7Not sure if someone else has already done something like this but I've had this idea in my head for a very, very long time and so having managed to write a majority of Sealkeeper 147-A earlier and still kind of being in a writing mood I figured I could tackle it. It helps that the idea wasn't very long so I knew I would be able to finish it without much trouble.
I could certainly expand it at some point- and sometimes my muse has continued after it while bored at work- but for now it will remain a oneshot showing a different outcome for episode one.
I hope you enjoy.
"Gimme that sword, Shinigami"
The steel blade dropped from the sky to point at his chest.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Kurosaki Ichigo took a step back from the Shinigami. "What's the big idea?"
"I have to...Stab it through your heart…" Coughed the Shinigami. The Human blinked down at her.
"Stab me through the heart? Just gimme the damn sword." Reaching out with his left hand he pinched the blade of the sword to make sure it wouldn't be aimed at him again and, stepping forward, he bent down to pluck it from her grip. Injured as she was, she could hardly offer any resistance.
"Do- do you even know how to use a sword?"
"Specifically? No." He returned with a shrug, turning to face the bleeding Hollow. "Generally? Sharp part towards the target."
She stared up at him. He was going to get them both killed, wasn't he?
"Alright, Fish-Face, let's go." As he had already mentioned, Ichigo didn't know how to use a sword. Not really. Fortunately for him his opponent didn't have a sword and wasn't particularly intelligent either. Charging in he managed to duck under a swing of the Hollow's large arm, nearly tripping as the road shattered beneath him, and springing up he brought Rukia's blade up in a diagonal slash.
The Hollow didn't appreciate that any.
It staggered back with a cry, dark blood gushing down its legs and seeping into the cracked asphalt. He didn't let it suffer long.
Turning the sword downwards and continuing forward Ichigo managed to bring it down on the Hollow's mask as it reeled from his first attack with an actual weapon. With a final shriek it dissolved, black flecks vanishing into the air.
A negative soul purified by a Shinigami's Zanpakutou.
"See?" He asked, turning back to her with a cocky grin. "Sharp part towards target."
In hindsight she could admit trying to give a human Shinigami powers probably hadn't been the most well thought out first option and she couldn't deny that this had worked out.
More or less.
She gave him a weak smile in return. "Yeah, sharp part towards the target." Rukia agreed.
The highschooler frowned, obvious concern coloring his face as he took in her appearance. "Hey, you gonna be okay Shinigami?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be fine." Her bleeding had stopped already, a benefit of being dead. Everything still hurt though and it would probably be a few days before she could manage to use her Zanpakuto again. "I could use a place to rest, though. I don't suppose I could crash here could I?"
"What? Yeah, sure. You took a bite for me and helped me save my family. You can crash on the couch as long as you need." Ichigo paused, turning to look at the massive hole in his family's home. "...Guess I should find a tarp or something in the meantime unless you got one of those fancy Kido things that repairs walls."
"No," She smiled. "Nothing permanent anyway."
"Tarp it is. Hang tight, I'll be back as soon as I get them back inside. Oh." He raised the sword he still held slightly. "You want me to leave this with you?"
"No, I think it will do more good with you for now. Keep it close."
He shrugged again. "If you're sure." He must have been imagining it but he could have sworn the Tsuka grew warm as if pleased by that. He was probably just tired from the strange events of the night. "Say, I never did get your name."
"Rukia. Kuchiki Rukia."
"Kurosaki Ichigo, pleased to meetcha." His grin was quickly replaced by a groan. "Aw, damnit."
"What's wrong?"
"Do you have any idea how late it is? I've got school tomorrow and I was still in the middle of my homework when you came in my window." His shoulders sagged in defeat. "It's going to be a long night."
Comparing his mundane troubles of education to the near death encounter with the Hollow made it seem so meaningless to Rukia and she couldn't hold back the pained giggle that escaped her. How could he fearlessly face a soul-eating monster but dread something like schoolwork?
"Hey, it's not funny!" Do you have any idea how hard I've worked to stay near the top of my year?!" He jabbed a thumb at his chest. "I'm number twenty-three in my year, you know. I'm not exactly the smartest so that hasn't been easy."
"Sorry, sorry." Her soft smile was faint but still easily seen. "A single night of homework just seems so inconsequential when you were just fighting for all of our lives."
He thought about it for a second before he found himself grinning back. "Heh, I guess it does. You're alright, Shinigami."
"I told you, it's Rukia."
Ichigo shrugged. "Shinigami sounds cooler."
She didn't want to smile at something so stupid but she just couldn't help it. "Yeah, I guess it does."
Rukia still had a lot of questions from the night but there was one thing she knew absolutely-
This was going to make for one hell of a report. Her captain was sure to enjoy it.
Until I next have your attention, I remain,
-Eyazahrid