“So what is it you want me to try and find while I’m in there?” Ichigo asked as Tessai sat down some tea for him and Urahara.

Urahara picked up the small glass and sipped out of it.

“It’s not necessarily what I want you to find but more of what is going on. You see, fixing the Precipice World is for a reason because time flows through it and such.”

“Yeah, I remember. My old man stopped it from reaching me in order to buy me some time to learn how to do the Final Zangetsu.” Ichigo said, remembering how long it had seemed while he was there.

“Exactly. Time flows differently in there and thus is why The Cleaner is in place, to keep Soul Reapers from lingering and gaining powers beyond the control of the Soul Society. People like Aizen, who were already powerful, needn’t be held up in there to gain more power.”

Ichigo nodded, understanding their reasonings. Urahara’s though, he never could figure out. He was such a conniving man to be so trusting as well.

“So what are you wanting me to do?”

“I need you to just go in there and figure out what they are doing. I’ll send you through and all you have to do is run and when you see them, you’ll know to stop and just have a glance at what they are doing… Oh, and I want you to take a sample of the koryu so that I may study it a little.”

“Okay… When do you want me to make this little trip?”

“As soon as possible so today, preferably but if you have something to do then tomorrow will work as well.”

“And there’s no funny business, right? Just me taking a quick survey of what’s going on and a sample of the koryu?”

“That’s all I need.”

Ichigo thought about it for a moment and then nodded.

“Might as well get this over with.”

Urahara smiled and they went to his underground lair.

****************************************************** 

Ichigo adjusted his zanpakuto on his back and looked at Urahara as he looked at his Reishi machine and at his cane. He shrugged and thrust his zanpakuto into the air, turning the sword. A crude looking gate showed up and opened but it was dark. Ichigo looked at it and made a face at Urahara.

“You should be fine to just go through here. I apologize that I do not have any Hell’s Butterflies to greet you but since I have been banished from the Soul Society, I was not permitted to have complete access. This allows you to go straight into the Soul Society but you have to go through the Precipice World.”

He walked up to him and handed him a vial with some tongs at the end of it.

“When you get in there just take a little scoop and then run.”

Ichigo nodded, taking the tongs and breathed in. He knew this was a very bad idea but if Urahara could tell him when the feeling he had was, he would be more at ease. He braced himself and ran into Senkaimon.

As soon as the darkness enveloped him he began to run a little, knowing that he was in the Precipice World. He stuck the bottle into the roryu, thick goopy smoke looking stuff filling the vial in an instant. He wondered how Urahara was going to be testing it when he saw a light flash behind him. He looked back and was surprised to find The Cleaner heading toward him full force.

“What the- I thought this was gone! They fixed it already?!” he yelled at no one as he ran as fast as he could toward where the opening was. It was starting to close and he pushed himself so that he didn’t get stuck in the Precipice World forever and finally felt air around him. But what he didn’t realize was that he was a few hundred feet in the air and yelled as his balance wavered and he began to fall. He tried to catch onto the air but the force of gravity on his falling made it impossible to do.

He finally found a side pocket of air and pushed up against it, propelling him in a straight line until he found another and another as he slowed down. He sighed and looked around a little. He was surprised that the construction of the Soul Society had been so quick considering the damage that had been done. He knew the buildings were made of Reishi but he didn’t think they’d have repaired themselves that easily.

He suddenly felt the presence of many people around him and turned to find Yoruichi looking at him but she was dressed in her stealth gear and he hair was different.

“Yoruichi! Boy, am I glad to see you!”

“Silence! I did not permit you to speak. How do you know my name?”

“What do you mean? Yoruichi, it’s me, Ichigo Kurosaki…”

“Kurosaki… Kurosaki… I don’t know that name. You are not a Soul Reaper that I know.”

“What do you- I come here all the time! I’m friends with Renji, Rukia, Toshiro, Matsumoto, you! I helped defeat Aizen for God’s sake!”

Yoruichi narrowed her eyes at him and in a flash had his hands behind his back.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know any of those names. As for Lieutenant Aizen, he has not done anything to be defeated for.”

“L- What? Let me go!”

“What’s this in your hand anyway?” a young woman asked, grabbing the tongs and the vial.

Ichigo turned his head and saw that the girl was Soi Fon but she looked so different than before. He was thoroughly confused and just wanted to get away from them. If he could just get back to the Senkaimon, he’d go home and leave all of this craziness behind.

He struggled with his hands against Yoruichi and finally broke free of her grip. He was just about to leap away when he heard some use Kido on him and he almost fell flat on his face. He cursed, feeling the uncomfortable and forceful kido pull his arms behind him.

“Now then, what was your name again, kid?”

“Ichigo… Ichigo Kurosaki…” he grunted, still trying to get out of the kido.

“Ichigo Kurosaki, huh… You look a little like someone I know. Eh, Soi Fon, doesn’t he look like Kaien?”

“A little.”

Kaien? Wasn’t that Rukia’s lieutenant’s name? Didn’t he turn into an Arrancar? he thought, looking around. As Yoruichi’s back was turned from him, he quickly scooted away and finally got up on his feet and ran.

****************************************************** 

How long he ran he didn’t know but it was harder when the kido was keeping his arms folded tightly behind him. Once he figured he was far enough away from the Stealth Division, he grunted and maneuvered around until he broke the kido seal and massaged his arms. He looked around and found that there was a big wall behind him with a path going one way and another path beside it. He didn’t know what the wall had behind it but it was probably safer than having Yoruichi’s men out to look for her. Ichigo flew into the air to jump over the wall. What’s with her anyway? What did she mean that Aizen was a lieutenant? What is going on?

Ichigo wasn’t watching where he was landing and found himself hitting a tree branch and falling onto the ground, hitting his head. He hissed in pain and rubbed it a little when he felt someone staring at him. He opened his eyes and saw a young boy looking over him with curious brown eyes, black hair pulled back into a ponytail.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“Who are you?” Ichigo asked in return.

“I asked you first. You look like a peasant or something… I’m from noble birth so you better tell me or I’ll use my sword.”

Ichigo got up and pulled out his zanpakuto.

“Kid, I have my own sword. I just came to hide out a little so I can go back to where I belong.”

“Wow! What a big zanpakuto! Can I touch it?”

“No! Beat it, kid…”

“You can’t talk to the next leader of the Kuchiki Clan like that.”

Ichigo stopped walking and turned to the little boy slowly.

“What?”

“I’m going to be the next leader of the Kuchiki Clan.” The boy said proudly, crossing his arms.

“Wh- what was your name again?”

“Byakuya. Byakuya Kuchiki.”