Chapter 1: How it all began

A/N: This is the first fanfic that I have ever written with the purpose of publishing it. I really hope you guys enjoy this.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach or any of the characters. The only thing I own is the plot and my OCs.

Warning: This is an AU fic as I stated before. Which, if you read the summary before clicking on this, you should already know by now and if you don't like them then I don't know why you are here.
This story was originally intended to pair Lilith up with Toshiro Hitsugaya, but I haven't decided if I want that or to just make them very good friends. Therefore, I am unsure if there will be any obvious romance in here. There may be hints, but other than that I don't know. I'll let you guys know if I decide.

I also want to give a special thanks to a couple people who helped me a LOT in planning this fic. My brother and my closest friend Sebby for all the amazing ideas and such. Thank you 3 I couldn't have done it without you guys!

Enjoy!

It's dark here and yet she can see, the full moon above giving her some light. Though there isn't much to look upon. Trees surrounding the large clearing she stands in the center of. A large rock sits not far from where she is standing. It feels lonely here. Why would it feel lonely? She spots a large raven circling above that eventually lands on the rock. It appears to be speaking but what is it saying? There's a chain around its neck but it appears broken, as if the rest of it was torn away. Eventually the bird gives up trying to communicate and simply stares at her. She can sense waves of emotion from the creature. All seeming to stem from a deep feeling of yearning. Yearning for what? Lilith is baffled.

Lilith takes a step forward. "Who are you?"

The question hangs in the air, echoing across the clearing. She didn't think she had spoken so loud but it seems she was mistaken. The bird simply stares on in wonder as if deciding whether or not to answer.

After a couple moments, it opens its beak as if to say something and suddenly she jolts awake.

"Lilith! Get up would you! I've woken you up three times already and each time I got the same answer, that you were getting up and ready!" Lilith's door is thrown open, her mother looks on seething with anger. Lilith flinches. Kazumi's eyes widen a fraction and she takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as if trying to calm her temper. When she opens them again, the anger is gone. In it's place, Lilith sees love. Love for her. Lilith feels her throat tighten and her eyes sting, warning her of the impending tears.

"I'm up now mother," Her voice cracks, she clears her throat and tries again in a small voice "I'm up now mother, I apologize for inconveniencing you." Even three years after Kazumi took her in, she still causes problems. She still fails to be something her mother can be proud of. I must try harder...

Kazumi sighs, placing her hand on top of Liliths head and ruffles her hair some, "Don't worry sweetheart. Just get up and get dressed. Today is the day where you return to the human world for the first time since you.. Passed on." Kazumi's eyes fill with sadness "Are you sure you can do this?"

"I-I think so.. I mean yes I can. I know I can." Lilith begins to rise, already seeking a brush to tame her bed head. "I'll get dressed now and meet you in the courtyard after I eat something."

Kazumi turns as if to leave and looks back at Lilith. Smiling she says, "I'm so proud of you Aster." Lilith's heart jumps at the use of her middle name instead of her first name. Her mother only used her middle name when she was truly proud of something Lilith did. And with that, Kazumi walks down the hallway and vanishes around the corner.

Lilith stands there for several long moments, just looking out her open door before finally shaking herself awake. She crosses the room and closes the door. "Time to get dressed Lilith.. Are you sure you can do this?" She mutters to herself. She really wasn't sure. It's been so long since she died, and yet the thought of returning makes her gut churn. All she had to do was scout some town in the human world for a couple hours and then she could go home. How hard could that be?

Giving herself another shake and stuffing all feelings of doubt into the very corner of her mind she seeks for her clothes and dresses.

Lilith, dressed in her dark purple shihakusho with her zanpakuto strapped to her waist, sets off for the courtyard. She didn't feel like eating much with the thought of the mission weighing heavily on her mind, so she had only eaten what she could stomach. Kazumi and about seven others, all wearing the same dark purple shihakusho as she was, were waiting for her near the unopened Shin Jigen*, all talking about something. She caught mention of her name and the mention of some town that she was supposedly heading for. Karakura Town... Why does that sound familiar? She wasn't given much time to think though.

Suki Furukawa, her mother's closest friend and co-founder of the world they live in, Algerin, turns to her. Her shoulder length black hair looks barely tamed in the humid air, curling in defiance. Lilith could see pieces of it sticking up from where she attempted to brush it down and eventually gave up,"Oh! Miss Kumyera! I see you finally decided to get up and face the day, huh? It sure took you long enough." Suki gives a stiff laugh. Something seems to be weighing heavily on her mind. Glad to see it's not just me who's distracted today...

Lilith smiles slightly, "Yeah I couldn't seem to wake up this morning.. This dream I had was the weirdest yet.." She glances at her mother. Kazumi, who had walked over to Lilith with Suki when she approached, looks absolutely stunning. She has a tear shaped necklace around her neck. She had asked her mother about it countless times and all her mother said was that it was extremely special to her and she never ever took it off. Her maroon colored hair is tied up in a long ponytail but it still hung well past her waist. Long bangs caress her cheeks. Lilith grasps her own hair, twirling a piece of her bangs around her index finger. Her hair is black, a boring color compared to the color of her mother's. "Mother, do you think my zanpakuto will ever tell me its name?"

Kazumi looks at her daughter, an unfamiliar emotion crossing her eyes but it is gone as quickly as it had come. "Of course sweetie. This kind of thing just takes time. I see no reason to worry about it. When the time is right, you will know." And with that her mother turns and begins walking back to the gate. Suki and Lilith trail behind her.

"Alright Lilith. Please stand back until the Shin Jigen is opened and accessible." One of the guards states, turning towards the unopened gateway that would take her and Suki to the world of the living.

"Yes, sir." Lilith says as she takes a couple steps back to allow the guards to get to work. As she waits, she finds herself taking in her surroundings. It is slightly chilly this morning, especially for June. There is dew forming on the hydrangea and iris flowers growing near the gate. There are about eight buildings in Algerin altogether- two of which were practice halls. Since there are only about seventy or so people living here, there was really no need for more buildings. And each house has about fifteen rooms, so there was plenty space to accommodate those living here. Nobody here had many, if any at all, material possessions so the rooms aren't too big. They aren't too small either. They are simply cozy. It is the season for rain to fall, so it didn't surprise her to see some dark clouds hanging in the sky above them. The dim morning light also didn't surprise her. This early in the morning, the sun is still slowly climbing into the sky.

Sighing, she focuses back on the guards opening the gate. They seem to be taking longer than usual. But maybe it was the fact that her nerves are still on end with her trip to the world of the living getting closer and closer. Finally, the gate opens. Kazumi walks back over to Lilith, smiling down at her and placing her hand on Lilith's head. "Do your best Aster. I know you can do this." Lilith nods and starts forward, heading toward the open gate that would lead her back to the world she had left behind when Kazumi took her in. Suki appears at her side, she too looked like she wanted to just go back to sleep. From what she knew of Suki, she wasn't too fond of the living world either. Lilith was never told why, so she eventually stopped asking altogether. "Are you ready for this Lilith?" Suki glances her way.

"As ready as I'll ever be, what about you? You look awfully pale." Lilith frowns. Upon further examination, she could see dark circles beneath Suki's eyes and she seemed more pale than Lilith initially thought.

Suki hangs her head forward slightly, her bangs going to cover her eyes and the sad look that Lilith only caught a glimpse of. "Actually no. But I should be fine once we get there and I can settle down a bit." She glances back up at Lilith, "You remember the rules of this mission right?"

Lilith nods. "Of course. Should I come across someone who can see me, I am to provide an alias name should they ask. I am not to engage in any form of combat. And most importantly, I am to keep in contact with my partner-that would be you-at all times. If anything were to go wrong on this mission, I am to report back to mot- K-Kazumi-sama and return to the Shin Jigen, prepared to give a full report."

Suki nods, apparently feeling a response was not needed. The guards turn their way and motion for the duo to proceed into the Shin Jigen and into the world of the living as two Jigokuchō flutter out to allow safe passage through the dangai.

They both cross the threshold of the portal and continue on through to the human world. The Jigokuchō fluttering in behind them.

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Aaaaand that is chapter one. I hope you guys like it. I for one am pretty proud of how this turned out, it being my first fanfiction that I plan on publishing and all.

I really appreciate any and all reviews that come my way. I would LOVE some constructive criticism, so flamers stay away *hisss* If I got anything wrong, feel free to review and let me know. I'll to my best to fix any errors I make along the way.

* Shin Jigen (新次元: Lit. New Dimension)