Mayuri Kurotsuchi woke up earlier than usual that day. The Ryoka had been sent home the day before and, with Aizen, Tousen, and Ichimaru betraying the Soul Society, Captain-General Yamamoto had spent the last week trying to add new members to different squads in order to make-up for the loss of staff.

Mayuri started applying his black and white make-up to his body. It was a long task but rewarding to see the expressions on some people.

Soon after that was done, he put on the large white hat, with the tips that went to the right, the attatchments to his ears and chin, and finally the purple scarf that went on top of his Shihakusho and Haori.

Leaving his room, he saw Nemu waiting by the door.

"Sir, we're getting our new members today."

"Don't you think I know that, you twit?"

"My deepest apoligies, Mayuri-Sama."

They went to the research facility and found fifteen new members waiting, five women, the rest men.

He expected at least ten wouldn't last a week.

Akon was giving out assignments, many involving new gigai procedures.

Mayuri ignored the new staff and went to one of his new studies.

"What do we have today, Nemu?"

---------------------------

Akon wasn't impressed with the new staff. Many were already filing for transfers but were forced to at least try a day.

In the mean time, he had to watch them. If they responded well to the enviornment, they got a check mark. If they did not, an x.

The boys whined about how they wanted to work with explosives.

The girls only wanted to be in Squad 9 with the Vice-Captain.

Only one was there because she wanted to be.

He looked on the name sheet again.

Shiori Yusa.

High marks in all her classes.

Akon watched as she carefully observed the chemical reaction in one of their newer types of solvents.

She had long brown hair that was pinned back and matching brown eyes.

What he noticed was her fascination with the items and tasks around her.

Her expression was a mix of wonderment and joy but it appeared as if she attempted to hide it.

He remembered when he first started, back when Hiyori was the Vice-Captain and Kisuke Urahara was the leader, he felt that way whenever current Captain Kurotsuchi showed him something new.

Suddenly, she got up and went over to him.

"Master Akon. I'm done with my assignment. What would you like me to do now?"

"See if you can help the other girls," he said surprised at how she was able to follow the formula correctly the first time.

She bowed and helped the others.

He put a check mark by her name.

-----------------------------

Shiori went ot one of her favorite places in all of the Soul Society.

The Shiba house.

She and Ganju were close friends and, if he wasn't so stubborn, she could have been a part of his gang.

Mostly it was because she didn't really like boars.

She knocked on the door of the house in her special way. Ten hard ones and three quick ones.

Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko answered the door.

"Miss Yusa!"

"How nice to see you again!"

"Hello, boys."

It took years for her to remember that Shiroganehiko had the more slender face and Koganehiko had the cleft chin.

"Its been a while."

"How is everyone? Is Ganju still giving Kukaku a hard time?"

"As usual."

"Lady Kukaku is downstairs. I'm afraid Mr. Ganju is out with his friends."

She sighed. At least Kukaku was someone she could really talk to. She was practically a big sister.

The twins led her downstairs to a large room. Kukaku was reading a book.

"Hi, Kukaku. Its been a long time."

"Shiori!"

Kukaku got up and hugged her.

Shiori was always embarrassed at how large Kukaku's breasts were. Hers were closer in size with Nanao Ise. Slightly bigger though.

"Did you finally get into Squad 12?"

"Yeah!"

Kukaku patted her on the head.

"Good work. I know you've been trying for so long. We've been rooting for you."

"We?" she asked curiously.

"Myself, Koganehiko, Shiroganehiko, even Ganju and his gang!"

Shiori blushed. The four members of Ganju's gang were good friends and always joked about how clumsy she could be.

There was Sanji Sezushita, Nehero Isino, Taichi Misemoto, and Atatomo Saionzi. Of course, everyone called them Top, Fever, Hawk, and Dumbell respectively.

As if their ears had been ringing, Ganju walked in with his gang.

"Ah no! Shiori's here!"

Shiori went over and kissed Ganju on the cheek.

"You're so sweet!"

He turned bright red and jumped away.

"Get away from me!"

Ganju's gang blushed.

"Hey!"

"Don't we get kisses?"

She quickly kissed Nehero and Dumbell on their cheeks. For Hawk, she kissed him on his forehead. Top was kissed on his nose.

The gang sighed with hearts in their eyes.

"You guys are such pansies! Swooning over a girl for kissing you?!"

"Ganju!"

---------------------

Shiori left around ten and went back to the Seireitei. The streets were nearly empty, besides the few drunks. She swore he saw Aramaki down one path but knew better than to double check.

In her heart, she didn't want to go home and go to sleep. She wandered around aimlessly until she reached the Research Department.

The building appeared to be empty.

Well, it may have been the fact it was the middle of the night.

She stood outside the building and smiled.

"I'm finally here. I'm a member of Squad 12."

She didn't realize that Mayuri Kurotsuchi was still inside, slightly struggling with his new experiment.

He was trying to create a new poison but needed to find the antidote for it, in case of any mishaps.

"Blast! I've never had this trouble before! What the devil could be wrong?!"

His chair turned to the video cameras and saw one of the new staff members outside.

"What are you doing here?" he said over the intercom.

She was a bit shocked.

"Forgive me, my Lord. I wanted to stop by."

"Well get in here. Might as well work on something if you're here."

------------------------

She rushed inside and saw him in one of the large labs.

Shiori bowed before approaching him.

"What do you need, my Lord?"

"I need you to run some tests on these samples, place the ones with the red stoppers in the centrifuge, the ones with the blue stoppers need to be heated and then placed on slides."

"Yes, my Lord."

Mayuri was a bit relieved he had an extra hand. Vice-Captain Rangiku had taken Nemu out for some 'Girl's Night.'

"Anything else?"

"For now, thats all."

She bowed and took the samples into another room.

------------------------