Notice: I don't own the Bleach franchise. That belongs to Shueisha, Studio Pierrot and the original mangaka Tite Kubo.
"Ichigo!"
Masaki screamed towards her son, who unbeknowst to him was rushing headlong to a hollow, angling a little girl as prey. Well she thought it was a little girl.
'Gotta get to him' - she tried using her hirenkyaku to swiftly move to protect her boy, but to no effect. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her body moving on its own to protect her son from the predatory figure. Sprinting down the river bank she begged for her powers to activate, but...nothing.
'No matter, so long as I can protect Ichigo!'
Finally reaching her son, she shielded him as best she could, enveloping him in her warm embrace. Masaki attempted to activate her signature Blut Vene (a Quincy technique that significantly increases her defensive capabilities) - again nothing.
She was in shock, and couldn't believe her greatest defence had failed. Then...agonising pain coursed through her entire body, realising she was cut by the hollow, who was cackling, relishing his strike. "Do not worry woman, you will make a fine meal!" His rotten spiritual pressure, invaded her senses.
Masaki defiantly rose back up, momentarily looking down to see that her son was knocked unconscious, 't-thank goodness he's okay...' Wincing at the pain from the gash across her abdomen 'but without my powers I won't be able to stop him, however...' Realising she had some stored gintō (Quincy spells) on her, she could at least chase it away or move it away from her son's location.
Quickly sifting through her purse, she found a few cannisters 'well here goes...'
"Hah!" tossing three cannisters she chanted an incantation, and then...
*BOOM* - a strong explosion hit the creature. It was (luckily) strong enough to disorient the monster and even slightly injure it.
"Aargh, I can't see, what did you do to me woman!" the beast bellowed, screeching in pain. Using this opportunity she threw the last of her gintō to hopefully wound the monster enough for it to retreat or (luck withstanding) actually kill it.
'Gotta make this count' - chanting the strongest spell she could come up with, the resulting incantation bifurcates the beast – gouging a hole in its side. Howling in pain the beast realises that it cannot have its prey at this time, so decides to slink back into the shadows – licking its wounds.
"I-I-I...d...i...d...I...t," Masaki collapses. The rain feeling like an oppressive blanket on her tired and aching body...
A short time later she awakens.
Half conscious she crawls over to her son, nothing but sheer will, determination and instinct driving her actions. 'I-Ichigo' her thoughts beginning to fade. She reaches her beloved son, wrapping her arm around him in an attempted hug, but soon enough the last of her strength gives out.
/Karakura Town – Kurosaki Medical Clinic
Isshin who was home minding his young daughters. He then feels Masaki's spiritual signature disappear, grief and sadness evident on his face. 'N-no...Masaki.' He closes his eyes and tears flow from his rugged face.
'D-daddy?' Two toddlers, twins in fact, walk into the kitchen and see Isshin crying, both girls raising their innocent faces to their father.
Isshin to his credit quickly wipes away his tears and puts on the biggest smile he can, "N-nothing my beautiful girls, daddy's just getting a little emotional"
The twins, Yuzu and Karin, tilt their heads, eyes wide, mouths open. 'My beautiful girls have just lost their mother, and Ichigo...well...' he looks solemnly, out the window, watching the rain wash over the townscape. 'I'll contact Ryūken right away and see if him and Kanae can look after the girls, while I go to Masaki.'
/Karakura Town – Ishida Residence
"I-I don't understand it, how can Masaki be gone!" Disbelief was plain over the normally stoic Ryūken's face. The current head of the Ishida family mulls over the implications. A gentle hand wraps around his right hand, "Kanae, you look..."
"I know my love, but the Kurosaki family has just lost their matriarch, and us a dear friend." She smiles weakly at her husband, "likely Isshin will contact us to look after the k-" Kanae abruptly stops, kneeling over and coughing.
"K-Kanae what's happening!" Recovering slightly from the sudden coughing fit, she stands "I think you know," a word is left unsaid between them, 'Auswählen.' A few moments later they hear their home phone ring, with Kanae slowly walking over to the device. Seeing the caller ID, she picks up the phone...
/30 minutes later
A familiar knock is heard at the Ishida residence door. Kanae greets the guests, opening the door, "Welcome Isshin, and hello little ones!"
"Hi Aunty Kanae!" The innocent greeting warming Kanae's heart. "Hi...Kanae." She sees Isshin eyes are red rimmed, deflated.
"Ryūken is in the living room." She directs the trio to the living room area. Once they arrive in the spacious area, Kanae directs her attention to Yuzu and Karin.
"Come little ones, why don't we go see your cousin Uryu, and see if he'd like to play with you, yeah!?"
"Yay we love Ury!" - 'bless their innocent hearts,' Kanae smiles.
Silence separates the two men as Ryūken and Isshin both look away from eachother. Kanae looks back, and worries about their current mood, but again directs her attention to the children.
Ryūken breaks the silence.
"So Isshin, what are you going to do?"
"Get my wife back and hopefully find my son." He breathes in, "I know Masaki protected him, but I can't quite sense if he's okay." He breathes out, "I just don't get it, how can she be dead, that was a pretty standard hollow, and it should've been small-fry to her!" The rage inside him boils.
"Isshin!" Uncharacteristically raising his voice, Ryūken continues, "Do not worry about those details yet, just...get your wife's body back and find your son."
"I know."
Packing on his wet weather gear, Isshin exits the Ishida residence, and then rushes off in the direction of the Karakura Town River Bank.
Once there he finds his dead wife, her arm draped over her son, in a protective embrace – blood flowing onto the grassy river back. Barrelling down the hill, he finds that his son is awake and in shock – covered in his mother's blood – an experience that will scar him for years to come.
End of Chapter Notes: First chapter is a recap of the events of Masaki's death. However one major change is that Masaki had some gintō on her person. This allowed her to fight Grand Fisher and push him back before her death.