Hey. I know its been a while but I've been busy with real life. I might be getting sent on deployment in a couple months but that will not stop me from finishing this story. Chapters might take longer but I plan to put just as much effort into writing them so the enjoyment is worth the wait. I appreciate the kindness in your reviews and your patience.

Only Ever Yours

Chapter 10

It was a hot muggy day and the misquitoes swarmed everywhere, from the breeding grounds they inhabited to the small lake that was in the area. Bright-eyed birds swooped in to snatch their prey out of the cloud of insects, eating their fill. Above them, birds of prey circled, to devour the smaller birds in turn.

Though of all the life that flitted through the area, there was one place where no misquito or bird flew, and no grass or living thing would grow. A low hill led to the mouth of a cave. A passerby would have mistaken it for a mound of close-packed dirt and stones, stark and strange amidst the wild grasslands that surrounded it, and the green forest that climbed the nearby hills. Even the animals knew to instinctively stay away from the area and anyone who seemed to be going there.

Such as the man who stood on the fringe of the forest. He was a thin, and sickly looking man. His cheekbones were prominent in his thin and pale face and his eyes were sunken into his skull. He wore a suit of leather armor that covered him from ankle to wrist, reinforced with plates of ebony metal at his neck and every joint. He carried a large sickle in his left hand, the blade balanced acrossed the back of his neck and shoulders. Across his chest was a curious breastplate of faces that looked as if they were screaming from terror and torture. If one dared to look long enough they would see the expressions slowly changing.

The cave mouth shifted and opened to welcome its visitor before closing behind him. The sound of the bathyms devouring their recent prey from a nearby village echoed through the corridors as the silent visitor wrinkled his nose in distaste. He hated the bathyms as they were brainless creatures that would never be more than foot soldiers to be sacrificed. They useful for nothing but diversions, though their numbers did give them an advantage in brute strength.

The corridor being traveled opened into a wider area. The strangers dark beady eyes swept over each figure that sat in the room noting that they were all like him; no just humanoid like him but no where near as powerful.

Each figure great and small stopped what they were doing and bowed their faces to the ground.

"Master Yrael." They all spoke as one.

"Stand to your feet." Yrael spoke as he walked amongst them with authority. They obeyed him without question and waited for their instruction.

"Each of you are here because unlike your brothers you are the Bathym Adept. You have harnessed the spirits you devoured for knowledge and intelligence. I have no need for mindless killing beast of no talent, that's why you are here." Yrael stopped as he made his way to the back of the room where an odd fire burned. He watched as the ominous black and silver flames licked at the the bones of the dead before continuing. "I have been informed that my father wishes to move soon and that he needs his armies to run themselves. There is no room for incompetency."

Each Adept present bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

"Now that you have been informed the time has come to prove which of you is worthy to serve. I count 100 of you here. I have only need for 7. You will all fight to the death and the winner shall devour the loser giving you a chance to gain strength should you be victorious."

Yrael took a seat in a bone-made high backed arm chair before allowing a crooked smile to grace his cracked and dry lips.

"Begin."

Yoruichi grit her teeth as she listened to the elders prattle on about her need to spend time with Yuu. They had gone so far as to summon his presence on the weekend she had planned to take Sui to the world of the living. She had tried to interject but they would have nothing of it.

'Where is father?' She thought as she clenched her fist. If he were there none of this would be as out of hand as it was.

"-Furthermore, there is the matter of your bodyguard. There are rumors circulating that your relationship with the Captain of the 2nd Division has become inappropriate for someone such as yourself." An older woman tittled out looking down her nose at the princess. The old woman Lira had taken upon herself to oversee Yoruichi's courting procedures with Yuu, it was quickly becoming annoying. Her fading purple hair was in a long braid and sat over her left shoulder. Yoruichi would think of her as a beautiful old woman were it not for her eyes. A battle from long ago had taken her right eye leaving it sightless, however she refused to wear an eyepatch so seeing the cloudy grey eye looking at nothing while a sharp gold one stared at her was...unsettling.

"My relationship with Sui-Feng-taicho is one of business. Besides I would say our relationship hasn't changed from what it was 100 years ago." Yoruichi answered trying her best to keep her voice level.

"So you say but with the rumors flying around it seems that what you say isn't true. Rumors do seem to have some root of truth to them." Aeril, sister of Lira answered. Her hair was like her sister's and fortunately she still had both eyes. Her attitude made her unlikable.

"We feel that it would benefit us all to put a stop to these rumors, true or not, by changing your bodyguard with someone more fitting." Lira said.

Yoruichi snapped. "Who could be more fitting than the woman who I trust my life with? There is no one that can best her in ability. Besides the Feng clan-"

"Is dying out and will be preoccupied with trying to save their lineage. No one questions the loyatly of that clan but it is our discretion to decide who we feel is most suitable to be charged with your safety." Aeril answered.

"There is no one that you can assign to me that can protect me better than her!" Yoruichi yelled losing her composure.

"Princess, it would be wise to keep you temper. If you believe what they say to be untrue do not give them the grounds of victory by losing your temper." An elder by the name of Mordecai said softly in hopes of soothing the princess. It worked as Yoruichi took breaths to calm herself.

"Forgive me as I have many things I feel are more important than who should be protecting me. I thought I was here to be briefed on this impending debacle you call a marriage." She answered.

"This debacle, as you call it, will ensure this family's future. Is this not important to you Shihouin Yoruichi?" Aeril snapped.

"What I feel is important seems to be of no concern to this family. I will court Yuu but you forcing me to do so will only make me fight you all the more." The princess glared at the woman.

"Tell me, is this a fight you think you will win?" Lira asked leaning forward in her seat.

Yoruichi remained silent as she knew better than to take the bait in such an obvious trap.

"If that is all I have business with my squad that needs to be handled." Yoruichi began to make her way to the door.

"Yoruichi!" Lira called out stopping the princess at the door. "We will contact you when Lord Yuu arrives. Your presence will be expected."

Yoruichi said nothing as she angrily pushed the door aside to leave. She didn't get far before she bumped into Satoshi. He noted the angry posture his daughter had and gently grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Slow down kitten. What's bothering you?" Satoshi asked softly.

"Everything! Those old sack of bones that sit there and tell me how to live my life! I can't do anything. I feel trapped." Yoruichi fumed.

Satoshi sighed. "Follow me."

Yoruichi did as she was told and followed her father to his study. When they got there he motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs while he sat one the edge of the desk. She plopped down in the comfortable chair and slumped in it. Satoshi stifled a smile at how childish she was acting at the moment.

"Start from the beginning." He requested.

"I was summoned by the elders and long story short, Yuu is going to be here during the time Sui and I were going to take our vacation and they want to replace Sui as my bodyguard." Yoruichi recounted angrily.

"So what has you the angriest?" Satoshi asked calmly.

"That they want to take Sui away from me! It's bad enough that she's as busy as she is and I rarely get to see her. If she's replaced then I won't get to see her anymore outside of captains meetings." Yoruichi angrily puffed an errant lock of hair out of her face before straictenging up in her seat.

Satoshi smiled and kneeled in front of his daughter and tucked the hair behind her ear. "My beautiful daughter, remain calm. Remember, you are going to lead and you must first understand that what the elders say mean little to nothing if you do not agree."

"Well I let them know I don't agree." Yoruichi answered.

"A cat is known for stalking its prey for quite a while before pouncing it. Set them up like I taught you. If they want you to meet Yuu, go see him before he gets here. If they want to get rid of Shaolin show them why there is no one better to protect you. Cats are creatures of patience, do not let them force your hand, you force theirs to comply to yours." Satoshi softly finished before tapping his daughter on the nose with his index finger, much like he did when she was a child.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes and smiled. "You're right daddy."

"Father knows best." Satoshi answered laughing. His laughter stopped after a while and he thought about telling Yoruichi the secret being kept from her.

"Thank you daddy. I feel better now. I'm going to go take care of some things and then I'm going to go train. I might see you for dinner." Yoruichi said as she stood up. She noticed that her father hadn't heard any of what she said as he seemed lost in thought.

"Daddy?" Yoruichi asked placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Hm?" He answered as his eyes focused back on her.

"Are you alright?" She frowned.

"Actually," Satoshi sighed. It's was now or never. "There is something I've been meaning to discuss with you for a while now."

Yoruichi frowned at the reluctance she heard in her father's voice "What is it?"

"Its about everything that's going on; the creatures that attacked you, your marriage, the need for you to have children-" Satoshi began.

"Children? Don't you mean child? I thought I only have to produce one heir?" Yoruichi exclaimed.

"If this were under normal circumstances yes, but you have to produce at least two. One for our bloodline..." Satoshi trailed off shaking his head at his weakness to get the truth out.

"One for our bloodline and what else daddy?" Yoruichi was quickly becoming frustrated with her father for withholding information from her.

Satoshi frowned and shook off his indecision. Looking Yoruichi in the eyes he said "You are to be the mother of the next Soul King. It is your destiny, your fate since you were born."

The wind seemed to have left Yoruichi's lungs as she reached for the back of the armchair next to her for support. 'Mother of the Soul King...what?'

"I know this is hard to understand and I didn't want to tell you but Shaolin-"

Yoruichi looked accusingly at her father. "Sui-Feng knows? Who else knows daddy?"

When Satoshi didn't answer Yoruichi yelled louder, "Who else?!"

Satoshi clenched his jaw as he swallowed before answering quietly. "The commander, the elders, and the Soul King."

Yoruichi closed her eyes as she felt tears of anger beginning to prick her eyes. She shook her head in disbelief, "Why didn't you tell me? This involves me so why am I the last to know?"

"I was trying to protect the only thing I have left!" Satoshi bit back angrily. "I lost you mother because of this. I don't want to lose you too!"

"You told me she died from complications giving birth to me." Yoruichi said.

"She was murdered the second you gave your first cry." Satoshi sat on the edge of the desk again running his hands through his fading purple hair. He felt old. He never wanted this day to come but now that it had, he knew he couldn't run from it.

"Your mother never even had a chance to hold you because that monster tricked us and was present in your birthing chambers. I'm guessing his plan was to kill you but somehow Sai Feng, Shaolin's father, sensed something wasn't right and snatched you away just as he killed your mother. Had he been any slower you would not be here. Shaolin lost a brother that day and another was severely injured."

"What was after me?" Yoruichi said with no tone in her voice.

"A demon that used to be a man. We call him Osamu. He is brother of the Soul King but wishes the upset the balance by making himself King and killing his brother." Satoshi explained.

"So was he killed?" Yoruichi asked hiding her eyes behind her bangs.

"No. I think he's immortal, but the Soul KIng came down to save you. He sealed his brother and then gave me the prophecy that you would be the mother of the next Soul King. He warned that there would be people after you and to keep you safe. Sai Feng decided to volunteer himself for the job. He guarded you until you were seven." Satoshi explained.

"What happened?"

"The son that was severely injured by Osamu was somehow possessed by some type of magic and killed Shaolin's mother and youngest brother. He came after you but Sai gave his life to stop his son and protect you. That's why I feel I owe Shaolin so much. If it wasn't for us she would still have her family. She was barely a year old when the attack happened. Luckily she was with her grandparents that day." When Satoshi finished he looked to his daughter and noted the numb look on her face.

"Yoruichi..."

"Stop it. This is insane. How could you wait to tell me something like this? Then you place such a burden on Sui-Feng. No wonder she stayed away from me, she knew that I have to do this and she doesn't want to be in the way." Yoruichi yelled.

"Kitten-" Satoshi reached out.

"Don't call me that!" Yoruichi knocked his hand away.

"I didn't tell you because I was trying to protect you." Satoshi raised his voice in frustration trying to explain.

"I don't want to hear it daddy." Yoruichi looked at him and slowly shook her head. "I need...time to think."

"Yoruichi wait-" But he was too late. His daughter was already gone.

It seemed like forever before her last meeting with her seated officers was over and she was free to do as she pleased and at the moment she seriously wanted to break something. Sui-Feng stormed into her office angrily from the meeting. Omaeda knew better than to hang around for her to have someone to take her anger out on so he quickly left without saying anything. Sui paced for a few seconds before stopping in front of the wooden desk whose face was covered in paperwork that she had yet to complete. She placed both hands on the desk as she gritted her teeth in frustration.

'This is complete madness! There is no reason to put her in danger like this. Fools! Idiots!' Sui-Feng thought as she angrily swiped the desk face clean knocking all her paperwork onto the ground. When that did nothing to assauge her anger she flipped the desk over turning it into a pile of broken wood.

'Damn.' The small captain looked at the mess she caused and it only added to her frustration. She needed to go train herself to exhaustion. That was the only thing that would take her mind off of this ridiculous predicament. So she took off toward an old training ground that she and Yoruichi used when she was younger.

It didn't take long for her to work up a good sweat before she felt a familiar reiatsu approaching. She looked up to see a furious Yoruichi. Her gold eyes glinted dangerously at her former protege but that was not all. Sui-Feng could see the dried trail of tears on her face and the look of hurt in her eyes.

Before Sui-Feng could say anything Yoruichi snatched her captains haori off and attacked her head on. Sui-Feng dodged and parried each lightning quick blow trying to figure out what was going on with the princess. She was broken out of her thoughts when she barely ducked in time to avoid a round kick aimed at her head.

'I don't have time to think. I have to restrain her first.' Sui-Feng's back hit the rocks behind her and she sidestepped out of the way to avoid Yoruichi's fist. She used her momentum to grab to woman by the wrist and pull her arm behind her back and shove her chest first against the rocks. When the princess struggled she pushed her body flush against Yoruichi's to pin her there.

It took a while but soon all that could be heard was the heavy breathing of both women.

"What was that about?" Sui-Feng asked. She was shocked when Yoruichi's shoulders began to shake. She let go of her hold on the woman and turned her around to see her crying. Yoruichi threw herself into Sui's arms and let the floodgates open taking comfort in letting the person she loved hold her.

Yrael looked on as the last fight ended and his 7th Adept devoured his fallen opponent. The last fight hadn't been a challenge for the winner as it seemed his intelligence and cunning was meant to rival Yrael's own. When the Adept was finished with his meal he turned to his master.

"All of you kneel before me." Yrael called. Each Adept did as commanded and Yrael looked over them with a glint in his eyes.

"Each of you will now receive a name now that you have proven yourselves worthy to your master. You will no longer be known by simply Adept your titles will show your servitude to me and my master. You come forth." Yrael pointed to an Adept whose eyes were covered with bandages. The adept's slothy walk would fool most into thinking he was slow but from the display he showed earlier Yrael knew the creature was anything but.

"You're deceptive in everything including your movements. You shall be called Saere." Saere bowed and slowly moved to take his place against the wall.

The next adept that came forward was a woman but the lower half of her face was covered by a veil and a bandolier of bells were strapped across her chest. She wore a tunic of black that showed each of the tortures souls she had devoured on it. As she walked the chime of a bell could be heard. Yrael smiled darkly. "You control the creatures that you used to be and the souls inside the living, a power most interesting. You shall be called Nehima."

A male adept materialized out the shadows his white eyes shining in contrast with his black body. Nehima gave a hiss at his close proximity and he laughed in return. Yrael frowned at them both before they stopped and Nehima took her place next to Saere. "You control the shadows and even the sun hides its face from your darkness. I shall call you Dyrim." Dyrim disappeared and materialized next to Saere and Nehima.

The next four came in front of Yrael and he named them:

Astarael. A creature that burned like lightning and moved faster than the naked eye could see. All who had tried to match him in skill died a horrible death.

Belgaer. He was a beast of brute strength that had an air of indifference about him. However, he was a very wise and quick thinker.

Mosrael. This adept had no face and had shown that it shape shift into anything taking on what ever ability the person had. Unlike the bathyms his shapeshifting covered everything from the way a person smelled to the mannerisms they had.

Axazel. She was an adept that was truly beautiful until it came time for her to eat her prey. No one would be able to tell she was an adept because she looked very human. The skill she had shown in battle hadn't told Yrael much about what she was capable of but obviously that would become a trump card later on.

Yrael looked at the 7 he had chosen. He jumped when he felt a cold hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Osamu looking more humanoid than ever.

"Father." Yrael began. "Glad that you could join us."

"I see you have chosen well and I like the names. All fallen angels. Excellent since I am indeed known to be the devil." Osamu grinned as he tightened his grip on Yrael shoulder just enough for it to be painful.

Yrael got up quickly to escape his fathers grip. "Would you like to take a seat?" He motioned to the chair all the while bowing.

Osamu nodded and took his seat flexing his hands as if he were wearing gloves that didn't quite fit. "I need more flesh as this body still does not suit me." He grunted.

"Right away father." Yrael nodded and turned to the 7. "Nehima, Belagaer take a group of bathyms with you and collect flesh for my father."

"No, I'll do it myself. For now, listen." Osamu sat back and closed his eyes. The skin on his face crawled as if trying to escape. When he opened his eyes he looked at the Adept.

"It is time to begin this game of chess with my brother. Soon the 7 of you that have been chosen will move on the western part of Rukongai and burn it to the ground. I want every soul devoured so that none escape. That it the largest portion of soul socitety and the most populated. When we are successful the bathyms will be stronger than they are now and we might have a few more Adept to add to our ranks. Afterward you will attack the western gate at sunset. " Osamu explained all the while the his face twitching. He brought a hand up to cover his visage before continuing. "There is no room for failure. If you do fail, consider your life forfeit to me."

Every person in the room bowed to one knee. "We will serve."

The sun was beginning its descent and Yoruichi was seated between Sui-Feng's legs with the girls arms wrapped around her. She had finished crying a while ago and Sui-Feng made sure to wipe away every tear listening all the while to the princess.

"I just can't believe he would hide something like that from me." Yoruichi sighed leaning back into Sui-Feng's embrace. " Then for the elders to try and make someone else my guard was just too much."

"Your father knew you would be angry regardless so he didn't tell you. It was hard for all of us. Try not to be too angry with him." Sui-Feng said.

"How can you defend him like that with as much as my family has put yours through. You lost all of your brothers, mother and father because of us...because of me. How can you just act like-" Yoruichi was cut off by Sui-Feng's fingers on her lips, determined silver orbs met gold.

"It is an honor to know my family fell protecting you. It's our job. Besides if we had failed you wouldn't be here now, your father would have died from grief, Urahara would have been wrongfully executed, Aizen would have won and Soul Society might not be standing. They didn't give their lives in vain." Sui-Feng quietly explained with a small smile. Yoruichi searched her eyes for any sign of regret and found none.

"I love you." Yoruichi blurted out. The words left her mouth before she even knew what she was saying but she didn't want to take them back. Sui-Feng however was stunned into silence.

"Did you hear me?" Yoruichi asked quietly after the girl said nothing. "I love you Sui-Feng."

Sui-Feng swallowed hard and stared dumbly at her ex-mentor. Hearing the words she had longed to hear from the woman made her heart speed up with elated joy but, the reality of the situation made it turn to ice in fear. She could not tell Yoruichi that she felt the same. The fact that they were trading kisses and caresses of a affection was dangerous enough. If only for the safety of her goddess she knew she would have to break Yoruichi's heart.

"I'm sorry...but I don't feel the same." Sui-Feng all but whispered, the words felt like sand on her lips and tongue. What hurt most was the look on Yoruichi's face.

Yoruichi pulled out of Sui-Feng's embrace as if she had been burned. Quickly standing to her feet she looked at her former student as if she was a danger to her.

"Wh-what?" Yoruichi stuttered out, her voice catching in her throat.

"You heard me." Sui-Feng said with a conviction she did not feel. She stood to her feet to look the woman in the eyes. "I don't love you."

The words were barely out of her mouth before the sharp sting of a slap across her face was felt. With her head still cocked to the side from the force of the blow she looked at the dark skinned woman out of the corner of her eye with indifference. Yoruichi still had her hand raised and was breathing heavily as if she had just shunpoed 100 times around Sereitei. Golden eyes were wild with pain and tears threatened to spill out of them.

"You're lying!" She spat at the shorter woman. "So you're telling me all those times I offered myself to you, all the times you've kissed me, touched like you cared, was nothing?" Yoruichi yelled angrily.

"Look at you." Sui-Feng said turning her head slowly and bringing a hand to rub her still smarting cheek. " You're a beautiful woman that many men and woman lust after. Exotic, alluring, and sexy. If you were willing to spread your legs for me, I would be a fool to stop you."

Yoruichi's jaw dropped in disbelief and hurt. Tears that could no longer be held back fell unabashedly. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths as she choked on the pain of her heart breaking.

"What did you think would happen?" Sui continued walking past Yoruichi to the edge of the cliff face. "That you would return from banishment and I would be your sexual plaything even after you were married? A dream. That's all that will ever be. I am your bodyguard, not your lover. It would do you good to remember that."

Sui-Feng's voice felt foreign to her the longer she spoke. She was breaking her own heart with every lie she told Yoruichi. She ached from the inside out and suppressed the tears that threatened her eyes. Her body trembled from her self induced torment.

"I hate you."

If Sui-Feng's hearing had been any less she would missed the words. Collecting herself she put on a mask of detachment and turned around to look at Yoruichi. "Well, that was a quick turn around. However, it seems that we have come to an understanding. Do not forget I am here to protect you, not be your lover."

Yoruichi turned to look at Sui-Feng one last time. Her eyes held a look of begging for this to all be a joke. Sui's face was the same as it had been when she had returned from her 100 years of exile. A look of practiced cool and calm expression that held no remorse for the hurtful words that had been said. The Shihouin woman closed her eyes and calmed her breathing before wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Very well. I will not be a fool again." She said with no emotion. The wind kicked up as she shunpoed away.

Seconds after Yoruichi left Sui-Feng dropped to her knees clutching her chest in pain and tears fell in river's.

"I'm so sorry. I love you so much, but I can't...I can't be the reason our world falls apart. I hope one day you can forgive me." Sui-Feng gasped for air trying to get herself under control. Time passed and it seemed she was out of tears but the dull ache in her chest remained.

"Well that went... rather well."

Sui-Feng's head snapped up to look in the direction of the voice to see a woman sitting on a rock observing her nails. The woman stopped and looked back at her. Her hazel eyes seemed to look right through Sui as if she knew everything about her. Her red painted lips contrasted with skin almost as pale as the white robes the adorned her shoulders. What held Sui-Feng's attention more than anything was the gold headdress that was woven into hair, black as night.

"Who-who are you?" Sui demanded shakily standing to her feet.

"I think you know the answer to that. My name is of no importance, but yes I am the woman you see in your nightmares. Yet, I am only part of her, Shaolin." The woman spoke slowly and articulately. She stood and walked toward the captain. Each step was full of fluidity and purpose. She came to a stop in front of Sui-Feng and smiled.

"You did the right thing. I was beginning to think that you two were going to veer from your path." The woman said with a smile.

Sui-Feng stepped back. "Path?" Her hand went to Suzumebachi.

"Don't bother, she can't or should I say won't, help you." A bony hand rose behind the woman as it was an entity of itself and showed an untransformed Suzumebachi.

"How?" Sui-Feng asked wide eyed.

"Again with the one word questions? Dreams are very powerful Shaolin. They show what was, is, and will be." The stranger smiled ominously. "But do try to remember, no one knows for sure what the future holds."

To say Sui-Feng was a afraid was an understatement. This woman either had no reiatsu or was a master at suppressing it because Sui could not feel it. She was too fast for Sui to keep up with and it was evident that this woman had more than one trick up her sleeve. Sui-Feng made a move to try and shunpo to escape but a quick hand gripped her elbow and threw her back into the rocky wall. Sui-Feng slumped down and opened her eyes just in time to see Suzumebachi coming right at her.

"Forsake your emotions Shaolin, for they will be your downfall."

There was a sharp pain on Sui-Feng's left cheek and she opened her eyes to see Suzumebachi's hilt still quivering from the force of being thrust into the rock right beside her head. A small line of blood trailed its way down her pale cheek. Sui-Feng let out a sigh of relief that she was not dead but froze when she felt her arms and legs pinned by a sudden force. Snapping her eyes open her haunting stranger was once again present in front of her and closer than before.

The woman leaned in to Sui's right ear and whispered, "I've been watching you Shaolin. For years I've watched you become the person you are now. I've admired your resolve and conviction. Now I've come to tell you that it is time to truly become what you were meant to be."

Sui-Feng shivered at them warm breaths that caressed her ear. She was unprepared for the hot, wet tongue the licked the blood from her cheek and and across the shallow cut. She began to struggle when she noticed that the woman had pinned her by once again using the bony limbs that protruded from her back.

"What are you?" Sui-Feng demanded with more courage than she felt.

"My name is Shutara Senjumaru and I am the one who will lead you on your path." Shutara answered bringing up a normal human hand to gently brush away an errant lock from Sui-Feng's face.

"And what if I choose not to walk this path?" Sui-Feng challenged, her eyes flashing.

Shutara released her and stepped back. Her hazel eyes stayed trained on the second division captain. "Tell me Shaolin; does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?"

Sui-Feng frowned as she rubbed the her wrist to restore the blood flow to it. "What?"

"You'll understand soon enough. I am going to prepare you for what is to come. Be ready, because I have a tendency to act on a whim. You might want to ensure that you lieutenant can run your division while I'm busy with you." Shutara said and slowly began to walk away.

"I don't understand! You're talking nonsense? What path? Training for what?!" Sui-Feng yelled angrily.

"So angry." Shutara purred with a smile. "I hope that fire that burns so strong in you can survive what is to come."

"Answer my questions!" Sui's fist clenched at her sides.

"Feisty too. Very well. If you want answers, try asking her." Shutara pointed behind Sui-Feng. The captain turned around to see her Zanpaktou still stuck in the cliff face.

"What does-" Sui turned back around to find herself once again alone, but this time, pain ran rampant with confusion. Her mind was so busy she didn't hear the steady hum that her sword was emitting.

The sunlight beamed down on the children as two boys tossed a ball back and forth. A little girl no older than 12 wailed at the unfairness of her brother and his friend, claiming that she too wanted to play. They just laughed at her and continued to amuse themselves by tossing the ball back and forth watching her feeble attempts to catch the ball. None of them noticed the stranger wrapped in a dark cloak approaching them nor did they notice the rolling fog that blocked out the shining rays of the sun.

The oldest boy misfired his throw to his male companion and it sailed over his head and rolled down the hill and into the bushes. Feeling to lazy to retrieve it himself her allowed the girl to run past him to grab it. His friend glared at him in disapproval. He began to shrug in response knowing that they could always take it from her forcefully when she returned, but the dark menacing figure behind his friend made him freeze. Before he could shout any type of warning, he watched with wide horrified eyes as the figure grabbed his friend by the head with a clawed hand and picked him up. The captured boy didn't even get a chance to scream before sizable claws penetrated his skull, killing him instantly.

The younger boy began gasp for air in panic and turned to run only to misstep and fall on his face. He scrambled to his feet, only to look up and see that the source of his fear was crouched down in front of him still holding his dead best friend by the skull. The smell of the stranger hit him and the boy dry heaved from the stench. What was worse was what he could see under the hood.

The partially decomposed face had fixed lidless, rotting eyes on him. A disgusting smile was fixed on a mouth that was simply too wide. His eyes did bear looking at as they didn't look human at all but were more like thin slits burning with fire. Then he spoke, his voice was as warped as his twisted body.

"Leaving so soon?" His breath reeked of carrion and death. The boy almost passed out from the smell as it seemed to rob his lungs of air. "Join your friend, I assure we'll have lots of fun."

The boy cried out in fear as the monstrous figure thrust his dead friend's body at him, it swung back in forth like a sack of potatoes. The monster laughed at the boys plight and began to suck the very essence out of the boy in his hand. Helpless to do anything but watch as his dead friend shriveled up like a dry husk. Corrupted, rotting hands released their hold on him and he crumbled like ash to the ground.

"Delicious." The monster croaked as the decomposing flesh of his body squirmed and became, if possible, less dead.

"Oh God!" The boy cried out and raised his arms as if to ward off his attacker. All it did was amuse the monster more.

"Osamu will suffice." Was all that was said before he descended on the boy.

When he was finished he straightened up and continued on his earlier course toward a district in Rukongai. The fog followed blocking out the sun with each lumbering step Osamu took.

The people of the district didn't pay any attention to the fog until it was too late. The thickness of it let them know that it was unnatural. Mothers called for their children to come inside, while the men gathered their tools before heading indoors. People murmured amongst each other at the curiousness of it all. Then the ominous sound of a deep chested growling rattled through the air silencing all that heard it in fear. Ears keened hoping to catch the sound again in hopes that they mistook it for dogs fighting, but their doubt was soon corrected. A house seemingly imploded on itself as screams of terror broke out and people scrambled to get away from whatever it was.

A few brave men grabbed their work tools and stood in the streets the defend their homes but were horribly put down, being disemboweled or beheaded before they knew they were being attacked. Some of the folk peered through the windows hoping to be spared from the deadly unknown force that was attacking. Then, there was the split-second image in the fog of something like an enormous, flame-shrouded bear, howling the like the final scream of a sacrifice. It shook the people to the very core of their bones and caused children, held in the protective arms of their mothers to cry and whimper in fright.

Osamu heard their screams and cries. He laughed, an obscene cackle that rose to a manic crescendo, before suddenly cutting to an ominous silence. "Behold. You are all about to become a part of something bigger than yourselves. There is no need to fear. I will take excellent care of you. Those who try to escape will be introduced to my pets." His hideous mouth opened in a disgusting smile that showed the flames inside that were dark as blood.

Then the carnage started. People were ripped out of houses, children snatched from mothers arms and grotesquely devoured right in front of them. The men were ripped and shredded without remorse. Those that tried to run were cut off at the edge of the district by dog like creatures that burned internally with the same fire as their master. The rotting jaws of the beast snapped at the scared people as they tried to back away, only to be pounced on and rend asunder.

For hours the slaughter continued while people screamed for someone to save them or to wake up from this bloody night mare. No help came. Soon, there was no one left to scream, for all were dead at the hand of Osamu. Pools of blood littered the ground turning the dirt and clay red. Severed heads sat awkwardly on the ground some with silent screams pasted on their faces, while others looked only half of what they used to be. Gore, blood, and intestines decorated the half torn down buildings the spackled paint. Osamu stood in the middle of the street, remarkably still with his eyes closed. He was digesting, like a glutton after an overly ambitious meal. The satisfied smile on his face from his feast showed his glee at being able to have his fill of flesh and spirit.

"Mommy!" Osamu's ears perked up as he heard the cry of a girl. Had he missed one?

"Mommy?! Where are you?" The girl looked around with fear at the carnage all around her. She had wondered where her brother and his friend had gone but they were nowhere to be seen, so she stopped her search and slowly made her way back home. She had gotten lost a few times because the fog was so thick but eventually she saw the well that sat on the edge of town.

Everything was so quiet she wondered if it was truly night fall and if it was her mother must be so worried! Then she saw the bodies. Too scared to scream she frantically began to look for her mother...and that's how Osamu found her.

Closing his eyes in concentration he reverted his body back into a humanoid form that was complete and undecaying. The flesh and spirits he had been supplied with would allow him to retain this form for a few weeks before he would need more. Now completely human and standing naked he walked toward the little girl his red eyes piercing through the thick fog.

"Mommy?!" The little girl cried again only to stop when she saw the strange naked man. "Where's my mommy?" She asked clutching the ball to her chest.

"Mommy is gone." Osamu said in a sickeningly sweet voice. "But I want you to play with me. I promise we'll have lots of fun."

The little girl knew something was wrong with this man from the hungry look he was giving her. She turned to run but was snatched back with a scream. Osamu drug her into the shadows of a house that hadn't been completely destroyed. The sound of clothes ripping filled the air along with the whimpers and cries, as the ball the little girl had been holding rolled out of the house and into the street.

3 days had passed and Yoruichi had thrown herself into her work with her division following her fight with Sui-Feng. Without the vacation she planned to look forward to time moved slowly. She tried everything to keep her mind off of her situation from the Soul King to the argument with the elders. Most of all she tried to keep her mind off of Sui. It seemed that the girl was imbedded in her very essence as everything she did reminded her of the 2nd Division captain. So she decided to comply with the elders and have them send word to Yuu that she preferred that he come as soon as he was able. She needed a distraction and he seemed to be a good choice.

Her hand stopped as she placed down and pen and flexed her hand. She would rather not have to do any of this but there was no running from it. Unlike Kisuke, she had a definite responsibility. While she hadn't left on her own accord, she had been given 100 years of freedom to do whatever she wanted. Well, almost what she wanted. If only Sui...

'No! I won't do this to myself.' Yoruichi shook her head as to clear her traitorous thoughts. With a sigh she picked up her pen again and went back to signing paperwork. She was once again stopped when her shoji door was all but snatched off the track by a soldier of the Onmistukido.

Standing she growled, "Doesn't your commander teach you to knock?"

"A hundred apologies my Lady but I am under orders of your father to move you to a safe location." The soldier answered bowing low and looking back at the princess. Yoruichi was going to give him a hard time before she saw the panic in his eyes letting her know that something serious was going on.

"Very well. Lead the way." She answered.

The shoulder nodded thankful that she was not going to argue. He led her to the first division where Kyoraku and the other captains were present, including Sui-Feng. Their eyes locked for a moment, Yoruichi's were full of anger and Sui's not giving anything away. Yoruichi took her attention off of the young captain and placed it onto the Commander.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"You are being taken to Masahiro Yuu's Western Lands until the situation here is solved. Sui-Feng-taicho will be accompanying you." Shunsui answered with all seriousness. "The rest of the captains are to head to the west gate immediately."

"Don't you think it would be better for two captains of their caliber to be present for such a threat?" Mayuri asked giving the commander a distasteful look.

"Kurotsuchi-taicho, there are things at work that your scheming, manipulative mind has to no knowledge of, so for the time being, do shut up." Shunsui said cutting a look to the strange captain.

"Sou-taicho it is time." An Onmitsukido soldier cut in.

"Yoruichi-san this senkaimon will take you to the western lands. There will be a convoy waiting to escort you and from there Yuu-san will brief on everything that has happened. Sui-Feng-taicho is going with you as protection." Shunsui said.

"I don't need her." Yoruichi spoke with finality.

"Too bad, she's going." Yoruichi turned to see her father rapidly making his way to the group. "Sui-Feng-taicho a word, please."

Sui-Feng nodded and followed the Shihouin patriarch through the first division doors for privacy. Before she was able to say anything a scroll was thrust into her hands.

"What-?" She began only to be cut off.

"There's no time just listen." He said quickly. "There has a breach and I fear Osamu is on his way for Yoruichi. You are to go with her to the Western lands and in two weeks go to the living world. Alternate every two weeks until you hear word from us. Should something happen to me that scroll is to be given to Yoruichi. The guards you chose for Yoruichi are going with you. Please, I'm begging you, protect my daughter." Sui-Feng had never seen Satoshi with such a desperate look in his eyes. Thought however frantic he looked, she could see the utmost faith he had in her.

"With my life Shihouin-dono." Sui-Feng answered. She was shocked as she was gathered into his arms.

"I never had the chance to tell you this but you have made me proud to be your sensei and your father is proud of you as well." Having said that he released her and shot out the doors. His words puzzled her so she made to follow him quickly only to find him embracing Yoruichi and turn to leave.

"Father wait!" Yoruichi called to her retreating sire only to be pulled on the arm by an Onmitsukido soldier.

"Go!" He called before transforming into a panther. "Listen to Yuu-san. He will teach you everything I haven't. Let's go Shunsui." Then he was gone.

Yoruichi was pulled into a black senkaimon by the soldiers with Sui-Feng following quickly behind. Both of their minds were spinning from the turn of events but they continued on through until they found themselves in a forest that was foreign to them. Soldiers in feudal armor stood at the ready around the senkaimon as they exited. Their ranks parted as they let their leader through.

Yuu came through with a grim look on his face. Two katana sat on his left hip and a black dragon-scaled breastplate sat on his chest making him look like he was ready to fight should Yoruichi and Sui-Feng be attacked while coming through through the portal. He gave a small smile as he looked at his guest before giving a short bow. "Yoruichi-dono and Sui-Feng-taicho, welcome to the Western Lands."

I know some of you may be angry with Sui-Feng but trust me the pain she caused Yoruichi by her hurtful words will be repaid in spades. Things are about to really heat up. We are almost at the halfway point since I don't see this story going beyond 25 chapters. Remember to review!

Melodious Reprieve