Chapter 1

Tashi woke up in her own Vice Captain's suite. She moved from the Kuchiki estate into her own quarters years ago. It was early and she took her time making and taking tea with a small breakfast which she prepared herself. After she ate she combed her hair, washed her face then took out her shihakusho and dressed in her uniform for the day ahead.

Tashi's good friend Eri got up early and prepared for a day of working in the main infirmary building of the fourth squad. She went to the cafeteria and ate a simple well balanced meal with some colleagues and then started her day of offering healing and therapy to those in need.

Eri and Tashi's friend Atsumi rolled over in her futon as the sun crept through the blinds of her private room in the 11th squad. She sat up aggravated nature would wake her from her slumber. She stretched and yawned and reluctantly got out of bed. After cleaning up she walked, still half asleep with her zanpaktou snug at her hip, towards the practice room to begin beating up her subordinates for the day.

-
Hours later the three friends walked down the main walkway of the Seireitei as they had for years towards lunch. There were years of stability and growth for these three after an initially challenging and eventful entrance into the ranks of the Shinigami. Tashi clearly the most powerful, had become a Vice Captain and Atsumi was nipping at her heals achieving success in the 11th squad. Eri was very content as a strong healer in the 4th squad. Bursts of Eri's spirit power would rise sporadically, but was not constant enough for her to be promoted or consistently succeed. It was frustrating, but yet Eri was content.

The girls, despite their different ranks, all ate together in the general cafeteria. Tashi was eligible to eat with the officers in a reserved space, but preferred the general café and the company of her two longtime friends. Atsumi had a strong bond with her fellow 11th squad members, and was immune to ridicule for being friends with a 4th squad healer. Atsumi was tougher than most and would only take ribbing from the top officers in her squad. Fortunately, they had more important things to do than tease Atsumi, and it was also helpful for the most violent squad to have a solid connection to a healer.

The three young ladies, by Shinigami standards, sat around the same table they always did sharing the days events over their familiar foods. Tashi felt the approach of officer pages before her two companions. When she looked up Tashi saw the pages were walking towards her wearing official white cloaks connected to hooded masks. The masks were to protect the pages' identities as they carried very sensitive information. The cloaks surrounded them and fluttered along the ground, making the messengers look like they were floating. The information they carried was so high level it made them targets, and they were headed towards Tashi.

The mess hall became quiet as these two gliding and faceless men approached the three friends. One of the masked messengers kneeled and handed Tashi a small bamboo cage with a vibrant green hell butterfly. Unlike the black and violet messengers used frequently during battle and every day administration, the specially colored butterflies were more delicate and selective as to who they will deliver their messages. The second messenger opened the door of the cage and the three girls wondered who would receive the special message. The butterfly flitted on two wing strokes towards Tashi. It gently fluttered it's wings in front of her and she tentatively lifted a finger for it to land on. When it grabbed on with its spindly legs it touched its antennae to her finger and transferred images directly to her mind.

It was an invitation to the Kuchiki estate, but for a very formal and official meeting. The invitation did not come from Byakuya, but from the Captain Commander's office. Tashi was unsure of what she did to be called to the Kuchiki house in such an official manner. The butterfly expressed to her that Captain Kuchiki, Captain Hitsugaya and Vice Captain Abarai would be there to have a discussion with her about her performance track.

Later that day, as approached the estate Tashi felt her nerves burn her stomach, but her hands did not shake. She remembered the last couple of times she came to the house, one time being turned away, another being welcomed. She wasn't sure what to expect this time around.

She was brought into a large empty room where the doors were open to the vast gardens outside. Tashi thought about how she loved walking through these gardens and how peaceful they made her feel. If it's not terrible news, perhaps I'll ask if I may walk around in them again before I leave today.

She sat and waited on folded legs for her superiors to arrive. Kuchiki entered first, followed by his Vice Captain and then Captain Hitsugaya. The three men sat in that order in front of her from right to left. They were very serious and Renji held a box covered by a vibrant blue cloth.

"Have you had tea?" asked Captain Kuchiki. Tashi shook her head no and he asked "Would you like some?"

"No, sir, thank you, sir" she said. She wanted to know what this meeting was about. Hitsugaya and Kuchiki took some tea and Renji declined.

Tashi watched as the servants rested the cups down on a low table they had brought for that very purpose. It was so quiet Tashi was acutely aware of the rustle of everyone's clothes and the clink of the tea cups as they were placed on their tables.

Hitsugaya cleared his throat and began to speak. "Touichi-fukutaicho, you know we have been watching you for some time now. Ever since you appeared at the academy you have impressed your teachers and have been supportive of your fellow students. The other students looked to you as a role model for your power and humility."

Captain Kuchiki then said "Though your disappearance and delayed graduation held you back, you have rebounded with exceptional grace."

Tashi could feel the emotion tugging at her throat and tears were burning her eyes. She knew she was not being chastised and her hard work was being recognized. "Thank you, Captains. I could not have achieved any of it if it were not for you. Your interest in the students and support for those with ideals similar to your own is truly impressive. I hope to one day prove to be as accomplished as you." Tashi then bowed with the perfect posture Captain Kuchiki had admired the first evening he saw it in her humble student home.

Vice Captain Abarai grinned widely and said "It might come sooner than you think" and he placed a box covered with the blue clothe on the table in front of her. He stepped off to the side and knelt on one knee. Tashi looked to the captains for approval to open it and received the go ahead.

She pulled back the blue cloth and revealed a black lacquer box with the emblem of the 9th squad inlayed in mother of pearl. Tashi gasped at the shining box and could only guess at its contents. "This is…beautiful!"

Hitsugaya became a bit irritated, in a strange goodhearted way, and ordered her to open the box. Tashi used as little as her hands as possible, not wanting to mark it with her fingerprints to push the top aside.

Inside was the white cloak of a captain. The embroidered emblem stared back up at Tashi and she couldn't believe her eyes. "I'm…I'm a…I'm a captain?"

Renji said "Yes Touichi-sa- I mean Touichi-taicho."

Hitsugaya nodded, and slid his hands into his sleeves and said "Congratuatlions, Touichi-taicho."

"But…but don't I have to…I don't recall taking-" Then she remembered.

Kuchiki said, calmly and coolly "You may remember the squad evaluations we held after the last conflict we had in the Seireitei. In part it was used by the captains and the commander to distinguish rumor from reality."

"Yes, I recall" she said. "It was then I…revealed…"

Renji, the happiest of the three said "Your bankai is truly impressive Touichi…taicho."

She laughed a bit nervously. "I had a feeling, but…I just couldn't believe that I would have made it to such a level. Surely I had assumed Hisagi Shuhei would have taken this seat."

The others shifted a bit uncomfortably and shared a few glances. Hitsugaya finally told her "Yes, we were surprised he didn't jump at the chance. However, it does not make you a second choice. You would have been placed elsewhere, if not in 9. You have earned this title and we look forward to working with you."

Soon after a group of scouts was reported missing an emergency Captain's meeting was held. Tashi 's paperwork had not yet been officially completed so she was not included.

Commander Yamamoto watched as his elite Shinigami filed into their meeting room and when they were settled began his briefing. "Captains, we have had reports of unusual hollows attacking the civilians of Rukongai. It is at times like these that we must remember our basic function in the flow of souls between this world and the next. We must design a battle plan like none we have made before. From Captain Kurostuchi's information we cannot simply use overwhelming force, but rather we need to approach this enemy in a unique fashion. Captain Kurotsuchi, report." The Commander gestured with his cane to signal Mayuri to begin.

The current captain of the 12th squad and leader of the Department of Technology began his report. "Many years back the Department of Technology created that device for Captain Zaraki." Mayuri pointed at Zaraki's eye patch. "There were many attempts at creating such a monster. The main issue was size. The more the little creatures would consume the larger they would become. That was problematic and those attempts were promptly destroyed. Or so we thought. It was more than possible, under the slipshod supervision of my predecessor that one may have escaped into in the world. The amount of spirit particles available in Soul Society could sustain a creature like this indefinitely."

Kyorkau Shunsui pushed up the lid of his straw hat and said "Yare yare, how do we destroy it?"

"It should not be so difficult, but it is not a captain's job. Not even a Vice Captain's job. From the sensors I attached to some Shinigami I sent to investigate I was able to extrapolate some useful information before their demise. These creatures are mindless monsters, moving forward only to consume more and more power. "

Ukitake stepped forward, his long silvery white hair swaying as he did so. He asked "What does it look like?"

"It doesn't have a solid form persay, and can vary in size" said Kurostuchi. "Their size depends on how much spirit energy they have consumed and how long they've been left to grow."

Hitsugaya disliked these meetings, but stepped forward with a question. "Are we talking about a single one of these unusual hollows, or are there more of them?"

Kurotsuchi hesitated but finally said "We believe there is only one large one, however we cannot rule out the possibility that it has had time to…multiply."

The eyes shifted back and forth and everyone soaked in the implication. Zaraki's laugh began quietly and he soon was at his full volume cackle thrilled by the thought of this bizarre foe. As Zaraki continued to laugh maniacally Komamura turned his fix eyes on the mad scientist captain. His Armor clanked as he stepped forward and asked "How then do we destroy them?"

The Commander drew all of the Captain's attention and silenced the group "I want you to bring forth your most reliable Shinigami, however they can't be distracting to the Hollow. "

Shunsui stepped forward again and asked "So they have to be weak, Yama-ji?" Shunsui chuckled at the irony of the situation. "Someone once said 'Our strength grows out of weaknesses.'"

"Mmm. Shinigami are not weak, Shunsui. They all have different strengths. They must be clever, reliable, calm, and brave. Go! All of you and bring back the names of your candidates for this special mission."

The captains filed out trying to think of their squad members and who they would send. Ukitake had an especially difficult time deciding who to choose. He didn't want to send someone without a strong reiatsu, but at the same time that person would have the best chance. It went against his instinct to protect his squad members.

Mayuri picked the first one of low power level subordinates he saw when he returned to his squad's building. Shunsui called his three lowest level subordinates into his quarters and drank with them for the afternoon. The one who made it to the evening was the one he chose for this mission.

Komamura held a large meeting with all of his subordinates and as a group they decided on who would be the best decision. He sweetie them too secrecy, and theu would take that meeting to the grave. Hitsugaya narrowed it down to four then called in Matsumoto. She provided him a different perspective and made his final decision with his most trusted subordinate.

Zaraki grumbled behind his desk to his vice captain about who was the weakest. "I don't have any weaklings in this squad!" he roared. He growled to himself then stormed out of his office. He stomped down the hallway, drawing plenty of attention as he went. The further he went the more followers he gained. Soon a large group of 11th squad Shinigami were storming off into the forests of Rukongai.

Byakuya Kuchiki stood looking out the window behind his desk in his office. He watched a mob of rowdy Shinigami, led by Zaraki, speed off into the distance. Byakuya turned away from the window and looked at his empty office. He took a few steps towards his desk and placed his hand on one of three files lying there. He picked it up and then called out to Renji who was waiting, with discipline, in the hallway. When Renji appeared in the doorway Byakuya asked him to bring the Shinigami he chose to his office. Renji brought the young Shinigami in and left him there with their Captain. Byakuya stood tall and proud and peered down his nose at the young man kneeling respectfully, and a bit fearfully, in front of him.

Soi Fong stood on a tower watching over all her stealthy squad members. Her large and garish Vice Captain crunched away on his rice crackers while each of the squad members lined up with partners and sparred. She paired up the strongest with the weakest, the second strongest with the second weakest, and so on, until a victor of superb skill, but not necessarily the highest spirit power, emerged.

Each captain made their decisions and selected their shinigami for the mission.

Captain Unohana was not expected to select someone to bring into a combat situation, however she thought of someone in her squad that may be of wonderful use in this situation. Someone who was tremendously strong when the pressure was on, but otherwise seemed completely normal.

Eri stood rolling bandages in an exam room humming a tune to herself. Unohana-taicho entered and asked Eri for some of her time. Eri of course, complied. The motherly captain said "The captains need your help." Eri wanted to roll her eyes but merely looked down to the floor. "I'm serous, Eri. There are creatures terrorizing Soul Society which devours spirit energy. An army of Shinigami with lower power is more likely able to approach than one who is of higher power."

"Won't it notice that we're trying to kill it?" said Eri

"Captain Kurotsuchi explained it really only focused on its food. It is not as conscious of the world around it like you and me. It focuses only on its food. Only on power."

"And captains are overflowing with spirit power so approach would be difficult" said Eri, finishing the thought.

"Yes."

"Am I really all that weak?" asked Eri, embarrassed.

Unohana smiled and said "I don't think so, but it is likely to think you are."

Days later a young man came to Eri's quarters at early dawn and they left. They wordlessly exited and met up with a silent group of 11 other shinigami.

Eri moved through the forest with the specially selected team of Shinigami who were out to find the strange reiatsu devouring monster. Eri listened to her colleagues, one from each division except the 11th. They had been scouting out the area for days and found nothing suspicious and irritation and anxiety was running high. Eri listened to the grumbling of her compatriots without comment.

"Ugh!" whined the man from the 3rd division. He scrunched up his heavy tan features and scratched the back of his black haired head. "Their plan makes absolutely no sense. Why send us?"

A woman from the 10th division concurred as she kicked a stone and watched it tumble. She flipped her straight blond hair and flashed her narrow violet eyes and snapped "Because we're weak. We all know the story."

"Actually," said a meek young man from the 13th division "We're not the weakest, but somewhere in between." Everyone shot him a look of incredulity, even Eri, who rolled her eyes. "I'm serious!" defended the young man. He reminded Eri of Kira Izuru and what he may have looked like when he was that age. Lean, blonde, with sleepy blue eyes the kid from the 13th division explained "None of us are the lowest ranked, but we all have some other skill outside our mediocre levels of spirit power. I think there was a lot of special thought that went into selecting each one of us."

Before anyone could voice their disagreement, the trees rustled and they all froze. They heard a gurgling growl come from the shaking trees, then leapt back as a large black shining blob oozed across their path. They could feel it sucking up spirit particles as it lurched through the woods. They knew this was undoubtedly their target but were stunned at how large it had become.

It was a one story high and apparently oblivious to their little existences. It oozed by, long, like a train car. It took no notice of the Shinigami as it lumbered by like a thick legless caterpillar. It moved by undulating forward and knocked down trees and crushed anything it's path.

The young woman from the 10th division yelled "Well, we're here to get it! Let's go!" and ran forward, brandishing her asauchi. She leapt forward and all but three of them jumped in and tried to begin slashing the creature's side. The woman slashed her sword against the jello-y black goo and watched as the slash she cut open closed back up.

The creature halted in its tracks and turned it's gaping glowing mouth towards them. Three of the Shinigami were sucked into its gaping maw. Eri was frozen with fear. She only heard her heart beating, everything was moving in slow motion until she heard the shrieking of one of her comrades. She wiped the sweat from her brow and ran forward. She saw the 10th division girl being absorbed into the side of the creature up to her hips. She reached forward with both hands after observing two of their companions try to plush on the creatures side for leverage, only to have their hands be absorbed by the black gel.

Eri pulled on her comrades hands, and was dragged across the grass as the creature continued to absorb the 10th squad member. Her hands went limp after her face was submerged. Eri reluctantly let hey congresses hands go. To Eri's horror the creature finished absorbing all of the young brave Shinigami who had tried to attack.

Eri stood in fear shaking as she watched the limp hand of the 10th squad girl be absorbed. She was snapped out of her paralyzing fear when she felt the arm of a comrade wrap around her waist and pull her away.

She looked up and saw it was the sleepy eyed kid from the 13th squad. "I'm Brigsby, by the way" he said as they settled about ten feet back. "Eri, right?"

She nodded gawking at the creature. "Where are the others?" she gasped.

"On the other side" he said.

"How do we kill this thing?" she gasped.

He shook his head as the last of the creature rumbled away, revealing only two young, but battle worn Shinigami left on the other side. Eri cried convinced she was going to be of no use. Brigsby put his hand on her shoulder knowing she was a healer at heart and not used to losing comrades so immediately in battle.

Eri felt a rumble in her belly, but not that of hunger. My spirit power? Its rising!

The remaining two approached and reported a similar experience of watching their teammates be absorbed. Remaining were a clean shaven, bald, dark skinned young man named Feraj and an olive skinned blonde woman named Tano.

Tano and Feraj looked at each other, uncomfortable with Eri's inexperience in conflict. Feraj said "Well, we're down on numbers, but maybe we can think of something, a plan."

Tano shook her head, "We can't slice it up. That might just give us multiple monsters."

"Good point" said Brigsby. " At this point we should find a way to contain it."

Eri contributed "With a physical barrier of some kind? But, it just gobbles up spirit particles, so maybe we should head back and suggest a seki stone trap?"

"That's a perfect idea!" said Tano. "We have to track that beast down again and maybe tag it with this tracking device my captain created." Tano pulled an innocuous looking bamboo box from her sleeve small enough to fit in the palm of her hand.

"That's tiny" said Eri, not convinced out would be strong enough. "It's the size of a box of matches!"

Tano said "Still works. We didn't know how big or small it would be."

Feraj said "Let's get to it. It isn't far." As if on queue the trees began to rustle and they heard the gurgle and slosh of the beast.

The group looked up and saw the beast barreling towards them, only this time its mouth was open and it was already hunting them.

Eri noticed a sucking feeling, like she was going to be vacuumed up. She was in awe, almost hypnotized by the toothless mouth. She barely noticed the wind drawing her closer and closer as the gooey black creature lumbered forward. Its mouth was a large toothless glowing yellow fleshy tube. It was unnatural in ever way.

Eri saw Feraj and Tano had backed off in a single leap out of its path. Brigsby had drawn his sword but noted he was being dragged across the grass by an unseen force. Oh no! So am I! thought Eri.

Eri looked down in horror as her feet slid across the grass and she was hypnotized by the glowing yellow light. It was then that she could feel her hidden spirit power rising to the surface of her soul. "It knows!" she gasped.

The monster groaned wanting to scoop up Eri and her hidden well of power. She tried to move across the grass but she slipped and fell and had no options except to dig her fingers into the dirt.

Brigsby leapt to Eri's side with his asauchi pointed at the beast gripping her belt and leaning over her in a defensive posture. But it was no use, they were being dragged across the ground. The creature had it's sights on Eri and it was not letting go. With clumps of grass in her hand she screamed at him. "Get outta here, Brigsby!"

"I'm not going back to tell my vice captain her best friend was devoured because of my cowardice!" he yelled back over the wind. Tom yelled at Tona "THROW IT IN! THROW IN THE TRACKER!" Tona nodded, her face contorted with fear and confusion. Feraj nudged her and she tossed the box into its mouth.

Just as the creature came upon Eri and Brigsby, Feraj and Tona heard a wild noise like a series of ancient high pitched horns and a saw a flash of blinding light.

When the light and noise faded they saw the creature sitting where Eri and Brigsby had been, heaving, as though it were panting or out of breath. As of it head finished a very big meal. It didn't bother to take note of Tona and Feraj and after a moment it continued on it's destructive path.

Tona and Feraj felt dread in their bellies. Tona said "What do we tell Vice Captain Touichi? Both her volunteer and her friend… are dead."

Feraj took a deep breath and said. "We will report back the facts and that we did everything we could." They looked each other and swallowed.

"Or we try and stop it" said Tona, gathering her courage. The creature began to move again and it began to lumber away from them. "You go report back" said Tona. "I'll continue to follow it and observe it's behavior."