Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, its characters or any of the characters that are going to appear unless stated otherwise.

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Author's Note: 4 chapters in and already a major power will be introduced…which is kind critical for the up-coming chapters.

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-----Karakura Town, Abandoned Warehouse-----

Ichigo and Rukia just stood in surprise and awe at the site before them: Dario Vidal, their newest teacher and Chad's cousin, is also a spiritually aware human. Aside from his white hair spiked up in the back and a gray visor, Dario looked like he did this morning. Thanks to Rukia's Bakudo spell, Dario won't run away like he did the night before. Surprisingly calm, Dario asked, "Uh, is it okay if you come in front of me? I hate to keep my head turned like this." In moments, Chad, Uryu, and Orihime entered the warehouse, standing behind Ichigo and Rukia. Smiling, Dario stated, "So…you three are in it as well? That's nice to know."

Orhime, shocked at seeing her new teacher, asked, "Wait, is that really-"

Chad confirmed it. "It is Dario. There's n mistaken it." Even though they've rarely seen each other, Chad knows his relatives well.

Uryu, the only one not taken by surprise, said, "Well, it did seem rather convenient for a new teacher to appear the night after a new spiritual being appears." Summoning his Quincy bow in his hands, Uryu took careful aim at the immobile Dario. "So…is this just a cover or are you truly who you say you are?"

Sighing, Dario calmly explained, "My name is Dario Vidal. I was born in Puebla, Mexico. My grandfather is Oscar Joaquín. My father is Carlos Vidal and my mother is Maria Joaquín. Is that enough information for ya?" Dario had nothing to hide, easily cooperating with his captors.

Chad placed his hand on Uryu's arm, then glared at him to pacify. Uryu sighed and disarmed himself, then said, "Well…we still need an explanation for what you are doing here."

Rukia then said, "We already figured you are hunting Hollows as well, but it's probably more than to it than that. And since you're stuck, you don't have a choice."

Dario confirmed Rukia's statement, saying, "You're right about this technique. I don't think I can actually break out of it. Still, that doesn't mean I have too." Dario simply grinned, confident that he won't be held for long.

Confused, Ichigo then asked, "Wait, you're not doing this alone, are you?" Before Dario can reply, a new figure appeared from behind Uryu, reaching their hand out to Uryu's head. As Uryu turned his head towards the figure, it grabbed his head and quickly threw him to the other side of the warehouse. Falling limp, Uryu bounced on the ground a few times, then landed straight into the wall of the warehouse. Grunting, Uryu thought, "Damn, why didn't I sense her?"

"Uryu!" Manifesting his Brazo Derecha de Gigante (Right Arm of the Giant), Chad attempted strike at the approaching figure. The figure dodged Chad's strike, grabbing the arm and throwing him behind her. Chad flew for several feet before landing on the ground with a thud!

As the figure continued to move forward, Orihime then stepped in her way, chanting "Shanten Kesshun. I reject!" In seconds, three fairies appeared a formed a yellow barrier in front of Orihime, intending stop the figure in her tracks. Not stopping, the figure landed her foot against the barrier, and used it as a jumping point to jump past the barrier without fighting directly. Surprised, Orihime said, "Wow…that hasn't happened before."

Taking guard, Ichigo shouted, "Stop right there!" Swinging Zangetsu against the figure, Ichigo wanted to stop her pursuit. However, the figure landed on Zangetsu without injury, and then pushed hard enough to force Ichigo on his back. "What the hell?" The figure jumped off of the sword and rolled towards the immobile Dario. Standing back up, the figure shouted, "KIYAAAAA!" then smashed a beam of light holding Dario in place. Soon, the lights holding Dario in placed vanished, allowing Dario to move once more.

Shocked and in awe, Rukia thought, "No way! She broke through the bakudo on strength alone!"

Moving his legs a bit, Dario said to the figure, "Thanks for freeing me, Rita. Took you time I guess."

Rita, is a rude tone, replied, "Well, if you waited for me instead of running off by yourself, you wouldn't be in this mess."

Staying calm, Dario simply said, "Well, I figured you could take care of yourself. You always have in the past."

Pissed off, Ichigo stood up and said, "Alright. I've had enough of this crap!"

"Agreed," Uryu said, firing a Quincy arrow at Dario. Friend or not, questions still need to be answered. Before the arrow reached Dario, Rita quickly ran in the arrow's path, resulting in a large explosion. Dario, Rukia and Ichigo covered their eyes from the smoke.

Ichigo yelled, 'What the hell, Uryu? Why'd you have to kill here?"

"She's not dead," said, Chad, casually walking up to Ichigo with Orihime not too far behind.

Rukia confirmed with, "He's right. If she can break an lvl 61 Bakudo, she can survive a Quincy arrow. I just hop we didn't bang her up too badly." As the smoke cleared, it seemed that Rita was even injured at all, though her blue jumpsuit tore at the right arm and chest. What was truly surprising was Rita's physique underneath it. Smooth skin, 6-pack abs, and bulging muscles: she looked like she walked off the cover of a fitness magazine. It even revealed an orange and yellow spandex suit across her chest, with white, block letters spelling "CHAMP" on the front.

Ignoring Uryu's attack, Rita yelled, "Dammit, Dario! Why can't you learn to react faster?"

Dario answered with, "Well, when you learn to stop protecting me."

Steaming with anger, Rita said, "What was that?" Soon, Rita started to yell in the air, complaining how Dario takes things too casually, needing to be more serious, etc. Everyone else just stood around in complete shock and embarrassment.

Ichigo: "First, she protects him. Then, she goes off on him.."

Rukia: "That blast could take ount a Hollow, but she isn't even taking notice to that."

Orihime: "Wow, they're a lot like a married couple. Wait, are they married?"

Uryu: "Breaking a high-level Bakudo, taking a blast without feeling it? They aren't normal humans."

Chad: "…"

Tired of all the complaining, Dario said, "All right, enough, Rita. I get the point. Just chill." After Rita stopped yelling (but still angry), Dario explained to Ichigo's group, "We'll explain everything tomorrow. During lunch hour. On the High School roof." Moving his hands up to his visor, Dario stretched out his figures at near the front sides of the visor. "Bengala de Sol! (Solar Flare!)" Soon, a bright, red light flashed from Dario's visor, blinding Ichigo and his friends with efficiency. After the light faded, Dario and Rita were long gone.

-----Soul Society, 8th Division HQ-----

After several hours, the three captains were still going over the candidates fro the next Division captains. Jushiro and Retsu were still at the table, coming through the files of eligible Shinigami. Shunsui was off to the side, sleeping with his straw hat over his head. Jushiro seemed to have the hardest time, being stuck between two skilled Shinigami profiles. "Hmm…He is the most skilled…but he has the most experience."

Retsu asked, "Tough to pick from, Ukitake?"

Looking up at Retsu, Jushiro said, "Yes. It seems that there are many Shinigami with the right traits to be a captain, but it's so hard to choose. Some posses traits that others lack, but…" Jushiro looked over one of the files and continued, "…We need people who've handled this kind of responsibility."

Smiling, Retsu said, "So, you finally decided?"

Nodding, Jushiro said, "Yes. Since Shunsui already picked his, that just leaves you, Retsu."

"Oh," Retsu replied, "I've already chosen a nominee." She then held up a file, leaving Jushiro stunned from who is was.

"Really? But isn't he-"

"That's the past, Ukitake," Retsu stated. "Lets rest for tomorrow, then we'll give it to Yamamoto."

-----The Next Day, Karakura High School-----

After a night of revelations and surprises, Ichigo and his friends waited up on the rooftop of the school of Dario and Rita. It was surprising how both Dario and Rita didn't even remark to last night during class, though it was more like to protect their own identities from the students. Once lunchtime came around, they waited for the duo up on the rooftop, just like Dario wanted.

After a few minutes, Dario and Rita came up to the roof from the regular entrance. Dario had his hair slicked back and the red sunglasses once more, while Rita sported a green jumpsuit since her blue one was torn apart. They stopped and started to stare down with Ichigo, who seemed determine to get and answer one way or another. "Alright," Ichigo said, "just who are you?"

Dario, smiling and calmly saying, "We're agents…of the Thanatos Initiative."