The Awakening [Book 2] (Bleach: Ichiruki)

Prologue

A crimson light illuminated the Karakura Town skyline as the sun slowly made its way above the world. It was not even seven in the morning yet, and a frustrated and defeated 18 year old with spiky bleached hair sprinted down the remaining streets he had left to get back to his house. He had broken out into a routine of running every single morning before sunrise for the past few months, to get his mind off of the pain and emptiness that was always poisoning his mind.

Five months and thirteen days. He had been keeping track since the last time he saw her. It had felt so long ago, and not even a word from Urahara yet.

Ichigo was surprised that his dad was being very father like and extra sensitive and nice to his feelings. It had something to do with how Rukia was like another daughter to him, and how he knew, before even Ichigo knew himself, how his son felt about her.

And he also understood his situation. Being in love with someone you are forbidden to be with. It was rough.

Ichigo panted as he stopped to take a quick break by the river, the spot where his mother died, and where he held a fond memory with Rukia.

It was then, the first time, that he ever noticed how beautiful she was; the way the wind whipped at her hair as she faced the wind, a calm and collected expression on her face.

He missed her. It wasn't that kind of feeling that will eventually grow weaker over time, but will never disappear. It was that kind in which the longer the two are separated, the stronger their bond is.

But Ichigo felt empty. He hadn't felt that connection in months.

The only reason he knew she was still alive was that small spark of connection they had when she first disappeared. It reappeared now and then, in which Ichigo would rush to Urahara's, and just as Urahara was finally about to track her reiatsu, it disappeared.

Just as Ichigo was about to take off again, he suddenly felt a familiar reiatsu appear behind him.

He turned his head, meeting the serious expression of Renji.

"Renji?" Ichigo asked, taken back.

Renji just arched his eyebrow.

"You look horrible." He said with a scowl.

Ichigo's eyebrow twitched as he tried to not scream out in anger and annoyance at him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was wondering why you haven't bothered to make contact with the Soul Society for the past few months."

"I lost my soul reaper powers. Why would I?" Ichigo frowned.

It was true. The only shinigami Ichigo had made contact with was Urahara.

And Urahara was the only shinigami who knew of what Ichigo was doing.

Ichigo was aftaid that-- no, he knew that the shinigami would be pissed if they found our Ichigo was training to become their enemy.

"Because of Rukia, you fool!" Renji snapped. The flame in his eyes turned to one of despair as the memory of his best friend flooded his mind. Renji sighed, bowing his head.

"Sorry. I just, I miss her." Renji said.

Ichigo sighed. I can't do this right now.

"I have to go."

"What?"

"I have things to do. Just go wait for me at Urahara's until I get there."

Ichigo turned on his heel, about to run off before Renji appeared in front of him.

"Move."

"Im sorry you have things to do -- actually, no I'm not -- but The Soul Queen wants to see you."

Ichigo's eyes widened.

And then his face turned into a scowl.

"No."

Renji rolled his eyes.

"Don't make me-"

"- why the hell would I go see her when she's the one who caused all of this in the first place?!" Ichigo snapped.

Renji frowned. "What?!"

"The thing that took Rukia."

"You told us you didn't get a good look at it." Renji said.

"I lied."

Renji was in front of Ichigo in a split second, gripping onto the collar of his shirt.

"You LIED?! Why the hell would you do that?!"

"Because she asked me to!" Ichigo snapped back, shoving Renji away.

Renji's eyes widened.

"What?!" 

•

"RUKIA!" Ichigo roared. Hisana and the hollow disappeared from their sight, leaving a swarming cloud of dust behind them.

Asami appeared in front of Ichigo, dissolving the barrier that was placed around him. Ichigo stood up, staring at the Soul Queen in anger.

"What the hell was that?!" Ichigo snapped at her.

"Ichigo-"

"-who just took Rukia?! How the hell do you know her?!"

Aizen appeared in front of Ichigo, glaring down at him. He flared his reiatsu as Ichigo crumpled to his knees.

"Speak to your Queen with respect."

"I'm not a shinigami anymore. She is not my queen!" Ichigo roared.

Asami placed her hand on Aizen's shoulder to keep him from killing Ichigo right there.

"Aizen. Leave us."

"No."

"At least just stay back."

Aizen sighed, kissing Asami's forehead before stepping behind her.

"Ichigo."

He didn't reply.

"That woman who took Rukia.. Let's
just say that I've upset her to the extreme by escaping my fate. This caused an imbalance in the fates, which built up until she transformed into a ticking time bomb of destruction. She can take the form of anyone and anything, so she took the form of Rukia's sister, Hisana."

"So this is all your fault." Ichigo said, his tone monotonous.

"Yes."

•

"All that time I was blaming myself for Rukia's death; for her suffering. But it was all Asami's fault. Because she is still alive, Rukia and I suffer."

Renji just stared at him in disbelief, trying to absorb in everything Ichigo just told him.

"The Soul Queen wouldn't-

"-She wouldn't. But Aizen would."