Breathing became a tribulation to find a way to get pass as I ran through sweat and rain. Moving my hair eventually turned into swatting it out the way every time it found its way to block my vision of where I was heading. Really where I was running was not of any importance, all that matter was how fast I could run to save my life. It was too bad that I couldn't run fast enough.

I gasped for air continuously, my lungs were raw from the immense running and each time the rain chilled my bear skin I felt heavier from my rags sucking up all the water. Through my panic and fear I was continuously being aggravated by the long curly locks of hair that kept blocking my sight.

But, it all came to a stop once I felt that sharp pain. Something stabbed my right leg piercing through my flesh and bone. At first I hadn't felt anything until what stabbed me ripped itself from being embedded through my leg. I let out a loud shrill as the pain of hitting the rocky ground was ignored by the pain of my torn leg.

My hunter chuckled lightly, amused by my pain and the whole game. The hunter knew that it could have caught me before this; it could have captured me when it saw me on target. But, a true hunter knows that the meal is more satisfying when you let it think it has a chance and at the last minute show it how weak it really is.

"This was too easy! Did you really think you could out run me?! I don't even think eating you after that would even be a pleasant morsel." My hunter grinned, planning new ways to dine. "Ah, yes, maybe just a little more bloodshed will make this more appetizing."

It licked its lips, with a wet tongue already drooling of how exquisite I might look on a silver platter. It lunged at me ripping through my side. I flew through the air hitting something very hard. I wasn't sure if it was the ground. I felt too dizzy to even know if I was standing or not.

Everything started to blur as I found my hand. It was drenched in pure crimson blood that oozed into a deep puddle underneath me. I couldn't breathe, let alone run. All I could do was waiting: Wait for the hunter to chop down into my flesh and eat my soul; wait to die: wait to be rescued, if ever. But, since he had spent so much time to make me look delicious I wouldn't be surprised if he ate me whole; flesh, soul, and all.

I lay there, slowly but surely dying. This was the end, there was no way out, no chance of me getting up, and I doubt that I will live even if someone miraculously saves me. Too much blood lost, and too much damage done.

Giving up, I felt tired and my body called for sleep. I let myself drift off as I stared at my hunter coming closer and closer; licking his lips with every step. I didn't care; there was nothing to live for anyway even if I was given another chance to live; if only there was something to live for. If I could have that then I would die happy.

Starting to lose consciousness, my body didn't react when the monster lunged at me again to finally eat me. As Death's door came closer I reached out to knock, but only to be stopped by a voice.

"What the hell are you doing?! Don't you dare die on me when I just got here!"

It was a voice of a boy, one I did not recognize but held acceptance too. My eyes shot open and saw not death but a boy wielding a black blade and had defeated the hunter; he had rescued me. "Ichigo! She's alive!" Someone shouted; this voice belonged to a woman.

I started to study my rescuer before I went to sleep. I focused on his bright orange hair and his deep chocolate eyes that fixated on me as if he recognized me as someone he knew. I wanted to at least see his face before I forget. Something in my very soul told me: This boy was important. He was my reason to live.

"Ichigo..." I whispered the name of my reason to live.

***

I was beginning to go through an awkward state of being awake but your body was still sleeping. I knew my body was there but I couldn't feel it; it was this numb feeling that was almost impossible to get around. I could hear continuous tapping on the floor caused by frantic nerves. Then I could hear someone's impatient movements. The last made no sound but sat very still listening in on what ever was about to happen just as I was.

I knew from the vibrations of the floor there were only four living things in this square room, including myself. One sat down in a chair, another sat far away, maybe on a window sill or desk, and the impatient one was standing. The smells told me the one sitting down, who was also very close to me, was a male and the one standing impatiently was female, I couldn't tell what the other being was. The way the vibration moved through it, it seemed like its internals were cotton.

"Ichigo, there isn't any possible way that your mother is alive. Once a soul has been eaten it has only three says till it is digested by the hollow that had eaten it." A woman's voice reasoned. "You don't know what you're talking about! She's laying right there; she looks exactly like her!" The voice argued, boisterous, which must have been Ichigo. He had risen angrily out of his chair, knocking it to the floor. "Then would you like to explain to me how she is alive? Get yourself together!" There was a loud smack; the woman had slapped him. I started to feel protective of Ichigo, but my body wouldn't let me move just yet. I only stirred. After that, they paused and cooled off from the conflict. "Ichigo your mother is dead she was killed nine years ago. This girl merely resembles her, it's not her."

There was another pause, nobody had answered. "…Ichigo, I'm sorry. I know how much she means to you but it's over and she's gone. You've solved the mystery to her death so your heart can reside." The woman said apologetically, knowing her words were hurtful. "Could you just think about something for once? It is impossible for this girl to be her; a body can not live with out a soul. Even if she somehow and impossibly survived the girl is not even aged. Also your mothers remains were cremated. You have to get over her, she's gone Ichigo and you avenged her. It's over."

Another pause, Ichigo didn't respond. The woman didn't say anything else either. There were footsteps as a door opened. She had walked to a door to leave our square room. "I'll see you later…after you've gotten yourself together." The door closed meaning the woman had left. There was a loud bam, "Damn it," Ichigo cursed, still feeling frustrated. From the sound I think he had punched a wall behind me.

"Hey, Ichigo, you feelin' okay? Not that I really care, it's just…when do you think she'll wake up? Cause, I mean...if she's not your mom then who is she?" Another voice spoke loosely about the subject but nervous of what would offend; it was the one I could not identify. His voice established he was a male but from the vibrations he made when he moved it was as if he was the size of a toy. Still another pause, another moment of silence but this time Ichigo did answer. "I don't know…" His voice sounded defeated almost heartbroken. "Don't get all teenager on me! You never let anything get to you, why let it now? It beats being all moody."

Ichigo didn't answer again, why didn't he answer? I wanted him to cheer up and keep him from being down. Also I just want to here his voice. "Well? Aren't you gonna say anything? Fine, forget you! I'll never try to cheer you up again!"

My body was almost finished resting, my power was returning swiftly but not fast enough for me. I found the feeling in body to realize where I was: in a bed. I started to open my eyes cautiously, to take a glance at these strangers. I wanted to go unnoticed for the time being so I could eavesdrop more. I was curious to here more about Ichigo's mother. I apparently resembled her strongly.

"Look she's awake!" Said the toy; taking me by surprise as he jumped on me. I wasn't expecting that and as a affect I screamed and reflexively smack him just as he was about to land on me. He hit the ground causing a loud thud like any toy would have if they had been thrown across the room. "-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-you scared me and I-I'm so sorry!" I panicked worried if I had hurt him or not. I looked towards Ichigo with alarm. He wasn't angry with me, was he? "I'm sorry, Ichigo. I didn't mean to hurt your toy." I apologized, feeling guilty.

He looked shocked and there was a gleam of recognition in his eyes, "You know my name…" He said. "Yes, I heard it your friend, the woman, call you that before I lost consciousness." He seemed disappointed by my answer, "Oh…so, you don't know me from anywhere?" He asked as if he was trying to figure something out. Could it be what he was arguing about with his friend? I choose to answer truthfully, "I've never met you before last night," I answered. "But, though my memory tells me I don't know you I feel that you are something precious to me."

Ichigo paused, taking time to puzzle things together. He looked like he didn't know what to say to respond. "Ichigo, you're not even going to introduce me! Why do you get all the hot girls?!" The toy exclaimed, getting off the floor with my hand print embedded on the side of his face. "So what, you're going have Rukia, Orihime and the new hot girl now?!" Ichigo's calm attitude seemed to vanish as sparked annoyance made anger and overcame him. "Shut up! I don't date anyone!" He said, kicking the toy through the open window. I watched him fly till he was out of sight.

"Oh, my…" I remarked; he has quite a temper. "Ignore him, he's an idiot." Ichigo huffed as he regained his composure and sat back down. The angry scowl stayed permeated on his face. "Tell me, who are you?" I felt nervous and small under his demanding glare. He looked so scary; I didn't even want to look him in the eye. "Um, uh…" I squeaked, making a dark curtain of my hair between him and me. "Well?" He waited, still looking straight at me with his stare. Then I actually started to think about it. Who exactly was I? I didn't have the slightest clue. I looked up, relieved I didn't feel so pressured anymore and at the same time embarrassed I didn't know my own name. "I don't remember."

I laughed nervously as I rubbed the back of my head. "What, how do you not remember?!" Ichigo exclaimed, standing up outraged and pointing at me accusingly. I blocked my head thinking he was going to send me out the window too, "I'm sorry but I don't remember!" He sighed, relaxing himself as he picked up his chair and sat in it again. "You just made it harder to figure out what I'm going to do with you…" He sighed, running his hand through his bright orange hair. It was trimmed short and spiky just as I remembered the night before.

I felt terrible that I was causing him so much trouble. I had gotten him scolded and slapped by his friend and now frustrated. It seemed as though I was nothing but trouble for my savior. "I'm sorry…you don't have to worry about me then, I figure out what to do with myself so you won't have to be troubled anymore." I smiled, as I got out of bed to leave his life so I couldn't cause him anymore pain. But, that didn't seem to work out so well.

I was planning to leave through the window since I didn't want to be lost in his home. But, as soon as I step out of bed I realized it was on my bad leg but it was too late to switch to my other one because I was already falling.

I was waiting to hit the floor but it never happen. Ichigo had jumped onto the bed to catch me from falling; he was so far the most heroic person I had ever known. I stared into his hazel eyes once again in awe of his beauty and heroics. "What do you think your doing, stupid?! You're leg didn't heal yet, you could have hurt yourself!" He scolded. Though he called me stupid, I still found his words touching.

I held him in my arms pulling myself into him, "Thank-you, Ichigo, I am in debt to you." This man had saved me twice and had given me a reason to live: protecting what's precious. What was precious was him. He started to squirm as if he were uncomfortable, "Hey, uh, your welcome and all but I don't think this is the right place for this." "You don't like me touching you?" I asked looking up from his chest. "Well, it's not that, it's just someone might see us like this…" His face turned a bright red color as his face grew hot. How strange…

"Kana, I really think you should let go now before- "Ichigo! Getting jiggy with the ladies now?! Ho, that's my boy!" Someone shouted. "Wait, you can't get jiggy in my house unless I say so!" I turned to look at a middle aged man who had Ichigo's gleam in his eyes. He was very tall and built, his jaw was square, his nose was large and his hair was a dark black. He contrasted with Ichigo in every physical way besides height. "Ichigo, you can't get jiggy with our injured patients!" Said a little girl sternly, she was like a tiny Ichigo with short blonde hair; she was pouting. "You finally have a girlfriend, huh?" Another little girl said. She was the exact same size as the blonde, with Ichigo scowl and her fathers black hair. I think it was safe to say this was his family.