A Thousand Miles from Home

Chapter One: Now I'm Alone, and Walking Away.

Two men walked down a dark hallway, on their way to a control room on the other side of the hall. One was wearing a green and white bucket hat, and dark green haori. The other was wearing a white haori, and had waist length white hair.

"Have you found anymore information on his whereabouts Urahara-san?" The one with white hair asked.

"Nothing yet." The man named Urahara replied. "At least, I haven't found anything soild yet."

"What do you mean?" The white haired man asked.

Taking a breath, Urahara continued. "Ukitake-san, do you remember the combat pass you gave him, about two years ago?"

Ukitake looked toward Urahara, a look of curiosity on his face. "Yes, what about it."

"I'll explain later, but I should tell you now that this is only a theory, using the information Isshin told me, I thought up a way to find his location, but I haven't found any proof yet. I've got a small team from the twelth working on it."

"That is good news. It was such a shame to find that he just disappeared the way he did."

"True, but knowing Ichigo, he wouldn't go and do something like this of his own free will." A small smile creeping on to Urahara's face.

"I guess your right." They reached a large metal door. "After all, you do know him best." And with a small smile on Ukitake's face, the door opened.

The room was dark, the only light came from the glow of the many occupied computer screens that littered the two sides of the main walkway. At the end of the room, there was a large holographic display of numbers, charts and other pieces of data. Yet in the center of this mess of information, there was an inlarged video feed showing... Clouds?

"Urahara-taicho!" A frantic voice call out from the center console. "We found something, you need to see this!" Sharing a look of suprise, they both ran toward the person infront of the holographic screen.

"What's the situation?" Asked a concerned Urahara.

"Here." The man pointed to the on screen projection of the clouds, then enlarged a chart of data from the lower right of the screen. "These readings came in only a few seconds ago, and are still coming in!"

"Did you manage to triangulate the location?"

"No not yet, but we're working on it, but we got a live feed on the monitor." The chart zoomed out, replaced by the video feed of the clouds. Only now they could see that they were moving, and they were moving fast.

"Sir!" One of the women working on the small moniters spoke up. "We just got a fix on the location!"

"Bring it up on screen." A large, blue scale map appered in the bottom left corner of the video feed.

"Where is he?" Urahara hotly asked.

"Dimensional Sector 1702."

The room went silent.

"What." Ukitake bearly made out, eyes wided with shock.

"The situation is worse than I thought." Urahara quietly said to himself. "If we don't..."

"THAT WITCH!" Cried out a shocked Ukitake, eyes closed in disblief.

"Ukitake?" A unasked question of concern in his voice. As soon as his name was called, he quickly walked toward the door, but before he left the room, he turned his face back toward Urahara.

"I'll inform the Head Captain. Gather all the information you can, and be ready to present it the other captains in two hours."

"Understood." Replied Urahara.

With a nod of confidence, Ukitake left.

While everyone was still in shock over the reaction of the clam and fatherly captain, the head researcher, in a rather timid tone, asked Urahara the all important question.

"Urahara-taicho, what so special, about 1702?"

With all eyes on him, he spoke with a calm voice.

"Around 200 years ago, we entered a war against the angels of the realm." Everyone was shocked. They had all heard the stories, but no-one thought of them to be true. "It was brutal on both sides. Everyone suffered heavy losses, we never realised at the time that we were being played. At least until the Swamp Witch sacrficed both an angel and a soul reaper in persuit of her goals. Only then, did we realise that we were fighting the wrong person. 20 years later, and with war finished, we left the angels to watch over their world, with the promise that if they needed help, they would call."

"And what happened after that?" Urahara turned back to look at the holographic screen, upon seeing the subject's condition, his eyes narrowed, and his tone turned grave. "At this time, no-one knows how she did it, but to put it bluntly, the Swamp Witch Locked us out, and placed the dimension, under Time Lock!"

He was falling. He didn't know for how long, just that he was falling. His eyes where hardly open, yet could see the sunset coloured clouds fly past his unmoving form. His black hair flaping around, behind him, creating a sound similer to that of cloth flaping in a strong wind. They were the only sounds he could hear, the only sights he could see.

That was until his head hit the ground. Hard.

So much so, that as he landed he created a small crater, and showered the ground around him with rocky shrapnel.

Mean while, at the bottom of the mountain path.

A hooded woman heard the sound of a heavy impact from somewhere on the mountain.

"Was that the demon that hunts this place?" The woman asked herself. "If so, then I must hurry."

And with that, she sped off, up the mountain path.

"Urrr. My head." The man got up from the crater he made only a few moments ago.

"Looks like I landed on a path of some kind." He thought to himself. Before getting up from his creator in the ground. Looking around, the sight that greeted him, was that of rock. Well, at least on the right side. On the left however...

"Oh Shit! How'd I get up here?" Was a one way trip down the side of a mountain. Getting up, he realised that he had only one option. "Well, I guess that I've got only one of two ways. Now the question is weather I go up or down? And I choose to down, and hopefuly find something quicker this way than going up." With his decision made, he started his long walk down the mountain path.

If you could call two minutes worth of walking a long time?

Just as he turned with the curved mountain path, Ichigo found that he was about to walk into a confrontation. Backing up against a fold in the rocky surface to his right, he watched the situation from a short distance away. Although, on a closer inspection of the scene before him, and with narrowed eyes, he saw the back of a hooded woman, who herself, was facing another woman who was sitting on the top of a stone archway. The woman on the archway, from what Ichigo could see from his place behind the rocks, had waist length pink hair, and what seemed to be bunny ears sitting on the top of her head.

"Are you the one who attacks travelers?" The hooded woman asked.

The pink woman gave off a light high pitched laugh. "So what if I am?"

"Then I'll defeat you!" The hooded woman replied.

"So your going to defeat me, huh?" Amusement in her voice. "Sounds fun... Then I'll give you hell!" She leaped off the archway, her sword taking shape in her right hand.

The hooded woman dodged the attack, while drawing her own sword. The two blades clashed together in a sword lock, and the two combatents made eye contact.

"Don't try to hide your face, I'll know who you are regardless." The pink haired woman said in an amused tone.

At the same time, Ichigo was having a hard time trying to figure out the hidden agenda of the pink haired woman.

"The both of them are skilled when it comes to swords, but since they seem to be using western style weapons I can't tell how good they are." Ichigo thought to himself, but before he could wonder any further, the pink haired woman spoke again.

"I can smell it, you're from the Vance family." They broke away, only for the hooded woman to charge forward, bringing her sword down, she sliced though the shoulder of the pink haired woman. Backing away, the scarf that covered the hooded woman's face fell apart.

Still able to speak and without spilling a drop of blood, the pink haired woman voiced her confusion.

"What, you're not Claudette?"

"My name is Leina." She replied, "And I'm a fighter by birth." Her name given, she charged toward her opponent.

Ichigo on the other hand.

"Yup, definitely a western name, and with a name like that, comes a western fighting style I guess. Still, there seems to be something wrong here." Ichigo thought to himself. "The pink haired lady isn't even fighting seriously. I mean she's fast enough to have dodged that attack, but took it anyway, and she could finish this now if she wanted to. It's like she wants something, and by fighting her opponent, does she think she can get it? Then there's this Leina person. It's like, shes trying to prove herself, but to who?" Before his thoughts wondered further, his attention was brought back to the fight at hand, by the sound of ... torn clothing?

"It's so strange." He heared the pink haired woman say. "You smell so much like Claudette, yet your not, I mean, oh come on... The real power of Claudette, The Lightning Master, is far more than that!" The woman taunted, just as the wound on her shoulder repaired it self.

Ichigo's eyes widened in shock. "High Speed Regeneration! So thats why she didn't dodge!"

"Ah, did I tear your clothes?" She said in a teasing tone, then she let out a light laugh of amusement.

"Damn it! She's just being toyed with!" Ichigo's eyes narrowed out of concern for Leina's predicament. "Although. Now that I can get a better look at her..." What Ichigo saw from behind the rocks, was a girl in her late teens of around eighteen years of age. Blonde hair, while short at the front, was midback length at the back and sides, and a pair of sapphire blue eyes. While she was positioned as if she had been pushed over, and while trying to cover her modesty with a white shirt, it was her face that Ichigo focused on. Dispite the fact that surprise was the most evident expession, she held a strong look of determination.

"What do you want?" She asked the pink haired woman.

"Victory." She said simply, as if it were the most obverse thing in the world. "To defeat strong warriors, and." She plamed her sword like it were a bat. "To take part in The Queens Blade." She said with a smile on her face.

"What the... Queen's Blade?" Ichigo asked himself.

"Queens Blade?" Confusion in Leina's voice.

"It has already begun." The pink haired woman stated. "It takes place every four years, and decides a new queen to be chosen."

"Urahara-taicho." Said person, looked across the holographic display infront of him.

"Yes, what is it?" He asked.

"What is this, Queen's Blade they're talking about? I don't think we've ever heard of anything like it."

With his grey eyes shadowed by his hat, Urahara spoke.

"The Queen's Blade, It's a coronation where the gods choose the strongest, and most beautiful queen. And who it shall be, is decided solely in battle." After seeing the reactions of the people who heard, he looked back at the holographic screen.

"Oh would you look at that." Uarhara cried out with exaggerated happyness. "An angel is on the way to see him! To bad that she's going to be late."

"Come on, answer me. Clauette is meant to be the lead candidate, why do you smell like her?" The pink haired woman asked.

"Because they're sisters, how else?" Ichigo thought dryly to himself.

"I'm going to kill you!" Leina cried!

She charged forward, only for the pink haired woman to dodge. Their positions switched, the pink haired woman unleashed her secret weapon! She stood tall, and fired... breast milk?

"What. The. Fuck." Ichigo's eyes had shrunk to the size of peas, and his face glowed a vibrant shade of red.

At the same time, the liquid made contact with Leina's sword. Her weapon and clothes dissolved, and she let go of the still disintegrating metal. Unfortunetly, she couldn't do the same for her clothes. Leina stood still, eyes widened in shock as her clothes dissolved, just leaving her underwear and tights intact.

"It's futile. You've lost as much as you need." The pink haired demon laughed. "Your face is so cute. You ready are weak."

"This isn't good." Ichigo thought to himself. his mind back on track. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. There's got to be something I can do to help!"

As if some higher power had just heard Ichigo's thoughts, a blade formed from the air on his side. When Ichigo saw the blade, his eyes hardened with resolve. For the blade that was standing in the ground, was a black, five foot long, nodachi long sword. A length of black chain attached to the black and red coloured hilt. The guard, in the shape of the japanese character, Ban. The sign? "You fight!"

"Thank you. Zangetsu." He said out loud, just enough for himself to hear.

However, while Ichigo was gaining his resolve. Lenia with her clothes just about gone and still eger to fight, shed the only piece of clothing she had left on her torso.

"You're a monster!" Leina cried.

Her opponent held a blank expression, just as she moved forward. To grab Leina by the throat.

"What did you say?" She asked, as she held Leina of her feet. "Did you just call me a monster?" Leina shut her eyes to ward of the pain. "No mortal who's called me a monster has ever survived." She told Leina, just as she tighened her grip on her neck.

"Then let me be the first to do so!" A male voice cried, just as the pink haired woman felt a heavy blow to the stomach. The force of the blow, sending her flying back, and causing her to land on her back, thirty feet away.

What the pink haired woman saw, was a mass of black clothing, just as a blue arm made it's way into her stomach.

What the woman on the ledge above them saw, was a black blur literally, "Flash" into existance. At the same time, they landed a powerful blow on the pink haired demon.

"Such power." Leina thought to herself, as she watched the stranger turn their head around. "I can feel the energy rolling of them in waves. It's like, I'm being swallowed up by their power." Before she knew it, the oppressive energys were being washed away. Replaced by a feeling of warmth, comfort, and a feeling of protection.

"Hey. You all right?" He asked.

"Yeah, thank you." She replied. Looking up to properly see her saver, she saw a man who stood at a height about four inches taller than her, and had waist length jet black hair that seemed to spike out in a downward direction. His right arm was covered in a think layer of blue/gray bandages that extended to his upper and lower torso. In his left hand, was a long, slightly curved black sword, with a short length of black chain coming of the end. His legs were covered by a pair of ragged, torn and baggy leggings, and just like his hair, they were coloured black. His feet were covered in the same blue/gray bandages as his torso was, only they didn't cover his toes. Then there was the matter of his face, becuase she couldn't see it.

"Are you ok?" She asked him, concern in her voice.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Was his reply, but he still didn't turn his head. Growing more concered, Leina got of the ground, and quitely walked around him. What she saw, was a pair blood red eyes facing dead ahead. His mouth and nose were covered with a half mask made of the same blue/gray bandage. He had the look of someone who was trying not to do something, yet knew that not doing so was useless.

"Are you sure your alright?" She asked again. Keeping her eyes on his.

"Yeah," His eyes were locked with hers. "I'm fine." Still locked. "It's cool." His eyes started to lose eye contact. A hint of red made it's way appove the half mask. "I'm alright." His eyes when widened just as he broke eye contact. His face was glowing red, turned away from her just as his nose erupted with blood.

"Ok. What's wrong?" She asked sternly, as she folded her arms under her breasts.

Ichigo, who took one look at the sight before him, just short-circuited his mind. Upon seeing his reaction, and slightly insulted, she asked again.

"What! Is there something wrong with me?" This time in a rather aggrovated manner. Althought this time she got an answer out of him, but it was not what she was expecting.

"PLEASE, WOULD YOU JUST PUT A SHIRT ON!" Ichigo shouted in an embarrassed manner.

On the top of the ridge above them, a busty woman with wild red hair was laughing her ass off. While at he same time, Lenia who had only just begun to comprehend the meaning of his words, suddenly found herself sporting a heavy blush and a sudden need to cover herself. (From the cold.)

"PERVERT!" She shouted back at him, only to make the woman on the ledge laugh even harder.

"To think that a mortal had to cheat in order to land a hit on me like that." Ichigo's reflexes was the only thing that saved him from being cut by the pink haired woman.

Turning round to meet his opponent, while at the same time, moving his sword to his right hand, his blade met hers mid-turn.

"I take it, that you like to fight strong opponents?" He asked.

"So what if I do?" She asked back. At this point, Leina deciding that she was not liking to way this was heading, decided to stand few steps back.

"He can't be thinking of fighting? Could he?" She thought to herself.

"Then let me ask you something?" He asked. Swords still locked together.

"That depends on what your asking." She replied, with a slight seductive tone. Ichigo, being the romanticly dense person he is, didn't get the hidden meaning behind her tone, decided to back off. Now standing a short distance away from her, he voiced his queastion.

"What's your name?"

The pink haired woman was slightly shocked. Normally, she never needed to give her name, nor did people ask for it. Relaxing her guard, she decided to play along.

"My name is Melona." She stated.

"The monster has a name?" Leina thought. While on the ledge, the woman's eyes narrowed.

"No-one ever asks for each others names anymore." The woman said out loud to herself. "Only those in the east do that, but that's only for..." The words vanished from her mind, just as it dawned her. "No way!" Her eyes widened in shock.

Melona thought that this boy would be shocked to hear her name. Most simply don't even realise this, and just assume that those like herself don't have names. So she was rather suprised to see that he didn't even bat an eyelash. Insead he replied.

"Melona?" He quietly said to himself. "Since you just told me your name, It's only fair that I tell you mine." Now this got everyone's attention. Leina was wondering what this masked man was trying to do. Melona was thinking something along the lines of; What an interesting person. While the woman on the ledge was mentaly begging him not to do what she thought he was going to do.

"My name is Ichigo. Kurosaki Ichigo." He positioned himself into a combat stance. His sword in his right hand, his left hand balled into a fist. "And I shall be your opponent!"

TO BE CONTINUED.