Prologue
Tatsuki Arisawa invited me to take part in her weekly group study session. I accepted.
I could not afford to refuse, not only because I was new in Japan, but because I was struggling to adjust. Karakura town was not radically different from my home town in size, but the people in it were so strange. The Japanese culture was so much more complex and formal. As a Seattle girl with Dominican parents, I had no idea how we'd ended up here.
Oh wait, yes I did. My mother signed me up for some student exchange program, and of course it just had to be Japan. I asked to go to Paris, but she insisted I go to Japan.
"All the white kids at your school applied to got to Europe so they can party and drink. You, child, don't have the money to be waisting. You are going where teenagers are neutered and well controlled: Japan."
Oh, how wrong she was. There was no such thing as a well controlled teenager.
The students at Karakura High School were generally nice to me. There was, of course, Keigo Asano. While he was very loud and boisterous, he was also very friendly, especially with girls. My first day he made such a fuss over me.
I came in early, trying to go unnoticed, and took a seat near the window. I found myself tugging at my uniform a lot. I'd miscalculated the size conversions, and ordered my skirts and shirts too small. I should have known better: It wasn't like I was skinny. And that ridiculous bow wouldn't stay in place. One of my classmates- a girl with red hair -offered to help me, but I declined. She eyed my breasts a little too hungrily.
I sat there, staring out the window, preparing generic responses in my mind, since Japanese was not my first language. I found myself reciting them aloud, to myself. Or so I thought.
"My name... are—no- is Youri Kamachi. I am from Seattle, Washington, in America, and I am Dominican and American. I have fifteen years of age. And I enjoy to eat the pears..." I heard a soft chuckle from behind me, so I turned.
He was behind me, staring down at me. I remember, he was almost a foot taller than me, even then. He was also very handsome, yet rude, and arrogant, but noble and sincere all at once. I did not know it, but I was staring into the brown eyes of my future husband.
"Well, as nice as it is to hear all of that, I would appreciate if you got out of my seat." I did not know very much Japanese then, but I understood the tone he was using perfectly. It was that irritated but calmly remaining pleasant tone. I dropped my eyes, and quickly moved to get out of his seat. Suddenly, there was aloud smacking noise. I looked up, and saw a girl standing behind him, while he rubbed the back of his head. A tall, lean girl with black, spiky hair had smacked him on the back of the head.
"Ow! Tatsuki, what the hell?" He growled.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Ichigo? Why would you talk like that to a new student? Clearly it's her first day here!" He rubbed the back of his head, soothing the forming bruise.
"I wasn't talking to her like anything. I just wanted my seat." The girl rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh, get over it you big baby." She turned to me with a smile. And held out her hand. "Welcome to Karakura High School. I'm Tatsuki Arisawa." We shook hands. She nodded to the grumbling boy behind her. "That's Ichigo urosaki. Sorry about that, he's kind of an acquired taste. But, he's harmless, I swear. It's all just an act." I saw a look of comic exasperation wash over him.
"Harmless? An act?" He muttered. He scoffed, and stalked off to the other end of the classroom. Another boy entered the classroom then. He immediately took a flying leap toward Ichigo.
"ICHIGOOO!" He yelled, only to be struck down by the brooding teen. Clearly, the attack had not subdued him. He hopped up and began rambling about some nonsense.
"You'll never believe it! Guess who's paired up? Ishida and Orihime!" I saw Ichigo roll his eyes.
"Really, Keigo? You're just now finding out? They've been dating for a few months now." He muttered nonchalantly. The other boy's jaw hit the floor in shock.
"What! Why doesn't anyone tell me these things anymore?" He whined.
"Well, that's probably because-" Keigo smacked his palm into Ichigo's face, and interrupted.
"WAIT! Hold the phone... We have a new student, who is hot!" He shouted. I blinked, and he was in front of me, eyes darting all over my body. He hung an arm around Ichigo and pointed at me. "Look at that body! Those boobs! Those lips! That sexy tan skin! And just check out her butt. I hear American girls have asses that look better than Tatsuki's face!" Ichigo dropped his head.
"Why the hell do I talk to you? It always pisses me off."
Damn it, why do I always attract the weirdos? I thought.
"Well, hello there, gorgeous." He said, wiggling his eyebrows at me. "My name is Keigo Asano, best looking and most popular guy in school. And I assume you have a name as pretty as you are?" He arched his eyebrow and leaned toward me. It made me uncomfortable, so I took a step back, but found myself seated on Ichigo's desk, again.
"I, erm... My name is Youri Kamachi." I stammered. He leaped for joy.
"Youri! Oh, what a lovely name. I shall take you under my wing, and show you what a gentleman is like." He grabbed one of my hands, and planted a gentle kiss on it. "I want to ask you- if you don't find it rash- to be my date this up and coming weekend? Maybe we can go to the beach. I heard there's a new nude section opening and-" He was silenced by both Tatsuki and Ichigo planting their elbows into the back of his neck, and shouting.
"WOULD YOU KNOCK IT OFF?" Tatsuki frowned at the unconscious Keigo, splayed out on the floor.
"Sorry about him. Unlike Ichigo, unfortunately, it isn't an act. That's Keigo's personality." She shook her head. Ichigo frowned.
"Would you stop calling it an act, already?"
"Why? That's what it is. At any rate, I think you should apologize to Youri." He pouted, and looked away. "Now, Ichigo!" She pressed. He sighed, and begrudgingly swallowed his pride. He towered over me again, with his hand's in his pockets.
"My name is Ichigo. It's very nice to meet you." He offered me a hand. "I apologize if I came off as a jerk, earlier." I smiled, and took his hand.
"It is fine, Ichi-go. I am Youri... It is nice to meet you as well."
We should have dropped our handshake at that moment, but it did not end. There was something about his hands, strong, with long fingers, that felt right. It was as if I could sense we would be holding hands for many years. I stared at them for a moment. I found my gaze going back to his face. His expression was rather confused, like it was strange we were still holding hands. I dropped it immediately, and went to the only empty seat, in the classroom that was now filled with staring students. I heard their whispers.
"Pretty bold of her, hitting on Kurosaki on her first day."
"Who does she think she is?"
"I heard she's an American. They're totally crude."
"He's so not into the small, delicate types."
"Did you see her boobs? She's only as tall as Rukia, but they're awesome!"
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
It was later that day, during lunch, that I got to know some of the others better. Tatsuki introduced me to her friend Orihime. I liked her immediately, because she was very sweet, and seemed to take an immediate liking to me. She even offered me some of her mystery lunch. The others were fairly kind as well, when they weren't giving me underhanded compliments, hitting on me, or asking awkward questions.
Chizuru, the girl who had attempted to grope me earlier, was still looking at my chest. The shirt had gotten so uncomfortably tight that I had to undo the first three buttons. Keigo had fallen out of his seat twice trying to look at my boobs. The very top of the cups on my bra were visible, but I didn't count on anyone actually peeking. Chizuru, however was practically hypnotized in my cleavage.
"Wow. That is gorgeous." she stated, leaning in closer. Tatsuki frowned.
"Jeeze, it's her first day here, you filthy pervert!" she yelled. Chizuru shrugged innocently.
"What? I was just admiring her bra. That's a Victoria's Secret Bio Fit bra, in purple, with black lace trim; size 34 C right?" My jaw fell in amazement. She was exactly right. I immediately put on my jacket.
"Are you cold, Youri?" Orihime asked. I smiled.
"Not exactly." She laughed a little.
"So, you're from America, right? What's it like?" She asked.
"It's different from Japan. I guess, we're a bit more lax on social customs. But lifestyle wise, it's similar. I've only lived there for half my life though. Originally, I am from the Dominican Republic."
"That's so interesting, and exotic!" she beamed. "And you're so smart. You worked out that logarithmic spiral thing so fast on the board. I just got confused when Ochi sensei started talking about thetas and cosines. Even Ichigo looked confused when you were finished." she sighed. "I miss when math had numbers instead of words. It's so confusing. "At that point, one of the other girls perked up.
"Speaking of Ichigo, we're all kind of wondering. What's your take on big bad Ichigo Kurosaki? I saw you were holding hands." Suddenly, all the others leaned in closer, like wolves, closing in on prey. Orihime began rambling.
"Oh yes!" she cheered. "That would be perfect! If you paired with him, then he'd stop being the fifth wheel. Of course, Chad would still be a sixth wheel. After all, I have Uryuu, and Rukia has Renji, so poor Ichigo must always feel so alone. Except for when he's with Chad or Tatsuki. Then they can all be lonely together."
I stared blankly, before dispelling the nonsense.
"Actually, I don't think much of him, good or bad." Orihime practically melted.
"Don't tell me... Keigo has stolen your heart?" The other girls gasped.
"That quickly? Man, she's so irresistable."
"Damn that sexy body of hers! It's like catnip for boys."
Orihime rose to her feet. "How could he steal Ichigo's future love interest? Don't worry, I handle him." I shook my head.
"No, I don't like Keigo either. I'm really just not interested."
"Could have fooled me." came a voice from the trees. A girl, slightly shorter than myself approached the group.
"Oh, hello Rukia." Orihime beamed. "This is Youri, the new girl from our class. She's telling us about how she and Ichigo are not together, even though they are clearly made for each other."
Everyone gasped.
"Orihime! How can you say such things?"
"You've jinxed it!"
"If she and Ichigo get married I will kill you!"
Rukia looked at me carefully, getting uncomfortably close. I shrunk away from her. Then, she straited up and smirked.
"Orihime's right. You are the opposite of Ichigo, and therefore a perfect match."
She and Orihime went on for five minutes, planning how they believed we would get together, who would wear the pants in the marriage, and who got to be godmother to our children. I could only sit and listen.
"I think that Ichigo will reveal his inner romantic side, and propose to her by the river, in the fall, at sunset. Their wedding will have an earth tones color scheme. She will be a nuclear physicist and Ichigo will be a house husband, and take care of their two children- a boy and a girl, named Yuu and Kai." Orihime stated. Rukia frowned.
"That's just silly! Ichigo isn't romantic! He would probably let her get away when they go off to college, and then, at the ten year reunion, they'll reconnect and elope. And they'll have at least three or four kids! Look at them, Orihime. Do you think if two people as hot as them lived together they wouldn't be doing it as often as possible?" She argued.
"Touchè. They both have a lot of sex appeal. Orihime admitted. "But you didn't come up with names for your godchildren, therefore you loose, and they are mine."
"And just how is that?" Rukia snapped.
"I gave them names. Clearly, I love the unborn children of Ichigo and Youri more than you!" she sneered.
The other girls fainted. I felt like I should blush. Just the thought of that tall, handsome man being perfect for me... I shook away that girlish inclination. We weren't meant to be. That was utter bullshit. And we definitely weren't going to have kids together.
We were just classmates. And we barely understood each other.
Tatsuki scoffed. "Rukia, don't tell me you've lost it too? God, what has love done to you people?" she sighed. "Sorry about them. They are such...girls. Anyway, I want to invite you to come and study with us, since you actually understand the math mumbo jumbo that comes out of that womans mouth. We meet at Orihime's apartment around seven, study until nine."
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
The study session had been more of a pajama party than studying. What had I expected? Eight girls, lots of chips and candy, rock and roll music? I had not studied much, but I had made some friends. Now, I was on my way home. It was raining lightly, when my life ended the first time.
I remember very little.
I was walking steadily, under the shield of my umbrella, when I noticed a man behind me. I ignored him, taking him for a passerby. I turned up an alley, and cut through the park. The rain was letting up now. I looked up, to see the mist in the trees. When I looked down, the man was now in front of me, leaned against a lamp post. My pulse went up, considerably. He stepped into the path, blocking me.
"Excuse me." I said quietly.
"Speak up, darling. I can barely hear you."
"Excuse me. I... need you to stand aside, so I can pass." I said, louder. He leaned toward me, with an evil smirk.
"I'm afraid I can not allow that."
This man... His entire body radiated evil. But his appearance confused me. He had orange hair, and brown eyes, just like the boy from my class.
"Ichigo, is that you?"
"Ichigo? I sure hope you aren't talking about Ichigo Kurosaki, that annoying soul reaper." He snorted. "How dare you mistake me for him! I was just going to kill you before. Now, I think I'll toy with you first." He plucked something off of his necklace and dropped it on the ground. In it's place, a flower emerged. I stared, and watched as an adorable, mouse like creature emerged.
"Hello, master. What shall I do?" the high pitched voice asked.
"Ritz, my dear. Show this human who she is dealing with."
The little rat scampered, and leaped at me, disappearing inside my chest. Then I felt far away, like I was watching my body from across the park. The flower opened up on my chest, and the man simply stood in front of me.
"Mabashi the bount. Remember, human. That's the name of the man who is about to kill you." He smirked. "Ritz?"
"Yes master?"
"You look so cute. I'm almost tempted to keep this body as a toy... Yes, soft lips, nice curves...But, I'm feeling hungry. I think I'll have a little snack instead." He took my body in his arms, like we were lovers. "Hold still." He whispered.
His lips were on mine. I won't lie,this bastard, Mabashi, was an amazing kisser. But something was not right. I could feel myself slipping away, into darkness. It was like I was dying.
I was dying. And all that I could do was stand there. I felt my body getting heavy.
"What a pity. You would have been an adorable pet." He mused. Suddenly, he jumped away from me. I fell into the grass on my back. I saw another man towering above me. My vision was hazy, but I could tell he was tall, blond, and dressed in dark robes. He was also carrying a sword.
"You again!" Mabashi hissed.
"I told you, I came here to kill bounts." He took a stance, preparing to fight.
"Ritz, return!" He yelled. I felt the roots of the flower unraveling from around my heart as the creature left my body. It scampered to my attacker, and they fled. "You can't stop me! There are plenty of souls for the taking." He cackeled as he faded into the distance.
"Coward." Scoffed the man who had saved me.
He knelt down beside me, and lifted me up. He muttered something about there still being a small hope of saving me. I knew that there was not. I clutched the front of his robes an whispered.
"Stop him... Please." He looked me over, and sighed.
"You will die."
"I already have... Please. Save someone who is alive." Everything began to echo, like my head was an empty cathedral. I felt my body being laid down gently, and then footsteps, when he left me there to die.
I was at peace, and ready to die.
It was such a beautiful night: the clouds had left the sky, so I could feel the light of the moon washing over me.
But, I was not alone. Someone crouched beside me, and watched me as I laid there, awaiting uneventful death. I thought of Ichigo then, and wondered.
"I guess we'll never know, Ichigo."
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
I watched the girl get attacked.
I watched her soul being taken from her body.
I saw her turn the soul reaper away, and send him after the bount.
I sat, on a tree limb, watching her die.
I felt pity, and slight admiration for her.
She never begged, or cried.
She had died with dignity, unlike most humans would.
I felt her soul growing weak, and decided that I would have her then.
I would inhabit her stinking human body, since I did not have one of my own.
And then she would live, until I no longer needed her.
I hopped from the trees, and stood above her. She was truly at the edge of death, because she saw me, and soul reapers.
"Little human girl, I pity you. I almost love you. I will bind us together, and lend you my strength. Then, you can live. Will you accept my soul, and bind it with your own?"
"Who are you?"
"I am no one... Will you accept me, and live?"
"Yes, no one. I will accept you..."