Author's Notes: Inspired by the 8th Division ED in the anime. Explanation for one of the scenes.

The Path of Wandering Souls

There have been worse days, she's quite sure, though nothing immediately comes to mind, the images twisting away from her before she can quite grasp them. She's a little bit frantic and not thinking clearly, her thoughts whirling in patterns that don't make any sense. It's a survival mechanism, she thinks. Don't focus on the situation and it's like it's not real. She's never been one to shy away from the truth, though, and she can't understand why she's doing it now, when she's obviously in trouble.

There are sections of Soul Society that shinigami rarely go. Dead zones where her kind are not welcome. The people scorn them and there are stories of death gods being hurt there, perhaps disappearing for whole days at a time. She's never had a reason to go there and doesn't have one now, except that she was running an errand and lost her way. It's possible, she tells herself, the streets are like mazes and Rukongai is vast. No one would think her any less intelligent for losing her sense of direction. It had been a trying day, after all.

They are only excuses, however, another attempt to keep her mind off her current situation. It is against the law to draw her hidden soul slayer against citizens of Rukongai unless she has permission, and she doesn't. Instead, she's forced to run from the footsteps she hears behind her, from the small groups of men materializing out of the shadows with lethal smiles on their faces. She can't imagine what they plan to do to her and she's glad, she doesn't want to know. She just wants to reach the pure walls of the Court in one piece and that is looking impossible.

She's surrounded.

Nanao clutches her book in front of her, a weak shield in case they should rush her. She glances around the yard she's in, looking for exits but finds them all blocked. She's trapped, and the thought sends her heart racing. She's angry, too, she realizes, a low, pulsing anger that she can't use. They are people the shinigami brought there. She knows this place isn't much of a heaven, but it weighs on her that these people would relive their past crimes all over again.

But maybe they were forced to, she concedes. Soul Society has its dangers, as she well understands. It takes a certain kind of strength to survive there and not lose one's ethics, especially in the worst parts of the city.

These people, she knows, are angry, too.

So she doesn't speak, simply backs up a pace or two, knowing she can't fight back and unsure that she'd really want to. One of them raises a weapon and her eyes widen, her body tensing for impact-

The edge of a cherry-colored robe flutters into her field of vision, followed by a broad shoulder and a long tail of wavy dark hair. Her attacker grunts as Shunsui slams the sheathed blade of one of his soul slayers into the man's gut, pushing him back forcefully. Her Captain lifts the rim of his hat slightly and looks at the goon, his eyes calm and somehow unapproving. Like a parent disappointed in his child. It makes the gang shift on their feet, suddenly ashamed.

And then he glances at her over his shoulder and smiles that goofy smile that makes her want to slap him and smile back both at once. Instead, she adjusts her glasses and sighs.

She's been found, and maybe the day isn't so bad, after all.

The End