NaClO (By invitation, otherwise CLOSED)

[Armphid]

There was a brassy clang that echoed out over the large meeting room that had been co-opted for the occasion. "Attention, minna-san!" Rangiku stood next to a standing brass gong that was as tall as she was. "It's time to get started, fill your cups for the toast!"

Shuuhei Hisagi filled his cup before passing the jug of sake to his left and smiling, "Looks like I got to sit near the prettiest girl." His hair was a madly spiked, the tattoos on his face and the scars over his left eye giving him a feral, punk appearance. "If there's dancing later on, how about you and me?" He then looked around and leaned over to her. "...do you know this Kuragari-san girl? I don't want her to feel like Rangiku invited a bunch of strangers to her party if I see her."

Amaya took the jug with a faint flush, "Uh...yes, I do. Um..." He didn't even know who she was? And he was hitting on her too! Her blush deepened, "You see..."

Hisagi sighed. "It's you, isn't it?" At her nod, he rubbed his forehead with one hand. "Oh course it is." He then turned to give her a winning smile, "Well, uh, congratulations, Kuragari-san! And...nice to meet you!"

There was another ringing gong. Renji Abarai shook his head, "Where did she get that thing?"

Ikkaku was seated beside his squadmate, "Better off not knowing."

"Yes," Yumichika added, "then you're not technically an accomplice."

"Wait," Kira leaned forward, "are you saying she stole it?"

Ikkaku shrugged, "I'm just saying I wouldn't put it past her. Not for a party."

A muscular man wearing his kosode over her shoulders almost like a poncho flopped down next to Amaya. Tetsuzaemon Iba glanced down at her. "Oy, girl. You know who Kuragari is?"

~~~~~~~​

"Here you are, Kuragari-chan," Isamu smiled as he handed over a package wrapped in festive paper. "Congratulations. You deserve it."

The pink haired girl blushed prettily, "Arigatou, Takeuchi-kun." Her small hands tore the package. "Ohhh." It was a book, bound in leather that had been tooled and decorated with brass at points. She opened it, the pages inside were of fine paper but all were blank.

"It's a journal," the half-breed supplied. "I've been keeping one, well, two. A normal one and then one that's all about my fighting and training. I've found it's really helpful."

She smiled up at him and his heart beat a bit faster in his chest. "Arigatou, Takeuchi-kun." She ran a hand over the cover and set it on the growing pile of gifts. There was an assortment of food (much it from those Rangiku had invited who didn't know her), a new kimono from Momo, a high quality and well stocked sword care kit from Izuru, a weird looking pair of sunglasses Renji had brought that he insisted were cool, and other small items.

"Me next!" Rangiku pushed Isamu aside, "I've got two for you, Amaya-chan!" The buxom woman handed over a long wrapped box, perhaps three feet long. "That one you should open in private," she said with a wink. Then she handed her a small box, "But open this one now!"

"Ahh, okay, Rangiku-san." The little wooden box opened up to reveal a silver chain, much like the one Rangiku wore. "It's pretty!"

"Hai! And since you're my disciple, you can wear it and show off your great boobs even more!" Her comment stilled much of the conversation in the room for a moment. The eyes of most men considered the chests of the two women and silently agreed it would be a fashion plus for Amaya to adopt the style.

"Rangiku-saaan, don't say things like that so loud!" Isane shook her head as she loomed behind the busty lieutenant.

"Here, Kuragari-san," her blond and much smaller sister popped out from behind Rangiku and pushed a large box of sweets into the girl's hands. "And we have a special gift!"

"That's right." Isane smiled as she held out a small envelope for Amaya to take. "It's been decided that you're notable enough now, and several members have spoken for you, than you may join the Shinigami Women's Association. This is an invitation to our next meeting."

"Yeah!" Rangiku grinned. "I've finally gotten my lesson for how to be sexy and wrap men around your finger on the table! You have to come, Amaya-chan!"

Isamu, having been pushed into a corner by the women, shook his head, "She doesn't need lessons," he mumbled.

"Did you say something, Takeuchi-kun?" Rangiku's eyes twinkled as she looked at him and he had a sinking suspicion she knew exactly what he'd said. "I don't think Amaya-chan heard you."

He panicked. "I said that...why wasn't there a...Shinigami Men's Association?"

Instantly, the Yakuza looking vice-captain of Squad 7 was behind him. One large hand slapped down onto Isamu's shoulder. "For those who seek the manly way...our doors are always open."

"...Shit..."

~~~~~~~​

"Look!" Momo beamed as she stood up, holding a huge paper-mache peach that had been decorated with multi-colored bits of paper. It was big enough that her arms couldn't close around it. "It's a new party game!"

"Not quite new, Hinamori-chan." Isamu grinned. He was holding a large paper-mache fox under one arm, the creature's face and smiling expression oddly familiar. "They're from a country near my homeland and they've done it there for a long time."

"Really?" She blinked in disbelief. "So what do you do with them?" Behind her, Kira was lugging a third that looked like Captain Ukitake giving a peace sign. It also happened to be life-sized.

Isamu's grin grew. "You take turns, and whoever's turn it is puts on a blindfold, and then you spin them around to make them dizzy, and then they try to hit the pinata and break it open so the candy inside comes out!"

There was a long moment of silence. The heads in the room first turned to one of the far corners. Captain Tousen sipped from a cup. "...It wouldn't be fair of me to play. I was just checking in anyway."

"Hmm." Momo was now looking at the cheery faced Ukitake pinata. "Is this..."

"...really okay?" Rukia mused.

"Ahh!" Kiyone pushed Kira back, "I won't let you smash Captain Ukitake for his sweet, juicy candy!" Then she blushed bright red, "I mean...uh...nothing!"

~~~~~~~​

Renji, Kira, and Ikkaku swayed together, "Is it mist, or is it clouds?" All three were singing together, and all were off key in different ways. "Fragrant in the air, cherry blossom, cherry blossom, come now, come! Let's look, at laaaaast!"

There was some scattered clapping and catcalls. Isamu shook his head, "I don't know." He shrugged, "Doesn't sound like a love song to me."

"Oh, yeah?" Renji poked him in the chest with a finger, "Tha's cause yer not full Japaneshe. If you were...something would...something."

"The lyrics would come alive," an equally drunk Shuuhei called from off to the side somewhere, "And fill your heart!"

Isamu grimaced. "I still don't think it's much of a love song."

"Ahh, then maybe you can sing one, Takeuchi-san," Michiru piped up with a wicked smile.

"Yeah!" Hotaru grinned at the startled young man, "Come on, Takeuchi, man up!"

"I don't-"

"Sing us a song," a tipsy Momo called.

"A song," Rangiku cheered.

"A love song," a merrily buzzed Isane added, her cheeks flushed.

"A song," many voices chanted. "A song, a song, a song!"

"All right already!" Hell. Hadn't he learned well enough to keep his big mouth shut tonight? Isamu sighed. "But you've got yourselves to blame if you don't like it!"

There was laughter and clapping. Hotaru wolf-whistled and Rangiku cheered, waving a bottle over her head.

Isamu considered a moment. "A love song..." He blushed a bit and then nodded. "Okay then." He found Amaya in the crowd and stepped up on the piece of furniture that had become the "singing table." He suddenly felt like everyone in Soul Society was looking at him. Though it was only the twenty some people at the party. He cleared his throat and closed his eyes.

He opened them and hoped somewhere, The King was smiling upon him. His wolves' eyes fell on Amaya, "Maybe I didn't treat you, quite as good as I should have." He was in tune, at least. "Maybe I didn't love you, quite as often as I could have. Little things I should have said and done; I just never took the time...but you were always on my mind! You were always on my mind." He took a breath, "Maybe I didn't hold you..."

~~~~~~~​

Isamu sat down next to Amaya, the cheering that had met his finish growing louder as Rangiku jumped up on the singing table and dragging a protesting Isane along with her. He looked over at the pink haired beauty. "Having fun, Kuragari-chan?"

"Hai," she smiled at him sweetly.

"Good." He leaned back against the wall. "...I know I said it but I'm really glad for you, Kuragari-chan. This is a big move and I think...Squad 13 will be good for you."

He paused for a moment. "Uh, you know...I was kind of feeling...out of sorts this week." He shrugged, "Part of it was just that Koutetsu-san's got me doing filing...I guess she thinks it'll keep me out of trouble." It was her way of protecting him but it was a pain in the ass. A sweet pain in the ass though. "But I couldn't figure out what it was until I got here tonight." He looked down at her. "I felt better as soon as I saw you."

 

[HookerBoots]

Biting her lip, Amaya looked over the table full of food. There was no way Ran-san had invited this many people, and even if she had, even they couldn't eat all this food. She must have blown her squad's food budget for six months on this! The door was shoved open with a foot, and the busty blond herself walked carefully in, another tray of edibles balanced in one hand and two bottles of sake in the other. "Ran-san, no! There's too much already!"

Setting the tray down carefully, Rangiku grinned. "You'll see! It'll be just right." She studied the table. "We may be a little light, actually." She clapped her hands together. "It'll be fine once we get the pinatas out, regardless."

"The what?"

"Go get dressed, Amaya-chan! They'll start arriving any second!" Rangiku pushed her out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Amaya looked at the closed door, her face a little worried. She wondered what the room would look like when she got back.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Momo gaped, then flushed bright red. "Ah! Aizen-taicho, I didn't think you'd be here!"

The brown-haired captain smiled. "I heard that Matsumoto-fukutaicho was having a party, and I thought that I would come and give Kuragari-san my best wishes." He looked over the filled room. "My, this is quite an affair, isn't it?"

Momo nodded, then looked around. "I'll fine her for you, Captain, so you don't have to trouble yourself pushing through the crowd. Before he could say a word, she dove into the crush of people. As she hunted for the pink-haired girl, he got himself a cup of sake, sipping it discreetly. Most of the rest of the people here were reluctant to talk to him, despite his genial demeanor, because they weren't sure what to talk about.

In a short while, however, Momo reappeared, pulling Amaya behind her. Trailing behind them was a slightly tipsy-looking Hisagi, whose face lit up when he spotted Squad 5's captain. "Oh, Aizen-taicho! I've been meaning to come see you!"

The captain set his cup down. "Is that so, Hisagi-san? Well, we can certainly chat this evening." He turned his eyes to Amaya, who smiled politely. "Konbanwa, Kuragari-san, and omedatou."

She bowed. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Aizen-taicho. I'm honored that you decided to come." It was very nice of the man - she'd only spoken with him once that she could remember. Of course, it wasn't like there weren't at least 5 people here she'd never said two words to before. But he was a captain, and a busy one at that, from what Momo said.

Aizen smiled again, then started as though he'd just remembered something. "Ah, of course, I forgot!" He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small package, handing it to her. "It's not much, of course, but I would be remiss if I didn't do anything."

Amaya bowed again, holding the small package in her hands. "Thank you again, Aizen-taicho. Please, stay as long as you like."

From behind her, she heard Renji bellow, "Kuragari-chan! Come help me, I'm losing this drinking game!"

~ ~ ~ ~​

"So that's why you had all that food," Amaya whispered to Rangiku.

"Uh-huh." They, like the rest of the party, were standing slightly back from the table filled with food, watching the massive form of Captain Komamura search over the table. He selected a handful of candies - half a bowl - and stepped back. The others stepped forward, unsure that he was finished until he went to stand near Tousen's still form. Even from this distance, they were all watching to see if he would take off his helmet, or just hold the candies until he left.

Instead, he slipped them, one by one, into the slit near his eyes. "How do you suppose," she heard Isamu whisper to someone else, "he's getting those into his mouth? His eyes are up there."

~ ~ ~ ~​

". . . but why and why cannot I reach your tender heart?" The smooth alto voice held the last note for a moment, and then the raven-haired vice-captain of Squad Eight hopped off the table. Her face was dark and scowling, but her eyes were soft and luminous. There was applause, but the sound of the shamisen didn't stop. She spun around, glaring at her captain. "You can stop playing now!"

"But Nanao-chan, it's clear they want an encore!"

"Stop being an idiot!" She grabbed the instrument from his hands. "We have to give the others a chance to perform!" Kyouraku sighed and hopped off the table as well as she looked over the group. "You three!" One finger pointed at where Ikkaku, Renji, and Kira were standing, looking relatively unoffensive. "Get up there and sing!"

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya smiled at Isamu. "Arigatou, Takeuchi-kun. I'm glad you think I'll do well there - I hope so." At his next comment, she flushed, looking down at her hands. "That's very sweet, Takeuchi-kun." She wasn't quite sure what to say, and so she told the truth. "It has been far too long since we've been able to hang out."

She sipped her drink, looking at her friend. "I liked your song - it was very touching." Amaya tilted her head. "And I'm sorry your work now isn't great - I know that Unohana-taicho's very eager to see what you wind up doing."

He blinked. "She is? How do you know?"

"Oh," Amaya said nonchalantly, knowing it would drive him crazy, "we had lunch about a week ago, and we chatted." Her grin turned impish and she changed the subject. "So, are you going to join the Shinigami Men's Association?"

 

[Armphid]

"A picture and an interview?" Aizen's gentle eyes twinkled behind his glasses. "Whatever for, Hisagi-san?"

The wild looking vice-captain rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, Seireitei Communication is starting up a feature that will talk to a different captain each month and we thought we'd start with you. You are the most popular captain in the Gotei 13."

"Me?" He shook his tousled brown hair, "Surely not, Hisagi-san. I'm far too plain compared to some of the more flamboyant captains out there."

Hisagi nodded, "It's true, I've got the surveys to prove it." He smiled politely, "So whenever you want to take the picture or do the interview..."

"Well, all right then." Aizen thought a moment. "Do you have your camera here, Hisagi-san?"

"I did bring it, just in case." In case Rangiku or any of the other ladies got drunk enough to do the "dancing topless by myself dance" which he hoped was in the cards for at least one of them. "Why?"

Aizen smiled, "If I'm going to do this...it's important I show what Squad 5 is all about. Those shinigami who are up and coming. I'm really just a...facilitator or a teacher. And a teacher is nothing without able students."

~~~~~~~​

Hisagi had the camera out on a tripod, fiddling with various knobs. "All right, closer in you guys on the ground."

Aizen stood against one of the walls. Momo, rapt with attention and aglow at being allowed to stand so close to her idol, was standing on his right. Amaya was on his left and standing in front of him, looking both confused and terrified, was Rukia. Kneeling in front of the girls, facing the camera, were Renji, Kira, and Isamu. "Thank you, everyone," Aizen said, "for participating with me." He reached over to lay a hand on the shoulders of the girls next to him. "It's important for me, and an honor, to be seen with the rising stars of the Gotei 13."

"Oh, it's a real pleasure, Aizen-taichou," Momo returned. She was fighting to keep from squealing and bouncing up and down with excitement.

"Okay, minna-san, look this way." Hisagi moved behind the camera, eye to the lense. "Yeah, that looks good. Okay...say cheese!"

"Cheese!"

There was a flash, followed by several more. Then Hisagi stood up, "Got it, arigatou!"

The group began to break up. Isamu rose slowly, watching Aizen as the man walked away. That man was...well, he was a great guy, really. He was kind, he was a good teacher, he was a friend to all, it seemed.

So why...did Isamu feel uneasy around him? Like he was being sized up for the kill.

Renji nudged him, "Oy, you okay, Takeuchi-san?"

"Yeah. I guess...I don't know what to make of that guy. It seems like he was just being nice, putting all of us in the paper like that." The American shook his head slightly. "But..."

"It feels weird, doesn't it?" Renji shrugged at Isamu's nod. "I wouldn't worry about it. It's just that...for wild dogs like you and me, we can't understand a guy like him, you know?"

Isamu grunted softly, looking over again at Aizen's back across the room. "I wonder...you're probably right." Then he looked at his newest sparring partner. "But you're the dog, Abarai, I'm a wolf."

~~~~~~~​

The party was winding down; most of the senior officers had long since left, some having duties still to do and others merely not wanting to be too hung over for those waiting in the morning.

Isamu shifted Kira on his back before he stepped out of the Squad 10 barracks. He turned around, "It was a hell of a party, Kuragari-chan." He grinned, "And no more than you deserved. Nice planning, Matsumoto-fukutaichou."

Rangiku beamed. "You're too kind, Takeuchi-san." Then she tilted her head and tapped a finger against her chin. "Well, maybe you're just kind enough."

Amaya giggled, a little tipsy. "Maybe." She looked at the two Squad 4 men; her eyes a bit worried. "Are you sure you'll be okay carrying Kira-kun on your own?"

He shifted his unconscious friend up a bit. Kira's limp arms hung over his shoulders, Isamu holding the man's legs in place around his waist, leaning forward slightly. "I think so. If he slips, I'll just drag. Show him right for getting this wasted."

"If you say so." The pink haired girl shifted on her feet. "We...won't be neighbors anymore, will we?" Squad 3 and Squad 4's compounds were right next to one another. "Will...I don't want us to...drift apart."

Isamu nodded. "I'm kind of worried about that too." He shook his head, "But all it means is we'll have to make an effort. I'm not going to lose you, Kuragari-chan." He blushed, "Uh, as a friend, I mean."

Amaya nodded, blushing as well. Rangiku said nothing but a knowing smile was on her lips. "Hai. We'll have our training with Ikkaku-san."

"And we can start up doing some kidou training with Kuchiki-san too," Isamu offered.

"Good idea!" Amaya looked a bit brighter. "And then...we won't always just see each other at training, will we?"

"Nah." He grinned, "I'm sure you can get us all to go out to the hot springs or for ramen again."

"Hee!" She winked, "Thinking of the hot springs first, Takeuchi-kun, you pervert."

"Can you blame me?" He inclined his head to the two of them. "Good night, ladies."

"Oyasumi, Takeuchi-kun," they called after him.

The American trudged toward his barracks, Kira flopping limply on his back. It was a good night. Plus, for once...he was glad he'd been assigned filing.

~~~~~~~~~​

Kira looked around the room. "It...couldn't have gotten this bad."

He was standing in the party room. Which was full of trash and detritus from the party, as well as pools of liquid, vomit, and other substances. A large band of Squad 4 members were gathered behind him; all surveying the scene with the same grim determination.

"What...is that?"

"Don't touch it! Put gloves on first."

"How did that get all the way up there? We're going to need a ladder."

"...Damn that Matsumoto-fukutaichou! If it weren't for her...uh..."

"Big personality?"

"You mean personalities."

"I think they may have killed Ukitake-taichou..."

Kira sighed. "Well, let's get to work."

~~~~~~~~~~~​

The medical files of the Gotei 13 were extensive, detailed, regularly updated, and kept for a very long time. Even after a shinigami died or left for some other branch of service, their records were kept for three centuries afterward. It made for full information that could be cross checked and was accurate.

It also meant there was a great deal of work involved in keeping the filing system clear and easily accessible. New pages had to be added to old files. Old files were needed for a time and then had to be returned and new files placed in the appropriate locations.

Isamu sighed as he pushed a thick folder that was tied shut with red string into place. He was standing in a row of shelves that were about as tall as Captain Komamura, one row out of over a dozen in this particular room of the records annex. "God kill me now."

He hated this. Absolutely hated it. He had joined the Gotei 13 to protect people and fight for justice, to make Soul Society a better place. Not be a...a freaking librarian! Not that there was anything wrong with librarians, it just wasn't what he'd signed up for.

Thankfully it was almost over. For today, anyway. He knew that Koutetsu-san had assigned him here to protect him; to prevent any kind of incident that would violate his probation. But after three weeks of it...he was considering just going up and calling Mitsukake a shit fucker just to be done with filing. But it was almost over. Then he'd be heading to Squad 11 and he'd train. And Amaya would be there.

In the two weeks since the party, they'd kept up their mutual training sessions with Ikkaku...which had expanded to include Renji as well. Yumichika participated at times as well. They'd also had two training sessions with Rukia and Momo that had focused on kidou use. But Isamu and the pink haired warrior woman hadn't been able to get together socially. There was just too much for her to do as a new member of her Squad to get initiated and familiar with everything; and Koutetsu-san was trying to keep him as busy as possible to keep him safe.

The last file he had to put away was big. Huge. It was over six inches thick before the cover; and had numerous dog-eared pages. Some of the pages within were yellowed and brittle with age, indicating how long the person had been around. Isamu had never handled a file so old or large before. Out of curiosity, he glanced at the tag on it. "Ukitake...Jushiro."

Interesting. Everyone knew Captain Ukitake was sick; a chronic wasting illness he'd had for centuries. Everyone also knew that none of the treatments of healing kidou Unohana-taichou used effected it.

Privately, Squad 4 members also knew that it haunted their gentle-eyed captain. She took his file out often, reading and re-reading it as if hoping to find something she'd overlooked before.

He walked over to one of the two desks in the room and opened it. Isamu flipped through the pages, reading carefully. The first few were essentially a summary. They also listed the diagnosis for the white haired captain.

Isamu blinked. Was that...right? He looked up. "God Almighty...if that's true..."

He shut the file and re-tied the string but did not put it back on the shelf. Tucking it under one arm, he ran out of the chamber and then the filing annex.

Kira looked up from kidou practice; green light flaring around him. He saw Isamu rushing past, "Takeuchi-kun? What's wrong?"

Isamu paused, "I need to talk to Koutetsu-san, now. Where is she?" His face was serious but also awed, hopeful.

"She's in her office, but-" Before he could finish the sentence, Isamu was gone.

Isane looked up as the door to her office was thrust open. When she saw Isamu there, his breath brisk, heart rate obviously elevated, she sprang to her feet, grabbing up Itegumo and sliding it into her sash, "Takeuchi-san! What is it? Another attack?"

"Koutetsu-san, I'm sorry for barging in but this can't wait." He stepped up and put the file on her desk, opening it to the summary pages. "I need to know if this diagnosis listed here is accurate."

"What?" The Amazonian woman looked into the youth's eyes, level with her own. "...Let me see...this is Ukitake-taichou's file?" What was he doing with that? And why was he so alarmed? She scanned the page and nodded. "Yes, this is correct. We've known what his illness is for some time now, but...nothing works."

"Not with what you have now." Isamu placed his hands on the desk, "And the last time you went to the Human World, medical technology was less than yours." Isane nodded. "When I...came here...medicine had advanced since then. A lot." He leaned in and lowered his voice, whispering.

The blood drained from Isane's face and she gasped. Then the color rushed back and she grabbed his shoulder, "You're sure?" He nodded. She pulled him along with her for a few steps as she rushed out of her office, "Come with me, Takeuchi-kun. We're going to Unohana-taichou, right now. I don't care what she's doing or who she's with. We'll see her."

"Yes, ma'am," Isamu grinned.

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya followed Rukia into the small room, one hand covering her eyes. "Ugh. This is excruciating."

There was amusement and sympathy in the petite brunette's voice. "You should have known better, Kuragari-chan. And it's not as bad as it will be."

Bleary green eyes peeked out from between her fingers. "What do you mean?"

Rukia smirked a little. "Cover them again, I'm going to open this window." As Amaya closed the gap in her fingers, Rukia walked over to the lone window and slid the screen open. "So what was that other present Rangiku-san gave you last night?"

Amaya flushed. "I'll tell you later." She wasn't at all prepared to tell Rukia that the blond vice-captain had given her a double-ended dildo . . . that vibrated. Even though she was sure that the smaller girl wasn't a virgin, she was still a noble. You didn't just say things like that to nobility, and certainly not on your first morning with a squad, before you even started your day.

Slowly, she took her hand from over her eyes, wincing a little as the light hit them. "But you didn't tell me what you meant."

Just then, the door from the hall slid open, and Rukia snapped to attention. Seeing her do it, Amaya did the best she could to look put together and ready to follow orders. Rukia walked over to where Amaya stood and hissed through her teeth, "Don't call him 'fukutaicho' - he hates it."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Two weeks later, Amaya felt like she almost had her footing within her new squad. And was happy. Kaien was a good leader, and Ukitake was a very good captain when he wasn't laid up with his illness. She had spent a lot of time with Rukia, both of them being from the same class, so Kaien had assigned Rukia as her unofficial guide.

The petite shinigami couldn't help her with some of the responsibilities she had as a seated officer, of course, so she was handed over to Miyako-san, who helped her learn more of the things expected of her. And handed her a textbook roughly the size of Isamu's medical bag titled Meditation and Negotiation: The Best Weapons. Amaya had made it through almost a quarter of the book - it helped her fall asleep at night - and wasn't at all sure what it was supposed to teach her, save that the author had the personality of the paper he wrote on.

Today, Miyako-san sat down across the table from her. "All right, Kuragari-chan. Let's start the day with our favorite part - the quiz." The raven-haired woman made a face, and Amaya stifled a laugh. She knew the third seat hated giving the quizzes as much as she hated taking them, but the rules were the rules. For some reason, they wanted her to be trained in conflict resolution and negotiation, and this was the course of study.

So the pink-haired girl picked up her pen and the parchment she was going to use, numbering it quickly. "I'm ready when you are, Miyako-san."

"Question number one." Miyako looked down at her own piece of paper. "When walking into a . . . ."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Unohana lifted her head as the door to her office barged in, Mitsukake starting to his feet. The captain looked nonplussed at the interruption, while her vice-captain looked almost apoplectic. "What is the meaning of this!?" he almost bellowed, his face darkening more when he saw Isamu following Isane.

The silver-haired woman bowed very low. "Gomen nasai, taicho, fukutaicho, but this is very important." She motioned for Isamu to go ahead of her, and he did, setting the file down on Unohana's desk.

"I was finishing my work for today," he said, carefully not looking at the red-faced vice captain, "and I glanced inside Ukitake-taicho's file. Unohana-taicho, if this diagnosis is correct, I know that there is a cure for it."

The captain's gentle eyes went wide. "What? Takeuchi-san, please explain." Her voice was soft, but the look on her face and in her eyes was almost wild with hope.

"Indeed! Explain yourself!" Mitsukake was almost spluttering. "You were assigned to put the files away, not leaf through them at your leisure! And how dare you imply that Unohana-taicho's diagnosis would be wrong!" He almost seemed ready to explode, and opened his mouth again.

"Mitsukake-fukutaicho!" There was a snap to Unohana's voice, and they all looked at her. "If Takeuchi-san can help save Ukitake-taicho, any breach in protocol will be forgotten. He may even be commended - if it turns out that his knowledge is useful. So, please, let him explain."

 

[Armphid]

Isamu would have normally been grinning at Mitsukake's rage but he couldn't be. The light, the sheer hopeful joy, in Unohana's eyes drove any kind of scheudenfreude right out of his mind. God, let him be right. "Hai, Taichou." He opened the file again, "Ukitake-taichou's illness is listed as tuberculosis."

"That's right," she replied. "We have a name for it and we understand how it progresses and how it...kills. But we are unable to do anything more than slow it down. If he wasn't so strong and powerful..." Her eyes were full of that guilt, that gnawing worry that her subordinates had seen when she was thinking about her fellow captain.

The American took a deep breath. "That disease is one I've heard of. School kids where I'm from got tested for it, most people did. Because it's easiest to stop early on," she nodded, and after a moment's hesitation he continued. "But there's a cure. Even in people who've had it for years can be saved from it."

Unohana was on her feet. "Takeuchi-san, you're sure?" Her eyes were bright and there was a look of desperate hope on her face. God, she was beautiful.

"I know if for a fact," he answered. There was a stunned silence. The three senior shinigami stared, the implications of his statement leaving them awe-struck. "They use a kind of medicine called antibiotics to treat it. I don't know the details but it works. In the US, the disease has been all but wiped out."

Mitsukake was the first to recover, "Taichou, we should consider submitting a request to have one of Squad 10's teams verify the outlandish claims that-"

"No." Unohana did not snap but her voice conveyed authority. It was not rough of hard but there was no disobeying, no speaking up, no disobeying. The power of the authority in her was almost like that of a god on Earth. "I am going, and I am going today."

"But-"

"I am going and I do not care about the procedure," she repeated. She turned her head, "Mitsukake-fukutaichou, take care of the Squad and submit the appropriate requests. Koutetsu-san, Takeuchi-san, come with me. Now."

She grabbed their hands and the three of them vanished as she flash stepped away to leave Mitsukake staring at empty space. "Im...possible. ...Takeuchi...damn you!"

~~~~~~~​

They landed in front of Squad 12's main facility. Unohana strode in, the other two following behind her. Before they'd taken a few steps, there was a flicker of motion and the slender, doll-like lieutenant was before them. She bowed, "Konnichi wa, Unohana-taichou. Your visit is not scheduled. Please-"

"We will need six gigai immediately," Unohana interrupted. "As well as a senkaimon opened to the Human World as soon as the gigai are prepared."

Nemu blinked. "Hai. But Mayuri-sama will-"

"Do as I request and immediately," Unohana interrupted again. "Isane-san!"

"Hai!" Isane was at attention.

"Go and get someone from Squad 11, someone you know who has a brain, and bring him along. That way we can claim we took appropriate precautions." She looked at the silver haired woman intently, "If you need to use Shinten to knock them out and drag them back there, do it."

Isane nodded, "H-Hai, taichou." She turned and leaped into shun-po and was gone.

"Takeuchi-san!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Wow. He'd never seen her like this before.

"Go to Squad 13 and bring Kuragari-san back with you. Someone from that Squad should be there and she's new enough that taking her won't leave them too short-handed."

"You got it," he answered. She smiled at him and his heart swelled.

"Wait just a moment." She looked around and then suddenly grabbed Isamu by the shoulders and hugged him. His eyes were wide and hopelessly smitten over her shoulder. "Thank you. Even the hope...I can't tell you what this means to me, Isamu-san."

She released him after a moment. "Now go!"

"Hai!" He leaped away in a blur as well.

"Yare, yare!" The syrupy voice of Mayuri Kurotsuchi hit her ears before the madly dressed man appeared. "What's the meaning of this, Unohana-taichou? If you weren't a fellow captain with such seniority, I'd-"

"Be silent," she snapped. He was so taken aback he actually stopped talking. "You will prepare six gigai and a senkaimon as I requested, Kurotsuchi-taichou, and you will do it now." Unohana rounded on him. Her eyes were blazing with a fervor the mad scientist had never seen before, never even imagined possible in her. "I will share all the data I gather with you, and I will be grateful, but I have no time to argue and I will not accept anything less than what I have asked for."

"A...yes. Yes, of course. Why would I refuse such a request? I am, as ever, at the service of the Gotei 13." He leaned in somewhat, "But if this is a data gathering mission, of medical science, yes? Perhaps someone more versed in...not that your people are ill trained, mush brained soft hearted dolts, but someone more...qualified?"

Unohana looked at him for several long moments. Her gaze was steely and her mouth set in a straight line. Mayuri balked, actually taking a step back. Then Unohana smiled slightly, "A good idea, Kurotsuchi-taichou. That will help with data collation and organization." She looked past him at the silent and slender Nemu. "I'll take her with me."

"Ah, yes, I was about to suggest that very-"

"Are the gigai ready yet?"

"...Ah...no, let me go and...attend to that..."

~~~~~~~​

Isamu vaulted the wall to the main compound of Squad 13, ignoring the cries of several unranked members. He could feel Amaya's reiatsu nearby. Where was she...there!

"Kuragari-chan!" He turned a corner to see her talking to the Squad's lieutenant and his gorgeous wife, the 3rd Seat. "Gomen, fukutaichou, ma'am, but I need Kuragari-chan for an extended mission, Unohana-taichou's orders."

All three stared at him. Kaien shook his head, "What are you talking about? We didn't get a request or anything."

"You're getting it now," Isamu said. He looked around and stepped up close. "Listen but keep this quiet, if Unohana-taichou finds out I told you, she'll never forgive me. She wants to be sure first." He took a breath and lowered his voice. "There's a cure for Ukitake-taichou in the human world. I knew about it all my life but until today, I didn't know what his illness was."

"WHAT?" Kaien stared aghast. Miyako's hands were over her mouth.

"Yes." Isamu shook his head, "She's taking a team now to investigate it and she wanted a Squad 13 member. She asked for Kuragari-chan, so she's coming. We're not going through the rigamarole, we're leaving ASAP."

"A cure..." Miyako looked at Kaien.

He nodded, "Understood. Kuragari-san, go on. We'll take care of the paperwork. Hurry, both of you!"

Isamu grinned, "Arigatou, Kaien-san. Kuragari-chan, let's go!"

 

[HookerBoots]

As Amaya and Isamu reached the entrance of Squad 12, Unohana turned and smiled at them tightly. "I'm glad you can make it, Kuragari-san." She pointed at Renji. "Abarai-kun was pulled from a training session, and Isane-san is getting our budget from Squad Ten right now. As soon as she returns," her eyes flickered to where Nemu was arranging gigai, "and the gigai and senkaimon are ready, we'll go."

Amaya nodded, tucking her hands behind her back. "I'm honored to help, Unohana-taicho." They stood, waiting, while Squad 12's vice-captain finished arranging their solid bodies and stepped near them. Suddenly, Isane flashed up to them, a cluster of pouches in her hands.

"All set, taicho." She went ahead and handed out the small bags of money to each of the shinigami. "When Squad 12 is, of course."

As Isane handed the last small bag on money to her captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi stepped out of a doorway. "The senkaimon is ready, Unohana-taicho. Nemu, help them into their gigai."

~ ~ ~ ~[/center

"I've never been here before," Amaya whispered to Isamu. "The human world, I mean. That I can remember." Her eyes darted around, taking in the growing dusk and the buildings around them.

Before he could respond, Unohana headed off down the road, her stride determined, as though she knew where she was going. The others followed along, moving quietly through the nearly empty streets. "We'll meet a contact here first," the older woman said, just loud enough to carry to the back of the group, "and then set up a plan."

"Hai, taicho!" the said as a group, still moving towards a small building on a fairly empty lot.

Unohana looked back at Nemu, her eyes penetrating. "And you, Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho, will not repeat to your captain anything you see within this shop. You should tell him all of our findings and research, but the things in this shop are none of his business."

Nemu bowed slightly. "As you wish, Unohana-taicho." She didn't bother to tell the other woman that there might not be any point to the warning - if Mayuri-sama wanted to get information, he'd have it, even if she didn't tell him anything. It did, however, increase her personal curiosity about where they were going and the point of their trip.

As they reached the front step of the little shop, the door slid open, and a tall man in a striped hat stepped outside, a cane held in both hands. "Ah, konbanwa, minna-san! Unohana-san, to what do I owe this visit?"

She stopped several feet away, looking at the man with a small smile. "Good evening, Urahara-san. I would like to borrow the use of your shop for a short while - we are on a search for some very specific, very important information, and need a place to develop a plan."

Amaya studied the man, unsure what to think. He had seemed, at first, to be very on edge, as though he weren't sure what they were doing there. He looked over the little group, eyes hidden by the brim of the hat. Suddenly, he smiled, stepping to one side of the door. "Of course, Unohana-san. Please, come inside."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Inside of the shop, they were seated around a table. Urahara had offered to leave, but Unohana had told him to stay, saying that he knew the area better than any of them. So they waited, the silence only a little uncomfortable, until an even taller man with glasses came in and set a tray of tea and edamame on the table before sitting down as well.

"Excellent, thank you Tessai." Urahara looked directly at Unohana, his head tilted to one side. "Now, if I am going to help, I'll need to know what I'm helping you find." He took a cup of tea, sipping it. "I hope you don't mind Tessai-san staying here - he may also have knowledge of some use, depending on what it is."

Unohana smiled her gentle smile. "Of course not - Tessai-san may be very helpful to this venture." She sighed, glancing at Isamu. "Takeuchi-san looked at Ukitake-taicho's file today, and came to me with the information that the disease Ukitake-taicho suffers from is, in fact, curable now."

Urahara nodded. "It has been for some time."

Her eyes narrowed. "You knew?"

"Only since I arrived here - forgive me for not sending a messenger." His lips quirked in a small, self-deprecating grin.

Unohana's face relaxed. "Of course. You wouldn't have . . . I'm sorry, I'm just very eager to get to the bottom of this." She rested her hand on the table. "So, what I need from you is locations where we can find information on this treatment, as well as a place to acquire some of these . . . antibiotics," she said the word slowly, as foreign to her as it was. "That is all. And Tessai-san, if you would be willing, I would like to discuss with you and Isane-san the possibility of taking the treatments and adapting them to kido."​

 

[Armphid]

The giant nodded thoughtfully. "If the manager agrees to help, I will gladly lend my assistance, Unohana-dono." He laid a hand on Isane's shoulder, the young woman looking up at him as if relieved that he was taller than her. It was nice to be short for a change, relatively, anyway. "I am sure that between the two of us we can come up with something."

Isane nodded, looking determined. "I won't let you down, Taichou. I'm sure Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou could assist with that too."

At the name Kurotsuchi, Urahara had tensed up and drawn a sharp breath but now he leaned back and smiled lazily. "I would be glad to help you with those tasks, Unohana-san." He looked over at Isamu. "I'm curious though...how does a shinigami like him know about antibiotics?"

Isamu didn't answer until Unohana nodded. "I'm sure you could tell that I'm not fully Japanese, Urahara-san." He looked at the others, "I'm different than any other shinigami I know. I wasn't born in Soul Society. I died, was murdered, and my soul went there and I ended up becoming a shinigami. But I was a human first, so..."

"I see. Interesting. A human crossing into Soul Society and then becoming a shinigami...and a gaijin too." He shook his head, snapping a paper fan out and waving it at his face, "What a shocking development!" Curious. That it had even been allowed. Did he have something more to do with Unohana being here than telling her about the cure? Modern ways of thinking in Soul Society would...hmm.

"Some are more shocked than others," Isamu quipped.

"Those tend to be the ones who need it," Urahara answered. Even more interesting.

Unohana smiled sweetly, "You have changed, Urahara-san. It is good to see you more comfortable with yourself."

The man in the strange hat actually blushed and began to fan himself harder, "My, my, such praise! But we can talk about how wonderful I am later, I am sure you want to get started right away." He closed the fan and tapped it against the brim of his hat. "There is an excellent hospital in this town. Despite the size of this place, it's very modern and well stocked. It would be a good place to start while you're here."

"There is also a university here." Tessai hesitated and then added, "A place devoted entirely to education, learning, and the gathering of information. They have a medical program there and a library for it, Unohana-dono."

Unohana thought a moment, "Those would be the best places to start then." She looked around at the others. "I think I will go to the hospital with two others and the rest to this...university." It sounded like the Shinigami Academy, in a way. But she also sensed it wasn't the same. How much had changed since the last time she had been in the human world?

Isamu fidgeted. Amaya looked at him and then at the others. She nudged him, "What is it, Takeuchi-kun? You've been here more recently than any of us. Do you know something?"

Isamu flushed but Unohana smiled, "That's right. We should have asked you, Takeuchi-kun. Please, speak up." She turned that smile on the others as well. Amaya beamed in response, Isane as well, Renji straightened up from where he was lounging, and the despondant looking Nemu looked suprised to have the expression directed at her. "That goes for all of you. If you have an idea, please share it. This is too important for suggestions to go by the wayside."

"Mitsukake would say I've been a bad influence on you, taichou," Isamu grinned.

"Mitsukake-fukutaichou, Takeuchi-san," she corrected him but her eyes danced merrily.

Amaya then tilted her head, "Um, well then, Taichou...shouldn't we go to Edo? I'm sure if there are hospitals, the best ones would be there, right?"

"That was my suggestion too," Isamu chimed in. "Though it's called Tokyo now. I'm sure we can learn some things here but I'd bet there's a lot more information and a lot more places to get our hands on what we need there."

Unohana considered. "Very well." She lowered her head and thought for a few more moments. "Then this is what we will do. If it is acceptable, Urahara-san, could you assist us in finding a place to stay in this town?" He nodded. "Then we will all stay here and use these resources to get our footing. Then in two days, I will go to Tokyo with Takeuchi-san and Kuragari-san. The rest will stay here to continue the research along the lines we have discussed."

~~~~~~~​

"...This is weird." Renji was wearing red bell bottom trousers with a tight polo shirt that was white with red stripes.

"Are you kidding? This feels great!" Isamu was wearing jeans and a white t-shirt, a leather jacket held in one hand. "I forgot how comfortable jeans are."

"Tch, if you say so. These clothes are strange though." Renji shook his head. The two men were lounging outside the store waiting for the women to change into the modern clothes Urahara had provided for them all. He was trying to play it cool...while gawking at everything in sight. He had no idea, NO idea, that the human world was like this.

"You'll come to like them." Isamu grinned, "You can ask questions, you know. About all this."

"Hey, don't think I don't...okay, so I don't know." The flame haired fighter shrugged. "I'll keep it in mind."

"Right." Isamu took a deep breath. The air was city air; full of pollutants and exhaust and the faint scents of asphalt and distant food. It was dirty compared to the more natural, pure air in Soul Society. It smelled wonderful. Like home. "God, I missed all this. It feels SO good to be back."

Renji regarded his friend carefully. "...You're not going to go AWOL on us, are you?"

Isamu glared at him a moment, and then sighed. "...I thought about it, but I won't." He had thought about it. For a few mad moments when they'd left the gate, he'd thought he could slip away at some point, find a place heading overseas, and fly back to the States and...but it was just a dream. He was a dead man, literally. Besides, he couldn't run out on his friends. He couldn't leave her, them, in the lurch. "I just hope I can get a cheeseburger before we have to go back."

"A what?"

The door opened to let the women out and the two men turned. Both of them stared a moment and then smiled. Renji leaned over to Isamu, speaking low, "Okay, you might have a point about these modern clothes."

~~~~~~~​

The group walked down the streets of Karakura Town, drawing their fair share of stares and looks from the many people making their own way around. It was odd, even to Isamu. There were men and women in Western, modern clothes and in traditional ones. There was even a small knot of Westerners, university students probably, who'd wandered past speaking English with one another happily.

It was afternoon but many signs were still lit up brightly and traffic lights and walk signals glowed. Cars drove through the streets. From radios and televisions in shop windows, music and images filled the air.

"This isn't anything like the way they described the human world in the Academy," Isane said, watching a passing car with wide eyes.

"Makes you wonder what else, other than medicine I mean, we have to catch up on, doesn't it?" Renji shook his head as he stared at a public telephone, trying in vain to deduce its purpose.

"Less than you think in some areas," Isamu commented. "Most of the buildings have some electricity in Seireitei, you know. And there's modern pens, or similar ones, and other things too."

"Still," Unohana said softly, her serene face thoughtful, "it may be that we have been too selective for too long about what this world has to offer."

 

[HookerBoots]

"Tessai-san," Isane said doubtfully, "are you certain this is appropriate?" Her hands held up what seemed to be an extremely skimpy skirt.

"Hai, Kotetsu-dono," the deep voice came from the other side of the door, where the mustached man stood waiting. "I was told by the shopgirl that these are the ideal outfits for young ladies." He himself wasn't at all convinced, but he trusted the woman's words. And he'd seen Yoruichi in things similar often enough to know that if the girl was wrong, she wasn't far wrong.

"All right," she said, shrugging. "Thank you for getting these for us."

She could almost hear his blush. "It was no trouble, Isane-dono. Please, excuse me. I need to deliver your captain's garments before I tend to my chores for the day."

While Isane was burning with curiosity over what sort of clothing he'd gotten Unohana-taicho, she nodded, then blushed - he couldn't see her nod. "Of course, Tessai-san. Thank you again." She heard his footsteps head down the hall, and undid her kosode, starting to doubtfully dress in the flashy new garments he'd given her. She wriggled into the short, flared, brown skirt that seemed to leave almost her entire legs bare, accentuating her height almost indecently. The shirt he'd given her was a slick, shiny material in a vivid green, and she slipped it on with a small smile. It felt nice, at least. Tessai-san had even included shoes, deep brown clogs with as small a heel as he'd been able to find.

On the other side of the room, a screen slid open, and Nemu walked in, looking at herself with a bemused expression. "Kotetsu-fukutaicho," she said softly, "are your clothes . . . they are." She was wearing what looked like a coat that reached mid-thigh, leaving the rest of her body bare. But she lifted one end of the coat to reveal a pair of shorts that were at least two inches shorter than the coat's hem, all in a red and blue diamond pattern on a black background. In her hands, she held a pair of black patent leather shoes with soles at least three inches thick.

Isane sighed. "Yes, mine are this way too." Her eyes went wide. "I wonder what the captain has."

Another screen moved aside, and Amaya stepped out, looking at the other women with a sigh. "I thought so. These clothes are something, aren't they?" She had been given a short halter dress, snug-fitting even over her generous chest, and stopping well short of her knees. The dress was in a rust-colored cotton, with a matching fur-trimmed, knee-length jacket over it. Her shoes were, much like Nemu's, tall platforms, but in a tan leather.

It wasn't clear which of them she meant, but Isane nodded. "Yes, but evidently, these are the fashion now, and we want to blend in."

The door from the hallway opened, and the three women turned to look. Unohana stood in the doorway, one hand over her mouth and eyes dancing. "Oh, my." Her own outfit was far more modest than theirs, a one-piece pantsuit, tightly fitted at the waist but with wide legs, in a wild pattern of tropical plants over a cream background. It was impossible to tell what the neckline was with her braid down the front of her body, but it was clearly a halter style, leaving her shoulders and arms bare. "You all look . . . quite exceptional."

~ ~ ~ ~​

They reached the intersection where Urahara's directions said they would need to turn to go to the university, and stopped. Unohana looked them over, then nodded. "All right. Kuragari-san, Abarai-san, and Kurotsuchi-san, please head to the university. Isane-san, Takeuchi-san, you will come with me to the hospital." She glanced at a clock on a nearby building. "We'll meet back here in two hours, with whatever you've managed to collect."

As the others agreed, the captain smiled. "I want to thank you all again for being so cooperative. I know that we will be able to find what we need, if not here, then in . . . Tokyo."

The three heading for the hospital headed off down the road, leaving Amaya, Renji, and Nemu standing there for a moment. "I dunno why she's making us go to the school," Renji grumbled as they started off down the proper path.

"Probably because you and I look more like students than the others," Amaya said sensibly, "and I'm sure Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho has more research experience than either of us."

The raven-haired vice captain nodded. "Affirmative. If it will not bother the two of you, I have a suggestion for making our research time more efficient."

Renji barked a laugh "That would be awesome!" And then he flushed. "That would be welcome, fukutaicho."

Nemu smiled a small smile. "It seems to me that, given my greater ability to process information, the two of you should find the books or articles that look promising, and allow me to scan them to confirm or dismiss their usefulness."

Amaya thought about it a moment, and nodded. "That makes sense, fukutaicho. And when we have reached the end of what might be useful, we can assist in selecting useful material as well." Then she paused. "Um . . . Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho, this may be improper, but it seems like we might be less conspicuous if we didn't call you 'fukutaicho'."

"That is most likely correct."

"What else should we call you, in that case?"

Nemu thought for a moment. "No one has ever asked me something like that before. You may call me as you wish. Mayuri-sama calls me by my given name only, but you would probably feel uncomfortable with that level of informality. Nemu-san, or Kurotsuchi-san would be suitable, if you prefer those."

~ ~ ~ ~​

". . . shit . . . ." Renji was standing in the entryway of the library on the local university, looking at the rows of books. "Who the hell had time to write all this?"

"Lots of people, Abarai-kun," Amaya said, grinning. "Now, come on. We have to find what we're looking for."

"How?!" He pointed at the main part of the library. "Look at that! We'll never find anything in that . . . that madness!"

Nemu was standing quietly, so Amaya sighed and looked around. "We'll find someone. I'm sure there's a person who knows how these are organized." From behind a counter, a head popped up, and her eyes lit up. "Ah! Excuse me, sir."

The librarian was a small, mousy man with glasses, who seemed shocked that a girl would be asking him a question. "Hai, young lady?"

"We're looking for something very specific, and I hope that you can help us." Her smile was bright, and the man looked flustered. Then he looked at Renji and paled - this girl's boyfriend was scary, probably Yakuza!

"O-of course," he stammered. "What can I help you find?"

She beamed, looking impudently at Renji. "We are looking for information on the treatment of tuberculosis, more modern cures."

The librarian nodded. "Simple. Please, follow me." He wasn't at all sure he wanted them behind him - what if the man took exception to something? But he led them to the card catalog and pulled out three drawers. "These are our medical books - numbers 620 to 640 will have to do with tuberculosis."

He set the drawers on a nearby table, leaving them to hunt on their own. Renji looked pointedly at the drawers. "See? That didn't help at all! Look at all the ones we have to look through before we can even look at books!"

Amaya sat down, pulling one drawer towards her. "Then we'd better get started."

 

[Armphid]

Mitsukake swallowed nervously. He had been here several times before but never standing in this exact spot. He was usually back against the wall; respectfully distant and out of sight while the captains met.

Not so today. To his left was pixieish and hard faced Soi Fon of Squad 2 and to to his right the serene and dispassionate nobility of Byakuya Kuchiki of Squad 6. Across from him, fox faced Gin Ichimaru of Squad 3 grinned maliciously next to the gentle worried face of Squad 5's Sousuke Aizen. He looked down the line. There were all here, most of them anyway. Giant Komamura, laid back Kyouraku, dedicated Tousen, gallant Kurosaki. There was a blank space where Squad 11 should be, but the madly grinning scientist Mayuri Kurotsuchi was there, and bold Kaien Shiba for the stricken Ukitake.

"Now." In front of the tall backed chair, Captain Commander Yamamoto thumped his walking stick on the ground. "All are here who will be here. We must now decide what to do on the matter of Unohana-taichou's recent actions."

"Not that the rest of my fellow captains are weak-minded simpletons," came Kurotsuchi's weedling voice, "but the matter is plain. That woman has disrupted the order of Seireitei; every shinigami from Vice Captains and down is talking about her sudden disappearance to the human world. She has undermined discipline AND taken valuable resources from MY division, as well as broken the law regarding transit to the human world." The scientest gritted his teeth, "We don't need to talk about it. Send the Onmitsukidou to deal with that woman and her fellow defectors."

"Yare, yare, Kurotsuchi-taichou," Ichimaru cooed, "You just wanna get back at her for pushing you around, don't ya?" Kurotsuchi bristled and the fox-faced man's grin grew. "Not that I disagree, but I don't know if poor 'lil Soi Fon could handle Unohana-taichou..."

"How dare you?" Soi Fon glared at the far taller man, her small hands balled into fists. "I have always been prepared for having to deal with a traitor captain, and I would have no problem subduing the target, if it was decided to eliminate her."

Ichimaru tilted his head. "Ara...so serious. Think she'll be a good warm up for Yoruichi-san, don't cha?"

Before Soi Fon could speak up again, the cold voice of Squad 6's captain cut her off, "The injured pride of Squads 2 and 12 is irrelevant. If they value it so much, they should take care to see it is unsullied themselves. What matters is if the law was broken. If so, then there must be consequences."

Mitsukake opened his mouth to speak but another voice prevented him. "I wonder..." Aizen was rubbing his chin with one hand. "Was the law broken? A captain can issue orders that supersede normal procedure in an emergency."

"This is not emergency," Mayuri spat. "This is that woman fulfilling her own selfish research goals at my expense!"

Tousen shifted, "Your own poison is bitter is it not, Kurotsuchi-taichou?"

Kyouraku tilted his hat back a bit, "Aizen-taichou has a good point though." He shrugged, "It seems like a life threatening condition effecting one of Soul Society's most senior and powerful captains is pretty serious stuff." He then looked down the lines at the other captains. "Besides, Unohana-san's too pretty to be in prison. And who'd patch us all up if something happened? I mean, how many times has she done that?"

There was silence as each of the captains remembered times when they'd been healed or treated by the gentle eyed woman now being debated. Isshin Kurosaki cleared his throat, "You know, I do have all the proper paperwork for her mission. Even if she submitted it after the fact, it all would have been approved anyway."

Yamamoto tapped his staff on the floor again. "What date was set for the return of Unohana and her team?"

"A week and a day, Yamamoto-soutaichou," Isshin answered.

"I see." The ancient man nodded. "In that case...Soi Fon-taichou, Kurosaki-taichou..."

"Hai!"

"You will both assemble a team from your squad and both of them will go forth to bring back Unohana-taichou and her team in nine days."

Mitsukake blanched but nodded. Damn Takeuchi. Damn him to hell! That mongrel! If it weren't for him, this would never even be a thought! He was dragging Unohana-taichou's reputation, her obedience, her womanly grace, through the mud! It could not be allowed!

~~~~~~~​

Isane Koutetsu sighed. She felt so out of place here.

They were waiting in an upper hallway of the Karakura Town Hospital for the Chief of Medicine to see them. She felt so...everyone was looking at them and she was sure it was her fault! She was taller than every man here except Takeuchi. And the white coat he'd gotten for her to wear was made to fit a man, and a man who was much smaller than her. Her arms stuck out several inches from the end of the sleeves and it only came to above her knees. She wondered where he'd gotten it and the one for Unohana-taichou...but it was probably better she didn't know.

She sighed again, "They're all gawking at us."

"Yeah, no manners." Isamu was lounging against the wall beside Isane, looking every bit the young American punk. Well, the half-Japanese American punk. "But they've probably never even heard of a woman being a doctor before, let alone two of them being in their hospital."

Unohana tilted her head, "Oh? Why is that?" Her white coat fit much better than Isane's and it was nice, a sort of familiar thing in this strange place.

"Well...Soul Society's ahead of the human world on sexual equality, Taichou." Isamu shrugged, "Especially in a place like Japan." He then grinned, "They're also probably coming by to get a good look. Women who go after "mens' jobs" are supposed to be homely. Not beautiful, healthy, and alluring."

Isane blushed, "Takeuchi-san, you...you shouldn't talk about your superiors like that." But she was smiling.

Unohana laughed softly, "You've been so energetic since we got here, Takeuchi-kun."

He winked at her. He never, ever, would have been so bold to do it in Soul Society. "You know, I should have thought of the woman thing earlier..."

"Did you doubt we were, Takeuchi-kun,?" Unohana's eyes twinkled merrily.

"Not in those clothes, Taichou. Mercy." Isane blushed brighter but Unohana giggled, a faint pinkness on her cheeks. "But I meant that...they may not take us seriously, you know? It might be hard to get the information we're after this way."

Unohana shook her head. "We will get it."

"Ahh, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" A short Japanese man with a balding head and thick glasses was coming down the hallway to them. "You must be Unohana-sensei and her group, yes? I'm Chief of Medicine, Taro Gennosuke." They bowed to him though he did not return the gesture. "And this must be Koutetsu-sensei," he turned to Isamu, "And...this..."

"A student of mine, Gennosuke-sensei," Unohana smiled. "From overseas."

"Ahh." He cleared his throat and spoke again, very slowly and and louder to make up for Isamu obviously being unable to really understand Japanese being foreign, "It's nice...to...meet...you."

Isamu was proud that he didn't punch the guy right there.

"Now, come into my office. My, my, girls from the country are quite healthy, aren't they?" They followed him into his office, the little man taking a seat behind a large expensive desk with an intercom and a telephone. Isane quietly shut the door as Unohana sat in the chair in front of the desk. Isamu walked over to the room's large window, set in the wall behind the desk. "Now, what can I do for you? I must admit, I was surprised to hear you needed to meet with me. I've never heard of your hospital before."

"We have a very specialized practice and it's far in the country." Unohana leaned forward in her seat a bit, "You see, I'm a bit embarrassed but...everyone said you were the man to see." Gennosuke puffed himself up a bit in his chair. "It has been...a very long time since I became a doctor and I have...missed certain new advances. But it's come to my attention that a long term patient of mine may be able to benefit from them." She bowed her head, "Onegai shimasu, Gennosuke-sensei. Tell me everything you can about antibiotics and their use in the treatment of tuberculosis."

Gennosuke stared for a moment. Then his face darkened, "Are you kidding me? Who put you up to this absurdity? You are too young to have been a doctor for long, and you must have heard of such common-place treatments! Stupid woman! Get out of my office right now!"

Isane moved in front of the office door and her face was hard. The man saw her glare and blanched. His hand shifted towards the intercom. "Don't." Gennosuke froze. Isamu stood over him, behind his chair, his wolfish smile on his face. "Don't even think about reaching for it, or the phone. Or I'll make you eat them."

"Gomen, Gennosuke-sensei," Unohana sighed, "He's so hard to control sometimes, this young foreigner." Her eyes opened and they fixed the now trembling man with a gaze of iron. "Now, Gennosuke-sensei, you were going to answer all of my questions, weren't you?"

~~~~~~~​

Nemu Kurotsuchi sat at a library table. It had been occupied by others as well when she'd sat down but a glare from Renji sent them scurrying away. There were two stacks of medical journals and books on either side of her. She reached back with one hand and Amaya, standing behind her with a stack of materials in her hands, set a book in her hand.

Nemu opened it to the Table of Contents and scanned it. She then flipped through the whole thing as if the pages were a deck of cards. "No." She put it on the larger stack and took the next book Amaya handed over.

Renji came over with his arms full of books and journals. He set them next to Amaya, looking as Nemu flipped through a book and placed it on the Yes pile. The flame-haired man leaned in and whispered, "Hey, Kuragari-chan...do you think she's just picking at random?"

"No." Nemu shook her head as Renji blanched. "I am using a special technique to read as high speed. It is related to shun-po."

"Wait...flash reading?" Renji looked unconvinced.

"That is correct." She paused and looked back at him. "Get the next set of materials, please."

Renji stalked off grumbling.

Amaya watched him go and then looked at the melancholy woman. "Nemu-san...you don't really use shun-po to read."

The woman paused. "...No. That is impossible and only a fool would believe it."

Renji leaped out of the stacks, "Ah ha! I heard that! Why you-"

"SHHHHH!" He wilted, having been shushed by Amaya, Nemu, and everyone else in the library.

~~~~~~~​

"I see." Unohana leaned back in the chair. Two textbooks were in front of her. She looked over her shoulder at Isane and nodded.

"N-now, see here,' Gennosuke stammered as Isane approached, pulling a small contraption from her cleavage. Isane held in front of him and pushed a button. The top opened and a puff of gas burst into the old man's face. He went limp in his chair and slumped back. His eyes were glazed over. Isamu paced around from behind the desk to open the door. Gennosuke suddenly shook his head, blinking slowly, "What...what's..."

'Arigatou gozaimasu, Gennosuke-senei," Unohana beamed. "You've been a tremendous help but we realize you're busy. Please, don't let us take up any more of your time." She rose, taking the textbooks with her, and bowed before leading Isane and Isamu out of the office.

An intern entered the office, walking slowly as he watched the strange group of people walking away. Then he looked at the old man. "This needs your signature, Gennosuke-sensei."

"Huh? Oh, yes, yes."

The young man was tall and lean, with sharp features and cool blue eyes behind thin framed glasses. His hair was light in color, bluish white. "Who were those people?"

"No one," the Chief of Medicine scoffed, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. "Just some doctors from the sticks."

"I see."

"Is that all, Ishida?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you." The young man stepped back into the hallway and again looked down the way the strangers had gone. "...But their ribbons were red..."

~~~~~~~​

"So, what's next, Unohana-taichou?" Isamu was walking on the street side of the sidewalk, abreast with Isane and Unohana.

"We meet with the others and see if Urahara-san has found us lodging," she said after a moment's pause. "Then Isane-san, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou, and myself will start in on the data. The rest of you will scout out the city and get us some food...perhaps something unique from your view of the human world." She smiled a bit. "And if you three can have some fun while you are out looking around, well, then...that would be good too."

 

[HookerBoots]

"I don't see why I have to carry them all!"

"Because," Amaya said reasonably, "we're girls, Abarai-kun."

He peered around the tall stack of books in his arms, uncertain if she were joking. "That doesn't seem fair. You both passed the same exams I did - and Nemu-san is . . . well, I'm sure that given her rank, she's stronger than I am." It shamed him to admit, but she probably was. Not physically, maybe, though he'd seen some of the vice captains do crazy things with their bare hands, but that wasn't the point.

Amaya fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Abarai-kun, it would look strange! We're pretty girls, why wouldn't you be carrying our books like a proper young man?" He still looked rebellious, and she added, "We have to try and look like we belong."

"Carrying this many medical books isn't very normal," he muttered, but followed them out of the library, having the lower the stack of books he carried a little so that the doorway didn't knock the top ones off.

They did get some strange looks from students they passed, but most of the looks were admiring - young men eying Amaya and Nemu boldly, making the pink-haired girl flush. "Nemu-san, how can you stand them gawking?" she finally asked, amazed at the raven-haired woman's lack of response.

"This outfit is no more revealing than my normal uniform, Kuragari-san," she responded calmly. "And I have grown accustomed to men staring because of that. Though these young men are more obvious than most shinigami, who I believe are reluctant to appreciate my body because of my rank."

"And your father," Renji muttered.

"What was that, Abarai-kun?" Amaya asked over her shoulder.

"Nothing! I just said that I didn't mind being ogled." A group of girls walked past, their eyes traveling boldly over his muscles.

~ ~ ~ ~​

The sound of coughing and the smell of incense filled the room. It was miserable to be sick, and more miserable to be this sick. Ukitake lay on his futon, a bloodied handkerchief in one hand, his breathing labored from the bout of coughing that had just passed. Weakly, his other hand reached up to adjust the damp cloth over his forehead, as it had been shaken loose when his body contorted from coughs.

Suddenly, the door opened, and he raised one hand. "Leave, please. I don't feel well, and would hate for you to catch my illness."

"After all these years, nii-sama, if I were going to catch it, I would have." Kyouraku walked in, shutting the door behind him and waving a hand in front of his nose. "Ara, that smell! I can't understand how you can stand the smell of that incense!"

A weak laugh came from the body on the futon. "It masks the smell of sickness, as I've told you."

Squad Eight's captain tossed his hat to one side, where it landed lightly on a table, followed by the garish kimono he wore over his haori. "It's funky, Whitey." He walked over to where the sticks were smoldering and lifted them out of the sand, littered with the ash of the week's incense sticks, snuffing them in the sand. "So, I know you're burning with both fever and curiosity to know what the meeting was about." He walked over to the windows, opening them one by one.

Ukitake grinned. "I'd like to know, of course, but -" he broke off, coughing again and cursing inwardly his illness.

While his fellow captain was coughing, Kyouraku poked his head out the door again. "Excuse me gorgeous, could you get me . . . ?" There was the sound of footsteps in the hallway, and then in a short time, before the white-haired captain had finished hacking again, the door opened. "No, I've got it, sweetheart. Arigatou gozaimasu!"

Kyouraku shut the door with one foot, his arms full of an assortment of things. He set them down near the futon, and started chatting. "Well, you wouldn't believe it, nii-sama, that's all. It's pure madness." He plucked the blood-stained cloth from his friend's hand, replacing it with a crisp white one. "You see, sempai's gone AWOL."

"What?!" Ukitake sat up - or tried to, as Kyouraku's hands pressed down on his shoulders before the other man could do more than telegraph the move. "Let me up, Shunsui!"

"Not gonna happen, handsome, so you best just lay back down." He didn't take his hands away until Ukitake stopped struggling, then grabbed the cloth from the sick man's forehead. There was a teakettle resting in a ceramic bowl, and the dark-haired captain set a clean cloth in the bowl, pouring the cool water over it. "Now, listen. She took that tall, silver-haired girl from her squad, and the gaijin, one of the muscle from 11, Squad 12's lieutenant, and your newest girl with her." He placed the damp cloth over Ukitake's forehead, smoothing it gently.

There was frustrated wonder in the other man's brown eyes. "What is she doing? Where did she go?"

"Human world, from what Kurotsuchi said." Kyouraku set the kettle on a small brazier, lighting the coal in it, and turning to light a small lamp on a desk. "She filed the paperwork properly, but had her vice-captain file it after she left - that's what got everyone's panties in a snarl." He unfolded a spare blanket from the pile he'd had brought in and spread it over his friend's body.

Ukitake shook his head. "What a mess! Why would she do something like that?" He grunted softly as Kyouraku lifted his head, sliding another pillow beneath it and propping him up a little more.

The kettle was hot, so Kyouraku poured some of the hot water into a cup, setting the tea next to the futon. "Well, she said it was some kind of emergency. Doesn't look like there's much trouble she'll get into." He grinned. "Kurotsuchi's upset because she co-opted his resources, and Soi Fon's upset because she snuck out without raising alarms, but if her reason's good, she'll be fine."

"I suppose you're right . . . ." Ukitake blinked as he looked around the room. "Shunsui . . . you didn't have to do all this."

The dark-haired captain grinned again, sliding his pink kimono back on. "I kind of did, nii-sama. But don't think I want to be your nursemaid full-time." He set the hat on his head, tipping it back. "Don't worry about sempai. She's smart enough not to do something stupid without a good reason, and she's careful."

Ukitake sighed, settling back into the pillows. "I suppose you're right. Arigatou, omouto-chan." He grabbed a book that the other captain had put within easy reach. "And I don't want you to be my nursemaid - takes away all the fun of pinching bottoms." The other captain roared with laughter as he left the room.

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Ahh! Such a great assortment of knowledge!" Unohana's face was almost glowing as she eyed the pile of books and journals in front of her. "Takeuchi-san, thank you again for this suggestion. I'm certain we can help not only Ukitake-taicho but all of Soul Society with this knowledge."

He flushed. "I'm just glad I could help, taicho." There was a moment's pause, and he asked, "Should we, um, go and get dinner now?" Get dinner and get out of their way, he meant.

She smiled brightly, if abstractedly. "That would be lovely. As I said, go ahead and take Kuragari-san and Abarai-san with you to help." Her lovely face was already buried in one of the books, flipping through pages eagerly.

 

[Armphid]

The sun was still up but beginning it's downward descent as the three young shinigami emerged from the ryokan. The traditional inn had been entirely rented by their party for the next week in order to give them all privacy and time to work. It was a wise choice on the part of that Urahara guy, Isamu thought. The place was in the traditional Japanese style so it would relax the Soul Society natives who just plain and simple didn't get the modern world.

"So, what do you two feel like?" He looked over at Amaya and Renji.

"Well, we're supposed to get food, right? I guess that's what we should do." Renji shrugged.

Isamu shook his head, "Part of that job is also to stay out from under their feet while they're doing their research, Abarai-san." He stuck his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. God, it felt good to wear something like this again. "We need to also find something to occupy ourselves for a few hours."

Amaya was looking over the skyline of the town. "It shouldn't be too hard. I've never been to the human world before. It's so big and there must be lots of amazing things to do." She smiled back at the two men, "Takeuchi-kun, Abarai-kun, let's have fun!"

~~~~~~~~~​

"So what do you think?" Renji had on a pair of shiny silver mirroed sunglasses in an aviator style. "They don't feel goggle-like enough for me, but..."

"I think it looks good." Isamu shook his head, "The stuff you usually wear looks like some weird sci-fi movie prop. Those look like sunglasses."

"Sci-fi?" Renji pulled the glasses down his nose. "What the hell is that?"

"They're pink!" Amaya beamed as she popped up between the two of them; wearing a pair of round sunglasses with pinkish lenses. "Aren't they cute?"

Isamu felt his heart swell. "Yeah, Kuragari-chan, you're, uh, I mean they're really cute." She looked absolutely adorable right now. With that coat and the dress and those John Lennon shades...why did Abarai have to be here?

Renji nodded. Why the hell did Takeuchi have to be here? "Yeah, you should get them, Amaya-chan."

Isamu blinked. What did he just call her? And she seemed fine with it. He was...closer to Amaya than Isamu now.

...Damn it. And this had been such a good day.

~~~~~~~~~​

"So how do I do this again?" Amaya was holding a pool cue in her hands, looking at it curiously.

"Easy, Kuragari-chan." Isamu leaned down and lined up a shot. "You use the stick to hit the white ball and try to knock the others into the holes." He set his cue down and walked around the pool table. "Here, let me show you." He tried not to notice how nice it felt to be near her as he showed her the form for lining up and taking a shot, leaning over her as she did so, just barely not touching her.

Amaya wriggled a bit and Isamu had to fight to keep from letting out an appreciative breath. Then she snapped the cue forward and there was a sharp crack as several balls rolled apart, the 5 tumbling into a corner pocket. "I did it!"

Renji sat at the bar with a tall mug of beer staring at a television screen. A game of baseball was being played on it. His expression was one of complete bafflement. "Okay, if that guy's throwing things at him, and he's got a club, why doesn't he just...you know?"

The businessman next to Renji at the bar edged away slowly.

~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu and Amaya leaned on the railing of a park that was built on one of the mountain foothills that the town sloped up into. The town was painted in a wash of colors as the sunset, ablaze in golds and oranges and reds and pinks.

"It's pretty." Amaya sighed. "It's so wonderful here!"

"Yeah." Isamu looked at the pink haired beauty as he spoke. "It really is." He glanced around, finding Abarai nowhere in sight. "I'm glad you're here with me, Kuragari-chan." She looked over at him with a curious expression. "I like being back here, in the human world, but...it's really great to show it all to you and see it through your eyes."

He scooted a bit closer to her on the railing. Both of them were leaning on it, mostly erasing the difference in their height. She was so close. Amaya turned her head, looking up at him. Isamu felt his pulse quicken. So close...to those lips. He leaned in just a hair, to see her reaction. She didn't move away but her cheeks had a faint flush...or was it the sun set? He took a deep breath. God, finally. He leaned in more, finally, they'd-

"OY!" Isamu and Amaya jerked apart. Renji stood on the incline below, "There you are! I'm done with the shitter, so let's get out of here, huh?"

"God...damn it," Isamu muttered. Then he sighed. His next words were at a normal level, "Well, Kuragari-chan, want to see what Karakura's like after dark?"

 

[HookerBoots]

"Are you sure this'll be good?" Renji's face was doubtful, but he sniffed at the air coming from the diner. "I mean . . . it's not normal."

Amaya pouted at him. "Abarai-kun, stop being stubborn! If Takeuchi-kun says it'll be good, I'm sure it will be!" She peered into the window, her eyes curious and eager. "Besides, where's your sense of adventure? I thought Squad Eleven members were all bold and fearless!"

Looking at both of them, Isamu smiled a little wryly. "It'll be great, and this place says it has traditional Japanese food too, so even if you don't like it, you'll have something to eat." He opened the door. "Kuragari-chan, Abarai-san."

Amaya bounced inside, smiling gamely, while Renji walked in after a hesitation, with a doubtful expression. Isamu grinned wildly at him, following the red-haired man inside. He took a deep breath and sighed. This place smelled like home - a little greasy, salty, and beefy. Wonderful.

From the kitchen, there was a cheerful, "Konbanwa, minna-san! I'll be right there, please have a seat!" It was followed by a clatter of pans being moved around, and a sizzle. A tall, dark-skinned man walked out of the kitchen, smiling broadly, and Isamu smiled back as he and the other two took a seat at a booth. "Would you like the regular menu," the man asked, "or . . . I bet you, my gaijin comrade, would like the special menu." He clapped a hand on Isamu's shoulder, grinning broadly.

The wolf-eyed shinigami grinned back. "If the special menu involved burgers and fries, I'd love it." He held out a hand. "Isamu Takeuchi, half-breed."

The black man laughed and shook his hand. "Peter Washington, transplant." He clapped his hands together. "Let me get the menus - I'm betting," he said, looking them over, "the other guy'll want the regular menu, and the young lady will take the special one."

Amaya nodded enthusiastically, while Renji nodded sullenly. Isamu looked at Renji and bit back a laugh. "We'll be ordering some for take-away too, just to give you a head's up. And we'll be getting a lot."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Renji looked at the burger on his plate, unsure. But he didn't want to look like a coward in front of Amaya or Takeuchi. "How do you eat it?"

Amaya slurped noisily at her chocolate milkshake, then grinned. "Follow Takeuchi-kun's example - put everything on it, and then grab it!" She followed her own advice, layering pickles, tomato, onion, and lettuce on the patty and lifting the sandwich to her mouth. "It's thick . . . but it smells really good!" And with that, she crunched into it, chewing happily. "Ish great!"

Isamu bit into his own burger, sighing in near-ecstasy at the taste. He swallowed, nodding at Renji. "Just give it a try, Abarai-kun. If you don't like it, you won't have to finish it - we'll get some soba or something for you." He picked up a fry, dipping it in ketchup and biting into it, another pleasure-soaked sigh coming from him.

"I'm not a fussy baby," the red-haired man muttered, slapping the vegetables onto his burger. He put a dose of ketchup onto the patty, then grabbed it and, as though he were stepping onto a battlefield, took a bite. Slowly chewing, his face went from suspicion to surprise. "Mmm!"

"I told you so!" Isamu took another bite of his burger, watching covertly as Amaya sipped her milkshake. That shouldn't be as hot as it was. But god, was it hot, watching those pink, luscious lips wrap around the straw and suck hard . . . he should stop thinking about it.

She picked up a fry, looking at it with curiosity before crunching into it. "What are we going to take back to the others?"

~ ~ ~ ~​

Two bags of burgers and fries, six to-go cups of milkshakes, and a stack of three small bento boxes ended their purchases. It had been expensive, but worth it. And luckily, it wasn't too far away from the ryokan, so the odds of Amaya finishing her third milkshake before they got back to the others was slim.

They walked in the door, smiling and chatting animatedly. The three women looked up from their research, a little surprised at the interruption. "Back already?"

"It has been four hours, Unohana-taicho," Nemu said softly, stretching her arms over her head.

The gentle-eyed captain blinked, then looked at the window. "So it has. Well, in that case, well timed! What have you brought us?"

Amaya beamed. "Unohana-taicho, you wouldn't believe it! There's a diner just down the road that's run by an American! We got burgers and fries, and milkshakes. And apple pie!" She pointed at the bento in Renji's hands. "We also got some udon and soba, in case you didn't care for it."

Isane looked doubtful. "Burgers? What are those?" She sniffed the air. "It smells all right, at least."

 

[Armphid]

Isane chewed thoughtfully. "It does taste all right. And the contrast of the juicy meat with the crispness of the onion and the fresh taste of the tomato and lettuce is interesting..." She shook her head, "But it can't be good for you, all this red meat."

Isamu couldn't help himself. He grinned at the often timid 3rd Seat, "I can't think of anything at all wrong with you having a big piece of hot meat, Koutetsu-san."

She gasped at him, cheeks coloring, "Takeuchi-san!" He'd been more bold in his flirtation that usual but...in front of the captain! And to...to say that! Though it was also, well, it was a nice thought, but...completely inappropriate!

"I think he just meant that you could use more protein in your diet, Isane-san," Unohana commented. "Most of it in Soul Society comes from fish or soy and you tend to avoid both of those, don't you?"

She knew he didn't mean that. He meant he wanted to...Isane blushed again and looked down at the hamburger. "I suppose so."

Isamu winked at Amaya, who giggled. She was on her way to finishing her fourth milkshake. He thought she may have found a new favorite beverage. He'd have to find out how to make them for her.

Renji may have said something like "He meant nothing like that and we all know it" or it may have just been a muffled series of growls and masticating noises as he devoured his second burger and half of Nemu's, the slender girl not wanting that much.

Amaya was bopping up and down where she was sitting, "I can't wait to see what this "pie" is like! I really like American food so far!"

Isamu rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, "Well, maybe when we get back I could make it for you sometimes, Kuragari-chan?"

"Hai! Onegai, Takeuchi-kun," She chirped and smiled at him.

Nemu had a slice of pie in front of her on a plate, having removed and tried a small section. "It's good."

"Ah! Nemu-san!" Amaya pouted at the stoic vice-captain, "How could you start the pie without us?"

"...I was finished with my meal so it was time for dessert." She tilted her head, "Besides, I am uncertain you will be able to consume any, since you have been taking in vast amounts of the beverage classified as milkshake."

"Are you saying I eat too much?"

"...Yes." There was a faint twinkle in the doll-like eyes as she said it.

Isamu watched her as Amaya began to protest and tease the other girl back. Was she...having fun? Was that even possible for Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou? "It's okay, Nemu-san," he piped up, wondering if it was really okay to call her that, "Kuragari-chan's so energetic and ho-, uh, healthy, that she needs a lot of energy."

Renji snickered into his food.

"That's right!" Amaya nodded, "Thank you, Takeuchi-kun."

Isane shook her head, "Gomen, Taichou." She was enjoying the antics and all, really, but it wasn't proper. "They're not behaving as they should in your presence. I think it's the sugar in these milkshakes."

Unohana patted the tall woman's shoulder, "It's all right. It's fun, Isane-san. You should join in, if you want." She was smiling. "Sometimes, it's nice for a captain to be able to be a person instead. Besides, this is nothing compared to how things used to be when I was sempai to Kyouraku-kun and Ukitake-kun."

~~~~~~~~~​

Everyone was in bed, or so Isamu thought. In the room they were sharing, Renji was already asleep, snoring softly. The American rose and put on a pair of loose trousers before padding out into the courtyard of the inn.

He was having trouble sleeping. Despite his lightness earlier that day, there was a lot on his mind. The way he felt about Amaya was changing, he could really feel it now. And it might not be wise. Was it even honest to feel that way? After all, they'd never...and she didn't even...look at him that way.

He shook his head as he paced the open space. He looked up at the sky, unable to see many stars in the city lights. Then there was this place. He'd talked a little with Peter Washington and it was clear that...he'd missed a lot of important things back home. The world had passed him by. He had expected it to, of course, but the reality was jarring. This wasn't his home anymore. He didn't belong in the human world. And he didn't belong in Soul Society really, either. So...what place was there for him?

He didn't belong in Squad 4. He knew it. He'd never accomplish his goals there. But he also just couldn't run out on Unohana-taichou or Isane-san, as he'd taken to thinking of her. But where would he go? Who would want him after all he fuss he'd raised?

Isamu shook his head. This...wasn't doing much good, was it? He needed to do something. He reached into the pocket of the trousers and withdrew a tube full of odd little candies. He shook one out and popped it into his mouth. His gigai sagged back onto a nearby bench limply as the true Isamu, his soul shot forward several feet, spiritual energy flickering between the container and the shinigami. He shrugged his kosode off, laying it over his motionless gigai.

He unsheathed his sword, standing bare chested in the faint light of night in the city. He began to move through sword forms; slowly at first, but faster as time went on. Perhaps if he did this enough, he'd be able to stop brooding about the rest.

 

[HookerBoots]

After dinner, they sat and talked for a while, mostly listening to Unohana's excitement over the things she'd learned today. It was amazing how excitement lit up her entire being, especially with the possibility to help people added in. But the later it got, the more everyone started yawning, and the captain finally sent them to bed.

As they filed out slowly, Amaya heard Nemu say, "Unohana-taicho, if you are tense, I might be able to help you sleep." It was, she knew, a factor of her own dirty mind that she thought something naughty.

The girls' room was across the hall from Unohana's room where they'd been studying, and the boys' room was next to the girls'. Amaya waved a cheery goodnight to Renji and Isamu, who both seemed a little pensive. Or maybe they were just full. She slid the door shut behind herself and smiled at Isane. "So, Kotetsu-san, which futon shall we leave for Nemu-san?"

The silver-haired shinigami looked at the mattresses on the floor and shrugged. "I would say the middle one, so that she can just walk straight in and lay down. And you shouldn't call her so informally."

"Hai, but she said that we should, so that it looks less . . . not normal." The pink-haired girl took her jacket off, and started to unzip her dress. "When we return home, I'll call her Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho again."

Isane nodded, a little mollified. "That's good - at least she said you could." She herself was starting to strip as well, unbuttoning the satiny shirt and shrugging it off her shoulders. "Kuragari-san . . . may I ask you something?"

"Of course, Kotetsu-san." Amaya wriggled out of her dress and was standing in her panties, holding the rust-colored garment in one hand.

Isane looked at her, then blushed and looked away. "You've been . . . with boys, right? I mean, you're pretty, and not giant and gangly like I am, so boys like you."

~ ~ ~ ~​

After reassuring Isane that she wasn't a hideous monster, Amaya was almost thrown by the 3rd seat asking her what it felt like. Which gave the younger girl an idea, but they were both so tired by the day's events that she wasn't going to bother trying to put it into motion tonight. Instead, she promised Isane that they would talk about it more the next night, and let them both fall onto their futons.

She was just about to doze off when two things pulled her from the brink. One was the fact that Isane had started talking in her sleep, murmuring about people 'not telling the flounder' about things. The other was the feeling of Isamu moving around out in the hallway and out of the inn.

The idea had passed through her mind that, as much as he missed the human world, he might take this as a chance to leave them. But he'd seemed to be having fun with them, so she'd let it go. Sitting up in the dark, Amaya felt him go outside, and then . . . stop. That was unexpected. Maybe he just had to . . . answer a call of nature? Or wanted to stargaze.

If it were the former, she'd know in a moment when he headed back in. But as the moments passed, she sighed and stood up, tying a thicker robe over her sleeping robe and heading out into the hall towards where she could feel him.

In the small courtyard, he was there, shirtless, working with his sword. As Isamu turned again, sword in hand, Amaya moved to stand next to his gigai. "Ah, Takeuchi-kun. Why so strenuous an activity so late?" she asked softly, tilting her head to look at him.

 

[Armphid]

She’d surprised him; Isamu was so deep in his own head and the practiced motions of the forms he hadn’t even noticed her presence drawing near. He turned from the last of the forms, ready to start over from the first, and there she was. “Kuragari-chan…”

She was bundled up in a thick terry cloth bath robe that was wrapped snugly around her lush figure and he could see the edges of her sleeping robe beneath the hem. Her face was as pretty as ever, curious and sweet and a touch concerned. Her hair was slightly tousled from the brief amount of sleep she’d gotten, if any, the full effect simply adorable. God, he wanted to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her right there, right now.

Instead he straightened up, shouldering his weapon. “I’d say it’s nothing but I know you’d see through that.” He sighed as he sheathed his sword. “You came out after me too. You…really know me well, don’t you, Kuragari-chan?”

He meant it rhetorically, so he shook his head and began to speak again before she could reply. “I started the forms because I couldn’t stop thinking about some things. I’m having a…minor identity crisis, among other them.” He sighed. The parts concerning her and his feelings for her were best left alone. Damn it all. “It’s hard to start, but…you know that I based a lot of who I am on the fact that I wasn’t born in Soul Society. That I remember being human and living in this world. Being from here was a key part of who I was.”

He turned to one side, his profile to her. “But I’m not from here. This world…it’s not the one I know, the one I remember. And I knew it wouldn’t be but seeing the reality of it is different than knowing it.” His lips quirked in what might have been a smile before they dipped into a set expression, “I don’t belong here anymore.”

Isamu looked up at the sky. “And I don’t belong in Soul Society either, it’s not my culture. I don’t know the history or the songs or anything. I don’t belong in Squad 4. Mitsukake is right; his reasons are largely wrong but his conclusion isn’t. I’m never going to fulfill my potential there. But even if I did run out on Unohana-taichou and Koutetsu-san and Kira-kun, where would I go? Who would want me?” He shrugged, “Squad 11 maybe but even if my sword weren’t a kidou type, their ethos is repugnant to me and I don’t want to be part of that. So what place is there for me anywhere?”

He laughed bitterly, “I talk a lot about being strong and not minding being hated and wanting to change things but I don’t know if any of that matters. How strong am I if something like this turns me inside out? I say I don’t care about belonging but I feel lost now that I really don’t fit anywhere.”

“And then there’s…well, that’s enough for now. More than enough.” He sighed. “I feel like I’m whining. Everyone has problems and deals with them, so why can’t I just deal with it?” He pulled his sword, sheath and all, from his sash. “I thought maybe if I worked a little, tired myself out, that I’d stop thinking about it. Hasn’t worked.” He looked over at her, “So…more than you wanted to know, right?”

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya perched on a stone bench, feeling the chill of the stone through her robes. "Takeuchi-kun, I'm sorry to hear you feel so bad about your place." She pulled one leg up onto the edge of the bench and patted the seat next to her. "Sit down for a minute."

As he sat down next to her, she leaned her head back, looking up at the sky. "I don't remember . . . I don't remember being alive. I know I must have been, because I wasn't born in Soul Society." She sighed, studying the stars above them. "You are different, I won't tell you that you aren't. But that's not bad." It was surprising how many stars she could see in a city like this. "I spent a long, long time as an orphan in one of the moderate sections of rukongai, before I enrolled in the Academy. And you have a different perspective."

Amaya glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "It's a good perspective. You can make people think about why things are the way they are, and see that things might be better if they changed." She sighed, folding her arms over her chest. "I don't know what to tell you about where you'll fit in - but you're right about not belonging in Squad Four."

Shifting, Amaya turned to face him, her eyes bright. "Takeuchi-kun, the other day, when I was having lunch with Unohana-taicho, she said that she knew you wouldn't reach your potential within her Squad. She just wanted you to find it out yourself." She smiled a little. "You wouldn't be running out on them - but I understand how you feel. I felt terrible, leaving Michiru-chan and Hotaru-chan. But I had to leave, because I . . ." she paused. She couldn't tell him the real reason, or he would get angry. "Because I needed more than what I would have had in Squad Three. And I feel . . . I feel more at home in Squad 13 than I have since I entered the Academy."

Smiling, she put a hand on his shoulder, trying to not notice the feel of his skin under her hand - which was odd, since she was still in her gigai. "Besides, I know that Unohana-taicho, Kira-kun, and Kotetsu-san wouldn't stop talking to you if you left Squad 4 - they understand that you aren't meant to stay there." Amaya licked her lips. "Unohana-taicho found me a good place. I'm sure if you talk to her, she'll help you find where you'll belong."

 

[Armphid]

Isamu sat silently for a few moments. Then he raised a hand and placed it over Amaya's as it rested on his shoulder. He gave her hand a squeeze. He wanted to hug her. He really wanted to hug her. But that...he shouldn't. "Maybe she can help, but...it's up to me, in the end, isn't it?"

He looked over at her, his wolfish eyes meeting her sweet green ones. "I'm the only one who can feel like I belong. I do when...when I'm with you. So maybe that's a good start."

Instead of hugging her, he lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it, as though he was some old time courtier. He didn't let it go but held it and lowered it to press it above his heart on his chest. "Arigatou, Kuragari-chan. I feel better. And I'm glad you told me about what you and Unohana-taichou discussed."

He sighed and stood up, picking his kosode off of his gigai and putting it on, though he didn't bother to belt it closed. "You know you've listened to me talk a lot of times, like this, I mean." She was the only one he felt he could talk to, really. "But I've never...what I mean is, if you ever need to talk...I'll be there." For anything, he added silently. For anything.

He groaned as he sat down and back, his spirit melding with the artificial body. "Uhh...I should've positioned myself better. My neck's stiff now." He sat up, rubbing at the aching body part.

Isamu stood up again and offered his hand to Amaya, "Come on, let's go inside. Can't have you catching a cold on your first trip to the human world, can we?"

 

[HookerBoots]

The next day was the same as the first, more or less. More research and gathering of materials, with Amaya, Renji, and Isamu trying to stay out of the higher-ranked shinigami's way. Amaya found that Unohana-taicho looked more relaxed, almost glowing. Even Isane noticed, to the point of asking if her captain had slept well. The smiling response she received had the others looking at Nemu curiously, but the raven-haired vice-captain remained impassive.

After dinner, they followed the same pattern as the previous night, chatting idly over the remains of the pizzas that Isamu had found. Finally, the younger shinigami were yawning broadly, and Unohana shooed them out of her room. "Go on, tomorrow we split up!" she said, waving her hands at them. "Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho, if I could have a word before you go to bed?"

"Of course, Unohana-taicho." Nemu sat back down, hands folded demurely in her lap as the others filtered out through the doorway.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Again, as they readied for bed, Isane hesitated. "Kuragari-san . . . ."

"Hai, Kotetsu-san?" Amaya was already mostly out of her clothes, her dress pulled down to her waist.

It was obvious that the silver-haired girl was nervous. "Last night, you said that you would tell me . . . well, you know."

Amaya nodded, hiding a smile. "Well, Kotetsu-san, there are a lot of things that factor into it. But I think I can give you a demonstration."

Isane paused, her blouse open, her skirt already around her ankles. "A demonstration? But how?"

Now Amaya smiled, flipping her hair over her shoulders and wriggling the rest of the way out of her dress. "Well, it's easier to show than tell." She stepped closer to Isane, their bodies only a few feet away. "And I did pack something that may help us both. It's a great teaching aid."

The 3rd seat looked nervous, and glanced around as though someone might see them. "Kuragari-san . . . are you sure that you couldn't just tell me?" She swallowed hard, looking down at the shorter girl and trying to avoid ogling her breasts. "I mean, it isn't . . . it isn't proper."

Amaya reached out a hand, stroking Isane's arm through the silky sleeve of the shirt. "Maybe not. But I promise I'll never tell anyone."

 

[Armphid]

Nemu sat still as Unohana shut the various doors and windows and cleared things up for bedtime. Her dark eyes were thoughtful as the gentle woman then settled back down in front of her. "How may I help you, Unohana-taichou?"

Unohana smiled sweetly. "By continuing to perform admirably, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou, but that isn't what I wished to speak to you about."

Nemu nodded. "I see." She reached behind herself; her long fingered hands finding the zipper for her dress and starting to pull it down.

The healer held up one hand, "That wasn't what I meant either...not that I dislike the idea." She looked at Nemu for several long moments. "Are you happy where you are now, Nemu-san?"

"I...do not understand the question."

"Are you happy?" Unohana's eyes were a bit sad. "I know you have a keen mind and are a skilled scientist. But I also know that Kurotsuchi-taichou takes credit for anything you do." Nemu nodded. "I also am aware that he often...harms you. As punishment or simply for his amusement." Again Nemu nodded. Retsu's heart swelled with anguish. The poor girl! It was terrible. "He doesn't appreciate you and he uses you badly."

"...Yes. He does." The sad eyed young woman looked down at the floor. It was the honest truth. She knew it. But why would Unohana bring this up? She did not wish to think about it. About going back there.

"Come to Squad 4." Nemu looked up with a start. "We do research as well, as you have seen, and we could use someone of your incredible intellect and talent. I...am likely going to be replacing my vice-captain soon, though you should keep that to yourself, and you would be a good replacement. You would be doing good work and you would also be with people you appreciated you and would treat you as you deserve."

~~~~~~~​

Isane gasped, her breath escaping her in short, hot pants. "Ku...Kuragari-san, this...it's so wrong, but..."

"But you like it. It's okay, Isane-san. You're supposed to." Amaya had pressed the much taller woman against a wall; ridiculous in a way considering the difference in their sizes. The buxom pink haired beauty leaned up and kissed the silver haired amazon delighting at the shy response. She could feel that Isane wanted it, was eager for it, but she was still holding back.

She'd get her to let it go.

Amaya let herself back down with a smile. "You're just the right size," she sighed happily.

"For wha-ahh!" Isane's eyes went wide and then closed as Amaya kissed one rosy nipple and then the other. "Oh...my." The shorter woman began to kiss and lick Isane's generous breasts; bathing the gorgeous mounds of flesh before she took one stiffening nipple into her mouth and began to suck. "Hhhnn, ahh, that's...good."

"Mm-hmm," Amaya agreed. She let one hand slip low, her fingers tracing over Isane's knee and then along the inside of her thigh. The tall woman quivered with anticipation as her fingers drew slowly closer and closer to the panty-covered core of her sex. Then she pressed a palm firmly to her new lover's mound, feeling heat and wetness through the thin cloth as Isane inhaled sharply. "Ara...so hot, Isane-san."

The healer licked her lips, "H-hai. It's that way...a lot now and since...I haven't...it doesn't seem to last long if I take care of it myself," she admitted with a blush.

Amaya licked the nipple in front of her lips. "Then I'll help you in more ways than one tonight." If Takeuchi-kun could see them now! He'd be so jealous! And maybe he'd join in...

She began to rub two fingers over Isane's slit through her panties. The older woman groaned, "Amaya-san...feels nice..."

"Is it still inappropriate?"

"Hai, but...but I don't care. Please, more..."

~~~~~~~​

Isamu and Renji both were sitting up, heads turned towards the room the girls were staying in. The muffled noises had reached them both; soft moans and gasps, low spoken names. "...Fuck." Isamu couldn't believe it. "That's..."

"Amaya-chan and...Koutetsu-san," Renji finished.

Isamu looked over at his sometimes friend and sometimes rival. "...are you..."

"Hell, yeah. Aren't you?"

"Yes, but...it would be...weird, wouldn't it?"

Renji shrugged, "I don't care...just the thought..." He shook his head and threw the blankets of his futon aside. His sleeping robe was loose on him; showing his muscled body and his wild tattoos and his swelling, eager cock. He shifted a bit, one hand running down the length. "Mmm..."

Isamu stared for a moment, truly shocked. He was shocked by just about everything right now. What was happening next door, his reaction to it, Renji just whipping it out, and...the fact that he...thought Renji looked fucking hot. Damn, his cock looked...good. Really good.

The American hesitated before following suit. He leaned back and rested against the near wall, his body uncovered. He wore his sleeping robe open, so the folds were parted to reveal his own lean, hard, strong body and his tall, proud, thick cock. He licked his lips and swirled his fingers over the head and groaned before letting his hand slip down to stroke slowly.

Renji eyed Isamu covertly. Wow. The gaijin had one hell of a rod. So it was true about them after all. Would it...maybe he shouldn't go there. "Yeah, just think about it..."

"Which it?" Isamu answered as he stroked his cock to the teasing and wonderful noises next door and the images they brought to his mind and...to the look and his own curiosity about the Squad 11 man's dick.

 

[HookerBoots]

Nemu stared for a moment. Had she just . . . it would be . . . . And then reality crashed home. "Gomen nasai, Unohana-taicho. Your offer is most kind, but I cannot." She sighed. "Mayuri-sama is not a kind man, but he is still my father. Even if it would not anger him, my leaving, I cannot . . . I owe my existence, such as it is, to him."

Unohana sighed. "I had expected as much. But I needed to offer - just to let you know that there is a place if you need or want one." She couldn't save everyone who needed it, even if that was her job.

The artificial woman smiled shyly, nodding. "I understand, and I am grateful for the offer and the thought." She reached for the zipper on her dress again. "I would very much like to show you how much."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Ohhh, Amaya-chan," Isane gasped, her eyes opening wide. "That . . . feels so good." She looked down at the busty girl, whose hand had just slipped inside of the silver-haired shinigami's panties, while her lips were wrapped around one of Isane's nipples. Isane was having a hard time keeping her hands pressed to the wall behind her and not running them through the other woman's soft hair.

Amaya caught the rosy nub between her teeth, pulling back just far enough to make the other woman gasp again before letting go. "You can let go, Isane-san. I promise you won't be hurt, and that I won't tell anyone else."

Isane flushed, looking down to where the pink-haired girl was stroking her mound gently. "Amaya-chan, I . . . if you're sure," she said softly, shivering a little at the sensation of her body being touched in placed where she'd only ever touched herself.

"Of course I am," Amaya cooed, pulling her hand back out of Isane's panties. "Now, come over and lay down - it'll be better that way." She took Isane's hand, tugging gently as she lead the girl over to the nearest futon. Before they both laid down, Amaya paused. "You could take off your underwear, as well."

Blushing, Isane nodded, hooking the fingers of one hand into the waistband of her panties, sliding them down her legs before laying down, trying to cover herself with one hand. Amaya wriggled out of her own panties and knelt down next to the naked woman. "Isane-san, don't cover your body - it's so beautiful." She took gentle hold of Isane's wrist and lifted her hand away from the juncture of her legs.

"Ah, Amaya-chan! Don't . . . it's dirty down there!" Isane squirmed nervously.

Amaya leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to the other woman's mouth. "It's not . . . it's very pretty. And very sweet." She let one hand slide down the long, lean body to Isane's hot, wet center, stroking delicately. "And soooo wet."

 

[Armphid]

Isamu groaned, his head tipped back against the wall. His hand moved faster up and down on his member as he listed to the soft moans from next door. Until they suddenly stopped. He paused in his masturbation, tilting his head. "What the..."

Renji growled, "Fuck, they can't stop now! I'm just getting started." The wild haired young man suddenly stood up and walked towards Isamu.

"H-hey," the American's eyes were drawn to the long, hard, generous cock bouncing toward him at eye level. Abarai, what the hell are you doing?"

"I can hear better from here." Renji paused in front of Isamu; looking straight ahead at the wall that the two rooms shared and listening intently. "They're moving around in there..."

"Yeah." Isamu's field of vision was filled with cock. A strong, proud prick that smelled...musky and...tempting. Had he really thought that? Damn, it looked...wow. "Uh, Abarai...do you mind?" Part of him hoped the man didn't.

"Huh?" Renji looked down and flushed, "Shit, sorry." He stepped to the side before sitting down beside the other shinigami, his back to the wall as well. "...Think they're done?"

"I hope not, like you said, I'd just...you know."

"Yeah." The flame haired young man considered a moment. He was thinking about something that had happened with Ikkaku-san and Ayasegawa-san. "Maybe...I mean, if they are, we could..."

"What the hell are you-wait." There was a soft gasp and then a long trailing feminine moan from beyond the wall that sent a shiver up Isamu's back. "Oh, fuck. Yeah, they're still going." He ran his fingers up the underside of his cock and cooed, "Ohh, yeah."

Renji swallowed as his eyes followed the motion. That was a gorgeous dick. Maybe...you know, what the hell? "You got a nice cock, Takeuchi."

"Huh?" Isamu started looking over at the sly looking fighter. "You...well, uh, thanks. I...saw yours on the way over and, uh, it...looked pretty good too."

Renji grinned. "It is." He licked his lips. "You know...we could...help each other out. I mean, you liked the look. Do you want to touch it?"

Isamu took a deep breath. Did he? He did. But should he? "If you wanted to touch mine, you could just say so."

"Heh." Renji smirked. "All right then. Let's do this." He reached over and Isamu gasped and moaned softly as his hand closed around the American's thickness. His other hand took Isamu's and guided it to his own throbbing manhood. "Damn...you're a big fucker, aren't you?"

"Y-you too. So...hot and hard but..." Isamu couldn't believe it. The way this felt...he was holding Abarai's hard cock in his hand and he...really liked how it felt. "Heavy and...I can feel the pulse in it." He pumped his hand experimentally and Renji let out a soft groan.

The moans had begun again beyond the wall, mostly Isane's shy, gentle voice raised in both protest and delight. It was ridiculously sexy. The two men listened, breathing growing heavier as they started to stroke each other's hard, ready cocks.

~~~~~~~~~​

Isane whimpered as Amaya's clever hands teased her sex. The girl's fingers stroked and petted her and it was just mad how much...better it felt than when she did it herself. "A-amaya-chan, it feels so...so good, it shouldn't but oh, oh, it does..."

Amaya giggled, "I know. And you're responding so well. You like being a naughty girl, don't you, Isane-san?"

The larger female blushed deeply. She nodded. "H-hai." She looked up at the pink haired sexpot kneeling next to her and reached up with one hand to caress one of Amaya's large, pert breasts.

"Ohh, that's nice, Isane-san," Amaya sighed. She arched her back a bit, pushing her tit into the curious hand. She nodded her head and moaned as Isane took the generous and luscious mound of flesh in her hand and gave it a tentative squeeze. "Touch them, please. You can use your mouth too, it's wonderful..."

Isane licked her lips. "I...I don't know." She then almost shrieked as Amaya slipped a finger past her labia and slid it into her cunt. "Ahmmp!" She put a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. After a moment, she let the hand fall, "Amaya-chan, that's...that's so...so..."

"Dirty?" She grinned as she felt Isane shiver. "Good, you like dirty. So do I." She pushed the finger in further, probing. "So tight, Isane-san...but no maidenhead. Were you a bad girl, Isane-san?"

The silver haired giantess nodded, not trusting herself to speak. It was just one finger but oh! Oh, how it felt!

Amaya chuckled. "Bad, bad, Isane-san. You know bad girls...they get fucked."

 

[HookerBoots]

Isane's eyes went wide. "B-but Amaya-chan, you're a girl!" She couldn't stop the moan that came from her lips when Amaya's finger moved inside of her again.

"That right," the pink-haired girl said with a little smirk. "But that doesn't mean much." Her hand moved slowly, gently fingering the other woman with a small smile. Amaya guided her partner's hand back to the curve of her breast, moaning softly when Isane's fingers massaged the plush flesh. "First, we need to get rid of Isane-san's shyness."

The silver-haired Amazon blushed a little. "I don't . . . ohhhh, Amaya-chan!" she cooed as the other girl added a finger into her pussy. "Feels so . . . big, stretching me . . . !" Her legs moved even farther apart, her hips just barely moving to meet Amaya's hand. "It . . . so good . . . ." Her hazel eyes traveled over Amaya's body, and she slowly, hesitantly, lifted her head to gently kiss the curve of Amaya's breast.

Amaya smiled, her free hand going to stroke Isane's hair, encouraging. "That's a good start, Isane-san. Take your time," she said, running her fingers through the silky silver strands, "and explore."

 

[Armphid]

"Explore," Isane murmured. This felt so naughty but it was also good. With her face so close to Amaya's soft, smooth skin, Isane could smell the gorgeous girl's light airy scent, even over the growing musky aroma of their mutual arousal. Even not touching, the heat from her body warmed Isane's face. She'd wondered what this would be like...usually in her mind it was Unohana-taichou but this...

Amaya cooed as Isane ran her tongue along the under curve of one tit; the other being fondled cautiously by the seated officer's right hand. "Mmm, Isane-san." Her fingers moved slowly; pleasing the statuesque woman and opening her, stretching her virgin tightness. When it happened, she didn't want there to be anything but pleasure.

Isane kissed her way to the crest of Amaya's breast before she kissed and then licked the stiff nipple. As Amaya shivered, she blushed but smiled a little. "Is that...good, Amaya-chan?"

"Hai, more, Isane-san." Amaya's eyes were bright as she looked down at the other woman. "Touch me and lick me more, you feel so nice."

Isane flushed but looked pleased. She...she wanted to be good, and also to not just be...used. It was hard to overcome her shyness but...Amaya seemed to like her body, even though she was so tall and strange. "So do you. I...I like Amaya-chan's breasts," she admitted with a rosy blush to her cheeks.

"Hee! And I like yours, they're so big!" Amaya's free hand gave one of Isane's nipples a pinch, giggling as the other woman let out a sound that was part indignant squawk and part moan. Then she herself let out a similar sound as Isane bit lightly on her nipple. "Ah!"

The two women giggled together and then moaned as Amaya's fingers pushed in deep and Isane fell to sucking on Amaya's luscious tits. She moved from one to the other, taking hot flesh in her mouth and suckling gently.

"Ohh, Isane-san's opening up," Amaya teased, "in more ways than one..." She twisted her fingers in the other woman's cunt, causing Isane to whimper. Then she began to pump them in and out of her, faster than before. "Almost ready for your fucking, Isane-san," she said sweetly.

 

[HookerBoots]

Isane shivered a little at the tone in Amayas voice, moaning around the soft breast in her mouth. The idea of being fucked . . . even if she didn't know how the other girl would manage it, the idea was wonderful, thrilling. She'd never felt . . . this much want before, to feel more inside of her than just her own touch.

"Ohh, I think someone likes that idea," Amaya murmured. "Let's see," she said teasingly, "if you're really ready for me to fuck this tight little hole." Another finger slipped inside the tall woman's body, and Isane gasped into Amaya's breast. She'd only ever used two herself, and then not often. This was . . . her hips arched up, filling herself with the pink-haired girl's fingers. Isane groaned again, her body moving, unconsciously grinding against Amaya's hand.

Licking her lips, Amaya starting moving her hand faster, pumping her fingers in and out of the silver-haired woman's cunt. "Isane-san's turning naughty," she cooed, using her thumb to rub over the other girl's clit.

A muffled whine came from Isane's throat, her mouth almost falling off of Amaya's breast as she gasped. "Ahhh, Amaya-chan . . . feel so hot . . . want . . . more!" Her voice rose in register slightly, making Amaya giggle.

"Anything you want, Isane-san." The pink-haired girl started to finger Isane in earnest, rubbing in a steady, firm rhythm against her clit. As the other woman's moans increased, Amaya leaned over and kissed her firmly, pushing her tongue into Isane's mouth.

"Mmmmph!" Isane's back arched at the feeling of Amaya's tongue in her mouth, their tongues wrestling together as the fingers inside of her pussy filled and stroked and the thumb on her most sensitive spot rubbed just right and she was . . . "Aummmph!"

 

[Armphid]

"Mmpp!" Isane writhed beneath the form of the smaller and younger woman who was utterly dominating her. She felt so hot, so wet, so dirty, so naughty, and so, so, so good! Her body was tightening; she felt as though each and every strand of muscle in her was being pulled taut. Amaya's tongue claimed her as they kissed, probing deep before the pink haired girl broke the kiss.

"Oh, Isane-san's about to cum," she purred. Her green eyes were bright and wicked. Wow! This was so much fun! And so hot! She'd never done this before, been so aggressive or taken charge like this, but it was definitely a good time! "Come on, Isane-san, cum for me." She giggled. "You're so pure and shy and proper all the time but this is the real you, isn't it? All hot and wet and loving being a dirty girl and wanting to be fucked. What would Takeuchi-ckun think, Isane-san?" Amaya felt the woman quiver and her smile grew. "I bet he'd love it. He'd get down and ram his hard cock in your sweet pussy and he and I'd take turns fucking you all night long," she whispered in a warm voice that dripped with lust.

"AHHHH!" Isane pushed her face into Amaya's chest, muffled her screams with the junior officer's large, plush tits. She shook and trembled; her juices gushing out of her sex as she came and came hard. Her muted cry went on and on until she had no breath, the sound ceasing although she still thrashed and wriggled.

She went limp then, slumped against Amaya. Her head raised, eyes dazed, "Am-aya...chan...I never felt...so much before." Her cheeks were flushed though it was more from the pleasure than any embarrassment. "I...I'm grateful..."

"You did good, Isane-san." Amaya stroked her head. "But...we're not done," she smiled. Isane looked up, her eyes sharper now and again a bit uncertain. "I haven't given you your fucking yet." She kissed Isane and lay her back down on the futon before standing up and walking over to where her large duffel bag was.

"But I don't understand...Amaya-chan, you don't have a..." Isane blushed. "You don't have a...so you can't..."

Amaya giggled. "I don't have a cock?" At the word, Isane nodded and flushed, though Amaya noticed she ground her thighs together a bit. "Well..." She reached into her bag, down past the clothes until she felt it and grinned. "You're right, I don't have one." She pulled out her gift from Rangiku.

Isane gasped as the buxom Squad 13 member turned back. "I've got two." In her hands was something Isane had never even imagined.

It was...she didn''t even know the word. It was long, maybe a foot and a half long, and two inches in diameter. It was flexible and bendy, a bright pink, and either end bulged looking like...like..."Amaya-chan, I...what is that?"

Amaya sauntered over, licking one of the ends. "Fun."