Ichigo, Rukia, and Uryu met up with Chad and Orihime on the way to Urahara shop and the two tagged along. Soon they were outside the shop where they found Jinta being a jerk and giving poor Uluru a noogie.

"HEY! BEAT IT!!!" Uryu growled at Jinta as the red headed punk complied but glared at Uryu.

"What are you going to do about it four eyes?" Jinta asked as Uryu, keeping his composure, simply created his bow and summoned an arrow. Jinta saw his point and ran away into the alley.

"That kid has no decency. Torturing poor Uluru." Uryu said as said girl looked at him with her usual meek expression.

"Thank you mister Ishida. That was really starting to hurt." Uluru said as Uryu knelt down to her level.

"If he ever does that to you again, don't hesitate to let me know okay?" Uryu said as Ichigo nodded in agreement.

"Yeah or me. We'll show that punk who's boss." Ichigo said.

"I believe that I'm the boss around here really." Urahara said as he emerged from inside the store.

"Mr. Urahara, we need to talk to you about something…or more appropriately someone." Ichigo said as Urahara nodded understandingly.

"I thought you might. Come on inside, I'll let Renji take a break and give Jinta some extra work to do." Urahara said as he led the group inside. They entered one of the back rooms where they found Yoruichi in cat form, curled up asleep on Soi Fon's lap.

"Captain Soi Fon. We didn't know you were here." Ichigo said as they sat down and Renji entered from the front and sat down with them.

"I've been here for some time Kurosaki. And I applaud you for addressing me properly." Soi Fon said.

"So, (yawn) everyone's assembled then?" Yoruichi asked as she awoke and stretched.

"Yes Lady Yoruichi." Soi Fon replied.

"Good. Now then Ichigo, what seems to be the situation?" Yoruichi asked.

"Well. Ever since yesterday morning I've encountered this woman who claims to be a former Soul Reaper. She doesn't seem to have a Zanpakuto however and no one else has seen her but me." Ichigo said as Yoruichi pondered.

"Curious." She said.

"There's more. I'm not sure if you heard but last night my sister Yuzu was injured by a hollow and suffered a mean blow to the head. What's curious is that ever since then she seems to have spiritual awareness and Uryu said he could sense spiritual pressure coming from her. I could this morning too when she came down for breakfast. She even saw the same strange woman." Ichigo said as the three veteran Soul Reapers looked at each other.

"Describe this woman for us Ichigo." Urahara said as Ichigo did just that.

"Hmm…The Black Wrangler eh? That does sound like one of Yoruichi and my former colleagues." Urahara said while scratching his chin with his fan.

"I was hoping to hear something like that." Toshiro said as he and Rangiku entered.

"Captain Hitsugaya. So glad you could make it." Urahara said as the two sat down.

"So you believe what Ichigo has been saying about this Black Wrangler person is true?" Toshiro asked.

"Yep, in fact it's time for some Soul Reaper history." Urahara said with a grin.

"Sherman, set the way back machine for oh, two hundred years ago. The place; the Soul Society. Once upon a time there was a Soul Reaper Captain who abandoned her name and went under the alias of "The Black Wrangler" out of her belief that a Soul Reaper should distance themselves from ties like that but she would share her real name with those she felt close to." Urahara explained.

"She was Captain of the 10th division long before Captain Hitsugaya was even born. She had a brother who was Captain of the 11th division long before the Captain that Kenpachi Zaraki slew was even lieutenant. Her Zanpakuto was an ultra rare type, in that it was a shape shifting Zanpakuto which allowed her weapon to transform into anything, even split into two smaller weapons. She even learned to morph her Zanpakuto into a more modern weapon like a gun. She had a knack for history and researching old historical data. One day Central 46 decides to create a squad devoted strictly to the upkeep and uncovering of historical documents and artifacts and they put the Black Wrangler in charge. The squad lasts about one year and she gets exiled by Central 46 for continually researching buried subjects such as the Bounts and more taboo subjects such as the Quincy's. The order for her exile coincidentally was handed down the same time mine was so she lent us a hand in rescuing the Visoreds. After that we all went our separate ways. She said she had one more piece of research to conduct but what it was and why we don't know. And that's that." Urahara explained.

"A fourteenth division of the court guard squads?! More still, she was my predecessor?!" Toshiro asked in disbelief.

"Actually your predecessor's predecessor. But she did leave a noticeable mark on those she knew, like myself, Yoruichi, and even Captains Unohana, Ukitake, and Kyoraku. In fact she and her brother were classmates of those three." Urahara said.

"Really?" Rangiku asked surprised.

"Yep." Urahara said as everyone pondered. Their thoughts were interrupted however by Tessai.

"My apologies for interrupting, but we have a couple of customers." Tessai said as everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.

"CUSTOMERS?!?! HERE?!?!" Urahara asked in shock as he bolted to the front.

He skidded to a halt when he saw who it was.

"Well-well-well. Hello there YUZU! Who's your FRIEND?!" Urahara asked loudly, causing Yuzu and Kaichou to arch a confused eyebrow.

"Oh this is my aunty Kaichou, Mr. Urahara." Yuzu said happily as Jinta scrambled to fill her shopping bag. In the back room, Ichigo and the others were sitting in silence as they listened in.

"Well then you must be new in town. You've got that out-a-town aura about you miss-?" Urahara asked as Kaichou grinned slyly.

"Kurosaki. Kaichou Kurosaki" she replied.

"So when did you get into town?" Urahara asked as Jinta brought back an overstuffed bag of goods to Yuzu.

"Oh Friday night. It was quite a flight and boy were my arms tired…yeah bad joke I know." Kaichou said as Yuzu giggled at the joke. Soi Fon however looked as if she had heard something familiar.

"Oh I almost forgot, Dad scored us all tickets to see another live filming of "Spirit Hunter with Don Kanonji" for tomorrow night. Aunty Kaichou and Ichigo have tickets too. Dad even sprung for a ticket for Ichigo's girlfriend Rukia too." Yuzu said as Ichigo turned white as a sheet and Rukia blushed while Uryu, Rangiku, Renji, Orihime, and Yoruichi snickered.

"Well that ought to be entertaining. Have fun ladies." Urahara said as the two Kurosaki women waved goodbye as they left.

As soon as they left…

"GIRLFRIEND?!?!" Ichigo and Rukia shrieked, inspiring laughter from the others.

"HOW COULD YUZU ASSUME SUCH A THING?!?!" Ichigo shrieked.

"What is a Spirit Hunter?" Toshiro asked curiously as Ichigo and Uryu gave him a look as if saying, "You don't want to know."

"Spirit hunter is probably one of the best shows around!" Orihime said excitedly as she quickly crossed her arms and let out a "BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"What was that?!" Soi Fon asked as she squeezed Yoruichi close to her.

"Soi (Gasp) Fon (Gasp)!" Yoruichi rasped, causing Soi Fon to release the cat.

"Sorry Lady Yoruichi." Soi Fon said sheepishly.

"That crazy thing that Orihime did just now was Don Kanonji's trade mark laugh. I cannot begin to explain how annoying it is." Ichigo grumbled.

"I think I heard Ikkaku grumbling that Mizuho is dragging him there and Yumichika was going too. Maybe we should go too Captain." Rangiku said as Ichigo and Uryu gaped at her in disbelief.

"Rangiku you can't be serious?!" Uryu asked as Toshiro arched an eyebrow.

"It is apparently an important part of human culture. I believe it would behoove us all to attend." Toshiro suggested as Renji shrugged.

"It'll get me out of the shop for a while." Renji said as Ichigo looked like he was about to cry.

"I hate that show." He whimpered quietly.

"Didn't Don Kanonji make you his apprentice or something?" Rukia asked as Ichigo glared angrily at her.

"THAT WAS A DEMOTION!!!" Ichigo shrieked before Soi Fon delivered a flash step punch across the youth's jaw.

"The constant screaming was getting annoying." Soi Fon said as she cracked her knuckles.

"Indeed." Yoruichi said as she scratched behind her ears.

"I need to go tell Tatsuki! Maybe the two of us will be able to go. Uryu want to join us?" Orihime asked as Uryu grinned.

"No thanks I'll pass." Uryu said smugly as Ichigo grabbed him by the collar.

"You're going or I'm going to drag you to Hueco Mundo, strand you there with Hollow bait painted all over you, and take your Quincy cross away from you." Ichigo growled.

"Like that's a threat?" Uryu asked as Ichigo grinned evilly.

"Then I'll just mail Nemu a letter telling her how you really feel about her." Ichigo said as Uryu sweat dropped.

"You wouldn't?!" Uryu asked as Ichigo grinned even more sinisterly.

"Try me." Ichigo said as Uryu gulped.

"On second thought I think I will join you Orihime." Uryu said with a nervous chuckle as Ichigo let go of the petrified Quincy.

"Does someone want to explain what the Lieutenant of squad 12 has to do with anything?" Toshiro asked as the room got eerily quiet.

"Please tell me this meeting's over." Ichigo said.


Later that evening…

"I wish Hat-n-clogs knew more about the Wrangler than he did. Yoruichi remained silent as ever on that. She knows something that she's not telling us." Ichigo grumbled. He and Rukia were walking to his house.

"I know but now we know you weren't lying about her existence. I'm sorry I didn't believe you earlier though Ichigo." Rukia said as Ichigo chuckled.

"Don't worry about it Rukia." He said as they passed by the river where his mother was killed so long ago. Ichigo paused as he looked out over the river's waters while deep in thought.

"Ichigo?" Rukia asked curiously.

"Yuzu may be young, but she is my sister. I probably am more protective of her than Karin or my dad. I know that sounds bad doesn't it, to like one sister over the other?" Ichigo asked as Rukia chuckled.

"Not at all. Karin can defend herself, and so can your father. Yuzu's the most innocent and defenseless of your family and that's why you are more protective of her." Rukia said as Ichigo nodded.

"You're right. I never thought about it that way." Ichigo said as he looked at the sunset.

"Rukia…" he said curiously, "…what are we?"

"What do you mean Ichigo?" Rukia asked.

"I mean like…are we friends? Co-workers? Or are we more than that?" Ichigo asked as he turned towards her. Rukia was stunned by the question.

"I…never really thought about it. I always thought we were just friends." Rukia said as Ichigo nodded.

"Just friends…I think that's about right. I mean it would seem pretty strange right? A girl like you and a guy like me together huh?" Ichigo asked with an amused grin as Rukia chuckled.

"Yeah I guess." Rukia said with a smile.

"Besides, if I ever did try anything with you…Byakuya would probably go Bankai on me before I could blink." Ichigo said as Rukia crossed her arms.

"As I recall, you beat him the last time that you were foes. No one had ever survived his Bankai's ultimate form except you. You even beat Kenpachi Zaraki and he's the best swordsman the thirteen court guard squads have to offer." Rukia said as Ichigo shrugged.

"Yeah well I would never try anything with you. We've got a good thing going, you and me. We're friends…probably best friends…Partners. Maybe a serious relationship would mess that up, who knows? Maybe we should stay just the way we are. Just friends." Ichigo said as he put a hand on Rukia's shoulder.

Rukia remained silent for a moment before nodding.

"Yeah…partners." Rukia said with a smile. However her heart was kicking itself in the can.

She didn't know it but Ichigo's heart was doing the same thing. They continued on towards home, silent all the way, unaware that they were being watched by a Great Black Hawk, perched on a nearby tree branch.

The hawk didn't even know it but it too was being watched by a mysterious creature with white skull like plating on its entire body and a light blue glow in its chest.


Later that night…

Ichigo was completely unable to sleep that night. His conversation with Rukia was replaying over and over in his mind. He finally sighed and headed down stairs to stretch his legs. He noticed Kaichou was asleep on the couch with a book lying open on her chest. He silently grabbed the milk from the refrigerator and poured himself a small glass.

He placed the milk carton back inside and started to drink the milk down. But as he did, he heard a strange and unfamiliar noise.

Ching…

Ching…

Ching…

Ching…

Ching…

Ching-Ching…

Click-click-click-click.

"Don't make a move Kurosaki." A female voice said from behind causing Ichigo to cover his mouth to prevent milk from spewing out. He quickly swallowed. The Ching noise was the Wrangler's spurs and the clicking was her cocking her gun.

"Listen to me carefully Deputy Soul Reaper. I know that you went to see Kisuke Urahara today and he told you some of the basic details of who I am, but you must listen. The Quincy's have been making a grave error since they started using those arrows of theirs. They've not been killing their targets, they've only been making them stronger." The Wrangler said as she held one of her Zanpakuto guns in pistol form, level against the back of his head.

"What did you do to Yuzu?" Ichigo asked tersely as he clinched his fists.

"I did nothing but try to help her. I don't know what happened for sure but I am trying to figure that out." The Wrangler said as Ichigo slowly turned around towards her with his hands raised.

"What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked. He was losing patience.

"Now isn't the time to explain but one thing is for certain. You cannot let Yuzu out of your sight. The enemy will want her soul to open a portal to a world that houses every soul the Quincy's killed with their arrows. I will watch her when I can but you must watch her when I cannot." The Wrangler said as Ichigo looked confused.

"Aizen?" Ichigo asked as the Wrangler shook her head.

"No. Aizen has nothing to do with this but you may want to consider revealing your secret to your family. Your secret life as a Soul Reaper. It's inevitable that you will eventually but the circumstances are demanding that it be revealed soon." The Wrangler suggested as Ichigo looked surprised.

"Are things that serious?" Ichigo asked.

"Yes, the knowledge I possess could bring about an invasion of both this world and the Soul Society. Even now, the world I spoke of may be on the brink of overflowing. A small handful of their agents are probably here right now to try and get their hands on your sister to open the portal." The Wrangler explained.

"But why are you telling me? And what sort of power does Yuzu have?!" Ichigo asked as the Wrangler looked around as if alarmed by something.

"Damn it, answer me!" Ichigo shouted as the Wrangler drop kicked him to the floor then leapt up and crashed through the window without saying a word.

"The hell I'm letting her get away!" Ichigo growled as he used his badge and quickly chased after her. He emerged outside to see her standing in the middle of the street and staring at something.

"HEY! I'm talking to you!" Ichigo shouted as he drew Zangetsu but she motioned to wait.

Soon they heard a loud howling noise come from out of nowhere. It was similar to a hollow's only it was more of a loud shriek than a hollow or Jibaku spirit's call.

"What is that?" Ichigo asked confused but the Wrangler simply drew her guns and held them as if ready for a fight.

"They're here."


End Chapter 5.

What are these new monsters? Is the Wrangler right about their wanting Yuzu? What could Yuzu have that's so important?

Find out in the chapters to come.