Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Or Resident Evil. Glad we got that out of the way...

Hi, folks! I'm Agent HUNK! I will be your fan fiction writer for today. Sit back, relax, and enjoy (or try to enjoy) the show! Now, forgive me if I get anything wrong. I don't know everything about Bleach yet... But I shouldn't make any huge mistakes.

Please, feel free to tell me what you think. Even flames are accepted.

Ichigo's life sucked. Everything that could be wrong was wrong. He could see ghosts and spirits, he was essentially forced into becoming a Soul Reaper, monsters wanted to eat him every minute of every day, he had broken most of the Soul Society's laws, and now he was sitting in class on the verge of failing his Math Exam. Could things possible be worse for him?

Beedily-beep. Beedily-beep. Beedily-beep.

Ichigo knew there would be an answer to that question. Slowly, he turned to face his "friend" Rukia, who had was reading the message they had received. The look she shot him made his right eye twitch. It was a Hollow. Here he was, failing a test, and a Hollow needed slaying. Ichigo's mind began to formulate a vast plan to get him out of class. Rukia would feign sick and get out of school. Then she would call Mr. Hat-and-Clogs, get him to pose as Ichigo's uncle, and take him out of class. But that would take to long. Instead, they would have to-

WHAM!

Everyone was so engrossed in their own tests that they didn't notice Rukia reach over, grab a handfull of Ichigo's orange hair, and violently slam his face into his own desk. They did, however, notice his body flop limply out of his desk and onto the floor. Before anyone could say a word, Rukia jumped to her feet. "I guess the stress was too much for him! I'll take him to the Nurses' Office!"

-----

Ichigo added a bump on the head to his list of problems. Rukia had thought quickly, but a few extra seconds of consideration might have been good. Actually, considering Rukia, it wouldn't have made a difference. "So where is it?" Ichigo asked Rukia as they walked down the sidewalk. Even in his Soul Reaper form, his head was throbbing.

"About three blocks ahead at a construction site," Rukia glanced at her cell phone/Soul Society link. "We've got 20 minutes."

Ichigo's eye twitched. "20 minutes? Our class would have ended three minutes ago..."

"Well, what if we had waited and run into a delay?" Rukia offered him a situation to think over.

"It doesn't matter... I failed that test anyway," Ichigo growled. He didn't even have to look at the smirk on her face to know that she had passed with flying colors.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the construction site. After 10 minutes of waiting, the Hollow finally showed up. It looked like some sort of wierd crab, but with a pair of tentacles instead of pincers. 'These things get wierder looking every day...' Ichigo sighed mentally. He unsheated his Zanpakto and prepared for the coming battle.

------

Now he stunk. He was drenched from head to toe in Hollow's blood, and it was starting to reak. "Phew..." Rukia waved her hand in front of her face. "You might want to change your close. Or take a shower. Or just stay a few feet from me."

"Wow, Rukia, that advice is soooo helpful," Ichigo sarcastically thanked her.

"Yeah, I know!" Rukia smiled. Sarcasm was yet another human trait she wasn't fully aware of yet. "I especially like the third one... What's wrong?" Rukia stopped walking. Ichigo was staring across the street at something. "What is it?"

"Who's that?" Ichigo pointed across the street. Sitting a bus stop was a man in strange clothings. Even compared to Soul Reaper garb it was wierd looking. Heck, it even made Hat-and-Clogs like like the King of Style. The guy was wearing a brown uniform, with a bullet proof vest, a gas mask, and helmet. Sitting next to him on the bench was a large breifcase. "Does he realize how stupid he looks?"

"I dunno..." Rukia stared at the guy, who was reading a newspaper. "Ichigo, wait!" she hissed at her Substitute, who raced across the street, narrowly avoiding a wayward taxi. Rukia sighed and followed after him. When she got across the street, Ichigo was bobbing and weaving around the guy, trying to get a good look at him. Rukia leaned against the bus stop sign and listened to Ichigo's comments.

"What's with the mask?" Ichigo pointed at the mans gas mask. "And the helmet? What is this guy, an army fanatic? I like the bullet proof vest, though. Some Kevlar would be helpful against Hollows..." Ichigo poked himself in the chest. "Anything is better than these stupid robes... Right, Rukia?" Ichigo continued to look at the guy, trying to figure out what his deal was.

"Is there something I can do for you?" the man suddenly folded his newspaper into his lap and looked up.

"Oh, I'm just waiting for the bus!" Rukia smiled politely at the guy.

"Oh, well it should be here in 5 minutes. But I was talking to the Soul Reaper," the man nodded his head at Ichigo, who turned pale.

His life had just reached its lowest point possible. "Huh?" Ichigo squeeked.

"What guy?" Rukia raised an eyebrow, playing dumb. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Please don't play dumb, I know he's with you. He's been rattling on about my outfit for the last 2 minutes," the man looked up at her through his red-lensed goggles.

"You can see me?" Ichigo waved his hand in front of the guy's face.

"Yes, I can," the guy batted Ichigo's hand away.

"How? Why? Did I miss something?" Ichigo tilted his head from side to side.

"Long story. My name is H," the man stuck out his hand.

"My name is Ichigo Kurasaki," Ichigo accepted the handshake.

"Substitute Soul Reaper?" the guy asked. Ichigo went pale again, and Rukia became visibly tense.

"How did-" Rukia tried to ask him, but a small chuckled cut her off.

"You've been sitting there all calm and collected, while this guy has been acting like an idiot. It is obvious that you gave him your powers..." H pointed at Ichigo.

"Idiot?" Ichigo growled. "Who are you talking an idiot?!"

"The guy who smells like a burnt, dead Hollow somebody dug up last night," H waved his hand in front of his mask. "Phew!" Rukia had to struggle not to smirk, while Ichigo's face went red with anger and a hint of embarrassment.

"Why you-" Ichigo's threat went unfinished, since Rukia grabbed him by the collar and started to pull him away.

"Cut it out, you idiot," she barked. "We need to get going..."

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me!" H waved after them as the left.

-----

"You fool!" Rukia barked at Ichigo. "You need to be more careful!"

"Careful? How was I supposed to know he could see me!" Ichigo replied angrily.

"Somebody as wierd dressed as that has to have some sort of power or something!" Rukia exclaimed.

"What?! You're just making up reasons!" Ichigo argued.

"You're just arguing for the sake of arguing!" Rukia yelled.

Across the street, an old man sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store watched in wonder as a young girl screamed at no one. She yelled at the air in front of her, oblivious to the fact that no one was there. "Huh?" the old man raised an eyebrow. After a few more minutes of screaming, she kicked the air in front of her and then began to stomp on nothing in particular on the sidewalk. She then stormed away angrily. "People get stranger and stranger every day..." the old man mused to himself.

-----

Ichigo didn't know what hurt worse. His pride, or his back. He had just been beat down by a girl. A girl smaller and weaker than him, in fact. His life sucked, and no matter how improbable it seemed, it kept getting worse. But now it seemed to have reached its limit. There was no way things could get worse. He hoped.

Love it? Hate it? Want to say something nice? Or immoliate me with flames? Tell me whatever you want in a review! It would be greatly appreciated...