Welcome everyone! This is an updated addition to my first Author's Note, written between chapters twelve and thirteen.

I just wanted to let all new readers know that you shouldn't just stop after reading the first chapter, because they do, in fact, get better. Maybe it's self-centered to say that, but I believe I'm improving as a writer through this.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Hello, everyone who decided to give this fic a try! This is my first real story on fanfiction, so don't be too critical. I worked hard to create this story!

In case you were wondering, this is the story of Shuhei Hisagi and my OC, Rei Kaneko. If the plot doesn't make sense at first, don't worry. It's not supposed to.

Plus, I'm making this up as I go!

This chapter is dedicated to Ms-Octoberry, the one who made me get my lazy butt off the computer chair and onto the... computer chair. She's the reason this fic isn't still just a vague idea brewing in the back of my head. Way to go for making me do something!

Oh, and I suppose I should add a disclaimer. They may be witty on occasion.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. All I own is my brain.

Kisuke Urahara looked at the calendar and swore. Today way the day that the special gigai's abilities would start to wear off.

He was gathering up some equipment, preparing to leave for a trip to another part of the world, when a familiar reiatsu filled the air.

Isshin Kurosaki was standing in the doorway of Urahara Shop in his shinigami form, an odd look on his face.

The man spoke simply. "Ichigo's in trouble. Come with me."

Sighing, Kisuke followed Isshin, knowing that one customer was going to have to wait for her delivery for a bit longer.

If she even knew what it was.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi was having a bad day.

He had been robbed of prime test subjects by the captain of the Fourth Division, who argued that "they hadn't done anything to deserve torture and disfigurement."

Bah, what do women know?

The only thing that could make his day worse was if he found out that some of his subordinates were idiots and had missed something very important.

Oh, the irony.

"Captain, I have some news to report."

Mayuri glanced over at his lieutenant. "Ah, Nemu. What is it? Come now, I haven't got all day!"

Unperturbed by her father's rudeness, Nemu replied politely. "Captain, it appears that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute has completely missed the presence of a rogue shinigami for fifty years."

Head Captain Yamamoto looked up in alarm, a strange feeling inside him. "It appears that Kurotsuchi has also been informed," he said to his lieutenant, shuddering.

"Who are you planning on sending to the World of the Living, sir?" asked Lieutenant Sasakibe.

"I thought awhile about it, then decided that Lieutenant Hisagi was the best choice."

"Very well, Captain. I shall send him a hell butterfly. He will arrive shortly."

Shuhei Hisagi had been proofreading an article for the Seireitei Bulletin when he got the hell butterfly.

"Squad Nine Lieutenant," the butterfly spoke in the Sasakibe's voice, "This is Lieutenant Sasakibe of Squad One. Your presence is ordered in the First Division's barracks immediately."

Dropping everything, Shuhei flashstepped as fast as he could to the appointed place, kneeling in front of Yamamoto, who stepped forward.

"Lieutenant Hisagi," he boomed, "You have orders to locate and retrieve the rogue shinigami Rei Kaneko from the World of the Living. She has been missing for half a century, but…" the head captain paused awkwardly, embarrassed by the information that followed. "We didn't even know she was gone until we located her reiatsu just now."

Shuhei looked up in alarm. "Sir, I truly beg your pardon, but couldn't you send someone else? Since the Ninth Division doesn't currently have a captain, plus we run the Seireitei Bulletin, if I'm away on a mission, no one will be here to keep the squad together."

"I admire your dedication, Hisagi," said Yamamoto, "but one of the reasons you were chosen was so the rest of your squad would grow to become as strong as you. Besides, I think you're the most mature lieutenant that can handle this." He looked away for a second. "You know about the situation in Karakura Town, do you not? We have captains and lieutenants there as well."

"So does this mean I will be joining them?"

"Oh, no. You see, Kaneko isn't even in Japan anymore."

"Then where am I going?"

"The United States of America. A city called 'Las Vegas'."

"…Joy."

Rin Nakano was hunched over her bathroom sink while her roommate, Felicia, sponged off the drying blood on her skin.

"Why do those monsters always show up when I'm working?" she grumbled, flinching as the rag dug into her skin.

Felicia stood on her toes and clucked sympathetically. "I dunno. At least you finished that customer's dye job before you went out to kill it with your magic powers," she said in her naturally peppy voice.

"Don't call it that. According to the title of the book, it's called kidō." Rin snorted. "Whatever that means."

"It sounds Japanese like you, Rin-chan."

"Yeah. Weird how you learned how to do it too after awhile, huh?"

Felicia pouted. "Just because I'm not some sort of immortal spirit-thingy like you doesn't mean I'm not special!"

Rin laughed and elbowed her in the stomach, which only worked because the tall young woman was already leaning over.

"Ow!" the shorter woman exclaimed, dropping her rag. After picking it up again, Felicia swung her waist-long auburn hair out of her face and glared at her best friend. "You jerk!" she wailed, clutching her stomach dramatically, "You're getting stronger every day!"

Rin chuckled and tied back her black hair, examining her face. She didn't have any bruises or black eyes, though she was disoriented by the brightness of her silver irises. They looked a bit different than usual, but Rin could've sworn she hadn't put any color contacts in today.

Yes, her gray eyes were much brighter, but there was something behind them that was more alien, a sort of power reserve that was just opening up. Rin could feel hints of power pumping through her eternally youthful body.

She snapped out of it. What the hell just happened? Rin thought, shaking her head in confusion. Then, her eyes popped wide open. Her hand flew to her head as a feeling of extreme pain surged through it. The feeling was so intense that it completely filled Rin's mind, stealing her consciousness.

Felicia didn't have time to react before her roommate crumpled to the floor.

A/N: First chapter and I already have a cliffhanger! Sheesh, I'm a jerk. Well, maybe it's my subconscious' way of making you all add this to your alert lists so that you will return for chapter two! MUAHAHAHA!

Sorry about that, but I hope you like the story. Please, please, PLEASE review, because if I think no one's reading this, I'll stop spending time on this that I should be using for homework. As in, NO MORE WRITING.

So, review please~

~Paradox