Hello, readers!

This is my first fanfic so I hope it'll be a good read for all of you :) I also don't mind help from you guys in order to help improve it too. In fact, I would love to hear/read what you guys have to say about that as well as about what you think of my story so far :) I'll be waiting my awesome readers!

I hope you enjoy reading the first chapter of Garden of Strawberries!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Tite Kubo does!

Garden of Strawberries

Chapter 1:

The dark night sky was filled with shining stars and a full moon making the world below bathe in its ever glow. People and animals slept in peaceful harmony. The world was a sanctuary to all. However, this would soon change...

In the dead of night, a loud howl swept across the land. It woke the souls of the dead from their slumber, making them scatter in a panic. They knew they had to get away or else they would die. The sound of the howl grew louder and louder as the souls of the Karakura Town ran for their lives. They did not want to experience a painful death...

A little girl was holding her older brother's hand as the two of them ran away from the evil roar. They knew that the hollow was right behind them. While the two siblings turned a corner, the little girl tripped on a loose stone. She lost her grip on her brother's hand and fell face first to the ground. Her brother stopped in his tracks and ran to her side.

"Lillian, are you all right?" cried the little girl's brother as he lifted her back up to her feet.

"I think so, Richard," replied Lillian as she rubbed the new bump on her head.

"I'm so glad." Richard gave his little sister a smile before taking her hand in his again. "Now let's get going before-"

Richard couldn't finish his sentence as a monster with a white mask in the shape of a dragon's head suddenly appeared in front of them. Its skeleton like wings shut against its black dragon body as it stared at its new prey. With one final howl, it raised it's claw in the air, ready to strike. Richard pushed his sister away from him as the creature brought its claw down for the attack. Lillian hit a near by wall, but not hard enough to fall unconscious. She watched, tears streaming down her cheeks, as the beast was about to strike her brother. Richard closed his eyes, awaiting for the deadly claws to pierce his skin and end his life.

At least, I can protect Lillian with my own life. I have no regrets...

"Richard!" screamed Lillian.

The attack never came. Richard opened his eyes only to see a person clothed in black and spiky, orange hair. In the person's hands were two blades, one that was as tall as the average human and one half that size. Amber eyes soon locked with Richard's dark green ones.

"Get that girl and yourself out of here. I will handle this," spoke the orange-haired man as he cut off the monster's claw with his smaller blade. The monster cried out in pain as blood began to gush out from it's missing limb.

"Okay, but who are you?" asked Richard as he raced to his crying sister's side.

"The name is Ichigo Kurosaki, Substitute Soulreaper," returned Ichigo with one last smirk. Richard watched as the man disappeared from his sight to fight the dragon-like monster.

"Thank you," spoke Richard as he hugged Lillian to his chest. "Let's get out of here."

"Richard...I'm glad you're okay..." sobbed Lillian as the two ran away from the battlefield.

Ichigo used flash step in order to get behind the monster for one final attack. Zangetsu, the name of Ichigo's longer blade, was about to slash the monster's mask when suddenly another dragon masked hollow came out out of nowhere. The appearance of the new hollow surprised Ichigo making him fall victim to its attack. Ichigo's body flew to ground after being swiped by the new creature. Luckily, the claws just missed him and just ripped the top of his robe. His grip on his blades never loosened.

Unlike the one that was after the siblings, this hollow was covered in white markings and tattoos all over its body. It looked to his companion, hurt and gushing out lots of blood. The new hollow got furious and roared loud into the night sky.

Ichigo quickly recovered from the new hollow's attack. With his blades in hand, the Substitute Soulreaper was about to strike again, however, the sight before made him stop in his tracks.

"What the hell?" was all Ichigo could say as two more dragon-like hollows appeared out of nowhere. They were similar to the original monster, however, one of them had a tail of made of bone and was covered in rubies. The fourth hollow had a body of a lion, wings made of bone, and a lizard like tail covered in spikes. They all surrounded the injured hollow and gave one final howl.

A bright light engulfed the injured hollow as its missing claw began to regenerate. When the process was complete, the light faded away. The once injured hollow looked at its companions as if thanking them. They all roared once again.

Ichigo had enough. He used flash step to close in on the group of hollows since he knew he had to stop them or else there will be trouble. Raising his blades above his head, Ichigo cried out.

"Getsuga Tensho!" The beam of blue light in the shape of two crescent moons rushed towards the hollows. However, the hollows dodged the attack with ease. The monsters were not happy. They all flew at Ichigo at a super fast speed, eventually surrounding him. One by one the Hollows began to attack the orange-haired teen.

Ichigo did his best to block each of the hollows' attacks. It began to become too overwhelming for him...

What is with these Hollows? They seem to be too strong to be ordinary Hollows and their spiritual pressure is different. No matter how much I try to attack, I either miss or they just keep coming after me again and again.. Are they Adujchas? I know they're aren't Arrancars so what the hell? Damnit!

The Substitute Soulreaper was getting tired from blocking and none of the hollows didn't give him enough time to go Bankai. Slash after slash, Ichigo kept blocking the attacks. He was able to strike the bone tail Hollow, leaving a scar that ran all the way down its left forearm. The lion body hollow, skeleton tail hollow, and the white tattooed hollow were keeping Ichigo busy by slashing continuously at him. While distracted with the three hollows, Ichigo didn't notice the one hollow he injured earlier coming up from behind. It had its claw ready for a fatal blow. Ichigo felt movement behind him and saw a hollow coming at him with the corner of his eye. He saw it coming closer and closer, it claws ready to slice him in two. There was nothing he could do...

"Some no mai, Tsukishiro!" cried a female's voice. The dragon hollow that was about to attack Ichigo from behind was trapped in a pillar of ice. With a swipe of her blade, the pillar of ice cracked in half. The ice fell to the ground in small crystals before fading away into dust.

"Rukia!" cried out Ichigo happily to the petite female figure on the ground.

Rukia was also a Soulreaper like Ichigo. However, Rukia was short and had small raven-colored locks the reached just below her chin. A spare bang fell between her violet eyes that sparkled underneath the moonlight. She was the person who awakened Ichigo's power by giving him her own. Since that day, the two Soulreapers have become the best of friends whose bond is unlike anything anyone has seen before. One could say, Rukia and Ichigo are two halves of the same coin...

The petite Soulreaper used flash step to get near Ichigo's side. She chanted, "Hado number 30, Shockahou!"

Red fire shot out of Rukia's hands like lighting and right at the three hollows. The hollows just dodged the kido in the nick of time. They were flying above the Soulreapers, more angry then ever since their friend was killed.

Ichigo turned to Rukia and said, "Thanks."

Rukia blushed and turned her head away so he couldn't see. "Your welcome, you idiot. Now let's finish this." Before Rukia could go after the hollows, Ichigo grabbed her by the sleeve of her black uniform.

"Be careful. I don't think they're normal hollows. I'm not sure, but their spiritual pressure is off, different from the hollows we normally fight."

"I will."

With one last glance to each other. The two Soulreapers went off to battle the hollows not knowing what will become of their future...

That's the end of Part 1!

What will happen next? Will Ichigo and Rukia be able to defeat the dragon-like hollows? Why are they attacking Karakura Town in the first place?

Continue reading to find out and thanks for reading! The next chapter will be uploaded within a day or two :)

Hope to see you again :D