(A/N: I know the English translations for this part vary greatly and may not line up with what you know, but I went with the one that seemed the most fitting for this story.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Bleach

Chapter One: Beginnings

Humans were strange beings. It was a fact Ulquiorra had known for quite some time, idly observing throughout the years in his time with Aizen.

He didn't understand their ideals. Their concept of morality. He simply accepted them to be foolish entities.

It was proven right time and time again. Until he met those two. The soul reaper and the healer. Interactions with them were interesting, thought-provoking even.

He remained steadfast in his mentality. Perhaps that's why things had fallen too quickly out of his favor.

Ichigo had won.

Turning his eyes to the orange haired female that had started everything, he felt an odd sense of attachment rise within. He wasn't scared. He didn't know how to fear death, but it bothered him that this was the last he'd ever see of her.

She was brash at times, stubborn even, and had held onto her hope throughout everything. Everything about her had been peculiar, from her powers to her soft tendencies in dealing with the adversities she had faced in Los Noches.

"Are you afraid of me, woman?"

It was different from the question he had asked before. She had no reason to be, not when Ichigo had already saved her. But he wanted to know. He wanted to hear what she thought after everything, as they both had been witness to it all.

"I'm not afraid."' A few tears accompanied this affirmation as she stared back at him, face obscured in emotion he couldn't comprehend.

Why was she sad? What reason did she have to cry?

"I'm not afraid," Orihime repeated, clenching her hands closer.

For someone who had been near death so many times, this struck him as almost relieving. The hand he had outstretched to her retracted, "I see…"

Humans were so very strange.

'Her heart…' He thought, watching her fail to grasp his fingertips, 'was right in my hands…'

"Kagome, where are you?"

Sidestepping behind a tree, Kagome closed her eyes. 'Not today Souta.' She thought, hearing him run by.

"Kagommeeeeee-?" He called, looking around worriedly.

'Please.' She pleaded, pressing her nails into the wood. 'Please just leave me alone.'

This continued on for some time before the smaller of the two sighed defeatedly. "I know you're out here!" He called out once more. "Mom came to visit, she's waiting at the house y'know!" When there came no reply, Souta mussed up his hair in exasperation. "…We'll wait for you."

When it was clear he was gone, the raven-haired girl stepped out. She wasn't happy. Far from it. Glancing down at her hands, she noted the scars on them. They had faded some but remained visible.

"…I want to go back." She whispered, clenching them closed.

Three years had gone by since the end of everything. She'd been back in her own time far longer than she cared.

Everything reminded her of them. It was why she just couldn't stand her family, as much as she loved them. She could barely stand being with Souta, despite her mother's insistence he go with her when she moved from Tokyo to the outskirts of a small town.

It would be good to have a familiar face around, her mother had reasoned. It was also the only way she would have allowed her eighteen-year-old daughter to live alone, even though it pained her mother to lose the two of them so soon.

But Kagome had been a mess the night she came home, screaming at the well house to let her go back. Souta first found her, having been outside practicing soccer. He called out to his mom and grandpa to go get her when she failed to listen to him. Eventually, everyone realized she could no longer go back in time, and it was over.

The change came three years after she had come home. Kagome had found an old-style apartment listing away from the shrine that she begged for. It was as if she finally realized this was the only thing she could do in the face of a depressing reality. To get away from it all.

Who was she to let her daughter suffer?

When she said yes, Kagome had set to packing everything away religiously. The home took some time to get but when it was secured, things seem to lighten. She just didn't expect that same detachment to extend to their family. Sending Souta to live his sister was the only thing she could think of that would help her daughter, if only a little.

Said daughter let out a shaky exhale. This was supposed to be a fresh start. What was she doing?

There was little time to debate on this as the air seemed to change.

"What is that?" She wondered aloud, feeling uneasy all over. Glancing up at the sky, where it seemed strongest, she noted the color of the changing sky.

"Rain?"

Something flickered in the distance. It didn't look like rain. But that's exactly what seemed to fall from the sky, crashing down in waves that stung her skin.

"What is this?" She shrieked, ducking underneath the protection of said tree. Peering closer, she noted the droplets were black, seeming to suck away all life from whatever it touched. The surrounding vegetation withered once it came into contact with the liquid.

The strange shower came to an end as quickly as it had come, leaving her to wonder what the hell just happened and why. However, the eerie sensation that had accompanied it had yet to fade. She stayed by the tree a while longer, wondering if it was safe to come out.

Concentrating her miko powers, she sent out a soft pulse of power. She didn't expect the pushback, weak as it was. Gasping, she felt a small tremor wrack her body as she gauged the aura.

It felt…demonic.

And she wanted to hope. Kagome was running in the direction of where the aura was before she knew.

Please.

Please.

Please.

When she broke through the clearing, her heart wanted to flop.

It wasn't a demon.

It was something entirely else.

Laying in the withered grass - was a human? No, not a human. But not a demon either. She checked the surrounding area for any indication of what he could be, but all she could find was a sword haphazardly strewn a couple of feet away from him. Other than that, he looked to be almost dead.

Dread stirred in her stomach. Her first instinct was to help him, but she didn't know if he meant no harm. The earlier rain shower seemed to prove it.

But she was dying. This indecipherable mess was soothing, welcoming. It was familiar. And god knows Kagome wanted something other than this boring normality. It might not be the best idea, but she wanted it.

She had to act fast.

Stepping closer, she noted the wounds bombarding his body. No wonder he was almost dead, but no blood seemed to leak out.

"I've got to heal him." She affirmed, but she was hesitant. Would she hurt him? After all, demons hadn't taken kindly to her purification powers. "One way to find out I guess."

She searched his body for a small scratch of sorts, settling on one near his cheek. "A test run." Kagome reasoned to herself. Reaching out, she placed her hand on his cheek, feeling the smooth skin beneath her fingertips. So far so good.

"I'm sorry." She apologized in advance, letting her powers come undone.

Carrying his body back to the house was easier said than done. She almost wanted to call for Souta to help, but how was she supposed to explain this?

The man leaning against her was beautiful. His skin was pale and his hair dark. She would dare say he was the most handsome being she had ever laid eyes on, demons included. By now, the sky had darkened considerably. She was sure her mom would have left by now, and she was in for an earful from her little brother.

Best to avoid him for now.

Going back to her 'guest,' she was pleased to note he was in fact alive. He was quiet, however, even when she unleashed her powers to heal him. He did jerk a little when she did so but otherwise seemed to take to the healing properties.

'I can always ask questions later.' She thought, grunting as she tried to unlock the door to her house as quietly as possible. There was a small moment of relief when the house remained quiet and no angry brothers came barreling down the steps.

Almost giddy, she helped the man into her room and shut the door. As messed up as it sounded, she liked the change of pace.

'My life is pretty weird.' A few more steps and she ungracefully dumped the man onto her bed. She doubted he would remember that.

Huffing, Kagome looked for a change of clothes. The ones she wore were stained black and they didn't look like they'd recover. "I liked those." She muttered angrily, looking through her closet. She cast a wayward glance at the sleeping male, wonder what exactly he was or why he was injured. It wasn't like she'd get answers now, so she settled for taking a look at his torn clothing.

Pursuing her lips, she wondered how far the nearest store was. It wasn't like she or Souta carried any adult male clothing. 'Guess I'll have to go shopping.'

Taking one more wayward guess at the pale figure, she gathered her wallet and slipped out.