Rise And Shine

I had a dream once.

I was drowning in a sea of black butterflies that swarmed around me, carrying me far far away.

It was about a barren land filled with nothing but endless sand and stone. The sky glowed with an odd yellow colour and nothing remained in sight. However at night those things came and ravaged the land with power that went far beyond what I could comprehend. They were strange beings, with ring like holes that extended outside their body while bearing a variety of strange body structures unique to each their own.

Although their origins were unknown to me, all I remember is that they were an enemy that I must defeat.

Once I finished slaying them all, their bodies crumbled into dust and joined the sands that filled that desolate place, and then before me manifested a great gate that led to an unknown realm. It was purple and decorated in the golden skeletons of two men, but what was most noticeable about it, was the old man who protected it. I reached out to try and grab his hand, and then in an instant I was cut down before being burnt to cinders. Before my eyes shut forever as I felt my body being carried up by those same butterflies that brought me here.

A ruler was then smashed down into a sleeping boys head who laid on his school desk. When he quickly awoke and looked up, he saw an intimidating teacher who looked down upon him with menacing eyes.

"Kai Kureno."

 Kai was still dazed from that strike and so he lazily responded,

"As you can see, I'm busy resting my bodily functions so that I may purse my educational prowess to ultimately achieve a bright and stunning future."

A vein then popped out from his head from anger, as he whacked Kai's head once again with the ruler. The surrounding class men that watched quietly giggled at the unfolding events.

"If you have enough strength to make jokes, then try to dedicate some of that to keeping awake."

"Sir yes sir!", Kai responded as he saluted enthusiastically. The teacher responded by whacking him with the ruler once again.

As these events finished unfolding, the school bell went off, signifying the start of break. While other students left for the cafeteria, Kai quickly went back to sleep. Just before he could fully doze off however, a pair of young hands slammed down on his table.

"Did you really learn nothing from that??"

When he looked up, he saw a young girl with long black hair and eyes, who made an almost pitiful expression. Then the voice of a boy interrupted them,

"As you can see he's 'resting his bodily functions so that he may purse his educational prowess to ultimately achieve a bright and stunning future'".

Kai looked over to the door way, and saw a blonde muscular boy, also wearing the Karakura high school uniform. He made a cheeky face while grinning as he slowly approached the two.

"I swear it sounded cooler in my head, Mikoto. I didn't come off as that rude did I?"

"It was still funny as hell. I was struggling trying to hide it from that guy," Mikoto said as he delivered a strong pat on the back to Kai.

"Hey Yukiko, whose that guy over there?" 

Kai then pointed to another boy hiding in the corner of the classroom. He wore the Karakura high school uniform much like everybody else, however he also wore a grey hoodie which masked his face in a shadow. In his hands he held a black book which had a gold title labelled, "Xcution".

Yukiko hesitated to respond but she quietly whispered, "I don't think we should get involved with that guy, I've heard some interesting rumours about him."

Kai and Mikoto put their ears forward, while getting as close to Yukiko's mouth as possible, causing her to slap them both.

"IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SO BADLY, THEN GO AND ASK HIM YOURSELF."

Just as she shouts that, the hooded student got up and left the classroom leaving the 3 students by themselves in the room.

"We didn't drive him away did we?", Kai asked nervously.

Later that day

The sun began to set upon Karakura high school as the trio exited to building.

"I'm going to head off home I guess, you coming?", Kai asked the two.

"I need to go train today so I'm heading to Gonzales. I heard Sado was coming to do a training session so I'd rather not miss that."

"I see... WAIT- SADO? LIKE YASUTORA SADO??? THAT UPSTANDING BOXER?? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER." 

Mikoto made a surprised expression as he said, "I didn't expect you to be into that kind of thing, but you can just turn up if you want?"

"My mom will kill me if I get home late so I'll have to pass this time. What about you Yukiko?"

She began to panic a little as her face turned pink from slight embarrassment.

"I uhh-, I need to go to the Kurosaki Clinic to pick up some medication for my father??" 

She quickly ran into the distance leaving the two behind. Kai and Mikoto unanimously agreed,

"She's terrible at lying."

"She's terrible at lying."

As Mikoto then walked in the direction of Gonzales boxing gym, Kai went his own separate ways. His own trip took him down the quite town streets leading him to his humble home. Before he arrived he was stopped by a figure that waited outside his mediocre house. They wore the Karakura high school uniform, as well as a grey hoodie that hid their face. But deep within the shadows he could barely make out a pair of yellow star shaped pupils.

"It's you? What are you doing out here?"

They then pulled out the same Xcution book which they were reading at school and slowly approached Kai. And then a voice that sounded neither male nor female emerged from them,

"When do you think your going to die?"

Kai flinched a little before asking, "What the hell? Don't try to change the topic! I'll pummel you if you don't fess up now."

Ignoring his threats the hooded figure approached Kai as they continued to speak.

"Everyone who lives a semi-healthy life assumes they'll live up to 70 or even 80 years old, but due to stress and other factors they only make it to 50. Heck if they're too foolish and daring they even clock out at 20."

Kai then took a fighting stance preparing to take on the person standing before him.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU??"

The stranger accelerated towards Kai at a speed which he couldn't react too, which was followed by a random cut on his neck, paralysing him with fear.

"I can see it... Your death isn't that far away... Treasure the things you have before they disappear. That's the only warning you'll be given."

The door to his home then opened, causing a yellow light to shine on Kai. From it emerged a very mature looking woman with dark blue hair the same as Kai. She wore an apron covered in stains from late night cooking.

"What's all this shouting for??"

"Mom? This guy just-"

Kai turned over to see the person who attacked him, but oddly enough they had totally disappeared. Yet he did notice the faint trace of a green light which was left behind.

His mother quickly approached him before putting her warm hands on his cold neck.

When she touched it, she felt something wet yet dry stain her hands.

"Your bleeding?? Come inside, quick!"

Around 3 hours later Kai sat on top of a couch while being seated in front of a TV. A clean bandage was wrapped around his neck which sealed off his still aching wound. It wasn't bad enough that he needed to go to a hospital however it was mildly uncomfortable.

"What was that about??", Kai thought to himself. However he quickly threw away that thought as he turned the TV on.

He was introduced to the scene of what seemed to be a crowd as well as several camera crews gathering in front of an abandoned building. The man behind the podium then began to speak,

"GOOD EVENING EVERYONE! ON THIS EPISODE OF CASUAL SOUL REALM ASSUALT TRIP, WE HAVE COME TO THIS ABANDONED FACOTRY BUILDING IN KARAKURA TO RID THE EVIL SPIRITS THAT TAKE CAMP HERE. RUMOR HAS IT THAT ANYONE WHO VISITS THIS PLACE GETS THEIR SOUL SUCKED AND TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM! THIS IS A MISSION FOR THE MESSANGER OF THE UNDERWORLD HIMSELF!"

The loud sound of an aeroplane could be heard rattling above the skies of Karakura town. From it jumped out an older looking man with a strange moustache. He had a very flashy looking hat and outfit coupled with an equally extravagant cape.

As he fell from the plane he screamed,

"SPIRITS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOUUUUU!"

He pulled off a varying assortment of flamboyant possess as he nosed dived towards the ground, yet impossibly he landed with his legs still intact. He struck one more pose before the announcer called out his name:

" THE SOVERIGN OF DEATH, MISTERRRR DONNN KANONJI!"

Don Kanonji then asked the crowd, "WHOSE THE HERO?!"

"YOU ARE!"

Kanonji crossed his arms and performed his signature laugh which the audience copied,

"BOHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The camera panned to the crowd as they also followed suit with his almost cult like laugh. Among them Kai spotted a familiar figure also taking part.

"So that's why she was acting odd earlier..."

Kai quickly took a picture of Yukiko who was laughing with the crowd, hoping to tease her with this picture tomorrow. As he continued to watch the TV he heard his mother replicate that same laugh from the the kitchen, annoying him slightly.