Well I don't have much to say about this chapter, but it does set up the plot rather well in my opinion. So I do say so myself hehe. If anyone wants to guess how, feel free. I'd probably enjoy all the guesses and I might even reply. Well, my muses don't have anything to say right now. I actually haven't heard from them since I finished this capter a couple hours ago, they left me to edit grammar alone... (I think they came out and admitted themselves to each other n' have been having wild bunny sex... but that's just me) Yep well... Oh they'd probably be forcing me into the discaimer by now... Damn.

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach, sadly, nor will I ever, as Shi's cruel words sting me to the core. Kyu was no help today QQ.

Blinking Ichigo walked into the Captain's meeting, vaguely registering that people were tense. However, he was quite calm, and he knew the current reason for their tenseness. Schooling his face to keep it from wavering from the ever present scowl, he smirked internally.

"Kurosaki-taicho." Startled, Ichigo turned to face a dark eyed Kuchiki.

"Yes, Kuchiki-taicho?" Ichigo blinked and looked at his fellow captain.

"When you have the chance today… Come see me in my office. We have matters we need to discuss." Byakuya stated simply before he turned to walk to his place.

Ichigo merely nodded, hiding his look and ignoring the questioning glances from other captains. He strolled easily to his place, this time allowing a slight smirk to cross his features as he felt familiar reiatsu pulse in annoyance, however clearly on purpose it may be.

"Kurosaki-taicho." The head captain said, irritation evident in his voice. "You have visitors. Do you know who they are?"

"Not at all, sou-taicho." Ichigo feigned a look of surprise. He caught the glances of a few captains who looked at him with real surprise and annoyance. "Why did they not get sent to my quarters?"

"Kurosaki. You will explain to me how exactly you know the Vizards and you will explain it NOW." The head captain growled, fed up already. "Begin."

'I didn't want to reveal this this way but… I better go with the flow.' Ichigo thought. Outwardly snorting, Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Because I am one?"

Startled gasps emanated around the room and incredulous looks spawned from a few people. Renji, Rukia, Shuhei, Byakuya and Kenpachi were the only ones unsurprised and just nodded. The head captain sputtered. "What do you mean you are one?"

"I mean, simply, that I have this." Ichigo sighed. 'I knew it would come to this eventually.' He thought in a slightly pained acceptance as he past his hand over his face, calling on his hollow. His mask slipping into place even without being in Bankai.

"You've got a…" Mayuri trailed off, blinking.

"How long have you had this?" Ukitake and Soi Fon stepped forward, Soi Fon holding the hilt of her Zanpakuto and Ukitake with a curious expression, and said at the same time as Ichigo released the form. Blinking Ichigo looked up at the ceiling as he contemplated his answer options.

"Spit it out Kurosaki." Mayuri let out a low growling chuckle. Ichigo looked down at him with a blank, level stare.

"About 14 years, why?" Ichigo shrugged. "I thought you knew, I only used it during the winter war, and when I did that I didn't have my Hollow fully under control, but now Shiro's tame as a puppy, loves sparring with Abarai-taichou – at least used to-," Renji caught the barely noticeable change in tone, "and sits happily chatting in my inner world with my zanpakuto. Although, he is getting antsy, he hasn't sparred or had a good fight in a good 9 years, he doesn't like fighting the other Vizards."

As a shocked silence filled the room, Ichigo sighed. "KUROSAKI!" Ichigo sighed again, and looked up into the faces of 2 annoyed Vizards. "How dare your stupid ass go and die on us! We ought to beat you senseless!"

"Shinji. Hiyori. Long time no see." Ichigo snorted sarcastically. Ichigo saw the flip flop coming before Hiyori got it close to his face and stepped backwards, catching her hand as it went across. "I'll let you beat me with your shoe later, at the moment I'm kind of with my fellow captains."

Shinji grinned, and Hiyori looked shocked and angered that Ichigo could now catch her shoe of doom.

"Anyway. Sou-taicho, do you have any other questions?"

"Kurosaki Ichigo, the ban placed on the Vizards should be in place upon you as well, you do know that correct?" He said.

"That is correct sir." Ichigo smiled. "However, you could just lift the ban on the Vizards, and create a law about becoming one that also details the trials one would have to go through to become one and make it a rather trying process so we don't get too many of us, and even then we can judge who would make a good candidate. It would mean we'd have some stronger shinigami."

"I… I will consider this Kurosaki-taicho." The head captain said solemnly. "You will, however, keep a close eye on these two."

"Of course sou-taicho." Ichigo bowed slightly and turned to walk out of the meeting. Smiling a little bit to himself at the stunned glances from around the room and grinning at the look of approval on Byakuya's face. 'Looks like those little diplomacy lessons did me well.' Still grinning to himself Ichigo strolled out into seireitei, Shinji and Hiyori bickering about him a few feet behind him as they walked.

"Would you two stop fighting like children?" He rolled his eyes again.

"Hey! You haven't come to train with us in 3 years, then you go and die, don't act all high and mighty!" Hiyori growled.

"Yea Kurosaki, you should be glad we found the need to come see you!" Shinji pouted.

"Oh get over it. As I recall you both said good riddance when you found out I wasn't planning on coming back." Ichigo turned to face the two, a smile dancing behind his eyes as his scowl let up, just a little bit.

"We didn't' think that you were serious!" Hiyori spat. Ichigo smirked.

"Why didn't you come looking for me sooner?"

Hiyori just growled in response. Ichigo laughed outright at that, especially at Shinji's blank face.

"Okay you guys, how about a good spar?" He spoke, hoping to appease the beast that was Hiyori for even a little while. He almost smiled at the look of child-like joy that appeared on the small Vizards face.

"Yes!" She squealed, and then coughed, trying to hide the blush at such a display of emotion. Ichigo smirked.

'Aibou!' Shiro whined.

'Calm down Shiro, this is me getting back for how you acted when I was upset.' Ichigo mentally glared at his hollow.

'But aibou, ya know I dun like sparring with them! I have ta hold back!' Shiro whined again, more dramatically.

'Come on Shiro, we'll find someone for you to spar with soon.' Ichigo pressed.

'Aibou… Ya 'member what I told ya the other night?' Shiro whispered in his mind as they walked.

'Yea… What of it Shiro? I know it wasn't these guys you meant… But who?'

'I couldn' tell… All I know is they aren' gonna be weak… They seem familiar.. But I dun know who they are… Watch yerself aibou…' Ichigo could feel Shiro's worry and smiled. After they got over the initial king to horse routine, Shiro proved he was someone Ichigo could trust easily. After all, he was a part of him, and a part of Zangetsu. He couldn't afford to not trust him.

'I'll be safe Shiro, I promise.' Ichigo mentally smiled to his hollow, sensing the worry still etching their link.

XXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Renji blinked when Ichigo left the meeting. Shaking his head he sighed. The thoughts going through his head were rather simple in the respects of what they involved. It was either Ichigo was a stupid mother*** for thinking he could get away with what he just pulled… Or…

He was the luckiest damned man in the world because somehow the head captain was about to change his ways, because of a kid he doesn't even like, who technically shouldn't be a soul reaper, who got on his nerves to absolutely no end.

Now wasn't that simple? Renji groaned a little bit to himself as he moved to leave the room.

He relaxed as he walked through the pavilions calmly, making sure to move in a sort-of same direction as his orange haired counterpart. He looked up into the blue, currently cloudless autumn sky. The wind blew, causing the leaves of the trees that grew in Seireitei to blow off and swirl about the red-headed captain. He moved with ease into his divisions barracks, immediately finding his newest recruits soluting him and looking at him 2 parts fearfully and 1 part reverently. He'd already given his speech to them, and as it turned out he was viewed, in great likeness, to Zaraki Kenpachi. At least by those in his division. This thought caused a scowl to appear on Renji's previously calm features, immediately causing the newest recruits to scramble off to perform their duties.

Blinking Renji walked into his office, glad to find it empty for once. As he sat at his desk, he immersed himself in the strenuous task of paperwork, albeit reluctantly. However, he used the task to keep his mind preoccupied. He was still formulating his plan, but it was causing him a head ache, especially trying to anticipate his targets possible reactions to such moves. You could never know with the whorl wind that was Kurosaki Ichigo. Renji groaned suddenly, as a crashing wave of a highly familiar reiatsu rode over him. He knew any unseated shinigami would be brought to their knees.

Then he sensed the hollow taint and stiffened.

A/N: Woo that was fun! However, can you tell I don't like the Flip Flop of doom? Probably not. But you try getting smacked in the face by a flip flop everyday (No seriously, my cousin does that to me and Kyu threw one of his at me the other day cuz I wouldn't give him my cookie!)

By the way, read and review, it inspires me to write more lol.

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