Kiteyama Akinoyo

"Tell me," I took a deep breath against the invisible weighted blanket covering every single part of me. "What was that thing?"

She didn't answer me—that strained concentration still painting her face, and causing guilt to surface on my own. When I first told her I lost my memories and she began to remotely accept me, she told me to fully heal and then to call upon her. I hadn't followed her orders at all—with Koizumi yesterday I didn't have that choice. While she was completely pissed about the entire situation I'd put her in yesterday, I knew that deep down she was truly furious at the fact that I didn't listen to her. I forced her to take action—Toushirou urged me not to, but in that moment I didn't see any other alternative. I'm sure she wanted to reprimand me for not listening to the veteran already, but now with what was happening, I'm sure she'd kicked me back to square one.

I didn't want the two of us to have a relationship like this; I wanted us to get along since we shared the same soul—not have this one-sided fondness. But you know what? It was my luck—it was always my fucking luck to have shit like this happen. Maybe I was being a little too much, but I honestly felt so terrible about the whole situation. Just looking at her I already knew she was giving her all to take care of what was happening outside. She said that with what happened with Koizumi she was left incapacitated, yet here she was—defending me again rather than recuperating.

I looked away from her and to the view behind her to get my mind slightly off my pessimism before I just let this weight on top of me halt my breathing altogether. Behind her were what looked like leaves; floating foliage on the surface of the water that didn't seem to drift anywhere else. There was something sticking up directly behind her that I couldn't see; her body blocking the main view, but the object and/or entity slightly in view on each side. I couldn't see anything here before other than the floating branches, and what looked like pointed boulders—did that mean that the water level was dropping?

Her deep intake of oxygen broke me from my quick thoughts. She exhaled with the same amount of effort, and when she did, that chartreuse glow began to fade. Her shoulders loosened, and she hunched forward to put her hands on each knee to take her weight—the fact that she looked drained an understatement. Her eyes remained closed, and she just breathed in silence for a few moments as that chartreuse glow faded out completely. When it did, her umber eyes opened already affixed on me. I didn't have the energy to gulp like I wanted to, but my heartbeat did manage to escalate at the intensity of her gaze.

"I ought to leave you like that to keep you from causing anymore casualties," she didn't even blink—she seriously was mad at me.

I broke eye contact and looked at the dark water my face rested in—I wouldn't like it, but I wouldn't be mad at her if she did.

A quick hand movement from her broke my lost gaze into the water and diverted it back to her. She snapped her fingers, and instantly the weight was gone, and I gasped harshly.

"You're in luck however—I am not like you. I don't imprison people against their will,"

I coughed from the rush of oxygen into me, and the light-headedness that followed with the blood rush. I couldn't say her comment didn't sting, but if I let it get to me and showed cowardice toward her, it would only make her hate me that much more. I decided to evade the topic rather than stringing together a weak apology.

"Are you okay?" I asked as soon as I caught my breath. I sat up and began edging toward her—to which she glared at me in return. Needless to say I stayed put.

"Fine—just exhausted." She replied; cracking her neck before retreating to her former position.

"What…what happened out there?" I asked cautiously.

"What I told you earlier—you lacking patience."

"Humor me."

I could feel the strong refrain from an eye-roll; she gazed forward into the moonlit lake—seriousness on her face.

"There is a part of your life I wasn't a part of. During this time, your entire existence changed—you changed. Because of your actions, you now carry a permanent plague—a plague that could lead to the death of every soul in existence. Today by letting the Shinigami dabble within you, our time has now shortened. You really shouldn't have proceeded without me," she explained.

"I don't understand." I began. "A 'permanent plague?' You mean the flower-looking thing that Kurotsuchi-Taichou extracted?"

"Yes." She answered.

I lost consciousness when he first looked at the flower in his hand. I passed out with the thought that id seen it somewhere before, but the next thing I knew I was here with her and didn't have tine to think it through—how could a flower like that possibly be malevolent? However, judging a book by its cover is never a good thing.

"What happened after they extracted it?"

"It began the cycle again."

"Cycle?"

"Yes—the cycle. For several years you had to adhere to its desires; whatever it wanted is what it got. For 57 years, you had to provide for it—you had to sacrifice the weak. It was only three years before your memory loss and abduction that you managed to seal it away—now all for not after today's events."

"Wait a minute—I had to 'sacrifice the weak' to it? Don't tell me..." I trailed.

"Would you like me to explain at a child's pace, or are you intelligent enough to assume your assumption is correct?"

I held my face in my palm—overwhelming guilt halting my breaths, and making my eyes water. I wished I could just exhale the guilt and look the other way, but my conscious…

"How many?" I asked.

"Almost every day for 57 years; several on some days—you do the math."

The urge to vomit was unreal. I slapped my palm over my mouth as my widened eyes focused on a spec in the water. My breaths began to race; hyperventilation surely on the way. I couldn't believe it…I couldn't—

"Fret not," my zanpakutou drew my attention.

"Once you learned how to properly handle it, you switched to smaller souls—from humans to animals for a more simplistic way of putting it. You scoured for Hollows primarily, but whenever the option wasn't available, you settled for small souls to suffice." She explained. While she said it to provide a little ease, it lead me to think of only one thing.

"You don't mean…children—do you?" I braced myself for the answered I needed, but didn't want to know.

"No, not children," she answered quickly; an unrecognizable expression on her face—I exhaled the most relief I could get from this horrible news. "Small animal souls primarily, although sometimes you settled for mid-sized animals."

Although with this news I was now the new poster-woman for Hell—thank you, Kami.

It felt like I had millions of questions to ask her, but I had to start with this one before I could delve into the others. "While I have so much to ask you; I need to know—what in precise detail happened today?"

"When Kurotsuchi extracted The Shinwa, its defense—"

"The what?" I interrupted—she glared at me.

"The Shinwa—that is the name of the flower." She paused to make sure I understood and wasn't going to interrupt before continuing.

"Its defense mechanism came into play. It activated, and returned to its host—you. Once that happened, it utilized you to begin the cycle once again. I woke up as it was about to execute one of your trusted comrades—I stopped it before it took the young Shinigami's life,"

Oh no. L-Little N-Nemuri…

The rush of guilt was back again; fiercer than before due to the fact that I knew her. Thank Kami that my zanpakutou…

"I had to make the sacrifice even so, however—luckily your white-haired guardian delivered before I lost control of it. I took the lives of three undesirable test subjects rather than the young Shinigami. Once it was satisfied and began receding, I let my exhaustion wash over me and your body. You are currently unconscious on the outside and will more than likely remain that way for at least a few hours." She explained.

Well, I suppose it was good news.

"I don't know how you did it, but I owe you so much for this—for saving Nemuri...thank you." I looked up at her with teary eyes.

She looked at me briefly before readjusting herself to a more proper position rather than her necessary comfort one. "I defend the prey—nothing more, nothing less."

I nodded and took deep breaths to pull myself together. She said it sternly, but I knew that there was a sliver of something else under that tough skin of hers—it made me smile albeit it being just a ghost of one. I straightened myself up as well—taking a more formal position rather than the sprawled form I was in like the unclassy female I was. She studied me as I repositioned myself—more than likely thinking the exact same thing and debating on chiding commentary.

"So then, this flower—The Shinwa—requires sacrifices. Why?" I asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." She replied.

"Implying?"

"Implying that I have limited information of it. I know only what you allowed me to know—the rest you kept hidden from even me."

Well. I didn't see that one coming.

"I…I see," I replied with a slight loss of words. Just what was my past self thinking? This is such shit. "What do you know then?"

"About it specifically; the same as you—its malevolent, requires a blood sacrifice to survive, and is permanently rooted within you. It was removed today, but even so immediately retreated back into you with ease." She reiterated.

"Why?" I half-assed.

"Why what?" she prompted me to complete my question.

"Why is it in me in the first place? Why weren't you a part of the time period that it was placed within me? Why wasn't it—"

"Okay, enough rambling," she cut me off. "Must I constantly remind you how your lack of tact infuriates me?"

"Must I remind you how much of a fucked up situation this is, and how pertinent the information you're taking your sweet-ass time to tell me is? There is a blood sucking monstrosity inside me and you're over here evading answering me directly!" I shot back.

She shook her head with an annoyed line on her lips. "What a character,"

"Can you just tell me everything in detail?" I spat in frustration.

"Everything? That's a broad request,"

"What happened to that wit your hold so highly? Yes I want to know everything about everything, but now isn't the time—I want to know all pertaining to this plague I'm carrying around. Why do I have it? Why weren't you there? How did you come back? How were you able to suppress it? And lastly—and most importantly—how can I seal it again?"

She looked into my determined eyes, shaking her head lightly as she looked away. "Come," she ordered as she began to rise.

I immediately followed suit, and rose as quickly as possible. She proceeded opposite from the—what I now could see—treetop behind her, and began crossing over the vast lake toward the direction of the moon. Now that I was up and actually looking around, the water level had dropped significantly since I was last here—in front of us were the tops of the mountains she described before. The moon behind them highlighted the tips of the granite; illuminating in a fine white line the tops of them as they stretched out toward our right—their height enough even from this distance to make me wonder just how insanely deep this water really was. There were a few trees sticking up out of the water along the granite; looking not more than my own height in size, but thick enough for me to tell that these trees were massive. I realized as I was looking at the surroundings, I began to fall behind.

I tried to not scurry, but I did manage to catch up and keep up with her lengthy stride and the rhythmic taps of her light-heeled boots on the water. I had to say that seeing her from behind only added more majesty to her—she looked so fierce with her deep green cloak lightly flowing behind her confident movement. I couldn't say I wasn't the least bit envious. She was what I strived to be—confident, self-sustaining, fierce, beautiful, elegant as well as eloquent, captivating, intelligent; I was fierce when it came to attitude and decently intellectual at most while she was just all of those on steroids at once. Although I definitely could go without any of her damn arrogant, pretentious, and endowed mannerisms that accompanied all that—it was that stupid privileged personality that I hated the most. It could just be a façade because of her bubbling hate for me though—who knows.

We arrived at the granite mountain face after a few minutes of silence, and from where we stood in the shadow of the mountain, the moon barely peeked over the top of it. She stood facing the mountain; stretching her arms out in front of her before she turned to look at me.

"The only upside of you being the host is that whenever there is harm dealt to you—externally or internally—The Shinwa immediately heals your wounds upon activation. I can phase through attacks, but I can't heal them," she took a quick breath before bringing her hands together to touch her palms.

"Without its recent activation, I could have only gotten so far with this,"

In as quick motion, she twirled her wrists so that now the backs of her hands were touching rather than her palms. Her fingers curved inward as if she took a grip on an invisible object, and with a pump of her power, she began separating her hands—as if pulling apart two objects. At first I was confused by her action, but with a loud crack, my head shot in the direction of the mountain.

The water rippled furiously, and immediately chunks of broken granite came tumbling down the mountain to plummet into the water and cause huge waves to come rolling toward us. From where we stood, the waves scaled as high as my upper thigh, and although I should have been worried about the waves taking us out—I was too in awe of the scene before me. The very mountain was separating. I knew that this was her world, but regardless this was too impressive for me to ignore—my zanpakutou was powerful, and the fact that she was a part of me made me feel a step above honored.

After seconds of struggle, her tense shoulders began to settle; the hardly shaky movement now controlled after her exhale as her hands quickly separated and relaxed for a moment on her sides. With a light, almost sway, both hands gracefully met outstretched in front of her—the tips of her thumbs and forefingers meeting to form a soft diamond with the open space she'd created by the placement, and as I watched her, the mountain sounded again—not as loud a cracking as before, but a low rumble seemingly in accordance with her will. I looked back to the mountain to see the crack she made at top begin to close—a hole in the shape of that soft diamond her hands formed as a result of her work; the moonlight beaming through and lighting up her face. She remedied the crack to the point that I could hardly tell she did anything in the first place, the amount of power it must've taken for her to accomplish this still freshly smacking me in the face with dumbfounded awe.

Her arms dropped, and she took a quick breath before turning to me. The look of shock was still dominant on my face—causing a ghost of a smile on hers.

"Come." She ordered; turning around so her back faced the mountain, and pointing her finger down in front of her.

I shook myself mentally out of my trance, and quickly did as instructed. I faced her directly—the beam of moonlight blocked by her in front of me—and looked up into her eyes with as much determination and bravado I could muster.

"Don't move."

In an instant, she disappeared—the moonlight through the crevice blinding me; all senses failing immediately as my pupils shrank.

-x-x-

"Aki…chan…"

My hands came into view.

A windowsill caught my periphery, but my head wouldn't turn to look—my eyes focused on my hands that busily stitched the torso of a small stuffed, cloth poppet.

"Give me a moment," my voice replied against my own accord—what the fuck was going on here?

A small cough sounded from behind me, and I tried again to turn my head to look but to no avail. I tried speaking next, but my mouth didn't move, and my vocal chords didn't react—it didn't make sense to me. The reply was definitely my voice, and the hands stitching the doll back together were mine, and yet I couldn't—

Ah.

The moonlight—my zanpakutou…

I was reliving my own memories.

"Aki…chan…" the voice of the young girl called again. She sounded so weak; something was wrong, and as much as I wanted to know—I didn't at the same time.

I didn't reply, but finished sewing the doll together with intense focus—completing the quick patch-work with a small knot on the thread. I rose the doll to my lips, and bit the excess string off; pulling the doll back to inspect if I'd taken off enough. I felt a small smile of accomplishment tug the corner of my lips at my work, and I shifted my legs to help me stand.

With a quick turn and a brief gaze; I was in some sort of shack—literally a large room with poorly-sewn together fabrics that covered the window previously on my right, and the threshold of what I assumed was the front entrance now currently to my left and behind me. The room was bare; a small basket in the corner next to a small patch of dirt that looked like it was meant for building a fire—the roof above it with an improvised hole for ventilation.

Next to the plot of dirt, a small head of black head stuck out from under the blanket of a futon on the floor—I approached the tiny person as I stuck the needle and thread securely in my poorly constructed pocket of what I assumed as a winter yukata. I took to my knees beside her—her face covered by the thick blanket and all her limbs tucked in and leaving an outline over the sheet of a fetal position. I reached and took the edge of the blanket—my face still formed in a light-hearted smile, but my eyes straining and threatening to flood, and my throat hollow from the visual.

Two earth-brown eyes looked up at me through a mess of black hair covering her entire face as I pulled the blanket down below her chin. The young girl had very pale skin, and very petite features—her cheeks lightly sunken in, and eyes with dark circles underneath them. Just by looking at her; she was just a little older than Kazui—she reminded me a lot of Nemuri albeit not possessing a full, healthy face. Her lips formed almost a straight line; without a doubt she was stricken with some sort of ailment, and was in pain. The context clues told me leaving this futon wasn't an option for her—playing, and acting her age was out of the question.

I gasped audibly—I assumed as some sort of act—and dropped the blanket.

"Where has she gone?" my hand went to cover my mouth in shock. I looked back and forth around the room in false urgency before looking at the doll in my other hand.

"She called me a few moments ago, but now I can't find her!" I exclaimed to the doll. "Did you see where Mai has gone?"

The girl—Mai—sneezed, and I dramatically froze. I pulled the doll closer to me; eyes shifting back and forth with falsified caution. "Did you hear that, Hikari?" I asked the doll.

A small, barely audible giggle came from the girl at my reaction, and at the giggle my eyes zeroed in on the location.

"That sounds like Mai's laughter…but I don't see her—do you?" I asked the doll—moving its head with my thumb for its answer.

"I-I'm right…here," Mai tried to exclaim loud enough for me to hear.

I gasped again. "Mai? Is that you?"

I could hear the giggle coming from her, and it was then I decided to smile mischievously and lean down to her face level. "Wait a minute, Hikari—there's something under the blanket after all!"

I placed my fingers on Mai's forehead, and moved some of the hair out of here face; gasping excitedly as I did. "Mai! You were here all along!" I smiled at her—receiving a weak, but bright smile from her in return.

Just watching this scene was making me want to cry. I had no idea just what the exact problem here was, but Kami—what kind of horrendous fortune was this?

"Look at my little Mai—hidden underneath the bird's nest of a hair style…I couldn't see her beautiful face! What a clever cloak—wasn't it, Hikari?" I asked the doll as I made it nod.

I smiled at her, and continued tucking away her hair so it wouldn't fall back over her face. "Would you like to sit in the sun while I comb your hair?" I asked—she nodded.

I caressed her cheek briefly, and leaned over by the fire-less dirt patch to reach for a small comb that was amongst other artifacts. I put it into my pocket, and took the blanket off of Mai—a full visual of her frail arms legs, and body drowning in a loose yukata making my heart sink. I picked her little body up, and balanced her on my right hip—flashbacks of holding Kazui zipping through my mind—and supported her with my right arm while the blanket she previously was under in my left.

We walked outside and I placed her down on one of the smooth stones that lead to the entryway, then wrapped her up in the blanket to keep out the cold breeze. My own body shivered as I kneeled down to sit behind her; making my position comfortable as I seized her thin, shoulder-blade length hair from under the blanket. I took out the comb and began to sift it through her hair; humming a light tune in hopes of keeping the mood light.

"How does the sun feel? Is it wonderful?" I asked her—receiving a small nod as her answer.

I kept going with untangling her hair; utilizing this moment to pay attention to my periphery for a better look exactly where we were. It looked like some sort of aged, run-down area—maybe it was the place Toushirou called the Rukongai? Regardless, something about this place didn't feel safe; I didn't know what this girl was to me, but fear was what this place left me with—fear that something was going to happen to Mai.

The sound of children laughing caught my attention. My head shifted to look to the right—view of other shacks coming into view, and three small children pushing each other and running around. Mai's head turned to look, and when it did, I looked back down at her with a serious gaze on my face.

Her hickory eyes focused on them—an emotion I knew well surfacing to cause my breathing to stutter. Her little smile I managed to help her muster dropped slowly back down to that straight line on her lips, and I knew that two emotions were hitting her in full effect.

The kids disappeared into the side of one of the houses, and I resumed combing out her hair as delicately as possible. I had continued my humming throughout the entire scene for what I assumed was in hopes of easing her, but her next frail words smashed that hope into the ground.

"W-When…can I play…too?" she asked.

Kami I was dying. Granted, I currently didn't know what her ailment was, but by the look and feel of it—Mai more than likely didn't have too much longer to live. How could my past self not—

As I went to answer, the feeling of eyes on me had my head snap to the left. A man garbed with a brown cloak leaned against the side of some type of public establishment. While people trekked and buzzed about, his eyes were on me—his eyes cold with a gaze I knew meant business.

I broke the visual contact, and turned forward to look down at her small head.

"Soon, my little one—I promise."

The memory of myself with Mai changed instantly—a new memory taking it's place immediately.

I was walking behind a man and toward some type of huge building that I couldn't catch in my periphery. My eyes were focused on the ground in front of me—catching glimpses of where each of his feet would lift for his next step, and watching his hakuma sway with the movement.

"Are you sure you can trust these people?" my zanpakutou's voice asked in my memory.

The man and I arrived at the doors; two men opening them and allowing us to enter. I looked up to see the establishment—a formal front room meant for gatherings it appeared. Two men sat at the chabudai on the right side while one centered, empty zabudon was on the other side.

"Ah, welcome Kiteyama-san! Thank you for coming," the man closest to us turned to formally bow.

I returned the gesture, and upon my rise, the man I followed in here directed me to take the empty seat before moving to stand by the entrance. I removed my shoes and did so; my facial expression stern and unmoving when I looked back up at the two—both of their eyes on me.

The one on the right that greeted me was rather tall even sitting down. He had dark blue hair that was cut short everywhere aside from a single braid that came from the back of his head and rested on his yellow-garbed, partially visible chest. He was dressed formally as the other man was, and leaned back casually to promote ease within me—clearly failing based on how rigid my body felt.

The other man was of average height; dressed in blue and with short black hair with no abnormal hair-do. He seemed much more serious than the other man, and made me feel like he was the backup if something went wrong—the muscle that wouldn't let any action other than casual, bodily mannerisms pass.

This whole situation just seemed treacherous based from the vibe the two of them gave off—the fact that both of them were also armed with what looked like zanpakutou not eradicating any shred of doubt. While I wanted to question why I was with these people in the first place, I had a feeling I already knew the answer…

"Kiteyama-san, I would like to begin by saying that we couldn't be more ecstatic at your willingness to participate in our research study. Without you, the impossible would remain just that—impossible. With your—"

"I beg your pardon, but your spiel will be wasted on deaf ears if I allow you to continue." I cut in—the look on his face from my abrupt action was priceless.

"I'm not here to be convinced of how your association wants to better the world. I am solely here for one reason—the only reason that matters to me. What your goals are mean little to me. I am here to inquire about the marketing pitch of your associate—the cure of any ailment. I will devote myself to you when and if this pitch proves truthful. You seek females with enough reiatsu to become shinigami—implying you need women with enough strength to manipulate reishi, or battle. I am able to execute both, but am only willing to under the following conditions: First—As soon as the research or capture of the element is complete, I will be the first to use it. Second—No harm will come to fellow souls. If Hollows are in our way or are necessary, then I will take care of it, but if our fellow Rukongai civilians—although loathsome—are involved, you can consider my contract null and void." I firmly explained.

Blue-Braid leaned forward on the chabudai and set his elbows on the surface; lacing his fingers together as his chin came forward to contact them.

"My, such a firm resolve you possess—all the better! You seem like a woman possessing above the average intellect—I like you, Kiteyama-san! You show such a fierce determination—you're going to do so well! Normally, I wouldn't do this, but since you show that you mean business and business only, I'll do it for you," he snapped his fingers, and when he did the man on his left paled.

The man that guided me here left momentarily, and while he was away, Blue-Braid began again.

"No doubt you're here to help someone rather than just yourself I would assume. I want to show you that we are serious, and have a realistic endeavor, Kiteyama-san. Based on your character, I know that you would turn away unless given proof—am I correct?" he asked—I nodded.

The man came back; a clothed covered object in his hands as he approached. He set the object on the chabudai in front of Blue-Braid, and with a quick nod retreated to his prior post.

"What I'm about to show you is an abnormality we were fortunate to get our hands on," he took the cloth in his hand, "This…" He pulled the cloth off the glass casing,"…is The Shinwa."

The flower I'd seen come out of me while Kurotsuchi's table was in the glass—missing two of the five petals I remembered it having, and the pale white from before tainted with hues of deteriorating yellow.

My eyes narrowed on it due to the fact that at the time it was the first I ever saw of it, and while I gazed at it, Blue-Braid's quick movement had me lean back and place my hand on the hilt of my zanpakutou.

In an instant, he unsheathed his katana, and stabbed the other man's abdomen.

I quickly leapt from my seat, and unsheathed my zanpakutou as the man screeched in pain.

"Hold on!" Blue-Braid exclaimed—his free hand outstretched with a halting gesture. "Watch!"

The stabbed man fell forward against the chabudai in agony as he held his side, and Blue-Braid quickly took his katana and gathered some of the blood from it in between his thumb and forefinger as he slid his hand down along the side of the blade. Once the blood was gathered, he placed his katana down on the chabudai, and lifted the glass just enough for the roots to be exposed. I could feel his reiatsu building, and as he stuck his bloodied fingers inside to touch the roots, he channeled his reiatsu to those same fingertips.

The Shinwa's roots scrambled at the touch, and at the receipt of the offering, glowed a golden aura as it expanded its petals.

Within a moment, the man gasping and choking from the wound glowed that same color—his choked gasps transforming into healthy intakes as if he'd been revitalized in the blink of an eye. He rose back up with his eyes closed and leaned back against the zabudon; cracking his neck and taking a controlled breath through his nostrils before the glow around him faded. He opened his eyes to look at me, and when the glow from both him and the Shinwa was gone completely, he lifted the fabric of his shredded clothing to show me that his wound was gone.

"See, Kiteyama-san? We were not lying when we said that we have the cure for all ailments," Blue-Braid smiled as he set down the glass to once again seal the Shinwa. "With your help, we can help everyone," he covered the Shinwa; snapping his fingers to summon the man to take it away.

I cautiously sheathed my zanpakutou, and as I did she spoke words of caution.

"Thaumaturgy such as this is not something to be taken lightly, Akinoyo,"

At the click of the guard meeting the sheath, my hand hesitantly remained on the hilt. I had a feeling that I already knew the thought-process going through my head at that moment in time, but I sincerely wished that I could at least hear the thoughts racing through my mind.

I cautiously stepped forward toward them, and took a seat slowly where I sat previously. I placed on my elbows on the table, and finger-laced hands against my chin.

"You have my attention."

The scene changed again.

I was running through the darkness of the night.

My heartbeat and breaths strained and racing as I haphazardly ran barefoot in the mud as fast as possible.

"What is happening, Akinoyo?" she shouted in my mind.

My grip on her tightened as I continued my sprint. It was only then that I felt my eyes watering. I held myself together; ignoring the protest of my zanpakutou to continue forward.

I cut through several corners and alleyways—passing by common street dwellers and making them rise and shout at me. I ignored all of them—all offers for assistance and just kept running.

Finally, I approached the familiar cobblestone pathway from my prior memory, and I nearly slipped trying to come to a stop at the door.

"Eriko!" I screeched; pounding on the door. "Open the door!"

The urgency and the emotion coursing through me was too much to bear even from the perspective I was in—I was panicking just watching.

A blonde-haired woman opened the door, and as she spoke my name in question and fear, I pushed passed her without even the slightest of acknowledgment. I dropped to my knees in front of Mai—she was in her futon like I'd seen her before; eyes staring at me in fear.

"A-Aki—" she started.

"We're leaving—now." I cut her off.

"What's going on?" Eriko began to panic.

"Get out of here right now, Eriko—get as far away from here as possible. I don't want to know where you go—just get your things and leave." I instructed as I picked up Mai and wrapped her in her blanket around her torso tightly.

"W-What? W-W—"

"Stop asking questions and go!" I spat and turned to glare at her.

One look at my face had the woman's lip quivering—she didn't quiver just moments ago at the sight of me…

In a blink, her facial expression changed to seriousness. She turned away and prepped items to take.

"Where will you go?" she asked as she frantically gathered items.

"Away."

I took some sort of long, thick cloth that was the same width as a thick bandage, and I picked up Mai and slung her on my back—the fragile girl crying and whimpering in silence as she weakly draped her arms around my neck and placed her feet on my zanpakutou horizontally placed on my lower back. Once she was on, I wrapped the linen around both of us as a make-shift rope to keep her secure on me; tying the knot quickly over my chest.

"Thank you for taking care of Mai. I will repay my debt to you one day—count on it." I told her as I stood up and fixed my obi so that my zanpakutou could hold Mai's weight.

I turned to look at the blonde woman; my face still intimidating based off her expression. "Don't tell anyone where you are—lay low, and stay out of sight, Eriko." I placed my hand on her shoulder briefly, and took off before she could say her reply.

I took off running—Mai's whimpering hurting my heart, but fueling me to keep going. We soon left the town and into the thick forest after several minutes if running; I was so cold and so tired that I couldn't feel my limbs anymore—I could only imagine how Mai must've been feeling with her already naturally colder temperature body.

"Akinoyo—you must tell me what happened. It's been almost seven months—what did have they done to you? Did the Shinwa—"

"The less you know—the better. All that you need to know at this moment is to be prepared—we're being hunted." I cut her off.

I didn't need to hear my zanpakutou's reply to feel her skepticism and hurt from the lack of trust toward her. After still-aired seconds, she finally replied with restraint, and just pure obedience.

"Understood."

A cough from Mai sounded; cementing the end of our mental conversation as her little right hand left my shoulder to cover her mouth.

"Are you okay, Mai?" I halted—utilizing the opportunity to catch my breath.

I squatted down panting, and turned my head to look at her over my shoulder the best I could. Her coughing wasn't stopping. I hadn't seen her body ever lurch like it was, but I could tell that it was hurting her even without the anxiety and heavy concern plaguing me.

"Mai—"

Thick, hot liquid splattered on the side of my face. My eyes widened and breath hollowed when I saw the red splattered all over her hand and on her lips.

"Mai!"

I quickly untied the cloth that fastened her to me; making sure she didn't just plop down as soon as the hold let out. I took hold of her and set her down gently; turning to her immediately and loosening the blanket so her chest was less restrained. She was barely able to sit up; she leaned on me for support.

"Has it gotten worse, Mai?" I asked her—a small movement of her head telling me yes. "Damn it!" I sneered.

She continued coughing up the blood, and my tears only worsened as my anger amplified.

Day break lit the forest in a soft, peach color, and I looked around to see if anyone was in the vicinity. Only birds chirped in the dawn's light, and the cold wind rustled the leaves on the ground. I took a deep breath; almost as if the intake finalized a weary decision.

"Mai," I cooed—the ebony-haired porcelain doll trying her best to give me her attention.

"It's time for this to end. I don't want you to suffer any longer," I told her.

Her coughing halted, and her bloodied face looked up at me exhausted and scared at my words.

"C-Can…I…p-p-play now?" she asked before another cough almost shattered her ribs.

I took her face in my icy hands; my tears running over my trembling lips dripping down.

"Yes, my love," I paused to smile at her in hopes to calm her tremors. "I will heal you, and when we arrive at our new home, the first thing we will do when we're settled is to run in the fields together, and bask in the sunlight as we lay in the grassy plains laughing and smiling—I promise." I told her.

She sniffled, and the corners of her lips turned up in the biggest smile she could muster.

"I…can't wait…N-Nee-chan," she looked up at me.

I bit my lip and nodded; wiping my tears off with my palm before wiping her bloodied mouth with my sleeve.

I gently coaxed her to a comfortable position on the ground; her back straight so she could still see what I was doing rather than toppling into the leaves.

I backed up just a fraction to make space between us, and my hand went to the hilt of my zanpakutou.

"Akinoyo—what are you doing?" My zanpakutou questioned almost frantically.

I unsheathed her, and held her blade out between us.

"I went away to help you get better Mai," I began.

I held out my arm, and slowly sliced my forearm—Mai gasping at my action.

"I can make you better now," I continued as I dropped my zanpakutou on the ground.

I reached up to my face, and swiped off a good amount of the blood she coughed on my cheek into my two forefingers; bringing it down to smear it into my open wound.

"Be still, Mai—this will only take a moment,"

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, channeling a reiatsu I now knew very well from my two recent experiences. The same reiatsu that Koizumi Fumiko drew—the same reiatsu I felt on Kurotsuchi's table…

I could feel it pulsating through me—a tremendous, malevolent force dominating my entire being in an instant. I took that aura trapped within me, and exuded it from my core with a confidence and authoritative persistence that took all the willpower within me to execute. I could feel the warm glow of it all over the surface of my skin—possessive as it caressed me—attempting to win me over by seduction. I held firm resolve—I was going to be the guide whether it liked it or not.

I could feel it zeroing in on the foreign blood I'd put in my wound, and when I did, I channeled my own reiatsu to coax it to focus on what I wanted.

Mai gasped in the same way the man from my other memory had. I looked up at her to see the golden glow emanating from her, and could feel The Shinwa bending to my will and entering into her. She didn't convulse, but it looked as if something took over her for a fraction of a second—which in this case was the case.

She looked up at me—her face with a healthy glow, and her eyes brighter than the morning sun—and smiled. Her little hands rose to touch her face, and fresh tears emerged to the edge of her two tiny seas—tears different from the ones that panged my heart.

"I…I feel good," she grinned—actually grinned. She reached and took my hands with a new speed I didn't think possible, and squeezed my hands with newfound strength.

"I…Nee-chan…I—"

That happy, healthy glow disappeared as quickly as the flick of a light-switch.

The golden aura emanating from her had changed to black, and her face lost all shreds of emotion except for one.

"Mai?" I took hold of her shoulders. "Mai, what—"

The loudest scream I'd ever heard erupted from her.

Her skin moved with a rushed current that made her skin look like water. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and her body rose on its own accord.

I pushed her down; screaming her name over and over again—my heart racing and my breaths choked and painful from the fear and shock coarsing through me.

The force of her overpowered me, and she rose above my head as her body convulsed and moved sporadically. I stood up to try to bring her down, and when I reached for her my mind went blank.

Loud snapping, and the view of her limbs twisting and curling in on each other as if a crazed puppeteer jerked and tangled his strings together made me freeze in horror.

She…she was…

The blood rushing within her erupted out of her broken skin. In an instant, her body curled inward as if every drop of it were being extracted out so she was just a sack of bones and flesh. It all gathered into one floating pool manipulated by that dark aura, and it created a path straight to me.

It was then I realized I couldn't control my limbs.

Mai's body thumped on to the ground, and instantly that stream of blood began to caress the surface of my bare skin. In as little as two seconds, my skin absorbed it like earth absorbing water—a faint trace of it left on my skin for just moments before it appeared as if nothing even happened.

The black aura around me, and that overwhelming and terrifying reiatsu ceased after a few more moments. Once I regained control of my body, I could only do one thing…

Scream.

-x-x-

My body fell forward, and my outstretched palms caught my fall. The tears from my eyes fell onto the surface of the familiar murky water, and I watched through blurred eyes as the water rippled outward; choking sobs unavoidable.

"They told you it was necessary to suppress me," the voice of my zanpakutou caught me. "They said that it would only be during their research, and that on the off time they would remove the hold on me."

I could see her reflection next to me, but I didn't have the mental stamina to rise after the horrible memory that I almost wish I had never seen.

"They lied to you. They kept you hostage, and used you for their bidding. You never told me what happened because you insisted that the less I knew about it, the better. Now with your current state, I understand why you sealed me away—I don't agree with it, but I understand your previous intent." She paused to see if I'd say anything, and when I didn't she continued.

"You did it all for her—the young soul that meant the world to you. After that happened, you went into a rage I'd never seen before. You trained to become stronger solely for the intent to slaughter the ones that you believed caused this. Your sorrow fueled you enough to become a Shinigami in hopes of honing your abilities and extracting your revenge on them. However, even with several years passing, you still weren't strong enough to face them. We improved tremendously together, and you finally began to heal from the ordeal and make mental progress with me—but it still wasn't enough."

I was whimpering now; my sobbing almost uncontrollable, and my shoulders quivering with such a new fear that I couldn't even grasp.

The water rippled beside me; her presence next to me surprising, but not as surprising as what she did next.

Her hand set on my shoulder—I looked at her and tried to straighten myself up, but to no avail.

"Our powers have increased tremendously since that day with Mai. With the situation currently, we can overcome the cards we've been dealt by working together—meaning you have to heed my warnings, and accept that things may not be able to play in your favor."

I sat up so that I faced her properly; wiping my face on my sleeve so she knew that I was giving her my full attention, and was taking in her words.

"While I am still hurt from everything that has happened, I've decided that even though holding a grudge against you sounds delightful, we need to put aside our differences and proceed forward together from this point on. I need to know from you here and now—are you prepared and willing to work with me?"

I nodded fiercely; taking a deep breath and staring into her umber eyes sternly.

"Yes—I am." I told her.

The corner of her lip turned up in a small smile at my reply. She took her hand back from my shoulder, and that smile turned back to the serious façade she donned previously.

"Please, hear my name this time…"

I focused as hard as I could; a silent plea to Kami for this to work.

"Musei no Koe."