CHAPTER 2:

THE ARRIVAL

Meanwhile at the hot spring...

"This is going to be so much fun, Kuchiki-san!" Orihime squealed.

Rukia smiled. "I've always loved hot springs. They always made me feel so relaxed. I think that even Shinigami deserve a break once in a while. Don't you think so too, Ichigo?"

"What?" Ichigo asked as he was snapped out of his very nice daydream.

Ichigo's daydream...

"Rukia, there's always been something that I've wanted to tell you. I think that you're really-" Ichigo was cut off by Rukia putting her finger up to his lips.

"You don't need to say anything, Ichigo. I think I understand. Did it go a little something like this?" Rukia asked, putting her lips up to Ichigo's. She had to stretch a little, though.

Back to reality...

"And just what were you thinking, Ichigo?" Rukia asked side-eyeing him.

"I-It was nothing," Ichigo replied, blushing a very nice shade of red.

"I bet you twenty bucks it was about Ichigo and Rukia making out," Uryu whispered to Chad.

"Isn't this lovely, Captain?" Rangiku asked, looking at her slightly miffed off captain. "What's the matter? Don't you like hot springs? No! Don't speak! I know where this is going! Just when I thought that you were going to start being nicer to me. You know, you could always be nicer by giving me a raise... And don't yell at me for telling you to give me a raise. It was a friendly suggestion. I mean, I never told you to go through with it."

Toshiro looked at Rangiku. Well, at least he didn't have to make his lungs give out yelling at her. And it saved him a bunch of time.

"I don't like hot springs. Besides, I said I'd only go to make sure that Momo is safe. I'd much rather be home doing some of my paper work. Where is Momo anyway?" Toshiro asked looking around.

"Think about it, Captain. The nice, crisp mountain air, accompanied by the warm, welcoming hot spring water. Isn't it wonderful?"

"I hate when you make things seem so wonderful. You could make impalement sound wonderful," a very familiar voice said to Rangiku. When she turned around, there was no one.

"Well that was strange. Come on, Captain!" Rangiku called, dragging a very reluctant Toshiro.

"Doesn't this look magnificent, Nanao-chan? Look at the beautiful landscape! Not as pretty as you are, though," Shunsui said.

"I'm only here to watch you. I don't see this as a vacation like you do," Nanao told him.

"You're being awfully cold, Nanao," Jushiro Ukitake told her.

"Why me?" Nanao asked the sky.

"Now, Nemu, I want you to find a suitable mate. And if you can't do that, force some poor unsuspecting soul. Okay?" Mayuri asked.

"Yes, Mayuri-sama. I will do as you wish," Nemu answered.

"I knew I was doing a good thing by making you obedient. I hate little brats that don't listen when people are talking. I mean, it's just plain rude. They just walk off. They don't care what you're saying. What if there was a nuclear bomb and you were the only person to know where it was hidden. Woudn't you want someone to lis- Where did you go?! You little brat! Wait till you come home. Oh it is go time. And another thing..."

Who really cares what he's saying?