A/N: Here comes chapter two, and I really don't have much to say in this Authors note. Just want to clear up a few questions brought up by some of my reviews, and from some PM's I've been getting. One is the question of if Retsu and Soi Fon are a couple. This would be a no, or more along the lines of a maybe. I don't think along the lines of couples, but it might happen most likely not, but the option is still there. Question two was does anyone else see the sky, not this is partially answered in this chapter, and there are only four. The fourth person will be revealed at a later date while the third is revealed here in chapter two. Well, that covers questions and all, but just one more thing. I'm going to be throwing in sporadic links to a friend's stories, their suddle so maybe only he'll catch them. Anyway enough rambling, guess I had more to say than I thought.


Chapter Two: Heralds

"A purple sun," the Twelfth Division Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri responded to Soi Fon's question in a questioning manner. He didn't bother to look away from his current project upon the Second Division captain's intrusion into his lab. "Why ever would you be interested in something so…unique?"

"I am just curious." Soi Fon said in an annoyed tone. She couldn't stand the walking freak show in front of her, but it was Retsu's idea. Since the Fourth Division's Lieutenant wouldn't let her captain leave if it wasn't urgent. It was up to Soi Fon to gather what information she could, and what better place to start than at Research and Development.

"I see," Mayuri placed what he was working on down and turned to look at Soi Fon. She was indeed giving him her usual glare that told him she would kill him before really accepting his help. He surmised the little captain wanted this information for someone else, but who he didn't know, and based on the information in question he did not want to ask. "Nemu could you bring us those files that would help alleviate our friend's curiosity."

"Yes, Mayuri-sama." The usually silent lieutenant said quickly as she turned away from the two and walked off.

"Now that we're alone," Mayuri turned fully to face the Second Division captain once his lieutenant was behind the closed doors of the information storage room. Soi Fon's words expressed very little interest in the subject and he knew the young captain wouldn't be seen near him without dire need to be. "Why do you really want those files?"

"I told you already, I'm just curious." Soi said in an even more sour tone and pressing the subject that she didn't want to talk about it. Retsu had told her that if the other captains couldn't see what was going on just believe that she couldn't either. It would just raise suspicions on the health and wellness of the two captains.

"Are you now," Mayuri wished to press his questioning but his little doll was quicker than expected as she returned to the room with two small files tucked neatly under her arm.

"Here you are Mayuri-sama." Nemu said calmly as she handed her captain the files and then backed off behind the odd looking man. Mayuri looked at the files before returning his gaze to Soi Fon. It was as he expected, one was from the former Twelfth Division Captain Urahara Kisuke and the other was confiscated from Aizen Sousuke's office.

"These should help to quell that insatiable curiosity of yours." Mayuri though reluctant at first handed the female captain the two files. After all, if she really wanted them she'd just show up later and take them.

Soi Fon took the two files and then as quickly as she came left the Twelfth Division. She would have to look them over once she returned to Retsu's office. It would be unfair to keep the other captain experiencing this out of the loop.

"Mayuri-sama," Nemu asked quietly as her captain walked toward his communication room. "Is it still night out."

"Of course not you silly girl. It's the middle of the day." Mayuri said without turning to look at the woman following him. "Why would you think it was night time?"

"Because when I glanced out the window. It was dark as night outside." Nemu said in an apologetic tone.

"I'll recalibrate your eyes later then. That should fix the problem." Mayuri said coldly as he sent a hell butterfly on its way to Commander General Yamamoto addressing the Second Division Captain's curiosity.

"Of course, Mayuri-sama." Nemu sighed.


The Second Captain was fast. She could give the Second Night Raikami a run for her money. It was having a hard time keeping up and it had four legs. The canine halted and turned making sure to stay behind the woman, though at the speed she was traveling it would be difficult just to keep close enough.

His sensitive ears heard the entire conversation between the Twelfth and Second Division superiors, and he was now interested. This woman before him was one of the Heralds. They were the only beings whose senses were attuned to that of the sweet abyss in which the two had come from. They were able to see the Abyss sky as it got close, but the most dangerous thing was that the Heralds would be able to see them, and so far that was a failure among so many other individuals in this world.

The white clad woman landed on the walkway near a large building with the symbol for four on it, but he also saw her. His accomplice must be staking out the compound.

"What have you learned Canis." She asked as he silently landed behind her. His padded steps then walked before he rested his tired legs and sprawled out next to her.

"I think I found a Herald." Canis panted as they both watched the structure. "She is inside that building Chakra."

"Did she wear a number on the back of her shirt?" Chakra responded with a grin. Now things could get interesting. The last world the Abyss took had only one Herald, and she was made Night upon entering the Abyss. Of course Chakra faintly remembered that she too was a Herald, but those memories were best to stay in the past.

"I believe it is the symbol for two." Canis said calmly.

"I see," Chakra wanted to get closer. "I'm going in." Canis just nodded as the woman next to him leapt quietly to the roof of the nearby building and began to make her way to the captain's quarters.


The files that Soi Fon had managed to obtain were of little help. Well, at least the ones that were documented by Urahara about the events were. The ones that were written by the former Fifth Division captain however. They described things in such detail. Everything that the two captains have been experiencing was in the files. The purple sun and the night sky in the middle of the day, but it said more. There was something about only ones called Heralds could see the events that unfolded, and that the world would end with ten nights.

"That's an odd way to say it." Retsu said calmly which drew the Second Division captain from her looking over of the paperwork.

"What's odd about what?" Soi Fon asked calmly before looking at were Retsu's finger was keeping place.

"It says 'the world will end with ten nights.' I don't quite understand it. Shouldn't read 'in ten nights' to be correct. And…" Retsu noticed Soi Fon's attention had moved to the slightly cracked open door. The younger captain's hand was resting on the hilt of her zampacto. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure." The second division captain vanished and instantly forced the door open while drawing her blade. She turned the corner and forcefully pointed the blade toward the black haired woman's throat.

"Oh dear," Chalkra said as she raised her hands in defeat. "You spotted me."

"Who the hell are you?" Soi Fon questioned only to get a response from someone else.

"Fourth Division Hikamura Hatshi." A shinigami behind the black haired woman said in a scared tone. He had dropped to his knees and looked apologetically at the angry captain.

Soi Fon's eyes widened at the response and to see the lower ranking shinigami terrified on the ground. Retsu had stepped out of her office as well to see her subordinate behind the surrendering black haired woman.

"Captain Unohana, why is Captain Soi Fon pointing her zampacto at me?" Hatshi asked in a scared manner.

"Hatchi correct." Soi yelled in an unamused tone. "In front of me is a woman with long black hair, pale skin, and bright blue eyes. Please tell me you are not blind and can see her as well."

"I apologize, Captain Soi Fon, but the only people in front of me are you and Captain Unohana."

"Oh didn't you know." Chalkra chuckled amusingly. "Those lower life forms can't see me. I exist on a higher plane. I am Third Night Shogu Daimyo's Evening Twilight, Haruno Chalkra."

"Hatchi, would you please leave now." Unohana asked the Fourth Division member before he ran off in a hurry.

"Why are you here? Why do you say you're on a higher plane?" Soi Fon questioned but Chalkra just grinned.

"And by Night I assume you mean your superior? I am also safe to assume there are ten of them." Unohana asked in more of a statement based tone as she walked closer to Soi Fon but kept her distance.

"Well, someone's been doing there homework." Chalkra responded as she quickly brought her hands together and formed them into a strange sign. "As for why I'm here. I'll go with intelligence gathering. Make them see, Genjutsu."

Suddenly, the two captains were paralyzed as the girl slid into the shadows. They could only see a swarm of pink flower petals before the world returned to normal.

Isane was waving her hand in front of the two captains, she had apparently been trying to get the two's attention for hours, and after much arguing with the Second Division's captain about a strange woman that wasn't there, she finally got both Retsu and Soi Fon to lie down and get a full examination from her. After all, this was the second time today that her captain had reported seeing things, and whatever it was seemed to have spread to Soi Fon as well.


"So how'd it go?" Canis yawned as Chalkra returned. The yellow sun had set and night was once again upon this world, thus the two could finally report back to their superiors.

"Better than expected." Chalkra said as she stood. "Shogu-sama should be pleased. We can return home."

The dog nodded as shadows enveloped the two beings and slowly pulled them through opening portals. Tonight would be one of planning, and tomorrow the first wave will enter the world of the shinigami.