"Rukia! Hey, what are you doing here?" Tsukiko asked as she stood at the front door. "Hey, I was looking for your sister. Have you seen her?" Rukia asked. Tsukiko shook her head, "I'm worried. She hasn't been home since last night. She said she had something to attend to and she never came back." Tsukiko bit her lip. "I see. Well I will go find her. I'm sure she's just out exploring. Thank you though. Good night." Rukia bowed. "That's what friends are for!" Kiki sang as she closed the door.

"Hmm, Katsumi has been acting strange since yesterday. I wonder what it is that got her so worried yesterday."

"Ichigo, please! Come on! You are supposed to be my best friend. Do this one little bitty favor?" Katsumi whined as Rukia, Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Uryū and she walked home. "No! Do your homework yourself!" Ichigo shouted. "Wahhhhh! Uryū, Ichi is being a meany!" Katsumi cried. "Oh fine, give it here." Ichigo muttered. "Yay! Thanks a bunch Ichi!" Katsumi grinned as she handed Ichigo her books. Uryū parted from the group and Katsumi waved goodbye before she froze in place. "Umm… Katsumi? What's wrong?" Rukia asked. Katsumi shook off her momentary fear, "No… it's nothing. I… I gotta go. I'm… I'm running late. See ya later." Katsumi muttered as she took off in the opposite direction.

"Have you found Katsumi?" Ichigo asked as I climbed in his window. "No, I can't possibly imagine where she went." Ichigo sighed before walking to the door. "Well I'm sure she is safe. We just have to wait. I have to eat dinner now." Then he walked out the door just a breeze blew in a piece of paper with elegant writing on it.

They're here. Hide.

-Katsumi

Rukia crumbled the note and stared outside to see a shadow run off, "Katsumi… Who's here?" Rukia wondered. Suddenly she felt two very familiar spiritual pressures and she gasped, "Why didn't I see that before?"

Katsumi stood face to face with the captain and lieutenant of the 6th division, "Katumi Takahashi, you are under arrest for the attack of the previous Captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13." Renji Abaria announced. Katsumi glared at her opponents before she jumped back, flicking her wrist and created a fire barrier around them. She dashed away hearing the lieutenant call out to her to stop. "I got them preoccupied now. I just have to create a diversion for Rukia to hi-… RUKIA!" Katsumi shouted as she slowed to a stop. "What the- Why are you-?! I told you to hide!" Katsumi hissed. "I can't do that. I knew this was coming eventually. You don't have to protect me."

"The hell I don't!" Rukia looked at Katsumi in shock. "You are my friend! I can't… I can't let my friend die." Katsumi continued as she reached for her zanpakutō before turning on her heels and blocking Renji's attack with her sword. "Nice block!" He smirked. "Yea, your attack was crap to begin with!" Katsumi insulted as she blew Renji away with her mouth. He regained his balance and noticed Rukia, "You're opponent is me!" Katsumi growled as she flash stepped in front of him and attacked without hesitation, but he avoided most of the attack.

Katsumi stopped attacking when her friend, Uryū, appeared, "Attacking girls? That's a little rude."

"Ury… What are you doing here?" Katsumi asked in shock. "I was on my way home from the grocery store." He replied showing his bag. "Seriously? Why don't I believe that?" Katsumi smiled lightly. "Who are you?" Renji growled. "I'm Uryū, prepare to be defeated." He stated pissing of Renji.

"No Uryū!" Katsumi gasped looking down at the scene a few feet from the ground as he falls to the ground. Renji takes the opportunity to release his zanpakutō and the blades slash through Katsumi's side sending her flying backwards. She landed violently down to the ground below her, rolling a few times, before groaning in pain. "Katsumi!" Rukia shouted in a panic as Renji walked towards Katsumi. She got to her knees gripping dangerously tight to her cut side trying to numb the pain, "Forget the arrest. You can die here." Renji's sword was held up above his head and she closed her eyes knowing she would die.

The pain didn't come and as she looked up she stared in shock, "Ich… Ichigo." Ichigo shielded her body with his sword and body. "You okay?" He asked. Katsumi nodded, "It's just a scratch." She lied. Ichigo nodded and Renji and he began their battle.

Katsumi watched in fear as Ichigo fell to the ground after Byakuya attacked him, "No… No… Ichi…" She whispered. She went for her sword, but Byakuya stood before her with his sword ready to kill her, "Pick up your sword and I'll kill you on the spot." He threatened. She surrendered and he forces her up. They walk past Ichigo's body and Katsumi glances at him, "I'm sorry…" She mouthed to him as a tear slipped from her eye.

"Come on… Ichigo… Wakey wakey lemon quakey…" Tsukiko whispered in Ichigo's ear as she poked his face. Ichigo wakes up and jumps in fright of Tessai on top of him, "Oh good you're awake!" Tsukiko smiled. "Kiki… What… I'm sorry. I couldn't protect your sister." Ichigo apologized. Tsukiko shook her head, "Well, it was an attempt. You aren't strong enough to take on both a captain and lieutenant. That's why I'm here." Tsukiko smiled. "But I lost my soul reaper abilities." Ichigo replied.

"It is practically impossible to lose it. You just… Have to work harder at getting it back!" Tsukiko grinned. "How do you know that?" Ichigo questioned. "All for another day, for now we have to get your abilities back! We have about a month to do so, so we don't have time to waste."

"Wait why a month?" Ichigo asked. Tsukiko stood by the door and looked back, "Because the Soul Society will execute my sister and Rukia by that time. For now you will be working with Kisuke. I have something to attend to." Before Ichigo could asked Tsukiko walked out the door and vanished.

"Len, are the counsel men here?" Tsukiko asked as she walked into her people's home. "Yes milady. They have gathered in the war room." Len bowed. Tsukiko slammed the doors to the war room with a loud BANG as she walked to the head of the table as her footsteps echoed throughout the room.

"Princess Tsukiko." The counsel bowed in respect. "Lift your heads! We don't have time for formalities." Tsukiko ordered. "Is it true… About… about Lady Katsumi…" Takumi stuttered. "Yes it is true, but don't fear. I will bring her back! This meeting will be short, sweet, and to the point! I will go to the Soul Society with a Soul Reaper and my friends. I cannot sacrifice my men to bring home my sister. We need you to keep our people safe. Len and Kai will also accompany me. I will bring my sister back! Our people depend on her for protect and I will not fail them.. Understood?"

"Yes milady!" The men replied.

Katsumi kicked the bars for the tenth time before finally giving up, "You are all bastards! Rotten, evil, conniving little sons of a bitch" she angrily called out. "My… such language for a princess to have… maybe we should cut out your tongue." The man's voice laughed. "You!" She glared as he emerged from the dark hall with his wide grin. "Long time no see, Princess Katsumi. I could have sworn you were dead." Gin grinned. Katsumi stood up and slammed her hands onto the bars in front of his face, "You sneaky son of a bitch! How dare you show your face to me?"

"You never were the nice quiet Princess, were you? I guess that was just your sister. How is she by the way? Is she good?" He teased. "Go to hell! Taken Aizen with you while you're at it… Or just wait… When I get out of here I'm coming for you both and Tosen!" Katsumi threatened. Gin stood there for a moment with his grin as he cupped Katsumi's face in his hand, "Maybe, you can be let out on good behavior." Katsumi took the opportunity to spit in Gin's face and move backwards. "Oops, my bad, I guess good behavior doesn't come naturally to me." She sneered. Gin glared at her before turning on his heels to leave, "Oh by the way… How's the hollowfication treatin' you?" He asked as he walked away laughing. When he was out of range from her she screamed in anger, "Why did I let him get under my skin?!"

Hours later, Katsumi sat in her jail cell bed with her eyes closed thinking of a plan to escape when she heard footsteps again, "Damn it Gin. Fuck off, will ya?"

"Sorry, but we aren't Gin." A familiar voice chuckled. "Uncle!" Her eyes flew open to see her two uncles in front of her. "Well, you've become a beautiful young lady." Ukitake smiled weakly. "Uncle… You look pale… Are you taking care of yourself?" Katsumi frowned. "You're in a jail cell and you are concerned about me?" Ukitake smiled. "Oh please. This thing can't hold me for long. I'm just going to stay here until my friends come and rescue me." Katsumi grinned. "Ah, mischievous to the end I see! I knew you would grow up right." Shunsui laughed. "We came to give you something. Just hide it." Ukitake smiled as he pulled out Katsumi's zanpakutō. "Uncle is breaking the rules? What happened to you while I was gone for 100 years?" Katsumi giggled as she took her zanpakutō. "Thank you… Both of you…" She smiled happily. "Of course, we will always be there to protect you." Shunsui winked. Shortly after their departure, Katsumi was visited by Renji, "Here's your food." He said as he placed it down. "I don't want it." Katsumi huffed. "Acting like a child won't get you anywhere." Renji began. "Oh? So where would acting like an ass get me?" She asked with her infamous smirk.

"It doesn't matter. You'll be executed for your crimes soon enough." Renji sighed. "Crimes? The only crime I've committed is dumping boiling hot tea on an interviewee. I was lectured by Uncle Ukitake and praised by Uncle Shunsui, but aside that… I have not committed a crime worth taking my life!" Katsumi snapped. "Bull shit! You betrayed the Soul Society by helping that Urahara to create hollows." Renji retorted. "The hell I did! Your damn Captain Aizen, Tosen, and Gin did that! Urahara and my family were all innocent!" Katsumi shouted as she banged on the bars. "Get out. Get out NOW!" She shouted. Renji huffed before turning to leave.

"Tsukiko, hurry up and get here…" Katsumi whispered as she slid down the wall and cried. "Ummm excuse me?" A boy nervously entered. Katsumi wiped her tears quickly and looked at him, "What?"

"I was… I was wondering if it was okay for me to clean in here." He announced. "Go ahead. I'm not in your way." Katsumi replied softly. After he finished cleaning he walked up to the cell, "I'm Hanatarō Yamada, by the way." He smiled. "Katsumi… Katsumi Takahashi, but I'm sure you know that by now." She smiled back. "I do, but you don't seem as bad as what others say." Hanatarō replied. "Well thanks. At least someone can tell I'm not bad. How is Rukia? Is she okay?" Katsumi asked. Hanatarō nodded, "she's okay."

"I'm glad." Katsumi sighed before bid farewell to her new talking buddy.