Akari's POV:

January was gone, welcoming February. Winter intensified its low temperatures and sometimes left snow around for our entertainment, but mostly for me has been being work, training and study, work, training and study, over and over again.

Tuesdays and Thursdays were karate/aikido days, I would stay in school later than usual for training and teaching, the other days were alternate between going to work (most of the days) or study with Toushiro Japanese. Which was getting harder because I slept in almost every class of it and I was getting further back. Sunday was my day of doing nothing, except if Rangiku, Ichika or Yumichika brought some idea of shopping or hanging around. Between remaking my katana, the classes, keeping my social life and the lack of sleep, my energies were on the floor, leaving my reflexes and attention low.

Which was incredible dangerous for the suddenly clumsy turn I got for it.

Suddenly I got in bad place, bad time kind of situations. I almost got hit by a car, twice in two weeks, if I was close in construction sites things would fall on me, there was some kind of a chase I would run over by someone, Oshiro's workshop was robbed and only my place of work was the mess and my endurance in martial arts were obviously down thanks to the lack of rest.

The world was against me and it looked like it was for the katana.

Since starting working on it, everything looked like a mess. I didn't want to think there was some kind of connection, but it was hard. Maybe an evil spirit possessed the katana and was now hunting my soul. I gulped at the idea.

Maybe it was true. Which didn't help with my terrors. The dreams reinforced the idea for how repeated they were. I got switched between the desert with the red woman and the Japanese palace in fire. Mostly the desert that each passing day the cold breeze was almost gone and felt warmer. The woman keep trying to tell me her name, but it was futile, other times I was far from her and just walked around in nothing, looking for something, I didn't know what, but it felt really important.

For the burning palace, those weren't calm. The man from the first time appeared once or twice, threatening as the first time, but the rest it was just myself trying to get off the place, try to safe my life from the flames. None of the times I actually came out alive. I woke up scared feeling everything burnt around me.

But it was just dreams right? That's what I keep telling myself.

It was Saturday night, I was leaving the workshop and heading home. Waiting at the bus stop to take me to the other side of the town, hearing music, minding my own business in that cold night. The street at that side of the town looked lively, people of my age hanging around, cars everywhere and lights of all colors illuminating around. Some stores were with Valentine's decorations, with all the hearts, chocolates and pink stuff. Everything so girls could buy stuff and show their love to the person they liked.

Yikes.

I don't have anything against the festivity, but I hated that the girls were the ones to declare their love that day. One of the worst feelings not knowing if you were corresponded by someone. I mean, last year it worked, I got to express my feeling to Oshiro and we dated, but before? Not really, it didn't work. So nope, this year was going to be from me to me gift and eat the chocolates all by myself.

At the moment I just wanted to arrive home and throw myself in my comfy bed and sleep until Monday if it was possible, but for that I had to wait. Running around the buildings in Karakura Town didn't sound appealing with tiredness, watery floors and walls and my new constant bad luck. I would die in some stupid way for not be careful. So yep, waiting like a normal mortal for the bus.

My cellphone tremble in the pocket of my coat. Took it out I could see that it was a text from Toushiro, making me smile and feel weird stuff in my stomach. No, Akari is bad that you are having a crush in Toushiro, you shouldn't and you are just knowing him. Oh fuck it, that guy was a piece of heaven. With his grumpy face and all.

Since he started helping me with the Japanese classes, we had grown close to each other, well Kazui confirmed that looked like Toushiro was comfortable around me, which surprised him and made me really happy about it. Even when hanging out all the group, we keep talking about everything, things we liked and things we shared. Even if he was fond of cold locations and I was better in warmer places, we actually shared a lot of things, like quiet reunions and soft traditional music, just talking outside than a wild party and a few things more.

We started studying in the school, but how the rumors fire up everywhere, we decided to go to his house or my house, or even my grandma's. That was quite a funny encounter. While getting back in the memories of that day I replied him back and started chatting.

The bus arrived short after, inside I continued chatting with him, focused only in my music and him. Mostly he wanted to know about my day and if we were going to study tomorrow, a test was coming soon and I need to be prepare, but how the week has been I just wanted to relax and do nothing, I tried to emphasize that so he could tell Rangiku of not having any ideas for the next day.

Half an hour later I was in my stop and I continued chatting without having care of my surroundings. The stop was close to the bridge, maybe two blocks and I was going to cross the river, my movements were almost automatic, I got certain attention to look up the phone so I wouldn't stumble around with that recent terrible odds. I continued walking through the different streets, getting lonelier each step as closer to the river. The music I was listening suddenly got way too louder of how less people was around me, I decided to turn it off and put down the headphones on my neck, hiding them inside the scarf. Silence welcome me, I looked around to found just a couple and no one else. I could notice my breath for the cold and my hands were starting to get colder, I decided to cut the chat with Toushiro for later.

Just as I hid my phone in my pocket, a sudden pressure stopped my movements. It was again that increased of gravity of many weeks before, it was stronger and longer. I need to move, I can't stop, I couldn't let the panic win. With slow but heavy steps I started walking, slowly turning around to see if I could see anyone doing something. But nothing I was alone, not even a spirit around.

Just as it came, it left. Leaving me padding but standing. I didn't wait to regain my breath, I continued to walk faster to my house. I could always be safe in there.

Right?

I got a strange feeling of somebody watching me as I was from a block of crossing the river. Even more strange because I was alone and nobody was in the windows of their houses. Why I had that feeling? Shit, I hated feeling that way. My phone ringed out, breaking the silence in the street and quite scaring me. I picked out and answered without looking.

"Moshi Moshi?" I notice too late my voice trembling.

"My ray of light!" Oh it's just my dad "You okay?"

"Y-yeah just the cold on the street, I will arrive soon so don't worry" I said, letting out a chuckle.

"Oh that's fine! I was going to say that I won't arrive tonight as planned, my sun" He sounded sorry about it. That leave me quite nervous.

"What, why dad?" I controlled my voice so it wouldn't sound nervous about it.

"The level of snow here in Kyoto is quite heavy, the train won't operative until the tracks are clean of it" He explained and only made me more and more scared.

"And plane?" I said as if was the best excuse.

"The weather is still bad, there are not planes to anyplace either, I hope I can arrive tomorrow" I closed my eyes frustrated.

"Sure dad…" I only answered.

"Okay, text me when you arrive home, yes?" He asked.

"Yes, dad"

"Ok, my sun. Goodnight!" With that he hung up the call. I stared at the screen for a few second hearing the "beep beep" coming from the phone. Shit.

"FUCKING SHIT" I shouted. I actually shouted because my nerves were out of control. For god's sake Akari, you've been alone multiple times! What are you so scared of? That weird pressure and the watching feeling that I was scared of.

Shit shit shit shit shit! I was going to be alone! Alone in a house after that weird pressure! The last time it appeared it burned my arm! What the fuck would happen to me if I was alone?! Shit. Shit! What if whoever that could do that actually did something to me!

My body tremble from head to toe and I was quite paralyzed about the idea. I need it to think fast something about not to be alone. But first things first. Walking. Keep walking. With soft steps I started walking, then faster as the same way my mind was trying to find a solution. Maybe I could stay with someone? With who? And what excuse I was going to give? What a trouble person I was. First option: Kazui, a secure option but in this direction I was far from him I still needed to cross the river and I need something close, someone in the district. Who else? Who else, who else.

Toushiro! He was the closest! I didn't know if he was going to welcome me in his house, but probably Rangiku would mind if he didn't want to. Yes! Best option! Instead of taking the corner that would let me to the bridge I went left, straight to Toushiro's, cursing how lonely was everything, my heartbeat was so loud that I thought that echoed in the street, I knew that wasn't true but felt like it. Walking faster I decided to call him before arriving so he wouldn't get a surprise. I picked my phone and called him.

First beep. Didn't answer.

Second beep. Nothing

Third beep. Still no answer.

"For god's sake Toushiro, where are you?" I muttered low and sharp.

I felt something cold touching me in nape of the head, making me to stop and hold my breath.

"I recommend you to hang up the phone if you don't want to get things worse" A harsh but love voice sounded above me. Fuck. God hated me tonight.

Then Toushiro's voice sounded from the phone. Great time to answer Toushiro, just great time.

"Richards? Something wrong?" His tone sounded quite confuse.

"Say that it was a mistake" The harsh voice said lower close to my ear, while feeling a grip in my shoulder with his hand. I could see his breath for the cold that's how close he was.

"Oh god! I got the wrong number Toushiro! How dumb I am! I was just trying to call my dad to say I was home" I said trying to not to sound fake, even if I was trembling all over my body.

"You take it long, are you sure you are ok?" He asked and the grip in my should got harder, hurting me.

"Yes! I was in the ice cream shop to buy some, a whim, you know?" I reply fast, but hoping that Toushiro would keep the line. There was a shop really close from where I was at the moment and it was never open at this hour. I always was complaining about it. Please keep up the idea. Please Toushiro use that big head of yours.

He didn't reply immediately. And the grip was even harder, I wanted to scream but I couldn't. I bite my thong doing my best.

"That's great" He finally reply, but his voice sounded different. "Maybe I'll do the same… You know what I'm looking for it right now" Oh god he did pick it up! "Stay safe, Richards" Then he hang up.

I left the shout of pain out. The man was gripping my shoulder really hard.

"Ok ok! I did what you say!" I hang up the phone showing him the screen, then put it in my pocket leaving my hands on air "What do you want from me?" I didn't know how my nerves weren't showing in my voice, but it was working.

"You have something from my master" Now that I could pay more attention of his voice, it didn't sound right. It was distant, like it was talking from a voice modifier. Probably was that so I couldn't recall it "There's only one way for him to have it back. I have to kill you"

Say WHAT.

"Wait I can show you whatever you want if you tell me! There's no need for k-killing me!" I lost all bravery in my voice with the last. Oh God, why was this happening to me?!

"Is the only way, we know where she is, but if you are alive, we can't grab her" I felt closer the cold thing in my nape now touching my skin.

"Look I don't know what are you talking about, are you sure is m-me who you want to k-kill?" God saying that was actually pretty terrifying.

"I'm sure it's you, Richards Akari, say your last words" He said again close to my ear, feeling and seeing his breath all over me.

"You pick up on the wrong girl, asshole" With that I stated that that night wasn't going to be my last.

Quickly with my right hand I hold whatever was in the back of my head, with the other I directed a fist through the face of the man. The fist didn't reach his face, but he free his hold of me and I could grab the thing behind my head, which was a knife and getting far from me. Gritting my teeth I hold the pain from the cut and turned around to face my opponent.

The man was tall but had a thin structure, short dark hair was all I can see because he had his head low, he looked well trained but there was something about him that was off. Something saying me that I shouldn't underestimated this man even if I had experience fighting people like him.

"Great move, I didn't expect your reaction" He laughed a cruel laugh, then got his head back up.

I gasped terrified for what I was seeing.

Apart of the devilish grin that I didn't know how it fit in his face it looked way too forced. His eyes were all black. Not a single part of white, everything was black. What the hell was I seeing? What the fuck I was against to?

"You looked surprise! There's something wrong Akari?" He said, amused about the situation.

"D-don't say my name! Who are you?! Why do you want to k-kill me?!" I tried to make a fist in my hands, but the cut in the right hand was deep and was hurting a lot, I couldn't close it right, the cold wasn't helping at all.

"I told you, you have her! And the only way to retrieve her is killing you!" Who was her?! What he fuck was wrong with this guy?!

"I don't know what you talking about!" I shouted, trying to make him take a reason.

"Ah, but you do! But enough talking, I just want to finish this"

He run at me and with his knife headed to my head. I blocked with my arm cutting the fabric of the coat, not doing much of a cut in my skin. But didn't stop for that and with his other arm grabbed my defense and with the opening kick me in low my ribs with such an inhuman force that move me completely of my spot, hitting the floor with my shoulder on little alley on the street.

He balanced himself over me and without a second thought I hold up a knee to the center of this stomach, leaving him without air and managing to get him off me. I stood up fast as the pain let me, run from that crazy man and look for help, but as soon I started walking I felt a hold in my left foot and grabbing it at the opposed side and back with great force letting me without balance and falling direct to my face. I didn't hear a crack, so nothing was broken, yet. I shouted for help and then I felt my foot twisted in a really bad way, making me scream at the top of my lungs. He drag me at him and with that impulse I kick him directly to his face, feeling the crack under my foot, setting me free. I tried again to stood up put the pain in my other foot just touching the floor make me fall again. The cold I was feeling in my wounded hand wasn't helping to support either. Way too quick for me to react or even heard him moving at me again, he put a knee in the small of my back with a controlled force leaving without air, he reclined over me feeling all his weight, with his free hand he grabbed my hair in what I thought was a fist making me hiss and raised my head, holding the knife close my neck, ready to cut.

"Aren't you quite a livid girl? So sad it will end now" The cold sensation in my neck freaked me out, but the adrenaline wanted me to keep fighting even if I couldn't move.

This was really how it ended for me?

I closed my eyes, frowning trying to hold the tears back. I didn't want to give up. I didn't want to die. I didn't. I didn't. Please. Someone. Please. Please. Help me! Someone! HELP!

I felt a sudden hit over me making the knife go deeper cutting a little, shooting my eyes open for the surprise. But the grasp in my hair was gone, as the weight in my back and the knife make a sound of clashing as hitting the floor. I looked at it quite astonished, gasping for air and with my wounded hand I hold were the cut in my neck was, feeling the blood going down. What…?

"Richards, can you hear me?!" Toushiro's alarmed voice made me look up at him. He was kneeling in front of me, his teal eyes looking at me worried. I just nodded in response, still trying to retain my breath "Ok, listen to me" he took off my scarf gently, now I was noticing that I wasn't carrying my headphones, but just focused Toushiro's hands, he made a lump with the scarf and took my wounded hand that was trembling a lot, all my body was trembling now that I could notice, off the cut in my neck, put the fabric on it and then put it back in the cut with certain pressure making me hiss a little "I know it hurts, but you need to keep pressure in there so you don't loss more blood"

I just nodded at him. My mind was working at full capacity but my body wasn't responding the same way. Toushiro was here, he did understood my message. God bless him and his big head, he just saved me, he just saved me and I didn't know how to respond.

A shadow behind him made me react just on pure panic.

"BEHIND!" I shouted just as fast as he defended the attack from the crazy man, separate him from us. I didn't know if in my panic mood I felt everything colder, trembling more than before and noticing the breath from everybody.

"So the bitch is not as stupid as she seems, impressive" The man said, still smirking even with his broken nose, blood was all over his clothes from that hit I gave him before "Bring a friend to the battle. Really, really impressive"

"Who are you and what do you want from her?" Toushiro's voice was calm but harsh. Also authoritarian, like he knew exactly how to handle the situation.

"Ha! Really impressive kid, do you think yo-…" His mock didn't last much, with a velocity that the man and I didn't expect, Toushiro grab him from the collar of the coat and pushed him back to the wall with a great force, leaving him with no way of moving.

"Don't dare to call me kid again, now, who are you and why are you here?" The coldness in his voice actually scared me a little bit.

"Oh? I see, we didn't expect this, then there's no matter to continue this" If there was a hint of surprise, I didn't notice at all, his dark grin only looked worse "We'll see each other again Richards Akari, that time you'll not have such luck" Even in his pitch black eyes I could feel him staring directly to me.

Before any of us could react, he screamed with his weird voice, like something was leaving his body, which made Toushiro retreat back to me leaving the man still screaming, then he shut up, fell on the floor and stop moving.

"Oh god, Is he dead?" I said even before I could think about it, staring at the body, Toushiro looked at me with the same extreme confusion I must had. And then the body moved back and I yelped, making him put his guard on.

"W-what's g-going on?" The voice from the man wasn't the same, it was light and high pitch, he whined in pain for a moment "W-why my nose is broken?! W-what happened?!" He hold his nose with both hands and then notice our presence, making me realize that his eyes were normal, his pupils dark brown "W-who are you?! Oh god you are bleeding! You need to get to a hospital!" He stood up and tried to get close to me, but Toushiro stopped him midway.

"You did this to her!" He shouted angrily. The man looked at him horrified.

"M-m-m-m-m-me?!" The man shouted back, without believe him.

"Y-yes you!" I shouted, quite angry, how he didn't remember?!

"T-there's no way! I w-wouldn't, I c-can't, I-I-I…" He continued stuttering making me angrier.

"How can't you remember?! Y-you hit me! Threat me to kill me! What the fuck is wrong with you! Y-you m-monster! You-"

"Richards STOP!"

The shout from Toushiro at me made me stop talking and stared at him with anger, but in his eyes weren't the same anger as before but pity, he looked back at the man that was pale and crying in his knees, muttering "I'm sorry, I wouldn't hurt a girl, I don't remember anything, please forgive me" over and over again.

"He doesn't remember" He said calmly, but there was pity in his voice, probably of how the man was acting. I was getting angrier and frustrated about the situation.

"How's that possible! He must be lying! What the fuck is wrong with him! That's some bull-…"

"AKARI!"

Toushiro's using my name stopped me completely. He watched me again, this time with harsh, his teal eyes seemed quite brighter with the darkness surround us, he was also frustrated, of course he was, it was obvious with that look and I wasn't helping. That's went I notice that I was also crying, it was silent but the lines of tears were heavy. I seemed to notice back everything around me, a part of the loud crying from the man, my body shaking from the feeling I had bottle up, the cold wasn't as heavy as before, my wounded hand felt kind of numb under the scarf that felt wet. The next I processed was Toushiro's squatting in front of me, talking quietly to the man, I couldn't made what they said, suddenly everything felt like too much, but at the same time as it was nothing.

"You can go" He said to the crying man, which looked at him at shock.

"But-!" I replied.

"We are not going to get nothing from him!" Toushiro's cut my reply without looking at me "We both know that it's useless and whatever happened to him it's gone" He was talking to me, he looked at me over his shoulder, showing me that he was also upset about everything, then went back to the man "Go to a hospital, you need to check you face and the cut in your arm, don't say anything about us, I will know" It was a really subtle treat that the man completely took it, the man bowed completely to the floor, murmuring a "Thank you, you are too kind and I apologize for everything I have done to her" and then stood up and flee.

I stared at where the man was. Staring without believing anything that was happening. I noticed Toushiro standing up and walking back to me, but I didn't take my eyes off the spot until he was blocking my view. His teal eyes were looking at me trying to send a message for understand him, to understand that he was probably feeling the same at me and was also worried about me. I just… didn't know how to feel anything anymore, I just started crying more and louder for not understanding anything, for being angry at the man, for being angry at Toushiro for letting the man go, but mostly I was scared. I got closer to Toushiro and put my head in his shoulder and only cried more, I felt how he embrace me, feeling a little safer. He didn't said anything, just hugged me while I was at that state.

Just what the hell is happening to me?

Sunday Update has come!

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