Disclaimer- I do not own Bleach

Chapter 11

And So It Begins

Sayomi was perched on the edge of one of the walls that lined the roof of the warehouse, her legs hung over the edge and her ankles were crossed as she stared out over Karakura Town in the waning daylight. Her white hair was parted in the middle and pulled into two sections that were twisted and clipped together at the back of her head, allowing most of her white locks to twist and whirl around her shoulders. She wore a pair of gray slacks with white pin stripes and a white tank top under a loose, black, knit sweater that she held closed over herself to block out the chill of the coming night. Her feet were bare and she swung them back and forth slowly as her head tilted up to the purple tinted evening sky.

"Come inside already, you've been there for almost a week straight," Kensei said as he walked through the doorway that led the roof and towards Sayomi.

She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled lightly before turning back around, "I'm just distracted. Sorry, I don't mean to ignore everyone."

"What's distracting you?" Kensei asked as he walked behind Sayomi and wrapped his arms around her before resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Nothing important, I'm just thinking too much is all," she replied, but the worry was noticeable in her voice along with a trace of what could have been fear.

Kensei frowned and looked down at the top of Sayomi's head, she was definitely worried about something, but what would make her seem scared? Sayomi wasn't one who scared easily.

"Come on," he said as he stepped back from the wall she was sitting on.

"Just a little longer," she answered quietly, her dulcet voice barely carrying on the wind as she spoke. "Let me sit in this fleeting peace just a little longer."

Kensei nodded even though he knew she couldn't see it, but knew that she would sense his agreement. He stared at her back for a few moments, unsure if he should go to her again or just leave her be, he decided to leave her be. She was so lost in thought, she had been ever since she had come back the week before. He figured it had something to do with the boy she had been with the day of the festival, the one that had the reiatsu of a Soul Reaper but who was in fact quite human. His reiatsu had vanished later that night, he didn't think the boy was dead and something told him that was what worried her. She couldn't tell if he was alive or dead and she was waiting for affirmation of one or the other. That fact didn't bother him, he knew Sayomi harbored no feelings for the boy but he was a friend to her, and her friends meant a lot to her even if she rarely showed it. There was also something that told him that the war they had been waiting to fight for a hundred years was now drawing near, that Sayomi knew that, and was only trying to bask in what was left of the tranquil days before the violence started. She had never liked violence and hated fighting unless it was necessary, if it was, then you could be sure that she wouldn't lose easily.

Sayomi sighed after Kensei left the roof and looked around the city once again.

'The war has begun, I felt it earlier. There was a shift in spirit pressures, Aizen now stands in Hueco Muendo, as king of the hollow realm until he can stand upon a throne that no one has ever dared to try and take. He will take it by force and this is meant to be the battle ground, the city is innocent though,' she thought to herself as she turned her body and lifted her feet back over the wall so that her feet dangled a few inches above the roof.

She stepped down nimbly and didn't cast another look back at the city as she walked towards the door. "Whatever it takes, I will protect this city, and most importantly, the people in it."

Everyone looked up as Sayomi walked back into the main area of the warehouse, her large knit sweater still clutched over her. She smiled before walking to where Kensei sat at the table with Rose and Love playing a game of cards, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before sitting on the ground by his feet and resting her head on his leg. Kensei looked at her oddly for a moment, such forward acts of affection, in front of the others was rare for her, after a moment he shook it off and went back to his game.

Sayomi looked up from the manga she had borrowed from Rose and cocked her head to the side, she blinked a few times before standing from the couch. She dropped the book in her hands on Shinji's head, he had been sprawled out on the floor by the couch since Sayomi and Kensei had made him move so they could sit down.

"Gah," Shinji yelled as the book collided with his forehead and he swung his arms out as if trying to defend himself from unseen attackers.

"Sorry," Sayomi mumbled distractedly as she stared out into the night beyond the large open door of the warehouse.

"What is I,t Sayomi," Kensei asked in concern as he tried to reach for her hand to get her attention since she seemed to be so deeply focused on something.

"They're back," she mumbled as a small frown crossed her face and worry creased her brow, "But... Uryu.."

"Sayomi," Kensei shouted as Sayomi bolted from the spot she had been standing in.

"What the hell was that about," Shinji asked as he sat up, absently rubbing the red mark on his forehead.

"I don't know," Kensei answered as he stared after, contemplating whether or not he should follow her.

"What happened," Sayomi asked as she appeared beside Uryu who was just about to walk into his apartment.

"We did what we went to do, rescued Rukia," Uryu replied shortly as he pushed his glasses up on his nose.

"I meant to your powers, something isn't right about them."

"It's none of your concern, now good night," Uryu said as he opened his door and made to step inside.

"Hey," Sayomi said as she stepped forward and stopped him from shutting the door. "What's wrong?"

"You lied."

"Excuse me," Sayomi asked in surprise.

"You're a Soul Reaper."

"I am not," she replied as if the word was repulsive to her.

"You were a captain of the Tenth division, you were counted among the strongest captains and you were engaged to Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia's brother. Isn't that all correct," Uryu asked.

"Well yeah, but that was a very long time ago. I am no longer considered a Soul Reaper by Soul Society or by myself. Do they know I-"

"No, they don't know you're alive, at least not that they said. Yoruichi told us about it after Rukia asked her brother who you were, and all he said was that you were dead and to never speak of it again," Uryu answered.

"Oh." was all Sayomi could respond with.

"If you'll excuse me, I'm tired and would like to get some sleep."

"Of course, I'm just glad you're back," Sayomi said as she stepped back form the door with a smile.

"Good night, Sayomi."

"Night."

She sighed and shivered in the chill of the night, she hadn't grabbed a sweater and she was in jeans and a tank top. Turning away from the door, she walked down the street and followed the paths to the alley that would lead her to Urahara's.

"I was wondering when you'd get here, come on in. There's tea ready for us," Urahara said as she turned into the gate that surrounded the little shop to see the blond leaning against the door frame.

Silently, Sayomi followed Urahara into the shop and to the little room off in the back with the round table and comfortable pillows. She sat on a purple pillow and waited as he poured them both a cup of tea.

They remained silent for a few minutes each seeming to be thinking about the situation they found themselves in.

"So.. It's actually begun," Sayomi said as she stared into her tea.

"It would seem that way. Soul Society is preparing to do battle in the winter, that is when the Hogyoku is expected to be fully awakened," Kisuke replied.

"Did he go with them," Sayomi asked, her fist tightening ever so slightly on the green mug in her hands.

"Yes."

There were a few moments of silence as Sayomi thought over something before she looked up at Kisuke, a look of determination in her eyes. "In that case, I will deal with him on my own."

Kisuke looked a little surprised. "How do you-"

"Don't worry about how, I'll do that. You just worry about the orders Soul Society gave you," she cut in, a small knowing smile on her face.

"You're a scary one, you know that," Kisuke said a grin on his face as he looked over at Sayomi.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied innocently.

Kisuke chuckled, but a part of him wondered just what Sayomi was planning on doing. She was a very smart girl and that meant that things weren't always what they seemed with her. She wanted to confront a man from her past, she wanted revenge, but most of all she wanted to protect and possibly restore her pride and the pride of her friends that had fallen because of the things done to them.

"Where were you?"

Sayomi looked up at Kensei who was in the shadows of the warehouse, sitting on the ground with his back against a concrete wall.

"Urahara's," she answered.

"Why?"

"It's begun."

Kensei looked up at her for a moment before speaking, "I thought so."

"By the way, I plan on going back to school tomorrow," Sayomi said.

"Why?"

Sayomi thought over it for a moment. "I want to keep on eye on something."

"You mean someone."

Sayomi smirked, "Yes, I mean someone."

"What's with the kid Sayomi?" Kensei asked.

"Nothing Kensei, nothing at all," she replied as she walked passed him and into the warehouse.

Her shoes tapped lightly against the tile of the school hallway as Sayomi tugged at the annoyingly short hem of the skirt she was forced to wear while attending school.

"Can't they at least make the damn things a little longer," she grumbled to herself before cocking her head to the side and looking up as she heard what sounded like running.

"SAAAAYYYYOOOMMMMMIIIIII!!!!"

Sayomi shouted in surprise and jumped behind Ichigo, who had just walked past her with his bag slung carelessly over his shoulder.

"Hey Keigo," he said as he clotheslined the brown haired boy that had been running at Sayomi.

Sayomi poked her head around Ichigo and blinked down at Keigo. "What are you doing down there Keigo," she asked innocently.

"Oh, good morning Sayomi, morning Keigo," Mizuiro said as he walked by the fallen Keigo.

"Hey Mizuiro," Sayomi greeted with a smile.

"I'm gonna kill him," Keigo mumbled from the ground as everyone ignored him and walked around him.

Walking into the classroom, Sayomi returned to her usual seat by the in the back of the room, dropping her bag by the chair she walked over to the group that was forming around an annoyed looking Uryu. Chad was leaning up against the wall and Orihime was talking animatedly as she stood next to Uryu's desk. Ichigo walked up to the group a moment later.

"Hey Ichigo, how are you," she asked. "And what is that?" she asked as she pointed to the weird looking object that hung from his belt, there was a skull with an X over it on it.

"Oh, this a substitute shinigami pass," he said.

"A what?" she asked.

"The Ukitake guy gave it to me," Ichigo said before muttering about the thing being useless.

"I've never heard of anything like that before, but Ukitake's still around, huh? That's nice to know, he was always a such a nice man," Sayomi said thoughtfully.

"Morning Orihime!" a girl with short reddish hair and glasses screeched as she grabbed Orihime from behind.

"Knock it off, Chizuru," Tatsuki said as she walked into the classroom and promptly kicked Chizuru away from Orihime. No one really seemed to think this was odd so with a quick glance over at the group because of the noise they all turned back around and continued with the conversations they had been having.

"Hey, I heard you got home early from vacation, but you were never home when I stopped by," Tatsuki said to Ichigo before looking down at something that had caught her attention, "What's that Ichigo?"

"What, this," Ichigo asked lifting a small charm that had been sewed to his shirt by his dad that morning, "It's a charm."

"I know that, a joke from your dad right?"

"Yeah, how did-"

"It's obvious, who else but that weirdo, would give you something like that," she replied, "But anyways I meant that thing, the thing with the skull on it."

"Huh, oh I bought it at a shop," Ichigo replied as he scratched at his head. "Wait a sec, you can see this?"

Sayomi's eyes cornered over to them and she watched as Tatsuki looked at Ichigo as if he were crazy. She stepped over to somehow change the subject when the door to the classroom opened with a bang and the teacher, Ms Ochi stepped into the room.

"Good morning," the dark haired, glasses wearing teacher sang.

"Ok, now is everyone here," she asked as she went to stand behind the desk at the front of the room, "Oh, hey Himura you're back."

"Yeah, sorry about that Ms Ochi, I-"

"Well that's nice, you were always such a good student, I thought maybe you had been corrupted by some of the hooligans," Ms Ochi interrupted.

"Uhhh, no," Sayomi answered.

"Good, so I have some good news for you. We have a new student today," she said.

Instantly, Sayomi's eyes narrowed at the mention of a new student and she was suddenly very aware of her surroundings and the fact that she hadn't realized that the 'new student' was actually someone she knew.

"I'm gonna kill him," she hissed quietly.

"Uh, did you say something Sayomi," Mizuiro asked from the seat to her left.

"Hmm, oh no," she answered with a sweet smile and shake of her head.

'He's so dead,' she thought to herself.

"Ahh!" she squeaked loudly and put a hand over her chest when the strange badge that had been given to Ichigo started blaring something that sounded like 'hollow' over and over again.

"Are you alright Sayomi," Mizuiro asked as he gave her an odd but concerned look.

"Fine, just uh, I thought I saw a spider," she answered lamely with a small chuckle as Ichigo stood up and ran from the room saying he had to go to the bathroom.

Chad and Orihime stood as well and fled the room even as Sayomi tried to grab Orihime to tell them they should stay, the hollow wasn't a large one and she knew Ichigo could handle it. If he got there first, that is.

Sayomi had to resist a very strong urge to jump up and smack the blond that was currently in the front of the classroom talking about his hobbies, waving his arms around like he was trying to keep from drowning on the air. Her nails were digging into the desk leaving little scratch marks on the wooden surface.

"There's an open seat in the back by Ichigo and in front of Sayomi," Ms Ochi said pointing the seat that was in front of Sayomi.

Trying her best not to glare viciously at Shinji as he walked to the seat, a moronic grin on his face, Sayomi looked to her left and out the window.

"Ichigo, huh? Looks like we're neighbors. Lets be friends," Shinji said to Ichigo who was in the seat to his left.

"Sit down you fool, you're in the way," Sayomi said coldly earning her a few surprised looks from Ichigo and Chad, who sat to her right.

"Eh, yeah hi," Ichigo replied before nearly jumping out of his skin when the badge at his side once again started screaming at him.

Within seconds he was up and out the door, Ms Ochi yelling after him.

"Don't take it personal, that's just Ichigo," Chad said to Shinji as the blonde sat down.

"He's just as I thought actually," Shinji replied as he cast a quick glance back at Sayomi and smirked.

Her nose flared slightly in her anger and her eyes narrowed. "What," she snapped at him.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Shinji," he said conversationally as he stuck a hand out towards her.

"Sayomi," she practically hissed as she tightly gripped his hand.

When classes ended for the day Sayomi stood up abruptly from her seat and grabbed her bag which accidentally happened to hit Shinji in the back as he leaned over to pick up his own bag. He went sprawling on to the floor with a loud shout, Sayomi turned to him and feigned shock.

"Oh, I'm sorry Shinji, I didn't mean to hit you, are you alright," she asked trying to sound genuinely concerned.

"Fine, I'm fine," he replied as he pushed himself up from the ground, a hand covering his bleeding nose that had collided with the floor.

"Good, I wouldn't want to kill you on your first day," she said with a chuckle.

"No, of course not," he agreed as he stood up and brushed himself off.

"Well, sorry about that. See you later," she said with a wave as she turned to leave the classroom.

Sayomi drummed her fingers across the brown wall behind her as she stood in the shadow of two apartment buildings.

"What's with this school thing? Exams on the first day, that's cruel," she heard someone muttering.

Waiting for the person to walk past her, she stepped from between the buildings and raised her foot and sent it right into the person's behind, sending them flying a few feet before landing with their butt in the air and their face in the dirt.

"Ow! That hurt!"

Sayomi watched with a blank expression, her hands folded over her chest and a single eyebrow raised as the person she kicked turned around to face her.

"What was that for," Shinji asked as he rubbed at his jaw.

Sayomi didn't say anything just stared at him, her fingers drumming against her upper arm.

Shinji gulped. "Now Sayomi, he's one of us-"

"Yes. However, he isn't like us. His circumstances are different."

"Maybe," Shinji replied with a shrug.

"Not maybe Shinji, he is. Why wasn't I informed you were planning on recruiting him, since when did you do things without talking to me first?"

"Will you recruit him?"

Sayomi glared at him but didn't answer.

"I didn't think so. He's one of us, he will join us," Shinji said as he looked Sayomi in the eye.

"If you force him into making this decision," Sayomi said before she turned around and began to walk away. "I'll kill you."

Shinji scowled at her back as she walked away from him before sighing and scratching at his head and looking up into the sky.

"And where do you think you're going," Sayomi asked as Shinji stood up from the couch and meandered his way towards the door.

"To visit the neighbors," he replied with a crooked grin.

Sayomi's eyes narrowed at him and she made to stand, but Kensei forced her to sit back down by grabbing her wrist and pulling her onto his lap. She hissed in anger and glared at him for a moment before turning away when he returned her glare, only with much more anger.

"Stupid ape," she grumbled as she folded her hands over her chest and leaned against him since it was fairly obvious he wasn't letting her go anytime soon.

"Leave it alone, Sayomi," Kensei said.

"I'll do as I please, Kensei," she answered stubbornly.

"Shut up."

"You shut up," she shot back.

"If you two are gonna fight, do it somewhere else, I have a headache," Lisa snapped at them from the floor above.

"I'm going to my room," Sayomi said as she tried to break free from Kensei's grasp, when she couldn't she glared at him coldly, he just stared back at her in disinterest before sighing and releasing her.

She stood up quickly, but before she could make a dash for the door, she squealed as she was suddenly grabbed and tossed over Kensei's shoulder.

"Damn it you pervert, Kensei, I'm in a skirt," she yelled as she tried to reach over and hold her skirt down.

"Stop bitching," he snapped as he pulled her skirt down a little.

"Pervert," she shouted as she pounded at his back.

"Knock it off," Kensei barked at her.

She let out a small squeak but went quiet as Kensei carried her through the building and into her room before dropping her onto her butt on her bed.

"Ow," she groaned with a wince as she sat up and readjusted her skirt.

"Stay out of it, Sayomi, I know the kid's your friend and you want to protect him, but he's not like other Soul Reapers, he's like us. He'll need our help and you know it."

"Our help is one thing, Kensei, wanting him to join us is another."

"Just leave it alone."

Sayomi sighed and nodded. "I know."

"Now shouldn't you be getting to bed, don't you have school tomorrow," Kensei asked with a smirk.

"Oh, shove it," Sayomi grumbled as she stood up from her bed to shove Kensei away from her dresser so she could change. She pulled open a drawer and pulled out a gray tank top and a pair of black shorts before turning to Kensei and looking at him expectantly.

"What?"

"Out."

"Why?"

"I want to change and I'd like to do it without being watched," Sayomi stated, putting her fists on her hips as she stared at him.

"Why," Kensei asked again.

"Pervert," Sayomi grumbled. "Wants to watch high school students-"

"Hey, I'm not a pervert and you're not an actual high school student," Kensei argued.

"Maybe, maybe not. Now get out," Sayomi ordered as she pointed to the door that was a few feet behind Kensei.

"What if I don't wanna," Kensei asked with a hint of a smirk pulling his lips up.

Sayomi raised a brow at him and cocked her head to grin at him lopsidedly. "I suppose I'll have to force you," she said, her eyes never leaving his.

Kensei chuckled at her threat, but disregarded it completely as he stepped towards her. She turned and took a step to her right, just out of reach. He took one more step and so did Sayomi, she frowned when she found her back up against the cold wall.

'Stupid, small room,' she thought bitterly.

Another step and Kensei was only centimeters from Sayomi, who stared up at him with an unreadable expression, although her breathing had quickened ever so slightly and her eyes flickered to his lips and back up into his eyes.

"Still want me to leave," he asked mockingly as he lowered his head towards her neck.

Sayomi breathed in as his breath caressed her skin and tilted her head slightly expecting him to lower his lips to her skin. He never did though, instead he hovered a few millimeters away from her, breathing her in and teasing her as he exhaled small breaths on her neck and collarbone.

He was playing with her, not touching her, just making her desire him as much as possible, to see how long it would take before she lost control. Not wanting to lose this little game, Sayomi did her best to keep her breathing steady at the nearness of Kensei's body, it had been a very long time since they had been together physically and she was quickly losing the battle of keeping her wits in check.

The clothes she had grabbed from the dresser were still clutched in her hands, but she dropped them as Kensei's face slowly moved across hers so that he could tease the other side of her neck. Reaching up quickly, she grabbed his face in her hands and firmly planted her lips on his, her tongue teasing his bottom lip as his hands finally touched her and wandered down her shoulders to her hips. He squeezed her closer to him all while pushing her into the wall behind her. She moaned as his hands traced down the length of her short skirt before grasping her legs and lifting her up so that she could straddle his waist.

"I love you Kensei," she whispered breathlessly.

He paused for a moment and stared into her eyes before she smiled. "I love you too Sayomi.. for some reason," he mumbled before going back to kissing her and tugging the beige sweater she had on over a white shirt over her head. His hands worked on the buttons of that next, once those were undone he didn't bother removing the shirt, he just ran his hands along her body as she struggled a little to remove his clothing, tugging his jersey off and dropping it behind him.

She felt him kick off his shoes, but she remained in his strong grasp, her legs wrapped around him and her back pressed into the wall, one arm around her waist while the other hand trailed up and down her leg before snaking under her skirt and pushing it further up her thighs.

"I have a bed you know," she said.

"I know, but this is more interesting," he answered.

Kensei watched her sleep, like he used to years ago and gently pushed the same few strands of hair that always seemed to fall in her face behind her ear. She lay partially on her side, tilted slightly so she was almost on her stomach, half her face hidden from view and one of her hands curled under her chin, the other tucked under her head. The curve of one of her delicate shoulders was all that was visible since he had pulled the sheets over her naked form not too long ago. The red tint to her cheeks had abated, but they were still pink from their recent excursion.

She was huddled against him, one of her legs entwined with his, she looked so utterly vulnerable in these moments, with her usual guard down, as all her troubles were temporarily put in the back of her mind. He knew she was planning something, he could see it in the way she talked, the way her eyes seemed to be constantly lined in worry over the last few weeks. What she was planning was what worried him, if she hadn't told him of her plans that could only mean one thing.

That he wouldn't approve.

That he would try to stop her, and that she may not be able to do whatever she was trying to if he did. The thought worried him, he knew Sayomi would never hurt any of them, but something was telling him he needed to keep her safe, to keep her away from anyone and everyone who would try and harm her. To keep her in his arms and not let her out of his sight, no matter what. He also knew that was impossible, especially if she was dead set on doing something reckless. Plus, she was stubborn and when determined it was best to stay out of her way, or risk getting caught in her path.

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