Disclaimer- I do not own bleach. I just own Shizuko, Teru, and Shunka.

Hi!

This my first story on this website!

I hope you like it!

Reality Check

With practiced skill Shizuko Fon managed to open the door to her Chicago apartment while juggling two bags of groceries, her mail and a case of sodas without so much as a thought to the process. She had a smile playing across her lips as she remembered how lucky she was, she was successful and content. Never had she really had to struggle in her life.

Sure, when she was younger she'd whine and cry over how hard she'd been forced to train with her parents. She could still remember getting up at 5 and training for an hour before school and the 3 hours after, not to mention the 12 hours she put in on the weekends. Looking back she was thankful, she could now easily defend herself at work and on the streets of downtown. Shizuko preferred to ignore the fact that she was the one making the choice to work in the bar that happened to be located in such a bad area. She loved every minute of it.

Disregarding her items on the entrance table she walked around the wall to her open spaced apartment. She had fallen in love with the set up. A single wall blocking a clear area that connected the kitchen, dining room, and living room giving little privacy, but it was usually just her so how much did she need. In the middle of it all was a spiral staircase that led to a loft which served as her bedroom and set off from it was her large bathroom and closet.

To her surprise there were already lights on in her tiny living area. Sousuke wasn't due back for a few more days, so she was very aware her boyfriend was not her unexpected visitor. Shaking her head, she thought of the only other possibility. Her parents. Seconds after the thought crossed her mind her eyes met that of her father's. To any normal person one would say she had his eyes and she did to a degree. They were the same warm brown but Shizuko's were soft and serene, like her mother's, where as his were hard and almost cold. It was odd for her to see him there, she'd been living there almost a year and her parents had never so much as called her. She was positive it was more her mother's doing than her father's. She lifted her head therefore breaking the stare down her father seemed to want and she saw her mother as the older woman turned toward her from the window. Shunka Fon's eyes lit with happiness as she smiled at her only child.



"Mother," Shizuko breathed and ran to the outstretched arms she'd missed for so long. She clung tightly and took a deep breath of the scent she would never forget. To her delight her mother petted her head as she had for most of her childhood.

"Shizuko," her father began sternly. Reluctantly the young woman turned to face him, "I'm upset at your lack of responsibility to secure your quarters. Your mother and I were able to enter without any problem at all. I believe we raised you better."

Closing her eyes Shizuko took a deep breath before answering, "I apologize, father. I didn't expect company this evening."

"It shouldn't matter if you're expecting company." He snapped. Standing up he stalked over to his daughter, "keeping your home secure is hardly a matter of good manners."

Lowering her head Shizuko nodded, "yes sir, I understand."

Moving a strand of midnight black hair out of his face, Teru Fon examined her with his form of fatherly approval. The chestnut hair she had inherited from her mother was pulled back and pinned messily on the back her head. Her sensitive eyes were not covered with her dark lenses, but considering the time of night he understood as to why. Shifting his gaze down only caused his mood to darken. She was dressed in a simple long sleeve button up shirt, but it was nearly halfway unbuttoned and it was quite obvious she wore no undershirt. The only thing she had on over the shirt was a burgundy vest which stopped right below her chest. Filling with anger he looked lower to find she was dressed in a black skirt that didn't even cover the half of her thigh making the black guarder belt and stockings she wore completely visible.

"Shizuko Fon," he said in a low snarl. She squared her shoulders; she recognized the voice he always used before a harsh reprimand, "What are you wearing?"

"My uniform," she heard her mother gasp in shock behind her, "I'm a bar maid."

This sent the older man over the edge, "you mean to tell me, my daughter is some low life hussy that sales alcohol to a bunch of drunks?!"

Unable to push back her pride Shizuko's chin shot up, "that's one way to put it, yes."

"Would you like to explain why your respect has faltered?"

"Father, I obeyed when I lived under your roof. This is my home that I pay for and my job is something I enjoy that pays well. I wish you would show me respect and accept that. I'm not a little girl anymore."

"Now listen to me, Shizuko," he growled. His blood was boiling, "you-"



"Stop," Shunka spoke up, "Teru, we did not come here for that."

Clenching his fists Teru respected his wife's wishes. She was right they were there for much more important matters.

"Why are you here then?" Shizuko asked.

"You're in danger." Her mother spoke first cutting to the point.

"What?" Shizuko held a laugh that wanted to escape.

"We have been attacked by many hollows lately," Her father took over, "it would seem we've been found out. Two days ago our home was broken into and many items concerning you and your whereabouts were taken."

"What?" she repeated, her face now blank of all emotion.

"We're sending you back to where you belong," the old man stated matter-of-factly.

Shizuko's head shot up, "What?! Where?!"

"The Soul Society," he explained, "the place we used to tell you about when you were young. The place your mother and I should have raised you."

"That was a bedtime story," Shizuko shook her head, "That's not a real place."

"Shizuko," her mother began, "as a child you weren't allowed to use many skills we taught in public. Such as Flash steps, the kido, and your Kanashim."

"because none of that was real," the young woman denied, "it was all to make me feel like I was better than others. Like I was special and it was okay I see monsters that aren't there. Like my poor eyesight didn't affect me and make me feel inferior to everyone else."

It was that conclusion that had forced Shizuko to move so many years ago. She couldn't deal with the lies she believed she had been fed.

"No," her mother persisted, "they were true."

Shizuko continued to shake her head.

"You're going Shizuko," Teru said coldly as he walked to her carrying the bag he and Shunka had prepared for her to take. He placed it over her shoulder, "in here is a change of clothes, Kanashim, and a letter for you to give Commander Yamamoto."



He took her by the arm and began to lead her up her spiral staircase. Shizuko began resisting, for once in her life she was truly afraid of what might happen to herself.

"Father, please no," She begged, "I have a job and a boyfriend." Her heart began to pound as she thought of Sousuke and how he'd brightened her life. He was one of the main things that she lived for. If it wasn't for him she had no idea where she might be. He took care of her but also gave her plenty of space. He was all any girl could ask for. Sure, he could get a little territorial, but it showed he cared and she saw no problem with it. There was no way she could handle just walking away and leaving him behind. What would he do when he returned to an empty apartment?

"I'm sorry," he stated without turning to her, "no one will remember you here. You have nothing to worry about."

Her eyes grew at the site of the unnatural door in the middle of her bedroom. It was huge.

"Teru, her glasses," Shunka spoke from behind them.

"Oh yes," he nodded and then turned to his daughter unzipping the bag, he placed her dark lenses in the bag. He then looked into her eyes as he placed the bag over her shoulder, "you're going to land in the Seireitei. The first person you see show them this," he placed a looped pieced of cloth in her hand. Attached to it were what looked to be 2 badges of some sort, "tell them you wish to see the commander. Once you meet him, give him the letter. It will be nighttime so you don't need your glasses just yet. Understood?"

Realizing there was no way out Shizuko nodded, "yes sir."

"Good," taking a deep breath he leaned down and kissed her on the head, "you'll be safe."

Next thing she knew she was in her mother's arms, "oh darling, you'll be ok. And you have family there. The commander will introduce you to them." With one last hug the older woman released her. "I love you."

"Love you guys," Shizuko said as she stepped toward the door, "Goodbye."

She walked in the door her father held open. The next thing she knew the doors behind her slammed shut. She spun around and nearly fell head first against the white wall. Taking one of her trade mark deep breaths she turned once again to take in her surroundings. She was on a dimly lit street with high walls on either side of herself. Slowly she made her way around the corner only to discover the walls continued off in different directions. She kept making turn after turn, she wasn't sure if she was going in circles or not. Everything looked the same to her and the fact that she was in 5-inch stiletto heels only managed to irritate her.



"My my my…" a voice sounded from the darkness, "what do we have here?"

Next time it will actually have the Bleach characters!

-Fallon-