Tairei9: I do not own bleach, I give full credit to its creator, and Kumiko what the heck are you doing here?

Kumiko: I was walking around.

Tairei9: I thought Kuchiki Taichou told you to go lie down, rest, leave the bount to the others.

Kumiko: Um……… dang her for remembering what she wrote.

Tairei9: KUC-!!!

Kumiko: Sorry about that reader. But I had to tie her to the chair and cover her mouth to keep her from calling for Kuchiki-sama. Now I must plan my escape!

Chapter twenty four.

Kumiko tried to feel for Byakuya's reiatsu, hoping he wasn't any where near her.

"Good he is far away from here," thought Kumiko. It had been a while now and in that short time the bount had successfully breached the wall. She had been told to stay here and rest, but there were so many questions that were left unanswered. And they wouldn't be answered unless she asked. She stood up and walked over to the black kimono draped over the chair. She slipped it on and checked her pockets. Music box, check. Bandages, check. Note, oops I need to put that on the bed! Kumiko walked over to the futon and put the little piece of paper on the bed. As she did, she thought of how nice Byakuya was being lately.

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"What are you doing up?"

Kumiko looked up and saw Byakuya looming over her.

"Watching the clouds," she said innocently. He also looked up at the sky watching the clouds drift by. To him they just looked like clouds. Nothing more. But she didn't seem to think so. There was a long lengthy silence.

"Does it ever rain here?" Kumiko suddenly asked. Byakuya stared at her surprised but did not show it.

"Yes."

"Does it snow?"

"Yes."

"… Do the leaves change color?"

"Yes they do. The next thing I guess you'll be asking is if we have thunderstorm."

Kumiko laughed, almost causing him to smile. Her smile looks like Hisana's.

"Do you?"

Byakuya looked down at the child startled. She was looking up at him, wide eyed. He had been joking around, but she really wanted to know.

"Yes, once in a while," he said, "Why are you asking all this?"

"Cause every time I come here the weather seems the same. Nothing seems to change," she said, thoughtfully.

"Kumiko see that tree there."

"Yeah?"

"In spring, blossoms bloom."

"Oh! What kind?"

"Plum."

Kumiko seemed happy by this new piece of information, but Byakuya didn't notice. He seemed caught up in something.

"My wife loved it when it was in bloom," Byakuya said, suddenly.

"You're… wife?"

"Yes, her name was Hisana," Byakuya sighed, "She died fifty years ago."

"Oh." There was a silence. "What was she like?"

Byakuya looked down into the child's eyes. There were full of keen wonder and also… unsettled. Sort of like when someone wanted to know something but know that they shouldn't.

"She… was sweet, stubborn in some ways, and beautiful. Both inside and out," Byakuya said, staring back at the tree. There was an awkward silence.

Kumiko then yawned and rubbed her eyes. She was about to go back to her room to sleep when Byakuya said.

"Now I have a question."

"What?"

"…"

"What is it?"

"What in the world is soccer?"

-------

He had definitely been a good host. She sighed and walked over to the door way. She peeked out and looked both ways. Nobody was there.

"Okay Naiyami, how far can I flash step while still hiding my reiatsu?" Kumiko thought.

"Please don't do this. Please listen to me for once!!"

"Sorry, but I have to know," Kumiko thought, sadly. She truly was torn in staying here and going. "How far can I go?"

"About two miles."

"Good enough, time to go." Kumiko walked out onto the walk way and flash stepped away. She appeared far away and looked around.

"So how are you going to find Kariya?"

"……Ummm……"

"Kumiko!! Please tell me you didn't do this without having a plan!?"

"Don't worry; I'm not going to find him. He is going to find me!"

"Kumiko you are truly strange in every way."

"I will take that as a compliment!"

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"I see," Yamamoto said, stroking his beard, "That is very interesting. Where is the child now?"

"At the Kuchiki estate," Byakuya said, firmly.

"Or she should be…"

"Shunsui, what are-?" Yamamoto asked.

"The child seems to have snuck away," Shunsui said coming out of the shadows.

"You saw this?"

"Yeah…"

"Then why didn't you stop her," Yamamoto said, coldly.

"Because she had something she needed to find something out. It seems to me that Kariya knows quite a bit about the child," Shunsui said, walking towards them, "He probably got the information out of Kurotsuchi's department."

"I see," Yamamoto said, "Both of you find this child. Don't let her fall into his hands. This has gotten way too serious."

"Right," Shunsui said, adjusting his hat. Byakuya just nodded and they both disappeared.

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Kumiko waited up at the execution grounds. She was on her guard, looking around warily. There was a small breeze blowing and then it stopped.

"So you came after all."

Kumiko turned around and saw Kariya standing there.

"How did you know about my zanpakutou?" Kumiko asked immediately.

"My, my, you cut quickly to the chase don't you," Kariya said, smiling, "Well; I let you in on a little secret. I have been watching you."

"Eh? But that would mean-!!"

"Yes I have been watching you for forty-five years. I have pried information about you everywhere I could. You have a very interesting power that could help us bount."

"Why would you expect me to help you?" Kumiko asked, warily.

"Because you and we bounts are alike," Kariya said simply.

"Oh really," Kumiko said, "How?"

"You were abandoned, were you not? You were left alone and faced the fate of never truly aging. You were forced to survive while keeping a low profile; you got sick and could have no one come to your aid, unless they were like you. And even when they were you had to be cautious. Or you would die. Join us and you will be with people who understand what it is like. I know about your power, you in general, …… your parents," Kumiko just stared at him, her face impassive.
"You know what? I was going to end up fighting with you, but you just answered everything right then and there. Not only that, I've changed my mind," Kumiko said, walking away.

"Where are you going?" Kariya asked skeptically.

She turned around and said.

"I'm going to get a cookie."

Kumiko flash stepped away and he stared at where she was incredulously.

"You have got to be kidding me."

Byakuya watched Kariya flash step away. He stood there for a moment and then flash stepped away as well.

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Kumiko sat on the top of the wall, trying to figure out what to do next.

"I can not believe you didn't think about this."

"Shush Naiyami, I am trying to think." Kumiko pondered, irritated. She was pondering so hard she didn't feel the person sneaking up on her.

"Got yah!!" Ichigo said swooping her up. Kumiko kicked him hard in the stomach, not realizing who he was but luckily didn't have the effect she thought it would.

"My, you have got a strong kick," Ichigo said, smirking.

"Aha! Sorry Ichi-ni-san," she said innocently.

"Right lets go," Ichigo said, allowing her onto his back. She did so ever so happily; glad he was not questioning why she was not at the Kuchiki estate.

"Ichi-ni-san?"

"Yeah?"

"I want a cookie!"

Tairei9:MHHHMMMMHHMMH!

Byakuya: What the-?"

Tairei9: 'Gasp!' Thank you! That evil little-!!"

Byakuya: Why were you tied up?

Tairei9: I caught her leaving and she tied me up to keep me from getting you all.

Byakuya: ……

Tairei9: Alright, while I go get a little someone, review!!