Bridge the Gap, Kyoukan!

Chapter 1: Hey, there's Ichigo!

I was on my way to the library to watch Bleach online (I had already seen the subbed version, and I was curious of the differences between it and the English dub) when it happened. I saw Kurosaki Ichigo in the, well, not the flesh, I guess, but I still saw him for real. You might be wondering at this point if I'm some Mary Sue author insert who can see spirits. If so, you're two-thirds right. Yes, I'm an author insert, and, yes, I can see spirits, but, no, I'm not a Mary Sue. And if I start to become one, please let me know without flaming me.

So, where was I? Oh, yeah, I saw Ichigo. He was on his way back to his body, I guessed, judging by the relaxed air he had in his reiatsu. When we got to the back alley where he'd left his physical form, we were in for quite a shock. With all those cuts and bruises, it looked like Ichigo had allowed Zaraki-taicho a free-for-all on him!

I did what any sane person would do: I screamed. "What—how—who—who could have done this?" I cried in shock. "Okay, Jesa, don't panic. Don't. Panic. It's just his body. He's standing here right beside you, most likely just as shocked as you are."

I'm guessing that little self–pep-talk is what clued him into the fact that I could see him in his shinigami form. "What the...? Y-you can see me?" the shinigami-daiko yelled in understandable shock. "Who are you, anyway?"

"I'm Jones Jesa," I said, using the Japanese convention of putting the family name first, even though I was born and raised in America. "But isn't taking care of your body a little more important right now? I'm sure this is nothing too hard for Orihime to take care of."

"How do you know about Inoue?" he asked, his usual scowl deepening slightly.

"I'll tell you later, I promise. And where's Kon, anyway?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know whether to be relieved or worried that you know about that creep. He's probably off sleeping or doing something else I'd rather not know about." He shook his head, probably trying to get rid of some unwanted mental image.

"I agree, knowing what he's like..." I trailed off, trying to avoid thinking about what Kon might really be doing. "Now, go find Orihime." I waved him off playfully. "Shoo, shoo!"

Ichigo gave me a long, hard stare, like he was debating whether he could trust me. Or maybe he was trying to be intimidating, having just been told what to do by a girl he just met. When he either made his decision or realized I wasn't fazed, he mumbled, "Yeah. Just, ah, um..."

"Keep away any people being too nosy for their own good?" I suggested with a small smile.

"...Right."

As I watched him dash off, more like disappear with shunpo, I thought to myself, What have I gotten myself into now?

A/N: If you have questions, let me know via review or pm, and I'd be happy to answer.

Thanks to my betas, Apocalyxtic98 and Snowy12345679, for all their help.

Most of this chapter is based off a dream I had. I thought it would make an interesting story, so I decided to write it down and see how long I could run with it. I do have a plot planned and written out, but that did not come about until after the first few chapters were written.

Note about revisions to this and my other fics: From time to time, usually when I'm trying to get over writer's block for the next chapter, I'll reread my old chapters and revise as I go. If there is a revision more than just in wording or fixing a typo, I'll make sure to mention it in the a/n for the latest chapter.

Most chapters after this one are at least double the length. Ones about the same length as this one have "Teaser Chapter" in the chapter title.

This fic has a follow-up story on my friend Esmereilda's page, involving Jesa, Esmi's OC who gets a nameless mention in chapter 4 of this fic, and in future chapters, an OC belonging to Uxintaa. The story, Long Parted, Always Sisters, is a Black Butler crossover (more the other writers' thing than mine) where Jesa, Ichigo, and Rukia go to Jesa's old hometown in America and meet up with Esmi's OC Yumi, who is half-Bleach shinigami, half-Black Butler shinigami, but Jesa and Yumi have no idea the other has any supernatural power beyond seeing spirits. LPAS is set sometime after what I have planned for this fic so far. We've been careful to avoid spoilers for this fic in that one, though. Please take a look if you're interested.

Enjoy, and God bless!