Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or anything that has to do with the Bleach franchise... but I now I want Shunsui as an older brother too!


"Here is the report for the day, Taicho. The men seem to be coming along nicely and are all training hard. I've seen improvement in their tactics and abilities to work together." Saya had been lieutenant of the ninth division for about a month and had gotten used to her new duties. They required more of her time, but she liked helping Tosen-taicho. Even though she would never admit this to anyone (because it sounded conceited even to her), she felt strangely comfortable with so many subordinates. She felt like this wasn't the first time she was in a leadership position.

"Good work, Saya-fukutaicho. I'm glad to see that you're working so hard and you've been very helpful in your short time serving as my lieutenant. Thank you for your hard work."

Saya blushed a little; she always enjoyed praise from her captain. "It's nothing, Taicho. I'm glad to serve you."

"I know it's already late at night, but please take these documents to Aizen-taicho and then you are dismissed for the day. I'll see you back here after the weekend."

"Yes, sir." Saya bowed and then flashed towards the fifth division. She was looking forward to her weekend off. She was planning on going to the real world to do some shopping for her new quarters.

"You seem awfully happy, Saya-sama." Hanryou mentioned.

"Hai, I have the entire weekend off. Tomorrow, I'll do my shopping and then the next day Juushiro and I plan to spend some time together, just the two of us. We haven't really had much time together ever since I've become a lieutenant. Although Tosen-taicho doesn't demand as much from me as other captains do from their fukutaichos, I still have a lot more responsibility."

Saya landed in the courtyard of the fifth division and made her way to the offices. She knocked several times, but it seemed empty. Looking around, Saya noticed that many people had already gone home for the evening; it was rather late after all. She sighed and decided that she would go to Aizen-taicho's personal quarters, although she felt a little odd about doing so.

Following a stone path that curved behind the office, Saya proceeded to Aizen's small home. She knocked and a surprised looking Aizen opened the door. He was already in his sleeping kimono and Saya blushed when she realized how much of a bother she probably was for him.

"Forgive me, Aizen-taicho, but Tosen-taicho wanted me to deliver these documents to you. I should have waited until tomorrow and delivered them at a more appropriate hour." She bowed low.

Aizen took her by the shoulders and pushed her erect once again. His smile greeted her as she looked up at him. "No need to worry, Kyouraku-san. Do I seem the type to get upset so easily? Besides, I would like to look over those tonight anyway."

Saya handed him the documents, happy he wasn't upset with her. It had been a long time since she had come to visit Aizen. She still regarded him as one of her favorite captains, aside from Juushiro, her brother, and her own captain.

"Why don't you come in and have some tea? You look a little tired, has Kaname been working you hard?"

Saya blushed. "No, Tosen-taicho is good to me and I am very lucky to be his subordinate. I guess maybe I haven't adjusted to the longer hours."

Aizen smiled again and stepped aside to allow Saya entry into his home. This was the first time that Saya had been inside his living quarters. It reminded her a lot of his office in that it had shelves and shelves of books, but this was much cozier and homier feeling.

"Please have a seat, Saya-san."

"Yes, thank you captain." Saya sat down on an incredibly comfortable, worn-in leather sofa. Good thing Shunsui doesn't know how soft this couch is; he would probably start taking his naps here. I don't know how Aizen-taicho would feel about that.

Aizen handed Saya some tea and sat down next to her. Saya looked at his profile and thought that he had a very kind face and a nice smile. It always seemed so warm and gentle.

"It's been a long time, Saya-san."

"Hai, taicho, it has."

"Forgive me for being so forward, but have any important memories come back to you?"

Saya looked at Aizen and remembered telling him about the dream about meeting her father in the field. In fact, she had told him many of her memories over the years. She left out even more detail than when she told Shunsui or Juushiro, but she still told him. How was it that she always felt comfortable with him and willing to tell him things like that? It wasn't that she didn't tell her brother or Juushiro, but she was incredibly close to them. But she always looked up to Aizen-taicho, and felt warm in his presence.

"A lot of memories as you know, sir. I can't say that many new ones have come to me lately. I dreamt about meeting my father again, but his face alluded me once more." Saya took a sip of her tea. "I don't understand why I can't see his face, when I want to so much."

"Are you still having nightmares as well?"

"Yes. Although not as frequent as before." Saya took a sip and looked down into the cup, deep in thought.

"Where are you, Kyouraku-san?" Aizen asked, amused by her pensive attitude.

"What do you mean, sir? I'm right here."

"For a second you left me, where did you go?" His kind eyes bore into Saya.

Saya looked down again, knowing his meaning. If she could tell anyone, it would be Aizen-taicho, right? "Sir… I… sometimes I question our king."

Aizen's eyes widened with shock. "What do you mean, Kyouraku-san?"

"It's just that… A lot of my nightmares are the memories of horrible things I've done because of his orders." Saya whispered, afraid to speak the words too loud for fear she would be punished for them. "Sometimes I think that he's not a very good man. That he doesn't deserve to be king." She kept her head down not wanting to meet Aizen's eyes.

Aizen's trademark smirk crossed his lips, but he quickly twisted it into his kind smile.

"Don't worry about what you say to me, it is only natural that you might feel that way. You are a good person, Kyouraku-san, and you were made to do bad things. I can't imagine how you must feel now, knowing what you did. But it is not your fault, do not blame yourself."

Saya still hadn't looked up but felt a hand on her wrist. Aizen then pulled Saya into a warm embrace. "I won't tell anyone what you said because I'm sure your words may be misconstrued. You can always trust in me, Kyouraku-san. I feel honored that you shared your thoughts with me. I can tell that you haven't expressed this to anyone else."

Feeling a little shocked by Aizen's embrace, Saya didn't quite know what to say or think, he had never done anything more than pat her on the head. However, she found that she returned his hug and appreciated his discretion at keeping her secret. "Arigato, Aizen-taicho. You have always been so kind to me."

Aizen let Saya go and patted her on the head in his usual way. "Go home to Juushiro, Kyouraku-san. It is late and I'm sure he is getting worried."

Saya bowed before leaving. Aizen couldn't help but let his evil smile play across his handsome features after she had left his home. "You might make it too easy for me, my little Saya." He said to himself.


"Oto-san is so talented!" A child version of Saya said as she sat between her father's legs. He was leaning against a tree and Saya was leaning against him. He chuckled and Saya turned to look up at him. Even though the moon was shining brightly, his face was hidden from view, completely enveloped by shadows thanks to the tall tree they were sitting under.

"It's not much, Saya-chan." He said in his kind voice as he patted the top of her head.

"Please show me again, Oto-san!"

"Alright, only if I can show you how to do it too. Saya-chan has an important duty to fulfill when she grows up, so she must become strong."

Saya watched as he materialized a ball of swirling reitsu in his hand. "It's so pretty, Oto-san!" Saya clapped at her father's trick.

"Now you must do it too, Saya-chan. Let me show you how."

Saya listened as her father told her how to visualize and form a ball of her own reitsu. She was able to form a tennis-ball sized orb in her own hand. "Oto-san! I did it! Look here! I feel I should call you Daddy-sensei now, ne?" Saya and her father laughed together as she felt him wrap his arms around her.


"Oto-san." Saya said as her eyes fluttered opened to reveal a smiling Juushiro looking down at her. "Juushiro, what are you doing?" She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair that fell down over his shoulders in curtains of pure white.

"You were laughing in your sleep. Like I said before, it's rare that you're vocal when you sleep… well, other than screaming. It was such a child-like laugh, so innocent." Juushiro stroked Saya's throat with his fingertips. "What were you dreaming about?"

"I was dreaming about my father. He was showing me how to make a reitsu orb in the palm of my hand. I thought it was trick, like magic." Saya said as she closed her eyes and turned her face away from Juushiro, who kept stroking her neck with his fingers. "But I still didn't see his face. It was covered by shadows."

"I see." Juushiro ran his hand across Saya's collarbone, down the length of her arm, and intertwined his fingers with hers. He laid his head down and pressed his ear against her chest. "Your heart is beating fast."

"You always do that to me." Saya could feel Juushiro smile against her.

"It's nice to know that I still have this sort of affect on you, even though we've been together for all these years." Juushiro said softly. "That it's still me you want."

Saya used her free hand and starting stroking Juushiro's head. "I don't see that ever changing, though I find it irritating from time to time. What an annoying power you hold over me."

Juushiro lifted his head off of Saya's chest and loomed over her once again, a confident yet loving smirk on his face. "I don't mind."

Saya gave her best attempt to glare at Juushiro, but he just laughed then rolled over pulling Saya on top of him. He brushed her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"Why were you home so late last night? I had already fallen asleep when you snuck into bed."

"Tosen-taicho asked me to deliver some documents to Aizen-taicho. He asked me to stay for a cup of tea, I didn't want to seem rude, so I did."

"You've always looked up to Aizen, I'm not surprised you visited with him for a little while." Juushiro said as he pecked Saya on the cheek. "What did you talk about."

"He asked me if any new memories had come back to me. I… I might have said something to him that I should have kept to myself." Saya whispered. Although she wanted to avoid Juushiro's gaze, it was hard in the position she was currently in.

A frown passed over Juushiro's smooth features. "What did you say, Saya?"

"I… I told him that I questioned our King." She whispered.

Juushiro was silent and stared up at Saya's face. He saw the worried look she wore, knowing that she voiced something that could get her in a lot of trouble if she were to say it to the wrong person.

"Please say something. I know I shouldn't have said it, but Aizen-taicho promised he wouldn't say anything. I'm sorry I didn't share something like this with you, but he was there and we were on the subject. I didn't want to lie to you and not tell you what we talked about either. Please don't be mad at me."

"Saya… what you said could be misconstrued and get you into trouble, you know this?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. It's not like I want anything bad to happen to the…"

"I know. Just be careful when you express opinions like that. You're a lieutenant in the court guard protection squads. Although we fight against hollows and bring human souls to the Soul Society, our main duty is to protect the king. One of the leading officers can't being saying things like that."

"Yes… I'm sorry."

Juushiro pulled Saya into a tight hug. "I'm not mad and you know I won't say anything either. But please be more careful about things like this."

"Yes… I'm sorry. I won't be so careless again."


"Souta-san, his majesty wishes to see you." A masked guardsmen stood at the entrance of the shrine that Souta was visiting, placing fresh flowers at the tombstone.

"Hai." Souta said before quickly flashing to the throne room. He knocked and waited for permission to enter.

The door opened to allow Souta entry into the grand room. Heavy tapestries portraying historical events and kings from the Sereitei and King's realm decorated the walls. Masked guardsmen stood like statues around the room, ready to attack at the slightest suspicious act from any visitor, strange or familiar to them. At the far end of the room was a raised platform surrounded by four solid gold pillars with pictures of dragons carved from them. The dragons themselves were decorated with the finest emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. In the middle of the platform, on a throne of gold, sat the king of the Soul Society. Several layers of heavy silk kimonos and yukatas covered his body. A long, thin, white beard fell from his face and was tied with silk. His long white hair was plaited behind his body. On his left hip he wore a zanpakuto; in his right hand he held the royal staff, carved from mahogany. The staff was topped with a large golden sunburst with the King's crest, a sixteen-pedaled chrysanthemum, made of black onyx stones in the middle.

Souta took fifteen paces towards the king before kneeling and bowing his head. "How may I serve you, my lord?"

"We wish for you to deliver a message to the Yamamoto-soutaicho of the Gotei Thirteen." The king's deep voice rang out. Despite looking so old, his voice was still youthful and strong in its quality. "You will then wait for him to give a written reply and return immediately. Do not let yourself be seen by any unnecessary persons, understand?"

"Hai, Heika-sama (your majesty)."

Souta stayed in his bowed position, but could see in his peripheral vision that the king passed a folded piece of parchment, marked with his crest, to his personal bodyguard. The bodyguard handed the note to Souta. "The gate to the Sereitei has been prepared and the Soutaicho is expecting you."

"Hai." Souta exited the throne room and made his way towards the official gate that would lead to the Sereitei.


Saya, who had borrowed real-world money from Shunsui, was standing in her father's garden double-checking that she had everything she needed for her trip. "Money? Check… Gigai? Check… Clothes for gigai? Check… I think that's all I need right, Hanryo?"

"I think you're ready, Saya-sama."

"Let's go then! I'm so excited, I haven't been to the real world in such a long time! I'll have to be careful about what I buy, I can only carry so much back with me. Unless you want to materialize yourself and help me, Hanryo?" Saya suggested sweetly.

"Nope, not really."

Saya smiled. "I didn't think so. Okay, now just to open the gate." Saya stepped through to the other side but stopped just as the door shut behind her.

"Saya-sama, are you alright?" Kamikaze asked. He had felt the same sensation as she had, afterall.

"Hai, it's just that I thought I felt a familiar reitsu just now, but I couldn't quite place where I know it from. Hmm, maybe I'm just imagining things?"

Hanryo didn't say anything else as Saya's mind became distracted with thoughts of shopping in the real world. The excitement she felt helped distract from the usual uneasiness that settled around her whenever she passed through to one world from another.

After slipping on her gigai, given to her by the twelfth division, Saya stretched, flexed, and twisted in an attempt to get used to the feel of the artificial body. "This is rather heavy. I guess it should be expected though, ne?" Saya pulled out a map of Karakura to get her bearings. "The town shopping district isn't too far from where we are now. That's good, it'll give me a little bit more practice in the gigai before I have to be seen around humans."

Saya was oblivious to the stares she was receiving as she walked the streets of Karakura. She was unaware of how odd it was to see someone get excited over simple, everyday items, like mailboxes, vending machines, and parking meters.

"Saya-sama, I think you are drawing attention to yourself. Don't look interested in such silly things; people will think you've escaped from a mental institute."

"But it amazes me how the real world works! The way the send messages to each other is very odd, don't you think? And why do they have to pay to park their… what are they called? Cars? I mean, they aren't using them, so why do they put money into those weird poles? I'm glad that we don't need cars in the Sereitei; shunpo is obviously faster. Just look here, there's so much food in these things! I'm buying some sweets for Juushiro; he'll like them." Saya stopped and pulled out some coins that Shunsui had given her. Luckily, he had thought to give her a quick tutorial on the money she would be using, otherwise she would have been clueless about what to do.

"Excuse me ma'am?"

Saya looked up to see a handsome man with brown hair and hazel eyes looking at her. "Yes?"

"I was wondering if you were feeling alright?"

Saya stood up; she was as tall as he was. "Yes, why do you ask?"

"It's just that, well, I've been observing you and you've been acting rather odd. I've never seen someone take such interest in a post office box before." He said with as much politeness as he could while he rubbed the back of his neck.

"See what I told you, Saya-sama? He think's you belong in an institution."

Saya gave the man one of her infamous glares; its potency was not affected by the gigai. "I'm fine, thank you for your concern."

"Oh yes, of course. Sorry to bother you, miss." The man said as he almost ran away.

"Okay, Kamikaze, I will try to act more normal."

"It's not befitting of Saya-sama to gawk anyway."

For the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon, Saya went in and out of any store that caught her eye, stopping once to eat out of the vending machines she was so fond of. She bought an area rug for her living room; a colorful quilt for her bed; several throw pillows for her couch; landscape pictures of Japan; and an assortment of candles and candleholders. Saya wasn't sure how she managed to balance and carry all of her packages, but was happy that she did.

"Are you ready to go back, Saya-sama?" Hanryou asked his mistress.

"Not quite, there is one more store that I would like to visit. It's just a matter of finding my way. It's harder to track reitsu while in this gigai."

"Saya-sama, you're not really going to visit him, are you?"

"Of course, he's part of the reason I wanted to do my shopping in the real world. Any other time I came to the material world, I was never in Karakura Town so I wasn't able to meet him again."

Although she had to concentrate a little harder than she was used to, Saya was able to pick up on the spiritual pressure she was looking for. However, another, more sinister aura made itself known.

"Saya-sama."

"Yes, I feel it too." Saya ran towards the hollow she felt, while somehow managing to keep her packages perfectly balanced. She ended up at a park and saw people scream and run away from the violent tremors that they were unable to explain. Dust and grass were flying everywhere as the hollow tore its way through towards a young soul. It didn't take long before the playground had completely emptied and all that was left was the hollow, the soul it was chasing, and Saya.

Saya took a quick look around to make sure that everyone had cleared before she popped a soul candy into her body and emerged in her shinigami uniform. "Go hide somewhere safe for a little bit, and don't lose any of those bags." The artificial soul gave a quick nod and ran off in the opposite direction.

"What do we have here, a shinigami?" The hollow had turned its attention towards Saya. "And a tasty one at that, I can tell. Your spiritual pressure smells of high quality. I think I'll have you for dessert."

Saya unsheathed her zanpakuto and pointed it towards the hollow before looking around for the child's soul that she had seen the hollow chasing. Once she located the soul, who was cowering under the slide, she redirected her attention back to the hollow. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that you'll be dining on any souls today."

"I love it when my prey puts up a fight, it just makes you that much tastier." The hollow growled in his fiendish voice.

The hollow dove towards Saya who easily dodged by jumping up into the air. She flipped herself around and then brought her zanpakuto down, slicing off several legs before landing in a crouch a few yards away. The hollow hissed and reeled around for another attack. Again, Saya easily dodged but was surprised to see that the hollow burrowed into the ground. Saya stood still and scanned the ground, waiting for any disturbance, while reaching out with her reitsu to locate the position of the hollow.

"Stupid hollow, surely he realizes I will destroy him?" Saya mused to Hanryou.

"Watch yourself, Saya-sama."

"Of course." Saya leapt fifty feet in the air as the centipede hollow drove through the ground directly underneath her.

"You won't get away from me. I shall truly enjoy devouring your soul." The hollow laughed while chasing Saya through the air.

"Blue fire crash down." Saya said calmly, her shot skimmed the left side of his body, effectively destroying half its legs on that side.

"You missed."

"No I didn't. How fun is it for you if I took him out with kido alone?"

Saya could see Kamikaze smile from the corners of her mind. "You know I love to join in on the action, but I doubt you'll need my released form for this mediocre hollow. But, I don't mind you using me to slice through him. That will do for now."

"If that's what you'd like, Kamikaze."

Saya landed on the ground a few yards away from the hollow that was currently writhing in pain from his missing arms. It hissed at its opponent. "Damn you, shinigami." The hollow reared back and made to attack once more, Saya went to dodge but realized she had misread the hollows movements. It was making its way towards the child under the slide.

Saya flashed between the hollow and the child. The hollow was clearly caught off guard, not realizing the speed that Saya had, but seemed more determined to crush both Saya and the child beneath its body before eating their souls. Saya allowed an evil smirk to cross her lips before taking another step and slicing the hollow through from head to tail.

Hearing a whimper behind her, Saya turned to see the trembling child under the slide.

"Tell me, child. What is your name?"

The young girl started to cry and shake more violently as Saya approached her.

"Don't worry, the danger is gone. You are safe now."

"NO! You're almost just as scary! Your face, that smile you had right before you killed the monster, it was scary!"

Saya stopped and wondered if she really seemed that ruthless when fighting an enemy. "Don't you think it's a little odd that you're afraid of me when I saved you from that monster? Surely you didn't want to be eaten? Please, tell me your name." Saya gave the girl a sweet smile and knelt down so that she was on her level. Saya was still a few feet away, but didn't go closer because she didn't want to have to chase down a scared child's soul if the girl decided to run away.

"My name is Sakura." The little girl sniffed. She started thinking that Saya didn't look so scary after all. No, this woman is very beautiful, not scary like I thought.

"That's a pretty name, one of the prettiest around, ne? My name is Saya. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sakura-chan." Saya said with a bow. "Won't you come to me? I promise, you are safe." Saya stretched her arms towards the little girl. Sakura debated for a few moments then went to Saya and allowed Saya to embrace her.

"Sakura-chan, it's time for you to cross over."

"But I'm afraid. What about Mommy and Daddy? They will miss me."

"Of course they will, but they want you to be at peace. Next time, someone might not be able to save you from the scary monster with the white mask. You will make your Mommy and Daddy worry if you don't pass on. You want them to be happy, right?" Saya let the little girl nod. "Then make them proud by being a brave little girl. Don't worry; it won't hurt at all."

Sakura sniffed again. "It won't?"

"I promise." Saya waited for the little girl to nod and then she turned her zanpakuto so that the end of the hilt pointed towards the girl. After performing the soul burial, Saya watched as a pure white glow enveloped the girl and led her to the Soul Society. The look of peace and happiness on the child's face left Saya with a warm feeling and a hope that she would be lucky enough to be placed in one of the nicer districts.


"Here we are, Hanryo, the Urahara Shoten." Saya stepped inside and placed her packages down by the door. She didn't see anyone on the floor but expected that she would be greeted soon.

"Meow." Saya turned to see a black cat with piercing golden eyes looking at her.

"Hello there, kitty." Saya began to pet the cat on the ears and then scratch under its chin. The cat seemed to enjoy the attention so Saya continued to pet it. She started scratching its back and sides with her nails, the cat responded by arching its back and rubbing its head on Saya's wrists. "Who's a pretty kitty, huh? Who's so pretty? You're a pretty kitty, yes you are. You're the prettiest of kitties. So friendly little kitty… little kitty kins. You like scratched there? Yes you do. Pretty little friendly kitty likes the attention." Saya cooed over the cat who didn't seem to mind one bit.

"Can I help you, Ichijin-san?" Urahara tried not to chuckle at the site of Saya and the cat.

"Is this your cat, Urahara-san? What's its name?"

"Calling it kitty is just fine."

Saya picked up "Kitty" and held it like a newborn baby, scratching its now exposed belly. The cat purred loudly with satisfaction. "I think I might like one of these." Saya mused.

"That's a rare species, that one." Urahara studied Saya with shaded eyes, the lower half of his face covered with his fan. "It's been a long time, again. It's nice to see a familiar face, though this is now only the third time I've seen it."

Saya smiled. "I was wondering if you could help me?" She waited for the former captain to nod. "Will you check to make sure this gigai doesn't have anything odd going on with it? I acquired it from the twelfth division, and Kurotsuchi-taicho has been itching to experiment on me ever since I first met him. I just want to make sure this thing isn't bugged or under some sort of odd surveillance or some other dreadful thing that I can't think of but that crazy man would. I figured you're the best person to assess it."

"Of course, Ichijin-san, it would be my pleasure." Urahara bustled around and found a scanner of some sort, which he ran over Saya's body.

"I thought that I asked you not to call me that last time I was here?"

"Ah yes, forgive me, but old habits die hard." Urahara finished scanning Saya's gigai. "There's nothing out of the ordinary with this body, you should be fine, and Mayuri won't have anything information on you he didn't already know." Kisuke studied his old friend with an interested look in his eye. "But I'm sure the reason you came to my shop wasn't just to ask me to run a scan on your gigai."

"No, Urahara-san. Our last meeting didn't last very long and I didn't get much information out of you then."

"What makes you think you'll get much information out of me now?"

Saya glared at Urahara who immediately put both hands out in front of his body. "Just kidding Ichijin-san… we can discuss whatever you like."

"Good."

Urahara chuckled a little bit. "I wonder how many times you gave me that look under that mask you used to wear? I'm glad that I didn't have to see it, you can seem rather scary."

"So I've heard." Saya said with a smirk as she continued to pet the black cat. "Urahara-san, will you tell me about that night? The one where I revealed my face to you."

Urahara brought some tea in before starting his story. Apparently, he felt that Saya could wait another few minutes since she had already fifty-five years. "I had been waiting in my lab for some time for you. Your visits had been becoming infrequent due to the fact that you didn't approve of some of my experiments and inventions…"

"Which ones were those?" Saya interrupted.

"Now now, Ichi-Kyouraku-san, how can I finish my answer if you interrupt me?" He sang while wagging a finger at Saya. Saya smiled and waitied for him to continue. "I had already sent Mayuri home, because I knew that you wouldn't visit if he was there. Even though you hadn't been coming to see me as much, I knew the chances were always higher if I was alone, well, you would never visit me if anyone else was around. So I guess that's saying I had a one percent chance versus a zero percent chance. I was working with the hougyoku, trying to perfect some technique. I remember constantly looking up at the window you used to come through, but you didn't come through the window that night; you came through the door.

"There was a light knock; at first I tried to send you away. I didn't know who you were and I didn't really care. Besides, I had to be careful about who saw me doing what experiment. But you said that you were a new recruit and that you were scared. Hehe, you sounded like a pretty girl so I decided to let you in. I didn't really expect to see such a pretty lady standing on the other side of the door. You were wearing a pretty pink kimono with gold and silver embroidery. It wasn't anything expensive looking, just your normal off-duty type wear.

"I remember the words you said to me, 'Forgive me, Urahara-taicho, but I am new to your squad and I am nervous about performing my duties well for you. I haven't made any friends yet; I'm kind of shy. Please, would Captain mind if I spent some time in here with him tonight? I promise not to get in the way; I'll sit in the corner and be quiet if you want. But I feel lonely, and if maybe Captain would let me stay here, if only for a little while, I would feel better about being in your squad.'"

Saya experienced a new sensation that hadn't occurred to her before, her flashback came to her while she was awake. In her mind, she could see the story playing out as Kisuke described it to her. She brought her hand up and held her forehead for a moment.

"Kyouraku-san, are you okay?"

"Hai, I'm just remembering is all, please continue." Saya brought her hand away from her face and started to pet the cat that was curled up in her lap.

"You did just that. You sat in a chair and watched; you didn't make a sound, only observed me as I worked. Even though you were there, I was wondering if Ichijin would visit me. I didn't realize that the girl sitting in front of me, and my masked visitor, were one in the same. You must have noticed me looking up at the window, how could you not? "Captain, why do you keep looking at the window? It's as if you are expecting a visitor to drop by and enter through there." You said to me. 'Oh no, I wasn't expecting anyone.' I tried to lie."

"'She won't come to you, tonight.' Is what you said."

"'Who are you talking about?' I asked. I had my back turned so I didn't notice that you had stood up and started making your way to the door."

"'Your friend. She won't come to you anymore. She asked you to stop making that orb and that specialized gigai, but you clearly didn't listen to her warning. Dangerous objects like that attract dangerous people and dangerous deeds. Please, destroy it.' When I turned to look at you, you were already stepping through the door. When I asked you your name you said, 'You may call me Ichijin.'" Then you were gone. I never saw you again after that, not that I would have had the chance. I was exiled, forced to live here on earth for events that happened that night."

Saya closed her eyes. She saw her self running away from the twelfth division and entering Rukongai. Where was I going that night? Why was I going into Rukongai? "Thank you, for sharing that with me, Urahara-san. I remember now. I was wondering If you could answer me another question? Why exactly did you get exiled, what events occurred that night?"

Kisuke lowered his head slightly so that the shadow created by his hat fully covered his eyes, his face fell into a serious look. "I was framed by a colleague and was falsely accused of performing 'Hollowification' on the souls of eight other shinigami captians and lieutenants."

"That's horrible! Was the true culprit ever caught?"

"I'm afraid they got away."

"Fifty-five years ago? I probably wouldn't recognize the names of the people involved even if you told me, especially if you say they got away." Saya said. Urahara just stared at her, not correcting her assumption. "Was it someone who was ultimately after the hougyoku?"

"I have no reason to believe otherwise."

"Well, it's safe now, correct?"

"I suppose as safe as an item like that can be."

Saya was silent for a while as she stroked the black cat. "Do you know if I ever went to meet anyone else in Sereitei? My father is a shinigami, or was, I don't believe he is alive anymore."

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Urahara asked, not allowing his voice to sound too serious.

"Because he would have claimed me when I entered the academy, or at least when I entered the Protection Squads."

Kisuke looked at his visitor, who had worn a mask during her many visits decades before. The one who never shared much information. She had always seemed entertained just by watching him work; it was surprising to hear her give that information so freely. "I'm sorry, Kyouraku-san, I do not know if you visited any others. You were always very good at hiding your reitsu, so when you left my eyes I was not able to tell where you were."

Saya nodded and peered into the eyes of the cat that looked back at her and thought about the information that Urahara had just shared with her. It wasn't a great deal more, but at least she could determine that this person didn't know her attacker either. He also explained their last meeting together, which Saya was happy to know. However, she questioned why, being a member of the royal guard, she hadn't reported the information about Urahara-san's experiements and inventions? Surely she would have, unless she hadn't thought them to be a threat to the king? She had more thinking to do, more theories throw around in her own head. But right in that moment, all she wanted to do was go home to better process the new thoughts in her mind.

Saya positioned herself on her knees and bowed low to Urahara, who looked a little shocked. "Thank you for sharing that informationg with me. Thank you for telling me the truth and answering my questions. I won't disturb you any longer."

"Any time, Ichijin-san." Urahara called after Saya who was already picking up her packages and stepping out of the door.

The black cat she had been petting rubbed itself against Kisuke's ankles. "So that's the famous Ichijin?" It asked. "Do you think she knows any truth behind what happened?"

"It wouldn't surprise me if she did, the problem is, it's buried deep down in her memories." Urahara replied. "Come on, I'll get you some milk."


Souta had been feeling rather bored that entire day. He hated delivering messages to the Soutaicho. He had somehow wormed his way out of it for the last thirty years, so he wasn't surprised that he was called out directly this time. But the process hadn't changed from before. He stealthfully made his way to the Soutaicho's office, waited for him to read the long document from the king and reply with another long-winded record of some sort, then sneak his way back to the gate that led to the royal realm. Since he didn't want to be seen, he mainly stood in the office of the elderly head captain until he was done with his work. However, unlike other times, Souta had something to occupy his mind. He was sure that he was just imagining things, but he felt such a familiar reitsu when he had first entered the Sereitei. Of course, it had disappeared just as quickly, but he couldn't help but wonder if it had been…

"Please return this to His Majesty, the King." Yamamoto said while handing a rather large bundle of parchment to Souta, knocking him out of his trance.

"Hai. Thank you for your response, I will see His Majesty receives it immediately." With a quick bow, Souta started to make his way back to the gate. It was ready and waiting for him when he got there. He took his first step through and right as the gate was shutting behind him, Souta reeled around feeling the same reitsu that he had felt before. He tried to run out of the gate, but it had slammed in his face. No matter how much he wished it, he knew the gate would not open again. I am just imagining things. Saya is dead... isn't she?


Author's Note: Wow... I hope you guys aren't minding the long chapters... it just seems like there's a lot I need to get out... and I'm afraid if I shorten the chapters, I'll have 100 of them! GAH! So again, I hope you don't mind long chapters.

Thank you to: rukia23, Cara-Mae-Chan, firewaterearthwind, Ukitake-chan, SheDevil85, Fefisgbf13, Sorry Charlie for taking the time to post a review! I truly appreciate the comments and feedback that I've been getting. You're all so wonderful and I'm so lucky to have such awesome readers!

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