Author's Note: This chapter sort of wrote itself. I hope the people who have been following this story enjoy it. It was certainly an unexpected treat from my muses.

On another note... there are not many chapters left to this tale. I will be starting a fourth story after this one concludes that will pick up the story after Erisia graduates from the Academy. I have decided that I am very curious to know where you all would like to see the story go. While I cannot guarantee that I will take every idea as I must stay true to my characters, I do want to know and so long as they flow with the characters that have been created herein, I will slowly try to give you what you want. But for me to do that, I have to know what you all want. So please, read and review. In your reviews or even private messages, tell me what you've liked about the stories so far and things you would like to see happen and we'll see if we can't work a little muse magic together!

Thank you to all of the people who have been reading Erisia's tales... I am glad you have enjoyed them.

Break was over almost before they could enjoy it - or so it seemed. They practiced some at the 6th division training grounds but aside from that, they had kept mostly to themselves. They were trying to prepare for the coming year. They were all going to have to try harder and be smarter if they were going to pass their third year at the Academy.

Erisia could hold her own against Haru better now. Even Akane's skills were improving - and not just those with healing. She was finally starting to get comfortable wielding that wakizashi of hers. Erisia was trying to focus on balancing the interactions with her zanpakuto. Since he was speaking to her and she knew his name, she was trying to build a stronger bond between them Of course that entailed a lot of meditation.

She was out in the gardens, she had made her way towards one of the sakura trees and sat at its base. She leaned back slightly against it and took up the meditative position. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. She focused on taking slow, deep breaths and let herself be drawn inward. Her inner world was the same as always - a plane of shadows. Sometimes there were shapes that seemed to mirror things that she knew in the waking world but others were foreign or mostly formless. Either way there was little color.

But it was a place of calm and quiet and it was a place for deep introspection - that much was clear. From the shadows, Kumori would emerge. Always as a panther though she suspected there was more to him than met the eye or mind in this case. While her meditation wasn't quite to the level of jinzen, she was already on a more advanced level. Of course this was to be expected considering she'd heard Kumori's voice when she was still alive.

~ You're getting better at the transitioning. ~ Kumori muses.

"Yes, it's not so... disjointed as it felt before. It is becoming more fluid."

~ Your focus is getting better and you are trusting your instincts more. ~

"It wasn't easy at first. The sensation is kind of like when you're not quite asleep but not yet awake and you're not dreaming really but it feels like you are and you get that sensation of falling... It's hard to deny the instinct to brace for impact."

~ It will take time but soon this will be as effortless as existing. ~

"Kumori, do you mind if I ask you a question that may seem strange?"

~ You may ask anything Erisia, you know this. ~

"I see you as a panther, but I get the feeling that it is not all you are... Why is that?"

~ Ask Renji for clarification on that. Sometimes how we appear is not always the truth of what we are - even you should know that. ~

"Will I ever see your other form?"

~ In time. But this is how you have known me. It is easier to continue as you are familiar. You still have much to learn, Erisia. But in time, you will know. ~ Kumori assures her.

"Why would Renji know about your appearing as a panther but being something else?"

~ Zabimaru. He appears as a baboon with a snake for a tale... but that is not all Zabimaru is. Some of us have animal forms and other forms. You will come to understand in time. ~

"I am worried about this coming year."

~ Why? ~

"Living World Hollow Runs. Though they used to have an island that they used as the testing ground, they've been changing things. A lot of the war is taking place in Karakura town. They want to familiarize us with the layout. They've also changed the team dynamics. Each team will have one member that is adept at fighting, one that is adept at kido, one that balances the two and a healer. Each team will be led by a senior student. Each team will be excused from classes for the duration of their mission to the Living World. Teams not on assignment will continue their classes as usual." Erisia begins to explain.

~ Why is this a problem, you have known it was coming. ~

"Our team has done the best in the team training exercises. It is a lot of pressure Kumori. Plus, I still remember Karakura town. I know the layout... and I worry that seeing a real Hollow - seeing that rip in the sky. I worry that I will freeze or that something will happen and the secret Captain Commander commanded me to keep will be out and all of this will be for naught."

~ Calm yourself. Yes, you have set the bar high for your friends and yourself, but you have not failed to meet that marker yet and with the four of you working together, I do not think you will. You will all be given maps of Karakura to study. You have an apt and artistic mind, which will focus on to the details... So that explains that. If you freeze - it will not be uncommon. Many trainees freeze their first time fighting - it is why you have a team. You will be fine, your secret will be kept. ~ Kumori coaxes.

Erisia couldn't help but sigh. She knew Kumori was right but she was still worried. She wanted to make everyone who had been helping her proud. "I know you are right Kumori... I just wish all of me could be at ease and relax and just exist with this knowledge instead of worrying so much."

~ Then sit with me and allow me to shoulder some of the burden you carry... Relax and be at peace. Calm and center yourself Erisia, you will need it.~ Kumori says with a light chuckle.

Erisia was dressed in a shihakusho. One that had originally been Rukia's but had been donated so to speak to the girl from the living world with nothing much to call her own here... once upon a time. Her eyes were closed and she sat in lotus position with her sword across her knees meditating beneath one of the larger sakura trees. Her hair had been pulled back in a pony tail but some locks had freed themselves and framed her face.

This was the scene that Byakuya came upon when he himself ventured in to the gardens. She looked so serene, meditating there. It was a picture, that if he had the ability, he would perhaps have liked to capture in some way. It was very much a traditional scene - for a shinigami at least. He stayed back not wanting to intrude upon her meditation. However he did not leave the garden either.

She had grown, not taller but she had grown nonetheless. Her form was far more lithe and fit from all of the training. She had gotten stronger in body and in spirit. She was still gentle of nature and strong as steel at the core of her. Yet there was still something very innocent and almost shy about her. She still had a wall up, there was still a distance she kept - whether she realized it or not. It was something he could recognize from his own personal experiences with distancing himself.

He forced himself to abandon such thoughts. He moved to another tree - this one much closer to the house and thus still a respectable distance away from Erisia and took up his own meditative position.

~ She is starting to resemble a shinigami more and more. ~ Senbonzakura muses.

"She is starting to come in to her own, yes."

~ I have not forgotten our conversation, Master - have you? ~

"You will not allow me to forget it." Byakuya says in a terse tone...

~ Forgive me, Master but when your thoughts start to stray in that direction, I can hear your heart screaming and I wish you would listen to it... or at least acknowledge that it is there and that it has been alone and in pain for far too long. ~

"The timing is inappropriate."

~ It will not be so forever. But if I may be so bold, Master. For years now, no other woman has caught your attention. No other has come close to waking that long sleeping side of you once more. You would be foolish to turn that away and I have never thought you to be a fool. ~

Byakuya mentally sighs at that... Still, Senbonzakura had a point. So what was it about Erisia that caught his attention when for so long he had been able to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to such things?

~ She is special. Not just because of her situation and potential... Her spirit alone - she as a person is special and even your denied senses can see the truth of it. ~

"What is it you wish me to say, Senbonzakura?"

~ The truth would be a good place to start. Even if you say it no where else, if you let no one else hear it until the timing is more appropriate, at least do not hide here where all secrets are safe. ~

A deeper sigh fell from Byakuya's lips. His zanpakuto was really trying his patience. Ever so often, the spirit would nudge him back in this direction and he wasn't overly happy about it. It seemed that Senbonzakura was not going to let this go. So what to do about it then? He supposed there would be no harm in voicing things to the spirit in this private confidence.

"You know I do not like to speak of such things."

~ But there are times when you need to, Master. ~

"Yes, she is special... Is that what you wanted to hear? Not only is she beautiful, but her heart is perhaps the most beautiful thing about her. She keeps the secrets she has been commanded to keep and still found a way to make friends. She stands by those whom she calls friend. She has been pushing them all to be better... She stands fearless against Haru, she matches Yasuo in the battle of wits and but for their different appearances you could mistake her and Akane for sisters. Each person here in Seireitei who had the fortune to meet with her and speak with her enjoys her company and is willing to call her friend. Even when she is on break, she tries to help out wherever she can. Even if it is delivering a folder or treating some minor wound in the 4th. Somewhere within, the little girl that was broken by an abusive father is still there. You can see it in the distance she keeps part of herself at. She has so much potential and yet she is still humble, she still does not see the skill she has... There is such quiet strength - which I remember well from feeling it upon coming out of the coma." He pauses, sighing... he hadn't wanted to do this at all and now that he had started, he could not seem to stop.

"She has all the poise and grace of nobility, but none of the facade, none of the political backstabbing. If she gives her word, she will keep it. She is more honorable than many I have the misfortune of being related to. Though it is easy to see her fear she pushes through it. So determined to be a shinigami. Determined to make those who have helped her proud... So yes, Senbonzakura, I do see what is in front of my eyes. Do not push me for this again... I will not speak on this again until the time comes that such things would be more appropriate." He says in this tone that borders on showing a spark coming back to life.

Senbonzakura was shocked that his Master had actually relented and ended the silence he'd been holding himself to for three years. But speaking of it was not necessarily progress. Of course he should be glad that his Master was at least acknowledging it and not attempting to sweep it under the rug... Still, it would be better if the man would allow himself to act on such thoughts and feelings... He knew that would not happen. At least not for a while yet if at all.

"I will not push you on this again, Master. But I am glad that you spoke of this now. It does you no good to bottle this up and to hide it away. When the time comes, I hope you will do more than admire from a distance... It is good to see the fire in you still lives." The spirit says as he withdraws, leaving Byakuya to his own mind once more.

Byakuya continued his meditation. Enjoying the peace and quiet. Some times one needed the quiet, the down time. Though he did not oft drop the mantle of Captain or Clan Head, sometimes it was good to just be…. He had not had time to indulge in recent time, so even though Senbonzakura had withdrawn, he maintained his meditation. It was needed - especially after that particular topic of conversation.

As Byakuya fell in to deeper meditation, Erisia emerged from hers. She was slightly surprised to see Byakuya there, meditating though it probably should not. It was just that she wasn't used to seeing him like this. Any meditation he might do was generally done where or when she could not encounter it. But there were other reasons that it was strange. Because it offered her a glimpse at the man not the Captain, not the Clan Head, but the man that lay hidden behind those titles.

He seemed so much less severe and once again, Erisia felt like she was intruding somehow. Much as she had felt when she'd first been summoned to the fourth squad after the incident that had put Byakuya in a coma. She stayed sitting beneath the sakura tree, almost afraid to move for fear of interrupting his meditation. Of course this gave her an excellent vantage point to study him as well.

She shouldn't let herself do this - she knew she shouldn't but she could not let such an opportunity slip by. He was so striking. She really should stop herself before her mind went too far down the path it was currently traversing. She shouldn't think of how attractive he was… Nor how intelligent… nor any of the other number of things that she found interesting or drawing about him… Especially since nothing would ever come of it.

~ Why do you think nothing will come of it? ~ Kumori inquires.

"He is a captain and head of one of the four great noble families. There are oceans between us."

~ Oceans that simple words and actions can cross as though they do not exist. ~

"He has been my sponsor… He kindly opened his home to me… and there may even be a kind of friendship there but I should not allow myself to hope for a deeper involvement that will never come."

~ There is something more that could be between you… Though perhaps the timing is not allowing you to see it. Perhaps once you are out of the Academy and have joined a squad it will become clearer. ~

"Why do you say such things?" Erisia asks.

~ Because I see what you miss. He interacts with you as he does with no other. Argue that it is the uniqueness of the situation but were it that and that alone, you would not have so much trouble distancing yourself from him. You would never have seen behind the noble's mask. It may take time, there are many things you both need to work past before there is a chance for anything to begin to grow between you… But I believe in the future, you will be pleasantly surprised.~

"Does he really treat me that differently? I've only seen behind the mask because when I am not at the Academy I live at his Estate. I have opportunities that those beyond the gates do not."

~ He does. Take that he welcomed you into his home. He could easily have arranged for you to stay almost anywhere else… however he opened his home to you. He acknowledges your birthday - though in ways to keep your cover at the Academy. He misses conversing with you when you are not home… I believe he has begun to think of the estate as much your home as it is his and I believe Zabimaru mentioned that Byakuya has said the estate feels colder without your presence. ~

" Welcoming me in to his home could be explained by his sense of duty and honor as can the birthday thing… Keeping up appearances. And his missing the conversation could just be on a friendly level… And I am not so distant, so emotionless as those he was used to interacting with. It need have no deeper emotional investment than that." Erisia counters.

~ You should not be so negative, Erisia. There is more to this than meets your eye… But the truth will out in time… Have a little faith and stop trying to bury your heart. ~

She wished she could believe him but she had no reason to other than the fact that he was her zanpakuto. She couldn't imagine Byakuya liking her in any way other than the perhaps friendship that had come with being able to interact with him at his own home over the course of soon to be three years. It seemed that though they were on the same page, neither of them realized it. This left both Kumori and Senbonzakura shaking their heads in respect to their shinigami.

~ This is going to be a long few years. ~ Kumori sighs.

~ It would seem so. ~ Senbonzakura agrees before the spirits withdrew into the shadows once again.