I'm not really proud of chapter 15 but it surprised me that the hits were the highest among all the chapters except chapter 1. Thanks for reading. I hope this chapter is of better quality.

Standard disclaimer : I do not own Bleach.

Turning right, turning left

Chapter 16 : Awakening

"Awake, Ichigo... Sleep no more." I hear a voice calling from a distance, urging me to wake up. I crack open my eyes slowly only to find myself surrounded by an utter and impenetrable darkness.

"Where am I? Am I dead? I can't see a thing."

The air is still and stagnant. I strain my ears to hear but hear nothing further, even my own voice falls dead in the void. My entire body is numbed in great pain. I try to drag myself upright but I only managed to get to my knees. I begin to grope on in blindness, not knowing where it will lead me to.

Time soon passes out of my reckoning and I'm not sure how long I had been groping on like that. My sense becomes duller and I only manage to go on mainly by the sheer force of my will.

At last, a long pale gleam in the distance brings hope to my mind. I grope on with the remaining strength and resolution towards the source of light. The light grows before me. A breeze of fresh air rushes against my face as I finally reach the opening. I shut my eyes momentarily and open them again slowly in order to adjust my sight to the sudden brightness.

I begin to squint my eyes and look around me. A borderless green meadow stretches in front of me. I crash to the soft grass beneath me and roll my back onto it as weariness and agony overwhelm me. The sky is blue and ethereal with white, fluffy clouds floating around. It is a fine day. And I feel like I can just doze off by lying there, despite the bad condition of my body.

"You shouldn't stay. Why are you lingering?" a husky, familiar voice jerks me and I shift my head to track its source. It is none other than Zangetsu, staring at me indifferently.

"Why am I here?"

My mind is in utter confusion and that's the first question that comes to my mind.

"That isn't the question. The question is why are you still here?"

"What kind of answer is that, old man?" it literally pisses me off.

"Ichigo, you can't stay. Or he will take over you completely." He says gruffly.

He? What the hell is he talking about?

"Do you not remember?" he asks tentatively.

"Remember what? Stop playing riddles with me!" I yell at him, absently forgetting about my broken ribs. I let out a sharp cry of pain and curse when I feel a pang of pain in my chest.

He steps forward, grabs the front of my collar and drags me right up. I wince and about to yell at him again but he cuts me off abruptly as he glares at me and hisses, "If you can't remember by yourself, I'm going to make you remember."

He curls his fist until his knuckles become white and holds it right in front of my face in a threatening manner.

"Che, is this only way you know how to deal with me?" I mock.

"Ichigo, you have to remember." He persists, sounding somewhat serious. "You don't have much time left."

Sensing the urgency in his voice, I shut my eyes, begin to concentrate and try to recall the last memory in my mind.

I was fighting... with the Arankaru... crimson... darkness... awake... that building... a white face and black eyes with red orbs...

He said something...

"If you lose, I shall take over and fight for you..."

My eyes snap open.

"Remember now? Good. We're leaving."

"How?"

The vision of everything suddenly blurs and an unseen force pulls me down and sinks me into the earth beneath me like quick sand. Then once again, everything fades into darkness.

The next time I open my eyes again, I freeze as I find myself pinning Mitarashi-sama to a tree and... I'm pressing my zanpakutou at his throat!

It can't be...

This is insane!

I jolt back in shock only to find the edge of another zanpakutou pressed firmer to my throat. A low voice hisses, "Don't move or I'll slit your throat in a second!"

My grip on the hilt loosens and let it drop to the ground. Unable to think or act, all I can do is keep staring at Mitarashi-sama and the long reddish line on his neck.

What happened? What happened to me?

Why did I ever do that?

Nothing makes sense!

My hands are bent to the back and shackled together immediately after I dropped my zanpakutou.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, you are now officially under arrest. You are the main suspect for the murder of two Covert Ops squad members and attempt to murder the squad leader, Mitarashi."

Author's note: Well, officially Part I of the story ends here. I won't be around for around one month, so there won't be any updating for the moment after this chapter. I'll certainly continue to write but I just need to take a break, that's all. Please read on for the Q&A if you are interested to know more about the story.

Thank you for reading. Till next time I write again, ja ne.

kittyblah:

Umm... it's a relief to hear that. Thanks for reading and reviewing. : )

rukiaprincess :

Thanks for your good luck wishing. My first paper did turn out well, I guess. I hope you'll like this chapter as well.

TwilightHack :

Thanks, I'm glad that you like it. I hope you'll continue to read on.

ruukii :

Happy to see that you're back. : )

I admit that I made both of them to be really, really stubborn in my story. After all, it's their stubbornness that leads this story to where it is if you know what I mean.

Thanks for wishing me good luck for my exam.

mikeee:

Thanks, I will. Don't worry, they'll meet again very soon.