Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any lyrics used in this story. So basically, I don't own anything.

Okay, so this story has MAJOR manga and show spoilers. So if you don't like that, I suggest you don't read. For everyone else who doesn't mind, Welcome to my story! This is pretty much AU, cause Ichigo and Rukia aren't together…yet…so, until then this is AU (alternate universe). It follows the manga and the show.

I'm using the lines that are found in the English Bleach manga, so some things may not be in the order of the show (English or Japanese) and some lines might not be the same from the show (Japanese or English…although I have never watched the English version of Bleach…)

Contains a bunch of swearing, courtesy of Ichigo.

Anywho, enough with my rambling (though I doubt you're still reading) onwards to the story! I hope you like it.

Don't forget to review!!

1.The Death and The Strawberry
I tried to be someone else
But nothing seemed to change
I know now, this is who I really am inside.
Finally found myself
Fighting for a chance.
I know now, this is who I really am.

--- The Kill by 30 Seconds To Mars

Rukia's journal
I've decided to keep a journal of my days here in the real world. Though, I'm not sure why. May be it's because nothing much ever happens to me and I get bored, or may be I want to able to look back on these. Either which way, I'm keeping this journal. So how about we start off with the basics? My name is Kuchiki Rukia. I'm a shinigami. I have raven colored hair and violet eyes. Even though I hate being called this, I'll admit that I'm on the short side. I can't remember my past that well. I don't remember how I died or why I was left alone. The only place I know as home is Soul Society and I try my hardest not to question that. I was adopted into the Kuchiki family by Kuchiki Byakuya, who now is my brother. That is probably more than enough information about me for now

Tonight is my first night in the real world and it is my duty to protect the humans from Hollows. That is a shinigami's job and I plan on doing my job well. I have felt strong spirit activity and I intend to find out who or what it's coming from. I stand on a nearby telephone pole, overlooking the city and I feel it coming from the right. I jump down and make my way swiftly to that direction.

Ichigo
I'm sitting on my bed with my hands behind my head, resting against the wall. I think about today's events even though nothing new has happened. I can't help but feel as though something big is about to happen. Oh, well I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. I'm fifteen years old and I go to high school. I have orange hair and brown eyes. I guess I'm kind of tall for age. I'm like a giant carrot top. Hahahaha….No. Call me carrot top, giant, or some other insult and I'll kick your ass.

Back to what I was saying, so, I'm on bed when all of a sudden a person walks through my wall. Yeah, my wall. Kind of freaky if you ask me. It's like she doesn't even know that I can see her. She doesn't even look my way. She's wearing black robes and has a sword. Hell, I don't care if she has a sword or not, I'm still going to beat her up. This girl jumps off of my desk and lands on the floor.

"It's near…" she mutters to herself and I kick her from behind.

"It's near my ass, retard!" I yell as she lands face first onto my floor and I point my finger at her. "Eh? You're a pretty confident burglar," Seriously, I don't know whether she is one or not, but that's the only thing that comes to my mind. Really though, what kind of burglar dresses in black robes and carries a sword? Don't they have guns and ski masks? "By 'it's near' do you mean that like the safe is near or something?" I asked her.

"Y…you can see me?" She asked surprised. Nah dumbass, I'm blind. "I mean to say, did you just kick…" she trails off still looking at me in shock. Seriously, what the hell's wrong with her?

"Huh? What are you talking about? Of course I can see you," I said. Just then my door swings open and my dad runs in hitting me in the back.

"Be quiet Ichigo!" he scolded. "Don't make a ruckus in your room!"

"Shut up! How can I not make a ruckus?" I asked while I punched him hard across the face. "Look at this guy!" I yelled while pointing at the girl still sprawled across the floor. "What the heck is going on with the security system in this house?" Yeah, I mean it's smart, let someone randomly come into our house. Whatever happened to 'don't let people you don't know come into the house' huh Dad? 'Cause I mean this is definitely someone I don't know!

"What do you mean look?" He asked while scratching his chin. "Look at what?" Is he blind? Does he not see the girl in my room? The girl who came out of a freakin' wall!?

"I'm talking about this samurai-costumed-"

"It's useless," she interrupted me and I turn around. She managed to get off of the floor and now she stood her with her arms crossed over her chest. Okay wow, this girl is freakin' short!

"Huh?" I asked confused.

"It's not possible for ordinary men to see me. I'm a shinigami." She explained.

------

"…I see, so you're a shinigami and you came from a place called Soul Society to exterminate an evil spirit. Ok! I'll believe you." I said while nodded once. I got up off from the floor and knocked the table over. "…Yeah right, like I could believe that, retard!" I yelled at her. A shinigami? Be serious, something is wrong with this girl. May be she didn't take her medicine today. I should ask…wait…that's probably not the best idea.

"You…You can see ghosts, but you do not believe in existence of shinigami?" She asked a little angry.

"Of course not! Unfortunately, I've never seen a shinigami. I don't believe in things I can't see," I replied stubbornly. "Dad couldn't see you, so I'll acknowledge the fact that you're not human. However, cut the shinigami crap, got it you little brat?" I told her and I patted her on the head. Hm…she has soft hair. Ok, what the hell am I thinking?

"You have spewed nonsense…" she murmured and twitched a little in anger. She put two of her fingers together and yelled, "First restraint! Obstruction!"

My hands instantly locked behind my back. She punched me once across the face. Man, that girl can punch! Then she kicked me in the back and caused me to fall over flat on my face with my hands still stuck behind my back. She put on foot on top of my back.

"Y…you…what'd you do?!" I asked and she let out a bitter laugh.

"You cannot move. This is called Demon magic and it is an advanced incantation that only shinigamis can use! Even though I look like this," she pointed to her chest, "I have been alive almost tens times longer than you have." Uh…I don't even want to do the math for that and I thought girls didn't like to give their age out…

"Usually I would kill fellows like you," She continued. 'Fellows,' may be she wasn't kidding when she said that she was old. I mean who the hell says fellows anymore? "But spiritual laws states that one cannot kill humans they have been not ordered to kill. I will have to be content with just sealing your movements. Give thanks…you little brat. And…" She pulled out her sword and my eyes widened. Oh God! She's crazy!

Her sword crashed down on a ghost man lying next to me. The bottom of her sword hit the man's head and left a tattoo on his forehead.

"N…No…I…don't want to go to hell," The man wailed.

"Do not fear, the place you are headed is not hell. It's Soul Society. Unlike hell, it's a peaceful place." The girl explained and a hole appeared full of light and the man sunk into it. Two butterflies flew out of the hole. I'm starting to believe her about this whole Soul Society, shinigami thing. I mean, what she did…a normal ghost couldn't do that. Something is different about this girl.

"What happened to that ghost?" I asked.

"I sent him to Soul Society. Its called Soul burial." She explained nonchalantly as she put her sword away. I believe in your language you call it 'going to heaven'. It's one of a shinigami's duties. I guess I shouldn't ask if you finally believe me or not."

"I will kindly explain with illustrations, so even a brat like you can understand so shut up and listen. Now in this world there are two types of spirits." She pulled out a sketchbook and while talked she started drawing. She turned her notebook around and began explaining.

"This one is called plus and it's the most common spirit." She said and pointed to the drawing with a happy rabbit on a background of hearts. I think my eyes are about to fall out. This is the most horrible drawing I have ever seen. I hope she doesn't think she can draw. I hope she knows that she's the most horrible artist ever to walk this Earth.

"The other type is called Hollows, and these attack living beings and dead beings alike and eat their souls." She pointed to a rabbit that looked like he was constipated, I think it was meant to look evil or something like that. It sat on a background of little lighting bolt lookin' things. Seriously, what hell is that?!

"Do you have any questions so far?" She asked. Uh…yeah I do.

"Uhmm…can I start by asking why your drawing abnormally suck?" I asked and she gave me an evil glare. She dropped her notebook and walked up to me with her marker in hand. She opened the cap and drew a mustache on me that curled at the ends.

"Ahh!" I yelled. "Dammit! Just 'cause I can't move doe-"

"I will continue the explanation," she interrupted me. "Your highness Mr. Baron," she mocked. "We shinigami have two duties." She continued on. "One is to guide the pluses to Soul Society with Soul burial, as you have seen." She showed me another one of her stupid drawings. What is up wither her and rabbits? "And the second one is to extinguish the Hollows, my current mission is this." Once again she shows me the horrible drawing that went with the explanation.

I wiped the mustache off on the ground. "Wait a minute," I said. "If you came on a mission, does that mean the thing called Hollow is around here?"

"That would be the case," she replied calmly.

"A…are you stupid? Why are you loitering in a place like this? Hurry up and go get rid of it!" I yelled at her and she turned her head away from me.

"Well…you see…I do not know why, but I cannot feel its presence anymore." She said.

"Wh…what the heck do you mean?" I asked confused.

Rukia's journal
Why couldn't I feel its presence? I tried to concentrate harder, but still nothing came to me. What could be blocking me? I thought and thought.

"It is as if a great power is hindering my senses…" I thought out loud and all of a sudden the boy yelled.

"Hey! Hey shinigami!" This is getting rather tedious. I wish I could just dispose of the boy…but it is against the law. I bet if Renji was here, he would have murdered the boy within a few seconds. Renji is never the guy with the most patience.

"What?" I asked with a slight annoyance in my voice.

"What do you mean what?" He yelled. Does this boy no nothing else besides yelling? Gosh, he is rather rude.

"Didn't you hear that huge voice just now?" He asked. I stared at him blankly for a moment.

"Huge voice? When did-" I was cut off by the huge howl of a Hollow. "I heard it! This is undoubtedly the voice of a Hollow!" But it still sounds like an invisible filter is out there…exactly what is this feeling? It was horrible I felt as though my senses were being blocked off. What could have caused this? No more than that, this guy, he heard the voice before I, the shinigami did? Who is this guy?

"Kyaaaa!" A girl screamed. My head automatically turned to the door.

"It's Yuzu's voice!" The boy said. I turned back to him. He looked frightened. His eyes went wide, and his mouth was ajar. Somehow an once of sympathy bubbled up in me, and I got up and ran over to the door.

"Hey! Wait up, where are you going? Was that voice from before a Hollow's?!" He yelled as I ran.

"Yes! I will go and get rid of it, You stay here!" I commanded.

"Cut the crap!" He yelled. "The one getting attacked is my family, release this spell! Hurry!" Does this boy not understand? Is he really that stupid? If he does come, what is the best that he would be able to do? Die? Yeah, that's all he would be good for, dying. And as a part of my job, I'm supposed to protect humans from Hollows. I intend to protect this boy with my life…

"What are you saying?" I asked angrily and turned my eyes towards him. "Even if you come, there is nothing you can do! The number of victims will just rise by one!" I tried so hard to explain to him, but he didn't seem to understand because he just lay there looking at me stubbornly with those amber colored eyes…I have no idea what I was thinking then. "Leave it to me and sit quietly here, got it?"

I ran out of the door and all of a sudden a huge force of spiritual power hit me. I started to become angry with myself. It was such spiritual force! I didn't know how I couldn't have noticed it before! What has happened to me? Have I already began to rust? No…impossible…but then again…

"Ichi…you…okay…?" A girl asked. I assumed she was his sister, although no resemblance showed up. She had short black hair and darker brown eyes. She was small and badly wounded.

"KARIN!" the boy yelled and I turned back for a couple seconds to look at him. His eyes were filled with concern, but his face…oh gosh…his face had an angry expression. He looked like he was about to rip that Hollow apart.

"Good…it hasn't some here…it happened so suddenly…blood started pouring out of daddy's back and he fell. Yuzu and I were attacked by something huge while we were still in shock. And I thought that…I should warn…you" The girl Karin explained. "I wonder what that was. I could see it a little, it looked like daddy and Yuzu couldn't see it. Ichi…before it sees you…get away…"

"Don't worry, she is just unconscious," I explained after Karin went limp on the floor. " He soul id still…" I turned back to him and he tried to force himself out of the restraint. Is he an idiot? Does he have a brain the size of a teaspoon?

"Stop it!" I yelled at him, but he didn't listen. "What are you doing?! STOP IT! You cannot release that incantation with a human's power." I tired so hard to explain. I tried so hard to get him to stop, but he only tried harder. Did he not understand the consequences? "If you force it, your soul will…" I trailed off.

Because he managed to break the restraint.

How…to release Demon Form human power…I had never heard of such a ridiculous thing. He ran back into his room and grabbed a baseball bat. Then he fled down the stairs taking them three at a time.

"Wait!" I yelled after him, but he didn't seem to hear me.

What exactly is he? I wondered. I stayed up near his room for a few moments in utter shock. Who is he? How could he break the restraint? Can humans really have that much power? I come out of daze in realization that the boy has fled outside, to where the Hollow is. I run down as fast as I can and I watch as the Hollow towers over him. It brings one arm up and is about to hit the boy. The boy looks on in fear. I run forward and pull my sword out. I slash the Hollows arm off and the girl he was clutching is now airborne. The boy catches her.

"Yuzu! You ok? Hey!" He said to the unconscious girl. I walked up in front of him and held my sword out.

"Do not loose focus here boy!" I yelled out at him. "None of your family members have had their soul eaten." That was relief, I didn't know what I would do with the boy if all his family members had died.

"None?" He asked amazed and confused.

"Yes, even your father lying there."

"Wa…wait a minute. Don't Hollows attack people and eat their souls? Then why did it attack my family?" He asked. I wondered for a moment if I really had the guts to tell him why. Or…my theory why. I didn't want him to jump out in front of the Hollow and get himself killed. I don't know why, but I sensed something in him. Something I just can't explain. I still wanted to protect this boy.

"Hollows wonder looking for souls with high spiritual concentration. For that arbitrary humans are sometimes attacked." I took a deep breath.

"What do you mean?" The boy asked softly. All previous rudeness gone, he was truly worried, or so I believe he was.

"I have never seen or heard of a human who can see shinigamis and defeat Demon form on their own. Or a human who has such a high level of spiritual concentration," again I took a breath. "Most probably, its target is…you." I finished. His eyes grew wide and he hung his head a little. I watched as he balled his hands into fists.

"Wait a sec," he said through clenched teeth. "He came for me? So does that mean this is my fault?" I didn't dare answer him. "The reason my dad's over there almost dead. The reason Karin and Yuzu are covered in blood…it's all…" he trailed over. I thought I heard him cry. I wanted so badly to ease his guilt because it wasn't his fault. It just wasn't his fault…

"Wait…I did not mean…" I didn't get to finish my sentence because the Hollow came and stuck me. I flew into a nearby wall. I coughed up a bit of blood and I struggled to get back onto my feet.

"Shinigami!" The boy yelled. The Hollow roared and the boy's attention went back to the Hollow. "That's enough already!" The boy roared. I should have defended myself, such incompetence. I dug myself out of the wall only to see the boy in front of the Hollow. What was he doing?

"Hey…you…want my soul right?" He asked the Hollow and smirked with his hands still in fists. "Then fight me face to face!" He yelled pointing at himself. "No one else has anything to do with this! Try killing me and taking my soul!"

"Fool!" I yelled at him, hoping he would hear me and change his mind and run. No…he didn't, instead he stood there with his feet planted firmly onto the ground. The Hollow raced towards him and it seemed as though my body started to move on its own. I threw myself in front of him and the Hollow.

The only thing I could think was 'I promised I would protect you.'

The Hollow caught me in his mouth and then spit me out. I fell to the round with blood pouring out of me.

"Shinigami!" The boy yelled again and I coughed blood up.

"You…idiot…" I rasped. Fool, doesn't he know that he can't win? I fell to ground. "I already told you that your power is no match for it! Or did you think everything would be over if you gave it your soul? Either way, you're an idiot." I gave a bitter laugh and it burned my throat.

"I'm sorry…I just-" he apologized, but I didn't want that.

"Do not worry about it…is what I would like to say" I cut him off. "Unfortunately, I am not longer to fight the Hollow." What kind of shinigami am I? I couldn't even protect this boy and his family. "Now, all of us can only wait until we become its food…" I trailed off because I thought of an idea.

I've heard that all of a shinigami's power rests inside of our sword. It is said that if we transfer the power form our bodies to the sword and stab a human, the human will get a shinigami's power. This has never been tested before…and there is no guarantee. I could try that method. And if it fails, the boy will die. And if I don't mention this the boy is certain to die. At least with this method, he may have a chance…somehow the thought of him being dead hurts. May be its because he's the first human I have meet and actually conversed with…no…I have to take that risk, I cannot put my personal feelings in this. I take a deep breath.

"Do you want to save your family?" I asked him.

Ichigo
"Is there a way?! A way to help them? Tell me?" I begged. I can't remember the last time I had been this desperate…I needed-no, I had- to save them. They are all I have. And now because of me…because of me…they're almost dead. And then there's this girl that is helping me…Why is she helping me? What have I done for her? Nothing really…what does she feel the need to help me?

"There is a way," she said and coughed again. Blood stained her lips and her cheeks. "No, to be exact, I should say that this is the only way…" I don't care! Whatever it is, tell me please! I have to save them! She sat up against a wall and grabbed her sword from the ground. She held it out to me and lifted her head to look at me.

"You become a shinigami…"

"What…are you saying? How can I…?" I asked in shock. She's kidding right? Me…a shinigami?

"You can!" She countered. "Pierce the middle of your chest with this Zanpakutou, and I will insert half of shinigami powers. That way you will temporary attain the power of a shinigami and you will be able to fight the Hollow in equal grounds."

"Is it okay to do something like that?" I asked and she shrugged a little.

"…I do not know…" She said quietly. She paused for a moment before continuing. "Of course this is a plan set up anticipating your high spiritual nature. The percentage of success is not high, and if it fails you will…die…" Die? So if something goes wrong…I die? I looked at her with wide eyes. Please tell me she's kidding…no better…tell me I'm dreaming.

"However there is no other way. There is no time to deliberate." She said sternly. I couldn't become a shinigami…I ju-

"…Ichigo…" Yuzu said and my thoughts halted. "…Where are you Ichigo?"

"Yuzu…" I said softly. "Are you having a bad dream?"

"Don't come…it's dangerous…hurry and get away…" Dammit! Why are they worrying about me when they're about do die? It makes me look so weak and stupid. I will become a shinigami and I'll protect them! I'll slice that Hollow up into bits. I'll protect them…

"Give me the sword shinigami. Let's give your idea a try." I said and she smiled weakly up at me.

Rukia's Journal
"It's not shinigami. It's Kuchiki Rukia." I want to see him again. I hope that this works…
Ichigo
"I see…I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. Let's pray that this doesn't become the last greeting for both of us." I want to see her again. I hope that this works…
Rukia's Journal
"The Hollow is coming…if we don't hurry…" I trailed off. He grabbed onto my sword and brought it up to the middle of his chest. His amber eyes looked into mine skeptically. I wanted to reassure him, but even I couldn't be sure if it would work.

"Let's do it…" Ichigo said and gulped and I nodded.

"…Yes…" I replied. The Hollow started running towards us snarling.

Ichigo took the sword and stabbed himself with it. I closed my eyes and prayed.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw the Hollow's arm being cut off. The Hollow yelled in pain and there he was…Ichigo…he stood with his Zanpakutou slung over his shoulder. Then I realized something. It was only supposed to be half of my power…but all of my power was taken. Furthermore…when I couldn't feel the Hollow's presence…it was because of him! That room I was in was filled with spiritual power pouring out of him. That had completely hindered my senses. I was in awe. I have never heard of a human who could see shinigamis or that could break Demon Form. And…I have never seen a Zanpakutou, which changes form in response to the individual shinigami's spiritual power, become so large. I was confused and in shock. Ichigo was no ordinary human.

The Hollow jumped towards him and Ichigo pulled the Zanpakutou out in front of him.

"Realize the mistake you made when you messed with my family, fish face!" Ichigo yelled and sliced the Hollow in half. He reminded me of…him…just who, exactly, is he?

Ichigo stood there after he had beaten the Hollow.

Ichigo… I will meet him again…

Yay first chapter is done! I know it's exactly like the manga, but please be patient. It will be twisted into IchiRuki later, I promise. I hope that you liked it!

Please review, I would love to hear back from you. It would help me to know if I should continue with this story or not. The only way I will continue is if you review!