Rain Chapter 1, a bleach fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Not yet anyways.

A/n: Ichigo is seventeen, with that you can figure out everyone else's age. Issin had already revealed himself to Kon, and Ichigo, however the two espada haven't come yet. Please read and review.

Key to text.

Bold: Onomatopoeia

Italicizes: Thought speech ( it varies between whose speaking so just pay attention)

B. Italicizes: Hollow speech (inner hollow speech, or zanpaktou speech)

Rain

Chapter 1: Inner Chaos

If I were the rain

could I make someone happy

could I entice a smile of on a angry face

if i were the rain

could I be the sorrow

that causes so much pain

if I were the rain

could I soothe the grief stricken soul

on a cold winters night

if i were the rain

would I be anything more than a hated reminder

of a far off occurrence

if i were the rain

would I be anything more

than the tears of dying angels

falling to the ground

mixing with the silent streams that run down tender cheeks

could I be more than alibi?

If I were the rain

would the retaining clouds

be able to quarantine

my passionate free fall

as I ripped open the heavens and gracefully fall to earth

if I were the rain

would I be able to cultivate love

as I slipped from the heavens

would I be able to let it bloom

as I hastily fell

would the cries of passion and sorrow

pit pat

be heard

as I softly hit the ground

if I were the rain

could I be loved

instead of silently hated

if I were the rain

could I ever love

find true happiness

if I were the rain

would my cries be heard

my tears seen

if I were the rain...

the rain...

rain...

( Omniscient POV)

Rain poured from the sky, flooding the hopes of survival. Water drenched clothing ran through the once lively city. Splash! Hurrying heavy steps pounded through the deep puddles on the ground. A orange haired shinigami clung to life with every passing minute. His life slipping further and further from his own wet grasp. To him each footstep silently carried him closer to death. Red blood mixed into the clear silhouette of the water streaming from the sky. He neared a forest, a dark ominous forest. Leaping onto a branch of a near by tree, he gained leverage. His senses were dulled by the torrential downpour, he could only rely on his instinct. His own fleeting instinct carried him branch to branch. Branch to branch, branch to CRACK! The branch broke carrying him down to the cold ground. Down he no longer had the strength to rebound or even break the fall. So down he fell for an eternity, slowly slow enough to count the drops of rain that plummeted to the earth with him. Blood streamed above him, it dripped below him. Gravity was an enemy that even he couldn't beat. Now he could see the earth, his soon to be resting place. As he hit the semi hard muddy sediment he could barely hear the sound of his own bones cracking over the rain. The pain was intense, so very intense it ripped through his soul. Set his body on fire, with slushy mud in his mouth he was unable to scream out to relieve him self. He laid there in the tepid center, freezing cold rain above him, burning red blood below. The pain was intense to intense, his eyes rolled back, so far back that he started to dream of his own memories in the rain. Those sad pitiful memories, tears streamed down his cheeks. As he slipped from the world of consciousness a worn, beaten raven haired teen landed besides him. Instantly dropping to both knees she out called his name.

"ICHIGO!!!"

"ICHIGO!!!!!!"

"ICHIGO!!!!!!!!!"

"Ah." an orange haired teen abruptly sat up in his bed. Cold sweat drenched his clothing. His breathing was uneven. His chest reacted in pain as cold sharp air blew into his lungs. His usually messy hair was even messier. His sheets full of perspiration. He tried to calm himself and take in his surroundings. His room, he was in his room. Two beds, a desk with a computer, a stereo, bookcase, closet for clothes, a dresser for more clothes, a mirror, and a door for escape. His room, his safe room. His mind was corrupted with fear. An emotion that he wasn't used to having, his heart beat increased as a pounding headache drummed his in his skull. His insides were torn up, on the outside he only appeared tired. His eyes shot to the window. No rain, no drops of water, not even a cloud was in the sky, only the moon. He turned his head to his left and came face to face with his worried roommate.

"Ichigo, are you alright" she asked. Her dark eyes full of concern, her voice steady and even. Ichigo took a moment before answering. He needed to ensure her that he was fine with his usually monotone. He took a deep breath ad replied, "Yeah, I'm fine, I just had a bad dream. Nothing to worry about". "Are you sure?", damn it he thought. She had an annoying habit of asking to many questions. "Yeah I'm sure, I just need some rest, speaking of rest why aren't you sleeping?" He attempted to shift the topic from him to her. "I was sleeping but you screams woke me up.", if she had the bad habit of asking to many questions then he had the bad habit of asking the wrong questions. "Sorry Rukia, I had a ... look I'm sorry, lets just try to get some sleep, we have school in a few hours". She didn't move only stared into his eyes. "We should talk about your dreams, maybe it'll make you feel better."

All to coldly he answered, "No, we wont talk about my dreams were just going to go to sleep". "You kept calling out your mothers name". Ichigo stopped breathing all too soon those flooding memories came rushing down on him like a tsunami. His eyes widened in shock, the memories of his dream. The girl, the river, the earth as he tripped, his mother shielding him, and the...rain. The substance that bonded his memory. A sinister laugh that was enhanced be the rain, blood that was thinned by the rain, tears that were renewed by the rain. His mother was walking away from him, leaving him behind, he ran with all his speed to catch up but he couldn't. He was falling now. Into black abyss until.

"Ichigo!!", she called his name.

He regained consciousness. He turned to Rukia and glared at her. "Rukia get some rest we have school", with that he laid back down and faced the wall. Silently she returned to her own bed and turned towards the closet. "Goodnight" she said to the other teen. "Sorry", she added softly before closing her eyes.

Sunlight shone through the open window. Warm rays cut through cool December air. Light greeted Ichigos' eyes as he opened them. The events of the past night were tucked away into a corner of his mind. He turned his head to his clock,it read seven thirty. Which left him with a little less than thirty minutes to get to school,so he got up and got started. After running through his morning rituals he went downstairs. His father was drinking a cup of coffee, and reading the news paper. He glanced up at his son, Issin had felt a strong surge of spiritual energy the night before that had awoken him. That energy had come from his son, eventually it had died down enough as to not draw holllows to their house, but it still worried Isshin. He had hoped that by now his seventeen year old son would have learned to control his reistou. "What are you staring at old man" questioned Ichigo. Who was half wondering and half enjoying the fact that his father hadn't launched an all out frontal morning assult on him. "Are you feeling okay son", Issin hadn't broken his stare or his train of thought when Ichigo talked. He was pondering what had triggered the power explosion the night before. He knew that Ichigo wouldn't tell him willingly but he still had to ask. "Yes, I'm fine", Ichigo was becoming annoyed with that particular brand of questioning. Are you okay, yes I'm fine, next would come, "Are you sure Ichigo". Automatically Ichigo answered, "Yea, um... did Rukia leave already?" Issin nodded. Returning his pupils to his paper he added, " Have a good day at school"

Ichigo was now two blocks away from school. Asterik was blaring from his ipod headphones. He hadn't caught up to Rukia who always takes the straight way to school; so he took a short cut. The shortcut just happened to be through a park. Tall trees, wooden benches, a lake, an open field or two, and a dirt path. He used to come here when he was a kid. Back when life was simple. He used to spend Sunday afternoons here. In peace, his only thoughts were of his family. No hollows, no shinigami, no vizard, only his father, his sisters, and his mother. Life was good, well it used to be good now all he had was half good tepid memories. His feet carried his a little further through his memories, until he suddenly stopped. He took a deep breath and started a small jog. As he broke into a run his eyes caught sight of a woman standing underneath a tree, she was beautiful. With long flowing brown hair, and a bright smile. She stood there waving, she mouthed the name, "Ichigo" as he broke off towards school.

Rukia inhaled a deep breath full of the scent of autumn air. As she exhaled she watched the leaves dance in the wind. Dance through swriling loops and breath taking swirls. She laughed timidly. She wondered how long this peace would last. When fighting a war peace was measured by the amounts of breaths you could take before the next attack. Aizen hadn't made his move yet, and truthfully she was becoming impatient. It wasn't that she liked war it was just that her time was limited. She was assigned Ichigo's town along with several other shinigami's in case any of Aizens' troops appeared. But if nothing happened she might get recalled to soul society. Meaning that she wouldn't get to spend any time with Ichigo. She didn't know why she even wanted to spend time with the idiot, all they ever did was fight. Even so fighting was nice sometimes.

Taking another deep breath she exhaled and couldn't help but to think that her time in the material world was like the autumn leaves. You wait all year for them to come, you traverse all the other seasons, the heat of summer, the laziness of spring. Then finally, it comes with all of its wonderful colors, and cool sweet scents, and just when you begin to get used to it winter comes and steals it away. The bitter cold, the harsh winds, the depriving snow; that at times can create a landscape equally as stunning and beautiful as the falling autumn leaves. When winter comes you eagerly look forward to what the next autumn will bring.

A smile graced her lips, it was however a small sad smile. She didn't want to leave, she secretly enjoyed being in the material world. She liked going to school, and having friends, and staying with Ichigo and his family. She was fond of doing girlish things, and being a teen. To the Gotei 13 it was a mission, to her, it was...it was freedom. Being a shinigami made her feel like a caged bird with clipped wings. Being on Earth made her feel as if she could fly, even if it was only for a few minutes. Ding Dong, Ding Dong!! The first set of bells rang. Sighing she walked towards the school yard.

The orange haired boy stepped into the classroom. He walked over towards a group of teens. " Good morning Kurosaki-kun", greeted an over eccentric blond. " Hi Orihime, Sado, Tatsuki" every one else returned the morning greeting. A dark eyed youth with stylish glasses, and silver bangs approached Ichigo. "Yo, Ishida", with out returning his greeting the toher youth said, "We need to talk". Damn it this guy is always so serious, thought Ichigo. He followed Ishida to the door, Ishida stretched out his arm to open it, but stopped. Sensing a spiritual presence on the other side of the door he withdrew his arm and waited. The door cautiously slid open, on the other side stood Rukia, who glanced from Ishida to Ichigo. Just for a second their eyes made contact, but in that second they both lost their breath. All to soon the fight from the night before came flooding into Ichigo's mind, along with bits and pieces of his dream. He tried to organize his thoughts, but found it fruitless. His mind was cluttered with to many emotions anxiety, fear, regret. He could barely hear his own thoughts over the sound of his erratic heart beat. He tried to calm himself, but again it was fruitless.

Rukia was caught off guard, when their eyes met she had and urge to slap him, hug him, and say sorry all at once. However she would settle just for, "Good morning, Uryu, Ichigo". With that she walked towards her seat without waiting for a reply. Ishida whom hadn't noticed that his two classmates had been acting weird ushered Ichigo out the door. Or rather, he would have ushered Ichigo out the door if Shinji wasn't blocking it.

"Oi, morning, how's everyone today", Shinji had his usual mask of over bearing polietness on. Ishida returned the greeting. "Morning Hime-kun", Shinji shouted from the doorway. "Morning Shinji-san", Orihime shouted back. Shinji smiled, stepping inside the classroom and sliding the door closed behind him. He did not however move from the doorway. Ishida grew irratted, "Shinji-san please move". Shinjis' eyes changed for an unnoticeable moment as he looked at the two boys. "It's not like either one of you has any time left anyways,...to talk that is", his voice had dropped to a menacing whisper. Ishida and Ichigo exchanged glances as they pushed pass Shinji and made for the door. Ishida swung the door open and stepped through. Or rather, he would have stepped through if the teacher hadn't been on the other side. "Good morning class, please take your seats", defeated Ishida turned and sulked all the way to his chair. Ichigo followed suit.

The first half of the school felt like it was nothing more than a passing daydream to Ichigo. His mind, and his stomach were uneasy. Instead of feeling depressed he simply channeled the energy towards hunger. Thank god it was lunch time. Ichigo was currently eating some of Tatsuki's homemade vegetable lo'mein. It was good, it wasn't to spicy or lacking in flavor, or just weird like her female counterpart. After he ate he journeyed to the roof. It was vacant, which was just the way he liked it. Nice and quiet, he walked over to the border, a cement wall that enclosed the roof of the school, it was only about two feet high. He laid his back on the cool cement casting a gaze towards the sky. Taking a deep breath he began to relax. Just as he exhaled Ishida appeared, standing with his arms folded.

"You look like you need some sleep", chided Uryu as he noticed the bags under Ichigo's eyes. "You would be the one to rub it in wouldn't you", Ichigo retorted furring his eyebrows. "So I take it that your still having those dreams", Ishida inquired. Ichigo didn't break his gaze as he continues, "No I'm still having those nightmares, only there worst now". Ichigo had told Ishida about the dreams hoping that he had a solution,Uryu couldn't think of one; Ichigo was still watching the clouds, "Ishida you wanted to talk earlier, and I don't think that it was about my dreams. "Well", the spectacle boy started, "It's semi related, I was wondering if I could take over for you tonight"

Ichigo's group took turns patrolling the city on different nights. So that no one person would use up to much energy in one night, or fall behind in their studies. Ishida came up with the idea and the schedule. Ichigo had Mondays, Wensdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, by request. Ishida had Tuesdays, and Sundays. Leaving Orihime and Sado with Thursdays. Which worked perfectly for them because Sado had band practice and cram school; and Orihime had cram school, a job, and a boyfriend. For a while this worked, until Ichigo's dreams began to escalate. Which left him irritated, tired, and out of stamina to endure a full night of patrol. Ishida even had to save his ass a few times, which eventually lead to him taking over for him a few nights. Ichigo never declined the generous offer, even though he rarely got a decent nights rest when he was off.

Ichigo broke his gaze for a second and said, "Thanks Ishida". Uryu smiled and said, "No problem what are best friends for". Ding Dong! The bell signaling the second half of the day rang. Ichigo stood up and walked towards the stairs. Ishida followed.

The rest of the day was a drag, no one could wait for the day to end; the bell was a god send. Everyone hurried into the hall, bodies crammed the hallways. Nothing would stop them in their pursuit of the fresh air of freedom. The textbooks would not way these joyous rebels down as they left the world of 'having to', and entered the world of, 'wanting to'. Ichigo walked down the stairs to the first floor. His mind thought less, finally clear of those congested emotions. Today he was the last one to leave. That was just how he liked it, the last one never had to smell the foul odors of other students, or hear the sounds of meaningless conversations. The only thing the last one got was silence, which was exactly what he wanted.

"Kursaki-kun", shouted an unwanted voice. Turning around he noticed a smiling Shinji waving at him. Shinji seemed to be ill at ease. A group of attractive girls were swarming around him, Shinji whispered something into the one that was nearest to him. She giggled and ran to Ichigo, so red head today huh, thought Ichigo. "Shinji-kun asks that you wait for him in the lobby", she said with the biggest and dopiest smile he'd seen yet. Shinji had acquired a playboy habit during his short time at the school. The girl spun around and ran back to the group, but when she returned Shinji was gone. She looked back over towards Ichigo whom had also dissipated. Sighing she said, "I was really looking forward to that threesome"

Ichigo had made his way towards the roof, he knew that Shinji would be waiting. Or rather he assumed that Shinji would be waiting. However when he got there Shinji was no where, in plain sight. Ichigo walked into the center of the roof, and glanced around. "Oi, down there howdy do", greeted an upside down Shinji, whom was also floating in midair. "And you say that I waste my spiritual energy, you use it more than me." Shinji smiled, "No I believe that I said that you let yours spill out carelessly, not that you waste it." Shinji as Shinji landed his facial expression and composer changed. He was now more business like. His mask was no longer on, no more games would be played, no jokes exchanged, now only serious business would be discussed.

"So whats new?", questioned Ichigo. "It would appear that Aizen doesn't plan on making his move for quite some time. He seems intent on training his army." Ichigo grimaced at the thought of an army of hollows, menos, and arrancar. Shinji continued, "You needn't worry about fighting in this war anyways, since you have a war of you own to fight". Ichigo pondered that last statement war of my own?. "Ichigo you know what I'm talking about, think hard", Shinji held the palm of his hand in front his face. Blocking most of his features from sight. It was then that Ichigo realized what he was refereeing to. "You mean my inner hollow.", he asked. "Correct"

Rukia was sitting on her bed, it had been roughly a whole hour since school ended. She wondered if Ichigo was still upset. She had hoped that he would hurry home to rest before his patrol, but if he was mad he probably wouldn't come until after she was asleep. If he wasn't mad then he'd be hungry, in which case he would eat. But Yuzu hasn't cooked anything yet. Yuzu wasn't home yet and neither was Karin. And Issin well, Issin was out somewhere, so that meant that no one was home. Then it dawned on her that she could cook something for Ichigo. It's good start at an apology, she thought. With that she headed towards the kitchen.

"Correct", Shinji said as his own hollow mask materialized in his now clenched palm. Ichigo's mood began to dive, from nonchalant downhill to nervous and unconfortable. "Shinji", he started, but was cut off. "Ichigo, I told you before that once the symptoms start it was all over, that there was no going back.", Ichigo vaguely remembered that conversation. "Ichigo, you need to understand this, once your inner hollow starts to move, it's over for you. It will consume you. It will devour your soul until there's nothing left. You will become an arrancar, and we, I will annihilate you"

Those words began to stir something inside of Ichigo. Begins to move...what if it has already begun... "Ichigo when I said that every one will turn you, I meant it. If you become a hollow everyone, your family, your friends, your fellow shinigami, even us vizard will turn against you. You will become to powerful of a hollow we can't let you join Aizen. We all, will kill you." Ichigo stared at Shinji's hollow mask thinking of his own. He thought about losing everything important to him. He began to feel fear, he didn't want to be alone. "Ichigo", Shinji started as he shifted his mask, now only half of his face was shown. "Ichigo remember when I said that we should be friends?"

The over eccentric transfer student took a seat next to the carrot top. Placing his books on the right, he glanced to his left making eye contact with the with orange haired youth. That grabbed Ichigo's attention. " Hi my name is Hirako Shinji, Kurosaki-kun, lets be friends"

"Yeah I remember, you said that on your first day right", Shinji smiled. "Yeah I did, and I meant it, we should be friends, since I've gone already through the transition, I may be of some help.", Shinji's free hand ruffled his pocket. A second later he removed a small business card. He handed it to Ichigo, whom read immediately. Hirako Shinji, Vizard recruiter. It had his cell and home numbers on it. "Business cards?" Ichigo couldn't hold back a small smile. "Yeah everyone thinks that it's a good idea, well anyways call sometime okay.", with that Shinji started to air walk away.

I wonder if he really can help me stop my inner self, before it consumes me. Ichigo was once again at ill ease. To many emotions were swirling inside his head. He started his walk home, placing the headphones back in his ear he turned up the volume, and tuned out the world. Unbeknown to him that his own inner world was starting to come apart. Somewhere deep inside of his soul a sinister laugh echoed, to late Ichigo, it's already begun and you can't do anything to stop it.

A/n: Yeah so thats the first chapter, if you like or don't like let me know. I'll try to make it better in the next one. So leave a comment with your thoughts and I'll get back to you.

Just a side note, I know that i had a lot of conversations in this chapter, but it was just so you knew where everything was at, who's around and who wasn't stuff like that. Oh and a certain red head will be making an appearance so don't kill me for not adding him in this chapter. §§