A/N: For the photo shoot, if you need help imagining what the final picture looks like, look at the final image in the Houkiboshi endings, where the captain and vice-captain pose to the right of their Division insignia.

So, I originally intended to off-set the romantic plot and the actual plot, so that the ByaYuzu got resolved about halfway through the story and we could have fluffiness and an exploration of the relationship for the second half. But last night, while plotting, I realized that both the main plot and the romantic plot would have more impact if I combined them, and extending the main plot further than that would leave me with…well, Bleach-scale pacing problems, which is one aspect of the series I don't want to carry over into this fic. I still want to have relationship scenes, though, because the way the plot is set up, the end of the romantic plot is still going to have a lot of loose ends for our heroes, relationship and goal-wise.

This means there's probably going to be a sequel. A Slice-of-Life-y sequel much along the lines of Phases, with a focus on character growth (AND FLUFF) instead of plot development. Just thought you might like to know. ^^

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. At all.

Chapter 14: The shape of things

"Kuchiki-taicho, if you could perhaps stand a little bit to your left," said Nanao, adjusting her glasses. "And Kurosaki-fukutaicho, if you could move forward a bit and to your right?"

Yuzu stepped forward, moving to the right as Byakuya obligingly moved over a step to the left. The two of them were standing in front of a huge white banner, with the kanji for 6 written within the Gotei 13's black diamond. She leaned forward, placing a hand on her sword as if she was going to draw it. "Like this, Ise-san?" she asked.

"Hmm…" Nanao frowned, exchanging a glance with Hinamori, who was standing on the other side of the camera. The Fifth Division fukutaicho shook her head.

"I don't know…" she said, "It still looks kind of awkward. No offense, Yuzu-chan."

"Iie, none taken," said Yuzu, straightening up. She gave them an embarrassed smile, resting her left hand on Jungetsu's hilt. It looked like a 'simple photo shoot' could be much harder than she thought. She watched as Nanao and Hinamori moved towards each other to confer quietly, a drop of sweat appearing on the back of her head.

"Kurosaki, perhaps we should use the Seaweed Ambassador after all," said Byakuya from behind her.

"I respectfully disagree, taicho," she said without missing a beat.

Byakuya frowned, looking as though he was going to say something more, but Hinamori looked up from the conference, her eyes wide.

"I have an idea," she said. "Yuzu-chan, do you mind releasing your zanpakuto?"

"Eh?" asked Yuzu, looking up. "Release…Jungetsu?"

"Please?" asked Hinamori. "I want to try something."

She exchanged a glance with the captain. At his slight nod, she drew her sword, holding it horizontally in front of her. "Reflect," she said. "Jungetsu."

The sword glowed with a blue light, the two white fans forming in each of her hands a she pulled them away. The light settled over her shoulders, forming the sash that connected them. As always, it hovered a few inches over her shihakusho, not quite touching. The blue light faded, leaving what looked like white silk in its place. She held the fans in either hand, snapped shut, with her hands clasped in front of her.

"How's this?" she asked, looking at the two women. Light reflected against Nanao's glasses as she studied them intently, and Hinamori's eyes gleamed.

"That might work," said Nanao.

"It's perfect, Yuzu-chan!" said Hinamori, clasping her hands together. "Now, if you could just open one of them—maybe the one in your left—yes, and keep the other one at your side. Higher, please. A little bit higher. Lower."

Yuzu moved to follow Hinamori's directions, holding the fan in her right hand at her side, with the end pointed down. She opened the fan in her left, holding it in front of her, with the rounded end of the fan obscuring her face below her nose. The fabric of the sash settled just over the crook of her arm, seeming suspended in the air. Without the reiatsu blades active, Jungetsu looked like two ordinary white fans, like the sort a lady might carry. Hinamori stepped forward, adjusting Yuzu's left arm so that the badge tied onto it would show up clearly on the camera, then took a step back, smiling.

"That looks good," she said. "Now, Kuchiki-taicho, if you could just face your left a little bit, away from Yuzu-chan, like you're keeping watch on that side of the room—yes, that's perfect." Hinamori frowned, cupping her chin with her hand and considering the pose. "Hmm…I don't know. It's still missing something."

"The eyes," said Nanao. "Kurosaki-fukutaicho, you don't look serious enough. "You have your zanpakuto out, so try and look a little more intimidating."

Yuzu frowned, trying to narrow her eyes into a glare. "Um—like this?" she asked uncertainly. She felt silly just trying it, and knew she couldn't look very convincing.

Both Nanao and Hinamori shook their heads, looking away. "That's just not working," said Hinamori. "Maybe we should just take the picture?"

"It looks like we'll have to," said Nanao, adjusting her glasses. "It looks fine as is. It should be alright."

"Gomen," said Yuzu, lowering the fan slightly. Her shoulders slumped. "I'm not really a very good actor, I guess…"

"It's fine, Kurosaki-fukutaicho," said Nanao, waving her hand. "We're just trying to make sure the picture shows a coherent theme. But it's better for you to act natural than to force yourself."

"Don't worry about it, Yuzu-chan," said Hinamori, giving her a reassuring smile. "I can't act intimidating on cue either."

"Uh—mm." Yuzu dropped her gaze, nodding and lifting the fan back up into place.

"Catalina," said Byakuya from behind her, his voice low.

Yuzu straightened back up. "Taicho?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.

Byakuya didn't take his eyes away from his corner of the room, which he stared down with relentless intensity, his hand on Senbonzakura's hilt. "The Arrancar Catalina Falza is in front of you. Picture it."

She frowned, but nodded, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Yuzu pictured herself back in Tokyo, facing down the redheaded Arrancar. No. She pictured herself back in the desert, the first time she encountered Catalina. The day that the Arrancar put herself between Yuzu, Karin, and safety, the day that the Arrancar had threatened to take her sister.

The day she'd manifested Jungetsu.

In her mind's eye, that day became as clear as if she was there again. She felt the fans in her hand respond, a current of power shooting through them and through the sash over her shoulders, making everything seem more alive. A small disturbance, a ripple forming on the surface of Jungetsu's pond. The girl in the pond closed her eyes and appeared to actually rise from the depths, stopping just beneath the water's surface as though it was a physical barrier actually holding her back. The surface of the water rocked, waves swelling as though a wind had picked up, when in fact the air of the inner world was still. The waves lapped against the shore around the pond, sending droplets of water flying. Words appeared on the inside of her mind.

I reflect.

She opened her eyes, and saw for an instance not Nanao and Hinamori in front of her, but Catalina, standing in the desert with one hand on her hip, an arrogant smirk on her face and her zanpakuto in her right hand.

The image was almost…real.

She heard an indrawn breath. "Take the picture!" Hinamori said, sounding frantic. "Take the picture!"

A camera's shutter clicked, and the image of Catalina faded. In an instant, she was standing in the Sixth Division's office again, Hinamori and Nanao standing in front of her, and the taicho at her back. She stared, watching as Nanao stepped out from behind the camera. Her heart pounded in her chest.

What…what was that?

And why did she feel so drained? Her arms ached, as if her zanpakuto was suddenly too heavy for her.

In the back of her mind, Jungetsu let out a long sigh, as if she too was tired. She sank back into the pond, hovering at her normal depth, and remained frozen there, her white robes suspended in the water around her. The pond's surface quieted, becoming still again.

As if nothing had happened at all, Hinamori beamed at her, stars in her eyes as she clasped her hands together. "That was perfect, both of you!" she said. "You looked like characters out of a period drama! The scarf—and the fans—and Jungetsu's cloth—ah! Just like a lord and lady!"

Yuzu flushed, lowering her fan and Byakuya's eyes widened a fraction. Hinamori, sensing that she had spoken out of turn, quickly clapped her hands over her mouth, taking a step back. "I mean—," she said. "Ah—I mean—I'm sorry, Kuchiki-taicho."

"You did both look very regal," said Nanao, stepping to the rescue. "So whatever you told Kurosaki-fukutaicho must have worked. It fits the Sixth Division. Now if only I can get the taicho to cooperate for our photo…" The last was mumbled irritably under her breath, as she moved to pack the camera up. Hinamori hesitated, then moved to help her, giving the two of them a quick bow.

"Thank you for your time," she said. "We'll send you proofs once the pictures are ready, before we start putting the calendar together. Um…the Sixth Division will be the month of May, because the First will be the cover photo for the entire calendar."

"Ah—don't worry about it," said Yuzu, realizing that Hinamori was waiting for a response. "Thank you for coming out here."

When the pleasantries were exchanged and the two of them were gone, Yuzu exhaled, letting Jungetsu slip back into its sealed form. She sheathed the sword and discovered that her hands were shaking. A quick look into the inner world, her left hand resting on the cap on top of Jungetsu's hilt, told her that her zanpakuto spirit still hadn't opened her eyes. She hovered there, motionless, as if she was asleep.

Behind her, Byakuya moved back towards his desk, stepping around her. His expression said that it was business as usual, as though nothing had happened at all.

She wiped her hands on her robes, her heart pounding in her chest. "T-Taicho," she said, causing him to look back. He frowned at her. "Did—did you see…?"

"Did I see what, Kurosaki?" asked Byakuya.

"Nothing." The word left her mouth far too quickly for comfort. It was the only thing she could think to say. "It's nothing, taicho. Nothing at all."

Karin glanced at the address on the sheet of paper in front of her, looking around the darkened street. It was more crowded than she remembered it being, and some of the buildings and shops were different, but aside from that, it hadn't changed too much. A group of high school students in gray uniforms moved past her, walking through the two of them as if they weren't even there.

None of them looked over their shoulders. While Karakura Town had a higher percentage of the spiritually aware than any other place in Japan at this point, those people were still rather rare, maybe one in twenty that were born after the Winter War. Out of all of those, a few would only have the minor ability to sense spirits, the same as Yuzu had had when she was still living. The others would be able to see spirits, but not manifest abilities of their own. The majority of Karakura Town's residents still lived their lives, unaware of the forces that often battled over this small town.

She'd been like that once, sixteen years ago. It felt like a lifetime.

"Ne, Karin-chan, are you sure you know where you're going?"

Karin's eye twitched, her hand clenching into a fist. She lowered the sheet of paper, glancing over her shoulder. "Like I told you five minutes ago," she said. "I haven't been gone that long. It's this way. Come on."

She strode down the street, moving one of the older buildings. In the past, she remembered this particular building as being one of the apartment complexes rented out to students who were living alone. Now, it appeared as though Kusanagi had appropriated the space. The building was a somewhat traditional-style house, set within its own lot and blocked off from the surrounding area by a high stone wall. The sign on the wall near the entrance to the complex still had the building's old name on it.

Sakurabashi Apartments

No Vacancy

Beneath it was something else, a symbol that would have been invisible to anyone who couldn't see spirits in the first place. An unsheathed katana, set within a glowing circle. The emblem of Kusanagi.

"I told you we'd find it," Karin said to Yumichika as the two of them stepped through the gate, walking up to the front door.

It was quiet. Not even a breeze stirred the night. The courtyard was dark, the lamps that would have lined the paths remaining unlit. Karin walked up the steps towards the door, wondering if Kusanagi was even expecting them at all. She knocked and waited, her left hand resting on top of Ongetsu's hilt, just in case.

The door slid open, admitting a small square of light. Karin caught a glimpse of a dark-haired boy with thick glasses peering out at them from the crack, before the door slammed shut again. Her eyes widened, and she reached out to catch it, nearly getting her fingers caught in the gap for her trouble. She snatched her hand back just in time, muttering a curse.

"Oi!" she shouted, stepping forward. "What the hell?"

Hurried footsteps sounded from inside, followed by muffled voices. The door opened again, this time sliding open fully. Karin blinked.

The girl inside could not have been more than eleven years old, way too young to be involved with Kusanagi. She was dressed in a green and white striped sleeveless shirt and a pair of shorts, her black hair done up into two pigtails. Her eyes were a bright green. The girl stared at them, then stepped away from the door, cupping her mouth in her hand and yelling down the hallway.

"Oi, nii-san!" she yelled. "The shinigami are here!"

"Hisoka, I told you not to answer the door!" said a harassed looking young adult, hurrying over to them. Yasui Tetsuya was at least someone that Karin recognized. She watched as Yasui placed his hands on the girl's shoulders, steering her away from the entrance. The girl frowned at him, folding her arms.

"I'm a member of Kusanagi too!" she said. "Besides, Yama-kun told me they were here. You know how he is."

Yasui sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "For the last time, you're not a member of Kusanagi; you don't even have any powers," he said, with the tone of someone who had had this very same argument multiple times. "You just live here. Now please, go back to the room. It's dangerous out here."

"Hmph!" Hisoka scowled, glaring at her brother, but turned and ran down the hallway anyway, pausing at the corner to look back over her shoulder and give Yasui one last angry look. She slid around the corner, vanishing from sight.

"Does she remind you of anyone?" Yumichika asked over her shoulder, a smile on her face.

"Shut up," said Karin, her eyes narrowing.

Yasui waited for her to go, then took a deep breath, turning towards Karin and Yumichika. "Sorry about that," he said. "She can be a little…spirited. Kurosaki Karin-san and Ayasegawa Yumichika-san, correct?"

"Mm," said Karin, nodding. Behind her, Yumichika gave Yasui a smug smile, nodding as well.

"I'm Yasui Tetsuya," said Yasui, offering them both a bow. "That was my younger sister, Yasui Hisoka. She lives here with me. The boy you saw before was Yamamura Masao. It's nice to meet all of you. If you don't mind, could we step away from the door? It isn't exactly safe to leave it open for so long."

The two shinigami exchanged glances but nodded, stepping inside and letting the sliding door close behind them. Yasui led them along a narrow corridor, heading down the opposite path that Hisoka had taken. Karin let Yumichika take the lead now that they were inside—he seemed inclined to pretend to be personable, and she wasn't really one for small talk. She wondered how long Yumichika's good mood would last. Probably until the first time he saw something ugly. Or whatever he considered as ugly anyway.

"Have you been having problems with Hollows, Yasui-kun?" asked Yumichika as the three of them turned a corner and ventured down another hallway.

"Not really," said Yasui, shaking his head. "But Mari-chan says that the sensors have been acting weird lately, and after everything that's happened in Tokyo, Shimoda-san thinks it's better safe than sorry. E…to…let's see. I think your rooms are over here."

He paused, opening one sliding door and letting a wave of noise out into the hallway. The three of them blinked, staring as a pair of Kusanagi members struggled with each other on the empty room floor. One of them was the boy from earlier, a small, mouse-like boy with glasses, dressed in the Karakura High school uniform. The other was a blond woman with brown eyes, and was holding him in a headlock.

"I said apologize!" she snarled, squeezing harder. "Apologize, damn you!"

"Fuji—Fujimura-san—," said the boy, struggling to break free. "Please let me go!" Dramatic tears streamed down his cheeks from behind his glasses.

Beside her, Yumichika's face fell, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the scene in front of him. "Ugly."

Well, that hadn't lasted very long.

Karin watched, one hand on her hip, as Yasui stepped forward, clearing his throat. The two immediately sprang apart, the boy collapsing onto the floor as the woman pushed away from him. Their eyes moved from Yasui to the pair of shinigami behind him, and the woman immediately got to her feet. The boy stared at them, his eyes widening in shock, and as Karin watched, he began to disappear, his body becoming transparent from his feet up.

"Oh, no you don't!" said the woman, before he could finish, grabbing onto his arm and pulling him back to reality. She forced him to his feet. Now that they were both standing, Karin could see that the woman was at least a good head taller than he was. She was smiling, one hand on the back of her neck.

"Sorry," she said. "Was this one of the guest rooms?"

"What do you think?" asked Yasui in a flat tone.

The woman gave a nervous laugh in reply. Yasui sighed, looking back at them. "Kurosaki-san, Ayasegawa-san, this is Fujimura Mizuki, one of the original members of Kusanagi. You remember Masao-kun."

Masao looked down at the ground, shuffling his feet together nervously. The woman, Mizuki, took that as an opportunity to use his head as an armrest. "Sorry you had to see that. Masao-chan doesn't like strangers," she said. "That's why he tends to turn invisible when he sees them. But sometimes, he doesn't look at which rooms he's walking into when he's like that."

Masao flushed, lowering his head further and muttering something under his breath.

Yasui heaved another sigh. "Anyway, whatever," he said. "Both of you, clear out so I can finish settling our guests. Shimoda-san wants us to meet before dinner."

"Hai, hai," said Mizuki, waving her hand. She took Masao by the arm, leading him toward the door, but before she could get there, the sound of running feet rang out from the hallway.

"TETSUYA!" shouted a female voice.

Yasui blanched, all the color draining from his face. Karin looked, watching as a woman with short black hair, a pink streak dyed into it, raced down the hallway, running towards them. She burst into the room, grabbing onto Yasui by the shoulder and spinning it around.

Yasui looked like a man facing down his death. He gulped.

"M-M-Mari-chan," he said. "What—what is it?"

"Where the hell," asked Mari, her eyes narrowed. "is my equipment? Where is my lab, Tetsuya?"

"Uh—um—we had to move it to the basement."

Mari's hold on Yasui's shoulder tightened.

"You did what?" she asked.

Yasui shrank back, raising his hands as if warding off a blow. "It wasn't my idea, I swear! Shimoda-san said we needed the space to house our guests. He made me do it!"

"I see," said the girl, releasing Yasui's shoulder. Yasui let out a relieved sigh as Mari turned away, rubbing at the place she had grabbed. That was, until she said her next words. "Then, we should kill him."

"What?!" asked Yasui, his eyes widening.

"Yes," said Mari, looking back at him. She sounded completely serious. "Shimoda has led this organization long enough. A new leader will offer us a fresh perspective."

"What—what—no!" said Yasui, shaking his head. "No, we are not doing that!"

"You're either with me, or against me, Tetsuya," said Mari.

"I—what—no—what?"

"I understand," said Mari, turning away from him. "I will give you time to consider your answer. I—." She paused, as if noticing Karin and Yumichika for the first time. The pair of shinigami looked on, their expressions a mix of horrified and fascinated. Mari blinked at them.

"Tetsuya," she said, "Are these our guests?"

Yasui sighed, straightening out his shirt. "Hai, Mari-chan," she said.

"I see." Mari clasped both hands in front of her, bowing. "My name is Kouda Mari," she said. "This idiot is my boyfriend. I apologize for any trouble he's caused."

He's not the one causing the trouble, thought Karin, sweatdrops appearing on the back of her head as she took a step back.

"What's all this noise?" asked another, unfamiliar voice. "Are our guests here already?"

The three of them looked up. A man stood in the hallway, with long blond hair coming down to his back. His eyes were a deep violet. He was well-dressed, and slender, wearing an expensive and slightly colorful collection of clothes. With him was another girl in Karakura's high school uniform, a girl with brown hair and hazel eyes, a pair of square glasses on her face. She had her hands clasped in front of her and was studiously staring at the floor, her face flushed.

"Kasumi-chan said she detected a reiatsu spike," said the man, looking up. "Are our guests here—." He paused, his eyes fixing on Yumichika. The Fifth Seat was also looking at him. They blinked, their eyes meeting for a moment.

Karin watched with mingled horror and disbelief as the two of them stepped forward, staring at each other, eyes wide.

"Your hair—," said the blond man.

"Your clothes—," said Yumichika.

Oh, hell no, thought Karin, folding her arms. One peacock, she could deal with, but two?! In one place?

"You must tell me where you bought that," said Yumichika, as the two of them walked off down the hallway.

"Only if you tell me who your stylist is. It's only fair…" said the other man.

Beside her, Yasui watched the scene, his expression more exasperated than anything. He sighed, folding his arms. "Kurosaki-san, may I introduce to you Shimoda Juro, the head of Kusanagi?"

"I was afraid you would say that," Karin muttered back.

TO BE CONTINUED

Omake

Given the sheer amount of books contained in the Sixth Division's administrative office, it wasn't odd for Yuzu to walk in to find the captain reading. What was odd was what he was reading. Instead of the usual hard-bound, traditional looking tomes that lined the office's walls, Kuchiki Byakuya was engrossed in what looked like a glossy paperback novel. Her eyes drifted across the title.

Throne of the Seven Kingdoms.

A drop of sweat appeared on the back of her head. She cleared her throat, closing the door to the office behind her. "A-Ano…taicho…what are you reading?"

Byakuya flipped the page, not even looking up. "This book that I found in the human world," he said. "It came highly rated, despite being written by a foreigner. The language can be rather crass, but the story is strangely engrossing. I'm particularly fond of this Lord Eddard Stark."

Yuzu fell silent. Byakuya paused in his reading, looking up at her.

"What is it, Kurosaki?" he asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"N-Nothing, taicho," said Yuzu, with a strained attempt at a smile. "N-Nothing at all. Please enjoy your reading!" She scurried back to her desk, picking up the first file on top of it and hurriedly flipping through it. Byakuya frowned at her over the top of his book.

"Hn," he finally said, turning his eyes back to the page.

Note: For those of you wondering, "Throne of the Seven Kingdoms" (Shichiokoku no Gyokuza) is the Japanese title for "A Game of Thrones".