Right so...sorry this took so long...I just finally found some time to finish this chapter. Well it's not very exciting right now...just trying to set the stage for the later action. I would love some feedback on how you all feel about the style, if it's easy to follow. I would love to get some more followers but I guess unless this story starts to pick up...-sigh- PLEASE don't stop following! I promise it will pick up! (in time) But until then, I welcome all reviews!

I DO NOT OWN BLEACH OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS (I just own these totally blah OCs...-sigh-)

BOLD (past actions)

ITALICS (journal entries)

Normal (present actions)

July 3, 1984

I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to write. Do I introduce myself? But who am I really introducing myself to the journal or I? Or is someone supposed to read this eventually? Would I actually let someone read this? Would someone actually want to read this? Now I'm rambling, alright I'm starting now.

The bedroom, silent with shades drawn, is clean kept but nondescript. The walls are white and bare, the carpet is worn and an unattractive beige. The desk that sits in the corner holds basic supplies but nothing personal. The small bed creaks as the person on it shifts, an ordinary scene.

My name is Inoue Sora. Today I turned 14 years old, which isn't all that exciting because no one remembered well that isn't true…but I'm getting ahead of myself. Today was my birthday, and it started off like any other day really.

The person throws back the covers revealing a young teenage boy. His frame is slight, his clothes hanging off his form. Dark brown hair is rumpled from sleep; he drags a thin pale hand through the messy strands. He opens his eyes, revealing gray orbs, and read the clock. It's 6.

So summer vacation means I have my full time jobs, which is cool because that means I don't have to hang out at the house. I wake up at 6, work isn't until 8 but the sooner I get out of the apartment the less likely I will have to see my parents.

He stands and begins to get ready for the day. He pulls off his bed clothes, revealing hidden scars and bruises. He changes into simple, worn clothes; they too hang off his lean form. He checks the clock; five minutes have passed.

Inoue Hi and Tsuki fell in love the moment they saw each other. Sadly that's where their love seems to have stayed, in that first glance. Tsuki was in her first year of college when she met Hi in his last year of his master's. He was a mature and clever businessman going places. She was a young and bright student with big dreams. At the end of the year, Tsuki and Hi were married with me on the way.

He opens the blinds and looks out. The city is waking, people moving on the sidewalks, cars in the street; it is a beautiful summer day. He lets the blinds drop back into place as he checks the clock; ten minutes had passed. His face is neutral, a habit it seems, that makes him seem older than that of a teen, and he moves to the door.

This is where things go downhill. Hi lost his job and Tsuki had left school to take care of me. Hi took up drinking when no one seemed to hire, while Tsuki picked up a job as a waitress. As he spiraled further into his alcohol, he seemed to lose sight of who we were. She lost herself and became stripper.

The boy quietly shuts the bedroom door behind him. He shuffles down the hall, careful to avoid making any more noise than necessary. He approaches the door and begins to put on his shoes. The apartment is silent for the most part except for the loud snoring coming from a bedroom.

Nowadays, Dad will wake up around noon, after sleeping off his hangover. He will stumble out of the apartment, fist full of bills, to the nearest bar. We won't see him most nights until last call at the bars. Mom works odd hours at the bar, waking up early and getting in late.

The boy is about to open the door when a woman approaches. She is narrow like the boy, her eyes gray like his, her skin light like his. But her hair is long and inky black, pulled back into a messy clip. Her face would be pretty if not for the weary, agitated look she wears.

Really it's like I don't have parents most days, but roommates. I'm free. But then, somehow I will be reminded of their presence and I'm under their control. It's not like I hate them, they're my parents. I don't dream of anything more than this, a simple life.

"Where are you going?" she asked in a whisper.

"Work…" the boy mumbles, his eyes on the floor.

"Sora…" the woman sighs as she approaches. "Look at me when you talk…"

The boy, Sora, turns, "Yes…Mom…"

"Bring these from the store when you come home ok?" his mother said as she hands him a list and walks away.

Sora stands for a moment before turning away as well and leaving.

But enough of that, so you wonder how someone insignificant like me came across a journal? Well it certainly wasn't from my parents; I don't even think they remembered it is my birthday. Not like I would want to bring it up, seeing as how my birth is the reason for all our problems. It's not from my friends, seeing as how I don't have any. No, it was from my boss, Tanaka-san.

Sora enters the grocery store to be greeted by the rush of cool air and fresh produce. An old man sits behind the counter reading a newspaper, "Sora…you're late…" not bothering to look up from his paper.

"Yea…" Sora mumbles as he moves behind the counter, putting on an apron. He looks down at the counter, a newspaper wrapped package rests in the middle. "What's this?"

"Open it and find out…" the old man says as he turns a page.

Tanaka-san is old, older than my father, probably old enough to be my grandfather or great uncle, but he acts like he's my age. He owns a small grocery store on my block that is always open but never has any customers it seems. Tanaka-san says he doesn't care as long as he has money for blunts, booze, and babes. He's a pretty cool guy.

Sora opens the paper wrapping finding a thick leather album tied securely together by a thin black cord, it is filled with blank pages. "What's this for Tanaka-san?"

"It was something I did at your age…" Tanaka-san says as he continues to read the paper. "A way to get all the thoughts out of my head…" He folds the paper down to look Sora in the eye, his glasses resting low on his nose. "You look like you have a lot of thoughts in your head…all the time…"

Sora stares down at the journal before he mumbles, "Thanks Tanaka-san…"

"Yea, yea…now give me that sports section and get to work…" Tanaka-san says as he grabs the newspaper wrapping from his hands. Just another ordinary day.

He gave me this journal, said it was something he did when he was my age. It was a way to get all the thoughts out of his head. He said I looked like I had a lot of thoughts in my head all the time. He lies a lot too though. But whatever…like I said he is a pretty cool guy…might as well humor him.

Right so...what did ya think? PLEASE REVIEW! I need the feedback so I know what to work on...by the way...how does Sora sound? Like does it seem like typical entries for a 14 year old boy? Thanks so much those of you that have read the story thus far! I really appreciate it!