When Sakura Haruno's eyes close for the very last time, it is not in a peaceful slumber. It is not tranquil. It is not on her deathbed, surrounded by her family. Not by her children, or her children's children. Not like how she remembered the death of her very old great grandmother, the one she barely knew but the rest of her family was very sad to see go.

No.

It is abrupt, and violent. And maybe it should have been expected. After all, ninjas live a life of danger, a danger her parents had tried to get into her head before she even started her first day at the academy. But her mind had been filled with frivolous thoughts; those of looks and beauty, of boys and crushes. Normal, fine interest to have, especially at her age, but maybe the perfect example of how regular she was; how ill suited she was. Maybe her parents thought she would quit before she could ever become a genin, that she would realize sooner how very little she was prepared for the dangers of the world.

And maybe she should have given up. Given up after their first mission gone wrong; the one where Sasuke almost died, Naruto lost control and they watched with sadness as the people they had just called their enemies bleed out beside the person they loved.

Maybe she should have given up after the chunin exam, where her weakness became more and more apparent and the only thing she could do was bite and bite and bite until her precious people were safe. But even then, she had been saved. By Lee, by Ino.

By Sasuke.

And maybe she should have given up after Sasuke left. Because clearly there was nothing keeping their team together in the first place. Naruto maybe, because Naruto always managed to make the impossible possible, he left an impression on people that Sakura could never. But even that wasn't enough for Sasuke.

She should have given up, because if she had, Tsunade wouldn't have had to waste her time on the likes of her. Her potential will simply remain potential, and no matter how much she has, it has done nothing to save her.

She gurgles, blood filling her lungs, inhibiting her ability to breathe. Its hot. Like lava in her body. Her throat. A mantra in her mind repeats this is wrong this is wrong this is wrong as the red liquid pools into places it shouldn't, and she knows it shouldn't. The canopy above her is blurry and red as the blood seeps from her wounds and leaks into her corneas.

It's so painful. No one told her it would be this painful. It hurts. She wants her mom, her dad, Kakashi-sensei, Tsunade.

Naruto.

Tears are welling, or maybe not. It could very well be the blood dribbling down her face like violent rain.

She wishes she could spare him the pain of losing another teammate. She wishes she had been strong enough to share the weight of his existence as a jinchuuriki. Strong enough to carry his burden of loneliness. She wishes she could have stopped Sasuke and kept their little family together. She wishes she wishes she wishes.

As Sakura lies there in the dirt of an unfamiliar land, choking, the faces of her killers burned into her eyelids like hot coals. She regrets her very existence. Regrets her weakness and regrets her stupidity. From the very bottom of her heart, she regrets.

But she promises herself.

I will never forget their faces. She thinks in that moment, strong and true. I won't forget.

She won't forget her killers. She won't forget her weakness. She won't forget her friends, her family.

She won't forget the pain.

Her nails fill with dirts as she claws at the ground, in so much pain she could scream and yell until her little lungs stop functioning. But she can't, because her lungs are already failing her, the the edges of her vision are growing darker and darker with each passing regret. The tears in her eyes burn, but does nothing to stop the red.

Maybe in death she will find peace. Maybe in death she will find happiness. Maybe in death, those that she will leave behind will grow stronger.

It's scary, her mind blares. It's scary and it hurts and it's awful and she just wishes for it to end. She wishes for it to end but she declares despite it all, even at the uncertainty of life after this one.

I won't forget.

She won't forget.


Name: Sakura Haruno

Age: 13 years old

Occupation: Genin

Status: Deceased


The street rat of Shunkashuutou


Coolness is the first thing Sakura feels in the inky blackness of sleep. Semi-conscious, and unaware, yet her senses remain sharp far before her mind can keep up. But it's not the air that's cool, though its not necessarily warm. Her hand is curled around something; smooth and cold, but undeniably familiar. There's also something else, something warm on her face, something distracting. Instinctively her mouth curls into a frown.

Consciousness hits her then, and bright green eyes snap open.

Uncomfortable is one of the first thoughts that blares in her mind upon waking up. There's a soreness in her body that she doesn't immediately comprehend until she goes to move her hand, prying her fingers from the smooth material. They're cramping, clearly having been stuck in the same position for quite a while. As she shifts her body, it's clear the rest of her is more or less the same.

'nother bad dream?

A gruff voice cuts through Sakura's fog of exhaustion like a knife. The katana laying across her lap wobbles as she adjusts herself and she looks down at the object, realization dawning on her. She had fallen asleep clutching her sword again.

I fell asleep? She thinks back, slightly frustrated.

Cool it, brat. It ain't worth gettin' worked up over. The deep and gruff voice replies. Ya clearly needed it.

Sakura rubs her eyes and finds herself agreeing despite herself. He was right. It had been a good while since her last uninterrupted sleep. She's only really capable of sleeping three hours at a time due to her nerves more than anything. If she was out that hard, she must have really needed it.

Her body creaks, and its to be expected having been sleeping in that position for so long. Raising her arms high above her head, she pops her shoulders, but it does little to ease the discomfort in the rest of her body.

My brittle bones. Sakura thinks sourly.

Yer too young ta' complain about brittle bones. The voice replies grouchily, though there is a tint to his tone, like he's privy to the factors that cause her issues and they don't involve age.

I can't help that my bones are brittle. Sakura retorts within her head, frowning outwardly as she rubs the sleep from her eyes. They're bleary for a moment, colors blaring in her vision from where she pressed too hard, before crispening up. She blinks a couple times.

It's dark, save for the beam of light seeping through the boarded window above her. It illuminates the run down hearth a couple feet away, hitting the broken chain that once used to hold a cooking pot. She moves her head to the side when the glare catches her eye painfully.

Unfurling her legs from beneath her, with some pain, Sakura grimaces at the pins and needles and stretches them out, pointing her toes. The katana teeters.

Nightmare? The voice repeats, tone giving the impression of not caring but Sakura knows better.

I don't really remember. She answers.

He grunts in response.

Maybe it was what I ate yesterday? I think that guy was selling rotten fruit. gave her diarrhea at the least and a stomach ache that followed her throughout the rest of the evening. Definitely isn't far fetched to think it gave her weird fever dreams too.

Just reportin' what I saw. The voice states matter-of-factly. He then says quite gravely. I don't think ya should go back there today.

I agree. Sakura concurs, standing up after her body appropriately stretched. She grabs the katana off the floor, which had fallen during her impromptu yoga, and swings it over her shoulder. Her messily thrown together strap is slowly wearing away from where it rests between her neck and shoulder. She'll have to replace it soon.

Maybe I'll head to the river today; the fishermen are nice to me and might share some of their catch. She thinks. And a quick wash wouldn't hurt.

There's no answer, and it's just what she expects. She's come to learn that silence usually means agreement.

Walking over to the door, and taking care to sidestep the broken floorboard, Sakura cracks her knuckles; each finger individually. Definitely asleep more than three hours.

That's why yer bones are brittle. He says, and Sakura can almost see the unimpressed raised eyebrow.

Cracking my knuckles has nothing to do with my spine. Sakura refutes as she brushes the rag covering her door frame - it used to be an old kimono, she thinks, but its too tattered now to really say - to the side. The sunlight assaults her eyes immediately, causing her to make a noise between a gurgle and a grunt. She shields them from the sun with her hand and frowns. Its high in the sky.

It's already mid-day? Sakura asks him.

He grunts a confirmation. You were out cold.

The fishermen will have already left by now. Sakura thinks with a sigh, habitually brushing the soft, indented flesh slashed across her cheek. Maybe I'll head east instead. You think the old man forgets what I look like?

Doubt it. He answers.

Her feet automatically guide her out from her doorway and down the dirt path leading from her current home. It's technically not her house per se, but she had won it fair and square from the squatters who lived in it prior to her. It wasn't a long story, but it wasn't really an interesting story either in her opinion. At the end of it all, she started living there and that was about it.

The building creaks uneasily in the wind, causing Sakura to double back and give it a good look over. It's really in a sorry state, and probably had been for years before even the squatters had shown up. It is a small building, falling apart at the seams, wood rotting and weathered. The door is long gone, replaced with the tattered remains of some type of clothing. The windows are all boarded up; not her work. Wooden stakes jutting out of the grass behind the shack are the only remnants of the fences that used to surround the farming field. The field itself had become overgrown long ago. A farmer clearly owned it before, and it's a mystery as to why it became abandoned - Sakura has a couple ideas.

Its cold and drafty at night, and the noises it produces in the wind have her struggling to sleep. She's a light sleeper - she has to be - and its rare when she gets an uninterrupted sleep; like today. It makes her uncomfortable at the thought, because if someone had've come in she would have been defenseless.

Overall the house isn't much, and she doesn't really consider it home, but she would take what she would get. It beat living on the streets, and definitely beat living in the rundown buildings amidst the district itself. An isolated shack in the big grassy fields was far more preferable, and she was less likely to be bothered. The commute to busier districts was a pain in the ass though but it wasn't like she couldn't handle it.

Be safe. The voice says as Sakura looks out towards the horizon.

Always. Sakura answers as she walks in the direction of the town she knows like the back of her hand. Always.


"Oi, watch it brat." A particularly rough looking man growls at Sakura, and she wastes no time in stepping off to the side, allowing him to stomp past her. She stares at his back for a moment and then continues onwards, threading through a massive crowd of people and doing her best to avoid bumping into any more less than nice looking people.

The market in Shunkashuutou is as lively as always, filled to the brim with all kinds of Soul Society residents, be it those from other parts of Rukongai or those from the Seireitei. It's oddities and quality goods make it a highlighted spot for commerce and its popular because of it. It's noted for its pretty stalls, friendly merchants and street performances.

But, as stall owners stare down at her unkempt appearance with nothing but disdain and animosity, eagle-like in their intensity, Sakura can't help but find the situation all so laughable. It's not of course, but it's taken her far too long to feel anything but absolute despair regarding it all and she'll call it what she wants.

Shunkashuutou has a reputation. Its market is of course the most notable, but depending on who you ask that might not be the only answer you recieve.

Gambling rings, fighting rings, thievery, extortion, murder. Those are a couple of things Sakura can list off the tops of her head. She can think of others too, but she'd rather not.

"Girly," An older man sunk in the shadows of the alleyway she walks by waves her over as if to highlight those exact thought. "Why dont'cha come over here?"

Sakura doesn't even grace him with a reply and continues walking. He will probably be gone the following day anyways. That's how it always goes when the reality of Shunkashuutou bleeds into the pristine image of the market. It's just as well.

Once upon a time she might have thought more of it, but she knows better than to worry about those who aren't her. It'll only get her killed.

Oosoujidan.

They've had control over Shunkashuutou far before Sakura even appeared in Soul Society. She's never had a direct confrontation with them, but she's seen their handiwork with her own two eyes and it was all she needed to see to know that they're a dangerous group. And unlike the lesser gangs in the area, Oosoujidan is far more interested in staying in the shadows. That only makes them a scarier figure in her opinion. They work behind the scenes in order to control Shunkashuutou and everyone is none the wiser. They're far more organized than a run of the mill gang, and they make great lengths to make sure Shunkashuutou's image stays as clean as possible.

Sakura doesn't know how much of this is actually true, she's never met a member in the flesh and most certainly hasn't met their leader. Whatever their prerogative truly is, it's unclear. Regardless, they are a threat and incredibly dangerous and if she wants to even think about surviving; stay away.

But there is a rumor surrounding the group's leader in particular that is interesting. People claim that whoever runs Oosoujidan currently might have once been a shinigami. Sakura can only wonder how anyone would have found that out in the first place. Those that have met with the leader most likely don't live to tell the tale.

Regardless of the inner workings of the market and the district as whole, the people are about as shitty as they come. They're rude and greedy and they sure as hell have no qualms with beating those that wrong them until they're black and blue and within an inch of their life. Only in the hours of the night or within the safety of their homes of course, lest they have the Oosoujidan step in for image issues. The people have long since learned how to work around it and the Oosoujidan don't really care as long as it's out of sight. What a righteous group.

Sakura can't help but think that the image issue doesn't really matter to begin with. Those that live in the Seireitei never bother with their district aside from participating in the market anyways, and it's unlikely that they would ever slap down something akin to law and order. It's not like the shitty state of Shunkashuutou is a secret either. Anyone would known if they dug a little..

A little birdy once told her that one of the noble clans that lives up in the Seireitei might be on good terms with the Oosoujidan. An agreement between the two might involve total control of Shunkashuutou in return for a shared monopoly of the business. The shinigami turn a blind eye to the atrocities in return. Disgusting if true, but Sakura has her doubts. Her sources aren't exactly legitimate, after all. Drunks mostly, and it's only been through conversations she's overheard.

The idea of law and order is a laughable concept to her. The closest thing to law they have within Shunkashuutou are the punishments dished out by the Oosoujidan themselves, which is ironic more than anything. Age is not entirely accurate in Soul Society, so even children like her aren't exempt, not that she thinks they would feel any remorse even if that weren't the case. She has to be careful where she sticks her nose as a result.

Sakura steps gracefully through the masses, the odd person giving her a strong side-eye. She is a strange sight. She's kind of tall for her age, but mostly skinny and lanky with hardly any muscle to be seen. This and her signature pink hair make for a very odd appearance. If not for the sword slung over her shoulder, she would appear very unthreatening. Shunkashuutou would residents know better but she can only wonder what the regular Rukongai residents think of her, not that she necessarily cares. When people underestimate her it usually works in her favour over theirs.

"You think the Captain will notice if we take a break from recon to eat?"

A specific conversation enters Sakura's ears and she stop and turns towards the source. She finds it in the form of two shinigami stood in front of a stall and her hackles raise instinctively. She has to stop herself from grabbing the closest rock and chucking it at them.

Calm down. The voice says, and Sakura takes a deep breath. Right, that is not something she wants to start, especially not here of all places.

"Do you really want to incur Captain Ichimaru's wrath? That Hollow could be close by, we can't lose it." Says the other shinigami, and Sakura's interest is immediately piqued. Shinigami with business in Shunkashuutou? And with a Hollow at that?

"I'm sure it's long gone by now." The hungry shinigami says, as if that justifies it. "We've been at it for the last 5 hours and no one has seen or heard anything, it has be gone by now. Besides, how many times will we get to visit Shunkashuutou in a year? I hear their takoyaki is high quality."

The more serious shinigami frowns and then lets out a great sigh. "Fine." He relents. "A quick break and then we have to get back to work."

The hungry one whoops and then they head in the opposite direction. Sakura frowns.

A Hollow in Shunkashuutou? That's not normal. In fact, she doesn't think she's ever heard of that happening before. Strange that it would be enough of an issue for them to have shinigami come down when they never have before; though she certainly hasn't heard of having a Hollow here before either. Dammit, now her interest is entirely grabbed! Looking over her shoulder, she curses as the shinigami are long gone by now. Well, there's nothing she can do but keep an eye out then, for her own safety at least. Just like the Oosoujidan, Hollows aren't something to mess with either.

Expression entirely pensive, Sakura continues her trek onwards until a specific landmark enters her line of sight. It's hard to miss what with the large crowd of people surrounding it and she can barely see through the thick of the congregation. She does manage to catch sight of one person though.

She's a young woman, with long brown hair and a pretty face that doesn't fit the district she's selling vegetables in. Possibly the daughter of the previous owner? Maybe the old man had finally kicked the bucket while Sakura was away. If so, she has a grave that needs a nice little dance done on top of. Regardless, she's unfamiliar to Sakura, that would mean she doesn't know Sakura either.

Still, Sakura approaches with caution. The woman might not look like she belongs in Shunkashuutou, but Sakura doesn't let her pretty face fool or deter her. A nice face means nothing, and she isn't about to make another mistake like that again. Unconsciously Sakura rubs the bandaging around her wrists at the thought.

Taking an immediate left, Sakura slides into an alleyway and with great skill, scales the wall, grappling onto any nook and jutting piece of material to help her leverage her way up. She does so with practised ease and pulls herself onto the shingled surface of the rooftop, crouching low. The common person wouldn't be looking up above, far too busy with the ongoings of the market, but it doesn't mean she's invisible. Sakura hops over the gap and onto the neighbouring building, minding her distribution of her weight as to not slip and give away her position.

It is unexplainable to her why it feels so natural to travel on the rooftops of the shoddy infrastructure of Rukongai, but it feels natural nonetheless. Its a practical way to travel, sure, in order to stay out of eyesight of those who would want to find her and hurt her, traveling by rooftop was the best course of action. But… there was more to it, more than practicality. Something about being high above those beneath her, and the wind against her skin makes her feel at home far more than any shitty shack in Rukongai could.

But, that's neither here nor there.

Plopping herself down near the edge of the rooftop and sliding down onto a boarded off balcony, Sakura watches those beneath her with keen eyes. She crouches down lowly and peers at the crowd through a gap between the wood planks and the railing.

This section of the market gets the most traffic. The vegetable stall just below is so well known for its good prices and quality that even the shinigami buy from them. It's also the place Sakura has to avoid at all costs because she has some less than good history with them. One wrong move and she might be recognized.

The people wander back and forth through the market, picking through the items on display and cutting deals with the merchants of the area. Many of then are seen purchasing fruit or fish from the more food oriented stalls, and Sakura can't help but think about how pointless it all is.

They have no qualms beatin' a child when it involves food. The voice suddenly pipes up for the first time since Sakura arrived at the market. Most of them don't even need ta' eat, yet they eat anyways. Stupid.

Sakura agrees. It's a known fact that the residents of Rukongai don't get hungry. Why would they? They're dead. And yet that fact does nothing to stop them. Those that can afford it eat lavishly while she struggles to make it day to day with the scraps she finds. She thinks about the two shinigami from earlier and stops herself from growling.

There are few who are like her and she's never learned why that's the case. Some people go hungry and others don't, and it's just her luck that she's one of the few that requires food in order to survive. It's unfair to the highest degree, but maybe that's just how her life is fated to be.

So, she stares down the people below her, observing the items they have on them, how strong they seem and how likely they would be able to catch her. These are all important details and one misstep could end up with giving her a beating or make her a Oosoujidan target if she's not careful. Thankfully, she's developed an eye for targets and knows just who to pick. Those who are more well off are out of the picture. They usually come in horse drawn carriages or with bodyguards nearby; definitely not a valid target. Those from Shunkashuutou are also off the list, because they are either as poor as her, or they know how to scrap and it'll come back to bite her if she's not careful.

No, the best target for her are those that come from the central Rukongai. It's a known fact that all of Rukongai is quite poor, but the center is the most peaceful by far and as a result the souls there don't know how to fight quite like a Shunkashuutou residents. Some do of course, and she has to be careful of that, but she'd rather take her chances with them than with other Shunkashuutou souls. They also generally purchase reasonable amounts of items. Enough for them to carry on their way back to their district and so just enough that she can successfully take from them without being burdened with excess.

Something catches her attention as Sakura scans the mob of people, something she hasn't seen for quite a while. There are teens amongst the crowd, dressed in dirty and torn yukatas and kimonos. They aren't close together though, they're evenly dispersed throughout the market's horde and if she hadn't been up high she wouldn't have noticed them. But, from her perch, Sakura can tell almost instantaneously that they are all a group. The teens, despite their scattered numbers are heading towards the same place; the stall just below her.

They're goners. The voice points out.

Her stomach clenches.

They aren't from Shunkashuutou, this is clear. If they were, they would know better than to do what they're about to do. Sakura's stomach turns again when they begin to cause a commotion. A common strategy. One of the boy's is putting on a show of panic in order to distract the people around them while the other boys come in and attempt to clean house. Whatever they hope to have happen is not going to, Sakura thinks.

The young woman running the stall is immediately privy to their plot and grabs the first boy she sees. Like a bolt of lightning, she catches his wrist and yanks him over. He freezes in shock, having not expected to be caught so quickly, and then attempts to wrench out of her hold, clawing at the hand holding him captive.

The woman is unperturbed at his wriggling and her grip remains unchanged. The other boys seem to realize the mistake they made and two of them run away, while the last one seems hesitant. The boy being held captive yells something, something she can't quite make out, and the other boy seems to give up and run away. The remaining boy's face contorts in horror and betrayal, and he continues to struggle.

A couple stragglers in the crowd stop and watch, but most people move on. Thieves aren't uncommon in any part of Rukongai, Sakura assumes, so it must be a common sight for many and they don't look likely to step in. For Shunkashuutou residents however, its even less likely, because they know that getting involved leads to far more consequences then just an argument on the street. Oosoujidan is always watching and they aren't about to stick their neck out for a kid. Sakura has already resolved the fact that this is how Shunkashuutou is and will always be. It's a dog eat dog world and those that act foolish will only get their just desserts. Help won't ever come, now matter how much one hopes, and the cost to get involved is far greater then the reward.

The woman yanks the boy towards the house, and his struggles are fruitless. Sakura makes to turn away, because she knows what the outcome will be, but its then, in his wild struggles that he happens to look up. His watery gaze manages to meet her cold one and it is pleading. Sakura freezes and her breathing stops, unable to turn away from the misery in his terrified eyes.

Help. His lips read and Sakura stills. He digs his deet into the dirt and tries to keep eye contact with her as long as possible. As if she's his last lifeline and he struggling to keep his head above water.

Please. He mouths, tears welling up in his eyes. Help me.

Sakura does not move. The boys face grows more desperate and Sakura cannot move.

And then she turns her head away.

She does not see the betrayal on his face, but she doesn't have to because she can imagine it well enough. His expression burns its way into her eyelids and deep into her brain and with it comes immense guilt.

It ain't yer fault. The voice speaks up. Ya'd get killed fer sure if ya got involved.

Right. It doesn't concern her.

She closes her eyes tightly and her hands tighten into fists. Its none of her business.

You can't be weak in Shunkashuutou, because if you're not careful, the guilt will eat you up before the monsters do.


Not quite what I expected. Gin Ichimaru thinks as he slinks through the crowded streets of the Shunkashuutou market. The people around him give him a wide berth - the effect of the Captains haori, but his ever present grin isn't helping either.

It's his first time in Shunkashuutou, and while he's heard tales of its greatness and never necessarily put great stock in them, he can't help but feel slightly disappointed. It's not quite the fun and exotic place he'd been told it was. It's about as normal as can be and that makes the whole mission even less exciting then it already is. It's also incredibly busy, and he's never been one for crowds.

'Hollow sighting in Shunkashuutou' read the report slapped on his desk that morning while he'd still been drinking his morning tea.

"This one's yours now." Grunted a surprisingly even-tempered Kenpachi. It was quite a surprise to see the man handling any form of paperwork, but maybe it made sense that the only time it ever crossed his hands was when it was being pushed onto someone else.

"Oh?" Gin had quipped while sipping from his tea pleasantly. "And what makes tha Third Division tha lucky winners?"

"My squads being moved." Was all Kenpachi said before walking off. "Now you get to handle this small fry."

And that's really all he had heard, at least until Izuru gave him a proper report about ten minutes later, out of breath after having to chase the 11th Squads Captain. Apparently routes were being rearranged, and it had been decided that Gin's squad would take over Kenpachi's routes because the Third was much closer. A little informal, but that never bothered Gin.

And that brought him here to the present with seven souls confirmed eaten. Not surprising to Gin that the Hollow had been left alone long enough for that to happen. Kenpachi never bothered with the ones he thought were too weak to matter, and focused instead on the ones that sounded far more fun.

A pleasant man, that one.

Well, it isn't like Gin cares that much about it either, but this is his job so he might as well do it. And all the years of trust he built up in his squad would go to waste if he lets the beast go on its rampage much longer. His reputation of creepy but capable might just become 'creepy' if he's not careful. Can't have that.

He sent his squad to search around the perimeters while he, Izuru and a select other few searched the inner district. The last place it had been spotted was near the outskirts of Shunkashuutou, but they only had vague witness reports to go on so the search was less fruitful then he hoped. It isn't a small district either, so finding the thing had been much more difficult than anticipated. It must be a smarter Hollow with a reiatsu cloaking ability, because no matter how far Gin stretches his senses, he can't find a thing.

"Captain." Izuru pipes up, and Gin turns slightly in response as they walk. "I think it might be best if we regroup and find out what the others have learned. I don't think we'll get anywhere this way."

Clever little Izuru, always knows the next best step. Gin was just thinking the same.

"Maybe so." Gin replies and then hums in thought before stopping in place. "Contact tha troops an' find out what they've learned. Come back ta me once ya've found out. I'll keep searchin'."

Izuru nods and then bows, disappearing in a flash of shunpo. Loyal to a fault, that one. Its endearing in many ways and sadder in others.

Gin turns back around and continues onwards a sigh at his lips, but not yet released. This Hollow issue will only continue to grow if they don't find it soon and Gin for one, is not fond of that. It means more paperwork.

Oh. He spots two very familiar Shinigami stopped at a food stall some ways a way. What a nice little surprise. Not for them of course. His grin widens.

Dishing out punishments might improve his mood.


No luck today. Sakura lets out a big sigh, arms behind her head as she walks. Her stomach growls and she frowns at its volume.

Try again tomorrow. The voice says.

Ain't gotta choice. Sakura responds. She's outside of the market now, walking through the regular streets of Shunkashuutou. After the debacle with the child thieves, it proved difficult to find a target that wasn't clutching their items like a lifeline. A terrified face pops into her mind and Sakura presses her eyes closed.

Quit thinkin' about it. He says. Its ain't yer fault.

Right. Right she can't dwell on it. There's too many other things to worry about; like dinner for one.

Ironically, she finds herself far less tense in the streets of Shunkashuutou than the market. Sure the people here are more likely to stab her over a small bit of money, but that's just… out there. In the market, she doesn't know if she's being watched. Any wrong move could land her in a gutter with other corpses. It's risky to steal in this district to begin with, but dying from hunger and dying from murder is a risk and reward factor she has to work out on her own.

Wonder if I can play up the helpless, sad girl act. Sakura thinks, scanning the streets for any poor saps. Unfortunately they're all hardened looking people, glaring at her as she walks by as if they know exactly what she's thinking. She sighs.

That's a risky plan ta begin with. The voice tuts. He's right, with how many unfavourable types there are in Shunkashuutou, if she bites off more than she can chew and they overpower her, she doesn't even want to think about what would happen to her.

The voice growls lowly as if even the thought of that is enough to infuriate him.

Its fine. She attempts to placate him. I'll find another way. I'd like to be out of here sooner than later.

This seems to calm him down and he humphs. Ya got a plan then?

Not in the slightest. She answers and he sighs.

Clap clap clap clap

Sakura tenses and immediately reaches behind her, grabbing the hilt of her sword. Those on the edges of the streets who are conscious turn towards the sudden noise as well. It's the sound footsteps, and they're coming from directly ahead of her.

A group shinigami comes around the bend lead by a blonde man with a permanently sad face. Sakura releases her hold on her sword immediately, not wanting to cause a misunderstanding with shinigami of all people.

"Out of the way!" One of the shinigami behind the blonde one shouts at her and other people walking down the street. Fury grows in Sakura's gut and she bristles at the order. Bastard thinks he can just order her around? She'll fucking-

Calm down. Ya don't want ta cause a commotion with them of all people. Let it go.

Sakura bares her teeth for a moment, before relenting, stepping off to the side and allowing them all to pass. The blonde man spares her a quick glance as he runs, but only for a moment.

"Fucking shinigami…" Growls a scruffy looking man slouched on the ground behind her, words slurred. "Good for nothings…" he continues on with his curses and then nods off. Sakura ignores him.

All Shunkashuutou residents feel the same way about shinigami to some degree, after all they do nothing for their decrepit district and treat them like trash. Grinding her teeth and clenching her fists, Sakura burns up inside. But then a thought hits her and she starts moving in the direction they ran.

Oi, what're ya doin'? The voice barks.

They must be after the Hollow. Sakura replies, kicking off into a sprint. I'm gonna follow them.

How do ya think that's even remotely a good idea?! Are ya stupid?!

The bodies. Sakura thinks back. If there's any casualties I can take stuff from the bodies.

She tails the shinigami from a distance, hiding behind the occasional object just in case.

Absolutely not! Haul yer ass back there; we'll find another way! He begins to panic, though his tone is nothing but low and growling.

There might not be any other way. Sakura responds firmly. I can't just wait for opportunities that won't come.

The voice gets stopped up and makes a noise of displeasure. He knows it to be true, he knows better than anyone.

I'll be careful. If at any point you tell me to run, I will. She attempts to win him over. And it's not like I'm going to fight the Hollow.

He stays silent as she continues to follow the group of shinigami, taking a sudden left as they move down another street.

Fine. He relents. But if I tell ya ta get out of there, ya move yer fucking ass, are we clear?

Crystal. Sakura smiles.


This situation is worse than he thought. Three more souls dead and still no signs of the Hollow anywhere. This is growing into a situation, and if it continues he might have to alert the Commander. A curse wants to spill from his lips, but Gin remains composed. Damn Kenpachi, the situation would have been completely avoided if he has just done his job. Gin also refrains from pulling a hand down his face. Of course he gets stuck with the mess.

"Captain!" Izuru shouts, alerting Gin to his presence as he jogs over, followed up by five of their Squad's shinigami. "I have a report."

"I'm afraid yer too late." Gin smiles though it's mostly bitter, and Izuru's face drops.

"You mean-" It's then that he catches sights of the splatters of blood on the ground and trees.

"Three more dead." Gin answers, sliding his arms into the sleeves of his shihakusho. "Not confirmed, but I can't imagine they survived. And still no traces of tha Hollow either."

"I'm terribly sorry, Captain." Izuru bows, extremely distraught. "If only I'd been quicker!"

"Don't apologize ta me." Gin says, because it really isn't Izuru's fault, it's Kenpachi's for allowing it to go on for so long. "We just have ta solve this issue soon. You," He points at one of the shinigami behind Izuru whose name he doesn't even know. "Report ta tha Captain Commander what's happenin' here. Come back as soon as ya do."

The shinigami nods and takes off in the direction he came. Doesn't even know shunpo that one. Should have picked a higher seat.

"The rest of ya scout tha area and report back immediately if ya find anythin'. Izuru is with me." Gin commands the rest of the group. "Dismissed."

The rest of the shinigami disperse leaving just him and Izuru.

"Now," Gin says looking back towards the forest, grin ever present. "There's somethin' that's botherin' me."


It's definitely a horrific scene, Sakura thinks as she crouches in the bushes nearby. Blood is smeared all across the ground along with the nearby flora. A Hollow was most certainly been here, and unfortunately for her has left no corpses behind.

Guess we try elsewhere. If the Hollow long gone, we might as well leave. The voice says, trying not to let his relief show.

Sakura frowns. She doesn't have time to wait around for something dangerous, but it definitely seems like a waste to just leave after all the tailing she did.

Let's give it an hour. Sakura replies. If nothing happens, I'll leave.

This time he does sigh. Brat…

I'll be fine. There's even a Captain here. If anything goes wrong I'm sure he can deal with it.

She doesn't really like the idea of letting a shinigami settle it, but dealing with Hollows is their job so she'll be fine if she sticks around him. Keeping completely still as she watches them, she puts one knee to the grass.

The Captain has just sent off the other shinigami, leaving just him and the blonde one from before. She's never seen a shinigami captain before, but she's heard descriptions. The stark white haori with the number on the back is a hard one to mistake. This guy is the leader of Squad three from what she can tell. Altogether he's kind of an odd looking duck, a little creepy too. He hasn't stopped smiling since she arrived. Weird.

She doesn't know how great of a plan this actually is, fueled by both hunger and curiosity. Sakura has never seen a Hollow before, but she's heard tales. They're terrifying beasts that consume the residents of Soul Society with ease and without remorse. It's the Shinigami's duty to deal with them, that much she knows.

As she rests there, eyes intense in their stare, her heart thumps against her chest and she barely registers why before the Captain turns towards her. She immediately stills and holds her breath.

Does he know she's there? She didn't move or make a sound, so how did he know? Fear blossoms in Sakura's chest and she stays motionless. Maybe he doesn't see her, maybe there's something behind her. No, his eyes are definitely trained on her exact position, though the blonde shinigami looks confused. Just the Captain knows then? They really weren't kidding when they told her Captains are on an entirely other level.

What should she do? If she gets caught, she won't get killed surely, after all no matter how scummy shinigami are they don't kill innocents without a cause, right? They follow the law, right? Maybe she can come out of hiding and pretend it was a mistake, use the naive child ruse. It might work. Her leg muscles flex as she prepares to leap out, but something causes her to stop. Something weighs on her like pressure, causing her to sweat profusely and her teeth to chatter. Its directed at her, an unmistakable feeling she's felt more times then the years she's been alive.

Killing intent.

The Captain starts walking towards her position and and Sakura muffles a curse. She can't be sure how they'll react if she jumps out now. Her life is in danger.

His hands moves towards the hilt of his blade and her breath stops.

He's gonna kill her.

Her heart thumps in her chest and her body breaks out in a colder sweat. She has to run. She has to run now. But where and how? If their Captain is able to pinpoint her location so easily, he's probably even faster than her, and she's confident about her speed. Sakura clenches her teeth and can't find it in her to move even a muscle, fear paralyzing her 's no escape. The voice was right, it was a stupid plan, she shouldn't have followed them.

She's fucked. There's no way around it. If she doesn't run now she's going to be killed.

The Captain comes to a complete stop in front of the bush she's hiding in, a wide smile on his face.

"I'll give ya ta the count of three ta come out." He puts his hand on the hilt of his sword, levering into a position in which he can draw it quickly. "Or I'll force ya."

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"One."

Sakura's heart beats in her ears, and her eyes sting and water from not blinking.

"Two." He sinks into a fighting position.

She's gonna be killed. A shinigami is gonna kill her. She's going to die.

In her fright, her hand brushes against something hard at her foot. Without taking her eyes off the Captain, her hand curls around it.

"Three."

Now!

Just before the Captain draws his sword, Sakura throws the rock at a tree behind them. It hits against the bark with a loud thunk, causing the blonde shinigami to turn towards the sound. In the same instant, she darts from her hiding place and legs it down the dark path out of the forest. Its a minor distraction, but as long as she gets a head start she can-

Something grabs her by the collar of her kimono and picks her up off the heart stops.

"Oya, seems we have a little mouse." A voice thick with the notable Kansai-ben is right next to her ear. "Yer pretty quick. Almost didn't catch ya."

Instantaneously, her body reacts before her mind can even register what just happened. She twists in his grip and swings both her legs around his bicep, grappling onto his arm. She grabs his wrist with her right hand and then attempts to slam her left palm against his elbow, but his free hand grabs her wrist before she can make contact.

"Whoa there," His grins is still present, and his tone is light. "That's not very safe is it?"

Eyes wide and teeth bared like an animal, Sakura releases her legs hold on his arm and instead uses the swinging momentum to bash her foot into his collar bone. It makes contact and he looks shocked, but unbothered. That was definitely direct hit, she could feel the crunching of bone. How is he okay?

She swings out of his grip, which had slackened when she landed her hit and lands on the ground, pouncing the moment her feet touch dirt. Leaping backwards she grabs some of the gravel off the ground and flings it upwards towards his eyes, creating a smokescreen. Her muscles tense in preparing to sprint away again but someone else grabs her by her waist. Her breath stops short as she's squeezed, but her struggle does not stop.

"Quit struggling." The blond shinigami orders her, right next to her ear. "You've been caught."

"Like hell I have." Sakura growls, reaching into the front of her kimono and drawing the small dagger she keeps for just such occasions. She can't see his face, but she feels his grip tighten in realization. Immediately she swings it down into his upper thigh and he lets out a cry of pain, his hold also going slack. She elbows him in the gut and he drops her.

Her feet barely even touch the ground again before she's hoisted into the air once more, this time by her left leg and up high.

"Yer not a mouse at all." The Captain grins and as Sakura slams her right right heel into his forearm multiple times, his grins only grows. "Maybe kitten is more apt."

"Bastard, let go of me!" Sakura hisses, struggle feeble as his hold never relents no matter how many times she kicks his arm.

"I'll have ta pass on that one." He beams and then looks over at the blond shinigami. "That's why ya don't lower yer guard, even for a child, Izuru."

"Y-yes, Captain Ichimaru." The one known as Izuru replies, shame on his face from where he's crouched. His hand is glowing and hovering over his wound from what Sakura can tell, though everything is upside down from her perspective.

"Surprised yer just a brat." Captain Ichimaru, as Izuru called him, puzzles. "Could'a sworn ya were more dangerous."

The fucking nerve to say she's harmless after she broke his collarbone and stabbed his friend.

"I'll show you dangerous." Sakura growls lowly, only for him to jostle her in response. With all the blood rushing to her head, it only serves to make her more dizzy. A thump then enters her ears and she looks down at the ground as her sword hits the dirt. Panic blooms in her gut.

"Whats'a brat like ya doin' with an asauchi?" Captain Ichimaru asks her, bending down and picking it up, all the while still holding her up high in the air. Why is this guy so tall?

"None of your damn business." She grunts. Sakura doesn't know what an asauchi is, but she's not about to give him an answer. She's gonna make this as hard as possible.

"Yer sure a spiteful thing, ain't ya?" Ichimaru's smile widens.

Sakura only bares her teeth in response and when he suddenly lets go of her ankle, she yelps, just barely stopping her fall with her hands. She ends up in a handstand position, only to fall over sloppily.

He's letting her go? After all that? She sits there in dumb awe, and that only seems to amuse him more.

"Ya surprised? Believe it or not, I ain't about ta kill a brat over nothin'." He says, sitting on a rock.

"I broke your collarbone." Sakura glowers, disbelieving. "And stabbed your friend."

"That ya did. I'm impressed." His amusement is palpable. "And as fer Izuru, that's what he gets fer lowering his guard."

Izuru in question looks pained at those words.

"Now that ya know I ain't gonna kill ya, why don't ya answer some of my questions?"


Gin had been prepared for many things. The Hollow, an Assassin, a rogue shinigami, all three. He certainly hadn't been expecting a child. From the moment Izuru had arrived to the clearing in the forest, he had felt her presence in the shadows of the trees. If his senses hadn't been stretched like they had, he might not have even noticed her with her reiatsu hidden so well. Unfortunately for her, with the Hollow running amok, there was no such chance that he would lower his guard for anything.

When he had approached her, he expected a much quicker response. After all, anyone stupid enough to attack him in the first place would most certainly be foolish. But she hadn't given up her place, she waited until the very last possible second to execute a plan and follow it through. Reckless, sure, but also cautious. She knew she couldn't win in a 1 on 1 battle. However, he had seen through her plan easily and caught up to her with ease. She is a fast one for sure, but he's faster. When it comes to raw skill, she didn't stand a chance.

He hadn't expected her to attack him though. Maybe realize she had been bested and surrender, but that thought hadn't even crossed her mind from the look of it. She knew she wouldn't be able to win, but had aimed for bones; all teeth and spitfire. She had even managed to break his collarbone. To say he was impressed would be an understatement. He was downright fascinated.

She's a quick witted one, that is sure. And her instincts are just as sharp. Even before she realized she had been caught, she had moved, attacking him with everything she had. He can't help but wonder what type of life would cultivate such animalistic instincts in a child. She had even managed to stab Izuru.

Having calmed down after realizing he doesn't intend to kill her or harm her, she watches him with intense green eyes. Regardless of what he said or intends, she doesn't trust him in the slightest. He can't help but grin down at her, hoping to cause her more unease just for the hell of it. She doesn't look particularly bother by that, though. Ever so often her eyes flash back towards Izuru to make sure he's still where he is before training back onto Gin and then the sword in his hand.

The reiatsu he feels in the blade is indisputable and is definitely the sign of a developing zanpakutou. Its farther along then many of the unseated members in his Squad and she probably doesn't even realize what it is let alone what she's done. But as she anxiously stares between him and her blade, he can see that the connection is there even if she isn't fully aware of it. Regardless of how far along the manifestation of a zanpakutou is, it's a part of the wielders soul and to have it be held by someone you don't trust, it's most certainly worrisome.

It's interesting to him how she didn't even bother to draw her weapon in their small dispute. She must have known she would lose in a combat of swordsmanship, and maybe she had more confidence in her hand to hand skills then her armed.

Feeling merciful, and only because she impressed him so much, he tosses the blade at her feet. She doesn't waste any time in slinging it back over her shoulder though she does look at him in question.

"See? A peace offerin'." He raises his hands to show his good faith. "Now why don't ya tell us why ya were followin' Izuru over there?"

Sakura glares at him and can be seen weighing the options in her mind. She must realize he has nothing to gain by hurting her because she finally responds after a moment of deliberation, though she doesn't relax at all.

"I heard there was a Hollow." Is the short answer she gives him. So cautious, isn't she?

"Oh? So ya knew about tha Hollow." He says. "Doesn't seem like a smart thing ta chase."

"I wasn't chasing it." She growls, crossing her arms. "I was following the shinigami." He notes her use of 'the' in reference to his men. She's clearly not a fan of them.

"Why?" He asks simply. She's also a stubborn one.

She doesn't answer right away, and for the first time since he'd released her, she looks away. Ah, he thinks he might get the picture. He was once a Rukongai resident too after all.

"Gonna steal from the dead bodies were ya?" He says, and when she goes completely still, it's clear he hit the nail on the head. Izuru looks shocked at this declaration. That's right, Izuru is from a family of lesser nobles isn't he? The more awful parts of Rukongai must not be information he's privy too.

She must be from the poorer areas of Rukongai then, and with her reiatsu it's obvious that she must be struggling to find food day to day. Her physique tells the same story. Skinny and malnourished. It makes the fact that her kick had broken his collarbone even more impressive. She must rely on her appearance a lot into order to take others by surprise.

And her plan wasn't a bad one, but there was no guarantee that there would be bodies, after all souls that are killed disappear soon after death and Hollows don't exactly leave remnants of their meals behind beyond splatters of bodily fluid.

"I haven't seen the Hollow either." She mentions. "I overheard a conversation at the market and that's how I knew."

Must have been the two shinigami he scared the daylights out of after he caught them slacking. Not surprised she was able to find out.

Unfortunately that seems to be all the information she has, Gin thinks as he stands back up, there's nothing more to learn then. Regrettably as impressive as she may be, she's just a child with a fledgling asauchi and some potential. Recruiting children to the academy isn't really his style, and she doesn't look like she'd want to go even if he offered.

"Thanks fer tha info." Gin thanks her as Izuru rises to his feet, wound healed.

She doesn't respond, eyes still glued to him and especially his hands. She's quite a clever one; it seems like such a waste to let her die in some alley in Rukongai.

"What's yer name?" He asks graciously, and Izuru looks surprised that he would even ask that. If he keeps making a face like that, Gin might think people don't think he's not a very nice person. His grin widens at the thought.

Her eyes don't leave him and he thinks she's not gonna say anything until she mumbles.

"It's Sakura." She says, clutching the strap of her blade.

"Okay then Sakura, see ya around." He waves as he walks deeper into the forest. "Maybe I'll see ya again. Watch yerself. Lets go Izuru."

Izuru frowns, but nods, giving Sakura one last look before following Gin close behind.


Sticks my leggy out real far yea thats right its a new story. And another bleach xover at that, why do I do it to myself!

Been sitting on this idea for a LOOONG time and finally got down to writing it this summer, can't wait to share the rest with all of you!

Also just so yall know this fic is Big Platonic, Sakura is a Baby Child don't ship her with these hundreds years old men thats nasty

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!