A/N: I haven't read any Bleach/Naruto fanfictions as of late, so I don't know if there is anyone who even likes the idea of Ichigo/Hinata, but here it is anyway.
I also haven't seen Bleach in a couple of years, so I'm not sure whether this situation is plausible, but who cares, its fanfiction!
Also, this takes place after Ichigo and co. return from the Soul Society when they saved Rukia.
Please read and enjoi!
0—Beat and a Pulse/One—0
Ichigo took one look at his friend and felt all the tension that had built up during the day fall away once he noticed that the brunet was perfectly fine. It seems the fuss everyone was making at school was for naught. The carrot top made his way over to the window before he tossed the bedridden idiot the snacks he bought from a nearby convenience store. "Moron. How did you manage to break an arm and a leg?"
Keigo snatched the snacks up with his free hand and tore into them with the help of his teeth. He ate some of the contents before he managed to lift his head and brandish his usual grin. "Man, Ichigo, you're a lifesaver! Hospital food is the worst!"
The soul reaper allowed his friend to savor his snacks in silence for a couple of moments before pressing the matter. He frowned when he noticed that his friend was zoning out mid-bite, and made his way over to the bedside. "What did they give you for the pain?" He asked, his shoulders unconsciously straightening as he took on the 'doctor voice' he managed to inherit from his father.
"Uhhmm…" Keigo's eyes rolled over to the foot of the bed, a look of bewilderment finding its way to his face. "Isn't it there on my chart?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes and rounded the bed, plucking the chart off of the panel. As he scanned the listed drug and the amount of damage to Keigo's body, the young man in question sat up and stared out the window with a hint of wistfulness. "So how did you manage to break all those bones at once?"
The brunet tore his gaze away from the window and those brown eyes flicked over to him. "I was trying to impress this girl. I was showing her this new dance that I learned, and didn't notice how close I was getting to the stairs. I fell, and broke my leg. When I tried to stand up, I fell again, but that time it was on my arm. It's okay though, I managed to get her number. She came with me to the hospital and everything." He stated with a wry grin, jerking his head toward his leg where there was in fact, a phone number and 'call me 3' written in girly script.
Ichigo sighed heavily and shook his head as he returned the chart to its previous position. "Only you would see that as an accomplishment, Keigo."
He crossed over the room and stared out the window, his eyes fixed on the setting sun.
Clang… Clang… Clang…
The soul reaper frowned. That sounds like a soul dragging its chain around. He thought. It wasn't exactly odd to see souls near hospitals, but surprisingly, he hadn't seen any on his way in. Ichigo scanned the perimeter of the hospital before he gradually scanned closer areas, pausing when he caught sight of a glint from the chain. His eyes swiftly followed the length of it, and finally settled on the owner.
She was small; taller than Rukia (who wasn't?) and had long flowing locks of indigo which scattered at different directions due to the chaotic wind that Karakura has been experiencing as of late. Her back was to him, for she was facing the sunset as well, perched high on a cable line that extended from a nearby pole to the hospital. She was just sitting there, no sign of violence.
Hopefully this will be fast. He thought as he reached for the badge the Soul Society had given him. He glanced back at his friend and smiled softly when he realized that the hyperactive teen had fallen asleep due to his meds. Ichigo strode over and sat in a nearby chair. He made sure that his body was situated properly before pulling the badge out of his pocket, his soul form released from its natural host as soon as it made contact with the gift.
"Much better." Ichigo groaned as he stretched, as if he had been disconnected from the muscles he only used when in soul form. "Time to go to work." He hefted Zangetsu over his shoulders and swiftly leapt out of the window, making his way over to the girl in less than a second.
"Hey there." Ichigo managed his softest tone, not wanting to scare the soul and unintentionally send her into a chaotic attempt of self-preservation and end up changing into a Hollow. It has happened before.
"Hello." Her voice was soft and lilting without a hint of panic. Her head remained forward, but from up close, he could determine her age to be somewhere around that of his own.
Shit. It's awkward without having Rukia around to deal with the talking. Ichigo scowled momentarily before smoothing his features out. Who knew when the girl would turn around? He couldn't go scaring her… "Well… Err… Do you know that you are dead?" He cringes immediately and wants to smash his head into a fucking wall. Tact was clearly not his forte.
"I am. At the moment." She responded slowly, her hand came up and rested lightly on the chain that protruded from her chest. "Not much time left." She murmured to herself.
Ichigo's eyes followed the length of the chain and realized that it went all the way back to the hospital. Ah. She's attached to the hospital, just like that other guy. He turned back towards the female. "Why don't you want to move on? I realize that this hospital must be special to you, but if you remain in the human world for much longer... You'll turn into a mindless creature that preys on the souls of those who cannot defend themselves."
"To move on." The female lowered her head, and Ichigo's spine immediately snapped into a straight line, realizing that she was going to cry. "I wish that it was possible."
"H-Hey, don't cry. That's why I'm here." Ichigo slowly edged into her line of vision and awkwardly rocked back on his heels. "I'm a soul reaper. All I've got to do is stamp you with Zangetsu and you'll be free to move on to the soul society. You won't feel hunger or fear. You wouldn't be alone either."
"You are very kind." The female raised her head to flash the soul reaper a watery smile, and it took all Ichigo had in him to refrain from gasping aloud at the sight of her ivory—well more like lavender—eyes. He certainly wasn't expecting such an exotic sight on an unassuming soul such as her.
"Well, I'm just doing my—." Ichigo cut himself off as he gazed at the spot before him where the soul had sat. He blinked a couple of times to ensure that his vision was in working order; it didn't help. The soul… She was gone.
She had flashed in and out of focus for a moment or two before she simply disappeared out of sight.
It took a couple of moments for Ichigo to regain enough sense to close his slackened jaw. "Uh… That's not normal."
0—One/End—0
A/N: If anyone likes this story, I'll continue. If I do, there will only be about five or six chapters, but they'd be much longer than this.
Thanks for reading!