Brown eyes snapped open with surprise as a familiar weight settled around her waist. Mashiro...She sighed in relief, relaxing when the lieutenant rubbed her cheek against her back. Her neon green hair slightly askew as she pulled away from her hug of doom. Ichijo merely smiled lightly at her as she fixed it for the girl.

"Where in the world is your taicho Mashiro?" she asked pulling her along to join her in the short walk to her office.

"Ano...he's being a big meany face!" Mashiro pouted as she sat down on the couch, which was situated in front of Ichijo's desk.

"Ah, I figured as much. Would you like some candy? I have your favorites!" the blond cooed to her. The lieutenant's light brown eyes brightened at the mention of sweets and nodded vigorously.

"Of course I would!" she said as she snatched the bag from the older women. Ichijo chuckled, watching her with amusement. I wonder if Kensei knows she's here with me...hopefullt it doesn't cause to much trouble today. I still have paper work to do.

"-and then he said 'Mashiro , you idiot go bother someone else!' Can you believe Kensei-meany said that to me!"

"..." At Ichijo's light wave she thought he was supposed to continue with her story...but really..it was to the looming figure behind her.

Ichijo had tuned Mashiro out a while ago and started to finish her paper work. Her head stayed down but her hands paused and waved the man in knowing what he wanted, more like who . Well looks like perfect, or not so perfect timing for her to go off on her rants about him...She smiled at the man behind the still chattering lieutenant. He nodded in return but with a quirked brow in question.

"Lieutenant Kuna, your captain is behind you." Mashiro squealed in shock, and knocked over her couch, hitting Kensei with it. Ichijo frowned at her behavior.

"Mugumura taicho are you alright?"

"Yea..sorry about the couch though" She frowned again in confusion, but then looking at it her frown turned into a grimace.

Cold, why was it so cold? She wasn't dead...was she? There was no way! The woman now reverted back to her younger days looked around her trying to figure out where in the world she was. She was met with her reflection, it was chilling to the bone, worse than when she woke up to this place. Her eyes were no longer filled with life. They were dull and had dark bags underneath. Her skin...pale as the sand of the whitest beach. She looked like a doll, her bones looked so easy to break. she reached toward it and the image shattered before her very eyes, leaving nothing but the memory of who she used to be...

Bolting up from where she fell asleep, Ichijo quickly took in her office in relief. It was just a dream...a really bad dream. She thought as she rubbed her eyes, ridding her self of the 'sleepies' as Mashiro so kindly put it. She stood , sliding off the cover that had shielded her from the cold winds that blew in from her open window that was now shut. I don't remember shutting that...or having a blanket in here either...odd

"Hatake-taicho, are you in?"

"Hai, come in, " she called, not to surprised to see Kuchiki Kouga, lieutenant of the 6th division stomp through her door. She smiled when he sat down on her new couch huffing in agitation.

"What's wrong Kouga-kun...?" Ichijo asked , knowing his temper would eventually make him lethal if he didn't let it out.

"Those damn elders are really asking for it. They want me to find a wife and bear a son, what if I don't want to? " He finally stood and slammed his hands on her desk, causing one of her figurines to fall and break. She tried to ignore it and make sure she kept her patience to deal with his attitude.

"What about that girl you were eying that one night at the festival...-"

"She's a commoner Hatake-taicho, I mean no disrespect to you or anything but I can't, no matter how attractive she was." Kouga tried to argue with the elders logic. She smirked knowing exactly why he was fighting her so hard about commoners marrying nobles... It was looked down on, but since when did she give a damn about their rules?

"And? What's stopping you? You'll be surprised...sometimes you might learn things from commoners. Her name is Mai , she works at that tea place in the 14th district." Ichijo was rewarded with silence as he shunpoed to his destiny.

Outside she was unaware she had an audience...a certain blonde 5th division taicho, Hirako Shinji. He smirked showing all of his bright shiny teeth...Maybe you'll learn somethin' bout yerself Ichi-san. If only you'd let go...