I often wondered what it was like to die. I wondered how I would die. Would I die a slow death by poisoning or would I have to suffer through the pain and agony of a fatal blow? Will I die 21 years or 21 minutes? Would I hang myself or jump off a building? Would I die for someone I loved or die for a complete stranger? Either way, you can tell I thought a lot about it.

I don't want to think about it, but I often think what most people tend to avoid. But the question that kept on popping up in my head was, 'What'll happen after I die?' To tell you the truth, I don't think I'd be missed that much. If anything, four, maybe five people would go to my funeral. What a pleasant thought, isn't it?

They say that animals can sense when a person is about to die. Like, if an old granny is about to keel over, her cat will rest beside her as she passes on peacefully in her sleep. Might think I'm crazy, but animals are probably a hell of a lot smarter than we are. My point being, I think if death is constantly on your mind, and if it's even such a thing to be "sensed", then maybe it's near. Maybe not to you, but someone nearby. Who knows? The cards are in Fate's hands, and she plays to win.

That Friday morning wasn't a great one. I was leaving Gramps' house. And…I was actually depressed about it. I wanted to stay longer. Honestly. Oh my God, you won't believe the stuff I did those past three months. So, I'll be short and sweet and sum it up.

True, the first time, I was a bit unrattled by all the stuff going on. My long-lost grandfather, the ghost town and its people, the humanoid creature that attacked me and the dragon (yes, I said dragon) that saved my life, and the doctor who checked up on me every now and then. Okay, the last one, I wasn't the least bit nervous about, but I needed his company so I wouldn't go insane. I needed at least somebody from home.

Instead of going into depth about the stuff I did, you mind if I just insert my memories? I think it'd be much faster that way. I won't be too thorough, I'll just fill in the blanks with the stuff that happened. Alright, let's roll the movie!

Friday, October 15th, 2009, 4:59 PM

"Rukia, hurry up, they're gonna leave without you!" A slim maid with two high ponytails on the sides of her head hollered as she stepped off the porch of Ginrei's estate.

Hurrying along was a short woman with a mane of ebony swishing about as she scurried to get the last of her things. "Wait, wait a sec! Riruka, don't leave without me!"

"Then hurry up! The gramps is going, with or without you!"

"He's over 60, he can't go that far," Rukia grumbled as she wrapped a scarf around her neck before jogging to catch up with the brunette, who was speed-walking to catch up with the old man.

"You'd be surprised. He's probably in better shape than you."

"I doubt that."

"No, really!" The girl with pigtails exclaimed as she pulled down her beige bomber hat. "Just 'cause he's old doesn't mean he doesn't exercise! I saw him doing yoga one time when I had to give him his tea. Let's just say, even at 75 years old, you can still twist your body in ways you can't imagine."

"That…kinda sounds gross," Rukia shrugged. "But how'd he react when you asked for your "independence"?"

"Ah jeez, he…wasn't the cheeriest of elderly people, let's just say that much. I mean, it's not like he flipped out or anything, but he wasn't jumpin' for joy either."

"I kinda feel bad about this," The woman muttered, almost as if she was talking to herself, but the fact that she said it made Riruka stop in her tracks immediately and place her hands on her hips.

"What did you just say?"

"I met you less than a month ago, and here you are, "rebelling" and asking for independence and full of spunk. You were the quietest person I've ever met, and now you're a force to be reckoned with. I hope it's not 'cause of me."

"Well, it is! You coming here is possibly the best thing that ever happened to me, honestly. I want to explore the outside world, and see out there for me to see and do, and all the people for me to meet. And clothes. I thought I was going to be a maid for the rest of my life and possibly die from my back cracking in half from scrubbing the floor too hard. What I mean to say is," Riruka quieted down for a moment, turning around so the woman wouldn't see her face. "Thank you so much, Rukia. You've completely changed my life. And that's why Ginrei has allowed me to gain my independence early."

"What?" The other female squealed as she looked at Riruka, the corners of her mouth nearly up to her cheekbones. "That's amazing! When's the date?"

"February 21st. A whole six years earlier. Can you believe it?"

"Wow, that is a cutback. This is all going by so fast. I feel old."

"I can see the start of a worry line on your forehead, now that I look at it."

"At least I don't have crow's feet."

"I do not!" The girl gasped as she felt the corners of her eyes to actually see if they were there.

"Rukia! Riruka!" A low voice bellowed whose sound was carried by the wind.

"Ginrei," Rukia nodded as she ran on up the hill. "Come on, let's go."

"I'll go when I feel like it," The brunette muttered as she followed right behind.

As the two were approaching the crest of the hill, two men were already chatting. Their voices were hushed and nearly mute, careful so that others wouldn't hear a word. Ginrei was one of these men. He silently motioned for the guy to stop talking as the girls approached them, and they were both surprised to see a "guest" among them.

"Rukia," Ginrei began. "Riruka. I'm pretty sure you know-"

"Damir!" Rukia grinned as she ran on up to see him face-to-face. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was actually going to stop by to see how you were recovering, but I was told that you all were out, and one of the maids gave me directions, so here I am."

"You didn't have to come all the way up here to just check on me," The woman tried to laugh off her nervousness.

"Don't be daft. Of course I didn't. I needed to check on this one too," He nodded to Ginrei. "And I've heard the view up here is worth looking at, so why not?"

"And you're thinking of hiking in a pair of jeans and a blazer?" Rukia cocked her hip. "Aren't you scared of getting dirt on your dinner clothes?"

"I wouldn't talk back like that to the guy-"

"Who's treating me, yeah, yeah, you're like a broken record. Now, are you going to be a complete stranger and not give a hug to your most favorite patient?" She teased, getting a laugh out of the raven-haired man who had to lift her up to do so, since he was several feet taller than her.

"Once you're done making out, lemme know," Riruka yawned as she focused on filing her thumbnail.

"Riruka has a point," Ginrei butted. "We need to get a move on. Actually, you two go on ahead. Riruka, I need to talk to you."

"About?" The girl eyed him cautiously.

"Your contract."

"I'll leave you two to it then," Rukia nodded as she then turned to the doctor. "Well, you heard the man. Go on, get a move on, doc!"

"Someone's hasty.

"Walk!"

While those two walked forward, Ginrei and Riruka were talking amongst themselves, having a serious, almost serious conversation.

"What about my contract did you need to talk to me about?" The girl asked.

"It seems-" Ginrei was cut off by his own coughing, pounding his chest a couple of times.

"Are you okay, Master?"

After the coughing settled down, he nodded. It appears that I am getting old and weak. A "gramps", like you said. But come, let us catch up with those two so we aren't far behind."

Riruka nodded, but she was silent for a moment, feeling guilty of tossed the word so lightly. "I'm only kidding around when I say that, sir. You know I don't mean it."

"I know, child, I know all too well. But it appears as if you're going to be independent earlier than February."

"Why?"

"My health. It is deteriorating slowly and soon, I will pass on. But before I do, I want to make sure certain things are in order so I have no worries after my death."

"Which are?" She raised her eyebrows slightly, waiting for the elder's coughing to cease yet again.

"So, how's New York?" Rukia inquired, her curiosity as big as the trees that were looming over the forests. "Anything big happen?"

"Oh, nothing major really. Except for the fact that I got promoted to the head of cardio at the hospital," Damir grinned toothily, making the woman squeal yet again for someone else's happiness.

"Oh my God, that's great!"

"I think you're more happier than I was when I heard the news."

"Can you blame me? My doctor's the friggin' head of cardio. I got the best of the best," Rukia giggled as she climbed up the hill, waiting for the man to catch up. "I bet all the little interns must bow down to you or something."

"Hmmm…more or less," He shrugged with a smug smile as he walked up the leaf-covered crest, now behind to the woman. "But one thing I haven't done since my promotion is celebrate."

"What?" She turned around, walking straight into the doctor. The two were on the edge of the mount, and with their combined weight, they both fell into the trough below them, landing into a muddy pile with dead leaves galore.

Rukia had her eyes closed shut the entire shut, and her nails clung onto the material of Damir's sweater, and she slowly let go as soon as she heard breathing. As soon as her nails let go, she cracked open an eye, looking to her left, and then up, and then to her right; but when she looked right in front of her, her eyes widened at the sight of the doctor on top of her.

The body slowly risen, his face hovering right over hers. After picking out the leaves in his hair, he looked at the woman beneath him, her indigo eyes as unrelenting as the man's Arctic ones.

"So, where did we leave off at?" She questioned innocently.

"Something about celebrating my promotion. Ah, yes, now I remember," Damir chuckled as he moved a stray hair out of the woman's face.

"And why didn't you celebrate?"

"To be honest," He exhaled a sigh through his nostrils. "There was no point in celebrating. Most of the other cardio surgeons are either shallow or just wanting to cut some flesh, as if it's some kind of addiction. It's disgusting. I didn't want to celebrate my success with those kind of people. They're envious, bloodthirsty, and naive. They can cut as good as me, but their reasons for doing it and my reasons are completely different. They cut to cut. I cut to save lives. That's why I became a surgeon. So, in short, I didn't celebrate because there was no one really to celebrate it with."

"No friends, no family?" Rukia asked with piqued interest.

"Family and friends are outta the country," He shrugged as he sat up, getting off of the woman.

"You didn't even go to a bar to drink or something?" The woman asked as she got the leaves out of her hair. "Not even get some?"

"Is that how you celebrate?"

"Well, we're talking about you, not me. But to answer your question, totally," She nodded with mock approval. "I'm outta control."

"Call me crazy, but I think I just found a way to finally celebrate," The doctor smirked.

"And what is it?"

"Let me take you out."

"I-I'm sorry?" She stuttered, gulping.

"Why are you nervous now? Remember that I saw you in your lingerie before, remember?"

"Yeah, I kind of try not to remember that my doctor saw me, boobs and all."

"And I'd like it if you tried not to think of me as your doctor. I mean, seriously, I'm not treating you anymore. Just more of a "check-up" doc. All other times, I'm Damir, a guy who just happens to have an interest in you and who'd like to take you out to dinner."

"Umm.." The petite woman stalled, not really knowing what to say.

"It's not a date, Rukia. I'm aware of your 'other man', even though he hasn't contacted you at all-"

"Oi," She snapped her fingers in his face twice. "That's not the topic of discussion. And if it's not a date, then sure, why not? Nothing wrong with two friends celebrating, right?"

"It's date, then."

"Not a date."

So, as you can see, me and Damir stayed in contact during my stay at Gramp's. Everytime he visited, it made me feel like I was back home, instead on some God-for-saken place out in the middle of the woods.

I didn't know about Gramp's condition until the very last month he lived. I just assumed he had a nasty cold or something. I feel so stupid for not being able to see it earlier. Damir says even with medicine, he only would've lasted about a month or two. I could've used a month or two to still talk to him and finally say what I needed to say, but I was too late.

Helping me cope was no other than Riruka, who had turned to be one of my favorite people. It made me smile just thinking about how much she had changed in those three months. I felt like the Riruka from before was just a ghost of her current self. But now, she had fire in her. It's kinda hard to realize someone's changed right before your eyes, but in this case, it was for the better. Not only for me, but for her own sake. I don't think she could've even looked someone in the eye without stuttering before.

Although I had only known her within those short three months, she and I acted as if we had been sisters for life. Laugh all you want with our stark differences, but it's true! And like sisters, we had our fights. And on particular day, she revealed to me that she wasn't just some ordinary maid.

Saturday, October 31st, 2009, 7:23 PM

"Rukia, what is Halloween?" The tanned youth asked as they walked up Sokyoukyu Hill, waiting patiently on Rukia and Riruka to walk up, although there was a bit of distance between them.

"Hey!" Riruka yelled. "How the hell did you climb up there so fast? What are you, some kind of super human?"

"No. I'm just used to excerise. Maybe you wouldn't be so nagging of people if you did something," He replied stoically.

A vein instantly popped to life on the girl's forehead and Tensa saw one of her eyes twitch. "Why you little.."

"Why are you asking about Halloween, Tensa?" Rukia asked with interest, wondering how he came across the term.

"I overheard Mr. Kyoraku mentioning it to his wife while I was delivering his sake, and he said something else about a party in Kay-Beck that he wanted to take her to."

No wonder, She thought. "Well, Halloween's a holiday where kids dress up and go door-to-door asking for candy. It's more for kids, really."

"Then why was he so interested about it?"

"It's Mr. Kyoraku. I think as long as there's alcohol involved, he'll celebrate like it's the Fourth of July, New Year's, and Mardi Gras packed in one."

"What?" He stared blankly at her.

"Ya, keep up," Riruka flicked him on the forehead. "You might have something here," She pointed to her bicep, and then to her head. "But you don't have anything up here."

"What are you implying?" He narrowed his eyes at her, and the girl only shook her head with a sigh.

"I'm just gonna go take a pee," Riruka waved with a hand behind her, leaving Rukia and Tensa alone.

"So, does Mr. Kyoraku talk about anything else like that?" Rukia piped as she sat under the oak tree at the edge of the cliff, enjoying the warm, lazy atmosphere around her.

"He keeps on talking about a guy named Teron Do, and a woman names Kay Beck. Are they married or something?"

"Those are cities, Tensa. It's Toronto and Quebec. They're in a place called Canada."

"Are they close to your New York?"

"Toronto's kinda close, but Quebec is much farther. If you want to go to Toronto, you can probably drive there in about-"

"9 hours," He said, causing a moment of awkward silence.

"How..do you know that?" Rukia asked.

"It just popped up in my head," Tensa muttered with a confused look on his face. "It's cold up there, in Canada?"

The woman was starting to get slightly scared of the boy in front of her, and his sudden knowledge of the "outside world".

"Did you hear that from Mr. Kyoraku too?"

"No. It's weird, but there's this image in my head and it has this big, green sign that says "Welcome to Toronto" and there was snow everywhere and those machines you told me about, with the four wheels.."

"Cars?"

"Yes, them! There were a lot of columns of them with this little space with white and yellow lines on this grey-ish ground and there were these blocks standing upright right next to them. Is New York like that?"

"Tensa, how did you…how did you get that picture inside your head?"

"I dreamt it."

"You had a dream about Toronto?"

"I think so. Why? Is it bad?"

"RUKIA KUCHIKI!" A shrill voice yelled, and it could only belong to Riruka.

"Sit tight," She told Tensa before jogging over to where the sound of the shrieking was coming from.

Riruka was standing there with her hips cocked, arms crossed, and eyes a-glarin' at the woman who had just found her.

"What? What is it?"

"Who in their right mind names something after a dead person?" She pointed her finger to the stone dollhouse grave, making Rukia chew down on her lip in guilt.

"I thought the name was pretty-"

"Oh, it's pretty. Pretty dead! How-That's just so creepy!"

"Oh, shut up. You liked it when you heard it."

"And when I didn't think you got it from a grave! You could've at least change the last name!"

"Well, wasn't it you that asked me to think of a name? You wanted to steal mine!"

"I was different then!"

"Oh boy, were you," Rukia nodded with a sarcastic smile.

"And just what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You know very well what it means."

"While we're talking about it, is there anything else you're hiding from me? Any dark secrets I should know about? Your affair with that doctor guy? Or maybe a drug addiction?"

"I'm going to be the bigger person and walk away from this, because you know nothing about my life," Rukia sneered.

"I know enough to say that you're a liar, a cheater, and a coward."

"Well at least I don't scrub people's floor to survive."

"I'd rather be that than an ungrateful brat."

"What is going on?" Tensa asked cautiously as he walked up to them, making both females turn their heads.

"I'll tell ya what's been going on. She's been lying to us. She's no better than the government!"

"What are you talking about?" He looked at her, bewildered. "She's been nice to us all this time. How could you say that she's lying?"

"I can say that she's lying because I know, Tensa. Unlike you and your village people, I actually remember my past. You all had been brainwashed, but I managed to escape. They're using you as slaves. What part of that do you not get?"

"What does Rukia have to do with it?"

"Yeah, why is my name in this?" She asked the girl.

"Your name is in this, because you didn't tell us the truth. You've known us for at least a month and the thought of telling us that we're brainwashed hadn't crossed your mind?"

"Is that true, Rukia?" The boy looked at her.

"Think about it, how would I sound if I said something like that to you? You'd think I was crazy or something, so you can't be mad at m-"

"I'm not mad," He shook his head. "I knew something was odd about this town and its people a long time ago. You just brought the pieces together. I'm just disappointed you couldn't tell us," Tensa solemnly said as he left. "Oh, and don't talk to me again, alright?"

"Tensa," Rukia started, but that was all she could say. Inside, she didn't blame him one bit.

"Well, that about sums up my disappointment in you in a nutshell," Riruka piped. "Was it really worth hiding it from us?"

"If you knew, how come you pretended not to know?"

"To see if you'd tell me the truth. And you failed miserably."

"You think I want to keep secrets from people?" She snapped, making the girl back up instinctively. "Trust me, you two are not the only ones in the world who I am hiding my secrets from. Try everybody. Nobody knows the true me, just little parts of me. So don't you dare go saying I enjoy this kind of shit, because I don't. And that's all I have to say about it," Rukia glared before walking down the hill, leaving Riruka.

"Why do you do it?" She asked, halting the woman's feet with her words.

"Isn't it obvious?" Rukia turned her head around. "It's because I'm a coward and a liar. Not a cheater, mind you, just a coward and a liar."

"Instead of hiding from them, why not just tell your friends?"

"Because I can't bare the pity and humiliation. I don't want them to look at me differently because of the stupid stuff I did. It's better that they don't know, for their sake and mine."

"What is so bad that you can't open up to someone about your whole life?"

"In truth, everything. I'm ashamed. And yes, I'm running away from those problems, but the more distance I can get from them, the better."

"Whatever, you do whatever you want. Go back to New York and keep living a lie, the hell I care. Just don't do it here."

"Easier than it sounds."

After that, I was by myself, again. I didn't speak to them the rest of my stay, and Tensa was nowhere to be found.

The next day, all maids had the day off because it the first Sunday of the month and they visited their families and friends, leaving me to get some peace and quiet inside the house. I had nothing to do, so I decided to chat up Gramps. Nothing like a family bonding, eh?

Sunday, November 1st, 2009, 11:12 AM

Rukia Kuchiki had just finished her shower with a towel wrapped around her head and a silk bathrobe on her body. When she walked out of the bathroom, the house was unusually quiet, and she was curious as to where all the usual noise and clutter went.

"Hellooo? Anybody here?" She hollered.

"Don't raise your voice in the house, Rukia. You know better."

She knew by the sound of the gruff, stern, coughing that it could only be her grandfather, with whom she'd actually acknowledged as her blood.

Walking across the hall and to the living room, she saw the elderly man sit on the wooden plank balcony with his eyes looking straight ahead at the little creek in front. Rukia recalled when she first came here having a "serious" chat with the old man at that very spot. She wondered if he stared at the creek behind he wanted some peace and quiet, or he was just alone.

"Hey Gramps," She nodded as she opened the screen door and quickly closed it behind her. "Whatcha doing?"

"I was thinking about some matters that needed to be attended to, but all of the employees are currently out visiting their families."

"You want me to do it?" Rukia offered as she sat next to him, her legs tucked under her butt, the exact same sitting position Ginrei was in.

"No, it's fine. I'll wait until tomorrow. It isn't that important."

"So, when are they supposed to come back?"

"Never."

"What? What does that mean? Did they do something wrong?"

"On the contrary, they didn't absolutely nothing. I just decided it was time to release them from their job so they can live their life. I sent the children to their families, and the others, I let them escape to Kyoraku's so they could leave the village. It's about time they know the truth."

"So, you let them go? All of them?"

"Yes. I gave each a bountiful amount of money for them to survive and leave this place."

"Why? After all of these years, why now?"

The man paused as he picked up his cup of hot tea and sipped, not answering the woman's question. She knew that he was just as stubborn as herself, but forcing him to answer would result in…no results.

"Whatever your reason, I support it."

Ginrei put down his chai and looked at his granddaughter, surprised at her answer, although he didn't show it (he looked the same as always).

"I was told by Riruka that she knew all along," He said, changing the subject.

"Yeah," Rukia nodded, remembering the last time she had last talked with the girl. "She left too?"

"She went to Kyoraku's and I was told that he sent her to a friend of his. She'll be fine on her own. Now that she's changed, I have a strong conviction that she can stand on her own. You changed her, you know."

"So I've heard."

"You are more like your sister than you realize."

Rukia was quiet then, not knowing what to say at this point.

"She would've been very proud of you. Your parents too. You've grown into a fine, young, independent woman. How you managed to survive on your own these past two decades is inexplicable, in the very least. You were the fighter of the family."

"So you knew my parents?"

Another series of coughs came again, and Ginrei had to pound his chest a couple of times so that he could breathe. "Why of course. How could I not know my own son?"

"You wouldn't happen to have a picture of them?" She asked patiently, but was disappointed when the old man shook his head slowly.

"I'm afraid not. It seems that I left them at my previous home and I lost them. Every single one."

"Can you at least tell me how they died?"

Sipping his chai, he said, "I think we've talked eno-"

"I have a right to know, Ginrei."

Another moment of silence drifted by, and the old man then nodded. "They were murdered. That's all I know."

"And their names?"

As he was about to answer, a fit of hacking caught the aged grandfather by surprise. Clenching his throat and pounding his chest was all that he could do, but his legs had failed him as he sprawled out on the floor. Rukia kept calling his name over and over again to make him stay awake, but soon, he closed his eyes, staring at Rukia with a gentle smile.

"Hisana would be so proud."

Don't worry, he survived, folks. Luckily, Damir was in the village, and he said that it was just his asthma acting up. Gramps was on bedrest during the rest of my stay, so I had to act as the super maid around the house. Damir had just warned me not to approach the subject of my parents again, because it brought his blood pressure up to the roof. I felt guilty and extremely selfish after hearing that, because back then, I thought I was the only one who had it rough.

Being the gentleman he was, the doctor helped me out around the house to lighten the load. He made things fun, even if it was just us two.

Friday, November 13th, 2009, 10:01 PM

"Thanks so much for your help again, Damir," Rukia smiled as she opened the door for him. "Without your help, I might've locked myself up in the attic."

"It's no problem. It's the least I can do for giving me a room to stay while treating Ginrei. By the way, how's he doing?"

"He's getting his rest and he's taking his medication like you told him to. I think he's just under the weather, is all. I mean, at that age, you're not as strong as you used to be, you know?"

"Right. What are you going to do now?"

"I was actually about to head to bed, in case you haven't noticed," She motioned her hands from her shoulders down, pointing to her nightgown.

"It's only," He stopped to look at his watch. "10."

"Correction," She piped as she grabbed his wrist and pointed to the long hand on the watch. "10:01. One minute too late. A girl needs her beauty sleep, you know," Rukia smiled as she backed up, standing next to the door. "See you tomorrow."

"You can at spare a moment for socializing at least," He said as he tried to grin his way into staying, but Rukia had seen that toothy grin one time too many.

"Good night, Damir," She said as she closed the door, but a hand caught it before it did.

"Wait, I forgot something," He mumbled as he opened the door.

"And what's that?"

"This."

And before she knew it, his lips greeted hers, and to her own surprise, Rukia's had greeted them back. One of his hands were on her cheek while the other slipped around her waist to hold her securely so that the distance between the two was close as close could get. Rukia slowly moved to the edge of the doorstep before breaking apart and said, "Good night, Damir," as she closed the door behind her and put her back to it as she slid down to the ground, her cheeks as hot with embarrassment and excitement, whining at what she had just done.

On the other side, the doctor chuckled to himself with a mile-wide smirk that wouldn't come off the rest of the night.

So, yeah, me and the Doctor were kinda sorta friends with benefits. But he and I didn't cross that line. No, not that line, that line. You know what I'm talking about about. Yeah, that line.

He checked up on Ginrei weekly and to my surprise, he didn't make any advances. I know, I was shocked too. We'd flirt, and maybe a kiss or two, but nothing more than that.

Fast forward a month, the day I left Ginrei's. I was so anxious that day. I was going back to New York, but at the same time, I was really worried about my grandfather. Sure, his health had been improving, and he was now able to walk again with a steady heart, but I knew he was still weak.

Thursday, December 17th, 2009, 5:45 AM

"And here is my number and address in case you need anything, okay, Grandpa?" Rukia said as she handed a slip of paper to the old man. "And if that first number isn't working, then call the one below, and if that one isn't working, then try the other four I put down. One of them will pick up."

"Rukia, I'll be just fine. I am 73 years old, I think I can take care myself."

"Don't jinx your luck," She nagged. "Is there anything else you need? Water? Oatmeal? Tea! Do you have tea in your cabinets?" She exclaimed as she ran to the wooden drawers, searching each of them for the little packets.

"Rukia, the man can take care of himself," Damir sighed. "Now, let's go before the traffic gets going. It's a two hour drive to New York."

"You go and put my suitcases in the trunk, I want to make sure he has enough tea for two families. Ah, found it. Now, before I go," She walked to her grandfather, hands on his shoulders, looking him dead in the eye. "Promise me you'll take care of yourself?"

"I need to to survive, don't I?"

"Oh, I'm going to miss your wrinkly, sarcastic ass, Gramps," Rukia whined as she hugged him. "I'll call you as soon as I get home, alright?"

"Don't call twice, because I might be asleep. Now get going, you heard the doctor. Traffic will start up."

"Right then," She sniffed while smiling as she stepped out and went to the silver Toyota below and brought the last of her luggage with her and stuffed it in the trunk before Damir closed it. Rukia got into the shotgun seat, waiting for the driver to get the car started. Waving goodbye, she flashed a smile to her grandfather for the last time as the car drove down the little dirt hill and soon on its way to New York City.

"It's gonna take about two, maybe three hours to get there if we get traffic. You might as well get some rest now," Damir said with his eyes on the road.

"I suppose," Rukia shrugged nonchalantly as she upzipped her jacket and used it as a make-shift pillow to rest her head against the window.

"C'mon now, don't be depressed! You're going home and seeing your friends! Didn't you miss them?"

"That's the thing. I don't know if I still have any friends."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it—I vanished without a trace three months ago. For all I know, they could think I'm dead, lying chopped up in a dumpster somewhere. I've been a horrible friend to them, suddenly taking off like that. I don't even want to think about what I'm going to say to them."

"Just tell them you had to care for your sick grandfather who was suddenly dying of cancer and was all alone."

"That's horrible!" She gasped. "But a really good story. Can I use that?"

The man laughed as he glanced at her momentarily. "Sure."

"But what do I say about the fact that Dr. Sex-Me-Up has been visiting me every week? People got their minds in the gutter these days."

"I don't know whether to be embarrassed, turned on, or insulted."

"In a way, it's a compliment."

"Then fuck what people say. If you're seeing a doc, then so what? That's your life. But as we agreed, we are only-"

"Friends, yes. To be honest, I'm really surprised you didn't, er, advance towards me. Sexually, that is."

"Oh, I would. But since you've made it clear that you're seeing someone else-"

"You still remember that? That was two months ago that I said that. Anyways, I doubt that guy would remember my face, let alone still be interested in me."

"People can be surprising. At least talk to him."

"How can I? It'd be so awkward for him seeing me after two months of no contact. He is probably seeing someone anyway."

"Maybe he's not. You should hear him out."

"Why are you so interested with my "thing" with him?"

"Because as soon as I know you two are done, I might have a shot," He grinned.

"Don't push your luck, Doctor," Rukia laughed.

Upon arriving in New York City, Rukia once again smelled the scent of hotdgos, gasoline, and cold winter air, reminding her of how much she had truly missed home. Compared to the village, New York was the anteater that could swallow it up.

"Oh my God, it's been too long," The woman sighed with a genuine smile on her face, feeling the excitement pulse through her veins. "Oh! Make a right turn here."

The car parked in the next to abandoned parking lot and the two quickly unloaded the sedan of the luggage and entered the building. But the welcoming that Rukia had expected was far from the subtle one she'd been hoping for.

Doorbells rang as Damir held the door open, waiting for the woman to drag the last suitcase from the car into the mini-shoppe that was the first floor, alerting the staff of a customer.

"Welcome! How may I help you…"

Both heads turned towards the direction of the deep voice, seeing a curly-haired, brunette gape at them with a slightly open mouth, staring directly at the petite woman, who had just realized that maybe it wasn't such a good idea coming home.

"Shit," She murmured under her breath.

"Where the hell have you been?" The now upset male walked on over, making Rukia even more apprehensive. "How the hell could you've just taken off like that, huh? People thought you were dead! Hell, they even suspected me!"

"I'm sorry, Starrk. And I'll pay back the rent, I promise, I just need to settle back in-"

"What do you mean "settle back in"? If you're moving back, then how come those guys are taking stuff outta your apartment?"

"What are you talking about?" Rukia stared at the man with scrunched eyebrows.

"Repo men," Damir butted in. "He must be talking about repo men. You did pay your bills before you left, right?"

Rukia was quiet for a moment, before hastily throwing off her shoes and ran up the stairs, making little pounds with each stomp she took.

Starrk and Damir were left alone in the room, and it occurred to Starrk that the man in front of him was rather suspicious.

"Just how long have you known that girl?" He nodded to the stairs, as if she was standing right there.

"About three months."

"Oh, that's funny, she suddenly took off three months ago. What a coincidence."

"Sure is. Now, I'm going to go help her," Damir plastered on a smile as he went up the stairs, hearing the faint sounds of a woman shrieking in shock. Shaking his head, he quickly jogged to the sound, seeing that it was Rukia standing in front of a door, nearly on the edge of tears.

"No, no, no! Where's my couch, my TV, my cute little ashtray that I bought from the flea market?" She whined, walking into the now deserted house that was covered with muddy footprints on the beige carpet. "They took my food too!"

"Rukia, maybe you can just go to the office and pay back your-"

"Don't be stupid!" She hissed. "I haven't paid those bills in eight months! They'd rob me of every little thing I have, and there still wouldn't be enough to pay back what I owe!"

"Bring that dresser over here," A heavy voice ordered as men in jeans and tees moved out of the bedroom, carrying the wooden furniture out into the living room, where they were assaulted by the tiny woman.

"Give it back!" She shrieked as she jumped on one of the repo men and made him lose his hold of the bureau and drop it on his foot.

"Fuck!" He cried as he shrugged Rukia off, who had an extremely satisfied look on her face.

"Move out of the way," She growled as she pushed him to the side and took out a drawer that contained her underwear and bras. "If you're going to take my stuff, at least let me keep my lingerie."

"Here," Damir said as he quickly wrote a check to the repo men and whispered to them. "That should be enough to cover that dresser. Buy a replica, and just fill it up with useless junk so it looks like hers. Now, get out of this woman's home."

"Sure thing. But just so she knows," He nodded to Rukia, "If you're found in this home tomorrow, you will be prosecuted by the police. We got orders from our boss in human services. Now, we'll be on our way."

The two men left the dresser there as they left the two, and Rukia just kept looking at the drawer full of undergarments in front of her with a blank stare.

"They took it all," She muttered.

"Why didn't you make the payments on time?" Damir asked.

"I'm supposed to move out of my own home."

"Answer me."

"They even took my food. How am I supposed to survive?"

"Rukia," The man kneeled down and grabbed her arms. "Get a hold of yourself, you're talking nonsense."

"Nonsense my ass!" She slapped his hands away. "It just happened in front of us! I no longer have a home, how the hell am I supposed to survive? How the hell am I gonna get food? How the hell am I supposed to pay for Byakuya's surger…" Rukia stopped in the middle of her sentence, suddenly remembering about her brother. She turned to the doctor. "Take me to him."

"Rukia, you aren't emotionally stable to see him. I can't let you-"

"Now."

"He should be in room 439, which is just a right, and then another right. I just called to check in, and they said he's doing just fine and that he's conscious," Damir said as the two walked into the hospital. "I am right around the corner if you need me."

"Yeah," The woman nodded as she kept on walking, searching for that three digit number until she came to its door. Anxiety stopped her from charging on in, and she swallowed her nervousness and took in a breath before knocking gingerly on the door.

"Come in."

A part of her wished she hadn't knocked so soon, but another part wanted to go in and just burst into tears.

Now or never, She thought as she turned the doorknob open, seeing his brother in the same bed as he was the first time she saw him in.

He dropped the newspaper he was reading and looked to his younger sister stand in the doorway with a guilty look in her eyes. Something in her had changed, but he didn't know what.

"Welcome back," Byakuya nodded.

"You're…not mad about me leaving?" Rukia asked timidly, suspecting that there was an ulterior motive to his older brother's calmness.

"Why would I be?" He sat up. "Father called me to let me know you were staying at his house for some time. However, I do have some news for you-"

"I know you have a tumor."

"…How?"

"The Doctor."

"Ah," He mumbled. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, Byakuya, it isn't your fault," Rukia sat on the edge of the bed.

"You seem to be taking it harder than me, Rukia," Byakuya said as he took a hold of her hand. "We are family. We will endure this. Whatever problems we encounter, we will get through this. I am your older brother, and it is my job to watch over you and stand by your side, do you understand?"

"Don't get so emotional," She sniffed as she leaned over to hug him. "It doesn't suit you."

"And neither does acting timid suit you," He laughed softly as he let go, staring back at her. "So, what's on your plate that's making you act so? Other than me and my condition of course."

"It's nothing, don't worry about it."

"I know you better than that to know that's a pathetic lie."

"…I got evicted today."

"What?"

"Yeah. Didn't pay the bills before I left. Guess I should've saw it coming."

"Where are you staying now then?"

"I have yet to find a cardboard box. I need to go dumpster diving when it's dark."

"You will do no such thing. You may stay at my house as long as you like. In fact, I insist. It's the least I can do for my baby sister."

"I can stand up on my own two feet. But a free home, I can totally accept without hesitation. I'll take good care of it when you're away. Anything I need to do while I'm staying over there?"

"On every first, be sure to say hello to her."

"What?"

"I said, on every-"

Byakuya got cut off by his coughing, quickly recovering.

"I'm sorry, do you mind refilling my glass?" He asked as he gave it to Rukia.

"Sure thing," She smiled as she got off the bed and exited the room.

Rukia walked over to the reception desk. "Excuse me, where do I go to refill water?"

"Allow me," The nurse nodded as she went back into the staff room.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for a patient named Nelliel Odverschank. She's a friend of mine," A deep voice from astray said.

Nel?

Rukia turned around to the sound of the voice, seeing a mess of crimson in front of her and tattooed ink on both arms of the man. She couldn't help but walk towards him and tap him on the shoulder.

"Hmm?" The redhead turned around, and sure enough, was it a shocker for him to see his childhood friend after three months of constant worry, fear, and anxiety. He picked Rukia up with a squeeze and wrapped her in his arms tightly. "Where the hell have you been, huh? Jesus Christ, Rukia, I know you can hold a grudge, but this was going too far!"

"Even I wouldn't carry a grudge that far, you dumbass," She pounded his chest. "Renji, you have no idea what I've been through. Whatever we were fighting about, I'm sorry, I didn't mean the stupid things I said. I was just-"

A rough slap to the head shut her up, and Rukia pinched his cheek back.

"The hell was that for?" She hissed.

"For leaving without a fucking word. Now, c'mon, let's talk somewhere more private."

"Let's catch up later tonight, alright?"

"I'll drop by your house 'round 8."

"Actually," Rukia winced. "Meet me at Byakuya's."

"Why? Is something wrong with your place?"

"I'll explain it later tonight."

"Miss?" The nurse called. "Your water?"

"Thank you," Rukia nodded, then turning to Renji. "So, tonight then?"

"I'll see you then."

Now that she and Renji were on good terms, they had much catching up to do. She missed having someone to talk about her problems with, and now that her childhood friend was back, she could fill in that hole that had been missing for a while. With a smile on her face, she was happily on her way back to her brother's room, eager to tell him all about what had just happened.

"Hey! I have some really good news to te…"

The woman stopped halfway through her sentence, dropping the glass at the sight in front of her. Her eyes first strayed to the massive amount of blood that was splattered all over the grey walls, and then to the broken window, which looked like it was broken into. Obviously, there was some kind of struggle in here by all the moved and knocked over furniture. Whoever did this came in here with an intention to kill.

Looking then at the worst part of the entire thing, Rukia remained as paralyzed as ever as she looked at her bloody brother.

Drops of the deepest crimson were slowly trickling down the limp hand that hung at the side of his bed and slowly jumped into the puddle that had formed on hospital floor. His face was as fixed as that of a statue's, lifeless and forever still. Byakuya's perfect "O" mouth had two tails of blood trickling from the sides, showing that his now lifeless eyes had shock in them right up until his untimely death.

A deep, cragged gash was made from the gap between his collarbones to halfway through his abdomen, where the cut abruptly ended. It wasn't as neat as it sounded—it was the farthest thing from "neat". Aside from the massive pond of gore that had bled out and settled on Byakuya's stomach, there were other stray cuts and bruises on his body, especially the arms and legs.

What Rukia couldn't get over was how silent this whole thing went down. If she wasn't hallucinating, then surely the 10-ft shelf would've made some kind of noise to alert people. And surely, Byakuya would've cried out, letting people know that something was wrong.

But no. This had all happened within the time it took to pour a mere glass of water.

Falling to her knees, she cried out her now dead brother's out in agony, and within seconds, nurses and even a few doctors came in to investigate, all horrified by the bloody mess. Among those doctors was Dr. Milovic, who wasn't in the least bit surprised about the murder.

He went over to the corpse and closed its eyes with his hand, then looking to the clock. "Time of death, 1:54 P.M. Zip this body up and send it to the morgue for testing."

The personnel quickly got moving and covered the body with a blanket as they moved it several rooms down, leaving just the doctor and the wailing woman.

"I'm sorry," He muttered, but that didn't stop Rukia from crying her guts out.

I'm sorry for letting this happen.

A/N: Kinda short chapter, but you have NO IDEA HOW BAD I WANTED TO GET THIS OVER WITH. That's my excuse for the countless errors I (may) have made. iEUGFHAE IFJ. idgaf. I'm just excited I'll bring Ichi back in! And Renji's back :D Woop woop. Anyways, totally random question, but is it weird that while I was writing the "death" scene, I was listening to the happiest shit on Earth, "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles? Anyways, read and review please! A biento, mes amis:]