Shippoman: I decided that since you're all waiting for the time when Yukiko is reunited with Kensei, I'd speed it up a bit by posting every week until that point. So look forward for that.

Chapter 4:

"Yukiko, Ichigo Kurosaki, enter."

The two in question were standing outside the doors to the meeting area in squad 1. About an hour earlier Youruichi had entered the room and talked to the occupants about the meeting that was currently taking place. Ichigo still didn't fully grasp the situation at hand, but he knew he'd find out eventually. Yukiko was nervous over what the leaders would decide to do with her. She wasn't exactly up for trying to argue her case...and even partially hoped she'd be locked up. At least then no one would be hurt by her.

When the call came for them to enter, Yukiko took a deep calming breath before meeting her companion's eyes. He nodded to her encouragingly and she smiled weakly. Then, she reached forward and pushed the door open, stepping inside.

The moment the pair entered, Ichigo immediately felt out of place, while Yukiko audibly swallowed a few times. Inside stood the captains from each of the 13 squads, not counting the ones that were too injured to appear or had left of their own free will. In other words, squads 3, 6, 9, and 10 were all represented by their lieutenants and squad 5 had its 3rd seat. Other than them, Youruichi stood off to the side of the head captain, who sat at the very top of the room, while the rest stood on either side of the room. Odd numbered on one side and even numbered on the other.

Yukiko swallowed several more times as she stepped farther into the room, forcing herself not to look around. She didn't think she'd be able to keep herself together if she met the gaze of the captains she knew. When she reached the top of the room, she stopped and went down to one knee.

"Yukiko, ex-5th seat of squad 5, reporting in, sir," she greeted formally.

Her greeting caused a few surprised inhales to be heard through the room, the loudest to her being the one that came directly behind her. Ichigo had no idea she held that kind of position, and was even more surprised that she was able to take on captains when she was four ranks beneath them.

"Yukiko. Your disappearance caused an uproar, but your reappearance caused an even greater one," Yamamoto stated loudly. Yukiko had her eyes closed and was working on her deep breathing. "Now, you will explain to those assembled why you vanished and the events that followed leading to you being on Sokyoku Hill."

"Yes sir," Yukiko agreed. She slowly climbed to her feet before opening her eyes and looking directly at the head captain. "But, I need one question answered first. How long...how long was I...gone?"

Yamamoto stared her down for a long moment before answering, his voice echoing in the large room. "107 years."

His answer caused a few people to start in surprise, but none as much as the ex-soul reaper. Her eyes widened, her mouth fell open, her breathing became ragged, and a few tears slipped down her cheeks. "107...years," she repeated as her body began to shake. "Th-that long?"

Yamamoto frowned when he saw her falling apart before him. He could see that her mind had been severely damaged in the years of her disappearance. "Now explain!"

She didn't seem to notice his command as her body continued to shake until Ichigo reached forward and touched her shoulder. "Ume, you okay?"

Hearing her name helped her calm her shaking and take a deep breath, banishing the tears and fear. "Yes sir." With that she began her explanation. She told of what led to her mission of inspecting the storehouse; though she refused to mention exactly what her training had been. Then she told them about the ripples she'd seen over the door.

"Ripples? What are these ripples?" Ukitake asked cautiously. He wanted to understand exactly what she was describing.

She explained about her wind ability, taking the extra effort to get their minds in the right frame by explaining about the effect wind had on water, and making sure to mention that Aizen's blade was water based.

"So, those ripples are caused when your reiatsu clashes with his," Shunsui murmured in understanding.

"Basically. This means...that in these moments...I can temporarily see what's beyond the ripple," Yukiko answered. "In other words...I can see through...Sousuke's illusions."

"That's pretty cool, Ume," Ichigo muttered under his breath. He'd been surprised when she said the man's first name, as he'd only heard her use it once...and at that time she'd been screaming about returning to his side. He'd rather not have a repeat.

She took another breath before continuing her explanation. She told them about the storehouse really being a laboratory. She explained what was seen inside, the papers depicting the different hollows they'd created, the tubes containing hollows, and the test tube that held her blood. Then, she mentioned the fight that kept her from leaving. Ichigo had to say her name three times during the explanation of the fight to keep her from folding in on herself.

"The next thing I knew, I was in a space that had nothing but darkness. Aizen's illusion of himself appeared before me and explained that I'd been sealed inside what was more or less a soul candy. I tried to break it using my wind, but failed. I was forced to endure his illusions all day, every day...until Ichigo's fight freed me."

She couldn't say anything else at that point and waited to hear their response; any response. After a short silence, one came. "Your report has been received. You may now leave," Yamamoto told her seriously. "You will wait outside until we have finished."

"Yes, sir," Yukiko mumbled. She bowed respectfully before turning and leaving the room, Ichigo right on her heels.

Ichigo was irritated as he silently watched Yukiko sitting on the floor with her sword resting on her lap. He'd asked her when she started what she was doing only to learn that it was a meditative form that all soul reapers used to connect with their swords better. He'd decided to try it out sometime, but now was not that time.

It'd been almost an hour since they'd been asked to enter the room and her story had been explained to those present. Admittedly, he felt sorry for the ex-soul reaper. She'd done a lot to help the Gotei 13 and now faced possible imprisonment just because she had a few issues keeping her head on straight. Not like it was her fault.

Still, there were a few things he didn't quite understand, and since they had no idea how much longer the captain's meeting would draw out, he wanted to ask her to find out. "So, Ume, mind answering something for me?" he asked cautiously.

She didn't answer at first and he couldn't tell if she'd even heard him. But then her lips lifted just a little in a pained smile. "Depends on what it is," she told him without opening her eyes. "I will try though."

"Well, inside you said you'd been a 5th seat," he started, scratching his head. "If that's the case, how were you able to take on all three of those captains out there? You seemed too strong to be that low a seat. I mean, aren't 5th seats too weak to take on captains?"

Yukiko chuckled a little and she looked up at the teen before her. "Normally, Ichigo, you'd be right," she told him getting to her feet and leaning against a wall as well. "To be honest, I was only designated a 5th seat because there were no positions higher than that open. That and even though I was strong enough to be a higher seat, I didn't have the experience necessary to handle the responsibility just yet."

"The experience?" Ichigo was confused by this having very little understanding of how the Gotei 13 functioned.

"Yeah...I'd only been a soul reaper for..." she began explaining. Part way through though, she paused and started counting on her fingers. "I started then...that was two years...then..." After a few moments she nodded and gave Ichigo another pained smile. "I was a soul reaper for eight years. That's just a drop in the bucket if you think about it. I was in the academy way longer than that."

"Right...I've heard about the academy here," Ichigo nodded, thinking back on the explanation he'd heard from Renji. "So, because you'd only been a soul reaper for that short amount of time you weren't promoted any higher?"

"Yep...and I fully agree with their assessment," she murmured. "I would have made a terrible lieutenant and an even worse captain."

Ichigo didn't know what to say to that. There was still one last thing he wanted to know about but before he could ask anything else, one of the people who'd been present at the meeting approached them. He was one of the lieutenants standing in for the traitorous captains, though he didn't know the guy's name. He did remember seeing him subdue Tousen though.

"Yukiko, a decision has been reached," he greeted looking over at the ex-soul reaper.

She looked right at him without answering. Instead she just kept staring at him without moving or showing any sign that she'd heard him.

The lieutenant decided to take her looking at him as a sign she was listening and continued. "Youruichi Shihoin is working on finding a place for you to properly recover," he explained easily. "Until then, you will be staying in squad 9."

Again she didn't seem to register anything he was saying. No movement, no change in expression, nothing. Ichigo figured she'd drifted into herself again so he stepped up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ume, you okay?"

She blinked a couple times before looking from him to the lieutenant and back. "Ah, sorry," she muttered, scratching her head in embarrassment. "I spaced for a second. What'd you say?"

"You'll be staying in squad 9 until a more suitable place is found for your recovery," the lieutenant summed up. He sighed, clearly annoyed by her and she nodded in return.

"Squad 9...I understand," she murmured stepping away from the orange haired boy beside her. "Ichigo...thanks for accompanying me here. I don't think I would have been able to finish my explanation without your help."

"Uh...no problem," he mumbled, his cheeks turning slightly red. "Take care of yourself, alright."

Yukiko's lips turned the slightest in a sad smile. "I'll try," she promised. Then she turned and gestured for the lieutenant to lead the way.

The trek out to squad 9 was torture...or so the lieutenant believed. It wasn't because the girl he was traveling with was loud, obnoxious, or began freaking out like she almost did in the meeting. No, she was extremely silent the entire way. Not a single word left her lips as they moved quickly through the seireitei.

Now normally silence didn't bother him, and to be honest it wasn't the lack of speaking that bothered him. It was the fact that every time he looked over at her, her eyes were focused on him. When she realized he was looking at her, she would blink a few times before turning her attention else where. What in the world was she staring at?

Just as the edge of squad 9 came into view, he glanced back at her and found she was once again looking him over. A curious look adorned her face as her eyes scanned his. By this point he'd caught her staring a dozen times over and was sick of it. He thought he knew what she was looking at too which only made it worse.

Just then, she noticed he'd caught her again and her eyes fell to the floor. Enough was enough for him as he stopped in his tracks and crossed his arms. He was going to get an answer out of her. "Is there a reason you keep staring at me?" he demanded. She looked up at him without a word. "If it's about my scars you can forget about me explaining. It isn't any of your business after all."

Yukiko looked at him like he was stupid. "Your scars? You obviously got those in a fight of some sort," she responded waving away his comment. "Scars aren't exactly an uncommon thing in our line of work after all. Why you have one at all just means you probably bit off more than you could chew at some point."

The lieutenant frowned at this. She wasn't wrong in her assessment, but her tone left much to be desired. Was this really the same panic stricken female who needed someone to accompany her for a report?

"No, what caught my interest is that tatoo of yours," she continued pointing at his face. To his surprise, her scathing expression softened considerably as she continued to look at him. "Why did you get that?"

"You're asking why I have a number tattooed on my face?" he asked trying to understand where her confusion was coming from. She wouldn't have been the first to ask that question. After all, not many people got tattoos that were so noticeable.

"I'm not asking about the reason behind the location," she sighed shaking her head. "I want to know why that number. Why the number 69?"

"That's personal," he answered moving to walk past her. "We should get moving."

She stepped into his path and a teasing expression appeared on her lips. "Personal? Huh, well I guess it would be if you were broadcasting your favorite past time on your cheek. But then again, why not say it loud and proud? Just about anyone would be able to figure out which position your favorite is."

He was confused by her comment at first, but then when she mentioned position his entire face turned red and he recoiled in shock. "Where the hell did that come from?" he demanded. She was really pissing him off now with that knowing and teasing look of hers. What would even give her the idea that's what it meant? "Look the reason I have this number has nothing to do with...preferences... It's a tribute to the first man I ever looked up to, alright!"

"The first man..." Yukiko stared at him for awhile longer after his declaration.

She took in his cheeks reddened from embarrassment. The right one marred by a set of three scars and the left with the number standing out boldly against his pale skin. She stared at the number and an image of another man drifted through her mind causing shivers of fear and want to move through her.

"A tall, muscular man with silver hair," she murmured, her eyes closing as she focused on the image. "He was strong and confident, and had a terrible temper." She chuckled lightly at her own joke. "And...he wore that number..." She reached down and began drawing the number with her finger on her own abdomen. "Right here."

The lieutenant felt the air leave his lungs at her description. It was perfect; exactly what he remembered from his childhood. And it hit him, she'd been around over 100 years ago and he'd met that man around 101 years ago. The only way she could have described him so perfectly would be...if she knew him.

"You...knew him?" he asked, hoping, but not daring to believe it was true.

A sad smile made its way onto her face. "Yeah...he was...he was my first captain and the whole reason I was able to join the Gotei 13," she answered softly.

The dark haired soul reaper couldn't believe his ears. Almost anyone he talked to either never mentioned him, or if the topic was brought up, would never admit they knew the man. But this girl...she not only knew him, she seemed to be proud of that fact.

"Do you know...what that number signifies?" she asked after a moment of silence. "Why he wore it?"

He was stunned by her question and silently shook his head. He'd always wanted to know what the number meant. To his surprise, she drew closer to him and he raised an eyebrow in uncertainty. What was she going to do?

Slowly, she reached forward and touched his tattooed cheek with her finger. He flinched momentarily at the contact, but she didn't draw away. Instead, she began tracing over the number nine. "The nine...was for the squad he loved, the squad he would always protect," she murmured softly. Then she moved to the next number. "The six...was for his name." His eyes focused on hers, just as a single tear slid from one and down her cheek. "Kensei..."

She stayed like that for a long moment, just staring at the mark with a deep pain and sorrow in her eyes. Then she slowly moved a step away from him and took a deep breath. As she did so, he realized that one of her hands had started shaking. It was far more painful for her to recall that man and speak about him than he'd thought.

"Yukiko...we should probably get going," he murmured, unsure of what else to say.

She took another steadying breath, stopping her shaking, before looking directly at him. "Please, call me Ume. It's...easier for me."

"R-right. Sorry," he muttered scratching the back of his head. It was a rather awkward situation for him.

"And what should I call you?" she asked, the teasing lilt back in her voice. "You never did introduce yourself."

He nodded, realizing she was right. "Lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi."

"Lieutenant Hisagi," she repeated lightly.

"Actually...you don't have to use my title if you don't want to," he muttered in embarrassment. "Since you don't have a rank anymore you don't have to use it. Just call me Shuhei."

She smiled painfully at him. "Alright, Shuhei. Shall we?" She gestured toward the squad 9 area as she spoke and he began leading the way once more. Looked like having her staying in his squad would be far more interesting than he originally thought.

Shippoman: Now Yukiko has finally given her report...showing all who'd been present an idea of her current mental status. Luckily for her, she's been allowed to return to squad nine...which she hasn't seen in years. With her mind still thinking about Kensei, what changes will she find and what if anything will be the same? Stay tuned and please remember to R&R. :D