Legal Blah's: The characters mentioned belong to Tite Kubo
Mizu's Say: Thank you to those who left me their reviews! I appreciate it. Here is the second installment. I hope you guys find the characters...well...in character. Thank you for reading!!!!
File# 2: Meeting and Remembering
With a long, withdrawing gasp, Kurosaki Ichigo woke up with a start, his hair damp with sweat and his chest heaving. He sat up on his bed and ran his hand down his face, trying to pace his breathing. Looking around, he found his window open, the green curtain swaying slightly. He sighed deeply and looked at his watch. Any moment now, his friend would be calling him to go to school
"Oi, Kurosaki! Get your ass down here man!"-
Ichigo groaned as his best friends voice filtered to his room. He got up, pulling on his school pants, and walked to the window
"Shut up already will ya! I'm on my way"-he yelled back at the red-head, who grinned back. Ichigo slammed the window shut and was about to turn to look for his shirt, when a pair of feet made contact with his jaw, causing him to fall back into his bed
"GGGGGOOOOOOD MMMOOOOORNING IICHIGGGOOOO!!"-His father yelled with delight as his son tried to pry himself from under his weight.
"Get off me you asshole!"-Ichigo yelled, rolling his father of his back. He rubbed his jaw and kicked his father out while trying to pull on his shirt. Once he slammed the door to his room, he continued to get dressed, and then headed to the bathroom.
"Good morning Oni-chan"- his blonde-haired sister Yuzu greeted him as he silently took a seat at the table. Her raven-haired twin, Karin, sat before him, staring at the T.V. while drinking her orange juice. She acknowledged her brother with a small nod, which he returned.
Resting his head on his hands, Ichigo couldn't help feeling a bit off. He continued to rub his head absentmindedly. For some reason, he felt as if there was something there, or there had been something there, but all he felt was his short hair sticking at the end. He sighed again. He had woken up feeling as if he had been running for his life. He yawned widely as he sipped on his orange juice. Suddenly, all the orange juice in his mouth was sprayed out as a large hand smacked him on the back of his head
"What the…?!"-
"Did you just forget about me asshole? I'm out here waiting for your bum ass!"-
"Shut it Abarai! You can't just come in here screaming obscenities! Geez man, my sisters are here"- Both orange and red hair were face to face with each other, as they always were every time Ichigo forgot that his friend, Abarai Renji, was standing outside waiting for him. Yuzu smiled worriedly at the angry teenagers while Karin merely shook her head and sighed.
After shoving down breakfast and receiving a few more kick and punches from both his best friend and his father, Ichigo headed to school. His left hand was stuffed in his pocket while the other one carried his back pack over his shoulder. The warm morning breeze was comforting. The walked down the same path they always took to go to school and, taking a turn in a corner, Ichigo suddenly stopped
"And then she was like…dude, what's up?"-Renji turned once he noticed his friend wasn't following him. Ichigo was staring at a street pole, where a small flower vase stood at the bottom. He had placed that vase there several months ago for the little girl with green eyes. He looked around, frowning. Where was she?
"Hello? Earth to Ichigo. What are you looking for man?"-Renji asked, waving a hand before his friend's eyes. Ichigo blinked and smacked his hand away, scowling
"Nothing"-he answered as he started to walk away
"Psht, right. You seemed pretty distracted there. Hey, wasn't that the place where that little girl died over a month ago?"-Renji said after falling into pace with Ichigo. Amber eyes turned with a frown to look at his friend
"What?"-
"Yeah, I heard on the news that there was this girl who was killed in a drive by around here. Supposedly, they found her body slumped on that pole. It was pretty gruesome"-Renji slightly shivered at the thought of a dead body. Ichigo, on the other hand, deepened his scowl
"What did the girl look like?"-he asked, somehow already knowing the answer. Renji puckered his lips trying to remember
"Uh, she was this high-he brought his hand to his waist-and she was blonde, I think. What I do remember is here having very green eyes. My roommate was telling me that he had never seen eyes so green before"-Renji continued ranting something about eye colors but Ichigo wasn't listening.
That was the little girl! The girl he always used to walk with after school! But she wasn't dead. She was very much alive…right? She looked pretty solid. Although he had to admit, he had never wondered why a little girl would be always hanging around the same street pole at the same time. He never asked her about her parents or where she'd go after they reached his house. It was too much of a coincidence. Did he walk with her yesterday? He shut his eyes for a second trying to remember what he did after school but drew out a blank. A hand suddenly fell on his shoulder and, surprised, he opened his eyes
"Hey dork, are you trying to learn how to use your third eye? Watch were ya goin'"-Renji said as hey walked into the school grounds
"Shut up"-Ichigo replied.
School had never been something that had interested Ichigo. Classes were boring and the people here sucked, except for the few friends he had made. He had a horrible memory and often forgot the name of his own classmates, which made fellow students' think of him as an anti-social. But he didn't care. Ichigo would just lay back and read whatever book he was interested on at the moment, paying little to no attention to whatever was going on around him
His mind was still on the little girl and on what Renji had told him, that's why he didn't notice the girl that was running in his direction, and that's why they collided, sending each other to fall on their behinds
"Oww"-
"Uff"- Ichigo rubbed his sore but, his scowl even deeper than before. He noticed a small pencil roll next to him and looked up to find a raven-haired girl picking up the supplies that fell from her arms and muttering darkly under her breath
"What the hell? Watch where you're going next time"-he shot angrily. The girl before him pointedly ignored him as she frantically looked around for something. He sighed and got up, the bent down once he saw a small red cell phone with a small pink bunny hanging from it
"Hey, you lookin' for this?"-
The girl's head shot up and he saw relief etch around her face. She snatched the phone from his hand and held it to her chest muttering 'thank God' as she sighed. Ichigo frowned. This girl seemed vaguely familiar
"Thanks Kurosaki"-she said as she shouldered her bag. Ichigo's eyebrows shot up. She knew him?
"Do I know you?"-he asked. The girl looked at him dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open.
"Are you serious?"-she asked back. He scowled. Of course, he was serious; he could swear he had never seen this girl before. Realizing that the orange-haired idiot before her was not showing any signs of recognition, she snorted and shook her head
"Kuchiki"-she tried. Nope
"Rukia"-no, still nothing
"I'm in your same class dumbass!"-she yelled. Ohhhh, now he remembered her.
"Oh yeah, I knew that"-he said, looking to the side. She was about to say something else when a voice coming from the classroom called her name
"Rukia-san!"-They both turned to see a bubbly auburn-haired girl waving. Rukia smiled and waved back, adjusting her backpack. With a piercing glare at Ichigo's direction, she took off
"I was worried, I thought you were going to be late"-Ichigo heard the girl say. Rukia sighed as she pushed the girl inside
"I know, I know, but I was so tired. Come on, the teacher will be here any moment"-they went into the classroom and, after sighing once again, Ichigo followed suit.
How had he not noticed this girl before when she was sitting right next to him? The girl shot him another glare before returning to her conversation with the bubbly girl. Geez, he just helped her and she glares at him? Whatever happened to thank you?
"What the hell happened to you?"-Renji said as he walked up to Ichigo's desk.
"I bumped into someone"-he deadpanned. Renji smirked
"You're such an idiot. Into whom?"-his eyes followed Ichigo's thumb, which was pointing at the girl next to him
"Into Kuchiki-san? And you still have your head on?"-Renji laughed and Ichigo glared at him. He was feeling very sleepy and wasn't really in the mood to be Renji's laughingstock
"I couldn't remember her name"-he mumbled. That caused Renji to laugh harder
"Figures. I bet she thought you were some retard, seeing as she has been on the same class with us since our freshman year"-Ichigo groaned. Renji chuckled. His friend was a lost case
"How did you manage to walk away?"-
"That girl called her"-he pointed at the auburn head.
"Oh you mean Inoue-san?"-
"Damn it Renji, how is it that you, of all people, can retain the names of so much people?"-he said. Renji smirked sardonically at his frustrated friend
"I happen to be very good with girl's names, Kurosaki. I, unlike you, have a very healthy social life"-
"And I, unlike you, am not a sexually frustrated pervert"-Ichigo muttered. Apparently, Renji didn't hear what he said since he didn't reply. He looked up and saw the teacher walk into the classroom, calling for order. It was Literature, the only period Ichigo actually focused on. The teacher asked them to pull out the book they were reading (William Shakespeare's The Tempest) and asked if anyone remembered where they had left off. Ichigo saw the girl named Kuchiki next to him raise her hand. The teacher asked her to stand up and read the chapter aloud. He noticed, amusingly, how her eyes slightly widened and how her cheeks flushed a little. She stood up and cleared her throat. Her voice was soft and steady, and for some reason, Ichigo thought he had heard it before
"'O my dear father,' said she, 'if by your art you have raised this dreadful storm, have pity on their sad distress. See! the vessel will be dashed to pieces. Poor souls! they will all perish. If I had power, I would sink the sea beneath the earth, rather than the good ship should be destroyed, with all the precious souls within her.'
'Be not so amazed, daughter Miranda,' said Prospero; 'there is no harm done. I have so ordered it, that no person in the ship shall receive any hurt. What I have done has been in care of you, my dear child. You are ignorant who you are, or where you came from, and you know no more of me, but that I am your father, and live in this poor cave. Can you remember a time before you came to this cell? I think you cannot for you were not then three years of age.'" -
...First Dance...
"'Certainly I can, sir,' replied Miranda.
'By what?' asked Prospero; 'by any other house or person? Tell me what you can remember, my child.'"-
Ichigo shook his head slightly. He thought he had heard something. He looked around and noticed everyone staring at their books. He shook his head. Rukia continued reading.
"Miranda said: 'It seems to me like the recollection of a dream. But had I not once four or five women who attended upon me?'
Prospero answered: 'You had, and more. How is it that this still lives in your mind? Do you remember how you came here?'"-
...Tsukishirou...
"'No, sir,' said Miranda, 'I remember nothing more.'"-
A blinding light
A surrounding cold
The silver light of the moon
"Ok students, I want you guys to finish reading Mr. Shakespeare's The Tempest and by the end of the week I want an essay on the characters and what you think the story is about. Those of you who come close or actually know what the essence of the story is will receive full marks"- the enthusiastic teacher's voice along with the groans and protests of the students around him caused Ichigo to snap out if his reverie. He looked around, wondering if anyone noticed him spacing out. He frowned. What were those images that just flashed in his head? He tangled his fingers in his hair, trying to ease the headache that was slowly threatening to come.
The bell rang for lunch and Ichigo followed his friends to the roof, where they usually sat and talked. Since Renji was chatting away with Mizuiro and Keigo was recounting something he saw on T.V., none of them noticed Ichigo's eyes as the spaced out again
"How is he?"-
"He's alright; it was only a minor hit on the head. I can fix him up"-
There it was again. Those voices seemed so freaking familiar, but he couldn't recognize them for the life of him.
"Don't worry"-she whispered to him "That little girl will go somewhere safe now. She's safe, thanks to you"-
She was safe. Safe where? Where did she go?
Then those pair of deep violet eyes. The moon seemed to be reflecting on them, causing them to glow mysteriously. Had he seen those eyes before? Where?...
GYAAAAAAARRRRGH
"What the…?"-
Ichigo sat up straight once he heard the most horrible and terrifying wail in his life. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing and his breath was caught on his throat. What the hell was that noise?
"Hey, are you ok?"-Mizuiro asked him worriedly. Ichigo frowned at him. Didn't he just hear that?
"Didn't you hear that?"-
"Hear what?"-
Ichigo scowled. Was he imagining things? No, it couldn't have been his imagination. That wail was so loud and clear he thought he felt the ground slightly shake under him. He looked around. There were other students scattered around the roof, but no one seemed worried in the latest about an earsplitting roar.
RRRROOOOOAAAARRRGHH
This time he gasped and stood, looking around him frantically. Ok, that was definitely not in his head. He ran to the fence and looked down, where he saw more students lounging placidly under the cool shades of the trees.
"Ichigo, what the hell is your problem?"-came Renji's voice from behind him. Ichigo turned and walked to the stairs, feeling his friends eyes on him
"I'm going to the bathroom"-he said, and once he reached the stairs, he dashed down, not knowing exactly where he was going, but somehow having a slight hunch.
He ran out of the school grounds and into the park in front of the school. Whatever was making those horrible sounds seemed to come from there, and as if wanting to confirm, another air-splitting screech was heard from the depths of the trees. He ran, not knowing what he was going to do once he found whatever was making that noise.
He was reaching a small clearing within the trees and he noticed that there was an ethereal white fog hovering slightly over the ground. As he walked deeper into the clearing, he saw what seemed like small snow flakes surround him, dancing as in slow motion in the air. The breath that escaped his lips in pants was visible and he was shivering slightly. It was getting very cold. He stopped in the middle of the clearing. It was silent. Too silent
He turned sharply and found himself facing the sharp end of a blade. A pure white blade. The fog around him whirled around as if a strange force was surrounding him. However, the sight of the blade was not what caused his eyes to almost budge out of his sockets. It was the raven-haired girl with the black outfit and the flowing white sash holding the blade. The same girl he had ran into a mere hours ago
"Ku…Kuchiki?"-he muttered. Her violet eyes were wide and she seemed to be paralyzed. The stayed staring at each other, the white blade separating them, until a pair of red eyes formed behind the petit girl. A grotesque monster formed behind her and raised its claw to strike
"Look out!"-he yelled and grabbed the girl's arms, rolling to the side and successfully dodging the blow. The monster wailed again and disappeared into the fog. Ichigo opened his eyes and found the girl lying on top of him, panting. He would've blushed at the compromising position if she wouldn't be glaring at him
"You fool! What do you think you're doing? Get out of here, now!"-she yelled at him as she stood up and fixed her sash. She immediately gripped her sword and looked around. Ichigo grunted and sat up
"You know, this is the second time I help you and you can't even say thank you"-he muttered, rubbing his head. He also noticed how the girl before him had just blatantly ignored him, her eyes still searching the grounds. She closed her eyes and breathed out, standing still
"Oi, I'm talking to you!"-Ichigo stood up and walked towards her, but stopped once he noticed the fog condense around him. The wind was picking up, causing her white bow to flutter slightly. The long white sash at the end of her hilt pooled around her feet, seemingly glowing against the fog. Ichigo was beginning to feel something behind him, forming slowly. He could almost feel the monsters breath behind him. He felt it raise his claw once again, ready to impale him
"Gotcha!"-
Rukia suddenly turned around, her blade high over her head, catching the monsters claw in midair. Ichigo couldn't help shivering at the cold gust of wind that seemed to emanate from her. She was holding the katana with both hands; apparently, she was having some difficulty moving it out of the monsters skin. Ichigo saw the blood dripping from the monsters claw fall next to him and he made to move
"Do not move Kurosaki, you don't want the monster getting any ideas"-she said, her eyes on the creature.
"Right. Easy for you to say, you at least have something to defend yourself with"-he said, looking up. The blade was not budging and the monster was wailing uncontrollably. Ichigo then noticed the monster's other hand as it was preparing to strike at the small girl
"Watch out!"-
"Hadou #33 Soukatsui!"-she yelled, her left palm leaving the blade. A blinding blue light erupted and fired against the creature. It staggered back and dispersed- its wails still in the air.
Once the monster disappeared, the girl sheathed her sword and breathed out. The white fog and the cold air gradually thinned out, being replaced by the original warm breeze. Her violet eyes looked down into the amber ones that were looking at her.
"You…"-Ichigo began, but was abruptly cut as a pair of arms hugged the small girl before him, causing her to stagger sideways
"Rukia-san! Are you ok?"-Ichigo almost gagged once he saw Inoue Orihime before him, wearing the same black outfit as Rukia was, but with a pink sash. She was apparently examining the petit girl
"I'm fine, it's him we need to worry about"-she turned her eyes to Ichigo and Inoue followed. The bubbly auburn head gasped in surprise
"Kurosaki-kun! But…but how?"-
"Apparently he was able to hear the hollow when it appeared"-Rukia's statement seem to shock her more, since she gasped again, her grey eyes wide
"But that's impossible! He's just a human"-
"Hold on!"-Ichigo stood up and walked towards the girls. Inoue stepped back while Rukia simply crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow. He had been surprised (shocked, actually would be more of a fitting word) at the sight of the monster and all, but to hear these girls talk like they were aliens or something?
"What the hell do you mean 'he's just a human'? Then what the fuck are you guys supposed to be huh? And what in fucks name was that…that, thing you just blasted? And what did you do to the little girl I was with last night?"-Ichigo thought that if that Inoue girl widened her eyes more they were going to pop out. Rukia sighed exasperatedly and placed her hands on her hips
"We understand you may have a lot of questions but, unfortunately, we are not able to answer them"-she pulled out a small pez dispenser-looking device and pointed it at him. Before she pressed the small red button, Inoue placed a hand on hers
"Rukia-san, we used that in him last night remember? And look, he seems to remember what happened. Besides, we can't use that on him again so soon, it might cause him brain damage"-
"What?"-
"You're right"-Rukia sighed and lowered the device, putting it back in her pocket. She then looked at Ichigo straight in the eye, causing him to recoil.
"Alright, we'll answer your questions, seeing as you can see hollows and sense them as well"-
"Great, first of all, could you please explain to me what you guys are and what you were doing with that…hollow thing?"-He scowled, looking down at the raven-haired girl before him. Rukia sighed again
"I was cleansing. That's what it's called. That's what we do. We track down the hollows and we cleanse them"-
"We? Who are 'we'?"-He noticed the girls exchange quick looks before Rukia answered
"Bounty Hunters"-
I think that might be a small cliff hanger ne? Yes sir!
Please review!!!!