"Yes mom, I'm fine," I sighed over the phone.

An amused chuckle came from the other end. "I know; I just wanted to make sure. After all I don't know what I would do if someone went and snatched up a pretty girl like you!" she exclaimed.

I groaned. She always does this, she and my father love to treat me like a baby. I'm 15 years old for god's sake! "Mom c'mon I'm not a kid anymore," I replied.

"Yeah, yeah hurry home," her voice took a serious edge. "I don't want you out alone."

"Ok, don't worry I'm almost there," I answered. "Bye Mom." I noticed the sudden change in her voice but just brushed it off. She and my dad have always been cautious of me going out by myself, but I like getting away every once and a while. They don't usually trust anyone out of our little family.

I took a long breath and looked up to the sky, something didn't feel right, but I didn't think too much of it. I stopped my thoughts on the matter and started walking home.

My name is Samantha Maydel, but everyone calls me Sam. It's short, not girly and easy to remember. I don't even respond to the former unless its family. I'm your average all American high school girl. I'm 5'6", shouder length blonde hair, and brown eyes. I barely am ever seen in a skirt or a dress, and convers are my favorite shoes. I'm hyper and crazy on ocasion, and I can kick some butt if I want to. I live in a small house in America, with my mom; Stacy, and my dad Robert. Both are very kind and protective of me. We're not rich but we are pretty well off.

On the journey home I began to think about the anime that I need to watch at home. I like a lot of it but the one I'm most in love with is Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki being my favorite character. My mom and dad really hate it, when they found out that I had watched an episode at my friend's house they were so angry they grounded me for a month. I don't know why they hate it so much, but they do. But that was when I was twelve so you can imagine how long I've had to go behind their backs.

And no matter how much I hate to admit it, they are part of the reason that I dont have very many friends. No one likes to come to my house and the second my parents are brought into the conversation, everyone tries to change the subject. The other part I guess is me in general, I'm not sure why, but most people I meet are not very fond of me, they almost seem scared. when I was younger no one wanted to be my friend, and even now I don't have any really good friends. I had always tried to be the happy, agreable person so that I could make more friends; it worked, but only a little. But once I discovered Bleach, it was like a whole new world had opened up. The only comfort I have ever found was in watching Bleach, it had become my saving grace.

I don't know what it is, but whenever I watch it I feel like I know it. Now of course I have watched nearly every episode so that might be it. Smiling to myself thinking of my animated heroes, I looked around. I didn't realize but I had walked right into a dark alley. I was about to turn back, when I felt something coming close. I whipped my head around to see a black cat with yellow eyes. Letting out a sigh of relief I check to see if it had a collar. It had no tags, but was well kept so I doubted it was a stray. I glanced in every direction trying to decide what to do.

'I could take it home with me' I thought. I love all kinds of animals, dogs and cats being my favorite. With no owner in sight I scooped up the cat and held it close. It rubbed its head into my shirt and purred affectionately.

"Awww! You're so cute!" I yelled. Walking out of the alley, I noticed that my house was only a block away. I started thinking of a name for it. The first thing that came to mind was Yoruichi, after the ex-captain in Bleach. I took a look at the cat in my arms and raised it up so we were face to face.

"So, how do you like Yoruichi?" I asked. Not expecting a response I placed her back in my arms, missing the small glint of recognition in her eyes. She meowed fondly and shifted closer to me. "All right Yoruichi it is," I giggled.

I hadn't even realized after all of my rambling that I was already at my front door. I shifted around trying to hold up Yoruichi, and open the door at the same time. Both of my parents work so it was rare to see them when I get home. I bent down and placed the black cat on the ground, but as soon as her paws met floor she was running off in the direction of my parent's room.

"Wait Yoruichi!" I exclaimed. She ran into the open room and crawled under the bed. "No don't do that!" I crouched down and saw her looking straight at me. "C'mon kitty, this isn't funny."

What happened next made me jump right out of my skin and question my sanity.

"Of course this isn't funny; I didn't run under here for the exercise," came a deep voice. I blinked for a second and realized that a cat had just talked to me.

"What the hell! How are you talking! Cats don't talk!" I screamed. The next thing that came to mind was how much this cat was really like the bleach Yoruichi; same cat form and voice, it was to coincidental. With a shaky breath I asked, "What is your name?"

I could see the cats eyes narrow. "I think you already know,"

My eyes widened and I screamed at an octave that would make any fangirl proud. "Oh my god, you're Yoruichi! The real Yoruichi! How are you here, why are you here!? Is this a dream!?" She looked at me like I was insane. And from her point of view I'm sure I was. So many questions were bussing in my head that I didn't notice the feline moving to a different spot under the bed.

"Will you shut up and come over here? We don't have much time." she growled. Not wanting to make a bad impression, I moved on farther and noticed something hidden in the shadows.

"What's this?" A small box was hidden in a dark corner. I never would have noticed it had she not just shown me. I gently lifted the box and moved out from under the bed. The feline was quick to follow. I looked at the top of the box and almost couldn't believe my eyes. There was writing on the box but it wasn't English, it was Japanese. The strangest part though was that I could read it.

"Well? Don't just gawk at it, what does it say?" said the impatient, talking cat.

"Oh, it says: Those who seek this great power will go back empty handed. This container is impossible to open to all but the contents true master. Only when she is present will the box yield to her crimson tears." I read almost in a trance.

"It seems to be a riddle to ward off robbers." She stated. "Heh, well we already have the answer," She looked up at me with those golden eyes. She stared at me for a long time until she calmly asked, "Do you ever have the feeling that you don't belong here child?"

My head hung low; So many questions were flying through my head that I didn't notice that I had answered.

"Yes" I was surprised at myself, I felt lost, exactly like I didn't belong. It had been like this for as long as I could remember. Barely anyone liked me, everyone seemed to look the other way at me. I had never felt at home anywhere until Bleach. Just watching it made me feel a little glimmer of happiness. This feeling was eating away at me. I felt like I had forgotten something, and that something was trying to tell me. Everything had suddenly gone quiet. I glanced to Yoruichi to see that she was glaring at something behind me.

"Well, it seems that you stumbled upon something that you weren't ever supposed to see Sam," an all too familiar voice spat.

My eyes widened and I slowly turned my head around. My breath hitched in my throat. "Mom? Dad?"