"Bye Mai!"

"Bye Tatsuki!" I walked away from my friend and began heading home sighing to myself, "God I love tiquando. It's a shame Kido got canceled today though."

I walked through the park; the sun was going down now. The sky was light with the last rays of the sun turning the sky a hazy hot pink that was tinted wit red and dark blue; it was gorgeous. He wasn't there though.

"It's been almost a month now. I should have given up hope a while ago. I don't know why I even care, it's not like we even talked. Something was just so familiar about him… like I saw him somewhere before. What am I saying?" I shook my head furiously of any thought about that man.

"Just come with us and there won't be any problem." I wiped around, my silver hair tied up in its dark blue ribbon caught a breeze as I glared.

"And if I refuse both?"

"Then we'll have to take you by force." All six of the guys suddenly prepared themselves for a fight.

"I was in such a good mood too," I sighed to myself then prepared for a fight myself. "It's alright I'll just get this over with then go home and study for my test tomorrow."

The six men jumped into the air and formed a circle around me. I jumped up myself and kicked the closest guy next to me in the gut, causing him to crash into the cement wall. I landed on the ground with five more opponents to take care of. I dropped to the ground and swept-kicked one of the guys. I turned around and stood up in one motion. The guy that was behind of me was now in front of me and was in the process of trying to grab me. I ducked under his arms and upper-cutted him. I turned to the guy next in line; he seemed somewhat scared; I smirked at this as I easily took him out.

Amongst the schools and behind my back I was known as 'Death's Angel'. No one dared to say it to my face, but I knew about it any ways. I don't know why they thought I couldn't hear them whisper it at the tournaments or when people talk about the matches afterwards and refer to me, but I was my emotionless mask with a hint of a smirk was my signature trade mark.

The next person in line seemed calmer than the last one, but still scared. I round house kicked the man across the face then brought my foot back across his face without touching the ground once.

"We need backup!" I heard one of the guys speak into a microphone head piece.

I need to get them all taken care of before the backup comes! I panicked as I looked for the threat, but

I kept my calm exterior.

I went towards the only guy I hadn't knocked out, but I didn't even lay a hand on him on him before three people came up behind me and grabbed me.

"Mhm mh mhm!" I shouted into the hand over my mouth. I bit down on the hand that covered my mouth, drawing blood, and kicked the person to my left in the shin, both instantly let go. I ripped my right arm free from the person's grasp and turned to face my attackers. One of my original six attackers tried to sneak up on me, but I could since him sneaking up from behind. I elbowed him in the gut and glared at my new opponents before me.

"I'll take it from here." The authority and calmness in the person's voiced caused me to look up and take my attention away from my attackers.

"It's you!" I whispered in shock.

"Come with us." He ordered me with a cold look.

"Why?" I demanded.

"It'll be explained to you later."

"I'm not going anywhere with you tell you tell me where you're taking me and why."

"Stubborn child," he grumbled.

"You're the same age as me! We even had classes together!"

"How do you remember that? It was supposed to be wiped from your memory. Never mind, it doesn't matter." What shock he seemed to of had from my words instantly vanished as if it had never existed. I almost thought it was just my imagination.

"Your name is Hitsugaya right?"

"Captain Hitsugaya."

"Captain Hitsugaya." I repeated the name; liking the sound of it on my lips.

"Come with us or we will pick you up and drag you."

"I can't!"

"Why?"

"Because I have a dying sister to take care of!" I felt the tears rising to my eyes, but I forced them back. "I'm the only thing she has left so I can't go." My voice became uneasy and shaky as pushing the tears back became harder.

"What's her name?" Captain Hitsugaya's eyes looked darker and his voice was softer. It was almost as if he had gone through something similar and was remembering the incident.

"Harper Fan." I couldn't look him in the eyes I couldn't even look at him as I spoke, so instead I looked at the ground.

"She's dead. She died around five this afternoon." His voice sounded pained as he spoke those eight words. With those very same six words I felt myself become numb. I was in shock and disbelief.

"No!" I shook my head. "No she can't… she can't be dead. We were all we had! She's all I have in this world! She can't be… You're lying! I turned around and ran off to my house.

"Do you want me to-"

"No she needs to see for herself." I could hear his voice in the distance as I faded away from his line of sight.

I ran to the door, fumbling to get the keys in the lock; nothing could happen fast enough for me right now. The fifteen minuet run was too long, the keys took five seconds too slow, and I couldn't get to the back room where my sister lied fast enough, nothing was fast enough. I needed to get into my house and see her there sleep, but alive and breathing. That's all I needed and it seemed like decades before I got into that room.

"Harper! Wake up! Please!" She didn't move. I crumpled to the ground next to the bed placing my ear to her heart. But nothing could be heard. I began to shake her body, begging her to come back to me. I knew that it wouldn't bring her back, but I didn't want to admit it.

"No you can't… you promised!" Tears ran down my face as I looked at my dead sister's face through blurry vision.

I felt a hand on shoulder. I turned my head and started into those ice blue eyes. I quickly buried my head into Hitsugaya's leg and cried.

No one had ever seen me cry, let alone like this. Before I was always the strong one in the family, even when Mom and Dad died I was the strong one for my sister. But I didn't have anyone to cry my tears for me or to be strong for. They had all been taken away from me, leaving just me.

"She promised… she promised she wouldn't… that she wouldn't die… on me. She promised!"

"You can't prevent death. Even if you try."

"If I go with you… promise me… I won't… see her again. I don't think I can take it. And please don't break your promise."

"I promise."

"Thank you." I waited for just a bit longer as I worked to get my emotions under control. "I'm ready."

"Alright." He sounded somewhat upset to my ears as he spoke, but why? He didn't know Harper and he never spoke to me, so why? Could it be for the same reason his eyes darkened earlier?

He removed his hand from my back, something I hadn't noticed earlier. He pulled out his sword and I took an instant notice to its good condition; how sharp the edge was, not a single nick, and the way it reflect in the moonlight shining through the window. What really caught my attention was the wielder of the sword. He looked so strong and brave, but there was something soft to him. His muscles flexed as he held the sword. His eyes were so closed off and pained. They made me wonder what made them that way. He looked younger than he really was, just like me. There was an air of maturity and authority to him as well; which didn't surprise me with the title captain.

"Let's go."

"Huh?" His voice pulled me out of my thoughts and pulled my attention to the door now in front of me.

"OK." I stood up and followed him through the door.

I exited on the other side in what looked like an old Japanese town almost. You had houses on the first level and the higher you went up the richer you got.

"Welcome back Captain Hitsugaya. Head Captain Yamamoto is waiting for you, along with the other Captains, in the Captain Meeting Hall."

"Thank you."

"He wants you to bring the human as well."

"Alright. Follow me." Captain Hitsugaya began walking off and I did as I was instructed. He led us into the Captain Meeting Hall that was located at the top of the Old styled Japanese town. The room was full of adults, some scarier than others.

"It took you long enough." A man with long black spiky hair retorted.

"I'm sure Captain Hitsugaya has his reasons, Isn't that right?" The man who stood up for Captain Hitsugaya smiled nicely at us and had long silver hair, he seemed very nice.

"Report Captain Hitsugaya." The old man who spoke to Hitsugaya showed little respect towards him. He sat at the head of everyone with a wooden walking stick in his hands.

He must be the head captain. I thought to myself, but didn't say a single word.

"Mai Fan refused to come and took out nine of my men down; none of them are severely injured. Once I showed up she refused to cooperation because of her sick sister, who she shortly discovered was dead." When he said the words sister and dead I felt tears surfacing again, but I refused to let them see me cry, while the wound was fresh I didn't want anyone to see me cry ever again.

"I'm sorry for your lose." The old man said taking notice to the pain I was feeling.

"Thank you, but you have nothing to feel sorry about; you didn't kill her and she was going to die eventually. It just happened sooner that I would have thought." My voice was so mono and withdrawn of emotion as I spoke that it shocked me slightly that that was my voice, coming from my mouth.

"You're very mature and handling this better than most in your situation."

"Thank you."

"Captain Hitsugaya I would like you to watch over Miss Fan. You two seem to have similar personalities and should be able to help her tame her water abilities.

"Water abilities?" I repeated to myself confused about what he was talking about. I knew I was close to water by the way it comforted and helped me think clear, but water abilities were something I didn't have. At times I would wish I did, but I knew that that would never happen. "Excuse me Mr. Head-Captain-Yamamoto, but I think you've made a mistake I don't have water abilities." I spoke up loud and clear, but with the utmost respect.

"Yes your parents are Mariel and Jake, correct?"

"Yes, but-"

"Those two were powerful Aquariuses." He spoke fondly of my parents as if remembering old times as his eyes seemed to zone out for just a moment there. Pulling himself back to the present days he continued; "The Aquarius powers are passed down generation to generation to the oldest child- you."

"Aquarius is just a thing associated to the star positions and time you were born. I was born February 19th so I'm considered a Pisces, not an Aquarius despite what some say."

"Yes that is true, an Aquarius though is something that started because they could control water. It is a rare bread and the soul society is in charge of helping them learn how to control their powers so they don't become destructive."

"This doesn't make sense," I whisper to myself as I shook my head lightly. I was begin to load with everything going on in my head from the information I was being told and still trying to cope with my sister's death. It was just too much for me. I could handle or begin to comprehend how such a normal day from bizarre to horrible and weirder, nothing was making sense to me.

I looked up to Captain Hitsugaya for reassurance. I didn't know what I was getting myself into and I knew I might regret this but I didn't see how I had much of a choice in this matter.

"I'll trust you. You've proven to be correct once before."

"Very well," the head captain said nodding his head. "It has been decided that you will be working with Captain Hitsugaya every day and will follow each other around."

Great I have a baby sitter, just what every teen wants, I thought to myself.

"Meeting dismissed." I turned towards Hitsugaya and he turned and looked at me as well, neither one of us said a word.

We both turned and walked away simultaneously and walked out of the building. I followed him, only a pace behind to a building marked ten. I looked at his white cloak, the only thing distinguishing him from the others and saw that it as well was marked with the number ten. I thought back to the meeting and how all of the other captains were wearing white cloaks with a number on their backs, but with different numbers. They all bared the numbers 2-12.

"Where's number one? Does that mean that the Head Captain bear the one? If so then that there's a rank amongst the captains," I thought out loud, unaware of me doing so.

"Yes, Head Captain Yamamoto bears the one, but the only rank amongst the captain is us comparing ourselves- there is no true ranking in the captains other than that and Captain Yamamoto being in charge."

"Now follow me, we need to get you your uniform." I did as he said and followed him to a room with mountains of the black uniforms everyone around me was wearing.

"Try this on." Hitsugaya throw a pair of pants and a top at me before I could really survey the room.

"Can I get some privacy?" My voice was clam and low, but my tone held the slightest hint of rudeness and when he walked out of the room I felt somewhat bad for being rude to him when he's been nothing but kind to me- distant, but kind.

I quickly got changed then went outside.

"How do I look?" I turned around slowly with my arms up for him to get a look. Once I completely turned around and was facing him again I looked at him expectantly, honestly wanting his opinion.

"Let's go." That was all he had to say not a 'nice' or 'it suits you' like most guys would offer, no I got a

'Let's go'. Did I not look good or something?

"Captain, that's no way to treat a girl when they ask how they look! I'm sorry, I'm still teaching him. And you look great by the way! The ribbon was a nice touch!" A woman with orange hair said turning from her captain to me the scolding look changing into a smile as she complimented me.

"Thank you, it was a gift." I gave the orange haired girl a smile as I absent mindedly brought my hand up to the dark blue ribbon.

"Oh! I'm Matsumoto, this squad's lieutenant! You didn't tell me we were getting a new member Captain," she said turning back to Hitsugaya.

"I didn't know myself until a few minutes ago."

"Oh! So what's your name?"

"Mai Fan."

"Oh I know who you are now! You're that one girl from earlier! I feel so bad for you. I wanted to go after you, but Captain wouldn't let me. In fact he sent the whole recovery team and me back here and went after you himself."

"Matsumoto!"

"He looked so sad." She said it as if it hurt her herself.

"Matsumoto!"

"I don't think I've ever seen him so upset before." She shook her head in dismay as she spoke.

"Matsumoto you have paper work that needs to be finished," he spoke calmly but his teeth clenched and his jaw locked.

"Oh Captain," she whined.

"Go!"

"Yes Captain," she agreed reluctantly, but turned to me before going. "See you later Mai!"

I chuckled as I watched my new lieutenant head off. "A little on the immature side but she seems really nice."

Hitsugaya rubbed his temples as he spoke. "She's a head ack."

"Yet there must be something you like about her, considering she's your lieutenant. She seems like the type that goofs around and doesn't take anything serous unless the situation serous, so I'm not guessing work ethics. I'm also guessing that she avoids things she doesn't like and is very emotional." I spoke as I walked with Hitsugaya down the hall.

"You barely had a minute with her." I shrug my shoulders.

"I can read people. Just how I'm guessing you're," I move in front of Hitsugaya's path and look him in the face, "you are mature for your age, take everything serous, didn't have much of a childhood, you're easily annoyed, and don't show your past or emotions leading to most people knowing little to nothing about you but you're still greatly loved and respected by the people closest to you. Also, I'm just going out on a limb here because I have the same issue myself, you hate being called short, people talking down to you, and being called a child." He looked at me shocked for a moment before quickly recovering. He shook his head and walked around me as if I hadn't said anything.

"You'll be sleeping in the room across from me. You will be up, dressed, and have eaten breakfast by seven o'clock to report in to me at this spot."

"Yes sir." If most teenagers my age were to say that it would of came out rude and disrespectful, but when I say it it's my way if showing my highest stander of respect.

Hitsugaya looked at me for a moment then brushed it off. "Captain Hitsugaya," he corrected.

"Sorry, Captain Hitsugaya." There it was again; that tingle on my lips as I repeated his name.

"I'll see you in the morning." That was his way of dismissing me as we both went to our separate rooms.

"Captain Hitsugaya. Captain Hitsugaya." I laid there in my bed repeating his name over and over again to myself to feel that pleasant tingle on my lips as I said it. I couldn't place were that tingle was coming from, but I liked it and wished it wouldn't go away.

Why is it that I barely know this man, yet I couldn't help but feel somewhat drawn to him?

(Hitsugaya's POV)

Hitsugaya walked into his quarter, closing the door behind him without looking at it.

What was it about that girl? We hadn't ever known each other for a day, yet she was able to read me perfectly. She depicted Matsumoto after only speak to her for not even a minute.

"Wondering about Mai? She's quite a girl." Matsumoto walked into the room without knocking and seeming serious.

"What do you mean?"

"The moment she mentioned that her younger sister was dying and that she was the only thing her sister had something changed in you. What was it?"

"Nothing, but remember she's not some helpless little girl. She took out nine of our men single handedly and didn't get a single mark on her."

"But that's what lures you to her. She's mature and strong, both mentally and physically. Her sister dies and from what I've been told she didn't waver when it was brought up in the Captain Meeting, showing her ability to handle in tough situations. From what the research department has on her she has a special enphoney for water, ice to be specially and she takes up; track, tiquando, kendo, and she's known as Death's Angel. A beauty that is so nice and unnaturally calm, but could kill you in a second, plus most people say she has the face of an angel. What do you think?"

"I think you need to mind your own business."

Hitsugaya didn't want to admit it, but he knew Matsumoto was correct; he was interested in Mai. Something about her was different. It didn't mean that he like her; in fact he found it scary on how easy she could read him. At the same time he admired how quickly she took out his men.

"I'll leave you alone now. Enjoy your time with Mai tomorrow!" Matsumoto left the room back to her normal happy, no serious self.

Hitsugaya sighed to himself as he climbed in bed whirling with thoughts.