Hey, everyone! Let me introduce myself to you all! My name is Anomynous Nin! And I am here with an IchiHime story! Why IchiHime? Because I love the pairing, 'nuff said. Anyways, I've been working on another Bleach fic, which is... unappropriate for people who are under 18 and don't like that sort of thing. But after making a few chapters, I got messed up... Quite a lot. And my writing skills are pretty going downhill. So, to refresh myself, I'm making an IchiHime Adventure/Romance fic! And I hope the adventure is good later.

Anyways, here's the full summary of the story. It's about Ichigo who is mourning over Orihime's death, after the end of the war against Aizen. Later on, he was being told to go to the Soul Society to meet a Shinigami. They didn't say who it was. But when he meets that Shinigami, it was someone who he had long lost. Who? Well, since this is IchiHime, you guys already know who.

Well, that's enough with the introductions and all. Now, let's get going with the prologue of the fic! Yay! Enjoy!

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

Zanpakuto/Technique

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Prologue:

Sacrifice of the White Sun

Have you ever lived your life as a normal teenager? Who goes to school every weekdays and hangs out with friends to have good socialization? Yes, this is how a teenager lives his life. Just like everyone else, a teenager has to go through a set of trials that he's destined to have to obtain the goal that he has chosen himself. But to be honest, it is a pain in the ass to go through that kind of journey, when the work we had to do is long as hell. As you may know, this is almost all of the teenagers' worst nightmare, somewhat. They have to go through it all just to get a simple goal of their life. But they worked out that nightmare by spending quality time with each other, and their family, to obtain their happiness for them and to be sociable to everyone around the world. Not only is it important to obtain our goal, but it is also important to form a strong bond with each other. That's how teenagers roll in their life.

Out of all of them around the world, one orange-haired boy is living an advanced life. A life that is out of this world. A life that he was destined to have by fate. And that life... is being a Shinigami.

His name is Kurosaki Ichigo. A normal high school student who can see ghosts for some reason, and gets involved in a paranormal activity that is a Hollow attack. He was given the powers of a Shinigami by a young black-haired Shinigami who is known as Kuchiki Rukia. It was at that moment that his life had changed.

He went through a lot in his new life, a lot of battles that he must face, a lot of feelings that he must work out, and a lot of confidence that he must put into play. And each and every day that he must go through, his strength increases. And his strength and power began to surpass that of a Captain level of the Soul Society. Kurosaki Ichigo... is a Shinigami who is chosen to fight for his friends.

But now, he is currently at war against Sousuke Aizen, a traitorous Shinigami who had planned everything from the very start, everything including Ichigo's life. A cruel Shinigami who had the desire to destroy the Soul Society for a reason unknown. Ichigo had a grudge against him ever since, and he will do whatever it takes to take him down, even at the cost of his own life.

After he had defeated Ichimaru Gin, and his Bankai, Ichigo rejoined his father, Kurosaki Isshin, to fight Aizen and to defeat him once and for all. But Aizen proved to be a more formidable opponent than the father and son had thought. And even without his Bankai revealed, he was able to fend off the two, but with much effort than he had expect to conjure. And so, the fight continued to rage on, and in a final clash, the battle was to be decided now...

Inside of the completely destroyed fake Karakura Town, it was being covered by a large smoke, which was made by the ultimate clash made by the three warriors. And as the smoke began to clear, Ichigo, with his Bankai still active, was seen kneeing down on the crumbled ground in one knee, with his black sword, Tensa Zangetsu, being struck to the ground to support him from falling in. He was panting heavily, with bloodstains streaming down from his face, from his forehead and the two sides of his head. But the bleeding stopped after quite a while.

He was looking around the battleground to see if he could find two people. Aizen and his father. As the smoke was clearing more and more, the Substitute Shinigami noticed a familiar black hair. Looking at it closer, he could see his father, Isshin, kneeing on the ground in the same way as Ichigo, but in addition to holding himself steady with his sword on the ground, he was holding his side with his left hand, as it seemed to be bleeding out blood. "Dad!" Ichigo shouted, as he stood up from the ground with some difficulty.

He then ran up to his fallen father and got back down on his knee to check up on him. Isshin was groaning in pain, but he was able to turn his head to his son. He smiled in relief, as he could see that Ichigo was still alright, somehow. "Ichigo...! Still as good as new...!" he said, before he let out another painful groan, as the pain coming from his wound to the side was growing again.

"Dad! Hold on, let me help you!" Ichigo was about to help his father, but Isshin shook his head to him.

"Don't worry about me...! A wound such as this isn't enough to take me down...!"

"Dad..." Ichigo was still concern for his father's condition. He wasn't sure if he would leave him be with the wound he had. However, his concern was cut short, as his eyes suspected something coming from his right.

As he quickly turned his head towards it, he could see a shadow figure hiding within the smoke. Ichigo remembered that figure. And he had no doubt that it was him. "Aizen...!"

As the smoke cleared itself more, it revealed the demonic Aizen hiding within it, completely topless and receiving a few wounds from the powerful clash that he and the father and son made. What he was holding in his right hand was his Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, which seemed to be damaged, as it bared few small cracks around the blade. On his face, he bared a slight shocked expression. And it was because the Hougyoku that he was wearing on his body was gone. "... This isn't... how I planned..." he said.

Seeing how much of a disadvantage Aizen was, Ichigo let out a small smirk of satisfaction. "Aizen... It's over, you bastard...!" he said, as he stood up from the ground once more.

"This isn't... possible... How is it that you have enough Reiatsu and power to be able to destroy the Hougyoku? You having this much power isn't what I had expected..."

"Heh... With the Hougyoku gone, you won't be able to heal yourself from the wounds that you'll be having soon...! It's over, Aizen! And this is the end of this WAR!!!" At that moment, Ichigo began to run at Aizen, moving his Zanpakuto back to prepare himself for one, last attack to impale his enemy once and for all.

Aizen knew that he won't be able to dodge it, as most of his Reiatsu was depleted. And he had unsuffisant Reiatsu to execute Shunpo. He was at the mercy of Ichigo's attack. "You... are really interesting, Kurosaki Ichigo... You have exceeded my expectations... You have surpassed how I planned for everything..." he said, as a small smile appeared on his face. As Ichigo was getting closer, and the tip of his blade was also getting closer to Aizen's body, the traitorous Shinigami spoke out one last thing.

"... It is fortunate for me that I have planned this as my last resort."

Just as Ichigo was getting closer, he suddenly stopped, as his eyes were identifying something that made him stare at it in shock, with his eyes widened of the same feeling. His sword was an inch away from the skin. But it wasn't Aizen's chest that it was pointing at. It was someone's neck. Someone who is extremely familiar to the Substitute Shinigami.

"I... Inoue...?!"

Inoue Orihime, the auburn-haired girl who Ichigo was planning to save from the clutches of Aizen and his minions, suddenly appeared between him and Aizen, who was holding her from the back. She looked at the blade in terror, as she realized how close it was at her throat. "K... Kuro...saki-kun...!"

"... Surprised, Kurosaki Ichigo?" asked Aizen, who had a large smile on his face. "Surprised to see Inoue Orihime in front of you? With your blade so close to impale her throat?"

Ichigo was completely shocked to see her there. But how? How could she be there, in the fake Karakura Town? Wasn't she supposed to be back in Hueco Mundo, where she was healing Uryuu? "How... How did you...?!" Ichigo spoke out, still shocked to know that she was there. But when he turned his eyes right to the corner, he noticed that there was someone else there, who was lying on the ground, bleeding somewhat.

It looked like an Arrancar. An young, female Arrancar with long, black hair with pigtail on each side, and a mask fragment that covered her left eye. As she was lying there, she had a large slash mark that seemed to run through her body, identifying her as being killed by someone.

"... Loly has proven herself useful to me once more." Aizen said. "She was able to bring Inoue here from Hueco Mundo, just as she desired. It was thanks to her that I was able to come up with a plan in the last minute. But now, she is useless to me, as I have everything I need to end this war."

"But... But how...?!"

"Kurosaki Ichigo... Are you aware of the fact that my Zanpakuto's ability did not affect you in anyway?" he asked. Ichigo didn't reply, but he knew what Aizen was talking about. He was the only one who couldn't see Aizen's Shikai, which was an advantage to him because he could see through the illusions just fine. But when Aizen asked him about that, Ichigo was shocked to know about one thing.

"Wait... You're telling me that...?!"

"... That you've been under the influence of my Kyoka Suigetsu's ability? Yes." Aizen had finished Ichigo's sentence, while ending it with his response. "If you're going to ask me how you've been under the illusion, then it is simple. The cause of your immunity of the illusion was because of the large amount of Reiatsu that you possessed. And it was impossible for my Zanpakuto to get you under its illusion. But during the middle of our battle, your Reiatsu seemed to grow lower for a short period of time. And it was at that moment that I have found Loly with Inoue Orihime, and cast an illusion that made you and your father see that you're still fighting against me. And when your Reiatsu was brought back to normal, I returned to battle to resume our battle."

"But... How is it...?!"

"You were too focused fighting against me, that you paid no attention to everything else around you. Including her." replied Aizen. "And I used that to my advantage until you exceeded my expectations. And since that your Reiatsu was almost depleted, I used my Zanpakuto's ability again to seize you into my last plan. And here we are, trapped in another plan, with you being so close to kill her."

Hearing what Aizen said about everything, Ichigo was more than shocked. He was in a state of shock that his determination had decreased, because everything that he went through, everything that he worked so hard to get through, was leading to nothing. Or maybe, it was almost leading him to the death of his friend, who was found in the hold of the enemy. Orihime looked at Ichigo with her eyes filled with terror, the same terror that she had when she found his blade being closer to her throat. She was also letting out breaths of fear, as she was scared that the tip of his blade might cleave off her throat. "Kurosaki...-kun...!"

Seeing Orihime like that, shaking in fear, Ichigo was immobilized, unable to do anything, as he began to shake his sword a little, unable to make it stop, in fear that he'll cut Orihime with it. He looked at Aizen behind her, with the same shocked eyes, but with a hint of hatred into it. "Let go of her... you monster...!"

"That, I cannot do." Aizen said, his sinister smile never fading from his face. "You have to choose, Kurosaki Ichigo. There are two choices that you must either make. And each of them will lead to a different aftermath. If you desire to kill me, then you must first extinguish the White Sun that gives out life to everything. But if you desire for her survival, then you must let the Black Moon be shattered apart by the blade of resolution. Either way, you will suffer the consenquences."

Either choice was difficult for him to choose. He didn't want to kill Orihime, but he wanted to kill Aizen for everything he has done. If he kills Aizen, then he must go and kill Orihime as well. And he would never forgive himself for that. But if he wanted her to live, then he must surrender his life. But that would also mean that Aizen will obtain victory, and everything will be lost. He wanted to get out of these choices by moving away from him, but his body couldn't respond. His feet felt like they've been glued tight to the ground.

A little far away from the three, Isshin was still kneeing on the ground, holding on his wound, watching the scene in front of him. He knew that his son was at a disadvantage, and he wanted to go and help him out. "Ichigo..!!" he yelled out, as he attempted to stand up, but groaned out of pain as soon as he did that. He descended back to the ground, unable to withstand the pain coming from his wound.

"So... What will it be, Kurosaki Ichigo?" asked Aizen once more. "Will you extinguish the White Sun to get through the demon behind it? Or will you surrender yourself, the Black Moon, to the mercy of its destruction?" He was waiting for the Subsitute Shinigami to choose which path that he would choose. But still, Ichigo was still undecisive and shake up to do anything about it. The choices were still hard to choose. And looking at Orihime now, she looked like that she would jump out of her body with the amount of fear and terror that she had in her. Ichigo was still too afraid to make a choice.

As Aizen still didn't receive any answer from him, but seeing as Ichigo couldn't do anything to impale him through Orihime, he closed his eyes, with his smile still on his face. "... It seems that you want... to die." he said, as he let go of his Zanpakuto, as it fell to the ground. He then moved his right hand up at Ichigo, as it was beginning to gather up energy from within. Ichigo turned his eyes to see the upcoming attack that Aizen was about to shoot out, but his body still couldn't move from its spot. "Very well. If you value your dear friend's life, then I will end your misery here."

Orihime quietly gasped, as she could feel that Aizen was going to attack and kill Ichigo. And looking at the Substitute Shinigami, he was still frozen in fear. And he continued to look at her in fear that he would kill her. But as she saw something deep into his eyes, she could tell that he wouldn't do it. And that he had already chosen his path. "Kurosaki-kun...!"

"Ichigo! Get out of here!!" Isshin shouted out, trying to snap his son out of his paralyzing state.

Ichigo couldn't move, even if he wanted to. His body couldn't comply to his wish. And he was stuck there, paralyzed in fear. But not in fear of being killed, but in fear of being so close to kill a friend. He had two choices to choose from. But he had already chosen one of them. He desired for Orihime to continue to live on, by sacrificing his life for hers. Even if it means being killed at the hands of an enemy, knowing that his friend will live would make him glad. "If you kill me... Will you let Inoue live...?"

"Of course." Aizen replied. "It would be a shame for me to kill you both, when the two of you are the essence of my plans. But only one of you will be useful to me."

Knowing that Orihime will definitely lived, Ichigo closed his eyes, stopping himself from shaking his sword, as peace has overtake him in place of fear. "Then I have no regrets... Kill me..."

Orihime gasped once more, as she was shocked to know that Ichigo had accepted his death for her sake. And knowing that he would do it made her sad. She didn't want Ichigo to die. She wanted him to live. And because of her, he had decided to die, just like that, just for her to live on. But she didn't desire for his death. She wanted him to live so that he would go through a normal life again, after the war. She couldn't let him do that.

Aizen continued to smile, as he now knew that Ichigo would surrender his life for the sake of his friend. "Very well. I shall grant your wish." he said, as his right hand was about to shoot out a Kido spell to put out Ichigo's misery. "Farewell... Kurosaki Ichigo."

Ichigo had no regrets, as he continued to close his eyes, waiting for his death to come. Would he come back as a Hollow, as a monster who couldn't be at peace after its death as a human being? No. He had no regrets, and having to know that his friends would be safe, he was grateful of that. Even if death takes him away, he would be at peace for as long as he lived.

However, through his closed eyes, he felt a pair of hands placing on his right hand, where he was holding his sword. Those hands... Who were they from? He opened his eyes to see the person who was holding his hand, and was caught by surprised to see that they were Orihime's. Looking up to her, he could see her smiling at him. But that smile... was filled with sadness. "Inoue...?"

Aizen raised his eyebrow, when he saw her holding Ichigo's hand, gripping on the sword. "What?"

"... Kurosaki-kun..." Orihime slowly said. "I'm... I'm really sorry about everything... It's because of me that everything ended up this way... It's my fault that everything started the way it is now..."

"Inoue, what are you..."

"If I wasn't born at all... None of this would have happened... And you wouldn't be put into situations like that... I'm really grateful that you did everything to rescue me... I really am... But now..." Orihime trailed off, as tears were beginning to form in her eyes, and one by one, a drop of it fell from them and went down on her face. She slowly tightened her hold of his hand, having one thought in mind to end it all.

"Inoue...?"

"Kurosaki-kun..." Orihime gave the Substitute Shinigami one last smile of sadness, and gave him two last words. "... Live on..." With that, she pulled Ichigo's arm towards her, moving his blade once again.

And the scene in front of both Ichigo and Aizen... made them froze up in shock. Aizen felt a sharp pain coming from his chest, but that pain slowly went away, as he was starting to feel nothing. Looking down at him, he saw something that he didn't expect from Orihime.

Ichigo was also shocked, as he witnessed Orihime executing something that completely shocked him. Drops of blood were falling down to the ground, as it came from Orihime's lips. "No... Inoue...?!"

Orihime impaled herself with Ichigo's Zanpakuto, as it went through her throat and then impaled Aizen next, through the area where his heart was.

"Im... Impossible...!" Aizen choked out. "... The White Sun... has decided to extinguish itself...?! How is it... possible...!?" Before he knew, he felt a presence coming from behind. A chilling presence that he couldn't even expect it to be here. Turning his head to the back, he saw a large purple gate, with two skeletons on the side of the gate separately, with their heads being bandaged up and having a torso on each door. They were gripping onto the gateway with their individual arm, attempting to open it up.

Isshin watched as the large gate suddenly appeared behind Aizen, as he was shocked to know what it was. "That's... the gates of hell...?!"

"... The gates of hell..." Aizen spoke out. "It only appears if the Hollows who committed terrible sins during their life as a human being is slain... Only those with great sins will be given entrance to Hell... But... Does this mean that I have also committed a great sin... As a Shinigami...?!"

The two skeletons' arms slowly opened the gate, opening it slowly. However, they stopped opening it, as a small doorway was made. Inside of the gate, there was two thick ropes with charms attached to them. And also, there existed a fearsome creature in the other side of the gate. Laughing devilishly, the creature reached his right arm out of the gate, as it thrust its swords at Aizen. As the sword quickly impaled Aizen from the back, it slowly began to pull its sword back in, pulling him along. Aizen was being slipped off from Ichigo's sword, at he was being pulled into the gate.

"No...! This isn't... what I had planned...!" Aizen choked out, before he was being pulled into the gate completely, as it slowly closed itself, blocking the path through Hell. As the gate was fully closed, it quickly disintegrated into nothing, vanishing from the world.

Ichigo was shocked, after seeing Aizen being pulled into the gate. He didn't know that that gate was also capable of pulling Shinigamis such as him into Hell. But his thoughts were cut short, as he saw a body being limped down on his blade. He looked back at Orihime, who still had his Zanpakuto through her throat. "I... Inoue!!" he yelled out, as he quickly pulled his sword out from her throat and quickly caught her from falling down, as he descended down on the ground with her in his arms. "Hey...! Inoue...! Please, speak to me! Inoue!" He began to call out to her, as he shook her lightly, attempting to wake her up.

Seeing Orihime as she was now, with her eyes closed and blood leaking out from her lips, as well as dry tears, Ichigo feared that Orihime is... No, he couldn't think that! Orihime couldn't be dead! She just couldn't be! "Inoue! Please! Wake up, Inoue! I said wake up!" No response. He still couldn't receive any answer from her. But he kept trying, trying so hard to wake her up.

But he knew that he couldn't. Because Orihime is...

A small drop of tears fell on Orihime's face, as Ichigo was letting out tears from his eyes. He had witnessed that his friend, Inoue Orihime, the one person who had gone through with him for his life as a Shinigami, the one who gave him courage to keep on going, and the one who made him feel special... is dead in his arms. Sadness began to flow through him, as well as regret, as he leaned himself down on her, quietly sobbing out on the corpse of his dear friend.

Back from afar, Isshin had also witnessed the scene in front of him. He slowly stood up from the ground, holding onto his wound, as he could only feel sorry for his son and his loss of a friend. "... Ichigo..."

How long has it been since he cried like that? How long has it been since he lost someone close to him? Ever since his mother died. And now, he had witnessed the same thing with his friend. And losing Orihime, the person who made him feel special... was something that he couldn't cope out.

The greatest sadness that he had before... has returned to him.

"INOUE!!!!!!!!"

End of prologue

Well, that's it with the prologue now. And... I think something is wrong with what I wrote there. Yeah, I guess I lost my writing touch and things like that... Oh well. I'm still getting to it. But that doesn't mean that I'll suck soon... I hope that I don't suck at it later.

Well, I hope you guys like it. But if it's not, then I apologize. I was being a little rush and I got school coming soon. As I tried my best to finish it up as soon as possible before anything bad happens. But... What's my problem? Why can't I just wait to finish it until I get back from school? I dunno, maybe I was being a total dumbass to myself. Well... I gotta stop writing so fast and rough. Or else, who knows what might happen.

Anyways, Ja Ne! And review, Kudasai!