Hello everyone! Here is my newest fic, Rebirth! I hope you all enjoy, please don't forget to drop in a review whenever you get the chance! Thank you :D - Tommo2304

'Isshin!' someone roared, an enormous light erupting outwards across the sky. Ichigo hit the floor, choking violently. All he could feel were rocks and blood, the red substance trickling down his head. It was hardly a new feeling. Overhead he saw a blade retract and then a swish of green and Urahara Kisuke was staring him in the face.

'Kurosaki-san, we have to go, now!' he cried, Ichigo grunting as he was hauled up by his shihakusho collar and thrown forwards. Spinning round, he caught a quick glimpse of Ichimaru Gin disappearing into a raging fire, a bright purple glow beginning to swamp the area. The remnants of the town began to lift up around them as they struggled to reach the edge of the vicinity, Kisuke bounding forwards, leaping upwards and into the sky. Ichigo's vision was becoming blurry and he staggered forwards, looking up at the clouds, Urahara pulling open a door.

'Hurry!' he heard him cry but it was muffled and Ichigo closed his eyes, opening them again to a brilliant flash of purple and then, nothing.

His eyes snapped open. Sitting up in his bed, Ichigo looked around. He was drenched in sweat, the sheets sticking to his back. The boy ran a hand through his orange hair and sighed, leaning back on his pillow, staring up at the ceiling.

'Same dream…' he thought to himself. Opening his curtains, he looked outside, the sounds of Hollow screams echoing through the night, raining splashing violently against the windows. '…same Hollows…they've been getting more and more frequent lately.' he sat up again and grimaced, clutching his chest.

'Ow…what's with my chest all of a sudden? There's no wound or anything…it just feels so heavy.' clambering out of bed, Ichigo took a step towards his cupboard and opened it precariously, peering in. The makeshift bed was neat and tidy, undisturbed, like a newly made nest.

'So she didn't come home again last night. What's with her? She said she'd be back as soon as we killed Aizen. C'mon Rukia, drop me a line or something. And where the hell is Dad? It's been nearly two weeks since we won the battle…' Ichigo sighed, resting his head against his arm on the cupboard. He pushed past his door quietly and tip toed over to his sister's bedroom, listening to the sound of their breathing outside the door.

'Those two haven't woken up since the towns were transferred back either. Something is definitely up here…either that or I'm not seeing straight. Would sound about right, I haven't slept properly in nearly two weeks.' he grumbled in his head, trudging back into his bedroom.

'Morning!' Urahara cried, the man perched on Ichigo's windowsill. Ichigo leapt out of his skin, clutching a coat hanger for defence. Urahara's happy wave drooped slightly as he eyed up the boy, a deranged look on Ichigo's face.

'Whoa, you get an intruder and you go for a coat hanger? You're a strange kid.' Kisuke smiled slyly behind his fan, Ichigo throwing the object aside before slumping up against his cupboard.

'What're you doing here Kisuke?' he wondered, bluntly asking the man. 'And it's not the morning, it's…' Ichigo turned, looking over at his clock. '…three in the morning!? What the hell are you doing here!? And why the hell am I awake!?' Kisuke shook his head at Ichigo before pulling his hat off to puff it out again, blowing some of the rain from it's rim.

'Still not sleeping well, ey Ichigo?' he asked, the boy shaking his head. 'I don't blame you. It was a hell of a battle.'

'That's not the only thing. Rukia still isn't back, those guys are still sleeping and my chest hurts nearly all the time now. I don't have a clue about anything, it's like all I can count on is having that same stupid dream every night.' Ichigo moaned, rubbing the back of his neck. Urahara raised a curious eyebrow.

'Dream?' he asked, Ichigo nodding, folding his arms.

'Yeah. It's been the same every night since we killed that bastard Aizen. Someone calls my dad's name, you are in it, Ichimaru is in it…I think we are in the Fake Karakura Town. You try and escape, but I don't make it and then there's a purple light and then…' he explained, trailing off at the end.

'And then?' Kisuke probed, Ichigo shrugging.

'It always ends there.' he said simply, Urahara nodding and stroking his chin. Kisuke turned round and looked out of the window before leaping out of it suddenly, landing softly on the ground below. With a flick of his wrist, a thin umbrella was in his palm and he held it above his head, looking around, a solemn look on his face.

'Aren't you coming?' came his voice from below as Ichigo prepared to shut his window. Poking his head out, Ichigo looked around and scoffed at the idea, gesturing to the man that it was raining. Urahara raised a mocking eyebrow and nodded his head thoroughly.

'So it is. I wouldn't have guessed without your help Kurosaki-san!' he shouted, Ichigo growling at him from his window before jumping out and aiming for Urahara's back, his eye twitching insanely.

'Er, human, Ichigo.' Urahara reminded him, Ichigo's eyes widening as he squeaked, about to hit the floor when Kisuke rammed him with his staff, the boy choking as he was tore from his human self, his Shinigami body ripping away. He watched as his shell like body fell to the floor, splashing in a muddy puddle.

'Great…' Ichigo mumbled, Urahara beginning to walk off.

'You could have just used the front door.' he called back, Ichigo swinging his fists at the man. Together they walked through the town, the Hollows tearing apart buildings, fires rising and flickering in the rain, the bodies of souls lying on the ground, blood splattered up the walls. At last they came to Kisuke's shop, the walls no longer completely wood, but covered in a yellowish stone which Urahara made certain remained in place. Ichigo stared at the stone, memories flooding back to him.

'Yep, it's Sekkiseki stone, just like the one surrounding Seireitei. No Hollow is getting in here.' Urahara grinned devilishly before throwing the door open and striding in, Ichigo following lamely.

'Hey, Urahara-san, did we just leave my body th…?' he began but Urahara threw the lights on and sat down quickly, taking his hat off and rubbing his head in his heads, sighing heavily. Ichigo pulled up a chair in front of the man and declined a drink, slouching in the seat. 'So why'd you bring me here?' he asked, a moody look on his face. Kisuke looked at him darkly, contemplating thoughts.

'Ichigo…' he began, the boy looking on dumbly. '…this town isn't what it used to be, you can see just as well as I can. The place only got like this after the battle with Aizen. We thought it would be a better world with him gone, but it appears things have just gotten worse. The Soul Society isn't keeping the human world in check anymore and I don't understand why. What's more we have the problems you are facing to deal with. Your heavy hurting chest, the disappearance of your father…they are all linked. I need you to answer me something first, Ichigo.' Urahara asked, Ichigo nodding.

'Go ahead.' he replied, Urahara taking in a breath.

'How do you think the Winter War ended?' he asked, Ichigo taken aback.

'How do I think it ended? We won, Aizen was destroyed. I saw it with my own eyes, he sort of vanished. Ichimaru was the only one who escaped.' Kurosaki recounted, recalling the memories in his head. Kisuke fell silent, aware that Ichigo was likely to react badly to what he had to say.

'Ichigo…' he began, the boy looking at him with intent. '…your father isn't missing. He's dead.' he said softly, Ichigo's eyes widening with horror.

'W…wha-?' he stammered, Urahara getting up from his chair and staring out of a window up at the sky.

'He gave his life to defeat Aizen and the Hogyoku shattered. I felt now was the right time for you to know. There is one other thing though…I think Ichimaru Gin may have escaped back to Soul Society.' Kisuke explained, Ichigo still reeling over the loss of his father. Urahara went on. 'Every single one of the Gotei 13 were under Aizen's spell. I think that Gin has taken a hold of the Seireitei using Kyoka Suigetsu's influence. My proof is that the Soul Society has let this entire town die, something I know they would never do.'

'B…but wouldn't Kyoka Suigetsu stop working when Aizen died?' Ichigo asked, clutching his heart suddenly, choking violently. Urahara placed a hand on the boy's back and began to pat it gently, Ichigo waving him off.

'I'm fine…I'm still shocked is all…' Kurosaki grumbled, looking up at the man's solemn eyes. 'Anyway, yeah, wouldn't it stop working…?'

'That's what I don't understand myself. There are plenty of other things I don't understand as well. You are correct though, Aizen did vanish that day, his soul body exploded. Nonetheless, that isn't what we should be focusing on. You need to get some rest for now, time to recuperate. You should find your sisters awake when you get home.' Urahara told him, standing with his back to the boy.

'How…?' Ichigo began, Kisuke turning to him slightly.

'I put them to sleep. I wanted you to find out about Isshin first. Anyway, Ichigo. I know this is undoubtedly a hard time for you but there are two tasks I require of you…' Urahara began but Ichigo stood to his feet, his fists clenched, a determined look on the substitute Shinigami's face.

'I'm alright, Urahara-san. Dad may have died, but he died fighting for what he lived for. He dealt the most crippling blow to the enemy we could have hoped for and that's that. His soul is likely to be at rest, far more than it ever was when he was alive. That's what matters most. Knowing that, I will be alright.' Ichigo said sternly, Urahara mustering a small smile on his face as he flapped his fan vigorously.

'Well done, Kurosaki-san.' he smiled warmly at the boy.

'So, what're these tasks?' Ichigo asked, breaking the silence. Nodding, Kisuke made his way around a table and reached into a drawer, pulling out a small object and handing it to Ichigo.

'First, I need you to go home and then meet with your friends. Explain to them the potential situation in Soul Society. Then we can make a plan of action. Secondly, I want you to take this…' he said, gesturing towards the small bag he had just given to the boy. It was made out of burlap and was tied up at the top. It was small enough to nestle sweetly in Ichigo's palm. '…I need you to get this to Kurotsuchi Mayuri. I feel that maybe he is one of the only ones who could understand me now. But a word of warning Ichigo. Please don't open it. If you do, you may experience a fear greater than you could possibly endure.'

Ichigo weighted the sack in his hand, looking at it oddly.

'It feels like there's absolutely nothing in it.' he pondered, Urahara clapping his hands together with glee.

'Then it's totally uninteresting and there's no need to open it! Perfect!' he said joyously, forcing Ichigo to the door. 'Good luck, Kurosaki-san. Remember, I'm always here at the shop should you need me. Oh and if you keep getting pains in your chest, don't ignore them. Let them flourish. It may be a key to understanding what they really are.' Urahara smirked, Ichigo nodding, totally bemused with everything that had just occurred. Stumbling out of the shop, Kurosaki lumbered into the town, Urahara watching him from a window before drawing tight the curtain.

Bleach - Rebirth