Chapter Six: A Sneak Peek of Nightmares

Toshiro smiled to himself as he sat in literature class, turning his head time to time to sneak a peek at Hinamori. He found himself beginning to like the silly girl, but he only wished that she was more open and confident, like Tobiume was. He knew that she was shy about her work, but Tobiume wasn't. So, why was she? From the small glance she showed everyone that one day, she had great talent. His granny always said artists were a little crazy, so he'd just go with it for now.

His mind drifted toward their study session last night and he smiled even more. She had him laughing with her silly jokes and her small pouts about all the different ways there was to solve a simple problem. Hitsugaya felt safe around her, like he could be himself and not worry about what she thought about him.

The bell rung and he quickly gathered his belongings so he may walk with his newly found crush, but was swamped by fan girls and couldn't find her. He sighed as he slowly made his way to art class, a class he was starting to like even if it was for the wrong reasons. When he made it to the back room, he sighed as he didn't see her there, knowing full well that she was already in the second room working.

"Hey, Toshiro!" Rangiku waved at the sad looking boy. "Did you hear the news?!"

"No. What news?" He asked as he opened his sketch book and took out his pencils to start working. He noticed that he was the only one to do so and arched his eyebrows at everyone.

"Dude! It's an easy day today! Advance art students have to turn in their first ten pieces to the teacher today. You should have seen Hina-chan! She could be captain of the track team if she had the time!" Renji laughed as he pointed to the door behind him. "Even though she is ahead in the overall count, she'll be in a ton of trouble if she doesn't turn in her work."

"Then shouldn't we help her?" Ichigo asked as he crossed his arms.

Just then the door burst open and a panicky Momo huffed as she carried a large, bag-like folder that hung from her shoulders. She could of stuffed Toshiro in it no problem it was so big. "I gotta go! Good luck guys! See you later!" She yelled as she sprinted out of the room in a flash.

"Well...seems like our little Momo did it again." Rangiku sighed as she pointed to the abandoned satchel that laid on the floor. "You know what this means...right?"

"Oh! We can look through her sketch book!" Rukia jumped excitedly as she rubbed her hands together like a mad scientist would. "Ohhhh, I can't wait to see what's in here!"

"We shouldn't do that! What if she finds out?" Hitsugaya shouted as he snatched the bag away from the two girls. "She'd be really hurt if we did that."

"She might have written something about you in here..." Rangiku smirked as she watched the small boy blush. "We all know you like her, why not find out if she likes you back?"

"B-but..." He stuttered as he stared at the book in the satchel. He was dying to find out what she thought of him truly, but he didn't want to ruin what trust she had in him either...His time to think was cut short however when Rangiku took the book and flipped it open.

Everyone gathered to see the image and gasped as they saw it. It was of a small child with black hair and big brown eyes, greatly resembling Momo herself. The little girl wore a beautiful kimono that was covered with reds and pinks, pale blues swirling between them. She held a ripe peach in her small hands and big, beautiful plum trees were in the background, their petals swirling around the tiny girl.

"That looks like Momo-chan!" Ichigo pointed out, though everyone knew that by their own observation.

"Great job, Genius!" Rukia barked as she shoved the grunting male.

Matsumoto waved them off and turned the page to see herself talking on her cell phone. It was done as a pencil sketch, but held a great amount of detail. "When did she draw me?"

"Wow! Why doesn't she show anyone these?" Renji asked as he then nudged Rangiku's arm. "Is there one of me?"

"Turn the page already! I see enough of you as it is." Toshiro barked at the older teen. He really wanted to see if she drew a picture of him, but he wasn't going to admit that.

They scanned through the next couple of pages, each a picture of them. Ichigo was eating a large strawberry, Rukia was cuddling a stuffed rabbit, Renji was puffing out his chest, and Toshiro was dribbling a soccer ball.

"Oh look! She drew you with a bit of your shirt riding up! She must think you're hot!" Matsumoto teased before she turned the page and stopped, stunned.

'Turn back NOW. This is not for YOU'

Everyone looked at one another before they looked back down at the black page with blood red text. "That's...that's really creepy."

"Maybe we should listen to it." Renji whispered to everyone, but was just hushed as they turned the page.

'Final...chance...GET OUT!'

"She's just trying to scare us." Ichigo chuckled. "What could little Momo draw that could be so scary anyway?" Everyone nodded as they turned the next page and screamed.

It was of a badly beaten girl, who's thin, black hair covered all but one sliver of her face. She wore no expression but her one eye was wide open and seemed to be covered by a sickening veil. The 'girl' wore a simple red dress that was torn and ripped and it seemed her legs were bent and broken, though she still stood.

'I FOUND YOU'

"The fuck is that?!" Ichigo whined as he scooted away from the book; Rangiku dropping it as she screamed. "Who...what...Momo drew THAT?!"

Toshiro shook his head and cleared his throat, he wasn't used to screaming, but that image...What could be so important that she would do something like that and furthermore, were they a simple page turn from finding out. "Well...someone turn the page already! I don't want to stare at it."

"Are you serious?!" Rukia yelled as she pointed to the picture whose one eye seemed to follow them wherever they went. "I'm going to have nightmares about that thing!"

Renji slowly reached over and flipped the page. It was the same girl, but now so close to the viewer that only her face was drawn.

'I SEE YOU...'

Everyone screamed again before Rangiku grabbed the book and stuffed it back into the satchel. She panted as she placed a hand on her chest. "We never speak of this...ever. It never happened." Everyone nodded as they slowly backed away from the satchel and turned to face each other.

"...That was fucked up." Renji whispered.

"You're breaking the rule already!" Rangiku hissed as she leaned back against the wall and sighed. "What's really screwed up is the idea of her finding a reference for that or if it's completely original."

~ Toshiro's House~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toshiro sighed as he entered his home and threw his backpack against the wall. His throat was a little raw from the screams he let out today, but who could really blame him? Those images were terrifying and to make it worse, Momo drew them!

"Toshiro, Dear. It looks like you had a rough day. Wanna talk about it?" Granny smiled as she greeted him with a hug an a fresh cup of tea. She only nodded as she listened to him retell the tell of the sketch book and how Momo did not share her work like the others. Granny sighed as she noticed how confused her small Toshiro was, but then let out a soft chuckle. "Artist are very different from the rest of us. They see and understand things differently then we might."

"But that doesn't tell me why she did something like that!" Toshiro growled as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Some things can not be explained until you do a little digging and change your point of view, Toshiro." Granny patted his head as she heard the front door open. "Ah, I see Rangiku is here!"

As if on cue, the tall blonde appeared from behind the corner and spun around as if modeling an outfit. "When am I ever late?"

"Whenever someone tells you a deadline." Toshiro grumbled as he crossed his arms and huffed. He was hoping to talk to his granny to see if maybe she could give him some insight into the matter, but it seemed like she was going to be gone for the night.

"Now be good you two and make me proud. I'm going to be bringing home the bacon tonight!" Granny whooped as she grabbed her coat and gently closed the door.

"That old woman could drink me under the table." Matsumoto sighed as she placed her hand on her hip and brushed her hair out of her face. "Oh? No comeback? Someone's in outer space."

"Shut up...I'm just thinking, is all." Toshiro sighed as he tapped his finger against his still crossed arms. "Why do you think she did that? What could be so important?"

Rangiku sighed as she made her way over to the couch and sat down beside him. She pulled out a small bottle of sake from her backpack and took a sip from it. "I should just tell you to drop it and forget about it...but I'm just as curious to know as you are." She smiled at his stern face. "I know that you really like her, but I also know you kinda like Tobiume, too. I'm guessing you still want to figure out who she is, right?"

"Yeah. You know I don't like mysteries." Toshiro snorted, trying to see where she was going with this.

"You know...Hina-chan doesn't show her work and Tobiume doesn't show her face...funny huh?"

Toshiro's eyes shot open and he quickly turned to fully address the drinking friend beside him. "You're not saying that they're the same person, are you?"

"I'm just saying it's funny, that's all. I mean, if Momo really was Tobiume then it would totally make sense to why she would draw those spooky images, but who am I kidding? Everyone knows Tobiume's famous and we both know Hinamori isn't into that kinda thing."

"True, she may be out going, but she is still shy when it comes to those type of things." Hitsugaya sighed before he rubbed his eyes. "I'm going to go take a nap."

"Hope you grow in inch taller!"

"Shut up."

~ ?~~~~~~

He was heavy...so very heavy...where was he anyway?

Toshiro opened his eyes to see a darkened room. He could barely make out the details of anything really...was that a dresser over there? He moved his hands to feel what he was lying on...a mattress. Was it dark outside already? Was he in his room and overslept?

Crack...crack...pop...

Toshiro froze, like a deer caught in the headlights of a car did he just sit there; looking at what seemed to be the doorway of this room. What was that sound? Was it just outside the door? He gulped, a heavy since of dread overcame him as his bare feet touched the cold, wooden floor. He made a few steps toward the threshold when the lights came on suddenly, causing the youth to look around. He sighed as he realized he was indeed in his own room.

"Matsumoto! How long was I asleep?" Toshiro called out, but gained no reply. He snorted as he figured she was probably passed out on the sofa and couldn't hear him. He took a few more steps toward the stairs when a thought hit him suddenly. She only brought one small bottle. It would take thirty of those things to knock her out!

Toshiro's eyes grew wide as he ran to the steps, jumping over one or even two at a time so he may check on his friend. He quickly turned the corner and froze. Matsumoto wasn't there...but Momo was...

She stood there, still and silent; her back facing him and head down casted as if she was staring at something. Her hair was held up in a very messy bun and her clothes were torn here and there. A sound then caught his attention...was that...was she...crying? It was soft and barely audible, but he would bet his laptop she was crying.

"Hinamori? Why are you crying?"

The lights flickered off and the sobbing grew worse. He tried to make his eyes focus on her, but they were still adjusting to the lack of light in the room. "Hinamori? Momo, hey..."

Crack...pop...snap... "IT WASN'T...FOR...YOU."

The small boy blinked before he realized what that sound was...it was her legs...it was the bones giving way when she moved. "Mo...Momo?" His voice was weak, shaking and quivering like a bowl of jell-O. His breathes came in short rasps and he broke out in a cold sweat the more the figured turned to gaze at him.

Those eyes...those glowing, auburn eyes that seemed to see all and nothing at the same time. They bored straight into his own now, locking him in place.

"IT WASN'T FOR...Y...O...U!" The creature lunged at him, causing him to let out a short scream before her cold fingers wrapped around his throat, silencing him...forever.

A/N: Hey! Demi here with a few words! The red lady is from the game Calling ( a big fear of mine that my sister made into a wallpaper that scared the shit outta me) And also, I have been asked as to why my rating is so high. Well, in this chapter I have written about beaten woman, dropped the F-bomb, and had Toshiro murdered in a dream. Also, with this type of rating, it allows me to play up my characters a bit and I don't have to worry about losing my story if the FF Staff don't like it. (My very first story was taken off on it's first chapter...it's okay though since it sucked) So I hope that clears up all your questions! Hope to hear from you all in those reviews you send me! / hint hint/