A/N: Hello there! So, for anyone familiar with my writing, this story is a slight deviation from what is typical of my style. Not only is it the first fantasy piece I have ever written, it is significantly more sexually and violently explicate than anything I've ever attempted. All comments and feedback are welcomed and encouraged, as it lets me know how I'm doing. There will lots and lots of IchiRuki and HitsuHina in this piece, so sit back and enjoy!

Of Vices and Virtues: Prolouge

If you think about it, humans are perhaps the most arrogant, dim-witted and overall close-minded species in the universe. As a whole, the entire species believes that everything and anything is theirs for the taking.

I would know. I once watched as a grove of trees were cut down to make room for a mediocre strip mall and a movie theater.

It is a human's belief that such an action is called progress. This strip mall featured twenty new stores, a food court and three luxury restaurants. Humans see this as progress, jobs and economic contribution. I see it as greed, gluttony and waste.

I knew a small family of chipmunks that resided in those woods. I don't know what happened to them. I probably don't want too.

The other main issue I have with humans- other than their complete disregard for their planet- is the common human principle that they are the most advanced species in the galaxy and could possibly be alone.

This theory makes me laugh, really.

I would pay an obscene amount of money to have a picture of the faces of the world's most brilliant minds if they were informed that humans were, as far as dominating species of their respective planets go, the furthest behind anyone else. Hell, humans have yet to make contact with a single neighboring planet. Amateurs.

This is probably about the time where I clarify a few things. The first, this is not a story about aliens. I am not an alien, I've never been an alien, nor, if I am being perfectly honest, have I ever been a huge fan of most aliens.

No, I am most certainly not an alien and you are reading a story that is most certainly not like most you've read.

For one, it's being written by me. I like to think that I possess a certain je ne sais quoi that makes you want to cling to every next word. It's a talent, I suppose. For another, this is a story, unlike the majority of those you have read, has actually happened. I won't waste your times creating characters just to have them torn away with the most violent deaths my mind can create. This story is all about living, breathing people and the very real obstacles we have faced.

The last thing is that none of these people are actually people.

I look like a human, act like a human and live like a human, but just like I have never been an alien, I have never been a human.

This is the point in time where I feel like I should present you with a small, albeit detailed, summary of the history of my people.

The world you live in as you read this now, probably on a computer or a smartphone, exists on the principle of balance. Where there is light, there must be dark. Only half of the earth may face the sun at one time. Where there is happiness there must be sadness. Where there is love, there is lost.

Where there is good, there is evil.

This is just the way of things. Balance is vital to keeping the entire universe alive. Yin and yang. Push and pull. Light and dark. Fire and ice.

The Creator knew this when he first brought life to planets among the stars. As he continued to shape the universe as he desired, he began to realize that achieving this oh so important balance was a task that even such a divine being as himself could not handle alone. That is when he thought of us. Using the power of thirteen of the most brilliant stars, we were created.

We have no official name other than our individual ones. Each planet has their own nickname for us.

You humans call us gods. I detest this title greatly. I am not a god. If anyone deserves this title, it is the Creator.

Among ourselves, we call ourselves Lightbringers I prefer this. We bring life to the worlds by keeping them in balance. Without us, the delicate scale of the universe would tip and entire planets would cease to exist.

There are thirteen Lightbringer pairs that rein over thirteen specific attributes of balance. One partner of the pair resides over the dark side of the attribute, the other over the light.

Now, here is where a common misconception occurs. This misconception has been driven by countless fables and tales where the beings who rule some of the more... negative aspects of the world are evil themselves. This is nonsense. None of us are evil. If we control a darker aspect of the world, it is not because we like it. We don't get pleasure from the suffering of mortals. We simply accept that is how it must be.

I would know. I reside over the dark half of my own select attribute of balance.

For millennia, we have controlled the worlds, keeping them in a delicate balance. Little did we know that true evil was among us.

He wasn't a Lightbringer. I'm not entirely sure what he was, but I know what he desired to be. He desired to be God. A true God of the universe.

Armed with an army of mutated beings whose souls had been removed and large, empty hole had filled their place, this being attempted to put an end to the Lightbringers. Of all the enemies I have encountered, this being- who I will reference henceforth as a man, for this is the form he chooses to take- was the most powerful by far. With his mind games and army, he managed to take down the remote retreat of the Lightbringers in the heavens, Seireitei, forcing us to flee for our lives.

At the last minute, the great Creator manifested us each a mortal body and sent us to hide in the planet where we would attract the least attention. Earth. Humans had yet to make contact with any extraterrestrial life so we knew the chances of our true nature being discovered were little to none.

As we fled to Earth, we were once again ambushed by the great enemy and his army. After fighting for our lives, we managed to narrowly escape, but not with complications.

We were separated. Each and every Lightbringer pair was separated from each other as we crash landed on Earth. Only after years of searching did I manage to find another Lightbringer. He is not my partner and I am not his. We wander Earth searching to be reunited with the other half of our souls. Only then may we have the power to fight the evil growing in the lair of Hueco Mundo.

Now that you know my history, I should introduce you to the main players of this story.

My companion goes by the human name of Ichigo Kurosaki. As a Lightbringer he was known as Zangetsu. He is the keeper of darkness and protection.

He will not rest until he finds his partner, the keeper of light and sacrifice.

My human name is Toshiro Hitsugaya. As a Lightbringer I was known as Hyorinmaru, the keeper of the moon and winter.

I will not rest until I find my partner, the keeper of the summer and sun.

And so our story begins.

A/N: I'm quite proud of this so far. Let me know what you think!