Chapter 38: Loose Ends and Taut Beginnings

*The story STILL isn't done folks.

Naoko: Then stop with misleading titles already!

Me: But I like to mess with my audience.

Seirin: Better them than us Naoko.

Naoko: ... True. Okay folks here's the drill; EmpressSaix doesn't own anything and please review.

Seirin: Surely you guys could take a few minutes out of your day to read and review one of your adored fics? We love those of you who already do so much. ^^

Naoko: *puppy dog eyes* Pwease?

When Izuru Kira opened his eyes he expected to still find himself either still lying on the ballroom floor or whatever came after being dead and dying again. What he didn't expect was lying in a soft sterile bed wrapped in bandages. But that's where he was and when looked around some more he deduced that he was in some medical barrack like in the Fourth Division. He started to push himself up but a burning pain shot down his chest and stomach, he let himself fall back onto the bed.

Suddenly the door opened and two people walked in, a man and woman. The man was short, a little portly with glasses and blonde hair that was thinning a bit. He wore a nicely put suit that looked like something the First Lieutenant would wear. The woman was tall, and young looking with deep red hair tied up into a bun with a few strands hanging around her face. She wore a floor length ocean blue dress that matched her eyes and a long pearl white jacket.

"Well it seems our new patient is awake eh Robbinsdale?" the woman said silkily.

"It seems you're right Victoria. How are you feeling young man?" the medic captain asked.

"I-I'm fine. A little sore, but fine. May I ask where exactly am I?" Kira asked slowly.

Robbinsdale stood at the end of Kira's bed and the red head took a seat on the cot next to him. She smoothed out her dress and sweater before speaking.

"I am the Head Captain of the European Gotei Thirteen Victoria Aqualius. This gentleman here is the captain of the Fourth Division which is also the medical division Albert Robbinsdale. I had him bring you here and treat your wounds. The reason why is because I have a proposition for you Mr. Kira."

"A proposition?" the blonde asked a little worried.

The Head Captain nodded and continued, "Yes, how would you like to allow the Asian Gotei believe you are dead and assume a new identity and serve under me?"

Kira blinked at her in surprise. She wanted him to leave the Gotei he originally came from and join hers. But he'd be leaving all his friends Hell even Kira felt some sort of enjoyed attachment to his new captain. He'd have to start a completely new life here in an entirely new country with new languages, people and customs. I guess this is how Captain Flynn felt when he had to leave America.

All of his friends would think he was dead; he probably would never be able to step back there again. He wouldn't have a friend or one familiar acquaintance here at all. But if he did turn down her offer and went back home he'd be treated as a traitor, trialed and executed without a doubt.

Go home and face death or stay in a foreign country and live.

"Would I still be a lieutenant?" Kira asked cautiously.

"Yes, I think serving the Sixth Division would be a nice wouldn't you say Albert?" She asked nicely.

"I think that'll be a perfect fit. It's been what three? Four centuries since they've had a lieutenant? I think Mr. Kira will do well there," The medic reassured them.

Kira thought the deal over again and then asked, "Has the coronation taken place yet?"

Victoria blinked in surprise, "Well no it hasn't. Why do you ask?"

"If you could change my identity by then could I...be allowed to attend the ceremony as the new lieutenant? I...kind of want one last look at my friends before I go," He explained softly.

The Head Captain thought this request over, "Well if you spend the rest of today purely resting I think this could be arranged."

Kira visibly brightened up at the hope of seeing his friends again even if undercover, "Thank you Head Captain, thank you."

'No stop...what are you doing? Go back you can't just leave her there! She's just a baby!' She can feel those words clawing at the inside of her throat. She sees through wide eyes the scene that once again plays itself in front of her. Each time she prays it'll be different (it's just a dream. I should be able to change it.) But it never is.

A thin raggedly dressed woman runs away from the infant she gingerly laid on the ground. The small child softly whines from the absence of the warmth and touch of another. The woman who is dreaming wants to scream, 'how can you just leave her there? How heartless and selfish are you?'

The scene abruptly changes like it usually does around now.

She is now sitting underneath a fully bloomed cherry tree. Its pink petals rained down softly like spring rain. The woman could tell that she wasn't sitting there alone. There was a much taller and well built man sitting beside her, his long black hair falling gently down his back. He wore a white captain's haori and a pastel colored scarf.

He turned and smiled at her warmly. She could feel her skin burning with blush. Her heart flutters with compassion but still feels weighted down at the thought of the abandoned baby. 'I don't deserve this...'

Mihana Kuroki's eyes snapped open when she felt someone lightly shaking her. She looked around and realized she was on an airplane. Why am I...? Oh that's right we're going to Germany. The older woman looked next to her and saw who woke her. A green eyed blonde by the name of Naomi who was Sakura's lieutenant.

"Are you alright Ms. Kuroki?" Naomi asked with a bit of worry.

The ink haired woman rubbed her tired violet eyes, "Yes, I'm alright. I think the jetlag is already getting to me."

She looked out her small window and saw dark green land peeking out from beneath the thick white clouds. It was hard to tell if they were still flying over the Middle East or if they had entered Europe yet.

"Are we almost there yet?" Mihana asked Naomi.

The blonde turned a page in her book, "The pilot said we'd be landing in half an hour."

"Thank God," Mihana murmured. She loved to travel whether it was by plane, car, train or boat. But traveling on a plane over night was never pleasant. In Mihana's opinion it amplified jetlag. "I hate flying over night. It messes up a person's system much more."

"Yes, well tell that to the woman who organized this whole thing," Naomi agreed with her eyes still on her book.

Naomi was referring to her current captain who was on the other side of the plane and snuggling up with her husband. She was the one who convinced them it was better to fly overnight. "At least this way we'll get there late afternoon instead of close to midnight."

Mihana lightly shook her head and rested it on her palm and looked out the window. She felt a pair of eyes on her again. The lieutenant had been sneaking glances at Mihana every now and then since they met at the airport.

She turned her attention to the girl, "Yes? Does my profile really look that good that you have to stare?"

Naomi briefly blushed, "N-No I didn't mean to stare it's just...you look eerily similar to someone I know."

Mihana shrugged, "I guess I just have that kind of face."

The blonde leaned back against her seat, "Yeah I guess so." Yeah the face of a dead noblewoman.

"I still think it's best if they spend another full day resting. These wounds aren't to be taken lightly," Robbinsdale argued.

Naoko and Uryu stood in front of him while Oliver stood on the side. All three had their wounds treated, a good night's rest and decent meal.

"We can't push the coronation date back again. I already pushed my luck the last time I asked the Quincy elders to do that. Besides we got all walks of company coming both today and tomorrow," Oliver argued or rather whined back.

The older gentleman adjusted his thin spectacles, "You'll be pushing more than just your luck if these two don't rest properly."

"Captain Robbinsdale I can assure you that my sister and I will be in fine enough health for the ceremony tomorrow. We've sustained worse injuries then this and still carried on fine," Uryu reassured him.

"Yeah, there's nothing to worry about," Naoko shrugged.

"Well...alright if you're sure..." Robbinsdale hesitantly agreed.

Ichigo suddenly opened the door, "Hey Naoko, Uryu you're parents are here."

Naoko bristled, "Carrot-top don't you know how to knock?"

"Why? It wasn't like you guys were doing anything important," He said simply. "So you coming or what?"

"We're coming," Uryu said with disdain.

"Oh so I get to meet your folks now. This'll be brilliant," Oliver said with joy.

"Not as brilliant as you think," Uryu murmured.

Naoko and Naomi's combined joyful squealing could quite possibly be heard throughout every part of the mansion. Both girls had their arms tightly wrapped around each other, jumping up and down and talking so fast only they could understand what they were saying.

Sakura had grabbed a hold of her son and was hugging and kissing him and asking dozen's of questions.

"Mother please, I'm fine we both are," Uryu said between kisses.

"I know, but I was so worried about you two. I hadn't heard from either of you in a couple days, God knows what could've happened," Sakura countered.

Ryuken was trying not to smirk at this son being fretted over when he felt a pair of arms tightly wrap around him. His body stiffened at not being used to being hugged by his daughter. He looked down and sure enough Naoko was hugging him.

"Miss me?" Naoko asked smirking.

"More or less, the hugging not so much. Could you please release me?" Her father asked trying to sound civil.

Naoko complied, feeling satisfied at making her father squirm just a bit. After getting everyone settled in their respective rooms it was time for a late dinner. That proved to be not only cacophonous but enjoyable in a big family twisted sort of way.

Angelica and Karin hit it off surprisingly well, cynical personalities really do connect. Naoko, Yuzu, and Naomi were chatting amiably about the coronation and about Naoko's adventures in Germany. In which she kept a few key details out. Oliver and Ichigo's father were talking just amiably as the girls.

Shockingly Ryuken and Uryu were remaining on an impressive level of civility to one another though Sakura and Nemu were making sure of that. Ichigo and Renji were talking but also trying their best no to look at both Rukia and Mihana, both ladies avoiding each other's gazes.

"Alright I seriously have to ask does Rukia have any female siblings?" Angelica asked quietly to Karin.

The dark haired twin shrugged, "I know she has an older brother but he adopted her. So I don't think so."

"So who else is coming tonight? Or is everyone else coming tomorrow?" Naoko asked trying to divert the conversation.

"Well I think lieutenants Kotetsu and Hisagi and your friends will be coming later tonight and as for the others..." Sakura was cut off by a cheery voice echoing through the house.

"Hello~! Anybody home~?"

"It figures..." The Quincy captain muttered.

Just then Kisuke, Yoruichi and a hesitantly trailing Soi Fon walk in. In a fit of joy Naoko bolted from her chair and threw her arms around the tanned woman who happily returned the gesture. Soi Fon noticeably stiffened up and scowled.

"Oh be nice little bee. I get to see you every day but with Naoko it's a few times a month at best," Yoruichi said reassuringly.

"I've missed you Yoruichi-sensei," Naoko said quietly.

"I missed you too my little pup," the cat woman said gently.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Kiskue asked jokingly.

Naoko hopped out of Yoruichi's arms and into Urahara's for a hug.

"Ichigo, is that the crazy shopkeeper you were telling me about?" Oliver asked pointing to the hugging pair. "He doesn't look nutters."

"Looks can be deceiving Oliver, trust me," Ichigo said firmly, Renji nodding.

"Well speaking of looks..." The red headed Brit's eyes trailed up and down Yoruichi in her gigai.

Suddenly a soft bread roll hit him on the side of the head. He looked to see Angelica very angrily glaring at him. Oliver merely sheepishly grinned and tentatively grabbed the roll.

"So what are you guys doing here? The coronation isn't until tomorrow," Sakura asked.

"Well, the Head Captain finally got a Senkimon Gate set up between us and the Europeans, trust me that took quite a bit of haggling and dealing to get them to help us. Once he did he wanted a few of us to go through it and test it out. And since you were gone the three of us volunteered. Plus I have quite a few gigais that people are going to need and whatnot," Kiskue explained.

"We also have four others coming right? Good God this place is going to become an absolute mad house tomorrow," Oliver shuddered slightly.

"True," Yoruichi purred. "But it just wouldn't be as memorable without all of them."

Naoko sat on the edge of her plush white bed in her robe and pajamas with her grandmother's worn leather diary, reading it under the soft glow of the bed stand lamp. After dinner most if not everyone had stayed at the table each person telling about what's been going on. Though some key details and stories had been left out like James dying, Naoko decapitating Franz, the Royal Knights attacking them repeatedly, Hinamori dying and Kira going missing. There are just some things parents shouldn't know that their kids have done.

"The bookworm in her natural habitat," Naomi said playfully from the bathroom doorway dressed in her pajamas.

"Everyone else gone to bed?" Naoko asked lightly as she turned another page.

"Pretty much, some of the adults are still up and talking," the blonde flopped down onto the bed next to Naoko.

"Well, good. Everyone's going to need as much rest as they can get especially Chad and them. I think they gave the term, 'walking dead' a whole new meaning," the princess snickered.

The rest of their friends which were Chad, Orihime, Isane and Hisagi arrived about an hour after Kisuke and the girls. The entire journey had been an ordeal and only wanted food and a bed or even a comfortable floor to sleep on. Oliver was just a little too happy to see someone like Orihime and Angelica was just a little too rough in reprimanding him.

"God did you see the way Orihime was hugging Ichigo and then clinging on him the rest of the night?" Naomi asked, though she knew Naoko noticed.

"Yes, the girl can't take a hint at all. I actually thought Rukia was going to snap and rip her apart," Naoko answered offhandedly.

Naoko had never really felt such an odd combination of pity, smug satisfaction and wariness perhaps? There was something off and unsettling about the way she clung to Ichigo. It was like there was a layer of possessiveness to it like she was a little kid who was clinging to a toy that no one had a right to touch.

"The way she was sitting next to him was nothing short of unsettling," the raven haired girl said.

Naomi snorted, "No kidding. You want to talk about unsettling how about that Kuroki woman? I swear to God she looks nearly identical to Rukia! That right there is solid proof of reincarnation."

"That or Kisuke's been screwing around with cloning," Naoko responded still paging through her book.

The blonde sat up, "No, he swears he hasn't touched that field in decades. I can't wait to see the look on that snooty ass Byakuya."

"Be nice Naomi. I'm keeping a civil tongue around Orihime you can keep a polite façade in front of the Kuchikis'," Naoko gently chided.

"Speaking of being polite in front of people we don't like...how were you planning on dealing with seeing your ex again?" Naomi asked.

Naoko settled her book on her lap and looked at her friend, "I've been mulling around different scenarios and situations on how to handle that preening fool and I've come up with nothing."

"Good, so I'm not the only one. Ikkaku's been...apologetic lately and while weird, and out of character for him, is interesting. If he apologizes for kicking me out of the Eleventh I may just consider forgiving him," Naomi said.

"Well good for you," Naoko said distractedly as she went back to her book.

Naomi cocked her head to the side, her grass green eyes analyzing her friend, "Nervous about tomorrow?"

"I'm past nervous. I'm at the edge of breaking down in fear and terror," Naoko said softly,

The lieutenant leaned over and wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulders, "You're going to do fine. You've handled all manner of enemies and challenges. This will be a piece of cake for you."

"True, I just hope I don't trip on my gown while walking down the aisle and fall flat on my face," Naoko half joked.

"Well that would make it a memorable," Naomi giggled.

Naoko playfully shoved her, "You're awful."

Naomi released her friend and moved over the other side of the bed and pulled back the covers. The bed was big enough to hold three or four people so there'd be plenty of space for two petite girls. The young Reaper slithered in between the crisp sheets, "You going to read for awhile?"

Naoko nodded as she slid into the sheets too. The Quincy wanted to find some grain of encouraging wisdom her grandmother had written in the book. Please Grandmother; you've always given me guidance and reassurance before. I could really use some right now.

*I know, I know, this was one of my...looser not as fluent chapters. It's because this is to connect a few loose ends and start a few others. The new character Mihana Kuroki is in fact a reincarnation of our beloved Hisana. Just in case you guys didn't get that.

There's a reason why she's in this story so please just give it time. Though I do feel bad for not being able to do a scene in which Rukia reacts and such, I may later though. So hang tight.

Ayame: We're going to get to the coronation soon right EmpressSaix?

Me: Maybe...:3

Seirin: What's that supposed to mean?

Me: You'll see.

Gin: In the mean time please review everyone. If something confusing now, it will be made clear in the near-ish future.