Hybrid Man (Ichigo Si/WC Fic)

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Interlude: 

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Yoruichi's POV

The night was silent in Karakura, interrupted only by the chirping of cicadas and the light sound of my footsteps as I neared Kisuke's shop. I had just left Ichigo, the boy immersed in one of his most intense training sessions, surrounded by an energy I had never seen before.

Part of me was worried, but another part was fascinated. However, there was one thing I couldn't ignore: his Quincy powers had awakened, and the speed at which they were developing was anything but normal.

I had to admit, I was genuinely amazed at how easily his Reiryoku was increasing day by day. Every time I watched him, it seemed like he was getting stronger and stronger, and soon, he would reach the level of a vice-captain.

I still couldn't understand how that was possible. People didn't get this strong in such a short time… But for Isshin's son, none of this seemed to matter at all, and he kept growing, defying all logic.

Was it probably because he was a hybrid? Honestly, I didn't know much about his situation since Kisuke hadn't told me all the details, and this lack of information intrigued me immensely.

I wanted to know everything about him, especially because I hated being kept in the dark about things that concerned me or, in some way, influenced my world. The mystery surrounding him only made him more interesting in my eyes, pushing me to dig deeper and deeper.

And, to be clear, my interest had nothing to do with the fact that he was incredibly good with his hands… or maybe, in part, it did. I had to admit that the boy had a natural talent for finding the right spots to send shivers down my spine, and that was certainly a quality that earned him some points in my eyes.

If he kept going down this path, in the future, he'd probably win over many women without even trying too hard. If he had been born a few hundred years earlier, maybe he could have even become a hypothetical husband of mine.

The thought came to me naturally; after all, he belonged to the Shiba clan, once one of the five great noble families of the Soul Society. That alone made him a man who, socially, was hard to ignore. His lineage carried a certain importance, even though the clan had lost the prestige it once held.

But right now, Ichigo was only thirteen…

Fuck. I really needed a good, long fuck to stop thinking about such nonsense. Although I have to admit that I was sure that teasing Ichigo would be really funny. "Mhm~~"

When I arrived at the shop, the light in the main room was on. Kisuke, as usual, was sitting at his counter, apparently sipping tea while flipping through an old book with a worn cover.

"You're back, Yoruichi," Kisuke said, looking up as I approached the entrance. "I hope you have something interesting to tell me about Isshin's son?"

"Hm… You could say that," I replied, my voice hoarse, revealing a certain concern. I sat down in front of him. "And I have to admit it. He's awake, I think, in some sense, he's realized that I'm not an ordinary cat, but it seemed like he didn't care much about it, and because of that, I've been able to observe quite a bit over the past few days."

"Oh?" Kisuke raised his fan in front of his mouth, hiding an amused smile. "Do you think he's already aware of something about his birth? I wouldn't mind having someone else in the shop who can contribute, considering how things have been getting complicated lately with all the Hollows appearing."

"No, I don't think he knows," I replied honestly, my tail nervously swaying from side to side. "I don't even think he knows what he's doing. From what I've seen so far, his knowledge seems shallow, he seems to act more on impulse, or rather, instinct."

"Aren't we all like that, in the end?" Kisuke countered, lowering the fan to reveal an ironic smile. "Instinct guides us more than we're willing to admit."

"Hm..." I hesitated, staring at the sky beyond the roof. The clouds were moving slowly, as if time itself were holding its breath. "Maybe it's true, but you're an exception, Kisuke. You never act on instinct, at least not without a backup plan."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, pretending to be offended. But his eyes sparkled with amusement, and another laugh escaped him.

"Just what I said," I replied, letting a subtle smile form on my feline face. "I want to keep observing him, if that's okay with you. I want to understand how far he can go."

"And what if it's not okay?" Kisuke asked, the smile not leaving his face even for a moment. I knew he didn't actually care, he was just trying to make a point.

"I'll do it anyway," I replied firmly, staying calm despite my tail continuing to move nervously. "Ah, I see what you did there. Yeah, point taken."

"See?" he added, as if he had just won an invisible challenge.

I sighed, shaking my head. Some things never change, no matter how much time passes. "But there's something that still doesn't make sense to me," I continued, bringing the conversation back to more serious tones. "What caused the awakening of his Quincy powers?"

Kisuke fell silent for a moment, watching me closely. Then he smiled, almost amused. "Yoruichi, we're talking about Ichigo Kurosaki. You can't really expect him to follow the rules of common sense, can you?"

"That's not the point, and you know it, Kisuke," I retorted. "I knew he was special, but this… this is different. His Quincy powers aren't developing like a normal Quincy's. And especially how they can grow so fast, or certainly evolve in response to his needs."

Kisuke abandoned his smile for a more serious expression, his chin resting on his hand as he reflected. "A spontaneous and rapid awakening like this is uncommon, especially without an obvious catalyst. But, considering who Ichigo is, perhaps we're not looking in the right place."

"What do you mean?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"It's not wrong to call Ichigo a convergence of powers," Kisuke began. "All intertwined inside of him, forming something no one has ever seen. So, very likely, his own power has responded to his desire to become stronger, since, from what I know about him, he likes to protect weaker people."

"His desire? Is that really possible?" I repeated, doubtful.

"Yes," he continued. "For example, even the Hōgyoku possesses its own will, at least according to what I've observed in my experiments. Its ability to break the boundaries between two races is just part of its true potential, a power even I can't fully comprehend. In Ichigo's case, I would venture to guess that his own power is responding to this nature, materializing the deepest desire of his heart and manifesting itself to protect what's most precious to him."

"It makes sense, but there's a problem," I replied. "The growth rate is abnormal. It's not just that his powers are emerging: they're evolving at a crazy speed. He uses advanced techniques without any training, as if they were innate, and from what I'm seeing, he's definitely not an Echt Quincy, considering Isshin is a powerful Shinigami."

Kisuke nodded, reflecting carefully. "Actually, neither the Echt nor the Gemischt Quincy labels adequately describe Ichigo, given his status as the ultimate hybrid. His power could be closer to that of the Quincy King, or, it could even approach the Soul King. It's deeper than I initially predicted."

"So you think it's all natural?"

"In a sense, yes," Kisuke replied. "There's also the possibility that his Quincy powers have been influenced by his inner Hollow side… The integration of his different sides might have created a kind of 'accelerated evolution'. Or…"

"Or what?" I pressed.

Kisuke leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice. "Or there might be a catalyst that's still eluding us… someone or something operating in the shadows to push him toward their side. Someone stimulating the Quincy side within him. We should investigate this possibility."

I sighed, reflecting on his words. Every explanation seemed plausible, but none fully erased my concerns. "What if his Quincy powers continue to grow out of control?"

"It's a real risk," Kisuke admitted, becoming serious again. "But Ichigo has always been an anomaly. He's an abomination," Kisuke muttered, in a tone I couldn't quite decipher. "But in a positive sense, of course. He wasn't born to follow predetermined patterns. He's the exception to the rule, the variable that no one can predict."

"And doesn't that worry you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, of course it worries me," he replied with an enigmatic smile. "But not in a negative way. You see, Yoruichi, Ichigo's potential isn't something we can control or fully understand. His nature is to transcend boundaries. This makes him unpredictable, but also our best hope to defeat her."

"If we don't learn to control it, he could destroy himself," I retorted. "Or worse, he could become a threat to everything and everyone."

Kisuke nodded slowly, his smile fading. "I understand your concerns. And you're right: we need to find a way to help him control his powers. But we can't do it by imposing artificial limits. Ichigo is not someone who can be confined. We need to let him grow in his own way, even if that means facing potential risks."

I took a moment to reflect on his words. I knew he was right, at least in part. Ichigo had never been a normal person, and his path would never be linear.

But that didn't mean we could simply ignore the dangers that could arise. "What do you propose?" I finally asked.

Kisuke smiled, leaning back in his chair. "For now, it's best if we just observe. Help him when necessary, but without interfering too much. Let him explore his powers and figure out for himself how to balance them. And, of course, we must be ready to intervene if things get out of hand."

"And what if we can't intervene in time?"

"Then we'll have to trust in Ichigo. He's stronger than he thinks. And, most importantly, he's guided by a sense of responsibility that surpasses everything else. He will never allow himself to become a threat to those he loves."

I sighed but nodded. Kisuke was right, at least in part. Ichigo was different from anyone I had ever met. And it was this difference that made him so special, and at the same time, so dangerous.

"Alright," I said finally, after thinking it over. "But we need to keep the situation under control. If his Quincy powers keep growing at this rate, he'll end up attracting the attention of the Soul Society."

"I know," Kisuke replied, raising his fan in front of his face to hide his usual sly smile. "But let's face it, it would be fun to see a kid give captains with centuries of experience a run for their money."

I couldn't disagree with him on that. "I guess you want me to keep monitoring him?" I asked, standing up and heading toward the window I had entered through earlier.

"For now, yes." Kisuke nodded slightly, his hat lowered to cover his eyes. "It would be better if we know his progress, at least for the time being."

"I guess so," I replied, not entirely convinced. I nimbly jumped onto the windowsill, ready to leave the shop behind.

"Already leaving?" Kisuke looked up at me, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"That boy has piqued my interest, after all this time," I said with an enigmatic smile. "So yes, I'm leaving." As I walked away into the darkness of the night, I couldn't help but reflect on the future.

Ichigo was changing, and the world around him was changing with him. I just hoped we were ready to face whatever lay ahead. And, more than anything, I hoped he would be too when the time came to face that monstrous woman.

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Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 1 advanced chapters

Hybrid Man (Ichigo Si/WC Fic) 1 advanced chapters

Son of Li Qiye?: 3 advanced chapters

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Chapter- 16: Shocker - Chapter- 17 (Incoming)

  Chapter - 8: Keeping My Treasures to Myself

 Chapter - 7: Hobby - Chapter - 8: New Hunt - Chapter - 9: Past unknown

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