Chapter 2

Soi Fon and Kitty entered their office brushing snow off their shoulders.

"So you did this last year huh?" Kitty said smiling.

Soi Fon turned to her new fuku taicho. For about half a year ago Omaeda fought a hollow on patrol. In the battle the hollow miraculously managed to cut Omaeda's chain link and soul sleep, effectively forcing him into retirement. Needless to say, Soi Fon had reacted by doing somersaults all around the Seireitei, giving her squad the week off and hugging everyone she saw screaming to the world, "He's gone, he's gone never again will he be my problem Hallelujah he's gone."

Kitty, who Soi had been following for a while, was quickly offered the badge, something Kitty took in awe. Kitty was blond, and about 5 centimeter's taller than Soi Fon herself. She wore her badge as a belt, and had blue flames sewn on the edges of her feet and arms of her uniform. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, as well as a blue headband around her forehead.

"Yeah, I did," she finally replied, thinking back on the 3 days she followed Abarai to figure out what to get him

"So then how was your draw?" Kitty asked.

Better than last year Soi admitted. "Still… could have been better."

"Yeah I have no idea what to get my taicho" Kitty said sighing as she sat down.

"What did you do to find out what to give last year?"

"I'm a ninja what do you think?" Soi Fon asked.

"Great idea" Kitty said rising from her chair. "I'll be out for a…"

"Oh no you don't" Soi Fon said scowling pointing to Kitty's desk. "You have paperwork due tomorrow."

"I'll ask Fuji to do it" Kitty said and Soi Fon sighed.

"My 3rd seat is not just there to use when you are lazy Petro she has her own duties."

"Yeah I know but she likes doing it, so if I give her more work."

"Sit down Petro" Soi Fon said, the tone making Kitty sigh.

"Fine, work first pleasures later."

"Good to know that we understand each other" Soi Fon said going into her own office, to plan what to give to her own secret Santa.

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Kira smiled as he saw Momo hard at work.

"Aren't you in a hurry?" Momo stopped and smiled at Kira.

"Hai, it's just, the one I'm Santaing this year is very special to me, so I want to finish this week's workload fast so I can concentrate on a gift."

"That's nice Momo" Kira said smiling.

"If you need anything I shall be in my own office thinking about my own gift."

"OK Kira kun, and feel free to ask me if you need any help" Momo said smiling, going back to work herself

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Unohana smiled. She had been lucky this year, her secret Santa was most familiar to her and she knew just what to get to make her Santa smile. Turning to Isane her smile faltered a little as she saw her face express worry.

"Bad draw?" She asked.

"Yeah" she said sighing. "I don't even know where to start."

"Well you have a week" Unohana said smiling. "You will probably figure something out."

"Yeah" Isane said smiling concentrating on her paperwork again. Maybe she'd figure something out later on… maybe

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Ichigo smiled as he watched Rukia. He didn't think he'd ever seen her so happy.

"Got a good name this year huh?"

"Oh you have no idea" Rukia said. "If I could I would do somersaults."

"That good huh?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah. And yourself?"

"Eh not to bad" Ichigo said smiling. "I think I know what I should get my secret Santa because of what I heard last year."

"Well then let's celebrate" Rukia said.

Ichigo smiled. All right, "let's just go and give the squad the rest of the day off, I feel charitable today."

Rukia smiled and followed Ichigo, ready to use the rest of the day to partying.

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Renji walked in to his taicho's office, stopping and blinking.

For some reason, Kuchiki Byakuya was gently banging his head to the wall.

"Bad Secret Santa draw?" Renji asked.

Byakuya turned to him scowling. "Talk about this and die" he said, before turning back to bang his head against the wall.

Renji frowned. "Want me to go on another run against the fuku taicho's?"

"No need" Byakuya said. "I know what to get."

"Oh… ok… should I go now?"

"Please do." Renji walked out sighing and blinking.

His taicho had said please… this was bad. Oh well at least he knew what to get his own secret Santa.

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Iba groaned. Why did he always get the difficult taicho's to deal with? Last year it was Zaraki taicho and now… he sighed.

Komamura smiled gently. "Bad draw this year Iba?"

"Hai" Iba said. "And you taicho?"

"I got one I think I could find a fitting present to" Komamura said smiling. "Well if you need help Iba san I will be glad to help."

"Arigato taicho, I appreciate it."

Komamura smiled and walked out in the grounds to oversee how the rest of the squad was doing.

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Nanao smiled gently. Thank god she had gotten an easy taicho to shop for this time around. She knew just what to get and where to get it. Now if only…

"NANAO CHAN."

Nanao sighed. "This way taicho" she said, not managing to hold back a smile as Shunsui appeared and gave her a hug.

"How is my beautiful wife this day?" He asked.

"Annoyed that you haven't done your paperwork yet" she said huffing gently.

"And your secret Santa?"

"I feel confident in getting a present" she said.

"And you?"

"I have an idea on what to buy" Kyoraku said smiling.

"Good then you can do your paperwork without worry" Nanao said grabbing his ear forcing him down in his chair. And once she was sure he was sitting, Nanao walked out with a satisfied smirk.

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Hisagi smiled. "One of the better names this year" he mused looking over to Sentaro who sighed. "Not so lucky?"

"No" Sentaro said, pale in the face. "Probably couldn't be worse."

"Ouch" Hisagi said frowning. "Anything I can help with?"

"No I'll figure something out" Sentaro said with a sigh.

"Now taicho if you need me I'll be in my office finishing some paperwork."

And with that Sentaro walked into his office, Hisagi heading out to watch his squad.

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Hitsugaya sighed as he sat down. Thank god that this year he weren't in as much trouble as he had been back then. And looking at Matsumoto she was in the same situation, not that she could get in much trouble having given Yamamoto a present last year.

"So, are you going to go suicidal again?" Matsumoto asked smiling.

"Hardy har" Hitsugaya said back, not wanting to think back on the week of panic.

"Well if you don't mind I need to go now I and Kira are going to…"

"Oh no you don't you have paperwork, try to leave and face the consequences" Hitsugaya said frowning at his fuku taicho.

"Fine" Matsumoto said sitting down with a small pout. "But this is slavery."

Hitsugaya rolled his eyes. "Whatever" he muttered, sitting down with his own paperwork, it was way too much of it but it had to be gone.

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Yachiru smiled gently at Kenpachi, knowing what was on her father's mind.

"Got a female name again this year?"

"Yes" Kenpachi said angrily.

"All right, let me help" Yachiru said smiling. "Bandana Chan likes to draw and always need new drawing equipment. Sad face Chan likes snowy things like snow globes or snowflakes made of glass, as it reminds her of her precious little Shiro. Tall braids Chan likes anything that glitters and sparkles, Byakushi's nee san has a bunny fetish, and glasses needs help with Pinky man, Big boobs is in desperate need for something simple that says that you care and not that you want to get under her gi and Loud mouth san collects moon's, in glass and crystal and so on. That help?"

"Sure" Kenpachi said sighing. "And you?"

"I got another easy one" Yachiru said smiling. "You want me to look after the squad Ken Chan?"

"Nah I'll do it myself, I need some stress relief."

And with that Kenpachi went out to attack the troops Yachiru following in his footsteps, a big grin on her face

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Nemu had a dilemma. She knew what to give her Secret Santa… but at the same time she didn't know how the present was going to turn out… She smiled. She loved a challenge… it had to be the scientist in her. She looked up as someone knocked on her door. "Yes?"

"Excuse me taicho" Aikon said as he walked in. "I just wondered… may I use the archives for some research?"

"Secret Santa?"

"Hai."

"Feel free Aikon, knock yourself out."

"Arigato taicho and you? Do you need any help?"

Nemu sighed and frowned, before looking at Aikon. "Find me the book about crystallizing gas and glass."

"Very well taicho" Aikon said smiling, walking out to do as ordered.

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Ukitake smiled at his desk; once again he had gotten an easy name. And this time he was going to be careful regarding his sickness. A knock on the door made him look up.

"Yes?"

Kiyone walked inn smiling gently. "Ukitake taicho, can you be alone for about half an hour?"

Ukitake blinked in shock, usually Kiyone refused to leave his side even if he asked her too.

"Sure… may I ask why?"

"Secret Santa gift… I know what I want done, and want to make sure it will be finished in time."

"Sure Kiyone, go ahead."

Kiyone smiled and were about to leave before she turned. "Is there something I can get you Ukitake taicho?"

"No" Ukitake said with a smile. "I am doing ok."

Kiyone smiled again and left, hurrying to a friend for some help.

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Sasakibe sighed as he dumped another load of paperwork onto his taicho's desk.

"So… about the secret Santa thing" he said gently.

"Yes?" Yamamoto asked.

"Would it be rude to ask for another early release of my paycheck?"

Yamamoto looked up from his writing.

"Not much, just a little advance" Sasakibe said.

Yamamoto sighed. "Fine, but if I find out that you have used it on something totally useless again I will give you desk duty until you turn 300 is that clear?"

"Hey to be fair Nemu san has worn that robe at all the occasions she could" Sasakibe said, Yamamoto simply shaking his head before giving Sasakibe a check.

"I'll see you tomorrow then Sasakibe?"

"Of course taicho. Of course."