Yuu skidded to a stop. Ichigo stopped next to her right side and Uryû was on her left. Chad couldn't stop and had to back up to take his place. Again Yuu felt the despaired caused by Orihime's absent. Rukia took up a spot behind Ichigo and Yuu and Renji was standing on her left. Yuu wanted to scream in frustration.

Nel and her brothers were behind the rescuers. In the end Ichigo's soft spot for females his sisters' age and younger had gotten the better of him. Nel had sobbed and so he agreed to take her with him. Yuu agreed; Nel wouldn't be safe by herself. Her brothers didn't count because they acted like idiots. Yuu wasn't sure if they had always idiots or if they had pretended for so long that it became second nature.

Yuu looked around the room. The group had reached the main palace after traveling though the under palace. The basement had been dark so Renji tried to use Kidō to light up the space. It had failed and Yuu fixed it with a sigh. She liked to show off but not at the expense of her friends' feelings. Then Ichigo broke down the walls to get where they were now.

"This place isn't abandoned like the basement," Uryû said. "We should be cautious."

Yuu scoffed, "You're telling Ichigo to be cautious?"

Uryû shrugged, "I know it's a pointless endeavor but I have to try."

The room had six exits, not counting the one Ichigo made. They were six fairly large doors each with a torch above them. Yuu thought about releasing Kakuchū no Ryū and sending Daidaiiro no Ryū to check each pathway out.

/The third on from the left,/ The Colorless Man informed her.

Yuu ignored him and continued to make as many observations as she could

Renji asked, "How do we decide what door to go through?"

There was an increase in spiritual pressure. Ichigo's talking sounded like a high pitch whine. Yuu made a decision that she knew she would regret later.

She made a slight retreat to her mind. Once there she held her cupped hands out in front of her. Her ankles were touching and her eyes were closed. Her Shi Kai dragons raced around her in brilliant streaks of light. Shiro no Ryū and Kuro no Ryū circled above her like vultures that sensed death. All eight of the dragons knew what was about to happen. The Colorless Man, who watched from a corner, did not.

Soon a sphere of dull grey light filled Yuu's hands. It was about the size of a baseball and hovered about an inch from Yuu's skin.

"It's time Yuu." Shiro no Ryū said.

Kuro no Ryū continued, "You can't hear color."

Aka no Ryū hummed its siblings' agreement. Yuu slowly began to flex her fingers closed. When they hit the sphere she stopped for a beat and then quickly crushed the ball. Bands of pink light flew from her now closed fists. Each of the bands hit a dragon and they let out screeches of delight.

Ichigo had seen Yuu draw her Zanpakutō and knew she was in a slight mediation. He knew that she would come back when he called her if not before. He was not prepared when her spiritual pressure came out of her. Yuu's spiritual pressure was unique. Most spiritual pressure acted as an aura. Yuu's just cause her eyes to glow.

Yuu's eyes were indeed glowing even though they were closed. Yuu's eyes snapped open and Ichigo involuntarily step forward. Rukia swore while Renji stumbled backwards. Uryû couldn't decide between shouting for joy or cursing fate. Chad placed a restraining hand on Ichigo's shoulder.

As Yuu snapped her eyes open she was stunned by what she saw. She noticed the slightest sift in tone and shade. For example: her jeans were black before. Now Yuu could see the subtle shifts that proved her pants were various shades of dark grey. She noticed how Ichigo's hair grew slightly lighter as the light hit it. The whole world was a myriad of light and color.

Finally the glow stopped and Uryû was the only one capable of asking, "Yuu are you alright?"

Yuu's eyes came to meet the Quincy's eyes, "It's gone. It won't be coming it back. Could you say that again?"

Renji asked, "What's gone?"

Chad answered, "Her hearing."

Yuu had looked at Renji, Chad and then they were back on Uryû. There were looks of disbelief on every face.

Only Ichigo could believe that Yuu would make this sacrifice. He reached out and cupped Yuu's right ear with his left hand. She looked at him and knew he understood.

Ichigo let out a soft laugh "You never listened anyways. But we have to find Orihime."

The others knew that it was time to drop the subject. Renji tried to push the issue but was stopped when Rukia elbowed him in the abdomen.

Uryû said, "We have to check each one, starting with the ones on the ends."

"No," Rukia said. "Let's each go down a separate path at the same time."

Ichigo protested, "That's just crazy! I mean we're talking about Espada here. If we stand together we'll have a better chance against them!"

Renji interrupted, "Enough. It's insulting to a warrior to be concerned about their life while they are out in the battlefield."

Yuu snapped, "That's not what he's saying and you know it!"

Rukia was surprised, "I thought you couldn't hear."

Yuu scowled, "That doesn't mean I don't know what's being said.

The truth was Uryû was mouthing every word that that was being said. Yuu could tell who was speaking by whose body was moving.

Yuu continued, "That being said I do agree with Rukia. We don't have time to waste any time. This isn't like when we tried to rescue Rukia. We needed to move as quickly as possible. Besides I have something to take care of."

Yuu was drumming her right fingers on her right cheek bone right below her eye. Ichigo knew that twitch. When she was younger Yuu did it when she was nervous. When she had discovered it Yuu broke the habit. Without ever saying it that twitch came to mean that Yuu was thinking about her father.

Ichigo sighed, defeated, "Alright then, we'll go down separate paths."

"Good," Renji declared. "But before we do that I think we should do a charm together."

Ichigo asked, "A charm?"

"That's right," Renji explained. "It's a ritual that the Gotei 13 has used over the years and it's chanted before a big battle. It's fallen out of use and to be honest there aren't many divisions that do it anymore. But I figure it's a good thing to do a time like this." Renji held his hand out, "Come on, join hands."

Rukia placed her hand on top of Renji's. Chad was next and Uryû followed. Ichigo scowled as Yuu's hand joined that pile. Ichigo completed the stack. Most of the eyes were on the pile of hands but Yuu watched Renji's lips.

"We at this moment head into the decisive battle. Have faith that our blades will not shatter. Have faith that our hearts will not waver. And even if our paths should diverge, we all share a heart of iron. Swear that even if the ground beneath us should be rent asunder we will live and return to this place again!"

With that the group broke and headed down different paths. Although they didn't discuss it no two people tried to take the same path. Renji and Chad took the paths on the end; Renji the right end and Chad the left one. The four members of the Karakura Group were in their line. Ichigo was between Chad and Yuu; with Yuu on his right side. Rukia ran down the path next to Renji and Uryû was headed down the third path from the right. Yuu took the third path from the left. It was time for some answers.

**Scene Change**

Yuu had been running for some time. She hadn't seen any turns or doors. The longer she ran the more uneasy she became. It was a balancing act she decided. She couldn't break into a sprint in case an enemy attacked her and she wasn't ready for an attack. However she couldn't walk cautiously either. She had to find Orihime as soon as possible. It was the same kind of problem she faced with releasing Kakuchū no Ryū. Yuu wasn't sure how stable her spiritual pressure was. She couldn't release her Zanpakutō because if she did she might run out of spiritual pressure before she found Orihime. But, Yuu thought, if she released Kakuchū no Ryū Kiiro no Ryū could make her feel like an Arrancar. That might make sneaking around Las Noches a little easier. Yuu cast her spiritual pressure out in streamers as a pathetic attempt at comprise to her dilemma. She also drew her blade. Yuu could use a sword but she was a better shot.

Yuu continued to run. She didn't know it but she looked like a something straight from a dream. A dark dream, not a nightmare but, not a pleasant dream either. Her new coat flared out dramatically. Her pants and boots could only be separated by texture. Her midnight blue shirt was stunning against her pale skin. The sliver buttons on her gloves and coat flashed brightly. Her hair ribbon was almost as long as her ponytail; both practically flew. The ribbon on Kakuchū no Ryū had wrapped itself around her left arm and was a vivid splash of color against her dark shirt. Yuu's earrings flashed and her eyes glowed.

Yuu felt the door with her spiritual pressure before she saw it. She wanted to probe the Colorless Man for information but he had disappeared. Yuu snapped her right fingers and her spiritual pressure came back to her. Yuu stopped right in front of the door and took several deep breaths.

Yuu studied the door. It was made out the same kind of white stone as the rest of Las Noches. There was a simple plaque made of a dark wood. On it there was one phase:

"Would you like to play a game?"

The question sent shivers down Yuu's spine. Yuu definitely did not want to play a game; not with Orihime's life on the line. Yuu considered the possibilities. That man might behind the door. Yuu could remember something about dangerous games. That didn't make sense though. Yuu wasn't stupid; dangerous games meant life and death. Playing his hand in Aizen's strong hold was a bad idea. Yuu didn't think he was stupid or crazy. Unless the whole thing had been a trap.

Yuu was frozen but she managed to whisper, "Prepare to fire, Kakuchū no Ryū!"

The sword was incased in a rainbow of light and the ribbon flew up and tied itself around Yuu's right wrist. Yuu reached out with her right hand and opened the door slowly. She didn't slip in; Yuu opened the door all the way. Yuu cupped the barrel of her revolver in her right hand. Yuu walked into the room one step at a time.

The floor was tiled with a chessboard pattern. Standing in the middle of on Yuu noticed that it was just that they were personal space size. Yuu did a quick count. There were 50 dark violet tiles that were more blue than red. The other 50 were a pale cream that were more brown than yellow. The inner 64 were outline with a thin black line.

The light in the room was bathed in a light that was strange. Yuu risked a look upward to see what was lighting the room. Yuu let out a hiss of surprise. The ceiling was a skylight of clear glass title on gold support beams. The light was daylight.

Yuu spun around just in time. Kakuchū no Ryū was inches from a male Arrancar's nose. He was the about the same height as Yuu's 5 and a half feet. He was dressed in business suit done up in Arrancar white. His tie was white and his shirt was black. He had grey hair that was cut in a professional manner. He looked like an older gentleman at a wine and cheese party. His Hollow mask looked like a pair of oval glasses that framed grey eyes and his face was round. He was holding his hands by his head in a position of surrender and his Zanpakutō was on his right hip.

"I asked," Yuu read his lips "If you though the sunlight was stunning."

Yuu answered, "It was night out and there is no way I've been in Las Noches long enough for the sky to be that color."

The Arrancar laughed, "It's artificial. Lord Aizen made it to monitor everything that happens in Las Noches." Yuu didn't respond so the Arrancar continued, "My name is Quinlynn Xerti. Please stop pointing you gun at me Miss Katsu."

Yuu's responded by tightening her grip on her Zanpakutō and grind out a single order, "Explain!"

Quinlynn obliged, "I viewed the reports brought back by Cuatro Cifer and Sexta Jaegerjaquez. Are you going to shoot me now Miss Katsu?"

Yuu spat, "I should!"

Xerti asked, "Why haven't you?"

Yuu answered, "Sonído."

The Arrancar started to laugh "So you are not the idiot I presumed you were! That is a relief." Then he took on somber expression, "I will be honest with you, Miss Katsu. You have no hope of beating me. I am the Centésimo Primero."

Yuu answered "Not a Fracción, not an Espada. What are you?"

"Lower your gun."

"Do I look like an idiot?"

Quinlynn smirked, "No but you act like one. Only an idiot would attack an opponent they had no hope of beating not one but twice."

Yuu confessed, "I wasn't feeling well."

Xerti's smirk got larger, "You magically got better between your last fight with Grimmjow and now? Even if you did, you wouldn't have a chance to beat me."

Yuu demanded, "Tell me why!"

Yuu's gun hadn't moved an inch but the Arrancar answered, "I am a Privaron Espada."

It was Yuu's turn to smirk, "They fired you."

Quinlynn scoffed but it was clear Yuu's barb hit home, "What makes you think they fired me?"

"Privaron means pervious," Yuu explained. "Arrancar are still Hollows; they work up the ranks by killing. You're alive and I find it hard to believe that they just let you retire. They didn't even give you the honor of killing you."

Yuu managed to flash out of the way as the Arrancar fire a Cero at her. She landed on a cream tile and took aim.

"Fire Aka no Ryū! Fire Midori no Ryū!"

The two dragons flew towards the enemy but he flashed out of the way. Aka no Ryū crashed into the wall as Midori no Ryū headed in the direction of the Arrancar. Yuu formed a set of Shakkahō knifes and sent them at Quinnlyn Xerti.

"Fire Aka no Ryū!"

Yuu's attacks were ineffective; her enemy's Sonído was just too fast. Thankfully the same was true for Quinlynn. He had drawn his sword to attack Yuu but her reflexes were faster. He would swing his sword at her and Yuu would duck. After that she would use Shunpo to get away. She would send Aka no Ryū at the Arrancar only for him the flash away. After at least a dozen of these exchanges Yuu decided that she needed to activate her Ban Kai. She had no idea how that was going to happen.

Then Quinnlyn didn't rush to attack her, "You were right. You were ill. You are already stronger than the reports suggested. And you can become stronger still. Am I correct in assuming that this is not your Ban Kai?

"I'm not strong," Yuu corrected. "I barely match the level of a Fifth seat."

Xerti allowed the correction, "You and I must have different definitions of strength."

"Very different," Yuu confirmed.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

Yuu countered, "You first."

Quinlynn obliged his enemy. He held his sword in front of him like a medieval knight. His feet were slightly apart.

"Play, Ajedrez!"

Somehow Yuu was not surprised to hear that. The spiritual pressure exploded from Xerti. Yuu knew what she was going up against as there were fifteen similar explosions behind Arrancar. When Yuu could see the enemy she saw fifteen life size chess pieces in the same color cream as half of the floor. The king was missing expect he wasn't.

Quinlynn Xerti looked every inch a king. He was still wearing his business suit but his mask had changed into a crown. The crown was a thick band with squares coming up at equal points. He was also wearing a cape that trailed behind him by several feet. It was cream colored.

Quinlynn smiled a regal smile, "Do you like it?"

Yuu felt the question lave her lips before she could stop it, "Have I been dragged into a chess game?"

Xerti answered, "Not in the traditional sense. And yours Miss Katsu."

Yuu shoved her ankles together. Her right hand came up to cover her heart as she pointed Kakuchū no Ryū at her temple.

"Fire, Kakuchū no Ryū!"

Yuu saw the braid of light stream out of Kakuchū no Ryū. The white light seemed cleaner while the black light seemed stronger. The pink light was pale and vibrant but it seemed to glow more than it used to.

"Ban Kai! Kakuchū no Ryū: Sōzō ken Hakai!"

Yuu jerked her hands in front of her face. Her left foot moved forward as her right one moved back. Her cloak snapped in the wind of her spiritual pressure. The dress fluttered. The bracer belonging to Shiro no Ryū glowed brightly while Kuro no Ryū was deep darkness. The only items that survived the transformation were Yuu's earrings and Shūhei's choker.

Xerti's eyes shone, "We match."

Yuu knew what he was talking about and disagreed, "Mine is a cloak; yours is a cape."

Xerti didn't response. Yuu managed to get a shied up as one of the pawns attack her with a spear. Yuu's mind made some swift observations. Each type of piece probability had the same type of power. With five types of pieces that was five powers. Yuu was willing to bet that the pawns had to use physical attacks. Most likely the two knights had some kind of sideways powers while castles were more direct. Yuu couldn't hazard a guess for the bishops. The odds that the queen combined the castles' and the bishops' power were high.

As for the king, that was simple. Quinlynn Xerti was the king. He would direct the troops. Yuu scowled. He might be the weakest piece but he was the most important. He had fifteen defenders; getting to him would be a challenge.

Yuu flashed away, "Fly Midori no Ryū! I want the queen!"

The green dragon flew towards the queen. Yuu shaped a red staff using Shiro no Ryū. She sent Aka no Ryū out with orders not to come back until it had destroyed a pawn. Yuu flashed within striking distance of a pawn. She swung her staff while condensing her spiritual pressure into it. The pawn, her target, shattered in pieces to reveal a core of spiritual pressure.

"Kuro no Ryū!"

The black dragon absorbed the spiritual pressure before it could return to its master. Aka no Ryū managed to destroy a pawn and Yuu sent Kuro no Ryū to absorb the core. Two down; thirteen to go.

Midori no Ryū came back with a report, /Diagonal fire and straight fissures./

Yuu asked, "Can you get a knight or do you need a break?"

Midori no Ryū flew towards a knight. Yuu planted her staff and vaulted on to another pawn. Yuu let the staff go and created a pair of blue boots while she was in midair. When she landed she smashed the pawn. Kuro no Ryū destroyed the core; twelve to go. Yuu flashed into the air as the ground spawned a fissure.

"Hado number 31: Shakkahō!"

Yuu sent the Kidō at the castle that attacked her. The spell cracked the castle but didn't destroy it. Yuu landed on her hands and swung her feet at the castle. It lost it balance and fell; exposing the core; eleven left.

Midori no Ryū brought another report, /Ice but it pops up./

Yuu panted but she got out, "Good work. Rest Midori no Ryū."

The green dragon returned to its spot on the dress. Yuu made a scythe and managed to destroy a bishop and two pawns in one blow. Kuro no Ryū managed to get all but one of the cores. Yuu was not surprised to see the pawn reform; nine left.

Yuu was running out of spiritual pressure. She needed to end this. A streak of fire came from the remaining bishop. Yuu fell to the ground and the fire brunt a pawn to a crisp. Yuu flashed forward and pushed the castle into the fissure she managed to dodge. Yuu paused to make sure the cores of both were gone. That was both of the castles. One bishop, two knights, four pawns and the queen remained.

Yuu faltered but managed to get back up before a pillar of ice consumed her.

"It was just another horde of Hollows," Yuu thought, "I can do this."

Yuu casted a loop of green wire around a pawn. She spun it around and managed to throw it into the queen. The pawn was gone and Kuro no Ryū took care of the core. Yuu leapt for the still standing queen with her hands outstretched. She crashed into the piece and both of them went tumbling down. Yuu pulled her right hand back and coated it in a violet light. Yuu thrust her hand into the queen's chest. She grabbed on to the core and pulled it out. Yuu tossed it to Kuro no Ryū: six left.

Yuu whipped out a whip of white light. It wrapped around one of the knights. Yuu flashed to avoid becoming frozen. She kept hold of the whip and dragged the knight into the air with her. Yuu let the whip go and the knight fell to the ground.

"Fly Aka no Ryū!"

The warrior crashed down into the knight as it made contact with the ground. The combined assault caused it to shatter into shards. Kuro no Ryū had been waiting so the core was gone before Yuu could blink; five to go.

Yuu landed on one of the last pawns and managed to rip its head off. Yuu trapped the core in a net of yellow light. One of the other pawns rushed Yuu. It collided with an orange wall. Yuu lunged and managed to trap that core as well. She offered both to Kuro no Ryū; three left.

The cores were a pale grey light and an idea popped into Yuu's head. She placed a hand on the last pawn's body and pushed her spiritual pressure into it. A knight was a few feet away. Yuu rushed it and managed to do the same to it.

"Shiro no Ryū!"

Yuu could see the cores get bigger as she manipulated their light. Both the knight and the pawn shattered. Kuro no Ryū didn't need to absorb those cores; they belonged to Yuu. One left and then the king.

However Yuu miscalculated. Something grabbed her hair and slammed her head into the floor. Yuu noticed that it was one of the purple tiles. Quinlynn slammed her head into the ground again. Yuu vision started to go fuzzy.

The dragons yelled out her to get out of there. Yuu knew that but the Arrancar's grip was too strong. She knew there was a solution but between the racket that Kakuchū no Ryū: Sōzō ken Hakai was making and her blurring vision Yuu just couldn't think.

Then a voice cut through her head like a knife, I'm right beside you! Cut off your hair Yuu!"

Yuu right hand reached out and wrapped around the hilt of a sword. She swung at her hair just as her skull made contact with the tile. Yuu knew it worked and scrambled to flash away.

Yuu landed on her hands and knees and drop the Colorless Man's physical form. She needed to end this before she fell unconscious. The Colorless Man tried to take control and fail. He's ability to control Yuu's body must have been due to separation sickness. Yuu tried to blink the stars out of her eyes.

/The bishop Yuu!/ The Colorless Man warned.

Yuu was consumed by flames. She tried to create a shield but it only flicked. Yuu tried to flash away or even crawl but she couldn't feel her legs. The Yuu discovered something as she tried to call out Ao no Ryū: her dress was burning!

Yuu heard eight shrieks of identical pain. She tried to get away but couldn't.

Yuu was desperate, "Your name! I need your name!"

The Colorless Man didn't argue. Yuu just couldn't hear what he had said. He tried again but it was too late.

The flames retreated and Yuu was left in the outfit she came in. She was holding pieces of a broken Kakuchū no Ryū. Yuu fell to her knees

"Find them. Find them." Yuu ordered the Colorless Man. "You're in my mind. Find them!"

/I'm looking/ He informed her. After a few terse seconds he cautiously said, /Yuu?/

Yuu looked at the Centésimo Primero with a stunned expression. He was confused.

"Still alive? Well I'll fix that."

He began to walk forward but Yuu's voice stopped him, "They're gone." Yuu's voice was empty, "They're gone."

Quinnlynn looked at Yuu's blank eyes, "And I have one left. I think it's clear who won that battle. But you fought with honor and courage. I will kill you in a manner befitting a warrior. I can give you that."

Yuu's eyes flash froze, "They're gone! You! You!"

The Arrancar died before he knew what had happened. Yuu used her right hand to grab the Colorless Man from where she dropped him. Yuu could have used Shunpo to cover the twenty yards but she wasn't thinking straight and she didn't need to. She raced forward with all of the speed of a track girl and buried the Colorless Man in her enemy's neck. A quick tug latter and Quinnlynn Xerti drowned in his own blood.

Then there was a noise that could be heard though out the entire Las Noches complex. Most of the Arrancar didn't know what it was. A few of the wiser ones knew it to be the sound of ultimate suffering. The ones who thought themselves wise called it pure despair.

When Ichigo heard it his blood ran cold. He had no idea what caused Yuu to make a sound like that but it couldn't be good. The only thing that kept him going was that Yuu would never forgive him if he abandoned Orihime.

Uryû was in battle with Cirucci Sanderwicci. They both stopped at the sound.

"Ugh," Sanderwicci said. "Do they have to make that noise?"

Uryû scanned for Yuu but couldn't find her. He needed to go find her; he needed to get serious. He pulled out a Seele Schneider.

Rukia faltered when she heard her friend's pain. Renji did as well. They had both heard stories at Seireitei horror story parties. Stories about lost Zanpakutō spirits. How much worse would it be for Yuu who trusted them completely and knew they trusted her?

Orihime couldn't believe that Yuu could make such a broken sound. She was always the most determined of the Karakura Group. Orihime had to destroy the Hōgyoku or how could they hope to win?

Chad heard it and knew what it meant. It meant that Yuu was counting on them. He couldn't let her down. He needed to figure out why his power was singing then rescue Orihime.

Aizen, Ichimaru and Tōsen heard it as well. It was particularly painfully to Tōsen's sensitive ears. Aizen was dismissive; this wouldn't change his plans.

Gin Ichimaru said, "My, my. That's a noise."

Yuu had fallen to her knees. When she had run out of oxygen she collapsed on the ground. She curled in on herself and her arms wrapped around her abdomen. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. Aka no Ryū. Daidaiiro no Ryū. Kiiro no Ryū. The twins, Midori no Ryū and Ao no Ryū. Murasaki no Ryū. Shiro no Ryū and his sister Kuro no Ryū.

Gone. They were all gone.

/You need to move Yuu./ The Colorless Man was worried.

Yuu managed to ask, "Why? Why does it matter?"

The Colorless Man answered, /The Exquias are coming. If they find you they will kill you./

Yuu mumbled, "Let them come. There isn't anything left."

The Colorless Man played his trump cards, "What about Orihime? Ichigo and the twins? Shūhei?"

Yuu pushed herself to her feet. She stumbled over to where Kakuchū no Ryū lay. The Zanpakutō had spilt right where the blade meet the hilt. Slowly she bent down and picked up the pieces. She found a door she hadn't seen before. She forced herself to walk to the door.

Yuu asked the Colorless Man, "Where are we going?"

/There's a room where you can rest without being found. Is that acceptable?/

Yuu asked, "Where?"

/Down this hall take the first left and then the fourth right. There's a door at the end of that hallway. That's the door you want."

Yuu started to run. The hallways were long and she almost missed her turns. She was hoping that if she ran fast enough she could leave her pain behind her. Yuu's boots made sharp thudding sounds as they hit the ground.

Soon Yuu was at the door. Yuu could see the Kidō that kept people from seeing it except the ones who were supposed to see it. Yuu slipped in and closed the door.

Yuu slid down the door and sat with her back to the door. She looked at the room. There wasn't much to see. There was a dresser and a bed. There was an open door that Yuu thought might be the door to the bathroom. Yuu saw a desk that had a tray of coffee on it.

Yuu pushed herself up. She could use coffee. Yuu went to the bed to put Kakuchū no Ryū down. There was already something on the bed. Yuu didn't have any more tears to cry when she saw Mister Zō.

Mister Zō was Yuu's stuffed elephant that Dai Katsu had given Yuu right before his accident. When Yuu had turned ten she had lost him. Yuu had searched for days and even resorted to cleaning her room but she never found him. Now here he was with his torn ear that Yuu had patched herself.

All Yuu really wanted to do was curl up into a ball while desperately clutching Mister Zō. Instead she forced herself to place her shattered Zanpakutō down and walk back to the desk.

Yuu was about to pour herself a cup of coffee when she saw the cream colored envelope. The last thing that Yuu wanted to do was read a cryptic letter that failed that failed to be cryptic. Yuu pulled out the chair and flopped into it. Yuu poured the coffee from the pitcher into the lone cup. Yuu added cream until the she had something she could drink. With a sigh Yuu pulled out the letter and began to read.

My Impossible Yuu,

The War has begun. It will not end until either the Soul Society is destroyed or Aizen is dead. I will be honest; I want it to end with Aizen's death. I always wanted to be able to tell you what I am about to tell you in person. The Humans have something called a daddy-daughter date. That was how you were supposed to find out about this but now there is no time.

When I was a child in the Soul Society I saw a girl lying on the ground. She had collapsed because of hunger which meant she had spiritual pressure. Rangiku Matsumoto was my first friend. I can remember seeing a trio of Soul Reapers leaving the area where she had collapsed with a sphere of energy. It was this energy that had caused Rangiku to collapse. I later saw the three Soul Reapers give this energy to Aizen. I realized that this meant that Aizen had caused Rangiku's tears.

I vowed that I would change things so that way she would not have to cry. The only way to do that was by killing Aizen. The only way to kill Aizen was to become a Soul Reaper.

I attended Shino Academy and finished in a year. After that I did everything I could to get into Aizen's inner circle. I killed. I lied. I stole. I did not tell Rangiku. I heard once that if you wanted to fool your enemies you needed to fool your friends first.

I was assigned a Lieutenant; Izuru Kira. I introduced him to Rangiku in the hopes that a bond would develop. I was not above using him to protect the only thing I cared about. I never expected to grow to care for the orphan that had fallen into my care.

A certain level of desperation began to set in. I was at war with the most powerful and the most cunning man in reality. Aizen was dangerous and now I had two people to protect. If Aizen found out he could use them as leverage against me. I needed a way to keep them safe.

I chased after obscure myths and barely whispered rumors. I was looking for something that Aizen would not expect. I thought about going to the Soul King but arranging meetings with him took time. Even if Aizen did not discover it and kill me the odds of the Soul King believing me were small.

I could not find any way to protect my rag tag family. Then at last there was a glimmer of hope. I was studying Quincys when I came across a reference to an Experiment 191409 Subject 092. I was not interested the Experiment. I was curious about Subject 092.

He was male and he had amazing powers. He could infect the spiritual pressure of his enemies and turn it against them. He could tell when people were traveling in the Dangai. He had two unrelated Zanpakutōs. Most Soul Reapers recover faster in the Soul Society. He apparently recovered faster in the World of the Living. All of this would be useful in a fight against Aizen.

I wanted to know if it was something he had learned. If it was I needed to know how he learned it. If he was born with it that meant it was another dead end.

I had to go to the depths of the Seireitei Archives. Experiment 191409 was old. However the data was remarkable preserved. There just was not much of it. I know that Kiskuke Urahara thinks I did not give you all of it but I did.

The first page was a list of names:

Subject 001 – Deceased

Subject 002 – Exterminated

Subject 003 – Exterminated

Subject – 4 Deceased

Subject – 5 Missing, Exterminate on Sight.

And on it went until "Subject 285 – Exterminated". 173 of the Subjects were Exterminated. 97 of them were Deceased. That left 15 that were classified as "Missing, Exterminate on Sight." Subject 092 was one of them

I flipped over to the next page and read the title. Experiment 191409: Beings with Soul Reaper Fathers and Human Mothers. I did not need to read anymore. He had been born with his powers. I was about to put the file away when inspiration struck.

I was a Soul Reaper and I was male. I could make a new person with these powers. I could hone them into a tool to destroy Aizen. It took me two weeks to read though the entire Experiment. It took me other week to understand it.

Then came another challenge. I had to find a suitable Human woman. This first difficulty seemed complicated but was very simple. I had killed and I had tortured. I refused to rape. The second problem was complex. There has always been ways to terminated unwanted pregnancies. I considered Courting a young woman but I simply did not have time. I began to study women for hire. I did not like what I saw. Then I came across a young lady name Haru Suzuki.

She was a prostitute but she was working to get her life back on track. She was not addicted to any type of chemical and was taking classes to prepare for her collage entry exams. She just needed a push to reset her life.

I decided to take you when you were a year old. It would mean you would be eating solid food and would not need a mother anymore. You would still be young enough that you would not remember anything then what I taught you. I would raise you in an American city and keep you a secret until the final battle. Then you would appear and be victorious I missed the glaring obvious flaw in this plan.

My first mistake was going to your birth. I watched outside the window as your mother held you the first time. I was about to leave when your eyes flickered open. I almost fell out of the sky. They were so blue.

My second mistake was to allow Dai Katsu to Court your mother. I figured that a little romance would be good for her. The next time I saw you were walking from Haru into Dai's arms. You were a fast learner and it was clear that he loved both of the Suzuki women. Except you were Katsu's now. I could not take you; I would take you on your tenth birthday. I put binding Kidō one you to keep your Soul Reaper powers repressed.

I decided against that when Dai Katsu died. I had been watching you and by that point I discovered the flaw in my plan. I loved you I could not take you from your happy life I made another a mistake; one I cannot regret. I forgot to renew the Kidō on you.

When Ichigo came into his inheritance I knew it was only a manner of time before you came into yours. One day I returned to my quarters and saw a Zanpakutō that I had never seen before. I knew it was yours. I made the box myself. I planned on delivering it as soon as I was done but Half-Way Day was only a week away.

You know the rest of the story. You know that I am proud of you. I almost revealed myself when you rescued Rukia. But you are intelligent and I know that there is not anything you would do for your family.

I guess I was wrong you don't know the entire story. The first time you used Ban Kai all of the prisms and crystals in a three yard radius of me were destroyed. I was the only one who figured out why. When Las Noches received the surveillance footage of the Bount Invasion I watch your fight with Maki Ichinose again and again. When Shūhei Hisagi broke up with you the only thing that kept me from killing him was the knowledge that it would kill you faster. When Orihime was taken I had to help you get to her.

Now you know everything that is mine to tell. I made you so that way you would kill Aizen. I cannot ask you to do that nor can I ask you to run and hide. All I can ask you to do is the do the best you can.

One last thing; Shinsō is your inheritance. You will be able to use him with the same ease you use Kakuchū no Ryū.

Remember Yuu Katsu, my gentle victory, I love you.

Love your father,

Gin Ichimaru.

Y'all might want to read the Author's note. You don't have to. It's just a suggestion.

Author's note: LadyAnnaLee here and I'm cackling like a manic. I warned you in the last author's note that you would hate this chapter. You all probably hate me too. Anyways on to the welomes. Yuriko-Rurinia is following this story. Hisashi Jeagerjaques and scarlet rose white is following and made it a favorite of theirs. For some obscure reason known only to them, scarlet rose white also made me one of their favorite authors. Why would you do that, scarlet rose white? Seriously, I want to know. GothChick88 reviewed. I planned Yuu's relationship with Captain Kuchiki from the start. However I never could write the relevant scenes before. You should read the note for chapter 29 again. Alright how many of you knew that it was Gin. It's not like I tried to hide it. I just didn't say it. On last thing; Yuu was always going to lose her power. I tried to write it so she wouldn't but I couldn't. Sacrifices have to be made. This story will have a happy ending, I promise. Just wait for the next chapter. It's already written and if I get enough reviews I might post it early. Yuu is not out of the picture yet. Love, LadyAnnaLee.

Btw I don't own Bleach but I did think up Yuu and her Kakuchū no Ryū.