Chapter Nineteen: Death and the Strawberry

A lone girl, petite and of short stature stood upon a power pole overlooking the town. Her hair was dark and blowing in the wind, and her garments were black robes. At her side was a beautiful white sword which she held in an underhand grip.

'We stand in awe of that which cannot be seen. And we respect with every fiber of our being that which cannot be explained.

And so fell the sword of fate…' she said, quoting some epic poetry as she descended.

Ichido Yujin watched through her mask as the soul reaper was lost amidst the many buildings. Turning to her constant companion, she looked at his expressionless pale face incredulously. 'Is she talking to herself?'

'I am told she is somewhat eccentric in nature.' said the other.

'So this soul reaper chick…' said Ichido Yujin 'Do you want me to eighty-six her or what?'

'No,' said the other. 'Our Lord commands she be left unharmed and unaware of our presence.'

Ichido punched her palm with one gauntleted fist and scoffed. 'The, fair enough.'

Things were getting interesting at last.

In the world of the living Ichigo, Kurosaki made his way down a street, shading his eyes with one hand. The sun was waning, and he was feeling absolutely miserable. As he walked, he passed a group of thugs skateboarding down the street. On the process, he saw them knock over a vase to some kid who got killed. The little girl's ghost was watching and crying. Ichigo wasn't sure whether it was real or just his imagination.

Over the years he had learned to keep quiet on the subject of ghosts. It wasn't normal.

He paused, wondering if he should do something about the thugs. Of course, they were more a symptom of the problem than the source. The world always seemed on a never-ending spiral towards decay, and there was nothing he could do about it. At last, he decided he had to do something.

'Excuse me.' he said.

'Yeah, what do you want?' asked the thug.

'Could you be more careful while you are skateboarding?' asked Ichigo. 'You knocked over the vase left to honor a girl who was killed here.'

'Who do you think you are telling us what to do?! Get out of my face!' He threw a punch which Ichigo stepped aside from. Ichigo lashed out with a knee which caught the man in the gut and caused him to keel over to land with a crash.

And that was how Ichigo Kurosaki found himself facing off against three thugs. 'Now look,' said Ichigo, 'I'm sure we've all had a very long day, I think it would be best for everyone if-'

'Nobody jumps one of my boys for no reason!' snapped the leader as he advanced.

'Look,' said Ichigo, 'I don't mean to point out the obvious, but he did try to punch me when I was asking you to be careful-'

'That's all you gotta say?!' snapped the man, throwing a punch.

Typical.

One senseless waste of human life later, Ichigo Kurosaki walked away from the bodies. They were unconscious of course; he'd been carefully about that. He picked up his bag. As he did, the ghost girl approached. 'Thank you for coming to my defense; I think now I'll finally be able to rest peacefully.'

'Yeah, sure whatever,' said Ichigo. 'Rest in peace, I guess.' And he turned to walk away. Really there was no good reason why he should have had to come to her defense. There was a reason police existed.

At that moment the resident tomboy, Tatsuki emerged from around the corner. She was clapping as she did so. 'Wow, you beat those guys up really badly. Nice work.'

'Tatsuki, what are you doing out here?' said Ichigo. 'You live on the opposite side of town.'

'I got bored. Went for a run.' said Tatsuki. 'You do realize that those guys could be in the hospital for years? And that if that actually went to court, you'd be sent off to a lunatic asylum at best.'

'I'm not worried.' said Ichigo scornfully.

'Well, you should be. You're fifteen years old and look like a delinquent.' said Tatsuki. 'No offense, but the dye does nothing to stop the look.'

'When did you become so big on thinkings thing through anyway?' asked Ichigo.

Tatsuki wasn't sure how to answer that. It felt like the answer was in plain sight, but it somehow evaded her notice. She couldn't really remember when or how she had started seeing ghosts. But she put it up to her own disturbed mental state. 'Oh… um… I've got this friend.'

'Inoue?' asked Ichigo.

'No, you haven't met him.' said Tatsuki in irritation.

'That's weird.' said Ichigo.

'How is it weird?' asked Tatsuki. 'You don't even remember peoples names. Even if you had met him, you'd probably forget.'

'Fair enough.' said Ichigo. 'Look, you hang out or-'

'Nah, I actually have to meet someone.' said Tatsuki. It was a lie, but it didn't feel like it.

'Don't let me stop you.' said Ichigo, raising his hands.

Ichigo made it home in time to find that it was nearly night and the stars had come out in the heavens above. He reached the gate to his house yard and opened it, and for a moment reflected on who he was. How would he introduce himself if he were, to be honest in class?

'My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, I'm fifteen years old, and I like power rangers. For some reason, ever since that day, I've had the ability to see ghosts as long as I can remember.' He realized that he must have looked very silly and made his way forward to open the door.

'I'm home.' he said.

Ichido Yujin got onto the rooftop they were supposed to meet and found her comrade waiting. His hands were in his pockets, and his white garments were blowing around him in the wind. His sea green eyes were looking out over the city of Karakura Town. She approached.

'You were careless.' said her comrade.

'Yeah, yeah, I almost got caught.' she said. 'You know I was following orders. It's not my fault if she showed up completely out of nowhere. Now what?'

'We are to watch and wait.' said her comrade.

'You're kidding?' asked Ichido. 'Doesn't that violate our orders?'

'Our priority was to secure the target until such time as the opportunity arrived.' said her comrade. 'Now, it has arrived, and the experiment may proceed.'

'This is one of those sink of swim things, right?' asked Ichido, remembering her own initiation all too well.

'Yes.'

'This is so typical for you, Ulquiorra.' she said. 'What? Can't you paint some recruitment posters.'

Ulquiorra glanced back in what might have been an irritation. She could never read that guy. 'Willing cooperation requires one to actually understand something of one's motivations. Our Lord prefers to withhold such information until later.'

Home was a two-story house with a garden and fence. Ichigo entered it, feeling rather tired. At once, he smelled his mothers cooking, but it didn't quite wake him up.

'Your late Ichigo,' said Masaki Kurosaki, voice somewhat chiding. 'where have you been all day?'

'I took a roundabout route home.' admitted Ichigo. 'What's for dinner?'

'Honey mustard chicken and rice.' said Masaki. 'It's in the over keeping warm.'

'We were about to start without you.' said a black haired girl. 'Now come on, I'm hungry.'

'That's not very nice Karin,' said Yuzu chidingly.

'It's fine, Yuzu.' said Ichigo. 'Where is dad anyway?'

'A late meeting I believe,' said Masaki, 'he should have been back some time ago-'

'I'm home my darling,' said Isshin Kurosaki as he burst through the door, 'no more need you despair at my absence for-'

'It's late, and the kids are hungry,' said Masaki, 'we'll talk over the dinner table.'

'Yes, dear.' said Isshin.

Dinner was the usual affair. Isshin discussed the budgets and recent trends in medical technology. Karin and Yuzu talked about their days at school, while Ichigo remained silent as always. Unfortunately, his Mother noticed this and spoke to him. 'Ichigo, how was your day?'

'I woke up. I went to school. I got my homework.' he said. 'Then, I came back here.'

'You don't have to be rude, dear.' said Masaki.

'What do you want from me a poem?' asked Ichigo. 'I see ghosts, behold the spirits of the dead with my own two eyes. I've done it for years. And I'm stuck here, doing homework.'

'I think your kind of lucky to see ghosts.' said Yuzu.

'I don't believe in them.' said Karin.

'You've been able to see them for years.' noted Ichigo.

'I'm in permanent denial,' said Karin, 'just seeing them doesn't make me believe in them.'

'Fine,' said Ichigo, 'whatever, can I please be excused?'

'You may,' said Masaki, though he had the feeling he hadn't heard the end of it.

Ichigo stood and made his way up the stairs to go to bed. As he stared up at the ceiling, he reflected at how truly bored he was. When he was younger, he'd wanted to go on adventures. Be a kung fu action hero, or slay monsters like the one that girl he'd seen had. He'd alway been smiling, optimistic. Unfortunately, smiling optimism didn't thrive in this world. A place where having orange hair could get the shit kicked out of you. These days he no longer had that as a problem. He kept his expression clear, and his hair dyed while practicing karate with Tatsuki.

And then a butterfly flew through his window. Even though his window was closed, he felt something, a presence he had not felt since…

A girl walked through his wall to stand on his bedside table. The girl walked through his wall to stand on his bedside table. He looked in awe at her, for she had an elegant bearing. She was as beautiful as he remembered her, with her shoulder length dark hair and dark blue eyes. At her side was a gleaming white katana which she held in one hand. She did not give him a second glance as she stepped forward. 'I sense strong spiritual pressure close by.'

'Uh, excuse me,' said Ichigo as he stood up. 'Look not that this isn't part of my personal fantasies, but what are you doing in my house?'

'It's nearby…' she murmured.

Ichigo tapped her on the shoulder, and she froze up before whirling around. She took one look at his face and turned white as a sheet as she stepped backward several paces. 'Ka-Kaien… how can you be alive?!'

'I have no idea who this Kaien is,' admitted Ichigo, 'but he's not me. Are you alright?'

There was a long silence as color returned to her features, and she straightened herself out. 'Yes, I'm fine. Are you telling me you can see me?'

'Given that we're having a conversation, yeah.' said Ichigo 'I can see you.'

'How very odd,' she said, reaching forward to cup his cheek. 'you look normal, but you must be defective somehow.'

'Could you knock that off?' asked Ichigo, 'I've had a long day.'

She blinked, as though surprised and withdrew her hand. A silence fell over the room as they looked at each other. Neither seemed to have any idea on how to continue this conversation. Ichigo reflected on standard practice for boys with a beautiful young woman with them. 'So are you doing anything for dinner or…'

'I don't have time for such petty amusements.' she replied simply. 'I have duties I must attend to.'

'Inside my house, I guess.' said Ichigo. 'Who are you anyway?'

'You want to know?' she asked, looking very dark and mysterious. 'Then, I'll tell you. I'm a soul reaper.'

One lengthy explanation later, Ichigo sat across a table from the girl, mulling it over. 'Alright, so you are something called a soul reaper.'

'Mmmhmm,' said the girl.

'And you are telling me that you were sent here on a mission by a place called the soul society.' continued Ichigo.

'Mmmhmm.' said the girl.

'To deal with demons like the one all those years ago.' said Ichigo.

This statement seemed to surprise her. 'What do you mean?'

'I guess you don't recognize me then,' said Ichigo with a sigh. 'I was just a kid.'

'…I have no idea what you are talking about.' said the girl simply.

'Whatever, so are you actually going to tell me your name or-' said Ichigo.

At that moment, she stood up and drew her sword. Ichigo blinked as she raised it and tapped it up against a ghost who had been following him around for some time.

'No, please don't!' begged the ghost. 'I don't want to be sent to the Underworld!'

'You needn't fear,' said Rukia 'you are bound for a better place. The soul society, there your soul will be at peace.'

The ghost disappeared into the floor.

'What did you just do?' asked Ichigo.

'I sent his spirit to the soul society,' said Rukia, 'it's one of the main responsibilities of a soul reaper. Now let me just explain why I'm here. I'll try and break it down so you can understand.'

Then she removed a drawing pad from her breast pocket. She opened it to reveal a picture of a chibi bunny rabbit head surrounded by many hearts. 'There are two kinds of spirits in this world. The first kind are the normal spirits called wholes. The ghosts that you see are usually this kind.' She turned the page to show a chibi bear head surrounded by a black background and lightning bolts. 'The second kind are evil spirits known as hollows. The hollows attach people, living or dead, in order to devour their souls. Any questions before I go on?'

Ichigo remained silent contemplatively. 'Nice drawings,' he said at last.

'Was that sarcasm?' she asked, an edge in her voice.

'Why no,' said Ichigo, 'what could make you doubt my appreciation for your art?'

There was a silence as she peered at him with half-lidded eyes of suspicion. 'Very well, there are two main jobs for a soul reaper. First to lead wholes to the soul society via konso, as I just did. Second, to exorcise the hollows wherever we find them.'

'So that hollow with the hamster like body years ago,' reflected Ichigo 'it was after me and my mom.' She stopped. 'Now I remember, you were that boy who Grand Fisher lured in. You've grown up.'

'It happens,' noted Ichigo. 'so what do these hollows gain from eating people anyway?'

'I don't know, truth be told.' said the soul reaper, 'We have yet to fully understand hollows, and why they do the things they do. One thing we do know is that there is still another hollow prowling somewhere nearby.'

Suddenly Ichigo felt something at the back of his mind, a long-honed instinct screaming at him to move. 'Then maybe you should get to work.' A howl echoed throughout the night.

'I would, but I can't seem to detect its location.' admitted Rukia. 'Usually, I have no trouble finding a hollow that's close by. But here its as if my senses are being jammed by some unknown force-'

'Something is howling, right now.' said Ichigo. 'I think it's a hollow.'

'Something howling?' she asked. 'What do you mean?'

Then the howl came again, and with it came a cry of distress. At once Ichigo recognized it and raced out. 'Yuzu!' he cried, finding her injured halfway up the stairs. 'What happened?'

'Ichigo… Karin's been… you've got to save her…' said Yuzu.

The soul reaper raced down the stairs, and Ichigo followed after. He found himself in awe of how quickly she moved despite the gravity of the situation. They came out into the street, and Ichigo saw his sister gripped in a great arm. The arm belonged to an ogre-like monstrosity. Rukia drew her sword, and raced forward, slashing the beast's arm. Karin fell from its hand and was caught by Ichigo as he raced in. The beast roared and fled back.

Ichigo set down his sister, gazing at her in concern. 'Karin, is she going to be alright?'

'Yes,' said Rukia, 'the hollow left without devouring either of your sister's souls. I'm sure of it. The hollow seems to be targeting a specific soul. I can sense a great deal of spiritual pressure inside you; it's possible it may be after you.'

'So… all of this is my fault?' surmised Ichigo.

'Pretty much,' said Rukia as the beast rushed her again.

Leaping into the air, Rukia Kuchiki cleaved the hollow in twain from the head down. And it dissipated into the wind as she sheathed her sword. 'My name is Rukia Kuchiki, by the way.'

Ichigo arose somewhat unsteadily. 'I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. That's two; I owe you, I guess.'

There was dead silence between them.

'Well, Ichigo,' she said, 'I'll need a place to stay.'

Ulquiorra's expression did not change. Nor did his posture. But Ichido Yujin knew him well enough to know that he was as close to angry as he had ever gotten. 'So…' said Ishido 'I'm guessing that this wasn't your intended effect.'

Ulquiorra turned around. 'The situation has not transpired as I had hoped. No matter, Kuchiki will be here for months. More than sufficient time to engineer the situation to our ends.'

'Sure, sure,' said Ichido 'so does this mean I can take it easy with my training-'

'No.' said Ulquiorra.

'Right, just checking to see you weren't going soft on me.' said Ichido.

Authors Note:

I have a confession to make. The deviations in these past few chapters are several different ideas for AU's I had. I decided to merge them into one. This chapter was a patchwork of different chapters put together into one.

Now obviously Ichigo is acting a bit different from cannon. This is because his life has been very different with his mom alive.