Incarnate

A Bleach Fanfiction

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, it's characters, or anything belonging to Tite Kubo.


"Oi, Rukia!"

"Ichigo!" the diminutive raven haired girl moved over to the taller teen and fell into step with him.

His hand moved out from his side, and she grasped it, their fingers intertwined.

"Hey Rukia, Ichigo." the even taller redhead(or more accurately, crimson head) came into view, along with a rather busty green haired girl.

The short girl appeared to be the only normal one, in terms of hair color. The boy she was currently walking hand in hand with had bright orange hair. The other teen had bright crimson hair tied in a high ponytail behind him, and the girl following close behind had longer green hair that flowed freely down her shoulders.

"Hey Nell, Renji." Rukia greeted politely, while Ichigo merely grunted. She quickly stomped on his foot.

"Ow! Okay, okay. Hi Renji, Nell. What's up?" as he spoke, he tugged at the side of his shirt, which was orange-red, with a black artistic skull on it. He was wearing slightly faded jeans and fingerless gloves, as well. It was a warm day, so they weren't wearing jackets, even though it was Autumn.

Rukia was wearing a cowl neck sweater and a pair of rather tight dark jeans, along with a pair of flip-flops. Renji was wearing khaki cargo pants, with a black muscle shirt. Nell was wearing a simple one piece sundress, colored light green, which was evidently her favorite color. Many speculated that she dyed her hair because she loved green so much, and that she wore color contacts to have the most perfect green eyes.

Her friends knew better, that she was born as she was. They knew it was odd, but then again, they had Ichigo and Renji.

The four had naturally gravitated toward each other as soon as middle school started. Rukia and Renji grew up together in another city, while Ichigo and Nell met unexpectedly when he 'saved' her from a bunch of thugs. All he really did was take down the leader of the group, and the rest ran off.

Nell had always been very feminine, her figure and ample 'assets' led to nothing but bad things, generally. But Ichigo and Nell developed a Sister-brother relationship, and so he took responsibility for her.

The two of them had lost one of their parents at a young age. Ichigo's mother passed away when he was 8, and Nell's father died in a car accident when she was 6. Their parents met not soon after and decided they were going to team up to raise the two. If you could call annoying the hell out of them teaming up.

Ichigo, like Nell, had no last name. It seemed odd, but their parents never had them take their last name for some reason. So it was Ichigo and Neliel Tu, or Nell.

Rukia and Renji had both been orphans, and, as a result, named themselves. Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai. They both insisted that they didn't know where the names came from. That they just sounded appropriate. Needless to say, Ichigo and Nell were a teensy bit jealous that they didn't actually have last names. His father, whom Ichigo loved, was not his biological father. The same held for Nell's mother. They had both been adopted, which could be a reason as to why the two were driven to meet.

When Rukia met Ichigo, she somehow felt safe. Something she'd been missing all her life. And likewise, when he met her, he felt like he was whole again. Even when they were still just acquaintances, he became very protective of her. Push came to shove, and eventually they began dating.

Renji, as it were, had a thing for Nell, though he'd probably never admit it. And she openly admitted to Ichigo that she wished Renji could be more than friends. So Rukia and Ichigo had been trying to get the two together for the last year.

Speaking of which, today was the first day of their Senior year in High School. They were all eighteen, and looking forward to finally getting out of the hellhole known as school.

Ichigo and Renji stepped ahead, moving toward the schoolyard. They heard the girls lagging behind and chatting about whatever girls chat about.

"So, when are ya gonna ask?" Renji said, slightly too loud. Ichigo whacked him on the head.

"Heyheyheyyyy. Shutup, idiot."

"Hey, I'm just curious is all." Renji pulled his backpack up higher, which was slung over one shoulder. He was the only one with a bag. Ichigo had no books, while Rukia and Nell were carrying their books.

"Look, I ain't gonna ask her until after this year, got it?" Ichigo whispered.

"Fine, but don't blame me if you get separated by college. You may not go to the same one."

Ichigo knew about this already. He knew he was taking a chance by waiting, but he also knew he couldn't ask yet. They were only seniors after all.

Ichigo drifted back and slung his arm around Rukia's shoulders. She smiled up at him as Nell bounced(literally) ahead back to talk with Renji.

"So have you thought about where you want to go to College?" Rukia asked, peering at him.

"Eh, not really. I don't even know what I want to do for a liv-" His last words were cut off by what sounded like an explosion. Everything shook, and a house half a block down was ripped apart, slinging dust everywhere.

"What the hell?!" Ichigo ran towards the house along with Renji.

"Was there anyone there?" Renji asked as they neared their target. But as they did, they heard a wicked sound. A middle-pitched incredibly loud roar like nothing they'd ever heard. From the dust came a monster that could only be described as everyone's nightmare. It was massive, dark brown colored, with six legs and two large knife-like arms. Where it's head should have been there was a huge white mask.

Ichigo stared at the Preying Mantis-like beast, or rather, he was staring through it. There was a huge hole in the abdomen leading straight through to the wreckage behind it.

"What the hell is that thing?" Renji took a step back.

Said thing spoke. It's voice was deep and gravelly. "I smell...TASTY SOULS." It screamed the last words rushing forward and raising one massive blade.

It's arm fell to the ground and it let out an earsplitting scream. Ichigo was frozen, staring at the cause of the monster's pain.

It was a man wearing a full black outfit. A katana rested on the white obi belt. He was wearing hakama pants and a matching gi. He shrugged off his outer white haori, which had the number six in kanji on the back. He had long black hair with some weird white clips holding it in place.

"Shinigami! You will pay!" The monster lunged forward at the man, but before Ichigo could say anything, the mysterious man had disappeared. The monster seemed to gasp, but before it could do anything, it's mask was ripping in half and it was dissipating. The man was behind the monster, staring at the wreckage. There was a body of a woman, but beside the body there was a standing version of the same woman. A ghost?

"What the hell is going on?" Ichigo finally found his voice as Rukia and Nell caught up with them. Said 'Shinigami' didn't acknowledge any of the kids behind him until Renji called to him.

"Hey, you! How'd you kill that monster?" The voice registered something in the man's mind. His scarf pitched in the light wind and floated upward.

No...he's been gone for almost 19 years...

He spun around, cold gray eyes registering shock, bulging ever so slightly. "...Renji..." his voice carried in the dim silence in the aftermath.

"How do you know my name?" the red-head crossed his arms over his chest.

Gone for so long, and now here he is, asking me who I am...and...oh my lord.

"R...Rukia..." he stammered. Byakuya Kuchiki never stammered.

Rukia had grabbed Ichigo's hand as they stared at the man with the sword. Byakuya's eyes widened at that.

"Kurosaki, if you don't drop my sister's hand I will take your hand away."

The boy who had grown up with no last name did not respond. Neither did the girl who never had a brother. They all stared blankly.

"Who are you?" Ichigo spoke. The voice was exactly the same. All of their voices were. So were the attitudes, but yet they did not remember him.

"Captain Byakuya Kuchiki." he spoke calmly, betraying his inner emotions.

Rukia gasped lightly. "Kuchiki...I named myself that when Renji and I were young." Everyone seemed surprised as she whispered to Ichigo, but her voice carried to Byakuya and he had an idea.

"You gave yourself the surname Kuchiki? There is a simple reason why you did that. You are my sister." a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He was sure none of them had their memories of him, but seeing his former Vice-Captain and his sister still meant something to him.

Ichigo stepped in front of Rukia, between Byakuya and her. "Sister, huh? You had a sister and you left her on her own to fend for herself? Renji is a better brother than you'll ever be."

"Silence, Kurosaki, you do not understand the implications."

"Who the hell is Kurosaki?" Ichigo's voice raised somewhat.

"You are, brat." Against his better judgment, he had answered brashly. "It is your surname."

"I don't have a goddamn last name. My name's Ichigo. Not Ichigo Kurosak...i..." as he stated the last part, his voice died out. Something about that name sounded...normal. It sounded correct.

Renji tugged on Ichigo, "C'mon, let's get to class before we're late." He moved ahead, guiding Nell back toward the school. Ichigo gripped Rukia's hand harder, who was staring at Byakuya as she was pulled away.

They got into the school and walked into their new senior classroom. Ah, it felt good to be king. Almost everyone seemed to back away from the four, mainly because Ichigo and Renji were both big guys with fighting reputations pinned on them. Secretly, they did not love to fight, but it had perks. Like parting the red sea.

"Let's just ignore that crazy from earlier, eh?" Renji added as they moved to sit in the back of the room. Ichigo and Rukia in the last two desks, side by side, and Renji and Nell just in front.

"Yeah. He probably set up that whole deal. Even figured out Rukia's last name by talking to the school or something." Ichigo responded, kicking his feet onto the metal bookrack beneath Renji's seat.

However, even as he said that he felt a certain uneasiness wash over him. Something was just not right. That monster he saw was real, he was sure of it. Nobody could fake that, not even in a movie.

The teacher finally got to the classroom. He was a middle aged man, though he didn't look it, and always had an odd gleam in his eye. "Good morning class! Just think, this is the last time you have to hear anyone say 'Welcome to the first day of High School'. Because after this, you're all goin' to college. Right?"

"Right." they all replied dully. It was better than saying no, because then they knew he'd go into a rant about why they should all go to college.

He assigned a 'pop quiz' to test what they'd retained over summer break, which, he figured, was everything. Renji was struggling the most, with Rukia right behind him. Nell and Ichigo were probably better off, as they tended to do most of their homework and assignments.

"Yet again, summer melts my brain." Renji commented as they handed the quizzes up.

"Yeah, I don't remember anything." Rukia added, clearly frustrated.

"It's not our fault you two never pay attention." Ichigo smirked, earning an evil glare from Rukia.

"At least we're not nerds, eh, Strawberry?"

"Shut it, Pineapple."

"Both of you shut it, and pay attention to the class." their teacher added from the front of the class.

Byakuya Kuchiki stood atop a telephone pole, staring into the class window from afar.

"That is not Rukia, and yet it is. What are the odds of them not only dieing together, but then reincarnating immediately, and somehow becoming friends in the next life. It doesn't seem possible. Hm."

He raised a flip phone to his ear speaking quietly over the line before disappearing from the telephone pole. Apparently unnoticed by the four teens.

Rinnnnnnngggggg.

Saved by the bell. They rushed out of the classroom to avoid the rest of the monologue that was in progress by the teacher, going toward the cafeteria. Chatting idly as they walked through the yard to the cafeteria building.

Unfortunately, they never made it there. The man wearing the shihakusho with his white haori was in front of them. Ichigo blinked twice, he was sure the man hadn't been there.

"You are to come with me. All of you." he spoke calmly, staring at them intently.

"Why would we do that, Captain Kuchiki?" It was Renji who spoke, taking a step back and moving into a defensive position.

"Because Soul Society has ordered it." he stated simply.

"No way, bud." Ichigo added, stepping in front of Rukia and Nell. "Back off."

"If you do not come willingly, I will force you." His cold eyes constricted ever so slightly. Ichigo saw, but what came next he never saw. He felt a blow on the back of his neck. But as his vision faded, he saw that the Captain was still standing there. Or at least it looked like he was. He heard two thuds as Renji and Nell fell. A smaller thud meant Rukia. He was the last to fall, he knew.

"Get them out of their bodies and take them back. Be careful of the green and orange haired ones. If they wake, we may be in trouble...go..." it fell into mumbles. Or was it Ichigo's consciousness fading? The blackness consumed him.

His eyes opened. He was staring at a white ceiling. He didn't move, closing his eyes slightly. Judging from the smell he was in a hospital or a clinic. He slowly turned his head, looking around the room. There was a white sheet on either side, blocking his left and right. Dead ahead was a window that lead to a pure blue sky.

What the hell happened? Weren't we kidnapped?

But if he was in a hospital, with no guard, then perhaps they'd already been rescued. He raised his body, silently lifting off the blanket and moving to stand. A voice came from the corner.

"It has been a long time since you've moved in your Shinigami form, I'd suggest you avoid overdoing it." the voice was cool and calm. Female, probably a doctor. It sounded nice. She seemed like a very polite individual. He decided that what she said didn't make sense and quickly moved the sheet back, revealing not only the source of the voice, but also Rukia who was laying in the bed beside his.

"Are you my doctor then?" he asked, staring at the woman who was sitting in a straight-backed chair. She was, as he had surmised, kind looking and very motherly. She had a long braid down her front, but what surprised him was two things.

She had a katana laying on the table beside her, and she was wearing the same outfit and white haori as the man from before. She sipped what appeared to be tea before speaking again.

"I see you recognize my outfit as the same as Captain Byakuya's. Do not worry, I will not hurt you. And you do not need to try to escape, nobody will attack you or your friends."

For some reason, Ichigo believed her. She seemed to motherly to be forcing it out in a lie. She was either telling the truth or a very good actress. He moved to Rukia's side, grasping her hand and feeling the warmth that spread from there. She was fine, her breathing was steady and her pulse felt strong.

"Unhand Rukia and I shall tell you why you are here." it wasn't the motherly doctor. It was male, and terribly familiar.

Ichigo turned and stared at the man standing in the doorway. "Kuchiki Byakuya, is it? I have all the right to hold onto Rukia. Whereas you have no right to tell me to stop." his hand didn't move and the sides of Byakuya's lips twitched downward before returning to his normal stoic expression.

"Rukia Kuchiki is my sister. I have all the right to tell you and force you to unhand her."

"She never had a brother. Even if you're her blood relative, you left her on the streets by herself. You're not her brother, Renji's her real brother." Ichigo met Byakuya's cold gaze.

Byakuya moved to sit down in the chair beside the kind doctor. "Good Morning, Captain Unohana." he said, bowing before he sat.

"Captain Kuchiki." 'Unohana inclined her head politely.

"What's with this Captain stuff? Are you guys in the military?" Ichigo questioned.

"You could say that." Unohana answered, her eyes seemed to twinkle ever so slightly.

Rukia stirred, rolling over and grasping the sheet with her free hand. She gripped Ichigo's hand tight and her breathing became more ragged. Her eyes remained closed, however, and Ichigo was sure she was having a nightmare. His grip became more firm, as he didn't want to try to wake her. It was the only thing he could do to ward away her nightmares. At the pressure, her brow unfurrowed and she calmed slightly, though her breathing was still coming quickly.

"Ichigo, as I see it, you do not know who you are. Not even your last name." Byakuya spoke calmly, his gray eyes piercing the strawberry in question.

"Yeah, I was adopted so my parents didn't have me take their name."

"You are Ichigo Kurosaki. Son of Isshin Kurosaki, a former Captain here in Soul Society."

"You mentioned that name before...Kurosaki...why does that sound familiar?" Ichigo looked thoughtful.

"Because I just told you it was your name. Fool."

"Right. So what the hell is this Soul Society place?"

"It is where you are now. I will explain. That monster you saw earlier is what is known as a Hollow. It is the ending product of when a Whole is taken over by evil. A Whole is a normal soul. I am sure you've seen them, they appear as normal humans. Unohana and I, along with everyone in the Seireitei, are Shinigami. It is our duty to regulate the number of souls between here and Soul Society. We do so by destroying Hollow and sending the Wholes to Soul Society."

"Right..." Ichigo paused, trying to remember everything that was said. "So wait, what is the Seireitei?"

"The Court of Pure Souls. It is where you are now. Shinigami live in the Seireitei, normal souls live in Rukongai past the walls." he paused, staring at the orange haired boy in front of him.

"So...why are we here, and how do you know my name?"

"We are attempting to stimulate memory recall. But I assume you have locked away your memories and reiatsu with the help of your Zanpakuto." it was Unohana who spoke, quietly.

"Reiatsu? Zanpakuto?" Ichigo looked confused.

"Spirit energy. The amount of power a shinigami has. A Zanpakuto is a Shinigami's sword. It is part of your soul, but it is a sentient being. You may need to commune with your Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, I believe." she answered calmly.

"Z..an...getsu?"

"It sounds familiar?" she inquired.

"Yeah..."

"It makes sense. If you sealed your memories with your Zanpakuto, you should remember the name." she nodded.

"I see..."

"Kurosaki, you will be summoned when your friends awaken." Byakuya stood and left, bowing lightly to Unohana before he left.

"I must insist you lie down and rest, Kurosaki-san." she said politely, but with a gleam in her eye that made him jump up and quickly climb into his bed. She stood, removing a small vial with a dropper. "This will allow you to sleep calmly." she added before dropping a small green drop on his forehead. He immediately passed out, sleeping dreamlessly.

Retsu Unohana picked up her tea and her zanpakuto and left the room. The other two weren't close to waking yet.

Neliel Tu was awake, and she was strapped down onto a bed in a room with apparently no door. There was a massive window which she figured was an observation booth. She had her memories already. Her Zanpakuto had reformed, along with her mask, as soon as she had left her body. They had immediately locked her in the reiatsu suppressing room and shackled her with reiatsu suppressing handcuffs. She was as good as stuck.

She had probes on her, several of them. Above her heart, on her stomach, her temple, and two on her mask on her head. She glanced down, noticing that she was wearing a hospital clothing.

No wonder...I was probably still wearing those rags. I wonder how many nosebleeds I gave them...

Her thoughts were cut off as a woman appeared in the room. She had silver hair that had several long and thin pieces of hair that draped down her back. She was bringing a cup of water in.

"I see you are awake. You are Neliel Tu, correct?" the woman asked politely.

"Yeah, that's me. Why am I alive, Shinigami?" she asked calmly.

"Because we are not your enemy. I am Vice-Captain Isane Kotetsu, please drink." she added, raising the cup to Nell's lips. She drank greedily, suddenly realizing she was thirsty and hungry.

"We had to strap you down because we could not be sure you wouldn't react violently. We will remove the shackles in due time, if you prove yourself trustworthy. Please, don't struggle or show any aggression, I would hate to see you in these shackles longer than needed." the woman was very nice about it all, aside from the whole imprisonment deal.

"Thank you, Vice-Captain Kotetsu." Nell said, smiling slightly.

Isane left the room soon after, not walking out a door, but simply disappearing. She figured the walls were made to allow Shinigami to shunpo out and in.

When Ichigo woke up, he found himself staring into a pair of stunningly violet eyes. Rukia damn near squealed. "Ichigo!"

"Rukia...you're awake..." he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He leaned up to see that she was sitting on the side of his bed, staring at him.

"Yeah. I woke up a while ago and Unohana told me what they told you." she said, nodding.

"I'm glad to see you're okay." he grinned.

"Oh how I wish I could leave you two lovebirds." Renji spat.

"Ah shut it, you pineap--"

Ichigo was cut off by the arrival of Byakuya, who looked as stoic as ever.

You are summoned."

It was then Ichigo realized a member of their group was missing.

"Where the hell is Nell?!"


Fairly long chapter. For those who haven't been following along with my other two stories. They're all set in the same Universe. Potential is the first, followed by this story, while Outcast is last in Chronological order. But I'm not updating in order on purpose. If you want to know all the details, it's recommended you read all my stories. Reviews will have me updating the stories faster! So review please!

Blarggy