A/N: I just got my first review earlier and I'm so unbelievable happy! Thank you to Junoa, it means so much to me you can't even imagine! I am certainly going to listen to your feedback.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach! No copyright intended.
*WINTER*ANGEL*
© Tale Slayer
Chapter Two.
Sunlight streamed in from the window and shined directly on my face. I groaned and indignantly rolled over to the side, covering my eyes with my pillow. It was a Saturday and I was not in the mood to wake up. I glanced at the digital clock beside my bed before trying to go back to sleep. After 10 minutes, it was evident that my stubborn body was not going to go back to sleep. So I got up, grumbling. I checked the refrigerator. Empty. I sighed.
I got ready to go out to get breakfast at a local restaurant and buy groceries afterwards.
By the time I was done grocery shopping and finishing up other errands, it was around 5 PM. The sun was already setting. I scolded myself for wasting the whole day due to poor time management skills. I shrugged it off since I didn't have any other plans today anyways. While I was walking, I got that feeling of unease again. A gust of wind blew past. I shivered and started walking a little faster. While doing so, I bumped into someone.
I fell unceremoniously; the contents in my grocery bag sprawled across the asphalt. Before I could help myself, I wailed. I picked up a tomato to examine it. It was obviously no good anymore, shown by the beat-up bruises and small cuts. I bit back a curse and looked up at the stranger with a frown. My eyes widened. Teal eyes glared back at me.
"O-oh, good evening Hitsugaya-san," I said as I awkwardly attempted to straighten up.
He scowled. "Do you ever watch where you're going?"
I sheepishly smiled. "Sorry…" I apologized, resisting the urge to scream and shout at him for ruining my tomatoes. I just sighed and started to gather my ruined groceries. He bent down and started helping me. I stared at him in shock. When he held it out to me, I just crouched there, frozen.
"Well?" he grumbled.
I flushed and took it and placed it in the bag. After we picked everything up, I contemplated on what to do next. I could just thank him here and be on my way. But for some reason, a small voice at the back of my head told me that it was dangerous wandering alone today. I would have a sense of safety if someone accompanied me; even if I hated him. Finally, I timidly asked him, "Would you mind coming to the grocery store?"
"Hah?" he dumbfoundedly asked.
I grimaced, wishing that I hadn't asked. "Never mind," I said quickly. "Thanks for your help." I spun on my heel to leave.
Behind me, I heard an exasperated sigh. I looked back; he had started following after me. I brightened into a smile. I supposed he did have a heart after all.
We both silently walked to the supermarket. I was afraid that if I said anything, he would change his mind about accompanying me. I took out my shopping list, which I had thankfully kept.
"I just need to get some vegetables and fruits, which got ruined. Do you mind finding a watermelon? Just a small one," I asked him.
He grunted. I went off to find a few other things. When I was finished, I went back to find him. He held a nice, small watermelon. I lined up at the register and paid.
We were out the door, and I realized that another hour had probably passed. I heard a faint beep. He stopped and pulled out something that looked like a cell phone and glanced at the screen. "Tch. I have to go somewhere. Hurry up and go home."
I tried to ignore his rudeness. "O-oh. Thanks for your help."
His brows furrowed, like he was worried about something.
"Is something the matter?" I asked worriedly.
He shook his head and started walking in the opposite direction. I sighed at his unfriendly behavior. I set off to go home. It was getting pretty dark. The same ominous chill from the afternoon crept up on me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I whirled around, half-hoping that Toshiro was still there so that I could ask him to walk home with me. He wasn't. I tried to calm down.
"Stop being such a big baby Katsumi. You're 14. You can walk home yourself," I muttered, trying to reassure myself. Yet I nearly wet myself when I heard a sudden creaking noise. I looked up in paranoia. It was just an old swing that moved due to the wind. I scolded myself for freaking out and remind myself that I was just walking past the local park now. A nearby bush rustled.
-Whoosh-
I stopped in my tracks. "Hello?" I called out, trying to sound confident but instead, it came out more as a squeak.
"Found you~" I heard a slimy voice say. My blood churned, I was too frightened to turn around. That wasn't a problem because the stranger appeared before me. A strange man smiled at me. I immediately shuddered at the sight of him. He looked like he was dressed for Halloween, donning black and white robes. He had a pale white face that was partially covered with a mask. But what freaked me out the most was that he had a hole in his chest. And held a sword.
"Hime," he said. I flinched. Then a beast stalked out of the shadows. I realized that it was what the man was calling. If I wasn't already having a panic attack, I was definitely going to now. Much to my horror, 'Hime' was a monster about the size of a horse with multiple eyes and arms. It snorted.
"Fetch that girl for me," he nodded in my direction. My eyes widened. My legs, which had miraculously turned to jelly, would not move. The monstrosity snarled at me and started running full-speed towards me.
So this is how I die.
I shut my eyes, waiting for my death. But it never came. I cautiously opened an eye. A figure stood before me. He wore a black kimono and a white haori. It was labeled with the kanji for 10. A familiar head of snowy white hair sat atop his head.
"I told you to hurry home," a husky voice said.
"Hitsugaya-san?" I gaped in disbelief. He evidently ignored me. I saw Hime disintegrate with a final yelp.
The mysterious man still stood.
"Ah, a shinigami. And a captain no less! Sorry, but I don't have time to play with you today. I'm here for that girl. Yukimura Katsumi," he said calmly, despite his… comrade being slain before his very eyes.
I froze, not knowing how or why he knew my name. Toshiro's eyes narrowed.
"Why do you want her?" he asked, as if I was nothing of importance. This one time though, I agreed with him. I'd never done anything so that I'd be wanted by a freaky man and his monster.
"That's really none of your business," he said calmly, drawing his sword. He dashed towards Toshiro and raised his sword. Toshiro blocked it with a bare hand.
"Too slow," he muttered. He raised his own sword and killed the man with a single stab. I squeezed my eyes shut. A few seconds passed. Everything seemed to be normal again. But I couldn't shake the sight of the event out of my mind.
"Are you ok?"
I looked up to find Toshiro staring at me. I let out a shaky breath I didn't know I had been holding. I noticed I had unconsciously curled up into a tight, defensive ball. I stared at him, trying to find the right words. I opened and closed my mouth like a dying fish.
"What just happened?" I asked. He merely sighed.
"Follow me," he gestured. I got up and did so. Heck, he didn't have to tell me twice. I was dumbfounded and flabbergasted at what had just ensued.
He led me to a bright house. The lights leaked out, which I was thankful for. It gave me reassurance that everything was going to be fine. He opened the door.
"Matsumoto!" He called out.
"Yessss Taichou? A tall, beautiful woman came into the room. She had a curvaceous figure, long wavy ginger hair, and striking blue eyes. I shifted uncomfortably, wondering why she was calling him 'captain'. Unless Toshiro had a weird fetish and this was his girlfriend. That idea just made me even more uncomfortable. Her eyes fixated onto me. I bit my lip. If this really was his girlfriend, Toshiro's stupid fangirls at school had absolutely no chance.
"Oh! Taichou, you brought a girl over!" she squealed excitedly, jumping around. I blinked in surprise. She walked up to me with a huge smile. "What's your name, cutie? I'm Matsumoto Rangiku."
"Nice to meet Matsumoto-san. I'm Yukimura Katsumi," I introduced myself.
"Just call me Rangiku, Katsumi-chan! Ooh, why don't you stay for dinner? We have some leftovers, but I could whip up another batch of food," she rambled on.
Toshiro cut her off. "Enough. Where's the memory chikan?" The words were foreign to me.
Rangiku pouted. "Aww, already?" she complained as she took out a container with a bunny on top. She popped out a green candy-looking object. Then she suddenly advanced towards me. "Say ahhh~"
Then I realized what she's about to do and immediately try to get away. I hissed like a cat avoiding a bath. "Hey. Wait. You can't force that into me." But she grabbed my arm. "I don't do drugs!" I wailed as a last attempt to get her to stop. She laughed and popped it into my mouth. I involuntarily gulped. They stared at me expectantly. I stared back.
"Well? I ate your candy. Now will you please tell me what's going on?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Impossible! Her memories should be gone!" Toshiro muttered with incredulous eyes. I paled when he said that. Rangiku stared at me with serious eyes. Then her gaze became playful once again.
"Oh well! Let's go eat!" she chirped, as if nothing had happened. She left the room before I could even speak.
"Matsumoto! This is no time for food!" Toshiro called after her, pinching his nose bridge in annoyance. He shook his head then looked at me. "I guess you're staying for dinner. Brace yourself." He motioned me into the kitchen. I followed him. On the table was a dish of... something. I snuck a little bite. The 'unique' flavor hit me like a truck and my face turned a shade of green. I immediately tried to spit it out without them noticing.
Toshiro saw me. "Her cooking … needs improvement." He chose his words carefully.
I awkwardly laughed. "Um, Rangiku-san. If you don't mind, I'll cook. I don't want to be a bother," I offered.
Rangiku looked up. "Ok, if you want to!" Thankfully, she stepped back and handed me apron and allowed me full access to the kitchen. I made a quick meal of omurice. When I was done, I set it on the table.
"I hope you enjoy it, sorry if it's not to your liking."
Luckily, they didn't seem to hate it. "Wow Katsumi-chan! You HAVE to come over and cook for us every day! Pleeease?"
I smiled, feeling warm from being praised. But then stupid Toshiro butted in, "Idiot, how could she come every day? Her family wouldn't like that."
My smile turned grim. "Oh, it's ok. I don't have a family anyways," I said, trying to play it off as nothing. Rangiku observed me. I could see pity in her eyes. But I didn't want her to ask anything so I quickly sat down and changed the subject.
"Um so, could you tell me what happened?" I questioned.
Toshiro shook his head immediately. "Absolutely not. It has nothing to do with you."
I scoffed. "I hardly call someone tracking me down and drying to kidnap me 'nothing to do with me'." I glared at him. He coldly looked at me.
"Are you always trying to jump into other people's business?" he demanded.
"Are you always trying to erase other people's memories without their consent?" I retorted with a determined glint in my eyes.
He shook his head exasperatedly. "You honestly want to remember a Hollow attacking you?"
I ignored him and focused on the word 'hollow'. "Hollow? Is that what it was?" I questioned excitedly.
Toshiro sighed for the umpteenth time today and stood up. "Thank you for the meal. It was much better than this imbecile's cooking. I'll walk you home now."
I nodded in dejection, knowing that he wouldn't change his mind, "It's no problem. I'll be fine walking by myself." I got up to leave. "Bye Rangiku-san." She waved at me sadly as I left.
As he walked me home, I complained. "You didn't have to escort me home."
He shrugged. "I don't know why you're being targeted. You could be attacked any moment."
"Me and you both," I said. "Which is why I should be informed about the attackers so I have a clue into what I should do," I urged him. He didn't waver.
Okay. It's official. I hate this guy.
"You're so stubborn!" I stamped my foot like a 5-year-old throwing a tantrum.
"And you aren't?" he retorted.
Without looking back, I stomped away to my house without saying goodbye. He didn't either.
I flopped onto my bed and let out a long sigh. I was already exhausted and today was my off day from my part-time job. I was irritated but most of all, bewildered as to why this was happening to me. I glanced at myself in the mirror and then froze in horror.
Great, did I look like this the whole day? … First world problems. I didn't bother to unbraid my hair and took off my glasses to rub my eyes. My room was small. It was in an apartment complex that was extremely affordable. The room I lived in was unwanted so the manager offered it to me to at a dirt cheap price. It had a small bathroom and a tiny kitchen. The bedroom was also small, but I found it to be cozy. I was perfectly aware that I was poor. But I didn't care.
I laid down and drifted off into a dreamless night of sleep.
