A slight groan escaped your mouth as consciousness started to come back to you. Pain over flooded your sensors. You went numb, you couldn't think. The only thing you knew was pain. Not even bothering to open your eyes you attempted to move off your back. From being thrown into the wall it wasn't the best of places to be resting. But you found that moving was not an easy feat. You couldn't get your body to move an inch. It felt as if you had been filled with sand. Sharp painful sand.
Breathing was starting to become painful for you. With every tiny rise and fall of your chest you could feel your ribs move and slid over one another. The nerves at the ends of the bones were raw and rubbing up against one another. Tightening your jaw you tried to rid yourself from the pain. No use for every small movement, every little breath of air, formed a new more intense wave of pain. For what seemed like hours you laid there just wishing that sleep would grab you again take the pain away.
"Oh will you just wake up?" a voice grumbled grabbing your attention. Who ever it was sounded both bored and pissed. The voice sounded so familiar, but you just couldn't place it. After a moment of preparation, you finally opened your eyes. Turning your head slightly you found yourself staring at a corner. And in that corner was your speaker. Sitting there was none other then Ichigo. 'What is he doing here?' you questioned just staring at him. But he wasn't looking at you. He didn't even know you were awake. Lazily he was leaning back on the chair only using two legs. His hands were behind his head and his eyes were on the ceiling. But none of this was giving you a clue as to why he was here.
"Where am I?" you questioned breaking the silence that hung in the air with all but a whisper. Quickly Ichigo's head shot in your direction. His eyes were wide and focused on you. But the sudden movements sent his chair off balance. In a matter of seconds, he had lost all control of the chair and went toppling towards the floor. A loud crash echoed throughout the room once he finally connected with the ground. For a minute or two Ichigo stayed sprawled on the floor. He obviously had expected you to wake up anytime soon. Muttering a few random curses, he kicked the chair but made no attempts of getting up.
"Ichigo. Shut up. And get off the floor," came a voice from the door. Turning your attention to the door you found Rukia standing there. Her arms were crossed over her chest while her back rested comfortably on the doorframe. Her eyes were focused on you. Not knowing what was going on, you stared back at her. "You're at the Kurosaki clinic," she said answering your first question. All you could do was stare at her. You had no clue even where the Kurosaki clinic was located. But that didn't matter to your right now. Though something was bothering you. Rukia seemed to be deep in thought. Something was going on with her. What?
"Rukia! What's your problem?" screamed Ichigo jumping to his feet. A look of anger and rage seemed to fill him. 'He gets that worked up over someone telling him to shut up?' you thought staring at the orange haired boy in disbelief. Lazily Rukia turned her gaze towards Ichigo. "We have no time for your stupidity," she stated calmly closing her eyes and seeming to go into deep thought. "Like hell," he growled gripping his hands into tight fists. He was ready to beat the crap of Rukia right here, right now. Now there was a few screws loose in that head of his.
While the two argued, you grew bored with your position stuck on the bed. You were ready to get up, and now. Thinking about the best way possible, you ending up pushing your elbows under your body to support your weight. Once that was accomplished, you tired to sit up. Now it was time for your body to fight back. Your abs contracted your stomach putting pressure on your clearly broken ribs. But you weren't going to give up. Giving off a low growl you continued to push yourself into a sitting position. Finally you made it. Now all you had to do was get on to the floor.
Turning your glace over towards the floor you took a deep breath. Already you could tell that this was going to be painful. Throwing your legs over the side of the bed you cringed. But it wasn't that bad. Yes there was pain, but it was tolerable. Taking one last deep breath, you pushed yourself off the bed. Now it was time for your pain to get the best of you. The second your feet touched the floor, your legs buckled and your ribs rebelled along with your now pulsing back. Quickly you went flying through the air. Mentally you cursed yourself. Why do you never stay put?
A jolt of pain raced through your wrist. But that was it. You had not hit the ground. Slowly you turned your gaze upward. Standing there was a clearly pissed Ichigo. He held your wrist firmly in his hand. "Youre a pain," he muttered never letting go of you or looking at you. "Ichigo!" Rukia screamed staring at him in wonder. "Ya, ya," he said taking your right arm and placing it over your shoulder. "I guess you want to go home," he said leading you out of the room. You couldnt find your voice to answer him. Sure you had only known him for two days now, but you didnt expect any type of kindness out of him. "We have to explain a few things.." Rukia said before leaving the room ahead of you and Ichigo.
A boring silence filled the air. For fifteen minutes you had sat in your living room. Ichigo, Rukia, and your brother Keitaro were all sitting around. Your anger rose as no one even attempted to tell you what was going on. "What was that thing?" you questioned resting your head on the back of the couch to stare at the wonderful ceiling above you. You could feel everyone's eyes on you, yet no one said a thing. "Why was Ichigo attacking it?" Another question no one felt like answering. "Why could no one else see it?" Still the only thing you received was silence. Giving up you growled and grabbed a pillow. Whipping it to the side you hit Keitaro. "Taro, tell me damn it!" you growled completely pissed with the whole situation.
Since the first time you got home, you brother turned to look at you. All you did was stare. He was keeping something from you. And by the looks of if, It was something important. Taking a deep breath he ran his fingers through his hair. "Do you really want to know?" he questioned back to looking at the window. It was a perfect sunny day. But why did you have a feeling that the story would not match the day. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know" you stating sighing out of pure annoyance. With your answer out in the open, no one moved, and more importantly, no one said a word.
"That thing you saw. It's called a hollow," Rukia said finally answering one of your questions. Bringing your head up, you looked at her. She was staring directly at you. Finally it was a conversation. "Hollow is another word for a spirit. But an evil one. Hollows steal the souls of people and other spirits." For a moment all you could do was stare at her. Yes you had called that hollow yesterday a spirit, but you didn't actually expect it to be a spirit. It seemed as if Rukia understood your confusment. Quickly she turned and pulled out a notepad from next to her.
"Here we go again" Ichigo said throwing his head into his palm. Rukia glared at him before turning back to her drawings. Flipping to the first page, she held it up to you. On the page was two teddy bears. One was dark and the other was light. The dark one had a long tail and what seemed to be devil ears. Hollow was written above the picture. Over the light bear was Good Spirit. Surrounding the bears were a bunch of squiggles. All you could do was stare at her. She was a terrible drawer and that had helped you none.
As she prepared to flip to another page Ichigo ripped the book out of her grasp. "Explain without the stupid drawings" he hissed throwing the notepad across the room so she couldn't get the drawings without him stopping her. With one last glare, she turned her attention back to you. "To save the souls from the Hollows what is called the Soul Society was created. Here people called Soul Reapers are sent to attack and destroy these monsters" Here she kept babbling on, but you tuned her out. 'Soul Reaper That's what Ichigo must be.' You thought looking over towards him. He seemed to be board with the information he already knew being thrown at him. His gaze never left window..
"Wait" you stated breaking Rukia off. She stopped and just stared at you. She patiently waited for what you had to ask. And it was taking you a while to find the right words to ask what you wanted to ask. "A Soul Reaper?" you half stated half asked. She just nodded obviously knowing there was more. "Dont they have to be dead?" What that she laughed. "Yes, but Ichigo here is a special case. Not everyone he proved has to be dead to be a Soul Reaper. But other then you, everyone in this room is a Soul Reaper."
Abruptly you stood up. Your bands shadowed your face hiding your expression. "I'm late for work" you stated walking towards the steps. Your body lost all pain as a hidden reserve of strength emerged. "Noz! Wait!" Keitaro screamed as he stood up. You said nothing, just continued your walk up the stairs. "Noz!" Angrily you paused on a middle step. "Shut up Keitaro!" you screamed now running up to your room. Quickly you grabbed your guitar and threw on new clothes. Your mind was filled with so much information and you needed to sort it out. Work would be just the place to help you get some frustration out.
Keitaro watched as Nozomi walked out the door slamming it in the process. Running his hand through his hair he kicked the sofa. "I'm sorry Taro" Rukia whispered not daring to look at the angry Soul Reaper. "Sorry?" he growled whipping his head in her direction. "My sister hasn't called me Keitaro in years, and YOUR SORRY! How can you let that" but he was cut off by Ichigo. "Shut up you baby," he growled. Finally turning his attention from the window he looked at Keitaro. "An angry sister isn't the worst thing in the world," he stated glaring at him. "And what exactly would you know about the worst things in the world?" Keitaro seethed balling his hands ready for a fight. "SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" Rukia screamed making the boys look at her. With a glare at both of them she continued, "This isn't about either of you. We need Nozomi to understand the situation and we need to keep her calm or she'll never agree to help"
"So, you get a guitarist for an hour early, and you pay for Etsu's bill from yesterday," you said looking at your boss. Sighing she looked at you calculating if it would be worth paying the bill for your extra service. In then end she agreed. You would be saving her money in the end, but only a few dollars. That pig Etsu had ordered the biggest meal she could find. But at least it truly was a free meal now.
Walking on stage you set up the mic and amp. Sitting on the stool you looked out at the crowd. Not many people were there. Or at least you didn't notice many. Your mind was still in a slight daze. Methodically you set up the stage for just you. Finally you took your seat on the stiff wooden stool. "Till the rest of the band gets here, I will be giving you an guitar show," you said a smile on your face. Best to act like nothing happened. Best to tell yourself that nothing happened.
You're not the only one
I'll take you by the hand
And I'll show you a world that you can understand
This life is filled with hurt
When happiness doesn't work
Trust me and take my hand
When the lights go out you will understand
The song Pain by Three Days Grace was one of your favorites. It poured your heart and soul into words. Or at least how you felt at this moment in time. What had happened between your brother and you today had really upset you. He had been hiding this from you for quite some time now. How could he keep something that big from you? How you could have not noticed it?
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing
Rather feel pain
The small eruption of clapping sounded from people in the small caf. This put a small smile on your face. At least some people could still be a smile on your face. Turning your attention back to tables you finally looked to see who was out there. A devious smirk came to your face. Sitting the back corner of the caf was none other then Etsu.
Placing your guitar on your stool, you hopped off the stage. Slowly you walked back up to Etsu. With her headphones on you she never even noticed you get off the stage. "This your new favorite place for lunch. She jumped at the fact of someone suddenly sitting in front her. "What do you want?" she growled taking another bite of her sandwich. "To get back at you for laughing at me," you stated again standing up. She now glared at you. The only thing she got out of what you said was 'payback'. And that said by you is never a good thing. "You'll be singing today," you said smirking and looking at everyone else in the room. "How would you like a guest singer today?" you asked the crowd. They cheered. But of course that wouldn't get Etsu on the stage.
"I'm on break," she stated. Now it was your turn to glare at her. She obviously was making fun of you for Keitaro ditching you to play alone. "To bad," you growled grabbing her by the shirt. Roughly you dragged her to the stage. Throwing her into the mic you growled, "Sing." She just glared at you. 'She better not just stand there' you thought as you started to strum your guitar. Dance With The Devil by Breaking Benjamin was clearly the song. And Etsu knew that song. Taking a big gulp you looked back to glare at you one last time. Then to your surprise she actually started to sing. Her voice was soft and gentle, but amazing at the same time. If she could just get over her fear of people, she could be a better singer then you.
Close your eyes, so many days go by.
Easy to find what's wrong, harder to find what's right.
I believe in you, I can show you that I can see right through all your empty lies.
I won't stay long, in this world so wrong.
Say goodbye, as we dance with the devil tonight.
Don't you dare look at him in the eye, as we dance with the devil tonight?
Trembling, crawling across my skin.
Feeling your cold dead eyes, stealing the life of mine.
I believe in you, I can show you that I can see right through all your empty lies.
I won't last long, in this world so wrong.
Hold on. Hold on.
Hold on. Hold on.
Goodbye.
Preview of 5 people ->
Ripping your head phones from your ear you quickly turned around. Confusion hit you hard when you saw who it was.
Turning your glance over towards Keitaro you could see a smirk on his face. 'He's up to something'
"What are you doing here?" you asked taking a step away from the ladder so your brother could get off.
"Now. You are the one that wants to be Soul Reaper," he said looking you in the eye. Now you were completely confused. 'Who in the world thinks I want to become a Soul Reaper?'
