Prologue

Danger in the Night

San Mateo, California, 2:45 am…

It was a clear night sky over the town of San Mateo, California. A full moon shone with a semi-bright light. Then, suddenly and unsuspectingly, a black swallow-tailed butterfly was silhouetted in the light and a girl was suddenly standing at the top of the tallest building.

I can feel it, She thought, there is a very powerful spiritual energy somewhere close by. But, where is it exactly? If I can't find it quickly enough, then that Hollow I'm looking for can get to it first. I must hurry! She swiftly and suddenly flashed out of sight into the warm night.

Next Afternoon, 2:30 pm…

Nick Negron walked down the street, looking for a bunch of troublemakers. The little boy that looked all bloody and had a chain in his chest followed Nick around, helping him reach the thugs. The boy pointed to a group of three guys, probably a few high school dropouts from the look of it, and said. "That's them."

Nick nodded and went up to the leader. Purposefully, he bumped into the guys' shoulder. The thug turned around. "Hey, you got a problem?" He said, shouting.

Nick just continued walking down the street and ignored the stupid punk.

"Hey! I'm talking to you! Well, if you want a fight, you got it!" the guy yelled, running at Nick.

Nick, listening to how far away he was, grinned. When he could tell that the leader was right behind him, Nick spun around and punched him right in the jaw, sending the guy flying down the street. "How's that?" He asked, running over to the beat-up thug. "Now, say sorry to the little boy you and your cronies hurt. Now!"

"O-o-okay. Sorry. We didn't mean to hurt you! We were drunk!"

"Good. Bye."

Nick and the little boy walked away. "Thank you." The boy said.

"You're welcome. Well, if I don't see you, then I'll guess you passed on. Bye." Nick walked away from the boy and went home.

Nick walked into his house. "I'm home."

All of a sudden, Nick was attacked by his mother, Tabitha Negron. "You're late!" She yelled as she kicked her fifteen year old son in the chest, sending him to the far wall. "Do you know what time it is, Nick? You know that dinner in this house is at five-thirty sharp every day!"

"Mom! What the hell! Is that really how you greet your son when he walks in the door? Jesus Christ! The only reason I was late was that I was helping a spirit find peace, dammit!" Nick yelled back at his mom. "I don't think I'm your son! You have a lot of issues. You've developed them more, however, after dad died!"

Nick's last sentence hit Tabitha's heart like a piercing bullet. "Nicholas Anthony Negron! How could you say that? I am going to keep doing this until you realize your potential and start your real training as a Sou…" She cut her sentence off.

"Mom, what were you about to say?"

"Nothing, Nick. Just forget I said it. I'm sorry. I did kind of overreact."

"No, I overreacted first. It's just, you keep saying things like 'start your training' and realize your potential.' I guess I'm just confused and curious as to what you mean."

"I'll tell you. Someday. So, do you still want dinner? Jasmine made your favorite: meatloaf, mashed potatoes with red skins and pierogies."

"No thanks, mom. I'm going to do my homework. Sorry, Jasmine. Put some in the microwave for me, okay sis?"

"Sure, Nick. See you later tonight for family game night." Jasmine Alice Negron called back to her twin brother.

Nick and Jasmine were fraternal twins. Jasmine had the black hair their father Elias Negron had and also his coffee brown eyes. Nick, on the other hand, had Tabitha's terracotta red eyes and her brown-black hair. Nick went into his room.

An Hour Later…

Nick was still doing his homework when he heard a small whoosh and looked behind him. He saw a black swallowtail butterfly flying around his room. A Black swallowtail? They don't live anywhere around California. He thought as he saw a girl appear right through the wall. "It's close." She muttered to herself.

He stared at her for a long moment, and then he shouted. "What the Fuck! How the hell did you get in here?" He rushed her and kicked her into the wall opposite him.

The girl, winded from his kick, got up surprisingly fast. "Wait. You can see me? And you kicked me?"

"Hell yes I can see you. It's not my fault you're able to be seen."

Then, Tabitha, Jasmine and Nick's younger sister Megan were in the doorway. "Nick, what happened? What's all the noise?" Tabitha asked.

The girl in the black Shihakusho raised her head when Tabitha spoke. "Captain Lenora? Is that you?"

"Oh, hello there, Lora. I see you've met my son. Nick, you can let her go, now. She's not here to hurt any of us."

"Okay, mom. Sorry about the overreaction."

"No, it's fine. I'm not surprised Captain Lenora never told you about me."

"Lora, you know I'm not one of the Thirteen Captains anymore. I shed that title long ago when I first met Nick father and quit to live here. I still thank you for not taking away my powers when you brought me back to the Human World. I wanted to still see you when you were in the neighborhood."

"Oh, so that's why your son can see me. What about the other two?"

"Only his twin Jasmine can see you, right Jasmine," Jasmine nodded. "As for Megan, she doesn't have any spiritual powers."

"Wait, then that could only mean… Your twin children are the source of the immensely powerful spiritual energy I came here to protect."

"Wait. My twins. Well, I guess Nick definitely, but not Jasmine as much. She can only see you. I've tried with the training I do with Nick, but she never got any more aware. So, I stopped doing it a few years back."

"Mom! You still try it every three months!" Jasmine shouted.

"That's not even the point. Lora, what did you come here to protect my kids from?"

"Well, it's a Hollow. A very strong one."

"Now? The last time I felt a Hollow, even in the area, was when Nick died ten years ago."

"Can someone please explain to me what "Can someone please explain to me what you're talking about before the danger that's making itself known gets any worse?"

"Wait, Nick. Let's wait until morning. It's a very long story, and you'll have all day tomorrow to hear it."

"Mom, I can't! I promised Katie I'd take her to the movies tomorrow!" Nick complained.

"Tell her you'll take her on Sunday. From what Lora is saying, we don't have much time to wait before the Hollow attacks. Lora, how much time do we have, exactly?"

"It should attack at about seven-thirty pm. tomorrow."

"Great. We should have enough time before then. Okay, Nick, now get some sleep. You're in for a rough day tomorrow."

"Okay. Goodnight mom. Night Jasmine. See you in the morning Megan." Nick said and drifted off to sleep.

Living Room, Ten Minutes Later…

"Captain Lenora, are you sure Jasmine doesn't have any spiritual awareness?"

"As far as I know, and I'm her mother. Nick even sees other spirits. He's always late for dinner because he's helping lost souls," Tabitha appraised. "And, my name is Tabitha. I'm not Captain Lenora anymore. Not since I quit."

"But, you still have your powers, so technically you are still a Soul Reaper. That means I can call you Captain."

"No, you can't. There is a new Captain of Squad One, am I right?"

"Yes, but I don't like who it is."

"Who?"

"Captain Barrett."

"Raymond is the new Squad One Captain?" Tabitha exclaimed, surprised. "When he finds out that I have kids in your report, I bet he'll personally come here and try to take me back there to answer questions in front of the Council."

"He won't. I'll leave out that it was your kids that were exerting the spiritual pressure."

"It won't work. Raymond can read minds, no matter how well people try to suppress their thoughts."

"Oh, yeah. Well, if we have any time before the Hollow attacks tomorrow, do you want me to start training Nick and Jasmine?"

"If you'd like. But, why Jasmine as well?"

"Because. If I can find a trigger to activate her potential, like I can probably guess at Nick's already, I can train her alongside her brother. And, when they're fully trained, I'll take them to Central Forty-Six to induct them. Well, only if you don't mind."

"Of course. Nick would probably love to train at Seireitei Academy. He does like to fight. Jasmine likes to patch the patients I ask her to help with at our hospital, so she'll probably go into some Healing classes."

"Then it's settled. Well, I'm going to get some sleep. See you in the morning."

"Lora, before you go, can I get you to promise me something?"

"Of course. What's up?"

"Do not let Nick get killed! I don't want him to make the same mistake I did."

"About what? The Inner Hollow you have? If you can fully control yours, then Nick and/or Jasmine should be fine. Plus, when Nick and Jasmine are ever able to activate Bankai, then they'll have no problems controlling their Inner Hollows if they get one. Plus, you are the only Soul Reaper who is considered a Visored because you use your Hollow powers for the good of all Souls."

"You know what? You're right. Just try to be careful with it, okay?"

"Of course, Captain Len… I mean Tabitha."

"That's better. Goodnight." Tabitha and Lora went to bed, Tabitha in her room and Lora in the guest room.