They didn't feel the reiatsu coming, which was what scared them the most. The doors to the 1st Division barracks burst open spontaneously and dramatically. All 12 of the Captains eyes went wide as they were genuinely shocked at the entrance. All except for one…

"Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai."

His ancient eyes found their way to the door, cold and immobile as he examined the intruder with crucial eyes.

It was her. The long brown hair, curving down her back like waves of earth. Those oceanic eyes of sea blue that could see right through you entirely. The long, lean body most women would die for. Not to mention the reiatsu she was now revealing was nearly as strong as a Captain's, only in relaxed form. Her pale face displayed features such as her tense and irritated eyes. Yet her mouth was set in a lazy grin that made him wonder what would've brought her of all people here, after all this time…

As he expected, she had grown up well.

"Yo, Yama-jii." She lifted her head in partial salute. "How's it goin', gramps?"

"Kaede…" He muttered. "What-"

"Am I doing here? Why am I alive? Why do I have such a strange reiatsu?" She tapped her finger lightly on her chin. "The only answer I have to those questions is, 'no thanks to you.' How you been, Yama-jii? Well, I suppose? You look well, up there on that throne-like thing ordering around your minions."

"Excuse me-" Ukitake-taichou stepped up instantly and she rolled her head to glare at him.

It was then that he caught those fathomless eyes that instantly made him remember, all those years ago, when she was only just born, and those eyes smiled at him as her toothless smile made him laugh gleefully.

"Uki-chan." She half-smiled. "Lemme handle this."

She stepped forward, by-passing the short kid with the white hair she didn't recognize with advanced Shunpo, but unable to curve around Genrei-taichou as he completely blocked her way.

"Kuchiki-dono." She ground her teeth. "Pardon me, but I must greet my grandfather respectfully."

She twisted around him as if doing ballet and before he knew it, she was bowing in front of Yamamoto.

"Grandfather, I have tried my best for the past ten years of my life to find you. I've been unable to attend Academy since my parents detest you, so I finally snuck away. I completed the 6 year course of Shinigami Academy in 6 months. I graduated top of my class and excel in all aspects of Shinigami technique. I did this all to be worth of being your Granddaughter."

There was a pause just as soon as she stopped, lasting for at least thirty seconds before she slightly lifted her head and those eyes looked at him sharply, as if telling him how impatient she was getting.

He nodded as his partially opened eyes stared down at her intently.

"I see." He grunted. "You have been admitted into the 13 Protection Squads, correct?"

"Yes, sir." She told him, tucking her head away again.

"And the Division you've been placed in?" He questioned.

"6th Division, sir."

"Genrei-dono." Yamamoto began.

"Hai." Genrei stepped forward from the line he had since fallen back into.

"I hereby entrust my Granddaughter into your Division." Yamamoto told him sternly. "You will watch over her, are we clear?"

"Yes, Soutaichou." He said.

"And Kaede?" Yamamoto continued. "You will battle a Shinigami, as a test. If you succeed in battle, then you will automatically be seated in the 6th Squad. If you don't, you will instantly be demoted to an unseated officer."

"Yes, sir." She lifted her head. "Who shall I battle, sir?"

"Hmmm." He grunted again. "You say you excel in all Shinigami techniques, correct? Therefore, you will battle one of our most skilled Captains."

There was a shocked silence throughout the room.

"Genrei-taichou." Yamamoto said instantly. "You will battle Kaede-san at noon tomorrow. The outcome determines her seat in your Division."

"Yes, sir." Genrei bowed his head.

"Very well." Yamamoto opened his eyes for only a moment. "Don't disappoint me, Kaede."

"I won't, Grandfather." She nodded tensely.

"For now, this meeting is dismissed." Yamamoto said clearly, making half the room unfreeze from shock.

Kaede turned back and watched most of them leave, throwing her weary glances as her feet refused to move from their spot.

"Kaede."

His antediluvian voice made her come back to life, her sandy blue eyes turned back to him in curiosity.

"Yama-jii." She smiled. "I wish to only say this once. What happened in the past, happened in the past. I don't know nor care why you kicked my parents out of the Seireitei when I was only two months old and deathly sick. That's behind me. I do know that for all my life I have hoped and dreamed to find you, to be here, within these walls and wearing this God-awful kimono. I wish to protect my Division, to protect the Seireitei and to make you proud."

Without another word, she walked towards the door, her sandals clicking on the wooden floor. She swept through the huge doors in front of her as Yamamoto was left in his barracks without a simple goodbye. She made her way as fast as she could out of the 1st Division, instantly halting when she almost ran into something tall, rather large and white.

"Kuchiki-taichou." She bowed her head. "Sumimasen. I must remember to watch where I'm going."

"Follow me." He snapped.

She instantly nodded as he turned without her answer. She speed walked after him down the stone path through the Seireitei. She silently wondered where they were going before the painfully obvious hit her slack in the face, in the form of a huge sign in front of a building stating that she was now in the 6th Division.

He stepped through the door and she could only follow, at least until he gracefully turned into his office where he motioned with a single finger for her to tag along. She stepped through and was instantly shocked when he threw at her a stack of papers.

"As of this moment, you are a Secretary." He said in his deep voice. "Until the deciding battle tomorrow, you will be finishing this paperwork. With no breaks."

"Yes, Kuchiki-taichou." She said as she began to tip over, a little unsteady.

As soon as he made his way out of the room, she dropped all the papers and stuck her tongue out at his disappearing figure.

"Stupid noble…" She muttered, but began to pick up all the papers and place them on his empty desk. She managed to find a pen to the side, of which she picked up and began finishing the paperwork. She honestly didn't know what she was doing, but she was a good guesser so that must've helped.

"I'm too freakin' young for this crap." She mumbled.

What was she? Not even 18 yet. And her she was, being a paper-pusher in the 6th Division when she could've just as easily been kicking ass in the 11th Division or brewing up some fabulous concoction in the 12th Division or even drinking the night away with her Captain in the 8th Division. But no. She was stuck with stick-up-his-ass noble and the obedient clan.

Not that she cared.

She'd follow his orders and do his dirty work. Because she knew tomorrow she'd be able to at least attempt to kick his ass. That's what she'd been training for, anyways. From those days deep in Rukongai, when she found trees with a stick sword and levitated oranges into chasing her poor dog Huggles, to when she fought her head teacher in Academy to prove she was ready to finally be a Shinigami. Maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to be a seated officer in the 6th Division.

Maybe…

She yawned.

Geez, it'd been a long trip here. It was surprisingly far from Academy to the Seireitei. And she'd had to travel the whole way in one day, too excited to take a break.

Yawning again…

Surely Kuchiki-taichou wouldn't notice if she slept just five minutes…

She laid her head down on the papers and felt her eyes slip closed. The last thought she remembered having was how she was so dead if Kuchiki came back and she was out cold.

~xXx~

Her eyes fluttered open ever so-slowly to the clicking sound of a door opening. She didn't fully understand the gravity of the situation until a loud, obnoxious voice screamed across the room.

"Who are you?"

She jumped up, almost out of her skin, her hand on her Zanpaktou and looking around the room, wide-eyed. She did a quick spin before her eyes settled on the boy standing at the door.

He looked about her age, young and maybe around 16 or 17. He was dressed in an Academy training uniform, which actually complimented his biceps quite a bit. His long hair was pulled back behind his hair in a dark pony-tail and his eyes were a brilliantly radiant grey-blue eyes that made her wonder exactly where that confused and arrogant expression came from.

"Who are you and why are you at my Grandfathers desk?" He demanded coldly.

"Me?" She pointed at herself with the hand that wasn't about to whip Kouryuu out of her sheath and beat the poor guy to a bloody pulp. "Oh…me."

She dropped her hand and raised them up as he lowered himself to an offensive crouch.

"I'm Yamamoto Kaede. I'm in the 6th Division." She tried.

"I've never seen you before." He shook his head as he glared at her. "And Yamamoto is the Captain-Commanders surname. It's obviously an alias!"

"No, no, no!" Kaede shook her head. "Just be calm. I'm supposed to be here. I'm doing your Grandfathers paperwork. I'm new to the Division."

"I don't trust you-"

"What do you mean you don't trust me, you stubborn little brat?" She yelled. "I'm supposed to be here! I should be asking you what you're doing here!"

"Don't raise your voice to me!" He demanded. "I'm Kuchiki Byakuya, heir to the Kuchiki house!"

"I don't care who you are, what your name is or why your mommy named you what she did!" Kaede was beginning to get a bit ticked off. "Lower your voice and I'll lower mine."

"My grandfather will have your seat for this!" Byakuya threatened as he advanced to attack her.

But there was suddenly something very slender and dark in his way.

He slowly slid down to the floor and groaned in pain as the girl in front of him laughed.

"Bya-kun." She shook her head. "You should play nice. She's a noble, too, you know."

"Yoruichi-san…" He rubbed his head and looked up to glare at her.

"Now, why don't you run along and find your Grandfather while I have a chat with Kaede-dono." Yoruichi smiled as she patted him on the head.

"Get your hands off me." He pushed her hand off and glared at her. "Stupid kitty cat."

Yoruichi playfully growled at him and he turned to leave.

"And don't treat me like a child!" He yelled before slamming the door.

Yoruichi laughed before turning back to Kaede.

"Kids these days."

"Yoruichi-sama." Kaede bowed low.

"Oh, you sound like my Lieutenant." She waved her hand. "Just call me Yoruichi. How's your first day?"

Kaede looked up shyly. "I…well…boring, but-"

"Don't worry, it won't stay that way." She smiled. "Soon enough you'll have something to do. Tomorrow should be a big day for you. Genrei's not exactly weak, you understand."

"Yes, I do." Kaede nodded. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."

"It's going to be near impossible to beat such a seasoned warrior such as him." Yoruichi pointed out.

"Forgive me, Yoruichi, but I believe the word 'impossible' does not seem to be in vocabulary."

"Ah, a smart one." Yoruichi smiled. "I see. Good, good. Then I'm here to give you a bit of crazy advice."

"I'm listening." Kaede said.

"Genrei is old fashioned, and damn smart." Yoruichi told her. "Your Zanpaktou is…"

"Kidou-based. A fire Zanpaktou. Elemental." Kaede muttered.

"Mmmm-hmmm." Yoruichi nodded. "Genrei hardly ever uses his Zanpaktou in such battles, so I haven't seen it released myself but I doubt it's weak, and most likely Kidou-based as well. It wouldn't surprise me if it had to do with ice, so I'd be careful."

"Yes, taichou." Kaede sharply nodded her head once.

"And Kaede-dono." Yoruichi said. "I wouldn't be surprised if your Grandfather has an extra trick up his sleeve, just to test your limits."

"Are you…saying Yama-jii wants to fight me?" Kaede instantly looked confused.

"Maybe, maybe not." Yoruichi shrugged. "You can never tell with him."

"Thank you, Yoruichi-dono." Kaede bowed her head in thanks as Yoruichi patted her shoulder.

"Be careful, Kaede." Yoruichi said softly. "And…also…Byakuya. He's a bit of a confusing kid as well. Lets just say…he only picks on girls he likes."

Kaede caught the wink Yoruichi threw at her and blushed.

"Oh… Uhhh… okay." Kaede muttered.

"Don't be embarrassed." Yoruichi laughed. "He's a cute kid. If he were a little older I might take a try at him. But he's just around your age, am I correct?"

"I'm…almost 17..." Kaede continued to trail off nervously. She'd never been too good with boys.

"I see." Yoruichi smiled. "He's 16, too. So if you ever feel the need to get on anyone's nerves, he will probably be the only one that lets you."

"Let's me?"

"He might yell at you a bit, but that's just his way of showing how honored he is to have your attention." Yoruichi laughed again. "Like I said, he's a confusing kid. But he's going to grow up to be a great man, I'll tell you that."

"Ah…Arigato, Yoruichi-dono." Kaede bowed her head yet again.

"Now, you should run along." Yoruichi said quickly. "I'm sure your Captain is waiting for those papers."

"Right." She nodded and grabbed the stack she finished before flash stepping out the door.

Okay, maybe the Shunpo had been a little to show off to the Goddess of Flash, Yoruichi. She'd heard stories of the woman and had looked up to her most of her life, at least the part of it she'd spent in Academy. She very much respected the woman who was more powerful than most men in the Seireitei. Who didn't?

Just as she turned the corner to exit the 6th Division, she ran straight into the 5th Division Captain, Shinji Hirako, and his Lieutenant, Sousuke Aizen.

"Oh, sumimasen, Hirako-taichou." She bowed her head.

"That's a quick flash step ya got there, new kid." Shinji slightly grinned at her and she nodded in thanks.

"Thank you, sir."

"Where ya goin' in such a hurry?"

"To find my Captain, sir."

"I believe I saw him just leaving the Kuchiki manor." He smiled. "I'd hurry though. He looked like he was a bit busy."

"Thank you, taichou."

"No problem."

Kaede passed by them, catching the look Aizen gave her and narrowing her eyes at the curiosity behind his eyes. He looked far too interested in her, and not in a good way. She watched as those suspicious eyes crinkled up and he smiled at her, leaving her with only one option of action left. She nodded her head, her stoic expression still in place.

As he turned the corner with his Captain, she felt the urge to watch over him. He acted very untrustworthy and she was going to make sure whatever that sketchy Lieutenant had planned didn't carry through.

She turned quickly and walked towards the Kuchiki manor. Within minutes she caught up with her Captain as he glided towards the 6th Division.

"Taichou." She said quickly, trying to get his attention. "I finished the paperwork for you."

"Good." His expressionless face held no bounds to the act of monotonous glances. "Come with me."

He quickly turned away and she was forced to follow him yet again. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She hated being bossed around.

Once they arrived back at the 6th Division barracks, he took the papers and put them in a folder that laid on his desk. Once he turned back to her, his expression was just as studious as that suspicious Lieutenant.

"I need to ask you, Yamamoto." He said sharply. "How did you learn of your Grandfather?"

She paused for only a moment. "My parents told me stories when I was little but they stopped when I began to get too interested in the matter. Ever since then I've been trying to find him. I slowly began to recognize my reiatsu when I was about seven. When I was fourteen I asked my parents if I could go to Academy, but they said no. So I snuck away and enrolled myself."

"I see." He nodded. "You betrayed your family, how can I expect you not to betray the Seireitei, or the 6th Division."

She began to grow angry at that comment, but she contained her self and simply answered.

"Kuchiki-taichou, I will admit that I'm a bit selfish at times." She said. "But I'm the best kind of selfish, I'll tell you that. I care for the Seireitei, if it goes down, all my hard work goes down the drain. The 6th Division is the same. I will protect both to protect myself, my Grandfathers name and most importantly my pride. So if you even think for a second that my family has anything to do with this, I left them behind because I knew I wasn't supposed to be there. I could make nothing of myself in the boring and poor towns of Rukongai. I know I was meant for much more than that. And I'm going to prove just that to you."

Kuchiki stood there for a moment, staring aimlessly at her as she finished. She was about to say something but he silenced her by holding up his hand.

"Interesting." He said quickly. "Very interesting. You're dismissed, Yamamoto."

She took a deep breath as she turned to leave.