"Haah" Yuzu panted face flushed, her body tingly as beads of sweat covering her body, a person looming over her "Kisuke-san…" she mumbled tiredly he grinned wickedly "I want a nice hot shower…too tired" he chuckled laying beside her looking at the ceiling "what do you think Ichigo will do?" she asked as she controlled her breathing

"Hmm" he rubbed his chin thoughtfully "after beating me to his heart's content he could be yelling at me not even carrying if I'm dying" he answered automatically

"That's too much" she stated

"Maybe" he agreed Yoruichi gave a feline grin appearing in their line of vision in cat form

"Done already?" the girl pouted sitting up wincing since she was covered in cuts and bruises setting her Zanpakuto beside her the blonde man placed his arms behind his head hat on his face "let's go to the Hot Spring" standing wobbly "I'm surprised you lasted this much…you couldn't even stand half hour to think you'd build up Stamina in such short amount of time you lasted 2 weeks I'm proud"

"Me too~ she's my Apprentice after all~" the man commented cheerfully though it was muffled by his stripped hat this was ignored by the woman who was already nude entering the hot water Yuzu pulled off what was left of her Shihakusho revealing her average developed body, slim waist and curvy thighs she sighed content as she entered completely "mind if I join~?" she squeaked out the blonde was crouched beside them waving his fan yellow eyes rolled at this "I'm teasing, this water has healing abilities so it will start to heal your wounds as soon as it touches your body" he informed she nodded amazed "you'll eat to your heart's content to replenish your Reiatsu and sleep for 3 days before you resume training with me on Kido since Yoruichi taught you more than I had intended"

"It felt nice to share an Apprentice with this much talent" the woman commented "since the last person I taught for long was Byakuya-Bo and his cousin what was his name…?" she trailed off

"You mean Kazuki-kun" the blonde stated looking at him before giving a nod of agreement "Tessai will have your meal prepared when you come up enjoy your bath" he shut his fan walking away the girl shut her eyes comfortable after a few hours she found herself watching Urahara work "you should be resting I won't go easy on you" he commented

"I know there's been something on my mind for some time" she began tucking her knees with a blush he hoped it wasn't a confession "can I ask you something?"

"You already did" he stated hiding his grin well

"Kisuke-san~" she whined

"Hai, ask"

"Well it might be me overthinking things but…" he turned to her she was in her Gigai he had made for her since there was an 'accident' that happened to her body she was hesitating either it was embarrassing or she thought he might take something the wrong way so he picked up his cup of Tea to drink it was bad timing "are you in love with Yoruichi-sensei?"

"!" he spit out the drink chocking on the rest, coughing she rushed to his side clapping his back lightly he controlled his breathing "whatever gave you that idea?" he asked carelessly she knew better he was nervous

"You look at her with a gentle expression and tease her to make her blush" she answered looking at his eyes with a straight face his eyes widened tilting his head to a side to avoid her stare, yes he was proud of her Intelligence but, it was at times like this that he wished she was stupid and naïve like her brother: no offence intended

"Look Yuzu-chan its…" he trailed off "complicated" he concluded yes that's what it was in reality

"Ie, I won't pressure you into telling her anything that's your decision alone" she said scratching her chin much like her brother would "I just wanted to make sure" after that there was small talk before she yawned leaving to her room she was sharing with Yoruichi since it wasn't safe with Jinta who bunked with Ururu the following weeks went by quickly. The door clicked open Ichigo flinched at the voice that followed "I'm home" soft footsteps paused "what happened?" she asked looking around he turned to his 15 year old sister

"Dad broke it"

"You ungrateful son" the teen was sent flying across the wall

"Daddy, stop it" she stated more sternly fixing her bag on her shoulder

"You look pale are you ill?" Rukia asked

"Well I didn't leave the Lab it was either the Lab or my room" she answered "lack of sunlight"

"All Summer?"

"Hai" she gave a stretch "anyone want dinner?"

"Please!" she smiled they never changed walking forward she left her bag by the couch walking into the kitchen she opened the Refrigerator to find it empty staring at it "err…forgot?" Isshin stated nervously knowing how well his daughter got when her Kitchen wasn't stocked a red aura surrounded her as she looked towards him

"Daddy" she shut the door walking towards him he walked back sweating bullets the aura vanished as she smiled brightly "please give me money to buy Groceries that needed to be stocked weekly even if I wasn't here Ichigo knows how to cook" the smile never once vanished as she held out her hand immediately the money was on her hand placing it on her pats she checked the cabinets throwing everything that was rotten on the trash bin "Ichigo can you come with me?"

"Eh…sure" he gave a look to Rukia who had paused her Manga Reading to the real life drama on front of her

"Can I join you as well?"

"Hai the more the merrier" the honey colored teen stated smiling, their hands were sored as they carried bags Yuzu was walking as if nothing was wrong when they began to lag behind she turned worriedly "I can take the bags if you're tired" she already had most of them they stood straight denying her offer she walked again they watched with a sweat drop 'how does she do it?' was going through their minds,

The first thing Byakuya noticed when he arrived in the Kurosaki Household was the warm house, a delicious smell of Homemade Food, and Tea walking towards the Living Room he paused to see the scene Isshin was most likely in the Clinic, Ichigo in his room with his sister and Karin in her own room, there was movement in the Kitchen and shuffling about when he met brown curious eyes

"Ah, you're Kuchiki-Taichou" she stated drying her hands with a towel walking towards him she wore and apron revealing her curves because of her thin yet slim waist extending her hand he shook it "last time I was busy with Research so we didn't meet properly" she added offering him a seat and Tea to which he accepted "Yoruichi-sensei spoke a lot about you"

"Sensei?" he raised an elegant brow at this

"Hai, she trained me" she answered with a soft smile "actually I'm Kisuke-san Apprentice since I was 13 its almost been 3 years I'm a fast learner" he watched her "I'm not sure if you knew this but, I'm the House Caretaker since I was 4" she commented "so I didn't have the same luxury as Ichigo and Karin-chan to be in Classes for Self-Defense or anything of the kind that meant athletic or exercise…I had to rely on my brother protecting me all the time, he got hurt because of it many times if something happens I want to rely on my own strength to protect myself so my brother can focus on the battle or the real enemy" she added

"I see" she was soft spoken, and well-mannered she was on his good side after all she did address him by proper title of all the Kurosaki so far she was his favorite: Offence clearly intended, it didn't take long for the others to come for Dinner they took in the delicious banquet place on front of them it was a lot of work she commented that she learned some new Recipes form Tessai so decided to try it out

They were sighs of content after Dinner Ichigo and Rukia had ushered her to her room they'd take care of the cleaning grabbing her bag she nodded with an amused smile telling her father to behave Karin followed her since they returned to school the following day and it was late as it is the following days were great perfect almost too perfect when Yuzu suddenly went missing leaving her Gigai behind laying across the a faraway street

There was no investigation not even Urahara who said that she could have left a trace of her Reiatsu if she wanted to be found but, he'd keep an eye out, Ichigo shifted in his bed taking a deep breath it smelled like Cherry Blossoms and Forest his eye ticked 'damn bastard smells good'. Yuzu gritted her teeth in frustration her black fingerless gloves had tear marks her Shihakusho was torn and she had half-done clothing from the torn scarf they were tied on her limbs leaning onto the wall to keep her balance she stumbled her vision darkened as she begun to fall landing on the ground with a soft 'thud!'

"…Found…Taichou…outside…Kurosaki…soon…" her vision was too blurry before she was engulfed in darkness it felt cold numbness it didn't took long for her to wake when she did her wounds were healed moving her hand to her head the room spun as soon as she sat up "you heal rather quickly, I'm surprised you're sitting" a woman's voice reached her ears looking up "I'm Unohana Retsu Captain of the 4th Division"

"Yuzu Kurosaki" she whispered swallowing her throat was dried accepting the liquid she tried not to shudder at the bitter taste "how long was I unconscious for?"

"2 weeks" the woman answered scanning her "Hitsugaya-Taichou found you collapsed outside Sereitei Walls, speaking of which how did you get here?"

"Ah, Hollow it released some type of poison I was paralyzed I ended up in the Rukon Area when I was able to move there was a horde of Adjuchas I wasn't sure I could slay them all in my condition" she answered in a soft voice blinking her vision was more clear now "where is my belongings?"

"…" her eyes narrowed

"Where are my belongings?" no answer "that's important Research Material where is it?" she stood not being intimidated or affected by the Spiritual Pressure the woman emitted, she vanished in Shunpo walking around "where is the 12th Division?" she asked unsteady a Shinigami led her there thanking him she entered ignoring those who said that she wasn't allowed to enter finding the Captain she grabbed him by the collar "I. Want. My. Research. Work. Back"

"Unhand me you pitiful Human this is beyond your intelligence you expect me to-"

"I'm the Apprentice of Urahara Kisuke!, I don't care if you're a Captain that's Research I've been working on since he first took me under his wing!, It took me a lot to convince him now hand it over or I'll tear this place down until I find it!" she sheathed her Zanpakuto threateningly

"I hate that man do not-"

"Captain Kurostuchi, the young lady wishes for her belongings to be returned please do so" Ukitake stated he had felt the strong Reiatsu that knocked unconscious all of his Squad except himself and Shunsui and came to see the commotion "I don't see it a problem since it does belong to her" he added with a smile the other grumbled before ordering Nemu to retrieve the girl's items

"I'm still Missing the Data, I want your Copy as well"

"I do not know what you're referring to" the girl walked past him moving to his keys "you little…! Hands of my sys-!" his eyes widened as she logged in with ease tracking down her Information before extracting every last bit from the back up and main system he was more than just pissed off and she was not intimidated by him

"Touch my Research and you'll pay for it" she hissed right back at his threats both glaring sparks meeting Shunsui took this as cue to interrupt "eh?"

"I haven't seen anyone other than Retsu-sempai go against Captain Kurostuchi like that, even your brother is afraid of him" she huffed holding her precious Research Material close it didn't take long o notice she was barefoot and in a white Kimono from the 4th Division "you don't have money do you?"

"Not with me…Kisuke-san has it all for Research and there's my savings that I left to Ichigo too" she added sheepish there was no way she'd be able to get any clothing much less food

"Come right with us"

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Byakuya!/Kuchiki-Taichou!"