1890

"Be gone, beast!" Vincent shouted at the large monster in the field. He was swinging a shovel, doing little to intimidate the creature before him. It was large and black and walked like a man, but the beastly howls it made and the hole in its chest convinced the painter otherwise.

He had seen the beasts on several occasions, but whenever he spoke of them it was passed off as madness. But he knew the truth. They were as real as the grain on which the beast tread, and more dangerous than anything he knew. But he felt compelled for some reason to drive it away.

"Back! Go back to the hell from whence you came!" The creature grabbed the shovel with its hand, then threw Vincent backward. Standing up, he raised the shovel once again and ran toward the beast. Screaming and holding the shovel high, he was suddenly thrust backward a bit by a sharp pain in his chest.

Dropping the shovel, he looked down to see a glowing blue arrow. He touched the arrow, which seemed to explode into particles of glowing blue sand. Blood began to flow freely. He looked up at the beast, which then had one of the same arrows pierce its hide. The creature's entire being seemed to quake and dissolve, as it being erased from existence.

When the beast was gone, Vincent was on his knees and stared at the two figures approaching. They wore white attire with a blue cross and seemed to carry glowing blue bows.

"You missed your first shot," one of the men said. "You hit this human instead."

"I am sorry, my Master," the other said. "It will not happen again."

"It does not matter. He is nobody. A madman. He will not be missed."

The two left Vincent, clutching his chest as the blood flowed. He couldn't die like this... He still had so much to paint, even if nobody appreciated it.

Present Day

Kisaki approached Tamotsu's bedside. He was still dressed in his Shinigami robes, but she did not care. Tamotsu stirred uneasily. Moving carefully, Kisaki leaned in close.

"Tamotsu?" she said. "Tamotsu, please wake up..." Moving her hand, she ran her fingers gently across his face- only to have his eyes open wide. Moving so fast she could not react, Kisake was thrown against a wall and being lifted by her neck, Tamotsu's free arm rippling with yellow electricity. His eyes were wild, and her breath was cut off. "Tamotsu-" her garbled words choking their way out. "Please-"

Realization suddenly dawned on Tamotsu's face and he quickly lowered the female Arrancar. He turned away for a moment, then looked back. "I'm sorry, Kisaki," Tamotsu said. "Please forgive me."

"It was my fault," Kisaki responded. "I should not have disturbed you, but you seemed to have been having a bad dream."

"Bad, yes. But it was not a dream. It was a memory. I remembered one of my deaths."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?"

Tamotsu closed his eyes and sighed, placing his hands behind his back. "No. Not at this time. I'm going to have to leave Hueco Mundo for a while. There are a few things I must acquire."

"To forward the plan?"

Tamotsu nodded. "Yes."

"I'll come with you."

"No. I have to do this alone."

"Again." Rangiku held out her small cup and it was refilled with sake. She downed it quickly and held it out once more. "Again."

"I think you've had enough," Kira said from the chair next to Rangiku's.

"I can take it. Don't tell me when I've had enough."

"You can't drink away your problems, Rangiku."

"Just watch me." Rangiku downed another small glass and slammed it on the table, followed by her head. "Why did this happen? Why would he do this?"

"Shouldn't you still be in the infirmary?" Renji asked as he approached. "You took a nasty hit."

"What difference does it make?" Rangiku asked. "What's-her-name said she couldn't heal it anyway." Attempting to stand, she immediately fell to her knees and was caught by Kira.

"See?" Kira said. "You can't even walk straight."

Kira and Renji helped Rangiku over to a bench on the side of the wall where they set her slowly down. "Renji? Am I a good sister? Tell me I'm a good sister..."

"Sorry, but I don't have a say in the matter." Renji sat down and rested his head backward as he looked at the ceiling.

"He's never been angry or violent like this. Why would he go and do such a thing?"

Kira sighed as he folded his arms and looked down. "Actually, I remember a time when he was," he said.

"Yeah," Renji agreed. "Me too."

"What are you two talking about?" Rangiku looked at her two companions. "I've never seen Kiyoshi like that before..."

Kira sighed and seemed to slump even lower. "Perhaps you don't know him as much as you think you do."

45 years ago

"Yes! Yes!" Renji cried out as he stood up in the classroom filled with other students. "I know! Please let me do it, Sensie!"

"Energetic, aren't we?" the instructor said. "That's good. But for you to write on this blackboard the other students around you will have to leave their seats. I'll do it today."

Other students laughed as Renji sat down. It seemed to Renji that they were putting him down, overhearing some of their comments about him. "I heard he's from the seventy-eighth district," one student said.

"Yeah, he's in the lowest class," said another.

"Well, at least he's better than the eternal student over there," another student commented. "Word has it he's been in here for thirty years."

Renji looked to where the comments were being directed to see a young male student not too much older than he was. Short brown hair was parted to one side and he looked bored and disturbed.

"Now then, on to the next problem," the instructor said.

"Who is that?" Renji asked the student next to him.

"That," the student said, "is Tamotsu Toshiyuki. I don't know the details but they say he's on the bottom rank of every single class. He's nearly been kicked out several times but somehow manages to stay in."

Renji sat under a tree in the Academy, accompanied by Kira Izuru. The two had just introduced each other, as they had just finished their classes for the day.

"Your attacks are really strong, Renji," Kira said. "My hands are still shaking."

"Yeah, sorry," Renji responded. "I'm just stressed because I blew myself up during Kido practice."

Kira laughed. "You've got some great skills in fighting, but not so much in other aspects. That's all right. I'm just the opposite. I'm good with Kido but not fighting."

"Guess we just balance each other out then."

The two laughed, then noticed several students running toward the central courtyard. "I wonder what's going on?"

Standing up, they ran to find a large gathering. At the rear was Momo Hinomori, a female student who was also in their class. "What's going on?"

"You didn't hear?" the tall student next to her said. "One of the Captains is coming to inspect the Academy!"

From the large gate, a man with short brown hair and glasses entered. Wearing full black robes and a long sleeved Captain's Haori, several students gaped their mouths in awe. The Captain walked confidently between the trail left open by the students, his Lieutenant following close behind. A white haired man who always seemed to have his eyes closed.

"That's Captain Sosuke Aizen," one of the students said. "And his Lieutenant, Gin Ichimaru."

"This is incredible!" another student said. "I can't believe we get to see a Captain!"

Renji watched as the two men walked past. At one point, the Lieutenant seemed to look over and single out one of the students. A second later, several students seemed to be pushed aside as someone made their way through and exit the back of the crowd.

The student seemed to be a bit shorter than Renji, the uniform seemed to be more faded than the others. And from the way he was walking he was not at all pleased by the appearance of this particular pair from the Gotei Thirteen. When he was further away, Renji could see who it was and realized the uniform was faded from extended wear.

"Tamotsu Toshiyuki," a student behind Renji said as he watched the line of vision. "He always gets upset when Captains come and visit. Especially those two. Or so I hear."

"I keep hearing a lot of rumors about that guy," Renji responded. "What's with him?"

"He keeps mostly to himself, but nobody knows any hard facts about him. Except he's been here an extended period of time."

It was evening by the time Renji decided to return to his dormitory. They sky was darkening and some stars were beginning to shine. He walked alone, but could see a group of three older students. They were laughing among themselves, then suddenly stopped.

"Well look who it is," the tallest one said, clearly the leader of the group. "The eternal student himself."

Tamotsu was emerging from the corner of another hallway, staring at the ground as he walked.

"Come on," the second student said. "With all your time here you haven't learned to acknowledge people when they speak to you?"

Tamotsu continued walking when the third student stuck his foot out and tripped the younger student. "Whoops!" he said as the trio began laughing. "Guess that's something they didn't teach in your time!"

Tamotsu picked himself up and lunged at the trio screaming. They separated and Tamotsu swung at the air where they were standing a moment earlier. He tried punching again, but missed and was thrown forward as one of the students pushed him from behind.

He landed on the ground hard on his face, lifting it to reveal a cut lip. His body was quivvering.

"Aww, what's the matter?" the leader asked. "Are you going to cry now?"

"That's enough!" Renji said as he stepped forward. "Why are you doing this to him?"

"Stay out of this, Freshman," the second student said. "Give it a few years and you'll be doing the same thing."

Sitting on his knees with his head bowed, Tamotsu seemed to be muttering something under his breath. The largest student approached.

"What? We're not good enough for your insults to be said to our faces?" The student grabbed Tamotsu by the collar and lifted him above the ground. "Why don't you say it to my face?"

Tamotsu looked up to face the man, the fury in his face apparent. "Bakudo Sixty-three," he said, deliberately slow and deep. "Sajo Sabaku."

Glowing yellow chains rained down from the ceiling and wrapped around the larger student's body, causing him to drop Tamotsu who landed hard on the ground. The other two students turned to run but were stopped as more chains appeared and wrapped around them.

"How... How are you doing this?!"

Tamotsu placed his foot on the student's chest and pushed him off balance, causing the student to fall backward. With his foot firmly in place, Tamotsu only lowered his face to stare deep into his aggressor's eyes.

"You... I'll get you... I'll tell everyone!"

"Go ahead," Tamotsu said, his voice threatening. "Tell them how a pathetic student who can't do anything right- a student held back for thirty years- was able to bind you with an advanced binding spell. Who would believe you? And even if they did, what would they think? You'll be the one who will look bad."

The student and his companions remained silent as Tamotsu slowly walked away. He stopped a few steps past Renji and spoke without turning around. "It would be best if nobody knew what happened here. I would hate to have to bind you here as well."

"I ain't sayin anything," Renji said, raising his arms defensively. "But how did you learn that?"

"What do you expect," Tamotsu said, almost sounding disappointed. "I've been here a very long time..."

40 years ago

Renji stood proudly in his newly donned Shinigami uniform. It had been a difficult time, but he finally did it. He was graduating. The others in his class were also graduating, standing in the mass of black forms.

"Congratulations," came a booming voice. "You have all done well and have proven yourself willing and capable of joining the Thirteen Court Guard Squad. You will perform your duties and follow our proud traditions. Now the time has come for you to go forth. Serve your teammates well. Dismissed!"

The arena erupted into cheers as everyone expressed their excitement. "I finally did it, Rukia," Renji said to himself. "I'll see you around."

"Hey, Renji," a voice called out. Renji turned to see Kira running toward him.

"Ah, Kira," Renji responded. "You made it too, huh?"

"Yeah. I'm going into the Fourth Division."

"Fourth... That's the healers, right?"

"Yeah, they said my Kido abilities will greatly assist there."

"Heh. I'm going into the Eleventh Division." Renji thrust his chest out proudly. "The fighting Division."

"Wow. I think that's a perfect match for you."

The two Shinigami walked side by side. In the morning they would be reporting to their new Divisions and begin their duties as full fledged Shinigami. It seemed quiet, but Renji looked out into the woods just outside the gates. In the fading light, several flashes of various colors seemed to illuminate one particular area.

"What's going on there?" Renji asked. "Can you tell who it is?"

"I'm not able to sense any reiatsu," Kira answered. "None I can recognize at least."

As if by unspoken agreement, the two began to go toward the source of the flashing lights. As they got closer, they could hear several explosions. Whoever was doing this must be extremely upset about something.

A few moments later, they could see who it was. Even in the dim light there was no mistaking the short brown hair and faded blue uniform of Tamotsu Toshiyuki. He screamed and let loose a blast of blue energy which struck a large boulder and crumbled it into dust. Another blast of red energy struck a tree and the entire trunk seemed to blow outward.

Suddenly, Tamotsu turned around and thrust his finger toward Kira and Renji who immediately found themselves with their arms bound behind them by an invisible force.

"What do you two want?" Tamotsu growled. "You come to make fun of me too? The eternal student, isn't that right?"

"Tamotsu..." Renji said. "Why are you doing this?"

Tamotsu turned. "I'm getting held back... Again! That lousy Lieutenant Ichimaru... Ever since he started coming here he's found one excuse after another to keep me from graduating. Its all his fault!" Tamotsu thrust his hand toward another tree and a bolt of yellow lightning erupted from his hand and struck the tree causing splinters to fly in all directions.

"Well don't take it out on us! We've never done anything to you!"

"Exactly. You've never approached me to mock me, but you've never tried to befriend me either." Suddenly slumping down, Tamotsu fell to his knees. "Why... Why can't I do anything right?"

"Look, I'd love to talk but could you please release us from the binding spell?"

Tamotsu lifted his hand slowly then spread his fingers. Immediately, Kira and Renji found themselves free of the invisible bonds. "I'm sorry," Tamotsu said.

"You can't be so hard on yourself," Renji said as he stretched in his regained freedom. "I mean, I'm good at fighting and Kira here sucks at it."

"Hey..." Kira looked at Renji accusingly.

"Then again, he's far better at Kido than I'll ever be. I don't know why you're being held back, but there has to be a legitimate reason."

"Who all knows about your advanced Kido skill?"

Tamotsu sighed. "Just you two. The Kido instructor. And the bullies."

"Keep at it," Renji said, smiling and grabbing Tamotsu's shoulder. "Hey, we'll come in and check on you from time to time. And you keep learning those spells. You'll get out of here sooner or later."

Tamotsu smiled, still upset but feeling better. "I'd like that," he said. "Thank you."

Present Day

"I never knew he was like that," Rangiku said, having abandoned her drinks to listen. "He was always so cheerful when I came and visited."

"Probably because you were the only one that seemed to treat him fairly."

"Even back then, before we knew of our kinship, I always treated him as my younger brother."

Kira looked down at the table and took a deep breath. "I don't know all the details," he was saying. "And I don't know why he would betray the Soul Society. But maybe he's harbored deep resentment toward us."

"This is all speculation, though," Renji said. "The only one who knows why he did this is Tamotsu himself..."

The Gargantua opened slowly, seeming to separate the air as the gateway between dimensions took form. Tamotsu stepped through and looked around. He was in the correct area he was aiming for. It wasn't easy, but he managed to make his way into Kisuke Urahara's underground training area.

He hadn't taken more than two steps when a crimson arc of energy sailed past his head and struck the rocks to his side.

"That was a warning," Urahara said. "I won't be so nice with the next one."

"I don't want to fight, Kisuke," Tamotsu said. "I just need to borrow a few things from you."

Urahara jumped down from a perch and landed softly, his zanpakuto in hand. "So informal all of a sudden," he said. "I know what you did in Soul Society and I'm sorry but I can't allow you move on with whatever plans you have."

Tamotsu sighed and shook his head. "Oh, Kisuke, you disappoint... I thought you strove to know all the dealings in Soul Society."

"My sources are reliable enough."

"You just don't get it, do you? Everything in Seireitei... Its all an illusion. And I'm going to shatter that illusion."

"You can explain yourself in front of the Central Forty-Six."

"Acting as judge and jury... Condemning me without hearing both sides of the story... Don't you want to know the truth?"

Urahara paused for a moment, but spoke while still holding his zanpakuto and pointing it in Tamotsu's direction. "You have thirty seconds to explain yourself, and then I will attack without mercy."

Tamotsu chuckled smugly. "Oh, Kisuke. To convince you I only need two words..."

NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR

You'll probably notice the flashbacks are from Renji's perspective in this chapter. I did research and used episodes 32 and 46 from the Anime series as reference, and I'm hoping my timeframe is accurate. Also, in Tamotsu's past life as Vincent in the beginning, Vincent Van Gough actually was shot in the chest although no gun was actually found. Using some licensing on that part. Thanks for reading and stay tuned!