Hey everyone! I apologize for it taking so long to get a new chapter up, but as I was sick all last week I've been have to do some catch up on my studies. I like this chapter and I hope you do too. Just note, the beginning is sort of a history of this mysterious assassin, as Bleach often throws in so you understand an antagonist more. Enjoy~.

The Fallen

Chapter 6: Recollections

OutlawEX

The saloon was crowded as usual. Cowboys passing through the small town would often stop in for the night to have a few drinks and get some shut eye before taking off in the mornings. Two men sat at a table in the corner playing a game of cards. Both of them were slender men in maybe their mid 20's. One had long, dark, wavy, and unkept hair; the other was the opposite, his hair was short and well groomed.

"Straight," the long haired man laid his cards on the table. "Looks like I win again."

The other man sighed. "Damn." He lit a cigarette. "Ya' know what?"

"What?"

"I think you're cheatin'."

"What makes ya' think that?"

"Because, ya' don't look like the type who abides by the rules." Suddenly, he found a revolver pressed against his forehead.

"Yeah, and if you're right?" The man put his hat on, then clicked the hammer of his gun back with his thumb.

The other man trembled, the cigarette fell from his mouth, tears building in the corners of his eyes. By this time everybody in the bar had their eyes set on the two in the corner.

"No answer, huh? I don't take to kindly to the rude," he pulled the trigger. The other man fell backward taking the chair he sat in with him, hitting the floor with a loud thud. Quickly, this incident turned into a shoot out. The only one who prevailed was the wavy hair man.

He held up a bottle of whiskey, taking a big gulp as he walked out the sliding double doors.

Ichigo Kurosaki lay face first against the ground. His enemy approached him and said "Guess it's over already?" He examined the motionless body, in disbelief. "Well, that was easy." He pulled a bottle from his cloak and raised it, then began to walk away.

"Don't go counting me out just yet," the boy scrambled to his feet, using Zangetsu to prop himself up. His enemy's eyes widened, then he smiled.

"Glad to see you ain't dead yet, that just wouldn't be fun."

"Happy I could be of entertainment to you," the Soul Reaper replied, as he patched up some of his wounds with the loose hilt wrapping from his Zanpakuto. "Shall we continue?" He held his sword forward.

"Sounds good to me."

"All right then. Bankai!" The boy faced the enemy in his dark robe, and wielding his slimmer, black blade.

"That ain't gonna make a difference, ya' know? More power ain't gonna make your senses any sharper. Swerve Madly, Barracho!"

As last time his vision began to blur, but this time he wore a more confident expression, and maintained his stance. "The thing is, I think I found a way around your Zanpakuto."

"That so? We'll see then," he ran at Ichigo, taking a swing at his mid-section as he approached close range. The boy countered with a slash with his own.

"When you have a heavier weapon as yours, there's really only two directions you can swing: horizontal and vertical. Looks like I lucked out, considering I just guessed which way you would attack," he explained, as he pulled his sword back. "Getsuga Tensho!" He slashed.

The enemy fell upon a knee. "Not bad, kid," he coughed up blood.

"Well, I gotta get going. See ya'," Ichigo waved, as he walked away from the dying man.

"Fair enough," he muttered as he collapsed.

The boy ran up the steps to the lodge to find his family along with Rukia, sitting on the patio having sandwiches. A drop of sweat ran down his face. Jeez, I'm risking my life, and she's over here eating, he turned to the woman.

"Hey," he greeted, as he approached everybody.

"What took you?" The raven haired woman asked, with a knowing look.

"I had to go to the bathroom," he lied.

He sat down next to Rukia, who handed him a sandwich, which he unwrapped and began eating.

After their meal they all began the trek back down the, what seemed like, an ever going trail down the mountain. The setting sun resided on the other side of the peak and could no longer be seen, leaving the surrounding sky a dull blue. Ichigo and Rukia walked a ways back from the rest of the group. They spoke as they hiked.

The woman looked over to the orange haired boy. "Are you alright?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm still alive, ain't I?"

"He was a tough one wasn't he?" Her eyes showed visible signs of worry.

"Yeah. He had a Zanpakuto like a Soul Reaper's."

She tilted her head. "Did the Arrancar not?"

"Not like this. This one had no hollow form, he had a Shikai."

They walked in silence. The girl seemed thoughtful.

"Are you sure you're okay?" The woman asked again.

"Yes," he reaffirmed. "Why?"

"I was just worried about you, that's all."

A comforting hand rested itself on her own. Feeling this she laced her fingers along with his. "Don't worry, I'll pull through anything that comes our way. Promise," He consoled her.

The girl answered with a nod, and warm smile. Both were quiet, for a moment.

"Hey, Rukia," Ichigo spoke mellowly.

"Yeah?"

"You told me something two years ago..." he trailed off.

"What's that?"

"You said to tell you about my mother when I was ready."

The girl thought back a moment.

The two of them were running to save his sisters when Ichigo asked, "Aren't you going to ask me anything about my mother?"

"If I did would you answer me?" she asked, already knowing the response in his head. "It's your problem. A deep, deep problem. I have no way of..." She restated, "No good way of asking you, without tracking mud into your heart. That's while I'll wait. Wait until you're ready to tell me about it"
 She recalled this very clearly. "I remember."

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm ready to talk about it," his gaze pointed toward the ground.

"Ichigo..."

He gathered his thoughts a moment. "When I was younger, I was always happy. My mother was the light of my life. Even if I was crying, just her presence would halt my tears," he grinned for a moment. "Then, a hollow killed her."

"I know," Rukia spoke sorrowfully.

"For 7 years of my life, I was convinced that it was all my fault, thus I found myself very dedicated toward my family, trying to fill the hole that she left when she died. It's only been recently that I've come to accept there was no way to save her. Even if I hadn't fallen for the trap, nothing was stopping the hollow from just attacking us head on. I would've only been able to watch her be devoured."

The girl slumped her head to look at the boys face. Though streams of tears trickled down his face, his voice remained as firm and composed as ever.

He continued, "I loved my mom, I'm glad that she can be happy in the Soul Society, now."

"That's right," the dark haired woman reassured him.

"A while back, I came to realize something..." he paused. He picked up his head and looked the girl right in the eyes. "You remind me of her in almost every single way, and I think that's why... I love you." He confess.

The woman was speechless. Her cheeks were reddened, and she could feel her body trembling. She had stopped in her tracks. "No one has ever told me that they loved me," She admitted quietly, before she fell into the boy, her arms coiling around his waist.

Up the road Yuzu tugged her father's shirt. "Dad," she spoke excitedly.

"Don't look back, Yuzu," Isshin commanded lightly.

Ichigo returned the gesture by pulling Rukia tightly against himself.

"I love you too," She finally answered, propping herself up on the tips of her toes, so that she could touch her mouth against his. He responded with his own kiss. After a few moments they both pulled back. "We should probably keep going, so we don't hold everyone up," she whispered, with a smile stretching across her entire face.

"Yeah," he agreed, with an equal smile.

Byakuya Kuchiki sat alone in his quarters, his eyes closed and face blank. His eyes suddenly opened. "I would appreciate it if you did not prowl outside my door, Yoruichi."

The door slip open, and Yoruichi Shihoin entered the room. "Observant as usual I see," she commented.

"I take it you are here because you can feel it too?" He asked, jumping straight to business.

The woman nodded.

"Something ominous is afoot," the man spoke flatly.

"But what is it?"

"That I do not know."

"I've never felt this much spirit energy before. It overwhelms me and makes my stomach uneasy."

"Keep an eye on my sister." Whether it was a command or request the woman was not sure, she just nodded her head. "Now please, leave."

When the man looked back, the woman was gone without a trace.

He looked to his hand to discover it was shaking profusely.

What is this? He thought to himself. A bead of sweat ran down his face.

To be continued...

Well, that's all. I hope you enjoyed. :]

I'd just like to share that I just finished plotting out the ending to this story, and I'm pretty sure everyone will like it... and potentially cry. XD

Anyways, let me know if you see any grammar errors. I'll get 7 up soon. Till then, take care, and remember to review!