"If there is a god," Byakuya heard Renji mutter behind him.
He looked towards the doors, following everyone else's gaze. From where he stood, he could only watch as Shunsui and Nanao entered, which was nothing to stare at. But then Ukitake entered with Yami beside him. Byakuya's eyes widened as Yami and Ukitake passed him. Unbidden, he let his gaze travel the length of her body. It was fairly obvious that she'd only gotten Hisana's face but the body was all hers. Yami stopped, turning to look at him with a small smile as if she could read his thoughts. She winked at him before joining Ukitake where he stood.
"Yami," Ukitake began.
"Relax," she instructed. "It's nothing like that."
'Nor will it ever be,' she added.
"I was going to say let the Head Captain notice you before you present yourself but that is reassuring as well."
Yami offered him a half smile.
"You mistake me for Kida."
Ukitake opened his mouth to respond but the doors opened once more, letting in Yamamoto. He surveyed the room, eyes finding Yami who stood out like a sore thumb in her red kimono.
"What is this?" he roared.
Yami flinched a bit and Ukitake stepped up a bit in order to block her from Yamamoto.
"Sir, I take full responsibility for this," he said quickly as Yamamoto approached. "I thought it would be okay."
Yami stepped forward, squeezing her way between the men.
"No I take full responsibility. Do what you will to me but it had to be done. You must listen to me!" Yami begged.
Yamamoto's eyes opened a bit and he studied her. Yami took this as a good sign and continued.
"The Forbidden Children want to bring back Eden."
"Eden?" asked a fox faced Captain.
Yami turned to him.
"Eden is the biblical garden of god," she explained. "Adam and Eve were expelled from it ages ago. Eventually their bodies died but their souls never did. They yearned to return to Eden, to their paradise and could not rely on the children they had to help them. So they began creating the Forbidden Children and loading them with powers to not only find Eden but maintain it."
"So what's so bad? What if they find their paradise? Is it so bad?" Renji asked.
Yami looked at him next.
"It is. When them getting Eden means that the there will be no World of the Living."
"How do you know this?" Yamamoto asked.
"Father informed us of it. He never lets us forget," Yami replied. "The thought of destroying so many lives is what drove me away."
She looked at Yamamoto.
"Please don't brush this off. You must do something."
Yamamoto eyed her, seriously.
"Please," Yami begged.
"You are to leave this room. Return to Squad 13's barracks and never come back unless you are summoned," Yamamoto ordered.
Yami stared at him, shocked. His serious look assured her he wasn't.
"As you wish, Head Captain," she got out through clenched teeth.
With that, she turned and walked away, head up despite the shame she felt at the dismissal.
"Found her yet?" Hebi snapped, pacing.
His question was directed at the twins, Sora and Aki. Kotaro, the second oldest stood hovering over them with Karu to his left. Sora and Aki held tight to each other, eyes closed as they let their spiritual pressure trickle through the World of the Living, searching for Yami.
"Nothing!" Aki growled.
"Like she disappeared," Sora added.
She pulled away from Aki, turning her baby blues on Karu.
"Ane-san," she began.
Karu's hand rested on Sora's auburn hair.
"Its fine," she said pleasantly. "It just means that scum bag isn't in the world of the living."
"So where is she?" Hebi growled.
Kotaru smiled.
"Where do you think?" he asked.
"Brought you something."
Yami glanced over her shoulder at the man who walked in, holding a tray of food.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Shuuhei Hisagi," he replied, kneeling.
He set down the tray.
"I knew Kimari," he said.
Yami sat up.
"Care for a medal?" she asked.
Shuuhei smirked.
"Cute," he remarked.
He pushed the tray of food closer to Yami.
"Ukitake asked me to bring you some. He won't be back at the barracks tonight."
"Lucky him," Yami mumbled, selecting an onigiri.
"Look, it happens to all of us," Shuuhei assured her. "Yamamoto is use to his orders being followed."
Yami rolled her eyes.
"You'd think he'd care more since Soul Reapers want to keep the living safe."
She crossed her arms, jutting out her bottom lip.
"You're far too pretty to pout," Shuuhei remarked.
He smiled.
"You know what everyone's saying?" he asked.
"No," Yami replied. "What?"
"They say you look like Hisana Kuchiki," Shuuhei answered.
Yami's eyes widened.
"That's ridiculous."
"You say that like you know who that is," Shuuhei remarked.
"How absurd. Of course I don't," Yami said.
She stood.
"I'm sure I'd remember if I did."
