Michael busted through another wall in the Seireitei. He was able to make great process on his own and right now was in an open area. He was about to keep going when he saw something ahead. Someone was passing through an arch in the path.

"You've done well to make this far, but I'm afraid this is where it ends for you." The person that was walking towards him was the same captain that spotted him. His lieutenant was standing over a balcony and watched what was going to happen.

"Who are you?" Michael said.

"I am the captain of squad five. My name is Shomin Merdive."

"So you're another captain. If at all possible, I rather not right. I'm in a hurry." Michael said.

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that I can't let you through so easily." Shomin said as he reached for his zanpakuto. "I have my orders by the head captain to bring you down. The other captains have already made their move in facing your other friends."

"The other captains?" Michael said.

"Yes. I can already feel a couple of them nearing your fellow ryoka while I handle you." Shomin said.

"That changes everything. I need you to move right away captain so I can go help my friends if they need it." Michael said.

"And if I don't?" Shomin said. Michael gave him an answer by forming his spear.

"I'll move you!" Michael said and created his wind energy slash. Shomin held up his bare hand. He felt the force and the breeze around the attack, but he was able to deflect it. That surprised Michael since that never happened before.

"Hinami!" Shomin said to his lieutenant without looking away.

"Yes sir?" Hinami said.

"Stand back and take cover. He uses the power of wind in his attacks. Wind attacks can be the most unpredictable since there's no way of knowing how much power, how it moves, or how controllable that power can be. I don't want you to get caught in the crossfire." Shomin said.

"Yes sir." Hinami said and backed away.

"This will be your last chance to turn yourself in end or you will be killed." Shomin said.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Michael said. Captain or no captain, Michael knew he had to get pass this guy.

…

Kalia

At the same time that Michael was fighting Shomin, Kalia faced off against Kenpachi. That fight soon turned into a game of chase because Kalia couldn't harm Kenpachi. She saw him as a monster and tried to get as far as she could. Kalia was running down any turn in the paths, but Kenpachi was able to cut him off.

"I've got you now." Kenpachi said as he swung his sword at her. Kalia held up her zanpakuto and was able to block it as she slid back. "Are you going to stand and fight?" Kalia was still nervous about facing this man and decided to keep running.

'Damnit. I'm not scared of him, but I can't bring myself to fight him.' Kalia thought. She didn't know why she wouldn't fight. All she knew is that she had to escape. She saw a crack forming on the wall. She stopped to face it and waited to see what would happen. The blade came out, but it was from behind her. She was able to block it and Kenpachi busted through the wall.

"That's enough of that. This game of tag we're playing has gone on long enough." Kenpachi said. Kalia swung her sword, but Kenpachi was able to block it very easily. Kalia used Kenpachi's chest and jumped away and ran off again.

'It's no good. Nothing I do has any effect on him.' Kalia thought. She ran over to wall and hid behind it.

"Kalia!" She got scared and thought it was Kenpachi, but was glad to see it was just her mother.

"Mom, what are you doing here? I told you to go without me." Kalia said.

"I know, but I just can't leave you to fight these battles alone." Orihime said. "No matter what, you're my daughter first."

"It doesn't matter. I can't bring myself to fight Kenpachi." Kalia said, but felt something else. She felt another spiritual pressure and it felt like it was struggling. "Is that….Michael?"

…

Michael

Michael continued to fight off against Shomin, but he couldn't even touch him. He tried using his spear with close range attacks, but Shomin blocked them with his zanpakuto. Whenever he tried a long range attack, Shomin either dodge or blocked it. Michael swung his spear, but Shomin blocked it and pushed Michael back with one shove.

"It's no use. My close range combat skills are superior." Shomin said. Michael launched another one of his wind slashes, but Shomin held up his zanpakuto and was able to disperse it. "I've also managed to block those wind attacks. You can't win."

"Maybe, but I'm going to at least try." Michael said as he launched another wind attack. Shomin disappeared and reappeared next to Michael very quickly. 'How did he move that fast?' He thought. Shomin tried swinging his zanpakuto, but Michael was able to block it. Shomin thrusted his palm against Michael's gut and caused him to roll against the ground from a powerful shove. During the roll, a sheriff's badge fell out of his pocket.

"Before we take this any further, I must ask you something. What possessed you to come to the Soul Society? I can tell you're from the world of the living." Shomin said. Michael grabbed the badge and put it away as he stood back up.

"I came to save the life of Ryo Kuchiki." Michael said.

"That soul reaper that was in the world of the living for about a month? That doesn't seem like enough time to develop a strong enough friendship to go to these lengths." Shomin said.

"I won't deny it. I don't know him very well, but Kalia wants to save him and that's enough for me." Michael said. "It might not seem like much to you, but it's a lot to me."

"I see. I'm sorry, but I still can't allow you to go any further." Shomin said. Michael had to defeat him now if he's going to keep going. He raised the spear just above his shoulder and grabbed it with his other hand. Power was beginning to build up around the blade and he charged to attack.

'Kalia, I will get pass him. Once I do, I'll help you just like you helped me on the day we met.' Michael thought.

….

Flashback

A little over a year ago, Kalia was surrounded by a bunch of punks and they looked like they meant some trouble.

"Where are you going, sweetheart?"

"You lost little lady?"

"You guys seem to be the ones lost." Kalia said. "I'm not in the mood for any funny business so would you get out of the way." Two of them reached out and grabbed her arms.

"What's the rush?" The leader said as he stepped up to her and reached out for her. Kalia was about to act and fight, but someone beat her to the punch as he got punched in the face. That person was Michael.

"Hey wait, doesn't this guy go to my school?" Kalia said. The rest of the gang attacked Michael, but he was able to beat them all down. He left before Kalia could even thank him. "Who was that guy?" The day passed and Michael was walking down the streets, but failed to notice he got hit in the head and got knocked out.

…

The River

Michael was attacked by the same guys who he beat down earlier. They kept themselves covered as they had him tied up.

"You think some sort of hero? Well let me tell you something, no one messes with us and gets away with it." The leader said. "Empty out his pockets, see if there's anything good." His group looked around in Michael's pockets.

"Hey, boss, look at this." One of them pulled out a sheriff badge and handed it to him.

"What's the deal with this thing? Do you want to be a cowboy?" The leader said. Michael was getting angry and tried to break free.

"Give that back!" Michael shouted.

"Oh, it must be valuable to you. Let's see how far I can throw it in the river?" The leader said and was about to throw it, but got punched in the face again. This time, it was Kalia that saved him.

"Hey, it's that girl again."

"She's got some guts." Kalia pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Mom. Just calling to let you know that there are some people that are probably going to need an ambulance." Kalia said. "I'll tell you later. Just get some to come down by the river….I say about five people….Again I'll tell you later."

"Get her!" All of them attacked, but this time it was Kalia who beat them down. They were taken to the hospital and Michael and Kalia stayed by the river and sat down as they enjoyed the view.

"You doing okay?" Kalia said.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Michael said as he checked to make sure the badge wasn't damaged.

"Thanks for helping me earlier. I don't even know your name." Kalia said.

"It's Michael."

"My name is Kalia Kurosaki. That badge seems to mean a lot to you."

"Yes, it was a gift from my grandfather." Michael said.

"Your grandfather?" Kalia said.

"My family use to live in Texas, a state in North America, but we moved away when I was very young." Michael said. "I admire my grandfather deeply so he gave me this. It makes me feel like he's right here with me."

"I can relate." Kalia said as she held up her earring. "You see this earring? It was a gift from my Dad before he disappeared a while ago. I wear it all the time because I feel like he's still here. You feel the same about you grandfather."

"Yes so I make sure nothing ever happens to it." Michael said.

"You know Michael, you seem like a nice guy." Kalia said as she stood up. "I have a feeling you and I are going to be good friends."

End of Flashback

…

'That was the day Kalia and I became friends.' Michael thought. 'Just like all my friends, if they need help with something, big or small, I'll be there to help them…' "….no matter what!" He shouted as he got closer to Shomin. He swung the spear down and it unleashed a powerful attack as it raced across the ground and destroyed half a building, but something happened. Michael felt something cut against him and all of a suddenly he could barely breath.

"I'm sorry." Shomin said. Michael began to drop as his spear dispersed and his badge hit against the ground.

To Be Continued….