A Day Like Any Other

Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo. Discworld belongs to Terry Pratchett

(I prefer to write Japanese names last name first and first name last.)

Set before the Soul Society Arc.

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Kurosaki Ichigo was doing what he always did as a shinigami, slaying Hollows. After a while he had gotten rather good at it and he was more or less starting to regard it as normal.

Kuchiki Rukia was giving support to Ichigo. Giving advice, distracting the Hollow, and watching Ichigo's back. Admittedly she would have preferred to be right in the fray herself but gigais didn't lend themselves too well for battle. She too, had begun to accept this as routine.

But on this day, they both would catch a glimpse of how strange the universe truly could be.

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"What the hell is that?"

"Calm down Ichigo! Or the Hollow will -." Rukia winced as the Hollow slammed Ichigo sideways into the wall using a strange stick.

Ichigo rolled to the left, barely avoiding the blow the Hollow would have landed and watched in amazement as the stick managed to create another deep groove while it was one foot above the ground.
"This is not my day," he said glaring at the Hollow.
"Yes, get angry little shinigami. You can't win against me when I'm using Death's own weapon!" Cackling the Hollow swung once more at Ichigo.

Ichigo snarled silently as he avoided the blow. There has to be a weakness, he thought jumping back as the Hollow almost nicked him, there!
Ichigo slammed his sword into the stick numbing the Hollow's hand long enough to destroy him.

Swaying slightly he turned to Rukia, "That was not fun."

Rukia was too busy studying the stick to pay attention. Glowering, Ichigo walked over to her.
"This is amazing," she commented excitedly. "It's not just the stick, there's a blade at the end curving outwards! We didn't notice because it's so thin."

Ichigo leaned forward. "Wonder what he meant by death's weapon."
I BELIEVE HE MAY HAVE MEANT ME said a voice that strangely seemed more felt than heard.

The hair on the back of his neck rising, Ichigo turned slowly with Rukia to face what looked like a seven-foot tall skeleton dressed in black robes

Ichigo finally managed to close his mouth. "Is this… yours?" he gestured to the stick.
YES. IF YOU DON'T MIND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT BACK.
Rukia still looked stunned, so he gently took the stick out of her hands and handed it to the – skeleton.
THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.
"It wasn't anything we couldn't handle," he responded weakly.
GOOD DAY. With a nod the skeleton turned to the white horse behind him and rode away, disappearing suddenly after a short distance.

Ichigo gazed in the same direction for a few moments. "How did we not hear the horse do you wonder," he asked weakly.
Looking a little pale, Rukia turned to Ichigo.
"This never happened."

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Author's note: This story would just not leave me alone. So I finally gave in.

Wrote it in two sittings so may be a little awkward.

Fanfiction messed up the format :P