Amaya stood on shaky legs in the middle of the main courtyard outside of the Squad one Barracks. Today was the day and there was no going back now. She looked around with anxious eyes seeing the many different expressions of the 13 Captains, their Lieutenants and even the lower seated officers that had gathered to witness her being brought into her powers. Word had spread quickly about the possibility of her being a Substitute Soul Reaper and there were a lot of divided opinions on whether or not her powers should be activated, it seemed even after Aizen had shown he really had no intention of deceiving anyone any further, people still didn't trust him and that mistrust was also placed on her for loving him. She stole a quick glance over at him as he stood next to the Head Captain and he gave her an encouraging nod. She pushed the horrific sound of mingled voices away from her mind and focused on the Soul Reaper who stood in front of her holding his unsheathed zanpakuto.

Ikkaku Madarame stood facing the small woman he was about too impale with his blade. He understood the consequences if things did not turn out the way they all hoped and he was ready to take accountability for anything that may go wrong. Amaya had come to him two days ago dead set on accepting his offer and the Lieutenant of Squad 11 was not the type of man to go back on his word. After speaking with the woman and getting his Captain's permission to go forward they had decided on giving her and Aizen two more days together.

"You still okay with this?" he heard his Captain's deep voice speak as he walked up next to him.

Ikkaku nodded.

Kenpachi stepped away from his Lieutenant and Ikkaku followed him with his gaze. He knew his Captain would expect him to follow through with what he had agreed too. His gaze fell on the emotional expression of his Captain's woman and he had to admit he understood her apprehension but he turned his body and re-faced the pretty young blond woman and stepped forward.

"You ready?" he asked her simply.

Amaya's dark brown eyes narrowed as she mentally prepared herself to take his strike and Ikkaku couldn't help but be impressed by the small woman's resolve. There were grown men who wouldn't be as calm as she was when faced with his blade. Ikkaku gripped the hilt of his zanpakuto and lifted the blade to align with the middle of the woman's chest right in line with her Soul Chain.

"Let's do this Hozukimaru, my old friend." He spoke to his blade as he lifted his left hand and covered his right wrist and with little effort he released his Reiatsu sending a wave of bright red energy down the blade. He met the young woman's intense gaze as he stepped forward and in one quick jerking motion he thrust his blade right in the middle of her chest.

"Ugh!"

He heard Amaya's grunt of pain as the blade hit its mark pushing clean threw her chest all the way out her back.

Ikkaku forced his Reiatsu to fill the wound created and a shockwave of energy spread up his arm as her powers mixed with his. It was almost like his Reiatsu was acting like a battery charging her up as a breathtaking bright milky white energy surrounded her body and right at the center of her chest were their powers mingled it created the most vivid shade of pink he had ever seen. He had been told by the Squad 12 Captain not too rush when receding his blade and to be absolutely certain that their Reiatsu's mixed before doing so. Ikkaku gripped her right shoulder with his left hand and pulled his zanpakuto free from the woman's chest.

She didn't fall forward like he had originally expected but stayed standing as her white Reiatsu began to swirl in front of her exposed Soul Chain. Ikkaku kept his grip on the young woman as he witnessed her Soul Reaper powers manifest before his eyes, she wouldn't have much of a physical change with her already being in the Soul Society, but he could tell the difference in her Spiritual Pressure and he knew that she was now in her Soul form. Slowly the wound he had inflicted closed over as if he hadn't even stabbed her. He caught a glimpse of metal in his peripheral vision and he heard the many gasps and shocked intakes of breathe that surrounded them. He looked down and couldn't help but smile when he seen that she was in fact now holding her own zanpakuto in her small hand. There had been debate on whether or not it would manifest on its own or if she would need to be given one that was blank, the same kind given to the new recruits who joined the academy. The hilt was pearl white with a line of deep crimson that ran all the way down the thin blade straight to its tip.

Amaya's gaze met Ikkaku's as he kept his hand firmly placed on her shoulder. She could feel the simmering energy of her own Reiatsu as the white energy finished healing the wound in her chest. She had to admit she could already feel the difference when it came to her strength and her mind had never been clearer. Instead of the inner voices around her bombarding her at once she was able to sift through each person's reaction one by one almost as if she were capable of slowing down time in order to latch on to each individual thought that was around her. She closed her eyes in order to concentrate on the blade she held in her hand, she knew it was more than just a simple weapon but a part of her very essence a friend she would one day learn the name of and together they would create an inseparable bond as they learned to fight alongside each other. She couldn't hear anything more than the playlist of other people's internal thoughts but she didn't let that hinder her good mood. She had survived just as Aizen had told her she would and her chest filled with so much pride as she gripped the hilt of her zanpakuto.

"Welcome to the Gotei 13, Substitute." She heard Ikkaku's gruff voice speak.

She could hear from his tone that he too was proud of her and she didn't have to ask him why. She could already hear that he respected her resolve and she was happy to understand that he now considered her his comrade even if she wasn't a part of his Squad.

Ikkaku stepped back and placed his zanpakuto back into its sheathe as Sosuke Aizen stepped forward and took ahold of the new Substitute Soul Reaper in his arms and covered her mouth with his.

"I'll be damned...I guess your theory was right." The head Captain smiled as he spoke to the Captain of Squad 12 who looked to be beaming with utter excitement as he kept his gaze on the small woman.

"I'm so glad this is over." Isane Kotetsu commented seeming to finally be able to catch her breathe.

"You and me, both." The head Captain replied with a smile.

Linake stood completely dumbfounded by what she had just witnessed. Her best friend had just transformed in front of her eyes and she could literally feel Amaya's Spiritual Pressure as it continued to pool around her and Sosuke. It was such a beautiful sight to see and it left Linake feeling foolish for her doubts. She felt Kenpachi's arm wrap around her waist as he pulled her up against his side and looked down at her.

"You can breathe easy now, Woman." He commented.

Linake lifted her head and looked up at him as more tears fell from her cheeks, this time they came straight from the overwhelming relief and happiness that she felt for her friend and she couldn't stop the smile that spread across her lips.

She heard her rough warrior sigh heavily as he noticed the tears that fell. He his prominent brow lifted as he took ahold of her face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe them away. She sniffed and let out a small laugh as she looked up at him. She was beginning to realize that her crying wasn't a weakness to him at all, he just didn't like seeing her upset because it seemed to have an emotional effect on him as well and it was his own emotions that he viewed as a weakness. Linake pulled back and looked back over at her friend as the Head Captain wrapped his arms around her giving her a hug.

"Go." Kenpachi encouraged her.

Linake nodded to him before she left his side and walked over to her friend. Amaya turned and met Linake's gaze and she smiled. She paused and handed her newly manifested zanpakuto over to Sosuke and he accepted the duty of holding it for her as she stepped close to Linake and the two women pulled each other into a tight embrace.

"I never want to go through something this scary ever again." Linake admitted.

Amaya laughed softly before she replied.

"I know what you mean. Thank you for supporting me anyway."

"I'll always support you, no matter what it is I will always have you're back." Linake stated.

Amaya felt the sting of emotional tears burning her eyes and she didn't try to fight them, she was just too happy not to let them fall, She had everything she could have ever asked for in life even if it had turned out to be a bizarre twist of events for her she wouldn't change it for the world. She no longer felt like she had to fit the mold of other humans or hide her differences from anyone anymore. She had found her place and it was here within the Soul Society with Linake the other Soul Reapers and Her immortal man.