Chapter 6: Travel Preparations

*Please review. Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, just the OCs.*


Naoko tried not to fidget as the Head Captain continued to stare at them in contemplation. They had just finished pleading their case and now waited for the verdict. Her brother stood stiff beside her, his body not betraying a hint of the nervousness she was feeling. I suppose facing captains, Bounts, Arrancar, and our father would fortify anyone.

"If I understand your request correctly, you wish to travel to the European continent accompanied by four high-ranking Soul Reapers to learn more of your family's lineage?"

"That is correct, sir," Uryu answered respectfully. "We ask for help because we have reason to believe that our lineage is the reason we were attacked. Since we do not know their strength or number it would be unwise for my sister and me to go alone."

"We also thought, sir," Naoko cleared her dry throat, "that this could be an opportunity to learn more about each other. Open doors and communication between the Eastern and Western Soul Reapers."

The old man's wrinkled face was like a weathered mountain, unreadable and unmovable. Finally, he sighed slowly through his nose.

"Very well, who did you have in mind?"

Naoko blinked. Wait… what? Is he agreeing? She exchanged a look with her brother who appeared equally surprised.

"We would request Captain Kurosaki and Lieutenants Kuchiki, Abarai, and Kurotsuchi."

The two had spent hours last night hashing over who would go. Yoruichi or Urahara could have gone, but they had just returned to the Gotei and might not be willing to leave so soon. Their mother had her hands full with her Division especially after losing her lieutenant and the same went for the Third. The Fourth was always busy and Unohana could never step away for long. Captain Kyoraku and Ukitake, a former captain, were good men they had been around for ages… including the war with the Quincies.

The siblings didn't know Captain Kuchiki or Captain Komamura well enough to feel comfortable traveling with to strange land. Naoko had firmly put her foot down on Captain Hitsugaya and Captain Zaraki. The former was a literal grieving ghost and the latter preferred to use his sword over words. Captain Harumi was a contender since he was a member of the European Court Guard before coming here. Uryu worried though that he might side with his former officers instead of them should things go south.

The lieutenants took less time since there were fewer to pick. Aside from Rukia, Renji, and Nemu, there weren't many others they knew or truly trusted. Naoko knew Lieutenant Ise, but she could be sharp, stand-offish, and formal to a fault. Yachiru was clearly out of the question. They wanted to make friends not wreak havoc on them. The remaining lieutenants were all but strangers to them.

The Head Captain lifted a long eyebrow, "Interesting choices. May I ask your reasonings behind them?"

"As odd as it may sound, Kurosaki has a knack for drawing people in and making friends of them." Uryu answered, "He's brash but honest and open-minded. Lieutenants Kuchiki and Kurotsuchi are good at staying calm in battle, strategizing, and politely interacting with people. Lieutenant Abarai is strong, capable, and trustworthy."

Naoko added, "We fought alongside them during the Winter War in Hueco Mundo. Both my brother and I trust them to protect us should we need it."

A tense minute passed and then, "I will contact Head Captain Glyndower for her permission. If she agrees, you may take those four with you. If not, you will be on your own."


"What stupid thing did you do this time?" The lieutenant snipped.

Her captain balked at the accusation, "Me? What makes you think I did anything?"

"Why else would the Head Captain request to see us? The last time was because you tricked the Seventh Division into doing our paperwork by slipping it into theirs," Angelica answered flatly.

Oliver chuckled sheepishly at the memory and the unexpected, but impressive, anger of Captain Toma. "Yes well… I can assure I have not done anything unscrupulous… that I know of."

"It's that last part that concerns me." They walked into the antechamber of the Head Captain's private office. Seated at a desk by the door was her lieutenant, Cara Smith. A tan-skinned woman with the body of an Amazonian. Waves of thick magenta hair fell past her shoulders and light fuchsia eyes flicked up from her work to them.

"The Head Captain has asked to see us," Angelica informed.

A woman of few words Smith nodded, rose and opened the ornately carved, heavy door. They nodded to her as they walked in and Oliver tried not to jump when the door was closed behind them with a final sounding thud. Head Captain Glyndower's private office was filled with all manner of beautiful art and trinkets.

Massive ancient bookcases lined two walls and were crammed with tomes, scrolls, and odd little baubles. A wide, sunlit window took up most of another wall and afforded the viewer a wide view of the Inner City. Detailed tapestries hung along the other two walls and a wide circular rug sat center of the room. Tall, spindly candelabras held unlit thick beeswax candles. The room certainly felt medieval but to each their own.

Head Captain Victoria Glyndower sat behind a wide, heavy desk of redwood. She was an ageless woman and Oliver often forgot she was around two thousand years old. Her signs of age were well hidden either with magic or make-up no one could say, not even a hint of gray could be seen in her deep red locks.

"Captain Twitterson, Lieutenant Rosenberg, thank you for promptly arriving," her voice was as melodious as a gently flowing water.

Angelica bowed and a belated second later Oliver followed. "Of course, ma'am. How can we be of service?"

"I received an… unexpected message from the leader of our eastern counterparts, Head Captain Yamamoto. He says four Soul Reapers will be accompanying two Quincies to Germany in a month's time."

The captain and lieutenant exchanged glances and Angelica asked, "Do we know the reason for this… visit?"

"I am told that the Quincies are direct descendants of their kind's royal family."

"That's impossible," she blurted out before quickly saying, "forgive my outburst, but is that really true?"

Angelica had been a lieutenant by then and knew more while Oliver was only a Fourth Seat in the Third Division when it happened, but he had heard enough rumors to get the picture. Six Soul Reapers killed the entire Quincy royal family almost sixty years ago and thirty years before that they killed the previous king and queen. America, Germany, and Japan scattered to the ends of the Earth and they were still found and killed.

"That remains to be seen, however, Head Captain Yamamoto seems to believe it. The man may be overly prideful and stubborn, but he is not easily fooled." Oliver wanted to point out being deceived and betrayed by three captains, but bit his tongue. "As I said they will arrive in the following month and you two are assigned as their… escorts during their stay."

You mean spies, again he bit his tongue.

Angelica sensed the double meaning and subtly asked, "Would you be interested at all about their activities while they are here?"

Her reply was light, but her eyes wryly gleamed, "Only if you believe the necessity is warranted."

A question nagged at Oliver, "Why choose us for this, ma'am?"

"Because of your personable nature, Captain Twitterson. I thought if anyone could make a guest feel welcome and at ease it would be you."

That and Angie's eyes miss nothing. His lieutenant's hawk-like vision was annoying, but essential on missions like apparently this one. She was also a master of being discreet and could disappear and reappear at a whim.

"We will do our part to make our Eastern companions feel welcome, Head Captain," Angelica assured.


There were six passports on the table and only two of those were real. The other four were very convincing forgeries courtesy of Kisuke Urahara. She flipped one open and beheld Rukia's picture and falsified information.

"Was this your idea, Brother? It seems a bit much especially since we're not flying."

Uryu neatly folded a shirt and set it in his suitcase, "Even so, we're going to be in a foreign country and they'll be in gigais most of the time. If anything should happen and we need to prove we're there legally, then we'll be able to."

She shrugged and dropped the document back on the table. The month had passed quicker than expected and they would depart tomorrow through a specially made Senkaimon Gate that would take them straight to Germany. Naoko had wanted Naomi to come, but the blonde turned her down saying, "It's better if I stay here for now. I'm trying to get back in my grandfather's good graces and leaving wouldn't be the best idea. Besides, your mom could use a hand here."

Uryu zipped his baggage, "It's a shame Orihime and Chad couldn't come."

From what Naoko heard the redhead was staying behind to placate a friend of hers while Chad stayed so she wouldn't be lonely and to protect Karakura from Hollows. Having them along would make their party too big and, while they were fighters in their own right, weren't as strong as those accompanying them.

You mean strong like you? A snide voice hissed. You've killed Espada, yet a common Soul Reaper knocked you down within minutes. Where was your strength then?

The teen sighed and carded a hand through her hair, "I'm going to bed. Wake me when it's time to go."

Morning, as always, came too soon for Naoko's liking though mercifully they would not depart until the afternoon due to their destination being hours behind their home country. They waited for the others to arrive down in Urahara's desert training field. Perched on a short rocky outcropping she yawned and watched her brother pace and fidget. One thing Naoko had learned about him was that he always maintained a cool, unflappable exterior whenever around people.

Either he didn't count her as people or he felt safe enough around her to let his true feelings show. Naoko chose to believe the latter.

Another yawn passed her lips and Uryu stopped his pacing to shoot her annoyed glare. "We're about to go halfway around the world, to the country our people originated from. Can't you show a bit more excitement or something? We finally have a chance to find out more about who we are."

"Pardon me for not pacing around in excitement like you. Look, I am excited I'm just tired is all."

His annoyance melted away to concern, "You didn't sleep well last night?"

Sleep, yes. Good, not so much. She gave a noncommittal shrug.

Before Uryu could pursue further (and to Naoko's luck) the rest of their party appeared wearing gigais in street clothes and carrying their luggage. Urahara was the only one in spirit form.

"This better be worth sacrificing almost my whole spring break," Ichigo grumbled.

"It's my break too, Kurosaki," Uryu returned.

Rukia nudged the carrot-top a little roughly, "Come on Ichigo it'll be fun. I've never been to another country."

"You've barely been in this one."

Before they descended into a bicker, Urahara clapped his hands for their attention. "This is a momentous and exciting day everyone, so let's try to be on our best behavior. Now to get to point A to the far-away point B we'll be using a Senkaimon Gate that has been specially modified by me and my brilliant lieutenant. Using this will be significantly safer than the Dangai and since we're not sneaking in anywhere this time we won't have to use it."

"Speak for yourself, we were the one who snuck in," Ichigo groused with Uryu nodding in agreement.

"Hang on, only Soul Reapers can pass through a Senkaimon," Rukia pointed out. "How are we going to do that while in gigais? And how are Naoko and Uryu going to pass without being kicked out into the Dangai?"

That only made Urahara grin wider, "You are quite correct, Miss Kuchiki. We've fine-tuned the passage's ability to sense and differentiate reiatsu, so even in gigais it can still tell you're Soul Reapers. However, we weren't quite able to get it to accept Quincy reiatsu, so we came up with this."

He pulled out a small jar holding four black butterflies and two white butterflies. "These little guys will be leading the way. Now make sure you don't lose them, they're your only way back if you want to use the Senkaimon. Now, everybody ready?"

"Let's get this over with," Ichigo said, preparing himself to run in.

Urahara stabbed his sword in the air and twisted it like the blade was a large key. The air shimmered and a shoji screen door appeared, silently sliding open to blinding white light. The captain opened the jar to release the butterflies and handed the empty case to Nemu. The group sprinted into the portal leaving Urahara behind and he called out.

"Good luck and try not to cause any international incidents!"


*Please review, I'll see you guys again April 10th.*