Okay, this is my first BLEACH fan fiction, so please no flamers!
I'm writing what I had in a dream!
I think it's one of my favorite stories I've written yet!

Okay, so here we go!
ENJOY!

Chapter 1: Fell once; I'm not going to let you fall again

Ichigo and Rukia were in Ichigo's room just relaxing, when they felt a sudden large amount of reiatsu hit them on the backs.

"Ichigo, did you feel that immense reiatsu?" Rukia asked. Her eyes were wide open in fear. Ichigo didn't look at her but he nodded. "It didn't feel like a hollow… what could it be?"

Rukia felt confused. She didn't know anything about it and it wasn't something that she recognized. Ichigo was looking out his window.

"Well, the only thing we could do is go check. Don't you think?" Ichigo asked looking at Rukia. Rukia nodded.

They both blasted out of their gigais and jumped out of Ichigo's bedroom window. They ended up in the forest near Karakura Town. In the heart of the forest, there was a man dressed in a black robe, that looked like those of a shinigami, except on his right arm, he had a chain wrapped around it and in his right hand, he was holding a zanpakuto that looked as fragile as glass. He was letting out an immense amount of reiatsu as he was attacking someone, but who? Ichigo looked around and saw a little girl with short light brown hair in pigtails and bright green eyes. She had a small chain in her chest… A SOUL! Ichigo used flash step and appeared in front of the little girl, as Rukia yelled his name.

"Ichigo, watch out!" As soon as she yelled his name, the man smirked. He held up his glass like zanpakuto.

"Haunt them, Gōsuto (ghost ゴースト)"

His zanpakuto slowly disappeared. Ichigo's eyes were open in surprise. He looked around, but he didn't see the sword. Suddenly, something tried to slash him from the side, but at the last minute, Ichigo blocked with his sword. He noticed he got a slight cut on his arm and he was losing a lot of blood. The zanpakuto appeared again in the man's hand. Ichigo looked at him straight in the eye.

"Who the hell are you?" The man didn't answer. Ichigo looked at him and asked again.

"I said: who are you?" This time the man answered.

"For now, it is not necessary for you to know my name. Right now, you are keeping me from my prey. And for that, I must kill you." And he charged straight towards Ichigo.

He was fast. Ichigo blocked his attack with his sword and tried to attack him again, but he disappeared in thin air. The man re-appeared in front of Rukia, blocking her from Ichigo's sight. Rukia stared dumbfounded. She reached for her katana, pulled it out of her sheath and held it in front of her.

"Dance, Sode No Shirayuki (Sleeved White Snow 袖白雪)"

A beautiful white sword appeared in her hand. Rukia held her zanpakuto up in a defensive stance. Ichigo saw the man standing, but he didn't see Rukia since he was blocking the way. He saw that the man wasn't paying attention so he could attack him from the back.

"Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu (Heavenly Chain Slaying Moon天鎖斬月)" He looked at the man to make sure his aim was correct.

"Getsuga Tenshō (Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer 月牙天衝)"

A huge black energy wave headed straight towards the man. Suddenly, he disappeared again. Ichigo's attack headed straight towards Rukia. Rukia's eyes were wide open in fear. She tried to block it with her sword, but it broke and hit her straight in her chest. Ichigo saw Rukia get hit by his own attack, and he ran to her yelling her name. The man watched as Rukia died and Ichigo struggle to save her. He was amused.

"Until we meet again, Kurosaki Ichigo" And he disappeared.

"Rukia, hold on! Rukia!" He pushed himself towards her. He flash stepped and appeared behind Rukia. As she fell, he caught her in her arms. Rukia's face was pale and cold and her eyes were dark and lifeless. But he heard her voice.

"I-Ichigo…" Her voice was weaker than ever.

"Rukia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to hurt you…" He tightened his grip on her.

"It's okay… Don't be sorry, Ichigo… I-I'm fine…" Rukia coughed blood on to the ground.

"Don't talk, Rukia. We need to get you some help."

Ichigo stood up carrying Rukia in his arms. He heard a voice behind him.

"Is she okay, Mister?"

Ichigo turned around to see the girl standing there looking at Rukia's pale face. He didn't know her exact condition. He hit her hard. He felt Rukia's reiatsu drop terribly.

"She'll be fine, once I get her someone to heal her." He forced a warm smile on his face.

Suddenly, he heard someone running towards them. Alarmed, he grabbed his sword to protect them.

"KUROSAKI-KUN!" It was Orihime. She was running as fast as she could. Behind her, he saw Uryuu and Sado. Ichigo dropped his sword and turned towards them. As Orihime saw Rukia in his arms, she stopped running.

"K-Kuchiki-san…" Her eyes were wide open, staring in horror. "W-what happened?"

Ichigo didn't really want to explain to her.

"I'll tell you all after, but right now, please Inoue-san, save Rukia…" His eyes showed hint of sorrow in them and it looked like he was about to cry. "A-and Ishida, can you take this soul for me? Thanks…"

Orihime nodded and asked him to put Rukia on the ground.

"Thank you Inoue-san…"

A giant light shield appeared around Rukia. Ichigo sat down on the ground beside her, his eyes focused on her pale, lifeless face.

A couple of minutes later, the light shield around Rukia broke. She still had the cut across her chest and she wasn't fully healed. She was trying to get up.

"Rukia, what are you doing? Let Inoue heal you. You're in no condition to be getting up." Ichigo was trying to get her to stay down.

"Ichigo, I'll be just fine. Don't worry-…"

Rukia was cut off by a sudden pain in her chest and she fell in to Ichigo's arms. She passed out and she was trembling in pain. Ichigo placed her head on his lap as he told Orihime to continue healing her. Orihime nodded and the light shield formed again. Then Uryuu and Sado walked up behind him. He knew what they were going to ask. They were going to ask for an explanation. The last thing he wanted to talk about.

"I already know what you're gonna ask." Ichigo groaned.

"Kurosaki, we just want to help you and Kuchiki-san." Uryuu replied.

Ichigo sighed and told them the story of what happened.

"And this was my fault… It's my fault that she's in this condition… it's my fault she almost died… It's my fault that I could protect her… that I couldn't protect Rukia… Dammit!" Ichigo's voice was shaking and he felt his eyes fill up with tears. He shut them tight and clenched his fists so tight that she was shaking. He took his fist and smashed it into the ground.

"Ichigo… It's not your fault. Don't worry about it." Sado said with a calm voice.

Suddenly, the light shield around Rukia disappeared. Her wound from across her chest was gone but she was covered in blood. Her face was regaining its original color. Ichigo lifted her up in his arms and held her close to his chest. He stood up and turned towards his friends.

"Thank you Inoue-san. I owe you. And thank you Uryuu and Sado for listening to me."

"No need to, Kurosaki-kun. I'm just doing my job. And plus, I did this for Kuchiki-san's life." She said with a sincere smile.

"But still, thank you again."

They smiled at each other and Ichigo took off with Rukia. He went into his own room from the window which he and Rukia went out. He placed her on his bed and watched her sleep. There were so many times that she got hurt and almost died because of him. For example, when the arrancars first appeared.

*Flashback*

Shortly after her fight with Di Roy, Rukia and Ichigo met up together. Suddenly an Arrancar with blue hair and a cold stare.

"Which one of you two, is the strongest?" He asked.

Rukia's eyes were wide open in fear as she sensed great power.

"ICHIGO, RUN!" She yelled after him. But suddenly, a hand passed through her body. The Arrancar pulled his hand out and Rukia fell to the ground, her body lifeless.

Ichigo stared in horror. She was so eager for his protection that she died on the spot.

*End of Flashback*

Ichigo clenched his fists on his lap. But suddenly, a hand was placed on top of his own.

"Rukia…" Ichigo whispered. "I'm sorry…"

"Idiot… I'm fine." Rukia made a small smile.

"I promise you, I won't let you get hurt anymore…"

"Ichigo…"

Okay that's it for now!

Comment and review and please NO FLAMERS!

Who will be the mystery man that they saw?