Tags: Adventure, Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Humor

Note #1: This story is set after the defeat of Aizen and before Ichigo loses his shinigami power.

Note #2: About romance, I'm not so sure about that as of now. There might or might not be. Depending on the flow of the story. It also depends on the wishes of my readers, of course. /wink

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Except for my OCs and my plot~

ブリッジ

Burijji

(一)

Third Person's POV

Every day, she would wake up and does her daily routine. However, her daily routine are much tougher compared to how most folks does.

Every morning, she would wake up with a stretch of her arms and crack some joints in her sore neck. While still feeling groggy, she would stare wistfully at the window pane in her room with droopy eyes. She always leave the window ajar when she sleeps. As a result, the morning sunshine would wafted gently in, diffusing across the room. A mild heat radiated round, – wrapping the girl in an invisible shawl of warmth.

Then, she'd mutter under her breath with a small smile. "Today will be a great day, too." – that's her mantra.

Every day, she'd do her typical house chores. Ranging from laundry, sweeping/mopping the floor, to doing dishes, etc. Without rest.

Every day, she'd cook her own breakfast, before going to school. How could she not, being a third-year in high school and all?

Despite the fact that her distant guardian send her money bi-weekly, or sometime monthly, the girl would still work part-time from home. There were various reasons for this, as she felt she's already at a age when she must start to be independent. As well as, to earn a few extra tips for herself.

When night comes, she'd go to bed at 10 p.m. sharp, as she thinks that staying up late is bad for one's health and skins. After all, she takes great care of herself.

Because if she don't, no one will.

After listening to her daily routine, it sounded ordinary and mediocre. The truth is – that wasn't the case.

Akamine Mana, a seemingly bright and urbane seventeen-year-old human girl, was actually suffering from disability of walking.

To put it bluntly, she was a handicap person.

Every day, she'd get onto her wheelchair which has long became a part of her, before starting off her day.

Every day, she'd do all the house chores in the house accompanied by her vehicle. At first, it seemed impossible and required lots of effort for someone like her. However, as time passes by, she's now already a master at doing it without anyone's help.

Just because she was handicapped, it doesn't mean she's utterly useless. There's still her arms and other body parts that are functioning properly. People really need to discard stereotypical thoughts, one such as; 'disabled people can't do anything on their own.'

And Mana was ardent to prove those shallow-minded gits wrong. Anytime, anywhere.

Every day, the girl would sit in front of the computer screen with her vehicle and spent a few hours (after getting home from school) typing on the keyboards swiftly with her long, slender fingers. Occasionally when she felt thirsty, she'd then brew herself a coffee and placed the mug beside her laptop. Of course, she knew that spending long hours in front of a digital screen is bad for your eyes. But she can't help it – that's her job. As a freelance writer.

Every day, she'd cook herself three meals a day. Since she takes great care on her body, she also watch out for her diet every single day. Despite the fact that her legs were incapacitated, she's still capable of doing some light exercise on her own. (Excluding the therapy treatment for her legs) For instance, arms lifting with dumbbells.

In her apartment, foods such as – instant noodles and snacks doesn't exist. "They're unhealthy and could cause obesity if you intake too much on those." Is what she always says.

Mana has even convinced herself that, whichever food tasted delicious or addictive, are all unhealthy. Fried chicken, soft drinks, ramen, chips, and sweets are all very good examples. Thus, her fridge and kitchen cabinets were all full of colorful organic foods instead. Something kids would run away from once they see them.

Every day, before she goes to sleep, she'd turn on her desk lamp and open her diary book. Although she spent most of her time in her house and seldom venture outdoor, she'd still jot down whatever she had done and her thoughts in her diary at the end of the day.

Her daily routine might seem repetitional and boring, but Mana thought otherwise. She enjoyed it despite going through the same cycle 365 days. In fact, she wished she could live forever like this. This peaceful and idyllic lives were exactly what she yearned for.

That's how everything was supposed to be. Until she sees them.

In the beginning, Mana could only hear faint voices of them. But after turning thirteen, she starts to see them. Their shape, their distinct features. All so clearly; The soul of the dead

She was flustered and scared like how everyone else were at first, of course. However, after seeing them on a daily basis, she kind of gotten used to it by now. No longer surprised at the sight of the chain attached to them, or the gaping hole on their chest. Believe it or not, she had even befriended some of them.

For example, the grandmother whom had passed away due to an incurable illness, but couldn't rest in peace because she was worried about her grandchild. Her soul was seen roaming about in an estate across from her apartment. Every morning when Mana drag the curtains open, she'd see the grandma watching her grandchild playing with a wrinkled smile. Mana would wave cordially at the grandmother behind the glass, and the grandmother would always reciprocate with one of her benevolent smile. The girl knew her grandchild from the older woman. Thus, Mana would occasionally visit the boy when she has the time or have him over to her house to play. Only in this way, would the grandmother be able to truly rest in peace.

There was also a middle-aged business man, whom had died due to a car accident. But was unable to move on to the afterlife because he misses his wife and child. Whenever Mana needs to visit the mart, she'd see him meandering on a cross-section road. He would complain about how his boss would always had him to do over-time work. Much to the employee's distress. Or, the man would shower praises to his beautiful wife and smart child, who was a top grade student all-year-round.

Mana would listen to him like his soulmate, as the man told his stories with teary eyes. Sometime, she could sympathize with the man in regard to his work. She too, has a bossy and unreasonable boss up above her. She feels him. Totally.

Or, a Persian cat named Oscar. He was actually the pet of the previous owner who owned the apartment Mana's currently staying in. When the girl moved into the apartment, she was rather shocked to see the soul of the cat on the first day. Later did she found out that Oscar died from old age not long ago and his owner and their family immigrated soon after.

Since Mana originally love animals, she didn't mind it and was elated to have the Persian cat lived under the same roof with her! Oscar might be a soul, but the girl still appreciate his existence. Now, she at least has an accompany.

However, this seemingly peaceful days of her shattered way too soon.

The few times when Mana stepped out of her comfort house and venture out, was when she was taking out trash.

What she didn't expect was, just by taking out trash to the dumpster, could change her whole destiny.

~Time Rewind~

"This should do." Mana heaved, as she wiped the beads of sweat damping on her face.

It was kind of exhausting. Since she can't hold multiples of those bag of trash, otherwise she would have no hand to wheel herself. She has to take them out one by one. Constantly wheeling herself back and forth, up and down – with the lift.

Well, maybe she should treat it as a workout to burn off some calories.

After hurling out the last one of them, Mana mentally gave herself a pat on the back. A satisfied smile was seen plastered on her face as she felt a sense of achievement for having finished her task.

To tell the truth, Mana never liked the dumpster. It stink, of course. But it wasn't because of the smell that made her dislike them; it was because of the location.

The dumpster were located in a rather narrow, and secluded alley. It was dark, bitter, and cold. Even on a broad daylight, the alley looked as dark as night. In addition to that, Mana has heard strange rumors circulating around the neighborhood, saying this alley was haunted.

Unknown creatures roamed around and feast on human souls – something like that.

She's usually not one with superstition. True. The alley might be haunted like what the rumors said. However, that could only mean there was a soul that couldn't move on. 'Unknown creatures that feast on human souls' – such stories was either over-exaggerated, or created to scare the children.

Just when the girl swiveled her chair and was on her way to the lift, the phone in her pocket rang. Mana then rummaged through the pocket on her cardigan, before finally picking up the vibrating phone. "Hello–"

"MANA!" She instantly cringed at the thunderous roar on the other line, as she had to pull her phone away lest should her ear drum got blasted by its deafening yell.

The girl waited patiently for the fuss from the other line to abate, before putting the phone back to her ear again. "Yes?"

"Really... I still can't figure out why you own a phone, when you rarely answer to people's call!" The caller on the other line huffed angrily as she said.

"Sorry, I was busy just now. Is there something wrong?" asked Mana. No matter what situation she's put in, the girl always have it under control. Why? Because she never loses her cool, as she's not the type to get enrage easily. Unlike a certain someone who was on the phone with her...

A sigh was heard from the other line, and Mana could already pictured the woman massaging her aching temples. "There's a pending project in my hands here. No one has taken it yet. I'm calling because I thought you'd be interested." The older woman stated, albeit more calmly now.

Mana paused for a few seconds at this. The topic has seemingly piqued her interest, like what the older woman predicted. As Mana thought about the long hiatus she has taken since her last project ended in a huge success few months back, maybe, it's time to consider getting back on to work. She had rested plenty enough.

For now, let just see where this is going.

"May I inquire the type of genre for this project that you mentioned of?"

"Supernatural and horror."

"... My apologies, but I'm not taking it. Please ask someone else–"

"Why!? I thought you'd be the most suitable writer to this project, that's why I have it reserved for YOU!" The other line soon exploded with howls and shouts. As usual, Mana has to pull her phone a few inches away before the woman's temper pacified.

As a freelance writer, Mana has taken up a few projects before. Ranging from your typical bittersweet Romance – to thrilling Action, filled with tons of sword dancing. However, if there's any genre she hasn't tried as a writer, that would be – Supernatural.

She seemed to be avoiding that particular genre, as Mana has never seen taken up a project with 'superhuman powers' as its concept.

"Just because I can see spirits, that doesn't mean I write them well, Aoi-san." Mana reasoned out flatly.

She has never once thought it was a gift that she could see what others couldn't. If possible, Mana didn't want to use this 'ability' (if she could even called one) to her own benefits. It would feels like she was abusing it. Thus, she wanted her work to have nothing to do with anything related to Supernatural genre. Or even Horror.

"How are you suppose to know when you don't even try!?" Aoi, who's an editor to Mana's works, retorted strongly. "The fact that YOU can see them, makes the project half succeeded in itself, ya know!?" the older woman kept on persuading the girl until she could feel her throat parch. Still. She has to keep going. There's no way she was going to back down from such 'golden' chance! As Aoi could already envisioned the amount of profits they were going to earn with this~ Even if she has to lull her by deceiving, she'd definitely make Mana take this project!

However, it's not easy to convince the young freelance writer. "But–"

"No buts!" snipped Aoi, before asserting, "I've sent a draft concept of the project to you, at least take a look at it first before deciding. Alright? If after looking at the draft you still feel it's no good, then I'll accept your refusal. Without complain."

This time round, was Mana's turn to sigh. Well, both Aoi and Mana has known each other for a long time ever since the girl became a freelance writer. Initially, Mana has kept it from everyone else the fact that she can see spirits. Besides, who would believe her anyways? Even if they did, they would have run away from her by now. But one day, she was caught talking to the 'air' by Aoi, while in truth she was actually talking to one of a spirit. Under the older woman's unyielding pester, Mana conceded and finally told her the truth. She thought once the lady had known about it, her reaction would be the same as everyone. However, that wasn't the case.

Much to Mana's shock, the lady actually believed her. Adding on to the girl's stupefaction, Aoi was thrilled upon knowing the secret. She has always believe the existence of ghost ever since reading the first horror story at the age of nine. Instead of feeling fear, Aoi was fascinated, as she could feel herself a step closer to this unknown world that she has only seen in fictional stories through Mana.

A draft? Mana thought, as she searched the aforementioned paper through her sea of memories. If Aoi has mailed them to her, she would have seen it when she opened up her mailbox this morning. But the draft never came. As far as Mana could recall.

"When did you mailed them?" asked Mana.

"Have you forgotten? The day before yesterday when you took a trip down to the office, I've already given them to you. It was in one of the document folder."

…

Don't tell me...! Mana gasped, as her eyes widened upon realization. Uh-oh.

"I think, I've accidentally mixed them up and thrown them away..." confessed Mana, as she snuck a side-glance at the dumpster behind her.

"WHAT!?" hollered Aoi, as she banged the table in adrenaline on the other line, "search them! I don't care. Those were the last copies I had on them, you've got to find it at any cost!"

Really? When the girl has no idea which bag of trash she had thrown them in? She must be joking.

Mana doubted, why should she go through such troubles when she has no intention of taking up those project? But, the girl had promised the lady she will take a look at least. So, she couldn't back out even if she wanted to.

Their call was soon ended by Mana as she now has another troublesome task to complete; Finding the lost papers

The girl began to take out the bags of trash she had thrown them in earlier, before spilling out its contents and sifted through the mess with quick, but meticulous eyes.

She would have to take a long bath after this whole affair ends. Ugh.

It's not here. After finding nothing but scraps of food, Mana proceeded to the next bag and repeated the same action she had done. Constantly taking out bags of trash from the dumpster despite the stink.

When the girl was on the verge of giving up and just go home after her fifth bag, God finally showed mercy on her; she found the draft at last.

She can celebrate and give her prayer of gratitude later, after she's done on cleaning up the mess she had caused with her search and putting the trash back to where it came from.

As Mana was preparing to put the bags of trash back to the dumpster, a loud shriek escaped her mouth and reverberated the deserted alley.

"Is that a... h-hand?"

Mana questioned to on one in particular with quiver voice, as her eyes wavered on what seemed like a human hand, sticking out from underneath the bags of trash inside the dumpster.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, she shakily cleared out the bags. Suppressing the fear that was gnawing at all her being as she proceeds to identify the owner of its hand, while chanting in her heart that what she saw must be a prop. Surely.

After the obstruction were out of their way, a sight of roughed-up male with light blue spiky hair, adorned by a weird right jaw bone hanging on the right side of his face, came into view.

It wasn't a prop.

A/N: Firstly, let me thank those of you who decided to give this story of mine a try. Thank you! *bow* I hope you enjoyed that despite the flaws and grammatical errors in them. You see, English was never my native language. My vocabulary are very limited, too. And sorry if the story look amateurish. 'Cause I'm indeed an amateur writer at this. *cough*

Please review~!