Story Title: This Twisted Fate

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Bleach.

Warnings: Cursing/Swearing. Lots and lots of angst. idk.

A/N: Holiday Holidays and (almost) Happy New Years! Before we dive right into where we left off last chapter. I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everybody who stuck around reading this fic (and also hello new readers!).

Thank you for waiting patiently like always. You guys leave such awesomeeee, heart felt reviews that I thought I'd share some of my insights as well as a writer, so I left a really LONG A/N at the end hehe. (read if you care lol).

Please NOTE that that this chapter is told from mostly **ICHIGO'S POV**, so I started this chapter with a some extra backstory/lore.

It'll be interesting and will uncover a whole new layer to this story, I promise.

So without further ado ENJOY!

P.S. For best viewing experience, please listen to some Bleach OST's (i.e. Never Meant To Belong)

Chapter 9: The Heart and The Mind

Karakura Town was never always the way that it was.

There was a period of time, long, long ago when humans and vampires actually lived together.

However, their cohabitation was far from anything cordial, amicable, or harmonious.

In fact, it was the literal antithesis of anything of that sort.

These vampires lived on the outskirts of Karakura Town, where they were forced into deteriorated slums and scavenged off pesky rodents in the streets or any living creature in the forest for survival.

Even if it wasn't deemed the most desirable or optimal option for their innate needs.

There came moments when push came to shove however, and blood from animals just simply didn't do enough for them. When desperate times called for desperate measures, they forced themselves to work unimaginable human jobs for brief moments in time, in exchange for a vial of their blood.

Con-artists. Prostitutes. Drug Dealers. Assassins.

Vampires did anything and everything and even more…

Because humans of Karakura Town learned very quickly that these bestial fiends were good for what they were worth, as long as they proved themselves to be useful and loyal.

After all, any remote sign of rebellion was a call to war and instant inhalation of the whole vampire species.

And certainly no one was ready for that.

So as a result, the vampires continued living humbly for many, many years in secret, continuing to be manipulated, and constantly used and abused, uncertain of what their future would hold.

Praying that they would be able to survive another week, or even another day.

Wondering if there even was a god out there listening to them, asking to save them from this squalor of an existence.

But little did they know, a pair of enormous obsidian spectacles hung high above the barren grounds as an illusion of hope.

A promise to rescue them from this pitiful state.

Aizen Sosuke vowed - to use any tactic, method - to release vampires from this living hell.

And soon every mission for him was just another tally to his bedpost each night, counting down the days until the perfect moment arrived, where he would revive his dead idealism and exact his revenge against the people that took everything from him.

Aizen may have been just a teenager, but he took on any job handed to him. The clever and sly vampire carried out every illicit act, every awful bribe, every unthinkable deal, just to collect any ounce of blood he could get his hands on.

And he'd complete them all so perfectly, so radiantly, that soon the people of Karakura Town would know just who to call when they needed.

And in their susceptible eyes.

It was a charitable sacrifice.

It was a mutually advantageous relationship.

It was a win-win.

So by proving his talent and worth, Aizen Sosuke became their perfect, little pet ready to obediently follow every command, while the most wicked, the most selfish, and the most corrupt members this society had to offer, kicked their feet back and relaxed as their loyal guard dog did all their dirty work for them.

And he often questioned ironically.

Were vampires the real monsters?

Or were they?

He smiled knowing his own answer, since it didn't matter who the was villain.

Because in the end, he was going to turn his backs on them some day.

And make them fear what they've created.

Even the most loyal dog can bite back at its owner when they get angry, right?

So no matter what it took, how long it took, or how much it took.

He didn't dare to stop.

Not until the day his dreams became a reality.

So against all odds, for nearly a century, he and a few of his closest comrades - Gin, Tosen, Isshin, Masaki - managed to collect enough human blood, to be able to feed each and every vampire in their community, and raise them up to their fullest potential.

To become the most powerful version of themselves, to become a living nightmare for these humans, and to become an unstoppable force of mass destruction.

But even then, would it atone for the sins of suppressing them for generations?

On one cold autumn night, when the leaves turned crisp and bright red.

When the moon shined the brightest, and the ocean's tides were at its highest.

The vampires clawed out from their dens and struck back.

Mercilessly, relentlessly, endlessly.

And screams of horror shouted all around, as humans didn't stand a chance. As their everything swept away like the crashing wave, hopelessly surrendering in agony and terror. And after the vampires felt that they've had enough of their massacre.

The rest were locked away.

To serve an eternity of servitude.

For what would be the rest of history.

As the vampires gathered to rejoice in their new found freedom.

Looking toward Aizen Sosuke -

Their savior.

Their eternal king.

Their everlasting god.

As time passed on, the vampires began to recreate the paradise that they have always envisioned for themselves, fostering strength and discipline and instilling principles and ideals, so that their society would never hinder away from whatever enemy that would come their way.

And slowly they would sow the seeds to a new generation, a brand new Karakura Town, mounted on infinite layers of burning hatred toward the human race, never forgetting the way they oppressed countless vampires for centuries.

All things considered, Aizen knew that he wouldn't be able to lead and carry out his new ideals alone, so he appointed his four trusted pureblood friends - Gin, Tosen, Isshin, Masaki - to serve as his council members.

Together, they've ventured to establish the grounds for Las Noches and Aizen's Manufactory.

From years and years of stockpiling blood vials and safely preserving them and distributing them as needed, the team already had a concept and system for managing the supply and demand in an appropriate economic fashion, so that no vampire would ever need to feel short of their rightful needs again.

Slowly but surely, the veins to their community began to multiply as they have poured all their hopes and dreams into this business that was their vital, beating organ, keeping this society pumping and alive for generations to come.

One thing led to another and later on, Gin and Tosen served as Aizen's right hand men, lending a hand in establishing their royal guards, the Espadas, and also creating numerical tattoos for each and every one of them, along with serial numbers for every human slave at the Manufactory.

Isshin and Masaki, on the other hand, proved that their mutual attraction for each other only grew over time, eventually joining forces to create the Kurosaki clan, the first and the most powerful lineage of pureblood vampires, among many others that followed.

As the population of their society grew exponentially, Karakura Academy incepted not much later.

So knowing all this.

Knowing everything that took to fostering what Karakura Town is today.

The unspeakable sacrifices that these pioneering vampires had to make in order for their species be the prideful, resilient, and valiant individuals that they are.

One can only imagine. One can only fathom.

The insurmountable pressure of being the first-born son of the founding members of this society.

Karakura Town's golden boy.

Kurosaki Ichigo.

As the fog dispersed and made out the two new figures before him, the vampire heir was thrown back to the present.

Kurosaki Ichigo watched vigilantly, as he recognized Starrk and Ulquiorra, two of Aizen's strongest and most loyal Espadas, through the thick of the smoke.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ichigo gritted through his teeth, eyes narrowing. "Starrk? Ulquiorra?"

And he knew.

Knew better than anybody.

The ruthless vampires he was about to deal with.

"Kurosaki-sama," Starrk spoke curtly, without a change in his expression, serious as ever, "With all do respect, please step aside." The pistol he held onto pointed deeper into Orihime's skull, causing the human girl to inhale sharply in trepidation.

"We have been instructed by Aizen-sama to bring back Inoue Orihime. If you refuse to comply, we have no choice but to take her back by force."

"What business does Aizen-sama have with Inoue Orihime?" Ichigo questioned brazenly.

"Would that be necessary?" Ulquiorra asked arrogantly, eyeing Kurosaki Ichigo with soulless turquoise eyes, "It's orders from Aizen-sama himself."

That cocky bastard.

Ichigo thought internally. He was never a fan of the creepy bat anyways, let alone the way he waltzed into business like he owned the damn place, and so he thought he'd give him a piece of his mind.

"Watch it, Cifer." The pureblood heir remarked murderously in warning, not to cross his boundaries, "If Aizen wishes to meet with her, he will need to go through me."

And you can see the way Ulquiorra's lips curled in flat out mockery. Likewise, he was never a fan of Kurosaki Ichigo, deeming him unworthy of taking over Aizen's place as his successor, as he was chosen strictly out of nepotism and wouldn't bow to him until he had proven himself.

"We've already been instructed that if you refuse to comply with our orders, we will have to bring you with us, as well."

And at that, Ichigo started to get a little impatient.

After all, he didn't like the feeling that everybody knew more about the situation than he did.

"And why is that?"

The two Espadas exchanged subtle glances with one another, seeking mutual approval.

In understanding that the situation was no longer going to be much of a secret anyways.

"For holding fugitive over Test Subject X."

Ulquiorra spoke with a knowing look.

"The human girl who escaped from Las Noches ten years ago."

And you can see Ichigo's face visibly contour at the cold, hard truth.

As his deepest suspicious confirmed themselves.

Test Subject X.

The human girl who escaped from Las Noches ten years ago.

And he peered at Orihime, his dearest friend, through pitiful eyes, as he learned to ignore the ache in his chest every time he looked at her, just like all the other times.

But this time, he couldn't find the will to ignore it at all.

Just as he thought.

Ichigo drew his brows together and squeezed his hands into fists, forcing his knuckles to turn white at the added intensity.

"Well, this is about to get complicated." Ichigo laughed bitterly, "Now isn't it?"

But suddenly, he released his fists and gave a dismissive wave, hoping to relieve the tension.

"First, Starrk." He addressed sternly, a bit of edge to his tone, "Put the gun down."

For a split second, their eyes widened ever so gently at Ichigo's unparalleled response, but immediately returned to their stoic, faded gazes, continuing the uninterrupted silence for a moment longer before Starrk replied in careful retaliation.

"Sir," Starrk began hesitantly, "Did you not hear what we just-"

Without letting him finish his sentence, Ichigo materialized his sleek black blade, his most prized possession, sharp enough to cut through any force, mass, and density.

Tensa Zangetsu.

Darker than night itself, the handheld sword shone with pride, just like its wielder, and they knew, there was no stopping him now.

"Don't." Ichigo warned dangerously, words dripping venom, as he pointed the sword at the Espadas, "Make me say it twice."

"Kurosaki-sama," Ulquiorra spat back in disbelief, "You can't be serious right now-"

Without anybody realizing, Kurosaki Ichigo flash stepped in front of Ulquiorra, but before the dark-haired espada could even react and unsheathe his sword, Ichigo stabbed him through the stomach, piercing him together with the brick wall behind him.

"Don't forget." He muttered lowly into his ear, "Who I am."

This was a lesson.

To never overstep again.

At that, he drew back his sword and placed it securely to his side.

To Ichigo's satisfaction, he was pleased the moment he turned around, to see that Starrk had already swiftly dropped his weapon, standing arms distance behind Orihime, in careful, weary observation.

"Don't worry." He ensured Starrk, "I just wanted to talk. One last time. I'm sure Aizen wouldn't mind that, right?"

And the pureblood took his silence and obedience as tacit consent and carried on the conversation as he intended, inching closer to Orihime, who kept her head tilted downward the entire time, still shivering uncontrollably.

"Open your eyes." Ichigo said softly, as he drew closer to her, his presence looming over her, "Nothing's going to change because you're too afraid to see your problems for yourself."

And when his words triggered her to look up at him with stormy, angelic eyes, the corner of his mouth turned up.

If this was going to be the end.

If this was all that he was going to get.

If this was going to be the only moment that they were going to have.

He might as well make it count.

.

.

.

"This entire time," Ichigo started slowly, making sure he understood the facts, "you were living undercover as a vampire, when the reality was you were human this entire time?"

And the guilt written on Orihime's face couldn't be masked no matter hard she tried to conceal it.

"And not only that," he pressed on incredulously, "you have been hiding this mysterious ability to heal yourself to evade getting caught?"

But didn't realize how much the next words out of his mouth caught her off guard, causing her to flinch sharply, at the sound of his distasteful remark.

"And you're expecting me to believe that you had no underlying intentions? Even after knowing exactly who I was?"

And Orihime could only look away, ashamed, wishing that she didn't have to admit to such cruelties.

How could she explain it?

That he wasn't the one she was after?

"C'mon, Inoue." Ichigo breathed, desperately, and she could see his eyes burn a thousand flames, "Tell me. Was any of it real?"

Did this mean anything to you?

Did I mean anything to you?"

The frail human girl tucked her arms to her side, trying to keep composure, knowing very well that right now, there was no one to cling onto, but herself.

And if this was going to be the end.

And if this was all that she was going to get.

If this was going to be the only moment that they were going to have.

She might as well make it count.

.

.

.

And so she decided.

She was going to tell him.

She was going to tell him, everything.

Inoue Orihime took a deep breathe. Once, twice, before she confessed the secrets that she held onto for her dear life.

"Before I met you I was always alone." She treaded softly, foreign to how the truth sounded out loud, "And the Academy only reminded me that I had nothing. That I was nothing. And that I was no better than an unperfect actor, reciting her lines on a stage in front of everybody to see."

And she gave one look, and he could see the way she felt sorry for self, as if she was pulling back the layers and layers of crippling anxiety and shame she shouldered all these years, at each confession she made.

"One little twist, and everybody would see right through me."

And just like that, Ichigo felt the foundations of her domain begin to crumble.

"I remember every day being unbearable as the one before, and I would go home and cry all alone in my pitiful, outcast state. I was miserable. And I despised everybody because of it. Wishing to be like our peers, who had seemed like they had it all."

Fame.

Family.

Friends.

Freedom.

"But most importantly, an identity for themselves."

She turned away the moment the words slipped, lips quivering, as if there was more to be said than that alone.

"Because you know, Kurosaki-kun. There's the person who I wanted to be. And then there was the person who I really was."

When she looked up at him, Orihime gave him a broken smile, one that carried the old, tattered human girl that she once was.

"And I didn't seem to be either of them."

"All this time, my existence felt meaningless." She exasperated, and there was a second of silence before Orihime uttered her next words.

"Too afraid to live. Too afraid to die. What a way to exist, ne?"

And in that moment, he hated how much of this human girl's life sounded so much like his, and in inexplicable ways, Ichigo hurt deeply, at the way the auburn haired-girl shared her darkest memories.

Then Orihime suddenly spoke up, brightly, eagerly.

"That was until I met you."

"You changed me, Kurosaki-kun. You opened the doors I desperately wanted to hold shut. You lit up my days. You welcomed me into a world that I never felt like I belonged in." And when he looked at her, with soft, longing eyes, she laughed, "And I was thankful for all the times we spent together because with you I didn't have have to act. I didn't have to pretend."

Just like now.

"With you I could be the real me."

And he suddenly remembered.

All the times she looked for him first in a crowded classroom.

All the times her face would light up when she saw him.

All the times his heart would beat differently at the sight of her.

And then she whispered.

"If only you knew how much those little moments meant to me."

Reaching out, fitting her little two hands into his like a lost pair of snowy mittens, she found the courage to say the words she held back for god knows how long.

"You're right," The human girl confessed, "I was never who I said I was, and for that, you have every right to hate me for the rest of your life."

"But just know that you gave me hope. You gave me courage."

And she squeezed his hands tightly to ensure that he felt her next words.

"And you gave me a reason to live."

He felt her trembling, afraid to let go of all that she had, to let go of the very person she cared about most.

The one who inspired her to live her life.

Because the moment that she did, everything would be lost to her.

And it was then he immediately understood.

Inoue Orihime was a human girl, a mortal, disguised as a vampire this entire time.

Every day was a passing opportunity for her to break him, ruin him, destroy him.

She had all this time to get revenge if she wanted to.

"If you feel the same. If deep down, you have any faith left in me to make it right."

She had every chance.

"Then, please -"

"Kurosaki-sama," Starrk interrupted with a deadly voice, wearing thin of his patience. In one swift motion, the tip of his silver gun held out dangerously close to her head, threatening to blow it up if he had to resort to it.

"Please, step away from the human girl, immediately."

If what she was saying was true.

If she gave up her all just to have an opportunity to simply live.

"- save me."

.

.

.

The pure blood vampire, soon to inherit Aizen's Manufactory, glanced down at his subject, soft brown eyes engulfed in absolute grief, torn between his heart and his mind.

And all he could see was a human girl, he once loved.

And all those who came before her.

Who put the entire vampire species through lifetimes worth of unimaginable oppression and suffering.

And he could only remember the sacrifices of his family.

Aizen Sosuke.

Gin and Tosen.

Mom and Dad.

.

.

.

Did really he mean it?

When he swore he would do anything for her?

To give up everything he had for her?

.

.

.

Even if.

Inoue Orihime was human?

A/N: (Warning. It's super long.)

...

I know I say this all the time, but THIS chapter was so. challenging. and that it actually made me completely change the way I viewed Ichigo and write future Ichigo's character. (from the one I originally intended at least).

Because I thought I had it all figured out. But once I got to writing this chapter in Ichigo's POV (which I almost never do), it started to come out all funky and inorganic and weird because genuinely. And I mean genuinely… I realized I didn't understand sh*t about Ichigo's character. (ha, but that's because I've been writing everything from Orihime's POV until now).

And more and more questions started to creep up in my head like what DOES Ichigo feel about Orihime? and WHY? What's the REAL backstory to their tragic love? And AIZEN? Who is he?

How is Ichigo and Orihime going to fix this?

Are they even going to be able to fix this?

And that, readers, are the questions that simultaneously make me write long-ish chapters, and also why I used to go on super long hiatuses after each one haha :,)

(Because honestly, when I first wrote this fic almost 5 years ago… I didn't think that about this story's beginning or end at all. Because I... just... wanted to write a steamyIchihimevampirefic. (ha) - which we will get to... I hope)

And here we are. Almost in 2023 lol.

I mean I did do a re-write in 2019, but like...

Anyways.

...

In regards to this chapter, writing Orihime's confession was something I've been waiting for her to say for 9 WHOLE chapters now and she finally was able to say the words to Ichigo! (actually inspired by a Shakespeare Sonnet #23 - check it out) :,)

So what do you think?

1. Do you feel sorry for the vampires at all?

2. Do you think their revenge was justified?

3. What do you think Ichigo is going to do?

4. How is he going to react?

Let me know your thoughts!

Bye! Take care! And see you next year! :)