I do not own Bleach.

Urahara, Yorichi, Sakura, and Tessai sat at the low table in the living room. Four cups on untouched tea sat on the table. Everyone had a serious face on.

"So that is why I haven't been able to contact anyone." Urahara tilted his hat down. "This is serious. If Aizen has escaped, and Central 46 isn't allowing the shinigami to do anything, then we have a problem."

"I thought the Soutaichou had the power to overrule them." Sakura was puzzled as to why such an organization was being controlled by politicians. "Wouldn't a the escape of a highly dangerous criminal lead to war time laws and the majority of ruling power go to him?"

"You would think. But the law was altered after the Quincy War. Central 46 is more powerful until they deem it necessary for the shinigami to be in control." Yorichi frowned as she uncrossed her legs. "And seeing as how Aizen massacred the last Central 46, I doubt this one will allowed the Soutaichou to spread out their forces to try and capture him. They want to stay safe."

"But won't that mean that he will escape?" Sakura hadn't heard much about Aizen. Just at he was a very dangerous and evil person.

"He probably is already out of their reach." Urahara stood from his seat. "There isn't anything we can do until our help is requested. How did Central convince the Soutaichou not to just disregard their rules? Last time I checked, Kyoraku-san didn't follow the rules that closely."

"They got a it of leverage on him." Yorichi crossed her arms and frowned. "Nanao is pregnant again."

"Is she the Soutaichou's wife?" Sakura knew a bit about some of the shinigami. She had heard about most of them from Jushiro while he was here.

"Yes. And the last time she had a child, a civil war almost broke out." Urahara had been surprised to hear the news. He didn't think one child could cause so many problems. "For now, it is out of our hands. Without the ability to open a Senkaimon, we can't get to Soul Society."

"Aren't there other ways to get into Soul Society?" Sakura looked between the three other people in the room. None of them met her eyes or said a word. "Other than dying of course." Still no response. "What aren't you telling me? There is another way, isn't there?"

"Yes, but you are not strong enough for that way." Urahara turned away from the girl. He told Soul Society he wouldn't so THAT again.

"I probably can. I've got five limiters on." Sakura jingled the bracelets that were on her wrist. "I haven't got much left that I care for in this world. After my dad died...everything has changed." Sakura didn't like bringing up her father. He had passed suddenly from a heart attack. She still wasn't over it yet.

"What about your mother?" Yorichi knew the girl loved her parents. Even though they weren't around that much.

"She is always busy and away. She doesn't come home much. It reminds her too much of him. And me, I act just like him." Sakura played with the little sakura charm on her necklace. "I've always dreamed of a simpler life. No noisy traffic, clear night skies, and grass everywhere."

Urahara smiled at the description of the her ideal life. "It's hard to erase things from ones soul."

"What do you mean?" Sakura frowned at the shopkeeper's question. What did her soul know that she didn't.

Yorichi smiled at Urahara's hint. She looked at the girl with a grin. "Do you want to meet your parents?"

Sakura locked eyes with the were-cat. "Do you know them? The adoption agency didn't know a thing about them." Sakura looked towards the shopkeeper. She knew the man kept secrets, but what secrets did he keep about her and her parents?

"That's because...you weren't left there by your parents. I left you there." Urahara turned and looked at the girl. She had a surprised look on her face. "Your mother brought you here the night you were born. She asked me to hide you. So I did."

"But why did she bring me to you? Why not go straight to the adoption agency?" Sakura tried to fit the pieces together, but they didn't make any sense. Unless she was missing something.

Urahara smiled as he saw a light go on in her head. "You were a soul then." He continued when Sakura met his gaze. "And since you were a soul, no one but certain people could see you. So I placed you in a special Gigai that would eventually make you human. And then I took you to the adoption agency."

"A Gigai?" Sakura remembered Jushiro talking about Gigais, but not a lot. "So...are my parents...shinigami?"

"Yes. They are." Silence filled the room as several minutes passed. "So what would you like to do, Suzumi-san?" Urahara tipped his hat up a bit as he waited for the girl's answer.

Sakura contemplated her options. She could forget about her parents and live a normal life here. Or she could try and help her parents. Maybe even meet them in the end.

'You might also get to see Mr. Tall-Pale-and-Irresistible.' Sakura laughed at the name the voice in her head had given Jushiro. 'Admit it. You've been comparing every man to him. And no one can top him.'

'So true. It surprising how used to you I have gotten.' Sakura smiled as she made up her mind. She lifted her head and met Urahara's gaze with a determined look. "When do we leave for Soul Society?"

Kisuke tilted his hat down. "Of that is your choice. Then you should know...if you do this...you can't come back. That Gigai your in...will disintegrate the moment you split from it." He pointed his cane at the woman's chest. He hoped she wouldn't regret her decision.

Sakura kept her eyes locked on Urahara's face. "I'm sure. I'm not turning back. I will do whatever I have to do to help them."

Urahara sighed. He was going to break another promise, again. "Then let's get started."

Can anyone guess what "THAT" is? Let me know what you thought of the chapter.