Chapter 1

As all tales deriving from the Soul Society begin, a death had occurred.

Kitty was always happy girl, even more thrilled that she had turned nineteen and had was able moved to Japan. In the small town she now lived in, a quiet place called Karakura, she studied animation which was a subject that Kitty knew the Japanese where far more superior in compared to the western part of the world.

Looking back, Kitty felt like she couldn't remember much of her life other than she was excited to move to Japan and that she where going to celebrate her newfound independence by eating ramen at a local place. Now she was on her newest discovery; trying to use chopsticks.

While Kitty sat alone, fumbling with the sticks, she heard a roar from outside and looked up. Nobody else seemed to have noticed it, so she figured it was only her imagination and tried once again to get the slippery ramen noodles into her mouth.

Not only three seconds later had the entire shop exploded.

At least, that was what it felt like to Kitty, who had fallen on all fours to the ground. There was smoke that burned her eyes, people running everywhere, and… Kitty's eyes widened. She stared at the huge, grotesque monster before her. A hole ran right through its stomach as well as a deformed white mask, seemingly made of bone. The monster was so ugly Kitty screamed at the sight of it. To her horror, it looked at her.

It turned to her and she ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction. She looked down at herself, wondering if she was badly hurt, and frowned at the sight of a chain attached to her chest.

Where did that come from? She wondered and tripped. She gasped; the monster was right behind her, laughing in triumph. It drew closer.

"Get away from me!" Kitty screeched, holding her hands up without knowing that it was futile; the monster was going to eat her any second.

Swish.

Kitty looked up, peering from behind her hands. The monster – it was gone! A woman dressed in something that could only be described as a modified ninja outfit stood in its place. Something long and metal gleamed in her hands – a sword.

She turned, her long brown hair swishing behind her, and looked to Kitty. "You okay, kid?" she asked.

Kitty was far from speechless. "Yeah," Her voice shook, but she got to her feet. "What was that?"

"A hollow. They go after people with Reiatsu." The woman's explanation was brief and very confusing for Kitty.

"Reiatsu?"

"Spirit pressure. Some people, even when they are alive, can sense it in other spirits. To hollows, those people are like a delicacy." It wasn't very comforting but Kitty sighed, glad she hadn't been eaten alive.

"So, what's with the ninja suit and the katana?" Kitty asked curiously.

The woman frowned. "It's called a shihakusho. It's the standard for all Shinigami, as is the katana." This did not help Kitty understand.

"Shinigami? You mean as in death gods?"

"Yes."

Dread. Kitty felt dread wash over herself. "So how do you see who's a spirit and whose not?" she asked carefully.

The woman sighed, almost like she was going to give her some bad news, furthering Kitty's fear.

"You know when someone is a ghost because soul chain has been cut from the body." She looked a bit regretful to say something like that, but said it swiftly like she had told it to many others.

Kitty didn't understand. "Soul chain?"

The woman just pointed her katana towards Kitty's chest at the chain attached to her shirt.

"I, I'm dead?" Kitty's throat clenched and she shook from her place on the ground slightly. She was barely able to choke the words out.

This was happening too fast.

"I'm afraid so."

Kitty sighed unsteadily and tried to look brave. "Well, what now?" she all but snapped. The woman in front of her seemed used to it though.

"A soul burial will get you to Soul Society. But a hint of advice; even though you probably don't sense it yourself I feel some strong Reiatsu coming from you." Her face was set straight, completely serious as her brown hair washed back and forth in the breeze. "If you find you want to, I suggest applying for the Shinigami Academy and trying to become a Shinigami yourself. We always need more people to help, but they need to be strong."

Kitty smiled weakly. "Okay then. Do your thing, I'll think about it." The woman smiled back and turned her katana around to touch Kitty's forehead with the back end. Kitty smiled gently, feeling an unexpected sense of peace, as she fell into a sleep as she floated to the heavens.