Full Summary: Ayame Ikeda was nothing more than an unlucky child born into the roughest district in the Rukongai: district 81. Afters years of a hard life mastering the ways of the streets, she finds she possesses an unusual strength that the law-abiding members of the Seireitei can put to use. At one cost: she has to leave behind those she loves the most. She is torn when a gentle, white-haired man offers her a new life as a soul reaper, but decides to go with a promise that she'd come back and fix district 81.

When a catastrophic event occurs that causes Central 46 to order the destruction of district 81, however, Ayame cannot stand by it. But what are the consequences of her rebellion? What happens when she cannot save her beloved home? What will her white-haired savior do when he cannot stand by the woman he holds dearest? Read and find out!

Prologue Part 1

A light wind washes through the peaceful grounds of the Seireitei. The sun is at its peak, revealing the time of day: noon. The joyful and carefree voices of soul reapers in the comfort of their home - not away on some dangerous mission - begin to fill the air as they make their way outside to enjoy their meals. It was highly unlikely that anyone could restrain themselves from the delight of such a beautiful day. Ayame was no exception.

In fact, she had already been sitting, or laying, rather, in a patch of cool grass that occupied the skirts of the Seireitei, eyes fixed on the clouds sluggishly making their way across an impossibly blue sky. Honestly, she felt she could stay there forever. The feeling of not being burdened by tasks and orders was indescribable. Pure bliss. Sighing, she settles further into place and lets her eyes droop.

"Captain! Captain Ikeda! Where are you?! Captain! Please don't tell me you've left us! Captain...!"

What could this loser possibly want at this time? Ayame thought to herself. The voice of her high-strung lieutenant was like a hot knife cutting through the peaceful air, a thorn peircing through her bubble of serenity. Not bothering to open her eyes, she responds with a grunt. The flustered lieutenant's head snaps in the direction of the sound. He takes in her sprawled out figure with alarm.

"Oh no! The Captain has collapsed! Don't die Captain, please! Speak to meeeee!" He, somehow, screams louder as he rushes to Ayame and shakes her roughly.

This time Ayame decides to actually expend some energy and use words to reprimand her subordinate.

" Lieutenant Riku. Get the HELL off of me! Can't you see that I was just taking a nap?!" She yells while shoving him roughly away. Jeez, what's this guy's deal? This happens like once every week!

Yawning loudly, Ayame sits up and, while stretching her stiff and unused limbs, turns her body to face her frantic subordinate. She appreciated his concern, even found it endearing at times. Mostly, however, he annoyed the hell out of her.

Shame fills the lieutenant's features as he realizes, yet again, that he had acted out of line towards his superior. Words couldn't describe his respect and admiration for the woman before him. It was because of her inspiration that he worked hard and became a soul reaper. He never imagined that he'd gain the skills and prestige to have the honor of being her closest subordinate. Riku quickly puts himself in the position of a bow and apologizes passionately.

"I apologize, Captain Ikeda! I acted out of li-"

"Stop it, lieutenant," Ayame sighs and looks at him thoughtfully. "Your concern, though unnecessary,is much appreciated." She laughs to herself a bit. "So, what brings you here? You seemed as if you were in a rush to find me."

Riku lifts his head and looks her in the eyes. His expression from before, his entire demeanor, totally changes. For a reason unknown to Ayame, the change inspires fear in her. Riku's mouth opens slightly and then closes, as if he is unable to bear the weight of the news he is about to deliver.

"C-Captain..." He starts. His reluctance is beyond evident, but finally he regains his resolve. " Actually, captain, I shouldn't be the one to tell you this. In fact, I'm not even supposed to know it...they've been keeping it from me. From us. It's about...district 81." Once the lieutenant finishes speaking, he bows his head once again, not wanting to witness the anguished look that always fills his superior's eyes at the mention of her old home.

A stab of pain briefly seizes Ayame, but, as she had been doing for many years, she is quickly able to recuperate and focus back on the situation at hand.

"Lieutenant, lift your head. I am your superior, I do not require your pity." She says, putting on the hard, emotionless mask she'd mastered after years of practice to shield the feelings in her heart. "Continue."

"Yes Captain. I apologize." Again, he hesitates to deliver the news. "While I do not know the details of it, recently there have been some...events there. Strange ones...unspeakable ones. Squad 12 has been reporting for months that the amount of reishi in that area of the soul society has been increasing, but as far as appearances go the area is unchanged. They cannot explain it. They fear that it could upset the balance of the soul society...They had been working on a more...humane means of dealing with the situation, but this week the reishi levels sky rocketed. And it's starting to affect the surrounding districts."

Ayame didn't know what to make of this story. It certainly was alarming...but she couldn't understand why her lieutenant was being so grave about it. It would be tough but that's what the Gotei 13 is for. We'll receive the proper orders and handle the situation, like we always do. Then district 81 can continue existing...and hopefully...they - Ayame couldn't even bring herself to think their names - could continue living in peace as well.

But then her lieutenant's words finally sink in: ...they had been working on a more humane means of dealing with the situation..

Struggling to maintain her composure, she demands, "Lieutenant, what exactly is it that you mean by they had been working on a more humane means of dealing with this situation? And give it to me straight, no sugarcoating."

She braces herself for his answer.

"Captain," He straightens his body and looks her dead in the eye. "They have ordered all the captains to report immediately to head captain Yamamoto to discuss...the swiftest means of eliminating district 81."

...eliminating district 81...

...eliminating district 81...

"Thank you lieutenant. You have done your job well. I expect the meeting's location is as usual?" The tone of Ayame's voice is unusual. She can hear herself speaking, but her words are not her own. They do nothing to convey the outrage inside her. Instead they are cool and even. Almost dead-sounding.

"Ye-"

The lieutenant does not even finish his words before his captain's exceptional flash-step abilities allow her to disappear in a whirl of wind and residual spiritual energy. He feels her presence disappear in less than a second, but not before he senses how incredible her spiritual pressure is, and how it is laced with intense anger and distress.

In mere seconds Ayame appears before the wooden doors that conceal the meeting room of the thirteen captains. Though she had not held this position for long, she knew these doors and their location like the backs of her hands. She'd spent years idolizing soul reapers. The higher their rank, the greater the awe they inspired in her. She put their words and actions in the highest regards. When she finally became one, her rough life in district 81 became worth something. The knowledge of battle and survival she gained in the violent streets became valuable.

She thought her life would end in district 81, but she was saved by a soul reaper. Her world was changed. She was able to become something...someone. Someone capable of returning back to district 81 to save those who were the same as her. To save those...that she left behind. This was going to be possible because of what soul reapers had done for her.

But today, they were making the wrong call. Ayame did not think it possible for soul reapers to make mistakes, but they had. And she was going to stop them, no matter what it took.

She bursts open the doors and rushes in, causing all the captains to break their focus from head captain Yamamoto and instead let it fall on her. She takes them all in with a long, sweeping look. For a moment her resolve wavers. She looks at the powerful beings that were for so long nothing more than a distant dream. How dare she defy them...they had made her...

But then her hands fall on the sturdy silk of her own haori and she remembers that she is now their equal. She had every right to be there, and every right to speak her mind. It seems that as her resolve settles the shock of her entrance also recedes and the remaining captains stir to life.

"Captain Ikeda, what is the meaning of such a barbaric entrance? I expect you understand our position, yes? We cannot afford such disruptive behavior. In this time of crisis, efficiency is key. Please sit." The authority in the elder captain's voice is hard to ignore, but Ayame was decided.

"I apologize head captain, but I cannot do that. I did not come here to sit and wait for orders that I do not agree with! What is the meaning of this ridiculous notion that we destroy the entire district 81?!" She had tried to remain composed, but desperately failed. Anyone within a hundred-foot radius could hear the anger in her voice, and anyone within a few mile's radius could feel her intense spiritual pressure losing control.

"Calm yourself, child! I understand that your past clouds your judgment...it was foolish of me to think you'd quietly comply to these orders..."

"Indeed it was." She replies. "Surely there is an alternative? Is squad 12 this incompetent?!" She questions, glaring at squad 12's odd captain. Normally, to be quite honest, just looking at the strange man gave her chills, but today his image instilled anger. His squad was responsible for this ridiculous outcome...if he could just do his job right district 81 could continue existing...she could have more time to get back to them.

Captain Kurotsuchi's depth-less eyes shift to her. His face is indifferent, voice flat as he says, "Stupid woman, it is a matter of time, not my abilities. I could definitely fix this, but by the time I finish making the proper preparations the entire soul society would be covered in that awful reishi. The safest option is to destroy district 81 while the reishi can still be contained."

"Ayame," She feels the familiar, gentle touch of her favorite captain. She turns her head to meet two, warm green eyes and a cascade of long, snowy hair. "I understand why you are upset...we all do. But you must understand-"

"Ukitake...you too? You're on board with this?" It comes out as no more than a whisper. This man...the soul reaper she had the most faith in...the man that had saved her from the hell of district 81. Yes...district 81 was hell. But Ukitake knew her story. He knew what she left behind...and he knew damn well what she one day swore to go back for. So how could he...?

It took everything he had to keep his voice from cracking. The image of such a normally bright and welcoming face contorted in pain...the betrayal reflected in those violet eyes...was enough to bring him to tears. It's not that Ukitake wouldn't describe himself as an emotional guy...he was quite open to expressing his feelings. However, the severity of the emotions he felt now were incomparable. This woman couldn't possibly know how important she was to him, how seeing her this way tore him up inside as well.

But this situation was not a negotiation. Ayame had not seen the things he'd witnessed...she had not been to district 81 for at least a year. The general reports to the lower level soul reapers were not entirely truthful...they excluded that fact that district 81 was, in fact, very different from what it once was. The reishi levels had altered the spiritual beings residing there...disfiguring their bodies into grotesque, monster-like creatures. What's worse, they appeared to be in pain. If they don't end it soon the entirety of the soul society could suffer from this terrible condition.

"Ayame I am so sorry...but there isn't any other way." Ukitake finally says firmly, praying that his feigned strength could somehow transfer to Ayame. Rather than responding like how he'd hoped, she tears herself away from him and charges towards head captain Yamamoto. Everyone watches in disbelief, incredulous that such a newbie captain would actually launch herself at the experienced and incredibly strong older man.

But Yamamoto was no fool. He knew the girl was upset, but not insane. She dare not attack him. He watched in cool indifference as the young woman rushes before him and immediately drops into a low bow.

"Head Captain...it goes against my pride to beg but...you must understand. District 81 is more than my home...it cannot be destroyed. It is a violent place filled with famine, death and despair...but somehow, by some miracle, there are innocent residing there. People who could not help where they were born, who wish for nothing more than to survive. We cannot simply treat them as irrelevant insects to be eliminated in conjunction with the real problem. Please...there must be another way. There must be."

The remainder of the captains, not expecting the prideful woman to bow before the man they were sure she was going draw her sword against, murmur in surprise. Many were not aware of her humble beginnings, as her abilities were as menacingly powerful as their most elite. But they could not possibly understand her desperation...not like those closest to her. Like her lieutenant...and Ukitake.

"Raise your head, child. It is shameful to see one of my most powerful captains beg. Your feelings are reasonable, but I cannot risk the safety of the soul society. Furthermore," he pauses, not because he is reluctant to deliver such despairing news, but simply because he wants it to sink in. "Anyone you think may have still been waiting for you, are most likely no longer able to be saved. The reishi is not normal reishi...it is somehow corrupting the souls of the individuals living in district 81 and turning them into no more than mindless monsters that must be destroyed."

"Head Captain!" Ukitake cannot contain his outburst, "You should be more gentle in delivering such heavy news." He rushes to Ayame's figure, still slumped over on the floor. She isn't moving...it seems she isn't even breathing. Ukitake gives her shake and calls out her name.

"Ayame...I am sorry for not telling you...I wanted to, but I knew how you would feel-"

"You knew...how I would feel?" She starts quietly, slowly turning to face the man she used to cherish the most."You KNEW how I would FEEL?! If you knew...I would not have been kept in the dark about this for so long! If you knew, you would be on my side right now!" She pushes him away and stands up.

"That's right...none of you know, or even care! You could never understand what it feels like! I'm not letting you do this...not while I'm still able to fight!"

Ukitake watches in horror as Ayame jumps into the air and releases her zanpakto.

"Dainashi to hakai suru, Kyodaina Arashi!" Ayame possesses one of the most powerful wind type zanpaktos the soul society has ever seen. A simple swing of her blade and she removes the entire ceiling of the large room in addition to sending everything in disarray. Her flash step, second only to former stealth squad captain Yoruichi and perhaps tied with squad 6's Byakuya Kuchiki, allows her to disappear through the large opening before anyone can bat an eye.

Each of the captains look to Yamamoto for guidance, unsure what to do next.

"Look, that woman is no fool. She knows she cannot take on all of us and win. I expect she wishes to go to district 81 and set up some sort of barrier around it while she tries to help the people inside. Her kidou skills, like the rest of her abilities, are exceptional. If we don't stop her she'll delay our objective even further." The head captain stops and his eyes fall on Ukitake.

"Ukitake, you are the most familiar with her fighting style. And you," he turns to Captain Kuchiki, " Kuchiki, are quick enough to catch her in no time. I expect you two to team up and catch her before she reaches district 81. The rest of you are to deploy directly to district 81. Once there, use your bankai to completely reduce it to nothing. Don't leave any of those poor creatures and that awful reishi behind. And afterwards, it is best that we behave as if district 81 never existed. You are dismissed."

With that, the room clears before the drop of a hat. The only two that remain are Yamamoto and Ukitake.

"Are you also disobeying my orders?" The old captain asks, daring Ukitake to defy him.

"No sir...I only wish to ask...what are we to do with Captain Ikeda once we catch her?" He doesn't meet Yamamoto's eyes.

"You will incapacitate her and then place her in jail. She has betrayed the Gotei 13...that is unforgivable no matter the reason. I'm sure you understand this, Ukitake. Now you are dismissed."

He was torn, but he knew what he had to do. If she felt about him the way he felt about her, she would definitely forgive him. It would take time, but their bond was strong.

Or so he thought.

Ayame had put up a good fight, but Yamamoto was right. She was no match for them all. She had almost made it there...but Kuchiki found her and delayed her...and Ukitake, who knew the ins and outs of her techniques, stopped her before she she could do significant damage.

By the time the district had fallen, Ayame was locked tight in a cell and unconscious. Ukitake stood outside her cell until she woke the following day. He took no part in the disaster that went down in district 81. It was the best he could do for the woman he cared so much about.

The soul society would live on. District 81 wouldn't.

Neither would Ayame Ikeda.

Author's Note: Her zanpakto name and command are supposed to translate to the following: Wreck and Destroy, Mighty Tempest! I used google translate so sorry if that isn't right...Thank you for reading :)