This chapter features the song Drift by Eva Under Fire

Tsukimori was relieved when she could slip away from her squad mates, grateful for a breather. She found a spot in a tree and climbed high enough that no one could see. Once she had calmed down, she started to hum to herself until the melody turned into a song.

"Slip away- behind the rain. I sing your praises. The light that made me change sings to my soul. Drift in sadness; heart with holes. Driftin' soulless, all alone. Burn black heart and lonely was her name. The pavement he found her writhing in her pain. Kept her breathing, breathing. She wasn't breathing, only bleeding broken and alone til he came to take away the pain in her bones. Oh she cried 'save me'. Oh she cried 'someone save me'. Burn black heart and lonely was her name. The pavement he found her writhing in her pain. Kept her breathing, breathing."

Down in the courtyard, Shuhei had sent Toshiyuki to find Tsukimori to let her know that it was time for dinner. Toshiyuki looked everywhere for her and was about to give up when he heard her singing.

"Somebody save me. Someone save me. Please someone save me. Somebody save me. Slip away- behind the rain. I sing your praises. The light that made me change sings to my soul. Burn black heart and lonely was her name. The pavement he found her writhing in her pain. Kept her breathing, breathing. Oh, ohhh ohh, kept her breathing. Breathing. Breathing."

Tsukimori leaned back against the tree, her song at its end and her nerves calmed. 'Why does it have to be so difficult...?'

"Tsuki?"

Tsukimori looked down to see Toshiyuki calling up to her. "What is it?"

"Lieutenant Hisagi asked me to find you for dinner. We're all waiting for you in the mess hall."

Tsukimori sighed. "I'll be right there." She stood and jumped down from her perch, landing softly in front of Toshiyuki.

"Are you alright, Tsuki?"

Tsukimori nodded. "Ya, just been a busy day so far."

Toshiyuki offered her a smile as they walked together to the mess hall. "Well, at least the day will be over soon."

"That's true."

Squad 9 awaited the arrival of their 3rd seat, cheering when she entered the mess hall.

"It would seem that she has already made an impression on the squad." Kaname said to Shuhei.

"It would seem so."

Tsukimori made her way to her seat with the captain and Shuhei, her nerves starting to kick in again. When she took her seat, everyone started eating and drinking and enjoying an excuse to party.

"So, 3rd seat Gushiken, how are you liking the squad?" Kaname asked.

"Oh, Captain, please there's no need to be so formal." Tsukimori said, smiling nervously at her captain. "You can just call me 'Tsuki'."

"Very well."

"But to answer your question, sir..." Tsukimori looked out over the rest of the room, seeing the squad enjoying themselves. "Everyone's been wonderful."

"Whatever it is, you can speak freely." Kaname said, sensing her hesitation.

"It's a bit overwhelming, to be honest, sir." Tsukimori said, her gaze dropping to her hands. "I've never really been good around big crowds or groups of people like this. I'm so used to being on my own for the most part."

"Then this is a big step for you."

Tsukimori looked up at the captain at that. "I suppose it is." She sighed. "It will take some getting used to, though. I'm just grateful Captain Kurotsuchi was able to expand the parameters on my limiter."

Shuhei glanced at her when she said that, recalling the night she spoke of.

"Renji!"

Renji and the others stopped, seeing Shuhei Hisagi running towards them. "Shuhei, what are you doing here?"

Shuhei looked at them, clearly concerned. "I felt a surge in Tsuki's spiritual energy. Is she alright? Where is she?"

"We don't know!"

"Alright, split up and spread out. We need to find her quickly."

Shuhei could sense that Tsukimori was trying to control her spiritual energy and keep her spiritual pressure down, but he could feel that her anxiety was ramping it all up. He sensed that she was on the other side of town, trying to get out of the town and into the forest, as far away from everyone as possible. He and the others stopped however when they sensed the Hollows and knew they must have been drawn in by Tsukimori.

"We have to hurry, they're going after Tsuki!"

"Stay close, don't do anything stupid."

Shuhei and the others reached the forest, seeing the Hollows taunting her, circling her, laughing as her spiritual pressure continued to spike.

"Tsuki!"

Tsuki cowered, trying to keep herself calm, as Shuhei and the others fought off the Hollows. Once they were dead, Shuhei turned to Tsukimori and pulled her into his arms.

"Tsuki, it's OK now. Shh... It's alright." He said, rubbing her back and smoothing her hair.

Tsukimori collapsed in his arms, feeling weak. "S-Shu..."

"I'm here, Tsuki. Everything is going to be alright."

Shuhei listened as Tsukimori spoke more with Kaname, watching the festivities- amazed that the squad was so excited to have her join them. 'If she made this big of an impression on them, I can only imagine the good she could do for the squad.'

After awhile, Tsukimori excused herself and hurried off- grateful that everyone was too busy celebrating to notice. Well, almost everyone.

"Tell me, Shuhei." Kaname said, turning towards his lieutenant. "What do you know of Tsukimori Gushiken?"

"We went to the academy together. I was in my last year, she was starting her first. Pretty early into the year, she had made contact with her zanpakuto's spirit but it left her weak. Once she had recovered, she took part in private lessons including training with a senior student to improve her zanjutsu."

"That student being you."

"Yes, sir. She would attend her normal classes, as would I, then she would join a few of her classmates for lunch before meeting up with me to begin our training. I would drill her on what she knew of zanjutsu and hoho, then I would give her pointers on how to improve each. Then the day of our trip to the World of the Living, everything went wrong. Kanisawa and Aoga were killed and I had ordered the freshman to run, staying behind to buy them time. However, Renji, Momo, Izuru, and Tsukimori refused to leave me behind. To be honest, if they hadn't come back I probably would have died."

Kaname listened as Shuhei recalled his time with Tsukimori.

"We fought off the Hollows until help arrived and Tsuki healed my wounds." Shuhei continued. "We finished our private lessons and the year was coming to an end. Once I graduated, we didn't see each other again until a few years later when she had an episode."

"What happened?"

"She had gone to a festival in town with Renji and the others, but the crowds were too much for her to take and her anxiety kicked in. She tried to get away from everyone as it got worse, worried she would hurt someone. A few Hollows had been drawn to her as her spiritual energy pulsated through the area, but we were able to get to her in time. It took a lot out of her and she passed out. We got her to the infirmary at the academy."

"I take it then that it was after this incident that she received her limiter?"

Shuhei nodded. "It seemed to help, from what Renji told me, but she was still pretty worried. So much so that she had rejected every offer from the squads she received."

"What do you think of her?"

"She was an amazing girl, excelling in her studies, exceeding my expectations and that of the instructors. She's incredibly gifted, but too quick to doubt herself. It would seem that the time she spent over these last several years has paid off. Though, we'll have to see for ourselves how she does in her new position." Shuhei looked towards the door. "I wonder what changed her mind after all this time..."

Tsukimori had fled the mess hall and walked through the barrack grounds, trying to calm her nerves. After she had calmed herself down, she made her way to her room. It had been a long day and she knew she would be getting straight to work in the morning.

An hour or so had passed after reaching her room when a knock came at her door. She answered the door, finding Shuhei waiting on the other side.

"Shu? What're you doing here?"

Shuhei looked down at her, seeing that he may have woken her up. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

Tsukimori rubbed her eyes. "It's alright. Was there something you needed?"

"I just wanted to inform you that we'll be having a meeting with the captain an hour after sunrise. We'll be going over your duties more in depth."

"Oh, alright. I'll be sure to be there on time, then." She looked at him, sensing there was something more. "Is there anything else?"

Shuhei shook his head, thinking better on what was running through his head- trying to ignore how cute she looked in her nightgown. "No, goodnight, Tsuki."

"Goodnight, Shu." She started to close the door as Shuhei made to leave, but she looked at him when he stopped her. "Yes?"

"Welcome to the squad, Tsuki."

Tsukimori smiled at that, watching as he excused himself and disappeared down the hall.