The morning sun cast a golden glow over Karakura Town, painting the rooftops with streaks of amber and soft blue. A warm breeze drifted through the streets, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and freshly baked bread from a nearby shop. Today wasn't just any ordinary day—it was the day Ichigo and Uryuu were supposed to fight the Menos.
Inside a modest apartment, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Shinichi stood in front of the mirror, a towel draped around his neck as he wiped droplets from his face. His muscles ached slightly from last night's training, but the sensation was familiar, almost comforting.
Meanwhile, Rukia was frantically rummaging through her closet, clothes flying in every direction as she searched for her school uniform. "Hurry up, doofus!" she yelled over her shoulder, her voice laced with impatience.
From the bathroom, Shinichi yelled back, "You're going to Urahara's, right? Why do I need to hurry up? I'm going to school."
Rukia finally paused, turning to glance at him. "Oh, I didn't tell you? You're coming with me too."
Shinichi's hand froze mid-motion as he was drying his hair. He slowly turned his head toward her, his eyes narrowing. "Wait, what? No!"
He really didn't want to see Urahara again. After their last encounter, he had decided that the guy was way too fishy for his liking. The way Urahara had looked at him, like he knew something Shinichi didn't—it still bothered him. He wasn't eager to experience that again.
Rukia, still buttoning up her uniform, shot him a look. Not just any look—that look. The one that promised suffering if he refused.
Shinichi hesitated for a second longer before groaning in defeat. "Damn it... alright, let's go."
The walk to Urahara's shop was quiet, the early morning streets still waking up. When they finally arrived, the familiar sight of the humble candy store greeted them. The noren curtains swayed slightly as the door creaked open, and almost immediately, the man himself appeared.
Urahara Kisuke stepped out with his usual relaxed posture, his striped bucket hat tilted slightly forward, his ever-present folding fan tapping lightly against his shoulder. A sly smile stretched across his lips as he took in his visitors. "Oh! Kuchiki-san! Kisaragi-san! What brings you to my humble abode?"
Rukia sighed, clearly in no mood for his theatrics. "Urahara, do you know anything about the Quincy?"
The moment the words left her mouth, the atmosphere shifted.
Urahara's smile faltered—not completely gone, but noticeably weaker. The lighthearted air around him dissipated, replaced by something heavier, something more serious.
His voice lost its usual playfulness as he spoke. "We should probably head inside for this..."
---
The tension in the air was palpable as Ichigo stood face-to-face with Ishida, the cool afternoon breeze rustling through their clothes. The rooftop they stood on overlooked Karakura Town, the city blissfully unaware of the clash about to unfold.
Ichigo furrowed his brows. "How did you know I was behind you?"
Ishida smirked, adjusting his glasses with a practiced motion. "You're like a leaking faucet when it comes to reiatsu, Kurosaki. It's painfully easy to sense your presence. In fact..." His smirk widened. "I knew you were a Shinigami the very day you appeared at school after receiving your powers."
Ichigo's eyes widened slightly. "What?.."
Ishida tilted his head slightly, amused. "You don't even know the basics of being a Shinigami, do you? Look at this."
He extended his hand, and suddenly, bands of white spiritual energy materialized around him, glowing softly against his hand. Within those swirling white bands, a single red band pulsed with distinct energy. Ishida reached forward, grasping it between his fingers.
"The white bands are normal reiatsu," he explained. "But the red ones... they belong to Shinigami."
With a flick of his wrist, the bands dissipated into the noon air. Ishida lifted his gaze back to Ichigo, his smirk never wavering. "Come on, Kurosaki... Let's have our duel. Right here. Right now."
Ichigo scoffed, crossing his arms. "Do you really think I'm going to fight you? This is stupid. There's nothing to gain from it."
Ishida chuckled, pushing up his glasses as they glinted under the sunlight. "Oh, I get it. Your powers are borrowed from Kuchiki-san, aren't they? That must mean you have to follow every single one of her orders, huh? Like a good little soldier?"
Ichigo's scowl deepened. That remark hit a nerve. His jaw clenched, his fingers twitching as frustration boiled beneath his skin. He hated being underestimated.
Without another word, Ichigo grabbed Kon, forcefully shoved his hand inside its mouth, and yanked out the Gikongan. Without hesitation, he popped it into his mouth and swallowed.
In an instant, his soul separated from his body, his Shinigami form standing tall while Kon's voice whined in protest from within his human vessel.
Ichigo exhaled sharply, gripping his zanpakutō. "Try me, asshole."
Ishida, now fully satisfied with Ichigo's reaction, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, unassuming item. He held it up between two fingers, letting Ichigo get a good look at it.
"Our duel isn't a direct fight between us, Kurosaki," he said calmly. "This right here is a Hollow bait. The one who kills the most Hollows... wins."
Before Ichigo could even respond, Ishida crushed the bait in his palm. A dark energy pulsed outward, spreading rapidly through the air like ink in water.
Then, the screaming began.
Hollows started emerging all over town, their monstrous howls echoing through the streets as portals tore open in the sky. The spiritual disturbance spread like wildfire, sending shivers through the night.
Ichigo's heart dropped. He turned sharply toward Ishida, rage flashing in his eyes. "HEY! THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN YOU AND ME! WHY THE HELL DID YOU PUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK?!"
Ishida remained unfazed, adjusting his gloves as his bow materialized in a bright flash of blue. "Don't worry, Kurosaki. I'll kill every single one of them."
He glanced sideways at Ichigo. "By the way... Hollows are more attracted to people with reiatsu. Tell me... is there anyone in your family who can see ghosts or Hollows?"
A cold chill ran down Ichigo's spine. The realization hit him like a truck. His eyes widened in horror as his breath caught in his throat.
"No... Karin..."
Without another word, Ichigo turned on his heel and sprinted toward his house, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum.
---
Back at Urahara's shop, Shinichi and Rukia sat across from the eccentric shopkeeper, the dim glow of lanterns casting flickering shadows on the wooden floor. Urahara leaned forward slightly, his fan resting against his shoulder as he began to speak.
"A long time ago... there was a tribe. They wielded bows and arrows made entirely of reiatsu. They were called the Quincy."
His voice was uncharacteristically serious, a stark contrast to his usual playful demeanor. Shinichi and Rukia listened intently as he continued.
"The Quincy are fundamentally different from the Shinigami. Shinigami cleanse the souls of Hollows, guiding them to the Soul Society. But the Quincy? They don't purify Hollows. They eradicate them." He tapped his fan lightly against the wooden table. "They believe they are avenging their fallen comrades by doing so."
Rukia frowned, processing the information. "But... if they were just fighting Hollows, why was that a problem?"
Urahara's gaze darkened slightly. "Because their methods disrupted the balance between the worlds. When a Shinigami cleanses a Hollow, the soul is sent where it belongs. But when a Quincy kills a Hollow, that soul is completely erased. If left unchecked, the natural order would have collapsed." He exhaled deeply before delivering the final blow. "For this reason... the Shinigami slaughtered the entire Quincy tribe. They were wiped out. It's believed that no Quincy exists today."
Silence fell over the room, the weight of Urahara's words settling heavily in the air.
Rukia, wide-eyed, finally broke the quiet. "T-That's... How did I not know this?"
Shinichi leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. "Woah... I definitely didn't know that."
Urahara rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. "But now you're telling me there's a Quincy named Uryuu Ishida? That's... very interesting."
Before anyone could dwell on the revelation, the shrill beep of Rukia's Shinigami cell phone pierced the silence.
She immediately pulled it out, only for the beeping to stop abruptly. A second later, it beeped again. Then stopped. Then another beep—then silence again.
Confusion flickered across Rukia's face. "H-How are so many Hollows appearing all of a sudden...?"
Shinichi's eyes narrowed as realization dawned on him. His fingers curled into fists.
So it's begun...
---
At the school gym, Tatsuki was practicing her karate skills, her sharp movements cutting through the still air as she landed precise strikes against the training dummy. The rhythmic sound of her punches echoed across the empty space. As she took a brief pause to catch her breath, her gaze flickered to the side, where two spirits were engaged in conversation. It wasn't an unfamiliar sight—ever since that strange day at Orihime's house, she had been seeing spirits more clearly.
As she observed them, Orihime and Chizuru approached, their voices breaking her concentration.
"Oh, Tatsuki-chan! Practicing even now, huh?" Orihime said with her usual bright energy.
Tatsuki wiped some sweat from her brow and smiled. "Yeah... the tournaments are coming up, so I can't really slack off."
As they continued chatting, a strange sensation crept up Tatsuki's spine. An unnatural presence. Something evil was watching them.
Suddenly, a sharp screech split the air, rattling the gymnasium. The windows shattered into shards of glass, cascading to the floor in a deafening crash. A monstrous Hollow materialized right in front of them, its grotesque form towering over the three girls. The air grew heavy with spiritual pressure.
Tatsuki's muscles tensed. The Hollow didn't hesitate—it launched a bullet-like attack straight at them. Without thinking, Tatsuki shoved Orihime and Chizuru out of the way. "Quick! Get out of here! Run!"
Orihime and Chizuru scrambled to their feet, bolting towards the exit. But the Hollow wasn't finished. Another attack fired through the air, aimed directly at Chizuru.
A strangled cry escaped her lips as the attack struck her arm. She collapsed, clutching her wound, groaning in pain.
Orihime gasped, immediately kneeling beside her. "Chizuru-chan! Are you okay?!"
Chizuru forced a weak smile through gritted teeth. "Yeah... ugh... I'm okay, Orihime... just get out of here..."
But before Orihime could move, Chizuru's body twitched unnaturally. Then, like a puppet controlled by invisible strings, she lunged at Orihime, sending her flying across the gym.
Tatsuki's eyes widened. "Orihime!"
Before she could react, more students emerged from the school, their movements eerily stiff, their expressions blank. Their eyes held no recognition—only obedience to an unseen master. They moved as one, like marionettes, all converging on Orihime.
A deep, guttural laugh erupted from the Hollow. "Hahaha! My attack allows me to control the bodies of my victims! This is the end for you little girls! HAHAHAHA!"
A student lunged toward Orihime, arms outstretched to grab her. But before he could get close, a powerful, violent kick slammed into his chest, sending him flying backward.
Tatsuki stood protectively in front of Orihime, her stance firm, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her gaze burned with fierce determination.
"You won't even touch a hair on her head while I'm standing here."
Tatsuki's stance was unwavering as she took a deep breath, steadying herself against the wave of students charging at her like mindless puppets. Her sharp eyes darted between them, analyzing their movements, predicting their attacks before they even made them.
A student lunged—she sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing his wrist and twisting it before delivering a brutal knee to his gut, sending him crumbling to the ground. Another came from her left—she spun and swept their legs out from under them, following up with a devastating axe kick to their chest.
One by one, they fell. Tatsuki's speed and precision were unparalleled, her fists striking like iron hammers. A perfectly executed roundhouse kick sent two students crashing into the gym wall, leaving cracks in the wood. Sweat dripped from her forehead, but she refused to stop—Orihime needed her. And she would not fail.
But even she had limits.
Her breathing grew heavy. Her arms ached. The controlled students kept coming. Her body was slowing down, exhaustion creeping into her limbs. Then—
A cold grip latched onto her from behind.
A moment of hesitation. That was all the Hollow needed.
Pain exploded through her body as the Hollow's bullet-like attack struck her. A searing sensation overtook her nerves as she collapsed onto her knees, her vision blurring. Her body was no longer her own—it moved against her will, marching toward Orihime under the Hollow's command.
Orihime's eyes widened in terror. "Tatsuki-chan! No!"
Tatsuki fought against the invisible strings controlling her, trembling violently. "I... will protect her..." Her voice was strained, but she forced herself to turn against her captor. With sheer willpower, she swung her fist toward the Hollow—
Only to be sent hurtling back by a vicious counterattack.
She crashed against the ground, motionless. Her body refused to move. She tried to scream, to stand, to fight—but nothing responded. She was helpless.
The Hollow chuckled, stepping toward Orihime. With a sick grin, it struck her, sending her flying across the gym floor.
"AHHHH!" Orihime's scream of agony rang through Tatsuki's ears, her mind flooding with memories.
The day Orihime lost her brother. The tears she shed. The silent promise Tatsuki made to herself.
I swore... I swore that I would always protect you.
Her fingers curled into fists against the cold floor.
Orihime... you deserve happiness. You deserve to smile...
Her knuckles turned white as she clenched them harder.
And I...
She slammed her fist into the ground, her body trembling.
"WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN!"
A deafening roar erupted from her throat as a strange golden aura exploded from her body. The ground cracked beneath her feet as her power surged uncontrollably, her muscles tightening with newfound strength.
Her pupils sharpened into slits, glowing crimson red. Her nails extended into razor-sharp claws. Her canines grew longer, resembling the fangs of a beast. The transformation was primal—terrifying.
Orihime gasped, eyes wide with shock. "Tatsuki-chan...?"
The Hollow barely had time to react before Tatsuki vanished.
BOOM!
In the blink of an eye, she reappeared in front of the Hollow, delivering a punch so powerful that it sent the monstrous creature rocketing across the gym, crashing through walls like paper. The force of the impact shook the entire building.
The Hollow groaned, barely registering what had just happened before Tatsuki appeared again, her movements animalistic. She pounced onto it, delivering a relentless barrage of punches and kicks, each strike shattering bones and tearing through flesh.
The creature howled in agony. It couldn't fight back—it had no chance.
Orihime watched in awe and horror as Tatsuki's wild attacks completely overpowered the Hollow. The sheer force of her strikes was unnatural, each blow leaving deep craters in the ground beneath them.
The Hollow tried to escape, but Tatsuki grabbed its face, slamming it into the floor with an earth-shattering impact. The creature let out a pained screech, coughing out blackened blood.
Tatsuki raised her clawed hand for the final blow, her glowing yellow aura swirling violently around her. She was like a predator—unstoppable, merciless.
Then—
The aura flickered.
Her claws retracted. Her eyes faded back to normal. The surge of power disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Her body wobbled. Then, she collapsed face-first onto the ground, unconscious.
The Hollow, now barely alive, coughed violently, its body broken and battered beyond recognition. But despite its condition, it let out a weak, bloodied laugh.
"Ughh... you had me scared there for a second, girl..." It coughed up more blood. "But now... I'll savor killing you... hahaha..."
It raised a clawed hand, ready to strike Tatsuki down while she lay defenseless.
"NO! LEAVE TATSUKI-CHAN ALONE!"
Orihime's voice echoed through the air, shaking with raw emotion. Her hairpins glowed brightly before separating into six ethereal beings—tiny, fairy-like creatures radiating spiritual energy.
Her power had awakened.
The Hollow turned, eyes widening in shock.
From here on, everything unfolded just as it did in the original timeline. Orihime, with her newfound ability, Shun Shun Rikka, would rise to protect her dear friend. But the emergence of Tatsuki's terrifying transformation was a major deviation from fate.
Shinichi Kisaragi had another problem on his hands now.