Author's Note: Plot line occurred after the 17-month gap following Aizen's defeat.

*Would appreciate your feedback. Thanks!

Chapter 1 – So it begins

"Oh yeah! Oh, yeah! Am so great!" the face-painted mad scientist Kurotsuchi Mayuri chirped in a sing-song manner as he stared at the specimens in front of him. He had been experimenting for months on these low-life Arrancars which he took as bounties from Hueco Mundo.

"Finally, I can rest and sleep as long as I like. Yeah! Success is mine!" declared the mad scientist in a rather loud tone inside his private laboratory situated deep within 12th Division vast underground research facility. His voice reverberated around the four-corners of the gloomy, dimly-lit room. No one is present neither to hear nor to see the elated state Mayuri is currently in except the now forever-silenced specimens lying dissected on the tables.

"Nemuuuu!" yells Mayuri. Where is my good-for-nothing fukutaicho? He said to himself.

"Hai, Captain!" The usually quiet lieutenant arrived in less than a blink of an eye. She now stood in attention in front of Captain Kurotsuchi and ready to take action on any instructions that would be hurled at her.

Despite Nemu's quick as a flash response to the callout, the sadistic captain is still very much dissatisfied. In a very menacing hissed tone, Mayuri look down at the emotionless Nemu in front of him.

"Make me wait for another 0.2 milliseconds next time around, I assure you'll end up in a liquefied version of yourself. Do you understand, Nemu?"

"Understood, Captain" the ever-compliant fukutaicho replied.

"Good". Mayuri continued. "Now, take care of these specimens. They have served their purpose for now but make sure they will still be in good shape should I need them further in the future. Also, since I have been up for 3 weeks straight, (note: zero sleep) ensure I won't be disturbed in my rest".

"Hai, Captain!" answered Nemu and of course the only possible reply she can give.

Nemu silently and still unmoving, watched as her captain turn his back on her. He took a few stride back to his desk littered with stack of papers. He then picked up his 'now-cold-as-ice-tea', took a sip and headed for the door without looking back neither saying as much as ''bye' to his created daughter.

Now alone, Nemu sighed as she picked up the dissected subjects one by one and placed them inside preservation laboratory capsules. She has no choice but to do the chores - alone. Her captain does not allow anyone except her to enter his private laboratory.

As soon as the room had been cleansed from the 'experimental rubbish', Nemu moved to Mayuri's desk. Carefully, she made sure that everything on the table remain where they are as she picked up and placed the accumulated used teacups in a tray along with the empty bowls of tea herbs and sugar. She then noticed a bowl of powdered milk. Since when did Captain Kurotsuchi takes a liking with milk-drinks? Shaking her head, she put the half-filled bowl in the tray then proceeds outside the room. Once at the doorway, she stopped to turn around and to take a final glimpse of the room. Satisfied that everything is in order, Nemu locks the door and heads straight ahead into the pantry where she left the tray.

Unfortunately, in view of the fact that Mayuri's private laboratory is illuminated with dim lights only, Nemu did not notice the badly-written note on a tiny scratch paper lying right beside the powdered milk bowl which was weighted down by a dried-used teaspoon. The tiny note remained right where it is along with the stack of papers on top of Mayuri's desk. On it was scrawled : Body Switching Powder.

Hanataro Yamada make his way towards Squad 12 pantry. Cleaning of the sewage system underneath Seireitei is all but tiring but his day is far from over. The diminutive 7th seat of Squad 4 still needs to attend in the clean-up of Squad 12's pantry. He needs to make certain that all used utensils, dishes and alike are done. Likewise, all garbage is properly disposed of.

While doing the pile of dishes and cups, Hanataro noticed the half-filled bowl of powdered milk. He knows for sanitary purpose, he cannot return the leftover milk back into the canister. Oh! What a waste! He muttered to himself. He then took a shallow disposable container and into it poured the powdered milk from the serving bowl.

He knows what to do. He will mix it with lukewarm water and give it the hungry kittens he saw on the street just outside the walls of Seireitei. Happy with the thoughts of being of help with the needy creatures, he made his finishing touch to clear Squad 12's pantry of grime and clutter.

Seeing that his duty has been fulfilled, Hanataro picked up the disposable container and proceeds towards Squad 4 barracks. He must submit his daily report to Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu. He must hurry.

"That slash-happy Zaraki will get good beating from me! This is the nth time I told him to stop destroying his barracks with all this violent sparring session! I can no longer approve release of funds for repair of the destroyed infrastructure! " Captain Commander Yamamoto muttered to himself as he heads towards 11th Division barracks. I will make my personal appearance right there at his doorstep, he angrily thought to himself.

In his anger, he felt his temple throbbing. "I could handle the heat of Ryūjin Jakka flame without affecting my blood pressure. Anything but this idiot Zaraki! Now, I have to drop by at Unohana's squad first to ensure I don't suffer from hypertension. Fools!", Captain Yamamoto continuously talked to himself.

The captain commander immediately stopped at the entrance of Squad 4. Looking down at his feet, a crumpled heap of Shihakusho lies, which happens to contain the body of forever clumsy Hanataro who directly bumped into the rock-hard body of Captain Yamamoto.

"Gomenasai! Gomenasai!" Hanataro wails at the foot the Gotei 13's Head Captain.

"Hanataro Yamada. Watch where you are going", Captain commander growled.

"Hai, Captain Commander", this was all Hanataro could say. The reitsu is so strong – suffocating and gripping, He could barely move. Nor breathe. Nor look up from where the authoritative voice is coming.

"Good Afternoon, Captain Yamamoto", Captain Unohana's voice sweetly rang from behind. "It was so seldom of you to visit us nowadays. Please come in", she continued.

"I just dropped by for some preventive medication, Unohana". Captain Yamamoto's curt reply. His attention now diverted away from the ashen Hanataro.

"Preventive medication for what?", inquired the Healer as she approaches the Gotei 13 head. In the process, Unohana stepped on some of the powder residue spilled from Hanataro's now-coverless container.

"Possible hypertension. I am about to see that idiot Zaraki".

Hanataro Yamada slowly crept away from the foot of the Captain Commander.

Oh no! half of the powdered milk is all over the commander's Shihakusho! Where is the cover of this container? It must have fallen of somewhere due to impact with the head taicho. The panic stricken 7th seat frantically thought to himself.

A black cat watched lazily from behind the nearby bushes.

"Achoo!" a cute neko-sneeze escaped from the feline as Captain Unohana passed by her to return to office after giving the captain commander the medication requested. Damn dust from Unohana's foot sole.

Boring. There is nothing of interest here. The were-cat left

"Captain Unohana, may we enter the room?" a voice from outside the room called.

"Yes, come in Isane", the Head Healer replied.

"Good afternoon, Captain Unohana", simultaneously greeted by Isane and Rangiku.

"Oh! good afternoon, ladies. What brought the two of you here? It is almost dismissal time." Captain Unohana asked the two lieutenants. She was standing beside her desk making floral arrangement of pink roses.

"Captain, I would like to ask for your permission regarding Lieutenant Isane. I have asked her to accompany me at the human world after office hours to search for a bridal shower gift " , explained Squad 10's Lieutenant Rangiku. She has a long and wavy blond hair, blue eyes, full lips, and a beauty mark located under the right side of her mouth.

"Rangiku, I see no problem with your request since it will done during your off duty hours. Permission granted. Please make sure you won't stay too long out there. I would need my lieutenant early tomorrow", replied Unohana without looking up from what she is doing. Her delicate hands meticulously putting the long stemmed pink roses into the white and gold vase.

"Yes, captain, thank you", both replied.

"Ah-um, Captain Unohana?", the tall young woman with gray eyes and short messy silver hair spoke. She wears a thin dangling red earring on each ear and a standard Shinigami uniform with her lieutenant badge on her left arm.

"You'd like to say something, Isane?", the gentle Squad 4 head quizzically looked up at her tall lieutenant.

"May I sweep your office floor? I believed there is some loose white powder scattered around", Isane said.

"Please allow me to help, Captain", the curvaceous Rangiku chimed in.

"Thank you so much. I will really appreciate that", Unohana's confirmed the requests.

"Achooooo!", Rangiku unsuccessfully tries to cover her mouth as she sneezed. Damn dust, she thought as she locates her handkerchief from her right pocket.

"Achooooo!", did I catch a cold? Isane wonders to herself.

Captain Jushiro Ukitake quietly watches his koi pond while having an occasional sip of the medicinal tea brought earlier by Rukia.

Hmmmm….this tea tasted quite good despite being an herbal medicine. This far exceeded my expectation, Captain Ukitake mused to himself. Being sick more often than not, Ukitake had it seems tasted every medication available at Seiretei. Admittedly, this tea from the human world had its taste enhanced in a better way to be enjoyed and make the sick's taste bud happy.

Clear blue skies accompanied by a gentle breeze. The soft rustling of water at the artificially created waterfall at the end of the koi pond is a pleasing interruption amidst the silence of Squad 13's Captain living quarters. Today is really a nice day, Ukitake notes to himself.

Suddenly, a familiar reitsu nearby caught the attention of the tall, white-haired captain. He slowly stood up from his chair and make his way toward the familiar reiatsu outside his squad's barracks.

Captain Ukitake Jushiro stood patiently at the entrance gate of his barracks for the arrival of the owner of that familiar strong reiatsu.

Noticing the scowl written all over the face of the approaching figure, Ukitake decided to address him in monotonously formal tone. "Good afternoon, Commander Yamamoto", his voice loud enough to bridge the few meters distance between them.

The medium height old man with very long white beard, and long eyebrows barely looks at him and continued on his tracks. "Good afternoon, Jushiro. You look well today", quipped the Gotei 13 commander.

The taller man quickly set track beside the older man with a perpendicular scars above on his right eye. Judging from the direction of they are headed, Jushiro knew that Squad 11 is in for a big surprise today.

"You plan to come along, Jushiro?", Yamamoto asked his former student which is in actuality more of his own son to him

"Hai, Sensei. It is my pleasure to accompany you once in awhile", replied Jushiro. "Beside, I could also use a couple of blocks' walk to catch some fresh air on a good day like this", he continued.

"Yes, nothing could be perfect than having white powder strewn all over my uniform by that idiot kid Hanataro. Yet, nothing beats with what that imbecile Zaraki ...…"

"Here we are. Squad 11's barracks", Jushiro cuts the head captain speech. He purposely did so when he sensed that Commander Yamamoto's reiatsu spiked just by mentioning Zaraki's name.

Shit, where is Ikaku? Where is that annoying little pink-haired pest? Why do I have to do all these reports? The hell! I am a 5th seat! 5th seat! Do they know how to count?This should be the job of the people up there, not mine, Yumichika Ayasegawa angrily thought. Don't they know that I hated paperwork as much as they do?

"Hey, Yumichika! Where is that bald friend of yours? Go and get him!" growled the tall, muscular and aggressive captain of the battle loving Squad 11 and interrupting the flamboyant underling's thoughts. " Bring Ichigo here. I could use some good fight! Peace is not my thing. Dammit, this is entirely boring!".

Didn't just Ichigo lost his shinigami powers? How will that orange-haired ryoka would even see us in our spirit form? Could the ugliness of idiocy within our captain is endless? Yumichika asked himself.

"Captain Zaraki, I believed Ichigo will not be able to fight you at his current state", the vain shinigami said carefully. If he wants to keep his beauty, he better not make his captain angry. Else. he might take another form if he gets beaten up. That is, if ever he survives Zaraki's wrath.

"That settles it! I will go and fight that pretty boy Kuchiki!", Zaraki declared as he stood up from the couch and walks toward the far corner of his office.

Ka-blam! His fist hits the wall and debris flew everywhere. Normally, Zaraki would not wait until the dust settles but instead will go-a-flying to any direction he thought correctly leads to his target. Not now. Not today.

Zaraki stood motionless. Bad news. Dammit!, he thought. Why does he needs to be here? He does not know whether to suffocate from the dust that still swirls around him or to burn in the ominous reitsu of the man standing before him.

The red-infernal-fiery eyes of Commander Yamamoto glares at Zaraki from other side of the destroyed wall.

Zaraki does not earned him the name Kenpachi for nothing. Yet he perfectly knows that to mess with the Gotei 13 head is not a wise decision – not now. Not ever. He needs to come up with a good excuse now or else…Damn it, Zaraki! Think! Think! Think!

Regaining his composure, Zaraki pasted a wide grin into his face. "Welcome to Squad 11's humble abode, Commander Yamamoto", he begins. " Allow me to greet you with a style that we are attributed with! Please come in!"

"Stop this non-sense!", roared Yamamoto. "Such a pathetic lie! This is unacceptable", the Gotei 13 general now angrily tapped his walking cane.

Oooopppssss…did Commander saw through my excuse? Zaraki silently thought but his wide Cheshire cat smile still pasted on his face. This have to work, please…please – he quietly wished.

Yamamoto menacingly move forward to the unmoving Zaraki.

"Captain Kenpachi Zaraki" growled Yamamoto, " You are a hopeless battle-maniac. The repairs for all the destroyed facility of the Squad 11 and all other demolished infrastructure based from the result of your violent actions shall be repaired immediately".

"Thank you for your generosity, Commander", Zaraki barked happily. Can he really be this cunning in making up excuses that even the rigid Yamamoto was able to believe?

The Gotei 13 general continued, " All funds shall be released immediately. This will be deducted from your salary, allowances and bonuses. This also includes deduction from you subordinates pay and your squad's overall operating budget". As soon as the last word was uttered, the general shunpo'd out of sight, leaving behind the much-shocked Zaraki and dust-coughing Ukitake.

"Captain Zaraki, how will Squad 11 survive without budget and salary?" emerged the voice of Yumichika beneath the scattered debris.

"Shut the hell up!" yelled Zaraki to his subordinate. " Better off without salary than become an incinerated shinigami!.