Dedicated to Nats and Mike thanks for being fans……

AFTER THE FALL 2

(part 1)

Ichigo the Fallen

(Rise of the Mask)

Ichigo glanced back at Rukia one last time before using flash step to catch up with Shinji and Hiyori. He was amazed that a smile had crept upon his face and despite his best efforts he couldn't get it to disappear. He had finally done it, THEY had finally done it. After months of dancing around the issue, he and Rukia were finally together as it always should have been, and now, now he had an eternity to be with her. The smile widened when he realized that he could hold it over her head that it was he who confessed first.

"Heh, dickhead," Hiyori called, "Get your idiot brain in the game, the game is real now." She said with a bit of concern in her voice.

"What do you mean?" Ichigo said as the three of them landed outside of the abandoned warehouse.

"You don't get any second chances this time." Shinji said as he walked into the warehouse, "No human body to run back to now. Life and Death are final." Shinji then disappeared into the warehouse leaving Ichigo standing with a dumbfounded expression.

Ichigo turned to Hiyori, "Can't be as bad as the first time. I'm a real shinigami now."

Hiyori turned to look at Ichigo, "Yah, right," she quickly turned around and started walking into the warehouse, "Come on Ichigo, its time." She said as a tear drop fell from her eye. Ichigo looked at her. He couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy, Hiyori had never spoken to him like that, much less call him by his name before.

In side the warehouse the Vizored were assembled. Ichigo walked in the center of them with that stupid smile still plastered on his face, but as he looked around none of the Vizored made eye contact with him. "Come on you bitches, lets get this started," Ichigo said in his cocky voice, "My ladies waiting for me."

Is she a Shinigami?" Aikawa Love asked.

"Rukia of the Kuchiki clan, "Ichigo said with a bright smile.

"A noble," Aikawa Love said, "Stupid!" He got up and walked away. A cold chill swept over Ichigo as he watched the tall man with the star shaped hair cut leave. He began to notice that the usually jubilant group seemed uncharacteristically somber.

Ichigo opened his mouth to say something when he noticed Hiyori's eyes filled with tears. Ichigo was about to go to her when Shinji jumped in front of him and said, "It begins, try not to lose your self Ichigo."

Ichigo immediately found him self standing in a world that was sideways. He stood on a flat building starring at his hollow self. To Ichigo's surprise the gray doppelganger stood up and then bowed low before him, "All hale the King." It said in a low voice. Ichigo noticed that he wore his black and red coat that appeared when he unleashed his Banki, but he didn't have enough time to think of that because right in front of him, his hollow half began to dissipate from the waist down in a cloud of smoke. The smoke slowly drifted over to Ichigo and melted into his close.

New power engulfed Ichigo's entire being; everything his hollow side knew he knew. So, many secrets of Zangetsu filled his mind. Everything became so clear, he looked back at the face of his other half and it smiled, "So, King who do we kill."

"What!" Ichigo said in shock.

The hollow half stopped its dissipation and starred in quizzically at Ichigo, "We have defeated Aizen, but now the whole of Soul Society will be upon us, I say we kill Bkakuya first.

"What why would we, no why would I do that?"

"Why? Soul Society will kill you now that you are no longer human, and I don't know about you but I like being alive." The gray Ichigo said laughing his body reforming. Ichigo's eyes widened with horror, "I mean we are Arrankar now after all." It said with a smile.

"No, we," Ichigo shook his head in frustration, "I, I am a shinigami!"

"What," the hollow began to laugh insanely, "You are not even a Vizored. And even if you were those stupid weak shinigami's would still want you dead, I mean look at the Vizored." The hollow used his power to show Ichigo a scene were the Vizored stood in full shinigami uniform, all of them were either captains or vice captains. All of them loyal to Soul Society and the Gotei 13, Ichigo watched as he saw Aizen ambush each one of them turning them into hollows, saw each of them struggling not to save themselves but save each other. He saw Urahara in his captain's uniform along with Tessai Tsukabishi rush to their aid. Saw the counsel issue a death sentence on the Vizored, saw them betray Urahara. Ichigo fell from the shock of it all, he saw Yoruichi a captain and the sole aer to a noble family risk everything to save the Vizored and her lover Urahara. Everything made scenes now the betrayal from this so called righteous Soul Society. His hollow just laughed louder as tears began to fall from Ichigo's eyes.

"You see," his other half yelled, "You see what those bastards did to their own." The hollow put an arm around Ichigo, "And what's so missed up about it is they were infected. What do you think they'll do to you?" An image of Ichigo tied up in a pit flashed before his eyes. It was the time Urahara was training him to get back his shinigami powers. Ichigo stared at the image of himself horrified as he saw the white mask appear over his face in that dark pit. "But maybe you'll get lucky, ya I mean just look what they did to your old man, that might be alright, right?'"

Ichigo saw his father Kurosaki Isshin in all his glory. Saw how his father led the Gotei 13 with honor and pride. Saw him stripped of his power and throne to earth for tapping into dark side and saving them from a powerful enemy. This, this was the Soul Society, this was the land of the shinigami's the thing that he wanted to be, the thing that he gave up his humanity for. Rage began to fill with in him, and most dangerously a small seed of hate lingered into his heart. Ichigo stood; the images of Soul Society's betrayals filled his mind and vision. Ichigo didn't notice that his hollow stopped laughing and only smiled at him. Ichigo didn't notice that it was he now that slowly began to dissipate and move towards his hollow. "But do you really think they'll be that kind, I mean your father did save the kings key after all and he was a real Shinigami to start off with, but wait you aren't one right?"

"NO!" Ichigo shouted stopping the visions, stopping his dissipation, "We didn't do anything for them, we did it for her, we did it for Rukia."

"Yes, yes we did." The Hollow said in a crazed voice, "And how deep this blade sinks into MY heart." Ichigo looked at the Hollow. A small hole began to appear over the hollow's left chest where the heart would be. Ichigo looked to his own chest and saw the same hole, "She used us, me." The hollow said coming closer to Ichigo.

"No, we love each other, just, just today we.. She said she would wait for an eternity." Ichigo yelled.

"Really," the hollow said in shock, "Lets see shall we." The hollow waved his hand. Ichigo saw him lean to kiss Rukia, he saw her eyes fly open, was that hate in her eyes, he saw it. No, no Ichigo's mind raced, "They used my, our power." Images of Rukia and Renji began to play, they were laughing, she had never laughed that way with him, Renji looked at Rukia, Rukia blushed.

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" The word shot from Ichigo's mouth with all the force of a hurricane. The gray Ichigo smiled as the hole over his chest increased. Ichigo's eyes closed and he turned into smoke. The smoke slowly drifted over to the gray Ichigo a wide smile covering his face. Then suddenly the smile stopped when it noticed that some of the smoke drifted away from him. He saw the form of Zangetsu take the smoke and then vanish, "TAKE IT, TAKE IT, I DON'T CARE, I'M THE NEW KING NOW," the hollow yelled the hole complete over his heart, "DO YOU HEARME ZANGETSU, I'M YOUR NEW KING, I'M THE KING NOW!" The hollow laughed.

The air in the warehouse grew cold the Vizored looked around at each other and then suddenly the air tore down the middle and Ulquiorra and Halibel stepped out. Shinji jumped to his feet and drew his sword, "What are you doing here Arrankar?"

Ulquiorra ignored Shinji and picked up Ichigo's unconscious body. Halibel stood by the portal, "We came to pick up one of our own."

Hiyori jumped to her feet, "Ichigo is a Vizored, you big titty BITCH." A mask instantly covering her face as she charged Halibel.

"Silence," Ulquiorra said stopping Hiyori in mid flight. Then he turned to Ichigo, "Show them." An insane laughter erupted from Ichigo as he stood and starred at the Vizored with golden black eyes. Ichigo ripped his coat off and revealed a hole were his heart should be, and in his hand Zangetsu was no longer black but gray. Shinji grabbed Hiyori and walked away.

"Now, you have him, leave our presents." Shinji said turning his back on the three. Ulquiorra bowed and then stepped through the portal, which instantly disappeared.

Hiyori's mask broke; tears fell from her eyes as she wept in Shinji's arms. "So, Ichigo fell." Yadomaru Lisa said opening a Hustler magazine.

"And with him the most powerful zanpaktou in Soul Society's history went with him." Shinji said. He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and dialed a number, "Sorry, Isshin, I truly am, but Ichigo is lost."

AFTER THE FALL 2

Rukia Loving Brother

Isshin sat down on the soft couch in his living room and lit a cigarette. "Damn, I'm defiantly smoking again." His eyes were still red and puffy from seeing his daughter Yuzu and even Karin break down and cry when he told them Ichigo would not be coming back to live with them. He turned to look at the picture of the woman he would always love, "Sorry Masaki I failed again," tears fell freely from his eyes, "I have lost our son." Just then he felt her approach, quickly he dried his eyes and put on his all so familiar stupid dad face, "Moshy, Moshy Rukia, what brings you by so late."

Rukia shifted uneasily as she looked at Isshin with new found respect, "I wanted to thank you for allowing me to stay with you former Captain Kurosaki."

"Now, now no need for that, I'm no longer a Captain." He said smiling his wide fake smile, "Now, can I get you anything while you are here."

Rukia's eyes brightened, "Any news on Ichigo." She said trying to hide the red that began to stain her cheeks.

"Ah, my stupid son finally confessed to you didn't he." Isshin said jumping up and down, "I want at least a hundred grandchildren." Isshin laughed.

Rukia couldn't hide her red cheeks any more, "Please, Kurosaki-kun I, I.. me an Ichigo still have much to discus.."

Rukia was cut off when Isshin grabbed her and threw her into the air, "No, need to be so formal, just call me daddy now, and when you two get married can you see to it that he gets that stick out of his ass."

Rukia let out a small giggle, "I'll try." Rukia cheeks now turned a deep red, "Ah so, any news on Ichigo returning."

Isshin forced his smile to widen, "No, but you know him, he's so stupid it might take years for his training to finally sink in, I'm telling you Rukia you picked a real Idiot to fall for." Rukia opened her mouth to say something but Isshin gently began to push her out the door, "Well look at the time, bitter be getting back upstairs you know big, big party coming." He said with a wink, "Oh and don't let old man Yamamoto scare you to much, he's nicer then he appears, he saved me and Urahara you know." With that Rukia found her self out side of the house with the door shut. She slowly turned thinking Isshin was really extravagant for a captain, but he was right she should get back to Soul Society.

In side the house Isshin watched Rukia step through the portal back to Soul Society. He picked up his cigarette again and then called Urahara, "Come now I really need a drink."

Rukia sat outside of the Kuchiki manor, day dreaming in the sun of a little orange haired boy bouncing in her arms, as Ichigo and her walked through town, "Oi, Rukia." Renji's voice broke the day dream as he walked over to set next to her. Rukia felt suddenly tense around him, when she realized she hadn't spoken to him since the kiss, "So," Renji said as he got comfortable, "Ichigo, huh."

Rukia blushed and put her head down, "Ya, I know I should have.."

"Forget about it." Renji said yawning, "The way I look at it, he did me a favor taking a psycho like you off my hands." Renji said laughing and then yelling in pain when Rukia punched him on the top of the head.

"Shut up you pineapple." Rukia said.

"Nah, seriously thou, I never loved you the way he does. I mean I thought I did, but I see him look at you and will I never looked at you like that. So," Renji let the sentence die. He and Rukia sat in a comfortable silence for awhile.

Rukia leaned into Renji and whispered, "Thank you."

Renji smiled and put his arm around her, "It's nothing. I just feel sorry for you having to wake up next to that orange hair every day." Rukia and Renji both started laughing, "But, he does love you." Renji said looking at Rukia.

"I know," Rukia said, "I love him too."

"I wonder how Bkakuya will take the news." Renji said as they both laughed again. At the same moment a servant approached the two.

"Pardon me please, but Miss. Kuchiki, the Master requests your presence in his office."

"Let me know if he's willing to have his house full of orange hair kids," Rukia looked at Renji and blushed.

Rukia sat in front of Byakuya's desk in silence as her brother finished off some paper work. Rukia was amazed that no noise ever came from this office. She couldn't even hear the rustle of papers as he moved papers around signing and organizing his desk. Then Byakuya spoke startling her, "When Ichigo finally comes from where ever he is," Byakuya said without looking at her, "He will be offered the captain's position of Division 5. Rukia's eyes opened wide, "We voted unanimously on the topic, not that it mattered. Ichigo did kill Aizen the recognized captain of Division 5 even though Aizen was labeled a traitor, so it is his still by right."

"Niisan you voted as well." Rukia could hardly believe what she had heard.

"That is what unanimously means," Byakuya said stacking a bunch of papers on his desk, "But," he said looking right at Rukia, "If he is to sleep here, he must marry you before he shares your room."

Rukia was shocked and then elated with joy. Without thinking she jumped over his desk and hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. Immediately she froze, filled with horror at what she just did. She felt Byakuya stand up placing her down on her feet. "Ease yourself, this is just what big brothers do." He said patting her on her head, "But Rukia."

"Yes, Niisan."

"You are a Kuchiki, remember your manners."

"Yes, Niisan. I'm sorry."

"No, need to be sorry this is what big brothers do as well." Byakuya said walking out of the room. Rukia stood there in shock starring at the empty door. Could it be that her life had finally begun? Byakuya called himself her big brother, even patted her on the head with, with what seemed to be affection, and even consented to Ichigo marrying her, head spun with joy. This truly was the happiest time in her life.

Rukia tried to walk properly as befitting a member of the Kuchiki clan, as she moved through her house to her room, but she just couldn't help adding a little skip to her walk and humming. As hard as she tried the skipping just increased as well as the humming and the smile on her face. Everything was going perfectly. She opened the door to the room and froze when she saw a bearded man in black sitting on a chair. "Who are you?" Rukia asked in shock.

The man stood up and spoke softly, but the words boomed in her ears, "I am Zangetsu."

"You're Ichigo's, Ichigo's zanp…"

"I have no business with you." Zangetsu lifted his hand and touched Rukia on the forehead. Her body went limp, as Zangetsu picked her up. "Sode ne Shirayuki, I need to speak with you."

"I hear you my friend." A woman's voice answered in a singing way. Zangetsu with Rukia's unconscious body were instantly transported to a forest in the dead of night, and in the middle of that forest a frozen pond sat, with the most beautiful woman dancing on the ice. Zangetsu gently laid Rukia's body on the ground and walked to the woman. "What can I do for you?" The woman sang more than spoke.

"I come with a request."

"The great Zangetsu has a request, now I am really interested."

"The boy has fallen."

The woman stopped dancing and stared at Zangetsu, "That news will break the poor child." Sode ne Shirayuki said looking at Rukia, "And I have grown so found of her too. What is it that you ask?"

"Keep her here." Zangetsu said, "She is the only one that can save him."

"Save him?" Sode ne Shirayuki said with interest, "It is not our business to save anyone, we obey the will of our masters."

"Its different with him." Zangetsu said, "His heart is so strong."

"As was his father's.'

"Yes but his is different, there is no malice in it, no conceited. It only wants to protect."

"Then how did he fall."

"The darkness in all men." Was all Zangetsu said. "Will you do it."

Sode ne Shirayuki was silent for what seemed like an eternity then she turned to Zangetsu, "For her I will."

Zangetsu nodded and then opened his hand. A small puff of smoke rose up in the air, "This is his heart, this is all that is left of the boy with this, she will be connected to me, and to the boy."

"Will this be enough?"

Zangetsu turned to look at Rukia, "Their love is a rare one, it will be more than enough." Zangetsu began to fade, his voice trailed off over the frozen pond, "Keep her here till the time is right, and if we meet again you must destroy me."

Sode ne Shirayuki stared at him in shock, "I can not, no one is strong enough."

"To save her heart and the boy, you must be," and with that Zangetsu disappeared. Sode ne Shirayuki walked over to Rukia's limp body and wrapped her in her arms as a loving mother would a child, "Why is it that love like yours is always so hard fought."

Well that's all for now, please review/send comments even if its you suck. Hopefully have more next week or next day. I wanna thank NESSLEGG (hope I spelled that right). Eh I know we don't know each other but your stories inspired me this time. Hope you like mine.