I rejoiced in the temporary peace. Had I known back then, even the slightest hint, I wouldn't have accepted it. I would have acted sooner. But now, after so much strife and bloodshed, I had finally found some tranquility within the Seireitei. Though it couldn't be, had I known this was just the quick breath from one tragedy to the next, things might have been different, but when living as a shinigami, a respected member of the prestigious Eleventh Division, not to mention a seated officer, things had a way of molding out of your preference.

I leaned my head back and exhaled. The sun was shining down, sprays of golden light pouring in through the window. I heard a soft gasp from before me, and tilted my head forward again.

"What?" I asked wearily.

"So there are times when even you find time to relax," Lyra said with a grin. "The Great Treu, super somber serious soldier, has his moments of quiet reflection."

"A life of combat does not presume one is inclined to fight," I muttered, leaning my head back again.

"Then you should get out of the Eleventh Division, methinks."

"Speaking of which," I really hated speaking. Listening, I was a pro at, but speaking was more often than not a chore. "I heard you're getting transferred again. Which Division are you getting shipped off to this time?"

"Fourth."

I looked forward again, frowning. My silence indicated her to go on.

She just shrugged, and turned away, shrugging out of her robes. When I didn't look away, she smiled sheepishly. "I have to change, Treu."

"Why Fourth?"

"I don't know!" she threw one arm into the air as she stepped out of the black and white shinigami outfit I had almost grown sick of seeing. "Probably because they want to wait for me to actually be useful before they let me stay in the Eleventh Division. I don't even know the name of my sword."

"But you love to fight," I said with a sigh. "Zaraki knows it, and nobody cares. Why are you being transferred again?" I don't know why I was being so irritable. I didn't care either, but this was just ridiculous.

"I really don't know," she insisted, grabbing the next pile of clean, smaller robes that lay on the table beside her. Underneath was her sword and the leech-like pack of supplies that indicated a Fourth Division member. No seat, low rank, just fodder for the enemy. "But it's right from Central 46."

I scratched my chin, letting impassiveness wash away my anger as I leaned back, and she disappeared behind the table to undress and change into her new robes. My exhales were more exasperated sighs; for all my silent boasting, I was nowhere near as indifferent as I aspired to be, especially when it came to Lyra. Perhaps it was out of line to get this irate over a Division transfer, but for the third time in two months? And my only friend in all of the soul society? Something wasn't clicking with me. Running my scarred fingers through my grey-brown hair, I stood, taking deep breaths and resuming my normal face.

"I'm going to talk to Captain Zaraki," I said quietly. Lyra nearly tripped as she peeked out from the other side of the table, only halfway finished changing into her robes. She clamped her arms in front of her chest to cover herself, and frowned at me.

"Why? What's he going to do?"

"He's not as careless as you think. He'll know what to do."

"Treu..."

"This isn't for you," I insisted, though I could feel the lie thinning in my voice as I spoke it. "Central 46 has been giving odd orders, fewer orders, and been too insistent in the smallest things. I want to find out why."

She whipped her robes on, latched her sword into the dull pink sheath, and slid the pack over her shoulder. "Alright, then," she said, mocking my monotone. "I'll just have to do my best to keep dutiful."

"At least in the Fourth Division, you'll be out of trouble," I muttered, unable to look her in the eye. When those green gems found me, I could not lie, not directly to her face. She tossed her raven hair and shook it free of her collar and clipped her sword onto her wist.

"Sooner or later, they'll call on me," she said as she walked past me. "Good day, Treu."

I just nodded as she left the small shack, and looked outward at the wooden windows, my gaze lost in the warmth and brightness of the sun. My thoughts consumed me, and my movements became automatic; I walked back to the Eleventh Division 'hangout'.

Walking around, insisting my opinion into things that don't concern me, is this really how I spend my free time? I thought as I let my mind take over control. Navigating the maze of walls and tiled roofs was finally easy, having lived in the Seireitei for over fifty years now, and I didn't even have to think about where I was going. Or is this subtle unrest just the closest I can get to peace?

I had no answers for myself, but one thing was clear. Something was amiss with Central 46, and if Lyra was involved, I would act without hesitation. Anyone who threatened her, be it shinigami, ryoka, even 46 itself, would be removed.

Author: I'm going to put these up in small increments, I don't really have these designated to chapters, more like long blocks of story divvied up into several thousand words, anyway I'll try to keep them short so you don't lose interest, but that also means I'll be updating often. About the chapter though, things are starting off a little slow as Treu has a lot of investigating to do, but I hope you all like it!