"New chapter... I really should start updating faster."

-- Liight-chan


Later that same day, Kenpachi and Byakuya went over to Orihime's apartment to tell Captain Yamamoto the same information they had relayed to Captain Kamiya. Afterwords, they devised a plan to invade Hueco Mundo to get Orihime back and to seek revenge on Mizu.

"I say we just go to Hueco Mundo, get Orihime, kill Mizu, and kill everyone that gets in our way. Including the Aizen guy." Kasai said, sitting beside Kenpachi on the couch. He nodded in agreement.

"Sound good t' me."

Kaze sighed in defeat. "As much as I don't want to admit it, that sounds better than most of the things I was thinking of. Does anybody have any complaints?" she asked as she looked around the room. Nobody said anything.

"Great! Now, I say we train for... two weeks?" Ame asked, looking at Kaze.

"That sounds accurate. It only takes three days for Umezo-san to open the Garganta, so-" Kaze was interrupted by Ichigo.

"Wait, who's Umezo?" he asked with furrowed his eyebrows.

"Ume-kun is the coolest! Even though he was exiled from the Soul Society, he can do all kinds of stuff! He can open the gates to the Soul Society, he can open up a Garganta to Hueco Mundo, stuff like that! Not to mention he's so hot!" Ame gushed, smiling cutely.

Ichigo found himself getting angry at Ame's statements. "Tch. He just sounds like Urahara."

Kaze laughed knowingly. "Well, Ichigo, it's not as if Ame is lying. Umezo-san is pretty amazing."

Kasai nodded. "Yeah. Umezo is pretty awesome."

"'Che." Kenpachi scowled, averting his eyes away from Kasai.

"And the good news is, he doesn't live that far away from here. About... 20 minutes away, actually." Kaze said, smiling.

"Via?" Ichigo asked.

"Shun-po." Kaze smirked.

"So, it's like a ten-minute drive."

Kaze laughed lightly. "Nope. More like a 45-minute drive. When you have a flash-step master like Ame, you always get there faster."

Ichigo had trouble believing this for some reason, but didn't make it known. "Are we gonna go today?" he asked.

Kaze tapped her chin in thought. "I guess we could. Just to let him know we want it done... Though, I think you and Kenpachi won't be too happy when you meet him." she stated, obviously still in deep thought.

Kenpachi gave Kaze a questioning look. "Why's that?" he asked.

Kaze smirked evilly. "Heh heh. You'll find out."

Chapter&7&!!

Twenty minutes later, as Kaze said, they arrived at a small house a little bit outside of Karakura. Ame skipped to the door, smiling happily. Kasai and Kaze followed behind her, smiles on their faces as well. The three knocked on the door at the same time.

A man, about Byakuya's height, answered the door. His red hair hung in this face over his left eye and his right, visible eye was emerald green and shining with happiness. He wore a loose-fitting black shirt and black skinny jeans. "Hello, girls!! What brings you to my charming little shop today?" he said brightly.

Ame smiled wider, if that was even possible. "We need to ask you for a huge favor, Ume-kun!"

Umezo smiled, putting his arm around Ame. "Well, nothing is too much trouble for my favorite girls! Come in, come in! You guys can come in, too!" he said happily, walking into his shop with the three girls following. The three men grudgingly walked in as well.

They then arrived in the back of the shop in a small room, barely large enough to contain the seven people. "So, Ame-tan, Kaze-chan, Kasai-chan, what is it you want done?" Umezo asked in his bright tone.

Kaze smiled politely, then frowned. "Well, first we have some bad news. Sousuke Aizen; you know about him, right?"

Umezo frowned slightly. "Yes. What about him?"

"Mizu...," Kaze hesitated, not wanting to admit the horrible fact to herself, much less anyone else, "She's joined him. She has betrayed the Okinawa and Tokyo branches of the Soul Society." Kaze continued with slight traces of spite.

Umezo's eyes narrowed. "Well, I can't help you with that, girls. Is there anything else?" he tilted his head with a sad smile.

Kasai answered in an angry tone. "Open up a Gargantua to Hueco Mundo! So we can rescue Orihime, kill Mizu, and stop and/or kill that Aizen guy!" she yelled. She breathed heavily after her sudden outburst, and Kaze put a hand on Kasai's shoulder, signaling for Kasai to calm down and let her do the talking.

Kaze sighed with a weak smile. "It's basically what she said. We would like you to please open up a Gargantua for us." she finished, sighing heavily.

Umezo grinned slyly. "Alright. I'll get right on that! Now, how long do you girls (and guys) need to train and whatnot?" he tilted his head in cute curiosity. Kaze, Kasai, and Ame were all excited at the acceptance of their offer, but Kenpachi and Ichigo were all about ready to cut Umezo's head off.

Kaze smiled as relief flooded her body at the thought that they might be able to rescue Orihime and... exact revenge on Mizu. "Ame figured about two weeks." she said in a relieved tone, and she heard chuckling from behind her. Kaze turned around to see Kenpachi snickering to himself. "What's so funny, big guy?" she asked, raising her eyebrow dangerously.

Kenpachi tried to stop himself from laughing, but he just couldn't. "You're gonna... listen to her... for war instructions?!" he said between chuckles.

Ame turned to Kenpachi and pouted. "Ken-chan, just because I act cute and air headed doesn't mean I'm actually stupid." she explained in the most serious tone she could muster. However, she quickly gave up and offered him a close-eyed smile.

"Che." Kenpachi just as soon blew her off and returned to sitting contentedly behind Kasai.

"Well, putting that aside, the Gargantua will be ready for round-trip in about two weeks! Anything else?" Umezo asked cheerfully.

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads, except Ame. She seemed to think for a second, then perk up, holding her finger up pointedly. "Koriaki!" she said happily.

Ichigo raised his eyebrow and looked over at Ame. "Koriaki?"

Kaze stayed silent for a few moments, then laughed. "Koriaki! Haha, yeah! Let's bring Koriaki along!" she said between fits of laughter.

Umezo grinned. "Alright, I'll get in contact with him." he said, getting up from his sitting position. "Well, girls, I'll get right on with that Gargantua and get in contact with Kori-san. Have a good day, and prepare yourselves well. Aizen isn't, in any sense of the word, weak. Don't underestimate him or his arrancar."

Kaze smiled thankfully. "We'll be sure to remember that. Thank you, Umezo-san."

Umezo smiled a close-eyed grin. "It's a pleasure, Kaze-chan. Now, run along; you have a lot of training to do." He made a shooing motion as the rest of the group stood and exited the room, and soon after, the small building.

Kaze, Kasai, and Ame walked ahead of the men of the group. "Won't it be great that Koriaki is coming?" Kaze smiled to the other girls.

"Yep; Koriaki's a great person just like he's a great fighter. He'll definately be a great addition to the team." Kasai agreed, a small grin on her face.

"It'll also be cool, 'cause he'll get to meet Bya-chan, Ken-chan, and Ichi-chan!" Ame exclaimed brightly, smiling wide. Kaze and Kasai look at her, taking in what she said.

The both laughed nervously and Kasai replied. "Oh, yeah... That'll be great! Don't you think, Kasai?" she asked, a nervous smile on her face.

"Yeah, it'll be awesome!" Kasai ground her answer out between her teeth, a forced smile on her face.

Of course, the afore-mentioned men had no idea who this 'Koriaki' person was, or what he meant to the three girls. Was he like an idol to them? A heartthrob they were all in love with? Then what did that make them? Replacements? Substitutes? The last two angered Ichigo and Kenpachi to no end, athough they had no idea how Byakuya felt about this. But then again, would they ever? Anyway, onto this Umezo character! He acted like the three men didn't even exist! He really did make Ichigo feel like mutilating him with a cookie cutter... (A/N: Don't ask where that came from...) Now there were two people-- scratch that, there was Ame and Kaze's dad--three people who were in the way of these girls! In the end, Ichigo and Kenpachi (and possibly Byakuya) really didn't know what to do. This could be harder than they thought...


Silly, hormone-stricken men. They need to calm themselves. But anyway, I'm really sorry that I didn't update soon, and I know I keep apologizing, but still update as slow as ever. Anyway, reviews are appreciated like always:)

~Liight-chan