I do NOT own Bleach or the places/things/characters from it. Only the OC.
Once they arrived at school they took notice of everyone in the class, of course, chatting amongst each other. Chad, like usual, quietly stood tall beside Mizuiro, who was listening to Keigo talk about the beach, girls, and stuff he was planning to do during summer vacation.
Orihime saw her best friend Tatsuki looking rather irritated as she was stuck listening to Chizuru chatter about women and which types of girls she found Attractive. In reaction, Ryo, Michiru and Mahana gave rather uncomfortable expressions toward their dear friend.
Lastly, Uryu. The Quincy peacefully sat at his desk reading a small book in silence, not paying much attention, nor caring, of what was going on around him.
Tatsuki was the first to glance back and notice Orihime. She smiled brightly at her and waved her hand in the air. "Orihime…over here!" she called.
Orihime smiled in return. "Tatsuki, good morning!" She greeted, walking up to the group of girls.
Meanwhile, Ichigo ambled towards his friends.
"Ichigo, how's it going!?" Keigo asked at that moment with exaggeration in his excited and loud voice—though he never realized he tend to over do it.
If anything, it was obnoxious.
"Hey…" Ichigo sat at his desk indolently. He soon glanced back at Keigo, permitting him to continue his usual stupid and meaningless stories.
"Right, so…I was just telling the guys how we should hang out this summer and go to the beach…You know, considering you all pretty much ditched me last vacation!" He added—giving glares in hope it would somehow lead to guilt.
"Well…" Mizuiro said, carefully pondering on the very idea.
"Yes…?" Keigo hummed on his tippy-toes.
"…My girlfriend is out of town…I guess I can go…" He finally replied.
"YES! WOO-HOO!" Keigo was so cheerful that his deafening and energetic voice was heard throughout the school. Everyone abruptly ceased all they were doing. Even the concentrated Quincy took his navy-blue eyes from his novel, giving Keigo a rather aggravated stare.
"What are you so excited about?" Orihime openly inquired, making her way to the boys. Tatsuki, Chizuru and the rest of the girls followed, also wanting in on the scoop.
Keigo had a look of pleasure in his gaze—tears of delight. 'Orihime?! If she comes…and the rest of the girls…!'
His thoughts became dirty ones…
"…Keigo?" Orihime looked at him with concerned eyes.
"Oh! Oh! Uhh…how would you lovely ladies like to come to the beach this summer with me and the guys?"
"The beach…?" Mahana then questioned curiously.
"Yep! Where the sun shines and all your troubles disappear!" He exclaimed.
"Well…I guess I'm in," Mahana replied with hesitation. What if no one else agreed to go? She'd be stuck…
"Me too!" Michiru exclaimed.
Mahana sighed in relief.
"Yeah, that's more like it! How about you ladies?" Keigo suddenly placed a quizzical stare towards Ryo, Tatsuki, Chizuru, and Orihime.
"Well…I'll only go if Hime goes!" Chizuru stated, looking at Orihime dreamingly. All eyes then shifted to Orihime.
She fretfully shifted her bubbly eyes to everyone as their inquisitive eyes continued to observe her, waiting for her respond. "Uh…W-well…is…Ichigo going?"
All eyes shifted to Ichigo.
"Meh…I don't think so," He calmly reclined, glancing away.
"Aww…! ICHIGO!" Keigo whined. "Com'on! You owe me!"
Ichigo glared at his exasperating friend. "Says who…?!"
"Says me!" He blurted. "And it's only fair!"
He was not going to give up.
"Alright, alright already!" Ichigo yelled, finally agreeing to go, no thanks to Keigo's consistent whining.
"YES! You da' man!"
Orihime beam. "Ok…I guess I'm in then too!"
Tatsuki sighed. "I know I'm gonna regret this but…" She raised her hand up with regret. She couldn't leave Orihime unprotected. Orihime in a bikini…Tatsuki cringed at the thought of boys taking advantage of her, especially Chizuru. "…count me in to,"
Chizuru lastly raised her hand up as well. "Same here!"
Ryo sighed, holding her tiny book against her chest as she stuck her hand up making it official. Subsequently, Keigo jumped as far above the ground as his legs could manage—pure exhilaration glowing from him. "Hell yeah, it's settled! We're going to the beach this summer to have fun and part-ay!"
Ichigo inwardly rolled his eyes and glanced at Chad. "Are you coming?"
Chad simply returned a glance and nodded.
Suddenly the classroom's door slid opened. Aneko imperturbably entered the half empty room with a fatigued look to her brown eyes. She sighed inaudibly, keeping her dull gaze to the marbled floor. She became aware of her wrinkled uniform. She was so caught up in her studies last night that she had no time to iron her skirt or white blouse in the morning…
"FEMALE ICHIGO!"
Her eyes broaden. "…Someone call me?" She then asked, noticing Keigo running up to her. Of course it was him. He was the only one who called her that ridiculous and degrading nickname. She was nothing like Ichigo. How insulting…
But on another note, he clearly he had something to inform her of.
"You wanna come to the beach with us?!"
Aneko stood there for a moment at a loss before turning her stare to the group behind Keigo. "They're all going…?" She quietly asked, pointing to them.
Keigo nodded. "Sooooo…what do you say?" He pressed.
Aneko walked past him and sat down at her desk, plopping her chin on her hands. "…I don't see the harm in going…I guess…"
A satisfied smile appeared on his young face. He could barely contain the excitement any longer. His hot blood was pulsing through his veins. He was just so happy. Without another word, Keigo got up on a desk—looking down on his fellow classmates. "Well then…" He beamed. "Everyone it's settled! We are going to the beach after the exams to have fun and—"
"—WE KNOW, NOW SHUT THE HELL UP!" They all demanded, finally tired of the constant happiness that flowed through him. It was much too early to deal with Keigo. Enough was enough. His friends' roaring voices, all so sync, caused Keigo to nearly lose balance and fall off the stable desk.
"Gezz…no need to be such asses…" He murmured, getting off the desk nice and slowly.
It never occurred to anyone that the only person who wasn't personally invited was Uryu Ishida. Although it appeared that he didn't really mind. He was always distant with his classmates—even with his comrades, Uryu wasn't open or social.
Aneko was perhaps the only one who never attempted to strike any type of conversation with the unapproachable Quincy. He intimidated her…When she tried grasping the perfect opportunity to say something to him her mind would just revert back on times when he acted fairly bitter to Ichigo. Aneko felt he'd be just as cold to her. It wasn't worth it.
"Hey…Uryu…are you going to come to the beach with us?" Ichigo approached the teenager.
Uryu took his eyes off his book, far from pleased, and glanced at Ichigo. "You'd have to force me to go to something so stupid and pointless…especially with him." He then pointed at Keigo, who was trying to flirt with a cute blonde girl, but failed miserably as he was slapped across the face.
"Good point…" Ichigo sighed.
Aneko's seat was next to Uryu's, and like any other person, she overheard them. Her eyes looked to both boys. She bit her lip. He was conversing back. Here was her chance to make a new friend.
"You're not going?"
Uryu and Ichigo looked to her. "No…Besides, I'm busy." Uryu then replied as he adjusted his glasses.
"Doing what?" She asked, sitting more towards them.
So far, so good…
"Things…" He simply replied, now looking back at his book.
"I see…" She sheepishly smiled. There was something ominous about his response that made her spine tingle.
After a time-consuming day of exams, the school bell finally rang, thus meaning it was the end of school and summer vacation was officially starting.
Some students raced home with friends or alone, either way they were all keyed up.
"Yeah…I'm going to my cottage!"
"I'm going to America!"
"Aw, lucky…! I'm stuck working this summer…"
Ichigo himself made his way home, passing by many eager students as they talked—some even dancing. Although he couldn't blame them…He also shared their sentiments. Now he didn't have to worry about getting schoolwork done, plus having to fight Hollows all at the same time.
Life was starting to open a new path for him…
The orange haired boy paused, expecting Orihime's voice to call out his name…But sadly she never appeared. He was a bit disappointed but headed home anyways.
Aneko had taken a different path home, passing an open area with a meadow. Karakura was a busy town, much like every other town in Japan, but something that made her town diverse from those was the hills and open areas that made Karakura what it was.
"Hey, Aneko!"
She froze—foot cease from taking another step. She glanced back and found herself lightly smiling as Orihime approached her. "Oh, hey Orihime…how are you?"
"I'm great! I've never felt so refreshed!" Orihime beamed. "I'm so happy school is finally done! I can't wait to go to the beach!" She exclaimed as she stuck her hands in the air.
"Yeah considering my brothers going, huh?" Aneko then teased. She knew of Orihime's high school crush for while now. A: Because it was her brother and B: They both grew an interesting girly relationship where they could talk about personal things, such as love and sometimes even past battles. Though Aneko knew Orihime and Rukia were closer—Tatsuki, she was much closer with. But somehow Orihime's dirty little secret reached her.
"U-uh…well it'd just be fun and all…!" Orihime defended as her face turned red. "…For him!"
Aneko laughed at Orihime's reaction. "I get it…But…I don't think I'm going to go actually…" She admitted with uncertainty.
"Huh…? W-why…I thought you told Keigo that you would?"
Aneko looked down as they started walking side by side. "Well…I just wouldn't feel up to it…I guess I only said yes so he would stop asking me…Or maybe I was just put on the spot…Sorry," She softly said.
Orihime was a bit upset but nonetheless smiled. "It's ok. If you're not up to it then you shouldn't have to go."
"Right…thanks,"
They soon stopped walking, realizing they reached the end. "I guess I'll see you later…" Aneko said as she took the path towards her house.
"Ok, see you Aneko!" Orihime brightly waved.
Not too long after, Orihime also headed to her own home, placing her hand on her chin. She began contemplating on things…
'I wonder if Aneko really did change her mind…or if something else is stopping her from going…'
As Aneko journeyed home, she reflected on what Ichigo had said the previous night. The words kept ringing in her head nonstop. It was distracting her all day.
"Do you enjoy fighting?"
"Why do you fight…?"
She shook her head from all thoughts. "Stupid Ichigo!" She slammed her foot on the hard ground. She felt her face cool off as she witnessed an inviting hill that looked over the clear water. It was just by the road.
Yep, Karakura was incredible.
Making her way to it, she climbed over the small fence and made her way to the grassy hill. She immediately sat herself on the lush green land. The serene sunset was so beautiful and warm…So hard to look away from.
After a big groan of frustrating, the troubled teen placed her shoulder bag beside herself. She then fell back allowing the prickly grass to catch her.
"Ahh…"
Just as her body began giving out to the cool refreshing breeze, allowing herself to effortlessly be swayed into a begging nap, she perceived the sound of grass being stepped on.
Someone was approaching her.
"It's you…"
Her eyes shot open and she wasted no time in getting up. She cocked her head back and noticed Uryu with a perplex look, standing behind her. His glasses reflected the light from the sunset, as his schoolbag was strapped over his shoulder. His black raven hair danced to the light breeze that blew. It was a perfect snapshot…
She shook her head before her wild thoughts went farther. She had to remember…this was Uryu Ishida.
He was…different.
She immediately grabbed her stuff and glanced back at him. "W-what are you d-doing here…?" She managed to ask as she continued to look towards his perfect position.
Why didn't she ever experience a moment of perfection? Unlike Orihime, Aneko never received much attention from the opposite gender. It was heartbreaking for her…
He pushed his glasses up. "I could ask you the same question…"
"O-oh…well…" She simply placed her gaze back at the unforgettable sunset. "I was looking at the sunset…"
She figured she might as well answer his questions…This was considered a friendly talk, right?
He was a bit taken aback by her reply, no doubt. "The sunset…?" He questioned raising an eyebrow.
She nodded, lightly smiling.
How impractical of her…
"Yes…I never got a chance to see it before…at least not like this."
He made his way next to her, startling her. "What's been stopping you…?" He asked with interest.
'H-he's talking…to me.' She lightly smiled. Maybe she would make a new friend…
She gradually glimpsed at him and then back at the scenery. "School…and after school activities…all that stuff, really."
"I see…"
"So…since I've answered all your questions…how about filling me in?" She asked, staring at him—ready for his reply.
It's not like he followed her…
Uryu merely glanced at her—reading her expression, and then back to the twilight sky. "Well…I came here because it's the path to my house…" He replied straightforwardly.
Aneko arched a brow. "…That would make sense."
She continued to look at him directly in the face. The ravishing light made his pale skin glow quite nicely.
It was strange to her. She never knew how handsome he was until this very moment—standing on a small hill and looking across the rippling water, filled with crystal light sparkles.
Her thoughts soon revisited reality when she heard a beep from her watch.
"Oh…?" She glanced at it in realization of late it was getting. She could not afford to miss Yuzu's Friday night special dinner.
"Oh…well it's getting late…I'm heading off home…!" She announced as she hurried her way off the serene hill, and on the empty road. She placed her stare to Uryu—one last look at the sunset and the perfection it gave off with him.
"See you later…!" She ran off feeling good that she overcame her panic of talking to the Quincy. He wasn't so bad after all…
Uryu just stood alone, watching as Ichigo's twin rushed home hastily, feeling a smirk stretch his lips.
Aneko made it home on time—on time for dinner that is.
"I'm home!" She yelled, quickly taking her shoes off. She hoped her father wasn't home yet.
Yuzu greeted Aneko with a smile. "Welcome home, Annie!"
"You're late!"
Aneko shifted her eyes to the side and noticed her dad standing over her, attempting to look strict and in authority.
"Oh…yeah something came up," She replied as she threw her bag on the couch, and sat at the table. "Sorry…"
"Aww…you weren't scared?!" He abruptly blurted in a childish tone of voice.
"Dad…you're hopeless…" Karin gripped as she took a bite out of her food.
"You kids can be so rude to your dear father!" He cried, throwing himself at a large portrait of his beautiful wife. She bared a smile so pure and dazzling. "Look at how they treat me! We've lost all control of them!" He cried.
"Anyways…where's Ichigo?" Aneko asked—diverting their attention from their ridiculous dad.
Yuzu placed her dinner in front of her. "He's changing…He got home a couple of hours before you,"
"Oh, ok…"
"You two have been heading home late lately…why is that?" Karin asked, looking at her skeptically.
"Bleh, who says it's any of your business, Karin…" Aneko replied bitterly while taking a bite of her food.
Karin crossed her arms. "…You're up to something…both of you are."
"What? Say whatever you want, shrimp, but it's none of your business…"
Karin stood up with a hard glare. "Who you calling a shrimp?!"
"You, shrimp!"
Karin's teeth gritted. "Ah, freak!"
"Loser!"
"Wannabe!"
Aneko's teasing face developed into a defiant stare.
"Y-you two stop fighting!" Yuzu demanded. Her voice was soft, but it managed to stop them.
Aneko and Karin both looked away from each other and sat back down. "She started it…" Aneko mumbled as she played with her food.
Karin stuck her tongue out. That was all.
"I'd watch who you stick that tongue at…it could get cut off."
"Now, now…!" Isshin stepped in. "Let's not fight but enjoy our moment together!"
"Butt out…!" Both girls shouted heatedly.
Isshin darted for the corner of the room, sobbing. "…It's official…my kids have become punks…!"
"Man, I'm starving…!" Ichigo audibly announced as he made his way into the room, rubbing his stomach. He subsequently froze feeling the bitter tense that filled the air.
Cautiously seating himself, his eyes shifted to Karin then Aneko.
Yuzu placed his dinner down in front of him. "Uh…are they at it again?" He finally asked.
Yuzu nodded reluctantly. "I can't do anything about it…!" She claimed, adorably puffing her cheeks.
After eating in dead silence, Aneko was the first to dismiss herself from the dinner table. She leisurely placed her plate in the sink and faced Yuzu. "Thanks for the food Yuzu. I'm heading off to bed…" She lightly smiled.
"O-oh…but don't you want some desert?" She asked buoyantly—carefully holding a bowl of ice cream.
"No thanks,"
"O-ok…night…"
Aneko bowed, bidding her family a goodnight, and left to her room incredibly wearily.
Aneko promptly changed into her light white top and striped Pajama bottoms, and crawled into bed. Once she found herself comfortable, lying sluggishly over the sheets, her eyes began counting the ceiling bumps above her. She could see the shadows in her room, finding comfort from them.
With one loud sigh, Aneko's eyes closed…
"Do you like to fight?"
"Why do you fight?"
Ichigo's words swiftly revisited her thoughts—haunting her. 'Man…not again!' She sat up on her bed irritated, groaning in frustration. Her fingers found entertainment in her orange hair. After taking a moment to let her hair down, she placed her monotonous light-chocolate eyes to the window, stargazing.
"Maybe I just need some air…" She quietly told herself as she got up, making her way to the window. Once she slid it opened, a pleasant summer breeze blew towards her—exactly what she required.
"There…" She afterward crawled back into her secure bed—eyes slowly closing as she cuddled with her cool pillow, and fell into a sleepless dream…
"Com'on, run!"
She felt her legs pumping, a burning sensation within them as she ran, breathless and afraid. But why? Just where was she? It didn't take her long to notice she was running behind someone. Unfortunately, her vision was too indistinct for her to put a name to the figure.
She felt her legs gradually cease from running any further. Recognizing the opportunity, Aneko checked her surroundings. She was in a dark world, perhaps it was a building. It stretched on and on. There was no light to the end of the tunnel.
"Run! Run faster!"
"I'm trying to run! I-I can't run anymore…!" She yelled, feeling herself become breathless.
"You slow down, he'll kill you…!"
All she could ponder on was the fact that she was being left behind by the unidentified spirit in her dream.
"Wait! Don't leave me!" She cried, commencing on running.
"Aneko! Hey, Aneko!"
"Don't…don't leave me…! No!"
"Wake up, you're dreaming!"
"No!" She flung off her bed, hitting her back against the ground. Feeling the bright sun hitting her face, the disturbed girl lifted her arm over her eyes, trying to make sense of things.
"H-hey…you ok? That…looked like it hurt."
She pried her eyes open, noticing Ichigo looking over her. "I-Ichigo…?"
"What the hell happened to you?" He asked with an inquiring expression.
She felt her lips part, but before she could respond to his question…
"My…heart…" She whispered while she placed her hand over her pounding chest. "It's…beating so quickly…"
Ichigo gave off a small look of concern. "Aneko…what did you dream about?"
"D-dream…?" She asked with a baffled stare. Of course it was only a dream…Aneko never considered that, and probably would have never grasped it until breakfast.
"It…It was just a dream…?"
"What's wrong…?" He stuck his hand out to her. "It…wasn't about Hollows, was it?"
She blinked twice, finally realizing her feet were still on the bed. She rolled over, refusing Ichigo's offered help, and got on her knees. "…I…don't think so. It…was only a dream. That's all…"
He watched quietly as she stood up, making her way to the mirror on her wall. His eyes narrowed in concentration. She wasn't being honest…But then again, maybe it was just some random dream. He did recall Aneko watching a scary flick two nights ago…
Yeah, he must have been reading too much into it.
Shortly after, the Kurosaki's all quietly sat at the table to eat breakfast…
"Yummy, this looks scrumptious Yuzu!" Isshin praised as he licked his lips, ready to dig in.
Aneko made her way inside the dining room, letting a small yawn escape her lips. "…Hello…"
"Good morning, Annie! How'd you sleep?" Yuzu enthusiastically greeted as the oldest sibling welcomed herself to the breakfast table.
"…I slept fine." She replied, concocting her way through. No one really needed to know of some stupid dream…
"So…what are you kids up to for the summer?" Their father casually questioned, starting the first conversation of the day. Meanwhile, he finished digging into his meal.
"Well, we're supposed to go to the beach with a couple of friends…" Ichigo replied as he shoved a piece of toast in his mouth. "But that's later in the month…"
"Oh, sounds like fun! Just remember we still have our annual family barbeque today!" He shouted energetically.
Aneko sighed, removing strands of carroty-coloured hair from in front of her shoulders, propelling them back. She almost regretted not wearing her hair up like usual.
"Sorry dad…I'm gonna have to pass on that…" Karin suddenly said, getting up and placing her plates in the sink.
"What?! B-but why…?!" He cried.
He just couldn't understand that his daughter made plans. His children have high hopes that one day he'll seize the dreadful reality of a teenager's schedule.
"We've got this soccer tournament in about 4 hours! We wanna start practice early today. Wish me luck…!" She grabbed the soccer ball that lay on the couch, whizzing out the door.
After the clinic doors shut, Isshin turned to his remaining children. "Well…at least I have you three!" He said.
"Actually…" Aneko then spoke as she unhurriedly got up. "…I kind of have some mind setting goals for this afternoon,"
"What? Not you too?!"
She nodded apologetically. "…I need to get some shopping done, since I pretty much couldn't all month. Sorry…" She quickly washed her plates and made her way to the door. "Thanks for breakfast Yuzu!"
"Ah, no problem…!"
"Ok…we don't need them! We can have just as much fun at the annual Kurosaki Barbeque without them!" Assured their optimistic father.
But as things seemed to lighten up for the single father, Ichigo pushed his chair out. "Sorry dad…"
"Oh No! Don't tell me you're busy too, Ichigo? Why the hell would everyone make plans on this day!?"
Ichigo walked to the door, placing his shoes on. "…Sorry," He then left the house.
Only Yuzu Kurosaki remained.
"Well…you still have me dad…!" Yuzu informed, trying to cheer her father up.
"Yeah…you were the only one who ever liked spending time with me…" He replied shamefully. "…Oh well! More ice cream for us!" He exclaimed, shifting his mood in 0.01 seconds.
Yuzu endearingly smiled. "Yeah!"
Aneko walked in the city, quietly gazing at possible stores she could check out. "Let's see…I need high-quality summer clothes…"
She noticed a store across the street that displayed a rather cute summer dress. It was light purple, with straps. The length was an average skirt length, and had double layers so it wasn't transparent.
"It's so cute…I have to check it out," She made her way to the store and looked at the dress from the display window. It was definitely the right dress.
"I wonder…" She looked closely and noticed the price tag. She saw the price—her eye twitched at the sight. "$5,000?! Just for a little freakin' dress?!" She fell on her knees as the thought came in…
Hell no.
She got up and sighed. "Guess we weren't meant to be…"
"What's wrong with you?"
She glanced back with broaden eyes. There stood Ichigo with the usual scold look on his handsome face. It never did compliment it.
"Just a shopping disaster…" She replied in a monotone.
Suddenly, she thought of an idea.
"Say…Ichigo, can you lend me some money…?" She attempted asking thoughtfully.
He stared expressionlessly. "For what?"
She pointed at the dress as happiness filled her eyes.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"
"Aww…! Com'on! I lend you money all the time!" She reminded.
"Oh really…? Since when?"
Aneko stopped and thought about it. "Well…I—when…? Umm…Oh, how about when you lost your lunch and you needed money to buy something to eat?"
Ichigo sighed. "Wow…first of all…that was years ago…childhood-ago! And second…that was you!"
"M-me…?!"
He nodded. "Man…you really are hopeless…"
Aneko glanced at the dress once more and sighed upsettingly. "Fine…I'll just go find another dress…a plainer…uglier…stupid…less colorful…dress…" She then walked away, lowering her head.
"What the hell is the big deal? It's just a stupid dress!" Ichigo glanced at the dress. He just didn't get what was so special about the thing.
Girls, how troubling…