Prologue

Italics: Thoughts

Bold Italics: Memories & Dreams

"Yashi, you have to be careful never reveal your abilities to anyone.""But why mama? " the child questioned in confusion.

"There are people out there who will like to use you promise me you'll be careful. "

A female voice spoke. The older woman looked down at the five year old child with saddened eyes. "Alright mama I won't. " the orange haired girl smiled brightly up at her mother as they walked hand in hand off towards there destination unaware of the figure shadowed in the trees behind them.

"I will have your abilities Yashiro Kubeyashi. " snickering the figure disappeared without a sound.

~100 years later~

Unohana-taicho I apologize for my tardiness, the members of Squad Eleven picked a fight with Hanataro again. The orange haired female said as her Captain sighed.

"No problem Yashiro-san I'm glad that you were there to properly deal with the problem. " Unohana replied with a gentle smile as the younger female smiled back. Hanataro walked in a nervous smile on his face. "Thank you Yashiro-san your always helping me out. "

Yashiro merely chuckled as she smiled "Come on I couldn't let my squad member get pummeled especially my best friend. " Hanataro smiled as she patted his head affectionately. Unohana smiled before picking up the stack of papers from her desk.

"Yashiro-san I need you to deliver these to Captain Hitsugaya. "Yashiro nodded taking the load of paperwork in her hand. "Yes Unohana-taicho. " "I-Is it ok if I come with you. " Hanataro questioned fiddling with his thumbs. "Of course it is let's go. "

Both reapers left as Unohana gazed at the door absentmindedly. Yashiro and Hanataro we're walking down the hallway of the sixth barracks as they say Byakuya walking down. Hanataro immediately tensed up at the Captain's presence.

"Good morning Kuchiki-taicho. " Yashiro greeted cheerily to the stoic male. He nodded eyes trailing to the smaller male who seemed to cower. Without a word Byakuya continued walking disappearing down the hallway.

Yashiro sighed, "Hanataro-san you have to be a little more assertive or people will continue to push you around." He nodded sadly. "I-I know it's just I kinda wish I was stronger like those members in Zaraki-taicho's squad.

"Listen those guys are just a bunch of mindless brutes, if it wasn't for the members of the Fourth Division they would have probably been killed years ago, because of their own stupidity. They need us as much as we need them. so don't think your less than anyone. "

Hanataro smiled a small blush adorning his cheeks. "Thanks Yashiro-san." she nodded with a smile "No problem.

~Squad Ten Barracks~

Approaching the door Yashiro knocked lightly on the door. "Come in. " a stern voice ordered as both reapers entered the Captain's office. A couch was placed closer to the right side of the room as Toshiro was hunched over his desk which was situated closer to the back. His eyes we're gazing over the paper work on his desk a scowl on his face. Looking up he stared at the two Fourth squad reapers before a sigh escaped his mouth at the sheets of paper work in the orange haired female's hands.

"We've brought paper work from Captain Unohana. "Toshiro ran a hand through his short white hair before nodding staring bitterly at what seemed to be never ending paper work.

"Thank you Kubeyashi-san just leave them on my desk I'll have Matsumoto handle them. Yashiro snorted inwardly. "Fat chance of that happening."Toshiro didn't even seem convinced of his own words and just went back to his previous stack of papers. Placing the papers on the empty part of his desk Yashiro smiled politely.

Toshiro's turquoise colored eyes scanned the female recalling what Matsumoto had told him earlier about the female being rather fearless as she defended Hanataro against some bigger opponents.

Hanataro had been silent since they had entered watching how Yashiro seemed to interact calmly with everyone no matter their rank. A part of him as wished he could be as out going as she was but his constant fears seemed to hold him back.

"We will be going now Captain. " Yashiro said with a respectful bow. With a short nod both reapers exited the Tenth Squad Barracks. Yashiro possessed a Zampaktou much like a hunting knife that was always kept on her waist. To all the other reapers she only used it to cut up herbs and medicines but the small knife was a cover to protect the real form and power of her zampaktou. After she had returned Captain Unohana had told them their was no immediate work to be tended to due to Aizen's betrayal a lot of the Captains had merely trying to recover from it all.

It had been considerably hard on a lot of people especially since Captain Tousen and Ichimaru had left as accomplices, things never seemed like they could get back to the way it was at least not until after Aizen had been caught and defeated. Both Yashiro and Hanataro had wandered off since there seem to be no work that they had to attend to at the moment.

"Did you hear about it? " Yashiro snapped out of her daze turning to Hanataro.

"Sorry I was a little distracted what did you say? "

"Oh, I was just asking if you heard about the weird hollow appearances."

She shook her head, orange hair swaying lightly with the breeze. "Yeah I heard from Ichigo that something weird had been going on in the World of the Living. Hollows have been popping up more frequently than ever, not only that but the strange flare in reiatsu has been going of in a lot if different areas to. "

Yashiro gave a skeptical look. "The Captains have been extra cautious, I guess that's why things have been so tense lately. " Yashiro nodded in agreement.

"It could explain why I've been having a hard time maintaining my reiatsu." she pondered

she was getting a little worried she usually kept her spiritual pressure under control, it was easy but it seemed to be equally as challenging lately.

"Umm, you heard it from Kurosaki Ichigo? " Hanataro chuckled lightly at her formal tone.

"You know you can just call him Ichigo, I'm positive he won't mind. "Yashiro nodded bashfully. She had heard all the rumors about the Substitute Soul Reaper but had yet to meet him.

"You met him already Hanataro, what's he like? " she questioned curiously as they continued to walk through the Soul Society approaching an area populated by trees. Hanataro rubbed the back of his neck with a smile. "We didn't exactly meet on great terms. When Rukia was going to be executed he was part of the group of Ryouka that infiltrated the Soul Society."

Yashiro's eyes widen in surprise. "I thought that was just rumors."

Hanataro shook his head. " Ichigo actually held me hostage when we first met.

Her blue eyes hardened. "HE WHAT! " a flock of birds scattered out of a tree nearby at her outburst as Hanataro waved his hand around frantically. "It's alright, really. "

Yashiro let out a puff of air sharply as he continued. "Ichigo treated me a lot kinder that some of the Squad Eleven members, they we're going to cut right through. Some of them even laughed at his threat. " A soft sigh escaped her lips at his forced smile as he recalled the memory.

"Ichigo treated me like I was his friend when I in fact was his enemy, he could have killed me the second he realized I was useless to him but he didn't, even protected me."

Yashiro grinned widely as a smile adorn Hanataro's face. He really thought of Ichigo as an important friend.

"Well any friend of yours is a friend of mine. I can't wait to meet him." She said cheerfully as Hanataro's face brighten at the thought.