Tairei9: I do not own Bleach or anything in its contents. I give full credit to the creators.

ByaNeko-Chan: Tairei9!

Tairei9: What?

ByaNeko-Chan: Yachiru took the scissors from me! She said she needed them for something!

Tairei9: I'm sorry. I would help you but I don't want to die.

Yumichika: YACHIRU!

Tairei9: O.o I think it's best to start the story now.

Chapter 37

Kumiko walked towards the office of the sixth division. Her hair was loose from any binding. Her shinigami outfit was the same except for a few minor changes. Her obi was dark red. She wore gloves similar to her father's on her hands and had an impassive stare. She was holding a few log books in her hands. A month had almost passed since she had come to work in the sixth division. It wasn't as lively as the eleventh division but she wasn't entirely unhappy either.

She knocked on the door of her father's office and she heard him say, "Come in."

Kumiko came in and said, "Here are the logs you requested."

He took them and began to rustle through them. It was tedious work most of the time; even Byakuya had to admit it got boring. He let out a sigh and said a work of thanks. She went to leave until he stopped her saying, "Wait."

Kumiko turned towards him and he said, getting up, "Follow me."

Kumiko waited for him to cross the room and followed him out of the office and into the large clearing outside the six division offices. Renji was sitting under a tree and saluted as they approached. Kumiko watched her father cross the fields and turned around. He then said, unsheathing his zanpakuto, "Let me test your strength. I find it somewhat annoying that I never seem to get you to train with me."

Kumiko sighed, drawing her zanpakuto said, "I don't train with my shikai if that's what you're wondering."

"And why is that? Don't tell me you still have no control-."

"That's not the reason," Kumiko said impatiently, "I feel that he's better suited for real battle, not a mock fight."

"I don't care, as part of your reevaluation, you will need to use it," Byakuya said coolly, "Renji, I would move unless you want to be sliced to bits."

"Aw, come on," Renji said, "You're not the only person who wants to see that kid's zanpakuto."

Kumiko gritted her teeth and said, "I won't do it. Sorry, but I just won't."

"Fine, don't blame me if y-," Byakuya started but Kumiko wasted no time. Byakuya had barely blinked when her blade was already coming close to his throat. He dodged but Kumiko quickly slashed out, scratching his cheek. She kicked him in the gut, sending him flying. He managed to recover but she soon was behind him smashing her hilt into his back. Grimacing, he swung out and made contact with her blade. She flash stepped and appeared behind him, slashing out.

Renji watched the fight with somewhat wide eyes. He said in a low tone, "She-She really wasted no time..."

"She never does."

"Ichigo," Renji said as Ichigo came to sit down beside him. Ichigo watch the fight with Renji and said, "She's improved, I still remember when she wouldn't even fight him."

"Yeah, but she still won't use her shikai," Renji said stretching his arms, "But I think this time it's more of a personal choice."

"Probably," Ichigo said, "But then again, she usually hide her cards close to her chest in showing people what she can do."

Renji and Ichigo looked surprised as Kumiko and Byakuya suddenly stopped; their blades at the other's throat. Byakuya stared and said, "Definitely a far cry from the child that hid around in trees."

Both backed down, Kumiko sheathing her zanpakuto. Byakuya looked over at Renji and said, "If you want to train, get down here."

"Hai!"

Kumiko traded places with Renji and said to Ichigo, "Aren't you busy at the office?"

"No," Ichigo said, "Hisagi-san and I finish stuff up pretty quickly."

"I see that," Kumiko said and then teased, "I forget sometimes that you're just as studious as you are a fighter."

Ichigo rolled his eyes and Kumiko said, "Ichigo, I have a question."

"Hm?"

"Is there a plan in dealing with Aizen?"

Ichigo sighed and said, "We've been trying to capture him, in forcibly removing the seed. But he's so strong…and then with Naomi controlling him makes it more difficult."

"I see," Kumiko said, "Just curious."

"Kumiko," Ichigo said, "We will get him back."

Kumiko nodded slowly, watching Renji and Byakuya fight bellow. Kumiko then noticed something strange. She watched Sebonzakura move and could tell there was something wrong. It almost seemed like it was resisting. Ichigo noticed her expression change and asked, "What's wrong?"

"..Nothing," Kumiko said leaning back, "I must have been seeing things."

Ichigo watched her for a few more moments, but didn't say anything else. Kumiko continued to watch as more people came to observe Renji's and Byakuya's fight. When Kumiko watched her father's bankai, she saw it more clearly. It was resisting him. Kumiko stood up and thought, "Why is it resisting?"

"Kumiko…"

Kumiko then flash stepped away towards the Sakura grove and stopped by the water. The white wolf appeared and stared at her saying, "There is something wrong, however, I cannot place it."

"Oh?" Kumiko said, "Is it the same thing that's happening to Sebonzakura?"

"Yes," he said frowning, "Somewhat…"

Kumiko noticed that he was perturbed. But Kumiko said, "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it."

The wolf seemed satisfied of this answer and disappeared. Kumiko stood there for a moment, watching the water lilies floating. The sun was setting causing the lake to turn all sorts of golden colors. It was truly beautiful, and utterly calming. She didn't even move when she heard, "So there's somethin' strange going on…"

"It seems that way," Kumiko said as Gin came into view. She looked back at him and saw that he still had his cheerful demeanor. However, she could tell there was something bothering him. Gin walked towards her and said, "I see you've been moved to the sixth division. How do you like it there?"

Kumiko shrugged and said, "Its work..."

"But you don't enjoy it?"

"I'm needed there, whether or not I truly belong there is another story," Kumiko said quietly. The wind blew her hair gently, her eyes with a gentle look. Gin said, "So where do you think you belong then?"

Kumiko flashed a grin and said, "What do you think?"

Gin smirked and said his eyes still closed, "You eleventh division people are impossible, yah know?"

"Hm. So what's on your mind?"

"Oh, it's nothing," Gin said waving nervously. Kumiko narrowed her eyes but made no more attempts to make him tell her. She then whispered, "Gin, if I have a plan, will you promise to go through with it no matter what?"

"Of course, but why?" Gin asked but Kumiko shook her head, "Just keep that promise and everything will be fine."

Gin looked unsure and Kumiko said, quietly, "Everything will be fine..."

S.C.

Byakko cooed while his brother slept peacefully next to him. Kumiko was cradling them both in her arms shushed him saying, "Come now, it's time to sleep."

Byakko fussed a little bit more but after some soothing words and a rhythmic rocking motion, he too was fast asleep. Getting up, Kumiko placed them in the crib and kissed both of them. She let out soft whispers that she loved them dearly. Stand up straight, Kumiko said to Yuki, "Watch over them for me. I won't be back to much later."

"Hai, Kumiko-sama," Yuki said bowing. Kumiko hurried off to the Sakura grove, however, went around to a very large open shore. Kumiko then unsheathed her blade and stared down at it for a while. She couldn't feel him, she couldn't hear him; in fact she had felt something change in him earlier in the evening. She narrowed her eyes as she felt a strong steady wind begin to blow behind her. Turning around she saw a man standing there with white hair and piercing gold eyes. He was wearing dark red hakama's that were ripped up at the bottom. Covering him, he had a black cloak wrapped around with the shape of a wolf's head as some sort of a hat. He narrowed his eyes at her and said coolly and deeply, "Kumiko."

"So, this is what your human form looks like," Kumiko said somewhat intrigued, "Interesting."

"I did not come here for casual talk," he said firmly, "As you probably already know, I am no longer under your control."

"I did," Kumiko said frowning, "What has caused this?"

"There is no need for you to know," he said, revealing his sword, "All you need to know is that I've been freed to pursue my own desires."

"And what desires are those?" Kumiko said, steadying her stance.

"The desire to force you off your knees," he said lowly, "All of my time with you, I've been forced to see you be submitted to that one man's torture. Even as time passed, I watched you do nothing but be submissive to that living memory...being tamed..."

Kumiko stared intensely at him and growled, "Tamed? He did not tame me."

"Then why do these nightly torments still occur," he said, "Why do they still make you shake with fright?"

Kumiko didn't answer and he growled, "Enough talk; if you want me to believe you do not fear, prove it."

Kumiko defended herself quickly as he attacked her. She grimaced, feeling the strength in each blow he sent her way. She managed to keep blocking, which only seemed to infuriate him more. Kumiko didn't quite understand what separated him from her but she knew she had to fight him regardless. In fact, it was quite convenient she knew her zanpakuto as well as she did. Aizen and Gin watched from quite a distance away. Aizen crossed his arms and said coolly, "So this is what he looks like in human form. He's quite strong."

"Of course, he's Kumi-chan's zanpakuto," Gin said, "In fact... I'm a little bit worried..."

"Why would you be worried?" Aizen asked calmly, "She's strong."

"Yes," Gin said, calmly, "But what do you think he's mad about?"

"If he's anything like Kumiko, he's quite the one for control and fearless," Aizen said, "Having that taken away is completely unacceptable."

"So, then what did Kumiko do that's got him in a tiff?"

"Possible Kurotsuchi Mayuri," Aizen said, "She still suffers from the memories of him, after all."

"I can understand why," Gin said, rubbing the back of his head, "You know, to be tortured like that when she was only little, and to really get no closure on the matter...it kinda sucks."

"I would assume so," Aizen said and Gin interrupted saying loudly, "I wonder how she's going to prove her statement true?"

Aizen looked back at him with somewhat narrowed eyes. He then said, "Gin, what are you-?"

Sudden a barrier appeared around Kumiko's battle area and Aizen looked at it. He then said coolly, "and just what do you think you are doing, Hirako-Taichou?"

Shinji appeared somewhere above them, saying coldly, "Making sure you can't interfere in her fight."

"And why would I do that?" Aizen asked as Shinji jumped down. He then said, "Yah still don't get it? To prove that she's not afraid is to allow him to do what everyone was trying to stop."

Aizen's eyes widened as he went to dash forward but was stopped by Gin slashing out at him. Aizen dodged, distancing himself away from the two opponents. Aizen wasn't calm, he was angry beyond belief. His reiatsu went up and he glared at Gin saying, "Why?"

"Because," Gin said calmly, "I made a promise that I have to keep."

"Promise to whom," Aizen said glaring at them.

"Kumi-chan of course."

Kumiko had looked in the corner of her eye to see that the barrier was up and Gin and Shinji were attempting to stop Aizen from breaking it. For a split moment, she made eye contact with Aizen. She didn't to look to be able to tell that he was livid. In fact, the growing anger in his eyes was unmistakable. However, her zanpakuto cut off their eye contact and sent her flying backwards. She looked up just into to see him growl, "Waru, Tasogara Uta."

Kumiko gritted her teeth as she saw what looked like fire colored reiatsu surround him as his sword morphed. The blade became longer and golden; one side jagged and the other side smooth. A chain wrapped around his arm as ribbons entwined around the hilt. Kumiko barely blinked when he appeared in front of her. Kumiko managed to block his attack, but felt her shoulder crack. His strength increased, she was going to have to be extremely careful. He began flash stepping around her in a circle and Kumiko continued to block his attacks. He finally stopped short, swinging out his arm. She stopped the sword but suddenly felt a slash across her chest, hearing a metallic ring.

Gin was momentarily distracted by this noise and went to look back. However, he was interrupted by having to block one of Aizen's attacks. Momentarily, Gin's smile slipped in a grimace. In a flash, it return as Gin said, "You're gonna have to do better than that."

Shinji appeared behind Aizen, slashing outward. However a large hexagon barrier appeared, block his attack. Shinji was push back and Gin managed to get space between Aizen and him. Aizen said in almost a growl, "You don't seriously believe I would leave such a spot unprotected?"

"I don't care," Shinji snapped, "Just as long as we stall you, we're fine!"

Kumiko gasped from the contact and put distance between her and him. Her zanpakuto stood there, holding one sword that was smooth and even. However in the other hand was a sword of jagged edges. Both were connected by the same chain that had been connected to his arm. Kumiko was panting as he said, "You've been so tamed that you didn't even remember your own power. How pathetic."

He began to walk forward, bring the swords together, one melding into the other in a wisp of shadows. He stared coldly at her and said, pointing his sword at her again. He then lunged and appeared front of her, plunging his sword at her. He was expecting to hear the sound of metal clashing once again, but it didn't happen.

Some would hope that Kumiko wouldn't feel the pain. However, this wasn't the case. Kumiko could feel it; it was a horrendous kind of pain. Anyone would scream from a pain like it, but Kumiko didn't. There was some kind of cold determination on her face. She didn't pay attention to what was going on outside the barrier; in fact she didn't even seem to care. She grabbed his wrist with such strength; one would have to wonder where it came from. Her zanpakuto looked at her in shock, and Kumiko said coldly, "I am not tame."

Kumiko then slashed out her katana and struck him across his torso. He flinched, backing away as the sword in her gut disappeared. She didn't double over; she rammed her sword into the ground as in to help her stay up. The zanpakuto had a wound but it seemed to be emitting the same reiatsu as he did before. He stared at her softly and said, "Kumiko...I am sorry."

With that, Kumiko watch him disappear and could feel him in her sword. By then however, Kumiko fell. She hit the ground, but she didn't feel it so much as she thought she would. Things seemed to be slowly slipping away, her vision growing dimmer. Before she totally lost her vision, she watched Gin and Shinji get blown away by her husband's rage. The barrier broke as Aizen rushed towards her. She couldn't even feel him pick her up. His horrified face was the last thing she saw as she let out one last breath before blackness consumed her.

Aizen tried to heal her, but to no avail. He couldn't feel a heartbeat or breathing. Trembling violently, he cradled her tightly to him. His failure to protect her was slowly making the seed die within him. The thought to protect her died with it. Suddenly, Aizen heard Shinji mutter some words and Aizen felt himself being restrained. Struggling violently, Aizen snarled as someone picked Kumiko's body up. Gin stared down at her with aghast before disappearing. Shinji winced as he heard Aizen screaming at them, and said, "Orihime-chan."

"Sōten Kisshun!" Aizen saw a barrier surround him as suddenly felt a burning sensation in his body. It wasn't long before Orihime had extracted the entire seed and shouted as she put her hand on the golden dome, "Koten Zanshun!"

A gold light shot at the seed disintegrating it entirely. Aizen had fallen unconscious, and Orihime continued to heal him. Tears were running down her cheek and she whispered, "Kumiko-chan, please don't be dead…"

Shinji knelt down and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. He didn't know what to say to console her; he wasn't even sure himself if she was still alive. After all, the only way to break the thought was to put Kumiko in a situation she couldn't be saved from. And unfortunately, that was death.

S.C.

"Damn it!"

Loly winced as she heard Naomi scream. Flinging her hand through the sand mirror, Naomi stormed down the steps screaming, "I can't believe she would actually do that! Does she not know how important she is! That man was not worth dying over!"

Naomi slashed out at a nearby pillar and watched it tumble to the ground. Loly then mumbled, "I guess she thought otherwise. Besides, didn't you send that Tousen to kill her?"

"No, I sent him so I would throw off their plans!" Naomi said, snappishly, "I needed time! I needed her alive!"

Loly was quiet for a moment and said hastily, "Well we still have her twin brother don't we? I mean, he might know something important that will help us."

Naomi exhaled and said, "This is true, he would probably know of some other way. But I won't go after him just yet. Loly there is something I need you to do."

"What, Naomi-sama?" Loly said and Naomi said, "I need you to go down to the real world with some others, stir up some trouble. I need absolute cover now I don't have Sousuke anymore."

Loly grinned and said, "Will do."

Tairei9: Waru, Tasogara Uta means Split, Twilight Song. I used the japanese dictionary to help me translate so yeah...Review.