Time passed and the days became weeks leaving Steph feeling like he was watching the world go by. More of the people he knew in the fourth year classes were getting their zanpakutos and advancing. Every so often he would still get asked for his help, but he would flatly refuse them knowing what could happen. Most of the time they seemed to get angry, but leave without troubles. When they did not he would explain to them that it would not help and then leave. Fortunately, no one was nearly as pushy as the first time, but he wondered if there might have been another reason for that.

However, he did take an active role in eavesdropping on conversations from the students listening for any signs of the woman in white. Unfortunately, he had heard nothing from the students. Even still there were two more unexplained student deaths in the academy. While this was mostly kept quiet to not disturb the order of the academy it had everyone confused. No one was able to figure out how the murderer was getting into the student’s room undetected in spite of increased security. By the time someone arrived at the scene they would already be dead and no trace of the criminal. The investigation squad was at a complete loss.

Steph wanted to do something to help, but he knew that they would not allow a simple student do anything. He would just be seen as being in the way to them. There was nothing that he could do even though he knew whom it was that was doing it. If she did not show herself he would have to wait a terrible game of patience. It was all he was allowed at this point, but eventually that would change.

“Did you hear the woman in white struck again last night?” Even the students knew well enough to know who was doing the killings. She had started to be spoken more often each day, but most were just empty stories made to increase the stature of her beyond reasonable proportions. Steph could not simply listen anymore and expect to learn anything with her name being thrown around so casually. It made his personal investigation difficult.

“Steph-sama!” a screeching voice from down the hall shattered the peace putting attention on the small figure. Then there was his other difficulty, Hana would frequently visit him at random times leaving him unable to predict or plan for her. Ever since he had saved her from the bullies she seemed to be insistent on being taught and thanking him even though he continued to tell her that she had already done enough in gratitude. Sadly, he was quick to realize that there was never going to be an end to this and she was somehow faster than him making it impossible for him to outrun her.

Hana sped through the hallway pushing the attention of the all the students from her to the target of her eyes, Steph. He weakly smiled knowing that there was no chance of playing it off to save himself. Even still it did not mean he did not try to run away. Each time before Steph was immediately and suddenly cornered after only a single flash step. Hana was standing in front of him lunging at him knocking him into the grass. He had managed to move the scene out of the numerous eyes and limit the embarrassment that was going to suffer. “I caught you, Steph-sama!” Hana said giggling as she lay on top of Steph. “Were you practicing your flash step with me, again?”

Steph looked up at her briefly and dropped his head to the ground resigning to his position. “Y-yeah, Hana, I was-“

“I told you that you could call me Hana-chan!” Hana latched on to Steph body again rubbing her head against his chest like she did so often. The other students on the grounds were laughing to themselves or walking around disgusted by the display.

‘But I’m not Japanese, I’m not used to saying it…why does she always do this.’ Steph struggled to pry her from his body and place her on the ground. “What are you doing here, Hana…” Hana stared at him at that moment waiting to hear the proper response that she desired from him. Steph sighed softly not wanting to deal with this today. He started over again after a pause and swallowing roughly. “What are you doing here, Hana-chan…don’t you have class?”

“Oh yes, but I still have a few minutes and I wanted to see you.” Hana uncontrollably threw her arms around trying to grab at Steph suddenly distracted by her own words. Steph was fast enough to hold her back from clinging to him once more. She fell forward a little as Steph stopped her enough so that she became distracted once more. “Steph-sama your hair is coming undone! Let me fix it for you, please!”

“No, that’s-“ Steph started to interrupt her, but she had already disappeared from his gasp and was behind him pulling at his hair. “Ow, agh, let go…it hurts…that hurts…H-hana…argh…Hana-chan.” She had already pulled out the band that held his hair together and was pulling at it leaving him unbalanced. Steph could not do anything to stop her and she seemed to be puzzlingly fast as well. He was no longer sure what was going on. “Fine…”

“Hey, your hair is really long. I’m sort of jealous with mine being so short.”

‘Yeah, it makes you look like a boy, but I guess I have the same problem in reverse…why me…’ Steph slumped over a little when he saw a couple of girls giggling to themselves as they passed by. ‘What people must think…I don’t really care, but still…’ He winced a little from whatever Hana was doing to his hair wishing that it would be over soon. It did sadly drag on for longer than he wished until she popped out in front of him.

Hana stared at him closely with a wide grin on her face that made Steph nervous and his face red. She was only a few inches away from him with their noses nearly touching it. She seemed to only be getting closer to him make Steph sweat. “All done!” Hana patted him on the head two sharp light times and jumped back up still glowing from happiness.

‘I’m almost afraid to know.’

“Class is starting soon, I just wanted to say to be careful of that lady in white everyone is talking about. I heard she was near your room last night.” After she left him with those words she departed quickly for a class that she was no doubt late to getting to. It seemed too casual, but Steph nearly fell over after the words.

‘She’s near…does that mean she is coming for me?’ Steph looked around not sure if he should be expecting her to just be waiting behind him for the moment that he looked at his back. Naturally, his enemy was not there, but he had to remain on edge for the moment that she did appear. There was someone else left looking at him after all of the other students had disappeared laughing at him.

“That’s some girlfriend you found yourself, Steph,” Tamashi said who had been relaxing under a tree enjoying the simple pleasures of nature as Steph might have been if he had not been interrupted by Hana. He was now leaning against the tree giving Steph a playful smirk.

Steph’s face grew red again at the thought of her being his girlfriend. It was not something that he even wanted to consider. She was just a random girl that acted randomly around him and enjoyed latching on to him, frequently. ‘No…no…’ Steph shook his head to get the thought out of his mind and facing Tamashi. “N-no-no. It’s not like that at all. S-she’s…she’s just…a lower classman…”

Tamashi stood up walking over to Steph lifting him off the ground. He started to walk away to leave Steph to his thoughts. “Well call her whatever you want, but I wouldn’t call her your hair stylist. Unless you enjoy the girl look a lot. Later, Steph.” Tamashi waved back to Steph as he walked away into the hall disappearing behind the wall.

It took a moment for the words to settle in, but Steph then rushed around looking for the nearest mirror. Unfortunately, there was nothing around and he was forced to return back to his room. When he made it back to his room he immediately went to the bathroom the only mirror that he knew of finding the horror that was his hair. ‘Its no wonder they were laughing at me…’ Steph ran his hands over his hair looking at the surprising intricacy that Hana had managed to destroy his hair. He did not even know where to begin or even how it managed to stay in one place. His entire hair was braided, knotted and spun around so close to his head that it looked more like the top of a wedding cake with the artist having gone crazy on the decoration. Steph sighed heavily to himself as he worked on picking at his hair to recover it.

After an hour of work he managed to have his hair back to the way it was supposed to be a simple tied back tail. “I can’t let her touch my hair again. I don’t know if I’ll manage to undo what she does next time…”

“Steph, that you? I thought you had class?”

“Kagashi?” Steph said walking out of the bathroom. “Don’t you have class?”

“Actually, I just finished. I was…never mind.” Kagashi picked up something from the side of his room and exited the room quickly.

It was only for a brief flash, but Steph could see that he had taken his sword with him. The sword looked different than the last time he remembered it. He was certain that the hilt and guard had changed. “His zanpakuto…he succeeded then…his zanpakuto…” Steph thoughts drifted away elsewhere before he realized that he was very late for his class and rushed out.


Months continued and Steph watched all those around him finishing their work with their zanpakuto learning the shape and name. They were leaving him behind taking the step that would push them that much closer to being a true shinigami. He could see the gap between them increasing no longer having an interest in him only working to sharpen their skills so that they could get a good spot in the Gotei 13 once graduating. Steph wondered if some of them might even get a seat position straight out of the academy. It was not uncommon, but it only left him further behind.

Steph slowly moved through the halls with his mind weighing heavy on the thoughts. Even the woman in white had been quiet as of late leaving him with no clues. All he could do was attend classes and improve his own skills, but it felt like he had suddenly reach a dead end. He was having trouble seeing himself getting stronger, but he was better than the rest of his classmates in the areas that he focused, swordsmanship and kido. It would not be until he entered his fourth year that he would be advanced to a higher class for his swordsmanship and so he was left feeling like he was stagnant. The time was so far away and he could not do anything.

His classes for the day came to their end and he could return back now as he did each day. The monotonous drudgery finally came to peace, but it would resume again the next day. Steph had the night as his reprieve and suddenly decided that he was not going straight back to his room. He took a walk out of the academy wherever the wind would take him. Once he reached the edge of the Seireitei and came to the open fields he felt calm. Even though there might have bad memories around this place he had to thank him for showing it to him. There was nowhere better in the Seireitei that he could go and feel the wind so unrestrained and free as it did here.

Steph laid back into the grass on the side of a hill allowing him the reclined position to gaze at the stars. There were so many more that he could see out above the dense lights and buildings of the Seireitei. This was all he needed to break free from the gloom that had been holding him down for the last couple weeks. He could let go and smile honestly not feeling the guilt that weighed him down making it almost impossible to be happy.

For an hour the wind blew over him bringing the cool breeze to him making him raise his scarf up a little to keep his neck warm. However, the smell in the air soon changed suddenly making his eyes open wide. There was something that he could almost feel laying through the wind. He was not sure what exactly it was, but it felt bad, evil. Everything felt heavy to him suddenly as he had difficulty moving. His entire body was sweating heavily feeling this great pressure surrounding him. “What is that? Why can’t I move? Is this the spiritual pressure they were talking about in class? It is so strong…wait…” Steph struggled to pull his head up remembering this feeling from before. “Its YOU!”

Out of the wind grass was pulled up forming a cloud around the concentration of the spiritual pressure that was pushing on Steph. It moved closer slowly gathering density until nothing could be seen through it. For just a blur he was certain that he saw a woman in white as everyone described, but the pressure was affecting his vision. “I’m glad you remembered me. I haven’t forgotten you.”

“You’re the one killing the students! Aren’t you? Why?” Steph pulled at his arm trying to get himself to move, but all he could manage was to keep from falling over.

“Perhaps I was the one. Even if I was what would you do? You who can’t even stand?” A sinister laugh pierced the storm of grass and dirt as the mass continued forward.

Steph pushed at the force holding him remembering those that this thing had killed. It had stolen lives away and destroyed the only place that he could call home. He could not let it end with him doing nothing. ‘Onee-nii-sama! Onee-nii-sama!’ Steph closed his eyes trying to fight back the faces that haunted him. All he could see was the blood around him left behind from the thing that killed them. “NO!”

His body suddenly glowed green exploding outward allowing him to stand up fighting against the pressure that tried to shackle him to the ground. It still was immense for him to fight against and his movement was still restrained, but he was standing. Steph’s hair whipped around in the energy that was bleeding off of him pushing against the grass. “I swore to them that I would kill you for what you did! DIE!! Hado #31 Shakkaho!” It was the first time that Steph had ever used such a higher-level kido without the spirit chant, but he did not have the time. Out of his out stretched palm a red globe of fire formed quickly and released a moment later. It burst upon the cloud completely negated by simply the pressure coming off of the woman.

Another laugh poured out from the clouds at the weak attempt. “You couldn’t even manage an eighth of the power even with all of the new found strength.” The cloud moved a little closer to Steph, but came to a stop. “Oh, couldn’t even handle that?”

Steph looked at the cloud confused after he had failed with the spell and then realized what she was talking about. He had not managed to concentrate hard enough and without the spirit chant there was still some backfire from his novice attempt. His energy turned on him going out of control quickly burning him from the unspent spiritual energy. The aura shattered instantly dropping him like a rock to the ground under the renewed pressure unable to cancel it. He was tapped out. ‘Didn’t that shinigami say I regenerated spirit energy quickly? Why can’t I get any? It should be back…what’s wrong? Something…blocking it?!’

“Hrm, can’t let me dine in peace. My task is completed anyway. That should be enough.” The cloud suddenly disappeared along with the woman that was hiding within. The moment that she had gone Steph was released, but being held seemed to have been the only thing keeping him together as his conscious started to fade.


A familiar sound of the medical ward echoed through his rousing ears. Steph slowly opened his eyes confirming what he already felt to be true. He was truly becoming a far too common resident of this room. But he wondered more about how he had managed to get here this time. When he tried to lift himself he was replied to with sharp pains spiking through his entire body stopping any movement that he tried. He bit through the pain that washed through him.

Rather than attempting to move again he shifted his eyes around trying to regain his footing on his situation and use the feeling in his body to determine what happened. Unfortunately, he felt like he was wrapped up head to toe feeling the grainy texture of bandages between his fingers and skin. He could barely move his head to look towards the rest of the room. There was someone else in the room next to his bed wearing an academy uniform. “Ugh…who…” It hurt for him to even move his mouth. ‘How much did it backfire on me?’

The person returned to life hearing a voice and moved towards him. “Steph-sama?” a soft voice said dulled by the pain Steph was feeling.

It took him a few moments to realize that it was even a female voice before he put it together that it was actually Hana next to him. If he were not in pain to move he would have leapt from his bed in fear. “H-hana?”

There was a pause in her voice as she pulled back tears. “You’re awake!” Hana dropped herself on Steph suddenly unable to hold back her tears anymore. Steph’s whole body was razed in pain letting out low groans from his mouth. He tried to speak to tell her to get off him, but seeing the tears and relief on her face he could not say anything. He just let her cry on his chest equally glad to be awake. “I’m so glad. You had me so worried that you’d never wake up!”

“Hana…chan…” he said hoping that it would ease her a little. He lifted his hand painfully to her hands placing them on her trembling hands. She looked up from crying as he took hold of her hand giving her some of his strength.

She managed a smile for him staying like that longer than they realized. The time for her to leave came and she put Steph back to rest, but before leaving the room she turned to look back at him. “I have a gift for you when you’re feeling a little better. So you get stronger soon, kay?”

Steph simply nodded with his eyes closing them to say ‘yes’ to her. She then left with a smile on her face nodding back to him in their agreement. Steph did not know what she was talking about, but he had to focus on getting his strength back. He closed his eyes letting himself return to sleep.

Hana visited him repeatedly each day to check in on Steph and watch his progress. Steph welcomed the company, though he still remained confused why she was so worried about him. They hardly knew each other yet she seemed to act like he was very important to her. Steph did not understand it, but at the moment he was not going to question it either. On the day that Steph was finally mostly free of his bandages Hana returned with a gift as she had promised him.

Hana stood at the doorway waiting for Steph to let her come him. He had been looking out the window staring at the tree in the wind. It would only be a couple more days until he could be released from the medical ward. “You can come in Hana-chan,” Steph said out of the corner of his eye when he noticed her presence.

She was holding something behind her back as she walked in. Steph turned to face her greeting her with a friendly smile, as did she. “You don’t look like a mummy anymore, Steph-sama.” Hana said with a small laugh. Only a couple small bandages remained along his face while his arms remained wrapped still for another day. “I brought you your gift as I promised.”

“Oh? What-“

Hana bent for slightly bowing to him with her eyes closed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give this to you sooner.”

“Uh…its alright. Don’t worry about it.”

“Right!” she said removing the sadness from her face as she rose up. “Now close your eyes and put your hands out!”

“What? But-“

“No, buts. It’s a surprise. Please, Steph-sama!”

“Alright…” Steph said with reluctance. He obeyed and closed his eyes leaving his hands out to accept whatever this gift might be that Hana had. His mind ran over a few ideas, but he was not sure what it could be in the end. All he knew was that she could fit it behind her back. The waiting made him apprehensive about what he was going to be receiving worrying that he was getting into something that would only dig him deeper.

A moment later he felt a weight on his hands spread across both by something long and thin. He was still uncertain wanting to look, but waited for her to say it was ready. “Alright, open your eyes.” Steph looked with his eyes to find that he was holding a sword and sheath in his palms leaving his mouth open in surprise. “Tada!”

Steph looked at the hilt of the sword finding the symbol of the academy at the base of the metal that capped the bottom of the hilt. “This is…how do you…” He turned to Hana wanting some answers, but still having trouble finding the words.

“Do you like it? It’s an academy katana meant for focusing to obtain your zanpakuto.”

“Yes, but how did you get this? They keep them locked up and hand them out personally to each fourth year student.” Steph had his first answer to confirm that this was indeed a katana for zanpakuto training, but how did this first year get it without anyone knowing. There was something more to this that Steph did not yet comprehend.

“You don’t like it? I can get a different color, if you want.”

“What?” Steph stared at her even more confused. She made it sound like she had a whole store of these that she could so readily take and give out. ‘There is something more to her than I realized.’ Steph tightened his grip on the hilt pulling out the katana enough to see the blade reflect his face back. “No, it’s not that. How did you get this?”

Hana smiled innocently at him moving a little closer to him. “I took it from the storeroom that holds them. Where else did you think I got it?”

“But how? It is locked and sealed so that only the instructor in charge of the zanpakuto training can take them out.”

“Oh that? The instructor is my father. He lets me go wherever I want.” Hana giggled softly making it difficult to know if she realized what she had just done in give the sword to Steph.

Steph stared in disbelief at the girl no longer sure what to think of her. He could tell that she was innocent and carefree following whatever her heart desired. However, he was not certain still if there was something more underneath her or not. She was so difficult for him to read into past the glowing smile. “But why? You’ll get into trouble for doing this.”

Hana suddenly looked down at her lap as though she was now hiding something. She started playing with her fingers like she was delaying and deciding what to do next. Steph leaned forward placing the sword aside and laid a hand on both of hers. “I-I saw you one night…you looked sad. I heard you say that you wish you could have a zanpakuto like your friends. You needed to be stronger. You saved me from those bullies and I hadn’t done anything to return your kindness. So I wanted to help you. Now you can have your own zanpakuto too!”

Steph could only keep staring at her unable to speak. She did all of this just in return for being saved. But this was far too much for him to take. He clinched the sword in one hand. “I can’t…” Steph paused for a moment thinking to himself about the opportunity that he was being given. ‘This could be my chance. With this I’ll be able get my zanpakuto and…no if I get caught I could…I’ll become stronger with this. I can’t lose to her again…’

“Steph-sama?” Hana said tilting her head a little confused by his silence in middle sentence.

He shook off his doubts and looked back at Hana. “I can’t thank you enough for this, Hana-chan,” he said with a smile of gratitude. It would be his best opportunity and fortunately for him listening to Tamashi and Kagashi talk about the process he already knew what he needed to do.

“Oh, Steph-sama I’m so happy that you like your gift!” It was that moment though that Steph had some regret when she leapt into his bed hugging him tightly. She ended up knocking back down to his bed pillow. Hana held on to him persistently not letting him. When she finally lifted from him her face came in front of his with their noses just barely separated. Steph’s face became red again trying to escape into his pillow while he was the unwilling prisoner of Hana. “Steph-sama…”

“I-I-I…uh…Hana-chan…” Steph’s entire body began sweating and raising in temperature. He could not get free from her and she knew it. His mind was going blank with panic unable to think straight with the simple thought of ‘flee’ echoing through him.

“Hey, visiting hours are over…hey what do you two think you’re doing?” The nurse from the hall stormed into the room grabbing Hana off of Steph. “No, funny business is allowed in the hospital.”

“Thank y-“ Steph said grateful that he was freed from Hana before the nurse interrupted him.

“Honestly Steph, how could you take advantage of this girl’s heart? Take your hormones and get to some rest before I kick you out of here.”

“But I-“

“No, excuses.”

“Steph-sama! I’ll visit you again tomorrow!”

“No you won’t little girl. I’m not letting you anywhere near him. This is for your own good and safety. You can’t trust men like him.” The nurse dragged Hana off struggling against her until all that Steph could hear was the distance voice of Hana screaming for him.

Steph gave a heavy sigh relieved and depressed that he was seen as a pervert trying to take advantage of a girl. In the end it did work towards his benefit since he did not have to worry about any more incidents from Hana. Though that did not protect him from her during classes. ‘However, I have this now…’ He rose up his hand letting the covers that had been hiding the sword fall away. This was a big step for him that he could take now.

A few days later he was finally released from the medical ward in the academy and allowed to resume his normal studies. Hana was stubborn in her attempts as was the nurse in preventing them. Fortunately, it did give him the opportunity to get his sword out since it would otherwise look a little strange carrying it out. He found the sword in his room resting neatly hidden where he told Hana. Once everyone had left he pulled it out with a childlike excitement running his hand down the length of the sheath. ‘If I’m going to do this I need to be careful and watch when I do this.’

It took him a week to find the time to escape out to the grass field where he could be in private. The waiting that he had to go through constantly put him on edge not certain how long he was going to have to wait. But he was finally able to try it out. He found a place under a large aging tree that covered the entire hill in its gentle shade.

‘Hope this works…’ While he was waiting on the right time he had been talking Kagashi and others about the work. He tried to carefully gain more information on the attempt since he was not sure if there was something special that had to be done. Unfortunately, everyone seemed to have a different method and manner in going about it. If he simplified it down to the basics though it all was the same. It was a dialogue that he had to have with himself and look inward to finding the part of him that would become the image of his zanpakuto.

Steph placed the sword in his hand horizontally and closed his eyes. He tried to let the wind pass over and around him focusing inward. Nothing moved apart from the leaves of the tree. All things that surrounded him disappeared from his senses and he looked inside. He struggled through the mental walls that he had placed up trying keep his concentration while bringing them down.

After three hours of utter silence Steph opened his eyes having given up for the day. ‘I guess I can’t expect it to happen for me on the first try. Well there is tomorrow perhaps…’ Steph stood up concealing the sword and walked back to the academy. He knew that it was going to be a difficult task, but it was not until he attempted it that he realized the full extent of the task. However, he was not going to let it stand in his way. This would be his in time.

Steph spent the rest of the week unable to make any further attempts as well as the week to follow. But he came to another opportunity soon enough. His next attempt did not succeed either forcing him to wait once more. He bought his time and watched until there was another chance.

The large tree on the hill swayed in the strong wind that day while Steph focused beneath it. He could feel the layers pealing back pushing him deeper. Memories and images haunted him tempting to shatter his concentration, but he let them pass by melting to become a part of him. They were the reason that he pushed on and not to hold him back. Soon he came to a place where he could not feel anything it was a void of black. He was naked laid bare from all his masks and emotions. All that remained was him and nothing else to taint. This was the center of his soul where he would find his true self.

In front of him a mirror appeared as he floated in the empty wasteland of his soul. He stared into the mirror curious to know what he was supposed to find. However, it did not reflect back remaining unchanged. He stretched out his hand to touch the surface causing it to ripple and distort until he saw him. He was staring back at himself in the mirror, but it did not seem to be that surprising. “Me…”

“Yes…” the mirror said in response making Steph drift back a little in surprise. “I am you as you are me.”

“So this is it?”

“Correct. You are here because you seek to change.”

“I must change.”

“Change comes at its own cost. Who are you?”

“Hrmph…a clichéd question seeking a meaning that I am supposed to know, yet it is not the answer that I think.”

“Dodging it now are we?”

“It was you who asked.”

“It is not I that asked, but you. It is you who are asking the questions.”

“You are me…cute…” Steph paused staring at himself not certain what to do next. He already knew that there was not going to be an answer and it seemed that he could not advance without an answer. It had to be the right answer, but how could he find it.

“You must admit to yourself who you are. Only then can you find what you seek.” The mirror suddenly changed revealing images to him quickly. They were all his memories in his time in the Soul Society. It was everything that had shaped him. He saw the children that were slaughtered and grandma. The events played through his mind.

“No…I don’t want to keep experiencing that.” He changed to the first day he arrived at the academy. The tests that he had to take and the change that became of him. The mirror changed to the people that he saw and experienced life with. There were the travels through the Rukongai that he wandered endlessly without purpose. Now he saw the shinigami that found him and convinced him to join. “They… everyone… memories… what you are trying to get at…” Then he saw the day that everything changed for him. It continued to burn in his thoughts echoing repeatedly. He saw Hana when he saved her from the bullies. “This is all so random…random…meaningless…”

“What do you want? You want your clever answer to your stupid riddle? You want me to admit that I don’t know myself as well I think. You want me to say that it was just all random events? That I only did anything because it was a whim of mine like the wind. Only moving from moment to moment barely affecting others and just existing invisible. No…I’m not that anymore. I can’t be. I’m not moving without purpose anymore. I’m doing this because I must. I can’t be invisible anymore! I won’t let myself just be the wind!” The void around Steph suddenly changed to white gathering around him. The mirror shattered to pieces spinning around him changing to beautiful cherry blossoms covering him.

Steph did not know what was happening anymore just letting things go on. He could not do anything to stop it anyway it was beyond his control. The white space disappeared from his sight as the blossoms completely encased him shining bright pink becoming a solid around him. A moment later it shattered cracking away slowly at first and quickly chasing itself around the surface. The pieces fell away changing back to blossoms from the bottom slowly reaching to the top. Once Steph could see again he was in his dream world. “What am I doing here? Did I fail?”

“No, quite the opposite, Steph,” the woman said gathering from the shattered pieces that had become blossoms. Her face was gradually created and eventually her entire body. She stepped forward to Steph with her hand stretched out for him to accept.

Being back in his dream world did not make a lot of sense to him especially with the different manner in which the woman appeared and was acting towards him. She was inviting him, but he was not sure if he should be accepting. “What is going on?”

“Take my hand and I’ll answer that question.”

Steph gave a narrowed expression finding himself in a position that he could not refuse. He never knew her to do anything wrong, but there was something that did not sit right with him. However, the die was cast already and he had to follow. This could still be part of the trial. He extended his arm placing his hand on her hand when she took a hold of him guiding him forward. She pulled him in a little closer and with each step that he took a cloud seemed to appear underneath to give him footing. This was not like before. When they reached the largest cloud she came to a stop looking up at the tree hanging upside down in the earth gathered by its roots. She stretched her free hand out towards the tree as it twisted a branch out to meet. Once it had reached her hand she gripped around it tightly pulling at it roughly and then twisted snapped off. The branch retreated back quickly and she brought down a long warped piece of wood bare of any twigs or leaves even blossoms.

She held it firmly in her hand with the bulk of the branch above her. The wood groaned and cracked straightening out and thinning in her hand. Near her hand a cherry blossom grew out spreading and flatting until it became thick and encompassed the entire branch around its circumference. The wood above continued to flatten and thin until it looked like it could cut. “Take hold.”

Steph was still cautious, but was beginning to understand a little of what was happening; at least he thought that to be so. He raised his hand up grabbing at the base beneath her hand. The moment that he touched it the wood glowed bright green vibrating in his hand violently feeling as though it would shatter under the stress. A crack appeared at the top that charged down the entire length forking and splitting. The green glow filled the cracks appearing as though they were coming from underneath and not from the wood itself. Then the wood shattered into cherry blossoms falling away revealing a katana to be hidden beneath the wood. The cherry blossoms gathered together forming a sheath and held the blade protected in a green metal with a pink sash that connected together at a cherry blossom clasp. The hilt cloth was green and pink twisting around meeting at a guard of gold that curved up slightly forming the shape of a cherry blossom still on the branch.

Steph pulled back his hand staring in awe at the sword in front of him being held by the woman. Once the transformation was completed she brought it to rest across both her hands. “This is yours. As I am part of this world this sword is a part of me and I am a part of you now. Take hold.” She lowered her hands down to Steph offering it to him.

“A part of you…” Steph did not accept the meaning immediately still entranced by what had just happened in front of him. This was what he had been seeking. He now had his own Zanpakuto. He took the sword from her hands feeling the heavy weight in his hands and staring at the beauty. His hands ran over the hilt and guard feeling the contours and form. “I still can’t believe it…”

All the thoughts that ran through his mind slowed him down till he finally came to the realization. He looked up at the woman knowing now. “You…y-you’re…y-you-you…”

The woman began laughing at the reaction that Steph had, as he finally understood who she actually was now. She bent down and picked him up holding him tightly. “Aww, through all that serious exterior you can still look so adorable.”

“But you’re the…you’re my…”

“Yep, you’re correct. I am the form of your Zanpakuto and this is your inner world in which I live.” Suddenly the sky that had been surrounding them fell away expanding the small space that had been concentrated. There was a vast field of green above him and there were thousands of sakura trees that Steph could not count them all. The central tree grew on a large mound that overlooked the entire field of trees seeing only a blanket of pink blossoms that blew in the wind. Steph suddenly found himself on the ground looking up at the sky that he had been so familiar with.

“Ah!” Steph said as he clung to the grass and tree trunk hoping not to fall. He closed his eyes not wanting to see the upside down world and fearing for his life. Next to him the woman laughed and giggled at his reaction. Steph braved an eye seeing the woman casually standing on the ground as though it was normal to be upside.

“You aren’t going to fall silly.”

“But I’m on the ceiling er…ground…uh…”

“Come on and open your eyes. It is safe see?”

The woman lifted Steph up from his seat losing his hold on the trunk easily and forcing him to stand on his own. It took an awkward moment for him to accept it, but he opened his eyes looking around. That beautiful sea of pink was a sight for him to behold making him wish that he could stay forever. “Beautiful…”

“I see you like it. This is your world.”

“So all that time this wasn’t a dream?”

“Nope.”

“And you’ve actually been…”

“Yep.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out. It makes so much more sense.”

“I’m glad to you have you back now. Even if you are still a child.” She sat down leaning against the trunk of the tree inviting him to share the spot. “I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

Steph accepted and sat down leaning up against her with her wrapping her hands around him. There was a warm motherly feeling about her this time that he had missed that was not the same as before. “I remembered you said that before. You act as though you’ve known me as though I’ve been someone else.”

“Perhaps…but there is still plenty of time for that. There will be time for those answers to come.”

“But I can-“

“No, those are answers for you learn on your own. For now let us just enjoy the view.”

Steph felt like he could fall asleep content with everything at that moment. They spent their time simply watching the trees not moving a muscle. It had been too long since Steph could just relax and not be concerned about every detail of his life. He knew it would not last, but he wanted to enjoy it while he could. When it came time for him to return back he stared sorrowfully knowing that he would never find another place this beautiful. He looked back at the woman for just a moment having one question that he wanted an answer to before he left. “What is your name?”

The woman looked at him a little distracted and then smiled. “Now that you hold me in your hands you should be able to hear. The answer is before you on the wind.” She motioned her hand out over the landscape.

Steph was a little confused hoping for a straight answer, but stepped forward looking and waiting. He tried to listen to the wind like she said, but he heard nothing. ‘Beautiful…’ The wind burst up around him pulling out cherry blossoms carrying the fragrance to him making his head spin with the intoxication. He closed his eyes suddenly and whispered softly. “Adeyaka-sakura…” A voice in the wind agreed with him confirming before he realized what had happened. It took a minute for him to return to his senses and understand what had happened. “That’s your name, Adeyaka-sakura.”

She nodded to him giving him that departing piece as he returned to the real world. Steph stood up suddenly jerking from his seated position looking around thinking that he had fallen asleep and it had all just been a dream. When he lifted up his hands it confirmed to him that it was not a dream and everything was real, especially his Zanpakuto. He unsheathed the sword allowing him to view the blade seeing the reflection of his face in the well polished metal. “Adeyaka-sakura…” The blade was returned to its protective sheath and he tested out the feel by lashing it over his back using the sash to set it in place. Steph turned around hoping to see it curious to see how it looked, but stopped shortly giving up. The hilt rose up over left corner of his shoulder meeting near to the top of his head while the sheath ended past the right side of his knee. It was not quite as long as he was tall, but it certainly came very close, not that he was very tall to start.

Now that he was finished with the task he unsnapped the buckle and hid the Zanpakuto under his cloths for the return walk. He could not let them see his sword for another year. Anything he did had to be done in secret. “I will grow stronger…”