Authors Note: Hope you are enjoying the story, I had a review asking when the story was set. It is just after "The Lost Substitute Shinigami" arc, but before "The Thousand-Year Blood War" arc.

Chapter 2:

After leaving the Captain-Commanders office, going to my own quarters was the absolute last thing on my mind. Being told I had to ask a Kuchiki for help? I did not want to go to bed with that thought in my head.

Once I was out of the barracks for the 1st division, I headed straight down to the 6th division barracks. It was a decently long walk, but I didn't want to rush or use shunpo.

By the time I made it to the 6th division, lanterns were already being lit along some of the roads, and the sun was almost completely out of view. I walked right through the gates, with the guards on either side barely giving me a second glace. They've seen me here plenty of times before, they stopped giving me questioning looks years ago.

As I walked closer to the 6th divisions Captain/Lieutenant office, I realized the walk had not calmed me down at all. In fact, it's made me want to just walk right in there and yell at the top of my lungs towards the rotten Kuchiki.

Of course though, every time I come here I get those fantasies, but as of yet, I have never acted on them. My Captain is right, Kuchiki Byakuya himself has never done anything towards me. However, that does not change what a certain Kuchiki did do to me, and it is for that reason I will never ever trust a Kuchiki, they are all the same anyways. And they will forever be on the top of my most hated list.

Instead of being rude and simply walking in, demanding what I want, and leaving; I knocked on the door. Once again, my pride for being in the 1st division is squelching my inner desire to be as barbaric as I want. In the 1st division, we are all role models; if anyone even knew I had such thoughts, I'd be put in another division right away. Which is why they will always be just that: thoughts, fantasies.

"Come in." said a deep voice after I knocked, a voice too familiar for my liking.

After a deep breath and a polite pause, I opened the door, coming in a few steps and bowed my head towards the Captain starring at me. He already knew what I was here for, he always did. But as usual, he waited until I made my request known before saying anything. "Sir, excuse me for disturbing you, is Lieutenant Abarai in?"

Captain Kuchiki Byakuya turned his attention back to a folder on his desk, and I couldn't help noticing how much work he had; there were 3 other stacks of similar folders next to the Captain. "No, he is at the 12th division at the moment for an errand." When he finished his sentence he glanced up towards where I was standing with my head still bowed slightly. I don't know what caused him to say it, whether I wasn't hiding my feelings and showed my disappointment, or just on a whim; but a moment later he said, "You are welcome to wait, although I am not sure how long he will be."

I stood straight and cast the Kuchiki a wary glance. Immediately, I was running the ups and downs in my head. The good side of waiting: I'd get to see Abarai and get a decent amount of alcohol in my system before I have to bow my head to this bastard and ask him a favor. The down side: I will be all alone with said bastard for who knows how long until the lieutenant gets here.

After a few moments of debating, I finally made my decision. I couldn't just leave, that would not only be showing my back to my predator, but it would also mean no drinking. I definitely won't have the courage to do this tomorrow without drinking tonight. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'd like to wait.", came my answer a few moments later. Oh how I wish it wasn't drilled into my conscience to speak so politely to Captains.

"Suit yourself." said Kuchiki, sounding distracted as he was once again looking down at his report. "Sit wherever you wish."

I was still a bit wary as I walked to his desk and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of it. Although I knew Renji wouldn't care if I sat in his desk chair, I knew it wasn't polite, or respectful, for a 4th seat to do so in front of a Captain.

After barely a minute of complete silence, other than the noise of Captain Kuchiki writing, I was officially regretting my decision to stay. I was just going to sit quietly, wait for my friend, then quickly grab him and make my escape. But, no. Of course I have to feel this way. I have an uncontrollable need to speak. Not only to break the silence. Or even to bother the man you hate and break their concentration, which would only be sane. I actually don't know why, but I just need to.

Luckily though, it wasn't me who spoke first. "I'm sure you have experience with it, and considering you aren't doing anything else, would you mind looking at a few of these reports for me?" The 6th division Captain looked up at me as he asked this, and it was only then that I noticed how tired he looked, although it seemed like he was trying to hide it.

Of course, me being me, I couldn't just look away and say no. It's in my nature to help anyone who needs it, even if it is someone I have a deep hatred for. "I don't mind, of course." I reached across the desk to grab a folder off one of the stacks next to the Captain.

It was just simple reports; about patrols, daily check-ins, and some small missions in the Living World. After reviewing half a stack, I looked out the window behind Captain Kuchiki. It was completely dark now, and Lieutenant Abarai was still out on his errand. I let out a soft sigh and turned my attention back to the report.

"You can stop whenever you wish, you have no obligation to continue if you wanted to leave," said Kuchiki Byakuya after he heard the sigh.

I looked back up at the Captain at his words, "I really don't mind; I sign reports all day either way, a few more makes no difference to me." It wasn't until he gave me a shocked look, one that he hid completely a second later, that I realized I shouldn't have said that. A 4th seat isn't supposed to have the authority to sign reports themselves. I'm betting once I leave, the captain will be putting his initials on all of these reports I'm doing so there will be no trouble.

"Since when does a 4th seat do so much anyways?" Captain Kuchiki now focused all his attention on me, clearly interested.

Well, I guessed right about why he was shocked at least. "Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Lieutenant Sasakibe are normally busy, so the reports go to 3rd seat Okikiba. However, he is out on missions very often, so the reports are handed down to me." The truth is Okikiba isn't necessarily out on missions, he just prefers to do other things; but a Captain from another division has no need to know this.

After a soft "Hn", his attention turned back to his report.

I breathed a soft sigh of relief and went back to my report as well. However, I soon felt a prickle at the back of my neck, a sensation I knew all too well. Someone was watching me. But, when I quickly looked around, I knew it wasn't someone; but something.

All too suddenly, I'm pulled away. Away from the 6th division Captain-Lieutenant office, away from Seireitei. When I open my eyes, I'm surrounded by a vast land, a rough ground with rocks and sand as far as the eye can see.

My inner world.

As always, as soon as I get here, I feel so lightheaded it seems impossible to keep standing. After having my eyes closed for a few moments it goes away though, as usual. I quickly look around for the one who brought me here, him.

"Over here, Yuuko."

I quickly turn towards the voice, and I see my Zanpakutō leaning against a rock a few yards away. Immediately I fix him with a hard glare, "What the hell are you doing?! Dragging me here unannouced, are you insane? You could see what I was in the middle of!" Normally I don't get angry right away, normally it takes a few of his comments to get me to lose my temper, but he has never done this to me before.

"Calm down, sheesh, you're going to blow my eardrums out one day, you know." He ran a hand threw his long hair, which wasn't tied back at the moment. "And yes, I could see what you were in the middle of. But, you were being a chicken, waiting till tomorrow to ask him, even though he is in a good mood right now? And you are actually showing him a good side rather than a glare at the moment too. Suck it up, ask him now."

Once he was finished, I was completely shocked silent. He never speaks so seriously, unless it's to tell me to quit asking questions. Was getting Captain Kuchiki's help with Kidō that important?

Before I could even ask that question aloud, he already knew what I was going to ask and answered, "If you ever want to know my name, yes."

"O-okay, I'll ask him tonight then.." After saying this, my Zanpakutō nodded and gave me one of his rare smiles, before waving his hand, and the pulling sensation was back.

When I opened my eyes, I was still in the seat in front of Captain Kuchiki's desk. However, instead of the Captain being behind the desk as usual, he was kneeling in front of me, checking the pulse on my wrist.

After a moment of hesitating I asked, "Sir... Is everything okay?"

He immediately looked up when I spoke, with a look in his eyes I never expected to see. Scared? Frightened? ...Impossible, I must be imagining things. Before I could try to decipher what I saw in his eyes, he spoke, "I thought... Are you okay? What happened?"

Automatically I knew something wasn't right. My conversation with my Zanpakutō was put to the back of my mind for the moment. "I'm fine, it was just..." I sighed, trying to find the right words to explain how my Zanpakutō just randomly pulled me into my inner world without warning. I'd probably sound crazy, this isn't exactly something a normal 4th seat goes through. "My Zanpakutō just... brought me to my inner world for a moment, it was nothing to worry about, really." I tried for a small smile to reassure him that I was in fact, not crazy, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I saw the look of shock on his face again. Great...

He stayed in his position, kneeling in front of me, and for some reason still checking my pulse as well. "That's all? Nothing else happened? What does your Zanpakutō do, if you don't mind me asking?"

Captain Kuchiki was studying my face, my emotions, as I answered; somewhat reluctantly, "I... yes, that's all that happened. Also, it's not that I really mind anyone asking, I just... I don't know what he does. He's refused to tell me his name for over 50 years now." I couldn't look to see what his reaction was. I looked down, at the report still in my lap, the only thing stopping it is the fact that its corner got caught under the Captains wrist as he was checking my pulse.

I honestly couldn't believe I said it so easily to someone I hate so much, when it was difficult to say it to my own Captain, who I would do anything for. I know Captain Kuchiki doesn't like me either, probably because I tend to steal his Lieutenant away and I am not as respectful as I should be to him. Although that is my simply my own assumption.

After almost a full minute of silence, I finally got the nerve to look back up at the Captain, and he was looking at me strangely. It wasn't with joy that someone he isn't fond of doesn't have control over their Zanpakutō, or with pity, it was more... understanding, possibly.

"I see." After a short pause to collect his thoughts, he continued, "When you went to your inner world, your reiatsu completely vanished. I honestly thought... well, that you died." He breathed a sigh, and I finally realized why he was checking my pulse.

"I'm sorry." I honestly didn't know what else I could, or even should say. I hated that even now, when I wasn't being formal with a Captain, I still wasn't being mean towards the man I dislike. "Captain-Commander Yamamoto actually mentioned something about that to me earlier today." Well, I might as well get this over with. "It's actually part of the reason why I'm here tonight... well, I was going to come tomorrow and do it, but..." Okay, Yuuko, halt. He doesn't need to know that you needed to have booze in your system before you could even think about asking him for a favor.

I shook my head and continued, "Anyway, my Captain suggested I asked you for a favor." Please say no, please say no, "I was wondering if you might be able to teach me kidō?" When he raised his eyebrow in confusion at this, I quickly continued on, "I know the basics, I learned them all in the academy, but I have never been able to actually perform. I think maybe it's because of my Zanpakutō, my Captain said it could be part if his ability or something. Also... when I was just in my inner world, he, my Zanpakutō, said if I ever wanted to know his name, I'd have to ask you for this." Oh my god... Yuuko... please tell me you did not just try to guilt him into doing something you don't even want him to do?!

End of chapter 2

Authors Note: Hope you all enjoy! Please leave a review to let me know what you think.

Look for an update every week!

Thanks for reading! :)