Disclaimer- I do not own bleach, never have and never will.

On My Own

"Can you believe it Shirou-chan?"

Clenching my hands into fists I have to fight the urge to shout profanities at her as I turn to face Momo Hinamori, who has just returned from the Seireitei. I don't think that I've ever seen such an undeniably happy expression on her face, which is saying something since it's Momo that I'm referring to. I fully realize that there's a disapproving scowl on my face as I watch her twirl around like an idiot, clutching a red and white uniform to her chest. I roll my eyes at her enthusiasm, which I just don't get. So she was accepted to that stupid Shinigami school, so what? It's not like it's that big of an accomplishment, definitely not anything to get this excited about.

"Shirou-chan?"

Forced from my thoughts by her use of that damned nickname, which she knows I despise and yet still insists on using anyway, I whirl to face her and snap, "What?!"

Her face falls and she stops twirling, her chocolate colored eyes focused on me. "Aren't you happy for me Shirou-chan?"

"Ecstatically happy. . . and stop calling me Shirou-chan." One of these days she's going to call me that and I'm just going to snap and. . .

My outburst causes Momo to immediately revert back to her usual, ultra cheery self and she smiles down at me with that patronizing smile, the one that everyone wears when talking to me and that infuriates me to no end. "Don't worry Shirou-chan, I'll still come home to visit you, even thought I'm now in training to become a Shinigami."

I roll my eyes at the absurdity of her statement. "I wasn't worried," I snap. "I couldn't care less if you ever come back."

Momo merely smiles that simple smile, the smile that she offered me when she found me next to the river on that fateful day, as though she knows that the harsh words I constantly offer her are merely a front. Although it's true that Momo annoys me to no end and I tire of her treating me like a child, I cannot deny that her company here has been. . . nice. In my old life, which I remember less and less with every day that passes, no one cared where I went or how I was feeling and here it's the same, except for this girl. She alone cares enough to keep track of me and no matter how annoyed I act I cannot deny that a small part of me is grateful for her friendship. A very small part of me.

"Snap out of it Shirou-chan! What's up with that day-dreaming look you have on your face?"

I take it back, I really wish she'd just go the hell away and leave me alone.

I awaken early the next day and, after dressing in my simple gray yukata, I make my way out to the front porch, where I sit down by myself to watch the sun rise. I find watching the sky incredibly calming and I normally wake up before dawn so that I can sit outside and watch the sun rise. This is the time of day that is solely mine and I enjoy the peace and quiet. I can watch the sky and just let my thoughts wander.

The peace and quiet is short lived however as I'm soon joined outside by Momo, who's dressed in that red and white shihakusho that she'd been hugging like a complete idiot yesterday. "Good morning Shirou-chan!"

"What do you want?" I snap, turning to glare up at her.

"Can I sit with you?" she asked in that soft edged voice of hers.

My first impulse is to tell her no however as she gazes down at me with that longing expression in her chocolate colored eyes I find myself unable to deny her, not that she'd listen to me even if I did. "Do whatever you want. I couldn't care less."

Knowing that this is as close to a positive answer that she is likely to get Momo offers me another one of her infuriating and yet oddly warming smiles and sits down on the porch beside me. Strangely she doesn't speak and the two of us sit in silence for awhile, each lost in our own thoughts. This is the strangest moment that I've experienced since coming to this world; Momo is always talking about something and I find it incredibly strange that she's silent right now.

"What's your problem?"

Apparently jarred from her thoughts she turns to me and I catch a brief glimpse of apprehension in her eyes before she manages to hide her emotions from me. "Oh it's nothing Shirou-chan, I was just thinking."

"Don't try to hard," I taunt. "You might hurt yourself."

She makes no reply and, getting to my feet, I walk a short distance across the yard. Momo rises to her feet and follows me and, after a few minutes, her usual smile returns and she runs her hand through my snow white hair, which serves to bring my anger to the surface once more. Dammit, why must she always treat me like a little kid? "Okay I'm leaving now. I'll come back to visit you soon okay Shirou-chan?"

This said she turns and begins to walk away. I wave to her as she leaves and call out, "Don't bother Bed-Wetter Momo!"

Much to my surprise Momo doesn't react to this taunt but merely waves at me over her shoulder and continues on her way.

My teal eyes remain focused on Momo until she's completely out of sight and then I turn my gaze toward the forest where she often drags me. This is the first time since coming here to the Soul Society that I find myself completely and utterly alone. Sure I've went for walks by myself, usually to the river where Momo and I first met, however even during these excursions there's always that thought in the back of my mind that Momo will eventually find me and I will no longer be alone. Not this time however. She's gone off to that stupid Shinigami Academy and I'm completely on my own.

"Like I care."

Now I may finally be able to find some peace and quiet.

A/N- this chapter is really short but hopefully the next one will be longer and better. the next one will focus on my version of how Toushirou got into the Shinigami Academy and I warn you now that it's a little out there.