Hey. Silver here.

I got this idea for a story and I'm not really sure whether I'm going to continue with it. I just thought I'd post the first chapter and see what responses it gets.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach obviously.

It is commonly thought that heroes should die in a set number of ways. In the heat of battle, surrounded by comrades having just defeated their greatest enemy or of old age after making a good life for themselves surrounded by family.

Despite the loss of his powers, Kurosaki Ichigo is commonly thought of as a hero. But the masses are not always correct. This hero didn't die of old age or in the heat of battle.

Kurosaki Ichigo lost his life in a traffic accident two years after the Winter War.

000

The first thing the orange haired boy noticed as he opened his eyes was leaves. All he could see was leaves. It took his mind to focus on the fact he was lying on his back looking up at trees. He was so relaxed, more so than he had been in a long time; or at least he thought. It was hard to tell, he couldn't really remember anything.

Sure the names of things were there. He knew that trees were trees and that the grass was green. But he didn't know how he knew that. The knowledge was there but not the memories of where it came from.

Get up. You look weak lying there.

Lazily he glanced around looking for the source of the voice. It was harsh and close. There was no one in sight but never the less he obeyed. He was in a grass clearing in what looked to be a forest but it couldn't be too dense because he could hear the sounds of a village nearby.

Don't just stand there. Get moving.

"Who are you? Show yourself."

There was no movement around him only this echoing chuckling that put him slightly on edge.

Who I am? Do you need to ask?

He does not remember.

The new voice was different. Deeper and wiser sounding than the other one. Again it had no source and he was beginning to suspect that they were in his head. Never the less he found his feet heading in the direction of the village.

Hours later after wondering around listening to the comments from the voices, either criticising the weaknesses of others or giving hints on what to observe, he stopped at a bar hoping to find food.

The stall keepers had only laughed at him when he said that he was hungry. The inn it turned out was little better as he found himself thrown out rather forcibly. His stomach growled and then cramped as he lay on the ground outside.

One voice was calling them all fools while the other suggested finding somewhere to sleep. Neither of them noticed the group of children watching him from afar as he found tree at the edge of the village to sleep under.

000

The following morning he was awoken to the sounds of shouting. He could hear the cries of children. Something fierce gripped him. A will to protect.

His body moved with a will of its own. There was a group of adults surrounding a huddled cluster of children, attacking them, throwing things and hurling abuse.

A need to protect and a lust for the blood of those causing harm welled up from the voices and his mind was invaded with flashes of battles he wasn't sure he fought. Of a white mask with red stripes and a black katana covered in blood.

When his mind snapped into place he was stood amongst a sea of downed adults, the cautious eyes of children staring up at him. As he held out his hand and lead them away they seemed to fill with curiosity.

One girl, slightly older than the rest and covered in more bruises looked up at him with determined eyes.

"What is your name?"

The question confused him for a minute. He'd had no use for a name since he'd woken up that morning. He didn't know what it should be, or even if that was unusual. 'What are your names?'

It was the wiser voice that answered. He was rather glad it wasn't the harsher one as he was sure it wouldn't have been helpful whatever the reply.

You already know that. Just like your own name. You just need to look inside you.

He wasn't sure exactly where it came from but he found his lips forming words.

"Zangetsu Ogihci"

There we go. Review just to let me know if I should continue with this and your general views.

Thanks.

Silver.