Shūhei could only think of one thing to do. He would have to cut Rukia Kuchiki. She was being used by the Bount. He didn't have a choice. Just then Rukia began to resist the doll's influence.

"Orihime," Rukia struggled to speak. "Attack me."

Orihime was close to tears, "I can't!"

"Don't you see? Ending her while she has her honor as Soul reaper is the truest sympathy you can give her." Shūhei hated himself for saying that but it was true.

"Burst Aka no Ryū!"

There was an explosion of light. Shūhei blink the spots away and the first thing he saw was Yuu. She was glowing with a faint but vibrant blue light. It looked like someone or something decided to make Yuu's shirt in to streamers while she was still wearing it. Shūhei felt warmth in his chest. Yuu glared at the Bount. When she felt Shūhei's eyes on her she turned and smiled at him. Her eyes melted from ice into a perfect noon sky.

"Hello Lieutenant Hisagi."

Kazeshini rejoiced, /Sun, I can feel sun!/

Yuu turned back to the Bount with ice colored eyes, "Hello Bount. I don't like you."

"His doll is possessing Rukia!' Orihime said urgently.

Yuu staggered for a moment, "Got it, Thanks."

Shūhei had to ask, "Miss Katsu." Worry tinted his voice, "Are you alright?"

Yuu continued to glare at the Bount, "I'm fine. Those insect dolls the Bounts made aren't easy to catch."

The Bount started to laugh, "Impossible there's no way you caught a Bitto."

Yuu nodded furiously, "I did too. Then I took it to Mr. Urahara to study. Then I came out to help Orihime."

"I say again: impossible."

Yuu tossed her ponytail, "Believe what you will. Truth is true no matter who believes it."

"Yuu, you have a plan, right?" Orihime asked hesitantly. "We won't have to kill Rukia, right?"

"If you think we're killing Rukia after everything we went through to rescue her you need to rethink." Yuu tossed a glare in Shūhei's direction.

/Ouch, found out./

"Shut up Kazeshini."

Kurōdo asked, "So what's the plan?"

Yuu shrugged, "I'll use Ao no Ryū on Rukia; perhaps that'll work."

"No Yuu! If you do that you'll start bleeding," Orihime protested.

"I don't have any other choice. That might not even work."

"Wait what are you girls taking about?" Shūhei was lost.

"What if I do it?" Orihime asked. "Would Sōten Kisshun work?"

"I hadn't thought of that." Yuu cringed. "Forgive me?"

"Of course, you didn't do anything wrong." Orihime smiled a soft smile.

Yuu's mouth became a thin line, "Go for it."

"What is going on?" Shūhei asked.

"Orihime's going to be a hero. Shut up." Yuu said.

Shūhei snapped his mouth shut. The possessed Rukia rushed forward to attack. Yuu stretched out her ribbon to act as shield. Orihime extended her hands out in a triangle shape. Shūhei took a step back.

"Sōten Kisshun I reject!" Orihime shouted

An orange light enveloped both Rukia and Yuu. Yuu darted away from Rukia as Orihime rushed forward and embraced her. The orange light surrounded both girls. Yuu walked over to stand next to Shūhei. The doll was slowly extracted from Rukia.

"It's working Lieutenant," Yuu's voice was tired but happy.

Yuu was looking at her two female friends. The Bount, Orihime and Rukia weren't paying attention to Shūhei or Yuu. Shūhei decided to risk it.

He reached out with his left hand to trace Yuu's cheek. She turned to look at him. Yuu's eyes were intense and yet welcoming at the same time. Shūhei made eye contact and dropped his hand. Yuu wrapped her right hand around his left.

"I missed you Noon Eyes," Shūhei said softly.

Yuu smiled a brilliant smile, "I missed you, Shūhei."

"We should destroy the Bount." Shūhei reluctantly said.

Yuu sat down right where she was, "You do it; chasing Bittos made me tired."

Shūhei drew his sword and grabbed it with both hands. He charged to Bount. An unknown Soul Reaper intercepted the attack.

Shūhei asked, "Where did you come from?"

"Hadō number 31: Shakkahō!"

The Kidō flew past Shūhei but the enemy Soul Reaper blocked the attack. Shūhei turned his head just enough to see that Yuu had stood and fired the Kidō. Her entire body shrieked of righteous rage and repressed anger.

"Maki Ichinose!" Yuu spat out. "You and I have a score to settle!"

The Soul Reaper paid Yuu no attention and tossed the Bount over his shoulder. He flashed into the sky.

Yuu hollered after him, "You will pay for what you did Ichinose. I guarantee it."

/I told you she could kill if necessary./ Kazeshini gloated

Yuu was standing at attention with both her elbows bent; her hands were in tight fists. Her right fingernails were biting into her palm. Yuu couldn't do the same to her left hand because Kakuchū no Ryū was in it. Her eyes glowed pink.

"Is it wrong that I find this attractive?" Shūhei asked his Zanpakutō.

/I have no idea./ was the answer.

**Scene Change**

The fighting was over for the night and just about everyone was in one of the larger rooms in Mr. Urahara's shops. Renji and Ichigo were sitting up in futons. Rangiku, Izuru, Yumichika and, and Shūhei were kneeling in a circle that included the futons. Mr. Urahara, Mr. Tessai and Rukia were also part of the circle. Chad was kneeling against the wall. Orihime was inside the circle examining Renji and Ichigo. The three Mod Souls, as stuffed animals, were in between the two injured boys. Yuu was leaning against the wall next window with her arms crossed. Uryû was missing and, Jinta and Ururu hadn't been let in.

"This is bad," The shopkeeper had a gift for understatement. "We have no idea why the Bounts attacked us, much less why they let us all live."

Ichigo spoke up, "They could have if they wanted to. Something must have changed. And we still don't know what they are planning."

"Will the Bitto Yuu got for you help us discover anything?" Chad asked Mr. Urahara.

Yuu let out a noise that sounded like: "chit."

"Yes it will," Mr. Urahara said. "But it won't help use discover what they are planning.

Yuu let out another sound of disapproval.

"Do we have any clues?" Rangiku asked.

"They're headed towards the Soul Society." Every head in the room turned to look at Yuu. She shrugged her shoulders, "What? It's the only thing that makes sense."

"Would you mind explaining?" Izuru asked.

Yuu turned to look out the window, "That Bount Koga said Kariya wanted to make a better world where the Bounts will be in charge. The only way that is going to happen is if the Thirteen Court Guard Squads don't stand in the way. And as long as the Bounts eat live Human souls the Seireitei won't ignore them so, they have to get rid of it. The only way to get rid of the Seireitei is to go to the Soul Society. Simple."

For a while there was silence in the room until Mr. Urahara broke it with a hand on his hat, "I do believe your right, Miss Katsu. The question now is why they haven't done so already. They do have a Soul Reaper capable of opening a Gate for them."

Yuu raised her eyebrows, "Seriously? The Seireitei was too strong and they were too weak. Now they are stronger and the Seireitei is weaker. In addition I bet a normal Gate is too unstable for them to use. They need a Quincy to help make them a Gate. I don't know how but I'm 85 percent sure that's what's going on."

Yumichika stared in shock at Yuu; he was gaping like a fish, "How did you figure that out?"

Yuu shrugged her shoulders again, "It just clicked while I was thinking about when my mom would leave for New York."

"Not only are you beautiful but smart too," Yumichika sounded surprised.

Yuu flashed him a frozen glare, "Does everyone think I'm an idiot?"

Ichigo scrambled to interfere, "You know I think we better get home Yuu."

"You aren't completely healed Ichigo and neither is Yuu." Tessai protested.

"Yeah but our families are probably worried," Ichigo said.

"Yeah I should go before Mom freaks out again."

"Chad, Orihime you should head home too."

It was worded like a suggestion but Orihime and Chad both recognized when their team leader was giving an order. Tessai tried to protest when the four teens started to leave but his boss laid a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. There was an exchange of farewells and words of caution. At last the teens made it outside.

"Yuu can you find Uryû? We need to tell him what's going on." Ichigo asked.

Yuu nodded, "Orihime and I can take care of it."

Chad asked, "Are you sure?"

Yuu smirked, "Yeah, I'm sure. You boys head on home."

The girls left to find Uryû. Ichigo felt shivers go down his spine. Chad touched the back of one of his hands. Ichigo smiled. He was looking forward to this impromptu date. He owed Yuu one. Ichigo frowned as he felt a spiritual pressure follow the girls. Ichigo thought he knew who it was. Ichigo twisted to face Chad. He smiled as he took both of the bigger boy's hands in his. Ichigo made eye contact with Chad.

"I'm so sorry Chad. But I have to do something as soon as possible."

Chad bent down and pressed his lips to Ichigo's. For a moment Ichigo could only think of the heat of Chad's mouth. The kiss was chaste but it lingered. Chad pulled away. Ichigo struggled to regain the use of his mind.

"Go Ichigo. Do your job as best friend."

Ichigo nodded and ran off. He searched for the spiritual pressure he had felt earlier. Ichigo found it on the top of Yuu's apartment building about 20 minutes later. Ichigo rode the elevator to the top floor. He took the stairs to the roof. When Ichigo went back outside he saw the Lieutenant of Ninth division.

Shūhei Hisagi was crouched down next to the edge of the building. He seemed to be focusing on looking for something. His back was to Ichigo's

"If you aren't careful you'll fall off."

Shūhei whipped around and stood in one fluid movement. He relaxed when her saw that it was Ichigo.

Ichigo chuckled, "I wouldn't relax just yet. You might not like what I have to say."

Shūhei grew concerned, "What is it Kurosaki?"

Ichigo answered, "Call me Ichigo. We're almost family."

"I don't understand."

"You and Yuu are Soul Mates. That makes you family."

"Right, thank you."

Ichigo came to stand next to the Soul Reaper, "You know I beat Byakuya Kuchiki."

"Yes, I was aware of that." Shūhei wasn't sure what the direction of this conversation was.

"I did that that to save a friend."

"I knew that as well."

"I'm just saying that Yuu and I are tighter than a lot of siblings I know. We've known each other since almost the beginning of our memories."

"I admire the strength of your bond."

Ichigo plastered on an evil smile; his inner Hollow hummed in approval; "I just can't help but wonder what would happen to someone who tried to hurt Yuu."

"Ah," Shūhei got it now. It was a warning not to hurt Yuu. "Yes I pity the fool who thinks that is a good idea.'

"I'm glad you understand," Ichigo's voice had just a hint of an echo.

"Are you boys you done?" The boys swung around in tandem to see Yuu.

"Yes I'm done," Ichigo walked over to kiss Yuu on the cheek. "Did you tell Uryû?"

"Yep. Your date is downstairs. Go walk them home."

"Right," Ichigo disappeared down the stairs. "See you love birds later."

Yuu waited a moment and then she said, "I missed you Shūhei."

Shūhei smiled and held out his hand, "I missed you too."

Yuu took Shūhei's hand and sat down on the rooftop. She dragged her Lieutenant down to sit next to her. He went without any protest. For a blissful minute and an a half the only noise was the sounds of the city.

Yuu dozily asked a question, "How have you been?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose. What about you?"

"Tired mostly, a lot has happened." Yuu placed her head on his shoulder.

"I understand. May I ask you a question?" Shūhei asked

"Sure," Yuu let a yawn.

"What is Ichigo to you?"

"We call each other cousins but the truth is we act more like brother and sister. We aren't actually related, just so you know."

"Right, is it safe to assume the two of you are a package deal?"

"Sort of, you don't have to date him but I can't imagine not seeing him every day."

"You are incredibly lucky to have someone like that."

Yuu hummed in agreement. "If I asked would you tell me about you Zanpakutō?"

"Kazeshini, his release command is 'reap'. I don't like doing that. He is shaped to kill and that scares me."

"To be scared to kill is to admit you have compassion. But I could never be afraid of my Zanpakutō. What does it look like?"

"It's two scythe blades attached to a long handle. One of blades is inverted. There is long length of chain and another set of blades. And my fear is not a sign of compassion; it a sign that I fight for justice and not for violence's sake."

While Shūhei was taking about justice Yuu had removed her head from his shoulder. She was bent forward using her finger to trace in the gravel of the roof. After a moment of drawing Yuu sat up. Shūhei watched her and wondered what she was doing.

"I'll admit I don't understand what being afraid of you Zanpakuo's shape has to do with justice. But it works for you so I'll try not to judge." Yuu gestured at the sketch, "Like this?"

Shūhei looked at the basic representation of what Yuu thought Kazeshini looked like, "That's exactly right, very good. What about you Zanpakutō, what is yours like?"

Yuu smiled. She pulled her Substitute Soul Reaper badge out of her pocket while she stood up. She turned the badge upside down. Shūhei watched as a Zanpakutō slid out. Yuu grabbed the hilt and pulled the rest of the sword out.

"Prepare to Fire, Kakuchū no Ryū!"

The sword was enveloped by a rainbow light. The light started to shape itself into a shape. The ribbon that was attached to the handle came up to wrap around Yuu's right wrist. The light was finished shaping itself and collapsed on itself. Yuu was holding some kind of gun.

Yuu held it out for Shūhei to look at, "Here, you can look at it if you want. It's really just a basic six shot revolver."

Shūhei took the revolver and watched as the ribbon lengthen so Yuu didn't have to move any closer. He had seen a revolver before and knew that it wasn't a basic one. It was shaped like one yes, but it was made out of some kind of crystal.

"This is nice. Is it Kidō based?"

Yuu took the gun back and the ribbon got shorter, "Sort of, here I'll show you."

Yuu popped the barrel out and Shūhei saw six shots of light. The lights flew out to circle around Yuu.

"Say hello everyone."

The lights flew to fly around Shūhei. The green light came to face Shūhei and he saw that it was a dragon.

"That's Midori no Ryū. Midori is an examiner of people."

The dragon touched Shūhei's nose with its snout and disappeared. The Lieutenant blinked in surprise. The blue dragon took the missing green dragon's place.

"Ao no Ryū and Midori are twins. Ao is a healer. You've meet Aka no Ryū."

The red dragon was biting Shūhei's ear and the orange dragon was circling slowly.

"That's Daidaiiro no Ryū; it's a spy. Daidaiiro can find people or places or things. Kiiro no Ryū can make my spiritual pressure feel like something else. And Murasaki no Ryū is a messenger."

Shūhei looked in awe at the six dragons as Midori no Ryū rose from inside his hand. "Are they manifestation of your Zanpakutō spirit?"

Yuu shook her head, "They are my Zanpakutō spirits. They appear in reality when I need their help. They spend most of their time fighting and arguing with each other in my head."

"You have six Zanpakutō spirits?" Shūhei exclaimed.

Yuu shrugged her shoulders and held out her right hand. She let out a tendril of her spiritual pressure. Ao no Ryū flew to rest on its mistress's arm. The dragon ate the offered spiritual pressure.

"Yes, I've been told it's a big deal to have two. So I guess having six is a bigger deal."

The dragons returned to the revolver. Yuu sealed her Zanpakutō and returned it to her badge.

Yuu seemed tired all of the sudden, "They trained me to use them effectively. That's one of the reason I don't understand fearing your Zanpakutō. They are a part of me, aspects of my souls. How can I fear myself?" Yuu sat back down.

"What drives you, Yuu?" Shūhei reached out and guided her head to lie on his lap.

Yuu allowed the action and answered, "I would do anything for my family; for my friends. I also have a sense of right and wrong."

"Those are good things to let drive you," Shūhei was running his fingers though Yuu's hair.

Yuu let out a snicker as her eyes drifted closed, "In my opinion my sense of right and wrong is very mutable. Ichigo disagrees with me."

"I don't know about that." Shūhei started to trace Yuu's features. "What did Maki Ichinose do to invoke your wrath?"

Yuu grew tense, "He almost killed Aka no Ryū."

"That can happen?"

"It's possible. If one of my Kakuchū no Ryū dies I lose a piece of myself." Yuu opened her eyes to stare in to Shūhei eyes, "Isn't that the same for everyone?"

"Yes. If a Zanpakutō spirit dies the Soul Reaper loses a part of themselves. However that piece can always be regained."

"Um, I need to go to bed."

Yuu stood and reached up towards the sky. Shūhei rose as well. He considered kissing her but Yuu did something else. She wrapped both of her arms around his waist. Yuu pushed her face in to the Lieutenant's chest. She took a deep breath in and held it. Shūhei placed his arms around the smaller girl. Her head fit just under his. Yuu exhaled and then let go. She headed to the stairs.

"Good night Shūhei." Yuu turned to look over her shoulder.

Shūhei felt himself smiling, "Good night Yuu."

Yuu lit up and flew done the stairs. Shūhei was left staring at empty rooftop.

/She will keep you on your toes./

"There's something she's not telling me."

/You've only known her for a month. I'm impressed she told you anything./

"I know but it seems like she'll keep me on my toes."

/I said that not more than 30 seconds ago./

"Right but still,"

/You're jealous/./

"What?"

/Ayasegawa complimented her. You feel threated./

"I guess. But he doesn't see her like that does he"

/I don't know./

**Scene Change**

Yuu snuck back into the apartment. Her mother's shoes were by the door and Yuu's bedroom light was on. Yuu sighed. Her mom was in her room and wasn't waiting up for her. Yuu took off her shoes softly and placed them next to her mom's Yuu made deliberate and soundless steps to her room. There was a note tapped to the door.

Yuu,

I went ahead and went to bed. I didn't want you to think I was mad at you. Please knock on my door when you finish reading this so that why I can go to sleep without worrying. I hope everything is going well. Please remember that I always had and always will love you.

Love,

Mom

Yuu sighed again and went to knock on her mom's door, "Mom, I'm home. Love you."

Yuu darted back into her room and closed the door without waiting for a response. Yuu collapsed on to her bed. She wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. Yuu tossed her badge and phone on the table and snuggled into the nest of blankets on her bed to sleep. Yuu flipped her lamp off but she didn't bother changing. Just as Yuu fell asleep there was a beep.

Yuu pushed up to see her cell phone glowing. She reached for it and flipped it open. She read the text from Rukia. There was a Hollow attack. Yuu sent back a text asking why she had to deal with it.

Rukia responded, "Because I said so."

Yuu scowled. Yuu crept to the window. Now that she knew Shunpo Yuu could leave though the window. The only con was that she wouldn't have shoes. She raced to the site of the attack to see that Izuru Kira had already finished the job.

"Why am I here again?" Yuu muttered under her breath.

"I apologize Miss Katsu. Miss Kuchiki thought it best that someone who was familiar with the city take care of the problem." Lieutenant Kira sheathed his Zanpakutō.

Yuu made a 180 degree turn, "I'm going back to bed."

"I know who you are." The Lieutenant of Third division said.

Yuu wheeled around with a look of horror and disbelief on her face. Izuru Kira smiled softy. He took a step towards Yuu and in response Yuu scrambled backwards. Izuru stopped moving

The blonde man tapped his right hand to the corner of his right eye, "They match. I saw his once. They are burned into my mind."

Yuu was freaking out, "You can't tell anyone. There's no proof just assumptions."

He laughed a soft laugh, "I understand. There's no point in asking for trouble."

Yuu wondered how fast she could flee. She trusted him not to tell anyone but she had to make sure, "I mean that. No one is allowed to know."

"He talked about you once." The lieutenant said.

Yuu felt her eyes go even wider, "He wouldn't!"

It didn't seem like he had heard her; he was caught in a memory. "There was a girl I liked. I couldn't get up the courage to talk to her. I asked him if he had a girl. I can remember that he got so soft when he answered; that was the most human I have ever see him. He said: 'I have girl. She sharper then sharp and truer then true. She's all limbs and spark. She gives as good as she gets. She's all color: my gentle victory.' Then he got sad: 'She doesn't know me.' Then he became all business. That was about five years ago."

Yuu was panicking, "You can't tell anyone!"

Izuru cocked his head to the side, "Are you going to tell Shūhei?"

Yuu had enough; she collapsed to the ground, "I don't know." Yuu's voice was broken.

"I won't tell anyone Yuu." The use of her first name caused Yuu's head to snap up and stare at the older man. Izuru walked closer to the girl and traced her eyes, "Like it or not we're siblings now, Yuu. And family stands with family."

Yuu laughed a hysterical laugh, "Then why aren't we in Hueco Mundo?"

"Because he chose to leave his family behind in exchange for power," Izuru said.

Yuu stared a street lamp. She hated her life sometimes. It had been hard enough when she was an ordinary high school girl. Back then her biggest problem was trying to focus in class. Now she had crazy traitorous captains and, a pack of soul sucking vampires, both of whom were trying to take over the world. She could remember when she would avoid Keigo's attempts to grope her. Now she had an out of control Ban Kai and a mysterious father whose name she wouldn't even utter in her own thoughts. And a damn Soul Mate. Yuu eyes had been narrowing but they flashed back open.

"You know about Shūhei and me!"

"I won't tell anyone about that either. You're my sister and he is my friend."

Yuu couldn't take it anymore. She pushed herself to her feet and fled. She left the Lieutenant behind. Yuu wasn't sure where she was going. Yuu looked up in shock when she found herself at her dad's marker.

Yuu fell to kneel in front of the memorial, "Dad how did things fly out of control so fast?"

Yuu rested her forehead against the top of the monument. Yuu focused on breathing in and out. Yuu looked loose and broken. Then all of her muscles became tense and a look of determination crossed her face. There was one thing she could control. Yuu rose and walked to a park bench. She sat down on it crossed legged. Yuu remove her Zanpakutō from her badge. Yuu thought about using her normal meditation method but that didn't seem right. Instead she held both of her hands out palm up. Yuu clenched her hands into fists. She balanced Kakuchū no Ryū on her bare wrists. Her left wrist was just above the guard while her right was about a foot away from the end. The ribbon was fluttering in the wind. Yuu took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"You should be asleep, Yuu."

Yuu responded, "Not now Ao. I have something important to do."

Daidaiiro flew towards her from wherever it had been, "They're in the nursery!"

"Thank you Daidaiiro."

Yuu strode towards where the two newest spirits where. Her six original spirits flew behind her. When they got to the nursery they hovered at the door as Yuu blazed in.

"We need to talk!"

"It's about time you got here, Mistress Yuu," Kuro no Ryū purred.

"Mistress are you here to learn Ban Kai?" Shiro no Ryū asked.

Yuu planted her feet and nodded, "Yes."

Simultaneously the two dragons roared, "Then prepare yourself!"

They flew at Yuu.

**Scene Change**

Ichigo had been half asleep when he felt Yuu's distress. He rolled out of bed. The last time Yuu have felt like this was about five years ago when ten year old Yuu was convinced someone was following her. She had just about lost her mind. Ichigo was going to put an end to it before it began.

He traced her spirit pressure to the cemetery. Things must have been bad. Yuu always came here when things were particularly rough even though she never realized she was coming here. Ichigo walked toward Dai Katsu's marker and was surprised when he did see his 'cousin'. He turned and saw her on a park bench.

"There you are. Are you alright Yuu?"

Then Yuu began to glow pink. It was a vibrant pastel pink. Yuu looked a bit like a cartoon character. Except her outline was pink, not black

"This. Is. Not. Good."

Author's Note: Hello from me, LadyAnnaLee. Oh no I'm running out of chapters again. I think I need another posting break. Are you all okay with that? GothChickk88 here it is Ichigo warning Shūhei. I love the difference between him and Yuu. Yuu comes out and says: don't hurt Ichigo. And Ichigo just alludes to it. What do you think? Trust me; Yuu will be right there with Ichigo for Hollow training. Oh I have a request for you: while I was writing the latest chapter I thought it was fine. But now that I'm rereading it, it seems odd. Can I send it to you for critiquing? Please and thank you! Okay I'm gone for now. I'll post something in a week I promise or if I get up to chapter 35 written. I just finished chapter 29 so you all can figure how likely that will be. Love you all. Love, LadyAnnaLee.

Btw: I don't own Bleach but I did think up Yuu and her Kakuchū no Ryū.