~Hey everybody! Kiwi's back with a new chapter of 'Crazy People, There Shinigami'! Sorry I didn't update as fast this time… School's right around the corner and I'm behind on my summer work for my advanced placement classes. Bleh. But I made this one longer to make up for it!~

~Anyway, there's some more ToshiroxMomo again… :) ~

~Now… Give me an N! Gimme an O! Gimme another N! And Gimme an E! What does that spell? 'NONE', which is the part of Bleach that I own. I don't own bleach. Oh, if only.

~ Remember to review if you wanna! I love reviews...~

CHAPTER TEN-

Containing:

Shopping

An Unexpected Encounter

Yourichi's Decision

Splitting up

Training

Sasalia's Powers

"It's gorgeous," Anna said.

The necklace WAS really beautiful. There was a fine double-chain of tiny silver links, brought together at the end by a small but heavy silver pendant. The pendant was shaped like a fox looking to the side, with lots of layers in the fur which made it look almost three-dimensional. Like it could come to life any moment.

I lifted it up off the counter it was displayed on, next to many different necklaces that were also for sale at the mall's jeweler. It was very pretty. There was just one problem, though.

The fox's eyes were studded by two bright red rubies.

It was a bit unnerving. The day after finally meeting, talking to, and sort of fighting that Shinigami… Gin. The pendant sort of reminded me of him. And I did not want to have that sort of reminder hanging around my neck all day.

I put the necklace back. "Too expensive," I lied. For silver, it was pretty cheap, actually. But I hadn't told Anna anything about what had been happening recently. All she knew was that I was a bit more jumpy than usual. I didn't want to get her involved with this; unlike me, although Anna could see spirits, she couldn't fight and defend herself against hollows. Or crazy Arrancar or rouge Shinigami… I still had yet to make one of those people give me the whole story. Toshiro or Urahara or someone, I'd have to ask them eventually.

The point was, Anna didn't know what was going on with Mr. Fox-face and all the other weird people around here. So for now…

"Aw, come on, Sal. You're here to relax. It isn't every day you let me 'drag you to the mall', as you say, after all. Let's just shop a little. Do normal stuff. Get your mind off all the supernatural things going on."

I glanced at Anna. So she figured out I was thinking about the Shinigami and whatnot … she's always been very perceptive. It was one of her sometimes-nice, sometimes-unnerving traits.

Anna grabbed my arm. "It's girl time," she said. "I know you hate all that 'massage and manicure' stuff, so how's about we do some clothes shopping? School's going to start soon, you know. You need some better outfits."

Even though Anna was homeschooled most of her life, she developed what some people would call a fashion sense. She was able to fit right in at the public schools. Unlike me, she cared about looking good – well, I did too; I mean, I didn't want to look BAD. It's just that my idea of looking good was a pair of clean sneakers, boot leg jeans, and a simple T-shirt. Anna was into more complicated outfits; skirts, decorative belts, spaghetti strap shirts with breezy overshirts and all that stuff. The thing was, I usually ended up fighting monsters… those hollows, and I needed to be able to MOVE, and not come home with my outfit all torn and dirtied. Mom would freak…

I groaned as Anna pulled me towards the more expensive stores. Couldn't we just go to the GAP or Old Navy? I hated the giant labels on the clothes … and the shops themselves had really loud music and were stuffed with heavy perfume. I read the store names she was headed to: Hollister, Areopostle, Abercrombie … I don't think I ever mentioned this, but Anna's family is a bit rich.

I glanced across the mall. We were on the second floor. Loud music from one of the stores was pounding in my ears, and I could already smell the mix of leather and perfume. I crinkled my nose.

I frowned.

What was that? Or should I say, who?

Looking closer across the mall, I thought I saw one of those Shinigami people. It was the one with orange hair and big breasts – Rangiku. Were they still following me? Probably. It had been a few days since what I was calling 'The Gin Incident', but they HAD said they would be keeping tabs on me, right? That was a bit annoying, actually. I had a life outside of all this Shinigami stuff.

"Hello? Earth to Sasalia?"

…A life which Anna seemed to be trying to forcibly drag me into.

She pulled me to a shop with a giant window that displayed those wooden dummies modeling clothes. "C'mon! Wouldn't you like an outfit like this?" She gestured to a dummy with a mini skirt, plain undershirt, and purple plaid jacket with the sleeves rolled up. "That looks more like something YOU would wear," I said, keeping half my mind on the Shinigami behind us.

"Then how about that? Oh, you'd look so cool in it, don't you think?" This time is was a white-and-dark-blue shirt with long sleeves and a decorative scarf. Not really my style.

"Sasalia! Hello? …Um, what are you staring at?"

Rangiku the Shinigami seemed to not be paying attention to us, immersed in a shop that sold fashionable trinkets and the like. Now was our chance to get away.

Not that I really saw any harm in being followed by the Shinigami, it was just that ... well, I preferred to not be watched all the time. I grabbed Anna's elbow and moved towards the elevator, not too far away. Distraction time. Luckily, I knew what to do. "You know what this mall has?," I said. "A really good Dairy store. They have soft-served chocolate ice cream … and this vanilla frozen yogurt with fresh strawberries…"

Anna was going to protest about me trying to get out of shopping, but I knew her weakness: strawberries. I've seen her eat a three-course meal composed almost entirely with strawberry-type foods. Did you know they make strawberry soup?

"Well, I guess we can always come back later," Anna agreed hurriedly. Awesome.

Later, Shinigami.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At Urahara's Shop~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure, Yourichi?"

Yourichi put down her cup of tea. "If this girl allows me to train her, then I will," she said. "I think she might, once she understands the situation."

Urahara nodded.

"Besides," Yourichi said, "I think I'm probably the best person for the job right now. First of all, I trained Orihime and Chad, so I have experience with humans that have powers. Also, not only am I helping her master her powers, but I'm gathering information on her, too. You could probably do that yourself, but there are two other reasons: some of her powers, at least the way she sees them, are somewhat similar to mine; and also, I'm a girl."

She sipped at her tea.

"Well, I suppose that makes sense," Urahara said. "Your shunko does seem a bit similar to her 'lightning' attacks, and you both use speed and accuracy rather than brute force."

"Yes, and it shouldn't be as hard for her to train with me, since I'm a girl," Yourichi clarified. "I see," Urahara said.

Yourichi stood. "Anyway, I suppose I should go see her, then." "Why don't we bring her here? You can go directly to the basement to train. Besides, she's at the mall right now – Rangiku was sent to follow her. Actually, I think Toshiro and Ikkaku went to check on her a minute ago, why don't I give them a call?" "Alright, if you think that's best."

Urahara looked around. "I think Momo might have gone after them, too," he said. "At least, she's not around here."

"Let's hope she doesn't get herself into any trouble," Yourichi mumbled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~But Rather Than Momo…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was Rangiku that was getting in trouble. But not the hollow or Arrancar kind; the Captain kind.

"What do you mean, you LOST her?" Toshiro yelled.

"Well, you see, I was distracted by this really cute – oh, calm down, Taicho! I'd know if she were in trouble or anything. It's not like a hollow or an Arrancar is just going to show up in the middle of a crowded mall like this –" "But that is EXACTLY what happened the last time, at the bakery!" Toshiro said. Rangiku frowned. "Ah, that's right…"

They both felt a familiar spiritual pressure around the corner.

"Hi guys! Sorry I'm late! Um, what's going on?" Momo said as she hopped into view, maneuvering as to not to crash her gigai into anyone. "Rangiku lost the girl she was following," Ikkaku said. He had been leaning against the glass barrier that prevented anyone from falling to the floor below. "Oh…" Momo said nervously.

"We'll just have to find her, then," Toshiro said. Hopefully this time, there would be no rain to muddle their senses. "Hinamori and I will go that way. Ikkaku, you go with Rangiku to the other side of the mall. Report if you find her, or anything odd. Let's go."

Rangiku grinned. He was paring up with Momo; was that intentional, or subconscious? This was the second time he had paired himself with Momo for a mission like this. Hoo hoo…

She winked at Momo before speeding off in to direction her Captain had said, leaving Ikkaku behind. "Hey, wait up!" He yelled testily.

Momo blinked. "Hinamori? Let's go," Toshiro called. "Oh, right!" She said, widening her senses to try and catch a trace of Sasalia's spiritual pressure. This time, she would be sure to help. Even if she wasn't supposed to be here… She would show them that she was a good Shinigami, too. She wasn't a lieutenant for nothing…

But why had Rangiku winked like that? For some reason, it made her want to blush.

Just then, Toshiro's cell phone rang. It was Urahara. After listening for a minute, he said, "Right. Rangiku lost her …" he muttered something incomprehensible; "…and we're searching the mall. We just started. … No, don't worry, we're perfectly capable … right. We'll do that." The phone snapped shut, and he turned to Momo.

"Yourichi wants to see if she can train Sasalia. So let's hurry up and find her."

"Right," Momo said, determined.

They walked off quickly, towards the middle of the mall. They were in gigais, so no flash step; besides, they were in the middle of a crowded mall. They both concentrated on searching through spiritual pressure.

It was only a minute or so before Momo caught a trace of Sasalia's spiritual pressure. Yes! She thought.

"Hey, Toshiro! I think she's I sense her!" "Great – and that's Captain Hitsugaya." "Right," Momo said, smiling slightly.

They were on the first floor now, in the plaza part of the area. There was a big fountain in the middle of the space. Momo turned, trying not to bump into the many people all around them. The trace was faint, but it was defiantly hers. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the spiritual pressure.

She was close!

"This way," she cried, spinning again, ready to run in the direction of Sasalia.

Except she crashed into Toshiro.

She would have fallen, but he grabbed her. Darn – she didn't know he was so close! "U-um, sorry," She stuttered.

She was blushing – worrying about looking bad in front of her friend, when she had wanted to prove herself? Maybe, but that didn't seem to be it.

He was still holding her …

He seemed to realize that at the same time she did, and let go quickly – causing her to almost fall over again.

"Right, well, um, this way," Momo said quickly. "Right, I sense it now," Toshiro replied, just as fast.

They ran in the direction of Sasalia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At the Dairy Place in the Mall…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow.

I sat on a stool at the counter, my chocolate ice cream long finished, cone and all. I was watching Anna.

That was her third strawberry frozen yogurt. She was starting to remind me of Yachiru-chan …

All of a sudden, two people ran up.

No, not just people. Shinigami.

It was Toshiro. Toshiro and someone else; let's see, she was one of the higher ranking Shinigami. Momo, that was her name; Momo Hinamori.

Anna looked over her shoulder, spoon-in-mouth. She glanced back at me.

"Some people I know," I muttered to her.

"Sasalia, Yourichi wants to talk to you," Toshiro said. Anna was now glaring at me. "What?" I whispered at her. "Introduce me, of course!" she whispered back. I groaned.

Speaking out loud, I said, "Toshiro, Momo, this is my best friend Anna. Anna, meet Toshiro and Momo." And I'd better clear up some other stuff, too.

"Toshiro is a Captain of some organization that battles those monsters and helps those spirits we always see. Momo's a lieutenant, I think." Anna looked fairly shocked. So did Toshiro; in fact, he looked a bit angry. Momo just smiled and nodded.

"Oh, I see… um." Anna said. I could see that she didn't really see, and knowing her – "Well, actually, I have no idea what you're talking about. But it's nice to meet you, I guess. I thought only Sal and I could see those spitits." Nervous laugh. She eyed Toshiro and Momo closer.

"So, are you guys a couple or something?" She said. Oh, typical. Anna…

"Wh-what?" Momo yelped, alarmed.

"Ah, NO." Toshiro said, after a second of stunned hesitation.

"Oh, it just looked like –" I interrupted what Anna started to say. "Hey, Anna. According to Toshiro here, I have to go meet someone, so why don't I – " "Right, right. I'll go." Anna said. She smiled at the two Shinigami before hopping off her stool and shimmying through the crowd.

I looked back at them. They were both blushing, Momo more so. Were they a couple? I shrugged. None of my business. I didn't have a boyfriend, and wasn't looking for one (my life is complicated enough already...) so I wasn't really in sync with that sort of thing.

"So, who's this Yourichi person?" I said.

"Oh, right. We'll explain…" Toshiro said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At Urahara's Shop Again~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi, Sasalia. Nice to meet you!"

They had taken me back to that run-down candy shop place. It was actually sort of cozy, now that I thought about it.

But who would ever imagine that there was this giant cave-space-thing below it?

I was still looking around at the desert-canyon like area. Urahara, the shopkeeper with the green striped bucket hat, seemed pretty proud of it. The woman named Yourichi was looking at me. "Nice to meet you, too," I said.

"So Toshiro, where are Rangiku and Ikkaku?" Urahara said. I didn't pay him any attention.

"Oh, shoot!" Toshiro said. Momo looked panicked. "We left them at the mall!" she cried. They both used their flash step to speed off. "Huh, not like Toshiro to miss details like that," Urahara mumbled. "Well, I'll be off now. You two ladies have fun!" he said in a singsong voice.

As soon as he was gone, Yourichi turned back to me.

"Alright, Sasalia. I'm here to help train you to master your powers, and to help you learn more about your powers. Shall we start?" I felt odd, being at this giant cave under a questionable-looking candy shop, with this person I didn't know at all. But, I did want to get stronger. It dawned on me that I didn't really know anything about my powers. So I agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That Night … ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was quiet at Urahara's Shop again. Kenpachi still hadn't been able to track down and battle Ichigo, but it didn't look like he was giving up any time soon. However, this time Yachiru had stayed at the shop, and created much mischief and mayhem. Everyone was quite tired, including Yourichi, who had spent the afternoon training with Sasalia. At one point, Yachiru had interrupted their training and demanded to play with 'Purple-Eyes'.

It had been a long day.

"So what do you think about her powers?" Urahara asked. Toshiro, Rangiku, Renji, Rukia (who was sitting in for Ichigo, who was battling a hollow –AKA hiding from Kenpachi-) Ikkaku, Yumichika, Momo and Yourichi were all sitting around the table with him. Yourichi sighed.

"Well –"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In Las Noches~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Her powers are very interesting," Sayzel Granz, the eighth espada, said.

"Ne? Is 'at so?" Gin said.

"You see, she does indeed have flexible spiritual pressure, or chakra. She could do virtually anything with this chakra; there are almost infinite possibilities. She can convert it into lightning, use it to levitate objects, all those things she has been doing. Truly, it's a formidable weapon."

Granz lifted up the scrap of cloth he had been studying.

"However…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At Urahara's Shop~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"…However?" Urahara asked.

Yourichi frowned.

"Her attacks themselves are lacking in strength. Lightning seems to come easiest for her, but it's still only on par with, say, a higher-level kido."

"Is that so," Urahara mumbled. Yourichi nodded. "So, although she can widely vary her attacks, they don't have too much force. Also, she seems to let her emotions get in the way, and not strategizing properly. She does things without thinking. It reminds me a bit of Ichigo."

"But if her attacks are lacking force, strategizing and combining her attacks to make them stronger would be best for her," Toshiro said. "That's true," Urahara replied. "We just need to know a bit more about her powers to help her do this. Maybe we should have the 12th division analyze hr spiritual pressure."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back in Las Noches~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Very interestin' …" Gin said.

"Yes, I think so to," Granz replied.

"Ya've been a big help," Gin said, turning to leave.

"I think Aizen's gonna be interested 'n her, after all."