A/N: Hi, welcome to my new fic, hope you enjoy it and here is some warnings I'd advise to read.
- This is a female Ichigo fanfic.
- I will not reveal the pairings in this story, you will have to read to find out. (Can't wait to hear your reactions)
- This story will not follow the storyline of the anime, so not much Rukia but you will see her at some point.
- If you haven't read the manga I wouldn't advise reading this fic, spoilers galore.
- Updates are once a week
That's all and I'd love to read your comments, so review please!
Chapter 1: The White Knight
A child and her mother could be seen walking under the turbulent clouds that unleashed its sorrowful tears. The rain fell heavily against the peach umbrella the mother carried. She held her child's hand as they walked home along the river. The mother stared straight ahead, not paying any attention to the river below. The child, named Ichigo, watched around and spotted another child in a white gown by the overflowing river and pointed to her.
"Mom, there's a girl down there!" Ichigo yelled through the rain. Masaki didn't see a child by the river Ichigo pointed to but already acknowledged that it must be a spirit she saw.
"Ichigo, there isn't anyone there."
"But mom, she's right there, and she might fall in! I have to save her!" Ichigo continued as she left her mother to run down to the river.
"Ichigo! No!" Masaki cried and followed her child down the slope.
Before Ichigo knew, the child she saw disappeared and a looming shadow covered her from behind. She felt a weight against her and the world went dark as she crashed into the soaked grass. When she opened her eyes, she smelt iron and her hand felt a slippery liquid against the object on top of her, the person on top of her. Ichigo recognised the light orange hair and she raised her head to view her mother's body trapping her beneath.
"M…Mom?" Ichigo whispered.
She shook her mother to wake her but got no response. A shadow drew her attention and she saw a ferocious, hairy beast staring at her, their mouth covered in blood. Ichigo trembled and her eyes filled with tears as she desperately shook her mother awake with her bloody hand and tried to lift her with the other hand trapped below her mother's body.
"Mom! Mom please! Wake up! WAKE UP!" Ichigo wailed as the monster approached slowly, echoes of laughter filled Ichigo's ears.
The hollow stopped his movement and ran away, disappearing into the sky. Ichigo looked up to see a white-haired man in black and white clothing land a distance away from her. He looked angelic with his haori flowing like wings behind him. Ichigo kept staring at the man, the man who saved her life that day.
Ichigo opened her eyes and blinked rapidly to dislodge the tears in her eyes. She used her palm to wipe the drop of tears from her eyes and seated herself on her bed. She disliked having to cry each time she dreamt of that day but it wasn't as bad as the nightmares of the hollow she used to have a few weeks after the incident.
Her white knight. Yeah, it was corny but that was what she dubbed the man as since childhood. He surely wasn't an angel but he did chase the hollow away in time before she was eaten too. She told the policemen who didn't believe in the monster or a man suddenly appearing out of nowhere. She spoke to her father about the incident and responded in the same way as the police officers. They did not believe her and since have not talked about the incident with anyone else. Now she realised her father was shielding her until it was the right time to tell her about her legacy. She learnt that she was a Quincy. She was introduced to her mother's family known as the Ishida's. Ichigo learnt that she could protect her family and anyone else from such monsters by training her abilities and eagerly jumped on the opportunity. She met her best friend and cousin, Ishida Uryuu. They both trained together and grew closer than her and Tatsuki from Martial Arts training.
Ichigo yawned and got up from her bed to get ready for school. She stepped into the bathroom. Watching her reflection, she saw thick, spiky, orange hair reaching her mid-back and covering her ears. Her bangs were sweeping across her eyebrows with round, brown eyes stared back at her. She fixed a pair of blue cross-shaped earrings under her hair. She adjusted her uniform and stepped downstairs to the kitchen.
"GOOD MORNING MY DARLING-" Isshin was muffled by slamming into the wall as Ichigo dodged his bear-hug. Ichigo sighed.
"Good morning Dad," She exasperated before continuing to the dining table.
"Good morning Yuzu, Good morning Karin," Ichigo muttered as she pulled a chair and then noticed Uryu at the table.
"Good morning big sister!" Yuzu exclaimed as she set the table. Karin responded with a "Mornin."
"Uh- Good morning Uryu," Ichigo said in surprise as Uryu smirked at her surprise.
"Good morning Ichigo. Sorry for surprising you, but I decided to accompany you this morning to school." Uryu responded and thanked Yuzu when he was handed a plate of eggs and toast.
"Oh, alright then," Ichigo replied and sat down to eat as well.
Isshin joined them at the table with everyone and talked about various topics as they finished their breakfast. Uryu asked Ichigo about coming over to his house this evening. They both weren't allowed to talk about Quincy training in front of Yuzu and Karin so they just mentioned going over for the evening. Ichigo and Uryu gave their goodbyes and left for school. Ichigo comments on areas she needs to improve and Uryu inputs his thoughts. They reached in class and Uryu walked to his desk.
"Hey, Ichigo!" Tatsuki bellowed before Ichigo reached her desk.
Tatsuki was a childhood friend of Ichigo that she rivalled against. They shared classes straight until high school. After meeting Uryu, Ichigo grew more distant from Tatsuki. Tatsuki instead grew closer to a girl named Orihime.
"Yeah?" Ichigo asked as she turned to see Tatsuki and Orihime together.
"Just want to let you know that I'm totally beating you in volleyball today." Ichigo became slightly irritated by her proclamation.
"Oh really? I'll like to see you try!" Ichigo exclaimed.
"You bet I will!" Tatsuki responded.
Tatsuki and Ichigo gave each other heated glares which made the spectators, mainly Uryu and Orihime, sweatdrop. Orihime glanced at Uryu and walked to his desk.
"Uryu?" Orihime shyly asked and got Uryu's attention from Ichigo and Tatsuki.
"Yes, Orihime?" Uryu politely answered and adjusted his glasses. Orihime fiddled with the bag in her hands which Uryu noticed.
"Is that your sewing project?" Uryu questioned. Orihime nodded quickly.
"Yes! I finished it last night. I thought that you might want to see it…the dress was a little problematic though…" Orihime trailed off as she handed Uryu the printed paper bag. Uryu took it and carefully pulled out a stuffed bear with a large dress. The rustling bag caught Tatsuki and Ichigo's attention and they gathered by Uryu's desk.
"Wow, Orihime! That dress is lovely!" Ichigo exclaimed as she observed the orange stuffed bear with a gold Victorian-styled dress. The dress covered the stuffed bear's feet with large ruffles of cloth and the arms were weighed down by draping frills of the sleeves. The torso had ruffles running vertically down the chest. Tatsuki looked proud of her friend and Orihime was blushing from the compliment.
"I agree with Ichigo, Orihime. You really have progressed since last year with what I taught you." Uryu complimented as well and Orihime gave a flustered laugh.
"Well actually…The dress is from a drama series I love to watch and this is the first time I made such an elaborate dress, I thought I would've messed it up but I'm glad I didn't and really I thought that I'd make an orange teddy bear resembling Ichigo because I would've loved to see her in that dress because she's…I think she might've looked beautiful in the dress…" Orihime rambled and hesitantly added the last sentence.
"Um, Uh, I- Thank you Orihime but I don't think I'd look that good in the dress…" Ichigo blushed as she denied her compliment. Tatsuki grinned at Ichigo's flustered reply and flung her arm around Ichigo's neck.
"C'mon, no need to be shy Ichi! Say Uryu! Don't you think Ichigo would've looked great in the dress?" Tatsuki asked and Uryu quickly adjusted his glasses while responding.
"Uh- Um, yes. Of- Of course she would." Uryu stuttered and fought his blush down. He couldn't stop imagining Ichigo in the dress and how breathtakingly beautiful she will look. He was tempted to design such a dress for her.
"Hey, get your arm off me!" Ichigo yelled and fought to take Tatsuki arm off from around her neck. Tatsuki kept laughing and ruffled Ichigo's hair, teasing her about getting embarrassed from the compliment. Orihime laughed as well as she took the teddy bear from Uryu and placed it back into the bag. Uryu watched the dress once more before staring at Ichigo fighting with Tatsuki.
The school bell rang and the class sat down for the day's schoolwork. Several hours passed and Ichigo stared out the window, bored from listening to the history lesson that evening. Uryu behind her paid attention and was diligently taking notes. She sometimes wondered how life would've been if she wasn't involved in the supernatural. It seemed dull in comparison. Her mind wandered to the person closest to her heart.
'I wonder how he is doing…' She thought as she remembered his mocha-coloured eyes staring into hers.
She was knocked out of her fantasy when she felt a hollow. She swung her head behind her and Uryu nodded his head. She shot her hand in the air to stop the teacher.
"Excuse me! I need to go to the bathroom!" Ichigo yelled and rose from her seat already.
"Go ahead, Ms. Kurosaki." The teacher replied and she dashed out of the classroom.
She left the school compound and headed west to the hollow's spiritual pressure. As she drew close, she felt another spiritual pressure and as she turned the corner to the street where the hollow was, she stopped and hid behind the street corner. The hollow disappeared and a figure was descending down in front of it. Ichigo's breath stopped.
'No way…' She thought as she observed the Shinigami in front of her sheathing his sword.
White hair reaching his shoulders, in all black except his white haori, beautiful green eyes and descending with grace like an angel from heaven. She knew only one person that matched that description. She only saw someone like him once in her life after all.
"That's him…My white knight."