Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to the wonderful Tite Kubo-sensei, while my OC… well, naturally belongs to me. This is my first Bleach Story, and as usual this is going to be slightly different from the Bleach canon. Just wanted you all to know that.

Thoughts

Speaking

Hollow Speaking

Zanpakutou Speaking

A Shinigami's Tale

Chapter 1

Toshi looked around in wonder as he took in the view of his surroundings. He did not know where he was and how he got here after that Shinigami sent him to Soul Society… which should be the place he was in. He looked around at the old buildings around him, most of them traditional looking, and he had a feeling that he had stepped into one of those jidaigeki that he liked to see when he was alive.

He was currently dressed in a modest, though not too shabby yukata and pants, and the buildings around him reminded him of one of those early Azuchi-Momoyama period houses in Kyoto. Feeling curious about the place, he started to explore the place, before a voice called him from behind.

"Excuse me, young man… May I have a moment of your time?"

Toshi turned around to see who was the one who called him, and found himself looking at a man somewhere in his early sixties; at least that's what he looked like. He wore also a set of clothes, though his was slightly better looking, and Toshi guessed that he should be someone important here. "Yes, of course, oji-san… what is it that you require of me?"

The older man just smiled and said. "It's nothing much, young man… but I just wanted to welcome you here in Soul Society. I am the elder of this district in East Rukongai, which is where you are at right now."

"Thank you Elder… for the welcome… but you said that I am in Soul Society, but also in East Rukongai right now…. Where exactly am I actually? To tell you the truth, I am slightly confused…" Toshi said gratefully, though as he had stated, he had a slightly confused expression on his face.

The elder chuckled slightly and said. "Well, young man… Soul Society is where you are right now… but Rukongai is where most souls from the living world would come to after they died. Rukongai itself is divided into three hundred and twenty districts, eighty each in the four major areas of Rukongai, East, West, North, and South. Do you understand what I am talking about so far?"

Toshi nodded and the elder smiled and said. "Walk with me as I bring you over to the place that you will be staying from now on. I'll tell you more about where you are right now as we go there."

They soon started walking and Toshi soon learned that he was in the twenty first district in East Rukongai, which according to the elder was pretty much a decent area. He also learned that the quality of life in Rukongai actually depended on the number. While the first district is mostly lawful and peaceful, the eightieth district is usually the worst, which is usually crime-infested and unsavory people were often found there.

"I see… so if what you had just said is true… that would mean this district is one of the better ones, right?" He said thoughtfully, and the elder nodded before replying.

"Yes it is, young man… while our district isn't as good as the top ten districts… we don't really suffer from crime and poverty, and we live our lives in peace…" The elder paused for a moment, before smiling. "Though we do have occasional Shinigami that pass through here from time to time to recruit students to their academy in Seireitei and a few of them have successfully become members of the Shinigami forces."

"I see… but what is this Seireitei that you speak of, elder?" Toshi asked curiously. "Is it also a place within Soul Society?"

The elder nodded and said. "Seireitei is where the Shinigami live; separate from the rest of us… though some of them do come down to Rukongai from time to time. But enough of this for the moment… I think we are about to arrive. And… here we are."

They both stopped in front of a traditional house, which to Toshi looked about the same. The elder knocked on the door and soon it was answered by an middle aged woman with light brown hair, and smiled as she saw that it was the elder of their district. "Ara… if isn't elder Sasaki…" She then looked at Toshi and said. "And I suppose this young man is the one that is going to live in our house?"

Sasaki nodded and said. "He is, Haruko… well then, I'll leave him in your hands then. Young man, introduce yourself to Haruko-san… you will be staying at her place from now on."

Toshi nodded rather absentmindedly as he studied the face of the person that he was supposed to stay with. One thought came to his mind, and that was this middle aged woman with the gentle smile bore a very close resemblance to his mother… and without thinking, he said with a voice filled with emotion. "My name… is Toshiyuki Kitano… I am pleased to meet you… Haruko-kaasan… ta… tadaima…"

Haruko fell silent for a moment, and smiled at him with a motherly smile, and she approached him, and raised her hand to his head, and gently ruffled his hair and said. "Okaerinasai… Toshi-kun… come on… let's come in and we can get together as a family. Your sisters have been waiting for you."

She turned and waited for him to come in before closing the door behind her, and then led him to the living room, where two other women waited for them.

Toshi looked at them, and saw that one of them was roughly his age… at least that was what he could gather. She wore a simple summer yukata, and she had long black hair that flowed to the shoulders. She had a thoughtful expression on her face, studying him closely.

The other female was slightly younger than him, though like Haruko, she had light brown hair that was tied in a ponytail. Unlike the black haired girl, she had somewhat of a cheerful, yet expectant look on her face as she looked at him.

The black haired female was the first one to speak with a neutral tone. "Kaa-san…. Is this person… the one we are going to live with us from now on?"

Haruko smiled and nodded with some affection. "That's right, Kaori… meet your new brother, Toshiyuki… oh, and Sanae as well, meet your brother as well. He's going to be living with us from now on."

Toshi looked at his new sisters and said a bit formally. "My name is… Toshiyuki…. Pleased to meet you… Kaori… Sanae. Ta... tadaima."

There was a soft silence, when there was a short squeal when Sanae launched herself at Toshi and hugged him with all her might. "Okaerinasai… Toshi-nii! Sanae has always wanted to have a brother, and prayed often… but now Sanae is glad… that Toshi-nii is here with us!" She said with a cheerful, happy expression, and Haruko just giggled at the sight of her youngest daughter hugging her new brother like some kind of toy that she loved very much.

Kaori just sighed at the antics of her younger sister, though she smiled softly at the sight at the sight and then said with a bit of admonishment. "Sanae… I think you better let Toshi-kun go before he expires… you don't want to lose your nii-chan right after you meet him, right?"

Indeed, Toshi was finding it hard to breathe with the way Sanae was hugging him. For someone that is slightly younger and shorter than him, she somehow has great strength, and if she keeps this up, as Kaori had mentioned, he was indeed in danger of dying again from suffocation.

Thankfully, there was no danger of that as he soon was let go, and he was able to regain his breath and when he felt a slight tug on his sleeve and then he looked at the remorseful expression of his younger sister.

"Go… gomen ne…. Toshi-niisan… Sanae is so happy that Sanae finally has a brother… that I can't help…" Sanae said almost tearfully, but Toshi just smiled and shook his head as he gently ruffled his younger sister's hair, and said. "It's alright, Sanae-chan… to tell you the truth; I have always wanted an imouto when I was alive. I was an only child you see… so I am glad that I have one now…"

"Really…?" Sanae said in a hopeful, and yet shy voice to him.

Toshi just nodded and smiled softly at her. "Of course, Sanae-chan… how can I say no to my kawaii imouto, ne?"

"Ya…yatta!" Sanae smiled as she hugged Toshi again and said cheerfully. "Nii-chan daisuki!"

Toshi just smiled in return and said. "Arigatou, Sanae-chan…" He then looked at Kaori and said. "Kaori… from the way you referred to me… May I guess that your age is similar to mine… or am I mistaken about that?"

Kaori just shook her head, smiling gently at him and said. "You don't get it do you, Toshi-kun… a woman's age is very sensitive… but I suppose I can forgive you this time… I'm actually more or less the same age as you… as you said yourself earlier."

Toshi just smiled in return and said. "I see… well then, since I am now part of the family now, I had better start pulling my weight around here... I wouldn't be a good son or good brother if I just lazed around with nothing to do now, would I?"

There was a short round of laughter around the house after he made his statement, and they soon settled down for a quick lunch, with Toshi starting to take part in the household chores that needed physical strength. As he did so, he smiled to himself, a feeling of joy and belonging enveloped him as he did so, as he finally found himself living as a family once more.

Of course, he secretly hoped and wondered if his parents were also in Soul Society, and he wished that he could find them, but for now… he is content in living in a family once more, though he promised himself that he would do whatever he can to try and find out where his parents are here in Rukongai.

Seireitei, 7th Division Barracks, Captain's Office

Komamura Sajin, taichou of the 7th Division within the Gotei 13 was doing his usual paperwork assisted by his fukutaicho, Iba Tetsuzaemon, who looked and dressed the part of a yakuza when a shinigami came in and said to both of them respectfully. "I am sorry to disturb you both, Komamura-taichou, Iba-fukutaichou…. But I am here to report that Tenth Seat Shibagami has returned from his patrol in the living world."

Komamura nodded and said. "Very well, send him in then… I want to hear what he has to report on his current trip to the living world."

The shinigami nodded and left the room and soon Takeshi entered and bowed to both and said. "Komamura-taichou, Iba-fukutaichou… I have returned from the patrol mission in the living world."

Komamura nodded and said. "Good… now please report to me what transpired in your mission when you are in the living world."

Keiji nodded as he recounted his mission to South America recently, and he concluded his report by mentioning how he met Toshi and slain the Hollow that was already a Menos-class, but still quite some distance from becoming a Gillian, as well as sending Toshi to Soul Society through the means of Konsou.

He also described to both his Division leaders about how he could detect that Toshi had already some reiatsu as a Plus, and that he personally believe that he has some potential in becoming a Shinigami as well.

There was a short silence before Komamura looked at his Tenth Seat officer and said. "I see… so you believe the man would be a good addition to our forces?"

"I do think so, Komamura-taichou… before I arrived to kill the Hollow, I managed to hear what the Plus had to say to the Hollow. It seems that the Plus that I had sent to Soul Society has a deep wealth of affection towards his family, not to mention that he stared down the Hollow with defiance even though he was in danger of being eaten. He has a wealthy amount of courage, which makes me respect him. Heck, just by his courage alone, he would be a good candidate to join our division, if I say so myself."

Komamura nodded and said thoughtfully. "I see…" He then turned to his fukutaicho and said. "Tetsuzaemon, your thoughts about this matter?"

Iba turned to Komamura and said. "Well, what can I say, taichou… but the kid seems to be alright to me. He's got guts, I say…. I think he would be perfect for our division as well."

Komamura nodded and then turned to Keiji and said. "Well, since you both have given your recommendations, I suppose I have to consider letting the young man into our division when the time is right… but before that, I sense that you have something else that you wish to report… do you not?"

Takeshi nodded and said. "Hai, Komamura-taichou… the Plus that I sent to Soul Society is also an archeologist in life, so there is also a chance that he still holds some interest for the things he did when he was alive, which also means that he is also a possible candidate for the 12th Division or the Shinigami Research Institute."

Komamura looked slightly surprised at his Tenth Seat's comment and then said thoughtfully after a while. "The 12th Division, you say? It is a most disturbing thought… and if I can help it, I would prefer him not to be there… it is no secret that Mayuri isn't the best of Captains… how he managed to be a Captain with that sadistic demeanor of his, I do not know. But as for the Shinigami Research Institute, I will allow him to help out there time to time, if he still has some interest over the things that he has been doing in his past life."

Iba and Keiji both nodded, since they have heard some tales about how the 12th Division Captain treated his men, and as their Captain said, they would try to prevent the new Plus, or potential Shinigami candidate from falling into Mayuri's clutches.

Komamura paused for a moment before saying. "Tenth Seat Shibagami, I am giving you a new mission… I want you to try and persuade the new Plus that you sent to Soul Society to join the Shino Academy and become a Shinigami. Also, if he lives in a family, do some research on the family background that he is currently in, before reporting to me, before we make any further step. That is all, you are dismissed"

Keiji nodded and said. "Ryokai, Taichou… it shall be done." He then bowed to his two superiors before retreating towards his room in the barracks to get some rest for the day. Tomorrow he shall begin the mission that his captain has given him, and he hoped that it would go just as well as the missions that he had done in the past.

End of Chapter 1

Author's Note: Well, this is another chapter done for A Shinigami's Tale. As you can see, I have already started planning Toshi's entrance into the 7th Division… but can you guys give some feedback whether he should help out in the affairs of the SRI in an unofficial capacity, or officially? Also, regarding pairings, I am still not thinking about those for the moment, but you guys may give suggestions regarding the pairings as well. Thanks.