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The war was won, the day was saved and the bad guy was defeated. It wasn’t an easy war. Friends were lost, people were injured for life, and many will carry physical and mental scars. It’s the price of peace and fighting for what you believe in.
These sacrifices were worthwhile and peace will reign for many years in the Soul Society. Unlike the other confrontations in the past, history will not repeat itself, and Soul Society will remain vigilant and prepared for the day when their peace is disturbed.
This tale is not focused on Soul Society and the journey hereafter but on the journey of one young man who placed his life on the line time and time again, Kurosaki Ichigo.
In exchange for his many years of service to the world of the living and the Soul Society, the Soul King offered the young man one wish to be granted. Nothing was off limits.
The hero remained kneeling in front of the throne. The room was empty of everything but those two beings. The Soul King waited for the man to make his decision.
After several moments, Soul Society’s hero lifted his head and made eye contact with the Soul King. The Soul King’s eyes widened as he heard the man’s request, but made no attempt to persuade him to wish for something else.
Instead, the Soul King nodded once and granted Kurosaki Ichigo’s wish.
The protector of worlds, Kurosaki Ichigo continued his life in the world of the living. He finished his education without the interruption of world-ending events or beings out for revenge.
Rather than pursuing a medical career (at the insistence of his father), or one centered around literature (a fascination of his) he chose to go into law enforcement. His need to help people was strong, and in this field, he would be able to help many people.
After leaving the academy and beginning his work as an official police officer, the peaceful warrior, Orihime Inoue made her feelings known to Ichigo and professed her love. She had told him that she had loved him for many years and wanted nothing more than to support him in his future trials.
The once hero accepted her advances and the two began their life together. Orihime worked as an elementary school teacher and would make lovely bento boxes for Ichigo, her cooking has improved with time. Depending on his shift, Ichigo would come home and make dinner for the two of them.
The once hero adapted to domesticity but felt the ache of something greater. His job was satisfying, his girlfriend was more than he could hope and dream for, and he was not rushing to the next life-or-death battle every other day. Despite all these good things in life, the once-hero felt empty.
One day, the once-hero broke away from his daily routine, turning left at the corner rather than to the right which was in the direction of his apartment. He took several more turns and down some alleys when he found himself in a dirt lot and standing before Urahara Shoten.
His police-issued boots clomped on the wood as he crossed the porch and slid the shop door open. The shop was unchanged. Dusty, unlit, and uninviting to customers. The once-hero felt a sense of peace.
As per usual, there was no one behind the counter. Usually the shopkeeper’s wards, Jinta and Ururu would be hanging around the front of the shop but they have long since started going to school once the fighting was over. The once hero wasn’t there for candy anyways.
He passed the unappealing displays and towards the back of the shop. He toed his boots off and made his way through the house portion of the shop. Seeing neither hide nor hair of his quarry, Ichigo made his way down to the lower level that was hiding the training grounds.
And there he was. Urahara Kisuke.
Ichigo ignored the final rungs of the ladder and jumped the rest of the way down. The great Urahara Kisuke had his back facing the man and turned when the young man approached.
“Ah, hello Kurosaki. I was afraid you’d keep me waiting forever.” The man’s eyes flashed beneath his trademark hat.
“Am I that predictable?” Ichigo stepped forward and the men hugged.
After a couple hearty slaps to Ichigo’s back, Urahara stepped back and appraised the young man. “I had heard that you had joined the force and have a loving girlfriend. It suits you.” The shopkeeper placed both hands on his cane, a knowing look had made its way onto his face. The shopkeeper knew Ichigo too well. “But it’s not enough.”
Ichigo shook his head. “No. No, it’s not.”
The shopkeeper hummed and suddenly shot forward, the sheath was off his cane and his blade aimed to kill. Startled, Ichigo turned to evade, his uniform shirt sleeve cleanly parting under Urahara’s blade.
Urahara advanced upon Ichigo who was gathering his wits. “I do hope you came prepared Kurosaki. If not, you have made a grave mistake in coming here.”
Ichigo reached towards his utility belt and popped one of the many pouches open. He quickly pulled out his Shinigami badge and pressed it against his chest.
Less than a moment later, there was a clash of steel and Urahara regarded Ichigo over their crossed blades. “I’m pleased that you haven’t become completely domesticated.”
Ichigo pushed against Urahara’s blade. “Enough talk.” He rumbled.
And with that, the dance of blades began.
After the training grounds were sufficiently destroyed and both men had beaten each other black and blue, they reconvened upstairs in the kitchen. Urahara had made a pot of tea and the two men sat around the table and the once-hero unloaded his problems to the humble shopkeeper.
During each war, and each battle, whether it was personal or universal, the young man would go to the shopkeeper and receive guidance. Despite their rocky start, the two had grown close and trusted one another with their life.
That evening, the young man spoke about his guilt about wanting to fight and being useful. His restful nights when he can’t sleep and is suspicious of the shadows in the corners of his apartment. His frustration with not being satisfied with his perfect life.
The shopkeeper listened as the young man vented and the tea long since gone cold. The older man did not say a word but Ichigo felt relieved all the same. Their peaceful moment was interrupted by the chime of a cell phone.
It was the peaceful warrior asking after the once hero’s whereabouts, as he was late for dinner. The young man apologized for his sudden departure. The shopkeeper told him not to keep his lady waiting.
Ichigo paused at the door and thanked Urahara. For everything. The older man only dipped his head and waved him off, telling the young man not to be a stranger.
That night, the once-hero felt as though the void in his being was a little smaller.
From then on, Ichigo’s routine changed. He now made frequent visits to the Shoten when he had time to spar with the shopkeeper and spend some time in companionable silence as Urahara worked on an invention and Ichigo completed some paperwork.
The peaceful warrior was delighted that Ichigo had rekindled an old friendship and was spending some time away from the apartment doing something other than work. Their old group from high school had either moved to different cities or had unrelenting work schedules, making it hard to organize a time to meet up.
Several months had passed and the peaceful warrior decided to take the next step in her relationship with the once hero. Orihime expressed her desire to move in with Ichigo. She had been practically living in his apartment for the past couple of months. They shared duties, made meals for each other, and were already cohabitating. All that was left was for Orihime to cancel her lease and move some of her belongings over to Ichigo’s place.
The once-hero agreed easily with a smile. This would be the next logical step in their relationship. Ichigo frowned. The logical step?
To ease his troubled mind, Ichigo did what all do to ease their concerns. Beat the living crap out of a 200-year-old guy in a secret basement.
After having sustained a beating, both men followed their routine and made tea in the kitchen. The shopkeeper had sensed that the young man was troubled with something and waited for him to piece his thoughts together.
“Inoue has asked to move in.”
“Congratulations Kurosaki!” The shopkeeper set his cup down. The young man didn’t say anything and was staring into his own cup. “Or perhaps this is a problem? Is the young lady secretly a slob?” The shopkeeper teased.
“I am happy.” Ichigo continued to stare at the liquid in his cup. “I am-.” The man went quiet, having a lack of words. “I feel complacent?”
Urahara eased his expression and focused on the young man before him. “When she told me she wanted to move in I agreed without a second thought. I am happy that she is with me and I am happy that we will be sharing a space.” Ichigo looked at Urahara. “She confessed to me. She planned our first date. She kissed me first. She initiated our first time together. She asked me to move in.” The young man looked deeply troubled and the shopkeeper’s heart hurt for him.
“I love her, I really do but how has it just occurred to me that I am neglecting her? I haven’t done anything in this relationship.”
Urahara swallowed what he truly wanted to say. “Ah, I won’t lie to you Kurosaki, you do sound like a distant partner. You are lucky Orihime is as understanding as she is.” Urahara sighed and leaned back onto his palms. “I would talk to her and make sure that she is not feeling neglected. You have been awfully caught up in your own problems and while that is fine, you need to also be aware of your partner. You can talk to her too. Both of you have fought alongside one another and probably have shared feelings.”
“As always, you are correct Urahara.” The young man smiled gently at the shopkeeper.
The older man tipped his hat forward, shadowing his face. “Ma Kurosaki! Don’t let the others know that you are feeding into my delusions of grandeur!” Ichigo laughed and kicked the older man under the table.
The two men continued their tea and one man left with a lighter conscience.
Life continued on as normal. The once hero would say good morning to his lovely girlfriend, the peaceful warrior, with who he had a heart to heart with some time ago, and go to work. After work, he would either head home or go to the Shoten.
Since the once hero’s talk with the peaceful warrior, he has been making more time for her and placing her first. As a result, the visits to the Shoten had significantly decreased.
On one of Ichigo’s days off, he had been shopping for groceries and essentials when a store’s window display caught his eye. Enamored, both the once hero and his groceries made a trip inside the store.
Sometime later, the once-hero exited the shop and made his way home. Pleased with his find, the once-hero put his groceries away and made his way out of the apartment once more.
He took several turns and went down some alleys and found himself in a dirt lot with a Shoten. He crossed the wood porch and entered the shop. He crossed through the dusty displays and entered the private portion of the shop. He kicked his shoes off and turned the corner to find the humble shopkeeper enjoying some tea at the table.
“Kurosaki? I was not expecting you today.” The shopkeeper hummed from behind his cup.
“Sorry for the intrusion but there is something I wanted to show you.”
The shopkeeper was interested in the young man’s find. The young man kneeled next to the shopkeeper and pulled a small box out of his pocket. The shopkeeper’s heart stopped.
The young man had not noticed the pained expression on the shopkeeper’s face. “I was out shopping when I spotted this in a shop.” The velvet box was popped open and a silver ring with a gray-blue stone was revealed. “What do you think?”
The young man looked at the humble shopkeeper with an earnest expression. Ichigo kneeling while holding the velvet box felt like a slap in the face. Ichigo’s expression fell when the shopkeeper’s neutral one faltered.
The shopkeeper cleared his throat. “I am sure she will love it, Kurosaki.”
The young man’s expression brightened once more. “She is the luckiest girl in the world.” The shopkeeper sounded more like himself.
The young man pocketed the box and punched the shopkeeper in the arm. The young man glanced at the watch on his wrist. “I should get going. Inoue will be home soon and I promised I would make dinner tonight.”
Both men stood up and walked to the shop’s door. Ichigo slid the door open and turned to look at the older man. “Urahara, I have really appreciated your support and friendship these past couple of years. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” The shopkeeper felt something snap inside him as Ichigo spoke those sincere words.
The shopkeeper adjusted his hat on his head. “Ichigo,” The young man started when he heard his first name. “Can I ask one thing of you?”
The young man nodded his head. The young man would do anything for the shopkeeper. The older man stepped towards Ichigo and kissed him.
The older man knew he was being cruel, and selfish, but he was aware that their time was coming to an end when Ichigo presented that ring to him. Urahara had spent most of his life doing the things he wanted, regardless of others. What is another selfish act in the grand scheme of things?
Urahara held Ichigo’s head between his hands and tried to memorize the feel of his skin, the press of their lips, and the comfort of Ichigo’s presence.
The shopkeeper pulled away, letting the brim of his hat block his view of his love. “Goodbye Ichigo.”
With that, the shopkeeper closed the door to the Shoten and the once-hero stood on the wood porch in the dusty lot with bruised lips.
On the other side of the paper door, the shopkeeper sat crouched with his head in his hands. He could not bring himself to regret what he had done. Besides, this final act would keep his love away, and prevent the heartbreak of watching the one he loves live his life with another.
The once hero didn’t make it home that night. He had sent a message to the peaceful warrior that something had come up and he would not be home in time for dinner. Ever understanding, the peaceful warrior forgave the once hero for his absence and gave him his space.
The once hero could be found by the river’s edge as the sun slowly descended behind the horizon. Rather than being disgusted with the advances of the shopkeeper, he found himself mulling over his acceptance. He had made no move to get away or tell the older man off.
This acceptance was different than casually going with Orihime’s confession, or her desire to move in. This was a more thoughtful acceptance.
The once-hero’s heart was pounding at the thought of the shopkeeper. It always had since he was young and before he had even been considered a hero. Somewhere down the line, his nameless feelings had been forgotten. Between one battle and the next.
Those feelings had a name now and he wasn’t even surprised when he realized the stone on the ring picked for the peaceful warrior matched the eyes of another.
At the riverbank, the once warrior reached a conclusion he should have long ago. As the lonely sun dipped below the horizon, the once warrior made another decision.
Weeks had passed since the shopkeeper’s selfish act of love had been committed. He remained holed up at the Shoten where his love could find him.
The shopkeeper had considered fleeing to the distant lands of Soul Society to escape his feelings and hide from the young man. Despite that, the shopkeeper desired to be of use to his love whenever he was needed for whatever reason.
So, he remained.
Late in the evening, the shop door slid open and the sound of heavy boots could be heard on the shop’s floor. The shopkeeper froze at his place at the table where he and the young man would have tea.
The door to the residential part of the shop slid open and the sound of socked feet padded closer. There was a small detour as the feet entered the kitchen. The shopkeeper adjusted his stance and cleared his expression in anticipation of his visitor. At last, his love turned the corner and stepped into the room.
“I was afraid I was going to have to chase you to the Soul Society.” His love sat at his spot at the table.
Composed, the shopkeeper responded, “Kurosaki, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
His love placed a cup on the table and reached for the kettle, filling his own cup. “I came here for the same reason I always do. To see you.” His love sounded alarmingly calm as he spoke.
The shopkeeper had expected anything but this visit. If Ichigo were to say anything about the kiss, the hotheaded man would have done it a couple days after it happened, not weeks later.
The shopkeeper had been expecting an angry Orihime on his front step, asking him to not kiss her fiancé. Finishing the scolding with a slap from the hand that was adorned with her engagement ring.
“I had not expected another visit. Is the world ending again?” The shopkeeper mused.
“No, thankfully.” His love sipped out of his cup. “I came for personal reasons.”
From the shopkeeper’s perspective, that didn’t make the situation any better. “Look, Urahara, what you did a couple weeks ago was not very respectful to my relationship or Inoue.”
“I agree-“
“But, it forced me to put some things into perspective.” His love set his cup down. “With Inoue, we might as well have just been roommates who occasionally kissed and had sex. That was the extent of our relationship on my end.”
The young man looked at the wall. “Back in high school when the substitute Shinigami gig was in full swing I was always wanting a normal life. I would push through each battle with the intention of starting where I had left off and being a normal guy. Then, I lost my powers. I got the normal life I wanted but was untethered.
“I had wanted a normal life with the best of both worlds it seems. I wanted to be able to see everyone and be connected with those in the Soul Society. So the goal changed. I was going to be a normal guy for several years, then eventually transition into the Soul Society to be a proper Shinigami.
“For that to happen, I need to have a normal life first. I graduated from college and joined the police academy. The next part is having a girlfriend and eventually starting a family. Inoue confessed and another requirement for a normal life was filled. Everything was going to plan. But, I wasn’t satisfied.”
The young man turned to look at the shopkeeper. “I was foolish to think that this is how it would work and you knew it.” The shopkeeper didn’t say anything. “In my desperate search for normalcy, I completely disregarded any of my true feelings to achieve a pipe dream.”
The young man sighed. “As a result, I have betrayed myself, and hurt Inoue by leading her on for so long. I love her, but not in the way she wants. Not in the way she needs.” Ichigo took another sip out of his cup. “It also would’ve been nice to know that this isn’t tea but sake.”
“Feels fancier in a kettle and tea cups.”
The young man rolled his eyes. The shopkeeper leaned into the table, cradling his cup in his hand. Trying desperately not to get his hopes up. “So now what? You’ve realized that you have been halfheartedly living through the past six or so years of your life and are going to do what?”
A confident look entered the young man’s eyes. “I’m doing it right this time. And I’m starting with you.”
“Me?” The shopkeeper echoed.
“As of last week, I have broken up with Inoue and she has moved out.” The young man’s expression crumpled. “She had been aware that my feelings were not as strong as hers but she had hoped with time, I would come to feel the same. I owe her a great apology.”
“As bad as I feel for Miss Orihime, I still don’t get what this now has to do with me.”
Ichigo leaned over the table and placed his hand over Urahara’s. “I like you Kisuke.”
Ichigo wore a serious expression that only appeared when he was ready to fight for his beliefs and his friends. An expression of loyalty and unrelenting will. And Urahara was on the receiving end of that legendary expression.
His love stood before him with unwavering confidence and dedication. “I do not blame you if you have abandoned your feelings for me or are skeptical of my sudden change of heart but I need to make my feelings known.”
With a hammering heart, the shopkeeper accepted the young man’s profession of love and the next stage of this journey began.
Life continued on as normal. Well, as normal as a 28-year-old war hero who’s dating a 200-year-old ghost can get.
Interactions with the peaceful warrior were initially strained and tense, but the peaceful warrior’s gentle inclinations eased any tensions, and the once hero and she resumed a normal friendship (much to the jealousy of the shopkeeper).
The once hero felt complete now that he lived alongside the shopkeeper. Like most things in life, there were ups and downs. Days at work could be long and stressful, the once hero and the shopkeeper did not always see eye to eye and were prone to differences in opinion. But these moments made for a fulfilling life.
Time continued to pass as the shopkeeper watched his love quickly mature. Crows' feet adorned his eyes, and his trademark scowl had more lines. His fiery hair now had streaks of ash. His love grew more beautiful with time.
The once-hero considered his age and knew it was time to make another decision. His life in the world of the living has plateaued and though his lover would not say anything, he has grown restless in the world of the living.
The hardest part for the once hero to come to terms with would be abandoning his body. If he were to choose a life in the Soul Society, he must leave his mortal body behind in the world of the living where it would slowly age without him.
It is difficult to come to terms with one’s mortality, even more so to willingly abandon a piece of yourself. To never return to it.
His lover assured him they would keep his mortal shell somewhere safe so if he so chose to return, it would be ready and waiting for its owner.
The decision was made and the once-hero said goodbye to his family and friends in the world of the living. Hand in hand, the lovers passed through the gap between worlds and made themselves at home in Soul Society.
The once hero was greeted with open arms and hailed as the once hero, savior of all. That night, a festival was held for the once hero and the shopkeeper, celebrating the hero’s return to the ranks. It went on for several days and nights.
Though, after night two, the lovers snuck away, no one noticed the pair’s departure in the rowdy celebration.
That night, on the cliff looking over the entirety of Soul Society, the shopkeeper professed his love once more for his love and proposed a bond that would tie them together for eternity. It was one of the easiest decisions Ichigo had made in a long time. How could he say no to such an offer?
The lovers performed a ritual and were bound together for the rest of eternity, and through every trip through the soul cycle. They would always be together.
A formal union was held weeks later. Some were surprised by the union of the two men, while others found it rather fitting for the two who had fought alongside one another for many wars. A trust built through battle and near unshakable.
The union was a quiet affair with only the closest of friends and family. Those from the world of the living were granted special entry to attend.
The ceremony was held as the sun slowly slipped behind the rolling hills. Ichigo’s eyes and hair were alight in the sun, temporarily embodying its essence.
Urahara could hardly believe his eyes and felt like the luckiest man alive. Ichigo would argue he was the luckier man but such an argument would last for days and they have a wedding to take part in.
Those who attended the ceremony could hardly recognize the two men. Ichigo, who was solemn and often frowning, was smiling the whole time. And stone-faced, master of deception Urahara Kisuke cried when the men said their vows.
It was a joyous affair and many would remember the gorgeous ceremony backlit by the setting sun.
There was a celebration after but the lovers kept to themselves, swept up in their formal union and the knowledge that they were now a family.
At dawn, the partygoers went home and the living went back home. The lovers said their farewells then retreated home. When they held each other in the early hours of the morning, both men were overtaken with their love and affection for the other.
As they laid side by side, a symbol of their eternal love could be seen on their shoulders and backs. In the slowly setting sun, an intricate tapestry can be seen trapped in ink. One should not look too closely as it is impolite to observe such an intimate story, but it details the entirety of their life to the present. Both together and separate.
An intimate tapestry of history that will continue to record the events of their lives until both of them pass.
Looking closely at the once hero’s back, there is a spot that will forever hold the shopkeeper’s attention. Between the final battle and Ichigo’s entrance into college, there is a smear of dark ink, blotting out the event that had taken place.
Despite his dark past, the shopkeeper does not have a single spot that is blacked out of the tapestry on his body.
One night, the shopkeeper inquires about the mark and, his love tells him that it was a meeting with the Soul King. He supposed that such a meeting was so sacred that it could not be chronicled on his skin. The shopkeeper asked what the meeting was about, for he had never heard of this event in his love’s life.
His love stared out into the starry night. “It was a wish. I could make any wish I wanted.”
The shopkeeper was surprised and looked at his love. That was an almighty gift. One that should not be taken lightly. “What did you wish for?”
His love turned and looked at him. Though time moves differently in Soul Society, his love already showed signs of aging. He was still handsome and looked to be in his early forties, though he was already close to being two hundred years old.
Urahara himself was no spring chicken. His light hair hid the grays that had made their way onto his head. His own face was showing signs of age, which made sense as he was quickly approaching five hundred.
The shopkeeper had been so caught up in his beloved’s features that he had nearly forgotten that he had asked a question. “It’s nothing important.” His love smiled gently and pulled him into a kiss.
The shopkeeper leaned into the kiss and spent the rest of the evening in his love’s arms.
Ichigo was hiding something.
Life continued on. The once hero had been given a position in the Gotei 13 and was serving as the Captain of the 7th. His duties were light during the time of peace, and he spent most of his time training those under his command and completing paperwork.
The shopkeeper worked to better soul society with his inventions and would occasionally work alongside the Department of Research and Development.
The lovers would spend their days together lounging or working together but separately. On special occasions, the two men would spar. After their third spar, while living in Soul Society, a representative had been sent to let them know that their damage and reiatsu output was very hard on their surroundings, and were expected to keep their spars to a minimum.
Since then, they only do so once every couple of months. And are frequent donors to the Soul Society’s construction team.
Like most things, all good things must come to an end. This is not in reference to peace in the world of the living and Soul Society but to the lovers themselves. At 856, Urahara was slowing down.
His health had taken a sudden turn. The shopkeeper had surmised that his poor treatment of his body in his youth was catching up to him. Ichigo did all he could for his lover to make him comfortable. Ichigo even left his post in the Gotei to be with his husband.
The shopkeeper held out but his time was coming to an end. The shopkeeper did not fear the end as he knew he and his lover were bound together for eternity and would find each other in another life.
One night as they lay together, Urahara asked the dreaded question. “Ichigo, some years have passed since I last asked you this question, and I do hope you will reward me for my patience. What was it you wished for at the Soul King’s Palace?”
The shopkeeper felt his lover stiffen behind him. Urahara turned to face Ichigo. ‘What is it, my love? What is it that you won’t tell me?” Urahara whispered.
The secrets between them have long since been uncovered. Urahara had told Ichigo all about his time in the Onmitsukidō and the things he had done. Ichigo had told him about the darkness of the hollow inside him and his fight with the fourth Espada, Ulquiorra, which had scarred him.
There were no secrets between them.
His love took a deep breath. “I wished for my soul to be taken out of the soul cycle.”
Urahara went cold, panic welled up deep inside him. Ichigo continued, “My soul is dangerous. It is the perfect triad of hollow, Quincy, and Shinigami. If my soul were to reincarnate into the wrong person, they would have unfathomable power. Even if it were to go to a good person, it is a burden I do not want anyone to carry.”
Urahara tried to swallow the lump in his throat. “Ichigo what have you done?”
“What I believed to be necessary.” His love whispered.
The shopkeeper shook his head and pulled away from Ichigo’s hold. “We were supposed to be together. For eternity. That night on the cliff, you made a pact that we would be together for eternity!” Tears dripped down Urahara’s face, as Ichigo watched helplessly.
Ichigo leaned forward to hold and comfort his love, but Urahara pushed him away. “You had told me not to worry about it. The only thing that was giving me peace of mind about leaving you behind and dying was that I would see you again! I finally had something to live for in another life and it’s not even available to me.”
The men sat in silence. Urahara was wheezing as he wept, exhausted. “Get out.” Ichigo made no move to leave. “I said, get out!”
The shopkeeper could only see the vague form of the man as he left the room through bleary eyes. For the first time in six hundred years, the men slept apart.
The once hero’s heart ached as he stayed away from their house, and their shared room. He knew his husband needed time, and pushing would only drive him into a corner.
The once-hero filled his days with thinking. He needed to make things right with his husband. He knew they were running out of time and the once-hero wanted nothing more than to spend those last days with his husband. But he came up with nothing to ease his husband’s mind.
On the fourth night apart, the once-hero’s room door slid open and someone shuffled in. With great effort, the person lowered themself to the floor and lay alongside the once hero. They did not touch.
The tree outside would occasionally rustle in the wind. The men did not speak. Moments slowly passed as the once-hero listened to the heavy breathing next to him.
“I’m sure you know why I am angry with you.” Ichigo heard Urahara swallow. “I had been under the impression that we would be together forever for the past six hundred or so years. That’s a long time to be disillusioned. I’m your partner. We have no secrets.” Urahara hissed.
Ichigo did not say anything. “I am so angry with you. I can’t even put it into words. But I am saddened at the thought that I cannot be together with you.”
Urahara turned his head and saw moonlit tears rolling down his love’s face. “I did not want to hurt you.”
“But you did by making a promise you can’t keep. A promise you knew from the start you couldn’t keep.”
“Kisuke, I am so sorry. But I stand by my decision.” More tears slid down his love’s face.
“Even if it is killing you to do so?”
“Even so. I can’t live knowing that you may be hurt by this power in another life. That Yuzu or Karin will be. That anyone who was protected and trusts this power may be hurt.”
A gentle hand wiped away the tears on Ichigo’s face. Urahara thought back to his selfish act of love when Ichigo had intended to propose to Orihime. He didn’t know that Ichigo would have been capable of such a cruel act of selfish love.
Urahara pressed into Ichigo’s side. “I think that no matter what life, you will be righteous and good.”
Ichigo turned on his side and held his husband, kissing the top of his head. The two held each other. Reunited.
Urahara Kisuke had passed away that night.
The grieving widower held his broken heart together and held a funeral for his beloved. People from all over Soul Society showed up to pay their respects, regardless of how they had viewed the man in life.
The sun shined bright on that day and there was nary a cloud in the sky. It felt like a punishment to the widower, but he knew his husband wouldn’t have it any other way as the sun would remind him of his beloved Ichigo.
The widower mourned in his empty home and made beds of his departed husband's clothes. An old green and white striped bucket hat was retrieved from storage and added to the pile. When the scent wore out, replaced by his own, the widower made a decision.
He left a note saying goodbye to his remaining friends in Soul Society and summoned the Soul King.
The hero of Soul Society, Shinigami, police officer, lover, husband, friend, brother, and now widow, disappeared from his home, never to be seen again.
Back at the beginning of this tale, there was a meeting between the hero of Soul Society and the Soul King.
In exchange for his many years of service to the world of the living and the Soul Society, the Soul King offered the young man one wish to be granted. Nothing was off limits.
The hero remained kneeling in front of the throne. The room was empty of everything but those two beings. The Soul King waited for the man to make his decision.
After several moments, Soul Society’s hero lifted his head and made eye contact with the Soul King. “I wish to have my soul removed from the soul cycle when I die.” The hero said.
The Soul King’s eyes widened as he heard the man’s request, but made no attempt to persuade him to wish for something else. “Do you not fear eternal darkness? There will be nothing once you die.”
“Dying this way would be no different than what I had originally believed.” The hero said. “Before learning about the Soul Society, we all thought we died and went somewhere without ever returning.”
The Soul King considered the man kneeling before him. “And this is your wish?”
The hero’s expression hardened. “I will not let anyone get hurt because of the power my soul possesses.”
The Soul King nodded once and granted Kurosaki Ichigo’s wish.
When Kurosaki Ichigo awoke, he did not find himself in eternal nothingness but standing in the Soul King’s Palace. Ichigo turned on his heel and faced the Soul King. “What is the meaning of this?” He demanded.
“I have granted your wish and I have removed you from the soul cycle… As my successor.” The Soul King stood up from his throne. “Not even I live forever.”
Ichigo opened his mouth to argue but was silenced by the Soul King. “Talking can wait. Someone is waiting for you.”
Curious, Ichigo turned his back to the Soul King and walked towards the giant doors that held the exit to the throne room. He placed his hand on the pristine doors and noticed how smooth the skin was. It was not aged, or marked with scars.
A touch to his face revealed that his crow's feet and wrinkles had receded. He was once again a young man.
Ichigo pushed the door open. Further down the hall was a man. He wore a green haori, a green and white striped bucket hat, and geta.
The man turned around. “Hello, Ichigo. I was afraid you’d keep me waiting forever.”