Prologue
"God damn it!"
For the 5th time that week, Ichigo Kurosaki was running late getting home. Damn that Rukia! Why do I have to hunt hollows every damn day?! As he ran down an alleyway as a shortcut, he remembered that day's 'Hollow Hunt', as he now called it. First, they had spent almost an hour finding it, then almost half an hour fighting it. Rukia had commented on it being the longest she had ever seen. It wasn't my fault the thing spat fireballs! As he turned a corner, he ran right into his little sister Yuzu. She fell on her butt, startled.
"Sorry, Yuzu. Why are you out here so late?" She took his hand and stood up.
"I was getting some food for diner with Karin. We heard noises of a fight in the alley. I wanted to go home, but you know Karin." Ichigo nodded.
"Mm. So, did she find the fight?"
Yuzu nodded sadly.
"What's wrong? Wait…why do you have blood on you?! Are you hurt?!" Yuzu shook her head.
"N-no. But, Karin…" Ichigo froze.
"The alley by the general store, right?" Yuzu nodded. Ichigo sprinted towards the store, after giving his sister firm instructions to go home. When I get there, I'm gonna… He slid around the corner into the alley and he felt his heart stop. In front of him, some guy stood over Karin with an iron pipe raised to strike. It seemed as if she was already unconscious and bleeding quite heavily. He ran towards her, afraid he wouldn't make it in time. As the stranger pulled his arm back to hit her, a shadow crept up behind him. The man swung the pipe towards Karin, as if time had slowed.
"KARIN!"
At home, their father was drinking a cup of coffee, humming while he did so. He glanced at the newspaper as he reached for the sugar. "Neh. Taxes are going up again." As he went to take a sip, the cup cracked in his hand, spilling the hot liquid on himself.
"OUCH!" He jumped up and danced around trying to find a towel.
"Yeesh. What the…?" He looked through a window while toweling himself off.
"I hope the kids are okay."
The man stared at his hand. His empty hand.
"Where did…?" He flipped his hand over, as though it might have been there.
"Lookin' for this, big guy?" He whirled around and saw a young woman holding his iron pipe. Ichigo tripped onto his face. He looked up and saw one of his old friends.
"Liz!" She winked at him.
"How ya doin', Strawberry?" A vein popped in his head.
"Just. Great." She snickered and flipped her amber colored hair over her shoulder. Elizabeth, or Liz, had amber colored hair that went to her shoulders, and bright blue eyes. She was wearing a tight leather jacket on with nothing underneath and light blue jeans with rips in the knees. On her feet were black leather high-heeled boots. On her hands were black fingerless gloves and a silver band on each finger. As she walked forward, her rings clicked against the pipe ominously. The man began to visibly sweat. Liz stopped right in front of him and rested the pipe on his right shoulder. She tapped it, and then raised it. It hit his shoulder with a sickening crack. The man howled in pain, and fell to his knees. Liz grabbed his hair roughly and pulled his face up to hers.
"Next time ya wanna play with a little girl, I'll find ya again. And I'll do worse then this to ya." She shoved him into a nearby wall, and he took off cursing at her.
Liz sighed and lightly picked up Karin. She walked up to Ichigo and passed her to him. She waved a finger in front of his face.
"Watch your sisters better, ya hear?" He gulped and nodded. She placed her hands on her hips and sighed. "Guess I'll be goin' now. See ya!" She walked past him into the street.
"Liz!" She stopped but didn't turn.
"Urm…thanks." She turned and smiled.
"No prob!" She continued walking, quickly vanishing in the crowd. I owe you one…Elizabeth.
