Author's note: Well, this is my first fanfiction, so pls be nice and tell me what needs improvment or whatever. This idea's been naggin' me for like the past few months but I felt that it wasn't exactly a complete story so I put it off. Basically I'm re-telling the story from the begining of Bleach, following Ichigo until Soul Society where my OC meet's Kuchiki Byakuya and thats where she splits off from Ichigo... I'm rambling aren't I... well... uh... enjoy :)

ps. I can't believe I got the format right. I've always had problems with format... xd enjoy!

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The Way Back Home

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We fear that which we cannot see.

We respect that which we cannot see.

The small figure of a young girl dressed in black robes with a white sash tied around her petite waist stood on a pole high above the sleeping town of Karakura. Raven–colored hair flows slightly past her shoulder. She stares stoically into the black sky.

"I see… I feel a strong pulse." She then leaps away, from pole to pole, disappearing into the night.

Thus, the blade will be wielded

"'The hell's wrong wit' you! You suddenly kick Yama-chan down then you tell US 'outta the way'?!" Four gangsters stood around the body of their unconscious friend and glared at a boy with bright orange hair. A young girl with flowing straight black hair stood by with a cool expression on her face, not knowing whether to laugh or be pissed at Ichigo for suddenly stopping to deal with 5 nobodies who 'didn't show enough respect for the dead'

"Say sumthin', you little--" one of the gangsters raised a fist, preparing to hit Ichigo, but before he could move, Ichigo had already kicked him down to the floor and was slamming his foot onto his back, bashing him into the sidewalk. Michiko didn't even flinch and wondered if she should yawn to show her boredom… No, Okaa-san would never approve of such bad manners. She stood in silence, watching Ichigo fight.

"Whoa! Toshi-rin's getting'…" one of the three gangsters started.

"This is bad!" The second said.

"This is so messed up…" the third one muttered.

All three were starting to shake. Michiko very nearly let her calm façade slip into an expression of scorn and disgust. Just because you don't know how to REALLY fight doesn't mean you should act all shocked at watching someone else do some real fighting…

Ichigo continued to bash the guy's face into the sidewalk and the floor started to crack. Michiko briefly wondered if an imprint of the guy's face would be left there.

"Quit yakkin'!!" Ichigo roared, getting himself more and more worked up.

"All of you bastards! LOOK AT THAT!!" Ichigo pointed to a fallen vase of flowers by a lamp post. Michiko's eyes followed his finger to look at the vase and then looked back to the fearful expressions of the guys who remained standing.

"Question 1: What is THAT?!" Ichigo's voice continued to raise.

"Yes! You, in the middle!!" Michiko nearly winced as Ichigo's voice rose to a nearly ear shattering degree. She briefly wondered if she should break in and ask him to lower his voice a bit but decided against that.

The three gangsters looked at each other before the one in the middle started to speak in a stuttering voice. Michiko noticed that he had two rings in his brow. She frowned. What a bad sense of fashion…those rings are simply hideous.

"Um, uh, it was a tribute for a kid who died here recently…" the gangster's un-pierced eyebrow was twitching as if he were about to laugh at such a stupid question. Suddenly, he went flying from Ichigo's next attack.

"100% CORRECT!!" Ichigo yelled out.

"Mit-chan" one of the two gangsters remaining whimpered out. Michiko had the urge to step a bit closer and tell him the whimpering was for girls and babies and that he was a shame to his gender, but she knew that someone with her learning and name shouldn't involve herself in such trivial matters. That was the pride of her family, the pride of the noble family Shirakawa, the White River Family. Otou-san probably wouldn't approve too.

"Okay then, why would it have fallen over?" Ichigo ground out in a dangerous voice. The two gangsters gulped.

"Well, we were skateboarding and knocked it over…" Ichigo didn't even give him a chance to finish the sentence and he threw them off their feet with a well-placed punch.

"You bastards!" Michiko could practically see flames erupting around Ichigo's body, clashing with his vividly orange hair.

"I dare you to do that again!!" he continued.

"I'LL MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO LAY FLOWERS FOR YOU TOO!" He roared this final sentence before crossing his arms and watching as those who could still stand gasped out a quick apology and ran away with their friends' unconscious bodies.

The fire around Ichigo immediately disappeared and he turned to the ghost of the little girl who clasped her hands with a smile on her face.

"Thankyou O-nii-chan, thankyou O-nee- san."

"Huh? O-nee…" Ichigo turned to face Michiko who still bore an expressionless face. He actually forgot that he was walking home with me…the nerve… Michiko groaned in her brain. She ignored him and turned to the ghost.

"You're welcome, just go on to heaven. Come on Ichigo… let's go home." The two turned and started towards the clinic where the Kurosakis lived while Ichigo promised the girl that he would bring flowers the next day.

Shrakawa Michiko had been living with the Kurosaki family since… her parents died and her sister… disappeared. No… since Otou-san and Okaa-san had been murdered. The girl reminded herself. Since they had been murdered… in their own house… Michiko had been a 4 year-old little girl… with a ½ year- old baby sister.

The Shirakawa family was a noble family, although Otou-san had ordered her not to run around telling everyone. To everyone in this world, they were just a rich family… very well-known… but within their family and all in the house-hold, they were the noble family of the White River, noble blood through and through who were … in hiding from certain others.

As such, Michiko had been taught proper etiquette as soon as she could sit on her own. However, she was also taught many kinds of martial arts… for reasons unknown… A young girl must know to defend herself from those who wish to harm them… she remembered her Okaa-san telling her although she knew that it wasn't the entire truth. She understood that they were different from everyone. They were from … elsewhere. Michiko had never felt different from others though, until her family was murdered and her sister was stolen away.

After that horrible night, she had never seen her younger sister again. Hanging in between belief that her sister would be alive somewhere out there and her common sense telling her that she could never have survived… it was painful to know that she had failed her parents…

-

*flashback*

"Michiko, this is your younger sister, Shirakawa Minaichi. Treat her well." Shirakawa Risami lay on a large bed in a luxurious bedroom. She held a newborn child in her arms and spoke softly, in a tired voice. Servants stood a bit away from the bed in their uniform. Next to the large bed, a 4- year- old toddler stood on her tip-toes, peeking at the bundle in her mother's arms. The midwife was standing nervously nearby.

"Michiko … if … one day, I am no longer here … you must promise me… to take care of your sister." Risami's face was serious.

"Okaa – san?" Michiko didn't understand.

"Promise us, Michiko." Her father, Shirakawa Ryuunosuke had entered the large room. The servants bowed low and Michiko turned to gaze at her father with wide eves. She lowered her gaze.

"Otou-san … I promise." Michiko said… and she meant it. Her father gave her a rare smile, the one that he reserved for her and her mother. He knelt down to her and held out a golden box with red velvet lining holding a Japanese fold fan inside.

"This fan … it is a tradition in our family that all children born to us will receive one, it is up to them to … awaken its powers. However, the firstborn son is the one to inherit this particular fan. It is a family heirloom. I believe, Michiko that you are just as good as any other child that will be born into this family. I believe in you Michiko. This family heirloom is yours to hold."

He held out the box and Michiko slowly accepted it with both hands. As usual, she didn't understand what her father meant, but she treasured his every word.

"Now, run along and get to your classes." He hesitated for one moment and reached forward, giving Michiko a hug.

"Aishiteru, my daughter. Aishiteru." He kissed her cheek and straightened. The gaping servants quickly lowered their eyes. Shirakawa Ryuunosuke was a cold man on appearance, but he cared deeply for his family.

Michiko stared at her father for a moment. Then, her face split out in a big, childish smile. She gave a small bow, turned and walked out of the room, curiously examining the box containing the priceless heirloom. Her nurse followed her, after deeply bowing towards Michiko's parents.

Instead of going to her classes as Otou-san had requested, Michiko headed back to her wing in the manor. She sat on her large sofa, placed the golden box next to her and stared at it, not knowing whether she should open it, or lock it away for when she grew up.

After a long while of contemplation, she reached out with a shaking hand and touched the cover, hesitating one more second before opening it. She slowly reached out to touch the ancient family heirloom and then gently lifted it out and snapped it open. It was made of silk and had a royal, deep blue hue.

On the silk, cherry blossom petals were embroidered all over. If she closed her eyes and let her imagination wonder, she could see those blossoms, floating off into the wind freely. Flipping the fan over, she saw that the back side of the fan bore many mysterious symbols, embroidered in silver threads. She inspected them carefully turning the fan around in her hands, trying to get used to the feeling that the fan gave her. It had a strange texture. She opened her eyes to inspect.

Michiko raised her eyebrows. Usually, most fans were made of wood and paper. This fan isn't wooden… its golden, but it feels like metal…no, this texture is definitely gold. If it were metal inside… the outside wouldn't be so soft… what is with those weird markings?

Michiko reached out to trace the symbols and quickly jerked backwards in shock. Did the fan just… glow? No! I must be imagining thi-

"Michi-chan! What have you got there? Wow, that's rare, it's made of pure fire diamonds." A woman's voice interrupted her thoughts. Michiko jumped.

"Yoruichi-sensei! What are you doing here? What are fire diamonds?"

"When you didn't come to your karate lessons I asked a servant to bring me up here. You should take care of that family heirloom, it's priceless. Fire diamonds are a kind of jewels. They … do not exist here. They're the most sturdy kind of material ever. No matter how you hit it anywhere, it will never break. Even if it does break, you can return it to its original shape upon your will.

The Shirakawa family heirloom is priceless. Keep it someplace safe until you can really use it." Shihouin Yoruichi spoke in a serious voice, hesitating a bit when explaining the fire diamonds' home.

"Come to the training grounds within ten minutes Michi-chan. I'll be waiting." Yoruichi turned and left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Michiko alone in her chambers.

Michiko's eyes had slowly widened at Yoruichi's explanation. She turned to look at the fan in awe, and then jumped up to put the fan back into the golden treasure chest. She locked it shut and then ran to the wall. Looking once more around her room to check that no one was watching, she then started to feel around her wall until she found the hidden place number 23 in her room.

She pulled out a large piece of her wall to reveal a hidden room. She crawled in and set the box in the center of the room after checking that it was securely locked. Then, she leapt out of the hidden room and placed the square shaped door to the hidden room back into the wall.

Then, she ran to her shelf, grabbed a large black leather book and opened it to reveal many different keys. She slipped the key to the treasure chest into the next available slot and wrote down key for item in hidden place no. 23 in the contents page. After replacing the key book in her bookshelf, she stepped back to face the wall where her hidden place no. 23 was.

After giving it a careful inspection to see that it looked like a normal wall without any clues to the treasure that lay inside, she called a servant to assist her in changing into a standard martial arts uniform and walked down to the training grounds in her most dignified manner, acknowledging all the clan elders that she passed. After all, she did have 5 minutes left.

*end flashback*

-

Michiko stopped in her tracks to look up at the sky which was slowly turning dark. Okaa-san's mysterious words still imprinted in her mind after 10 years. Michiko … if … one day, I am no longer here … you must promise me… to take care of your sister. Half a year later, on a cold winter night a week before Christmas, her parents were murdered.

-

*flashback*

The air was thick with a mysterious power. It made her skin crawl and was crushing her. It hurt and she could barely breathe. Even in the large garden behind the manor, she could still feel it from the house. Then, just as she was about to lose consciousness, everything was still. The power disappeared. Her instincts told her that something was dreadfully wrong. It was too silent, too still all of a sudden.

She ran back into the house only to see the servants and guards all over the floor. She gasped and went further into the house, only to see a frightening sight. Her parents lay on the floor in their own blood. Their bodies lay in twisted positions, their blood dotting the walls, smearing over the expensive furniture. Then, everything was a nightmarish haze. She remembered the police… the sirens… her own screams… unable to bear it all, she ran away that night. Her sister had already disappeared…

*end flashback*

-

Almost forgetting that she was in public, she nearly let out a sob, her cold expression, her calm façade slipping only a bit before she caught herself and shut her emotions in. Ichigo finally noticed that she wasn't following him and turned back slightly to see her staring into the orange-purple sky with a slightly unnatural look on her face, as if struggling with herself.

"You're thinking about them again." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. He knew her the best. He knew that she blamed herself for her parents' deaths, for her sister's disappearance. Although there was nothing she could have done, she would have gladly suffered for them… died with them… disappeared with them.

"You're still blaming yourself. You shouldn't blame yourself. It's been 10 years, Michiko. You were just 4 years old back then, what could you have done?" They stood on the sidewalk, Michiko looking at the sky, and Ichigo standing a few meters away from her, looking back at her.

"I was there. Yet I survived while they died. I could have died along with them. I would have gladly followed them. Then, I wouldn't have this feeling of guilt with me that I am the sole survivor of the Shirakawa clan. Don't you understand Ichigo? They had a feeling that this would happen. They even let it slip sometimes… but in the end, I was too naïve… too foolish… to catch those small hints and worried instead about other useless childish things… it IS my fault."

"You think too much. It doesn't matter if it's your fault or not. The past is the past. Just forget it all." Ichigo put a comforting hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture and they started to walk towards the clinic again.

"Can you forget your mother's death just like that?" Michiko asked him. He was silent for a moment.

"That's different. It was really my fault. She tried to save me and gave her life in return."

"I see no difference… they died to protect me… they died to protect me… they told me not to come back until the guest left… they knew… You blame yourself still."

"We both need to stop thinking about things like this."

"As reluctant as I am to admit this, I think you may be right."

The two continued walking in silence. Michiko once again continued to think. It was strange. She frowned. It was as if… It was as if they knew… they knew that it would happen… they knew that they would die. What happened after that fateful night was even stranger. Her parents had been buried in the garden on Christmas Eve. The police had escorted her back to the manor. They had found no clues and Michiko told them to give up.

The police were going to look for papers in her father's office to see where she would live and who she would live with. However, the next day after the burial and after the house had been cleaned by the servants who decided to stay, everyone mysteriously forgot. It was as if nothing had happened. Everyone aside from the servants forgot that her parents had been killed.

Michiko had found a letter telling her to give up, saying: Their memories are modified… it will do no good to find me… giving up would be the best idea…

No doubt, it had been from the murderer. She vowed that she would find him… avenge her parents… find her sister. It was nothing other than an empty promise. A vow made out of desperation.

It seemed as if strange things happened from that day on. When she saw the mangled bodies of her beloved family members, it was like something had snapped within her. She had suddenly been able to see many huge monsters with masks and holes in their chests.

Like a coward, she ran away after receiving the note, not exactly knowing what to do. She lived on the streets chased by those monsters. She ran, or fought them, but what chance did she stand? A four year old little girl against a giant monster… even with all of the skills that she had learned in her two years of training with Yoruichi-sensei, it was impossible for her to beat the monster.

I'm such a pathetic little weakling. Michiko thought as she slowly walked down the neighborhood. She looked up to see the Kurosaki clinic a few more blocks away.

I am such a weakling.

Where is my pride?

Why do I seek shelter with these people?

Why am I burdening them?

I'm weak. Brought down by one of the small tragedies in life, I am a disgrace.

She continued to think as she walked along the sidewalk.

So many things happened. Nothing made sense. It scared her and she just wanted to curl up next to her Okaa-san and cry like a little girl again.

The second week of her living in the streets had brought another strange thing. Michiko had the fleeting suspicion that she had… died.

-

*flashback*

Gasping in fear, Michiko ran faster, trying to lose the monster who was laughing maniacally behind her. She turned at a corner and continued to run, but was faced with a dead end.

She turned to run back out, but was blocked by the monster that had already caught up with its large steps and was blocking her only way to freedom. The monster moved towards her and she instinctively took a few steps back only to bump into the stone wall. Her eyes darted around wildly, searching for a way to escape. Taking advantage of her large opening, the monster lifted a huge arm and swiped her towards the wall.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the pain of the impact, but it never came. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was still standing on her feet and there was a … chain protruding from her chest. Her eyes followed the chain to … what seemed to be her body which was lying on the ground, blood pooling around the head. Her eyes widened in fear and she began to shake as her 4-year-old brain processed a new piece of information.

My body… I'm there by the wall… but I'm here… it separated me from me… but I'm still connected by the chain… I may be able to go back in… she deduced this theory with speed that impressed even herself. But even as she was reassuring herself, the monster reared up again and ripped the chain into two. She dropped to the ground convulsing in pain, until finally, unable to bear it anymore, let out a tortured shriek of pain. The monster loomed over her… and the world became hazy.

I'm dying… No! I cannot die! I have a mission! I must live! I must find Minaichi-chan. She forced her eyes open to face the monster. As if guided by a teacher's hand, she saw herself as if in a dream, a bow appearing in her hand as she reached out, grasping an arrow of light, aiming and releasing. The monster was split into two and the bow disappeared. She was left, standing in the dark alley staring at her hands, wondering what had just happened.

However, she didn't have the time to think as pain tore through her body, and she once again began to writhe on the ground, refusing to scream out loud, just as she had been taught not to. It was over in a matter of minutes, and she sat up, gasping as there was still a dull throb in her chest. Looking down, she realized with horror that the broken chain in her chest was gnawing itself away.

"W-wh-what!?" she cried out, but once again, before she could even think, pain tore through her small frame, wracking her body.

She didn't know how long she lay there in the alley, screaming and writhing in pain as the chain continued to eat itself. She had lost count of the hours. The ground was dirty and muddy, but she was beyond caring anymore, torn between keeping her promise to her parents to care for her sister and wanting death to claim her quickly. Finally it came.

The last piece of chain ate itself away more painfully than the others had. In the end, I must leave like otou-san and okaa-san. Life is so short and passes so quickly. She vaguely remembered a proverb from somewhere in a book in the Shirakawa Manor's library. In the end, I am not able to keep my promises. In the end, I'm a disgrace, a disgrace to the Shirakawa family. I am so weak to die like this. These thoughts ran through her mind as her eyes slipped shut.

It was night. There were no stars. The only source of light was the full moon that hung in the sky. She was standing in a small cove. Stepping out of the cove, she could see that there was a lake surrounding her. Its waters were still. Not a ripple. It was silent. Beyond the lake, she could see the shore.

Fine white sands covered the shore, forming a beach, and beyond that, there was a forest of sakura trees. In the light of the moon, she could see that the floor of the forest was completely covered in pink sakura petals. A small breeze carried a few pink petals across the lake. That is when Michiko noticed another presence.

She was walking, almost gliding, silently across the beach. White silk mixed with other pieces of light pink silk wrapped loosely around her, forming a garment for her. With each step, the garment floated around her. Long silver hair reached down to her waist, a few curls framing her face, shining bangs nearly covering her eyes. In her hands she carried a silver scepter.

"Who are you?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

"Where am I?" She was mystified.

"My name is Tsukihana. We are in your inner world." The lady's lips did not move, but her soft musical voice filled the air around her. The lady gracefully stepped onto the water, gliding gently across the lake towards her.

"Your life is in danger, your very existence in jeopardy. Do you wish to die here? Do you wish that the Shirakawa family line end because of your weakness?" The lady spoke softly, now standing tall and still, looking down at her four-year-old self.

Michiko gazed up at her, beginning to regain her resolution, her confidence.

"No." A single word slipped from her lips. The lady smiled gently and lifted a graceful arm towards her, holding out a hand.

"Come." She spoke softly.

Michiko slowly reached out and grasped the lady's outstretched hand. As their hands joined a bright flash of white erupted and power surged through her body. She instinctively closed her eyes to shield them from the light.

When she opened them once more, she was in the dark alley again, dressed in black robes, holding a sword in her hand. A man with a striped had and messy blond hair, wearing sandals and holding a cane and a fan was standing at the entrance of the alley.

The man lifted his fan and snapped it open, fanning himself while speaking.

"Hey there, Shirakawa-san. I am Urahara Kisuke. You look like you're kinda lost. Need a bit of help?"

*end flashback*

-

Urahara Kisuke had helped her to find a family in the Kurosakis. He would have gladly explained her situation to her, but she had adamantly refused any explanation of sorts, preferring to live in ignorance of her family's real history.

After all, it is said that ignorance is bliss.

In truth, Michiko was simply afraid of the truth and was running away from it desperately, like a coward.

Strange things happen to me.

It was true. Ever since that day in the alley, Tsukihana spoke to her on a daily basis, their relationship slowly becoming more intimate as they bonded through the many happenings in life.

A few more years after that, she was introduced to a new creature in her mind. She looked like herself, except for the skin color. She was completely white all over, but her eyes were black and yellow. She had an evil smirk and always called her 'Mistress' in a low, slightly mocking, raspy voice, which never failed to bring shivers down her spine.

Tsukihana called her an 'inner hollow' and told her not to worry about her 'inner hollow', and after spending a few more months with the 'inner hollow', Michiko learned that 'inner hollow' was just there to help her in a different way than Tsukihana, or so it was, according to that 'inner hollow'.

Ichigo opened the door to the Kurosaki house hold and let Michiko enter first. Out of the corner of her eye, Michiko saw Isshin diving towards her and Ichigo. She sighed, closed her eyes and side-stepped him, letting his leg crash into Ichigo's torso.

"Yuzu-chan, Karin-chan." She greeted the twins, before heading towards the kitchen, ignoring the commotion made by Ichigo and his father.

"Ichi-nii the food is getting cold… nee-san, aren't you eating with us?" Caring little Yuzu was always thinking about others. Michiko turned slightly.

"Not today, I'm tired. I will have dinner in my room and then rest after a bath." She turned to the kitchen and grabbed an onigri from the fridge and headed into her room.

Ichigo and his father were still exchanging punches and retorts in the living room. Michiko let herself roll her eyes at their immaturity in the privacy of her room.

Life in the Kurosaki family was as lively as ever.

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Author's note: how was that? This is my first try at writing a story actually. Please review to tell me what to think!

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