A/N: Hey everybody. Got a new fanfic up, and it's a series of short, little drabbles, and this first chapter is just a prologue. Hope you all enjoy!
Prologue
His name is Kurosaki Ichigo.
The very first moment I met him, I did a double take. That stance. That hair. Those eyes. I entered a bedroom that evening, the reiatsu of a lost soul wailing for my help, for the rite of passage to Soul Society. It was a simple task; the only difficulty was tracking down the soul, but that was still fairly easy to do.
I melted into the walls of the household, fearing nothing. After all, no human could see me. I exterminated Hollows right before their very eyes, yet they were oblivious, going about with their lives as if they weren't in potential danger at all.
"It is near," I murmured to myself. The soul was here somewhere. I only needed to search the area, pinpoint its location, and finish the job.
"It is near—" I blinked, nonplussed. "—my ass, retard!"
Suddenly, something hard barreled into my back at full force. I spiraled in the air, wind blown right out of me, and landed, sprawled on the ground, rendered defenseless.
"You're a pretty confident burglar! Eh?" a furious voice screeched. I whipped around to see an irritated teenage boy jabbing his finger at me in accusation. Kaien-dono? I choked on the air, absolutely speechless. Here he was, the man whose death was the result of my own hands, standing over me – dressed in human clothing! At last, reality hit me: this was not Kaien-dono. His eyes were brown, not green; his hair an unnatural orange, not black. He was a human. "By 'it is near'…! Do you mean that like the safe's near or something?" the human demanded.
That was the beginning of our comradeship. Later, a Hollow struck his family. His two sisters were knocked out, nearing the brink of death. He recklessly offered himself to the monster, hoping to spare the ones he loved from further pain. The fool. A mere human fighting a Hollow? The monster lunged, and I surged forward, straight into its gnashing teeth. I was done for. I couldn't fight anymore. I failed. But he obligingly took my offer—I could see the desperation in his eyes to save his family from the Hollow—and I pierced his chest with my Zanpakuto. And I transferred my powers. Kurosaki Ichigo's career as a Shinigami had begun.
Frankly, Ichigo has shown himself to be absolutely resilient when it came to reaching his goal. He never gave up. As I sat in my cell, slowly waiting for my execution date, counting the chinks in the stone floor over and over, I listened to the guards' gossip of a monstrous, orange-haired ryoka who wielded an enormous Zanpakuto. I listened of his advances through Seireitei. First, the defeat of Fifth Seat Madarame. Then, his victorious rematch with Renji. And defeating, out of all possible Shinigami, Zaraki Kenpachi! I couldn't believe it was Ichigo—defeating one of the most feared captains of the Gotei 13! At last, he achieved Bankai in an impossible amount of time, saved me from my fate, and fought my brother. He won.
After his loss against the Arrancar, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez he disappeared someone to train. His family was worried sick, Yuzu especially, but I assured them he would come back…eventually. He did, bearing a new cryptic weapon from "acquaintances" of his. The Arrancar struck again, taking Inoue with them as a hostage, and immediately, he demanded to save her, neglecting the Soutaichou's orders. In Hueco Mundo, he tied up loose ends with those he swore to defeat. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Ulquiorra Cipher.
At last, he returned to Karakura Town, albeit the fake Karakura Town, to join the war. However, he needed more power after being bested by both Ichimaru and Aizen. Once again, he trained, he returned to the battlefront, and he defeated Aizen once and for all. At the cost of his own power.
As I faded away from his eyes, those eyes slowly clouding the world of spiritual power, he said to me, "See ya, Rukia. Thank you." He said it in a way, however, that had a fleck of hope, as if he would see me once more. I returned to Soul Society, shaking my head. The stupid fool.
But seventeen months later, it was agreed. We would restore Kurosaki Ichigo's powers, and he was back with us. That moment of truth made me feel like the happiest, most fortunate being in the universe. Renji and I more than willingly transferred a part of our spiritual power into that glowing, flickering sword that would save Ichigo. And when I impaled him with that sword, I smiled. Kurosaki Ichigo was back with us, and the part of my world that crumbled away not too long ago began mending itself back together.
His name is Kurosaki Ichigo.
A/N: How'd you all like it? Starting today, I'm going to try to upload every single day with the POV of a different character. I'm also open to requests...Anyway, feel free to leave some feedback. What's good? What's bad? I'm open to practically anything!
P.S. For those of you reading "Different" and/or "The Rukongai Games," hold tight just a little longer. I'm in the process of extreme editing, so please, please, please give me a bit more time. As for "Melt Down," updates are coming in two or three days MAX. Thanks for all the consideration!
