I'm not dead! I promise! I am having a really rough 2 weeks... hopefully this makes up for my absence!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach... which saddens me

Chapter 4: Tragic Events

Yukiko could feel Aizen's pressure so strong that it was suffocating. If she took off the scarf from her wrist she could counter it and stop it but, what about Byakuya? Looking behind her she could see that Byakuya was panting, taking this hard. The spiritual pressure was so thick you could touch it, would her's add to it, making it worse?

"That's enough Aizen," came a familiar voice that calmed Yukiko and Byakuya down. "Don't scare the kids, they aren't use to so much pressure. Not to mention we both know I am very sick and this amount of pressure is toxic to me," Sōjun said, his normal calm demeanor waved slightly. For a second it looked like he might collapse. Byakuya ran over to his father to help keep him up, a worried look in his eyes. It was then that Yukiko realized behind that fiery temper and acting like he could care less about a lot of things, he really was deeply worried about his father. Had Mayuri said something about this to her before, about Sojun's worsening condition?

"I am sorry Sojun, I did not realize you were still so sick," Aizen said with a small smile, but Yukiko knew it was a lie. Her father's spiritual pressure was much like her own, therefore she could tell easily when he was lying. If you know a spiritual pressure well enough then you can tell the ever so faint falter in power when they lie. While Yukiko had never met her father except when she was young, his pressure still mirrored her own making it very recognizable.

"You lie," Yukiko said bravely holding unto her red scarf. If her father released his pressure again she would try to lessen it with her own in order to help Sojun. She hated the look on Byakuya got when he saw his father look hurt, hated it with her entire being. This man, this man who claimed to be her father, she hated him.

"Oh? Do I? And how exactly would you know this?" Aizen asked, his spiritual pressure rising. If he kept it up Yukiko knew she would have to counter it.

"Yes, I can tell from your spiritual pressure," Yukiko said firmly trying to seem like she wasn't scared. Truth be told, she was terrified. Could she actually counter it? That she wasn't so sure of.

"You can already read spiritual pressure? That is quite a feat," Aizen said with a small smirk, he always knew she would be something else. Here she was, long purple hair and the same dazzling blue eyes as the day she was born, every bit as powerful as he had predicted. GIn would be happy to hear that she was okay, as well as hear that Aizen had been right about the appearance. As if on cue Gin appeared.

"Look what we have here," Gin said with his signature smile, "Yukiko, long time no see." Most people were afraid of Gin when they first met them, or at least uncomfortable, but not Yukiko. Aizen watched her as her spiritual stayed steady, not a single trace of fear or anything. She was the perfect experiment after all.

"Who are you?" Yukiko asked. Instead of seeming to be fearful she seemed to be intrigued by who the new person was. Before Gin could answer Sojun went into another coughing fit, worse than he had had in a while actually. Byakuya looked extremely worried as he held his father up so the man didn't fall. "Byakuya take Sojun inside, he needs to rest, I'll be fine. Don't worry," Yukiko told Byakuya giving him a reassuring smile. The worst thing the two of them could do would be to raise their spiritual pressures, but she knew she could withstand that. Even though she didn't trust the two of them she doubted they would try to kill her. No, she sensed that her father had something in mind for her. Some reason she was here.

"Are you sure?" Byakuya asked. Yukiko knew that he wouldn't argue long, he was too worn out from worrying about his father and training he more than likely was doing earlier.

"Go," Yukiko said and Byakuya finally gave in and left. Gin grinned, she sure was a cute one this girl. He took a step toward her, expecting Yukiko to take a step back only to find that she held her ground firm. Mistrust gleamed in her eyes as she looked at Aizen and Gin.

"You were smart to have them leave Yukiko dear," Aizen said with fake love in his voice. Gin had heard this fake love before, when he use to talk to Yukiko's mother, and he hated it. For a second Gin's signature smile faltered upon hearing this fake love again. Was he really planning on tricking his own daughter into believing he cared for her? "I would hate for the old man to get hurt anymore," Aizen added.

"Cut to the chase, why are you here?" Yukiko asked boldly. The sooner they told her the sooner they would leave, which would mean that Sojun would be safe. She had the continuing fear that the longer these two were here, the worse Sojun would get.

"I came here to see my daughter of course," Aizen said. First time he had ever called Yukiko his daughter, Gin mentally noted.

"I highly doubt that. You gave me up, you gave me to that village instead of raising me. Sensing your spiritual pressure now I doubt you actually feared my power, you just didn't want to raise me," Yukiko spat at him. Gin couldn't help but laugh a bit as Aizen seemed to get frustrated. Yukiko had been exactly right, that was the exact reason Aizen gave her up. The brain this girl exceeded even Aizen expectations for sure.

"That doesn't matter," Aizen said trying to brush it off, "what matters now is that you are home. Sojun said you wanted to become a soul reaper, is this true?" While both Aizen and Gin doubted that Yukiko actually wanted to become a soul reaper, they still felt the need to ask.

"Yes, I want to go to the academy if that is what you are referring to," Yukiko said wondering where they were going with this. Was her becoming a soul reaper part of her father's plan? What did he plan to do with her?

"I will make sure to tell the head captain that," Aizen said with a small smile.

"No need, Sojun told him as well as Mayuri," Yukiko told him quickly. Last thing she needed was Aizen telling the head captain things about her. He may be her father, but that did not mean she loved in. She felt Mayuri or Sojun were more of father figures in her life than Aizen ever would be. Besides, she didn't want a father. The only parent she ever needed and ever would need was Grandma Shika.

"If you are so sure we will leave, just know you are always welcome to come to me," Aizen told her.

"Or me," Gin added with a smile. Yes, this girl interested him. Beautiful, smart, talented, and strong, everything Gin liked in a woman. Yukiko could give Rangiku a run for her money for sure.

"Don't hold your breath," Yukiko told them both, her voice cold. The two soul reapers left and Yukiko ran inside to look for Byakuya and Sojun. When she got inside she saw several different people from squad four carrying out Sojun as a very distressed Byakuya watched. "What's going on?" Yukiko asked worriedly. Was Sojun okay?

"Dad got worse, so it looks like it will be just me and you for a while," Byakuya said, his voice wavering. Yukiko bit his lip, it sounded like Sojun was not going to get better. Was this the last trip to squad four? Was Sojun going to die? Yukiko decided not to voice her fears seeing as Byakuya looked worried enough without her adding to his fears.

"In the mean time you could help me train. From the sounds of it I will be going to your academy as soon as school starts!" Yukiko told him trying to cheer him up. Sojun had told her once that Byakuya loved to train, to get stronger. One day, apparently, Byakuya wished to be a captain. That was still something Yukiko was unsure about, did she want to be a captain? Was it better that she was just a normal soul reaper?

"Train you say? Well, I will definitely make you stronger if that is what you wish," Byakuya said with a small smile. At least he was cheering up a bit. Even if it meant she would have to do some heavy duty training. "Maybe I can even help you call upon your Zanpakuto!" Byakuya said excitedly. Now that was something Yukiko could look forward to!

"Well I haven't been trained in the ways of the Soul Reaper so I am more than up to it," Yukiko told him confidently. Byakuya grinned, ready for the challenge.

Several Months Later

Yukiko was now able to call upon her Zanpakuto, but the voice in the dreams was still hazy. Her reflexes had gotten better, as well as controlling her spiritual pressure. Maryuri insisted to be there during training sessions to watch my pressure and adjust the red scarf accordingly. He said they wouldn't want to endanger the school when Yukiko finally went. Neither Yukiko or Byakuya complained, it didn't matter to them. The only thing that mattered was that they were getting stronger with each training session.

While Byakuya and Yukiko were furiously training Sojun had been in and out of consciousness for the last couple months. The squad four was surprised he had made it this long, saying any day now he should die. They tried to keep this away from Byakuya and Yukiko, choosing to let the two have visits with Sōjun at the end of the day. Telling the two teens that the person they looked up to so much was dying would feel too wrong. None of them were that heartless. Still, Sōjun dying was becoming an all too real problem. The day he did die couldn't have been a worse time...

Spring filled the air as Byakuya and Yukiko laid on their backs looking up at the passing clouds. Sakura blossoms were falling all around them, some catching in Yukiko's hair- a stark contrast from her usually purple hair. Byakuya grinned at Yukiko lazily looked up at the sky, stray Sakura blossoms surrounded her. Yes, if he was completely honest with himself he had fallen for Yukiko Aizen's charm and beauty. It wasn't really hard after all. Strong, beautiful, independent, charming, smart, skilled, the list went on and on. On top of that, Byakuya was sure she had a future ahead of her, probably as a captain. All of this made her irresistible to Byakuya. It was then that Byakuya feel asleep.

*Dream*

He found himself in a field, surrounded by Cherry Blossom trees, his favorite. Byakuya looked around trying to find Yukiko. Surely she was here! After all, who better to share this beautiful sight with than her? Suddenly a big breeze came, ripping off the petals from the trees.

Child! came a strange voice, do you think you can handle me?

"Who goes there?!" Byakuya called looking around. No one was to be found. No, the only think he could see was countless amounts of Cherry Blossoms, all falling down and shimmering.

Do you think you can handle me? the voice asked again. Who was it?! The entire thing was starting to get Byakuya mad!

"Just tell me who you are! I can't tell you if I can or can't unless I know who you are first," reasoned Byakuya to the unknown voice. Surely the voice could tell him.

I am your Zanpakutō, do you think you can handle me? The voice was growing impatient. Was his Zanpakutō going to finally reveal it's name?!

"Yes! Yes I do!" cried out Byakuya. He then found a sword in front of him, his sealed Zanpakutō. Picking it up he examined it, it didn't seem any different. Suddenly, he had an idea. "Scatter, Senbonzakura," Byakuya said calmly. As soon as he said it the blade eroded away into tons of tiny pink blades that looked like the Cherry Blossoms themselves. The name, which meant a thousand cherry blossoms, truly fit the sword. Moving around the hilt in his hands he found he could control the movement of the tiny blades.

Be careful child, I am not to be taken lightly, the voice said before disappearing. Shortly after he awoke to Yukiko trying to pick off a Cherry Blossom from a near by tree. Man was she beautiful.

"Yukiko! I found out my Zanpakutō's name!" Byakuya called to her happily. A surprised look covered Yukiko's face before she ran happily over to Byakuya.

"Really?!" she squealed, "Show me!"

Byakuya nodded before giving her what she wanted, "Scatter, Senbonzakura." Just like in the dream the blade turned into the tiny blades that shown like the blossoms themselves.

"That's so pretty! We have to tell your dad! Come on!" Yukiko said excitedly, grabbing his hand. Byakuya put his sword away and allowed himself to be drug away by Yukiko. Why ruin the girl's fun? When they got there, though, Byakuya found a perfectly good reason to ruin the girl's fun.

As they entered in they saw a bunch of squad four units rushing around, making them confused. "What's going on?" Byakuya asked one. Hoping his status as a Kuchiki would cause them to feel the need to answer. He was right.

"Well you see, Sōjun Kuchiki is near death, they think he really is going to die this time!" the squad member said before hurrying off. Before Yukiko could stop him Byakuya took off in the direction of Sōjun.

"Byakuya! Wait!" Yukiko called after him as he rushed away. She took off after him, equally concerned for the older Kuchiki member. When she got there she found Byakuya kneeling by his father's side, holding his father's hand tightly.

"F-father," Byakuya said, his voice cracking from fear, "I have great news." Yukiko felt her heart break as she heard the raw sadness in Byakuya's voice. This wasn't the hot headed, confident Byakuya she had trained with. This man was a sad, broken one that feared what he would do after his father passed. Feared his father would pass right then and there.

"Oh really?" Sōjun asked sounding weaker than he ever had, "what is it?" It amazed Yukiko he could say this without coughing.

"My Zanpakutō, I learned it name," Byakuya said trying to sound happy. It came out more as strained than anything.

"That's great my son, what is it?" he asked.

"Senbonzakura," Byakuya said, his voice caught in his throat. This was great news, but the fact his father was dying kind of ruined it.

"Son, I know you know I am dying. I know that. Promise me something," Sōjun told him. Byakuya nodded, willing to do anything. "Only use your Zanpakutō to protect," he said before dying.

"I promise!" Byakuya said holding his father's hand tighter than before, "Dad?" Tears started to fall fast down his cheeks. Yukiko came over and took Sojun's other hand. One last smile fell on Sojun's lips before closing his eyes for the last time. "DAD?!" yelled Byakuya as the squad four members took both Yukiko and Byakuya out of the room. "DAD!" Byakuya screamed, tears falling fast down his face.

"Byakuya," Yukiko said trying to calm him, but Byakuya continued to try and resist, "BYAKUYA!" Finally Byakuya looked up at Yukiko, eyes watering. "Byakuya, come on, let's go home," Yukiko said taking his hand. With one last look at his father's room he slowly began to nod.

"Yeah, let's go home," Byakuya said letting Yukiko lead him away. After all, what else was he going to do? There was only one thing to do, live on.

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