Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ The Cycle of Souls ❯ A Ravenous Soul ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: If you don't know who owns Bleach by now, I have to ask why are you reading Bleach Fanfiction, cuz it ain't me.

 

The Cycle of Souls

 

A Ravenous Soul

 

Who the hell is she? It was beginning to give him a headache. The woman who stood at the head of his classroom, Inoue Orihime, she was familiar to him. He thought at one point perhaps he'd seen her around before, but no he felt like he knew her far too well for it to have just been a chance sighting. However, he thought, if I really do know her that well shouldn't she recognize me as well?

His lips twisted into a scowl as he looked away. This was becoming bothersome. He didn't know the woman, yet he felt as though he should. He'd even considered the idea of having run into a look-a-like, but that idea went out the window as both, her face, voice, and even her large breasts were familiar to him. Perhaps he should ask if she had a twin sister running around. He sighed under his breath, this was pointless, he should just try and forget it for the time being. Turning his head back towards the board, he should be paying attention. He froze; he'd nearly turned his face right into Inoue-sans bosom…again.

Her heart shaped face stared down at him with a look akin to concern, “Are you alright, Kanzenkiba-kun? You've been spacing out a lot. Do you feel okay?” the back of her hand pressed against his forehead.

He snatched her hand away from him in shock. He wasn't used to people touching him, well aside from his mother and occasionally Tsume, but still. Realizing what he was doing, a slight frown made itself known on his face as he gently place her hand on the desk. “I'm fine.”

She frowned and it was a disturbingly attractive action as her lips pouted in what he assumed was concern for him, “Mmm…Well if you say so.” She stood and he was suddenly thankful for the breathing room, “Just try to pay attention, okay?”

He nodded, just thankful to have the woman away from him, she was intrusive to his space. Watching her figure move to the front of the classroom, he narrowed his eyes as he felt heated glares on his form. He turned to stare in return; several of the males in his class had begun to stare jealously at him, however at his cold stare most turned away nervously. Still a brave few continued to glare at him. Weren't they the new recruits of the judo club? Inwardly he smiled.

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He'd taken to wandering the halls during the lunch; it was the only way to prevent Tsume from finding him and annoying him to the point where he'd plot the younger male's death. Tsume was surprisingly good at finding people, so he'd never stay in one spot for too long, hence the hall wandering. After all he couldn't give up his only real moment of peace during school up just for the imbecile to prattle nonsense to him.

Unfortunately for him, it was his own mind that kept him from solitude this time. Inoue Orihime, he stared vehemently at the hallway floors, his memories of her were shrouded in secrecy, but just the fact that he knew he had memories of her annoyed him. They were his memories and yet they weren't there for him to call upon. He sighed; he'd be much happier if his past would just leave him alone and stop scattering breadcrumbs.

The next few hours passed uneventfully and quickly. He was thankful for it, he'd spent the rest of his class period, focusing on his work and taking notes in attempt to keep his teacher off his mind. And amazingly, it worked. That is until he walked into the Judo club's dojo afterschool. He'd forgotten the heated stares of his classmates. Well, he did until he felt them attempting to set him aflame. It was needlessly to say mildly annoying. It seemed that they had yet to learn the club's hierarchy.

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In the span of twenty minutes he had succeeded in expressing the “food chain” of the Judo club to all but the truly thick-headed. Majority of his challengers laid exhausted, red in the face and panting for breath, scattered along the mat covered floor. Only two remained, both however were beginning to tire, while Tomoe stood calmly by open window, his breath flowing evenly and showing not a trace of exertion. The one on the left was the first to charge.

 

“A shame you're not allowed to break bones, eh?” Tsume spoke from his position outside, looking into the window, “Then you wouldn't have to worry about them getting back up, hunh?”

 

Tomoe merely grunted in response as he darted in, swinging his opponent into an arm-lock. He watched stoically as his opponent cried out in pain, the lock had hindered him enough for him to use his momentum against him and knock him to the ground. He'd barely had time to pin him when the other piece of trash barreled in, intending on pinning him instead.

He never gave him the chance. Still holding his weight on the boy beneath him, he swept the other off his feet. Snatching his arm out of the air mid-fall, he slammed him harshly to the ground and held him there with a particularly painful arm-lock. Calmly he waited and soon his patience was rewarded when he heard the sound of tapping against the mat. Releasing them, he stood only for the imbecile to speak again, “Heh...think they'll stay down this time?”

“Don't you have somewhere to be?” He turned to stare at his grinning associate, “A match I believe?”

“Hah! I didn't think you cared enough to remember my matches?!” Tsume laughed loudly.

“I don't, you idiot.” He spoke, wiping the small amount of perspiration from his brow, “I only know because it's the only time you're not around to bother me.”

“Heh. Is that what it is?” He questioned himself as he looked away. Raising an eyebrow, “Hey, isn't that the new teacher?”

Tomoe looked against his better judgment. Sure enough, Inoue-san was making her way across the courtyard, headed for the gates most likely.

“Well, see ya! I gotta match to go to after all!” he called dashing in the direction of the gates. Did the fool think him stupid? It was obvious; he was only rushing to bother Inoue-san.

 

“Kanzenkiba.”

 

Not that he particularly cared. It's just that he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps Inoue-san was familiar to Tsume as well…

 

“Kanzenkiba!”

 

….or Tsume was just being himself and was only going to “check her out” more closely. He shook his head at the thought.

 

“Kanzenkiba!” a heavy hand laid itself upon his shoulder.

 

He flinched as instinct kicked in and he snatched the offending body part and flipped the body it belonged to. His foot, pressed down against the throat of his assailant and he stared cruelly into the eyes of the man who'd dared touch him. Only for him to observe the shocked face of Tanemura-San…his teacher. Eyes widening, he quickly released the man's hand and removed his foot. Helping him to his feet he apologized, “Forgive me, Tanemura-San, but you shouldn't sneak up on me.”

Tanemura stared down at 17 year old and a tremble of fear went down his spine as he thought back to the look in his eyes, it was like a demon had pinned him. Shaking the feeling off, he laughed nervously, “Oh, it's no big deal. But really I had been calling your name for some time.”

Tomoe frowned, had he? That bothered him, had he been so lost in thought that he didn't notice someone walking up to him, while yelling his name? Inwardly, he cursed Tsume, if the moron hadn't been bothering him, he would have never been staring out the window in the first place. “I see. Then it is my mistake.”

“Haha!” Tanemura laughed, “No hard feelings. After all, it's because of those reflexes of yours that we've won the championship 2 years in row!”

The tired and weary boys in the dojo stared in wonder. He was the champion?! No wonder they'd all been dealt with so quickly. They groaned in defeat. It would seem that they would have to take a different route if they wished to vie for Inoue-San's affections. Unknown to them, Tomoe had no clue as to what they were jealous of.

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As usual and much to his annoyance, Tsume had caught up with him on his way home.

“I thought you had a match to win, Tsume?” He stated evenly, hoping that he'd realize how annoyed he was with his presence, but like normal, if Tsume did realize it, he ignored it.

“I did.” He grinned to himself.

“Then why are you here?” he asked bitterly.

“I knocked them out in the first round.” He smiled in what most would consider a cheeky manner, but it was rather frightening when Tsume did it.

“I see.”

Tsume had been boxing as an amateur for a year now. As to him going pro, it was only a matter of when, he was that good. When he'd started it Tomoe looked forward to seeing less of him, but unfortunately, as learning took less time and his number of matches grew, it seemed as though Tsume was too good for many to stand against. Which meant Tomoe was back to square one.

Nothing else was spoken as they stepped into the foyer of his home and removed their shoes. “Tadaima.” He called to his mother, who was no doubt vegging out in front of the TV with a bag of chips. He remembered the time he asked why it seemed as though she never worked. So he was unsure of what to say when she said that she didn't. A few days later after a talk with Tsume, he'd made the mistake of asking was she whoring herself. It was the only time he could recall his mother hitting him, although to be honest it was with a blunt object and not her actual hand. He could still feel exactly where the bowling ball had hit him if thought about it long enough. Needless to say he never discussed his private affairs with Tsume again.

No doubt his mother had spent the day planning her revenge, which was why he'd allowed Tsume to accompany him home. Climbing the stairs, he'd purposely moved quicker than Tsume in the removal of his shoes to put space between them. For some reason, Tsume always served as a distraction to his mother, one that he took advantage of often.

 

“Oi! Wait up freak!” Tsume called as he clumsily pulled off his shoe and stepped up into the house.

Tomoe almost smiled, he could actual feel the tension as his mother's attention was redirected from the television.

Tsume growled as he made to climb the stairs only to be stopped by someone standing in front of him. He blinked, wasn't she suppose to be lazing in the glow of the TV. Scowling, he attempted to step around her. It didn't work, as she moved with him, not that it ever did. His frustration grew as they began to play a game of side step. Scowling deeply, he faked left and dashed to his right. He grunted as she shouldered him to the floor. He sneered when the she-demon crouched over him, “Say it!”

“Tch!” he looked away.

“Oi!” she pulled him to eye level by his shirt, “Say it.”

Growling, he did as she asked, “Konbanwa, Aleasha-san.”

Her expression softened and for a moment Tsume considered her to be attractive, “Good evening to you too, Tsume-kun.” But then she ruined it by slamming him back to the floor, before going back to her precious TV. Muttering curses, he was sure she could hear he made his way up the stairs.

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One might wonder how Tsume and he could be friends. The answer was fairly simple. They weren't. Well not in the true meaning of the word. They were associates, close associates, but associates nonetheless. The only reason they'd tolerated each other to this point was because of the common bond they shared.

Five years ago, they'd both been found seemingly abandoned in the middle of “knew who they were either. They didn't meet until a few months after the incident, Tsume was 11 and he was 12. His mother was the one to point out that they'd had similar backgrounds and had decided that they should get to know each other. To this day he wasn't sure if he regretted it or not.

“Man, your mom is a fucking bitch!” Tsume complained rubbing his shoulder.

“Then you shouldn't provoke her. You know what she wants to hear, all that's required of you is to simply say it. Then you could avoid the trouble of her making you say it.” He sat at his desk, homework already out.

“Tch! And give her the satisfaction of thinking she's won?! Hah!” he made himself comfortable on the bed.

“I expect you to straighten every wrinkle out on that bed before you leave.” Tomoe told him eyes on his paper.

“Eh?” Tsume stared at him, “You can't be serious.”

“When am I ever not serious, Tsume?” he replied.

Tsume didn't bother with a reply; instead he laid back and stared out the window. Tomoe had never directly asked why he never went straight home. He didn't have to. It was common knowledge that Tsume was considered reckless and also seen as a deviant. Whenever he stepped foot into the orphanage he was sent dirty looks and accusing glances, he'd seen it himself a few times. It was an odd experience. So his imbecilic acquaintance spent a few hours at his house before he finally left for the orphanage. As he'd stated before, they weren't friends they were associates with a common bond. They'd never spoken on their dreams, although both knew the other was having them; they both knew the other was familiar even if the other would say nothing of it, so when the horrific cry sounded, neither said nothing. They both knew what the other was feeling; although he got the feeling it was worse for Tsume.

That screeching roar echoed within the depths of their soul, that feeling of a desperate hunger that urged to claw up into their throats. “Tsume…”Tomoe stood.

He felt the haunted stare Tsume turned onto his back, “It's time for dinner.” He left the room, only vaguely aware of his associate following behind him.

 

A/N: I succeeded in making the chapter longer!!! Well at this point I can only say please review, let me know how I'm doing.

 

-Ja ne,

BlackFirelight