Chapter 1: The Winter War

Author's Notes:

My first bleach fanfic! My first episode of Bleach was on YTV and since then I've been following the manga and anime ever since. I haven't written something as long as this before so please tell me if it is not working out (I'll leave that to your interpretation xD). I'm also a new noob writer so feedback is much appreciated. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the manga artist Tite Kubo.

Six months later, the winter war was finally coming to an end in Karakura Town.

Ichigo and Aizen were locked in a stalemate. Both were at their limits and breathing heavily as they stared at each other with their swords held in front. Aizen was roughed up and covered with many cuts. His brown hair was messy, and his white Arrancar uniform was stained with blood from his shoulders, chest, legs, and neck. Ichigo's injuries were a lot worse. His shihakusho was torn from the waist above, revealing deep cuts on his body. Blood was reeling down from his head and his wounds were starting to open up. He was dripping blood. The only thing that stood out was his orange hair that signified the hope the Shinigami had in winning the battle. His Hollow mask was on and he was staring intently at Aizen with fierce determination in his golden eyes. Their bodies were fatigued and cut to a point where they were beyond functioning. Their reiatsu blanketed the battlefield with overwhelming force, neither about to give up.

Below on the ground of Karakura Town, the remaining Shinigami eyed the battle with serious looks on their faces. They had never seen such an epic battle and even the Captains were amazed at how Ichigo was fighting despite his injuries and also holding his own against Aizen. Right now, the only Shinigami able to fight on par with Aizen was Ichigo, and everyone knew that.

One Shinigami in particular was looking at Ichigo, sick with worry in her heart. Rukia. Rukia had a strong urge to get up there and fight alongside Ichigo, but knew she would only get in the way. She found out she had feelings for him ever since he rescued her, but she had always pretended they weren't there. Somehow, those feelings were coming loose as she saw him fight against Aizen. His bankai form was alluring to her. She could see the way his slim, lean body with a black shihakusho was able to move so gracefully on the battlefield as he fought with gracefulness, while Aizen fought with violence. In her eyes, it was his fighting spirit and personality that Rukia grew to respect and admire.

Aizen was finally the first to speak.

"To think you have pushed me this far, Kurosaki Ichigo, is incredible," said Aizen, with slight discomfort in his voice.

"What are you trying to say…" Ichigo replied with a frustrated look. Despite his attacks, he had only inflicted little damage on Aizen, who was in much better shape.

Aizen only smirked.

"I won't let you win Aizen," said Ichigo with hatred in his voice, before giving a cough with blood spilling from his mouth while still panting to regain his breath. He wiped it away with his bare arm.

At that moment, every Shinigami felt their heart drop like a stone. They could see that Ichigo was starting to succumb to his injuries. Many were impressed by his strength yet very worried at the same time. Everyone wanted to help him, but they were still recovering from Aizen's attack. It took Ichigo a lot of strength not to give away how much pain he felt, but at that last word he couldn't supress it anymore. Ichigo then noticed the smirk on Aizen's face.

Below on the ground, only one particular Shinigami could understand the pain Ichigo was currently in. That damned Ichigo, still fighting in his wounds, he doesn't care how hurt he is…fighting to protect us, Rukia thought to herself. After all, she had been with him a lot during his early days as a Shinigami and so she understood his character. Ichigo! Her heart was deep with worry, she didn't want to lose him. She wanted to be with him and spend time with him. Both of her hands tightened at the thought of losing Ichigo.

"How honourable, Kurosaki Ichigo. Let me show you the difference in power between you and me," said Aizen sternly and then raising his reiatsu.

Damn it! Did he figure out I'm almost at my limit? Ichigo knew he had to end this quick. He was in critical condition, and it took him a lot of effort just to stay in the air. He figured Aizen's far greater experience in combat was what allowed him to shoulder the pain without much effort.

"Damn it!" cursed Ichigo, as he realized Aizen planned to go all out with his next attack.

Ichigo started to gather his reiatsu for his final attack too, and felt his blade become more powerful as he poured his remaining reiatsu into it.

The time is near Ichigo, I will lend you my strength as well. Ichigo immediately knew that was Zangetsu reaching out to him. Thanks Zangetsu, I know you're always with me he thought. It reminded him of his fight with Byakuya and Kenpachi, the way Zangetsu came out and lent him power, but he quickly brushed away those thoughts. His focus was on defeating Aizen right now. Ichigo quickly evaluated the situation and knew it was time to strike Aizen with his final attack.

Just then, he realized that something was not right. What the hell, I'm almost done raising my reiatsu and yet he's still going! If he finishes raising his reiatsu, I'll be really finished for sure.

Ichigo saw he had no choice and used Shunpo to quickly advance on Aizen.

"Bakkudo 61: Rikujōkōrō"

Six beams of yellow light slammed into Ichigo's waist simultaneously from six different directions. Ichigo felt the wind get knocked out of him and his strength leave him, and coughed up more blood. He tried force his way out of the kido spell but was powerless as the light only cut into him deeper and there was more pain. Blood was flowing from his waist now.

"WHAT THE HELL AIZEN!" yelled Ichigo. His eyes showed pure panic.

All eyes were on Ichigo now, the Shinigami were shocked. Ichigo, no! thought Rukia, as she knew Ichigo was helpless now. She reached her hand over her zanpakuto when someone caught her hand. Urahara!

"You know better than to interfere, Rukia," said Urahara. Rukia let out a sigh and let go of her sword, turning her attention back to Ichigo.

Aizen watched Ichigo with a blank expression on his face.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, I simply tricked you into using your reiatsu, that was all. You really shouldn't be talking if you're going to let your opponent know how weak you are," said Aizen, before coughing up blood himself.

At that, Aizen immediately bellowed, "Don't think you have me beat, you are too late to do anything now!" He raised his right hand and pointed his towards the sky. "Seeping crest of turbidity. Arrogant vessel of lunacy! Boil forth and deny! Grow numb and flicker! Disrupt sleep! Crawling queen of iron! Eternally self-destructing doll of mud! Unite! Repulse! Fill with soil and know your own powerlessness! HADO #90: KUROHITSUGI! "

At that moment, everyone saw a black box engulf Ichigo and twenty black swords appeared for a second before stabbing into the box from multiple directions.

A sharp cry was heard as Ichigo winced in pain. He had been stabbed from head to toe by swords that were manifested from kido. What…is…this… How? he wondered.

A few seconds later, the box disappeared and he realized he could no longer sustain himself. He tried summoning more reiatsu, but couldn't help as finally darkness clouded his vision and he fell unconscious from the sky.

Everyone felt Ichigo's reiatsu disappear like it was never there before.

Rukia felt her heart tear out and immediately fell to her knees, her eyes in shock. Ichigo was defeated and dead right before her very eyes. She was powerless to help. Looking up, she was tried yelling at Ichigo but no words came out as she was too shocked to say anything. Tears were streaming down her eyes. She wasn't even able to confess to Ichigo about her feelings. It was too late. A few seconds later, she lost consciousness and was handled by her Captain. Ukitake understood the relationship between Ichigo and Rukia and therefore what was happening.

Below him, everyone stood in awe as Ichigo's limp body fell down the sky. They could not detect any reiatsu from it and they knew what that meant. It had happened so quick. No one had expected Aizen to use a binding spell, and then unleash a full incantation Kurohitsugi on an immobile target.

Captain-Commander Yammamoto thought, now all hope is lost.

"Insolent filth," spat out Aizen before turning his gaze onto the unconscious Ichigo lying below. He was going to finish the battle that had lasted six months.

Turning to the captains arrogantly, "Do you see? This futile battle is at an-"

Just then, a huge shriek cried out from below that made Aizen look down at Ichigo. Kurosaki, could that be? Impossible!

"What are you?" asked Aizen cautiously. He quickly used shunpo to get some distance from the Hollow.

The Hollow only roared back in response, emitting a huge wave of reiatsu. The wounds were healing up and bones were being remade on the fly.

Instant Regeneration!

The captains were amazed at this new level of reiatsu that they never sensed before and could not comprehend what was happening. Even Aizen was a bit taken back that the hollow had more reiatsu than him.

"I guess you're not the talkative type. No matter, I will slay you and Kurosaki-san as well". But before Aizen could say another word, the hollow reached out his hand and his zanpakuto flew in his hands, which he gripped perfectly.

What? Instant Recall! And with a huge slash to his right, the Hollow took down sixteen buildings down the street, on each side. Such strength, marvelled Aizen. That was when the Hollow disappeared.

Aizen's eyes widened. He had never encountered an enemy that was faster than his sensing capabilities. Then he felt the Hollow's reiatsu right behind him. He slipped through his senses! Not even Sonido was that fast. But how did it move like that? No, the question was how did it become so powerful? Shock grew upon Aizen's face as he realized he wouldn't dodge it in time. Aizen used Shunpo to retreat and to simultaneously brought his blade to block, but the Hollow's blade cut through his blade instantly, and sliced him clean across the chest. In a few seconds, the two halves of Aizen's body fell from the sky and crashed into the ground below.

Sensing Aizen's death, the captains then hurried over to where the Hollow was. They may not have had the strength to fight, but they could still use shunpo. Once they saw the Hollow, they held back, unsure of what to do. Almost all were amazed by its power and glad it had defeated Aizen, one was staring with a huge grin on his eyes, that was Captain Kurotsuchi, and another was disgusted, that was Captain Soi Fon. Not before long, they were joined by the Vaizards, including Urahara, Yoruichi, and Isshin. They all stared at the Hollow, unsure of what it would do next. But the Hollow was just standing still facing them, as if it were unsure of what to do now that Aizen was defeated.

Isshin had a look of shock on his face. That said a lot. He was usually carefree and enjoyed pissing off Ichigo. But this time, seeing his son as a transformed Hollow, he didn't know what to say.

Yoruichi was staring at the Hollow. Come on Ichigo, come out or we might actually have to kill you. Secretly, she missed toying with him by transforming right in front of him and saying embarrassing things to him.

Urahara's face was serious this time as he analyzed the Hollow in front of his eyes. A million theories came to his mind, but didn't know what was happening either. What he did know, was that at this moment, Ichigo was an Arrancar. He had Hollow abilities, reiatsu type, and held a black zanpakuto in his hand.

"No one move!" ordered Captain-Commander Yammamoto.

But that wasn't necessary. Everyone could see that the Hollow was starting to transform back into Ichigo. The white mask was chipping more and more by the second, his white pale body was regaining human skin tone and his long orange hair was shortening. In a matter of moments, the mask broke off and Ichigo fell to the ground. His Shinigami reiatsu was back, but it was small.

Within moments, Captain Unohana was applying her medical Kido. What a valorous boy, she thought. She admired him for his bravery to fight even when his bones were fractured, muscle was torn, and his body had the deepest cuts she had ever treated in her history in the Gotei 13.

The Captain Commander ordered the remaining Shinigami to go on a Shinigami Search and Rescue mission in the battlefield. In a moment the town was a flurry of activity, leaving behind the Captain Commander and the other Captains in the forward base of operations in Karakura Town.

Assessing the damage caused by the Shinigami-Arrancar battle, Captain Commander Yammamoto could only sigh at the cost that the Shinigami had paid in defeating Aizen. 50 seated officers and 200 unseated officers lost their lives. There would have to be a lot of recruiting to fill in the vacant positions in Soul Society's army. Also, with Aizen finally defeated, 5th division's new Captain could finally be chosen.

"Captain Unohana", said Yamamoto as he surveyed the situation with his old, experienced eyes.

"Yes, Captain Commander?"

"When Ichigo is back in stable condition, take him back to Soul Society and let him rest in the 4th division's barracks."

"Yes, Captain Commander".

Captain Unohana, being smart and experienced herself could tell what his intentions were. It would be a good change, she thought.