Authors note: Wow I am so happy at how many fave's I have gotten Thank you everyone who is reading, I am starting to weave the rest of the story now so you might want to pay attention to what might seem like small things. This chapter is named for the new character that is introduced I really couldn't think of a better title -laughs-

Chapter Seven

Decay

A Shadow walked through the gates of the Seireitei. The only thing visible from the smoke and smog that surrounded him was a large Scythe. As he walked anyone who came in contact with his misty cover seemed to freeze. Around him floated smaller Sickles that seemed to hang heavy in the air. He walked down the streets of the compound a cloak covering his face.

---

A man Burst into Kurosaki's office. He looked white with fear as he pushed into the room. Ichigo looked up from his desk.

"s-sir... Someone has entered the Seireitei!" he said huffing from his run from the outer walls to the inner area where the leader's office was. Ichigo stood up slowly and looked at him.

"How?" he asked darkly his eyes narrowed.

"He defeated the gate guard on the north entrance...He seems to be stunning anyone who come near him with some sort of mist..." Ichigo looked at him then sat back down. He went back to his work as if nothing had happened.

"S-s-sir?" the man stuttered. Ichigo sighed and looked at him slightly.

"Listen...He's an old friend...so to speak...just don't bother him he's coming to see me no doubt" Ichigo said calmly as he went back to the paper in front of him reading it. Ichigo had to wonder why he wanted to be here. The being in question kept away from the soul reapers normally he was one of them but an outcast, someone who worked of his own accord. Ichigo had met him when he was still a captain. They had become friends of sorts because of one common thread.

"...Kurosaki-san...w-why...is he here?"the man asked Ichigo looked up from his work again

"I don't know...but he'll tell me more then likely when he gets here..."Ichigo said leaning slightly on his desk. "now...If you can leave me to my work...I have a lot to catch up I'm afraid if I don't Rukia will have my skin" he laughed lightly. The Shigami nodded slowly then left. On his way out the cloud of smoke passed him as the being walked past towards Ichigo's office. The door to Ichigo's office opened again this time smoke preceded it as it poured through the cracks. Ichigo looked up again from his work and then frowned at the being who entered. All he could really see was a large scythe. Slowly the smoky fog seemed to swirl around the room.

"...I would appreciate it if next time you warn me you are going to show up..." Ichigo said lightly to him.

"I apologize..." a young male voice said from the fog. " I had to warn you..." his voice was nothing more then a whisper.

"The darkness is building among the hollows..." He said Cryptically. Ichigo frowned and leaded back in his chair.

"Does this have anything to do with our old friend keran?" Ichigo asked raising an eyebrow. The figure seemed to move furtively with in the confines of his Smokey realm.

"That bitch is not my friend..." slowly the smoke started to seethe and boil the scythes blade split in two and the misty smog seemed to be sucked with-in the handle of the weapon. The being that stood before his looked to be only nine years of age or less his body was clothed in soul reaper attire even though he was not technically one of them. And he also wore a black hooded cloak under it. His skin almost looked like it was coming off his face. There where already placed where all that could be seen was bone. "Do I have to remind you she did this to me!" he growled. Ichigo smirked and shook his head.

"Yes yes...I know" he laughed.

"It's not funny!" the boy growled. "Anyways...I just came here to warn you...I am going" he glowered at Ichigo.

"Wait...Stay I wanna talk to you for a bit..." Ichigo held his hand up to the boy.

---

Raika was lost in her dreams, she wondered a blank and bleak landscape her feet pounding slowly on the ground. As she walked she felt like something was following her watching her with cold eyes. She shivered as she continued to walk quickening her pace now. She then heard it first a soft whisper on the air as something materialized in front of her. The whisper got louder as the thing pulled itself together from dust.

"Sa..m..na.e" she heard only bits of the words as if the air was snatching it from her ears.

"Who are you?" she asked the figure pulling together before her suddenly it snapped into form of a black decaying fairy. Its lips moved wordlessly then as if the sound had been un-muted she heard its words again.

"Say my name!" it called at her its eyes cold and hard.

"Y-you...again..." she said her eyes wide. The creature walked towards her menacingly.

"SAY MY NAME!" It screamed at her with a voice that was not of this world.

"NO!" Raika yelled back as she backed away from it. Suddenly her back hit a wall. She looked back it hadn't of been there before.

"SAY IT!!!! SAY MY NAME!!! SAY IT!!!" the creature was now face to face with her. The fairy grabbed her by the shoulders and she felt her body shaken violently. "CALL MY NAME!" the creature continued to yowl. Raika felt like her life was in grave danger as she felt her head pound onto the wall she could feel blood trickle down the back of her neck. Tears started to well up from the pain of her head continuing to hit the hard surface.

"SAY MY NAME!!!" the creature was still wailing at her. Raika couldn't quite remember the name she had said before.

"W-why are you doing this" she cried out as she felt like her consciousness was slipping away. What happened to you if you died in your sleep. Would you cease to exist. She wanted to live she didn't want to die.

"K-ko-k-kkai-jin-j-ji" she called out as best she could. She felt herself slipping away. Then suddenly she woke up on her mat there where tears in her eyes and she reached up to the back of her head as if expecting to find the wound there, but there was nothing. She curled up into a ball leaning against the wall in her room. Her heart was still beating a mile a minute. What was those dreams about that was the second one she had had.

"Kokkaijinji..." she whispered under her breath. She then stood up and changed into her Shigami robes before slipping her two swords into her sash and disappearing through her door.