This story is actually a prologue of sorts. It will not be too long. Only around 15 chapters or so. It is merely the introduction to a different story that a friend of mine has written. I will be posting her story shortly after this one.

…

It was nearing sunset in the beautiful town of Karakura. Things were calming down for the night and everything seemed to enter a state of peace and quiet.

Well almost…

"You got a death wish, bitch? Nobody jumps one of my guys and gets away with it!"

There were several different people gathered together in the street, seemingly split into two groups. The voice that had yelled belonged to a teenage boy - a thug- who was apparently the leader of the boys behind them. His friends – cronies - all cracked their knuckles threateningly at the other group - one of which was the girl being yelled at.

The girl had brown hair just past her shoulders and hazel eyes. She wore simple black jeans, blue flip-flops, a dark blue spaghetti strap, and a right-pissed-off scowl. She said nothing as the boy screamed at her. Her scowl only deepened further and she made a non-committal noise.

"Is that all you can say?" The thug had reached his breaking point and shot forward towards Kita.

However, someone else got there first. A taller boy with a dark tan, shaggy black hair, and brown eyes stopped the thug before knocking him back with an attack of his own.

The thug hit the ground hard, causing a cloud of dust to rise. Everyone watched quietly but the boy did not move even as the dust settled.

His fellow group of thugs broke into nervous whispers and Kita used Kyvain's distraction to her advantage much to the amusement of the girl's friends.

"Alright listen up assholes!"

The group's eyes immediately snapped to her.

"Do you see that?" Kita pointed to a knocked over vase beneath a nearby lamppost. The idiots nodded.

"Good." Kita hissed, her eyes blazing.

"Now first question. Do you know what that is?" Her voice had gone deadly - almost poisonous and it caused her friends to either smirk or fight down smiles. Some of their eyes lit up with glee at the sight.

The thugs, on the other hand, were looking confused, shooting nervous glances between the crazed girl and quietly glowering boy.

"Answer me dammit! You! The fugly one in the middle!" Kita had gone back to shouting.

"Me?" The boy in the middle squeaked, pointing to himself nervously.

"No!" Kita snapped, "Ah' meant the other guy who smelt like fucking B.O.! Yes you!"

The boy, starting to shake, stuttered in giving his answer, "I g-guess it's f-flowers from some k-kid who got killed round here."

"Well. Aren't you a genius." Kita sneered, "Now why the hell is it knocked over on its side?"

One of the other thugs, regaining his courage (and stupidity), spoke up, "'Cause we knocked it over when we were skating by," he shot, "What's it to you?"

Behind Kita, another boy and girl - Pyro and Match - started to snicker.

Kita merely glowered at him then stopped and began to smile.

"You're right." She said softly, still smiling.

The thug was only momentarily taken aback before he turned to his friends with a smirk. However when he looked back, Kita was directly in front of him.

She socked him in the nose.

"That's what it means to me asshole! Now apologize or the next time the flowers will be for you!" She shouted, looking rather demonic… or crazy. Take your pick.

The thugs that were still standing shouted apologies as they collected their fallen comrades and took off, not even pausing as the other group burst into laughter.

The last two girls - Syke and Tegan - smirked at each other before Tegan went over to pick up the fallen vase.

"There." she said happily, "Now they shouldn't come back here to bother you."

She smiled as a young girl seemingly appeared before them.

To them, the girl was as solid and real as anyone else and not one of them said anything about the blood stains that splattered her clothing.

To them, the decaying chain that hung from the child's chest was an all too familiar sight.

To them, the sight of spirits was an everyday occurrence.

By the time that their confrontation had ended, it was already dark out and past time for them to split ways. Saying their goodbyes, everyone heading towards their own home and Tegan and Syke found themselves alone.

The two sisters carried on in silence, allowing the peace to wash over them. Syke was taller than her sister and honestly, not many would guess that they were related. Tegan had shaggy brown hair that just touched her neck and light blue eyes while Syke had shoulder-length blond hair that went down in frizzy waves and hazel eyes. Tegan was more laid back and absent-minded. She often forgot what she was doing or what she was having a conversation about. Syke had a quick temper and could be counted on to remember anything she had heard or read about.

However, there was one thing that they both acted upon in the same manner…

Entering their home and removing their shoes, the two called in unison, "We're home!"

Just as they finished saying this, a white blur came flying from out the kitchen and in the next moment, the two girls had been knocked over.

The blur stood over them, revealing itself to be a middle-aged man wearing a white lab coat. He placed his hands on his hips before declaring loudly, "You dropped your guard. Always be on alert when coming into the house if you're late for curfew."

…Their father.

Syke's face twisted into a look of rage and Tegan dropped her usual smile to glare coldly up at him before they both flung themselves at the older man.

"We don't have-" Tegan swept her leg out to trip the man.

"A curfew!" Syke kicked him in the ribs, causing him to go flying across the hall and hit the opposite wall.

The two stood side by side, glaring down at him in irritation.

Syke began to speak, "Excuse us for helping a spirit find peace-"

Tegan's eyes had narrowed to slits as she hissed, "-You crazy old man."

The man stared at them in surprise for only a second before leaping up to his feet to attack at them again.

"Oh yeah, blame the ghost! Bet it's the ghost's fault for leaving your rooms a mess, huh? When will you two learn discipline and respect?"

While they were fighting, a young boy with messy brown hair and hazel eyes, came to stand in the doorway. He watched them for only a moment before crying out, "Hey guys stop fighting! Dad leave them be!"

The three pause and stared at him before Tegan and Syke looked at each other and shrugged. They dropped Isshin from the chokehold - allowing him to hit the ground hard - then simultaneously kicked him and walked away, following their younger brother.

Isshin found his three children in the living room - Syke and Jake playing video games while Tegan entertained herself with a book. He smile softly at his family, pride evident in his eyes before he smirked and launched himself at them, yelling, "Super sweet Dad attack!"

The next morning, Syke ran quickly downstairs, already running late in her effort to get to school. When she got to the kitchen, Tegan handed her some toast that Syke immediately stuffed in her mouth. She then ran quickly out the door, not noticing her siblings exchange smirks. She was already half way down the street when Jake turned to Tegan and asked, "When do you think she'll realize that it's Saturday?"

Sometime later, Syke was walking down the street, kicking the ground in irritation. She could not believe that her siblings tricked her like that. Oh wait. Yes she could.

The girl paused when she realized she had neared the lamppost where the young child haunted then smiled and pressed on. Perhaps, she could check to see how she was doing.

An explosion up ahead stopped her in her tracks. Syke froze, eyes wide as she stared at the smoke and debris. She did not notice the people around her panicking - only that the young spirit was racing towards her - and she was terrified!

When the child reached her, Syke grabbed her arm and began to run alongside her. A chilling howl echoed behind her, causing Syke to falter and turn - and see a monster from nightmares coming towards them.

The creature towered above everything – it had to be at least ten feet tall, because it was tall enough to block out the sun and throw its shadow over them both. Its body was a shade of black that didn't reflect the light from overhead, but rather absorbed it. It had human-like legs and arms, but the digits all ended in curved claws several inches long. Its face was a white mask that reminded Syke of a skull that was permanently fixed in a wicked smile. Behind the mask were small eyes that burned brightly red. The mask's mouth ripped open as it roared.

Syke immediately began running again, this time with new vigor. However, they did not get far when the child tripped and fell. Syke skidded to a stop to help her up but it was too late. The monster was upon them.

Syke winced and flinched back - ready for the pain surely to come. Blood splattered her face.

However, it was not hers. A small figure dressed in black had leapt between the girl and beast - unsheathed a sword - and sliced it through the being's head. The creature burst!

In the next instant, the mysterious figure was gone - the creature dead - and Syke left with questions.

Syke entered the house quietly later that night, still confused by the morning's events. She had spent the rest of the day searching for the girl that had intervened in her death but had found nothing. It was frustrating to say the least.

When she entered the kitchen, she found Jake sitting at the bar, doing weekend homework. Syke looked around, the others were gone.

"Where's the other two?" She asked as she pulled a water from the fridge.

Jake did not even look up, far too engrossed in his work, and answered in a distracted tone, "Dad took Tegan to the hospital for another checkup."

Syke winced but it went unnoticed by her brother. Her sister had been getting such checkups since they were nine. The doctors believed that she had a mild mental disorder that caused her absentmindedness and to hear whispers in her mind. Tegan was getting better but the visits continued.

Syke felt as though they would never end.

Feeling more upset than she had just a moment ago, Syke made her way to her room, believing it best that she be by herself for a while. She laid in bed, attempting to block out memories of just when Tegan's problem had first appeared when a flutter of black caught her eye.

It was a black monarch butterfly traveling across her room.

Syke sat up fully, wondering just how it had gotten into her room when another figure glided through her wall. Her eyes widened as she realized that it was the girl from earlier - the one who had killed the demon.

The girl was looking around wearily and as her eyes passed over Syke, she realized that the girl had immediately passed over her - as though not caring that she was there in the slightest.

Syke tensed when the stranger placed a hand on the katana that stuck from her belt. By this point, Syke knew that the girl was a spirit but that hardly counted for anything at all. They had been hurt by spirits before.

Enough was enough, she finally decided; she was tired of being annoyed and more than wary about the blade. Syke stood up from her bed to address the spirit.

"Hey-" She began was cut off by the girl speaking in a soft tone.

"It's close."

The spirit continued to ignore her, aggravating Syke to the point that she did something very Tegan like.

She kicked the girl in the ass.

The spirit tumbled over from the unexpected blow, landing on her hands and knees. She turned to look at Syke with wide, surprised eyes.

"You kicked me!" She exclaimed.

Syke crossed her arms, "Well you were ignoring me."

The girl just gaped, "B-but I can't be seen by normal humans! Are you saying you can see me?"

Syke pinched the bridge of her nose, "Is that a serious question or are you just stupid? 'Cause let me tell you, I am in NO MOOD-"

She cut herself off as the girl stood up, faced her, and grabbed her chin.

"How odd." The spirit muttered, "You look normal but you must be defective somehow-"

Syke snapped.

She lunged at the girl, yelling, "I'LL SHOW YOU DEFECTIVE, YOU LIT-" But the spirit managed to evade her by jumping into the air and landing behind her gracefully.

Syke snarled and turned back around, "Just who the hell are you anyway?"

The girl turned to her with a blank - almost bored - expression that Syke had often seen Tegan use against other people. The girl's voice was calm when she answered but held no mocking tone.

"I'm a soul reaper."

The girl explained to Syke about shinigami and their duties. Syke listened carefully to her tale, feeling exhaustion settling in as the girl told her more. She honestly had no reason to not believe her after everything that she had seen in her life but Syke was tired and it had not been the best day for her. She rubbed her eyes tiredly before asking, "So that monster from earlier was a hollow?"

"That's correct."

Syke grumbled to herself then asked, "So if you got what you came for then why are you still here?"

The shinigami blinked, as though not expecting the question, then she looked sheepish.

"Well actually," she began, "there's a second hollow around here somewhere but it seems to have disappeared."

Syke stared blankly at her.

"You mean you lost it." she deadpanned.

"I did not lose it!" the girl yelled back, "It's just hiding itself from my senses that's all!"

Syke snorted in disbelief.

The girl clenched her teeth.

"Why you.." she ground out, causing Syke to smirk.

Then the sound of a chilling howl echoed through the room. Both girls froze then leaped to their feet as crashes came from downstairs.

"No! Jake!" Syke called in panic, rushing from her room and heading downstairs.

The shinigami followed closely but paused as she left the room - the feeling of the monsters energy washing over her.

How had this managed to hide from her?

Syke ran through the halls until she came to the kitchen. Disbelief flooded her mind for but a moment as she took in the sight before her. An entire wall had been taken out - wood splinters and glass were scattered over the floor - and one of the monsters from earlier - a hollow - was stooped outside the hole.

Its attention was diverted by something struggling in its hand… Jake!

Syke immediately went into action as she shot towards them, grabbing a nearby chair to use as a weapon. When she reached the hollow, she pulled the chair back and struck!

The chair snapped in half and Syke gaped in disbelief as the hollow looked down at her.

It turned to face Syke completely but before it could do anything else a black blur shot from the house and sliced at its hand, causing it to immediately drop Jake. The boy screamed as he fell and Syke found herself rushing in attempt to catch him. Reaching him just in time, Syke flung herself forward and grabbed him in her arms just as he lost consciousness.

The hollow was screaming in pain and fury as blood ran down its arm. Syke watched with wide eyes as it swept forward with its good arm and knocked the shinigami across the yard, cutting open her side as it did. It then disappeared into shadows.

Placing Jake down to the side, Syke then ran over to where the girl lay bleeding.

"Soul Reaper! Are you ok?"

The shinigami had pushed herself into a sitting position against the house, her hand pressing against a badly bleeding wound. Her face was twisted in pain and her breath labored but she still responded.

"I'll be ok." She paused, "But I'm afraid that I'm of no use now and the hollow will return soon."

"What do I do?" Syke asked, half panicked. The girl just gazed at her calmly as though searching her very soul.

"Do you… wish to protect your family?" She asked softly.

"Yes! I'll do anything."

The girl's breathing hitched for a moment, "You must become a soul reaper. As a human, there's nothing that you can do to fight it."

"Alright." Syke choked out, "How- how do I…"

The girl nodded, "You must take my zanpakuto and pierce it into your heart."

"W-what?" Syke's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"It's the only way!" the shinigami snarled before her expression turned sad, "We don't have much time."

Syke paused but then shook her head. Her family was worth it.

She stood before the girl's blade, ready for what she had to do.

"Do it soul reaper."

"My name is Rukia Kuchiki."

The hollow had reappeared from the shadows, howling in rage. It raced towards them.

"And my name is Syketon Shade!"

The blade pierced her heart and the hollow froze as a burst of red energy exploded before it.

When the light died down, Syke stood in the shinigami uniform with a katana held in her hands. She grinned savagely at the confused hollow before leaping towards it.

"You shouldn't have attacked my family, hollow scum. I'll kill you!"

She impaled it between the eyes as Rukia watched in horror and fascination. The human girl had taken to fighting the hollow naturally but she had absorbed all of Rukia's powers rather than just enough for the fight!

Syke landed gracefully on her feet as the hollow disintegrated then turned to smirk at Rukia. She took a step forward - and fell unconscious a moment later. Behind her stood a taller boy with black hair. He caught Syke as she fell then gently placed her down on the ground before going towards Jake.

Rukia struggled to get up - she did not know who this person was but the two humans were defenseless the way they were. Before she could even get to her feet, another being stepped in front of her. She froze as spiritual pressure washed over her - forcing her to stay on the ground.

"Now Miss Kuchiki. It's probably not the best idea to be moving, hmm." The blond man smiled down at her as Rukia gazed up in fear.

Then the man turned to the boy, "Kyvain. Let's get this cleaned up quickly. Miss Kuchiki here needs medical attention and I'd rather not be around when the rest of Miss Shade's family gets home."

Kyvain looked up from where he was checking Jake.

"Yes sir." he called back.