Hey guys sorry for the late update...this little thing called Multimedia design popped up and has had me up to my ears in work good news I'm close to my Rich Media Communication ACA but now we've started web design so updates might be sporadic even though I have quite a bit pre-written...

sweetmusicofsolstace

On her way home Kasumi noticed several people dressed in clothes that were reminiscent of kendo uniforms following her.

"They mean you no harm Kasumi they only wish to speak to you about the two of us…I told you that this may happen remember." Yoru stated.

"Right I'll talk to them when I get home." She muttered softly so that anyone listening would think she was making a mental note to herself since no one could see either Yoru or the strangely dressed people. Kasumi let herself into her small apartment taking a deep breath to relax her after everything that had happened before putting away the groceries she had picked up on the way home. After she had finished that chore Kasumi turned and said "Alright…Who are you people and what do you want with me and Yoru?"

"This could take a while to explain so we may want sit down…" Toshiro said.

"Sure I could use something drink would any of you like anything?" Kasumi asked remembering her manners.

"If you happen to have some tea that would be great the ice king over there has us all a tad chilled…" Matsumoto said gesturing to Toshiro.

"Alright while I get that started why don't you tell me who you are and we'll get to why you're here after I fix the tea…" she said headed to the adjoined kitchen just off her living room.

"I am Toshiro Hitsugaya Captain of Squad 10 this is my Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto the others are Renji Abarai Lieutenant of Squad 6, Ikkaku Madrame 3rd seat of Squad 11, Yumichika Ayasegawa 5th seat of Squad 11, and Hanatarō Yamada 7th seat of Squad 4. The squads and ranks will be clarified once we explain what we're doing here." Toshiro stated gesturing to each person as he stated their name and rank.

"Ok I'm Kasumi Reitoushin…I hope you don't mind Mango Ceylon it's a personal favorite of mine and the only tea I have in the pantry…" Kasumi said putting some water on to boil and prepping her largest teapot as well as something to eat since she was sure that dinner was a long way off. "Ok so how about you start Toshiro since you're the highest ranking officer here." Kasumi said pouring the tea.

"First I prefer to be called Captain Hitsugaya and second thank you for both the tea as well as the snacks." Toshiro said taking a sip of the tea before he began "Now first thing you must know is that there is such a thing as Shinigami they act as balancers between this world and the next which is known as the soul society where the spirits of the deceased go. Next there are a few types of spirits pluses or wholes are regular spirits that Shinigami help move on to the soul society then there are the hollows they are souls that have lost their way and fallen into the darkness of despair they will attack anyone living or dead it is the job of Shinigami to fight and cleanse them so that they can rest in peace. Shinigami carry weapons called Zanpakutos which are a physical manifestation of their own soul with its own unique powers…"

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say that all of you are Shinigami correct?" she interrupted sensing a chance to slip in her take.

"You are correct… you were wondering about the structure of the soul society's Shinigami…all Shinigami are members of one of thirteen squads each squad is headed by a captain followed by a lieutenant then seated officers ranked 3rd through 20th getting progressively stronger as the number of the seat gets lower. The captain of the 1st squad is the Captain-commander and he commands all Shinigami. Now onto why we were dispatched here…a couple of days ago the station that monitors the world of the living performing tracking of hollows etc. and relaying information to our Shinigami stationed here in the world of the living started picking up interference from reiatsu equivalent to a Lieutenant without a limiter but the most worrisome thing was the levels were Lieutenant-class and rising. We were dispatched to discover the source of the mystery reiatsu, determine if it was a threat to the soul society or the world of the living, and if needed eliminate the threat. I don't see you as a threat Kasumi and in fact we have received further orders to bring you to one of our main bases in the world of the living and later to the soul society for training once you woke. You can always say no but it could be hazardous for those around you if you do not learn to control your reiatsu and your Zanpakuto." Toshiro stated taking another sip of tea.

"So I would be taught how to use Yoru correctly…" Kasumi stated looking to Toshiro for confirmation.

He nodded stating "After we've assessed what you can do and done some basic training you'll be sent to the Shino Academy to finish your training and receive training in other areas of being a Shinigami."

"Where exactly would I be going before I go to the soul society?" Kasumi asked she knew her lease was up soon and quite frankly she wanted to see what she and Yoru were capable of.

"You'd come with us to Karakura Town, Japan that's where we have a family whose situation is similar to yours as well as numerous allies. You'd be well protected there by those you see here along with our allies as well as being able to learn some things the academy teaches first hand." Toshiro stated unsure if things were going to go the way he had planned.

"Alright I'll go…I'll just say that I was offered a job in Japan and my lease on this apartment is up soon anyway." Kasumi said trying not to bust a gut at the shocked faces looking back at her.

"What…You're serious just like that you'll go…leaving most everything you know for who knows how long…" Matsumoto said aghast.

"Well I guess when you say it like that it sounds kind of stupid to just pull up stakes and go but yeah just like that. Yoru trusts you he wouldn't have let you within five feet of me otherwise and if he trusts you then until I have reason to do otherwise I will trust you." she replied calmly taking a sip of her tea "The only real question remaining is when will we be leaving? I will have to give notice at work and move my things to storage among half a dozen other things."

"We can take care of everything including getting your belongings into storage. We can leave in about one to two days. In the meantime Matsumoto go make our report to the Captain-commander and make the necessary arrangements. We'll need Urahara to begin preparing the training ground as well as coming to pick us up Abarai get on your soul pager and take care of that. I don't want to send you far since you're capable of using bankai." Toshiro said "Now both of you get going the sooner Kasumi is safe in Karakura Town the sooner you can relax."

"On it…" they said in unison leaving to go about their tasks.

"I think I'll go make some dinner that way it'll be ready for when they come back…" Kasumi said getting out the ingredients for a huge batch of spaghetti.

"Would you like some help?" Toshiro asked.

"Sure could you grab the sauce off that shelf over there while I add the spices…" she replied distractedly gesturing in the general direction of the set of shelves that served as her pantry while she browned the hamburger that she had picked up on the way home from the hospital.

Kasumi put the sauce Toshiro handed her in then let that simmer while she put spaghetti noodles in the boiling water then she leaned back against the counter to read a bit of her favorite murder mystery while she kept a watchful eye on dinner to make sure it didn't burn or boil over.

"Is that all there is to that?" Toshiro asked her confused.

"Yeah spaghetti made just the way my mom used to make it. Simple fast filling and most of all tasty. An old favorite again…it reminds me of the days when things were simple and not so stressful." Kasumi stated not sure why she was telling him all this.

"Whatever is making that delicious smell I hope will be ready soon I'm starving…Captain Hitsugaya Urahara will be here in a day and a half he also has Tessai and Yoruichi prepping the training ground while he leaves immediately to come get us. Well more like he's coming for his new student and is just giving us a lift…" Renji stated walking in a few minutes later just as Kasumi was straining the pasta.

"You're in luck I just got done getting it ready to serve come help yourself but make sure you leave enough for the others." She stated getting some out for herself while she could.

After everyone had eaten Kasumi excused herself to go clean up and get ready for bed she was still tired from all that time spent in what she now knew was her inner world.

"Here this will help you protect yourself." Toshiro stated handing Kasumi what looked like a blue dragon shaped pez dispenser after the dishes were done and put away "It'll separate your soul from your body allowing you to fight using your Zanpakuto should anything happen and none of us can get to you. You'll learn what it is later for now just pop one in your mouth if you find yourself in danger and you don't think there's any other way to survive."

"Thanks I think…you guys can bunk on the couch and the inflatable mattress you did say during dinner that you'd be taking shifts one or two at a time unless something happened right…" Kasumi said yawning widely she was exhausted and just a tad sore from spending a week nonstop in her inner world.

"Yes though with my lieutenant gone I will have to take a shift alone." Toshiro stated folding his arms.

"Why don't you take Yoru with you? Believe me he's strong and not someone to mess with when it comes to my safety and well-being " She stated inflating the air mattress.

"Very well Abarai…Madrame get some sleep Yoru and I will take the first shift I'll wake you at midnight." Toshiro stated motioning Yoru to come with him. After a day and a half of fighting off the occasional hollow and packing Urahara arrived.

"Well, well Toshiro long time no see I brought your gigai in case you wanted it. Now you must be my new student…" Urahara stated immediately appraising Kasumi "You're scrawny but I can fix that…"

She felt a vein pop out on her forehead "I AM NOT SCRAWNY! I AM FREAKING SLIMLY BUILT! EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS LIKE THIS AT MY AGE!" She shouted frustrated this wasn't the first time Kasumi had been called scrawny but she'd be damned to the worst circle of hell before she let someone who didn't even know her make comments like that. Everyone except for Toshiro sweat dropped at the sudden burst of temper they never suspected warm and friendly Kasumi had a short fuse.

"Now then Urahara you know my title is Captain Hitsugaya and this is Kasumi Reitoushin your new student as you can see she's got a nice temper to keep you on your toes. So can we get going I'd like to be able to get home to see how badly my desk is loaded down with paperwork since I know Matsumoto more than likely hasn't done any…" Toshiro grumbled.

"Why of course we can get under way just hop on and we'll be off…"Urahara grinned "Hold on tight!"

A day later Kasumi was in Karakura Town standing in front of a little candy shop.