Ch. #2

The early spring had been unusually warmer than normal, so Rukia was sitting comfortably against the trunk of a cherry blossom tree in the mansion's garden, reading a book. A servant showed Renji to where Rukia was and he walked over, making loud footsteps so to not frighten her.

He plopped down next to her and the two sat in peaceful silence. "What brings you here, Renji?" He turned his head away from the cloudless sky so he was facing her. "I've been sent to fetch you." Using the false story Matsumoto had made up, he told Rukia that she had been invited to a sleepover. Her face lit up and she quickly rose and rushed to the mansion to pack her things. Once Renji was alone in the garden, he pulled out a walkie-talkie.

"Phase one, complete."

"Roger."

"It's Renji."

"No, I mean, gah, never mind. Just get Rukia over to my house."

Static filled the speaker and Renji shrugged, placing the small contraption into his robe.

He walked up to the door through which Rukia had entered. He peered in, and found himself face to face with Byakuya's cold ebony eyes.

"Uhh... taicho! I was just waiting for-"

"If you do anything to Rukia, I will strike you where you stand."

Renji gulped and unconsciously took a step back.

"Are we clear?"

"Crystal, Kuchiki-taicho." Byakuya whipped around and walked away, leaving a petrified Renji in his wake.

Rukia came up from behind and tapped Renji on the shoulder, causing him to flinch.

"Ready?" she asked, concern in her eyes at his twitchy state.

"Y-yeah. Let's go." The two departed the Kuchiki mansion; each step Renji took away made him feel better.

The walk to Matsumoto's was a short ten minute stroll, so the pair decided to enjoy the breezy spring air instead of shunpo-ing ahead.

"What's the occasion for the sleepover?"

Matsumoto had also thought of how to answer a question like this, so Renji didn't have to hesitate. "Matsumoto thought that since everyone was preparing for the Arrancar war thing, we haven't just hung out together in a long time. She wanted to gather everyone up for some fun." In a sense, this was actually true. The group hadn't had real fun since with Byakuya's outing to the real world.

"Ah. Makes sense." Matsumoto's house came into view and the smell of dinner and chattering voices flowed towards Rukia and Renji.

"Oi! I got her!" Renji hollered towards the house. Matsumoto piked her head through the door and waved excitedly, gesturing them inside. "Perfect timing! The food's ready!"

A large group squeezed around a large dining table, food in mountains covering every available surface.

"Dig in!" cooed the red head, but they didn't need to be told twice. Laughter and silverware clanking created bearable cacophony, but nobody cared. Mashed potatoes were gone in seconds; the rice didn't even stand a chance. Chicken was snarfed and the fish was devoured. The food was gone in a manner of minutes.

"Uhh.." Yumichika moaned, patting his crumb-covered belly. The peaceful silence was broken by a large burp from Ikkaku, and everyone smiled.

But it could be delayed no longer. It was time to head for the real world.

Matsumoto clapped twice- the signal that we were about to commence the plan.

"Who wants to play hide and seek?" There was mutual agreement. "Okay. Umm.. Renji! You're it!" Renji fake grumbled, going in the closet to count.

"C'mon Rukia, follow me!" Matsumoto grabbed Rukia's hand and pulled her towards a box set off to the side, which she convinced Rukia was the 'perfect hiding place.'

After they had been secured inside, Hitsugaya and Hisagi, a newcomer to the Association, came out from the shadows and began to push the box, which had been secretly residing on a platform with wheels.

"Rangiku-san, are we moving?"

"Shh!"

One by one the Shinigami began to follow the box towards the Senkai gate.

Rukia was being shipped to the real world- literally.