Agent of the Shinigami Arc - Bleach Retold Chapter 1: Death Boy and Strawberry Girl, a bleach fanfic

This is my first Gender Bend fanfic so don't be too harsh...

Idon't own Bleach or any of its charcters. They belong to Tite Kubo.

(Night-time…)

A cold, night fell over a small, normal-looking town. It was 2:23 a.m. on a Friday. In the shadows of the night, several, dark figures crawled out from a dark, unfamiliar world and disappeared in the darkness. Whatever they were… they didn't look human.

ooooo

"We have no form, therefore we are feared and because we are formless, we are revered.

Thus we are slain."

ooooo

Elsewhere, another figure landed silently on top of a telephone poll. It was a young man dressed in an all-black kimono. He was quite short for someone his age, no bigger than 5'0 ft. and had cheek length, black hair with a single strand in front, as well as violet eyes that felt like if you looked into them they pierce into your soul . He also had a light blue scarf around his neck and by his side was a sword in a red sheath and in his right hand was some sort of map.

He stood alone under the giant, full moon that shone down over the street, causing his pale skin to glisten. He watched over the quiet little town, looking for something. His lavender eyes narrowed slightly as he turned his head to the left.

"I feel it. Such a strong pulse of spirit energy, close by..." he whispered to himself.

He jumped away onto another pole and went off down onto the town, unafraid of the great height he just leapt from, like he had been doing this for years. Then, he vanished, silently, into the night.

xxxx

(Later that day…)

Elsewhere, at another part of town, was a fight waiting to happen outside a skateboarding park under the auburn skies. It was 7:15 pm and one adolescent girl stood in front a small gang of hooligans.

She was quite tall, standing 5'9 ft. and was lean-built, though she did have noticeable curves (and F-Cup breasts for those pervs wondering… you know you are). The girl also had peach skin and big, brown eyes set in a scowl but her most distinguishing feature was her spiky, orange hair tied up into a short ponytail that reached the middle of her back. She wore the regular uniform for a high school girl: a short grey skirt, a jacket, a white buttoned shirt that could barely contain her cleavage and brown shoes. The orangette also had a pink handbag with red strawberries on it, which seemed unfitting because of her punkish look.

Her name is Ichigo Kurosaki… and she was pissed off.

"Oi, dumbasses!"

Across the street, several skateboarders paused in their fooling around and looked up to the teenage girl who called them.

"They even answer to it" the girl muttered to herself while rolling her eyes, as the skateboarders began to wander over to her.

When they got a good look at her, their jaws dropped and started wolf-whistling like idiots. As the first dumbass (I think his name is Yama or somethin') came into range, she leaped up into the air and lashed out with her fist, dropping him to the ground with a solid strike to the temple. This shocked and angered the rest of them.

"What the-?! Ya got a death wish, bitch?! Nobody drops one of ma pals for no reason and gets away with it!" said the big one, with the ski hat.

"Hmpf!"

"That's all ya've gotta say?! You lil'-"

He made a lunge at her but missed. Ichigo's face split into a nasty grin and she spun on her heel, kicking the second thug on the side of his face. He collapsed onto the ground beside his fallen mate. But the redhead wasn't done with him yet and started stomping on his back.

"Whoa, she dropped Li'l Toshi!" another boarder commented.

"'That ain't right. She one blood-thirsty demon!"

"We gotta help him!" said one with curly hair.

"Are you crazy, Lil' Mitto?!" retorted one with a nose piercing. "You wanna go up against that psycho!"

"Better not mess with her, she kill us all!"

All the boys could do was watch helplessly as their boss's head was pounded into the concrete by the girl's foot. Then, she turned around to the startled wimps. "Now, listen up, worms, I'm talking to ya!" she straightened up and pointed back to her right. "First question: What the hell is that?"

It was a broken bottle with flowers near a lamppost. She then asked the smelly guy with the black shirt to answer. He smiled unsurely. "I-I-It's… some flowers to a girl… who got killed in a car accident… here-?"

"Exactly!" The boarder earned a kick in the face for his correct answer.

"W-W-Wait, chill out!" pleaded the curly boy.

"Now, second question: What is that vase doing on its side, huh?"

"I-I... I guess o-o-one of us… knocked it over with our boards?" one of remaining thugs said fearfully. "We didn-" Before they could finish the hothead punched them both the face.

"You guys catch on real fast, don't you?" Ichigo fell back in a fighting stance. "Well, then, since you don't seem up to apologizing… the next flowers will have to be for you!"

But it was apparent she didn't need to because the boarders erupted into screams, their eyes focusing on her scary-ass, rage face.

"We're sorry, we're really sorry! We won't do it again!"

Leaving their skateboards and dragging their unconscious friends, they ran away scared, as if their lives were in danger. Ichigo snorted and stomped down on the nearest board, snapping it in half through the middle.

"Like I said, Mina, they're idiots" she looked up at the ghost that hovered beside her. "But I doubt those punks will show their ugly-mugs, anytime soon. But if they do, just let me know and I'll drive 'em off again" she smirked.

She turned around to see Mina, a little floating girl with brown pigtails, held in place with ball hair bobbles. She had a long fringe which hung over the left side of her face and wore a red-and-white striped, tank top and shorts. She appeared 8 years old and was unbothered by the corroded chain protruding from her chest.

"Sorry about that I'll get you some new flowers, tomorrow, okay?"

The dead girl smiled. Ever since Ichigo started High School, she gave her flowers to her memorial and comforted her whenever she got upset. Mina was one of the few people to befriend her but kept noting that she was scared because the sky somehow was beginning to feel heavier in a strange way whenever she met her and the air felt lighter when the teen left.

"You're a scary person, Ichigo but thank you for standing up for me. I should be able to rest in peace, now" the ghost giggled happily.

"Don't mention it. Kicking ass is always fun. Just you hurry up and go to heaven" she smirked to the spirit.

After proceeding to pick up the vase and setting it upright, she waved vaguely, already walking off.

xxxx

(Later that day…)

Ichigo's POV

My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. I'm 15 years old, some I'm a high school student. My family runs a local clinic here in Karakura Town. Because of my hostile nature and beauty I'm also known as commonly the 'Strawberry Girl', lesser known as the 'Fire Princess' or secretly known as 'the sexy chick that doesn't stand for bullshit'.

I've always seen ghosts since I was little. See the dead as clearly as the living.

xxxx

Third Person POV

The Kurosaki Clinic was several blocks away from the ghost's park but Ichigo saw no point in delaying; it was already 7:30, night-time was already rolling by with the moon glowing with a few clouds. The longer she dallied in the open, the more likely it was she would pick up another passenger and she really didn't want to deal with another. Not today. Hell, not this week, one is enough. Sliding her spare key in the front door's key hole she opened the door, beginning to take off her shoes as she did.

"I'm hom-" she called out with a yawn, brushing open the door, then suddenly…

"Hiya! You're late!" The leg of a man flew over into her face and she landed flat on the wooden floor with a yelp. "Do you know what time it is, young lady? Dinner in this house is at 7 o'clock, sharp, every night! You shouldn't let your guard down, especially when you're late. Always make sure to expect the unexpected" scolded the man.

This ass was her dad: Isshin Kurosaki. He stood 6'1 ft. and unlike his daughter, he has spiky, black hair, dark eyes and a goatee. He's quite muscular, middle-aged and wears a grey pants and a white, doctor's jacket over his yellow shirt.

His way of greeting his eldest daughter when coming home late … is a big kick to the face. Obviously, she didn't like this one bit.

"Oh come on!" Ichigo retorted from the floor. "What kind of father expects a 15-year-old to be home at seven like a damn curfew, anyway? Ever heard of making excuses, temee?!"

"There's no excuses when there's ramen for dinner, especially when it involves pointless street fights" said Isshin sternly, looking down at her with crossed arms.

Ichigo growled sourly. She was never late getting home because of a fight, they never took that long. "Anyways is that how you treat your kid who was helping a poor ghost find peace on her way home!" she argued angrily, as the man went forehead-to-forehead with her, his own face looking mad and angry.

"Silence! There are no exceptions, period! Oh and is it also the ghost's fault your room's a mess or why you haven't done your homework?! Can you explain that, young lady?!" he asked, while he pressed his forehead against his daughter's. "The rules of this house are iron, you break them you bleed!" Isshin's face quickly turned wistful. "Or are you just trying to rub it in my face that you can see ghosts and I can't? Why can't I have that gift? Why?"

Ichigo snarled under her breath as she got to her feet and got right up in her old man's face.

"Here's a better question: Why can't you just shut up?" Ichigo snapped. She heard this exact speech every time she mentioned something ghost-related. She could almost swear he did it merely to annoy her. "I didn't ask for it!"

As they got into a comically Chibi arm-waving fight, Yuzu, Ichigo's little brown-haired sis with soft, hazel eyes, a few feet away at the table, was upset by the quarrel, one that was that repeated over and over again. "Please stop fighting! Dinner's getting cold!" The two elders of the family hardly heard her as they tried to beat the crap out of each other.

"Let them fight Yuzu. Maybe it'll put Ichi nee-san in a better mood. She's usually only this sour after being a Good Samaritan" said her black-haired twin sister. Karin, on the other hand, was unbothered by this. "Besides' there'll be more rice for me."

"That's not very nice, Karin."

Soon, Ichigo sent her dad cartwheeling into the wall with a kick to the jaw. Her orange hair looked messier than before and a vein could be seen right at her forehead. "Damnit Dad! Someday I'm gonna get child services on your ass! Being attacked just for a little late home is totally uncool!" she pointed, angrily. Unexpectedly, a blue flame appeared over her shoulder.

"Speaking of uncool, nee-san you've got a new friend" said Ichigo's depressed-looking sister calmly, while eating and gaining her attention.

"Actually…" Yuzu squinted at a blur next to her orange-haired big sister. "Nee-chan, I think she's right. Its behind right you"

"Another, how long's he been here?" Ichigo looked up to and nearly cringed to see a spirit appear from the flames.

He and brown hair and dark eyes, he also wore glasses and a business suit. Most noticably, he had a rope around his neck, which made Ichigo believe he took his own life. The middle age man smiled, commenting on how pretty she was, which caused her to growl in annoyance. "Damnit, I exorcise one and another sicko latches right onto me! Take a hike, will ya!" yelled the fistborn, as she tried to swat the creepy ghost away.

"Dropped your guard!" Isshin took advantage of his daughter's lack of attention and grabbed her and Ichigo to the floor. "Those who disrupt the harmony of my house will be punished... by the TICKLING OF DOOM!"

As such, he proceeded to tickle the teenager who pleaded him to stop between laughs.

"Poor, nee-san" Karin sighed. "Whether its ghosts or dad, something's bothering her."

"I'm actually jealous of you and Nee-chan being able to see ghosts, Karin. I can only sense their presence."

"I don't see what the big deal is" the raven-haired girl said with a bored tone. "Just because I can them doesn't make me believe in them, I'm in I don't believe in them, then it's the same as if they didn't exist."

That remark left Yuzu shocked and just stared comically after hearing her explanation in disbelief, the ghost was left hurt. "That's cold..." he muttered. It's one thing to not believe in ghosts if you can't see them…

Finally, Ichigo broke out of the hold and punch her dad. "*Pant* *Pant* Damnit… *Pant* Temee… *Pant* *Pant* *Pant* Why do you keep doing this to me for 2 years?!" she wheezed as she stood up. "*Pant* I don't see you doing this to Yuzu or Karin. *Pant*"

Isshin got up and put on his serious face. "Ichigo, as you get older your body goes through… certain changes."

"Yeah, I learned about the 'birds and the bees' at school but what does have to do with you attacking me" she said, bluntly.

"Over time boys will notice these changes, including vile ones that won't take 'no' for an answer when they request a date from you. Since you quit the Dojo your karate skills would dull and it's up to me, as your father, to keep your fighting skills fresh to fend off the little bastards when I'm not around" the man turned to his twin daughters with a big smile. "Don't worry Karin, Yuzu. When you're 13 daddy will teach you some lessons."

This caused Yuzu to have a worried face but Karin just ignored him. Ichigo then stomped off, ignoring the yells of protest that burst out behind her.

"Oh by the way, nee-san, I have a new project planned, want in?" smirked the black-haired girl, Ichigo just sighed.

"Karin quit using me for another one of your get-rich-quick schemes" the orangette proceeded to go upstairs. "Never mind dinner. I'm going to bed" she mumbled, as she walked out of the room to take the stairs to her room. Darkly, she noted the ghost followed her.

"Nee-chan wait…" the girl in the apron was cut-off by a door slam.

"Nice one dad (!)" Karin scolded. Hearing this he turned into a guilty-looking Chibi form.

"Me! What did I do?" he asked with the innocents that could have been confused for a child's, had it not been that he was a middle-aged man.

xxxx

(In Ichigo's room…)

"There've been more and more ghosts bugging me lately, more than ever before" she thought, as she put her pink handbag down.

Her room was pretty plain for a normal teenage girl's. There were few plus dolls (in particular was a lion doll she was fond of), no posters of boys or makeup kits, she was never into that. There was just a desk, a chair, a window and a big, comfy, pink bed.

The girl took the ribbon out of her hair letting it fall to the floor as her orange tresses spread out. Ichigo lay down on her bed, tired but not in the mood to sleep. Sleep would be almost a relief, though. She closed her eyes. Most of the spirits she met were annoyingly sappy.

xxxx

(Back, in the living room…)

"WHAT?! WHY WOULD SHE TALK TO YOU ABOUT HER PROBLEMS FIRST INSTEAD OF HER OLD MAN?!" the silly man wailed, while gaping with wide eyes. "I-I-IT D-D-DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!" His dark-haired daughter sat back on her chair.

"Sure it does" replied a half-hearted Karin. "You're a 42-Year man with the intellect of a 4-Year old's."

After hearing this, a depressed Isshin weaved over to a giant poster of his smiling, deceased wife, Masaki. "Oh, my dear wife~" he sobbed. "Our daughters are going through puberty quickly than I thought and they're so cold to me. ~ What do I do?"

"Well, I think that after 6 years, it's time you took that poster down…" the serious twin sweatdropped, as she took a drink of her water.

xxxx

(Back, in Ichigo's room…)

"I can't make sense of what's going on with me" she mentally sighed.

She blinked. Ichigo noticed a black butterfly flutter through her window. It was pretty. She always did admire those little insects. Just going where the wind takes them, without a care in the world. This caused her to smile a bit, a sense a peace in an otherwise chaotic day.

"Its close…"

The redhead's eyes shot open in slight shock, as a figure revealed himself to be a dark, teenage boy. There he was, standing on her desk, ignoring Ichigo as though she didn't exist, he was short and in a hakama and a black Shihakusho, short, combed jet-black hair that was done in of sort of style that reminded Ichigo of the head of a cockatoo. His hair reached his cheeks and a sword at his hip.

"What the hell are you doing here? Who are you?" Ichigo demanded. The boy narrowed his eyes as he began to unsheathe his sword. This frightened the young woman as she back up into a corner. "Aaaaaaah! Don't slice me up! I'm allergic to death!" she cried.

The man got down from her desk and walk until he wasstanding in the middle of the room, looking around. "It's getting closer. I can feel it" he thought.

"I don't think I've seen him at school. God, what's happening to my life?" she wondered.

This was too much. After dealing with ghosts and her family, Ichigo really wasn't up to being too civil anymore. Frustrated at being unnoticed, she tackled the stranger, leaping head-first from the bed and pinned his arms behind his back.

"Wha-what…?" The boy in black looked at her with wide eyes, as if she had grown two heads.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" she demanded. "Are you a burglar? You better not be or there's gonna be hell!"

The boy squirmed, twisting to try and look at his captor's face. "H-Hold on. I-I do not understand. You can see me... touch me. How is that possible?"

Ichigo rolled her eyes. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be able to see you-?"

A second later, Ichigo went flying off of the intruder, propelled by a big kick from Isshin. "Stop jumping around so much, girl!"

"Why should I?" she barked, not taking her eyes off of the black-clad boy. He was looking from Ichigo to Isshin, looking puzzled. "All you do is jump around all day! I'll jump around all I like when I'm subduing intruders!"

"What intruder?"

"Uh, the midget, right in front of you"

Isshin looked down blankly.

"It's no good. Normal people cannot see me" the boy sat up, shaking his head.

Ichigo closed her eyes again. Too many ghosts had been bothering her lately. It was just her luck that when she got fed up and got landed with a freaking samurai-wannabe. "Never mind, Dad, I'll be quiet."

It took a long time to convince Isshin that his presence was not necessary, he having abruptly reverted to his generic sappy personality that came out when he thought something was wrong with her that he hadn't caused. After her dad left, the boy got up to his full height, he only reached up to Ichigo's chest, and reached his hand up onto her chin.

"How strange. You look like a normal girl, though a bit too tall, you must have a very strong Spiritual Energy… or at least defective" he noted.

Ichigo narrowed her eyes in frustration. "I'm not too tall, you're just too short! And who're you calling defective?!" she snapped, with a popped vein.

The strawberry-girl tried to deliver a fly-kick but the boy just side-stepped her, causing the girl to crash into a wall. Ichigo rubbed her head and glared at the man as she got back up. "Don't avoid any more questions! Tell me who you are!" Ichigo demanded, as the boy was silent for a few seconds before he sighed.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked and Ichigo nodded, causing him to sigh once more.

"I guess I have no choice. No mere human is supposed to know this. I'm a Shinigami."

xxxx

(Meanwhile…)

Across town a familiar black portal opened up with a strange zipping sound, slowly a monster stepped out onto the dark street.

It had a Humanoid appearance, about 16 ft. in height and there was a hole in the centre of his chest and it had a mask covering its face. The white mask was similar to a fish in shape and he a dorsal fin on his back. His shoulders and arms were plated with what appears to be a part of his mask and his olive-green body was covered with dark grey stripes, resembling the scales of something kinda fish. The monster growled before it stood up from its crouched position and sniffed the air.

Crash!

It soon found the dead girl's sprit nearby and chased after her.

"Oh no, please don't eat me" Mina sobbed as she ran for her unlife.

The creature tore apart some telephone wires that got its way like paper causing electricity to leak out and it left its 4-toed footprints into the solid concrete.

The last thing that could be heard was the girl's scream...

xxxx

(Back at the Kurosaki Residence…)

"Okay. Let me get this straight: you're telling me you are a 'Shinigami', from a place called the 'Soul Society' and you're on a 'mission' here to vanquish 'evil spirits' that eat souls" the girl concluded with a raised eyebrow, while sitting down on a cushion.

"Yes."

Ichigo nodded, as if it wasn't a load of nonsense. "That sounds believable…" then she threw her hands up in the air knocking over the little table in front of them. "…LIKE FLYING PIGS, LEPRACHUNS AND THE MOTHERFUCKING TOOTH FAIRY! WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR SOME DIPSY GIRL WHO BELIEVES ANYTHING SHE'S TOLD!? AS IF!"

She grabbed the guy be the front of his robe and dangled him easily in the air. Ichigo wondered whether if after hearing the intruder finish his minute-long explanation was worth the headache. The self-proclaimed Shinigami shifted back, looking a bit offended.

The swordsman grabbed her wrist and Ichigo winced slightly, seeing that his hands were strong. Putting him down, she threw the guy a scowl. "You can see ghosts, yet you do not believe in Shinigami?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Of course not! The existence of a Shinigami… had never crossed my mind!" Ichigo retorted, crossing her arms. "If there were any Shinigami, I wouldn't have to help all the ghosts haunting me! I don't believe in things I don't see."

The guy brushed dust off his robe. "You see me, do you not?" the black-clothed man said, as he got up.

"True, I don't think you're human but go play your lil' Death God games somewhere else, okay brat" she spoke in a mocking tone, while patting him on the head because she could, while popping her hips.

Looking highly insulted, the boy pointing his index and middle fingers at her. "I'm a brat, huh? Well how about this" he whispered, with eyes shadowed. "Bakudo No. 1 Sai!"

Suddenly, the strawberry girl's arms were locked behind their back as she fell to the floor with a yelp. Ichigo struggled as much as she could but she couldn't break free. "D-damnit, I can't move!" she growled. "What kind of black magic is this?"

"I just used a Kido on you. Don't worry it'll only paralyse you" he answered with a smile. "It's a spell only we Shinigami use. Don't struggle you're only wearing yourself out." It was starting to become clear to the orangette that boy may not be lying after all. The Shinigami then knelled down to her eye level. "I may look young but I've lived ten of your lifetimes" he narrowed his eyes. "The only thing that's stopping me for punishing you for your insolence is the Spiritual Law, so be grateful, 'brat'."

She yelled out curses as she tried to get up, not doing so since it was like heavy chains were holding her down. The boy in black grasped his katana's hilt, drawing it with a metallic sheen. Ichigo tensed and flinched back as the blade flew by her face, only to recoil as the other flipped it reverse grip with the ease of experience and brought it down beside her head… on the forehead of the middle-aged ghost guy that bugged her earlier.

"No... Please… I-I don't want to be sent to Hell!" he begged, wide-eyed and fearful as the boy pulled the hilt away, leaving an odd tattoo on the ghost's forehead.

"Do not worry. You are meant for a better after life" the Shinigami smiled, Ichigo couldn't question him now, not with the ghost's response, watched as the smiling ghost shattered into a dozen glowing shards that were sucked into a growing white portal, then a black butterfly appeared and fluttered away into the night's sky. "It is not Hell that awaits you. It is the Soul Society."

He sheathed the sword again, turning to Ichigo with a trace of a sneer. "I doubt you need further convincing."

Ichigo shook her head. "What… happened? Where's the ghost?" she asked, from her locked spot on the floor.

"I sent him to Soul Society" the Shinigami replied, as though it should have been obvious. "By means of Konso, the soul funeral, you would call it 'passing on' in your world. It is one of the duties of a Shinigami" he paused, gazing at Ichigo, something odd in his dark eyes and then held up a finger. "Alright, now I will give you the reason on why I was sent here. I will only explain this once."

"There are two types of spirits in this world: the Pluses, which you are accustomed to seeing and the Hollows, the evil spirits, which prey on souls: both living and dead. Shinigami are to escort the Pluses that want to 'pass on' to the Soul Society using Konso, while exorcizing the Hollows who interfere with the balance of souls."

The Shinigami doodled on a notepad (that came from his kimono) as he spoke and turned it around, to reveal two drawings… if that could be called that, bad as they were. On one, a mutant rabbit's head was labelled "Pluses" and rested beside an arrow labelled "Konso" that extended across a barrier to a bubble emblazoned "Soul Society." On the other, an equally mutated teddy bear (Was it a teddy bear? Ichigo wasn't sure, it could have been another rabbit) was labelled "Hollow" and surrounded by a field of lightning bolts and a cloud that announced "Ka-boom!"

The black-haired boy tilted his head. "Any questions?"

"Uh, yeah" Ichigo stated, squinting. "Just why do your drawings suck so much?"

Her only response was marker that the Shinigami had used to draw the horrid pictures dew a curly moustache on her face, much to her chagrin. "Any… other questions that aren't bathed in stupid, monsieur?" he asked, with a popped vein.

"Actually, yes I do. These Hollows, is that what you were talking about before? The 'evil spirit' things?" He nodded. "Why do those spirits kill and eat people?"

The guy gripped a part of his hair from behind his head. "I don't know. We still haven't figured out why Hollows go after random Spirits and do wicked deeds. But we believe that's they devour them to ease the emptiness their hearts have left" the Death God finished, Ichigo swallowed.

xxxx

(Outside…)

The monster licked its bloody fingers from its recent meal and sniffed the air. From the look it, it was still hungry.

"I can smell it. The smell of a tasty soul nearby and a Shinigami..." it hissed before it turned around and growled. "I must have them!"

The creature's footsteps died away as the sounds of buildings collapsing stopped.

xxxx

(Back, in Ichigo's room…)

"As we speak, there's another Hollow wandering around here. It's looking for something… But I'm not sure what" he said, giving a huff.

Her brown eyes blinked. "Th-then what are you doing here, if you're saying there's one of those things out there?!" she sputtered. "Go kill it before someone dies!"

The Shinigami looked away, sitting back down with closed eyes. "I would… but I have not been able to sense its presence for some time now."

"Not sense its presence? Could it have left?" Ichigo wondered.

"It's possible," the boy admitted, shaking her head. "But highly unlikely, I usually don't have trouble finding Hollows but recently it's like something is jamming my senses-."

Aaaaaaoooooo!

Ichigo froze and a chill ran down her back. "What was that?" It wasn't just a scream…

"What was what?" he stood up.

"Th-that blood-curdling howl! Don't tell me you didn't hear it!"

"Blood-curdling howl…?" the Shinigami repeated and his eyes went wide as it sounded out a second time. Aaaaaaoooooo! It was definably a Hollow. He span on his heel toward the call but not before he heard another scream. Ichigo saw the shocked look he sent her.

Almost in answer to the howl, there was a girl's scream from below. The teenager shot up. "That was Yuzu!" she exclaimed. What's going on…? Was the Hollow attacking her?. "That thing is with my sisters! Oi! Untie me damnit!" Ichigo protested.

"Even if you come with me, there's nothing you can do to help. I'll take care of it" he told.

He opened the door and widened his eyes, as a sudden strong draft blowing past him . "What incredible reiatsu! I haven't experienced anything like this in a long time. How could I have not detected this earlier?" he painfully thought.

Catching up with the Shinigami, she threw herself forward and saw Karin, lying on her stomach and dragging herself forward.

She saw red and it wasn't just the fury building, fury at this 'Hollow' thing for hurting her little sister. The Shinigami felt a bit guilty seeing the little girl's state he could've destroyed it earlier instead of wasting time with small talk. There was blood running down from her temple and a thin spotty line of blood traced her path down the hall.

"Karin! What happened?!" the readhead cried.

Karin looked up and gave a strained smile upon seeing Ichigo. "Good…" she whispered. "It hasn't come this way yet… Dad got knocked out… Then, something invisible went for me and Yuzu… so fast…" Her eyes slipped closed but Ichigo heard her last words before she slipped into unconsciousness. "I thought I had to warn you… N-Nee-san…."

The elder sister gasped as she tried to move. "She's going to be okay" the Shinigami assured the worried teen, drawing his sword. "She's not dead. You stay here. I will deal with the Hollow."

There was another scream and explosion of stone and the swordsman was already sprinting down the stairs, Ichigo cursing at him as she tried to get up. Ichigo's fist clenched. "Stay here? Fuck no. I'm coming, tied up or not."

She raced after the Shinigami, as fast as a paralysed girl could. After she tumbled down the stairs, Ichigo crawled into the wreaked living room, which had been devastated and saw her wounded but alive father. She noticed a hole in the wall, got up and saw the shadow of a creature outside.

Ichigo felt it before she saw it. An overwhelming emptiness, a boundless vacuum and so cold… something about it made her instincts scream at her to run, that this was a predator.

"I told you to stay out of this!" yelled the Shinigami, dodging the monster's fist. He apparently wasn't having an easy time, since he was heavily favouring one leg and it looked like the monster had tried to make a meal out of his right side. Then he noted something. "How can she be on her feet while under my Bakudo?"

Then, she turned the corner, as she caught sight of a huge, hulking monster-like figure with a bone-white, skull-like mask. It was shadowed so she couldn't really see it properly. However, what was in its gruesome hand terrified her even more.

"Yuzu!" she screamed as she tried to break free. The young man grinded his teeth at her.

"Stop it! The Kido is too strong for a human to break, you will only damage your soul!" the midget warned.

He gasped when he felt an odd sensation of warmth radiate off Ichigo as she fought against invisible chains of Kido. But the girl ignored him. The sense to save her family far exceeded her sense of self-preservation. She struggled and struggled until eventually…

Crack!

….She broke it.

The Shinigami could only stare in utter shock. "Im-Impossible! She broke my spell so easily! How did she…?"

Ignoring further warnings, the carrot-top ran forward, grabbed a nearby chair and charged at the Hollow that was holding her screaming sister.

"Get your claws off my sister!" she screamed at the top of her lungs as she took a swing at the Hallow, leaping as the creature tried to catch her with his other hand.

But the Hollow's other arm swung around and the chair didn't have a chance to connect before Ichigo was thrust away and through the wall. Landing roughly on her back, she nonetheless stumbled to her feet, baring her teeth in frustration. It was only then she got a good look at it. It truly was a demon. It had a hole in its chest and a mask-like face. Ichigo concluded that the creature was a Hollow but that didn't stop the chill down her spine.

"Is that… a Hollow?" Ichigo wondered, not really registering the Shinigami's shouts to move. "When he said evil spirit, I thought it'd look human… but... it's a monster…" She looked down suddenly at her hands, which were trembling. "Why am I… shaking? I'm not scared."

Ichigo gasped as she stepped back in shock, the Hollow gave a watery laugh before it raised its clawed hand. "I've finally found you! You smell delicious! Let me eat your Soul!" he shouted as he swung his claws out at her frozen form, Ichigo couldn't force her body to move.

She could only watch in horror as the claws came closer towards her trembling body.

"….Am I really?"

"Move!"

Jolted to the present, Ichigo barely had the time to register that the Hollow had been cut on the leg by the Shinigami and was charging her, gaping mouth open wide, before years of instinct ingrained by Martial Arts flooded into her mind, overpowering whatever fear that held her still. She dodged to the left, rebounding off the monster's hand and brought her body up to catch Yuzu, which the Hollow had let go of after the Death God sliced its arm off.

"…Ichigo? ...Run… don't let it get you…" came a nearly inaudible mumble from the brown-haired girl, before slowly going quiet.

"Yuzu? No!"

The Shinigami calmly walked over to her. "Don't worry, she's just unconscious. Hollow didn't eat any of the souls from your family."

"Both of them, Karin and Yuzu, worrying about me, while they were in danger…" something in Ichigo's gut twisted painfully at the thought, as she grabbed a nearby baseball bat in case that thing struck back.

But as quickly as it came, the Hollow left through a black portal.

"You were protecting her, weren't you? Thanks."

"I was almost too late" he admitted, his dark eyes flickering to his mauled side, before going into a Kendo stance. "It's seeking a specific soul to eat, one with high spirit energy."

This caused the orangette to raise an eyebrow while carefully putting her little sister down. "Which soul and why? Why didn't eat my family? Does it want that soul that much to hurt my family?!" this caused the boy to let out a sigh in advance, while turning to face her.

"I'm not going to sugar-coat it. It's because of you" he told, to the young woman's shock. "Your immense Reriyoku was hidden deep within you, until now, when you needed it to save your sister by breaking my Kido. That was why I didn't sense anything unusual about you when I arrived. It also explains why Hollows haven't gone after you." The Death God shifted his sword as he explained. "You must've made contact with another ghost, who caused your reiatsu to leak out. As a result: it put a target on your back. That Hollow must have detected your spirit energy through that ghost… and most likely ate it before tracking you down, since I can't sense its presense either."

"T-That thing ate… Mina?" she stuttered, feeling guilty. Mina had nothing to do with her. The poor ghost didn't deserve to get eaten by that thing.

Ichigo finally understood. It was all her fault. Hollows search for souls with high Reriyoku, spirit energy, souls like hers. And because of that, live humans in the way are sometimes attacked, too, like her family. That monster wanted her the entire time, her sisters and dad were just in the way. They could've end up dead like Mina and it'd be on her.

Suddenly, the Hollow came howling angrily back, it managed to regain its right arm and kicked the Shinigami, knocking him into a wall.

"It's back! Go on, get out of here! Move!" yelled the young man, as got up. The high-school girl stared at the beast, her hands turning into beast as her eyes narrowed in a feral way.

"No. I won't. That monster just ate Mina, hurt my dad and my sisters could've died back there, just because of me. Do you expect me to just run away like a coward!" she yelled, as she ran past him.

He got up he noticed that Ichigo was facing the Hollow alone, challenging it, having thrown her bat away.

"You coward, leave my sisters alone!" she spat. Her eyes were shadowed giving an inscrutable look crossed her face. "If it's my soul you want, you can have i but I won't agree with your stomach. I don't taste good at all. SO COME AND GET ME YOU FUCK-UGLY BASTARD!"

The Hollow gave a bellowing howl was about to bite the teenager in two. The Strawberry girl splayed her arms out and closed her, to accept her fate. But the blow didn't come…

"NO!" Ichigo heard the Death God scream out before she clenched her eyes shut, waiting for her death.

She suddenly felt something warm sprayed on her check.

"Shinigami!"

xxxx

The orangette opened her eyes in horror to see the Shinigami stop the Hollow's bite, with his own body to shield her. The Death God had relied on instinct alone when he saw the Hollow attack her, to jump in. He then pried it off him with his sword, taking a few teeth off causing the creature more pain and took a few steps back. The boy collapsed into a puddle of his own blood as Ichigo rushed towards trying to shake her awake.

"Damnit, it doesn't help that she looks just like… her…" he thought while going in and out of consciousness. It didn't help his still healing heart when he saw her embrace death, believing it would save her family.

He just couldn't do it. He couldn't let her die!

With that in mind he had appeared in front of her: taking the blow meant for the human. He couldn't hold back the strangled shout that ripped from his throat as the Hollows fangs tore through his back and shoulder. Ichigo cried out as he regained awareness, the Hollow laughed behind them as it licked its white lips.

"Delicious, just what you'd expect from a Shinigami's Soul. I'm going to enjoy eating you, too" it laughed, the boy coughed as he rolled onto his side so Ichigo could sit up.

"W-Why did you do that? If you had let it kill me, it'd leave us alone!" Ichigo cried out as she placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to ignore the blood that had dripped on her jacket.

The Death God grunted as he tried to force himself up onto his knees while trying to catch his breath, he knew better than her.

"*Pant * Did you really *Pant* believe *Pant* *Pant* that by sacrificing yourself… *Pant* it would be *Pant* *Pant* over?!" he rasped, sounding a bit angry at her naivity. "Hollows eat souls…," the Shinigami explained, slipping to the ground. "Preferably, those with high reiatsu, *Pant* spirit energy. But one soul isn't enough. Your family… *Pant* they have your scent *Pant* and high amounts of reiatsu, *Pant* themselves *Pant* for humans."

Ichigo tensed, feeling the empty chill of the Hollow at the edge of her senses and approaching as it recovered. She understood. Even if it had consumed her, it would still kill Yuzu, Karin, Dad, hell even the Shinigami. Her death would have been for nothing. To make matters worse the Shinigami, the one with the power to kill the Hollow was incapacitated because of her recklessness. She even worse than she did before.

He crawled to a lamppost, resting against it. There was only one option the Shinigami could think of. An option that would get him in very deep shit.

"Do you mind?" he asked to his Soul Partner, the Death God could feel her shaking her head.

"I will follow you through death, my lord. No matter your decisions" she stated before she faded back into his Soul, the Death God narrowed his eyes as he picked up his Zanpakuto from where it had fallen to the ground.

"What would you do… to save your family?"

Ichigo snapped her eyes down to the Shinigami, who had switched his katana to his left hand. "Anything" she said firmly. "As corny as it sounds, Shinigami, I've never really feared my own death. But if I were to lose Karin, Yuzu or my Dad… that would be a failure I could never forgive myself for. Because, then, my life would mean nothing. Why?"

"Because there is a way..." the Shinigami began, his voice growing stronger as he continued. "You must now become a Shinigami!"

Well, Ichigo hadn't expected that. She was fairly sure it showed on her face. "That's possible?"

"It is!" the violet-eyed boy raised the sword, his left arm showing some strain. "Place the point of the Zanpakuto at your heart… and I will infuse you with half of my power. You will temporarily have the power of a Shinigami and with that can you defeat the Hollow!"

"At my heart?"

Ichigo had a feeling she knew why the Shinigami had asked that question now. Either it could fail and she'd die or she could drop dead once the 'Shinigami power' left her.

"It wouldn't work on a normal human but considering the amount of Reriyoku you have, it should work. If it doesn't, we'll all die here together" the boy finished, Ichigo bit her lip.

She didn't care about the risks. Yuzu and Karin would be okay. And her Dad, because even if he was annoying as hell, she didn't want him to be killed and eaten either. She hadn't been trying to sound cool when she said she didn't fear death.

"Alright, Shinigami" said Ichigo, grabbing the blade of the katana, though she'd called it a Zanpakuto. "I'll try this plan of yours, gimme your blade."

"It's not Shinigami" the boy corrected, smiling slightly. "My name is Kuchiki. Kuchiki Rukio."

"Well I'm Kurosaki Ichigo" she returned. "Let's pray our next meeting is under better circumstances."

"Enough! Time's up Shinigami! I'm going to eat you both!" the Hollow screamed out before it started running.

"Yes. Let's!" And with that, the Shinigami, Kuchiki Rukio, thrust his blade through Ichigo's heart.

The Hollow let loose its howl again, as everything turned white.

xxxx

A flash of light shone around the river causing the blinded Hollow to step back.

For Ichigo, it felt as though she'd been frozen from the inside out, like her blood had been replaced by ice so cold it burned as it pumped through her veins. It radiated from her heart, from the point of the Zanpakuto, seeking release through her skin. A second later it was over.

Suddenly, the monster screamed as his left arm fell to the ground will a loud BANG! He growled as he looked over his shoulder.

She was standing in front of the Hollow, the lingering fear and instinct to run utterly silenced. Her school uniform had changed into a black Shihakusho tied together by a white obi. On her back was a thick, brown sheath with a strap that went over her shoulder and was clasped over her chest.

Her body felt strangely light, a contrast to the comforting, if unfamiliar, weight on her back. She reached back, grasped the red hilt and swept the swor- no, the Zanpakuto, out in front of her from its scabbard, marvelling but somehow unsurprised at its size. It had a square hand guard with a cross and light blue tassels on the end that billowed in the breeze.

Her long orange hair blew in the violent wind as she tied to tied up in a ponytail, before she opened her brown eyes. Ichigo looked up at the Hollow where it stood a few paces away and examining the new threat.

"You bastard. Mina, Rukio, Dad, Karin and Yuzu… you hurt them all."

The Hollow lashed out with a hand and lost it after swipe of a sword.

"I really don't like it when my family gets hurt. It pisses me off."

The same followed with its leg.

"And pissing me off is never a good thing!" Ichigo slash and thrash at the Hollow, her arches and attacks looking like she was doing both kendo and ballet.

As the Hollow hobbled forward, unable to balance on one foot, Ichigo brought the blade straight down through its masked face and blinked in shock as the monster's body began to fragment and dissolve until there was nothing left. To follow was Mina's smiling spirit fading away, finally at rest.

"Ha." Ichigo fell to her knees as exhaustion like she had never known overcame her. "Pant* 'cause when you piss me off…" she concluded, her vision going black. "…things get messy."

Name: Rukio Kuchiki

Age: 150

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Violet

Height: 5'0 ft.

Occupation: Former Shinigami

Rukio watched in astonishment from the side-lines, his black Shihakusho had changed into a white Yukata; his blood staining the back.

His sandals; scarf and his Zanpakuto had all disappeared but Rukio couldn't bring himself to care as he had watched Ichigo slay that Hollow.

"Impossible, I only meant to give her half my powers! Somehow she ended taking nearly all of it!" He thought to himself in astonishment as he approached the fallen girl. "Never have I seen a human who could see Hollows and Shinigami, one with strength that could break out of my Kido!" Rukio thought to himself as he swallowed. "The Zanpakuto responds by the Reriyoku by changing shape but never have I seen it so huge!" he thought to himself in amazement, as he kneeled over to her. "Just by the way she wields her Zanpakuto, it's like she's be doing this for years."

"..T-Thank you..R-Rukio..." he heard her mumble before passing out, Rukio swallowed as he released a shaky breath.

"Just what is this girl?..." he finished to himself before he brought his hand to his forehead and rubbed his head.

Name: Ichigo Kurosaki

Age: 15

Hair Colour: Orange

Eye Colour: Brown

Height: 5'9 ft.

Occupation: High school Student… and Substitute Shinigami

"...And what have I gotten myself into?" the shrimp sighed.

ooooo

"And so the sword of fate had fallen."

ooooo

Glossary

Shihakusho (Garment of Dead Souls): Most Gotei 13 personnel wear the standard Shinigami uniform, called - a white shitagi, a black kosode, a black hakama, a white hakama-himo, white tabi, and waraji. The black hakama also has its owner's division insignia emblazoned on the inside, though it doesn't have any significant reasoning other than minor security authorization.

- Shinigami (Death God"): Shinigami are a race of spiritual beings that act as enforcers and psychopomps who all share similar supernatural powers. They're souls with a high level of innate Reriyoku, recruited from the ranks of the residents and nobility of the Soul Society.

Like all spirits, they can't be detected by normal humans. Shinigami use their Zanpakuto to perform Konso on Pluses. Shinigami also use their Zanpakuto as well as Kido to fight their arch-enemies, the Hollows.

- Bakudo #1 Sai (Restrain): The practitioner, pointing his/her index and middle fingers at the intended target(s), causes the target's arms to lock behind their back. The spell is usable on a single target or a significantly large group of people.

- Konso (Soul Burial): Konso is the process by which a Shinigami sends wandering Pluses in the Human World and send them to their respective place. Either Soul Society if they are good in life or to Hell if their life was full of evil acts (such as murders, theft, etc). Konso is performed by using the hilt of the Shinigami's Zanpakuto, tapping the soul on the head and transporting them to the afterlife

- Hollow (Holes): Hollows are a race of creatures which are born from Human souls who, for various reasons, don't cross over to Soul Society after their death and stay in the Human World for too long. They're corrupt spirits with supernatural powers that devour the souls of both living and deceased Humans.

- Zanpakuto (Soul-Cutter Sword): Zanpakuto are the trademark weapons of the Shinigami. Capable of cutting spiritual bodies, they're amongst the few weapons which can be used to combat Hollows.

Each Shinigami carries a Zanpakuto, and each Zanpakuto is unique: as the swords are both reflections of a Shinigami's soul and power, and sentient beings unto themselves.

The Zanpakuto's name is also the name of the living spirit that empowers the sword and lends its strength to the Shinigami who wields it. These beings can vary greatly in appearance and have their own distinct personalities which match their owner's.

Normally, the Zanpakuto spirit can only be seen by its wielder. Otherwise, they dwell in their own "inner world", created within the minds of the Shinigami who wield them. As such, each Shinigami's inner world is drastically different from another Shinigami's and is unique to them. A Zanpakuto's spirit can bring its wielder into its inner world, though Shinigami can voluntarily achieve this simply by meditation.

A Zanpakuto's shape and abilities are based on their Shinigami's soul. Once a Shinigami learns his/her sword's name, they are able to communicate with one another and grow stronger together. Zanpakuto are born with their Shinigami and they die along with their Shinigami.

Shinigami use them in battle as a reflection of their heart. When released, they can display a vibrant power. They are one with the Shinigami and they share a Shinigami's conviction.

-Inga no Kusari (Chain of Fate): The Inga no Kusari is a chain that binds souls to their living bodies. The Encroachment of the chain causes a Plus to transform into a Hollow.

-Pluses (Wholes): Pluses are the benign ghosts. They're the spirit of a person who has died. A chain, known as the Inga no Kusari, protrudes from the chest and binds the plus to a location, object or person that they felt close to in life.

The soul can move about freely if the chain is broken but this also causes the chain to corrode. Normally, pluses are sent to Soul Society by Shinigami in a ritual called Konso before this corrosion becomes significant.

If the Inga no Kusari is corroded entirely before a Konso can be performed, a Hollow hole will form in the chest of the soul where the chain was once anchored. Such souls are driven mad and become evil ghosts known as Hollows. If the Inga no Kusari is torn out deliberately, this hastens the process.

Here's first chapter please review.

For the naming of Male Rukia, it might have been a a bit lazy calling him 'Rukio' but I couldn't really come up with anything else. As for Ichigo, its a unisex name... I think, so I left his name alone.

Next the Chap will come soon.