My name is Suzuna Kuraki and today is my sixteen birthday, the day I finally get out of this hell hole of an orphanage that I spent ten miserable years at since no one wanted to adopt me. I was rather the trouble maker in the orphanage and the nuns never liked me due to my attitude and my unbelievable story on how I was saved by an unknown alien. I was brought here by a strange bone look cat creature from another world, which killed one of the two shadows that ended up slaughtering my parents before my very eyes. That day haunts me in all my dreams even to this very day.
It was my sixth birthday as I sat on the bright blue carpet of my first grade classroom floor with my classmates playing games all around the room, my legs crossed in Indian style with my elbows resting on my knees while my little hands held up my face that had an unpleasant facial expression. I stare coldly at the clock like a vulture would do to its dying pray waiting for it to finally just die but in my case waiting for it to hit two p.m. so I could go home and spend my birthday the right way and not in school on the last day before summer vacation of course. The sound of the other kids laughing and running around the room brought more anger to me as I couldn't wait another twenty minutes for the bell to ring.
I tap my index finger to my flushed cheek counting every second that passes by. A small ball out of no where ends up making a rough impact to the back of my head. I clinch my fist while I shut my eyes and growl in frustration in my throat; quickly I stand up onto feet which were covered with pink and white poka dots socks. Turning around to face two snobby boys pointing and laughing at me, I clinch my fist even tighter as I let out a battle cry and charge for them knocking the one boy on the right over onto his back and started to wale on his face until he began to cry, the other boy takes ahold of my long lavender hair that was pin ever so nicely in a red bow trying to pull me off. I let out another scream, trying to get my hair out of his hands.
I kept the one boy pinned down with my hand against the side of his face digging the other side into the carpet while pulling my hair back like we were playing tug of war, I was almost to make breaking point where I was about to beat both of them up into a bloody pulp but before I had that chance an orange spiky haired boy comes up behind the bully and tackles him which was a dumb idea since he caused the bully to tumble on top of me and all four of us end up beating the snot out of one another.
The teacher ends up taking all four of us to time out the two bullies to one corner in one room and the orange haired kid and I to another room. Now I was even more angry that I was to be held back after the bell to "think of what I done wrong." I sat at my corner with my knees to my chest and my arms wrapped around them, I didn't know what emotion to feel at the moment, be upset or angry. I was brought out of my thoughts by the orange haired boy being not even two feet away from my face, he ends up startling me that I jump back and hit the back of my head against the wall. I rub the back of my head with my left eye closed, turning my right golden eye to him I growl softly.
"What do you want? Thanks to you I have to spend my birthday in time out."
I snap at him with a nasty tone of voice, he blinks his hazel eyes at me as he pulls himself off his hands and balances himself onto his knees, pointing to himself with a lost expression on his face before it turned into an angry expression.
"You're blaming me for us being in time out?! Last time I checked you were the one beating the crap out of the boys I just came to help you."
He throws back at me with the same tone of voice, lowering my knees into the Indian style position I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes to him.
"Even so, I didn't need your help. I was more then capable of protecting myself thank you very much."
His eyes narrow to my harsh words as he stood up in front of me, placing his hands to his hips as he replies back to me.
"Fine then, I guess you don't need friends either."
As he began to walk back to his corner I gently rub the fabric of my shirt sleeve and sigh knowing I had no friends because of my nasty attitude and temper. I close my eyes and wished I was nicer to others then maybe I would be able to have some friends.
"Wait, I'm….I'm sorry. My name is Suzuna Kuraki, what is your name?"
He turns and looks over his shoulder with a bright smile on his face; walking back over to me he sat down next to me.
"Ichigo Kurosaki is my name. It's nice to meet you."
I blush abit as I curl my knees back up to my chest and stare down at the floor feeling shy all of the sudden.
'Can we be best friends? I…I don't have any friends and would really like to."
He laughs at me as his arm wraps around my shoulders and pulls me into a side hug resting his cheek to the top of my messed up hair. I smile even more, closing my eyes I snuggle into his shirt and didn't really mind not being home with my parents for my birthday.
"Of course, best friends forever."
It was finally three o' clock as the door to our time out room opens and both our parents enter into the room with unhappy facial expressions. We looked at one another and gave "I'm in big trouble" look before we got up and made our way out of the classroom and out of the school. I kept my arms crossed over my chest the whole way home as we were walking since home was only four blocks away from the school.
"Now Suzu why were you in time out AGAIN for the third time this week?"
Asked my mother with a displeased tone of voice. I knew she was angry from how her nose wrinkles on the top bridge between her golden hues. I look up to her then to my father and gave him the puppy eye look hoping it would work for a third time but unfortunately it did not.
"Don't give me that look suzu you know you are in trouble, we don't like having to get a phone call from your teacher telling us you got into another fight again."
Spoke my father in a stern voice, I lower my head and began to kick small rocks here and there out of my walking path not wanting to explain myself again since it was always the same story. The same boys always pick on me and I end up beating them up, not much more to really tell my parents.
"Are you going to tell us or not?"
Asked my mother one last time as I knew if she has to ask a third time I was to be grounded. Growling loudly as I toss my head back roughly knowing I was not getting out of this sticky situation this time.
"The same boys keep bullying me and the teachers never do anything about it so I beat them up to make them stop."
I finally spit out and every word was true unlike the lies the two boys told the teacher that I started it. My mother and father rest their hands firmly on my shoulders and smile down at me.
"Fighting isn't always the answer suzu, sometimes you just have to be the mature one and ignore it."
Spoke my mother in a cheery voice, her long nails pressing softly into my skin. Turning to look up at my father I smile knowing he too had something to say.
"You may of made some bad discussions this week suzu but its still your birthday and we did promise you a picnic in Central park."
My golden hues light up with joy as I was so thrilled to know I was still going to have my birthday after all. When we finally reached home I helped mother made all the food and pack it neatly into the large red basket. Father tosses a red and white plaid picnic blanket over my head and tackle hugs me from behind. I let out a playful scream and flail around inside the blanket. Pulling the blanket off we fold the blanket back into a small perfect square and head out the door to the park in Karakura Town.
I skipped ahead of my parents holding the picnic blanket to my chest as I giggle softly to myself as I turn my head to gaze over my right shoulder to see my parents holding onto each other, laughing and kissing like two teenage love birds. My long Lavender locks dances delicately with the gentle summer breeze, my innocent golden eyes were filled with youth and happiness as we finally reached the park. I rush over to the largest cherry blossom tree in the park; I could hear my parents telling me to be careful in the distance but of course I usually never listen. I reach the tree and unfold the picnic blanket; taking a hold of two corners I whip the blanket into the air as it sways in the light breeze like ocean waves. It was hard to pull the blanket to the ground as the breeze kept wanting to pull the blanket from my grasp. I haler loudly as I bend my knees quickly and use all my force to tug the blanket down and ended up belly flopping onto the blanket to keep it in place. Fixing the lumps and bumps and the curved corners until it was perfect.
Letting out a sigh of relief my parents laugh even more as they see me still lying flat on the blanket top.
"What on earth are you doing suzu?"
Asked my mother puzzled.
"The wind wants to take the blanket away so I had to lay on it so the mean wind wouldn't take it away and ruin my birthday picnic."
I reply back still refusing to move until mother placed the picnic basket down on the blanket.
"Well looks like you won suzu, now lets get up so mother and I can place the food down."
I lift myself onto my knees to one corner as mother places the basket down and opens one side up, placing all the different types of food we made all around. My stomach begins to growl feeling so hungry, I place my hands to my rumbling stomach and scanned all the food to see which one I want to dig into first.
"All the food smells awesome mother, thank you again."
I spoke as I dug into the basket after she was done to gather the plastic plates and silverware and place them out nicely in front of us.
"Lets just hope the food taste as good as it smells."
Teased my father as he elbows mother in the rib cage softly knowing mother was always an amazing cook. We dug into the verity of dishes and ate until we were completely stuff, leaning my back against the white bark of the cherry tree I pat my swollen belly and giggle to myself.
"So what do you want to do for your summer vacation Suzu?"
Asked my mother who places her fork into her mouth slowly finishing off her plate.
"Can we go to the new aquarium that just finished a few months ago in down town?"
I watch as they turn to look at each other with a big smile on their faces before looking back at me.
"I don't know that pretty far and expensive suzu."
Said my mother in an upsetting tone. Father stuffing his face with the remaining leftovers on his plate as he tries to speak with a mouth full.
"It wont be…that expensive and we…could always take the bus there."
My mother nudges him hard in the rib cage with her elbow as she hates when father spoke with a full mouth that it was not classy to do so.
My eyes widen and my bottom lip curls up and trembles as I turn to look at my mother knowing she was the only one to say yes to the idea.
"Oh pretty please, May we go? I made straight A's all semester."
Mother cocks her head slightly to the side as she looks to father and sighs softly before turning to look over to me with a loving smile.
"Oh sure, why not. You deserve it."
I clap my hands together with a smile from ear to ear on my porcelain face. Standing up I gave both parents a hug and a kiss, thanking them. This was the best day out of my whole week and I was not going to let anything ruin this day. The day went by so quickly as I was full of food and full of energy, I got to my feet and rushed over to the swings. I hop on my favorite swing like I usually did every time we came to the park. Kicking off the ground I began to swing, back and forth as the warm summer breeze pulled my hair all over the place. I laugh loudly as I was surprised I managed to get myself to swing so high on my own. I felt like I could touch the sky and fly with the birds.
"Mother, Father Look how high I'm able to go?"
I giggle loudly as they turn to look over to me and wave as I waved back.
"Not so high Suzu."
Yelled my mother, of course always being the worry wart in the family.
Today was absolutely perfect but that all soon changed when the sound of a bone chilling roar caught my attention that pierced the air and pierced my heart with fear. I kept on swinging as I set my eyes on the sky where I heard it from; I quickly turned my sights to my parents who didn't even seem to notice that horrifying sound. I was forced to look back into the sky and saw a hole being ripped in the middle of the sky, my jaw drops and I was in shock that this was happening and no one even seemed to notice it.
Two enormous blurry figures emerge from the black hole in the sky, I squint my golden hues trying to make out what on earth that it was but with no use I was unable to identify the odd looking figures. I was able to see that the blurry figures land in the middle of the park with great impact causing the ground underneath them to shake. I dig my shoes into the sand and stop the swing as I cling onto the chain tightly shaking like a leaf.
I was about to take off to my parents but a calm male voice told me to stay put and to not go to my parents. For some reason I listen and kept my distance the roar from the figures grew louder, goosebumps form on the surface of my skin and gave me chills.
Tears begin to swell up in the corner of my eyes and stream down my face as I was able to make out that the two blurry figures were charging towards my parents, turning my sight to them I scream loudly.
"Mother, father watch out!"
My parents look over to me with a worried look on their faces as they look around and didn't even see the horror that was coming their way. My mother got onto her feet and made her way over to me but before she even got close the figure yanks her up and shook her like a rag doll. I cover my ears and began to cry as I was unable to take my eyes off of what was happening, my father scream in fright as he could only see the love of his life in mid air all alone. The monster didn't take much time to rip her body in half, the sound of her bones breaking and flesh ripping apart overwhelmed my ears as the one figure devour her one piece at a time, blood and body parts oozed down the outline of the figure. Once the one figure was finished with my mother the second figure turns towards my father. I could only shake in fear from afar as I watch my father back himself against the trunk of the cherry blossom tree with his eyes moving all over the place unable to see what I was able to; he managed to look towards me with tears filling his eyes. The figure lifts what seems to be his massive claw up and slams it against the torso of my father, pinning him to the tree before it begins to tear one limb at a time off my father's body.
He did not scream in fear or even in pain just kept his golden eyes on me wanting me to be the last beautiful thing he witness before his brutal death. I cried loudly as my bottom lip trembles from the unbearable sight. I was forced to watch to the end until there was nothing left of my father. Both the figures roar loudly into the summer air as though it was a battle cry before it took off in my direction. I was next on their dinner menu.
My eyes widen as I screamed on the top of my lungs and forced my weak legs to move, I ran as fast as I could. My lungs were giving out on me as I was gasping heavily to breathe and to not hyperventilate, I ran through the large park with all that I could but the large figures were right on my tail as though I was running in slow motion. The only thing going through my mind was to try and hide since my little body could only run for so long, I set my salty tear eyes on a large cherry blossom tree. Pushing the remaining stamina in myself I placed my small right hand on the rough textured trunk and tried to wrap my body to the other side to place a barrier between myself and the two figures but I tripped over the tree trunk and laid face first in the grass a loud gasp seeps from my lips as the crash knocked the wind out of me. I dug my fingers into the soft dirt and sob knowing my life was over; I let out a painful cry as one of the giant figures bite into my left arm and took off with such speed across the park digging its sharp fangs into my skin. I felt a strange power filling my body and I felt more energy and power in me, the figure tosses me to the ground and in the matter of seconds the blurry figure took a new form one I was clearly able to see. I let out a loud cry seeing it was a bone structured cat like creature with sapphire eyes. It glares at me with its razor sharp teeth before it took off towards the other two blurry figures. My eyes about busted out of my eye sockets when they were both visible to my view, both disgusting horrifying monsters. One of the two took off into the black hole in the sky as the other one was being attacked by the cat like monster, the sound of it roar in pain caused me to cry in fear as it was soon quiet and it seems as though it was all over.
I hesitate for a few moments before I slowly made my way over towards the one cat creature, for some reason I didn't fear it like I did the other two. There was something about it that brought me closer to it and made me understand what it was and its soul purpose in life was. I took ahold of the tree trunk and held onto it tightly, looking around it I spoke softly to the creature.
"Thank you…for saving me."
The creature looks up to me with a chunk of the other monster in its mouth devouring him piece by piece, his sapphire eyes narrow to me as it remained in silent until it was finish eating.
"You can see me kid?"
I slowly nod my head as I step out into view holding onto my bleeding left arm, I could see it's eyes turn to look at my arm and sigh loudly in aggravation.
"Damn it! I knew I shouldn't of saved that kid."
It kept mumbling softly to itself, I tilt my head to the side as I step closer to it.
"Why is it I am able to see you now and not before?"
The creature turns its head to the side and growls even more as it didn't want to answer my question, closing its eyes it looks over to me and spoke.
"It seems when I bite you to relocate you, your body sucked some of my reiatsu out and that is how you are able to see me."
I rub my sore arm as I took a few steps closer to the creature but it took a few steps back avoid contact with me.
"Go home kid."
It said coldly before it turns its back on me and begins to walk away from me as though what just happened was no big deal to him.
I lowered my head as I felt cold tears flowing from my eyes, I didn't have a home to go to anymore. I had no family to turn to since my parents were the only children in their family.
"I…Have no home, I'm all alone now."
I buried my face into my small hands and sob in fear of what was going to happen to me now. I had no one to turn to, no family friends…nothing. The creature stopped and turned to face me, it seem to show emotions and pity for my pain. The creature walks over to me.
"What is your name kid?"
"Suzuna Kuraki…What is your name?"
"My name is of no concern kid."
I narrow my eyes as I didn't like that he asked for my name but was not going to return the favor, I toss my arms to my side and stomped my foot hard to the ground and yelled back at the creature with a harsh tone.
"Tell me what your name is damnit!"
The creature's sapphire eyes widen to my tone of voice more so that I even know such dirty words for such a young child. Closing it's eyes as a smirk forms on it's cat muzzle it finally replies to my demanding question.
"Fine if you must know, it's Grimmjow Jaggerjack."
Folding my arms over my chest I tap my right foot to the ground and glare at Grimmjow.
"See now that wasn't too hard now was it?"
Grimmjow opens his eyes and glares at me as though he was either not pleased with my attitude or was amused by it.
"I must take my leave now kid, I got places to be."
My eyes grew with sadness as I did not want to be alone, or didn't even know what to do or where to go from here. I took a few steps towards him and threw myself against him and held him tightly.
"Grimmjow…Please don't leave me, stay with me for a while long."
I could hear the frustration in his low growl as he pulls away from me and walks over to the tree behind me and lies down and I soon follow sat down, leaning against his hard structured body.
I closed my eyes as I felt exhausted from all that had happened to day, I softly hummed a song that my mother used to sing to me before I would go to sleep.
"What song is that kid?"
Asked Grimmjow, I smiled softly, opening my eyes to look at him I reach out and to pet the top of his head.
"It's a song that my mother would sing to me. I never really liked it when she sung it to me, I always felt like I was too old to get a bedtime lullaby; but would you like to hear some of it?"
"Sure why not kid?"
Closing my eyes I part my lips and tried to sing seriously and beautifully like mother used to for me.
"In you and I there's a new land, Angel's in flight. My sanctuary, my sanctuary. Where fears and lies melt away, Music inside; what's left of me what's left of me."
"It's cute kid."
I lower my head and sigh sadly as I gaze at the grass as that song had brought memories of my mother
"Grimmjow…what am I to do now? I have no one to turn to…I'm all alone."
I spoke softly with my head still lowered.
He looks up at me and sighs, I knew there wasn't a lot for me to really do. I wrap my arms around his bone like structure neck and sob against him being so scared, lost, and confused.
"It's getting late kid; you shouldn't be out here for much longer. It's dangerous, I know an orphanage not too far from here I'll take you there."
I stood up and nod my head to his words, wiping my tears off with my bare forearm and rest my free hand on his shoulder blade as we walk out of the park and down the streets.
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life in an orphanage Grimmjow, what if I never find a new family?"
Grimmjow let out a small chuckle as he looks up at me with a smirk, his large razor sharp teeth shimmer in the dim sun set that glows over the mountains peeks in the far distance.
"Once I become an Espada and you are a young woman, I promise you I will return for you and make you my wife. How does that sound kid?"
My eyes sparkle with joy as I giggle to his promise.
"You won't forget me will you?"
Grimmjow cocks his head up to gaze at me with a settle expression on his face.
"Forget you kid? Nah I wont do that to you. I'll be back, I promise."
We soon reached the orphanage and I gave Grimmjow a kiss on the cheek and a long hug before he took off. I wave goodbye to him as he leaps into the sky and vanishes through a hole in the sky and with that I made my way up the stair case and knock on the door and was soon greeted by a nun and that's where I stayed for ten long years.
It was my finally day in the horrible orphanage as I was never adopted; being sixteen years old as of today I could imagine no one wanting a teenage girl as their daughter. I went to the near by high school and had a part time job at a clothing department store. I saved up enough money for myself to get my own little apartment and to start my new life all on my own.
I finished unpacking the last box of my only things that were left in my old house that I was able to keep at the orphanage. I wipe the small beads of sweat off my brow and smile; I gaze out the window and daydreamed of the day when grimmjow would come back and save me from this life. I always wonder when that day would be for so many years and I still haven't given up hope in him returning for me.
I was brought back to reality when my alarm went off for me to get ready for school; I changed into my school uniform and tied my long lavender locks into a pony tail. I rush myself out the door with my books in my arms and down the streets until I reached the school, entering in class just after the school bell went off. I sighed in loudly that I was tardy for the first day of public school since I was taught in the orphanages private school; I sat down and slammed my books down on the hard wooden desk and took my seat. I could hear other class mates joking around about how I lost my parents with my crazy story and that I was a lonely orphanage girl. I clinch both my first tightly as I swiftly lift myself onto my feet with a book in hand and turn to face the boys talking about me and threw the book at one of the boys head. Quickly the three of them stood up and wanted to challenge me, I stood up with my chin held high and was not afraid to kick their asses as it was pretty much all I ever did in the orphanage to stay strong.
"Wanna fight orphan girl?"
I narrow my golden hues as I charge to the closest boy and knocked him over and punched him as hard as I could until his nose began to drip blood. The other two boys yank me by both my arms trying to get me off; everyone in the room was yelling and cheering on for the fight to keep going.
A young orange haired man stood in front of the class as he saw one of the boys punch me across the cheek and knocked me into the desk next to me, he leaps over a few of the desk and grabs ahold of the boy by his collar and punches him repeatedly until the principal enters into the room from the loud noises.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!"
Everyone quickly took their seats as the five of us released one another and was removed from class. It was first grade all over again for me but better yet it was pretty much every day occurrence for me in the orphanage. I had to lean against the wall with a small bucket full of water on top of my head as the orange haired kid stood next to me doing the same thing.
"You didn't have to step in for me boy, I could of taken them all on my own."
Being unable to turn to face one another without dumping the water all over us and our school uniforms we were only able to stare out the window.
"If I wasn't there you would have had far more bruises on your face then just the one you got girl and beside I thought you could use a friend since you came from an orphanage I figure you didn't have anyone to look after you."
I felt a strange feeling in my heart as I a strange connection to this boy, he couldn't be the little boy from first grade that told me we would always be best of friends, that was the first and last day I ever saw him since I was so isolated in the orphanages cold clutches for ten long horrible years. But he looks so much like him it had to be him, my eyes widen as I turn my entire body to him causing the bucket to fall off my head and soak my body to the bone, I didn't care I knew it was him and I was no longer alone.
"Ichigo!"
I threw my arms around his neck from the side and caused his bucket to fall off his head and drench him and myself with cold water, he flails uncontrollable in my arms freaked out I was hugging him out of no where.
"Okay okay, calm down! Let me go!"
He soon calmed down as it hit him that I knew his name, turning to face me he takes a hold of my shoulders and gazes down at me with a serious look in his hazel eyes.
"Ichigo, it's me Suzuna from first grade."
His eyes widen as a wide smile forms on his face, taking me back into his arms he laughs loudly as I did the same but my eyes tear up from being so happy I had the only friend I had ever had back in my life.
"I'm so thankful you are still alive, I remember on the news that your parents were killed in the park and you were no where to be found. I thought you were dead Suzuna."
I shook my head against his soaked white button up shirt and forced myself to smile. Digging my nails into his back I tried to not think about that day as I was too happy at this very moment.
"Sometimes I wish I was dead with them so I wouldn't feel this empty void in my heart, but my parents weren't just killed by humans Ichigo."
I said in tears and short breathes but he kept his hold onto me and kissed the top of my head.
"What do you mean Suzuna?"
He asks as he looks down to me but I kept the side of my head pressed against his chest.
"These monsters from another world, they…they enter our world by black holes in the cry, they look like bone structured creatures that have no soul or any control over their hunger for humans."
I could hear his heart pounding in his chest and his muscles tensing up as I spoke of these monsters.
"Hollows, just like how… my mother died."
My eyes widen as I look up to him with tears in my eyes as I didn't realize he lost his mother the same way I lost my parents.
"What is a hollow?"
He softens his eyes abit as he seems to be thinking of his mother but his facial expression changes into rage.
"They were once human souls that never pass over and if they remain in our world for too long their spirit becomes tainted and they become those creatures and they yearn for the taste of living and deceased humans."
I cling to him tighter as I feared that my parents refused to cross over due to me still being here all alone and turning into this disgusting creatures and losing all form of their true self. I began to cry harder in his arms as he holds me tightly to try and comfort me.
"Ichigo what if my parents turned into a hollow because they didn't cross over?"
"It's ok Suzuna, don't think of such things. You're not alone anymore. You have me now and I'll protect you always, now lets go get some dried clothes on and get into class."
I pull away from him wiping my tears from my eyes and smile back up at him. We both picked up our buckets and made our way to get new clothes so we can get back to class and not have more homework then needed.
School ended just as fast as it started as I sat on the steps waiting for Ichigo to walk out so we could catch up on each other's past and spend some time together, I flip pages into my History book trying to get a head start in my homework.
"Hey Suzuna!"
Cried out a familiar voice, I turned around to see Ichigo with a few of his friends walking out of the school. He introduces them all to me as I did the same for myself. They all seemed to relate to me with these monsters, on our way home Ichigo explained to me more about Hollows and how they enter our world.
"You know you are special right Suzuna?"
Spoke Ichigo, I look up at him with a puzzle look on my face as I did not understand what he meant by that.
"You can see the hollow which means you have a gift, a power that hasn't been unlocked yet. Not everyone can see the hollows."
I look down at my hands and stare at them for a few seconds, how I could possibly have any special powers that I never knew about then I finally realize that when Grimmjow bit me I was able to drain some of his reiatsu to me, Ichigo pats me on the back and laughs softly.
"I'll introduce you to Urahara who can teach you to awaken your powers that remain in slumber."
I was slightly weird out with this but a part of me told me to believe in him and have faith that he will help me understand all of this one day.
"Sure Ichigo."
I smile big to him and the others as we all stop in a folk in the road and we all said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I was curious who this Urahara guy was and how he could awaken my sleeping powers.
I finally made it home and kicked off my shoes at the door and toss my school bag to the side mentally exhausted from today. I threw myself onto my bed, groaning into the pillow the vibration of my groan tickles my cheeks while I laid there for a few before I had to get ready for work. I close my eyes to try to get some sleep but all this talk of hollows made me think of that horrible day and I was unable to get any rest.