Oh My God…

How many months have it been since I've updated? T_T

I've been of course busy with my school still,

And other things...Personal matters have been striking me.

Not that delightful, haha xD

Well…I know that this might get very shorter than how I started with,

But it's...I figured that continuing it somehow was at least better than abandoning it.

I hope you're fine with that…

Well this is my first fanfiction after all…

I wish this sort of makes up for the past months…

And I might have to temporarily stop writing fanfictions.

I don't know how long, but if I do decide to update then it will be shorter.

...

As We Stare Into the Darkness

~Chapter 7~

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It was silent for a moment, where the three boys were facing each other. The mysterious boy smiled very lightly, and then turned to Grimmjow, getting off Ichigo.

"… Hey there. You've got some blue hair, huh?"

Grimmjow eyed the teen with this who-the-fuck-are-you look, narrowing his cyan eyes.

"I'll be going home now, Ichigo. Hopefully no one would bitch at me about the bruises and crap. See ya tomorrow!" The boy waved cheerfully and walked away, leaving Ichigo with a dumbfounded face.

"...The heck is he…" Ichigo mumbled to himself and shook his head. It was just then when he noticed a sight of bright blue in front of him. The orangette looked up to see a tall figure in front of him.

"…Kurosaki" Grimmjow rumbled as he grimaced and looked down at the smaller teen.

"…Uh…You're…" Ichigo stuttered, not knowing what to say. It was just awkward being with this guy whom he'd never talked to before.

"It's Grimmjow Jaegerjaques." Grimmjow rolled his eyes as he spat out stressfully.

"Oh." Ichigo scratched his head awkwardly, and there was silence again between the two.

"…"

The uncomfortable silence broke when Ichigo finally decided to open his mouth. After wetting his lip by licking a bit the teen articulated almost inaudibly.

"Um…so…what do you want?"

"…what?" Grimmjow narrowed his eyes and approached Ichigo with his hands pinned in his pockets.

'Crap…' Ichigo rolled his eyes and closed it shut. As the footsteps were getting closer, Ichigo wanted to run.

"Hey Kurosaki-" Grimmjow started to talk, but was interrupted by the ring of Ichigo's cell phone.

'I'm hella saved!' Ichigo's eyes snapped open as he gave out a sigh of relief, but not too loud that the cyan haired male can hear.

Ichigo flipped open his phone and talked into it, his back facing Grimmjow.

Grimmjow had lifted one of his eyebrows, his hands still stuck inside his pockets. He was still eyeing the other teen with his pair of sparkling blue eyes.

"Hey. Oh it ended just now. I'm just waiting for the students to get out of the building, since it's too crowded." Upon saying the sentenceIchigo stopped for a second to think. 'Such a shame that a shitty school like this contains countless amounts of students.' Ichigo hung up not so long after. He decided to leave since he didn't really enjoy the awkward moments with the cyan haired classmate in front of him.

When he turned around and started to walk, he felt a strong tug at his arm. Grimmjow pulled him roughly and made Ichigo turn around to look at him.

"?" With a surprised look Ichigo's eyes widened and faced the cyan haired teen. After a growl Grimmjow took a deep breath and spoke.

"…Don't get fucked up by the garbage brats in here. You looked so messed up today."

Upon the statement Ichigo had to try his best not to let his awkward and embarrassed expression dwell on his face.

"And," Grimmjow continued, still clutching on the orangette's arm, "if we think deeper into it, am I not your savior?"

"…Huh?" Ichigo looked up, dumbfounded at what he had heard.

"I helped you out today." With the cocky look Grimmjow grimaced at the smaller male. Ichigo was speechless. It wasn't the punk before him that had "saved" him from the group of thugs. It was-

"It was Aizen sensei who helped me, not you."

Raising an eyebrow Grimmjow responded, "If Aizen hadn't come in that timing and if I wasn't there what would've happened to your sorry ass?"

Ichigo was starting to get annoyed now. He didn't want to get reminded of what had happened in his class today. It would stay as one of his worst memories ever. He was about to get gang-raped by his classmates! Ichigo shook his head and looked up again as Grimmjow continued to speak.

"Anyone could've seen that-"

"So what's your point?" Ichigo interrupted and sighed. "What is it that you want to say to me?" He wanted to go home. He wanted to leave so badly that he was tugging at his arm. However the tight grip just hardened as Grimmjow's stare got more intense.

"What's my point? Hey, Kurosaki. You-" It was funny how Grimmjow was getting interrupted for the second time now. Ichigo's phone was ringing once again, tickling his thigh inside his pockets.

"I'm going right now okay? So stop calling me!" Ichigo hung up a second later he picked up. Then the orangette faced the other teen in front of him. "Look, I don't want to continue with this pointless argument. Now I'm off, err well then see you or whatever." That was it. Ichigo walked away, leaving Grimmjow standing in the entrance alone. The school building was empty, or at least that's what Ichigo thought.

Grimmjow grunted and turned back, digging his long fingers in his tight pocket. He took out his phone and flipped open.

"What?" After a few dials a cranky voice picked up.

"Don't "what" me." Grimmjow spoke into the phone with his low tone.

"Ohh well 'sup, Grimmjow?"

"Shinji."

…

Ichigo kicked the front door opened and entered with a demanding voice.

"I'm freakin' home." 'Thank goodness I am.' He shook his head and thought to himself. Now it was infuriating Ichigo that he'd have to be in dread every morning when he leaves to his school.

"ICHIGOOOOO MY DEAR LOVED SONNNN!" As always Ichigo's "goatface" father came running at him. Ichigo stopped him my smacking his school bag to his father's face.

"Guh- Ichigo, that was very mean!" Rubbing his nose Isshin pouted. Ichigo snorted and went into the kitchen. Yuzu came running from upstairs.

"Ichi-ni!" At the welcome Ichigo smiled and greeted his sister.

"Hey Yuzu, how was your day?"

"I want to know about your day!" Yuzu replied, smiling brightly. "Did you make new friends? Were you able to adjust to the new environment?"

Ichigo scowled inside. 'Sure I am… I doubt that I will be damn "adjusted" to that shitty school after hundreds of years.' However, not wanting to make his sister worry, Ichigo lied.

"Yes! It was wonderful. I enjoyed it. I made new friends, and the teacher was great." At least he considered that the teacher part was being honest.

"Really? I'm very glad for you, son!" Isshin ran to Ichigo again, only to be greeted with Ichigo's cup launching to his face.

"Where's Karin?" Ichigo looked around and asked, moving to walk upstairs.

"Oh, Karin went to the playground. I think she was playing with her friends. She still likes to hang around like that. I guess her personality won't change. It's a good thing though, that she's made friends already."

Ichigo sighed upon hearing that news. He was relieved that Karin's school wouldn't be like where he is. He was very worried about the sake of his family. Well… the goatface dad can manage himself on his own, so never mind him. Ichigo loved his sisters, and always wished them the best of all. He'd sacrifice anything for them.

Ichigo walked upstairs, slowly slouching when he opened the door to his room. Packages were still unpacked; making the room look even messier. Ichigo sighed and thre his school bag across the room, then opened the window to greet the fresh air rushing in. After that the teen threw himself on his bed flat on his stomach. His head landed on the pillow, his face hidden now and only exposing the bright orange hair.

"Ngh…" Ichigo groaned at the headache that started to hit him badly. The day at the new school was a freakin mess! Ichigo sighed and buried his head deep onto the pillow. Despite all the fatigue Ichigo lifted himself up and sat up on the bed, soon getting up to sit at his desk.

"…" Taking a moment of silence the teen scratched his head and sighed deeply. He stretched his limbs, hearing a number of cracks in the joints. It felt damn good, refreshing as heck. Ichigo strolled his chair to grab his book bag on the floor, then opened it and took out his assignments.

'To think about it… would the students even bother to do their homework?' A sudden thought struck Ichigo's mind abruptly. It was actually worth being curious about since the students' activities were truly… repulsive in the school. Ichigo didn't want to think about it anymore, but he had to admit; that he'll go through them every single time when he goes to the school from now on.

Trying to shake off the sinister feeling, Ichigo opened his notebook and started working on his homework. There were a plenty compared to the fact that Ichigo was just a new student. However Ichigo did not seem to complain about how much homework he was given. He was just worried about whether the class would be doing their homework or not. He actually hoped that the students would complete them.

"…Does Aizen sensei check the students' homework? ...If then, I hope the kids do them…" Ichigo murmured to himself.

Aizen sensei, to Ichigo, seemed very delicate and elegant. The glasses he had on, the soft smile that he had shown to him, the way he gently spoke… All of the features were expressing very kind and tender traits of the teacher. However when he had came into the class after the discussion with Ichimaru sensei (whatever their conversation was about) the teacher had changed not only his outer appearance but the cold aura that he gave off was very different as well.

Ichigo wondered how Aizen sensei would talk to him tomorrow. He was fretting about what had happened. What was wrong with Aizen sensei's alteration? It wasn't just about his glasses being gone or his hair being in a different style. Something was… the whole thing was different. And Ichigo was in the class for just one day yet he noticed the change about his homeroom teacher.

Ichigo squeezed his eyes tight and decided to focus on his work. He opened his eyes back and stared intensely on the notebook and workbook. "… I'm so damn tired…"

When he snapped his eyes open it was already dark outside.

"Crap… I'm not even done with my homework." Ichigo scratched his head roughly the reached into his school bag to take out his textbook. His eyes were widened and blinking when he realized that he couldn't feel it.

"…What….don't tell me I left it at school!" Ichigo jumped up from his chair. He pulled up his sleeve and stared intensely at his watch. It was 8:30 at night.

"…" Without a word Ichigo grabbed his jacket and headed downstairs.

"Ichi- nii?" It was Yuzu who had stopped him.

"Oh yeah Yuzu?" Ichigo faced her and answered.

"Where're you going this late? Dinner's going to be ready soon." Yuzu was in her apron, standing in the kitchen.

"I'll be back soon. I just have to get my homework material from the school building." Ichigo casually answered and turned around, just to be stopped by Yuzu's surprised voice again.

"Going to school this late? But why? Wouldn't the teacher let it slide just for this once since you're new and all?" Maybe Yuzu was right. Plus, Aizen sensei seemed very generous and all (until the incident today at class, but still.) Also, he seemed particularly nice to Ichigo himself. However, Ichigo would never use any of that as an excuse to skip his given assignment …at least to survive in the school.

"I have to get the textbook to do my homework…" Ichigo sighed as he opened the front door of his house and started to leave

"But wouldn't the door be locked at this hour?" Yuzu called out for the last time, and Ichigo answered without hesitation

"…No, it won't. I'm pretty sure of it." Then he closed the door.

It was true. Ichigo believed that since the school is very ghastly itself he was truly doubtful that the school would be all locked up by securities at night. Why would they bother?

Ichigo stopped to think for a moment 'Wait, what kind of logic am I using? …I don't get it myself either. Damn I'm psych?'

Hands pinned in his pocket, the orange haired teen strolled down the street under the streetlights.

After about ten minutes or so, Ichigo began to see a large building before him. Just then streetlights started to go off. Ichigo grimaced and glanced at his watch. It was pointing 8:47.

"Great" Ichigo pouted, rolling his eyes. "And it's not even nine yet."

The teen approached the front door of the building, hoping that the door wasn't locked according to his prediction. He reached out and grabbed the handle, and felt that is was open. When he pulled it, the door creaked open, revealing the dark hallway to the empty school.

"Thank god I was right…" Ichigo took out his phone to be able to see through the darkness. It was sort of creepy being in a school when it was late and night and all, but Ichigo was pretty sure he wasn't that much of a chicken like his friend Keigo was. Now all he had to do was look around and locate his classroom.

As Ichigo pondered around the hallway it made him think of the issues that were going around in this school, maybe the whole town and its society. There definitely was something wrong with the students. Looking from their behaviors it was nearly impossible to Ichigo that they could be anywhere normal. His classmates didn't seem to have any features of regular pupils performing their duty of learning.

As he was pacing in the hall anxiously Ichigo gave out a sigh of relief as he spotted a familiar classroom just a few steps away.

The orange haired teen stepped closer and closer to the entrance, the wooden floor creaking from the pressure of his footsteps.

Finally Ichigo reached the door, sliding it open soundly. He felt the sensation of a whirl of cold breeze meeting him at the same time. Ichigo stopped abruptly upon entering the room and thought.

'…How's the window open?' It was just then when he realized that a distinct smell of cigarette was crawling its way through his nostrils. Ichigo frowned and stepped inside, looking around in the darkness. He turned around to feel the wall for light switch, back facing the windowpanes. Suddenly he paused as an unexpected voice interrupted him.

"Oh? Look who we have here!" The deep laughing voice exclaimed, leaving Ichigo's widened eyes shaking to figure out who the male could be. Failing to turn the light switch on, the teen turned around.

"…What the heck…" Ichigo noticed several dark figures sitting on the desks.

...crap.

Had he just walked into a dungeon of…?

"Isn't it the new strawberry kid?" Another voice laughed out, making Ichigo grunt in annoyance.

"I'm telling you I'm not-" Ichigo stopped when the light was flicked on by someone, eyes widening when he realized there were a group of male students who were smoking with the windows open.

"What the-? What're you people doing here in this hour?"

"Hmph, that's what we should be asking you. We're always here. And I honestly never expected someone to interrupt us right now." A man with tall and muscular build gave out a snort, making Ichigo grimace. Ichigo didn't know who he was, so figured that he was from another class.

"I'm just here to get the textbook I left. And you guys are here smoking in cl-" the teen was interrupted by a group of mocking laughter as he stood there, having a speechless face.

A tall man with long black hair stepped out from the group, and Ichigo immediately recognized who he was. It was Nnoitora.

"Ho, what brings you here on this late hour?" That jerk always got on his nerves very since the first second Ichigo entered the classroom. Now he was being so damn irritating.

"Tsk- I said it already- to get my material for doing homework."

"What's with the stressful look?" The tall male grinned as he looked down at the orangette.

Ichigo didn't like the feeling he got when he noticed the group of thugs were eyeing him with dangerous glints. When they began approaching the teen with wolf-like smirks, Ichigo back stepped away until his back met the door.

Ichigo gave out a yelp of shock when he felt the door open abruptly, making him stumble. As he gained his balance back, Ichigo was forced to stare at the people as the awkward silence went through. All of the students' eyes were gazing at the person behind his back. Ichigo wondered if he had to turn around or just stay motionless.

"…Shit." As the low baritone grumble was heard, Ichigo blinked and shortly turned around to see who the interrupter was. It was the blue haired male, scowling as he ran the long fingers of his through his cyan locks.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Upon the arrogant manner, Ichigo growled in response, irritated of getting the same reaction over and over again from the people.

The orange haired teen remained dumbfounded for a second, then blinked and answered.

"…To get my homework."

"What?"

"What're you doing here?" As he heard someone else's voice, Ichigo stood inside the classroom as he looked at the students with confused look.

Grimmjow eyed the males with his pair of sapphire eyes, and then walked over to them, hands stuck in his pockets of the baggy pants. He cocked his head to the side after looking around to see all the "students" holding a cigarette each in their hands.

"Now now… What are you punks doing here?" As the low baritone voice was heard Ichigo blinked in curiosity. 'What? I thought…. Aren't they supposed to be friends or something? Like… a group of gang or what?' When Ichigo was looking down at the floor thinking he heard Grimmjow talking to him.

"You can now get your butt out of this building by the time I'm done countin' to three." Grimmjow wasn't looking at Ichigo but Ichigo could feel an aura surrounding the blue haired male. But for some reason, he really didn't want to do as what he told him to do. Maybe it was because he simply didn't like getting bossed around. Or maybe he wanted to see what was going to happen. Or… he really didn't know himself.

"…Why?" Ichigo spoke out as he thought for a moment.

"…What?" Grimmjow slowly turned around, facing Ichigo and his eyes narrowed on the orange haired teen.

"…Why do I have to do what you say to me?"

"Why do you have to talk back to me when you don't know shit?"

Now that was to be considered one unkind statement… Ichigo winced a bit but glared up at the other teen. After clearing his throat he spoke up.

"How do you know if I don't know shit? You think I don't know anything because I was new? Well right after I entered I sensed every single bit of crap that was going around this rotten school, and the society I looked was very disgusting, so far. Now what more do I have to know other than coming to school at night to pick up a textbook and spotting bunches of punks smoking in the classroom? And now I've got this blue haired dude telling me what crap to do?"

After saying that Ichigo figured that he noticed sensation of dudes staring at him. He awkwardly bit the inside of his cheeks and gave a ferocious look at the cyan haired teen once again. "Well?"

Grimmjow was blinking slowly with narrow eyes, hands still pinned in his pockets. Did this kid just fuck with him? The others seemed to be pretty quiet as well. As if they've never expected this…

"Cat got your tongue?" Ichigo said with a demanding tone now.

Grimmjow let out a dangerous smirk and whipped around. His eyes glowed as he began taking slow and careful steps to Ichigo. Ichigo bit his lips but didn't flinch. He just…

'…I can't move…why?' His breath was now full of heaviness due to anxiety and now the whole room seemed as if it had sunk beneath himself.

"Now what will you do?" With a smirk the larger male kept on approaching, and Ichigo now started backing away.

'….What should I do now?'

...

~End of Chapter 7~

...

Pheww…

I guess I'm done here.

Yaay I finished this chapter T^T

… I have to work more…

More harder on stuff..

One thing;

I don't know honestly when I will be updating, or if I will be.

However, I asked my facebook friends to vote from a group of characters

And...

._. all of them picked Noba as their choice xD haha

(for the person that Ichigo helped xD)

They were telling me to develop more character of him since we don't get to see him that much. (Well an anime-only character and Bleach anime ended so;;)

Do you agree?

Please let me know your opinions.

Well, Bye for now :3~

Anyone wants to add me on facebook then feel free to PM meh :D hehe