Disclaimer: I do not own any of Bleach nor its characters. And to add, this is an AU but I hope you like the story.
"What the hell? This is just all of sudden. Ichigo is alive and more, a girl. Are you just joking me?" Grimmjow chuckled, not believing everything that his sister explained to him. Nel glared at her brother with fierce eyes, and Grimmjow saw that she is really serious. Grimmjow clenched his fists. "So all this time, Ichigo was alive and they never told us about this?" Nel nodded and nears her hand to her pocket, preparing to take out a sedative in case he might go bonkers again just like before. She was always prepared for the worst case scenarios.
"Grimmjow-nii, you should know why. She has amnesia and if they tell her things all of a sudden there will be deadly consequences. Please try to understand. If you tell her she'll get shocked and hurt. She remembers about her getting into that car accident but she doesn't remember that the one who she saved is you. And she doesn't remember us at all. Isn't this a chance to start anew?" Her wise words hit Grimmjow and he stayed quiet, thinking to himself.
"Give me some time alone, please." Nel looked at him before complying and leaving. He gripped the bed sheets tight that his hands went very pale. "What kind of bullshit is this... Ichigo... back... God, I'm like an idiot right now. But Nel is right about everything. I should try and have a new start now that I know that she is alive." He only drank one whole bottle of beer after that and fell asleep from only two hours of sleep last night.
"Ichigo, sorry that I took so long." Ichigo reassured Nel that it was alright and turned off her portable, catching a chocolate bar from Nel. "Well, from where we left off, my brother's only friend is gone because he left for America. And I am worried that things might get worse if no one tries and comfort him. Ichigo, can you try and help him?"
It was an attempt to make a new start with the orange-head, and her father told Nel that it was okay. But if ever the time is right, they have to tell her about the past that she experienced with them. It didn't take longer than a second for Ichigo to make her decision. "Okay then." Nel was surprised that she would answer this fast. "Huh?"
"Don't worry I'm used to this. Helping friends even though they're in need. Well even though we just met, I can somehow instantly connect with you." Nel sighed and of course Ichigo would obviously feel that connection since they were close friends. "I understand. Um, would you like to stay a little longer?" She asked. "I'm not sure. I have to go to the store and get some medical supplies for the clinic since we ran out." Ichigo replied."Okay then. Well can you come by and visit again if you have the time." Ichigo agreed and stood up, ready to take her leave. "By the way, what's your brother's name?"
"Grimmjow." They exchanged waves of goodbye before Ichigo walked outside, heading for the market. After buying what she needed, she headed home. Halfway there, she bumps into a few men who seemed too familiar. "Wow, I ran into you lechers again. Whoops, looks like I overdid the pain that I inflicted on you." She tutted, seeing large bruises all over their bodies. "You again, well we were waiting to get back at you for what you did. But this time, the newbie of our group will do the job."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow, and from the shadows appeared a large and muscular man with spiked hair, an eye patch covering his right eye. He looked very dangerous, Ichigo thought as she dropped her bag and put herself in a fighting stance, clenching her fists and steadying her legs. "Hmm, for a girl you are strong enough to give them a good beating. This will be worth the while." He charged forward like a bull and made a punch, though he missed and hit the ground instead as Ichigo dodged the attack by jumping back.
Ichigo sprinted forward and kicked him in the stomach, then punched the face, then makes a low sweep for the leader to fall. The man just laughed, enjoying the fight more and more. Though Ichigo was very good in combat, she was no match for the eye-patched man and ended up getting brawled by the whole gang and left on the streets. She was bleeding, clutching her leg where it was stabbed and the bruises around her body were painful.
Good thing she bought medical supplies so she took the disinfectants from the paper bag that was lying beside her and poured it on the places that were cut. Then she grabbed bandages from her pocket and wrapped it around her. Fighting the pain, she decided to walk to Nel's instead of her family's as it was a lot nearer and she needed to rest for a bit in someplace comfortable.
Finally, she reached Nel's house and she pressed the doorbell thrice, hanging in there. Nel opened the gate and gasped, seeing Ichigo beaten up. "Ichigo! What the heck happened to you?" She helped the orange head inside, taking Ichigo to her own room. "What kind of trouble did you get yourself into?"
"Remember those punks who tried to hit on you? Well I met them again, this time with a new guy. And I lost, that guy was insanely strong." Ichigo answered, covering her mouth as she coughed. Ichigo walked to the bed by herself and lied down, exhaling as the pain started to become numb little by little. Nel grabbed the supplies that Ichigo bought. "I have to treat some more of your wounds." Ichigo nodded and minutes passed, and all of her body was disinfected and bandaged.
"You know you should be careful next time." Nel said, sighing. "It's alright. I always get into a lot of fights outside and believe me, I experienced fights that are even worse than this." Ichigo replied, smirking at herself. Nel knew what she meant because she would always get into a lot of fights since she was young.
"Well whatever. You still have to watch out for yourself. Hey? Are you alright now?" Ichigo stood up, making sure she can move her limbs and body just fine. "I told you I already got into a lot worse than this. I just needed a little rest, that's all."
"Nel, who the hell was that?" Grimmjow grumbled, walking to her room with a glare. "Man, I was trying to sleep and it seemed like you were scolding someone...!" Shocked was he, seeing the orange head. Nel saw this and quickly excused themselves, going outside the room and leaving Ichigo inside.
"Wait a minute. Is that...?" Nel nodded before he could finish. "Look, remember all what I told you. We cannot trigger any of her memories because she will most likely suffer from brain damage." Grimmjow sighed and agreed before they went inside again. Ichigo looked tentatively at the bluenette for a moment before turning back to Nel. "So is this your brother?" Nel nodded. He couldn't help but look at her, she was very beautiful and charming.
"Okay." She then held out a hand to him. "Hello. My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. It's Grimmjow, right?" Grimmjow was a little surprised, and remembered that she was just as direct and outspoken like before. Nel decided to give them time alone, trusting that her brother won't make things go crazy. "Yeah, that's right. It's a pleasure." He said in a low voice, taking her head and slowly shaking it, feeling the nice warmth of her skin. Ichigo felt that her heart skipped a beat just now and was confused. She flustered a little and they released their hands off each other, feeling awkward the more they looked at each other.
Hotaru: Well, there you go! To those readers who like or at least are okay with the Ichigo x Toshiro couple, you can read my story called Sacrificed. Thank you to those who read and please review!