Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Tsuki no Curse by Okina Reika (that's from Loveless 3). That's all.
At Seireitei University, there were two main groups; the preps and the outcasts. Most of the school was prep territory since there were more of them then there were outcasts. There were maybe ten outcasts all together. When forced to work together, it usually resulted of damage to the campus or some person. The professors had learned not to force the two groups onto each other. It was safer for each other that way. They only had to occasionally worry when the two groups had an encounter in the Chemistry lab. Mention "the incident" and all teachers will groan and bury their faces with their hands. It had been that horrible. The dorms had been closed for two weeks for repairs. The campus itself was a very beautiful, serene place. In the spring, the sakura trees scattered around campus would be in full bloom and the occasional petal would drift by on the slightest breeze. The school was known for not only its academics and athletics, but for its art program. A few famous artists emerged from its pool of the potentials. The headmaster, had high hopes for all of his students and refused to take sides, like most teachers had. He refused to, it just didn't seem right to base the punishment he dealt on a biased opinion of others.
Like most cliches, they leaders. The outcasts adored their representative of who they were; Ise Nanao. Around anyone outside of the outcasts, she was as frigid as the arctic in the winter; to those who had stood by her, she was kind and compassionate. Above all, she was there for any of her friends if they needed someone to lean on. Her smile was rare and thus cherished. As a student, she was focused, disciplined and bright. She caught onto things easily and excelled.
Now for the preps. There leader was a womanizer. He loved his women more than anything in the world. Kyōraku Shunsui. At his side was none other than Matsumoto Rangiku. Shunsui was the flirt. It didn't matter what girl he dated, he always flirted with the next. His love for the colors black and pink focused people's attention on his body, forcing them to notice his toned body and tan skin. There was no way around it. He didn't like to be the center of attention, but he didn't mind it. On the other hand, Matsumoto loved it. She loved to flaunt what she had and she did proudly. All the other girls, no matter how pretty or cute they were, were put to shame by Matsumoto's looks.
At one point, Shunsui, Matsumoto and Nanao had been friends. Those years had flown by fast. They had started their early years at the University and it had separated the trio in a heartbeat. Matsumoto followed Shunsui wherever he went, so it was expected that she followed him to the side of preps. Shunsui changed because of Kuchiki Byakuya; the former alpha. As soon as their first year at the Academy began, Byakuya had Shunsui pinned as his "heir". And Shunsui was more than happy to take the title. With that, he left Nanao behind as well as his ideals. Unfortunately for Byakuya, his younger sister, Rukia, was an outcast and close to Nanao.
The years turned like a wheel. The seasons passed and changed before their eyes. Before the trio knew it, they were enemies; trying to get rid of one another had each turn. Shunsui and Matsumoto often plotted together against Nanao, but it was rare for their plans to catch her in the snare. Usually the ice queen would sit on the rooftops of one of the dorms and watch their plans turn sour. Occasionally their antics would pull a laugh of her, but it was rare.
The fall day dawned bright and clear. No one wanted to move out of their warm beds. A few of the students were up and about for early classes, to get breakfast early, or just for the heck of it. Nanao was one of the last ones. She sat on the stairs of her residence hall with her sketchbook and iPod. The sounds of "Tsuki no Curse" by Okina Reika calmed her and woke her mind. The pencil that was clasped in her hand moved over the page in even, graceful strokes. In class later that day, she would paint it if she had the time. Or she would start on a brand new project. Some pictures were better left as simple as possible. In her opinion, it let others think and imagine. She checked her watch out of habit and sighed. Only a quarter till nine. She didn't have class till two that afternoon. Maybe she would go the Fine Arts Center and fine a practice room and run through some piano exercises. It had been a few weeks since she last played and that was because somehow her fingers had become stuck to the keys with little hope of freedom. The skin on the tips of her fingers was just starting to heal back. Until then, she kept band-aids on said fingers. Maybe this time Matsumoto hadn't put rubber cement on the keys.
She closed her sketchbook with a soft 'thud' and stood up. It was a short walk to the Fine Arts Center; she would be able to get there quickly enough. It was a large building, most of the classrooms in the lower area. The stairs were steep and narrow compared to the ones in the residence halls. The practice rooms were incredibly tiny. Whoever had designed the rooms had given barely enough space to fit a piano and a bench inside. Add a person to the mix and it was just downright uncomfortable. But Nanao wanted to play. It seemed that the piano was her only real friend. The soft notes always calmed her restless spirit. Whenever she played, she was able to express her suppressed emotions.
The room was unusually cramped, but it didn't matter. Quietly, Nanao shut the door behind her. The bench didn't move much but she somehow managed to sit down. Her fingers rested lightly on the keys. Without a second thought, she began playing. Her mind didn't know what her fingers were doing. The notes flowed easily from her. The haunting melody pulled on her heart strings. She was so involved that she didn't hear the door crack open.
Shunsui knew his ex-best friend could play the piano well, but he didn't know she was that good. The song she played tugged on his heart, proving that he still had a heart. Those notes made him want to cry for losing Nanao. The other had been cold, yes, but she had been there for him when he needed a friend.
Suddenly, a cough rose in his throat and he couldn't stop it. The song stopped so abruptly. Nanao shot to her feet. She glared daggers at Shunsui before climbing over the piano bench and pushing past him. Shunsui watched the ice queen leave. She didn't even look back.
A/N: wipes forehead Well, there's the first chapter. The next chapter should be up by Wednesday at latest. And my boyfriend pointed out some stuff. I have this to say. Creative Liscense. So be kind and review!
I'll give you a cookie and give you luffles if you do.