Re-Edited Version: Hello everyone! This is my first attempt at a long fanfic, and only my second fanfic ever! Its been years since I wrote the other and seriously you don't wanna read that nonsense. I feel I have improved somewhat and hope you enjoy this. Its very dark at the beginning so be prepared. It gets better so no worries. I am thinking of making this a BOYXBOY...only cause I love those and am a huge Ichigo X ANYONE and everyone...course I shall choose one so no worries there. Bet you will start picking up who I wanna pick right away! Now you have been warned so run away if that offends anyone!

I have no one to edit this but I worked hard so hoping it turns out ok...sorry if i messed something up in the Bleach universe ( If you see something that needs fixing let me know!) I put this somewhat after the Quincy arc and Kenpachi gets to keep his pink haired sidekick...merely cause I love her. (Love Kenpachi too if I had to be honest)

Don't own bleach but love the universe we can play with! Here we go!

Merging Monsters

The water on the ground shouldn't be that color. Especially not murky red…the color of blood, rain and mud mixing together. Really though, Ichigo had long since become used to the ground holding blood, just another day. Yet it wasn't, this day was so much more ethereal then all the others. After all… that was his blood mixing in the mud and rain, his corpse crumpled on the ground in the arms of his father and sisters, and he wasn't standing beside his body as a Shinigami right now…but a plus. He even had a chain on his heart to prove it.

He stood off to the side, taking it all in, Byakuya stood at his left, the older Shinigami had almost his normal stoic self about him…yet his face was even more paler then it ever was, and his eyes held a sadness in them. His human friends were huddled together beside his family, Orihime was in the arms of Uryuu, crying in shock, her power had not been able to save him this time. Uryuu was holding her tightly. His face showed his powerful grief, eyes scrunched tightly in a losing battle not to let tears fall himself. Chad was sitting on the ground one hand over his face, he made no sound…but he was shaking.

Somewhat to the side of them, kneeled Rukia and Renji, the later had full tears falling down his face but he gripped his friend with all he had as she sobbed her heart out.

Others were there, Urahara had his head down, but his arm rested around Yoruichi, who had her hands curled over her face, the shake of both their bodies depicting grief unspoken. Squad 11 all stood respectively, sadness written on their faces, they stood too rigid, as though they were keeping their grief in. Yumichika had one hand gripped tightly on Ikkaku's arms, who in turn took no notice of the bruise growing as he was biting his lip enough to draw blood. Their Captain…Kenpachi, his look was almost comical, frozen and wide eyed…his pink haired lieutenant was crying on his shoulder, yet he made no movement, shock for once in his life.

Shinji and the Visored grouped around one another, even if some were captains again, they went to each other in their anguish like so many years shared. Shinji was gripping his Captain Haori like it was a life line, his eyes tightly closed.

Even the resurrected and surviving espada were there, though most looked on the scene in a curious fashion, some showed their own type of sadness, Grimmjow had punched the ground and now kneeled in its crater. Weather he really grieved for the lost sometimes friend or he missed his appointed rival was hard to tell. Nell meanwhile kept saying Ichigos name in her odd way, like he would get up again.

The captain of Squad 10 had also showed his displeasure in a similar fashion to the blue haired Espada, he considered the substitute his friend, though he didn't always show it. An ice-covered wall with a large missing piece blasted of right next to Toshiro and Rangiku was enough to show his disquiet. His lieutenant had her head down, silent tears flowing, as Kira rubbed her shoulder, the burden was felt on all of them. All other captains, and Shinigami stood with heads downcast, similar looks of grief, regret and shock written about their faces. It didn't seem real after all…. Kurosaki Ichigo, the legendary boy made hero. The boy that was human, Shinigami, Hollow, Visored, Quincy and Savior…couldn't be dead. Yet the rain had stopped a while ago, and the mud died murky red still stained the area around his body. His father was drenched in it. Tears falling unstopped. His daughters gripped at the boys clothing…. human clothing. Yuzu loud and crazed, Karin sampling saying "no" again and again.

It was all surreal….it shouldn't have happened, he had won, he hadn't lost the battle, so why was he dead. He had gone back into his body like he was supposed to, yet died violently within a few breaths, his last breaths. What had happened?

1 Hour prior to death

"Come on bastards! Give me a real fight hahaha!" Grimmjow dodged an oncoming claw by flipping backwards, landing almost cat like he threw a powerful swipe that obliterated the creature in front of him.

A maniacal laugh nearby showed a large man with bells attached to the tips of his very spiky hair style, cutting down several in one slash of his blade. "where's the strongest?! Let me fight him!"

"Kenny, I think he might be over there!" His pink haired ever shoulder riding lieutenant pointed half hazard in probably the wrong direction.

Orihime dashed past the duo, her hands up "Release!" a shield appeared between Uyruu and a goliath of a monster, "Thanks Inoue" He aimed a well-placed arrow at a creature crawling up behind her, just as Chad leaped out of the air, his punch obliterating the Goliath.

"You kids keep getting stronger" Yoruichi chuckled as she kicked off another monstrous creature with her lightning like speed.

"Ichigo, can you keep up with my numbers dumb ass!?" Renji Swung his zanpakto down, whipping four of the beasts in one deadly arch. Blood splattered the ground and he pulled his blade back for another swing.

"Renji…this is a battlefield" Renji Froze as the Captain of the 6th Squad appeared behind him.
"Ri-right captain, Of course, we are just-" though the captain seemed to not give the red head much attention as he released his sword, killing 10, he glanced at the other man, a single eyebrow slightly lifted over his steal eyes. Renji Gulped…Byakuya had of course just beat him in numbers quite easily, he really hoped no one was paying attention.

"Hahaha, Renji why so slow!?" The Substitute Shinigami blasted 15 away easily before waving at Renji and rushing off for the next batch leaving behind a very disgruntled Renji. Renji quickly took up his sword and not to be outdone rushed back into the fray.

Ice frosted the ground as both Rukia and Toshrio activated their Zanpakto, the most powerful and beautiful destroying several in their wake.

"Matsumoto!" The Tenth captain yelled, she leaped out behind him, severing two creatures who had been missed. She followed her captain she he advanced on another group. Rukia went in the opposite direction, now looking to help with Ichigo fights.

Shinji, Mask in place was fighting off a midget of a Visored who was insulted by his lack of speed. She kicked him in the face before pulling on her own mask and leaping into a fight. Dirt on his face he groaned before slashing another creature.

It was an epic battle, a war coming to an end against creatures unheard of and deadly. Espada, humans, Quinces and Shinigami truced to take out the strange creatures terrorizing all plains of existence. Thanks to that always watchful shopkeeper in clogs they had found out they had been slipping into each world and sucking in the ones they found and morphing them into strange horrid creatures. Similar to the hallow that had once stolen the Shiba man long ago, these creatures had bits of those they had taken, mostly their power. The leader was a creature so despicable that it had whipped into hell and sucked up a devastating creature. Of course, Ichigo now faced it, while others watched from the side lines too injured to help or dealt with lesser creatures of power. As Ishigo tore into the creature's face, pushing all his power into the last thrust, ripping it into pieces, all other creatures seemed to freeze. A few died before the battle driven allies realized it was over, abet strangely.

The leader had controlled everything it seemed and Ishigo had saved them all. A cheer went up. Ichigo smiling saw his body serenely placed on a bench nearby…not thinking it strange to have it in plain sight, nor questioning his desire to return to it, he reentered his body as though it was perfectly normal to be a simple human in a war-torn battlefield. Yet realization hit, he could hear voices screaming his name, yet it was too late.
"Wait why…" Before he could even finish his words, gutting through his stomach was a great long black spear. His blood splattered the ground, his body seized up. Maybe Orihime would…. but she was too far away, he could just make out her figure…running. He saw Byakuya and Renji skid to a halt nearby, their swords raised in futile attempt to stop what happened next. The orange head boy looked to the side, a creature he had not known was holding him, and its white eyes met his brown, the thing in his stomach was one of its long legs, now its mouth was on his neck, he could move. Long teeth extended, he could hear screaming in the distance, so far away. Pierced…skin ripping, he was screaming now, his throat was raw from his yells, or was it the teeth in his neck. Blood splayed to the ground, power ripped out in a great circle. If Ichigo could have been able to see he would have watched everyone he knew, all those who could have saved him, being brushed away forcible by his own reiatsu. It tore them away, just as Renji's blade almost connected, just as Kenpachi jumped into his direction, just as Byakuya said "Bankia" Just as Grimmjow landed on the creatures back, just as the shopkeeper approached, his father close beside him, just as Rukia and Toshiro activated their swords and right when Orihime reached him. All blown away, everyone.

Then he died.

Surprisingly so did the creature, it sucked up the boy and then it exploded, Ichigo being way too much a meal. Ichigo didn't even remember when he died, just that the pain seemed to stop, and he had felt a sucking feeling, like he was being dragged down a dark hallway and his soul gripped the sides in a vain attempt to stop himself.

The world had stopped moving after that. Ichigo didn't regain awareness for a long time. When he woke or his spirit came out…everyone was grouped around him, someone had told his sisters…as they were there. Yet that seemed strange to the boy…until he realized that it had taken an hour for him to come out.

Everyone had stayed by his body, waiting for the spirit of the fallen hero to manifest, terrified it had been destroyed while mid-merge with the dreadful monster. So, by the time Ichigo had finally risen to stand by his body, an hour had elapsed. It took a few moments to even notice the boy, too grief stricken were the warriors. Ichigo took in his surroundings, noting everything down.

"Ichigo?" the question had come so softly, from the captain now standing beside Ichigo, that no one but Ichigo had not even noticed him speak. The boy was too in shock to notice the use of his first name, he merely nodded at the Kuchiki heir. Byakuya's had sighed heavily, before approaching him.

"I…I don't' know what to do?" The boy mumbled. Byakuya's eyes narrowed, he nodded before turning towards the others.

"Rukia" He said, then before anything else could happened, the now dead boy's name was heard again, it was yelled in anguish, and the other Kuchiki present had pulled from Renji's arms to run towards him. After that was a blur of yelling, crying, begging forgiveness (So many blamed themselves) that Ichigo couldn't say what he actually said to anyone…except his family. They had not moved, mostly because Yuzu was unable to see much of the spirit world, and Karin was too in shock. His dad though…he was looking right at Ichigo, the tears were still spreading but he merely nodded. Relief, sadness and acceptance enveloped his expression, but he settled on resignation and pride as he looked at his son.

"D-dad" Ichigo choked out. Karin's head whipped up.

"Ich-chi Neesan..." It was dreadful to hear that in Karin's voice, desperation, anguish.

"Karin, I -I'm right here." He tried to keep it calm, his voice, steady for her. She kept staring, until Yuzu's voice rang out shrilly, "ICHIGO NEESAN!" "He's Here, he is isn't' he?" At Karin's nod and her dads' assurance she turned back to look hurriedly around, grazing over Ichigo's spirt. Then she started begging.

"Ichigo Neesan stop this, com-come back into-in-in-into your body, tell dad he's wrong, you can't be dead yo-you can't die!" Suddenly His dad was taking Yuzu into his arms, Karin was staring at Yuzu…fear in her eyes, then she looked back her brother, Ichigo was in shock. Karin looked hateful. She blamed him for Yuzu's pain. His sisters meant everything to him, this was too much, he felt horrible guilt and shame, why had he gone back into his body, why?

"Yuzu by child please calm down, calm down, your brother can't return to his-"

"NO NO, he is not even old yet, he can't, he can't just die!" Ichigo froze, her words hit home. He wasn't old yet…wasn't an adult officially yet. Wasn't….

"Yuzu-"

"No! NO~! Ichi ICHI STOP PLAYING STOP IT! " Yuzu had gone hysterical, Ichigo shook his shock off and took a step forward.

"Stay back!" Karin stood between her brother and Sister. Anger lit in her face, pain etched in her scowl. "Stay back, what can you do now?" Ichigo felt as if he had been slapped.

Their father whipped around, "Karin wait- what are you—" Yuzu was fighting him so he was drowned out.

"You said you would protect US! You died for them!" She pointed at the Shinigami, they all flinched, "You left us! You hurt…you hurt YUZU! How can you leave us now Neesan!?" Suddenly Karin's eyes rolled backwards and she fell to her knees, Toshiro appeared behind her, catching her, sadness in his eyes as he held her. He had made her sleep, before she said anything else she was sure to regret. He looked up at his friend, and sighed, the hurt there in his eyes was evident, damage had been done now.

"Ichigo" Isshin approached his son, carrying his other daughter, he had knocked her out with a kido spell at the same time Toshiro had done the same with Karin. "Please don't take this to heart Ichigo…they are in shock, Karin…. she's angry at all the wrong things, she will know this soon and- "

"Dad its ok" The young man was amazingly calm…he had died…failed his sisters yes…. but there was nothing to be done…. he couldn't bear to listen to anymore kind words. "I'm dead now huh?" He looked around…avoiding looking at either his dad or his own corpse. "So, what do I do now…I don't know what happens…I mean…" he stumbled with his words…. showing he really wasn't ok with it all. "I guess its time I go over ri-right?"

There was silence. Then the leader of the 13 Squads stepped forward. Shunsui looked old, and tired as he approached him. "Ichigo, by custom and law you need to be…." He sighed resigned. "Sent to Soul Society." He waited, but Ichigo had known this so he just nodded his head in understanding. Some sobs broke out around him. He tried not to listen.

"When will I need to go?"

"You can have a few minutes to say goodbye," Only a few minutes then….so short, so small a time to say and do everything. "of course, they can visit on the other side, just give it time and adjust and we can let them through. You've earned it Ichigo." Wasn't' that simple, they could visit…but could he? What of his friends and family. Could he come see his sisters…. who they want him too?

The goodbyes were hard…though his friends promised to see him as soon as they were allowed. He smiled for them…. Shook his head at their worried looks and told Orihime it wasn't her fault, that she'd saved him so many times. Then he turned to his father. Isshin looked to have aged by 10 years in a matter of an hour. He had Yuzu cradled in his arms. Chad carried Karin. Ichigo stared at his father for a long second, then said, "Dad-I'm sorry" The old man shook his head and told him never to say it again.

"I'm proud of you son, and your mom would be proud, and when Karin calms down she'll be even prouder. As will Yuzu, don't worry we can help Yuzu to come see you, its ok." Ichigo took a shuddering breath at that…he had thought he was cut off from them. He kissed (though they couldn't physically feel it) Both girls. Yuzu suddenly smiled which gave Ichigo hope and Karin said his name. "I love you Karin, Yuzu, take care of dad"

His dad placed his forehead against his spiritual form and whispered, "Take care my son, I love you"

Then it was time, he turned back towards the soul reapers…waiting for them to speak. None did, they merely stared back and when he went to ask one to do what needed to be done they hesitated. Even Rukia. No one wanted to be the one to send him. Even Toshiro sighed and looked away.

"Alright let's get this going, Byakuya, could you do the honors?" He knew regardless of feelings the rule abiding captain of the 6th squad would do what was needed. Ichigo wanted to hurry now…it was too much. Byakuya seemed shocked at being asked but walked forward anyways.

"I am honored Kurosaki Ichigo"

"Just get on with it-um-please" Byakuya stared back then closed his eyes, was that pain on his face? The Moment passed quickly and when Byakuya stood before Ichigo he was normal again. They all watched the dark-haired Shinigami place his hilt against the spirit of their friend. "Rest Ichigo, there is a place for you in Soul Society" Then a door opened…and Ichigo vanished.

Hours later when Karin awoke…after being told it wasn't a bad dream, she filled with guilt. How could she say what she said! How could she do that to her brother, the greatest protector. She wanted to apologize to beg forgiveness, to promise she would protect them now, that it was ok. She sobbed into her pillow, till her father told her they could visit their brother as soon as they figured out how to allow Yuzu to see Ichigo. The other daughter, though visibly shaken, had now also calmed down. With this promise in place Karin resolved to face Ichigo, and tell him how grateful she was, and how sorry. Days passed and the people who cared for him started planning to visit Soul Society. They met at the shop or at Ichigo's house to plan.

Then Rukia appeared at the Kurosaki household…news, horrible news.

Within Soul Society, no one had been able to find him. Though he was sent to Soul Society and should have found his way to the Serieitei by now, no one had seen him. Kurosaki Ichigo had vanished.

There ya go, Chapter one is complete, its like 2am here so I gotta skip off to bed.

I love Karin btw so please don't think I am hating on her, I just feel she would be angry at the soul reapers and possibly even Ichigo if he died...just cause it adds a bit of something. Yuzu and Karin will be great in the Chapters ahead and I really hope you see lots of strength in them. I think they are amazing.

Did you guess who might end up with Ichigo if this story ends how I want it? No? Oh well, keep reading. Will try to update fast.

Anavas88