Bleach: Twist

Chapter Two

Disclaimer: The characters and everything from Bleach isn't mine and all credits should go to Tite Kubo. The only thing I own is the plot, though the story will follow the anime. Don't worry, it should get better.

Soul Reapers

Rukia would not stop laughing at me. It was rude. I was pretty sure my expression was not that funny.

After the Hollow passed on or whatever, I somehow ended up in my room with the short shinigami. Karin and Yuzu had their memories replaced and injuries healed, so I didn't have to worry about them. My dad was still out on business for the clinic, so he wasn't a problem either. It was myself I was worried about. I had been returned to my body; apparently, being a substitute shinigami or whatever means my spirit leaves my body — it was worrying that I had not even noticed the change. And, to put it lightly, I was freaking out over the new changes. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't changed so much. Obviously there was the whole Soul Reaper thing and the huge sword that was apparently now attached to my soul, but I had expected that in the small amount of time I had to actually think about what I was doing. But the rest? Well, let's just say that I had reasonable cause to freak out, even if most of my reaction was fueled by stress.

My orange hair now reached down to my lower back, and I had curves. The sad thing is, I made a really hot girl, but I couldn't appreciate it because it was, well, me! And I was a boy, a male teenager, not a girl. I felt extremely picked on. And a little hysterical.

"Your spirit power is massive," Rukia explained when her giggles finally faded out. "I think that is why those Hollows showed up. They weren't after the Whole in the area, exactly, but, rather, you. And it's also the reason why all of my Soul Reaper powers are basically gone. Somehow you had more reiatsu than I. Additionally, there is a chance that the release of those powers was so big that it caused your gender to reverse. Other than that, I don't really understand why it would have happened."

Yeah, that was helpful. What I didn't understand was how she could be so calm and serious. An edge of hysteria entered my tone, yet again, when I said, "So how do I go back?!"

"That may be impossible. For now, you'll just have to wait until I regain my powers. I'll be able to travel to Soul Society then, and see about returning you to normal. But more than that, before I regain my powers you'll have to carry out the duties of the Soul Reaper for Karakura."

"No." If I wasn't going to get my way, neither was Rukia. Maybe it was childish, but I justified to myself that I could be as childish as I wanted in my new situation.

"Ichigo," her jaw ticked, "you will stay a girl forever if you don't."

Sweat beaded on my brow and I gulped nervously. That was a worthy threat. "Fine," I ended up giving in. "But you have to help me out with..." I searched for words before giving up and finishing, "...this," while I gestured at my new body.

"Deal."

Rukia stuck out her small hand and I took it with my own. I was shocked that even my rough hands were gone, replaced with slim, nice-looking ones. My body had seriously changed in that single moment, and the unfamiliarity of something that I should know best unsettled me.

We shook and then went about fixing up a nightly routine. I had to wash my face, and, of course, go to the bathroom. Rukia was there to try and soothe me after the traumatizing experience, as I was not interested in girls that way. For the most part, I hadn't thought about liking someone, or all that physical stuff hormones induce. Sure, my friends at school mentioned it, Keigo even often. But I was always focused on something else, or on the actual person rather than body. Rukia warmed up to me when I said that, and that's when I got worried again.