Thank you:

SmileRen; I'm not dead! Yay!

TheInflictedFinger; There are so many things I want to do with this story, I'm not a hundred percent sure which path I want to take yet. Haha

AnimeXbooksXmanga; I'm excited I can take this wherever I want now! It's probably going to involve lots of kickass fights and drama.

Usagi0Mori; I updated really quick this time, just for you!

Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach!Bleach

I practically stomped through the streets of the Seireitei as I seethed running the argument between Ichigo and I over and over in my head.

"Good afternoon, Evans-Sama!"

I blinked watching a male Shinigami bend into a low bow before walking of with a polite and awed "Have a nice day!"

Three more Shinigami bustled past me giving me the same polite and awed greetings before resuming their duties.

"What the hell?"

I shrugged off my confusion and continued on my aimless stomping. Twenty minutes later the Shinigami the bowing and polite conversations haven't ceased but my anger has been.

"Oi." I pointed to a random Shinigami woman who seemed strangely familiar "Why is everyone bowing to me and shit?"

She raised her eyebrows in surprise before flashing my a thousand watt smile. "If you don't get it then you're more humble than the rumors suggest."

I waved my hand prompting her to continue.

"You're a hero! Kurosaki-Sama and you both fought valiantly against Aizen! It's an honor to meet a legend!" another Shinigami answered swooping down low before resuming his duties.

The brown haired woman before nodded in agreement before encasing my hands in her own. "Would you accompany me to the hot springs? My treat~"

"How could I say no to that?" I smiled flattered at her offer.

Her thousand watt smile double nearly blinding me and she twirled on her feet pulling me off towards the hot springs.

"My name is Chika" She chirped sending me a wink. "it's a pleasure to meet you, Evans-Sama."

I flapped my arm at her. "Just call me Karissa."

"Okay~"

Deciding to trust the brunette I let her lead me through corridors while I stared hard at her trying to figure out why she seemed so familiar.

She was an inch or two shorter than me with an oval face. Her brown eyes matched her shoulder length hair. Chika wore the standard Shinigami robes with the expetion of a scarf around her neck.

The scarf tied around her neck was red with a silver whip embroidered in the corner. The crazed cowboy look alike flashed through my mind.

"….You would happen to be related to Kaubōi would you?" I asked attentively. If she is I placed myself in the hands of a potential lunatic.

"Huh?" she paused looking at me in surprise. "You know my brother?"

"Oh dear god." I shook the image of her drowning my in the pools for the sake of family honor out of my head. "Yeah. We met a while ago."

"He's incredible isn't he?" She gushed a proud gleam sparkling in her eyes as she resumed walking. "We're twins~"

She yanked out her Zanpakutou whispering the release. It was too quiet to hear the actual words.

"Yep, I'm definitely gonna die."

The Zanpakutou morphed into a golden bull whip with what looked like Longhorn Steer horns attached to the end.

"Like I said twinzes~" the Zanpakutou was put away, much to my relief, and we arrived at the hot springs.

Chika rambled on and on the entire trip about her families love for western culture which is why she's such a big fan of me. She told me she knew about my fight with Kaubōi when I brought it up.

Despite her going into vivid details about her life I enjoyed the trip, who doesn't like free trips to nice hot baths?, and was ecstatic when she offered to pay for my trip to the hair salon and take me to lunch.

I was surprised when the stylists Zanpakutou turned into a pair of sheep shears but decided to let the woman do her job.

She evened my hair out and layered it back into my old style and chopped my bangs back into their wild style. With some miracle concoction she removed the left over black in my hair without bleaching my hair.

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Chika wasn't able to take me out to lunch, what a depressing thought, since Ichigo decided to have a Team Human meeting. I wasn't looking forward to whatever he had in mind.

Currently I was standing in a meeting room provided by the squad six. In the center was a table with chairs surrounding the table.

Ichigo gestured for me to sit across from him which sent of red flags in my mind. I reluctantly sat down across from Ichigo while the other three stood to the side until they decided who's side they would take.

"Way to turn the group against each other, Ichigo." I thought dryly feeling the strain of our relationship increase.

Ichigo told us the verdict in Aizen's case. I ground my teeth together in frustration. Rage and hatred at the whole event coursing through my veins.

"Jail time for spirits who live for millennia. That's fucking brilliant!" I sneered almost laughing at how absurd the notion was. "No wonder the Seireitei is under attack all the time by people who want revenge."

I felt like all that I worked for was a waste of time. Like every life that was lost, every drop of blood, sweat, and tears spilt in order to stop him was in vain.

I could understand how someone would grow to hate the preposterous laws in this place and then grow to hate the place in general.

"I want to go home." My heart gave a little pang which just added more fuel to the fire growing within.

"What do you mean?" Chad asked calmly

"This place is fucking backwards!" I shouted with a snarl glaring heavily at Ichigo not sure where else to direct my anger. "They nearly executed Rukia for giving you powers. Aizen killed hundreds of Shinigami on his quest for power, stole the Hōgyoku, and has done millions of dollars worth of damage to the Seireitei and our home!"

My slammed into the table in an effort to dispel some of my anger, all it accomplished was shaking the cups off the edge. They clattered to the floor shattering on impact.

I was beyond furious with the outcome and with Ichigo's accepting attitude towards it. Aizen threatened his family and friends but it's okay because he thought Aizen was a lonely sad little man?

"And all he gets is jail time? That is fucking ridiculous." I was tempted to hit Ichigo when he made to open him mouth. "He's a genius, Ichigo. Now he has all the time in the world to plot revenge and everything that his been sacrificed in this war, all those lost lives, will be for nothing."

"I agree with Evans on the matter." Uryu stated sitting himself beside me earning an appraising gaze from me. "Aizen should have been executed for his crimes."

"Is that going to be your answer for everything?" Ichigo questioned gripping his knees tighter. "To kill anyone who has done you wrong? How does that make us any better than him?"

The glares directed towards him increased in anger. Ichigo shifted slightly glad Chad was there to prevent any physical conflicts and Orihime was on his side in the matter.

"He is going to sit alone in the dark with only the faces of those he slaughtered to haunt him along with the pain of losing all that he has worked for to keep him company. I think it is a punishment worse than death."

"Are you serious?" I snapped balling my hands into tight fists. The urge to punt him and whoever decided Aizen's fate across the Seireitei was almost impossible to resist.

"Let him rest, recover, and plot in the safety and comfort of his cell." I clapped my hands sarcastically. "Good call, Shinigami, good call."

Uryu placed a comforting hand on my fist. Surprising me enough to forget my urge to play football with Ichigo and instead focus my annoyance on him. Did he think I was some broad who needed coddling?

I unclenched my fists and crossed my arms over my chest glancing toward Orihime. She looked incredibly sad, tears leaking from her large doe eyes while Chad rubbed her back giving Uryu and I disappointed looks.

"That would be a fighting punishment for a man who has a heart." Uryu started folding his hands neatly in his lap, "Aizen cut out his humanity the night he faked his death. He is not going to sit in prison and suddenly turn into a weeping remorseful man. Aizen is a proud warrior which, I believe, will prompt him into wanting to take revenge. He is more than capable of accomplishing this."

"Hasn't enough blood been spilt on his account?" Orihime cried out shrilly wiping her face on her sleeve. "We should focus on rebuilding what has been destroyed instead of focusing on spilling more blood!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose feeling a headache coming on. Why couldn't they understand that Aizen needed to be destroyed before it was to late?

"He had someone kidnap you! Forced you to save the men that killed people we knew! Did you forget that?"

Orihime frowned at me more tear escaping her red rimmed eyes. "Y-y-ou didn't kill Ulquiorra! You let me save him! He was the one to take me! Why does he get to live while Aizen doesn't?"

I opened my mouth then snapped it shut. Wanting to let her know if she wasn't happy with my sparing him I would happily put a bullet in his head. Uryu placed a hand back on my own signaling he would take this one after seeing the look on my face.

"If it weren't for Aizen, Ulquiorra wouldn't be anything. Couldn't have done the things the things he did. However, Karissa and I noticed how you clung to him as we have seen you do with Ichigo. He protected you that warrants him some leniency."

"He cut your arm off and almost killed Kurosaki-Kun and made him a…a…" She then wailed again hiding her face in her sleeve to down out her sobs.

"Do you want him dead? I'll be happy to take him out for you then!" I snarled earning a sharp look from Chad and a reproachful glare from Ichigo.

"How can you say that you want Aizen dead but then allow Ulquiorra to go free? Even if he did some how protect Orihime." Ichigo stood up nearly shaking in his anger.

"We're supposed to be the good guys!" Ichigo shouted back at me. "Good guys don't run around killing people that makes us just like him! That is not how we solve problems."

"What? The good-" I scoffed before laughing at the absurd notion. "Are we going to bake him some fucking cupcakes too?"

"This is not a fairy tale!" Uryu snapped pushing his glasses up his nose after recovering from his shock at the last statement. "Do not delude yourself into thinking it is all going to be sunshine and rainbows just because he has been incarcerated!"

"I don't understand what you guys are thinking when you joined the war. It is war after all. What did you think was going to happen? How is it so inconceivable that maybe, just maybe some one was going to die or some one you know would have to kill someone."

Ichigo and Orihime stared at me in horror and anger, mostly on Ichigo's part, but didn't answer me.

"I'm responsible for our actions. I don't want us to be known as killers." Ichigo said gently but he re-invoked Uryu and my ire.

"I didn't realize we we're below you." I spat bitterly nearly knocking the table when I stood.

"You are not our leader. No one here is responsible for anyone's actions but their own." Uryu practically growled out raising to his feet with more grace than I.

Chad raised his hand in a calming gesture stepping forward to speak.

"So if given the opportunity you'd kill him in cold blood for the sake of the greater good?" Chad asked quietly almost like he was afraid to hear the answer. "Who are we to take someone's life? By all rights, we should not have been involved in this war. If one of us had killed him or anyone else…"

"I had the opportunity and I tried my fucking hardest to take it." I informed Chad calmly like I was discussing the weather. "If I see him again I will not fail to send him to the deepest pit of hell."

"It is obvious that without us. Orihime would have been lost in Hueco Mundo until the war ended and they Shinigami had time to search for her. Aizen would have slaughtered everyone in his path, and eventually we would have been turned into a key." Uryu stated frustration lacing his voice. "Without us being involved, Aizen would have won and we would have died."

"You two are okay with becoming a murderer? Okay with taking a life? Evil or not?" Chad sounded lost and defeated lowering his head with each question.

"Never mind. It's not like your opinions can change the verdict anyway." Ichigo snapped leaving the room before we could answer.

I glared darkly at his retreating figure finding his attitude lately more than annoying. He wants to talk about everything that happens then gets pissed when someone doesn't agree with him.

Orihime swiftly followed after him uncomfortable with the tension still lingering in the room.

"How could you be okay with murdering some one then claim to be a good person?"

That was the first time I have ever hit Chad but the idiot deserved it. He staggered backwards into the wall before I gripped his collar yanking him to my level.

"How can you say that?" I hissed tightening my grip despite Uryu's attempts to pull me off and Chad's pleading gaze. "Soldiers back home kill and die to defend their country, their families, and their friends. Does that make them horrible creatures in your eyes?"

Chad didn't give me an answer only stared at me with fear filled eyes. I was to offended to notice the fear. I was trained and practically raised by a Marine. My dad was in the Air Force. Chad's last question made me feel like he was disrespecting and tainting their honor.

"Karissa." Uryu placed his hands on my shaking shoulders. "Let him go."

I gave him on last rough shake before storming out of the building intent on finding Ikkaku so I could release all this anger and swearing to myself that this was the last time they would have my support.

Once I get home no more saving them. They obviously don't need me and my lack of morals.

I stopped in my tracks trying to shake Chad's frightened gaze out of my head. Two friends I know for sure are afraid of me. I'm sure I could add Orihime to that list as well.

Shit. That makes my only human ally a Quincy, who has probably contemplated shooting me with an arrow on more than one occasion.

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"Gaaawwwaaahhhh!"

I sidestepped barely managing to dodge a flying Shinigami before moving out of the way for another projectile Shinigami.

"Which one of ya bastards is next?" Kenpachi barked before another Shinigami was launched through the walls.

The eleventh squad was having their daily captain versus anyone with the balls to come at him attack-a-thon. I watched in amusement as each person who stepped up to the giant was flung through the air the second they stepped up,

"I hate these fucking butterflies!"

Kenpachi looked like he was going to squash the butterfly in his palm. Fortunately for said butterfly, Yachiru caught it and ran off giggling.

"This way Ken-Chan~"

"Che." Ikkaku clicked his tongue looking at all the unconscious men. "Captain didn't leave any for the rest of us."

I lurched forward kicking the bald man in the back sending his sprauling across the floor.

"Is that so?"

"I won't let you off the hook this time." Ikkaku smirked launching at me.

I smiled gratefully for the distraction and stress reliever he was providing. All that training pulled off, I didn't even have to think about what to do. Muscle memory is the greatest thing ever.

The frustration and hurt that rippled through me as my anger slowly began to subside. I felt betrayed by them. How could they ask me to help them then snarl at me when it's over?

Their faces flashed before my eyes. Orihime crying. Ichigo's glares. Chad's frightened stare.

Unbeknownst to me, I stopped fight and just stood staring blankly out at the world. Ikkaku would have knocked my head off my shoulders if he didn't have impeccable stopping skills.

The sunlight glinted off his sword bringing me back into focus. I looked at the blade mere inches from my throat. I was reminded of the secret Ikkaku was hiding and flinched feeling the pang of betrayal once more.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" I groaned wondering if I was over reacting to everything.

"Are you still to sore?" He asked quickly sheathing Hōzukimaru. "How are your injuries?"

I smiled lightly in gratitude pushing away the negative feelings I had towards him. I would wait until he grows the balls to tell me about his secret.

"I'm still a little sore. My legs are screaming."

Ikkaku gave me a smirk, lips curling into an alluring smile. "That's what she said."

I snorted before erupting into laughter. Ikkaku laughed along with me before swinging an arm over across my shoulders which caused me to blush like a giddy school girl.

"Lets go get us a bottle of the good stuff and celebrate a hard earned victory." he said pulling me towards the shopping district.

"Can we make that multiple bottles?"

"I'll buy you as many as you want, Evans-Sama" He teased watching a Shinigami bow before us.

"I like the sound of that. You should call me 'Evans-Sama' more often seeing as how I am a superhero now."

"As you wish, Evans-Sama."

"Oh my Kami!" Yumichika grinned looking between the two of us his smile growing wider until I was sure his lips touched his ears. "Aren't you two cute~"

"The hell are you prattling on about?" Ikkaku snapped turning his head from the knowing gaze Yumichika gave him.

"Cute?" I raised an eyebrow placing my hands on my hips. "We're drop dead gorgeous. Get your facts straight."

Yumichika scrutinized my hair fore a moment before harrumphing. "You let someone else do your hair."

"Yep." I popped the 'p' giving him a nonchalant shrug. "I like her style better."

"I hope your hair falls out." He pouted earning a laugh from Ikkaku and I.

I let out a gasp pointing to the corners of Yumichika's eyes "Are those crows feet I see?"

"Ohhhh the teenager in a training bra has jokes." Yumichika scowled at me after touching his face.

"Said the man with the voice of a prepubescent boy!"

"Rip each others heads off later!" Ikkaku said before anymore could be said. "Lets get us some booze!"

Ten minutes later, I found myself sitting in the kitchen surrounded my bottles of sake and specialty liquors and a gawking crowd of men as I retold the fight versus Aizen.

By then end of the tale, I had Yumichika acting as Aizen while I was Ichigo and myself at the same time and had a decent buzz going on.

"I need to wash my face." Yumichika patted his cheeks looking mildly disgusted. "Just pretending to be that man makes me feel ugly."

"How did you two meet?" I asked watching Yumichika saunter off into his room.

Ikkaku made a face before smiling sheepishly down at me then sending a glare to few men who leaned in closer to hear the tale.

"It's pretty embarrassing." He ran a hand across the top of his head.

I leaned in closer even more interested in knowing the tale now. Ikkaku waved off the curious subordinates with a sharp bark of "Get back to work!" before he launched into his story.

Ikkaku stalked through the streets glaring when men ran into their shacks to hide instead of facing him.

If no one was willing to fight him he'd have to find other methods of relieving his stress. However, this district doesn't have many women. In fact, he hadn't seen any since he arrived two days ago.

"Lucky~" Ikkaku grinned catching a glimpse of long dark silky hair turn the corner.

Ikkaku head towards the woman dressed in a rather short white kimono with some floral pattern on the edges.

She didn't have an curves but her long lean legs pleased Ikkaku enough to consider her just for the nice.

"Some nice legs you got there." Yeah, Ikkaku lacked tact and wooing skills.

The woman whirl around. "it's great to see someone around here has an eye for beauty~"

Ikkaku tensed snapping his gaze from her legs. "That was no woman's voice."

And to his horror, those legs he had be ogling belonged to a man.

"Ar-are you serious?" I snorted shaking with laughter. "You think Yumichika has sexy legs! Ha!"

"I couldn't make that up if I tried." He shrugged sending me a wide embarrassed grin. "What about you and Ichigo?"

Despite my less than pleasant thoughts about the boy, I couldn't help but smile lightly at the thought of our first meeting.

I grinned then jumped right into the story;

"Han' ov'r them crackers, boy" A small silver haired girl growled out tripping over the unfamiliar syllables

"Wh-what?" The meek orange haired boy whimpered taking a small step back as the black haired boy stepped in front of him.

"Gimme them crackers" She raised her Nerf gun towards the boy "or I blow yer brains out"

"With foam darts?" A black haired kid snapped moving in front of the victim glaring down at the assailant.

"I wasn't talkin' to ya. Wait yer turn boy." Little Karissa tried to push the black haired kid out of the way but he was surprisingly strong.

"Boy?" The child shrieked in outrage "Imma girl and tha name's Tatsuki!"

"You look like a boy."

"Said the wannabe Annie" Tatsuki snapped back yanking on a pig tail.

The black haired girl sneered gaining a sinister grin from the pigtailed American. The doe eyed boy whimpered cowering behind the manlier girl.

Karissa pulled out a second Nerf gun and began firing away with both chasing the couple around the swing set.

"Pew. Pew. Pew"

After a few moments of running, Ichigo gained the courage to protect his friend and decided to tackle his attacker.

"Heh." Karissa grinned pushing the smaller boy off of her before shoving a Nerf gun in his hand. "Ya got guts. Now lets go get her!"

Tatsuki squealed weaving through the jungle gym in hopes of throwing off her attackers.

"They seem to be getting along well" Pops commented scratching the back of his head.

"Your daughter is soooo cute~" Misato cooed cradling toddler Yuzu in her arms

"True. But she doesn't come close to this little angel~" James grinned playing with Karin and her doll.

"Gah~"

James fell over startled by the foam dart pegging him in the eye. He snapped his head towards the perpetrator.

Karissa stood a few feet away from his cheeks puffed up in annoyance, James only ever showed her affection, aiming her dart gun at him.

"That's it squirt! No supper for you!"

"Pah! Like daddy'll ever let me go a day without a healthy meal" she smirked before deciding to let Tatsuki have her gun so she could run away.

"Cheeky little brat ain't she?" Isshun smiled at Pops laughing as Karissa shouted at them in English,

"Yeah… but she has a point"

I finished the story with a wistful smile remember all the times we played Indiana Jones and Cops and Robbers.

"So you've always been a bossy brat, huh?" Ikkaku teased talking a long drink from his gourd.

"Brat?" I snorted in mock offence. "Someone had to toughen the kid up."

"Oh? So you're a charity worker now?" he questioned amused

"I can't be mean all the time." I shrugged "Gotta throw in some sweetness. Keeps them on their toes."

"I like it." he said suddenly making me look at him. He was looking directly at me with a blush on his face. "I like how fierce you can be."

I blushed scrabbling to say something back but my brain decided to shut off at that moment luckily I was spared from talking back when a happy slightly muffled squeal emitted from the room behind us.

"Shouldn't you be getting your beauty sleep, Yumichika?" Ikkaku barked glaring in his direction.

"If I get any more beautiful, I'd be illegal." Yumichika chirped with a laugh.

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The next morning everything was back to normal and finally we got the all clear to go back to the living world.

I was torn between vowing to never being involved in Shinigami matter again and biting my tongue for the sake of friendship.

Semper Fidelis. This motto was drilled into my brain since the first day James began training me.

They were my comrades, people I care about deeply, I wanted things to work out between the group but the difference in opinions and morals wasn't something that could be ignored.

Giving my goodbye to everyone, I eagerly made my way to the exit without looking back and waiting for the rest of Team Human.

For some reason I felt like that was the last time I would ever see the Seireitei but thought nothing of the feeling.

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"Pops!" I shouted launching myself into his arms. Laughing in happiness as he twirled me around before setting my back down pressing a kiss to my forehead.

He stepped back examining me like a doctor. "I'm glad you are home. I missed you." he cooed pulling me into his arms for another bone crushing hug. "Tell me all about while I finish making us some chow~"

Without complaint, I agree plopping down at the table before launching into the tale of the Winter War starting with Aizen's treachery and ending with me arriving back home lost in a myriad of emotions.

"You know every time you leave scares me. I worry that you won't come back, James does too. Even though he swears he prepared you for everything. I still worry," he sighed placing another kiss to my forehead. "You're my baby girl. My only child. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

I was relieved when he decided not to talk about the tear in the group or my feelings towards Ikkaku.

"Don't worry about that Pops. I'm too awesome for death~" I grinned cheekily trying not to let it show how much his words touched me for fear of looking like a total sap. "That's the last time I'm going anyway."

He looked at me in surprise before it morphed into relief. "Good. Then you can focus on working on all that make up work Kana has kindly brought home for you~"

"Damn it."

I smiled happy to be home hearing James' truck pull into the drive way. Leaping to my feet I rushed out the door flinging myself on top of James, who laughed and clapped my back in greeting.

"Why does he get a hug first?" a pleasantly familiar female voice teased "Do you not recognize me?"

I jumped at the voiced turning to look at the woman hopping out of the truck. My jaw hit the ground.

"M-mom?"