-Next Day-

Ichigo was a bit chippier today. It was strange, but it was fine by me.

Seiryoku was on patrol.

After my dad left to head to the school early, as usual, I asked Seiryoku about training me. I had to beg, but I'll be getting what I want.

"Who's your opponent's at the kendo match, Seishou-chan?" Mizuiro asked me.

I shrugged. "I don't give a damn who, just that I get to show my skills to those who oppose me." I answered.

Mizuiro laughed and I saw Ichigo smile. It made me smile.

Has Coach Kotsu given into you getting a katana?" Ichigo asked.

I sighed, "Nah. Not yet. I'll be saving up for one, though. Something came up so I need one by the next two days."

Keigo looked dumbfounded, "Why?"

I smirked, "Not tellin'."

Mizuiro laughed when Keigo moaned about not being informed about his friends.

"Had any fights yesterday?" Mizuiro asked.

I sighed again, "No... Unless you count verbally. I met a guy and it was kind of downhill from there."

Keigo gave me a teasing look, "Has the tomboy become smitten?"

I put my fist to his face, "Wanna try saying that again, Keigo-bozu?"

He looked horrified and back away, far away. "Noo! Spare me!" He pleaded.

"Your fault, Keigo." Ichigo said.

I nodded in agreement, "Yup. He should know better, especially because of his sister. Shit, even I'm scared at times. But that's only when she's going ga-ga over the bald."

They all laughed and I just smiled. Happy to see Ichigo laugh.

It's a curse... I've become the way I am because of him... So we could be closer... I've made friends because of him, too. Mizuiro, Keigo, Chad, and his family. I guess it's my fault because I chose that specific house to live in. By a clinic so if I got hurt or something, I would be fine because medical help was next door. But... Ugh... I'm so used to being a tomboy, this is becoming embarrassing...

I sighed, with relief, and started gathering my bento boxes. I ate a lot.

-After School-

"Sotona High School versus Karakura First District!" The referee announced.

I smirked, I was last. I got to have some entertainment.

Maybe Ichigo will come... I really hope so...

Two of my teammates aleady went up, one lost and one won.

Only three matches to go, I was last.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Focus... Focus, Seishou... You will win... Just think of being stronger...

I felt pumped now and grinned wickedly over to my opponent who sat traditionally by his teammates. He was watching the matches.

I saw a black hole forming about 10 feet in front of me and started grininding my teeth.

Dammit... Another?!

"Nara-san, tell Coach Kotsu something came up if he asks where I'm going." I said and got up and started heading towards the door that led outside.

I heard the wail of a Hollow, like yesterday.

Now that I think about it, the one yesterday said my reiatsu was delicious or whatever.. so this one might be after me, too. Everyone will be in danger if I stick around.

I left the gym doors open, hearing gasps of everyone surprised I was running away. I could also hear the stomping of my new enemy, or stalker. Give or take.

I have to find Seiryoku... I don't have anything to kick this Hollow's ass.

I took a quick look back to see that it was a Hollow, obviously, but it looked like a giant worm with a mask as a face.

Gross...

I looked back in front of me to see the running track. No one was around.

I stopped in the center of the field and turned around to face the Hollow.

"C'mon, Siryuki-bozu! Need a little help here!" I yelled.

"It's Seiryoku!" Seiryoku's voice snapped.

He appeared in front of me, his katana ready.

The Hollow came closer, wailing.

"Whatever! Just kill the damn thing!" I commanded.

He seemed a bit tweaked, but jumped forward and swiftly swung his katana to the Hollow's head. It's mask shattered, then the Hollow wailed while being materialzed adn then was out of sight.

Seiryoku landed safely, which was expectable.

He turned a quarter way to me, "You just attract trouble, don't you? Two Hollow's two days straight. I don't know whether to be confused or suspicious."

I shrugged, "I dunno. Hollows' just have a thing for me, I guess."

He groaned and was about to jump away, like the first time.

"Whoa! Wait, can't you stay for like ten minutes?" I asked.

He looked at me oddly. "Why?"

"I want you to watch me during my kendo match, so you can see what I'm doing wrong. I mean, I'm practically a professional since my dad's the coach and everything, but I want to be the best. I told you the story this morning. So, please?" I asked.

He grunted, "God, you're a pain."

-Few Moments Later-

Now it was my turn.

I was our team's last hope to win. If I won, we won. If he won, they won.

I was in position; squatting with my shinai held out in front of me.

Seiryoku was in a gigai; a human boy rather than his spirit body. He was in the front row to get the best view he could.

And, the most exciting part, Ichigo just got here. He's in the corner of the gym.

I focused on my match now, waiting for orders from the referee's word.

"Ready... Begin!" He announced.

I stood up straight, my shinai still in the same position.

My opponent made the first move, about to strike me first.

I moved my shinai horizontally, to block his attack.

I made a swift movement back, and before he noticed, I striked his left side.

The referee raised the white flag, the color of my team.

"Karakura First district has won the match!" He announced.

I stepped back, putting my arms to my sides and bowed, just as my opponent did.

I stood straight up and rushed to Seiryoku, avoiding my team.

"Siryuki-bozu, I want you to meet a friend real quick. you can tell me how I did later on." I said, snatching his wrist and rushing over to where Ichigo was.

"Oi! Oi! Let go!" Seiryoku demanded.

I stopped a few feet from Ichigo and let go of Seiryoku.

"You made it!" I said excitedly.

Ichigo was staring at Seiryoku with deep intensity, just like Seiryoku was.

I can tell they sense eachother's... What was it again? Reitsua! Yeah. I was hoping for this reaction.

I smiled, "Ichigo, this is my cousin, Siryuki-bozu. He'll be in town for a month."

Seiryoku looked tweaked again. "Seiryoku..." He corrected.

Ichigo looked to me, "Listen, I have to get back to what I'm doing, 'kay? Later." He said and walked off.

I felt a bit hurt.

I sighed, smiling. Though it was fake.

I looked up to Seiryoku, "Anyways... You can go back to patrolling... I have to change... And my dad might see you in your gigai if he hasn't already..."

I walked off, leaving Seiryoku where I left him.

-Two Days Later-

There hasn't been any Hollows' popping up since the incident at the match the other day, so Seiryoku was with me, helping me pick out a katana at the blackmarket.

Obviously, he was in his gigai. I let him wear one of m band t-shirts and baggy cargo pants, the pants matched his hair.

Dad thought he was still on patrol. They still didn't get along well, in a way.

Seiryoku has been teaching me hand-to-hand combat, shinigami style. He also taught me how to suppress my reiatsu so I wouldn't attract Hollow's anymore.

He said it was admirable that I learned how to suppress it so well within one day and that I landed three out of 20 blows on his with hand-to-hand combat.

"What about this one? It's fair weight and length." I said.

Seiryoku took the katana from my hands and unsheathed it to inspect it, then glanced at me, then sheathed it again. "No, not compatible."

He sighed. "This'd be easier if these were zanpakutō. You could just use the old fashioned method."

I snatched the katana away from him and put it back on the shelf. "Stop your complaining. This isn't Soul Society, Siryuki-bozu."

He huffed, "Why do you keep calling me that?"

I shrugged, "It's better than saying you're strong. I'm not the kind of person to call someone by their real name is it doesn't fit them, unless I know them very well. Your name doesn't fit you and I don't know much about you, so I gave you a nickname as a replacement."

He gritted his teeth a bit, "You're saying I'm not strong? You're the one that came to me for training!"

I shrugged, "But I don't know how strong you really are since I don't know you well."

"Whatever. Let's just get on with this." He said.

I narrowed my eye lids, giving him a suspicious look. "Why do you want to rush so badly? Isn't finding a good katana something that takes time?" I asked.

He frowned, "It's annoying to be around you." He stated.

I gave him the death look, "Wanna say that again, dickwad?" I challenged.

He narrowed his eyes, "You're annoying." He repeated.

I stuck out my tongue at him childishly. "When I get my katana, I'm gonna slice your ass up. Best be on your guard, bucko."

I looked around and saw a katana that looked decent. I went over to it and picked it up.

It was basically black with a bit of blue on the hilt.

I turned to Seiryoku and handed it to him. "This one seems suitable. It gives me a nice vibe about it, y'know?"

He nodded, "It does seem compatible to you... Somehow, it reminds me of a zanpakutō. It gives off an aura like one. You should get this one."

I grinned a bit and took it back from him. I looked to see what the price was on the tag, but it didn't even have a tag.

"Huh. No tag. I'll go ask and then check out, 'kay? You can stay here and look around, I guess."

I went over to the counter and placed the katana on it and pointed to it. "Can I get a price on this? It doesn't have a tag." I told the employee.

He looked confused, "Um, miss, do you happen to be psycho? There isn't anything right there." He said.

I blinked a couple times in confusement. I picked up the katana and held it up vertically and pointed to it. "This. This here. No tag." I confirmed.

"That's your hand, miss. Do you need me to call your house to take you home?" He asked.

I sighed with frustration, "No, I'll just be on my way, then."

I turned back around and stomped off towards the door. Seiryoku groaned and followed me out the door.

"You didn't pay?" He asked.

I gripped the katana while we walked on the sidewalk. "He couldn't fucking see it! There wasn't a way to find out it's price or anything. So here it is, in my hands."

"If that's the case, somehow, it might be a zanpakutō. Is there a flat land place where no one goes or could see us?" He asked.

"Yeah. It's a bit far, though." I answered.

He smirked and then bent down and scooped me up.

I blushed and glared at him, "What the hell?! We're in public!" I yelled.

"You say it's far, so this is a quick way to get there. Which way?" He asked.

I looked away, still blushing, "South east..."

-Ten Minutes Later-

He let go and I fell flat on my back.

I quickly sat up, arching my back and gripping my new katana tightly with both hands. "Fucker..." I grumbled.

"Release your reiatsu." He ordered.

I stood up and poked his chest with the tip of the sheath of the katana. "Did you just tell me what to do, Siryuki-bozu?"

"You want to see if it's really a zanpakutō or not, right?" He said.

I put the katana down, "Yeah... But I don't like being told what to do."

I went ahead and strapped the katana and its sheath to my left hip. "But I'll go ahead and release it. How much do you want me to release?" I asked.

"Enough to attract a Hollow, like at your kendo match." He said.

I nodded and closed my eyes.

Reiatsu release..

I could feel the power draining out. This may be too much.

"Suppress it now. That should be enough." He said.

I suppressed it for the most part and then opened my eyes. I felt reiatsu forming behind me and I turned around and placed my hand on the handle of my katana.

"Do you understand what I want you to do?" He asked.

I nodded, seeing a black hole form. "It's obvious. Coming to an unpopulated place, asking me to release my reiatsu to attract a Hollow, and you not ridding your gigai. You do know that this is a risk, right?" I said, my expression blank.

"Yes, but you're a big girl." He said. I heard a smile in his voice.

I smirked, "That's right."

The wail of a Hollow filled my ears and it came in view, leaving it's door to home, where it would be safe from me.

It was on it's fours with sagging purple skin, though it's bone straucture was easy to see. It had a tail like a bony, bald cat. Its mask had three horns, one on eah side of its eye holes and one in between. It didn't have paws, it had white hooves.

"It's one ugly bastard, isn't it?" I mumbled.

I gracefully unsheathed my katana.

It felt so different rather than a shinai or a katana at all. I actually felt like I was one with it automatically.

I kicked my feet off of the ground and found my way towards the mask of the Hollow, where my target was.

In the corner of my eyes I saw its bony tail swinging towards me. I felt irritated by it already.

I prepared my katana and then struck its tail, cutting its end off.

I didn't have time to struck the mask, I was too close now.

I ended up kicking its mask and making a back flip and landed about ten feet aay from it.

It cried out in pain, swinging its tail around recklessly.

"Geez, I didn't think it would use its tail, it looks so weak! Does it even have muscles?" I stated.

"Don't be fooled by appearances. Hollows are all spirit particles, basically. They don't need muscle power. But it doesn't seem all that intelligent to know your movements, for the most part. I'm surprised it did that, too, rather than open its mouth to try to devour you." Seiryoku said.

I huffed, "Back when I found you at the park and you blocked my kick... Didn't you say I drained your reiatsu?" I asked.

The Hollow was still howling in pain, not paying attention to me at all.

"Yes. It somewhat reminds me of what I hear about the Quincy." He said.

I nodded, "That's all I need to know. Hope you don't mind if I experiment real quick."

I start running, holding my katana with only my right hand, I would need my left hand for something else.

The Hollow noticed I was coming and roared, only it sounded like it's wail.

I jumped and landed on its back, it tried to buck me off and hit me with its tail, at the same time.

I placed my left hand on its skin.

Maybe I can drain its reiatsu, too... Make it weak.

The Hollow started wailing. This time, it was in pain.

Collapse, damn it!

I felt stronger by the second, feeling its reiatsu flow into me.

I forced myself to speed it up a bit, but then immediately retracted.

I can't drain anymore... I took too much at once...

I felt it shaking a bit beneath me and jumped off when it collapsed to the ground.

I landed right by its head and then raised my katana, and, with one swift move, slashed its mask.

It spewed blood and then started disintegrating, like the one at the kendo match.

I sighed and turned to face Seiryoku, "Analysis?"

He looked like he was deep in thought, but then came back to reality. "It's definitely a zanpakutō, but it's become confused." He said.

I gave him a curious look. "How can a katana be confused?" I asked.

"At first, it was happy to be with you, but then when you cut off the Hollow's tail, it became confused. It doesn't know if you're it's former wielder or not." He said.

"I don't follow. It had a former owner, then? Why would that person leave it? Did they pruposely leave it at the shop?" I questioned.

"Let's go back to the house. I need to talk to your father. He seems to come to mind."

-Next Day-

I haven't heard anything about the katana I got yesterday. Father told me to stay the night at the clinic since it's the weekend.

Seiryoku has my katana right now, unless he showed it to dad, then it's bound to be in his posession.

Right now I was helping Yuzu make breakfast.

"Thanks again for helping, Seishou-chan." Yuzu thanked me.

I smiled, "No prob. It's the least I can do. You do too much around the house."

We finished up and I went ahead and told the other three that it as ready.

Yuzu had already set the table and we all sat down and said our "itadakimasu" and began eating.

"So did your dad force you to come over?" Karin asked.

Yeah, bring that up.

I shook my head, "No, I came willingly of course. It's been awhile since I've stayed the night! I kinda missed it." I said.

"It's been nearly two years since you stayed the night, when we were 13." Ichigo pointed out.

I smiled, "Exactly! We aren't kids anymore so it was natural we stopped that tradition, but I want to start it up again. I really did miss it."

Ichigo lazily put his fist on his cheek and his elbow on the table, "Are you ill? Maybe that's he real reason you're here. You have been acting a bit weird lately. you haven't even gone out looking for fights."

That's right. I haven't.

"I'm healthy as a clam! what'll make you believe me?" I asked.

Isshin got up and slammed his hands on he table, "Ichigo! Don't question Seishou-chan! I thought she was your dearly beloved friend?! I'm ashamed!"

Isshin was on his knees beside me now, my right hand in his hands. "Please excuse my son for his rudeness... He's in that stage when he is rebellious of others truths. He's just worried about you..." He said all too dramatically.

I smiled with an anime drop, "It's fine... Really."

He smiled and went back to his seat.

But I was telling the truth about missing staying the night. It's really fun here.

-Later-

Ichigo and I were walking around town together. He wanted to introduce me to a soul he recently met.

He told me about the soul. It was a young girl who was hit by a car.

We were bringing a small glass vase with two flowers in it to her.

Seiryoku can let her rest in piece when I tell him about her.[/i

"Seishou, can I ask you something?" Ichigo asked, looking ahead of us.

I noded, "You don't have to ask to ask a question to me." I pointed out bluntly.

"Have you noticed anything weird about your cousin?" He asked.

"Hm. Green hair?"

He shook his head. "No. His aura. It's... Strong. Very strong."

I was silent for a moment. "Yes. Yes I have." I said formally.

Is he going to ask unneeded questions now or keep it at that? It's so hard to tell anymore.

"Is he staying at your house?" He asked.

More questions... But atleast they're normal ones.

I nodded, "Yup. Dad's making him sleep in he dojo, though."

"How old is he, then?"

I shrugged, "I'm not all that sure. I was thinking early twenties or late teens. But then again, it's hard to tell with guys. You look like you're twenty, but you're 15."

He smiled, "Thanks for the compliment."

I frowned, "What? That's all? No compliment for me?"

He blinked a couple times, then laughed. "You look like you're age, you should be happy about that, yankee."

I narrowed my eye brows. "That's a blow in a gut."

He looked up ahead and then waved.

I looked and saw a young girl with a chain attached to her chest.

I was too into talking to Ichigo, I didn't notice her.

I smiled to her and we stopped by her.

"Hello." she greeted to Ichigo.

She looked to me, then to Ichigo. "Can she see me, too?"

He noded, "Yeah. This is my friend, Seishou."

She smiled to me and bowed, "I'm Kimi. It's a pleasure to meet you, Seishou-san."

I bowed in return. "Same here."

Ichigo set the vase by the pole, out of he way of passing cars.

Kimi saw and smiled cheerfully. "They're so pretty! I'm very thankful to you. The both of you."

"No need to thank us! We're givers." I said.

Ichigo stood up straight. "Sorry, Kimi, but we have to go. My dad asked us to get some groceries." Ichigo said, which was true.

I waved bye to Kimi, "Sorry we're leaving so early. I really wanted to get to know you." I said.

She said bye to the both of us and we were on our way now.

"Why are you so normal around souls?" Ichigo asked.

I shrugged, "I dunno. Guess I feel bad for them. Being dead and all."

He smiled and I smiled back at him.

I really missed this.