The Lost Guardians

The girl wandered around aimlessly, pure happiness gleaming in her strange brown eyes. She was content to just be back in Japan, even if she had very little money, no friends or family, or a place to stay. As she walked, she noticed that some of the people she passed had strangely colored hair, such as fiery red, blue, or even white. It wasn't even that, more than the fact that it looked natural!
What is going on here? she mused as she turned down another street and stopped cold. Sweet leprechauns dipped in fudge! There is no fucking way in hell...
Standing right in front of her was a two story building with a large sign stating "Kurosaki Clinic."
No. Fucking. Way..."

"Eh?"

Leon turned and glanced at her before sighing, crossing his arms as he walked down the road next to her, his amber eyes glowing. He had to admit, that while being a Hollow had its good sides, he didn't really enjoy having that strange hunger crawling around him, not to mention the fact that every Human that passed by ticked him off.

"Will you assholes stop staring!?" snapped the white haired teen as he growled, only to blink as a form stood in his way. In a flash his eyes narrowed, noticing that the dude was strangely familiar, and that he was glaring him. Suddenly it clicked, this guy was one of the three punks that Ichigo beat down at the beginning of the series. Yeah, he remembered those guys, considering he loved seeing the abridged version scene on "Anime I Don't Watch: Bleach"

Hey, wait, he was a Hollow. Why the bloody hell did he have to listen to this guy bitch?

-POW-

In a flash Leon had put the guy in a coma with a single punch, his eyes growing wide and staring at his fist

"Woah...that was sweet."

He couldn't help but grin

"Ya know, being a Hollow isn't so bad."

Though he was still hungry. Maybe there was a McDonalds or a chippy nearby. Hmm...

"Moron!" Julie shout as she kicked his leg. "It's not their fault that you look so strange! Hurry up and lets go back to Urahara's! We'll attract even more unwanted attention at this rate!" she grabbed his arm and tried to drag him back.

Unsurprisingly Leon didn't budge, his eyes looking down the road. His eyes caught a single figure, a female one, and he couldn't help but feel deja-vu. Either way, it didn't matter as he finally grew tired of Julie tugging on him, letting his form be pulled away by her. He could stop his eye twitching as his British-hinted voice trailed over his lips

"You're lucky your cute."

"I'm not cute." Julie said, blushing as the arrived at Urahara's house. "Come on. The more we stay out here, the more unwanted attention we bring. Not to mention I don't have a single clue what part of Bleach we're in. We may be in the beginning or in the Arrancar ARc....we might even be before that after Urahara and Yoruichi ran off." She gave Leon a shove to the shoop.

The girl's strange brown eyes took in the sight calmly while her mind was reeling.

Stop overreacting Zoe, she scolded herself. There's gotta be hundreds of the people that have the name 'Kurosaki' and at least one of them might have a clinic...yeah. that's right. it's a totally different Kurosaki. Ichigo isn't real anyways...

She forced herself to turn around and walk away from the building.
Hell, it even -looks- like Ichigo's clinic. I guess the owner reads Bleach or something...

She mentally babbled to herself as she walked, knowing subconsciously that even her explanations sounded weak, but it was only until she happened to glance at a small store that a little kid had just run out of that she finally stopped dead in her tracks once more.

"Karakura candy store," she read slowly. "Karakura? oh, HELL to the no!"

She took off running down the street, dodging around others, until she came to one of the police officers that walked around the town, keeping order amongst the people.

"Uh...sumimasen, um, omawari-san," she puffed, mind scrambling for words. "Koko wa doko desu ka?"

The officer looked down, surprised, and said something too quickly for her to catch all of it, but there was one thing she did understand.

Karakura Town.

A roar echoed over the road of Karakura, and a small shock wave followed. Leon couldn't help but grin as he stood there, cockily bouncing on his feet like a certain Espada as he sent the small Hollow flying with a powerful roundhouse. He had never felt so strong and agile before, never mind the fact that he could now eat these Hollows. Yep, unlike his fellow Shinigami companions, Leon couldn't purify these beasts, but he could consume them and gain strength.

It felt amazing.

"Hah!"

Leon launched forward and flew through the air by dashing distance, his hand smashing into the pained beast's mask with a shatter. He let out a shout and the Hollow began to glow, before it vanished with a single tormented roar, the reiatsu particles flowing into the human-formed Hollow within a blink of an eye.

It had been a day since the trio had gained their powers, and it seemed each had a different opinion. Leon himself had yet to choose a teacher, mostly relying on the instinct and raw power that his Hollow self brought on him. It felt strange to be so strong, yet it was mighty fun. Yesterday he had cowered in fear before one of these beasts as it killed a innocent woman.

Now..?

Heh, lets just say he had a blast consuming some scum.

"Damn, four down in a day. That was awe-"

He stopped, turning and staring down the road as he turned off the invisible nature that hid him from Human eye

"Is someone there?"

"Hello? Yoruichi-san?" Julie said as she looked around the store. She was back in her human form and was currently looking for her teacher. "Yoruichi~~~~" Her mouth formed a small pout. "Great...I'm all alone in that creeps shop....Wonder where Leon and Bryan are...?"

Zoe was walking down the street, munching on a sweet bun, when she heard a horrendously loud screech from around the corner of the next street up. She jumped in surprise and looked around. The few people that were around her either did not hear the noise, or ignored it.

Strange...why wouldn't anyone be going to check it out? Unless...they can't hear it? Unless...it's a hollow!

Sweet bun forgotten, she trotted up to the end of the street, but stopped just at the corner.

Wait a minute...if it is a hollow, it's not like I can do anything about it...and what if it sees me? crap!

Like any other time, she decided to ignore the rational part of her brain and peeked around the corner, just in time to see a large, ugly creature disappear in a swirl of light. Only a few moments later, while she stared with her mouth agape, noticing for the first time a boy maybe a year or two older than her. His appearance was unlike anything she had ever seen before, but she had no time to scrutinize him, however, because at that moment, he turned around and peered in her direction.

"Is someone there?"

EEP!

Leon took a step forward before blinking, looking her over. She looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. Without a word he walked towards the figure, brushing off the dust gathered by the fight with the small Hollow he had recently consumed. A few seconds ticked by with him just simply looking her over before he rubbed his chin

She looked kinda out of place. Not to mention, she caused his instincts to shudder in the same manner Bryan and Julie did. But what caught his eye was the fact that she had seemed to notice him, and that was extremely strange, even in Bleach. After a few breaths the Hollow turned British teen walked closer before he finally shrugged

It was worth a shot. Why not?

Maybe he could hint it, without coming off wierd?

"So, I suppose you're wondering why I have Bleached skin and why I look certainly look out of place in this hollow Japanese style town, with me being British and all? Well I was wondering if you were in the same situation..." asked the Hollow, making sure to put point on each needed statement and word

Hopefully she got it.

&&&&&

"O'yoh!"

A male voice echoed behind Julie, cats eyes staring at her. The small form of the transformed woman trailed over the floor before turning to her her and sitting down, Yoruichi's stare gazing into the girl before her with an almost cheeky grin

"Not with the guys? Whats up?"

"mmmm...I couldn't sleep well last night." Julie said as she kneeled down. "I get really paranoid in unfamiliar places at night...So I was awake the entire night. I couldn't go sleep even if i wanted to. When I saw dawn rose, I fell asleep and when I woke up, everyone was one." she sighed. "Do you know where they went?"

Zoe snickered mentally as the Brit-turned-hollow stressed certain parts of his little speech, but kept her face as straight as possible as she leaned against the building she was by.

"Bleached skin, huh?" she quipped. "No, I think I can guess. It's probably the same reason there's a big hollow spot in the ground over there, ne?" she pointed to a crater in the ground where some part of the fight must have gotten out of hand.

"Okay, smart-ass, we've gathered you're in the same boat as me, Julie, and Bryan." drly muttered Leon as he crossed his arms, kicking a stone in irritation before shaking his head. Without another word he held up his hand and then pointed to himself, gazing at her at her as he began to speak to the girl before him

"Alright, you're gonna need to come with me, as you're not gonna last long out here as you are. You maybe cute, but your still just Human." Neither would he last much longer for that matter. He was no Son Goku, and he was growing ever tired after each fight he had. Hopefully he didn't run into any harder Hollow fights on the way there. Or worse, a Shinigami

That was the LAST thing he bloody needed.

&&&&&

"I have no idea where Bryan is. I think Leon went to test out his strength and clear out the random Hollows in the area. I wouldn't be suprised if he asks you for a spar later, but I don't know if he will be able to match you just yet. Speaking of training though, we have to get you to release your sword." muttered the male-morpthed voice of Yoruichi as she gazed up at Julie

"But im not the least athletic." Julie said. "I can't run fast and I get tired easily, not to mention I'm barely stronger than a normal girl...i guess..." Her mouth turned more into a pout. "With the way Leon is, I'd be snapped like a twig!"

Julie? Zoe thought, surprised. Probably just a coincidence...

Her musings were interrupted once more however, and her eyebrow involuntarily twitched.

Cute? I know he did not...

"And what exactly is in it for me if I come with you?" she asked, crossing her arms. "I can take care of myself, ya know. And besides, for all I know, you could be some creepy pervert intent on raping my brains out."

Leon blinked.

Twice.

"You're kidding, right? Raping your brains out!? Riiight. You really need to relax" he muttered as he scratched his head and stared at her with his amber eyes. He frowned and then walked forward, pointing towards his shirt and then pulling down the collar, to reveal a hole underneath. A Hollow hole. He gave her a dry stare as he cocked his head and sighed, speaking bluntly

"Look, no offence, but you must realise I'm not screwing with you here. Want an example? Here, look over there." yawned the Hollow boy as he gestured to a large stomping figure in the distance, that was heading their way with a terror inducing roar. Its otherworldly presence causing vile lashing intent to flow over the area

Leon rolled his eyes. Hollows can sense Hollows and all that jazz..

"What's in it for you? How about not becoming lunch and fearing for your life every day you're here?"

Speaking of which, that Hollow was getting closer.

&&&&&&&&&

"Maybe, but you don't realise the powers you have, do you?" asked the black cat as she stood up and trotted over to a nearby window, jumping on the ledge and staring out into the distance as her male-like voice trailed over her small cat-mouth

"Don't tell him I told you this, but that boy fears you and Bryan. Do you know how it feels for a Hollow like himself to be near a Shinigami, someone that has a weapon that can purify him and kill him in an instant? He would lose all his power, and pass on."

She shook her head

"Mice fear Cats. Hollows can fear Shinigami in the same way."

"But you don't deny that you're a creepy pervert," Zoe quipped, looking over her shoulder at the hollow. Fighting back the urge to scream and haul ass outta there, she said as calmly as possible, "alright then. let's go."

"'But you don't deny that you're a creepy pervert' - If I pound for every time I heard that..." mocked Leon under his breath as he shook his head and rolled his eyes, turning to the girl as he gestured for her to follow him in the direction of the Hollow. They had to go to Urahara's place, and to do that they had to go straight past that incoming beast.

Fortunately it didn't seem all that powerful to his recently gained senses.

Zoe chuckled silently to herself as she began walking behind the strange boy. They had only gone a few paces, however, when she noticed just where they were going.

"Um..." she murmured. "Are we supposed to be heading towards that hollow?"

"Yup."

A roar shook the land as two giant claws smashed down in front of them, a mask glaring into them with two darkness filled eyes of amber. The large beast was like a tiger, but seemed twice the mass of a bear, with its skin midnight black. Unsurprisingly it let out another howl and shot towards them with intent to eat them

Leon bounced on his feet a few times and then shot forward, meeting the beast with a single punch and then a following right jab. In a flash the large mask on its form cracked, its pain filled howl shattering the flowing silence as the humanoid Hollow teen smashed a palm straight through the back and began to drain it.

It was gone in an instant

"See? Problem solved. It was only a baby Hollow anyway, nothing to be all that worried about. Now, long as no bloody Shinigami turn up..." muttered the Brit-turned-hollow as he felt the soul of the beast flow into him and quench his hunger in a few passing seconds. With a sigh of relief he gave her a brief gesture and began to continue down the road, spying the Urahara shack not too far from here

"Come on, I'm damn sure Bryan and Julie are annoyed as Yoruichi at me for leaving so suddenly."

"Whoa," Zoe muttered to herself as she followed behind the Brit. "That was so COOL! How come you have awesome powers after ending up here, but I'm still astoundingly powerless?"

She absently kicked a pebble out of her path and glanced up.

"Holy shite!" she cried, spotting the little shop. "Is that...?"

"Urahara's fault. He's got these pills that unlock the requirements for each seprate energies we've seen in Bleach. Human. Hollow. Shinigami. Safe to say, I chose to become a Hollow, and the other two became a Shinigami. Yeah, I know, I thought I made a dumb choice too." commented Leon as he glanced at his pure-grey fists before shaking his head and then looking at the shop

"Yup. This is the place you're thinking of, though I've yet to meet the two 'kids that aren't really kids' of the bunch."

Oh my jeez, She thought as they made their way closer to the shoten. I am so dreaming. This can't be real. This isn't real. I'm living in a fictional world...

"And it's really not that bad if you get a little used to it," she said to her companion, trying to make him feel a little better, for reasons she knew not.

I mean, I don't even know him, for chris'sakes!

Thinking hard, her brow furrowed and she tripped, almost falling on the steps to the shoten. Her face burned red and she looked away, muttering, "I meant to do that..."

"Be careful, we can't have you ruining that beauty of yours now can we?" commented the Hollow-teen offhand as he jogged up to the entrance and dragged through the front part of the shop, coming to the back door within before giving a brief tap. A few seconds passed and he tapped again, his mouth morphing into a line as he crossed his arms and awaited someone to answer him and let the two in

Finally, he snapped

"This ain't funny Yoruichi! Its me, Leon, and I've managed to find another one like us."

Zoe blushed lightly at his comment and straightened up, following behind the boy and waiting beside him as he rapped on an inside door.

So his name is Leon, huh? she mused. It took a few minutes for her to put it all together, but when she did, her jaw dropped almost to the floor. Leon, Julie, and Bryan? Now that is way too freaky to be a coincidence! I can't believe this!

"Leon?!" she sputtered out loud. "You're Leon?"