Author's Blurbs

Greetings readers! Once again, I have another update. I figure I'll use this little intro to exfoliate (yes, I know what that means...making a joke) on a few plot points. This is going to be a bit long, but bear with me.

One, sorry for taking it a bit slow, but as I said in my last chapter, I try to keep this in bite sized chunks (usually around 1800-2k words) since it's mostly just a little distraction for me (No proof readers, little to no editing etc). Plus I believe one shouldn't have to sit down and dedicate yourself for a few hours in front of a monitor in order to digest the latest chapter of a fanfic. Sorry if this turns a few potential readers off.

Two, this chapter is a bit more somber than my last couple. Mostly because I try to encompass the broadest range of emotions for the characters. Often fanfics do a great job of keeping a character in character...if it was still an anime. Most characters of an anime are little more than stereotypes. For example, the character of Keigo. He's basically a one-dimensional comic relief (and unfortunately due to him not being the focal point of this story, will remain generally so). If he was a real person, his mannerisms might be the same, but every person undoubtably goes through a whole spectrum of emotions outside of their "niche". To sum it up, even one-dimensional characters get sad, get mad, are happy etc. I bring this mostly up in relation to Ichigo's thoughts in this chapter.

Three, I know I labeled this story action/romance. I'll get to both eventually, but I am the steadfast believer of a firm foundation. These are the building blocks for the meat of the story, and I am not about to rush through it so I can stick a couple more sword fights or steamy shower scenes in (Damn it! I gave it all away!)...

Thanks for the nice reviews, I appreciate the support. I'm going to ask any future reviewers to do me a favor. When you review, say one thing you liked and one thing you didn't like about that particular chapter or the story itself.

As always, I don't own Bleach. I'd be living in Japan if I did. Mmmmmmm...Geisha girls...

Chapter 6:Nostalgic Vengeance

Highschool is a vicious place, full of hidden dangers and pitfalls for the uninitiated. Much like an iceberg, the innocuous tip often belies the turmoil and drama hidden right below the surface. It is an environment of constant fluctuation; people vying for ranking and acceptance, whether it is popularity, sports, grades, or countless other unspoken status quos.

Inevitably, someone gets trampled.

It is amazing how entire groups of innocent and generally nice people, when given the right situations and stimulants, can degrade into the very basics of cruelty, often bordering on the precipice of animalism. Frequently one never realizes the consequences, nor how callous they are really being, until many years after they graduate, when the effects of their actions already have taken on repercussions beyond their control. Hindsight, as the saying goes, is 20/20.

And yet, despite instinctively knowing all of this, every kid wakes up everyday and plunges headfirst into the chaotic social waters of school, daring the predators of the murky deep with every passing day. What is it that lends us the strength to do so? Wouldn't one be driven mad?

Kurosaki Ichigo hated school. He really did. But, for him at least, it was his friends that made it tolerable. They were dependable. Someone with a life as chaotic as his needed a steadfast anchor to keep it rooted in reality. As he walked down the lime green hallway, he already knew what to expect.

"Ichigo!!" The familiar voice of Keigo Asano echoed down the hallway, drawing curious glances from the surrounding students. And, as always, he missed tackling Ichigo, instead managing to clothesline himself on his friend's outstretched arm. Dad and Keigo would make good friends. Ichigo mused as he watched Rukia calmly step over the sprawled out boy.

"So cruel! Why do you always do that to me? Don't you care that he did such'a mean thing to me, Rukia? Did you two find new friends or something? That's it! You found new friends! NooooOOooo!" Keigo was up to his legendary theatrics, now currently kneeling in the middle of the hallway, lamenting his apparent betrayal to whatever god, or student, that would listen.

"Really, Keigo, you talk too much." chimed in Mizuiro Kojima, the ever calm anti-thesis to Keigo's antics. "Heya, Ichigo and Rukia." he waved to the pair, almost as if it was an afterthought.

"Hello, Mizuiro!" Rukia beamed in that overly cheery voice of hers that always managed to grate on Ichigo's nerves, though he ignored it as he nodded his own greeting to the black haired boy.

Eventually Ichigo's feet had taken him to his home room door, and he, as always, looked forward to opening it, if for no other reason that it gave him an excuse to see his friends.

"Hello, Ichigo!"

"Greetings, Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Ichigo."

"Sup, Ichigo?"

Like clockwork, the rest of his friends were there, trying to frantically catch up what the others have been up to in the time they had been apart. Chad, Inoue, Tatsuki, and (though he would never admit it) Ishida. They were his pillars of support. His friends.

Why am I in such a gloomy mood? He wondered absently as he took his seat. Typically he was apathetic to the core, so why would today be any different? Ichigo allowed his thoughts to dwell on the subject for a bit as he idly watched the banter between the members of his group.

Inoue was telling them of a weird dream she had, while Rukia was attempting to draw her own dream, complete with the poorly represented cute woodland animals that inevitably went with it. Seriously. Worst. Drawer. Ever. Ichigo grumbled a bit inwardly, but it was a true testament to his stormy mood that he didn't even voice his opinion as the rest were having a good laugh at the two girl's expenses; though he did manage a half-hearted smile.

Yoruichi. That would explain his current mood. He felt bad leaving her there. Ichigo prided himself on looking out for his friends, and his mentor certainly fell underneath that broad reaching umbrella. In his mind, it was if he somehow failed her. I hit her in the head with a baseball bat, and despite Rukia's claims, I think I might have hurt her. Not sure how, but I think I did.

It occurred to him that he knew very little of the mysterious woman, and this fact also irked him. He had only learned this morning that apparently she was a princess of some noble family. Such blind oversights just reminded him more of how little he knew of his friends, and inwardly he was terrified that, considering their current line of work, how he would handle it if something happened to any of them. Ichigo resolved to try and find out more about her.

After a few more moments of thought, he broadened the resolution to include all the new people he met while in Soul Society as well. They seemed like a decent enough bunch of people, when they weren't trying to kill him that is. He'd start today. His mood felt a bit lighter now for the self made promises gave him direction and purpose.

Ichigo rested his chin on hand and stared out the window. Hope she's doing okay.

"Ichigo? You alright? You seem kinda out of it." The ever observant Tatsuki asked, leaning forward a bit to look him in the face.

He glancedat her out of the corner of his eye, giving her the most incredulous look he could manage. "What kind of question is that? Of course I'm fine."

Tatsuki's eye twitched, a sure giveaway that she thought he was lying, but Ichigo was relieved when she seemed to drop the issue. "Did ya study for the test?"

Now that caught Ichigo's attention. "Wait...we have a test today?"

"Of course, idiot." Rukia chimed in, "I told you this morning...remember?"

No, I didn't remember. I was too busy petting a cat that was really a princess, and I also have the issue of a inner hollow that I have to constantly fight off, because I am terrified of it possibly taking control of me, so excuse me if I forget a few things here or there. Of course he didn't say his thoughts out loud . "No, must have escaped my mind, I was too busy teaching a certain someone how to operate the ever complicated 'juice box'." The comment generated the expected amount of laughter, much to Rukia's chagrin, but more importantly, it drew the attention off of Ichigo, who had already turned his gaze back to the window.

Test huh? Ichigo sighed. He hated being depressed almost as much as he hated tests. I hope a hollow attacks soon, I'm already bored as hell...

Ichigo might have been a bit more worried about his own safety had he known that the subject of his thoughts was currently perched on the tree outside his classroom window, black tail swishing back and forth as she plotted her vengeance. No one hits me on the head with a bat. Inner hollow be damned.

Of course, now came the part that annoyed her. She had to come up with a suitable way to get even with the orange-haired teenager. It couldn't be anything really dangerous, because that might bring forth his inner hollow in self-defense, but it had to be enough to teach the kid to freaking look before he swung a hard wooden sports instrument at somebody.

She brain stormed throughout the entire first and second period before she finally admitted defeat. As much as she hated to admit it, she was clueless as how to pursue her goals. But she was also patient. She resolved to see Kisuke about it when she had a window of time to do so. Yoruichi wasn't mad (nor stupid) enough to put her own personal goals ahead of her current mission, and getting Kisuke involved was more than a desperation maneuver on her part, for the man could be absolutely genius when it came to such things. She was patient, she could wait.

Her mind's eye flickered on its own accord back to her dream for a scant moment, causing her to inwardly cringe. It had been ages since she had even thought about her first and last relationship. The years had allowed both her and Kisuke to mend the wounds of the heart, though it would never go back to what once was between them. The rift was too deep and they didn't even bother to try.

A brief stab of loneliness shot through her, but she was quick to grit her teeth and shrug it off. Focus. Guard Ichigo for now, then pay him back for hitting you when you get the chance. Don't dwell on the past.

False bravado didn't totally hide the feeling of emptiness she felt, but it was enough. It was always just enough.

They say that ideas are most receptive to an idle mind, and Yoruichi was no exception. Suddenly, like a lightning bolt, it hit her. A way to turn this whole situation to her advantage! She darted off, urgency lending speed to her legs. It would be the perfect way for her to guard her overzealous student, and get him back in one fell swoop! She'd just have to trust in Rukia to guard him today, for in order for her plan to work, she had to hurry back to Ichigo's room. It was a gamble, to be sure, but as the saying went: "Fortune favors the bold.". Yoruichi considered herself pretty damn fortunate

Best part was that it allowed her to avoid going to Kisuke for help, which would no doubt save her a world of teasing. The eternally glib man was one of the few people who could always get under Yoruichi's skin, and the last thing she needed was to give him even more ammunition to use against her.

Inwardly she smiled. It should be illegal to be this damn good