Never Surrender

Rating: T-M

Pairing: Ichigo/Byakuya, Byakuya/Ichigo

Summary: What if Byakuya had been the shinigami Ichigo had met and bonded with? Rukia is the Sixth Division Captain and older sister. Her envy and resentment of Byakuya being the born son and Heir of the Kuchiki Clan leaves a deep strain in his world.

Warnings: Yaoi: Male/Male relationship(s), Drama, Alternate Reality, Slight OOC (considering I'm reversing roles of Rukia and Byakuya. Spoilers? Uhm, probably, keep up to date just in case. Violence, Adult Language, Sexual Situations(15/16?), and other things I can't think of.

Note About Rukia: While I adore Rukia, she will NOT be portrayed very nicely in this. So, if you're a big fan of Rukia…. You might not enjoy this.

-OoO-

Episode 01

It was a warm night to be walking the streets of Karakura Town, he didn't want to go home yet even though it was after curfew. He rolled his brown eyes at the thought of his idiot goat-faced father setting a curfew for a fifteen-year-old boy to be in the house by seven, it was insane!

Kurosaki Ichigo scowled visibly and kicked a pebble on the footpath. It skidded along and coming to an inevitable drop down a gutter. The sun was setting low, salmon pink and hues of orange grazed the buildings and concrete lighting everything up beautifully. He ignored a giggling translucent white figure on his right.

Ghosts: Ichigo heaved a sigh, for as long as he could remember he could see the damn things. Sometimes, it was a pain in the ass. Other times it was sad but enlightening, it opened his mind to reality of the world.

Spirits like children often pained Ichigo in ways that he couldn't fathom. To see a broken chain connected to their chests and their doleful innocent eyes peering up hauntingly asking why no one could see them and why everyone ignored them no matter how many times they cried or called out.

Ichigo had two little sisters and he shuddered to think of them ever winding up that way.

The wind blew and a cry was heard just down the cobblestoned alleyway that led onto another street. Just recently a little girl had gotten hit and she died instantly and emerging from her body was a brown haired pigtailed spirit.

He heard laughing and sliding of skateboards, frowning, Ichigo picked up his paced through the alley and stopped just under a street light when he saw that the little girl, Ona was her name, she was huddled behind her lamp post and although the bastards couldn't see her they taunted her anyway.

He growled under his breath and fury rose inside of him, with a simple crack of his knuckles he stalked forward.

"Onii-chan!" Ona squealed when she saw him. He gave her the barest of nods and set to work by putting each and every one of the little assholes in their places. One to the concrete face first and the other was kicked in the face.

After some contempt questioning, Ichigo dealt them severe blows before causing them to scatter under the warning that he would send them to hell if they ever returned. Finally, they disappeared and he cooled off, the anger inside of him simmered and diminished when he turned just in time for Ona to grab him around the legs with her tiny cool arms.

"Thank you Onii-chan!" she sniffled as the chain rattled against his schoolbag.

He gave her a rare smile and touched the top of her head. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "They scared me, I- I know they can't see me but – they were so big and they scared off the doggy that always comes by to see me!"

Ichigo lowered himself onto his haunches so that he could see her up close. "No problem, little one. I'll bring you new flowers tomorrow and perhaps a toy?"

Her eyes lit up and he chuckled and patted her cheek. "I better be going, rest in peace and go to heaven soon."

"Bubye, Oni-chan!" She waved as he turned his back and waved back while heading into the direction of Kurosaki Clinic.

His job was done for the day, he thought pulling the key out to the house and shoving it into the lock. As soon as he entered a shout of:

"You're late!" And a kick to his face sent him flying into the nearby wall.

Goddamn it! Ichigo growled inwardly as he retaliated ignoring Yuzu's protests. "You idiot! Is that the way to treat your son who just got finished saving a little ghost from assholes?!"

"That's no excuse! Dinner in this house is-"

"I know, I know. Dare I not forget that a fifteen year old has to be home by seven." He sneered and dodged a punch by flipping the stubble chinned old man in the air and making him land on his back.

He was about to follow up with something particularly nasty when Karin announced bespectacled ghost hovering over him.

By the time Ichigo had enough he went to his bedroom, he could hear the complaints downstairs and Karin's third degree to their dad who was moaning about female puberty.

He rolled his eyes and threw his bag down with a huff. He loved his family but sometimes… they really became too much. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling, ignoring the ghost that was nosing into his stash of horror Manga.

It was a quarter to ten when Ichigo was about to sink into a warm sleep but a strange energy ghosted across him making him rise instinctively and peer around. The ghost was in the corner snoring so if it wasn't him… what was it?

It was then that he saw a black swallowtail butterfly float past the window and frowned. Those weren't native to Karakura was his only thought until he nearly jumped when feet landed on the open sill of his window. He gasped silently when he saw much to his shock, a thin tall black haired male no older than eighteen standing there draped in a black hakama and a white ribbon held his shoulder length black hair back with only two strands coming forward to shape his narrow face.

He had a white scarf wrapped around his neck and matching fingerless gloves. He looked like something of an aristocrat the way he held his pale face up and his dark black eyes scanned the room before staring at Ichigo out of the corner of his eye but Ichigo realized that the man wasn't staring at him because the gaze seemed to go right through him.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "Hey!"

"It's near," the strange man said softly.

"What's near?" Ichigo demanded getting a grip on himself. He thrust off the covers but again he was ignored as the intruder stepped off his bedside table for the floor. He gripped the hilt of his… sword?

What the hell!?

Ichigo flinched. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house you freak?!"

Again, the man didn't even acknowledge him and this really pissed Ichigo off.

"Where is it."

Well, if the bastard was going to be like that… Ichigo waited for him to take another step and when he did, Ichigo pounced jumping onto the man's back and sending them crashing to the ground. He could hear a gasp and an undignified grunt underneath him.

"Okay, you weird Medieval burglar, you will acknowledge me or I'm a kick your ass!" he growled and made to slide his arms around the man's neck when the world suddenly tilted on its side and before Ichigo knew it he was trapped on the floor with the intruder on top of him.

The person paused, his eyes widening slightly when he saw Ichigo glaring at him.

"You can see me."

"No shit Sherlock!"

"In fact, you can touch me…"

Ichigo snorted despite the rather odd situation. "That sounds like more like an offer rather than an observation but as pretty as you are burglar-hime I'm going to decline."

He got glared at for his words. "For your information, human," he said coldly, "I am not a burglar as you so called put it."

He skillfully rolled off Ichigo and somehow got back to his feet all in one go. He stared down at Ichigo.

Ichigo glared back as he climbed to his feet. "If you're not a fucking burglar who the hell are you then and why the hell are you in my house?"

"First, answer why you can see me."

Ichigo blinked. "Why not?" he retorted.

The man shifted his gaze to the ghost in the corner.

Ichigo looked over his shoulder and rolled his eyes. "Wha-? You can see him to?"

"Of course I can, it is my job."

"Job?" Ichigo queried. "What the hell are you talking about?"

The man stalked toward the sleeping ghost and slowly withdrew his sword, Ichigo squawked when flipped the handle over and used the end of the hilt to tap the gasping ghost that shot awake.

"Uhhh, I no – I don't want – to go to – hell," he said piteously.

"Hell is not your destination, be gone," he said emotionlessly and the ghost vanished into a swallowtail butterfly and flew out the window.

"What the hell?"

Turning around, black eyes zeroed in on him. "For your information, child, I am a shinigami." He then explained his job swiftly leaving no hint in his voice that he was lying.

Great, a psychopath! Ichigo thought dully.

The orange haired teen blinked not once nor twice but three times in a row before shaking his head. "Okay, shinigami-hime…" he muttered dubiously and crossed his arms. "Shinigami? You expect me to believe that?"

"You're staring at me, are you not?"

"I know I'm not staring at a human, I'll give you that but a shinigami? I've been able to see ghosts since I was a small child and I have never once seen a shinigami."

"Did you see that spirit disappearing?"

"Yah."

"It is called a Soul Burial, I will draw it out for you," he said reaching into his robes and pulling out pad and markers and to Ichigo's horror he began to draw funny cloud shaped people with thin legs and arms to explain a shinigami, a spirit, and monsters called Hollows.

"Any questions?"

"Yah," Ichigo began straight-faced, "is drawing your hobby?"

"I am quite the artist," he said with a hint of smugness.

"Really?" Ichigo asked. "I think, shinigami-hime, you should invest in a new hobby."

He was pierced with an icy glare and the shinigami-claimer was about to retort when the entire house began to flood with an unhealthy amount of energy causing both of them to whip their heads around. Ichigo gasped and the shinigami's sword was slowly pulled out.

"You felt that and didn't fall?"

"Of course I felt it and why the hell would I fall?" Ichigo ordered indignantly.

"You are a strange human-"

There was a scream from down the hall and Ichigo snapped to attention. "Yuzu!"

"Onii-chan!"

"Ichi-nii!"

"Human, wait!" the shinigami called but Ichigo told him to fuck off as he rushed out into the hall just in time to see Yuzu collapsing onto the ground blood pouring out of her shoulder.

"Onii-chan…" she whimpered raising her head weakly. "Karin-chan, get Karin-chan!"

"Yuzu!" He scooped the little girl into his arms before a loud roar and the shinigami flew passed.

"She's not dead," he said swiftly disappearing into the next room. Ichigo quickly put Yuzu down and followed behind and froze when he saw a gigantic monster with a white mask picking up a screaming Karin.

"KARIN!"

"Stay back," the raven-haired man ordered.

"Fuck you! That's my baby sister!" All fear aside, he rushed forward at the same time black robes swirled in front of him and the silver blade sliced the arm that held Karin.

Ichigo's heart plummeted as she went flying through the air. He slid on his knees and caught her just in time. The creature screamed and disappeared in anger but all Ichigo cared about was his little sister.

"Karin!" He hugged her close and cupped her cheek.

"She's fine," the shinigami said walking forward. "I don't believe it," he said quietly. "All this time, I was searching for the strong presence, the reiatsu leaked overshadowed my senses. That Hollow – it is after you."

Ichigo stared up at the man in horror. "Me?"

"Your reiatsu, I feel it now, it's simply rolling out-"

"What?"

There was a roar, causing Ichigo's eyes to narrow when the monster formulated once more. "Are you telling me, shinigami-hime that this thing attacked my family because of me?"

"Exactly." He deadpanned and he had no idea what the consequences of his words would cause.

Ichigo rose and gently pushed Karin into the man's chest. "So be it," he said eyes lighting up.

"What are you-" But he paused when Ichigo took off and jumped from the hole in the wall to the streets where the monster stood screaming.

"Yo! You fish faced son of a bitch! If it's my soul you want come and get it!" He stood there weaponless causing the creature to howl in delight and charge at him.

Fear laced Ichigo but he was frozen, he couldn't move, and he just wanted this to be over.

He closed his eyes and at the last second that he should have been devoured there was a sound of someone being gutted and hot liquid sprayed out onto Ichigo that caused his eyes to snap open and gasp when he saw the shinigami's shoulder and part of his torso clasped into the massive white teeth.

"You impertinent child," the shinigami hissed as he fell forward onto his knees. His sword clattered to the ground. "What did you think?" he asked turning over and breathing heavily, his hair flying forward into his dark eyes. "That if you just gave it your soul that he would leave?"

Ichigo merely stared, horror and guilt railing through him like a sledgehammer. Why was it that someone always saved him? It was his only thought.

"I-"

"You human, Hollows never leave after just one soul. They devour everything and anything with the slightest bit of reiatsu. We are all merely meals now, just wait and it'll eat everyone up."

Ichigo stood rigidly before collapsing onto his knees and stared down at the pavement. The streetlights glowed and the Hollow screamed. "Is there nothing?"

The shinigami paused for a moment before closing his eyes and it looked to him like what he was about to say was painful. "There – is – one way and this is only theoretical, I have never observed it being done."

Ichigo's head snapped up. "What is it?"

"This is a hypothetical situation, if it fails we all die," he said apathetically. He picked up the sword and pointed it at him. "Jab this into your soul, I will direct some of my powers into you. If what I believe is correct, your reiatsu is strong enough to grasp my power."

"Enough talking shinigami-hime," Ichigo said severely. "Let's do this."

"It is not shinigami, my name is Kuchiki Byakuya," Byakuya said firmly.

"Byakuya-hime, name is Kurosaki Ichigo."

Ichigo didn't wait, as another screaming call filled the night air, he saw the Hollow charging out of the corner of his eyes, he thrust forward and he expected to feel the silver metal slicing his skin open followed by a flow of blood but instead, he was engulfed in a flood of energy and white consumed the entire street and house until it was blinding and impossible to make out.

What happened next caused Byakuya to tilt to the side, he was clad in white and he was staring to the side as the smoke cleared. He felt powerless, what happened? He actually gasped when he saw standing there in full fledged shinigami clothes was Ichigo and easily the largest Zanpakuto that he'd ever seen. It was the size of the teen's body.

How did he take it all? Byakuya thought in horror.

"Now it's time to die, you fucking bastard!"

With a natural instinct and a flow of violent raging reiatsu Ichigo rushed toward it. "Die!" Ichigo roared. "Never mess with Kurosaki Ichigo's family!" It was gone with a rising particle of black dust and Byakuya could only lay there feeling unrefined and dumbfounded for the human turned shinigami turned and weighed the blade in his hand. "Not bad."

A human stole my powers, Byakuya thought immediately, no, wait, he didn't steal them, I gave them freely.

Soul Society wasn't going to like this.

-OoO-

Truck crashed and no one woke, Ichigo shook his head. What did that idiot do to his family? Did he go back to that Soul Society place that he'd been talking about? The jerk up and disappeared without a single good-bye, but at least Karin and Yuzu were perfectly healed. Ichigo had to resist the urge to grab them and tie them to his back and keep them safe.

His father hadn't even woken and that was way too weird for Ichigo's liking.

After a second cursory glance over at Yuzu and Karin, he breathed deeply and willed himself to leave the house and not run back in to check.

He slung his bag over his shoulder and trekked the blocks to school, he tugged at the collar of his jacket, it was much too hot this morning for this thing. He thought entering the cool building.

He stopped by the office and handed them a note from his father telling them of the accident that had occurred. The lady had squeaked and asked if everyone was alright.

"Fine," Ichigo said taking the late slip while at the same time messing with the buttons on his jacket. To hell with this thing, he though tugging it off as he swept into the literature class.

Keigo and Mizuiro's greeting was enough for him and he gulped when Chad was suddenly standing there offering help with the construction being done.

Tatsuki was growling and demanding to know if anyone was hurt and Orihime Inoue was lurking around her with concern shining her bright brown eyes.

"Kurosaki-kun?"

"I'm fine, Inoue," Ichigo said observing the small girl who bobbed her head.

"I'm glad!" She blushed and turned away causing Ichigo to shrug.

Mizuiro was sitting on top of Ichigo's desk with his phone out and Keigo was leaning against the chair with his arm around it and Chad was on the other side.

"Well," Tatsuki said tapping her foot in thought. "As long as you're alright, idiot. Only you would have a truck hit your house and not wake up."

"No shit," Ichigo said dubiously thinking about the shinigami from last night.

Everyone was talking and gabbing about different things when a shadow washed over them. Mizuiro looked up and nudged Ichigo. "Oh, while you were gone, we got a new transfer."

"Kurosaki-san," A low silk voice addressed causing Tatsuki to turn pink and Inoue to peer around interestedly at the newcomer.

Ichigo turned his head, "Yah-" he paused and his eyes widened when he saw standing there in a school uniform was the shinigami from last night. His hair was pulled back with a red ribbon this time and he looked emotionless and cold as ever. "You!" he said startled as he jumped up and glaring eye level with the shinigami. "What the hell-"

"Do you know him, Ichi-kun?" Mizuiro hummed curiously.

"He moved in down the street," Ichigo answered suddenly before Byakuya could say anything. "We got into a scuffle this morning."

"Kurosaki-san, may I have a word?" He didn't wait for Ichigo to speak and instead turned on his heel and walked away.

"Wow," Tatsuki breathed.

"He looks mean," Inoue said with a frown.

Ichigo rolled his eyes and waved his friends off. "See you in a minute," he called behind him and followed the man out before grabbing the gray jacket and pulling him into the unlocked boiler room that was often used for make out sessions and school skipping. He slammed it shut and pushed Byakuya up against it. "What the hell is going on? Why are you here?"

Byakuya glared. "Do not attempt to demand me, child. I am here because I have to be, do you think I enjoy being in this false body?"

Ichigo blinked and took a step back and sized him up. "False body?"

"Gigai," Byakuya said evenly, "a temporary replacement for a shinigami who have lost their powers. I am currently stuffed in this because of last night's events. You took every bit of my power." He turned away and tried not to sound contemptuous but it was hard.

Ichigo's eyes widened. "Oh Jesus," he said in horror, "that's why my friends could see you."

He gave a nod.

Ichigo actually felt bad about that. "Will you get in trouble?"

Byakuya observed Ichigo, surprised by his quick thinking. "I will be fine for now, however, I will be in trouble if I do not do my job here."

Ichigo quirked an eyebrow. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Me? The answer is we, Kurosaki-san."

Ichigo reared back as though he had been slapped and he was about to outright say hell no, but then the events of last night ground into him. Byakuya's saving him at the cost of his life and powers.

Ichigo had those powers.

He sighed heavily. "I can't promise anything, Byakuya-hime."

"Don't call me that."

Ichigo ignored that and instead raked a hand through his spiky hair in thought. "While I can't promise I'll go out of my way to help every perfect stranger I meet, I will do what I can until your powers return."

Byakuya inclined his head. "My thanks, Kurosaki-san."

"Eh, whatever, you saved my family and that's what matters to me," he said and nudged Byakuya before cracking the door and peaking out. "Cost clear."

"We're not supposed to be in here?"

"No, but it's the best place for discussions… amongst other things."

"Other things?" Byakuya queried.

Ichigo snorted and pointed toward the library. "You need books before class."

Mizuiro was the only one to eye Ichigo strangely when the new student remained by his side throughout the rest of the day.

Byakuya frowned as he sat on a wooden bench holding a wrapped item. "You expect me to eat this?" Luckily, they were the only ones there for the moment, Keigo and Mizuiro were in line and Tatsuki and Inoue had gone off to the field to play.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "What's wrong with it?"

Byakuya glanced sideways at Ichigo before looking at it again. "How do I eat it?"

"…" Ichigo reached over and took it and began to pull the plastic back being careful not to touch the sandwich itself. "With your hands, nothing more needed."

Byakuya eyed it before dubiously taking a bite. "Hm."

Ichigo turned away and swallowed some of his water. There was a beep from Byakuya's chest pocket and he quickly dug in and grabbed what looked like a cell phone.

"Hollow."

Ichigo sighed. "How do I –?"

Byakuya was up and rewrapped his sandwich. "Come with me," he said turning on his heel and walking away.

"Oi!" Ichigo rushed to catch up with him. "Don't just walk away without telling me exactly what we're doing!"

Byakuya pulled out a red glove with a flaming skull on the back and in a swift movement he turned and knocked it through Ichigo's forehead sending his body to floor as he stepped out dressed and ready in his shinigami robes.

"What the-"

"Hide the body in the bush, we won't be long."

Ichigo glowered. "And if someone sees me like this?"

"They can't see you, normal humans cannot see shinigami," Byakuya said eyeing Ichigo with mild disdain.

Ichigo humphed and crossed his arms. "It's not like I asked to see the damn things," he grouched.

They got to the Karakura West Park and it was then that Ichigo saw a little brown haired boy running and he let out a frightened cry. "HELP ME!"

Behind him was a Hollow, this one looked like a mix between bug and spider.

"Aim for the head," Byakuya ordered as Ichigo launched forward, sword swinging down with all his might.

He chopped at its legs making it squall loudly before tilting onto its side and vanishing.

"Not good enough."

Ichigo ignored Byakuya as he held out his hand for the little boy who sniffled and took it immediately.

Byakuya was about to warn him of the approaching Hollow, but Ichigo swung around and drove the blade deep into its head before slashing it twice and finally it vanished into black particles.

"Yo, kiddo, you best go to heaven and stop hanging around here or more will come," he said not waiting for the child to protest and tapped him on the forehead with the end of the hilt.

The child gasped. "I feel warm."

"Good."

Byakuya was shocked even though he didn't display it. Ichigo was if nothing else a very sufficient learner. He'd only seen that ritual performed once.

Byakuya couldn't help but question: Who was Kurosaki Ichigo?

Updates will be frequent. I'm five chapters ahead. One to two updates a week will occur. In this, Byakuya isn't as old but he's not as young as the Pendulum Arc. He's in between.

Title Info: I got the title from the song Never Surrender by Corey Hart. It's one of my favorite songs and I thought it fit the story well.