Chapter 3: Teachers

Ichigo appears in front of a building panting & looking around cautiously before breathing a sigh of relief.

"That damned killhappy warfreak." Ichigo mutters as he leaned against the wall. Kenpachi had chased him all over Soul Society in an attempt to get Ichigo to spar with him & it was just by sheer luck that he managed to escape the bloodthirsty 11th Division captain & his equally disturbed little pink haired Vice Captain.

"I was hoping to get a chance to talk to the new 5th division captain regarding my lessons too." Ichigo said aloud.

"Then you've come to the right place, Kurosaki Ichigo Kun." A voice answers, making Ichigo jump in surprise. Standing in front of the building's gate was the enigmatic new 5th Division captain, Lee Fang with a pleasant smile on his gentle features.

"Pardon me?" Ichigo asks, confusion evident in his youthful features.

"I meant what I said." Lee Fang replied. "You're exactly where you want to be." The captain points up at the sign above the gate which indicated that Ichigo had indeed stopped in front of the 5th Division's HQ. "Now you were saying something about wanting to talk to me?" Lee Fang asks.

"Yes well you see... I was just wondering..." Ichigo starts with an embarrased expression on his face as he scratches the back of his head. "...I may have said that I wanted to learn more about the ways of an effective shinigami, but the truth of the matter is I never was really that good in school." Ichigo admitted. "In fact, my grades are pretty bad & I can't understand what my teachers are saying most of the time."

"But the fact that you're willing to learn is already half the battle." Lee Fang pointed out. "Perhaps you just lack the proper motivation. Don't worry, you won't get stuck with the regular students because I will train you myself. It's such a nice day so why don't we take a walk while we discuss your lessons?"

"Ahh... This is excellent Soifon." Yoruichi comments as she looks around. The 2nd division captain had led the way to the wide underground expanse that was Yoruichi's old training area & true to her word, all damage from previous training sessions to the field were repaired. "It looks so good now that it seems a shame to wreck it all over again."

"Please do not concern yourself over the details Yoruichi Sama." Soifon said to her feline mentor. "This is just a small matter for which I was happy to accomplish for you."

"It actually looks better then the 1st time I came here." Renji said, giving the field a once over. "Considering me & Ichigo did a number on it before we left to rescue Rukia."

"Does the fact that this place looks similar to Urahara San's own training area mean that you were also one of the ones who designed this place Yoruichi San?" Chad asks.

The cat nods. "Yup. Me & Kisuke used to come here a lot during the old days & test each other's limits in battle till we both dropped from exhaustion." She then looks at Soifon. "I assume that you've also taken up my offer of using this area as well?"

"Yes ma'am. It's very useful for troop drills." Soifon answered. As if to prove her correct, a young shinigami with shoulder length black hair that was slicked back & tied into a ponytail appears in front of her. Judging from the facemask, the style of his uniform, the short zanpaktou he had sheathed on his back & the speed which he had presented himself before them (a speed which impressed even The Goddess Of Flash), Yoruichi deduced that he was from Soifon's division & was one of her protege's elite guard.

"But why does he look somewhat familiar?" Yoruichi wondered.

"The exercises have concluded Soifon Taichou. We have also repaired any damage we may have made during our drills. Do you have any other instructions?" He asks.

"There are no further orders." Soifon replied with a shake of her head & gives the shinigami a small look of what could be described as pride. "You have done well in my absence 4th Seat Misato. You & the troops may return to our HQ & stand by."

"Very well." The Shinigami said & disappears. Yoruichi turns to Soifon & comments. "It's unusual for a captain to delegate his field command duties to an officer other then his vice captain. What happened to your vice captain, Omaeda?"

"He's back at HQ doing administrative work." Soifon said with a mild look of distaste in her attractive yet severe features. "Personally, I don't think he's quite cut out for field duty whereas this officer is supremely qualified."

"Don't you think that's a little harsh? Picking an untested officer over a guy who has much more experience then him? And who IS that officer anyways?" Renji asks.

Soifon stares at Renji & answers icily. "He's anything BUT untested Abarai Fukutaichou..."

Yoruichi mentally winced. "Ouch. Absolutely the wrong thing to say Renji Kun. Especially when it concerns her division."

"I'm not surprised you don't know him. 4th Seat Misato Iori IS a recent addition to my division. But before that, he has been under my service for almost a hundred years as my personal bodyguard & as a direct subordinate in many of my, ahh... more clandestine missions for my family."

"Ahh silly me. How could I forget..." Yoruichi exclaimed, slapping her forehead with a paw. She vaguely remembered the little brat who always seemed to hang around Soifon when she herself was still the leader of the secret police division. "So the kid was Soifon's personal bodyguard eh?" Yoruichi mused to herself.

"...And while Omaeda Fukotaichou may be doing an admirable job as my lietenant, he simply does not have the field experience that 3rd seat Misato has." Soifon continues. "And I daresay that he is the 2nd most powerful shinigami under my division. He is a loyal & valuable ally to have."

"You seem to be quite generous with your praises regarding this boy." Yoruichi comments, then adds with a cheshire cat grin. "Is he your new boytoy?"

Soifon stiffens as her fave became beet red at this. Had it been any other person who said that to her, that unfortunate soul would find the heads rolling on the ground. But this was her master saying this & she had an uncanny knack of pushing all the right buttons.

"Y-Yoruichi Sama! I only give out praises to those who deserve it. You know that don't you? A-And he's NOT my new boytoy!" She stammers out but resolves to tell Iori to be more careful & discreet whenever he visits her in her room.

"Hai hai. Whatever you say Soifon." Yoruichi stated though she knew she had hit the mark dead on. Personally, she was glad that her former disciple had found someone. And if Soifon said that he was THAT good, then it must be true.

Much to Soifon's relief, her master decides to drop the subject. But Yoruichi DOES make a mental note to speak to Soifon in private & get all the juicy details from her about the relationship.

"Enough about that..." Yoruichi's tone was suddenly all business once again. "We have some serious training to do here & i can safely say to you guys that it will NOT be pleasant. But the stakes have never been higher. I'm sure you three understand that."

Soifon nods solemnly at this while Renji grunts his reply. Chad, as always, stood stoic.

"But for now though, me & Soifon have some important family business to attend to." Yoruichi said. "Renji Kun, you & Chad will have to continue your training without us for a while, ok?"

With a nod from Yoruichi, Soifon picks her up & disappears, leaving the 2 men staring at each other. Finally, it was Chad who broke the standstill by activating his armor. "Well then, shall we pick up where we left of Renji San?"

Renji smiles as he unsheaths Zabimaru. "I thought you'd never ask. BANKAI!!!"

"Wow! Look at all these medicines!" Orihime exclaimed as she looks around the large, fully stocked dispensery of the 4th Division. "But I've always thought that the medical division used their shinigami powers to heal others?"

"Actually, yes we do. But only for the more serious injuries." Isane said as she arranged some bottles on a shelf. Orihime came to their division to see Unohana who had warmly welcomed her & assigned her vice captain Isane to show her around. The vice captain was only too happy to comply since she rather liked Orihime for her childish innocence & positive demeanor. It kind of reminded Isane of herself before.

"We're rather old fashioned here & as much as possible, we don't really like to rely on spells to heal our patients." Isane said, continuing her explanation. "Sometimes, a simple touch of the hand or a gentle word of assurance can do wonders better then any spell or medication can possibly accomplish."

"Wow! That's so deep." Orihime said to Isane. "Especially for someone as young as you."

"Actually, I'm old enough to be your grandmother 2x over. But thanks for the compliment." Isane said with a small smile then scratches her head in embarrassment. "And those words actually came from Unohana Taichou but you get the drift don't you?"

The two women shares a moment of gay laughter before a loud disturbance catches their attention. Investigating it, they are met with a harried looking nurse of the 4th Division.

"Isane Fukutaichou! Those rogues from the 11th Division are causing trouble again!" She said to the Vice Captain.

"Sigh Not them again." Isane muttered, obviously familiar with the perpetrators. As she & Orihime rounds the corner, they see the unruly 11th Division members harassing the nurses.

"We said we needed no stinkin' medicine! We're from the elite fighting division of the Gotei 13 under the strongest captain there is! Injuries like these are nothing to us!" One member said.

"Yeah! We're not like you wussies from the 4th division who don't know jack about fighting in the frontlines!" Another member said. "You should be thanking us & kissing the ground that we walk on!"

Orihime moves to confront the men but was stopped by Isane who simply smiles & looks at the figure who suddenly appears behind the 11th Division fighters.

"My my, such rudeness. I wonder how your captain would react if he found out you were disgracing him like this?" The figure said. The 11th Division men froze on the spot, recognizing the sweet sounding voice.

"U-Unohana Taichou!" They all exclaimed simultaneously.

"But then again, I'd worry more about your present situation rather then your future seeing as it looks pretty bleak right now." The calm looking 4th Division captain said as she radiated & directed just enough reiatsu to make the perpetrators suddenly & genuinely fearful for their lives. Unohana then walks past them towards Isane & Orihime then stops midway as she spoke again. "And while it is true that the 4th Division is not on the frontlines, just remember who it is who treats your injuries. I will not tolerate any insults to my Division or my subordinates. Because the next time it happens, you will find your stay here VERY unpleasant."

Y-YES!!! UNOHANA TAICHOU!!!! OUR MOST SINCERE APOLOGIES!!!" The 4th Division members apologized while bowing then scrambled to get out of the medical division as fast as their feet could carry them.

Isane grinned as she whispered to Orihime. "You just witnessed a side of Unohana Taichou that even Zaraki Taichou is afraid of." Orihime simply nods, her eyes as wide as saucers at the sudden surge of power from Unohana

"What was that Isane?" Unohana inquired as she walks up to the pair. Isane jumps up & shakes her head fearfully. "N-Nothing Taichou. Nothing at all."

"That's good." Unohana said with a gentle smile while turning to Orihime. "Now then young lady, shall we begin your training?

Ishida was pissed.

No matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't manage to absorb enough reiatsu to create his bow let alone a single arrow.

The device he had reluctantly received from the 12th Division's Vice Captain had given him had restored his Quincy powers for a short while but after it was damaged during the fight with the Bount, he had returned to his old powerless self. He had hoped that training here in Soul Society would help speed up the process of recharging his abilities but so far, there was still so much work to be done.

Suddenly, the bushes on his right rustled. Dropping into a defensive posture despite the fact that he knew it might be futile, he calls out the intruder. "Who are you! Show yourself!!" The figure steps out into view. A figure whom Ishida was very well acquainted with. "You…."

Author's Notes: Alrighty, Chapter 3 is now history. As always, R & R please.