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Kurai landed on the roof of the Squad Eleven Barracks and sighed. He had hoped the Bounts would start fighting right away. And they had. The fight just didn't last long enough for him to tell where the Bounts were. He dropped to the ground and looked around. Yumichika was reporting in to Kenpachi off to one side and Kurai turned and walked the other way. He had a dozen things he wanted to do and see Kenpachi was not one of them. Strangling Uryu was, though. After about three minutes of walking, he stopped as Kenpachi stepped out in front of him, Yachiru sitting on his shoulder.

"And where are you going?" Kenpachi asked.

"I was planning to go get the medicine Nemu promised me," Kurai stated.

"Not today," Kenpachi smirked. "Today, you and me are gonna train. Tomorrow you will be searching for the Bounts. You can get your medicine after they're dead."

"I suppose," Kurai sighed. "But why do we have to train together."

"Because I want to see just how strong you've become since Nemu's little experiment," Kenpachi smirked. "Last time, as I recall, you could barely keep up with me with my eyepatch on."

"That's right," Kurai nodded before sighing. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Kenpachi nodded and they both drew their zanpakuto. The moment Kenpachi stepped forward, Kurai left, via flash-step. Kenpachi stared at the spot he had been for a moment then sighed and put his zanpakuto away.

"He's gotten faster, at least," Kenpachi sighed.

Daniel stopped at the Squad 10 Barracks and found Kanisawa standing a short distance away.

"You're late," Kanisawa smirked without looking at him. "Gone to see Nemu yet?"

"Not yet," Kurai said dropping to the ground beside her. "I'm just running away from Captain Kenpachi right now."

"Don't bring him here or my captain will chuck a fit," Kanisawa laughed. "Why run to me? You think I'm going to hide you?"

"No," Kurai smirked. "Just saying hi."

"I see," Kanisawa nodded. "Well, hello then. Now go get your medicine from your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend Kanisawa," Kurai said giving her a look somewhere between annoyed and knowing she wasn't going to drop it.

"Sure," Kanisawa snorted rolling her eyes. "I can see what's going on."

"There's nothing going on," Kurai smirked. "It's not like with you and Shuhei."

Kanisawa turned scarlet but smirked and dropped the subject. Kurai grinned then turned and left. After a few minutes, he reached Research and Development and walked inside, finding Mayuri standing back to a short distance away. He gripped his zanpakuto handle but restrained himself from killing him.

"Hello Kurai," Nemu spoke up from beside him, making him jump slightly and Mayuri turn.

"Hello Nemu," Kurai smiled. "I'll assume you know why I'm here."

"That's right," Nemu nodded holding up a small metal box with several syringes inside. "These should help you fight the Bounts."

"Thank you," Kurai smiled. "Unfortunately, I doubt there's a whole lot I could do to help against Kariya. He's...deadly."

"What are you going to do for today? Search for the Bounts?" Nemu asked.

"I think one of them wants to settle a score with me," Kurai stated. "She'll probably come find me soon. Probably tomorrow. Until then, yeah, I probably will go looking for the other ones."

Nemu nodded just as Mayuri arrived.

"You have a lot of nerve showing up here again," Mayuri snarled. "I don't remember inviting you."

"You don't huh?" Kurai asked raising an eyebrow. "You might as well have handed me the key when you killed Angel. Until such a time I kill you, you might as well consider me a permanent guest. Because I'll be keeping an eye on you. The last thing I need is for you to make some fucked up monstrosity that will try to kill me. Come to think of it, just about the only thing you've ever made that isn't a piece of shit is Nemu. I'll have to admit, on that one occasion, you did well."

"Why thank you," Mayuri smirked. "Though, I believe I myself am more of a success."

"Then that's where our opinion differs," Kurai shrugged. "I see you as the biggest failure of all. Either way, I'll see you around Nemu. I should probably get looking."

"Alright," Nemu nodded. "Come back if you need more."

Kurai nodded and walked out of the building, turning and walking toward the Rukon District. For the next few hours he searched then returned to his squad Barracks for the night.

"There you are," Kenpachi spoke up as he arrived. "You're a coward."

"I have no intention of fighting you," Kurai stated. "One of us would die if I did. Most likely me."

"I wouldn't kill you," Kenpachi stated.

"You would overestimate my abilities and then leave me in a wounded state, keeping me unable to fight if any Bounts found me," Kurai stated. "Now, I'm going to be, going to sleep. Tomorrow morning, I'm going looking for the Bounts. See you tomorrow."

Kenpachi stepped out of his way and Kurai walked to his room, finding Yachiru on his pillow.

"Why won't you fight Kenny?" Yachiru asked.

"Sorry Yachiru," Kurai smiled. "It just wouldn't be very fun for Captain Kenpachi."

"Would you fight me?" Yachiru asked.

"No," Kurai snorted. "You'd kill me."

Yachiru beamed at the compliment and hopped down, hugging his legs.

"Goodnight!" Yachiru called running out of the room.

"Goodnight Yachiru," Kurai replied then sat on his bed. "How could someone so strong be so sweet? Ah well. Goodnight all."

He slid under the blankets and passed out. The next morning, he felt something pressing on his stomach and opened his eyes, seeing Yachiru sitting on his stomach.

"Yachiru, what exactly are you doing?" Kurai asked.

"Kenny told me to watch you," Yachiru stated.

"Did he now?" Kurai nodded. "Well, can you get off of me so I can get up?"

"Okay," Yachiru beamed dropping to the floor and allowing Daniel to stand with Haruko.

She leapt back up to his shoulder, hanging on his back as she always did Kenpachi's. He fastened Haruko into place then walked out of the barracks. Exactly three people didn't give him a strange look and one asked if he had been promoted to co-lieutenant. Finally they got outside and headed out to the Rukon District again. Once there, they began walking through the streets. Several people gave them strange looks but they remained silent.

"Which one are we looking for?" Yachiru asked.

"Any," Kurai stated.

Just then, Kurai sensed Rukia's Spiritual Pressure as she used hado.


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