"That boy sure isn't the sharpest foil in the rack. What do they teach them? How to serve tea?" Ichigo was not amused at the lack skill displayed by Kusanagi. "I've seen first year students that could follow orders better and with more humility."

"He's been raised to believe that he is superior to anyone around him. His family ingrained that belief in him from day one." Renji said while kicking back sipping sake. "Ya know, these lawn chairs are really a good idea. I wonder why no one thought of having them made a long time ago."

They were sitting out in the training yard observing several of the new shinigami practicing their fighting techniques. Ichigo and Renji were sitting in the sun enjoying the heat while Rukia sat under an umbrella quietly observing her 'pet' project, Shin. She noted that he had been slammed into the ground several times but he kept on getting up and going back for more. "I have to say that he isn't giving up. Maybe we can actually make a shinigami out of him yet."

"So explain again why you didn't just send those two packing? You could of at least sent them to the academy." Renji was still mystified at the actions of Ichigo and Rukia.

"To put it simply, for you, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. This way we get to direct their actions rather than letting them go off and find new ways to screw up. It also gives us the chance to let them get to know about us without the rumor or innuendo. They get to see the truth." Ichigo said while watching Kusanagi get his butt handed to him by the fifth seat. "Besides, if they start to get out of hand I can always let Rukia loose on them again." He laughed.

A hell butterfly spiraled in and hovered before Renji. He stuck out his hand allowing it to land. "Hollow hunt. Karakura town park. Four hollows, Fishbone D class. Select two assistants. Departure in five minuets." "Well I gotta go. Hollow hunt down in Karakura."

"Need any help?" Ichigo asked.

"From you? Hell no. I want to get them myself."

"No, I meant to ask if you would like to take my two nobles along. I think they could learn something. Not from you of course." Ichigo grinned.

"What do you mean 'not from me'?" Renji glared.

"Kusanagi! Shin! Get over here!"

The two came as fast as their tired bodies could move them. "Sir!" shouted Shin.

"I'm having you two accompany Captain Abarai on a hollow hunt. Watch and learn and for gods sake stay out of his way."

Shin actually looked somewhat excited however Kusanagi had a slight look of dread on his face.

"Renji, try to bring them back in one piece, ok?" Rukia said not adding to Kusanagi's comfort.

"Hey! I brought the last group home ok." He laughed as he watched Kusanagi start to turn very pale. "Come on, I haven't got all day." He lead the pair away towards the gate.

"Ichigo, was that really a smart thing to do? I mean neither of them has ever seen a hollow let alone fought one." Rukia said with some mixed feelings.

"Why do you think that I sent them with Renji? Renji will bring them back. He likes to show off and he likes to talk. He'll get them down there and then brag the whole time about the things we've done. Best to get the story from the people that were there don't you think?"

"Humm, I guess that college did help you. I would never have thought that you could be so devious."

"College hell, that's what I learned from dealing with you. That and when to duck." which he did to avoid a flying tea cup.

The gate opened and emitted three hell butterflies preceding the three shinigami. Renji looked around for signs of the hollows. "I think we got here before they did. That's good. Stay close and keep your eyes open you two."

Shin nodded and Kusanagi just stood there shivering.

Suddenly four huge impacts occurred around the shinigami boxing them in. As the dust cleared the roaring screams of the hollows erupted from all four and they faced the shinigami. Renji reacted by drawing Zabimaru and running his hand along the blade "Howl Zabimaru!" the blade shimmered and grew in size and shape becoming the segmented toothed blade. He swung Zabimaru around and at one of the hollows punching through the mask like punching through tissue paper.

One hollow lunged at Shin who jumped up drawing his zanpakutō and deflected the hollows attack enough to allow him to draw back closer to Kusanagi who just stared about in terror. Shin kicked him in the shin causing him to snap out of it. This happened just in time as another hollow lunged in for an attack. Both dodged aside letting the massive head slam into the dirt. Shin recovered quickly and down stroked the back of the hollows head killing the monster.

Kusanagi looked up just in time to see Zabimaru snake past him and shatter the mask of another hollow. He didn't have time to react as the released zanpakutō withdrew and then snaked out at the last hollow ripping its leg off. The hollow fell within inches of Kusanagi but he froze in terror. Shin rushed over and slammed down on the head ending the short and violent battle.

"What the hell were you doing?!" Renji blew up. "You never even drew your zanpakutō. Were you trying to get yourself killed?" He stomped about a bit. "Geez, I get asked to take you along to teach you something and I end up babysitting an incompetent that pisses his pants at the sight of a hollow! Let me tell you something. Ichigo fought a Fishbone D hollow within seconds of becoming a shinigami. He slaughtered the damn thing. Considering the fact that he had become a shinigami only seconds before I think that that alone should tell you something about your captain, and his will to protect."

Shin walked up behind Kusanagi and swatted him in the head. "HURTZ DONIT!"

Kusanagi held his head while looking at his friend. "What was that for?!"

Ignoring his friend he turned to Renji. "What was Captain Kurosaki like when you first met him?"

"That boy was one of the most cocksure individuals I have ever met in my life. He wasn't about to stop fighting for Rukia until she told him to stop. She cried the whole time. He had me beaten within a few minutes and would have killed me if it weren't for Captain Kuchiki. The captain was so far ahead of Ichigo at the time he didn't really stand a chance, but even after he was down he wanted to continue the fight. Later when he broke into Soul Society I ran up against him again. I lost a second time and this time I was able to use my full power. He matched me and learned from his encounter. He grew faster and stronger as I fought him. The boy had scary potential and an even scarier growth rate. Within a few days he had grown powerful enough to defeat me, a Vice Captain at the time, at full strength. He continued to grow too. He went on to defeat Captain Zaraki, and then Captain Kuchiki. Never once did he do what he was doing for glory or anything like that. He only had eyes on saving Rukia. As you can see he accomplished his goal. Now do you understand the bond between those two? In my own opinion, he would tear apart heaven if he knew that Rukia was in danger and that was what he had to do to save her."

"You're just saying things that can't be true! I don't care if you are a captain I can't believe you." Kusanagi said.

The ground at Kusanagi's feet erupted in a small explosion tossing the hapless shinigami onto his back.

"Hello Renji, How have you been doing?" Uryū Ishida asked.

"Not bad. I see you heard our conversation and desided to punctuate the conversation with your own input?" Renji greeted the Quincy "Boys meet Ishida. He is the one of the last Quincys alive. Although I hear that your kids are showing some promise there."

Uryū pushed his glasses up on his nose and just looked at the two nobles. "So one of you is clinging to the notion that Ichigo couldn't possibly be as strong as he is? Well you would be wrong." He looked at Renji. "Renji, could you defeat a Menos Grande Gillian class without your bankai?"

"Renji resealed Zabimaru then sheathed it before answering. "I don't think so. I might be able to make it notice me but defeat it. Not without my bankai."

"Ichigo once sent a gillian packing without having a bankai. I know because I was there. From what I saw it was hurt pretty badly too. I have no doubt that he could have killed it if it had not retreated."

"So what brings you out here tonight?" Renji asked curious about Ishida's showing up.

"I only live about a block from here. I felt the presence of you and the hollows. I thought that you might need some backup so I came. I let you finish the job seeing that you had things under control." Uryū said with no humility.

"Well we won't keep you from your family. Thanks for dropping by." Renji said with a wave of his hand.

"Oh, Renji, Tatsuki is back in town and she asked if you could visit. I think that she wants to show off her trophy." Uryū said before he turned to leave.

"That's The Quincy?" asked Shin

The Quincy was a title given to Ishida after the Huceo Mundo incident. His powers had been of considerable use in destroying the espada. And afterwards he became the official executioner for Soul Society.

"Yup, that's him. He's almost as arrogant now as when I first met him." Renji said. "But I still call him a friend." He shrugged his shoulders as he started to walk away. He turned his head and called out. "I have some business to attend to while I'm here so don't go wandering off and get yourselves lost. I'll be back here at seven AM . Be here or I'll come looking for you and I won't be happy."

The captain of the fifth squad walked off but Shin was sure that he heard Renji humming.

"Well what do we do now?" Kusanagi asked feeling worse than ever.

"We wait. It's not like we know anyone here and we don't have anyplace to go." Shin responded. He found a nice spot under a tree and faced the sun letting the last dregs of the day seep into his worn body.

"Why have you been so cold to me lately?" asked an equally worn Kusanagi as he dropped down next to Shin.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, you were wrong about the captain? You have heard from, humm let me see, Captain Kuchiki, Captain Abarai, Vice Captain Kuchiki, The Quincy, and almost every member of the division about what sort of man he is. Why are you still doubting? Do you think every person is lying to you? Is it a huge conspiracy to thwart Kusanagi?" His voice was full of concern. "He knows about your plan to show all of Soul Society that he's a fraud. He asked me about it and then gave me a chance to back out or stay on in the thirteenth. I stayed to earn his respect. He gave me the choice. I suggest that you go to him and settle this one way or the other. If you are so set in your mind that he isn't the real thing then confront him and be done with it. Otherwise wake up and start acting like the noble you're supposed to be."

"WHAT the HELL are you doing here?" Screamed a very familiar voice.

Both shinigami jumped to their feet looking at their captain who was dressed in a business suit and carrying a brief case. Standing next to him was their vice captain dressed in a yellow sun dress.