DISCLAIMER: For the hundredth time, I told you I don't own Bleach!

Four. Unmasked

Inside the labs of the Twelfth Division, Rin Tsubokura glanced at the monitors surrounded in front of him that overview the living world's spiritual stability and the Senkai Gate. He saw nothing wrong or unusual whatsoever as he chewed his unlimited supply of candies.

Things have started to become somewhat peaceful in Soul Society as well as in the Real World after the war ended and he really didn't see the point of constantly checking the monitors in front of him. After all, there was no more threat anymore after Aizen had been sentenced. Upon thinking that, his distressed eyes abruptly flickered at the sudden change on the monitor viewing the Senkai Gate. He thought he was imagining things because when he looked at it again, it showed nothing but the normal Gate. But somehow, he couldn't let go of the feeling that he saw something flicker for a second in that monitor so he decided to rewind it, proving what he had suspected.

The scene that caught his attention was too quick, only occurring at least half a second and if he hadn't been currently looking at the monitor a while ago, he probably would have missed it. He clicked pause and his already distressed face intensified even more as he saw an unknown shinigami flash step immediately after appearing at the gate. He looked closely at the monitor, trying to identify who it was but failed to do so because of the red scarf covering the shinigami's face.

"Uhmm, Akon-san, do you have any idea who this is?" He asked his fellow scientist who looked skeptically at the monitor.

Akon's eyes narrowed upon what he saw and thought that it mustn't be ignored but somehow behind the depths of his mind, he unconsciously knew who that Shinigami was.

"Maybe it's an intruder, we better report this just to be sure."

Yamamoto Akane never felt so nervous in her life. She covered her face with her red scarf and as soon as she stepped out of the Senkai Gate, she immediately flashed stepped towards the Captain Commander's office.

It was one thing to return to the place that brought back bad memories of sorrow and misery, and it was another seeing her Grandfather who despised her once again. She didn't know what frightened her more, was it the fact that she was starting to imagine her grandfather banishing her from his sight for the second time? Or was it the fact that she was starting see an image of Yamamoto Genryuusai, wounded, frail and immobile in his death bed?

Staring in front of the First Division Barracks, she was afraid of what she may expect. Moving further seemed so difficult for her, and with a last flash step towards the roof of the Captain Commander's office, she froze upon hearing the voice that haunted her all this time.

Yamamoto Genryuusai's voice resounded throughout the First Division Barracks as he angrily scolded the three captains in front of him. "You fools! You lost your captain haori? It would be one thing if they have been torn, but what is the meaning of this? How can you just sit there looking unperturbed? I worry about you!"

Zaraki, Kuchiki and Kyoraku remained calm and unaffected by the Captain Commander's outburst and exaggeration. They didn't even know why they needed to be here right now.

"Captain, do not worry, I can easily replace such a cheap haori." Kuchiki Byakuya bluntly stated like it was common sense, and seeing no reason at all to vex about something so trivial.

"That's not what I'm worried about! And those weren't cheap you fool!" Yamamoto retorted, enrage by the lack of reaction of the sixth division captain. The thought that these captains showed no regret at all irritated him. For him, it was not just a simple fabric, it was the haori that represents their status as captains. He stomped his wooden staff on the ground as he started to lecture the brats in front of him. "Listen up! Victory isn't all that matters in battle! Just what do you all think your Captain Haori are anyway?"

"A pain in the ass." Kenpachi said in boredom.

"Cheap." Byakuya coldly remarked.

"Stylish?" Shunsui goofily suggested while cocking his head at the side.

That was when Yamamoto Genryuusai finally snapped.

"YOU FOOLS!"

Just outside Yamamoto-soutaichou's office, Ukitake, together with his two third seats Kiyone and Kotsubaki, sat beside the slightly opened door as they eavesdropped to what was happening inside. Ukitake carefreely smiled at the Captain-commander's energetic lecture while the other two flustered upon hearing his enraged voice.

"The captain seems like he's doing well." Kotsubaki commented, slightly frightened at the outburst.

"Yeah…" Kiyone silently agreed.

"It's been ten days since the battle, he lost his left arm but I'm glad to see him in good spirits." Their captain softly mentioned, peeking at the door to see the old man so lively. But when he returned his gaze, his eyes contained sadness.

"There's not yet anyone in soul society who can take his place. . ." He said with a melancholic expression, knowing that if Yamamoto-soutaichou were to disappear, Gotei 13 will surely fall. He was after all the pillar that makes all of them rise up. He only hoped that the time the Captain Commander be changed wouldn't come so soon.

Akane sat at the edge of the roof, carefully listening to the sound of her Grandfather's voice. Everything confused her, and she didn't know what to think or feel. She was surprised because what she was hearing was very very far from what she expected.

She was kind of expecting Yamamoto Genryuusai gasping for each breath at each word he spoke yet there he was yelling, shouting and scolding the captains as if he was lecturing some children. She didn't really know whether she felt disappointed or relieved but one thing assured her, and that was knowing that her grandfather was doing well. Hearing his angry voice, instead of frightening her and traumatizing her from her past, it made her drop all of her worries, anxiousness and sadness that she felt before.

She never felt so relieved and relaxed as she listened to his lecture and she even found herself smiling at the silliness of their conversation. She thought how he hasn't changed at all, always taking everything so seriously when it comes to Soul Society, and always willing to sacrifice everything even his life just for it's sake. He didn't even show any mercy to the poor captains for losing their haoris. That was how loyal he was for his duty. That was who Yamamoto Genryuusai is.

Suddenly, irritation hit her as she realized that Yoruichi and Kisuke tricked her to coming here. They made it sound like her grandfather was grasping for his life and was currently battling against life and death! She made a mental note to kill them both for worrying her poor heart when she returns. But then she thought of the reason why they did that to her and she asked herself.

If she knew that her grandfather was alright, would she still be able to come her in Soul Society? Did she even really have the intention of returning to Seireitei if it hadn't been for knowing he was hurt?

Akane closed her eyes. She knew that if it hadn't been for that, she wouldn't be here right now. She was just not strong enough to make herself return. She just can't. Unfortunately for her, she still was not ready. And sadly, she realized the truth that she was still the weak girl who ran away from everything a long time ago. All the while she was fooling herself to something she was not.

She stood up and looked at the view of Soul Society in front of her. She just wasn't prepared to return after all this time. She didn't even have any idea when she would be ready, or if she ever will be.

"Sorry old man, I'm still a coward after all." She whispered to herself. "Just one last glance,"

". . .and I'm off to continuing my miserable life." She let herself fall, and by the time her feet gracefully touched the ground, she caught a glimpse of her grandfather through the slightly opened door.

She felt herself go numb from what she saw, realizing that what Yoruichi and Kisuke told her weren't all lies after all. She thought that the old man truly was stupid, for sacrificing his left arm all for the sake of his duty.

"Crazy old man." She mumbled, feeling utterly defeated. Suddenly, she heard a voice near her.

"Who are you?"

Akane froze in shock as she heard someone call to her. She wanted to kill herself for not noticing that there were people idling at the door. Again, she congratulated herself for picking the perfect time to be stupid. What's worse was that the voice sounded familiar, and when she looked towards the one who called her, her mind shouted one thing:

RUN.

Ukitake didn't know what to think when he saw an unknown shinigami suddenly appear in front of the door of the Captain-commander's office. She had her face covered and she seemed too focused to looking through the door. Ukitake observed that she did not notice the presence of him or his third seats at all. He didn't want to quickly consider her as an intruder so he thought it would be best if he would just ask.

"Who are you?" He said, standing up and moving towards her. He saw the woman froze when he spoke, and as soon as their eyes met he noticed her hazel eyes widen in shock followed by her quick escape.

Akane didn't know where she was going. She only had one thing in her mind and that is to go far away from Jushiro. Her heart was beating so fast as she flash stepped at each roof she could find and then cursed when she sensed him following behind her back.

Shit! How can I be so stupid and lucky at the same time? Of all the shinigamis here in Seireitei, why Jushiro? She grieved in her mind, flash stepping as if her life depended on it. She may be skilled in shunpo, but she knew very well that Jushiro was faster than her. Now, she only hoped for the impossible.

Ukitake was trailing behind her, slowly decreasing their distance at each step but as soon as she was beyond his reach, his sickness hit him and he started to cough blood. They reached a meadow and Ukitake fell on his knees with his hand covering his mouth. He knew that he shouldn't have pushed himself too much.

Akane heard Jushiro cough behind her painfully and was alarmed when she sensed him come to a stop. She glanced behind her and saw him kneeling on the ground coughing blood. It hurt her seeing him like that, and suddenly she remembered in the past that he had always been sick, yet he continued to smile despite all of that.

Once again, Akane was trapped in a dilemma. She had no idea what to do and she hated it so much. Take the chance to escape? Or choose to be reckless and stupid and run towards him to help? But she already knew what she would do, and only cursed herself for thinking of leaving him behind.

Ukitake was shocked upon seeing the woman he was pursuing flash step towards him. She leaned down and looked at him with worried eyes as he tried to stop his coughing.

"Jushiro, are you alright?" He heard her say with her voice filled with concern, but what unsettled him the most was that he felt like he had heard that voice before, and that he had seen those same eyes a long time ago.

"Who exactly are you?" He asked as he searched her eyes. He knows her. He knows in his heart that he does. Then suddenly, unable to handle his curiosity anymore, his hand unconsciously moved on its own, as he gently pulled the woman's red scarf, revealing her worried face.

"Akane." He breathed, unable to speak in bewilderment. It shocked him to see her after a century of disappearance. She changed so much, yet so little, he thought as he looked at her face. And all he could think right now was that she had grown into a beautiful woman.

Suddenly he snapped from his thoughts when she heard her troubled voice. "Oi Jushiro, answer me please, are you alright? Shall I bring you to the Fourth Division?"

"No, no. I'm alright, really. This happens all the time. But wait, Akane-" He tried to talk but she stopped him mid-sentence.

"I'm glad you're okay." She softly said, giving a smile of relief. "But I'm sorry Jushiro, because I really need to escape away from you right now."

And with that, she suddenly flash stepped as she disappeared from his sight, leaving the perplexed captain behind. The captain didn't move from where he was for a moment, and then suddenly his eyes caught something in his hand.

She forgot her scarf.

A/N: Hello peeps! Again, again, again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart if you reached up to here. Thank you so much and I hope I'll see you next chap :D And if you liked it please review. Knowing the fact that someone is reading and following my fanfic makes me want to love to write more and more :) and also, I would like to thank those who have reviewed and favorited this fanfic. Btw, if you have something to say, suggest or whatsoever, don't hesitate to ask away. Thank you thank you thank you! :D

P.S.: if you haven't noticed, I actually borrowed the lost haori scene from the manga. I really really love that scene and I could never get tired of that! XD next chap: intruder alert and hopefully I pray that I could make byakuya appear ahahah XD

~lost_feather: A million thanks again for your review! I'm really happy that you liked that previous chap, and I'm glad to know that you're following this fanfic. I really do love and thank you for that! And please don't hesitate to say what you think about the next chaps, if it's boring, slow, corny or whatever XD so that I would know and I could improve my writing ahahahha XD again, this time a billion thanks lost_feather! btw, help me! OMG I'm starting to think about akane and ukitake OMG OMG please remind me how much you and I love byakuya before my next chapters betrays me! AHAHHAHA XD