Author Note: Thanks to everyone who followed, reviewed, favorited, etc. my new story. ^^ Because I'm on break right now, I'm posting chapter two quickly, but after this chapter, I'll be busy with exams. I think I might stick to a weekly schedule, though, so please keep reading. :D

As for Fallen Heaven's question...I will be putting romance between Ichigo and Rukia (not just hinting at it) after I set up the plot and the actual conflict. As for other pairings...that's undetermined for now. One pairing that I know will NOT be in my fic is HitsuHina -_-. I just can't stand Momo's weak character, even I love Hitsugaya. I will be putting in OC characters though, so there might be romance between OC and Bleach characters.

Anyway, enough of my blabbering, on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. (sigh)

Chapter 2: River of Flowers

A small ray of light seeped through as Ichigo gradually opened his eyes. As he came to, he slowly started to gain the rest of his senses back. He heard a lively clamor of voices; felt a hard dirt street under his back; smelled food cooking on a nearby fire; breathed in the warm air.

Before he could process where he was, a passerby kicked him in the side. "Another one? What are those Shinigami thinking, landing another person in Inuzuri? We're already as overpopulated as it is."

Inuzuri...?

Renji was tired. Tired of watching Rukia mope, that is. The black-haired shinigami was sitting curled up on her bed, hugging her knees to her chest. Her eyes were still red and swollen from the continuous crying she had done after coming back to Soul Society. Renji sighed as he leaned his back on the far wall, facing Rukia.

"It's been three days, Rukia," he said. "Time to move on. We have a Vice-Captain meeting this afternoon so you'd better get out of bed soon."

Captain Ukitake had given his Vice-Captain a break after she delivered news of Ichigo's death, knowing she would be of no help while she was dazed and confused.

Rukia wordlessly nodded.

Renji knew he couldn't do much to get her out of her trance, so he quickly left the Squad 13 barracks, hoping Rukia could benefit from some time alone.

While her childhood friend walked away, Rukia stayed huddled in her ball, with her three-day-old images still flashing through her mind vividly. Ichigo's death not only made her reclusive, but also brought back memories of another special person.

"Kaien-dono...," she whispered softly.

Flashback

It was all her fault. Again. Sure she didn't pierce her friend through the heart as she did so many years ago, but it was still her fault.

Emotions of regret filled her body as she dragged a motionless body through the pouring rain, getting her hair and shihakusho* completely soaked. She continued to walk until she reached a building. She looked up: Kurosaki Clinic. She arrived.

Rukia set Ichigo's body at the doorway and was preparing to ring the doorbell when Yuzu rushed out with an umbrella.

"Where is he, when it's raining this hard?" the middle-schooler fretted. "That Ichigo, always looking for tr-"

Her eyes widened when she saw a body resembling her brother's lying in the downpour. She slowly bent down to touch the body.

"N-Nii-chan?" she whispered, trembling. "Wake up nii-chan. Stop lying on the ground. It's raining. You have to come inside! Wake up!"

By now she was shouting and and shaking Ichigo's body roughly. Karin and Isshin came outside to see what was causing the commotion, and their eyes widened when they saw Rukia standing motionlessly beside Ichigo's body.

"Karin! Yuzu! Get Ichigo back in the house," their dad commanded immediately, while still keeping his eyes on the female shinigami.

The two girls each put one of Ichigo's arms around their shoulders and dragged him inside. Karin stole a concerned glance toward the shinigami and her dad.

When the two were alone, "I'm sorry," was all Rukia could muster.

Isshin took one look at the expression on her face and knew he would not have to ask to confirm his son's death. Rukia told him everything, and when she was done, Ichigo's dad took and deep breath and went back inside.

Before he closed the door, he paused with his back toward Rukia. "When you go back to Seireitei, tell them not to interfere with my family anymore."

With that, Rukia was left in the rain, along with the same sadness she felt many years ago.

End Flashback

Everywhere on his body hurt; his head, his side from being kicked, and most of all, his stomach. Ichigo was famished, and no storekeeper was nice enough to give him the smallest morsel. Not to mention the thin, plain kimono he was wearing did not help to keep the sun from mercilessly beating on his back.

He looked around for a shady place he could rest when his eyes landed on a stall filled with mouth-watering steamed buns. Stealing a little bit couldn't hurt, he thought. His stomach agreed, as it started rumbling. He slowly made his way up to the food stall, and when the shopkeeper was busy with a customer, he grabbed a handful of buns and ran for his life. When the shopkeeper noticed his absent merchandise, he dropped everything and ran to catch the orange-haired boy.

"Stop right there, thief!" he yelled while waving a large pole in his hand.

With his low energy supply from being food-deprived for so long, Ichigo couldn't run very fast or for very long. The old guy was gaining on him, but suddenly he heard a loud thump accompanied by an "Ouch!" behind him. He turned around to see the shopkeeper on the ground rubbing his behind and a girl that was roughly the same age running towards him.

"Come on, this way!" she motioned with her hand.

Ichigo was only confused for a moment before he started to follow the mysterious girl to what looked like an abandoned hut. As soon as he reached the inside of the shelter, tiredness overwhelm him and he promptly fell flat on the straw floor, dropping the food he had been so dearly clutching.

When Ichigo finally regained consciousness, he felt a soft texture on his lips. It smelled delicious. He also heard a voice.

"Hello? Orange-san?"

Orange-san? Oh, that's me.

Ichigo opened his eyes to find a teenage girl looking down at him, holding a steamed bun to his lips.

"Here, eat up. You're hungry." It wasn't a question.

Ichigo took a tentative bite and tasted deliciously soft dough and sweet bean paste. Before he sank into the euphoria of finally tasting food, he realized he had no idea who his savior was.

"Who are you? And where am I?" he asked cautiously.

The girl smiled. "My name is Yumi. Yumi Hanagawa. Welcome to Rukongai."

*Shihakuso - the black kimono that shinigami wear

My first OC character is introduced. I hope you guys don't find her too annoying when she becomes love rivals (sort of) with Rukia. (*gasp* spoiler :O) XD

I called this chapter "River of Flowers" because Yumi's last name is made up of the characters for flower and river. (Trying to be deep :D)

If you have any ideas for pairings (no yaoi please XD), please let me know by reviewing.

Remember, reviewing is your friend~~