shinigami into the world of magic

Chapter 1

Soul Society: Outside the Gates of the Senkaimon

The once again Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki stood at the end of two separate columns of ceremoniously decorated Soul Reapers that lined his path to the gate that would lead him back to the world of the living. A light breeze whisked through the air, and the sun beamed brightly in the sky, only a few clouds being present to block its rays.

There was but one singular thing standing immediately before him and the ethereal glow of the portal, and that was the body of Kugo Ginjo. Said deceased man was currently being carried by four Soul Reapers via a stretcher-looking device that held his corpse. Ichigo, however, didn't really pay too much attention to that.

So much had happened in such a short period of time, his meeting the Fullbringers, the battle with Tsukishima and subsequently Kugo Ginjo, and, perhaps most importantly, the regaining of his Soul Reaper powers. Maybe to him that wasn't the most important given that obviously it was protecting his friends that held that coveted position, but still he'd be lying if he said it didn't bring him a sense of joy.

Perhaps the means was a little odd and less than preferable, but in the end Ichigo supposed he wouldn't have it any other way. His friends and family were safe, the immediate threat had been dealt with, he had cleared things up with the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and now, just maybe, a time of tolerable peace and calm would enter his life.

It was true that his life for the previous year or so had been what one could call peaceful, but that was offset by the fact that he had lost his powers. At first it wasn't so horrible, but it gradually got more and more difficult to bear. Not being able to see half of his friends, people he had fought with in the heat of battle, naturally this would bother anyone.

'It's hard to believe that this… all of this…' Ichigo thought and he continued to walk towards the large gateway.

Almost all at once he took in everything that had resulted from his gaining Soul Reaper powers. The people he had met, the friends he had made, the enemies he had fought, the lives he had saved, and even the place he currently walked the grounds of. It was simply all amazing, so much so that it was almost overwhelming to think about. He had pushed such recollections and notions to the back of his mind for over a year, and now that he no longer had to do so it seemed to hit him all at once, as if he was reliving a dream.

'All of this… makes me feel stupid for ever having wanted a normal life so badly.' Ichigo thought.

He couldn't deny that he had wanted to live a normal life for a time, and in fact he was even looking forward to it slightly when he had fully lost his Soul Reaper powers. However, he had been lying to himself more and more every day when he said he was fine with the end result. Any day of the week he would choose to have Soul Reaper powers and the responsibilities that came with them. Ichigo realized, now, that his life would never be normal, and that was just fine with him.

Behind the orange-haired teen as he continued to walk stood two of his closest comrades and treasured friends, Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai. The once again substitute hadn't seen them in so long, and though they said not a word and chose to walk in respectful silence behind him and the body of Kugo Ginjo, just their presence was enough.

It was true that they had not spoken or approached Ichigo in over a year, nor had they made the attempt to do so. However, Ichigo was never one to dwell on the past, and the fact that he now had his Soul Reaper powers once more made any petty resentments seem to be just that.

A moment later the group of men carrying the body of the first Substitute Soul Reaper entered the large portal, alerting Ichigo to the fact that he was nearly at the gate himself. However, that wasn't what broke him out of his nostalgic thoughts. The voice of one of his friends graced the sound of his ears, just as he was at the front of the Senkaimon.