THE GIRL

After hours of long phone calls, complaints and arguments, the little group found somewhere to stay. A hotel decided to let them book rooms for a discount after some sweet-talking from Rinslett. The room was paid for with Rinslett's money. She still had some spare for her previous jobs. The whole process ended up wasting another day that could be spent finding the bountiful young girl.

They slept more comfortably this time and Eve felt the pleasure of a soft bed for once, rather than a car seat or a couch.

***

The next day, Sven and Eve sat alone at a table in their room, a cheap breakfast of toast on their plates. Sven lit up a cigarette and took a long drag on it before staring squarely at the small girl.

"Eve. You need to go to school. I know you hated the last one, but the people here seem really nice. You should be able to enjoy yourself here."

"Okay..." Eve submitted quickly, lowering her head and nibbling at the toast.

"River and Rinslett are out looking for the bounty, I'm going to take you to the school we passed on the way here." Sven closed his eyes. "Come on." Eve rose obligingly and wandered out the door. Sven walked behind her, studying her slumped shoulders and bowed head. She wasn't enjoying this...

They drove silently. Sven tried to force small talk, but Eve either didn't answer at all, or gave quick replies to end the conversation in several words. Sven cursed inwardly and turned on the radio. Light rock music crackled through the ageing speakers. Sven pulled up at the school and waited for a large crowd to pass before stepping out. Eve hopped out and smiled falsely.

They walked through the gates and stared at the children who congregated in small groups all over the large open space. They filed through the entrance and followed small overhead signs to the offices. A young secretary told them to have a seat and Sven took the time to light up a cigarette. When a trio of little kids entered, Sven spat it out and stomped it into powder, his face red from embarrassment.

"You cannot smoke here." Eve whispered, pointing to a sign on the wall.

"Thanks for the tip." Sven chuckled and rubbed the back of his head.

"Mr Volfied, you can go in now." The secretary chirped cheerily.

Sven led Eve in before him and then took a seat beside her on comfortable black, padded seats. An old man gazed at them and frowned.

"So, you've come to enrol your daughter?" He asked.

"Yes." Sven answered simply. Eve busied herself with a book while the two adults divulged information and signed forms.

Twenty minutes later Eve dropped the book on the table and smiled. "Done."

The principle went silent, staring at the book. "Are you serious?" He asked.

"I have read this book, are there any more?" Eve asked sweetly.

"But...This book is for an adult level of reader. You are so young!" The principle's eyes were wide.

"Eve is really smart. She loves to read." Sven said appraisingly.

"But...She read a hundred and nine pages in twenty minutes!" The principle held up the book. "If she is so intelligent, we could arrange for her to be raised up a class. I'd like to administer a test. Depending on her mark, we may be able to skip her a few grades."

"Really?! Sven asked, amazed at the potential for Eve.

Sven waited while eve and the principle left and did the test. He lit up another cigarette and enjoyed it twice as much for the one lost in the waiting room.

***

Rinslett took a long sip at her glass of wine. It was a little early to be hitting the bottle, but she was on vacation, well, sort of. She sighed and gazed into the murky red fluid, noticing the distorted reflection of someone behind her. She whirled around and met the gaze of a middle-aged man with an energetic look in his eyes.

"Hello, I don't think we've met before." He extended a hand. Rinslett raised an eyebrow, but still shook his hand. "Are you new here?" He asked.

Hmm. I could get a free drink out of this...

Rinslett cleared her throat quietly and put on an extremely feminine voice. "Why yes I am."

"So, is your name as beautiful as your face?" The man leaned over the bar as he said it. Rinslett wanted to laugh, but she held it in.

"Call me Rins." She giggled like a schoolgirl and smiled. "What's your name?"

"Isshin. A pleasure to meet you. Can I buy you a drink?"

"Wow, you don't play games, do you?" Rinslett said excitedly. Isshin laughed.

"I guess not." He turned to face the barman and ordered two wines. "So...do you have a special someone?"

He's really eager...I might hurt him...But then again; a free drink is a free drink!

"I'm still looking." Rins sighed. "Are you tied down?"

The man suddenly frowned. "My wife died several years ago..."

Rinslett dropped the act for a second and spoke in her normal voice. "Oh, I'm so sorry." Her eyes widened at the realisation of her loss of character. She coughed and repeated herself in her girlier voice.

"I've been searching for another woman to fill the hole left by Masaki's passing...I think you could be it."

Rinslett couldn't speak.

Oh crap! I can't do this! I have to stop it now!

"Isshin, I-" She began.

"Do you like kids?" He interrupted. Before she could answer he explained. "I have three kids."

"Kids?" Rinslett choked on the word.

"Is that a problem?" Isshin asked.

Rinslett sighed. She downed the whole glass of wine in one gulp and then slammed it onto the table. "Look, you're a nice guy, but..." She trailed off, struggling to say what she wanted. "I'm not looking for anything long-term, I'm sorry."

Isshin's expression faltered. He sagged in his seat and frowned. "Oh, I see. Thank you for your time anyway." He got up and walked slowly towards the exit. Rinslett became overcome with guilt and she almost cried. She cursed under her breath and called the poor man back over.

"Look. If you're free tonight, I could maybe...Have dinner?" The man's face lit up and he began spurting out an address and time. He then wrote them on a napkin and handed it to her before skipping off. Rinslett looked at the address and frowned. "Damn!"

***

The principle returned with Eve, a broad smile on his face. "Mr Volfied, your daughter is incredible. She has the education of a girl twice her age! I'd like to transfer her to the Junior High School!"

"Well done Eve!" Sven patted her on the head and she giggled sheepishly.

"Is it fine with you Eve? You'll be in a class of older students and there will be more work, but it won't be too hard for you. There will be more books there too!" The principle said excitedly.

"High school..." Eve muttered. "I will go."

***

Eve sat in the library of the Karakura Junior high. A large pile of books surrounded her. She read silently as she waited for someone to pick her up. She was to meet a 'buddy'.

A small teacher approached her. She wore wire framed glasses and her black hair was in a pony-tail. "Hello, you must be Eve."

"Yes."

"Well, I'm one of your teachers, Ms Oichi. I've brought along one of my best students to show you around. She's on her way now...Oh, there she is!" The teacher waved to someone in the distance and they approached casually. The girl waved politely and smiled.

"I'm Rukia, your buddy!"

"Buddy?" Eve asked.

"Yeah. What's your name?"

"Eve."

The teacher walked off, leaving the two behind as they talked.

"How old are you?" Rukia asked. "You only look around eleven."

"I don't know how old I am..." Eve whispered making Rukia frown.

"Why not?"

"I don't know that either." Eve bowed her head.

"So...you read all of these?" Rukia waved a hand to the pile of books.

"Yes. I love to read." Eve studied another book in the pile and picked it up. It was a manga. She stared at the cover image of a large beast with a skull for a face.

"Hmm, looks like a hollow." Rukia muttered.

"Hollow?" Eve repeated.

"Huh? Um, no I said its head look's hollow!" Rukia yelled frantically. She then giggled nervously while fiddling with the single bang which fell across her face. She tried to think of a new topic and her face lightened up when she found one. "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"A sweeper. Just like Sven."

"What's a sweeper?" Rukia cocked her head.

"They protect the world from bad people. They get rid of them so that people can be happy." Eve explained blankly.

"Sounds like a good job. Who's Sven?"

"He is..." Eve stopped to think. She wasn't actually sure, but she remembered something a friend once said. "My boyfriend." She didn't understand the meaning of the word, but assumed it was right. Rukia stared at her for a moment.

"Boyfriend? But you're so young!"

"Sven is a good person. I can always trust him."

Rukia smiled slyly. "So, is he older than you?"

"Yes."

"How old?" Rukia persisted.

"35."

"WHAT?!" Rukia fell over, landing in a compromising position; she crossed her legs as she blushed.

"What is wrong?"

"Did you say 35? That's illegal!" Rukia yelled.

"It is?" Eve asked.

"YES! He doesn't sleep with you does he?"

"We used to sleep together in his car, but we booked a hotel now." Eve answered innocently, oblivious to the terrible misunderstanding.

Rukia went green in the face. "I think I'm going to be sick!" She ran off. Eve watched her go, and then returned to the books.

***

Several hours later Eve went home, walking with Rukia for a short time before they split ways. Eve returned to the hotel and found the room empty. She sat down on her bed and turned on the T.V while she waited for Sven to return.

***

Sven watched the junior high kids as they left. He studied every face as they walked past him. He walked around following multiple girls with short black hair, trying to find the wolf in sheep's clothing. One of the young students was wanted for a high sum of cash and Sven was going to find her!

He got onto the trail of a new group of teenagers. Two had black hair, though one was ruled out as it was spiky, not straight. Sven watched as a brunette walked into an apartment building and a mammoth boy crossed the street and walked down an alley. There were only three of them now. Sven couldn't help but notice a boy with spiky orange hair in their group. He was talking loudly. Sven crossed the street and hid behind a car, watching them as they veered off into another street.

Sven followed from a distance. The girl with spiky black hair jogged off ahead, waving goodbye. Sven hid behind a bin before she could see him. When the final couple proceeded, he shadowed them again. They walked on for another minute or two before finally stopping at a small clinic. The boy opened the gate and began to walk through. The girl stayed on the path, conversing quietly with the boy. Sven stood at a bus stop, watching.

They chatted with each other for about two minutes before the girl turned around and walked away. When she turned, Sven caught sight of her face. He took out the notice and studied the photograph. It was the exact same girl. She looked the exact same; deep blue eyes, a black bang across her face, a solemn expression...it was definitely her! He had found her!

Hmm, The wanted girl has been found! What will happen next? Find out in the next chapter!!

Please review!!"