The Mask of Daiou Yuki…

Behind the iron mask lies somebody I never knew, yet knew all along. It's difficult to explain, knowing someone without truly knowing them. I took a step closer grinding my feet into the cold hard snow. He took a step back, he always did. Not from fear but to keep me from getting to close. He never let me get to close, he always kept me at an arms distance away never letting his guard drop, never moving aside his mask. Before the worlds ruin I would die with out ever truly knowing… myself.

I opened my eyes forcing myself away from his hardened stare. Before me there was an orange sunset setting over the hills. Sitting on the porch of my room I was meditating, entering my inner world to see the snow king. I wish he would open up to me, I wish he would let me into the depths of his heart so I could understand mine. Abruptly standing up I made my way to the interior of my room. Taking a seat at my vanity I stared in the mirror into the eyes of the person staring back at me. I had seen this face every day since I had the ability to see my reflection, yet I never felt like I really knew this person. Her eyes were large, violet, and soft; her features looked compassionate yet scared. Her body appeared delicate and fragile like a petal that could be blown away by the wind. But I was never any of these things. I was strong, hard, and courageous. I was a complete contradiction of my physical appearance. I always felt like I had been that scared fragile person many life times ago, but I would never be that person again. I always thought that is where my nightmares stemmed from. The thought of being a helpless scared woman left me with a sense of abandonment that made my heart yearn.

One way or another I would unveil the mask of Daiou Yuki, I will uncover the truth.

~x~

Hisana's first encounter with Daiou Yuki…

A rustle of leaves sweeps into the wind following an unknown path through the sky, dancing autumn colors signal fall is well on its way. Hisana was following Byakuya up a steep hill heading towards a clearing where they would take refuge for the next few days. This trip was one of the most significant moments in every Soul Reapers career. It was believed that if a Shinigami's zanpakuto did not show itself with in a given amount of time on its own that it was the Shinigami's duty to seek it out in solitude with the guidance of their mentor. Hisana was developing quickly into a talented Shinigami yet her zanpakuto had yet to make itself known to her. After much deliberation Captain Ukatake decided it was time for Byakuya to take her into solitude to awaken her zanpakuto. It was a difficult process to say the least, she would be pushed further then she had even been before spiritually, emotionally and physically. Danger was something that definitely accompanied the mission due to the fact that if a Shinigami forced their zanpakuto out before the wielder was ready there could be dire consequences. However Byakuya was not going to force it out of her unless it was necessary. In his opinion some zanpakutos just needed a little more concentration than the wielder was able to give under day-to-day circumstances.

After a few days hike they finally reached the spot where there were to spend however long it would take to get Hisana's zanpakuto to reveal itself. Hisana was very edgy Byakuya was content. He was looking forward to the alone time he would be spending with Hisana, he enjoyed her company far more than he knew he should and selfishly he would bask in it.

"Its so peaceful out here. How did you discover such a place existed?"

"My mentor brought me here once a long time ago." Byakuya answered but did not mention that this time he was in far better company.

They set up the tents and Byakuya started a fire then left to the near by creek to catch some fish. Hisana begin boiling some water for the rice, when Byakuya returned she was humming to herself dancing and twirling through the grass. She was in complete peace and didn't even notice him leaning against a tree watching her.

After a few moments she took notice of his presence and surprised she said, "Oh, how long have you been standing there?"

"Not long, I caught a few fish." He said showing her the fish in his hand.

"You have my admiration if you caught them without senbonzaukra."

He just smiled at her and said, "I am afraid I will have to gain your affection some other way."

They cooked and ate and even though he was a noble and she was a peasant all boundaries of status disappeared out in the wilderness. There he was just a man and she a woman enjoying the moment of peace and tranquility that the others presence provided.

The sun had set and the stars were shinning over the camp with the only light coming from the fire that blazed between the two Shinigami. Watching Byakuya from across the fire Hisana couldn't help but gape at just how handsome he was. He had left his kensikan at his manor for the sake of the trip so no one would know he was a noble if they met anyone a long the way. If anything Hisana thought he looked even more attractive with out them. The way his hair would fall into his eyes completely unsecured made Hisana blush. She certainly was a schoolgirl obsessed with her mentor. Byakuya beckoned her to sit next to him; obediently she made her way over to him. Sitting down next to him he wrapped his arm around her, it was an unspoken relationship he did it because it felt right and she let him because it made her feel protected from the world. When she was sad from her guilt-laden thoughts of her sister he would hold her not knowing why or ever asking. She would cry in his shoulder and thank him for never insisting for the truth. But there was still that line that exists between the two and they never crossed it. He was her best friend but she couldn't help but think if only he was not a nobleman then maybe just maybe there could be a chance. Even though they had grown closer through the months that passed there was still a huge gap in between them that could never be bridged, not even in a thousand years.

Over the next few days they trained and he exhausted her, he pushed her farther than she had ever been pushed in her time as a soul reaper. He encouraged her to meditate and attempt to enter her inner world with out success. She was trying but only getting frustrated and angry.

"Byakuya-sama, my zanpakuto hates me! That has to be the only explanation" Hisana puffed. She only called him by his first name when it was just the two of them.

"It doesn't hate you Hisana it's just not ready. We just have to work harder."

"Any harder and you might accidentally kill me!"

"That will never happen."

The training continued and Byakuya decided he would have to drain her off all of her energy, he forced her to do kido spell after kido spell while he attacked her. She was getting exhausted she wondered if he was truly trying to scare her zanpakuto to making an appearance because she was wondering if he would accidentally kill her. Out of breath she felt her body sway. She collapsed to the ground completely knocked out. Byakuya went over to her to check if she was ok, when he figured she was out for good for the remainder of the day he picked her up and put her in her tent to sleep it off and hopefully the next day it would show some effect on her zanpakuto.

It was snowing a few inches of ice covered the ground in the meadow where they were training. Hisana saw Byakuya hiding behind a tree spying on her when she called out his name he ran; she followed him deeper and deeper into the thick brush of the woods. Calling his name he wouldn't turn to answer he just kept running further and further away from her. She couldn't see him anymore there were too many trees she couldn't even run in a straight line. It was cold and the wind was bitter against her skin. Shivering she continued forward until she came to a clearing she stepped out of the thick brush of the forest into the most beautiful place she had ever seen in her life. The small meadow was covered in a few inches of snow but peeping through the snow were vivid red tulips scattered on the ground. The contrast between the red tulips and the white snow on the ground was picturesque. After being memorized by her surroundings she saw Byakuya standing on the other side of the clearing glaring at her.

"Byakuya-sama where are we? When did it start snowing?" Hisana called after him.

Glaring back at her he said nothing.

"Byakuya-sama? Why are you not answering me?"

"My name is not Byakuya." He replied in a stoic tone eyes still glaring at her.

Confused Hisana could help but stare back at him. "Who are you?"

"You are not worthy to know my name. Your not even worthy of my breath."

Hisana begin to scrutinize his appearance. He was not wearing his Kenseikan or his Shinigami robes. He was wearing mostly white robes with lavender under robe and sash. His skin was pale his eyes piercing grey and his hair was shoulder length and black. He had to be Byakuya, despite the clothes no one else looked exactly like this. Even his glare like Byakuyas' pierced her heart and soul.

"Who are you what is your name?" Hisana demanded.

With one final defiant stare he turned around and disappeared into the thick brush surrounding the meadow.

Groggily Hisana opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was it was warm though her skin was cold. Still confused and delirious she sat up and jumped out of her tent. Wide eyed she saw Byakuya. He looked up at the suddenly eccentric Hisana.

"You!" She said pointing at him. "Why were you running away from me? What happened to the snow?"

"What are you talking about Hisana?"

"You were being a jerk to me and wouldn't answer me, and it was snowing and there were red tulips growing up from the ground." Suddenly listening to herself mutter insanity Hisana realized she must have been dreaming… but it felt so real.

"Are you saying you just had a dream about me?" Byakuya asked blushing.

"No it wasn't you, but it was, no he just looked like you and he wouldn't tell me his name. He said 'you are not worthy to know my name'."

"That must be your zanpakuto."

"My zanpakuto? But why does he look like you?"

"I do not know, I have never heard of a zanpakuto that actually resembled a real person. Zanpakutos are a part of your soul. Their appearance is a manifestation of you. So you said it was snowing and there was ice on the ground? You must have a snow zanpakuto." As he said this he tried to mask his growing ego at the fact that Hisana's zanpakuto looked exactly like him. He thought maybe she had deeper feelings for him than that of a mentor and more than that of a best friend. Suddenly realizing what he was thinking he quickly shook the thoughts from his mind, it was impossible and he would never shame is family by marrying a peasant. Never.

~x~

The day after Shinta and I had tea with Captain Uktake I found myself back in the library studying zanpakutos. I learned a great deal about them over the past few days but more specifically to my topic I found some cases that were similar to mine, similar but not exactly like mine. Most shinigami's whose zanpakuto slightly resembled anther person were people they looked up to and loved. The only thing they all had in common was that they knew the person and had a very close relationship to them. Yet their zanpakutos never took on an identical physical form, rather it was more of a similarity or resemblance. A zanpakuto resembling a complete stranger was unheard of. I didn't know Byakuya Kuchiki so why is my zanpakuto the embodiment of him? Feeling a distinctive reiatsu approaching I looked up to see Captain Ukatake walking towards me.

"Hello Hisana, studying zanpakutos I see." He said looking at the book in my hand.

"Yes Captain." I replied closing the book in my hand to give him my full attention.

"That's an interesting subject, I hope your endeavors here today did not disappoint your quest for answers." Captain Ukatake asked. "But judging by your expression it doesn't seem like it was, I fear I will have the same luck as you this evening."

"I hope that you do not Captain, the subject I am doing research on is unheard of."

"Would you like my input on the matter? I've lived in Soul Society for the past 1,000 years sometimes a person can have more answers than a book." Ukatake had an inclination as to what was bothering her but he wanted to hear it from her.

I put the book back where it belonged and thought about it for a minute. Captain Ukatake was a good person and he would understand my frustration, sure he wouldn't think I was crazy or some obsessed young woman infatuated with Captain Kuchiki, because I knew there were a lot of those running around. Money, power, and good looks were the recipe for any shallow woman's lust.

"Captain Ukatake, have you ever heard of a zanpakuto resembling another person?"

He knew it, but he would play along anyway. "Zanpakuto's are the manifestation of your soul, usually if they resemble someone it's only slightly and typically its someone the Shinigami looks up to or loves.

"What if it's a complete stranger and it looks exactly like them from their facial expressions down to their personality?" Hisana asked hopefully.

"I have never heard of that before," well once but it was no his place to tell her. If she found out from anyone it would be from him. Ukatake didn't like lying it was out of character for him but he couldn't just tell her another woman that looked just like the woman standing in from of him with the same name had a zanpakuto that also just happened to look like Byakuya. No he would not be the one to tell her if she ever were to be told. "What I suggest to you is to go to the archives and find out about the previous wielder of your zanpakuto. Souls die and are reborn that is the cycle of life, zanpakutos follow the same pattern when their master dies. When souls die their memory is whipped clean but there is speculation if the same thing happens to zanpakutos. Maybe if you find out who was the past owner was you might uncover something about your zanpakuto. It will be a difficult process, there are millions of zanpakutos in the archives it could take you years of dedicated work to find out who had yours last."

"Thank you Captain Ukatake, I appreciate the guidance."

Ukatake felt bad for guiding her in the right direction but he felt that was the answer he would have given to anyone so if she stumbled upon the truth herself then maybe it was meant to be. Knowing it would take years for her to discover who the past wielder was he felt even worse because he could have given her the name right then and there. Then after she found out who it was she would know that he knew all along but didn't tell her. Maybe then she would understand his reason for not telling her from the beginning.

"There is no reason to thank me, I just wish I was in more of a position to help you." And that was the truth.

"That's very kind of you. Is there anything I can assist you with since you were so helpful to me in my search?"

"I would love some assistance Hisana but I know your Captain doesn't like her people meddling in situations going on in Soul Society. She would rather you just did you job with out hesitation."

"Yes Captain, I know that is her preference but I won't tell her if you don't. Besides I think its better to know the whole story rather than just jump in blind. What kind of leader would I be if did that to my troops?"

"Very well, I know since you're the commander of the Stealth Force you have been hearing strange reports about a new enemy."

"Yes, but we don't have any leads other than Captain Kuchiki. But many feel that he is not behind it, that there is something bigger going on."

"No we don't have any leads but there has been some upheaval in the lower districts I have some information that leaked to me a uprising of the former liberal movement. Who it is lead by this time I don't know. I came here to get some information based off the original movement that took place sixty years ago. In hopes to uncover something I missed. "

"A former Liberal movement?" There was no way Captain Kuchiki would be involved in a Liberal movement, Liberals stand for everything the Kuchiki's are against. Now that just complicates the situation even more. And I thought I was just getting over a headache.

"Commander, this is an emergency." Kneeling before me was a member of the secret remote squad. "There is revolt going on in the 79th district, a emergency Captain's meeting has been scheduled for right now Captain Ukatake." And with that he vanished.

"I guess were going to have to act first and uncover later." I said to Captain Ukatake.

"Be careful Hisana, don't act rash until we know the whole story."

I nodded to him and flashed stepped out of the library to my Captain.

Shunpoing thru Seireitei I thought to myself a Liberal movement? I wonder who was the leader of that before and I wonder what happened. We didn't have anytime to discuss it or do any research on it so that was unfortunate. I would listen to Captain Ukatake's words of advice and be careful since I didn't have any idea as to what was really going on. Approaching Captain Sui-Feng I kneeled before her.

"Hisana, lead the Stealth Force into the 79th district. I want you to use your presence to gain control of the revolt. If anyone attacks you bring them in. I will be there as soon as the Captain's meeting is over. Don't do anything rash unless you have to Hisana, we don't have orders yet from the head Captain so I am trusting you will act accordingly." Captain Sui-Feng ordered.

"Yes Captain."

Some troops from the Stealth Force as well as the 13 court guard squads were already there due to the urgent nature of the event. I separated the remainder of the Omnitsukido in to teams and we left Seireitei to disorganize the revolt.

XXXXXXXXX

I hope I haven't lost anyone along the way. At this point the story is supposed to be a bit confusing but I will explain everything in due time. The whole zanpakuto part I just made up. I think in the anime it says somethings about zanpakutos but I'm just going to go with my made up version. The first paragraph has a few different meanings I hope I made them all clear by the end of the chapter. If you wondering what other meanings send me a message and I'll know to explain a little more. The next few chapters are my favorite part of the story, I wrote it back when I first thought up the whole story. I hope you enjoy. Please leave me some comments.