Taking a leap of faith

"I did warn them that there'd be no mercy," said Kari.

"Yup…those boys didn't get that through their thick heads!" laughed Yachiru. (She was on Kari's shoulders again.)

"So which way to the candy shop, Yachiru-chan?"

"Candy girl, why don't you call me assistant captain like the boneheads?"

"Dunno…I guess the fact that you're soooo Kuwaii makes it easy to forget you're assistant captain. Or do you not like the name Yachiru-chan?"

"You think I'm Kuwaii?" asked Yachiru surprised.

"You're just too cute! Besides, who else will let you act your age and have fun?" Kari pointed out.

"True…so why haven't we met sooner? I don't remember anything about getting a girl in the division…" said Yachiru.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Yup! Why?"

"I'm not actually a Soul Reaper like the others. I never went to the Academy. This is the first time I've ever been in the Soul Society!"

"What do you mean, your first time?"

"I mean that I'm with the Ryoka who broke into the Soul Society a couple days ago. Don't tell anyone okay?"

"But if you came with them, how'd you get past the gate?"

"That snake Ichimaru was so busy dealing with Ichigo that he never saw me slip through. When they break through the barrier, keep an eye out for an orange-haired Soul Reaper who's Zanpaku-to is as long as he is tall. Your Ken-chan can expect a good fight against him," said Kari.

"I'm the only one who gets to call Kenny 'Ken-chan'!"

"I know, I know. I figured it was easier to call him that instead of Zaraki-taicho. So, which way to the candy shop Yachiru-chan? It's my treat!"

-----

Back at the barracks…

"So let me get this straight. You're really a Ryoka who broke in with the others?" said Zaraki.

"Yup."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't turn you in right now."

"I know who the strongest is. He's good enough to give you a very exciting fight to the finish. And I know what he looks like," said Kari.

"She brought candy Ken-chan! She even got me some!" said Yachiru.

"And here I thought you were trying to get on my good side."

"Actually, I figured Yachiru would be a lot of fun to hang out with. Besides, this is the only division I know of where I can beat the others up and not get into too much trouble," said Kari with a laugh.

"Heh…it was pretty amusing to watch you beat up fifty of my men and get the best of Ikkaku. All right, I won't turn you in. On one condition…"

"I'll give you a description of Ichigo and his Zanpaku-to."

"Smart girl."

-----

"Well, well, well…look what we have here. Looks like the suck-up returned!" laughed the others coldly.

"Think what you want, you Neanderthal. I don't really give a damn."

"What did you call me?!"

"A Neanderthal…a muscle-bound prehistoric man with a brain the size of a pea and no social skills."

"Ouch…" said Yumichika.

"That's it girlie! You want a fight, you just got yourself one!" said the Soul Reaper angrily.

"This won't end well…" said Ikkaku. (Better believe it!)

"Fine by me. I've been itching for another fight today!"

"What do you mean, another fight?" asked Ikkaku.

"You know the guy who was just sent to the Medical Corps with both legs and arms broken? I'm the one who sent him there."

"You did that? That's impossible…your reitsu isn't strong enough to do that much damage!"

"That would be because I've been disguising it this whole time, moron."

"Why'd you do that?" asked Yumichika.

"To keep fools like him from finding me," said Kari as she removed her Shihakusho. Underneath was a sleeveless shirt with no back. As soon as she did that, the spiritual pressure immediately increased.

"What the hell?! Who's doing that?"

"Me. That is what my reitsu is really like. I was holding back before," said Kari coolly. She drew her Zanpaku-to and waited for her opponent to do the same; he was still confident that he'd beat her. He smirked at her Zanpaku-to…it was a tad short.

"Don't tell me you plan on using that little butter knife!" he laughed.

"Strength isn't based on one's size, but on the size of one's strength," quoted Kari.

"Whatever…get ready girlie, cause here I come!" said the Soul Reaper as he charged.

She didn't bother to duck or dodge, she parried instinctively and smirked.

"If that's your best shot, then this'll be over sooner than I thought," said Kari.

"Why you!"

He struck at her again and again, and actually made contact at one point, cutting her face.

"Heh…that was a fluke. I have a certain knack for other's Zanpaku-to," said Kari.

"Sure ya do, brat! Let's see you dodge this!" he said as he swung at her with full force. She didn't duck or anything, she just caught the blow using her hand; blood came from where it made contact with the blade.

"What… You're a brave one girlie. You're lucky I didn't cut that pretty little hand of yours off!"

"Actually, I copied something I saw a master do. He caught a sword with only one hand…though he had something to protect his. And it wasn't luck," said Kari calmly.

"Sure it wasn't. How about we make a deal then? If you win, then I'll be a little nicer to the fourth division lackeys. But if I win, then you leave our barracks and go to the 4th where you belong!"

"You're on…but let's make it even more interesting. Loser has to help the fourth division clean the sewers for a week," countered Kari.

"You got a deal. Prepare to lose!" he said as he went to deliver the final blow.

"Guess again," said Kari as she ducked and broke his sword arm with one strike.

"Looks like she beat you," said Ikkaku.

"You can't exactly counter a blow if your sword arm's broke. I win."

The Soul Reaper refused to admit defeat as she went at her with his sword in his left hand. She sheathed her Zanpaku-to before saying, "Sakikurue, Fuji Kujaku!"

She draws her Zanpaku-to and watches as the peacock feathers surround her opponent and restores her energy by taking his. She made sure not to take to much, and left him to wait for the fourth division.

As she walked off, Yumichika came out of his shocked daze and ran after her. He caught up and said, "How did you…?!"

"How did I use your attack? Beats me…all I know is that when I know the name and attack command for a Zanpaku-to I can use it with as my own. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone about yours," said Kari.

"So you knew from the beginning…?"

"Yes, I knew your sword's name and the attack command…as well as the fact that it's more of a Kido-type Zanpaku-to and not a direct-attack. And I won't tell the others if you won't," said Kari.

"Thanks…where're you going?"

"To see the fourth division. They need to pick that fool up before he bleeds to death," said Kari with a shrug.

-----

"Kari-san, what happened to you?" asked Hanatoro in concern.

"I got into a fight with one of the idiots. He got very lucky and actually hit me once; though I did beat him in the end," said Kari.

"Why'd he fight you?"

"He seemed to be under the impression that I'm trying to suck-up to the captain for a seat position. Actually, I just enjoy hanging out with Yachiru-chan," admitted Kari.

"So why were you fighting, Kari-san?" asked Unohana-taicho.

"Konnichiwa, Unohana-taicho!" said Kari quickly.

"So are you the same girl that the others have told me about?"

"What do you mean, Unohana-taicho?"

"Are you the same girl from the eleventh division who's been helping my subordinates out with the dishes and sticking up for them?"

"Hai…"

"I must say, I was very surprised to hear that someone from the 11th was being nice to my own. It does make me wonder if you have some alterior motive…"

"While the others might not appreciate the work your division does, I do. You take too much ridicule even though you're as strong as the other divisions. I was just tired of them making fun of your division just because you do the things they won't," said Kari.

"I see…so you think that we deserve more credit for the things we do? Is that really the only reason, or is there another…?"

"Actually, I didn't want my karma to come after me if I was mean to the fourth division…" admitted Kari.

"What do you mean, your karma?"

"I mean I figured if I was nice to you, then I wouldn't have to take the foul-tasting medicine you sometimes give…even if it does work."

"I thought that might be the case," laughed Unohana.

"Oh, and before I forget…the guy who just came in from my division with the broken sword arm…we made a bet while we were fighting and I got him to agree to it."

"What was the bet, Kari-san?" asked Hanatoro, interested.

"I he beat me then I'd leave the eleventh division and join this one, but if I beat him, he had to be nicer to the fourth division too! (I also tricked him into something else!)."

"What else did you get him to agree to?" asked Unohana interested.

"Loser has to help the fourth division clean the sewers for a week," laughed Kari.

Hanatoro laughed as he finished bandaging up her arm and face. As she left the fourth division, (and she made sure to show proper respect to Unohana-taicho), she walked back to the barracks…

-----

"Look who has the gall to return after she lost!" laughed the others.

"He lost, not me. And if I had lost, I wouldn't be returning to the barracks after the bet we made."

"What bet?" they all said in unison.

"If he beat me, I quit the 11th and join the fourth…but if I beat him, he had to be nicer to the fourth division…as well as the loser helping them clean the sewers for a week," she smirked.

"WHAT!!!! You lie!"

"No, she's telling the truth. That was the bet they made and she won fair and square," said Ikkaku.

"So she beat him…that doesn't mean she belongs here!" they protested.

"Hey, she belongs here just as much as you do! Besides, the captain already said she's not getting kicked out by you lot," said Yumichika.

"She still doesn't belong with us. She's too soft to handle a real fight!"

"Hey, Yumichika, do you think you could warn the fourth division that there's a bunch of thick-headed morons about to come their way with some very nasty cuts? These fools are about to learn to keep their mouths shut the hard way and I don't want to catch them off-guard when they come in," said Kari.

"Sure…wait, why would they have nasty cuts? Don't you mean they'll have broken bones and horrifing bruises?"

"No, I mean cuts, as in they'll look like they were cut by tiny blades," repeated Kari.

"What're you…?"

"Remember what I said about how I can turn another Soul Reaper's attack into my own if I know the name of both attack and Zanpaku-to?"

"Yes…I remember that a little too clearly."

"Well, I also know the name and attack of Byakuya-taicho's Zanpaku-to. And Renji's, Hitsuguya-taicho and several others. So they'll be coming in with some very nasty or deep cuts on them."

"I'll tell them."

"All right you pin heads…who wants their ass handed to them first?" she said, turning towards them.

They all charged as one…she waited before saying, "Scatter, Senbonzakura!" Her Zanpaku-to's blade turned into what looked like a thousand tiny cherry blossoms. Over a hundred of the men ended up on the ground with thousands of tiny cuts, as if they missed while using a razor. This didn't deter them, as the others charged yet again; this time, she used another Zanpaku-to, one she knew they'd recognize.

"Howl, Zabimaru!"

Sure enough, her blade returned and turned into Zabimaru in its initial release! This completely caught them off guard…many of them backed off from fear that she'd use their own Zanpaku-to against them; the more over-confident, however, continued their charge.

She struck with 'Zabimaru' and the fools fell with a deep cut. Those who narrowly escaped weren't impressed and went at her again.

"I wouldn't recommend that boys… You haven't seen what my real Zanpaku-to looks like when I use the initial release command," she said coolly.

This got them to back off. She sheathed her Zanpaku-to and then said, "So who among you thinks I can't handle being in the 11th?"

Not one even dared to disagree…she had beaten them with disturbing ease, and showed many of the same traits that the 11th division was known for.

"All right, you've proven yourself worthy of our division…" they said reluctantly.

"So how're you gonna explain this to the other captains?" asked Ikkaku.

"I'll just tell them that these idiots mistook me for a Ryoka and tried to ambush me," said Kari bluntly. Ikkaku looked at her for a moment before he burst out laughing. (It was one of the few excuses that would actually work!)

-----

Hanatoro came with Yumichika to the barracks and got a little concerned when he saw Kari sitting on the ground.

"Kari-san, what happened?!"

"These idiots thought I was a Ryoka and tried to ambush me. Naturally I had to defend myself."

As if to prove her tale, one of the others who had been winded by her double-take of Zabimaru, got up and charged her. Hanatoro was in the way of his charge and instinctively took something out of his knapsack with medicines and squirted something on the other. The charging Soul Reaper was knocked out within seconds. He turned when he heard Ikkaku whistle…he was impressed.

"I guess Kari had a point; you fourth division lackeys aren't as weak as I thought!" said Ikkaku impressed.

"Thanks…I think," said Hanatoro nervously.

Several of his squad members showed up and took the Soul Reapers who tried to ambush Kari to the Medical barracks…Hanatoro went with them after making suree Kari was safe from any more attacks. (He had knocked her out with the same medicine at her request.)