In Rukongai was life hard and in District 80 and more even worse. If you wanted to survive, you have to be tough, mercyless and cold on the outside. Or you will die. If you don't have friends, or a group, where you belonge, you are on your own. Ichigo and Renji know this. Why ? Because they live here, in District 80. They didn't have a choice but to learn, and accept this. They don't have easy life, but they have already accepted it. Now here they are. They, and their group. Seven people...no...seven kids. They don't have any money, so if they don't want to die, they have to get food, somehow. By any they stole some food, not much, but enough for them to survive. But after they stole food, they have to go away. Or they will be cough. And they really didn't want that. Every week, they were elsewere, often sleeping on streets, and when they have luck, they find some empty, half-destroyed house. But that wasn't happening often. During day, it was hot, sometimes too hot, but during night, it was cold. Like in some fricking desert. Of course, they have find and stolen some blankets, but wasn't helping much, so they had to sleep together, and warm each other. Now, they don't have any food. So they are going on action...to stole some food.
Like always, they have simple plan, one have to distract the seller, and second must sneak behind and stole all what he can. Then, they would run away, and pass the food between themselves, so seller was puzzled. Usually, Renji would be the one, who will distract seller, and Ichigo the one who will sneak behind, because he is the fastest from group.
"Ok Renji, you know what to do, go and distract him. And for enough time, the last time he have already catched me !" said Ichigo, the last part in strict and dark voice.
"Why are you yelling at me ? It isn't my fail, that you are so slow and noisy !" yelled Renji back.
"Slow you say ? If you have forgotten, then I AM THE FASTEST from group, and you are the one who is noisy!" yelled orange haired boy to red haired boy as they started beating each other on the ground.
"Will you two finally stop arguing ? We have a work to do." said one boy from their group.
That have stopped the two bickering friends. They have both backed away.
"Let that be for now, he is right, we have work to do, ok, all on your positions" said Renji, now he was finally all have got to they position, he have looked to Ichigo, who was walking across street. Ichigo was also wearing hood, because of his bright orange hair, they could be seen from everywhere, and the seller could see him, so they would have realy hard time escaping. Ichigo was observing all shops with food on the street, he was searching for the biggest shop, where the seller could not see the whole shop from one angle. He have come near one shop and leaned against wall.
'Are you sure this is the best choice ?' thought Renji as he was watching Ichigo.
Then Ichigo have raised hands and yawned realy loudly.
'Yosh, this is the signal !' as Renji saw this, he automatically started heading against that shop. The seller that was in shop was big, but also fat. Good, now they don't have to worry about escaping. He have come to the front of the shop and started looking around, like he was searching for some certain thing.
"What do you want brat ?" asked the seller in annoyed voice. Renji hated these people, the way they were looking, moving, even speaking. They thought so high about themselves, but they are nothing. Renji have hided his fists behind him, because they were trembling.
"Could you please show me some of apples ? And I also see some strawberrys, of you would be so good, and show them to me." Asked young red-head in sweet and innocent voice. Something he hated, but also needed to survive.
"And why would I do that ? You don't look like you have any money. You are only wasting my time, go away, I have better things to do" snapped seller at him. But he had no clue that Ichigo was right now sneaking behind him and was taking a lot of food to a bag. Realy big bag.
Seller was about to turn around and go to do something, but if he would fully turn around, the he would see Ichigo like he is stoling his food. This wasn't good.
"Please wait, I have some money !" yelled Renji as he took out some coins from his old, dirty kimono. They dind't have much money, in fact, they had only a few coins. They knew, that when they wouldn't have any money, sellers would not be interested in them, so they have these coins, only to show that they have something.
"Oh, so you have at least some money, okey brat, I will give you one apple." grinned seller.
"What ? But I could have at least 10 apples for that money." It realy wasn't much money. But it was still more than that, and Renji needed time for Ichigo.
"Don't raise your voice on me, you little shit, you should be thankfull. Now give me that money, and get away." Seller was about to take money from red-headed boy, but just in time Renji have backed his hand away and grinned.
"Now that I think about it, I don't want anything. I am going, see you later !" yelled Renji as he ran away. When he was far enough, he looked back, and saw that the seller was…grinnig ?
"Strange" said Renji to himself. He was preparing himself for long runing in case, that seller would found out abou Ichigo, but nothing like that haven't happened. But he was still feeling some mix of strange, bad and terrifying feeling. Like something bad was about to happen….
"Oi Renji ! Are you daydreaming or what ?" spoke Ichigo, who have arrived next to him, with big bag over his shoulder.
"No you idiot, I was just thinking, that it was unusually easy, don't you think ?" asked Renji in somehow worry voice. Ichigo raised a eyebrow and was about to answer when he heard something, that he was praying not to hear.
"CATCH THAT KIDS, THEY HAVE STOLEN MY FOOD !" yelled that fat seller.
"Shit, this realy isn't good, we should head to our hideout, where are others waiting." cursed Renji.
"You are right, we should separate. Here, take the bag, they have already seen me with it." Ichigo handed the bag to red headed boy, who have took it and started runnig away, other way than his friend with hood.
After one hour runnig Ichigo was almost in their hideout. He was taking the longer way, so he could lost all guys, that were folloving him. Ichigo was really good at runnig, he was very fast, but also strong, he has hiden wooden sword under his hood. He was practising battle with Renji something about 5 years, they were now good at any fighitng style. Renji had a wooden sword too, but he wasn't taking it with him, when they were going in ,action, because it's too eye-catching. When the enter to the hideout was in eye sigh, he saw all his friends from group, including Renji, like they are running against him.
"RUN ICHIGO! They have found out about us !" yelled Renji. Ichigo gasped and was about to turn around and start runnig when he heard someone behind him.
"There is nowhere to run, brat." calm, but scary voice has reached his ears, as he unsheated his sword, and was about to swing at his opponent, he have knocked Ichigo right to his friends. Renji have handed his bag with food to one of his friends, and catched Ichigo, as he was send flying by some guy.
"Damn it, there is nowhere left to run." said Ichigo as he standed up and helped Renji, who have fallen under Ichigo, to his feet. It was true, there were enemys from all sides. There were five of enemys, four on one side, and one the other, in fight they would lose, even, if there were seven of them and only Ichigo and Renji knew how to fight but still, they were only kids, and enemys seemed like strong men, who have already been in many fights. There was also chance in escaping through that side, where was only one enemy. He would probably lose to all of them, but he would hold them long enough for other enemys to come and join the fight.
"Have any plan ?" asked Renji as he eyed all were now all standing in round, with their backs against each other.
"Now you are all ours. Did you really thought, that you will succes ? We have heard of you long before you all came here, you are quite stars. But we were prepared for you. Now you are gonna-" that only man on one side have widened his eyes, and then have fallen on ground, knocked out.
All of Renji's and Ichigo's gang have gasped and looked where the man have been standing while ago. There stood…..little girl, with purple kimono, violet eyes and raven hairs.
"What the hell are you looking at ? Do you want to be cought ? Now hurry up and come with me !" that little girl have yelled at them and started runnig. Ichigo and renji were waiting too long and started runnig after her, like all of their group. Enemys weren't even runnig after them, it seemed, like they were checking condition of their knocked friend.
After thirty minutes of non-stop runnig, they have come to some old hause. All doors and windowses were closed, but that girl, who have saved them have opened some kind of secret doors on one side of house. Wordlessly, they have all went behind here. When they got inside, they saw, that the house was destroyed, almost demolished and didn't had any furniture inside. Only few blankets. When they come in the middle house, that strange girl have turned around
"You can stay here for some time, but you will have to move on soon" said girl and was about to leave when Ichigo have catched her wirst.
"Hey wait, we didn't even have time to thank you, and who you even are ? And why did you helped us ?" asked Ichigo as he let go of her hand. Her hand…..it was so soft….
"My name is Rukia. The thing is, that I have heard of you long time ago, and I was interested in you, when you have arrived here, I was following you. Then I saw that you have goten into trouble and I have decided to help you, but …. but I have one demand." at the last part, Rukia have looked down.
"And what it is ?" asked Renji from behind Ichigo.
"I….I want to join your group." Said Rukia, as she have looked up she had confidence in her eyes.
At first, Ichigo was shocked, but then he smiled."We would be happy, if you join. I am Ichigo, this is Renji Abarai and this is rest of our group." said still hooded Ichigo, as he gestured towards his gang. Then he have finally took down his hood.
Rukia gasped. She thought that this Ichigo is ugly, or what, when he was still wearing his hood. But he was shocked. Under his hood was hiding beautiful face, and those amber eyes, and orange hair…..wait, what ? orange hair ?
Ichigo wasn't very patient person. And now, it was showing on him. At first have this Rukia stared at him, and when he have taken his hood down, she has gasped and then…she has started fricking laughing right in his face !
"Hahaha, you, hahah, you have ORANGE hair ? Wait, what was your name again ? Oh yeah, it was STRAWBERY, hahaha….!" Rukia was now rolling on floor. And after what she has said all but Ichigo started laughing too….Renji the most.
"Stop insulting my hair and Ichigo means ,,to protect one thing,, so stop laughing, midget !" snapped Ichigo. After word midget, Rukia was standing straight on her feet with the most serious face Ichigo has ever seen, but even so, Ichigo was still a lot higher.
"How did you call me, Strawbery ?" asked so called midget in dark, almost demonic voice.
"You have heard me, little one." Ichigo grinned. It looks like he have found something, that realy annoys her.
"Oh my god, this is realy funny to watch, but I have to stop you two little love birds." Said Renji as he tried to stop laughing at the two, now blushing so called love birds ."It has been tough day, and I think, tha we all need rest."
All have nobbed to this. After they have separated Ichigo and Rukia, they all went to prepare for cold night. During the night, there always must be someone who is staying on guard and Ichigo is always the first one. After they were all done, Ichigo come near Renji, and said him something that only he could hear.
"Tomorrow, I will beat you for that love birds." said Ichigo, and his voice have told Renji, that he isn't making fun. Renji gulped and started praying, that until tomorrow will Ichigo forget. Because when Ichigo is angry…..well, lets say that it really, REALLY isn't good thing.
Ok, this is my first chapter, of my first story, in first, i am sorry for my mystakes, but i am not from england or USA, english is not my main language. I dont know how often i will submit new chapters. Ad the last one, PLEASE, dont send me some messages, where you will tell me that is horrible, or something like that...