Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, it is owned by Tite Kubo.

Characters/Pairings: The 14 Court Guard Squads (obviously), Ichigo/Rukia, (minor) Orihime/Ulquiorra, and some other character romance.

Brief: Ichigo and the others have just encountered a new enemy and are left with many questions as to what is going on as they begin a new day.

Ichigo was tossing around in his bed, but a crack in his door caused the sun to hit his eyes and he squinted from the sudden light as he opened them.

Ichigo said with a grunt, "Who opened my door?" Ichigo got up to close the door dressed only in his boxers. He didn't find the soul reaper underwear as comfortable as his old boxers, so he wore them instead. He walked over to the crack in the door and closed it and turned around to go back to his bed, for he was still tired. He suddenly heard singing and traced the source to his bathroom that was in his Captain's room.

He walked up to the door and saw a note on it and it read,

"Dear Ichigo,

I am taking a shower in your bathroom since the pipes in my bathroom don't seem to be working.

Love,

Rukia

P.S. Don't you even dare think about coming in here or peeking."

Ichigo sighed and looked for his soul reaper uniform along with his Squad 5 Captain's robe, but he couldn't find it. He then remembered where it was, in the bathroom.

Ichigo groaned and walked up to the door and hammered on it, he could hear the singing stop and the shower turning, "Rukia hurry up, my stuff is in there."

Rukia replied, "Hold on, let me finish… Why is your stuff in here anyway?"

Ichigo retorted sounding as if it was a dumb question, "It is MY bathroom, so I think I should be able to put whatever I want in there."

Rukia was quickly putting on her soul reaper uniform, "Oh…"

Ichigo sighed and looked down to see his hollow looking through the lock on the bathroom door and at Rukia. He didn't know how he got there without him noticing and shouted," What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Ichigo's shout startled Hichigo for he jumped up a bit," Catching some entertainment, you should try this channel; it's very… erotic."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at his hollow and replied angrily," Stop looking at her like that."

Hichigo just ignored Ichigo and replied grinning, "Why should I? After all, I am your inner instinct. I am simply following what my instinct tells me to do, which so happens to be spying on the Queen."

Ichigo got an anger mark on his head and grabbed his hollow and threw him away from the peephole to the side of the door. The door opened and slammed into Hichigo's face as Rukia walked out. When she walked out and as the mist cleared, she saw an Ichigo wearing only boxers and just stood there.

Rukia said through a stutter, "Uh… go-good morning I-Ichigo." Ichigo registered that Rukia had walked out of the steamy bathroom and noticed she looked kinda of flustered.

Ichigo replied casually, "Morning Rukia, now if you don't mind could you—HA!" he was interrupted by Hichigo who closed the door and tried to tackled Ichigo, but missed and pushed Rukia onto Ichigo. They somehow slipped due to a stray wet towel dropped by Rukia and Hichigo crashed into a wall, getting his head stuck in it. Ichigo and Rukia fell down and Rukia landed on Ichigo, flat on top of him with Ichigo flat on the ground. They recovered from the sudden fall and realized their position and froze in place as Rukia's arms were next to his head. The door, that was the entrance to Ichigo's Captain's room, opened and there stood a figure watching them with curiosity and confusion, it was Zangetsu.

He just watched Ichigo and Rukia and said in his deep voice, "Am I interrupting something?" Ichigo and Rukia looked at Zangetsu, then at each other, and they immediately got of one another.

Ichigo got up and left with whatever dignity he had left and respect his zanpaktou had for him. He went towards the bathroom to change, "No you weren't interrupting anything old man." He walked by Hichigo near the entrance into the bathroom and as soon as Hichigo got his head out of the wall, Ichigo shoved it right back into it.

Hichigo was a bit surprised at this and shouted at Ichigo angrily inside the wall, "Hey, what was that for?" Ichigo responded by shutting the bathroom door, he then started spewing curses at him inside the wall.

Rukia got herself together and began to leave the room and said to Zangetsu with a bow, "Excuse me I was just—why do you need to explain yourself if it was an accident?" interrupted Zangetsu.

Rukia looked at Zangetsu and nodded and left the room saying, "Thank you for understanding." Zangetsu watched her leave and continued to watch her until she left his sight.

Zangetsu then thought to himself in his mind, "I wonder if she is indeed the one that Ichigo has—."

"Don't finish that thought Zangetsu!" shouted Ichigo from the bathroom as he began to take a shower.

Zangetsu walked over to Hichigo and pulled his head out of the wall with ease He dumped the hollow onto the ground in a pile and replied to Ichigo, "You may deny it, Ichigo, but your heart tells me something else."

Ichigo simply replied, "… Yeah… maybe you're right, but what if… never mind."

Zangetsu want to know what was bothering Ichigo and urged him on by saying, "What if what, Ichigo?"

Ichigo sighed and said, "Forget it, I already know what the answer is without you telling me. Why did you come here anyway?"

Zangetsu replied after he heard the shower coming to an end, "Masumi Minoru wanted to speak to you and Rukia."

Ichigo opened the door and replied while drying his hair with a towel, "Did he ask what it was for?"

Zangetsu answered looking at Ichigo, "He said that he wanted to see you and Rukia so that he could figure out what those beings wanted with you two and himself and share some information."

Ichigo threw the towel into Hichigo's face, which he threw it back at him in anger, but missed. He walked out of the room with Hichigo angry for being treated like trash, "Well what are we waiting for? Let's go."

Outside near the Special Forces barrack's entrance

Ichigo was walking to the Special Forces barracks with Rukia beside him who was still a bit embarrassed from the encounter earlier. Ichigo's hollow and zanpaktou, along with Rukia's and Ichigo's zanpaktous and hollow, were heading to the Special Forces base within the forest with them. Ichigo looked around him and said to no one in particular, "I wonder why Masumi's defenses haven't been going after us."

He heard the noise of someone pushing branches out of their way and leaves being crunched under a person's foot, this made Ichigo stop and waited to see who it was that was making the noise. Ulquiorra then came walking out behind a tree and said to him without stopping, "Because he allowed you to enter Kurosaki."

Ichigo relaxed a bit and said, "Oh, it's you Ulquiorra."

Rukia said, "Do you know—where to go? Follow me," said Ulquiorra interrupting her. Ulquiorra lead them forward and the farther they walked, the thinker and denser the vegetation became and it also got progressively darker.

Hichigo who was about to take his frustration out on the vegetation, said, "Why is there so much of this green stuff?"

Ulquiorra simply replied without looking back, "To discourage anyone into coming in here, for if they somehow made through the less denser part of the defenses; they'll probably think twice before going through here." Ichigo then saw a light up ahead and when he eventually got to the light, he stumbled out and fell to the ground, due to being blinded by the light suddenly, and there was nothing to break his fall. Rukia also did the same, but caught herself on some vines.

Ichigo then saw a pair of feet before his face and looked up to see Masumi and he said, "So nice of you to join us Ichigo and Rukia."

Ichigo and Rukia composed themselves and Ichigo replied, "Shut it, what do you want to tell us?"

Masumi smiled, turned around, and walked towards a garden, "Ichigo and Rukia follow me, Zangetsu and Sode Shirayuki can go inside and enjoy themselves and Ichigo's hollow; my hollow is in the underground training room in case you wanted to have some 'fun'." Zangetsu and Sode Shirayuki simply turned and went inside the Special Forces' barracks, after walking up some steps, to 'enjoy' themselves. Hichigo, with a grin on his face, ran off towards a ladder that was off to the side of the steps. He opened it and jumped down.

Masumi sighed and said, "That should keep those two occupied for a while." He opened a door covered in vines and beyond that door, Ichigo and Rukia could see that a mini oasis was back here. They saw that Stark was relaxing on the water as he floated there near a waterfall only in some swimming shorts that he 'borrowed' from a shop in the World of the Living. Masumi went to a corner with seats and couches, which looked comfy to Ichigo and Rukia, and were in a circle. They sat down in three of the many comfy seats and everyone got comfortable.

Rukia sat upright in a noble manner and said, "I'm surprise you built this place all by yourself."

Masumi slouched in his chair and said, "You could say that."

Ichigo laid back and asked, "How did you get the money to build all of this?"

Masumi replied with a grin, "I didn't."

Rukia replied suspicious, "So you stole all of this and built this without the rest of the Seireitei knowing?"

Masumi simply replied, "We didn't steal all of this, we… recycled and the rest of the Soul Society does know about it; they just don't bother to come here unless they somehow manage to get past the defenses or they ask me first."

Ichigo, wanting to get back to why they were called by Masumi, said, "Anyway, what do you want?"

Masumi knew that Ichigo wanted answers so, he replied, "Fine, I wanted to talk to you two and ask you just a few questions and other things."

Rukia leaned in as Lilinette, in some swim wear that she too 'borrowed' from the World of the Living, behind her jumped into the water where Stark was floating in. The water from her splash landed on top of him, awaking him from his relaxation. Rukia asked, "What kind of things?"

Masumi replied, "I'll get to that in a bit; now my first question is that, have either of you been feeling something odd happen to you or anything strange that you have noticed about yourselves?"

Ichigo and Rukia looked at each other and replied, "Not really why do you—think about it very carefully," interrupted Masumi, they did as they were told and simply shook their heads saying 'no'.

Ichigo replied, "Where are you going with this Masumi?"

Masumi thought about what he was about to say and said, "I was up, all last night, with Yasushi in the library, because he and I were curious about the recent events and we've deduced something while we were in the library."

Ichigo leaned back further in his chair seeing as this may be a long explanation and said, "What did you 'deduce'?" Ichigo did air quotes with his fingers to emphasize his point. Rukia eyed him and looked at Masumi, waiting for him to continue.

Masumi scratched his head and said, "We've deduced—we've deduced the reasoning behind the strangers' appearance," interrupted Yasushi jumping over a chair and sitting in it, next to Masumi.

Rukia asked, "And what would that be?"

Yasushi leaned forward and said, "This is just our deductive reasoning, so don't get your hopes up, but they may be from the Spirit King."

Ichigo replied, with confusion, along with Rukia, who was shocked at this statement, "The Spirit King?!"

Masumi sighed and sat up, "Yes the Spirit King. As for Ichigo who doesn't know who he is, he's basically the guy Aizen wanted dead and is the King over all of creation."

Ichigo just sat there, taking in this information, while Rukia asked, "How did you come by this information?"

Yasushi looked at her and said, "Would you tell the other Captains?"

Rukia eyed him and said, "Not unless I have to."

Yasushi scratched his head, "We were in the library last night and we stumbled upon something…"

Flashback

Masumi felt a book hit his head and looked up at Yasushi, who was on a ladder, and said, "Dammit Yasushi watch what you're doing and are you even looking for information?"

Yasushi smiled a cheeky smile and said, "Of course I am, just trying to keep you awake is all."

Masumi sighed and grabbed the book that fell on his head and said, "Try to do so gently, so that I'll at least look fine when I get back to my barracks or Naomi will kill me for staying up this late."

Yasushi just grinned and searched the very top of the shelf he was currently at with the ladder and said, "Seems like Naomi has you whipped or something."

Masumi looked at the book that landed on his head and replied to Yasushi, "What do you mean by that?"

Yasushi found a very old book covered in dust at the very top of the bookshelf, took it down, blew the dust off and said, "Nothing, just that you get kind of soft when you're around her is all."

Masumi looked at the title and replied, "Shut up, I am…not…soft…with… Yasushi find a book involving the—Beginnings of the Soul Society?" said Yasushi sliding down the ladder and sat down across from Masumi with the book.

Yasushi looked at Masumi and said, "What have you got there?"

Masumi replied, "Wars of the Soul Society; if I remember correctly; Ichigo's zanpaktou, Zangetsu, told me later that day that he is fighting alongside of Ichigo to finish a war left unfinished and that guy, Isamu also mentioned that. If I am very, very lucky, and I am usually lucky; then that war should be in this book."

Yasushi looked through his book and said, "What makes you think that that book wasn't made at a time in which everyone forgot about it and is simply a fictional book?"

Masumi just smiled and replied, "Two things; one this is a very old book by the looks, feel, smell, and…" he licks the book, "…taste of it and another thing is that the author in none other than the old man, Yamamoto."

Yasushi kept on reading his book and asked, "What's so special about Yamamoto being the author?"

Masumi read his book and said, "Well you do know that he is VERY old and you also know that souls in the Soul Society don't die from old age, which explains his age and then length of time he's been like that."

Yasushi eyed Masumi for a second and went back to his book and said, "Ok… and?"

Masumi still read his book and said, "…and I also remember that one of those strangers being very familiar with Yamamoto and even called him 'Shige', which I am guessing is a little nickname. Isamu also mentioned that in his dimension, age doesn't show and if we assume that Yamamoto has been alive that long to be recognize by a being that doesn't age, he should appear in some very ancient books. So…,"

Yasushi interrupting him by saying, "You're assuming that if we read our history lessons, we will find something like he is at least 13.75 billion years old." Yasushi handed Masumi his book while Masumi place his on his lap.

Masumi saw a very, very, old and faded picture of what Yamamoto looked like in his youth. He read some information below, smiled, and said, "That's good news then."

Yasushi took the book from Masumi and asked, "Care to share this information?"

Masumi replied, "If you read the paragraph below, it says that as soon as the Soul Society was created after a large, massive, destructive, and bloody series of wars, Yamamoto wrote a book called 'Wars of the Soul Society'. It also says that this book keeps records of the events that happened before the creation of the Soul Society, and we have it."

Yasushi just read through his book some more and saw something that caught his eye, "It mentions something called the Oken here."

Masumi was still reading his book trying to find something, found it, and said, "My book has it too, does it say what year it was created in?"

Yasushi replied, "It wasn't created, it was brought into existence and placed inside the Soul Society; don't know what the difference is, but the year was 13.75 billion years ago, the exact same time the Soul Society was created and the Spirit King and his loyal followers separated themselves from the Soul Society."

Masumi thought about something and said, "There is a reason why it said 'brought into existence and placed in the Soul Society' and not created."

Yasushi looked at him and said, "What, like saying that the idea was brought about or the…oh I see," as realization hit him.

Masumi smiled and said, "Exactly, the Oken wasn't created; it was brought into existence and placed inside the Soul Society or in simpler terms, it exists, but at the same time, it doesn't."

Yasushi said, "I had it, but now you've confused me."

Masumi smiled and said, "Read this." Yasushi read what Masumi was pointing to in his book and it said 'the Spirit King then asked two people to come before him; before he and his followers left. One was male, and the other was female and they were both in love with each other and their love was shown through their marriage and the Red Ribbon of Fate. There was a blinding light and suddenly the Spirit King was gone, along with the male and female. Masumi then pointed to something else and Yasushi read it, 'the key was found with the two lovers, the soul reapers took the key from them by killing them, and the soul reapers continued their war.' Yasushi rubbed his eyes due to his eyes feeling heavy. Masumi pointed to something else which read, 'The soul reapers lost the war again and the Spirit King destroyed the key in order to prevent another war, but this went against a promise he made, that everyone has the ability to reach him if they found the key. So the Spirit King hid the key in such a way that it doesn't exist, yet it exists and he did this while thinking about and mourning his son's death along with his beloved wife, who had obediently followed the King's orders to protect the key no matter what, even beyond death.'

Yasushi said, "Care to enlighten me?"

Masumi said, "If you think about it, the Spirit King made the key by bring it into existence; assuming that it is meaning that it could 'exist' only at certain times. However, that goes against his promise."

Yasushi then caught onto what Masumi was going at and said, "So he hid it by breaking it in two and placing it in two different times?"

Masumi replied, "Yes and no, he did split the key, but they aren't in different times for that would be breaking his promise in saying that it would be possible for someone to reach him from the Soul Society if they had a key at any time. The text says that he created the new key while thinking about his dead son and his wife, who were apparently bound by the Red Ribbon of Fate. I am deducing that he 'placed' the key in their bodies and since the Red Ribbon of Fate binds two people together throughout all eternity, even beyond death, the key is always eventually reunited with its other half and is existing, yet not existing within those two souls. The key exists when the souls are at one with each other; the souls would have to nearly be dead and ready to reincarnate, at the same time, for the key to exist for a short amount of time and then it wouldn't exist and then the whole cycle repeats itself, if they do die. That or they do something else, which I am uncertain about yet."

Yasushi then sat down and said, "Are you sure these books are credible?"

Masumi sighed and said, "Yes, they were written by a man who has been through those wars and has lived for 13.75 billion years, I'm sure they are credible."

Yasushi sighed and ruffled his head and said, "How does this connect to the strangers?"

Masumi leaned in and said, "Ok let me explain, the two lovers that were bound by the Red Ribbon of Fate, and were, officially and in a state of marriage, the son and daughter of the Spirit King. If they were the son and daughter of the Spirit King and could co-exist with him, they must have a great deal or a certain amount of spiritual pressure within them. And since the King had promised that the key would always be in the Soul Society; and since the Red Ribbon of Fate and the key are constantly being reincarnated and the key eventually ending up in the Soul Society and it is still somehow hidden…"

Yasushi then butted in, "I thought the King was trying to prevent another war.

Masumi continued by saying, "He is, he just hid the key really well and, taking into consideration of all of the facts that I have mention, what would be the best hiding place in the Soul Society where soul reapers are in large numbers."

Yasushi thought for a minute and understood where Masumi was going, "Within two soul reapers!?"

Masumi leaned back in his wooden chair, folded his arms behind his head, and said, "Exactly, hide something in plain sight; they would never expect it."

Yasushi replied, "Do you have an idea of who it might be?"

Masumi responded by saying, "Think about it, who do we know that has the Red Ribbon of Fate and at least one of them possess a lot of spiritual pressure or powers?"

Yasushi narrowed down the subjects and, with realization, said, "Ichigo and Rukia!"

Masumi replied, "Exactly."

Yasushi said, "Damn… and you got all of that from a few passages from two books?"

Masumi smiled saying, "Yep, two books and my brain."

Yasushi pulled his hair back while trying to take in the information he was just told and said, "So what does this have to do with strangers?"

Masumi closed his eyes while reclining in his chair and said, "They said that they wanted Ichigo and Rukia and I am assuming that they want the Oken and are on orders from the Spirit King."

Yasushi raised an eyebrow, "Explain yourself."

Masumi replied, "Those strangers possessed abilities that were not soul reaper powers and specifically asked for Ichigo, Rukia, and me. Since the Sprit King does not like war and they did mention something about a treaty being broken, which I am deducing is a treaty between the Soul Society and something or someone else, and that the key is what triggers this war; it would be reasonable to assume that the Spirit King wants to stop another war from breaking out. So he sent those strangers to take back the key, which we have deduced is Ichigo and Rukia. That or he just wants to talk to them."

Yasushi nodded his head in understanding," I see… but why do they want you and doesn't that go against his promise?"

Masumi yawned, stretched, got up, and said, "I don't know what he wants with me and I don't know how he plans on doing it; I'm not a genius or something. Anyways, I am too tired to worry about that right now. C'mon let's get back before I get yelled at by Naomi and you get yelled at or injured by Yasuko."

Yasushi got up out of his chair, put the books in some hiding spots, followed Masumi out of the library, and said, "Yeah, you don't want to make Yasuko angry. Anyway… we'll worry about why they want you when we come to that bridge and good luck with Naomi."

Masumi smiled at his best friend's little metaphor and said, "Thanks and I'll see you tomorrow." Masumi and Yasushi waved at each other and went their separate ways.

End Flashback

Ichigo was sitting in his seat with his arms crossed and had his eyes closed, absorbing the information, and said, "So they want the key, us; whatever, or they just wanted to talk with us?"

Yasushi nodded his head and said, "We believe so."

Rukia was thought aloud, "In order to prevent a war?"

Masumi said, "Correct."

Ichigo said, "So why don't we give ourselves up to them?"

Masumi groaned and dropped his head backwards, for he didn't want to explain it to him again, so Rukia said, "We wouldn't be able to survive there."

Ichigo wanted to know why and asked, "Why not?"

Masumi got irritated and said, "If you were listening and even paying the least bit of attention, we said that only special beings could exist in that dimension. Now, there is a possibility for you to survive there, Ichigo, but Rukia couldn't; well not that I know of."

Rukia got offended and stood up and shouted, "What are you implying Masumi, that I am weak and powerless?!"

Masumi looked at the sky, as if nothing was wrong, and said, "Yes, I am saying that you are weak and powerless Rukia; unless you care to prove me wrong?"

Ichigo saw the look on Rukia's face was of rage and quickly said, in order to avoid her beating up Masumi, "Rukia calm down, he doesn't know what he's talking about. He hasn't fought side by side with you to know how strong willed and a good fighter that you can be."

Rukia sat down and whispered to Ichigo, keeping her eyes hidden, and said, "Thanks… Ichigo." He smiled and patted her on the shoulder to cheer her up when Masumi got up to leave.

Yasushi was a little shocked and said, "Where are you going, shouldn't you apologize?"

Masumi replied, as he heard a door open, "Apologize for what?"

Ichigo said in a low tone, "You know what you did."

Masumi said, keeping his back to them, "I'm sorry, Rukia, for hurting your feelings, not for what I have said."

Ichigo stood up angry as Masumi began to walk away and said, "What?! That's not a real apology you have to—it's ok Ichigo," said Rukia interrupting him.

Ichigo said, "No, Rukia, it is not ok he has—spoken the truth, I know that I am weak and will probably have no chance against those strangers if you weren't fighting with me. So I want to ask Masumi something."

Masumi turned around interested, "Yes?"

Rukia bowed, catching him off-guard, and said, "Can you spar with me to test my strengths and weaknesses to see if I can withstand the strangers and this place?"

Masumi looked at her strangely and replied with a grin, "If that is what you want, sure, follow me."

Ichigo said, trying to persuade Rukia out of her training with Masumi, "Rukia you can't, he won't show you any mercy and he'll—I know he won't show me mercy, which is why I want to train with him. If I were to train with you, Ichigo, you would be holding back against me and that wouldn't help me in the future," said Rukia interrupting Ichigo.

Ichigo saw, in her eyes and how she spoke, that she knew what she was doing and said, "Fine, but I'm coming and if it gets to out of hand, I'm going to put a stop to it." Rukia smiled at how he cared for her and punched him playfully as a sign for 'thanks' and mouthed the words 'idiot'. Ichigo just smiled back.

Masumi smirked and turned around and said, "Good now that that's over why don't we—oomph!" as a foot landed in his stomach. He was falling to the ground, when he was thrown back with a punch in the jaw upwards. He landed on his back as a small body tackled him to the ground.

Confused and in pain, Masumi said, "Ah what the hell who—Masumi you know better than that, what has gotten into you lately! Apologize to Rukia correctly or so help me I'll…," said Naomi obviously angry at Masumi for hurting Rukia's feelings and for being mean.

Masumi saw the anger in her eyes and quickly said, looking up at Rukia, "I am sorry, Rukia, for hurting your feelings and your pride as a soul reaper, please forgive me and tell Naomi to get off me."

Rukia, feeling better at the sight of this and the apology, said, "Thanks; now, can we get on with the training?"

Naomi looked down at Masumi and questioned, "Training? What training? Can I join?"

Masumi looked at her strangely for the sudden change in mood and her puppy dog eyes and replied, "Uh… well you see Rukia and I were going to train in the training area…alone… and—Oh thank you Masumi," interrupted Naomi, giving Masumi a death hug, which was expressed as Masumi's face went red from lack of air and his hand slapping the ground, signaling for air.

Naomi got off of him and said, "C'mon Rukia, I'll race you there." She dragged Rukia away sounding very happy and they race to the underground training area pushing each other playfully. Masumi got up off the ground, rubbed his head, and brushed off some dirt off of himself.

Yasushi just stood there watching and commented, "What just happened?"

Ichigo said, with a grin, "I believe Naomi just put Masumi in his place."

Masumi eyed him as he went to the underground training area, "Shut up or you don't get to come." Ichigo grinned and followed Masumi with Yasushi into the underground training area.

Special Forces Underground Training Area

Ichigo and the others descended into the training area to see it devastated and Masumi said, "What the hell happened here?!"

Ichigo sighed and said, "I think those two got too carried away." Ichigo point towards the fighting hollows, Hichigo and Umasumi.

Masumi shouted at them, so that they could hear above their fighting, and said, "Hey time is up you two, go relax or something."

Hichigo and Umasumi looked at him, each other, stopped fighting, and walked over to them with Umasumi saying, "Sure thing boss, just let us know when you're done."

Ichigo eyed his hollow saying, "Try not to wreck the place."

Hichigo replied in a sarcastic tone, "Now why on Earth would I wreck this place after I have had so much fun it."

Ichigo sighed and said, "You know what I mean." Hichigo just grinned and went up the ladder with Umasumi to go inside the Special Forces' main room.

Masumi walked out into the middle of a clearing with Rukia and said, "So… how do you want to go about this?"

Rukia unsheathed her zanpaktou and replied, "Whatever you think is best."

Masumi scratched his head and said, "Ok, I'll test your strengths and weaknesses to see if you can stand up to these people." He took off his zanpaktous from behind his back, unraveled them from their cloth and stabbed them into the ground.

Rukia was confused and asked, "What are you doing?

Masumi got into a fighting stance and said, "Don't worry; this is all part of the training." Rukia smiled at how Masumi was treating her, it was like he wanted her to become stronger, despite his earlier actions.

Before they began, Naomi joined in and said while taking out her zanpaktou, "Hey, don't forget about me Masumi."

Masumi grinned and said, "How could I forget about you Naomi. Now then, don't hold back, for I won't hold back against you two. That includes cutting, punching, biting, kicking, spitting, whatever; just treat this as a fight for your life, for I am going to make it feel like one, got it?"

Rukia and Naomi said, "Got it." The three then ran towards each other, beginning their fight.

In another dimension

Kiyomi and Isamu were waiting outside of the grand doors that lead into the Spirit King's throne room.

"You may enter," said a kind, loving, wise, intelligent, deep, and holy voice. Kiyomi and Isamu entered and went up to the Spirit King who sat at his throne. They kneeled before the Spirit King and bowed their heads in respect. The Spirit King had long, grey, shiny, wavy, well-kept hair that blended in to his medium sized grey beard which was very similar to his hair. He was old and had the face of a man who carried lots of wisdom and power; he was tall and lightly tanned. He wore a very simple and very clean white robe, had no shoes, and had a book in his left hand. He descended from his throne by going down many steps and stood before Kiyomi and Isamu.

The Spirit King said, "Stand up and tell me what you have learned." Kiyomi and Isamu obeyed and stood before the Spirit King with their heads still looking down.

Isamu said, "My lord, we have done as you have requested and have located the two souls whom hold the essence of the Oken."

The Spirit King smiled and said, "Very good and did you learn of anything else?"

Isamu hesitated before he spoke, deciding whether it was best to tell the King anything else. Kiyomi spoke up raising her head. "We also found the missing person you have been searching for throughout every dimension, Masumi Minoru." Isamu eyed her and saw that her head was up and tried to tell her to be more respectful, while being as respectful as he could.

The Spirit King stroked his beard and paced side to side and suddenly said with joy, "That is great news! Did you tell him that he could return?"

Kiyomi answered, "No I didn't, he didn't seem to recognize us and saw us as enemies, and there are some other problems."

Isamu stopped her before continuing, "Kiyomi, he doesn't need to know this."

The Spirit King replied, "I'm sure the Spirit King wants to know this, besides you don't know what I need to know; now Kiyomi, please continue." Kiyomi stuck her tongue out at Isamu, which surprised Isamu and tried to point out that she was being rude to the Spirit King, but the Spirit King was whistling and looking away as if he didn't see anything.

Kiyomi continued, "The first issue is that he's a soul reaper and has appeared to have joined their ranks. The second issue is that there are some powerful entities now residing in the Soul Society, and lastly it may be difficult to get him back here as you wanted, my lord."

The Spirit King raised an eyebrow and inquired, "And why is that so?"

Kiyomi sighed and rubbed her arm with her hand and said, "He appears to have a connection with a dark blue haired soul reaper, but the soul reaper somehow seems very familiar." The Spirit King nodded and walked about, with Isamu and Kiyomi behind him, thinking.

Isamu asked respectfully, "What will you have us do, my lord?"

The Spirit King paused for a few seconds and said, "Do the souls that contain the essence of the Oken have the ability to exist here?"

Isamu said, "Most likely, but we can always test it." The Spirit King nodded and took something out of his robe and handed it to Isamu, it was a bronze necklace with a bronze crucifix on it.

The Spirit King said, "Put this on her if she cannot withstand this place and bring them here, but do so after we learn more about Masumi's condition. I fear that the soul reapers might have done something to him to make him forget his own self and find out more about this woman he has a connection with is the same woman that he went looking for when he left here to search for her when she went missing. Sever the connection if you must." He walked away and towards the grand doors and held them open for Isamu and Kiyomi to walk out. When Isamu and Kiyomi exited the Spirit King's throne room, he exited as well and closed the doors.

The Spirit King said, "We will meet again once you have learned enough information about Masumi's condition and the woman. After you have brought the souls who contain the Oken in them; I will tell you what to do next."

Isamu and Kiyomi bowed their heads and said, "My lord," and they walked away. Kiyomi stopped and looked back at the Spirit King for a brief second, but continued on her way.

The Spirit King, noticing something was wrong, asked, "Something troubling you Kiyomi?" He walked up next to Kiyomi and placed a hand on her shoulder while they walked.

Kiyomi, feeling comfortable, said, "It's nothing it's just that… Masumi… he looks very familiar and I feel a connection towards him."

The Spirit King smiled and said, "That's because he's your brother, don't you remember?" Kiyomi's eyes widened and the words 'brother' and 'remember' kept repeating themselves in her head. Kiyomi's head began to hurt and then she remembered Masumi.

Kiyomi then said, happy, "I do remember, but how did I forget him?"

The Spirit King looked at her and scratched his head before saying, "The soul reapers did something to him and I would like to know what, for whatever they did to him could indeed end up breaking the treaty and war will follow. That or if this woman is indeed a soul reaper keeping him bound there, the treaty will definitely be broken and war will come." The Spirit King then took something else out of his robes and gave her a small stick.

Kiyomi took the stick and looked at it strangely, "What do I do with this?"

The Spirit King took his hand off her shoulder and said, "Simply whack him on the head with this stick three times and listen for a noise. If the stick makes three 'ding'," the Spirit King made a three ding noises, "noises; then that means he's just simply forgotten about us after being away from this place so long. If it makes other noises, let me know what those noises were and that should tell me what's wrong with him. Now you should probably hurry up and catch up with Isamu, he looks like he's about ready to leave." The Spirit King pointed at Isamu, who was waving at Kiyomi to hurry up and she waved back saying that she was coming.

Kiyomi said with a bow, "Thank you, your majesty I will not fail you,"

The Spirit King ruffled up her hair and said, "Don't be so formal; you and especially Masumi always treated me as an equal, which made me feel normal. Now go on and complete your mission." Kiyomi smiled and ran off waving goodbye to the Spirit King; she caught up to Isamu and vanished in a flash of light.

Training room

Rukia and Naomi were on opposite sides of Masumi and were panting hard, while Masumi stood there calmly as he played with some small rocks in his hand. Rukia and Naomi inched closer to Masumi, who was beginning to do trick moves with the rocks with his feet and hands. Rukia and Naomi charged at Masumi who saw them coming and simply flicked the small rocks at their face. They had to block the rocks from hitting their eyes and when they felt the rocks stop, they looked back to where Masumi was supposed to be and didn't see him there.

Rukia scanned the area, looking for him, but stopped when she felt something sweep kick her by the feet and as she fell towards the ground, Masumi said, "Never lose sight of your opponent or get distracted." He punched Rukia in the stomach as hard as he could without killing her. Rukia's mouth opened and spit came out of it as she exhaled sharply from the sudden blow to her stomach. The next thing she saw was a knee coming towards her head. As the knee connected with her head, she flew back a few feet and landed with a thud on the ground. Naomi appeared from behind Masumi and attacked him with her zanpaktou with a left horizontal slash. Masumi felt the blade touch his cheek and immediately moved his head with the momentum of the blade, eventually ducking under it. As Naomi's right side was open to Masumi, he placed his hands on the ground and performed a spin kick in her ribs. Naomi felt his foot slam into her rib cage, she spun, and landed on the ground with a thump.

Masumi felt her spiritual pressure drop suddenly and he came over to her, worried he said, "Shit, Naomi are you alright I didn't mean to…," but stopped when he heard her laughing. He smiled, but the smile fade when he felt something cut his back, his instincts kicked in and he sweep kicked Rukia, who had attacked him. As she fell, he grabbed her hand with his left hand and with his right hand open, slammed it up into Rukia's elbow, then elbowed her upper arm, then used his knee on her forearm by bringing it down onto it; hearing cracks in all three strikes. Rukia yelled in pain and this brought Masumi back to reality. He realized what he did as Rukia held her arm on the ground, trying to hide her obvious pain.

He saw Ichigo stand up, but he motioned him to sit down and said to Rukia, "Get up, both of you. Good job Naomi, fooling me to give Rukia an open shot and Rukia; you still have to fight me with that broken arm of yours." Naomi looked at Rukia who had to support herself with her own zanpaktou in order to stand up. Naomi saw that she was suffering a lot of pain; she had just endured and is enduring, from the look in her eyes.

Naomi said to Masumi, "There was no reason to break her arm and in three different places too, Masumi, what if that was me?" Naomi's answer came when Masumi flew past her and palmed her shoulder as he past her, dislocating it.

Naomi yelled in pain and Masumi said, "I would not treat you any differently since I said that I would fight you as if your life depended on it. What I did to Rukia was an instinct that overcame me. She could've avoided it if she was quick enough, but she didn't, so that is the consequence she will have to deal with." Naomi put the grip of her zanpaktou in her mouth and pushed her shoulder back into place, while biting down hard on the grip.

Naomi took her zanpaktou out of her mouth and said, "I guess you really meant it."

Masumi outstretched his arms, inviting her to attack him, "Of course I did, why do you think I said it if I didn't really mean it?" Naomi flash stepped towards Masumi and attacked with a horizontal strike starting from the right side. Masumi stepped back as Naomi continued to attack him with many different types of slashes and stabs. Rukia managed to place her arm in her kimono without too much pain that she couldn't handle and went to assist Naomi. Naomi stabbed at Masumi's chest and immediately regretted it when she saw the grin on his face. He dodged the blade and his hands went to grab her wrists. Naomi then realized that she had been disarmed and her wrists were hurting quite a bit.

Naomi tried to fix her wrists, but whatever Masumi had done to her wrists had kept the pain there, and she said, "Can we take a break, I mean—Not yet," said Masumi interrupting Naomi with a slow punch towards her face, which she dodged by doing a flip, regaining her zanpaktou at the same time. Masumi started to run towards her, but stopped when he saw something in the corner of his eye. He rolled over one of his zanpaktou's chain, pulled it, and grabbed it before Rukia's attack, using only one arm, was about to make contact.

Rukia smiled while they clashed and said, "You're using one of your zanpaktous now, I guess that means we are either intensifying the training or that you needed to get your zanpaktou. Afraid to get hurt Masumi?" Masumi eyed Rukia, for he sensed something off about her and noticed a red choke necklace around her neck with a black sun on it. He looked over to Ichigo who looked like he was calmly meditating and had his red watch on with a white moon inside its casing.

Masumi broke of the clash and skidded to a stop and said, "It seems Ichigo is worried about you and is helping you. Although he is doing a poor job at successfully performing the technique, it's pretty good for someone who is doing this by just winging it." Rukia attacked again and Masumi blocked it, Rukia attacked to the right, left, middle, and at his legs, while Masumi was dodging accordingly to Rukia's attacks. He saw an opening and jabbed two fingers under Rukia's right armpit and the sudden squint in her eyes, told Masumi he had hit the pressure point and was about to begin to disable the rest of Rukia's arm when Naomi slashed down his back. Masumi lost her after her attack and wondered for a second where she was. He spotted Naomi and threw his zanpaktou at her while holding the chain. Naomi saw the zanpaktou coming towards her and blocked it. As she was being sent backwards from the force, Masumi flash stepped from behind and tripped her. As she was falling, he grabbed her foot and his zanpaktou. He threw her into the air at high speeds. Before he could chase down the flying Naomi, Rukia intercepted him and they each began trading blows. Rukia blocked an attack heading for her head, and she let Masumi's blade slid off of her own blade and counter attacked to his open side. Masumi saw this and had to spin around out of the way and kicked Rukia in her right ribs; sending her flying towards a boulder, crashing into it.

Before Masumi could rest, Naomi slashed him across his chest and as she finished her attack, Masumi grabbed her wrists and said, "That's getting annoying and it's kind of sneaky."

Naomi smiled while trying to free her wrists from Masumi's grip and said, "Isn't that how you fight?"

Masumi smiled and said, "True, but at least I don't let myself get captured or grabbed." Naomi jumped in order to raise her leg up for a kick towards Masumi's head. Masumi let go of his zanpaktou, grabbed her ankle, released her wrists, and threw her to the ground with a lot of force. It had caused Naomi to lose her breath and let go of her zanpaktou. Rukia appeared behind Masumi, about to strike, but saw him pull on a chain in his hand. The chain was connected to his zanpaktou and it came up from underneath her, cutting deeply into her back. Rukia fell down, tired, exhausted, and in pain much like what Naomi was feeling.

"Rukia!" said Ichigo running over to her with Yasushi casually walking over. Ichigo finally got to the scene and was about to help Rukia up when Yasushi stopped him.

Ichigo looked at him with anger and said, "What are you doing?"

Yasushi sighed, shook his head in disbelief, placed a hand on Ichigo, and said, "Have you forgotten what kind of person Rukia is? She doesn't need you worrying about her constantly. Let her fight her own battles and let her take care of herself. Otherwise she won't get any stronger and if your gone, she may not be able to survive. Besides, if she needed help she would ask for help; am I right?"

Ichigo shook Yasushi's hand off of him and said, with some anger in voice, "I guess you're right, if she ever needed my help she would ask for my help."

Ichigo heard something mumbling and Rukia spoke with a harsh voice, "Dammit Ichigo help me you idiot!" Ichigo did as he was told and carefully picked her up while making sure he wouldn't hurt her severely damaged arm and eyed Yasushi, who just shrugged his shoulders innocently.

Rukia winced at the pain in her arm and said, "Thanks. I think one of my legs has lost feeling in it."

Ichigo supported her and replied, "Don't worry I'm sure we can fix it." Masumi knelt down to Naomi, who was in a mini coma from her sudden and strong impact on the ground.

Masumi slapped her face lightly while saying, "Naomi…Naomi…Naomi, wake up… Wake up dammit. I know I didn't throw you down that hard—stop yelling! My head is killing me," said Naomi wincing at the pain in her head. She closed her eyes, somehow hoping that that would sedate the pain in her head.

Masumi smiled while brushing away a few strands of her dark blue hair from her face and said, "You've improved,"

Naomi smiled, "Thanks, Ulquiorra has been helping me with my training."

Masumi was a little surprised by this, "Since when does Ulquiorra train or help others?"

Naomi rubbed her eyes, still lying on the ground, "I guess it may have to do with the fact that he is in a relationship with Orihime now, I guess."

Masumi was surprised by this news and said, "Ulquiorra… is dating… Orihime?" Naomi just lightly nodded a 'yes'.

Masumi remarked shocked, "Well damn, never knew that those two would get together." Naomi laughed softly with Masumi.

Ichigo came over with Rukia leaning on him and asked, "You happen to know where I can get Rukia healed up?"

Masumi said, while still kneeling down, "Just walk in the front door and you'll see a body of water, use that. It's similar to Urahara's special water, except I've enhanced it a bit. I think I've told you this already, dumbass." Ichigo ignored him and began to leave while supporting Rukia.

Yasushi came over and stood above Masumi and said, "You really did push them today, but was it really necessary to break Rukia's arm… in three different places?"

Masumi grinned and sheepishly said, "You know me, I prefer to completely annihilate something in a fight when I get the opportunity to do so."

Yasushi sighed, "Whatever, I'll be upstairs in your 'spa' room, if you need me; you know how to get me."

Masumi grinned at something he might say humiliating in order to get Yasushi to come and replied, "Alright see you there."

Masumi looked at Naomi and said, "Shall we?" He extended a hand out to Naomi so that she could hoist herself up. She still felt a weird feeling throughout her body, but grabbed his hand and pulled herself up and used him as support for a second. Masumi started to walk, but as soon as he did Naomi, lost balance. She nearly fell, but caught herself by grabbing a hold of him.

Masumi looked at her, and jokingly said, "Something wrong with those things called legs?"

Naomi just glared at him and said, "They're tingling and aren't working right now thanks to you." Masumi laughed a little and continued to walk forward, and Naomi had to catch herself again on Masumi's robes.

Masumi grinned, turned around, and said, "Need some help?"

Naomi blushed a bit from embarrassment and said, "Yes I need some help you idiot."

Upstairs

Ichigo looked around the spa like room and saw that Sode Shirayuki and Zangetsu had towels on their heads while they were in a hot tub with steam rising from it. Zangetsu wore black swimming trunks and Sode Shirayuki wore a bluish white swimsuit. Ulquiorra was mediating in a corner with Yasushi. Tenku was swimming in the large pool; that looked like it was heated with Hikari. Yami was playing with fire while relaxing on a comfy looking couch. Hichigo was sprawled across a mat asleep and Umasumi was relaxing under a waterfall. Grimmjow was training in the training room and since it was sound proof, blocked out the light that could come from the room, and it was indestructible; he was training like there was no tomorrow in peace.

Ichigo remarked, "Nice place they have here, I wish we had something like this in our own Squad barracks."

Rukia thought about it and replied, "Yes that would be nice, now help me into the water you idiot."

Ichigo nodded and looked down at her, "What about your soul reaper uniform?"

Rukia stubbornly said, without thinking, "I guess I'll have to take them off and since I can't without causing myself pain you'll have to do it."

Ichigo smirked and replied, "You sure about that Rukia?"

Rukia looked at him and saw a weird smirk on his face with a tint of red on his face and realized what she had just said. Her face got a little red from embarrassment, "No, I didn't mean like you should do it, I mean you should probably find someone—Need some help?" said Yasuko coming over in a white bikini.

Ichigo nodded and asked, "Yes, could you please change her ladyship into her swimsuit so that she can get in the water?" Rukia lightly punched him for that remark.

Yasuko replied, while Rukia went over to her, "I can show you to the dressing room and get you your swimming stuff, but I am not going to change you."

Rukia said, "That's fine." She and Yasuko made their way around a corner and were gone from Ichigo's sight. Ichigo saw a dressing room and went into it to change. There some red swimming trunks that just so happened to be inside the dressing room. He changed into the trunks and took his Soul Reaper uniform out with him. He found a table placed it there. He got into the warm, relaxing water and began to relax.

He was about to close his eyes when Masumi said, "I think you dropped something somewhere along the way here." Ichigo looked up nonchalantly and saw Masumi, wearing a yellow swimming shirt and red swimming trunks, throwing a small box in his hand up and down. Ichigo recognized that the box was his and quickly got up out of the water to snatch it away from Masumi.

Ichigo, while placing the box back in his Soul Reaper Captain's robes, said, "You really shouldn't steal things from people."

Masumi grinned and said, "I didn't steal, I found it. Care to tell me what is so special about that small box?"

Ichigo got back in the water and said, "No."

Masumi pressed for answers saying, "Why won't you, I mean it's not like it's a big secret or something."

Ichigo closed his eyes in the warm water and said, "It's none of your business and if you must know, it is a secret."

Masumi stood near the edge of the pool, unaware of someone struggling to walk from behind him, and said, "If you say so, but-." He stopped speaking when he heard a crashing noise from behind him and the two boys turned around to see who it was. Naomi, in a blue bikini with a black shirt over it with a white Chappy on it, was on the ground rubbing her head next to a knocked over table and some chairs with the box next to her.

Masumi walked over and asked, "You alright?"

Naomi used one of the knocked over chairs, to help herself up, and said, "I'm not alright; thanks to your poking back there, I can't seem to walk right without falling down." Masumi grinned to himself as he watched her struggling to walk towards the pool, but he had to catch her before she fell again.

Masumi picked her up and said, "You know you can be really high maintenance Naomi." Naomi just sighed and let herself be supported by Masumi's body as she clutched to it. She saw a small box on the ground and picked it up while still holding onto Masumi.

Naomi looked at with interest and said, "What's this, some kind of gift?"

Masumi replied, "No, it's Ichigo's; it's a secret or something." This caught Ichigo's attention as he dashed out of the water hoping to prevent Naomi from opening. Naomi opened it just enough to get a glimpse at something shiny and rather beautiful, before Ichigo snatched it from her hand.

Naomi said annoyed, "Hey I was looking at that." She tried to jump up and grab it, but her legs wouldn't let her and she fell down, face first on the ground. Masumi laughed a bit and helped her up, earning a light punch in the stomach as he did.

Ichigo put it back in his soul reaper uniform and said, "It's a secret and I don't want anyone to know about it."

Naomi pouted as she held onto Masumi for support as he led her to the warm, rejuvenating pool, "Fine, but I am still going to find out why you have a ring Ichigo." Ichigo just got back into the pool and stiffened, for Naomi had seen enough of what was in the box. Masumi helped Naomi into the pool and got in himself.

Yasuko came over, hearing Naomi remarked, "A ring eh?"

Ichigo groaned and replied, "No, it's just your imagination; where's Rukia?" Ichigo looked around for Rukia and couldn't find her.

Yasuko responded, "She's coming just be patient, her leg is better. I just had to throw some water on it for her to move it." Yasuko walked away towards Yasushi and Ulquiorra to meditate. Ichigo turned his head and saw Rukia trying to get into the water in her Chappy pink bathing suit.

Ichigo smiled and swam over to her as she got in the water and asked, "How's your arm?"

Rukia dipped her right arm in the water, waited for a few seconds, and said, "It doesn't feel any different."

Ichigo turned and yelled to Masumi, who was trying to get a now fully-healed, playful Naomi off of him, "Masumi are you sure that this water is—Just rub it or something that'll—," said Masumi as he was taken underwater by a Naomi shark.

Ichigo sighed and said, "Give me your arm Rukia."

Rukia defensively held her arm close to her, "Why?"

Ichigo looked at her as if she was stupid and said, "So I can fix it."

Rukia simply replied, "Oh." She let him take her arm carefully and he began rubbing it under the water. Rukia wasn't sure if it was the water or Ichigo rubbing her arm with care that made her feel good inside, her cut on her back, feeling returned to her leg, and other wounds across and in her body also healed.

She was about to fall asleep when Ichigo said, "Is it better?"

Rukia shook herself awake and bent her arm carefully; she felt no pain and said, "It's all better, thanks Ichigo."

Ichigo slouched down into the water and said, "No problem." Yasushi decided to join in on the fun Masumi and Naomi were having, so he jumped into the pool.

Yasuko watched him play with Masumi and Naomi from her spot on the pool's edge and said, "What are you doing?"

Yasushi stopped with what he was doing and swam over to Yasuko and said, "Having fun, you should try it sometime Yasuko."

Yasuko got an anger mark on her head and said, "Are you saying that I don't know how to have fun—hey what are you doing?" Yasushi grabbed Yasuko by the waist and threw her into the water.

Yasushi said proudly, "There, now we can have some fun… Yasuko?" Yasushi looked in the water for Yasuko and couldn't find her, he got worried for he didn't know if she could swim or not, but he was answered when he felt himself get pulled under. He resurfaced and looked around him.

Yasushi replied, "Heh, playing a game now are we?" He saw some bubbles in the water and jumped on it. When he resurfaced, he was holding a laughing Yasuko for he was tickling her.

Yasuko tried to say, "Hahaha, ok…, ahah, you win… hahahaha, Yasushi!" Yasushi stopped tickling her and set her down into the pool. After calming down, they looked around and couldn't find Masumi and Naomi.

Yasuko wondered aloud, "Where are Masumi and Naomi?"

Yasushi said, "Good question, maybe they got out and—Over here!" said Masumi in the air going for Yasushi, Naomi was doing the same only with Yasuko. Yasushi and Yasuko looked at them and simply moved to the right and the two collided into each other and fell into the water.

Yasushi replied, as Masumi rubbed his head getting up, "That was probably the worst surprise attack you have ever done, Masumi."

Masumi eyed him and said, "Shut up and I wouldn't be critiquing me in surprise attacks, since you—aahh!" Masumi was interrupted when Naomi jumped him and was on his head.

Naomi gripped his head tight and said, "I've got you now!"

Masumi replied, "I… don't…think…so!" He threw Naomi off of him and she landed near Ichigo and Rukia. Rukia was watching with excitement at the scene and Naomi registered this.

Naomi said, "C'mon Rukia, you wanna play?"

Rukia happily answered, "Sure! Ichigo you want to come?"

Ichigo lazily replied, "No thanks."

Rukia narrowed her eyes and said, "Don't be such a stiff Ichigo, relax, let loose, and have some fun."

Ichigo opened his eyes slightly and said, "I said no Rukia," he then sank deeper into the warm pool. Rukia sighed and tried to think up of something to say to Ichigo to get him to join her.

Rukia thought of something and said, "You know Ichigo, I sometimes think you don't know how to have fun." She began to walk away when she heard something behind her snap and knew she had gotten his attention.

Ichigo replied irritated, "What do you mean? I do know how to have fun!"

Rukia splashed Ichigo and replied, "Then prove it to me." Ichigo grinned and chased after her in the water. He caught up with her and splashed her with a lot of water, she returned fire and they were splashing each other senselessly. Rukia decided to stop playing with water and jumped Ichigo. He saw her and simply caught her and threw her off of him. Rukia splashed into the water and after a few seconds, resurfaced. She surveyed the water for Ichigo and couldn't find him.

Rukia questioned, "Ichigo?" She then felt her butt being grabbed and was then shot up into the air by Ichigo. She flew into the air and hung there for a little bit and then made a large splash into the water.

Ichigo proudly stated, "Ha; how's that for fun Rukia?" As soon as the mist cleared from Rukia's splash, Ichigo saw her motionless on the water.

Ichigo cursed, "Shit," He swam over to her and turned her over and she spat water in his face.

Ichigo wiped his eyes and said, "Why you little—Agh!" Rukia cut him off when she lunged at his head and she took him down with her into the water. Masumi and Yasushi were scanning the waters for the 'sharks' that were beneath the surface.

Masumi said, "You see them?"

Yasushi replied, "I think so." Yasushi jumped a spot where he thought Yasuko was and came to the surface wrestling with her. Masumi continued to watch the water and he felt something jump onto his back.

Masumi tried to pry off Naomi and said, "Nice to see you to." He got her off of his back and tried to throw her away, but she grabbed his hands and fell back into the water. She and Masumi began to push on each other's hands, hoping to push the other down.

Masumi smirked and said, "You know, I still haven't received that gift of yours that you told me you would give me for building all of this; I would like to have it sometime soon." Their faces were close to each other as they still tried to push each other down. Masumi wasn't trying, but Naomi was.

Naomi replied sinisterly and with a bit of a sexy tone, "Maybe some time down the road you may get it, but here's a small gift." She leaned in blushing and kissed Masumi, taking him by surprise. Ichigo was watching and was laughing at the look on Masumi's face.

Rukia, coming out from underwater, asked, "What's so funny?"

Ichigo responded after he saw Masumi get dunked under water by Naomi, "Nothing." He looked over to Yasushi, who was floating in the water with a red hand mark on his face and Yasuko had a dark blush on her face. One of her bikini top's strings was hanging limply on her arm, which she fixed. Rukia looked at Ichigo and smiled devilishly.

Rukia said, "Ooooh Ichigooo?"

Ichigo replied, "Yeah what—," he stopped talking when he felt something being pulled near his waist and as he saw Rukia resurface, he looked down and saw that she had pulled his pants down.

He quickly pulled them up before Rukia actually looked and said, "… you wanna play that game eh? Well bring it on!" Rukia ran off in the water as Ichigo went underwater and kicked off the wall of the pool and went straight towards Rukia.

Rukia saw his silhouette with his arms outstretched underwater, nearing her and said, "Ok Ichigo, you win, you win, you—Ah!" Rukia fell backwards as Ichigo shot under her, tripping her. He and Rukia resurfaced and she just looked at him.

Ichigo replied innocently, "Something wrong?"

Rukia replied relieved, "No it's just that I thought you would… never mind." Ichigo grinned, but it faded when a Hell butterfly entered the room and landed on Rukia's outstretched finger.

Ichigo, knowing that the fun was over asked, "What does it want?"

Rukia let the Hell butterfly fly away and said, "The Head Captain wants to see you, me, and Masumi."

Ichigo asked, "Does it say why?"

Rukia answered, "No; we should get going." She turned to get out of the pull until Ichigo waved something in her face as he stood behind her.

Ichigo said teasingly, "You might want this." He was flashing her, her lower half of her swim wear. She looked down and blushed; she grabbed the bottom half of her swimsuit and quickly put them on.

Rukia, with her back towards Ichigo, said, "You better not have looked Ichigo."

Ichigo snorted, "Ha, why would I want to look?" He immediately regretted that when he looked at Rukia and for some reason, felt bad for saying that.

Ichigo tried to correct himself by saying, "No I mean I'm sure you would look great… uh; what I mean is that you must look good without it on, not saying that I am picturing you without it on, but… uh this is coming out very wrong; what I am trying to say Rukia is that—It's alright Ichigo, I know what you're trying to say… Idiot," She laughed a little to herself as she got out and collected her stuff to go and change back into her uniform. Ichigo sighed and got out of the water. He smiled to himself when his saw his small box in his Captain's robes and thought, "Soon… very soon I will do it, as soon as I get the courage to do so." He grabbed his clothes and went to go change.

Head Captain's office

The Head Captain said with authority, "You may enter!" Ichigo entered with Rukia, Naomi, and Masumi and stood before the Head Captain.

Yamamoto eyed Naomi and said, "Captain Minoru, it was said that only you, Ichigo, and Rukia were asked to come."

Naomi began to leave, but Masumi stopped her and said, "She stays or I go; I don't think that you're about to share any new information with us that we don't already know. Besides, I always want to keep my second in command informed." She took her place next to Masumi a little happy at what he said.

Yamamoto sighed and said, "Then I am sorry to all four of you."

Ichigo said suspicously, "What do you mean old man?" Ichigo got his answer when everyone areound him suddenly collapsed onto the floor with the stealth force behind them. Ichigo saw the zanpaktou spirits and hollows were being carried away outside. He suddenly felt a sharp and quick jolt at the back of his lower neck and everything went black. Kiyomi and Isamu were watching from above in the sky, smirked to themselves, and began to follow them.

End of Chapter 2

How was it? Please leave your constructive criticism in the reviews or comments and have a nice day.

What will become of Ichigo and the others? Can you guess what the box is for and its contents? Find out in the next and later chapters.

If there was any grammatical error or spelling error, please forgive me, my editor is very slow so I took it upon myself to edit this chapter. Also, sorry for the wait, I've been so busy with school and other things that I've forgotten to edit this chapter and upload it.

(Prophet)