Bleach: Cross/Across the Dimensions. What happens when another human gets into Soul Society?
Bleach © Kubo Tite. Bleach: Cross original characters and elements, including the "past life backstory" © Eugena.
A/N: Based on the Bleach universe, but no particular season. I'm working on improving my characterization and invented an original character, Sam(antha) Hawthorne. Through a strange twist of fate, she travels to Soul Society. I'm working on making this a slowly-developing fic, since my other fics are usually short.
Opening Theme: Hanabi by Ikimono Gakari
Ending Theme: Life by Yui
Bleach: Cross
Across the Dimensions
An original fanfiction series by Eugena
Rated M for language and violence.
Chapter One: Hollow Showdown
AMERICA — SAM'S COLLEGE
She looked at her watch again. How humiliating. She, the best in her field got laid off. And what was left? To teach. Damn.
She allowed her mind to wander, occasionally catching the glances of her other classmates. They all thought the same as she: Someone, please kill me now so this torture will be over. In a classroom with 22 total students, most came to the certification program because they loved children and always wanted to teach, but something got in the way.
Yeah, she thought, it's called REALITY. It bites hard. Teaching does not pay the bills. Who cares how much you love the little beasts?
Only two others beside her came for other reasons. She did not press them, she had been humiliated more than enough and any questioning on her part would earn questions in return.
Just pretend you don't know me. Some unknown face in the crowd.
"Ms. Hawthorne, what are your thoughts?"
The question got her attention, but only once. She hated answering this self-worshipping professor. She despised her. Mostly for what she knew the professor had done.
"I think we stand, as a nation, to lag seriously behind the other first world countries in the next generation." The professor tried to say something, but she interjected, "I realize they only educate the cream of the crop. This is an excellent idea in terms of what is best for the entire country as a whole. Yes, we cannot compare apples to oranges, as you so often remind us. However, consider the impact of the next Einstein: oops, the boy or girl didn't get that "aha" moment at the critical time because we as teachers had to dumb down the entire lesson—no the entire unit for the two students lagging behind. Meanwhile, Germany or Russia or someone else prepares the next batch of nuclear scientist, and who does America have? No one, that's who.
"We cater to the children who need help. Yet they find none. Help, I say because since this pathetic State Education system decided 100% inclusion, the students with the most needs can never be served. They need separate classes. They cannot get the education they need mainstreamed. Statistics and studies should prove it."
The she looked directly into the professor's eyes.
"Unless, of course, the researchers were paid off by inclusion supporters." Just like the stem cell bullshit they had the ignorant kids parrot "help us, help us" about it. Damn crooked lobbyists, you should know, Prof.
"Thank you, I think we have all heard enough."
Yeah, you have. But I'm not done.
The professor continued to drone on about her own politics, illegal as it was. Yet, it is just like the extremist "democratic" theatre professors that throw politics in your face. Agree that you love them or fail. Be homosexual or they will hate you, the hetero, worse than they hate the bisexuals. Yeah, "fairness" and "understanding," everyone is a politician, and a crooked one at that.
Looking down at her watch, she looked at the watch itself and not the time. A silent smile crept into her lips. Maybe kids weren't all that bad. At least there was one thoughtful Japanese 15-year-old out there, and she had inspired him.
oOo
ICHIGO'S HOUSE
Ichigo awoke to the sound of his alarm. He covers an ear with one hand, grasps Kon with the other and uses him to hit the "snooze" button.
"Hey, what was that for?" Kon demanded. "I outta—."
Rukia slammed back the sliding door to Ichigo's closet, where she slept. "Hey, what's the big deal having the alarm on? There's no school today."
Ichigo yawned. "Sorry, Rukia, I forgot to shut it off. I fell asleep reading the book." He picked the book up off the floor, setting it down on his dresser. A picture of two medieval swordsmen engaged in a duel adorned the cover, along with the title, "Kail the Knight."
Ruka got up. "You like it that much?"
"Yeah, you're the one who gave it to me."
"You don't have to read it just because of that."
"Yeah, but I get to think of you when I read it. And it is a good story, even though my English is a little rough. Besides, I—." he looked away.
Rukia stood over his bed. "What?"
Ichigo looked back at her, unable to hide his blush. "It really reminds me of you. My fight to save you. I mean—I'm nothing great like a knight, but . . . ."
"Oh, Ichigo," she sighed. She smacked him.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?"
"For being a jerk, not turning off the alarm. And for being so stupid that you don't realize. . . ."
"Yo," he said as he stood up and kissed her.
oOo
AMERICA — SAM'S COLLEGE
"Kail the Knight," the thirties woman said to Hawthorne.
"What?" Hawthorne asked, pulling her mind out of the studying-induced stupor.
"Come now," the woman said, "don't be shy. A real author in our class. Who would have thought?"
"Yeah, you found me out," said Hawthorne.
"Wow. You know, I really look up to you. I can't believe I've really met you."
"I didn't realize I was so well-known," Hawthorne brushed the attention aside.
"So, Ms. Hawthorne . . . ? Can I call you Samantha or Sam?"
"Sam's fine," she said quickly.
"Sam, dear, you want to be a teacher, too? You're giving up writing to teach the little ones, oh, how wonderful!"
"Actually," Sam looked straight into her classmate's eyes, "it's called being laid off. Or selling out your own country to foreign ones. I can't get a job as a copyeditor anymore. All the technical writers are taking them—they had all their jobs auctioned off the India and Thailand. So, no, I'm not giving up anything. I've simply run out of options."
She turned away.
"Now, excuse me," Sam said, "we finally get a break, and I am going outside."
oOo
AMERICA — SAM'S COLLEGE
Sam slammed the door behind her. How much more humiliating would this all get? Is this all I have left? To "fall back" on teaching? Isn't there anything left? Maybe I should just take that military offer.
She closed her eyes and breathed in slowly. Breathed out. She wanted to scream in frustration. How did this happen?
Her heart beat twice in rapid succession. She felt something, like a pulse of something different.
Just frustration, she thought, nothing to worry about.
Again, the feeling came over her. She adjusted the watch on her wrist, focused her attention on the watch. In the sunlight, the silver-colored band glistened. The outline of the silver butterfly seemed to flutter, as if coming alive.
I need to get some more sleep. Only two hours left for class. Then I'll get some sleep.
The strange pulsing continued. She saw a black butterfly fly past her and soar higher into the sky.
What a strange feeling I have.
A screech, like a movie monster broke into the air.
What the hell?
The sound came again. It seemed now like a crazed bird.
She ran back to the classroom, and asked the closest person, "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" the man asked.
The screech came again.
"That," Sam said.
The man shook his head. "I don't hear anything."
An eerie feeling came over her, and a strange wind brushed past her. Her eyes widened. Creeping along towards them was a strange creature. It looked like a giant lizard with a white mask over its eyes and snout. A gaping black hole remained in its middle.
Sam looked at the man. He didn't seem to see it.
He looked at her quizzically.
Another creature came beside the lizard. Like a giant purple King Kong, it looked around, searching for something. It, too, had a mask. It sniffed the air, then, like a dog, seemed to identify something it wanted. It roared and charged towards Sam and the man. She switched a fighting stance facing it.
"Stop!" she yelled. A bright, white light emanated from her watch and surrounded her completely.
