Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Chapter 1: My Defeat (Dark Side of the Night)

The air was cold as the wind blew past me. The night was quite and lonely. The trees of the forest gave shadows in the form of monsters as I passed them. All of a sudden, a Shinigami appeared a fair distance from me. She has long black hair that was tied in a ponytail, and her icy blue eyes were as beautiful as she seemed deadly. Her white and black robe indicates that she was one of the captains of the Gotei Thirteen. Suddenly she charged in my direction and I decided to act.

As I felt my reiatsu rise, cool white liquid started to envelope my face, forming a mask; a Hollow mask to be specific. It was a simple white mask with some characteristic of an animal, but the eyes eerily glow bright orange. Out of nothingness, my Zanpakutou materialized in my hand. It was a simple black daito, with the blade reflecting the moon's light. I felt confident that I could take her. As I saw the Shinigami was almost in front of me, I raised my Zanpakutou and in a burst of pure speed I slashed at her chest before she could even touch me.

But to my surprise, the Shinigami was unharmed. She was smiling, taunting me to attack her. Taking another step before completely disappearing I tried to slash at the Shinigami only for her to evade yet again. She was standing in front of me, shiking her head as if to say that she was disappointent in me. Getting tired of this game, I released my Shikai.

"Okiro! Hoshi no Kage!" as the phrase was said, my Zanpakutou reveals its true appearance. The blade started to darken to pitch black and the guard turns glaring orange. The grip was still the same, although at the end there was a trailing piece white cloth that was attached to it.

Slicing the air in front of me, I sent a blast of powerful reiatsu towards the Shinigami only to be canceled by one of her own. Using a technique called Shunpo; I disappeared in a burst of speed and reappeared behind the Shinigami as a blur that was slashing her. But again to my surprise, she easily blocked my attack and countered it with her own. A gash appeared on my body as crimson blood started to bleed. On my knees now, I knew I was not going to defeat this powerful foe. Outmatched by the Shinigami, I surrendered and accepted my defeat. Fear coursed through me as I felt her coming nearer.

"You have won, Shinigami. Before I perish, please give me the honor of learning the name of my executioner." I said as I stared at her through my mask. I was hoping to at least learn her name before I was killed. A sudden sense of defeat coursed through me in this moment, for I saw no hope of escaping what was long coming for me.

"You will not perish Vizard, for I have decided that I will spare you from death." she said as I look at her. Her face was showing the expression of cold beauty, yet in her eyes I saw somthing more. Kindness perhaps, or was it pity? I felt relieved at what she had said, I'll live to see another sunrise it seems.

Deciding not to tempt fate, I stood up and was about to leave when all of a sudden my body failed me and I fell down on the ground. The last vision that I saw was the Shinigami running towards my direction, an expression of worry was visible on her face.

As I awaken, I felt pain from my body. I felt comfortable, as if I was lying on a bed. Haven't I fallen on the forest grounds? Opening my eyes, I saw the rays of the sun through a window. I'm confused. Where was I? How did I get here? All of these questions played in my mind. Looking over to my right, I saw another bed and someone sitting there, staring at me. Recognition was evident on my face. The person was the Shinigami from the other night.

Opening my mouth, all that came out was "Why?" Staring at her, my eyes welled up with tears. Feelings of confusion tore through my emotions, setting them astray. As they began to flow down my cheeks she answered.

"It was the right thing to do." the expression on her face was much softer than the other night. Her eyes showed understanding, kindness, and compassion. How could she fell that way towards me?

"But ten years ago, I... I tried to kill you!" I yelled the last part as the tears from my eyes continued to flow. "How can you forgive me for what I've done?" I asked her as streams of thought entered my head, thinking of a possible explanation as to why see was able forgive me for what I have done to her. "And your friend... she died by my hands. How can you forgive me?" I yelled the question as I continued to think of an explanation as to why she was able to forgive me for the horrible things I did to her.

"You were not in control of yourself that time. How could you blame yourself for things that you could not have stop." she said, a sad smile played on her lips.

"Thank you, for forgiving me." I uttered softly as my tears ran out. My body slumped, I was to tired to argue anymore. "You never did tell me your name. Please, grant me this request."

"I'll tell you mine only if you tell me yours." she said.

"My name is Anbu Yoru." My eyelids felt heavy as I said it. Unable to resist, I closed my eyes and fell into the land of slumber. The last thing I heard before completely falling asleep was the Shinigami saying her name.

"And I'm Tsubame Yuki..."

I awoke once more in the bed. Looking out the window, I could tell that it was sometime in the afternoon. As I tried to get up, I noticed that there was no more pain from my body. Turning to my right, I only saw an empty bed with a note on it. I stood up and picked the note and read it. It says:

Dear Yoru,

I must leave to go to Soul Society. I hope you get better and good luck with your life.

Yuki

Tucking the note inside my black robe, I sighed as I combed my black hair with my fingers. Walking out of the room, I realized that it was a hotel that she brought me to. Exiting the hotel, I used my reiatsu to make myself visible to the human eyes. Walking in the direction of a coffee shop, I got unknown eyes staring at my unusual clothing for this day and age. My thoughts wandered as I walked, hoping to forget what had happened in the past. But I knew better, I will never forget, for it was a lesson for me. I sighed.

As I entered the coffee shop, I sensed a few Shinigami and I'm sure they had sensed me too. Looking to where I felt it, I saw a teenager with orange hair and his companion, a teenage girl with black hair. What are they doing here? I thought to myself. Not bothered by their presence at all, I sat on the on the chair at the table opposite of the unknown Shinigami's. I ordered some coffee and cake for breakfast, the bittersweet taste of the coffee and cake reminding me of the ups and down of life.

After I had eaten my breakfast, I exited the cafe and went to catch a bus going to a nearby town that was near beach. As I stared out of the window of the bus, I could sea the blue ocean as the bus traveled on the coastal road...