Chapter 1- Wishes
Rukia Kuchiki replaced her Zanpakutuo after deafeating a hollow, and she turned around to make sure that no one had seen anything. Not that anyone would, humans generally did not see or sense Soul Reapers or Spirit Energy. Having assured herself that no one had noticed her battle with the hollow she turned to leave, when something stopped her dead in her tracks. Someone had seen her and they were still watching her.
"Hey who are you and what the hell was that thing?" he called out. Rukia took a step back, this is impossible humans aren't supposed to see Soul Reapers or hollows. After her shock wore off Rukia waas able to more clearly sense the spirit energy surrounding the young man with the orange hair and the amber eyes. "That thing was a hollow," she said walking towards him, "And I am a Soul Reaper. What's your name?" "My name?" Rukia nodded. "My name's Ichigo Kurosaki. What's your name?" Ichigo asked. "My name's Rukia Kuchiki, not that it matter though." she said.
"What do you mean?" Ichigo was beginning to worry as he studied Rukia's violet eyes and raven hair. "It just doesn't. How come you can see me?" She had heard of rare cases where humans could see or sense hollows but never a Soul Reaper. "I don't know. I mean I've seen and talked to ghosts since I was young but you're the first..uh... Soul Reaper I've seen. And that thing was the first hollow I've seen too." Ichigo said trying to explain his "gift" to a total stranger. She now stood directly in front of him and she began to study him and how he reacted to what she was saying.
"Exactly how long ago did you start talking to pluses?" she asked watching his expression change from a look of confusion to a scowl. "I guess I would have been around 5 or 6 when I first realized that I was not talking to imaginary friends but to the recently departed souls of people. Why are you asking me this? It's not important." Ichigo said trying to control his anger. "I need to alert the Soul Society so I just wanted some background information." Rukia stated. "Soul Society? What's that?" he asked. "Now that is something truly not important. good-bye." she said and disappeared. Where the hell did she go? he wondered. That night as he lay in his bedroom trying to sleep he found himself thinking about the short girl with the raven hair and sharp violet eyes. I wish she were human so I could ask if I could see her again. "Rukia Kuchiki..."he whispered and fell asleep.
A few days later Ichigo Kurosaki ran into Rukia again and was given a dangerous and extremely important choice, become a Soul Reaper and save his family or don't and die with them. "Run yourself through with the sword, it's the only way to save your family."Rukia said. I can't do it but Dad... Karin... Yuzu. "Alright if it's the only way to save them then I'll do it." Ichigo said. Rukia nodded and held up the Zanpakutuo blade first toward him, holding the hilt tightly in her own hands. "Ready, 1, 2, 3!"she yelled as Ichigo ran himself through with the blade. There was a flash of bright white light and then Ichigo stood facing the hollow holding the Zanpakutuo in his hands in the dress of the Soul Reaper. Whatis this! I only meant to give him half my power but he took it all! After Ichigo defeated the hollow he slowly walked over to where Rukia leaned against a wall. "You okay?" he asked worried that she had been hurt. "Yeah, I'm fine." Rukia said.
Later that night Rukia was thinking back to when the hollow had attacked and she suddenly wished to be a Soul Reaper again and to never have met Ichigo. Oh, how was she ever going to explain this to the Soul Society? They had barely believed her when she told them about Ichigo but her brother Byakuya and best friend Renji had, which was good because the Soul Society trusted both Byakuya and Renji. But what would she do now? "Ichigo Kurosaki..."she whispered and she fell asleep making a mental note to tell Ichigo everything that he'd need to know about being a Substitute Soul Reaper.