A/N: I do not own BLEACH
-twenty years ago-
Hisagi Shuuhei carefully scanned the desert training area from his hiding spot behind a rock. It was quiet, too quiet. He narrowed his eyes as he gripped the hilt of his zanpakutou tighter while.
His sensei was hiding somewhere, he knew that much. He could feel her intense, storm like reiatsu everywhere but he couldn't pick out where it was originating from. If there was one thing his
sensei was good at, it was making herself untraceable to the most sensitive of shinigami, that and annoying the hell out of him. A sudden movement to his left caught his attention and he
quickly held his hand up.
"Hadō number Thirty-one: Shakkahō!" he said before firing a red ball of energy. There was a small explosion.
"What are you aiming at?" came a voice from behind him. Hisagi quickly jumped away and turned to face his sensei, who was grinning like a crocodile. Narrowing his eyes, Hisagi lunged at her
with his zanpakutou but Akiko easily danced out of the way using shunpo.
"Come on Hei-kun!" laughed Akiko "You can do better than that!" She dodged his attack again before grinning at Hisagi's slightly frustrated expression. Akiko had found Hisagi during a trip to the
Spiritual Arts Academy about forty years ago. She had been asked to give a zanjutsu demonstration and when she had been leaving, she had run into Hisagi, who had just failed the entrance
exam for the second time. The first thing Akiko had noticed about Hisagi was that he had the potential to be great. The second thing that Akiko had noticed was that he possessed a tattoo on his
cheek that was identical to the tattoo Kensei had possessed on his chest and that the choker he was wearing had once belonged to Sora. That had been enough for Akiko to take the boy under
her wing. He had gotten into the Academy on his next try and Akiko gave him additional lessons when he wasn't in class. Now he was the lieutenant of the Ninth Division, the very same Division
both she and Kensei had been lieutenant and later Captain for.
"Is that the best you can do, little Hei-kun?" asked Akiko. Hisagi leveled a clear cut glare at Akiko, who continued to grin like a crocodile, before he lunged at her again. Akiko easily dodged his
renewed assaults before she began teasing him even more.
"If this is the best that you can do," said Akiko "Then I'm really worried about the future of the Ninth Division, especially since you're the lieutenant." Akiko flitted out of the way of his
zanpakutou "Come on Hei-kun, you're slowing down!" She stopped when Hisagi stopped and got into a stance.
"Reap." said Hisagi as his reiatsu flared "Kazeshini" His zanpakutou changed from a simple katana into two kusarigama, each with two sickle blades, with one inverted, giving it the resemblance
of a pinwheel. The blades were connected to a spiked rod tethered together by a long chain. Akiko grinned grew as Hisagi spun one of the blades by the chain before he threw it at her. She easily
dodged the spinning kusarigama before ducking under its chain. Hisagi yanked on the chain and Akiko tried to dodge but chain easily wrapped around her, holding her in place.
"You lose sensei." said Hisagi.
"Not quite." said Akiko "Whistle, Kazehana." Her tachi shattered and the mini blades flew out of her sheathe. Hisagi's eyes widened as they easily cut the chain before reforming in Akiko's
sheath. Kazeshini returned to it sealed form and Hisagi picked it up.
"I've told you a hundred times already," said Akiko "My zanpakutou is much older and stronger than yours. My shikai can break your shikai easily but," Akiko smiled "I'm very proud of the
progress you've made. I know you'll make a fine Captain someday and I have nothing more to teach you, Hisagi Shuuhei." Hisagi's eyes widened slightly before he sheathed his zanpakutou.
"Sensei?" he said as he looked at her carefully.
"Yes," said Akiko "You've finally passed your final test. You managed to catch me, even though I did break out. Just remember this Shuuhei, and don't you ever forget this, you can never be
truly powerful until you have someone to protect."
"I thank you, for everything, Sensei." said Hisagi.
"It was nothing." said Akiko "Now get going. You've probably got things to do." Hisagi nodded before flash stepping away. Akiko sighed heavily before wincing as her knee throbbed.
"I think I overdid it." said Akiko as she walked over to where her crutch was leaning against the wall "But, I won't have to do something like that again for a while." She grabbed her crutch and
headed back upstairs. Once upstairs, she was greeted by an almost thirteen year old Zachary and a twelve year old boy she had recently adopted after Shunsui had brought him in. The boy had
short brown hair and intense turquoise eyes and apparently, he had attempted to steal Shunsui's money pouch. Akiko's two girls, Takara and Keiko, had taken an instant liking to the boy and it
had brought back memories for Akiko, memories that were both painful and memories that she was found of. The boy's name was Kiba and he was rather quiet but when he did talk, he would
surprise everyone with how knowledgeable he was in certain areas or he would surprise them with his sharp tongue when he was angry. Zachary had taken it upon himself to show Kiba the
ropes and Angel had taken it upon himself to keep an eye on both boys since Zachary had a knack for getting into trouble.
"Okaasan," said Zachary with a smile "Isshin-nii stopped by for a visit!"
"When did he get here?" asked Akiko.
"Just now." said Zachary "He said he wanted to talk to you about something."
"Where are your brothers and sisters?" asked Akiko.
"Let's see." said Zachary as he began to think.
"Katsumi is counting today's earnings and doing the accounting thing that he's good at." said Kiba "Angel is studying, Eiji is hiding up in a tree with his book of poetry, and Takara and Keiko are
out in the garden, tending the plants."
"Yep." said Zachary "And Isshin-nii is waiting in your office."
"Thank you," said Akiko "You two can go back to doing whatever you were doing."
"Right!" said Zachary before he ran off to the garden with Kiba at his heels. Akiko smiled softly before heading to her office. Opening the door, Akiko found Isshin standing in front of her
bookcase, looking through her photo album.
"Isshin?" said Akiko as she closed the door. Isshin jumped slightly before quickly turning to face Akiko.
"Hey Sensei!" he said as he closed the album and quickly put it back into its proper place, only for it to fall out of the bookcase and onto the floor. Isshin winced slightly as it hit the floor before
crouching down and picking up the book.
"What's going on, Isshin?" asked Akiko as she walked up to him. Isshin dusted off the album before closing it and sighing.
"Sensei," said Isshin "I think I'm in love." Akiko's eyebrows raised until they were almost hidden by her uneven bangs. It took a moment before Akiko found her voice again.
"Well, congratulations, Isshin!" said Akiko happily "Who's the lucky girl?"
"Her name is Masaki." said Isshin with a love struck sigh. Akiko grinned.
"You've got it bad." she said "You sound just like Kensei did when he realized that he was in love with Sora. So when did you meet her and where is she from?" She noticed that Isshin winced
slightly at her question but he answered her, albeit, very reluctantly.
"I meet her when I was on that mission last week." said Isshin "She's a human from the Living World."
-(Cliffhanger!)-
-(Just kidding!)-
Akiko took several moments to process all of this information. Isshin stood there, his hands shaking as nervousness settled down upon him. Finally, Akiko sighed heavily.
"How did you meet her?" asked Akiko. Isshin relaxed slightly, thankful that his adopted mother was willing to listen before judging him.
"I had been engaged in combat with a hollow and it sent me flying into her apartment." said Isshin "I didn't know she had seen me until she had approached me the next day when I was
tracking another hollow in the same area and demanded that I pay to fix the hole in her wall. She didn't realize that I was a spirit until I saved her from a hollow later that day. After I save her,
she bought me lunch and we spent quite a bit of time together for the rest of the week. She even told me to come visit her the next time I was in town." Akiko got a thoughtful look on her face
before whacking Isshin upside the head. Isshin rubbed his now sore head as he looked at his Sensei with a questioning look on his face.
"That's for thinking that I would look down on you for falling in love with a human." said Akiko "And before you ask, it was clear in your tone and posture."
"You don't think that I'm wrong for falling in love with a human?" asked Isshin.
"No, I don't." said Akiko "I've told you and all of my children before, love knows no bounds. I love all of my children, even though you aren't of my flesh and blood. That's why I adopted you guys.
I will not judge you for loving a human but the question is, what are you going to do Isshin?"
"I'm willing to give up my life as a shinigami to be with her." said Isshin "But if I defect, I will be hunted down and possibly killed. I don't know how I'm going to do this."
"But you could 'die'." said a voice from the doorway.
"Yoruichi." said Akiko as the former Second Division Captain came into the room.
"Yoruichi-san?" said Isshin before looking at Akiko "How-?"
"She likes to use the Senkaimon gate I bought off of the Shiba Clan." said Akiko "But only one person can go through the gate without being detected."
"I stopped by to hear about the events of the Seireitei." said Yoruichi "I couldn't help but overhear the conversation you guys were having and I know someone who can help." Yoruichi turned to
Isshin "But the question is, are you sure you're willing to do this. Isshin?"
"I am." said Isshin "My soul longs to be with Masaki. I'm willing to do anything to be with her. Even if that means I can never see my family again." Akiko put a hand on his shoulder before
offering him a smile.
"Good." said Yoruichi "Now the safest way to do this, is to have you 'die' while on a very dangerous mission."
"I have a mission coming up in a week." said Isshin "Myself, my lieutenant, and three of my seated officers are going to clear out a hollow nest near Karakura Town in Japan."
"Excellent." said Yoruichi "Everything can be ready by then." Yoruichi turned to Akiko "How's your acting? Because you're going to be losing another son."
"I know." said Akiko sadly "But as long as Isshin is happy, I'll be fine." Akiko looked at Isshin "You won't be able to go by my family name anymore Isshin. You should use your real family name
once you go underground. I'm the only one that knows it."
"I will Sensei." said Isshin "Thank you for supporting me."
"That's what mothers are suppose to do, Isshin." said Akiko.
-one week later-
It was early in the morning and the sun was barely over the horizon. Akiko was standing out in her garden, watching the sun rise over the horizon.
"Sensei?" said Isshin as he approached Akiko.
"I'm going to miss you, Isshin." said Akiko as she turned to face her son "It's never easy letting your children go."
"I'll be fine Sensei." said Isshin "You trained me after all. I can survive a few hollows."
"Just be careful." said Akiko.
"I will," said Isshin "Okaasan." A smile graced Akiko's face before she hugged Isshin.
"Be safe." said Akiko as she let him go "I mean it."
"Don't worry." said Isshin "I'm a grown man. Just take care of my siblings."
"No need to worry there." said Akiko before looking at the sky again "You should get going."
"Yeah, I should." said Isshin "Good-bye, Okaasan."
"Good-bye, Isshin." said Akiko "And good luck!" Isshin smiled before turning and flash stepping away. Once he was gone, Akiko sighed sadly before looking back at the sunrise.
"That's two sons I've lost." she said "How many more children will I lose? And how much more heartbreak will I have to go through?" She sighed heavily as she looked up at the heavens "Please
protect my son and give him a happy life. He deserves that much." Akiko received no answer as the wind began to blow gently through the garden.
-that evening-
The sound of wooden swords clashing rang through the air as Akiko sat on a boulder in her underground training area. All of her kids were currently participating in their biweekly group training
session. All seven of them were in their usual sparring groups, basically going all out against each other with the wooden swords Akiko had given them. Katsumi, Angel, and Eiji were doing their
usual three way spar. Zachary was sparring with Kiba, who was quite skilled with a sword for having no formal training before Akiko had adopted him. Finally, Takara and Keiko were sparring off a
short distance away from the boys. Akiko kept an eye on all three groups but mainly Katsumi, Angel, and Eiji because they tended to go overboard with the sparring.
"Watch your footing, Eiji." scolded Akiko as Eiji's footing slipped in mid-strike. He recovered quickly enough to dodge attacks from both Angel and Katsumi.
"Keep on your feet Zachary." said Akiko after Kiba knocked Zachary flat on his back. Zachary easily sprang back up onto his feet and renewed his attack on Kiba.
"Keep up the good work, Takara, Keiko." said Akiko before looking towards the stairs when she sensed two familiar reiatsu and one unfamiliar one. Standing at the top of the stairs was Juushiro
and Shunsui and coming down the stairs was a boy of about eleven. He was on the short side with spiky white hair and turquoise eyes. He wore the standard shinigami uniform with his
zanpakutou held in place on his back by a green sash with a round clip and a lieutenant's badge on his left arm. He was walking slowly towards her and she knew that it was time for her to start
acting. The boy stopped in front of her and Akiko noticed that his hands were shaking. She didn't know whether it was from shock of nervousness but he managed to keep his face in a calm
expression.
"Are you Raiden Akiko?" he asked.
"I am." she replied "And you are?"
"Hitsugaya Tōshirō." he said "Lieutenant of the Tenth Division."
"So you must be Isshin's new lieutenant." said Akiko "It's nice to meet you Tōshirō." She thought for a moment "Isshin mentioned that you were going with him on a mission. So where is he?"
Tōshirō looked down as if he was saddened by something.
"During the mission," said Tōshirō "There was an accident." Akiko's eyes widened.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Part of the cave collapsed." he said "And Raiden-taichou was caught in the collapse." He took a moment to take a calming breath "It has been confirmed that Raiden Isshin perished in the
collapse." Akiko covered her mouth with her hands as she gasped while tears pricked at her eyes. Tōshirō looked down as if he was ashamed of something.
"How did it happen?" asked Akiko.
"We're not sure why the cave collapsed." said Tōshirō "But we believe that the cave was unstable from the hollows burrowing in it and that the added spiritual pressure our team exerted caused
it to collapse. I would've been the one killed in the collapse if he hadn't pushed me out of the way." Tōshirō looked like he was fighting back tears even though his face remain calm. He looked up
when Akiko placed a hand on her shoulder and saw the tears falling down her face.
"If he saved you," she said "Then he didn't die in vain. I'm not mad at you, Tōshirō, nor will I ever be."
"But..." said Tōshirō as he looked down "It's my fault that Raiden-taichou is dead!"
"Isshin always said that if he died, then he wanted to die saving another's life." said Akiko "One life for another, that was his code. He gave his life, so that you could live. He could probably see
the same potential that I see in you now. Your zanpakutou is strong as are you, I can feel it. You just need to realize the potential within yourself, Tōshirō. Don't disappoint Isshin by wallowing in
doubt and self-loathing for something that wasn't your fault." Tōshirō looked up at Akiko again and she could see the faintest of tears glisten as it fell down his face.
"I understand, Raiden-san." said Tōshirō "I won't let my Captain's sacrifice be in vain! I'm going to get stronger, just you wait and see! I'm going to get strong enough to be Captain of my
Division and when I do, I'll have the power to protect those that I care about!" Akiko smiled as her tears continued to fall down her face.
"Just keep your determination strong," she said "And you'll go far, Hitsugaya Tōshirō."