Bleach: Drowned Dreams

A FEW DAYS BEFORE ICHIGO'S ARRIVAL IN SOUL SOCIETY

It was night time in Soul Society but it wasn't late. Lights were on all through out Seireitei which drowned out the lights of Rukongai. Then without warning the Senkaimon opened.

"Fourth Squad, report to the Senkaimon and prepare to receive injured." A voice said over a loud speaker.

Moments later, the Fourth Squad stood ready as the dimensional passageway opened and a small team of Shinigami emerged from it. A red haired, big breasted Shinigami with a lieutenant emblem hanging from her waist carried another Shinigami in her arms. It was Lieutenant Matsumoto of the Tenth Squad. She held another member of her squad; Ukiha Sairen. He hung there lifelessly in her arms. She gently laid him on the stretcher and members of the Fourth Squad carried him away. Lieutenant Kotetsu walked up to Matsumoto.

"It looks like he passed out from the pain. It's a good thing you got to him when you did. He should be fine now that we have him but I wouldn't recommend him to be up and moving anytime soon." Kotetsu said.

Matsumoto nodded. Kotetsu turned and followed the squad. At that moment a smaller Shinigami with white hair and sea green eyes appeared next to Matsumoto.

"Captain?"

"What happened?" Hitsugaya said looking up at his lieutenant.

"I'm not sure. The town was in ruins and he was barely conscious when we found him. I don't think he knew what was going on when we arrived. He did say one word before he passed out." Matsumoto said.

"What was it?"

"Kagura."

Hitsugaya returned his gaze to the departing Fourth Squad.

Meanwhile, Saigo Tokushi of the Fifth Squad sat with Yamada Hanataro of the Fourth Squad and Rikichi of the Sixth Squad outside of restaurant drinking tea. Tokushi hadn't been too happy these past few days ever since he found out that his close friend Kuchiki Rukia had been sentenced to death. Rukia was the one that helped him hone his Kidou skills and soon after that the two of them became good friends. They weren't as close as she was to Lieutenant Abarai or to Captain Ukitake but they were good friends none the less.

"It sucks that I can't get in there to see her." Tokushi said. "I envy you, Hanataro. You take food to her and talk to her. I wish I could talk to her at least once."

"She really doesn't talk much. When she does talk, she talks about a guy she met in the living world with fire colored hair that took her Shinigami powers and had a Zanpakuto the length of his body."

"He must have strong reiatsu." Tokushi said.

"He wasn't a match for Captain Kuchiki and Renji-san." Rikichi said.

"I don't know the guy so I can't say anything." Tokushi said. "What I do wonder though, is who was injured that just came back from the living world?"

"I believe it was Ukiha Sairen from the Tenth Squad."

Tokushi's eyes widened. "He's a friend of mine. Do you know what happened?" He asked.

"No I don't. He was unconscious when they brought him in. What I do know is that the city he was assigned to was completely destroyed."

"I'll check on him later to see what happened."

Hitsugaya and Matsumoto stood in Sairen's room waiting for him to wake up. Hitsugaya leaned against the wall near the doorway holding Sairen's yellow hilted Zanpakuto while Matsumoto stood next to Sairen's bedside.

"I don't know what could have done this to Sairen, who just happens to be the third seat in my squad." Hitsugaya said.

Matsumoto stood there silently. She wasn't sure what to say.

Sairen slowly opened his eyes releasing himself from his unconscious state. He realized that he was back in Soul Society and in the care of the Fourth Squad. He shifted his eyes and saw Matsumoto's face turn to his, then a few seconds later Hitsugaya came into view.

"Captain Hitsugaya? Lieutenant Matsumoto?" He said trying to sit up. However his movements were stopped by excruciating pain. Matsumoto stopped him from moving any more.

"Do you remember what happened?" Hitsugaya asked.

"The town was attacked." Sairen said.

"By who or what?" Hitsugaya asked.

"At first it was Huge Hollows. Then followed by two Menos Grandes."

Hitsugaya's and Matsumoto's eyes widened.

"What is the status of the town?" He asked.

"I'm sorry to say that the entire town was decimated. There were no survivors." Matsumoto said.

Sairen desperately fought back his saddened emotions. He didn't want to look weak by crying in front of his superiors.

"Tell us what happened from the beginning. Starting with your arrival." Hitsugaya said.

Sairen paused for a moment before starting.

"Here's the story…" Sairen began.