Arti here!

This my first HitsuRuki fanfiction - my new dark obsession. I would like to apologize to my fellow readers about my other fanfiction: This Little Thing Called Destiny. It will be put on hold for this new and brilliant idea will be my main focus.

I would also like to apologize in advance. I'm a very lazy author. I might not update for a very long time.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any characters.

Warning: I will be writing in Rukia's point of view. It will be hard to keep her in character since I don't know how she thinks. So please bare with me.

P.S. I would like to thank you all, my future readers for following and adding to favorites and reviewing.

-XXX-

Chapter 1 Restart

"RUKIA!"

I heard my name being called.

A piercing sharp pain erupted from my chest. Crimson blood splattered everywhere.

And my world fade to black.

-XXX-

The future has shattered

The road ahead may hinder

You cannot do it alone

But fear not, young one

I shall give you a gift

So use it well

And may the gods be with you

I wish you luck, on the path to come

-XXX-

My violet eyes fluttered open.

The world around me was hazy. I couldn't make out anything besides the color green and blue. My vision slowly returned.

Where am I?

The glaring hot sun, burned my eyes; blinding me. I squinted and raised my arm to block out the light.

Hot.

How could the sun be so hot? Wasn't it nearing Winter?

A warm breeze ruffled my raven locks. I slowly sat up. I winced at a stabbing pain in my chest. I gripped it tightly.

Nausea swept over me.

What happened?

I then noticed something off. My chest felt . . . nonexistent. I looked down and patted my chest.

Completely flat.

I shot up in surprise and suddenly felt feverish. Black spots dances across my vision. I couldn't tell what was right side up. My knees buckled. I weakly crawled to a bush and emptied the contents in my stomach. I leaned against a tree and ignored my aching body.

I was in a forest. I was wearing a purple kimono that ended around my mid thigh instead of my shihakusho. Where's my zanpakuto?

My head felt like it was split open. I clutched it in pain and groan. After I regained my senses, I weakly stood up and used the trees as support while I made my way to the closest civilization. I felt faint reiastu up ahead.

The sun continued to burn holes into my head and back. By sunset, I arrived at a poor village. It seemed familiar.

Am I in Soul Society? But I was in Hueco Mundo wasn't I?

I stopped thinking about it. It was causing me a larger migraine.

My eyes narrowed at the village, the closer I got to it. I recognized the village. I realized where I am.

This is Rukongai. Or more specifically, district 78.

I trudged through the crowded streets. Many made way for me to go through. They stared at me with such hate in their eyes. They whispered harshly but otherwise ignored me.

Weird.

Was it because I'm a Kuchiki?

Hunger burned in my stomach. My throat felt like sand.

I spotted a nice looking lady selling some goods. She was smiling and shouting about her products. Its price and qualities. I made my way to her.

"Excuse me, miss?" My voice sounded a whole lot higher and squeakier than usual.

She looked down at me in surprise. A flash of fear and hatred in her eyes. And then she shrieked. Loudly.

"STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! GET OUT OF MY SHOP YOU DIGUSTING ANIMAL! YOU - YOU DEMON CHILD!" She screamed as she grabbed a metal rod and slammed it onto my head.

I fell down, feeling disoriented and stared at her. Confusion and fear evident in my eyes and face. Warm liquid slid down my forehead and to my nose.

I felt a pang of pain in my chest. Demon?

She screamed again and swung her metal rod wildly. Afraid to get another fatal blow from her, I took off running down the street. They pelted rocks at me and shouted at me.

"DEMON!"

What was going on? Why are they calling me a demon?

A large rock hit the back of my head. I fell forwards and rolled before I quickly got up and ran as fast as I could from them. I ran far from the market area and into the more quiet and secluded area.

I came to a stop by a river. I fell down from exhaustion. The rocks they threw at me had indeed torn through my skin. My body was covered in bruises and cuts. I used the water to wash myself. I hissed in pain.

I thought back to what happened.

She looked down at me.

It then hit me like a slap to the face.

I've shrunk. I was shorter than the counter that the lady was selling goods on. How could I have not noticed that?

I gasped and stared at my reflection in the water.

My face was rounder. Full of baby fat. My eyes were larger. I stared at my hands that I now noticed was a lot chubbier.

I've turned into a child! How could that have happened?

Suddenly, memories flooded my head in large waves.

I remember now.

The Winter War.

Aizen destroyed everything.

He stabbed me through my heart.

He killed everyone.

The future was dead.

Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I realized what happened.

Nii-sama's dead.

Ichigo's dead.

Renji's dead.

Orihime.

Chad.

Ishida.

Everyone.

I trembled violently and fell to the ground. I gritted my teeth; trying to contain my cry of anguish. My throat throbbed; wanting me to cry. My heart felt like to was ripped in half and I was stabbed repeatedly. I choked and hiccupped.

Please don't cry, Rukia.

My eyes snapped wide open in shock at the voice.

Shirayuki?

Yes, I'm here Rukia. There's no need to cry. We've been given a chance. We can change the future. Why else are we back in the past?

So that's why I look like I'm nine years old. I'm in the past. The that means I could change everything! I can change the course of time! I can save everyone!

That's the spirit, Rukia.

I then looked down at the ground. But how can I? I'm not strong like Ichigo or Renji and Nii-sama. I'm weak. I could hardly defend myself against the ninth espada. I would be dead if it wasn't for Nii-sama. But all of that didn't matter. Nii-sama only delayed my death by I few hours. So how can I defeat Aizen?

Think again Rukia. Do you remember the voice?

The voice? I realized that she was talking about the voice that spoke to me before I woke up. I thought it was a dream.

It was not a dream, Rukia. It was the hogyoku. The hogyoku spoke to you and has given you a gift.

What? But the hogyoku was under Aizen's control!

Have you forgotten that the hogyoku responds to your heart's desire? It has been buried deep in your soul for so long, it established a bond with you. It heard your dying wish. Your heart's desire. You desired to go back in time to change the future.

But I thought the hogyoku can only grant your heart's desire if you have the potential to. I don't have the power to go back in time! It's impossible!

The hogyoku is a powerful thing. There's so much we could know of it. No one fully understands it's capabilities.

I went silent. What about that gift you were talking about?

The hogyoku has given you a gift - but that is something you will have to find out on your own. Do not be upset, you still have your original reiastu level from the future. Please do suppress it. In exchange for high reiastu levels, you have a harder time controlling it.

I suppressed my spirit energy.

Shirayuki?

Nani?

Why . . . why did does villagers call me a demon?

Tears blurred my vision at the thought of it. The temperature dropped dramatically. The leaves began to frost; along with the grass and ground and river. I remember their voices. Calling me a demon and pelting rocks at me. The look in their eyes.

You see the thing is Rukia, you aren't quite back in the past. This is an alternate universe. The world that you once lived in and grew to love is no more. Aizen has taken over. The future of that world is gone. The hogyoku has placed you here in a different world that has not yet been destroyed. You have a chance to save this world. To save your comrades lives.

The reason that you were called a demon, Rukia, is because of the other you in this world. Your reiastu is much larger in this world, thus making it hard to control. The villagers fear and hate you because of your power.

You're right.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I will save this world of the future that is to come! I will alter the course of time! I WON"T LET THIS WORLD PERISH LIKE MINE! I WILL SAVE EVERYONE! I WILL KILL AIZEN AND MAKE HIM PAY FOR WHAT HE'S DONE!" I screamed at the sky as more tears fell. "I will save my friends and family. Even if I have to die in the end."

Fierce determination burned brightly in my eyes at my vow.

"I promise."

Such admirable determination.

I wiped my tears away and willed the ice to melt. No wonder I'm called a demon. My powers react more to my emotions. It's stronger than in my original world.

I left the area.

The sun was beginning to set. Since the villagers hate and feared me, I camped out in the forest. I sharpened the long tree branch that I broke off with my knife that I stole not too long ago.

I grinned at my handy work and stepped into the river that I now will be living close by to.

I waited. A fish swam by. I struck down and stabbed it. The fish flopped in my makeshift spear, before it soon died. I used the knife to scrap off the scales and cut the head and tail off. I stabbed it through with a stick and roast it over the fire.

I wasn't so sure how I would change the future. I don't have Shirayuki with me. I felt pretty defenseless without her. The dark woods was really creepy but I'll have to live with it.

I picked up the stick and bit the crispy cooked fish. It was really good, but not as good as it should've been if it had some spice in it.

I crawled into the hollow cut out of the large tree that I've found. With leaves as my bed, I soon shut my eyes and welcomed sleep.

-Bleach-

It's been a few weeks since I woke up in the forest. I've recovered most of my strength. I stole food only when I couldn't catch any. I used shunpo before I could he pelted with rocks but the people still called me a demon whenever I showed up.

I was now on the roofs of the houses. Safest place from the villagers.

I saw a familiar red head move around the crowd.

Renji?

I saw him distract an old man who was selling pots of goods. He stole a pot and the old man tried to catch him but only to trip from the rope that bind him to the tables. The other boys with Renji grabbed the other pots and ran for it. The old man soon freed himself and ran after them with a stick.

I remembered that I helped Renji this day. It was the day we first met.

They turned several corners and ran down many streets, but the old man still caught up to them. I jumped down from my spot and ran pass Renji and his friends, surprising them. I knocked the old man over with my legs and used the stick and knocked him unconscious.

I dusted myself and turned to Renji.

My eyes widen in shock.

Renji was . . . Renji didn't look my age at all. He looked like he was thirteen instead of the same age as me.

Remember Rukia, this is an alternate world. It's not the same.

I snapped out of my shock.

"What are you doing?" I yelled.

They flinched. So they're scared of me as well.

I felt a pang of pain but ignored it.

"What are you doing? Get out of here!"

They ran away. Renji suddenly stopped and turned around.

I raise a brow.

"Y-You can come with us." Renji said.

"What?" His friends panicked "The demon can kill us!"

"But we owe her for helping us!" Renji retorted even though he looked sort of nervous.

In the end, they led me to their hideout. The moment I stepped inside, the others went silent and shrunk in fear.

"There's no need to be scared." Renji said. "She said she won't hurt us."

They slightly relax but were still wary.

Renji handed out the candies to everyone.

"Here," he handed me a bag.

I took it. "Arigatou."

He seemed surprised at my thanks.

"Give it back!"

"That's my bag!"

I turned to the commotion. A little boy was trying to grab his bag of sweets from an older boy. Anger burned through me. I didn't like people who bullied the weak. The temperature dropped immediately. Frost spread over the corners and ceiling of the hideout. The other kids noticed and jumped in terror. They all stared at me in fear as I made my way over to the fight. The two didn't even noticed what happened.

"Give it back!"

"You want it back? Take it back you shrimp."

The boy grabbed the bag but it tore apart. The boy fell down and cried.

"Great. Look at what you've done!" The older boy growled.

"Leave him alone!" I growled dangerously.

Icy wind swirled around. I brought up my fist and punch the older boy in the face. It sent him into the wall that cracked under the pressure of my strength. Frost from around his limbs as I stalked towards him. The other kids scurried out of my way as the older boy screamed in terror as the ice spread up his limbs.

RUKIA STOP!

I froze and abruptly stopped. The kids around me cowered in fear. I stared at the mess I've made. I walked up to the little boy who trembled and whimpered.

"Take it." I handed him my bag of candy.

I stared coldly at each and every one of them. My eyes stopped at Renji. I took a step towards him. He took a step back.

I stopped my approach and stared at the ground. I then turn towards the exit and left the hideout. I walked outside and flashed step away.

I arrived back in the forest on a tree branch. I sat down and gazed at the town below me.

What happened?

I told you that with your high reiastu, it is harder to control your powers and actions in exchange for the gift the hogyoku gave you.

It now made more sense why I lost control. So this was in exchange for whatever gift the hogyoku gave me. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Now Renji's scared of me.

Why not apologize to him? I'm sure it will clear things up.

Okay.

I felt his spiritual energy and followed it. I arrived in the town where a black chariot thing sat before a shop. A crowd has formed around it. Marveling at the sleek vehicle. I spotted Renji in the crowd and jumped down.

The crowd gasped in fear and moved out of the way. And at the same time, a shinigami came out of the shop.

I stared in awe as he walked towards me.

"Stay away from that demon!"

"She might hurt you!"

The shinigami sent a glare at the villagers who quieted down.

"She isn't a demon." He said.

"She nearly killed me once!"

"You're wrong. She isn't a demon. She simply has high reiastu that she can't control."

The villagers shut their mouths. The shinigami walked up to me and kneeled.

"Your spiritual energy is very impressive, young one." He said.

"I'm suppressing it sir." I said. Where did that come from? I was practically showing off!

He blinked in surprise.

"So how strong are you?"

We need to be noticed to enter the academy and quickly graduate to get our plans ready, Rukia.

I hesitated but brought out my hands.

Reiastu pooled into my palm and grew to the size of a basket ball.

"My . . . this is truly impressive. I suggest you join the academy once you're old enough. We need soul reapers like you."

I nodded.

"Here,"

He handed me his bento. I took it. I watch him disappear down the street. The adults glared at me and left. It was just me and Renji with his friends.

I handed him the bento.

"Take it as an apology." I said. "I'm sorry for scaring you guys."

Renji nodded.

I walked away.

"W-Wait! Where are you going?"

I slightly turned my head.

"I'm leaving."

"Leaving?"

"I'm leaving the district. It doesn't seem like I'm welcomed here anymore. I suggest you join the academy as well."

I walked away.

"Wait! What's your name?"

I continued walking.

"Rukia."

I flashed step away.

-Bleach-

A year has passed since I left district 78. I am still able to do all the kido spells that I've learned. I've used a stick as my zanpakuto to keep my skills sharp as well have I further improved.

I'm not sure where I am anymore.

All I know is that it's summer again and the sun hates me.

As I walked along the forest path, I heard shouts up ahead.

Curious, I shunpo to the source of voices. In a clearing, I saw a group of teenagers beating a boy around my age. The boy was already bloody and bruised and full of cuts. They were beating him with sticks and rock!

THOSE DISGUSTING ANIMALS!

I clenched my fist as my blood boiled. The temperature several degrees below zero. Their breaths created steam and the teens shivered.

"W-What's going on?" They shrieked in fear.

The boy looked around in confusion.

Frost spread around the trees and ground, crawling up the teens' legs. They shrieked in terror. I walked out of a bush. My hair covered my eyes.

Their attention turned to me.

"Leave . . . him . . . ALONE!" I snarled.

I channeled my reiastu and picked up frosted rocks and flung it at them. The rocks hit the ground around their feet and exploded and created a sound that sounded like a gunshot. Or so Ichigo would've described it.

They screamed and jumped.

The boy scooted away in fright.

I ran and tackled one of them and punched him repeatedly. The others snapped out of their fear and idiotically attacked me. I swung my fist. Kick. Jab. Duck. Sweep. Punch.

They cried out and ran off.

"DEMON!" They shouted at the top of their lungs.

I growled and suppressed my spiritual energy. The ice all melted. I turned towards the boy.

"Daijoubu desu ka?" I said gently.

"H-Hai . . ." He said.

I took his wrist and led him to a nearby river. I instructed him to sit on a rock. I took out a handkerchief and dipped it in the cold water. I wrung out the water and gingerly wiped the blood off the boy's face and arms and legs.

"Why did those bastards hurt you?" I asked.

The boy looked down. Saddened.

"It's because I'm different." He answered.

"Well you're not the only one now." I smiled.

The boy stared at me. Stunned.

"In my original district, the villagers called me a demon."

The boy gasped. "That's horrible."

"They would pelt rocks at me and I would get horrible bloody wounds from it. I could hardly get food. The merchants would chase me away with metal pipes."

"Gomenasai."

I blinked. "What are you apologizing for? You're not the one who throws rocks at me."

Silence.

"The villagers usually ignore me. But I guess today the older ones wanted to beat me up for fun."

"Well they won't be coming back now."

"Yeah . . . Arigatou."

"It's fine. Anything to help a fellow outcast."

We smiled at each other.

"What was all the ice-" He was cut off by a voice.

"Shiro!"

We turned to the direction of the voice. A girl around thirteen or fourteen was running down the forest path towards us. She had chocolate brown hair and kind brown eyes.

"Shiro, don't run off like that!" She said as she stopped before us to catch her breath.

She looked up and gasped at the boy which I now assumed is Shiro.

"You're hurt!"

"I'm fine! She chased them away." He grumbled.

She blinked and turned to me. "Arigatou for chasing those bullies away from lil' Shiro for me."

"It's fine."

"Oh! I haven't introduced myself to lil' Shiro's savior!"

Shiro blushed and whacked her.

"Shiro! You can't just hit people!" She scolded. "My name is Hinamori Momo."

I inwardly gasped in surprise. This is Hinamori-fukutaicho? She looks pretty different.

"And this is lil' Shiro."

"Hey! My name is not lil' Shiro! It's Hitsugaya Toshiro!"

My jaws dropped.

T-This is H-Hitsugaya-taicho? He's so . . . different.

I now noticed that he had snowy white hair and beautiful turquoise eyes.

HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED THAT!

"It's nice to meet you, Hinamori-san, Hitsugaya-kun." I bowed.

"There's no need for formalities, um . . ."

"Rukia. My name is Rukia." I said.

"Just Rukia?"

"I'm an orphan."

"Oh! I'm so sorry for being insensitive!"

"Don't worry, it's alright."

"No it's not! And to apologize and thank you for saving lil' Shiro, you can live with us!"

"What about granny?" Toshiro said.

Wha? He's agreeing as well?

"No-"

I was cut off as she took my wrist and Toshiro's and dragged us to wherever they lived.

We arrived in a nice little hut.

"Granny! We're home and we brought a friend over too!"

An old lady walked out of a room.

I bowed.

"Why hello, dear."

"Granny, Rukia here chased the bullies away from lil' Shiro and - and she doesn't have a home! Can she stay with us? Please?"

"Why not?" Granny said. "I am grateful to you for chasing those bullies away from Toshiro and becoming his friend. I don't see why not if you would like to stay."

My eyes watered. I felt happiness for the first time since I woke up. My heart warmed. I was accepted. I now had a place I could call home.

"Arigatou gozaimasu." I bowed

"Arigatou Obaa-san!" Momo grinned.

"Let's have watermelon!"

"But before that, I need to fix Hitsugaya-kun from his wounds." I said.

"Oh yeah!"

Toshiro followed me into another room. With the first aid kit that Hinamori-fukutaicho supplied me, and set off to work.

"Please take off your shirt." I said.

"Why?" Toshiro said flustered.

"I need to apply the healing cream on your cuts and bruises and I can't do that if I can't see the wounds." I replied.

He reluctantly took off his shirt.

I rubbed the cool cream on his bruises and cuts and littered his back. He hiss in pain and I apologized several times. After bandaging him up, we sat outside and watched the sunset while we ate our juicy red watermelon. I closed my eyes and savored the taste.

"This is the best I've ever eaten in a year!" I grinned and took another bite.

"A year?" Momo said confused.

"Rukia come from another district, Momo." Toshiro said. "The people there treated her horribly."

"Oh my! I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright." I waved her off.

"No it's not, Rukia!" She said hotly. "You will never be treated like that again over here! I promise that and we'll all be the best of friends, okay?"

"Hai!" I beamed.

"Sure." Toshiro said.

I smiled at the setting sun. A warm breeze flew by. It was twilight and the first few stars glittered the night sky.

A shooting star flew across the sky.

"Oh look! Make a wish everyone!"

I wished that things can stay happy like this. I will protect my friends and kill Aizen no matter what. I won't fail again. This time, Aizen will fall and that's a promise that I will never go back on.

"Hey, since you're the same age as lil' Shiro, Rukia, Why don't the both of you join the academy? You two would make a cute and awesome team!"

-XXX-

So what do you think of the first chapter? I hoped you enjoyed it!

Please leave a review!

-Arti