There is nothing normal about me, I think to myself as I study the person that is standing in front of the mirror. The person has the same angular face with a small nose as me. They also have the same short raven black hair with a bang running down their face between violet eyes and stands at the small height of 5'1.

But the person looking back at me from the mirror is so different than what people around me may perceive. I've changed. I've become someone no one would ever believe could be true. And that little known fact, is what scares me the most.

Today, I return to the life I once lived and I'm going to have to face those I once knew. They'll be the same, but I'll be the one who has become the stranger. I heave out a sigh and force myself away from the mirror and get ready to face my impending doom. The uniform that I am wearing seems so out of place on me, but as I walk out of my house into the streets filled with identical swarms of teenagers, I breathe a sigh of relief in hopes that this will keep me from sticking out of the crowd.

I walk the streets alone, which is fine with me. I can handle the silence that comes with being by myself. I know though, that once I step into the school, people will start looking, no matter how much I will them not to. I pull the strap of my bag up my shoulder, and take determined steps closer to the school. As I make my way closer, I carefully look around at my surroundings, remembering every detail like I never left this place. Its all so familiar yet there is many things I have never seen before.

And as I look at the passing stores and street names, I ultimately knew I would eventually come across the brick building standing before me. I've reached my destination. All of my confidence has blown away with the passing wind. But I gulp back my fear and stride onwards, hoping the adrenaline running through my body at the moment will help push me forward. As I ascend up the front steps, the staring begins. The ones that say, "she looks familiar" or "isn't she the one from the news?" I knew these reactions were inevitable, but somehow I wished I could have come back here with no questions asked.

But of course, that is not how this world works. So now I'm forced with the impossible task of trying to get through the day without people coming up to me, trying to comfort me with already uttered words and phrases. All I want is to be left alone. Beads of sweat break out on my forehead and my breathing is coming out in little spurts. No, I don't think I can do this. I pivot my body to face the doors I just came through and just as I'm about to make a break for it, a familiar face comes into view.

She hasn't seen me yet, but I see her and my past comes back to me full force. The moments we shared and the jokes that seemed funny at the time. We were inseparable. Finally her eyes break away from her friends and slide there way towards me. She gasps in astonishment, proceeds with drops her books and rushes over to me throwing her arms around my shoulders and holding me in a tight embrace. Muffled cries can be heard and soon she looks up, tears glistening in their eyes as she cries, "Rukia! I can't believe you're here!" Every bone in my body seems to have lost all function because I stand there frozen in place as one of my former best friends stands and hugs me. "I never thought this day would come!" She breathes through her tears and sniffles. I clear my throat, but make no more noise, I don't want to provoke her into thinking I'm okay with the sudden contact of someone I haven't seen in three years.

Being kidnapped isn't something you ever think can happen to you. You believe that you are safe from harm because you have friends and family to protect you. Or that's what I believed. But it did happened to me and I'll forever be haunted by what went on and suffer over the loss of the person I should have grown up to be.

As I was stuck in hell, I was forced to undergo experiments of other people's fantasy's and in more ways then one, while the people I loved went on living their lives. What these people surrounding me now must have imagined probably isn't as far from the truth as they hope. I mean being dead doesn't seem to faze me anymore. But being confined into this gigai with limited amount of free will available to use, I feel my patients wearing thin.

Yes, I died while being held prisoner under the hands of my kidnappers. Surprisingly though, dying was quick, it was easier than you would imagine. I woke up from what seemed like a long overslept nap. I was groggy and disoriented. I stood up from a crouched position from an unrecognizable floor and on wobbly legs I embarked on a journey to make sense of what was happening.

As I wandered the new environment, my initial reaction was fear as I took in the harsh living conditions and the passing citizens who looked like nothing but rags and bones. I asked around to the people who seemed nice enough about where we were and that's when I gained knew knowledge. As I left the human world after I died, I was transferred into an afterlife known as the Soul Society, where I was to spend the rest of my days, waiting to be reincarnated into a human once again. It took me weeks to get use to the harsh rays of the sun and the crisp shivering nights. I barely survived on the berries, lake water and stale bread I scrimmaged for in the trash.

I cried every night and hated myself for that. I use to be brave and even in my last moments of being a living soul, I kept up a tough façade. But that was only because I thought dying would be my last chance of returning to peace. In reality though, I'm forced to keep on surviving because if I die here in the soul society, what's left? Do I fade or do I suffer, never getting the peace I've been dreaming for since the day I was kidnapped?

So I held tough, and did anything it would take to stay alive. This wasn't what I imagined life would be like after death. But anything was better than those last few years I spend held captive. I still believed that as I sprinted away from a merchant who was chasing me because I tried to steal some decent cloth from their , a girl needs to stay warm during the brittle fall winds. I race away as fast as I could, upset I didn't get what I wanted. Going back tomorrow, I'm going to have to be a lot more cautious. As I think about new tactics for getting new clothes I see the area before me is not familiar at all. This is when my luck started to change. The Seireitei is a place where the pure souls are sent. This is when I realized; I have finally made it to heaven.

I explored the streets where people were clad in black robes, which made them look fierce and definitely better off then those who were roaming the streets where I surfaced in. The houses were nicer and everyone seemed to actually get along with one another. I grew hungry so I sniffed around in search for food. I came across a food stand that had an assortment of delectable foods. I felt my mouth start to water and involuntarily my hand started reaching out for one of the warm soft bread covered in cheese. The women running the stand noticed me as I lingered and screamed, "Street rat! Go back to the trash, where you belong!" she picked up a broom and was swiping it at my feet as if I was dirt that needed to be swept away. As the broom knocked against my feet, I accidently stumbled and fell flat on my bottom.

A crowd gathered and just as the women was about to hit me full on with the wood side of a broom, a man stepped forward blocking me from her attack. I took the chance to look up at the kind soul who was willing to sacrifice an injury to save me from the women's wrath.

The man stood with his back to me, but what I could make out was his long black hair that reached his shoulders, that is being held in some kind of headpiece. Unlike most of the people who have gathered around to witness the scene, the man was wearing white instead of black robes with a white scarf. He doesn't look at the women, or me but at a man who I can't believe I didn't notice before. His crimson red hair is pulled back in a ponytail style and his forehead is decorated with tribal tattoos. He has brown eyes that seemed to be very concentrated on the men standing before me. He is wearing the same black garb as the others huddled around. However, it's obvious that he is above the bystanders and the man who has protected me is his leader.

The woman, who was threatening with the broom, immediately cringed away as the man refocused his stare back on her. He has not said a single word, but his eyes must be doing all the talking for him. The women quickly retreated into her house and as she closed the door behind her, I stuck my tongue out childishly. When I return my gaze back to the man, I immediately made eye contact with the man's slate gray eyes, which are fixated on me. I felt myself shudder under his gaze, his power radiating off of him. My first thought was that I angered him for stepping into his domain, but he didn't scold me. Instead he looks at the red haired man for a moment and walked off without a word.

The red head is by my side in a second helping me to my feet. I focus my attention away from the retreating figure of the man to the one helping me. As I dust of the dirt trying to make myself a little more presentable the red haired man says, "You're not suppose to be this far away from home little one." He continues with, "I'm Renji Abarai Lieutenant of the 6th Division. The man who just saved your little butt was my Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki." I look up sharply offended by all these short remarks this guy keeps spewing. This jerk is speaking to me like I'm a child! I huff out a sigh and say, "Well, thanks. I guess that means I should go." With that, I turn on my heels and head the way I came.

Even as a walk away, Renji voice rattles on, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, short stuff! My Captain has requested for your appearances tonight at the captains dinner." I stop short wondering why anyone of his stature would want to do with a street rat like me. Maybe, I really did offend him for being on his home turf. I bite my lip and say in my most apologetic voice, "Look, I didn't mean any harm. I just got a little lost. I'm new so, I didn't know this place was off limits for people like me." I add more emphasizes on the last part, feeling disgusted for being put down like some kind of animal.

As I was talking though, I took tiny steps, in hopes of making an escape, but Renji is more quick witted then you would believe. "If you keep trying to escape, just remember, I'll always find you, Shorty." I huff out a breath and in rage push him. This takes him aback and with wide eyes, he sputters, "You, you just pushed me!" I shake my head knowingly and say, "Well, DUH, Captain Obvious! Or should I say Lieutenant. You deserved it for calling me all those names." I cross my arms over my chest and stare at him, expecting an apology. He just stares doubtingly at me and I roll my eyes and continue on my way.

Before I realize what was happening, Renji threw me over his shoulder and started walking in the opposite direction of my destination. I kick and punch, demanding to be put down, but Renji doesn't falter. I was feeling mad because of Renji sudden hostage like grab and annoyed as my bang repeatedly fell into to my eyes. But as I watch the distant between my temporary home and me grow even larger then before, I acknowledge there was no point in putting up a fight because Renji was as stubborn as a bull. Instead I give him a warning to keep his hands to himself and at that he let out a whooping laugh.