So I started this a little while back and wanted to get some headway on it before I started submitting it. It is a large scale writing project that I have undertaken and as usual, I don't have a lot of faith that I will ever complete it. However, I thought I might at least submit a few of the chapters and see what the feedback is on it.

The chapters are short and all of them are from another character's point of view so, this is sort of a test of my writing ability and my understanding of the characters. This will take place in an alternate universe, high school setting, with all of the characters somehow involved in the school. Teachers, students, whatever. The story will progress over the period of a day, and hopefully everything will come together how I want it. But 50 chapters is a long time to drag things out. So let's see how I do. Your reviews are unbelievably appreciated and will help me write more. So do review if you want to see more. Anyway, here you all go.

-1-

Ichigo Kurosaki

Another day at school. I hop up the steps to the entrance and stretch my arms out wide, yawning and trying to shake the last of the sleep out of my body before I get down to business. I slept fine last night, but my idiot dad woke me up an hour early by dropkicking me. I rub my side, which still aches. I bet his stupid goat-chin still hurts a bit as well. Breakfast was good. Yuzu made a really good omelette. She's really something, considering how young she is. She really picked up the slack after mom died. Unlike dad…

Thinking about the family, I push open the doors to the building and make my way down the hall. I don't stop in at my locker, I can do that after home room, or during it if I need to. Besides, I like to get to homeroom early and relax before the more excitable of the class arrive…like Ikkaku or Keigo. It's nice to have such spirited friend, but at the same time, I need my downtime. Home life can be hectic sometimes, so I like to get to school early for some peace and quiet.

Yawning once more, I push open the door to my homeroom and wander in. The class is mostly empty. There are a few students there, and the teacher, of course.

"Morning, Ms. Shihouin," I say, suppressing another yawn.

"It certainly is, Ichigo," she responds without looking up from her newspaper.

Yoruichi Shihouin is the dean of students at school. She's very attractive for being a member of the staff. It's probably why Keigo is always getting in trouble, so he can see her. But Mizuiro's got more of a chance with her than Keigo ever will. And he's into older women. Not that anyone really stands a chance with Ms. Shihouin. Not only is she a teacher, but there's something wild about her…something that can't be tamed. Not that I have any interest in her. She's not my type. I just hear about her a lot from…well Keigo, mostly.

I take my normal seat by the window and put my bag down, sitting and leaning back in my chair. Outside, I can see the school sports field. The track and field team is finishing their morning workout now, finishing up with stretches and the like. I can see Shuuhei from the senior class leading the stretches as he waves them all together. They huddle for a minute and then break, heading back to the locker rooms to change before class.

"Hey, Ichigo."

I turn around in my chair, brought out of my daze. Tatsuki is sitting down in the desk next to mine. She looks a little tired and yawns a little bit as she puts her bag down next to her. I struggle to keep my own yawn down and say hi.

"Hey, Tatsuki. How's it going?"

"Eh, you know," she says simply. "Same old stuff."

"How's karate practice been lately? You guys ready for the tournament yet?"

Tatsuki's eyes light up at the mention of karate. She's been doing it ever since we were kids and she's really good. Last year she got second place in the regional competition, but she fractured her wrist and couldn't compete for a while. She's really dedicated to the club and keeps trying to get me to join, but I don't have that sort of drive in me.

"Well I'm ready to go kick some ass, but the other guys could use some more practice." She turns to me and smiles. "This year, I'm getting first place, you can count on it."

"I wouldn't expect any less." I smile as well. Tatsuki has been my friend for as long as I can remember. It's always nice to see her excited for something.

"Kurosaki-kun! Tatsuki! Good morning!"

Tatsuki turns around with a grin. "Orihime, energetic as always, aren't ya?"

"Yup!" Orihime replies energetically.

Orihime and Tatsuki are really close friends. As a result, I've gotten to know Orihime pretty well. She's a really nice person, and a lot of the guys really have the hots for her. She's really sweet and everything.

"Morning, Orihime," I wave a little bit.

Orihime looks flustered and bows in return. She always acts a bit weird around me, I've found. I hope I don't scare her or anything. A lot of people who don't know me really well think I'm some sort of delinquent because of my hair color and how I can be really aloof sometimes.

"Oi! Ichigo!"

Speaking of delinquents…

"Hey Renji, what's up?"

Renji isn't really a delinquent, but he sure looks like one. He's got tattoos all over his body and some pretty wild hair. But he's a really good guy. We're pretty good friends.

"Not too much," Renji replies. He looks kind of troubled though, so I wait a minute before talking. "Hey, have you seen Rukia?"

Rukia is a friend of ours in the sophomore class. She's really smart, and takes a number of classes with us. She and Renji have known each other since they were kids and are really close.

"Don't you guys normally walk to school together?"

"That's the thing," Renji sits down at the desk in front of me. "She didn't show up when I passed her house, and didn't come out when I knocked on the door." He looks concerned. "So you haven't seen her?"

"No…maybe she just came to school early." She's in a different homeroom, and I didn't run into her in the hall. "I don't know what you're so worried about, maybe she's just tired of you slowing her down on the way to school."

"Tch, whatever." Renji frowns. "Well, lemme know if you see her ok?"

"Sure thing."

I act like this isn't a big deal at all, but I am a bit curious. I can't remember the last time Rukia didn't come to school with Renji. Usually she visits the homeroom to hang out with all of us. She's a really nice girl, one of my better friends to be sure. Well…now that Renji's got me thinking about it, I won't just be able to let it go now. I'll ask someone in her homeroom if they've seen her before first period starts.