Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach which is probably a good thing too.
Synopsis: Set after manga chapter 317. Someone appears to assist Ichigo and the others in the upcoming War with more information than initially considered available. Rukia is determined to train harder than ever before and some surprising allies appear. Story is generally split between Rukia's story and OC's story.
IchigoXRukia, RenjiXOC and other pairings (I'll give too much away if I say any more)
A/N: The first part of the chapter is during the invasion from Grimmjow and his Fracción. Please Read/ Review and especially enjoy :)
Chapter 1 - Biding My Time
The fight raged in the skies above the seemingly unaware town as the shinigami and arrancar battled.
A solitary figure observed the battle perched on the edge of Karakura High School roof. The flashes of light exploded in the sky like fireworks with a haunted beauty considering the damage they were causing. A red beam streaked across the sky but dispersed as if it hit a stubborn obstacle in its path.
Another figure emerged from the shadows. It slinked over to the other but stopped a few feet away.
"Aren't you going to help them?"
"Aren't you?" she didn't bother to turn to look at the new arrival. She knew who it was. "They don't need my help yet."
"Sure they do."
"I wondered how long it would take for Kisuke to send you." She kept her eyes firmly fixed on the battle field ahead.
"You usually come looking for us. It seems your avoiding us. What's changed?"
"Nothing. You don't need me yet."
"We need everyone who can fight."
"Like I've already said," she turned to make sure her next statement understood. "'you don't need me yet'."
"You can't just turn up at the last minute," snapping her reply back.
"I can." The perched figure snapped back. "I work without anyone telling me what to do. Especially Soul Society. I don't walk with or for you. If only you would all remember that I help out with my free will. I'm not ready yet. I need time to get ready." With that she turned her back to continue observing the battle.
"You've had plenty of time already." Calm had returned back to her voice though the underlying tones of anger were felt.
"I've just awoke a few months ago. I don't remember enough yet." Her head lowered as if she hoped the action would create the answers she need.
"Will you be ready for the war? It's not far off."
"I'll be ready."
"So you're just going to sit here and watch them get pummelled?"
"Yep. Let's call it research; sounds nicer. You know, instead of hassling me you could go and help."
Yoruichi looked out over the scene. "The battles is nearly over."
"I suppose it is." Silence lingered for a moment as the final stages of battle. "I felt some familiar reiatsu not long ago. Was it who I thought it was?"
"If you're talking about Isshin, you're correct."
"So he's recovered some of his power then."
"'Seems so."
The perched figure rose from her seat grabbing a duffle bag and slinging it over here shoulder she strolled to the ladder on the other side of the school. A tingle of a small bell accompanied her movements, swaying on the strand of ebony hair which fell past her knees.
"I hope we'll see you soon," the dark skinned women said as the other passed her.
"Don't worry; you will… Make sure none of them die before then. Ok?"
"I'll do my best." The reply went unheard as they went their separate ways.
The cold water which came above her ankles was refreshing as the warm sun beat down on the rice pickers. She straightened up as the strain of working in the paddy fields all morning was getting to her.
"Kai-chan!"
She tilted her straw hat up, catching the glare of the sun. She searched for the owner of the voice.
"Kai! Over here!"
She turned around to see the tall figure wave enthusiastically at her. She pulled down the rim of her hat trying to hide her smile.
"Go on girl." Was the old lady who was in charge of the fields production. "I won't hold you back from having time with your sweetheart. Especially as you've been working hard. Go on, ya can have the rest of the day off."
"Hai, arigatō baba-san." She smiled knowing the young woman was only being affectionate.
Kai turned to her 'sweetheart' and trudged through the field keeping her hat low to protect her from the glare of the sun. When she made it to the other side of the field a hand was held out for her. She looked up into the amazingly intense eyes with that intriguing tint of red which she had never seen on anyone else before. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her up on to the track. The swift movement caused her hat to slip off and hang on her back. With the obstruction removed he leaned in and kissed her cheek. The touch brought a wave of sensations which thrilled her. She felt a blush rise up from her neck. He smiled at the embarrassment his sign of affection had caused.
"Stop smirking at me," she lightly punched.
"Oww," his smile grew wider at her reaction.
"You can just do that in public."
"What? Kiss you? Of course I can. Don't worry so much. Everyone knows were engaged." He caressed her flushed cheek, leaning in to whisper to her. "And I can't resist stealing a kiss from such a beautiful angel." - - -
She awoke with a start; her heart pounded in her chest making her lungs work painfully harder with the pressure. Her feet were twisted amongst the sheets. She took a moment to gain some control over her jumbled emotions before untangling her feet.
She was surrounded by piles of books: some open and stacked on other open books, some books had pages marked with dog eared folds or scrap paper filled with scratched notes in various languages.
"Tensei-sama." A voice called from the open door. The sun shone into her room so brightly it must have been midday.
"Tensei-sama?" the voice called again followed by the bespectacled bulk form which knelt in the door way, casting a short shadow adding to her conclusion that it was midday.
"I apologise for disturbing your rest. Tensho1-sama has come to request a conference with you."
"No need to apologise Tessai. I was waking up anyways," she reached over to the moss green haori which lay crumpled on the floor and draped it over her shoulders.
"Shall I prepare breakfast, Reifujin?" she felt her stomach gurgle an answer.
"Yes, thank you. Tell Kisuke I'll be out in 20 minutes. I need to have a shower."
"Of course, Reifujin," he inclined his head and was about to make his leave when she stopped him.
"And Tessai-san… Please call me Kai."
The only response he gave was a little bow which she knew meant he would continue calling her 'Reifujin' (lit: 'Lady'). He left her on her own, allowing her to get cleaned up.
After her shower, she entered the small room adjacent to the kitchen which buzzed with Tessai's activity, the green clad shop owner sat on the tatami mat fanning himself as he looked out to the garden. Seeing her enter he simultaneously turned to her direction, closed his fan, removed his hat and bowed low. "Good afternoon Lady Tensei."
"Enough!" Kai replied as she knelt on the other side of the zataku. "Stop with the formalities."
Urahara replaced his hat, opened his fan and reclined.
"Sure thing. How are you feeling?"
"Tired." It was more than just being tired, she was exhausted and frustrated but there was no need to tell him. He already knew, he always knew.
"Have you remembered anything of use yet?"
"Bits but not everything; it's still hazy. I'm trying to fit things together." It seemed better than saying 'nope, no progress at all. I'm useless and we're in the complete shits'. "I'll get there though. I presume that wasn't the reason you decided to pay me a visit. So what's the news?"
Before he could answer her the shōji connected to the kitchen slid open revealing the huge bulk whose intimidating appearance was lessened by the addition of a blue apron. He knelt by the zataku and gracefully placed the dishes on top.
"Thank you, Tessai-san."
"You're welcome Reifujin. I will clean alittle." He rose and made to leave.
"Please don't touch the books or papers."
"As you wish. I will clean around them." He exited through the shoji opened to the garden and she was once again alone with the shop owner. As she began to eat she waved her hand to indicate for him to continue.
"Inoue-san was taken by the Arrancar. Kurosaki-san and co. have went to Hueco Mundo to retrieve her."
"The healer. Why take her?"
"I believe they have taken her because she can manipulate time. She'll be able to restore the power of Hōgyoku as it weakens over time."
"Oh. Suppose that makes sense," she took a bite of the bread roll as she contemplated this news then stopped and looked at the man before her suspiciously. She swallowed what she still had in her mouth before she continued. "If you came here to ask me to go help, think again. I can't."
"Oh no," he waved his fan over enthusiastically at the same time as hiding the smirk that appeared. "Of course not. Although I do believe they need help; I've already received word from Soul Society. They're sending a few captains to assist."
"I didn't expect that from Yamaji"
"Kuchiki Taichō insisted. It seems his sister along with his Fukutaichō have joined Kurosaki-san," he stopped fanning and it was if he peered over the fan at her to see her reaction. But she continued to eat avoiding his obvious actions.
"I see. So what's happening now?"
"I've got a new invention."
She felt like rolling her eyes but instead she stuck with, "I bet you have," instead.
"The Tenkai Kecchū, similar to the Senkaimon2, will be erected across Karakura. I've asked Yamamoto SōTaichō to create a duplicate of Karakura on the outskirts of Rukongai."
"So what are you going to do with that?"
"The entire town, inhabitants included, will be transferred to Soul Society. In return the space where the town was will hold an uninhabited replica. It will allow Soul Society to send captains to fight the Aizen and the Espada without causing real damage to Karakura."
"Wow. I am in the presence of a genius." She really was amazed at the things he invented though at the same time she couldn't help but be suspicious of him. After all there seemed to always be a hidden a gender. "So what do you want from me?"
"Stick around just in case. I don't think this will be the final battle," his voice had that edge to it that was rarely heard. He was worried of future events.
"Well it's not like I can join the others in Soul Society. Thank you for stopping by. I need to continue my research," it wasn't that she was fed up talking to him, she just had a lot of work to do and the way things were going now time was running low.
"Yare yare. How far have you got?" he quizzed her.
"I won't know till I finish," she smiled at his obvious attempt to get some information from her. "But it's starting to come together. Not that it's actually making sense yet."
"Well I have to get back to the store. I've left Jinta and Ururu in charge." He rose to his feet and made a move to the doorway.
"I'll see you then. If there's any more news –"
"I'll make sure you're the first to know Tensei-sama," he cut in before leaving.
"Baka…" she called out. He always liked to tease her but at least he knew his place.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the first part. It will be a little slow to begin with but please keep reading.
Also take the time to review the story, it will be much appreciated.
Just a couple of notes:
1 Tensho - shop owner
2 Senkaimon – the gate used to travel from the living world to Soul Society