I do not own Bleach or any of their characters, all props go to Tite Kubo.

I do, however, own my characters, places, ideas, and anything that is not in the Bleach story. This series is very, very loosely based on Bleach and takes place just after the Pendulum Arc. Most of the characters in these stories are OC's, but the setting is still in the Bleach Universe.

Enjoy.

Ruthless was the winter this year in Northern Hueco Mundo, the winds punishing the walls littered with watch standers of Sancre Tor. Within Sancre Tor's library, many Vasto Lorde children, all boys, huddled together not to keep warm, but to listen closely to their story-telling elder. They begged the old man for a story, for he knew the most interesting and told them so well – he maintained the library after all.

"It's late children, don't you know my bones are weak?" The elder grunted.

"But Councilman Sylus!" One boy with brown windswept hair and freckles cried, "You're always busy, and we love your stories. Please tell us one!"

The boys followed his cry in agreement as the tired Councilman sighed, "Alright, alright. I will tell you a story, it's a legend rather."

He gathered his bearings, tidying his white garb carefully to sit in a nearby dark wooden chair facing away from the many tables that decorated the massive stone library. The children cheered, seating themselves on the cold floor, the warmth of the running fireplace warming their backs.

"While I don't believe since you boys have joined Sancre Tor that you've heard this legend I am about to tell, but it is an unspoken law that all shall hear it. If I do not recall, it is Tokijin-sama's favorite story, as he was once a little boy as you are, sitting before me – old as I am now." Sylus spoke, a grin slowly creeping on his wide wrinkled face. He looked over his shoulder to lay eyes on a foot-bouncing man whose nose was buried deep in books, and as he heard his name, his bright mint green eyes landed on the elder across the room.

Tokijin sat up in his chair, his eyes unmoving from Sylus.

"Councilman Sylus." Tokijin spoke shortly. Sylus only grinned wider before turning back to the boys.

"Thousands of years ago in the center of the Underworld, the land of only the evilest dead beings and our Titans, God shed blood – two drops only, for he is God. From those droplets that landed into the ashes of our fallen formed a being of light and a being of dark, curling together until they grew into two dragons, scaled reptilian beings with wings. The first droplet was a dragon as white as our moon, and the other as black as where the moon does not touch. These two dragons were connected by their tails, inseparable for their eternal lives. This story is of light and dark, life and death, good and evil, positive and negative."

"Balance." The same boy said.

"Yes, Reiko. Balance." Sylus said, "It is about the first Vasto Lordes to walk these worlds, the first Commander of Sancre Tor and the Commander of the Meido Fortress. Hakubi-sama and Kokuryu-sama, sister and brother born from God's blood."

Tokijin burned holes into the back of Sylus's white haired skull before he averted his eyes back to his books. How many times had he heard this story? He didn't care. Tokijin's bright eyes read the first line of the chapter titled 'Garganta' he had reread repeatedly. It was difficult to focus when a Councilman was in the room while Tokijin plotted treason.

"This led to the creation of the Jin Bloodline, the protectors of Sancre Tor after Kokuryu. The bloodline is born only of Phoenix Titan men, never ever a woman. It is believed that if a Jin Successor has two children, the heir of the Second Born will be Hakubi-sama, born again to ensure destruction, and from the ashes –"

"Enough." Tokijin ordered loudly, creating an echo that erupted through the library, making the boys jump in fright.

Sylus halted his speech, slowly turning to face Tokijin, who stood, his angered eyes beaming brightly. The old man sighed, "My apologies, Tokijin-sama. And to you, children – for I have been telling this story so long, I had forgotten that our Successor was a Second Born."

Tokijin snarled silently as one of the many entrances to the large room opened, allowing freezing winds to swarm inside momentarily while two other large sized men entered. They strode a short distance towards the table which Tokijin stood behind. One man was fair skinned with smooth dark hair and light blue eyes with a thin beard, and the other was a bronze man with hair slightly darker than his flesh and chocolate eyes. Their attention turned toward Sylus, who still sat in his chair.

"Tokijin-sama, please don't tell us you'll have an heir!"

"Hush children." Sylus said, "Tokijin-sama must, for it is his duty to maintain his bloodline. That story is just legend and prophecy, it may not be true. Now run along, you've heard enough."

The small group of boys scurried away into the labyrinth of the library. Sylus faced the angered brute and stepped a few paces toward him and the newly arrived men. Tokijin waited until the boys were gone before he spoke.

"You're right, Councilman, it may not be true." Tokijin said, "That is why you will no longer tell that story to the young minds of Sancre Tor. We will not feed them stories that cannot be proven and stories that shame the name of my Great Mother."

"Understood, again Tokijin-sama, I sincerely apologize." Sylus said, bowing to him. His pale eyes traveled toward the book in front of Tokijin just before he closed it, placing it on the stack of books he had selected. Sylus rose and eyed the two men, "Teijo and MiroTano. Going somewhere, sir?"

"Yes." Tokijin said, "Las Noches. We must display superiority; they are growing too bold."

Sylus nodded, "Very well. I will inform the rest of the Council."

Tokijin did not respond. He picked up the stack of books, carrying them against his left rib cage. "Wait for me at the wall." He told the men. They turned away and departed the room while Tokijin returned the books back to their homes on the many shelves nearby.

"Tokijin-sama." Sylus spoke, gathering his attention. "The prophecy can still be lifted so long as you can find a new mate. A son is not unattainable. The half-blood heir you've produced will never have to put us in danger."

"Councilman Sylus, while I appreciate your concern for the Jin Bloodline, your duty is to maintain the library – not be my advisor. My heir will live and die in the World of the Living, never to see the duties of a Jin Successor. But if you speak ill of my heir, I will ensure that Hakubi-sama herself joins you the next time you choose to tell the younglings of our home that she is destined to be reborn to destroy Sancre Tor, a part of your story you neglected to say that she built this fortress."

"Yes, Tokijin-sama." Sylus replied after a few moments.

The two men separated, letting the library finally achieve silence after Tokijin left until the boys returned from their hiding places, gathering around Sylus yet again.

"Shall we continue?"