NaClO (By invitation, otherwise CLOSED)

[Armphid]

Isamu took a deep breath. The feeling was incredible. It may be his imagination but he could feel vitality seeping out into the rest of his body from his stomach. His nerves seemed to hum, his fibers of his muscles felt free and fresh, his skin tingled. His golden eyes were dazzling and fierce as he raised a hand, flexing his fingers, "I feel alive. So quickly!" He felt as good as new but knew it was partly deceptive; his healing injuries remained but the surge of energy pushed them almost out of his mind. He all but jumped off of the bed as energy surged through him, giving a small laugh.

And this was something her sword could do? It could be useful in a fight. If an enemy didn't feel injured when they were attacked, they could hurt themselves further by accident. Was that its power?

He looked at her and gave her his feral smile, "Impressive power to work this fast, Nemu-san. We're going to have to see each other again soon, after tonight."

"Oh?" was he interested in making a regular liaison? That would facilitate her sample gathering and her attempts to co-opt him into an accomplice.

"Of course! You've got a sword and you're taking the captain's exam, that means you have that."

"Yes." Perhaps he did want to be her lieutenant after all? "Does it trouble you?"

"Are you kidding? It means we've got to fight." She blinked but he didn't notice, shaking his head and clenching his fingers into a fist. "I've got to test myself against people who are strong; fight against that power to reach it."

"Oh." Her quiet voice held just a hint of disappointment; a faint, barely there dusting of the emotion.

He heard it all the same. "Don't think it's anything bad, Nemu-san. We're going to fight but that doesn't mean we're not friends." The American stepped up to her and took one of her hands in his, "Or that we can't be close again, if you want us to be. I like that you're powerful, it makes you even sexier."

"Hm." He was concerned for her feelings. He, the Quincy boy, Unohana those many years ago...how strange that they felt so for her. "This is a matter for another day. Are you able to fuck me again now?"

Saying it so openly! Damn, that was hot! Amaya was the only one who had even been so blatant with him. Isamu grinned, "Damn right." He leaned in and kissed her hard, his hands sliding down her body, pausing to grope her plush tits before gliding over her soft skin. Isamu pushed her back against the door to the room, "Going to fuck you again right now."

She let out a soft gasp of surprise as he grabbed her ass and then his hands moved to her thighs, taking hold to lift her and spread her legs at the same time. Her back was braced against the door to give him leverage as he heaved her up. Nemu reached up over her head and grabbed hold of the doorframe with her delicate looking but strong hands, pulling herself up as well, "Do it, now, enter me. I must have you again."

Isamu growled and shifted his hips to brush the head of his cock over her pussy. His manhood was throbbing with need and his renewed vigor had him rock hard. He thrust up without a word and her head went back, her fingers tightening her hold on the frame of the door as he speared up into her sweetly used hole again.

Nemu's body rocked as he pounded up into her over and over, starting off hard and fast. No reason to hold back now, was there? They both knew what they wanted. "AhhnN! Hai, you beast! Holding me up and fucking me standing!"

"Just what you want, Nemu-san," he grinned savagely. "That's what you came here for, isn't it? To feel this half-breed dick fucking you like a wild thing and pumping you full of cum again and again!"

"Yes! Don't stop until you cum! Then just long enough to re-position me, keep fucking me until I can't even stand!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Hnnn! Ama-Amaya-san!" Uryuu's body bucked as she took him into her; that incredibly sweet and sinful wet tightness enveloping him. Her slick muscles tunnel embraced his cock and pulled him in and the feeling...oh, the feeling of it! He'd wondered if it would be different than the first time, and it was in a way, but it was good, just as good.

"Ahh, fuck, Uryuu-kun. You hot young stud! Fuck, your dick feels great!" Amaya grinned down at him. Oh, his face looked soooo sexy right now! Just amazed and dazed, almost stricken with lust! She loved that look. Loved that she put that on those pretty, noble features. "I may have to take over patrolling Karakura town from now on. Stop in and get a quick fuck from you after I kill a Hollow, a little treat!"

"Ahh, you'd-that's unbelievable! Coming to me at night for-for"

"Not just night." She wiggled her hips back and forth and let out a soft coo, her lips in a satisfied smirk on her lips at the groan that escaped him. "They attack during the day too. I'd come to find you at school...and only you could see me. I'd come in, panting from the fight and from anticipating this big dock, press myself against you, whisper how much I wanted you. You'd get out, you'd be flushed and clearly needed to go to the nurse's office. I bet we wouldn't make it though. We'd find the first empty classroom so I could be bent over the desk." His eyes were wide and she could feel his rod twitching in her. His sensibilities were stunned but his body knew what it liked. "Ahh, or just push you down into the teacher's chair and mount you, ride you while you played with my tits. That'd be good too."

"It'd be a...a wonder." Uryuu shook his head; he was largely sure she wasn't serious but the images and ideas she made were...oh, if only it could be! "But I'm not interested in that."

"You're...what?"

He could almost feel her shock at what may have seemed to be rejection. His hands rose and took hold of her massive breasts, making her gasp, "Not when you're on me now, when I'm in you, how could I think of anything else?" Uryuu's hips rose up and she gasped again, letting out a happy, giggly squeal.

"Ohh, top of the class!" She beamed down at him, "Match me, ohh, and it'll feel so good!" Amaya lifted up and drew in a hissing breath that rushed out of her a few moments later as she sank back down.

 

[HookerBoots]

For a few moments, there were no other sounds in the room save their heavy breathing and the sounds of their bodies meeting over and over. Her hands loosened from the doorframe, moving to grip his shoulders tightly, fingers gripping and pressing into his skin. Her breath was harsh and heated as she pulled her upper body tightly against his. "Yes, fuck yes, so close, please don't stop keep going, going to make me cum," she hissed in his ear as she clung to him.

Isamu grinned wildly, his hips pumping more furiously into her. "Give you everything you want, Nemu-san, make you cream on this cock!" He paused when fully sheathed inside her, grinding his hips against hers. She gasped loudly, and he could feel her twitch around him. "So close, you sexy little whore! Fuck, can't wait to feel it!"

As he slammed into her again, she felt herself crest, crying out as her body throbbed around him. "Yes! Fuck! So good!" she almost screamed, fingers clenching even more tightly. It felt like she was milking him, her pussy gushing so much wetness that it was dripping onto the floor. But it was the feeling of her fingers digging in, nails drawing raking lightly over his shoulders and back that drove him over the edge.

"Take it!" he bellowed, "Take all of me, all of it!" Isamu felt himself let go into her body again, flooding her cunt with his seed. "Ahhhhh! God, gonna just drop you to the ground and plow into you on the floor like a filthy bitch, Nemu-san!"

~ ~ ~ ~​

It didn't take long for him to match her movements, thrusting up into her as she slid herself up and down on his shaft. And she hadn't lied, it was better, incredible, to feel himself sink into that warm heaven even more deeply than he'd dreamed possible. Uryuu gasped as Amaya shifted a little, clenching her pussy around him. "A-Amaya-san, feels so . . . incredible!"

She beamed down at him, and for a moment, he was dazzled, certain somehow that she really was a celestial being, some goddess or nymph he'd wandered into. "You amazing boy," she breathed, leaning forward to kiss him, her hips still bouncing, fucking her on his cock over and over. "Feel so amazing, such a good screw!"

The change in position made her clit grind against him, her pace picking up as she got closer and closer to her climax. He could tell - how could he tell? - that she was near the peak, and cradled her close even as he pushed up into her as hard as he dared. "You're the one that feels amazing," he breathed into her ear, "this amazing body pressed against me, incredible p-pussy wrapped around me." Uryuu's hands slipped down her back to grip her ass, guiding her movement and tugging her down harder, trying what he thought might work.

And it did. In just a few seconds, he felt her body tremble and her muscles clench around him, throbbing. She muffled her cry of pleasure in his shoulder, which for some reason made him feel more masculine, more manly than he had ever felt. But the feeling of her cumming, writhing against him, milking his shaft with that hot, wet passage, pushed him over the edge as well.

His hips pushed up into her again and held there, crying out wordlessly as he pumped another loan of cream deep into her body. It felt like his mind, his very soul, was liquefied and pouring into her, giving everything he had.

 

[Armphid]

She didn't say a word but her eyes begged him for just that. Despite having just cum, Isamu didn't feel faint or weak; his rod was still throbbing and hard. With a growl he wrenched her down from the wall and turned with her in his arms to almost throw their joined bodies hard onto the floor. He rolled her up onto her shoulders, crouching atop her, "Need this, can't stop now."

"Uhh!" Her eyes fluttered as he drove in again, once hard and slow and held it there a moment. Then he started to pump with a rough, fast, pace and drilled his cock into her well used cunt over and over. "NUh, no, not yet! Must, ahhh, cum in me again! More, at least once more!"

Fuck! Fuck, he wasn't sure he'd even been this turned on his life! It didn't even make sense. Even as his mind questioned it, his body pushed it aside. He had to keep going, he had to fuck her, fuck them both senseless! What...what had been in that vial?

The only sound to escape him was a low, animal sound from deep in his chest as he hammered into her over and over, the flat slap of their bodies coming together and the wet squish-slurp of her her pussy spreading around his prick providing a frenzied rhythm to her gasps and moans.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Uryuu understood the Western metaphor now, for orgasm. The "little death" it was called in classical English literature...it made sense. He felt as though, in these moments, he must have died. He was floating almost beyond all sense of time and awareness. He knew they were still in her chambers and he knew generally the time, their positioning, all the rest of the facts of the world but they were distant. The only thing that was close was her and him and the pleasure that flowed between them. It still flowed, even though they'd both reached their peaks and were coming down, it still passed through and back and forth. This...this was love making, wasn't it?

Amaya stirred and lifted herself up with one arm so that she could look down at him. Her pink hair fell partly across her face and her expression was one of utterly satisfied affection. She didn't say anything for perhaps a full minute, just looked down at him. He began to feel a bit awkward but all he could do was lie there and breathe, looking back at her with an expression of amazement. Finally, she leaned down and kissed him lightly before moving back to look down again, "Class is over for tonight. Top marks, handsome man."

He flushed but a small smile was on his lips, even as he averted his eyes at the praise. "I...thank you, Amaya-san. It seems so inadequate to say just that, but..."

She laughed softly, "You don't need to say more. It's in your eyes." Amaya reached up with her other hand to brush his hair from his forehead. "You have pretty eyes, you know? If they weren't usually cold. Though some girls like that, I guess. Not her though, I'm betting."

Uryuu laughed as well, though his was rueful. "Whether that's the case or not, it doesn't matter. My eyes would never interest her."

"Don't be so sure." Amaya let out a yawn then and smiled drowsily. "I have more teachery things to say about going for it and not giving up...but it'll wait until tomorrow." She then blinked in surprise as he shifted and started to sit up, shuddering when his softening member slipped out of her.

"Yes, you're right. I should get back, I suppose." It was his turn to blink when she sat back on her haunches and then took his shoulders in her hands and gently but irresistibly pushed him back down on to the futon, "Amaya-san, what are you...you want to sleep, I thought?"

"Hai. And you need to too. And we will. Here." He goggled at her. "Together." The shocked look on his face gave her that little heartache again; the disbelief that it was even possible was just tragic. Didn't this kid have a family? "If you're good enough to fuck, you're good enough to sleep with. And you're both and then some," she was quoting herself, so what?

"...Oh." He didn't know what to make of that. But he felt...he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to will himself calm and ignore the stinging in his eyes. "Well then...I'm sorry to impose."

"Think nothing of it!" She bounced to her feet, "Let me get something to clean us both up and then we'll sleep." Amaya turned and looked back at him over her shoulder, her body in profile and the faint light from the windows casting her body into glorious shadowed gradients. "Don't be afraid to feel me up all you want tonight, kay? Oh, or use my tits for a pillow, just be careful not to get stuck in between, you could suffocate!"

"...H-hai."

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu laid down on the hospital bed weakly. Fuck, what time even was it? He felt...incredible but utterly drained. Which he was. Damn, he'd cum so much, so many times...

He still managed to smirk at that. "Nemu-san...do you have to go?"

She was getting dressed by the door. Her hair was out of its usual braid and it gave her a softer look, even damp and darkened with sweat. Her doll's eyes looked back at him with a faint hint of regret. "Yes." She had to get the sample to proper storage soon; her containment system wasn't properly insulated to protect his semen's integrity for too much longer. "It would be pleasant to sleep with you. It is not personal that I do not do so, nor do I mean to dismiss or demean our experience."

He looked at her a few moments and then shrugged, "I believe you. Too bad. I bet you'd be great to drift off with."

That phantom smile graced her lips, "Perhaps we will both find out one day." She was re-wrapping the sash around her body. "Sleep now. You will need it when Koutetsu comes in the morning."

"What do you mean?"

Nemu looked at him and tapped her nose with a finger, then gave him a shallow bow and turned to the door. She broke the Kyuumon barrier he'd put up with silent ease, slid it open and was gone.

Isamu looked at the closed door blankly. Then he took a few sniffs. Oh. Ohhh. Shit. He'd been so into it...yeah, the room stank, reeked of fucking. He fumbled with the bedside controls to turn on the small ceiling fan. "Yeah...I'm going to get scolded. Worth it though."

 

[HookerBoots]

In the early morning, as dim grey light streamed in through her window, Amaya laid in bed, eyes open as she looked up at the ceiling. Uryuu was still asleep, one of his arms thrown over her waist, his breathing still even and soft. Today would be a busy day. She knew the ryoka would be getting discharged from the hospital soon, which meant they'd be leaving. And that meant that Yoruichi would be leaving as well - and with her, a chance to achieve bankai within a hundred years or so.

Amaya sighed, resting one forearm against her forehead. She needed to find Yoruichi today, which would be a challenge in itself. And she wanted to visit the hospital as well, check up on the people there. And apologize to Isamu for her little deception, though she didn't think he'd be too upset. There was also a meeting with her captain that she needed to go to, and . . . god, where would she find the time for everything?

Uryuu stirred, and she looked over at him, a little smile playing over her face. The thought crossed her mind that she may be the only person besides his parents and his sensei to ever see his face this relaxed. Whatever else she may have done in this whole nightmarish situation, if she'd made a difference in this quiet, repressed boy's life, it was a victory. That was something a lot of shimigami lost sight of - the job was killing hollows, but it was really about people.

There was a moment of confusion when he opened his eyes, and she could almost see the process of his thoughts as blushed - but didn't move his arm. "Good morning," she said softly, stroking a hand through his hair.

"Good morning, Amaya-san," he said. "I . . . I'm not really sure how to act here."

She leaned in and kissed his nose. "There's nothing special you need to do." She turned to face him, half-up on one elbow. "Much as I hate to do it, you should probably get back soon, or Unohana-taicho will scold." A wicked grin curved her lips. "And it'll let me watch you get dressed."

His blush deepened, but he sat up. "You're most likely right. And I'm sure you have a busy day lined up, I shouldn't take too much of your time." Amaya sat up as well, the sheet falling to her waist. "Ah, but," he went on, "I was wondering if you might be willing to have dinner this evening?"

Uryuu didn't wait - couldn't wait - for her to respond, and started to gather up his clothes and tug them on. She almost laughed, but stopped herself. "Of course." She stood up as well, grabbing a silk robe that she'd borrowed from Rangiku and had never managed to give back. "I'll also say that if you were able to be that calm asking me out when I'm dressed like this, you should be fine with any regular, clothed girl."

Tugging his shirt over his head, he gave her a self-conscious smile. "That was sort of my thought. Your company is pleasant, of course, but I thought . . . well." He placed his glasses on his face and looked at her, a little worried. "I hope you don't take offense, I was pretty sure you wouldn't say no."

"Of course not." She pushed her hair over her shoulders. "And if you want, you can invite your friends. Not necessary, of course, but if you don't, I'm apt to just take you back here and . . . continue teaching," she teased. Well, half-teased. It was a possibility that she'd do that if they were alone, but they'd been pretty vigorous - depending on how things went, she might want a break. Amaya walked over and gathered up the papers and the box, and put them into his hands. "I'll see you tonight, around 7, at the ramen house near Squad 4."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Isamu started awake as the door to his room opened, eyes flying wide open. He was tangled in the sheets, the pillow half off the bed, and almost fell off the bed when he started. He kept his balance, but flushed brightly when he saw Unohana standing just inside the doorway, her head tilted to one side. He knew what she was smelling, and was a little proud and a little embarrassed.

"Well," she said finally, "I see you're feeling better, Takeuchi-san." She smiled was sweet, but very knowing. She walked over to the bed and shrugged out of her haori, setting it on the chair nearby. "I'll perform the examination this morning, and barring any particular issues, you'll get to walk around outside today - while we air out your room."

He coughed lightly, unraveling the sheets from his body. "Of course, taicho. And maybe some light exercise?"

One eyebrow rose. "I would think you'd still be tired."

Isamu gave her that wolf's grin. "I would have thought that too." It had been told to him in confidence, and it wasn't his place to share. "But apparently, I'm doing pretty well."

He could feel her reiatsu sliding over his skin, almost like feeling her hands on him through a thick layer of cloth. "Mmmmm. Apparently so." She would have to have a conversation with Nemu soon - it wasn't kido, but she could feel the other woman's reiastu lingering in his being. Strange, and something she needed to get to the bottom of. "Right! Well, things look fine, Takeuchi-san. Out you go, and very light exercise. Take a book, and when Isane heads out there to bring you lunch, you should be reading."

There was no arguing with her sunny smile, so he nodded. "Hai, sensei!" He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and went to grab the robe he had been given. "I'll stop in the library before I go outside."

~ ~ ~ ~​

As soon as he walked into the 'sitting room' the ryoka had been given, Uryuu was tackled by a ginger-haired blur who hugged him tightly. "Ishida-kun, you're okay! We were so worried, what if you had been kidnapped by an angry shinigami and forced to labor as an archery instructor and . . ." Orihime trailed off, then stepped back. He was carrying a box, and some papers. "Did . . . did you rob one of the archives here? Ishida-san!"

"No, Inoue-san, I didn't. It was given to me." He moved into the room and set the burden down on the table - almost reluctant to let it go. "I'm sorry you were all worried, but I'm fine, really."

He went to gather up the clothes that he'd been given to change, but she followed, her eyes wide. "Are you sure? You went out last night saying you had an appointment, but you're still wearing the same clothes! You've been out all night, and I think we deserve -"

"Inoue." Chad's deep rumble stopped her in her tracks. "Ishida's fine, and we weren't that concerned. I'm sure that he was able to handle whatever he got into last night." She opened her mouth, the concern still apparent on her face. "Leave it alone." Orihime closed her mouth, a little sulkily, and went to sit down.

Uryuu turned to look at them. "I'm sorry I worried you, Inoue-san. But I am able to take care of myself, and I was completely safe - Kuchiki-san's lieutenant asked me over to give me these items, and we chatted a bit too late. I was offered a place to sleep for the night, and accepted rather than wake everyone up coming in late." Not a lie in it, but not the whole truth. He did feel different, but he would still rather die than tell her what had actually happened.

He looked at Chad, who nodded, and Uryuu realized that somehow, Chad knew. That made him feel better, proud. They would never talk about it, but the knowledge was there. "I'm going to change, but we should talk about this evening. Kuragari-san has invited us out to dinner tonight, if we wish to go."

The other door opened, and Ichigo walked in, Zangetsu over one shoulder, a counterpoint to the bandages still wrapped around his abdomen. "All right, Orihime, we can get going. We'll find him, and I'll . . . hey, what the hell are you doing back? We were about to go look for you!"

 

[Armphid]

"Good thing I spared you the trouble." Uryuu pushed his glasses up his nose, "With as insensitive as you are, it would have taken all day." Of course, Orihime wouldn't be able to find him either now. Not without his powers. His eyes flicked to the box and the papers atop it. But maybe...he had start examining what was in there as soon as possible.

"Pff, whatever. I was only gonna look 'cause Orihime was worried." Ichigo shook his head, "Don't know why I bothered. Hey, apologize to her, all right? She was upset."

"I have already." Uryuu picked up the change of clothes, "...Why were you coming looking for me with your zanpakuto anyway?"

"Come on, man, I got to be careful!" The orange haired shinigami looked and then leaned in to whisper as if afraid that speaking too loud might summon the person in question, "That Kenpachi might still be looking for me, you know?"

"Hn. A surprising amount of forethought from you, Kurosaki." He walked into the other room, "I'm going to clean up and change. Inoue-san and Sado-kun can tell you about dinner."

Ichigo watched him go with a confused look. "That guy...geez. There's something up with him though...anway, what about dinner?" He looked between the other two, "I mean, he sews, don't tell me he cooks too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

He sensed the presence for a few minutes before he finally sighed and sat up, "What is it, Takeuchi? I'm healing and don't have time for interruptions." Toshiro Hitsugaya looked smaller than normal in the middle of one of the large hospital beds. His blue eyes were cool as he looked at the half-breed who was leaning against his door.

"Nice to see you too. Glad you're recovering." Isamu's golden eyes flicked to the flowers in a vase on the windowsill. "Kuragari-chan's visited you too? Not surprised."

"My recovery is going well, I should be out soon. My visitors are none of your business." The diminutive captain shook his head, "What brought you by? I doubt it was to ask after my health."

"You might be surprised." Isamu snorted, "There are people who like you, you know. God knows why when you're so friendly and polite to everyone, such a ray of sunshine. But sure, I'll get to the point."

"If it's about bankai training, we can continue once I'm out of here." Hitsugaya nodded, "Your strength may be needed in what's coming and even a fresh, not battle ready bankai is still immensely powerful."

"Good to know but that's not why I'm here either." Isamu stepped up to the bed and crossed his arms over his chest. "It's Hinamori-chan."

Toshiro flushed and then turned away, "That fool. What about her?"

"She's come by to visit you a few times and she's been told you're asleep. Which is bullshit, 'cause the nurses told me you've left instructions not to let her in to see you." Isamu looked down at the child-like shinigami and then lifted a leg and kicked his bed, rocking it hard.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Getting you to pay attention, you heartless little shit!" The American threw one hand wide, "She's worried sick about you, heartbroken and confused, and now she thinks you're mad at her! She's not an idiot, no matter what you think, since you think everyone who's not the genius Toshiro Hitsugaya of the odorless shit is an idiot. She's figured out you've left orders not to let her see you. It hurt her. A lot. And she's been hurt enough. So what, exactly, is your reason, you mean little prick?"

You've got nerve to speak to me like that!"

"I'm sorry, Captain mean little prick."

Toshiro bristled, half out of bed. The windows were fogged and the temperature had dropped about ten degrees. "I could kill you where you stand for that."

"Quit acting tough and talk to me. You care about Hinamori. Ran-san said you were worried about her more than anything when it was all going down." The boy sat back down and looked at his lap. "So why push her away now? She could use some support right now and you damn well know it."

"I don't have anything to say to her." It was said without much conviction and then the youth sighed. "...I don't want her to see me like this."

Isamu blinked and then smiled, "I know the feeling." He sighed, "Look, Hitsugaya-taichou, I know you think I'm just a meathead who's always punching above his weight class but listen. That girl adores you and she's always going to. Seeing you like this won't change that. She won't think less of you. And it might help her to feel that you need her a little." He was pushing it now, more so than with the insults earlier. That was just to get the brat's attention. "And you know, you might need her, a little bit. Or someone. You might have your reasons for being brusque and pushing everyone away, kid, but it's not healthy. There should be at least one person you can be open with."

Hitsugaya was silent. Isamu waited for a response for a full minute before he turned away, "Probably just wasting my time. But think about it."

The American left the room. Hitsugaya leaned back in his bed and stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes. He sat up and reached out to click a button by the side of the bed. The door slid open a few seconds later and Jun Asagiri poked her head in, "Hai? Did you need something?"

"...Would you please send a message to Hinamori of Squad Five that...if she's free during visiting hours, she can come by. If she wants."

~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Well...it was worth a try." Isamu sighed as he leaned back against one of the walls of Squad Four's hospital compound. The American reached out and scratched behind the ears of a mackerel tabby, the small predator mewing.

In front of him was one of the large bedpans from a hospital room, filled with milk. There was another full of canned tuna and the entire area was sprinkled liberally with some ground herb. Perhaps two dozen cats were lapping at milk, gnawing on tuna, or just rolling round in the catnip. Not one of them was black.

He sighed, "Man. How the hell am I going to find that Yoruichi-san at this rate?"

 

[HookerBoots]

The sliding door to Ukitake's office opened, and he looked up, a little irritably. "I'm a bit busy, could you come back . . . oh."

Yoruichi stopped, one foot in the door. "Sorry, I didn't realize you were so busy." She lifted one hand in a little wave and started to move backward when he stood up.

"Oh, no, it's all right." He put a hand over his eyes for a moment. "I apologize, I didn't sleep too well last night." He motioned for her to come in, settling back behind his desk.

The dark-skinned woman stepped inside and shut the door. "Oh? I thought you were doing better. Was it the illness?"

His cheeks flushed. "No, actually. My lieutenant had a . . . guest last night, and the revelry tends to leak through the walls." Ukitake cleared his throat. "She's an excellent officer, really, but . . . ah, well, to be young again."

Yoruichi grinned at him, her teeth white against her skin. "I see. Well, I was really just stopping by to thank you for keeping an eye on my things while I was gone." She stretched out on the other side of the desk, her head propped up on one hand. "Though I don't remember saying you could use any of them."

A smile spread across his face, a little sharp. "Since there was no way to know what, if anything, you were planning, I had no choice. Maybe," one of his eyebrows went up, "you'll remember to communicate with people next time, Shihouin."

"Don't call me that," she said, making a face, "it's so embarrassing." She sat up, legs crossed indian-style. "Anyway. I'm going to head out, we'll be leaving soon for the human world, so . . . ."

He put his paperwork aside and looked at her intently. "Wait a minute. I have a . . . well, a sort of favor to ask."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed, but she nodded once. "What is it, first?"

The white-haired captain gave smiled at her. "The war isn't over, not by half. And, well, most of us were incapable of doing anything against Aizen."

She nodded again. "Except for Kurosaki, who wasn't from Soul Society."

"And two others."

There was a startled silence as she took that information in. "Two? Who?" She sat up straighter, eyes wide again. "Wait, you mean the gaijin and the girl with the pink hair? Kuragari and Takeuchi?"

Ukitake nodded. "Yes. They're both unaffected by his hypnosis. So I wanted to ask you to train them, like you did Kurosaki."

Leaning forward, she rested both elbows on his desk. "That's a pretty big favor, Ukitake. But we can talk about it, of course."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Isn't it a little early for this?" Hisagi glanced at his companions from the corner of his eye. Rangiku and Izuru were walking along side him, both of them carrying boxes that rattled with the sound of bottles.

"Maybe," Ragiku said, "but we've got a lot to talk about, and work through, and it's easier when you're drunk." She sighed, looking up at the sky. "It's been a long time since I've needed to get this drunk, actually."

Hisagi thought about it for a minute, and nodded. "Yeah, you're right." He reached over and grabbed the box she was carrying. "Here, we're going to your squad, right? I can carry this for you." They did have a lot to work through. And he wasn't about to think about that too deeply still sober.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Orihime bowed deeply as the group of teenagers filed into the dining room Amaya had reserved for them. "Konbanwa, Kuragari-fukutaicho! It's very nice of you to invite us to dinner!" The rest of the group filed in, and the orange-haired girl looked back at them. "Wasn't it nice?"

The boys nodded, then bowed as well, adding their muttered thanks to hers. Amaya blushed a bit. "It's my pleasure, everyone. Please, sit down." She settled down at one short end of the table while the others spread out on either long side.

Ichigo looked her over, clearly doing an assessment of her as a fighter rather than as a woman. "You're a lieutenant, the same rank as Renji?"

She nodded. "Abari-fukutaicho was promoted before I was, but yes." Amaya lifted an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"That means you'd be a tough fight, even if you don't look it." He grinned, tilting his head up in a way that made her heart ache again - he looked so much like Kaien! "Maybe someday we'll get a chance to spar."

The pink-haired woman snorted air through her nose. "I'm sure you wouldn't be as impressed by me as you were by Abarai-san - he's a much more combative person, and thus trains harder. But we did both train under Madarame-san, so perhaps I would. And I'm better at . . . other techniques than he is, honestly." She meant kido, and knew the table knew it - but every person there except her still blushed bright red.

Then what she'd said made its way in, and Ichigo's grin reappeared. "You trained with Ikkaku? Then you're much better than you look!"

"I doubt it," Chad rumbled, then blushed as everyone looked at him. Amaya raised an eyebrow. He knew, somehow. She didn't mind, but she didn't think Uryuu had told him.

A small smile played over her face. "That's as may be, but I invited you all here to get to know you better." She held up a hand, "And though some may say that," her voice took on a gruff tone as she imitated Kenpachi, "the only way to know someone is to cross blades," her voice reverted to its normal tone, "I have no intention of fighting any of you tonight."

"Why?"

"Kurosaki-kun, that's a rude question!" Orihime looked at him aghast. "I'm sure Kuragari-fukutaicho is just a nice person!"

He glowered a little, but Amaya shook her head. "It's all right, Inoue-san. It's a valid question - Soul Society hasn't given any of you much reason to trust it, or the people who make up the Gotei 13." She shrugged, glancing at Uryuu, who was looking at the table. "I hope to show you that not all of us are that bad." She smiled winsomely. "And, besides, we're all Rukia-chan's friends, right? That's reason enough to get to know each other!"

 

[Armphid]

"Just...to hell with him!"

"Yeah!"

"And his smug face and his smirking eyes!"

"Yeah!"

Rangiku leaned back in her chair and took a long drink from a bottle. Her drinking bowl was somewhere on the floor but she really didn't need it. It was better this way, anyway. It made her hurt less to think about him. It made the conflict she felt go away. Even after all this...she didn't hate him. She wanted to hate him. The booze let her and she loved it for that right now.

Kira was slumped forward in his seat, the dour blond's face flushed. "And all this time...I thought I was gettin' better, that I was moving up, and it was all part of their plan. None of it meant anything. And I raised my sword against Hinamori..."

"Don't start with that! Nope! It's all his fault!" She shook her head, her hair flying wildly, "You did what you thought was right, right?"

"I...I'm not even sure of that."

"Then you're not drunk enough!" Rangiku flailed for a few moments before she managed to grab another bottle and plant it in front of Kira. "Chug that one down, then start on this! Come on, you can't have that much of a a gag reflex!"

He blinked slowly, "What?"

"Just drink already!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"I don't know about that," Ichigo said with a slow shake of his head. "I mean, yeah, we came here and you all were our enemies. But we met a lot of people who helped us out." He grimaced, which Amaya was learning was almost his default facial expression, "Hanataro most of all, but then you stepped up and risked your life to save Rukia too. And even while we were still enemies, I felt respect for guys like Jidanbo, Ikkaku, even Renji, though I didn't understand them." Orihime's eyes were bright as she looked at him with the kind of adoring wonder that only a teen's first love can muster. Chad's face was as thoughtful as ever but he too watched the orange haired youth speak. "After it all came out, that this was all a set up, I can't say that I think badly of the Gotei 13 or Soul Society. I'm not saying you don't have problems or that you're not all crazy...but maybe you're right."

He shook his head, "I don't know about the organizations or the leaders or that crap, but...there's people like you, Rukia, and Renji, then I know I've got to give all of you a chance. You were set up to be at your worst and a lot of you still surprised me in a good way. So...anyway."

Ishida glanced over at Kurosaki. The lout was actually using his head for a change. Refreshing. Not that it went much of anywhere. "That's a lot of rambling, Kurosaki. Just say what you mean to say already."

"You're one to talk!" He gave the Quincy a sour look. "But, yeah, anyway. I know you're not all bad, Amaya. Most of you are pretty good, when you get down to it." His expression then was serious and his eyes were honest. She was again struck by just how much he resembled Kaien.

"I'm glad you feel that way," she answered. "I'm sure no one's talked to you about it yet, since we don't have plans of our own yet, but everything that happened here...it isn't over. Not for us and probably not for you."

Ichigo moved to speak but Uryuu cut him off, "Of course, we're aware, Kuragari-san. That rebel of yours will cause trouble for the Human World and Soul Society both." Chad nodded. "Even if we didn't want to get involved, we'll get dragged into it."

"I wonder what they'll use as drag lines," Orihime mused as she chewed on one end of a large piece of pickled daikon. "I hope they use some silk rope, 'cause my skin's so soft! I don't want it to get all scratched up." The other four looked at her in stunned silence but the buxom ginger's face grew thoughtful, "You know, they should tie us together in battle pairs so we can better face the enemy! I'd like to be partnered with Kurosaki-kun, that way I can be tied onto his back and heal him while he fights! Oh, and Ishida-kun could be riding Sado-kun's shoulders and they'd be like a mobile artillery unit!" She nodded, "They cost more to produce but it's worth it to be able to drop fire onto an enemy position anywhere."

"It's not a RTS, Inoue-san," Chad rumbled softly.

"No? Oh, I guess not. Then it's a party based RPG! So is Kuragari-fukutaichou joining our party or are we joining hers..."

Ichigo and Uryuu exchanged a look and then both turned to Amaya, Ichigo managing to speak first, his speech rushed and louder than normal, "But yeah, we're all Rukia's friends here!" He glanced at Ishida, "Sort of. So, how did you meet Rukia? I met her when she broke into my house and stabbed me in the chest. ...That sounds a lot worse than it was."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu should have been lying in bed asleep. Or going to sleep. Instead he was standing at the foot of his bed, holding his sheathed sword. His eyes were closed and he was breathing slow and steadily. He could feel his sword's energy flowing with his own. The spirit within was attentive and watching him; waiting to see if the hidden lord could be called forth by the one who would be king. He took a few more deep, rhythmic breaths, gathering his power-

"You couldn't stay still at Kisuke's that time either. I guess your personality hasn't changed." The voice was unfamiliar to him; a woman's rich alto that equal parts wise, sensual, and amused. "But you shouldn't do that here, you know. Even I wouldn't so blatantly disobey Unohana, and that's saying something." Isamu felt the connection with his blade tremble and flicker but he held it; it weakened but he held it. "That's pretty good. I thought you'd drop it completely."

Isamu opened his eyes and lowered his arms, turning to see the window to the hospital room open. A woman was lounging in it, looking perfectly comfortably and graceful despite her location. She had one long leg stretched up to rest on the opposite side of the window from where her back leaned against the frame, the other dangling into the room. Her arms were crossed under an impressive bust that was wrapped in an orange sweater-like garment. Her shapely legs were hugged by tight black pants she wore simple shoes. Her eyes were golden, like his he noted idly, and her skin was dark; a rich and deep brown. What was it with Soul Society and some people being black? They were all Japanese so...ehh, it didn't matter. He was white and Komamura was a dog, so this was actually pretty minor. She was beautiful and her eyes saw deeply into him. Her purple hair was pulled up into a high tail. "Yoruichi-san, I presume?"

"That's right. Though we have met before, don't you remember?"

He smiled and turned, "I remember a cute cat that talked and curled up on my lap. ...I guess this does explain why Urahara-san acted like you were cheating on him or something."

"Oh, please, we're not exclusive." She grinned as he blinked, clearly not expecting that response. "Kuragari told you, I bet."

"Not really. After everything that went down, I just put two and two together." Did he look like that much of a meat head? Why did everyone assume he was an idiot? "I'm glad to see you. I'd been trying to figure out who I might find you before you left."

"Want me to sit on your lap again?" Her smile was wicked, "I don't blame you but it's really not cold enough." She let her eyes travel over him; he was wearing one of the loose hospital robes and hadn't bothered to tie it tightly, allowing a great deal of his young, strong body to be seen. "Although I could maybe make an exception..."

He grinned, "I could give you all kinds of reasons to. That throws off a lot of people, doesn't it?"

"Usually." She twisted out of the window and into the room with grace, standing and again looking him over. "I think I know why you wanted to find me and I know it wasn't for that."

"Good, that'll make this faster." Isamu held his sheathed sword in one hand and turned to fully face Yoruichi. God damn, she was a hell of a woman. Lot of things she could teach him, he was sure. But there was only one he needed. "Kuragari-chan heard you say it. Three days to become stronger than Byakuya Kuchiki."

The dark skinned woman raised an eyebrow, "Have you got it in for him too? Man, Byakuya-chan grew up into a real jerk. If that's what this is about, then forget it."

"You know it's not about that," Isamu snapped the words back at her. "I don't know if this is, like, your cat nature coming out and you have to be playful, but don't pretend you don't know what this is about." Yoruichi's smile had faded and he didn't know if that was a good sign or a bad one. "Aizen. You and Urahara-san knew about him before all this started, that's clear. And you know it's only just getting going. We'll need every weapon we can use against him. I'm betting your considering the Kurosaki kid as your ace in the hole. You got him ready to take one of the most renowned of Soul Society's captains in a day and a half, after he'd already beaten the guy people say is our best fighter. Aizen's going to know he's your ace too. You don't think he'll take steps? Or maybe you think you can avoid whatever trap he springs?"

"Is the strategic argument all you've got?" The amused aspect wasn't gone fully from her voice but it was barely there. Her golden eyes were hard, "Because if that's all, then there's not much left to say."

"Of course it's not." Isamu shook his head, "That should be enough but I'm guessing even with you being an outlaw or whatever that you're still like most of Soul Society in that you're so Japanese you're almost incapacitated." Her eyes narrowed but he went on. "Some personal reason or belief that would keep that from being good enough." He was so sick of this shit. Like Ikkaku not revealing his bankai or Byakuya Kuchiki's lame ass reason for trying to ensure Rukia's execution. "But maybe this is. All my life and all of my death, I've wanted to make the world a better place; I've told truth to power, roused the rabble, and made some noise and maybe I've done some. But it's not enough. I haven't really changed anything here. And you know why. This place doesn't change from below, it changes from the top. My ambition has always been to become a captain and make a change for the better. I don't know...but I'm guessing maybe you had an ambition like that once too. Maybe something went wrong with it and that's why you're on the outside now. But my wanting to achieve bankai isn't just about beating Aizen. It's about finally making good on every promise I've ever made."

She said nothing; just studied him. After a few moments, Isamu shrugged, "I won't take it personally if you say no. Well, maybe a little. But I'm close on my own, I think. I don't know if I can get there in time for Aizen's next move...maybe though. Abarai can do it and he's...well, I thought he wasn't that far ahead of me." Wrong about that, though. And so much else. "So I'll get there either way, count on it. The question is whether it'll be when and where I can do the most good." He took a deep breath, "If you don't train me...then please train Kuragari-chan. She's better than me as a person, and definitely as a shinigami. You won't have any regrets if you help her reach the peak of her power."

~~~~~~~~~​

"Yachewww!" Amaya managed to cover her nose and mouth in time to keep from spraying the rest of the table but she dropped her tea cup in the process; right into her bowl of noodles. She sniffed and sighed; where had that come from?

"Are you all right, Kuragari-san?" Orihime was looking at her intently with those big grey eyes.

"Hai, I'm fine. Just something tickled my nose." She smiled at the group. "So, where was I...oh, right! There we were, just Rukia and me, against this big Hollow that looked kind of like a duck and a cactus mated and we were both drenched in persimmon syrup!. Then..."

 

[HookerBoots]

There was a moment of silence, then Yoruichi laughed, her teeth gleaming in the dimness. "I did have that ambition, once, yeah. Sometimes, things are more important than ambition, though." She sat down on the bed tailor-style, her back straight as a rod. "Ukitake told me you were smarter than you looked, and he wasn't wrong. I'll train you. And probably Kuragari, too, but I haven't talked with her yet."

"What?" his eyes widened. "You already talked with Captain Ukitake? Then what was the point of testing me?"

One eyebrow arched. "I have the right to decide who I train, and why. I told him I'd train you, if I thought you had the right reasons." She shrugged. "I might have done it anyway - there are some shinigami who aren't 'so Japanese they're almost incapacitated', no matter how it seems. So, let's get started."

Isamu returned her shrug. "You may be right, I suppose. Don't you want to talk with Amaya first?"

Yoruichi smiled. "She's having dinner with my travel companions, so I'll probably see her later tonight, or tomorrow." The smile turned wicked. "Unless, of course, she brings one of them home again."

He laughed as he sat down on the other end of the bed. "She told me about it. But how did you know?"

"I was going to talk to her last night, but when I looked in her window, she was . . . occupied." One long-fingered hand made a gesture at him. "Doesn't matter. Let me see how far you've gotten with your sword, and we'll go from there."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Several hours later, the quintet left the restaurant, laughing and smiling. They stopped outside the entrance, chatting a bit. ". . . And I said, I've never even been to a tea plantation!" The others dissolved into laughter - except Chad, who smiled - and Amaya grinned.

"It's been great, but we should be getting back, I think," Uryuu said. The evening had been a success, completely, but it was getting late.

"Of course," Amaya said. "But if she wouldn't mind, I'd like to have Inoue-san over for some tea and a conversation."

The ginger-haired girl blushed, then smiled. "Okay, that would be nice, Kuragari-san. Just like you did with Ishida-kun last night!"

Amaya was so proud of herself for keeping a straight face, even as Uryuu flushed bright red and Chad cleared his throat. "Sure," she said with a smile, "you could say that." She linked her arm through one of the younger girl's and winked at Uryuu as she turned them both toward her squad's area. "Have a good night boys. Don't wait up!"

 

[Armphid]

How far he'd gotten with his sword? A tough question and yet an easy one. And only one way to answer it. "All right." He pulled the sheathed blade across his knees as he sat tailor style on the bed opposite Yoruichi. "Though didn't you tell me not to risk upsetting Unohana-taichou?"

"I did and I meant it." The lush figured woman shook her head, "She's the most dangerous woman in all of Soul Society. I sure as hell would never want to fight her."

Isamu's eyes narrowed a bit. "You mean it. There's...something behind your saying that."

"There is. But it's not mine to tell. Just trust me; don't make her your enemy and never fight her." The amused quality was gone from the rich voice and it gave Isamu pause. He had the feeling that didn't happen often. "But enough about that, Takeuchi. I don't want you to show me your full spiritual pressure but try to make contact and materialize. I need to see how far along you are if I'm going to train you."

"Right." Isamu took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He and Hitoshirezu Daimyo spoke often, compared to most shinigami with released swords and their zanpakuto. He considered his weapon a partner and a counselor. A wise ruler who had given power and tried to give him wisdom. But part of that needed to change. Isamu had been the one to approach his sword's spirit but no more. His time was coming. To become king.

The connection was easily made. Yoruichi felt it and her expression shifted. That look...very little effort on his part. Interesting.

He felt the presence of the regal spirit in his mind and felt it's expectant trepidation. He spoke and his voice was, as always, wise and commanding yet distantly sad; as a crowned lord of many winters who though mighty had known and seen great sorrow. "And so at last it has come to pass. That which we both have awaited and feared with the same breath."

"Yes." He was sure that Yoruichi couldn't hear the spirit's part of the conversation but he didn't care. He would not demand it to appear without speaking properly first. "I have been long in the proving but it can wait no longer. Tempered by storm, blade, and long years, I have striven for mastery and now it is time."

"It is not a thing to be taken lightly, for taken it must be. I have granted you my power before now but in this you seek to make my power truly your own and set yourself above me; to make yourself the king to whom my fealty is owed. You have come so near to disaster but have escaped each time and proven your worth...and yet full victory has eluded you ever. Have you come to the test to fail now, having never tasted glory uncut by loss?"

"There is no light of victory that does not cast a shadow of loss and I have known light and shadow in my time and passed through both the stronger." Isamu slid his hands over the sword, his right gripping the hilt. "The time of the test is now. I will not be gainsaid in this. It must and will be. Hitoshirezu Daimyo. You are called."

"By what right to you summon me?"

Beads of sweat were on his brow, though he didn't feel them. "Right of kinship, right of position, the right of necessity, and over all else, the right of worth. I have earned this with blood and sacrifice. You are called!" Reiatsu surged and billowed out of Isamu; flowing between he and his sword and out around them.

The voice sounded now in his ears, not just his mind, "The test is come and already you prove your worth in part. Called, I come, as I have never before." Next to the bed stood a tall figure, well over six feet in height, though his build was hard to make out for he was shrouded in a massive and billowing cloak of the darkness between stars and within it's folds and fabric, stars gleamed, planets moved and spun, nebulae glowed and burned, and comets traveled on their long and lonely journeys. The cloak covered his feet until he moved and then there was a glimpse of an armored boot that gleamed like brightly polished silver before it was hidden again. Cunning and almost impossible fit and intricate gauntlets covered his hands and could be seen just as fleetingly when he moved. The hood of the cloak was up but not pulled deep over the head; there was no face but only a polished and featureless mask that reflected all who looked into it. "Doom is upon us and none know now if it is the doom of lordship or demise."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"So then I was like, "No way! That's worth at least 30,000 yen!" and then, the guy just looked sort of confused." Orihime looked over at Amaya and beamed, "I really didn't know what he was talking about but I mean, come on, they're worth at least that much for a peek! There are a lot like these in Japan, you know! And I guess you do, huh?"

A door in the hallway slid open, "Who's that at this hour?" Ukitake saw his lieutenant and then the smiling girl and his eyebrows rose. "Ahh, Amaya-san. And Inoue-san as well! Welcome to our Squad."

"Arigatou!" The girl bowed politely, "Kuragari-san wanted to have me over for tea and talking, I'm sorry to impose."

"Oh, no, no, not at all." The nobleman stepped out of his suite and slid the door closed behind him. He was impressed...and a little shocked; he didn't know she was that insatiable! Isamu needed to get well quickly. "It's always a pleasure to have a guest, especially a friend of Kuchiki's. Well." He looked at his second in command, "I'm going to Ugendo tonight, so I leave things in your hands."

Amaya looked at him, concern in her green eyes, "Hai, taichou! Are you...well?"

He nodded, "It's not that. I just feel...like some peace and quiet. You know how boisterous the barracks can be. I'll have some tea and watch the moon, the water, and the carp." And try very hard not to think about what his buxom lieutenant would be doing to that stacked young girl. "Good night, ladies." He inclined his head and swept past them, moving away with quick, long strides.

"He seems eager to be away," Orihime noted, watching him go. "Hmm...maybe he's going to his secret base to oversee the final stages of project C.A.R.P - Continuous Aizen Robot Puncher! But it'll go out of control like last time, unless it and the pilot are in harmony..."

She shook her head and then smiled at Amaya, "He's very polite! Your Squad is so nice! It's hard to believe Kuchik-san wouldn't want to be around here." She flushed then, perhaps realizing it was a sensitive subject. "Uh, so, let's go have some tea! I'm the guest, so I can make it for you, if you like! I make pretty good tea, even if you probably don't have any sour cream for it. If you ever visit me in the Human World, I'll make that version for you though!"

 

[HookerBoots]

Yoruichi whistled through her teeth as the armored figure appeared. The closest she'd seen to something like this spirit was Komamura's, but this was - unsurprisingly, really - more western. And he'd done it, even if it had taken work. That was impressive for a 3rd Seat, though she also knew well enough that the kid would probably have been a lieutenant by now if not for his attitude and his parentage. "Well, that answers that."

She looked over the spirit, appraising. Well-shrouded, and well-protected - not exactly what she'd have pegged Takeuchi for, really, but maybe they complimented each other. The best partnerships were like that, a lot of the time. " Hitoshirezu Daimyo, huh? Interesting." She stood up from the bed, moving gracefully and carefully, like a cat approaching something that might be dangerous, or might be the best thing ever.

The mirror-polished mask turned to look at her, watching her careful approach and, she was sure, measuring her as a potential foe. Zanpakuto were rarely anything but suspicious towards people they didn't 'belong' to. The dark-skinned woman stopped several strides from the armored and shrouded figure, tilting her head to one side. Finally, she smiled, her teeth bright in the dim light. "I intend to do my best to make sure it's not the doom of demise," she said. "I plan, as I'm sure you know, to help train him," one hand gestured towards Isamu, "to be able to wield your full might. Will I have your cooperation?" This was the gamble. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't - some spirits saw it as gaining a more firm partnership with their wielder, and some saw it as becoming more enslaved than before.

There were several heartbeats where no one moved or spoke, then the hooded head inclined. "You shall. But the girl's sword may not be as reasonable as I. I hardly know how she can stand it, sometimes." There was the air of slight amusement, and the figure added, "I will ask only that you teach well and quickly in exchange for my aid; he might ask for more."

Isamu and Yoruichi both raised an eyebrow at that. He had never thought that the two swords would know each other - but it made sense, really, when you thought about it. And for her part, she'd never heard of a zanpakuto spirit talking about another in anything other than a 'I want to kick it's ass' mentality. "I promise you that, at the very least. We need more people with bankai as fast as possible." She glanced at Isamu. "And some change wouldn't go amiss - stagnancy is part of what got us here, after all."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya, over Orihime's protests, made the tea and served it, pulling out a little box of snacks she'd gotten in her travels trying to find Yoruichi today. "So, Inoue-san,"she said, sipping her tea with a happy sigh, "I really did just want some girl talk. There aren't that many lieutenants who are girls," she half-lied, "and none who live in the real world. What's going on with fashion now?"

They chatted about clothes for a while, with surprisingly few flights of fancy on the ginger-haired girl's part, and made their way through the box of snacks pretty easily. Popping the last bite of a miniature cheesecake into her mouth, Orihime indicated her shirt. "Ishida-kun made this! Really!" She looked down and then back up. "He should go into fashion, or something. You know, when this is over."

Knowing an opening when she saw one, Amaya grinned. "It is very nice work. He seems like a talented guy."

"Kuragari-san, he's so talented, and smart, but he's just so stiff all the time!" Orihime looked serious, her face almost fierce. "Half the girls in our year would go out with him, but he just rebuffs them all!"

"Please," the pink-haired lieutenant purred, "call me Amaya-san. I'm sure he could. Maybe he just has his eye on someone who hasn't gone for him yet."

"Arigato, and you can call me Orihime-chan, if you like." She hesitated, then gave a mental shrug, and gave Amaya permission for something that only Tatsuki had. "Or even Hime-chan, I don't mind. We're friends, after all." She picked up her cup, then set it back down thoughtfully. "You may be right. But who?"

There was no way the girl could be this dense. Maybe there was - god knew it had taken her long enough to pick up that Isamu was interested. "Well, I'm sure you'll find out. Boys aren't that subtle, really." Again, not the entire truth, but it would work well enough. "Having spent the evening talking with him, I'm sure he'd make some lucky girl very happy." Amaya picked up her tea, swirling what was left in the cup casually. "What about the others? Do Sado-san or Kurosaki-san have anyone special?"

"Sado-san never talks about himself, really," the girl said, looking at the table. "And Kurosaki-kun . . . I don't think he's interested in that, yet. I mean," she said, her heart in her eyes as plain as day, "he's so worried about protecting his family and the people he cares about, that I don't think he's worried about romance." She swallowed hard, forcing a cheerful smile. "He's changed a bit since Kuchiki-san . . . gave him his powers, gotten more intense, more focused. So I'm sure someday he'll be ready to be with someone special."

There was a moment when Amaya could only wonder if she'd ever been that young, had ever been so hopeful and sweetly, innocently, painfully yearning for someone. "You're probably right." She sipped her tea. "I'm sure lots of girls would be happy to be his someone special. But I wish they could know that the worst thing to do is to stay fixated on someone." Amaya set her cup down and rested her chin on both hands. "You can miss all sorts of opportunities if you're waiting for something to happen. You have to live your life, or you'll wake up one day realizing you're old and never have lived."

There was a shocked look on Orihime's face that quickly turned into a small smile. "Maybe you're right. But there's nothing wrong with hoping."

"Of course not. But . . . well, there's nothing to say that you can't find something worthwhile in the meantime." She gave the teenager a bright smile. "But we've gotten melancholy! Hime-chan, let's talk about something fun!"

~ ~ ~ ~​

It had been well after midnight when they stopped talking, and Amaya had, given the fiction Uryuu had spun for the others' benefit, insisted she sleep over. They had set up a futon next to hers, close but not touching. As she lay there, listening to Orihime breathe evenly, she sighed and turned over.

Today had been strange, and she was trying to process everything that had happened. She hadn't been able to find Yoruichi, though the search had been nice on its own - it was rare that she spent time just wandering. The dinner had been good, and learning more about the kids had been very good. She hoped that she'd been able to help Orihime get a little perspective on her unrequited love situation. Hoped, but seriously doubted. And now . . . well, she would be happy to sleep tonight, and go visit everyone at the infirmary tomorrow.

She could even probably head over with Orihime - since he'd started to get better, Ukitake didn't like to be away too long. She expected he'd be back not long after first light. So she'd head over there, and work from there to find out the things she'd need. And maybe she could talk to Isamu about the training they would both need.

Her last, drowsy thought as she slipped into a deep sleep was that she should also try to talk with Rukia tomorrow, to try and rekindle their friendship after all this time. With that resolution in mind, she released her consciousness to sleep and didn't notice Orihime rolling over to study her as well, a speculative look on her face for a few moments before she laid back down and fell asleep.

 

[Armphid]

"Wow, I slept so well!" Orihime smiled and stretched her arms over her head, distorting and lifting the fabric of her t-shirt in the most magnificent way. Amaya watched with interest and smirked a bit; so that's what it looked like. No wonder Isamu was always staring when she just woke up. "It's much more comfortable here than where we're staying now." She pursed her lips as she lowered her arms, tapping one finger against her chin. "I wonder if we can get the floor softener you use here taken over to Squad 4."

"Anyway," the pink haired woman said after a moment's pause, "we should get you back over there after we have a bite. The boys'll be wondering if you've been kidnapped instead of Rukia this time."

The eighteen year old girl laughed, "Yeah. Or that you seduced me into a torrid lesbian affair!"

Amaya blinked, "...Hime-chan, how do you even know those words?"

"The Internet!" She nodded seriously as she rose and crossed across Amaya's apartment to start making some tea for their breakfast. "Chizuru-chan from school is always saying things, and doing things, and grabbing my boobs, and I wondered what was going on with that so I googled some of the things she said. She really shouldn't be talking about that in school!" She shook her head, "I'm surprised she hasn't gotten into trouble."

"Y-you don't say." This was almost as weird as the girl's odd flights of fancy. She was speaking so matter of factly! She'd anticipated Orihime would be blushing bright red and stammering about anything like this. "So, what do you think about it?"

"Well, Chizuru-chan's pretty cute but not my type. She's just a friend. If I was going to do that with another girl, it'd probably be Tatsuki-chan...but that doesn't quite feel right either." She tilted her head in thought and then shrugged, "Maybe I'll find the right girl for experimentation sometime but I think I'm more interested in boys anyway."

"Oh, okay."

"Why? Are you offering?"

"Uh...I don't know?"

"Oh. Well, let me know if you do know and I'll think about it. Time for tea!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Hisagi's head was down over his desk; the punk styled lieutenant intent on his paperwork. There was so much to do. Tousen-taichou had always done the lion's share of the squad's work himself and now it was all on him. As well as a high degree of suspicion, which he could understand. He was the man's second in command. How had he not noticed something was wrong?

Damn it. How hadn't he noticed? He still didn't understand. Would he ever? Maybe if he saw him again...

There was a rap at the door and he sighed, "Unless it's critical, I can't be bothered now, there's too much to-" the door slid open anyway and he cut off in shock. "Nani...Takeuchi? What are you doing here? I didn't know you were out of the infirmary."

Isamu was back in uniform and his sword was belted at his side. "Yeah. I heal pretty quick; good thing too. They gave me my walking papers an hour ago." He stepped into the office. "I checked in with Ukitake-taichou and then came over here."

"...For what?" Hisagi shook his head, "If it's about your next column, I just don't have time now."

"Exactly." Isamu nodded, "You've got a lot on your plate and no one to really help out. I'm betting you're trying to do it all, just like he did." When Hisagi didn't answer, the American went on, "I've been loaned out to you for a while. I can help out; I know the squad so there won't be any griping if I step in and take charge of the troops while you handle the administrative stuff."

It was a testament to how far over his head he was that Hisagi didn't bother to argue. "All right. ...Arigatou."

"No problem." He turned to leave the office, the US flag stitched onto the back of his shihakusho a shocking and almost garish contrast to the dark fabric. "It feels pretty grim here...not that I don't understand. I'm going to get everyone up and run them through their paces."

Hisagi smiled. "It's hard to be lost in your thoughts if you're too tired to think. Do as you see fit, Takeuchi."

"Hai, Hisagi-taichou!"

The scarred man glowered, "Don't even joke about that."

Isamu gave him an insolent grin, "Sorry, you're right. I'm totally going to beat you to captain." He walked out of the office, "I'll be a generous superior but don't make me look bad to the higher-ups!"

"Why, you-!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

The grounds of the Kuchiki estate had always seemed forbidding to her. Even after decades of living there, she hadn't felt like she belonged or was welcome. It was almost like she was a prisoner within its walls. But...it was different now. It wasn't like back in Inuzuri but it was similar. She was...home. And it felt like it for the first time since...well...since Ichigo's closet.

Rukia sighed. Ichigo. What was she going to do? He and the others were leaving soon. He'd want her to go with them but she wasn't going to. She knew that. In her heart of hearts, even if she wanted to go, it wasn't her place. She belonged here...and she realized it now. She had people who cared about her even with her past.

But she also wanted to go. To live that carefree life, being the expert, ordering Ichigo around, sleeping among his smell, watching him through the closet door as he slept and when he changed clothes...

The pale skinned girl blushed and sighed, "Oh, I'm as bad as Amaya-chan." Amaya. She needed to talk to her. To try and mend things. She'd been so foolish to push her and her other friends away. She had to try and make it up...but how did she even start?

"I doubt that. But maybe you are...I guess it depends on what you got up to in the Human World."

She stiffened and turned her head to see the smiling face of her friend, former roommate, and onetime occasional lover. An elderly servant coughed nervously, "Ah, a guest, Rukia-sama. As she has the master's leave to come and go..."

"Yes, of course. Thank you. I'll see to our guest. Please have some tea and snack brought." The man bowed and left. Once he was out of the room, "Amaya-chan, how could you say that in front of them? I finally feel like I fit in here, don't make them think I'm some...some...floozy!"

~~~~~~~~~​

On the rooftop above the two shinigami, Yoruichi Shihoiin stretched out with a yawn. The sun felt nice today. Even if she wasn't a cat right now, laying out and sleeping in the warmth sounded pretty good. But she should stay awake so she could catch the Kuragari girl when she left.

Assuming she was going to leave. She'd heard some rumors...but if that was the case, there was no way Byakuya-chan could be so uptight! She yawned again and put her hands behind her head. She could wait a while, at least. Though cats aren't nature's most patient creatures...

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya quirked an eyebrow at Rukia. "Floozy? Ne, ne, Rukia-chan! Even I know that slang's passe." She dropped down next to the table in the room, almost unconsciously assuming the posture she was used to taking when she'd met with Byakuya - formal, but still relaxed, the side of her face turned to the door. "You should say you don't want them thinking you're a slut." She beamed. "I learned that from Hime-chan, don't even ask how we got there in a conversation."

Rukia blinked. "Well, you're . . . I mean, I guess that's right." The dark-haired girl started to sit down on the other side of the table, then paused mid-motion. "Wait. Hime-chan?"

"Of course!" Amaya smiled at her friend as the door opened. "I invited the ryoka to dinner last night, to learn more about them." The butler placed two trays on the table, one with a full tea set, the other with a number of small bowls filled with snacks. "Arigato gozaimasu, Itoko-san," she said with a small bow to the man, who returned her gesture, bowed to Rukia a bit more deeply, and then left. "She spent the night at Squad 13, since it was so late when we finished our 'girl talk.' Nothing happened," she said, taking in Rukia's startled look.

"Well, that's good. She's much too nice a girl to get tangled up with you," Rukia said, pouring the tea for both of them. A smile ghosted over her lips as she slid the cup across the table to Amaya.

"I can't," the pink-haired lieutenant said, picking up the cup and inhaling the fragrance, "say the same about the young man who visited me the previous evening, however." She took a sip, enjoying the shock on the petite woman's face.

Rukia swallowed hard twice, then kept pouring the tea. "Ara, which one was it? I know your tastes are varied, Amaya-chan."

A sly smile grew on Amaya's face as she set the cup down again. "I'll tell you, if you answer a question for me." Rukia inclined her head, showing that she might, or might not. Amaya leaned forward, bracing her chin on both fists. "You have to tell me, I have to know. Have you jumped Kurosaki's bones yet?"

The vague worry and shock were replaced quickly by a scandalized look, and a blush that Amaya was sure went half-way to her navel. Rukia started spluttering. "I . . . that's - Amaya-chan, I . . . what do you . . . ." Amaya just looked at her levelly, that same little smile curving her lips. Finally, Rukia sighed. "If you must know, no. I haven't even decided if I'm interested - the age difference, and he's so infuriating! And he's . . ." her eyes went a little distant. "He's very intense about what he's intense about - protecting the people he cares about, and now, I think, Aizen."

Amaya nodded. "I see, I see." Her voice became teasing. "So you weren't at all worried that I'd seduced him two nights ago, in the slightest, because you aren't really sure you're interested."

"N-no, of course not." The blush had deepened. "Why would it bother me? He's just a human, just a kid."

"Eighteen," Amaya said, picking up a rice cracker. "An adult, by their standards. And strong enough, stubborn enough, talented enough, to break into our world, stop your execution, and defeat the strongest fighters in the Gotei 13."

The look on Rukia's face was softer now. "Baka. He's such an idiot, never stops to think about the consequences." She held her teacup in both hands. "Anyway. The answer to your question is no." Her gaze became penetrating again. "So now you tell me!"

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya was humming happily to herself as she left the Kuchiki estate. It had been nice to see Rukia, and see how she was doing. Whatever sort of talk she'd had with Byakuya - Amaya didn't know, and hadn't yet asked - it had done the girl a world of good. Or maybe it had been her time in the human world that had let her regain her balance. Either way, it was good to have her friend back. Suddenly, a shape flashed out in front of her, and she staggered back, narrowly avoiding landing in a duck pond. "Augh!" Her sword flashed out without her conscious thought, and even as she swung, all she could think was, Please don't let me kill one of their maids, or someone I know.

The swing hit nothing but air, and she opened her eyes to find dark-skinned Yoruichi studying her intently, still bent back from dodging the swipe. One scrap of fabric from her sash fluttered to the ground as they looked at each other for a long moment. In that moment, Amaya saw her hopes of reaching bankai wither and die; she'd just attacked the one person who could help her get there faster than anyone.

Yoruichi laughed then, white teeth gleaming in the sun. "You're quick, Kuragari-chan. That's all to the good." She straightened up and nodded. "Come with me, I want to talk to you."

Amaya followed the athletic woman to a nearby ramen house, where they each got a bowl of pork ramen and settled at a table. They ate in silence for a few moments before Amaya couldn't hold it any longer. "I'm so so sorry, Yoruichi-san, I didn't mean to try to kill you! I just . . . reflexes, and I hope you can forgive me because I have a favor to ask you, and . . . ." She trailed off at the amused expression on the other woman's face.

"You sound so much like Soi Fon," she said, crunching into a piece of pork. "You're fine, I should have thought about surprising you, and I'm glad you reacted the way you did." She set down her chopsticks and looked at the lieutenant, eyes very serious. "I think I know what favor you want. You want what Takeuchi wanted, right? You want me to train you, like I trained Ichigo."

Nodding, Amaya set her chopsticks down as well, eyes wide. "Will you? I mean, I know it's an imposition, but . . . well, three days, you said. Bankai in three days, instead of who knows how long."

"You could ask Abarai - he graduated with you two, and he has bankai."

"But it's a new bankai. The increase in power matters, yeah, but he isn't as skilled at using it as a captain would be." Amaya looked thoughtful. "I suppose we could, but . . . well, he isn't a very good teacher, honestly."

Yoruichi snorted. "I don't think I'm much better, honestly - cats are awful teachers. But here we are anyway." She picked up her cup of tea and took a long drink. "Tell me why I should train you."

Amaya was thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. The tactical considerations - which I'm sure you already know about - are obvious, and compelling. From a personal standpoint, I want to learn because I need to; when you stop learning, you stagnate. There's too much stagnation in Soul Society already." She gestured subtly to the window nearby, where the nobles' quarter could be seen. "The human world has moved past this, to a great extent. But we remain tethered, chained, to tradition because we live longer and so our leaders are reluctant to change." Her jaw tightened. "Our strict adherence to tradition may have cost us a great deal already - if we hadn't insisted on going to seek the cure in the human world, my captain would still be direly ill. And his sickness cost us," this hurt to admit, because she knew Ukitake-taicho still felt deep shame and guilt over it, "our vice-captain."

"True enough."

But Amaya was on a roll. "Even regardless of that, this whole situation would have been different if Captains had a strict set of duties EVERY one of them had to do - it would have been clear that Aizen and Ichimaru and Tousen were shirking in favor of something else, and we might have been able to nip this whole thing in the bud. I have to have bankai to be a Captain, and I have to be a Captain to change a damn thing." Her voice was hot, her eyes were bright, and the look she gave Yoruichi was the next best thing to insolent. "So. You can train me, or not. I'll get there anyway, and maybe soon. But if you train me, there will be lives spared, both now and in the future. Maybe even the life of someone you know, or care about. That's your choice, Yoruichi-san, but you don't seem the type to me to let people die carelessly."

There was another long moment of silence, and the purple-haired woman grinned. "All right, then. You're right, you know. About most of it." She stood up. "Besides, I already told Ukitake I would. Come on again. I want to see what you can do with that sword besides cut up my clothes with it."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"He's a sadist!"

"You didn't even have to spar with him! He's not a sadist, he's a madman!"

Hisagi poked his head out of the office doorway, looking at the small group of shinigami who had just walked into the hallway from outside. "Takeuchi?" he asked.

They snapped to attention, most of them wincing at the sudden movement. "Hai, fuku-taicho."

"Worked you hard, did he?" There was a smudge of ink on one of his cheeks, and his eyes were a little bloodshot.

"Hai. Fuku-taicho, he's not even part of the squad anymore, he shouldn't be . . . ."

"I told him to work you all until you were too tired to think." Their mouths dropped open. "I won't have this squad fall into laziness just because things are different now. You'll do what he says as far as physical training, because whether he's part of this squad or not, he outranks every last one of you." He gave them a stern look. "And I'm ordering you to, if that isn't enough."

Isamu walked in behind them, and caught the last bit of it. His mouth turned into that mad wolf's grin. "Ah, complaining, I see." The quintet of shinigami blanched. "That just means I didn't work you hard enough. Get your asses out there - I want 20 laps of the outside of the barracks from each of you. Don't think I won't be counting, and no shunpo!" They gave him disbelieving stares for a moment. "Did I stutter? Get moving!" he roared, and they shuffled past him toward the door.

As the last one left the hallway, his eyes met Hisagi's. The two men exchanged a small smile and a nod, and Isamu turned, heading back outside, yelling, "Double-time it, idiots! Faster you run, the sooner you're finished!"

 

[Armphid]

Rukia's feet made more noise than they should have as she walked through one of the carefully tended zen gardens on the grounds of the sprawling Kuchiki estate. This wasn't unusual; her footsteps had always been heavier here as the weight of her past and the expectations and all the rest of it bore down on her slender shoulders. That weight was less now and her steps had been lighter the past few days but now they were again deep and heavy.

Damn that big boob bitch! Rukia frowned and scowled at a vaguely shapely plinth in the garden as if it were her friend. She'd been able to put the question of Ichigo out of her mind almost completely and now Amaya had stirred it all up again!

She shouldn't be surprised. As much as she liked to blame Takeuchi, Amaya was a disruptive force in her own way and far more successful at it. And she meant well. She wanted Rukia to be happy and knew her well enough to be aware that she might not choose her own happiness given her own head.

But it wasn't as simple as choosing happiness. Rukia turned and walked on to come to a reflecting pool and stared down at her own image in the surface. That kind of act...it couldn't be taken back and it changed things forever. She liked things as they were now. Even with the threat posed by Aizen and his fellow traitors and whatever force they led, she was happy with her brother for the first time ever. She was happy with her friends. "Why risk change then?" Her voice was low but she felt a need to say it aloud. "Let it stay pristine and right; like the white crown of the mountains that stays year round."

She smiled a little; Nii-sama would have liked that line.

"But it does change, and well do I know it." Rukia started and blinked; her violet eyes huge as she gazed at the other figure that was suddenly beside her reflection. The other woman was taller than Rukia by a foot or more but had a petite and willowy form wrapped in the finest kimono of pure white and subtle blues and greys. Her features were beautiful and her skin paler than pale, her hair a frosty blue and gathered by gorgeous combs of ice and gems. Sode no Shirayuki had not spoken to her for almost a year; rarely since she had fallen into despair after Kaien's death and then she'd lost her powers. The sword spirit wasn't really beside her, she knew, just appearing as a reflection. But it was still a big moment for her; she could count the number of times she'd seen her spirit on one hand! The stately noblewoman looked down at her smaller partner but only due to the height difference. "Did you not know? The sun and wind push and more and melt, a little at a time, ever sculpting and shaping the snow even on the highest peak. Only from far away does it look constant. It is so with much in life."

"Why...are you appearing now? Why tell me this?" Zanpakuto spirits could be, if their relationship with their shinigami was a good one, sources of advice and wisdom. There was a faint frost on the stones around the pool now and a light fog was appearing over the water.

The spirit's smile was kind and a little sympathetic. "Because change is natural, Rukia Kuchiki, Inuzuri no Hime. It always is happening and always comes and can be slowed but never stopped. And when it is delayed, it builds up and grows great and heavy, and when it comes it is not a gentle snowfall but a crushing avalanche. So it has been with Soul Society. Do not let it be so with you. You are a living being. You can take hold of the change in your own life and shape it."

Rukia looked at the reflection of her spirit in humbled astonishment. She had never thought of it like that...

The ageless beauty raised her eyebrows, "Even if you do not see this truth yet...we are both aware that a...thaw and melt would only improve your circumstances."

The tiny woman blinked then and her eyes narrowed. "...Are you saying that I need to get laid?"

Sode no Shirayuki demurely raised a sleeve to cover her mouth and faded away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Uryuu Ishida put the finishing touches on the garment. "There. Finished at last." The pale sundress would fit Rukia's petite form well but also flatter her slender but actually existing curves. The corner of one of his mouths twitched up in an almost smile. It was a testament to his skill that he could make a garment that would make the...extremely petite shinigami have a feminine shape.

He paused then. The Quincy felt a sudden...awareness. His powers were gone but he still retained some ability to sense spirits and spiritual pressure; this was like that feeling but different. As if intense energy and regard were being directed at him...an enemy?

Uryuu turned then, "Gah," and jerked back, almost tipping over where he sat as he nearly bumped into the lovely face of Orihime Inoue how was sitting across from him and leaning forward to stare intently. Her steel grey eyes were keenly thoughtful and bore down on him; almost without blinking. "Ah, I-Inoue-san...is...something wrong? Something on my face?"

"You seem like the type who'd like a smart girl," she said and he wasn't actually sure if she'd heard him and was responding or not. "But also maybe a sassy girl. So I thought you might be in love with Kuchiki-san."

"Wh-what?"

"But then I thought a little more and that doesn't make sense. Your first names have the same number of syllables and that just doesn't work! Asymmetry is beautiful in flower arrangement and what is love but the flowering of our souls? So it'd have to be someone with more syllables since just three wouldn't be much of an arrangement, would it?"

The young man stared in awe and confusion as the busty girl nodded at her own conclusion and then went on. "So I thought that maybe I was thinking about it all wrong. You must like sweet girls instead but maybe ones that are sassy or real freaks in the sack on the inside. And maybe you like really shapely girls instead of willowy ones. So I thought maybe it was Amaya-san since you slept over at her place."

Uryuu's face felt like it was burning; redder than he may have ever been. "Ah, n-no, no, it's nothing like that. I regard her highly, but I don't...it's not like...that-"

"Of course not!" Orihime nodded again, "You run into the same name problem again." She pouted and sat back, looking up at the ceiling of their room. "But who does that leave? It can't be Ran-san, she's too brassy for your refined tastes. Hmmm..."

"Inoue." They both turned their heads at Chad's low rumble. Uryuu breathed a sigh of relief; Sado-kun would defuse this somehow dangerously accurate line of thinking. "You know...your first name has more syllables than his."

"S-sado-kun!" Uryuu gaped at the brawnier boy, "What are you-" Chad just gave him a thumbs up. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It does! Even I'm a suspect! This blows the whole case wide open!"

Desperate, Uryuu all but flung the finished dress into Orihime's lap, "We should get this dress to Kuchiki-san, don't you think? We're leaving tomorrow."

"Huh?" She blinked down at the dress. "Oh! You're right! I'll go deliver it then!" Orihime bounded to her feet, "But don't fret, Ishida-kun, I won't forget your case either. Pretty Detective Soldier Orihime is on the job!" She hummed to herself as she gathered up the new garment and bounded happily out of the room on her new quest.

Uryuu let out a breath and leaned back against the wall. He thought he might pop a blood vessel if she'd kept up. Then he looked over at Chad; his gaze silently accusatory.

Chad just shrugged, "I'm a musician."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"You've been a real help. I won't forget it." Hisagi was walking Isamu out of Squad Nine's area of control. "Just taking the Squad off my hands for a few days let me catch up a lot. I'll be able to handle it from here."

Isamu nodded, a bag of the clothes and sundries he'd brought with him while he was staying with his old Squad held over one shoulder. "I think you'd have gotten there, fukutaichou. You just get there better this way."

"And the squad gets a good workout." Not to mention a new training regimen. He'd have them stick to it. No one knew how long they'd have before war came to the shinigami but even if time was short, at least they'd be better prepared. Hisagi looked over at his former subordinate and just appraised him for a few minutes as they walked. He really was close, wasn't he? It was amazing. He'd been a shinigami for so little time to be at that level. But then look at Abarai. Man, what was he doing with his own training? How had he fallen so far behind? He glanced down at his sheathed sword. Was that why?

"Yeah. You ever need me to get their asses again, let me know. Once I get back, anyway." Isamu shook his head, "It's a shame; a few of them have real potential, you know?"

"I'd say yes normally but I'm not sure. I overlooked yours, after all." The two men walked on in silence for a few moments after that, neither sure what to say after the compliment. "So what's this special duty in the Human World about?"

Isamu felt a momentary rebellious urge to tell Hisagi the whole truth. Why keep it secret from him? Maybe Yoruichi could help him too. But then he sighed; he knew why it was a secret. They didn't know if Aizen had other spies or agents left behind. Besides, he wasn't going to lie...he just wasn't going to tell all of the truth. "We can't overlook the possibility that Aizen will make moves in the Human World. There's also the unusually high number of humans with high spiritual abilities in Karakura Town, the presence of the substitute shinigami and his friends, the captains think it's not a bad idea to a few people on the ground already in case more need to go over to that side. Kind of establish a foothold and keep a lookout, you know?"

"Makes sense." Takeuchi had hesitated. There was something more to this. More secrets. "And you've been to the Human World on a few extended missions already. And, you know."

"Well, yeah, but that was just over fifty years ago since I was alive there." Isamu shook his head, "It's a whole different world for me too...maybe a little less foreign. Anyway. We'll be over there for at least a month and then on-going if it's determined necessary. So keep it together here for us, all right?"

Hisagi stopped at the gate that formally demarcated the end of his division's territory. "You got it."

"And maybe tell Ran-san how you feel," Isamu said over his shoulder as he continued on.

The wild looking lieutenant gaped and then sputtered, "What the hell is that about? Takeuchi, think when you speak, damn it!"

"I do. Usually. Sometimes." He didn't stop walking but looked back over his shoulder. "It's just...something wicked this way comes, Hisagi-fukutaichou. I don't know how many of us will make it out the other side. I guess I'm not a big believer in unspoken regrets. Think about it." He turned back and lifted a hand in farewell, "Later!"

~~~~~~~~~​

"What the hell is this?" Isamu's voice rang out in indignation as he ran full tilt on...well, on apparently nothing but a purplish swirl of mist that made up the space between dimensions. On either side the dimensional barriers slowly crept in on the little band that sprinted madly towards the opening that looked like it was just a little too far away. Behind them all came a huge wave of spiritual power wreathing and hiding an engine of incredible capturing and pulverizing power that cleaned the void between.

"It's the cleaner, just run," Yoruichi, now a cat again snapped back. Ichigo, Chad, Uryuu, buxom Orihime, and even bustier Amaya were running as well, legs pumping and arms swinging as they tried to pump out every inch of speed to stay ahead of the sure annihilation that was steadily gaining ground behind them.

"I know you guys can't use hell butterflies, but why can't we? This is bullshit!"

"Just run!"

 

[HookerBoots]

The speed at which they were running kept the group in motion for whole seconds after they left the gate. Which had conveniently opened thirty feet above the ground over a nighttime Karakura town. Amaya and Isamu both had enough wherewithal to tuck and roll into flips, landing on thin air of their own volition several yards away.

So they got a perfect shot of the projectile hurtling through space and enveloping the others, then being hit like a baseball and grabbed, directed toward a floating square of fabric, and disappearing. Amaya looked at Isamu. "What just happened? Because that was . . . weird."

"Right?" He peered at the 'magic carpet' and blinked. "Hey, isn't that Urahara-san?"

Amaya looked as well, and nodded. "Yeah. All right, let's go see what's up." The two of them took off toward the group, bounding through the air.

They arrived as the older man turned and removed his hat, bowing his head penitently. "Words cannot express how sorry I am."

The whole group was quiet, and Ichigo looked uncomfortable. "Stop, all right?" He shrugged, one hand going to the back of his neck. "It's all right. You didn't do anything wrong. I don't know what your reason for doing it was, but the fact is that you helped all of us get stronger, and you probably saved all our lives. So don't apologize."

The two shinigami landed on the fabric in time for Amaya to bite her tongue. She didn't want to give the blonde shopkeeper the dressing-down she felt he deserved in front of the kids - they liked and respected the man, and she had felt similarly. But they would have a firm conversation sometime soon.

Ichigo went on, staring at the man intently. "But why the hell didn't you just tell me the truth in the first place? Did you think I would get scared and run away?"

There was a moment of silence and stillness. Then Urahara sat up, his fan moving next to his face. "Exactly right!" He almost flew off the carpet when Ichigo's elbow slammed into his face. He covered the fresh stream of blood with one hand and sighed. "You were taking it so well, I wasn't expecting an elbow to the nose!"

"That just pisses me off!" Ichigo muttered. "Also, I want you to apologize to Rukia. I'm sure she'll say the same thing I would, but she deserves one."

Amaya sat down next to him, giving the man a firm look as Isamu sat down on his other side. Whether Rukia would say the same thing, which she wasn't certain of, it didn't mean that things were okay.

"All right," Urahara said in a subdued voice. He studied the others, and gave a broad smile. "Ah, Kuragari-san, Takeuchi-san, you've come to visit again! Welcome back!"

Yoruichi spoke up from her - his? - seat on the carpet. "I'm training them, Kisuke. They'll be able to reach bankai soon, and they also are free from that man's influence."

He blinked, then smiled again. "Well, that's handy. I'll be more than happy to be generous and let you all use my basement as a training area." He spread his hands. "It'll be nice to have young people around!"

Amaya quirked an eyebrow, but nodded. "Thank you, Urahara-san. If it would be possible, we will also need gigai as well."

"Of course, of course. Good merchandise at quality prices, that's my way!"

She gave him a hard little smile. "I was thinking you might see fit to donate them to us. As none of this would be necessary without your doing." He blinked as she went on, in spite of her better judgement. "You see, you apologized to Kurosaki-san, and you will apologize to Kuchiki-san. But the rest of us - the ones who lost loved ones and friends, and had our entire world torn apart - haven't gotten one yet. And I think two gigai is about the least I should ask for that."

There was silence on the carpet again, the sound of crickets and light traffic below louder than they should be. He responded in a soft, dangerous voice, "You don't know how many lives I saved by sending them in, young lady."

"I do, actually. And we still don't know how many will be lost because of the root cause. The fact that you tried to right it by sending in a band of shockingly capable children is the only reason I didn't ask for your head in repayment."

Again, silence, and the two of them just looked at each other. The Yorucihi laughed. "She's got balls, that's for sure. Apologize to them too, Kisuke, she has a point. Give them the gigai, and work it out later on."

Urahara sat stiffly for a moment, then his shoulders slumped. "You're right, of course, both of you." He bowed to her and to Isamu. "I am so, so sorry for the trouble I have caused. I hope that my help can aid in making it right."

Amaya inclined her head. "Thank you."

An awkward silence filled the air around them, and then Uryuu stood up. "So, um, if it's not too much trouble, could you drop me off near my apartment?"

The carnival barker's smile was back. "Of course! Consider it done."

The carpet lowered itself to within 10 feet of the ground and stopped, hovering there to let the lithe young man off. Ichigo raised a hand in farewell. "See you later, Uryuu. I'll call you if anything big comes up."

Pausing midmotion, Uryuu said, "What are you talking about?"

"What?"

"Don't forget, Kurosaki, I'm a Quincy, you're a shinigami." He turned his head slightly, looking at the three of them on the carpet. "The next time we meet, we'll be enemies." He shifted slightly, holding the satchel that held the items that Amaya had given him, then jumped from the edge of the carpet, landing lightly and heading off down the sidewalk.

"He's stubborn as hell," Isamu muttered.

"No kidding," Ichigo said.

"But that's Ishida-kun for you," Orihime added.

Amaya chimed in, "That stubborn streak is one of his best characteristics, really."

"You think so?" Ichigo asked, amazed.

Chad rumbled, "Yeah, it's true."

Ichigo shook his head, leaning back a little on the carpet. "Man, you guys are way more understanding than I am."

They traveled for a bit longer before Orihime stood up. "Well, this is my stop!" The floating piece of fabric stopped closer to the ground for her, and she slid down, waving enthusiastically at them. "Goodbye! See you all soon!"

Chad hopped off a few blocks down, saying nothing, but giving a brief wave as he watched them leave.

"Want me to drop you off at your house, Ichigo?" Urahara asked, not looking up from the bird's eye view of the streets.

"Actually, I think I'll get off here." Despite the others' protestations, the young man jumped off, and stood standing, looking at the reservoir for a few moments, then walking down the street towards his home.

Amaya and Isamu sat there a moment, then she sighed. "I suppose, since we need to see if you will let us stay with you until we can secure our own lodgings, I should apologize to you for being rude."

"It would be politic," Urahara said. "You can stay, of course, for a while. I'll have the gigai ready for you within a week, and after that you should be able to find residence as needed." He tilted his head at them. "You're not wrong, though. It feels like we won a great victory, but it came out of a tremendous defeat. All we did here was put things back to normal, turn the dial back to zero." He bowed again, his posture penitent once more. "From here on, we'll have to depend on you and Ichigo even more than before. The battle is only beginning."

Isamu snorted. "No dying peacefully of old age for any of us, eh?"

"Nope, probably not." Yoruichi cleaned one paw delicately. "Let's go home and get some rest. Tomorrow starts training!"

 

[Armphid]

Isamu felt uneasy staying at Urahara's shop. In part because it was unfamiliar, in part because the other people living there were extremely strange, and in part because Amaya had bitten their host's head off before asking to stay there. That Urahara had taken it in stride after a few tense moments was a testament to...well, he wasn't sure what. The seriousness of the situation? The man's acceptable of his responsibility for this mess?

Whatever the reason, though Urahara seemed to be his normal self after that, there was still...tension. It hung in the air whenever one of them was in the room with the blonde man.

Another part of it was that they were still here just in their spirit bodies. It didn't seem to bother Amaya as much as it did him but the few times people came to the shop and just looked right through him or went about their business while he was standing there but unnoticed was unnerving.

Tessai-san was staggeringly polite as ever but the two kids were new. He didn't like them. Well, the little girl was adorably adorable but she was a willing accomplice in the red-headed boy's mischief. Which seemed to focus on the two of them. They'd been welcomed with a flurry of insults until Tessai rumbled at the brat, which had shut him up for a while. Then came the side long asides about "free loaders" and "people who talk big and then ask for help".

Fortunately, most of their time would be taken up with training. Isamu could only hope Urahara finished at least one of their gigai so they could go and get their own lodgings before he snapped and did something regrettable to the little punk. In the meantime, he'd spend as much of his time out of the shop as he could. Getting familiar with Karakura Town, scouting out a place for them, that kind of thing. That was the plan, at least. They'd only spent one night at the shop so far before being awoken before dawn to descend to the basement for training.

"Damn." Isamu let out a low whistle as he stepped away from the ladder that led back up the shop. This was...impossible. Incredible. Scrubby and rocky badland extended out all around them. How big was this space? Did it go under the whole city? Or was this some kind of extra dimensional pocket? "I thought we'd need more room than the shop to train. So much for that idea."

"It is more practical this way," Yoruichi agreed. The beautiful woman was still a cat and had been since their return. The feline hopped up onto a rock plinth that allowed her...him? It was a male voice as a cat, no matter what Yoruichi claimed. Did she change sexes as well as species?

...This whole place made his head hurt. Anyway.

The black cat sat on the highest point of the rock, allowing their teacher to look down at the two shinigami. "Down here, you can let loose and not have to worry about anyone noticing or damaging anything. And you'll need to." The golden eyes swept over the two of them. "This stage of your training is dangerous; it's entirely possible you won't survive. I will do what I can to help you achieve your goals and avoid that outcome...but you must know it's a risk."

Isamu and Amaya both nodded, the pink haired shinigami speaking up, "We know that. But with the way things are, we won't survive if Aizen wins anyway. It's worth the risk."

"Not that it'll come to that." The American shook his head and a fierce grin split his lips, "We haven't come this far just to die now. We'll live and we will reach bankai."

"Don't be arrogant!" Yoruichi snapped, "Do you think you're the only shinigami to have ever gotten here and feel that way? You must not take this lightly! Your zanpakuto will come at you with all their power; with powers you may not even know that they have. Are you truly prepared?"

"Does it matter?" Isamu growled back, "We have to do this and that's it. So enough trying to put us on edge and let's do it. We know it's dangerous, we know we might die, but so fucking what? That's every day as a shinigami, isn't it?"

The cat was silent for a few moments. "Good. That's the resolve I wanted to see again. Now, as you know, the only way to succeed is to materialize your sword's spirit and get it to submit to you. That usually means beating it in a fight, or more than one fight potentially, until it recognizes you not as a partner but as a master." The long tail waved behind the small body. "Bankai vary but even if your is weak, and I don't think they will be, your power will increase at least fivefold. And it will only grow from there. Normally, even after achieving it, you'd train for years before using your powers in battle...but we won't have that luxury. So...this will be hard, even if you reach bankai, the training won't end. I will push you to your limits of it so you can learn to use it as best you can in the short time we may have."

The cat's head looked at Isamu. "Takeuchi, you were able to materialize your sword on your own before."

"I can do it again. I know he'll come; he's waited for this as much as I have, in a way."

"Good. Kuragari-san, try to bring our your sword and we'll go from there. If you can't, I have a way to make it appear but it's better if you can do it yourself."

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya could tell that Isamu was uncomfortable here. There wasn't a lot she could do about it, at this point, but she was considering what could be done quickly when they finally got their gigai. She thought about their aliases, or at least what they would be able to lie about doing. The official story from Soul Society was that they were there to observe the kids, and be back up for Ichigo in case he stumbled. So they needed a cover that would let them at least theoretically be in contact with the kids; there was no way she or Isamu would pass for high school students, though.

About 5 days after they'd gotten there, she was sitting in the little room she and Isamu were sharing, trying to center herself mentally to not do something she'd regret to Jinta when she saw him next, there was a soft knock on the door. "Kuragari-san, are you in there?"

She stiffened, then sighed. "Hai. Please come in, Urahara-san."

The door opened to reveal the man standing there, a human-sized bundle held bridal style in his arms. "I have a surprise for you," he sing-songed, stepping into the room and sliding the door shut with one foot.

Amaya shifted over to the other futon and let him lay down the figure that looked just like her on the mattress. "Ah, excellent. It looks quite suitable." She was pleased to see it wasn't naked, but rather clad in a pair of blue cotton pants, a halter-style top in forest green, and a black hooded sweatshirt. "Thank you."

He nodded. "Of course." There was a moment of silence, and he dropped to the floor, looking at her intently. "The previous times you were here, we got along fine, Kuragari-san. What happened that you dislike me now?"

She blinked, a bit surprised at the forwardness of the question - he had always seemed to her like a man who would dance around a topic for hours rather than address something directly. But the words spilled out almost before she could stop it. "I don't like people who rape my friends."

The genuine startled expression on his face made her feel a bit bad, but she didn't stop. "You may not have thought about it, but do so now, if you will. You took Rukia Kuchiki's soul, messed around inside of it, and left something there without her knowledge or consent. What else would you call it?"

". . . I had never . . . considered it that way." His face was thoughtful, and a bit troubled.

Amaya pulled her knees to her chest. "And what's worse, you left it there knowing someone else would try to get it. He used your method to retrieve it, putting his hand inside of her chest and ripping it out. Which means you had a plan to get it back at some point, probably without asking her before you violated her again."

There was silence, and she could see his eyes shining beneath the shadow of his hat. His mouth was set in a serious line, and as Amaya shifted, she could tell he was watching her. "I have no guarantee that you won't try to do something like that again - to anyone. The fact that you didn't consider that what you did might be a problem gives me serious concerns about your morals and ability to make judgements."

"I . . . see." He nodded slowly. "That makes a great deal of sense, I hadn't considered it at all." He tipped the hat back and looked at her. "I did intend to apologize to her, but now I certainly will do so as sincerely and thoroughly as I can. It was never my intention to put her into a situation where it would ever cause problems."

Her eyes blazed. "What did you think it would do?! Did you think that man would just let her traipse about here, not try to get what he wanted back? You risked the life of every person in this town, in Soul Society, because you didn't think it would be a problem!?"

"The gigai I gave her should have melded with her soul, it should have rendered the hougyoku inert. And it would have, with enough time."

"You're supposed to be a great intellect," she said scathingly. "This amazing inventor and genius. Didn't occur to you in the slightest that Soul Society would come looking for her? That they wouldn't let her play house with Kurosaki for nearly half a year without permission?" Amaya scoffed. "Your gigai may have worked, but you didn't consider that there were people there - outside of the law and the bureaucracy - that cared about what happened to her? Do you even understand people's emotions and feelings?" She folded her arms over her chest, scowling. "Yoruichi-san has implied you were a captain, once. You should have known better."

Before she'd finished, she knew she'd gone too far. Her cheeks were red, flush with anger, and her chest was heaving with the force of her emotions. This wasn't how she'd been taught, how she knew to behave.

He shook his head slowly. "You are . . . entirely correct."

"What?"

"You're right. I was careless and thoughtless, and acted without a full understanding of the situation - or its consequences." He bowed to her formally. "I ask for your forgiveness, personally and as a representative of the Gotei 13."

One of her eyebrows quirked. "I can offer it, I suppose." She sighed again, shrugging. "Look, I don't normally get heated up like that. I'm sorry for speaking like that, especially under your own roof. But you did ask, and now you know."

He flashed her a small grin. "I hope I can prove my earnest will to make it right." He held out a hand, gesturing to the gigai between them. "Go ahead and try her on - if I have to, I can make some adjustments - your reiatsu is different than it was last time I saw you."

Amaya shifted to be standing looking down at her false body. "Does it ever get less odd, seeing yourself like that?" she asked rhetorically before turning and falling straight backward into the body.

The body sat up, and she looked around the room. "It seems fine. I'll walk around a bit, maybe drop kick your shopboy, and see how it goes." She got to her knees, then looked at him seriously and offered one hand. "I hope we can work together to make things right again," Amaya said awkwardly, "and I hope you can forgive me for speaking out of turn."

He took her hand and shook it firmly. "Of course. I may want a favor at some point in return for letting you talk to me like that, but we can negotiate later on that." He winked and fluttered the fan, and she rolled her eyes.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya slid down the ladder to the basement training area, the long tail she'd put the gigai's hair into waving as she landed and went into a jump from the middle of the length of the ladder to the rock where Yoruichi - still determinedly in feline form - sat. She landed pretty well in a three-point stance, and looked over Isamu doing what she recognized as the usual warm-up exercises.

"Ah, Kisuke gave you your gigai," the cat rumbled. "It looks good, though I do prefer you in a skirt."

"I wish," Amaya said, sitting down next to the cat, "that you wouldn't say things like that when you look like that, Yoruichi-san. It's strange having to deflect pick-up lines from a cat."

She could hear the slight purr start up. "You'd still deflect them if I looked like me, then? That's a disappointment."

Isamu finished up the last few passes of the exercises, and headed over. "Hey, you got your gigai! Great, it looks great!"

Amaya smiled at him. "I think yours will be ready soon too - Urahara-san said as much." She hopped down and stood next to him, grinning broadly. "I'm going to wander a bit and see how it handles before it's done for sure, but it's nice to be seen again. And I clobbered Jinta, and even though my hand hurts it was soooo worth it."

Yoruichi stood up and looked down at them. "All right, then. Since Kuragari-san won't be joining us today, that means it's time to see your sword's spirit, Takeuchi-san!"

 

[Armphid]

Isamu took a deep breath and smiled; it was a smile Amaya had seen before many times but their currently feline instructor was new to it. It was one part smile and two parts snarl; wild, eager, fierce, and savage. "Finally." He swept his sword from his sheath and it shimmered as he did so, releasing without a word.

The cat coughed, "That's- he didn't do that last time!" To materialize was impressive but to do that and be able to release his sword without the command was shocking. It showed a closer bond between the auburn haired fighter and his sword than she had anticipated.

Amaya's eyes were wide, "Isamu-kun..."

"Huh." He looked at the warhammer, "You really do want this as much as I do, don't you? All right then. I call you! Come forth, Hitoshirezu Daimyo!"

Spirit energy flared around man and weapon and there was a sudden burst of spiritual pressure that made Amaya's hoodie and long ponytail flap in a hard wind and dust sweep away in a rising curtain. It curled around Isamu, hiding him from sight for a few moments, and then burst away explosively. Standing before him was a taller figure; the mirror masked spirit wrapped in the stuff of the cosmos, the assumedly armored figure hidden by that massive, black cloak. "Bidden, I am come, but not in service. That right must be earned through severe test."

"I've been tested many times. I've been hindered, betrayed, cut, burned, been lost, heartbroken, and still I stand. My heart and ideals are intact." Isamu was scarcely aware of Yoruichi hopping from the cat's typical perch to another a bit further away and of Amaya watching intently. His eyes stayed on the spirit of his sword. "I respect you and I try to avoid fighting people I like. And I think I can make a pretty compelling case for myself, so...on the off chance we can avoid it...do you yield?"

He could hear a strangled sound from Yoruchi and then the cat snapped, "Don't be stupid! He won't just submit like that! Why are you even asking?"

"Because," Isamu answered, "someone who rules wisely tries to avoid violence, even when it seems inevitable. When kings fight, they're not the only ones who suffer, or who suffer the worst."

"Indeed. Wisely said and asked." Hitoshirezu Daimyo inclined his head just a fraction of an inch; an acknowledgment.

"This isn't about me beating him into submission," Isamu went on, starting to walk to one side, circling his spirit as it did the same in the opposite direction. "I could hammer him down a hundred times and he'd never give in. I have to show him, convince him, that I'm worthy."

"You understand before the first blow falls and that tells in your favor. But think not that the skill and strength of your arm will not be measured. Worthy though you may be, I will bow bend knee to a weakling and give my power to one who will be overthrown despite high virtue." The spirit paused in his steps and Isamu did likewise. "I do not yield."

"So then."

"Quite."

Isamu rocketed forward, swinging his hammer in a wicked arc, "I'll prove I'm worthy, in mind, in heart, and on your body!"

There was a tremendous clash as Hitoshirezu Daimyo parried and another wave of power rippled out from the two of them. "Then fight with all your strength and cunning and speak the full truth of your heart! The only way forward for you is victory! One who fails to become king knows only death!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Amaya glanced back in the direction of the shop. She could faintly, very faintly, still feel the ongoing fight. It had been hard to leave but Yoruichi had insisted. She still felt a little bad...yes, there were things she had to do and planned to do, but...what if he got hurt? Or what if he succeeded and she wasn't there to see it?

"Fat chance, princesss," her spirit's raspy voice hissed in her ear. "He's got a stick up his assss but he'ss not weak. He won't lose so eassily."

"Neither will Isamu," she informed her sword, somewhat tartly, "or me. Remember that."

"Heh. I like your fire, princesss. We'll ssee."

She rolled her eyes, which sometimes felt like her most common expression sometimes. But there was a little smile on her face too. Soon enough, she'd give that high handed snake something to hiss about! Not that he had hands...

She shook her head; she had to focus on the tasks at hand. Amaya was walking down a briskly busy street; school had let out just fifteen minutes ago and so the shops and sidewalks were full of students as well as adults. More than a few of both gawked at the gorgeous young woman with the outlandish hair and staggeringly lush figure as she passed. A pair of high school girls; one very short and younger looking and one very tall and slender watched her from a cafe.

The short girl shook her head, "That hair and those...who is she?"

"Hm. Maybe Inoue-san has some family visiting."

The short girl nodded, her eyes on Amaya's chest, "I can see the family resemblance."

Find someplace to live first. As uncomfortable as they both were at the shop, that was key. Fortunately, thanks to Byakuya's patronage...as well as visiting him the night before they came to the Human World this time, she was flush with extra funds beyond their allotted budget. Amaya had been looking at real estate brochures all week and she thought she had found something she liked that would serve well. More room than she and Isamu needed but they'd be able to house one or two more in case Soul Society sent anyone else over or if one of the Karakura kids, which was a nickname she was proud of, needed to stay with them for some reason.

The second issue was how to be able to interact with and observe the kids. They weren't going to spirit stalk them; just creepy. They both looked young, yes, but not enough to pass for students in high school. That would be ridiculous to even try! So...what then?

She needed an inside insight. Amaya wanted to find Ishida-kun and ask him. And maybe, you know. But she couldn't find him. Without his powers; his spiritual pressure wasn't strong enough to clearly sense among the high background count of Karakura Town. So which one of the others would be best then?

Sado...no. She didn't have a good feel for him yet. Plus, she wasn't sure he would have any ideas or think they needed watched. Kurosaki would say they didn't need watched either and tell her to stay away from his school...so that wasn't any good. Which left...well..."Maybe the situation calls for someone who can think outside the box anyway..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

A boulder blew into stone shards as the spirit dodged a heavy overhand blow and vaulted away. Isamu surged after, "Damn! Closer though."

"Close does not pass the test," Hitoshirezu Daimyo chided. "Can you not strike perfectly even now?" The spirit rushed to counter attack, coming in low to take out Isamu's legs.

The American jumped up and kicked out with both feet to catch the mirrored mask squarely; knocking the two of them away from one another. The cloaked and armored figure spun away through the air, somersaulting to land in a crouch. As it tumbled, the cloak parted now and again, showing flashes of bright metal beneath. "Don't talk to me about perfection!" Isamu landed on his feet, shaking his head. "There's no such thing. Perfection is an ideal we strive for but it's not real. Especially when it comes to authority and power; no decision, no action, will ever be perfect. All we can do is make the best choice, with the best information, and with the best intentions, independent of our biases and presumptions, with the greatest good in mind and a clear footing in morality."

The spirit rose to his feet, "...A good blow."

"I try." Isamu grinned again and then darted forward, "How's this one for you?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Hmm, that's a tough one." Orihime Inoue nibbled on a cracker, her arms crossed under her enormous breasts. The cracked wobbled cutely between her lips as she chewed and thought. "What if you were our relatives? Come to visit?"

"That doesn't get us into your school, Hime-chan," Amaya said. The two buxom beauties were at a maid cafe, Amaya's treat, not far from school and were drawing quite a bit of attention.

"Yeah, you're too young to be Mom anyway." Orihime sucked the cracker into her mouth and crunched it apart. Her grey eyes were considering. "You know, it's too bad you can't start a school of your own and have us go there." Her eyes flashed brightly. "Yeah! It could be your "School for Gifted Youngsters" and you could have me, and Kurosaki-kun, and Ishida-kun, and Sado-kun, and Tatsuki-chan, and we'd learn to control our powers and fight for justice! Oh, oh! And Kuchiki-san would join a few issues in, and then her brother would show up with his rival group, 'cuz he'd look cool in a helmet, right? Oh, or maybe that Komamura guy! He wore a helmet and he's got to be a mutant, right?"

Amaya blinked. "Hime-chan, that's...no. No, wait a minute...I think you're onto something there."

"I am? Wow, that's not usually how this goes at all."

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu whipped through the air and slammed into a mesa of yellow rock; stone cracking under him. His back arched and his mouth was wide in a cry that was swallowed up by the rushing roar of falling stone. He fell to his feet and wobbled, but stepped forward a few times, managing to keep his footing. He was breathing heavily; his arms and legs felt like they were made of lead and his chest burned. Cracked ribs, he was sure, nothing broken though.

He'd taken a beating so far; his shihakusho was askew and torn in places, rips in it and in his flesh, little trails of blood barely visible on the dark fabric. Isamu licked his split lips, tasted blood, and spat. "I'm not finished yet. Come on!"

Hitoshirezu Daimyo walked forward slowly, swinging its released form in one gauntlet clad hand, "Bravado is of no interest to me."

"Bullshit." Isamu gripped his own version of the weapon in both hands, "You have to act confidently; even if you're seeking other counsel or the course is uncertain, you decide and you act with certainty." He rocketed forward, "Like this!"

The spirit swung up to parry, only for Isamu to fall well short of him and dart to the side, "Bakudo no kyuu! Geki!"

A red glow suffused the spirit and he stiffened up. "This cannot hold me! My power binds the universe together!" The spirit flexed and the red light shattered into bits. In the next moment, Isamu drilled the side of his head with a double handed blow to send Hitoshirezu Daimyo smashing into the same rock structure Isamu had impacted a few seconds ago.

Isamu took a few gasping breaths, trying to fully regain his wind, "Slowing you down for a second was all it took. I don't always just brute force my way through, you know." He spun, focusing his power, "Hado no 33, Shakouhou!" He held out his left hand, palm facing the mesa and a red ball of energy fired forth. Hitoshirezu Daimyo was rising to his feet as the orb reached him and exploded. Cracks spread up the side of the mesa and tons of rock rained down on where the spirit had been. "...Though it doesn't hurt to use that too."

The smoke of the explosion cleared to show a sloping pile of rubble. For several seconds it was still. Then it shuddered and began to collapse inward. Isamu blinked and stared in shock as the rock just fell inward into...into what? "What...the hell?"

Hitoshirezu Diamyo stood up, the last of the stone entombing it barely visible in the fabric of his cloak as it fell into the great void of outer space that was contained within. "Well but still short of the mark."

The two stood there, taking one another in for a few moments before starting to charge forward, identical warhammers raised. Both skidded to a halt as a small black shape dropped down between them, "Hold it!" Yoruichi regarded first the spirit, then Isamu with those golden feline eyes. "That's enough for today. This round of training is over."

"What?" Isamu shook his head, "No, damn it, I'm closer than I've ever been!"

"Do you want my training or not?" The cat padded over to sit in front of Isamu and look up at him. "As I recall, you promised to obey my instructions."

"...You're right. I'm sorry." He felt a deep urge to continue; he'd never been closer! But he had promised. "Right. I apologize." In his hands, his weapon glowed and flowed back into a normal sword. Hitoshirez Daimyo's masked head was tilted to one side before he vanished from sight.

"Good." Yoriuchi nodded, "You did well. Come on, let's get you healed up a bit before we head back up to the shop. Ururu would be unhappy if you bled on the mats."

 

[HookerBoots]

As they lay together on the futon - Amaya wasn't sure why they'd had them, really, since they were both in spirit form - she sighed and snuggled closer to Isamu. "So I think I've found us a place. I'll see about looking into it soon, tomorrow if I can." She'd given Urahara back the gigai, so that he could complete the few tweaks needed on it, and was back in her spirit form as well. "And I have an idea about what we can use as our cover."

"Oh?" Isamu was on his back, one arm around her shoulders, the other behind his head as he lay there staring at the ceiling.

"I ran into Orihime-chan today, and she gave me the idea."

His eyes flickered to her. "Are we going to pose as psychic lion tamers on the run from the American CIA?"

"Good guess, but no." She shifted to look at him more directly. "We can pose as student teachers." The phrase was strange in her mouth, but she kept on. "They're university students who have advanced enough to be sent out into the field - we'll be kind-of teaching at their high school."

Isamu thought about it a moment. "Huh. That's a pretty good idea. We won't actually have to teach them anything, right? Cause my Japanese is shaky as hell."

She muffled a laugh. "No, we wouldn't. I don't think, at least. But we can see how it goes, and what they expect. I also think that tomorrow I'll probably be working with Yoruichi-san for a good part of the day. She commented about how far you'd gotten - I want to get at least that far." Not that she thought it was really possible, since he was far more in tune with his sword than she was.

"I think you will," he said. "You're a lot stronger than I am."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya sat cross-legged on one of the stone plateaus in the basement, her sword bared and across her knees. Her eyes weren't closed, but she wasn't looking at anything particular. Isamu was upstairs looking through the real estate listings she'd brought back, sorting through the ones she'd marked to see if he liked any of them.

She was training.

She could hear the sound of her sword, the hissing slither of dry scales and feathers rubbing against each other, but the damn thing wouldn't talk to her. It had before, but for some reason, now it was balking.

Finally, frustrated, Amaya jumped up, the blade clattering to the ground. "Dammit, answer me!"

She could hear Yoruichi get up. "That's not the way, Kuragari-san. Take a walk, cool off, and . . . ."

Another voice, deep and sibilant, spoke from over both of their heads. "It worked, though. Very good, princessss."

 

[Armphid]

Yoruichi huffed as the cat turned to face the materialized sword spirit, "That's not how it's supposed to work." Neither was what Takeuchi did either; talking to his sword before they fought and during. Like he was trying to make philosophical points. And now this? If it didn't work like it was supposed to, how could she control the situation?

"Of coursse not. I am Ssoru Konton Tsuki, not ssome sstandard idiot ssword." The sibilant voice was deep, dry, and sounded mildly scornful. "Bessidess, how interssting would it be if it wass the ssame?" The serpent, and it was...mostly a serpent, was enormous. He was at least thirty feet in length, though it was hard to tell as he coiled around in the air and over and through himself, making his true dimensions hard to discern;he was as wide around as a man's waist at his thickest and the end of his tail tapered to two fingers width and twisted about with grace and dexterity. What scales could be seen were shades of green, lightest on the belly and growing darker as they went up but most of these were hidden by the brilliant plumage that burst into life first as a great mane-like crest behind the serpent's head and then went down and along it's body, the feathers in many colors. Reds, blues, yellows, white, purple, green, and all blends and shades between. The great eyes were iridescent orbs that stared at both the cat and the buxom woman with clearly feigned disinterest.

Amaya looked up at her spirit, "He's very contrary, Yoruichi-san, you get used to it." She picked up her fallen sword. "You know what this is about, Soru Konton Tsuki. Are you ready to submit to me?"

"Hhh, might be fun but you don't mean it that way." The feathered snake slid along through the air in a lazy arc to their right, the large head looking at them with one eye that slowly blinked before it re-oriented to face them directly. The rest of it's length slid in coiling rolls over itself...save for the tail which began to slither out and around in the opposite direction. "But you know better than that, princesss. Contrary...well, I am." His tail was behind them now, rising higher up into the air. "But even I can't jusst give over when it comess to thiss. Our very nature forbidss it. It demandss more...it deman-"

Amaya shot up like a lightning bolt and brought the hilt of her sword down on the snake's snout with all her strength, "Yah!"

Yoruichi started, "You-Kuragari, what are you thinking?"

"Ow! Hey! You dick!" The snake danced back and away from them through the air, shaking his head, bringing his full length behind and beneath him again. "What'sss wrong with you?! My ssnout is ssenssitive, you know!" The feathers ruffled as it glared at them; the eye sockets somehow deforming to help form a cross expression. "That'ss gratitude for you! I wass talking and-"

"And," Amaya interrupted, "you were going to sucker punch me and Yoruichi-san with your tail at the end of that sentence." She gave the serpent an look of knowing annoyance. "That's why you were stretching it out behind us, right?"

The serpent's eyes swiveled left, then right, "...No." It's deep voice was sulky. "...Maybe."

"Very convincing. Besides, I've looked forward to punching you in the snout for years." Amaya shook her head and spun her sword in her hands, "Spin the wheel, Soru Konton Tsuki!" The weapon blurred into a naginata not unlike Hozokimaru's apparent form save with a long and thicker blade that had a slight curve and and a horseshoe-like open "ring" of steel capping the butt. "I doubt that fighting you is going to do it either...but it'll be part of figuring it out, and it'll make me stronger along the way, so let's go!"

She felt a sense of almost approval from the huge ophidian as it lifted it's head high up, "It hasss been a long time coming. I've wanted you in my coilss too." His head struck forward, jaws gaping wide. The mouth had not only the two huge curved fangs of most snakes but many other sharp, piercing teeth. His tongue was forked but also long and prehensile, given that it was holding one of the many dagger forms of her zanpakuto and stabbing with that as well as his teeth.

Amaya leaped away from the blow, twisting and bringing her naginata up to parry the blow from the serpent's tail, which was twined around and wielding a heavy guan-dao.

Yoruichi blinked as the two raced away in their battle; speed and agility on display for them both in a way that would stunned those used to the oft-clumsy Amaya. "Well. At least training these two won't be boring."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu flowed through the form Yoruichi had showed them the first day of training. It wasn't just giving them a place to train; the cat once a shinigami had given them a routine of calisthenics, a barehanded form, and a weapons form to practice that would synergize, concentrate, and build their spiritual power. Put all together, they were a good workout and she'd instructed them to do them three times a day when they were "fully" training and for at least five hours otherwise.

He'd left the shop after flipping through the rental rags Amaya wanted him to look at. To be honest, he really didn't care too much as he preferred her to like their lodgings and he'd be good with just about anything. He was by the river-like reservoir that ran through much of Karakura Town; a place that felt right for this kind of practice.

He flowed through the motions; his well trained and honed body confident in the forms and almost fully having them as part of muscle memory now. His mind wandered as he went through the forms again and again and again. How was Amaya's training going? What did her sword spirit look like? Bankai was dangerous to strive for...a materialized spirit had incredible power...was she all right?

Of course she was. She was always all right. He had no doubt she'd succeed before him and in better shape; she always did. As she so rightly pointed out once before, he was the one who always ended up in the hospital.

He growled a bit at the memory. She hadn't meant it as an insult, a reminder of his defeats, of his weakness, but he couldn't help but think of it that way. In that small way, he knew she looked down at him...even if she didn't realize it.

Isamu's grim turn of mood was stilled for a moment as he gained a sudden feeling of awareness. Of being seen. But that couldn't be...he was out here as a spirit. People had been walking past him for hours.

He stopped the fluid movements of the form and looked over towards the sidewalk on the much higher embankment that flanked the banks of the water. It was easy to see why he'd gotten that feeling; she was staring straight at him with wide eyes that were wondering, curious, and perhaps a little...nervous? Angry? Maybe both of those.

The girl looked like she was in her late teens and wore a high school uniform. She was average height but her bare legs were far stronger and more muscled than a normal Japanese girl...or even those of the female shinigami he knew for that matter; her arms likewise. She wasn't a brute or bulging with mighty thews by any stretch but her muscles were clear and well trained. Even with that, she had a nice figure; her curves neither ample but scant, but a happy, athletic medium. She was pretty but with a strong, tomboyish look that many would feel detracted from her appearance, not that he'd agree with them. Her eyes were dark as was the spiky hair on her head that was styled to jut forward over her forehead. One of her arms was in a soft cast and she had a gym bag slung over the other shoulder.

She was cute and had a strong, tough demeanor he liked. She looked like she could kick the ass of anyone he'd seen today...well, maybe not Tessai. Not that she actually could but she looked like she could.

The two of them stood there for a few moments longer, staring at one another. Isamu slowly lifted a hand and watched her eyes flick to it and then back to his face, then his chest; she could see him all right. And she was watching him like a fighter; trying to see how he would move. "...How's it going?"

The young woman blinked and started. She looked around at the few people walking on their way here or there and then back to Isamu. She pursed her lips as if weighing something. "If I start talking to it, I'll look as crazy as she is," she said.

The American grimaced, "So I'm "it," huh? You got a problem with me? Don't like half breeds, right? I'd kick your pretty little ass but it looks like someone beat me to it."

Her eyes narrowed, "Why, you! If I hadn't broken my arm at Nationals, I'd be the strongest girl in all Japan! Talk like that again and I"ll show you why!" Then she blinked, aware that she'd just snapped at nothing from the point of view of the others around. A few other passers-by were staring at her now. "Uh..heh. Sorry! Um, school play!" She gave Isamu a hard look and swung her fingers from her eyes to him in an "I'm watching you" gesture and then turned and broke into a brisk jog down the sidewalk.

He watched her go. "Man...how many people in this damn town can see spirits anyway?" He should be worried about being seen; they weren't supposed to be...but fuck it. What would it mean to her?

As she ran, Tatsuki Arisawa glanced back. Those clothes...she'd seen those before...

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya twisted and spun, just missing a blow that would have sent her flying into a rocky spire with crushing force. "Not good enough!" she crowed, twirling the naginata around her own body and lashing out with a sharp, slashing swing towards Soru Konton Tsuki's snout again.

"Not good enough by half!" he agreed, grinning and taking the blow along the sharp teeth with a screeching noise. As he did that, the tip of his tail flicked out and up, slamming into her back and catapulting her up and forward into the hard flank that was sailing past her. It wasn't the first time he'd gotten a hit on her, and the tattered state of her garments was testament to that - one leg was bare from the knee down, the other was exposed through a slash that ran from hip to mid-calf; one sleeve was ripped off at the shoulder, and a large part of her kimono hung around her waist, exposing substantial midriff.

The hit against the snake's side, however, knocked all the air from her lungs and she was pretty sure she'd wrenched her back badly with the blow. And that wasn't the least of her trouble. She knew how strong the coils were, since he'd crunched a spire thicker than her leg into powder early on into their fight. If she let him wrap around her, she'd be pulped. And she could sense more than feel the lash of his tail back around her.

She could also feel Yoruichi's concern, but didn't have time to fret over it. Instead, she did the stupidest thing she could think of - which was usually the right thing, when dealing with her sword. The control shinigami had over their movement, the ability to walk or run, or even stand, on air was a conscious thing that became second nature after a while. She turned it off.

They had been about 15 feet in the air, and she dropped like a stone, missing the crush of those powerful coils by the the length of her ponytail.

Amaya heard Yoruichi yelp as she plummeted toward the ground. She caught herself, re-establishing her control of her motion, about a foot over the ground, and launched herself up and towards the recovering serpent - who also had been startled by her motion. "9.8 meters per second squared is plenty fast enough!" she cried, flying up with the blade extended.

She bounced back as the blade encountered the haft of a spear that had not been there when she started her lunge. Amaya blinked for a moment at the ring of weapons that was revolving around her sword's spirit now. Every type of weapon she could summon, in almost every variation, slowly moving around it. The spear that had intersected her strike moving back into position from where it had turned to block her. "That's not fair!" she cried.

"Life'sss not fair," the serpent retorted, one of the longbows turning to orient on her position. "And jusst becausse you didn't know I could do thissss doessssn't make it unfair."

Gathering herself, Amaya glared at him. "Doesn't matter anyway. I'll still make you submit to my authority!"

"Not today you won't!" Yoruichi leaped into the air between them. "We're done for now."

"What? But I wasn't done yet!" both of them said in unison.

The cat rolled its eyes. "Yes you are. Why do you all have to give me such a hard time? Takeuchi didn't want to stop either." The feline turned a hard look into Amaya. "We're. Done."

The pink-haired girl sighed and nodded. "I am sorry, Yoruichi-san. The heat of the moment had taken me." She looked over the cat at the floating, twisting serpent, "Next time, snake."

As the naginata shimmered and turned fluid, she heard the serpent hiss, "Can't wait, princessss."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya had set an appointment with a real estate agent for the next day, and she'd insisted that Isamu come with her, even though he was still in his spirit form. His gigai was nearly ready, but she didn't want to pick a base for them without him there.

". . . and the back leads out the small courtyard there." The woman was very polite, bland but pretty. "It's a very nice little home for a growing family, though I know you said you were both students."

Smiling, Amaya nodded. "I'd like to go through it one more time, please, but right now I think it's pretty good." The place was pretty ideal. There were four small bedrooms, a large dining/living area, and a decent kitchen. The back courtyard was larger than most in the area, and the price was reasonable, well within the budget she'd planned.

"Very well, Kuragari-san," the agent said, pulling out her phone. "If you don't mind, I'll make a few quick calls while you look around - I'm sure you want a sense of the place without me helping."

As the woman left, Amaya turned to Isamu, who had spent most of the time trying to make her laugh by not-quite-harrassing the agent. "Well? I think it's pretty good, but I want your opinion."

 

[Armphid]

Isamu's opinion was that there was no way they could afford this place. It was huge. Four bedrooms? And a backyard that size? ...Just how much was that Kuchiki bastard giving her after they

He shook his head to clear that line from his mind. Not a productive area of thought, and it'd be even worse to bring it up in conversation.

"It's a great place. Plenty of room, especially if they send others through. We could fit a lot of people in here with comfort even if we had them double up. And there's some space to work out in the back...I think it's pretty ideal." He...he just couldn't resist saying it. "Some of the noble borns might turn up their noses at it but for most people here, this is a big and very nice place."

She eyed him for a few moments, one eyebrow artfully raised, her arms crossed under her glorious breasts, and a knowing expression on her face. "I'm sure any who visit us here will enjoy the accommodations just fine." His jealousy of Byakuya was something she had acknowledged wasn't going anywhere but it was still annoying. Sometimes a little cute but mostly annoying. Still, he also wasn't wrong. She couldn't imagine bringing someone like that oaf Omaeda here; he'd be bitching about it for years afterward.

...Assuming any of them HAD and years afterward. Well, that was a depressing thought.

"It's settled then," she went on and then turned out of the room. "Yamazaki-san? We'll take it!"

The Realtor was beaming as she hustled back up the hallway. Isamu could almost see the yen signs in her eyes. "Wonderful! Although, well, are you certain you don't want your husband to see it first?"

Amaya beamed, "Smart phone! I took pictures and video the whole time. He loves it!"

Isamu blinked a moment. Wait had she said..."Husband?" Amaya and the agent were now talking dates and payments but the busty beauty glanced at him with a wink. "...This report'll be a fun read for everyone back there, huh?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"It's strange, Kisuke." Yoriuchi, a woman now and clad in a rather scandalous red lingerie set of a lacy bra and boyshorts, lounged on the sitting cushions on one side of a low table; her sprawling posture at odds with the sensual and high quality undergarments they were wearing. "They're both getting stronger, it's true, but the way they confront their swords...I've never seen anything like it."

The mysterious shop keeper was dressed as always as he entered the room fully, having been in an adjacent chamber. To all appearances, Amaya and Isamu lay on a pair of worktables within, still and unmoving, not even breathing, eyes closed. "It may be expected. Given what we know of their activities before now. They're hardly normal shinigami."

"That's obvious," the lush woman snorted. "I'd never train someone like that. But still. Takeuchi is convinced that defeating his zanpakuto in battle won't be enough; so when they fight, they're having this running dialogue about...rulership, authority, use of power...it's bizarre." She sighed, "And an uncomfortable reminder of conversations I had with my parents and teachers."

Urahara smiled a little but his eyes were sad, "Maybe you should have passed those conversations on."

"You wouldn't have listened."

"Probably not, true."

"Anyway." She shook her head, "Kuragari's spirit is the most contrary and obstinate one I've ever seen. She's smart though...she knows how to play him, for the most part. And she does the most counter-intuitive things in a fight! But it works, somehow. But there's something in their clashes too; like the spirit's looking for something other than a fight."

Urahara shrugged and sat down at the table, "Not all of them can be as bloody minded as my dear Benihime or as narrow sighted as Zangetsu. I wonder...there have probably been examples like this before."

"Not that we'd know. Of all the stupid things not to keep records of...when they've got so many records of stupid meeting notes!" Yoriuchi rolled onto her back and put her hands behind her head. "It makes it a little tough. I don't really know that I'm training them at all...and I don't like that. I feel like I need more control over the situation. Otherwise, what do they need me for?"

"Who doesn't love having a cat around?"

 

[HookerBoots]

In less than a week, they had their new bodies, their new house, and new jobs. It hadn't taken much work to get them set up as student teachers, just a few quick modifications of memory and paperwork. Amaya was set to be 'teaching' art, while Isamu would be dealing with physical education.

The morning of their first day of work, they both dressed the part. He wore a pair of track pants and a school t-shirt, a pair of sneakers, and a whistle around his neck. Amaya had told him it wasn't necessary, but he was adamant that it was the touch that would make the whole thing look real. She was wearing a long, brightly colored skirt and sandals, a black halter top covered by a white hooded sweater, and her hair was loosely pinned up in a bun.

They had made it to the school with no problems, and were standing in the hallway talking quietly when a voice broke the morning quiet. "What are you two doing here?"

They turned to look. "We're your new teachers, Kurosaki, so be more polite next time," Isamu said. "Or I'll make you drop and give me twenty."

Ichigo stood there, his eyes wide, a little fierce. Several feet behind him, Uryuu and Chad were giving him a scathing look. "What do you mean, 'new teachers'? You aren't teachers, you're -!"

Amaya huffed a sigh and approached him. "Our official job is to keep an eye on you and your friends. We can't pose as students, so this was the best way," she hissed. "I'm your new art teacher, Isamu's your new phys ed teacher."

"And I can make you do push ups whenever I want," the wild-haired shinigami said with a grin.

Ichigo thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Makes sense, I guess. Not the push ups thing, but the reason for this." He ran a hand through his hair, then froze. "Wait. Does this mean you'll be giving us grades?"

"You'd better learn to be more polite, Kurosaki," Uryuu said, brushing past. "Konnichi-wa, Kuragari-san, Takeuchi-san," he said as he went past. "If you're not careful, they'll flunk you." Chad went past as well, nodding a polite greeting to them.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya spent most of the day learning about where the students were in their art education - she would be primarily in charge of art history lectures, but there would be several occasions where she would be able to give assignments. But she did sit in on a class that had Orihime in it, as well as a girl that could only be the Chizuru Orihime had mentioned before. And a tough-looking girl who introduced herself as Tatsuki Arisawa.

An interesting cast of characters, to be sure. The day flew by, and she and Isamu met up after classes to walk home together. There was no training today, so they headed into the town, and once they were far enough away from the school, adjusted their path to intersect Ichigo's.

They turned a corner towards him, and he stopped. "I'm just going home, you guys. What now?"

Isamu shrugged. "We want to meet your family, kid. We've heard a lot about your sisters, and your dad. They matter to you, we want to learn more about them."

"You'll be disappointed," the ginger-haired boy said, but shrugged. "All right, come on. You'll be friends I met over the summer, okay? And you can't stay long."

The two shinigami exchanged a look, and a small smile.

~ ~ ~ ~​

They managed to dodge out of the way before Isshin slammed into the three of them with a flying kick. Ichigo started to berate his father, who was lying on the ground, writhing in false agony. A dark-haired girl of about sixteen stood in the doorway, munching on a rice ball. She looked at them and sighed. "You're friends of Ichi-nii's, right? You should come in, they'll be at this for a while."

Amaya and Isamu strode in over the prone man, whose eyes followed them as they moved into the building, even though he kept kept up his act. "Arigato gozaimasu, Kurosaki-san," Amaya said. "I didn't realize they were so . . . excitable."

"Dad's an idiot," she said, shoving the last of the rice ball into her mouth, "and Ichi-nii . . . I think he enjoys it a little, sometimes. I'm Karin, by the way. Yuzu's in the kitchen." She lead them to the dining table, and motioned for them to sit down. "Do you want drinks?"

A blonde head poked around a corner. "Ara! Karin-chan, are they at it again? Oh!" she noticed the others. "Guests! Gomen, we weren't expecting you! One minute, I'll have some tea and snacks out! Are you staying for dinner?"

Ichigo walked into the room, Isshin following. The younger man said, "No," at the same time his father said, "Of course!"

Amaya gave Yuzu a bright smile. "We wouldn't want to be any trouble."

"No trouble at all!" Isshin said, wrapping an arm around her and Isamu's shoulders. "My son's friends are always welcome for dinner!" He beamed at Yuzu. "Set two more plates, sweetheart!"

 

[Armphid]

"Please enjoy, everyone!" Yuzu Kurosaki beamed; her dirty blond hair in a cute bob and her face a blend of youthful pretty and womanly beauty. The girl was probably accidentally breaking hearts all over her school and when she grew up...she'd be something, all right. "I'm sorry that there isn't more but it should still be enough."

"It'd be fine if Ichi-nii didn't bring people over unannounced." Dark haired Karin was just as pretty as her sister but probably didn't think so. Her eyes were dark too and full of bravado and a lack of concern that was equal parts act and honesty. Teenager, after all. She whipped up a pair of chopsticks and attacked her father's plate to snatch away a few morsels, "But I can get more!"

"Karin-chan, NO!" Isshin Kurosaki's face was stricken and he bowed his head, "but it's all right, I understand. It's a father's duty to make sure his children are fed, even if he starves to death! My love burns brighter than the fiercest hunger in my stomach! Remember me this way! Not the skeletal cadaver I will become!"

Yuzu tilted her head, chewing on the end of a slice of daikon, "But Otoo-san, didn't you take a plate before I set the table?" Isshin stiffened with alarm. "You said "with all the news about e coli lately, it's a father's duty to make sure his family is safe" or something, right?"

"You greedy pig! You knew we had company too!" Karin turned to glare at her father.

"I needed my fortitude after working in the clinic all day," Isshin retorted, whipping around to return his daughter's hard look. "I can't provide on meager rations!"

"Provide this!" Karin lunged into a flurry of chopstick stabs to steal food, her father moving to counter, both of them striking parrying in a blur of motion.

"That doesn't even make sense!"

Ichigo sighed, his shoulders drooping, "You guys don't really have to act up for company, honest."

Isamu was just watching the interplay with an expression of bewilderment. This was how his family acted? ...Was the former Squad 10 captain always this crazy?

Amaya and Yuzu were eating with almost identical nonplussed expressions; seeming not to notice the frenetic battle over dinner, Ichigo's embarrassment, or Isamu's poleaxed dumbness. The pink haired beauty turned to the blond girl, "It's very good, Kurosaki-san! I'm impressed; you're a great cook and still so young!"

"Why thank you!" Yuzu tilted to one side as an errant clash of chopsticks sent one dangerously close to striking her; the mistaken slash going well wide thanks to her seemingly unconscious dodge. "I've done all the cooking for years now, so it makes sense."

"Really? Ahh, sugoi! You're so mature for your age! You should be a chef! Or one of those household master ladies on tv!"

Isamu leaned back in his seat, arms crossing over his chest. "...Huh. Poor kid never had a chance."

"Yeah, I know." Ichigo was in exactly the same position; arms crossed over his chest, eyes downcast, expression thoughtful and vaguely disapproving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Dinner and after remained a raucous affair with the two of them helping a grateful Yuzu with the clean up while Ichigo went up to his room to do his homework and Karin just sort of lounged around watching television. Isshin had spoken mournfully to a giant posted of a gorgeous woman who was clearly the mother of the three children and then sort of vanished when no one was looking.

"It was a lovely meal," Amaya said with a bow and a smile to Yuzu as she and Isamu stood outside the door. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"It was nothing." Yuzu looked a bit abashed, "I'm sorry none of the others saw you off or anything. Please don't think poorly of them. They're not really rude, really!"

"Don't worry about it," Isamu shrugged. "They had things to do. Have a good night, kid." The three of them bowed and Yuzu stepped back inside, shutting the door as the two shinigami walked towards the little gate to the house's brief yard. "So. That was a thing that happened."

"It sure was," Amaya agreed. "But they were loving, weren't they?"

"All I got out of it was crazy and dismissive but who am I to judge?" The American shook his head. "Those kids...they've all got some power, don't they?"

"Yeah. Ichigo's the strongest by a country mile but Karin's got a lot too; I bet she can see spirits. Yuzu's got the least...but still a lot more than a normal person."

"Yeah." Isamu glanced down at his love, "He seems...happy. If unstable."

Amaya smiled, "Yes, though I think he was acting up quite a bit."

"Maybe." The voice from behind made them both jump. "Maybe I this is the act and that's the real me back there with my family." Isshin was standing behind them, a small smile on his face. "You really shouldn't let me sneak up on you like that."

"What is it with captains and sneaking up on people?" Amaya huffed, "Honestly! Is it part of some secret tradition lower officers don't know about?"

Isshin shrugged. "You two have done well. Especially you, Kuragari-san. Lieutenant, I hear from Urahara." He glanced at Isamu, "And I'm surprised you're still alive."

"Nice to see you too."

Isshin grinned a bit. "So. I bet there's a lot you want to ask. I won't say I'll answer it all but I wouldn't mind some news either. I just a little bit from Urahara now and then and he gets what Yoruichi thinks is important. Why don't we go somewhere for a drink and talk a little?"

 

[HookerBoots]

". . . so we've got high hopes for Karin's sports career, once she decides what sport she want to pursue." The three of them were settled into a bar near the Kurosaki home/clinic where the barkeep clearly recognized Isshin. Each of them had a glass of beer in front of them, Amaya's only about half as empty as the others'. Isshin took a long drink of his beer and sighed, setting the glass down. "But I'm sure you're here to tell me about where my son went this summer, with a mod soul in his body, and why you two are posing as teachers."

They nodded. "Yeah, a lot's happened since you . . . left," Isamu said. He shrugged. "Long story short, we're at war, and Ichigo's one of the best chances we have to win."

Amaya sighed, tugging at one of the trailing strands of hair idly. "More or less. I'm pretty sure you'll want the long story about why we need your son to fight a war for a place that would have killed you if you'd come back."

"Maybe." The older man's face was serious. "I understand the important role Soul Society plays in the cycle of reincarnation. But we're talking about my son, so . . . give me all the details, kids."

"Hai, taicho!" they said in unison, and then joined him in laughter. So Amaya gave him the story as well as they knew it, leaving very little out. ". . . And we're here mostly because Yoruichi-san agreed to train us to bankai as well."

There was a moment of silence, and he nodded. "That makes sense. If you two can manage bankai in time, you could take care of things before they escalated." Isshin leaned back in his seat. "I thought he felt different. Bankai already, and he beat Kuchiki." There was real pride in his face, a small smile playing over his lips. "I knew I'd missed something important. But a father knows those days will come, when he won't be involved in his children's important moments!" he exclaimed a little dramatically.

Isamu snorted. "I suppose so. But that's the why and wherefore of it. We need his power right now, and as near as we can tell he's able to take on pretty much anyone except Aizen and win as it is. A little training and he'll be one of the strongest shinigami ever born."

The pride in Isshin's face faded a little, but not much. "I never really wanted that for them, for any of them. We just wanted . . . I wanted them to be happy, not to have the burdens of that kind of power."

The silence at the table was a little awkward. Then Amaya sighed. "I expect most parents feel the same." She spun her glass between her hands. "He's capable, and more than capable. He almost killed Renji Abarai and Kenpachi. No one had ever seen anything like it." Then, realizing he might not want to hear that his son was a killer, she added, "But he didn't actually kill anyone. It was very impressive."

He nodded. "I'm very proud of him - not just his strength but his mercy - then. But it's a hard time coming, for everyone. Especially with that man having allied himself with the Hollows." He drained the rest of his beer. "I need to get back, Yuzu-chan will start to worry soon." Isshin gave them both a look that was hard to read. "I said it already, but I'm proud of the two of you. You're welcome at my home whenever you like, but don't tell Ichigo about me, please."

"He can't tell?" Isamu asked. "I know his spiritual senses aren't great, but . . . you're almost back to full strength, aren't you? How can't he tell?"

Isshin shrugged and stood up. "He's a good kid, but he doesn't always pay the best attention - not to his old man, certainly." He rolled his shoulders as they stood up as well. "If they send her back, Kuchiki-san can stay with us, if she's still passing as a student."

"Sir!" Amaya said with a little bit of surprise. "They . . . I mean, he's a teenager, and . . . are you sure it's a good idea?"

He grinned like a wolf. "She's a nice girl, but she needs to loosen up. And Ichigo . . . well, you know how oblivious he is. I don't think we'll have a problem, and if things happen," he headed toward the door, "I'd rather it be here than somewhere else."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya stretched out in bed, watching Isamu go through a kata Yoruichi had taught him - meant to build power in the arms and legs, which is why he'd learned it and she hadn't. "Today was weird," she sighed, raising her arms over her head.

"That's for sure," he agreed, sliding from one form into another. "But there's a storm coming."

"I can feel it too," she said, looking towards the window. "But it doesn't feel like that man. It feels . . . strange, different." Her eyes were dark, the color of moss in shadow for a moment. "All we can do is be ready for it."

Isamu's eyes flickered to her, and his hands, moving smoothly a moment before, paused at the sight. "True. And we will be. I'll be done in a moment, lovely, and take your mind off all the trouble."

 

[Armphid]

Kisuke Urahara sat on the front porch of his shop with a sigh, "Ahh, I miss those two already." He shook his head and lifted a steaming tea cup to his lips. "When we could guilt them into chores, so much more got done!"

"Is that so?" The small, sleek form of Yoruichi padded past him from behind, traveling out in a slow, lazy arc before stopping in front of the questionably sane scientist. "I think you're relieved to not have her here to remind you of your accidental callousness."

"Me? No, no. I'm far too happy go lucky for that." The words lacked conviction and he stared into his cup. "If I weren't, how could I possibly go on? After all I've done..."

The feline head tilted, "This isn't like you, Kisuke."

The blond man tugged his hat down a bit further over his face and said nothing for a few moments. Then he tipped his head back and laughed, "Got you!" He grinned, "No, I'm not bothered by anything like that! Come on, Yoruichi!"

"I wonder." The black furred animal turned and sniffed the air. "Kisuke...do you feel that strange presence?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Amaya let out a yelp as the thin sheet covering her was pulled away, "Ah, Isamu-kun! What-oh!" He was on her in a moment and her eyes went wide and then fluttered to half lidded as his lips found her neck. "Ohhh. Is this what you meant by, hnn, taking my mind off all the trouble?"

His answering grin was hungry, "As if you didn't know."

"What?" She looked at him with a face of artful purity, which was somehow undone by her lying nude on the bed, in all of her lush glory. "I'm an innocent young woman, I don't know the salacious ways of the gaij-" He slid down her and his head dipped to her huge tits, his tongue flicking one nipple and then the other before he settled in to worship her magnificent tits., "iiiin, ohh, that's nice."

Isamu smiled and felt a thrill of pleasure as one of her hands tangled in his hair; holding him and guiding him as he licked and kissed the slopes, curves, every luscious inch of her tremendous breasts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

In the dim light of his dingy apartment, Uryuu Ishida turned over another page of the notes obtained from Soul Society. It was all about results and conclusions, which was for the best, but there were still times where he could read between the lines and make a guess as to how certain knowledge was obtained.

Not for the first time, he felt a surge of satisfaction at being responsible for the death of that man. But it was tempered. He did not like killing anything but Hollows. And there was the loss that went with the victory...

He had yet to find anything about restoring his powers. But he had only started to study. It would be difficult; balancing this new research with the the new school work, but he would succeed. Being a Quincy was all that he had.

~~~~~~~~~​

"AhhnN!" Amaya wriggled on the bed; her tits jiggling with the motion and heaving with her breath. Her arms were over her head, holding onto the simple headboard, gripping it ever tighter. It was good they were in gigai, their strength limited to that of humans, or she'd have broken it by now. Her smooth skin glistened with the beginnings of sweat. "That's, ahh, so good, love. My man!"

He was between her legs, his head moving slightly up and down, back and forth, as he pleasured her pussy with an eager mouth. His nose was full of her scent, his mouth drenched in her unique flavor, and he loved it. His tongue slid up and over her folds. He skirted her entrance, sinking just the tip in and then drawing it out. Every few licks, it darted upward and tagged her clit, drawing a little shriek from her.


"So fucking, gg, good at that!" Fuck! Only Ran-san was better at this; maybe the benefit of having a pussy herself. But it was still the best with him, because it was him. Their love, their connection, made it all the hotter. She looked down at him through the valley of her jugs and her spread legs past them. It even looked sexy! All the more because he was still dressed and she was bare; almost like she was some queen being serviced by a talented retainer. "Why, oohh, don't I have you under my desk every day?"

He paused to grin up at her, "I got promoted too high. Can't have the Third Seat spending his time just making the vice-captain cream, can we?" He dropped his lips to passionately kiss her pussy; his tongue slipping between her labia and pushing deep into her tight, molten core.

"AH! Ahhh, fuck! Going, hnn, to report you! Insuh-subordination, lack of, uhh, decoruuum, shit! Whatever it takes to bust you down so I can, hnngg, have you licking me all day long!"

~~~~~~~​

Orihime shook her head as she made her way to the door. Who could be calling on her at this hour? It had woken her from such a nice dream too. Sora-oniichan, the way they'd been before...

She yawned and opened the door, then blinked. Her mouth fell open and her eyes grew wide and dewy. "I-it's you...that's...impossible."

Her brother looked exactly as he had the day he left, the day he died. And as she'd glimpsed him once before after Ichigo had purified him of being the wicked Hollow Acidwire. "Yo, Hime-chan. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

~~~​

"Isamu-kuuun! There! Yes, THERE!" Amaya shrieked and then bucked like a rodeo horse, her body almost flying up off the bed and her back bending in a shocking arch. Her eyes were screwed shut and her mouth open even as her voice strangled and then broke into a shaking wail.

The American chuckled into her sex, even as he continued to lick, pulling away from his direct torment of her clit. He gathered as much of her juices as he could; tasting the proof of her climax. She fell back to the bed, her breath slowing from the rapid staccato pace it had been at, her voice letting out a drowsy, almost drunken coo. He slowly stood up from the end of the bed, licking his lips and gazing down at her flushed body with undisguised pride and want. "Mind clear, Amaya-chan?"

"Like...glassss," she breathed. "That was...oh, wonderful, my Isamu-kun." She closed her eyes and just let herself feel the pleasure that still sang through her nerves. After a few moments, she opened her creamy jade eyes and smiled up at him. "I think you deserve a reward."

"I can think of several I want. How about-" Isamu cut his words off and turned his head to the window of the house's bedroom. That strange spiritual pressure? What...even was that? "The hell?"

"I don't know." Amaya slid off of the bed. "It's hard to really get a gauge on, isn't it?" On the nightstand beside the bed, her phone began to ring.

"Yeah...but that other presence isn't. Whatever that is, it's with the Inoue girl." He reached into his right pants pocket, glad for the first time that he hadn't stripped as well, pulling out what looked for all the world like a pez dispenser. "Let's go!"