Me: Ok, just over two weeks since the last update.
Shiha: At least you're being quicker.
Me: Shut up!
Renji: How come you did update faster anyways?
Me: Decided since I don't get computer access often that I write the story out and then type it up. Wrote this chapter up in about four days.
Kaida: Really?
Me: Yeah. And it works!
Ichigo: That's good. Your readers won't hate you then for being a slow updater.
Me: -pulse vein-
Me: ICHIGO!
Me: -whacks his head-
Matsumoto: I can't wait for the next chapter!
Ikkaku: That's because of where we're going.
Matsumoto: So?
Ikkaku: ...forget it.
Kira: Great.
Hitsugaya: Hmph.
Kaida: What happened between you two?
Ichi and Rena: Us! We bothered them!
Everyone: ...
Mitsuki: ONTO THE CHAPTER!
Rukia: And please review when done.
Orihime: Ocean Wave Kira says that some of the characters, Bleach, hers, and reader submitted, may be OOC.
Kiyo: If you see you're OC, please say if they are in character. Changes will be made if they aren't.
Audience: What arc is this?
Me: Pre-arc to the Mountain Arc.
Audience: What?
Me: You'll see.
Urahara: Begin, eh?
Thanks and stuff since I'm too lazy to reply via PM...
Kira michi: Thanks for the story alert!
CrimsonSharpie: Arigatou for the review. Yeah...sorry I didn't update the next day. I'm too lazy to do that and my brain works kind of slow. x.x Sorry, but what she said will remain a secret for me and them to know. ;)
Uzumaki Saya: Gracias for the favorite story addition and review! I'll try to update as soon as I can!
purpleeninjaaa.: Arigatou for the author and story alert, favorite story and alert, and review. I'll to update as soon as I have the next chapter all typed up and edited for you and everyone else. Yes it would be cute but they are too much alike. Something like alikes repel or retract or something is probably applied to those two. Thanks a lot for enjoying it!
Kyoudai Rin: Thanks for adding this to your favorite stories, author, story alert, and author alert! Plus the review! I'll try to update soon!
Fawn4ever: Merci for the favorite story, Fawn4ever!
^3^ (): That will remain a secret for now. ;)
freezechain: Your welcome! And thanks for the review again! Sorry for the stomachache, though; wasn't supposed to happen. Reason I deleted it was because I just thought it would be pointless to keep a story that wasn't completed or going to updated soon remain up. I apologize if you didn't want it deleted.
Shiraihime Fuyuki: (This may be long since you wrote a lot, but it's ok.) Thanks once again for the review! I hope Kira wasn't being friendly. That would be really against her character. O.O Kaida and Rukia were talking and it somehow changed to bunnies. They're ok for her. Some random girl dragged Ichigo. She plays no part in the story; just an extra. That will remain a secret for now. ;) Good, I thought he was OOC for awhile. Best friend will remain unknown for about a few more chapters. I think you can since Kon is a stuff animal too. Izumi and Arashi are not my characters, actually. To find why I deleted it read my response to freezechain to understand why. And yes, the Mountain Arc will begin very soon. Last chapter was a filler and this chapter is kind of a pre-arc for the Mountain Arc. However I'm sorry to say what happens on Kira's birthday isn't until the end of this story. I'm sort of sticking to a time line that I already have plan. Gomen anyways.
LovelyIAmNot: Once again thanks for the review! For awhile I thought Izumi might have been out of character. Thanks for confirming it wasn't. Her back-story might be added since I like to have each character have some sort of background introduced but I where I don't know. Might not out soon though. Yeah, poor delivery boy. He hates stairs now by the way. ;p
Before you begin...
Note: Please excuse any kind of grammar, spelling, and/or other errors. Spell check is not always perfect and I may not catch everything in it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters except my version of the plot and characters. Any other characters that will appear that do not belong to Bleach or me belongs to their respectful owners.
-o-o- Chapter 8 -o-o-
Field Trip?
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'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
After Rukia's party two weeks flew by quickly for the group, making it the last Wednesday of the month, or January 28 to be exact. News of the apparently alive Ichi and Rena spread throughout the shinigamis stationed in Karakura Town and their human friends. To say that they were shock would be a huge understatement. Half the group felt like the world had gotten mad that now they had to deal with two Modsouls bunnies running around along with all the other stuff they already had enough with. Problem was that they couldn't just take it out then and destroy them since 1.) Kon was still around so why couldn't they; and 2.) Urahara didn't supply the Modsouls and the two weren't going to reveal who put them into the bunnies so the group had someone able to get their hands on shinigami goods. Isn't that just great?
So Ichi the orange bunny and Rena the red bunny was now staying with Rukia, who was staying in Ichigo's closet. Course they could stay there since they were both girls and not perverts like Kon. And that they could torture him to leave him alone from any girls that came into the room since they had the right too and nobody cared about him. Kon cried in a dark corner later after this decision was made. But he also usually got beatings from Ichigo every few days since he got blamed for wrecking or ruining something of his when he or Rukia wasn't in the room or at school. No one believed him that Ichi and Rena were the cause of it, since they acted like angels around people. Once again Kon cried in a dark corner every time.
Apart from that, not much happened over those two weeks. Just random Hollows attacking town, Mitsuki and Shiha pranking everyone every day, Hitsugaya and Kira arguing, people trying to not eat Orihime's cooking, Yumichika complaining about his beauty, and people ending up confused from having their memories wiped. All the same. Of course there were exceptions, like Rukia trying to thank her brother and her apparently best friend from the Soul Society she would not reveal unless she was sure she sent the bunnies. However she decided to wait and thank them in person instead of over a short video message, seeing as it would have other shinigami in the room as well during that time. And she didn't want to embarrass him like that.
But today was supposed to be an important day at school; really important. It had spread around the whole grade, making many wonder what the big important thing was. Of course once it reached Mitsuki she went sky high off the deep end and began questioning everyone on what it was until they either fainted from shock or someone pulling her off of them. From the two days of scaring crap out of students and making them faint she discovered it was something to do with the end of the year class field trip that was going to happen the following Monday (1). Or that it was that candy was going to become ban from school. Mitsuki cried and begged it was the first. Others wanted the second, seeing as they wanted Mitsuki to finally shut up.
So, without further ado, to the classroom!
Wednesday at homeroom...
Mitsuki bounced happily in her seat, eager to see what the special announcement was about. Everyone that new her from the classroom ignored her, expect for her friends and brother. They were of course still talking but keeping an eye on the candy girl to make sure she didn't do something bad again. Just as long as Mitsuki doesn't blow another room for some reason or another they were all good.
Ichigo leaned against the window, hands in his pockets. A annoyed look rested upon his face. "Bet this year's field trip is at a beach or something." Shiha looked up from her boring and tedious history homework she forgot to do.
"Doubt it. Too cold. Pretty sure they don't want students freezing their butts off and parents suing, Carrot-top." Shiha contradicted, earning herself a hard glare from said boy for the nickname.
Uryū nodded, having of course been nearby as well. "Correct. The most logical guess where this trip, if any, would be to someplace still cold this time of year, such as the mountains." Kiyo grunted.
"So you say. If that's true I bet a month's allowance then." the boy said, making the Quincy shake his head at his foolishness. Mitsuki on the other hand took on his bet, eager for the extra money. Candy money, to be precise.
Ikkaku snorted, not seeing what the big deal was about. Whatever it was he rather stay in town and fight Hollows. Much more entertaining than wandering around some temple or forest bored. Hell, even training would be better than that! Yumichika shared his views on the field trip as well, with the addition of it causing problems to his beauty, of course. Classic Narcissus shinigami style.
Matsumoto yawned, tired from all the shopping she did last night. Hitsugaya was however none the less pleased when she home though. What did you expect from someone who did work and his subordinate that didn't? "Where's the teacher? Shouldn't she be here already?" Orihime shrugged, not knowing really why either.
"I heard that their teacher's meeting ran late or something." Kaida answered, looking up from her random doodling. "Bet that's what is keeping her."
"Hmph." Renji grunted, arms crossed. "Some teacher she is. Can't even get to her own class on time."
WHACK!
Everyone watched with wide eyes as the read head stumbled a bit from the sudden projectile hitting his head. Still same red head gathered himself quickly and turned around to glare at whoever thrown that at him. No way was the person getting away unscathed. However he stopped short when he actually saw who it was. And heard their impatient tapping foot along as well.
"Something you wish to say, Abarai-san?" 1-3's teacher asked, her voice turning the simple question almost into a threat. Renji quickly shook his head, not wanting to anger the teacher any more. Everyone else rushed back towards their seats, also not in the mood to further pissed off their teacher or get themselves into trouble.
"Good," the teacher said once everyone but her was sitting. Turning around, she walked towards the blackboards at the front of the room before continuing on. "Now before we begin I have an announcement to make." she cleared her throat, increasing the tension in the already tensed room.
"Next week is the end of the year field trip, decided to be early this year. And it's been decided to be a weeklong stay at a small resort at Mt. Fuji." she announced, noting that everyone in the room began talking immediately. All were excited about the trip since last year was a trip to a thousand year old hot spring for a day. Not really as good as a week.
Kiyo's mouth was wide open when the news broke, not believing this. Mitsuki was now bouncing all around the classroom, ecstatic that they were still allowing candy, a week without school at a beautiful mountain, and a lot of candy money to spend on said item. Matsumoto was also excited as well, already planning on ways to spend the 'vacation'. Orihime was somewhat helping her. But not all of them were pleased for the trip.
The teacher slapped her lesson plan book against her hand, pulling attention back towards her. Those that didn't had chalk thrown at their heads. "Permission forms are due Friday and we leave Monday. Those without sign consent from a parent will not be permitted to go." she glanced around the room, eying each and every one of her students to make sure they had heard her. All of them did.
"Not what's over, turn to page 216 in your history books..."
Lunch...
"Mountain trip! Mountain trip!" Mitsuki shouted happily, currently jumping around the rooftop. Seriously. Does that girl ever stop bouncing off something at all? Everyone up there or heard Mitsuki's shouts, which were very loud, groaned loudly back. There goes any quiet lunchtime they wanted.
Kiyo threw a nasty glared over to his sister, displeased with all of her excitement. "Shut the fuck up! If you keep acting likes this than you aren't going!" Mitsuki 'tsk' him in response.
"Na-uh! The transfer here entitles us, meaning us me," the girl said, pointing to herself. "to go to or on any school sponsored field trip, festivals, and etc.!" Mouths dropped open when she finished, shocked that she said all of that.
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"What?" Mitsuki asked, confused at why all of them were being silent. Many anime fell at how that sudden smartness vanished. Good things last for only so long.
"Can't believe I almost thought she knew what 'entitled' meant." Kaida grumbled, biting into her sandwich. Ichigo stared at her in surprise.
"Really? I find it hard to believe she actually remembered that." boy that said this earned himself a scowl from girl he was talking about and a whack from his bunny loving friend.
"Don't be rude, Ichigo." Rukia scolded, acting like Ichigo was a child and she his mom. A couple people laughed at this, making the orange head pulse a few veins before once again getting into an argument with Rukia.
Yumichika grumbled inaudibly as he thought about something why most of everyone else was paying attention to their fight. His friend seeing that the peacock boy wasn't paying attention looked at him, confused. Usually the only thing that got him really deep in thought was about beauty, which knowing this shinigami, was very often a lot. Too much, in fact for the fighting loving shinigami.
"What's up with you?" Ikkaku asked, stopping the other division eleven shinigami. Said shinigami looked back and flipped his hair dramatically.
"That horrible despicable class called gym."
"Gym? Ha! That class is a blast! I get to beat the crap out of those weaklings!" Yumichika huffed.
"So you enjoy. I however detest getting dirty and sweaty in meaningless games. For instance, who plays a game called 'Dodge ball'? Sweat is sticky and disgusting on one such as me." the peacock eyebrow ranted, not noticing his friend giving him an eye roll. All Ikkaku did was just scoffed at him before going back to laughing at Ichigo getting his butt kicked by Rukia, verbally and physically. Yumichika just continued on with his sweat rant. Seriously? Sweat?
Kira rubbed her head, wincing a bit. The youngest student from America had a terrible headache and was currently in a horrible mood. Or more like pissed mood. Any one that tried talking to her received a short, nasty answer back in a snarl. No matter who it was it was in the same tone. And she seemed even more pissed when the painkillers, which she was eating like every thirty minutes, didn't seem to be working very well.
"Stupid Tsuki." the girl growled under her breath, it barely audibly to the group. All of them were still too busy watching the other two argue. But of course there was always someone that heard her. Except it was the person she loathed the most. And doesn't she love talking to him? Notice the sarcasm.
"Your cat?" Hitsugaya asked, eyebrow raised. How does a cat give you a day long headache? Mitsuki made more sense than some cat. Girl with headache just glared darkly at him.
"You won't understand, snowy midget." she snapped, only slightly enjoying pissing him off again with the additional nickname. She was more pissed at her headache.
Hitsugaya throbbed a vein and twitched. "It's Hitsugaya, YUMI!" girl talked to just rolled her eyes at his order and popped another painkiller.
"Only way in hell I'll ever call you a respectable name is if I can ever stand you. Which will fucking never happen in a million years...MIDGET."
PULSE HUGE VEIN.
"YUMI!!!"
Matsumoto laughed heartily as she watched all the events taking place around her, mostly the Ichigo and Rukia fight/argument. But she did find her taichou's and Kira's bickering somewhat funny. She always found it amusing that the two of them, meaning Ichigo and Rukia, still acted normal around each other despite the feelings they shared. Both were just so dense to realize it, just like some of the other pairs she was seeing. Unless of course she maybe started helping them...
A sudden tap on the division ten fukutaichou's left shoulder made said woman look away from the still ongoing argument to Mitsuki and Shiha. The former was looking at her with a mischievous smirk practically glued and glowing on her face while the latter just looked interested. Matsumoto blinked at them, confused. What were those two doing?
"Nani?"
Shiha pointed her index finger at Mitsuki's head. "Hyper wanted to discuss something with you." Matsumoto raised an eyebrow, now also interested as well.
"Oh? What?" Mitsuki leaned down and whispered into her ear. The candy talked fast, not wanting anyone else to hear what she was 'discussing' with the big busty woman. Different emotions flickered across Matsumoto's face as each second passed. Surprised first, then it went to interest, next thoughtful, and ended at excited. Really excited, to be exact. The longer Mitsuki talked the larger the grin on both their faces grew.
"What are you guys doing?" Kiyo asked, startling the three women. They all turned around slightly so see the older twin with a raised eyebrow. Not many others were paying attention to them at the moment since Renji and Kaida had somehow gotten into Ichigo's and Rukia's fight as well. And Kira and Hitsugaya were currently glaring at each other...again. Ikkaku and Yumichika...well, Yumichika...was still ranting with the other listening unamused. Orihime was trying to stop the fighting but couldn't. Chad and Uryū were eating and watching the foursome fight, expect that Mizuiro was hiding behind Chad again with Keigo also ranting about something. This time it was about being smart. And Tatsuki was beating down Chizuru again for trying to glomp Orihime.
Mitsuki straightened out and smiled sweet at her brother. "Nothing! Just what clothes we should bring on the trip!" Kiyo continued to look at them suspiciously, not buying that cover story. Mostly cause they were all...or almost all...of them were smiling widely. They were just too big, false, and plastered onto their faces.
The boy continued to stare at them for a few seconds until he let out a sigh, not caring. "Whatever, just don't involve me." He then turned back around to watch as Kaida, Rukia, and Tatsuki whack or kick the person(s) they were arguing with. Kiyo almost didn't get hit if he didn't call Shiha Shorty again for some reason. So the two of them began running around the roof again, the latter trying to rip his head off. Many found it amusing or downright funny that everyone was hurting someone. Others found it plain out stupid. But for the ones being hit by girls and defeated, major burst in their pride. Or major ego damage.
Mitsuki sighed in relief, pleased that her brother had dropped it. Turning back to her two...now one...friend that was still with her she whispered one last thing to them.
"So that's the plan. And don't forget to tell Orihime about this too!"
After School...
The Karakura Gang minus their American friends and Shiha exited the school building, the day finally over. Shiha wasn't with them since the girl had gotten detention again for sleeping during English and was currently serving her sentence. The other four had something else to do once Mitsuki finished her own detention and decided to just wait until she was done. And make sure she doesn't do something idiotic again. So only the regular gang left.
"You guys going on the trip?" Ichigo asked, curious if his friends were going or not. Mostly cause it they weren't he as hell wouldn't/ It was quite pointless anyways.
Orihime on the contrary was happy for the trip, walking with a bounce in her step. She was so excited to go to Mt. Fuji on a weeklong trip. There was so much she could do there. And with her friends able to attend as well she couldn't have thought it could get better. But there was one thing. If Ichigo went along as well. And she was able to spend some time together with him.
"Hai!" Matsumoto chirped, snapping Orihime out of her happy thoughts and being the first to answer Ichigo. "It would be a great vacation! There's hot springs, room service, an ice rink, a spa-"
"Matsumoto," Hitsugaya growled, interrupting his fukutaichou's excited rant. "This is not some sort of vacation you think you can just take! We were stationed here to try and discover what Aizen's true objective is. (2) Not to slack off."
"But taichou!" Matsumoto, really wanting to go on this trip. "It's-"
"No!"
Renji snorted, not really seeing why she was so excited about this field trip anyways. "What's the big deal? It's just a mountain."
"That offers excellent room service, entertainment, and food."Uryū supplied. "There are runs for snowboarders and skiers alike, as well as a hot springs to relax in. Different activities are run each day to make sure that you aren't bored. A nearby sports center offers rock climbing, skating, hockey, and other indoor sports as well. The resort has over five different restaurants, an arcade, and a gift soft. An ideal place to spend for a vacation."
Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, Chad, and the rest of the group stared bewildered at the words that had just tumbled out of the Quincy's mouth. Everything he said sounded like he actually been there or seen it. Or knew about it thoroughly. And that realization was really creeping them out right now.
"Uryū," Ichigo started, breaking the silence first. "how the hell do you know of that?!" asked boy looked at him emotionlessly before pulling out a packet. Said packet was actually given to all the students in their grade earlier. And it was the field trip information, supply list, and forms.
"I read the information that was provided to use along with the permissions forms." he informed them as if they were stupid for not thinking about that. Cue anime falls.
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Any time now...
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THUD!
There they are!
Hitsugaya just scowled. "It's still a no." Matsumoto pouted, upset her taichou won't let them go on the trip. Orihime was also saddened that they couldn't go as well but was more discreet in hiding her anguish.
Rukia took a thinking pose. "You, know, it wouldn't be that bad; there's plenty of snow there and it's defiantly colder there than here. And it's also not really that far from Karakura Town." Half of the group blinked owlishly at her as if she just tried to reason why Hitsugaya should let them go. Odd thing. Maybe the second ice wielding shinigami wanted to go to Mt. Fuji as well.
Ichigo looked at his friend oddly. "You really want to go?" the girl nodded slightly.
"Why not? You don't usually see mountains in the Soul Society often unless you travel far away from the Seireitei." Matsumoto and Orihime instantly began brightly up that they now had Rukia on their side. And usually Ichigo and Renji would follow along as well.
Ikkaku just glance at all of them before back at the all knowing Quincy. "They have a dojo there?" Uryū pushed his glasses up.
"Hai."
"Maybe it won't be so bad." the bald guy smirked, thinking about all the people he could fight there. Yumichika rolled his eyes at him but didn't say anything. As long as his hair didn't get frozen or moist from the cold mountain air he wouldn't care. And that he stayed warm to make sure his skin didn't turn blue or pale. Frost bite is so not gorgeous for one to have, especially to the most beautiful shinigami in the Soul Society.
Hitsugaya's scowl deepened even more, displeased that they were all set on this trip. They didn't seem to grasp the fact they were actually on a mission, not some fun trip. He was beginning to think that he was the only one that actually remembered why they came. Spending too much time with humans had and was making them forgot about their duties and responsibilities they had.
Six rings suddenly broke through the air, startling the group again and destroying any remaining thoughts on the mountain trip. But none of them popped out of their gigais as they normally would. Ichigo was very close to but stopped when he say all of his Soul Society friends were staring at their Soul Phones. And they didn't seem really worried at the fact a Hollow or Hollows could be attacking somewhere in town. No, they were more confused.
"Is something wrong?" Orihime asked, worried that all of them had gotten really bad news. She received no answer until Rukia shook her head in response.
"No, Orihime. It was message from Urahara." she explained. Ichigo, Uryū, Chad, and Orihime were the ones now confused and stared at them.
"Urahara?" Chad said, making sure he heard right. Renji nodded.
"Yeah. He wants all of us at his shop. He said he has some news from the Soul Society we need to hear about."
The group walked into Urahara's shop, following the clog and hat guy towards the back. All of them were anxious on what the Soul Society need to tell them that they couldn't send it via phone. It must have been top secret and important for them to do this. But they didn't know for sure since Urahara was spilling any details and just said to follow him to see for themselves. Mysterious bastard.
"Yo Urahara," Ikkaku called from the back, annoyed he had to come. "what's this big thing about? I got better things to do." the man asked chuckled, amused at the fight loving shinigami's question.
"Patience, Ikkaku-san. All will be reveal soon, eh?" the man answered, not soothing Ikkaku's annoyance. Or anyone else's for the matter. All of them were thinking along similar lines.
Ichigo however didn't like surprises. "Is there even a point of us being here?" Urahara glanced back over his shoulder, face hidden behind his fan.
"Yes, they requested all of you here. And being the honorable host I was, I offered to fetch all of you for them." many sweat dropped or dead pan at the old man. He talked about them as if they were dogs.
The group finally reached their destination, a closed door at the very back of the sop. After seeing what they had come here for each of them had mixed emotions on their face. Exactly what the hell could be so important that it was one of the empty rooms at the back of the shop? And where the heck was the famous black cat anyways? Usually they would have already seen her somewhere in the shop by now.
Urahara turned towards the group. "Oh, before we enter please don't anger them anymore. They're a bit grouchy from their trip." the Karakura Gang looked blankly at him. Who?
"No kidding, lazy butt!" a voice yelled out from the room, surprising the group. Some shuffling sounds could be heard before the door slammed open and revealed what or who was actually in the room.
The owner of the voice raised both eyebrows at them before talking in a grouchy voice. "You the ones stationed here in Karakura Town?"
Ichigo and his friends started at the person in front of them. Or more like teenage girl if you wanted to be precise. She was quite tall, perhaps as tall as the twins, with dark black shoulder length hair tied neatly in a small ponytail. The girl was dressed in a standard shinigami uniform, her zanpakutõ on her left lip. And from what they could see the hilt of the blade was a silver eight point star with a long, slender blade.
She eyed the group with piercing red eyes that could have easily been mistaken as deep crimson. Her arms laid across her chest as she stood in the doorway. "Well?"
Another voice from inside the room sighed shortly after the red eyed girl finished. "Ren, leave them alone. Can't you see who they are?"
The girl, named Ren, snapped her head around and glared at the other person in the room. "Oh really?! I never noticed. And when did you finally understand what was going on, hm?"
"You say something?"
"Why I-!"
Urahara laughed lightly at how his newly arrived guests were confused that his other guests were bickering offhandedly. He gently placed a hand on Ren's shoulder, diverting the girl's attention towards him instead of her friend. And it was good thing he did since Ren was getting more grouchier and grouchier by the second.
"Yokaida-san, why don't we let them in, eh? I'm pretty sure they don't want to be left standing in the hall." he asked the grouchy girl. Asked girl muttered something under her breath before complying. She walked back into the room and allowed the group to finally squeeze into the slightly large-small room. And all of them were deeply surprised at who was in there as well apart from Ren.
The one Ren had been arguing with sat at the tea table at the center of the room. A very tall, about five feet seven inches, girl sat there actually dressed in also a shinigami uniform. The zanpakutõ she wielded was swung across her right shoulder, the long blade reaching the floor. A clear diamond shape hilt laid attached to the sword. She had long, wavy brown hair that flowed softly behind her back as well as muddy brown eyes. But those eyes were staring straight at her tea cup that laid in her pale hands instead of the group for some really weird reason.
The other person was...well...curled up in a corner. Yes, curled up in a corner. Everyone that just entered, save for Urahara and Ren, started at the slightly bizarre sight in front of them. It was also a girl, making it three girls in the room, that seemed to be a couple of inches shorter than her two companions. And she was also another shinigami, seeing as she had her own black uniform on. Her zanpakutõ laid on the wall nearby, the semi-short blade sheathed with only the cat faced black hilt shown. She, like the one at the tea table, had long hair but it was instead a deep purple color, similar to Shiha's color, with black stripes that laid around her as she slept. But the thing that had them staring at the most was the mini cat ears headband she was wearing. Well, they thought it was a headband but right now they weren't too sure.
Renji started at all of the three girls, wondering what the hell was going on. "Any reason why they're here, Urahara?" Ren looked back towards the group and answered for the man instead.
"Important news had to be given to those stationed in Karakura Town and for some reason all communications expect Hollow identification has been interrupted." the girl explained, grinning. A few people looked at her at why the sudden personality change and the grin before processing what she just told them.
"What?" Matsumoto cried. "You came here from the Soul Society?" Ren looked back at them for a few seconds blankly before giving them a weak grin.
"Oops. Forget to introduce ourselves that we're from the Soul Society, right?"
Sweat drops.
Ren waved her hands a bit to make sure she had their attention before introducing herself formally. "Yokaida Ren, fourth seat of the eleventh division." the girl sitting at the table finally looked up at them for the first time after Ren finished and went next.
"Ryouta Mao, fourth seat of the tenth division." the brown eyed girl said, making many people look over at Hitsugaya. Looked at person looked back them hard, silently ordering them to stop looking/staring at him. Yes, Ryouta Mao was his fourth seat officer. But that didn't meant-
Mao suddenly shot out of her seat, surprising everyone. In one second the girl was sitting down on the floor to glomping Hitsugaya. Hard. Many mouths dropped wide open, completely and utterly confused and blown away of what the hell just happened. Matsumoto broke into giggles with Ren, remembering who Mao was. Urahara was grinning from behind his fan while Hitsugaya twitched at his fourth seat. How come?
From before: But that didn't meant the tenth division taichou liked getting glomped by his fourth seat whenever she saw him.
"Ah, Hitsugaya-taichou!" the girl cried, happy. "It's great to see you again." Many veins began appearing on the glomped boy's face.
"Ryouta! Get off me this instant!" Hitsugaya yelled, obviously displeased and pissed off at this 'hug'. His face was turning red from embarrassment and anger. Mao pouted at him, sad that she had to let him go.
"But Hitsugaya-taichou!" she whined, unhappy. She shut up when she and everyone else felt the temperature drop a few degrees.
Ichigo tried...keyword: tried...to hold back his laughter but failed. "Jeez, Toshiro, you're like a chick magnet!" Rukia glared harshly at him before hitting him in the face with her fist while Hitsugaya scowled darkly.
Matsumoto covered her mouth with her hand to try and hide the large grin on her face. "No, that's just Mao-chan. She loves children." the room then burst into more laughter as Hitsugaya glowered menacingly at all of them for laughing. The girl being talked about just spaced out into her own little world. Again.
"MATSUMOTO!!!"
"Ni, what's with all the noise?" a sleepy voice asked, diverting some of the attention towards the now waking up girl in the corner. The girl blinked a bit, her bright orange eyes trying to erase the sleep still settled in them. She uncurled herself quickly once she realized there was other people in the room.
Ren grinned at the awake girl before explaining the situation to her. "About time you're awake, kitty-cat. The Karakura group is here." told sleeping girl jumped up instantly and started wide eyed at them.
"What? You got to be kidding me?!" the girl exclaimed, embarrassed. Turning towards the gang she bowed before introducing herself quickly. "Neko Kitora, third seat of the first division and leader of this group."
The whole entire gang once again stared. This was defiantly the oddest and weirdest bunch of people grouped together that one has ever seen. However they only placed second compared to the American Gang. Those four were more like odd people out of the most freakiest movie ever created in the world. At least theses three seemed to be a lot or at least more sane than Mitsuki.
Urahara cleared his throat, stopping all further movement and sound. Instead all eyes charged towards him. "How that introductions are done-"
"Actually-" Kitora began only to stop when she saw that there were mean glances going around. Apparently they just wanted the information. She would have continued if she was more awake but she was still a bit sleepy. Cats or cat-like people seemed to take awhile to wake up.
"-why don't you tell them the news, hm?" Urahara finished as if there was no one had interrupted him. Kitora pouted before turning serious and faced the group.
"A few weeks ago mysterious activity has been happening at a location nearby here." she began, only for Renji to interrupt her.
"What kind of activity?" he asked, suspicious of why they were being told this. His friends held similar reactions. Kitora shot him a glare to shut up so she could continue.
"That's the thing, we don't know." Ren answered, stunning and shutting up the group with her answer. "All we know is that there has been a lot of increased Hollow activity in that particular area before it is vanishing a few seconds later by some unknown reason." Ichigo looked confused now.
"So? Why didn't you guys go check it out or something?" Kitora shook her head.
"We tried. All attempts to get there from the Soul Society is somehow blocked. Right now division twelve is trying to figure out why but has yet to find a solution. The closest we could get in range is from a few miles from this town. They had to shunpo the rest of the way."
"And the ones that were sent to investigate returned barely alive and breathing." Mao added, breaking out of her spacing out state. However this devastating news alarmed the group.
Hitsugaya, being a taicho, was one of the more alert ones but everyone else was close behind. "What?" Ren nodded, telling him that this wasn't a lie.
"It's true, the last group sent barely made it back. All of them were just on the brink of death. Luckily, Unohana-taichou was able to treat them quickly before they did die."
Uryū pushed his classes up a bit before asking a question. "So why hasn't someone gone back to determine who or what did it?" Kitora shook her head.
"Read it all, no need for separating it." the cat girl answered, confusing them all, even her companions.
"Come again?"
Ren scratched the back of her head. "She means, I think, that you need to wait until we're done talking. Or something like that." she wasn't really too sure on what the girl was saying either. "Two other groups were but returned the same. The last one was able to give news that it was more than one and that the enemy or enemies may possibly be more powerful for any shinigami to handle. Possibly a rogue or banished shinigami or shinigamis. But we aren't sure at the moment."
"Then why haven't one of the taichos or fukutaichous been sent?" Ikkaku wondering exactly why the hell they were being told this. Ren sighed.
"All of them are currently are away on their own missions at the moment since we are currently all short handed back in the Soul Society. More Hollows have been attacking ever since the three traitors fled to Hueco Mundo. Due to the sudden increase, in the world of the living and the Soul Society, plus some of the residents of Rukongai have been rebelling a bit since the news of traitors in our ranks. Therefore there are no available shinigami at the moment qualified to go to this place." her eyes shifted towards three people.
"Expect Hitsugaya-taichou, Matsumoto-fukutaichou, and Abarai-fukutaichou." the three called out widened their eyes as they realized what was about to happen. "Due to the fact that Karakura Town is the closest available location to go to this place and that the place is heavily populated with humans and that you are all qualified the soutaichou has ordered that you, the ones sent here with you, shinigami representative Kurosaki Ichigo plus friends check out this area and determine the cause of it all."
Empty silent was the only thing left in the room now, the silent sounds of breathing the only other thing. Something or someone(s) had to be quite powerful to be able to easily defeat three groups of shinigami that it was needed for a fukutaichou rank of higher to address the problem. And quickly. But that was a whole different mission compared to the ones in Karakura Town. What about the daily Hollow attacks that happened here? They couldn't just abandon it and go to some new place; it is always infested and attracting Hollows more than any other place.
Kitora, Ren, and Mao watched the gang with emotionless faces. No way could one be happy when announcing bad news to someone let alone a group and tell them to deal with it when they couldn't. Cruel, yes, but orders from higher above are orders. They had to set an example to others. But at least-
"No." Ichigo declared, breaking the silence suddenly. His answer not only astonished his friends but the other three shinigami as well.
"Say what?!" Mao asked, mouth slightly opened. Ichigo answered with a glare.
"I can't just abandon everyone here! There won't be anyone to protect them!" the orange head shouted, pissed at the turn of events. "No way in hell am I leaving just because the Soul Society orders it!"
"Kurosaki!" Hitsugaya snapped. "Hold your tongue!"
Ichigo scowled. "No, Toshiro, I won't! You can't-"
"Enough!" Ren barked, silencing the room once again. "I understand your concerns, Kurosaki-san, but that is why the three of us are here. We are to protect Karakura Town why you guys are take care of this problem."
Orihime let out a breath, relief that her hometown wasn't going to be left defenseless. Sure she would rather help too but knew that that this problem also had to be taken care of. "Thank you, Ren-chan!" Ren shrugged and grinned at the girl before turning back to Ichigo. No one notice how coldly Mao was glaring silently at Orihime. Or Chad and Uryū either. All were currently too busy looking at how Ichigo would react.
"This town will be safe, Kurosaki. You must follow orders." Kitora said, trying to make the boy less pissed. She was now more awake and had a full grasp of the situation. Usually she would have been more hyper but it wasn't the time for it. She, along with the others, had to convince Ichigo to follow a direct order. "There is another person that will be stationed in Karakura Town as well along with us while you are investigating. We can take care of things here." Ichigo still didn't look convince. His friends and family would be here without him. It was his duty to protect them.
Rukia gently touched Ichigo's arm. The orange head boy looked down into the raven head's dark eyes. He saw the concern she had for them as well but knew she was not one to object to orders. She rather not go but knew if she did that the town would be protected until they got back. She was telling him to trust him.
Until Rukia suddenly whacked him in the head. "Idiot! Quit being so stubborn!"
Ichigo stumbled forward a bit, casting a rather nasty scowl at her for the sudden pain. "Ow! Rukia! What the hell was that for?!"
"Didn't I already say?!" the raven head yelled back. "You aren't the only one that can protect these people! Get that through your thick skull already!"
Ichigo continued to scowl and was about to send a retort back before Renji butted in. "She's right Ichigo. You think we're not as capable as them, huh?" the boy instantly fell off his almost rant mood, completely blown back at the sudden question. Matsumoto smiled lightly back at him.
"Don't worry! With all of us this problem will be taken care of easily and we'll be back in no time!" the tenth division fukutaichou said, trying to persuade the boy. Some were reminded of her skipping work for a moment for some reason but pushed it aside.
"We can help, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime added. Uryū and Chad nodded their heads in agreement. "We aren't defenseless either."
Ikkaku cast Ichigo a smirk. "Hell yeah the town will be safe. Ren here is the second and only other female in tour division. Nothing to worry about with her." mentioned girl grinned widely at the comment, and blushed a bit too.
Yumichika agreed. "Indeed."
Ichigo looked at all of them, not really sure what to say now. First he was all against it but now, he felt different. They were as capable as him to protect his town. And it wouldn't take too long to quickly discover the problem and come back. From what they said it was actually rather nearby. He had his friends helping out as well. "Guys..."
Urahara decided to speak up now and add his own words in. "Don't worry, Ichigo-san! I'll be here as well!" the boy talked to looked towards him and started at the store owner's face. A few minutes passed before he sighed deeply.
"Alright," he yielded, still none the less pleased with this arrangement. "I'll go. But you guys promise to protect everyone." the three girls nodded.
"Yup!" Ren added, throwing in her signature grin as well.
"Sure." Mao said, not adding much emotion in. She was not really looking forward towards this. But for now she kept it and her reason why in.
"Every word I say is true," Kitora said last. "This I promise you."
...
...
...
"What?"
Mao sweat dropped. "She says some odd things from songs or quotes she heard from somewhere sometimes." the group shared similar reactions to her.
"So where is this place?" Rukia asked, quieting the three girls suddenly. They looked at each other, expect Mao who was once again somewhere out there, before back at them. Each of them had on sheepish smiles.
"Err...forgot to tell you, didn't we?"
Anime falls.
Ren regained her composure the quickest and straighten up. "You also need to have some reason to be there too since it is a heavy populate area and you might be there for awhile." the group nodded, getting this.
"Oh, and that someone you guys might know will also meet you there." Kitora added.
"What?" Yumichika asked. "But you said that no one else would be there but us." the girls shrugged.
"She insisted and was granted permission as long as she waited for you guys."
Dot. Dot. Dot.
"Just tell us where this place is." Hitsugaya order, wanting the information now. Kitora scratched her ears, cat ears, which is very odd before answering. And when she told them it sent each of them into a hell of mixed of angry or happy emotions. Mostly cause they would be able to do something that they weren't permitted to do before but now had reason to go than Hitsugaya saying no because of orders. Where you ask?
"Some mountain nearby here. Mt. Fuji, to be exact I believe."
(1) From what I googled is that the Japanese school year starts in April, with short breaks in spring and winter with a month long break in summer. So, I'm going to try and go with that schedule. For those that know that I messed up somewhere with the story with the school year, I'm sorry. To me that works better with the different arcs that have already been planned. So I hope you guys understand.
(2) As I said before, this story is before the actual Winter War, which will be at the end of the year. Right now they are stationed in Karakura Town to try and find out what Aizen is really aiming for. It will pick up from the manga once Icefire reaches a certain point. Where it is will be revealed as the story moves on. ;p
Me: So there you guys have it! Chapter 8 of Icefire!
Matsumoto: -squeals-
Matsumoto: Hot springs!
Everyone: -sweat drops-
Ren: Are the rest of the OC's making an appearance then?
Me: Hai.
Ichi: Are they staying after that?
Me: Appearances now and then.
Mitsuki: Yay!
Everyone else: ...Great?
Ichigo: School starting for you yet?
Me: Yeah, Wednesday. Updates might be on weekends sadly. But I'll write during the weekday in my notebook!
Kaida: Good. You slack off too much.
Me: HEY!
Mitsuki: Yeah! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Everyone: O_O
Rena: She needs medicine.
Everyone: Yup.
Mao: Review please. Oh look, a butterfly.
Everyone: -anime falls-
*~Kira~*