TR: Well, chapter 2 is finally here, I've had it written for a while now but I haven't gotten around to the typing part until now. Please see chapter one for the full disclaimer, I am not typing that sucker out for every chapter. If you recognize it I don't own it.

Turning at the sound of a very familiar voice and the accompanying feel of very distinct reiatsu, Hisagi scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, "Kurosaki? What are you doing here?"

Fifteen pairs of eyes swiveled back and forth between Ichigo and Hisagi. Tilting his head to one side in thought, and looking even more catlike that usual, Eiji decided he wanted answers. Jumping up from his seat on the stairs to glomp Ichigo, the acrobatic teen began to speak. "Hoi hoi Senpai! So you know Hisagi-san? How did you meet? Are you strong like him? Nya, you didn't die and then come back did you? I would have seen that in the news thought right? I mean you are pretty well known so if that had happened it would have been in the papers at least I would think. So what are you doing here? Do you know what this meeting is about because we don't?"

When Eiji finally stopped talking to take a breath, Oishi took the chance to quickly step in and save Ichigo. "Eiji, you need to stop and give Senpai a chance to answer your questions. Also, I think you might be cutting off his air supply."

Leaping off of Ichigo in favor of latching on to Oishi's arm, Eiji sulked just a bit. "Gomen ne Senpai, I just got so excited to see you. It has been two whole years after all."

Shaking his head with a sigh, Ichigo fixed Eiji with an incredulous look. "Ok seriously Eiji-kun, what the hell did you eat to make you so hyper today?"

"Fsshu."

"Use your words Kaoru. You know I don't answer to hissing."

"I think Mamushi was saying that Eji-senpai is always this energetic."

Turning to stare at Momo in absolute shock, Ichigo nearly yelled in disbelief. "You mean he's gotten worse as he's gotten older?"

Retrieving his ever-present notebook, Inui effortlessly found the page he was looking for. "Hai. Kikumaru's overall energy level has increased by 45% since Senpai graduated and moved to Karakura. Thanks to special training, his stamina has also increased by 75% over the past year. I noticed Senpai hasn't answered either Hisagi-san or Kikumaru's questions, though, and I am also curious as to why you used Kaidoh's given name."

Looking around at the group of younger teens, Ichigo grinned inwardly at the fact that every one of them had a tennis bag handy. That would be really helpful later on after the meeting. Walking over to hop up onto the cement wall next to Tezuka and setting his own bag on the metal railing to his right, Ichigo finally began to speak. "Ne, Shuuhei, I'd tell you what I'm doing here, but I don't want to ruin the surprise. We have about two hours left before the meeting starts, but if you want to meet us at the street courts in about three hours I'll be happy to tell you then. I'll be sure to answer Inui's question for you then too ok?"

"Ah, that's fine Kurosaki, I need to be getting on with my patrol anyway." Turning to look at all the other boys, Hisagi bid his farewells. "Alright minna, I'll see you in a few hours. I'd worry about you all driving Kurosaki insane, but I've seen who he hangs out with. Ja ne."

Waving goodbye to his fellow Shinigami, Ichigo rolled his head to crack his neck as he decided which explanation to start with. "Alright, Inui asked how I know Kaoru, but I figure I'll also explain how I know Ryoma. And Inui, if you had been paying attention on the way here, you would already know the first answer. Kaoru is my cousin, so it's only logical that I use his given name." Pausing to look at his cousin, Ichigo waited until he had gotten the younger boy's attention before continuing. "Do you remember what I did after my mom died Kaoru?"

"You moved to America for three years where you stayed with some friend of Isshin-jisan's. Isn't that when you really got in to playing tennis, considering you first played on the Junior Olympic team when you were twelve?"

"That's right. The friend of Oyaji's that I stayed with was Ryoma's dad, so we ended up pretty much adopting each other as brothers." Ichigo turned to Ryoma for just a moment. "You should know that my sisters are really looking forward to meeting you, and they'll probably call you their big brother too."

"Ok, they're only what, a year younger than me?" Ryoma shrugged and pulled a can of Ponta from his bag.

"Yeah they are." Ichigo stopped to scratch an itch behind his ear before he continued. As he began the story of how he became a Shinigami and his own part in the Winter War, Ichigo couldn't help but notice two things. The first was that he had a very rapt and still audience; Eiji was actually still and Fuji's eyes were open all the way. The second was that Ichigo would likely be telling the story all over again later on. He didn't really mind that though, since it gave him a chance to brag about having such strong friends.

By the time Ichigo had finished his story, an hour had passed. As he looked around at the stunned faces surrounding him, he was happy to note that only four were unfamiliar. There would have been more that Ichigo didn't recognize, but he had been introduced to Momo, Ishida, and Sakurai on the way there. One by one the other four Fudomine players introduced themselves, with Yuuta being the last to do so. When Ichigo heard Yuuta's name, he asked the second year if he was related to the prodigy of Seigaku.

"Hai, I'm his younger brother by one year." Yuuta tried to keep the resentment out of his voice, but he knew it was still there.

Without missing a beat, Ichigo turned to Fuji with a smirk. "Sucks to be you, doesn't it?"

Fuji tilted his head and frowned in confusion. "What do you mean Senpai?"

"Knowing that your younger brother will always be taller than you and could mock you eternally with short jokes." Ichigo's smirk widened when he saw Yuuta's face light up in realization. Obviously the younger boy hadn't thought of that.

Crossing his arms in a mock pout, Fuji opened his eyes as he huffed at Ichigo. "Mou, Senpai is mean. Besides, Yuuta is too nice to pick on me."

Ichigo snorted in amusement. "More like too scared of you." Fuji's pout promptly turned into a glare that had everyone but Tezuka and Ichigo shifting away from the tensai. "Oh put a leash on your inner sadist already Fuji. If you didn't scare me two years ago, what makes you think you'll be able to now?"

Fuji relaxed back into his normal smile at the teasing tone of Ichigo's voice. "Saa, I suppose Senpai is right. It's nice to have you back though.

Smiling in acknowledgement and thanks, Ichigo's expression turned serious as he refocused his attention on Yuuta. "Ne, Yuuta, would you mind slowly showing me the move that has the bones in your shoulders screwed up?"

Fifteen jaws dropped at once as fifteen pairs of eyes stared at Ichigo in shock. The first to break eye contact was Shinji, and the genius from Fudomine opted to stare at the ground as he began to think out loud. "How did Kurosaki-san know about the condition of Yuuta's shoulders? Could he tell just by looking? I suppose that could be possible; after all, it isn't much different than my ability to use spot and see when my opponent's muscles seize up. But I can't even look at Yuuta and tell that something is wrong with his shoulders. Maybe this means I'm not nearly as good as I'd like to think. Or I suppose it could just mean that Kurosaki-san is just on a much higher level. After all, he basically carried Japan to victory in the last two summer Junior Olympics by himself and then fought in a war. I don't think I would have been able to do that myself. I'd like to think that I could become as famous in tennis as he is, but I just don't think I have it in me to fight a war. I-"

"Shinji!" Kamio Akira nearly yelled in his best friend's ear to get the other boy to stop.

"Sunmason."

Ichigo gave the perpetual mumbler a look of amusement before looking back at Yuuta in expectation. That expectation soon turned to anger as he watched the younger boy mime out the motion for the twist spin shot. Pinching the bridge of his nose as he clenched his eyes shut in an effort to keep Ogichi contained, Ichigo exhaled harshly before speaking. "Whoever taught you that move is either a complete moron, or they were purposely trying to destroy your body. I have never in my life seen such a horrible rendition of the twist spin shot before; and I'm not saying that to insult you, I'm saying it because it's true. I will be more than happy to teach you how to do that move properly so you can use it without having to worry about crippling yourself.

Yuuta blinked in surprise at the anger in Ichigo's voice, anger that was most definitely not directed at him. "A-arigatou, Kurosaki-san. I had no idea that it could be done any other way, Mizuki said that he had created the move specifically for me to use against Aniki."

"Who taught it to you?" Ichigo's voice held a dangerous edge.

Before Yuuta had a chance to answer, Fuji jumped in to the conversation. While his tone of voice might have sounded light and friendly, those that knew the brunette could tell that his words were anything but. "His name is Mizuki Hajime and he is the team manager for St. Rudolph. I'll be happy to point him out to Senpai if we see him."

Ichigo flashed him a bloodthirsty smirk; and had Fuji been a lesser man, he probably would have whimpered in fear. Instead, Fuji simply smiled right back at his Senpai with just as much viciousness. Thankfully the tension in the air that was building up due to the violent desires of Ichigo and Fuji was broken by the trill of a cell phone. Pulling the device out of his pocket, Ichigo realized the trill was the alarm he set to indicate the start of the meeting. Hopping down to the ground, Ichigo grabbed his bag and herded the rest of the boys inside.