Five months after Aizen's defeat

Things have changed drastically since the war ended. Uryu took Ichigo's place in protecting Karakura town alongside (Y/N). Similar to (Y/N), Uryu believes that Ichigo won't allow himself to become powerless and will gain his powers back, so he's only substituting for him for the time being.

Uryu also became the student council president. It was always a debating in class whether (Y/N) or Uryu would've gotten the role but (Y/N) voluntarily gave the role to Uryu. (Y/N) didn't need anymore responsibilities than what he already had.

The Soul Society made sure the role of ambassador was as flexible as possible since (Y/N) wasn't a Court Guard Squad Shinigami, but he still had some sort of duties occasionally. Because of his help, he was given a spirit phone so that he can communicate with the shinigami in the Court Guard Squad. Thankfully, when (Y/N) wasn't in The World of the Living, Calavera would take his place and assist Uryu in protecting Karakura Town. (Y/N) had hardly taken shifts at Urahara Shop these days, but still found time to stop by to talk to everyone there.

Speaking of Calavera, now that she had a body, she started attending school. More specifically, she attended school with (S/N). (F/N) pretty much had to claim Calavera as an "adopted child" so as to not raise suspension of this new person that randomly showed up.

Orihime started working at a sweet shop called ABCookies. The reason for this was because she always looked so happy whenever she frequented this shop, to the point where people on the street started asking her where she bought the stuff. Business got better and the store owner decided to hire her.

Chad had joined the boxing club to learn the fighting style. Chad didn't want to be left behind and decided to learn a professional form of fighting from the start.

Ichigo's been extremely bored ever since he lost his powers. At school he would always stare at places where spirits used to appear, but he couldn't see anything at all. He's tried to convince himself that this was the life he'd wanted all along, forcing himself to smile. In order to distract himself, he started working part time jobs and joining school clubs.

Rukia had finally become a lieutenant now that Byakuya had stopped interfering with her promotion.

The Vizards all had their banishment revoked and were allowed to return to the Soul Society if they so wished to. Shinji, Rose, and Kensei returned to their original captain position while Lisa and Mashiro became lieutenants. Hiyori, Hachi and Love decided to stay behind in the World of the Living.

Currently, Rukia was giving (Y/N) and Urahara the rundown on what was happening in the current Soul Society.

Urahara: Hirako and the others have gotten their captain positions back... How wonderful.

(Y/N): No wonder I could hardly find any of them recently. Hiyori, Hachi and Love were the only ones at the hideout. I assumed they were just living life much more freely now that they didn't have to worry about potentially being killed by the Soul Society.

Rukia: Yes, Hirako and his group have regained their previous positions. The other three who refused to return had their reasons.

Rukia then turned to Urahara.

Rukia: ...Thank you so much. If it wasn't for your help and the advanced technology under your command, it wouldn't have been possible to capture Aizen. I'm sure if we all got together and asked, I'm sure the head captain would remove your banishment.

Urahara simply laughed.

Urahara: Please stop already! Even though I didn't come to the living world willingly... I'm very much satisfied with my current life.

Rukia: Is that so...

Urahara: Well then... Did you need something important today?

Rukia: Yes I came here because I wanted to find a way to help Ichigo. I want to figure out a way to bring his powers back...! It can't be that there is no way? If there's anything that I can do then I will definitely not decline! That's why-

Urahara: You're one step late...

Rukia was confused.

Rukia: What do you mean?

Urahara: The root reason why Kurosaki lost his powers is because I made the Hogyoku... From the time when he had no choice but to use "Mugetsu," I had started to think about a way to bring back his powers. (Y/N) has been helping me brainstorm ideas while Yourichi helped me gather the appropriate materials I need.

(Y/N): *Thinking* He feels responsible for Ichigo losing his powers...

Urahara: Please give me some more time. I will definitely complete it for you.

Rukia: I trust that you could do it. Anyway, I can stay for too long, I must get going. (Y/N) will you be coming along?

(Y/N): Yeah, I'll tag along. My schedule is free for the day. I'll text my family and let them know.

Rukia: Alright.

(Timeskip)

Rukia: So what have you and Urahara come up with?

Currently, (Y/N) and Rukia were stepping out of the Senkaimon.

(Y/N): Something capable of capturing reishi. A large amount of it. And it should be able to transfer said reishi into another. There's still so many things to research about it, and honestly it's out of my expertise. At this stage, I don't have much to contribute other than ideas.

Rukia: Sorry...

(Y/N): Don't be. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. This just so happens to be one of my weaknesses. I'm no scientist, that's Urahara's thing. He's the person I always go to when I need someone to tell me if my ideas make sense or not.

Rukia: You have a lot of respect for Urahara, don't you?

(Y/N): Of course. I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for him.

Rukia: That's true. Thanks to Urahara, you've been a Substitute Shinigami before Ukitake gave you the combat pass.

(Y/N): Yeah that's-

(Y/N) stopped himself. What were the requirements for being a "Substitute Shinigami"?

(Y/N): Say, Rukia... You gave Ichigo his shinigami powers originally right?

Rukia: Yeah?

(Y/N): But you were arrested and almost executed for doing so.

Rukia: Yes? What are you getting at?

(Y/N) started to think. Why were there Substitute Shinigami Combat passes if humans can't normally become shinigamis? And it's a crime for a shinigami to pass their power onto humans. So why were the combat passes made in the first place? Who were they for? A shinigami couldn't become a "substitute shinigami" if they're always a shinigami.

(Y/N): I originally came here to talk to Soi-Fon but now I need to talk to Captain Ukitake.

Rukia: Huh? Is it about the combat pass?

(Y/N): Yeah...

(Y/N) felt stupid as he never questioned the origin of the combat pass. He needed answers. After a few minutes of walking, the duo made their way into the Squad 13 barracks.

Kiyone and Sentaro were the first two individuals (Y/N) saw when entering.

Rukia: Good day Kiyone, Sentaro.

Both: Lieutenant Kuchiki, welcome back!

Rukia: I told you guys, just Rukia is fine.

(Y/N): Only a lieutenant for a few days and already abusing your power? How shameless~

(Y/N) teased. Both 3rd seats looked up at the sound of (Y/N)'s voice.

Kiyone: (Y/N)? What brings you here?

(Y/N): I just came to talk to Captain Ukitake about something.

Rukia: His real reason was to spend time with Captain Soi-Fon.

(Y/N): H-Hey, don't say it in a way that can be misinterpreted. Although she is right, that was my original intention but something came up so I'm here to talk to Captain Ukitake.

Sentaro: Well it sounds pretty important. Wait just a minute-

Ukitake: Don't worry, I heard from the other room.

Ukitake entered the same door that (Y/N) and Rukia came through.

Ukitake: (L/N), what do I owe the pleasure?

(Y/N): Sorry to disturb you, but I have something I want to talk to you about.

Ukitake: Really?

(Y/N): Captain, what is the combat pass' true purpose.

Rukia and the other two shinigamis in the room were confused at the question.

Ukitake: What do you mean?

(Y/N): You said that you handed these "combat passes" to substitute shinigami's as a tradition, correct?

Ukitake: That's right.

(Y/N): Forgive me for saying this, but I don't believe you.

Rukia, Kiyone and Sentaro felt a sudden tension in the room.

Kiyone: Hey (Y/N)....

Ukitake interrupted Kiyone.

Ukitake: Can you explain why?

(Y/N): Unless there's a way of recruiting substitute shinigamis that I'm not aware of, there's no way this combat pass was created for the sake of giving it to other substitute shinigamis if the method of creating one was against the law.

Rukia immediately realized what (Y/N) was talking about.

Rukia: That's... actually makes sense. Normal Shinigamis wouldn't need a combat pass, so these could only be given to someone who was turned into a shinigami...

(Y/N): And unless someone like me or Ichigo, who were born with high spiritual energy because of our heritage, were to be separated from our body, the only way for someone to gain the power of a shinigami would be to have it transferred from a shinigami themselves. And that is executable by law. I doubt there are many people under the same condition as me and Ichigo. So this law had to be in place for a reason.

(Y/N) caught his breath for a moment.

(Y/N): My theory is that there was a substitute shinigami that existed before us. Either that or this combat pass is a lie.

The room was eerily quiet. Ukitake finally spoke after a few seconds of silence.

Ukitake: You finally figured it out.

Everyone in the room was shocked.

(Y/N): What do you mean? Was this supposed to be some sort of test?

Ukitake: I hope you don't think ill of any of us for what I'm about to tell you, but you deserve the truth.

*exhale*

Ukitake: The combat pass was made to monitor and suppress your spiritual energy.

If the tension wasn't already high then it hit its peak at that moment.

Rukia: C-Captain, are you being serious?

Ukitake nodded.

Ukitake: You are correct in there being a substitute shinigami before you and Kurosaki. He disappeared years ago and never resurfaced, however the reason these combat passes came with such a function was because of this substitute shinigami. The Substitute shinigami that predates the both of you betrayed and killed many shinigamis. We don't know what started the change in attitude, but ever since then a law was put in place that no shinigami would be allowed to pass their power onto a human being.

(Y/N): So you guys gave us this pass to see if me and Ichigo would ever pull the same stunt as the previous Substitute Shinigami.

Ukitake: Yes. We've long put aside our suspicions and trusted you but we didn't want to simply bring it up.

(Y/N): You intentionally gave me and Ichigo that hint so that we would come to our own decision on whether to trust you or not.

Ukitake: You guessed it.

(Y/N): You guys did more than enough to prove you aren't bad so I'm not upset. It's just coming to terms that we've been on watch this whole time...

Ukitake: I'm sorry if that made you feel uncomfortable.

(Y/N): No it's alright. I'm just glad I got my answer. Thank you.

Ukitake: No, thank you. For continuing to have faith in us.

After such a tense conversation, (Y/N) said his farewells before leaving the barracks.

(Y/N): Now then, back to what I was going to do.

(Y/N) headed towards the Squad 2 barracks.

To be continued.

I read like half of the "Death Save the Strawberry" Light novel to make sure I wasn't contradicting anything and to get my facts right.

The next two chapters are easily the longest I've written for this story.