Age Five:

Riyeko sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. It was a bright summer day, but she have to spend it inside. Her father and mother doesn't like it when I go out while they're at work. She can't really blame them for her boredom though, they're both lieutenants of the Gotei 13, so they have a lot of work to do.

'I would rather be at Byakuya's then here alone.' Riyeko sighed once more, she had run out of fun things to do a while ago.

Byakuya and Riyeko had been friends for as long as either of them could remember. His grandfather insisted, read: demanded in a nice and polite way, that Riyeko could stay with him and Byakuya whenever her father and mother were on long missions and couldn't be there to keep an eye on her.

"I'm sooo bored." She spoke outloud, not caring if she sounded like a whining brat, "When are they going to get home?" She fell back onto the hard floor of her room, exasperated, and started to play with her hair as a last resort to cure this boredom.

Then, as if it was perfectly planned, the front door opened. Riyeko heard her father's voice call out to her. "Riyeko, I'm home." She practically flew up off the floor and raced out of the room into my father's waiting arms.

"Otousan your finally home!" She exclaimed, "What took you so long? Did you have to fight a hollow? Did it hurt anyone? Did it hurt you? What happened?"

Her father laughed and brushed his fingers through her long brown hair, probably trying to discretely brush the tangles out, "Slow down child. I will answer your questions in a minute, but first where is Kasan?"

She then looked up at him confused, "She isn't home yet. I thought she was going to come home with you." She was a little worried her mother usually comes home before or with her father, it's rare that she comes home after him.

He must have noticed the worried look on Riyeko's face because he smiled at her reassuringly. "I am sure she is fine. Shihoin-Taicho probably sent her on a last minute reconnaissance mission, and it is taking longer then expected."

After that he sent Riyeko to play while he started to cook dinner. She tried to distract herself with her toys and books, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. They ate in silence that night, Riyeko didn't want to talk and she thinks her dad was starting to get worried as well.

Riyeko washed up after dinner and then turned in for the night. She didn't go to sleep though, she just laid in bed and waited for her mother to come home.

After a while, it was probably about midnight, she heard a knock on the door, she also heard her father get up and answer it. Then she heard the voice of my mother's captain, but she didn't sound cheerful like she usually was. She sounded sad, and tired, another rarity.

"Hello Aizen. I'm sorry for disturbing you but it is something that cannot, that should not, wait until morning."

'That's weird she never addresses my parents by their last name, something's wrong.' Riyeko thought as she sat up in her bed.

Riyeko heard her father reply, he sounded shocked. "Shihoin-taicho, what are you doing here?"

She slid out of her bed and stepped out into the hallway. Quietly walking down hall, she peered around the corner. Her father's back was towards her so she couldn't see his face, but he looked tense. She saw Yoruichi's face though, Riyeko had never seen her look so sad in her life. Then she finally saw the reason for her sadness, in her arms she was holding something, her mother's blood stained sword. She then said the words that would affect Riyeko's life forever.

"I'm sorry Sosuke, our patrol was ambushed by a group of hollows. We tried to fight them all, but there was too many. Miyuki fought her hardest to protect everyone and now she's. She's gone, Miyuki's gone." She looked like she was going to say more, but A scream cut her off. They turned to look at the source, and were shocked to see Riyeko standing there.

'How did they know I was here? Was I the one that screamed?' Riyeko thought, through the clouded mess of her mind.

The room around Riyeko started to get darker. The last thing she remembered is her father's arms wrapping around her to keep her head from hitting floor.

Riyeko woke up in the morning thinking, hoping, it was just a dream, only to be told otherwise once more. The rest of the week was a blur. She remembers a lot of people coming over like Yoruichi, her father's captain, Shinji Hirako; shinigami from both of her parents divisions, even Byakuya came to see her a couple of days. She remembers holding her father's hand a lot, she didn't cry the entire time, shinigami don't cry. She just listened to others as they wished them the best.

One day in particular she didn't want to interact with the others. On this certain day she sat in a chair, away from everyone else. Hoping that people would get the message and leave her be.

Byakuya didn't seemed to get it though as he walked up to where Riyeko sat. He didn't say anything at first just made her move over so he could sit on the chair as well.

"Hey Riyeko, how are you doing?" Byakuya asked. He sounded so awkward that Riyeko almost. Wanted to cracked a smile at him and tell him she was fine. She couldn't find the energy in her to talk, let alone be happy, though so she just shrugged.

"It's ok to cry you know, no one will judge you." When soul reapers cry it means they're weak because they let their emotions get the best of them, but since Riyeko is not a soul reaper no one here will see her as weak.

'But I'll see my self as weak.' Riyeko thought, she didn't voice this thought aloud. "I know, I just haven't felt the need to yet." She spoke this time, her voice was a litte raw and horse from lack of use.

He didn't replied just pulled her closer besides him in a sort of side hug and they stayed that way. After a while Riyeko's eyes started to droop, the sleepless nights this week were catching up to her. So she layed her head on Byakuya's shoulder and fell into a, very welcomed, dreamless sleep.

A few days later she reflected on the week as she and her father went for a walk, he said she needed fresh air. 'What's going to happen now? How are we ever going to move on from this.' She asked herself pessimisticly.

"Riyeko, I think that's enough fresh air for now, let's go home." My father said, as he turned us back in the direction back home.
While they walked home Riyeko watched her father. She wondered how he was holding it together, didn't he care about mother. No of course he cared, but why doesn't he seem upset? How did he keep himself calm and collected? Is it because of me? Because he is my father. Yes, that has to be it. Her father has stayed collected throughout this whole tragedy so he could help her when she needed it the most. She stopped which caused her father to also pause and look at Riyeko.

"Tousan?" Riyeko spoke softly.

"Yes, Riyeko."

"We're going to be okay without Kasan r-right." Riyeko asked. She mentally winced when her voice cracked a little at the end, face started to dampen with tears. She was crying for the first time since her mother's death.

Her father was silent as he studied her. Then he smiled at her, also for the first time since her mother's death, and grabbed a cloth from his kimonio to wipe his daughter's face. When he was done he started to speak. "We will be fine. Maybe not today, tomorrow, or anytime soon but we will be." He said with reassurance in his tone.

Riyeko let his words sink in for the rest of the walk home. Their little home seemed to feel empty without her mother, but they can get used to that after awhile. Her father's words had given Riyeko the reassurance she needed to try and start moving forward.

Six months later her, Riyeko has tried to move on. They're are still many days were she thinks about her mother a lot and that's fine no one can move on that fast, these things take time.

Riyeko hadn't left the house much, but today she was going over to the Kuchiki's mansion because her father was leaving for a week on a mission to the human world, so Lord Kuchiki is having Riyeko stay with them as usual. Not that she minds of course, she has been missing Byakuya. The last time she saw him was during the week of her mom's death, and she didn't talk much then.

"Riyeko, are you ready?" She heard her dad ask from down the hall in the living room.

"Just a second Otousan." Riyeko replied. She grabbed her wooden sword and a sack filled with clothes. She then walked out of her room and headed towards her father. "Ok, I'm ready let's go." They then started walking to the Kuchiki's home.

When they arrived at the entrance they were greeted by Byakuya's grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki. "Welcome Aizen-futiacho, Riyeko."

"Thank you for your hospitality Kuchki-sama. I would love to stay and converse but I must be leaving, goodbye." He turned to Riyeko and added, "Behave Riyeko. I know how wild you two can get when you get together." Then he turned and flash stepped away.

Ginrei then turned towards me.
"Hello Riyeko-chan. Byakuya is in the training grounds, I will take you to him."

They entered the manor and headed to the training grounds. As they were walking Ginrei seemed to be amused by something, but it is hard to tell with him so Riyeko couldn't be sure. When we walked into the training grounds she realized that he was amused, and why.

Across the yard Riyeko saw that Yoruichi was forcing Byakuya intobplaying a game of tag. A plan hatched in her head as she slowly started sneaking towards the pair. Half way there Yoruichi spotted her, but Byakuya still didn't know she was here. Riyeko smirked at Yoruichi and lifted a finger to her lips, letting her know not to give Riyeko away. The cat lady nodded slightly in response as her grin got bigger.

Riyeko kept creeping forward as Yoruichi distracted him. Soon she was right behind him, so she reached up and pulled out his hair tie. Yoruichi decided to disappear just before Riyeko did that.

He turned around and Riyeko saw that he was angry. But when he saw his friend with the hair tie instead of the 'demon cat lady' he was confused. Then he snapped out of his daze when Yoruichi decided to reappeared and start speaking. "Come on Bya-bo you even let Riyeko-chan steal your hair tie, you need to get faster."

He then turned to the cat lady and yelled, "Well if you didn't distract me I would've noticed her."

Riyeko snickered. "I doubt it, I'm just good at sneaking around." She bragged. 'Runs in the family.' She thought to herself. Before she could get upset, her hair suddenly fell from it's own pony tail and cascaded down the girl's back. She quickly turned to see Byakuya with her hair tie.

'How did he even get behind me.' She thought as it was her turn to stare at her friend in shock.

"Looks like your not that fast either." Byakuya said, smugly.

"Awwww. Young love, it's so adorable." Yoruichi purred fondly.

That caused both children to blush and yell at her. "Shutup, Demon cat lady/Yoruichi-sama." Byakuya started chasing after her.

Riyeko started to join in but she paused for a second and let herself smile at them. 'Maybe things will turn out alright.'

...

"Riyeko their is someone who would like to meet you." That is the explanation her dad gave to her when he came home the told Riyeko to get ready to go somewhere. Now the nine year old and her father were walking to this mystery place and she had no idea what is going on. Everytime she ask all she would get for an answer was, "You will find out when we get there."

They arrived at a tall building, one Riyeko has never been to before. They walked inside and went to a room with four people in it. The first three Riyeko recognized right away. They were Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the head captain; Kyoraku Shunsui, the captain of the eighth division; and Ukitake Jushiro, the captain of the thirteenth division.

'Why were there three captains here. Did I do something wrong? Am I being punished?' They must have seen the confusion and fear on Riyeko's face because the one she didn't know started to speak.

"Don't worry child your not in trouble, we just would like to speak with you." He then turned toward her father. "Thank you for bringing her, Aizen-futaicho."
Yamamoto looked at Riyeko, it felt as if he was appraising her."You are Aizen-futiacho's daughter?" It was more of a statement then a question, but she still felt the need to nod in affirmation. "Good, it would make since that a strong child like you would be his."

He then turned his attention to the other two captains, "Jushiro, Shunsui. What do you make of her?"

Captain Ukitake answered first, "She is strong, and her reistu is surprisingly very refined for someone of her age." He seemed amused by this.

"But she'll still need training to learn how do use her reistu and to know how to fight." Captain Kyoraku added after him.

Riyeko manage to collect enough curisousity and bravery to ask,"Um, What are you talking about.

"Hmm? Oh, my apologies child. We have a proposition for you. Onabara please explain." Yamamoto motioned for the one Riyeko didn't know to speak.

"Of course, Genryūsai." he then turned his attention back towards the girl, "Hello, Riyeku. I'm Onabara Gengoro, I am the Chief Instructor for Class #1 of the Shin'o academy. We're here to access your spiritual ability."

"Why?" She asked. 'Why didn't Oto-san tell me.' She glanced at him for an explanation but he just smiled back.

"Because your Otousan said that you are ready to join the academy, and after assessing your spiritual ability. We agree the only one we need an answer from is you."

'Did I want to join?' Riyeko seriously thought this over. Soul reapers risk their lives daily some even die, like her Kasan. Dying is just part of the job. The thing is Riyeko can't imagine doing anything else. She doesn't want to live a normal life without any action, she'd be bored out of my mind.

Riyeko focused her attention back towards the man and said the words that started a new chapter in her life. "Yes, I would like to join the academy."

Omake:

Aizen: What are your feelings towards my daughter?

Byakuya: I really like Riyeko, she's nice and kinda pretty.

Aizen: Oh really... *reaches for his sword*

Byakuya: *oblivious* yeah she's a really great friend!

Aizen: *removes hand* That's great. *smiles way too widely*

...

Riyeko: Tousan can you please take off that mask

Aizen: *Wearing a hollow mask over his face* I'm not Tousan, I'm Hollow Dad

Riyeko: Tousan, no

Aizen: Tousan yes

...

Onabara: Would you like to join the academy?

Riyeko: *Thinking* Well let's see I could die, learn new things, die, experience a new world, die, and die horribly

Riyeko: *Speaking* Nope, fuck this shit I'm out. Nooo thanks. *Walks away*

Aizen: I'm sorry, she's usually more behaved then this