I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.

Part I

Every time a child says, 'I don't believe in fairies,' there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.
James M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

Chapter One

6:00 am

The persistent, loud, blaring from the alarm woke him from a deep sleep. The clock continued its unrelenting barrage of earsplitting noise until he reached up and silenced it with a hard slam of his hand.

Untangling from the sheets that he had wrapped himself in as he slept; he sat up and ran a hand through his tangled black locks. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he let out a soft curse and then swung his legs over the side of the bed, getting to his feet, resisting the temptation to fall back onto the warm, soft mattress. It was, after all, time to get up, and no matter how tired he may be he could not waste a moment more lingering beneath the covers.

Sighing, he turned his attention back to the bed and began the process of quickly, and very methodically, pulling up the stark white sheets and then the blue checked comforter. Smoothing his hands across the fabric, he made sure that no annoying lumps or wrinkles remained. He then tossed the pillows onto the bed and arranged them in perfect order; larger ones in the back, smaller ones to the front.

Glancing at the bedside clock he noticed that only a few minutes had past since he awoke - right on schedule.

He walked quietly across the large, open room, making his way to the bathroom.

The day was officially under way.

6:05 am

Having discarded his worn pajamas into the hamper in his closet, he made his way to the shower. Turning the water to almost scalding, he carefully stepped inside. A firm and steady stream belted his back. The deep, almost painful pressure helped to calm the thoughts that were already racing through his head.

The routine that followed was always the same, and he never deviated from it.

Shampoo hair, wash face, and then clean his body. Before he finished he grabbed the brush from the small shelf that contained his toiletries, and began to scrub under his fingernails. It was important that he make sure that no dirt or grime remained.

When he was done he did a quick check to ensure that all the various bottles and items were in place and orderly, before he turned off the water and stepped out into the now foggy bathroom. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he took a quick glance at the clock on the wall. It was now quarter after six. He breathed deeply and relaxed just a bit.

Still on schedule.

.

6:35 am

"Reiko," he rubbed the little girl's back. "It's time to get up."

She rolled away mumbling.

"You have ten minutes to get dressed before I come back to put up your hair"

"Good," she said, "I'll just go back to sleep then."

The covers flew from her body and she shrieked.

"You must get up now or you will be late," he replied.

She sat up, eyes still dazed from sleep. Stretching her arms she yawned loudly. When she finished, she looked up and said pleasantly, "Good morning Papa."

His gaze focused on the clothes by her dresser. "I laid your uniform out for you. Go ahead and get dressed and I will be back in a moment to get your hair."

She smiled at him, waking more fully. Reaching out she caught him by surprise with a tight hug.

"I love you Papa."

"I love you as well Reiko."

His voice remained even, as he tightened his grip on her, and then pulling back gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Breaking contact completely he straightened once more.

"Ten minutes."

He turned and made his way from her room.

6:40 am

He entered the kitchen and turned on the light over the stove. The soft warm glow illuminated his work space where he had laid out the essentials for the meal the previous evening.

Even though he knew the recipe by heart, he still read the box just to be sure.

1 cup rolled oats. Check.

1 ¾ cups water. Check.

1/8 teaspoon salt. Check

As per the instructions on the box, he cooked the rolled oats for exactly five minutes using a timer. As soon as timer went off he put the pot to an empty burner. He then took the juice from the refrigerator and brought it to the table. Going back to the counter he pressed the button on the coffee maker to start it brewing.

Looking at the clock on the stove he realized that it is time to go back and check on Reiko. On his way to her room he stopped and grabbed the brush from her bathroom along with the ribbons he needed to place in her hair when he finished.

7:00 am

Reiko and her father sat down at the table and began breakfast, just as they did every weekday.

In Ulquiorra Schiffer's world, life ran on a strict schedule. There were never any deviations. No reasons for change. And as far as he was concerned there was nothing on earth that would ever alter that fact.

Ulquiorra sat impatiently, tapping his fingers against the arm of the tall leather chair, as he watched Dr. Ukitake flip through the rather thick file in his hands. The white haired psychologist looked up and smiled warmly.

"So I see that Reiko started Kindergarten this past month," he began, his voice friendly and light, something that made little difference to Ulquiorra.

"Yes," he replied blandly as he shifted in his chair, repositioning his legs to get more comfortable. "She is in Miss Kotetsu's class."

"Aah that is good. I have worked with Isane before. She is a caring girl and a perfect fit for someone as energetic and creative as Reiko."

"She seems content," Ulquiorra replied. "I have not received any communications to the contrary."

Ukitake stared at him a moment and Ulquiorra wondered if he had said something odd.

"So, Reiko is adjusting well to school," the psychologist reiterated. "That's not surprising as she had little trouble in preschool." He leaned forward slightly and lowered the file so that he looked directly at Ulquiorra. "And how are you handling the change? With Reiko away for a full day of school, you have much more time available to you."

Ulquiorra sat up a little straighter, his back pressed against the worn leather behind him. "I have many projects currently on my schedule. It is easier for me to get them done when I know Reiko is being well taken care of."

"True," Ukitake remarked as he wrote something down in his notes, "So then you have encountered no problems since she began school?"

"I have already told you that."

"Yes, I guess you did," the doctor chuckled. Ulquiorra couldn't understand what the man found so funny. "What about Reiko's rather active imagination? Has that presented any problems with her daily activities?"

"I do not understand what you mean by that," Ulquiorra leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

"Well it was one of the concerns your parents had when you received custody of her," Ukitake flipped through the pages in the file once more, looking for a specific item. "Ah here it is," the psychologist's brows drew together as he read, "Reiko tends to get caught up in her imaginary world, to the extent that she cannot distinguish between reality and play." He dropped the file again and looked at Ulquiorra. "Those were your mother's exact words."

Ulquiorra sat back once more; his gaze though went to the many diplomas and certificates that covered the wall behind the doctor's desk. Ukitake was one of the best in the field of Psychology, specializing in childhood and adolescent studies. The many framed documents attested to that fact.

"My mother has a problem with creativity and people who are different. My sister was the same as Reiko, and she grew up fine."

"But this isn't about Hisae," Ukitake reminded him. "This is about Reiko, and more so about your parents' concern for her well being."

"I am quite capable of caring for her," his posture stiffened as he sat erect once more.

"That is evident, but you have to understand where they are coming from. Their concern was that you would not be able to provide an environment that would encourage Reiko to cast aside her imaginary friends. After all you are very comfortable with solitude."

"I was not aware that having many friends was a requirement to be a good parent," he grew defensive, something that always happened when the conversation took such a turn.

"That is not what I am saying," Ukitake remained composed. "But given your tendency to prefer being alone, your parents worry that Reiko will rely on her imagination to provide her with the friends that you cannot."

"I have made every effort to keep her busy," he replied. "She goes to dance twice a week, and the library on Wednesdays, not to mention play dates with other children from school and the neighborhood. She has many friends and is well liked by her peers."

Ukitake nodded his head and smiled serenely.

"Her records from the preschool she attended last year indicate that she was quite popular," the psychologist replied.

"I think you have your answer then," Ulquiorra said. His eyes once more scanned the walls, this time landing on a framed print of Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memories. The melting clocks only served to fuel his impatience as he was reminded that his time could be better spent than going over his parents' misgivings about his ability to care for the little girl.

He clenched his jaw almost painfully. The clicking, as he ground his teeth together, seemed to echo loudly through the now quiet room. Ukitake coughed, clearing his throat, and Ulquiorra, knowing the man was trying to gain his attention, relaxed his bite. The unconscious habit was an obvious sign of his discomfort with the topic. His eyes turned to the psychologist.

Ukitake placed the folder on his desk and then leaned forward again; a warm smile lit his eyes. "You have done a remarkable job with her Ulquiorra."

He sighed as his body relaxed. Once more he sat back. "I try to play along with her," he admitted. "But I find it difficult at times. Fairies are not real."

"But she enjoys playing make believe," Ukitake remarked.

"She is rather obsessed," was his quick reply.

"It is no different than your appreciation of the Batman comic series."

"The Dark Knight was a man - granted he was a work of fiction, but unlike other superheroes, he did not possess any superpowers. He fought the evils that he faced using his intellect and reasoning. He did not rely on magic to bring about justice, but rather himself – his own wealth, his own physical strength and fighting skills, his own investigative skills. He may not have existed, but he could have."

"That may be true," Ukitake said, "And you understand that Batman is not an actual person, but Reiko is still young. To her Tinker Bell is just as real as the children she sees in class each day, and that is very normal for a child her age." He picked up the file once more from his desk. "The fact that she has plenty of friends attests to the fact that she is progressing normally. My advice would be to continue joining in her creative play; it will be good for both of you. Eventually she will grow out of it, just as you did with Batman."

The doctor then turned his chair towards the desk and laid the folder flat. He wrote a few notes in the file and then closed it. The action signaled the session was almost over.

Ukitake grabbed a card from his desk drawer to record the date of their next appointment. He looked back at Ulquiorra, "Does November 6th work for you for our next visit? I'll need to set it for three o'clock since you will also be bringing Reiko along for her assessment."

Ulquiorra took out his touch pad and flipping it open searched the calendar. "I do not have anything on my schedule."

"Good," Ukitake replied as he wrote the date and time on the card. Handing it to Ulquiorra he said, "You really have come a long way Ulquiorra. You should be proud of that fact." Ulquiorra rose to his feet as the doctor also stood. Ukitake thrust his hand forward. "Keep up the good work."

Ulquiorra grasped his outstretched hand and shook it briskly. Letting go he dropped his hand back to his side and then said goodbye, heading out the door.

He glanced at his watch. One thing he liked about Ukitake was his ability to stay on schedule. It was exactly two o'clock. That left him enough time to bring his plans to the printers before he picked Reiko up from school.

Reiko's papa picked her up from school everyday, and each day he planned a different activity for her. Today, according to her papa's schedule, they visited the park. This was the way it has always been for as long as she could remember. Mondays were park days, and park days were her favorite.

She loved the open fields that surrounded the big lake at the center of the park, and would run through them laughing loudly. Sometimes her father chased her, and sometimes he sat quietly on the bench that sat several yards from the shore of the lake, shaded by the huge oak tree that was visible from the parking lot, a good distance away. He would watch her as she danced about, and occasionally he would take out his sketch pad and draw pictures. Regardless of what they did, the afternoon always left her feeling uplifted and free.

Maybe it was because the park was a magical place. Her Aunt Nel had told her that the man who donated the land had been an artist who painted pictures of fairies and other such creatures. He believed the land was inhabited with the supernatural beings, especially the area around the great oak, and had given the town the land on the condition that it remained as it was, natural and untouched by man. So other than the bathrooms and a picnic area, the place stayed the same as it had for centuries.

Reiko believed that the park was magical as well. Each time they came she would search for any signs of fairies. And even though she had yet to see one, she knew if she waited patiently, one day she would.

Ulquiorra sat down on his usual bench while Reiko skipped away to play. He watched as she flitted about on the grass, running here and there, a soft song on her lips. After a while her running changed to dancing, as she twirled about, her arms outstretched as her body swayed to the melody that she had begun to sing earlier.

He had chased her about for a while, getting out some of his own nervous energy, but after a while, when she decided to hunt for fairies and other magical creatures, he decided to take a break. Sitting in his usual place, the bench that sat several yards from the huge oak by the lake, he took to watching her. His fingers itched to capture the grand tree, and so he took a sketchbook and pencil out of his backpack and started to draw. Within moments the great oak tree became recognizable on his paper. A few strokes more and the drawing was so accurate that at first sight one would think they were seeing a photo instead of a pencil drawing.

Drawing things like this came easy to him. He had always had a keen eye for detail. Yet when it came to humans he was a complete loss. People spoke one way, while their expressions conveyed something completely different. They could smile to your face, yet say cruel things behind your back. Or they could tell you that they weren't angry, while they were yelling and cursing. To him it made no sense, and consequently capturing emotion was almost impossible for him.

He looked up to make sure Reiko was still in sight, and then turned some pages back to look over the other drawings in the sketchbook. All the pictures of people he had done in the past lacked the quality of this tree he had just drawn. With these it was noticeable that he had erased and redrawn a lot of their features. He simply could not grasp their emotions, and they ended up looking more like statues, cold and lifeless.

But there were a few pictures, closer to the beginning of the book, which mirrored the vibrancy of the Great Oak he had just created. These were of a young woman; her face very similar to his own. Her expression had always been honest, and she never hid her feelings from him. Drawing her was as easy for him as the oak.

She was Reiko's mother, his twin sister Hisae, and aside from her daughter was the only human he was ever able to bring to life on paper. Yet she had been more to him than merely family. She had been his best friend, and his confidant growing up.

A loud shriek from Reiko caused Ulquiorra to look up. The girl sat on her bottom on the ground. He put the sketchbook aside, observing her, ready to go to her if she called out to him. But she didn't. Instead she got on her knees and began to search through the grass as if she was looking for something rather small. He sighed and took up the book again.

After a short while he looked up to see her still searching about on the ground. He glanced at his watch and noticed that it was getting close to time to leave.

"Reiko, it is almost 4:30," he rose to his feet and yelled across the span of grass separating them. "We need to get home and make dinner."

She jumped at the sound of his voice, and then grabbing something tight to her chest made her way quickly to where he stood.

Reiko walked at a quick pace towards her papa. She was cautious so as not to disturb the creature asleep in her hands. She had found the tiny thing after colliding with what she thought was a huge dragonfly, or maybe even a bird. But when she knelt down in the grass to examine it further, she was shocked to find it looked human.

At first she had thought it was a doll, like the one she had gotten in her happy meal last week when she had gone to McDonalds with her Uncle Grimmjow. But then it had taken a deep breath, causing her to back away slightly in fear. Yet the tiny thing had remained asleep, which made Reiko afraid that she had somehow seriously hurt it. She was about to poke it when she heard her papa calling for her. Not knowing what to do, she picked the fairy-like creature up and held it close for safe keeping. Maybe he would have an answer for her.

As she arrived at his side she looked up and was about to ask him about it when he spoke first. "What have you got in your hand Reiko?"

She brought her hand away from her chest and slowly opened it displaying the being lying there.

"I bumped into her when I was running around," she began, "I think I hurt her."

He stared at her hand for a moment, his brows furrowed as he concentrated. Finally he asked, "Reiko, what exactly do you think she is?"

She looked at the miniature person in her hand. She looked human, but on closer inspection, Reiko could make out soft wings behind her, now limp as she slept. Her hair was a beautiful shade of orange with a little bit of red running through it, and her clothes almost looked as if they were made from leaves.

"Maybe she's a fairy," she whispered.

"A fairy," he said. "Like Tinker Bell?"

"No papa," she replied. "Tinker Bell has blond hair and she lives in Never Land."

He seemed to think about his next question a minute.

"Why do you think she is a fairy then?" he asked.

"Well she has wings, and she's really tiny like a fairy."

"So if she is a fairy," he looked at his watch, "then maybe it would be best if we put her back with the other fairies." He placed the sketchbook back in his backpack, and slinging it over his shoulder stood up. His free hand stretched out towards Reiko. "Come on Reiko, it's almost 4:30. We have to go now."

She felt tears well up in her eyes at the thought of leaving the creature alone and hurt, especially since it would be dark soon.

"I don't want to leave her behind." She whispered.

His hand dropped and he said, "Then what do you wish to do?"

"Maybe we could bring her home. At least until she gets better," she replied.

He looked at her intently before saying, "I suppose it would not hurt to bring her home."

Her face lit up at his words.

"Oh thank you papa. I'll take her good care of her. You'll see. And then we she is all better I'll bring her back. I promise."

His expression was unreadable as he continued his gaze at her.

"I expect you to still do your homework, as well as your chores," he said firmly.

"I will," she nodded her head as she spoke in a rush. "You'll see. I'll do it all and I won't fuss at all."

He simply nodded at her, looked at his watch with a sigh, and then turned and headed towards their car that was parked at the edge of the green.

On this special Monday afternoon, Ulquiorra Schiffer left the park at 4.35 pm - five minutes later than usual. His carefully planned routine disrupted because of a nonexistent creature that Reiko, his adopted daughter believed to see, and wanted to take care of.

Author's Notes:

So welcome to my newest story. This idea came to me back in the early spring, and with encouragement of my friend and beta lilarin, I gave writing it a try. Needless to say I didn't feel ready to pursue it and it sat on my computer – 2 ½ chapters completed – for the next four months. Then suddenly I felt inspired and sat down two weeks ago and wrote eight more chapters over the course of ten days. Still I hesitated – I promised myself I would finish Encounters first. So now with that out of the way, I have no more excuses, other than I am always a chicken when it comes to submitting new stories.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and would greatly appreciate any feedback. I would like to have the next chapter up this weekend. Even with so many chapters completed it still takes a while to edit. Lilarin and I both are perfectionists when it comes to writing, and want the chapters to be free of any mistakes.

So before I go I want to say thanks to lilarin for all your help and encouragement through this process, as well as the beautiful image for the cover.

Once more please let me know what you thought. I love to hear from you the reader!