Thursday, September 22: Akito's POV

School was not the most exciting time for me, especially during the first few weeks of it. Most of my classmates were morons and the teachers were pretty dull themselves. There was this one girl that stood out to me, but ever since the first day when I accidentally kicked her water bottle and soaked her favorite sweater, she didn't like me that much. Besides that, everything was pointless and boring in the classroom. But once I was out, then that's when things were different for me. I had friends, I mean, I had friends my age IN the class... but then I had those OUT of the class. The real ones, that knew that pain and struggle with being... diverse beings. They were all older than me, but that didn't matter one bit. It was Hikari who brought me into their world, and I liked it.

Kouhei was pretty cool, him being all suave made me laugh because he didn't know what to do half the time. And Ciel... well he was just a pretty amazing dude to begin with since he just looked crazy. Miyuki, she was very beautiful and had this air about her that made her stand out. Or maybe she stood out because her boyfriend was such a beastly character that couldn't be contained.

Except by Hikari. She was the only one who could control him half the time when she wasn't "play fighting" with Kouhei.

I admired Hikari, much like everyone that knew her or knew about her. Eventually she told me about her parents and "family"; what happened and why she was here in the first place. There was bitter-sweet emotions in her eyes when she spoke, and I couldn't do anything to wash it away. It was hard for me to listen, I didn't like to see her so hurt and lost for something she couldn't control. But when she finished, she looked relieved and happy now that things were finally looking up to her. She trusted me, even though I barely moved here about three months before school started up again. We didn't know a lot, but deep inside, Hikari felt we had this connection, just like with everybody else.

Since then, during school and over the weekends, we all hung out together. They pretty much put me through an initiation process so I could literally be a part of their gang of misfits. Some of the things they made me do was hard, and somewhat illegal, but we never got caught. It was great, the time with them...even the first few weeks...was great to me.

During school, we always said to each other even if we barely caught a glimpse. C.J liked to make a big fuss, so I gained a lot of attention from my peers because of him. And Miyu, she was that sought-out girl all the boys in my grade wanted to say hi to. One time, I think on a during the passing period, she kissed me cheek and all the guys nearly went ballistic. Hikari, on the other hand, would come up to me and give me the biggest pat to my shoulder a person could do. It hurt, but her laughter was too contagious to ignore. Kouhei only nodded, but a lot of girls were swooned by his appearance... I think it was the eyes...

That's was caught my attention during class, he stormed in during my teacher's lecture with this angry look in his eyes. There was a note in his hands; I told myself he was coming over to say hi real quick. But then the menacing glare he was giving me was a sign that things weren't going to be very nice for me.

"I need a word with you... Now." His voice was so low and rough, the echo gave my neighbors the chills and shakes.

From the corner of my eye, I could see my teacher wanted to intervene. But he was too horror-struck to dare to try and stop Kouhei. I knew where this was going, so I stood up and followed behind with without a glance to my teacher. We walked down the stairs, through the courtyard, until we hit the trees in the back of the school. There he stopped, stuffed the note back into his pocket, and then turned on his heel to stare at me again.

"I'm sure you know why I brought you out here."

"To be honest Senpai, I don't really have a clue."

"Don't bluff, I need you to talk."

"If this is about-"

"It is."

I wanted to scream out of anger and annoyance, sometimes Senpai was a little over dramatic. Maybe it was because Hikari meant something special to him, but there were times when I felt like he was too controlling. This was gonna be about what she wanted me to do... something to do with Tsukishima...

Three Days Ago

It was the end of the day, everyone was getting their stuff and I was on my way home. Then suddenly, I felt Hikari standing right behind me, waiting patiently for me to turn around. I was gonna do something elaborate to make her laugh, but when I caught her gaze I stopped. She looked tired, like for some reason she hadn't slept well for a while now. It wasn't as obvious as before, but now her bags were dark and noticeable.

"Can we talk for a second... just you and me?" Even her voice sounded tired, much different than her normal fruity one that I had grown accustomed to.

I nodded to her, unsure of what words I should use in this situation. She grinned, but it looked brittle, unlike her somewhat bubbly grin she often wore. I followed her to our lunch spot, and was surprised when she kept glancing over her shoulder every now and then... like someone was watching her. I stopped but she kept walking for a few more seconds until her body froze under the shade of the tree.

"What's the matter, is something wrong Senpai?" I asked her in my most gentle voice, but even that startled her for a few seconds until she shook out her fluffed-up hair.

"Your dad... does he know anything about... fullbringers?"

"Fullbringers?"

"Yeah... I was wondering since your dad is one an all."

"He told me loads of stuff, but I honestly never paid attention to it. Although I guess you can call me one too... Why?"

"D-Do you think he could tell me about them? Before my parents come to visit me?"

"You said they come on Sundays right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sure he'd be more than happy to tell you about them, but I need to make sure he's not busy or something."

"You do that for me, thanks." She looked relieved yet heartbroken at the same time, like there was nothing that would satisfy her needs.

"Hikari what's wrong?You've looked upset since last week and it's starting to show."

As soon as I looked towards her she flinched like I was about to hit her, or someone was trying to. For a second it seemed like she was about to fall to her knees and bawl into her hands. But she didn't; she sucked in a bit of breath and brought them up to huddle herself closer for warmth. I heard a faint laugh from her, but it was clear for some reason there was nothing funny about this topic.

"I'm sorry, and you're right, I've been a little upset for a while now. Not because of you guys or anything it's just that... something's bothering me. Or should I say... someone"

"Who is it? What are they doing to you? No offense, but you look like a nervous wreck."

"I know," She laughed tiredly into her sleeve with a timid grin, which caught my attention until her exhausted eyes looked up towards me

"I am a nervous wreck, I haven't felt like this since I was a kid. When I waited for my parents to come back."

"But it's different this time... isn't it?"

"It's a hell of a lot different, I can't get it out of my mind!" She violently shouted at me, but took a step back and grabbed her hair out of frustration.

"He's watching me, wherever I go, no matter what class I'm at. He's there, I can feel him staring at me twenty-four-seven. There's not a time when my guard's down, even with you guys at lunch."

"Who's watching you, tell me Hikari!" I sounded desperate as I came forward and gently grasped her arms to gain her attention but pulled back a little when she cringed.

"Who's doing this to you?"

"T-Tsukishima.."

"Tsukishima? Isn't he your homeroom teacher?"

"And History... something's not right with him."

"What makes you say-"

"He knows Ichigo."

My hands came back to my sides as I stood there in confusion for a few minutes. It was strange to hear someone talk about their parents like that, and use their name so easily. But judging by the look in her eyes, it was clear she was used to saying his name out loud. It just fell out so smoothly and comfortably that you would've been surprised to see her not use his name. Her big eyes glanced up in a bewildered way but then shifted to a sympathetic look. She bite her lip and leaned against the trunk with her hands on the sides of her hip.

"Sorry about that, I'm used to saying his name so easily. Sometimes it strikes people as odd, but it's a force of habit."

"Don't worry about it, it's quite funny to hear you say it. But what's this about Tsukishima?"

"Because Ichigo never told me all of his Fullbringer stories, I don't know if Tsukishima's good or bad. During class, it feels like he's bad, but then again, he hasn't tried to hurt me in any way. It's never been this hard to tell, in your case and Grimmjow's as well. I knew about your older counter parts beforehand... but it's different now. It's different and I can't stand it!"

She looked exhausted and depressed; once she stopped speaking it looked like tears were about to fall. My arms found themselves around her again, but I told myself it was alright. I could feel her body stiffen against my chest, and her hands grasped my shirt in an attempt to push me away. But after I pulled her in closer, she sort of gave up and let out a huge sigh. Her arms fell limply to her sides and around my torso. I couldn't help but think she was so soft and at some point I might hurt her by accident.

"Thanks Aki... I needed this."

"No worries," I laughed softly as we pulled away from each other, her hands lingered on my shirt for a few more seconds. "I could tell you needed a hug."

"Yeah, it worked wonders." Hikari's color returned to her cheeks with a bright red tint from being a little embarrased.

"Just let me know, would you?"

"Of course... Senpai."

Now, here I was, being interrogated by my Senpai's overly-protective boyfriend who wouldn't care if he hurt me or not. I didn't want to tell him anything without going over it with Hikari, I had planned on telling her after school or whenever we were alone together. With him dogging me like this... it would be harder than planned.

"Senpai, I can't tell you anything because it's not right. When it's okay, then maybe I'll-"

"That's not good enough for me!" Kouhei spat out in fustration, his eyes had this look of pure tortue and everlasting pain.

"What do you want me to do then? Hikari trusts me and I won't allow myself to lose it so easily just because you're her boyfriend!"

That stopped him entirely, all his anger just vanished from his face and into thin air. I suddenly felt faint, I'd never yelled at someone like that and it made me sick to my stomach. Before I could even say sorry, he crumbled to his knees and brought his head into his lap. My mouth opened to say something but the air was filled with soft sobs and murmured cursing. Kouhei... was crying... he was seriously crying... in front of me...

"K-Kouhei...Senpai?"

"I can't... I just can't do it again..."

"Do what?"

"Lose her... again..." He sobbed softly into his sleeve, his face hidden from my sight for the time being until he was ready to show.

"Lose her? What do you mean, Senpai?" My voice was scratchy with hesitation as I balled my hands for a quick attack if necessary... but I prayed it wasn't necessary.

"Before... in the Soul Society... did she tell you what happened?"

"She mentioned vaguely about the events... but it's worse... isn't it?"

"She almost died... right then and there. That son of a bitch stabbed and nearly killed her with one thrust of his sword." There was acid in his voice that was so obvious and horrible to listen to at the same time.

"I... I couldn't do anything to help, they wouldn't let me. I watched her face, she doesn't remember what happened after they left. She fell to the floor and started to sob, the worse kind a person could do. Everyone panicked, it was chaos until Miyu tried to heal her but they wouldn't allow it. The pain was too much for her, she needed serious medical treatment... it almost didn't work."

I remained silent the entire time, it sounded too horrible to be the truth. There were tears on the ground for a split second before he swiped against it and destroyed them. In a weak manner, Kouhei stood from the ground and tried to compose himself, but he couldn't hide the awful truth anymore. He was hurting, hurting since day one when Hikari became his. There were going to be rough times, but nothing could help him with the danger of losing someone so close to you.

"Kouhei, I want to help you. I really do... but I can't turn my back on Hikari." I pleaded with him with my most sincere voice possible, but I felt terrible just for saying such an honest thing.

His hazel eyes were red as he glanced towards me in anger, I could see his fists balled up ready to punch me. He took a step forward with his arm raised up, so my eyes immediately closed shut. But then nothing came, I only felt arms throw themselves around my neck and a head against my shoulder. There was this damp feeling that kept growing by the passing minute as his body shook a little.

"Tell anyone about this, and I will maim you." Kouhei threatened me as my arms came around his waist to hold him in a more comfortable way, at least for me.

"No worries... this will be our little secret."

I heard him sigh in a bitter way, but I couldn't bring myself to make light of this moment. He pulled away and tried to wipe his eyes all nonchalantly, but it wasn't possible.

"I want to tell you, but she made me promise."

"I know, I understand why you can't turn your back. She trusts you, and if she can't tell me yet, then I'll have to wait until she does."

"That's the spirit, Senpai."

He rolled his eyes in a tired way as his body naturally positioned itself in a less defensive pose. We stood idly by each other for a few more seconds until he took charge and stepped forward. Without turning around, Kouhei's hand lifted up and motioned me to follow. I did, but not right behind him, I brought myself closer to his side. He didn't seem to mind, in fact, his aura was a lot brighter than earlier's. I was about to start a conversation when something clomped down the stairs and landed right into his arms.

"No Kouhei! Don't beat up Aki; he's too sweet and kind! You'll get in so much trouble if you even try!" She exclaimed frantically into the crook of his neck as her arms held onto his shirt.

"What are you doing Hikari?"

"Aki! Someone told me Kouhei came into your room and threateningly took you away! I got worried, he can be a jealous boy sometimes."

"I'm right here you know..." His voice was low and snarky while she stared deeply up to me like she expected me to say something wrong.

It took me a second to think of something decent to say, there was no way I was gonna call out Kouhei in front of him. But I couldn't lie to Hikari, not when she looked even worse than the other day. Her bags grew ten times darker and I could see she was starting to lose some weight from not eating a lot. The stress was getting to her, and for some reason it was starting to come all at once instead of little intervals.

"It was nothing, he just asked if I wanted to help him with... target practice." I laughed softly to her, but she instantly scowled and turned her head towards Kouhei.

"What did I tell you about human targets! Especially our friends, Kouhei." She angrily scolded him to my surprise, but Senpai merely rolled his eyes and rested his head against her shoulder.

"It was just a joke, I wouldn't use Akito like that. Ciel maybe... but not Akito... at least not yet." I heard him chuckle lightly, which made Hikari instantly glow with relief.

"Oh... good."

Both of them got up together, her hand held onto his as tightly as possible for a few more minutes. Then when they let go, she seemed to lose some of her light again. Kouhei didn't seem to notice, but it was obvious to me. I wanted to say something but her eyes caught my gaze as soon as I opened my mouth.

"I have to go back to class, my teacher will be wondering where I went." Kouhei groaned in an oblivious tone to Hikari's tired eyes, who merely looked up and briefly smiled.

"Yeah, me too."

Kouhei started to walk away, but she reached out and grabbed onto his sleeve without warning. Hikari brought him down to her level and kissed him with all her might, as if she was about to die at that exact moment. I couldn't help but cough and turn away, but he seemed to enjoy her little bout of excitement. They kissed for a few more seconds before he pulled away and laugh wholeheartedly for her. There was another mumble of goodbyes before Kouhei's feet echoed down the hall away from us.

"Sorry Aki, I just needed that right now."

"N-No worries, you do whatever you want. I don't judge."

"Everything's all right... right?"

"Don't need to freight, it was no big deal to get him off my back." I said as quietly as possible, which earned me a bit more of her trust from the look of her relief.

"Okay... I just wanted to make sure you were all right. I'm going to head to class too."

"Wait, before you go. My father said he could squeeze some time out to talk to you, he really would like to meet you."

She never looked so happy in her life; one minute I thought she was going to cry... but then her arms were around my waist and I could hear her laughing jubilantly. I stood there with Hikari in my arms for a few more minutes before she pulled away first and tried to hide the blush on her cheeks. Of course my natural instinct was to look away, but she was so cute that I had to let out a laugh or two to calm my insides first.

"Don't tell anyone!" She whispered furiously at me, her head snapped back to look at me so fast that I thought it broke for a second before I answered her.

"Okay! Okay! I promise Hikari! You can trust me!"

"...Okay."

"Meet me today after school by my locker, we'll walk over there together."

"Sure, see you later then?"

"Yeah, see ya later."

She finally looked calm as a genuine grin played at the corner of her lips, her eyes seemed bigger with glee. I turned around to head back to my class when I head a small gasp out of fright. I would have ignored it if a male's voice hadn't laughed in the next second. My head whipped around to see Hikari blushing under a guy's hand, her own were trying to push his away without being too forceful. But he seemed totally oblivious and was laughing even more at her silly gestures. I took a few steps forward, but she shot a wary gaze towards me so I stopped myself. Almost instantly, she forced a bright smile to appear and gingerly removed his hand away from her. She took a few steps back as he talked, but quickly waved and ran down the hall. I couldn't help but glare at the man as he passed by without a care in the world.

"Bastard..." I huffed softly under my breath as I too headed for my class, but he stopped short and loudly turned back to me.

"Did you say something?"

"No! Why would you think that?" I instantly became bothered that he heard me say that word, but he wasn't so easily fooled.

"Talking to yourself? That's nothing to be ashamed of." He said in a sarcastic way, but he hung around and tilted his head to the side just to annoy me.

"Have I seen you around here?"

"Well it's a school, and you're a teacher, so there's a slight chance you may have."

He smirked down at me, the twinkle from his eyes sort of shattered without a trace. I tried to move along but he kept close and hooked his finger under my collar. I would have thought he was trying to kiss me with how little personal space there was between us. We stood there for a moment or two before a door from down the hall slammed open. He jumped back while I gracefully slid away and allowed a girl to run past the two of us. Her blue eyes shot a death glare as she easily escaped from the teacher, who was too fat to even try to catch up.

"Everything all right, Matsuta? Tsukishima asked in a booming voice so the panting man could actually hear him speak, although it was unnecessary.

"Fine, that little devil was caught pushing pins into my seat again. I was dealing with her until she threw my coffee into my lap and escaped." My teacher, Matsuta, grumbled out of annoyance and caught my gaze.

"What are you lookin' at, Sado? Shouldn't you be in class like everyone else?"

"Well, I-"

"He was helping me," Tsukishima lied smoothly with a winning smile, his eyes were bright with a sort of excitement the moment he heard my name.

"I was carrying a heavy box and he volunteered his time to help me. Nothing to worry about, Masuta. I'll make sure he gets back without harm."

There was a calm moment until he grumbled some more and walked away towards the teacher's office. I thought I was in the clear until a cold hand patted my shoulder without warning. Tsukishima was right up behind me with a devilish grin on his face, although I couldn't see him I knew it was there. Hikari was right,

You could tell without looking.

"Sado is your name, is it? Very peculiar... whose your father then?"

"My-My father... my father's name is Yasutora Sado. Although some people like to call him... Chad."

Literally, he bursted with glee like a child on Christmas morning and nearly knocked me over. It took him a while to calm down, but once he did he was speechless. I thought it was strange to see such a grown man get excited over a little thing like that, but at the time I didn't know as much as I do now.

"Chad is your father?! Oh now everything makes sense to me! It was so obvious and simple!"

"Simple?"

"Hikari's your friend, isn't she? I can tell..."

"Yeah, she's my friend. So what?"

"Ah, the second generation is back together. I find that cute and interesting." He mumbled to himself in glee as he started his way back to where ever he was going to.

"Say hi to your dad for me, he'll be quite surprised to hear that I'm back."

"Sure."

With one more smile, he waved to me and walked down towards his class. I stood there for a moment, alone, to shudder with a nervous twitch. No wonder Hikari looked they way she did, if someone like that was stalking me I wouldn't be normal either. I had to make this quick, give her some peace before she seriously injured herself even more thanks to that sadistic bastard.

I waited for her by the lockers after school was over, just like we said. It was calming to watch people go back and forth, from their activities to their sports. They had no idea what horror was lurking around the school, but then again I don't think they would have been able to handle it. Time went by slowly, but after a while, when no one was around, I started to get worried. Had Tsukishima picked her up again? Was she cowering in the bathroom by herself or something?

Where was Hikari?

"Aki? What are you still doing here? It's past three-thirty." Kouhei asked me with a bewildered look as he walked up with his bow around his shoulder.

"Why aren't you home?"

"Hikari said she wanted to walk home with me, but I haven't seen her since this afternoon." I quickly made up a lie to cover for her, but he seemed displeased and concerned.

"I saw her walking with a young girl earlier, a blonde one. They went towards the-"

He was cut off by the sound of my phone, a nice relief to hear over his worried voice. I didn't know the number, it was new to me, and I would have ignored it. But Kouhei's eyes told me I should answer it, so before he said something I opened it.

"Hello?"

"A-Aki! Help me!" Hikari's frantic voice was loud and shaky like she was running as she made the call, her breath came out short each time she took a step.

"Hikari!? Where are you? What's the matter?"

"H-Hollow attack! Can't you guys feel it? I'm not even blocking it this time, we're right outside school! Ow! I'm on your freaking side, you shrimp-cake!"

"Who you calling shrimp-cake, puffy-pie!" Another voice angrily retorted back as I heard the sounds of a sword clang and the ferocious howl of a hollow.

"Where are you!? Senpai!"

"Hikari! Are you alright?!" Kouhei intervened and tried to take my phone from me, but I pushed him a little top hard and set it on speaker-phone.

"F-Fine! But I don't have my badge! Or Kon! I'm useless by-AH!" She screamed as something dropped behind her and the last thing heard was something being crushed.

"Hikari!" We shouted at the same time as Ciel ran up beside me, followed by a frazzled-looking Miyu covered in flour and frosting.

"What the hell is going on?"

"Was that Hikari? Where is she?"

"Calm down for a second guys, she said she was right outside school."

"Ya mean the forest?"

"Most likely, that's where I saw her heading with another girl earlier."

"And you didn't think of stopping them?"

"How was I supposed to know she was about to get attacked, Ciel?!"

"Calm down!" My voice rang through the hallway as my temper got the best of me, but it worked and all of them become silent and still.

"Us fighting isn't going to help her. We need to split up and search for her and the other girl."

"I can't get away, I'm already hanging on a loose thread for skipping practice one too many times."

"My girls won't let me leave until the cakes have cooled, they're evil little things."

"I'll go," C.J said with a huff of anger, his cross-country shirt was already starting to come off as he headed towards the door. "It's easier for me to find her, since I've know her scent."

"You mean her reiyoku, right?"

"Sure, whatever suits you." He playfully laughed as he ripped off his choker and turned his back to us without a moment to lose.

"Ciel, wait-!"

But he was already down the pathway and in the forest by the time Kouhei's words came out. I'd never seen him looked so stressed out, and poor Miyu looked like she was ready to cry. But I had to stay solid, I couldn't panic at a time like this.

"You guys go back, I'll help look too."

"Thanks Aki."

"Please be careful."

"Careful is my middle name, go back before you get in trouble too." I insisted with the best brave face I could give them, but they still seemed displeased as they left.

I could tell C.J was not too far off her track, so I went off slowly but with caution. I hadn't even taken two steps when I could feel his eyes staring at my backside from his classroom above. My brain told me to ignore him, but I couldn't help but look over my shoulder towards Tsukishima. He smirked and waved down to me as he pointed over into the forest with a somewhat worried look. His hand tsked forward as an indication that time was running out, and I should hurry. I could hear his snarky voice inside my head,

"Better hurry little boy, don't want to lose our new friend... do you?"

"Just wait... the cavalry is on its way."