Chapter Eighteen: "Wielding Fates" By: Midorigrove

As they walked by the circle of stones, they began to disappear. Midori opened her eyes wide as she stopped to look at them. Seigi stopped next to her, "It's a new start." She smiled at him with her goofy smile, "Yes." They continued off toward Danr. He brought them farther out into the field. He stopped to look at Midori, "You will meditate and enter your Soul World where you should meet them, again. This time you have to be willing to do as they say to learn their commands for battle. You will need to listen to them in order to understand their abilities, advantages, and consequences for using them. Some shikai do not have consequences, but their advantages and abilities are important to remember. Training with your shikai will eventually open up the possibility for bankai. In doing this, you will have mastered your Zanpakuto. I do not believe that you will accomplish bankai here. Most people take anywhere from ten to a hundred years to master." Midori listened to everything that Danr told her. She looked at Seigi, "I guess it is time to return for the time being." He bowed to her, gave her the Zanpakuto, and disappeared inside of it.

Midori sat down and crossed her legs. She closed her eyes to begin, but Danr stopped her, "Midori, I have a question." She was curious about why he had stopped her, "Yes?" He continued, "I saw something within you when you were going through your journey. Did you know that you had another soul inside of you?" She giggled at him, "That is just my Soul Image. She will not harm you. I promise." Her words caused him much confusion as he let her get back to her meditation, 'Does she really not know about it?' He took a seat in front of her and thought about what the soul could have been, 'Maybe, it's a god. She talks about the Allfather. Maybe, he is keeping her alive. I will have to figure this out.'

Midori focused on her meditating as she was instantly pulled subconsciously inside of her mind. The Soul World was different from before. It now had more light and the cage that held the Hollow was more visible. She walked over to it and two eyes appeared, "Did you miss me?" She gave it a look and turned around to see Seigi standing in front of her, "Took a little longer than I thought it would for you to come here." She walked closer to him, "Danr had a question for me, so I answered him." "What question?" Midori obliged Seigi's concern, "He wanted to know about the other soul inside of me. I simply told him it was just my Soul Image." Seigi knew that Midori was not completely sure about what the other soul inside of her was, but he knew that it was not her. It was someone completely different. He smiled at her to hide the truth, "Try calling them." Midori shook her head in agreement, "Verdandi? Skuld? Urd?" Her voice echoed in her Soul World, but no one appeared.

She turned to look at Seigi, who shrugged his shoulders, "It may take some time for them to appear in your Soul World." She tilted her head, "Well, what can I do to hasten their appearance here?" Seigi really did not know what to tell her. When he came under Midori's care, he just appeared here. The Hollow did the same. 'It is possible that it is different for those three because they don't know Midori's spiritual pressure as well as I do. It could also be that she needs to concentrate on them more.' He looked up from his thoughts to see that Midori was still looking at him for answers. He closed his eyes for a moment, "Try only concentrating on them one at a time. It may be that trying to summon them all at one time is too much. They have to sense your spiritual pressure and accept it to appear here in your Soul World." She took him at his word, "Okay."

Midori began to concentrate on Verdandi, 'Verdandi if you can hear me, please appear before me.' Her mental plea did not help any. She did not know how to just concentrate in her Soul World. If she closed her eyes, it would cause her to exit the Soul World. She walked over to two large columns on the right side of the room. That was all that stood there. Their white complexion and the vines that were wrapped around them made her think about the temple she saw in the place where she had to undergo those ordeals.

She began to imagine that there were three thrones before her between the pillars, and as her mind remembered the thrones that were in the temple, they appeared before her. Each one had their own unique colored sash that was over the back of the thrones. The center one's sash was blue, the right one was green, and the left one was red. She focused on the red one. It was the same color as Verdandi's eyes. "Verdandi, appear before me!" A black and purple smoke appeared in an oval in front of the throne with the red sash. When it cleared, there stood Verdandi.

She stretched her arms and legs and then looked up at Midori, "Oh Mistress, you called me?" Midori smiled at her, "Yes, I did. Thank you for appearing." Verdandi looked to her left to see that her sisters were not there. She looked puzzled, "Mistress, my sisters? Where are they?" Midori did not know what to tell her, but tried the best she could, "I tried to summon you all at the same time, but apparently that did not bring you here." Verdandi understood, she stepped beside of Midori and stared at the thrones, "Try again, Mistress. My sisters will hear your calls now that our thrones are here."

Midori understood what had went wrong. She did not have anything here to connect them to her Soul World, and now with the thrones there, it would enable them to appear. She cleared her throat and called to the other two sister, "Urd? Skuld? Please appear before me." A puff of blue and white smoke appeared in front of the center throne, and Urd appeared. In front of the right most throne, a plume of green and yellow smoke appeared, and when it disappeared, Skuld was there. They both looked at Midori and spoke in unison, "Yes, Mistress?" The sound of each other's voice hitting the other caused them to give each other looks like they hated each other, 'I guess Urd and Skuld have some tension between themselves." Verdandi whispered to Midori, "Mistress, Skuld and Urd don't get along very well, please don't pay it any mind." Midori looked at her and smiled a crooked smile. She was not sure what to make of it.

Now that everyone was here, Seigi appeared on the other side of Midori and placed his hand on her head, "Good job, Midori." His voice caught all three of the sisters who were now in front of them. They looked over at Seigi with looks of longing, "Master Seigi!" Their giddy reply in unison caught Midori off guard. She saw how Seigi gave them a stern look, "Make sure you three take care of Lady Midori." The sisters nodded their head in agreement.

Skuld spoke up, "Mistress did you call us here to have us teach you about our powers?" Midori was brought back to her original reason for being there, "Yes, of course. Please teach me." Skuld looked over at Verdandi, "Okay Vee, it's your time to shine." She placed all the attention on Verdandi. Verdandi walked up to Midori, "Mistress, we cannot do anything unless you command us. Please, command my power to your axes." Midori stood there. She had asked them to teach her, but she was having to command them.

Thoughts filled her mind with how to command Verdandi's powers. She placed her hand on her Zanpakuto and pulled it from its sheath. The words, synthesize and dispel appeared in her mind as if Verdandi was the one who put them there. She took a fighting stance and called upon Verdandi, "Synthesize and Dispel, Verdandi!" Verdandi disappeared into a light that was now two separate lights in Midori's hands. When the light dissipated, Midori's regular battle axes had changed into double headed battle axes and their blades were tinted purple. Midori marveled at their transformation. She looked over at Seigi, "Get ready. Let's test them." Seigi smiled.

He closed his eyes, and then Seitoshi appeared in his hands. He scoffed at Midori, "Don't hold back." Midori charged him with her new blades. She sliced at Seitoshi, but only found air. Seigi had flashed stepped away from her. She took his lead, and they both were fighting within her Soul World. He came behind her and hit her with his elbow in the stomach. She bent over and held her stomach. As the blade of one of her axes got closer to her stomach, Verdandi's voice came from its blade, "Mistress, pay close attention to the end of your ax blades. They are not normal blades." Midori looked down at the purple tint and saw how it shimmered with a green swirl. 'Poison?'

She smiled and looked over at Seigi who was standing there waiting for her to come at him, "Giving up, already." Midori stood tall and without warning flashed stepped toward Seigi and swung her axes at him. They sliced through the air but made contact with his arm. He jumped back and held his arm. He looked down and it was bubbling. "I see you have made contact with me. It has been years since I have been introduced to Verdandi's poison, but it's fortunate that I have an immunity to it." He slid his hand across the cut, and it stopped bubbling and healed itself. Midori smiled, 'Good, I don't have to worry about hurting him here.' It made her rest a little bit knowing that nothing done here would have consequences later. She looked over at Skuld and she could hear it in her mind, 'Guard and serve." It made her smirk.

Seigi saw her smile and charged her. As he came closer, he swung Seitoshi at Midori, "Guard and Serve, Skuld!" Skuld disappeared, and so did one of the battle axes from Midori's hands. It created a green shield that stretched around Midori in an arc. Seitoshi connected with it which made Seigi smile, 'She is becoming a natural. I have to up my game, or Urd will not allow her to control her powers." Seigi flashed stepped behind Midori and tried to hit her, but Skuld stretched her shield farther, "Mistress, it is my honor to protect you."

Midori was mesmerized by how much protection that Skuld could give her. She was excited to see what Urd could do. She looked over at her, and Urd saw her glance and immediately jerked her head away. 'Is she not happy with me? Perhaps, she doesn't think I am worthy.' Skuld's spirit could see Midori's defeated look after seeing Urd ignored her, "She is just being stuck up. Don't worry about her, Mistress." Midori was worried. What could see do to get Urd to call to her? She looked at Seigi who was trying to figure out how to get to Midori. He did not see a way with Skuld around her, so he began to hit her shield over and over again. Midori's mind was not focused on the battle, and the shield cracked into splinters. It caused Midori alarm as Seigi, not realizing what he was doing, collided Seitoshi into her right shoulder. Midori grabbed her arm, in pain. 'So, much for no consequences while I am in here.'

Seitoshi immediately disappeared from Seigi as he bent down to her, "I am sorry, Midori. I did not mean to harm you." She looked over at him, smiling ever so slightly, "It is okay. My mind was not focused on you at the time, so don't beat yourself up about it." Midori looked over at Urd, who was concerned about Midori's condition. When their eyes met, Urd looked away fast. She knew that it was her fault Midori got injured. She could hear Midori's thoughts pleading with her to speak to her, but it was not that she did not want to, it was that Midori was not in danger, and she could not put her in that state.

Midori used Kaido on her arm to close her wound. She got up from the ground as Verdandi and Skuld appeared in front of her, "Mistress are you alright? I am sorry my shield failed." Midori waved her hand like it was not her fault, "Skuld, you did what you could. I was not focused is all. It will take some time to get used to yours and Verdandi's powers. I think for now, I will rest, and we can start again tomorrow." Seigi knew there was something more to her words. He was worried.

Urd watched Midori out of the corner of her eye. She could sense how powerful Midori was, and if she were to give her power to her, it could be bad her for. She felt horrible about it, but that was her resolve at the moment, 'I am sorry, Mistress.' Her thoughts hit Midori's mind. She looked over at Urd and nodded her head in understanding before closing her eyes and exiting the Soul World. Verdandi and Skuld walked over to Urd, "Why did you not answer her when she called you, Urd?" Skuld began harping on her. She walked over to her throne and sat down, ignoring her younger sister. Verdandi took her throne as well, but wanted to know the meaning of her hesitation, "Is she not strong enough for your powers?" Urd looked over at her as Seigi stood and watched their banter. He too wanted to know what they meant by Midori was calling Urd, and she did not answer.

Urd pushed her side bangs out of her eyes and looked up at the white sky above them. She could see the look on Midori's face as she was injured, and it pained her. It was her fault that Midori was not focused in battle, 'I cannot hesitate, again. What if in battle she is injured horribly because of me? I have to give in and let her possess my powers.' Seigi saw the pained expression on Urd's face. He spoke up to her, "Urd, I understand your hesitation. I too failed in protecting her, but this training is for her to become a master of her Zanpakuto. It will eventually keep oh big baddie at bay." He slung his thumb over his shoulder indicating the large black barred cage. Urd looked at him, "I will try to give in, Master Seigi; however, I do not want any of you to give me grief if she cannot control my powers." They all agreed.

Outside of the Soul World, Midori opened her eyes and noticed that Danr was gone. She looked around and found him sitting against a tree, asleep. She smiled at him, 'He really is like Uncle Shunsui. I miss him. I miss everyone and it has only been three days. I don't know what will happen after ten years, but I do hope that it will go by fast, so I can return home.' She shook Danr's arm. He rubbed his right eye as he squinted his left one. He could see the outline of a young girl, "Dottir?" Midori was confused, but she smiled. "No, it's just me."

He rubbed both of his eyes, and finally, he saw Midori in front of him, "Sorry about that." He tried to get up, so Midori held out her hand to help him up. He took it and she pulled him off the ground, "Finished already?" Midori looked down embarrassed, "Unfortunately, not yet. Perhaps, tomorrow will be better." She began walking toward the cabin. She was happy. She could still feel the surge of Verdandi and Skuld's powers in her hands, but she was still worried about Urd, 'What can I do to hear her call?' Midori decided to maul it over later. When they got back to the cabin, Midori and Danr ate something for dinner. She left him in the kitchen to retire to her bed. She closed her eyes thinking about her training with her new shikai powers. She fell asleep.

Over the next six months, Midori worked with her new shikai powers in her Soul World. She still did not hear Urd's call. She worked hard on refining her fighting skills with Verdandi's poison weapons, and how to expand Skuld's shield. Seigi tried his best to up the attacks on Midori to entice Urd to come to Midori's side, but nothing seemed to do the trick. She was still on the fence on letting her use her powers. It would change the game for Midori, but she thought it was still not the time to lend her powers to her.

Midori's Kaido got stronger and faster as she had to heal her own wounds that were inflicted by Seigi over her training. She was able to heal her own shallow wounds in seconds, but the deep ones still took a while. Every time she got injured, Seigi would worry over her, but it was also those moments when Midori could see true concern on Urd's face. Midori realized that it wasn't that Urd did not like her, but that there had to be a reason why her powers were not activated yet. She just let it slide. She did not want to beg for something that she was not worthy of yet, so she decided to train with what she had now and wait till Urd was ready to join in.

Midori took off some time on the weekends to rest. She would spend time down by the falls where she first met Danr. He would go about his normal days, mostly. He knew that Midori's shikai training was going to take some time, but he still checked in on her from time to time. Midori sat on a rock that was out in the middle of the lake where the falls flowed into when a black butterfly landed on her hand, 'A hell butterfly?' It began to speak to her and the voice emitting from it caused her eyes to water,

"I hope you are doing well, Ri. Everyone here has been asking about you. We all miss you. Me especially. I sometimes pick up your scent in my office, but when I turn around you are not here, and it makes me miss you more. Everything is going as normal here. Shunsui is a little under the weather, right now. Retsu says it's because he has not been sleeping well since you left. She called him a child and demanded he get some rest," his laughter tugged at her heartstrings.

She could see his smiling face which made the tears fall even more. "She is very demanding when it comes to us and you. She misses you a lot as well. She tells us all the time that her daughter is gone away, and she misses her. I think that it is nice that you two have bonded so well. Ri, I wanted to tell you that I have been thinking about you a lot. I have not read your letter because you said to wait until I missed you the most, and I don't think I have hit that wall, yet. Perhaps, you will reply to this butterfly when it gets to you if it does. Yamamoto said it would, so I had to try. I visit your room often when I go and see Shunsui. Everything is the same and the smell of your room reminds me more of you. I sit on your bed sometimes, I hope that is not weird, but it helps me stay close to you. Sometimes, he has to come in there and get me to leave because I spend so much time there. I really am obsessed with you, aren't I," he chuckled at his words, which caused Midori to laugh a little too.

"I can picture your gorgeous wavy hair in the wind and your amazingly beautiful smile when I look out at our tree. I miss being wrapped in an embrace with you under that tree. I hope this doesn't make you cry, but if it does think of me embracing you and comforting you because…," his voice began to tremble as she could hear him choking up. She could see he was upset about being away from her. She closed her eyes and pictured him embracing her. It was like he was really there, "I love you, so don't worry about anything. I will always be here to protect you. Ri, I hope to hear from you soon. If this does work, I will send you one often because I miss hearing your voice. I guess we will see. I love you and I hope all is well," she heard him kiss the air and his voice disappeared. It made her smile.

Midori looked at the hell butterfly. Its beautiful black wings were gorgeous. She cleared her throat and upon hearing her voice the butterfly began to glow purple,

"Shiro, I miss you, so much. I have missed hearing your sultry voice. Everything is going well here. I have met with my teacher. He is a really good guy. I think at some point he lost his daughter because the third day I was here, he thought I was her. He does talk about her from time to time but has never confirmed anything about her to me regarding her death. I have been in training the last six months with learning my shikai. They really are amazing. I have been having troubles with one of them. I think that I may not be strong enough to wield it yet, but with time, I will master them all. I am glad everyone is doing well. Tell Uncle Shunsui that he needs to be careful about his health. He needs to rest. Tell Retsu that I give her permission to punish him if he doesn't obey her wishes," she laughed at her request. "I miss our tree, too. I remember the first time I met you under that tree. I thought you were so handsome. It still makes me blush when I think about giving you my technical first kiss. I know it was on the cheek, but it still counts. We really tiptoed around each other for a long while there, didn't we. I am just glad we were finally about to be together. I think about you often and how you are doing. I hope everything has been going well with your treatments. Has Kaien made sure to give you your tea and medicine, daily? You haven't had an episode lately, have you? I surely hope not. Please, don't keep that from me. I want to know everything," her voice cracked and trailed off as she sniffed, and tears fell from her eyes.

"When I get home, I want to spend days in your arms. I don't want you to let me go. I don't think it is weird that you spend so much time in my room. If it will help you in our time apart, you can sleep there if you want to. It will not bother me in the least. I just wish I could be there with you, wrapped in your arms as we fall asleep together. Please, tell everyone I am fine and not to worry. These ten years will be over soon, and I will be home. I love you, Shiro and I hope this reaches you in good spirits," she kissed the air and released the hell butterfly in the sky. It flew a little ways from her and disappeared into thin air.

Midori closed her eyes, 'Please, let it reach him. Wait a minute, my room?' She rose from the rock and raced to her room. She walked in and noticed that there was nothing different about her room, and then she saw it. The keychain on her desk had been moved from the prior day, 'You love this keychain, don't you Shiro.' Midori ran her finger over it. She walked over to her bookcase and ran her fingers over her Seireitei Communication Issues. She ran her finger over the 13th issue, 'I wonder?' She pulled it from the shelf and wrote a little note,

The only man to love me enough, Jushiro Ukitake. I love you and miss you every day. Keep your chin up and think of me often because you are always on my mind.

Xoxo

Ri.

She placed the note in the issue and closed it, placing it back on the shelf. She turned to the keychain, 'I hope this works. It will be easier than the hell butterfly and less expensive," and wrote a note beside of it,

Look in issue 13 of Seireitei Communications on my bookcase.

She placed her hand on the note that now sat underneath the keychain. She closed her eyes as she willed her thoughts to make their connections work. The note beneath her hand disappeared. She looked down amazed. "It worked?!"

Jushiro was sitting with Shunsui when the hell butterfly appeared, landing on his finger. He was happy that it had worked and Shunsui was surprised at hearing her voice. Jushiro did not expect that to happen. Everything she said made his eyes water. He rubbed them and rose from his seat as the hell butterfly disappeared, "Going to her room, again?" He shook his head. Shunsui understood. He too walked in her room often, hoping that she was there. He wished for so long now that she would just appear. He missed her visits to see him and spend time with him. He felt lonely now that she was not around.

Jushiro walked into her room and walked to her desk like normal. He ran his long slender fingers over her keychain and noticed a note on her desk that was not there before. "The bookcase?" He rushed to her bookcase and pulled the 13th issues off the shelf with ease. He opened it and it landed on his story that was bookmarked like all of them. A note fell out and fell to the ground. He grabbed it before it made contact and there, he saw her handwriting. He did not read it immediately, but pulled it up to his cheek, hugging it. A tear fell from his eye, "I love you, Ri." He read the note and made her a simple reply back. He took her note with him as he exited her room.

Midori woke the next morning and went to her bookcase. She opened the 13th issue to her bookmarked page of Jushiro's story and found a note with Jushiro's writing on it,

This will work better than the hell butterfly. I'm in love with a very intelligent woman. You truly are a genius, Ri. I hope your training continues to be fortunate for you. I think that with time you will acquire all that you need to master your Zanpakuto. Just keep you thoughts positive and your chin up. I know you get down from time to time, but just keep thinking about your goal and time will fly by, I promise. I love you so much and miss you. I will write a longer letter to send to you, tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know it worked. I will keep you on my mind always.

xoxoxo

Shiro

Midori held his note to her chest. She placed the issue back on the shelf and fell back on her bed. It was magic that let them communicate this way and it made her happy that such magic existed in this world. She fell asleep with his letter in her hand. She did not want to let it go because it smelled of him.

Midori and Jushiro's communication continued from that day forward during her training with Danr. They would write small notes and long letters to one another to keep each other informed about their lives and their feelings. Midori always left a note in the issue before going off to train. The thought of coming home to a note from Jushiro caused her to train hard and kept her happy. Danr could see how this simple gift from the Allfather gave her such joy.

He inquired about Midori's happiness one morning, "Midori? Who have you been writing to that makes you this happy?" She blushed at his question, "Just the man I love who is still in the Seireitei." He smiled at her, "Love is the courage that every warrior needs to keep them going. I was in love once and it made my fighting excel and it caused me to fight with all of my might because I wanted to make sure to return home to her." Midori was very interested in hearing about his love life. She urged him to continue, "Will you tell me about her?" Danr was hesitant to talk about the love of his life. It had been over three hundred years since he had saw her face.

He closed his eyes, and it was like he had just saw her, he could picture her, perfectly. Her long black braids fell on both her shoulder, her eyes were the color of the sky and her skin was kissed by the sun. He smiled to himself, which intrigued Midori even more. "My wife, Retsu, was the most beautiful woman I had ever met. She was strong willed, and her smile could make the sun rise. I met her during the creation of the Soul Society districts past district fifty. She was a fighter, that was true, but her cooking was what did me in," he laughed, and Midori joined in.

She could see the love he had for his wife through his eyes. "Retsu never liked Soul Reapers, but I was one of them. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. She was covered in dirt and sweat from fighting a large group of low-level hollows in what was known a hundred years ago as the 80th district of the North Rukon." Midori's mind went back to that place.

It held horrible memories for her, but for Danr, it was the moment he met the love of his life. She smiled at him. Danr saw her and continued his story, "When she saw me, boy did she try her best to avoid me. I had to pin her down just to get her to look at me, literally. I mean not purposefully, but accidentally, I fell down on her. When our eyes met, I knew it was love. Many of the guys from my squad told me not to get involved with her, but I could not help it. The woman's eyes were what dragged me into her every being. I yearned for her, and I fought for her."

Midori was happy to hear about such love in the Soul Society. It became a reality even more now, hearing it from Danr that everyone in the districts past fifty did not have anything to do with Soul Reapers. It still pained her that even in their own society, there were still civil wars that needed to be fixed. 'I will try my best to help mend those old wounds when I get back home.'

Home was all she could think about. She missed being thrashed around by Ikkaku and Yumichika even more because that meant she could just walk to her uncle's division or Jushiro's division. She looked down, "Thank you, Danr. She sounds like a lovely woman. I wish I could have met her."

He could hear a little bit of sadness in Midori's voice, 'She must miss him, too.' He looked over at her, "Midori, I know you feel sad, but will you tell me about this man you write to? Is he the reason why you can smile even after the things you have been through?" His questions made her blush. Jushiro was one of the reasons why she could smile like she does now. He had given her back the part of her that she thought she lost. She nodded to him "Jushiro Ukitake is his name. He is the captain of the 13th division. I met him twenty years ago after I graduated at the Academy, but I did not fall in love with him till ten years ago. It is a long story about me falling for another guy before him," she giggled, but it showed her nervousness.

Midori did not want to talk about Kisuke. She hadn't for a long time, and Danr did not push her about who the other guy was. Midori continued, "He is the most sweet and caring man. He even told me that if I could not love him, he would love me enough, so that I could return my love to him one day. I could have sworn I had said those same words before, but they felt like the most sincere when they came from him." Danr could understand. He had been with other women before he met Retsu, but it was only her that he could truly love.

He leaned back in his chair in the living room and stared out into the backyard at the plum blossom tree, "They were her favorite. She loved to watch the petals fall and would dance in them for hours. The day I saw you under that tree, it felt like she was here telling me that I should help you." Midori was surprised at his words. There were many things about Danr that she did not know a lot about, but she had hoped that over the next nine and a half years that she would be able to learn all she could about him.

She remembered back to what he said to her when she woke him up, "Master Danr?" He looked back at her. He could see his daughter's face in Midori, and it made him smile, "Yes, Midori?" "When I woke you up after I returned from training a while back, you called out to me using the name "Dottir," who is that?"

He thought back to that day when Midori had come back from her first session in training with her shikai, but he could not recollect calling her anything. He looked down at the floor, "Dottir means daughter in the language of the Allfather. It was something that I called my daughter, often." Midori could see how much pain he was in and did not ask him anything else. "That is beautiful." Her words caused him to look up at her as a smile appeared on her face. A flash of his daughter appeared in Midori. He reached out to her, and Midori took his hand, immediately. She wanted to help him. He was giving her his all and helping her, she wanted to help him at least let go of his pain for his daughter.

Danr realized that he was holding Midori's hand and let it go. "Sorry." She stared at him. "When you want to talk about her, please let me know. I am here for you, too, Master Danr. I mean, I might not can help you much, but I know a little bit about losing someone." He smiled at her. He knew that deep down Midori meant well. He just was not ready to talk about his dottir.

"Midori, tell me about your captain?" "Oh, you mean, Captain Unohana?! She is an amazing woman. She has taught me so much. If it wasn't for her, I would not be here, today." Danr watched Midori as her face glowed while talking about her captain. He was curious about her even more than Midori. 'What could you have done to help her smile like this?' Midori saw his questioning mind, "She gave me this seal and pleaded with Commander Yamamoto to spare my life. She told me that she could never see her own daughter be punished for something as cruel as being imprisoned for the rest of their life. I respect and love her like my mother."

Danr sat there for some time without saying anything. Midori realized that she should leave him to his thoughts. She rose from her seat on the couch and walked to her room. He was happy that Midori wanted to help him, but how could he talk about his daughter when it still brought him so much pain. He had only mentioned her in passing a few times, and that was all he wanted to say about her. It had been a hundred years since he had seen her, but the fact that Midori's smile caused her to appear before him like she just did, made him feel a little bit at ease to let Midori help him.

Midori walked over to her bookcase and pulled out the 13th issue. She could smell peaches and the ocean when she opened it. Jushiro had written her a letter.

Ri, I had an episode, today. I didn't want to tell you about it, but it was my fault. I had forgotten to drink the tea that Kaien had brought me because I was having to work on some documents for Commander Yamamoto. He called me and Shunsui to his office a few days ago about the Hogyoku. He was concerned about it, and what Sosuke Aizen would do to get his hands back on it. When Captain Zaraki filed his report about your mission out in the 80th District of the North Rukon, he had merely reported things that did not have to do with what really happened that day. I could not believe it until I was told. I wish you would have told me. I worry about you like you do me. I never knew that you had transformed completely into your Hollow form and attacked your group. I am not upset, but I feel like you don't let others worry about you enough. You need to learn to lean on people from time to time when it comes to your feelings. Ri, you don't have to bottle up all your feelings and burden yourself alone.

When Captain Zaraki filed a verbal report with Shunsui and I present, we began our investigation into Sosuke Aizen, but like always nothing. He knows how to hide his trail very well. Besides, the testimony of the others who were with you, Commander Yamamoto said it was not enough proof to lock him up. We just cannot start an internal war in the Seireitei over something he doesn't believe is proof enough to convict him. I am on the fence about it. Please, do not let this upset you, or get in the way of your training. I promise that something will eventually be done with him. We just need more time. I promise that I will make sure to take my tea and medicine, daily. I don't want you worrying about it. Just continue to do what you are doing and keep up the good work. I really cannot wait till you are home. I miss you and being in your room is getting harder to satisfy my need to see you. I wish for only a few minutes to be able to touch you, again. If the magic that created this miracle to occur could give us only that, I think you and I would be better off. I love you to the moon and back, Ri.

Xoxoxo

Shiro

Midori's mind raced with everything that had happened concerning Aizen. What more did she have to do to get him recognized as the villain he was? She slammed her fist down on her desk as she stared out the window. She snarled her lip as she thought about him. She had let go of so much concerning him, but the fact that he had turned her against her friends was unforgiveable. She knew that the only way for him to be caught was by him slipping up.

She hugged Jushiro's letter, and his scent caused her mind to push Aizen away from her thoughts. She pulled a piece of paper out and wrote Jushiro a note. She told him about her feelings on the topic of Aizen. She told him about Danr's wife, and how his story of their love reminded her of how she felt about him. Midori wanted to see Jushiro just as much as he wanted to see her. She wished to be able to see him, too, but having this ability to write him letters was enough for her. She was just happy with getting to talk with him.

She placed the letter in the Seireitei Communication and arranged it back on the shelf. She fell on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Midori had never been one who needed power, but when it came to everything that had unfolded over the past twenty years, she knew that she needed it more now than ever. She wanted to be able to protect herself, and those she loved. She was determined to master her Zanpakuto, no matter how long it took. She was resolved to continue her training and find a way to keep the Hollow inside of her at bay, even if it meant she had to spend more time away from those she loved.

A year passed in no time for Midori. She worked hard every day to understand and have full control over her shikai powers. Verdandi and Skuld's powers were easy to master over a year, but Urd had yet to come around, and it bugged Midori. She had an urge to confront Urd about the issue of not letting her use her powers. She had talked it over with Seigi and Danr, but it did not help her understand what the issue was. 'Does Urd not really trust me as her Mistress? Does she not think I have the ability to wield her?' Midori's thoughts plagued her as she struck at Seigi with Verdandi's powers. They collided with Seitoshi, and she dropped her axes in defeat.

Seigi did not know what Midori was doing, but when he saw her stomping over to Urd, it gave him an uneasy feeling. He knew that she was not the type of person to let those around her get to her, but after a year of struggling with this particular issue, she was bound to break. He started following after her, but Skuld and Verdandi stood in his way. "They need to do this, Master Seigi," Verdandi whispered to him. He was still not sure if this was the best course of action, but he hated seeing her all frustrated and defeated. He nodded his head at them as they watched Midori approach Urd.

Midori stood in front of Urd for a few moments, and not once did Urd make eye contact with her. Midori's face was red at this point. She did not know which was worse, her being embarrassed at Urd's constant avoidance of her, or the fact that she was upset at herself for not giving Urd the push she needed to join her in battle. Midori placed her hand on her hip, "Urd? We need to talk about this?" Urd did not look at her, again, but nodded her head. Midori continued, "It has been a year since you have come here in my Soul World. I don't know what is going on with you, but I have really just run out of patience. I don't know what else I can do to get you to lend me your powers. Do you want to me just give up? I have Verdandi and Skuld's trust. Do I really need you?" These words caused Urd to look at Midori out of the corner of her eye.

She could see how upset Midori was. It was true that she had been keeping her powers from her. It was for her own safety. She never meant to make her Mistress feel less than adequate in her abilities, but she also did not know how to express that to her. She did not want to sound arrogant, and she did not want to seem like she was better than her Mistress. She just wanted to protect her. She jerked her eyes away from Midori the moment she saw her face. She felt like she was a failure. It had been the first time that these shikai powers had been used. No one else before Midori ever had the luxury to see them or use them. It was not that Midori was not worthy of their powers because Seigi was the one who chose her. It was the fact that Urd's powers had consequences, and those consequences were something that she knew Midori was not ready for in just a sparring or training setting.

Verdandi, Skuld, and Seigi could not believe that Midori had asked Urd if she needed her. She had never said anything like that to anyone before. Seigi had never saw Midori show any hostility towards anyone, and it bothered him that those were her words she presented to Urd. He could sense that she was beyond her limits in frustration. He knew she needed to cool her head and come back later or tomorrow, but it seemed that even his own feet betrayed him and would not let him move.

Midori could see that she was not going to get an answer from Urd. She walked back to Seigi and picked up her axes. She transformed her Zanpakuto back into its katana form and sheathed it, looking back at Urd. "If that is your decision, I guess I have no choice. I will give you what you want and give up. It seems Seigi I failed you. I am sorry." She closed her eyes and disappeared from her Soul World.

Seigi was surprised at how easily Midori gave up. It was true that even after all these years since the Hollowfication Incident that Midori had not fully returned back into her old self, completely, but he had never seen her just give up. She had never expressed herself in that way, and at this moment, Seigi was really worried about her mental state.

He pushed through Verdandi and Skuld and stood in front of Urd. She was the same height as him, and so they were both eye level. She turned and looked at him, "What? It's not like I don't want to give her my powers. I just know that she will be in danger if I do." Seigi knew all too well what Urd's powers were, but in the confines of her Soul World, nothing could hurt her except the Hollow, and it was caged. "I understand Urd, but to be honest, you have affected Midori more than I like. She has always carried a strong will, and she has never given up, but today, I believe you have broken her will. As one of her Zanpakuto spirits, I would have to say that your protective pride has caused you to truly fail as her Zanpakuto spirit. I hate to say it that way, but I am sure you feel the same way."

Urd agreed completely with Seigi. He hit the nail on the head with a hammer. She could not ignore the fact that she had truly failed both Midori and Seigi. It caused her great heartache, and she hated the fact that she caused Midori's disposition to change. She could not say anything more to Seigi. She just walked away from him and sat down in her throne. She watched as Seigi disappeared, 'No doubt going to see about the Mistress. I have got to do something. This is all my fault.'

Midori was venting to Danr, "I cannot believe that a year has gone by, and I have failed, again. It isn't supposed to be this hard is it?" He noticed that her words were not at all directing in an angry way. He knew that Midori had a strange way about herself that would not allow her to be downright mean to someone who hadn't done anything bad to her, and it showed in how she vented. He could not help but smile at her attempt. "Midori, the answer to your issues is time. The powers of your Zanpakuto are something that will take time for your to learn. I am sure after a little bit more time; you will master your shikai powers." Midori huffed and slumped down in her chair beside of him.

She could not even believe that Urd would not look her in the face, 'At least reject me with the guts to look me in the face.' She blew her bangs out from her left eye as Seigi appeared, "Midori, please do not be hard on her. She is just protective of you, is all." Midori rolled her eyes. These words had been coming from him for over the past six months, now. The next thing he was going to say is "give her a little more time." Those words played like a daily alarm in her ears. She rose from her chair and walked out into the backyard. She followed it out into the fields where she went through her ordeals. She pulled her Zanpakuto out as Seigi came to stand in front of her.

He could see the determination in her eyes, "I want to train for real, right now." He was struck in awe at her show of gusto. He lifted his hand in the air as Seitoshi appeared in his hand. Midori called for Verdandi and Skuld, and they began to train. Even though Midori did not have Urd's powers, did not mean she had to give up what she did have. She would not only master them in her Soul World, but also in the real world. She ran off toward Seigi as their axes collided.

Inside of Midori's Soul World, Urd was still sitting on her throne. She thought about how she could get Midori to see the consequences of her being able to use her shikai powers. She rose from her throne and began walking back and forth in front of it. She had just turned away from the large black cage when it called to her with a shrill voice, "I can help you." She turned fast to look at it. She had not heard the voice of the Hollow that was in that cage since she came there. She walked closer to it, and finally got a look at it. The slit eyes and the large teeth that stretched across its jawline caused her to stare. She was not only scared of this creature, but she was also fascinated with it in the same way.

She leaned forward and grabbed a hold of the bars, "What do you mean you can help me?" The Hollow grabbed fast at the bars but missed her hands in that same instance as itself face got closer to her. She cold see the bloodlust in its eyes. "You want to help your Mistress," the word Mistress was like poison in its throat, "If you let me out, you can show her how important you are to her. You will have no choice, but to lend her your powers, and she will finally understand why you kept them from her for so long." Urd did not trust the Hollow behind the bars. She did not want to cause Midori to be faced with danger in order to explain her reasons for not giving her those powers she wanted so much, but she felt that she had to do something.

She was happy at the fact that she was there all by herself, or she would have had Skuld and Verdandi to explain why she even spoke with the Hollow to begin with. She returned to her throne and huffed. Why would she even consider such a vile deal? Her Mistress kept that monster locked away for a reason, and she could not free it, no matter what. She looked over at the long black fingers that were still wrapped around the bars on the front of the cage, "You know it is the only way, or you would have gave her what she wanted to begin with. Make the deal with me and let me go free!" Those words stuck with Urd. It was like they were etched into her mind. She could not believe that she even considered unleashing that Hollow on her Mistress.

A few weeks after Midori's incident with Urd in her Soul World caused her to completely just forget about asking for Urd to call out to her, even in her mind. She realized that Urd must have good reasons as to not want her to use those powers, so she just stopped expecting her answers to be any different. She was working inside her Soul World with Verdandi's powers because Verdandi wanted to explain more to Midori about her poisons, "Mistress, the poisons that soak your axes actually can be changed, and it may be that I change them without letting you know. I have made the necessary antidotes for them incase you were to get cut while using me in combat." She smiled at Midori.

Midori was interested in how Verdandi administered poison to her ax blades. She did not realize that the poison was different during any situation that she used them. She thought the poison on the blades were the same every time, "Thank you, Verdandi for letting me know this. I guess my work with your powers need to be honed better, so I don't accidently cut myself while using them." Midori giggled. She was happy that over the past year that she had become close to Verdandi and Skuld, but she could always feel the tension from Urd, who would look on from her throne at them. Seigi had came to the conclusion that perhaps, Urd had her own reasons to deny Midori her powers and did not question her about it, again.

Midori was practicing with Seigi using Skuld's powers when a loud clank echoed throughout her Soul World. She stopped briefly as Skuld reverted back into her bodily form. Midori turned toward the cage that held the Hollow and noticed its long black fingers were wrapped around the bars of the cage. It began to laugh in its hysterical cackle. Midori covered her ears to stop them from bleeding, but when she did not feel her eardrums vibrate, she dropped her hands to her side. Seigi was talking with Verdandi and did not see it happen, but the door to the Hollow cage flew open as the Hollow raced to Midori and enclosed its long claws around her throat.

Midori grabbed at the Hollow's wrists, but nothing seemed to stop it from its attack. Verdandi and Skuld flew to the Hollow, but it turned and blasted a Cero from the bridge of its nose at them. They flew back on their backsides. Seigi tried to get to Midori, but there was no opening to her. He feared for her, "MIDORI!" She tried to wriggle free. She kicked at the Hollow, but nothing. She finally came to stare at its bloodlust eyes. They scared her. Those deep golden slits that had no humanity in them. She could barely speak to it, "Why?" Her voice was weak, but it caught the Hollow's ears. She heard its screeching voice, "Ask the one who neglects you. She will have your answer."

Midori's eyes looked over at Urd. Urd had so much fear on her face. She did not move toward Midori. She stood there next to her hurt sisters looking on at the Hollow who was about to kill her Mistress. Midori looked away from her. She did not understand what was going on, but it hurt her. 'How could she do this to me?' She tried to stare at the floor, but the Hollow kept a tight grip on her neck.

She was still fighting with it to let her go, but there was nothing she could do. She felt this was the end for her, but then she saw out of the corner of her eye that Seigi had gotten close enough while the Hollow was still staring at Urd. She reached her hand as slowly as she could toward him. When their fingers met, Midori gripped his hand tight, and he pulled her out of the grip of the Hollow. Four cut marks were left on her neck. Midori gasped for breath as she was slumped over, grabbing her knees. She looked up at the Hollow who was now being engaged by Seigi. Midori was still confused as to why Urd would do this.

The Hollow knocked Seigi across the room and went back to get at Midori. It wanted her dead. As the Hollow closed in on her, Midori heard a voice inside of her head. It was Urd. Midori did not waste time, "Eradicate and Abolish, URD!" Urd heard her name, and in that same moment her body disappeared. She entered into Midori's body. Midori's eyes began to glow green as a push of spiritual pressure erupted from her body. It pushed back the Hollow long enough for Midori's last shikai power to activate. Glowing vines with thorns like tattoos began to crawl down her arms and from her neck onto her face. Urd had taken full control of Midori's body. Midori was still present and saw everything, but Urd was the one who made every move.

A blade the size of Seitoshi appeared in her right hand as she charged the Hollow. Midori's mind was cloudy, and she knew her body was not being controlled by herself. She called out to Urd, "What is going on?" Urd did not answer her but continued to swing her ax at the Hollow. She began to push it back into its cage, but not before she had sliced into is legs, causing it enough pain to howl and scream. As the Hollow found itself against the back wall to the cage, Urd went to swing at it, Midori's words pushed through her mind, "URD STOP!" Midori felt the intense sensation in her body as she took over control, again. She back away from the Hollow that was now healing its wounds and grabbed the door to the cage, slamming it shut. Seigi rushed over and helped Midori place a lock on the cage as Midori's eyes faded back to violet, and the vines on her face and arms disappeared.

Urd appeared instantly beside of them. She did not look at Midori or Seigi. She could not believe that she had placed her Mistress in danger. Midori walked over to her and placed her hand on her arm. She looked up into Urd's face, "I understand, Urd. You were trying to protect me." Urd finally turned her head to look at Midori. She could see how sincere her Mistress was being. The fact that Midori was not upset made her feel a little better, but when she looked at Seigi, she realized that what she had done was not acceptable. Urd spoke to Midori, "Mistress, I wanted to tell you for so long. I never wanted to cause you any harm, and there was nothing here to put you in danger, either. The Hollow used my weakness against me, and it talked me into releasing it. I was jealous of my sisters because I wanted you to have my powers, but I just couldn't give them to you because as you saw, you have no control when I am activated. My powers should only be used when you need them the most and are in the most danger."

Midori was not quite sure why Urd could not just tell her this to begin with. She would have understood, but now that the ordeal was over with, and she did not have to worry about it anymore, she was content. Midori saw that Seigi was not going to let this go. She placed her hand on his to calm him. He, immediately, stopped glaring at Urd to inspect Midori. He rubbed his thumb over her four claw marks on her neck. Midori shuddered at the pain, "I am fine, Seigi." She placed her hand over her neck, and a green glow came from it. When she took her hand away, the four claw marks were gone.

She smiled at Seigi who grabbed her and pulled her into his chest, "I am so glad you are safe." She hugged him back. Midori knew that she would not get the chance to train with Urd's powers because they weren't really hers to master. She accepted these new powers and realized that she would not be able to use them like she did Verdandi's and Skuld's, but that was just to be expected. "How about next time, we don't involve that creature in our training?" She made sure to direct that at everyone. She did not want to single out Urd. She smiled at her to reassure that everything was okay.

This chapter needed some changes. I made sure to finish with Midori getting Urd's powers. I was originally going to have that in another chapter, but there just wasn't enough to make a lengthy chapter. Also, I have finally realized the origin story of Danr. I have changed some things from his story from my last update. I hope you all enjoy the new changes. Updates for the last five chapters in this Arc will come as soon as possible. Thank you for your visits to check out my story! You all are awesome!