"Byakuya!"

Shizuka screamed his name as she shot up on the nedoko. Hikari, Koi and Sora were instantly by her side. She felt the warm tears pouring down her face and sobs escaping her throat. She felt broken, so very broken.

"No..." She shook her head. "No, he didn't..."

She cried as Saya was suddenly at the door.

"What's wrong?" Saya asked as she walked forward.

She recieved a glance from both Koi and Hikari that told her to turn around and leave as Sora wrapped Shizuka in his arms. She gulped before nodding and leaving.

"Shizuka-sama, what was the dream about?" Sora asked her.

He knew, though. He looked up at Hikari and Koi and they gave each other knowing looks. It was easy to see exactly what this dream was about.

"Byakuya..." Shizuka gasped. "He wouldn't eat...he wanted to die...he left me."

She buried her face in Sora's shoulder as she cried. Sora rocked her back and forth, trying to comfort her. He convinced himself that the reason he was hurting was because Shizuka was crying and not because he had lost his chance, which was partially true.

"It's okay." Hikari patted her back. "Byakuya's just fine, okay? I promise you."

"Wha...What?" Shizuka lifted her head and looked back at the twins.

"Byakuya is fine, just trust us." Koi said.

"But...where? Where is he?" Shizuka demanded.

"Trust us, please, Shizuka-sama." Hikari muttered. "He's just fine."
Shizuka leaned back into Sora's arms and nodded. She felt a lot better when Sora kissed her forehead.

She noticed the light of dawn coming in from the windows and lifted her head.

"It's morning." She told them as she wiped her cheeks. "When is that Soul Reaper guy going to get here?"

"Noon." Sora said sharply.

Shizuka nodded before standing. She walked towards the bathroom.

"Shizuka-sama." Hikari called.

Shizuka turned and caught the cloths Hikari threw towards her and nodded her thanks with a smile before emerging into the bathroom.

She splashed water on her face, feeling the coolness of it wash away her tears. When she lifted her head, she saw that her hair was indeed a mess. It had somehow gotten longer through the night, and it reached a little bit past her shoulders now.

She played with the ends of it in her fingertips, wondering how it grew so much in such a short time.

Oh, well... She thought before turning to take a quick shower.

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Shizuka let the towel drop from around her twenty minutes later after drying off, picking up the dress Hikari had given her. She immediantly raised an eyebrow.

It was short, probably a couple inches above her knees and the color of the midnight sky, matching her hair. The seam was a little frayed and the sleeves went down to her elbow. When she put it on, she found that it fit her perfectly, which lead her to think if she would every grow any older.

She didn't really care, because no one wanted to get old and frail looking.

She let her hair down out of a towel and brushed it out before throwing the towels in the dirty-cloths hamper and skipping out the door.

When she came out, Hikari and Koi were leaning against each side of the door frame. The smiled at her before Koi help out a pair of boots.

"I will break my face." Shizuka shook her head.

"It's all you've got." Hikari pointed out.

Shizuka groaned and grabbed the boots.

While putting them on she noticed that they were quite comfortable for combat boots. They laced up the side and went halfway up her leg. Of course, she did feel like a stripper in this little dress and combat boots, or maybe a dematrix or something. Either way, she felt like a slut. And she was totally going to get back at the twins for this later.

Walking out of the room, she didn't miss the way Sora's eyes kind of dialated at the look of her, making her grimace. She snatched the sheathed sword from him and wrapped the belt that it was attatched to around her waist.

She walked downstaired to find Saya and Hagi waiting at the door, talking to Urahara. She smiled at Tessai as she walked past and gave Yoruichi one last pet on the head before walking up to him.

"Thank you again, Kisuke." Shizuka said when Saya had walked out the door. "You're a lifesaver."

"I know, I know." He waved his fan again. "You look quite dazzling, Shizuka-san! The Chiropteran will drop dead from one look!"

Shizuka resisted the urge to smack someone.

"Umm...thank you." She said tightly. "We'll just be leaving now."

"Good luck!" Urahara called as she walked out with her entourage following.

"Thanks!" She waved back before turning to Sora, deciding she was going to give the twins the silent treatment. "Where are we meeting up with this guy?"

Saya and Hagi fell into step by Sora as he answered.

"The park." Sora pointed ahead to a nearly abandoned park that rested next to the woods.

"Ah." She nodded. "What time is it?"

"Five minutes before twelve." Sora told her. "We're a bit late."

Shizuka's eyes scanned the park carefully, her eyes going a little wide when she saw a light come out of nowhere and a door appear.

"Woah, that it?" She asked as she pointed.

"Yes." Sora muttered.

They walked into the park with Saya and Shizuka heading the crowd when a tall man with grey hair and a permanent grin stuck on his face walked out of the door. Shizuka approached him with her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. Something about this guy made her uneasy.

"Ah, goody!" He called, smiling as they all walked up to him. "Ya made it!"

Shizuka glanced back at Sora, as if asking if this guy was for real and he shrugged.

"I'm Shizuka." Shizuka bowed before turning. "This is Saya and her Chevallier, Hagi, they'll be coming with us to help. I have a feeling you already know Sora and the twins."

"Yes, I do." He beamed. "I'm Captain Gin Ichimaru. Nice ta meet ya."

"Right..." Shizuka scratched the back of her head, but caught when his gaze kind of wandered down.

Sora coughed and stepped forward. "Ichimaru, we don't have time for you to check her out, okay?"

Shizuka couldn't help but snicker. Go Sora.

"Well, I don't know what ya mean." Gin smirked. "But, back to the point. Usually, humans wouldn't be able to go to the Seireitei, but we've rigged this one to where you'll automatically be converted from yourselves into Spiritual particals. Don't worry, you'll still be yourself and look like you."

Sora nodded.

"Come along now." Gin whirled around, his haori turning with him.

They wearily followed him into the Sekai Gate, wondering what the hell they'd gotten themselves into.

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Shizuka gasped as her eyes caught the first look at the Seireitei.

It was beautiful, and mid-day. The sky was a pretty and a nice baby blue color. The clouds were fluffy and wandering aimlessly everywhere. The buildings around were all divided into sections, it looked like, and added to the intrigue.

"You like?" Ichimaru asked her.

She nodded as she followed him forward.

"I've been asked to escort you to the Captain's meeting." Gin told her. "And it looks like your friends will be comin', too."

Shizuka nodded again as they walked towards a big building with a single line inside a diamond shape printed on it. She took that as some kind of 1st headquarters or something.

Gin nodded to the guards as they opened the doors and revealed the Captains lined up with what seemed to be the head captain at the front.

He was old and had long, white hair and a crinkley face. He had to be the boss.

Shizuka kept her chin up as she walked past all the Captain's, not really looking at thier faces.

She stopped in front of the old man when Gin bowed to him before taking his place with the rest of the Captains.

"Shizuka, I do presume." The old man said.

"Yes, sir." She nodded.

"My name is Captain-Commander Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai of the 1st Division." He introduced himself and Shizuka resisted the laughter bubbling up at the funny name. "I am the head captain of the Gotei 13 in the Soul Society. As you know, we're the protecters of souls, Shinigami. And these souls are in danger."

"I understand." Shizuka smiled. "That's why I'm here."

"Very well." He nodded. "I suggest you get aquainted with the other Captain's here first. Please, everyone, introduce yourselves."

Shizuka turned as Gin waved. "You already know me. Go on, Aizen-san!"

Aizen gave Gin a look before smiling warmly at Shizuka and the rest of them. "I'm Captain Sousuke Aizen of the 5th Division. It's a pleasure."

Shizuka nodded to him before her eyes wandered to the next Captain, her eyebrows raising at the basket on his head.

"I am Captain Saijin Komamura of the 7th Division." He said instantly in a muffled voice.

She nodded again.

"Captain Kaname Tosen of the 9th Division." Said the next one.

From one look, she knew he was blind. But she didn't pity him, she knew no one liked pity, so she'd given it up a long time ago.

"Zaraki Kenpachi of the 11th Division." He had hostility and mocking in his voice that made Shizuka smile.

She liked picking on the tough guys, it made her laugh.

"Captain Juushiro Ukitake of the 13th Division." The white haired man said next.

He didn't look old, maybe a little sick, but his face was definatly young. And quite good looking, as well. She smiled genuinely at him.

Shizuka turned her head to the other line, trying not to laugh as she saw the next contender.

"Captain Mayuri Kurosuchi of the 12th Division." He said arrogantly.

She bit her lip before forcing her eyes to the next one, almost missing that the little Captain was shorter than expected, and looked to be about ten.

"Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of the 10th Division." He said with a tense voice.

She grimaced at him before looking up at the much taller Captain beside him.

"Captain Shunsui Kyoraku of the 8th Division, ma'am." He said, tilting his straw hat up a little to look at her and wink.

She blushed a little before her eyes ever-so-slowly, almost in slow motion, caught the next Captain.

Oh, my... She suddenly thought, her eyes wide and revealing everything going through her mind.

But those dark blue eyes didn't even look at her, they stared at the wall, content in avoiding her features. She kept frozen as she waited.

"Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of the 6th Division." He said slowly, his eyes momentarily glancing at her.

She knew then that he knew. The look he gave her, of pure gentleness and caring, told her everything she needed to know.

He heart raced as she somehow found the will to look away at the next Captain.
"Captain Retsu Unohana of the 4th Division." The next one said as she bowed her head.

Shizuka looked past her at the next Captain, who looked like a little petite Chinese girl and resisted the urge to hug the poor girl, because she looked miserable.

"Captain Soifon of the 2nd Division." She said strongly.

Shizuka frowned slightly before plastering a smile on her face.

"Nice to meet all of you." She told them. "Just so you know, I'll introduce you to my friends. This is Sora, Hikari and Koi, my Chevallier. This is Saya and her Chevallier, Hagi. Me and Saya will be the ones with the power to kill your little pests."

She turned back to Yamamoto and looked seriously up at him.

"Before I forget, I have a question."

"Please, do ask." He nodded to her.

"You say the Seireitei is cut off from the other towns." Shizuka looked back at Sora and he nodded. "Have the Chiropteran been able to make it through your gates yet?"

"No, most of the ones that come looking around here, aren't able to make it past our Kido defenses." He told her.

She had no idea what "Kido defenses" were, but he had answered her question and she nodded.

"Now, let us begin the briefing." He went on.

Shizuka nodded, feeling someone staring at her back. She couldn't tell if it was Sora or Byakuya, but it was most likely Sora. Byakuya seemed quite interested in that wall.

Sora's teeth were clinched. He wanted to turn around and punch Byakuya out on the floor, but knew that the Captain would probably kick his ass in return, and it would upset Shizuka, so he decided not to. He kept his eyes intent on Shizuka's back, trying to find comfort in the sight of her, and felt a lot better when she reached back and grabbed his hand.

He smiled a little, remembering how she always seemed to know he was staring at her.