A/N: Thanks to my Beta-reader pixieroo, all chapters have been revised. Hope you guys enjoy the new version ;) and for those who already read it, no need to do it again (but I highly recommended).

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, pfft!

So, here's the first...

Enjoy!

Unwanted Soul

Chapter One

No one told him what was going to happen after death. Nor was he informed about the place called Hell. In his mind, when he became a Hollow, he had already died. Lying on the granular surface of Hueco Mundo, Grimmjow was losing a great deal of blood after being sliced, unexpectedly by a Zanpakuto. His vision became blurry, but he could still detect the object that appeared suddenly behind him as he slowly turned his head.

The gates of Hell opened. The disturbing clatter of chains was heard. They embraced and lifted the wounded Espada, only to deliver him to a giant hand, holding a sword. The sword pierced his weakened body and he was drug inside the gate. He howled from the uncontrollable pain and as the doors started to close, a slurred voice could be heard cursing.

"I'll never forgive you for humiliating me like this, Kurosaki-"

"GRIMMJOW!" the boy shouted, reaching for the Espada, only grazing the fingertips of the hand he sought.

The Espada frowned. "…Why?"

The question wounded his pride more than the pain from the blade slicing through his guts.

"Because you're the only one that-"

The doors slammed shut without letting the blue-haired Espada hear the boys' final words. Grimmjow may have been his enemy, but he was the best rival he had encountered so far. Their previous battles were always interrupted and had somehow left the boy unfulfilled. This one was different though, they had fought until the very end. As he lay his injured body down on the sand, he fully realized that this would be the last battle between them. Strangely, all he could feel was sorrow.

XXX

He had watched the unknown Espada thrust his Zanpakuto into Grimmjow's side, at that time Ichigo became enraged. The sixth Espada was his adversary and was already badly injured. The other Espada had no right to interfere. No right to kill Grimmjow.

"Who are you?" the young Shinigami asked, standing in front of the wounded body.

"Nnoitra, you asshole…" The blue-haired Espada cursed, attempting to lift his torso but failing.

"Oi, Grimmjow, what the fuck is this? First, the enemy kicks your ass, and then you let him save your life?" Nnoitra sneered.

Nnoitra felt disgusted by the scene and glared at the young Shinigami. He slowly let his tongue out, showing the number five tattooed on it and gave the later a sinful grin. The fifth Espada was also a blood-thirsty fighter. It offended his pride to watch a battle that ended with both fighters lives intact. His pride would not allow this. As he lunged forward, he swore that both of them would pay with their lives for this atrocity. Grimmjow could hear the sound of swords clashing constantly, as the fight moved away from him.

Ichigo's body was weakening far too quickly. His mind ordered his body to fight. Besides the unexpected weakness, the strawberry-haired boy had felt something was off. Because of his concentration on the ferocious opponent in front of him, he had missed the appearance of the already opened gates. Ichigo's heroic instinct to always save everyone had kicked in, but it was too late. Grimmjows already chained body was being pulled into the abyss.

The young Shinigami didn't know why he had shouted the other man's name. He didn't know the answer to Grimmjows question of "Why?" What he did know was that this is what happens to souls that have committed sins, but for the gates to appear in Hueco Mundo was something new. Ichigo felt guilt encircling his heart, as hard as he had tried; in the end he was not able to save Grimmjow.

XXX

The flow of time is different between the four worlds; the world of the living, Hueco Mundo, The Soul Society and Hell. When it seems like twenty-five minutes have passed in Hueco Mundo, a week has already passed in Hell. It wasn't a pleasant place; on the contrary it would be a terrifying experience. No one has ever been able to escape and those who would try will be eaten by Hell's guardians.

The guardians were creatures whose duty was to continuously eat souls to torment them. These creatures seemed to find their duty quite pleasurable. Even worse, after a soul is devoured it will return. It was a constant circle of suffering. Grimmjow had already tasted this horror many times his first two days in Hell. He wanted to get out of there and he tried not to despair.

"Do you want to get out?" A voice echoed in his mind on the third day. He shouted, "Who are you? Show yourself." There was nothing but silence. Grimmjow began to think that his mind was just playing tricks on him. There was something else bothering him that he had tried hard not to think about. It was the lost fight and he hated to lose. The strawberry-haired Shinigami was constantly lingering in his mind. He was determined. Nothing would stop him from escaping.

XXX

Sitting beside the window in his bedroom, Ichigo gazed at the night sky. He had already said goodbye, with a forceful smile, to Rukia and Renji, so now he didn't have to pretend. Feeling his powers already slipping away, he wondered if someday he would see them again. The pain and sadness that was now completely surrounding his heart had started in that place. The place he wished to go one last time.

It's raining here, King. Your inner world is crumbling, and it feels cold like going comatose. Why are you sad, King? I can feel the pain inside your heart like the wind passing through my skin. I don't like it, King. I hate feeling like this, and I'm tired of fighting it. It might be your world King, but I'm the one living in it. King, if I'm gone, will you miss me? Don't get mad, it was a joke…maybe. King, I wish I could change how you're feeling now. I want to see the blue sky in here. I have the right to a selfish thought, right? I'll never understand humans and that thing called emotions, either way…I don't plan to. You're giving up too soon, King. Where's the hothead that never gave up? The one I proudly decided to call King. I told you once, didn't I? That if you were about to die, I'll take over. But this, this is different. It feels like you're going far from this, away from me and never coming back.

King, remember all of the battles we fought together? Or at least, it felt like we fought together. It was nice in here then. The sky was clear and blue, but now it's dark and the rain seems as if it's never going to end. The old man is not here. I'm alone and I don't understand why. Even if it was raining, in the past he was here wishing for the rain to stop. .Hey King, do you know why the old man isn't here anymore? I know you never approved of my existence. I don't blame you. You were only a kid with too much going on in your life, and I was just the monster who invaded your mind. The windows are shattering into pieces and for some reason, my chest hurt. I hate this thing, King. How ironic, when in all those battles you fought, you wished you had more power. I gave it to you, and now you can't even hear me. I see you sitting beside the window looking at the night sky, and I wish I could be next to you. I lost to you so many times and even so, I never hated you. I wanted to fight with you even more. Funny… isn't it? And now, now you're suffering there while I'm here watching this world disappear. But still, I don't hate you, King. I wish I could see you here one last time, for one last fight between us.

XXX

The war against Aizen was over, but even if the Shinigami won, Ichigo the hero had lost. In addition to losing his powers, he had also lost the person that had continuously given him a reason to seek more power. This was the same power that had brought down Aizen. A power he missed. He couldn't see Renji or Rukia; he couldn't even see the usual spirits that roamed around. He missed everyone from The Soul Society, but he had to move on. He would eventually have to become a normal teenager.

Time went by and Ichigo created a normal routine. He went to school during the day and at night he studied in his room. On the weekends he rarely went out with his friends, he spent that time helping his father at the clinic. Isshin knew his son was suffering, but being a hothead, Ichigo was not one to talk about it. When night settled in and everyone was asleep, the strawberry-haired boy reminisced about being a substitute Shinigami and all the battles he fought. However, when his weary eyelids closed, he dreamed the same dream every night. A dream about a certain ex-Espada, with hair the color of a blue sky and deep, piercing, cerulean eyes, the eyes of a predator constantly on the hunt.

XXX

Two years had already passed in the world of the living and everything seemed back to normal. Ichigo was now in his last year of high school and wishing for it to be over so he could move out on his own. Having a few part-time jobs was not easy for him. He barely had free time to enjoy what was left of his youth. But when did he ever enjoy it? After he became a substitute Shinigami, there were constant battles that required him to make mature decisions that were far beyond his years. Had he been forced to skip this part of growing up? This teenager would soon be eighteen and on his own, something he was eagerly looking forward to.

It was already midnight; the sky was adorned by a crescent moon and a few visible stars. Since winter was approaching, the temperature was slowly dropping. Ichigo was on his way home from his part-time job at the convenience store. His hands were inside the pockets of his hoodie, searching for warmth, and he was enjoying the music coming from his iPod. Suddenly, he felt as if someone had just said his name. Ichigo stopped, turned off the music and looked around, but saw no one.

He was tired and maybe the music was a little loud…'What tha-' Ichigo jumped in terror when he felt like something had brushed against his shoulder, but then he started laughing at himself. For someone that used to see spirits, on daily basis, to get jumpy now, was hilarious. He continued walking, but for some reason, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being followed.

Thanks for reading!