Disclaimer: Bleach and Shin Megami Tensei are the property of Tite Kubo and Altus.
Chapter 2: First Day of School
7th April 2009
Iwatodai Dorm
"Someone, kill me…"Ichigo moaned as he slowly dragged himself out of bed. It was early in the morning, god knows what time it was and the sun was peering through the windows. That probably meant it was almost time for his first day at a new school. Since he fell to sleep last night in his uniform, getting dressed was obviously not a problem.
What was a problem though, is that he had no idea where his school even was!
Nobody had told him where it was, and none of the school related papers and documents he was given gave him any directions. Ishida mentioned something about an artificial island, so if that was the case then it was probably located by the coast.
"Screw it; I'll just follow someone wearing the same uniform until I find the place" Ichigo said to himself. With a plan in mind Ichigo went to the sink to brush his teeth. Well he was going to until he remembered he never unpacked any of his stuff. All of his belongings were probably in some of the boxes stacked up on top of each over in the corner of the room.
Ichigo rummaged around in one of the boxes until he pulled out his truth brush. He passed on unpacking the rest of his stuff, as Kirijo had mentioned the other night that his room was only temporary and that he would have to move again duo to him being a last minute assignment or whatever. Didn't really bother him that much, but it made him wonder why he was assigned here to begin with.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Hey it's Yukari, are you awake?" A voice said coming from behind his door. Ichigo quickly spat out the toothpaste that was in his mouth and opened up the door. "Good morning. You sleep well?" She asked from behind the doorway.
"Not really. Still feel tired a bit" Despite getting roughly seven hours of sleep last night, Ichigo couldn't help but just want to crawl back into bed and screw school for the day.
"Well that was probably from the train ride yesterday. I'm sure you'll feel better tomorrow or something" Yukari smiled. "By the way Mitsuru Senpei asked me to take you to school. She said that you might not know your way there. You ready to go?"
Ichigo was slightly thankful she had shown up just then. Not that he would admit it of course, but now he had a guaranteed method of actually finding the place. Well, at least one that didn't involve stalking someone. He didn't want to be known as a stalker, especially on his first day and all.
"Sure, lead the way" Ichigo gestured to Yukari as she led him out of the building.
7th April 2009
Iwatodai
Turns out just stalking someone to find the way probably wouldn't have worked out so well, given the fact that the school seemed to be quite a way away from where the dorm actually was, and from what Yukari had told him they had to take a monorail. Guess Ishida was right about it being on another Island. The damn Quincy usually was.
Iwatodai wasn't really anything special, the building and the people were something you would see in any large Japanese town or city. Students and adults mindlessly heading to either school or work. Although one thing did catch his eye as they walked past a collection of stores. It was a man that looked passed out by the side of the building. Scratch that, he looked awake, but completely dazed and non-responsive.
"Hey, what do you think's wrong with that guy" Ichigo asked as he pointed his thumb towards the guy they just passed.
"Probably Apathy Syndrome, have you heard of it?" Yukari asked with a grim look on her face as they continued to walk. From the look on her face, Ichigo could easily tell that it looked personal to her.
"She probably knows someone who came down the disease I guess" he guessed.
He had to be thankful to Kisuke for teaching him that ability. Despite what he thought of the man, the ability to read even the slightest of expressions and movements on a person's face or body had saved his life more times than he would like to admit. Not that he would ever actually admit that of course.
"Yeah, somebody I know mentioned it to me. Although he neglected to tell me what the symptoms where" Ichigo remembering back to the conversation he had with Ishida just other day before he left. From what he remembered, the cause of the disease was currently unknown and how it was contracted was as well. There was also the fact the disease seemed to originate from Iwatodai and hadn't migrated elsewhere yet, if what Ishida was telling him was true.
"And you still transferred here regardless!" Yukari said surprised and wide eyed. She had to admit that this guy had guts. If she was a transfer student like him, then she would never have agreed to transfer here. The chance of catching an as of yet unknown disease would drive anyone away
"It's not like I had a choice in the matter" Ichigo mumbled. Even if he hadn't agreed to come here, there wouldn't have been much he could have done about it. His father had already signed him up for this school before he even could have a say in the matter.
"Your parents not give you a choice, I guess" She guessed correctly. Although what she didn't say was that she already knew about the situation with his family, and the fact that his mother was deceased. She wasn't about to tell him that she had read up on his background. She didn't know how he would respond to the matter. "It wasn't like Kirijo gave me much choice in the matter anyway" She didn't like having to spy on someone like this. But she supposed Mitsuru had a point, they really did need all the help they could get and there was a possibility he could be a persona user.
"My old man had me signed up for the place before I even knew about it, not much I could do."
The two of them made their way to the monaural station and bordered the next one. The train was mostly filled up with students, and since they were wearing the same uniform they were probably heading in the same direction that he was. The only other people onboard the train were adults, probably heading to whatever job they possessed. Yukari started talking to him about the school he would be attending, he wasn't really paying much attention, mostly because it was the same crap Ishida was telling him about the other day.
"…So there it is. So what you think?" Yukari asked as she pointed towards a large school complex that was now visible to him. It was easily far larger and grander that his old school that was for sure.
"Impressive, I guess" Ichigo said uncaringly. Despite its appearance, at the end of the day all it really was to him was just another school. Nothing really that impressive
"Really? That's you opinion" She said suppressed at his answer. When she first saw the place, she thought it was really impressive.
"It's just a school. There's no reason to get so worked up about the place" Ichigo shrugged. Besides he had already seen more impressive things in his live that some fancy private school.
"I guess you have a point, but I thought you'd have a different opinion than that."
"Guess I've just seen more impressing things in my life" That was an understatement if there ever was one. Actually going to the afterlife while he was still alive, would probably be the most impressive thing he ever see's or accomplice's in his life.
The monaural soon ended and Yukari showed him the rest of the way towards the school. The path towards the school were flanked by rows of cheery trees that were blossoming. Indicating that spring had just begun. On the way, Ichigo could here several people whispering behind him.
"Wonder who that guy is. You think he's new?" Some random guy said.
"Why's he walking to school with Yukari?" said another random guy and his friends.
"He's kind of cute" said some giggling girl and her friends.
"He kind of looks like a delinquent don't you think" Ok that last comment kind of annoyed him a bit.
It hadn't even been five minutes yet and people were already thinking he was some sort of trouble maker. Why was it people always made him out to be some sort of delinquent even before they knew anything about him. Sure back in Karakura Town, getting into that big brawl on the first day of school last year probably didn't help, but he was new here. They couldn't possible know anything about him. If he had to guess it was probably because of his hair color no doubt. Still doesn't mean he was going to dye his hair though.
"So this is it" Yukari said as she turned on her heels to face Ichigo, with the school to her back" Welcome to Gekkoukan High School. Hope you enjoy it."
7th April 2009
Gekkoukan High School
"You'll be fine from here on out right" Yukari asked as the two of them walked into the school together. "You should find your homeroom teacher first. She's probably in the faculty office just down there" Yukari pointed to a hallway to the left of them.
"Thanks, but how am I supposed to know who my home room teacher is to begin with?" Ichigo pointed out the logic in what Yukari just said.
"Right" Yukari face palmed. How was he supposed to know which homeroom teacher he had? She didn't even know which class she was in yet herself. "You should be able to find out on that bullion board over there" she pointed over to the board that lined the wall to the side of the room, the same board where a large crowd of students were know currently gathering around.
"Guess I don't have much of a choice" Ichigo sighed and made his way towards the large crowd of people. Well he would have if Yukari hadn't have stopped him.
"Wait a minute" she quickly uttered before he left her sight and was absorbed by the large crowd of people. "Before you go, can you not tell anyone about what you saw last night."
"I'm still not sure what I saw last night, and honestly, I don't really care what it was either" That was Ichigo's honest opinion. While he may have been curious about it last night, there was the possibility it might just have been a onetime thing. And if it was, then he could just get on with his life and forget that it ever happened.
His response surprised Yukari. When she first saw the dark hour she was full of questions. So how could he just say he didn't care? "…We'll anyway, I'll see you back at the dorm, later ok" Before Ichigo had the chance to say anything in return, Yukari quickly headed down an adjacent hallway out of sight.
"Must be a really touchy subject for her" Ichigo thought out loud. That was the second time she'd brought up the events of last night. He wasn't able to get an answer out of her last night. "Well doesn't really matter what that was about. All I know is that it's got nothing to do with me."
Putting the events of last night behind him, Ichigo moved towards the board to see which class he was going to be in for the next year here. He was currently in his second year of highschool so it shouldn't be that hard to locate his name. There was a large group of people surrounding the board, no doubt wondering if they were going to be in the same class as their friends and acquaintances. Ichigo pushed passed several people so that he could get to the list of names for second year students.
After a minute or so of looking, Ichigo found his name on a note attached to the side of the board.
Ichigo Kurosaki Class 2-F
"Well that's one thing taken care of" Ichigo said to himself. Next was the faculty office. Ichigo made his way out of the crowd of people that had gotten much larger during the time it took for him to look for his name, and headed down the hallway Yukari had pointed out to him just before. On his way towards the office, Ichigo noticed something pretty odd. One of the teachers, talking to some blond kid with a strange accent, was wearing what looked like a samurai helmet of all things!
"The background checks on teachers in this place are probably really relaxed" Ichigo thought to himself before he entered the faculty office. The room was pretty much empty except for one teacher currently going through some files. Said teacher immediately noticed that somebody had entered the room.
"Hmmm…I don't seem to recognize you. Are you the new transfer student by any chance?" she asked. The woman in Ichigo's opinion was most likely a teacher, if her appearance was anything to go by. She was wearing a beige suit and pants with shoulder length brown hair. She was probably in her mid-thirty's if Ichigo had to guess.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. I was told to I had to come her first and find out who my homeroom teacher was" Ichigo responded while introducing himself to the suspected teacher.
The teacher began looking through several pieces of paper she was currently holding in her hands until she stopped at one specific piece and placed the rest on the desk beside her. "That's right. You're in Class 2-F, that's my class. I'm Ms. Toriumi, I'm going to be your homeroom teacher this year, and I also teach Composition by the way." Ms. Toriumi Introduced herself to Ichigo as she looked through the file currently in her hand. "I see you transferred here from Western Tokyo… in 2002, your mother…" Ms. Toriumi gasped is surprise as her focus kept shifting from the file to Ichigo constantly. "I'm sorry, I didn't get the chance to read through this before" she said apologetically.
Ichigo sighed. This wasn't the first time a teacher made a big deal that his mother had died when they found out. "It's fine, really. It happened so long ago I stopped caring" That was a lie obviously. Ichigo had never forgotten that night or stopped caring. It just seemed easier for him to make people think he didn't really care anymore. He couldn't stand people giving him sympathy.
"…Ok then" she spoke unsurely of what to say. "Anyway, we need to head to the auditorium. That's where the welcoming ceremony is taking place. It should be starting very soon, so if you would follow me" Ms. Toriumi gestured to the door as she made her way out.
"Welcoming ceremony huh…you mind if I skip that. It just sounds boring" Ichigo asked as he followed her out of the faculty office. He wasn't in much of a mood to sit through some teachers welcoming speech, so if there was a way out of it he would surely look for it.
"Sorry, but everyone has to go through it. Even us teachers" she muttered that last part under her breath. Ichigo assumed she didn't want to have to sit through it either. If it was anything like those welcoming ceremonies at his old school then the next hour or so was going to be a long one.
7th April 2009
Gekkoukan High School Assembly Hall
"Sometimes I hate being right" Ichigo muttered under his breath as he tried to remain awake. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night and know he was sitting through some old man's long winded speech he doubt anyone actually wanted or cared about hearing. It looked like several of the other students and teachers were trying there hardest just to remain awake. Hell, Ichigo was pretty sure he could see one or two people asleep.
"…I'd like each of you to remember the proverb, "if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well." When applied to a student's life, this means…" The old man droned on. Ichigo assumed the old man was probably the principle or something. Either that or he was just a senile old man who just wondered in here from someone. If that was the case then somebody better show this old man the way out so everyone could get on with their lives.
Strangely enough, Ichigo felt a tapping sensation on his left arm. Ichigo turned around and saw it was some random guy trying to get his attention. Ichigo wasn't in any mood to be dealing with someone trying to get his attention this early in the morning. So before he ripped his arm off, Ichigo scowled and spoke to the guy in a hushed tone "What the hell do you want?"
The guy looked visually shaken up, probably not expecting to be responded to in such a manner. "Err… well I saw you walking with Yukari this morning."
"So?" Ichigo asked wondering just why this guy cared about who he was walking to school with. "And your annoying me. See I can point out facts to you know. Now what do you want anyway?"
"I…I…I just wanted to know if she had a boyfriend" the guy answered almost looking like he was about to piss his pants in fear.
"Well I don't know, nor do I care either. Now go bother someone else" Ichigo answered as he turned back around ignoring anymore of the guys questions. What made him think he knew anything about her anyway? He'd only just met here. Although the guy wouldn't have known that or the fact that the two of them were currently living in the same dorm.
"I hear talking" a nearby teacher cried out. "I believe it's someone in Ms. Toriumi's class…" he guessed.
"Shhh! You two, be quite! You're going to get me in trouble" Ms. Toriumi called out to the general direction Ichigo was sitting in.
Only an hour had passed yet and he was already getting in trouble with the teachers. Ichigo thought that had to be a new record or something.
7th April 2009
Class 2-F
The rest of the day passed by pretty uneventfully. Oddly enough he was in the same class as Yukari. Other than that nothing noteworthy had really happened, at least until the end of school anyway. Ichigo was looking at the time and about to head on back to the dorm when he was stopped by one of his classmates. He had no idea what his name was and at this point he didn't really care either. This guy was wearing the same uniform as him, but instead of the typical white shirt everyone else was wearing, he had substituted it with a dark blue one and a baseball cap donned his head. He also had a bit of a goatee on his chin and the stupidest of grins.
"Sup new guy, how's it going" The goateed guy said as he walked up towards him.
"Do I know you?" Ichigo asked as he got up from his desk. He couldn't quite remember if he'd seen this guy from somewhere. He did look slightly familiar, but he couldn't quit put his mind on it.
"Dude, I sit right next to you" Junpei said surprised as he pointed to the desk that was just to the right of Ichigo. "Don't you remember before, when we were all introducing are self's to the class."
"Yea, but I wasn't really paying much attention. Besides, I've never been great at remembering names and faces. Nothing personal" Ichigo explained casually.
"Oh well, nice to meet you then. The names Junpei Iori" Junpei beamed as he introduced himself to Ichigo. "You know I transferred here back during the 8th grade. So I know what you must be going through, you know, new school, new people…so I thought I'd come and say "Hey."…See what a nice guy I am" Junpei smiled to himself looking pleased at helping the new transfer student out.
He knew how tough it was to get used to such a new place. It would have been helpful if somebody had helped him out all the way back when he first transferred here. So he decided it would be a good thing to help out the new guy.
"Well thanks, I guess" Ichigo wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't exactly expecting anyone to come and talk to him, especially on the first day anyway. Out of the corner of his left eye, Ichigo could see Yukari approaching the two of them, looking slightly annoyed at something.
"Hey, well look who it is, it's Yuka-tan!" Junpei smirked as Yukari walked towards them. "I didn't think we'd be in the same class again this year."
She sighed shaking her head as she stopped in front of the two of them "Are you at it again? I swear, you'll talk to anyone if they'll listen to you." Really did this guy talk to every different person he's see's like he was some kind of welcoming committee. "Did you ever stop to think you might be bothering someone?"
"its fine, he was just telling me his name" Ichigo reassured her that it wasn't the case." Besides, if he was bothering me I would have already left" he pointed out.
"Yeah me and him are getting along great" Junpei said as he put an arm around Ichigo's shoulder, making it look like they were the best of friends.
Ichigo on the other hand didn't take to kindly to this gesture of friendship. "Get your arm off of me" Ichigo growled. Junpei quickly removed his arm from Ichigo.
"Sorry."
"So anyway, what a coincidence that we'd be in the same homeroom together" Yukari said as she turned her attention towards Ichigo.
"Yeah, I guess. Not that it really matters anyway" Ichigo told her. He didn't care that much that they were in the same homeroom or not. It's not like he really knew the girl anyway. To him, all she was was just another random face. One that just so happened to be in the same dorm and class as him.
"Well I suppose, since we don't really know each other yet."
Junpei was moving his head rapidly from Ichigo to Yukari looking like he had just been shot in the back. "Hey, you do know I'm in this class as well. Why aren't you surprised to see me?"
Yukari looked at him in a deadpanned manner "Do you really want me to answer that?" she asked rhetorically.
"Well I can see there's no love lost between the two of you" Ichigo smiled, slightly amused at the ensuring spectacle forming in front of him. From the way the two of them were acting, he got the distinct impression that the two of them already knew each other. They were probably in the same class last year; either that or they went to the same junior high. It kind of reminded him of when he first met Keigo and Mizuiro. The only real difference between then and now is that Junpei wasn't pleading for his life from some random thug about to beat the life out of him.
"Oh it's nothing like that" Yukari cleared up Ichigo's misunderstanding. "He means well, it's well, he's just annoying sometimes."
Junpei looked both surprised and hurt because of Yukari comments about him. "What! Hey, how am I annoying?" Junpei asked trying to defend himself.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Yukari asked rhetorically.
In an effort to change the topic away from him, Junpei remembered something he overhead somebody talking about just before. "Hey, I just remembered, I heard you two walked to school together today. What's up with that? C'mon, tell me everything that went on" he grinned wanting to know all the details that he thought was going on between the two of them.
Yukari was shocked and surprised at Junpei's sudden outburst. Several people that were still in the classroom were looking in their direction and whispering to themselves. "Wh-What are you talking about!?"
"Junpei, we live in the same dorm" Ichigo pointed out calmly. "Also since I'm new here and don't know my way around, is it that surprising that she would have offered to show me the way here."
"That's right" Yukari looked glad that Ichigo had cleared up that little misunderstanding. Also because of Ichigo's tone of voice, several other people heard what he said as well. So the truth would probably cancel out any rumors about the two of them. "It's because of people like you who just shout out whatever pops up into your head that rumors about people get started to begin with" she almost shouted at Junpei.
"Jeez calm down, it's not that big of a deal. There just rumors, it's not like they can hurt people or anything" Junpei said not really understanding what her deal was.
"He kind of has a point though. Your making this a bigger deal than it really needs to be" Ichigo said. There were a lot of rumors back home that he was some kind of Yakuza, a delinquent or any number of illicit things. But he'd never paid them much attention before. He guessed some people took them more seriously than he personally did.
"Of course it's a big deal" Yukari angrily tried to defend herself.
"Ok, how? Ichigo asked.
"Well they make me nervous" Yukari said looking uncomfortable at where the topic of discussion had led them. "Look I've had trouble with people starting rumors about me and my family before so I have my reasons."
"Whatever you say" Ichigo said uncaringly. He just wanted to end this conversation. He wasn't trying to be cold; he really just didn't care that much about her problems. He had enough to worry about himself.
Ichigo was just about to leave when Yukari leaned forward and tried to tell him something without being overheard by anyone else.
"Hey before you leave, I've got to ask. You didn't say anything about you know what to anyone did you" Yukari was obviously talking about what he saw the other night. He still didn't understand as to what it was he saw the other night. No harm in having a bit of fun though.
"Oh, about what exactly" Ichigo asked looking like he had no idea what Yukari was even talking about.
Yukari wasn't sure whatever or not he had generally forgotten what she was talking about, or the possibility that he was trying to rile her up again. Given her past interactions with the guy, her bet was on the latter. "Are you serious!" she shouted at him with a stern look on her face. "You know damn well what I'm talking about. Look, just don't say anything about last night ok."
Ichigo sighed. This girl really needed to lighten up a bit. For a girl who admittedly disliked rumors, she had an awful tendency to shout out the wrong thing in front of people. Case in point, being Junpei, now looking at the two of them with wide eyes and his mouth gaping open.
"What's with that look" she asked, wondering what was up with Junpei.
"L-Last night?' Junpei asked having a certain idea in his head. Before Ichigo could say anything in his defense, Junpei placed his left hand on Ichigo's shoulder and using his right hand, gave him a thumbs up. "You haven't been her for even a day yet and you're already making a move. You're an inspiration to us all Ichigo" Junpei declared proudly with the stupidest of grins on his face.
He'd seen a lot of guys make there move on Yukari over the years. But never had he seen someone work so fast in his life. It was truly an achievement to be proud of in his opinion.
"Is it me or could this guy be related to Keigo somehow" Ichigo wondered to himself while he forcibly removed Junpei's hand from his shoulder. "Look it's not what you're thinking" Ichigo said calmly.
"Yeah, I only just met him yesterday. There's nothing going on between us!" Yukari said defensively while slightly blushing at what Junpei had implied.
"Alright then, jeez, no need to get all emotional" Junpei said. "So what actually happened last night then" Junpei asked.
"Ah, well you see…"Yukari started mumbling trying to come up with an excuse that would satisfy him. She couldn't quite tell him about the dark hour and all that. Mostly because it was a complete secret and the others would no doubt be angry with her. There was also the fact he probably wouldn't believe her anyway.
While she was racking her brain trying to come up with just about any excuse, Ichigo decided to say something that he thought would probably satisfy Junpei. "Oh, she was just talking about how she didn't want me telling anyone she almost shot me last night" Ichigo spoke calmly as he told Junpei what technically was true.
"What!?" Junpei shouted surprised. Yukari almost shot him! "Are you serious?" he asked as he looked in between the two.
"Yeah, took me by surprise if I have to say so" Ichigo said as he recalled the events of last night. The fact he was discussing this so causally disturbed Junpei slightly. He'd personally have a serious grudge against somebody who tried to shoot him.
"I didn't try to shoot you" Yukari argued. Technically her evoker couldn't actual fire bullets so she really had no intention of shooting him. But there was no way he could possibly know that. "Stop making things up Ichigo."
"Whatever you say" Ichigo dismissively said to her.
"…Whatever, I have something to take care off, so I'm going to leave now." She said as she left the room in a huff.
"Wonder what she had to take care off so suddenly" Ichigo openly wondered as he watched Yukari leave the classroom on her way to wherever it was she was going.
"Probably something for the archery team I guess" Junpei shrugged not really caring that much. "But seriously, did she really try to shoot you" he asked, curious as to whenever or not the brunette actual had a gun.
"First thing I see when I walk through the door is some girl yelling at me and reaching for a gun" Ichigo said. He decided to omit the parts surrounding the weird atmosphere the other night and his encounter with the small child. Still two things he had no clue about.
"Damn, that's one hell of greeting. Still hard to believe that girl is so popular. But hey, look on the bright side" Junpei smirked as he nudged Ichigo with his elbow.
"What bright side?" Ichigo asked. He had no idea as to what Junpei was even referring to.
"The fact that it's your first day here and people are already talking about you" Junpei said.
Ichigo sighed at Junpei's enthusiasm. "No offence, but in my experience, people talking about you on your first day of school isn't a good thing" he explained. After that incident on his first day of school last year, people already had a bad opinion of him.
"You worry too much. People start rumors about everyone. Besides, it's not like rumors could ever magically become true or anything" Junpei joked. People took rumors way to seriously in his opinion. People were always going to have something to say about someone. Your better just letting them say whatever they have on their mind and forgetting about it later on in his opinion. "I can already tell this is going to be on hell of a year with you around."
"Sure, whatever you say" Ichigo said sarcastically as the two of them headed out of the classroom.
7th April 2009
Tatsumi Port Island
"So you transferred here from Western Tokyo huh" Junpei asked absentmindedly. The two of them were mostly making small talk as they made their way to the train station that would take them back to the mainland.
"Yeah, my old man didn't even let me know until just a few days ago" Ichigo grumbled. While he did agree to come here, the fact that he only had a few days' notice still ticked him of quite a bit.
"You serious!?" Junpei asked surprised. He received a nod from Ichigo. "Damn that's rough man" he sighed. What kind of father transfers his son to a new school miles away from where they live, and only give him a few days' notice on top of that. Well he couldn't really say much. It wasn't like his own father was going to win best dad of the year award anytime soon. Junpei decided to switch up the conversation, not exactly in the mood to start talking about his own family problems anytime soon. "Say, you thinking about joining any of the clubs? They aren't excepting new members for a while yet so that probably gives you to time to think about it."
"I haven't really thought about it yet" Joining a school club was the last thing on Ichigo's mind right know. Actually, he hadn't even thought about joining a club until Junpei brought up the subject. "What about you?" he asked.
"Me? I haven't really given it much thought" Junpei said. Only to get a questioning look from Ichigo in return. "What?"
"If you don't know yourself, why bother asking me?" Ichigo asked annoyed.
"Just trying to make a conversation, you know" Junpei responded over the growing noise of the ever increasing crowds around them.
The streets were quickly becoming packed with people who were no doubt returning home after a busy day. Because of this, many of them missed the sight of an absent minded school girl walking right into the middle of the road and into oncoming traffic.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ichigo noticed the school girl was wearing the girl's uniform of his new school. "Hey hold this for a second" Ichigo shouted as he threw his school bag towards Junpei and ran towards the girl.
"What, why?" Junpei asked as he caught the bag and looked towards the direction Ichigo ran off to. "Wait is that…oh shit!" Junpei exclaimed as he ran towards them.
To the horror of the nearby pedestrians, an oncoming truck was speeding towards the school girl and would have no doubt kill here on impact if it wasn't for the orange haired teen who ran out towards here, grabbed her by the waist and tackled here to the ground out of the way of the speeding truck and the rest of the traffic.
"Hey you ok. You aren't injured are you" Ichigo quickly asked as he checked her body to make sure she wasn't injured. One of the benefits to living with his father for all those years was the fact he'd learnt quite a bit of medical knowledge over the years. At least the capability to check to see if a person was in one piece and all.
The girl didn't answer him. She simply continued to stare of into the distance, almost like a zombie.
"Hey you two ok" Junpei shouted as he ran over to the two carrying his and Ichigo's bag. "Err… just what are you doing?" he asked curiously as he saw Ichigo checking out the girl's body.
Ichigo ignored what Junpei's question as he finished up what he was doing. "I was checking to make sure she didn't have any broken bones from when I tackled her."
"Well is she ok?"
"She looks ok. Well physically I mean." Ichigo gestured to the vague look on the girls face.
Junpei recognized the look on the girls face as something he'd seen a lot of recently. "She looks like one of those people you see a lot of recently. You know those guys with Apathy Syndrome."
"Yeah, I saw someone with it this morning" Ichigo admitted. The look on the schoolgirl face and the general aura she gave of reminded him a lot of the guy he and Yukari ran into this morning. "Here pass me my bag" Ichigo gestured to Junpei to hand him his bag.
"Sure" he said as he handed Ichigo his bag back. "So what we going to do with her."
"Call an ambulance, obviously" Ichigo thought that was the most obvious thing to do in this situation.
Ichigo began routing through his bag for his phone but was stopped by Junpei. "Y-Yo dude, she's getting up" Junpei pointed out.
Ichigo was just about to call for an ambulance but suddenly found himself distracted by the fact that the schoolgirl was now back up on her own two feet. "So are you alright or not. I mean, I was just about to call you an ambulance you know."
"It's coming" the schoolgirl whispered quietly.
"What did you say?" Ichigo asked her trying to understand what she just said as he didn't quite here her.
"It's coming…its coming" the girl continued to whisper in a monotonous voice.
"What's coming? What are you talking about" Ichigo continued to ask her now slightly irritated.
"Dude maybe she's possessed or something" Junpei suggested, only to receive a questioning look from Ichigo. "What?"
"Are you being serious?" Ichigo growled. He'd never heard of anyone being actually possessed before. As far as he was concerned that was impossible. "Besides didn't we just agree she had Apathy Syndrome"
Junpei looked away sheepishly. "Well yeah, but you never know" he argued. "That whole "It's coming" thing creeped me out a bit."
Ichigo sighed. While he knew it wasn't possible for spirits to possess people, other people didn't have the liberty of knowing the things he did. "She was probably just hallucinating" Ichigo had no idea what the effects this Apathy Syndrome could actual have on someone, so anything was possible in his eyes. There was also the fact that people had the tendency to hallucinate when they were ill as well. Ichigo returned his attention towards the schoolgirl he had just saved. Maybe she was in a more talkative mood now. "Well anyway do you think you'll…be alright?" Ichigo was about to ask the schoolgirl if she needed to be taken to the hospital, but surprisingly she had disappeared.
"Dude…did she just disappear" Junpei asked surprised at the girls sudden departure. He was quickly looking around the area to spot here but couldn't make her out with all the nearby crowds.
"She probably walked away while we were talking" Ichigo said as he pocketed his phone and picked up his bag. "She's probably on her way home or something. Not much we can do now anyway."
"Wait so you're just going to leave? What if she gets run over or something" Junpei argued.
"If you want to go look for her be my guest. But remember we don't have any idea where she went. She probably headed home or something."
"I guess" Junpei wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do. Sure he didn't want this girl to get injured, but Ichigo did have a point. They had no idea where this girl went, and given how many people live in this city, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Especially considering it was basically rush hour right now anyway. "You're probably right man."
Both Ichigo and Junpei parted ways for the day and headed off to their residences.
7th April 2009
Iwatodai Dorm
Due to the crowded nature of the city and the fact that he was a relative newcomer as well, was making it quite difficult to find his way back to the dorm. It took Ichigo far longer than he would have liked to admit, but by the time he returned to the dorm the sun was already setting.
A few hours later Ichigo was back in his room at the dorm. When he got back, he ran into Mitsuru who informed him about one of the dorms rules. Specifically that he wasn't allowed out after Seven PM. Ironically that was also the curfew his father had set him just a few years ago as well.
Currently Ichigo was sat at the desk in his room, going through his laptop which he had taken out from one of the unopened boxes in the room. There was a few emails from his sisters and his friends asking to see if he had settled in yet. Other than that he didn't have that much to do.
Ichigo's mind wandered back to what happened just a few hours ago with that girl. "Here's hoping somebody found her. Wouldn't want her getting run over." He said to himself lost in his thoughts. He couldn't help but remember what that girl was mumbling. She said it was coming. What did she mean by that?
Then there was what happened just the other night when he first arrived here as well. The green sky, all the electricity going off, everyone turning into coffins and all the blood on the ground. Whatever it was was probably going to bother him at some point or another.
If Ichigo had learnt anything from his time as a Substitute Soul Reaper, it was that even the smallest, most oddest things have a tendency to end up screwing him over in some way, shape or form. "I'll have to try and figure out just what's going on." If there was one thing he was sure of, it's that this dorm was connected to it somehow. The way Yukari had been acting all day and questing him about last night was a sure giveaway. There was also the fact that last night, this place was the only building that had electricity he'd come across.
Having come to no conclusion or answers, Ichigo switched of his laptop and got ready for yet another day of school. Hopeful that tomorrow would be less of a stressful one than today had been.
7th April 2009
Iwatodai Dorm
Later Than Night
Currently, it was late at night and Mitsuru was still awake downstairs reading a book on the couch. She was so absorbed in the book she was reading, she failed to notice the grey haired man walking up to her with his jacket slung over his shoulder.
"I'm going out for a bit" Akihiko said as he walked up towards where Mitsuru was sitting.
"…Hmm, any reason why tonight" she said surprised at not having noticed Akihito until he was standing right next to her.
"Haven't you seen the newspapers recently" he pointed out. "There's a lot going on at the moment."
"I'm well aware off the current rise in Shadow related activity as of recently" she said as she closed her book and looked thoughtfully. "People who've had no problems before are suddenly developing acute cases of Apathy Syndrome. I's been on the news very frequently as of late. They say it's due to stress but…"
"Yeah, right" Akihiko scoffed. They would say it was stress. It was the only thing medical professionals not in the know could think of. They didn't have the benefit of knowing the things he and Mitsuru knew. "It's got to be the Shadows for sure. Otherwise it's not worth my time."
"You certainly have a one track mind you know…" Mitsuru pointed out. There was no stopping Akihiko when he set his mind on something. Well there was always the threat of an execution. But that was best left for the most extreme of circumstances. "Will you be okay on your own?" she asked. "The chairman will be staying here for the next few days so I won't be able to…"
"Don't worry, I'll be fine on my own" Akihiko reassured Mitsuru he would be fine. "Besides, I'm just getting in a little practice" Akihiko said with a grin as he left the dorm to go hunting.
Mitsuru sighed "I wish you wouldn't treat this as some sort of game." It was always best to have a certain mindset about this, but from the way he was treating all this, it was possible he was going to get himself injured one of these days. Or worse…
With the chairman here for the next few days she wouldn't be able to leave the dorm to combat shadows during the Dark Hour. She and Takeba needed to be here to monitor Kurosaki. Hopefully he would have the potential needed to summon a Persona. The fact that he was awake during the Dark Hour was a hopeful sign.
Takeba had the potential, but she had yet to actually summon her Persona. This was completely understandable, the mental strain using an Evoker puts on a person takes quite some time getting used to, so this was expected. Hopefully they would be able to find more people with the potential as well within the coming months.
Authors Note: Well this took me much longer to get done than I thought it would. Real life getting in the way has the tendency to do that now and then. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out much quicker than this one.