Chapter: An Announcement to Consider: The Beginning

Shalan's Say: Yo! What's up dudes… I am so happy to get to write this chapter… I can't WAIT until the last chapter of this story… because… it's going to be an awesome last chapter… anyways… read and review por favor…

&&&

The Winter War was over… it had been for a few years… but for some reason… something just hadn't turned back to normal… ah… yes… Kazumi touched her finger to the problem before her in the dark room. She heard the slow drip of water in the background and her eyes opened to see nothing but a ring of images. She had found herself within the deepest caverns of her mind.

"Hello again Kazumi…" the beautiful blonde woman stood before her, her eyes hidden in shadow beneath the white cloth that covered the top of her head.

"Amaterasu…" she bowed her head. "I am lost and need your guidance…" she spoke softly as a hand rested on her head.

"Kazumi… you can always ask for my guidance… in whatever you may pursue…" the woman's long red hair hung to her knees which were covered by a long white dress that fit around her body neatly with a long silky skirt.

"I have made a wrong choice…"

"Is this concerning the Quincy?" Amaterasu asked softly and Kazumi looked up slowly.

"You know… about…" Amaterasu nodded. "Oh that's right… you're my zanpakūto… you know everything…" she smiled and the woman above her lifted her up to stand.

"Why do you always kneel before me young one?" Kazumi's eyes darkened slightly.

"Because… I am not worthy to be standing in your presence… for it is you that has guided me through all of my battles and numerous fights." Amaterasu placed a hand gently on the side of her face.

"My advice to you is composed of several things…" she said and leaned down to Kazumi's level. "You must trust me… because I will be sure to explain everything…" Kazumi nodded.

&&&

Rukia snuggled up against the warm flesh beside her with a yawn. Her blue eyes fluttered open and she yawned again.

"Rukia… you're awake…" Ichigo smiled down at her and she looked up sleepily.

"Not really…" The young woman shook her head and Ichigo laughed as she attempted to get closer to him. "You're warm…" she told him and he nodded.

"Thank you…" he laughed. "The leaves are falling from the trees…" he nodded towards the window and she rolled over in his arms to look out.

"Finally… that means that winter will be here soon…" she yawned again and he pulled her body against his again.

"CA-CAPTAIN!" Ichigo laughed out loud as Momo stood in the doorway. "S-s-sorry… I did it again didn't I?" Her face was pink and Ichigo rolled over.

"We were just snuggling Momo… nothing too serious…" he flipped his legs out of the bed and stood up, his black boxers riding up slightly. He fixed them and stretched luxuriously into the air.

"S-sorry… again Rukia…" Momo looked away and Rukia shrugged, snuggling into the warm spot her husband had left.

"It's okay as long as I have this warm spot here on the bed…" Ichigo made a face at her then she frowned and stuck her tongue out. His tongue poked out the corner of his mouth as he grabbed hers and pulled.

"Gyah! Ikigo!" She complained and he let her tongue go. "Go! Get out of here and don't come back…"

"The Kurosakis sure are rowdy in the morning aren't they?" Renji walked by, a smaller woman walking next to him.

"Shut your mouth Abarai!" Ichigo stuck his head out the door and jutted his jaw as Renji looked at him over his shoulder and waved teasingly.

"He's always so angry…" the shorter redhead nodded and Renji chuckled. "Why is that? He has no reason…" Kazumi Hasegawa stuck her tongue out with a smile.

"Sometimes I wonder if you ever grew up…" she shook her head.

"Nope… never did want to do that… sounded too boring…" she waved her hand at him. Her uniform was similar to Soi Fon's as it had no back to it. Kazumi always explained that it had something to do with her final release… though no one ever saw it.

"Yeah… I guess… but you gotta grow up sometime…" Renji told her as they walked by his former captain's barracks. "Byakuya!" He waved as the older captain stepped out of his office. He nodded to them and walked out, falling into step with them.

"Kazumi, Abarai…" Kazumi smiled.

"Why do you call me Abarai and her Kazumi?" Renji looked over at him.

"Because I'm used to calling you that… calling you Renji would be… odd…" Byakuya frowned at him.

"Byakuya!" Jushiro nodded to him and Byakuya nodded back.

"Boy isn't this odd… we all seem to be heading the same direction…" Shunsui dropped, literally, into step with Kazumi and she laughed.

"Good morning captain Unohana!" Kazumi nodded and Retsu nodded back.

"It's a wonder really… why would you be even asking Shunsui?" Jushiro looked over at him and the captain shrugged.

"Hey!" They paused and looked over their shoulders as Ichigo flash stepped to appear behind them. "You all have some nerve-gah!" He stumbled as Kazumi hugged him.

"ICHI-BOZU!" She cheered. She had taken him under her wing since his arrival in the Soul Society and had taught him most of what he knew with the help of Rukia and Byakuya. She and Bykuya had been working especially hard with him on controlling his abilities and using kido.

"GAH! Kazu-mi… leggo!" He tried to pull the vice-like grip off himself.

"Nee-chan…" Toshiro blinked, Rangiku close behind. "What are you doing?"

"Moi? Nada!" She sang as Ichigo attempted to pull the ecstatic woman off from around his neck.

"Was that… French and Spanish in one go Kazumi? You're getting stranger…" Shunsui and Jushiro pulled her off as the former spoke.

"Thank you…" Ichigo coughed, rubbing his neck.

"You could have dodged that Kurosaki…" Zaraki boomed from behind him and he looked up.

"Good morning Kenpachi…" Kazumi gave him a thumbs up and he blinked then looked as Yachiru gave her a thumbs up back.

"Good morning captains: better than you, mom, ryoka, anger management, grumpy pants, tuberculosis and grab ass… and Renji…" Renji smiled. She hadn't thought of a captain's nickname for him yet.

"Good thing… we didn't teach her any bad language…" Captain "Mom" shot at captain "grab ass". Kyoraku shrugged with a grin as Unohana scowled.

"Why does everyone think that I'm captain grab ass?" Shunsui protested.

"Okay… lessee…" Ichigo looked around. "Byakuya's Captain Better than You… Kazumi's Captain Anger Management, I'm Captain Ryoka, Captain Mom is Unohana, Captain Grumpy Pants is Toshiro…" the angry snowball gave him a dirty look and he grinned, "Captain Tuberculosis is obviously Jushiro-kun and that leaves Grab Ass… you…" Ichigo pointed at him. "And obviously Renji is Renji…" He chuckled.

"Well… I see…" Kyoraku considered this then smiled. "Okay… Captain Grab Ass it is…" Jushiro sighed and hung his head. His best friend was hopeless.

"Good morning Captain Bitch Ninja!" Yachiru waved as Soi Fon flash stepped by. She waved unenthusiastically then disappeared again.

"Well now that we're all here and accounted for…" Jushiro blinked as Ichigo wiggled a finger.

"Ah… Captain Eat Your Face isn't here…" Yachiru pointed out and Ichigo nodded as they continued walking. Most of the captains in recent years had begun talking more often with each other. Kenpachi tended to stay out of most of it but he did visit with Kazumi, Ichigo and Renji from time to time. "And… captain Freak Show…"

"Ah yes, Kurotsuchi and Komamura… well… it doesn't matter we don't have a meeting today anyways…" Jushiro sighed.

"You're right… what's going on today anyways?" Ichigo blinked at him.

"We haven't got any idea… if you have some insight for us Kurosaki… please tell us…" Kyoraku patted him on the back.

"You do seem to always know something Ichigo…" Toshiro looked over at him.

"What? Kazumi knows everything… not me!" He pointed at her.

"Nee-chan…" Kazumi nearly fell over, leave it to Kurosaki to put their attention on her while she was trying to sneak away.

"I honestly haven't got a clue…" she smiled and they all eyed her. "See ya!" She flash stepped away and they all sighed.

"She's hopeless… where's she going anyways?" Ichigo's eyebrows furrowed further and Unohana looked over at him.

"To see… that pet of hers… what's his name?" She looked over at Jushiro who blinked.

"Ichi… Is… Ishida?" Kyoraku mulled it over his tongue. "Ishida…" he nodded and Ichigo laughed.

"Uryu?" Ichigo nearly sounded surprised then he remembered… that's right… she had always seemed interested in him.

"Yeah… that's right… that's the name…" Shunsui gave Jushiro a sly look and they began to laugh as Renji blinked then joined them.

"Why are you three laughing?" Ichigo was at a loss as they laughed.

"Oh they played some stupid trick on her the other day and she got really mad at them…" Byakuya said off handedly. "How childish…c'mon…" he walked off and Ichigo sighed, walking off after him.

&&&

"Mayuri…" A woman's voice spoke to him and his eyes fluttered open. "Mayuri… you're awake…" crimson lips parted to show straight white teeth.

"Ka-Katarina?" He sat up with a groan and she smiled. "What… where am I?" he looked around.

"When was the last time you were in your bedroom?" The blonde woman smiled again and he blinked at her. Images flashed across his mind. Milky white breasts swelling over his hands, his waist between a pair of long muscular legs, a gasp in his ears. Suddenly he was snapped back into reality and she was still smiling. In her hand was a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks.

"A long time ago…" he looked away and she handed him the bowl.

"I brought you breakfast…" he looked down. "Nemu said you hadn't been eating regularly lately… so I figured you should eat."

"Why are you taking care of me like nothing ever happened?" His eyes narrowed and she blinked at him.

"What?" Her breathe caught in her throat. He could hear it. He knew her heart had stopped for the briefest of moments. She had been trying to ignore it… she had been trying to block it out. "I…" she looked away, sitting down cross legged on the tatami floor. This time it was her turn to think back. Looking out of a tank of liquid to see his eyes watching her as she breathed through tubes pressed through her nose. Her eyes fluttered back open and suddenly sapphire met gold and he suddenly felt something close to remorse…

"Are you… here for a reason?" he almost reached out to her, but something stopped him. His tainted hands shouldn't be touching such a beautiful creature but before he knew it she had drawn his hand to her face, holding it against the soft flesh of her cheek. His eyes softened as he looked at her closed eyes. "You've lost weight…" he sighed.

"You've lost ears…" her eyes met his and he saw her smile play at the corners of her mouth.

"Yes… yes I have…" Mayuri nodded and she combed her fingers through his wild blue hair and he smiled almost softly. His eyes averted and he looked into the corner where Nemu sat, watching with curiosity. She had never seen her captain act quite like this…

"Why don't you have any ears…" His attention was taken back from Nemu to her. His hands gripped his hakama tightly. "You did things to yourself didn't you…" she asked and he looked away from her. "Didn't you?" She gripped his jaw and turned his head back to look at her. "Answer me Mayuri…"

"Perhaps…" his voice echoed in her mind and she dropped back from him. "Katarina… you have to understand… I'm a man of sci-wh-what are you doing?" Her hands gripped his gi and pulled it open.

"Mayuri…" she nearly gasped as she saw the scars across his body. She dropped back from him again.

"It was all in the…" his eyes opened wide as she curled into a ball, wrapping her arms around her legs and pressing her face into her knees, crying. "Katarina…" he watched her in awe… why would she be crying for him?

&&&

"Alright! EVERYONE BE QUIET!" A voice shouted from the center of the arena. A few figures stood on a platform, most of them with grins on their faces; a large curtain was wrapped in a square around something behind them all. The top was covered to make sure that no one saw what was inside.

"I'm so happy you all came today…" a second voice spoke. "My name is Katarina von Hausen… how are all of you?" An energetic response was given from the hundreds of men and women present. "Ladies, gentlemen… and Quincy…" She nodded her head towards Uryu who shrugged and the squad behind him laughed as he sat in front of Kazumi's squad in her place. Shuhei shrugged when he asked where she was.

"I get the feeling that all of you are half wondering what you're doing here… and half just happy that you got out of doing work right?" A blonde man took the microphone from her and Kisuke waved. "I'm sure you all remember me… Kisuke Urahara…" a roar went up from the 12th division. "Hi there!" He waved energetically. "Anyways… we're here to tell you about a little tournament we have devised… you all wanna know what's going on?" Another roar went up. "WELL ALRIGHTY THEN!"

Kisuke walked over to the curtain. "This will be a tournament, starting in December, that will be a competition to find the strongest fighter in all of the Soul Society… yes! I said ALL! Even the Captains and Lieutenants may enter… but all of you… will be limited to certain levels depending on the round we're in… the captains… you all may think… are going to have an easy time and will most certainly win out… well yes… but… you all are going to be given a second chance… and besides…who wouldn't pay money to see two captains duke it out in an all out match that'll blow you out of your seat?" They all roared again.

"The second chance will be explained after the preliminary rounds are fought out… this will be set up in a series of rounds… the preliminaries will consist of 10 rounds. Those who break to demi-finals will go through five rounds, narrowing the playing field by most… leaving us with 16 semi-final contestants. Semi-finals will consist of four fights with eight people breaking four to finals. There will be three matches in finals. Two to decide who moves on to the final match and one to decide the winner… now doesn't that sound like FUN?" Kisuke shouted and they hollered and whistled.

"LOSING TO SOMEONE STRONGER THAN YOU IS NOT A SIN PEOPLE! BUT! Losing to someone… who is far weaker than you… is a crime…" Katarina told them. "Just keep that in mind…" she grinned evilly. "I bet… you're wondering what's behind this curtain right?" She stepped back next to Urahara and Kisuke smirked.

"What's behind the curtain?" Shuhei blinked then looked around. Uryu had already figured it out.

"It's a very good friend of ours…" Urahara yanked the curtain down to reveal Kazumi, sitting on a chair looking rather bemused. "This… is… not right!" She picked Kazumi up by her jacket and Kazumi laughed. "She's not supposed to be in the throne…" Kazumi laughed as she stood up. "This is the one that's paying for all of this to happen… our sponsor… CAPTAIN KAZUMI HASEGAWA!" Another roar from the crowd.

&&&

"Hmm… interesting proposal you have Kazumi…" Byakuya spoke to her over dinner.

"I get the feeling that the recovery rooms are going to be full aren't they?" Unohana sighed as she looked over at Ichigo and Renji who were forehead to forehead arguing about who was going to win. Rukia sat beside them with a sweat drop on the side of her face and Kazumi looked over with a chuckle.

"Are all of you going to fight?" She asked and the others nodded. "Good… we need as many captains and lieutenants as we can get… Mayuri?"

"Oh… I'm not going to be fighting… you know that…" he nearly jumped out of his skin and they all blinked at him. It wasn't like Mayuri Kurotsuchi to be so… jumpy.

"Are you… alright?" Jushiro frowned at him and Mayuri blinked and nodded, he stood up.

"I'll be excused," the blue haired captain then walked out of the room and the other captains tilted their heads in unison.

"He is… by far… one of THE strangest people I know…" Shunsui folded his arms.

"I'll agree to that…" Toshiro nodded.

"C'mon you guys… cut him a little slack…" they all stared at her with blank expressions.

"What is there a full moon or something? Since when has Kazumi Hasegawa defended Mayuri Kurotsuchi twice in one day?" Ichigo laughed.

"I'm just saying… I know what it's like to have some ghosts from your past visit you… in the present…" flashes of blue eyes and white hair ran past her mind. "Ghosts from your past…" she closed her eyes and heard him breathing in her ears.

&&&

Hmmm… that was an interesting chapter wasn't it? I really thought it was… getting interesting… it was funny at times… but uhm… I must pay my respects:

The part with all the captain's names that Yachiru called them… three were mine and the rest were from an icon I saw once… uhm and the thing about "you've lost weight, you've lost ears" was taken from Frida… "you've lost weight, you've lost toes"

Sorry… Just thought I'd let you know… XDD more to come in the next chapter… and was… was Mayuri in love with a QUINCY? Hmmmm…

XD I just thought about something… THE QUINCY ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD!

Shalan