Okay, so here's the next chapter. Please read, review, etc.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Bleach. They both belong to their respective owners (Masashi Kishimoto, Tite Kubo). If I did own Naruto, Temari would not be so much of minor character and if I owned Bleach, Byakuya would be mine.

Oh yes, before I start, I'd like to thank XxKyuubiRoxX for her review, and I hope she will continue to review :)

So, without further ado here we go!


Chapter 2: The Journey Begins

On the other side of the desert, a man donning a white robe with the kanji for the number six on the back had just lost sight of the monster he was chasing. He showed no obvious signs of frustration or tiredness. If it wasn't for the slight panting he was doing, one would never know he had been running nonstop for nearly a day now.

'The hollow would go to a place inhabited by people so it could regain the energy lost from this chase.' He thought, closing his eyes in concentration. 'There is a small village to the southwest of here. But why am I picking up on a spiritual pressure higher than my own? Surely it wasn't stronger than me.'He wondered before taking off toward the hollow.

As the dust cloud neared, Temari could see that it was not a person. It was a monster of some sort. It was freakishly tall and had a blackish purple color to it. Not to mention it also had two heads that resembled snakes and a gaping hole in its chest. It seemed to notice her as well, as it began to stop.

"Look, a pretty girl. Oh, and what yummy smelling power she has."
"Yeah, she isn't a shinigami, but judging by where we are, I'd say she's a kunoichi."
"A powerful kunoichi at that. Let's have a taste, shall we?"

One of the heads moved quickly, attempting to strike Temari. However, she jumped out of the way and gripped her fan. The monster sent the other head, which was also evaded easily.

"Stay still! We just want a taste!" The monster cried.

"As if. I don't know what you are or where you came from, but I'm sending you back!" Temari snarled, pulling out her fan and opening it. She swung her fan fiercely, knocking the hollow back a long ways while delivering several deep cuts. The hollow shrieked in pain and anger before growling as the wounds began to heal. Temari was visibly shocked.

The monster launched himself at Temari in her temporary moment of surprise, catching her off guard. One of the heads wrapped around her and lifted her into the air. The other head sniffed at her chakra, taking small bites of the field lightly surrounding the girl.

"It's so good, I can't wait any longer!" The head yelled, going in for the kill. Temari cursed herself. She had let her guard down, and now she would die for it. She closed her eyes, waiting for the final strike.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

Temari opened her eyes at the incantation in time to see the monster be sliced into pieces, before the entire thing disappeared into the wind. She landed on the sand gracefully, turning to the strange man.

"Who are you?" Temari demanded, putting her fan away. She sensed no immediate danger from this man, but her intense training demanded she do this.

"I am the head of the Kuchiki household, Byakuya Kuchiki. And you are?"

"I am the ambassador of the village behind me, Subaku no Temari. Why are you here? You apparently aren't from anywhere around here." Temari asked suspiciously.

"I am here because of that hollow. I believe you call them monsters in this world."

"This world? Where are you from?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

"Of course I do. Some random guy I don't know in the least suddenly appears near the village I'm sworn to protect, and I'm expected to not ask a lot of questions?"

"Yes, I see your point. I am a shinigami from Soul Society. Speaking of which, you shouldn't have been able to see neither me or the hollow. What kind of power do you possess?"

"Ha, and I'm the one asking a lot of questions? Let's see here. I control the wind, as well as water although it doesn't do much good in the desert. Oh, and I have the eight tailed wolf sealed into me although I rarely use her chakra, giving me the ability to summon many different wolves to use in combat, recon, you name it." Temari explained before mentally slapping herself. Here she was revealing all her powers to a complete stranger. Hell, he could be an enemy ninja in disguise.

"I see. You must be able to see me because of the demon. What is chakra?"

"You sure are a chatty one. Chakra is the energy that ninja require to perform our techniques."

"So it can be compared to reiatsu?"

"Sure, let's go with that. I'm assuming reiatsu is the energy you shinigami use." Temari said. Byakuya nodded.

"I will be leaving now." He said suddenly, sharply turning to walk away.

"Wait! Where are you going, um, what was your name again?" Temari asked.

"I hate to repeat myself, so I won't. I'll leave you to remember my name on your own."

'Hate to repeat yourself? The hell? What was his name, ugh!'

'Miss me cub?'

'Hachibi? We can catch up later. But do you remember his name?'

'Perhaps. But if I tell you, you have to promise to not keep me locked up like that again. I don't even know what I did to be put through that. I never try to take over like Shukaku, so what?'

'It's complicated Hachibi. I guess I was afraid of being like Gaara was before Naruto defeated him when they sealed you inside of me, so I panicked. But if you give me your word you will never try to take over and tell me that baka's name, I won't seal you away anymore.'

'Okay, you have my word. His name is Byakuya.'

'Thanks Hachibi.'

'Oh, it wouldn't hurt you to use my chakra every now and again. It gets pretty boring in here.'

'Maybe someday. Bye Hachibi'

"Byakuya, wait!" Temari called out.

Byakuya stopped and slightly turned back.
"You sure recall memories quickly." Byakuya noted.

"What's with you? This entire time we've talked, I haven't sensed an expression past boredom from you. What's up with that?"

"I do not have to give you an explanation of why I do certain things." He stated simply.

"Will I have to beat it out of you?" She whispered dangerously while pulling out her fan.

"If you can lay a finger on me, that is." He replied, gripping his sword.

Temari was just about to launch herself at Byakuya when a single voice froze her.
'damn it all to hell.'she hissed under her breath.

"Temari, what are you doing out here?"
Temari turned around.

"Nothing Gaara, just talking."

"To who?" Gaara asked, looking around his sister. When he saw Byakuya he immediately went on the defensive. "Who the hell are you and what do you want with my sister?" Gaara growled, the sand raising.

"Gaara calm down. I'll explain it." Temari said, placing a hand on gaara's shoulder. He reluctantly calmed down, trusting his sister.

-one drawn out explanation later-

"I see. I have read documents on that place before. And if you are who you say you are, you are the captain of the sixth division." Gaara stated. Byakuya nodded.
"So I take it you were just returning to your home?" Byakuya nodded again.
"Well then. Tema I am giving you a mission. You are to go back to the soul society with him and learn more about it for our scrolls here." Gaara said.

"Gaara, I-" Temari began.

"Surely you aren't planning on disobeying your kazekage, are you?" Gaara asked, amusement in his voice. Temari glared at her baby brother before dropping her head in defeat and going to get her travel pack.
"She won't be long. Contrary to beliefs that women take forever to get ready, Temari gets ready for a mission faster than most people. I have work to attend to, so give this to her when she returns." he instructed, handing Byakuya a large sum of money. "For buying clothing and food." Was all Gaara said before walking away. "Oh yes, take care of my sister. Or there will be hell to pay." Gaara darkly warned before disappearing from sight.

Byakuya sighed. He had to bring another person with him to soul society, which was not easy, but he could do it. But he also felt immensely guilty, as he could not deny the attraction he felt for the suna kunoichi, and he felt he was betraying Hisana.

Temari packed her things with a vengeance. Kunai, shuriken, scrolls with several techniques she had yet to learn, her extra battle kimono, her bath robe, extra undergarments, a few packs of ramen, a small pot and two bottles of water were packed inside of a large suitcase-like backpack. She sighed. She didn't want to leave her home, as she was one of the best fighters besides Gaara, but she was excited to go as she could not deny the attraction she felt for the shinigami, but since Shikamaru she'd become closed off in the matters of romance. Why was her resolve now breaking? Groaning in frustration she left to go meet up with him.


Okay, so how was it? Yes, Temari does possess the eight tailed wolf (sorry Bee), but he had to go bye-bye for my story to work. I'll try to have the next chapter up by next week, so you can expect the next chapter no later than next Friday. See ya!