New chapter say what! I wanted to put this chapter out last weekend, but school pushed me and said "pfft no". One quiz and three essays later, I started writing this chapter! It's a little shorter than last chapter and we're getting into a few darker themes, buuuut many exciting things are going to happen. I'm super excited!

Shout out to the lovely readers who took the time to review last chapter. As well as the followers! Makes me smile that this pairing is still going strong.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Two

To Kill a Mockingbird

Tiger proudly roars.

Dragon dives and Phoenix soars.

Fox gets the chicken.

- Jay Kristoff Stormdancer

"Because I'm in love with you."

Nanao's mouth grew dry as dust. The lump grew in her throat, making it impossible to speak. Eyes were wide as new flowering buds. All she could do was shake her head slowly, carefully watching the powerful Taicho in front of her. His face remained stale. Soft eyes slowly darkened under the dim warm light. Her legs shook as gravity began to force her to the ground. The atmosphere fell like thick smoke, crowding around her lungs, limiting her breathing.

Shunsui stepped forward and Nanao looked away.

"Nanao-chan…."

"You cannot think of me in that way," she spoke suddenly; her voice grew heavier with each word.

Her eyes remained away from his closing form. Heart burned with pain of bittersweet rejection. He would say 'I love you' to her almost every day, but those were meaningless comments—teasing words to get her attention. So what made this different?

When he said those words, he spoke like those words were going to be the last words he said to her. His voice was soft like a blooming cherry blossom in the spring. These words were not like the others. These words were true—they were for her and her alone. And that scared her.

"Nanao-chan, you know I do. There should be no reason why I shouldn't be in love with you."

She could feel him even closer now. Her eyes shut, moving her head away as she felt his warm breath on her face, and his hand casually removing a piece of hair and tucking it behind her ear. "There are many reasons," she muttered.

"Including?"

Nanao bit her lip, not knowing what to say. Shunsui's soft touch was enough to throw her into the neon sea she never wanted to leap into. This man made her mind and soul feel endless electricity, only to end up under a pile of blackened soot.

Her eyes shot open as she slapped his hand away. Tears filled her eyes, but she held it in, feeling the dread of regret crowd her mind. She searched his eyes, his widened eyes that made her heart crack. And her head shook slowly. "Why me? Tell me that?"

"Nanao-chan, why do you ask me that? You should already know the answer," he said, eyes narrowed.

She frowned. "I'm nothing like those girls who flirt with you during the weekends at the bars."

"What are you talking about?" he said, placing his hands on her shoulders

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" she snapped, moving away from him.

"Those girls are nothing compared to you. They sell themselves for play. They're only there for entertainment. Your soul is beautiful and bright while theirs might as well be tainted black."

She nodded, looking away from him, whispering, "So I'm worse."

"Sweetheart, what are you talking about? You are making no sense right now."

"Don't call me Sweetheart."

A pause. His hands were placed back on her shoulders. This time she did not move them."Nanao-chan, how can you be worse than them?"

Her eyes moved up to his, searching for something. "I'm not who you think I am."

"And who are you?" he asked softly. "You know who you are? You're my Nanao-chan, and nothing is going to change that."

He had pulled her into a hug before she said anything else. His warmness radiated off, making Nanao sink deeper in his chest. The scent of cherry blossoms filled her nose like a burning fire. She couldn't seem to be able to move away. He's so warm….

In the protection of his arms, Nanao couldn't imagine who wouldn't dream about being in this man's arms. He was one of the strongest Shinigami after all, and she… why?

"I'm in love with you, Nanao, and all I wish for my birthday is to know how you feel," he whispered in her ear.

His voice echoed through Nanao's mind. His soft whispers like a mother's lullaby, calming her soul. Still, she had to remember her place and what her current situation was like. As much as his warm hugs were comforting, she knew he would never want to touch her once he knew the truth about her. About that night and…about my past. If he knew…he would never be able to look at me again.

She moved away from him, pushing against his chest, and dropping her hands. Her eyes moved to the floor, not able to take a glance at his expression once she told him. Suddenly the air grew thin and Nanao's knees grew weak. She realized she wouldn't be able to stay in the same room as Kyoraku-taicho for another minute without crying.

"I can't," she spoke softly.

"You can't what?"

She breathed through her nose deeply and looked up to him with a stern look. "I can't be in love with you. I'm not in love with you. And you need to accept that."

And she left without another word.

xXx

Shunsui's eyes remained glued to the door she exited from. The chatter outside reached his ears steadily, as he felt his bloody rise slowly like a shaking volcano in the middle of blowing up. Her words rang through his ears, staining the mind of his memories. It was like burning ash. The constant grasp at her heart slowly pulled away from him and out of his reach. He growled in response, punching the wall, muttering curses. She is so stubborn!

He took a deep breath, moving away from the damaged wall he would probably have to pay for. The giant hole, it was a reminder of what his heart felt like. As much as her words hurt, he knew deep down she was lying. She had to be! No one ever acted around him like Nanao did. Some girls flirted with him, yes, but that was no love. Nanao's small gestures of the slapping of her fan and the tone of her mature and professional voice made his mind aware of what she was doing. She was like a dancing fire, controlling, but heated and demanding. It made his entire being end up in her flames. He didn't care what she told him, he knew the truth in the bottom of his heart and would never give up on her.

"Shunsui?" a voice of an old friend reached his ears. "What happened in here?"

He turned to his friend and smiled. "Nothing, everything's fine. Nanao and I just had a misunderstanding."

"Is that why she rushed out of here?"

Shunsui's eyes fell back on the hole and frowned. "I guess."

"What did you say to her?"

"I told her I was in love with her, Juu."

"Well that doesn't explain why should would have run off. You tell her you love her every day."

"I do tell her I love her every day," he smiled. "But I never told her I was in love with her."

"Ah, now I see," Juushiro said.

Shunsui felt his friend's hand on his shoulder. "I got angry," he chuckled. "Can you believe that? I don't remember the last time I lost my anger like that, but she probably felt it coming on."

"Actually, everyone felt it," Juushiro confessed.

"Thanks, Juu," he said in a sarcastic tone. He shook his head. "That's not the worst part of it."

"Then what is?"

Shunsui licked his dry lips, and muttered the words in a low tone. "I tried to force her into telling me what happened that night ten years ago."

His friend gave him a softened look. The sea green eyes growing distant. And Shunsui looked away knowing he knew what he was talking about.

"I have never felt so foolish. Why would I think she would tell me? She was never the one to open up much. I thought, at least to me, she would have." He shook his head and sighed. "I should never have forced her."

"You should go after her then."

"No, not now. She has had enough of me for tonight," he smiled small. "She needs room to breathe."

Juushiro sighed quietly. "If you say so, Shunsui."

Shunsui felt his friend leave the room as he sat down at the abandoned table, taking a swig of the sake. He would talk to Nanao tomorrow. For now, she needed time to cool down, as well as himself. His love for her dug deep into the depths of darkness. He would even bring her back from Hell if that ever happened. She may be his lieutenant, but she was more than that. She was his everything. Still, would she ever let him into her heart? Would he ever know what her past was all about? He could still remember when they met out in the 45th Rukon district. She was covered with dirt, blood and scratches and even through all of that, she still stood tall against his powerful reiastu. Lisa Yadomaru demanded they take her back after that, mentioning to him the little girl held some kind of special power. Since then, Shunsui always looked out for her, protecting her and making sure she stayed out of trouble. And when Lisa disappeared, they grew closer.

He closed his eyes, remembering the memories of Nanao. They moved through his mind like a running film. Her brilliant smile flashed and musical laughter making his word brighter. She was his sun and brought him out of the darkness. His eyes opened slowly and he frowned. If only I could do the same.

And he was so lost in the world of imagination he didn't feel or hear the stranger enter the room.

xXx

She was six years old when a group of samurai called The Black Lotus attacked her small village in the 50th Rukon district. She remember the sounds of the iron amour made, like a snake pit full of twisting metal, heavy boots drumming on the sun-dried road. Tall like tsunamis, sweeping their thick swords through the few who tried to stand up to them. Long, red peacock feathers decorated on the soldiers helmets—symbolizing their elegance to their master. The midnight moon shining above like a giant firefly lantern turned silver, reflecting like a mirror on their shimmering steal. She remembers the shattering screams like fragile glass. Blood spilt and stained the Earth. Ash fell like black snow, covering the ground in a shadow. It was one of the memories that haunted Nanao's mind like slick poison.

The Black Lotus was a group of loyal men towards those who hated the Shinigami. They had no reiastu flowing through their body, but sheer strength and skill made these men spread terror through the Rukongai. When it came to the Gotei 13, these men avoided them. They would hide in bushes and shadows if a Shinigami pasted by. Meanwhile, the Gotei did nothing in favour of these blood thirsty men. The Black Lotus didn't care for Hollow or exterminating them. There only goal was obliteration. As long as they stayed out of the Gotei's way, there was no problem to be held.

When the samurai had stormed her house, killing her parents, Nanao had been hiding in a small cupboard, placed in there by her mother minutes before. Her four year old sister—unknown. Through the small crack, Nanao witnessed the slaughter. Blood spilling and gurgling screams. The sound would never leave her mind. And even through her parent's protection, Nanao was discovered when they raided the house for valuables, and taken.

She was blindfolded and placed in a wooden wagon with a few other children. From there, she had lost track of time. The soft cries of children and harsh curses of the samurai men made Nanao's mouth dry as sandpaper. Everything was black. Her hands shook uncontrollably in the chains she was bound in.

And the wagon stopped.

Still blindfolded, she was pushed off. The sharp rock dug into her bare feet until they bled, but she held in the tears she knew were coming. She kept silent. The others around her still cried, whimpering to be free. She didn't know where they were. She didn't know why these men had kidnapped them. All she knew was her life had become a nightmare.

And then they striped her bare.

They placed her in some kind of small box, with bars and no room to move. Still chained and blindfolded, Nanao remained still, shivering at the stings of the cool air.

That was the first night she didn't sleep.

The first of many.

She couldn't tell if morning had come, but she was suddenly being dragged and placed in front of a crowd of chatter. People left and right called out numbers while one person described her. Pretty. Perfect body. Tamed. Nanao tasted vomit.

The one who bought her was a man of high standards, but he was also a man whose heart had been tainted black by the Devil himself. Some believed he was the Devil, but Nanao knew otherwise. The fat, greedy glutton was worse. All he cared about was women and money. Whenever Nanao was forced to serve and feed him, she came away from purple and green tattoos decorated on her skin. And she wasn't the only child there. Many others lived in a small, cramped shed at the edge of the gardens. It was cold and dark. Nights were spent huddling together and sleeping in shifts. Nanao would rarely sleep when it was her turn.

She learned that the hard way when she was taken away one night and beaten to death for accidently spilling sauce on the Lord at dinner. She spent three days lying alone in the dirt without food or water. Three, red lashes burned her back like twisting snake tattoos. And when she was released, she found out she had been the lucky one. Another girl, a year younger than her had accidently spoken out of turn to the Lord and was killed. After that, Nanao started planning.

And in the next full moon, she sunk out of the shed, moved to the Lord's bedroom with careful hiding from the guards. Inside, the fat bastard was snored like a greedy lion. Two girls—obviously prostitutes—stuck to him like glue, not caring about the nakedness. Around them, sake bottle scattered. The room filled with the scent of stale alcohol and sex. Nanao's nose burned as she flared her reiastu to alert the sleeping threesome.

The whole time Nanao was living at the manor, the guards had beaten her to learn how to conceal her reiastu or be killed. She was the only one on the grounds besides the Lord who had it. The first night she served the Lord, he had made an abusing comment and made Nanao loose it, flaring her reiastu towards him accidently. It was there she learned.

The bastard awoke with a startling snort, and the girls beside him whined in relation. He sat up as Nanao stood at the foot of his bed, glaring him down with fire burning in the core of her eyes. He grinned at her through the dark, but the dim moonlight was enough for Nanao to see.

"Hello, Mockingbird," the glutton smiled. "Come to join the party?"

She sneered at him from the nickname. He had called her that after her reiastu flare the first night and it stuck afterwards.

His hand moved slowly over the sheets in front of him and she spat at him, narrowing her eyes. "Enough of this," her words hard, "I'm done. You will no longer treat me and the other children as shit. I'm here for only reason. To kill you."

"Harsh threats for such a small creature such as you," he laughed. "And how will you be doing this, I wonder?"

Nanao pulled a small knife from her sleeve. The shimmering moonlight danced off the silver blade.

He laughed harder. "A small kitchen knife? You are but a mere child! How are you going to kill me with a kitchen knife? Don't you remember, Mockingbird?" he narrowed his eyes. "I was once a Shinigami."

Nanao didn't care. She moved forward towards him, flaring her reiastu more. The glutton did the same. The girls in the bed had somehow succumbed to the pressuring reiastu and now lay lifeless on top of the sheets. Nanao would end this now. She would no longer have any more suffering. No more pain. He was once a Shinigami…bull…she didn't give him any leeway. His threats would never work.

And in one move she charged towards him, jumping on the bed, and pressing the blade against his neck. The bastard froze on impact, shaking under her. Her eyes swell with tears, remembering her parents, her little sister, and all the children that had been captured. Nothing was going to change what she went through.

She pressed the knife more on his neck, drawing a small tear of blood. The bastard started muttering, telling her lies and empty promises. But then he said something that made her stop and freeze.

"What did you say?" She moved the knife slowly away.

"Are your seven year old ears hard of hearing, Mockingbird? I said your little sister is alive."

She shook her head. "No, you're lying."

"I'm not. Listen to me, Mockingbird, give me the knife and I'll bring you your sister save and sound." He smirked

She swallowed and shook her head. "No."

And she stabbed him over and over.

Blood splattered like red paint, spilling over, and staining the white silk sheets. Her purple kimono, torn and dirty, was also stained with blood of another man. Nanao felt like vomiting, but she had to free the others before the guards realized their weak Lord had been murdered.

But when she opened the shoji door to the halls outside, the guards had spot her. She flared her reiastu towards them, making the gravity heavy around. They collapsed at their knees as she ran passed, sprinting to the shed.

Then she and five other children ran.

The guards followed, with dogs of course. Nanao told them to all split up when they reached the woods and that was the last she saw of them.

She remembered she ran until dawn. The soles of her feet bloody and swollen, her body the same, covered with scratches from the forest and bruises from….By the time the early morning hours came, her legs had become numb. Air barely reached her lungs. And when she emerged from the forest, the whole world began to spin.

She remembered the colour pink at the end of the tunnel as she fell to the ground.

That was when darkness came and she welcomed it like a new friend.

xXx

Nanao was lost in thought when she arrived at a park nearby. The shining full moon gave her a dim light, but it didn't cast the darkness that flooded her mind and heart. The memories of her capture fell clear like the water from the fountain where she sat by. Many years have passed… she traced a random scar on her arm. …and the blood remains fresh. Then you found me and still brought me in as your subordinate. "Taicho…."

"Ise-san."

Nanao shot up from her seat at the masculine, but soft voice. She breathed in relief when she saw the white haired man in front of her. She placed a hand on her chest, trying to slow her rapid heart. "Ukitake-taicho, you gave me a fright."

"Sorry. May I sit with you?"

She nodded and sat back down.

They sat in silence for a while, admiring the shimmering stars above. It was then she sighed heavily.

"Did he ask you to come?" she asked without glancing at him.

"No, I came on my own. Although, he is rather worried about you, but—"

"So I reckoned he told you about what happened." She frowned. "Well, I guess I can't stop you two from chatting about whatever. You are best of friends. He was the one to always tell you everything about me."

"Ise-san, this has nothing to do with Shunsui right now, what I want to know is if you are okay."

She looked at him. "I thought he told you already?"

"He told me his side of the story, but I want to know your side."

She shook her head. "Why? So you can go tell him?"

"No, so I can help you."

Her nails grinded against the stone bench as she stood up, hands balled into fists. "I am so sick of everyone trying to help me! Nobody can! So please, for the last time, stop trying to get whatever I'm feeling out into the open. It's none of your business or his."

She started to walk away when she felt a hand on her arm. She stopped, but didn't turn to the Taicho standing behind her. Instead she just shook her head.

"How much more does it take until you Taichos realize I don't want to talk about what happened that night."

"Ise-san, why do you think I want to talk about an event that what happened ten years ago?"

She turned to him with a curious look.

He smiled at her. "If you don't want to talk about it or anything else you don't want to talk about, then don't."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I saw you rush out of the restaurant, and when I saw the hole in the wall and asked Shunsui what happened, he told me that he said he was in love with you."

She blinked as she felt him let go of her arm.

"You're my friend, Ise-san. I needed to make sure you were alright."

Her eye brows furrowed. "Wait, hole in the wall?"

"Yes, I thought perhaps you were present when it was created. He never told me, only said he became angry."

"I wasn't there when that happened. We argued though, but I was the one who yelled more. I can't blame him for being angry." She looked at the ground. "I…I rejected him."

"But is it the truth?"

She shot a look at him. "What are you talking about, Ukitake-taicho? Of course it is! I could…he could never love me when I tell him…." Nanao's words got stuck in her throat. Her mouth grew dry as summer air.

"You don't have to say anything, Ise-san. However, I do feel like you're lying to yourself about how you feel."

"Even if I am, it wouldn't matter anyway."

"Ise-san, whatever it is, I know Shunsui wouldn't care. He loves you for who you are, you know this. And no horrible past will change it." A hand was placed on her shoulder. "Besides, I already know how you feel towards him."

"You do?"

"Mmmhm, you show it quite frequently."

"I do?" she spoke as if shocks ran through her body. "Then he should already know."

"You should at least tell him." He smiled. "There is a difference between showing and telling. You may have shown you love through your own personal gestures, but he probably would like to hear it."

"I'm not that good… at expressing my feeling through…words."

"It takes time, Ise-san. Even going back, he'll know."

She nodded as the hand disappeared. When she was about to shunpo off, her name was called again.

"You know you'll have to tell him eventually. I know you don't want to, but it does help even though they might not be any help."

She gave him a small smile, knowing Ukitake-taicho was only trying to give her some of his wisdom.

"And Ise-san, happy birthday."

"Thank you, Ukitake-taicho. I'm glad to have a friend like you."

"Now go… and good luck."

She nodded and shunpoed into the night.

xXx

"I'm in love with you, Nanao-chan."

His words repeated through her head like a broken record player. Adrenaline filled her blood. Jubilant. Exhilarated. Nanao rushed through the Seireitei, and stopped at the restaurant. Inside, the party still went on. Chatter and alcohol filled the atmosphere. But Nanao ignored it all, focusing on the back door to the room she last saw him.

"I'm in love with you."

Heart was pounding. Legs were shaking. Smiling still through the nerves, Nanao pushed through the crowds. Rangiku stood in her path temporarily. Obviously drunk, she slurred words that Nanao barely understood. Something about 'drink' and 'sex' and 'game'. Whatever it was about, Nanao didn't want to know. She grabbed Izuru, who seemed sober enough and asked him to take Rangiku home before she did something…she'd regret later.

"I'm in love."

Another step forward. Eyes remained glued to her destination like a hawk catching its prey. Nanao bit her lip, knowing she would be speechless through this life-changing conversation, but it was the first step into a new chapter. Who knows what would happen after this. She even questioned what their first kiss might be like. Would she see brilliant stars or exploding fireworks in orange and reds? Or a cosmic reaction of neon colours only visible to lovers who knew what was right? It would be a whole new adventure. And gods was she ever ready.

"In love."

Everything is about to change.

And she went through the door.

Good chapter, yeah? Nanao's past was a bit hard to think up at first. There were so many dark ideas I had for her. I'm content with the route I took. I never liked how Kubo wrote Nanao's past. I always thought her past drew how she was today, and I felt like Kubo's didn't do well to create that. So I decided to make my own. This story is completely AU of course. I hope you guys liked it!

Please review! They do make me smile. Even if they're small. ^^

Thanks again to snowkid, Jessy, Fading into the background, Nomi, monoprotic, Catachrestic, I am Telgar, Guest, and Alan Schezar for the review the first chapter! Let me know how you liked this one! :3