Hello All!

I would say I am on a roll here, but I'm really not. I had this one already completed, but have been slow in the updates. I completed chapter six as well, and will post that in the next few days. I am currently working on seven (after updating all platforms, that is - here, wattpad, & tumblr).

Enjoy!

Chapter Five:

The captains and lieutenants all gathered into the meeting room of Squad One per the Captain Commander's request. Once all lined up in their assigned locations, the head captain started.

"I did not personally choose to call this meeting. Captain Kuchiki of Squad Six did, as he apparently has some important information he would like to share with all of us."

Everyone's eyes turned to the captain. He nodded and stepped forward.

"In regards to the Seireitei's history, my clan in the one in charge of recording all that has happened for future Shinigami and generations to read and learn about. Everyone is aware of this." he started. "Years ago, the previous captain commander ordered information on one clan to be deleted and removed. All of the captains promised to never speak of the incident outside of these walls. Some of those captains, as well as witnesses, are still here today." he added as he glanced over at Lieutenant Matsumoto.

"What does this have to do with us now?" Captain Sui Feng inquired.

"Because something has come up recently."

"Such as?" Captain Zaraki asked.

"The heir of that clan, thankfully, has been found."

"If I didn't know any better, Captain Kuchiki, I would say that you are smiling." Captain Iba of Squad Seven observed.

"You'd be mistaken." Byakuya replied. He walked over to the machine and placed the chip inside. "Some of this may be disturbing, but please watch."

The captains and lieutenants watched carefully.

~~On The Screen~~

The opening scene opened through a fadeout from black amidst a chaotic and very noisy scene. Men and women were yelling, armed with torches and other weapons. Fires were lit in various locations and smoke bellowed from those fires causing very low visibility. It was some sort of complex within the Seireitei.

"Let's get them!" one of the men yelled to the others.

"They need to pay for their unfair treatment of us!" another yelled in agreement.

Through flames and smoke a building was shown. On that building was a crest not very well known among the spectators.

It was then they were pulled like magic towards that building, through various rooms, and stopping in a hidden room where three women and a little girl were hiding.

"Nene, you have to take her." the woman holding the little girl, who looked to be about two or three years old, stated to one of the other women. "I trust you to keep her safe."

"Yes, milady." the larger of the two women replied. "I promise we will take care of her, but where should we go?"

"I don't know." she said worried as she started to button a jacket over the little girl. "Now, you need to go with Miss Nene and Miss Chiyo. Be a good girl for mommy." She stated to the small child. "And keep this safe." the mother added as she placed something in the little girl's dress. "Can you do that for me?"

"Uh-huh." the little girl nodded.

"Don't worry ma'am, we will take care of Lady Amaraniyah" Chiyo stated as the little girl was gently pushed over to her.

"Go. Now! Out the back door you three! Before they come!" The mother of the child said worried as the unruly crowd got closer.

They were again pulled away and witnessed the violently growing crowd who killed anyone who got in their way. Bodies lay unresponsive of various people, clan and servants alike, and some were still gasping for air. Screams were heard in the distance among the chaos.

Rani wanted to wake up, but her body wasn't allowing her to. She was stuck watching the gruesome attack take place. It was one thing to kill Hollows and the like, but to kill other souls in the Soul Society, regardless of status was just wrong - and unacceptable.

Suddenly, a man yelled as he helled towards the spectators and swung the katana hitting the person standing behind them. Turning around, they saw the mother of the child partly sliced down the middle and bleeding profusely.

They were pulled to a new scene, far from the current one, where a trio of ladies were standing.

"We can't just leave her here! She'll die!" Chiyo cried. "And you promised Lady Sutahomu that we would take care of her."

"I know what I promised. But the reality of the situation is this: anyone from the manor knows I was Lady Sutahomu's attendant, and that you were Lady Amaraniyah's. We can't been seen together. We need to act like newly arrived souls here and be placed in separate districts. Remember who you are though. You are loyal, and very good at being a servant."

"I am not worried about me. What about her?"

"I am sorry, Chiyo, we can't risk being seen with her, either together or alone. She must stay here. Maybe someone will show some compassion for her and bring her in with them, but it cannot be us." the older woman said and then hopped on line.

"Nene, you are a cruel and cold-hearted woman!"

"Think of me what you want. Souls her age don't need food. If she can learn to not need it by living in the Rukongai, she will survive. Now get on line and get on with your life!"

Chiyo swallowed and then bent down to be eye level with the little girl.

"Keep that comb secret. Keep it safe. I don't know why your mommy gave it to you, but it's an important piece of your history, and your future. I wish you the best, my little Lady Rani." Chiyo said choking back tears. She placed a kiss on the girl's forehead before getting on line herself.

The young woman never looked back to see the little girl.

It was then a couple walking up to the little girl, and started to talk to her.

Being pulled again towards the manor, it was now morning. The aftermath of the attack on the family was more clear. Fifty bodies of servants were lined up against the wall, while there was another pile of six people closer to the house. All of them had the crest on them in one way, shape or another. The six that were separated must have been the family itself. The leader, his wife, a son, the son's wife, and their two young children.

Shinigami were all around, and their faces could be recognized. The spectators were pulled over to where Captain Kuchiki was standing - over the dead bodies of the slain family as a younger Lieutenant Matsumoto approached him.

"Captain Kuchiki, what would you like for us to do?" she asked quietly. "Captain Shiba said we are at your disposal."

The captain looked over at her and nodded before looking down at the family.

"Cover these deceased, please, and then take them to be buried in their family cemetery."

"Yes, sir. I will get -"

"No," he semi barked and then got quiet. "Can you please cover them, first? Then you can get help."

"Yes, sir." she agreed and then swallowed. She looked down at them victims and then headed inside to find some sheets to cover them with.

Captain Kuchiki walked through the compound, into one of the buildings, where Captain Commander Yamamoto was waiting.

"Can you confirm the victims?"

"Yes, sir. They are the members of the Sutahomu clan." he answered very solemnly.

"But?"

"The youngest is not among them. Lady Amaraniyah, sir."

"Hm..how old is she?"

"Maybe three in Living World years. I met her a year ago."

"Are you thinking kidnapping?" Lieutenant Sasakibe asked.

"Doubtful. What would they gain? They killed her family." the captain commander answered. "Captain Kuchiki? Anything to add?"

"Something seems off here."

"I agree." Yamamoto stated. "For right now, we need to keep a watchful eye on this manor. There's no telling what will happen. But start searching for the young child immediately."

The location warped again and they were now somewhere on the Kuchiki Manor compound. Lord Kuchiki Ginrei was headed somewhere followed by a few servants. They all ended up in Captain Kuchiki's office.

"I heard you had troubling news, Byakuya." the elder Kuchiki stated.

"Yes, and you might not like what it is."

"Well, then, tell me."

"The Sutahomu clan has been murdered." he bluntly stated and then stood up. "The youngest has not yet been found, so I am not sure if she was kidnapped to be taken as a hostage, or if someone ran away with her for her safety."

"This is dire news, indeed." Lord Kuchiki stated. "Have we been ordered to do anything?"

"Not as of yet."

"Let me know as soon as you hear. Lord Sutahomu was a dear friend of mine, and our family's."

Captain Kuchiki nodded and then Lord Kuchiki left. Rani stayed for a little while and watched him until her dream felt it was necessary to do another time skip and location jump.

Rani found herself in the Squad One barracks, in the Captains Meeting Room. She swallowed when she realized all of the captains were there.

"Report on the Sutahomu incident." Captain Commander Yamamoto ordered.

"No leads sir, and no one is talking. Lady Amaraniyah has not yet been found. I am afraid she never will be."

"This is whole event is going to be a burden among the noble clans." Captain Kyoraku stated. "An uprising such as this has everyone worried that it will influence others."

The captain commander listened to everyone as they spoke regarding the situation. The only one who didn't speak was Captain Kuchiki.

"Captain Kuchiki? Anything to say on the matter?"

"Nothing that has not been already said."

"Okay, well, then, it has been requested that this clan's information be removed from all of our databases and documents."

Captain Kuchiki went wide-eyed.

"All of them, sir?" he choked.

"Yes. I know it may seem wrong, but there is to be no record of this clan."

"And what it Lady Amaraniyah is found?" the Squad Two captain inquired.

"Then we will take care of that when the time comes. For right now, all information is to be destroyed and deleted."

"Yes sir." Captain Kurotsuchi stated. "I will do my part."

"And I will do mine." Captain Kuchiki complied, albeit regrettably.

"Good. Nothing said in here regarding this incident is to be repeated outside of these walls. Ever. Am I clear?"

"Yes." all twelve captains stated simultaneously.

~End~

Without delay, Byakuya took the chip out and placed it inside his shihakushō.

"Some of you may remember this incident. Some may not, and some may have no idea about it. I wanted to show this for some closure for those who were involved all those years ago."

"So, the Sutahomu clan…" Captain Sui Feng started. "Who were the ones that were killed?"

"The head and his wife, Lord Yoshi and Lady Asa. Their oldest son, Osamu, his wife Niwa, and their twins, Michi and Mitsu." Byakuya answered. "If you remember from what you saw, Lady Amaraniyah was not among them or ever found in the search for her."

"Can someone explain what we actually watched? It doesn't seem like video footage." Captain Abarai inquired confused as he looked at Captain Commander Kyōraku and Captain Kuchiki.

Byakuya looked past Renji and right at Rani. She took it as her clue to step forward and tell everyone.

"I think I can." she started nervously. Rani could feel all eyes turn to her. "What you just saw is something that has been plaguing me in my dreams for months. Captain Kotetsu knows since I haven't had a decent night's sleep for a while."

"Wait…Lieutentant Hitsugaya…this was a dream of yours?"

"Yes, Captain Abarai. Although it's been more of a nightmare. At first it was in pieces, and not in the order you just saw. With the help of Captain Kurotsuchi and Captain Kotetsu, this dream was recorded. I guess now you can say, it was an account of a piece of history within the Seireitei."

Captain Commander Kyōrakustepped forward allowing Rani to stop explaining.

"I am aware you all probably have a lot of questions. Captain Kuchiki is still not finished."

"Actually, neither am I." Rani interjected surprising Byakuya. "Let me explain."

As much as he didn't want to, Byakuya relented. She took a deep breath and started.

"Captain Kuchiki did not entirely destroy all of the information on what I can now say is my clan. He kept hidden records within the Kuchiki Manor. I am thankful that he did. Deleting a part of history, even if it was an order, just doesn't seem right. In any case, I didn't know who I was. I was raised in the Rukongai. I was adopted by the couple that found me outside the gates. Most of you already know what has happened to me between the different attacks and me going to the Academy." she took a break. "That hair comb that was given to me by my mother was stolen from me when I was in the Rukongai. It was later returned to me at Yasuo's grave. I asked Captain Kuchiki about the crest way before my wedding, and he said he would look into for me. He said he needed confirmation, but I suspect he knew it all along." she noted. "Recently, Captain Kuchiki had Lady Lily research information in the Kuchiki Manor Hall of Records, mainly focusing on the clans. Once she was at a stalemate, that's when the truth about me actually came to light with Captain Kuchiki's help."

"What about this dream?" Lieutentant Matsumoto asked.

"When Captain Kuchiki informed me of my past a couple of days ago, the question on how I managed to escape came up. I mentioned the dream and we somehow," her eyes looked to her husband, "managed to end up at Squad Twelve and asked for some help from Captain Kurotsuchi."

"I managed to record this while we all watched." Captain Kurotsuchi stated. "Quite fascinating what I can do, but this was a piece of cake."

"Revealing this information to everyone in this room goes against what the former captain commander ordered." Byakuya stated. "I might get removed from my title and position -"

"No, you won't." Captain Commander Kyōrakucut him off. "Why would you even think that?" he asked rhetorically. "If he was here, I am sure he'd be pleased to know that the heir has finally been found."

"So, now what?" Captain Iba asked.

"Now I get to restore the information I said I deleted." Captain Kurotsuchi stated with a grin.

"You never deleted the files?" Captain Abarai asked.

"Nope! I hid them. No one would be able to find them unless they knew what to search for."

"In other odd questions," Captain Zaraki started, "Why did you want to show those involved for closure? Because the heir has been found?"

"That's exactly why." Byakuya answered. "The memory of this incident randomly comes to mind and I am not pleased when it does."

"I know this is a very private matter to discuss, but Lieutenant Hitsugaya, the 'now what' question is more for you than anything."

"What do you mean Head Captain?"

"The Lost Clan in the Seireitei's history is not a complete secret. There are quite a few who know about it. That clan is yours. Now, you need to decide what you are going to do. Will you take your rightful place as a clan leader, or will you let the clan dissolve completely and live the life you have been?"

"Oh, um.."

"You don't have to decide right now. I do want to take you some place though."

"Right, so meeting adjourned. You may all go. Any questions for Captain Kuchiki can be asked of him later. No disciplinary actions will be taken by me." Captain Commander Kyōraku stated dismissing all of them.

Byakuya led Rani to an outside gate of a manor similar to his own.

"Where are we?"

"The Sutahomu Manor. It hasn't been well kept, but I did want to bring you here. It's been mostly untouched since the incident." he opened the door. "I will not go in unless you want me to."

Rani thought for a minute, but then shook her head.

"I'll be at the barracks. Send a hell butterfly if you really need me. If not, I will see you tomorrow."

"Thank you captain." Rani said as she walked inside. She took a deep breath and slowly made her way around the grounds. Flashbacks from the dream would pop up in certain places, but other than that it was a trip down "memory lane" that didn't really hold any memories since she was so young when the massacre happened.

Rani made her way into a building, which she later realized was probably her quarters. There were no toys, or items that she recognized, but she did find a bracelet that was missed by some possible looters hidden in the floorboard.

Rani jolted up when she realized that the other rooms may have had secret compartments as well. She headed back to the other rooms that looked like bedrooms and searched the floors and bookshelves. She found in one a brooch, possibly her sister's room. In another she found a dagger with jewels on the small hilt, mostly likely her brother's room. In her parent's room, she found a box with sketches of her siblings and herself, complete with a matching brooch to her sister's, a matching bracelet to hers, and some other mementos that would have normally been looted out if anyone knew about the hiding places. She ventured to her grandparent's room and found no hiding place among the floorboards. She did find, however, an unfinished sketch of the whole family, including another couple whom she did not recognize.

"Hmm..I wonder who this is." Rani said out loud.

She gathered what she found and took it with her in a sack she found to Squad Ten and decided to put it into her bedside table drawer.

"Where were you all this time? It's late." Toshiro stated as he came into the bedroom.

"Oh, is it? I didn't notice the time."

He raised his eyebrow.

"Somehow I believe that."

"Captain Kuchiki took me to the Sutahomu Manor. I was walking around aimlessly and finding items that I wanted to keep."

"May I see?"

"Sure." she answered softly as she handed him the bundle. "I think my mom bought matching bracelets for her and I, as well as matching brooches for my sister and her. I am not sure about the dagger though. I think that was my brother's."

"Future family heirlooms it looks like. Nice sketches though of your family. At least you have a better image of them than what was in-"

"Yeah, I know." she commented as she shook the image that came up in her head from the dream. "I don't know who that guy is though. Or that woman." Rani stated as the two looked at the full family portrait.

"Maybe and aunt and uncle?"

"Possibly. I don't remember seeing him in the dream so maybe he escaped as well. I am going to ask Captain Kuchiki tomorrow."

"Let me know what he says. I'm a bit curious."

Rani smiled as he rolled the portrait up and handed it back to her. He put his arm around her as well and pulled her closer to him.

"This is too much to take in."

"I would love to say, 'I know', but the truth is I don't. I can try to empathize but I can't."

"I wonder whatever happened to the servants who left me at the gate."

"Maybe they are still somewhere in the Rukongai. Maybe we can quietly search for them with the help of other Shinigami."

"Maybe."

They stayed like that for a few minutes before deciding to get up and get dinner.

In the morning Rani made her way to Squad Six with the portrait in hand to the office where Captain Kuchiki was just arriving as well.

"Captain." she greeted.

"Lieutenant, how are you?"

"I am okay. I do have a question for you though."

"Okay." he said puzzled.

She smiled as she followed to him to his desk and unrolled the portait.

"Do you recognize this couple, by chance?"

Captain Kuchiki looked at the sketch and gave a slight nod.

"If I am not mistaken, that is your Uncle Taiki and his fiancee Sugi." Rani didn't reply causing Byakuya to look up. "What is it?"

"Are they still, well, alive?"

"I think Sugi is. I am not sure about Taiki." he answered and then paused. "And before you ask, they weren't at the manor when the uprising happened because they went to visit her family so he could get to know them better."

"And after?"

"I honestly don't remember if he ever came home, or if word got to him at Sugi's family's house. He was like a hidden son who stayed far away from home, honestly." he paused. "Sugi's surname is Takayama, I believe."

"What can you tell me about the Takayama clan?" she asked as she rolled the sketch up.

"They aren't a major one, nor an important minor one. They are just a minor clan that is around."

"Any chance you can arrange for a meeting for me?"

"So you can talk with Sugi?"

"Yes." she answered nervously.

"I think I can swing it. Give me about two hours. I'll send word to Lord Takayama that I would like a word with him. We can ask him about Sugi then."

"We?"

"Well, I will. You can come with me and stand outside."

"Yes, sir."

"Lieutenant, don't thank me just yet. And don't get your hopes up. I've never had to request a meeting with this clan before. I know next-to-nothing about their manners."

"Yes, sir." Rani said and then nodded before heading to her desk.

Two hours later, Onishi came in with a letter for Captain Kuchiki.

"Lieutenant, this is for the captain."

"Oh," Rani started as she looked up from working, "you can just place it on his desk, Onishi."

Onishi nodded and did as was told. On her way out she bumped into the captain.

"I'm so sorry, sir. There's a letter on your desk that was recently delivered to the front gate."

"Thank you Onishi. You may go."

He walked inside and Rani let out a small giggle.

"Something the matter?"

"You could have at least that it was alright that you two collided. She's scared of you enough as it is."

"Yes, in hindsight, I probably should have." he commented after thinking about it. "I'll find her later."

Thanks again! Happy reading!

~Kirby42280~