Chapter 3

"Ah, Kaiya. I thought you had lost your way to school." "Ah, no, sorry. Hitsu-chan kept stopping, picking up stuff on the floor"

All eyes went to the boy, who looked about 12 with white spiky hair. "What do you mean random things on the floor! See this? This is one weird item. I just wanted to see what it was!" he said, holding up a piece of plastic. "Hitsu-kun, stop trying to get attention that way. See what you did? You disrupted the class…" "Hmph… Fine."

Rukia looked up. She could barely believe her eyes. Captain Hitsugaya. In the mortal world. He must be in a faux body… But why was here? What was his purpose? Who was the air-headed looking girl?

"Ah yes, let me introduce myself. I'm Kaiya. And this is my brother, Hitsugaya."

"Eh? He looks about 12. What the hell is he doing here?"

"Cause I have a higher IQ you dumb witted hum-" "AAAHHH! Hitsugaya, that's not a nice thing to say!" screamed Kaiya as she clamped her hand across his mouth. "Iaf duff carfe" he mumbled indignantly from under the hand.

He got up, and made eye contact with Rukia. She felt a slight unease, as Hitsugaya stared right into her eyes. At that moment, the bell rang, and students started to move out. "Rukia, lets go." Rukia was quite for a moment. Then she looked up. "Ooohh, I-chi-go! Lets get to know these new people!" "Rukia… Why are talking in that weird way?" "Oh huh MEE? Ahaha, this is how I normally talk, right I-chi-go?"

"Thank you. But we really should be heading home. Right, Hitsu-chan?" Hitsugaya looked at her, and nodded his head. They turned around and headed for the door. "Hitsugaya-taicho. What are you doing here?" Rukia asked seriously. "Taicho? Nee-san, do you know who's she talking about?" "No, Hitsu-chan. Maybe you mistook us for someone else, eh, Rukia?"

Without another word, they walked out of the classroom, leaving behind a stunned Rukia and confused Ichigo. "WAIT!" yelled Rukia, as she swung the door open, looking into the empty school aisles.

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"Toushiro, you should really be less obvious your not from around here…"

"Don't ask me to know everything of this human world in less than a week…" Hitsugaya replied, taking a bite out of a slice of watermelon. "Say, Kaiya… I've been meaning to ask you. Yamamoto is not one to simply lax the rules. What possessed him to let you run off after Ichigo?"

"Oh look! Ahahaha! Our food's ready!" she said bounding towards the kitchen of their apartment. Hitsugaya raised an eye brow as he watch her run out. "Oi… Kaiya… You didn't do what I think you did… Did you?" "Aaahhh! So you knew I bought these food from the store? SO COOL!" she replied, her eyes shinning in faux admiration. "Kaaaiiiiiyaaaaa…… WHAT THE HELL! How could you do this? We'd be in deep trouble with Yamamoto if he finds out!" "You know, Hitsu-chan… You worry too much…" "Kaiya… You know what will happen if Yamajii finds out? I don't think he will be kept in the dark for too long." "Don't worry Hitsu. Things will be alright."

"Anyway, since we're already back on earth, we might very well just enjoy ourselves to the fullest." Hitsugaya looked up at his captain. "Kaiya.." he thought to himself "You have something else on your mind, don't you…."

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Later, Kaiya took a stroll. She stopped in front of a store. "I guess I should buy some groceries… Maybe buy more watermelons later…". She stepped into the compound. "Urahara store…. Urahara….. Urahara…."

"Hello! Is anybody in here?" she yelled in full force as she slid open the door. "AIIEE! Oh, you scared me…" Urahara began fanning himself in feigned frailty. "Oh, sorry. I just need to buy some groceries, Sir," she said with a beaming face. "Oi, Kaiya! Stop leaving me behind like that!" a voice from outside screeched as the door was flung open once again.

There was a short silence, as looks were exchanged between the 10th division captain and the annoying fan wielding former captain of the 12th division. "Ah… Toushiro-taicho. What are you doing here?" he asked innocently. "Urahara…" "Ah, Hitsu-kun. Urahara is the one who supplied our faux body. And food. And lodging." She said happily. "Oh? So he knows?" Nodding her head, she stood up. "I'll let you two catch up. I want to take a walk. Hitsu, don't forget to take some groceries home later. Ok?" "Kai….-ya"

She closed the door behind her.

She began walking again. Her eyes watched her surroundings. "It been so long since I left… Why do I still feel this unease… Or feeling of regret… I don't understand…"

beep beep She reached for her cellphone. "Hello?" "Kaiya… Where are you" "I'm just taking a stroll, Hitsu-kun." "Kaiya…" beep beep "Ah, waitaminute Hitsu-kun. A hollow is nearby. I'll call you back in a bit"

As she closed her eyes, her faux body dropped to the ground. Grabbing it, she leaped unto the roof, and flash stepped to where the Hollow's spirit power emitted. She soon saw the hollow, and hurriedly unsheathe her soul slayer. She dropped her faux body, and did a flip as she brought her soul slayer down, and its body disintegrated into dust. "Ah… So you ARE the person from last night."

She turned around, and there was Ichigo and Rukia, standing side by side. "Ah... You guys are finally here. I thought you guys wouldn't come so I finished the job for you." She smiled innocently at them. "Kaiya…. A captain?" Rukia said aloud. "Fourteen. There IS no squad 14. Who are you, Kaiya?" Hitsugaya arrived at that moment, landing beside Hitsugaya. "Hitsugaya-taishoun. What is all this?" Rukia questioned sternly. "Ah… Sorry Kaiya-taishoun. I lost myself this time." He drooped his cape which symbolized his authority over the 10th division, and put on his vice-captain badge of the 14th division.

Rukia and Ichigo's faces clouded over. "What the hell is this…."

"Ah… You guys seem interested. Too bad we don't have time to explain, we have to get moving. Good bye Ichigo, Rukia. See you in school." She casually picked up her faux body she threw down earlier, and entered it. With an innocent smile, and a small bow, she leaped up, with Hitsugaya in tow.

"Kaiya… I thought our purpose for returning was to get Ichigo to help us. So far, you haven't taken any initiative to do that." "Hitsugaya! Surely you know he'll be ensnared in the web of curiosity as we go on, eventually unable to back out! It's always like that on TV!" Kaiya said with child-like innocence and excitement.

"TV?" he said, rolling the foreign word around his tongue. "Ah… Yes… Sometimes I forget most of you are literally ancient!" "OI! Doesn't make me sound old, Kaiya!" He shook his fist at his superior. She just smiled happily at his rather immature antic.

Her smile. It was different from that wretched Gin's. His smile was sinister, cold. Like he was hiding something. Hers was happy, genuine. As if life was the most beautiful thing she had ever encountered. But once in a while, she would give that sad smile which indicated maybe… Just maybe… Life is not as pleasant as she thought it was.