I posted this up but it needed major editing and it wasn't actually ready to be published yet. Over the past few days, I've reread it (countless times) and re-edited it and here it is. Still a bit wavery but I think it's kinda good. (I think.)
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Death is imminent.
One in fire, two in blood...
"Come on, Rukia, you know you want to play, Rukia." Soft voices taunted me in my dreams and I could do nothing to stop them.
Three in storm, four in flood...
"Say the chant, Rukia. That little rhyme you used to say every time after you curl up in bed. Wasn't that used to keep the scary man away from you?"
I shut my ears completely and squeezed my eyes shut. Although it was the darkness that surrounded me and not a single sound could be heard, secluding myself from my senses made me feel a little bit at ease. But somehow I could still hear every word it was saying.
Five in anger, six in hate...
"Come on Rukia, say it, say it!" it pressed on, forcing me to utter those rhymes I had creatively came up when I was little.
Bullshit. It wasn't me who made it up. It was the scary man. He gave them to me; planted them in my mind until the nights of my childhood revolved around those words.
Seven fear and evil eight...
It was starting again. The game... I closed my eyes and deafened my ear. This wasn't supposed to have happened. I thought it was already Game Over... seven years ago. What happened?
Nine in sorrow, ten in pain...
No, this couldn't be happening! I refuse to believe it! Because I know I've shook it free; I broke the dream, I took away the curse, I saved myself! How could it be starting again?
No, no, no!
Eleven death, twelve life again...
I forced myself not to listen to the words. I blocked them out; tuned them out of my mind. I couldn't ever listen to them again! I don't want history to repeat itself. Having the first ten years of my life ripped away from me was enough as it is. I don't want this to ruin the years to come.
Thirteen steps to the dark man's door...
And this was how it always ended. Mr. Scary Man... He was waiting for me. He had been all this while... seventeen years too long. It's been a while since he'd last seen me, I know. I realise it but that didn't mean that I shouldn't be feeling scared. In fact, I am deathly afraid at the moment. But no, nothing was happening... yet. I shouldn't worry. Just not yet.
Won't be turning back no more...
"Rukia?"
Kuchiki Rukia woke up. Her eyes opened and swivelled towards the direction of the voice. "Nii-sama." She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Kuchiki Byakuya stood up and smoothed his business suit. "You were talking in your sleep again. Is everything all right?" he asked stoically. Rukia's eyes flashed in surprise. Never had her brother asked that question before.
She shrugged. "I'm fine." She said and yawned. "I'm late, aren't I?" she asked, eyeing her alarm clock. Byakuya sniffed.
"I'll inform the school. But do try to wake up on time." he said and went out of her room. Rukia sighed. She knew she had sleeping problems. She knew she was always talking in her sleep, thrashing, writhing about... but her brother had never asked her if 'everything was all right' before. She found it weird that he was asking her now all of a sudden.
It had been going on since she was seven and it had no intention of stopping after ten years of that. Rukia got up and took her shower. She got ready for school.
Her walks to school weren't entirely bad but Byakuya had insisted that she took the limo. Sighing, Rukia hopped in and the driver took her to school.
"Kuchiki-san!"
She was greeted by a curtain of auburn tresses flying towards her face as the owner wrapped her arms around the petite girl. Rukia choked a 'good morning' to her friend; Inoue Orihime. "Oheiyoo!" the cheerful girl trilled.
Rukia rubbed her nape and slung her bag up her shoulder. "Ah, morning Inoue." She mumbled and together they went to class.
As usual, Rukia would have to exert huge amounts of energy to force herself to stay awake. Though she receives a good amount of hours to sleep, she was still sleepy. Probably because she was never a peaceful sleeper.
Dreams keep haunting her every night. Sometimes it would get really terrible that she had to wake up in the middle of the night and cry about it. Rukia sighed. But nothing seems to faze her anymore. She was used to it. She'd been having it for ten years...
"You look really tired, Kuchiki-san." Inoue said, eyeing her friend concernedly. Rukia shook her raven tresses and smiled.
"I've always been tired, Inoue. Nothing's wrong." She said and they sat at their usual recess spot. "Though I'm going to need those history notes of yours. Mine's missing a few parts."
"Of course." Inoue beamed and opened her lunch; onigiri filled with wasabi and red bean. Rukia winced at her friend's abnormal eating diet and even after three years of being friends, she had never completely gotten used to it. Inoue found Rukia eyeing her rice balls and offered one. Rukia declined politely and tried her best not to gag. After what seemed like a minute of silence, Inoue suddenly gasped and clutched Rukia's arm tightly.
"What?" Rukia stopped slurping her juice box and hissed at her friend. Inoue pointed to a guy with a mop of bright orange hair, a handsome face etched with a permanent scowl and a fairly built body making his way to the roof with a few of his friends following him; all of them chatting animatedly. "What, him?" she asked, pointing at the spiky-haired teen. Inoue giggled.
"He's so cute." She sighed. Rukia rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, Inoue. You're so shy. Just go there and talk to him. You've been ogling at him since last year. Don't you think you should step up?" Rukia asked impatiently, tired of her friend's constant gushing over the guy. "The boy's a human being. He won't bite or anything."
Inoue shook her head and resumed her lunch. She picked on the seaweed flakes and pouted. "He doesn't notice me." She mumbled. "He never does."
"You're the most popular girl in school. I'd be laughing my ass off I wasn't so tired." Rukia snorted. True to that; Inoue was one of the sweetest and prettiest girls in school. Rukia often found it amusing that of all people, Inoue would befriend her. Probably because they've been friends since the very beginning of high school.
Inoue pouted. "It's all stupid really, the whole popularity thing. Why can't we all be normal people without titles plastered on our foreheads?"
Rukia smiled. Did she mention the fact that this woman was a saint? Rukia probably wouldn't have that much patience with people like Inoue has. She had gotten along fine with everyone despite her quite snappish attitude. People tend to go for the whole feisty type; not that it mattered. Rukia would have preferred to be alone than to surround herself with people. She shuddered at the prospect of it.
"Just talk to him, dammit. I hate seeing those stupid pair of ogling eyes you put on." Rukia snapped softly. Inoue giggled, used to her friend's snappy attitude.
"All right, Kuchiki-san, I'll stop." She said and continued eating her lunch, her gaze never quite leaving the guy who was now sitting down for his lunch. Rukia unconsciously moved her pair of sapphire orbs towards the orange-head and observed him closely.
He was fairly tanned and very lanky. He had muscles enough to buff up his lanky character and his hair was indeed orange. It wasn't auburn like Inoue's, it was literally the colour orange. His face was, Rukia had to admit, very handsome. Though it was ruined greatly by the permanent scowl he had on. He wasn't wearing his tie even though it was a Monday and his uniform's buttoned down a few to reveal a black tight-fitting t-shirt.
His friends; Rukia knew from word around, were Asano Keigo, Ishida Uryuu and Sado Yasutora who, Rukia didn't know why, preferred to be called Chad. Keigo was a little on the short side, measuring up to Ichigo's shoulder. He had a knack of always getting rejected by women; especially Michiru and occasionally Inoue. Ishida was somewhat a nerd but he had a face that could make up for the title. He was pale and glasses-wearing but he was also fairly built, slightly thinner and shorter than Ichigo. His hair was straight and raven-coloured.
Chad was a mix. He was half Japanese and half Mexican. He, unlike his friends, was very built and very tall. His arms screamed biceps and Rukia was pretty sure he had a reasonable sized six-pack. Despite his outward appearance, he was very fond of small and cute things and wouldn't result to force unless necessary.
"Kuchiki-san?"
Rukia woke up from her reverie and looked at Inoue who was dusting off her skirt. "Huh?"
"The bell rang, it's time for class." Her friend said. They departed from the roof and went to History class.
About a thousand words per chapter. It's sufficient, I think. Undecided is STILL on hold and I'm sorry. Bear with my puny sixteen-year-old mind. D:
Reviews help me. No joke.
To Hese-What do you think?
-CHAPTER 1 END.