A/N: Hiya ^^ This is my Bleach fanfic, 'Empyrean'. It means something that never ends, like the universe, so technically it means 'eternal' =] I chose that title because it's about a Shinigami who died and her soul reincarnated, and even though she lost all her Shinigami memories, the people she knew in Soul Society didn't forget her... I'm not saying more because that would spoil it XD But that's the general idea =] I tried not focusing on just one genre, so this'll be a mix of comedy/action/romance etc. Soo... here goes =]:
Chapter 1
Kaya sat on the porch outside, gazing at the bright full moon. Her long dark hair fell past her waist, flowing down in semi-waves, and her dark brown eyes shone in the moonlight.
"Come on, Shihouin-taichou!" came a voice from behind her. "There's still enough sake left for a good three hours' more drinking!"
Kaya smiled. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Rangiku-san had thrown a party out of nowhere for the Seiretei's seated officers, and almost everyone had went. Kaya didn't want to be a spoilsport so she'd gone too, even though she wasn't really the party type. But now it was already two in the morning and Kaya had drank enough, and besides, inside it was too warm and everyone was a little giddy with sake.
"I'm OK, Rangiku-san," she replied.
"Oh, well, if you're sure! This sake's the finest! I wouldn't miss it for the world. Stupid taichou always confiscating my bottles..." she went back inside, mumbling.
Kaya had recently been appointed to be the new captain of the ninth squad. Even now, a few weeks after, she still couldn't really believe it. It had happened so suddenly, she and two others who had just graduated from the Academy, the top three of the year, were asked if they'd like to fill in the rank, just like that, and they obviously couldn't refuse the opportunity.
She sat there for a while, listening to the sound of laughter and talk behind her and the contrasting sounds of the night; the crickets chirping, the owls hooting, the trees swaying in the calm wind...
She'd lost track of time, because she'd been there for so long, but then out of nowhere a Hell Butterfly swooped down next to her. Kaya held out her finger and the butterfly perched there.
"All Captains and Lieutenants are to return to their barracks immediately and gather twenty Shinigami for each of the following stations:..." The Head Captain stated the stations for each squad and then finished in a grave tone, "This is to drive back a sudden Hollow attack at the places mentioned. We don't know the cause of this."
Kaya got up and hurried inside. Hell Butterflies were floating everywhere, but no one seemed to have got the message. Yumichika was giggling and pointing at his butterfly, Renji was chasing his around the room, and Izuru was trying to grab his but was aiming at the air a foot away. Kaya sighed, frustrated.
"GUYS!" she yelled. "This is urgent! Has anyone of you even got the message?"
"I did," said Shuhei with a burp, before falling backwards off his stool. Her own Lieutenant, drunk as a skunk.
One of the new Captains, Ryuu, was staring oddly at the wall. "I feel something coming up," he said, covering his mouth with his hand. Kaya hurried out before she could see the rest.
"Ok, ok, don't panic," Kaya muttered as she ran to the ninth squad's base. "At least the Captains aren't drunk and woozy like the Lieutenants - except for that Ryuu! I don't know why he was chosen to be a captain; he's got no sense of responsibility. Hinamori-san wasn't at the party, was she? So she's probably taking care of everything herself..."
"Shihouin-taichou, we're awaiting orders!" one of her squad's members said as she arrived. There were already twenty Shinigami assembled there.
"Right, everyone, let's head to position," she said, her face flushed from running. They nodded and followed her.
