An arrancar-girl in Seireitei

I didn't think writing this would be so much fun. Until now I've only written stories with a fixed storyboard from beginning to end, but after this chapter I don't have a clue how the story will continue. This is kinda exciting!

SilverWhiteDragon: Quick enough?

Karenkate-kitty: Since the main charas of this fanfic are kids I didn't really think about pairings. But maybe there will be some in future chapters.

Bleach's property of Kubo Tite

Who's your Daddy?

"I can't believe Urahara-san talked me into this" Renji groaned and looked at the large hall in front of him. He and his two companions were currently standing on the ground of the 1st division of the Gotei 13 and he was feverishly looking for a way out of this mess. "Why did I of all people have to accompany you?"

"Shut up" Ichigo muttered. The orange-haired boy was even more nervous than Renji – his friend did at least know the people they were going to meet, but he wasn't even a regular shinigami. "Do you think I want to do this? Heck, some of the people in there wanted to kill me even before this happened!"

"Well, it's your fault you moron!" Renji shouted back, shaking his fist at his friend. "You told us to take her into your world, you deserve their wrath! What I don't get is why I'm supposed to be here!"

"Now listen up, pal…"

"Ichigo" a low voice interrupted the two shinigami. When the boy looked down his glance met Nell's. The little arrancar-girl looked like it was on the verge of bursting into tears. "Why are Ichigo and his friend fighting?" She sniffed. "Don't they want to be with Nell anymore?"

Renji groaned again, but he bent down and looked at the girl reassuringly. "That's not it, Nell", he told her. "We're just a little… nervous because the people in there are very important for you. You can't stay in the real world cause you're an arrancar, so you need to live here in Seireitei. And someone in there will be your new…" He made a pause, but then he faked a smile while thinking about the people they were supposed to meet and continued: "…parent."

Fortunately Nell was looking at Renji so she couldn't see Ichigo's shocked expression. Renji had to fight hard not to start grinning. "But" Nell asked with a quivering voice "why can't I live with Ichigo?"

Ichigo finally got his mimic under control and patted Nell on the back. "Sorry lil' one, but that would be too dangerous. My family doesn't know anything about me being a shinigami, so there's no way they'd understand what an arrancar is." He smiled at the sad-looking girl. "Don't be upset. Renji and Rukia will be here most of the time and they'll certainly visit you" – Renji winced – "and I'll come by too once in a while."

"Really?" Nell asked. Her face lightened up. "Hime-nee-san too?"

He didn't know why cause Nell barely knew Orihime, but the little arrancar had somehow grown very fond of his friend. Maybe cause both girls possessed healing powers. But "Hime-nee-san"? He really hoped she wouldn't address the guys in this building that way… "Yeah, maybe…"

"Ahem."

All of them looked up. In front of them stood Sasakibe Choujirou, 1st division's fukutaichou. He seemed to be slightly annoyed.

"Abarai-fukutaichou, Kurosaki Ichigo, the taichou are waiting" he informed them impatiently. When his gaze slid over Nell his eyes narrowed for a brief moment, but then he looked at the two shinigami again. "Would you and your… guest please come in?"

Hastily the two boys stood up, Ichigo clasping Nell's shaking hand, and followed the older man. Ichigo cursed silently. The grey-haired shinigami moved so fast that Ichigo virtually had to drag Nell inside the building. The girl was scared, but that couldn't be helped. She'd be even more scared in a minute. Then they reached a big door which opened as their guide approached. Ichigo swallowed as he entered the room alongside Renji. He had already met most of these people, but all of them at one place were more than a little intimidating. And considering whom he brought here…

Nervously he let his gaze wander over the faces of the taichou of Gotei 13. Most of them were looking at Nell icily, like Kuchiki Byakuya and Soi Fon, some seemed to be more interested than disgusted, especially Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the guy Ishida fought with. Others like Rukia's taichou Ukitake Juushirou were whispering to another taichou, in this case his friend Kyouraku Shunsui, and Zaraki Kenpachi seemingly wasn't interested in the girl. He simply shot a "This-time-you-won't-get-away"-glance at Ichigo, who groaned inwardly. He could hear pieces of sentences like "… bring an arrancar HERE?" or "… do they think they're doing?" from all sides. Nell's grip tensed.

"Silence!" Yamamoto-Genryuusai Shigekuni, 1st division's taichou, commanded and thumped his staff on the floor. The whispers died down immediately. "Abarai-fukutaichou; Kurosaki Ichigo; why did you bring an arrancar to Seireitei? Explain!"

Renji bent his knee. After a short moment of hesitation Ichigo did too, not letting go of Nell's hand. The little arrancar was pale. Before she had met Ichigo she had thought of shinigami as the most evil creatures – and now she was in one room with the most powerful group of shinigami in Soul Society.

"Yamamoto-soutaichou" Renji began to speek "you and the other taichou know that Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends Uryuu Ishida and Yasutora Sado went to Hueco Mundo to save Inoue Orihime, and that I and Kuchiki Rukia followed them. First I want to say that we were successful – the girl is right now staying at the Urahara-Shop under the protection of Urahara Kisuke and Shihouin Yoruichi, and I'm quite sure she has got new information for us considering Aizen's plans."

This made the taichou sit up and take notice.

"This information may be of value" 7th division's taichou Komamura Sajin growled. "But it could as well be one of Aizen's games."

"Inoue Orihime must be kept under observation until we can be sure she is not a spy" Byakuya announced monotonously.

"Maybe I could be of assistance in this case" Kurotsuchi interjected. "I have got some very useful devices…"

"No!" Ichigo interrupted him firmly. "Inoue saved all of our lives with her power! And she risked her own life while trying to destroy the Hougyoku!" The whispering started again. "I won't allow you to torture her!"

"Silence!" Yamamoto-soutaichou shouted and thumped this staff on the floor much harder. "At the moment no one will lay a hand on Inoue Orihime. As Kuchiki-taichou suggested we will simply keep an eye on her until we know that she can be trusted. Hitsugaya-taichou, you and your fukutaichou know her best. I entrust you with this task. Please leave to the world of the living at once."

"Hai" the small white-haired taichou simply answered, bowed and left the room.

"Please continue with your story, Abarai-fukutaichou" the 1st division's taichou addressed Renji. He shot a glare at Ichigo. "And Kurosaki Ichigo… I hope you will show a little more patience from now on."

Ichigo clenched his teeth, but he lowered his head. "Hai."

After that Renji told the taichou how he, Ichigo and their friends had infiltrated Aizen's base, had fought against several Espada and their minions and had finally managed to flee with Orihime from Hueco Mundo. When he ended Ichigo began to speak.

"I know that you don't trust Nell" he said and looked into the faces of all taichou defiantly. "I can understand that – she is an arrancar, one of your enemies. But she helped us in our quest to save Inoue – several times. And take a look at her." He pulled Nell close to him. "She is a kid. I guess she is even younger than Kusajishi-fukutaichou. Is it really that much of a risk to let her stay in Seireitei?"

"You obviously don't know what Kusajishi-fukutaichou is capable of" Soi Fon countered sarcastically, which caused Zaraki to grin.

"However, this would be a great chance to learn something new about the arrancar", Kurotsuchi remarked. His eyes were fixed on Nell and he grinned like an insane Cheshire Cat. "Please allow me to study this girl in my division, Yamamoto-soutaichou."

"Yamamoto-soutaichou" 4th division's taichou Unohana Retsu objected "whatever else this arrancar may be, she is certainly very young and very scared. I don't think being a prisoner in a lab would be the best way to treat her. She should rather stay at 4th division." The female taichou gave Nell a winning smile and the toddler finally relaxed a little.

"And what are ya goin' to do if she turns out to be a menace?" Zaraki asked her still grinning. "Yer division isn't strong enough to handle a real treat."

Unohara glared at him. "Are you saying that your division would be a better place for her, Zaraki-taichou?"

He snorted. "Hell no. Yachiru'd probably wanna play wit' her. She wouldn't last a day in 11th division."

Inside of his mind Ichigo sighed with relief. He didn't like the idea of Nell living in 12th division with Dr. Frankenstein at all, but if there was anything worse, it would probably have been living with Zaraki and his fukutaichou. Oddly enough Nell's shyness seemed to slowly melt away the longer she watched the taichou arguing. She looked at each of them with great interest.

"Well, I'd love to have our little guest in my division" Kyouraku tried to relieve the tension. "But I guess my Nanao-chan would just say I'm bad company for a little lady like this one."

"Not only for her" Soi Fon retorted. "Anyway, if we don't get rid of this arrancar right now – which I would recommend – I'd want her to stay in a division with highly skilled kidou-units. This could be essential to stop her if she tries to attack Seireitei."

"I agree" Komamura growled. "Kuchiki-taichou; this is your speciality."

"There are many kidou-masters in Seireitei" Byakuya replied. "Besides, what knowledge would we possibly gain if this arrancar stayed in 6th division?"

"Kuchiki-taichou is right" Juushirou agreed. "If we want to learn anything from this girl about the arrancar, she has to stay wheter in 4th or in 12th division. We could instruct some kidou-masters to keep an eye on her for all the time she is here in Seireitei."

"Kurosaki Ichigo" Yamamoto-soutaichou addressed Ichigo. "You seem to be very close to this young arrancar. But you also told us about the strange abilities she has shown. Therefore I think it would be best if she stays in 12th division until we know more about her strength. Do you agree?"

Ichigo looked at the 12th division's taichou who grinned back. "Nell" he whispered. "I don't think that he is a nice man. And I can't say what he wants to do to you. Do you rather want to leave with me?"

"Na, you said you'd have to hide me from your family, Ichigo. I don't wanna be a bother" Nell said and looked at him with big, honest eyes. Then she glanced at Kurotsuchi and grinned at Ichigo. "Don't worry, Ichigo. I escaped many of my arrancar brothers that were much stronger than me. If he wants to hurt me, I'll simply run to Renji-oniisan."

Ichigo looked at her doubtingly. "I'll come back as soon as possible to make sure they don't hurt you" he assured. He stood up and went over to Kurotsuchi. "I don't care how strong you are" he said loudly "if you hurt her I'll kick your butt."

Kurotsuchi's eyes narrowed. "Well, well, aren't we confident, young hero?" he replied. "But rest assured. I've got methods to study her that won't hurt her at all." He grinned, but Ichigo didn't believe a word the taichou said. He shot him a warning glance and went back to Renji.

"I don't like this" he whispered to his friend.

"Me neither" Renji answered. "But he won't dare to hurt her openly. Otherwise you'd probably attack Seireitei again and Yamamoto-soutaichou wouldn't want this. Kurotsuchi-taichou will be careful."

"Still… I don't like this."

"She's tough, Ichigo. Have faith in her."

Meanwhile Kurotsuchi looked down at Nell who was watching him with interest. "So, little one" he said still grinning. "After this meeting I'll personally show you my division. And my fukutaicho… no, my daughter will make sure that you get a nice room. We will have lots of fun, trust me."

"Oohh, another onee-san?" Nell asked eagerly. "Does she have funny jiggle-breasts like Hime-nee-san has?"

"Eh?" Even Kurotsuchi was a little taken aback now. The tone of voice had definitely been that of a small child asking questions about a new playmate, but the vocabulary was… more mature. "Well… I guess. Anyway, I'm sure you will like her." This was getting more interesting every second.

Before you ask: I know that Karin has already discovered Ichigo's secret identity. But Nell doesn't need to know that.

And about Nell's last question… no, she's not a pervert, but from what I know she DOES use strange words like "masochist"

I'm not sure if Nell was believable in this one (scared - happy), but I promise the next one will be better – there will be Nemu in it and maybe even Yachiru.