She fought the urge to sigh as she sat there in the grand hall. Her white fuku with soft cherry blossom's on the sleeves and pant legs, was comfortable at least. robes and pants loose fitting but comfortable, over her right should and going down to her left hip was a golden sash with a soft ruby clasp holding it there. Over her white robes she wore a long sleeveless orbi falling down to the floor about her, around her upper arm was a golden sash with a flower like broach the symbol for '1' eteched into the center of the flower. Her Zanpakuto rested against her back. Short snow white hair cut short to fall about her chin, long whisps of hair that fell down past her shoulders and short bangs. Wrapped around the whisps high up in her hair were beaded chains falling down, with a small crystalin sakura flower every third bead. She had powder blue eyes. Going down the rows on either side of the large dias's was the other tweleve squad captians.

Kouji Hamana across from her, his light purple hair pulled up in a spikey pony tail, his eyes closed at the moment and smiling as if he had the cats meow. Next to her was Ryuojin Shinsai, short black hair and cool gray eyes he was kneeling there looking bored at everything including this. Of course there was not a time when he didn't look bored. Shui Homura the captian of squad four with her pink hair and light blue eyes stared at the world as if she was enjyoing some private joke and perhaps she was, then there was Shin Maki, Subaru Minamori, and Yuu Wantabe Where lined up there going along the way. That was the in the order as listed squad captians 2 thru 7. Ko Ran was sleeping as he was kneeling there which was not so unsual. That made eight. Mina Abara was the captian of squad nine, Li, Rin, and Gin Hoshimoto made up ten, eleven and tweleve. All related they where annoying to deal with on a good day let alone a bad.

She looked over as the doors to the grand hall opened and in walked two people. One she knew well, had known she she was a child and would continue to know even if she was not a Imperial Soul Reaper. His white hair and teal eyes where enough alone to catch anyone attention. He was Toushirou Hitsugaya, with his Vice-captian Rangiku Matsumoto, and with him was Byakuya Kuchiki, and his Vice-captian Renji Abarai. The four walked down the long hallway towards the Dias's that was covered in hanging silks. No one, not even the Imperial Shinigami looked upon Enma. He remained where he was behind the silken curtains away from view. They served him, doing his bidding, although this was one of those rare times when the Shinigami of the Seiretei. Although they lived in the same area, often they did not see each other and things where left to them when problems arose in the Seiretei. The white and crimson robes of the Imperial gaurd that sat there where a sharp contrast to those of the black that where traditional Shinigami.

She listened as she heard or rather felt the voice of Enma and turned her head to look at the four.

"Do you know why you have been summoned here today?" She asked and fell silent.

"Yes." Byakuya answered and it was true that they did, they would have been told.

They had been summoned here concerning the Substitute Soul Reaper Kurosaki Ichigo. More to the point, why when there seemed to be ilregularties that this young man's name kept popping up.

"Then begin." Kouji said and they did, Byakuya informing them about Kurosaki Ichigo.

"It has been decided." Shui spoke from her place. "WE will leave the castle, and meet with this Kurosaki Ichigo and determine for ourselves the worth of this young man."

"Of course." Byakuya said and bowed. "We will prepare a warm welcome for you, as well as making sure that Kurosaki is present for your arrival."

She stood alone, understanding that she was to go ahead and prepare the way, after all she was the first captian, it was her job to make sure that things went smoothly there for a safe arrival. It was the job of the other court captians and there squads to ensure Enma's safe journey. Of course Squad one would remain there and protect the castle.

"Captian Hitsugaya." Li spoke. "Will be joining you for the return trip as well as meeting with this Kurosaki to determine wither or not allowing him to be close to us is a wise decision."

"Understood, and we humbly accept the compnay of Captian Hitsugaya, we will make certain that she feels the welcome that we wish you to recieve Your Excellency."

"We will arrive before the fall turns to winter." Gin said and then the room fell silent, and went dark. The remaining captians dissappeared with the Dias's and the only one in the room with them was Captian Hitsugaya. Together they walked out and into the streets and the doors to the Imperial palace closed and the castle once again dissappeared.

She stepped out and yawned stretching. Then looked over and smiled faintly.

"Ice cream." She said walking down the path.

"Hmm?" Byakuya said puzzled.

"Ice cream." She turned. "I'd love to try it, so I think I'm going to head to the human realm for a bit."

"Your supposed to be getting things ready here for.."

"You're way too uptight. First of all it's early spring. And Lord Enma will not be arriving until the winter comes. And believe it or not I'm quiet capable of doing my job and it does not take me this long to do it. Part of my being here remember is to weigh Ichigo Kurosaki as a person and determine if he is worth of being in Lord Enma's pressence."

The four fell quiet and she smiled. "So now that that's settled I'm going to earth and getting some ice cream, are you coming Uncle Toushirou?"

"No, I still have work to do." Toushirou said not even looking at her.

"Mauh~" Rangiku pipped up. "You haven't seen her in years the least you can do is spend an afternoon with her."Come on, stop being such a fuddy duddy."

Rangiku laughed as she linked her arms with both Toushirou and Sakura then began to drag them off, with Toushirou protesting the entire time about having work to do. Byakuya watched them go a moment before looking to Renji and nodding watching as he left to follow them and notify Ichigo that he would be needed before long in the spirit world. There where cermimonies to be prepared for, traditions to be upheld. All of that took time and Sakura was more interested in ice cream it would be a wonder if they managed to get anything down right in the end.

~*~

Once on the earth they were all in normal clothes, a t-shirt and shorts for Sakura, as well as Rangiku and Toushirou. She leaned on the counter and looked at the different varieties of ice cream the small parlor had to offer. There was a vanilla, a chocolate, and strawberry to name a few. Then there where ones that caught her attention. She wondered what a Chunky Monkey was or a Runway Cherry Explosion. Some of them sounded like something so very strange and she tipped her head.

"Anything you like?" Rangiku asked her and she tipped her head to look up at the taller Shinigami and giggled.

"Strawberries. But...I don't know if I want just a strawberry icecream." She said.

"You might enjoy Chocolate covered strawberry wonderland." The guy behind the counter said smiling at her.

"Really?" Sakura asked and he held out a small spoon.

"Here try it."

Sakura took the offered spoon and tried it, the flavors where wonderful. The chocolate was a fun taste, rich and inviting, it melted in the mouth and then there was her strawberries. And the two flavors together where wonderful.

"Yes I like that." She said nodding her head and he gave her a bowl with three large scoops.

"Just a Vanilla cone." Toushirou said and Rangiku sighed.

"Make that a chocolate covered Vanilla cone and a Chunky Monkey bowl for me topped with three cherries and a ton of whipped cream." Rangiku said endulging her sweet tooth.

Sakura giggled and looked around as she waited for them and then walked outside with them and sat down at a table. Looking about she took a deep breath.

"There are times when I wonder what it'd be like to be a normal soul reaper." She mused softly.

"Sakura?" Rangiku said softly. "Is something wrong?"

Sakura looked over at her and smiled shaking her head. "No not really, it's just that we don't get out much unless something like this comes up, then it's a matter of rotation. I lucked out and it was my turn to deal with the preperations outside."

Rangiku looked at her sadly and she smiled shaking her head. "Oh don't get me wrong, it's wonderful being part of the Imperial gaurd." Sakura said as she played with her ice cream and then felt a hand wrap around hers looking up she watched as Rangiku gave her a sisterly smile.

"Well then, when we're not working on making sure the events go well for this winter, we'll have to make sure you have fun while your out here too."

Sakura smiled weakly then looked down. "There isn't time for it, not really I got upset with Captian Kuchiki, but in truth I should be working right now, ironing out every little detail."

Toushirou looked at her as she looked at him then he shook his head. "I will work on things in the Soul Society."

"No offense Captian Hitsugaya." Renji said as he walked up with Ichigo, and the others. "But My captian is already handling that. He feels that Sakura being here getting to know Ichigo here would be better off then spending the bulk of the time over there."

"Oh, but." Sakura said and Ichigo shook his head.

"It's fine, you can stay at my place, and of course there's the isuse of going to school." Ichigo said as he stood there.

"Oh look that works out just fine then. You'll be staying with Strawberry and his family what better way to get to know him?"

Toushirou started chocking on his icecream at those words his mind going somewhere with that that he didn't want it going, not now not ever this was his beloved neice even if he didn't quiet know how to handle being around her.

"Easy there Toushirou." Ichigo said as he thrumped Toushirou on the back, to keep him form chocking on his icecream.

"That's Captian Hitsugaya to you." Toushirou said in a irrated tone to Ichigo.

"Not, to be overly confusing or anything but we've had this slight issue we've been discussing on our way here." Uryu said and Toushirou looked over at him.

"How do we address the two of you when your both Captian Hitsugaya?"

Sakura tipped her head and smiled getting up out of her seat and walking over to him. "Your a Quincy." She said as she walked around him not ignoring the question but trying to think of the best possible answer.

"Yes." Uryu said not happy thinking that she was avoiding the question that he had possed to them.

"Cool, I'd love to see you form an arrow sometime." She said innocently then turned and looked at Ichigo then her Uncle. "To be honest Ichigo is part of the Seiretei Soul Reapers, or the black robed. Which means that Uncle Toushirou is still Captian to him. And while by all rights my title and rank should be observed If I'm to fully understand who Ichigo Kurosaki is..." She looked back at him and folded her hands behind her back. Smiling as if she had the best idea ever and to her it was.

"Then Sakura works just fine."

Ichigo nodded. "Great now that that's settled, we have to get you enrolled."

"All of that has been forwarded to Kisuke. He's handling that so no need to worry about the school and such." Sakura said and chuckled then stretched.

"I need to get headed back. Now that your with Ichigo you should be fine." Toushirou said as he stood and turned to go. He supposed it was a testament to how much he trusted Ichigo that he was allowing him around her like this.

Ichigo watched both Rangiku and Toushirou go, as well as Renji after saying he'd check up on them later. Then looked down at her and shook his head. She was tiny like Ruki and while a part of him felt bad about it, he was going to stick her in the closet as long as Rukia didn't plan on spending a lot of time down here on earth as well he'd be fine. Taking her back to the house he snuck her in and sighed pointing to the closet. Orhime and the others said they'd back up later which was fine with him.

"You'll be sleeping there." He said and she peeked in.

"Hmm, cozy.." She said softly.

"So your not a normal Soul Reaper?" He asked and she laughed.

"Oh goodness no." She turned to face him. "I am an Imperial Soul Reaper." She said turning to face him. " Taicho Ichi Hitsugaya Sakura." She said nodding her head. "But as we discussed. Sakura works just fine."

Ichigo turned at the sound of his sisters coming up the stairs and heard them getting closer, lifting Sakura up he shoved her into the closet as gently as possible and closed the door then opened his room door.

"Hey Karin something wrong?" He asked her.

"Besides you getting weirder and weirder Ichigo?" Karin asked. "Yuzu wanted me to let you know dinner is ready and Dad is waiting for you down stairs."

"No thanks I'm skipping dinner tonight. Tell Yuzu thanks for me though." He said and closed the door to a protest of Ichigo tell her yourself. And nothing after moment but the thudding down the steps.

He heard the door slide open and Sakura peeked out. "Your family doesn't know I'm here do they?"

"No, they don't." Ichigo said looking at her. "It's easier that way."

"Kurosaki..." She mused. "What is your dads name?" She asked and he answered.

"Isshin." He said and she fell out of the closet landing on the floor with a soft thud. Laughing a warm sweet musical sound as she curled up there.

"I fail to see the humor in this." Ichigo said.

"You don't know?" She asked after a moment and whipped the tears away.

"Know what?" Ichigo asked.

"Kurosaki Isshin is an Shinigami Captian. A soul Reaper, or rather ex, no wonder your skills are so strong. You where born with the blood of an active soul reaper running thru you." She said smiling.

"I'm going kill him." Ichigo said and stood then paused. He hadn't ever told his father that he was a soul reaper although it made him wonder how much his father did know and simply let go.