Little_Tsu: Ok, yeah. So I haven't written in a while. You can blame my bosses at work for that. Seriously, they're a pain.

Ikakku: Oh stop your complaining already. I deal with Captain Zaraki everyday. Knowone's tougher than him to deal wi-. *gets cut off by a blow to the face with a flying frying pan*

Little_Tsu: Shut it Ikakku. This is your last warning.

Ikakku: *glares at her* And just what are you gonna do if I don't, huh? You can't do anything.

Little_Tsu: I'll put you in the story & make sure you're wearing a dress.

Ikakku: *shuts up*

Little_Tsu: I thought so. *starts smiling again* Anyways readers, please enjoy the next installment. It's gonna be a real doozy. lol^^

Ch:4

It's weird. When I first arrived here to try and become a Soul Reaper, so I could finally find a place where I belong and not be feared by those around me, I thought that this place would be pretty boring and all. Those thoughts I had about it were all wrong once I had met her; Tsubaki Abarai. By the way, don't read anything into her last name. She has no relation to Renji. I found that out not too long after I started getting to know her. I didn't really think I'd make very many friends here, but upon meeting her, that all changed. She was different from everyone else at the Academy. She...understood me. I never really realized it until recently, but...since becoming friends with Tsubaki, time at the Academy seemed to go by quickly and before I knew it, we were already into our third year there.

Today though, was especially big. At least for the two of us. Tsubaki and I, along with other students were being sent out into the living world for field training. Now I know that we've done this during our first and second years as well, but this was different for two reasons. One: Tsubaki and I were teamed up for the first time and two: a Captain of one of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads was actually accompanying all of us this time. Apparently it was just in case any actual Hollows appeared again like they had that one night. The Captain of Squad 5, Sosuke Aizen and his luetenant, Gin Ichimaru had arrived on the scene and saved everyone from the hord of Hollows that had suddenly appeared out of knowhere.

Right now though, we're located in the living world. I never seem to really tire of coming here. I had seen how a few of the humans live in this world and it sometimes made me wonder how my life could've been back when I was alive...Of course, judging by my appearance, I must've died at a young age. After all, that's the age in appearance that you halt at, right? The age that you were currently at when you ceased to live in this world. Now that I think about it, Tsubaki is younger than even me...I wonder how she could've died...Why does anyone not ever remember their life from when they were alive?...Is it really that painful emotionally?

"Toshiro! It's coming your way!" The melodic, yet demanding voice quickly snapped me out of my thoughts as I looked up just in time to see one of the created dummy Hollows coming right at me. Narrowing my eyes, I reached behind me for my zanpaku-to, grasping the handle firmly before quickly unsheathing it in a flash, lashing out at the Hollow, and destroying it in a single strike. As I flipped my sword in my hand once and sheathed it back into its scabbard, the owner of the voice that had rang out to me landed right in my line of sight after leaping off of a roof. It had been Tsubaki. "Way ta Toshiro! That was really great! You're getting better and better. Heheh...Pretty soon, you'll be better than me...I better watch out on that."

Listening to her laughing without so much as a care in the world, I can't help but to laugh right along with her. I suppose you could say that Tsubaki's laugh was rather contagious. I didn't mind though. I enjoyed her different laughs and it made me feel better inside. Like I was happy that I had a true friend besides Momo to be there for me and I truly believed that Tsubaki would always be there. Finally calming back down, I smiled lightly to my companion and lifted up a hand as I rested it on her shoulder. "Come on Tsubaki. We need to head back to the others since we're done here."

As she nodded her head in understanding and smiled back at me, I turned around and began to head off to arrive at the spot where we were told to meet everyone else. However, when I realized that she wasn't following me, I slowed to a halt and glanced behind me from over my shoulder. She was just standing there, looking up towards the sky. I didn't understand what she was looking at though. There wasn't anything special in the sky except for maybe the stars, but you could see those back in the Soul Society too. "Hey, Tsubaki! Are you coming? We really need to get moving before we're late."

While I watched her closely, she seemed to snap out of it, as if she had been in some sort of trance before turning her sapphire gaze back onto me and staring at me in slight surprise. "Ah. Yes! I'm coming Toshiro." Running back over to my side, she bowed lightly in apology even though it wasn't needed before we hurried off. "I'm sorry Toshiro. It's just that...well, I felt something odd. I'm not sure if it was just my imagination or something, but I sensed that someone or...something was watching us."

"Well, I didn't see nor sense anything around us that was out of the ordinary so you're probably just imagining things...Maybe it's because you're hungry or something. Don't worry. We'll get you something to eat just as soon as we get back to the Academy, ok?" I smiled reasurringly at the small girl running along side of me, trying to calm her back down since she seemed almost uneasy in my eyes...I should've believed her.

Soon after we had arrived back at the destination point, chaos ensued. I didn't even know it - didn't sense it...I should have listened to Tsubaki when she had gotten that feeling earlier, but now...it's too late...I lead that thing right to everyone...A real hollow...and a powerful one at that. A few of us had tried to fight it off, but it was just too powerful so we ended up retreating...At least...I thought all of us had. When we all arrived in a safe area where real hollows couldn't get to us, I glanced around almost frantically when I didn't see Tsubaki anywhere. "Tsubaki?...Tsubaki?!...She couldn't possibly be...?"

Stupid question. Of course she would. Completely ignoring the the older students that had brought us here, I took off out of the safety of that safe zone and hurried to find my companion. It didn't take me long to find her, but when I did, I suddenly skidded to a halt right in my tracks as my eyes widened in both shock and awe. "Clash with the raging storm! Raizo!" Those words...will forever ring in my head, for when they were uttered, a burst of spiritual energy exploded from Tsubaki and her zanpaku-to changed in shape to that of what resembled a jagged fang. Before I knew it, she had destroyed the hollow, though a second blade - one that could extend its length - had pierced though the creature's chest to imobolize it. Almost right after though, Tsubaki collapsed and her blade returned to normal.

Seeing possibly my best friend suddenly collapse after unleashing so much power had my legs almost buckle out from under me as I tried to make my way as best as I could to her side. Upon arriving at my fallen friend's side, I finally allowed my legs to give out as I dropped to my knees and carefully lifted the top half of Tsubaki's body into my arms, holding her gently against my own form. When she weakly opened up her eyes, I had a feeling that I more than likely had a worried, almost scared look in my eyes...As much as I hate to admit it.

What made me almost break though...was the smile she gave to me. It was so tired and weak looking; something so unlike what I was always used to. It was when she suddenly closed her eyes and went limp in my arms that I began to panic, almost having tears come to my eyes, but I managed to hold them back as I held the slightly smaller girl more closely to my chest. "Tsubaki, wake up...Damn it, why did you have to do something so foolish?...You stupid...stupid girl."

"My, my...It seems the Academy has a certain student in particular that is showing much promise...She'll make a fine soul reaper once she graduates." My aquamarine eyes widened at the sly sounding voice...It was the kind of voice that would give anyone unwanted chills down their spines if they weren't used to that voice. Slowly turning my head towards the direction it had come from, I sat there knelt down on my knees as I was stock frozen in place. Those almost always closed eyes...That constant creepy grin that would remind anyone of a cheshire cat...The way his features were angled and pointed...Everything about him sent a bad vibe through my body. Even my mind was all but yelling at me, telling me that this man before me was going to be bad news...Yet even then, I was frozen in my place, holding Tsubaki close to me as the man slowly stalked towards us. It was then that I had taken note of his attire and I realized it then...He was captain of one of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

When he arrived at our sides, he squatted down so that he was balanced on the front of his sandals while the heel was lifted off the ground and his arms rested on his bent knees. Despite his eyes being closed and that insane grin of his, I could tell by the way his thin eyebrows knitted slightly that he was curious about the girl in my arms. "...I see now...So she's Tsubaki Abarai...I've been wondering who the young girl was, but now I've seen her for myself...I must say, she's quite the interesting one." The captain chuckled and I swore his grin grew even wider...If that was even possible that is.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I realized that the man had risen back up onto his feet and turned around as he began to walk off, his white captain's robes billowing lightly around the bottom with each stride that he took. As he was leaving though, I finally regained my voice and called out to him. "Hey! Wait, just who are you?!"

The captain halted in mid step, but kept his back to me. However, he did lift his head up as if to look up towards the sky, but then turned it slightly as he glanced behind him at us from over his narrow shoulder. "...Curious little boy, aren't you?...My name is Gin Ichimaru...I'm the captain of Squad Three...Do try to remember that and...make sure that little treasure in your arms stays unharmed...I wouldn't want anything to happen to the girl that I'm going to take as my daughter."

Before I even had time to respond to that, he was gone...The man had flash stepped right out of sight. I remained silent the rest of that time as I thought and contemplated on the events that had taken place that night. My eyes had since the captain's disappearance been on Tsubaki's now sleeping form as I continued to hold her while I waited for everyone to find us. As I waited though...I suddenly found myself thinking of something that had never once entered my mind...Nor had I ever thought something like that ever would in my entire life...It was a thought that would suddenly change my entire outlook on my best friend...and it actually scared me.

'...Tsubaki's beautiful.'

...I was in for the ride of my life with these newly forming and confusing emotions...Life just had to get difficult.

To be continued.

Little_Tsu: Well, that's it for this new chapter. I'm sorry it took so long to get this posted up, but I think this one is the longest chapter yet. Nice way to start off the new year, right?^^

Ikakku: Oh please...You were just procrastinating and being freaking lazy. *has a bored look on his face*

Little_Tsu: ...Ikakku, say one more comment and you're gonna find your Hozukimaru in a very uncomfortable place.

Ikakku: You don't have the guts girly so shut up already. You suck at being a tough girl.

*loud, painful cries from Ikakku were suddenly heard in the background*

Tsubaki: ...I didn't think a weapon could be used like that. *sweatdrops* Uh...A-Anyways, LTA & Ikakku are kinda busy at the moment so I'll be signing us off. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope that you'll read the next installment. We'll try to get it up as soon as possible. *glancing back at Ikakku and winces* ...I don't think Ikakku will be sitting down anytime soon...I didn't think think that was actually possible to get a sword in there while his robes were still on.