Hey guys! I'm brand new, and this is my very first fanfic. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope to update it regularly! Please leave reviews and let me know what you think (plot-wise, writing style, what you hope to see)! 3 Much love. Sorry if this chapter is short.

Couples: Ichihime...possibly others

Setting: AU

Genre: Romance, angst, drama, action etc etc IT GETS DARK LATER OOUU~

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The morning was bright, if a bit chilly on this autumn day. The trees swayed ever so slightly under the pressure of the wind, whispering sweet nothings about the promise of a new semester. The campus before him was brimming with excited, chattering students who were completely unaware of anything other than themselves. All were discussing what campus life would be like in the coming semesters; some of the more saucy girls spoke of long awaited fantasies they hoped independent life would bring, while the more practical students discussed the various teachers and subjects that would engross them for the next four years. The first day of college brought a vitality, a hopefuless to the univeristy that was almost tangible. Kurosaki Ichigo looked on in bemusement and curiousity. A shock of bright orange hair adorned the top of his head in spikes, somehow managing to appear both styled and tousled at the same time. Large, calloused hands hid themselves in the pockets of his jeans, and he stood with a certain power and confidence that was hard not to notice. Though his features had a certain rough handsomeness to them, his usual scowl or indifferent expression made him look like a punk; the type of guy who would easily get into fights or cause mischief. And for the most part, this was true of his high school years. His muscular and somewhat scarred body could attest to this. Inwardly he was as soft as a marshmallow...but he wouldn't let anyone see that, hell no. Not if he could help it.

....With the exception of his girlfriend, of course.

"ICHIIGGGGOO~!" A familiar, high-pitched voice cried out from behind him. Ichigo's right eye twitched and he scowled at the realization of what was to come. Keigo suddenly jumped into the air, hands raised high as he speeded towards his target in mid-air. Closer, closer...almost there! Keigo could almost taste victory. "Ichiiiggoo! You never answer your cellphone! That's it, I know it, you---" He was mere inches away, fake tears welling up at the corner of his eyes, before the back of Ichigo's fist met Keigo's nose. He was silenced for the moment as he slid to the campus floor, the scowling face of Ichigo looming over Keigo's surprisingly motionless form. "What the hell?! First day of college and you're still acting like this?!" Ichigo yelled, stomping on Keigo as the latter dramatically coo'd, "Ichiiggoo, you're so meeaan!".

"Somethings never change, Kurosaki."

Ichigo blinked in surpise and looked up to see three familliar faces standing nearby. The one who spoke lifted up a hand to correct his glasses, placing them exactly where he liked them on the ridge of his nose before letting his arms rest at his sides. The young man in question, Ishida Uryuu, had a pale complexion and dark bluish-black hair that parted in the middle of his forehead and down the sides. He was as skinny as Ichigo's pinky, but more than made up for it in smarts and wit...which usually irritated the hell out of Ichigo, but he wasn't a bad guy. To the right of Uryuu stood his complete physical opposite; a tower of a man with a quiet, but powerful aura about him. His body was chiseled and deeply tanned, sporting dark brown curly hair and soft eyes. His voice was deep but unassuming. "We should start heading to class." Ichigo nodded, smirked, and began to follow the others towards the large building ahead of them. The third boy, short and engrossed in texting someone on his cellphone, motioned for Keigo to follow. "Chad's right. Let's go, Asano-san." The latter looked up pitifully and followed far behind, whining about something or the other that no one quite understood or listened to for that matter.

Ichigo was excited. It was going to be a good year, he could just feel it.

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"Kurosaki-kuuun~!" A cheerful voice permeated the air in stark white corridors, her voice so sweet that it overcame all others in the crowded university hallway. The dainty young woman who shuffled across the corridor towards the group nearly tripped over herself along the way, but managed to get to them in one piece. "Oof! These halls are so slippery!" She pouted, brushing off inexistant dust from her bright, cheerful clothing. Ichigo raised a brow at her antics, and smiled. Ichigo's smile was so rare that his friends were still trying to get used to it, even though he only ever smiled at the girl before them. His strong arms reached around and draped themselves over the girl's shoulders, pulling her to him. "I'm not 'Kurosaki', Orihime. I'm 'Ichigo' now." He leaned over to give her a soft kiss on the lips, to which she responded with an ever so soft sigh. "I-Ichigo..". She repeated, blushing lightly underneath his attention in such a public place. She just couldn't get used to it...her Kurosaki-kun (correction: Ichigo.) kissing her. It was new and still brought those butterflies into her tummy, even if it had already been a month. They were both shy about it at first, but they slowly had become more open about it.

It made her so happy.

Ichigo's eyes softened at the sight of his blush-stained Hime. She was beautiful. Long, auburn hair cascaded over creamy soft skin, while her bright smile was everpresent. Inoue Orihime was joy incarnate....and he loved her for it. Ichigo's large hand patted her head before shooing her playfully away. "Time for class, Orihime. Don't want to be late." He grinned. After some playfully reluctant responses, Orihime waved goodbye to the boys and ran off, her best friend Tatsuki in tow. Ichigo shook his head as he watched his Hime go, and raised a hand to his head in mock agitation. "What am I going to do with her?" He sighed, still smiling. He nodded towards his friends and all of them silently poured into the first class of the day. The first class of a whole semester; the first semester of a year. The first year of a new life, and Kurosaki Ichigo was excited.

---------------Meanwhile...------------------------

"Pfft. Why do I have to go after this sonuvabitch?" Growled the man in white. His elbow rested on a table, supporting his head on the palm of his hand. The light that filtered in through the half-covered window was barely enough to see by, but it could just barely illuminate the features of the man who just spoke. His expression was indifferent..lazy almost. But his eyes were sharp. They stared at someone from across the room, a piercing shade of blue that made his chiseled features stand out even more handsomely. There was a tapping sound as his impatience found its way down to his fingers atop the table, which was littered with papers and coins and other various trinkets. Some of which could be considered quite dangerous.

"You have nothing better to do. The others have more pressing matters to attend to." Was the simple response. In the darkness of that room, the one who bore the responding voice could not be seen. Just a dark silhouette of a man with a deadpan voice. There was a silence as the blue-eyed one thought for a moment, going over his orders in his head. Finally, he grinned. It was sinister...maniacal, practically reaching across both ears. The man in white leaned forward, his features suddenly animated and lively. The light revealed a shock of teal hair and shining eyes. The green markings around his eyes made him look even crazier than his grin already did.

"Alright, fine. Could be fun." He purred.

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Author: Who could these mysterious men be, and what could they possibly want? Tune in next time! hehehee~ Please leave feedback if you liked it (or not even!), thanks! 3