AN: I'm posting this so soon because I think the prologue is a little slow, so I just wanted to add a bit more to the story. Please read and let me know how it is.

Chapter 1: Darkness Rising

It had been three months since Amaterasu had met Kohaku, and it had been the most fun she had had in many years. She walked down the road, looking at the shops in the market, with Kohaku next to her.

"What should we do after we pick up some food?" Amaterasu asked, turning to Kohaku. He just shrugged.

"Well, you sure are a lot of help," she mumbled. Kohaku laughed, and turned to look into her brilliant green eyes.

"That's what I'm here for," he said sarcastically, causing her to smile.

She hit him lightly on the arm and turned to look around for a fish monger. Kohaku watched as her long, brown hair twirled, wrapping around her shoulder. She walked over to a man who was selling vegetables. He followed her, coming up next to her. She handed him a basket full of the produce, and paid the man, then went off to the next vendor.

"She is quite beautiful," the man said to Kohaku, who was still watching Amaterasu.

Kohaku blushed slightly. He had never really thought about it, but as he watched her, he had to admit that she was. She was slim, and delicate, and her skin was slightly tanned. Her silky brown hair fell down to the middle of her back, and seamed to glow in the sunlight. Her face was kind and perfectly structured, and her eyes were the deepest emerald. When she smiled, it seemed to light up the whole room, and everybody in it. She just seemed to radiate warmth from every part of her being.

"Hey, Kohaku, are you coming, or are you just going to stand there and stare?" Amaterasu giggled. Kohaku blushed and looked away, following her back to the house.

"So, did you decide what you wanted to do?" Amaterasu asked once they sat down.

"No, was I supposed to?" he asked, scratching the back of his head. Amaterasu sighed.

"Duh. What am I going to do with you?" she shook her head.

"I don't know, you put up with me so far." Amaterasu laughed.

"That is true."

They sat in silence for a while, content to just sip their tea. Kohaku looked out of the window, watching as kids ran by playing tag.

"Well, I guess we could go for a walk, it is a nice day," he said, looking back over at Amaterasu. She smiled and nodded, standing up.

"Okay, let's go!" she grabbed his wrist and pulled him up, dragging him out the door.

"Hey, where are we going in such a hurry?" Kohaku asked, still being dragged along.

"You'll see!"

"Why don't you just tell me?" he whined.

"Don't you sound mature," she laughed, ignoring his question. Kohaku sighed.

"So I guess I have to wait now, don't I?"

"I guess so."

They stopped in a small clearing in the forest, and Kohaku looked around. Around the clearing were several flowering bushes and the grass was a lively green. Off to the right of the clearing there was a small creek that murmured a soft melody as it ran over the rocks. Cherry blossom petals floated down from the trees as a gentle wind blew through the clearing. It was probably the most beautiful place Kohaku had ever seen. Not that I remember where else I've been.

"This place is amazing," he said, looking around in wonder.

"I used to come here all the time, but then I just stopped coming one day, and haven't been back since," she sighed, sitting down in the grass.

"Why did you stop coming?"

"Well, I used to come here with my friend, but then she left to become a soul reaper, and ended up dying when the Dangai swallowed her patrol. Since then, I haven't been able to bring myself here."

"Then why bring me here?"

"Because…now I have someone else to share it with," she said, looking away as she tried to hide the small blush that came up on her face.

Kohaku sat down next to her, then laid back and looked at the sky. The light blue was only interrupted by a few small, white clouds. He looked over when Amaterasu laid down too.

"You were right, it is a nice day," she said softly.

"What you didn't believe me?"

"Hmm, and if I didn't?" she asked smiling over at him.

"Then I find your lack of faith in me disturbing, and might just have to ignore you for a few days."

"Oh, that wouldn't be so bad, then I wouldn't have to worry about you saying anything stupid." She smiled at him with a fake sweetness, making Kohaku laugh.

"Well, there goes my idea."

"You should know that your ideas are never going to be as good as mine."

Kohaku just laughed and looked back at the sky. He began slowly closing his eyes, but a noise roused him from his dozing. He and Amaterasu both sat up at the same time. They looked around, but didn't hear or see anything.

"What was that?" Amaterasu asked, moving closer to Kohaku.

"I'm not sure, but maybe we should leave." Amaterasu nodded, and they stood, still watching for anything.

As they began to leave the clearing, they heard the sound again. They spun around, only to come face to face with a hollow. It was small, with a body like a lizard. Its white mask had two red spots under its right eye, and its eyes were an evil red. It looked at them for a second, then jumped at them. They jumped out of the way, but the hollow managed to land a hit on Amaterasu's leg.

"Amaterasu!" Kohaku yelled, running over to her. Her leg was bleeding from a gash across her calf, and she was grimacing in pain. I have to get her out of here. He started to pick her up, but she grabbed his arm.

"Look out," she managed to say.

Kohaku looked up and saw that the hollow was slowly coming toward them, it's front leg covered in blood; Amaterasu's blood. Kohaku felt anger welling up inside him, and his mind went blank except for one thought. I. Will. Kill. You! He lost all senses and stood up, facing the hollow.

Amaterasu looked up at Kohaku's face and gasped. His eyes were slowly turning black, and the usual amber was replaced by yellow irises. She moved away from him a little, not able to take her eyes off of him.

"K-Kohaku?"

He looked at her, and a sadistic grin crossed his face she noticed that there was a small amount of white flakes gathering on the left side of his face, forming what looked like some kind of mask.

"Kohaku? Is that what the King goes by now? Well, I guess he didn't remember anything then," he said. His voice was mocking, and it sounded as if it was layered in with another, more sinister voice.

"K-King? W-what are you talking about?"

"You must be the one who's going to take the queen's place. I must say, King has good taste."

"Who are you?"

"Who am I? I have no name!" he laughed, turning back toward the hollow, which had backed off due to the rise in reiatsu coming off of Kohaku. "Don't worry, I'll give the King back once I'm done. I can't have him dying though, can I?"

Kohaku raised his hand, shooting a blast of black energy toward the hollow, slicing off one of its legs. It let out a pained howl, turning back toward Kohaku.

"King, you really are pathetic! You couldn't even protect this girl from a weak hollow like this? I can't belie— wha-stop! What are you doing? You won't be able to protect her without me!" Kohaku began holding his face, struggling against some unknown force. When he spoke again, his voice was back to normal. "I. Don't. Need. You. Get out of my head!" He fell to his knees, and his hands fell to his sides, the white mask had shattered and his eyes had returned to normal. Kohaku looked over at Amaterasu.

"A-are you okay?" he asked, not meeting her eyes.

"Y-yes. Kohaku, what was that?"

"I'm not sure," he said, looking back at the hollow. It was recovering from the shock of what had just happened, and was moving in on them. As the hollow neared them, there was a flash of black, and the hollow was split in half, disintegrating with a howl.

Kohaku and Amaterasu looked at what had taken the hollows place. It was a girl about the same height as Amaterasu. She wore a shihakusho and had a red belt tied around her waist. In her hand she held a zanpakuto, which she held tightly, yet gracefully. Her hair was tied up in a pony tail by a ribbon, and was so black that it seemed to shine a purple hue. When she turned around, her eyes were the color of fall leaves.

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

"Amaterasu is," Kohaku said, walking over to where Amaterasu was laying.

The girl walked over and examined the gash, then held out her hand, and a blue-green glow surrounded the wound. They watched as the wound slowly healed and closed completely. Amaterasu smiled up at the girl.

"Thank you," she said. Then she looked at Kohaku. "Are you alright?"

Kohaku looked away, unable to meet her eyes. ""I think so. I-I'm sorry Amaterasu. I don't know what that was. I just lost control of my body. I didn't mean to scare you."

Amaterasu reached out and touch his hand. "It's fine, as long as you're alright." Kohaku turned red slightly, then looked at the girl that was listening in on their conversation.

"Thank you for saving us, soul reaper."

"You said you lost control of your body. Are you where that strange reiatsu came from?" she asked.

"Um, I'm not really sure, why?"

"I've never felt anything like it. What's your name?"

"Kohaku. Yours?"

"I'm Senna, fourth seat of Division 13."

AN: Yes, Senna is back (with no memories). I'm sorry to those of you who don't like Senna, but I kinda needed her so this story would work. As always, please R&R, and don't be afraid to be honest if it's bad. Arigatou!