Author's note: This chapter is split in two parts, Part 1 Maneuvering, Part 2 So close, but so far away.

Aizen POV

Gin Ichimaru was a fool, I thought to myself as I listened outside the room, well hidden in the shadows. I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was surprised to see all the girls in the Soul Society, I fought a chuckle, poor Gin was clueless as always. As brilliant as Gin was, he always failed to notice vital details, like how transparent his emotions were. Gin had once again slipped up and showed his true colors, and once again I had to go out of my way to fix his petty attempts at being good. I knew he would have a problem harming his little fire starter the moment I issued the order, it was just amusing to see how far he would go to protect her.

I pressed closer to the door as I heard Gin exclaim hotly "Chakka Zai, you are not suppose to be here!"

I heard a chair fall and decided to intervene before Gin did something stupid again. I opened the door to see Gin arms outstretched reaching for a blonde girl, who was eyeing him with large gray eyes. The other three girls and Gin were staring at me. I put on my most cheerful and unassuming expression.

"Hello Gin, I didn't know you had visitors, I'll just comeback later," I said focusing all my attention on Gin, daring him defy me. He didn't, instead he dropped his arms in defeat and grinned at me with closed eyes.

"Not a problem at all Captain Aizen, Lieutenant Matsumoto just brought some friends I met in the world of the living," Gin said nodding his head towards the girls. Good, I thought to myself it seems Gin is going to follow the plan after all. I pretended to ignore the way he was standing slightly in front of the gray-eyed blonde like he was trying to hide her from my view.

"These lovely young ladies are your friends Gin? Well aren't you lucky. Please introduce me so I can get better acquainted with them." Not so subtly reminding Gin of the script that I wrote for him months ago.

"That's right where are my manner's, Captain Aizen this here is Mitchie, he said pointing a long pale finger at the girl closest to me, I smiled. Her pretty eyes looked at me trustingly and she smiled warmly back at me. Mentally I sighed clearly she would be easy to win over, but she wasn't the right sister for my plan her element could be strong but her lack of confidence and control didn't make her an ideal candidate.

" This is Cheyenne, they call her Hime," Gin said gesturing to the next girl. I smiled at her and gave her a little bow. She pursed her full red lips and raised a delicate eyebrow sizing me before lifting her chin a fraction to nod in my direction. Well that's Earth, I know why they call her Hime because she is a snob. I thought as I surveyed her beautiful face, her powers were among the strongest I had ever heard of, but what is a princess to a God? Tempting, but to high maintenance for my plan.

"I'm Alex," the girl next to Cheyenne said interrupting my thoughts. I smiled at her and she licked her lips, she sized my up to, but not in a condescending way like her sister, but hungrily. Bingo, I found the sister who would be the key to my plan. Granted she was the least powerful of the sisters, and I would much rather have Fire or Earth. Alex was clearly the boldest, and I would need her daring when I enacted my plan. I waited for Gin to introduce the last sister. And of course he didn't right away.

He gave the girl the barest of looks, actually showing a slither of sky blue irises before saying "this is Denae." Ah so this is the fire starter. The girl's sharp gray eyes met my chocolate browns searching my face. I smiled politely at her just as I had to her sisters. Her eyes narrowed and she pressed her full lips into a thin line. Gin was studying her reaction just as much as I was. He seemed pleased, by her obvious dislike of me. I fought the urge to chuckle at him. His little fire starter was the most powerful of all the girls, according to Surreal's reports. But I never intended to use her. I didn't need too, he was going to do all the dirty work when it came to Denae, he just didn't realize it yet.

"It is so nice to meet you all, Gin I just wanted to remind you that we have a captains meeting in 10 minutes. I suggest you bring your guests; I couldn't help over hear the worries expressed by these young ladies at being in the Soul Society. I am sure Captain-Commander Yamamoto can explain things to them," I said innocently. I knew that Captain Yamamoto was calling this meeting to assess the girls. But I had to feign innocence, as a part of my plan to make the girls trusts me.

"Sure Captain Aizen," Gin said, gesturing with one hand for me to lead the way. As we walked through the Seireitei, toward squad one head quarters, I acted as a tour guide informing of them of all the things they needed to know about the 13 Court Guard Squads, lavishing attention on the girls especially Alex. Gin opened the doors and we found all the captains already there waiting for our arrival.

"Sorry were late Captain Yamamoto, Gin had some visitors, I suggested you would be able to help them," I said with a knowing smile.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto eyed the girls "According to the report given to me by Substitute Shinigami Ichigo Kurosaki these girls each possess a power of one of the four elements. Kurosaki concluded in his report that each woman controls the element that she posses to a degree stronger then any zanpakuto of the same element."

All the captains looked shocked at the admission. The girls in question stared at the Head Captain, and absorbed the new information.

"Based on Kurosaki's reports I …" Yamamoto started to say.

Alex interrupted him "Who the hell is Kurosaki?"

"It would be wise, to refrain from speaking, until I am done issuing orders," Head Captain Yamamoto said calmly.

"Jeez, I didn't know this was a no talking zone," Alex mumbled under her breath.

At the same time her sister Cheyenne raised her eyebrows and breathed the words "orders". I fought an amused smile, at the look of irritation on Yamamoto's face at being interrupted again.

He ignored both girls and continued, "It is my decision in concurrence with the members of Central 46, that the powers you four possess could be useful to the Gotei 13. You will each be trained by one of the captains of the Gotei 13, and instructed on the rules and regulations of the Soul Society", he said in a business like tone that afforded no argument. He eyed the two rows of captains for volunteers. I immediately stepped forward at the same time as Gin just as planned.

"I'll train Chakka Zai," Gin said cheerfully, grabbing a hold of Denae's hand, which she quickly snatched back glaring at him.

"It would be my pleasure to train Miss Alex in the ways of the Soul Society," I said smiling at her. She smiled back, and to my amusement she blushed. Too Easy, I thought to myself.

"Perhaps Captain Tosen would like to train Chey…" I was cut off by Captain Kuchiki who I just noticed had been staring intently at Cheyenne, interesting I noted.

"I will take this one," Captain Kuchiki said in his cold apathetic voice. He looked at Cheyenne and she looked at him. Unconsciously they took a step towards each other.

I hid my disappointment. "Well Captain Tosen, you can train Mit…"

"Actually," Denae spoke up interrupting me. "You mentioned on the way over here that one of the captains had power over ice and the weather. As you know Mitchie's power also deals with water. Wouldn't it make sense to put them together?" she said her clear gray gaze shrewdly searching my face, for a reaction. I held her gaze as Captain Hitsugaya stepped forward. If Gin didn't learn how to control this bitch, I would have too, I thought silently.

"I will train her, Captain," the young white-haired captain said, looking at Mitchie, who smiled warmly at him.

"Then it's been decided Captain Ichimaru of the 3rd division will train Denae, the ruler of the element of fire. Captain Aizen of the 5th Division will train, Alex the ruler of the element of air. Captain Kuchiki of the 6th division will train Cheyenne the ruler of the element of earth. Captain Hitsugaya of the 10th division will train Mitchie ruler of the element of water. Meeting adjourned," he said tapping the cane that stored his zanpakuto on the ground.

The four girls said their goodbyes, and then followed their individual captains to their new living corridors. I walked with Alex, complimenting her on her beauty and pretending to listen while she prattled on and on. When we finally reached her new room. I bent down to kiss her hand.

I looked her in the eyes and whispered "sweet dreams, beautiful Alex." She blushed crimson, before stuttering "goodnight." I flashed stepped back to my room, and closed the door. The time for the end of the Soul Society and the beginning of my reign over the heavens is quickly approaching. After 100 years of waiting my plan was set in motion. That senile old fool Yamamoto had played perfectly into my hands, by splitting those girls up. Years ago when I first decided to become a God I researched different ways of gaining power to overthrow the Gotei 13. My answer lay within the four classical elements. By combining air, water, earth, and fire I could become unstoppable. Since every zanpakuto, and kido spell in the soul society has a core in one of the four elements, the soul reapers would be unable to fight using their weapons, against their weapons true rulers. They would be defenseless, and I would quickly over power them. I spent years, and years searching for objects or people who possessed the four elements. Until finally I found them, in the world of the living. Four powerful little girls who left a trail of disasters wherever they went. I knew I had found the key to destroying the Gotei 13. I was plotting a way to ensnare them when Surreal showed and offered her services. Her gift was perfect for the job, and saved me the time it would have taken to capture and hypnotize the real Ichigo Kurosaki. Now that the girls were in the soul society I had to finish the job. I had to divide them and individually gain their trust and loyalty and then turn them against the Gotei 13. My plan was already working the girls had been separated; two of them had already crossed over to my side. The little fire starter was working with my pet Gin and Alex was practically in love with me already. I would use Alex to convince her sisters to work for me. It would only be a matter of time before I had all four girls calling me master.

In the World of the Living Kisuke Urahara was thinking of a blonde girl. His mind took him back; to the first time he saw her 19 years ago. He left Japan to visit England and pick up some supplies for an experiment. He was walking back from an engineering shop when he felt a strange spiritual pressure. Being the curious person he was, he followed the spiritual energy curious to see its source. The spiritual energy led him to the burning remains of a posh town house and a blond child wreathed in flames. The girl was in the heart of the fire, her silver gray eyes frightened as she watched everything around her go up in flames. Being as young as the girl was, she couldn't understand that she was causing the destruction. She screamed for her mother and father yet repelled them by raising her flamed protectively around her. Her parents looked absolutely terrified as they watched their daughter. The girl's mother was pregnant and clutching her husbands hand with an anguished expression on her face. Her eyes never moved from her daughters burning frame. The little girl's wide terrified eyes roamed from her mother, to her father and baby sister before finally coming to rest on Kisuke. It was something about that expression; innocent and scared that made Kisuke go to the extreme. Kisuke leapt through the fire and wrapped his arms around the inflamed girl's shoulders, hugging her. He could feel fire eating through his clothes and burning his skin as he whispered comforting words in the girl's ears.

" It's okay, everything is going to be alright, you have to calm down," he said to her as he let go over her shoulder's and looked into her eyes. He mentally willed her to gain control of her powers.

The girl's eyes wide eyes got even wider as she whispered "Me? I'm doin dis?' She looked so frightened "am I a monsta?"She asked him. Kisuke tried to soothe her fears, even though it felt like she was killing him with her firepower.

"No" he fought to keep his voice normal. "Far from it, I think you may be an angel. Now if you wouldn't mind turning down the heat?

She stared at him, her trembling little lips poking out in confusion.

"You just have to calm down, try breathing in out. Come on deep breaths. In and out, in and out, " he said.

The little girl mimicked his breathing and with every deep breath she took, the flames around her lessened, until they were none existent. Kisuke watched her ignoring the pain of his blistering skin, and focusing on the girl who indeed did look like a little angel when she wasn't cover in flames. He smiled warmly at her "good job I'm guessing this is the first time this happened to you?" She nodded her head.

" If I tell you how to put the fires out will you listen and remember?" she nodded again.

"Focus your mind and call the fire to you. Speak to it, just like your speaking to me and it will come to you," he whispered.

As the fire cleared, leaving only black smoke the girl's parents came racing to their child's side. The girl's mother grabbed the girl into a hug as if she would never let her go. The girl's father held back a little choosing to walk up to him instead.

Two pairs of gray eyes met, and the girls father whispered "Thank you, in a reverent voice he grasped Kisuke's hand with his left hand, carefully maintaining a firm grip on the sleeping baby in his arms. " I don't know what's wrong with her, but I thank you, my whole family thanks you, if there is anything I can ever do for you…"

Kisuke held up his hand "actually there is, he said eyeing the little girl still wrapped in her mother's hug as they walked towards Kisuke and her father.

"I think we should have a talk about …" he stopped mildly embarrassed that he did not know the little girls name.

"Denae," her mother supplied. "Her name is Denae MacDowell."

"Yes well I think it's best that you bring Denae to my hotel tomorrow, here is the address and we can discuss how we can keep this," gesturing with his hand to the ruined buildings "from happening again." The girl's parents glanced at each other before looking simultaneously nodding their heads. They owed him that much.

"Goodnight, Oh and you might want to find a hotel to stay at for yourselves," he said cheerfully before turning on his heals and flash stepping back to his hotel.

Early in the morning the four MacDowell's arrived at Kisuke's hotel. Daniel MacDowell wore a grim expression his sharp features pale as he sat down to listen to what Kisuke had to say about his daughter. His wife Tasha kept a calm face for her children, even though her eyes looked anxious. Denae played with her redheaded baby sister on the floor.

Daniel spoke first in clipped tones " We didn't get a proper introduction yesterday my name is Daniel MacDowell, I am owner MacDowell Industries. I would like to thank you for help with Denae yesterday and offer you, compensation for keeping your silence about our daughter's condition." He gave Kisuke a cold look and pulled out his checkbook. "Name your price."

"Well Daniel that won't be necessary, I didn't invite you here to take your money. I asked you here so we can discuss training and protecting your daughter."

Daniel gave Kisuke a disgruntled look before coldly saying, " What would you know about my daughters 'condition'? I have spoken to at least five of the best doctors in the world within the last couple of hours and they have no answers, and you think you do?"

"Daniel," Tasha admonished in a whisper.

"It's okay," Kisuke said as he opened up his green robe, showing his bare skin much to both MacDowell's dismay.

"What the in the hell do….,"Daniel started.

"Look" he said cutting him off. " No burns."

"Oh my God he's right. That's amazing. How did you do that?" Tasha said shocked.

"A little thing called kido, that's not the point. The point is I know away that will stop things like last night from ever happening again," Kisuke said.

"How do you plan to do that? And how much is it going to costs me?" Daniel said.

"Eh, I'll give her three weeks of training and then we can talk about the cost," Kisuke said waiving a fan in front of his face.

"You're a complete stranger, you expect me to just give my daughter over to you!" Daniel said outraged.

"Actually I am not a complete stranger, names Kisuke Urahara and I don't think you have any other choices. I am sure those doctors you called thought you were insane when you told them your daughter was on fire. Am I right?"

The vein in Daniels forehead stood prominent and his normal snowy complexion was flushed. His wife answered before he could.

"Look me and Dan only want the best for our daughter. If you think your training will help Denny, then we'll do whatever it takes," Tasha said. Her sky blue eyes looking intensely at him.

"Call me Kisuke, and don't worry about Denae" he said looking at the blonde girl who was currently speaking gibberish to her baby sister "I got a feeling she will be just fine."

Reluctantly Daniel made the arrangements for his daughter to fly Karakura Town in a couple of weeks for training with Urahara. Before leaving Daniel looked Kisuke in the eye.

"I am trusting you with my daughter, but if you screw me over I will personally bury you," Daniel said.

"Why I've been buried before and it wasn't that bad, but that's a story for another time. Kisuke said smiling from under his hat. "See you in a couple of weeks" he said cheerily while subtly shoving Daniel out of his hotel room. He waved cheerily Tasha and Denae before wishing them good-bye.

Two weeks later…

Kisuke was trying his best to communicate to three year old Denae not to set his favorite hat on fire. It didn't help that Tessai was cooing how cute she was while holding a fire extinguisher. Kisuke had once called the little girl an angel but he was eating his words. Though she looked like a cherub, she acted like a little devil. She spent half her time hiding or running from him and the rest trying to set fire to him and his things. She just had so much energy it was exhausting even for him, attempting to train Denae made Kisuke thankful he never had kids.

"Denny put that fire out, right now or you'll get no cookies tonight," he said in his sternest voice. Her lower lip trembled and the fire she had been shooting from her palms went out. Tears welled in her big gray eyes at his tone a voice and the threat of no snack. Kiske immediately felt sorry for her and was about to take back the threat. When Tessai spoke up "Don't you think that's a little harsh?"

"Fine you can have your cookies okay, after you finish training," The tears dried and a sunny smile replaced her frown. Tessai ooed and ahh at how adorable she was. Kisuke wanted to kick himself, the little girl had him wrapped around her little fingers.

Time flew by and before Kisuke knew it, three days were over and he was saying goodbye to Denae at an airfield. Her father was personally picking her up in his private jet. Even though the little girl gave him hell, he was really going to miss her. He had known her for less then a month but he cared deeply about her. He gave her a hug then pulled away, "give me your arm," he said.

He attached a silver bracelet to her arm, with one charm dangling from it. The little girl studied the bracelet that was a little too big for her tiny wrists with interest. She looked at the scarlet charm and said "beautiful."

Kisuke laughed as he inspected the charm with her, delicate glass shaped likes a shield with tiny flame flickering in it, met his eyes. As her father's jet landed he whispered in her ear "This charm is called the everlasting flame, it will never go out. One day when the time is right we will meet again, I promise."

"Thanks Mr. Urahara tell thanks too," she said before hugging him again.

Just then her father appeared out of the jet striding towards them. Denae took off like a bullet running as fast as her little legs would take her towards her father. Her father picked her up and spun her around kissing her on the forehead.

"Hey Denny how is my little Contessa doing?" She laughed "good daddy." He put her back on the ground and said " go wait by the jet, I need to talk to ." She nodded and walked to the jet.

Daniel walked to Kisuke and stuck out his hand "Thank you , I realize I was a little harsh before. My daughter is very unique I hope she wasn't to much trouble."

"It's Kisuke and its no problem. Denae is gifted but she took to the training well I assure you, you will have no more problems with her losing control of her powers," Kisuke said.

"So this little fire thing, wasn't a one time thing or a sickness?" he asked sounding almost hopeful.

"Nope sorry, the 'little fire thing' is Denae's permanent ability. Denae has the ability to generate and control the element of fire," Kisuke said. "As a matter of fact, you ought to get your other kid tested, she also might have the gene."

"My other daughter, Cheyenne? Gene? What the hell are you talking about?" Daniel said horrified.

"It's nothing really, it's just a theory I have. Denae has her ability through a genetic phenomenon and maybe her sibling will also develop supernatural control over the elements. It's just a thought, I could be wrong and Denae could be the only one with abilities," Kisuke said, though he sounded skeptical about being wrong.

"Well I hope you are wrong, now what do I owe you for your services Mr. Urahara?"

"It's Kisuke and you owe me pictures, letters and phone calls," Kisuke said.

"Huh..Pictures, letters, and phone calls?" Daniel said in confusion.

"Well you want to pay me and that will be my payment, I want to know what's going on with Denae and if her siblings develop abilities as well," Kisuke said his striped hat hiding his grey eyes from Daniel.

"Fine we have a deal," he said reaching out and shaking Kisuke's hand. And for years Daniel did just that. Kisuke discovered though Daniel talked a big game he was actually a pretty stand up guy, he sent school pictures, and letters about the girls. His wife Tasha was a magnificent scrap booker, and sent a scrapbook filled with pictures, notes, and music from Denae and all the MacDowell girls to Kisuke at the end of every year. Every time the girls had an "incident" Daniel always called Kisuke for advice. Kisuke had become Daniel's go to man when it came to all things supernatural, they weren't best friends but Daniel trusted Kisuke completely. So after his daughter Mitchie lost control again and Daniel had to fork over 300,000 American dollars to keep her classmates quiet he called Kisuke. Kisuke immediately suggested that Daniel move his family to Karakura town, so that he personally could look after them. Daniel trusted Kisuke so much that he along with his wife, immediately agreed to move to Karakura town. In their minds they thought "what could go wrong in a small town like Karakura town and it would be nice to share the burden of looking after their supernatural daughters. They loved their daughters immensely but four young girls with super powers would be hard for any body to handle. On his end Kisuke had come to be quite attached to the girls even though he had never met Denae's sisters, he still felt overwhelmingly protective about Denae. No matter how many pictures he had seen of the little girl proving that she had grown up, he still thought of her as a three year old terror trying to set his hat on fire. On the day she was set to arrive he went to the store to pick up her favorite cookies and WHAM! He almost got run over by a hot pink Hummer. The teenage girl at the wheel had gray eyes, blond hair and a scowl. After nearly killing him the little brat had the nerve to honk the horn and shout "Watch where your going creeper, you could have scratched my baby!" she said petting her dashboard. The auburn headed girl next to her shook her head and mouthed sorry to Kisuke, even though she looked like she was fighting a smile. Kisuke ignored both girls and bent down in front of the car to get his dropped bag of cookies. He grabbed for the bag at the same time as another person bent down for the cookies. His body slowed down and his brain seemed to speed up. He noticed several things at once a silver charm bracelet gleaming in the sun, the smell of ginger cookies and cherry blossoms and turquoise nail polish on her fingers before looking at her face.

"Here you go, I am sorry about my sister she is a bit of a hot head," Denae said with an apologetic smile.

He had once accused her of being an angel and damn he had never been more right in his life. Little Denae MacDowell had grown up to be a stunning young woman. For one of the first times in his life, Kisuke Urahara was speechless. Her almond shaped silver gray eyes stared into his storm gray eyes; she looked at him in confusion. Before another extraordinary beautiful redheaded girl appeared next to her.

"Hey, dude are you gonna take the stupid cookies or not? " the redheaded girl said with narrowed eyes.

"Hime, knock it off just because your pissed about leaving Ashido doesn't mean you have the right to take out your anger on strangers!" Denae chastised.

"Whatever I didn't want to come pick up those damn cookies anyway, I'll be in the car," the redhead said before popping in headphones and stalking away.

Denae sighed before looking at Kisuke "I'm sorry about my sisters, we just moved here and it's been really hard on us," she said straightening up, and holding out the bag of cookies to Kisuke. He never had the chance to answer. Because once again the bold blonde in the driver's seat honked the horn, then shouted, "Yo Denny, we don't have all day!

Denae picked up her cookies and jumped in the car without a second glance. The hot pink Hummer fishtailed around him, out of the parking lot. Kisuke was glued to the spot. That was …Denae… the beautiful goddess was the same girl he had been buying cookies for. He knew in that moment that he was doomed because when he saw her wearing that bracelet, his heart had abandoned his body and claimed that girl as it's new owner.

Four months had passed since his accidental run in with Denae. Kisuke had decided it was best if he kept his distance from her. She was young and beautiful and human, being in love with her would be an unnecessary complication for both of them. Besides she clearly didn't remember him and if she did she would probably be creeped out that he romantic feelings towards her. Silently Kisuke protected her and her sisters. He followed them on tour making sure that they had no incidents. He had been so focused on protecting Denae that he started neglecting his shop, and Yoruichi suggested he take a break from his little obsession. They were in Karakura Town, and there was at least four other soul reapers in the town, and she would be fine for one day. He listened to her, and took one day to rest and look over his shop. He would regret taking that day off for the rest of his life. Around midnight he got a call from Daniel MacDowell.

"You said you would protect them, you said to trust you, and now… now.. " Daniel said frantically.

"Whoa, whoa Daniel what are you talking about?" Kisuke asked.

"There was an accident and my daughters… my..my daughters… are… dead," he said sobbing in between the words.

Kisuke's heart sank. It couldn't be true, they couldn't be dead… he just took off one day, Kisuke thought in denial.

In a demanding voice Kisuke said "What hospital?"

"You..you should have protected them…" Daniel said ignoring Kisuke's question.

"WHAT HOSPITAL?" Kisuke practically screamed into the phone, his anger, guilt and fear getting the best of him. Daniel told him the address. Everyday Kisuke came by and brought flowers for the sisters. He would hold Denae's hand and speak to her for hours. Everyday Kisuke's misery grew; he regretted so much that now that he had never told Denae how he felt about her. Or even worse that he wasn't there to save her when she needed him. Still he waited for her because he knew that one day she would return to him. As he squeezed her hand he thought bitterly so close but so far away.