A/N:hey everybody! if you all haven't noticed i changed my name from shortliketoshiro to .dancing. i'm still not entirely happy with my penname, but i'll let you all know what it is if i changed it. here you go!

Disclaimer: i do not own any bleach characters, i do own the universe they are in though.

Chapter 3

Ugh. What in heaven's name happened? I opened my eyes to a burned down fire, the sun was already high in the sky. I frowned, it can't be that late can it? I looked around again. A bow with its quiver was resting against a tree, a sack lay next to a log, a pail of water sat by itself and I was alone. No one was around, how can they be so trusting whoever they are? I mean did they not just save me from a destined death?

I sat up and groaned as my head spun in so many different directions. A crunch of footsteps approached again.

"You're awake." The voice was that of a boy. I closed my eyes and answered "Yes."

"How do you feel?"

"Fine." I turned slowly to face him, having no idea of what to expect. I was shocked. This boy was no older than me. His shaggy hair was pure white with some hanging in his face, the rest all in messy spikes. I eyed him. He wasn't very tall, but still slightly taller than me, he had wiry muscles toned from being in the forest as his clothing suggested. He wore the traditional browns and greens of the Wood people and I assumed his bow was from the Wood too, even though it had a blue tint that symbolized the Northern peoples. The last thing I looked at was his eyes, THE eyes that had been following me in the forest yesterday, THE eyes that had saved me from dying, eyes that were a striking blue color. He couldn't be from the Wood, the Wood people had brown or green eyes, they matched the forest, how could he have blue eyes?

Before I could stop myself I whispered "What are you?"

"I see." What? "My name is Toshiro." Toshiro huh?

"Are you a Lone?"

"No." Of course, a Wood person is never a Lone.

"Are you by yourself?"

"Yes." He looked at me. I shifted, he still didn't look away. After awhile I got uncomfortable, no one ever has looked at me that long. Eventually I got fed up with his staring and finally just asked.

"Are you going to ask me?" That seemed to snap him out of his trance. He blinked and took a deep breath.

"Yes."

"Well? Go ahead and ask."

"Are you a Lone?"

"Yes."

"Are you by yourself?"

"No," he took a sharp intake of breath and stepped back slightly, "you're here with me." That seemed to calm him and he breathed again. I moved to get up, but almost fell over since my head was spinning a mile a minute. Almost instantly, he was by my side, grasping my arm to support me.

"I'm fine. Just give me a moment." He seemed to contemplate it for a minute and slowly let go of my arm, hand still stretched out in case I fell again. I straightened up. It felt good to stand, the ground was not the best place to fall asleep on.

"How long was I out?" I was worried, did they find my trail again.

"A few hours." He walked over to the water pail and came back with a cup for me.

"Thank you." I took a sip and then drank more deeply as my thirst appeared out of nowhere.

"They're gone you know." I sputtered and spit out any water that was in my mouth. After a couple of coughs, I finally called out a pathetic "What?!"

"I killed them. They were a danger to us all." Wow, I'm free. I smiled. I'm free, free of pursuit, I can do anything I want until some new ones come across my trail. I looked over at the boy who was staring intently at the sky. He didn't look like a killer, but appearances can be deceiving. Look at me, I don't look dangerous, but I am…sometimes anyway.

"Thank you."

"I didn't kill them for you, I killed them for everyone."

"Oh."

"Get some sleep. We're leaving at nightfall."

"We're leaving at nightfall?" Did he really expect me to travel with him? I travel with no one except it. It is my only companion.

"Yes."

"What makes you think I'm coming with you?"

He looked at me with a scowl on his face. "You can barely take care of yourself, you really think I'm going to let a girl walk around by herself? Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

"I don't even know what kind of person you are! I just met you!" He frowned, but seemed to accept my response, since his face smoothed out.

"I'm a friend. Get some sleep, we're leaving at nightfall." He moved away and laid down. I stared at his back for the longest time. Who does this guy think he is, ordering me around and whatnot? I don't take orders, ever. I thought about leaving, running faster than the wind, he wouldn't be able to catch me then.

"If you leave, I will still follow you." I took an involuntary gasp. How did he know that I was planning on leaving? I sighed, this boy. I laid down on the forest floor again.

This boy was weird, but he was my kind of person.

************

A/N: so how was it? i included toshiro in here finally, though i was slightly put off by the way he was treating momo and such...in order to clarify some confusion, this does not take place in soul society nor does it take place on earth. this occurs in an alternate dimension or planet/society. it is in no way connected with bleach/soul reapers/hollow/etc. at all. oh and i made toshiro taller than momo do to writing purposes, but note, he is not that much taller only slightly... please read and review!

Reviews are an author's drug, please give me my daily dosage!!!! mucho appreciation for those who do!

~.dancing.