Hiya people! This is pretty much my first Bleach fanfic, as well as my first oneshot/darker story, REDEFINED, as one reviewer said that it was lacking some depth. Just by the way, flames shall be used in my reviewer's barbeque, with mango chutney. So come along, tell your friends, and PLEASE READ AND REVIEW.
Disclaimer: okay, if I really owned Bleach, would I be making up odd AU stories on a fansite? NOO. It is property of Tite Kubo.
Sorrow. An emotion among the many that struck 15 year old Ichigo Kurosaki mercilessly, as one of his best friends lay dying in his wounded arms. Frustration and self-hatred also slammed into him; why couldn't he save her? He knew no Kido, and Orihime was out of town. And either way, he knew that this wound couldn't be healed in time, due to its evil source; a Cero.
Rukia's small form shifted a bit in his grip, and Ichigo yet again noticed the small hole in her chest, which ironically caused her to look like the very things she had vowed to destroy; hollows. Blood seeped from the two stab wounds in her stomach, and a small groan of pain, as well as a trail of blood escaped her lips. The Cero wound seemed oddly suspended, no action taking place within the opening, simply an empty, lonely void.
It had meant to be a routine hollow track-and-destroy mission. Rukia had picked up the presence, and she and Ichigo had instantly gone to the scene of the attack, expecting to find a Whole being devoured.
It was meant to be a rather meager, weak hollow, but by the time they had found it, the gigantic fish-shaped demon was being eaten by an oddly smaller, more humane hollow. The attacking party had rather large, clawed hands, taloned feet, and curved, large horns, with an upright, human like posture and shape, as well as hideous, curved teeth on its blank mask, which extended until its spine.
"Those things just seem to sicken me more and more..." muttered Ichigo as he observed the grisly, barbaric scene.
"But a hollow is a hollow, so this bastard is as good as mine!"
Ichigo let loose a raging battle cry, and drawing Zangetsu, charged mercilessly at the hollow.
"Ichigo, wait!" cried Rukia, genuinely concerned with the fact that the hollow was feasting on its kinsfolk, the scene feeling oddly familiar. Why would a hollow eat another hollow, if it could devour a far more wholesome, easy-to-kill meal, such as a Whole?
The Substitute Shinigami drew within a few meters of the suspicious hollow, which had finished its meal, and it suddenly sent out a large surge of dense, untamed Reiatsu, which had previously been undetectable, causing Ichigo to gasp, and stop himself, slightly frightened that such a demon could perfect a high level Reiatsu technique.
"I suggest you stand back, Shinigami." , the hollow said, attitude and annoyance clear in his echoing voice.
Then, a large, suffocating burst of black and purple energy engulfed the hollow, causing Ichigo to leap back, quickly shaking himself out of his previous astonishment. The energy dissipated, and the Substitute Shinigami's eyes widened, for beneath the burst, the previously Adjuchas had transformed into a Vasto Lorde. The figure had shrunk now to human size, and strongly resembled one, excluding the fact that it was now covered in a hollow mask like armor, his claws and talons now far more serrated, and he now donned a simple, light armor, as well as a horned helmet, and two short swords, which were strapped to its hip.
It suddenly Sonido'ed, and struck Ichigo from behind, with a back handed slash, drawing blood upon its now sharper claws, before shaking it off in a disgusted manner. Reaching behind itself, the Vasto drew its two white, spiked blades. Quickly recovering from the surprise attack, Ichigo transformed to Bankai, brandishing Tensa Zangetsu, before charging in a fully concentrated battle rage at the Vasto, the latter doing the same. The confrontation quickly turned to a high speed battle of clashing blades and large Reiatsu shockwaves.
As the blur went by, Rukia had already jumped onto a nearby building, watching the intense sky battle with intrigue. However, she noticed the Vasto had started to quickly chant something beneath its breath, its lips moving quickly with expert speed. Eyes widening in realization, she cried out, "Ichigo! Look out!"
Turning his head, Ichigo looked at Rukia, but the Vasto had already completed its incantation, and had cast its hand forward; "With light, divide this into six! Bakudo number 61, Rikujokoro!"
Six rods of light suddenly appeared, then slammed into Ichigo's abdomen, locking him in place with their mystic strength. A smirk spread across the Vasto's lips, and reinforcing a sharpening Reiatsu over its blades, it charged at the helpless Ichigo, blades outstretched, ready to tear the Substitute apart in a blazing bloodlust.
And the worst happened. Rukia Shunpo'ed in front of Ichigo, directly in the Vasto's path. And she was stabbed by the blades intended for Ichigo's own death. A blood curdling scream rang out, and Ichigo's gut wrenched at the sound of his friend's impalement.
Withdrawing the blades, the Vasto put them back in their sheath, admiring the two stab wounds that Rukia clutched at, desperately trying to stop the blood loss, before it put its finger to her heart, and whispering in her ears, "Don't worry. I'll make the pain go away…"
A large bang resounded through the town, as the Cero blew clearly through Rukia Kuchiki's chest, missing Ichigo narrowly, an expression of complete and utter horror splattered across his face.
Then the noble woman began to fall from the sky, too weak to maintain flight. The Vasto let loose a roar of mocking, echoing laughter. But his laughter died, when he noticed that Ichigo had broken out of the Kido. And that the angered, vengeful youth had Shunpo'ed directly in front of him, Getsuga Tenshou fully loaded, and hollow mask donned, and he delivered a ruthless horizontal slash, while releasing the Getsuga. A large blast was seen, as the strike slammed into the Vasto, point blank, and causing the high powered hollow to lose its left arm, and a good portion of the side of its head. Hissing in pain, the Vasto quickly opened a portal to Hueco Mundo, and disappeared, retreating to tend its wounds.
Letting his own mask break off, and realizing that Rukia was still falling, Ichigo Shunpo'ed beneath her, catching her small, damaged form, distraught at the fact that her wounds were so severe.
And that was how Ichigo had ended up where he was, a dying friend in his arms, and tears streaming down his face. Stirring a bit more, Rukia opened her eyes with difficulty, and attempted to smile, only to give up the facade.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." He repeated, before Rukia weakly lifted her arm to silence him, and letting it drop next to Sode no Shirayuki, who had now materialized, also close to her own death, identical wounds on her body, staining her pure white kimono. Breathing heavily, the young form of a materialized Tensa Zangetsu hugged her tightly to his body, using his hood to desperately try and hide his own tears.
Breaking herself away from him gently, Sode no Shirayuki looked deeply into his eyes, compassion clear on her face, before lifting her hand to brush away tear from Tensa Zangetsu's face, which had ventured halfway down his cheek.
"Stay strong, young Zangetsu…"
"No, you can't leave! There's so much we haven't done! PLEA-!"
"Hush, young one. You will find others… But I must depart…"
"But-"
"Goodbye…" said Shirayuki, before her voice became wispy, her body glowed, and her soul returned to the physical Zanpaktou, her presence disappearing completely.
Feeling the deep sorrow emanating from Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo allowed him to enter the Zanpaktou again, where he isolated himself.
"Don't be sorry... You couldn't have known... About its attack... And I don't want... You to watch me... Die while just saying you're sorry..."
"Ichigo, you must say goodbye. She does not have much time..." Said Zangetsu from within the Zanpaktou, still mourning the loss of Sode no Shirayuki.
"Goodbye, Rukia..." Ichigo whispered.
"Goodbye, Ichigo... Tell Renji to be good, and tell Byakuya-san I said goodbye... I... Love you..." She said weakly. "I love you too..." He responded. She smiled as best as she could, before her body began to glow, then dissipate, leaving only her partially cut garments and sealed Zanpaktou.
All his work, his struggling, their memories, their friends and their bonding over the adventures and laughs, the sorrows and the pain... All of it, now gone, in the drop of a die, just like her. It was as if life was playing some sick joke on him, and he felt like the universe itself was laughing at him.
His friend, savior and probably the closest thing to love since his mother's own death, Ichigo's gut stabbing emotions returned, and he cried out into the sky, hurling curse upon curse at the cruelty of the universe. He clutched desperately at the empty garments, and cried more, refusing- no, not believing that she was gone, as the snowflakes began to slowly descend upon the town of Karakura...
This is my first rewrite, and I'm actually starting to enjoy writing these stories. I am HOPING that this version will get more reviews, but that's your choice to whether you'll sponsor my writing or not with comments… Well, hope you liked it, and see you again on my next adventure.
Espada175, out.
