Bleach Movie 5: The Otherworld
by Her Pretty Smile
Synopsis: {Post-episode 366} Ichigo accidentally dies, and everyone mourns his death. But then, one week later, a messenger of the King of Souls informs Soul Society that it's not Ichigo's time yet and that he is stuck in an undiscovered dimension. With that, Rukia, who is desperate to save Ichigo, goes with the Rescue Team in order to bring him back to the World of the Living.
Warning: Unbeta-ed; may contain mistakes or any of the sort. Also, since this fic has the genres Action/Adventure/Romance (the latter especially), there will be pairings. The obvious: IchiRuki. The others: HitsuHina, etc. (It's a secret! :D)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Kubo Tite owns it.
Authoress' Note: So I've made my own movie of Bleach, and since this is canon-based, it's a must that the characters are in-character. Also, even if there is a romance genre, there will only be... well... hints, romantic scenes, implications, and development. No pairing will end up together in the end of this arc. BUT, they will have their own moments. Especially IchiRuki. :3
Because after this movie is The Thousand Year Blood War, so I gotta really make this as canon as possible.
Note: If the lyrics of the song appear, you might want to listen to the music as you continue reading so that it will seem a lot like a movie. Haha!
The song is 'Nino' by Niji.
The italics within the double quotes are the lyrics.
This is the revised version. To my readers who have long since finished reading this, it's your choice if you want to read it again or not. I just fixed some of the mistakes.
RAINDROPS ARE FALLING DOWN from the sky, creating a gloomy atmosphere and a dark surrounding.
Beside the river, a woman with short raven hair stumbles slightly as she walks. Her companion, a man with red hair and black tattoos, immediately catches her arm, helping her regain her balance.
However, the woman pays no heed to him and continues to walk as if in a trance, her eyes wide in disbelief.
The man just stares after her with obvious pain in his eyes.
"Rukia..." he whispers.
Aforementioned person suddenly breaks into a desperate run, a trickle of tears appearing at the corners of her eyes as she silently hopes over and over again that what she's seeing isn't true.
The woman with long dim-orange hair who is kneeling before an overly familiar Combat Pass raises her head, her face streaked with tears.
"K—Kuchiki-san...?"
Rukia comes to a dead stop when she's right in front of Orihime. "Inoue." Her voice is unusually calm. "Where's Ichigo?"
The mention of the latter's name sends Orihime into desperate, pained sobs again.
Rukia just stares at her, her expression unreadable. "Inoue," she says very quietly, "...why are you crying?"
"Rukia." Renji stands behind her, his face pained. "Rukia, don't. Ukitake-taichou told us that—"
"Shut up!" Rukia lowers her head, covering her expression. "Renji... I need to confirm it with... with my very own eyes."
"Rukia—"
"Please." Her voice sounds so soft and about to break.
Renji wavers, averting his eyes from hers to the ground.
Uryuu and Chad, who are beside the sobbing Orihime, are silent. But Rukia had seen Uryuu's gritted teeth and Chad's clenched fists on the ground.
And she also doesn't miss the tear-streaked lines on their faces.
"If... If Ichigo's dead—" Her voice breaks. "—where is his body?"
There is a painful silence before Uryuu speaks up.
"It vanished. His human body, too. His soul... is gone."
"I saw it," Chad says, his voice filled with guilt and anger. "There was a Hollow that could fly and make itself invisible. We couldn't sense it in any way, and before we knew it, its claw went right through Ichigo's chest." His jaw clenches. "Ishida used that opportunity to kill it, but then..."
Rukia looks at him. "But then... what?"
To her surprise, Orihime is the one who answers. "B—Before I could heal Kurosaki-kun, his—his body suddenly t—turned into spirit p—particles."
"His Combat Pass... is the only thing that's left of him," Uryuu says.
"Damn it!" Renji curses. "That... idiot. He can't just die like that!"
Rukia falls to her knees, her body trembling.
At that moment, voices filled the surroundings.
"Kuchiki. Abarai." Hitsugaya Toushirou's voice is stern yet holds a hint of apprehension. "You two should not have gone ahead."
"Taichou..." Matsumoto Rangiku says tentatively, sensing the atmosphere.
"Oi!" Zaraki Kenpachi shouts. "Where's Ichigo?!"
"Ken-chan!" Kusajishi Yachiru admonishes from his shoulder. "Be quiet! Ichi is—"
"I don't believe a damn thing about him being dead! He ain't that kinda guy."
"Ichigo..." Hirako Shinji mutters quietly. "...I can't feel him anymore."
Urahara Kisuke appears at his side with Shihouin Yoruichi. "Me too," he says solemnly.
"This is hard to believe," Komamura Sajin murmurs.
"Ichigo ain't dead!" Madarame Ikkaku says loudly, patting his companion's shoulder hard with an obviously forced grin on his face. "Right, Yumichika?"
The latter just looks at him and shakes his head slightly. "Ikkaku..."
"Rukia." Kuchiki Byakuya's firm voice makes the former's body go rigid.
"...N—Nii-sama..." she whispers.
Byakuya looks at her, then lays a hand on her shoulder. "Let it all out," he tells her quietly.
Tears fall from her eyes in rivulets, and she gladly buries her head in his chest, crying for the man she has always considered someone special to her.
"Ichigo... You can't be dead... You can't..." she sobs. "We—We just got you back...! Why?!"
And all the while, the rain hasn't let up even one bit.
"Itsumo sou yo.
Suneru to kimi wa."
B
L
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A
C
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THE MOVIE
'The Otherworld'
"Watashi no daiji na mono wo kakusu desho."
The black-coloured coffin was laid down to the ground.
Isshin had his arms crossed in front of his chest, his gaze on the people who were shoveling back dirt to the gaping hole.
Yuzu and Karin were watching the scene with red eyes, their cheeks puffy and sore from crying.
They still were.
"Sono basho wa kimatte onaji dakara."
Tatsuki's head was hung low as her tears fell to the ground. Keigo was crying openly while Mizuiro only watched the burial silently with tears falling down to his chin.
Orihime was sobbing on Uryuu's chest, the latter not knowing what to do except to pat her back continuously as a form of comfort. His own eyes were desolate, a sign that Ichigo's death also affected him in a way that no one could really understand.
Chad was watching the coffin as it was slowly being covered by dirt. Ichigo... Don't worry.
I will protect your family in your place.
"Kyou wa saki ni itte matte miru wa."
Among the mourning people were Rangiku, Momo, Kira, and Toushirou.
"You know..." Momo said softly. "I didn't know him much, but... I can tell that he was a good person who touched the hearts of many."
"Aa," Toushirou agreed quietly. "Kurosaki Ichigo was that kind of person."
"I still find it hard to believe that he's dead..." Rangiku muttered.
Kira let out a sad sigh. "So do I."
"Kisetsutachi ga yuuhi wo tsurete kite."
Kenpachi huffed. "This is a freakin' joke. Who am I gonna fight equally now that that idiot's gone?"
Yachiru sniffed. "I'll miss Ichi..."
"He was a great man," Komamura stated. "He deserves respect."
Hisagi looked away. "He saved me one time," he said quietly. "And I haven't repaid him for that. Now I can't."
"Kurosaki Ichigo died valiantly and beautifully," Yumichika said solemnly.
Ikkaku stayed silent.
"Kage ga watashi wo mitsukete nobiru…"
"What a loss," Mayuri remarked. "He could have been an interesting specimen."
Unohana frowned. "Kurotsuchi-taichou, that is hardly the correct thing to say at a funeral."
"Tch."
Nemu stood at the side silently.
Isane shed tears. "Kurosaki Ichigo was a friend to all of us."
Mayuri scoffed. "Not to me."
Unohana gave him a sweet smile. "Kurotsuchi-taichou."
"...Hmph. Fine, fine."
"Bi ikkuri shita kao de watashi wo mitsumete wa."
Byakuya observed the burial with indifference, but there was no mistaking the twinge of softness in his eyes.
"Taichou, would you like a juice drink?" Renji offered, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"...What is that, Renji?"
The latter's features brightened a little. "It's some sort of refreshment where you should stick a straw into this box and drink it."
Byakuya looked mildly interested. "That is an unusual drink..."
Renji grinned inwardly to himself in triumph.
"Kyuu ni kuchi togarase pu itto soto miru no."
Rukia hugged herself, clutching her upper arms tightly as her gaze rested on the ground. She couldn't bear to look at the coffin nor at anyone in the surroundings. She felt like she was the reason why Ichigo died, and the guilt was eating at her painfully.
If only... If only I hadn't been so weak back then... Her body trembled. Then he could have lived a normal life with his family... He never would have become a shinigami if it weren't for me...!
"Gomen ne. To iu to.
Jaa kocchi ni kite yo to."
"Rukia."
Renji approached her tentatively, handing her a juice drink. "Here. Have some," he offered, coming to a step beside her. "…You know, if Ichigo were here, he wouldn't have wanted us to look all sad."
Rukia managed a small smile as she lifted her head to look up at him. "You're right, Renji..." she said softly, taking the drink from him. "Ichigo... Ichigo would've wanted us to be happy."
"Nee, hora mite mite
Kage ga kasanatta…"
Renji watched as she looked at the juice in her hands. A pained look crossed her face, and he wondered why.
His answer came a moment later.
"He taught me this, you know..." she said wistfully. "At first, I couldn't figure out how, but he demonstrated it for me. Everything I wanted to know, he told me what they were. Even though it annoyed him a bit, he always taught me about it."
"Kasa ga butsukari massugu arukenai."
A sad smile played on her lips. "He might not have realized it himself, but I knew ever since then that he was truly a kind person."
Renji listened quietly.
"I saved him more than once, but he saved me countless times. And even though he died, he didn't die alone." She looked over to where Orihime, Chad, and Uryuu were standing. "He left his heart with his friends, after all."
"Sonna watashi wo mite waratteiruno."
"Watashi mo yatte misete ageru no.
Onaji you ni kuchi wo togarasu…Yasashiku warau kimi ga
Kono jikan ga kuukan ga
Nakitakunaru kurai
Ichiban daiji na mono dayo.
Waza to togaraseteru…
Watashi ni gomen ne no henji wo motazuni
Yasashiku kisu shitano…"
"WE'LL BE TAKING OUR leave now."
Just before they could take a step towards the Senkaimon, Isshin called out, "Wait, Rukia-chan."
The latter stopped in her tracks and turned to look at the former Captain in surprise. "H—Hai...?"
Isshin beckoned her over.
She obeyed.
"Rukia-chan, I just want to say that..." His eyes looked into her own with hardened resolve. "You shouldn't blame yourself for my son's death. Long ago, he made his decision and stood by it. He wanted to be a shinigami because he wanted to protect everyone. And you were someone who made that come true."
Tears pooled in her eyes. "B—But I—"
"No buts, Rukia-chan. Ichigo considered you his precious friend. He never thought of you otherwise." He gave her a smile of reassurance. "So don't blame yourself, all right?"
A lone tear fell from her eye as she looked at the man before her, the man who suddenly seemed so father-like to her.
"Thank you," she choked out. "Thank you so much."
He grinned at her. "No problem, Rukia-chan. Just stay safe, you hear?"
When the group of Captains, Vice-Captains, and Seated Officers disappeared into their own world, Isshin let out a sigh.
Ichigo... May you rest in peace out there.
One week later...
"KUCHIKI-FUKUTAICHOU, ABARAI-FUKUTAICHOU, THE TWO of you are being called by Soutaichou-dono to the Captains' Meeting."
Rukia glanced at the messenger listlessly before giving a slight nod. "I'll be there."
Renji glanced at her worriedly before giving a nod of his own.
Together they then shunpo-ed towards the meeting place.
"You called, Soutaichou-dono?" Renji inquired respectfully.
"Kuchiki Rukia. Abarai Renji." Yamamoto gestured to the person beside him who was wearing white, elegant-looking robes. "I am grateful that you two have responded and come here so quickly. Now, I sent you here because I find it necessary for both of you to hear what this man has to say." He took a deep breath before continuing. "This man is a messenger of the King of Souls."
Surprise mirrored in each of the Captains' faces.
The two Vice-Captains' eyes flew wide open.
"His name is Takashi."
All attention turned to the latter who had a mask of composure on his face.
Takashi stepped up. He was a tall man with short dark hair and olive-green eyes. He had an aura that sent out a message of aloofness, but he seemed hardly the intimidating type. "I have come here to convey important information about Kurosaki Ichigo," he announced.
Rukia's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What about Ichigo?" she demanded.
"Rukia," Renji whispered with a hint of a warning in his tone.
She ignored him. "What kind of information do you have about Ichigo? Do you know why he died like he did?"
"Rukia." Byakuya's eyes turned to her coldly. "Do not get impatient. I know how you must feel, but this is not the time for that."
Rukia winced, but held her ground. "I apologize, Nii-sama. However, if this is about Ichigo, I must know about it," she said in a strong, steady voice.
Takashi's eyes showed no emotion as he spoke. "Kurosaki Ichigo is not dead."
Shock filled the members of the room.
"What?" Toushirou exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
Renji had the same expression on his face. "But—But that's impossible...!" he sputtered out.
"It is not yet Kurosaki Ichigo's time to die," Takashi said tonelessly. "He had been absorbed by the Otherworld, otherwise known as the dimension where people who have regrets when they died go. They are sent there to move on from their past and when they do, they can rest in peace. I do not know why Kurosaki Ichigo has been sent there, but I will assume that the inhabitants there are either requiring his assistance or he is needed for someone to move on."
"The Otherworld?" Kyouraku murmured thoughtfully. "Never heard of it."
Meanwhile, Rukia was overjoyed. "Then... Then that means... Ichigo is alive..." she whispered.
A grin crept up on Renji's face. "Heh. I knew he wouldn't have died that easily."
A relieved expression crossed Ukitake's face. "Thank goodness," he breathed out.
Toushirou smirked. "Hmph."
Mayuri smiled creepily. "Interesting... This is very, very interesting..."
Kenpachi grinned maniacally. "Good. That guy still owes me a fight!"
"However, Kurosaki Ichigo has to be taken out from the Otherworld as soon as possible," Takashi added flatly. "Otherwise he will become a part of it."
"Y—You mean... Ichigo will get stuck in that world forever?" Rukia said, worry etched in her eyes.
Takashi looked at her. "He will die even if it is not his time yet. And after a hundred years he will be reborn on Earth with no memories whatsoever of his previous life."
"How can we get him out of the Otherworld?" Renji demanded.
"I can summon a gate to the Otherworld," Takashi replied. "However, it can only hold for ten people."
"If that is the case, then I will send Captains Zaraki Kenpachi, Komamura Sajin, Hitsugaya Toushirou, Hirako Shinji, and Kuchiki Byakuya along with Vice-Captains Abarai Renji, Kuchiki Rukia, Hisagi Shuuhei, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Kusajishi Yachiru," Yamamoto announced. "The numbers will be a precaution for we do not know what the inhabitants there are like. For all we know, they might hold us back aggressively."
Kenpachi grinned. "That possibility fires me up."
Shinji scratched the back of his head. "Looks like Momo ain't comin' with me, eh...?"
"Renji!" Rukia exclaimed, her face glowing with happiness. "Ichigo isn't dead! He's—He's alive!"
"I know." Renji smirked. "And we're gonna save his ass this time."
"All of you are dismissed. Make preparations immediately." Yamamoto opened his eyes and looked at them. "We still owe Kurosaki Ichigo, and to be able to repay him once more, we will save his life."
Part One—End
A/N: So can you guys tell me what it's like so far? Is it good enough to be continued? Were any of them OOC?
Additional Note: I revised this because it seems that there are parts which I've written wrong (the effects of writing when it's 3:00 AM). But you don't have to read this again. I will post the next chapter in a week.
So, I've changed the names because I don't think I'm used to refer to Toushirou by his last name. Momo, too, including Izuru and Shuuhei. As for Unohana... Well, I'm too used to referring to her that way, so her name will stay the same. :)
Takashi is an OC. I do not know if the King of Souls has a messenger or any of the sort, but I'm not really basing on the manga. There will be manga spoilers here, however, so read at your own risk.
Darkness9825: Thank you for telling me that. I guess I just forgot and went on writing like a madwoman ever since I thought of this idea, so... Anyway, I fixed it for you. I apologize for my mistake. T.T
pmw928: Oh, that. I think it's because I was delirious when I wrote it. -.- Anyway, I changed it for you, so thank you for informing me. Sigh. Next time, I promise not to write the next chapter so early in the morning.