Alright people, here's another chapter. When I get 2 more reviews I'll update again… till then you're just going to have to wait. I usually update at around noon and/or 9-10 o'clock pm. So review damn it all…

I also have a poll going for another fanfiic….I need to have another one going or I go insane and my muse runs around in circles screaming instead of tending to the care of the plot bunnies in my mind…. I will continue to update this story just as frequently even after starting a second fanfic…actually I'll probably update more when I have a second fanfic to write. Please vote…

Okay I-Kill-U-For-Yaoi, I updated… *holds hands in surrender*

You can thank I-Kill-U-For-Yaoi for this chapter since nobody else reviewed last chapter I posted. Remember, I won't post without reviews people and I happen to know I have 6 ppl stalking this story, surely 2-3 reviews isn't that much to ask for (v_v)

Now on to the chapter….

"Speech" 'thoughts' 'shiro'

Chapter 7- What are you up to?

Ikkaku got up, not commenting on the wayward use of Kido. This was even scarier to Ichigo who had begun to back up from the grin on his friend's face. It reminded Ichigo far too much of one of Kiskuke's grins when he was up to something that would play havoc with the lives of those around him.

"Ikkaku…?" Ichigo asked.

Shinji just observed, he had never been told he had to protect Ichigo from his own screw ups. Kisuke had over looked that, or perhaps thought that Shinji would have done so anyway out of self-preservation.

After all, even though the Viziards had helped during the winter war and with Aizen, didn't mean they weren't still regarded with some trepidation and suspicion.

"A beautiful first attempt at Kido, Ichigo" Yumichika said, no longer annoyed now that Ikkaku was back on his feet and looking unharmed. "It has been such a long time since we've seen you." He tried to keep a straight face; after all, Ikkaku would just kill him if he started laughing and he didn't want a fight with his friend at the moment.

"Yeah, what have you two been up to, getting into trouble?" Ichigo asked, having backed into yet another wall, adjacent to the one he'd been knocked into.

"Not really, it's been rather boring around here lately. But now that you're back…." Ikkaku said his tone suggesting he found something amusing no doubt.

Ichigo picked himself up of the ground, reaching for Zangetsu on his back. "Ikkaku…"

"Don't worry Ichigo…I won't kill you for that pathetic Kido, I've already accepted you have lousy aim," Ikkaku said.

"It's his fault anyway", He said, indicating with a nod Shinji who was just standing there. "Though I am surprised you could hit anything at all since you still can't control your Reiatsu." Ikkaku continued though still grinning manically; at least he had stopped his advance.

'I'm suprised too king, who would have thought it' Shiro said in the back of his head.

"Wasn't my fault at all, "Shinji said, muttering so nobody would hear him.

"Anyway," Yumichika put in, "with how many taichos are needed right now, killing you would have ugly results for the Gotei 13 in general."

"Thanks," Ichigo said in a deadpan voice.

"Well," Yamichika said, "we have to go now, there's a meeting to do with another possible new candidate for Taicho." He dragged Ikkaku backwards, heading back the way they had came.

"Hmmm, interesting friends you got there Ichigo." Shinji remarked off handedly.

"Yeah, they're good people." Ichigo said, heading foreword.

"So off to get ya patched up, ne? Shinji said, pushing Ichigo in a different direction. "Down this path idiot, ya were heading the wrong way."

***Later***

"Ya managed to get that other shinigami using Sai, without blowing anythin' up and now that ya using the practice dummy your blowing up almost half of them." Shinji commented after having watched Ichigo practice Kido for the last hour.

"Let's take a break, grab something to eat." Shinji commented as Ichigo blew up another dummy.

"Alright already, enough practice. Where do we get food anyway?" Ichigo said, sagging from exhaustion.

"Well you were blasting holes in the ground, a hell butterfly came with a request. We're ta have lunch with the rest of the taichos." Shinji said.

Ichigo gave his teacher a puzzled look, "I thought that the taicho didn't usually have lunch together."

"They don't, I think it's just an excuse to have everyone together. Probably to do with ya becoming a taicho soon anyway," Shinji said with a shrug. "It wasn't an urgent message so it can't have been because of some new disaster or old man Yamamoto would have just called a Taicho's meeting."

"I hope so, "Ichigo said, wondering if the peace that had existed since Aizen had been killed was about to be shattered.

Ichigo and Shinji left the practice field, ignoring the few people who had been around to watch them. Mostly they had been academy students since they had been practicing on academy grounds.

"….How could someone be so bad at Kido…"one of them said quietly as the former taicho and taicho-in-training passed.

"…Isn't that the Kurosaki kid…?" Another asked.

Shinji chuckled beside Ichigo, the boy had heard those comments it seemed and was turning an embarrassed shade of red.

"Don't mind them, half of them are probably just as bad at Kido and the other half is likely even worse at Zanjutsu. Trust me when I say ya haven't seen embarrassing until you've witnessed a bunch of first year's attempt at Zanjustu." Shinji said loudly, effectively shutting most people up.

"Really?" Ichigo asked, he had never had many problems learning how to use his Zanpakuto. But then between, Zangetsu himself, Urahara, and his demented hollow Shiro he'd had some excellent teachers.

"Ya, now shut up and walk." Shinji said heading in the direction of Squad 10's barracks. Supposedly Rangiku would meet them from there and show the pair where everyone was meeting.

"Hey!" A voice called to the pair, one that could only belong to Rangiku. The Fukutaicho of squad 10 was standing at the entrance to her squad's area waving

"What took you so long, hurry up and follow me!" Rangiku said before running off, clearly already a bit intoxicated from too much sake.

Ichigo sighed and ran after her, Shinji following close behind. At least there wasn't far to go until they came to what Ichigo assumed to be Tashiro's office. At the moment someone, probably the taicho himself since he couldn't see Rangiku making herself useful, had brought in a table which most of the taichos were currently sitting around.

Shinji looked around, noting some familiar faces. The only taichos who weren't present were Kuchiki, Zaraki, and Kurotsuchi for which Shinji was thankful for.

Kuchiki was no doubt doing something he thought more important and probably was this time. Shinji thought that the reason Zaraki wasn't here was likely because nobody who was sane would invite him to something as normal as lunch, the battle-hungry taicho would have just caused trouble. He had no idea why Kurotsuchi wasn't here but perhaps he was researching something and didn't feel like eating with them.

Did Kurotsuchi even need to eat? Shinji thought to himself… before deciding he really didn't want to know the answer to that.

"Hey everyone, what's up. Why are all the taichos gathering together?" Ichigo said, walking into the room looking slightly battered. He recoiled slightly when he saw Unohana, knowing she had just finished patching him up not too long ago.

Unohana for her part didn't even notice him except to see who had spoken.

"There's been a change of plans Ichigo-Taicho," Renji said, grinning at the kid's discomfort.

"I'm not a taicho yet Renji," Ichigo said tiredly as he sat down looking for food.

"It's Abarai-Taicho," The red haired man teased.

Ichigo simply glared at him which Renji simply ignored.

"Well, except for the actual ceremony you are now," Renji said, causing his friend to choke on the food he had just stuffed in his mouth. Unohana gave him a concerned look and Renji just pounded his back.

"You're not helping RENJI!" Ichigo yelled after he finished choking, "and what the hell do you mean by that?"

"Well, we were originally going to give you some time to learn what you needed to know but…." Renji said trailing off.

"…But the situation changed," a cheerful voice said from the doorway.

Shinji stared in shock as the last person he expected to be here showed up in front of him, "You bastard what the hell are ya doing here! How are ya even able to be here anyway?"

Ichigo turned around slowly, really hoping that he was wrong and hadn't just heard what he thought he had.

O_o

Sooo… who do you all think it is? (It's really not that hard to guess)

Ukitake will give you cookies if you guess right. Ichigo can't cause he's in shock and Shinji is too annoyed right now to be socialable. *Pokes Ichigo to see if he's still alive*