Well, that was fun while it lasted, now back to reality. Like I warned you all, many, many chapters ago, I'm not nice to my characters. I wish life were so simple, yet, you wouldn't find interest in them, if it were so easily cut and dried.

Bleach is not mine. Enjoy!

…

Hana emerged from the severed world right behind her captain. Ukitake stood defensively in front of her, making sure that she would not be attacked at random.

She moved to his side, trying not to show her irritation. There was an eerie silence across the rooftops of Karakura town. Each of them understood what was going on.

Ukitake's eyes watched Hana and the space around her like a hawk. They were close by, watching, waiting. Hana looked up to him, meeting his gaze knowingly. It was an ambush and they'd walked directly into it. There would only be a moment before the area was crawling with hundreds of hollows, and certainly a few arrancar.

The presence of so many hollows could be felt by each one, and they waited, zanpakutos in hand.

Then they arrived, hollow after hollow. Hana couldn't count them all, thousands of them filled the sky. She cut down one after another. They filled the air so thick that she only caught glimpses of her friends and captain.

She saw something, someone, out of the corner of her eye. She knew what it was, or rather who. She followed the source through the rushing hollows, cutting them down as she moved past them. Then, finally the form stopped, and waited for her.

She broke free of a final barrier of hollows and found herself with plenty of space to move. Her mother was waiting.

"I warned you, Hana," Namiko said, her head tilted down a little, her voice menacing. She slowly drew her sword, "If I saw you again, I would kill you."

Hana said nothing, she only stared at her mother. She tried to look at her with hate or anger. Something that was not the immense feeling of sorrow she felt, loneliness, and something a kin to pain in her chest.

"Very well," Namiko said, "I will have to make good on my threat. You understand that I am not here to show you mercy."

Hana lifted her zanpakuto, her grip tight, showing Namiko that she would not back down. She waited with baited breath, she only knew the attack would come. Her hand felt cramped from holding her zanpakuto so tight. She successfully kept her face from revealing any of her turmoil.

"Good answer," her mother said firmly, "I'll not feel bad about taking your life, if you at least fight."

Hana grit her teeth, trying to restrain herself from responding. She only waited.

Namiko attacked finally. The blow came from in front, and Hana was barely able to lift her blade in time to block. Namiko lifted her hand and Hana knew immediately what she planned. Hana sliced quick, cutting into Namiko's forearm before she could properly create a cero attack.

Namiko looked a little surprised, Hana hadn't hesitated as she'd expected. Genuine fear flashed in her eyes for a fleeting moment. She realized that Hana would not simply run away.

Hana took advantage of Namiko's surprise and rushed in. She cut just the edge of material from Namiko's Kimono. The arrancar was re-estimating her opponent.

Namiko watched for a moment as Hana disappeared, using shunpo to move. The shinigami was likely going to try to rush an attack. But Namiko could use sonido, and Hana's attack could be easily countered.

Namiko moved in the nick of time, using Hana's speed against her. She dragged her blade into Hana's side as she passed.

The shinigami made some distance, she stopped herself from crying out in pain. She was not going to let this woman, this physical imitation of her mother, see the pain she was inflicting. She held her side, blood was moving freely, soaking her shihakushu.

She tried for another attack, Hana was not going to stand by idly, simply because she'd gotten injured. But this time she was sure she'd connected, the blade did nothing more, than cut the edges of the arrancar's clothing.

Hana could feel the blood dribble down her cheek. When had she done that? I didn't even feel her cut me.

She'd barely landed before Namiko came at her. Taking the offensive, her mother struck. The blows were heavy, one after another after another. Hana could feel it all the way up her arms and into her chest.

"Hadou 33 Sokatsui!" Hana released the blue ball of fire at her mother, it hit her hard and threw her back in the air. Hana wasted no time, she rushed in, blade raised. But Namiko had already recovered.

Taking Hana by surprise, the arrancar held Hana in place as she created a cero for her.

Hana threw up her hands, knowing there was no escape. She needed protection from the cero, but she knew that her normal shield would not prevent the damage. "Bakudo 39, Enkosen!" A sheild rose in front of her just in time. It held steady, stronger then any normal shield, because she'd invoked the words.

…

In the swirling mass of hollows, Hisagi could see Hana struggling with her opponent. He'd been a little concerned, but he was sure she was fine. At least until the arrancar hit her with the cero. He'd been able to see the shield Hana put up. But she was still thrown backwards into the rush of hollows.

He lost sight of her. For a moment, he thought to go looking for her. But he knew better.

When she reappeared she had another cut, ripping through her pants and into her leg. But she'd been able to keep up well enough.

Then he saw it.

As Hana pulled away from the gripping hands of a hollow, her enemy raised her sword. The strike would have been like a viper on it's prey.

…

Hana could feel the rise of reiatsu behind her. Hisagi was rushing her way. She turned quickly to see him coming down to cut Namiko from behind.

"NO!" Hana moved faster then she'd ever thought possible. Before she could stop herself, her blade crashed into his. Then eyes wide she felt her heart sink into her stomach. The look of surprise and anger on his face made her feel ill.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice controlled. Only showing the anger, "We do not show mercy to the enemy."

Hana stared at him, then shook her head slightly. "Forgive me."

His face only grew more angry, he could see Namiko's satisfaction in Hana's choice. His eyes pierced into her. Hurting her more then any blade had yet. She flinched a little.

"I can't let you kill my mother," was all she said. Her voice almost too quiet to hear, but not a soul had missed it. She watched him, her stormy dark blue eyes reflecting the weight of her heart, "Please, Shuuhei."

His face grew dark and serious. His grip tightened on his zanpakuto as if trying to decide what to do.