A/N: First and foremost, I am not the owner of Bleach of any of its characters. As for this story, I have taken quite a few liberties and have a ton more planned. First, I turned Ichigo into a girl. Not to your tastes, then please back out now- it's clearly tagged and I've now warned you so don't complain about it. Next, this is a time-travel fic which means that Ichigo, as well as a few others, have come from the future so yes, their personalities may be off. Given they've come from a future and lived through a war(s), it should be expected that they've grown/changed due to those experiences. If they seem a little OOC, that may be why. Now, if you think they're too OOC, please comment and I'll see about fixing it. Next is the order of events and such. This series is a WIP and events have not been set in stone just yet so if anyone has a request or two, please feel free to do so.
As a last note: comments, reviews, suggestions, and requests are more than welcome. Flames are greatly discouraged, though constructive criticism is also welcome. I think that about covers everything... yep, okay, so on to the story.
Pain… so much pain.
It felt as if her soul was being torn asunder, ripped apart piece by piece before being tossed together in a too-small container. It wasn't the most intense pain she'd ever faced before, but it was certainly up there.
When she finally comes back to herself, she feels as if she'd just gone a full round with Kenpachi and Grimmjow. Her limbs are heavy, her skin feeling too taut, and her throat is raw as she gasps for breath.
"Though I hate to interfere in a fight between Shinigami, I had no choice." Ichigo's eyes fly open in shock at the all-too familiar voice. "If my comrades are getting killed this close to me, then I can't just ignore it."
Her eyes dart up to see Shinji standing on a nearby roof, feet braced wide and sword resting casually over his shoulder. That stupid blond hair cut in that stupid strait edge style.
"Shinji…"
She feels a small ripple of shock and turns to see Grimmjow staring up at Shinji, surprise evident on his face. The last either of them had seen of Shinji, his entire chest cavity had been torn open, an empty hole gaping at the sky, and his throat had been just as much a mess. She hadn't been sure if she would be able to bring herself to look at him, to chance seeing him alive after almost a year of him being gone…
Shaking the thought away, she trains her gaze on Grimmjow, taking in the tattered Espada uniform and the shorter hair… the missing arm. She feels a brief moment of apprehension. Ichigo's eyes seek out the small bracelet wrapped around his wrist. She has a similar one on her own. Kisuke had spent months designing them; pouring over all the readings he could get his hands on so that nothing would tip anyone off.
She breathes a sigh of relief at the realization that this was her Grimmjow and not the Grimmjow of the present time. Her sigh of relief though turns into a pained cry when Grimmjow jumps forward, snatching Pantera from where she was pinning Ichigo's hands to the ground.
"Dammit, Grimmjow," she hisses, cupping her hands in her lap. "You're such an ass!"
"Like you didn't already know that, Ichi-me." Grimmjow laughs as he clashes swords with Shinji.
Ichigo growls under her breath, only to freeze when someone moves to cover her hands with their own. Rukia is leaning over, frowning as she takes Ichigo's hands and examines the wound.
"You're such an idiot, Ichigo," Rukia scolds her. "What were you thinking?"
"At the time, I wasn't," Ichigo answers honestly. Back then, the only thing she'd been focused on was that there were Arrancar in Karakura and that they were no doubt going to be targeting her friends.
Rukia lets out a sigh of disgust and continues to rant even as she applies a small wrap. Ichigo feels a wave of nostalgia at the scolding and looks up to see Shinji and Grimmjow going at it.
It won't be much longer before Ulquiorra will show up to take Grimmjow and the other Espada back to Hueco Mundo. If Grimmjow goes back and Aizen tries to have Orihime heal his arm, they'll run into some real trouble.
"Oi, Shinji," she yells as Shinji calls his mask. "Stop playing around and take him down already."
Shinji doesn't make any acknowledgement but Grimm does shoot her a quick scowl. The two exchange a few more blows before Shinji summons a Cero. She can just imagine Grimm's growl of annoyance as he lets the Cero hit him, crashing to the ground.
Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, she flash-steps to him and quickly deals a punch to render him unconscious. The fight may have been cut a little short, but they are still cutting it close. Hefting the ex-Espada over her shoulder, she quickly tosses him at Shinji.
"Have Hachi store him," she instructs. "And be quick. It won't be long before someone comes to try and reclaim him."
"Yare, yare," Shinji sighs, hefting Grimmjow more securely before taking off.
Not a moment too soon as Ulquiorra appears. He glances from Rukia to Ichigo, taking in the damage to the surrounding area.
"Am I to take it Grimmjow lost?"
Ichigo shrugs, "Something like that. Looks like the others aren't doing too well, either."
Ulquiorra turns his gaze in the direction where the others were fighting. "It's of no consequence. The mission is accomplished. We're going back."
Ichigo tightens her grip on Zangetsu, wishing she could say something; that she could put a stop to all of this right now.
Instead, she keeps a tight rein on her reiatsu and watches as a Negación claims the remaining Espada and takes them back to Hueco Mundo.
Quiet settles over the area and Ichigo winces as her wounds make themselves more apparent. She'd almost forgotten how badly she'd been hurt in that fight against Grimmjow. On one hand it was fortunate she hadn't just appeared whole and hale at the end of a battle, but on the other the wounds are rather bothersome. And, at the time, she recalls them being fairly serious.
Even now they itch with the need to close over and heal, but she and Zangetsu will her wounds to stay as they are. It wouldn't do, after all, if she were to suddenly inherit a healing factor that hadn't been present just a short hour ago.
Grimacing, she places a hand over her ribs and turns in the direction of the Visored warehouse.
Rukia instantly rushes to her side. "You fool, what do you think you're doing?!"
"I'm thinking that I should have someone take a look at these injuries and see about getting healed a little," she answers dryly. "I'm kinda losing a lot of blood here."
Rukia hits her on the back of her head, causing her to wince as her slight headache turns into a migraine. "You're an idiot," Rukia informs her. "Just stay here and I'll get Tessai-san–"
"If it's all the same, I have some friends a lot closer," Ichigo cuts in. If she remembers right, all of the Shinigami will be going to the shoten to get healed. She really isn't ready to face all of them just yet, especially Kisuke and his keen eyes and even keener mind.
Rukia scowls, giving her an assessing look. "Is one of those 'friends' the horse-face who ran off with that Espada? They the ones you've been training with this last month?"
Ichigo snorts at Rukia's signature charm. She sobers a moment later. "They're the ones who trained me to control my Hollow." She doesn't see the use in lying to the woman; no matter what way they go, this will end up coming out. "I trust them, Rukia."
Rukia blows a raspberry before she realizes how serious Ichigo is about trusting the Visored. "Well, I should hope you trust them. You sent that Espada off with that one, anyway."
"They're less likely to kill him on the spot," Ichigo states plainly. "The Shinigami aren't likely to show the same restraint. We can use him to get some information on Aizen and what he's doing right now."
"But–"
"You can't say anything about this, Rukia." She turns to the Shinigami, staring straight into violet eyes. "If you tell any of the others about Grimmjow, you'd have to tell them about Shinji. If Soul Society found out about Shinji, about what I really am, they'd kill us."
"Ichigo, you can't know that," Rukia tries to say.
"I do. Shinji is under a death sentence right now because of what he is," Ichigo informs her. "You can't tell them. Not yet."
Rukia assesses her for a minute before reluctantly nodding. "Okay."
"Promise me, Rukia." Ichigo demands. "I mean it, if Soul Society learns of his existence and decides to come after him, I won't stand for it; I won't stand with them."
"Ichigo–"
Ichigo shakes her head. She knows that, in the end, Soul Society will accept the Visored, but she can't chance any word of them getting back to Aizen just yet. "I mean it Rukia. You and Renji and all of the others, you're all my friends and I would fight and die for any one of you, but the Visored are family. Anyone goes after even one of them and I will not hold back. I will fight with everything I have to keep them safe."
Rukia looks hurt for a minute and it tears something inside of Ichigo to have caused that, but it is the truth. For her, Rukia was a close friend; she was the one who first gave Ichigo her powers, the one who gave her the ability to protect her friends and family. In many ways, Rukia made her into what she is, but she'd also been dead for nearly five years.
The Visored though, they are like her; like she said, they're family. They'd all fought alongside her, believed in her when others hadn't, they'd killed for her, shed blood with her, and they'd all died for her in the end.
Rukia may have made her into what she is today, but the Visored are the reason she's still alive; they're the ones who trained her and gave her control in a life where nothing was controllable. She may owe Rukia her life, but she owes the Visored everything.
"I think that hit to your head did some real damage," Rukia spoke, a sly smile on her face. She holds Ichigo's gaze, her eyes glinting with resolve. "I froze the entire street to make sure I got the Espada but that bastard managed to escape while I was seeing to your wounds. One moment we had an Espada-sicle, the next, there was just a pile of half melted ice."
Ichigo breathes a sigh of relief, a smirk threatening as she slings an arm over Rukia. "Good. Now, wanna help me hobble a few streets over?"
Rukia snorts, wrapping an arm around her waist and taking off in a Shunpo, landing outside of the Visored warehouse without need of directions. Kensei and Love are already waiting and it's like coming home and being run through all over again.
Taking a steadying breath, she urges Rukia forward and the two Visored meet them, each taking a side to help Ichigo inside. Rukia hesitates, looking from Ichigo to the Visored and out to where the other Shinigami are.
"Stop dawdling, midget, and get your ass in here," Ichigo calls out.
Rukia huffs and charges after them, ranting at Ichigo as they go through the warehouse and down to the training area. Her rant fades away at the sight and she shoots Ichigo a look.
"Urahara knows about them?"
"Kisuke's the one who got them out in the first place," Ichigo rolls her eyes, ignoring the way the two Visored have stiffened. "How do you think I found them anyway? I'm shit at tracking."
"Ain't that the truth," Shinji laughs.
The rest of the Visored are already gathered, perching on various rocks as they pretend not to be watching Grimmjow. Kensei and Love lower her to sit down beside Hachi who looks her over with a tiring sigh.
"Oi, dipshit, what'd you go and get your ass kicked for?" Hiyori heckles her. "Thought you could handle this piece of shit?"
"Shut it, snaggletooth," Ichigo sighs, peeking an eye at the girl. "Not my fault the battle was over before I even knew what was happening."
Hiyori scoffs, "Serves you right for getting it kicked the first time 'round."
Ichigo flips the blonde off and turns to Rukia who is eyeing the Visored woman warily while surreptitiously trying to watch all of the others.
"Kuchiki Rukia, meet the Visored," Ichigo waves lazily. "Hachi was Tessai's Fukutaicho in the Kido Corps. Snaggletooth is Hiyori, she used to be Kisuke's Fukutaicho in Squad Twelve before that clown took over and desecrated the place with his freakish experiments. You met Shinji, he used to be the Taicho of Five; Aizen was his Fukutaicho, I think that's all that needs said there."
Shinji makes an injured sound but Ichigo ignores him as she waves to the others. "Porn girl is Lisa, she was the Fukutaicho of Eight. Beside her is Rose, ex-Taicho of Three, beside him is Love, ex-Taicho of Seven, and lastly are Kensei and Kuna, the former Taicho and Fukutaicho of Nine."
Rukia's eyes widen as she looks from one person to another before turning disbelieving eyes to Ichigo. "You're saying they were all part of the Gotei 13?"
Hiyori lets out a loud contemptuous snort, "Yea, until those backstabbing bastards decided to believe that traitor and sentenced us all to death." She glares down at Ichigo, "What the hell're you doin' telling this Shinigami who we are? What gave you the right to bring her here, you stupid baldy?!"
"She'd already seen Shinji and I brought her because I couldn't get back on my own," she winces as Hachi presses at a particularly sensitive area. "She won't tell the others about you."
Hiyori scoffs, spitting before she stomps towards Rukia. "So, what, you're just willin' to lie to all yer friends and yer bosses to protect our asses? Like I believe that bullshit."
"I'm not lying to anyone!" Rukia exclaims indignantly, her cheeks flushing a deep scarlet. She straightens, standing to her full height as she squares off with Hiyori. "I'm just neglecting to report something that isn't… relevant to the current situation."
"Yea?" Hiyori laughs wryly, stepping into Rukia's space. "And yer doin' this outta the goodness of yer heart, right?"
"I'm doing it because Ichigo asked me to!" Rukia answers honestly. "She says she trusts you and that's good enough for me."
Hiyori looks shocked for a moment before suddenly bursting out in laughter. "You're willing to lie to all your friends just because little Berry over there asked you to? No wonder Soul Society went to shit, the whole lot of you are too trusting. You make me sick with bullshit like that."
Rukia's earlier blush of embarrassment disappears as she puffs up angrily, her hands fisted as she pushes into Hiyori's face. "No, I'm trusting you because Ichigo does! She says you're her family now and I swore that I'd always help her protect her family. That's what I'm doing right now! I'm not lying because she asked me to or because she trusts you, I'm lying to protect my friend and her family. And if you can't understand that then–"
"Rukia," Ichigo cuts in tiredly. "Rukia, that's enough. Hiyori's all bluster. Just ignore her."
"Bluster?" Hiyori turns on Ichigo, her hand twitching towards her sword before Shinji jumps forward to stop her.
Ichigo ignores them as she focuses on Rukia. "I'll come home a little later, once Hachi is done."
"I'm almost done," Hachi starts, but Ichigo quickly cuts in.
"After he's done, I'm going to talk to the Espada and then I'll be home."
"You should really go home once I'm done, Ichigo-kun," Hachi tries to urge. "Your wound is a mixture of the Arrancar's reiatsu and your own. There's not a lot I can do. The best thing for you to do to heal is to stay away from those who have reiatsu similar to a Hollow."
Ichigo offers Hachi a weak smile, remembering how hard he'd taken this situation the first time around. "Hachi, I promise I'll go home and rest once we're done. For now though, I'm fine. I appreciate whatever help you can offer."
"Ichigo, if he says the best thing for you to do is go home," Rukia frowns. "Maybe you should listen."
"And I will, later," Ichigo returns. "Rukia, you know I've had worse than this. I survived Byakuya's bankai; I can sure as hell survive Grimmjow when he's not even in his released state."
"Really?" Rukia scoffs. "You don't look to be in very good shape right now."
"When am I ever?" Ichigo tries to tease. "Rukia, I'll be fine. Nothing will happen to me while I'm here."
"That's debatable," Rukia mutters. "Trouble seems to find you no matter where you go."
"Rukia," Ichigo sighs. "Go. Check on my family, make sure they're okay. Let the girls know that I'll be home for dinner. Not sure if I'll be up to eating, but I'll be home."
"You want me to give them some warning on," she makes a vague waving motion to encompass her current condition.
Ichigo grimaces at the thought, not wanting to repeat that particular experience. "Yea. Just that I got jumped by some kids after school or something, but that I'm fine. It's happened before so they won't worry too much."
"Well, maybe someone should start worrying about you, you idiot," Rukia huffs. "You always jump into these kinds of things without thinking it through."
"Yea, well, that's just the kind of person I am," Ichigo shrugs, wincing when her wounds remind her of their existence.
Rukia watches her, her eyes traveling over Ichigo to take in all of the bandages Hachi had wrapped her in. Ichigo looks down, admitting that it does look a little bad. She is more bandages than skin right now.
"You won't try to fight him right?" Rukia asks, motioning to Grimmjow who Ichigo realized was playing unconscious.
"No worries," Ichigo assures her. "I'm not in any condition to fight right now. I think Shinji would sit on me if I even tried it."
"Damn right," the blond mumbles, absently twirling his hat while he stares at Grimmjow.
Rukia looks around for a bit longer before finally sighing. "Fine, I'll go." She waves a warning finger at Ichigo, "But you better be home by seven! I mean it, if you're not there by seven exactly, I'll make you very sorry, Ichigo."
Ichigo waves, acknowledging the vague threat. After so many years, it might be nice to have the little squirt around again, but given how long she'd worked alongside Grimm and the others, Rukia's threats hold very little sway anymore.
"I'll be home before then, no worries."
Rukia looks her over one more time before sighing, giving a forceful nod. She is halfway up the stairs when Ichigo calls out for her. She pauses, turning to face them again.
"Thanks," Ichigo says, letting her gratitude show on her face. "For real, Rukia. Thank you."
"Yea, yea," Rukia huffs, a light blush rising. "Remember, seven!"
Translations:
-me- a derogatory honorific, used when you refer to people, things, or concepts you're a) pissed at, b) deem despicable/inferior. Usually used jokingly or sarcastically. Grimmjow uses it as a combination of all three depending on his mood.
fukutaicho- Vice-Captain
taicho- Captain