Bleach Mansion

Chapter 1: Hardcore Rainfall.

July 7 12:00

" Ok, guys. This is it. The last game. We're already two points behind and if we win this, it'll put us in the lead. Now, as team captain, I have to go up against the other team captain, and she's one formidable opponent. In order to win this, I need all of your support. If we win, it'll be like a rite of passage to manhood"

" … Why the hell I am even here?"

" I've been a man since I was 8. And I'm not giving you this talisman for good look, Keigo."

" Ichigo, where's your team spirit! If you really want to reclaim your title as a man…."

" We're waiting, boys. We're ready when you are."

At an outside booth, Keigo and friends were up to their usual antics. On the right side of the table sat Keigo. Behind him stood Ichigo, Mizuiro, Chad and Uryu. At the right side of the table sat Tatsuki and standing in her corner was Orihime, Mahana, Michuru and Ryo. Tatsuki gently placed her arm on the table. " This should take me no more than 5 minutes." Keigo placed his arm on the table, lifting his forearm upward, Tatsuki did the same.

" I'd rather be studing…" Ryo muttered under her breath. " That makes two of us" Uryu added, adjust his glasses. Ichigo looked at his watch. July 7, 12: 15 pm. Keigo smirked. " How arrogant. You honestly think you'll beat me in less than 5 minutes? You're sadly mistaken."

" Talking is only a form of delay. Are you ready?" In front of both of them were two jumbo sizes slurpees. They both grabbed their oversized beverages.

Orihime stepped forward. ' Okay guys, the rules are simple. The two of you must consume the contents of the slurpee within 10 minutes Whoever finishes first wins. If you get brain freeze before your opponent, you lose. Ready… Go!"

Ichigo looked up at the sky. There was clouds, but the sun shined it's brightest. Despite this, something in the air just didn't feel right. He felt a strong spiritual presence. If only he could tell where it's coming from. " Don't worry, Ichigo" Uryu interrupted his thoughts. ' I sense it, too. But it's not from an evil entity." Ichigo turned to face Uryu. " I know. I'm just trying to find out where it's coming from." He walked off, looking for the source of the unusual aura. Standing next to Tatsuki, Orihime also felt the presence. " Ichigo…" She started to follow him when Uryu place his hand on her shoulder. " Uryu…" She started, but Uryu shushed her. " I know. I feel it, too. But it wouldn't be wise to make a big deal out of it in front of all of these people." She looked into Uryu's eyes, then turned away and sighed. " Yes.."

At exactly five minutes, the game was over. Keigo had fallen from his chair from a terrible case of brain freeze. Chad and Mizuiro ran to his aid. Tatsuki stood triumphantly as the other girls cheered. " Yeah!" She walked over to the other side of the table and squatted next to Keigo. " I just wanted to tell you, face to face … I OWN YOU!"

Ichigo walked around, looking for the person (or thing) that was giving off that huge amount of aura.

" Dammit" He sighed. " It's gotten stronger since I left the group. Why can't I find the source." Suddenly, the sky darkened a bit. Ichigo looked up. The sky had a few dark clouds. " It's about to rain. Shit. I forgot my umbrella… Ooof" Someone had ran until him. The impact made him lose his balance. Ichigo managed to catch his balance. ' Hey, what's the big…." He stopped when he saw who he bumped into. Lying on his side was a boy, no older than 13 years old. He had spiky black hair and headphones. He was wearing a white button shirt with the collar unbuttoned. He carried a katana at his side. That boy was Yoh Asakura. You stood up and dusted himself off. " I'm sorry I bumped into you." Ichigo smiled. ' Don't worry about it. I was the one not paying attention. I should have been looking….." Suddenly , a high pitched voiced cut through the air like a sharp blade " YOH! STOP FOOLING AROUND! BRING YOUR ASS! WE"RE LEAVING!" That silenced the whole crowd around them. Yoh stood up in fear. " Lady friend, eh?" Ichigo asked the laid back shaman. Yoh chuckled and scratched his head. " Yeah. That's my fiancée, Anna alright."

"Fiancee?" Ichigo thought to himself. ' At such a young age?" He noticed the sword Yoh carried at his side. ' Anna, wait up. Come on, Manta!" Yoh pushed past Ichigo, followed by Manta. ' Man, I have to find some new friends!' Manta cried. Ichigo watched as the two friends ran. " It was him. He was the one I was sensing." He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out the Kon pill. " Could he be a shinigami?"

Later on, it started to pour down raining. Ichigo lied in his bed. He was looking at a picture of him and his mom. In the picture, he was 9 years old and his mom was kissing him on the cheek. That was his favorite picture. Rukia, who was sitting at the desk, grew bored. " Ichigo, how much longer are you gonna stare at the picture.?" Without responding, Ichigo stood up and walked to the window. " Rukia." He started. " I know you've never met your mother before. I'm not sure you can ever understand what I felt that night, and what I feel now. Every since I lost to Grand Fisher, an void formed within my soul. A void that no matter how many battles I won, no matter how many hollows I killed, I can't fill the gap. No matter how much stronger I become, I can never forgive myself for what happened that night."

' Ichigo" Rukia started. " Rukia. Do you remember that night when I took on Grand Fisher? It rained just as hard as it is raining now. Do you think that maybe my mom's soul could still be alive?"