Disclamer: Everything to do with bleach is owned by Tite Kubo. All characters you do not recognize our mine!

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Morning came and went quickly but there had been no sign of Mai in the Eleventh Division. Captain Zaraki had searched every room possible within the barracks and yet he couldn't find her anywhere. Kenpachi thought twice about asking one of the women Mai was friends with – if they knew where she was but decided against it, thinking it as a sign of defeat, and there was no way he was going to surrender to a woman.

Where the hell is that girl?

Kenpachi had been searching all morning and well into the afternoon, it was time for a well deserved break. It wasn't as if it was his fault the woman didn't have a sense of time… or place for that matter. She was supposed to meet him and Yachiru, along with Captains Yamamoto and Ukitake before her and the pink haired girl left through Senkaimon.

Sitting down behind his desk, Captain Zaraki picked up a brush and began to catch up on the paper work that was several years behind, (now he remembered what he hated so much about Ikkaku and Yumichika being away on a mission.) Not long after he had started to fill out forms he was interrupted.

"Kenny! Have you found Maya yet?" yelled the teenage looking Yachiru as she bounced into Kenpachi's office.

"No…"

"Then why are you here doing paper work? You need to find her!" cried the pink haired lieutenant not bothering to lower her voice.

"Yachiru, there's no need to yell I'm not fucking ten miles away," grunted Kenpachi not looking up from his papers. "And it's not my fault she disappeared."

"Yes it is!" Yachiru said pointing a finger and glaring towards her 'father'. "Kenny you never told her where she was to stay! She doesn't sleep in the division, because it isn't right for her to stay in a room full of men! Especially someone has pretty as Maya!"

Just as Kenpachi opened his mouth to reply the door to the office was jerked open revealing – for once – a frustrated looking Byakuya Kuchiki and a smirking Mai.

"Zaraki, please give this nuisance a room to herself, I will not tolerate her staying in my home any longer, corrupting my sister," Byakuya said trying to keep a calm demeanor before he turned around and walk gracefully out the door.

"Bye Byakushi!" called out Yachiru as she waved like an idiot.

Kenpachi raised a brow at the door where the noble once stood before looking at Mai and glaring. "Where were you? You and Yachiru were supposed to leave first thing this morning."

"I was at the Kuchiki's manor, because somebody failed to mention where I was to stay," said Mai in a sickening sweet voice before turning to one laced with venom. "And I am not living in a room full of men."

The Captain rolled his uncovered eye and stood up from the desk, walking out of the room yelling for the two females to follow him. The three members of the Eleventh Division walked throughout the Seireitei – for once not getting lost – until they came upon one of the gates leading to the Rukongai. Standing waiting at the exit was the Captain General and Captain Ukitake.

"I see you finally decided to join us," commented the head captain as his anger radiated off him.

"Sorry, but Takahashi seemed to think she can take her time," replied Kenpachi, shooting Mai a look as he talked.

"My deepest apologies Captain Yamamoto and Captain Ukitake, I am sorry for having kept you waiting," Mai apologized bowing her head in respect.

"It is fine, but we must make the explanation quick so you can be on your way, for you only have about two hours there before you must return, we have reasons to believe Aizen is monitoring Karakura Town," said the Captain General.

"When you arrive in Karakura Town, stay clear of any contact with Hollows and Arrancars unless proven otherwise, you want to avoid any unnecessary attention to yourselves. There are other soul reapers there that can handle them," explained the Captain of the thirteenth squad. "You ladies are only there to bring back Captains Hitsugaya and Abarai and their team, including the substitute soul reaper Ichigo Kurosaki and Isshin. Since this was short notice we were unable to provide gigais for you so be careful, if you need help, seek out Kisuke Urahara. Please be safe, we can't promise you won't run into any trouble."

After the Thirteenth Captain was done talking a Senkaimon appeared in front of them. As hell butterflies came over to the girls and they began walking through the opening doors, the Eleventh Captain started to walk away.

"Bye Kenny!" yelled Yachiru waving frantically.

"See yea kid." Replied Kenpachi as he lazily waved behind him not bothering to turn around.

***************
Aria, Sayama, Sora
***************

"I can't believe Mai is already getting to go on important assignments!" said the sixth division lieutenant, Sayama Kuchiki.

"You're just jealous because she got to go and you didn't," snickered the twelfth division member. "It didn't really seem that important or dangerous anyways."

"But I'm a lieutenant! I should have been asked to go, not Mai!" whined Saya.

"I never thought you as one to be jealous Saya, besides; I think its wonderful Mai was asked to go on such a mission. It would seem Captain Yamamoto trusts her as well as Captain Zaraki, I heard he doesn't trust many people looking after Lieutenant Kusajishi besides third seat Madarame and fifth seat Ayasegawa," commented Sora as she sipped at her tea. "But does Lieutenant Kusajishi even need to be taken care of? I was confused when people from the fourth were telling me."

"Yachiru went through an experiment conducted by Captain Kurotsuchi, she use to have the image of a five year old up until a month and a half ago, she may look like a teenager but she sometimes still acts like a little girl," replied Aria explaining to the fourth division's tenth seat.

"Um… the creepy Captain that looks like one of those clowns from the world of the living?" asked Sora, shifting in her seat.

"Sora!"

"He's creepy, that's for sure," mumbled Aria.

"Aria!" gasped Saya. "That's your Captain you're talking about. You must show respect!"

The woman from the twelfth rolled her eyes at the Lieutenant. "God! You're starting to sound like Rin! He's so paranoid the Captain can hear everything we say, which he most likely can, but I try to convince him otherwise."

"You think he spies on his subordinates?" questioned Sora.

"How can you not think that when talking about Captain Kurotsuchi?" Aria raised a brow at the two women as they shook their heads disagreeing with her. "Mai would probably agree with me!"

Sora gave Aria a confused look. "Does Mai know Captain Kurotsuchi?"

"You know Mai's friend Mayuri?" Sayama asked Sora and she nodded.

"Captain Kurotsuchi is Mai's Mayuri. They knew each other growing up in the Rukongai," explained Aria.

"Well well, I never saw you as one to gossip Lieutenant Kuchiki!" called out a voice a few feet away from the three women.

"Ah, Nanao, please, there is no need for formality we're friends, call me Sayama," replied the noble, smiling when she saw who it was talking to her.

"Sorry Lieu – Sayama, mind if we join you?" asked the Lieutenant of the Eighth Division, moving to the side to reveal two other women behind her – Lieutenants Isane Kotetso and Nemu Kurotsuchi.

All three women nodded and the two non Lieutenants greeted their vice captains in union.

"Lieutenant Kotetso,"

"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi,"

The three vice captains took a seat around the table. Isane blushed at Sora and corrected her. "I-it's okay, Sora, please call me Isane when we are both off duty."

"Same, for you Miss. Nakagin, please call me Nemu," added the twelfth division lieutenant.

"Then if you don't mind, Nemu, I would like you to call me Aria."

"Now, what were you three talking about before we interrupted, if you don't mind me asking," questioned Nanao looking at Sayama who glanced at Aria.

"We were discussing our friend Mai, and how she knew Captain Kurotsuchi a long time ago," explained Aria.

Nanao and Isane exchanged looks of surprise as Nemu just looked at the table trying to remember something. "Is her given name Mayan?"

"Uh… yes."

The twelfth Lieutenant nodded her head and gave a small smile. "Her letters always put father in a better mood, but since she was accepted into the Gotei thirteen they haven't spoken so he's been in a foul mood, but I'm sure you knew that after you were called into his office yesterday."

The four women stared at the two Squad Twelve members as Aria flushed and glared at Nemu.

"You were called into your Captains office? And you didn't tell us?" gasped Saya. "Why?"

"Just to yell at me for crashing the Captain's meeting," Aria answered rolling her eyes, trying to hide the fact she was lying. Nemu looked as if she was about to say something but decided against it when she saw Aria was trying hard to hide the truth from her best friends.

"I must say, you and that other woman made my day yesterday. Those meetings are always so boring I'm sure half of us were about to fall asleep before that Mai girl started yelling," giggled Isane.

"You crashed a Captain's meeting?" Sora whispered to Aria as the others laughed recalling the events of the meeting.

"Drop it!" was the woman's growled response.

Nanao glared at Isane. "I like those meetings; it makes me feel important to know what's going on in a Captain's meeting. We learn interesting things."

"I can imagine," Aria commented sarcastically.

"Speaking of Captains, how are yours and Captain Kyoraku's relationship going?" question Isane smirking at the librarian like Lieutenant.

Nanao blushed uncontrollably from both anger and embarrassment. "There is nothing going on between me and that perverted man!"

"But you want there to be!" stated Nemu.

Nanao glared at Nemu before thinking of something and smirking right back at Isane. "What about you and a certain former Division Nine Lieutenant now Captain? When are you going to tell him you like him?"

Isane was embarrassed, her eyes were wide and her face was flushed as she tried denying everything. The rest of the girls at the table chuckled before Nanao turned back to the others. "What about you guys? Do you have any men in your lives?"

"Eh, Sora has some asshole boyfriend and that's about it for us. They only male in my life at the moment would be Captain Kurotsuchi and that's not really saying anything, as for Sayama I have no idea," replied Aria looking over at the noble, but Sayama just blushed and looked away. "What about you Nemu? Have your eyes set out for any hunks? There's always Akon, he's pretty cute, even with those horns on his head."

Nanao and Isane (after getting over her embarrassment) shared a knowing look before looking at Nemu. "Oh no, Akon's like an older brother to Nemu, but there is someone," answered Nanao.

"Possibly a certain someone who happens to be the new Captain of Squad five? A certain Renji Abarai," chuckled Isane. Nemu blushed a bright red that could rival the colour of the said man's hair, but she didn't deny anything. The girls' lunch continued with joking and teasing and soon they all found they were become close with one another.

************
Mai & Yachiru
************

The trip between the two worlds was quick, a minute at the most. Mai and Yachiru stepped through the gates of the Senkaimon to reveal they had arrived in a quite boring part of town and had no idea where to go.

"Great, now how are we supposed to find this strawberry guy along with all the other soul reapers?" growled Mai looking at their surroundings.

"We could ask that Urahara person…" suggested the pink haired woman.

"Yea! That's a wonderful idea," exclaimed Mai sarcastically. "If only we knew where to find him to!"

"Well well, who do we have here," came a voice from behind the two females. The woman turned around to see a man dressed in forest green with a haori that looked similar to that of ones the Captains of the Soul Society wore and a white and green striped hat. The man held a cane in one hand and a fan in the other cover one half is face while his hat hid the other.

"What?!" snapped Mai getting annoyed with the man just by looking at him.

"May I ask who you are?" replied the Man.

Mai glared at the man not trusting him for a second. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to ask someone who they are without introducing yourself?"

"Ah, where are my manners? I am Kisuke Urahara!" chuckled the man from behind the fan. "And this is my lovely store." With a wave of his hand the fan snapped shut and he stepped aside to show a small run down looking building.

"Looks like a piece of crap to me," mumbled Mai glaring at the man before her as Yachiru just stood to the side and smiled.

"Still no manners I see, Mayan Takahashi," came another male voice hiding behind the man in green. Although when the girls tried to look to see who it was there was no one there. "Ahem" the voice cleared its throat gaining attention. "Down here."

The two females of the Eleventh Division looked down and gasped. "Awe a talking Kitty! I want one," cried Yachiru with excitement as she patted the cat on the head.

Mai crouched down and stared at the feline in front of her, thinking for a moment before smirking. "I've always wondered why your voice was masculine when you're a cat, Yoruichi."

"Now's not the time to discuss the matter, why are you and," the feline paused for a moment looking at Yachiru, both Yoruichi and Kisuke widened their eyes in surprise. "…Lieutenant Kusajishi here? Should we expect to see Captain Zaraki as well?" questioned Yoruichi glaring at the woman.

"No, Captain Zaraki nor anyone else will be coming. We're here on direct orders from Captain General Yamamoto to come to Karakura Town to escort the Shinigami here with Captain Hitsugaya back to the Soul Society," replied Yachiru giving the cat an indifferent look. "I thought Yoruichi was a woman with purple hair."

"She is," Mai whispered back to the pink haired girl as Kisuke and Yoruichi analyzed what the Lieutenant had said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss. Takahashi," said the former Captain after a few moments.

"Hmph. Can you tell me if any of the Shinigami are here?" asked Mai wincing as Kisuke addressed her formally.

"Ah, I'm sorry they're not, I believe at Ichigo's house."

"Strawberry house?" said Mai generally confused.

Yachiru face palmed herself as the black feline corrected Mai. "Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Oh… fun," smirked the older of the two women. "Care to explain where that is?"

*************
Kurosaki House
*************

The day had gone by rather slow so far in Isshin's mind. Days always seemed longer when the Clinic was closed for a holiday and there was nothing to do around the house for Yuzu had taken care of it all. Every bed and room had already been cleaned top to bottom for the next day and all files and records were returned for their rightful place.

Another thing the Soul Reaper father thought was something was going to happen that day, something other than one of his sons 'secret' meetings in his room with the other Shinigami. Heck! Isshin had always known about his son, Ichigo's association with the Soul Society ever since Rukia first transferred her powers to him when the hollow put a hole through their house. He may act it sometimes – or most of the time – but Isshin wasn't stupid or naïve, even after being away from the Soul Society for awhile he could still sense others Spiritual Pressure, which is how he was able to defeat the Arrancar the Grand Fisher.

As of that moment Isshin was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper while one of his twin daughters prepared dinner and the other watching a soccer game on TV. Everything was normal until the doorbell rang. Getting up from the couch, Karin called out. "I'll get it," and sauntered to the door.

"Um… hello," mumbled Karin as she opened the door to reveal two women in Soul Reaper uniforms, one who looked about twenty with long black hair and the other about fifteen with hair the colour of Sakura blossoms. "You must be here to see my brother Ichigo, although normally your type sneaks in through his window or walk right in."

The older of the two glared at the little girl. "My type? What the hell do you mean my ty –,"

"Karin who's at the door?" questioned Isshin walking towards the sound of his daughter talking to someone.

"No one."

"Then why are you standing here with it open for no reason? Are you going insane?" he questioned staring through the two women as if they weren't there but not before making eye contact with one of them.

"Shut up, goat face!" replied Karin going to slam the door closed but it was caught by the black haired woman.

"Isshin, maybe work on your acting a little, I know you can see me," started the Mai. "You know I thought the name Kurosaki was familiar, but it didn't register until now that you were this 'Ichigo's' father. No wonder he has such a large amount spiritual energy and was able to become a Soul Reaper while still alive."

Isshin froze in the middle of turning around. Slowly looking back, not caring if his daughter knew, he saw the female who spoke smirk and walked into the house dragging along her fascinated friend.

"How can I help you Miss. Shinigami?" questioned Isshin as he followed the women to the kitchen.

"It seems you being able to see us, comes to a surprise to your daughters," stated Mai. "Maybe you should start by explain to them, Isshin."

"Uh…" Isshin was taken aback by the woman's comment and straight forwardness. Taking what she said into consideration. "Alright, I guess this was going to happen sooner or later."

Karin and Yuzu, who had been making dinner at the time, stared at the scene in front of them in confusion and curiosity, but before their father could start his explanation the woman interrupted him.

"This might be easier if your son was here as well."

"Ichigo isn't home yet," Yuzu spoke up, but her father ignored her as he nodded to the female soul reaper and called up the stairs.

"Ichigo, I need you to come down here. And bring the Shinigami hiding in your room as well."

The room was silent as everyone waited for the carrot top to make an appearance along with the other Shinigami. The pink haired woman fidgeted with the salt and pepper shaker when after what seemed like hours, Ichigo and his 'friends' came down stairs equally confused as the twins. Upon seeing the two women sitting at his table Ichigo yelled. "Who the hell are you? And why the hell are you in my house?"

"Ichigo…"

"Isshin, its fine," said one of the women raising a hand. "I am Mai Takahashi, unseated officer of the Eleventh Division."

The people who had come down the stairs, besides Toshiro and Renji were in shock. A woman being accepted into the Eleventh Division was unheard of; Yachiru was an exception only because her 'father' was the Captain.

"What?" cried the bald headed man as the man with shoulder length hair stared at the woman.

"Far too beautiful… and familiar."

"Hiya Baldy! Feather head!"

"I am not bald! And who the hell are you!"

Yachiru pouted at the man confused as to why he didn't recognize her, but shrugged it off going to say something but was interrupted.

"Should you really be talking to the Lieutenant of the Eleventh Division like that?"

"Eleventh…. Division?" mumbled the hairless man extremely confused.

Mai rolled her eyes dramatically. "That's what I said."

"That would mean she'd have to be Yachiru," whispered the vain man.

Suddenly the busty strawberry blonde giggled at the people's bickering. "I forgot! Ikkaku and Yumichika weren't in the Soul Society after the experiment."Everyone in the room shot a questioning look at the woman known as Rangiku Matsumoto.

Mai gasped to herself. Yumichika? Her Yumichika! He was standing in the same room and she hadn't even recognized him and nor he her.

"What are you talking about Rangiku? I don't care about some experiment that Kurotsuchi freak did, I want to know who the hell this woman is, proclaiming herself as the Lieutenant of Squad Eleven!" growled the man named Ikkaku.

"She is the Lieutenant of Squad Eleven, for she is Yachiru Kusajishi!"

"What?" screamed Ikkaku. "Care to explain?"

"Well you said you didn't care about the experiment," pouted Rangiku.

Mai groaned and rolled her eyes. "There's no time to discuss Yachiru's sudden transformation right now. Lieutenant Kusajishi and I are her to escort all your asses back to the Soul Society."

"You can't just go around saying stuff like that in front of random people who can see you!" Ichigo whispered unsuccessfully in Mai's ear.

"Ichigo…" began Isshin but was interrupted yet again by Mai.

AN: Well… another chapter finished =D! I don't know about you… but this chapter was rather boring for me… must say the best part was the one with Aria and the others. The chapter wasn't actually suppose to end there but I decided it should =)because I am a horrible person!
Again sorry for if you found it boring! But at least you got some hints at other pairings that will be in this story!!

I hope you enjoy this story so far! And I would enjoy some reviews =)!!!