It's finally here! Its not all that great but it's here! I'm sorry it took me so long... I finally beat Zelda: A Link to the Past and it sidetracked me for a little bit (Ganon was a Biotch to beat!)

Anyways... enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't know if I need to state this again but Tite Kubo had the brilliant mind to create Bleach... not me!

THE START OF WHAT IS TO COME

"Pick what you like!" Rangiku announced excitedly as she pushed Xepher into an open clothing store. She looked around at the various dresses, kimono, and daily wear around her until she found her gaze drifting back to the lieutenant.

"Aren't we supposed to be training right now?"

"I promised I'd take you out shopping some time right? The first thing you pick out will be on me so don't sweat about spending your whole paycheck."

"I appreciate that, Rangiku… I really do… But won't we get in trouble if we get caught?"

"Noooo! C'mon have a little faith in me! You've been working your ass off since you've been with us! It's about time for you to enjoy yourself a little!"

It has already been six months since Xepher had joined Squad Ten and, so far, it wasn't all that she'd hoped it would be. Of course, she loved going on missions and she enjoys helping those in need but on top of doing training with Rangiku, it has been a workload. She found her anticipation for sleep growing more and more each day and, if it weren't for the lieutenant here, she probably would have overslept.

She sighed and looked around the store once more, picking through the pieces of clothing, "I don't think I'll ever wear any of this stuff anyways… I'm not into wearing dresses and I'm always going to be in uniform. There's no point of me getting anything here."

"If you don't find something you like then I will!"

This is where Xepher learned that you should not trust Rangiku when it comes to decency. When she gave up and left to the lieutenant she was told to wait outside the shop and wait for her until she came out with a surprise… And ooooohhhh boy… what a surprise it was.

"I'm not wearing that…"

"Of course you are! It would look so good on you! "

"There isn't any way in hell you can get me to go anywhere in that…"

"Well… Whether or not you like it or going to wear it or whatever, it's a gift from me to you. It would be rude if you didn't accept it."

She held up the "gift" she bought her. It was a tight, strapless, silver silk dress that looked as if it would barely cover her butt if she ever wore it.

"Just take it! When we get back to your room, you can try it on and show only me! Ok? I just want to see you in it!"

Xepher pinched the bridge of her nose, "You have got to be kidding me… FINE! As long I get to burn it afterwards!" she finally relented

"Eep! That's my girl!" the busty woman squealed and hugged the poor girl in a tight embrace, "Then let's gets going! I want to see what you looked like fully dresses up!"

"Wait… What?" Rangiku, then, proceeded to grab the Third Seat's wrist and drag her back towards the Seretei. However, before they really went anywhere, Xepher's eye caught something and she stopped. Slipping her wrist out of the lieutenant's grasp, she walked over to another shop. There sitting on the desk of the kiosk was a pretty diamond shaped necklace. The silver border encased a cyan colored gem in the middle of the pendent.

"Looks like you've finally found something you like! Too bad we don't have the money for it…" The older woman held up the price tag and Xepher choked.

"Can't you get the money back if you return the dress?"

"Not going to happen!"

"Rangiku! Pleeeeaaaaasssse?!"

"Nope! You had your chance, Girlie! Now let's get you all dressed up!" She concluded as she dragged the crying Xepher away from the booth.

They made it back to the barracks much to Xepher's displeasure and, with a sift movement of Rangiku's arm; she was flung into her room with the door locked shut behind the both of them. There was in evil glint in the lieutenant's eyes and she help up a box and smiled mischievously.

"I-is that make-up?" Xepher backed herself into the wall.

"Uh-huh! Now don't struggle or things won't be pretty… Literally."

The next couple of hours were really a struggle for Xepher. While Rangiku was having a blast and squealing in excitement every time she got some "progress" done. From trying to stretch the dress back down over her ass to not tearing up whenever Rangiku was applying eyeliner to her face, it was all new to her. She didn't think she'd ever done something like this even, if she could remember, when she was alive.

"For an old lady, you sure are really excited by all this aren't you?"

"Hey!" She jerked, causing the mascara she was trying to apply brush across Xepher's brow,"Damn it! Don't call me old!"

"Sorry…"

"Anyways… Yeah! Of course! It's been awhile since I got to do something like this for another girl! Ever since Momo decided to retire, I've been kind of lonely here. The other girl's in the squad aren't all too friendly with me…"

"I don't think they're friendly at all… I tried talking one down the hall from my room and she ended up snapping at me for leaving my clothes in the bathhouse."

"Oh! Saya! I'm going to get that girl! Nobody snaps at my friend and gets away with it!" She wiped off her mistake with the mascara and, with a big grin, turned Xepher around to look at the mirror, "Done."

The brunette looked at her unrecognizable self, giving it a disapproving look and scoffed, "I look like a hooker…"

"You do not!"

"Rangiku! Are you in here? Open up!" another voice spoke from the other side of the door.

Xepher froze and whispered, "S-shit! It's the Captain."

"Quit freaking out like you have something to hide." the lieutenant whispered back.

"I do have something to hide! I am going to die from embarrassment if anyone sees me like-"At that moment, the door slid open to reveal a slightly annoyed Captain and her eyes widened in surprise from the lack of warning.

"How much longer am I going to have to wait for-"Toshiro Hitsugaya stopped at the sight of Xepher and, while trying to keep a stoic expression on his face, stared, "What the hell are you wearing?"

"Doesn't she look pretty? It took awhile to do all this, so don't take it lightly!"

"I-is that Ryokutsuki?!" He gaped.

She buried her face in her hands, trying to hide it away from view as she blushed furiously. Rangiku flipped whenever she did this and tried prying her hands away from her make-up covered features.

"Oh you are ruining all of my hard work!"

"Never mind this for now, Rangiku! I need you to assemble the other member for another meeting in the main room now! Xepher-" he paused, "clean up and get back into uniform. I want you to help. This is an emergency!"

"Did something happen during the captain's meeting?" Xepher uncovered her face (which remained unblemished) to look at his now distressed one.

"I will address it later. I need you two to do what I've asked."

"Yes, Sir!" the two girls said in unison.

At that, Hitsugaya turned on his heel and nearly ran out of the room.

"I need all of you to shut up and listen to our Captain now!" Rangiku's voice rang throughout the room as the member of Squad Ten chatted among themselves. They did as they were told and looked ahead at their two commanding officers standing in front of the crowd. Xepher stood in the front row as representative of third seat watching as said Captain's growing annoyance was showing clearly on his face.

"That was hardly professional, Lieutenant…"

"But it works every time!"

He simply sighed then turned his attention back towards his Squad members, "I appreciate you all assembling at a last notice. As you may know, nearly seven hundred years ago, Sosuke Aizen was the former Captain of Squad ten. With Momo Hinamori as his lieutenant, he was well respected among his subordinates and the other Seretei Captains including myself. That's why it was to realize that he'd turn his sword against us. His hypnotic Shikai allowed him to hide his true self from everyone with the exception of his few supporters. He fled the Seretei after finally exposing himself and managed to take control of the Hollow Realm; Hueco Mundo. There, he built an army of manipulated hollows advanced by the powers of the stolen Hogyoku. These superior hollows have come to be known as Arrancar; they are ten times more powerful than a Vasto Lordes and should not be taken lightly for they can be even more powerful than a Captain. However, after many battles and suffering countless casualties, we had managed to defeat the Arrancar and put a stop to Aizen's demise thanks to our now Squad Five Captain. We had managed to detain and seal him away underneath the Seretei for a near eternity."

Xepher looked around at the other squad members and noticed that they were all just as confused as she was. Surely they weren't here just for a history lesson. Why was he bringing this up now? What the point in all of this?

As if he were hearing her thoughts, he continued, "I have come back from the last Captain's meeting with news that will change the way we will be doing our duties from now on, because soon… very soon… we will be under that same threat once more." He closed his eyes in deep thought then opened them back up again with more seriousness about the next statement he was going to make, "Traitor Sosuke Aizen has escaped the underground prison."

There was immediate panic among the squad members. Although it didn't show right then and there, Xepher could see the instant fear growing in everybody's eyes. Of course, she was scared as well. She could hardly believe that such a powerful enemy was now free to do them all in. Can he still use the powers of the Hogyoku? What were his plans now? Does he still intend on taking the royal throne?

"From now on, we will be working more with the other Squads in hopes of locating our lost prisoner. We will search all areas: Hueco Mundo, The Rukongai, and the world of the living. Right now I want you all to get ready for missions! Keep your Zanpactou on you at all times! You need to be prepared for battle at any moment knowing our enemy!"

"SIR!" every squad member responded in unison, saluting him.

"You are all dismissed! I want the top three seated members to stay behind for some additional instruction!"

Everyone moved to leave with the exception of Xepher and the two others on her left. When all the other members left the room, Hitsugaya and Mastumoto stepped closer to them so that they can clearly give them the instruction needed. The brunette hoped these extra instructions weren't going to be too extreme. Even though she was the Third Seat and held as much skill as Rangiku when it came to using her blade, she was still new to doing missions.

And as she had feared, they added the step up to doing just that.

"For the next days, each squad will be putting forth their men to be sorted into search parties. Seeing as you all are the top seated of this squad, you will be chosen to lead a group once in awhile. I want all of you to know that you will be working with not just our own members, but with Shinigami from other squads as well. If you do get chosen, remember that everyone's lives are on your shoulders. You are responsible for happens on the field whether it would be victory or death."

"Yes, Sir." They all answered. However, Xepher was a little hesitant.

"Third Seat Ryokutsuki." He specifically called, "You are still fairly new to outside work. In order for you to gain enough experience to lead your own patrol, I have asked you to be grouped with a party lead by a Captain."

"Thank you, Sir."

"With that being said, you are to report to Captain Kurosaki within the next couple of hours. Fourth and Fifth seat are going to report to the main courtyard for mission assignments."

They all nodded and at that they were dismissed.

END

Whoot! Sorry this took awhile to finish... this isn't even my best chapter but it introduced the beginning of the plot...

I Love Love Love Love Looooooovvvve reviews! please review... it makes me happy and motivates me to write more...