Okay. So, I started a story a lot like this a few years ago but didn't like where it was going. And I am also aware that I have 4 other stories that need attending to and I shouldn't get distracted by yet another one, but come on! I really liked this story. It had potential. I was the one that lacked the support for it.

Anyway, I'm starting over again, and if you happen to read it before, there are going to be a few things that are different from the original version. And I sit here on my bed hoping that that's a good thing… And since I'm pretty sure a lot of you haven't read what I first had up, Hisana is alive in this story. She completed her mission in finding Rukia and they lived with Byakuya. Yay!

Title: My Name Is Kurosaki

Summary: Nanami knew there was something off about her life in Soul Society. She was an accomplished student in the Soul Reaper academy. She was making her aunt and uncle proud. But a dark secret loomed over them. One night she caught her aunt and uncle talking about two people named Ichigo and Rukia. And they were somehow connected to her. What weren't they telling her?

Rated: T for Teen (Not for those how think inappropriate things…)

Genre: Mystery, Family, Hurt/Comfort

Chapter One: Who Are They?

"Aunt Hisana! I'm home!" I called as I entered through the main gates. She was usually outside in the garden when I came home from the academy, on the days she felt strong enough, that is.

Aunt Hisana has always been sick for as long as I can remember. It was from a long time ago, when she and my mother lived in the Rukkon District. My aunt had left my mother behind as a baby, and after meeting Uncle Byakuya by chance and regaining her strength, they found her and brought her back to Soul Society where she became a Soul Reaper like my father. Even now, I don't know either of my parents' names, but I understand why Aunt Hisana doesn't have the heart to tell me. They were both killed by a Vizard nearly days after I was born. She always tells me that when I truly understand, I can know everything about my parents.

Sometimes the sickness takes hold for only a few days, and other times it gets really bad and lasts nearly most of the year. At that time, Uncle Byakuya neglects his duties as a Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads and leaves his Lieutenant, Renji Abarai, in his place when the time comes.

Today, however, didn't seem to be one for those days.

She smiled and turned to me slowly. "Ah, Nanami! How was the Graduation Ceremony? I'm sorry I had to miss out. I wasn't feeling as though I had the strength to leave." Her face turned to that of grief.

I hugged her and smiled. "It went fine. Boring really. You didn't miss much."

In return, she hugged me back, squeezing me tight. "I'm sure it was."

Moments later, a servant approached us. She was an elderly woman, and one of Aunt Hisana's frequent caretakers. She said she was going to take 'Lady Hisana' to her room to rest. That made me wonder just how long my aunt had been waiting out here for me to come home.

I nicely waved the servant woman off. "No, it's okay. I'll take her. That's on the way to my room anyway." I wrapped an arm around my aunt's back, and together we walked slowly back to the house.

Aunt Hisana wasn't entirely weak. She had enough strength to make it through the day to day routine, but she couldn't lift very heavy things or defend herself by any means. There are guards and servants placed around the house at all times, and Uncle Byakuya and I keep an eye on things. Aunt Hisana is my top priority when I'm not focused on my studies – I help her as much and as often as I can – and since I've graduated from the academy, I can be with her even more. Well, kind of.

"So, when do they place you in a Squad?" Aunt Hisana asked when we were coming up to her room.

Without answering, I looked at the floorboards.

She immediately knew something was wrong. "Did…Did they not give you an assignment?"

I left her side for a moment and slid the door open for her. And I didn't move. I stood there in the doorway, gripping the frame hard. "They…They gave me an assignment. But…it wasn't the one I was hoping for."

Stepping into her room I noticed that tea had already been prepared and cooling on a table near where she slept. Aunt Hisana loved books and often read them when she felt up to it – there were a small stack of those nearby as well. Stepping closer, I carefully lit the incents that she liked; taking my time and letting the smell calm me.

I felt Aunt Hisana come closer and crouch next to me on the floor. "What is it, Nanami? You can tell me."

I took a breath, and then let it out. "They put me as the lowest ranking member on Uncle Byakuya's Squad. They felt that I had the potential to keep up with even that high of a ranked Squad, and swore that I would excel sooner than I thought."

She placed her hand on my shoulder. "Nanami, that's wonderful news! Byakuya will be happy to have you on his squad, and I'm sure that-"

I clenched my fist, trying to hold in my anger. "That's not it! It's not good news!"

She gasped, startled. When she didn't say anything, I helped her under her quilt, making sure that she could reach her tea and books on her other side. She looked as tired as I felt, and although I hadn't witness her cough and she doesn't have a fever I knew she was feeling sick.

I felt bad for yelling, but no one seemed to understand. Being a low ranked member of any Squad means that I do mostly paperwork, and I would barely get to go home at all. I didn't want to be separated from my aunt any more than I am. She took care of me even on the days she couldn't leave her bed. She sang to me and cuddled and loved me. I owed it to her to do the same when she needs me. I don't care what kind of score I got on my exams – all I want is to protect her. And despite my suggestion to the council of the academy, they told me Hisana Kuchiki could not have a personal guard because she was not one of the Squad captains. They also made the point that because she is married to Captain Kuchiki, she shouldn't need a person guard. When I told them I would refuse to graduate otherwise, this was their solution. They put me on my uncle's Squad and told me to work hard to get to the top. Then I'd be able to protect my aunt more efficiently.

Sighing, I sat heavily on the floor next to her bed. "I…I don't want to be on his squad. I may have surpassed nearly all of my fellow classmates and earned the assignment I was given, but… I just wanted to be with you, Aunt Hisana."

Smiling lightly, she took my hand. "You are with me, my Sazanami."

I couldn't help but smile. "You haven't called me that in a long time," I mused. "And I'm not that little anymore, you know."

She nodded once. "That may be true, but remember that Byakuya and I raised you. You may be getting taller and growing up too fast for my liking, but you will always be that little girl clinging to my clothes."

I laughed that time. "It's not my fault Uncle Renji had a scary looking face. Those tattoos are pretty intimidating to someone that size."

She laughed, too. "Yes, I suppose it is." After a few moments, my smile dropped. When she noticed my smile had long but disappeared, she pulled on my hand. "Come. Lay down." She pulled her quilt back enough for me to fit.

Surprised, I stuttered for words. "Uh…B-But I… I couldn't. You need to rest, and I have to meet with Unc– I mean, Captain Kuchiki."

She looked up at me with an almost pitiful smile. "Come on, Nanami. You need your rest, too. Remember when you would sneak in here some nights and lay with me when you thought Byakuya wouldn't notice?"

I scuffed. "I swear, he has eyes in the back of his head," I grumbled. "He knew I was there each and every time."

"But he let you. And I used to always love those nights. When you'd enter my room sobbing about a bad dream, I would take you on my lap and rock you to sleep again. You were so little, and I'm sure a big place like this frightened you when you were alone. You were only looking for some comfort." She patted the stop next to her – she was practically pleading with me now. "And I can tell what you need some comfort now. Just think of the scariest thing you can manage, and I will help chase the bad dreams away. And I'll wake you when you have to leave, I promise."

Please, I begged silently. Please don't let the scariest thing I could think of happen. Because I don't think I could live without Hisana Kuchiki in my life.

I sighed, giving in. I guess it couldn't hurt if it made her happy.

I carefully curled into her side, laying my head on the edge of her pillow. There was something about Aunt Hisana that was…soothing. My only guess would be that it's in her nature to be trustworthy and caring. I guess I now know why I came to her room so often when I was little. She was the warmth I needed on cold nights. She was the light that scared the bad dreams away. She knew exactly what I needed, every time.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but I was floating somewhere between sleep and consciousness when I heard Aunt Hisana talking to someone.

"She's suffering, Byakuya."

I nearly jumped out of my skin. The captain is here?! Did I missed the meeting, or did he come looking for me? Oh, God, I am in so much trouble.

Before I could do anything stupid, however, he spoke up, his voice low.

"You are the one suffering, Hisana."

I felt her sigh as she played absentmindedly with a lock of my hair. That alone was pretty soothing. "No, my dear husband, you are wrong. Nanami is drowning in her own future. She may have passed the academy with perfect scores, but what will happen when she finds out about her parents?"

What? My parents? What about them? I thought they were dead…

"We have to tell her."

"Out of the question," he boomed, barely leaving room for argument. But Aunt Hisana knew how to wiggle in her voice and opinion.

"It's either we tell her, or she finds out by accident and hates us forever. I couldn't handle that. Could you? We've taken care of her for so long, Byakuya. I know she's become a daughter to you, just as she has for me." Her hold on me was surprisingly strong, and it tightened ever so slightly as she spoke. "We've guarded her knowledge and kept her hidden. What more do you want from her? What other freedoms can you keep from her?"

He said nothing, but I couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not.

And she wasn't done: "Nanami has a right to know, and she has to hear it from us. She can control her powers – you taught her personally. She can read spiritual pressure better than some lieutenants, and Renji taught her to defend herself. She is stronger than you think, Byakuya, and you cannot keep holding her back."

I nearly flinched at the mention of my 'control'. I was apparently born with a lot more spiritual pressure than normal children – then again, you don't normally hear of two Soul Reapers having a child. With their combined spiritual pressures, mine was…overwhelming. Head Captain Yamamoto put a seal on me to help sustain in. Then, tragically, my parents died from an attack that very night. I guess my powers attracted unwanted attention. From the moment I learned to walk, Uncle Byakuya taught me to suppress my spirit energy, and control my powers. I struggled for a little while, but that only made him press harder. I no longer fight for that control, and it was become as easy and familiar as breathing. But Aunt Hisana clearly still fears for my safety.

"Ichigo and Rukia… They have to meet her. They have every right to know their daughter."

Ichigo… Rukia… Who are they? And…why did she say they needed to know their daughter?!

Aunt Hisana hugged my close again. "It's time, Byakuya."

As a note:

Nanami roughly translated means 'wave' in Japanese. Sazanami means 'little wave', and Hisana used to called her that when she was little.

Unfortunately that's all I have for now. If you want more, you know how to tell me what you think! If you have any questions, PM me.

Thanks For Reading!

-Aly