What lies ahead

by Quick-n-Popular

Disclaimer and Author's Note: I do not own Bleach, so there. I imagine that this chapter may be riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, while some I'll catch others I may not. Please disregard the errors and enjoy the content. This story takes place after the Soul Society Arc.

Chapter One: What the rain brings with it

"Ichigo?"

It was a dark, wet, night. The rain seemed to be endless. With it came several veils of memories that accompanied them; some pleasant, others hurtful.

"Ichigo?"

Every time it rained, there always seemed to be an ominous tone to it.

"HEY! KUROSAKI! SNAP OUT OF IT!!"

Ichigo Kurosaki, age twenty, substitute Soul Reaper; was now being scowled at by his reluctant partner, Renji Abarai. The tall, orange-haired Ichigo sighed as he got up off his perch of the rooftop and turned to his partner.

"What?" Ichigo asked.

Renji scratched the side of his head. "What's with you, Kurosaki? You seem to do this every time it rains. What's with you and the rain, anyway?"

Ichigo looked away, sighing. "The rain doesn't always bring water."

Ichigo and Renji have been out for hours. The pack of Hollows they've been following for the past few days have been, surprisingly, elusive. New reports had come a couple of weeks ago came into the Soul Society about a pack of Hollows wrecking havoc in Ichigo's hometown. Renji Abarai was sent to meet with Ichigo and with him was orders by both Captains Byakuya Kuchiki and Jushiro Uktiake that Ichigo and Renji were to work together tracking down the pack of Hollows. Ukitake, whom Ichigo had grown to respect and like, had, unofficially, become his superior. Normally Ichigo would have had a problem with the idea of being supervised by anyone other than Rukia, but, again, he liked the guy.

As Ichigo and Renji continued their surveillance of the north square, where the last report of the pack was sighted, Ichigo's thoughts came quickly to that of Rukia. It's been five long years since Rukia had made her resolve to remain with the Soul Society and not to return with Ichigo and his friends to the Human World. Ichigo remembered feeling half hurt and half content about Rukia's decision. He HAD accomplished his goal of saving her, yet she still wouldn't be coming back with him, and that hurt. Over the past couple of years, Ichigo tried desperately to get in contact with her, but to no avail. Renji told him that Rukia's duties had her kept away, that and she was currently prohibited from reentering the Human World as a new consensus was made regarding punishment for giving Ichigo her Shingami powers. Unfortunately, the end date of her suspension hasn't been decided still.

Ichigo wondered to himself, often, if he has ever entered her mind, over these past couple of years, as she did his.

"Kurosaki, look!"

Renji's words snapped Ichigo out of his thoughts and he looked on ahead, and sure enough, there was the pack of Hollows they've been searching for.

"Of all the stupid, idiotic…"

The third-year Shingami blushed as she quickly went to the floor to dry up the mop water that had spilt and, unfortunately, soaked the Shihakushou of Rukia Kuchiki; the third-year looked up slowly, realizing the latter of her mishap. She looked cautiously into the stern face of Kuchiki's, not knowing what sort of punishment the senior Shingami would give her.

At first it was as if Rukia hadn't noticed what had happened, then her eyes slowly looked down at her slightly wet garments. She sighed and closed her eyes.

"Do be more careful."

The third-year nodded and got out of her way as Rukia continued on. She went to the window of the small, one-storied, house that was in the middle of nowhere. This was both her punishment and new assignment from the Soul Society regarding her having given the human, Ichigo Kurosaki, her Soul Reaper powers. She was instructed to watch this area, which had been reported to be the "hot spot" for Hollows to come into the Human World from Hueco Mundo. So far, that report seemed to be erroneous, at least in the time Rukia, and the handful of newbie Shingami, have been here at this out post. They've been here for little over five years with not even one sighting of a Hollow.

Rukia sighed to herself. She fully understood the reason for giving her this kind of crap assignment and yet a side of her was tired and wanted to see action again. It felt like a decade since she had felt the familiar sense of the spiritual-adrenaline rush she got when she was alone out on the field, hunting, using her honed instincts.

It has been awhile. The last time she remembered feeling those liberating feelings was when she was back in the Human World. Back there with Ichigo.

However, it wasn't all as invigorating as Ichigo had her power at the time and her involvment with the actual slaughtering and eradication of the Hollows was limited.

Rukia, looking out the window allowed a soft smile.

Then again, I felt it all through him. She thought to herself. Felt it through his eyes, his passion, and his annoying sense of utter determination. In a way, I WAS still a Soul Reaper, through Ichigo.

Saying his name in her head, accompanied by random images she had remembered of him, caused Rukia Kuchiki to look down at the floor in sadness. There was a lot that she missed and added another reason why this assignment was a crap assignment.

Zangetsu whistled in the air as it sliced through the Hollow's head, like a hot knife through butter. The Hollows screamed in sheer agony as Ichigo and Renji were dealing their deathly blows.

Renji, like Ichigo, had the same playful, if not mad, look about him as he sliced and hacked his way through the large pack of Hollows, no signs of wearing down in sight. Ichigo still mused about being partnered up with the man who had nearly beaten him the first time and had joined up with him to save Rukia later on. Renji had admitted that he wasn't happy about being partnered up with Ichigo. He considered him to be reckless, insane at times, and, most of all, foolhardy. Still, Renji still was in awe and respect of Ichigo's abilities, thus knowing that Ichigo would cover his back. Over the years, their pairing had been difficult at most times, due mostrly to the fact that Ichigo lived in the Human World, something Renji had to get used to. Renji enlisted into Ichigo's high school much in the same manner as Rukia had. However, he wasn't as successful with winning over Ichigo's classmates as Rukia had, due to the fact that Renji's overall personality matched Ichigo and Uryū Ishida's. Renji hung out with Ichigo, Chad, and Orihime during the class break times and after school as well. Unlike Rukia, however, Renji was curious enough to want to meet Ichigo's family. He seemed oddly enough to get along with Isshin, the two seemed to be laughing when in their discussions about who knows what. He helped out Yuzu with the cooking whenever he was over and seemed to get on Karin's good side. The only person who didn't like him all that much was Tatsuki. Whenever the two were near each other they would always be either yelling or taunting and on some occasions goading each other into fighting. Other than Tatsuki, Orihime's other friends just thought of him as a jerk with a scary face much like Ichigo's.

Ichigo jumped high into the hair, the night's wind accompanied by the continuing rain would have made this fight miserable if not unbearable. Fighting these Hollows in the rain had Ichigo recounting his fight with Grand Fisher, the Hollow that uses a lure disguised in the form of either a child or that of someone of it's prey's memories. The fight revealed something important, the cause of Ichigo's mother's death. It also marked the point where Ichigo had fully dedicated his life to being a Soul Reaper if only to becomne strong enough to defeat Grand Fisher.

Slicing through his sixth Hollow, with Grand Fisher on his mind, Ichigo sped up his thrusts and slices as both he and Renji continued on their dealings with the Hollows.

Meanwhile, across town, Kon, who was occupying Ichigo's body, was doing his usual frolicking through the air, jumping to high places and perching and watching from tops of telephone poles.

When Ichigo had come back from the Soul Society he told Kon that he would be a Soul Reaper for more times then he had before. Seeing as how he no longer required Kon to exit his body, Ichigo, however, told Kon that he could use his body for those times he was out of it. Kon was extremely grateful and pleased to be out of the stuffed lion's body for more times than before. It was a liberating experience, however, Kon always had to keep in mind the promise he always had to make to Ichigo: Never try to fight Hollows in the body.

Tonight, was wonderful for Kon. The darkness and dankness of the night's sky accompanied by the rain made it easy for Kon to make super-human speeds and leaps as people were either already inside or were in a hurry to make their way in, leaving the entire city for Kon's pleasure. Kon's fun, however, was stopped suddenly as he accidentally slipped on a overly wet railing on top of a building and found himself hurtling downwards. To his luck, a flag pole was in reach and using his Mod skills and abilities, like a spring, projected himself off of it and toward the playground down below.

Kon, once down on the ground looked upwards, whistling in relief. "Phew! THAT was close. I'd never hear the end of it from Ichigo if I-"

An abrupt booming sound, followed by the shaking of the ground, stopped Kon in mid-sentence. Kon cautiously, and slowly, turned around.

Crouching around a set of teeter-totters with a body and legs that resembled a crane but with a masked head and paws that looked more like a lion's was a Hollow. It slowly got up and peered down at Kon with its menacingly brilliant yellow eyes.

"Ah…time to eat." It said with a certain purr-like sound.

Amidst piercing his twenty-eighth Hollow, Ichigo suddenly stopped and turned on the spot, clutching his chest in the process.

What's going on? He thought to himself. He remembered having this worried feeling before, but when…

Renji managed to finish off the three remaining Hollows, as soon as he finished he looked curiously at Ichigo. He sighed.

"Rain's still bothering you?"

Ichigo shook his head. "No, it's not that, it's-" Ichigo's eyes snapped wide open he then, without saying a word, took off down the street.

Renji soon caught up. "Kurosaki! What's with you!"

"My body, Kon, they-re in danger, I can feel it." Ichigo said, without looking back at Renji. Renjis asked no more as he followed Ichigo down the street.

"STAND STILL!!" The Hollow yelled as Kon managed to dodge its fist slamming into the pavement where Kon previously once stood.

Kon felt luck was on his side with this battle. So far he's been able to dodge all the attacks this Hollow's been launching at him. However, he knew this couldn't continue on forever. If he could manage to at least wear down this Hollow enough, Kon would be able to escape and head to Urahara's shop where Kon knew he'd be able to evade this Hollow, should it try to follow him. How long that'd take would be a matter of question.

Taking a gigantic leap, Kon kicked hard and sent the Hollow crashing tom the ground. Kon knew he shouldn't over due this, Ichigo's warning ringing in his ears. Remembering those words, Kon knew he should actually take flight.

"Well, hate to beat you and run, but-" Kon froze as he looked over his shoulder and saw another one of the exact same Hollow.

Both Hollows were chuckling, the one in front of Kon spoke, "Well, human, it seems you have some unique abilities. But so do I!"

The one behind Kon then spoke, "I have the power to create clones of myself, although they have limits, they do serve their purpose. Now, can you guess which one is real?" Both Hollows raised their arms high and swung down upon Kon.

Kon, desperately flung himself forward, hearing the earth-shattering crash behind him. He had heard it from the right side, though.

Kon turned on the spot and noticed that neither of the Hollows had moved from their spots. Kon looked at the Hallow to the right, remembering that the crashing sound had emanated from the right. Kon smirked.

"I know which one is you." He said, in a sing-song like manner.

The Hollow on the right sneered. "Do you now? Well then…"

Suddenly, Kon felt an immense crushing pain on all sides of his body. Looking down, he saw that he was in the clutches of a large dark hand. He was soon brought up high into the air, wher ehe soon saw the masked face of the actual Hollow. Kon looked behind him and saw the other Hollows implode into clouds of smoke.

"Dammit…" Kon grunted.

Ichigo and Renji arrived to find the playground in ruins and Kon, in Ichigo's body, high above in the air in the hand of a Hollow.

"Kon!" Ichigo called out. He then stampeded forward, like a charging bull, jumped high on into the air. With Zangetsu raised high, Ichigo slashed at the Hollow's wrist of the hand that held Kon. Unfortunately, the Hollow moved out of Ichigo's attack; startled to seeing two Soul Reapers.

"Soul Reapers?!" It exclaimed in confusion.

Kon chuckled, "Yeah, Soul Reapers. Better let me go, if you know what's good for ya."

The Hollow peered down at Kon in a irritated manner, he soon looked up, however, when Ichigo, with Renji, this time, started his second attack.

Renji managed to cut off the towering legs of the Hollow, just as Ichigo sliced off the hand containing Kon.

"Get out of here, Kon!" Ichigo yelled.

Kon, using his elbows, pulled apart the fingers of the hand and leapt while in mid-air only to find another hand grabbing hold of him.

Kon looked on in disbelief at the face of the same Hollow.

"Wha…" Kon began and turned to see the Hollow, Ichigo and Renji were fighting, implode into smoke.

"Foolish Soul Reapers." The Hollow mused as he then turned his attention back to Kon. Suddenly, Zangetsu came flying through the air and imbedded itself into the Hollow's shoulder. This Hollow yelled out in pain. Ichigo and Renji soon appeared.

"Enough of your little puppet-show, Hollow. Time to die." Ichigo said, jumping up high and retrieving Zangetsu.

Kon, once again, tried to break free of the Hollow's grip as Ichigo and Renji began their attack. The Hollow, however, tightened his grip.

"They're after the both of us, I see." The Hollow said. It then jumped clear across to the other end of the playground.

Kon Watched as Ichigo and Renji doubled their efforts and began to flash-step their way over to his new location. Kon grinned and looked at the Hollow, smirking.

"How long can you keep running before they catch and kill you, Hollow?"

The Hollow squinted, "You may be right, fleshling, but…"

Kon Felt himself being raised high on into the air.

"Your fate will be sealed much quicker than mine!" It roared, throwing his fist down.

Kon looked to where he was headed and it was to the broken, upright, pole of a dilapidated swing set.

Kon's eyes went wide, his mind going in every direction as precious seconds were hurtling by, as he was getting closer to the jagged end of the pole. He then remembered something and dug into his shirt to bring out a metal object. Kon, then, slammed it to his forehead.

Ichigo finally got to the Hollow and Zangetsu tore it in half. Ichigo then knelt for a second, taking a quick breath before getting up. As soon as he did, he looked around for Kon.

"Kon! KON! Where the hell are you?" Ichigo called out.

Renji, who was right next to Ichigo looked around at the area. "What a mess." He then saw something and stopped in his tracks.

Ichigo noticed his pause. "What is it, do you see Kon?" Ichigo looked to where Renji was looking and immediately fell to his knees. His stare was solid, his bottom lip quivered, and his mind transfixed in horror. Ichigo watched, continued to look at the bloody mass that was impaled upon the once swing set.

Renji, who continued to say nothing, looked down and scowled as he soon brought up the Gikongai pill along with a metal chain with the Soul Extractor logo on it.

"So you abandoned ship, huh? You Mod Souls are always cowards in the end." Renji tightened his grip on the pill, even though he knew any pressure by him would be of no use. Renji sighed, closed his eyes, and then looked back at Ichigo who remained frozen on the spot.

Miles away, Rukia suddenly felt an immense chill. She watched the rain outside her window, sighing.

"What the rain brings with it…"

To be continued…

A/N: I'll admit that I had some problems with this first chapter in terms of getting the characters moods/expressions/tones/motives correct, so please forgive me or give me some hints on how to do it better for the next chapter, if you can.

I hop you all liked it and I anxiously await your reviews.

Q-n-P