Nine years old Kurosaki Ichigo woke up in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing but grass and trees, the place was too quiet and peaceful. The most confusing was her clothes, white simple kimono which she doesn't remember wearing. She grabbed her head, trying to remember what happened and how she's here until she remembered her last moment. The death of her mother, the monster that's about to eat her then the light that saved her life… after that, what happened?
"Did I die?" She questioned to herself as she checked her surroundings, "Is this the afterlife? Is this the place they call heaven?"
She stood up to look more of her surroundings. There's nothing but trees, like she's in the middle of the forest. Knowing she had nothing to wait for, she decided to check more of the place and maybe or hopefully she'll meet her mother too.
'I wonder if Kai-nii, Yuu-nii and Oyaji will forgive me… leaving with them so early.' She gripped her fist as tears threat to fall, 'I should be the one who died… I drag Kaasan with me… I… I… nghhh…'
She began to cry, remembering how things end and the aftermath of what might happen to her family, she can't help but blame everything to herself.
It took a while for her to calm down and when she did, she decided not to waste more time and kept moving, hopefully someone could tell her where she was. As she kept moving, she heard something from the side. Out of instinct she followed the sound's location in caution. Getting nearer she hid on the bush to see a person ahead who just came out through a border of a mountain. She doesn't understand, how could that man walk through out that mountain? Could it be there's a mirage that hide a cave or entrance within?
Before she could question more, she saw his gaze gone through her direction, making her shrink in fear. 'Did he see me?' She mentally asked.
"Come out there, I could feel your presence." The man spoke loud enough for her to hear which answered her mental question, 'I guess he did.'
Having no choice, she showed herself but in caution. Now that she's out from her hiding she found an opportunity to take a good look on the man ahead. This person had a brown scholarly hair and brown eyes, wearing square glasses and black shihakusho.
The man on the other hand studied the girl intensely, from the looks of things she's someone who's confuse and innocent, like she just arrived here.
Making a decision, he approached the girl with his kind persona, giving a smile as he eyed the girl who's cautious on his presence. "Hello there young girl, what are you doing here?"
If Ichigo was ordinary she would have guess he's actually a kind man but something within tells her the person in front of him was lying, both in and out, like a mask that covers his true self.
Having this feeling didn't ease Ichigo so she answered but made sure to keep an eye on him. "I'm lost. I don't know where I am."
"Are you with someone else?" She answered by shaking her head, telling no. Gently smiling, he offered his hand. "Come here, I'll help your way back."
Normally when he used this kind of persona, he could fool anyone as making them believe he's good person but for this girl, things didn't go as it always did. Instead of acceptance, she stepped back as if not believing him. That made him tilt his head to question her.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you lying to me?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why are you hiding your true self?" That she blurted out, making her quickly cover her mouth from her mistake. For the man this astonished him, no one had ever told him that before unless they witnessed his true color. This made him intrude, so he asked. "Who are you?"
Ichigo was unsure, she doesn't know whenever she should run or continue this conversation. Her feeling about this man change, telling her this man was slowly taking down the mask, showing his real self in front of her. As if reading her, he added.
"You can't escape from me." As a demonstration, he suddenly vanished in front of her. Making her shock the man disappeared until suddenly she felt a chill behind her. Turning around there was a man that just vanished. Still giving his intruding look in front of her.
"Well?" He questioned as he stepped forward while she stepped back. She gulped in fear until complying, "Ichigo, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Ichigo… strawberry." That destroyed her fear but instead switched to anger, "It's not strawberry, it's one PROTECTOR!" She shouted the last part.
That didn't sway the man instead he found it hilarious. "Very well... for a strawberry."
"HEY!" She crossed her arm as she glared the man, "You know, my mom always tell me to introduce themselves before or after being asked their name."
The man silently chuckled, no one had ever dared to talk back to him, much more a child who's around he could guess nine. He complied since he found no reason to hide it knowing the fact he used his real name to everyone even to them.
"Aizen Sosuke, fifth division captain of Seireitei."
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Time finally came when the Kurosaki Family gave their final farewell to their precious member, Kurosaki Yuuzu before his body was cremated then burred just beside Kurosaki Misaki's grave. They gave their last prayers before finally the two left to get home. Isshin found Ichigo and Kairin so quiet. He thought for a moment before something pop to his mind. He grinned, exited to execute his plan.
Arriving home, Kairin was the one who opened the door and was about to head in first when a familiar sensation was felt.
"KAIRIN~!" Isshin's cheerfulness with craziness ones again kicked in, as he's coming to give his usual kick but thanks to Kairin's developed instinct that he easily dodged his father who began to roll around the house then hit the counter.
Ichigo who was on the side could only blink before checking to see his father down but both of the siblings surprise that he immediately stood up and faced them with a grin, "Great job Kairin, you have not forgotten how to dodge."
Kairin scoff, "Just what is the meaning of this Goat-Face?"
"Oh come on what do you expect?" Out of nowhere, Isshin tried to punch Kairin but thankfully was caught by Kairin. He really didn't expect that coming punch. Isshin grin like a maniac, "I want to know if your becoming rusty."
For Kairin that was an insult that immediately pissed him off. He shouted, "Who's going rusty you Goat-Face!"
The brawl started. Ichigo who's on the sideline could only blink as she watched her father and brother having their own brawl. She began to smile and giggled for a moment before jumping on the brawl, "Let me join too you idiots!"
That's how the remaining family had return to its peaceful life.
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Haft a month had pass ever since the death of Kurosaki Yuuzu, it was raining in the middle of the afternoon. Ichigo who's going home alone saw someone laying on the ground. She approached this person to see it was a girl around her age, no conscious and very thin.
Concern she checked her pulse, its weak.
'Wait… this presence…!?' Immediately Ichigo carried the unconscious girl by taking one of her arm to put it around her neck then pulled her up. She went away with her, planning to have her father check her condition.
Upon arriving home, Isshin was about to greet his princess with his antics when he noticed a girl she's carrying. His doctor side kicked in as he instructed his daughter to bring her in and be put to bed. The patient was very wet and still no conscious, Ichigo as well due to carrying her and the rain gotten stronger as they progress.
"Ichigo go and change first then bring some spare clothes for her." Isshin instructed. Ichigo complied as she went away while Isshin began checking his patient.
It took few minutes before Ichigo returned in her home attire with spare clothes. Isshin left to have Ichigo change her. When done, Isshin return to give the patient medicine.
"How is she?" Ichigo asked in concern. Isshin smiled as he stroked her head, "She's fine Ichigo, just high fever. Good thing you found her or she'll die in the middle of the road."
Ichigo nodded, "I wonder who is she… I didn't found any identification with her."
"That's true." Isshin began to hum before smiling, "Well let's just ask her when she woke up. Come on Ichigo I'm starving."
Ichigo smiled, "I'll begin cooking then, better help me Goat-Face."
"Of course I will my Strawberry Princess."
"DON'T CALL ME STRAWBERRY GOAT-FACE!"
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Later the patient woke up to see a foreign place. She doesn't remember entering someone's home, now she looked closely the clothes she's wearing wasn't hers. Where is she?
"Oh you're awake." She turned to the person who spoke to see a man grinning, "I'm Kurosaki Isshin, you're in our clinic. My daughter found you unconscious on the road so she brought you here."
Her mind was quite foggy until she remembered there's indeed a clinic here in Karakura Town known as Kurosaki Clinic. He must be the doctor.
She tried to sit up but her head suddenly got dizzy as she fell down. Isshin immediately approached her, "Don't push yourself, you still have a high fever."
She blinked to clear her senses before turning to the doctor. She asked in almost whisper, "Why… help me? I… have no money… to give…"
Isshin blinked for a moment before laughing, "Don't worry about it little lady, I'm a doctor, it's natural to rescue a life don't you think? Beside your still young, its waste if you die early."
The girl could only stare, unable to answer.
"Goat-Face is she awake?" Another voice asked. Turning to a new arrival they saw an orange haired girl. Seeing the patient finally conscious made her smile and approached her, "Hey how you feel?"
The girl could only blink in confusion. Isshin decide to answer the unvoiced question, "She's the one who found and brought you here. My daughter, Ichigo."
"Please to meet you." She asked, "Your name?"
The girl tried to remember her name until she found it, "Rin… Ito Rin."
"Ito Rin" Isshin began taking notes, "Your age?"
"Fourteen." Rin answered. Isshin hum while Ichigo commented, "We're same age. So how come your outside when you actually have a high fever?"
Rin gave a thought before answering, "I'm searching… for my haft."
"Haft? Do you happen to have a twin?" Isshin questioned. Rin shook her head telling no, "I'm only child… and orphan."
"So you live alone huh… Guardian?"
"None"
"Where do you live?"
"Nowhere."
Isshin can't help but scratch his head, so she's wondering around alone? Her life sure was rash in a very young age.
"Well since you have nowhere to go, you could stay here for a while. What do you say Ichigo?"
She immediately agreed, "You better get well soon."
Rin could only watch this people as Isshin instruct his daughter what to do like what medicine should she take and so forth until Isshin left them due to being called from the hospital for aid. Now left alone, Ichigo went to get a glass of water offering to the patient that was immediately accepted before she sat beside her then questioned her.
"You told us your searching for your other haft, correct? Does it happen to be…" Ichigo became serious as she questioned, "Haft of your soul?"
Rin's eyes widen, shock that this person knew something.
"From the time I check you, I felt half of your soul is missing which result you lack of emotions. And what surprised me is that something about you is very unique." She leaned close to her face, "Are you a human or a hollow, which one are you?"
Rin could only stare, not really sure how to answer because she herself doesn't know as well.
"Who knows… maybe either or neither." Rin decide to answer, seeing her eyes reflect something that says obey or else.
Ichigo pulled away to cross her arms, "What makes you say that?"
"I am human as I could remember." Rin began, "I have an ability to see soul of the dead although I can't speak with them. I learn to ignore them, pretending like everyone else they can't be seen… until the day something appeared in front of me. A white monster. My reaction must have given that I could actually see it and began to chaise me. Unfortunately, I failed and was trapped then who knows… maybe eaten."
'Impossible, hollow eat souls not living.' Ichigo thought, 'Then maybe she had a unique reiatsu that possibly ate that instead.' She spoke, "I believe something goes wrong that put you in that state."
She nodded, "Feeling something is being sucked. I tried to fight back… until I saw something within the darkness. Desperate I had reached my hand… then suddenly I felt sick, like I'm being squeeze… not only me but also the white thing too."
'So that's how their fusion happened in a different way. Her half was sucked then she saw something which I could guess the soul of a hollow, grabbing it cause them to fuse together.' This peak her interest, deep in mind she knew someone else out there would be more intrude than her. "The very first hybrid of both human and hollow. How I never thought this could be possible."
Rin blinked, not understanding her word. For that Ichigo explained.
"The white monster you prefer was called hollow. A soul who lost their hearts to either despair or regret. Other cases are souls had remained to the living far too long to transform. Only those with strong reiatsu had a capability to see them, unlike those who could see soul of the dead but not hollows."
Absorbing the information, she nodded.
"For your case, you are a shell of a human but soul of a hollow. I never knew something like this actually exist much more possible. All I knew are Visored and Arrancar."
"Visored? Arrancar?"
"Visored are shinigamis that acquired Hollow powers. Arrancars on the other hand are hollows that gained Shinigami-like powers. No living can acquire the power of either Shinigami or Hallow, you're the first. Like you are the existence of Nirvana itself."
Rin didn't understand most of it. Shinigami? They exist? Since experiencing herself being swallowed then feeling her missing soul disappeared, maybe they were true too.
"Then… who are you?" Rin asked. Ichigo smiled and answered in puzzle way, "I am either Human, Shinigami or Hollow."
Rin could only stare, not sure whenever to push or stay as it is. Her question was answered when they heard a male voice, someone she doesn't know telling he's home. Ichigo answered the call telling welcome back, giving a smile she went out for a moment to call the arrived person named Kai-nii.
Now alone, she can't help but take a deep breath to process everything. 'First being… should I either freak out or shrug it off… am I even capable to either of them?'
Feeling her headache coming back, she decided to give in to her heaviness, letting herself drip to sleep.
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It took three days of rest until she finally recovered. Thankfully those two days were weekends, making Ichigo take the full time to take good care of her. She gained a chance to meet Ichigo's big brother Kairin with his close friend named Chad. Her father, Isshin always took measurement of her recovery until he announced she's okay and ready to go.
Now finish changing her own clothes, she went out the room to see Ichigo waiting for her.
"Are you sure you want to go?" Ichigo asked in concern. Rin nodded, expression were blank due the lack of emotions. "As much as I'm grateful for taking care of me, I have nothing to return. I don't even have a money to pay you. I can't stay here any longer but I promise ones I got money, they will immediately be given to you to pay your service."
"You know there's no need for that." Both turn to Isshin who's approaching with Kairin from behind. Isshin grinned, "Why don't you stay here, live with us instead."
That offer widen her eyes, not expecting it while Ichigo finds the idea great for her to live with them. Kairin nodded in acceptance, "We already talked about it and we would be glad to welcome you. Ichigo really love your company and we don't want you two to part away after getting along in just short time."
Rin looked down, "Still… I…"
Isshin approached the child and stroke her head, "I know you are looking for something but maybe we could help you. Thinking you will ones again go outside and sleep anywhere would make me worried. So what do you say Rin. Will you say here?"
Unsure, she asked. "Are you… sure?"
"We won't he offering unless we're sure." Isshin said with a grin. Kain huff, "For ones I agree with goat-face."
Ichigo approached her and grabbed her hand, "Live with us Rin, please!" She begged.
Rin blink, unsure but seeing they're truly dedicated for their decision she finally complied. "O… okay…"
Her answer was enough to make Ichigo jump in happiness and hugged her, "Thank you Rin!"
That made Rin almost fall but thankfully balanced herself with an added weight. Isshin bellowed, "My second daughter is here!"
Kairin could only shook his head but happy for the new addition of their family, 'Maybe with her, she could make Ichigo lift her guilt away. Slowly but surely…'
That's how Ito Rin joined the family.
I don't own Bleach
From this point there will be a haft story, both past and present. This may take long but hope you readers will look forward for it.
