Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Naruto. Only the OC is my idea, her backstory, abilities, appearance, etc. I do not make any money from this story. This story is a sequel to "in your eyes", if you haven't read that, please do so first other wise this one isn't going to make as much sense. A bridge story in between them is "the best present."


Suzume woke up and gently rubbed the sleep from her eyes, next to her was the man who had challenged her former neighbour and liberated her from his schemes. She had never agreed with stealing, but he refused to move from that district, and would never let her out of his sight. The 79th Eastern district was slowly decaying. There was little hope of saving it. Even as young as she was, she knew that much, just like there had been very little hope of saving her mother after that attack eight years ago. Neji seemed to be asleep, and her mouth felt as if she ate sand. She stood and went over to the river, cupping the water in her hands and brought it up near her mouth only a set of stronger hands to clamp onto her wrists gentle enough to not hurt her, but forceful enough to prevent her from drinking the water.

"I wouldn't drink that water," Neji advised as he dipped a hollowed out coconut shell into the water and took it back to their camp. Suzume stood from her spot and followed him. He gathered some of the remaining dried pieces of grass and dried leaves he'd used for kindling on top of the wood and then used a piece of broken mirror that he'd found to heat it up. After a few minutes the fire started and Neji held the hollowed out coconut shell over the fire using a tool he'd built out of fallen branches and using some loose strands of his own hair as rope. It wasn't very sturdy but it enough, although he could tell it wouldn't endure for very long.

He waited until the water boiled before removing it away from the heat. He held the makeshift bowl in his hands gently blowing on it to help cool it quicker. Once the heat had subsided he offered the bowl to Suzume, who eagerly drank down half, and handed the bowl back to him. He smiled at the gesture and drank from the other side of the bowl as well.

"You never mentioned where your parents are," he stated.

"My mom died eight years ago. I don't have a dad," she answered.

"I see. Then who was that man?"

"Our neighbour," Suzume replied as she traced some random shapes on the skirt of her dress. This was a new behaviour that Neji hadn't seen in her yet. He'd seen her laughing, he'd seen her so scared that she was trembling, but he hadn't seen her like this.

He gently squeezed her shoulder and assured her, "we don't have to talk about it. I'm just trying to figure some things out."

The girl made a small sound which told Neji she understood what he was saying. He gently ruffled the little girl's hair and smiled at the sight of two birds flying through the air. He pointed to them causing Suzume to look to them as well.

"Look how free they are. That's why I decided to name you 'Suzume', it means 'sparrow'. Even the smallest bird can be free to fly," he revealed.

At this the little girl's face brightened as the corners of her mouth tugged upwards into a broad smile. He began gathering their items together and secured them in a tattered blanket before slinging it over his shoulder. Suzume stood up with him and they began walking again.

"Neji?"

His gave a simple response of, "Hmm?"

"Are we family now?"

It was Neji's turn to have the corners of his mouth involuntarily tug upwards as he agreed, "I suppose we are. I'm not old enough to be your father. However, I wouldn't be against having a little sister."

Suzume giggled happily as she grasped Neji's hand. He enclosed his larger hand around her smaller hand, gently giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Did you have a sister before?"

"I don't recall," Neji admitted as they continued walking. Suzume glanced up at him and asked, "how come your eyes don't have colour to them? They're just white."

He chuckled in amusement at her innocence and answered, "I wish I had that answer. What I can tell you is I'm able to see as clearly as anyone else with coloured eyes."

She nodded a bit in acknowledgement and understanding. She realized they were heading in the same direction they had been walking before and asked, "where are we going?"

"There's a place called 'The Seireitei', I don't remember much—but I think—I may know someone there," he revealed.

"Who?"

"A woman with brown hair, and amber eyes, she carries a sword and wears a shortened hakama, and a sleeveless kimono," Neji continued.

"A shinigami?"

Neji regarded her and scoffed, "you expect me to believe that you're a ghost?"

"Not any ordinary ghost, no, but since you asked, I'm a Shinigami," she corrected.

Neji nodded his head in agreement as he confirmed, "yes. She said she's a Shinigami."

"Ooh, that's neat," Suzume remarked. Her foot caught on a stone and caused her to stumble, Neji shifted his hand to under her arm, and prevented her from falling.

"Are you okay, Suzume?"

"Yes, thanks Neji," Suzume thanked him.

He blinked as another image came to his mind. He was surrounded by water, almost as if he was within some kind of water jail. He was holding his breath, he was aware of this. A girl near him in another bubble of water, also holding her breath, her hair was up in buns. One bun on each side of her head, her eyes were closed tightly as if she were struggling against something and he quickly realized what.

'Tenten is at her limit,' he thought to himself. He noticed that the opponent, a man who had shark gills on the sides of his face, and grayish blue skin like a shark was distracted.

'Now,' he decided as he used his chakra to break free, then attacked both opponents simultaneously blocking off their internal chakra points. Doing this caused the other bubbles to burst, freeing the girl who seemed to be unconscious. He quickly caught her in one arm.

"Are you okay, Tenten?

"Yeah. Thanks, Neji," she replied, her brown eyes didn't make contact with his featureless white eyes.

"Big brother, are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm sorry for worrying you," Neji replied as he knelt down to her level. She readily hugged him around his neck while he embraced her with his free arm.

'I may not be related to her—however, I would rather stop breathing than see any harm come to her,' he thought to himself.