Universe: Bleach

Parings: None!

Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Adventure

Disclaimer: Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo

Warnings: Some Spoilers for Fade to Black, mild swearing and violence.

Authors Notes:

I'm sorry about taking so long to update guys! If you read GS you will know that I've joined many of my fellow writers on the Supernatural fandom wagon; but lucky for you guys I am so not impressed with the spoilers that have been given to us by Jared Padalacki; So yeah my interest in Supernatural may start to go down with this news especially since the Anime of Bleach has finally gotten to the parts I like of the Fullbringer Arc; loving the new ending they have though; Mask by Aqua Timez completely in love with it!

Anyway I'm sorry for taking so long to update again! I'm actually working on 2 other stories which I'm preparing to upload very soon, so my updates may be a bit slow.

Anyway please enjoy this chapter and if you have time review!

Fade to Black: Sorrow of the First Star's Shine

Part III

The Human World- Karakura Town: Tsubakidai Park

Slowly nighttime fell down upon Karakura Town, the sky turning orange and pink before turning pitch black; the street lights slowly turning on their soft glows as the noise of the residence slowly fell into silence.

Suddenly the peaceful night was broken by a flash of purple and black and a startled yelp.

Homura cried out in shock as she was thrown to the ground, she rolled slightly before landing on her back with a huff; she suddenly found herself staring at a star filled night sky.

She had no idea what happened just now but she knew she wasn't in Heuco Mundo anymore; Heuco Mundo was a dark and lonely place, things like stars didn't show there, the only thing in the sky was the moon and even that made you depressed if you stared at it long enough.

Homura knew why she had arrived there but for now she was content to lie on her back on the grassy field and stare up at the lights in the sky; as she did she never noticed that the Hollow in her head had for once gone silent.

Kurosaki Clinic

Ichigo's hand froze over his homework as a great shudder went through his body; he quickly jumped to his feet and grabbed his mobile as it started ringing loudly.

"Yeah, yeah I felt it too." He answered quickly knowing full well who was on the other end had just felt the same sensation as himself; the Spiritual Energy felt like a Hollow but his Substitute badge was silent.

"I'll take care of it don't worry. Yes I'll call if I need help don't worry, Ishida." Ichigo rolled his eyes before hanging up with a quick goodbye; with a sigh Ichigo grabbed his Substitute badge and pressed it against his chest.

With a small flash of silvery blue Ichigo stood in his Shinigami form as he quickly caught his body before it could crash to the ground; with a huff from the sudden dead weight in his arms he quickly arranged his body to make it look like he fell asleep while working.

"And here I was thinking it was going to be a quiet night for once." Ichigo muttered to himself as he slipped his phone inside his Kimono and pushed open his window; Zangetsu's hum of amusement echoed around his ears as he jumped onto his neighbouring roof and disappeared with Shunpo.

Heuco Mundo

Shizuku shivered as he pushed himself further into the corner he was curled up in cringing at the sound of the despairing howls that were pacing in front of his and sister's home.

It was always like this when Homura left, it was like she was blocking his much weaker Spiritual Energy with her own stopping the Hollows from coming after them when she was around.

But when she went off to feed, the monsters of despair would slowly gather at the cave entrance and pace back and forth; sadly that wasn't the only thing that happens when his older sister was away.

When Homura left him alone a strange voice would appear in his mind, bribing him, tempting him, telling him to kill the Hollows that dared to trespass on his territory.

Normally Shizuku could easily ignore the voice until Homura returned; it would then leave while grumbling about his sister giving into his demands easier than himself.

But today for some reason it was a lot harder to ignore than usual.

Shizuku suddenly stiffened as he felt a brave Hollow slowly walking into the entrance, obviously deciding to ignore Homura's Spiritual Energy practically dripping from the cave in favour of an easy meal.

'Sssstupid boy! Now you have no choice but to ussse my powersss. If you don't then you're going to be consssumed!" The Hollow laughed mockingly, the scathing laugh echoing around Shizuku's ears as he looked up at the Hollow standing in front of him; he suddenly realized how true the voice's statement was.

The Human World- Karakura Town: Tsubakidai Park

Homura groaned as she forced herself to her feet after staring at the stars; her back protested at the sudden movement having locked up because she laid on it too long.

She knew it was time to move, she had no idea how much time she had left before she was dragged back to her brother and she needed to find Ichigo before that happens.

Homura knew she had come to the right place, the whole town felt like Ichigo did when he took care of them; she had to find Ichigo and then take him back with her, so the 3 of them could be a family again.

Homura was brought out of her thoughts as someone landed a few feet behind her; her green eyes were wide with shock as she recognised the feeling running through her.

Quickly she spun around and gasped as she caught sight of familiar brown eyes and spiky orange hair.

"Ichigo..." Homura whispered softly as a wind blew through the park rustling her kimono and Ichigo's Shihakusho.

Heuco Mundo

Shizuku grunted as his back smashed into the cave wall; he slid down to the ground and shook his head as dust littered in his hair. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, he felt weak and incredibly sore.

Why weren't they eating him already? Shizuku wished they would hurry up and consume him; why must they continue to torture him like this?

'That'sss what makesss hunting sssoulsss down so fun! The sssound of them ssscreaming for help and begging usss to ssstop as their life leavesss their eyesss.' The Hollow hissed cruelly and Shizuku couldn't stop his body from trembling from the horrible words.

Shizuku suddenly stiffened as something brushed against his senses, his pink eyes narrowed as he tried to work out what he just felt; he knew it was something to do with his sister and that something had changed.

But what?

'You haven't worked it out yet? Ssssomething hasss changed with your sssisster. Ssshe'ss in danger; sssomething is threatening her life.' The Hollow explained and Shizuku's eyes widened in horror; he didn't even notice the Hollows stopping as his Spiritual Energy started to spike erratically.

'Ssshe'sss going to die unlesss you accept my powerss.'

"No she won't. She managed to get there on her own, she can get herself back." Shizuku objected but his retort caused the Hollow to laugh loudly.

'How can you be ssso naive? Yesss your sssisster hass ssstronger Ssspiritual Energy than you but without you, ssshe'sss weak. It'sss you who controlsss her power; the two of you are one being, neither of you can ussse your powersss without the other.' The Hollow summarized and Shizuku knew it was finding this completely amusing.

'Unlesss you accept my powersss, you sssisster isss going to die.'The Hollow stated bluntly as the Hollows in front of Shizuku started moving again.

Shizuku's mind was completely conflicted, he knew he couldn't accept Hollow powers; he didn't want to become a mindless beast but the Hollow stated his sister would die if he didn't accept its help.

Shizuku couldn't lose his big sister.

"Okay." Shizuku whispered quietly and allowed the Hollow's power to rush over him; he only just heard the Hollow start to laugh before a black haze fell over his mind.

The Human World- Karakura Town: Tsubakidai Park

Homura hadn't felt this happy in a very long time; just like he always does, Ichigo had come looking for her when she was looking for him.

He looked exactly how Homura remembered him; same orange hair, same Shihakusho, same Zanpakuto on his back. He was paler than last time she saw him and she couldn't help but notice he wasn't wearing his blue Haori. It was probably back at their hut in Rukongai, waiting for them to return.

"Ichigo! I'm so glad I've finally found you!" Homura began happily not noticing how Ichigo's brown eyes narrowed when he heard her say his name.

"We've been looking for you for ages! Is this where you were? Is this the Living World? It's lovely here, we wouldn't mind living here instead of Heuco Mundo; all the Hollows there are weak but it's gets annoying when they chase you all the time." Homura continued to rattle on not realizing how her words effected the orange-headed Shinigami in front of her; the moment she had mentioned 'Hollows' Ichigo's whole body had tensed.

"Sadly we've actually forgotten our names, can you tell me what they are? They were the names you gave us and I'm sorry we forgot them; please can you tell me my name?" Homura pleaded with her sunny smile; but she blinked in shock when she saw how tense Ichigo had become and how he was glaring at her.

"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Ichigo finally demanded and Homura couldn't help but gasp in slight shock at his question; after a couple of seconds of tense silence Homura laughed shakily as she rubbed her hands together nervously.

"W-What are you on about, Ichigo? You're our protector, you're the one who gave me my name; are you...are you still anger about me not listening to you? I'm sorry I'll never ignore your orders again but please just tell me my name!" Homura begged as tears filled her eyes but Ichigo shook his head angrily.

"I have no memories of protecting you or giving you a name! Tell me who you are and what are you doing here?" Ichigo snapped as he swiped a hand out in front of him; Homura's body shook as she clenched her eyes shut.

'This couldn't be true! Ichigo would never forget about her! Never! He promised!'

"Sure. Alright, I promise to never forget about you when I leave."

"Y-you don't remember me at all?" Homura whispered in shock as she looked at the person she saw as an older brother; as she looked in to Ichigo's brown eyes she could tell he was telling the truth, she wasn't familiar to him and no warmth was directed in his eyes towards her; all she saw was suspicion and reluctance, she knew that meant he would attack her if she became a danger to him even if he didn't want to.

"You don't remember me!" Homura growled as she suddenly felt herself get anger; she knew this wasn't Ichigo's fault; someone had most likely done something to him but she couldn't stop herself as all the anger she was feeling was thrown towards him.

"What the-?" Ichigo gasped in shock as he jumped back and placed his hand on his Zanpakuto; suddenly the girl started releasing incredible Spiritual Energy obviously upset by his answer.

But he wasn't going to lie to the girl, nothing about her was familiar to him and with such tainted Spiritual Energy he wasn't going to test his chances with lying.

Suddenly before he could blink the girl was floating in front of him and grabbed his free wrist in a tight grip, her once green eyes now black and purple as they glared at him; Ichigo couldn't help but wince even in his Shinigami form from her grip.

'Such strength! Where did all this come from? She wasn't this strong a second ago!' Ichigo thought to himself as he tried to break free but the girl just tightened her grip causing him to grit his teeth to stop screaming as he felt his bones creak.

"What has happened to you? Why don't you remember me? You are the only person I have, why don't you remember me?" Homura hissed furiously and Ichigo realized her voice now had the same echo as a Hollow.

Ichigo finally had enough; without hesitation he freed Zangetsu from his bandages and swung at the girl to make her let him go; Homura's eyes widened in shock before she vanished with a flash of purple and black.

Leaving Ichigo alone in the park.

Heuco Mundo

Shizuku watched with impassive pink eyes as the slain Hollow in front of him slowly turned into Spiritual Particles and disappeared; with his free hand Shizuku whipped his forehead and looked at the blood staining his pale white skin.

It wasn't his, just like the rest of it covering his clothes and the cave but none of that mattered to him; he was alive and relatively uninjured, that's all that matters.

With blank eyes Shizuku looked down at the weapon he held loosely in his hand; it was a blood red scythe with a white handle and Shizuku could feel the Hollow's power practically dripping from it.

'It'sss not jussst a weapon! Now that you have accepted my power you will be able to erassse anyone you wanted from exissstence with jussst a sssingle ssswing.' The Hollow injected sounding more clearer than Shizuku had ever heard him.

Slowly he held the scythe out in front of him before running his fingers across the red blade; Shizuku shivered as he felt the Hollow's power running through his body and he swore he heard the Hollow purred in content.

Shizuku was brought out of his thoughts when a familiar feeling brushed against his senses.

'Your sssissster has returned but ssshe isssn't alone.' The Hollow cackled and Shizuku forced himself to concentrate; his eyes narrowed when he realized the Hollow was telling the truth.

Someone had arrived not long after his sister and Shizuku recognised the familiar feeling from when he was around Ichigo.

A Shinigami had arrived.