Hello everyone!
So, this is my first time writing a fic for the Bleach franchise and I am very well aware of the extent to which it has risen. And boy am I scared!
Also, like many of you, I am an IchiRuki fan and was disappointed at the end of the manga and so, I came up with this AU. Sorry IchiHime fans!
Let me tell you, it won't be just a plain and sappy romantic story, since you know, Samurais and all.
Anyway, I don't want to keep blabbering!
Thank you for giving me your time and I sincerely hope you don't regret it by the end! Looking forward to your reviews!
PROLOGUE
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
The beautfiul words blew the man away like wind on the first morning of spring, gently kissing him in places he did not know could be kissed.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
The melody of the song soothed his aching heart,the feeling reminding him of someone wrapping a warm blanket around his body on a cold winter night.
It was as if the breathtaking tune was drawing him towards it, to marvel at the beauty of the one who intoned this sweet melody.
His over strained body however, failed to cooperate, falling on the soft bed that the long blades of grass had created.
The man looked up one last time, his blurry eyes catching a glimpse of someone walking towards him, before he fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter One : His destiny
This situation is terrible, the man thought while continuing his journey forwards. It had been a good four months since he had departed from home, in order to protect his twin younger sisters and his father.
The times sure are bad.
He had no idea how long he had been walking, his stock of water and food, exhausted quite a while ago. Having had crossed three town on his way to his destination by foot was painful, more so due to his lack of money.
His name was Kurosaki Ichigo, the eldest and only son of his household, the one who carried all the responsibilities, given the fact that for most of his life, he'd seen his father clowning around.
His mother had passed away many years ago, when he was but a child, teaching him how cruel life could be.
To him, his two sisters were everything and for them, he would live. So when five samurais barged into his house, breaking down the door that they had newly put up, Ichigo did the first thing he thought right.
Protect his sisters.
The men, however, had an order issued by the daimyo who ruled over the village, to take all the capable men from unranked households and declare them samurais. Ofcourse, Ichigo had no interest in being one and so, he had adamantly refused, until he was informed that the only other alternative was to sell the rest of his family as slaves.
And there was no way he would do that.
So with a tearful goodbye, he departed from his house, heading with the rest of the men to some place they were told their abilities would be put to test.
The test, as they had called it, was really more of a survival game. Ten people had to fight to death for one bag of food and the one who emerges successful would be fit to carry the name of a samurai.
So much murder, so much bloodshed over nothing but a bag of food. Ichigo desperately fought to defend himself and not harm anyone, but he soon realised that it wouldn't work.
And to kill someone for him, being the son of the village doctor, was more painful than death.
Having emerged successful, the remaining men were sent to the daimyo, who assigned each of them a noble house to work for.
Sent off with nothing but a scroll and food supplies for a week, the men marched on, many to their inevitable death.
Ichigo sighed, tugging on his straw hat, the scorching heat burning his skin. How long had it been since he last rested? He didn't know. He pulled the tiny bag he had on his back, the extra clothes in them, his only possession.
It was now the fourth hour of the evening and Ichigo had seemed to have lost his way. Out of thirst and hunger, he had wandered into a forest, in hopes of finding something to quieten his wailing stomach.
He leaned on a tall tree, his back resting on the trunk, his eyes squeezed shut. How much longer could he hold himself together?
I'll just sleep here for a while, he thought sitting down on ground that was comparatively cooler thanks to the tree's shade.
He was just about to close his eyes, when he could hear a sound.
Drip drip.
Ichigo's eyes widened in realisation and he bent downwards, putting his ear on the ground beneath him.
Drip Drip.
Water!
Ichigo convinced himself that it was only at a short distance and that the minute water went down his parched throat, he would stop to rest.
So he picked up his bag and taking support of the tree trunks, he kept moving forwards, his back bending under the exhaustion that his travel had caused him.
He was feeling somewhat dizzy, but then again, he was dehydrated too.
The forest was full of eerie sounds, every branch cracking under his feet, leading to an unbearable silence.
To the man, or at least that's how he looked, this whole scenario was like in the stories his mother had read to him as a child.
In most of them, the main character ended up facing off with a giant wild animal, something which the boy was fairly certain of, would lead him to his death. He could not move a finger, let alone fight for himself.
After walking for a distance, however, the sounds ceased and instead, he could hear soft humming. It was natural, you'd think, absolutely natural to hear humming in the middle of a forest, but this was different. Mainly because it wasn't the sound of an unknown creature in the stillness of the night.
It was the voice of a woman.
Ichigo blinked his eyes rapidly to keep them from closing, thirst making his mind fuzzy.
And then, he heard it.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
The beautfiul music blew the man away like wind on the first morning of spring, gently kissing him in places he did not know could be kissed. The fragrance of sandalwood filled the air as the trees danced in harmony, their rustling leaves, in a way providing accompanyment to the woman's beautiful words.
He walked on ahead, seeing a hazy figure standing by the large lake that shone in the moonlight.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
The melody of the song soothed his aching heart,the feeling reminding him of someone wrapping a warm blanket around his body on a cold winter night.
It was as if the breathtaking tune was drawing him towards it,like a siren's call, to marvel at the beauty of the one who intoned this sweet melody.
He staggered, yet moved two steps ahead, finally escaping the forest that was shrouded in darkness.
He wanted to see her, just one glimpse of the person that chanted this mermaid's song.
His over strained body however, failed to cooperate, falling on the soft bed that the long blades of grass had created.
The man looked up one last time, his blurry eyes catching a glimpse of someone walking towards him, before he fell into a deep sleep.
In that state of delirium, he dreamed of a soothing voice, holding him and reciting the words:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first belived.
And in the dream he saw nothing but a blur, the face of a person holding him covered, all except one thing.
Over the right shoulder was a black mark, a gash that looked rather painful. He reached out towards her, only to see her disappear.
He screamed out, called to her, asking for her name.
And all she did was smile at him and silently walk away.
Ichigo woke up with a start, his hat falling on the ground. He looked around to notice that he was sitting, his back against a tree and a vast body of shining water in front of him.
Birds chirped all around him and the shade that the large tree provided, protecting him from the ferocious Sun.
He groaned, feeling his jaw that seemed to throb for some reason. He put his hand on the ground to support himself, however, in doing so, his hand hit something else.
He looked to his side, in question and carefully lifted his hand up.
There, on a few folded leaves, rested four giant fruits that seemed freshly picked.
He lifted one up, raising it to his mouth and taking a bite out of it.
As the sweet taste and smooth texture of a peach hit his tongue, he seemed to recollect what had happened .
It wasn't a dream, he had really seen a woman there last night.
Ichigo stood up, hoisting himself off the ground, putting the rest of the fruits in his bag to move on.
He was now rejuvenated and could pull through for a while longer.
He didn't get to see the woman who had helped him though.
Really a shame, in his opinion.
He collected water in his tiny bottle and crossed the lake,walking through the only path he saw ahead.
And when he stood there, by the giant gate in front of him, there was one thing he came to realise.
There was no need for him to go any further.
There, before his eyes was a magnificent mansion, it's intricate structure putting the famous NikkÅ- Toshugu shrine to shame.
He had reached his destination.
Ichigo heaved a sigh of relief, his saffron coloured hair blowing softly in the wind as he walked past the sign that read,
"KUCHIKI CLAN"
There! One chapter down! That you for reading! I hope you liked it! Looking forward to your comments below! I love y'all !
