Sorry it's been so long. I hope that the wait was worth it, and that you all like this chapter. I'll try to do better and update (hopefully) every two- three weeks.

Thank you Saddas74 for beta-ing

"You wished to speak with me Lord Aizen?"

"Yes, I did." Aizen spun his chair around to face his subordinate directly. "Espada N0.8, Szayelaporro Granz."

Szayelaporro was used to being summoned by Lord Aizen, being the head of his unofficial research department. Though the "late" hour at which he was summoned got him a bit curious.

"So, what can I help you with?" Being a scientist made you naturally curious of the phenomena of the world. And with Lord Aizen it just made him more curious.

"Did you detect any massive spikes in reiatsu in the last few hours?"

"As a matter of fact I did. But they came from an unknown place and since I don't have enough data about the location, I'm afraid I don't know much about it."

"That's alright. I understand." Interlocking both his hands Aizen continued. "I was just wondering if you could alter a few regular Hollows and send them there."

"It's already been taken care of. I sent them off before I came here… Though I don't know when they'll arrive though." Szayleaporro stated without hesitation. It does not bode well if you keep anything from Lord Aizen.

But instead of just responding, Aizen just smiled, then made a dismissive gesture and turned his chair around. Waiting for what news his subordinate would bring.

(End scene)

Louise Valliere was beyond angry right now. She was pissed off! Not only had she been kicked off the school grounds- and on the Day of the Void no less- but she was forbidden from returning until she had a better handling of her powers.

And to top it all off, she was now standing in front of a shop with a sign that read "Kisuke Urahara's Shop" with a kids drawing of a man with blonde hair wearing a white and green vertical striped hat. Plus, what kind of shop was this, anyway?

Still the wooden structure was two floors tall, mostly likely with a store front, with a living area behind a curtain and upstairs bedrooms. A pretty typical peasant store.

But for some reason just reading the sign and looking at the cartoonish drawing made her blood boil. In fact, it didn't help that this commoner not only bumped into her but also knew exactly what her familiar was and then left.

~Flashback~

Entering Tristain was no simple task. The gate guards almost refused to let her in, despite being a noble. It was only because she brought up her name that she was allowed in at all.

Sticking her nose in the air, she began to walk around the city, just looking for anything interesting. But the people- Noble and Peasant alike- avoided her like the plague. Guards would become more stringent and ready as if they were expecting an attack, just in case she did try to use her power, store owners lie blatantly in her face saying they are closing for the day when she walk up to them. The news of her lack of control of power had spread like a wildfire, throughout the city.

Wherever she went in the city, it was the exact same treatment everywhere. It was almost to the point where she felt like pulling out her wand and causing some explosions. But it was then, that a strange peasant wearing wooden clogs, a dark coat jacket and a striped hat bumped into her.

Now, with Louise's small stature, she actually fell over, while the man just took a step back.

"Oops, sorry about that." And continued on as if nothing had happened.

Rubbing her sore butt, Louise bolted straight up, turned around with a balled fist ready to give the insolent man a piece of her mind.

But he was gone. There was no trace of him. Hell, she couldn't even see him anymore.

Looking all around the street she couldn't see anything that remotely resembled him. But she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

It was a letter. Picking up from the ground with her left hand it said "For Louise Valliere". Louise not knowing what to do, opened up the letter began to read it:

"Dear Louise Valliere,

I know that your weapon of choice is a Zanpakuto. I know of the strange powers you possess.

I am telling you this because I know how to help refine your abilities and skills. Come to my shop, on the South East side of the city.

I'll be waiting for you.

Sincerely, Kisuke Urahara"

"What the- What is this?" Feeling more than a little creepy, Louise began sweating while her hand that was holding the letter was beginning to shake. "This like what a man would be writing to someone if they were in a mystery, horror novel when they know someone's dirty little secret."

Looking on the page again, she saw that it said "P.S. on the back". So turning it around Louise began reading again:

"P.S. If you think that this is just like a scenario in a mystery, horror novel. Then you have no sense of imagination."

Not really knowing why but not bothering to question the sensation, veins began to bulge and she crumbled the letter a look of pure anger on her face.

"I don't know who you are Kisuke Urahara, but when I get my hands on you…" Clenching her teeth together Louise began to make her way towards the South East side of the city.

~End Flashback~

Taking a steadying breath to help calm herself down she opened up the door where the entrance bell rang.

Once inside, she now understood what kind of store, it was. It was kind of a "general store". On the north wall were; various linings, cloths, candles, lamps and various toiletries, while the south wall had various tools commoners use like; wash basins, small garden tools and repair kits of various sizes to name a few things. Plus, they also had a sweet section where there were various kinds of sweets, candies and other edible products.

The west wall was where the entrance/exit was while the east wall leads to the living area of the store.

From the behind the curtain a small girl wearing a white shirt and a pink skirt with white polka dots came out.

"Hello, my name is Ururu and welcome to our store." Giving a quick bow, making her twin pigtails bob up and down as she did so. "Do you need help with something?"

Louise didn't know how to respond. Here was a shy little girl and being awfully nice. It was so cute.

"Well of course she needs help you idiot!" Then all of the sudden a boy also wearing a white shirt, but strange blue pants came out and immediately began to pull on her pigtails.

Putting her hands on her head Ururu began to cry out. "Ouch Jinta, that hurts!"

"So what if it does!" the crimson haired boy yelled back. "You need to toughen up!"

Louise had just about had enough of this. Here was a kind sweet girl, being picked on. Well, even though they were commoner's fighting between children is never allowed.

Stepping up to them Louise then placed her hands on their shoulder gaining their attention. "Now, now there's no need to fight. So, why don't you let go of her hair and-"

"Shut up you pink shrimp! You ain't the boss of me!"

"Oh," a deep voice spoke up gaining everyone's attention in the process. "Then I guess I am then."

"T-T-Te-Tessai!" Jinta immediately let go of Ururu's hair and began to back towards the door, shaking all the way.

"Jinta… It's bad for business if you're rude to our customers." The man now identified as Tessai stepped into view and the first thought that went through Louise's mind was… He's big!

Standing above six feet, Tessai was lightly tanned with a handlebar mustache with connecting sideburns. Turning his face toward Louise with his rectangular glasses glinting in the light he looked down at her. "Miss, was Jinta being rude to you?"

Not really sure how to respond, she just nodded dumbly. Taken aback by this hulk of a man wearing a white sleeveless shirt with a blue apron with a strange yellow lettering in the middle surrounded by four triangles and two striped at the bottom also the same colour.

"I see." Turning towards Jinta showing off his cornrowed hair style he began taking slow deliberate steps towards him.

Jinta now shaking like a Chihuahua opened the door, screaming "You'll never take me alive!" and booking it down the street with Tessai hot on his heels.

Louise took a few minutes to process everything before exploding in a giant ball of rage.

"What the heck is wrong with this store?! Doesn't anybody here know how to treat Nobility?!"

"Well, you see Miss Valliere, we don't usually get that many nobles here. I mean, this is just a general store."Kisuke stated with a playful tone.

Turning to face the new voice, she quickly identified him as Kisuke Urahara based off his hat. Though why he was using a fan to keep himself cool was beyond her.

"Are you Kisuke Urahara?" skepticism laced into every word.

"That I am. Now," closing the fan and looking directly at her. "Where do you want to begin?"

"You can start by telling me how exactly you know what my familiar is."

Oh boy… Kisuke knew that this was going to be fun.

(End scene)

"So you received your Zanpakuto after performing the "Summon Servant" spell, at which you began to have dreams about your Zanpakuto and inner world. Then during a duel with one of your fellow students you learned how to release your reiatsu AND control to such a degree that you were able to turn it into a makeshift beam weapon?"

"Yes."

"Well, I've never heard of a human ever performing that feat before, but then again this is my first time in Halkeginia." Opening up his fan again, he looked at the ceiling.

"Here's your tea miss." Ururu said shyly while unloading the tea from her tray, onto the table in Louise's opinion was too short. It required you to be kneeling constantly and even with a cushion underneath she still felt her legs beginning to tingle.

"Thank you, you may go." Louise dismissed Ururu before picking the tea cup that was apparently called a Igamono cup, she felt that drinking it help reduce the tingling sensation in her legs.

Ururu then held the tray close to her body, bowed and left. Leaving Kisuke and Louise alone yet again.

"So Louise, have you learned what you Zanpakuto's name is?" Closing his fan again and looking straight at Louise waiting for her answer.

Closing her eyes, Louise set down her tea cup and replied. "No, I have not."

That answer caught Kisuke off guard. "Wait a minute. You don't know what you Zanpakuto's name is, and yet you've been able to communicate without going into Jinzen, and learning all these skills from it?"

"Yes, your point?"

Thinking to himself for a few moments, Kisuke decided to do a simple test. "Louise… When you look at your Zanpakuto, what do you see?"

Turning her head to the right, where her Zanpakuto familiar was leaning against the wall, then looking back to Kisuke she knew exactly what to say with a fair amount of pride making her unconsciously puff out her chest. "My familiar."

Releasing an exasperated sigh, Kisuke began to shake his head. "And that's where the problem lies."

That made her deflate a bit. "And how exactly is that a problem?"

"Well, you see a healthy relationship between a Zanpakuto and its wielder is one of synergy, subjugation and communication.

"While you do have the subjugation down- a bit too much I might add- you also need to learn that in order to have a very strong and healthy bond with your Zanpakuto, it needs to be one of equality and understanding. By seeing it nothing more than your familiar it can't release its true power and is therefore weak." Taking a breath and re-opening up his fan, making direct eye contact, "Do you get it now Louise?"

"I think so." Putting her right index finger to chin she began to explain her interpretation of what Kisuke said. "So, if I want to have a strong bond with my Familiar-"

Kisuke narrowed his eyes at Louise but nonetheless let her continue.

"I must treat it fairly and equally, talk to it and create a strong bond, like one would if they summoned an animal?"

"Hhhmmmm," fanning himself Kisuke looked deep in thought before returning his attention to Louise. "I guess that's one way of looking at it. But Louise, just remember that your Zanpakuto would prefer to be called a 'Zanpakuto', not Familiar."

"But it's my familiar! I summoned it and therefore is nothing more than that!" Leaning forward while clenching her hands she was pretty angry.

Shaking his head once again, Kisuke stood up. "Follow me Louise, I think it's time for some training."

(End scene)

Louise was lead to a corner to a little storage room where Kisuke revealed a secret passageway to a huge underground training area. Complete with sunlight, clouds that didn't move and giant boulder's/ mini mountains galore.

"What is this place?" Looking around, Louise couldn't believe that Kisuke had something like this underneath his shop.

"This my dear Louise is my underground training arena." Pulling out his cane he continued. "And it is here that I'm going to be training you."

Kisuke then walked twenty paces away before turning around and pulling out his Zanpakuto. "Awaken… Benihime!"

All of the sudden Kisuke's Zanpakuto went from being a shikomizue- a sword concealed in a cane- to a sleek medium-sized sword with a hilt that tilts forward at the end, a crimson tassel dangling from the pummel's base.

Louise was stunned beyond belief. She couldn't believe that not only did Kisuke have a Zanpakuto but it also change its shape!

"What is that thing, and how did it change!" Louise shrieked.

"This is Benihime's Shikai state. By saying the release command, a Zanpakuto may change from their 'sealed' state and take on a more powerful form.

"But the type of weapon they will transform into depends on the wielder."

That made sense. Because instead of a tsuba, there was a u-shape guard covering the base of the blade and the blade went from being the color of steel to black with a white edge.

"So, does that mean that I-"

"Can use a release command and have your Zanpakuto change its shape/design to become more powerful?"

Louise nodded vigorously hopping that she could actually accomplish something so cool.

"No, as it stands right now you can't."

"But why not!" Now Louise was really getting frustrated. Her familiar can become something even stronger than it already is. It just wasn't fair!

"Because you don't see you're Zanpakuto as a Zanpakuto. You must stop treating it as a Familiar or tool and see it as a living being." Kisuke explained it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Louise can't you hear her… Your Zanpakuto is crying out to you. Trying to communicate with you." Kisuke got into a combat stance. "It's hurting Louise and all your doing is making it worse."

Kisuke then charged forward with blinding speeds that most Wind Mages would be hard-pressed to keep up with but Louise was somehow able to block it if just barely.

But the onslaught didn't end there. Kisuke knew from experience- mostly from an orange haired Substitute Shinigami- that sometimes you need a few lessons beat into you to make sure they stick.

And he was going to make sure Louise learned this lesson.

(End scene)

Three hours… For three long grueling hours, Louise was going through very strenuous- training. She was subjugated to a harsh, unforgiving, life threatening and unrelenting training.

All around her you could see the craters, of many of Benihime's attacks mostly consisting of Nake.

"So Louise, do you now get it." Unfurling his fan, Kisuke began walking to where a collapsed but still conscious Louise laid down in the dirt. "That when a Zanpakuto and wielder work together and understand each other they can be more powerful than by just working by themselves?"

"Yes… I will start treating my Zanpakuto with respect and equality from now on." Smoke was rising from her fallen form, where it was originating no one knew.

"That's good to hear. Now I'm going to show you Jinzen so you can start communicating with it properly."

"That sounds great and all but can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, what do you need?"

"You mind making the room stop spinning, it's making me dizzy." Louise stated with her eyes spinning in circles.

"Well we technically, have five hours left until sunset, so I guess you can-"

The sound of snoring is what alerted Kisuke that Louise was gone.

"-take a short nap."

(End scene)

Two hours later as Louise slowly began to come to, the first thing she felt were multiple pieces of cloth wrapped around her.

"Ah, so you're finally awake?"

Turning her head to her right she noticed Ururu there sitting on the floor in that kneeling style.

"Yes, thank-. "Realising that it was because of Kisuke that she was currently wrapped in bandages and being treated by a bunch of commoners made her bolt straight up. "That bastard!"

Even though Louise knew every single cuss word in the dictionary- thanks to a many social formals that her parents threw- she was forbidden to ever speak such language but in this situation she found it completely appropriate to do so.

"When I get my hands on the peasant I'm going to-!" But a huge amount of pain shooting through her abdomen quickly made her clutch her stomach and grimace.

"You should be more careful. Even though we were able to fix up most of your injuries it's still going to be quite some time before you've fully recovered." Ururu stated in her monotone voice, but it was laced with a hint of concern.

Not really knowing how to respond to that, Louise just nodded her in acknowledgement. Before the sliding door opened to which it revealed the very man she wanted to maim.

"I heard someone speaking so fondly of me that I just had to stop on by! How ya doing?" Kisuke spoke with a very light hearted tone and finished off with his signature "don't worry about it" smile.

And all he got in return for his hard work was a death glare from Louise.

"I see… Well since you're awake I'll teach you how to properly communicate with your Zanpakuto. It's pretty simple but you're going to have to wait until you get back to your dorm to perform it."

Getting into a meditative position Kisuke then placed his Zanpakuto on the floor. "Now there are three ways of doing this: The first is by stabbing your Zanpakuto into the ground in front of you then taking a lotus position. The second is by laying your Zanpakuto in front of you on the ground. The third is by laying it across your lap.

"All three work equally so it's a matter of personal preference which one you choose to take… Are you with me so far?"

"Yea, but how do I actually communicate with it?" Louise spoke with a hint of questioning. She didn't understand how by taking a meditative pose, you could talk with your Zanpakuto.

"I'm getting to that." Waving his hand in front of him. "Now, once you do this you must focus inwardly. You need to lose focus on all the surroundings and then you enter a state of self-hypnosis where you will be completely oblivious to the world around you… It will make more sense when you try it out for yourself."

"Alright, alright. That will be the first thing I do when I get back to the academy."

"Ah, one more thing." Louise started to get up but Kisuke stopped her before she got to the sliding door. "You're going to need this."

Handing her a box Louise expected to explode but when it seemed harmless enough she opened it to reveal…

"An eye-patch?" Louise felt something rise within her. She didn't know why but for whatever reason she felt like this should piss her off! "What the hell do I need an eye-patch for?! I have two eyes you stupid commoner!"

Kisuke felt his whole world shatter in that instant if you couldn't tell from his shell shocked face. "That's no ordinary eye-patch…"

"What- Then what is it!?"

"It's a… Super Reiatsu Limiter Blocker Controller!" Kisuke screamed to the world, while clenching his left first while he was pointing with his right index finger, at the eye-patch.

He got the idea from a mad scientist but little did he know that he was able to improve the original design.

"Patent pending."

That caught Louise's attention. Eyebrows furrowed, her eyes locked on the eye-patch then back onto Kisuke. "You mean to tell me that this will help control my reiatsu?"

"Yes. While we were training, I couldn't believe how much reiatsu you were giving off. It was astounding. I mean I couldn't believe it!

"So in order to help limit the amount you give off, I created this super reiatsu limiter blocker controller. It will work as soon as you put it on. It will cut how much you can exert by half. But as soon as the eye-patch comes off, you will have access to all of your reiatsu… You got that?"

"That makes sense I guess." Pulling out the eye-patch Louise looking it over. It wasn't anything too special, just a light-crimson square eye-patch with three straps. One that connected from the top left corner to the bottom right corner, and two that wrapped around her head horizontally. "So which eye is it supposed to cover?"

"It can go over either one. You just have to flip it for which one you want covered."

Nodding her head in understanding, Louise brought up the patch to her right eye, but as soon as it touched, the straps seemingly came to life and wrapped themselves around her head.

"Wh-what just happened?" A very surprised and confused Louise couldn't help but ask.

"Well you see, all you had to do was press the patch up to the desired eye and then the device does the rest, by automatically adjusting your head's size and shape. Meaning if you want to take it off, you just have to pull on it and you want to put it back on, you just press it up to your eye."

"Well, thank you commoner for all your help, but I must get going."

"Alright, be safe and if you ever need anything stop on by. The door is always."

(End scene)

The sun was beginning its slow descent on the horizon, signalling that Louise was now allowed back on campus. Though that was off little comfort.

"Damn that commoner! Why did he have to injure me so much!?" Though the ride back was really painful. She barely recovered enough but she had to get back somehow.

Sighing to herself, she couldn't believe that because of the way she was treating her zanpakuto, that she was hurting her. Cocking her head too look at the weapon strapped to her back, she didn't understand why she was acting like that. If the middle-aged woman wanted to be treated better why didn't she say so? It made no sense!

Louise was caught up in her musings that she didn't notice that her horse stopped right in the middle of the road.

"What is it girl?"

*Thud*

Turning around Louise couldn't believe what she was seeing. It had a white mask reminiscent of a dragon's snout with green wings on its back, two tails each covered with a bone like structure at the end and four legs that looked like a spiders. Plus it had an honest to Brimir, hole in its chest!

Another thud brought her attention what was in front of her. It also had a white mask but it was shaped more like toads or a frogs head with no tail or wings but and was also green but it had no legs and looked like a giant snake.

Letting out a high-pitched neigh, the horse that Louise was riding on, reared up and knocked her off before dashing off in some random direction to get away from these monsters.

Louise just a little dazed from her unexpected fall, looked around for her wand but was unable to grab it because, as the monster with spider legs grabbed her and lifted her up to "eye level" even though there was no definitive eye slots.

*rrrrrroooooaaaaaarrrrr*

Letting out a huge roar right in her face made Louise freeze up. This was it. She would die. There was nothing for it. Mother, Eleanor, Cattleya… I'm sorry.

*Shhlrup*

The sound of metal cutting flesh was clearly heard by all, as Louise was falling back to the ground. The monster lost it two front legs and now only had its back legs.

*rrrooooaaarrr*

Releasing another roar, the monster then had its mask cracked and then disappeared into dust. With the other monster quickly following its fate.

Louise looked around for her savior but saw no one. So instead of wasting time looking she picked up her naginata and wand, slowly making her way towards the academy.

"You shouldn't freeze up when facing such weak hollows." A voice, feminine but far away was speaking to her.

Looking around she couldn't see anyone but she decided to voice her thanks anyway. "Thank you for your help. What is your name?"

"That's not important. What is important however is getting stronger and building up your bond with your zanpakuto. That's all you need to know for now… also here is your horse."

Louise then felt the snout of the horse nudging her back. Turning around she began to pet the neck of the animal before mounting it again and began to head back to the academy. Completely unaware of a woman watching from the treeline.

"Louise…"

(Omake)

The Book of Mages, Chapter 4

"Hello and my name is Siesta!" Picking up a piece of chalk Siesta then wrote her name on the board. "And today we're going to talk about the difference between a Noble and a Commoner."

"As most of you should probably know a commoner or peasant is unable to use magic, while people who can use magic are Nobles. Commoners are subservient to the Nobility."

"Hey, maid come here and give me some cake."

"Coming right away Miss Montmorency!" picking up a plate with a piece of cheesecake she ran over to where Montmorency was conveniently sitting just a couple of feet away.

"Here you go!" Siesta smiled happily.

"It's about time. Now leave, and go bring me back some tea." Montmorency commanded with a frown on her face.

"You know… It's considered to be unwise to make the servants angry."

"Oh, and why is that commoner?" Now Montmorency was intrigued. What could a commoner do a noble?

"Well… You never might now when we might decide to add a little extra… 'Something' to your food." Siesta's eyes darkened and she had a smile that practically screamed scary and suspicious.

Montmorency began to shake a little. "J-j-just what do you mean by that!?"

"Try the cake… I dare you." Siesta calmly stated with that same smile in place.

Getting the hint, Montmorency immediately began to apologise for being rude earlier and swore that she would never do such a thing again.

Siesta turned her back to Montmorency and began chuckling to herself. "Works every time."

A/N: Well things are getting very interesting for Louise. She'll actually try and form a healthy relationship with her Zanpakuto, a mysterious woman saves her, and best of all the Familiar Exhibition is around the corner!

As always, please, review, favorite and follow!

Until next time!