The next day, Ikkaku went into town to try and find some information on the strange woman.
"Ikkaku, can I come?" Nan asked, running to catch up. He nodded in response.
"Who do you think did this?" she pressed.
"I don't know, but I will make sure they are caught," he stated firmly. While in town, Nan picked up some medical supplies.
The following week was very busy. A four-day weekend was coming up and Ikkaku was determined to finish their history and science units, along with a writing assignment.
"Ikkaku," Orihime asked while raising her hand.
"Orihime, I told you to please wait to be called on," he said with a sigh. Despite this, she continued speaking.
"Will we have homework over break?' The kids all looked at her. "We always have homework over break, so we will most likely have to write about what we did during break," Nat said.
Ikkaku smiled: his students knew him well. Continuing his lecture, he pointed at a diagram on the board and said, "Now, sound waves travel through the air very fast..."
"I can't wait to go to Hueco Mundo and cook," Yuzu whispered to Ururu. Overhearing them, Karin whispered, "Soccer and freedom the whole time!" Bobby smiled across the aisle.
Noticing the lack of attention, Ikkaku rapped his desk. "Hey, what was the last thing I said?"
"Um," Karin said awkwardly. She hadn't heard a word.
"Dan?" he asked. "You were telling us how sound waves travel," Dan answered obediently.
"Very good. Now, everyone else should benefit from the lecture as well, so pay attention," he scolded.
The nights were even worse. The highschoolers were not able to train as much due to heavy homework. It took them nearly a month to catch up to where they should be, and it was finally decided that they would finish their education at Plumfield. Ikkaku was very happy to hear this. In addition, Ryuuken was willing to sponsor Chad while the Kuchikis sponsored Orihime. Gin helped with Ichigo's tuition when Isshin called him asking for a favor.
It was Thursday afternoon right before school got out. "Remember, you need to write a five-page paper on your activities this weekend. And yes, Nan, even if you are staying here," he said in response to Nan's raised hand. Due to Mayuri being busy, Ikkaku thought it would be more beneficial for her to stay here. Plus, she could help tend to the mysterious stranger, who woke up a few times and was only just able to eat. The highschoolers and Bess were also staying; Bess' parents were going to be in the World of the Living.
Karin, Ururu, and Yuzu were going to spend the break in Hueco Mundo. Ururu and Yuzu were excited when Grimmjow said they could cook. "You also need to finish your math lessons, and don't forget to study for your French test," he added. The kids all sighed at this. They both liked and hated French at the same time.
That night, everyone bustled around getting ready. At the last minute, it was decided that Bess and Nan would be joining the Hueco Mundo group while Jinta would stay at school and rest-he'd started coughing again. The next afternoon, Ikkaku was yelling up the stairs.
"Hurry up, your parents will be here any minute!" Just then, there was a knock at the door. Toshiro, Kenpachi and Grimmjow were standing there talking.
"A camping trip with the boys will be fun," Grimmjow was saying as they entered the house.
"Can I come?" Nan asked, nearly jumping on Ikkaku. "NAN!" he whispered sharply, and she accordingly quieted down, though a bit reluctantly.
"I'm ready," Karin announced, coming down with her backpack and soccer ball.
Ikkaku could not help chuckling. "Karin, you need more clothes then that!"
"No I don't," she said happily. "I packed for her," Yuzu said, carrying a small bag and her own suitcase. Ururu followed.
"I'm also ready," Bess said. Unlike Karin, she had three full bags.
"Bess, it's only four days," Ikkaku said sternly to her before yelling again. "Come on, Ameil, Dan, Nat, Bobby!"
"We can't, I lost my frog!" Bobby yelled back. Ikkaku sighed.
"It will pop up and I will take care of him for you," he replied. Animals seemed to be loose all the time at Plumfield. It was somewhat expected with the younger boys but when Chad lost a turtle in the past week, Ikkaku decided he'd have to do something about it perhaps after break.
"Bye," Nan told Nat.
"Remember to call me if you find anything exciting, like headless Hollows," he said. "Okay!" she said excitedly. They were just about to leave when Nan turned around.
"Keep me updated on the lady," Nan told Ikkaku sternly, and he nodded. When everyone had arrived in Hueco Mundo, Grimmjow turned to Nan with a concerned look.
"What's up with the lady?"
"Nat and I found her in the woods all beaten up, we have no clue who she is."
"Oh," he said before shooing her up the stairs.
That evening was peaceful for the most part. Yuzu and Ururu looked at a magazine, laughing at the crazy fashions. Nan was making notes for some of her latest experiments. Bess was attempting to sew, but, due to everyone else having done it for her before, she was having a lot of trouble.
"How do you thread this button?" she asked helplessly as it fell to the floor.
"Why don't you have one of your servants do it, that's what they're there for," Ameil said. He, like Bess, had grown up with quite a few servants.
"One needs to learn to do simple things for themselves," she answered. This made Gin very happy, although he would never admit it.
"Not really, Bess, it's fun to be waited on," Ameil said. She sighed.
"Then why did you plant your garden alone at school?" she asked. "Well, that was fun," he said.
"Not to me," she retorted. "Point taken," he responded and went back to reading his book on World War I. He had come from a long line of military fighters, with a bit of Quincy on his mother's side. He was one of the first to have both Shinigami and Quincy powers. He was being trained by Nemu, and for a good amount of money, Ryuuken would also give him a lesson every now and then.
Gin sighed while listening to the arguments; he did miss having servants and his big house, but was getting used to this life as well. Meanwhile, Karin was having an awful night.
"I hate French, why do I have to study?" she complained while Grimmjow handed her flashcards.
"It's a subject at school and you are failing. Now, conjugate this word," he said in annoyance, now understanding Isshin's complaints.
"Nan, how's Nat?" Aizen asked when walking in
"Good," she answered. "That magnifying glass you sent for his birthday is awesome, we even got a leaf on fire!" He frowned. Since he was married to Momo, he was Nat's uncle. He was beginning to regret teaching the two kids how to start a fire through a magnifying glass.
"Told you they used it to start a fire," Tousen said with a grin in his voice. "Once again, you weren't thinking."
Nan smiled. She had missed Aizen, he was fun to hang out with. Meanwhile, Bess threw her button down in frustration. "I give up!"
The next day was exciting for everyone. Yuzu and Ururu had fun cooking a nice big dinner, proud that they no longer needed adult supervision. In another kitchen, Nan, Bess and Ameil were studying for French. Ameil and Bess were at the table while Nan was standing over a pot of boiling water.
"What are you doing, Nan?" Bess asked.
"Boiling a frog so the skin peels off and I can mount it." Both Ameil and Bess got a sour look on their faces. It was starting to stink, and that led both Gin and Grimmjow to the kitchen.
"Nan, what are you cooking?" Gin asked, holding his nose. Nan explained obligingly.
"Who gave you that idea?" Grimmjow asked. "Nat's uncle, of course." She lifted the skeleton out of the pot.
"Hey uncle, it looks cool!" Ameil said. Bess also found it cool, but did not show it. Just then, Nat showed up.
"Nat, what're you doing here?" Nan asked in surprise.
"Dad sent me here, I was driving him crazy." "Where's Dan?" Gin asked.
"He's sick."
"Poor Dan. Nat, don't even think of it," Grimmjow warned as Nat pulled out his magnifying glass. Ameil, Nan, and Bess instantly got mischievous grins.
"Role models, remember, we discussed this last summer," Gin pointed out in vain. "So much happened with uncle, well..." he stopped. He didn't want to mention the highschoolers nearly getting killed along with Bess's mom, Rukia, not to mention the betrayal of the Soul Society.
"Nat, when did you get here?" Aizen said, surprised.
"Hi uncle, look what Nan did!" he said, pointing to the frog. "So it worked, good, now you have to..." he trailed off upon seeing Gin's and Grimmjow's faces.
"Uh, well, let's go play!" he said, grabbing Nat and signaling to the others. They quickly escaped.
"Why do adults also have to cause trouble?" Grimmjow said to no one in particular, shaking his head. Just then, the familiar sound of a window shattering in the distance caught his attention.
"KARIN KUROSAKI, BOBBY JEAGERJACQUES!" he yelled. Both kids had been told numerous times not to play ball near buildings. In fact, Karin got in trouble several times over the summer for breaking Kisuke's shop window. When he got there the kids were gone, running for dear life.