Well hello there! It's been a very long time - and by long time I mean about four years. No, I'm not dead although it definitely feels like it at times!

I apologize so much for everyone who has been following the sequel to this story! I realized halfway through wrting The Child of Silence that there was so much left unanswered in this story. I've been spending the past year reviewing and rewriting the story.

LITERALLY REWROTE THE ENTIRE SODDING STORY

I will be keeping The Child of Silence up! I just won't be updating it until I have finished publishing this story again! Updates will be every Friday xx

As always, happy reading my lovely birdies~

Prologue

It was only in my darkest moments did I seen how bright he shone. After a life of running away...I realized that I had found a place to rest. In his arms. His strength had been what I strived for, but his kindness was my reason for fighting. He was my safe harbor from the storm. I had become so determined to protect him that I had forgotten to protect myself. He, who had understood me so well…

I didn't think love could be found twice.

To fall in love

is to be swept away by the currents

of Aphrodite

only to be torn apart by

the riptides.

Kumiko...come here," He said softly, his voice weak with sickness, "Hold my hand."

I grabbed his hand quickly, crying out, "Haku! Don't go!"

He laughed, coughing weakly. His eyes shut for a second while he caught his breath, before he looked at me, "Do you know what happens to souls who die here in the Soul Society, Kumiko?" I shook my head and he smiled, "They go to the World of the Living, born in another life. So you see, Kumiko? I'm not actually leaving you, just going to live somewhere else."

So I can come and visit you!" I grinned at him, happy that he wasn't leaving.

He paused, frowning momentarily before he smiled, "Yes, well you can!"

I had smiled then, holding Haku's hand in his final moments. He didn't tell me that when I found him in the World of the Living he wouldn't have any memory of me, that he wouldn't be able to see me when I did find him. But he had decided that my happiness meant more than his, and he didn't want to see me upset while he died.

I opened my eyes, kneeling before his grave, "Haku...my love...may the part of you here rest in peace, and may the part of you with the living thrive."

"Kumiko," Takahashi whispered in my ear. I looked up at him and the old man said hushly, "The guards are starting their dawn patrol. We must go." I nodded and he ran into the shadows again, letting me say my goodbyes in private.

"I have to leave you again," I bowed my head, letting my forehead touch the dirt of where he had been buried. Standing up, I straightened the used uniform I would be wearing to the Academy. Unsheathing my dagger, I ran the blade over my palm and let the blood pool in palm, "I am going to become a shinigami, Haku, so I don't know when I'll be able to bring you flowers. But this should last a while," Closing my eyes, I concentrated on summoning spiritual energy, and opened my eyes to smile at my creation. A glowing green flower, the color of my reiatsu, sat in my hand. I placed it against Haku's grave and ran off to join Takahashi.

"Are you ready?" He asked later when we had snuck out the Kuchiki estate and put a good distance between us and them. I nodded and he sighed, "There you go again with your arrogance, Kumiko. You are never fully ready for anything. Remember that."

"So what if I'm confident in my abilities?" I exclaimed, "You should take it as a compliment, Master."

"Confidence will get you nowhere if you have nothing to show for it, girl," He grouched, "I have given you a foundation, something most from the Rukon won't have. But don't mistaken the difference between you and the aristocrats, Kumiko. They have received a foundation just like you, and have had the pleasure of time to practice and hone their abilities."

I nodded, "I see...sorry."

"Don't apologize for anything either," He snipped, "You must not show them weakness, Kumiko. You may not be living in Kusajishi anymore but you are among a new set of savages. Those in the Academy will do whatever it takes to earn a spot among the Seireitei. Choose your allies wisely."

I nodded, understanding what he meant. In our own respective ways, we had both dealt with the noble clans and had known how much they hated being in second place. As for those of the Rukongai that had come to study at the Shino Academy, they were frightened of not ever being in first place. Where they came from, anything but first place meant death or starvation. These students would soon come to learn that I would not accept defeat either.

We stopped at the gates of the Shino Academy, surrounded by other first-year students dressed like me, all saying their farewells. I turned to my master, my companion for the past decade, and the man who had saved my life.

"Don't look at me like that," He grouched, scratching his beard, "I'll be paying much attention to your progress. Don't put my teaching to waste."

I nodded, bowing, "I'll do my best, Master."

"Make sure you do," He said before patting my shoulder and walking away back to the Rukongai.

I turned around and faced my new home, my new challenge. It was time to start the next chapter and take control of my new life as a soul reaper.