I howl.

I never stop.

Incessantly, I sing the mournful song as though cursed for eternity.

I howl at the moon.

------------

Ichigo sighed.

Another day at school.

He twisted as he grabbed his shirt, and put it on in a single rapid movement.

I'm so sick of school.

So sick of everything.

He pulled up his jeans, then buttoned them quickly.

I wish time could just go back.

He grabbed his book bag, and ran his fingers through his soft orange hair. (recently conditioned)

Life was so much more interesting back then.

With her.

Suddenly, his head seemed to split open, and a migrane the size of a whale banged into his mind, and he fell to the floor, gripping his forehead, writhing.

Life sucks without that stupid midget.

--------------

That stupid midget sneezed withing the contours of Ichigo's zanpakuto.

Horse-san looked at her, a small smirk on his pasty face. They had been argueing for hours about the name, yes, but it was raining, and he sometimes forgot how frail shinigami souls were. The temperature actually affected them.

Hm. Shinigami. Wonder how that tastes.

He scratched his head, leering as he approached the woman. For some reason, those thoughts brought a tinge of disgust. Revulsion.

Nah. Shinigami can come later. There's plenty others.

I needa stick to my masterful plan.

Horse-kun chuckled as he stood directly in front of Rukia.

She glanced up, wiping snot from her nose.

She didn't jump back, didn't try to run this time.

Maybe she's finally starting to get it.

Her eyebrows twitched inward, then her lips parted, and she collapsed.

The hollow's sickly yellow eyes widened, and he crouched beside her, lifting out his hand.

His cold fingers almost touched her face, his fingers a hairsbreadth away, but he pulled back.

She doesn't seem to like being touched.

He let an annoyed frown pass over his features. As a hiss escaped him, he grabbed her, and pulled her up, one hand at her neck, the other on her thigh, the pouring rain washing over them both. His eyes widened as a shock of excitement jumped through his limbs.

King's idea of carrying a woman is so inneffective.

He walked swiftly to the planted sword, grabbed it, and smashed a nearby window. Easily, for Rukia was amazingly light, he jumped into it, landing nimbly in a warm room with a crackling fire.

He tossed her limp body onto the couch, and leaned down beside it.

I wish we had some freaking water here. I'm getting kinda thirsty.

He eyed the unconscious body.

I wonder if blood tastes any better.

------------------

Byaukuya sighed as he opened the sliding door to his mansion. Quietly, he took off his shoes, and walked slowly to Rukia's room.

Silent as shadow, he opened the door, and slipped in.

He had spent an all-nighter with Renji last night. He forgot to stop yelling. Renji seemed pretty pissed when he left, but Renji always seems pissed. Maybe its because of his eyebrows.

Byaukuya shudders.

How I hate those infernal brows of disgusting tatooism.

He walked easily to her bed.

"Rukia?" He whispered, shaking her lightly.

When she didn't respond, he frowned.

"Rukia." He said, power in his voice. He shook her again, harder this time.

No response.

"Rukia!" He shouted uncharacteristically. He shook her, using both hands as her body moved like a ragdoll.

Panicked, his fingers flew to her neck, shaking, searching for a beat of life.

There was none.

OOOOOO!!!! CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sigh... i want some pie.

I had to force this chapter out; i'm trying to update at least once a day.

The next chappy should be more action-pakced

Congrats, InsainButterfly, you get snickers.

If you win this one, you get some sugar free mints! I KNOW!!!! AWESOMENESS, NE??!!!!!

thanks for reading!