Kumiko: Hello readers. Tairei9 has a cold and I am doing the announcement thingy.
Byakuya: Once again you use that ridiculous term.
Kumiko: Aha! Kuchiki Taichou-san! What are you doing here?
Byakuya: … We are on high alert remember?
Kumiko: Oh yeah… Well Tairei9 does not own bleach; she gives full credit to the creators. Good now that that is done and over with, to the spice cookies!!
Byakuya: you mean biscuit. 'Sigh' she ran off already. She truly does have a short attention span.
Chapter twenty one.
"I have verified that ryoka had snuck in," Yamamoto said to the captains. "Here is what we know: Each squad will follow the former number two emergency formation. In viewing the gravity of the situation, 10th squad Hitsugaya Toushirou will be put in charge of capturing ryoka."
"Hai, but…"
"The information has come quite complex. There is also the matter of the information leak from the Office of Technological Development. The correct information must be screened out and relayed to each squad."
"Hai," Hitsugaya said.
"One other thing I shall say," Yamamoto paused, for either thinking about what to say or try for a dramatic effect.
"If you cross anyone that is believed to be ryoka, kill them with out hesitation," Yamamoto finally said.
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Kariya made the shinigami at his feet crash through the wall and through the side of the building. Koga called Daruku back and she returned in a flash.
"How is it?" Kariya asked.
"It feels good. There is definitely infinite amount of high spirit particles here," Koga said.
"Let's go," Kariya said, walking away.
"If you do not mind me saying Kariya-sama, but you seem to have quite an interest in that child," Koga said as they walked farther away from the scene.
"Child? I'm sorry we are much older than many of our enemies you will have to be more specific," Kariya said in his usual tone.
"That shinigami child. The one with the whip."
"Ah, Kumiko-chan!! Yes well she is very, very intriguing," Kariya said.
"How so?"
"Let us just say that I know her better than she knows."
Koga frowned. There was definitely something he wasn't telling him.
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Kumiko felt the breeze as she looked around on Ichigo's shoulder. They were silent for a while.
"So we're back here again, huh?" Ichigo said.
"Yeah," Rukia said, softly.
"Did you feel that reiatsu just now?" Ichigo asked.
"It seems like some shinigami were fighting bounts."
"But you didn't feel any bount reiatsu."
"So it's just like the real world here as well," Rukia sighed.
"I want a cookie," Kumiko said, thoughtfully. Rukia and Ichigo sweat dropped and looked at her.
"How can you think of food in such a state of panic," Yoruichi said sliding into view plucking Kumiko off of Ichigo's shoulders, "And how can you two just stand around being thoughtful."
"Yeah, it's disgusting watching you two standing side by side. You're not even a couple!" Rinrin said, crossing her arms. She was in a stuffed animal form of a bird in a dress.
"What are you trying to say Rinrin?" Rukia said, annoyed.
"It gross. Bleck!!"
"Now, Rinrin, we are suppose to be fighting bount not each other," Cloud said in his stuffed animal form.
"Yeah," said Nova, who is also in a stuffed animal body.
"I know that!!" Rinrin said arms crossed.
"Kurosaki-kun!! Yoruichi-san!! It's terrible!!" Orihime said shouting as she, Chad, and Ishida ran towards them, "She moved!!"
Yoruichi held Kumiko on her hip as Yoruichi shut her eyes, "That Kuukaku. She always likes to move."
"Do you have any idea where she moved to?" Ichigo asked Yoruichi.
"Can we check out a few places where I think she might be?" Yoruichi said, beginning to walk away anyway.
They walked around until the night where they came upon a swap where the obvious house of Kuukaku stood. There was a yelp of pain coming from inside.
"That voice!" Ichigo exclaimed and they rushed inside.
They all stood in the room sweat dropped as they watched Kuukaku grind her foot on Ganju's head.
"You idiot!!!"
"Really- nee-chan I- oww!!!"
"Yoruichi told me that they had a mysterious problem down in the real world so I thought I would help by sending you down there. But what do you do? You become so preoccupied with your job at the convenience store that you forgot why you went in the first place!! It's a disgrace!!" She hollered picking him up by his shirt and throwing him across the room.
"You never change do you?" Yoruichi said, adjusting Kumiko on her hip.
"Sorry he was so useless," Kuukaku said, ticked off.
"Hey Kuukaku-san, how do you know about convenience stores?" Ichigo asked curiously.
Unfortunately she took this the wrong way.
"Are you trying to make fun of me?!" she said fuming.
"No-no!" he said shocked.
"I'm in a very bad mood right now!!" She threw Ichigo across the room and he landed next to Ganju.
"Ichigo, don't say unnecessary things like that!" he whispered.
"What did I say?!" Ichigo asked, shocked.
"I'm gonna punch some guts into you BOTH!!!" The rest of the group watched Kuukaku chase them around. Kumiko would have tried to stop her from hurting Ichigo but knew not to mess with her.
"Kuukaku, they say the mouth is the root of all misfortune," Yoruichi sighed.
A little while later everyone had settled down, Kuukaku gave Kumiko a cookie to fill her a little bit.
"My, my. I haven't seen you in a while. The last time I really saw you was forty years ago," Kuukaku said, rubbing the top of Kumiko's head. She walked over and sat in her seat and listen to Yoruichi's discussion.
"I see. Well Ganju, led them to the dinning room to get something to eat. My house is small but use it for whatever," Kuukaku said, smirking. Everyone got up and followed Ganju.
"Yoruichi, I need to talk to you for a moment," Kuukaku said, seriously. Yoruichi put Kumiko and said gentle, "You go ahead and eat. I'll catch up in a moment."
When everyone left Kuukaku said, "My, my she's gotten cute. She's only grown like a foot since I saw her and her hair is down to her shoulders now. Last time I saw her she still wore it in those silly little pigtails."
"Yeah, she still is easily distracted though. Polite, but she still can't stay still."
"She's still young," Kuukaku said then said lowly, "Does she know?"
Yoruichi sighed, "I don't know what she knows anymore. If I tell her and she doesn't know, that will blow up in my face. And if she does, she will still be mad. I lose either way. Besides, she not ready for the pressure of a noble life. She's like you and me. The happy wanderer. If she does go back, look what she is going to have for a parent. She'll be crushed within a day. God I wish it was easier to be a young noble girl. I'll tell her when she's ready to handle it."
"Well you may have less time then you think," Kuukaku said, bitterly, "I have a few little birdies on the inside that have given me a warning. Yamamoto, Shunsui, Ukitake, and Byakuya have been looking into it."
Yoruichi paled.
"Man I thought with this bount issue and the Aizen mess we would have more time. How much do they know?"
"I'm not entirely sure this is correct but they say that they have already got a person to interrogate and knowing them-."
"They'll hit it right on the mark," Yoruichi said kind of sadly, "Damn, that could leave it to be anytime, anywhere."
"I know that you will be okay, but what about Ichigo? I know he's in it. Do you realize how dead he'll be?"
"If thinks go okay, they won't know he ever knew."
"If they don't?" Kuukaku asked.
"… I'll think of something."
"You know I think you are attached to her."
"… I know I'm attached to her. Giving her away is going to kill me."
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Ichigo stroked Kumiko's hair and sighed.
"She is peaceful when she is sleeping, isn't she?"
Ichigo's head shot up and he saw Yoruichi closing the door.
"Yoruichi-san," he whispered softly. Yoruichi came over and sat by him.
"I use to come in and watch her sleep too," Yoruichi said, softly smiling only for it to disappear a moment later.
"Listen Ichigo. I've found out something about Kumiko. We may not have that much time left," she started off hesitatively, "They could find out any day, anytime. Are you sure you want to do this. Cause you can back out and stay out of this whole mess."
Ichigo shook his head and said, "Yoruichi even if I back out of it now they will come and question me. I will still be in deep trouble. But no, I'm not backing out. Hopefully with the bount here, they will be too preoccupied."
"I hope so," Yoruichi said and then sighed, "You know, I tried preparing her for the life she would have to live. But obviously it was too much for her."
"That or you just weren't much like a parent when you did it," Ichigo said, recalling what Kumiko said.
"True," Yoruichi sighed, "Let's just prepare for the worst."
"Yeah."
They talked for a little while, unaware that someone was listening.
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"From here on out we go our separate ways," Rukia said, looking at them all Kumiko looked around and saw a black butterfly.
"Ohhh, Ichi-ni-san!!" Kumiko said, happily pointing up at the butterfly. "Look, look!!"
Everyone looked and saw the black butterfly. It fluttered onto Rukia's finger and she seemed to be listening intently.
"What is it?" Ichigo asked.
"It's from Ukitake Taichou," Rukia said the butterfly fluttering away, "He wants me back and wants me to bring Kumiko with me."
"Why," Ichigo asked a little on the sharp side.
"They say they want her to stay out of this. So they want her in Seireitei," Rukia said, taking Kumiko's hand. Ichigo still looked reluctant.
"Be careful, okay?" Ichigo said finally.
"Yeah," Rukia said, smiling.
"ARG!! Everyone looked down at Rinrin, who was charging away.
"There is not way I will lose to Rukia!! NO WAY!!" She flew away angry.
"What's up with her?" Ichigo asked.
"This is what we call jealousy," Cloud said.
"Well, come Kumiko. You need to come with me."
"Okay!! Bye!!" she waved as she and Rukia walked away.
"Be good, Kumiko!!" Ichigo shouted.
"I will!!"
They walk into Rukongai and Kumiko jumped along the road. Rukia watched her with a smile on her face. She sometimes played some little thing to keep her entertained. She did have to stop her from spinning on the road.
"Rukongai is dusty as usual," Rukia said watching Kumiko closely. They walked along further and the streets slowly became deserted. The wind picked up, blowing dust in there faces. They coughed and looked up to see a figure. The dust cleared to reveal a woman with long dark green hair. The woman stared at them and said, "Yo."
Kumiko: That's it. Read and review.
Byakuya: Why do you say read and review? They have already read it.
Kumiko: … I don't know.
