Soulborn by eminyet. Not in every universe does Ichigo choose Soul Society in favor of the real world. He was happy when he died at 121. Now its time to remember why everything seems so familiar in the afterlife.

Status: 10 chapters. Ongoing.

Although it's an AU, this story really fits well into canon. A knowledge of the Soul Society Arc and the beginnings of the next arc is required but I've found it works even better if you're memory isn't fresh. Not knowing the names of some of the characters (there are far too many for me to remember in Bleach) meant I was in the dark as much as Ichigo at times. Ichigo's choice of the real world in this story is very poignant and feels real. The story slowly unfolds what's been happening in Ichigo's abscence and it's truly a the more things change, the more things stay the same situation. I look forward to seeing where Ichigo's adventures, now that he's older in soul, take him.