Chapter 5: Everyone has a Story to Tell

Rukia led me to the Kuchiki manor. We talked on the way there, and she was actually really excited. It turns out her older sister passed away a long time ago, and she was Clippy-taicho, I mean Kuchiki-taicho's wife. That would explain a lot. He lost someone close to him. I know firsthand how losing someone can turn you into a cold-hearted jerk. We agreed that I would go apologize to him by myself when we got there.

When we arrived, Rukia took me to my room which was right next to hers and had a sliding door between the two which I really liked. She got excited and started talking about sleepovers and stuff, and I was really happy. For the first time, I had a friend, and I wouldn't have to be beaten to a pulp or anything. I was so happy. After I got settled in, Rukia led me to Kuchiki-taicho's study and wished me luck before walking away. I took a deep breath before knocking on the door. It took about two seconds before the door was opened, and I was face to chest with an irritated Byakuya Kuchiki. He looked down at me and glared. I looked up at him apologetically.

"May I come in?" I asked quietly, my voice sad and almost cracking, "I'm not here to be rude or whatever. I'm here to apologize and inform you of some orders given to me by Yamamoto-soutaicho." He looked at me without glaring for a moment before moving out of the doorway and allowing me in. I shut the door behind me as he sat down at his desk a look of annoyance on his face.

"Now explain yourself, I do not like for my time to be wasted," he said stoically. I bowed slightly in respect, which seemed to surprise him slightly. I grabbed the orders out of my uniform sleeve, accidentally showing the scar from my last night as a human. The one where my parents poured rubbing alcohol on the knife cut. I noticed his eyes narrow slightly.

"Kuchiki-taicho," I started softly, "I'm sorry for being so disrespectful to you earlier today. It has nothing to do with my nobility or lack thereof. I overreacted to you glaring at me, but I'm realizing that's just how you look at everyone." He let that little jab go, and I think I saw his stoic face falter a little bit. "Anyways, I wanted to apologize and give you these orders," I said handing him the papers from the head captain, "I am to live here and be trained by you, Kuchiki-taicho. I will not be so rude again, I assure you."

I watched as his eyes scanned over the papers, confirming what I had just told him. His eyes narrowed to a point of what I'm guessing is my background, or lack thereof. He's probably irritated that he has to train me after how rude I was. Oh geez. This is what I get for standing up for myself.

"Shinkiro Ogawa-san," Kuchiki-taicho said interrupting my inner spaz attack.

"Call me, Shinkiro. Please. I do not wish to ever go by the last name Ogawa ever again," I stated flinching at the name I inherited from my adopted parents. The pain must have been obvious in my eyes because he didn't argue with me about it.

"Shinkiro-san, it appears everything you have told me is official and correct. We will begin training at 5 am tomorrow in the gardens here at the manor. Be prepared to train hard," he said calmly. I nodded eagerly and smiled at him.

"Thank you so much, Kuchiki-taicho!" I exclaimed with a smile as I bowed and turned to leave and then turned towards before I opened the door, "By the way, Kuchiki-taicho, my deepest condolescences for the loss of your wife. I know it was a long time ago, but I-I know firsthand how much losing someone affects you. No matter how much time has passed." With that, I turned and left the study and walked to my room to prepare for training the next day. I was exhausted, so I pretty much fell in my futon and passed out after setting my alarm of course.

-4:00 am-

I quickly got up as my alarm went off and took a 5 minute shower and got changed. I grabbed my zanpakto and was in the garden by 4:15am. Yes, I was 45 minutes early on purpose. I took my zanpakto out of its sheath and took a few swings. It felt good but off somehow. I looked it over trying to figure it out.

"Well if you would just listen to us, it would feel a lot better." I heard a male voice say. I jumped in surprise, dropping my zanpakto in shock and looking around, but I couldn't find anyone. I was out in the garden alone, and I was pretty sure I was going freaking insane.

"Ouch! Why did you drop us?" I heard a woman's voice this time say. I looked at my zanpakto. You have got to be kidding me. "We are not kidding you! Now will you please pick us back up?" the male's voice said again. I have officially lost my mind, but oh well, I'll go with it. I picked up my zanpakto.

"Okay. So there are two of you inside my zanpakto. That's weird enough, but what are your names?" I asked the sword. Gosh this is weird. I'm talking to an inanimate object.

"Will you stop calling yourself weird? It's perfectly normal for zanpaktos to talk to their wielders!" the woman's voice said and my sword glowed, and suddenly, there was a man and a woman in front of me. This caused me to jump back.

"Holy crap! Seriously? Let's give our wielder a heart attack! That's a good idea!" I exclaimed, still not believing what I was seeing. The man chuckled and ruffled my hair. He had straight, dark purple hair that went down to right above his crimson red eyes. He stood probably almost a full head taller than Kuchiki-taicho. He wore a long black cloak with long black pants and ninja shoes. The woman just sort of rolled her eyes but smiled slightly. She had ice blue, straight hair down to her knees with a crown of what looked like ice around her head and large ocean blue eyes. She wore a long white princess gown with an ice blue corset and she was barefoot. They were a stunning yet opposite couple, and I say couple because they were holding hands as well.

"So what are your names?" I asked again, more curious than ever.