Somehow the whole group managed to move to Mr. Urahara's table. Yuu had succeeded in burning out her energy and rage. Her forehead was currently in contact with the table. She was so disappointed in herself. She destroyed one of her mentor's most prized possessions in a fit of childish rage. She let out a sigh. On her left Ichigo snagged her hand from her lap. Yuu twisted her head so that way she was looking at Ichigo. She raised an eyebrow in silent question. Ichigo smiled in response.

Mr. Urahara walked in. "Well now that we are all here, I can tell you about the current threat."

He sat down in the spot reserved for him and a human Yoruichi sat down next to him. Yuu saw that he had a replacement hat on his head. It looked exactly like the hat that Yuu destroyed. She felt less guilty.

"Mr. Urahara, what's going on?" Ichigo was tense.

"A Bount."

"What's a Bount?" Uryû asked

"I first heard of them when I was a captain of Twelfth division. I came a across a sample of spiritual pressure much like the spiritual pressure Uryû has been feeling. I did some research and eventually came across a tribe of Bounts."

"A tribe?" It was clear that Uryû was looking for every detail.

By this time Yuu had straightened and was staring straight at the shopkeeper. Her eyes were a shade neither ice nor noon. It was like looking into a mirror when asked to do some serious personal reflection. You could pull away if you wanted to but you were left feeling guilty.

"I use that word for lack of a better one. Bounts are like Quincys in that there aren't very many of them. However Bounts have the ability to absorb Human souls. Something about this gives them the ability to live forever. In the past they have been known by another name: vampires."

"Cause that's just what we need. Soul sucking vampires called Bounts. Great, Just great." Yuu's free right hand came up to massage the bridge of her nose.

Yoruichi took over, "In the past Bounts have only consumed dead souls but the one I saw was trying to eat a Human soul."

Ichigo posed a question, "What happens when that happens?"

Mr. Urahara answered, "When a soul is sucked out it is the same as death."

"Then what are we doing? There could be more victims." Ichigo jumped up, ready to charge.

"That's the Ichigo I know. Such a strong sense of justice. Let's see Ririn, you'll go with Ichigo and Yuu." The shopkeeper began making plans

Yuu questioned, "Wait, what?"

"These mod souls contain spiritual pressure detectors. The Bounts target Humans. Ichigo, Chad, Orihime and you, Yuu are Humans with extra powers."

"Only half," Yuu huffed while crossing her arms and pouting.

Mr. Urahara ignored her, "They will help protect you by letting you know when a Bount is near. Now as I said. Ririn will go with Ichigo and Yuu. Kurōdo you'll go with Orihime and Noba you'll go with Chad."

Kurōdo blushed while Noba nodded and zipped up his mask.

Uryû protests, "Wait where does that leave me?"

The shopkeeper was blunt, "You don't have powers anymore."

Uryû visibly slumped. Yuu nudged him under the table with her foot. Ichigo clapped him on the shoulder. Just then Yuu's phone chirped.

"Your mother?" Yoruichi asked.

Yuu pulled it out. "It must be; I don't know why she hasn't called or texted sooner. She's back from her business trip and hasn't seen me yet. She must be freaking out."

Yuu's eyes grew wide as she looked at the phone. She scrambled to her feet. She raced towards the door.

"Ichigo! We're late!"

Ichigo's eyes got well and copied her rush to get out the door.

"That's today?"

"Yes." Yuu swept up something from one of the store shelves. "I'll pay you later, sorry about this Mr. Urahara"

The rest of the group was left to stare after them.

"Is it just me or would our lives be simpler if Yuu was elsewhere?" Renji questioned.

"I doubt it would be simpler," Uryû answered. "But it would be different. Don't forget she discovered the simplest way to spot Kurōdo."

**Scene Change**

Yuu and Ichigo raced into the cemetery. They raced to their destination. Yuu was the victor. Yuu began a cool down stretch while Ichigo paid his respects to his mother. Then he turned his attention to Dai Katsu.

"Happy Birthday, 'Uncle'. A lot has happened this year."

Yuu clapped her hands together and bowed to her dad's marker. "Happy Birthday. Mom might get the New York job. That would be nice. I meet a boy. He's good. Ichigo meet a boy. I guess life is alright"

"Plus now we're Soul Reapers and there's a crazy madman convinced he's going to rule the world. Plus we think we know who Yuu's father is but we aren't allowed to think about. Still life promises not to be boring 'cause I have a Hollow trying to eat my mind from the inside out."

Silence descended as Ichigo finished. The two teenagers sat cross-legged on the ground with their knees touching. Yuu pulled out the package of Starbursts she swiped from Mr. Urahara's store. The twelve individually wrapped candies fell to the ground between the two "cousins". The each took one of each of the flavors. Ichigo got the extra orange and cherry ones. Yuu got the extra strawberry and lemon ones.

Ichigo didn't rush at the candy. "Talk to me."

Yuu scowled. "Don't want to."

"You don't have a choice."

Yuu paused for a moment to consider how to start, "Ichigo what did I do in the Soul Society?"

"You didn't waste time." Yuu had not been excepting that answer. "You headed straight for Rukia. You took advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to you and disappeared. I fought Ikkaku Madarame and Renji and Zaraki. I manage to get distracted and injure myself to the breaking point. You kept focus and only paused to deal with an unexpected soul mate thing and to take a nap. Alright so we got to Rukia at the same time. But if you hadn't gotten there right then both Rukia and I would be dead. In addition you did all that while you were sick. And at Rukia's execution you brought me time to get there. And when Aizen revealed himself you fought even with that nasty surprise that came up. You broke both your arms and still helped me up."

There were tears coming from Yuu's eyes. Ichigo pulled his closest friend to his side. His right hand interlaced with her left. Yuu's head came to lie on his shoulder. The Starbursts made their way into Ichigo's lap.

Ichigo continued, "You went to speak to Byakuya and you solved the mystery of the soul mates. When we got home you got Renji to leave us alone. Then you got sick and admitted you need a break. Afterwards you figured out which one of us was Kurōdo. You're not perfect. I'm not going to lie to you but we do need you."

Yuu choked out, "The hat."

"I'm pretty sure you're still 15. And I'm not much older. I've only been 16 for a few months. We are being forced to grow up a lot faster than we planned. I'm pretty sure one temper tantrum is excusable. In addition in was funny as hell and by that point laughing felt so good. Beside that man has dozens of the same hat so, no harm done."

"What did I do to get a friend like you?"

"Orange Starbursts." Ichigo said with mock solemnity.

Yuu let out a weak chuckle. Then she sat straight up.

"Something's wrong."

"What is it?" Ichigo asked.

"I don't know. We should get back to the store."

Ichigo stuffed the Starbursts in his pocket. The two teens rose and bid farewell to Masaki and Dai. Then Yuu took off running. Ichigo followed but had no hope of catching up with Yuu while they were both Human.

**Scene Change**

There was fire everywhere. Yuu already managed to burn her hand trying to get to the female Bount. Then she had an idea. Yuu really needed to learn how to think but, better late than never. Yuu raised her released Kakuchū no Ryū and took aim at the enemy.

"Fire Midori no Ryū!"

Yuu didn't expect to learn much but every puzzle piece she got would help her figure out what was going on and how to react to it. Yuu watch the green dragon sink into the women. Ichigo was trying to get out of the mess he manage to get himself into. The fire elemental burnt off more of the building. Yuu ducked to dodge and found herself trapped behind an inferno. The fire elemental reared up and took aim at Ichigo. Yuu's eyes got wide. Ichigo was stuck, she was stuck and, they were both dead. There was a flash of light. When it was gone Yuu forced her eyes open. What she saw made her day.

Yuu started grinning, her eyes started to shine and Yuu's voice was half laugh, "Rukia! I missed you!"

Rukia flashed Yuu a tight smile. She began to berate Ichigo. Ichigo got up to stand next to Rukia. Yuu was left behind the flames. However that soon became irrelevant as Midori no Ryū flew out of the Bount and back to her. Yuu turned her attention to the dragon.

/She's not evil. Just misguided./

"How on earth do you know that?"

/I sense her intentions. I don't know exactly what she is planning but she feels like she is alone in a just cause./

"A lot of evil people think that."

/True, but she did not feel evil./

"I will take that under consideration. Did you learn anything about her powers?"

/She taste like fire and stone, mostly fire. I could also sense a maternal bond./

"What about a weakness?"

"Just the weaknesses of fire./

"So we need a fire hydrant. Just great."

Just then a man appeared, scolding the woman. Yuu's right hand swung up, to point at the new arrival.

"Midori!"

Midori no Ryū flew towards the man. He brought up a whip to block the dragon from coming any closer. The dragon swerved out of the way and dove into the man's hand. The man stared at his hand for a moment. When he determined that no harm he taunted Yuu.

"Is that the best you can do little girl?"

Yuu nodded and answered without an even a bite of sarcasm, "Yep."

"Well, then you are no good."

"Well if you assume I meant to injury you then yep." Yuu replied while carefully extracting herself from the inferno.

"Well no matter, I have no use for you." The male Bount turned his attention to the woman. "Now Yoshino, you've been a bad girl, running away from me."

"Wait aren't you supposed to be on the same side?" Ichigo was truly confused.

"I don't think so Ichigo," Yuu whispered in his ear.

The man was using some kind of snake to bind and hypnotize Yoshino. She was trying to fight it. Yuu ran her eyes over the scene. Midori no Ryū flew back to Yuu. The man didn't notice as he leapt backwards to landed on a building.

"Now if you will excuse me. As you know nobility and pigs never share the same table."

The man waved his arm and the snake flew back to him dragging Yoshino with it. Yuu and Ichigo voiced protests. However, before the three of them could act the man was gone.

/That man gave me the creeps./

Yuu's eyes pierced the night, "You can say that again."

**Scene Change**

"Ichigo it's a Bount." Ririn whispered.

It was lunchtime and most of the gang stood up abruptly. Uryû saw the commotion. As the rest of them ran off Uryû hesitantly got to his feet.

"You better stay here Uryû." It was word as a suggestion but Ichigo was giving an order.

"I'll stay too," Yuu finally pushed herself up. "Just to keep an eye on things.

Ichigo nodded and then he, Orihime, Chad and, Rukia ran off. Yuu came to stand next to the depowered Quincy. She crossed her arms and propped up against the tree. She looked completely bored.

"Seven and a half minutes, then we follow them." Yuu told the boy.

"Ichigo said to stay here." Uryû replied

"Yeah but come on. He can't just leave one of us behind. Friends stick together."

"You didn't have stay."

"And leave you behind. Never."

"Why seven and a half minutes?"

"That's the average between five and ten."

Uryû looked at Yuu who was staring out in the direction the rest of the group had run off in. She was dead serious even though she appeared bored. Uryû wondered what she was thinking. On second though he wasn't sure Yuu's mind was a safe place to be.

"You do know that without my powers I'm useless right?"

Yuu threw back her head and began to laugh. It was loud and true. When she was done it continued to ring in Uryû's ears.

"No Uryû," Yuu wasn't quiet but she seemed to be, "You may be powerless but you will never be useless. I can feel it."

Uryû raised an eyebrow. "You can feel it?"

"Yep, Time to go."

Yuu took off running. She was just slow enough for Uryû to keep up. They ran after Ichigo's spiritual pressure.

"I am so glad I don't leak like this." Yuu rolled her eyes.

"You do have more control than he does." Uryû answered

"Everyone has more control than he does."

Uryû paused. Yuu followed his exampled.

"The Bount is in there." Uryû pointed at a building. "Can you get on that roof?"

Yuu flash him a look that said: who do you think I am. She ran off, and soon was lost to view. Yuu got to the side of a building and began to climb. Once she reached the top she removed Kakuchū no Ryū form her Substitute Soul Reaper badge.

"Prepare to fire, Kakuchū no Ryū!" the whisper was accompanied by a rainbow light.

She walked to where she could see the action. The group managed to surround the Bount. It was the male one from last night. Uryû was behind a protective Ichigo. Yuu took aim with her revolver. Yuu let out just enough of her spiritual pressure to get Rukia's attention. A snake snakes appeared from the cracks on the ground and posed to attack her friends. One of them took a regular Human woman captive. Yuu desperately wanted to fire but waited for Uryû's signal.

"I'm the one you're after," Uryû started walking towards the enemy. "Give up the woman and take me instead."

"Uryû what are you doing?" Ichigo's question mirrored Yuu's thoughts. "Get back here. We'll take care of this."

Yuu must have blink because the next thing she saw was Uryû being held captive by one of the man's snakes. Uryû was raised up in the air and slammed down on the concrete. Yuu couldn't take it anymore.

"Fire Aka no Ryū!"

At the same time a spiral of fire attacked the man. The resulting collision of light and debris blinded Yuu. Yuu blinked the spots out of her eyes and saw the female Bount from the previous night, Yoshino, run off with Uryû.

"Fire Daidaiiro no Ryū! Follow them!"

The dragon took off after them. There was a blast of fire from the fire doll creating a marvelous explosion. Daidaiiro no Ryū was forced to retreat to the prism revolver to keep from being injured.

The group tried to run after her by following Ririn's instructions only to discover that the male Bount stood in their way. Snakes soon surrounded them but as they were destroyed they turned back into inanimate objects. Yuu took a moment to ponder on the mess they were making. The Bount kept making snakes and if it weren't for the arrival of Renji and Mr. Urahara's employees the teenagers might have lost.

"Sorry we're late but it couldn't be helped," Renji said

The little red headed boy, Jinta issued a command, "Blast him Ururu!"

Ururu complied and the Bount was forced to retreat. Ririn couldn't sense the Bount who took Uryû. Ichigo flashed Yuu a look. Yuu sighed. How did she ever think she was useless? She sent Daidaiiro no Ryū off with instructions to find Uryû.

"Now we wait?" Chad asked the question.

Yuu answered, "No we should all go searching too. Put your hands in."

The group complied putting their hands on top of hers. Yuu pointed Kakuchū no Ryū at the top of the stack.

"Fire Murasaki no Ryū."

Murasaki no Ryū flew though the hands Renji's, Rukia's, Chad's, Orihime's, Ichigo's and herself leaving behind a part of itself in each individual.

"What did you do?" Renji asked while inspecting his hand.

Yuu replied, "Murasaki acts as a communication device. It's mental but your thoughts are still private. If any of you find Uryû just shout for us in your head. It'll work."

"Does everybody get it?" When everybody replied in the affirmative Ichigo continued, "Let's split up."

Yuu was the first one gone. Her legs stretched out and she could feel her speed. She had to find Uryû before he lost his soul.

Author's note: Hello again! LadyAnnaLee reporting for duty! I'm about to start writing chapter 25 so I thought I celebrate by posting chapter 20. I can't believe I got to chapter 20. In addition I can't believe I got so many followers. I'm also geeking out about my eight reviews. I'm so close to ten! I'm half tempted to say no new chapter until I get the two reviews I need but I'm not that evil. Of course if I get two reviews by the tomorrow I'll post. But I plan on posting tomorrow anyways so you don't have to review. I would just appreciate if you do. A special shout out to magiciseverything who made this story a favorite. Oh and GothChick88 here's Ichigo making Yuu feel better. Have brilliant lives! Love, LadyAnnaLee.

Btw: I don't own Bleach but I did think up Yuu and her Kakuchū no Ryū.