"She's the new Sword Master," I heard people whisper as I walked through the market place.

"I heard she took out Isamu with her hands tied behind her back!" Another whispered quite loudly. I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow at this.

"You!" Am old woman with flappy ears screamed at me. I turned my head and looked at her with a bemused expression.

"Yes miss?" I asked politely looking down at the short lady that walked in front of me.

"Who are you to walk around this town with that fancy haori and that sword of yours?" She screamed placing her hands on her hips

"Uh I'm sorry?" I asked unsurely.

"You sorry?" She barked.

"Yes mam!" I cringed.

"Good! Now do you want to buy some of my beautiful vegetables! I'll give you a special price two for the price of two!" She chattered taking my arm and pulling me towards a stall of vegetables.

"But how is that a special? I'm going to be paying for two!" I said stopping in front of the stall.

"You dare question me child!" She roared.

"Uh.." I said unsure of what to say next. I bought some things from her stall and quickly left not wanting to make more conversation with that peculiar woman. I walked back to my new home at a leisurely pace. Once I reached I decided to cook something with the goods that I purchased.

'Food is a blessing,' I thought as I took a bite of my food. All those years in the Rukon district taught me that.

Days of pain and nights of hunger.

*FLASHBACK*

"You! What are you doing here?" An old man shouted. "You just can't sleep on anyone's property!"

"Huh?" I asked opening my eyes. "Please excuse me kind sir, but I had no place to stay," I said sheepishly.

"No place to stay? Akiko get out here!" The man shouted.

"What is it Katsuro?" An old woman came asked gently.

"This woman has no place to stay!" He roared pointing at me. I blushed at the term woman. I was no woman.

"The poor soul! Can't she stay with us?" The old woman Akiko asked. Keep me?

"Obviously she can stay with us! Why do you think I called you?" He sighed shaking his head. "And you! Why are you carrying an unsheathed sword around? Do you want to die?"

"Die?" I asked looking at the sword in my lap. The memories of what happened yesterday was still fresh. Maybe I should've died with the rest of them! Agri gave up her life in order to protect me!

'I will avenge her,' I thought to myself bitterly.

"Oh come on in child, you look like you're dying out there!" The man said irritatedly.

I followed the man and woman into their humble abode. I've never been to such a small house in my life before. I thought it to be quite cosy.

I looked at the display of swords covering his walls.

"You have quite the collection," I said looking at a big sword that hung above the doorframe.

"Yes I prize myself on my swords!" The cranky man replied. "And I teach people how to fight with the sword,"

"Will you teach me Mister?" I asked pleadingly.

"No," he said bluntly. "And call me Katsuro."

"What do you mean no?" I asked. "You said you teach people how to fight!"

"Yes I do, but I can't teach you! You intend to become stronger, you want to master the blade in your hand, and I can't teach you how to master something that does not belong to me. You have to learn how to master it yourself! Ask your blade and it will gladly tell you!" He replied looking at me.

"But-" I began but he cut me off with a gesture of his hand.

"I can tell you this child, when you get hurt the only thing that will make you stronger is salted wounds," he said and he left the room I was standing in.

"I can't do this!" I said breathlessly trying to block the attacks of five people.

"You can, it's you won't!" Katsuro shouted. I felt one of their swords cut my back and o screamed. One by one they cut me until my clothes were stained with blood.

"That's enough!" Akiko shouted. I fell to the floor not being able to see anything but red.

"Rub this into your wounds," Katsuro crouched down next to my limp body with a bowl of salt.

"I- I can't move," I said struggling to get up.

"I only allowed you to fight them not because I want to teach you, but because I want you to teach yourself." He said. I struggled and finally sat up. I took the bowl of salt and rubbed it into my bleeding wounds screaming in pain and agony.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

I was brought out of my memories by an extremely loud knock on my door.

"Yes? Who is it?" I asked going towards the door. Nobody answered. I opened the door slowly and gaped at what I saw.

"His-" I exclaimed.

"It's not," Byakuya cut me off quickly.

I looked at the girl next to him which resembled Hisana immensely.

"Hello! I am Rukia," she greeted.

"Hello there I'm Takara!" I smiled back. I looked at Byakuya questioningly.

"This is my sister I adopted." He explained. "I would like you to spend some time with her,"

Rukia looked at me with bright blue eyes.

"Spend some time with her?" I asked looking at him. "Please come in," I said moving myself from the door making space for them. Byakuya bent his head and entered my house, he looked around and closed his eyes.

"You have a very nice place here," Rukia smiled. I looked at her foster brother and bit back a smirk. He really was too prideful.

"Thank you, would you like something to eat? I just cooked," I said leading them to the dining area. I took out a a few utensils and laid it out in front of them. I then moved my utensils to the side giving Byakuya the head. "Please dish out,"

"No we really should be going soon," Byakuya said.

"Nonsense," I scoffed. "Now sit and eat with me. It is out of etiquette to leave a lady to eat alone,"

Byakuya sat at the head and looked at me.

"Should I dish out for you?" I asked, the corners of my lips turning upwards.

"No that's not necessary. I am capable of doing it myself," he said dishing out for him some rice. Rukia followed after. We ate in an awkward silence for awhile until I broke it.

"So Rukia, how do you find Byakuya?" I asked mischievously. He gave me a look which made me smile even more.

"My brother is very pleasant thank you," she smiled and looked at him for approval. He nodded his head.

"Pleasant?" I asked biting my lip trying to hold back a grin. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"So will you allow Rukia to spend some time with you?" He asked but it was more of a demand.

"Certainly," I said. "But I hardly think she'll find my daily duties interesting,"

"Thank you Sword Master!" Rukia exclaimed bowing her head.

"You can call me Takara," I smiled. She beamed at me and continued to eat her food.

"You are a very pleasant cook," Byakuya said after sometime. I raised my eyebrow at this.

"Thank you,"

To say it was an awkward meal would be putting it lightly. Hardly anybody made conversation. After the meal Rukia helped me clean up and they set out to leave.

"Takara," Byakuya said quietly after Rukia went outside.

"Yes Captain Kuchiki," I asked.

"Don't taunt me," he said coldly. "Don't teach Rukia what you know,"

"Why ever not?" I asked surprised. "Then what's the use of her spending time with me?"

"She doesn't need to know what you know. And I know you know emptiness and loneliness more than I do, I thought you might like some company." He said frowning.

"Byakuya?" I said.

"Hmm?" He asked looking into my eyes.

"I'm sure my Honou can beat Senbonzakura!" I smirked.

"Keep dreaming," he grumbled and left. I watched as he flash stepped away into the icy night.

"What do you mean no?" Captain Hitsugaya asked walking next to me.

"No is no, simple as that!" I replied.

"But you're the only one I can ask!" He said.

"I have no interest in going to the First Bloom Party," I stated walking on towards the training grounds. "And I'm sure many others would like to go with you,"

"The only reason I asked is because I know that nobody will say anything if we go together!" He said sternly. "And it's mandatory for all of us to go!"

"Mandatory?" I asked. "I have so much work to do!" I sighed.

"Great! I'll meet you at the cherry blossom tree at seven!" He exclaimed and flash stepped away. Who even said I would go?

"Sword Master?" Rukia asked.

"Yes Rukia? And you can call me Takara you know," I smiled.

"Will you teach me how to use the sword?" She asked with wide eyes. I looked at her pleading face and remembered Byakuyas warning.

"I can't teach you how to use the sword," I said after a while. "You will have to learn that on your own,"

"But you are the Sword Master you teach people how to use swords!" She exclaimed. I sighed and looked down. "It's Byakuya isn't it?" She said after awhile.

"No it's nothing like that!" I said quickly.

"He is always trying to protect me! But I'm not a kid," she groaned.

"Hey are you going to the First Bloom Party?" I asked trying to change the subject as Rukia sat next to me. We were at the training grounds waiting for my tardy students.

"I wanted to go but you need to go with someone," she said drinking the tea that was laid in front of us.

"You can come with me and Captain Hitsugaya," I said also pouring me some tea. I took a sip of the jasmine tea.

"You're going with Captain Hitsugaya?" She asked raising her eyebrow. I smiled at her. Suspicions are high here.

"Yes, he asked me this morning!" I replied. "Rukia will you run a few errands for me?" I asked knowing all too well that my students will arrive any moment now and that she really would want to train.

"Yes miss, what kind of errands?" She asked setting her tea down.

"Hmm are you up for it?" I said thoughtfully. She nodded her head and I told her what to do. She left immediately after I gave my last order.

"Excuse us Sword Master!" Shuhei exclaimed running into the training grounds with his fellow classmates.

"We all uh got late!" Izuru said looking away. I looked at them.

"Too much Sake last night?" I smirked.

"What? How did you- no!" Yumichika mumbled.

"It's alright, I'll let it pass this one time! But next time if this happens! Your body will be bathed in salt and wounds." I threatened.

"Anything but that!" They all exclaimed and I chuckled. I recently found out that the salted wounds are actually a good form of punishment.

"So what will we do today?" Ikkaku asked.

"I want to see your Zanpakuto's." I said to them drawing my sword.

"if you insist!" Ikkaku smirked. "Extend Hozukimaru!" He said putting the hilt of his sword and his scabbard together and his sword transformed into a long spear.

"Bloom Fuji Kujaku!" Yumichika said drawing his sword. It instantly bloomed with four extra blades.

"Reap Kazeshini." Shuhei said with a somewhat disgusted look on his face. His sword instantly transformed into a scythe with two blades.

"Raise your head Wabisuke!" Izuru commanded placing his sword in front of him. His sword gained length and its rip curved into a square.

"What impressive Zanpakuto's," I smiled. They all muttered a thank you and sheathed their swords. I took some ink and blindfolds out of my satchel and gave each one a page, a pen and an ink pot. I instructed them to blindfold themselves and paint a landscape.

This is going to be a long day!

HEYY THERE MY LOVELIES! I hope you like this chapter! Get ready for some interesting flashbacks and cunning secrets!

((Not edited will edit when this message is gone XD))

Love YA

Bleach_Otaku