Author Note: I've changed my penname and I am the same person as AutumnEvening008. I apologize for the long update. My laptop got a virus and I had to get it fixed. On top of that I've a case of writer's block. Rukia is going to be a little OOC. I apologize. This chapter is going to focus mainly on Katarina learning about her mother. Onto the new chapter and as always please review.

Chapter 14

Katarina's POV

I had to get out of the room. I felt like all the air had escaped my lungs and I was going to suffocate. I placed my hands on the railing and leaned in. The breeze from the spring air felt amazing on my face. Running a hand through my hair, I sighed.

"What do I do?" I whispered.

"Just take small steps." Rukia's voice replied.

I swiftly turned around to see the beautiful petite woman standing behind me. She searched my eyes, obviously looking for something. I didn't know if she was being sincere or just felt like she had to be nice to me because of who my parents are.

"It's a lot to take in. Just a few months ago, I thought I was just this odd girl with a curse and now I find out that I'm actually a Soul Reaper by blood, not a substitute." I replied.

"I know. That's why I think it's best if you get to know Captain Ukitake. I believe this has been hard on him."

I looked at her with a look of confusion. Deep down, I wondered if he even cared that I was raised by someone else. I wanted to know why he left me with them after my mother died. "It'll be alright." Hakuhyō's voice echoed inside my head. Her voice was soothing and it reassured me that she'd be with me no matter what. We were bonded and it made me feel happier knowing that.

"Why are you out here?" I asked.

My question caught her by surprise, because her violet eyes widened. I really didn't mean for the question to come out the way it did; but it was too late now. It was already out of my mouth.

"I'm curious about you. I wonder why both Renji and Ichigo care for you so much."

Her answer wasn't what I had expected to hear; but to be perfectly honest, it was something I'd expect to hear from someone who was jealous. "Ichigo cares; but it's more sibling love than romantic love." I replied.

"Is that what you think?"

"Rukia, this really isn't any of your business. Renji has been there for me through all of this. Ichigo turned his back on me, if you recall that dance a couple days ago."

She couldn't seem to form another word in her mouth. I walked away from her in the opposite direction, towards the courtyard. The sound of birds chirping made me smile. There were so many things running through my mind and even more questions than before, thanks to Rukia's interruption.

Tears stung my eyes and I was really getting sick of feeling this way. It seemed that lately that's all I've been doing and it was really pathetic. I honestly didn't feel like I belonged here or in the World of the Living.

"Are you Katarina Misora?" A sweet female voice asked.

I lowered my head and sighed. I was also getting sick of people asking me who I was. They should already know. I was pretty sure Rukia brought me here on purpose, knowing that all of this information and attention would get to me. It was pretty obvious that she didn't like me.

Her feelings for Ichigo were plain as day; but I didn't understand why she wouldn't want Renji to be happy. I finally turned around to face the source of the voice. Long black hair and a similar shade of crystal blue colored her eyes. A snowflake was tattooed on the top of her right hand.

"Yes, I am." I replied.

"My name is Miya Hikari. Your mother and I were close friends." She stated.

Looking at her, I got the feeling that they weren't just close friends; but relatives. "Are you sure that you were friends?" I asked curiously. A smile crept to her glossed lips. Everything about her screamed royalty. The kimono she was wearing was a light pink and long piece of black fabric trailed behind her as she walked closer.

"We are cousins actually; but we were pretty close."

"Then maybe you can tell me why she was targeted."

Her smile quickly faded and she turned serious in a matter of seconds. Her eyes expressed several different emotions. It almost looked like the irises were swirling. "I honestly don't know. We assumed it was because of her ability to see the future and her ability to use kido very differently." She answered.

Her answer confirmed my suspicions of the visions being hereditary. Even more questions popped into my mind and I didn't know if she'd be willing to answer them. Shaking my head, I decided against asking her anything else. Instead, I wanted to know why she was there to begin with.

"Why are you here?" I asked in an emotionless voice.

"I came to see you. I mean you are the rightful heir to the Misora clan."

I didn't want to think about my family being some sort of royalty. Just being a Soul Reaper by blood was big enough to take in; but I still had to worry about Aizen targeting me, probably for the same reasons as my mother.

"You know, your mother was the leader of the clan since she was sixteen years old."

"So that's why you're here, you want me to take over as the clan leader."

"Miya, is that you?" My father's voice said.

I turned to see his long white hair flowing against the breeze. Miya looked at him and a sudden smile appeared. He stood next to me and the warmth of his spiritual energy caressed me in an invisible embrace.

"Miya, it's been seventeen years. How are you?" He greeted.

"I've been fairly well, Jūshirō. The clan is stable with the stand-in leader."

"Katarina." He called.

"Yes…" I replied.

"Could you give us a moment to speak alone?"

"Of course, I'll head back inside."

I turned around and only looked back once. Something told me that the conversation wouldn't be pleasant. Miya would want me to return to the clan, while my father would want me to remain with him. I was being torn between two places and no one asked me what I wanted.

Once I got back to the office, Rukia was sitting inside. She only briefly glanced at me before returning to her work. I just continued onward and stepped into the room I had slept in. Sliding to the floor with my back against the door, I finally let my tears roll down my cheeks.

Jūshirō's POV

"So why did you sent her away from conversation?" Miya asked.

"She's been through enough for one day. This is between us anyway." I replied.

Miya shrugged her shoulders, admitting submission for the conversation. Her eyes reminded me so much of Catalina's. It was almost scary; but I knew that those were a Misora family trait. "Why did you lie to her about your relation to Catalina?" I asked.

"You heard that huh?"

"Tell me what exactly you're after."

"Think about it! Telling her that I am Catalina's sister would be harder to deal with than being just a cousin. Even you've said it before; I look a lot like her."

I paused for a moment contemplating what she was saying. She was right in the fact that she looked a lot like Catalina. "Again, I'm going to ask you exactly what you're after." I asked with a much harsher tone.

"She's the heir to the clan. She needs to understand who she is and where she belongs." She replied.

"For the love of god, Miya. She just got here. I want to know my daughter before you try and take her away."

Miya crossed her arms over her chest. She obviously didn't like my response. I honestly didn't care. Katarina is my daughter and I refused to let her go. I had to watch her mother go and at the time, I wasn't in a position to help her. The pain of the day still dug in like a stab in the chest.

"You have a week before she has to return to the clan." Miya stated.

"A week! You are crazy to think that will happen."

Her eyes narrowed and a spark of energy circled her hand. It was a threat towards me and anyone else that dared to get involved in her affairs. I raised my hands up in submission for the time being. I knew that I would have to go to the Head Captain to discuss this matter.

"I'll see you in a week, Jūshirō." She said and turned away.

Katarina's POV

After what seemed like an hour or longer, I decided it was time to leave the room. When I walked out, there was no one around. The office was completely empty. At this point, I really missed Renji. He always knows just what to say to make me feel better. I walked out of the office onto the pathway. The sun was still high in the sky and the white clouds moved across slowly.

"It's so beautiful here." I whispered.

"It is isn't it?" My father said walking up to me.

"It's peaceful. I could get used to not having to listen to car horns blare, extremely loud neighbors, and a lot of other things that I had to deal with while living in New York. Karakura was a lot better than America."

"I'm glad you think that. Ichigo's family has taken good care of you over the last few months haven't they?"

I turned to look at him, wondering if he knew that I had been sent there. Has he been keeping tabs on me the whole time? "Yes, they have. They welcomed me instead of fearing me."

He reached his hand out to cover mine. I looked up at him only to see his eyes were closed. He was thinking about something that pained him. I could feel it. Was he thinking about my mother or was he thinking about me? "Why does Miya want me to become the clan leader so badly?" I asked.

"It's a pretty demanding job and with you being the only child of Catalina, it makes you the heir and the rightful leader. The fact is the Misora clan is right below the Royal Family of the Soul Society in power."

I gasped in surprise. What he was saying meant that I really was royalty. It was too much to think about. It pretty much meant that my freedom would be long gone. "How come you and mom never married?" I asked. His posture tensed again. Even after seventeen years, the pain of her death was still fresh in his heart.

"We were. She just kept her last name. The process was a long. The clan had strict rules about who she was allowed to marry and a Squad Captain wasn't on their list of candidates. We had to see each other in secret for years until she chose me as her suitor. The royal family didn't object to her wishes; because she was their way to see the future."

That is how my life would be unless I got away from it. I didn't want anything to do with being part of the clan. I wanted to live my own life and protect the people I cared about. My hand gripped the railing to the point my knuckles were turning white. "I think that's enough depressing talk. Is there anything you'd to know about around Sereitei?" He asked.

I thought about it for a moment and the only thing that popped into mind was Renji. "Can you give me a tour? This place is beautiful and you can tell me about the places we go." I suggested. He smiled and turned around, issuing me to follow him. The nervous butterflies were starting to flutter in my stomach. I really hoped I'd see Renji on this tour.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Ichigo sitting on the roof of the office staring up at the sky. I completely forgot that he was still here. I figured he would have gone home by now and left me here to fend for myself. I wondered if he was still there because of Rukia or if it was because he didn't want me to be alone. Either way, I was glad he hadn't left.

XxXx Sorry so short. I promise the next one will be much longer. A tour could take a long time lol. Let me know what you thought of the chapter. XxXx