"My name is Ren Matsuda, and it is a pleasure to meet you all!"

Everyone stared at Ren as she bowed to her new squad mates. She wasn't comfortable in the standard uniform, but she carried her zanpakuto at her hip. That wasn't what got them though.

Ren Matsuda was the spitting image of the former Captain of Squad 4, who had died nearly a century ago. Her teal colored hair would throw some people off, but beyond her hair color, Ren Matsuda was the spitting image of Retsu Unohana.

Ren had been placed into Squad 5, under Shinji Hirako as his 3rd seat. She had graduated with great honors from the Academy and had many of the higher ups impressed, earning her the immediate position of 4th seat.

"Welcome, Ren, to Squad 5." Shinji said, looking down at his new 4th seat.

"Thank you, Captain. I only hope that I don't disappoint you or the squad." Ren replied, smiling.

Shinji smiled, already liking the girl. "Well, now that introductions are out of the way," he began, looking to his squad. "It's time to get back to work. You all have your assignments, so when you finish you are free to have the rest of the day off."

The squad dispersed, many of them still staring at Ren as they left.

"Captain, may I ask why everyone is staring?" Ren asked quietly.

Shinji sighed. "I was afraid of this. Come with me, sweetie."

Ren waved to Momo Hinamori, her lieutenant, then followed her captain.

Shinji walked with Ren towards the shrine that had been built to honor the fallen captains and other squad members that perished during the White Invasion over a century ago. He pointed to a picture of a woman that could have easily have been Ren's mother. "The reason everyone is staring at you is because of her."

"I don't understand, sir. What does this woman have to do with me?"

"The woman in the picture is the late captain, Retsu Unohana. She was the captain of Squad 4, but she died just over a century ago. The reason everyone is staring at her is because you are the spitting image of her."

Ren looked at the picture of Retsu Unohana and saw the resemblance. "How is that possible?"

"When we souls die, we are reborn into the world of the living to have another chance at a new life. When we die in the world of the living, we live our days as souls until it is time for us to move on again. It is an endless cycle, one that is beneficial to everyone. It's possible that you are her reincarnation."

Ren looked at her captain, then back at the picture. "If that's true, then will I have to deal with people staring constantly at me?"

"Probably, but if I were you I would be proud to have her likeness. Retsu Unohana was a very powerful, kind, loving captain who took good care of her squad and everyone else. Looking like her should be something that you take to heart because you reflect her personality almost to a tee."

Ren smiled at that, stepping back. "I think I can handle that, Captain. Thank you for telling me this."

"Of course, sweetie. Now come with me, the Head Captain would like to meet you."

-O-

A knock came at the door and Nanao answered the door. "Oh, hello Captain Hirako. I see that you have arrived with 4th Seat Ren Matsuda as well. Unfortunately, the Head Captain is not here. I don't know where he is at."

Ren looked around the hall, waiting patiently, and saw someone in a pink haori and a straw hat waving her over. She looked at her captain, who was distracted by the Head Captain's lieutenant, then slipped away silently to find out what this person wanted.

"Hi, you must be Ren." the man said when Ren reached him.

"Yes, I'm Ren Matsuda. Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Shunsui Kyoraku."

"You're the Head Captain?"

Shunsui nodded. "Yup, that's me. Now come with me, I'm trying to hide from Nanao."

Ren followed him quietly out to a small garden and stood while he sat down beneath one of the trees. "Sir, why are you hiding from your lieutenant?"

"She's been nagging me about my paperwork for days. I've already done so much, but she keeps adding more and more."

Ren giggled at that and smiled at the Head Captain. "Forgive me, sir, but you are quite strange."

Shunsui looked up at her and smiled. "Well, it's no fun being normal."

"May I sit with you?"

"Of course." Shunsui replied, patting the grass next to him.

Ren sat next to the Head Captain and looked up at the sky. "A storm is coming."

"Really? But there aren't any clouds out."

Ren smiled. "Trust me. I can usually tell things like this and I'm never wrong."

"I did hear you have a water element."

"Yup."

Shunsui looked at the girl in front of him, clearly seeing the resemblance to Retsu Unohana, but she was different even still. She had a similar personality to Retsu, but she seemed more timid. Her teal hair was braided in the back, her bangs hung loosely on either side of her face, and she wore a pair of blue crystal drop earrings and a dark blue scarf. He saw that she didn't wear the standard uniform, but instead wore a white dress with a light sky blue overdress and her zanpakuto at her hip. Her cerulean blue eyes sparkled in the day light.

"You're a real cutie, you know."

Ren blushed and looked at the Head Captain. "Thank you, sir?"

"You're even cuter when you blush!" Shunsui said, chuckling.

"There you are!"

Ren looked over to see her captain and Nanao approached them.

"Well, looks like they found us." Shunsui said, drawing his straw hat over his eyes.

Ren stood and bowed to her captain. "Hello, Captain. Please forgive me, the Head Captain asked me to join him."

"Really, Head Captain..." Nanao said, pinching the space between her brows. "Must you be so lazy?"

"Forgive me, Lieutenant, but the Head Captain just wanted to introduce himself in his own special way." Ren said, suddenly feeling the need to defend the man she had just met.

Nanao looked at her and sighed. "You would do well, 4th seat Matsuda, not to fall into his terrible habits."

Ren bowed. "Of course. Maybe I could even help him break a few." She replied, joking.

"Hey now, that's not fair ganging up on your Head Captain like that." Shunsui said, standing. He put a hand on Ren's shoulder and smiled at her. "It was good to meet you, Ren. I look forward to seeing you again soon."

Ren blushed and looked at him. "Of course!"