Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. nor do I own D. Gray Man. And until Kanda likes fluffy pink bunnies and until Kon stops being a pervert, Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo and D. Gray Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino and not me. which means never. ((That is, of course, until Komui steps into the equation and combines forces with Urahara. but by then, we'll all be doomed.))

((that…was a long disclaimer.))

This is meh first fanfic. Fanfics seem fun to write. And I ish very high on donuts right now. XD

/--/ change of scene

italics -thoughts

Chapter 1- After the War

The last battle was over. Kanda Yu was dead. Who had predicted that the great samurai would have fallen? Not even Bookman nor Lavi could. The last petal of the lotus had fallen when he saved Allen, who was fighting the Millennium Earl. But the Millennium Earl was gone now; only a few Noahs remained, scattered across the world, included among them Tyki and Road.

With the drastic decrease in the number of Akuma, the world seemed peaceful. However, with the decreasing threat of the Akuma, a new enemy made its presence known. This new presence, named Hollows by the ever brilliant scientists due to the empty hole in their chest where their heart should be, threatened the human population just like the Akuma did. Was this new phenomenon caused by the Earl's last attack? They wonder, and yet no conclusion has been reached.

The cafeteria was quiet. Kanda's presence was missed, although it wasn't quite welcome when he was actually alive. Allen, Lenalee, and even Lavi sat in silence (yes, Lavi was actually very silent.) eating breakfast, wishing that the bad-tempered exorcist would be here with them. Things weren't fun anymore.

Another mission. Allen was plagued by thoughts of Kanda as the new mission was introduced. Reports of increased "Hollow" activity near a place called Karakura Town, in Japan. Japan was Kanda's homeland, where he came from, and both Lenalee and Lavi were flooded with memories of Kanda. Lenalee broke down into tears again, collapsing on the floor. Allen stood in the corner, tugging on Timcampy's cheeks. He remembered seeing the fallen samurai for the last time at the funeral, looking so peaceful in that black coffin, the life-eating tattoo on his chest finally gone. Now Kanda Yu could rest in peace, and this very thought calmed the hearts of those who knew him. A single tear slid down Lavi's expressionless face as they boarded the train. With the abundance of the strange energy in Karakura town, taking the Ark was just too risky.

/--/

A dark-haired samurai looked around at the pure white walls that surrounded him. Apparently, he was lost again. It would help if he didn't run into Zaraki Kenpachi again, who had started using him as a "replacement" for some guy called Kurosaki Ichigo.

He looked down at the hilt of his zanpaku-to. Although it looked like a regular katana, he knew that it would become Mugen if he activated his shikai. Mugen was the only thing dear to him in this peaceful all-to-happy place. And his soba. He liked soba. Something about Mugen seemed very familiar to him, but he couldn't remember. He shrugged off the feeling; feelings were unnecessary for a soul reaper.

Kanda still remembered when he had awoken in Rukongai, and stumbling across first a shinigami (he did not remember who) and then the school where all soon-to-be shinigami were sent to. He was called a genius, and was promoted to the rank of captain almost immediately. That is, Captain of the Fifth Division. He had heard about the previous traitorous captain along with his hypnotic zanpaku-to. His illusions were very similar, and that fact alone scared a lot of people. Not to mention his antisocialness.

"Oi, Kanda-taichou!! Are you lost again?" Akemi, his lieutenant, shouted out. She was quite out of breath, and very annoyed at the fact that her captain had gotten lost…again.

Kanda didn't reply but continued stomping away into the unfamiliar maze of walls, a maze that seemed to get more complicated by the second. However, he was thankful that it was his lieutenant that had found him since she was one of the only people who didn't give in to their dark side and called him a nickname that surely signed their death certificate.

He was also especially thankful that Yachiru wasn't the one who found him since she had the annoying ability (like someone whom he couldn't remember) to come up with a different name than one she had called him before, and he couldn't threaten her because Zaraki would definitely show up before his sword was unsheathed.

"Kanda-taichou!!" Frustration was heard in Akemi's voice. And indeed, Akemi was very frustrated right now. "Kanda-taichou!! Old-Man Yamamoto needs to tell you something!!"

Kanda paused, debating whether to stop walking or to go see the Captain-General. He settled on the second choice; he didn't want to make the old man mad.

"Che."

And I guess that meant a yes… Akemi sighed and decided to follow Kanda, as she was to be told something as well.

/--a few hours later--/

Kanda, having gotten out of the maze (with a little help from Akemi, although he wouldn't admit it), now faced the Captain-General.

"Kanda-taichou, I have a mission for you. You are to go investigate the appearance of a mysterious group of humans who will be shortly arriving in Karakura town. They can see the Hollows as well, and yet they have powers unlike those we have ever seen before. If it is an Arrancar or Epsada, you are to take care of them immediately. Akemi, you are to follow Kanda-taichou and back him up."

"Hai"

"Che."

The twosome turned and left, black hell butterflies fluttering beside them.

Hmm…I wonder what Kanda's bankai should be. ponders ah well. ideas? reviews? please review, I love reviews. flames will be used to bake sweets. thanks for reading meh horrible story (I wrote it in biology class)

Ja-ne!

-Akari