A.N.=

My apologies for being so late with this, I was procrastinating and my computer is a b!%$h. On to the note, this chapter (and possibly others) will contain quotes, references or ideas from other anime. This is one such chapter, with a little Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as well as Alice In Wonderland thrown in. It's all right I you haven't seen FMA:B (although I HIGHLY recommend it), but the reference is there for any who get it. I also highly doubt any of you don't know what Alice In Wonderland is. If you don't, I suggest you fix that. Quickly.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Alice in Wonderland or FMA:B. Their mangaka's and writers do, got it?

The world was that shade of bright white that makes your eyes scream oh hell no! Ichigo was glad that there were no colors. Colors are for the dead. His eyes were glassy and untouchable, hiding behind his tangerine hair as if afraid. He, however, was not. He felt nothing but suffocating guilt and clenching grief.

Before him was a gate. It was a tall Japanese rice paper door carefully decorated with smooth brushes of paint weaving through its surface. It showed a picture of an elegant woman carved of dark, thick paints extending her arm to a watery figure of cerulean blue. Colors. What unnecessary things, colors are. Black sakura blossoms graced the papery sky. Silver chains created an x of stability over the seemingly fragile portal. He wondered how the heavy paints and sturdy chains did not break the delicate rice paper, or perhaps it was more durable than it seemed.

In front of the graceful gate was a figure, undistinguishable against the white world. Dark paint splatters and hiding shadows marked its shape, showing an ambiguously gendered human made of light and nothingness. A gruesome smile spread upon its empty face.

"Well well, what do we have here? A Shinigami, it would seem." Exclaimed the strange blank person with great excitement in its voice.

"Who the hell are you?" came his, what would have been in normal circumstances, been a rude reply.

"I'm so glad you asked! I am what you might call The World or perhaps The Universe or perhaps God or perhaps Truth or perhaps Everything or perhaps One, but I am also you! I rule many dimensions, and I must say, you have made yours quite interesting!" Ichigo was silent. "Shinigami do a great deal for me, I'm eternally grateful. As a reward for keeping those conceited humans in line, I will grant you what you desire. I am Truth, after all!" the being said with a cackle.

"…Anything at all? Even bringing someone back from the dead?" Asked Ichigo with great carefulness in his voice. He didn't trust the strange creature, but what choice did he have? He had to save them. He would save them all.

"But of course! Anything you desire," the form raised his shadowed hand, pointing at Ichigo "shall be granted!" Ichigo didn't hear the sounds, but he could tell the man, or woman, whichever, was laughing, as if the very thought of his wishes being granted was absolutely hilarious.

Ichigo grimaced, head bowed.

"Then what will it be? Riches? Fame? Immortality? Oh, well I can guess what kind of man you are! You want a world without war! Or maybe eternal happiness for the one you love!" again, the feeling of laughter echoed through out the white endless halls.

"I want it to stop. C-Can you bring all of them back? I want to live in the human world. I want the shinigami to be able to live normally. In the human world, like everyone else. I want t-to give them a chance. No more monsters. No more shinigami. Dead souls could just escape. I want to live in a world where the people I love won't get hurt. C-can you do that?"

"But of course! I assume you want your own powers to just disappear as well. In any case, are you ready?' the creature exclaimed with another awful grin. He received nothing but a small nod.

" One last thing. Have them all forget me. I-I don't want to keep hurting them"

Suddenly, everything seemed to rock and sway. Ichigo felt himself lose his balance. And he plummeted down. Blackness seeped around him. Around him floated miles of shimmering silk red ribbon. Torn butterfly wings, substitute shinigami badges, snowflakes, hollow masks, cerulean raindrops, and manga pages spread out around him. He couldn't tell if he was right side up or right side down. The mass of seemingly random object went the opposite direction. He fell for what felt like hours. Until suddenly he stopped. He hit the stony ground with a grey thud. There he was. Tokyo. The cement sidewalk was a familiar feeling to him, surprisingly comforting; after all, he had been falling for so long.

He was wearing a bleak blue hoodie, dark jeans and black boots. He slowly sat up. No pedestrians walked the street. He was sure that if they did, parents would grip their children's hands and tug them along like trains on tracks right past him. He could just hear them saying to their offspring, don't talk to strangers, sweetie! And walk off, staring at him with a mixture of fear and confidence, as if to say hurt my child and I will kill you. Maybe.

Ichigo stood up and started walking. He didn't have any money, and he had no one who even remembered him, in Tokyo or otherwise. Where the hell was he supposed to stay?

Part of him was glad that they could live without fear. He could protect them now. However, the other part wanted to stay in his old life. It was too late now, everything that had been worthwhile was gone anyways.

He reached into his worn hoodie pocket. From it, he drew around 9,000 yen, (possibly enough for a really cheap motel room.), his shinigami badge, a beat up cell phone, and a handwritten note. On the note was written;

15 Shiroyuki St.

Miss Rukia Kuchiki

I'd wish you luck, but I don't believe in that kind of thing.

-Truth