137 Final Days Among Witches

(Isle of Skye)

"Sirzechs Lucifer. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Ichigo asked the crimson haired devil that appeared before him as he was leaving Dun Scaith, a hand already on the hilt of one of his sealed Zangetsu and ready to release the power of its Shikai. The leader of the Devils quickly smiled and raised his hands in a surrendering manner, hoping to calm the hybrid.

"Easy there Ichigo Kurosaki," Sirzechs told him, "this place is by all accounts neutral ground. There's no reason for us to fight." He lowered his hands and returned to looking serious. "Besides, if we did, are you certain the damage would be contained?" The Shinigami took a moment to consider that before letting his hand leave the sword hilt and immediately manifesting a bow with Reishi. He made no move and the devil seemed to resigned himself to this being the best he was going to get. "Very well. I'm here to give you a warning Soul Reaper. The elders of my race are trying to spite you."

"Explain." Ichigo demanded, thinking back to the previous meeting he had with the Devils and remembering how infuriated the elder members seemed to be when they were all but exiled from the country.

"Do you know of the war of the Biblical Faction?" Sirzechs asked. "The one that left my people nearing extinction?"

"I've heard of it, and your way to replenish your numbers." The hybrid answered, remembering what Amaterasu told him some time ago.

"Yes," the devil pulled out a red pawn chess piece and looked at it, "the 'Evil Piece' system my friend Ajuka created. It's not popular among the older generations due to so many of them being racial purists that disapprove of the very notion that anything less than a pure blood could possibly become a high ranking devil." He pocketed the piece and returned his attention to Ichigo. "But our dwindling numbers and abysmal reproduction rate forced them to give their approval. Don't get me wrong they tried everything they could but we don't have the best luck in making children, even under ideal circumstances. We live very long lives and don't conceive too often."

"Get to the point, I have things to do." Ichigo ordered, his bow becoming more solid and gaining a bladed edge along the body.

"Right. Point is that the system intends for the reincarnated devils to be subordinate to the master that created them or 'King' of the peerage. But sometimes, due to either the master's incompetence or the reincarnate's greed or lust for power, they rebel and become 'Rogue' or 'Stray Devils'. The 'incident' that led to the Naberius and Halphas clan's attempt at genocide was because one such stray, the former Nekoshou turned devil known as Kuroka. These creatures are generally to be killed on sight due to how dangerous they are, but the elders are so insulted that they seemed to be shepherding the strays into Japan." Ichigo scanned Sirzechs for any sense of lies, keeping in mind that he is a devil, but he was more concerned with how familiar Sirzechs sounded.

"Hard to see the risk for them." The Soul Reaper said, dispelling his bow and taking a more relaxed stance. "They cause trouble for Japan by sending their biggest problems, something we'd be obligated to kill because devil activity is forbidden outside of Kuoh Town. Once in Japan, they'd become our problem and we've already proven our effectiveness against your kind. They'd be cause us trouble, but do so outside the off limits area, and they could paint it as doing their duty with no risk to other devils."

"A rather annoying lot." Sirzechs admitted with a sigh. "I've wanted to rid myself of them so many times but I just can't."

"Makes me glad my mentor got rid of that particular headache when he did." Ichigo said, causing the devil to smile at the hybrid

"That's a story I'd like to hear sometime. Could be useful." He said to Ichigo.

"Because the last two times we've met haven't been the best times to chat have they?" The Shinigami said, making the Devil chuckle.

"I was certainly surprised the first time I saw you. I never imagined a human soul could possess such might, nor gain Hell's favor."

"Now that we've established you were in Hell during that incident with Kokuto, tell me what I don't know about Hell." Ichigo requested as Sirzechs dropped the smile once more. "I know it punishes the wicked and doesn't like living souls or the innocent within it."

"Then you sadly only have basic knowledge." Sirzechs sighed. "You've been the overseer of Hell for years and it hasn't told you anything yet." He held up his hand as a red mist formed and began showing images like a movie. "I only know so much myself, but I'll tell you what I can." The images showed a world in chaos, filled with normal sized humanoids and towering Hollow like creatures with rings on their bodies. "I never paid much attention to this when I first heard it, but Hell is old. The last remnant of the original world of chaos before the Soul King was used to separate the world into its different realms." In the mist, it appeared that the world of the Living was made to serve as a seal for Hell as the Hollow beasts were locked within. "When that was done, the world of humans was used as a barrier between Hell and the rest of existence, eventually being used to torment and break the worst souls of mortal kind." The levels of Hell formed with the Kushanada attacking and devouring the sinners. "However this barrier has a relationship with the balance of souls, if it gets disrupted then the beasts of Hell may once again roam the Living World." Now the image showed beings with wings; black demonic wings, black angel wings, and white angel wings. "When the war happened, the balance was disrupted but since the Shinigami were isolationist at the time and this war was outside of their territory they either didn't know or didn't seem to care."

"Probably the latter." Ichigo interjected. "I've spent a lot of my early career as a Soul Reaper cleaning up their messes."

"That sounds familiar." Sirzechs said with a smile before returning to the history. "In that war, the original Lucifer lost his life and the Devils were in disarray while the Hell Beast started roaming free and caused us no small measure of pain and grief." The image changed to Sirzechs with his veins turning pitch black while his skin shined golden. "Hell seemed to sense my intentions of remaking Devil society and my desire to do away with the monsters, offering me the power needed to convince the others to follow me while I restored the Balance of Souls as best I could. After that, I returned my focus to the Devils and thought that my power from Hell would be mine to use from then on. Instead it drained from me the moment I tried using it for something aside from punishing the damned or restoring Hell. Apparently, Hell likes you more than I." The image changed to when Ichigo was in Hell, sealing the gates once more. "My focus mainly with my faction, I only noticed all too late what happened with Kokuto and the other Togabito. By the time I found out about it, you already resolved the issue. During our talk, I placed the magic seal of the Gremory Family on your back with the intention of keeping an eye on you. Hell severed that connection while taking the time to ready your soul for becoming its new avatar, outright informing me that you were going to succeed me."

"What was it?" Ichigo asked the devil, curious as to why Hell favored him so much. "My power? My role as a Shinigami?"

"You're human." Sirzechs stated, surprising the hybrid. "Take a look at every mythology, at humanity. They may live short lives, but they shine brighter than any other. Gods, angels, devils, monsters, honestly we lack the burning desire of humanity to learn, to question, to further themselves for their ambitions." He smiled once more to Ichigo. "I'd love to be friends with you, Ichigo Kurosaki. The most interesting and wonderful human I've meet in centuries." Ichigo was ready to put out a hand in offer of that friendship. "I'm almost ready to beg you to become a member of my peerage as well!" And Ichigo scowled and started walking.

"Good-bye. Thanks for the information. I'm leaving." He said before disappearing in a burst of speed, leaving Sirzechs alone. He kept the smile on his face as he looked to where Ichigo disappeared.

"Almost Ichigo Kurosaki. But I'm not foolish enough to make a Devil that would definitely surpass and usurp me." He returned his gaze to the cloudy blue sky as a spell circle appeared at his feet. 'I hope we can become good friends though.' He thought before disappearing.

(Reverse London: Library)

"Ah. So that's why there's been those devil sightings but Cleria denies any involvement." Uryu said to his cousin over a phone, part of a conference call he was making to the Gotei and the Shinto Pantheon. Ichigo was in a quiet and isolated section of the library, between two selves of geography books, as he partook in the call. "Sorry Ichigo. The current overseer of Kuoh Town is Cleria Belial, nice girl that was getting swarmed with new and rather angry devil refugees. They're so paranoid they went to the only place deemed 'safe'."

"And here I thought we'd have enough troops for the Hollows," Kyoraku groaned out, "now we've got this to deal with. We need to step up our recruitment process AGAIN."

"The various Yokai can act as a buffer if the Gotei can supply the gear to fight the Stray Devils." Amaterasu added in. "Meanwhile, I'll do my part to try and improve the spiritual potential of the rest of my children. Uryu, can you increase the number of Quincy with that?"

"I'll do my part lady Amaterasu." Uryu continued. "In the meantime, I've got word from Mr. and Mrs. Sado, Chad and Jackie, that they've found Aura Michibane again."

"Who's th- CHAD GOT MARRIED!?" Ichigo shouted, just now hearing the news of his best friend.

"Aura Michibane, a rather unfortunate child of mine." Amaterasu started to answer, a tone of sadness and regret coloring her voice. "She was the daughter of a Fullbringer father and human mother, a mother she lost in childbirth while the father went mad with the intent to protect her, locking her in a basement for her childhood. The result was Aura's utter isolation from the rest of the world until her father's death by Tsunayashiro's machinations to wipe out the Fullbringers. Aura has no attachment to anything and only has the most basic ability of Fullbring to use in battle."

'I remember that girl.' Ichigo heard the voice of the Soul King in his mind. 'She had my Soul Chain. Most of my 'fragments' were responsible for many Fullbringers.'

"She has no specific Fullbring powers, but she's a master of that basic skill." Amaterasu continued. "If I had to give you an idea of her capability, I'd compare her to Sosuke Aizen."

'That's scary.' Ichigo thought before wondering if he could still utilize the powers of a Fullbringer. 'Maybe she can teach me.' "Now back to this 'Chad's married' thing?"

"Oh, yeah sometime last year they decided to get their marriage contract signed and only just told us after we told him about the kids." Uryu continued. "They're all doing fine but are wanting you to come visit so the kids can see their father. Unohana's pregnancy is coming along well too."

"A baby Kenpachi. That's terrifying." Ichigo said with a shudder.

"Indeed." Kyoraku added. "I'm tempted to make it an official order to have you finish your training ASAP and get here to keep them in check."

"I'll do what I can and I can make weekly visits back home for family reasons." Ichigo informed them of Scathach's last command. "I'll set some time aside to fight Zaraki. I get the feeling he needs a good and bloody fight."

"He does." Uryu confirmed. "I helped with Unohana's check-up and Zaraki seemed to be going through some kind of withdrawal. Actually, if you would, could you check up on the Pendragon family while you're still in London?"

"Pendragon? As in King Arthur?" Ichigo asked quickly. "That's... not as surprising as I thought it'd be. I really shouldn't be shocked by anything by this point."

"Indeed. Well, I call this meeting closed now." Kyoraku said before hanging up, prompting everyone else to do so.

"I'm starting to think I had an easier time in the Blood War." Ichigo groaned out as he shut off his phone and grabbed a couple of books detailing maps and routes from back to the Crusades up to modern day. 'I'll need to find the fastest route to Alamut.' He thought as he placed a small stack on a table before heading to the historical and mythology section. 'And since Scathach wants to check out any actual disturbance along the way, might as well brush up on what happened in those places along the way.' He reasoned as he collected another stack of books before heading to the table, finding Billy Banx Jr. waiting for him. Billy was a man in a green cap and jacket with very shaggy hair and a crooked cigarette in his mouth that held the position of chief among the Pipers Conservation division of Wing Bind. "Hello Banx."

"Hey there Ichigo." The man returned as Ichigo sat down and opened a few of the books, seeing the wizard pull out a box from his peripheral. "You going to be leaving us soon?" He guessed, looking at the various maps Ichigo had out.

"Yeah, I'll be leaving in maybe a week or two." Ichigo answered, looking over the history of trade routes and lore along the way to Alamut. "Very likely after I check on that Pendragon family Uryu asked me to." He finally looked up as Billy opened the box, revealing a sort of black flintlock pistol with a long barrel ending in a pair of white angular horns with a thick stock grip decorated with blue flames, a black can of spray paint with a skull on the body and another small booklet.

"The final decision is to keep Cinderella locked away inside that barrier here in Reverse London," Billy started explaining, "and Wing Bind will give their full support to the Soul Dragons Project in exchange." Ichigo took the gun and examined it, finding it fit his hand perfectly. "Your own Witch Kit gun and a spray can from Inks to utilize your Reiryoku. That booklet is a guide to the spells we utilize against dragons and often other witches and wizards." Billy then walked away for a moment and brought back another book that was labeled, 'Dragons of Myths'. "Here," he said while adding it to Ichigo's pile of books, "this might come in handy. Most of the 'dragons' we deal with are objects and animals infused with draconic energy, but creatures like Cinderella are the genuine article. Maybe you'll come across some of these big names in your travels." He said before leaving. Ichigo looked at his pile again and let his head fall to the table with a groan.

"I'm going to need coffee."

(Front London)

'Dragon kings, evil dragons, Marchen, heavenly dragons, the supposed dragon god Ophis, what else can I expect in this world?' The hybrid thought to himself as he came to an impressive and lavish Victorian manor. He took out his cellphone to confirm that this was the address Uryu gave him for the Pendragon home and proceeded to the door, knocking on it with the back of his knuckles. The door was opened by a maid with brown hair tied in a bun. "Hello, I'm Ichigo Kurosaki." He said, quickly introducing himself. "My cousin Uryu Ishida stayed with the nice people here?"

"Mary? Did I hear young Mr. Ishida's name?" The maid turned and Ichigo saw a woman with long platinum blonde hair, wore a red dress with a red and gold headpiece to hold her long flowing hair, matching the description of one Lailah Pendragon. "You must be the cousin I've heard so much about!" She cheered happily as she walked up to the hybrid and pulled him inside. "Welcome, welcome. I'm Lailah Pendragon. My husband is in the courtyard training with our children. Uryu has told us so much about you!" She continued excitedly while Ichigo took in the sights around him, mostly medieval age artwork and Christian décor with a number of swords and polearms around the place. A pesquisa pulse revealing the strength of the people in the house.

'Hmm.' He thought as he appraised the people in the manor. 'Most of these people would pass for low seated officers. Lailah seems to be a low lieutenant level. And... that's interesting.' He sensed a couple of things that WEREN'T human souls. 'That sword... maybe that's Excalibur. But... what's that lance?' He continued to ponder, barely listening to Lailah, as she brought him to a courtyard where the rest of the family was. On a bench was a small girl with shoulder length blonde curls dressed like a little witch, Le Fey Pendragon as Lailah told him. The twins Arthur and Artoria, the former with shoulder long dark blonde hair and glasses while the latter had lighter and longer blonde hair tied with a black bow in a ponytail. Both dressed in light armor and wielding wooden swords against their father Heldalf, a tall and regal man with a darker shade of blonde hair and beard, easily wielding a bigger wooden sword against the children.

"Enough!" Heldalf called, noticing his wife and guest. "Lailah, who is our guest?" The children looked to Ichigo as well, as the hybrid examined the twins.

"This is Uryu's Ishida's cousin Ichigo Kurosaki." Lailah answered as the two groups began walking toward each other. "He's... I neglected to ask why he's here." The mother said, suddenly realizing she missed an important detail. Ichigo meanwhile walked up to Heldalf and gave a respectful bow.

"My cousin thought I could help your children with their swordplay. If you'll allow." Heldalf had a moment of surprise before giving out a hearty laugh.

"I don't see a problem with that!" He said, trying to get control of his laughter. "But, can you prove yourself a worthy teacher?" He said, his tone demanding Ichigo challenge him. The Soul Reaper turned to Artoria and held out his hand, prompting the pre-teen girl to give him her practice sword. The following duel... lasted about ten seconds, consisting of Ichigo letting Heldalf strike his blade to test the man's strength before quickly disarming the older man with a twist of his hand.

"I've been trained by some of the best sword masters in a thousand years." Ichigo said out loud. 'Captain Unohana's older than that, but she'd kill and revive me again if I said that.' Ichigo thought to himself. Heldalf's response was a disbelieving laugh before returning to an excited one.

"Very well then! Please, train my children!" He said before handing Ichigo his practice sword and walking away. The twins looked up to Ichigo with surprise and admiration, before switching to fear as they noticed a black aura around the hybrid.

"Quick warning, this will get rough." The twins gulped in terror.

(Two Weeks Later)

True to his word, Ichigo's time training the two was indeed a harsh affair for them, often ending with the pair covered in welts and bruises. Arthur was a natural talent with the blade so Ichigo focused on getting him to strengthen his body and refine his speed. Artoria's talent by comparison was unfortunately lacking, but Ichigo sensed a great power within her just waiting to be released. His focus with her was to get her in the mindset of treating the weapon in her hand as an extension of herself. All the while he tried to find the sword and lance he felt the power coming from, but he was under a constant surveillance and elected to not cause anymore trouble than necessary.

As the days passed, the Pendragon twins started calling him 'master' as they noticed their improvements against their father and each other. Ichigo also offered to train them in the spear, though only Artoria seemed interested in learning that. Ichigo was actually a little surprised Artoria was able to grasp anything in her hands with how bad her blisters and sores got from the near constant training. Little Le Fay took to calling him 'big brother' when she discovered he was studying magic and joined him in that as well. It was a productive two weeks in Ichigo's opinion, but all good things must end eventually. He announced his goodbyes late one dinner and the family insist he hold off till morning to say those words properly.

He left that morning before any of the children woke up, leaving only instructions on how to continue their training in his absence. By the time they learned of his departure, he was already far outside the city limits and heading toward France.