I'm saying this disclaimer just once: I don't own Bleach or Final Fantasy. Tite Kubo and Square Enix own them.

Well anyway, here is my new story. Before getting started on it there are a couple of points I need to bring up. First of all several of my stories will be taken down. These are the ones that have really bad writing or were just going nowhere. The stories that will be removed are: Bleach Into Azeroth (2009 version and my first story), Mass Effect: Crusades, and Spiritual Adventures Across Azeroth. These stories will be taken down within 1-2 days of this story being posted. The stories that I will keep up are Journey of Spirits, Warcraft: Lightning Chronicles, and Bleached into Azeroth.

Now then, a few points of order about this story (mostly background stuff):

1. Lightning's initial appearance (age-wise) is about 21 while Serah is basically they look the same way they do in Final Fantasy XIII. Mentally, however, they are much older due to the rate at which people age in the Soul Society.

2. I am not going to limit the characters that will appear to just Bleach and Final Fantasy XIII. While the main character of the story IS Lightning (or Claire if you prefer) characters from other main series games will appear. Some will be good and others will be villains. In fact, I have an entire story arc planned out for a particular group of characters. Try and figure it out. The first to PM me their guess for this group of villains will receive something special.

3. I don't think I need to say it but this story is AU so events will proceed differently from canon.

4. This starts roughly 50 years before the main story begins (when Ichigo receives his powers from Rukia). While I will get to that point eventually there are 50 years to fill in. While there will be several time gaps I have planned a couple of semi-original story arcs set to begin before the Bleach manga story starts so stay tuned.

5. If you, the reader, feel that I have written a character that behaves/acts/talks radically differently from canon feel free to say so in a review or PM. But if you do so, do it politely.


...


The Crystal Rose Shinigami

Chapter 1: Prelude to Fantasy

She opened her eyes and realized two things – she was lying facedown on the ground and she had no idea how she got there.

Groaning she picked herself up off the ground and looked around in confusion. From what she could see in the lack of light she was in a large room of sorts. As she managed to stand up and her eyes became used to the dim lighting she saw that everything around her was in a state of advanced decay. Whatever furnishings might have existed were either gone or destroyed. The walls, which might have once contained majestic paintings and frescoes, now stood cracked and shattered from the passage of time.

"What the…where am I?"

Even though the room stretched as far as her eyes can see her voice failed to echo, seemingly dying only inches from her face. Her nerves on edge and breaking out in a cold sweat she couldn't help but feel that there was something familiar about this place.

Gathering her courage she looked around, "Tch, might as well find a way out of here."

After a quick survey she walked towards the only exit, a large ornate door adorned with a glowing pink sigil. Grabbing the handle she stumbled as she was hit with an intense feeling of vertigo. After just a few seconds her regained control of her senses and found that she was now standing in a large ornate chamber that resembled a throne room. She noticed that unlike the previous room this one didn't seem to have suffered the same effects of time with only minimal signs of decay and corrosion apparent. Her attention was quickly shifted from the room when she realized she was no longer alone.

Across the room, on a large crystal throne with one leg cross over the other, sat an imposing figure with the bare outline of a man. The man was clad in a mixture of fitting midnight black and dull gold armor with a tattered cape hanging lazily off to the side. Feeling apprehensive she looked around for a place to hide when she noticed the figure's eyes were closed behind his steeped fingers.

Relieved that she hadn't been spotted her mind raced as she tried to find an exit. With one eye focused on the figure she carefully looked around and, to her relief, spotted an opening off to her right. She took a few experimental steps towards it to gauge whether the figure knew she was there. With no reaction from him she sped towards the exit but stopped after only a few feet when her entire body froze in fear.

Breaking out in a cold sweat and with her hands shaking she turned her head and saw that the figures eyes had opened and were looking directly at her, the blue light emanating from them seeming to pierce into her soul.

"Wh-"

Whatever she was trying to say died out before leaving her mouth. She tried several more times to speak but found herself mute. As the sense of foreboding increased her mouth opened and closed as she tried, desperately, to say something but failed to do more than breathing.

"What-What is this feeling?"

Swallowing the thick lump in her throat she gathered as much of her courage as she could and tried taking another step.

She instantly felt the aura of dread surrounding her triple in pressure. Brought down to her hands and knees and shaking in complete terror she had to use all her willpower to simply remain conscious. Forcing herself to look at the figure even under the pressure she saw him slowly stand up and grab the large double bladed weapon leaning against the throne.

"Move! Come on…Move!"

As the figure's metallic footsteps grew closer she struggled to regain control of her body. She tried crawling towards the exit when a shadow covered her body. Looking up she saw the figure standing over her with its large blade hanging over her body.

"N-No! Please!"

The figure almost seemed disappointed at her lack of strength before hefting the weapon into the air and spearing it through her back and out her stomach. She let out a silent scream of pain before the world faded to black…


...


Her eyes shot open and sat up in her bed with a small scream. As the last vestiges of the nightmare dissipated and her familiar bedroom came into focus she held a hand over her stomach where the figure from her dream had stabbed her and to her relief found herself uninjured. Relieved she layed back down as her pounding heart returned to normal and closed her eyes.

"That dream again," she thought as she attempted to fall back asleep only to find herself still awake ten minutes later.

Rubbing the back of her neck she looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was nearly seven in the morning. Yawning one last time she stood up and staggered across the room to the window. Opening the window her face was immediately assaulted by the brisk fall morning air, causing her to shiver slightly as goose bumps developed on her exposed skin. Taking a deep breath of the cold air she ran her hands over her face to remove the last traces of sleep.

"This afterlife isn't perfect but it is enough."

Carving out even a semi-comfortable life in the Fifth Rukon District was not easy by any standard. Either you were born into a family that was already well off enough to afford the high standards of living in the lower districts or you scrapped your way up from the bottom of the barrel in the higher districts. She and her sister had been lucky enough to die at nearly the same time and end up together in the sixty-fifth district. She had worked tirelessly six days a week for nearly a decade before she had saved up enough Kan to move towards the more lawful districts.

She had never regretted that decision.

She still remembered Serah's lack of hope upon ending up in the sixty-fifth district. She never wanted to see that forlorn look on her younger sister's face ever again. If she needed to go through hell to prevent it she would do so without thinking. Her sister deserved an afterlife full of happy memories, not one where they had to worry about surviving to the next morning.

"Memories," she thought as she pulled on a simple white and red kimono with a pink rose pattern embroidered along her right sleeve that curled around all the way to her neck. She may make enough Kan to afford a wide variety of clothes but her lifestyle before coming to the fifth district ingrained into her a sense of frugality.

"If only I could remember how I died…"

Nearly twenty years of living in the Soul Society and she still did not have any memories of how she died. She was told that most souls do not remember their lives among the living in order to get them to better accept being dead but she found that argument ridiculous. She wanted, no, needed to know how she and Serah died. There was something about their deaths that she felt was extremely important to know but nothing ever came out of her attempts to remember. There were moments, sometimes, in the very late evenings just as the sun began to set in the west and the last remaining traces of sunlight filtered through the windows when scattered memories involving crystals entered her mind and left just as quickly.

Fifteen years ago she had asked Serah about how they died. Her sister had looked at her with a pitiful expression before violently shaking her head and declaring that she didn't want to know. She had pressed the issue and Serah told her something about how they died caused her soul to fill with fear and terror.

She had never bothered asking her sister again.

Dragging herself out of her memories she finished tying her kimono and left her room. Unable to go back to sleep and still too early to leave to work she headed towards the front door. Before leaving she passed by her sister's room and peered inside. Curled up under her blankets was Serah, snoring gently in the pre-dawn light. Smiling she gently closed the door. She was glad that her nightmare hadn't woken her sister up like it had several times in the past.

Opening the front door she walked out onto the small porch and sat down in a chair. Yawning she sat back and was enjoying the dawn when a familiar feeling of pain shot through her stomach. A couple of seconds later the pain abruptly vanished leaving her to ponder what could have caused it. Several ideas came to mind but she quickly shot each down. Deciding to leave it alone for the moment she leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes with a sigh. If she was lucky she might be able to get another hour or two of sleep before Serah woke up.

"Aren't you cold?"

"There goes that idea," she thought with a grumble.

"Huh?"

She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed her sister approach her, "Just how long have you been standing there watching me?"

Serah, whose hands were occupied by two cups of tea, gave one to her before replying, "Only about five minutes. When I saw you just sitting there with a peaceful look on your face I thought it would be best to leave you alone."

"And the tea?" she asked.

"Oh this?" her sister gestured to the two cups in her hands before passing one to her, "I know that as souls we don't need to drink and eat, as you have told me many times before, but I just love tea."

"That is true", she thought bemused. She lost track of the number of times she had tried telling Serah to stop spending Kan on tea only to be rebuffed time and time again.

Serah shivered in the autumn morning air as she sipped her tea, "It's so cold out here. How can you stand sitting out here in just a kimono?"

"You know this is where I go when I can't sleep," she reminded Serah with a roll of her eyes, "Besides if you're that cold there's nothing stopping you from going back inside."

"And leave you out here all by yourself to die of hypothermia?" Serah pouted.

"I'm already dead. I can't die again."

When she distinctly heard Serah mumble, "Stubborn as a mule," under her breath she couldn't help but smirk, "Come now Serah. I'm not that stubborn."

Her sister had the decency to look embarrassed, "Whatever. Are you going to tell me about your most recent nightmare?"

Her burgeoning good mood deflated, "It's nothing."

"Nothing?" Serah argued with a pout.

"Yes, nothing. Now let it go Serah."

"I've had nightmares. Sure they may have caused me to wake up scared but what's happening to you is completely different. This is at least the sixth time you woke up screaming in fear."

She turned her eyes away from her sister in shame. "I woke you up again didn't I?" she whispered.

Serah nodded her head, "I'm starting to get really worried. I'm afraid if this continues something bad is going to happen to you."

"Serah," she said and looked back at her sister. She placed a hand on her sister's shoulder in comfort, "I appreciate the worry you have for me. I really do. But a nightmare cannot harm me. You know how tough I am."

Her sister pulled away from her touch, "I know how tough you think you are Claire."

"I'm fine Serah," she said subdued. Serah's last comment really hurt and now she just wanted this conversation to end as soon as possible, "If it will make you feel better I promise to get help if I have another nightmare."

Serah opened her mouth to say something but seemed to reconsider before heading inside. Eyes focused on where Serah was just standing Claire listened as her sister's footsteps faded. Leaning back in the chair she rubbed the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. Truth be told she was just as worried about the nightmares as her sister, perhaps even more so. Serah only knew that the nightmares were causing her to wake up early and lose sleep. She would never tell her sister about the intensifying stomach pains or the sudden headaches.

She wanted to get help but was terrified doing so would cause her to lose her job to someone with a 'more stable mind.' Without her job she couldn't afford to keep Serah and herself under a roof and fed and they would be forced back on the streets once again.

"You really shouldn't lie to your sister like that."

Without turning her head she shifted her eyes to the right. In the shadows and leaning against a tree with his back turned to her was a man in a black shihakushō with a sword strapped across his back. "Shinigami," she thought with disdain. Shinigami never bothered to interact with the common souls unless they were in danger from a hollow or were a threat. On edge she slowly put the cup down and stood up.

"What are you doing here shinigami?"

The man didn't turn to look at her, "What makes you so sure I'm here to see you?"

"Do you take me for a fool?" she bit back, "You would never have bothered talking to me unless you were required to do so."

"I'm insulted. Do you assume I am a soul without a hint of courtesy or politeness?"

"Most of the shinigami I've met were nothing more then thugs who thought they could do whatever they wanted."

"Hmm…" the shinigami hummed, "By your tone and experience I can tell you moved here from the higher districts where the laws of the Seireitei don't reach as thoroughly. Those shinigami you mentioned encountering sound like members of the 11th Division which is mostly comprised of thugs and brutes who can barely swing a sword let alone protect souls."

She spit on the ground and growled, "You never answered my question. Why the hell are you even here?"

"You don't like wasting time do you? I suppose I should tell you."

"Stop stalling," she threatened, "Who are you?"

The man chuckled, causing his purple hair to shake, "Who I am is not important. What is important is that I speak with you Claire Farron."

She narrowed her eyes at the use of her name. Not many knew it and those that did were scarce, "You know who I am but I do not know you. Why should I trust anything you have to say?"

The shinigami pushed off the tree and started walking towards her, "You should trust what I have to say because if you don't listen to me harm will come to your sister."

Her body was off the porch before he even finished speaking. She raced towards the shinigami, the glint of a hidden dagger shining in the early morning light as it slipped out of her sleeve into her right hand. No one ever threatens her sister.

The barely perceivable widening of the shinigami's purple eyes was all the evidence she needed to know that he was caught off guard by her attack. Smirking coldly as she reached him she thrust her arm forward, knowing that in the next second the shinigami would be dead and Serah would be safe from him.

"This ends now!"

Whenever she is asked what happened as she went to stab the shinigami she would reply that she didn't have a clue. One moment the shinigami was standing barely an inch away from her dagger and the next he was gone. Caught unaware by the sudden lack of resistance she fumbled to a stop. Reversing her grip on the dagger she frantically looked around for the shinigami, certain that he was going to ambush her.

"Where did he go?"

Her eyes darted around the surrounding buildings for the shinigami when she heard his voice from directly behind her, "If you are looking for me might I suggest expanding your search to three dimensions?"

The shinigami was sitting idly on her roof with a bemused expression across his face, his chin propped up with a hand. Huffing in anger she pointed the dagger at him, "You leave my sister alone!"

The grin across his face spread, "What will you do if I don't?"

Growing ever more frustrated with the shinigami she threw the dagger at him. Even if was able to dodge her earlier attack he shouldn't be able to avoid this one. At least that is what she thought right before he leaned to the side and caught the weapon by its handle.

"You are skilled Claire," he complimented, "Your first attack actually forced me to use shunpo to avoid being hit. Granted I didn't come here looking for a fight but it was still impressive. If you were a shinigami you would have succeeded in injuring me. However your second attempt to take my life was done heatedly and without forethought thus leading to failure."

He calmly flicked his wrist and the dagger flew through the air and embedded itself in the ground near her feet, "Might I inquire as to the source of your hostility?"

Without taking her eyes off the shinigami she reached down and grabbed the blade by the handle and pulled it out of the ground, "You know damn well why."

"I do?" he asked. Jumping down from the roof he landed several feet away without making a sound, "Please explain your reasoning."

"You threatened my sister!" she hissed and narrowed her eyes, "I will not let you harm her!"

"You say I threatened your sister…" he pondered and stroked his chin as if in deep thought, "That is quite strange because…I cannot remember saying I would do anything to your sister. Perhaps in your state of mind you interpreted what I said as a threat."

The death grip on the dagger loosened as a cold sinking feeling began to well up in the pit of her stomach.

"I can see that you realize the scope of trouble you are now in. Attacking a shinigami with the intent to kill is a capital offense under the laws of the Seireitei even if you had no chance of victory. By those same laws I am allowed by law to cut you down here and now without suffering repercussions."

The blade slid out of her numb fingers and fell to the ground but she didn't even notice. Her body was frozen in fear as she realized she was going to die. She just made the worst mistake in her existence and because of that Serah was going to be alone…

"I see you understand the consequences of your actions," he continued calmly, "I find it best to allow people to learn from their mistakes in order to not repeat them. If we don't then how are we to grow and learn?"

The brief fluttering of her heart with hope caused her breath to hitch, "W-What?"

"I will forgive you for this transgression on one condition. Simply listen to what I have to say and I will forget it ever happened. Understood?"

Swallowing the growing lump in her throat she quickly nodded.

The shinigami took that an approval, "Good. Now then, do you know the requirements for a soul to become a shinigami?"

The random question threw her off, "What? What kind of question is that?"

He waved her off, "Humor me."

Scoffing she crossed her arms and looked anywhere but at him. The fear permeating her soul had begun to abate with her normal attitude reasserting itself, "Really just what every soul knows. To become a shinigami a soul must have spiritual powers and be able to release it."

"While that is generally true there is more to it. You know that normal souls do not need to eat and drink for sustenance. This is due to the small amount of spiritual energy in their bodies constantly being replenished by the ambient energy permeating the Soul Society. When a soul develops spiritual energy they can no longer 'feed' themselves using that method and therefore need to eat to survive. Those that don't begin to experience what is known in the world of the living as hunger pangs."

Without realizing it she had subconsciously moved her hand over her abdomen. The shinigami noticed this and said, "I see you understand the cause of the pain you have been feeling."

She stared at him and narrowed her eyes, "You knew?"

"No," he shook his head, "But your reaction was enough for me to reach that conclusion."

She didn't like where this conversation was going and she especially didn't like the leading tone in the shinigami's voice. Spending the first two years of her afterlife in a place where people killed for the stupidest of reasons helped her realize the shinigami was hiding something from her.

"Are you somehow suggesting I'm a shinigami?"

"You certainly have the power and potential to become a shinigami," he corrected.

She turned and started walking back to her house where Serah was no doubt getting worried. This shinigami had already wasted enough of her time and she had listened to what he had to say as promised, "I will pass on the offer you are no doubt about to give me. I cannot become a shinigami. Who will take care of my sister and keep her under a roof if I cannot earn a living. I apologize for wasting your time but you need to leave now."

The man seemed unfazed by her rejection. In fact he seemed to approve of it, "I'm impressed Claire."

"Impressed?" She stopped several feet from her front door, "Impressed about what?"

"Your determination to take care of your sister. I can list every soul I approached that had the potential to be a shinigami who agreed without hesitation or thinking about the consequences. Those souls never became shinigami. They only saw the strength, power, and privileges being a shinigami would give them and ignored the ramifications of their actions. You know of the power being a shinigami would give you and yet you prioritized your sister over it. Well done."

Thinking that he was attempted to trick her with platitudes she continued moving and started opening the door, "That's nice but I don't buy it."

"Before you leave there is just one last detail with which you should become familiar with."

The serious tone in his voice gave her pause, "Oh?"

"When a soul develops spiritual powers they sometimes have an adverse affect on their environment. It is unknown how and why this occurs but it most likely has to do with their overall personality. Long term exposure by normal souls to spiritual energy can cause them to become weak, sick, and even kill them."

She twisted around thinking he was joking and saw his cold and frozen face, "What are you saying? Serah is fine!"

"Perhaps for the moment she is," he admitted with a shrug, "Perhaps your spiritual energy will never affect her but you and I both know you would hardly take that risk. You value your sister's life over your own and would never willingly put her in harms way."

Scowling she marched towards the shinigami and grabbed the front of his shihakushō with both hands, "What the hell do you want from me?"

"What I want from you is quite simple…and watch your language young lady," he said without seeming the least bit perturbed, "In four weeks time the next semester at Shin'ō Academy will begin. During the preceding week the academy opens its doors to all souls with spiritual energy for the entrance exam. Pass the exam and you will become a student of the academy."

Her grip tightened, "What about Serah? Who will take care of her if I'm busy becoming a shinigami?"

He reached up and with almost a minimal amount of effort pulled out of her grasp. His hand brushed phantom dust off his shihakushō before he answered, "I'm not supposed to tell you this but students of Shin'ō Academy are given a stipend of roughly 20,000 Kan a year for amenities."

"20,000 Kan? That's nearly twice what I make right now!" she thought with astonishment.

The insufferable smirk was on his face again, "I take it you are now considering my offer?" She opened her mouth but he silenced her with a raised hand, "Don't give me an answer now. Talk to your sister and let her know everything. We may all have our secrets but who can we trust more than family?"

"I-"

"What are you doing in the middle of the street Claire?"

She turned her head and noticed Serah walking towards her. She had changed into a pink and blue kimono with an embroidering of a small furry creature stitched along the bottom, "I was talking to this shinigami. He was just about to leave."

Her sister looked around confused, "What shinigami?"

Scoffing she turned around and noticed that the shinigami was gone. "He must have used shunpo when I was distracted," she thought with a bit of anger. Frustrated at how the day started and feeling a headache forming she turned and wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulders, "Nobody Serah. Let's head back inside, there is something important I need to talk to you about…"


...


He walked swiftly and with purpose through the halls of the 1st Division. He had been on his way to the 4th Division when an inner court messenger had intercepted him and told him that the Captain-Commander wanted to meet him. He had initially brushed off the messenger but when he found out the Captain-Commander wanted to see him as soon as possible he begrudgingly headed towards his office. Reaching his office he knocked on the door and waited for a response.

"Enter."

Sliding open the door he walked into the Captain-Commander's expansive chambers. He was intrigued that the leader of the Seireitei and all shinigami could live in such a Spartan setting. Pushing that thought away he swept past the pillars lining both sides of the office and saw Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto standing near a railing overlooking the Seireitei, his entire body leaning on a thick wooden cane.

"You wanted to see me Captain-Commander?"

Yamamoto didn't respond to the question for nearly a minute, "Hmph. It is about time you showed up. I was beginning to think you had purposely brushed off my invitation."

"Do you take me for a fool?" he asked with a smirk.

"Perhaps I do," Yamamoto quipped and turned his head slightly to face him, "Genshirō came to me earlier. He saw you leave for the Rukongai before dawn. What were you doing out there?"

He walked forward until he was alongside Yamamoto and leaned on the railing, "I suppose I found something that peaked my interest."

"Peaked your interest?" Yamamoto asked with a half-opened eye, "I take it that means you found another potential student?"

He chuckled at that, "I just find them. I don't actually teach them anything."

"It has been more than one hundred years since the last one. How does this one fare?"

Another laugh, "You know I wouldn't tell you even if you ordered me to."

The Captain-Commander scoffed at the disrespect and looked away, "Very well then. I will not pry any further but I must know one thing. What is your initial assessment of him?"

"She certainly has potential but then again so does everyone. It is what they do that makes them special."

Yamamoto arched an eyebrow in interest, "That is quite a surprise. This is your first recruit that hasn't been male."

"I fail to see how gender has to do with skill and power."

"I was simply making an observation. Out of the twelve souls you recruited in the last 600 years, three went on to become captains, four rose to the rank of lieutenant and one…"

"It was quite a shock what happened to him."

"This new recruit might just be what you need."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Since you previous student you have dedicated all of your time to the 1st Division. While your work has allowed the Seireitei to prosper and is greatly appreciated I am relieved that you have found something else to focus your efforts on."

He turned away from the Captain-Commander with a scoff, "I don't suppose you summoned me here to simply heap upon me accolades?"

"If only that was the case," Yamamoto replied, "I'm afraid the reason I called you here is much more somber. Four days ago Chōjirō came to me with a peculiar request."

"A request?"

Yamamoto nodded, "Indeed. He told me that he was no longer worthy of being my lieutenant and that I should begin looking for a replacement as soon as possible."

"Chōjirō said that?" He was shocked at the man's suggestion. Sasakibe was a loyal to the Captain-Commander as a person could get. Nearly one thousand years of dedicated service and now he decided to give it all up?

"I find it hard to believe that Sasakibe, the man who would jump off Sōkyoku Hill if you personally told him to do so, would just retire out of the blue."

"I discussed it at length with him. Chōjirō felt that my lieutenant should be someone able to fight alongside myself in both times of peace as well as times of war without fearing being killed by my shikai if the need arises."

"Sasakibe may have a point after all," he said with a frown, "He may have bankai and the overall power of a low captain but he wouldn't last in the presence of your released zanpakuto for more than ten seconds."

Yamamoto didn't seem to like that revelation, "Personally I feel that Chōjirō is understating his strength. He was always too modest. The number of shinigami that can withstand my shikai without immediate harm can be counted on one hand, two of which are my old students."

"By the way," he asked, "What does Sasakibe stepping down have to do with me?"

The Captain-Commander looked sternly at him, "I thought it was obvious. Chōjirō suggested, and I agreed, that you should become my new lieutenant."

Now that was an interesting proposal. Truthfully he had an inkling that was the reason he was called here after the Captain-Commander told him that Chōjirō was stepping down, "Shouldn't Sasakibe have told me this himself? The man is anything but shy."

"Chōjirō is staying at Shin'ō Academy for the next few weeks. As he is no longer a lieutenant he felt that he could be useful elsewhere. Apparently he felt the academy's curriculum could use an update."

"Interesting," he said bemused, "But why did he suggest me? Surely there are other more qualified candidates out there? What about the fourth seat of the 6th Division? He has both the skill and ability necessary to be your lieutenant."

"I had that same idea. However Ginrei informed me he wanted Garamonde to be his lieutenant someday. I respectfully acquiesced."

Chuckling as reality set in, he let out a laugh, "So I guess there is no way out of this promotion?"

Yamamoto looked at him disappointingly, "You may not be able to fully withstand my shikai but we both know you can last in it long enough to escape with only minor burns."

"Ah yes," he replied as he thought back to that encounter, "I still don't understand what that vasto lorde was doing in the Human World in the first place and for it to survive your shikai is most concerning."

"It may have escaped but you survived as well," Yamamoto reminded.

"I wouldn't call that a complement. I almost died in that battle."

"Hmph, downplaying your skills with modesty…I see now that Chōjirō was correct in choosing you," Yamamoto fully opened his eyes and looked at him, "Will you accept the position third seat of the 1st Division, Caius Ballad?"

Caius shook his head, "I still can't believe Sasakibe was willing to give up what he worked centuries for."

"He truly was conflicted over the decision but felt that it was the right thing to do. Besides you have both the strength of character and leadership qualities needed. Half of the men in the barracks looks up to you," Yamamoto stopped here to let out a small laugh, "and don't think I haven't see the looks the women give you as you walk through the Seireitei. I may be old but I'm not senile."

Caius ignored the jab and seemed pensive, "What will become of Sasakibe if I, for the sake of argument, do become your lieutenant?"

"He will take over as third seat until such a time that he feels he can challenge you to be my lieutenant again."

"I see…" he trailed off. He hadn't foreseen becoming lieutenant. Frankly he was content being where he was. He may have the power and skill to rise through the ranks but he felt that a title like captain or lieutenant was just that, a title. He could a lot more good in both the Human World and the Soul Society if he weren't constrained by rank. Still…

Shrugging as he came to a decision Caius sighed, "I suppose it would be a good change of scenery being your lieutenant. I wonder how the other lieutenants will take the news."

"We shall see tomorrow when you are officially promoted," Yamamoto replied.

"Indeed we shall. Now if there is not further business I will take my leave."

"We are finished," Yamamoto admitted.

He bowed and turned to leave but stopped when Yamamoto's spoke, "I give the both of you my sympathies."

"Thank you," Caius said as he left the 1st Division barracks and made his way to the 4th Division. Hopefully his meeting with the Captain-Commander did not take up too much time. Captain Unohana was a woman even he was wary of upsetting.

"Her entire family makes me wary. Although I have found several ways around her particular ire."

Unaware of his new lieutenant's thoughts Yamamoto stood overlooking the Seireitei for several more minutes in silence. Walking towards the center of his office he sat down on a tatami mat and closed his eyes. As he tried to meditate his thoughts kept returning to the recent events. Having Caius as a lieutenant would help strengthen the Gotei 13. The man had the strength of a captain and being lieutenant would help propel him to greater heights.

"That man…let us see what he makes of this situation."


...


Author's Note 1: That concludes the first chapter. As some of you might predict Lightning (Claire) will be heading to Shin'ō Academy in the next few chapters. Since the manga states that the average time for a student to graduate is 6 years there will be several time skips along the way. But just to let you know Lightning will not be in the academy the whole six years.

Author's Note 2: The characters introduced (in person) in this chapter were: Claire [Farron], Serah [Farron], Caius Ballad, and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Next chapter some more Bleach and Final Fantasy characters make their appearance. Some of which in a very surprising role. So stay tuned and review please!