).(

-Use Bleach When Required-

Kyuu: The Turning Point

A decision made at night may be changed in the morning.

- Samoan

The hard scratching of a pen scribbling on paper was the sound that woke Ichigo up. Her head titled to the side as she watched the boy on the bed stir. It would probably take him another minute or two to fully regain consciousness so she continued with her letter. When she had reached the end of the page she glanced over at the boy again, surprised to see both of his eyes open and staring at her.

"Thought you'd never wake up," Sanae said with a smirk.

Ichigo rubbed his face. "What happened?" he groaned. Sanae let go of the pen she was holding and swiveled around on the desk chair so that her body was facing Ichigo on his bed.

"What do you remember?"

Ichigo's brows furrowed for a moment. He rolled onto his back and placed his balled up fist against his forehead. He thought deeply. "That big Hollow-"

"Menos Grande."

"Yeah," Ichigo nodded. "That. I was…blocking its attack. Then I injured it somehow. It left, and then all I can remember is just feeling like my body was exploding."

"Well, it pretty much did," said Sanae smartly, crossing her arms over her chest. Sanae sighed and leant forwards on the chair, pressing her elbows against her thighs. "Look, I'm going to tell you something that no one else will." Ichigo suddenly pushed himself up, wincing at the pain it caused him. "What you did," Sanae paused for a moment. "Was completely insane. You shouldn't have been able to do it. Not for someone like you."

"Like me?"

"A human," Sanae clarified. "A Menos like that, they're made up of hundreds of Hollows. It takes years for Shinigami to become powerful enough to take one on. You've had your powers for a few months at best—look what I'm trying to say is," Sanae paused once again, trying to figure how to word her thoughts correctly. "Everyone will congratulate you, tell you that you did the unthinkable, but I'm here to tell you to be careful. In this world, being powerful gets you killed." She was glad when she saw Ichigo's eyes widen. Good. It meant that he believed her. "What you did yesterday. After the Menos left your reiatsu starting exploding from your body like a cannon. It's like you were holding back your full potential until yesterday, and because you couldn't control it, you almost died because of it. Your Quincy friend practically saved your life."

Ichigo looked away from her, he suddenly had a memory of watching Ishida standing on his Zanpakuto, firing his Quincy arrows up into the sky. He had thought that maybe it had been a dream, but Sanae's words confirmed it. It seemed that he owed Ishida now. Something else that Sanae had said bothered him. She probably didn't even realize that she had said it.

"You said…like me…" Ichigo said slowly. Sanae stared at him curiously. "A human like 'me' not 'us'." Sanae didn't show any emotion, she kept it off her face, but Ichigo could see it in her sapphire eyes. She had slipped up, given him information about her that she probably wanted to keep hidden.

But what did that mean exactly? Sanae wasn't human, and she knew about Shinigami and Hollows and Souls. She knew geta-bōshi. Did that mean she was a…

"Who are you exactly?"

Sanae held his stare but she leaned back in the chair, "Someone who you shouldn't know."

"Why?" Ichigo asked.

"Because it's dangerous."

"Why?" He didn't miss the way her eyes narrowed at him.

"Because knowing will get you killed, Kurosaki. You think you're the only person in the world who has to keep secrets? If I told you who I really was, you'd run far far away from me."

"It seems you already are," Ichigo's eyes flicked to the piece of paper on his desk. From his angle he could make out a few words. "Leaving school then?"

Sanae snatched it up. "It's for the best. A word of advice…when they come looking for Rukia—and they will, forget you ever saw me. Don't mention my name and don't try and dig into my past. It won't end well for anyone."

Sanae stood up from the chair and moved over to the open window, which she had previously come through. She was surprised that Rukia hadn't come back yet; she assumed that she was probably tied up with Urahara figuring out where to go from here. "I'm leaving Karakura. I thought coming here was a good idea, but I was wrong."

"So you're running away then?" Ichigo said bitterly, his brow furrowing. Sanae glared at him from over her shoulder.

"I'm not running. It's called surviving."

"You're scared." Ichigo stated. "You can call it surviving or whatever the hell you want. It doesn't change the fact that whatever it is that you're running from scares you. You're a coward."

That struck a nerve. Sanae whirled around, her eye blazing. "You have no idea what you're talking about," her tone came out in a hiss. "I am not running and I am not a coward. I've seen and done things that would make you wet your bed at night."

Ichigo, by now had risen from his bed. They were almost on opposite ends of the room. "Then stand your ground and prove it. Prove to yourself and them that you aren't a coward."

"It's not that simple," she said firmly. "This is not something that would end well for anyone if I just 'stood my ground'. And it definitely won't end well for you if we keep talking about this. So just shut up and get on with your life. Goodbye, Ichigo." Before Ichigo could say anything else, Sanae had jumped out of his window and disappeared.

When morning rolled around for her, Sanae lay motionless on her bed for a long time. Her thoughts kept going back to her conversation with Ichigo the night before. She had said too much to him. She wanted to smack herself for being so stupid, and for listening to him.

Was she running away?

She had been telling herself for years now that she was surviving, she did what she had to do to keep going, to protect herself.

You're scared.

She rubbed her forehead, scrunching her face up as she sighed heavily. "I'm not scared." She told herself. "I'm not running away." As she said those words, she didn't believe them anymore. Urahara had even said to her that if something like this happened she would run. Sanae had defended herself, but she knew he was right. Ichigo had been right too.

She was a coward.

She was running.

"Please! You have to help me!"

"What happened? Why are you covered in blood? Are you hurt?"

"They're dead! They're all dead."

"Sanae, calm down. Who's dead?"

"Everyone! They're all dead—I need to go—I need to get out of here. Please help me; I don't know where else to go. Once they find out they'll kill me!"

She had been running ever since that night. She could cover it up and stick another label on it, but she knew deep down that what she had been doing all these years was running. She was running from her past, she didn't want to think about the horrible things that she had committed all those years ago.

Her memory had always been foggy about that night, but one thing was for sure. She had killed them, all of them. And ever since that night she had been running from them.

X

Sanae stubbed the toe of her shoe into the concrete. She wriggled it around, fidgeting for something to occupy her time as she waited around. Her bright eyes followed the path of the ants on the floor, watching how they followed in a single line until they all disappeared into a crack in the pavement.

After waiting another few minutes, she finally heard and sensed him approaching her location. Sanae pushed off the wall, moving to the center of the path, blocking his way as their eyes met.

"You're looking a lot better then the last time I saw you," Sanae commented, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jeans.

Ishida pushed his glasses up his nose with one hand; his other gripped his bag tighter. "Kagawa-san."

"I'm surprised you remember who I am," Sanae said with a sneer. "Considering how tiny your brain must be from pulling that stupid stunt yesterday." Ishida averted his eyes from her piercing gaze. "You're lucky that everything worked out in the end, Quincy."

"What is it you want?" Ishida asked her. Sanae walked closer to him. Her small frame wasn't very intimidating but the fierceness in her eyes sure was.

"I want your word."

Ishida furrowed his brows in confusion. "My…word?"

"Yes," Sanae nodded. "I want your word that you'll never tell Kurosaki-kun that I am a Shinigami. He doesn't need to know that because I'm leaving, if anyone else knows—there could be trouble."

It was a long moment before Ishida nodded his head once. When he deduced that Sanae wasn't going to say anything more to him he started walking once more. Sanae didn't go to move herself out of his way, so Ishida walked around her. When he was a few feet away from her he heard her sigh.

"I know you're a Quincy and everything, and I'm sorry for what happened to your kind. Kurosaki…he's a good person—you shouldn't hold it over his head." Ishida didn't acknowledge her statement as he disappeared around the corner, leaving Sanae to her thoughts.

That evening Sanae found herself sitting on top of the Urahara store roof. She had wanted to be alone for the time being, to think over everything that had happened the past few months. The pitter-patter of feet on the tiles had Sanae looking over her shoulder.

"Yoruichi?" The yellow-eyed cat made a noise in the back of their throat as she came and sat next to Sanae. Yoruichi stared up at the burning horizon. "Urahara may have mentioned that you were here, but I totally forgot," Sanae mused. She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin against them.

"Urahara said you're leaving," Yoruichi stated.

"I-I don't know…" Sanae whispered. She ran a hand through her brown hair. "I don't know anymore—OUCH!" Sanae flinched away, cradling her hand to her chest as she glared down at the black cat. Yoruichi's paw was still outstretched with her claws out. "What the hell was that for?" Sanae demanded.

"I was hoping that maybe it would make you come to your senses, you idiot." Yoruichi licked her paw as Sanae examined the damage on her hand. Three claw marks decorated the palm of her hand; they were all deep and bleeding.

"What the hell happened to you in the past sixty years?" Yoruichi scolded. "The last time I saw you, you were a lot different from the cowering, blubbering fool you are now. What's changed?"

"You didn't have to scratch me."

Yoruichi held her head up higher. "Well I had to do something as that buffoon Urahara wasn't helping you."

"It's complicated, Yoruichi."

The cat rolled her large yellow eyes and jumped up onto her lap. "You know, for someone as old as you; you really are stupid. Do you think I came up here for an evening stroll? We've been friends a long time, Sanae." Yoruichi flashed her sharp teeth, her version of a sly grin. "Is it to do with a man?"

"No!" Sanae defended, shoving the feline off her. Yoruichi chuckled. "Well—some of it, but not in the way you're thinking you creep."

Yoruichi settled herself next to Sanae once more and took a deep breath. "Look, Sanae. I can't say I really know how you feel, no one can. What happened to you was horrible. You've spent over two hundred years on the run from Soul Society. Sure Urahara and I have been in hiding but it's not the same. Soul Society are out for blood for you. It's normal for you to be scared."

"I'm not scared of them." Sanae exclaimed as she glanced down at Yoruichi. "I'm scared of myself. You and Urahara, you accepted me even knowing about what happened to the squad. You believed me when no one else did. I know that I killed the squad, I can feel it to the very core of my soul, but the thing that still scares me is not remembering. There's a part of me that I can't control."

"You don't know that."

"Then explain it to me, Yoruichi." Sanae glared at her. "Explain how I willingly killed twenty four people. You knew me back then, you know I would never have done that."

Yoruichi sighed. "I know."

"Then why can't I remember?" Sanae cried out. "Maybe Ichigo was right, I've just been running this entire time because I didn't want to admit the truth."

"What truth?" Yoruichi asked, her eyes narrowing.

Sanae paused to catch her breath. "What if—what if I did kill them, and I just repressed the memory? It would explain how I was the only one alive, why I can't remember—"

"That's ridiculous!" Yoruichi exclaimed. "We already discussed this years ago. Something else must have been at play, there was no way you would have done it, but none of us have been able to go back and search for answers as to why."

"I just want it to be over, Yoruichi," Sanae whined. "I'm sick of feeling like this every—damn—day."

"So running away is the answer to it all then?" Sanae could clearly picture Yoruichi in her human form crossing her arms and lifting one eyebrow as she said that.

Sanae averted her gaze, looking at the horizon over Yoruichi's shoulder. As she did, she suddenly felt the sensation of a Senkaimon opening. Two strong reiatsu followed after, Sanae had no doubt that it would be a Captain and a Lieutenant, judging from the size of their reiatsu.

Yoruichi moved to the edge of the roof as she glanced over her shoulder to give Sanae a look. "It look's like now's your chance to decide. Will you stay? Or will you flee?"

Sanae couldn't give her an answer.

"You really should be inside, Ukitake," Sanae mentioned politely. She sipped on the warm tea and stared across the shogi table at her long time friend. Ukitake gave her a warm smile as he sipped on his drink and then covered his mouth with his hand as he coughed.

"You're too kind, Sanae-chan."

"Only to you," the azure haired girl smiled at him. Ukitake chuckled, earning himself another round of coughs. Sanae stared at him worriedly after he had finished. "Are you sure there isn't anything I can get you?"

"N-no, it's fine." Ukitake said with a wave of his hand. "I didn't sleep particularly well last night, it seems my illness doesn't like that."

"You should have told me to come around another time," Sanae said with a stern glare. Ukitake flashed her one of his charming smiles.

"And miss your first day as part of the Gotei thirteen? I think not."

Sanae fidgeted with her new Shihakusho. It was crisp and dark black. It suited her much more than the academies red kosode and hakama. "What squad was it again you're entering?"

"Three. Though I'm still offended old man Yama only gave me a seated position. He let you and Kyoraku be Captains straight away!" Ukitake laughed under her breath.

"There were some extraordinary circumstances surrounding our squads, and we've known Yama for a lot longer than you."

Sanae rolled her eyes. "Like two hundred years, its not that impressive," she grumbled under her breath. Ukitake smirked at her from her reaction. "So what if he personally trained you. I'm calling a biased choice-"

"You'll do well in Squad three-"

"-I should have at least got some favoritism by default. I mean, you two were three years ahead of me at the academy and he saw us together all the time. I'm trying to bank in on mutual friendships here."

Ukitake reached over and placed his hand on top of her head, causing Sanae to instantly stop talking and meet his kind gaze. "I'm sure you'll rise through the ranks quickly. Maybe Yama did this so that you could show him how much you deserve a higher rank. I believe in you, Sanae-chan."

X

"KYORAKU!"

The man in question moved faster than he ever had in his life as he ducked behind a chair. He knew that voice. He also knew when to hide from that voice. Not three seconds later, the door to his private squad room was violently opened and a fuming Sanae stormed in. Due to his lacking hiding skills, Sanae spotted the captain immediately.

"Your plan didn't work," she ground out through gritted teeth.

Kyoraku gave her a sheepish smile as he leaned around the wooden chair. "I told you it wouldn't, Sanae-chan." Sanae shot him a dark look that had Kyoraku hiding behind the furniture again.

"How was I supposed to know that his stupid Zanpakuto would be under lock and key? All I wanted to do was hold his Zanpakuto for ransom so that he could give me a higher position in the Gotei thirteen. Ukitake was no help like we assumed, he didn't even offer to talk to the old man!"

Kyoraku chuckled and finally stood up from behind his defense. "And I'm guessing that the old man caught you."

"Red handed," Sanae said dryly. "Now I'm on cleaning duty—for a whole month!" Sanae suddenly grinned over at Kyoraku as she crossed her arms tightly. "It could be worse though, I could be doing it alone."

Kyoraku chuckled. He adjusted his floral coat. "Who's the unlucky soul that got stuck cleaning with you?"

"Well when I told old man Yama that the whole thing was your idea to play a prank on him he was more than happy to have you join me in cleaning for the month." Sanae grinned devilishly.

It took Kyoraku a few moments to realize what she had said, when he did his jaw dropped. "Sanae-chan! No!" Sanae ran from the room, her high-pitched laugh echoing through the halls of Squad eight.

X

In the dead of night, Urahara stood watching the meeting between Kuchiki Byakuya, Abarai Renji and Kuchiki Rukia. He had assisted in allowing Ichigo to turn into a Shinigami and confront the captain and lieutenant duo. Currently, Ichigo was being shown the difference in power that Renji had over him. Urahara would've stepped in, but he wanted Ichigo to understand the difference in power, he just hoped that he didn't do anything stupid enough to get himself killed before he could help him.

Urahara felt their presence move to stand next to him. He could sense her trembling body; it was daunting for her to be in such close proximity to Shinigami.

"I'm surprised you came." Urahara glanced down to his right.

"Yoruichi made a decent argument," Sanae said sternly. Urahara smirked.

"She does that annoyingly well, hmm?" Sanae's eyes were glued to the scene in front of her. She watched Ichigo try and dodge Renji's attacks; he narrowly escaped a few before the lieutenant suddenly released his Zanpakuto.

"Urahara?"

"Hmm?"

Sanae took a deep breath. "Do you know why I feel this connection with Ichigo? Why, after all these years—a single argument between me and him had me changing the way I think and feel." Urahara waited a moment.

"I have my suspicions."

"But you won't tell me what they are, right?" Sanae smirked at Urahara's predictable answer. "Sometimes I wonder if you know what truly happened that night too—but if you did, I'm sure you would've told me, right?" Sanae didn't miss the fact that Urahara's brows twitched slightly. She wasn't mad at the man; he was one of her oldest friends. She had come to understand that if Urahara didn't tell you something, it was because he wanted you to figure it out on your own—or he cared too much. Right now, Sanae didn't know which one it was.

A cry from the fight drew her attention away from Urahara and to Ichigo and the others. The carrot top was currently on his knees, his shoulders bleeding profusely as Rukia tried to stall Renji for enough time so that Ichigo could get the hell out of there. It was then that a large blast of reiatsu had then all shielding their faces, Urahara and Sanae too. It wasn't as powerful as with the Menos Grande, but Sanae could still feel the raw power behind it.

Ichigo was powerful, but he wasn't controlled in how to use it. He would loose this fight. Sanae knew it. She also knew that Ichigo would probably go to Soul Society when Rukia was taken back there. There was no way that Ichigo would be strong enough to save her from them.

But Sanae promised herself that when Ichigo went to Soul Society, she would go too, but for her own reasons. Call it fate or destiny, but Sanae finally realized that maybe Ichigo was here for a reason. Their connection that they had, Sanae could use it to figure out what happened to her all those years ago.

She would avenge her friends. And she would avenge herself.

A/N

Hi guys me again! Least it wasn't four months again! So we're finally getting into the more interesting parts of the story now. And what do you think Sanae will do with the fight? You think she's gonna stand by like Urahara or jump in and try to be the hero? Only time will tell. As we delve deeper into the Soul Society Arc a lot of Sanae's past will come out so you won't all be confused for too much longer. I have a bunch of cool stuff planned for that arc and everything leading up to it!

Thanks to all the guys who returned after my long ass absence.

Nixxion Mysterio - Yeeeeeeeeep! She's older than Urahara, and Yoruichi for that matter. Well from what I researched, there isn't exactly dates to go by for their birthdays so I've made nearly all of it up. She's more closer to age with Ukitake and Kyoraku than the others. Man I love writing cool hero entrances, literally my favourite thing to do! I honestly don't blame you at all for forgetting about the story a little xD I kinda had that coming from being AWOL. His reiatsu did happen in the episodes. Ishida explains it like a faucet but I really couldn't be bothered explaining it in that chapter so I just did a brief recap in this one. Thank you so much for your support! I really do appreciate it, with that I'm so happy you'll be sticking around but this story is going to be long as hell hahaha yay!

ukitakeitalialover041757 - Thank you so much!