Chapter 7! Hope you like it! Enough said, enjoy!

World of the living

Ichigo stepped out of the senkaimon and into the world of the living for the first time since he'd decided to become a full time Shinigami. He took in the familiar river bank and breathed in the air, it was quite nostalgic. His two partners for this mission stepped out behind him.

"Right then, let's quickly as possible. Remember that we don't know if the enemy has infiltrated this world yet so be on your toes" warned Toshiro Hitsugaya. His lieutenant however wasn't listening to him as was happily bouncing around.

"Shopping! Shopping! SHOPPING!" she yelled, much to the annoyance of her captain who sighed deeply.

"RANGIKU!" he shouted, getting ready to grab his annoying subordinate. Suddenly they all felt an unfamiliar presence, all hands went to the hilt of their zanpakuto's. A soul reaper flash-stepped in front of the group. He was on one knee and had his head bowed.

"Captains, lieutenant, I am ninth seat of squad 13 Haro Hiroki and the assigned soul reaper for this town. I have been informed of your mission and have been ordered to escort you to your destination."

Toshiro rolled his eyes "Well, you're one man too short, we're going to two different places and we intended to split up in order to get the mission done faster"

"Yes, we are one man short, lucky that you've got me then" A lean figure with long black hair appeared beside the ninth seat. She was dressed a standard sleeveless shihakusho which had a purple obi sash instead of the customary white one, a zanpakuto with the same coloured sheath and hilt wrapping was tucked through it. Ichigo looked at her in amazement.

"T-T-Tatsuki! Is that you?" Ichigo stammered in surprise, his eyes wide with shock.

"Sup Ichigo, long time no see eh?" Tatsuki answered.

"But you're not… I mean how can you be…" he struggled to ask a full question but his calling out of her name allowed Toshiro and Rangiku relax slightly.

"Well, I heard what a big shot you were as a soul reaper and decided to show you up at this as well as Karate" she smiled at his reaction "Let's get going then, plans have changed slightly, as soon as we heard the news that you were coming to pick your family up, Kisuke- great guy by the way, and don't even get me started on Yoruichi- collected them, put them all in spirit form and had them as guests at his shop. He told me to tell you that… oh wait, here comes his message now!"

Ichigo ducked and a cannonball shot passed his head then exploded on the ground. Red ink that looked like blood splattered everywhere, as the smoke from the impact cleared Ichigo saw a message had formed out of the ink.

Ichigo, or Captain Kurosaki I should say and whoever came with him

(Unlucky for being stuck with him by the way),

I have your family with me all in spirit form, the

Senkaimon will be ready to use tomorrow morning, so why don't you come

and spend the night at my shop!

Kisuke

"Jesus, I hate his way of sending messages!" exclaimed Ichigo "It's just idiotic and immature!" He rubbed his head where he was sure that the cannonball grazed his head.

"Wait, there's more!" Rangiku called over to Ichigo

P.S. You know you love this way of messaging!

Ichigo sighed and shook his head. He made to walk away towards Kisuke's shop.

"There's even more" Rangiku called again

P.P.S. It's not immature or idiotic if that's what you're thinking,

It's actually a very sophisticated system

You just don't have a sense of humour or style like I do

Kisuke

Ichigo sighed deeply

"Let's just go before he decides to send another one of those" he said to his team mates before flash-stepping off towards Urahara's shop.

Urahara Shop

The five soul reapers came to a stop at the front of the shop that had been the beginning of many of Ichigos journeys. It was pretty much the same as it always had been but much quieter, the air had a strange feel to it, almost as if it was reacting to them being there.

"Permission to take my leave captains, I must return to my duties, substitute soul reaper Arisawa will take it from here" the ninth seat bowed and disappeared at Toshiro's nod. Toshiro moved his hand through the air, noticing the difference and weirdness to it, he frowned and made to make an incantation.

"That won't be necessary Captain Hitsugaya, the spell won't do you any harm. It is just a simple detection spell of my own design, it never hurts to be careful in these times, especially now with different soul reapers now" a grey eyed, sandy haired man stepped out from the shop, his green and white hat on his head as always. However he was in a Shihakusho with his green coat thrown over the top, it was unusual to see him in that. It meant that he too was in his spirt form.

"Kisuke Urahara, judging from your appearance I assume you already know that we are not just here for the Kurosaki family but you also" Kisuke started to nod before being knocked forwards from behind.

"And me as well I hope!" A slender purple haired woman jumped from behind Kisuke and smiled dazzlingly at Ichigo before turning her attention to Toshiro.

"Yes, and you Yoruichi Shihoin" Toshiro answered. Before he could say anymore there was a great cry from the shop.

"BIG BROTHER!" Yuzu literally flashed out of the shop and barreled into Ichigo, throwing her arms around her brother who she hadn't seen for a while. She too was in the traditional black kimono of the soul reaper and strangely already had a zanpakuto in her sash. New Shinigami were only ever given an Asauchi sword but Yuzu's seemed to be her own, it wasn't plain, it was more like the weapon of someone that had created their own zanpakuto. The sheath was a light pink colour and its hilt wrapping was red, it was quite short but was in proportion to her.

'It's not that surprising Ichigo, after all, you were never given an Asauchi sword'

'I know, but I thought that was because I took Rukia's powers'

'No, they already have the names of their zanpakuto's, I can sense the power running through those blades'

'They?'

Karin stepped out of the shop door, she seemed a bit weird, very quiet. Almost as if she was shy and that wasn't Karin. She walked up to Ichigo and gave him a once over, taking him in as well as her sister who had not let go of him. Her attention however was more on the short captain that was stood beside her brother. She hadn't seen him in such a long while.

'He's grown, and he has a different look in his eyes, older, more experienced.' She thought, while taking great pains to avoid making it look like she was looking at him. 'He looks good like that, I like it'

Karin too was in a Shinigami garb with a zanpakuto through a light blue obi at her waist. The weapon was straight and medium-length, the hilt guard was a simple square, the entirety of it, wrapping and sheath, was a fiery red. In contrast to the cool blue of Toshiro, they were pretty much opposites.

"AWWWW, HAS MY CAPTAIN GONE ALL SHY!?" Rangiku bounced around smiling at Karin. An annoyed look crossed her captain's face but she pretended to no see it, she threw her arms around both of the Kurosaki sisters, practically grappling Yuzu from Ichigo.

"It's going to be so much fun with you two around, I can take you to all the great places we have and we can go to the baths and do so much stuff and you can meet all the people that are Ichigo's friends!" she kept on babbling to the pair, not letting up for a moment, all the while ignoring the death stares that she was getting from both the captain of her squad and squad 9.

Ichigo didn't have much time to interject, not that he could have gotten a word in edgewise because he heard an all too familiar shout.

"ICHIGOOOOOOOO!" Ichigo's dad came flying down from the roof of the shop, his foot out in front of him in an attempt to kick his son. Ichigo sighed and stepped out of the way swiftly while holding out one of his arms, his hand in a fist. Isshin collided into his son's fist squarely with his face.

"IS THAT ANYWAY TO GREET YOUR SON AFTER NOT SEEING HIM FOR AN AGE! WHAT SORT OF FATHER ARE YOU?!" Isshin lay twitching on the ground, his nose flat against his face.

"MY SON, I HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO TEACH YOU" He shouted while jumping up and dancing around. He pretended not to see the looks he was receiving from Rangiku and Toshiro, when he finally stopped jumping and dancing like an idiot, with help from Karin and her fist that is, he turned to his old colleagues, the people that used to serve under him.

"Well, longtime no see! Toshiro! Rangiku! Or should I say Captain Hitsugaya now! HAHAHA! You haven't grown much!" He laughed while taking the both of them fully in. he too was in his Shinigami uniform, his captains haori over his shoulder, his zanpakuto hanging down, his left hand rested easily on its hilt.

"CAPTAIN!" Rangiku recovered first and launched herself at her former leader, throwing her arms around him. Isshin laughed and spun her around while Toshiro looked on, still astounded at the appearance of his old teacher. When Rangiku had finally let go of him she looked at Ichigo and the sisters.

"I can't believe that I didn't see it, they look so much like you now that I properly look!" She turned back to Toshiro "Isn't this so great, you like our old captain's daughter!"

"RANGIKU!" Toshiro bellowed while she hid behind Isshin.

"As fun as this is to watch, may I suggest that we take this inside my humble shop, we do not know what ears may be listening and what eyes may be watching" With that Kisuke swung his cane and walked back into his shop. All the others followed suit, the captains first.

When they had all settled down around the circular table silence settled in. This was a combination of very powerful soul reapers, four captain level Shinigami in one place in the world of the living was impressive, especially when it is taken into account the respective power of each of these soul reapers. They couldn't linger long.

"So, how much do you know Urahara?" Toshiro broke the silence and looked critically at the founder of the research and development sector of the Gotei 13. Kisuke smiled and laughed.

"I am just a humble shop owner, I know nothing my dear captain" he said, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Kisuke. Stop joking around!" a slender purple-haired woman walked into the room carrying a glass of milk. She slapped Kisuke on the back of his head and sat down next to him. Yoruichi was in her normal outfit, the orange in stark contrast to the others black and white.

"I was only having fun with them" he started to complain but she shot him a look that immediately shut him up. "Okay then, I don't know much but I do know that the soul society is going to be under attack by another soul world really soon, or so the head-captain fears anyway. This other world and another used to be connected to the world of the living and ours but were defeated in a long war, presumed destroyed, apparently they weren't and are now extremely strong. I'm wanted to probably establish a secret way into these worlds and find the one or ones that they have set up into this world and the soul society, also I'm probably wanted because of my sparkling personality." Yoruichi raised an eyebrow at his last comment but didn't say anything.

"Well, for a humble shop keeper you sure know a lot, care to tell me how you've got hold of all this information?" Toshiro questioned but didn't expect an answer, he didn't get one. Ichigo's patience had finally worn out, he turned to Tatsuki.

"So how is it you're a soul reaper? I mean, you're not a soul so there's only really one why you could be one and that's illegal" Tatsuki looked amused at Ichigo's sudden outburst. It was Kisuke that answered.

"Well, Captain Kurosaki, it was done for you however, as you know your new powers made it unsafe for you to be in this world so you were carted off to the soul society and made a captain however this place was then left without your protection and its status as a jureichi remains unchanged. It was decided that some extra protection was needed and so I was asked to find an appropriate person, Miss Tatsuki here, who could pretty much see souls already was a suitable candidate and also volunteered, she is being trained by myself and Yoruichi and has much promise. She even knows the name of her zanpakuto already!" Kisuke beamed at the new substitute soul reaper and she blushed slightly.

Yoruichi gulped her milk and slammed the cup down on the table.

"She's good alright, and her Hakuda* is top notch as well, I like her!" Tatsuki started to look uncomfortable with all the praise she was being given. Suddenly they all felt a presence, a very familiar one, that of a hollow. Tatsuki sighed and got up, slipping her zanpakuto through her obi.

"Well, no rest for the wicked, someone has to work around here" she raised a hand and disappeared. Ichigo looked uncomfortable and shifted restlessly.

"Don't worry Ichigo, she is actually really skilled, I'd put her at high seated level right now so a single hollow won't even present a warm up for her" Yoruichi didn't even look at Ichigo but everyone knew what he wanted to do. He sighed and leant back.

"I don't like it" he said simply

"Well you should get used to it" Kisuke stated "she's coming with us"

Both Ichigo and Toshiro looked up sharply, this wasn't in their orders.

"She's proven herself and you will need all the help you can get in this coming war Ichigo, that's why Miss Shihoin and Mr. Urahara are truly being called back, sure Urahara will be working on the way to get to the other worlds but they are both captain level Shinigami, you must see that" Isshin looked at his son, his face serious for once. Ichigo's scowl deepened.

"Yeah, I know, doesn't mean I have to like it though"

"OH COME ON ICHIGO! LIGHTEN UPPP! Rangiku bounced up and slung herself at him while laughing. "ONE MORE FEMALE SOUL REAPER WOULD BE GREAT!" Toshiro sighed at his lieutenants actions but didn't say anything. He'd been awfully quiet the entire time, like there was something, or someone that was distracting him. Rangiku noticed the lack of the usual shout and glanced at him, smirking as she did but he didn't notice.

"Anyway, captains, lieutenant. I'll let you catch up with everyone, there are some last things that must be done to prepare for our journey" Kisuke announced, bowing slightly to the company in the room, Yoruichi joined him leaving only the Kurosaki family and Toshiro and Rangiku.

They spoke late into the night, catching up on all that had happened in both worlds. Yuzu fell asleep next to her brother, unwilling to leave his side. He looked down at her and gave her one of his rare smiles.

"I'll take her to bed" he announced, scooping her up in his arms. Isshin and Rangiku got up as well.

"I'll come with you son, it is after all a fathers duty to look after his sweet and innocent little girls!"

"I'm quite tired and it takes a while to look as good as I do in the morning so I best turn in as well, goodnight captain, play nice!" Toshiro shot daggers at her but was soon left alone with Karin. She looked shyly at him, very unlike her.

"So, you got a scarf then" she said, stating the obvious.

"Yeah, I did" Came the reply. An awkward silence followed, neither of them sure what to say or do. "Well, I should go, even a mission as simple as this needs a report doing for it, and the soul society were expecting up back tonight so I'll have to talk to them, goodnight" he got up and walked out quickly.

"Goodnight..." Karin muttered to herself "damn it! Why do I get like this around him!" she punched the floor in frustration, unaware that Toshiro was doing the exact same thing.

Morning

All the assorted Shinigami stood around in the huge underground training are underneath Urahara's shop. Tatsuki and Rangiku seemed deep in conversation, it was an unusual pairing, one was a complete tomboy and the other was make-up and looks obsessed but they seemed to be getting along very well.

Karin and Toshiro were playing with a football together, admittedly Karin had to force him into playing but in the end he relented. It was a very face moving game that involved them using Hoho and their zanpakuto's. It seemed like a very even contest seeing as neither of them had released their weapons. It was amazing that Karin was able to keep up with a captain but she was doing it and doing it well.

The rest of the Kurosaki's were together, Isshin was chasing Ichigo around waving his sword saying that he needed to test his son's skills while Yuzu followed trying to get them to stop. Kisuke and Yoruichi looked on with a smile.

"I wonder how long this will last before it gets serious" Yoruichi looked at her old friend but he just shook his head. "Right then everyone! It's time!" he called out, activating the Senkaimon. Everyone stopped and appeared in front of the gate. It was time to leave the world of the living. When they would come back was anyone's guess. They all stepped through.

This was it. The start. The change.

* Hoho- The name of high speed fighting movements that involve using flash step.

Well that's the chapter, it's starting to build up now. I always loved the idea of Tatsuki being a Shinigami so I decided that I'd add it in JNext one out as soon as I can!