Chapter Two: Funny Thing about my Greatx5 Grandmother...

Mikan and Shuuhei made their way back to the cafe in relative silence. Shuuhei was itching to ask questions but Mikan had said she'd explain everything at the cafe. He'd keep his mouth shut until then.

"So, Hisagi-kun (do you mind if I call you that?), what brings someone of high rank like yourself down to the human world?" Mikan didn't bother to turn around when she asked.

"I'm supposed to be looking for a replacement vice-captain for my squad. I was taking a break when that hollow attacked." That would have to do. He couldn't have her taking the impression that he was a slacker.

"I see. You come to Harajuku often?"

"When I'm in the mood to people-watch, yes."

"I wonder why I've never seen you before. Where do you usually hang out? I go to that cafe almost daily," she said, fiddling with a bit of her hair that was much longer than the rest.

"I wander. I don't think I've ever sat in the same place twice."

"Hmm. I'm surprised I haven't seen you before. I usually notice shinigami whether they're hiding their reiatsu or not. Sometimes you can get fooled though, because of the weirdos running around in gi and hakama. Not that my fashion sense is any more normal than theirs, I guess..." It was true: Mikan's fashion sense was very unique, to say the least. She had pale purple hair put into pigtails with bangs and long tendrils framing her face. She wore a headband with bouncy alien antennae on it as well as dark red wings with straggly-looking feathers. Her outfit consisted of a red bolero jacket with a useless strap hanging from the right side in the front. She used it at a witty button-holder. Under that, she wore a red bathing suit top with black skulls over where her nipples would be, a purple tank under that, and an orange long-sleeved object that resembled a shirt but covered no more than her neck to her collarbone and had bands around her hands. She wore a bright yellow CAUTION tape as a belt with an alteration of a pedestrian crossing sign as a belt buckle. It had a dancing person on it. Her skirt was short, orange and pleated with a dark purple stripe around the bottom with pale purple fishnet sewn onto the outer edge of that. She wore black fishnets over red stockings and two different legwarmers--one was orange and thickly knitted and the other was red with black stars all over it. Her boots were the same pale purple as her hair and her skirt's fishnet and had dark purple, orange, and red polka dots on the body with tricolor stripes on the outer soles. It came together really well, as odd as it may sound. Her zanpakutou's handle and sheath matched by being orange and purple. "But whatever. I'm talking too much, aren't I?"

"Not especially. I just wish you would tell me how you know so much about the spirit side of things."

"Interesting terminology. You can wait a little longer, right? We're almost there." Her tone was constantly nonchalant and seemingly uninterested. She waved at her body but did not rejoin it as they arrived at the cafe. Instead, she found an empty table and sat, motioning for Shuuhei to be seated as well. "No doubt you're wondering about me and my knowledge." Shuuhei sat and perked to attention. "Well, it goes like this: My family is descended from one of the greatest captains the Gotei Thirteen has ever had. You may or may not have heard of her--Hayami Miyuki, former captain of the Eleventh Company." She took the look on Shuuhei's face to mean that he had indeed heard of her and continued in satisfaction. "Well, she's my great times five grandmother. Yeah, sue me, it gets tiring saying great five times. Anyway, she had a child. A girl. That girl's name was Michiru. I dunno why, but my family has a thing for the syllable "mi." Michiru grew up in the shadow of her mother and decided that she'd give up her shinigami training and live on earth as a normal human being. Miyuki let her go, but knew she'd change her mind. Michiru came back to Soul Society after having started a family on earth and begged that Miyuki teach her all she knew. Miyuki agreed and took her estranged daughter under her wing, sharing all her knowledge and secrets with one stipulation: She would have to instruct all further generations in the same kind of training and the next generation would instruct the next and so on. Michiru agreed and returned to earth as a full-fledged, captain-level shinigami. She instructed her daughter Mika and Mika taught her daughter Minako and she in turn taught me. I'm still learning, but I've got less than a year left before I've completed my training. Because of my family's background, I am kept up-to-date on all Seireitei-related events through special connections that Obaa-chan Mika has shared with us. And that, as they say, is that."

Shuuhei stared at Mikan for a few moments, absorbing all she'd just told him. "So, Miyuki-dono was the one who was..."

"Killed by Kenpachi Zaraki, yes. I've forgiven him. I might do the same thing put in his position. I'd love to meet him, though, and give him a piece of my mind. Or praise him for defeating Hayami Miyuki. Whichever. What's he like?"

"Bloodthirsty, in a word. Ruthless, battle-hungry, persistent, and very nonchalant," Shuuhei said, remembering well when Ichigo Kurosaki fought Kenpachi in a one-on-one match to the "death." Kenpachi swore he'd get a rematch one day and hunted Ichigo down as soon as he'd heard of his recovery. Ichigo was fortunate enough to have many distractions as he left the Soul Society and escape him.

"Sounds charming," Mikan said, making a face. She glanced at her watch and gasped. "Hey, sorry to cut this short, but I've got to be at work in fifteen minutes. Would you like to meet tomorrow, same time, same place? I have a lot I want to ask you still, since I did all the explaining today."

Shuuhei stood as she did, ready to escort her if need be. "I suppose. I guess finding a vice-captain will have to wait. It's not like I need one, you know, with the Arrancar war going on and all that..." His tone was sarcastic. Mikan grinned and shook her head at him, walking to her body.

"So, we are definitely on for tomorrow?"

"Definitely, unless something drastic comes up. I doubt anything will, though. We've had few leads and few direct attacks in the past few weeks. I'm sure I can manage without a vice-captain for another day."

"Okay, cool. I'll see you then, then. 'Bye, Hisagi-kun!" She merged with her body and walked around the building and reemerged on a bicycle a few seconds later. Shuuhei waved as she rode off, miniscule bells on her bike jingling as she went.

"I wonder..."