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Author's Note-Hi there! Some of the scenes I extend might seem not realistic or OOC to you but I just had to write this. Most of these will start off with dialogue and actions from a certain anime episode, and then branch off into my created territory. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer-I own nothing.

Summary-When Rukia gives Ichigo her powers, something else happened that neither expected.

What If?

Chapter 1-Soul to Soul

Ichigo stared at the Hollow with angry disdain. "Fight me one on one you ugly bastard!" he shouted. The Hollow howled in answer. Raising the splintered bat high up in the air, Ichigo made a mad dash for the Hollow. It opened its mouth in anticipation, almost managing to pull off a maniacal grin.

Rukia's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no!" Time seemed to stop for Rukia. A whirlwind of thoughts passed through her head. This boy was rude, rash, reckless and crazy. But he was also brave, noble and very caring. Not to mention the resemblance to Kaien was uncanny and offputting if you didn't count the orange hair.

It was just too much. Rukia would've never guessed that she'd find herself in a situation like this. A situation almost too eerily similar to Kaien's. There was no time to fully process anything; no time to plan; no time to reconsider. All Rukia knew was that she had to save this brash youth at any cost. She would not stand idly by and watch him die. As her mind stood there frozen, mulling over what she could do in this hectic crisis, her body moved of its own accord.

Suddenly she was in front of the boy, and just in the nick of time. She went to raise her sword, but was stopped by the harsh and painful feeling of sharp Hollow fangs ripping into her skin. Ichigo's eyes widened as blood sprayed from the small raven-haired woman. She managed to maneuver her sword between the large teeth of the Hollow and pry its mouth from her back and shoulder. The Hollow roared and backed away momentarily as Rukia swayed on her feet, and then, to Ichigo's dismay, collapsed, sword and all.

"Soul Reaper!" he cried out. Looking down at the small robed figure, he watched as blood continued to trickle down her body.

Rukia groaned and shifted, managing to send a weak glare up at the lanky boy who stood over her. "You... are a fool! How could you possibly have thought... you were any match for a Hollow? Did you really think that everything would be over if you gave him your soul? One soul doesn't satisfy them for long." She let out a small grunt of pain before continuing her harsh lecture, her voice growing in intensity. "If you don't stop interfering we're all going to end up as it's food!"

The Hollow lurked every closer, letting out another ear-piercing howl. With a shaky grip, Rukia managed to grab hold of the stair banister and tried to hoist herself up with little success. Ichigo stood silently watching her.

Rukia let out a sigh of frustration before turning back to face the boy. "I'm too injured to fight. Do you... want to... save your family?" she asked haltingly, her pain ever increasing.

Ichigo shot her an incredulous look. "Of course I do! If there's a way then tell me how!"

Rukia grabbed her sword, her face solemn. She couldn't believe she was about to say this, but... "It will only be temporary. But... you must become... a Soul Reaper yourself."

Ichigo's face registered confusion. "Wha?"

Rukia continued hurriedly. "You must take my Zanpakuto and run it through to the center of your being, so that I may pour my powers into you." The Hollow howled again as it advanced closer still. "I can't guarantee that you will live. But if it doesn't work it won't matter." Rukia didn't mean to sound so frank, but it was the truth. Looking closely at the boy's face to see if she'd frightened him, Rukia was surprised to see a look of pure determination instead.

Ichigo stared into the depths of the woman's shockingly beautiful violet eyes, his decision made. "Then give me that blade, Soul Reaper."

Rukia stared back just as intensely, almost getting lost in his sincere chocolate brown eyes. "My name is Rukia. Rukia Kuchiki."

Ichigo placed his large hand over Rukia's much smaller one on her blade, positioning it on his chest. "And my name is..." He hesitated for only a moment before plowing on. "Ichigo Kurosaki." Together, they plunged the blade deep into Ichigo's chest.

And then it happened.

A bright light engulfed the area as everything seemed to freeze. There was a rush of motion, and suddenly, Ichigo and Rukia stood in a world of white. The landscape was covered with snow in all directions and the cold wind blew harshly.

"Where are we?" Ichigo asked, brushing snow off his clothes.

Rukia looked around fondly. "This is my inner world," she said serenely. Her injuries seemed to have disappeared.

Ichigo scoffed. "Inner world. What the hell is that? Is this some more crazy Soul Reaper mumbo-jumbo?"

Rukia glared at him disaprovingly. "It's where my Zanpakuto spirit resides."

Ichigo looked even more confused. "Were we supposed to be transported here? Did you screw something up?"

Rukia's glare intensified as her eyebrows twitched in anger. "Shut the hell up! I didn't screw up anything, and I don't know why we're here."

"But I do," a woman said, stepping out from the shadows. She had long pale lavender hair, dark blue eyes and was dressed all in white.

"Who the hell are you?" Ichigo asked bluntly.

Rukia rolled her eyes. "This is my zanpakuto spirit. What's happening, Sode no Shirayuki?"

The spirit looked Rukia and Ichigo over seriously. "I brought you both here to tell you that a transference of power is a very serious matter. Are you sure that you both wish to go through with it?"

Ichigo scowled. "Look, lady, we don't have time for this crap. So why don't you just shut your trap and-"

A swift kick to the face from Rukia had Ichigo eating snow. "I apologize for his behavior, Shirayuki?" Rukia said.

"That's quite alright, Lady Rukia, but answer my question. Are you sure you want to go through with this."

Rukia didn't hesitate. "Yes, Shirayuki, I'm very sure."

The spirit nodded her assent and turned away from her master. "Young man?" Shirayuki called to Ichigo.

Said orange haired teen had just picked himself off the ground and was spitting snow while glaring at Rukia and mumbling under his breath, "Damn sneaky midget." He stopped however and turned to face the spirit. "The name's Ichigo."

"Ichigo, then. I am the roots of Rukia's powers, and in order for you to become a Soul Reaper, I must go inside you. But before I go willingly, you must promise me something?"

Ichigo looked at her impatiently. "Yeah, sure. What?"

"For as long as I am with you, you must promise to protect Rukia."

"Shirayuki!" Rukia cried out in embarrassment. "He does not have to protect me."

"Nonsense!" The wind picked up and the snow turned to ice as Shirayuki's temper rose. "I will not leave you defenseless! Either he agrees, or no deal."

"Of course I'll protect Rukia!" Ichigo shouted. "You think I enjoyed seeing her get bitten?" His face heated up with his next words. "You're precious to me now, Rukia. I'll always protect you."

It was Rukia's turn to blush. "Ichigo!" she exclaimed, partly surprised but mostly touched.

A tinkling laugh escaped Shirayuki's lips. "Very well then. I will go with you, Ichigo. But first, I will bind together your spirit ribbons so that you will always be connected to each other."

Ichigo looked mortified. "Hold on a second! Is that like a marriage? Because we just met and all-"

Shut. Up! It's not like that at all!" Rukia screeched.

"But in do time, it will be my young friends," Shirayuki said wisely. Suddenly their two red spirit ribbons appeared. Ichigo's had a streak of black going through his while Rukia's was streaked with white. The three of them watched as the ribbons seemed to swirl and dance in the air before tightly entangling themselves together. Rukia and Ichigo both felt a rush of warmth within them as it happened before the snowy landscape spun out of focus and they were back in the real world.

Rukia crumpled to the ground, the pain of her injuries returning in a flash. Ichigo shot her a worried glance, but she motioned him forward, pointing at the ever impatient Hollow. Ichigo needed no further prompting. He shot at the beast with new vigor and strength, determined to take it down once and for all. And after that was done... well, only time could tell what would happen next.

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