Trouble on the horizon

After the incident where Ichigo learns the truth about what really happened that tragic day in June, Kari was bored. There weren't any orders coming in at all! She couldn't figure out what was going on until…she saw the sign next to a store that just opened.

"Get your items delivered free of charge…same day delivery is guaranteed! (Unless otherwise is requested.) Our carriers are fast and friendly; there's no worry about stray animal hairs getting on your items!"

"What the…! No wonder I haven't been getting any work. These jerks are trying to get rid of me!" growled Kari furious.

-----

"Urahara, we need to talk!" said Kari angrily. (Urahara made the mistake of trying to avoid her wrath.)

"I'm going out on a limb and say you saw that sign."

"Why didn't you tell me about that earlier?! And what was with that crack about animal hairs on items?"

"Everyone knows you always have an animal passenger with you on runs. I guess the fools figured that they could use that against you."

"I'll be back… I need to see what my competition is like."

-----

"Welcome to our store!" said the clerk.

"I'm here about the sign…why does it say 'no animal hairs on items'?"

"Our competition rides with an animal on every delivery…not to mention the fact that she wears a broken bicycle chain like it was a belt," snorted the clerk.

"It's from my original bike, idiot," said Kari.

"What's that? I didn't understand what you just said…"

"I said it's from my original bike. And the animal crack wasn't amusing in the least…he rides along to make sure that the packages remain on the bike until the items are delivered!" said Kari annoyed.

"Ego ga hanasemas," said the clerk. (Translation: I don't speak English.)

"What…?" said Kari in surprise. (She had switched back to her native tongue without even realizing it.)

Kari left a few minutes later surprised and delighted at the same time. After trying to talk to the employees in English, she realized that none of them understood a word she said! This could only mean one thing…now she had the upper-hand again!

-----

"So how did it go? Did they throw you out once they found out that you're the delivery girl they're trying to beat?" asked Urahara.

"Nope…though I did discover something very interesting while I was there…"

"What?" asked Jinta.

"Not one of the employees or the delivery-carriers spoke a word of English."

"How do you know that?"

"Apparently I accidentally switched back to English without realizing it."

"Are you sure?!"

"Ego ga hanasemas. That was what the clerk and everyone else who works there said when I talked to them," said Kari with a disturbing grin.

"Why do I have the feeling that you're going to do something again?" groaned Urahara in dismay.

"You know who spends the most cash in convenience stores right?"

"Those who have NO idea how much everything actually is?"

"American tourists. Hardly any of them understand what the conversion rate is. If I can get the word out around the airport…"

"You want to put a sign that says 'Our courier is reliable, friendly, and can speak English?' I doubt they'll know what the sign even says!"

"That's because you're assuming that I'll let you make it. I know full well that most tourists can't read kanji or katakana. I'll make the sign…after people realize that the other delivery service can't speak a word of English, then I'll put the sign up."

After a month of slow tourism ended, the word quickly spread that the new delivery service couldn't speak any English. A week after the news had become clear to the tourists, Kari put up a sign that read:

'Our courier service may be different than the competitors, but the delivery-girl does speak English! She can also give you an accurate amount from yen to U.S. dollars!'

"Kari, I can barely even make a word of what that thing says!" said Urahara after he saw it.

"It's a good thing I'm around then," said Kari before she translated the sign in Japanese.

"How are you going to calculate the cost if it's from U. S. dollars to yen? You don't even know what the currency rate is!" said Jinta.

"I'll ask the bank in an hour. They're the ones who usually change the cash from dollars to yen," reminded Kari.

"I don't know if this ploy will work Kari-san," said Tessai.

"It will when the customers find out I know the locations of every hotel in the city," replied Kari.

-----

After Kari went to the bank and asked for the currency rate, they gave her a calculator that was specifically designed to estimate the amount. (She did have to ask for one when she found out they had those!)

In less than a week, her delivery service was back in business. The other service had difficulty trying to get back on top. (They never succeeded.) Kari was all grins as she brought one package after another to the tourist's room. She was very happy that her scheme to use the second best's weakness against them had actually worked. Then things took a turn for the bizarre.

"Konnichiwa! Welcome to my shop!" said Urahara cheerfully.

"I heard you had a delivery courier that spoke English…is that true?" asked the girl. (She looked to be in her mid-20's.)

"Hai…though right now she's off on her run. What can I help you find?" asked Urahara. It was around then that Ururu happened to pass by and saw the customer…who looked very familiar!

"Kari-san, how'd you get the things delivered so fast?" asked Ururu confused.

"My name isn't Kari," said the woman.

Before the conversation could get any more confusing for Urahara, he heard a set of brakes screech and a gasp of shock. Kari was back.

'There's no freakin' way that could be…!' Kari thought in complete surprise. She calmed down and said, "Hey Rachel…long time no see!"

The woman turned and Urahara finally saw the resemblance between them. They could have been mother and daughter… (Except Kari was a few inches taller than the other.)

"I was looking for you!" grinned Rachel.

"What brings you all the way to Japan?" asked Kari.

"What the…? Do you two know each other?" asked Urahara completely lost.

"Why wouldn't we know each other? We're from the same state and county," hinted Kari.

Before Urahara could say anything more, he spotted a boy coming from behind Kari.

"Um, Kari? I think you should…"

"Don't even think of sneaking up on me, squirt!" laughed Kari as she grabbed the boy.

"I'm completely lost…"

"So did Shane come too?"

"He's at the hotel."

"Kari-san, who are these people?" asked Tessai.

"Oh yeah! I forgot! Urahara, meet my Onee-san, Rachel and this chibi-sized terror is my nephew Brandon," said Kari.

"I thought you two looked a lot alike…" joked Urahara.

"Rachel, meet Mr. Urahara…he owns the store. The big guy behind him is Tessai and the girl is Ururu. And…hey, Ururu? Where'd Jinta run off to?"

"He's at the park playing with the other children," answered Tessai.

"In that case, I guess you'll have to meet him later. Oh, and by the way, I finished the rest of today's runs," said Kari. She had a hunch that Brandon was going to say something, so she looked at him and said, "Brandon, my name is Kari here. So you'd better not say…"

"Aunt Mariah?"

"Drat…you said it."

"Looks like you'll be taking the rest of the day off, right Kari?" said Urahara.

"Yup…"

"I'll let you three catch up then."

As Kari finally found Jinta, she watched as her nephew played with the other kids. (She did have to translate the rules of the game for him though.)

"So Rache, did you bring Logan and Emily with you?"

"Logan's sick and Emily was afraid of the airplane."

"So they're at Shane's mom's?"

"Yeah…so when did you get a new bike?"

"A few weeks after I first got here. The one I brought managed to get trashed…I came up with the idea of a delivery service for the store as a way to get Urahara to let me keep the bike inside."

"So he gives you free room and board then?"

"He takes it out of the cash I make delivering. He gets seventy-percent and I get thirty."

"Why do you only get 30? Thirty-five I can understand, but thirty?"

"It's to cover for both me and Kitsu."

"Who's…?"

"Oy, Kitsu! You don't have to keep hiding; Brandon's not gonna bite ya!"

Out of the bushes came an orange-four-tailed fox. He went to Kari and looked at her before saying, "So you say…"

"Why is that…?" started Rachel.

"His name is Kitsu…short for Kitsune, or a Japanese fox-spirit."

"…"

"I'm guessing you're starting to wonder what's really gone on."

"That about sums it up."

"Well, to put it simply… We're in the Bleach series. You know, the one with the monsters called Hollows and the people dressed in samurai outfits called Soul Reapers?"

"You're joking right?"

"Nope…you do remember what the main character looked like, don't you?"

"Orange-spiky hair and his name was Ichigo…I think."

"You got it…speaking of which, he should be walking by us right about…now," said Kari as she looked in his direction. Ichigo walked past the park and didn't even notice the fox.

"You weren't joking. Why didn't he notice the orange fox?"

"Why would he bother staring at a four-tail orange fox? It's not like this is the first time he's seen Kitsu or anything."

"So foxes like Kitsu are common around here."

"No…Kitsu is the only one. It's just that everyone is used to seeing him with me on my runs. Normally I'd ride the runs solo, but Urahara won't get off my case unless Kitsu is along for the ride."

"Doesn't he trust you?"

"He trusts me alright. He just doesn't want a Hollow to come after me alone with no one around to help," explained Kari.

"Hollow?"

"Yes, Hollows are real. And for some reason, they seem to have taken a disturbing liking to me. They come after me all the time."

"Why don't you quit delivering then?"

"You know I love to ride my bike around. That was the main reason I brought it with me! Besides, the only thing I really have to worry about is if Grand Fisher comes after me again."

They continued chatting until Brandon got hungry. Then Kari took all of them to eat…her treat. Her sister, brother-in-law and nephew stayed for about a week before they finally went back. Kari was exhausted by the time they finally returned to their normal routine again.

-----

"So how was the surprise visit from your family, Kari?" asked Urahara.

"It was a blast…if you don't count the time when Brandon was almost eaten by a Hollow."

"Hey, why're you taller if your older sister is older than you? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

"Because we're half-sisters, genius. Same mother, different fathers. I'm just glad it wasn't my pain-in-the-ass dad and his girlfriend who showed up…or my grandparents."

"Why's that?" asked Urahara.

"My sister and I are a lot alike. But my dad's side of the family is a very different story. They'd never believe me if I told them that they were in a Japanese series that I happen to like. They still can't get over the fact that I love anime and manga!"

"Yikes…I can see why you like your sister more than them!" said Jinta.

"I love 'em, but I can't stand to be around them for more than a few days! They drive me up the wall faster than my nephews and niece do! And that's saying something."

"So what'll you do if they do show up?" asked Jinta.

"As long as they don't find the store, I'll have to deal with them until they leave…if they find this place…well, let's just say it won't be pretty."

Urahara changed the subject and they went to bed as usual. Kari had a bit of trouble sleeping due to the worry that her father and grandfather might show up! She finally fell into an uneasy sleep…

(Next up is her own personal hell! Kari's dad and grandparents arrive in Karakura and go looking for her. Will she be able to keep them from finding out where she lives?)