Fate is cruel, yet, we are all propelled forward by it…..

Hollow Ichigo-Ichigo: Hey, Uryu!

Uryu: What do you want?

Hollow Ichigo-Ichigo: Do the disclaimer!!!!!

Uryu: Why?

Hollow Ichigo-Ichigo: Because you won't pop up till the next chapter!

Uryu: That's hardly a reason to-*gets glared at* Fine! Hollow Ichigo-Ichigo doesn't own Bleach, that honor is Tite Kubo's. She DOES own her OC's, Sakura and Kyomi Kurai. Not to mention their zanpakuto's. Happy?

Hollow Ichigo-Ichigo: Yes, thank you! Well, this is my first fanfic, so please be nice to it!

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Chapter 1: Two Fates Collide

"Damn, why does this always happen to me?" Sakura mumbled under her breath. "I'm NEVER shopping at night again" She raced down a dark alley street, being followed by two large monsters, Hollows, that feed on fallen souls. Gotta get somewhere away from people! She thought. Sakura ran until she found a dark corner. "All right, hollow scum!" She yelled, turning to the monsters. She threw her backpack on the ground, and pulled out a samurai sword. She took the hilt, and placed it in the area above her heart. She pressed gently, and her clothes turned into a pitch black kimono. "Come and get some!" The first hollow, which looked like a cat, lunged towards Sakura. She easily jumped over it, pushed off its head, and sliced the other one crossed it's mask covered face. It gave a shriek, and then vanished. She got up and brushed her pale blonde hair out of her eyes. "You next?" She asked with a smile. The other hollow got up and let out a loud roar. Shortly after, four other hollows joined in. "Shit. You guys are smarter than you looked." She cursed. Three of the hollows lunged in on her at once. She held her zanpakuto up to defend herself, when a hollow suddenly vanished. She felt a sudden increase in spiritual pressure. Another Soul Reaper? She thought with curiosity. Where the hollow had stood, a Soul Reaper with a large, black zanpakuto and orange hair stood in its place. He had a smug smile on his face. "Five against one isn't that fair, now is it?" he said. "Who the hell are you?!" Sakura snapped. He flinched at her harsh tone. "My name's Ichigo Kurosaki. What's yours?" He asked. She looked behind him, just in time to see a hollow appear behind him. "Look Out!" She yelled. With no time to spare, she leaped into the air, pushed off of Ichigo's head, and sliced its face. Ichigo's face landed in a puddle. "What the hell was that for?!" He yelled. "You're a moron!" Sakura snapped. "Oh yeah?" He retorted, "If I'M the moron, how come I wasn't cornered in a dark alley?" "Behind you, moron!" Ichigo spun around and sliced the third hollow. "Your point?! I was leading the hollows away from people! Or are so stupid that you couldn't tell that?" Sakura yelled and killed the fourth hollow. The fifth hollow, which looked like a fish with the body of a boar, gave out a roar. "STAY OUTTA THIS!!!!!!" Both the Soul Reapers yelled, and killed it at the same time. "I don't care who you are. I'm used to working alone." Sakura explained "Besides, all Soul Reapers are the same: Too willing to throw out those who are different or….complicated." "Now wait a minuet" Ichigo turned to counter what she said, but Sakura was already gone.

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Who the hell was she? Ichigo thought while he walked into the high school. "Good Morning Ichi-" Keigo started, but he ran into Ichigo's open fist. "Mornin, Keigo." He replied. I mean, I've never seen her before, he continued thinking, and I don't think she's from the Soul Society, simply by the way she put Soul Reapers down. As he sat down, Orihime ran up to him, all excited. "Good morning, Ichigo!" She said, all excited. "Good morning." Ichigo replied. "We're getting a new student today!" Ichigo turned to look at her. "So that's why you're all excited." He replied. Orihime did a little twirl. "Yup!" she then put on a thoughtful face. "I wonder if she'll want to hang out with me?" she thought out loud. "I don't know. You'll have to-"Ichigo started to say, but then stopped. "Wait, did you say 'she', Orihime?" he asked. "Yeah! It's been awhile!" She exclaimed, and then put on a worried look. "Why? Is that not good, Ichigo?" She asked. Before he could answer, the teacher called for the kids to have a seat. "Class, today, we have a new student." Miss Ochi announced, and then motioned towards the door. "You can come in now." All the students turned to see the new girl. She was tall with very pale skin. Her hair was a pale blonde, with a dark blue bow holding it in a ponytail. Her eyes were the same color of the bow, a dark blue, which looked like the color of the darkest ocean. "Hello! My name is Sakura Kurai. It's nice to meet you all!" She said with a smile. Ichigo was the only one who was staring. It's that Soul Reaper from the night before! He thought, almost unable to hide his shock. Miss Ochi pointed towards the back, near Ichigo. "There's an empty seat next to Mr. Kurosaki back there. You can sit there." She told Sakura. "Thank you, Miss Ochi!." Sakura nodded, and ran back to her new seat. As the teacher started class, Ichigo turned to look at Sakura. She gave him a cold stare. It's going to be a long day…. He thought and shivered.

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Ichigo walked over to Sakura during lunch on the roof. Keigo had complained about him doing it. "I wouldn't do it. She's scary, Ichigo." He admitted. Ichigo gave him a stare. "How?" he asked. "Well, her skin is WAY too pale, like she's a vampire. Not to mention her eyes. They look like they could cut your soul in half. I just don't like her, Ichigo." Ichigo turned to see Sakura sitting by herself near the ledge. "Your point is?" Ichigo asked, giving Keigo a sideways glance. Keigo backed up a little. "W-well she's just…..I dunno." He sighed. Mizurio turned to Keigo. "You're just paranoid." He said with a smile. He then turned towards Ichigo. "If you're so worried about her, go talk to her then." And that's why I'm about to try to do. He thought. If she doesn't try to eat my head off…. "Hey." Ichigo said, feeling stupid for starting off a conversation like that. Sakura continued to stare at the town. "What do you want?" she asked, hoping he'd go away. Ichigo wasn't going to give up that easily. "To know why you ditched me yesterday night." He replied. Sakura sighed as he sat down. "My sister is very sick. I was coming home from the grocery store when I was attacked. I didn't have time for a damn Q and A." she replied. Ichigo turned to look at her. "Oh. Well….ok then." He said. Sakura gave him a sideways glance. "You're not pissed at me?" she asked. Ichigo started eating his lunch. "Not if you had a good reason for ditching me like that without telling me who you are." He replied simply. They sat in silence for awhile before Ichigo broke it with a sudden question. "What squad are you in?" he asked out of curiosity. When Sakura gave him a quick glance, Ichigo felt he it a bad nerve. "I-I mean you don't have to tell me...if you are or not…..what I meant was." "I'm not in one." Ichigo fully turned around to look at her. She was still staring out at the town, but she turned her glance towards him. "I'm 15 years old. Still living and breathing. What about you, Ichigo?" she asked. Ichigo smiled. "Same here." Sakura finally turned fully towards him. "Really?! You're a living Soul Reaper?" she asked, sounding surprised. Ichigo looked equally surprised, but at her reaction. "Yeah. Here, I've got some proof." He said, and pulled out his Substitute Soul Reaper Badge. She took the badge and felt the skull pattern underneath her fingers. "This is defiantly a Sub. Soul Reaper Badge." She whispered to herself. She then looked up at Ichigo. "You've been to the Soul Society before?" she asked. Ichigo nodded as he took the badge back. "Yeah, only it wasn't on good terms at first." He admitted. Sakura let out a small laugh. "I can only imagine." She replied. "Especially with the way you fight." Ichigo turned away, his face red. "What's wrong with the way I fight?" he asked, embarrassed. Sakura just laughed. "Nothing" she finally replied. As the bell rang, Sakura gave the town one last look. "It still hasn't changed, has it?" she said to herself. Ichigo gave her a puzzled look. "What?" Sakura shook her head. "It's nothing. Come on, or we're gonna be late." She said, and ran towards the door. When Sakura was a good distance away, she shivered. His spiritual pressure….it has something ominous within, she thought, I know only one thing that feels like that…. Ichigo ran up next to her, only to get an awkward stare. "There's a hollow in your soul." She whispered to him. As she walked briskly away, she left behind a baffled Ichigo.

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As Ichigo walked home, he couldn't wrap his head around it. "How did she know that?" he wondered out loud. "I mean, I never told anyone, and Rukia only figured it out when someone told her." As he walked down the road, a familiar voice called to him. "Ichigo!" Speak of the devil… he thought with a smile as he turned to see Rukia. "Hey, Rukia. Long time no see." He said with a smile. Rukia ran in front of him. "No kidding. There's been a sudden rise in hollow activity here, lately. Do you know why?" she asked. Ichigo thought for a moment. "Well…..there's a new Soul Reaper in town. Her name is Sakura Kurai. Do you know anything?" Rukia crossed her arms. "Kurai….I've only heard of that name in text-books back in the Soul Society. The family is supposedly all gone now." She said. "Well, there are at least two still alive. Sakura and her sister." Rukia put on a thoughtful look. "The family was banished a long time ago, 320 years ago, to be more precise. It surprises me that there are two still alive. There were rumors sure, but-""Wait! They were banished?!" Ichigo interrupted. Rukia nodded. "Well… banished isn't the word I should use. They left of their own accord, but they were deemed dangerous, so they were given a banishment sentence." Rukia explained. Ichigo nodded, but then looked worried. "Dangerous how?" he asked. Rukia gave him a semi-dark look. "Let's hope we don't find out." She replied. Ichigo shuddered. Rukia smiled. "Maybe Sakura will tell you." Ichigo shrugged. "I doubt it. She doesn't like me that much." "Ask her the next time you see her." Ichigo turned to see the sun setting. That'll probably be sooner than you think…"

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Kyomi Kurai let out another loud cough. Damn flu! She cursed. She had never had the best of health. She had long, raven black hair and dark green eyes, a total opposite of her twin sister, Sakura. She also wore a small necklace, a crescent moon with the kanji for moon on it. It was her hobby, collecting things associated with the moon, and the necklace was a gift from her sister while they were living in the states. She heard the door open and shut. "I'm home! How are you feeling, Kyomi?" Sakura asked. "I feel like shit. Does that answer your question?" she asked before she let out another cough. Sakura ran into the bathroom and pulled out the flu medicine. "Here. Take this before you cough up a lung." Sakura said. Kyomi instantly took the medicine, and gavr a discusted look. "Nasty shit." she sputtered. Sakura went to fix a bowl of cereal for Kyomi. "I saw that Soul Reaper again today." she told Kyomi from the kitchen. Kyomi raised an eye. "Ichigo Kurosaki?" she asked. Sakura nodded as she walked in the room,with tray in hand. "Yeah. He 's human, just like we are." Sakura replied. Kyomi looked puzzled. "Like us? I thought you said we were......unique." Kyomi said slowly. Sakura nodded, then whispered something in her sister's ear. Kyomi looked shocked. "No way!" Sakura laughed. "It's true. He's kinda in the same boat." Kyomi's face got serious. "You plan on telling him." It wasn't a question. Sakura's face also grew serious. "Yes. I feel we can trust him." Sakura gave Kyomi a half-smile. "Call it instinct." Kyomi laughed, but there wasn't a trace of humor in her voice. "I do. Besides, we can't hide it forever." Kyomi let out another cough. You're crazy, Sakura! she thought. Sakura merely nodded. "Maybe so." Kyomi just shook her head. "I don't have a problem with that, but...." she trailed in her sentence. Sakura gave her a hug. "Just don't kill him." Kyomi finished. Sakura hugged her tighter. "Don't worry, Kyomi. I won't lose control." She whispered.

Chapter 1 end. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Something 2 make you review. Sakura:YAY! Chapter 1 is done! Ichigo: You were a little too serious in this. *kicks Ichigo in the shin* Ichigo:Ow! What the hell? Sakura:I was getting to that!*bows* Sorry! I promise thing's will lighten up a little! Ichigo:If you don't kill everyone outta boredom. *kicks Ichigo again* Ichigo:Will you freakin stop! *starts to fight* Kyomi:See y'all in the next chapter! Sakura and Ichigo:What?It's over?!