A/N: My quickest update yet! xD (Hopefully the quality is still good, I have my doubts). :/ Translations at the bottom, enjoy! x

Quick Note: Before I started writing this I created my own pre-bleach time-line. A lot of it was guessed because not everything is fact. There is most likely a mistake (if you can point it out, kudos!), but I needed it to be like this in order to make things work.

Amazake-babaa's Anguish - 4

Mikazuki had made arrangements with Rangiku to meet at the new pub, which opened in the Eighth Division, tonight. The Tamed Strelitzia. She was quite hesitant before entering, with the pub's name sounding like some sort of disorder, who knew what to expect inside. It was surprisingly clean but after a few months in business she was sure it would turn out to be quite the opposite, especially if the Captain decided to drink out every night now there was a drinking place close by. The noise levels were reasonable, probably due to the absence of all the Eleventh Division members out on patrol. She had to make an internal note to not mention anything if she was asked. Mikazuki awkwardly stood beside the door trying to spot her friend at one of the tables since she wasn't sitting at the bar.

"Suki-chan! Over here!" The blonde stood up waving both her arms, gaining the attention of every male, and some females, inside because her endowed chest was jiggling.

Mikazuki noticed that Rangiku had two drinking buddies with her, Shunsui Kyōraku and Shūhei Hisagi. While making her way over, she ordered two bottles of sake knowing that Takeo was likely going to be furious when he figured out where she had gone. It was too early for her to go on a night-time walk, so it wouldn't be long before he found her missing. Rangiku pulled her over Shūhei's lap, causing the guy to blush. Luckily she managed to save her sake bottles by placing them on the table first.

"Gomen nasai Hisagi-san." Mikazuki whispered once seated properly.

"Don't mention it, onegai."

Shunsui tilted his straw hat to her in greeting. "Nice of you to join us Mikazuki-chan, Rangiku-chan here was getting worried you wouldn't turn up. As you can see, she started without you."

Rangiku was practically glowing with all the sake she was able to get down so far. She offered Mikazuki the rest of her bottle but declined, taking a sip from her own. The liquid slid down her throat easily with all the years of practice she had with Rangiku.

"Everyone was asking me if they knew where you were today, Suki-chan." Rangiku complained waving her hands around and adding with a murmur. "Why did Kuchiki-taichou want to know where you were?"

"He did?" Rangiku nodded. "Ano, I have no idea."

"Is my Mikazuki-chan having an affair?" Shunsui lent over the table wrapping one of her hands in his.

"Kyōraku-taichou, what makes you think that?" Mikazuki said, hoping the diversion she set worked.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want any of this 'Kyōraku-taichou' stuff. It makes me seem old."

She got him to let go of her hand and proceeded by drinking the rest of her bottle. "It's because you are old."

"You hurt my feelings Mikazuki-chan." Shunsui placed a hand over the left side of his chest.

Mikazuki rolled her eyes at the flirtatious Captain. "Where's Nanao-san?"

"Oh, my Nanao-chan is working. She refused to come out and play."

Thankfully the diversion worked, but only for him. Rangiku still wanted to know the gossip, how else was she supposed to spread the good stuff if not gotten from the source?

"So you and Kuchiki-taichou huh, what's going on there?"

"Betsuni."

Rangiku pouted. "You're so tight-lipped when you're sober. Drink more!"

Mikazuki took a large gulp of her second bottle of sake, Shunsui was kind enough to buy everyone another round. She felt like she would need the extra if her friend continued the way she was going.

"Ran-chan, I'm not being tight-lipped, there is serious nothing going on. We've seen each other twice since he became Captain an-"

"He was promoted to Captain a couple of days ago." Shūhei interjected, wanting some place in the conversation.

Mikazuki sent him a glare, not appreciating his input. "That is beside the point. He is just so…"

"Handsome? Rich? Well-hung? Myst-" Rangiku ticked each one off on her fingers before Mikazuki interrupted her.

"Iie, he's a pompous ass."

Shunsui snorted at the comment and Mikazuki was sure that sake came out of his nose. She felt some splatter on her face and flinched, wiping it off with her hand. Shūhei just laughed.

"Better hope Kuchiki-taichou doesn't find out you said that, can't imagine he would be too happy." Shunsui said adjusting his hat which had fallen to the side.

Mikazuki just shrugged, not too bothered. The empty bottles of sake that littered the table began to grow as time passed.

"So what were you doing?" Rangiku asked. "You're hardly one to ever slack off."

"I was investigating something." Mikazuki answered, making it clear she wasn't going to go into any details.

"No good ever does come out of something if you're sticking your nose in other people's business." Shunsui said, taking a swig from his bottle.

"Just like no good will come out of sticking your fingers in other people's business." Mikazuki retorted, a jokingly smile on her face.

Shunsui gasped at the fake accusation, shaking his head in shame.

"How's Ryo-kun and Sayuri-chan?" Shūhei asked, wanting to change the subject. "I haven't seen them since I graduated with them."

"They're good. Tonight they are staying with Yachiru-chan."

"What about Ishikawa-san?"

"He's-"

"Here! Look over there, he just turned up." Rangiku pointed out. "Takeo-san! We are here!"

Mikazuki looked at the entrance and sure enough, there was her brother. Takeo did not look happy at all.

"Ran-chan, be quiet. I need to hide!" Mikazuki panicked, trying to find a hiding place.

The only place she could find was beneath the table, but even in her inebriated state that would be too embarrassing if she was caught. Mikazuki tried to appear as small as possible in her seat, Shunsui even leant his hat for her to wear. The hat was soon removed and she found herself staring at a pair of angry brown eyes.

Takeo looked disgustedly at the pile of empty bottles. "I thought I told you last week to cut back on your drinking?"

"Demo, Takeo-kun…" Mikazuki felt like a little girl being scolded, it brought back memories from when she was a human child.

It wasn't often that Takeo would reprimand her. Mikazuki knew it would happen tonight but she hoped that being in a different pub he wouldn't find her and it would essential prolong what was happening now.

"We're going." Takeo grabbed her hand and pulled.

Shūhei's seat was empty, Mikazuki just assumed he must've realized he had somewhere else to be. She saw Shunsui's seat was suspiciously empty as well, hat also gone. Cowards.

"Takeo-san, you can't just take Suki-chan. Come have a drink with us." Rangiku pushed out her chest and loosened her yukata for extra measure, trying to distract him.

"Iie. You should go home too Rangiku-san. You both smell awful." His nose scrunched up.

Mikazuki stayed silent, she knew there would be no way to compromise with him. "Ran-chan, I'll see you next week. We will have to be as sneaky as a mouse!" She had to shout it all since she was almost out the front door, being dragged by Takeo.

1st June 1865 2:36pm (Karakura Town)

It had been exactly two months since her father married the woman she knew as her mother. She was lady who was always there during her childhood and took every chance to impose her authority on Mikazuki, but they looked nothing alike. Her father insisted that they were biologically related, but she had this feeling it wasn't true. Her mother was out getting her hair done and her father was still working, which left Mikazuki all alone in the manor with nothing to do.

She wasn't completely alone, there were the maids she could bother, but they were busy doing odd jobs around the place. She found out her Sensei was sick and couldn't come in, after sending a telegraph, so that meant she had no schoolwork to do. Mikazuki was feeling quite adventurous so she went into her room to grab her most prized possession, an Ichimatsu doll, who she named Yūjō. It was first to be made, her father was very influential in his line of business and wanted his daughter to have something no one else would have for a while. She was given it for her birthday a week ago.

Mikazuki wanted the attention of her father, he was so busy these days with his job and all the private time he wanted with her mother. Taking Yūjō in her hand she went to the one place she knew was forbidden, her father's study. The shoji opened with ease to reveal three walls lined ceiling to floor with books, a window at the back wall showed the clouds floating across the sky. Fascinated by the book she started pulling them out of their places, opening them but couldn't make sense of the characters on the pages that were obviously beyond her knowledge.

"Mikazuki-sama you shouldn't be in here." A maid came in when seeing the shoji opened.

"It's okay, unless Chichi comes home it is fine." Mikazuki said while her attention went back on the object in her hands.

"You still shouldn't be in here."

"Close the shoji, I promise I'll be out soon."

The maid did exactly what she was told. Mikazuki heard a squeak from the other side before the shoji opened back up.

"I told yo-" The words were lost to her as she saw to figure at the entrance.

"Mikazuki-chan, what are you doing in here?"

Yūjō and the book she had been holding fell to the ground as the girl in question widened her innocent eyes in shock. Her father stood there but took little time to come over and pick up Yūjō.

"Chichi I was bored, there was nothing to do." Her eyes were pleading with him, hoping he wouldn't be angry, thoughts of gaining his attention long gone.

"That doesn't give you the right to come in here." Her father looked at the doll in his hands. "I should burn this doll as punishment."

"Iie, onegai don't!" Mikazuki shouted. Her eyes closed in attempt to prevent the tears from falling down her cheeks at the thought.

Her father walked over to the desk in the middle of the room, opening a draw and placing Yūjō in it. He was silent for a long time before telling her to leave.

As she left Mikazuki heard his voice when she was out of his sight. "I'm really disappointed in you Mikazuki-chan. I was sure I taught you better."

"Look who's been a naughty girl." The lady had her hair tied up with expensive pins.

Mikazuki pushed pass her and ran to her room, mourning for her doll alone.

1892 (The Shinigami Academy – Seireitei)

It was the beginning of her second year in the Academy. Mikazuki enjoyed working towards becoming a shinigami but she would sometimes miss the quiet and serene, mostly troublesome, life she was living beforehand. It was the lunch break after her Hohou class and she was trying to find her family, instead she recognized a girl with short blonde from her Kidou class sitting alone with a forlorn frown on her face.

"I'm Ishikawa Mikazuki." She bowed when she was in front of the girl. "Don't you usually hang out with that lanky silver haired guy?"

"Matsumoto Rangiku." She nodded. "Hai, but he graduated last year. It was his first year."

"Wow, that's impressive. I have a friend, Kaien-san, who also graduated last year. It was only his second year."

Rangiku beamed at her. "That's my Gin-kun. He's always been so smart."

"Suki-chan!" There was a shout from across the courtyard.

"Who's that?" Rangiku asked.

"My brother," Mikazuki grabbed her hand, pulling Rangiku to her feet. "Come, have lunch with me and meet my family."

Rangiku didn't have any time to protest and followed the girl who was so openly friendly. A smile replaced the frown and for the entire lunch break, thoughts of her childhood friend were forgotten.

1881 (Inuzuri)

Mikazuki was restless not being able to get any sleep and decided to go for a walk. It was the first time she left the shack by herself. Takeo had taken possession of this shack not long after they met, it was much better than the one she had previously been staying in. It was even more dangerous to be going for a walk since it was night time. She couldn't bring herself to wake Takeo, knowing that he would just tell her to go back to sleep, sleep that wouldn't come. She hoped that she would return back before he woke up to find her missing.

The streets were quiet and she made sure to stay in the shadows to reduce the chance of gaining unwanted attention. She was reasonably at fighting with her fist, but would last if a group found her. Mikazuki passed an alleyway and thought she heard some noises, whimpering. Exploring the alleyway she found two small children huddled up in a corner. They were shivering, she hadn't noticed how cold the air was but after seeing the children began rubbing her own arms to retain warmth.

"Konnichiwa." Mikazuki made sure her voice sounded sweet and knelt down to the height of the children, trying to appear friendly.

They paid no attention to her and just huddled closer, hiding their faces. She didn't blame them. She was a stranger here in the middle of the night talking to children, anyone would be cautious. She just hoped no one walked pass and start accusing her of wrong doings.

"I'm Ishikawa Mikazuki." She held out a hand, still no response.

Keeping her hand out, Mikazuki reached over to the girl. A bad move she found out soon after as she retracted her hand quickly because of a stinging pain she felt. Looking down she noticed a dark liquid on her hand, she assumed it was her own blood. The boy was holding a piece of sharpened metal, most likely found it on the ground during their travels.

"Stay away from us. We have done nothing to you." The boy said trying to sound tough, but his voice was weak. He kept an arm around the girl.

"I can help you." Mikazuki held out her other hand, being sure to not get too close this time. "I have a shack close by. There is some food you can have."

The girl's head rose at the mention of food, she looked over to the boy. "Ryo-kun lets go with her. I'm so hungry."

The boy called Ryo looked as if he was calculating a difficult problem inside his head and was silent for a long time. The girl stood and latched herself onto Mikazuki's uninjured hand, much to the boy's displeasure.

"Gomen nasai, Ryo-kun gets quite protective at times. I'm Sayuri."

"Hajimemashite, Sayuri-chan. Do you think Ryo-kun will come along as well?"

Sayuri just shrugged her shoulders. "He can be difficult at times."

Ryo stood up and went to her other side. "We will come with you, but only because we are more likely to survive with you than on our own." He made sure to put emphasis on 'only'.

Mikazuki led them back to her and Takeo's shack where the man was pacing outside looking distraught. He saw her approaching and didn't seem to notice the children with her.

"Where the hell have you been?" He yelled, not caring if anyone else heard him. "I thought you left! Anything could've happened to you, you didn't even bring a weapon for protection."

Mikazuki ignored him going into the shack, finding two medium bread sticks and giving them to the two children. She then proceeded to try cleaning her wound. "I couldn't sleep. I only wanted to go for a walk."

"How did that happen?" Takeo asked, taking her hand and cleaning it himself.

"Ryo-kun was only protecting his sister." She made the assumption that they were related because of their similar looks.

"That doesn't give him the right to cut you, what if it gets infected?" Takeo glared at the boy.

"Calm down, I'm sure I'll be fine. I found them in an alleyway. I couldn't just leave them there."

Takeo shook his head, looking over while the two ate. "This isn't some 'Lost and Found' place, you can't bring in every abandoned thing you find."

"When have I ever brought home something abandoned?" Mikazuki winced as he tightened the bandage around her hand.

"Last year there was the smelly dog. Two years before that were the three cats and I still find hairs on my clothes." Takeo dusted off his clothes, to prove his point. "Face it, you just can't say iie."

"Demo look at them Takeo-san." She pointed at Ryo and Sayuri as they pretending not to listen to the argument taking place. "They are so thin and fragile. They need us."

"Iie Mikazuki-chan. We can barely afford to keep ourselves alive, much less these two brats as well."

Mikazuki walked up to the two children, placing her arms around the children. "You tell them to leave then."

Takeo followed her to the children who looked up at him with wide saddened eyes. "Gomen nasai, you two are going to have to…" As soon as he saw the tears in Sayuri's eyes, he knew he was a goner. They reminded him of when he saw Mikazuki cry for the first time, and every other time. He gave a lengthy sigh. "Kuso. Fine, you both can stay."

Sayuri instantly cheered up, hugging him as he sat down. Manipulative brat. He looked over to Ryo who just nodded with appreciation.

Mikazuki laughed at Takeo, "Now who can't say iie?"

"Just make sure they help out with the work around here, I'm going back to sleep." Takeo pulled out some more blankets for Ryo and Sayuri before lying down on his own makeshift bed.

1890 (Inuzuri)

They all were training, in a secluded area just outside of Inuzuri, getting ready for the next entrance exam in the following year for the Shinigami Academy.

Mikazuki found it strange that Ryo and Sayuri never grew older in appearance. She never commented on it but knew that Takeo thought the same. She had questioned them about their family, but similar answers came up every time, "We don't like thinking about the past.", "Does it really matter?" She empathized knowing exactly how they felt and after a few more failed tries she just dropped the subject altogether, because it didn't matter and it was in the past.

Takeo was half expecting someone to look for the children, but no one did. It took a few years for him to get used to having the children around. He had an uneasy feeling about Ryo, Mikazuki got along with them quite fine, but he was still on his guard.

Ryo's hard demeanor soon softened over the years and both he and Sayuri began acting like true children. Carefree with no troubles getting them down and that's the way Mikazuki preferred it. They decided to share the family name, it was the first sign of Takeo accepting them, and it had been his idea to begin with.

"Onee-chan, look at this." Sayuri called out.

For the seventh time that morning, Sayuri was able to gather small amounts reishi in the air and stabilize into a ball that floated above her hand. Mikazuki turned and was about to commend her when she felt wood against her neck, for the seventh time.

"You can't allow yourself to get distracted." Takeo scolded.

"You can't expect me to ignore Sayuri-chan."

"You have to learn too."

It then finally dawned on Mikazuki when she saw Takeo giving Sayuri the thumbs up. "This is your fault. You're making her distract me!"

Takeo shrugged, "Hai, you need the practice."

There was squealing heard from Sayuri. "Eww Ryo-kun, leave the caterpillars alone!"

"Demo, how else am I supposed to know what they look like on the inside?"

Both Mikazuki and Takeo shuddered simultaneously. It didn't bother them as much now as it did in the beginning, but the shivers still came at the thought. If they all did manage to make it into the Shinigami Academy, they knew only one division from the Gotei Thirteen would be sane enough to accept Ryo.

Mikazuki sat straight up when she awoke, grabbing her head from the nauseous feeling her fast movement brought. Urgh, my head. She was sure she didn't have enough sake to cause her to have a hangover in the morning, but she supposed Kami was against her. Ignoring the way her brain wanted her to go straight to the bathroom, she went straight to Ryo and Sayuri's room to find it empty. Panic took over but the nausea being too great sent her rushing to the bathroom. The contents of her stomach heaving out of her and leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Here, this should help." In one hand Takeo held a cup of water and in the other were two pills. "I got them from Unohana-taichou before coming to get you."

"Arigatou Takeo-kun." Mikazuki waited for her stomach to settle before swallowing the pills, now letting the panic overrule her. "Ryo-kun and Sayuri-chan aren't in their room! We have to go find them."

"Calm down, they're staying at the Eleventh Division, don't you remember?" Takeo knelt down beside her, placing the back of his hand against her forehead. Her temperate felt as normal as it should've, not that he was an expert with this stuff.

Mikazuki stayed on the floor deep in thought. She vaguely remembered telling Shūhei something similar. "Chotto… I should go there anyway and see if they are okay."

"Matte Suki-chan. What's gotten into you?" Takeo grabbed her as she rose to leave. "I'm sure they're fine, you've never checked up on them before."

"Gomen." Mikazuki looked down, rubbing her eyes. "I've been having these dreams."

"Like when Tobenaitori started communicating with you?"

"Iie, these have been about the past."

His intake of breath was all that could be heard in the silence, he hoped she would elaborate.

"This hasn't happened before. I'm scared."

"What have they been about?" Takeo asked leading her to his room and sitting down on his futon.

"You, them, my death, I don't understand why they have started."

"Let's go back to sleep, it's too early to be thinking about things like this." Takeo pulled Mikazuki to lie down but she stayed put.

"Iie, I might go into work. I've got twice as much work to finish."

"I'll walk you there."

"You don't need to babysit me. I can take care of myself." She folded her arms.

"I'm going to make sure you don't sneak off to the Eleventh Division."

Mikazuki pouted. "I wasn't even thinking about doing that…"

"Somehow I don't believe you. Come on, go get changed."

As she seated herself behind her desk, the only light came from a single candle she lit. The mountain load of paperwork seemed never-ending and cast shadows throughout her office. It was stacked up above her head and seemed like an impossible task. Mikazuki was sure she had been given more to do that day because of her absence. She had been left alone for majority of the morning, only being interrupted with the onslaught of more papers, she wasn't sure her desk couldn't handle any more and would start bending. It helped that she had arrived before the sun even showed, something that didn't occur very often.

The tell-tale sounds of the automatic doors opening alerted Mikazuki to a new presence, though she still couldn't see who it was. "Onegai tell me you have come to collect some papers."

"Iie." Marechiyo laughed. "Taichou wants to talk to you."

She huffed, "What does that witch want?"

The idea of finishing off the paperwork was more appealing, she would even do extra if it meant staying away from the Captain.

"Beats me." Marechiyo continued laughing. "It could have something to do with Kuchiki-taichou being here yesterday."

"That man actually came here?" Mikazuki had hoped that Rangiku just up some nonsense the night before, but maybe Byakuya really had been looking for her. "I should start charging him. I bet I could make lots of money that way."

"If you hurry up, we can have lunch after Taichou speaks with you."

"Don't get your hopes up. Somehow I think she has other plans for me." She grabbed Tobenaitori, having remembered to bring it that morning, and trying not to disturb the papers she left with Marechiyo to the audience chamber.

"Ishikawa-san I want to know what had you busy for all of yesterday." Suì-Fēng spoke loudly, not caring that members from the Stealth Force were inside listening as Mikazuki made her way forward.

"I had business to tend to." Mikazuki bowed, doing her best to show some respect.

"I want to assume this was related to your position."

"It was."

"I expect to see a report written on top on the work you hand in."

"Hai." Mikazuki inwardly cursed, this was going to be a problem.

She had needed to say a lot more half-truths lately. Hopefully Kami didn't look down poorly on her if she faked a report. Suì-Fēng would be too busy to look into it, right? Baka Byakuya. This was his entire fault.

"Kuchiki-taichou visited yesterday." Suì-Fēng stated.

"Oh?" Mikazuki acted as if she had no clue, Marechiyo snorted behind her.

"Hai, I want you to go to his office and see if he still wishes to visit the Maggot's Nest."

"Naze?"

"It's your job." The Captain was starting to get irritable.

"I'm not a tour guide. If Kuchiki-taichou wants to go to the Nest of Maggots then I'm sure he will pay you another visit."

"Ishikawa-san…"

An idea popped into Mikazuki head and she smiled at Suì-Fēng who immediately got suspicious. "You could say that going to Kuchiki-taichou is outside of my job since any shinigami could do that, right?"

"I suppose…"

"If I do this job for you, I would like a day off."

"You already had a day off yesterday."

"You can schedule it for next week, I don't mind waiting." Mikazuki was sure her Captain would agree. She just needed to add a bit more incentive. "I'll also do extra work for the rest of the week."

"What are you going to do on this day off?"

"Visit the Rukongai District I grew up in."

"Isn't that Inuzuri?"

"Hai."

"Okay, fine. Just make sure you see Kuchiki-taichou straight away." Suì-Fēng agreed, the main reason for this was to get the infuriating woman out of her sight.

Mikazuki left in a cheerful mood and Marechiyo followed her outside. "Gomen Marechiyo-san, I guess we will have to have lunch another time."

"That's okay, good luck with Kuchiki-taichou." Marechiyo said before going into his own office.

If that luck was enough to make sure Byakuya was out when she arrived, she would take it.

A/N: Translations.

Gomen (nasai) – sorry - informal(formal)

Onegai – please

Ano – um/uh

Betsuni – nothing

Iie – no

Demo – but

Yukata – similar to a kimono (shinigami uniform top)

Hai – yes

Hajimemashite – nice to meet you

Kuso – swear word (equivalent to sh*t)

Kami – God

Arigatou – thank you (informal)

Chotto – "kinda"

Matte – wait

Baka – stupid/idiot

Naze – why