Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. This story is purely for my own amusement...although hopefully some of you will enjoy it too.
The Price of Freedom:
Chapter 1:
Renji and Rukia were enjoying a rare moment of quiet by taking a leisurely walk through Karakura Town, talking about the past and recent events in the Soul Society.
Suddenly, Rukia stopped walking, cocking her head to the side, as if she were listening to something. Renji kept walking until he realized that Rukia was not walking alongside him anymore, then he turned around to give her a quizzical stare.
Renji walked back to where Rukia was standing. "What's wrong?"
A look of realization came across Rukia's face, and she took off running in the direction they had come from. Startled by his companion's sudden urgency, Renji took off after her. He being so much taller than Rukia, he didn't have to run far before he had caught up with her.
Renji looked down at Rukia once he had caught up with her, and from the look on her face knew immediately that something was very wrong. "What the hell's going on, Rukia? Where are we going?" he questioned her as they ran.
"Can't you feel it?" Rukia asked, "it's Ichigo's spiritual pressure...but it's off. Something wrong. It's coming from the direction of the park."
Concentrating now, Renji could detect a familiar spiritual pressure, and knew that Rukia was right...it was Ichigo's. "it's his alright, but it's way weaker than what it should be." Renji, putting on a burst of speed, rushed into the entrance to the park, Rukia not far behind.
They both stopped simultaneously, trying to get a better grasp of exactly where Ichigo was located.
"His spiritual pressure is even weaker than just a few minutes ago." Renji commented, worry in his voice as his hand went unconsciously to the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
Rukia pointed to a grove of trees a few hundred yards away. "Over there." she said as she took off running again.
"Rukia, Wait!" Renji yelled as he took off after her. He had had an uncomfortable feeling since entering the park, and he didn't want to let Rukia out of his sight. "It could be dangerous."
Rukia made it to the grove of trees and began calling out. "Ichigo! Ichigo, where are..."
Rukia's voice cut out just as Renji came up behind her. With his hand still on the hilt of Zabimaru, he stepped up beside Rukia. He gasped.
Ichigo was lying, unmoving, in a puddle of blood at the base of a large sycamore tree.
So what does everyone think so far? I've actually gotten about 6 chapters of this story so far, so I should be able to update rather regularly, depending on how often I can make it down to my Dad's house to use his internet connection to post the chapters. Let me know if I should continue the story or not!