Thank you once again for reading this. ( You must be thinking, "How many thank yous does this person say!") Well, I am truly grateful, for you reading this. Please enjoy.

A Drop of Freedom

Chapter One: Wish upon a star

Soul Society: Squad 10

"Oi! Taicho! (Captain!)" This female voice echoed through out the once quiet halls of the soul society, while loud foot steps pounded against the wooden floor. A women who looked no older in twenty rushed down the polished hall, her long layered orange hair let loose behind her, her traditional attire flapping due to her speed, and her blue eyes sparkling with life. One could not help but notice her rather large cough breast, as she slid open the paper door.

"Taicho! We are ordered to investigate the unusually powerful spiritual energy that is emulating from the human realm!" she called out. Her captain, hidden behind a stack of paper work, sighed in annoyance at his fukutaicho's disruptive behavior and sat up from his seat.

"Matsumoto, could you be any louder...?" he mumbled as he took a step forward, his snow white hair gleaming, his striking icy blue eyes gazing with solemn, and although he was small in height his demeanor seemed that of an adults. Matsumoto just grinned down at "Captain Hitsugaya", as she followed him out the door, in this time she closed carefully behind them. The two shinigami's shadows disappeared as the portal to the human realm opened.

"Let's go, Matsumoto!" Hitsugaya's voice echoed behind them and then they were gone.

Hitsugaya Toshiro POV

Never have I enjoyed going to the human world... But here I am with my fukutaicho (vice-captain), to investigate the mysterious spiritual energy. Its power is said to be off the charts. "By now it this strong of a spiritual energy might have attracted hollows..." I mentally cursed as we continued to our destination. Gazing upon the mansion of a green grassy hill covered in wild flowers, I could just feel the spiritual powers leaking through.

"Amazing... I can feel the pressure from the energy out here as well..." Matusmoto gulped as she whipped the cold sweat from her face. I could feel my eyes narrow, as much as I would have like to disagree... she was right.

"We can't waste time... Lets go." I ordered. Matsumoto just nodded and followed my lead. Kicking open the door, I stopped dead in my tracks, I searched my surroundings for any threats, unable to find any we proceeded. It was quiet but the strong energy remained... Suddenly, a hollow jumped out of the shadows roaring and gearing for attack. Unsheathing my zanpakuto I slashed through it in one clean slice."How did this hollow go unnoticed...?"

"Taicho..." Matsumoto worried voice snapped me out of my thoughts, my eyes widened... we were surrounded by hollows. The fight began, but no matter how many we destroyed more appeared.

"Tch." No choice I have to use Hyorinmaru... Reading my thoughts Matsumoto immediately cried out,

"Taicho! We have direct orders not to release our zanpakuto forms to the second and third stage! They don't want us to ruin the sight for investigations."

I heard a grunt escape my mouth as I dodged a hollows attack, "She could have told me sooner..."

"What are we going to do!" she cried out as she continued her battle. I could not answer, but there was only one... escape. Suddenly flash of blinding light flushed the darkness away and in one great swipe all the hollows were killed. With not a scream or cry in pain... the hollows were gone. An immense wave of energy pressured us to the ground, immediately I implanted my blade into the floor and I barely manage to keep balance while Matsumoto buckled to her knees.

"What in the world is happening?"

Author's POV

Hitsugaya eyes ventured up, as he struggled to his feet, he managed to set gaze upon a figure approaching them. With long jet black hair flowing past her upper thigh which was tied back in velvet ribbon, ghostly pale skin, a long thin build, but her eyes... held two different colors. While one shone a beautiful sea blue calming yet captivation the other seemed to be overcome with rage and hatred for it glistened blood red.

"Shinigami, eh...? It appears the soul society is making there move..." her eyes studied the two in front of her, her expression unreadable. Matsumoto who had now managed to lift herself up, she gazed intently at the women standing only foot steps away. Although she was strikingly beautiful, she was dangerous... Anyone could tell that.

"W-Who are you?" Matsumoto struggled out; it was becoming tiresome to stand. Hitsugaya remained silent.

"I owe you no answers." As she turned her gaze away and lifted her right arm. The shinigamis' eyes widened, for her arm was slowly fading away. Sighing the woman tucked it back in her flowing robe. The spiritual energy slowly decreased and the heavy pants from Matsumoto returned to normal breathing, "So this is the limit of my power..." she whispered softly. The same white light blinded the sight for a few seconds and then the woman was gone with no trace of the spiritual energy that she had. Frowning, Hitsugaya sheathed his sword and sighed,

"What the hell just happened?"

"Matsumoto, lets go." He ordered although he was still pretty shaken up about the whole thing, he knew he head to report back. Matsumoto did not respond, a bit annoyed he turned to repeat his orders but stopped to find his fukutaicho staring to the ground.

"Oi! Mats-" he was cut off by his fukutaicho's shaky voice,

"T-Taicho...? Is it just me o-or is that girl staring right at us?" Hitsugaya whipped his head around and sure in enough where the woman once stood now sat a young girl on her knees, her widened eyes locked onto them.

"She probably just shaken up and staring into space." He mumbled prepared to leave but was stopped by a loud clear voice.

"Oh, cool! Are you guys Otaku (anime)freaks?" his eyes widened in shock as he took one long stare at the girl, "What? Is there something on my face?" she answered. Her face suddenly went blank , "Eh, What happened to that m-monster...? Was just dreaming" she panic mentally but it was no where to be seen.

"So you can see us?" he said steadily eying the girl.

"Well, I least I think I'm not blind!" the girl said smiling bubbily. "Why do I get the feeling she similar to that girl..." he thought as he brought his hand to his head.

"Wow, you must contain a lot of spiritual power to be able to see us!" Matsumoto replied as she inspected the sitting girl.

"Eh...? Can't everyone see you guys?"

"You see not exactly since we are actually shin-" Matsumoto was interrupted by an elbow blow on the side, "Ow what did you do that for!" she cried out to her captain.

"What are you thinking? You don't expect to tell her the truth do you?" he said in an annoyed tone.

"Eh?"

"Think about it if... Should you really tell her...? The truth might cause more trouble for her then she is already in..." he whispered, his tone now dead serious. Matsumoto eyes widened.

"He can't be thinking..." her thoughts were interrupted by the girl's voice.

"Are you guess talking about me! It's not nice to spread rumors" she pouted.

"O-Of course we're not." Matsumoto laughed nervously. The girl just eyed them suspiciously and shrugged. Her attention was now turned to the sword that lay in Matsumoto's hand.

"Wow! Is that a real sword?" she asked, "Is that even legal?"

"Oi, girl!" Hitsugaya called out.

"I have a name and it's not girl!" she said making a face.

"Whatever, so what happened here?" He asked, inspecting the crash in the wall, it was most defiantly made by a hollow. But the girl did not speak; she just looked down and remained silent.

"Oi, girl!" he called in an impatient voice.

"My name is not girl!" she said with annoyance a bit more serious than before. He sighed and kneeled down next to her.

"Fine, then what's your name?" he asked softly.

"Hashimura Akiko!" she answered with another smile.

"Okay, Hashimura, can you tell us wait happened here."

"I entered this house by myself since I was curious to see if this place was really haunted. When I stepped in the lights flipped on and I did some exploring. Then..." she placed her hand as she struggled to remember the details, "I came to the stair case and saw a girl on top! I think she was a ghost cause she disappeared into thin air or at least I think so. Soon after the lights switched off and I tried back track to find the door. Suddenly the wall crashed in and amonster came charging through."

"Is that all...?" he questioned once more and Akiko just nodded.

"I don't remember what happened after that...Oh, but I heard a voice and then everything went black..." she said smiling a carefree smile.

"A voice...?" Hitsugaya thought silently to himself.

"Could Taicho really believe that... this girl is some how related to that woman...?" Matsumoto pondered as she felt herself watching both her captain and Akiko. Suddenly Hitsugaya turned around and motioned to Matsumoto that they were heading back to the Soul Society. Akiko watched in silence as her two mysterious saviors walked away and then she realized something.

"Oi! I told you mine so you should at least give your names! An eye for a eye and a tooth for a tooth!" she called out. Sighing Hitsugaya turned around in annoyance, "Why is this girl such a nuisance...? What the hell does she mean "A tooth for a tooth"?" he thought in an irritated tone.

"Hitsugaya Toshiro." He stated blandly, while turning back again.

"Mines, Matsumoto Rangiku!" Matsumoto introduced in a friendly tone before following her captain... and then they were gone. Akiko's eyes just widened with suprisement, "Geez... I think I had my share of surprises for today..." she thought cheerfully. It was no longer dark inside the mansion for the crash in the wall let in the moonlight which revealed the crystal stars whom twinkled in the night. She slowly steadied herself upon her feet, for some reason she felt refresh and lively although it was the middle of the night... all thanks to those two strange people. She took slow trudging steps out the huge monster-made opening in the wooden wall and headed down the grassy hill. She looked up upon the night-lighted sky, smiling softly to herself.

"Maybe I'll see them again someday." She whispered as she headed back down the overgrown trail leaving the mansion out of sight.

Okay instead of getting shorting it got longer... Oops... I'll try harder next time. Well, I hope you enjoyed it, Hitsugaya made his appearance. I will get into more detail about that woman that appears before both Histugaya and Matsumoto, to tell you the truth I haven't thought about a name for her yet. sigh Oh, I'm rambling again, Sorry I have a tendency to do that. Well, please add a comment. Thank you!

Well, please look forward to the next chapter: Into another World