DISCLAIMER and AUTHOR'S STARTING NOTES:
I don't own bleach apparently. This fic was actually created and posted loong-long before. I just encountered this again and I've realized how immature my writing style then. I made a fool out of myself and so I'm going to redo this. The story's former title was: Caught in the Rain.

Summary: Ichigo and the gang were just planning to have a vacation away from the boring Karakura but they didn't plan on reuniting with an old friend... Can the kept feelings then be unleashed this time?

Chapter 1 of "The Reunion": Traveling...

The soul society incident was long a history.

It was two years since then and the boring life of those teenagers went on as if nothing happened. Once in a while these teenagers patrol the city and help extinguish the hollows that dared to threaten the neighboring souls' lives.

Of course, although they were extra-ordinary teenagers, they were still like any normal beings are. They wanted something extra to do. That was why when Uryuu suggested going field-tripping (in edge of their summer vacation) they all agreed – whether it was obvious, or not.

The place was Ishida's Old Family Vacation House.

Uryuu who was supposed to be the guide was a nuisance to them. He has never been there and him being so clumsy about stuffs like these, they were merely placing all their miniscule trust on an ancient-like map that was given by Uryuu's father.

This is where the story and the problem started.

Ichigo scratched the back of his head in irritation. It was the nth time now so they all supposed his head was already bleeding with scratch marks.

"So what's this? Some sort of a treasure hunt?" he asked in pure sarcasm.

"A treasure hunt?" Orihime blinked. She has a talent of inability to absorb bad vibes. "Yay! A treasure hunt!"

Uryuu sighed. He hated every second of standing in the middle of nowhere. He suggested the trip and he felt like the entire fault was burdened down at him.

"It's not like that Inoue-chan."

"So, what are we waiting! Decipher that god-dammed map already to get us out of here." Ichigo scowled. They have been standing on the spot unknown for humans for a couple of time now. They were lost.

They did what their so-called leadertold them. They get their compasses and started to examine the map with all the seriousness, confused on which side of the map was pointing up to the north and so on.

They were too engrossed with it that nothing could distract their attention except the sound of a screeching metal. And they did hear it. Only on the second time they have realized that those screeching metal-like sound was actually from a human mouth!

All four of them; Ichigo, Uryuu, Orihime and Chad, quickly followed the source of the voice. They smelled trouble.

A bunch of thieves were there and they held a charming woman in her twenties.

They, without ado, helped her, and with their strength, they've smoothly and easily chased the thieves away.

"Arigatou..." the woman said, trying to speak straight but it was for naught because she had a large wound on her left upper arm.

Orihime's eyes widened and quickly dropped to her knees. She immediately encircled her hands around the wound and a beautiful and shinning light came.

"Don't worry." She assured when she felt the woman's muscle contracted in alarm. The woman's eyes widened and stared at the scene in pure disbelief. She didn't say anything until her would was completely gone.

"W... Wh... Tha... thank you..."

Orihime scratched the back of her head, a little pleased at her thanks.

"It's okay." She smiled.

The woman didn't answer like she was having a reality check. Before she could notice, Uryuu brought out the memory modifier and brought it near the woman's face.

At first she just stared at it, when she sort of realized what it was, she quickly screamed, "No!" and yanked it away.

"I know that you don't have any bad intentions but... I do know what you are doing..."

They altogether raised a brow of suspicion, except Chad who wasn't capable of doing such thing. Did they hear that right? She knows what they were doing? Nah. She might have constructed the sentence wrong...

They all began to perspire a lot.

"A... are you kidding?" Ichigo couldn't help but to blurt out.

"Wha... what are you saying? It's not like we're gonna rep—"

She was cut off by Ichigo, "Baka! Don't say unnecessary things!" he muttered heatedly.

"Go... gomen..." Orihime bowed.

"Let me introduce myself." the four of them moved a step backward as the woman spoke. The woman shook her head, "No. Don't be anxious. I'm a friend. My name is Shiba Nanako."

She looked at Ichigo. Ichigo perspired more. "W... who are you?"

'Yeah right.' Ichigo thought, 'We're the ones who suppose to ask that!'

When no one responded, the woman sighted, "I guess you can't trust me still even I've said my name. Okay. I'll tell you more if you come with me." She started walking but stopped on her tracks when she sensed that no one's following her. She sighted again, "I understand your agitation but... it's getting late don't you think?" still no answer, "Let's just say it's my way of saying thanks... and hey! Do you wanna refuse a warm invite of nice lookin' lady?"

Still agitated, but nowhere to go, they followed her. They were used to troubles anyway and the woman seemed nice.

"So... basically... what are you?" Uryuu started. He knew there was something about this woman that wasn't quite... human.

The woman looked up in the sky and it took her long before a reply came.

"You know if you are just a normal bunch of people, I'll never do this thing." their eyes were suddenly focused to her, "Hey, it's not what you think. I mean... after I've seen this girl cure my wounds... I realized that you people are extraordinary..."

"Umm... I think what you saw earlier was just an illusion." Orihime chuckled nervously. She was trying to get rid of the woman's thought.

The woman smiled, "You don't need to hide it." she said, "My name really is Shiba Nanako. I didn't lie because I don't want you to lie." She paused, looked again up in the sky, "Do you believe in life after death?"

Orihime and Chad nodded while Ichigo and Uryuu were shaken to the question.

"I came from a place called soul society."

Their jaws dropped in disbelief.

"Ho... Hontou?" Orihime and others can't believe their ears.

Ichigo tried to pull himself together.

"Quit fooling around. We're not child anymore to listen to dumb tales."

"You know that I'm not fooling around. I knew from the look of your faces that you were something different... especially you..." she glared at Ichigo.

"Ichigo... is she's some kind of a psychic?" Chad whispered to his ear.

"No I'm not a psychic." Ichigo and Chad gave a frightened face and quickly widened the gap between them and the woman.

"Wha... what are you?" the both of them nervously pointed a finger on her.

"Shiba..." Uryuu said, "I'm sure I've heard that name..."

"Yeah!" said Orihime. "Same as Ganju-kun!"

Their eyes widen when they realized that Orihime was correct.

"You know that foolish Ganju? Oh that makes a lot more comfortable to hear now." She clears her throat, "I'm Ganju's grandmother."

---

"YOU'RE WHAT?" all of them exclaimed, even Ichigo and Chad.

The woman who said she was Nanako chuckled wickedly, "Am I too young and good looking to be Ganju's grandmom?"

'No.' Ichigo said. 'It only looks like Ganju was the black sheep of the family... having his looks that way... his sister looks quite fine... her grandma too... and I guess that Kaien as well... well I haven't seem him though.'

"Okay so explain why you're here." Ichigo suddenly became interested.

"Well, I'm just tired of being there doing nothing. I like some excitement. Take Urahara as an example... I bet you know him don't you?" they nodded.

"I'm not a shinigami after all so I think it's okay as long as I would keep the secret."

The four of them nodded like a child.

"Well, here we are." she declared. She faced them, "Okay, before we enter this village, I want you not to mention anything about what we've talked about. This is a normal village..." she said then continued in a whisper, "Well except inside our house for all my companions are from soul society as well."

---

"Get your lazy ass off there!" Nanako said as she hit the boy's head hard. The four of them sweatdropped. She faced them again with an angelic smile, "Ohohoho... sorry for seeing me rude—"

"You're always rude." the guy murmured and he got hit again."

"His name is Yamamoto Hadokou." she pulled him closer, "C'mon, say something about your stupid self!" she said in a low voice so that they won't hear it—but they did.

"Umm... umm..." the guy scratched the back of his head, blushing, "My name is Yamamoto Hadokou... I... I'm... you don't wanna know how old I am."

"It's okay you idiot! They know about us!"

"Nani? What are you thinking you old hag? Don't you—" he was hit again.

"They saved me—"

"It's not an adequate reason to tell—"

"Why don't you let me finish first?" she hit him again, "They know about soul society before I even told them." when he tried to open his mouth again, she added, "They'll tell us later." she faced them, "Ohohoho... sorry again. I'll show you my husband."

--List and description of Nanako's companions--

Nanako herself – a woman that looked like in her twenties. She had her black hair tied into a knot. Despite of how old she was she still looked good.

Yamamoto Hadokou – a man that looked like he has the same age as Ichigo. Looks neat and funny. He had a brown hair and he seemed handsome. He's shorter by two inches than Ichigo.

Sushimoto (A/N: I was so damn hungry when I was thinking of their names so bear with me) – Nanako's husband. He was scary-looking but he speaks calmly—contrary to his looks, he seldom talks.

--to be continued..--

AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTES: I admit that I haven't improved much but I tried to add more descriptions. Reviews are welcomed. Flames are not! And oh, IchiRuki interaction will happen next chapter (THAT'S SOON!) If you've read this fic before you can tell me if you see any improvement or whatever. Fluff-ness is ensured. I'm mature now when it comes to kissing scenes unlike before. In fact, I love 'em now!

Basic Japanese Words Included Here: (in case you don't know... which I doubt.)

Arigatou – Thank you.
Hontou – Real (ly).
Nani – What.

If I've missed some words tell me.