A/N: Hm... another chapter up so fast? Well, I actually have up till chapter THIRTEEN all ready and typed up, but I want to see everyones reactions to each chapter, so I'll just update about once a week or so. Just for reviews. But here's the first OFFICIAL chapter of Patterns in the Snow. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. Get it? Got it? Good.

Track One:

Living Dead

/Are you afraid? Are you scared? That you will loose, all we've shared.\\

-Beep Beep Beep-

-Beep Beep-

-Beep-

"No heart beat," the doctor informed a crying woman who sat next to the bed a motionless girl.

"I'm sorry m'am," the doctor said, bowing.

"Daijou -hic- bu. I'm sure that she's in heaven, watching us. Right Kaoru?" the woman asked a teenage boy of around 18 who was kneeling next to the girl, holding her hand, his eyes overshadowed by his bangs. He nodded, unable to lift his head as there were silent tears trickling down his face. Her hand was still warm in his. Just moments ago, she'd squeezed it, telling him that she loved him and she always will.

A crash, a bang, and the door slammed open, revealing 7 very out of breath teenagers. 4 girls and 3 guys.

"We heard – about – Mina-chan and – we came – as fast as – we – could. Is she still—" but Daisuke stopped as he noticed the tears streaming down the woman's face and Takamori's brother kneeling by her bedside, holding her limp hand.

"Mina-chan…" Hanako gasped. The others seemed stunned into silence.

"No… no… it can't be…" Kaede whispered, tears filling her eyes. She bit her lip and covered her mouth with her hand, tears falling thick and fast down her cheeks.

There was a flurry of noise and movement in which no one really knew what was going on anymore…

Except me

I was lying there. I blinked. I raised my head.

'What…? I wondered as I stared around. My mom was crying by my bed, my brother was holding my hand and my friends were by the door. But I was alive, why were they all so sad?

Wait… I couldn't feel my brother's hands on mine. I lifted the hand he was holding, and my eyes widened in shock. I had raised an insubstantial hand. A hand that was see-through and ghostly while the real hand stayed where it was before. What was this?

I sat up. The same thing happened. My solid body stayed lying down while I, no, my soul, sat up and looked around once more.

So I really was dead after all. I stood up and walked over to my friends. They were all crying, even the guys. I felt a pang in my heart, but I couldn't do anything. I reach out, but my hand just passed through them. I wasn't there, not in substance anyways.

I sighed and turned towards my mom and brother. Another stab of pain shot through my heart. There they were, and yet, I could do nothing at all to comfort them. Was this how it was like to be dead? To watch the going-ons of the living, but not be able to do anything about it? If it was, then Death is truly something to be afraid of.

I stood there for a few more seconds, just watching my mom cry. I walked over and tried to touch her. No go. My hand just passed through her, like it passed through my friends.

"Gomen nasai, okaa-chama, onii-chan. I didn't want to go," I said, sitting down on my bed and looking at them both.

"But it's not like I had much of a choice either. I know you'll miss me, and I'll miss you too. And… I just don't know what else to say. I mean…" I gave a wry laugh.

"What does one's soul say to their loved ones after the body dies? Well… I'll just stay here with you guys while I can. And… please don't be so sad," I said as I tried to pat my brother's head. Still didn't work, but it was the thought that counts, right?

"And… thanks for everything you guys have done for me. I love you mom, I really do. I just…" a tear rolled down my cheek and I raised a hand to wipe it away.

"I just… don't know what to do anymore. What am I supposed to do now? Wander around and haunt the hospital? Ugh! It's all your fault for me thinking like his, Onii-chan. You told me too many ghost stories…" I said, throwing my hands up frustratedly. But they fell to my sides limply. I looked down at them, semi-transparent and, to the people that I love, nonexistent.

I couldn't help the 2nd and 3rd tear the escaped my eyes. I blinked, trying to force them back but it was no use. They kept coming, and soon, I was crying along with all the rest of them.

Finally, my brother stood up, his face still partially hidden by his bangs.

"Her body's turned cold," he said, his voice cracked and strained. I could see his hands clenching into fists at his sides. His shoulders were shaking. I'd never seen my brother like this. He'd always been cheerful and smiling, never letting anything ruin his good mood. But I guess me dying was sort of below the belt for him.

My mom stood up as well.

"We should go get your father. His plane has probably landed by now," she said, daubing at her eyes with a tissue.

Oh, that's right. Otou-san was out on a business trip. His boss had made him go. I remember him mentioning that to me. And, on his way out, he told me that I'd better wait for him. I'd promised. But I didn't keep that promise.

'Gomen nasai, Otou-san,' I thought, fresh tears leaking down my already tear-stained cheeks. That was one promise that I didn't keep. And he always kept his promises. I felt a wave of guilt sweep through me. I was supposed to wait for him. I wanted to feel his large, warm, calloused hands one last time, to remember it before I went, but now…

That'll never happen.

I just sat there, by my own body until everyone was gone and the doctor came in to cover the corpse. I stood, and watched them cart my body off to a temporary storage, and then they'd save if for the funeral, before burning it.

It was the 3rd week after I died, and I was wandering around town again. I'd learnt to deal with the pain in my chest every time I saw a friend or a family member. But I couldn't stop the feeling of longing that crept into the unexpecting crevices of my brain.

As I walked down the semi-crowded street, I heard something. A roar and a crash. I whipped around. There, in front of me, was a monster the likes of which I'd never seen or heard of before.

It had a skeletal white mask and a body to match that of a grizzly bear. Except bigger. Much bigger. It was hairy and frightening, with foot-long claws that waved maniacally through the air. I looked around, surprised that no one seemed to be showing any signs of shock or fright.

'Am I the only one who can see it?' I wondered wildly as I backed a few steps away from the monster. It roared once more before landing on all fours and glaring at me through the 2 eye-holes in its mask.

"You smell simply delicious… I think I shall indulge myself…" the monster chuckled a spine chilling chuckle before leaping towards me. I screamed, closed my eyes and instinctively threw my hands up to shield myself, readying myself for the impact. And it came. Hard and painful. I was knocked through the air and hit the wall of a shop. I could feel warm blood gushing out of a wound in the back of my head and a painful stinging at the gashes in my chest.

The monster roared with laughter, throwing its head back in mirth.

"Wonderful! It screams! There's nothing better than prey that screams!" it said, pounding towards me again. I was crying, tears mingling with the blood trickling down my forehead.

"Yes! Cry in pain and sorrow! Cry! For I'm about to make you my meal!" the monster roared, raising a paw to strike me again. I sat there, limp, helpless, and bleeding.

'How many times can a person die?!' I wondered wildly. I thought I was dead already, but apparently, a soul can die as well. And they can have a painful death.

As I wondered all of this, I felt my vision dimming. This time, it was for real then. I was really going to be gone…

"Souten ni zase, Hyourinmaru!" someone shouted. I vaguely felt a wave of cold air hit me, and the painful roar of the monster. I fought to keep conscious as I opened my eyes. A flurry of movement was going on before my eyes, which kept going in and out of focus. A blue dragon, an ice tower, and snow.

'I must be going mad…' I concluded dizzily as I closed my eyes. Distinctively, I felt someone rush over. I heard voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying, and then…

A/N: Muah hahahah! Cliff hanger! But y'all can GUESS who it is, right? The person that shouted 'Shouten ni zase, Hyourinmaru'. Yeah, pretty obvious. Anywho... if you want the next chapter, you'll have to review and tell me what you think! Because from there on, it gets MIGHTY interesting. Well... at least I think so. So REVIEW... NOW!