I know I'm being a disappointment, what with late -very late- updates of Moonless Sky's Touch and Moonlight, but, I'm stuck on ideas there and as long as I don't get rid of other ideas, such as this fic, I won't be able to continued, so... here I am. Posting a new story. Well, enjoy, and prepare yourself for one more possible new story and a new chapter for MST, for those who read it.

Author: Datenshii

Genre: Adventure/Drama, possible Romance.

Rate: T, because of Ichi's potty mouth and incoming violence. And me being paranoid. Hints of lemon, a big maybe, but there will surely be no real lemon. People who love lemon, READ THE F***ING AUTHOR'S NOTE!

Pairings: IchiRuki, definitely, onesided IchiHime, though that's way lesser. Not many pairings, since I prefer to believe that I suck at romance, but if there will be, others will be revealed in time.

Disclaimer: Bleach not mine. Full-stop.

"Regular talking"

Thinking or pressured words

'Zangetsu-Zanpakutou'

'Shirosaki-Inner Hollow'

'Other mental talking beings'

"Abilities/Demons/Masked Ichigo-Vizards/Hollows"

Without further ado...

Prologue

I fight to protect. Get injured, get healed. Lose, only to come back ten times more determined and win. I have always relied on hope, even though I did not realize it. Hope and will were my resources.

After all this, I questioned myself.

Where is that hope right now?

Thud.

"No… No, no, no! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

…

FLAMES OF AFTERLIFE: FORGING THE SAVIOR

Chapter I – The Sinner's Realm

Hell. Its bottomless areas reek of rotten flesh and dried blood. Desperate and agonizing screams, pleads, hastily requesting mercy can be heard within seconds apart of each other. Insecurity and guilt fill the entire atmosphere, running a chill down any human being's spine.

One was circulating down Kurosaki Ichigo's back now. And it was not the one induced by the atmosphere of Hell.

He frowned in concern and tried to shove the thoughts of a bad feeling to the back of his mind. They just barely escaped Kokuto's desperate clutches. They surely didn't need another burden to carry right now.

"Ichigo," At hearing his name being called his head perked up. "We're almost out. Prepare your ass for an itchy scold." Renji warned, grinning cheekily. The orange-head just scowled at him as another shiver engulfed him, this time more noticeable. Hastily, he dodged one of the Hell Guardians' bulky arms.

At this, Rukia frowned, her lips drawing in a thin line. "What's wrong?"

Ichigo shook his head. "It's nothing. Just a bad feeling, but don't worry, I'm pretty sure all the incredible has already been tested on us." He said, smirking. The petite shinigami sighed worriedly, but smiled nonetheless.

Soon, they reached the broken gates of Hell, which was now repairing itself by absorbing reishi. They charged themselves to reach the gates before they closed and launched. Or attempted to.

"Ichigo! What the hell!" Renji yelled in shock. Ichigo stopped midair and fell back. Fading chains were linked to his torso, stopping him from reaching the gate. Recovering from his stunned state, he looked at his friends.

"Go! We don't have time for this; just go before it closes up!" He yelled, desperation clear on his face. His friends continued to stare back at him, until Ishida frowned.

"Let's go." The Quincy said hurriedly. The gate was almost closed. The glint in his eyes told them what they needed to know. "We'll find a way to get him out." They nodded and quickly ran through the gates.

Having arrived within safe zone, Rukia stopped to back at the gates. They were currently disappearing within a sea of reishi. An old, rusty voice brought her back from her thoughts.

"Kuchiki Rukia, Abarai-fukutaichou. Why has Kurosaki Ichigo not returned from Hell?" Yamamoto-soutaichou demanded.

Renji bowed and reported. "Substitute shinigami Kurosaki Ichigo was held back by Hell's chains."

Immediately, several taichou's eyes widened. Orihime let out a choked sound as she felt her legs give up on her.

He… He promised he'd come back alive. He never breaks his promises. There's- There's just no way would he break his promise! She was denying the thought of him caged in Hell, or even worse, dead. Grabbing her head, her knees turned to jelly and she fell on the ground. The auburn-haired healer's head was bowed, hiding any expression, but her body was shaking.

Rukia did not dare look anyone in the eyes. The guilt was engulfing her and she was afraid that, dare she raise her head, she'd lose herself. So she chose to hide her eyes in the shadows of ebony hair, lips pulled together in an emotionless frown.

Ishida's heart crushed at the sight of the broken Orihime. He watched desperately as she crumbled, his consciousness roaring at him for not comforting her. His face kept a solemn look. Even if he reassured his companions before leaving Hell, he just had a feeling that this time, fate wouldn't smile at them anymore.

The captains stood shocked for a second. Even the soutaichou had his eyes open this time, as he was staring at Renji as if he'd just said that the sky would fall on the ground. Soon, they regained their composure and tried to find an explanation for this, as well as a way to untangle the problem.

"But, soutaichou, the substitute shinigami couldn't have sinned. He isn't that kind of man." Hisagi Shuuhei protested. He had encountered Kurosaki Ichigo a few times, and he proved to be an honorable fighter.

"I agree, Hisagi-fukutaichou, but then again, what explanation could there possibly be?" Ukitake Juushirou contemplated.

Zaraki Kenpachi scoffed. "Can't we just go in Hell again and get him out?" He complained.

Unohana Retsu frowned disapprovingly. "That is way too dangerous. If Hell were to be entered again, the gates could crumble again and the human world would be infected with the rotten air."

"Whatever it may be, we cannot risk any more officers, with the Winter War coming. While I agree that Ichigo-san is a great asset in this war, there is just nothing we can do." Kyoraku Shunsui declared, raising his hat. His face held a sober expression, eyes aged and solemn.

The soutaichou closed his eyes, and contemplated. A few seconds later, he turned to look at Renji.

"Abarai-fukutaichou, announce Kurosaki Ichigo's family that he has been KIA. They will be informed of his affiliation. We shall return to Seireitei, and proceed preparing for the Winter War. You may take Kuchiki Rukia with you." He declared.

Renji's head perked up, Rukia turned to stare in horror at the old man and Ishida bit his lip and scowled. I knew it, he thought. Damned bastards wouldn't lift a finger to help the one who could save their asses.

Unseen to the Quincy, several shinigami were also pretty much shocked. Hitsugaya Toushirou particularly seethed with anger. He grew to respect the hot-headed human, and couldn't even begin to imagine his family's, his sister, Karin's, grief.

However shocked they might have been, they stood there, staring in silence at the soutaichou, realizing that despite their anger, they couldn't do a single thing. That was something that was eating at Rukia's nerves.

Despite wanting to yell at her superiors, she chose to keep her mouth shut, wait, and hope.

Hope that Ichigo will be back.

...

Blank. That was the word to describe Ichigo's expression.

He knew he was falling alright; he just couldn't bring himself to care less. All he cared about right now was the fact that he was trapped. And in Hell of all places.

His blank expression slowly turned in a shocked one when he noticed the slowly approaching Hell Guard. He prepared himself to run, when suddenly the Hell Guard stopped and bowed, head raised to face him, as If looking him in the eyes.

As he stared in those endless black holes, Ichigo's head was filled with new information. His eyebrows shot up.

Is he… talking to me? He thought shell-shocked.

Looks like ye've got a new friend, kingie.

Ichigo's brows furrowed at the sound of his hollow's mad, double voice. Damn bastard was back again, and it looked like this time he was looking for chit-chat.

Aww, don' be such an emo ass. The hollow whined. I jus' got back and this is da 'Welcome back!' I get? After all the help I provided ya?

Would you shut the fuck up and let me hear what he's trying to tell me? Thank you very much, the hybrid growled. As soon as his companion shut up and he concentrated on the other presence in his mind, his eyes grew wide with horror and his jaw went slack.

'Kurosaki Ichigo, Hell's chains binding the Togabito had been loose for more than a century, as a consequence of a group of Sinners that did not submit for quite a while. Their rebel acts led others to rebel as well, and the Will of Hell lost its power over them. Your appearance here, as well as your actions, proved to us, the sole Guardians of this realm, that peace can be restored. I am hereby announcing that the Will has proclaimed you as Lord of Hell, to reign over the Sinners and force them to submit, unfortunately binding you to this realm as well for the sake of afterlife balance. You may leave Hell after order had been reinforced, only if spoken to return to your throne.'

As the announcement had come to an end, the Guardian continued to stare at the newfound Lord of Hell as if requesting reply. Ichigo looked at him, still quite shaken, and closed his eyes, swallowing heavily.

Opening his eyes, they reflected exhaustion and defeat. "I guess I have no choice, do I? Well, I might as well fulfill my job. Though, I need someone loyal to show me around. Also, sometime around a couple months later, I have to go back to the Living World and kill a Civil war leader, for the sake of all the worlds," he informed the Guardian, who gave an agreeing aura, as a sign of understanding.

After the Guardian left to his duty, he chose to sit down for a while and wait for that requested guide to show up. Sitting there, he thought back to his family and friends, as well as his life as a human being and shinigami. His scowl disappeared, but a sad smile curled his lips.

Looks like I'm really stuck. Lord of Hell, huh? I've really become someone to be feared, he thought bitterly.

'Ichigo, your body might be chained to Hell, but your heart rests with your loved ones. So long as they live, there is nothing you can mourn. Your sacrificed life is a small price to pay in exchange for the peace and happiness. You will find your own too, in time,' Tensa Zangetsu's young, but wise voice echoed in his mind.

This time, Ichigo really smiled. You're right. Thanks a lot, Zangetsu. Whatever comes at us, I'm not giving up, not anymore. Hell better be prepared, for it is going to be shaken upside down!

And with that, the Lord of Hell began his ruling over the Sinner's Realm.

…

End of Chapter I… To be continued.

Tell me what you think. I noticed that Hell fics are pretty much popular, so I will be alert for any fast review, so since there are so many of them, tell me if I make any mistake, or if I accidentally write an idea that has already been used.

MST will be updated today or tomorrow. Moonlight is on short Hiatus for now.

Also, feel free to ask anything related to this plot. I will answer those questions that do not request answers as spoilers. Other unasked information, but needed and that does not appear in the story will be revealed in the Author's note as well.

Read and review, as always!

-Datenshii