The holy hour of freedom had begun. Lunch time! All the students clamoured out of their classrooms quickly to gossip any new information they had just learned. However, Inspector Yoruichi wasn't so pleased.

"Kisuke, do you not see anything wrong with this picture?"

"Why? It looks exactly like a canvas of artistic ingenuity." He replied while appreciatively eyeing a cheerleader walking by.

"Well…this canvas of ingenuity needs to change or you will not get the funding for the library renovation. Honestly! This school is organized neater than my shoe closet and that's saying something! What happened to that something called school spirit?"

"Well, I do see your point but what can I do? Students just like to mingle with someone else who matches their area of interest."

"Repromote school spirit. Isn't that the principal's job? I'll give you two weeks and I want to start seeing these different cliques opening up their horizons." Yoruichi glared at Urahara who was still eyeing the blonde cheerleader. When he caught her piercing gaze, he stammered out

"Okay…leave it to me."

Somewhere in the parking lot, a tall guy dressed in a tight leather jacket stepped of his Harley-Davidson. He took off his helmet to reveal his bright tangerine locks of hair. Karakura's resident bad boy had arrived. With his chiselled and edgy features, he was one of the handsomest guys at Karakura High, but it was that dangerous glint in his sepia-toned orbs that made all the girls go wild. As he made his way down the hallway, he bumped into a petite figure.

"Watch where you're going."

"S…sorry." She stuttered back. The girl's gray eyes were puffy and red. The guy couldn't help feeling sorry for snapping at her. He couldn't help acknowledging that she kinda looked cute. However, he ignored her and continued his way down the hall. But then, he heard a voice.

"Ichigo Kurosaki, please report to the principal's office at the end of the school day." The boy was about to ignore it but the voice went on. "…Unless you want another year's supply of detention, it will be in your best interest to be here this instant." He let out a groan.

Meet Ichigo Kurosaki, Karakura High's resident bad boy.

A young girl quickly locked herself inside a bathroom stall. Her heart was pounding. She couldn't believe that she had just managed to escape without a single scratch after bumping into the infamous Kurosaki. She stifled a smile. Despite the horrid rumours about him beating up a policeman, she couldn't help thinking that his patented scowl was cute. When she heard the bathroom door open, her breathing hitched. She had just remembered why she was hiding inside a bathroom stall instead of happily munching away on her red bean paste, pickle dip covered salmon roe, egg sandwich. Ever since she entered high school, she became the laughingstock of the popular kids. However, she heard a voice on the announcement.

"Orihime Inoue, please report to the principal's office at the end of the school day." The auburn haired girl was about to groan. Now a certain black haired midget was going to find her for sure. "Anyone who tries to stop her will be sorry." She finally smiled.

Meet Orihime Inoue, Karakura High's social outcast.

Violet eyes were scanning icily through the hallways. She pushed people out of her way. Despite her petite stature, she was feared by the student body, as she was the school's queen bee-tch. Her favourite activity was tormenting anyone who was deemed weaker than her and at the moment, Orihime was her new victim. Ever since she heard a new rumour about Ichigo showing interest in that pitiful creature, she began to hate Orihime with a passion.

"Rukia Kuchiki, please report to the principal's office at the end of the school day." Rukia scoffed. "Kurosaki will also be here." The announcement continued. Rukia couldn't help grinning.

Meet Rukia Kuchiki, Karakura High's queen bee-tch.

Nothing meant more to this red-head than winning the football championship under his lead. Sweat which collected near his brow lines from football practice trickled down. After quenching his throat, he looked around for Rukia. Everyone knew he had a major crush on her. Aside from football, Rukia was the only other thing he showed immense passion. Before he could resume his exercise drill, he heard a voice coming from the announcement.

"Renji Abarai, please report to the principal's office at the end of the school day." Renji wondered if it was about the football scholarship. The voice went on. "And no, Renji. It is not about the scholarship." Renji shook his head in disbelief.

Meet Renji Abarai, Karakura High's football captain

Pushing up his spectacle, he hunched over a new quantum problem. Nothing excited him more than figuring out the solution to a nearly impossible problem or outwitting the teacher. He devoured all problems thrown in his face and poured over books beyond university level. He was Karakura's academics pride. He was the face of their school's Math-athon. However, he was the butt of every nerd joke that ever existed. He looked around to see if Kurosaki was anywhere within his radar to taunt him. No Kurosaki.

"Uryu Ishida, please report to the principal's office at the end of the school day." The bespectacled boy pushed up his glasses one more time.

Meet Uryu Ishida, Karakura High's uber nerd.

She always wanted to be part of the in crowd. She always tried to follow the latest trend. She always looked up to Rukia. The only problem was she was so plain. Despite, Rukia treating her no better than the fleas nestled in cat fur, she followed her around like a shadow. She admired Rukia in every way. Rukia was pretty, talented and worshipped. She was the juxtaposition of plainness. She went into the washroom to look for Orihime. She couldn't help feeling sorry for Orihime. She did seem like a nice girl and Nemu kind of liked her but if Rukia wanted her to pummel her that was exactly what she was going to do.

"Nemu Kurotsuchi, please report to the office at the end of the school day. Rukia will also be here." The girl's eyes lighted up in delight.

Meet Nemu Kurotsuchi, Karakura High's official plain jane.

He might be the new guy but he wasn't someone to mess around with. He made sure everyone knew that. With his teal hair and stand-offish stance, he looked intimidating. He didn't have any friends and he preferred it that way. He liked being independent. He wolf whistled at a green haired girl nearby. Her skirt was revealing her long sinewy legs. The girl winked at him. He grinned as he walked off.

"Grimmjow Jeagerjacques, please report to the office at the end of the school day." Grimmjow rolled his eyes. It was probably about a new school orientation that he didn't want to be bothered about.

Meet Grimmjow Jeagerjacques, Karakura High's new guy.

She was chattering with her other cheer peers. She was childish and silly but she was also a well-rounded and good natured person. With her delicious plump pout, long limy locks and bronzy skin, she was the object of affection to every hormone filled male specimen. So when a new face wolf-whistled at her, being used to the attention, she winked at him. When he walked off, she couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. That boy looked HOT.

"Neliel Tu Odverschvank, please report to the office at the end of the school day." Neliel sighed.

Meet Neliel Tu Odverschvank, Karakura High's cheer princess.

Eight students circled around Urahara's office. However, the principal was nowhere in sight. They heard the bell ringing signalling the end of the school day.

"This is stupid. I'm gone." Ichigo walked towards the door. When he twisted the knob, to his surprise, it was locked. "What the fuck?" He kicked the door. A voice came from the announcement.

"Don't bother, Kurosaki. That door will not open until all the other students have gone home."

"But Principal Urahara, today's the last day of school before the winter holidays. I need to go home too." Orihime shyly murmured.

"Well, Orihime...this will be your new home for the next fourteen days. All eight of you will be living here together." The voice replied.

"Why the fuck are we doing that?" Rukia snapped.

"To enjoy the company of other different individuals from yourself."

"Are you fucking kidding me? I can't stand anyone in here, especially that stupid airhead." Rukia pointed at Orihime.

"Well, I rather resign from the Math-athon than be in the same room as Kurosaki." Uryu pushed his glasses up.

"Shut up Ishida if you don't want your precious snooty face punched beyond recognition." Ichigo sneered.

"You the new guy? Interested in joining the football team?" Renji asked Grimmjow, ignoring the commotion between the other two guys.

"Nah. Not interested in that stuff but I like soccer." The two hunks immediately engaged themselves in a conversation about soccer.

In another corner, Neliel started talking to Orihime.

"I love your hairpins! Where did you get them?" Neliel squealed.

"My brother gave them to me before he passed away." Orihime replied shyly. Her stomach which was bolder than her, decided to use that time message a distress signal.

"I'm really hungry too." Neliel grinned sheepishly. "I'm so craving for a red bean paste, pickle dip salmon roe covered egg sandwich." She sighed, thinking about her favourite delicacy.

"You know what? When Principal Urahara opens that door, I can share my red bean paste, pickle dip salmon roe covered egg sandwich with you!" Orihime happily expressed. It was exactly that moment when Neliel and Orihime formed an impenetrable friendship over a red bean paste, pickle dip salmon roe covered egg sandwich.

In the meanwhile, Nemu was trying her best to impress Rukia.

"Rukia, I really like your shoes. Where did you get them?"

"Of course you like them. These are limited edition shoes from Versace. Something you can never come close to seeing in real life, if it weren't for me." Rukia sneered.

"Limited edition? It must cost thousands of dollars."

"Can't you go bother someone else? I really don't want to talk to you. Go hang with that dumb airhead or something." That was when they all heard the door make a 'click' sound. Renji quickly went over and tried the door. It opened.

"Finally." Everyone said. They all dashed out to the front entrance. For some odd reason, when they discovered that it was locked, it didn't even dazzle them.

"I think Urahara meant it when he said, we are going to live here for two weeks."

"Yeah, well I want out, Neliel." Rukia stomped her feet.

"How about we spread out and try to find a way to escape?" Orihime added in.

"Someone besides me still has a functioning brain." Uryu nodded towards Orihime.

"Well, yours won't be functioning anymore, if you don't shut your trap." Rukia kicked him in the knee.

"Fine. Let's take a look around. We'll meet back here in a hour." Ichigo turned his back and walked away. Everyone followed suit.

I want to thank everyone who reviewed "A Manhattan Tragedy" Reviews like those really do boost a neubie writer's morale. They were encouraging and definitely helpful at the same time!

I also want to thank Blitch for her constant feedbacks! Like what she said, "THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ICHIHIME LOVING". Let's spread the Ichihime Love, people!