Disclaimer: The only kind of Bleach I own is for the laundry.
Story: When Rukia comes to Karakura, Gin tags along for supervision (and because he made some nobles angry). How will Ichigo deal with both of them, while they adjust to a surprising human that could do things she shouldn't? Especially given the odd things that keep happening around her. Fem!Ichigo AU.
Set as a genderbent AU.
Spoilers: Yes, most definitely.
Pairings: Ryuuken Ishida/Ichigo, Gin/Ichigo, Urahara/Ichigo, Aizen/Ichigo, Ukitake/Ichigo, Kyouraku, Byakuya/Ichigo, and maybe one-sided Others/Ichigo, Grimmjow/Ichigo, Ulquirrora/Ichigo…
Warnings: My usual crap…crazy writing, some perverseness every now and then, drama, angst, wild humor, drama, romance, drama, and that kind of thing…
Bleach It Orange!
Chapter Three: Fate Happens
When she was a child, her father told her about her heritage. He told her about Quincies, because her mother was one and her family wanted her to learn about them and train in their arts. But she also learned about Soul Reapers because they were enemies of Quincies. And yet they were also important because her father was a Soul Reaper.
She was the product of a Quincy and Soul Reaper coupling, which was one of, if not the most, unlikely couplings to come to be.
In consequence, while learning to be as much of a Quincy as she could be, Isshin had told her all about Soul Society, about the Rukongai, Seireitei, the Gotei 13, and most importantly about Soul Reapers and their zanpakuto –the extension of one's soul, alive with their own personalities, their shikai and bankai stages…
Zangetsu was her zanpakuto. She just knew it. She had never asked him about it, even after learning about all that, but she didn't need to. With one look towards each other and they both understood.
But now it was all coming to a head because there were two Soul Reapers in her room, and she was terrified they knew her father was there and were coming to take him. They couldn't handle another parent being taken away.
Not again. Their family wouldn't be able to take it.
Rukia Kuchiki was to go to the town of Karakura for a routine patrol for Hollows. However, given the increase of Hollow activity and Rukia's dispassionate and depressed state, it was decided she needed supervision. Which is where Gin came in.
Gin Ichimaru was nowhere near a normal captain. Yes, he tended to spew out heavy sarcasm all the time and his hobbies might or might not include causing mischief and trouble whenever and wherever he could for his own amusement. Which might or might not have gotten himself in trouble with some nobles (bastards probably complained) and landed him in trouble with Old Man Yamamoto.
Which brought him to the fact he was now suspended indefinitely, unable to wear his captain's haori, and assigned to watch over Rukia Kuchiki in the world of the living. Also, they'd placed severe limits on him, so severe he was nearly helpless. Meaning he had to rely on Rukia to take care of Hollows and the like.
"This is boring," he grumbled. "Can you get rid of that Hollow faster?" he complained.
He noted Rukia's eye twitched. "We just got here, Ichimaru-taicho."
"Eh? But you should've taken it out as soon as we got here then."
Gin hid his laugh as Rukia scowled and refused to look at him or answer back, forcing herself to take a deep breath. He watched, still bored, as Rukia quickly cleansed the Hollow.
"This is going to be repetitive, isn't it?" he sighed to himself.
After taking care of the Hollow that had been causing a commotion among the humans and causing too much damage to buildings, Gin was sure nothing interesting was going to happen. But they again felt another huge Hollow's presence and tracked it to an ordinary home.
However, as soon as they got there, the Hollow's presence disappeared. Something else seemed to mask it, and even Gin raised his eyebrows.
"Ichimaru-taicho, shall we proceed?" Rukia asked hesitantly.
"Hm. Yes, Rukia-san. Let's enter through that window right there. It's opened."
Maybe Gin won't be so bored after all.
Ichigo looked away from the two, pretending to put away things and that she couldn't see them.
"Something's wrong," the female muttered.
"Is that obvious? I hadn't thought so," but though the man's voice was light, he was obviously sarcastic. "Never mind that –that girl. Can't you feel it? Her spiritual pressure is huge. If that Hollow's going anywhere, it's here."
Ichigo had her back to them, so the brief look of worry was kept to herself. She couldn't let them know she could see and hear them, even as she tensed.
"Hey, hey, human! Can ya see us?" A heavy hand landed on her head and turned it around to face a widely grinning face.
Ichigo balked and threw her head back, taking scrambling steps away from the strange male.
"What the hell?! Get away from me, you fox-faced bastard!"
"Ah hah! I knew you could see us, human!" he exclaimed.
In the background, the female was staring wide-eyed at them.
"My name's not 'human' either," Ichigo grumbled. "It's Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Like a strawberry~?"
What the hell's wrong with this guy?
"No, like 'one who protects,'" Ichigo huffed irritably.
"Mmkay. I'm Gin Ichimaru. That's Rukia Kuchiki. Have you seen something big and ugly around here?"
Ichigo gave him a weird look. Then again, since he was talking about Hollows most likely…
"Earlier, there was something around that intersection nearby, near some buildings," she admitted.
He waved at her dismissively. "We took care of that one already. We tracked another one to this neighborhood."
Ichigo looked at him blandly. "Really?..." She pretended to think. "No, don't think I can help you."
He, funnily enough, pouted. "But Ichigo!"
Quick to be familiar, this guy.
Ichigo ignored him and flipped back her covers, intending to try to go to sleep.
"Oh no you don't!"
She actually "eeped!" as that fox-faced bastard picked her up from the bed and carried her over to the female Shinigami.
"Rukia-san, do something about her," Gin plopped her down on the floor.
Rukia blinked, still in shock. "You can see us?" she asked blankly.
Ichigo face palmed while Gin shook his head.
"You gotta be faster than that, Rukia-san," he said.
Why was he formal with her and not Ichigo?
"You see, we're Soul Reapers," Gin decided to explain. "So it's kinda amazing you can see us, Ichigo. Rukia-san! Explain to Ichigo about us!"
Rukia, clearly flustered, went to quickly do so. Three minutes later, Ichigo was sweatdropping as Rukia held up a notebook that was filled with strange drawings of bunnies. Gin made a disagreeing noise.
"No, no! It should be more like this!"
Somehow, he found his own notebook and began scribbling. Soon enough, he held up his notebook and showed his own version of Rukia's drawings, only the rabbits were replaced by foxes.
As the two argued over which drawing was best for explanations (eventually devolving into simply whose drawings were better), Ichigo contemplated just running out of the house and away from these two. But then it was too late and they were facing her, ready to go.
"These are bad souls known as Hollows," Rukia pointed to the evil-looking bunnies.
"These are good souls!" Gin pointed to happy-looking foxes.
So they decided to trade out, huh?
Ichigo ended up being forced to sit there and listen to these people. However, when they were done, Ichigo heard a loud roar.
"Did you hear that?" she exclaimed.
Rukia gave her an odd look, while Gin frowned.
"Hear what?" Rukia asked.
"It sounds faint, but definitely a Hollow," Gin said thoughtfully.
"It's not faint! It's right here!" Ichigo yelled.
The Hollow roared again and this time Rukia actually heard it while Gin heard it more clearly. Yuzu stumbled into view through Ichigo's open door, looking faint.
"Ichi…go…" She collapsed onto the floor.
"Yuzu!" Ichigo tried to scramble onto her feet, but she found herself stopping as her arms were wrenched behind her by some invisible force and bound by it. She vaguely remembered hearing Rukia incant a Kido spell, which she assumed bound her.
"You must stay here. It is not safe for you," Rukia told her apologetically. "Let us handle this."
The two of them headed downstairs, while Ichigo became infuriated. Like hell she was going to stay there and do nothing.
With a grunt, Ichigo forced herself up onto her knees and then to her feet, before rushing downstairs.
Gin had actually gotten caught off guard as he (and Rukia) saw Ichigo rushing down the stairs. They hadn't expected her to have budged from her spot. He was even more surprised when, as Ichigo and Rukia argued, the orange-haired girl began to forcibly break out from the Kido spell. Even low-level, the fact she had been able to break out of it was impressive.
"Karin!" Ichigo screamed, breaking free at last and running out of the hole in her home and towards where a small, black-haired girl was in the Hollow's grasp.
"Ichigo, no! You'll just get hurt," Rukia yelled out.
Gin opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it. He was curious as to what this girl could do and he didn't want to be a distraction.
Ichigo ran towards the Hollow and dodged a swipe from one of the Hollow's arms. She was fast, he'd give her that. However, he couldn't help his eyes opening slightly, amazed as Ichigo stood firm and crossed her arms, blocking an attack from the Hollow while strange blue markings appeared on her arms.
"Ichigo?!" Rukia's yell distracted Ichigo, who wasn't able to avoid an attack from the Hollow which slammed into her.
Gin frowned heavily as he and Rukia rushed over. He wasn't happy with his restrictions. He couldn't use any of his Soul Reaper powers, not even to activate Shinso. His speed was only slightly better than an average human's, though his strength was at least a little better. But all in all…he was useless.
"Please stop, Ichigo. You'll only get hurt, you idiot!" Rukia moved to deflect the Hollow's attack, successful for a moment before being knocked away.
Gin cursed under his breath and moved to interfere before stopping. What could he do? He'd been effectively made useless because of a stupid noble.
"Get your hands off my sister!" Ichigo roared, standing and getting ready to face the Hollow again.
Before she could though, Rukia ran forward and placed herself between Ichigo and the Hollow, getting injured in the process. The Hollow's jaw clenched tightly around her right side before throwing her away. Gin wanted to tear his hair out.
Gripping Shinso, he tensed as he observed the scene. He wanted to take over, but his abilities had been severely undermined. Even if he used his zanpakuto like a regular sword, he couldn't fight with it with his usual ability. He went over to Rukia at least, watching Ichigo do her best to face the Hollow on her own (which was kind of scary and amazing).
"Ichimaru-taicho," Rukia coughed out blood. Gin hid his wince.
"That wasn't very smart of you, Rukia-san." He kept up his usual grin, even though it was obvious he sounded admonishing.
"We can't beat it," Rukia grimaced. "I'm injured and you have restrictions."
Gin frowned. "What are you getting at?"
Rukia glanced at Ichigo. "She could," she murmured.
He hesitated, understanding quickly. He looked over at the bloodied, but still fighting (how?) Ichigo.
"I'll do it, Ichimaru-taicho," she volunteered herself and he picked her up. He was curious, alongside his irritability at being reduced to such a weak liability. How powerful could this girl go, with the ability of a Shinigami? And with her already massive reiatsu pouring out of her seemed to hint that her reiryoku was probably off the charts.
Reaching Ichigo, Gin carefully set Rukia down. "Go on, Rukia-san! It'll be our little secret~"
"What're you talking about?" Ichigo scowled at them, though she kept a wary eye on the Hollow.
"Do you want to protect your family?" Rukia asked demandingly.
Ichigo growled, "Of course! What kind of question is that?"
"What Rukia's saying is, to get that kind of power you must become a Soul Reaper," Gin said cheerfully.
Ichigo gave him an odd look, but she nodded decisively after. "Alright, what do I have to do?"
Rukia held out her zanpakuto. "You must stab yourself with my zanpakuto, straight to the core of your soul! When tht happens, you will gain some of my Soul Reaper powers and become a Soul Reaper yourself."
Gin had to give it to the Kuchiki family. They sure knew how to be dramatic.
Ichigo raised her eyebrows, but shook her head.
"Alright, Soul Reaper. Let's do this."
Rukia faltered, so Gin helped her up and held out her arm, helping her with her zanpakuto.
"What did I tell you, Ichi?" Gin grinned, though Ichigo cutely looked scandalized. "She's Rukia and I'm Gin. Now here we go!"
Ichigo grasped onto his and Rukia's hands, and pulled the zanpakuto as they thrust it out. There was a blinding white light.
When it cleared, Gin could feel the human girl's massive spirit energy spilling out even more and then saw her in Shinigami clothes. But her zanpakuto…
It was deep black with an edge of silver, and as long and as big as her. It was huge, which was somewhat of a gauge indicative of her power, and even more amazing, it seemed to already be in its released state.
Despite its size, Ichigo seemed to wield it easily.
"Now you're gonna regret this, Hollow. Let's get him, Zangetsu!"
She already knew her zanpakuto's name.
Started – Completed (Same)
Typed/Edited 10/1/16 – 10/2/16
A/n: Ahhh. I felt the need to update stuff, so I'm updating! Fun times ahead~ (I do hope that this was different enough from the original though) I hope you guys enjoyed and please remember to review!
Anon Reviews:
1. Guest 1: I'm glad you like the story! As for Starrk, I'm really tempted, so maybe…
2. Guest 2: Er, thanks I guess? Not sure what you mean by 'Deeply silly…'
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