Beyond Death

by Girl-of-Action

Hit by a drunk driver of all things, Ichigo's human life comes to an abrupt end. Believing he knows what is beyond death, Ichigo expects merely to reappear in his shinigami form- not flung over fifty years into the past, to when Aizen's plans are coming into fruition and a single misstep can change the entire course of the future as he knows it. Time Travel AU. Discontinued.

3. Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and never will.

Warnings: Violence, mild language

EDIT 5/24/15: Added POV titles, removed excess Japanese phrases, extended chapter, fixed dividers, shortened author's note

-DIVIDER-

Kurosaki Ichigo's POV

I slash, hack and smash my way through the forest, but true to Third Seat Meiji's words, there seems to be no end to this place and more than once have I tripped over branches I myself cut off earlier- like now. I grunt as I stumble forward, throwing my weight backwards at the last moment so I land on my butt and not my face. I sit there for a moment, seething at my own incompetence and general, screwed up situation. If only there is something I could slash, hack and smash besides trees and bushes- meaning someone, preferably Aizen. Amazing how I only meet the guy once and for only a few short minutes, but he still managed to make me hate him more than I've hated anyone before... except the Grand Fisher. Still, that has to be some kind of record.

Could he be responsible for this? The thought suddenly hits me and my fingers curl around handfuls of mud beneath me. By 'this' I mean me being here, period, and finding… I don't want to think about the clearing and what happened to Meiji, not now. There'll be time to mourn later, but if Aizen is responsible for leading me here, and then leaving me to run around in circles like an idiot 'cause he knows I know next to nothing about kido… "Well, that'd just be the icing on the cake, huh?" I mutter out loud, then abruptly jump to my feet and throw my head back. "Hey!" I yell to whoever is watching. "Don'tcha have something planned for me too?! So what's the hold up?" I spread my arms wide, new form of Zangetsu clutched tightly in one hand. "I'm right here." I wait, tense, but after about five minutes I let out my breath. Nothing is going to happen. That doesn't stop me from being prepared for anything though. I find it extremely strange that I haven't come across one hollow yet- not one! After all the carnage I've seen… Could it all be the cause of that Ichimaru guy several months before? Just what is this kido that slows time and warps space? It can't be that powerful…

My gaze wanders and I find myself staring up at the sky. It's beautiful, I can see the crescent moon perfectly… My eyes widen and I facepalm. I can't believe I haven't tried it before now! Jumping into the air and solidifying the reiatsu underneath my feet, I smirk and speed up into the air. Further and further- just a bit more and I'll be above the trees! The wind rushes past, brushing away sweat and grime and I almost feel like I can touch the- "HOLY-!" I scream, when suddenly the sky I am speeding toward is replaced by solid ground.

-DIVIDER-

Shiba Miyako's POV

A small smile dances across my lips as I make my way back to my house near Division 13th's barracks. It's a warm night, comforting to me and a relaxing stroll. I should feel bad for waking that poor seventh seat up this late, but I had to know even though I was sure I was correct. Like I always tell Rukia, a woman's intuition is never wrong, and sure enough my words continue to hold true. I begin mentally making plans- the decorating of the room, the cards I will send out- so much to do! But it will be a labor of love, and one I will take pride in. I envision my husband's face at the news and a hand flies to my mouth, trying to stifle a small bubble of laughter. It dies on my lips on it's own however at the sound of a shocked scream. "HOLY-!"

My dark eyes widen as a stab of fear hits me. Has something happened to the scouting party?! The party that I am supposed to lead? I never should have left! Guilt hits me like a sledge hammer next. Would it have been so terrible to wait one more day to find out the news? I push the thoughts aside as I rush forward in a flurry of shunpo, hoping I'm not the only one to hear the scream.

-DIVIDER-

Red tentacles wrap tightly around my neck, cutting me off from air and from chanting any more kido. My dear, broken Shizen no Ikari lays at my feet, useless in a place where she is the strongest. My eyes burn in a mixture of pain and rage as another of the murderous hollow's tentacles reach toward the unseated shinigami laying face down in the mud. I let out a voiceless snarl, unable to force the sound out of my throat with it being slowly crushed. The twisted thing chuckles at me, convinced I'm no threat. "Is saving that shinigami so important to you, woman? I see no recognition in your eyes when you look at him. What is his life in comparison to yours?" He loosens his hold just enough for her to get out some choked words if she tries. "If you start something that sounds even vaguely like kido, I'll snap your neck wench," he threatens harshly.

I nod as much as I can in it's grip, grappling tightly to the thing wrapped around my neck and reaching my foot to the left. I can just tip toe on a broken stump if I stretch, giving me some leverage. "Every... shinigami... under my rank, is under my care, but I… doubt a thing like you would understand a-a concept… like that…" I manage to get out, disgust creeping into my tone.

The hollow is largely unconcerned with my insult, besides one part. "A thing like me? Now what's that supposed to mean?" It loosens its grip even more, leering at me.

"It means," I breath in a whisper and it leans forward curiously… before my sandaled foot slams down onto it's face as I use my meager leverage on the stump to throw myself at it. The beast stunned; I use all of my strength to rip it's tentacle and free myself.

The thing screeches. "I was going to let you choose which one of you I take, but now…" It begins swelling, like some grotesque balloon about to explode. I ready myself, dropping into my casting position and chanting under my breath as it morphs.

"Hadō Number 33," I incant, nearly finished! "Sōkats-"

-DIVIDER-

"True, but... I don't know…"

"What do you mean you don't know?! Our Third Seat is with them! You heard that scream and felt that reiatsu, right?"

"It's not like a reiatsu I ever felt."

"He has a point. We were ordered to stay here…"

"You cowards can stay here then, I'm going with-"

"Third Seat Shiba!"

"What- Miyako-san! Thank Kami! We heard the yell and we were worried that-... Uh, Miyako-san?"

"Miyako-dono, are you... feeling alright? Should we call for someone from the Fourth?"

"Third Seat Shiba?"

-DIVIDER-

Kurosaki Ichigo's POV

I inhale sharply, startled into awakeness, and something grimy instantly fills my mouth. I throw myself backwards, hacking up what I now realize to be mud and… is that blood? Fear and what I believe to be adrenaline shoots through my system. I'm panicking, and I don't know why. What woke me up? Why is mere coughing making me panic further? I bring my hand up to my mouth automatically and to my surprise find my nose bent at an odd shape. What…? Awareness and understanding flows into me as I remember the last few seconds before I blacked out.

That kidō is crazy strong… I think, a new respect for the art rising up inside of me despite what it has recently done to me… Probably because of what it has recently done to me. I never thought that I would need it, believing I could take on anything kidō could throw at me and return it ten fold with a Getsuga Tenshou, but really, until now, I've only seen the destructive kidō and very low level binding spells. I'm a master in all the other Shinigami arts though- Hohō, Hakuda, Zanjutsu (debatable considering who you talk to, but considering I'm a melee fighter and have taken on captains without dying…). They came naturally to me, all but kidō, despite the midget's efforts to teach me otherwise. All Rukia gained for her efforts was an extra crispy new hair due. I take on a fond look at the memory of my friend, and a not so fond one at the memory of the kick to the face I received afterwards.

Shaking my head, I sigh and concentrate on carefully resetting my nose and stopping the bleeding, only to realize I don't have to worry about the latter. Sending my mental thanks to Zangetsu, I shakily rise to my feet once more... What now? I reluctantly recognize the only answer. Closing my eyes I try to envision the Reiraku, the Spirit Ribbons. The last time I was able to force down my own reiatsu enough to see them was when I was regaining my shinigami powers, and the only time before that being way back- just before my competition with Ishida. I haven't even attempted since I've gained shikai, knowing it's a lost cause, but now it seems I'll have to rethink my stance. I run through the colors Ishida has told me for each ribbon as I calm myself, much like trying to calm a rushing river to hear several, various streams… Hesitantly, I open my eyes. A multitude of red and white ribbons are before me, but three red ones are particularly vivid- along with a deep black one alongside it. A hollow...

-DIVIDER-

Kuchiki Rukia's POV

I run, breath erratic and tears threatening to spill over. Was that… Was that torn Shihakushō really Miyako-dono's…? I grit my teeth tightly, steeling myself. No! Miyako-dono is so powerful and intelligent! The forest is her domain, how could I have thought something like- like that, even for a moment?! My breath evens out and I share a worried, borderline fearful look with my captain, Ukitake-taicho. It is not for our own safety that we do this, but for Miyako-dono, and what Kaien-dono may do if his wife is hurt or-... or something more. Because… Miyako-dono may be powerful and intelligent, but she is also loving, generous and amazingly kind. There is no way she could have murdered so many of our squad members, not even one!

There's… just no way… I think, worked up into a light sweat and hyperventilating slightly when suddenly slow to a halt. I look up to see Kaien-dono kneeling next to a zanpakuto. It is Shizen no Ikari, Nature's Wrath. It lays abandoned on the forest floor, looking far less wrathful and more mournful. Kaien-dono reaches out gingerly to take hold of his wife's soul cutter when the trap is sprung. Something flies out of the many shadows surrounding us, but Kaien-dono is faster. He dodges with a practiced ease that I have come so much to admire. With a reiatsu enhanced leap he gracefully lands on a tree branch high above, the captain and I quickly following. I look down apprehensively, a hand instinctively straying to the hilt of my zanpakuto as a hollow crawls out of the darkness and into the light. It is grotesque, with several blueish green limbs and red tentacles spurting out of it's head.

It begins laughing at us- first quietly, then louder. I let out a small gasp as a wave of twisted spirit pressure rolls from it, pressing down on me. I look to my superior officers, but seeing them stand there like true, unwavering soldiers of the Seireitei, my lips twist into a downward frown as I flare my own reiatsu somewhat to withstand the pressure. I go to swallow, only to find my mouth dry. Taking a short, soft breath I lean forward to stare intently at the beast below and say out loud, "I'll go first, sirs." I remove my zanpakuto slightly from her sheath. "I'll scout out what the hollow's abilities are." It could prove to have something powerful and surprising, the only option to have won against Miyako-dono. There is no sense in risking other important individuals like my lieutenant and captain on little to no information, but an unseated officer like myself however…

I glance up, startled when I see Kaien also leaning forward with a look far more intense than my own. "Taicho, I beg of you." My purple tinted eyes widen. No… But I know there is nothing I can do. "Permission to go fight the hollow- alone."

I look up pleadingly at Ukitake-taicho, silently begging him in return to deny his request. Why would he adhere to my plea, someone he has known for only a handful of years, versus his own lieutenant that has served him faithfully as such for over two centuries? I cling to the only sliver of hope I have that this question may be answered in my favor… Because he would rather keep his faithful lieutenant alive, and sacrifice his new, unseated and willing officer to keep it that way... My hope is dashed in an instant. "Go." And Kaien-dono is gone from my side.

"So, you're the first, eh?" More of that laughter. "You're nothing but a boy!" I watch on in the highest of apprehension, my heart in my throat, but at this I can't help but feel the tiniest bit arrogant. Fool… I think spitefully at the hollow. Kaien-dono has been a lieutenant for over two centuries, a seated officer for a century, an academy student for some years before that and alive for a century before even then. He is far from being a boy.

But Kaien-dono takes no heed to the insult, his mind on one thing only. "So… You took control of her, forced her to commit those atrocities. It's all your fault, then." His face is slightly downcast, his bangs swept in front of his eyes creating a shadow over his face.

"Control?" The thing chuckles. "Oh, not in the way you're imagining it… I forced my way into her body and allowed her to watch, squirm and scream as she slew her pitiful friends with her own zanpakuto! Then I ate my way out of her being from the inside! She was… delicious." It went off into a cackling fit and I felt like throwing up at the news just revealed to us. It would have been horrible enough if it was just some mind controlling ability, but this… The hollow took away Miyako-dono's very dignity, her friends, clean conscious, and then her life in the most painful, disrespectful way possible… I force my hands to stay still, clutching with a white knuckled grip my zanpakuto, but cannot hold back a single tear then runs down my cheek and to the forest floor somewhere below.

Kaien-dono handles it no better, but at least he handles it in a more productive way. With a angry flourish he draws his sealed zanpakuto from her sheath and flares out his bright blue reiatsu in palpable rage. I cringe at the strictly directed fury behind it, the only thing keeping me from running being the fact that it is not directed in anyway towards me… That, and I want to see that hollow scum drown.

"Ooh! Do you want to see how it works for yourself? Well then come on boy, come at me so I can have you like I had your beloved wife!" But it doesn't even get a chance to laugh before two of its limbs are severed from its body in a spray of red blood! But wait, since when has a hollow's blood ever been red instead of coal black? It doesn't matter! I think fiercely, heart soaring for Kaien-dono and his sure victory as he appears on the hollow's head, gripping one of it's tentacles tightly and zanpakuto ready for a killing blow. If it can bleed it can die!

"So you're fast…" The bleeding hollow hisses, looking back at the shinigami through the corner of its eyes. "But it won't save you!"

Kaien-dono tilts his zanpakuto, the blade flickering in the moonlight as he commands in full confidence, "Surge through the seas and rage through the skies, Nejibana!" I have never before seen my lieutenant's shikai, but it is said Nejibana is the most powerful water based zanpakuto to have ever existed! This is it! That murdering filth will drown in water and blood! My eyes dance with bloodlusted anticipation as the blade wavers, as if made of water, then explodes. A few droplets of water splatter around, leaving behind only the hilt. My heart seizes and lungs contract when by the look on Kaien-dono's face I can tell that this is not supposed to happen. His look is one of shock and horror. "What… the hell?" He manages to get out.

"You fell for it boy," the hollow calmly explains beneath the now weaponless shinigami. "Every night, anyone who touches my tentacles will have their zanpakuto destroyed."

"Impossible…! I've never heard of such a power!" The Shiba clan head protests, using reverse psychology to dig for more information.

Unfortunately, the hollow either doesn't fall for it or doesn't care to brag anymore. "Believe it, boy, or die anyways." Another tentacle slams against Kaien-dono with such a force than when it also hits a tree beside it, the tree shatters. My lieutenant has just enough time to raise his arms in defense.

"Kaien-dono! Get back!" I scream, and go to jump down to help when someone grabs onto my wrist. I whirl around to see it is my captain of all people! "Ukitake-taicho!... But, why? Can't you see, he's been disarmed, we have to help him!"

"Stop. If we were to interfere, what would become of Kaien's pride? If you somehow managed to save Kaien without being killed, Kaien's pride would surely be killed tonight."

"Ukitake-taicho…" But then as I watch Kaien get hit once more by the hollow, my resolve reforms and I do something I have never done before- speak out against a superior. "I don't understand. What good is pride to a man whose dead?!"

My captain's gaze, usually kind and indulgent, becomes stern and unrelenting. "Rukia, listen well to what I am about to say. There are two types of battles in this life. One to protect lives, the other to defend honor. Kaien is fighting with all of his strength, heart and soul to defend the honor of his men who were slain, that of his own honor and above all, the honor of his wife…" He sets a hand on my shoulder as I close my eyes, trying to absorb all of what I was just told. While I have been alive for a measly sixty some years, Ukitake-taicho has been alive for well over a thousand years, even more than Unohana-taicho. If anyone can tell me what this life is like, it's him. And… I think I'm beginning to understand. If I step in now, Kaien-dono will never be able to put his wife to rest, knowing he was not able to avenge her life and honor. What worth is a life lived in misery? So, my hand falls away from the hilt of my zanpakuto and I pray. Pray that somehow my mentor and friend would survive this and come out with both life and honor intact. I don't care how it happens, just… Kami-sama… please, help him!

I force myself to watch on with a mixture of awe and despair. I have never seen Kaien fight so ferociously, ripping out tentacles with brute strength alone and sending out multiple, blazing red Shakkahōs without saying a single word. I didn't even know that was possible! Furthermore, all of these kidos are at least more powerful than any academy student I have witnessed could manage, even if they used the whole incantation! But despite all of his battle prowess, Kaien-dono does not come out unscathed. The tentacles… Every time he touches them he seems to become weaker and while the Thirteenth Division's fukutaicho has been able to negate most physical damage, he has a nasty cut somewhere on the top of his head that is bleeding steadily. I am sure he must have a concussion to some degree and am amazed at how he can manage to stand up straight, much less fight, but am none the less fiercely thankful.

"What's wrong, shinigami?" The battle has come to a pause bellow. "To full of yourself to call for help from your little friends? Not that it would do you much good."

Breathing hard, Kaien glares at his enemy with gritted teeth. "Shut up," he snaps. "I don't need a zanpakuto or anything else to kill scum like you."

The hollow chuckles. "We'll see. We'll see when I take you like I took your beloved, delicious wife and play you like a puppet from the inside. And against your will you'll slay your comrades with your own hand!" It cackles madly and eagerly, the tentacles left wrapping around itself and swelling. It's not the only thing that rises. Reiatsu skyrockets and there are- streaks of red, black and- orange? There is a splattering of blood, a scream not my own. A hollow's scream. A mass of something (the hollow's tentacles?) squirms on the ground with what looks like its shredded skin behind it. Kaien stands still, arms raised in front of his face, no doubt unable to dodge with his concussion, too dizzy and unbalanced. Between the two stands a figure clothed in a plain black Shihakushō, with a zanpakuto drenched in crimson and a mop of bright, orange hair.

-DIVIDER-

Kurosaki Ichigo's POV

I find myself standing in the middle of chaos again, the disgusting, writhing mass of a hollow to my right and a fukutaicho I somehow have not yet managed to meet to my left. He slowly lowers his arms and I move my head up slightly to look at him. We stare at eachother for a moment, stunned though he shows it more than me. It's like looking into a mirror, albeit he looks roughly ten to fifteen years older than my fifteen years of age and with dark, bluish-black hair instead of bright orange. Meanwhile the hollow's mask is reforming, along with a new skin. It stays quiet despite the hate rolling off its reiatsu in waves, but I know only a few more moments and it'll be ready to strike again. I speak. "Every night… Anyone who touches its tentacles loses their zanpakuto, huh? Well then, I guess I shouldn't try fighting it," I comment almost lightly, and without another word toss Zangetsu hilt first to the fukutaicho. This isn't my fight, not after what I've overheard about the man's wife. Although it pains me to do so, just the same, I step back, out of the shinigami's way.

To his credit, the man doesn't fumble in surprise to catch it like many would- merely extending a hand in a flash and snatching it out of the air. He runs a finger over the flat side quickly, as if testing Zangetsu in some way, but then falls into a battle stance and gives me a firm nod. I curtly nod back. The hollow besides us roars, reformed, or not quite. It's skin it was trying to bring back has crumbled away, having failed. To make up for the loss, its tentacles wrap around each other, forming limbs and a body instead; the mass of red. organic tissue pulsating like a heart. The stranger-than-normal-strange hollow now towers over us, as large as an elephant. Its mask, the only thing that has managed to truly reform, is tilted down toward me with a gaping maw. "Damn you! I should have devoured you then and there!" I squint my eyes at it. The hell is it talking about…? I've never seen this hollow before today!

"Keep your eyes on your opponent, hollow!" My black haired look-alike commands, appearing several feet above me and at the hollow's eye level just he swings down at it with Zangetsu. Its head and mask just manages to shy away from the long, slightly curved, silver blade as it approaches; instead it jutting it's shoulder forward to take the blow. Although the hollow has next to no defense now, it's body and limbs are extremely thick and will take time and strength to cut all the way through. Although I know the shinigami has the strength after seeing him fight earlier, time he doesn't have, not with his injuries. He needs to finish this battle, and soon. The hollow brings up it's right fist and smashes the shinigami, or tries to anyway. The fukutaicho manages to take out Zangetsu and shunpo back, however appearing a little green from the effort. Probably because of a concussion of some type. Still, he holds it in, even using shunpo several more times (though at a decreased speed I'm guessing) as the battle rages on. What the hollow has abandoned in defense, it makes up for now in sheer offensive power. Each punch decimates anything it hits and several craters are formed in seconds. Every time the shinigami wielding my zanpakuto gets close enough to the mask for a final blow, the shoulders swell up, covering its mask in the nick of time.

The scene is far from hopeless though. As the man lands back on the ground next to me, there is the same resolve in his eyes that I know shows through my own when fighting. What he does following however puzzles me. He falls into a stance that I have never seen before, his feet in a perfect front stance but his hands cupped and held in front of himself, like he's trying to catch some nonexistent rain. "Bakudo #59!" He shouts, before bringing his hands up in one swift motion as the monster throws another fist towards us. "Kurōtorappu!" There is a loud screech of agony as three, large, black bear trap looking things snap up from the ground, clamping on tightly to the hollow's limbs. The would-be punch falls short, smacking into the ground so the hollow can support itself as it throws itself around, trying to shake its limbs free from the traps, but the more it struggles the tighter the traps get until its limbs, minus the one still free, are nearly severed! Finally it stops its frantic tugging and instead bends down it's head to viciously gnaw at one of the traps holding it captive, but it doesn't even make a scratch.

"You're finished," The shinigami announces, face dark and furious as he brings my zanpakuto up in a diagonal slash across the distracted hollow's mask.

All is still, then it screeches its furry. "You… bastard! You think, you've won, but far from it! You're... the ones who are finished! You're all already puppets!-" It looks like the hollow wants to say more, but it promptly explodes into a shower of reishi before it can, leaving the shinigami and myself with its final words fresh in mind.

What did it mean by that? I don't feel any different. And why did it act like it recognized me earlier?... Zangetsu? I mentally prod at the presence of my wise zanpakuto, but find myself irritated when I garner no response. Can't you speak to me whenever I'm not dying? I grumble internally, sighing and pulling myself back to the presence to see Lieutenant Look-alike staring at me oddly over one shoulder. I respond by returning the gaze evenly and open my mouth to speak right when I suddenly hear Rukia cry out in relief. I automatically extend an arm toward her direction, ready to embrace and comfort her… also ready for a smarting on the back of the head and emotional scolding of "Idiot!" that's sure to follow afterwards.

Rukia runs into Lieutenant Look-alike's warm embrace. It's now I realize that it's not my own name Rukia had called out. "Kaien-dono!" she repeats, burying her face into the other male's chest and clutching the uniform material over his shoulders while I stand a few feet away, dumbfounded. She sobs silently against him as Lieutenant Look-alike (Kaien, whatever) wraps his arms gently around her in a… protective… manner.

He sets a hand on her head and ruffles it affectionately. Rukia looks up to him and even though she is facing away from me, I know there are tears on her face. "Kuchiki… Don't cry for me. Tears don't belong on your face… or on my uniform, you'll drench me if you keep this up," He jokes quietly, carefully wiping the tears away with one thumb. He smiles, seemingly in response to her own. "That's better."

I grunt, snapping them out of their moment. I stretch out my hand forward and make a gimme gesture with it, all the while keeping my face turned away from the pair. "Right," I hear this Kaien guy say, detangling himself from Rukia and holding my zanpakuto up. However, instead of handing it to me I see him begin to clean it with his own Shihakushō instead of say, the grass, or not at all. I turn to him finally, surprised at the care he is showing for my Zangetsu, and he grins at me. "It's a good zanpakutō," he complements. "Longer than I'm used to, but there's nothin' wrong with that." He tosses my now cleaned zanpakutō to me. My eyes widen slightly, but I manage to catch it without making myself look like an idiot. "Huh. Pretty good." I scowl at him, but mumble my thanks none the less as I then turn to the girl doing her best to hide the fact that she was just crying. I smile a bit at the scene- same old Rukia.

"How about me, Rukia?" Her gaze snaps up to me, as if noticing me for the first time. I scoff at the stupid expression she gives me. "What? He gets a hug and cried all over, but I don't even get a hello?"

"I-I-" she stutters, face reddening with both anger and embarrassment, but then she pauses, studying me closely and seems to regain her bearings. I stand stock still as she bows to me out of all things- to the waist! What's that all about?! Not even one kick to the gut, but a bow instead? "I'm grateful for your assistance to my fukutaicho and happy to see you unscathed, shinigami-san."

"What… are you talking about?" I mutter, scowling at her as she straightens her posture, blinking owlishly, and I stiffen even more at what I see… Or more precisely, what I don't see. Recognition. I don't see any sign of recognition. Not in her body language or her eyes. I had thought before, for a moment when she was stuttering, that things were going to go back to normal and after a loud scolding she would introduce me to presumably the Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Court Guard Squad, but…

There is a rushing of air and I turn again, this time to see the Thirteenth Squad Captain- Ukitake-taicho, right?- standing next to me. He smiles at me gently and I try to return it, only to fail miserably. Not only am I rather suspicious of him now that I know that the substitute shinigami badge he gave me doesn't work, but nothing makes sense. I quickly make a mental list of why this is true.

I don't know how I got to or why I am in the Soul Society.

Zangetsu looks nearly completely different.

Ichimaru is, according to Third Seat Meiji (who I feel is, or was, trustworthy), still a fukutaicho of the fifth division.

Therefore that Momo girl can't be the fukutaicho of the fifth division?

Aizen is still a taicho?

There is a shinigami who looks almost exactly like me.

He is the fukutaicho of Rukia's squad, but I've never seen or heard of him before now.

He and Rukia are very close.

.

.

.

.

Rukia does not remember me.

"Are you alright?" A hand is laid carefully on my shoulder and I look up to see Ukitake-taicho staring worriedly at me, apparently having been speaking and garnered no response. Again, I see no signs of recognition. Only signs of worry for a friendly stranger.

"I… Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." I shrug off his hand, which seems to stun the man somewhat, and sheath Zangetsu. I begin to trudge my way away from the shinigami. I need some time to think. I need to get away from here.

"Hey, wait!" I don't.

-DIVIDER-

Kuchiki Rukia's POV...

"Hey, wait!" Kaien calls out, reaching a hand out and about to shunpo when he stumbles. I gasp, quickly positioning myself underneath one of his arms in order to support him. I look back to where the mysterious shinigami was standing a moment before, only to find it vacant. He has already shunpoed away. Why… What was that all about? But after this, I don't give it much thought.

"Kaien-dono! You're injured! Please, allow me to escort you to the Fourth Division," I plead, ducking my head some in respect.

He shakes his head at me. "No, that guy, there's something…" His face twists into one of intense, emotional pain barely held at bay. "And my Miyako. I have to find her!"

Ukitake-taicho goes to the other side of Kaien and supports him on that side. "Kaien, we'll find Miyako-san. I'll send out a search party as soon as I am able, but you won't be able to do much in this condition. Let us take you to Retsu-san." Kaien opens his mouth to protest, but Ukitake-taicho is firm and quickly interrupts, "That's an order." Kaien frowns tightly but reluctantly nods and quietly asks his captain to pick up his wife's zanpakuto. He complies and I look up at Kaien-dono... At the expression I see on his face I tighten my grip on his arm. We'll find you, Miyako-dono! I promise, but deep down, I know that there is a chance we'll be searching forever, because there will be nothing left to find.

-DIVIDER-

"Gin. Welcome back. I presume your mission was a success."

"Well, I suppose tha' depends on your opinion, taicho…"

"Gin…"

"But it was interestin'! That's for sure."

"... How so?"

"Our dear Third Seat had a change of heart, so to speak."

"Ever amusing, Gin, but I already knew that. Go on."

"Right, right… There was this kid."

"A child? Girl or boy?"

"Mhm… Boy. And a shinigami."

"A prodigy, like you were?"

"Heh. No way. He has 'lots of reiatsu, but that's 'bout it as far as I could tell from the few minutes o' watchin' him."

"... I will begin to get very… exasperated if I have to continue asking a question every few seconds. Please don't make me exasperated."

"Heheh… Sorry, taicho. Don't mean to upset you, never do."

"You are forgiven."

"You're so kind, taicho! Anyways, this kid just appeared out of no where. Literally. From what I observed he has no form of reiatsu control- whatsoever, not even the natural type, and his reiatsu is constantly overflowin' from his spirit. I find it, erm, unlikely that he was able to hide himself from me for so long and then suddenly go crazy like tha'."

"I hope... this is not just your pride speaking, my dear fukutaicho. I am well of your prowess and intelligence, both on and off the battlefield. If this boy is strong as well, there is no shame in admitting it."

"..."

"..."

"Thank you for sayin' that, but I assure ya, captain'o'mine, I'm merely telling it how it is. I don't want to give ya inaccurate information, after all…"

"I'm pleased to hear it. Continue."

"'Course. So this kid stumbles along for awhile, seeming lost and a little freaked out if I do say so myself, though he put on this brave face that was kinda cute. He also seemed surprised by his zanpakuto."

"This sounds like a newly deceased plus soul… but one that became a shinigami as soon as he arrives? If that is truly the case, a rare find indeed, Gin."

"Isn't it? And he's such a cute kid to boot; I could just pinch his cheeks! Maybe that would help stop it from gettin' stuck into a permanent scowl. I gotta feelin' he had that expression before he even came 'ere. Got it down to a pat… So, naturally he stumbled across our little experiment-"

"Naturally."

"-and besides the first few seconds, he overcomes his shock quickly. He barely bats an eyelash before he tries helpin' everyone. Tries patchin' up some of the less serious stomach wounds while ignorin' the more critically injured, but when he realizes nothing he's doin' is working he aims more at making everyone more comfortable, though he still tries to stop 'em from dyin'… Even pretends to be family members so they can say their goodbyes, or at least think they've said their goodbyes."

"And what do you draw from all of this, fukutaicho?"

"Um, lemme think… He's seen lots of death in his previous life, actually remembers his previous life, and knows a good deal on human medicine. One of his parents was probably a doctor, nurse, or some'em. He knows when and how to cut his losses, but hates doin' it and refuses to whenever possible. Bull headed. But he is a good kid, kind and generous. He'll charge head toward danger and linger, even with jus' a chance of helping out complete strangers."

"Mmm, interesting…. Maybe he just needs a guiding hand to direct his passion. He could be put to good use and help renew this fallen universe?"

"Maybe, taicho, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. Our dear third seat had a chat with him and although I wasn't able to hear the whole thing, the kid seemed to accept everything the man said as gospel."

"..."

"I know. I speed up the process as much as I could."

"Tell me more."

"Well, erm… He did kinda swear vengeance on you and anyone helpin' ya."

"... Oh dear."

"Heh. Yeah."

"Unfortunate how Third Seat Okubo was able to stay coherent for so long. Exactly how did he stay coherent for so long, Gin?"

"He blamed it on his own reiatsu reserves, but the man, although 'coherent' as ya put it, was too far gone and full of himself to realize what was in front of his face. It was actually the kid's reiatsu. It was bizarre. Soon as they got close, the kid's reiatsu started flowing into Okubo and patchin' up his soul."

"And you are sure this is what you saw? You saw this child's reiatsu… heal a third seat's soul undergoing our experiment?"

"Eh, not heal exactly… Patch it up, like I said. Nothin' was healed. It was like the kid's reiatsu was filling in the gap the maggots 'ere making and was trying to make Okubo's soul even stronger than before. Maybe if the kid actually realized what he was doin', he may have been able to speed up the process long enough to take Okubo somewhere for help, but as it were he didn't and the maggots soon adjusted enough to the pressure and the rest is history."

"You didn't happen to catch the name of this unique child, did you, Gin?"

"I did actually."

"And?"

"Kurosaki Ichigo. But I haven't even gotten to the best part yet!"

"I'm at the edge of my seat."

"This kid- he looks like he could be Shiba Kaien's son."

-DIVIDER-

:Japanese Words List:

Kurōtorappu - Claw trap (This kido is not canon)

Shunpo - Flash Step

Soutaicho - Captain Commander

Taicho - Captain

Fukutaicho - Vice Captain / Lieutenant

Shihakushō - Garment of Dead Souls (it's the average shinigami uniform)

Reiryoku - Spirit Energy located in someone's body.

Reiatsu - Someone's Spirit energy manifested, usually as a type of aura.

Reishi - 'Spirit particles'. (Basically the equivalent of matter for the spiritual realm, making up everything from trees, to building to people.)

kun - suffix of endearment, usually for boys

chan - suffix of endearment, usually for girls

san - polite suffix meaning Mr/Ms/Mrs

sama - suffix showing great respect

dono - Basically the same as sama, but are especially used for nobles. Roughly translated it means 'lord' if I remember correctly.

So I've decided that only suffixes, titles and bleach related Japanese terms will be in Japanese. The rest will be in plain ol' English, therefore no little words like 'Hai' or 'kawaii' wil be added in.

Anyways, I hope you folks enjoyed this chapter and that it's less confusing. From now on I will be adding POV titles and will be sending out longer chapters! Probably 6,000 words or so total. I realize that this chapter was kinda all over the place, but that was on purpose. Everything is fast paced and a lot happened. Part of the characters' journey will be to discover exactly what happened that night, so things will be explained in the story. After this chapter it will slow down considerably, at least for awhile.

And to my readers…. Wow. 19 reviews, 2,138 views, 1 community add, 36 favorites and 78 follows for three measly chapters? Pretty awesome! The community that added this story to their list is called "Bleach Traveling in Time" the founder being "Cade Mistral" if you'd like to check it out. So over all, thanks for checking out my story! I'm really grateful for y'all's interest and support and ask that you please keep it up! :D

To my last guest reviewer, I have continued and will continue to do so~ Reviews always help for inspiration too so thanks for the friendly motivation there!

Until later then. Ja ne~ (Cya~)