Spring came in late at Soul Society. In the months that you've stayed within your Captain's manor, you would usually just stroll around or talk to the servants of the house. This particular day though, you wanted to go and visit Squad 6.

'It has been a long time since I've been there. Might be a good idea to say hello to some people or Abarai-fukutaichō.' You thought. So you woke up early, even though you dreaded morning, to catch up to your Captain.

"Sir!" You managed to find Byakuya before he left the manor for his duties for the day. "Can I go to Squad 6 today?"

Byakuya answered calmly. "Why?"

You haven't actually thought of a good reason for that. "I just wanted to say hello to the others…?"

"No."

"What?! Why not?"

Byakuya turns to leave. "I'll let them know about your greetings." Then he disappeared.

You groaned. You've been stuck here with nothing much to do; you've been behaving for the past months so you were actually thinking that he'd give you permission to see the outside world. But that's not clearly the case right now.

The guards stands alert at the manor's gate, but you're not stupid to just force your way out through the main gate. One the perks of living inside the manor is that you get to memorize it, you know, in case you're feeling caged up and you want escape.

You also have SWA to thank for. If not for their surprise meetings here in the manor, you wouldn't have figured out that there are a dozen of tunnels hidden. No matter how much Byakuya tries to stop the women from conducting their meetings here, they always managed to find a way in. You only needed to bribe Yachiru-fukutaichō with candies so she'll tell you where the tunnels were.

You left Aoi Fushigi in your room before going to one of these tunnels.

'This is so dubious.' You thought to yourself, but you really wanted to go out. "Well, here goes nothing." You crawled your way through the small crevice and you wondered how all the members of the Shinigami Women's Association would fit through here.

The moment the refreshing air hit your face, you sighed. You almost thought that you were lost inside that maze. You looked towards the path in front of you; you were close to the barracks of Squad 4 and a little further away was Squad 5.

You breathe in deeply, filling you lungs with air. Suddenly a sharp pain in the chest stops you.

"Ow!" You clutch at your chest. You shrugged, thinking that maybe it was your heart adjusting to the contraction.

If only you knew how wrong you were.

Instead of going originally to Squad 6 as you had hoped for, you opted to go to Rukongai. You jumped through house roofs as you made your way deeper into the slums. Once you've reached the place you once called home, you halted.

The 43rd District of Rukongai was neither rich nor poor. It does not enjoy the same privileges the 1st district has but it is not as gloomy as the 70th or lower districts. It was one of the middle places in the Rukon. Nonetheless, people here are a mixture of classes.

You walk around the people who are busy with shopping and buying goods. The last time you were here it was bitter. Everything was destroyed or burning; a Menos Grande killed the two people who welcomed you in their home. Reminiscing about the house you once lived in made you smile sadly; you decided that that's where you'll head off.

The Menos Grande that raged through this area left destruction, and it was still apparent in the houses that were left ruined. If this wasn't Soul Society, you'd think that there are ghosts trapped in those debris… but those souls that died probably went on to next process of Soul Cycle.

You stood in front of the house that Sora and Taro once lived in or what was left of it. None of the pillars that support the house was left standing. You could see charred wood and dirtied cloths.

You closed your eyes and imagined the house to its former state. Go back to the place before everything else happened. Sora would be cooking porridge; Taro would be sculpting toys out of wood; you'd be there, standing, just watching them. How different things would be if they were still alive.

'I hope you guys are safe wherever you are.'

A shiny object got your attention as you opened your eyes. You walked closer to the debris, careful not to step on any sharp or collapsing objects. You approach the object and found out that it was a metal chopsticks. It was one of Taro and Sora's object of fascination. They find it peculiar that there exists metal chopsticks. You explained to them that it was probably from the human world.

They thought that only rich people could afford such objects, and at that time they felt rich. It was one of the happiest moments you had with them; all three of you took turns in using the chopsticks. Even though it was silly to you, for them it was like receiving a small fortune.

You decided to take the chopsticks and hid them safe in your pockets. You step away from the wreckage, but not long after you distance yourself from the house, the same chest pain you felt earlier came back. This time, though, it was unbearable.

"Agh!" You crash to the ground because of the pain. The pain wasn't subsiding like it did earlier; you crunched your eyes shut to block out the sting.

Just when you thought the pain was gone, the moment you opened your eyes you were surprised to yourself inside your inner world.

Before it was a clash of colors with Aoi Fushigi and Zetsubou both living inside your soul, but now it changed scenery again. Except that there is no scenery to look at right now. Everything else was black but there's still the flood of cherry blossoms beneath you. The pink glow of the petals was the only source of light here.

Suddenly you felt alarmed that you were suddenly summoned in your own world; even more alarmed when you remembered that you left Aoi back at the manor.

"Shit!" You said angrily, not bothered by the fact that someone might here you.

"A lady should not express such foul language." A silky voice spoke from within the dark.

Aoi Fushigi scrambled to make her way towards the barracks of the noble. She hasn't been able to sense her master's presence since she left the manor. When she tried to go to where her master was by manifesting in her inner world, she was blocked. Aoi Fushigi knew something was wrong. She bit her lip hoping that nothing bad has happened to you.

Shinigamis were shocked to see her, mostly because they don't know her or maybe because of her aura; she was ready to murder. She was praying that you'd be here but since you couldn't sense you, she had no way of telling. Not bothering to knock, she barged right in to the office of the captain.

"Is master here?!" A frown graced her features.

When Byakuya took too long to answer, Aoi Fushigi growled. "Where is she?!"

Byakuya instantly figures out that you're not in the manor and that you've gone somewhere where your zanpakuto can't track you. "She's not here," he answered, contemplating as to where you were.

"Did she not tell you where she's going?" Byakuya inquired the spirit.

Aoi Fushigi controlled her anger down and thought deeply. "She wanted to go here; say hello to that Renji and perhaps to other Shinigamis. She also said about wanting to visit home."

Byakuya's features adorned a frown as well. "Home?"

The zanpakuto glared. "Yes, home. Other than the house we lived in before we moved to yours, I don't know any other than that."

The captain closed his eyes. You said 'home'; saying 'home' has a different value than saying 'house'. That was when Byakuya felt it, clawing, reaching, to him. It was familiar, and at one time, it was also home to him.

"I know where she is." He said as he stood up.

A/N: monsuno power – Glad to hear from you! :D

I didn't have time to edit this so there might be some mistakes. R&R peeps!