Author's Note: If any names are spelled wrong, I apologize! I actually had no intention of writing a Bleach fic, but after reading so many brilliant ones, I was inspired to write this. If anyone is out of character, it is only because of the situations, emotions, etc. And no! This is NOT going to be an IchigoXShinji fic. Shinji, however, willbe included a lot in this fic primarily because he is my favorite Bleach character, but also because the vizards will be with Ichigo throughout most of this fic. : - P. In case you were wondering, this will end up being a RukiaXIchigo fic, sorry OrihimeXIchigo fans! Oh! And one last thing: Please review!

Chapter One: Everything is Nothing

Ichigo stood at the bottom of the staircase of the vast training room and his fingers shook violently against Zangetsu. His zanpakuto was drenched in blood, as were his shinigami robes. The feeling of despair ebbed at the core of his soul and he nearly collapsed under the weight of it. He locked eyes with the group of vizards before him and said a silent apology.

Shinji stepped forward, taking in the ghastly appearance of the young shinigami, and smiled grimly, "I always knew somethin' like this would happen." He turned back towards the other vizards and lifted his hand into the air in a dismissive manner, "Pack your bags, we'll leave before dawn."

With that, the vizards dispersed, making their individual preparations. The only two left were Shinji and Ichigo. Shinji gingerly made his way over to Ichigo and took the boy's zanpakuto from his grasp. Ichigo met his gaze and immediately looked away, feeling exceedingly remorseful.

"You want to tell me why we're leavin?" Shinji asked quietly, but loud enough for Ichigo to hear.

Ichigo met Shinji's gaze again and nodded once, "There was a vasto lorde in soul society a few hours ago. It was one of the ones from the new army," they locked eyes for a moment, fear passing between them. After Aizen had been defeated, a new entity had arisen in Hueco Muendo that was even stronger than the former captain. The identity of the new threat was completely unknown, as were the facts about the entity's army, which made things extremely dangerous.

The only theory that anyone had had about the new threat was that it had somehow fused the hyougyoku with something even stronger and was creating hollows with ridiculous amounts of reitsu. All in all, if their newest enemy decided to attack any time soon, soul society and Karakura town wouldn't be able to defend themselves.

Ichigo paused a bit and his expression became bitter, "As you already know, I happened to be in soul society for my meeting with Yammato at that time."

Shinji nodded. He was well informed about the issues surrounding Ichigo's meeting with Yammato. During the war, Ichigo had transformed into his full stage as a vizard and hadn't been able to consciously control the form while battling the fourth espada. Not that it surprised Shinji. Ichigo had gone into Hueco Muendo while barely knowing how to control his first stage as a vizard. He hadn't even learned techniques such as cero or bala. After the war, however, Ichigo's hollow had started to cause trouble in full force once again because Ichigo had technically died twice whilst in Hueco Muendo. Shirosaki, as Ichigo called him, was taking dibs on power, claiming that since Ichigo had died twice, he should be the horse and Shirosaki the King.

As a result, Ichigo was short-tempered and snappy with almost everyone and had held a public battle with Byakuya Kuchiki only because he couldn't stop his hollow from doing so. After such events, Ichigo had eventually wandered back to the vizards who once again helped Ichigo to beat Shirosaki into submission. Although he had the problem under control, Yammato wanted to speak with him about it anyway, as to make sure it wouldn't be a future threat to soul society.

"We had only just started talking about my hollow when I felt it," Ichigo spoke again, snapping Shinji out of his reverie, "It was this intense reitsu, Shinji, but only I could sense it. Yammato hadn't even flinched, he just kept on lecturing me."

"I departed from the first division, with Yammato shouting behind me, and tracked the reitsu to the thirteenth division, where Ukitake-taichou was being attacked by one of the new espada. Ukitake wasn't fairing well against the espada," worry flashed across Shinji's eyes at that statement. If someone as powerful as Jushiro Ukitake couldn't take on an espada, then the next war –whenever it would be—might turn out in favor of the enemy.

"So, I put on my mask and attacked the espada,' Ichigo continued, his voice growing more and more unsteady, "I thought I was keeping on par with the bastard, I even managed to cut him a few times, but then he completely vanished, reitsu and all. Or so I thought. He reappeared behind Ukitake and almost cut him completely in half," Ichigo stopped and Shinji could almost guess where the rest of the story was going.

"I attacked the espada again but he left, for good. That was when 90% of soul society decided to finally show up, and naturally all they saw was me with a bloody zanpakuto and my hollow mask and Ukitake, their beloved captain, cut almost completely in half at my feet. I tried to explain what happened…." He trailed off and Shinji uncrossed his arms from his chest. The ending was pretty clear. Soul society probably issued an alert stating that Ichigo and the vizards were a threat and to eliminate them immediately.

Shinji placed a hand on Ichigo's shoulder, "Eh, don't worry about it. We've had about a hundred years to prepare for an event like this. Listen, Ichigo, go say your goodbyes to Isshin and the girls, and whoever else, and meet us back here at 4 am. But be careful, once you leave this basement, I can't guarantee your safety. It is likely that soul society will at least spend a full day organizing a team to hunt us, so you should be safe, but be on guard."

Ichigo nodded and then paused, looking back at Shinji, "How long will we be gone?"

Shinji was silent for a moment before a grave expression passed over his face, "Go say goodbye to your family, Kurosaki."

Ichigo departed the basement, Shinji's words still lingering in his mind. It was clear that he would probably not see his family for at least a few years, if not ever again. He became extremely depressed at this thought. He had only just discovered during the war that his father was an ex-shinigami and they had started to really bond over a few things, and now Ichigo had to leave. Probably permanently.

Ichigo stood in front of his house and saw that the lights in the kitchen were on, which was unusual, considering it was already one in the morning. He figured that his dad must have been notified as to what had happened.

Ichigo held zangetsu out in front of him as he cautiously entered the house. He moved quietly towards the kitchen to see that his father, Urahara, Yoruichi, and Ryukken were all settled around the table and staring in his direction, obviously waiting for him.

Ichigo approached them cautiously before blurting out, "I didn't kill him!"

Isshin sighed heavily and was about to open his mouth, but Urahara beat him, "Ah! Kurosaki-kun we never suspected that you did!"

There were collective sounds of agreement all around the table before Yoruichi abruptly stood and walked towards him, "You'll be somewhat relieved to know that Ukitake-taichou is still alive. Unfortunately, he's in a coma in the fourth division and it is unlikely that he will wake up any time soon."

Ichigo sighed with relief. His heart felt somewhat lighter now that he knew that Ukitake was alive. Not that it would change soul society's decision, however, because Ukitake would not be awake any time soon to clear Ichigo's name.

Ichigo had seen the damage done to the frail captain with his own eyes. He highly doubted that Ukitake would wake up within the next year even with Unohana's healing capabilities.

"Ichigo," his father interrupted his thoughts and Ichigo's gaze drifted over to his old man' father looked even more depressed than Ichigo felt.

"I know this means that you'll be leaving soon. Which is why we all gathered here to discuss some last minute preparations." Isshin glared at Urahara with such a ferocity that Urahara flinched and physically removed himself from Isshin's presence.

Ichigo's heart sank at the actions by both men and fear suddenly gripped him, "What's going on?"

No one responded. Ichigo stared down each one of them and they all avoided his gaze.

"Dad?!? What's going on? What preparations are you talking about?" Ichigo shouted angrily at the man.

Isshin's gaze rose to meet his son's and he sighed deeply. He pushed a folded note towards Ichigo who grabbed it swiftly and opened it.

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An issue of the commander of the Gotei 13:

Kurosaki, Ichigo and all remaining vizards are to be captured on sight and prepared for execution within the grounds of soul society. Those who do not comply with these orders shall be arrested immediately.

Also, to the Kurosaki household:

Kurosaki, Ichigo's human body will be retrieved tomorrow at noon for elimination.

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Ichigo looked up from the letter, his eyes flashing wildly, "Elimination!?! What is that supposed to mean?"

It was Ryukken who answered this time, "Exactly as it sounds. They are going to kill your human body so that you cannot return to it."

Ichigo turned on his father, pointing a finger in his face, "But they can't! My human body has nothing to do with this!"

Isshin looked up at his son, sadly, "They can, Ichigo, and they will, unless we do something first."

"The question is, would you rather be killed by soul society's zanpakuto, or one of ours?" Urahara questioned Ichigo, who looked stricken.

Isshin shot Urahara another furious glare, but did not deny the statement. Ichigo whirled around and studied everyone in the room, trying to see if any of them had an unspoken alternative. When he was greeted with sympathetic stares, Ichigo's eyes shot towards the ground.

He heard the sound of a chair scraping against wood and then felt arms around him as his father embraced him, "I'm sorry Ichigo. I wish there was another way, but there isn't."

Ichigo pulled away from his father and nodded briefly, "It's okay, I understand." He met his father's gaze and then looked around at the others, "I would rather one of you do it. At least that way I can maintain some shred of dignity."

Pity flashed through Isshin's eyes and Ichigo looked away. He didn't have time for pity.

Ichigo stood in the entrance way of his house and looked back at the four adults in front of him. He glanced briefly at his watched and noted sadly that it was 3:45 am. He only had 15 minutes left before he and the other vizards departed for good. Ichigo twisted a silver ring around on his finger and nodded at Urahara, appreciatively. The ring was meant to block off all of his reitsu. The only time Ichigo would be allowed to take it off is if there was a serious attack, otherwise he was to be completely powerless at all times. Urahara told him that the other vizards already had rings such as his, and it only enforced what Shinji had said earlier about having prepared for a century for this type of event.

The group had helped Ichigo with his preparations, and his body had been killed in a 'car accident' set up by Isshin and Urahara. Kon had been bitter about losing Ichigo's body as a 'babe magnet' but he had grudgingly accepted the event considering that Ichigo was leaving and he felt he had to be somewhat sentimental about it. Ryukken and Isshin were going to explain everything to his friends, and Ichigo had packed the essentials in his book bag. He was pretty much all set to go.

Isshin stepped forward and hugged his son once more, "Here's to hoping that we'll meet again," they both nodded at each other and Isshin spoke again, "I love you son."

Ichigo's eyes started to fill with moisture at the choked sob that escaped his father's throat, "Love you too dad."

Yoruichi stepped forward and slapped Ichigo lightly on the back before beaming at him, "Hey Ichigo! Come back to us, alright?"

Ichigo nodded at her and turned towards Ryukken who only shook his hand in departure.

Urahara waved his fan in Ichigo's direction, "Good luck Kurosaki-kun! Don't let those vizards hassle you too much!"

Ichigo grunted in response and opened the front door to his house. He turned back rapidly though, after realizing he almost forgot something important.

He swung his backpack around to the front of him and unzipped the front pocket. He produced a white envelope that was unmarked, and handed it to Isshin.

"Hey dad, could you give this to Rukia for me? It's important," Isshin nodded furiously at him and Ichigo smiled. He gave one last wave to his 'family' and walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

Isshin stared in disbelief at the closed door in front of him.

Ichigo Kurosaki was gone.