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Chapter 1

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A woman sat on top of the rooftop of a building. Her shoulder length silver hair swished lightly in the cool breeze as her black eyes stared emptily at the moon.

"Ah, Ayaka-chan, glad you made it!"

She turned her head to see a blonde wearing a striped green and white had and black cloak. A fan waved in his face as if he was trying to be mysterious. The woman scoffed mentally. Really. Mysterious. Beside him was a midnight black cat, sitting regally on the floor.

"Kisuke. Yoruichi. You called, and I'm here. Please tell me what you want, and I'll be leaving."

A deep voice rumbled from the cat. "Really, we haven't seen each other for about a hundred years. You'd think she was angry or something."

"Now, now, Yoruichi, be nice," the man admonished.

The cat rolled its eyes.

"Please. Tell me, or I shall be leaving. I cannot linger," the woman snapped, standing abruptly. Black boots went up to below her knees, and a black sleeveless cloak donned her slight figure. She wore gloves, and when she stood, a black sheathe with a sword was visible.

"A hurry? From what, pray tell?" Yoruichi asked sarcastically.

"…goodbye."

The woman was about to jump off the roof.

"You can't hide from them forever. Either of them," Yoruichi said. "You're going to have to face your fears sometime."

"I'm not afraid of them. I'm…just not ready to see them."

The cat growled. "You're being naïve."

Black eyes flashed dangerously. "Please be reminded, Yoruichi, that I'm older and stronger than you. I have had more experience than you have had, and I'm pretty sure that I could defeat you were we to have a battle right now. Please don't test my limits."

"Your skill has nothing to do with this conversation. We're talking about your emotions! Your mental stability!"

Akaya spun around and snarled, "Are you implying that I'm mentally unstable?"

"Now, now…please don't fight here…" Kisuke tried to soothe the woman and feline.

"No, I'm implying that you can't keep your emotions in check right now! Nor will you ever be able to control them until you face them!" Yoruichi ignored the man who was trying to break up the oncoming fight.

"I am in perfect control of my emotions. You don't see me breaking down, do you?"

"I see you denying everything that has happened to you."

Suddenly, a sword was against the cat's neck. Kisuke pulled out his own sword from a cane he had been carrying. Metal clashed as he knocked her sword away from the black feline.

"Enough is enough! We came to ask a favor, not to quarrel about Ayaka right now!" he nearly growled. Gone were all traces of his playful attitude, and in its place was a serious and deadly one.

Ayaka glared at him. "Nice disguise for you zanpakuto, Kisuke. Of course, I should have expected this from the genius."

Yoruichi stared at the woman stonily.

"It would be beneficial to all of us if you listened to us and we finished this without a fight," Kisuke said calmly, eyes flashing between the two.

Ayaka closed her eyes to calm down. She sheathed her zanpakuto, even though her hand still rested on the hilt. "What is it you want, Kisuke?"

"We have a favor to ask you."

"I figured as much," she answered sarcastically.

"We need you to train somebody."

The woman's eyes snapped open, and her steely eyes bore through the man.

"Who?"

"A shinigami. More precisely…a vizard."

The woman's eyes stared at him in shock. "A…vizard…"

"Yes. Since you…" the cat started.

"No! I refuse!" the woman whispered, but each word made its way over to them. A deadly calm surrounded her completely, contrasting the surprised aura she had exhibited before.

"You can't stop running! You have to face it…what's inside of you. What's inside of them. And who did it to you. You must not lose your senses!" the cat said.

The woman looked at them, completely ignoring the now fuming feline. "And why do you want me to train him?"

"He's breaking into Soul Society."

That stopped Ayaka. She stared disbelievingly at the pair for the second time that night. Really, she was slipping. What happened to the cold demeanor she was building up the last hundred years? "H-he's…what?"

"We were wondering if you could train him," Kisuke repeated.

The woman stayed silent. Her eyes stared emptily at the floor as she debated about what to do. Leaving wasn't an option. She owed Kisuke her life. That option was ruled out. If she chose to stay here, she ran a risk of being found out by the ones she was trying to avoid. If she trained with the boy and the boy went to Soul Society, the boy might blurt her name out accidentally. And if that reached certain ears…

"You're the only one who can relate to him. He doesn't know yet, but he will soon. And when he does, you are the only one who can deal with him," Yoruichi reasoned.

"Why don't you ask them?" she asked, turning her back on them to watch the moon once again.

"They're hiding, and when they want to hide, they are nearly undetectable. It's a surprise you even knew they were here. I hadn't known until you pointed that out," Kisuke replied in a monotonous voice.

But she did know. Those faint traces of their spirit energy were nearly screaming at her sensitive senses. And she recognized every single one of them. What scared her, even though she wouldn't admit it, was that one spirit energy that she recognized so well.

The duo could see the silver-haired woman debating over the options. But they both knew what the decision was.

"…fine. I accept. Tell him to meet me tomorrow. Five in the morning. See you then."

Ayaka departed abruptly.

The cat looked at the man. "Is this a good idea?"

"I believe in her. If we're lucky, we may force her to face her fears and go to Soul Society with them. And even meet the Vizards again. This is for her own good…and for Ichigo's."

The cat rose and walked away. "If you say so."

The blonde man stared at the sky. A cool breeze caressed his face. Face your fears. Face you're allies and enemies head on. Only then will you know what to do. He pulled his hat lower and disappeared into the night air.

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A/N: Alright! First fic, coming along your way! I accept flames and everything. Tell me what ya think of it and all that, and correct me if I make any errors. Remember, reviews breed fic chapters like rabid bunnies. So review! If I don't get enough…well, then I might give up on this one and start another one. But really, reviews will improve my writing style!

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