Once again, Yume's powers, her sister, and her zanpakuto belong to me. "Bleach" however, does not... much to my disappointment.

I hope that you continue to enjoy my story as you read it, and, if you find the time, leave me a review.

Yume looked up to see her zanpakuto's true form manifested in her prison cell. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Hatsuyume was a grey, smoke-like and decidedly female form whose edges shifted and blurred continually. If any had saw the scene, they would have thought that the smoke was a grey mirror of the shinigami. They were alike except for the expression in the eyes- while Yume's eyes were guarded and held a longing sadness, her zanpakuto's eyes held obvious malice and gleamed with joy when other people suffered.

"Oh, Yume, I'm hurt. I thought you'd be flattered that I finally decided to show myself in your world." Hatsuyume revealed the fanged smile that the former lieutenant always associated with a fight.

"Of all the freaking times, Hatsuyume!"

The zanpakuto spirit didn't seem to be offended by Yume's reaction. "You know, Yume dear, there is no better time than now... after all, your not surrounded by those you care about... so we can enjoy suffering without your stupid compassion getting in the way."

Yume glared annoyedly at her zanpakuto's spirit. She simply didn't need all of this right now. "You are aware that I have a blasted meeting to go to this morning... aren't you?"

The smoke-like spirit grinned once more. "Of course I am. But that's hours away. Its still the middle of the 'night' here. So lets go."

The silver haired shinigami growled but followed none the less, "How the hell can you tell the difference?"

"You know me... I just know."

The halls of Las Noches passed swiftly as the two made their silent way out into the desert. Once they were decently away, Hatsuyume stopped and faced the moonlit sands. Yume stood a little distance away from the smoke-like spirit.

"I think its time for you to cut out your compassionate heart." With that, the spirit morphed into a perfect image of her sister.

*****

The two had been fighting for what Yume had considered to be several hours of sheer hell. Hatsuyume had been cycling through the images of those who she loved and cared for and making the silver-haired shinigami destroy them both mentally and physically.

Indeed, Yume thought wearily, she was cutting out her heart- piece by piece.

As every new image had been dispelled, Yume had noticed something occuring behind her. Her zanpakuto's spirit had obviously noticed what had caught her attention, because the image of her father stepped back to allow her to look more closely.

She was ganing smoke-like wings. Gently, Yume reached out to touch one, only to find that her hand passed right through them. She looked back at the image of her father.

"Yes. Yume Tenshi. You have wings of smoke in your bankai... and with every time you destroy one of us... one of your heart's attachments... they will grow stronger. And once you are strong enough to fly with them, you will be able to manifest people's memories and thoughts in the real world and manipulate them as you please. " With that said, her father's image attacked her again.

******

After assuming the form of Yume's sister once more, the spirit spoke again- flopping on the ground in a rather convincing imiation of her sister. "Did you know... that the memory modifications in your shikai aren't permanent right now?"

Cautiously, the shinigami lowered her blade. This was new, Yume thought, feeling slightly confused. "What?" She joined the smoke-like spirit on the ground, curious as to what she was talking about.

"People of stong spirit... and people under torture... will be able to shatter your fake memories." Both stared at the cresent moon in the sky. "Time also causes the tapestry of lies to unravel."

Yume took in this revalation and when she spoke again, her voice was conflicted. "Time? You mean..."

"Exactly. Sooner or later, Rei will learn the truth about you."

Silence was all the answer the young shinigami gave.

"However.... there is a way to make them- all of them- permanent. So that nothing will ever cause the truth to be revealed."

The silver-haired girl sighed, "Tell me."

"I will... why would I have brought it up if I wasn't going to tell you?" The image of Rei rolled her eyes before becoming serious once again, "But there is a price."

Yume closed her eyes, everything had a price with Hatsuyume. "What is it?"

The imiatation of Rei spoke swiftly, telling Yume of the cost of the perfect tapestry of lies. When the spirit had finished speaking, Yume sighed.

The silver haired girl turned it over in her mind. So that was the cost, was it? To slowly become a monster that grew stronger on the death and suffering of the world. Opening her eyes, she asked, "And what about my mind... what happens to it?"

Hatsuyume, who was now the perfect image of her mother, replied, "You figured it out faster than I thought you would. For the most part, your mind would remain as it is... except of course for any emotions you might feel."

"What kind of emotions?" Yume knew to be cautious. Hatsuyume was never known to be straightforward with anything unless pressed.

"I might liken it to being cast out of heaven... and you might consider yourself as a fallen angel... if you like." Rei's image shrugged.

Yume hung her head, to be condenmed to be a fallen angel forever. Could she do it? "I... accept."