Authors Notes: ok I am sure some of you reading know Japanese but I have noticed I use quite a few Japanese name modifiers. So heres for those of you who don't know them.

San- Mr/Mrs/Miss
Chan- (Female) younger female, overly friendly (ie lovers and or really good friends) Can also be an insult when used on a male.
Kun/Tsu-(male) younger boy and overly friendly (ie lovers and or really good friends)Can be used as an insult when the person is higher or as high status as you.
Sensi- Teacher

Sama- leader/prince/princess

Hope that helps a bit also in this one some one say Ja ni I am not sure if that Is how it is spelt but it means bye in Japanese.

Chapter Nine

Keran Novadalwen Jaxsom

A red haired figure walked with in the shadows of the buildings. She seemed to float more then walk as she continued to move slithering through the darkened area's a smirk came over her face.

"Now where are you Ichigo-chan" she said softly.

---

Raika sat in Ichigo's office as she sat there she watched him and a black haired woman talk she listened quietly to them. The woman had come in only moments before.

"Ichigo...really my squad needs a captain...you cant keep us captainless forever..." The woman said slightly frustrated her fellow squad members had asked her to talk with Ichigo. Most people who knew both of them knew they where mates after all they shared the same sleeping quarters.

"I know Rukia...and I think I know who..." Ichigo said with a slightly mischievous smirk on his face. He stood up as Raika watched him the girl was slightly nervous to be sitting here listening to this conversation, however she was curious as to who Ichigo would make captain of his old squad thirteen.

"Really thats great Ichigo...does he have a Bankai?" she asked looking much happier then when she had entered the room. Ichigo looked at her and chuckled

"Of sorts...Raika..." he turned to the young girl she looked at him and stood up expecting him to ask her to leave for the time being. She started for the door and Ichigo stopped her. "Where are you going Captain of squad 13..." he said smirking. Raika's eyes widened and she turned to look at him like a deer caught in headlights.

"W-what?" she muttered. Rukia also stared at Ichigo as if he had lost his mind.

"You have got to be kidding me Ichigo! She's a new recruit she hasn't even had time in a squad let alone a captain..." she said Ichigo looked at Rukia and smiled kindly at her.

"no but then neither did I and it turned out well...anyways you'll be hard pressed to find someone with her power...shes not only able to wield her's to Shikai...but she can put Zabimaru in Bankai..." he said lightly.

"Y-yes but...they wont listen to her!" Rukia said growling at Ichigo sometimes he was completely reckless about these things.

"Ichigo-sensi...I-I don't think I can accept that...I couldn't even fight a hollow with out getting injured..." Raika spoke up softly. Ichigo looked at her and frowned lightly.

"Raika when I first fought the hollows I got as badly beat up as you did sometimes worse but I always won...I think you will find the same applies to you..after all we are more alike then you think" he said kindly. Rukia stared at him she had to wonder what he was playing at. This girl was to young and inexperienced to become a captain.

"If she is you choice Ichigo then I will go back and tell my squad they have a leader..." Rukia said lightly. Ichigo smiled at her softly and nodded.

"Thank you Rukia...don't worry you will do fine" he looked at Raika. She gulped slightly then nodded slowly.

"I really don't want this Ichigo-sensi but if you have confidence in me I have no choice but to accept..." she said softly.

"you will be escorted to your new quarters...or if you wish they are with the other captain quarters you can find it yourself..." Ichigo spoke softly to her. Raika nodded and then turned to leave. Ichigo watched her leave and then chuckled slightly to himself. She would be put through the test sooner or later by the other captains but he knew she would succeed every fight that was thrown at her. As he sat there he heard a shuffling behind him. Rukia had already left that meant there was only one person it could be.

"Keran Jaxsom...must you spy on me so late at night..." he said lightly. As he did a red haired woman seemed to form from the shadows behind him. She smirked then suddenly it turned into a bright smile.

"Long time no see! Ichigo-chan!" the womans voice was like bells but there was a slight edge to it as if she had drilled into your head.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Chan..." Ichigo muttered slightly. The woman grinned darkly then sat in front of him where Raika had been sitting.

"Sure thing Ichigo-kun" she said running a hand through her long blood red hair. It fell all the way to her ankles and two pieces hung in front of her ears framing her face. Her short bangs where trimmed evenly and seemed to curl under slightly. But the most interesting feature of the woman was her icy blue eyes. Ichigo sighed slightly she was the only one who could still get under his nerves.

"So...I take it your here for a reason...Raika maybe" he muttered. Keran shook her head enthusiastically. She was currently wearing a soul reapers robes but Ichigo knew better the woman was nothing like them. She was something much different.

"Nope! Who's Raika?" she said looking clueless. Ichigo frowned and shook his head slowly.

"Nothing why are you here...thought you said you wouldn't bother us last time you left?" he raised an eyebrow at her. She grinned playfully.

"Oh did I say that ohh bad keran lying like that." she giggled. Ichigo knew this was all an act there was something deeper in this woman's sudden reappearance. "I am off duty now so I decided why not visit my old friend..." she said slinging her legs over the arm of her chair. She was a beautiful young woman tall slender with a perfect figure.

"What...do you not like me anymore" she looked at him her shoulder raised slightly in a seductive manner. Ichigo frowned lightly.

"Keran me and Rukia are together..." he said shortly she was already starting to get on his nerves.

"Ya I figured as much...ahh well you where just so cute...to bad..well I must be going Ja ni for now" she said brightly then disappeared right in front of his eyes. His frown he had been wearing the whole time deepened. If she was hanging around there must be something up keran never just showed up for a chat.