Suffering Souls

by His Royal Gothness

Kamakura; the name of that place wrought Ichigo's mind in sorrow, haunted by the image of a girl with skin as pale as lilies and eyes as red as blood, pain filled eyes that looked to him in anger, that looked to him in joy, that looked to him in hope. Eyes he had not seen for over six years, eyes he thought he would never see again. Now as he returned those eyes find his once more.

1. The Return and the Beginning

This is a crossover between Bleach and Elfen Lied, I don't own Bleach or Elfen Lied, all rights go to Tite Kubo and Lynn Okamoto.

---

The Return and The Beginning

Apathetic eyes of burnt sienna blinked in surprise as motion brought to them intervention, a slight jostle disturbed their observations beyond the cold window before them as the train carriage turned a slight curve in the tracks with the rhythmic sound of muffled clanks, as well as shaking the arm that supported the chin as it rested against the plastic window frame, in turn now allowing the bright mid-morning sun to cast a fire in these orbs of defiant brown that were once shaded by the carriage's angled form.

The slight screech of metal wheels against metal tracks, as muffled as it was by hard floor and closed windows, caused the eyes to shut fully in an annoyed scowl and accompanying grunt of displeasure.

Yet only to open a second later lacking their previous apathy, now usurped by dull annoyance that seemed so at home in these eyes.

Running a hand through his unruly hair of uncommon fire kissed locks, Ichigo held back a sigh as his current observations fell away from his focus, in truth they held no real purpose other than to staunch the monotony of his current predicament as he sat alone in a red seated booth with the ambient sound of baggage held above head on suspiciously small racks, that threatened pain with every ill movement of the train.

A musical chime suddenly broke through the cacophony of sounds that was locomotion, and a cheery voice of a female rail employee, layered in static from aging speakers spoke up.

''Attention passengers, we will be arriving shortly at our end of terminus travel for the service from Tokyo Central Station to Kamakura Station via the Yokosuka line in the next three stops, those wishing to exit before arriving at Kamakura proper may do so in the next two stops at Gokurakuji station, thank you for choosing JR East and have a wonderful day.''

An identical chime then signalled the end of the broadcast, yet Ichigo paid it no heed as his scowl seemed to loosen at the address and a hint of sadness could be seen in his deep gaze, through the window and glare of the morning sun, a coastal city nestled between hills grew steadily closer.

''Kamakura'' Ichigo whispered to himself in a tone that seemed to suggest the words were hard to utter without a good deal of self composure, as a sad frown found it's way to his face when a memory came rushing to him.

''Ichigo, in my whole life I've never cared for someone as much as you, never in my whole life, nobody even comes close, I'll never forget about you, not for the rest of my life, thank you for being my friend.''

The phantom words reverberated through his mind as a memory from a time that felt so long ago yet so crystal clear, forced it's way unbidden to the forefront of his mind, a point in the past he'd been reliving so much in the past few weeks.

He could see it clearly in his mind, he could see her as if she sat on the opposite seats before him, appearing before him just like she did on that last day so many years ago, at the very station he was now heading to, that lonely girl, she was smaller than him now, immortalized in his mind as the frail but fiercely independent and sharp tongued girl he knew, not the women she potentially has become, those ruby eyes that shone with the promise of tears, looking at him in a way she exclusively held for him, dressed in a yukata Yuzu had helped her dress in, the same colour as her hair, and the horns atop her head that he thought looked so pretty, the ones she hated for all the revilement and disgust they garnered her, hidden now behind the red ribbon and bows he'd reluctantly gifted her.

''Will I ever see you again?''

She had asked, pleaded, as her almost demonic red eyes refused to leave his own.

''Of course you will, I'll make sure to come back next year, I promise''

He had replied, fully intent on keeping said promise, as the girl's small frame crashed against him and captured him in a desperate hug.

Ichigo had kept that promise to her, he begged his father to return to Kamakura the following year.

Only for his friend to be nowhere to be found, with only the tale of a gruesome murder at the hillside orphanage and a kidnapped girl being proof she ever existed.

'Kaede' Ichigo thought as his face fell and eyes looked to the floor at the memory, the last one of her.

With all that had happened since his first meeting with Rukia that fateful night, he hadn't allowed himself much time to think back on the past, but now in the wake of Yhwach's and the Wandenreich's defeat, and the return of a semblance of normality to his life, he found himself returning to Kamakura, though not alone.

Suddenly a large tanned hand entered his field of view, holding a white styrofoam cup that held steaming liquid that smelled like caffeine; or some cheap railway imitation of the beverage at any rate.

''Ichigo.'' came a deep baritone voice with the offered beverage that felt just as warm to Ichigo's ears as the rising steam was to his face.

Looking up with slight surprise from the cup to the giant of a man that held it so carefully, Ichigo took in the form of his returned friend, as large and broad as ever, shaggy dark wood coloured hair worn long enough to fully obscure one eye of the same colour and a complexation of warm tan with a slightly bearded chin.

Yasutora Sado, known as Chad to those dear, stood there with facial features of complete stoicism, though Ichigo through such deep familiarity and kinship could see the warmth in his gaze, as he offered him the drink, his other hand holding an identical cup.

Taking the offered cup from his friend, Ichigo shifted his focus from his memories to the present as Chad took a seat across from him.

''Thanks Chad.'' he said with appreciation to his close friend, seeing him nod his head in response, Ichigo then brought the drink to his lips, noting how Chad watched him with something akin to the precursor of amusement.

Then instantly scowled and pulled a sour grimace as the warm liquid settled across his taste buds and held back a cough.

''What the hell, is this crap meant to be coffee?!'' Ichigo exclaimed between coughs at the taste, pulling the cup away from his lips and glaring at what he could only describe as warm dish water with a hint of caffeine.

A deep throaty rumble sounded off in front of him as Chad clearly found amusement in his predictable outburst, evidentially already discovering the less than impressive catering the train's facilities provided, though not stopping him from drinking from his own cup once more.

''Geez, thanks for the warning, last time I let you get the drinks.'' Ichigo grumbled as he took another, much more tentative sip, while succeeding in holding back a grimace.

''It could have been worse, they sell food onboard as well.'' Chad said with amusement as he placed his cup in the small holder embedded upon the table between them and then focusing upon Ichigo.

Copying his motion, Ichigo put down the horrid liquid and proceeded to lean back into the admittedly comfy seat, one hand coming to rest behind his head as he did so.

''Yeah, no thanks, that's all I need after nearly two hours of train rides, stomach cramps to go along with the aching back.'' he responded in a tone steeped in sarcasm as he reached down to rub his lower back with a sigh.

''Only two more stops till we arrive at Gokurakuji.'' Chad reassured his friend, having heard the stewardess' announcement, also finding comfort in that fact too as even he was starting to feel the ache from sitting down in the shuddering carriage for so long.

The two friends' journey had started early this morning, after months of planning and preparation in the dusk of their high school days, both had decided to attend university together at Kamakura, Ichigo having chosen English language studies in the prospect of holding a job in the Translator sector, while Chad had been accepted into the university's esteemed under 21's boxing team that put him on the track for the Nationals and their scouters.

The now eighteen year old graduates had left their home of Karakura Town in Western Tokyo via Karakura Station to Tokyo Central Station and then finally bound for Kamakura with tearful goodbyes and well wishes, and in Ichigo's case a moronic speech about setting forth on the path to manhood from his idiotic father, though it ended with him sending his son a meaningful look of fatherly concern, after all Kamakura held ghosts from the past, and not the ones Ichigo could use Zangetsu to be rid of.

''Yeah.'' Ichigo sighed out while rubbing his neck in relief as the gentle ministrations soothed the ache, before suddenly stopping and looking to Chad with something akin to an epiphany ''Oh yeah, that reminds me, I should get the keys from my bag before we stop.''

Ichigo then stood up, hands going to one of the black suitcases laying on the rails above, intent clearly on retrieving the aforementioned keys, while Chad simply watched him with his usual calm.

''So where is it we're staying in Kamakura, Ichigo?'' Chad questioned as Ichigo unzipped his luggage and started to hunt inside the inner compartments used for storing smaller possessions.

''It's a place called Maple Inn, not too far from the Sasuke Inari Shrine in the city outskirts, apparently it used to be some old restaurant back in the day, Kisuke managed to get the lease for my dad back when we first came here.'' Ichigo said while rummaging blindly in the case, a frown coming to his face as his hands failed to find purchase to what he sought. ''It's a big place, plenty of space and private, all no doubt covered in dust now.''

In response Chad simply hummed.

''How long has it been since you were last here?'' Chad asked curiously as he looked out to the approaching city, Ichigo rarely talked about his time in Kamakura, even before his venture into the spiritual world, yet Chad as his closest friend, with the exception of his childhood friend Tatsuki, knew some details, most relating to a friend lost.

Ichigo stalled his movements at the question.

''It's been about six years since I was last here, I first came here shortly after my mom died, dad was asked to fill a temporary position at the local hospital for a few months and obviously he couldn't just leave me and my sisters, so we all came along.'' Ichigo answered before resuming his search, his tone somewhat melancholy as he thought upon the past.

''While dad worked days at the hospital, Yuzu and Karin attended an elementary school, but the middle school I was meant to attend didn't have any vacancies.'' Ichigo continued with mirthful smirk. ''So my dad had the brilliant idea of asking the schooling board of a local orphanage to let me take part in their daytime lessons and they accepted.''

Chad raised an eyebrow at that, clearly surprised, this was the first Ichigo had told him of his attendance at an orphanage.

''As you can imagine, I wasn't much welcomed by the other kids, because of my looks and because I had a family, not that I give a damn about them, most of them were a bunch of assholes; but there was one... AH! gotcha!'' Ichigo exclaimed as he roughly pulled his hand out of the suitcase holding his sought after prize that jingled with cheer at the motion.

Though his action had an unforeseen consequence, upon retracting his arm the cuff of his long sleeved shirt hooked around the edge of one of his packed possessions and in turn was pulled out of his suitcase also.

Ichigo watched it fall with widening eyes, the smooth wooded surface twisting in a spin as it fell, hinged lid lifting open at the mercy of gravity revealing the painted red interior, yet instead of the hard floor of the train's booth it met the strong grip of Chad's hands.

Both teens could only look on with differing expressions, Ichigo's that of relief, while Chad's told that of intrigue as the box that rested in his hands gave birth to a hauntingly melancholy melody, both beautiful and mournful.

Neither man said a word as the sorrowful song continued, Chad looked down at the music box in his hands, yet it's red interior and golden oval plaque engraved with the name 'Lilium' was not what held his intrigue.

Inside a single photograph rested upon the raised surface within.

Chad recognised Ichigo within the picture immediately, though he was younger than he had ever seen him, clearly taken before they had met on that fateful day with the thugs in the alleyway, he stood there in a warm room of paper screen walls dressed in a dark blue yukata, his face bare of the scowl Chad was so accustomed to seeing, instead a bright smile shone on his youthful face as he gazed directly at the camera.

Off to the side much closer to the camera lens, half the face of a mischievously smiling Isshin Kurosaki could be seen, one hand up pulling a peace symbol, while the other no doubt held the very camera that took the photo.

Yet it was the figure next to Ichigo that held Chad's attention.

It was a girl of similar age as Ichigo, dressed in a yukata of dark pink and pale fireworks, she rung her hands almost nervously in front of her, a red ribbon held between them, her hair cut into a medium bob as pink as the yukata she wore, while eyes of brilliant ruby looked on in both cheerful amusement and infectious happiness, and atop her head a pair of horn like protrusions poked out from the waves of silky pink hair.

Chad looked at the echo of his friend's past with unshielded curiosity, Ichigo's missing friend he'd heard of but never seen till now, if that was who this girl was, focusing on the horns on her head, they looked real rather than some form of headband like cat ears.

Looking from the photo Chad offered the music box back to Ichigo with an outstretched hand, not wanting to intrude upon what was clearly a very personal memory to his orange haired friend, who in turn took it from his hands with a gentle grasp.

Chad watched as Ichigo looked over the photo with a small sad smile as the melody continued it's dirge, eyes lost in a memory Chad dared not interrupt.

He'd seen that look before, back when Ichigo was powerless in the wake of his battle against Aizen, the look of a person that had lost something precious and knew not how to get it back.

''Is that, your friend from Kamakura?'' Chad asked, his usual baritone sounding sullen at the question, though Ichigo didn't take his eyes away from the photo, prompting Chad to wonder if his friend had even heard him or if he was too far lost in the past.

Though Ichigo eventually did speak.

''Yeah, that's her, that's Kaede'' he said, his sad smile holding all the while, before he closed the music box with a soft click and small sigh, effectively ceasing it's song and allowing the booth to be filled with the sound of clacking train tracks once more and the subdued chattering of the few other passengers they shared the carriage with.

A musical chime then filled the air around them.

''The next stop is Gokurakuji Station, please exit here for all local and regional bus and train services.'' an automated voice stated over straining speakers, effectively knocking both Ichigo and Chad from their conversing.

With a sigh Ichigo returned the music box back into his suitcase and zipped it back up shut then pulled it down from the rack, extending it's handle and letting it rest upon it's wheels.

Outside the train had slowed as it pulled into the suburban station that was Gokurakuji, a fractal mosaic of green and pink light bathed the booth and both teens, from sunlight coloured by the leaves and blossoms of nearby trees that practically hugged the train as their branches hung over the rails of the station's entrance.

''Well, this is our stop, you ready?'' Ichigo said while Chad stood from his seat and copied his previous actions by retrieving his own case, then looking to Ichigo with a nod of his head and acknowledging hum.

As the train came to a stop and the doors parted both young men stepped out into the morning sun and cool seaside breeze of Kamakura, both happy to be able to stretch their legs and breath air that wasn't stale and humid after such a long trip.

They both soon came to a stop at the road side that was conjoined to the train station, taking their time to stretch and allow aching muscles to uncoil after their brief stint of stagnancy.

''Damn, Am I glad to be done with train seats for the foreseeable future, any longer and I'd probably be walking like I've got a stick up my ass like Uryu.'' Ichigo called out as he stretched his right shoulder, his actions being rewarded by a pleasantly audible pop.

He gave a pleased sigh at that.

Chad gave an amused chuckle at Ichigo's colourful faux insult to their mutual Quincy friend, as he lugged his suitcase over his shoulder effortlessly and looked around appraisingly at his surroundings, Kamakura held a different feel to that of Karakura, ironically feeling more spiritual than the very spiritual nexus of the living world that was Karakura's designation as the current Jūreichi.

''You think Uryu is doing okay at Bunkyo, his semester started a week before ours right?'' Chad questioned in reference to their friend's own choice in further education, having been accepted into the University of Tokyo with little surprise to those around him.

''Yeah, that smartass is probably already half way through his studies and lecturing all his professors by now, he'll be fine.'' Ichigo responded to Chad's question while sending his friend a smirk and receiving a chuckle in response.

After that Ichigo turned his sight to his left, his eyes spotting in the distance a familiar set of stairs that crawled up the side of sloping stonework before being veiled behind the green and pinks of purposely planted sakura trees and bushes.

''Right, how about we make our way to Maple Inn and drop off our stuff, then go find a place to eat, I'm starving.'' Ichigo suggested to his taller friend as he put a hand into his jeans pocket, a look of typical uncaring upon his face.

''Sounds good to me.'' came Chad's simple reply and with that both friends set off down the road with Ichigo leading the way as the one with the knowledge of their intended destination.

Soon after an undisclosed amount of time walking, they arrived at the shoji gate of Maple Inn, the journey to which both teens had said very little, Ichigo too focused at the nostalgic sights he hadn't seen in years and Chad taking in the very same sights for the first time, it was very scenic and peaceful, even the graveyard they'd seen on their way here at the top of the steps close by Gokurakuji station held a sense of serenity, if a bit morbid.

It was nice to see the sea and coast from upon high.

''Here we are, Maple Inn.'' Ichigo said as they stood before the entrance to what would be their home for the foreseeable future and allowing Chad to take it in before making another move.

''It looks expensive.'' Chad said as he gazed at the high walls and the tops of the Inn he could just barely see above.

Ichigo scratched his cheek bashfully at that.

''I don't know about that, it is a pretty old building though, but it does have like ten rooms and a large garden, all of which we're gonna have to tend to now that I think about it.'' Ichigo said with a tired sigh, exasperated by the future workload they'll have to make time for between studies.

''It's a shame Orihime didn't come with us, she's unstoppable when she starts something others would find boring, like all that bread and pastries she would accidentally make.'' Chad said with amusement.

Ichigo snorted.

''True, but I dread to think what she'd do to a garden armed with sharp tools.'' Ichigo replied with a smirk as he thought of their bubbly friend. ''Come on, lets head inside.''

Leaving his suitcase to the side, Ichigo retrieved the keys from his pocket and slotted them into the keyhole in the gate's wooden frame, giving them a steady turn he unlocked them before sliding the doors open and revealing the small courtyard and traditional two story building that was Maple Inn.

After taking hold of his luggage and waving Chad in with his hand, Ichigo walked across the short gravel path, noting how the grass to the sides had grown wild in human absence, it's length shrouding the few scattered rocks making them appear embedded within the very earth, while the bushes and trees seemed trimmed enough to not warrant any thoughts of displeasure.

Arriving at the Inn's main doors Ichigo repeated his actions and unlocked them before sliding them open and after a moments pause taking a single step inside, Chad closely behind him.

His eyes scanned the familiar walls and halls of the building he and his family once called home for a short while, the warm coloured walls, dark wooden floors, even the old analogue grandfather clock, it was like this place had been frozen in time, nothing had changed, he heard Chad come to his side as his senses attuned to smells and sounds forgotten with time and his mind brought forth memories that held association to the sight before him as beams of sunlight from the windows lit the hall in a golden aura, while drifting dust could be seen within, displaced by his and Chad's arrival.

He gave a slight smile and wistful sigh.

''Well, I'm back.''

---

6 Years Ago

The shoji doors of Maple Inn suddenly slid open with great enthusiasm, with their parting the mid-afternoon sun was given unhindered freedom to bathe the foyer in the steadily dimming light of the day, as the dusk made ready to give transition to that of the night.

Within the now open door frame stood the outlandish and slightly overbearing form of one Isshin Kurosaki, a wide smile of unabashed cheer across his bearded face as looked into the interior of the Inn, where only the dim golden haze of the sun's light and the sycophant like shadows it birthed greeted him.

''The Kurosaki family has arrived!'' He shouted in straining jubilation as his legs wobbled beneath him, that in no surprise due to the fact he was currently the family pack mule, shown by the two massive suitcases he held in both hands respectively, with also the two overladen satchel bags over each shoulders and the small bright pink backpack he currently balanced atop of his head.

Behind him the rest of the Kurosaki brood stood watching the moronic and childish antics of their father, each with differing expressions and levels of tolerance while clasping a backpack of their own.

''Come now my children, let me hear you celebrate our new home!'' Isshin exclaimed in a banzai like salute as he spun round to face his children, grinning manically all the while.

It was a seven year old Yuzu that broke their formation and proudly skipped up to her father's side and then gave her own cheerful salute with a giggle while raising both hands high into the air.

Her twin on the other hand choose to remain by their brother's side and stare blankly with half closed eyes at both father and daughter as they took turns in shouting their cheers at each other far too merrily in her opinion.

Though a sigh to her right soon caught her attention and made her redirect her gaze to the subtle noise and away from her more eccentric family members.

There a twelve year old Ichigo stood, shaking his head in dispassion, his hands broodily stuck within his jeans' pockets as he looked on unenthusiastically, his brow knitted together in a neutral frown, while the dim afternoon sun behind him practically made his spiky orange hair look like resting flames.

Seeing her brother's expression brought a smirk to Karin's lips, he looked so utterly done right now and she couldn't blame him, they had after all had to put up with their father's down right embarrassing and childish tirades for the entire train ride here, where he took every opportunity to make them look like a family of lunatics in public, Yuzu of course didn't seem to mind as she actively ate up Isshin's doting words and affectionate embraces, Karin just weathered them as best she could, and would deny it to anyone if mentioned that she secretly liked her father's bearhugs and sloppy kisses.

Ichigo was a different story, any and all actions taken by his father to express his fatherly passion would end with fingers poking at his eyes or a small fist to the jaw, the end result being both son and father grappling each other in a frenzied melee on the train floor before one would either capitulate or both would tire and simply return to their previous positions with Isshin smugly smirking and Ichigo's frown deepening.

After his most recent burst of childishness was over, Isshin carefully placed the heavy luggage to the ground and turned around to face his children once more, hands coming to rest on his hips as he pulled his best hero daddy pose.

''Alright everyone, it's 4:30 PM and we still have lots to do before we can relax for the day, first we need to give this place a quick clean, then we need to head to the orphanage so Ichigo and I can meet with the Matron before his first day tomorrow before finally heading into town and stock up on food and toiletries.'' he said after he'd gained their attention with his serious, for him, tone of voice which in reality was just slightly less jovial yet his smile still holding strong.

''So our first course of action, cleaning! Yuzu you take the kitchen, Ichigo you take the living room, and Karin you help me with the hallways, now go, go, go!''

That's how Ichigo spent his first hour in Kamakura; tackling the foe that was dust and cobwebs and ridding them from the communal room of the Inn.

Truly it would not be the most hard fought battle he would endure within his lifetime, but as of now you'd have a hard time convincing the twelve year old boy of that, as he finally sat down upon the soft tatami mat with an exaggerated sigh and casually threw the now filthy duster on the small round table in the centre of the room, before leaning back upon his arms and allowing himself a moments reprieve before he would decide to go see how Yuzu was coming along in the kitchen.

Ichigo looked about the room with a satisfied smirk, even at the young age of twelve his work ethic was unquestionable, though his attitude could use some work.

At some point during his cleaning he'd opened the sliding doors at the side of the room, which allowed him a pleasant view out into the gardens of Maple Inn, something that in hindsight he was immensely grateful for as he sat there leaning against his elbows and allowed the cool spring breeze to drift across his sweat drenched brow, while the sound of it's gentle passing moved through the garden's long wild grass and the budding blossom of Sakura trees with a sound akin to calm crashing waves.

Though he frowned a little when the very same breeze carried a few stray sakura petals into the living room.

With a small calming sigh Ichigo continued his observations of the now clean room, it was warm and homely, an atmosphere that all traditional buildings seemed to share, as if the very nature of family and contentment was weaved into the Inn's very foundations.

Yet as much as this place felt like a home, it lacked a very integral part to truly be able to describe it as such, a part that has been missing from Ichigo's and his family's life for over three years now, all because of his recklessness and naivety, because he couldn't tell apart the dead from the living, he had robbed them all of a mother.

'No, stop it.' Ichigo thought as he quickly pushed the thought from his mind with an iron will, he refused to think of such things right now, such internecine thoughts didn't plague him as much now as they did the first year of his mother's absence, yet the guilt remained.

Suddenly his eyes came to a stop at something he hadn't noticed before, or perhaps he was just far too engrossed in his work to take note of.

In the far corner of the room on the opposing side to the sliding doors that led to the garden, a small rectangular section of the wall seemed to be displaced with a narrow slit that interrupted the smooth surface of the wall, suggesting the presence of a hidden cubbyhole of sorts behind a sliding section of paper wall no bigger than that of his sisters.

Intrigued and no longer feeling the minimal effects of fatigue, Ichigo stood from his resting position and sought to uncover what could be potentially hidden in their new home.

Arriving at the section of wall and dropping to a kneel, he put his fingers between the exposed partition and carefully slid the small paper door open.

Only to be initially disappointed at the small cove that was filled with nothing but vacant shelves revealed itself to him, that was till he spotted something tucked into the farthest corner of the highest shelf, appearing as nothing more than a black boxy silhouette in the little light within the wall-space.

Reaching in Ichigo had to practically crawl into the wall-space to get even the most feathered grasp upon what was hidden within, but soon he held it in both hands and then brought it out into the light of the dipping afternoon sun.

What he had uncovered caused him to tilt his head to the side in intrigue, brown eyes blinking with curiosity as he beheld his prize.

It was a plain looking wooden box with a hinged top lid, covered in a layer of dust and the vestiges of spiderwebs, roughly about the size of his forearm and nearly double it's width with surprising little weight.

Carefully brushing aside the layer of dust and sticky cobwebs, a curse slipping from his mouth when he realized his actions had just dirtied the flood he'd only just cleaned, he gently lifted back the lid, not sure what to be expecting.

No sooner did he fulfil that action did the young Ichigo then halt all movements, a show of surprise flickering across his face as the box revealed itself to be so much more than what it appeared, as it gave birth to a hauntingly melancholy song.

Ichigo didn't know how long he sat there upon his haunches listening to the melody the music box offered while his eyes became heavy in sorrow, all he knew was this song reminded him so much of the ones his mother would hum to him in years past, whenever he was upset and back when he allowed himself to cry, she'd be there to wrap him up in her arms and soothe his soul with the solace that was her presence.

Ichigo clenched his teeth.

'Dammit'

Just like that, just like that! The memory this song birthed threatened to break down the walls he'd so painstakingly built around his heart this past couple years, walls not even his father or sisters could fully break through, yet this simple melody that played with the echo of his mother's voice did so easily that he felt the heat of tears threaten as they smarted at his eyes.

Squeezing his eyes shut to prevent any tears from gathering, Ichigo soon realized his mistake at that action as the image of a beautiful auburn haired woman wearing a loving smile filled his mind's eye unabated.

The phantom sound of rain rang in his ears and he was sure he could feel a fleeting warmth permeate his body until a chill grew in dominion, along with his mother's cry of alarm.

''ICHIGO!''

His eyes snapped open.

"Ichigo! are you finished in there?" The sudden sound of his dad's voice in question broke him from his melancholy thoughts, his eyes widening as he heard his father begin to slide the door to the living room open.

In a frenzied blur of motion he forcefully slammed the music box lid down and then quickly shut the wall-space door again, too wrapped up in his panic of his dad seeing him so vulnerable that he forgot to return said music box back to it's original place.

Thinking quickly as to not suffer his dad's teasing to being so enamoured with what was probably a none boyish interest, he stuffed the box into the big centre pocket of his grey hoodie while placing both hands in at either side to make his now bulging belly look less suspicious.

He stood up just in time to see his father fully open the sliding door and look to him, then the newly cleaned room and offer a whistle of appreciation.

''Nicely done my boy.'' he praised as he gave Ichigo a grin.

Ichigo only offered a shrug at that, happy his father seemed oblivious to his previous emotional state as he gripped at the music box from within his hoodie pocket.

"The girls are finished up too, so come on we need to get going before the orphanage locks their gates for the night." his father explained as he turned and waved a hand at his son for him to follow, to which Ichigo nodded his head and started to walk out the room trailing his dad's steps.

"Sure, whatever."

---

Ichigo had never scowled so hard in his life, he did not like that place, not one bit.

To say Ichigo was displeased with the place he'd have to attend for every school day for the next God knows how many months was a gross understatement.

As soon as he and his family had entered the orphanage with the escort of what he guessed was one of the staff, he was subject to the stares and whispers of all the children of varying ages therein as most occupied the dingy and dim corridors now that the days lessons had finished and the night time curfew would soon be upon them.

The children weren't shy at vocalizing their opinions either, even if common decency and morality went against it, he'd lost count how many comments about his appearance and expression he heard flutter about the gathered and shifting groups of orphans.

''Who's he?''

''What's up with his hair, is it bleached?''

''Look at his face, he looks like he wants to kill someone.''

''He's scary.''

''I bet he's a bully.''

''Maybe his family are giving him up.''

''Who would blame them.''

With each comment his scowl grew harder and more pronounced, as he glared at any kid that dared look at him for too long or in a weird way, the effect was instantaneous, most scattered like roaches fleeing the light with gasps and worried grumbles, a few of the boys met his challenge but quickly looked away, with the notable exception of a trio of boys that either stood or leaned against a nearby window, the lead boy, a black haired and grey eyed twelve year old, held Ichigo's gaze with a cocky smirk that shone with the promise of cruelty.

Only when the staff member that walked with them turned to address the group of boys did he finally break his gaze with Ichigo, then quickly shuffling away with his friends, more like a gaggle of sycophants, as the teacher told them to head to their rooms as it was nearly bed time.

Ichigo just knew those three would be a problem during his tutelage here, they were trouble, and it just so happened Ichigo was a magnet for trouble.

From there he and his father met the orphanage's Matron, he guessed that title meant they were the equivalent of his old school's Principle, while Yuzu and Karin sat outside their office with the escorting teacher.

Said Matron was a tall, slim, hard laced woman perhaps nearing her forties, brown hair held in a tight pony tail and amber eyes that looked at Ichigo with an almost critical sense of uninterest as he sat within the cushioned chair before her desk next to his father.

Her conversing with his father was concise and to the point, though his goofy father seemed not to mind as he still presented himself boisterously, though in a professional enough manner, she welcomed Ichigo and stated how she expected him to be on his best behaviour and to achieve all academic milestone his new teachers presented him while here, but anything after that Ichigo immediately drowned out in boredom till it was nothing more than incomprehensible noise to his ears as he chose to gaze at the the spartan room of deep brown wooden floors and forest green walls around him, noting that aside from the half filled bookcase and practically bare desk, the only decoration the room held was the frames upon the walls that held diplomas and certificates, though he couldn't make out what they signified as the glare of the fluorescent lights above reflected against the glass of the frames they were held in, partially obstructing his view of them.

While most of the conversation between his father and the Matron was blocked out, something he took note of was apparently the only reason he had been allowed entry into the orphanage as a none orphan was due to his father's connection to a person named Ryuken Ishida and his affiliation with Kamakura hospital.

After receiving his timetable and a numbered locker key he and his father were excused with a polite nod of her head and a goodnight.

Back to the present and Ichigo and his family found themselves walking along the same forested path they took to arrive at the orphanage, the sky above was no longer a collage of oranges and pinks of dusk but a sea of blues and purple as the twilight held dominion, it had took roughly fifteen minutes to walk to the hillside orphanage from Maple Inn, most of which through shadowed forest and old shrines that were now cast in multiple shades of mournful blue, which made Ichigo feel like he had stepped back in time.

As his sisters and father walked on ahead, Yuzu having tired herself out from the days events now resting on their father's back, Ichigo walked a few paces behind them still scowling as he brooded over how much of a pain in the ass going to school at the orphanage was going to be, he just hoped he could keep his head down and not make any ripples until he and his family returned to Karakura.

The sudden rustle of loose leaves to his left brought Ichigo out of his brooding gloom with a look of wariness as he stopped trailing his family and turned his head to an unremarkable bush that shook with tiny irregular tremors.

Ichigo stared dumbfounded for a second at the small brown and white puppy that just appeared from seemingly thin air in the middle of a forest, while the clearly overly friendly creature just stared back at him with a wagging tail, panting tongue and trusting eyes.

''Um, hey there, where'd you come from?'' Ichigo spoke to the dog as he crouched down in front of the young pup, very carefully presenting a hand for the creature to sniff appraisingly, before giving him a quick few scratches under it's furry chin, much to the small animal's delight.

''You all alone out here?'' Ichigo said again, his scowl loosening as the pup sat back on its hind legs and pawed at his hand playfully with happy yelps.

Ichigo gave a smirk at that, before a moment of realization hit him and he carefully unslung his backpack from his shoulders, just now remembering that he still had a half eaten packet of jerky in there from the train ride to Kamakura.

Reaching inside he hunted for the bag of treats for the clearly hungry puppy, moving the music box to the side in the process that he'd stashed in their at the first opportunity from his hoodie pocket as to not arouse suspicion, yet before he could grab a hold of the folded bag of jerky, the puppy suddenly turned it's head behind it to the bushes they'd just appeared from, head tilting inquisitively and ears alert as if they could hear something which Ichigo's inferior ones could not.

Not a second later did the young pup leap away from the orange haired boy and bound back through the bushes once more, leaving a confused and stupefied Ichigo in it's wake who just blinked at it's departure dumbly.

"What the... hey wait!" Ichigo said as he got to his feet and made to chase after the little puppy, worried that the stray might get hurt all alone in this forest, yet as Ichigo pushed his way through the bushes and obscuring foliage, his still open backpack on his shoulder, he felt a root hook around his foot and with a startled yelp he found himself crashing to the ground on the other side of the bushes, his face hitting the earth and contents of his backpack spilling out around him.

''Dammit, that hurt!'' Ichigo hissed through clenched teeth as he sucked in a breath and clenched his eyes shut on instinct to the pain, yet no tears came, not like they used to when Tatsuki would beat him up at the dojo back home, his mother was no longer here to wipe them away after all so he refused to let them fall.

Yet as if fate mocked him, as his head stopped spinning, he heard that damn music box play it's melody that mimicked his mother's voice.

Opening his eyes he saw it in the dim light of the rising moon, off to the side of where he'd fallen, the bag of jerky sitting next to it.

Scowling Ichigo pushed himself up to his hands and knees, then reaching out he placed a hand on the music box's lid and then slammed it shut, effectively ceasing it's tune and letting the forest's ambiance return unabated.

He then heard a soft whine from in front of him, no doubt belonging to the puppy he sought.

Raising his eyes to the origin of the sound he fully expected to find the puppy looking at him in concern, and while that was indeed true, it would seem the little animal wasn't the only one that watched him with concerned eyes, though not concern born for his wellbeing, but of his sudden unannounced presence.

''Who are you and why are you chasing Maru? He's my friend so leave him alone!'' a distinctly feminine voice called out to him in an accusatory tone that held a fire to it.

There standing before the base of an aged tree was one of the most unique looking girls he's ever seen, within her arms and clutched to her chest with a fierce protectiveness was the small bundle of brown and white fur that was the puppy.

Behind her nestled between two roots of the tree a small bed of dirty blue blankets could be seen, just big enough to offer a cosy space for a small puppy to lie.

She looked no older than he did, eyes of startling ruby glared at him with mistrust and wariness seemingly birthed through a fear that Ichigo knew not it's origin, her pale skin like pure lilies contrasted them greatly in the light of the moon, same could be said for the head of silky pink hair that encircled her face messily also.

Dressed in a simple white button shirt, red skirt and white uwabaki with yellow socks, her posture was that of a cornered mouse, well perhaps a cat due to her fierce expression, guarded and closed off, though Ichigo had a feeling as he locked eyes with those blood red ones that she refused to take off him, that this frail looking girl could summon a storm when pushed too far.

She made for a startling sight amongst the dull earthly colours around her, colours that were shrouded by the night's caressing blue tones, while her pale skin almost sorrowfully shone with an incandescence of moon white light, like a lonesome reflection of the moon's own.

And those eyes, almost ethereally unnatural in their glowering red hue and entirely transfixed upon him, like prey upon a predator, or perhaps predator upon prey.

''I.I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...'' Ichigo started to explain his intent that he meant no harm to either her or the dog, but before he could fully articulate his words his eyes caught sight of something out of the ordinary and brought his mind to a halt, atop the girl's head poking between her hair, two bone like protrusions akin to horns revealed themselves.

Despite that, Ichigo could say without any form of hesitation or reservations that she was the most breathtakingly pretty girl he's seen in his young life, her overall appearance being that of exotic and ethereal beauty.

But his observations were not well received when she noticed what he was looking at.

''You done staring or do you want to go grab a camera.'' the girl practically snarled out at him, a flash of pain in her defiant eyes as her frown seemed to deepen and she hugged the puppy closer to her.

Against his better judgment Ichigo asked a question that would surely foster a negative response and one that he in retrospect should know not to ask, he knew after all how it felt to have ones appearance brought to the forefront of questions.

''Are those real?'' Ichigo asked out of instinct to something he's never seen before, though a girl with horns wasn't really that remarkable compared to seeing spirits on a regular occurrence, a second after the question left his lips he wished he hadn't been so insensitive, hindsight was truly a vindictive feeling to a mind as brash and rash as Ichigo's own.

The girl's eyes seemed to gain a razor's edge as she glared at him, the pain within them increasing to an almost palpable amount as her jaw visibly clenched in aggravation, yet she did not cower as her mouth began to spit back indignant words in response.

''Do they disgust you?'' the girl asked in a tone full of self loathing and sadness, though her face remained defiant in the face of what she assumed was going to be another bully insisting on reminding her how inhuman she appeared.

He looked the type after all, with his dyed hair, harsh frowning features and how his face twisted in displeasure at her response, just like the others.

Ichigo scowled at the accusation in her tone, the clear spite like a sting of acrid wind upon his bare skin.

''Um, not really.'' he replied while picking himself up and sitting back in a kneeling posture. ''You look unique, but I wouldn't say disgusting... they're actually kinda pretty, like cat ears.'' Ichigo blurted out while scratching his cheek, that last part more to himself than the girl before him, wanting to dissolve the clear tension that had so swiftly presented itself, before his eyes widened in embarrassment to what he'd just said as it could be taken out of context, he slapped a hand over his face in an effort to hide the heating of his cheeks.

''What the hell am I saying.'' he groaned out to himself, hoping the girl in front of him hadn't heard what he'd just said.

But evidently she had heard him none the less, shown at how her eyes forwent their glare to that of widened surprise and befuddlement, looking at Ichigo as if he just suddenly grew scales and belched fire, her cheeks gaining a twinge of red a moment later after she comprehended fully what he'd just said.

And like that, any semblance of ill feeling was brushed aside like a chill wind, usurped by a more childlike clumsiness far more honest and benevolent than the sour mistrust prior.

The girl simply started at Ichigo as he fumbled with his own mortification.

This boy was weird, was the conclusion she'd come to, he had to be, to refer to her as pretty, most certainly, and she could tell by his embarrassment that he'd actually meant it and at the same time not meant for her to hear the intrusive thought that was given voice.

She felt Maru wriggle and give a little whine in her arms at the unusual atmosphere that had taken precedent at Ichigo's words, to which she held him closer in an effort to dispel any of the dog's fears and quell her own embarrassment also as she waited for what the orange haired boy in front of her would do next.

Ichigo let out a suffering sigh as he removed his hand from his face and looked to the now embarrassed girl that in a complete turnaround in behaviour, wouldn't look him in the eyes for too long after each meeting between them.

''Look, I'm really sorry for disturbing you, I wasn't trying to hurt your um, Maru, I just wanted to see he was ok alone out here is all.'' Ichigo explained as calmly he could, his blush having faded from his cheeks.

''What are you two doing out here all alone at night anyway?'' Ichigo inquired in an effort to shift focus from his embarrassment before he started to pick up and pack away everything that spilled out during his fall.

His question however unwittingly intrusive seemed to reignite the fire within the girl's gaze, if only to smothered embers now.

''I could ask you the same question.'' she replied with but a shadow of her previous accusation, to which Ichigo simply conceded with a shrug.

He idly took note of how her eyes lit up with interest and followed his hand when he picked up the music box and put it away in his backpack, her mouth opening in the prelude of a question, before thinking better of it and closing it silent once more.

Ichigo after cleaning up all his possessions finally stood up and wore his backpack again over his shoulder, while in his other hand he held the open packet of jerky.

''Here, I was going to give him these before he ran away from me, it's some jerky I didn't finish from earlier, he can have them if he's hungry.'' Ichigo said as his face settled back into his neutral frown, he offered out the bag with an outstretch of his arm.

The girl looked at the bag suspiciously, then up to the orange haired boy once more, seeing nothing but honesty in his brown eyes and despite the overall scary features he possessed, she finally took a few hesitant steps towards him, erasing the space between them, in turn allowing her to with startling realisation see just how much taller the boy was in comparison to her, easily a head taller, with one last apprehensive look she then took the offered bag of treats from him.

The two strangely haired children then just stared at each other for awhile.

''Thank you.'' the pink haired girl eventually whispered out, her words gaining a small smile from Ichigo, before he directed his sights to Maru in her arms and gave him a scratch behind his ear, much to his delight as he yipped his approval, causing a small smile to bloom across the girl's lips as she looked to her friend and then at the boy in front of her, not knowing what to make of him but appreciative of his kindness none the less.

This whole situation was alien to her.

''Well I should really get going now, um sorry again for startling you, but it was nice meeting you and your puppy at any rate. '' Ichigo said after finishing his attentions to the puppy and redirecting his sight to the pink haired girl, who only nodded her head at his words, still not sure how to proceed in a situation like this, she was used to hate and contempt, and she knew how to respond in kind, but this, this utterly benign and friendly interaction, she had no frame of reference for it, so she in turn she just remained silent, yet felt a foreign yearn at the prospect of someone that would treat her like she was normal.

Seeing that as his cue to leave, Ichigo gave a small utterance of ''See ya.'' and turned around and started to make his way to the bushes he'd oh so gracefully fallen out of previously, and yet before he could put a single foot into them, a voice called out to him, effectively stopping him in his tracks.

''Wait! Who are you!?'' the girl called out to his retreating form, she couldn't just let the first kind interaction with another human go without getting to know their name. ''I'm Kaede.''

Looking back to the unique girl in surprise, Ichigo gave her a small smirk.

''My name is Ichi...'' He started out before being forced to stop as a great wail reverberated through the air around them.

''ICHIGO! WHERE ARE YOU? ICHIGO COME BACK TO DADDY PLEASE! YUZU, KARIN YOUR BROTHER HAS ABANDONED US! ICHIGOOOOOOOOO!''

Kaede widened her eyes at the ungodly wailing that was clearly coming from an adult man somewhere beyond the trees and held Maru tight to her chest in response as it descended into sobs, before looking to the orange haired boy again, who was covering his face once again out of sheer embarrassment and grumbling under his breath, before he removed his hand and directed his sights to her once more.

''My name is Ichigo.'' he said before giving her an embarrassed smile and then wave farewell, before starting to make his way through the bushes and then finally vanishing from her sight.

After a moment of just staring at where he had disappeared to, Kaede then looked down at Maru in her arms before slowly sitting down on her knees and placing the small puppy on her lap.

''He was kind.'' she whispered to Maru with a small smile, her friend just looked up at her with those none judging eyes of his, before she looked to the gifted jerky in her hand, then took a piece out and held it for the puppy to take, who then ate it with fervent relish.

She gave a smile at that, allowing herself to bask in the peace her little friend offered her.

Before her demon like eyes looked off into the distance where the glaring lights of the orphanage could be seen, and the reality of her life came rushing back.

---

The morning came far too quickly.

The intrusive rays of morning light swept lazily across the girl's peaceful sleeping face, like a tide it battled against the shadows of the blinds that swayed against the breeze from the slightly open window.

Kaede's features scrunched in irritation as she was pulled from a peaceful slumber to what would surly be another nightmare of a day at the place she called home.

Red eyes slowly opened as wakefulness became too strong to ignore, narrowing slightly at the glare of the sun, before closing shut again in what would seem to be denial as she turned away from the sun's glare with a disgruntled groan and messy hair that sprayed across her white pillow like lazy pink rivers.

After a moment of stillness, Kaede gave a suffering sigh, unable to deny the coming of the morning any longer and pushed the covers of her bed from her torso, then sat up in a hunched sit.

She spent a moment just staring at her lap, as if the blue of her pyjamas held some secret for her to see, before she rubbed at one of her eyes to rid it of sleep and ran a hand lazily through her pink hair, messing it slightly, flinching as she scratched at the horns that sat atop there.

She then cast her gaze to her small room, her tiny sanctuary from the hell beyond her door, it could be worse, it was neat and tidy and in no way decrepit, with a bunk, desk and chair, a closet for her limited clothes and draws for personal effects and even tall mirror.

Swinging her legs to the side, Kaede stood up from her bed in a motion that lacked any form of optimism, then allowing herself to stretch away any remainder of sleep she set about preparing for the start of the day with a deep breath of morning air.

Though fully rested from an undisturbed night, she lacked the energy to deal with the day, knowing it would be another filled with scorn and being shunned by both children and adults alike for no reason other than her being viewed as an outcast and pariah due to her appearance.

Just as she started to undo the top button of her pyjamas top, intent on getting changed, her hands froze in their motion, button clenched between her fingertips as her head slowly rose from looking down at her shirt.

Her eyes had caught sight of her reflection in the tall mirror against the wall, and not for the first time in her life did she gaze at the girl within with despondency and dejection, her crimson eyes looking herself over with critical criticism.

She was abnormal with her freaky appearance, her strange coloured hair, sinister red eyes and pale skin, and of course those devil like horns of bone, all that made her look like she was conjured up instead of birthed like everyone else.

'Freak.'

The word filled her mind, as she felt the familiar twist of pain in her gut as if icy fingers had just clawed their way inside, not sure if she'd said the words in her mind or if she was hearing echoes from all the times people had labelled her as such.

The result was the same, she reached up to grab the offending lumps that had made her life such a misery and represented her abnormality, her face while seemingly apathetic was betrayed by her ruby eyes that shined with resigned sorrow threatening to fill with tears, yet her spirit being too prideful to allow them to show.

She clenched her teeth lest she accidently let loose a silent sob.

Why did she have to be born like this, why was she so different, so cursed, so inhuman, and even with her differences why did people have to treat her like she was a blight, she'd done nothing wrong, she'd never mistreated anyone, all she did was exist and yet the other children, even the adults, all treated her like a freak and an outcast for things that were too far out of her control.

Her only friend wasn't even human and was the only one that didn't judge her and make blind assumptions based on her appearance.

Maru was the only one that didn't view her with disgust, he was always happy to see her, welcomed her with excitement and joy as if her existence actually meant something.

''I wouldn't say disgusting... they're actually kinda pretty, like cat ears''

The memory of last night came rushing back to her causing her eyes to widen out of shock and an intake of breath as she continued to gaze at herself in the mirror, her hands lessening their grips upon her horns as the storm of paradoxical self-loathing and self-pity came to a halt and a flicker of budding hope birthed itself at the memory, so eager was she grasp hold to any form of positivity.

Last night, that scowling and frowning, yet weirdly kind boy in the woods, he'd treated her so normally, without prejudice, even when he'd eventually brought his attention to her horns he didn't say they were disgusting, nor did he look like he found them so, in fact he looked offended at her accusation, he'd even called them pretty, like a cat ears he's said.

Ever so slowly Kaede's features softened as her grief gave way to a hopeful intrigue and she fully let go of her horns and brought her hands down to her chest and scrutinized her reflection again, perhaps trying to see what he had seen last night.

Curiously and experimentally she brought her hands up slightly close to her face and then hesitantly shifted them to a posture that would mimic that of cat's paws.

Her face instantly flushed red in embarrassment as she took in her appearance in the pose and instantly closed her eyes and hid behind her hands.

''What am I doing'' she groaned out slightly mortified, before she looked over her fingers, it's not like it mattered, one brief finite moment of normality in a life of hate and contempt, and it's not like she'd ever see him again, he clearly had a family, he wasn't one of the orphans here, so nothing had changed in the end.

Though perhaps they would meet again in the forest outside.

Kaede let out a wistful sigh at that thought before returning her attention to her pyjamas and deciding to actually do what she had intended from the start, get changed.

Some ten minutes later she was dressed and out of her room, doing her best to seem invisible as she walked down the morning lit hallways to the orphanage's cafeteria, her grumbling belly practically screaming at her to get some breakfast or it would hold a mutiny.

The hallway was practically barren as she made her way down it's worn and weathered floors, a few of the orphanage staff and orphans themselves walked the halls at present time, it had barely reached 7:30 in the morning so it wasn't absurd to suggest that she was amongst only a handful to be awake at such an hour, while most teachers and guardians were expected to be on duty and patrolling the premises by six, most of the children within the home were given till eight to be out their dorms and be ready for the day's lessons by half past that same hour or risk being dragged out and hauled to their lessons.

After arriving at the small cafeteria, Kaede noted with no small degree of satisfaction that she was the first to arrive, this giving her a budding hope that she'd be able to eat in peace without the annoyance of other kids and their less than inconspicuous staring and judgmental whispers.

Walking up to the serving stations Kaede was quick to pick up her helping of rice porridge, small portion of fruit and a drink from the apathetic lunch lady that barely even looked at her, much less offered her a greeting, not that she expected it, before quickly making her way to a secluded corner table, with her tray in hand and stomach rumbling.

There she sat in peaceful solitude, eating her food with as much peace of mind she could grasp in the quiet lonely morning hours, idly kicking her legs back and forth lazily under the table as she relished this time alone where there was nothing to play at her worries, she was just a girl enjoying her food, nothing more.

Though her peace didn't last, as a group of girls wandered into the cafeteria some fifteen minutes later, their shrill voices bringing an end to the tranquillity of the hall in an instant as they happily chattered amongst themselves to whatever inane conversation occupied their minds.

Kaede ceased her legs' movements at their entrance, her head instinctively lowering and her eyes not leaving her food as she tried not to attract any unwanted attention to herself, as hard as it was being the only other person within the hall, her mood instantly souring at the presence of others and the potential harm against her they represented.

Though the group of girls didn't seem to care for her at all as they walked by to retrieve their own breakfast and eventually sitting down a few tables away from her own, still talking loudly amongst themselves, not even offering her a passing glance or greeting, like she was beneath their notice or simply invisible.

She didn't know what hurt more, to be scorned or outright ignored.

During all this Kaede just focused on finishing her food, previous enjoyment gone, even the food didn't taste as good now, as if soured by her own emotions, she wanted nothing more than to get out the cafeteria before anymore of her fellow orphans decided to show up.

That was before a change in topic of the girls' loud conversing caught her intrigue.

"Did you guys see that scary kid yesterday?" one of the girls in the group questioned out to her fellows in an eager tone, revelling in the chance to spread gossip, in some self-gratifying need to sooth her own pains with that of another's, even if it had the potential to cause harm.

That caught Kaede's attention as she paused mid bite, unintentionally eavesdropping on the girls' conversation, though could it really be classed as such when the person talking spoke so loud even the lunch lady at the opposite side of the room could hear them clearly?

"Yeah, he was walking to the Matron's office, glaring at everyone in the hall that so much as looked at him, I thought he was going to start a fight right there, especially when he and Tomoo got into a stare off.'' another girl replied.

''I overheard some of the teachers talking about him, something about him not being able to attend the middle school in town, so they had to put him here, he's probably another bully that's been kicked out of normal school." another girl replied, this one sounding slightly hesitant at the topic of the conversation, as if she was uneasy about the contents they spoke of.

And Kaede understood why, Tomoo was a known bully and sadist that revelled in others misery and causing it, he and his group were always picking on those weaker than them just for the sake of sick entertainment and weren't opposed to violence either, she should know, she'd consider herself lucky if a day went by where she didn't garner their malicious attention, thankfully most was only verbal.

If there was someone that could stand up to them, they could be just as bad or worse, either way that undoubtedly spelt trouble for her.

The thought rid the girl of any appetite she had remaining as she placed her spoon back into her now nearly empty bowl, a worried frown overtaking her features as she stared at the rice in her bowl, that was the last thing she needed, another Tomoo to drag her life into a deeper pit, she was already struggling to find a reason to keep herself from being crushed by this hell of an existence, that reason being Maru, the little puppy that depended on her, needed her, loved her.

She couldn't break for his sake.

Suddenly standing up with a screech of chair legs against tiled floor, Kaede collected her bag and made her way to the cafeteria's doors, food forgotten upon the table even as her hunger was not sated, that would no doubt cause her discomfort during the arduous classes till dinner that was hours away.

Predictable her sudden actions caught the attention of the group of girls who'd ceased their conversation to look at her exit with puzzled expressions and a look in their eyes that spoke of belittling exasperation.

''What's up with her?'' one of them asked spitefully as Kaede walked through the doors and out into the hall.

''Don't know, who cares about what's freaking out the freak.'' another girl answered snarkily while clicking her tongue in disgust, her comment causing the girls around her to break out in a fit of giggles.

Meanwhile in the hallway Kaede walked on, her head down, hair covering her eyes and teeth clenched as her body burnt with anger as she gripped her bag tight with white knuckles, hard enough to hurt her hands.

'I hate them, I hate them all!' the girl thought in a pained whisper filled with venom as she picked up her pace, heading to the bathroom and needing to be alone.

---

Homeroom had almost started by the time Kaede had calmed down and reached the classroom.

The class was a bustle of energy as she walked in cynically and took her seat near the centre, then occupying herself by looking through her bag for her class necessities, evidently the teacher had yet to arrive and bring about order, though such a thing ironically worked in her favour as the other kids were too engrossed in themselves to notice her.

At least that was what she hoped.

"Good morning freak." a voice with cheerful cruelty sung close to her left as her bag was suddenly pushed from her hands to crash to the floor, where it's contents proceeded to spill out around her feet.

Looking up in shock and surprise she saw Tomoo and his two lackeys smiling at her maliciously, clearly taking delight as her expression morphed into a tormented frown.

"What do you want Tomoo?" Kaede growled out with venom at the black haired boy, not in the mood to deal with his harassment.

Though her glare and harsh words only seemed to make the boy's grin become even wider.

"Hey that wasn't very nice, I was only saying good morning." he replied with false innocence while shaking his head disapprovingly, as if Kaede was some unruly child throwing a tantrum, the boys behind him snickering at his act.

She bit the inside of her cheek in aggravation, forcing herself not to retaliate since that would do her no good, it would just escalate the situation to something beyond just verbal and she had no way of making the three of them back off other than being poor entertainment for them, so with that in mind she just robbed the bullies of the reaction they sought and looked away to her desk.

"Did you hear, it seems you're no longer the only creep in this place with freaky coloured hair, with another weirdo around maybe you'll finally make a friend." Tomoo frowned as pressed further when he failed to get a rise out of her, while leaning against her table invading her personal space, smirking as he did so when she became visibly uncomfortable and closed in on herself.

Yet all Kaede did was continue to look to her desk with a bitter frown, refusing to listen to him even as her hands clenched into fists, she had no idea what he was talking about, but she acknowledged the insult none the less.

Yet before Tomoo could further torment the girl, the sliding of the classroom's doors alerted everyone to the arrival of the homeroom teacher, as a short balding man with pudgy features waddled in and made his way to his desk at the front of the class, his face red with exertion born from an unhealthy lifestyle, as he pulled uncomfortably at the tie of his suit that cut into the jowls of his neck like string around a joint of pork.

''Alright everyone settle down and return to your seats, that means you three Tomoo, Kaito, Aoi'' the adult said in a blubbering tone as he came to stand by his desk, he seemed to be a man of little to no patience, clearly the class knew this since they instantly obeyed his commands in a timely manner, even Tomoo and his gang cowing down to his authoritative voice.

''Later freak.'' Tomoo whispered in Kaede's ear tauntingly before sculking off to his seat, Kaito and Aoi his ever present minions quick to his heels.

Kaede said nothing as he left, only letting out a silent breath and feeling a wave of relief as the muscles in her stomach unwound at his absence, as she unclenched her hands and lay them palms flat against the wooden surface in front of her, cool air highlighting the feeling of nervous sweat on her hands, before shifting her sights to her scattered books and accessories that spilled across the floor below her desk, along with the bag they usually resided in.

As quietly as she could she started to pick them back up and place them back in their respective homes, wincing at the rustle the books made and the sound of the bag's zipped teeth as she pulled it shut, almost feeling the glare of the teacher upon her head, before finally sitting back up.

Surely enough there was the glare and irritated look being sent her way.

''Are you quite done girl?'' he said in a frustrated tone, a sneer upon his lips and eyes looking at her with barely restrained revulsion, no doubt he'd already pieced together why her stuff was scattered across the floor when Tomoo and his cronies had been standing next to her desk, yet didn't seem to care and picked fault with her instead.

'Bastard' Kaede thought in a whisper in her mind with resigned scorn.

Outside she merely nodded her head in submission, not able to hold eye contact with those that looked at her with seemingly instinctual aversion, the mocking of chuckles sounded around her at the teacher's admonition.

''Silence!'' the teacher's thunderous voice brought an end the the children's giggling, hard leather book he'd previously held in hand slamming to the surface of his desk so hard it made Kaede and others flinch.

As the room became ordered once more the teacher cleared his throat, satisfied with the clear authority he possessed.

''Now, as some of you have no doubt already heard by now, we have a new student joining us today for the foreseeable future, his situation is a bit different than the rest of you, he won't be living at the orphanage as he lives in town with his family and is only here to continue his studies as Sakurai Middle School couldn't take him in, regardless of how out of the ordinary this is I expect all of you to treat him with kindness and respect.'' the balding teacher explained sternly, his words met with quiet muttering as the orphans discussed the unusual situation he'd just revealed to them with one another, most while intrigued were fairly indifferent to the news, some held bitterness at the thought of a kid with a family attending class with them, and others were outright hostile, not the most opportune environment for a new kid to make his first impression with his new peers.

Kaede was mostly indifferent to the news, if slightly intrigued, any curiosity was acutely overshadowed by apprehension, after all while all of the children present were used to her unusual appearance and her closed off, somewhat aggressive mannerisms, and as such the majority usually opted to just ignore and avoid her, a new face in her experience would no doubt be morbidly curious about the freaky girl and depending on their character could make her life even more miserable than it already was, before they either grew bored with their ridicule of her and became acclimated to her presence like the others, or not care to acknowledge her at all, but those were few and far between.

The conversation between the girls in the cafeteria came to the forefront of her mind and she just prayed it wouldn't be another Tomoo.

Before she could continue her cynical and apprehensive train of thought, the teacher spoke up once again, though his voice clearly not meant for any of them as he looked to the sliding door he'd previously entered.

''You may come in now Mr Kurosaki.'' he called out firmly to the closed doors, addressing who they now knew to be waiting just beyond it's frame.

And with that the door slide open once more and the form of a young boy walked in, hands tucked into the pockets of his ripped blue jeans with uncaring dispassion, as if he'd rather be anywhere else other than here, dressed in a white t-shirt with a black long sleeved shirt underneath, the number 15 emblazoned in black across his left breast pocket, the straps of a navy bag over each shoulder.

A shock of messy fire like hair sat atop his head, tousled with seemingly no order, his face set into a frown that spoke of dull annoyance, while sharpe brown eyes shone with boredom and indifference.

Overall he seemed completely unapproachable as he came to a stop in front of the class.

Kaede's ruby eyes widened in surprise at his entrance, unconsciously sitting slightly straighter so she seemed less hunched, previous cynical thoughts banished from her mind as she looked to the face of the boy from the previous night, he really did stand out now that he wasn't illuminated only by moon light, his features were softened by shadow the last time she'd seen him, hair's flames more subdued and eyes as dark as the tree bark around them, almost black in the dim light of night.

But now he practically blazed in front of them, his scowl unrepentant in it's warding nature, and his uncaring posture setting him up with the façade of a frightful delinquent, he was tall for a twelve year old, truth to be told as soon as most of the other kids looked at him they'd already unconsciously decided to give him a wide birth.

And if she was being honest with herself she understood why they would feel that way.

She hadn't felt it last night, perhaps due to the abruptness of their meeting, but now as soon as he walked into the room there was a strange feeling around him that, as subtle as it was, it washed against her skin and beckoned her attention like a wave crashing against a seawall, it felt almost akin to how heat from a candle's flames surrounded it's form in a halo, invisible to the eye but tangible to the senses, she hadn't felt anything like this before.

It was strange, like he gave off a blanket of warmth that she could feel like a phantom touch around her, touching her and not touching her at the same time, if that even made sense, it demanded her to take notice of him.

Maybe it was because she remembered an accepting smile and words bereft of prejudice as she looked at him, maybe that was why he felt warm and captivating compared to the cold abrasive void of everyone else around her.

And now that she looked at him properly she felt a more adolescent side of her come to the forefront, he was kinda cute, at least compared to all the boys in this place.

He seemed to be oblivious to the feeling he emanated as own eyes scanned the students before him, eventually landing on her and halting their movements as those intense brown eyes shone with at first slight confusion and then recognition, his scowl loosening ever so slightly as he gazed at her, that was till the teacher gave a cough to direct his attention to him.

''Now then, if you'd be so kind to introduce yourself boy so we can then get homeroom underway.'' the teacher said after Ichigo had turned his head to face him.

Nodding and heading to the chalkboard behind him, Ichigo picked up a broken piece of chalk and began to write out his name, big enough and legible for everyone therein to see, before turning around to face the gathering of students once more.

''My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, I'm twelve years old and I'm from Karakura Town, I hope we can all get along.'' Ichigo stated with no real conviction, now idle hands returning to his jeans pockets, that seemed to be somewhat of a habit.

Seeing as the new student didn't have anything else to offer in introduction, most had already began to label him as standoffish, if anything it only reenforced his delinquent persona.

''Very good, if a little sparse, I hope you will show more enthusiasm when it comes to your studies here, now go take an empty seat so we can take roll call.'' the teacher said dismissively as he sat behind his desk and retrieved a call sheet.

Ichigo merely shrugged his shoulders and walked into the rows of students, heading to one of two available seats, eventually choosing the one closest to the window and sitting down with a sigh as he placed his bag under his desk, his gaze eventually settling on the treeline beyond the widows to his left as he rested his chin upon his palm, effectively shutting out the sound of the teacher's voice as he called out the students names.

Tomoo eyed him critically from his seat, no doubt sizing the new kid up, though if Ichigo noticed he chose to ignore him entirely, until the boy in question let loose a snicker to some seemingly unseen joke.

''Nice name strawberry, why'd your mother give you such a stupid name?'' Tomoo false whispered under his breath, though loud enough for everyone to hear, his words garnering giggles from those around him, while the boy had no way of knowing that any mention of Ichigo's mother was strictly off-limits, same could be said about the misinterpretation of his name, the result was the same as Ichigo turned to face him, his scowl increasing in severity as he locked eyes with Tomoo in a furious glare.

Ichgio recognized the boy instantly from yesterday's standoff, he scoffed at the instigating look in Tomoo's grey eyes, his stupid cheshire like smirk that seemed to beg him to show him a weakness to exploit and take pleasure in, it was grating on his admittedly easily riled up nerves, it was a look he'd seen many times, normally the precursor to a confrontation and beginning of a less than pleasant relationship.

''Nice face loser, not surprised if no one wants to adopt you.'' Ichigo shot back remorselessly, knowing that saying such words to a kid in an orphanage would more than likely be seen as a low blow, but Ichigo didn't care, he was already annoyed that he had to be here in the first place and anyone who even mentioned his mother in a negative way would soon find out they'd erred.

A multitude of gasps sounded out quietly around them at Ichigo's response, and the orange haired boy soon realised that it was indeed the wrong thing to say in a room full of orphans that were now either frowning at him in reprehension and revilement, or casting him fearful looks as he butted heads with the class menace.

'Great, just what I need on my first day here.' Ichigo sighed out in his mind, he then cast his focus back to Tomoo who looked at him with surprised widened eyes clearly not expecting or ever encountering such blatant defiance, before they narrowed in hate and sick glee.

''You're gonna regret saying that kid.'' with a smirk Tomoo responded in a low tone as to not attract the teacher's attention, his voice a statement of promised pain.

Though Ichigo only rolled his eyes at the threat and turned away from him, eyes looking back out to the treeline beyond the window, this kid wasn't anything special compared to some of the budding gangs back in his middle school in Karakura, maybe a little more unhinged, but definitely not as physically imposing, how many times had he whopped Yokochini and Oshima ass this past year, no doubt it would only get worse in High School.

''Pfft, sure whatever you say creep.'' Ichigo said nonchalantly as he brushed aside Tomoo's threat with condescending ease, showing how much he truly didn't care, not seeing how the boy's smirk grew in maliciousness.

The other kids just looked on nervously as the brazen new kid locked horns with the bully.

Kaede eyed him from the corner of her eye, watching with unabashed disbelief at the volatile interaction between him and Tomoo, completely dumbfounded at his unwillingness to be intimidated by the bully, there wasn't a kid in this place that would stand up to him, even she wouldn't do much more than ignore or offer her own snipped words in retort to him, but to openly insult him with aggressive body language that threatened further escalation, she didn't know if he was brave or stupid to openly challenge him like that, perhaps both, or perhaps as was more likely he was just ignorant to Tomoo's true nature, along with his two minions that with a flicker of her red gaze she could see glaring at Ichigo also.

That wasn't good, she knew from experience that the orange haired boy now had a target on his back, they'd no doubt corner him by the end of the day and inform him of the status quo within the orphanage, more than likely by force.

She'd seen the trio break a boy's wrist in a locker door before, and successfully play it off as an accident to the interrogating teachers, the boy that was the victim daring not to say a word in protest due to the fact they'd no doubt retaliate, most likely when his guard was down, none of their bedrooms had locks after all.

Someone should caution him to who he's dealing with before he finds out the painful way, but that brought another line of thought to her mind, should she even get involved?

With a budding feeling of conflicting emotions beginning to build within her as she looked at the standoffish boy, last night's interaction replaying through her mind, he'd been kind to her, kind to Maru and talked to her like she was a normal person, but she didn't really know him, not really, and to get involved would no doubt bring a reckoning down on her if Tomoo found out, was it really worth making her life more of a hell than it already was, even if the idea left a sour taste in her mouth, so engrossed in her thoughts of him did she almost miss her name being called, before looking away to the balding teacher that had broke her out of her musing.

After giving the teacher her own despondent acknowledgment to the calling of her name, Kaede failed to notice Ichigo at the sound of her name being called glance at her from the corner of his eye like she had done previously, his brown eyes full of curiosity before looking away and directing his attention to the front of class.

---

The sound of a chittering shrill of a rapid metal bell broke the stillness of the classroom, overpowering the quite almost lulling scratchings of pencils tips against paper and would have startled most if they weren't already accustomed to it's presence on a daily routine, it's arrival signifying the end of the third lesson of the day and the beginning of lunch hour, a much needed brevity to a collection of overworked minds.

Ichigo practically threw his pencil to his desk at the bell's announcement, he gave a sigh of relief and allowed himself to stretch his back, having grown achy from being in a slouched position for hours at a time, no matter the brief break between commuting to classrooms each period.

He scowled at the mathematically multiplications written in graphite before him with something akin to petulant ire, he'd finished just spars moments before the bell and while he was no slouch when it came to his academics, he wasn't an overachiever either, but some of the equations and formula that the small mousy brown haired woman that was their maths teacher had given them were to put it simply, a pain in the ass.

He'd take a spar with Tatsuki any day over copious amounts of maths work, at least his head didn't feel so swollen after a couple of jabs from his friend compared to an hour of exasperating mental gymnastics.

Standing up from his desk like the rest of the kids around him, Ichigo grabbed his bag and readied himself to go and grab a much needed lunch, his stomach rumbling at the sight of the box containing food Yuzu had prepared for him, as he began storing away his textbooks and stationary, before making his way to the now crowded door as his fellow classmates scurried out with reinvigorated spirits once drained by school work.

Ichigo looked over the unfamiliar faces around him as he walked the grimy yellow walled halls, intending on heading outside for his lunch and getting away from the stuffy atmosphere of the orphanage, perhaps one or two of the faces he recognized from homeroom and the other two classes he'd had previously, but most were new to him, some older than him by a year or two and others younger, apparently the orphanage systemized students by ability rather than age, so Ichigo found while his homeroom was fixed with those his age, his classes were anything but so, perhaps because the student body here could be counted below sixty with classes of barely fifteen.

It was wildly different from his school back in Karakura and came as a bit of a cultural shock to the orange haired boy, but if there was one thing that remained the same it was the affect he had on people, as he walked down the hall most actively avoided him and got out of his way, even some of the older kids took this stance with him, no doubt due to the fact he almost stood at eye level to those two years his senior and his less than friendly image.

Not that Ichigo cared, it kept most of the idiots and annoying kids away from him, with the exception of those like Tomoo and his gang, only those really genuine would suck up the courage to ever talk to him properly like Tatsuki.

As Ichigo stepped out into the yard the cool spring air and unobstructed sunlight became all to his dulled senses, he instantly took a deep breath, clearing his lungs of the stale cycled air he'd been subject to the past three hours and relished in the feel of the refreshing breeze through his hair as he shook off the cobwebs of mental fatigue that had began to gather, why couldn't they open a window in the damn classrooms?

The yard before him was pretty large all things considered for such a small orphanage, split in two with a larger area of grey gravel closest to the orphanage and a trimmed grass flat bordering the treeline, the shifting pebbles offered a crunching ambience as the orange haired boy stepped out on them and his shoes sunk into the ground slightly, to his left he spotted what was clearly designated as a play area shown by the miscellaneous play equipment that one would normally find in a park, most now occupied by children no doubt a few years younger than him and their cacophonous shrieks, while to his right a collection dull and worn wooden tables and benches sat mostly unoccupied, it would seem most of if not all his fellow peers chose to eat their lunch within the stuffy cafeteria.

Perhaps the yards' size was merely an illusion due to the non-existent boarder that would normally encompassed a school yard, here the only boarder was the building behind him and the treeline far in front of him.

Shrugging his shoulders Ichigo decided to take a seat at the wooden tables, the closer he got the more aware he became of their dilapidated condition, yet he sat down nonetheless, wincing at the creaking the bench made as he added his weight and placed his navy bag atop the table, the wood almost felt moist to the touch, no doubt due to it's exposure to the elements that had allowed algae and moss to grow unabated, not that it bothered him much.

There he sat and ate his lunch almost broodily, the orphanage so far had been both boring and annoying, and it was only his first day, everyone in this place seemed to be unhappy to an extent, even the teachers gave the impression that they didn't want to be here, barely caring to acknowledge the children around them, it was so different from Karakura and he'd have to suffer through this everyday for who knows how long, but at least he didn't have to be here on weekends too like the rest of the kids here.

He'd have to remember to punch his dad extra hard when got home for putting him through this.

'Damn Goat chin.' Ichigo thought grumpily while shovelling a piece of breaded chicken into his mouth, at least he still had Yuzu's cooking to enjoy.

Some twenty minutes later Ichigo had finished his lunch with a satisfied sigh, Yuzu really was amazing when it came to food, out of all of them she had spent the most time with their mother in the kitchen and even though she was three years his younger she outshone everyone in his family when it came to culinary craft, even their old man, but that wasn't much of an achievement, their father could find a way to burn water.

With still over half an hour of lunch break left Ichigo packed everything away once more and stood from the quite frankly gross bench, cringing at the feel of dampness on the back of his jeans, he decided he may as well use the locker he'd been given as carrying his bag from classroom to classroom and around the yard was a pain.

Just as he'd stood and began to turn back to the entrance to the orphanage while slinging his bag over his shoulder, a shock of out of place colour caught his attention from his right peripheral, causing him to halt his movements almost subconsciously and look to the new colour where only green sat previously, far off to the treeline beyond the gravelled yard, almost hidden in the shade the tress offered sat a pink haired girl.

Ichigo once again recognized the girl from the previous night and his homeroom this morning, he hadn't seen her for the rest of the day as they hadn't shared any classes so far, so she'd admittedly slipped his mind and he hadn't had a chance to speak to her again, she sat there with her back to a tree and knees pressed to her chest cradled by her thin, pale arms, her eyes were closed right now as she rested her head on the tree bark behind her, the calm breeze slowly lulling her pink hair back and forth across her brow.

Ichigo would almost say she looked peaceful if it weren't for the fact that her features were currently locked in a frown that could rival his own, and how it looked like she wanted to sink in to the shade of the trees and disappear.

She looked alone and bitterly melancholy, outcast even, he'd noticed in homeroom also, how those around her seemed to shun her, how they kept a noticeable distance between them and her as they left the classroom and entered the hallways, and Ichigo was no fool, he wasn't so naïve to pretend to not know the reason why she appeared as she did, he gave a quick look to those prominent horns atop her pink head, it must be hard for her in a place like this, to be so different in a place that was teeming with ill will and bereft of tolerance, no wonder she'd called her puppy her friend if those around weren't willing to even include her, he felt a frown come to he brow at the thought, he knew what it was like to be labelled as different for his natural appearance and be punished for it, people were either scared of him or saw him as a challenge, the fact he could see things others couldn't also brought a sense of otherness, even amongst his family.

It had brought him no end of trouble and strife, but at least he wasn't alone, he couldn't imagine how she felt as he had it arguable much easier.

Looking back to last night's interaction with her and her appearance aside, she didn't seem to be weird or anything, she acted just like any other girl, nothing to make him think of her as a freak that warranted such treatment by those around her, maybe she was a little hostile but who was he to judge on that, but overall she just seemed lonely and mistrusting, and very clearly hurting.

As if sensing his gaze on her, her eyes suddenly slid open and her ruby gaze looked to her surroundings with something akin to caution, her head shifting slightly in what could only be unease before she eventually locked eyes with his and then froze, her arms letting go of their grip on her legs and palming the ground as if she was ready to get up and bolt at any ill will on his part, and like deja vu she seemingly refused to take her striking eyes from him.

Knowing he'd been caught staring and not wanting to come across as a creep with ill intentions, after a second of holding her gaze Ichigo slowly raised his hand up and gave a her a slight friendly wave, making sure to loosen his frown also and let his lips twitch upwards slightly in a unassuming smile.

He watched as her eyes blinked with the shadow of intrigue and confusion before she slowly raised her own hand up almost uncertainly and offered her own wave back to him, her frown still holding strong though there more out of puzzlement than anything else.

And with that Ichigo returned his hand to his jeans pocket and with one last look to her, he turned around made his way back into the orphanage through the pale green double doors.

---

Once again he'd surprised her.

Kaede watched as the orange haired boy disappeared through the orphanage doors, once again befuddled at their interaction as she slowly set her hand back down to the ground and let the feel of cool grass against her skin calm the thumping of her heart in her chest and release a breath she didn't know she was holding.

She didn't know how but she'd felt like she was being watched, for the second time today she felt a strange sensation like the prickling of needle points just above her skin, a phantom feeling at the back of her mind like an electrical charge that caressed the back of her skull and then all the way down her spine and brought an alertness to her, she'd been ready to unleash a death glare on whoever it was as was her normal strategy to dissuade unwanted attention, as most, particularly those younger than her didn't want anything to do with the freaky girl that could be really creepy.

But when she finally found the person in question that strategy became null and void, and she found her pulse quickening unconsciously when she once again found herself under those warm brown eyes that stared at her, lacking any form of prejudice or disgust, just an abundance of curiosity and casual warmth.

Ichigo Kurosaki.

She hadn't known what to do when his previous scowling face morphed into a smile, a simple uplift of one corner of his mouth that spoke of nonchalant acknowledgment and then proceeded to wave at her in a friendly, relaxed manner, stupefied she could only mimic the action back at him only much more stiffly and hesitantly having never waved at anyone before in her life and felt awkward to do so, yet it was strangely pleasant in a way to respond to someone's own acknowledgment of her.

Again like the previous night, the interaction felt utterly alien and bizarre to her, so new and out of place in her life, so simple yet so positive, so different from all the negativity around her, it felt like taking a drink after hours of thirst, yet it made her feel unquenched and wanting to explore this possibility that had seemingly presented itself to her in the form of this orange haired boy, others would probably take such a benign gesture for granted, something that was in abundance in day to day life, but not her.

She felt a warmth blossom in her stomach at the thought, that yearning again, to fill a void that was birthed through a life of loneliness and ostracization, frightening and powerful.

Just what was with that boy, he couldn't be normal, something had to be wrong with him to not be repulsed by a freak like her, afterall no one treat her like a normal human with such simple greetings, or deigned to acknowledge her like she was just another person, an equal.

She clenched her hands around blades of grass, she didn't like this, this unfamiliar feeling, it made her feel vulnerable with it's possibilities and she hated the helplessness of it, she could chart her way through the familiar waters of hate, but with this unmapped feeling she had no bearing, the thought made her wrap her arms around her legs again and rest her chin atop her knees.

And all at once she felt like an idiot and pathetic when she realised she'd only spoke a handful of words to him of no real substance and a few kind gestures, and this is how she reacted to something that disturbed her equilibrium and challenged how she viewed the world around her.

She wished people would just leave her alone.

And yet.

Perhaps he really was different than everyone here, so far he'd proven to be, maybe she should talk to him, maybe he'd accept her, maybe; just maybe she'd finally make a friend.

Kaede let out an agonized sigh and raised her confused red eyes to look at the doors Ichigo had disappeared through scarce seconds ago, what was the worst that could happen, he'd prove to be like the others around her? Then nothing would have changed and she'd continue on with Maru as her only friend.

Before she could further contemplate the issue of the enigma that was the orange haired boy, movement caught her eyes and only when she registered what she was seeing did they to widen in alarm.

Tomoo and his two minions stood in front of the doors suspiciously, looking around conspiringly to see if anyone had took notice of them, perhaps not seeing her due to the distance between them and the fact that she was currently in the shade of the trees, her vibrant appearance cast in shadow.

Seemingly confident in the fact nobody had took notice of them, the three boys then slipped through the doors with no doubt malicious intent on their minds, Kaede could practically make out Tomoo's smirk from all the way across the yard, a smirk he normally wore when tormenting her.

Not good!

Kaede got to her feet instantly, her face that of alarm and uncertainty, there was no doubt in her mind that they were going after Ichigo for what he'd done this morning, they'd probably strike when his back was turned, Tomoo never fought fair and was never alone, it was an almost certainty that Ichigo would be the one coming off the worst in this scenario.

She didn't know what to do, she shouldn't get involved it would only end in pain for her, maybe she should run and get a teacher, but it'd be too late by the time they got there, and would anyone even care to listen to her, most of the adults in this place didn't care for her any more than the kids did.

But she couldn't in good conscious do nothing, she didn't know him and at the same time he didn't know her, but he'd been kind to her and kind to Maru nonetheless, he hadn't instinctively treat her as a freak, she'd be no better than the others in this place if she just did nothing because she was a coward and too selfish to care about another.

She clenched her teeth at that realisation and with that in mind she started off to orphanage doors hesitantly, before eventually breaking off into a run, uncaring at how those around her looked at her strangely, a single thought running through her mind as she eventually reached the entrance to the building.

She was going to regrets this.

---

Thank you for reding this chapter, please Follow, Favourite and Review if you enjoyed it and want more, I love hearing constructive criticism.