Disclaimer: I do not own bleach or its characters, but I do own this story and any new characters made within it.
JOURNEY
The Voyage Home
Kurosaki Karin stirred in the large plush bed. The bed was soft and warm, peaceful, she wanted to sleep forever. I love you two so much, Isshin's voice echoed in her mind. Karin eyes opened as the events of the night before came flashing back to her. Her father had left her, her life as a human ended, she was all alone.
Karin.
Karin slowly got up from the bed, where had the voice come from. She looked around the room, it was empty, she was all alone.
Karin.
Again the strange voice called to her, frightened she clawed at the blanket pulling it slowly to her chin.
Karin, do you still not know me?
"Kai, Kai Ewa?" She said her voice shaking with fear.
Why do you fear me? Do you feel I have chosen in error? Does your fear cloud your eyes from even looking upon me?
Karin slowly looked up, and beheld a beautiful woman. Her golden brown hair swayed gently on an unfelt breeze, her golden brown skin glistened in the early morning rays of the sun. "What, what are you." Karin asked her eyes transfixed on the woman before her.
I am your zanpaktou. If you have the courage to move on, I will lend you my power, and together we shall protect that which you hold dear. The woman moved closer to Karin finally sitting on the bed where she lay.
"How do you know me?" Karin asked her eyes still wide.
I have known you since your birth. The woman's voice slowly filling Karin with a warmth that seemed to flow through her entire being.
"How, how could you?
Surely you must know by now your heritage?
"Why, why me?" Karin asked her mind reeling from the power that she felt coursing through her.
You are worthy to wield me.The woman said a kind smile on her face.
"How can, why would I be worthy?"
Do you think we zanpaktous choice unwisely? There is no shinigami that may wield a zanpaktou unless one chooses them. I have peered into your soul, I have watched you grow, and have seen the power that you have, the heart that beats in your chest, I have seen all these things and I find you worthy. The woman leaned in and hugged Karin. Karin returned the hug crying into the woman's golden brown hair, If you will trust me, I will trust you. If you wield me, I will protect all those you keep in your heart.
Images of her father, brother, sister, and her mother flashed in front of Karin's eyes, "I will trust you." She whispered softly. Karin slowly felt the woman fade the embrace slowly easing, her hand felt something hard materialize in it, she looked down and saw the hilt of her zanpaktou resting comfortably in her hand, its 4' blade sparkling in the sun light, "I will trust you," she whispered again.
"NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Ichigo yelled at the Urahara, "She is a child, she was suppose to start high school this month, her and Yu…"He stopped unable to speak his other sister's name.
"Oi, Ichigo she's only one year younger than you were." Rukia said moving closer to Ichigo.
"I don't care!" He shouted hitting away Rukia's hand, "She's not a fighter, she's, I will not have her live this life."
"Her zanpaktou is quite large," Yoruichi said sitting comfortably at the table starring at the rather large diamond ring on her left hand.
"This is true, that's a sign of the power…" Rukia tried to say before she stopped under Ichigo's glare.
"She is my SISTER!" Ichigo said yelling at everyone in the room, "MY SISTER! Do you think I want this for her, do you think I want her in the line of fire." Ichigo was beginning to lose his temper, his reiatsu shooting from his body. "I have to live this life, I have to protect, not HER, not HER!"
THUD, everyone in the room turned and saw Karin fall by the doorway, "Ichigo, your reiatsu its killing her!" Rukia yelled running over to Karin.
Ichigo's eyes widened as he forced his reiatsu down, then turning to Urahara, "You see," he said pointing at his sister, "She can't even…" Ichigo stopped as Rukia's velvet eyes pierced him.
"Who do you think you are Ichi-nii, who are you to decide my destiny." Karin said her eyes flaring in rage.
"Karin, you don't know what's out there, you have never faced a holl…"
"I HAVE." Karin yelled. "When you first left that summer, when you left us, I fought them, I fought them with Jinta and Ururu, I fought THEM! And we won without your shinigami powers." Karin finished, but Ichigo was no longer looking at her, he was starring at Jinta.
The red haired boy seemed uncharacteristically nervous, "Eh, it wasn't only me," he yelled, "Ururu was there too."
"Yes, and Don Kan'Onji," Ururu added in her small squeaky voice.
"WHAT," Ichigo yelled in shock, "That braided hair freak?"
Rukia crossed her hands over her chest and began to say, "Bahahaha,"
"You shut up," Ichigo yelled, PACK Rukia's slipper connected with his mouth.
Rukia glared at Ichigo and then gave him that stupid creepy smile she always used at school, "Why Ichigo, how can you not like him? His show was our first date."
"Oh," Yoruichi said a smile crossing her face, "Where you trying to get young Rukia scarred so you could hold her in your arms."
Ichigo's face turned a bright red, "Why Ichigo, I had no idea your mind was so dirty," Rukia said in her sweet school girl's voice, "I'm so…"
"Shut up!" Ichigo said scowling as he tried to hide the brightness of his face.
"Ichigo you really do look like a strawberry," Jinta shouted, "STRAWBERRY, STRAWBERRY." He began grabbing Ururu's hand who joined in with her small squeaky voice.
Ichigo began to fume, his face darkening into a deep red, he turned and stomped out of the store, "Come back strawberry," Jinta yelled as everyone began to laugh.
Ichigo sat on the roof of the store, pondering his situation. He had no home anymore, his father along with his sister Yuzu had left leaving nothing but questions in their wake, and to top it off his other sister Karin was now a shinigami. "Damn what the hell I'm I suppose to do?" Ichigo said into the wind, "It's not like I have a place in Soul Society, and I will not subject my sister to life in a barracks." He sat feeling hopeless, there were no more battles to fight, no great war waiting in the distance, just life a life that stretched off into eternity. Ichigo suddenly turned feeling a very faint yet recognizable spirit energy. "Tatsuki," Ichigo whispered to himself.
Ichigo began to follow the small thread of spirit force Tatsuki gave off. He ran jumping over rooftops tell he found her, leaving a karate class. There she stood her black hair flowing in the wind her gi tided tightly with a black belt.
He smiled as he remembered all the times she would beat him down when they spared as kids, life was so simple back then, he thought to himself as he sat on the roof of the dojo.
"You know Ichigo, if you're going to spy on someone you really should learn to control that energy thing you shinigamis give off," Tatsuki said without turning around.
Ichigo was shocked, "How, how can you see me?"
"I don't know," Tatsuki said, "It started off slowly. First I would feel you not in your body at times, not just because how the thing in you acted, but that thing gave off a different vibe." Tatsuki said as she walked over to a small hill. "Then I would see you run off during class in a black kimono and a big sword. I don't know small stuff like that. Then it just happened you changed all together, I felt your human body die."
Ichigo had jumped off the roof to stand next to her, "You're my oldest friend," he said starring at the river at the bottom of the hill.
"A friend you left behind." Tatsuki said.
"It wasn't like that," Ichigo said throwing a pebble into the water watching the ripples spread out.
"Your house is destroyed/"
"Ya, long story."
"Your family is gone."
"Ya even longer story." Ichigo said as he threw another pebble into the water. They stood in silence for awhile, just starring at the setting sun, turning the blue sky to a radiant red and pink.
"So," Tatsuki said, "So, I guess I won't see you at graduation."
"I guess not."
"It won't be the same, not seeing your ugly scowling face." Tatsuki laughed despite the tears willing up in her eyes.
"I heard you started dating Keigo," Ichigo said trying to change the subject.
Tatsuki blushed, "What can I say he wore me down." Ichigo began to laugh so hard that he had to sit on the ground, "It's not funny." Tatsuki said glaring at Ichigo.
Ichigo shook his head in an apologetic way, "Take care of him for me." Ichigo said drying his eyes that began to tear from the laughter.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Tatsuki asked smiling at Ichigo.
"That's the question I'm wondering about. For the first time in a long time there's nothing to fight. Have to find a way to live now, well live as a…" Ichigo let the sentence die. CRACK, a punch hit Ichigo in the back of the head, "WHAT THE HELL," Ichigo yelled.
"Look at you, what's with that depressed face?" Tatsuki said smiling, "Making a face like that I can't help but punch you."
Ichigo glared at her, "You want to have a go."
"Ya, sure no sword though."
"Like I'd need Zangetsu to kick your ass," Ichigo took a ready stands a smile across his face, Tatsuki raised her hands.
"Ready?"
"Born…" Ichigo never finished as Tatsuki attacked. They spared for a half hour both putting all their effort into the fight. At the end Ichigo threw a right cross that Tatsuki ducked and countered with a round house kick that connected under his chin.
"Victory," Tatsuki said smiling.
"Damn, still can't win," Ichigo said returning the smile.
Tatsuki smiled and then hugged Ichigo, "Life is the fight Ichigo, that's the real challenge, so kick ass just like you always do and you'll be fine."
"Ya, I guess so," CRACK, another punch connected with Ichigo's head.
"Not I guess so."
Ichigo smiled, "Ya, I will."
"Good." Tatsuki said smiling.
"Take care of everyone for me."
"Ya." Tatsuki said.
"Well, thanks for always being there for me," Ichigo said turning to leave.
"Ichigo," Tatsuki said tears falling from her face. Ichigo turned around, "Are you really a shinigami?"
"Ya, I am."
"When I, when I finally die," Tatsuki said tears still falling from her face, "Will you take me?"
"Don't talk.."
"Ichigo will you take me!"
"Hopefully that won't be for several hundred years.
"That's not an answer."
"When the time comes, I'll be there to guide you on." Ichigo said smiling.
Tatsuki smiled and dried her eyes, "Good, now get the hell out of here and never let me see that depressed look on your face again." Ichigo smiled and then vanished.
"Ah, Tatsuki," a boy from the dojo called.
"Yo," Tatsuki said without turning around.
"Who are you talking to?"
"A memory," Tatsuki said, smiling as she starred off at the river, "Just a memory."
"What a weirdo," the boy said turning back into the dojo.
Ichigo landed on a roof top several hundred yards away and saw Rukia waiting for him, "What was that all about?" She asked.
"Just saying good-bye." Ichigo said.
Rukia smiled and hugged Ichigo. Ichigo closed his eyes allowing himself to enjoy the closeness. Rukia looked up at him, "I love you, you know."
"Ya, I love you too." Ichigo said.
Rukia grabbed his hand, "Come I have something to show you." They dashed over roof tops tell they hit the end of town.
"Where are we going?" Ichigo asked confused.
"Nowhere, we're here." Rukia said as she pointed to the horizon. Ichigo strained his eyes and saw a shinigami with a humungous afro.
"What do I care about the local shinigami," Ichigo asked, but his protest was stopped as he saw a small tear open in the sky, and a hollow emerging. Ichigo started to draw his zanpaktou, but Rukia grabbed his hand and shook her head.
"We are here to watch." Rukia said.
"Watch but…" Ichigo trailed off as he caught a glimpse of Yoruichi pass by. Ichigo started to speak, but Rukia placed a finger over his mouth.
The hollow emerged and let out a loud roar. The local shinigami drew his zanpaktou and prepared to fight. "Stand down." Yoruichi yelled. The shinigami turned.
"Who the hell…" He never got to finish his sentence, due to the fact that a huge burst of reiatsu exploded from Yoruichi causing the shinigami to fall to the ground.
"Oi, show time," Yoruichi said with a smile.
"What the hell is shee…. NO Karin." Ichigo shouted as he saw his sister appear zanpaktou in hand. Rukia grabbed him, "Let go of me she's not read…"
Karin moved quickly her zanpaktou moving in a blur. The hollow yelled as the zanpaktou sliced down the center of its mask, and it disintegrated. Rukia let go of Ichigo, and he was instantly grabbing Karin, "Are you hurt, are you alright?" Ichigo shouted squeezing Karin by both arms, "Don't you ever do that again, do you hear me." Ichigo shouted.
Karin starred at her brother in fear, she had never seen him this angry before, "Oi Ichigo," Yoruichi called.
"And you!" Ichigo began.
"What," Yoruichi said, "Will you be a hypocrite and not allow your sister to grow in strength. Will you be like your father and ignore her growing power without training her, guiding her?"
"She's my sister!" Ichigo shouted.
"Then train her you fool," Rukia yelled, "Why are brothers always so stubborn when it comes to little sisters."
"Ichi-nii," Karin said grabbing Ichigo, "What else do I have left?" Ichigo hung his head in defeat.
"Alright," Ichigo said turning, "But she's going into the 4th Division."
"She must be…" Rukia began to argue but stopped seeing the pain in Ichigo's eyes, "Alright the 4th Division, we'll begin her training." Ichigo nodded and turned to leave.
"Who the hell are you guys," The afro wearing shinigami asked in a confused voice.
"The newest members of the Shiba clan," Yoruichi said grabbing Karin and vanishing.
"I really got to get another post." The shinigami said starring at the empty air.
"Ah Ichigo, how did everything go." Urahara said his goofy smile wide.
"Eh, sandal-hat I need to talk to you," Ichigo said, Urahara's face became serious.
Urahara pointed to his office door and the two walked in. Ichigo turned to Urahara once in the office and asked, "Does my sister have a hollow in her?"
Urahara starred at Ichigo, for awhile, "No, I don't believe she does."
"Are you sure?" Ichigo said, "This better not be one of your things when you don't tell the whole truth."
"What, you wound me," Urahara said in mocked pain, "I'm nothing more than a poor shop keeper."
"Enough, Sandal-Hat," Ichigo shouted.
Urahara's face became serious again, "No, Ichigo I really don't believe she has one in her."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Well, her power is pure no dark thread runs threw her, and on top of that I ran a full check on her and the test came up negative.
Ichigo shook his head in relief, "One more thing," Ichigo said, "Is she strong, you know st.."
Urahara smiled, "She has the potential to become quite powerful, very powerful indeed. Her ability to control her reiatsu is already better than any three year student in the academy."
"Do you think that she could make it in the 4th Division?"
"I don't see why not, your father like you was a very skilled fighter, but he had very strong healing abilities as well. I see no reason for her not to have that gift," Urahara said smiling.
Knock, knock, "Ah, sensei, please excuse the interruption." Ururu said in a quiet voice.
"Ah, Ururu, come in, come in," Urahara said in a jubilant voice, "what is it."
"The strawberry has a visitor," Ururu said.
"It's Ichigo, ICHIGO it's a man's name." Ichigo yelled.
"Come now strawberry," Urahara said laughing, "let's see who it is." He said walking out of the office. Leaving Ichigo to mutter to himself in anger.
Ichigo walked out of the store and saw a member of the 2nd Division secret police waiting for him. The shinigami bowed, "Kurosaki Ichigo, the Captain-Commander is requesting your presence in Soul Society."
Ichigo turned to look at Urahara and Yoruichi, "I guess it's time then."
Yoruichi smiled, "You'll be fine, I'll come see you."
"Ya, watch out for the gang for me will you." Ichigo said as he walked away.
"Of course," Urahara said.
The shinigami turned and opened up a demon gate, "What's that," Karin asked in shock.
"A door to the next world," Ichigo said grabbing Karin's hand, "Let's go see our new home."
"Ah, excuse me Kurosaki-san," the shinigami said with a bow, "but I was only instructed to bring you…"
A burst of reiatsu forced the shinigami flat on the ground, "This is my sister, Kurosaki Karin, she goes where I go." Ichigo said.
Rukia quickly elbowed Ichigo in the ribs, and then said, "It's all right this girl is a guest of the Kuchiki clan, and I will vouch for her travel."
The shinigami, bowed his head as he tried to stand, "Yes, Kuchiki."
Ichigo turned to Karin, "lets go." He said and then stepped through the door with her and Rukia. The door instantly shut, and Ichigo left the world of the living.
Ok hope you guys like this and remember all together now Review, Review, REVIEW.