((Hey! Welcome to my Bleach fanfic.

Let me just get one thing out of the way. Since this is an alternate version of Bleach, details will be different. Some things will be changed, since this story is entirely alternate. I assure you, characters will not really change. There will be some changes in background, but personalities will pretty much remain intact. They wouldn't be the characters we know and love, otherwise!

Also, although this is my own version of Bleach, I am not claiming that the characters, actual story, settings, etc are mine.

So before you start writing a comment on how I got something wrong, please remember that this is not exactly the Bleach you know. (I might make tiny mistakes here or there, please excuse them) Nonetheless, I hope that you enjoy it.

This was an idea/request given to me by BrazeRancor, here on fanfiction! They gave a basic idea, I formulating an in-depth plot.

Thank you BrazeRancor for the awesome request, and I hope you enjoy reading this.

Chapter 1, Commence!))

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…

Ichigo blocked the blow with Zangetsu. The clash of metal sounded throughout the clearing.

"Let's take the long way home, Ichigo."

"But mommy, it's starting to rain…"

He dodged the next attack in a fluid movement, shielding his eyes from the dirt kicked up by his opponent. He nearly didn't see the next advance that came from above!

Ichigo jumped back, using his blade as a shield. The tip of the advancing blade slid down Zangetsu, making a sound similar to nails on a chalkboard. He stepped backwards with a cringe, trying to spot an attack coming from the air-born dirt his challenger used as a screen.

"Ah!" A car sped by through a puddle, splashing mucky water right onto him.

"Oh my, oh my, what a bad truck. Are you okay, Ichigo?" She pulled a cloth out of her pocket and began to wipe his face. "Sorry. Here, let's switch. I'll walk on the roadside.

"It's okay! I'll stay on this side. I'm wearing a raincoat, so I'll be fine!"

Masaki smiled. In a few minutes, it the discomfort wouldn't matter. He wouldn't feel it anymore.

There! Ichigo moved to dodge a stab, and swung Zangetsu in the direction that the attack came from. The attacker disappeared again, and the dust was clearing up.

Concentrate, Ichigo, concentrate…

"Why are we stopping. …Mommy?" He tugged on her skirt.

"We're waiting for someone. A friend of mine."

"… Okay." He smiled up at her as they both shared the umbrella.

He honed his focus, and closed his eyes. It was getting closer… Closer…

He swung around holding Zangetsu in front of him. Sword hit sword, and sparks flew!

Suddenly, his opponent was a shadow, and flew to the side. Ichigo kept his guard up, ready for whatever was thrown at him next. Things were getting serious. He should start trying to take offense. But…

"Look out! Run!" Ichigo panicked as that humongous, masked monster leered at them. His mom didn't pay attention to the monster with an Angler-fish type lure protruding from his forehead.

"Shhh, It's okay, Ichigo. Calm down." She seemed calm.

He was rigid, unable to take his eyes off of the threatening entity.

"Do you trust mommy, Ichigo?"

It was time to try giving his attacker a taste of their own medicine. He swung his blade around, dragging it in the dirt and dust. He prayed that Zangetsu wouldn't be angry with him. The strange man didn't ever speak a word to him anyways, but he always delivered a scathing glare to his wielder. As if Ichigo was doing something wrong.

Now he had his own smokescreen. Keeping his eyes squinted, Ichigo kept moving through the haze of dust. Then he saw it. The sillouhette of his challenger through the dirt.

"That's right, keep your eyes closed. Just like that. It's okay, Ichigo. Mommy is here." She held his hand as he shivered in fear from the sound of the monster's breath. But mommy said everything was fine. It was fine.

"Please, make it a fast one." Ichigo heard his mother whisper, though she wasn't talking to him.

"Sympathy? From the 2nd? My, I'm surprised." The thing sneered.

He took a humongous swing through the dirt screen. All or nothing!

Ichigo felt resistance, as if Zangetsu had struck home. But that feeling suddenly disappeared, as did the shadow. The sword was cutting through nothing but air now.

A blade was pressed up to his throat from his opponent standing behind him. Everything was silent as the air cleared again.

"Good, good," the voice praised him. "You actually took a really good swing there."

Ichigo was released. He took a step forward, then hesitantly turned around to face his opponent.

"I've been telling you all along now to switch from defense to offense. Defending yourself won't get you anywhere in a real battle," Neliel laughed.

"Well maybe if you gave me the chance to attack I would," he muttered under his breath.

"I will not tolerate defiance!" The aqua-haired Espada scolded, lightly smacking him across the back of the head. She didn't really mean it, since she wore the same-old warm smile. As always.

Ichigo 'hmphed' to the side. He almost had her. On second thought, yeah right. She was the 3rd Espada. He had no chance of beating her at all. Ichigo was extremely strong for a 13-year-old boy Arrancar, but not that strong.

Maybe one day he would be. That's why Neliel was chosen to be his teacher. She was the perfect mentor for Masaki's offspring. One day, he would be allowed to see his mom more than once every blue moon. He wouldn't have to wait for her to come see him anymore.

"I'm right here with you, Ichigo. Don't worry."

Pain shot through the 9-year-old's body as something pierced his back through his chest. He gasped, but kept his eyes closed. It was okay. Mommy said it was okay.

He fell down at his mother's feet, his life ebbing away. Ichigo felt his warm blood pool around him as he gasped for air. It hurt so badly… This was all a bad dream, wasn't it?'

"Na, Ichigo, I'm hungry! Let's go get lunch," Neliel complained, stretching her arms behind her head with a yawn.

"You said we were training today! Come on, I was so close, dammit!" He was angry.

"Pesche is probably wondering where I am," she whined to no one. She had already started walking back to Las Noches palace out of Menos Grande.

"Hey! You're not even listening to me!" Ichigo looked around nervously at the barren desert wasteland for a second. He then ran after his teacher, shouting, "Wait for me!!"

"This is your home Ichigo. Welcome to Las Noches." Masaki smirked, standing by her son outside of the main door.