Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or anything relating to it, and have the utmost respect for all the people who created these wonderful characters.
AN: Yes, I know I have an unfinished Twilight fic. And an unfinished Kenshin fic. But once again, my muse has decided she wants me to write something else. On the plus side, it's planned to only be seven parts. And I know exactly how each one will go. And they're short.
I'm not exactly sure how to describe this story. It was based upon the quote used in this part, and then kinda took on a mind of it's own. After this first part, each remaining part will be a look inside the head of a different character as they reflect on the person they stood one step behind. Also, I do not read the manga, so I did some basic checking online to try and figure out how the Aizen storyline ends. If anything is wrong, please let me know and I will try and fix it. Characters will be referred to the way they are in the Japanese, as will titles. For example, Ichigo calls Orihime Inuoe by her last name, so that is what will be used when he thinks of her. The glossary of Japanese words is at the end.
One Step Behind Him
By Lady Callista
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President Andrew Shepherd: Why are you always one step behind me?
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Names and faces ran through Ichigo's head as he lay unconscious after having defeated Aizen. Rukia. Inuoe. Chad. Renji. Ishida. Urahara. Yoruichi. The other Shinigami. They flashed by one after another until he could barely tell who was who. And each was fighting for their lives. They faced the Arrancar, and the three ex-taicho. Each was tired and injured. Even knowing they'd won in the end…
Then his memories shifted.
He saw Rukia the night he'd met her, losing a battle that could have cost his family their lives. Saw the day he'd met Chad, and how they'd sworn to fight for each other. Saw Ishida and Inuoe as they told him they were going with him to Soul Society.
Every decision and act of fate that had brought him to this point ran through his head.
And finally Aizen. Facing him and being the only one who could beat him.
If he hadn't met Rukia and gained Shinigami powers…
If his friends hadn't come with him to Soul Society…
If he hadn't mastered the Hollow transformation…
If Aizen hadn't kidnapped Inuoe…
A single thing changed, and Aizen might control the world. Fate was funny that way.
Without the lessons he'd learned and the friends who had stood with him, nothing would have been the same. If he hadn't been challenged to become stronger, if he hadn't had his friend's lives to protect, he didn't know if he'd even be alive now.
It was funny how much influence a single person could have on another.
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President Andrew Shepherd: Why are you always one step behind me?
AJ: Because if I wasn't you'd be the most popular history teacher at the University of Wisconsin.
-from "The American President"
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Glossary:
Shinigami: literally "Death God," changed to "Soul Reaper" in the English dub.
Taicho: literally "Unit Commander," changed to "Captain" in the English dub.