DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bleach.

Warning: Foul language, violence, horror, supernatural. IchiRuki, ByakuHisa. AU. Dark.

Alright! So this is a Dark/Drama/Romance/Supernatural kind of fanfic...I just hope that this fanfic will strike your hearts until the end!!! Lots of IchiRuki and ByakuHisa. I am addicted to those pairings. Package may come with pinches of UlquiRuki (I'm hooked, currently, to this crack pairing, and I WORSHIP Ulquiorra Cifer, the EMOSPADA)

Rated "T" if you mind. This rating may go up, depending on the arcs of the story. I was inspired by a Bleach fanfic called "Irresistible" by a certain Masumi'sSword, an awesome author! You should go read that! Well, visit my profile and see my favorites. Masumi'sSword is also known as RukiLex. It's a vampire-fic, with IchiRuki and HitsuKarin. Lex (Masumi'sSword) is such a fast updater! I wait for less than a day for another update of her fanfic!

Note that some characters of the aforementioned states are not ENTIRELY true. Please keep reading to find the mysteries, like Shiba Kaien's responsibility of the slaughter of Ukitake Jushiro, and Rukia's adoption to the Kuchiki family.

Please enjoy the ride. =D

Equilibrium of Life

--xXx-oOo-xXx--

Chapter I: Falter to Exist

The background was covered in zilch.

All you can see was white. The pure, dirt-less color – white. The color of the element – snow. The graveyard was covered in snow, cooling the atmosphere, making the milieu more frightening and mysterious. Drizzles of snowflakes fell, dancing as they drop to the ground covered in soft, cold snow.

"Show yourself," spoke a girl. She was petite, wearing a long thick brown coat the covered most of her body, which was supported by a pair of dark, furry boots. She wore a lacy dirty-brown hat, large enough to hide her raven hair.

She waited as patiently as she could, taming her irritation. When she heard no reply, her hand absentmindedly played with the rose hilt of her sword. "Once more, I ask you, werewolf," She slowly wrapped her black-gloved hand around the hilt.

"Show yourself," Her voice that was past smoothly velvet was now cold and deadly. She sensed the presence of the creature behind her, the energy flowing was powerful and wild yet it came to her, calm and controlled.

"Please, Madame Guardian," The werewolf had transformed into a human, surprisingly his voice smoother than a females, yet in a manly way. "I wish no harm."

"Is that true, Kaien-dono?" The female turned to face Kaien Shiba, her former mentor and best friend. She asked with so much emotion – she could not bear knowing the truth that her sensei was a creature who ate the heart and organs of living humans. "Is it?"

Kaien did not let the tears that stung his dark orbs to run. He wanted to show that he was okay, that he was still the Kaien that his student knew, that he was, if possibly believable, still...human. "Of course, Kuchiki,"

He faked his grin, hoping to cheer her up, "Even though I am not anymore human...I am still...Kaien." He walked closer to the petite girl, slowly and carefully, not wanting to outrage her.

"Kuchiki Rukia," He called, stopping in front of her, his expression relaxed and fearless as possible, although he knew that Rukia might go on a rampage because of his close inhuman presence. "A girl born as a Guardian of the famous Kuchiki family, here before me, her eyes pleading," Kaien said, slowly lifting his hand to pat Rukia's head.

"I am very lucky...to have you as my student." Kaien smiled, finally letting go of his hold in watering eyes. He let a tear slid from his right eye, down to his handsome face.

"You are not human anymore," Rukia stated, her grip on her sword tightening, almost making her knuckles bleed beneath her black gloves. "Yes, perhaps not," Kaien agreed, pulling Rukia closer to him. "I..."

"You must, indeed...eliminate me once and for all," Kaien embraced Rukia tightly, as he knew that this was his last chance of doing it. "For I have committed an awful sin that werewolves were forbidden to do in the out."

Kaien thought about it for a moment. The government had decided to give some advantages to the Transformed of the former members of the Guardian's Association. He, being one and a superior of the organization, had been given the advantage, yet his werewolf persona that hungered for blood and flesh had let him out to lose control, to commit a priceless sin.

He had murdered his own senior, Ukitake Jushiro, on a rainy night. He had not been conscious that night, but he was dreaming of the happening. He had witnessed it with his own eyes, in a dream. He saw his werewolf form bite through Ukitake's flesh, slurping the electrifying warmth that his blood gave through, and the delicious bitter flesh that his organs possessed.

He didn't want to remember it. He forced himself to forget the memory. "Rukia, it is your duty as a Guardian to punish me. Please," He begged, gesturing Rukia to her sword, "...Kill me now."

Rukia's eyes widened, stunned as his sudden desire. She thought that his werewolf conscience would awaken and she would have no problem or hesitance to slaughter him. But...the thought of her killing him now, was...unforgivable to her. She could not kill her own mentor! He was not only her mentor, but her brother, her best friend, and possibly even her... her...

"Please, before I even turn into my horrible man-eating self...Kill me. Before I can even hurt you!" Kaien cried, grasping on Rukia's small hand placed on her weapon, then guided her hand to unsheathe her sword.

"Rukia, with one stroke of this to my heart, I will vanish, not to ever harm a human again."

Rukia found herself obeying, and she struggled to restrain her arm from moving. Nevertheless, her arm continued to move upwards, preparing to strike Kaien. "No..." Rukia cried silently, hoping this was all a dream. "No...!" Her arms stopped, the sharp point of her sword pricking Kaien's chest.

"NO!" Kaien guided her hand. The sharp weapon stroke through his flesh, streaks of burgundy-colored fluid coming out of the large, fatal wound.

"Please, Kaien-dono," Rukia begged, Kaien's almost lifeless form weighing her down. "Don't--"

"It is alright, Kuchiki," Kaien calmed, bringing his hand up to bring Rukia closer to him. "Thank you. I...my spirit...will be able to rest." He closed his eyes, letting his head rest on Rukia's shoulder. Her knees gave in, plopping down on the blood-covered snow. "You...thanked me..."

Rukia carefully, and slowly removed her sword out of Kaien's chest. The tip of the sword covered in Kaien's blood – it frightened her to know that she had killed him. "You should not have done that, sir," She sheathed her sword and stood up. She paused when she decided to leave, but had chosen to think for a while. Any Guardian won't leave a former comrade's body on the battlefield, but she wanted no more of the sight of Kaien.

"Perhaps, I did kill you, but...I am the one to hear your last words," She breathed, fog of chilly winter air coming out of her mouth as it opened. "Your siblings should at least see you before you actually go."

Rukia lowered herself, sliding Kaien's dull corpse onto her shoulders. 'I desire the forgiveness of your family, Kaien-dono, but...' She huffed, finally on a standing position.

'Will they be able to?' She walked away from the graveyard, directing to the Shiba home.

--xXx-oOo-xXx--

Rukia arrived in front of the Shiba house, Kaien's body still on her shoulders. A boy ran out of the copper front door, which was partially opened. "O-nii-chan! O-nii...chan..." The smiling boy's expression turned to shock. Here, a woman in front of him, carrying the lifeless carcass of his dear brother, covered in blood. He, a minor to never had seen such a bloody arrival. "N-nii..."

"Sorry, Ganju-kun," Rukia whispered, instantly dropping the body of her mentor. "I..."

"Nii-chan!!!" He ran towards Kaien's body, sobbing insanely.

Rukia did not want to see Kaien's young brother like this. She chose to leave, and never show her existence to Kaien's family again. "Miyako-dono," She called, disappearing to thin air. She remembered the beautiful and kind wife of Kaien. Miyako had always been her role-model, and she wanted to be exactly, or to surpass, Miyako's limits.

"Forgive me," Tears slid out of her eyes, guilt and shame taking over. She had killed him. It was her duty, she admitted, but it was different. He was no ordinary man. He was a close friend, almost family and Rukia had loved him so much...she had killed him. If Miyako was still alive, what would she do? Rukia's thought was, Miyako was indeed to punish her, and she having the right to do it, Rukia told herself that she did not need to falter or hesitate to Miyako-dono's punishment. "I beg of you."

--xXx-oOo-xXx--

Balance of all who exist – their maintenance. It is the Guardian's duty. Guardians...they are humans who's duty in life is to maintain the existence of all their kinds.

The human government and the executives of the creatures' kingdoms and tribes had ritualized a peace treaty for all living things. This, being a traumatic effect of the past few wars, had been considered by many beings. Guardians are to control or 'tame' other man-eating creatures – vampires, werewolves and others – to maintain the peace.

Although, some still argue about the fact that their food are getting extinct, the prey being summoned by their rituals or animals, this pointing out to the vampires and werewolves. Most of them agree, but still a few escape their territories to hunt for human flesh.

Guardians are sometimes bitten and are cycled to "Rebirth". Their human bodies die, and they get reincarnated and are called the "Transformed". They are Rebirth-ed either to a werewolf, a goblin, a witch/warlock, or a vampire. Either the creature had cast a spell on them, or they had transferred some of their DNA to the human.

As for those matters, the government had declared many laws against the wrong doings of the blood-thirsty creatures, and when disobeyed, they are given a fatal punishment.

Many lives were sacrificed, and the humans fearing to lose more decided to end the war. They had created several organizations for Guardians, the first one being "Senior Council of Supremacy" and the most sacred and popular, "Immaculate Concepcion Guardian's Association" where most Guardians from the new generation are formed. The established main government for all creatures is the "Maria Corazon of Chaste Democracy", having several leaders to avoid the argument of superiority.

Many of the new generation had become pacifists, resulting in building a school for all beings. The only school that was a home for all creatures was formed by surviving people from the past wars. The school was "Lady of Mercy Caroline Academy". The name came from the legendary Goddess of Mercy, called "Caroline" by English and Britannia adapters.

All species had been offering their peace through sacrifice and clan treasure, which the other races accepted and gave their own. Life had never been the same since the day the "Battle of Life" had occurred.

--xXx-oOo-xXx--

Life.

Death.

The battle of existence.

Who is the top...?

Who is the ruler of Earth...?

...Entrusted by God himself.

--Fin--

Hope you liked the first chapter! Will update more!
R8R. Favorite. Alert.
Re-read, Checked, Edited by: my mom and yours truly
See ya!

~Requimen1997