Posted 10-20-10, Edited 12-21-12
A little Halloween fun, enjoy and please review!
A (Halloween) Candy Contest
Chapter One
Friday, October 15th 2010
To anyone outside, the fourth grade class of Karakura Town Elementary would look like any other class. They sat in four rows, six deep. Friends talked with friends before school, passed notes during class and walked home together afterward. They wore the school uniform with only a few rebels here and there. Any prospective family would see a smiling, happy class. However, to those in the know, those who taught this class and the classes before (and, they suspected, those who would come after).
They knew.
They knew there was a divide that only the teachers and students were aware of. A rift of sorts between the students. Two rifts, actually. Each class was always divided into these three groups. Each fall all a teacher had to do was learn was who was in what group.
The fourth grade teacher was used to this after having taught for over twenty years. He was an older man, a young grandpa age if he had ever married. His hair and his beard were pure white already, something he blamed his students for. Thankfully he was a strict man; it only took new classes a few days to tone down the rebellious state. But they only ever toned it down so far.
And by now, Yamamoto-sama knew his new class was just the same.
Now, the first group, the "Normal" group, was what any 'fresh-out-of-college' teacher would expect in a class. They came every day, never missed a class. There were the girly-girls and tough guys, the jocks and nerds. However, each different type of student got alone surprisingly well with those in their group, whether or not they were the same type of student. The nerds eat lunch with the jocks and the popular girls with the shy, reclusive girls.
These groups had names here; names the students didn't realize their teacher knew about. They were names the teacher did not understand.
This group was labeled as such by the other two groups as well as by themselves. They were the 'Humans'.
Now the second group was better behaved than their rivals, they were the ones who A-ed on every test and homework assignment whether they seemed smart or not. They were in their seats before the bell, first to answer a question in class and first to offer aid to the teacher. Beginning teachers would claim they were the perfect model student, and Yamamoto-sama could see why, however he disagreed. While these students were 'A' students, they had a downfall. For them, it was their way or no way. They did things by the book; never put a finger out of order even if it was in everyone's best interest. Rules were made to be followed and they followed them even if the teacher told them to go about it a different route.
This group had labeled themselves and the others complied with their name. These 'Shinigami' were much like a government in every way.
The third group was the largest band of rebels and trouble makers a teacher could imagine. They were defiant and obeyed when they felt like it. They turned in half-finished homework and made sure there was a fight every lunch time. They taunted the other groups until someone broke down and the fight would begin. They were in detention every moment it was open, (any teacher who ran detention was sure to need a vacation afterwards.) Nothing a teacher did would ever get this group under control.
They called themselves 'The Espada'. This was the only name Yamamoto-sama could understand.
Each group had an even eight student. The Espada sat in the back two rows, the Humans in the middle two and the Shinigami in the front two. They did not converse outside their group and never would they agree to a partner project outside their group. Yamamoto-sama would have loved to torture them by making them do so but past experience had taught him not to do such a thing.
Yamamoto-sama shivered at the memory. He did not like reliving that particular week.
Looking up from his deck his eyes traveled across the room full of students, most of the front row had finished and turned in their test already. They sat quietly reading books. The rest still struggled through, the back rows looking more bored than anything else.
His gaze rested on the clock that hung on the back wall. The school day would be over in fifteen minutes, then the class would turn in their tests whether they were done or not. Letting out a breath of air he turned back to the homework he was grading.
The test continued.
-4-
Tatsuki finished her test just as the bell was ringing.
"Alright, your time is up, put your pencils down and turn in your tests," Yamamoto-sama called out.
Chairs scrapped against the floor as the students walked forward. No one spoke until all the test had been turned in. Once they were gathering up their things, conversation broke out.
"Tatsuki, have you decided what you're going to be for Halloween?" Orihime asked. Orihime was Tatsuki's best friend, they had been friends since kindergarten and they even lived next door to each other.
"Yeah, I got a good idea, what about you? Going to be a robot again?" Tatsuki asked.
"No, this year I'm going to be Lily." Orihime announced proudly.
"Lily?" Tatsuki asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah, she'd one of the warriors from that new anime show, The Shun Shun Rikka, she kicks butt!" Orihime exclaimed, her fists punching at the air.
"Ok, ok, I get it," Tatsuki said, laughing, "How are you going to make her costume?"
Orihime stopped her actions, her face lighting up with excitement. "I can't tell you. It's going to be a surprise for everyone to see, but my brother is going to help me get it just right!" She did a little bounce. Orihime's brother, Sora, was her hero as well as her guardian; it was no surprise to Tatsuki that he would be helping.
"So," Orihime continued. "What are you going to be?"
"Hey are you guys talking about Halloween costumes?" a quiet voice spoke from their left. Ururu was standing by her desk, her bag all packed but she remained to listen to the girls.
"Yeah, have you decided what you're going to be yet, Ururu?" Orihime asked.
The shy girl shook her head. "I don't know yet."
"Well if you can't think of anything I have some ideas that would work perfectly for you!" Orihime said a smile on her face.
"What are they? I bet they'll be better than any of mine." Ururu said quietly.
"Well you could be Ayame from the anime The Shun Shun Rikka, I'm going to be Lily. Then we could all go trick-or-treating together!" Orihime exclaimed.
"Ok, sure." Ururu said, nodding in agreement. A rare smile graced her face at Orihime's invitation.
"You should smile more Ururu. You're really pretty when you smile." Orihime told her.
Across the room Ichigo and his friends were gathered together, their heads bent down over something on a desk. Their voices were really low, so much that Tatsuki couldn't even hear any voices from them.
"I wonder what they're doing," Tatsuki said, nodding to the group when Orihime gave her a confused look.
"Oh, I wonder if it's something for Halloween!" Orihime exclaimed. She raced over to the group. She had to get up on her tip toes to see over their bent heads but she must have seen what they were doing because the next thing Tatsuki heard was Orihime asking if the girls couldn't join them too.
"What? No, you would only slow us down." Mizuiro said.
"What are you saying Mizuiro, of course the girls can come, the more the merrier!" Keigo shouted, trying to hug Orihime. Tatsuki successfully blocked the boy and sent him to the ground.
"So what are you all planning over here?" she asked, seeing what appeared to be a hand drown map on the desk.
"Halloween night, we're compiling all the houses that give out the most candy. We're going to have the biggest load of candy of anyone this year!" Ichigo said, his gaze fixed on the map.
"So can we come?" Orihime asked again.
Tatsuki could see from the look in the boy's eyes that they weren't too fond of having a bunch of girls coming with them. But then Uryu spoke up.
"Having more people would increase our load," he explained. "And sometimes they give out more candy to girls."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Ichigo said.
"Of course I'm right!" Uryu retaliated, glaring at the orange haired boy.
"Ok, fine you can come. Just as long as you don't slow us down or complain, ok?" Ichigo caved.
"Yeah!" Orihime's shout landed right in Tatsuki's ears, sending stars in front of her eyes.
"Hey! Keep it down over there!"
The group turned to see the blue-haired, blue-eyes bully glaring at them from across the room. Grimmjow sat at a desk with the Espada group around him; they too seemed to be in a meeting of sorts.
"Shove it, Grimmjow." Ichigo replied.
"What did you say!" Grimmjow growled, rising from his chair.
"I said, shove it!" Ichigo repeated.
"Why I outta," Grimmjow started over towards their little group.
"That is enough!" Yamamoto-sama stood between the boys and pushed them back towards their respective groups. "You have been told time and time again, no fighting, if you cannot settle your differences without using your fists you will be put in detention. Again!"
The boys continued to glare at each other but nodded to their instructor.
"Come on," Uryu said, "Let's finish this outside; we'll have more privacy there."
Ichigo grumbled but followed his friend. The Human group all filed out, taking their books with them.
"So, what are you going as Chad? I think you should go as The Incredible Hulk. You would be perfect." Orihime said as they made their way outside.
"No, the Hulk isn't scary at all; Chad is going to be Bigfoot!" Keigo told her, his voice just a little loud in the crowded hallway.
"Oh, and what's so scary about Bigfoot, he isn't even real."
The group turned to see a classmate of their following them outside. His hair was bright red and pulled back in a high ponytail. If he wasn't a Shinigami, Tatsuki might actually like him.
"Bigfoot is too real!" Keigo shouted. "There are sightings of him all the time, all over the globe!"
"Yeah and how many have actually been caught or killed?" Renji countered. When Keigo couldn't answer Renji continued, "A big fat ZERO."
"Renji don't rile up the humans, they're not worth it." A pipsqueak of a girl walked up behind the red-haired boy. "If you're coming you better come now, you know nii-kun doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"Yeah, I'm coming Rukia, and your brother can wait for all I care. It's fun to see the humans squirm," Renji said, grinning arrogantly at the group of friends.
"What's that Renji? Can't you do anything without the permission of the great Byakuya Kuchiki," Ichigo taunted him.
"Of course I can, he's not my parent. I can do what I want when I want!" Renji retorted.
"Renji," an ominous voice sounded from the sidewalk.
The boy standing there had long black hair that flowed to his shoulders. A book bag was hanging off his shoulder and he was glowering at Renji.
"Nii-kun," Rukia exclaimed, obviously she had not realized her brother was so near. Even though they were twins, Rukia and her brother were as different as twins come.
"We're leaving," Byakuya said.
"I'm coming, calm down," Renji murmured.
Byakuya only raised an eyebrow as if asking if he wasn't already calm. Byakuya turned with a single glare directed at Ichigo and left, Rukia hurrying to his side, she glanced back at them giving them a gloating look before the three of them turned out of the school yard, Renji following the two, sulking.
"What did I tell ya, he can't do anything." Ichigo said, turning towards a group of younger students. "Well I got to get my sister's home; we'll take about it this weekend. We still got two weeks, so we're good."
The four of them waved goodbye as the orange haired boy headed over to a group of younger students.
"Ok, if you really want to come," Keigo said, "you got to get good costumes, not something dumb like princesses or fairies. It's got to be cool. Second, be at the soccer fields tomorrow at one. We'll plan out the route then," he said, before running off to where the parents were picking up their kids.
Tatsuki agreed, answering that they would be there before turning her attention to Orihime who was watching as Ichigo was joined by his little twin sisters before leaving the schoolyard with them.
"Come on, Orihime, snap out of it," Tatsuki said, pulling the girl from her stare.
"Oh, right!" Orihime blinked out of her gaze, "Ururu, you want to come over tomorrow and work on the costumes together?"
Ururu looked unsure, "I'll ask Mr. Urahara if I can," she finally said. Mr. Urahara was Ururu's guardian. He took in Ururu and her brother, Jinta, when their parents died in a fire some time ago.
"I'm sure he will, come over sometime after one, k?" Orihime said.
"Orihime, you weren't listening. We have to be at the soccer fields at one if we want to go trick-or-treating with the boys."
"Oh, ok, then come to the soccer fields at one and we'll work on the costumes afterward!" Orihime corrected.
"Ok, I'll try," the shy girl replied.
"Come on, Ururu! I'm not waiting all day!"
The call came from a blond haired boy standing some yards away from them. Jinta, Ururu's younger brother, was always bossing the girl around. Tatsuki didn't get why she let him but she had never seen Ururu disobey Jinta.
The girl waved goodbye to the two of them and ran off to join her brother.
"So Ururu gets to see your costume but I don't?" Tatsuki asked, turning to her friend.
"Yep! It'll be a surprise! And what about you, you never said what you're going to be, Tatsuki," Orihime asked again as the two of them made their way out of the school yard.
"Well if you won't show me your costume before Halloween then I'm keeping my costume a secret too," Tatsuki said, grinning at her friend.
"That is so not fair Tatsuki. I told you who I'm going to be!" Orihime whined, leaning in front of Tatsuki.
"It doesn't matter," Tatsuki said.
"Oh, fine. You can see it once it's done, how's that?" Orihime asked.
"Ok."
"Now tell me what you're going to be!"
"Not until I see your costume, then I'll tell you."
"That is so not fair." Orihime whined again. Tatsuki smiled as they continued down the street.
They lived some seven blocks from school in a small neighborhood. Normally the two of them would stop by the park and play for a little bit before going home but the day was cold and Tatsuki wasn't too fond of staying outside today.
"Hey, who is that?" Orihime asked.
Tatsuki was about to ask who when she caught sight of a boy walking almost a block ahead of them wearing the same school uniform as them.
"It's just Cifer, why?" Tatsuki replied.
"I didn't know we went home the same way…" Orihime said quietly.
"What, how could you not know? We walked home this way all last year and you've never noticed him before?" Tatsuki asked, shocked.
"All last year? Really?"
"Well, yeah."
"Does he live very near to us?"
"I think so, maybe just a block away?" Tatsuki thought out-loud.
This lapsed Orihime into silence for some time. She watched the black haired boy walking ahead of them. His pace was slower than theirs and Tatsuki could tell they were gaining some ground on him. Four blocks later, he turned down the same street as they would. They were quite near to him now and Orihime was getting antsy.
"What's wrong?" Tatsuki asked her.
"Shh!" Orihime hissed. Her pace slowed considerable as they turned down the same road. The orange haired girl froze; the boy that had been at least thirty feet in front of them now stood just feet down the street, facing them. Orihime scrabbled to get behind Tatsuki.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Tatsuki asked confused. Orihime said nothing as she hid behind her.
Ahead of them Cifer Ulquiorra stood watching them with his usual blank stare, he didn't say anything, nor did he move.
"What's your problem?" Tatsuki finally snapped at him. He did not respond but behind her Orihime started shaking.
Cifer looked for a little longer at Tatsuki and glanced to where Orihime had disappeared before turning and heading into the yard he stood in front of. He walked casually to the door, opened it and went in.
Not until the door had been shut for a few seconds did Orihime emerge.
"What was that all about?" Tatsuki asked her.
"N-nothing," Orihime said shakily. The girl hurried passed the yard and house and didn't slow until she was over half way down the street. Tatsuki jogged to catch up to her.
"What's wrong Orihime?"
"N-nothing, he's just…kinda scary, don't you think?"
"No."
"Well, he is to me…" Orihime said quietly.
Tatsuki watched the girl as they continued down the street. Orihime kept glancing over her shoulder and Tatsuki wanted to ask what else her friend was afraid of but before she could they had arrived at their own houses and Orihime bid her a quick good bye and ran inside.
Tatsuki stared after her best friend for a second before continuing on to her own house, confused.
Saturday, October 16th
"We have to stop at that big white house over on Komi, they always give out those massive sized Hershey's bars," Keigo supplied as Uryu drew out their path on the map he had brought. The houses that had been listed were highlighted in yellow and Uryu was connecting the dots, so to speak.
"What about the block over in the Kashi development? They always let you take three pieces of candy." Tatsuki suggested.
"Ok, we got to go by them," Ichigo said, highlighting said block. He was in charge of the highlighter.
Orihime, Ururu and Tatsuki stood around the group of boys, watching as they planned out their night. They had been there for half an hour and so far it seemed this would be the longest walk Tatsuki had ever had for a Trick-or-Treat night.
"Alright! No way is anyone else going to beat us this year!" Keigo shouted, throwing his fist into the air as he jumped around on one foot.
"Who are we trying to beat anyway?" Tatsuki asked, failing to think of anyone they were competing with.
The boys all glanced up at her, their faces betraying horror at her question; all but Chad's at least.
"What? It's just a question." Tatsuki said.
There was a pause before Keigo spoke up.
"We're competing against everyone!" he exclaimed, as if it was obvious.
"Then how do you know if you've won?" Tatsuki deadpanned.
"We get the most candy…" Keigo said again, only this time he wasn't so sure.
"That's it? How do you prove that you've won? Isn't there some prize you get for wining?" she asked.
The boys just looked from one to the other, none of them sure how to answer.
This thought had never occurred to them. They had always done this for Halloween, competed to get the most candy…yet never had it occurred to them how they knew they had won.
"You guys have never compared with anyone else have you?" Tatsuki asked, somewhat disappointed.
The black haired girl walked off, headed for the soccer field, letting the boys continue their planning, only with slightly less enthusiasm.
"Tatsuki that was mean," Orihime said, following her friend.
"What, the way they were talking makes you think they had someone to compete with but they don't. How can you win without competition?" Tatsuki aimed a kick at the ball she had brought. The ball smacked into the net of the goal after her assault.
"Still they do this every year; it seems like a lot of fun. And you just…" Orihime faded off.
Tatsuki retrieved her ball, waiting for her friend to continue. It wasn't until she returned with her ball that she noticed Orihime's expression.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Tatsuki asked.
"Hu? Oh, oh it's nothing! Nothing at all! Nope, nothing's wrong!" the orange haired girl bubbled on. Tatsuki knocked her in the head gently.
"You're babbling. Something is wrong." She said.
"Oh, um… it's just…" the girl faded off again, her eyes pulling to look to their left.
Tatsuki turned in the direction but nothing was there.
"What is it? I don't see anything." As she was speaking a familiar black hired figure turned the corner of the street. It headed it their direction at a leisurely pace. Tatsuki blinked.
"How did you know he was coming?" She asked, turning away from Cifer to look at Orihime.
"How? ...um… L-Let's go back to the guys! Maybe they need our help again. I just thought of another house they should go by!" Orihime rushed, grabbing Tatsuki's wrist and dragging her back to the group.
"Orihime! What's wrong with you?!" Tatsuki asked.
"Nothing, we just need to help the guys, don't you think!?" the orange haired girl said, making sure her eyes didn't stray to the area Cifer was coming from when she looked back at Tatsuki.
Tatsuki let herself be dragged back to the group and watched as Orihime threw herself back into the less animated discussion.
-4-
Ulquiorra headed towards the basketball hoops to the group standing around them. He didn't want to be there but he knew Grimmjow would never shut up about it if he didn't show so he had come to get what little peace he could during school.
He hadn't expected to see the Humans there as well, even less had he expected the woman to be there. He watched as she pulled her best friend back to their group, doing her best to ignore him. She had always acted weird around him, though he wasn't sure why.
"What took you so long, Ulquiorra! We've been here for hours waiting!" Grimmjow yelled from where he stood.
Ulquiorra did not respond. He knew he was not late; in fact he was only the fifth to arrive. Grimmjow was only trying to rile him up, bate he was not going to take.
So he listened quietly as the Espada group discussed their Halloween night. The tricks they would play and when to meet up. He would go, only to stop Grimmjow from bugging him during school.
"What are they doing here?" Szayel growled. The group turned to see some Shinigami not ten yards away huddled around the picnic tables.
Trash, Ulquiorra thought, glancing also at the Humans on the other side of the hill. The Shinigami always tried to ruin their pranks on Halloween. The goody-two-shoes they were.
Grimmjow growled at the group. "Let's get rid of them." He hissed, drawing the Espada around him. As the group staked towards the Shinigami, Ulquiorra trailing behind, not caring to get in a fight on a weekend, the third group, the Humans, came over the hill and headed down towards them. They were all chatting and didn't seem to notice where they were headed. Ulquiorra could see the woman trailing behind, glancing warily from her own group to his. Her friend, Tatsuki, kept giving her strange looks, glancing from the woman to himself.
By now the Shinigami were advancing on the Espada, each of them glaring at the Espada. Ulquiorra watched as all three groups arrived at the same spot, stopping just feet away and glaring (or in the Humans case, looking surprised then glaring) at the other two groups.
-4-
Rukia watched as the groups converged. She could hear the Humans talking about their Halloween plans as they drew closer, their voices falling off as they caught sight of the Shinigami and Espada.
No one spoke for some time. Each glaring death at the others.
Rukia stood beside Jushiro and Momo towards the back of the group, none of them too fond of fighting to begin with. From where she stood she could see Ichigo at the head of the Human group, he was glaring from Grimmjow to Renji and her brother Byakuya who were at the head of her group.
Finally Grimmjow spoke up.
"Well looky here, the peace makers and the wimps. Have you come to pick flowers and help little old ladies cross the street?"
"We all know what you're here for, Grimmjow, planning out another Halloween prank fest." Renji growled from where he stood.
"Well, we just can't help it; it's what Halloween is all about! Torturing the pathetic people of this town." The blue haired boy replied.
"Yeah, stealing candy and destroying personal property, that sounds about right for creatures like you." Renji drowned.
"At least I don't ask for candy like polite little brats. Here planning a nice little Halloween night aren't cha?" the blue haired idiot scoffed, directing his insult at Ichigo.
"At least I don't have to steel candy to get any; I can't think of one house in this town that would willingly give you candy." Ichigo retorted.
"Well if they did, what fun would that be?" Grimmjow laughed.
"Because when they do, you get more candy that you can eat all year," Uryu said calculating.
Grimmjow looked thoughtful, "That might be good and all, but where is the fun in eating it if you don't have the satisfaction of knowing you took it from them."
"Ha! I'd like to see how much you get by stealing. I bet it doesn't last you one week!" Renji ripped.
"And you're such a good little boy that you let yours last you a whole six months, what does mommy not let you eat all the candy you want. I bet she only lets you have one piece a week!" Szayel laughed.
"You forget, Renji only does what little Byakuya tells him," Grimmjow howled.
"Why I-" Renji stepped forward, raising his fists. Only he was stopped short by a hand grabbing the back of his shirt.
"Dame it Kuchiki, let go of me!" Renji growled at Byakuya who was holding him back. Grimmjow and his group broke out in howling laughter at the sight.
Byakuya, however, didn't let go of the struggling red head. "Calm down, Renji," the boy said.
"Ha! What did I tell you! Renji can't do anything without Byakuya's permission!" Ichigo howled, spilling out into hooting laughter, his friends joining in.
Rukia watched as her brother pulled Renji back and murmured something to him. The red head quite his struggling and Byakuya let him go but the boy stayed where he was. She could tell from where she stood it was taking all his self-control to not rip the two of them apart.
"You just wait," Renji growled at them, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Wait for what," Ichigo sputtered out between laughs, "for the great Byakuya to give you permission?" The boy doubled over in renewed laughter.
"You all go out to get the most candy right?" Renji started. Ichigo slowed his laughing, and began listening to the boy in front of him.
"Let's make it interesting," Renji spoke. "You were all talking about it yesterday, so let's make it an actual competition. A friendly little competition between us. The group that gets the most candy on baggers night, wins." Renji explained. "Unless you're not up to the challenge?"
"What did you say?!" Ichigo and Grimmjow growled in unison.
"I can understand if you don't think you could beat us, I could understand why you wouldn't want to be humiliated so badly."
"You got yourself a deal!" Ichigo shouted. "Halloween night, the group with the most candy combined wins."
"By any means necessary," Grimmjow put in, "I'm not going to go around asking for candy, and then all you idiots will see how much more you get when you steal."
"Fine, by any means necessary. But costumes will be required for this, you have to at least act like your trick-or-treating." Renji growled.
"No problem," Ichigo agreed.
"Fine, costumes," Grimmjow hissed, not wanting to back down.
"We'll meet at the school at eleven. There we can weigh in all the candy at once." Ichigo instructed.
"Hang on there, we all have to agree for this, you aren't the spokesperson for our group, Renji," the short white haired kid, Toshiro, spoke up. Renji nodded, accepting the condition. "All in favor of A Halloween Candy Contest say 'hai'," Toshiro shouted.
All eight Shinigami shouted 'hai' in unison, though, some louder than others.
"We're all in agreement right?" Ichigo asked to his friends. All eight of them nodded or said 'hai' as well.
"What about you all," Grimmjow growled, clearly not caring if his group said hai or not. But the Espada agreed as well.
"Good, Halloween night. Until then," Ichigo said, turning and walking around the two groups, his friends following behind him.
"Until then," Renji said.
"Yeah, prepare to be crushed," Grimmjow growled. The Espada turned away from the Shinigami and headed back towards their basketball hoops leaving the Shinigami alone.
"Renji what were you thinking!" Rukia hissed once their group was back at their tables. "My brother really is going to kill you now!"
"What are you talking about?" Renji asked. "It was all his idea to begin with."
"What!" Rukia shrieked, her eyes widening, turning toward her brother who sat at the tables, his eyes closed and arms folded over his chest.
"A Halloween Candy Contest." Renji repeated. "Now this is going to be fun."