Hiya everybody!

Chapter four is up!

WOOOT!

Anyway, I have introduced a new friend for Ichigo and the gang cuz' I thought Renji seemed a little lonely. ;)

Without further ado... Chapter four!

The four men in Aizen's small band of samurai had just entered the town of Kushinada, and all of them were interviewing pedestrians to see if they knew anything.

"Have any of you seen a short girl with black hair anywhere around here? She's a scrawny little thing with purple-ish eyes... I think." Nnoitra asked random bystanders in the tavern he had stopped at.

"You mean the pale one? With the tall guy with orange hair?" Asked the tavern owner, who had listened to their conversation. Nnoitra nodded eagerly, silently pushing for more information.

"Yeah they were looking for a place to stay. They left here a day ago, can't say where they're headed. You a family member of sumfin'?" He continued. Nnoitra nodded, a big smile spreading across his face. Now he knew where she was last, and who she was with.

After hearing rumors in town, Hisagi, a samurai, ran to his masters quarters with the urgent information he collected.

"Zangetsu-sama! They know that your boy, Ichigo, is with Lady Kuchiki!" Hisagi said, gasping for breath. Zangetsu nodded gravely. He would need to tell them this.

A messenger rode up the winding path to the foreboding estate of Lord Aizen.

"Aizen-sama," A wickedly grinning Gin began, "Someone's coming, and he isn't one of ours."

"Let's see what he wants." Aizen said calmly. Not only had the messenger come, but the four samurai as well. Ulquiorra quickly whispered something in Gins ear that cause his smile to fade (for once).

"Aizen-sama!" He hissed. "Kuchiki has someone with 'er! Some kid with orange hair."

"Well, I think we can use this to our advantage." Aizen whispered. The messenger was ushered in by Yammy.

"I came by the orders of lord Kuchiki. He wants you to know that he will be sending for his sister in a months time." The messenger said.

"I'm so sorry to tell you this, but I'm afraid dear Rukia has been kidnapped. It is so tragic, but I assure you my men are looking for both her and the suspect. If any of Lord Kuchiki's men see Rukia or a tall boy with orange hair, please take them in." Aizen lied. The messenger nodded and hurried off.

"Brilliant Aizen-sama!" Gin complimented him.

"I know." Aizen said.

Ichigo answered a knock on the door and Zangetsu walked in.

"What is it Zangetsu-sama?" Rukia asked, the fear clear in her eyes.

"Please call me Zangetsu. It's nothing as urgent as what your thinking. Some of Aizen's samurai have learned that you're with Ichigo." Zangetsu calmly told her.

"Yeah Ichigo, now everyone knows your with Rukia." Renji sniggered. Zangetsu let out an annoyed sigh.

"Shut your fuckin' mouth Renji, or I'll shut it for ya'!" Ichigo threatened.

"Anyway, I would suggest that you and Rukia stay inside. I'm sure Renji will be willing to Run all the errands." Zangetsu said, ignoring Renji and Ichigo's argument. "I'm actually surprised you haven't murdered Ichigo yet, Rukia." He mused.

"Oh yeah their marriage is going great. Ichigo even got to-ARGH!" Renji was interrupted by both Ichigo and Rukia hitting him on the head. Hard. Zangetsu rolled his eyes. He was sure he didn't want to know.

Renji was out looking for food to "borrow without asking and/or having any intention of ever giving back", exceptionally cross that he had to be the one going out while Ichigo and Rukia got to stay home. He picked up a peach and nonchalantly stuffed it in his pocket. He knew that if he kept pace with the other shoppers, his theft would go unnoticed. Unfortunately he picked the wrong person to steal from next. After seeing the redhead walk off with a three-pound bag of rice, the vendor ran over and tackled him to the ground.

"No one steals from Arisawa Tatsuki!" She triumphantly crowed. Renji had moved just enough to see his assailant. Tatsuki was a tall, muscular woman with blue-ish black hair was holding him with his arms behind his back.

"OwowowI'msorryI'msorrypleaseletgoithurts!" Renji pleaded (A/N: he said "Ow, ow, ow. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please let go it hurts!"). Tatsuki got off of him and held her hand out for the rice, which Renji reluctantly gave to her. She looked him over quizzically.

"What is a samurai doing stealing from a lowly street merchant?" She asked, noticing the katana strapped to his side.

"Well, I don't need it. I'm helping some friends of mine." He explained.

"So? Don't you get any money from that fancy title of yours?" She a raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well yeah but I didn't bring any with me. I'm on a mission and I didn't think we'd have to stop and hide." He explained. She handed him the rice.

"Take it. So your helpin' refugees? I can help ya' know, if ya' need any..." She started, handing him the rice.

"You can?" He asked eagerly. She grinned and snatched an apple off of another table, throwing it to him. "But you could get in troub-"

"Your helping refugees, and now I am too." She told him.

"YOU IDIOT!" Rukia yelled when Renji explained what had happened in town that day. "DO YOU REALIZE THAT SHE COULD BE WORKING FOR AIZEN?!"

"What do you mean? She doesn't know who you are, she just knows you're refugees running from Aizen." Renji defended.

"ARGH! YOU LOVESICK BASTARD!" Rukia screeched, glaring daggers at her best friend.

"Well, if she can help us then it's fine with me." Ichigo said in an offhand tone.

"What?" Rukia snapped.

"We have a reliable outside source now. Think about it Rukia, we can't go out and how reliable is Renji? Seriously, it's probably the best idea I've heard all day." Ichigo explained.

"That's true." Rukia relented.

"Hey!" Renji complained. "Are you saying I'm not reliable?"

"Yes." Ichigo and Rukia said in Unison.

Sorry if that was too short. I just needed to find a good stopping point so...that seemed like it would work best.

I already have chapter five started so it shouldn't take too long to update.

I hope you all liked it.

Till then, don't swallow pesticides, look both ways before crossing the street, don't run with scissors, don't put your fingers in the light socket, and don't poke the bunny.

-Miss Samurai