Screams. Ayuma could hear them. Someone was crying. All Ayuma could see was dust and smoke. Thunder sounded in the distance cutting out the crying.

"AYUMA!" A child's voice scream out. A young boy. It was coming from behind her. Ayuma spun around but there was no one there.

"I'm coming." Ayuma's voice sounded weak and distance even to her own ears. "I'm coming!" She tried to be louder but it was still weak.

"AYUM-." The scream was cut off.

Ayuma jolted up breathing heavily. She was sitting in her bed, covered in sweat. She panted slightly before she calmed down and got up. Her body was still shaking as she got ready for the day. She could still hear the screams echoing in her ears. She could still feel the dust coating her skin. That had been the worst nightmare she could remember.

"Forget it all." Ayuma whispered to herself as she pulled on a new outfit. It was a little strange wearing a soul reapers outfit still.

Ayuma slapped her cheeks and then headed out. She found Mamoru and Miuri a bit away. "Hey." Ayuma waved her hand.

"Ayuma!" Miuri smiled.

Ayuma put on a smile. "Good to see you. How long have you been here?" She patted Miuri's shoulder.

"I just got here. Mamoru picked me up. He said I should be here for this."

"Yep." Ayuma smiled. "I finally managed to crack down and convince Jushiro and Shunsui to give us the details."

"So where is Chio?" Miuri asked. "Shouldn't she be here too?"

"She'll probably meet us there." Mamoru laughed. "If she even was able to wake up in time for the meeting."

"What was that muscle head?" They found Benitenchio standing a little up the path. "I got here sooner than you did." She had her arms folded over her chest.

"Oh look." Mamoru grinned. "She got up didn't she?"

"I'm going to kill you one of these days." Benitenchio frowned.

Ayuma chuckled. "Oh come on let's not fight each other… At least not today." She could finally feel some of the fear from her nightmare dispersing and actual real calm returning. "Why don't we go in." She looked up at the large door leading to the captain's meeting. "We are finally going to get some answers today."

"True." Benitenchio grumbled. "Took them long enough."

Mamoru laughed and slapped Ayuma's back sending her stumbling forward. "Let's go."He walked past her and opened the wide doors.

Miuri held her hand out and helped Ayuma up. "Sorry."

"No it's fine." Ayuma chuckled. "Come on, let's go." She followed Mamoru and Benitenchio into the hall. Jushiro and Shunsui stood there talking and laughing. They were the only people in the hallway.

"Jushiro, Shunsui." Ayuma called.

"Ah you're here." Shunsui smiled.

"Where are the rest of the captains?" Benitenchio frowned looking around. "I thought we were having a meeting?"

"We are but not all the captains are needed for this meeting. We offered to discuss everything with you." Jushiro smiled. "Now come sit down." He pointed to some cushions.

"Right." Ayuma and Miuri sat next to each other on the cushions while Mamoru lounged on three together. Benitenchio choose to stand behind them, leaning against the wall.

Shunsui chuckled but choose a cushion to sit down in. Jushiro sat down as well.

"Very well." Jushiro sighed. "Where to start? I guess it all started when there were some strange disappearances in the Rukion district and the world of the living."

"We didn't connect it at first." Shunsui admitted. "We were foolish at the time."

"We are still not sure what happened." Jushiro sighed. "That was actually your mission. We sent one member from each squad on a scouting mission to search the world of the living where the squad of trainees soul reapers had disappeared from. We thought that if there were thirteen trained soul reapers there would be no problems." He turned silent.

"Jushiro?" Ayuma frowned.

"After a month of hearing nothing we sent a second smaller squad of stealth soul reapers from squad two. They were told to search out your thirteen and come back right after. They came back after three days."

Shunsui looked at Ayuma. "All that was left of the squad was broken zanpakutos. Even the bodies had been destroyed." He sighed. "I remember your zanpakuto being brought back in particular, Ayuma." He looked at her calmly. "It was broken into multiple pieces."

"So we proclaimed you all as dead." Jushiro was looking down. "We didn't realize any of you were still alive, sorry."

"You didn't know." Ayuma smiled. "It's not your fault."

"So what about the enemy we were supposed to find? Did you ever find those guys and taken them down?" Benitenchio asked. She had her arms folded over her chest but she seemed to be intent on her interest to the conversation.

"They disappeared." Shunsui frowned. "No one knows what happened, but we figured you took them down in the fight."

"I see." Ayuma looked down.

"We lost half the team but we kicked butt." Mamoru laughed. "We were pretty cool."

"Well we probably kicked butt." Benitenchio chuckled. "I don't know about the others… And even Ayuma." She smirked.

"We still don't know what happened but we are glad you are alive and here now." Jushiro smiled. "And you even brought a new substitute soul reaper into our midst."

Miuri smiled. "Thanks."

"Now then." Jushiro smiled. "Why don't we all have a meal together?"

"Is that really it?" Benitenchio grumbled. "You really think that answer will satisfy us?"

"Calm down Chio." Mamoru laughed. "All that matters is-."

"Do we know for a fact that the enemy is gone? Or are they just off licking their wounds?" Benitenchio held up Szyael. "And what about these guys?"

"We have no idea." Shunsui frowned. "All I can say about that is according to our records those arrancars that are now your-."

"Espada." Grimmjow grumbled. "We were espada."

"Espad then." Shunsui sighed. "They were killed during our fight with former captain Souske Aizen and his espada. So what ever happened to them must have happened recently. In fact it should be them who tell us what happened to them."

"We have no idea." Nnoitra grumbled. "All we remember is a bright light."

"Maybe they were just reborn as zanpakutos… Maybe there is a rebirth for advanced hollows." Shunsui smiled. "We couldn't know."

"I guess." Benitenchio frowned. "Fine then, is that it?"

"Yes." Shunsui nodded. "We are just going to have some food now."

"Then I'm out of here." Benitenchio pushed off the wall and headed towards the door. "I still don't think this is over… There is something else going on here."

"Maybe." Shunsui agreed.

"See you." Benitenchio started to walk. "Let's all train together later." She smiled as she left.

Ayuma chuckled. "She has never changed. Alight.. Will you two be joining us for a meal?"

"Sounds good to me." Mamoru laughed. "Let me find my sister as well and then we will join you two."

"Of course I am!" Miuri grinned.

"OKay then." Shunsui clapped his hands and wrapped his arms around Ayuma. "Let's go then!"

"Shunsui will you let go of her?" Jushiro laughed. "I don't think she has ever liked you wrapping your arms around her."

"Aw." Shunsui moaned.

Everyone laughed.