Shizuka traced her finger along her desk, sitting down in front of it and pulling out her notebook. She kept her held held high when her other hand tightened on a pen.

She knew she couldn't just leave, but she couldn't say good-bye either. She would see them again someday...right?

So, she began...

Dear Okasan, Otosan and Akai-kun,

I'm sorry, but I have to go away for a while. I won't make this long because I don't have much time. Don't worry about me. I'll be safe, I'm with some friends. This is something I have to do, and I'll miss you very much. Akai, make sure you do your homework so you don't get behind on your grades again! And will someone tell Yori-san I said good-bye? I'll miss him. I love you all, and I hope you stay safe. Aishiteru.

Sayonara,

Shizuka Hanami

She wiped her cheeks off before she stood, folding the paper and placing it carefully back on the desk.

Turning, she grabbed her bookbag and dumped all it's contents out on the floor. She stuffed things into it, the essentials. She also managed to fit in a couple books that she might feel tempted to read later and a notebook just in case she felt the urge to write, like always.

At that, she looked in the mirror.

She looked...okay...

Her short, dark hair fell straight to her shoulders before flipping out. Her eyes were just as hazel as always, lined by the eyeliner she had put on hours ago. She wore a tight purple t-shirt with a black jacket over it. Her jeans were dark and ripped beyond all repair and her shoes were just ballet flats. She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed.

She looked nothing like herself. She looked so much different...

She turned away then, not wanting to dig deeper into that problem.

Shizuka slapped a hand on her forehead. She couldn't believe she was really doing this. She felt like an idiot. But...she believed them, for some odd reason, and no matter how stupid she thought it was, it was real. If she didn't help those people, no one would.

She walked to the window and threw her legs over the edge, not even sparing a second glance back to her old life. She saw Sora glance up and watched as he jumped up to gather her into his arms. When he jumped down, she didn't feel the impact of his feet with the ground. She didn't care though.

She stood up as Hikari and Koi smiled at her.

"You ready?" Sora asked her.

Shizuka nodded.

"We're glad to have you back, Shizuka-sama." Koi told her before she turned to walk back into the woods.

Shizuka followed her, keeping her eyes ahead.

"Where are we going, anyways?" Shizuka asked. "I mean, I know we're going to the Soul Society, but where exactly is it?"

"First, we're going to go to Karakura Town." Hikari told her.

"Ugh." Shizuka shivered. "That place always gives me the creeps. Why are we going there?"

"To get to the Soul Society." Koi said. "We'll be meeting Ichimaru-taichou and one of his subordinants there tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Shizuka asked. "But it only takes half an hour to get to Karakura Town. Where are we gonna stay?"

"We already have that worked out." Sora told her. "Just don't worry about it, Shizuka-sama. We have everything under control."
Shizuka sighed. "Okay."

"But first..." Sora was suddenly in front of all three of them.

"Sora, I don't think..." Hikari muttered.

"She can handle it." Sora told her. "I know she can."

"What?" Shizuka asked.

"Well...Shizuka-sama." Sora looked at her and smiled that breathtaking smile. "We have something that you're going to need."

"What?" She repeated.

He reached inside his coat and pulled out a long sword, covered in a green sheath with a black hilt. She swallowed hard.

"Oh."

"Don't be afraid." Sora approached her.

He smiled as he held out the sheathed sword. Her hand clasped around it and she felt a shock go through her. She looked wide-eyed down at it before her free hand automatically grabbed the hilt.

Flashes and images ran through her head as she ever-so-slowly slide the blade from it's sheath. She looked intently at it, barely touching her finger to the sharp edge, watching the blood trickle down the blade and then follow it's path to the tip.

She gulped before closing her eyes.

She saw it. It was dark, though. She remembered.

She felt the data flow into her memory. She remembered exactly how to swing, at exactly what angle, exactly when. She recalled every single way that she could attack from all sides, like she had trained so much before.

She saw, through her own eyes, her skill in swordsmanship. She cut through these huge, ugly, blood-thirsty monsters like they were butter. She felt the blood splash on her, felt the power of every hit...

She felt herself sway back into herself and strong hands grasping her shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked up at Sora.

"Were those Chiropteran?" She asked him.

"Yes." He nodded.

"I remember." She turned away, sheathing her sword. "I remember how to fight."

"Good." Sora nodded before looking at Hikari. "I told you it'd be okay."

"Let's go." Shizuka walked forward.

She didn't tell them, but she felt fear pulsing through her veins. Her heart raced at the idea of the blood that had been on her skin. She wanted to scream, maybe cry a little, but she couldn't. Because she was starting to remember, and remembering meant becoming stronger. And she needed to be strong, if not for herself, but for the three that followed her.

"Welcome! Come on in!"

Shizuka refrained from giggling at this man. He wore lots of green, wooden sandals, and a funky looking hat. She saw in him lots of light, a smile warming his little shop.

"I'm Kisuke, Kisuke Urahara, it's lovely to be making you aquaintence." He smiled as he lead them all to a little circular table.

They sat crosslegged on the pillows on the floor as Kisuke did the same.

Shizuka was surprised when a little black cat crawled into her lap.

"Hi there." She smiled, petting it's head.

"Hello." It said back.

Shizuka didn't jump, she didn't raise an eyebrow, though.

"That's Yoruichi." Urahara told her.

"Hi, Yoruichi." Shizuka smiled at the cat, not refraining from petting it's head.

"Sorry to bother you again, Kisuke." Sora said. "But Shizuka-sama has just awakened, and I'm sure you've heard about the problem in the Soul Society."

"Umm-hmm." Urahara nodded as Tessai came in with some tea. "Unfortunant."

"Well, we've been asked to help out." Hikari told Kisuke from beside him. "Have you ever heard of Gin Ichimaru?"

"Yes." Urahara held back the resentment in his voice well.

"Well, he's asked for our help in finding out about the pest problem." Koi told him.

"I see." Urahara nodded.

"He's escorting us to the Soul Society tomorrow." Hikari said.

"That's...interesting." Urahara said softly before plastering a smile on his face. "Well, I'm sure you guys can handle that! I'm guessing you need a place to stay for the night?"

"Yeah." Sora nodded. "Do you mind?"

"Oh, of course not!" Urahara said, waving his fan in front of him in a rather feminine way. "We're happy to have you here!"

There was a loud crash outside and the smile immediantly fell to a mask of distress.

"Sound's like Ichigo's here again." He muttered.

Suddenly, he was on his feet.

He walked to the front door and glared outside where a short girl with dark hair was scratching her head on the sidelines as an orange-haired boy fought with some big ugly monster thing.

"Dear..." Urahara muttered. "Shizuka-san!"

She stood and walked down the hall to where he stood.

"It seems we have a problem." Urahara told her, motioning towards the monster.

Shizuka recognized it from her flashback. It was Chiropteran.

She nodded. "Got it."

Sora was instantly beside her, holding her sword out to her. She grinned nervously at him before grasping it.

"You can do it." He smiled encouragingly.

She walked forward, passing the dark haired girl and broke into a run as she unsheathed her sword.

She took a deep breath as she drew ever closer. She touched her finger to the blade, feeling it slice through her skin and the blood trail down the blade.

She closed her eyes for only a second, opening them, and feeling them burn a bright red.

She remembered...

She cried out as she lept in the air, spinning around and slicing through the Chiropteran in one lithe movement. When she felt the blood moisten her skin, she was unphased. She continued her jump over the orange kid as he lay sprawled out on the ground.

She landed gracefully before turning to look at him with those same red eyes. He looked up at her, wide-eyed.

"What...are you?" He muttered.

Suddenly, the dark headed girl ran up to him and helped him to his feet.

Sora was at Shizuka's side then, as well, when she felt her red eyes drain back into hazel. She instantly felt the blood on her blade, the blood on her skin.

Her teeth clinched as her hand tightened on Sora's arm. She'd get over it soon...hopefully.

"Are you okay?" Sora asked her.

"Yes." She nodded. "Fine. Lovely. Tired. Damn."

She sheathed her sword before Sora swooped her up into his arms. She was really beginning to get used to it, because he seemed to do it a lot. And it wasn't like she minded.

He carried her back inside to where Urahara watched as Tessai worked on the orange-haired boys wounds.

"This is Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki." He told her. "Ichigo is...well, sort of like a Substitute Shinigami. Rukia...used to be a Shinigami."

"Right, that makes no sense." Shizuka said truthfully as Sora placed her on her feet.

She didn't let him move, she leaned on him, to make sure she wouldn't fall.

Rukia walked up to her and bowed her head. "Thank you, for saving Ichigo."

"You're welcome." Shizuka smiled.

"Kisuke, what was that thing?" Rukia asked. "It wasn't Hollow..."

"A Chiropteran." He told her. "They're almost extinct. They're Shizuka's specialty."

"I see." Rukia nodded. "But...what are they?"

"Blood-thirsty monsters." He answered simply.

"They live off the blood of humans." Sora said more clearly.

"Oh..." She said, looking over her shoulder at Ichigo. "They regenerate. That's why Ichigo couldn't handle it."

"Yes." Hikari stepped up beside Sora. "The only thing that can kill them for sure is the blood of a Chiropteran queen."

"And that's...you?" Rukia asked Shizuka.

"So they keep telling me." She muttered.

"Wow." Rukia looked wide-eyed at her. "So, you're...royalty?"

"Yes." Koi said with a smile.

"But, please, it's enough with them calling me 'Shizuka-sama.' " Shizuka laughed. "You don't have to treat me any different."

"Oh..." Rukia smiled.

"It just so happens that Rukia is from nobility as well." Kisuke said from beside them. "The Kuchiki family is the first and highest noble family in the Soul Society."

"Cool." Shizuka grinned. "I'm in the prescence of nobility."

"Actually, I was just adopted by Nii-sama..." She shrugged.

Shizuka touched her shoulder. "Hey, no matter how you got in, just be proud you made it."

"Yeah..." She muttered, in her mind knowing she would never be able to go back anyways.

"Smile." Shizuka poked her. "Just keep smiling and everything will work out."

Rukia nodded, working a smile onto her face. "Thanks."

Behind Shizuka, Sora, Hikari and Koi were feeling a lot better.

"It seems she hasn't changed much." Hikari whispered.

"Still as kind as always." Koi smiled before elbowing Sora. "So, when are you planning to tell her about you two?"

"Koi, I'm not telling her." He gave her a look. "We were never even together anyways."

"But you got close." Hikari muttered. "At least attempt, Sora-chan."

"Guys..." Sora rolled his eyes. "It's different now."

"You still love her, right?" Koi asked him.

"Yes, of course-" Sora whispered.

"No excuse, then." Hikari cut him off. "Love is destiny, Sora-kun. You gott tell her."

"No..." He mumbled before turning away.

I can't. He thought as he walked outside, leaning against the wall. No matter how many years have passed, I'll still never be good enough.

Kisuke poked his head out the door and then tip-toed over to Sora, who gave him a questioning look.

"So, so, so..." Urahara whipped out his fan and batted his eyelashes. "When ya gonna tell her?"

"Ugh." Sora rolled his eyes and pushed off the wall. "Never! I wish you people would leave me alone about it!"
"Aw..." Urahara sighed. "You guys would be so perfect..."

Sora just shook his head.

"Well, look at the bright side!" Urahara smiled. "As soon as she finds out about him, you won't have a choice anymore!"

Sora glared at him. "Then she can go with him and...At least then she'll be happy. And I'll still be there, so will the twins."

"Well, chances like this don't come around very often." Urahara said, lowering his fan. "You're going to regret not telling her when you can't have her anymore."

"I know." He muttered. "But that's my problem."

"Whatever you say." Urahara shrugged and then put his fan back up. "And if you keep looking at her the way you do, she's gonna find out!"

Urahara danced around him. "Googley eyes!"

Sora swiped at him and Urahara dodged. "Still slow, Sora-kun!"

And then Urahara was gone, and Sora let the tears fall. It was hopeless...