Chapter 1

I remember when I first saw him. It was in the late spring five years ago and the sakura blossom had just started to bloom...

FIVE YEARS AGO

The evening strolled around the corner with a orange and pink sky. The wind stroked against my skin and the sun kissed my cheeks with a peculiar warmth. I looked over the landscape of Sieritei. All buildings looked so small from the cliff outside the city. Even the Gotei 13 headquarters looked small. It was beautiful and in a season that only showed the beauty of nature I was supposed to feel joy. I had the most spectacular view before me and I felt... empty. The truth was that I felt so alone looking over the Soul Society. I even stood in a crowd there hundreds of strangers laid their hand on my shoulder and said their prayers and regards of my brothers death. I couldn't hear them. I had shut my ears and only nodded to them saying the same phrase over and over.

"Thank you for coming, I know that Kei would have appreciated it." Kei was kindhearted to the core of his heart. He had never broken a promise, said anything mean behind someones back or blamed anyone for his doing. Kei only praised others and showed that he cared. He always asked how they were doing and if someone asked him to do anything he never said no. He gave his soul to others and had no doubt. I was so proud to be his younger sister. I followed his footsteps but when he jumped and took the entrance exams to become a Death God I couldn't go after him. He said he did it to be able to protect me but to me he left me with no defenses. Little by little I lost my world and my path in life. Kei joined one of the divisions in Gotei 13 and even got a seated position as an officer. I lost his attention and he followed his dream... to be able to protect everyone... but he couldn't do anything about his will to sacrifice himself for others. That was why I stood there today.

I didn't know how long I was in my thoughts but when a pressure came I snapped out of it. I had never felt anything like it before. It was like weights pushed me down to the ground. First did I think that it was my sorrow that made my knees bend but when I saw him I understood. I was force-sensitive but even if I wouldn't be my body would have reacted the same way. His gaze was breathtaking. A pair of dark blue eyes with a shade of grey looked at me. His raven black hair fell perfect when he moved and gently touched his muscular shoulders. His cape got capture by the breeze. I knew that cape. I had never seen one in real life but I had heard of it. Kei had mentioned it once. A Death God with a white haori – a symbol with a number on the back and a pattern at the end – was a Captain. His haori had a high collar with golden edges and on the sides light golden tassels. It was more then his good looks. It was his spiritual pressure. I tried to breath but the air became thick and my organs were about to explode. How could a reiatsu be that strong? He didn't even show it on purpose.

"That's the Captain of squad 6. What is he doing here?" The crowd started to mumble and I had to look down in the grass. I couldn't even look at him longer then a few seconds. My eyes failed me so I started depending on my hearing. I shouldn't have done that. Gossip. Rumors.
"I heard that during the mission where the 3th seat of squad 6, Kei-san, lost his life he sacrificed himself to save dozens of members of squad 6. Instead of a great number of deaths there was only one. It would been rude not coming." The Captain was probably used to hear whispers about him but it sounded like he didn't even got effected. His steps came closer and closer.

"Kei-san wasn't only a hero but also a dear friend to the Captain, believe it or not. It may sound strange when looking at how cold he is, that noble. Kei-san was able to open his souls heart. They were like best friends. Only his wife were able to do that before but... it seems that if you are capable to do that you will die quite young." He walked towards me and then stopped, standing less then 5 feet away from me.

"Your spiritual energy is out of control. Try to calm down and it will stop." I didn't even know this Captain of squad 6 but something told me that he wasn't the one to speak to strangers. He wasn't the one to leave a broken soul in pieces either. He wanted to help.
"Focus." I took a deep breath and slowly tried to stand up again. He looked over me closely and when I finally got calm, I could breathe again. As soon I were up on me feets I tried to get eye contact but that wasn't possible. He was like ice – showed no emotions.
"Thank you..." I had to say something in return. He didn't show any trace of a smile. He just nodded but even that movement were well hidden.

"You look a lot like Kei." It was true. I had my similarites with Kei. The same dark blonde hair that in the sun got a golden tint and big round eyes that reminded of the stone called 'Tiger's eye'. Now, however, wasn't the time I wanted to look like Kei. It was like blades pierce through my chest. I didn't want to hear that. I didn't want him to see Kei when he probably were the one who gave Kei his last mission. He said Keis name without saying -chan or -san after. Did he reconsider my brother as an important friend? Or was he just glad that one soul sacrificed himself for the sake of his men? I closed my eyes. I didn't know anything about my brothers life. All I knew was that I loved him.
"They say..." He didn't let me finish my statement.

"I envy you. That makes you able to see him everyday." Surprised by his answer, I understood. He said exactly what I needed to hear. He knew that I lost my brother but having something that reminded me of him made it bearable.
"You brother was a comrade you could count on and had great potential to become a Captain. With your reiatsu you should consider joining the Shin'ō Academy too." I lost my words. I wanted to blame him a bit for my brothers death but... he just gave me a steppingstone to go back to Keis footsteps.

"How could I join something that killed my brother?" This Captain didn't like to have explain his actions. It was like he wanted to talk in riddles to make the beholder figure out them main reason.

"Kei always said that his ability to protect others was his pride. You look like you lost your pride so perhaps you can maintain his." His words stroked my heart in a flash. He didn't suggest that I would become Kei. He didn't say that I had to keep up his work. He only said that if I was lost - my brother could show me a way to live on. I couldn't help but smile a bit. Kei always talked about miracles and destiny. He would have wanted me to help others and now when he couldn't do that... Maybe this was my destiny. I felt how something inside me become brighter.

"What's your name, Captain...?" I needed to know the name of the person that opened my eyes. For years I had only believed in Keis strength. I had only wanted him to show me attention... I had never given any attention to anyone else. I was alone because I made myself alone. I realized that now.

Everyone listened to our conversation. I could hear some gasp for air, as if I had said something that I shouldn't. I felt creeps agains my spine. Was it that bad not knowing the name of a Captain? "The sister of Tamako Kei doesn't know the name of his Captain? That's rude." The Captain looked at me now. He saw that I changed inside by his words. He didn't smile but he seemed nicer after noticing it.

"I'm Kuchiki Byakuya." By his appearance I knew that he wouldn't ask for my name. He was to serene and apathetic. I took the opportunity in my own hands.

"I'm Tamako Ayame."