Author Note: Sequel to "The day of Redemption". Pretty short chapter to start with my own arc afterwards the arrancar arc. I hope you enjoy it!

Towards The New Dawn

"No longer a soul reaper."

Those words echoed on Tatsuki's head. Ichigo would never wear again the black kimono and fight monster, there were others to do it; Ichigo defeated the greatest evil ever met, and so his days as a shinigami were long gone. Just when she got used to the idea of turning aside and watching the hero save the day he gave away his powers to save them all. How hero likely for Ichigo! Such clichés were not suited for him, but that wasn't what bothered neither of them. He sought for Rukia and she knew it. He missed her, she was her friend, their bond was beyond to those of siblings, even if they didn't realize. She tried to look out for Rukia so she could deliver Ichigo some kind of message, but she never found her, how would you find a spirit that travels around two worlds? Even if you were able to see them, she could have been assigned to Kasahistan, Chile, Mexico, Switzerland, etc… there were no real hopes of finding her, the only one taking care of hollows were Ishida and a shinigami whose name she never learnt.

Days were dull and boring both for her and Ichigo. Orihime was away, she hadn't seen her on months, so everything was now even duller and sadder. She missed her, her smile and optimistic soul always helped her to get through boring days. If just Aizen never existed… if Ichigo could have kept his powers and have his life as he used to… but, there was really no way to restore his lost powers? Was it done for? There were people who knew, and yet said no. She was sure this couldn't be the end; it had to be the beginning, but what she didn't know it was that the one who was about to start a new life it was her.

The sun shone brighter than usual as the sky stopped moving. She stopped in middle of the street concerned about how the clouds stopped moving: the Earth had stopped.

Everything was frozen, but her. Nothing moved, but her. Every single person was standing still, the cars were stopped, and planes remained on the air like they were frozen. Time was halted, but she was not and so it scared her as she felt that her body was starting to halt too and some hands touched her breast in order to keep her captive.

"Let me go!" she screamed as she released.

She was able to move again and so she ran away with no hesitation, not looking back but forward, hopping to see any ally who could help her. And so as she ran away she noticed that the air shattered in front of her. Two gates were showed as the sky shattered, two huge gates held by two skeletons, sealed by chains that faintly started to fall apart. From the inside there was a hand that came out with a sword. It pierced a guy that was standing halt on the street. I pierced him on the chest, but the guy didn't react.

"ICHIGO!" She yelled as she ran forwards.

She didn't manage to get him; his eyes were closed, his mouth was releasing a sigh as a downwards gaze revealed his sadness held inside. He was drawn to hell without even noticing as Tatsuki's hand tried its best to reach him, but it wasn't enough. Ichigo had been drawn to hell.

She fell on her knees as her eyes started shedding tears, what was the use of seeing if she could not interfere?

She hit the floor cursing the way things turned as time took his course back.

She was numb, unable to move, unable to think what to do next, scared of what could she do, but there was someone waiting for her.

A water drop fell from the sky and landed on Tatsuki's cheek; it was like a tear, a tear she recognized.

"Orihime…"

Where was she? Was she alright? No, she wasn't… she knew she wasn't in town, but now she knew she wasn't even on Earth, she was back on the other side she never reached, the side she always wished to reach. Why was she so powerless? Couldn't she do something? Then she thought that maybe someone would be willing to help her, if she asked for help she might have been attended.

She ran towards the store, she had not a doubt that he would not decline saving Ichigo, he couldn't, not after all he did for them.

As soon as she got there, she found out almost immediately that there was no a trace of the store any longer.

"What the hell is going on?" she asked out loud as she got scared.

If not the store, then Ichigo's house. His father fought with him on the last battle, so he should be able to do something. But as soon as she got to the place where the clinic should be, she found a wasted land there, as if there was never a house there before. But she didn't found them; neither Karin, Yuzu, nor Isshing were around, they were all gone, like they never existed.

Even more scared than before she picked up her cell phone and dialed Ishida's number, which for some kind of reason was out of service. Chad was out on Mexico. What could she do on her own? How could she find them?

And if it wasn't enough, a hollow was about to attack her, but a beautiful white sword cut him in half.

As the hollow disappeared Tatsuki recognized the shinigami.

"Rukia!"

But she didn't just show surprise like she didn't recognize her; she also pointed her sword at Tatsuki's neck.

"Who are you and how do you know me?"

The only remaining person she knew involved in this crazy world has now forgotten about her. And so the curtains opened toward a new tomorrow shining on blue flares at the dawn.