Title: Viceroy

Pairing: IchiHichi (Gradually)

Rating: T

Disclaimer: All I own is Mumei Rei. Nothing else.

Summary: AU When Ichigo gained his Shinigami powers that night, let's just say that Zangetsu and Shirosaki weren't the only ones who took residence in his inner world. OC Warning. IchiHichi.

A/N: My little project in my OC writing skills. IchiHichi is the main pairing but I don't think that it'll be happening for at least ten chapters…ah well, anywho, criticism is very welcome as I'm just trying to develop my OC skills. This kicks off around episode 2… Hope y'all enjoy!

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"You quit work, run away, find a new job and he's there! The exact same creepy guy from your last job!"

--- Dane Cook

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BLEACH 001 EMPEROR'S COURT

Mumei Rei.

That was his name…he thinks.

It could've been a stray thought floating in the Emperor's mind, but his fractured consciousness clung to it desperately, feeling that with that, he became a little more solid. More alive. Already he knew that, yes, his name was Mumei Rei – the nameless actor – and that he wasn't complete yet, just a half formed entity crammed into some obscure corner in this well of thoughts and emotions.

Then the Emperor split.

With that, he gained a little more solidity, more depth as the soul – so torn and fractured and broken – struggled to hold itself together, coming apart at the seams as it desperately tried to bridge the growing ravine between the two halves. He knew then that the Emperor and his Horse existed, that there was a threat to the Emperor and, in turn, a threat to his growing existence.

He experienced fear then, feeling the two halves fraying. The in a burst of pain, light, rush of heat and air, he suddenly existed; breathing, drinking fresh, fresh air greedily, feeling the frayed ends of the two halves wrap around his existence. He knew then, that the soul grew tired of deteriorating and borne him as an anchor. He was given existence. He felt emotions then. Happiness or fear. He couldn't distinguish them just yet.

He opened his crimson eyes for the first time, scrutinising the blue, blue sky marred by floating grey clouds; a soft breeze ruffling his wild red streaked orange hair and dancing on tanned skin. He felt the cool hard surface beneath his slim fingers and sharp claws, felt the soft silken feeling of clothing upon his body, could feel his lips curl up into a grin, fangs flashing in the sunlight. He existed.

He was alive.

"You can't move." A simple observation.

"Sh'up! I'll…be…able…ta move…soon!"

With a smug grin, Rei patted the white clad shoulder of the incapacitated Hollow, cheerfully beaming at the inverted glare that he received for his mocking sympathy. "Yeah…in two months!" The crimson eyed youth cackled gleefully at the scowl marring the albino's visage – that looked startling like his own.

"Tch." The Hollow scoffed at the grinning redhead maliciously. "At least…I'd be of…use…unlike you."

Rei shrugged, fangs bared in a savage grin. "I'm already being useful, dumbass. Making sure this soul doesn't deteriorate any more." He looked up at the sideways sky with a faint frown. "How long have you been stuck like this anyway?"

"Six…fuckin'…years…"

"Ouch." The redhead winced in sincere sympathy then. "I think I was only faintly aware of my existence around then." He poked the Hollow in the ribs, grinning madly at how the albino flailed weakly in rage. "But I'm still rubbing it in your face! I can move and you can't!"

"I'm older!" The Hollow raged. "I have…fuckin'…seniority dammit!"

"Six years…twelve hours…does it really matter?" Rei covered his mouth sophisticatedly, turning his face away to snigger quietly. "The fact remains that I can move and you can't!"

The Hollow snarled, golden irises flashing in barely suppressed rage. "You wait…Bitch! When I…can…move ya th' first…I'm gonna…kill!" He was able to lift a violently trembling arm to prod the smirking redhead in the chest. "So enjoy…this while ya…can, Bitch!"

"I plan to!" Rei chirped happily, pushing himself off the skyscraper's wall to stand up. Brushing imaginary wrinkles from the front of his formal crimson kimono and brushing red streaked orange bangs from his carmine eyes, Rei glanced up once more at the mildly cloudy sky.

"Huh. Looks like it's gonna rain."

If someone told Ichigo that he was going to become a samurai version of 'The Ghostbusters' only thirteen hours ago, he would've punched them in the head in hopes of beating some sense into their obviously mentally ill mind.

He glowered at the female Shinigami before him, crossing his arms mulishly as she rattled on what his duties were. Was she really convinced that he'd waste his time on doing something like that? It was bad enough being followed by clingy spirits let alone actively seeking said clingy spirits out to allow them to pass on or something, but she also expected him to kill white masked monsters called Hollows. If he had a hero complex or actually cared about strangers, then yes, he would've done his duty. But he does not have a hero complex nor actually cares about strangers; so therefore, he will not be doing his duty. Simple.

It was time to nip this at the bud. "Look, I don't really have time to be doing all this shit." The redhead growled, narrowing bronze eyes as the female Shinigami stuttered to a halt. "I don't help strangers; I'm not that nice of a guy." He turned to leave, waving a dismissive hand at the gaping female. "Sorry I couldn't help."

"Then you leave me no choice."

Instincts screamed that he should move, and he did, turning round just in time to catch an uppercut to his chin. He felt agony flare up from his jaw, his body sailing through the air to crash onto his back. He struggled to blink the tears of pain from his eyes, one hand rubbing his abused jaw line gingerly. For scrawny looking girl, she did pack one Hell of a punch.

"Now that was uncalled for." He grumbled, heaving himself into upright sitting position. He froze, however, when he saw himself sprawled lifelessly on the dusty ground, bronze eyes staring blankly at the sky above. He felt his breathing hitch and blood go cold as one ludicrous thought rang through his head, 'She killed me! How the Hell could she kill me with one punch!?'

Seeing the redhead's obvious distress, the female Shinigami slipped the crimson glove off her hand, a burning skull emblazoned on the fabric. "You're not dead, so don't worry. I simply knocked your soul out of your body." Still seeing that the horror hadn't left the male's face, the female rolled her eyes. "And it's irreversible. Now come on, there's something I need to show you."

"H-hey!" Ichigo quickly scrambled to his feet, one shaking hand pointing to his soulless body. "What about my body!?"

"Leave it. Now come on!"

"Heh. His inner world is becoming awfully crowded, don'tcha think, Shirosaki-kun?"

"Sh'up."

The two males stared up at the solemn looking male perched upon an upright flagpole, one bored and the other calculating. Rei, tucking his legs under him, back straight and hands tucked into the crimson kimono's sleeves, squinted carmine eyes curiously at the mysterious individual. "You're not a part of the Emperor, are you? So who are you?"

The solemn man surveyed the elegantly dressed redhead through his shades, black coat rippling in the nonexistent breeze. "I am Zangetsu. Ichigo's Zanpaktou."

"…" Rei blinked then nodded slowly. "If you say so."

"I think…he's a…weirdo…" The weakened Hollow wheezed, golden eyes narrowed in suspicion at the stoic, unshaven man.

Rei smiled politely, smacking the albino on the chest and ignored the enraged flailing and cursing. "Ignore the Hollow, Zangetsu-san. He is mentally unstable and thus, his opinions do not count in our small court." Glancing at the scowling Hollow in a conspiring manner, the redhead whispered; "He's a little upset that he discovered he's the Emperor's horse, lower on the Hierarchy chain than us."

"Fuck you! At least…bein'…th' King's horse…is better than…bein' a…fuckin'…courtier!"

Rei smiled indulgently at the panting Hollow, patting the albino's white clad shoulder patronisingly. "If you say so, Shirosaki-kun." He sniggered in malicious amusement as the Hollow attempted to punch him and only succeeded in floundering around in an embarrassing manner.

Zangetsu raised an eyebrow at the pair. "And you two?" He inquired.

"Ah! Where are my manners?" Rei snickered, waving a clawed hand flippantly. "It's so hard to work on them when only you and a weakened Hollow are the occupants in the world." Running a clawed hand through spiky, crimson streaked orange hair, Rei grinned. "I am the Emperor's Courtier, Mumei Rei. The one keeping the fractured soul together." He gave a blasé twitch of a hand to the incapacitated Hollow. "And that's Shirosaki Hichigo, the fleabitten ass."

As Shirosaki choked on his rage, Zangetsu nodded. "This is an interesting soul."

Rei sniggered, raising a clawed hand daintily to his mouth. "Aa. It is. Of course, our poor Emperor will be traumatised upon meeting all of us at once. I think he'll begin thinking that he's suffering from Schizophrenia or Multiple Personality Disorder."

The redhead grunted when the Hollow – by sheer willpower and anger – managed to get enough force into his weakened limbs to strike the aristocratic redhead in the side with a clenched fist. "Hah! Got ya…Bitch!"

Zangetsu watched with mild amusement as another squabble erupted between the pair – or more specifically, Rei prodding the Hollow and watching Shirosaki attempt to strike the sniggering redhead with flailing limbs. Yes. This was an interesting soul indeed.

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A/N: This is just the prologue so expect a much, much, much longer chapter next time. I hope this is an original idea, since I haven't seen this type of fanfic before. Well, I hope that you're all interested so far!

Mumei Rei is Nameless Actor (though Rei means ghost as well soooo…) and if you want a definite image of what he looks like. Imagine Ichigo with claws, fangs and crimson eyes dressed in a formal crimson kimono decorated with fire patterns. Also, Rei has kohl on too (I just think Ichigo with kohl on looks mighty smexy) and more narrow eyes. His hair is still Ichigo's shade of orange but tinged red.

Basically, think an aristocratic Ichigo with fangs and claws. You can do it. You've all got wonderful imaginations.

Update for this…ehhh…some may be slow and some may be quick, depends on the amount of reviews I get to continue on this. Hope y'all enjoyed!!