I woke up slowly to see white, white everywhere. Slowly I stood and rubbed my arms then realized I felt cold, an uncommon feeling especially in just a mild snowstorm. I looked around and saw I was on a mountainside in a valley of white, no trees or any signs of life in sight. When I turned back however there was a single cave and a dead tree beside it. At the top of the tree was a nest and inside a single egg. If I really were stuck on this mountain then that egg would be my only source of food. I ran through the snow, feeling my legs grown numb, then jumped up and grabbed the nearest branch. After climbing to the top I smiled and saw the egg in my reach.

I grabbed the nest and carried the egg down with me then went into the cave. It was cold, no doubt of that, as I set the nest down and rubbed my arms. Fire, had to make a fire. I broke off a few branches and laid those down then took the straw from the nest and put that on top. I put my hands out and was surprised to find no flame come out. Great, this is just fucking great. Ok think of those shows when the people get stuck in the middle of nowhere and need to make fire. I don't have any stoned but what about that twisting the stick thing? I took one of the smaller sticks and put it on the straw before twisting it rapidly. A few moments later sparks formed and I shouted happily when the fire lit.

Outside there was a loud rumble and I watched helplessly as snow fell down the mountain then blocked me in the cave. Ok, looks like things CAN get worse. I sighed but watched as the fire picked up. Thankfully it was at least getting warmer. I picked up the egg from beside me and held it in my hand. It was a fairly normal looking egg other than its size. The thing was almost, maybe even the same size, as that of an ostrich. I held it up to the fire and looked inside to see the shadow of a bird. No scrambled egg for dinner then. I sighed and put the egg in my lap to warm it up.

Maybe if I can get it to hatch then I can have baked chicken! I laughed, much too hard, until it grew quiet again. Too quiet. Immediately I was lonely as I absentmindedly rubbed the egg. Ichigo would find me, wherever the hell I was, or at least I hoped he would. The egg grew warm under my caresses and slowly it returned the heat back to me. My stomach rumbled and I groaned then laid on my side, resting the egg against my stomach.

Sleep will help me forget about my rumbling stomach. I scooted a bit closer to the fire and put some of the remaining branches on top before closing my eyes in a feeble attempt for rest. But somehow even in my anxiety of being alone sleep came to me giving me the peace I needed.

I awoke to almost a vibrating sensation. I blinked and sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, to see the fire nearly out. I shrieked and knelt down, blowing on the fire a bit and bringing it back to life with another branch. There was a small crack behind me and I turned to see the egg was hatching. I watched in awe as a small beak peaked out then a head poked through revealing a damp, red bird. It cawed a little and I awed. It cawed again and I realized that it must be hungry.

Shit there's no food! There was a small sound of scurrying in the back and I looked through the shadows to see a small mouse. Birds eat mice right? I crawled over slowly then dove and just barely caught the mouse, yelping as it bit my hand. My stomach rumbled and I suddenly wondered what the taste of mouse might be. The bird cawed again and I saw it had broken the rest of its egg and fallen over. I dashed over and picked it up then placing the bird in my lap. " I'm sorry I was being selfish. Here," I said and held the mouse by it's tail.

The bird craned its neck and swallowed the mouse easily whole. It finally silenced in it's casing and I sat back relaxed again, slowly wiping the muck away from the birds body. His feathers were mostly red with orange and yellow on the underside, probably the most beautiful bird I had ever seen. " Don't worry you're too small for me to eat," I joked as he curled in my lap and fell asleep. " So once the snow melts I'll be sure to protect you no matter what?"

The bird cracked it's eye open. You promise?

" Eh?" I asked looking around. There was a voice, I heard it I know I did!

The little bird stood on my lap and stared at me. Do you promise to protect me with everything you've got? Fight for me even when the odds are against you?

The bird is talking to me? The bird is talking to me! " I uh… yes," I said uncertainly.

The bird began to glow and rose into the air then suddenly burst into light. I shielded my eyes as warmth covered my being. When I opened them again I looked around and saw the light glowing at the center of the valley, the snow all gone and now it appeared to be spring. I ran out of the cave and down the valley to the little bird as it flapped it's wings above me. I am the Sokyoku; I have just been reborn in your body for the first time.

" Um… Hi I guess," I said somewhat skeptically. How is this little bird the Sokyoku?

I am a phoenix, a bird that ages, dies, and is reborn again. This will not be my form for long.

" You can hear my thoughts?" I asked and the bird nodded. " Um well ok what happens now?"

You have given me my freedom after being stuck on that hill for thousands of years. For that, I am willing to share my power with you.

" Thanks but uh it would be cool to know how to get home."

The bird smiled, or at least I think it did, before flying straight into my chest in a flash of light. I bolted up and grabbed my chest, panting and looking around. Now I was in a desert, great. Wait a second… this is Kisuke's basement! Just then the basement door opened and Kisuke came down with a small tray. " Oh you're awake!" he said tipping his hat up.

" How long have I been out?" I asked rubbing my chest one last time to make sure I was ok.

" Just a few days."

" Days!" I shouted as he set the tray down.

" Are you hungry?"

My stomach grumbled on cue as I looked down at the food then shoved my face. Kisuke explained the previous days events: lady Bount kidnapped Uryuu, another Bount attacked them, and now Uryuu is resting here. " So the woman is on our side?" I asked.

" It appears so. Now about your powers-"

" Wait, let me tell you about my dream." And so I explained the events of my dream to Kisuke who listened patiently.

" I suppose that explains why this appeared then," Kisuke said then moved behind a boulder.

He came back a moment later struggling to hold a long, staff like weapon before handing it off to me. Though a bit heavy, I spun the weapon around as a test with ease. " It's a halberd!" I shouted in realization.

" Just like the sokyoku as you very well know," Kisuke said watching me amused as I spun the staff a bit more.

The staff was red and golden flames ran up and over all the side except for where my hands were meant to rest. The top and bottom of the staff were adorned with dots of embellished orange stones along the beginning and end of the staff. The top of the halberd was the same as the original sokyoku though. " This is kind of cool," I said jabbing at the air.

" Just as an experiment could you use your flame powers for me?"

I scoffed then extended my hand to shoot out fire but nothing came to me. " Aw come on they're still broken?" I shouted.

" No I don't think so. In fact, I believe the halberd is a manifestation of your flame powers. It just takes if not all, most of your power to release it."

" So how do I get it to go away?" I asked.

" Try to absorb the halberd like you would your flame."

I nodded then focused on the staff in my hand and inhaled. The halberd turned to flame then went back into my body. Experimentally I shot out fire and smiled excitedly at seeing my powers back to normal. " Ya I'm back in the game!" I shouted happily and shot out some more fire.

" Now try to manifest the halberd again."

" Eh?"

" I'll be back in an hour," Kisuke said a he headed back upstairs.

Psh, I can get it to manifest again that's easy. I rubbed my hands together then extended them and focused. No such luck it seems. Ok focus, focus. I exerted my flames into the very shape of the halberd and got nothing. Hey Sokyoku are you in there? I smacked my head a little to get his attention. How do I get the halberd to come out huh? No response. I spent the next hour focusing on the flames in my palm, trying harder and harder to make the halberd appear again. " Alright one more time!" I panted having spouted so much fire.

This time I smacked my hands together and built up as much heat as possible. I growled in exertion then spread my hands wide, the area between my palms glowing. A line of pure energy floated in front of me then burst into the halberd again. " Ya suck it Kisuke!" I shouted and spun the halberd again.

" Oh so you really did it."

I turned back and Kisuke came down the stairs again. " Did you seriously doubt me? I am pretty awesome," I said and let the halberd dissolve again.

" I've called in a favor and soon someone will come and train you in use of the halberd. For now you should focus on summoning your halberd faster, using less energy to do so, and trying to use your fire powers while it's out."

" Hey what time is it anyway? Hell what day is it?"

" 4:00 on a Friday."

" Oh ok… I missed 3 days of school?" I shouted.

" You don't need to worry about that I've taken care of it already," Kisuke said all too happily.

" Yo Urahara-san are you here?" Ichigo's voice said. I ran upstairs and Ichigo's eyes met mine before he ran down the hall and hugged me tightly. " I was so worried."

" I'm sorry to have worried you," I said as I hugged him back.

Ichigo pulled away and looked at me sternly. " You should have told me the whole truth from the start. Are you ok now?"

" The Sokyoku is stable now I'm fine."

Ichigo nodded satisfied. " It's been so weird having you at school but at the same time you not being there."

" What are you talking about?"

" You didn't know?"

" Oh Hotaru you're ok!" Orihime said.

I looked past Ichigo and saw Orihime, Chad, Renji, Rukia, and…and… " Who the hell is that?" I shouted.

" I made Kuro-san look like you in gigai form in case of emergency. Don't you like it?" Kisuke asked.

Kuro barely acknowledged me as I got up in her, or should I say MY face. " I did all your homework and took notes so you're welcome," she said while examining her nails.

" This is too fucking weird," I said and poked her face.

Kuro looked up menacingly. " Can we go home now? Or at least turn me back into the cat whatever let's me relax faster."

In a flash Kuro was back in her stuffed animal form and I was the only Hotaru again. " Ok you're all free to go," Kisuke said.

" Renji, Rukia, and I are on guard duty tonight. Orihime you can stay here with Chad and Hotaru you should go home and rest," Ichigo said.

" I've been resting for days Ichigo, trust me I'm all fired up," I said and punched the air.

" How about you two get some alone time and we'll work tonight," Renji said all too happily.

" Let me guess you wan tomorrow off with Rukia then?"

Renji smiled widely and I groaned. " Fine but nothing inappropriate when I get back understand? That means everyone is dressed, the room smells clean, and the couch is spotless understand?"

" Ya whatever you two have a fun night ok?"

I grunted in disapproval but headed out the door with Ichigo. " Looks like we're free tonight then," I said as we walked along back home.

" Have you eaten?"

" Ya but I'm not one to say no to food," I replied and Ichigo laughed. We went to the store and bought some food for dinner before heading back to my place. Kuro took my phone and tuned into music, basically leaving Ichigo and I alone for the night. " You haven't rolled your own sushi before?" I asked Ichigo incredulously.

" Not every Japanese person eats sushi breakfast, lunch, and dinner you know," Ichigo said unrolling his sushi and watching it fall apart.

I laughed as he pouted. " Look it's easy you just have to roll it tightly," I said and stepped behind Ichigo and wrapped my arms around him. " See? Roll it just like that but tighter."

" I uh get it," Ichigo said nervously.

I put my hands on top of his seeing him fumble. " Tighter! Just like this," I said as we rolled it together. " There. Now let it sit for a bit and then it'll be good. What do you think about some tempura veggies?" I asked looking into the fridge.

Ichigo didn't respond. I looked over my shoulder and saw him looking at the ground sadly. I closed the fridge and turned back around then leaned against the fridge. " I thought you had died," Ichigo murmured.

" Ha! You think a little water could take me down?"

Ichigo didn't smile however. " You weren't breathing and you got really hot just like that last time. I almost lost you."

" Ichigo I'm ok see?"

" But what about next time?" he shouted. " What about the next time we fight the Bounts or hell even Aizen. What am I supposed to do then?"

Before I could say anything to comfort him Ichigo stepped across the kitchen in a flash and hugged me tightly. " Ichigo," I murmured.

" Don't do that to me again, please," he begged.

" I won't. You can trust my strength," I replied and squeezed him back.

Ichigo pulled back and I saw his eyes were shadowed in worry and sadness. I smiled at him in comfort in and put my hand to his cheek. He shut his eyes tightly and bit his lip, holding back tears it seems, as he covered my hand with his. " I love you," he murmured.

" I love you too," I replied keeping my small smile. Ichigo's eyes opened and he looked at me… differently. I couldn't read the expression. Before I could say anything Ichigo leaned down and kissed me. I didn't argue to the affection as I kissed him back. His lips were the dominant pair for once, hungrily devouring my own with ease. Ichigo was being dare I say it… sexy?

" Can you two go upstairs?"

Ichigo stopped and pulled away and we both turned to Kuro. " I forgot you were here Kuro," I said fake smiling as my brow quirked in anger.

" If you're going to suck face can you do it out of my vision?" she asked and made a shooing motion.

I grit my teeth tighter while smiling and made a fake salute as Kuro laid back again. " So tempura then?" I asked.

The haze from Ichigo's eyes was gone and he nodded. After a quick fry Ichigo and I took our dinner to my room where we could watch TV in peace without Kuro judging us. " This is a California roll. Not pure Japanese sushi but it's my favorite," I said giving Ichigo a piece.

" Ok but you HAVE to try the grilled eel." Ichigo said putting a piece on my plate.

I stuck out my tongue as Ichigo easily ate my piece. Ichigo eyed me until I picked the piece up and stuck it in my mouth. It wasn't that bad really but I exaggerated and made fake choking noises as I fell back against the bed in 'agony'. " I'm…dying," I choked out.

" You liked it didn't you?" I shut my eyes and stuck my tongue out, pretending to be dead as Ichigo continued to laugh. He moved the plates aside and I peaked one eye open just as Ichigo straddled me. " Looks like I'll have to do CPR then."

I shut my eye again and Ichigo chuckled as he tilted my head up and held it there as he kissed my bottom lip. " Oh you saved me Ichigo," I swooned as overdramatically as possible.

" What's my reward for saving you?" Ichigo asked.

I stilled in thought. " Ichigo… can we try something?"

" What do you mean?"

" We haven't done anything more than kissing before you know."

Ichigo paused upon realization. " Oh."

" Do you want to try something more?" Ichigo turned bright red as I slowly sat up on the bed, him still straddling me. I was still in my school uniform as I slowly unbuttoned it and took it off to reveal my cami. " Not all the way just… something?"

" Are you sure?"

I took his hand and put it on my hip. " Whatever you want to do. I won't make you do anything."

Ichigo's hand trembled softly as it slowly went under my shirt and just rested on my hips. I moved to Ichigo's button up shirt and undid the first button, looking to his face but it wouldn't meet mine. I sighed in defeat and went to move away. " D-Don't stop!"

I looked back up again but saw his face was still the same. " Is that really what you want?"

Ichigo finally met my eyes again. He looked fierce as he leaned in and kissed me harshly and hungrily, things getting hot quickly. Ichigo took the hem of my cami and began pulling it up and I focused on the buttons. Finally Ichigo and I were going somewhere, down a path we could never turn back from but went together.