Disclaimer: I do not own it! I would be living the highlife right now instead of living in a one roomed apartment!

Animes in this chapter: Blood+, Bleach, Descendants of Darkness, *InuYasha and Full Metal Alchemist are mentioned briefly*

Chapter 2: Bantering

We stepped off the plane. No matter how many times I had been on one, I was always more than happy to kiss the ground when we arrived. Granted, it was always in a secluded place away from prying eyes and human filth. My eyes searched the crowd or someone I knew from previous visits. A pair of red eyes met mine and I waved enthusiastically at my 'Aunt' Saya and 'Uncle' Haji. It had been a cover for a mission back when I had just started out in Okinawa and I just never gave it up.

The reunion was only semi happy, something must seriously be wrong to make Uncle Haji act that way. We were in the car before anyone really said anything. "We will take you to Ichigo's house first and I believe Asato will pick you up in the morning to get you briefed at the meeting."

"Morning? A whole day? That doesn't sound like Chief Konoe." Ti and Haji shared a glance. This wasn't good.

"Just wait till tomorrow Spots. Hang out with Ichigo and his friends, I'll see if Yutaka will take you shopping, hey, maybe even Kagome will." Ti said with what he thought was a normal smile. That vampire can't lie to save his life, at least, not when it's me he's lying too. I decided to not let him know I was onto him.

"Oh, so she's back? For how long?" Saya smiled.

"She's back with Inuyasha for a week I do believe." I nodded, things where always interesting with Inuyasha, not that things where ever boring with any of the people we associated ourselves with. We pulled up in front of the house/clinic and I let myself out. Ti wouldn't be joining me in my stay. He scared the shit out of poor little Yuzu. Ichigo stood outside with a group of about five people; I only recognized two from my previous stays, Rukia and Chad.

"I'll see you all tomorrow then! Chip-chip cherio!" This earned a laugh from Haji and Saya as they started down the road. I then turned my attention to Ichigo. Now, what a decision, a calm civilized greeting or a crazy and psychotic one? No debate there. "ICHIGO!!!" I started into a full out run and launched myself at him. "ICHIGO!!!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh!!!! Get off me Mina!" Everyone had backed away from us as I had him in an iron grip and he was trying to fling me off. I heard Rukia chuckle and I looked back and winked at her.

"She's just like I remember her." Chad said in his usual monotone voice, a hint of amusement hidden in it.

"MINA get off!" He was finally able to dislodge me. I landed on my butt.

"Ouch, Ichigo that hurt." I said standing up, it hadn't really hurt but I was going to get as much entertainment as I could out of this.

"I am so sorry about Ichigo's rash behavior. My name is Mizuiro Kojima." I took his hand.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Mina Licari. I'm glad to see that at least one of Ichigos friends has manors." I said sticking my tongue out at Ichigo.

"Your Ichigo's American cousin correct?" I nodded. "Have you been to Japan before?" I nodded again, smirking slightly.

"I have been here-"

"MINA!" Ichigo shot me a warning look.

"twice." I said without a hitch, sticking my tongue out at him again.

"Oh, I see, well this is Keigo, Tatsuki, Renji, Rukia and Chad." I nodded to them, embracing Rukia briefly and crushing the Soul Reaper, Renji's hand before Chad spun me around in the air. Shaking my head to clear the stars from that disorienting experience I stepped back. I saw the shadow before I felt my uncles presents. I squeaked and since there was no time to dodge, tried to brace myself for the impact of his feet on my shoulders. It never came.

"Is that how you treat family!?! It's bad enough you do it to your own kid but now you're doing it to Mina!?! She just got off a plane after a 13 hour ride! Let her get her bearings! And in front of my friends dad, come on!"

"She needs to be prepared for anything!" Ichigo looked at me with a shrug releasing him. "Mina! Darling! It's good to see you again! How long are you staying?"

"Hello Uncle Isshin, about a week, maybe more, we can't be certain."

"A week, maybe more? Honestly, does your mother even bother sending you to school?" He asked more to himself. "Well… where's your stuff???"

"Oh, there was a problem at the air port and all my clothes where lost except what I have in my bag. Someone should be picking me up tomorrow to take me shopping."

"All right, if you say so. Well, I better get back to the clinic; don't want anyone dying on me now! Have fun now!" Once he was gone I heaved a sigh. Rukia smirked.

"So who's the lucky person who gets to put up with your ornery ass while shopping?" she asked.

"Don't know yet. Ti will be sending someone tomorrow… I think."

"Well, Miss. Licari, we were all thinking about going to a movie. Would you care to join us?" Mizuiro asked. The others immediately voiced their agreement.

"I'd love to, and please, call me Mina, Miss. Licari sounds so… formal."

"If you insist, Mina." He said with a charming smile. What a player!

We headed down the street making small talk, nothing really all that important. I talked to Renji and Chad mostly about random things. They knew I worked with 'specialty' cases, as I like to call them, things that normal humans can't know, but we avoided that topic simply because of the two normal humans in our midst. We decided what movie we wanted to see and they were paying. I opened my wallet and just stared into it.

"Ichigo." I said dryly, still looking at my wallet. "Can you cover for me; I can pay you back tomorrow when whoever is taking me shopping brings my money."

"You don't have any money, Miss. Mina?" Mizuiro asked sounding slightly alarmed.

"Oh, I have money, just the wrong kind. Thanks Ichigo, I'm going to kill Ti." Oh yes, Tidus is going to pay. Dearly. How dare he drag me here and not give me the proper money to spend. That's just so like him. We walked into the movie, "Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa"