Chapter 1 - Meeting Someone New
She wonders through the streets, her feet covered with dirt and grime. She wears a pink kimono with a red obi and decorated with sugar plums. Her light brown hair falls into her eyes, making her face hard to clarify. And on her face besides dirt and grime is a small frown, along with a single tear before she walks toward 'her' tree. Jumping up from the ground to a high branch with ease, people stare at her in wonder and fear. Though she doesn't know why; she hasn't done anything to them.
Sighing, she watched as the sun fell to its knees, and people start walking into their run down homes.
Placing her back against the base of the tree she squirms until she finds a comfortable position to sleep in, her eyelids close and she's about to drift when she hears faint yelling coming behind her, or behind the tree to be exact.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little Rukongai kid? Humph, dirt like you should be locked away and never be able to be seen again.", a gruff voice said.
Turning on her side she peered behind the tree and saw four people in black robes surrounding someone.
"Leave me alone!", came the voice of a child.
A boy, no doubt, Yuzu thinks as she quietly hops down and slowly makes her way toward them. Careful not to step on any twigs to give her away just yet, one of the men move enough just for her to see a boy who was just about her height. He had skin pale as snow, if Yuzu had ever saw any, the most amazing teal eyes she has ever seen, and spiky hair that looked soft enough to touch.
"I said leave me alone!", the boy said as his face turned into a scowl and he bawled up his hands.
"Ooh, I'm so scared! What are ya going to do kid? Call mommy?", the same guy mocked.
The boy's face turned to one of anger to one of sadness, as his hands relaxed and his shoulders slumped.
"Uh oh, Hayate, looks like you hit a soft spot!", grinned another one as they started making baby noises.
Her anger began to escalate, stop it. Stop it! STOP IT!
"Stop."
All of the men's, including the little boy's, heads whipped to her as she stood still with anger radiating off of her.
"Leave him alone.", her voice laced with malice.
"Oh, and who's gonna make me!", Hayate challenged as he took a step closer to Yuzu.
The boy watched her with shock filled teal eyes; in one swift movement the guy was lying on his face with the girl's foot sticking out of her yukata.
"Hayate!"
"Darn brat!"
Dodging the punches and grabs, she stepped and ran up the man's arm, elbowing him in the face. Then she roundhouse kicked the other, only the latter stood cowering in fear as she stepped closer.
"G-Get a-away from m-me you f-freak...", he stuttered and scrambled away like the coward he was.
She smirked before turning to the boy, "You okay?"
He nodded, still eyes wide, "Y-Yes, my name is Toshiro Hitsugaya."
She smiled at him, "Good, I'm Yuzu Kurosaki, see you later."
"Wait!"
The girl turned around and blinked at him in confusion, "What is it? Is there something else I can do for you?"
Blushing at his outburst, the boy fumbled with words to say, "Well...I...um...where do you live?"
Yuzu stuck her hand out and pointed to the tree, Toshiro's eyes went wide, "You mean you l-live in t-that t-tree?" Confused, Yuzu nodded and dropped her arm, Toshiro stared at her with his lips apart before his senses came back to him.
"Sorry, um...would you like to come for supper?", Toshiro asked as he fidgeted from where he stood.
Yuzu smiled, "I'd love too."
The smile that appeared on his face was one of the biggest smiles Yuzu had ever saw someone give her, "Great! Then come on!"
Grabbing her risk without thought, the white haired boy pulled her toward the small shack; leading her up the three steps he removes the cloth to reveal a girl about twice their size with an old lady.
"Hello Shiro-chan, who is that?", the girl asked as she stood up.
"This is Yuzu Kurosaki, my new friend.", Toshiro stated puffing his chest out a little.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you.", Yuzu greeted with a bow.
The girl smiled, "You too Yuzu-chan, my name is Momo Hinamori, but you can call me Momo for short."
"And how did you two meet?", Toshiro's grandmother acquired.
"She saved me from some stupid soul reapers who wouldn't mind their own business.", Toshiro spat the name soul reaper with venom. Momo flinched but didn't say anything, Yuzu took notice of this but kept quiet. "My, look at your face, all dirty but oh so young. Toshiro why don't you take her out back and help her wash up?", suggested the old woman.
Toshiro nodded and grabbed Yuzu's arm again, taking her around the shack to a small river that occupied their land.
"Go on, jump right in, the water's not too cold or too hot, just right.", Toshiro said with a smile.
Yuzu tore her gaze from him to the river, shrugging she started walking.
She started scrubbing her face off, washing the oil from her hair, and dipping her whole body in to let it soak.
Splash!
Turning her head she sees a mountain of water rain down on her and sees a white mop of hair; she laughs and splashes back.
"Hey, no fair Yuzu!"
And the chase was on...
They splashed, dunked each other, and just laughed like they were the only two kids in the world.
"Toshiro! Yuzu! Time for supper!", Momo called out.
"Coming!", Toshiro called out as he helped Yuzu out of the water.
Droplets poured from her hair and yukata, shaking her head to the side she managed to get him more wet just as he had dried off. He glared at her, "OI!" Smiling at his pouting face, Yuzu kissed his cheek before running inside, leaving him standing there with a dazed expression on his face.
"Shiro-chan, you coming?", Momo asked as she peered at the shock looking boy.
Snapping out of his stupor, he nodded and rubbed the back of his head, "H-Hai, what are we having for dinner Momo?"
She smiled and ruffled his hair, causing a scowl to appear on his face, "Oi! Stop treating me like a kid!"
"We're having watermelon Shiro, and you better hurry if you don't want it eaten up by Yuzu-chan.", Momo said ignoring his protest.
Toshiro's eyes widen as he rushed past the pigtailed girl and into the shack, spotting Yuzu taking a slice of watermelon and stuffing it in her mouth.
"Yuzu! Save some for me!", he shouted sitting beside her.
Smiling she cut the watermelon in half and handed him the bigger piece, licking his lips Toshiro bit into the pink; savoring the sweet taste and spitting out those rotten seeds. "So Yuzu, how is it?", Masuyo, the old lady, asked. "Delicious Baa-chan!", Yuzu beamed with some watermelon juice dripping from her mouth. Masuyo smiled and nodded, gesturing for Momo to have some who politely obliged.
Toshiro looked up from his watermelon, "What's wrong Onee-chan?"
Momo sighed, "There's something I have to tell you Shiro, I'm going to become a soul reaper."
Teal eyes stared up at her, "Why?"
"Because Shiro-chan, I want to be something than just a normal girl, I've got the skills so why not?"
Bawling his fist, Toshiro dropped his watermelon and skyrocketed past the girl; ignoring the calls of Yuzu, Momo, and Masuyo.
"I'll go look for him Baa-chan.", Yuzu said as she finished off her fruit and jogged after him with the same set of speed.
Green. That's all she saw as she ran deeper and deeper into the edge of the forest, it wasn't until she ran into an open-wide meadow is where she heard sniffling.
Turning her head every which way, the stars are in the air above shining brightly with the moon shining down. There in the middle of all the wondrous flower you could ever imagine was a boy with snow colored hair, is hunched over with his shoulders quaking.
Walking softly as she can so not to disturb the boy she kneels behind him and wraps her arms around his form, despite how he's an inch taller than her.
He jerks and tries to pull away, but her grip on him is strong and she won't let go. He settles down and stares out into the field, a cold breeze sweeps through their hair but neither move.
Her eyes snapped to her hand which was covered but a cold solid hand, she allowed her arms to fall as he turned to face her.
"Why? Why does Momo want to be a soul reaper?! They're cruel and mean, they don't care about anyone but themselves!", Toshiro growled.
He looked up as Yuzu placed her hands on his shoulders, "Momo isn't like that, she wants to protect people when others don't want to. She may turn out into a soul reaper, but she'll still be your Onee-chan."
Toshiro nodded quietly thinking before he spoke up, "Hey Yuzu..."
"Yes..."
"Promise me something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Promise me you'll never leave me."
Yuzu looked into his teal irises, seeing hopefulness and fear battling with each other. Smiling, she leaned in close and pecked his cheek as she whispered, "Of course Shiro-chan, I promise."
Both soon got up and headed back, hands locked in with each other as they got closer and closer to their home.
"Oh Toshiro, you had me worried, please don't do something like that again.", pleaded a distraught looking Masuyo as both children received a great big old hug from the lady.
"Where's Momo?", Toshiro asked breaking the eerie silence.
"She went back to her Soul Reaper Academy, she won't be back until next spring.", she informed them.
Toshiro's expression formed into a sourly one as his shoulders slumped and he walked over to the farthest wall. A blue blanket with a pillow resided there, lying down on his side he placed the blanket over him and snuggled deep into the covers.
Masuyo sighed before turning to Yuzu, "Well I suppose you can use Momo's since she isn't here."
Yuzu smiled, "Thank you, Baa-chan."
Walking over ruffled blankets and a pillow, Masuyo handed them to her. Shuffling over next to Toshiro, she pulled the blanket over her and closed her eyes. Smiling as she felt a cold hand cover the top of hers underneath the blankets.
Smiling at the children, Masuyo got herself readied for bed as well before all was quiet.
"Yuzu..."
"Yes..."
"Want to go to the market with me tomorrow?"
Opening her eyes, she smiled, "Sure..."
...And then a hidden bond was formed that day, a bond that would stand the test of time and chaos.
