A day had passed since Aizen had been revealed as having been intimidating Captain Commander Yamamoto. Having been drawn off by Tamotsu Toshiyuki, Aizen had escaped before any more harm could be done. The real Yamamoto was later found at the place where Aizen had been assumed to be held, having placed an illusion around Yamamoto and the guards.

Tamotsu himself was lying in the infirmary in a comatose state. The best explanation, accepted by both Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Retsu Unohana, was that the incident having manifested a past zanapkuto had awakened several of his past reiatsu signatures at once. Unable to cope with the change, his body became overwhelmed and gave out. Nothing was for certain, however, and the explanation for Tamotsu's robes changing from black to gray was still debatable.

Soon after Yamamoto was discovered, the Captains had gathered together in the Division One barracks for a debriefing on what happened during the past week. It was well known about Tamotsu's actions, that it was actually Aizen he was attacking, but little was known except for when he infiltrated the Soul Society and secretly informed a select few of the Captains as to his true intents.

"Now that we have all gathered," Yamamoto was saying, "and we are sure there is no deception among us we can begin. Tier Harribel has been excused to deal with her duties in Hueco Mundo, but the Arrancar Kisaki has thus stayed behind to speak in her behalf."

The debriefing began with the first Captain in which Tamotsu had visited, Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Following his remarks was Unohana, Kyoraku, Ukitake and Byakuya Kuchiki. Others in which Tamotsu did not visit had little to say. Rangiku was also present and gave her account of visiting Hueco Mundo, only recently realizing that Aizen had followed her and hid his presence and was only seen by Tamotsu.

"He had me convinced that he was mad with power," Rangiku said. "But in order to fool someone like Aizen, he had to convince the one he was closest to of that. He spoke truthfully, that he would return Soul Society to the way it was, but there was the implication that he was going to overthrow it."

"Yes, we figured as much," Yamamoto said. "Arrancar Kisaki. Please give us an account of what happened after Rangiku Matsumoto left Hueco Mundo."

Kisaki approached nervously, never thinking in her life that she would be in the presence of so many high ranking Shinigami. The fact that they had sworn not to harm her did little to ease her nerves.

"Tamotsu did his best to convince Rangiku that he was, as she stated, mad with power," she said, almost choking due to nervousness. "He even went as far as to have Apacci pose as his servant."

Kisaki failed to hide a smile and accompanying laugh. The Captains looked at her in confusion. "Might I inquire as to what is so amusing?" Yamamoto asked.

"Well, it wasn't funny at the time. But looking back in retrospect I have to admit I was a bit amused..."

2 days ago

Tamotsu stood overlooking the halls of Las Noches, eyes closed and black marks on his arms as he enacted a Kido spell that allowed him to speak directly into Rangiku's mind. A moment passed and he opened his eyes and breathed outward, long and audible.

"They're gone," Tamotsu said.

"Are you certain?" Apacci asked."

"Yes."

It was no sooner that he finished the word that Tamotsu found the blade of a zanpakuto sitting against his throat. Looking over he could see Apacci, blade drawn and a twisted smile on her face. "Now about that little ordeal of me being your servant."

The color from Tamotsu's face drained as he tried to move the sword away from his throat. "Now Apacci- We've been over this. We had to convince them you were under my control."

"Yeah. We did go over this. But that was then. And I don't appreciate being used." She leaned in closer and her smile widened when Tamotsu began to sprint fully in the opposite direction. Apacci gave chase and was quickly halted by Tier Harribel blocking the path.

"Oh, Harribel!" Tamotsu said. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"If we are to succeed in this," Harribel said to Apacci, "we need to have him alive."

"Aw, come on Lady Harribel," Apacci said in an complaining tone. "Just let me roughen him up a bit. He deserves it."

Harribel looked at Tamotsu, who was smiling sheepishly, then back to Apacci. She closed her eyes and answered. "Just as long as you don't kill him."

"What?!" Tamotsu took a step back as Harribel disappeared using Sonido and left Apacci grinning almost maniacally. "Apacci, come on now. We can be civilized, right? The queen- the goddess- my inspiration. Uh, would you like a Jelly Baby?" Tamotsu pulled out a small gummy candy in front of him only to see the glint of steel and the top half fall to the ground.

"You're dead!" Apacci readied herself as Tamotsu began backing up.

"You heard Harribel! You can't kill me. You wouldn't do such a thing... Would you?"

Apacci screamed and ran in after Tamotsu, who began running away as fast as he could. Eventually the two began running in long circles around the interior of the throne room. Harribel casually sat down and crossed her legs as Kisaki stared in disbelief.

"You're not actually going to allow this, are you?" Kisaki asked.

"He'll be fine," Harribel answered. "Think of it this way. Apacci needs to hone her skills on a target that doesn't want to die and Tamotsu needs to hone his skills at dodging a skilled opponent. It works out both ways for them."

"You sure he'll be okay?"

"Yes. And don't think we haven't noticed how you act around Tamotsu."

"Are you actually falling for that Shinigami?" Sung Sun remarked from a nearby pillar.

"What are you talking about?" Kisaki snapped, her face turning red. "Its not like that!"

"Enough," Harribel interrupted. "It is not your place to judge her in such a manner. She was always different from the rest of us and she should be allowed to follow her own path."

Kisaki was about to respond when she looked back to Tamotsu, who had climbed one of the pillars and hung for dear life while Apacci climbed after him.

"I was going to say you could do a lot worse," Mila Rose commented. "But given the current predicament he's in-"

"We shall leave that to be determined," Harribel said. She stood and began walking out, stopping when she neared an exit. "He may be a Shinigami, but he is the only one who does not treat us as the others do. I can feel something within him. Something not yet manifest. Whatever it is, it will impact all of us."

Present

After all reports had been filed, the Reincarnates who had been arrested were freed. Many of them chose to go to the World of the Living, but Naomi chose to stay behind. She joined Rangiku and Kisaki outside of the infirmary where Tamotsu lay, the broken pieces of Hinohebi lined up on a table.

"I've never seen such power from anyone," Kisaki was saying as she looked at the shattered metal. "And to think that Aizen was able to break through his zanpakuto like that."

"This wasn't the first time," Rangiku said. "I've seen this before."

Naomi and Kisaki exchanged glances before looking toward Rangiku. Without speaking, Naomi tilted her head and seemed to incline that she wanted an explanation.

"There were two times previous where Kiyoshi performed Bankai, each of them with disastrous results."

"Why do you call him Kiyoshi?" Kisaki asked.

"I only found out about it four months ago. During his lifetime before this one, he was a Shinigami. I didn't know it at the time, but he had been taken into hiding and given the name Tamotsu Toshiyuki. I should have known it, from the way we treated each other to our reiatsu being so similar... He was my brother. Ever since I discovered that I have called him by that name."

"I see. You were saying about his Bankai?"

"I didn't know it at the time. None of us did. When he was an infant there was a seal placed on him to suppress his power. It was so strong, but by the time he graduated the Academy the seal was fractured. The first time he unleashed Bankai was to protect our squad by a large group of invading Hollows. His reiatsu swirled around him like blue fire... Then the power was too much for him to handle and- He was in a coma for three weeks..."

Rangiku's eyes became moist at the memory of the incident, Kisaki and Naomi also affected by the memory.

"The second time," Rangiku continued. "He unleashed it to protect me... The only previous time I've seen such fury in his eyes. And he killed Fumio..."

"Who's that?" Kisaki asked.

"They were friends at one time, graduating in the same year. But Fumio became jealous of Kiyoshi's power and ranking, becoming a second third-seated officer along with the now Captain Hitsugaya. He was possessed by a Hollow and went insane, trying to kill Kiyoshi... Myself... And anyone who got in his way. The valley we met in yesterday. Do you remember it?"

Kisaki and Naomi nodded in affirmation.

"That was the site where Kiyoshi's full power was unleashed. After killing Fumio he was unable to control the outburst and the seal broke completely. Hinohebi was there, holding him, by the time we arrived. She said she had done all she could, even insisting he not use Bankai, but his desire to protect was so strong... Having failed when he was able to use her full power... I can only imagine what that must have been like for her."

The trio sat silent for a long while. Tamotsu had touched each of them in a different but significant way. The brother. The teacher. The friend. Although she was a Hollow and many seemed to avoid her deliberately, Kisaki chose to remain in the infirmary. She didn't know how long it would be, but she knew that Tamotsu would awaken. He had made a promise to her. And he did not seem the type to break promises.

The lights were bright, made more so by the reflecting off white sheets and walls. It took some time before Tamotsu was able to open his eyes all the way. He sat up slowly, his entire body sore and stiff. Trying to stretch, he found that his arms would only move so far before the pain struck hard. Examining the room he found that he was in the Infirmary. It was a place he was quite familiar with. The only occupant other than himself, so far as he could tell, was the Arrancar Kisaki.

"You're awake," Kisaki said, smiling nervously. "Finally."

"Kisaki..." Tamotsu said, finding his voice. "How long's it been?"

Kisaki stood and walked to Tamotsu's bed, sitting on the side. "About five days. How do you feel?"

Tamotsu stretched and moved his arms again, the pain seeming to disappear. He moved his body experimentally in the bed before answering. "I feel... good. Very good, actually. The pain's going away quite quickly."

Kisaki smiled. "Is that so?"

Tamotsu nodded. "Yes. Thank you."

"Well in that case..." Tamotsu had no sooner met Kisaki's eyes that he felt a sharp pain on the side of his face that was accompanied by a loud slapping sound.

"What was that for?"

"That was for swinging your sword at me!" Before Tamotsu could respond Kisaki struck him along the opposite side of his face with the opposite hand. "That was for scaring me!"

"Hey, I admit circumstances got a little crazy but you can hardly blame-" He was cut off as Kisaki grabbed the collar of the white Kimono he was dressed in and pulled him toward her.

"And this-" Kisaki pulled him in quickly and planted her lips hard against his before easing her grip and slowly releasing him. "Is for being safe..."

Tamotsu's eyes grew wide and he struggled to find words to what had just happened. "I- I- I can live with that last one..."

As he looked into her face, she closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her left cheek. A large segment of her mask covering her left eye broke off and dissolved into white dust before it hit the floor. She didn't move or seem to react in any way to the loss of what identified her as a Hollow.

"Kisaki- Your mask. Its breaking."

Kisaki shook her head. "I don't care about the mask."

The door opened quickly and Isane Kotetsu peered inside. "Is everything all right?" she asked. "I hear something-"

"Its fine," Kisaki responded as she stood. "I was just leaving."

Isane nodded and moved out of the way. Kisaki stopped at the doorway and turned back one last time. Nearly half of her mask was broken away now, the left eye completely exposed, while the rest of it seemed brittle. As she exited Tamotsu found himself wondering what had caused damage to the mask. She wasn't injured so far as he could tell. Was there another meaning that he hadn't thought of?

Thoughts raced through his mind as Isane closed the door and left Tamotsu to himself. He sat back against the pillows and breathed outward in a long sigh when he felt another presence in the room with him.

She cares for you, a familiar voice said. Think not of physical conditions with her. This goes far deeper.

Tamotsu turned to see the Tengokucho seated on the bedside table under a lamp. "So what brings you here?"

The white butterfly's wings shimmered as they moved slowly up and down. I have been instructed to teach you three techniques. Your abilities have come to a state where you will be able to perform them.

"I don't think I'm in the best condition to practice."

Practice is not necessary. These are modifications of techniques you already know. First is the manipulation of reishi. You know much concerning the conversion of the reiatsu inside your own body. This is a higher form which allows you to mold the reishi surrounding you. Rather than forms of attacks and energy weapons you will be able to forge physical creations.

"Isn't that a bit much? I mean, reishi is pure energy. That would require changing form, wouldn't it?"

Not so. As you yourself pointed out to Takeo Saegusa, all matter is inherently energy anyway. This desk, for example, is made of wood. Wood is made of cells from the tree. The cells are made of molecules, the molecules of protons, neutrons and electrons. In essence, this desk is made of pure energy.

Tamotsu smiled. "Well played. What's next?"

A traveling technique. As Shinigami you use the Senkaimon to travel between dimensions. Hollows use the Gargantua to do the same. But this is limited. Generally they are only used to transfer from the Soul Society to the World of the Living and to Hueco Mundo. To enter other dimensions can be difficult, but not if you know how to open the doorway to them all.

"Something else? Like a master key to the dimensions?"

Precisely. The final technique is also a modification. You are finally able to remember how to perform Shunpo. This is excellent news, but there are other techniques as well. Sonido by the Hollows, and Hirenkyaku by the Quincies. Different names for the variations the three races have. This is limited, and it is derived from a single technique. The lightning step in its purest form. Once you learn this you can move faster than any who has mastered the lesser variations of this.

Tamotsu looked away and stared out the window. He sat silent a long moment before turning back to the Tengokucho. "Why me? Why am I chosen to learn this power? Aren't there others better suited than me? What's all this supposed to prepare me for anyway? No, let me guess. I'll know when the time is right."

The Tengokucho paused briefly, then answered. No. I shall tell you this time. I have been tasked with guiding you all this while because my Master believes you will become something greater than this world has ever seen.