NOTE: REVAMPED AS OF MARCH/18

Chapter 1

Aoki Haruna stared straight ahead into the abyss that had become her life. What was that saying about lemons and lemonade? Make lemonade when you're given lemons, or something? Whoever first said that was really dumb.

Or they were actually talking about lemonade.

The chalkboard blurred together and Ochi-sensei's voice started to sound like a garbled mess. The ticking of the clock seemed to slow down…painfully…brutally. Haruna's fingers tightened on her pencil and she chewed the inside of her mouth until Ochi-sensei's voice cut in like a siren.

"All right everyone, that's it for today! Remember, your assignments are due tomorrow! Have a good evening, and don't be the little delinquents I know most of you are!" Her voice was far too enthusiastic.

Haruna sighed and slung her book bag over her shoulder before exiting the classroom. What was the point of all this, she asked herself?

'School is dumb. Kids are dumb. 6 1/2 hours in a classroom is a lot more brutal than it seems.'

When life gives you lemons…

'These lemons are rotten. Rotten lemonade. I hate lemonade.'

"Aoki-chan!" A delicate voice rang out behind her.

Haruna looked over her shoulder and saw Inoue Orihime bounding over to her, waving excitedly.

"What's up, Inoue?"

She grinned, "Wanna come over tonight? I'm making a special taiyaki-style ramen with wasabi and honey!"

Haruna cringed. How the poor girl remained alive and lucid with all these science experiments she kept ingesting was beyond her understanding. Was that why her boobs were so big?

"Um thanks, Inoue, but no thanks. I have…homework to finish."

Orihime's face dropped, but lit up again with a small smile. "No problem! Maybe next time!" she exclaimed before bounding away.

'Or never, please and thanks.'

Haruna watched as the walnut-haired girl bounced away. She really was a sweet girl, despite her naivety. It was hard to dislike her, Haruna had to admit.

The girl continued, walking past another bright-haired phenomenon that caught her attention like a signal flare.

The boy nodded at her, "See you tomorrow, Aoki."

"You too, Kurosaki." She replied nonchalantly.

Ah, Kurosaki Ichigo. The star of the show.

Haruna grumbled, annoyed. Apparently, 'star of the show' was taken seriously, and she contemplated her own mental state as she stood behind a wall, watching as a ridiculous scene unfurled before her.

"Now go and apologize, otherwise next time those flowers will be for you!" Ichigo boomed, face livid in fury.

The three thugs, boys really, muttered hasty apologies before scampering away like little ants.

Haruna stood quietly in her spot, watching curiously, as Ichigo and the female spirit he was defending exchanged final words.

The female disappeared from view momentarily, and Ichigo paused before turning back around, staring ahead at the direction Haruna was in. "So you gonna stand there and watch forever?"

Guess half-assed sneakiness really wasn't effective, Haruna though amusedly before walking out. "Keen observation, Kurosaki. But your loud-ass voice can also attract attention."

Ichigo smirked and waited till Haruna walked up beside him before continuing on his way home, the two walking side-by-side.

Haruna glanced up at him, noting his impressive height and build, and thinking that fate did a decent enough job at making sure the "chosen one" or whatever was actually physically capable of handling half the crap that was possibly about to be thrown at him.

"So is there a reason you're following me home?" The boy asked, nonplussed.

Haruna scoffed, "Don't flatter yourself, Kurosaki. You may be attractive, but you're not my type. This happens to be my way home, too."

Ichigo side-eyed the girl, "It…is? Where do you live?"

As the two came along the entryway of a certain shop, Haruna stopped and sighed, before making a motion towards it.

Ichigo's eyes widened, surprised. "You live with Mr. Hat n' Clogs?"

"It's a long story," Haruna sighed.

"Is he like…your dad?"

"Like I said, it's a long story." Haruna stared at the boy who was looking a her with utter confusion dripping off his features.

"There's a lot of things that are long stories with you, aren't there, Aoki?" Ichigo asked slowly, bemused with a hint of suspicion.

Haruna noted his tone. Oh he had no idea. "It's a strange life I live, but you would know all about strange lives, right?"

The boy quirked his brow before smirking, "I guess so. Well, see you around, Aoki."

And with a final wave, the two departed and Haruna walked into the store.

"Oh, look who it is! Guess you didn't skip school after all, loser." The red-haired little shit, Jinta, quipped as she made her way inside.

"Shut up, turnip. I can beat you up without even looking." Haruna spat back, sticking her tongue out childishly.

"Try me!"

"Haru-chan~!" A jovial voice cut in between the banter, and Haruna grimaced as she watched a figure emerge from one of the doorways.

Urahara slinked over to her, grinning like a mad-man and waving his fan about. "How was school?" he drawled, snaking his arm over her shoulder.

Haruna made a face before plucking the arm off, "It would be better if I didn't actually have to go."

Jinta snorted, "You skip half the time anyway."

Urahara laughed as the girl comically lunged for an attack, and held her back, "But education is great!"

"Define great." She grumbled, glaring at Jinta who was cackling maniacally.

"And how is our fine-feathered strawberry friend?" Urahara asked ignoring her mutterings.

Haruna turned and looked at the man suspiciously, "Fine…maybe he would be better if you actually told me any details as to why I'm stalking the poor soul?"

Urahara merely grinned, "In due time, my dear~." He looked off into the distance, pondering something, before starting again, "And how is Inoue Orihime? And…Yasutaro Sado?"

Haruna stared at him, surprised, "Uh…what?"

Urahara laughed, "Aha, as expected, these youngsters are truly reveling in their prime! Just keep an eye on them, hm?"

"What the hell is going on, old man?!" Haruna burst out, shoving Urahara's shoulder.

Urahara seemed to sober up, as he glanced upward in thought. "I'm surprised you haven't sensed it yet."

There was a pause on Haruna's end as she contemplated what he said. "The reiatsu, you mean?" she mentioned quietly, "Shinigami come and go all the time, Kisuke. It doesn't mean anything."

"I suppose. But this time, it might be different."

Haruna quirked her brow, "You know, I don't think it would kill you to not be so cryptic all the time."

The sudden downshift of mood that took over the room withered off as Urahara laughed, dismissing her with a wave of her hand. "In due time, my dear! Just make sure our friends are doing well, hm~?"

The girl grimaced, brushing aside strands of her long, chocolate-brown hair. Her bright, violet eyes watched as the old man slinked back to where he came from, Jinta following behind and turning to give her one more snarky look. She sighed and headed towards her room.

When life gives you lemons…

Haruna was a woman of acquiescence, she admitted, but she knew that it was for the right reasons and right times—most of the time. She never questioned when Urahara asked to look over the Kurosaki boy fifteen years ago, and she still didn't question it. She knew the circumstances. She only wondered what her place was in all of it. Even for Ichigo himself.

She sighed, quietly and with a hint of sadness. Over a hundred years, she thought. Over a hundred years of uncertainty and apprehension, only for it to continue in full-force.

When life gives you lemons…

Haruna was left thinking what the hell kind of lemonade life wanted her to make.