The cool morning air swept through the cherry blossom trees lining the road to Kuoh Academy. It truly was a prestigious academy, as even this simple road was nothing but.
These fine and beautiful details were all but lost on Ichigo, whose mind was somewhere else entirely. His eyes could see the intricate masonry of the road, and the opulent use of gold throughout it, but none of this registered.
The mind of this young war hero was far from his body, and from the town he was in.
He let out a soft sigh, recalling the farewell party his friends had put together to surprise him and show their support of his decision to leave his hometown in hopes of finding himself again or at least finding some semblance of purpose. Now that what he believed to be his, had been sacrificed for the greater good.
The image of Orihime Inoue, a long time friend standing before him, clearly a little tipsy, but with eyes filled with purpose. That was the night his shy friend Orihime went for it. Before Ichigo could have formed an idea to speak aloud, the young woman had eagerly closed the distance before them. He recalled how soft her lips were, and the tickling of his lip by her warm breath, the slight taste of alcohol.
"I know you decided that some time away from Karakura would be best for you, and I agree. I don't think I could live, watching you hurt so much. So I made my own decision Ichigo, with a little liquid courage of course. I finally did what I couldn't do that night. I kissed you, and I have a selfish request, please don't forget me, come back to me when you are ready, ok?"
That kiss was now two weeks old, but still, he traced his lips, he could still feel her. There is no worse blindness than when you refuse to see. Those feeling that bubbled over, from Orihime, in some level Ichigo knew, but what he hadn't known was his own, and how furiously that kiss had set his heart a flutter
"Stop! Someone! Stop that man!"
Ichigo quickly snapped back into reality, his musings all but dispelled by a sudden cry for help, his battle trained mind honed into the sounds of a chase. Heavy footsteps, frantic breathing, telltale signs. His attention was drawn behind him, seeing a man hooded, covered up by a beat up old sweater, and a face mask. In hand a school bag, but not just any school bag. It was a Kuoh bag, meaning that voice, belonged to a girl from Kuoh.
His eyes fell on crimson, deep, and beautiful, his eyes were immediately drawn to the radiant red locks fluttering in the wind. Said crimson mane framed a fair, unblemished face, and deep sapphire eyes. They shook him, even from this distance he could see stunning resolve in them. Then his eyes traveled a little south
Woah! They are huge, what are they feeding these girls?
His eyes watched as the orbs on her chest bounced around, as she chased down the thief, he snapped to.
Get it together, Ichigo! Move!
He took a deep breath and with a start he lunged forward. The many life and death battles through his young life developed in him a killer instinct, and it screamed in him. Ichigo sprinted at full speed and gave chase.
Excitement raced through the ruffian's mind, he had done it! It was a great score, those private school bitches were loaded. A simple snatch steal, ripped the bag from that girl's hands and ran like hell. They would never catch him, and even if she did, what then? He cockily celebrated knowing full well he would beat her or anyone who got in the way of him and his money.
He was sure that by now he had outrun the girl, but as he peeked back, there she was, far behind but she continued to run. Passing by some idiot daydreaming, perhaps later he would rob that student as well. Oh yeah he would be eating well tonight.
Then he heard quick and very heavy footsteps, they couldn't be the girl, she was too small. Curiosity got the better of him, and he turned just over his shoulder.
He was instantly set upon by fear, a cold chill, death's finger running down his spine, those eyes, it was a demon. That boy, the student had a ferocious look
Oh Fuck! Shit not good, what's the deal with him
It was like being chased by a rabbid dog, he couldn't shake him. Stealing breaths of fresh air whenever he could, that monster continued its hastened march, quickly he ducked into an alley and then another. The pounding of his heart louder than his rushing steps, he burst out onto the other side of the maze like city alleys, confident he was in the clear.
Ha! Fuck you kid, I made it!
"Hey asshole!"
He was violently pulled and turned to face that very same demon, eyes filled with thinly veiled rage, then before he could react. Half of his face ignited into pain, as a fist collided with it. He was thrown off his feet, and down into the ground. He instinctively reached for his face and kicked in pain, before collecting himself and spitting out a glob of blood.
"Okay, fuck you kid, not keen on killing high schoolers, but you fucking asked for it"
He produced a knife from his pocket and lunged forward to stab the teenager, it would be over quick and he would get away. Simple as that, except it wasn't. He saw that kid, slip the stab and grab his wrist.
"Ah!"
He yelled as an intense and excruciating pain radiated from his now limp wrist, that prized knife falling to the ground. All he did was steal a book bag, why? Why was it him that had to deal with a beast? His wrist was still in his vice-like grip, and pulling only hurt him that much more.
His eyes only caught a glimpse of something accelerating for his face. His head rocked back, and even more pain seeped into his warm and now tender flesh. Then felt himself dragged back, through the alley, and thrown to the ground again, in front of some very elegant pair of shoes.
Rias Gremory picked up the pace, now that she was alone, and zoomed for the same alley, but was taken by surprise as the hoodlum was shoved out and into the ground landing at her feet. His face looked beaten, and his wrist had clearly been broken. There was a small amount of sympathy in Rias' eyes, after all the punishment did look a tad excessive.
She then saw a boy about her age, maybe a little younger, taller, and athletic. She noted his eyes and even though it was quickly fading, she could see a strong resolve in them. Then she saw him produce her bag, and toss it at her.
"I take it, that this is yours? Go on ahead Senpai, I'll wait here for the police."
With that look in his eyes, Rias felt little room to argue, and sparing him a smile.
"Thank you, I'll be going then"
Ichigo's bored eyes peered up at a deep blue sky, stretching far and wide, quick white wisps spread freely along it. The spring breeze pushing them along, he was lost in thought. Far from home and from everyone he knew, from the life he knew. His birthright burned away, and his ability to protect was stripped from him. However, the sky was still very much blue and the fresh grass was still comfortable.
Ichigo Kurosaki sat up and looked at the expansive campus sprawling before him. Kuoh Academy, up until recently had been an all-girl school, but apparently, this year that wasn't the case.
A pair of idiots approached him as he enjoyed the view, and Ichigo sighed. Only a passing glance was afforded to the incoming trio, Motohama, Matsuda, and Issei
"Hey there, Kurosaki, I see you are coming around to our side"
"Yeah man, did you think we didn't notice? This a great spot, just look at all that TNA"
Just below them was the running track, it was rather impressive, but Ichigo knew what they were getting at. It was impossible not to notice the myriad of girls running. Their charms were in full swing, tight shorts, and not far off the pool.
It was natural to notice, but those two took it too far
"Oh yeah look at 'em' bounce, and look at her ass, no look at her legs! "
"I see them man, aren't we the lucky ones"
Ichigo shot them a look, now they had gotten his attention, however it wasn't a good thing. He looked at them with disgust, cold and harsh.
"Why did you three even enroll here?"
"For the pussy!"
"And how has that gone for you? Maybe dial it back?"
Ichigo advised
"This one, Kurosaki, this porno-"
At this rather inopportune time, the track team was lapping them.
"Gross"
"Losers"
"Pigs"
Annoyed Ichigo shot up from the grass, and stormed forward. A dark and ferocious aura seeped from him, the disdain clear in his voice. Tension boiling below the surface threatening to violently explode
"Get that away from me, before I snap you both in half! I'm leaving"
Monochrome it was all her pair of stoic eyes would see. Everyone runs a race around her, chasing some ideal far away. False smiles and false tears, nothing but black and white plastic.
Even now, as Koneko jogged with the rest of her class, rumors, and vapid grandstanding abounded. Everyone tried so hard to stand out, but that made them all exactly the same. Her stoic eyes saw through it all, everyone was bitter. Even those she liked were closer to bittersweet.
Then far on the opposite side of the track, simply laid in the fresh cut grass, and explosion of orange hair. Bright and lively, broke through the monotonous filter of everyday life.
According to Newton an object at rest will remain at rest, and Koneko observed the male student taking full advantage of the law. Was this someone who had opted out of this social race? Someone not constantly chasing something. He held her rapt attention.
"Is that the Scowling Prince?"
"Totally"
"Skipping class, maybe he came to watch us run!"
"He can degrade me any day with those cold brooding eyes!"
All the girls around Koneko broke into a giddy giggle, which the young girl didn't quite understand. It was more than evident, he was observing the sky.
With her musing interrupted, Koneko resumed her blissful ignorance of those around her. However her world was tinged a hue of orange now.
Koneko and the others were now coming around the bend and onto the grassy hill. She would steal a passing glance. Curiously he was no longer alone, but the three wewith him. They were the dullest things in her eyes, hardly visible at all. However, they were very much audible.
"This one, Kurosaki, this porno-"
Koneko's blank face was doing a great deal in hiding her disdain for those three, and twinge of disappointment. Was this orange beacon a pervo?
"Gross"
"Losers"
"Pigs"
She could hear the others say with venom.
Koneko looked at her treading feet and allowed herself a sigh, heavy with disappointment. Koneko resigned herself to keep running.
"Get that away from me, before I snap you in half! I'm leaving!"
Koneko's monotonous rhythmic pace was brought to halt, along with the others. He was so much louder than expected, his voice boomed in her small chest. As Koneko looked around it was clear she wasn't the only one affected.
"Thanks daddy!"
"Oh yeah that's the voice"
"Come back Tall, Dark, and Scary, let me thank you properly"
"Don't go, let momma take real good care of you!"
Koneko rolled her eyes at their hypocrisy
"Please don't take offense to being objectified and then catcall our Senpai"
She saw him stop and look at them, look at her. His eyes, fierce but soft, warm and gentle. Whatever fury he had displayed, was gone. The older boy smiled at the girls, but Koneko wasn't fooled.
The stoic girl continued to run, with a spring in her step.
So that's Kurosaki-senpai? I've never seen anyone with such a sad smile
"Kiba! Kiba, won't you join us for Karaoke? Please?"
Yuuto Kiba, second year and apparently according to rumors, one-half of the school's princes. He had heard girls refer to him as the smiling prince, because of his good looks and killer smile.
"I'd love to join you ladies, but see I already made plans with Kurosaki-san, see he is already waiting for me"
Kiba pointed over to where Ichigo was standing, the girls started to complain and insist. Kiba looked at Ichigo one more time, he wasn't able to get away from them.
"Kiba man, you coming or what?"
"Next time ladies, sorry"
Kiba waved at them and ran to join Ichigo
"Thanks for that, I needed an out"
"Well you did tell me you wanted to spar with me, it's as good a time as any."
"Okay, follow me Ichigo, we can do it in the courtyard by my club"
As Kiba walked away he could hear the girls
"Oh my God it's the Smiling Prince and the Scowling Prince together!"
An old but well-kept building loomed over the ample courtyard, casting an ominous shadow, the green ivy vines had taken root and hold of the old cobblestone. Within the storied walls was housed The Occult Research Club, where the Club president Rias Gremory
Rias Gremory was the crimson-haired Venus of Kouh, the school idol whose ethereal beauty transcends the flesh.
Her slim figure was atypical to those of the Japanese girls around her, as she was said to be from Northern Europe. She was always the center of attention, the name everyone must mention.
Every movement she made brought with it a hypnotic bounce of her majestic bosom, the Gremory heiress was well endowed with a voluptuous hourglass figure. She was the epitome of sex appeal and desire.
The Kuoh school academy uniform seemed especially tailored to highlight each and every curve on her.
"Sirzechs was very adamant about this transfer student. You know how my brother can be, isn't it strange? That he would champion him."
Rias asked aloud, knowing her best friend and Vice President would be ready with some insight or at least make for a good argument.
"I do find it strange, but isn't that why you asked Kiba to approach him? If I remember correctly, Kiba asked him to spar today."
Akeno Himejima and Rias are equal in terms of beauty and being bodacious, they were definitely a duo to look out for. Akeno opened the window opposite to them, sunlight bathed the clubroom.
Rias quickly joined Akeno, who had motioned her over, from the window, Rias could see Kiba, and finally, she saw him.
He was taller than Kiba and definitely more well-built, with a head full of bright orange hair. Her fingers gingerly twirled a lock of her own crimson hair. Then a look into his eyes, it was hard to read them, but Rias felt some sadness in them.
Rias watched attentively as the two boys prepared themselves, she knew Kiba would win, after all his opponent was just human.
Ichigo took a deep breath, it had been a while since last he held a sword, but he was ready. He kept watching Kiba, never looking away, two breaths, then Kiba rushed forward.
Their wooden blades clashed echoing loudly through the spring air, Ichigo could feel his hands burn. It was immediately apparent how much stronger Kiba was. Quickly Ichigo retreated from the bind, then Riposte.
Kiba stepped forward and slipped under the counter. Launching a devastating slash.
Ichigo's eyes quickly darted to the coming hit and guarded. It would have hurt to get hit by it. As it was, Ichigo blocked, but was again thrown off balance, tripping and nearly losing his footing. His ears ringing from the clash of their bamboo swords.
Ichigo's quick feet found purchase on the cobblestone floor. With desperate haste, Ichigo put distance between Kiba and himself. He needed to find his center and compose himself.
However, Kiba didn't allow Ichigo a moment to rest. A savage chase broke out, the young swordsman spanning the gap Ichigo had laid between them, in seconds. Kiba was relentless as Ichigo continued to fall back.
Ichigo's battlefield awareness quickly allowed him to analyze and formulate his expeditious retreat. He saw the fountain, a beautiful marble work of masonry, but not an option. Then a stone bench behind, he leapt on and over, before kicking it forward.
Kiba acted quickly and vaulted over the incoming bench. He looked at Ichigo as he landed and smiled. There was ecstasy in his eyes, he was pumped. Kiba rocketed forward and attacked.
His arm swung the kendo high, aiming for Ichigo's head.
CRACK!
Ichigo blocked
Kiba pressed on ducking, unleashing another big slash at Ichigo's legs.
CRACK!
He blocked again? This is so fun!
From below, this time Kiba was sure. With great impetus, came a rising thrust. Kiba was confident this would find its mark. The angle, the speed, it was perfect.
CRACK!
Ichigo blocked again and forced them into a bind.
"You're doing better than most, have any experience with the sword, Ichigo?"
Kiba asked, launching a new assault on Ichigo.
The more experienced Ichigo was able to defend and deflect the first two slashes
"You can say that, Kiba"
Kiba pressed the attack, and Ichigo was ready; all he needed to do was sidestep.
Ichigo followed every little movement Kiba made, it had become more than apparent that he couldn't afford to look away. The probing step forward, and the way his weight was catapulted from his back foot.
Here it comes!
The tip of Kiba's wooden sword expanded rapidly in Ichigo's vision. Growing more and more as the distance between it and his face disappeared. Those instincts forged through the hell of battle would never leave Ichigo, he masterfully ducked and slipped past the hit. His weight shifted and he pivoted out from Kiba's field of view. He put his everything into this, twisting his hips and assaulting Kiba with a heavy slash.
Now!
Kiba had missed, and now he struggled to return himself to a stable position. He couldn't, he wasn't fast enough, his kendo too far out, and from behind him. He could feel Ichigo, a cold chill gripped Kiba, for a split second the weight of an ocean pressed down on every inch of his being.
What is this? I can't move, it's hard to even… think…
SMACK!
Ichigo had driven his sword onto Kiba's side. The soul-stricken boy was pushed off his feet and launched a few feet away, landing on the cold cobblestones, just shy of the fountain.
Exhausted Ichigo fell on his behind and took several deep breaths
"You're a monster Kiba, it took all I had to keep up."
"Yeah I could say the same to you"
Somehow I'm the monster? You're scary Kurosaki.
Stunned eyes observed the young man now panting heavily on the floor. Rias couldn't hide the surprise running rampant on her face. Kiba had lost? Of course he had been holding back, as she herself had forbidden any of her Peerage to use full force against normal humans.
That being said, this still allowed them to be leaps and bound ahead of others, yet Ichigo Kurosaki had upset.
Even more so for a moment there, the look in his eyes, it had shaken the young lady to her core.
"Oh my Rias, did you feel that? It was only for a second, but it was strange. That look in his eyes-"
Akeno paused as she brought her hand up to her mouth, and her delicate fingers traced her supple lips.
"It gave me goosebumps"
"Akeno please behave yourself, there is clearly more to him, than becoming your plaything."
"You're no fun buccho"
"Regardless, we need to keep tabs on him for now. This Ichigo Kurosaki is sure to draw in the wrong kind of attention"
Rias turned away from the window and retreated into the innermost area of the clubhouse.
Perhaps I can have Koneko and Kiba trail him after school, after all Kiba is rather friendly with him. Ichigo Kurosaki, why is my brother so insistent on you?
The many experiences of today weight on Ichigo's shoulders, like a small sprinkle of a neutron star. Slowing down his gait and forcing an absolutely tired sigh from his chest. Keeping up this fabrication was tough, especially when he was the talk of the second year class.
The events of his morning had done nothing for the growing reputation of a delinquent he was. There was variations on the gossip, but the general idea was the same. He had beaten a thug for looking at him funny, and other said he had beaten a thug who tried to rob him. Either way, this left him looking violent, and this kept the more meek girls away from him.
Which he appreciated as he was able to sleep, not really worried about missing classes here and there. What made him glad more so than anything else, was finally escaping the growing fan base of the "Scowling Prince". He hated the idol culture around here, be it Yuki or Gremory-Senpai, these girls needed to idolize someone.
He was touted as the edgy and dangerous option, which he resented, as it attracted some very strange attention to him. Still now he could relax and let the tension leave his body.
He walked leisurely down the main hall of Kuoh, about fifty feet from the front doors. When suddenly and without warning, he heard shuffling behind him, and a sweet acrid voice rang in his ears.
"Kurosaki-Senpai~ Oh Kurosaki-Senpai, please wait~"
Ichigo stopped and sighed yet again, he was so close to getting out and avoiding them. Against his better judgment he turned away from the doors, and he was met by the lustful eyes of a first year.
It sent a chill down his spine, she was looking at him like lunch, maybe dinner too.
"What do you want?"
He noticed her body squirm a little at his tone.
"Oh God yes, that was good,now Senpai I have a request to ask
"Of
"You"
Ichigo only motioned for her to continue.
"Please bully me Senpai!"
She exclaimed loudly, her face contorted with lewdness, her body language unnerving him, as her body seemed to shake and her eyes filled with ecstasy.
"Get lost, freak!"
Ichigo responded, his voice seeped in a repugnant and dismissive tone. Cold dead eyes stared down at the small girl. Ichigo stepped forward and spared her one look. Then spitting onto the side, as if to wash out the disgust from looking at her.
"Oh Yes! Senpai! I'll get lost!"
She exclaimed with pleasure as she squirmed and moaned softly, before running off to her friends. Giggles filling the air, before Ichigo yelled again.
"That went for all of you, get lost!"
Finally Ichigo proceeded to the exit, and onto the campus open area. A multitude of students came and went, a perfectly calm life, perhaps one he could get used to.