If you skipped the first chapter, you didn't miss anything really original. It was just a re-cap of the first episode of Bleach. 1I had written the entire first chapter right as I had created my account, and found that I had to wait 3 days before posting it. So I've started my next chapter without the feedback I am relying on. This story will jump time frames, and might mix many of them up. I will shake things up a bit from the show however which will be shown in this chapter. Once again ENJOY!
Standard disclaimer: I do not own Bleach...
Chapter 1: Dates?
Kurosaki Ichigo strolled his way to school with a serious frown adorning his face...even for him. He stole a quick glance at the seemingly innocent, raven haired young woman walking on his right thinking on just how much she had effected his life. He had woken up the morning after the hollow attack on his house forcing himself to believe the previous night had all been a dream. That was until he saw the damage inflicted on his house. He had at least counted on a long period of time before having to meet that mysterious Shinigami Kuchiki Rukia again. This was also proven to be wish full thinking as he found himself meeting her for the first time(well at least in the eyes of his classmates) the next day in school. To make matters more uncomfortable she had taken residence in his closet! He was no pervert, but having a girl his own age...(excuse me "looks his own age") sleeping within 10 feet of him every night will lead to awkward situations. His thoughts traveled to his long time classmate Orihime Inoue who he had rescued from her deceased brother who had come to "claim" her in his new form as a hollow. This would have led to more awkwardness than already took place between them if Rukia didn't poses a memory modifier to wipe her memories of the night.
Orihime found herself distracted as she dressed herself for school that morning. She had the strangest dream the previous night about her long time crush Kurosaki Ichigo saving her from some unknown evil. This wasn't abnormal for Inoue because she had one of the wildest imaginations around. As frightening as the dream was she couldn't help but be content, because she felt sure her brothers spirit was finally at rest. Putting her school uniform over a generous chest, and adorning her favorite hair clips given to her by her brother she looked into the mirror. An extremely beautiful young woman stared back at her with a smile that would have sent the majority of the males at her highschool into bliss. "Today's the day I ask Ichigo to take me to the festival," she told herself resolutely. With that she walked out the door to meet her best friend Tatsuki who was waiting for her outside. She was no more than two steps out her door when the ground mysteriously vanished under her feet and her vision met her walkway. Tatsuki watched her friend miss the step from her house and fall face first onto the sidewalk with no more than a sigh.
"How can you forget the step from YOUR OWN HOUSE?" she asked desperately.
Orihime bounced up quickly with an embarrassed laugh and a blush. "Just clumsy I guess."
You could definantly use clumsy to describe Orihime. Of course you couldn't describe her without breathtaking and carefree in the same sentance.
"So your planning on asking Ichigo to the festival TODAY right?" asked Tatsuki
A look of determination came over Orihime. "Yes! Defiantly today!"
Tatsuki just looked at her skeptically."Okay then lets get going."
Ichigo walked into his class noticing it had unusual decorations hung all over the walls. He also noticed most of his classmates seemed to be in an uproar.
'Is it time for the midterm festival already?' he asked himself.
"What are all these decorations for?" asked Rukia innocently.
"It's the annual festival in the middle of every school year. Everyone always makes a big deal outa who will ask who for a date."
Rukia noticed all the girls had gathered into a pack and seemed to be giggling openly. The guys on the other side of the room seemed to be conspiring with a hungry look in their eyes. She chanced a glance at Ichigo, but he gave nothing away with his features. He may have looked even more annoyed than usual. 'Will he ask me to go with him?' she caught herself thinking, and instantly berated herself for such stupid thoughts. 'He would never go to one of those things would he?'
Perhaps one of Rukia's biggest admirerers in the class Keigo (I hope I spelt that right ) came boldly striding up to them.
"Hello Rukia-San." he said brightly.
She immediately adopted her mask which annoyed Ichigo so much. "Hello Keigo-Kun. How are you this morning?"
He beamed at her. "Terrific! But who wouldn't be with the festival just around the corner?"
"Well I wouldn't know, I'm afraid I've never been to one myself." she replied thoughtfully.
A greedy look briefly flashed over his face before he responded, "then how would you like to be my date Rukia-San?"
Ichigo who had seen this coming a mile away gave Rukia a taunting look that screamed, 'So how do you plan to get out of this one?'
Rukia had glanced quickly at Ichigo hoping to see a jealous expression, but only found him to be taunting her. 'I bet I can make him jealous.'
"I'd love to go with you Keigo-Kun." she said in her most cheerful voice possible. She took pleasure in the look of surprise that crossed over Ichigo's face before he replaced it with his usual scowl, and walked away seemingly unconcerned
Tatsuki and Orihime had been watching with an interest along with the majority of the class.
"Here's your chance! Go ask him." said Tatsuki, who had to immediately get a jealous Chizuru in an unbreakable headlock.
Orihime had stood up and faced Ichigo, but seemed hesitant to go much further. One of the girls noticed this and seemed to think she needed a little shove in the right direction.
"Oi Ichigo!" she exclaimed, causing him to turn to the group mild curiosity in his eyesShe then pushed Orihime to him. Unfortunately for her she had locked eyes with Ichigo which seemed to make her temporarily lose all motor control, and forgetting to move her feet as she was pushed toward him.
Out of reflex Ichigo had stooped and caught her before she could make another one of her face plants. This was nothing new for him. He had caught her many times before knowing how clumsy she was from almost 4 years of school together.
No matter how many times this had happened to her Inoue could never get used to being held in his arms. To make matters worse her eyes were still locked with his, and the entire class had grown silent and unmoving as they watched what would happen next. That is with the exception of Chizuru who had gained unnatural strength and was heatedly fighting Tatsuki's hand over her mouth.
"Go on Orihime." whispered one of the girls.
Inoue stiffened her resolve and took a deep breath. "I-Ichigo I-I was wondering if you... that is... areyougoingtothefestival?" she blurted out.
Ichigo was visibly stunned. Inoue had always been one of those he found himself the most comfortable with among his classmates, even if she did act a bit strange around him. The midterm festival was famous for the beginnings of new relationships, and Ichigo couldn't believe he had missed Inoue's feelings for him over the years. He stole a quick look at Rukia who had been watching intently, and got an excellent idea for revenge. 'Fight fire with fire eh?'
He stood Inoue up and gave her one of his rare smiled which seemed to weaken her knees slightly and said in a cheerful voice, (at least for him) "Sure I'll go with you Inoue."
The entire class was dumbfounded. Chizuru sagged with defeat as well as many of the males in the class who had a secret crush on her for years. Orihime looked like she was just given a new puppy for Christmas.
Tatsuki took her cue and jumped to Inoue's side. "Great so you can pick her up on Saturday at 7 o'clock."
"Okay. Ill see ya Saturday then Inoue." said Ichigo secretly thinking, 'what have I gotten myself into?'
He had gotten through the day ignoring the pile of crumpled papers that had landed near his desk, and the glances Rukia would send him during class. He continued to ignore her on the walk home relishing the effect this was all having on her.
Rukia had finally said one of the things that were bursting to escape from her. "It seems Inoue-San has quite a crush on you."
"Seems so." he said dissmissively.
This proved to frustrate her further. "So do you like her as well?" she tried to sound unconcerned.
"Why? You jealous?" he asked with a taunting grin.
"Jealous? Hardly! Like I could care less how you feel about girls." she said with a turned head to hide the blush she knew had crept across her face. Then she realized he had continued without her and was now several paces in front of her.
This sent her into if possible an even darker mood before she fell into step behind him brooding.
Back in Ichigo's room Rukia kept pelting him with personal questions, and he had gotten tired of teasing her. He was now beginning to get annoyed, and took off saying he needed a shower.
Rukia had stood fuming in the room alone for a moment after he had left. 'Oh he's so infuriating!' she then stood there silently with tears welling in her eyes as she dropped her facade. 'Mabey I am jealous... God I am so stupid. None of this would have happened if I hadn't agreed to go with Keigo just to make Ichigo jealous.
She then noticed her reflection in the mirror above Ichigo's desk. She stood examining herself for several minutes thinking how any man could chose her over a girl like Inoue. Although she had allowed her body to age a few years from what she was used to in Soul Society and had a significantly more feminine body, she was still no match for the red-head's extremely large breasts and generous curves. Her thoughts were cut short however when her spirit detector went off. She instantly welcomed the distraction and pushing all other thoughts to the back of her mind she rushed for Ichigo.
She burst through the bathroom door to find a very naked Ichigo standing shocked and frozen in his previous motion of reaching for a towel. Rukia was also frozen for a moment unable to ignore the beads of water running down his well toned physique. The detector rang once more immediately springing them both to action. Rukia turning around to give him some privacy as well as to hide the blood that had rushed to her face. Ichigo was able to snatch a towel wrapping it around his waist and find his voice. "What the hell are ya doing barging in on me while im taking a shower?"
"We have a hollow to take care of." and rather than standing there to hear his retort she lunged at him, smacking his forehead with the glove instantly separating him from his body. "Come on we have no time to waste."
Ichigo stood grumbling about how this wasn't over, and followed Rukia out the front door. He was lucky his family was out until later that night.
They rushed through the streets with Rukia in the lead pointing directions. "Hmm this hollow must be very large to have such a high spiritual power." she thought aloud.
Ichigo had other thoughts. 'Something doesn't feel right'
They spotted the hollow which was surprisingly small advancing on the spirit of a young boy. Ichigo leapt and attempted to finish it quickly with a downward slash, but the hollow leapt away just in time.
"Ooh it looks like I've got a tasty Shinigami to play with." It said threateningly.
"Hmpf. As if id loose to a shrimp of a hollow like you." said ichigo confidently, although his thoughts betrayed him. 'This can't be what I was feeling.'
The moon was nearly full casting large shadows from the 3 figures in the street. Ichigo was planning another attack on the hollow before he heard Rukia shriek behind him. A much larger hollow had risen out of the shadow of the first and grabbed Rukia in one hand. "Hey! Let her go!" he yelled stupidly.
The smaller hollow laughed wickedly. "You heard him brother let her go." The other hollow immediately flung Rukia over the bridge they were atop.
"Rukia!" yelled ichigo as he strained his legs to catch up with her. Leaping over the bridge he managed to catch her just before she hit the concrete on the street below.
"So you managed to catch her did you?" said the hollow as it looked at them from the bridge above, casting its shadow over the entire street below. "Mabey you noticed my brother appears from my shadow?"
Ichigo's eyes went wide for a moment as he tossed Rukia off the street just as a giant hand slammed him into the ground from above. He felt all the wind leave his lungs as ribs cracked from the force. The hollow fully emerged holding Ichigo in midair by both his arms. The hollow was twice the size as before!
"Ichigo!" yelled Rukia as she got back on her feet and prepared a fire spell with all the powers she still possessed hitting one of the large hollows hands. Nearly no damage was done to the oversized hollow and Rukia fell to her knees in helplessness.
The hollow cackled once again. "Such a pathetic Shinigami. You didn't even notice that my brother's size and strength is matched by the size of my shadow. He wasn't lying. The added size of his shadow from the space between the bridge made the hollow holding Ichigo larger than nearly any Rukia had seen. "Now you will pay for your stupidity." with that he charged Ichigo using his long claws to tear at his flesh without resistance.
Ichigo was hollering in pain and the hollow was only getting more intoxicated by it. Rukia couldn't stand to watch. Overriding all rationality she charged the smaller hollow hitting it with a flying kick which sent it sprawling for a moment.
"You bitch!" it screamed before grabbing it with surprising speed. "Now I'll eat you first while this human watches helpless."
"Let her go." Ichigo said with venom dripping from his voice. "Or I'll make the pain of your death impossible for you to imagine."
The hollow stood for a moment before exploding into laughter once more. "What are you going to do Shinigami? You don't even have your precious sword." He preceded to drag one of his claws along Rukia's shoulder causing her to scream in pain.
"I SAID LET HER GO!" Ichigo hollered as his body was surrounded in a blue glow.
"What is this?" the hollow asked with fear betraying his calm. Rukia could only stare wide-eyed.
"I told you I would teach you a new lesson in pain." He was struggling in the grasp of the hollow, and the blood pouring from his body was stopped by the torrents of power that washed over him. In what seemed like an instant he broke free from the hollow's grasp and kicked it into a nearby building. The building's support buckled and collapsed on the hollow.
The look of fear on the hollows face was obvious as he yelled. "Stop there! Or I'll tear her apart.
His expression of fear suddenly turned to surprise as blood spewed from his mouth. The hollow flung back from Ichigo's blow to it's stomach left Rukia hung over Ichigo's shoulder.
"You okay?" he asked as he gently lay her in the grass. She could only nod wordlessly.
"You bastard. Ill teach you to challenge the Brothers of shadow." said the hollow as it stood to its feet. "DIE!" it yelled at it lunged his claws toward Ichigo's heart. Upon meeting Ichigo however the hollow was imbedded into the concrete by Ichigo's elbow. As the hollow struggled to stand once more he was sent into the air via Ichigo's foot.
"This isn't over Shinigami!" The hollow bellowed as it began to fade out of this realm.
"I won't let you escape!" stated Ichigo as he prepared to launch himself at it. However a hand larger than most the buildings around it enclosed Ichigo squeezing him with unmeasurable strength. The shadow from the hollow up in the sky covered several blocks.
"Ichigo!" Yelled Rukia once more helpless to aid him. The ground began to rumble and blue light seeped through the fingers of the hollow. Rukia was nearly brought to her knees. 'What amazing spirit power!' she thought as Ichigo ripped two of the finger from the hand squeezing him. A large scream was heard by those able throughout the city.
Ichigo was left standing in a ring of energy looking toward the sky. "Damn. It escaped."
He mumbled before the power around him dissipated and he collapsed to one knee. His wounds which had stopped bleeding during he fight flowed freely once more.
"Ichigo! Are you okay?" asked rukia who had come to his side panic evident in her eyes. "Cheh. As if I could be defeated by a hollow like that." he said in a cocky voice before his vision blurred, and fell unconscious.
"ICHIGO!"
HAHA what did you think? I tried not to leave you guys on too much of a cliffy. Will Ichigo be ok? Will he still be able to meet Orihime at the festival? Will he find how Rukia truly feels about him? These questions will be added in the next chapter... mabey XD
only if you guys review. As usual any advice will be taken into consideration, and flames sent to HELL!
Special thanks to Maik Royen who posted a link to the manga, which should help me write a better story for you all. :)
See ya'll next time!