Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach and Tales of the Abyss.

Downtime

Luke opens his eyes and looks around. Luke is surprised to see he somewhere where the ground he's standing on was darkish purple and the sky was of mix of light red and gold and he also saw various tall rock formations.

"Where am I?" Luke asked surprised, "What is this place?"

Luke walked and continued to look around.

"Luke…" A voice said.

Luke stopped and quickly looked around, "Huh? Is someone here?"

"Over here Luke," The voice said.

Luke turned to his right and saw someone standing. It was young looking man with white long hair that went down to his upper back and golden eyes. The young man was wearing a red noble coat with white gloves, white slacks and red boots.

"Huh?" Luke was confused, "Who… who are you?"

The mysterious young man pointed his finger at himself.

"You don't who I am?" The young man replied, "Luke, it's me ….."

The young said his name but Luke didn't hear.

"What's that? What did you say your name was?" Luke responded, "I didn't hear you."

The person was sighed and shook his head.

"I see," The young man said, "you still can't hear me. I've been trying to speak to you and yet I'm still unable to truly reach you."

"Reach me?" Luke replied confused, "I don't understand."

"I'm sure you will soon enough," The young man said, "Hopefully you can actually hear me."

"I don't understand you were just talking in a low tone when saying you're name, right?" Luke replied.

"I never let my voice go soft," The young man said as he pointed his ear as a gesture, "you're just hard of hearing right now."

Luke was confused, "I don't get it and where are we anyway?"

"Anyway Luke, hurry it up," The young man said, "I want to be able to speak to you so hurry and get those damn wax out of your ears so that you can actually hear me."

"Seriously, just what are you—" Luke spoke.

Luke was interrupted when he heard a loud noise. Luke and the young man looked around and saw fonons waving around all over the place.

"What the…? What's going on?" Luke asked surprised as he was seeing fonons waving around.

The young man clenched his teeth of irritation.

"Damn it, that annoying…" The young man said and then looked at Luke, "it looks like we're being interrupted."

"What?" Luke replied confused, "Interrupted by whom…?"

"Hmm, not whom but by what..." The young man said.

The fonons began to come together in one spot and in front of Luke and then Luke started to realize as he was witnessing it.

"Wait, are these… fonons?" Luke said as he looked and was surprised, "Not just any fonons, they must be…" Luke remembered the time when he and Tear were taking to Tataroo Valley due to a hyperresonance and then the time and then the time at the ship and Akzeriuth when he unleashed his hyperresonance and when he saw Tear, Ion, Natalia, Sync, and Asch using them for their abilities, "….the Seventh Fonons!"

The Seventh Fonons were gathering and they manifested of an aggregate sentient.

"Finally, I am able to reach you, Luke," The sentient said.

Luke was shocked as what he was seeing, "What? Who… who are you? What are you?"

"You and the people of Auldrant know me as Lorelei," The sentient answered.

"Lorelei…?" Luke paused for a moment and remembered something, "Wait, I remember Jade and the others talking about Lorelei and how if there are enough fonons, it can become sentient…" Luke looked at Lorelei, "So are you really Lorelei?"

"Yes, I am Lorelei," Lorelei answered, "and you Luke possess the same fonon frequency as me, you and the other you."

"The other me…" Luke replied and then realized, "oh, you must mean Asch."

"That is correct, it took me a long time to contact you but I have finally reached you," Lorelei said.

"But how and why?" Luke asked.

"When you died, nearly all the Seventh Fonons in your body left your being, but there was still some Seventh Fonons within you and with that it was my way to get in hold of you," Lorelei explained, "I've been trying to contact you, ever since you arrival in this unfamiliar afterlife."

Luke thought of something and gasped as he recalled the headaches and the voices he had heard from the time when he was alive in Auldrant. Luke had finally realized what he wanted to know all along.

"So, it was you all along, not just in the Soul Society, you're the reason I've been getting headaches for seven years in the manor," Luke deduced.

"That is correct," Lorelei replied.

"What do you want with me?" Luke asked.

"Luke, I need your help," Lorelei said.

Luke was confused, "My help…?"

"Yes, in Auldrant, something enormous has been absorbing my power and caused the Sephiroth Trees to go out of controls," Lorelei informed.

"The Sephiroth Trees?" Luke replied confused, "What do you mean?"

"Auldrant is now facing a crisis and my own power is actually harming Auldrant," Lorelei said, "there is such little time Luke, I need your help."

"You need my help…" Luke thought about it for a bit and then just shook his head, "Lorelei, I don't know how that will be possible for me. I'm dead now. I was killed by Asch so what good would it actually do for ask help from a dead guy like me?"

"There is no point," The young man said as he went to Lorelei, "Luke is not obligated to do anything for you, much less for Auldrant all together."

"Who are you?" Lorelei asked facing the white haired individual.

"I'm will not say my name to a meddling creature like you but you should know that I exist because of Luke," The young man responded.

"Because of me…?" Luke was surprised.

The young man looked at Luke, "Luke, I hope the next we meet that you will be able to say my name."

"Wait, I still don't understand—" Luke spoke.

Luke didn't get to finish as everything around Luke was getting fading and Lorelei was still attempting to try to talk to Luke but to no avail. Everything got bright all of the sudden and Luke closed his eyes. Luke suddenly opened them and found himself in his dorm room. Luke slowly sat up and rubbed his head and then he looked over and saw Guy who was still sleeping.

"Was it a dream?" Luke asked himself.

An Unknown Space

The mysterious young man just stood by and was facing Lorelei.

"I'm sure Luke will hear me well and will be able to say my name," The young man said.

"Why do you interfere?" Lorelei asked.

"The one who is interfering is you," The young man countered, "besides, Luke is dead to Auldrant and why should he care about it."

"The other one known as Asch can't be reached and has taken a terrible form," Lorelei said, "Luke is all that is left that can help."

"That is not Luke's problem," The young man said, "he has his own set of duty and I will not allow you to interfere. Blame the one known as Asch since he was one that killed him."

Lorelei was starting to fade.

"It seems that my time here is over," Lorelei said, "and I fear that Auldrant will be no more. A sad end it is."

Lorelei faded away and the Seventh Fonons all disappeared leaving the white haired person alone.

"Hmph, an annoying pest that Lorelei was," The young man said and then he paused for a moment, "Luke, you just need to concentrate in becoming a Shinigami… get rid of all attachments you had for Auldrant and concentrate of being a strong Shinigami, after all, you and I are one in mind and body."

The mysterious person smiled.

Back in the academy

Luke and Guy were walking in the hall together.

"Huh, you saw another person and Lorelei?" Guy asked.

"Yeah, I don't know who that guy was," Luke said, "but as for Lorelei, he said that I have the some fonon frequency as him and that some of the Seventh Fonons within me didn't disappear and that's how he was able to contact me."

"I see," Guy said, "I actually did hear you having the same fonon frequency as Lorelei after you died in Yulia City."

"I see," Luke said, "but honestly, I'm just confused.

"That's understandable," Guy said, "say, do you want to talk to Ion? He might know."

"Yeah, I think I like that," Luke said with a nod.

"Luke, good morning," Izuru's voice greeted, "Good morning Guy.

Luke and Guy looked over and saw Izuru as he waved at them.

"Good morning Izuru," Luke greeted back.

"Morning," Guy greeted.

"Hello," Senna spoke all cheerful.

Senna approached and latched on to Luke.

"Morning Senna," Luke said.

"Hey Senna," Guy said.

"Hey, morning," Renji said.

"Morning Renji," Guy said.

Morning Renji," Izuru and Luke greeted.

Luke, Renji, Izuru, Guy, and Senna walked together to get to their class. As they approached, they saw Momo and Momo saw them.

"Hey good morning," Momo greeted.

"Morning Momo," Luke greeted.

Senna, Guy, Izuru, and Renji did the same.

The four freshmen talked to each other and went inside for their class and there they were greeted by Ion who was sitting in his seat.

Two Hours Later

Students were having a break and Luke decided to spend that time to practice with a bokken. Luke still tried to make sense of the dream he had last night but Luke was at least glad he had some answers as he now knew, even it was only a tiny bit, about the voice that spoke to him when he was killed by Asch and the fact that he actually met Lorelei and it was the aggregate sentient itself that been talking to him since the beginning at the time in the manor.

Luke stopped training for a moment and had wondered.

"Lorelei and that white haired guy…" Luke said.

Flashback

The young man looked at Luke

"Luke, I hope the next we meet," The white haired person said, "you will be able to say my name."

Flashback End

Luke rubbed his head, "I really don't get it…" Luke started wondered about a certain someone, "Asch, I wonder what happened to him. Guy killed him so did he end up here the Soul Society as well… or is he somewhere else? Is he at the afterlife connected to Auldrant or maybe he ended up as…" Luke shook his head, "I don't know about that."

"Oh, a dedicated student pondering," A male voice said.

Luke was surprised and he looked and saw that it was a Shinigami and it was Marcel.

"Oh, hello there," Luke said.

"Hello Luke," Marcel replied with a smile.

"Huh, how do you know my name?" Luke asked surprised.

"Oh… do you not recognize me?" Marcel asked.

"Um…" Luke replied.

Marcel sighed, "I'm the guy you met after you were killed by Asch the Bloody."

Luke was surprised to hear that and he looked at Marcel.

Flashback: Auldrant

Luke still existed and somehow was able to stay together.

"I'm dead, I'm really dead," Luke said to himself.

"Such a sad fate for you," A voice spoke.

"Who's there?" Luke asked looking around.

"Over here," The voice said.

"Huh?" Luke said.

Luke looked over and saw someone and it was Marcel.

"W-Who are you?" Luke asked.

"I'm a Shinigami," Marcel said.

"A Shinigami?" Luke asked.

"Yes, you still have some bit of Seventh Fonons that keeping you whole for now but you'll completely disappear soon unless I take you to the Soul Society," Marcel said.

"The Soul Society?" Luke asked, "What's that?"

"A place where souls reside, the afterlife of sorts," Marcel said, "so with that…"

Marcel went to Luke and stamped Luke's forehead with his pommel and a mark was placed on Luke's head.

"It's time for you to go to the Soul Society," Marcel said.

"Wait, who are you?" Luke asked as he was confused of the whole thing.

Flashback End

"Now I remember," Luke said as he realized, "it's you. You're the one who brought me here in the Soul Society."

"I'm Marcel Oslo," Marcel said, "I'm with the 13th Division."

"Nice to meet you," Luke said, "oh, I should really say, it's good to see you again."

"Likewise," Marcel said, "it's my understanding that you were adopted in the Suzunami Family."

"That's right," Luke said, "I'm Luke Suzunami now."

"Are you happy?" Marcel asked.

"Yeah, very happy," Luke said with a smile, "I'm grateful to them and my friends that I made here."

"Glad to hear it," Marcel said happily, "you seem a lot better than you were after what happened."

"Yeah," Luke said with a remorseful expression, "I have to live with the fact that I caused Akzeriuth to fall and I killed a lot of people. I was a terrible person before and Van…"

Luke shook his head as he had unpleasant feelings when it came to his former mentor.

"Yes I understand what you mean Luke," Marcel said, "I too once respected Van."

Luke was surprised and he looked at Marcel.

"Wait, you knew Van as well?" Luke asked.

"Yes I did," Marcel said, "the thing is Luke, I was also originally from Auldrant. In fact, I was once an Oracle Knight serving for the Order of Lorelei."

Luke was surprised to hear that.

Alternate Afterlife

It was in the realm of the afterlife where the dead reside and the souls of those fell in despair as Auldrant was no more. There was someone who was looking around and it was Tear who was looking.

"I don't see him," Tear said, "Where is he?"

"Who are you looking for exactly?" A woman's voice spoke.

Tear looked and saw a woman who looked like her but was older.

"Mother," Tear said sadly.

"Are you still looking for that boy?" Tear's mother asked, "The one named Luke."

Tear had a sad expression and her mother had a sad expression as well.

"Your brother is very cruel," Tear's mother asked sadly.

"Yes he is," Tear replied.

Seireitei, Soul Society

Soon days and then months went by as Luke and his advance classmates went through their lessons and getting down the combats forms and the knowledge of the Soul Society. Sometime later on, it was one of the breaks for the students of the Shino Academy. Some students spent that time in the dorms while some students spent time going back to where they came from and spend time with the people close to them. Luke, Guy, and Senna were a few of the students that went back on one of their break. Luke was staying in his family's manor wearing his noble kimono and spending time with his Aunt Konoka.

"You've had quite a time over there Luke," Konoka said.

Luke nodded happily, "Yeah. It was intimidating at first, but I feel that I'm really coming along."

"I'm glad to hear it," Konoka said happily.

A female servant came and bowed to Luke and Konoka.

"Excuse me," The servant said politely, "Lady Senna has arrived."

"Great, send her here," Luke replied.

"As you wish," The female servant said with a smile.

Not long afterwards, Senna arrived in her noble kimono with one of the Suzunami servants.

"Hi, Senna," Luke said, "Glad you made it."

"Thanks for having me Luke," Senna said happily and then bowed to Konoka, "it's good to see you again Lady Konoka."

"And you as well," Konoka said with a warm smile, "please make yourself at home."

"Thank you," Senna said.

The female servant arrived again and bowed.

"Master Luke," The servant said, "Sir Gailardia and Sir Ion have arrived."

"Nice, send them here as well," Luke said happily.

"Of course," The servant said happily.

Not long afterwards, Guy and Ion arrived and Luke and Senna greeted happily.

"Glad you guys came," Luke said.

"Thanks for inviting us Luke," Guy said.

"Yes, thank you very much," Ion said.

"Aunt Konoka," Luke said, "this is Guy and Ion."

"Nice to meet you two," Konoka said, "I'm Luke's aunt, Konoka Suzunami."

"It's nice to meet you Lady Konoka," Ion said.

"A pleasure ma'am," Guy said, "thank you for having us," Guy looked at Konoka and was reminded of someone back in Auldrant and had his thoughts, "She reminds me of Duchess Fabre."

First District of West Rukongai, Junrinan

Momo was spending her break back to her home and was eating watermelon with Toshiro.

"I wish you could have seen him Little Shiro," Momo said excitedly, "the Reiatsu surrounding him was different from anything I've ever felt," Momo then noticed Toshiro was even looking at her, "Hey, it feels like you're not even listening to me."

"I told you to quit calling me Little Shiro!" Toshiro admonished as he spat watermelon seeds at Momo, "Why do you always have to come home on your days off anyway? If that school is so great, you should just stay there like Guy is doing."

"But I come home to visit you Little Shiro," Momo said, "and besides, Guy is actually at Luke's house right."

"Well I don't remember asking you to," Toshiro replied, "why don't just go with Guy?"

They continued to eat their watermelons and then Momo nodded as she had a goal in mind.

"I know one thing for sure," Momo said, "someday I'll be in the 5th Division with Captain Aizen," Momo expected Toshiro to have some sort of reaction but there was none and she was disappointed, "Hey c'mon I'm really serious."

The boy didn't care much as he spat more watermelon seeds.

Seireitei, Soul Society

Within the 13th Division Barracks, Marcel was on the roof and was relaxing looking at the sky.

"You really like hanging here, don't you?" A male voice asked.

Marcel looked and saw that it was the Lieutenant of the 13th Division, Kaien Shiba.

"Oh, hi Lieutenant," Marcel said.

"Hey," Kaien said with a grin.

Kaien stuck around and sat next to Marcel.

"So how have things been for you?" Kaien asked.

"Okay," Marcel said as he sat up, "I'm doing what I need to do."

"I understand that you stopped at the academy to see one of the students," Kaien said.

"Yeah, Luke Suzunami," Marcel said.

"Oh yeah," Kaien said, "Matsuri and Fujimaru's little brother."

"Yep, that's right," Marcel said.

"…So you told him?" Kaien asked.

"Yeah I told him," Marcel answered.

"It must have been a shock to him," Kaien said.

"Yeah he was shocked," Marcel said, "but then… he was relieved and he was glad."

"I see," Kaien said and then smiled, "I bet I can understand why."

Marcel just looked at the sky and had hoped for Luke as well as Guy and Ion.

That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: Luke and his class go to the Human World for field training and there is a surprise attack by Huge Hollows.