Chapter Fourteen:

"Somehow, this place is safe and sound." Ishida started looking around surprised while also startling the two on the ground.

"What are you talking about!? You planted the seed yourself when you started the fight with Ichigo! You're trying to kill everyone in town!" Kon exclaimed alerting Rukia of the reason hollows were now swarming Karakura town. Slowly she stood keeping her eyes on the boy the entire time trying to anticipate any future attacks.

"I see, so this is your handy work after all." she acknowledged him while he merely looked at her unimpressed. He was fully aware that they were being watched and internally he was debating on if he should point out the person or not.

"Pleasure to meet you, is what I am supposed to say considering this is the first time I have spoken to you privately like this, Kuchiki Rukia.-" he then glanced over at Kon who was in Ichigo's body. Ishida looked thoughtful for a moment seeming to remember something. "You there, the one who entered Kurosaki's body, what you say is correct. I did start this fight however, I will not allow a single person in this town to die. Even if Kurosaki Ichigo dies, I will protect the people in this town with my life! With him, no, with a soul reaper watching, I will keep protecting everyone from hollows! If I cannot do that, then this fight has no meaning." he said sadly making Izumi once again feel bad for him. She had taken part in his race's disappearance all those years ago.

"What are you after?" Rukia asked confused and bewildered with everything the boy had just said. Yes she had just been told of his race's massacre, but she didn't truly think that such a young Quincy would have so much hate in his heart.

Just as she had finished speaking the hollow that Izumi had originally believed would kill Rukia, stood up behind them surprising all parties. Ishida quickly drew his bow but since he was so worn out from all of his battles he was a few seconds too slow. Before he could even shoot an arrow the hollow was cut in half.

...

"Wait just a moment please!" Orihime huffed out stopped Urahara in his explanation slightly surprising him. He really wasn't used to anyone but Izumi interrupting his speeches; he thought of the girl for a moment and a deep sigh left his lips.

"What's wrong? Can't believe me, is it too outrageous?" he stood still waiting on their answer, he knew it would be a lot to take in considering they were just mere humans. He also knew that he couldn't push too hard with his information since they very well could reject Izumi as a friend and shun her completely or spread rumors about her. He watched as Chad grabbed the bridge of his nose trying to keep himself calm and Orihime looked terrified and exasperated all at once.

"Of course it is, soul reapers and hollows and other things? Things about Kurosaki and Izumi-chan? You can't just say this stuff out of the blue and tell us to believe it." she said timidly while looking at the man in the hat like he was crazy.

"Do you deny it? If so, you have the order wrong. The monsters with holes in their chests who targeted you and your friends today were hollows. If you wish to deny the information I have given to you here then you must also deny the pain, and fear you both felt today." he watched as both seemed completely shocked at his statement.

"Kurosaki Ichigo certainly has uncommon spiritual pressure for a soul reaper; Yamamato Izumi has been suppressing his power as much as possible for years. However, his art of handling that abundant power is awkward; much too awkward for even Izumi to suppress it all. Hence, without resolve, the remaining uncontrolled bit just pours out wildly. That leaked spiritual power is so thick that it can easily condense and affect every single spirit that interacts with him. And consequently that is what happened to the two of you; Izumi has kept close watch on both of you for years after your first encounter with Kurosaki Ichigo. With that being said though, she has also been masking and regulating your spiritual powers as well. Please try to remember, in each of your pasts, how often was it that you encountered the soul reaper forms of both Yamamto Izumi and Kurosaki Ichigo?!" Understanding and surprised rested on both Chad and Orihime's face as they both began to recall seeing Izumi and Ichigo wearing dark strange clothing.

...

Back to where Izumi and the others were, the smoke clears from the evaporated hollow revealing a smiling Ichigo.

"I finally found you, Ishida!" a grim smile rested on his face as Ishida acknowledged his presence.

...

Looking back at the conversation in the Urahara shop Chad and Orihime stared at the unknown man in front of them not wanting to believe what he was telling them.

"Yes, the power you both were born with was pulled out from the depths of your souls because of coming in contact with Kurosaki Ichigo. These are your natural powers!" Silence engrossed the room as Urahara's words began to sink in. Both parties stared back at each other while Urahara patently waited for them to ask questions.

"We came in contact with Kurosaki Ichigo and our powers were drawn out? And you're saying that Izumi-chan has been suppressing our energy since then?" Orihime questioned trying to wrap her head around the ideas he man was giving her. She began shaking as concern raked through her body. When Urahara nodded to her questioned the shaking became worse as she began to doubt the friendship she had with her childhood protector. "Wait a second, I'm not sure I get it." she drawled off making Urahara aware of her unease and he guessed the girl was doubting everything she knew.

"It's alright if you don't understand. Your transformations are not a disease one comes down with. It's simply that you have been given the key to a door that has appeared before you. If it is unnecessary for you to know the cause, then it's unnecessary to for you to dwell on one's misfortunes. With the key in your hands, it is up to both of you whether to open the door or to keep it closed. If the door is opened, then it is also up to you whether you step foot in the open room or not." Urahara stood quietly for a moment listening as the sound of running feet became clear.

"Sir, the sky crest has begun its convergence!" Tessai pulled the door open before kneeling to the floor. Silence followed as Urahara thought over the new development.

"I see, have the preparations been completed?" he stood and looked down at his underling for a moment and almost sighed when Tessai nodded his head. "Shall we go then?" he began walking toward the door and only stopped when Orihime objected. "Are you coming along? I shall let you watch the battle, I want you to see for yourselves the world that you are about to step into, and the enemies that you must fight."

He continued walking until he stood in the courtyard of the Urahara shop seeing Uryuu and Jinta holding long wrapped boxes on their shoulders while Tessai stood beside them waiting for their orders.

...

Focusing back on Ichigo and the others in the other part of town. Ichigo was currently belittling Kon for not coming back with Rukia's phone when he had asked him to. He had him by the shirt screaming in his face while Rukia attempted to break them apart. The entire group ignored Ishida while Izumi watched him like a hawk. She knew Ishida's main objective was to kill hollows and prove that Quinces were superior but she also knew that the boy disliked being blatantly ignored. So when he drew his bow to seem threatening she was ready to jump in if he shot, but she highly doubted that he would.

Though she was mistaken when his finger accidentally slipped and a actual arrow went racing toward the oblivious orange haired boy. Ishida tried to warn him and Izumi had taken off to destroy the arrow; she was just a step from destroying it with a swing on her sword when Ichigo had spun around and destroyed it himself. No one noticed the girl as she stood mid strike just a few seconds from also being hit with Ichigo's sword.

"That's right, you get it. This is a battle between you and me.-" when he turned completely he finally noticed his best friend who still stood with one foot in the air and her arm up in a swing with her zanpaktou. "Izumi?!!" he all but screeched falling back onto his butt in surprise. A small blush creeped onto her face as she quickly put one of her zanpaktous away and her hands went behind her back and a nervous smile covered her lips.

"Uh, hi?" she smiled and nervously laughed as she rubbed the back of her head. She only acted this way with Ichigo and usually it was a rare sight. The first time he had seen this side of her he had caught her stealing a cookie at his home when she had stayed over one night. Being polite she hadn't ate her fill at dinner time and was extremely hungry in the middle of the night and he caught her when she had been looking for food.

He scrambled to his feet and pointed his finger at her accusingly. "Where the hell have you been?! You've been missing for days! Yuzu has been leaving you food outside your door everyday hoping you would come home!" he started yelling at her as she looked embarrassed. Did the young girl think that she was a stray cat? That if she just left food outside that she would just magically appear? An image of Izumi in cat form crossed her mind before she pushed it away and shook her head. Now was not the time for that.

Before he could continue lecturing her for running away, Kon called attention to the swelling crack in the sky startling them all. All the embarrassment drained from Izumi's face as she looked in the opposite direction of the crack.