Chapter 17: Confidence Boost

"Nagusame-san, here's the bouquet you asked for," I said as a nervously handed her the bouquet I made. It had been just over 6 months since I had begun living and working with Nagusame-san, and she had never approved of one of my bouquets. I did not have much of a knack for flower arranging, and Nagusame-san had some insanely high standards.

"Hmmm…." Nagusame-san murmured as she took the bouquet and began to scrutinize it intently. This continued for a good three minutes as she turned the bouquet around, looking at it from every angle. Suddenly, she smiled at me.

"This is very good, Sakura-chan," she said with an approving smile. I grinned. Oh and yes, she still calls me Sakura. I think she knows that that's not my real name, but she also doesn't pry. That's part of why I like her so much.

"Thank you, Nagusame-san," I said excitedly. We continued working throughout the day. She would make most of the bouquets, and I would do miscellaneous chores such as sweeping and watering the plants. Today, she even let me make a couple of the flower arrangements.

After we finished closing the down the store, we returned to the cottage, and I grabbed my zanpakuto before heading out to the woods. I trained every night. I don't know why. I guess part of me hoped that there was a chance I could one day return to being a soul reaper again. I really enjoyed it the short time I was one.

"You could always go back and apologize," I heard Kagekishi say as he and Aisuhime materialized next to me. This was another reason I practiced every night. My zanpakuto were amazing, and I loved being able to grow stronger with them. My aim with Aisuhime was spot on now most of the time.

"You know I can't do that. I committed an offense bad enough to have me killed on sight," I responded bitterly. Even after six months, the sting of what happened that night still had not worn off. Gosh, I hate that part of myself. Like anyone in the freaking soul society would understand and be okay with me having an inner hollow, let alone Kuchiki-taicho. The idea of me being a peasant bothered him enough. Imagine how he'd react to this.

"Shinkiro, stop it. You can't help that. The fact that it's only shown itself a couple of times should tell you how strong you are over it," Aisuhime said encouragingly. Neither of them liked it very much when I was hard on myself, which unfortunately, has become more and more common here lately.

I missed the soul society. I missed my squad, my friends, and my life. I loved what I had back there, but I'm too big of a chicken to go back. I just need to find the confidence to go back and explain to the head captain. Who cares what Kuchiki-taicho thinks? Without him being there, I'd be just as happy if not happier about going back.

"We can still hear your thoughts, Shinkiro," Kagekishi said chuckling, "And that's what I like to hear. Now let's get back to the soul society." I smiled until I heard an ear-shattering screech from a hollow. I turned around to see not one, but three hollows. This surprised me, but they seemed pretty weak.

I unsheathed my zanpakuto and smirked. The hollows all three began to converge on me at once. Right as they were about to get to me I yelled two words and let my spiritual energy explode out of me, "Shimmer Kagekishi!" I immediately began hidden in the shadows and came up behind them sending the mist through all three of the hollows' masks and turning it to ice. This destroyed the heads of the all 3 of the hollows quite quickly.

I heard someone clapping slowly behind me. I turned around and jumped back in surprise to see an arrancar. He had mask remnants over his right eye and seemed slightly on the psychotic side.

"Who the heck are you?" I demanded holding my zanpakuto out in front of me in a defensive stance. The arrancar laughed maniacally before drawing his sword as well.

"My name is not really any of your business, but since you'll be dead here soon, I guess I can tell you. My name is Mizuki. Those hollows were just to weaken you, and since you poured out all of your spiritual energy fighting them, you'll be an easy kill now," the arrancar laughed again.

I rolled my eyes, and I could sense Aisuhime and Kagekishi doing the same inside my head. This guy is a complete and utter nut job. Oh well, we can shut him up pretty fast, don't you guys think? "Shinkiro, no. Don't use that against this guy. You haven't mastered it yet. Sure we achieved it pretty early, but we aren't ready to use this in a battle yet," Kagekishi said seriously.

"Fine," I sighed out loud and the arrancar looked confused, and I just smiled.

"I don't know what you look so confident about. I've already seen the ability of your zanpakuto, and I know how to counter it! Your arrogance will be your downfall" Mizuki said, obviously annoyed by the fact that I wasn't panicking before charging at me.

I flash stepped behind him a decent distance and smiled, "Strike, Aisuhime." Mizuki turned around with wide eyes as a shot an arrow right into his heart. The moment the arrow hit, a spike of ice went through him as well. That was part of Aisuhime's ability. She deadens whatever I hit with the arrow.

"Your arrogance was your downfall, Mizuki. Do not assume you know everything about your opponent based on seeing one tiny battle," I said seriously as he disintegrated. I quickly ran back to the cottage.

When I got back, I was relieved to see that Nagusame-san was still up. I walked into the living room, and she turned to greet me, but it was hard for me to meet her gaze.

"What is it, child? Is there something you need to tell me?" Nagusame-san asked me bluntly. I nodded and took a deep breath. "Well? Out with it!" she said impatiently.

"I think it is time I returned to the soul society," I said nervously, "My actual name is Shinkiro Ukitake. 3rd seat of the tenth division and adopted daughter of Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the thirteenth division." I looked at Nagusame-san, nervous of what her reaction would be. She just smiled at me.

"I knew you were a soul reaper from the first day I found you, and I figured you wouldn't stay here forever. You have the spirit of a fighter," she responded happily. I smiled and gave her a hug.

"Thank you so much for everything, Nagusame-san. I'd love to come visit you from time to time if that's okay," I said with a smile. She looked surprised but nodded.

"Anytime you'd like to visit, you're more than welcome. Now go pack up your thinks so you can return home!" Nagusame-san ordered with a small smile. I nodded excitedly and ran to my room and packed up my things quickly before running out the door and flash stepping all the way to the soul society.