STOP ME WHEN YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH

Alright, Buzz Off

Ichigo lays in bed, staring at the ceiling. He feels no motivation to get up. He reaches for his phone, and briefly checks the time and battery percent. It's almost noon. His phone is at 60%. He entertains the thought if he could charge it in Soul Society before quickly dismissing it as silly. He wishes he brought a portable charging battery.

Instead of getting out of bed, he lays there longer. He let's his mind wonder as he fidgets openly with his mother's cross. Ryuuken said he would teach Ichigo German and how to use the cross once he gets back into the swing of things at school. Now, that makes sense, but it also is a tad annoying. He can't go back to school anytime soon with the Winter War coming up. That means he won't be able to use his Quincy powers until this thing with Aizen is over.

Fuck.

He could always teach himself, he argues. Teaching himself Reiatsu control was easy enough, and Reishi manipulation was just as easy. Then there's the matter of German. Based off of how Uryū uses his powers, the Quincy commands are in German - to which Ichigo doesn't speak a lick of. He could always get Uryū to teach him, but Ryuuken already said he would help.

Then there is the matter of the Hollow. Ichigo didn't really bother with it yesterday when he managed to manifest through his eyes because Rukia was already making a huge fuss over it. But now he has all the time in the world to bother with it. Why the hell did the Hollow come at him like that? Does he want to talk? He should go check while there's nothing to do.

The inner world isn't looking much better than the last time Ichigo was here. There's no thunder clouds, at least.

"King."

Ichigo's eyes snap over to his bleach version. There stands his Hollow, Zangetsu, on the other side of the building. His face isn't splitting with a grin for once, and he actually looks glum.

"I'm not your king," Ichigo finally says.

"Aren't you? How else to describe your need for conquer and victory in battles? How else to describe the way you use me?" His Hollow continues as he begins to walk slowly.

"Ignorance? Naïvety?"

"You admit you don't know what you're doing?"

"I know a little more now than I did back then. Like how I was using the wrong spirit as my Zanpakuto."

"Excuse me?"

"You said you are Zangetsu."

His Hollow pauses in his steps. "You believe me?"

"I seem to be obsessed with the truth, and the Yhwach inkling told me you were telling it," Ichigo declares, closing the distance between them, but standing an appropriate distance away.

They study one another, like it's the first time they've met. It doesn't take long to familiarize. They share a body and soul. Ichigo sucks in a breath before giving the Hollow a low bow.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo."

He doesn't glance up to see Zangetsu's reaction, but he's sure it's hilarious.

"I'm Zangetsu - your one and only zanpakuto."

From his view, Ichigo watches his counterpart return the bow. Slowly, they straighten. A matching pair of grins break the silence.

"I can't wait for the Vizard to hear about this," cackles the Hollow.

"Me neither. But we should probably figure out our new dynamic first."

"Yes, you're right."

Ichigo then is rudely ripped from his inner world. Rukia stands over the ginger with her brother and captain behind her. He sits up on his elbows, and the covers fall to his waist.