Momo has heard some stories about Third Division's Joo Ji-Hyun. Ever since attaining a position within the Gotei 13, she has become the center of quite a number of gossips. Normal in appearance, sweet by nature, but quite notorious when in love. The last Momo heard was that Ji-Hyun had violent tantrums, becoming a danger, most especially to herself. Momo didn't really know if that was true, and she was sad to admit, it wasn't until she actually met the girl that she began to care.

It was in the Weaponry aisle of the library that they met. Ji-Hyun was slumped on the floor, hunched over a book with her long, straight hair falling across her face. Momo hesitantly neared her, but despite her caution, Ji-Hyun lifted her head to focus her attention on her.

"You're Kira-fuku-taichou's friend," she stated.

Momo nodded. "Hello," she said. "I'm Hinamori-fuku-taichou of the Fifth Division."

"Right," Ji-Hyun said with a small nonchalant smile on her face. She flipped her book to show the cover to Momo and said, "It's a pretty interesting book. Different kinds of blades." She then flipped the pages to show a picture of a small paring knife. "Not unusual, but I like the fact that it's perfect for skinning."

For some reason, Momo sat down with her that afternoon. It seemed normal enough. Two normal girls having a normal conversation. Family and friends, work, love. Momo noticed the way Ji-Hyun spoke about certain things, like there was something she wasn't happy about but showing bitterness was all she could really do. She brought an air of eerie darkness with her. Momo wondered where it came from, what was really her story?

"All I can say is, don't fall in love," Ji-Hyun said, lifting a finger as if reprimanding a child. "It's gonna drive you nuts. It's my warning to everyone, but unfortunately, you're the only one I've told so far. Everyone will be better off without attachments, you know, things that can hold them back or hurt them. As for me, there's no saving me."

There was that bitterness in her voice again.

"I love my man," she said softly, and there was an almost happy smile on her face. "It just feels right when I'm together with him."

Ji-Hyun never really had a girlfriend, she admitted it so. Perhaps it was because her relationship has pretty much been her priority, rather than making or rekindling friendships. Momo told her she thought it was a fitting reason to live, loving someone.

Ji-Hyun then smiled, nodding. "Yep, it's me and him, forever."

When Momo told Izuru of their first meeting, he seemed uncomfortable. He knew Ji-Hyun personally, of course, since they were from the same division. He didn't want to say anything about her, except not to be too involved with her. Momo didn't understand why he felt that way.

The next they met and Ji-Hyun invited her to lunch, she went.

Had she known what would happen the night after, she would have listened to Izuru with no questions.

The dark sky was lit with orange. An alarm bell rang throughout Seireitei, and although she was the head Messenger, Momo wasn't the one announcing news of a fire within the Third Division grounds. Instead, she was hurrying toward the site, worried for her fellow Shinigami, worried for Izuru.

Upon arriving, she could see Shuuhei with Reiko, who was busy recording the event on paper. Shuuhei himself was carrying a camera and snapping shots of the scene. Momo passed by them, furious. "Having fun, Hisagi?" she snarled.

"Just doing my job, Hina-chan," he replied back calmly.

Momo scoffed before rushing to the front, where, with great relief, she found Izuru standing with most of his fellow Third Division members. The fire was dying down now, with the help of kidou water spells. A group from the Second Division was called in with Captain Soi Fon leading at the front, as well as a group from the Fourth Division headed by Captain Unohana.

When the last spark was put off and everything was confirmed safe, Izuru called to attention his division members. "Everyone, gather in the main quad! Third seat, Kim Michael, will do a roll call, to ensure all members are safe. As for everyone else, please avoid interferences with the second and fourth division's work, and I thank you for your cooperation."

"Izuru!" Momo called to him.

"You shouldn't be here, it's dangerous," he said when he came near her.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Himura Ken's quarters got burned down," Izuru said gravely. "We're thinking a lamp fell. Who knows?"

"Who's he?"

Izuru sighed. "A private of ours, fifty-fourth," he answered. "There's been no sighting of him, but…" He looked at Momo with troubled eyes. "He's Ji-Hyun's boyfriend."

Momo gasped, but Izuru immediately held her hand. "There's been no definite news, but both Ken and Ji-Hyun have not been sighted since the fire. The last place someone saw them was in the main house." The more he spoke, the more Momo's eyes widened, and the more he tightened his grip around her wrist. "Second Division will do a search within two hours, we just need to wait out till the heat lessens."

"Wait?" she repeated. "Ji-Hyun could be in there, you don't know if they're dead!"

"It's completely burned down, Momo," Izuru explained.

"They could've made protection shields," Momo persisted. "You have to get someone in there right away." She made a motion toward the burned down area, but Izuru pulled her back swiftly.

"Momo, listen to me!" he said firmly. "They can't be alive. Ji-Hyun meant for them not to survive that."

"What do you mean?" Momo asked breathlessly, eyes looking disbelievingly into his.

"She's the one who started the fire," he said quietly. "Ken was an asshole, and Ji-Hyun's mental state wasn't stable enough to handle any sort of downfall." Momo began to protest again, but he placed his hands on her shoulders to stop her from going toward the site again. "And in the case that they are alive, though I doubt it, Momo, I don't want you near her. I don't want you near her alive, or dead."

His eyes pleaded with her, and this time she understood.

Shuuhei escorted her back to her division's main house that night.

The next morning, she woke up with a heavy heart. Izuru came by to visit with sad news that Ji-Hyun and Ken were indeed caught in the fire and were not able to survive. Although she had only met Ji-Hyun a couple of times, she shed tears for her.

Sadness for a pure heart broken, for someone just wanting a friend, for someone whose disease was not her fault but brought her disaster all the same.

Izuru stayed with Momo as she cried, holding her and offering comforting words. Though he opposed her feelings about Ji-Hyun, he also understood, because in the end, it really was a sad thing.

A/N: Some chapters just come easiliy. :) Sorry, I broke away from the romance plot there. I just happen to have written a drama piece. To KiraHina fans, it will soon happen. Just need a bit more time to shine a light on our neglected character, Shuuhei.

This chapter is for all disasters, survivors and deaths. Life is precious, we must learn how to take care of it.

Anyway, thanks all for the support. Happy belated Halloween!