DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bleach. This story and all chapters contained therein are an independent work used for entertainment purposes only. Enjoy!
Prelude
Karakura Town
The young woman stepped off the bus and hoisted her bag to her shoulder. She was so tired and ached from the cramped ride but she still had much to do before she could rest.
She slowly made her way through the bus station and out to the bustling streets of Karakura Town. It was a little overwhelming to be around so many people again. Most of her life had been lived in seclusion. This massive throng of people was oppressive, bordering on claustrophobic.
How can people stand this? she wondered. She shrugged and slowly made her way out into the town proper, pulling out a sheet of paper containing her new address and a list of directions as she went.
Despite the crowds, it was easy to side-step around people as she simultaneously walked and read where she was supposed to go. She could sense the people around her and would easily move out of the way of a person who clearly wasn't paying attention.
Occasionally the young woman would look up to find street signs, but for the most part she was absorbed in the piece of paper she tightly held. The place she would be staying was east of the bus station in the southern part of town. It was an apartment complex that catered to young people and was therefore, relatively cheap.
"Excuse me, I don't mean to pry but do you require assistance?" a formal voice said suddenly behind her, breaking her concentration.
She jumped and spun to see who had spoken to her. It was a young man. He was slender and tall, with a serious look about him. This idea was reinforced by his pristine shirt and tie and perfectly pressed slacks.
"Why do you think that I require assistance?" she asked warily, not wanting to be caught off guard. The young man smirked and blushed slightly as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"You were looking so intently at your map, I thought you were lost." he answered simply. The girl relaxed and returned his smile.
"You're partly right. I do need some help. I'm new to Karakura Town and I am trying to find my new apartment." she replied, slightly embarrassed.
"Where is it at?" he asked, eager to help.
"Here's the address. It's in the Sakurabashi District, according to the directions." she replied and handed him her paper.
The young man glanced at it and the young woman was relieved when she saw his eyes light up with recognition.
"Ah yes, I know where this is." he looked up and smiled, "You are heading in the right direction."
He pointed down the road they were on, "Keep on this road. You'll pass the Karasu River. Four blocks down you'll enter your district and then you'll turn left. Your building will be on that street."
The young woman listened closely then followed his gaze down the street. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw what was on his wrist. There dangled a thin, silver chain with a single silver charm. The charm itself was a circle that contained a cross.
It can't be! she thought, I must be seeing things!
"Are you ok, miss?" the young man asked, a concerned look now on his face. She looked back to him and smiled again.
"Yes of course! I'm sorry but I realized that I really must be going. Thank you so much!" She bowed slightly and rushed down the street.
"Wait! May I know your name?" he called after her. She spun about and paused for a moment.
"Ur-I mean- Hokama!" She waved and then turned back around, continuing her race down the street. She had to get to her apartment and think on this strange turn of events.
Uryu Ishida watched the beautiful girl as she raced down the street, duffel bag slung over her shoulder.
He had been exiting a book shop when he had spotted her looking so intently at a piece of paper. She was over five and a half feet with a curvy, athletic build and lightly tanned skin. Her hair was wavy and appeared to be a warm, golden color and had been pulled back in a loose ponytail. He had been surprised when the light shifted on it. It looked like someone had spun strands of silver amidst the waves of gold.
Uryu had also been captivated by her deep, blue eyes. Almost like the eyes of a Quincy. Uryu chuckled at the absurd thought.
"Hokama-san." he mused to himself. She appeared to be his age; maybe he would see her at school. He hoped so.
Akemi Hokama had moved into her new apartment by late afternoon. She had finished her paperwork and received her keys in short order.
The apartment came fully furnished so she was spared the trouble of having to purchase new furniture of dishware. Although, she would need to purchase some decorations to liven the bare walls.
Once she had finished eating her dinner of take-out and washed, she collapsed onto her new bed. Her thoughts went back to the young man who had helped her. He had been so handsome and kind.
Could he be a Quincy? she wondered.
She looked at the bracelet dangling from her fingers. It had been her mother's and was similar to the one the young man had worn.
Akemi closed her eyes, laughed, and clutched the bracelet to her chest. For the first time in her long travels, the young woman had a reason to feel hope.
(I like the flow and direction of the prelude but I feel like something is missing. If you notice something please leave a comment. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy the story. More to come soon.)