Author Notes: Let's see...1. A muse kicked me.
4. This may become a larger story.
5. I do no own Bleach or Dead Like me.
Summary: The dead are not supposed to interfere with the living. Punishment is in order. Ichigo Kurosaki was meant to die.
This is an AU-verse/Crossover with Dead Like Me.
She stood in her white yukata, the red collar around her throat, her gaze lowered to the ground. The captains stood in two lines, apart from each other, listening to the Soutaicho's voice. She could feel her honorably brother here, his commanding presence commanding her even if he did not even look at her. Her mission, failure it might've been, more like a disaster, it was not something she would ever regret. She was surprised really, that the decision on her crime was already made so quickly. Then again, it wasn't as if it was a complicated manner. She lost her powers, a human took them and used them better than she did.
"Kuchiki Rukia." She looked up immediately, her eyes wide. "Your fate has been decided. "
And that was that.
There were murmurings, and out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Captain Aizen look startled.
"It has been decided that you will be stripped of your abilities as a shinigami." It took all her training to not react in a manner that would shame the Kuchiki family even more. "Your soul sword shall be sealed, your reiatsu drained and what remains shall also be sealed."
It was a death sentence, it was being cast back into Rukongai, but it was not a death and she grateful for that. No longer shall she shame her honorable older brother or the clan. No longer will she be a burden. She was truly grateful.
"Yamamoto-soutaicho..." Her cap-former captain spoke up, his worried and concerned eyes focusing on hers. "Surely that is too harsh a punishment, the Central 46-"
"The Central 46 has long had an agreement in this matter, to all cases pertaining to this situation." Yamamoto cut off the white haired captain, his own eyes, staring everyone else down. "If such a thing were to occur, this is what occurs automatically. There is no discussion, there is no other alternative."
"If I may, Soutaicho, isn't that unfair?" Captain Aizen, good ol' faithful, a good man and a good captain spoke up. "And I have never heard of such a case before."
The leader of the shinigami looked rightly crossed at being argued with. "That is due to all records of the shinigami in question are sealed. No one aside from myself can even look at those files." He gave them all a look, as if begging them to interrupt him again. The captains chose wisely not to.
He continued on. "Do you accept the sentence handed down, Kuchiki Rukia?"
She nodded, numbly.
For a second, she got the distinct feeling that Yamamoto-soutaicho felt pity for her.
There was silence and then the door to the side opened and out stepped a man with western features, a square jaw and graying hair. He was dressed in jeans and a sweater, he possessed practically no reiatsu. But it was clear he could see them, interact with them, as he walked towards the Soutaicho.
"Hi. My name is Rube."