-1Character List [Chapter 1

(REMEMBER IT'S A FANFIC)

Tamaya Aramaki: 6 year old from Karakura, Japan. Born on April 10, 1993, died June 12, 1999. Entered the Soul Society at age 6 by Toshiro Hitsugaya. Joined Sayuri and Takuya Watashi's makeshift family. On the back of her left shoulder are the words "Bachiatari Tamashii" which literally means "Cursed Soul." She has shoulder length orange hair with cheek-long bangs that fall into her face and big reddish-brown eyes. Tamaya has a huge dream of becoming a Shinigami and is a magnet for danger and trouble.

Takuya Hiroshimi: 5 year old originally from Tokyo, Japan. He was born on July 19, 1994 and died on May 12, 1999 in a gruesome car accident. He stubborn and tends to be selfish at times, showing no respect for Tamaya and ignoring her all together. He his light blue eyes and messy blonde hair with falls into his face

Sayuri Watashi: Sayuri is an intelligent blue-haired girl with magnificent green eyes. She's very educated on the ways of Shinigami and doesn't approve of Tamaya's dream, but is loving all the same of both Takuya and Tamaya. She once had a brother who was murdered by Shinigami for doing something 'inappropriate' to the society. It was her blood brother who died from cancer, she joined up with him in the 75th District, which is rare. Sayuri herself died from loneliness from loosing her brother.

Toshiro Hitsugaya: A 13 year old white-haired Shinigami with turquoise eyes. He reaches about 4 foot 4 and has a deep interest in Tamaya, being the one who sent her to the Soul Soceity, and also a Captain-rank genius.

Old Lady Seion: The elderly in Tamaya's part of the 75th District. Old Lady Seion is an expert with healing herbs and sells them to make a living. Sayuri get's a discount on them, also being a healer, Takuya spends a lot of time around her little shop and Tamaya usually runs errands for Old Lady Seion.

Tora Aramaki: Tamaya's younger sister, a mirror image of Tamaya herself, they look like twins.

Chapter 1

When Life Actually Begins

Life can be a pain. It can harden your soul and leave you in despair. My life began at one point in time, but it had to end before that happened. When that happened, all my life consisted of was taking two steps forward and one step back. I moved, but nothing moved with me. I walked, but nothing matched my pace…My name is Tamaya Aramaki, and this is my story.

My life started on June 12, 1999 at the age of 6

Two steps forward and one step back, Tamaya repeated in her head. She glanced up from looking at her feet, ignoring the chain hanging from her chest altogether for once. Ahead of her walked a little shoulder-length orange-haired girl with bangs that fell in her face and flowed off to the sides reaching to her cheeks. An exact mirror image of me, but she can move, Tamaya thought, wondering aloud, "What have I done to poor Tora and Okaa-san? Is Tou-san worried?" Tamaya sighed inwardly and lowered her head. She lifted her hand up and held the end of the chain in her up-turned palm. How much longer will this be here?

"I'm not giving up!" Tamaya growled under her breath, punching thin air, "I'll figure out the mystery of why I can't move today and right now!" Tamaya jumped forward in a hop to give herself a running start.

When that happened, all my life consisted of was taking two steps forward and one step back. I moved, but nothing moved with me. I walked, but nothing matched my pace.

Thump!

"Ah! Ugh no!" Tamaya growled pulling herself into a sitting position on her knees, "I almost had it! Everything was….wasn't moving?" She lifted her head up and glanced around. Her surroundings were the same. The small, empty strip of a backstreet to two rows of houses. The wooden lamppost and the tin garbage can with it's lid halfway off.

Tamaya sighed and closed her eyes to fight back the oncoming tears. She clenched her tiny hands, which were on the ground supporting her in the position she was sitting, into fists. "Why?" She wondered aloud, looking up and stopping. A black shape hovered in the sky…not the sky, in air, above her.

The black and purple shape minded its own business. Hovering in mid-air as if there were no cares in the world. Instead of an angel, it looked like the devil.

Tamaya shook her head. "No not the devil. But…a black butterfly?" She lifted her head up again and studied the shape, reaching out for it delicately. Too mesmerized, Tamaya watched it flutter higher into the air and disappear for a second.

"So you like butterflies?" A gentle, male's voice, came. Tamaya glanced over too quickly, making her head spin. She blinked away the dizziness and clutched her stomach to get rid of the sickening feeling. What's this strong feeling? Where did that boy come from?

In answer, Tamaya nodded slightly, studying the boy who had is chin tilted towards the black butterfly, which had reappeared. "Huh? Uh…oh…h-hai."

He smiled slightly, his white hair shining silver in the sunlight and his greenish-blue eyes holding no expression of feelings, as if he were hiding them. He reached about 4 foot 4, to the middle of the brick wall he was standing in front of, next to the wooden lamppost. "Do you know anything about butterflies?"

Tamaya shook her head. "I only know a few butterflies. Ulysses butterflies are blue and black…they're my favorites. But this butterfly is prettier," she murmured, watching the butterfly land on a pebble in front of her. Tamaya's brown eyes brightened at the sight of the peaceful butterfly. It's not the devil. It's the soul of a lost one.

Tamaya glanced up when the boy had taken a step forward and kneeled down next to her. For the first time, she noticed his clothing, a black shihakuso and a white sleevless haori. He lowered his hand down to the butterfly and placed his finger on the tip of its wing. "Do you know this butterfly?" Tamaya shook her head and looked back at the butterfly, then at the boy. "It's called a Hells Butterfly."

"It's the soul of a lost one?" Tamaya asked, smiling down on the butterfly.

"Hai. You could say that," he murmured, "Mou, what's your name, Imoutou-chan?"

Tamaya giggled. "I-Imoutou-chan? Now I'm a little sister?" she asked with a big wide grin, "My…my name is Tamaya Aramaki."

"Toshiro," the boy replied quietly, holding the chain in his up-turned hand as she had done, "you know what has happened to you?"

"Hai," Tamaya sighed, "I had a stomach sickness…and passed away. My last memories are of my mom sobbing uncontrollably." Tamaya looked down at his hand and placed hers on his wrist gently, running her fingers over his veins going down his arm.

"Your lucky," Toshiro sighed, letting his eyes stray away, "You aren't a soul bounded to a place, filled with regret or hate to where a Hollow will come to get you, and you haven't had a Hollow chase you either. You're a Pure Soul, ready to move on…?"

Move on, Tamaya echoed in her head, gripping his wrist in her small hand, "What about Okaa-san…Tou-san…and Tora-chan?" Tamaya looked up at his turqouise eyes, which were looking at her now.

"They'll be fine…" Tamaya whispered, letting her hand drop as Toshiro stood up and looked down at her. She glanced at the butterfly, then up at him, "A better place it is then," she added, grabbing onto Toshiro's outstretched hand.

I was born on April 10, 1993 at 12:32 AM in Karakura, Japan. But the time I was really born, I was complete. I was born on June 12, 1999 at 4:25 PM in the 75th District Rukongai of the Soul Society. The Soul Society is split into two parts, the Rukongai is the worst, the Seireitei is where the Soul Reapers live, which is the best. If you are born into royalty like a noble, you live in the Seireitei to begin with. The Rukongai is split into sections numbered 1-80. The lower the number, the worse the district. I had it pretty bad…

Loud, but small, footsteps pounded on the floor of the 75th District of the Rukongai, through the deathly silence of the evening, people ignoring a newcomer and leaving for their houses. The little girl's shoulder length orange hair flew out behind her in a fan, her orange cheek-long bangs flew out of her face to show the frightened expression in her reddish-brown eyes, as if they were saying "I'm going to die here again." Run…run…RUN! The girl thought desperately, wanting to scream out, Just run for your life!

The laughing of the three men's voices came from behind her. The tall, darker one seemed to be the loudest. All of them were unique, for being drunk. The one who seemed to be the leader was darker. He had messy black hair and stubble on his face with broad shoulders and a bulky appearance, reaching about 6 foot 7 in height and dark brown eyes. The second one was lighter. He had blonde hair that reached to his mid-neck with bangs that fell in his face and a clean shave. He was the slender one who seemed more gentle with a sly smile and blue eyes with a slender neck, body trim, and broad shoulders reaching about 6 foot 2 in height. The smaller one was about 5 foot 8 in height and was a smaller version of the leader but with green eyes.

In the Rukongai, the lower you go, the less people care about little kids. If your too small, someone could stomp on you. If your too much of a kid, you'll get taken advantage of and possibly die. Those who are still young, don't have money and adults don't care, they'd let you starve. So you have to stick up for yourself. Stealing is good, fighting lessons help, and just plain childish trickery can save your life.

Tamaya didn't mean to get such a clear description of them. But when you make eye-contact with the wrong people, it happens. Tamaya slid down as if she were play baseball and stealing a base, sliding in the dirt of the 75th District and making a sharp turn around a corner. She picked herself up and ran at full speed, only to stop short in front of a cobblestone wall of an alley. No! How'd this happen!? I was watching where I was going! Tamaya spun around to get a head start and escape the men, her right arm flaying wildly when she spun around, only to be caught in the grasp of the miniature dark-haired man. Tamaya gasped in surprise and cringed backwards, pulling her arm to try and loosen it from his grip. She stumbled backwards on accident, the man went with her on purpose, and right into the open arms of the blonde man.

"Oi! No! Let go!" Tamaya screamed, the blonde cringed a little and nuzzled into Tamaya's neck, who let out a growl. "LET GO WHAT THE HELL DID I EVER DO TO YOU!?!?" She screamed. The short man flinched at her scream and covered his ears, letting go of her arm. The blonde one tightened his grip around her waist, Tamaya fumbled with his arms which were wrapped around her and squirmed around.

"Mou, your our toy tonight so you have to play along," the blonde whispered in her ear, "Understand little gi-GAH!" Tamaya jumped forward as the blonde stumbled backwards and sidestepped to dodge the leader's blow, tripping and falling, she looked up to see what had caused the commotion.

About 12 feet away stood a small blonde-haired boy, not much smaller than Tamaya herself, with blue eyes and a bunch of pebbles in his hand. A taller woman stood next to him, her blue hair reaching to her mid back with cheek-long bangs that fell to the side of her face and bright green eyes, which showed hatred.

"OI! Leave her alone!" The blue-haired woman roared. The leader grinned mischievously and lowered his hand towards Tamaya's back, who growled.

"I SAID LEAVE HER ALONE! Scram!" The lady yelled, the younger boy threw a rock, aiming perfectly at his head. The man above Tamaya stumbled backwards. Tamaya jumped up and stumbled towards the boy and lady. The blonde boy dropped all of the rocks, and studied Tamaya while the blue-haired lady glared at the three men. "Scram, now!"

The chances of finding someone to rescue, or care at all, for you in the lowest districts of the Rukongai are rare. Surviving is just as rare. Not all people who enter the Soul Society find the perfect life they once had in the Material World, but I was able to. My life was sure to end at that point in time, but thanks to two strangers I lived, so I had a purpose in life. I left nothing behind at home and I found everything in this opposite world.

Tamaya gazed into space, feeling the air of the three men brush past her. She flinched at the new weight on her shoulder. Tamaya blinked and gazed ahead, the blue-haired woman was kneeling down in front of her to make eye contact. Her brilliant green eyes showed sympathy now. "Are you okay, little girl?"

Little girl, Tamaya thought, The third time. Tamaya nodded slightly. "H-hai," she murmured.

"Your hands and knees?" The woman prompted, "What about the scrapes on them?"

"They'll be fine," Tamaya whispered. The woman nodded and held out her hand to Tamaya.

"Let us go somewhere more peaceful," she said gently. Tamaya nodded and took the woman's hand, who led her out of the alley. She took a left. All of the buildings looked the same, brown ragged and worn, except for one little shop just ahead with two large pots of flowers outside on either side of the door.

Once inside Tamaya sat down in a corner of the building, which looked like a small shop, the woman kneeled down in front of her and took her hand, studying the scrapes. She turned back to the blonde boy who had a glare on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. "Takuya, go get Old Lady Seion."

"Tsk," Takuya hissed, spinning around and going through a door to the opposite side of the building behind a desk. The shop had shelves everywhere in the shop, lined in neat rows. On the South side of the building was a small desk and a cash register, a door behind it and stairs to the East of the room, leading up to the second story.

"My name is Sayuri Watashi," she said with a sweet smile, "Do you have a name you go by, young lady?"

"Oh…ano…h-hai," Tamaya stammered, "I-I'm Tamaya…Tamaya Aramaki…"

Sayuri smiled. "Tamaya. What a pretty name," she said, glancing over her shoulder as Takuya returned with a pitcher of water in one hand and a glass in the other. An older lade with wavy silver hair that reached to her shoulders, from old age, followed behind him in a traditional red kimono with gold dragons on it and a yellow ribbon tied around her waist. She smiled slighing. "Konnichiwa."

Tamaya nodded and Sayuri took the pitcher and glass from Takuya. "Takuya, introduce yourself." Takuya crossed his arms over his chest and glared away. Sayuri sighed and poured some water into the glass, the ice clanking on the sides. She turned around and handed the glass to Tamaya, who took it, hands slightly shaking. Sayuri set the pitcher on the ground next to her. "Gomen ne, Takuya is just a little stubborn. Do you have a family? A family that will worry where you are?"

Tamaya shook her head. "Nope. I've…I've just come to this place."

"So you have no family…" Sayuri echoed quietly, "Would you like to stay with us? Takuya and myself, I mean?"

"NO I WONT ALLOW IT!" Takuya cried out, spinning around to face Sayuri and Tamaya. Tamaya looked curiously up at the boy, who looked as if he were about to burst into tears, "You promised it would be just you and me Sayuri-nee! You can't let her live with us!"

Sayuri's face softed and she reached up to stroke Takuya's cheek. "That doesn't mean we shouldn't help a person in need. I've always taught you that, Takuya."

Tamaya glanced at Old Lady Seion, who was nodding. "Yes, dear Takuya. Young Sayuri has always taught you right from wrong. And this young girl - Tamaya was it? - she definitely needs a home, Takuya."

Sayuri sighed and stood up. "Such a stubborn boy. Takuya, Tamaya needs a home. We're the only people who can provide her with one. Old Lady Seion is just too elderly to take care of someone who has just passed away and entered the Soul Society. You know that, Takuya, I did the same thing for you."

"No!" Takuya lashed out, "I don't want anything to do with her! Didn't you see the trouble she can cause with those three men!? If I have to protect her every time…no! If you have to protect her every time something happens…I won't allow it you can get hurt Sayuri-nee!!" Takuya pointed at Tamaya accusingly, "Can't you see the danger she'd cause for our family of two!?"

Sayuri reached out to touch Takuya's shoulder, who just shrugged it away. Tamaya jumped up. "No!" Takuya stared at Tamaya blankly and Old Lady Seion as well as Sayuri looked at Tamaya curiously.

"I'm not that much of a threat. We're in the 75th District of the Rukongai. Don't you know how much a kid can get in trouble!? It wasn't my fault I looked desperate and needed help, but looked at the wrong people! I understand that now!" Takuya's hands clenched into fists and he growled. Tamaya returned the growl with a glared and lifted her hand up, smacking it across Takuya's face, who sidestepped to catch himself. "Don't come to conclusions about someone unless you know them!"

Old Lady Seion's giggling made Tamaya and Takuya both stare up at her curiously. "Oh poor Young Sayuri. These two are so energetic you'll have such a handful!"

Sayuri sweat dropped and rubbed her neck. "Yeah I guess…bakas…they're mirror images of each other.

"ARE NOT!" Tamaya and Takuya squeaked in unison. Sayuri burst into a fit of laughter and Old Lady Seion's giggling increased. Tamaya and Takuya spun to face each other with identical glares. "Bakayaro!" They growled in unison again.

Sayuri whacked both of them on the top of their head. "That's far enough! Now, let's get home you two."

Takuya put on a pouting face. "I still want nothing to do with her…"

"Yeah and I'll stay away from you!" Tamaya retorted.

All the same. I have never forgotten my family in the Material World, Tora my Imoutou-chan, my Okaa-san, and my Tou-san. Never will I forget them. But never can I walk into their lives again, so pushing them to the back of my memory is what I choose to do. Takuya-kun and Sayuri-nee, as well as Old Lady Seion, is my family for now.