DISCLAIMER AND DISCLAIMING ONCE: I do not own Bleach, except for my OC's. This has been re-written! And Dark Moon is my first Bleach story that I began in 2012, it received so much good feedback I felt it was really worth it to go back and fix so many errors. This is the last time I mess with this story because its been going on forever. I feel I have improved somewhat on my skills. I have not updated to a new chapter in a long time but I will make it when I can. I just felt the desire to get back into the fandom and tadaa that's why I'm here. ^^ Enjoy and ready for a whole new twisted version of Bleach!
-Edited November 6, 2015 -Edited again February 24th, 2017
The scent of rain filled the air.
A thunderstorm was arriving very, very soon.
Rukia, standing on the sidewalk with her cheekbone bleeding, held her arms under her bust, trying to resist to help the teenager just meters away from getting cut to shreds by her best friend, Renji. Ichigo.
"Ichigo! I'm begging you! Please run! Now's your only chance!" She cried.
He only grunted. Angry.
Ichigo didn't say a word, he clung to his bleeding shoulder, panting, trying to push the feeling of pain away. To him, her pleading meant nothing and only annoyed him. He honestly didn't care what she had to say.
"Well?" Renji taunted, "If you're not making your next move, then I will!" He held his sword up, and readied his battle position.
Ichigo turned up the volume of his Spiritual Pressure, the energy threw Renji back off guard. Ichigo made a dash to strike his target in front of him...but he didn't make his strike at Renji, he avoided him and cut the person who saved his very life...
Rukia.
He made impact with his over-sized sword to her small chest, drawing blood. Rukia couldn't speak except stare at the teen down in utter disbelief.
"I-...Ichigo?" She stammered.
Before she could fall to the bone-dry concrete, he caught her.
The teen held her from falling with one palm onto her back. His eyes cold and face emotionless, and before she passed out from shock, he leaned to her face and whispered;
"Thank you...for everything." he said tenderly.
The Dark Side of the Black Moon
Ichigo sighed.
"I'm sooooooooooo happy we're gonna go to Hawaii!" Yuzu, his youngest sister exclaimed with joy.
He and his whole family made their way through the Tokyo airport. People rushed and walked past by them to get to their flights on time. Every now and then the Substitute would glance at his watch to see when it was time to leave. He had nothing to do or think about. Which he liked, but sometimes boredom was too much.
Some people, he would catch, stared at his odd color of hair. One person looked up from her cell and Ichigo caught her looking at him as soon as he and her made eye contact, she looked away. And he gave them a glare back. It was rude of people to stare, and he didn't like it. He was never rude back to people, but it was reflex he did. He went through all that since mid-school and here was no exception. The girl walked past and disappeared out of sight.
"Ichigo?"
He snapped out his attention from the staring onlooker. "Hm?"
"You don't look so pumped up for this. Are you feeling okay?" Yuzu asked.
As always her motherly instincts kicked in, she put her hand on his forehead. He gently pulled it away.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking." He told her. He made a small smile to not worry her.
"But knowing you," Karin stepped in and mentioned, "You'd be jumping for more joy if he wasn't so hyper." She pointed her thumb in the direction where their father was.
Ichigo's smile was instantly burnt off and was replaced with embarrassment.
"Oh god."
"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! GATHER 'ROUND MY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS AND GOOD FOR NOTHING SON WE ARE ABOUT TO ABOARD THE PLANE TO A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE WHO KNOWS YOU MIGHT END UP PICKING UP A BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND WHILE YOU'RE THERE!- OUFH!"
He stomped his father on the head with his foot.
"Damn, shut up you old man." He growled, annoyed.
Isshin grabbed his leg and pulled him to the floor and it soon became a wrestling match, Yuzu ordered them to stop fighting but her voice went unheard.
"Even here you have to embarrass the hell out of us?! you've got mental issues man!" Ichigo snapped at him.
"That's no way to talk to your father!" The both of them had their faces in their grip, Isshin pinched Ichigo's left cheek while Ichigo did the same while pulling on his hair.
"YOU were yelling, HOW CAN I NOT TELL YOU TO SHUT IT?!" Ichigo shouted.
"You two! stop! I just heard that the plane's boarding!" Karin shouted to them.
Immediately they did. Ichigo kept scowling and glared while Isshin straightened his clothes, which he had on was a plain t-shirt and some Hawaiian shorts.
The now messy haired Soul Reaper grabbed their bags, before he started to follow, he heard someone whisper his name,
"Psst! psst! Ichigo!"
"What?"
He looked around for the source of the voice, he saw people on their laptops and cell phones, obviously it wasn't them.
"Hey, over here!" They spoke louder this time.
He found the voice.
"R-Rukia!?"
She seemed to have stolen one of Yuzu's dresses again, and wore sunglasses. Periwinkle with flowers on the dress this time. She waved to him. She wore her favorite fake smile, which always annoyed him to no end.
"Tch, in a place like this she has to bother me? Hey!" He called out to his family, in which they stopped in their tracks,
"You guys go ahead, I'll be right there! just gimme a minute!" He assured them.
"Please don't get left behind!" Karin called back.
He ran to the Soul Reaper in disguise, not too happy.
"What are you doing here?" He almost hissed through his teeth.
"I'm coming with you," Rukia folded her arms, her cheerful smile gone in an instant. "In case a Hollow shows up, I just want to be sure things go smoothly for you. I'm also on a private mission." She explained carefully.
"Oh. Okay I get it." He sighed.
Time was ticking and standing there wasn't going to get him to the plane.
"I can't talk here, the plane leaves soon, so just follow me." Ichigo said.
They hurried fast, the cool air in the building flowed past them, Ichigo looked back to see if Rukia was keeping up, then suddenly he bumped into someone:
"Ah!" Ow." A girl winced after she hit him.
"Oh, sorry!" He apologized, "You okay?"
He looked closer to whom he bumped into; she appeared to be a little older than him, but no more than 20 years old. Her hair reached to her jaws, a stunning indigo color. Her eyes a rich emerald shade. She was a few inches shorter. She smiled timidly.
She wore a flight attendant uniform, presumably on her way to her shift.
"It's alright, I'm the one that got in the way, I should be sorry." She replied sweetly and briefly waved to the two of them, then she was gone.
Ichigo stared at where she was. He couldn't help but do so. Something felt off.
"You should've watched where you're going." Rukia retorted.
He rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Why? I was making sure you were catching up, so it's your fault." Ichigo muttered under his breath.
"What did you SAY?!" Rukia yelled.
That caught a few onlookers attention, they just shook their heads and went about their business.
"That was your fault too," Ichigo teased.
Rukia had thrown a tantrum at Ichigo's sassing.
While the girl he bumped into was out of sight, she touched her arm where Ichigo bumped into her, she gently brushed it, as if there was lint stuck to it, she smiled mischievously.
"Over here Ichigo!" Yuzu called.
They all waited for him. Ichigo stopped to face Rukia. "So, are you getting on with us?" He asked, unsure of what the plan was.
"There's no other way, my higher-ups paid for my ticket as well. I'll be seated where your family won't notice me." She explained.
Ichigo let out a long sigh. Wouldn't it just be easier if I just told my family? they've seen her before and they do like her around. He thought. He was about to ask her that when his dad called his name to hurry up.
Then there was no other choice, and time was running short.
"Alright Rukia, I'm just gonna tell them that you're coming along it'll be easier for me-
"He started to walk away then she cut him off,
"Idiot! you can't, you'll blow my cover! I haven't told you about why I'm really here yet-" She said exasperated.
"Yeah, yeah," He cut her off, only listening to half of what she was saying. He went to the direction of the boarding entrance, Rukia behind him.
"Are you ready now?" Yuzu asked him, three feet away, relieved he wasn't going to be left behind.
"Yeah." He stepped onto the threshold.
Silence. No sound. People were gone.
"What the?"
Ichigo looked at his surroundings. His family was gone, so was Rukia. The other people that were coming along had disappeared as well.
"Hey! Yuzu! Rukia! Karin!" he called, he narrowed his brows with worry.
Even his luggage was gone. He was only surrounded by eeriness, he stepped out of the entrance. The waiting chairs were empty, the outside windows showed bright light, he couldn't see other planes or a normal blue sky, nothing but a blinding brightness.
It looked like something from a movie in a scene from an airport where the place to the afterlife was in it.
"Everyone! where are you?!" he called, Ichigo was now getting worried. What the hell's going on? this isn't normal.
"Um, excuse me sir? Is there something wrong?"
He whipped his attention to the voice. A young, female flight attendant with a gray uniform was in the hallway of the boarding entrance. She looked concerned for him.
"Um, I'm just looking for my family and they.." He shook his head,"No, just where did everybody go to?" He asked her, panic was heard in his tone.
"No need to worry, I'll help you out. Could I see your boarding pass?" She asked politely.
"Why would you need that? I'm looking for my family! You have to help me!" He cried. She tried to comfort him by holding him still, like something Yuzu would do.
"Please calm down, I just recently got this job so I'm new at this, just let me see it." She kindly bribed.
Ichigo took a deep breath and dug into his pockets, then grabbed and unfolded his pass and handed it over. She looked over it, as she did he got a better look at her. She had black hair and green eyes.
She looks familiar, he thought.
"Hey, are you the chick I bumped into earlier?" He leaned slightly.
She glanced at him sheepishly, then smiled.
"Yup. Like I said, I'm new. But I actually might choose a different job, this is just for temporary training."
"Ah." Ichigo didn't say anything else.
She scanned over his ticket.
"Well, you are in the right place." She smiled cheerfully. Before he could ask who she was she continued, "So Mr. Kurosaki, follow me, I'm sure your family is on the plane as we speak." She said confidently.
So he did. He began to feel a little uneasy. He put his hand in one of his back pockets, he had took his Soul Badge with him. He was aware that outside of Karakura town Hollows even attacked in other cities. He brought it with him just in case. He began to ask questions in his head;
Where is everyone? Why is this girl the only one here? Something's not right!
Suddenly out of nowhere and just for a seconds, he felt a presence rise. He jumped and looked behind him, and tightened his grip on his badge. This Spiritual Pressure felt like...
"Rukia?" he whispered.
"What's wrong? Is everything okay?" The flight attendant asked him, worried.
"Did you not feel that?" Ichigo raised his voice.
"Huh? feel what?" She asked, confused.
He quickly shook his head. She's only a human, she can't see ghosts to feel Spiritual Pressure, He reminded himself.
They finally reached the plane.
"Thank you." He said to her. He appreciated her help despite the odd situation.
"No problem." She smiled brightly
He was about to step in the doorway, then felt a cold and tight hand began to crush his neck.
"Augh!" Ichigo felt himself choking, and turned to see, the hand was from the attendant..her bangs covered her eyes;
"Been waiting to meet you, Substitute Soul Reaper."
Her voice was menacing and eyes cold, she smiled again. Only this time it wasn't friendly, it was an insane smile,
Ichigo widened his eyes speechless;
She reminded him of his Hollow, and two fangs exposed where her canine's should be. He tried to pry off her hand, but her grip wouldn't budge, for a small girl she was incredibly strong!
Ichigo took out his badge, but before he could put it on his chest, the girl grabbed his arm holding his badge, not letting him do that.
"Tsk, tsk, now now," She ticked her finger back and forth. "You can't do that, I haven't chosen what I'm going to do with you." She teased.
Ichigo's face began to get pale. He had to get in his Soul Reaper form before she choked him to death...h e wasn't one to panic in the face of death, but in a situation like this, it was forcing him to! He had to transform, and fast...!
"Either just play with you for awhile, or make you suffer, oh! what to do?" She chuckled to herself.
Ichigo was losing focus, he felt like this was end, for real. He tried his best to keep his eyes open and gasp for precious oxygen.
"Ah! Yes. That would be good!" Her eyes sparkled, like a child spotting her favorite candy. "Let's see how long you can last in that world." She teased menacingly.
She finally let go, and pushed him with her foot. Ichigo accidentally let go of his badge from the force of the push. He got up and inhaled his lungs like crazy.
"What the HELL are you?!" He yelled at her.
She just smiled psychotically at him.
"That's for me to know and you to NEVER know at all!" She giggled a girly laugh.
Ichigo grabbed for his badge; only to feel his pocket empty.
"Damn it!" He spat, frustrated.
"You looking for this?" The girl playfully dangled his Badge in her hand, rocking it back and forth.
"Give it back!" He demanded.
"No." She said flatly.
Her body began to glow a blue light, her appearance began to change, her hair showing more color of blue and purple, and her eyes a more emerald green. It couldn't be...
"My name's Arel, by the way." She cocked her head, her face emotionless.
"You!.." Ichigo breathed, shocked.
A sharp, intense pain rang on his chest, he saw fresh blood splatter in slow motion..it was his own. His eyesight began to gray over; he fell to the floor face first and passed out before he hit.
Arel bent over to him, she brushed his orange hair. She kneeled and stared down at the fallen teen blankly.
"Have fun trying to survive in the world you call home." She said softly.