he r-r-raped my little sister! If you think I didn't tell you because you couldn't handle it, it's because you can't! You don't know how it is to live with a war zone in your head!" Pin drop silence followed Ichigo's statement. Kaien looked shellshocked. Ichigo breathed deeply, before giving a sarcastic smile.

"You know, my inner world was beautiful, filled with tall buildings. Now it's a wasteland, barely enough to accomedate my spirits. I didn't tell because I thought you couldn't handle it. I know you can't handle it. Everybody went insane at some point. Me, I went on killing sprees bloody enough to land me in Hell for eternity. And I don't want to see the same happen. Not again." the time traveler's was contorted in grief. The silence was heart breaking. Byakuya reached out and touched Ichigo's shoulder.

"You're right. We aren't able to handle that. But we're here for you. Let it all out, Ichigo...brother." Kaien chipped in.

"No matter how many wars you've lived through, Ichigo, you'll always be my baby brother. Nothing going to change that." Ichigo stared at them with an anguished look, before he threw his arms around his brothers.

And he let it all out.

Next: Central 46 part 1

AN: I was honestly not trying to write something this emotional...it kinda sorta wrote itself tbh. -_-'. Please forgive me if I disappointed any of you though! not that chipper a chappie...yeah, I know, horrible pun. Anyway, 300+ follows! And almost 200 favs as well! And 150+ reviews! I love you, I honestly do. Please review, because

Reviews are that medicine that writers don't deserve, but the medicine they need.

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