I've decided to use Night Rain as my story for NaNoWriMo. I already have a bunch of it, but I'm not editing it until NaNoWriMo is finished. So please bear with me. I will edit it once I'm done, since I do now there are a few terms and spellings I've changed over the course of the chapters. Don't worry, I'll fix them. But I've been, essentially, told not to worry about that until I hit the 50k mark, so I won't. Otherwise, tell me what you think about the plot? Sorry that it took me so long to finally get to it. Amaya has properly scolded me.

Chapter 2: The Duties of a Soul Reaper

It took me too long to get to my family's house. My body moved much slower than the soul reapers, but I still kept making my way there. I sensed something… undesirable. The hollow was dead, by my reckoning, but the soul reaper had done something far worse. Ichigo had become a soul reaper.

He stood in front of the large gap in our house with the largest zanpakto I had ever seen. It looked more like a giant cleaver, how very like Ichigo to break the norm. A quick scan showed me that Karin was passed out, okay though, and I could feel Yuzu and Isshin somewhere inside. Alive. They were all alive.

I looked back at the soul reaper, she was wearing a white yukata now, and scowled hard at her. Doing something so foolish without even considering the consequences! She had just signed my brother's death warrant with her little stunt. What kind of soul reaper couldn't handle a hollow as weak as that? Taking my brother into consideration, though… Apparently it runs in the Kurosaki blood to get in the way of soul reapers and their duty.

There was nothing else I could do for them, without alerting the soul reaper to my presence, so I turned back to the shoten. The way back was longer, as I wandered under the moon. Urahara was waiting for me. He sat outside on the porch, two steaming cups of tea on a tray beside him. I silently took my place next to him and took my tea. Urahara probably made it; it was absolutely disgusting.

The bastard grinned cheekily at me and drank from his own tea, grimacing, but continued regardless. "So," Urahara began, "care to fill in what happened?" I scowled at him, but he didn't relent. Not like it mattered if I told him, he'd find out soon enough anyway.

"Ya'll find out soon 'nough. Damned soul reaper'll be comin' ta see ya tomorrow. Or tonight. Whate'er." I drank more of my too bitter tea and continued, "The Society sent ou' a pretty useless one, this time. She-" I bit my lip.

Urahara knew what I meant and gulped down the rest of his tea, standing up. "Then I guess we should get ready to welcome our guests." Right before Urahara left he asked, "Which is bothering you more; the fact that she turned Ichigo into a soul reaper, or the fact that the circumstances are so similar to Jiro's?" I threw the cup at him, not surprised when it crashed against the door. He had a point. I suppose I was angry at being reminded of something like that. Chances were it'd end the same way. The soul society is nothing more than heartache. Ichigo, being Ichigo, will probably willingly run headfirst into misery.

I looked back up at the moon. Perhaps it wouldn't end up the same way, with scars covering the hearts of anyone involved. But hope isn't my domain. Ichigo's the one that learned to never give up on his loved ones. I've lost my rights to hopes. I went to sleep, brooding won't do me any good.

I woke up to Urahara in my face. Luckily he was never as bad as Isshin, and his jump kicks. Granted, those kicks were always more towards Ichigo, but Ichigo and I shared a room when I still lived with all of them. Unlike Ichigo, I didn't have the energy to start fighting with everybody the minute I woke up, so I just grumbled and shooed Urahara from my room. Not that Urahara actually left, but it was worth a try.

All Urahara did was chuckle grab my hand, pulling me up until I was sitting. Past experiences taught me that if I laid back down, he would let me. However, Urahara dangled my buzzing cellphone in my face. No chance I could go back to sleep apparently. Scowling, I answered the phone. It wasn't all that surprising that it was Isshin, as he just started rambling on about how a giant truck crashed into the house and "isn't it amazing none of us woke up?"

I held the phone away from my ear throughout most of the conversation, grunting at the appropriate parts, just waiting for Isshin to get it out of his system. Urahara left when I shooed him out this time, and I started to change into my uniform. Right when I was about to hang up on him, Isshin finally got to the point. He asked me to help fix up the house, and I reluctantly agreed. It helped that I felt somewhat guilty for practically abandoning my family.

Hanging up on Isshin, I slid open my door, not surprised to see Urahara waiting for me. "What d'ya want?" Urahara smiled behind his fan and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, leading me to the dining room for breakfast. It didn't escape my notice that Urahara never answered, but I really didn't expect an answer in the first place.

The only ones waiting for us for breakfast were Tessai and Minori. Usually Jinta and Ururu were up as well, but it was slightly earlier than usual. I took advantage of the quiet, ducked out from Urahara's arm, and began eating my breakfast. Briefly, I debated how much I should tell them of my plans, deciding to just let them all know. "Minori," I waited until I had her attention, "I'll be goin' ta the Kurosaki house after school. Go on 'ome withou' me. Ya prob'ly won' be seein' me either, Hat-n'-Clogs."

Minori just nodded, continuing to eat her food. Urahara leaned back, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Aw. Too bad. Will you stay the night there then?" I glared at him. He sounded like he knew something I didn't. I never liked it when Urahara sounded like that. It usually meant I was going to be irritated at the end of everything.

"Prob'ly not." I spoke slowly, suspicious, "Don' much like it there."

With an air of finality, Urahara snapped his fan shut, grinning, and exclaimed, "That settles it then! We're closer to your family home than your apartment." My sigh was my resignation, and Urahara's grin proved to me he knew perfectly well.

"Whatever. I'll see ya whene'er I see ya." I got up, accepting my bag as Minori handed it to me. We said our goodbyes and left for school, actually arriving on time for once. I climbed into my usual tree, ready to sleep, when I felt the soul reaper's presence nearby.

"Ichigo!" Why was Ichigo already at school? I would have figured he'd be late or not even show since they were cleaning up their living room. The voice called for Ichigo again, closer and I reached out for my twin, finding he was still at home. "Ichigo! Hey!" I looked down at the girl calling for Ichigo, irritated. Minori also realized whoever was calling for Ichigo thought I was him.

The soul reaper girl, in a gigai, was walking closer and I scowled. I'm obviously not Ichigo. Our similarities are as follows: hair color, facial expressions, and height. Other than that, we just looked "sorta" related. And if Ichigo wore a skirt, I would eat my shoes. So, apparently, little miss soul reaper had bad eyes.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I thought you were Ichigo!" Really? I didn't realize. Scowling, I jumped down from my branch to finally talk to the girl. "Wow. You look a lot like him. You'd almost think you two were related."

"We are. I'm Amaya. Ichigo's twin. You are?" I was tall for a girl, taller than most boys even, but this girl was way too short.

She smiled sweetly and introduced herself, "I'm Rukia Kuchiki. I just transferred here today. Please take care of me!" Rukia outstretched her hand, obviously wanting to shake hands to finish her thickly sweet greeting. Disgusting. I turned around and picked up my bag, leaving Rukia be. No point in taking a nap since it just got soured by the soul reaper. No longer tired, I decided I might as well attend class for once.

Minori bowed to Rukia as we swept by her and followed after me. I didn't pay attention to Rukia once I walked away, but when I felt the flare of anger at my back I couldn't resist the smile pulling at my lips. Besides not liking soul reapers, I was pissed about what she did to Ichigo. It'd be a pain to go out of my way to irritate the girl, but I wouldn't cut her any breaks.

Classes were boring, and, when lunch rolled around, I was quick to get away. Ichigo finally came to school at lunch too. Although I wanted to keep an eye on his interactions with Rukia, it wasn't my intention to do that literally. On my way back to my classroom, I ran into the two of them talking.

"That's absurd!" Rukia shouted at my brother as he leaned away from her, his arms crossed as if to ward her off. "Last night, you fought magnificently!" Oh, so she's trying to convince him to do her job for her. Dear Soul Society, thank you for sending a truly useless woman to protect Karakura town from Hollows. Really.

Ichigo dropped his arms and answered her, "That's because my family was attacked. Not to be cruel, but I couldn't fight for total strangers." I frowned, what kind of half-cocked answer was that? Even I believed I couldn't just leave things be. I couldn't believe Ichigo would abandon a complete stranger when he saw them in danger; it wasn't in his nature. "Sorry if it seems like I'm betraying you though." I hardly think she cares Ichigo.

My twin began walking away and Rukia said something too quiet for me to hear. "Then I have no choice." A sudden urge to peek up from where I was hiding washed over me, so I could see more than Ichigo's hair, but I knew they'd see me if I quit hiding. "Hey!" Rukia shouted, and I heard her running. Most likely towards Ichigo, if I was any good at putting two and two together.

I heard Ichigo's body drop, but I could still see his bright orange hair. When he began screaming, I realized Rukia must have forced his soul out of his body. "Damnit," Ichigo started checking himself out, "what'd you do?"

Rukia ignored Ichigo's freak out session and ordered him, "Come with me." Impressed with her no-nonsense attitude, I mentally applauded her. Maybe the little soul reaper wasn't so unbearable as I thought. I waited until they left the courtyard before I began following them. As the distance grew between us, I wasn't able to hear them anymore, but that didn't much matter to me.

They arrived at a children's park, where I sensed a soul. When I sensed a Hollow, and heard the crash of something large, I figured Rukia received orders about a Hollow in the vicinity. So she was going to force Ichigo to do his duties as a soul reaper? She may not know him, but she certainly figured out how to push his buttons.

I drew close enough to hear them again, and was actually able to see them well enough this time. In the distance a little boy, or his soul, was running from a spider-like Hollow. Ichigo perked up at the boy's screams, obviously concerned. Despite his earlier words, Ichigo began running towards the spirit, pausing only when Rukia called out to him, "Wait!"

He turned, his scowl deeper than usual, "What?!"

Rukia resumed her dispassionate attitude and calmly asked Ichigo, "Why should you save him? That child is a total stranger, isn't he?" Hearing Rukia speak began bugging me. Something about her reminded me of someone… I wonder who it could-wait. Ah… What did she say her last name was? Kuze? Kurenai? No. Crap. Who did she remind me of?

"That doesn't mean I can just not save him!" I bit my cheek and tried to focus back on what I was watching. I could figure out whoever Rukia reminded me of later. "Not when he's being attacked right before my eyes!"

Rukia yelled her response right back, "Don't be selfish!" She definitely had Ichigo's attention now. "Death gods must be fair towards all souls. Wanting to save only those you can reach, only those you can see…" As Rukia scolded my brother, my respect for her deepened just a bit. "This work isn't that convenient." Ichigo turned as the child yelled for help again but was pulled short as Rukia yelled for him again, "Don't save him! If you want to save that child now… be prepared to save all other spirits as well!" It was somewhat idealistic to "save all other spirits," but it was a wholehearted approach. She was right. Even if Ichigo wanted to save those few he could see, such half-hearted resolve would only hurt him in the end.

She continued, "Be prepared to save them even if it means chasing them all around and sacrificing yourself!" Those words… Jiro said those words to me as well. Now, to see which Ichigo chose. A small part of me already knew his decision, but still… The boy fell and Ichigo acted. He attacked the Hollow, cutting off two of its legs. When the Hollow fell, it dispersed. Rukia took the chance to ask Ichigo, "Are you prepared, Ichigo?"

Ichigo still didn't look at Rukia as he answered, "No, I ain't." I sighed. Of course Ichigo would say that. How very like him. "Be prepared… I don't care about that! I saved this kid 'cause I wanted to." Ah… Careful there brother, you're verging on self-righteousness. "Are you different?" Rukia frowned and asked what he meant.

Finally, Ichigo looked at her. "Last night, you," he paused, "risked your neck to save me. At that moment, were you thinking about your duty as a death god?" I grit my teeth. Didn't that just sound the same as what Rukia said? Save all souls, treat them equally. That doesn't mean consciously pausing to think about saving them. That meant saving all souls even if you have to sacrifice yourself! Geez. I bet neither of them realize they just said the same thing.

"When you risk your life," Ichigo continued speaking, "that ain't the reason. At least, for me…" The Hollow returned and was running towards Ichigo. Would the idiot stop giving a speech and just kill the Hollow? "It ain't!" He turned and slammed his zanpakto hilt-deep in the Hollow's mask, effectively killing it. The little boy got up, panting, and Ichigo walked over. "Are you okay?"

The boy yelped and jumped back from Ichigo, despite the fact Ichigo just saved him. "Hey kid," Ichigo's aggressive demeanor probably wasn't helping either, "if you don't wanna be scared like that again, go to Heaven already." I would have thought Rukia explained to him about Soul Society and the such by now. Souls didn't go to Heaven. They went to the Soul society. Regardless of the incorrect terminology, Ichigo cleansed the boy's soul and the child disappeared in a flash of light.