Summary: Ichigo Kurosaki dies as a powerless human. He meets the same fate as the other unhappy souls before him. Post winter-war AU. An Ichigo becomes a hollow fic.

Prologue – Death of a Powerless Human

Ichigo Kurosaki was unhappy with his lot in life.

A year ago, he was strong. He could level building with a swing of his sword. He could defeat the most powerful enemies. He took on the soul society and won. He led a rescue attempt into the heart of Hueco Mundo and came back alive. He took out the most powerful enemy the spirit world had faced in centuries. He was strong enough to protect his friends and family.

Today, Ichigo Kurosaki was killed by a mugger on a street corner.

He stood over his body in mute shock, a short chain protruding from his chest, invisible to the panicked bystanders and paramedics trying in vain to bring him back. He hadn't even seen the man coming. Had barely had time to do more than blink before pain exploded from the knife in his abdomen. He was dead before those paramedics had even gotten here. In the back of his mind, he noted that the mugger must have hit his abdominal aorta. He had bled out way too fast. He began to wonder if he was in some sort of shock. He glanced up at the crowd staring at his body in horrific fascination.

He felt the beginnings of anger stirring in his gut.

Ichigo Kurosaki: Substitute Soul Reaper had been a hero.

Ichigo Kurosaki: Normal Human had been reduced to nothing but a gruesome street show.

The rage and despair that had plagued him since the loss of his powers reached an all time high. He was nothing. He couldn't protect anyone. He couldn't even protect himself. So lost was he in the pain of his despair, he didn't notice that the short chain coming from his chest was getting even shorter. He would never see his family again. He had no power to retain his memories in Soul Society. He would go to that shitty district in Soul Society with no memory of who he was. He would-

Pain erupted from his chest –worse than the cause of his death. Worse than anything he had ever felt. No, that was wrong. He had felt this before. White took over his vision. He couldn't see, he couldn't think. And just as suddenly as it had started, it was over. Ichigo Kurosaki closed his eyes.

And opened them again in Hueco Mundo, with no memory of the friends and family he had fought so hard for.

Bit of a dark beginning. Don't worry! It can only get better from here.