Chapter 3

Toshiro POV

I left the head captains office feeling more confused than when I walked in. 'He has a daughter… why did I not know about this?' I started to think back since I started at the Soul Academy, but I am convinced I never heard even a rumor that Shunsui had a daughter.

I flash stepped back to my office, stopping just outside my door to talk a normal step through my strangely open door 'Please do not tell me that she is still in here sleeping.' I looked up and saw Rangiku passed out on my futon.

I felt my eyebrows starting to twitch, 'She never does any work!'

"WAKE UP YOU LAZY SACK OF BONES!" I shouted at her, scaring her awake. I smirked as she flew into the air and fell of the futon.

"Captain! That was mean! I was in the middle of a perfect dream!" Rangiku started to whine and kneeled on the couch. I felt her watch me as I made my way to my desk to sit down and get back to paperwork. "So, what did the Head Captain want?"

I sighed knowing that I was not going to be able to focus on the paperwork in front of me. "He wanted to discuss the open 3rd seat that we have." I glanced up to Rangiku, who tilted her head silently asking me to continue. "He has a soul reaper he wants to assign to there. Head Captain wanted to make sure I was on board."

"Oh – who is he thinking? A new graduate maybe? OH! What if it's another prodigy like you were captain?" Rangiku sat there tapping her chin desperately trying to figure out in her head who the person could be.

"Apparently he wants his daughter to have the seat." I felt the shift as soon as the sentence left my mouth. I quickly looked at Rangiku and saw all the emotions displayed on her face, but the one that did not appear was confusion. "Rangiku, why do you not look surprised at the mention of the Head Captain having a daughter?"

It was a if cold water was dumped on Rangiku as I watched her closely. She suddenly started laughing and stood up. "Captain! Of course, I'm shocked! Who knew Head Captain Shunsui had a daughter?" He nervously chuckled and started to scratch the back of her head nervously.

"Rangiku." I growled at her as I stood. "What are you not telling me? Did you know he has a daughter?" I kept my icy glare on her freezing her in place. She held my gaze for a moment before closing her eyes and sighing. I watched as her head dropped and she sat back down on the futon.

"Yes, I knew. There are not many of us that know about Kimura, it was kept that way for various reasons. She was gone before I found you." Rangiku explained, she looked over to me, silently begging me not to ask anymore questions, but I could not.

"Gone? Wasn't she recruited to the Royal Guard?" I asked as I moved to the front of my desk waiting for Rangiku to continue.

"In a roundabout way yes. She is very skilled and very powerful. Much like Kenpachi Central 46 was concerned about her Spiritual Pressure, so they sealed apart of it. Even with the seal her pressure was immense. The only other spiritual pressure I have felt that strong is yours captain." Rangiku paused allowing me the moment to process what she had just said. "You can imagine how certain ones were interested in her – Captain Kurotsuchi for example and…" Rangiku paused turning her head away from me.

"And who Rangiku?" I asked pressing her further. Slowly she looked back again holding my gaze.

"Aizen" At the name I felt my body freeze. Just still hearing that name uttered froze my blood and the air around me. I saw Rangiku flinch as I let some of my spiritual pressure escape the control, I had on it. Quickly I reined it back in and watched as Rangiku relaxed.

Rangiku stood again and straighten her uniform. "Kimura was one of my closest friends Captain. I have been devastated since she left. She is a killed soul reaper and earned her ranking in the Royal Court Guard. If she is coming home, then I am thrilled and more so that we will be with you and myself." I watched as she smiled and turned to leave my office pausing at the door before opening it. "When is she arriving captain?"

I did not answer her right away but continued to watch her staring at the door. "Tomorrow." At my answer she nodded opening my office door and closing it behind her.

"Kimura…." I whispered as I closed my eyes.