PROLOGUE

"Lieutenant Shirogane, we need you!"

Chiyo's eyes shone excitedly. The familiar pounding of her heart filled her ears until only her precious captain's words remained. Everything was going according to plan. Their attacker would be tied to her in an unbreakable bond. The feeling of being needed filled her soul, comforting her over the pain she knew was soon to follow.

"Daichi! It's nearly complete!"

Plunging both her Zanpakutō into the ground, Chiyo slowly knelt down. She watched as her captain continued to defend her, using a flurry of attacks that even her eyes couldn't follow. Collecting her thoughts, Chiyo's mind focused on the single goal at hand. The death of her advisory. As her heart slowed, spiritual energy swirled around her and her crimson blades. As the energy condensed a bright red thread started to weave around both Zanpakutō. Among the tangled thread was Chiyo who's pinky was now tied up tightly in a bow.

"Bind them to me, Akai Ito."

The red thread immediately shot forward towards its target. The enemy jumped backwards in an attempt to avoid Chiyo's attack. However, it was useless, the thread was relentless in the chase and soon found itself wrapped around the man's finger. Chiyo let out a soft gasp as the thread bonded the two together. She could feel the flow of his spiritual aura, the beating of his heart, the calmness in his breath.

"We're linked, captain, it's ready~!" she shouted.

Daichi glanced back at his Lieutenant and nodded. Within seconds he vanished from their sights only to appear behind Chiyo. Using both hands he rose the tanto above his comrade, only to bring it down, piercing her snow white flesh. A smile tugged at her lips. His expression was the same every time. As determined as her captain could be, the man was clearly worried whenever it was his blade that had to slice through her skin.

Crimson eyes darted forward towards the enemy waiting to see the aftermath of their unbeatable tactics. Within moments it became clear something had gone wrong. The enemy was still standing. Daichi should have punctured their lungs. Yet the man stood there with that same smirk on his face as if he had just stepped onto the battlefield.

Pain. A sharp pain shot through her body.

The moment the tanto pulled out of her pale flesh, she could feel nothing but the pain of the steel leaving her body. Raising her left hand she glanced down. Horror spread across her face... the thread was no longer tied to her pinky. As she looked up the red threads tangled around her Zanpakutōs began to snap and tear away.

"D-daichi..."

"Lieutenant!" He shouted as she collapsed into his arms. Chiyo's Zanpakutōs returned to their sealed state as their link with her started to fade away.

Chiyo began to shiver. Was blood loss always this...cold? Was this how those she assassinated felt in their last moments. The freezing hands of death? The fear of leaving someone behind?

"Th-the string. It's..." blood was coughed from her mouth into her sleeve. Chiyo struggled for breath, "You...you're stronger than I thought," she joked her eyes lingering on his face.

"Stay with me Chiyo!"

Despite all his shouting his voice was muffled by the racing of her heart. She was finding it harder and harder to focus on anything but the pain and blood filling her lungs. She never expected to die... but at least it was by his hands. The hands she loved so much. The man she loved so much.

Her attention was suddenly snapped away from death when she felt her captain toss her into the air. He had thrown her aside as far as he possibly could. The impact with the ground shocked her already struggling lungs. With every bounce more blood rushed out of her mouth. That however didn't matter. All that mattered was his face. Her captain. She had to protect her captain at all costs. Rolling desperately to her stomach, her crimson eyes widened. What she saw made her last drawn breath a scream.

"DAICHI!"