Bleach: Sea of butterflies

Boy's feet shuffled through the dirty streets, his eyes constantly scanning the area for any signs of danger. His small frame seemed even smaller as he tried to make himself invisible, slipping past the few people he encountered. Most of them were thugs, or worse, people who looked at him with predatory glances, and he didn't dare let his guard down. Every step brought a new wave of fear, and the memory of his torturer's voice echoed in his mind.

*"Hey, princess, let's play."*

He winced, clenching his fists. The sight of his thumb, still bleeding from where he had bitten it, made his panic rise. The blood smeared across his skin, and he could feel his heartbeat quicken. He stumbled into a dark alley, his knees weak and his breath shallow.

"I can't stay here. I have to leave," he whispered to himself, his voice trembling. "If I don't, I'll be caught again… tortured… or worse."

The boy sank to the cold, filthy ground, drawing his knees up to his chest and hugging them tightly. His whole body trembled, and his mind was a battlefield of fear and desperation. He couldn't get the torturer's face out of his head—the man's twisted grin, the cruel gleam in his eyes as he inflicted pain. It haunted him, replaying like a broken record.

The nightmares had been relentless.

The previous night had been filled with flashes of agony, with him reliving the moments in that dark shack. Every time he closed his eyes, he was back in that chair, tied down, unable to escape the burning rod or the sharp nails being driven under his skin.

He pressed his hands against his head, trying to block out the memories. But it was no use. He was trapped in this nightmare, both in his mind and in this forsaken city where nothing but suffering awaited him.

Morning came, though he hadn't moved an inch. He was too paralyzed by fear, his body stiff from sitting in the same position all night. The alley around him was cold and empty, the street he had come from still as ominous as ever. Goosebumps prickled his skin as he stared out at the shadowy path, his heart pounding in his chest.

But then he heard something—a sound that cut through the silence like a beacon. It was faint, but unmistakable. Children's voices. 

"A child's voice?" He whispered, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't seen a single child since he'd arrived in this hellish place. The temptation to find out where the voices were coming from was too strong to resist.

He peeked cautiously out of the alley, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place, but the voices were clearer now, coming from just beyond the street. He crept forward, his movements slow and deliberate, his eyes wide with fear as he looked around for anyone who might notice him.

He emerged into a small scrap yard, and there, he saw them—two boys standing by a pile of discarded junk. One of them was holding something up, his face beaming with excitement.

"Hey, Minoru, come take a look! I found something good!" the boy called out.

The other boy, Minoru, walked over and smiled. "Wow, that'll get us some good food tonight. Good job. Everyone, come! We're going back."

Three more children appeared—two more boys and a girl—joining them as they prepared to leave the scrap yard. he watched them from a distance, his heart aching with longing. These kids seemed happy, even in a place like this. He didn't know what happiness felt like anymore.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the girl approaching him until it was too late.

"And who are you?" a voice said from behind him.

His body froze. His heart raced as he whipped around to see a young girl staring at him curiously. A chill ran down his spine, and his instincts took over. Without thinking, he turned and bolted, his legs carrying him away as fast as they could.

"Wait!" the girl called after him, but he didn't listen. He couldn't. Fear consumed him, and all he could think about was getting away before something bad happened. Before someone caught him.

He ran through the narrow streets, his breath coming in ragged gasps. When he finally stopped and dared to look back, no one was following him. He peeked out from the alley and saw that the children had returned to their scrap yard, unaware of where he had gone.

The girl's voice still echoed in his mind, but he pushed it aside. He didn't want to think about her. He didn't want to think about anyone. Exhaustion overtook him, and despite his fear, sleep claimed him once again, plunging him into the familiar darkness of nightmares.

---

Meanwhile, back at the children's base, Minoru stood at the door, arms crossed, waiting for Rin. His patience was wearing thin, and his yellow hair was tousled from running his fingers through it in frustration.

The door creaked open, and Rin, the airheaded troublemaker, slipped inside with a sheepish smile. "Do you know how dangerous it is outside? Where were you?" Minoru asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Rin's face lit up with a hint of guilt. "I was following a butterfly, and then I saw a boy watching us from afar. I thought he might want to join us, so I asked him. But… he got scared and ran off."

She smiled brightly, her usual carefree self, and the other children couldn't help but smile along with her. Rin was the warmth of their group, the one who always brought light to their otherwise bleak lives. Even Minoru couldn't stay mad at her for long. He sighed and patted her head.

"Sigh… Well, I'll forgive you this time. But next time, don't run off on your own. Stick with us, okay?" he said.

Rin nodded enthusiastically, her grin never faltering. "Hn!"

---

The next morning, Minoru sat cross-legged, staring at Rin with a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. "You want to catch him?"

Rin beamed, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Yes! He looked scared and lonely, so I decided to help him. He needs someone to care for him!"

Minoru rubbed his temples, his frustration mounting as he scratched at his yellow hair. "Sigh… Fine. But if we fail to get him, we'll leave him alone. Got it?"

Rin nodded vigorously, her expression full of confidence. Minoru knew better than to argue with her when she was like this. Once Rin set her mind on something, there was no stopping her.

"Alright," Minoru said with a resigned sigh. "Hideki and Arata, you're on scrap duty. Me and Rin will handle the new boy. Anko, you stay here today and get some rest."

The children nodded, each of them preparing for their tasks.

(End of a chapter)