Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. It belongs to Kubo-sensei.

Chapter 1

The Deed

"Excellent!"

Miho fought the rising bile in her throat as snickering responded to that malicious tone. Once again she wondered what she was doing here when she could be safely revising her essay due at the end of the week. Around her, teens her age exchanged excited, knowing looks, the mischief gleaming in their eyes at what they were about to initiate. Miho tried to catch the attention of the only other girl in this group of misfits; but her friend Fumiko had no eyes but for the hearts shining at the center of the group. Miho stifled a defeated sigh.

The gang consisted of two mean looking thugs, and two lanky boys, whom Miho couldn't bother remembering their names. Miho and Fumiko were the only girls permitted within range of this gang that was gathered by the one person that attracted everyone's attention, including Fumiko's, at that moment; Shige.

For the life of her, Miho could never understand what all these people saw in Shige. She sided with her teachers when they commented on his lack of motivation. He also had no creativity at all to be dressed like a cliché gang leader; the black leather jacket and pants, silver skull print on a black t-shirt, and the spiked collar he keeps fingering frequently. There's no denying that this made him look attractive with his pale skin dotted with orange freckles, which was currently hidden with face powder (a secret Miho was sworn not to spread), and his ink black hair, also spiked. Sickly looking, yet still attractive. Or at least, in Fumiko's eyes.

Right now he was squatting at the center of the huddled gang, or they tried to. It was difficult when they all tried to occupy one side of a wall in an intersecting street. Shige grinned at the object in his hand before leaning around the corner, a movement everyone mimicked simultaneously. Miho rolled her eyes before slowly following their lead, and her heart sank. A little store could be seen from their angle, all wood and small in size, with a white sign on top with the words "Urahara Shoten" painted on it. The proximity around the shop was fairly deserted, and it was easy to predict that no one would be passing by any time soon.

Miho stepped back, chewing her lips nervously. She should definitely be home right now. Not trapped here to see others getting hurt.

"Let's not do this." There. It was out, and she felt slightly better. But the feeling vanished as angry stares stabbed her very being.

"Excuse me?" Shige stood up, his form saying all the words instead of his mouth: "I dare you to say that again."

"Well, I think this is really pointless," explained Miho calmly, hoping rationality would prevail today and send her home victorious. "Why are we having fun on account of others being victims? Let's go to the arcade, I bet it's still open."

At this, there were several snorts from the boys. "Miho, stop this!" Fumiko hissed, and glanced apologetically at Shige. The punk wannabe was glaring at both of them equally before fixing it on Fumiko. "I thought you said she'd be a good addition to the group."

"She is! Don't worry about it Shige, Miho's just wigging out, that's all. She won't be trouble at all," Fumiko emphasized this with a hard, angry look. Miho pointedly rolled her eyes, but Shige didn't pay attention to the girls' silent battle. Instead he focused on the white baseball in his hand. It was unusual; a cut was carved on it, making a flap through the ball. Inside, Miho knew, it was stuffed with fire crackers enough to make the ball explode, the flying rubber would probably injure the owners of the little store.

"Hey, pass me the lighter."

The group froze, then one of the burly boys fumbled in his pocket and presented Shige with a lighter. Pulling the flap backwards, Shige casually lit the fire-crackers inside. Then, with great agility, he ran around the corner and tossed the fire bomb. It flew over the street and bounced off one of the store's windows, and innocently fell on the ground.

Now everyone was quiet. Holding her breath, Miho prayed that this would end with a hole at the shop's exterior wall and no physical injuries. In front of her, two of the boys sniggered and high-fived each other. "Man, that extra surprise is sweet."

Panic broke loose in her insides. "What surprise?" She asked. The two boys gave her a look before ignoring her completely, which did nothing to quell her fear and anxiety. "What did you do to that ball?!"

"Chill," sneered one of the lanky ones- Hide?- she wasn't sure. "You'll find out soon."

"Shh, here comes the bait!"

Light headed with fear, she shoved herself back into the group for a better look. A small girl was examining the ball before she knelt down and picked it up. "Oh no," Miho moaned, but it was drowned by the general secretive laughter. She pulled back from the scene. She should ditch this plan, what was she doing, inventing destructive toys for fun?

But that girl is going to get hurt!

Miho winced at the thought. If the ball was left alone, she wouldn't be in this situation. If the ball hadn't been tampered with…

"NO!" Miho wrenched herself from her spot, shoved past the teens, and ran to the girl, ignoring the curses and calls behind her. The girl looked up in surprise at Miho's quick sprint towards her. "Um…"

She wasn't even given a chance before Miho snatched it from her. She panted, "I'm sorry." The ball seemed to burn in her hand from the heat, and she suddenly began hearing the sound of a ticking clock in her head. The girl looked up at her, wide-eyed, but neutral. Miho pushed away the unnerving image and repeated, "I'm sorry, but this ball is-"

"MINE!"

With surprising force, Miho's whole arm was tugged forward, making her gasp sharply. Strong hands belonging to a red headed boy was clawing and gripping at her enclosed fingers.

"No it isn't!" She yelled. "You don't know what-"

"I know a thief when I see one!" growled the boy. He darted a fist, barely missing her face.

"Hey!"

He smirked. Both wrestled over it for what Miho felt like hours, but knew was much shorted span of time. The ticking in her head was now a buzz of panic and fear. With whatever strength left, she tried again pulling away. At the same time the boy swatted it sharply with his free hand. To Miho's horror, the ball flew from her fingers, and high above their heads. "Shit!"

Both tried reaching for it, until they noticed the grey wisps of smoke. Miho recoiled, and screamed at the two kids (she was mildly surprised to see the girl still there), "Duck!!"

A loud crack burst through the air like a warning cutting her short, followed by louder sounds of pops and explosively loud cracks. The air around them was dense with grey smoke. Miho rubbed at her watering eyes, trying to get a glimpse at the flying bomb. The ball was propelled to all directions from the fire crackers. It whizzed all over the place, and for a second, Miho thought she saw something sputtering out of it. Yelling was heard all around her, unrecognized but for the tone of surprise.

Before she could blink and take another look, the ball was heading right at her. Recognizing the danger she's in, Miho jumped up, and started running the other direction through the thick haze of smoke. She cried in surprise and pain when she smacked into hard, solid wood, knocking her completely on her back. Her eyes were still wide open, and her upside-down view did nothing to deter the fact that the ball was still heading her way- fast. It pounded the dirt, right beside her face. She let out a strangled shriek, the air and dust suffocating her and something hot running all over her face.

This is it! I'm deformed! I've turned into the ugly duckling!

Ironically, that was her favorite fairytale. Then the ball flew above her again. Shattered glass filled the air, then silence. Everything was still, and as the grey cloud started clearing up, Miho spotted the two children, slightly blackened on the cheeks but otherwise unharmed. She tried moving her own limbs, slowly supporting herself with her elbows, and shaking away the pieces of glass lightly embedded at the bottom of her pants. Miho winced as she fingered tips of her singed hair; the smell was terrible.

Ahead of her, there was a gaping, ragged whole through the shop's window. There was much running and popping noises inside.

Both kids slowly stood up, and the girl ran back inside, looking oddly distressed for the first time. The boy only shrugged and said, "Guess it wasn't mine after all." Miho gaped as he retreated inside as well.

"What did you think you were doing?!"

She turned to see Fumiko glaring at her. Around her, the gang were whooping, pointing at Miho and laughing. Only Shige was composed but for the evilly smug smirk on his face. Miho took comfort that, at least Fumiko wasn't joining in, but continued glaring. "You should have just stayed."

Suddenly, Miho had had enough. She was sick of being dragged around. She was tired of playing this useless game. She was going to say at least this much to Fumiko and leave her until she regains her lost senses. Before she even opened her mouth, however, a shriek interrupted: "MIHO! WHAT ON EARTH IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

The whooping died into yelps, and the gang fled the premises. Miho's own blood froze in her vessels when she recognized who it was. Her mother, the very image of death, doom and torture stood some down the once isolated street, making Miho back away unconsciously before bumping into a solid figure. She looked up at the looming figure of a very intimidating man, staring down at her intently through fogged glasses. Suddenly feeling the gravity of the situation she's in, Miho gulped.

Well, I never thought I would start a Bleach fic, but here it is! Reviews please! Hopefully, second chapter will be coming soon (in websites near you!). Criticisms are welcome.