It was the afternoon and at the Karakura Hilton Hotel, approximately four blocks from the Vizard warehouse, a clerk was sitting on a stool at the front desk reading a paper. He then noticed a tall shadow appear over him. He looked up and paled at the sight of a man with black hair and a hideous scar running down the left side of his face and with an insane grin on his face. On the man's shoulder was a young pink haired girl.

"Hey, you got any rooms available?" Kenpachi asked as the man blinked in mild horror.

"Uh…yes sir?" the clerk whimpered.

"Good then I'll take three." Kenpachi said as the man arched a confused eyebrow.

"T-Three?" the clerk asked curiously as he attempted to look around Kenpachi to no avail.

"He's referring to myself plus a friend of ours." A woman with long raven hair said as she approached.

"Oh I see." The clerk said as he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Can those rooms be adjoining?" Kaichou asked.

"Well…yes and no." the clerk said nervously.

"What the hell do you mean, yes and no? It's a simple question!" Kenpachi said as Kaichou quickly moved to calm the towering eleventh squad Captain down.

"Relax Zaraki. Could you explain what you mean sir?" Kaichou asked as the clerk nodded.

"Yes ma'am. Yes we have adjoining rooms but no we don't have three of them. See there's a convention in town and a bunch of the convention goers have booked most of the rooms in all the hotels around here. Fortunately we have two adjoining rooms available so if you don't mind doubling up…" the clerk explained.

"We'll take it." Kenpachi said as the Clerk instantly produced the necessary forms.

"What kind of convention is it anyway?" Kaichou asked as she filled out the forms.

"One of the worst kinds…an Anime Cosplay Convention. (Shudder). There've been a bunch of kids running around dressed as characters from Naruto and Final Fantasy, and even Kingdom Hearts. There's also one other show but I can't remember its name. I know it's a Shonen Jump and that its name has something to do with a type of cleaning fluid. Oh what is it called? Uh, white out? No, that's not it. Oh now it's going to drive me crazy trying to think of the name." The Clerk groaned as he input the data on the computer.

"Oh well. It'll come to you eventually." Kaichou said as the Clerk nodded.

"Yeah I know. Oh how many keys will you need? Four was it?" the Clerk asked as Kaichou nodded.

"Okay then, four keys. Your rooms will be on the seventh floor, room's seven-o-one and seven-o-two. Enjoy." The clerk said, handing them four keycards.

"Thank you very much. Hope you survive the Cosplayers." Kaichou said as she, Kenpachi, and Yachiru joined back up with Byakuya who was standing quietly to himself in a nearby corner, watching a swath of young teenage girls in costumes pass by. He was trying to figure out what was going on.

"Okay, Byakuya, we've got our rooms but the problem is we could only get two rooms. They are adjoining rooms fortunately." Kaichou said as Byakuya shrugged.

"Very well then. Let us at least inspect the rooms." Byakuya said as they headed for the elevator.

A few minutes later, after having ridden up the elevator with, not one but four kids dressed as Axel from Kingdom Hearts, they finally reached their rooms. They opened the doors and were relatively pleased with the accommodations. A small kitchen/dining room/living room in the front with a small hallway that connected to the bathroom in the center and something that gave all four of them pause at the end of the hall. There was only one bed in each room. Both bedrooms, however, had balconies.

"Okay this might be a problem." Kaichou said as Yachiru giggled and started chanting…

"Kenny and Blackie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Yachiru giggled.

"Knock it off, brat!" Kenpachi threatened and immediately Yachiru fell silent.

"Okay what this boils down to is, who gets which room and with whom? Also in my experience with hotels, nine times out of ten, the term sofa bed translates into "where's the nearest chiropractor" after only two nights on the damn thing so I suggest that the two people to a bed rule be taken into consideration." Kaichou said as Yachiru started chanting again.

This time Byakuya reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a rice cake. He then proceeded to shove it in Yachiru's mouth.

"The topic of who gets what room is trivial. The only difference is that the rooms are mirrored in design." Byakuya commented.

"Then which of you two nobles wants to be stuck with me?" Kenpachi asked with a sinister grin.

Kaichou mentally contemplated the suggestion. She knew that Byakuya would never be caught dead in the same bed as Zaraki because of the very awkwardness of the thought of two men in the same bed. He would never go with Yachiru because, while she might have a childlike crush on him, she would still probably annoy him to no end. Which left her, and being a fellow noble (albeit a former noble) was probably a good thing. That and the Kurosaki's and Kuchiki's tended to get along well. The only possible hindrance would be because Kaichou was a woman.

"If memory serves, you do possess the ability to transform into some form of creature correct?" Byakuya asked as Kaichou nodded.

"A great black hawk yes but I can't do that for three reasons. One, I couldn't stay inside in Hawk form because of the no-animals indoors rule. Two, I can't stay outside because of the possibility of other hawks trying to attack me. And three, I don't have the strength to do that yet since I wasted most of it shaping this form after we left the Vizard Warehouse earlier today." Kaichou explained.

"So I guess its straws then." Kenpachi said.

"Not necessary. I assume you will want to keep an eye on Yachiru so I won't stand in your way. Byakuya and I will share." Kaichou said as Kenpachi shrugged.

"Whatever. Come on brat." Kenpachi said as Yachiru scrambled after him.

"You do understand that we cannot share a bed. It would be dishonoring my late wife's memory by doing so." Byakuya said as Kaichou chuckled.

"Kuchiki, Hisana would have wanted you to move on with your life. Besides I have no romantic feelings towards you as it is. I still see that kid with a ponytail held up by a red ribbon as he attempted to catch Yoruichi when she stole said hair ribbon. So relax you silly little stud muffin you." Kaichou said with a smirk as she waltzed into the bedroom, leaving a silent Byakuya behind.



Later…

It was evening and Byakuya was busily reading from a book he brought with him when Kaichou walked through in just her jeans and a white t-shirt. She had taken her shoes and socks off in the bedroom.

"What'cha reading, Kuchiki?" Kaichou asked as she started about brewing a pot of tea.

Silence

"Okay. I get the point. The Kuchiki clan's stoic silence routine. I forgot just how much of a pain in the ass you guys can be with that." Kaichou sighed.

"Hey Blackie!" Yachiru shouted from the adjoining room. They were keeping the doors open between the two rooms intentionally.

"Yes Pinky?" Kaichou replied teasingly.

"Want to come watch cartoons in here with Kenny and me?" Yachiru asked.

"Sure kiddo, just as soon as my tea starts brewing." Kaichou replied.

Kenpachi proceeded to grumble past the door.

"Hey Kurosaki! We allowed to go on patrol?" Kenpachi asked impatiently. The fight loving Eleventh Squad Captain was getting restless and if he got restless then he might just kill something or someone at random.

"Why are you asking me? I'm not in charge." Kaichou replied. She could have sworn that Byakuya had rolled his eyes at the statement. Instantly she heard the sound of a loud thump and a sudden gust of wind blow through from the other room followed by the sound of something crashing into the ground outside from seven stories up. Naturally the thump was Kenpachi's soulless Gigai hitting the floor, the wind was his rushing past out the open balcony doors and over the railing to the ground below.

"I guess that means the beast is loose." Kaichou mumbled.

"Yep, Kenny went looking for Hollows." Yachiru said as she appeared in the doorway.

"You mean he left you behind?" Kaichou asked surprised.

"Uh-huh. Kenny wasn't having any fun so he left to go find some friends. I think he's looking for Ichi or Zappy." Yachiru explained.

"Zappy?" Kaichou asked curiously as she tried to figure out who the recipient of this new nickname was.

"Ichi's sister." Yachiru replied as Kaichou face palmed.

"Of course! Duh." Kaichou said.

"Hey want to go to the candy store with me?" Yachiru asked as Kaichou froze. Yachiru plus Candy store would equal a sleepless night.

"Uh perhaps you better stick with us grownups Yachiru." Kaichou replied as Yachiru shrugged and then scrambled over to Byakuya.

"Will you take me to the candy store Byakushi?" Yachiru asked in an effort to make the puppy dog face. Byakuya simply lowered his book enough to reveal his cold and emotionless eyes for a second before raising the book back up.

"No."

"Come on Byakushi!!!" Yachiru whined as she tried to pull him off the couch by the foot.

"Yachiru, leave Captain grumpy pants alone with his book. If he doesn't want to have fun then it's his decision." Kaichou replied.

"He's not grumpy pants." Yachiru replied.

"Huh?" Kaichou asked confused.

"Nuh-uh. Grumpy Pants is frosty head." Yachiru replied.

"Okay that narrows it down to three. Is it Jushiro Ukitake?" Kaichou asked.

"Nope that's Pasty." Yachiru replied as she rocked on her heels. It had become a guessing game.

"Okay is it General Yamamoto?" Kaichou asked but Yachiru shook her head.

"Nope that's Gramps." Yachiru replied. That one inspired Kaichou to smirk.

"I can see that one. Then it must be Hitsugaya." Kaichou said as Yachiru leapt up and down in the air.

"YOU-GUESSED-IT-YOU-GUESSED-IT!!!" Yachiru shouted excitedly.

"Okay then let's play a little guessing game. We both take turns thinking up a nickname for someone in the Soul Society and the other has to guess who it is. The rules are that you can't use the same person twice and it has to be an original nickname. Want to play?" Kaichou asked as Yachiru nodded rapidly.

"Want to play too Byakushi?" Yachiru asked.

"No."

"Your loss grumpy pants." Kaichou replied with a smirk as she and Yachiru headed into the adjoining room, leaving a rather relieved Byakuya to himself.



Later…

"Okay. Freaky face!" Yachiru giggled as she splashed around in the bubble filled water of the bathtub. Kaichou was kneeling on the tile floor next to the tub, in just a black sports bra and jeans, as she helped to bathe the young Lieutenant.

"Oh that's an easy one. Mayuri Kurotsuchi." Kaichou replied as Yachiru giggled and nodded.

"Yep! Your turn!" Yachiru said as she quickly made a beard of bubbles on her face.

"Um…Ooh I know. Feather brain." Kaichou replied as she moved around so she was sitting flat on the floor with her legs pulled up to her chest next to the tub.

"You mean Yumi…uh…Yumi…Mmm…What's Weirdo's name again?" Yachiru asked as Kaichou chuckled.

"Yumichika Ayasegawa, and yes. He's your squad's fifth seat you know." Kaichou replied as Yachiru giggled while she washed the tike's back with a washcloth.

"Okay now this one you'll never-ever-ever-ever get in a thousand years. Pencil." Yachiru said as Kaichou paused and pondered.

"Hmm…pencil. Okay is Pencil a Soul Reaper?" Kaichou asked as Yachiru shook her head.

"Nope." She replied with huge smile.

"Is he a friend of Ichigo's, or should I say berry boy?" Kaichou asked as Yachiru giggled and nodded.

"Okay. Chad was gorilla I know that. Orihime is Jiggles, can't imagine where you got that one (Pfft). Tatsuki is Firecracker. So that leaves Rukia and…OOH-OOH is it Uryu?!" Kaichou asked.

"Yep! Oh Hi Kenny!" Yachiru greeted, as she saw a blood soaked Kenpachi walk past in Soul Reaper form.

"Hey." Kenpachi replied as he reentered his Gigai. His still clean Gigai, though now braided with numerous bows and ribbons, courtesy of Yachiru and Kaichou, then walked up to the door with an amused expression.

"You're giving the brat a bath?" Kenpachi asked as Kaichou shrugged.

"Why not? She kinda brought out my maternal instincts, plus I had nothing better to do and besides we've been playing a little guessing game the whole time." Kaichou replied.

"Did you have fun Kenny?" Yachiru asked as Kenpachi entered and sat down on the top of the toilet. The lid was still down though.

"Eh I found a few pathetic weakling hollows. They were pathetic. I was hoping one of those LeBlancs would show up but they're probably too scared to fight me." Kenpachi grumbled.

"Can't imagine why." Kaichou mumbled under her breath.

"So blue-blood, where did you get some of those scars?" Kenpachi asked as he looked at Kaichou's exposed back. There were indeed some old and faded scars across her back. One of them though looked like it had been inflicted semi-recently.

"You should know as well as I do Zaraki, that we never remember where we get some of the scars we get." Kaichou replied.

"Maybe you don't but I make it a point to remember where my scars come from. Say, where's that big scar where I cut you years ago?" Kenpachi asked as Kaichou looked down at a long scar line that ran from her left shoulder, down to a little below the abdomen. The one hundred and ten year old scar tissue had almost faded into her normal skin color by this point.

"It's faded mostly but you can still see it. So glad you remembered that." Kaichou replied sarcastically.

"Not a problem." Kenpachi replied with his usual grin. Just then Byakuya entered the doorway. His hair rolls were missing and he was in a simple white t-shirt and black sweatpants with the numbers "06" on the left side of the hip.

"Captain Wrangler, if you plan on using the shower before going to bed tonight, I am here to tell you that it is available now. I am also going to bed now. Goodnight Captain Zaraki, Lieutenant Kusajishi." Byakuya said with a nod as he turned and headed back to his and Kaichou's room.

"Well…Byakuya Kuchiki actually being sociable…to a degree." Kaichou said with a smirk as she stood up.

"Are we done with our game Blackie?" Yachiru asked as Kaichou reached for a towel and dried the young Lieutenant's hair before helping her out of the tub.

"Yeah I'm afraid so. Don't worry we can continue in the morning. Now I'm going to get a bath and get to bed. Don't want to keep Captain cheerful waiting do we?" Kaichou asked as she wrapped the towel around the tyke.

"Nope. Night Blackie!" Yachiru called as Kaichou smiled and gave Yachiru a kiss on the top of the head.

"Goodnight kiddo." Kaichou said as Yachiru yawned and headed out to get into her night clothes. Kaichou then turned to Zaraki who was grinning his trademark grin and shaking slightly as if laughing silently.

"What?" Kaichou asked as she crossed her arms.

"She doesn't have a clue is what." Kenpachi replied.

"I know that. But eventually she'll learn the truth of where her name came from. Goodnight Zaraki." Kaichou said as Zaraki nodded and closed the bathroom door behind her before he prepared his own bath.



Ten minutes later…

A freshly bathed Kaichou emerged from the bathroom in her black sports bra and a pair of gray jogging shorts. She then sensed a familiar Reiatsu coming from the front room.

"You know your skill at sneaking around is getting sloppy." Kaichou said with her back turned.

"As I recall, stealth was never my specialty. Blowing things up on the other hand…now that's a different story." A familiar voice said from behind.

"As I recall, blowing things up is how you lost your other hand Kukaku." Kaichou said as she turned to stare her former Lieutenant, Kukaku Shiba, in the face as she reclined on the couch.

"Well that was an accident. How the hell were we to know that all three of us using that one Kido spell simultaneously would cause an overload?" Kukaku asked as she smoked from her pipe.

"Put that out Kukaku, this is a no smoking room." Kaichou ordered as Kukaku shrugged and complied.

"So why are you here?" Kaichou asked.

"I'm here to give you a heads up. Ukitake sent one of his third seats to me to deliver a message to you." Kukaku said as she sat up and Kaichou arched an intrigued eyebrow.

"Oh? What kind of heads up?" Kaichou asked.

"Kurotsuchi finished the portal device that would allow the Soul Reapers to infiltrate the LeBlanc world this afternoon. When he finished it, he tested it and sent a specially made device through which sent back data and information like a probe. The probe also sent back images of a massive LeBlanc invasion force ranging in the billions." Kukaku explained.

"That's not really a surprise. I expected it to be about that size." Kaichou replied but Kukaku stood up and held up a small disk shaped metal object with a blue sphere on top.

"There's more. When the probe went through, it recorded a speech that some LeBlanc bigwig was making to its underlings. This is what it recorded." Kukaku said as she pressed a button on the side and instantly a holographic image of the Collector appeared.

"Up until now, the Soul Reapers have been successful in preventing our acquiring of the Key. However by the end of the week, this will all change! Soon the key will become ours and our time of conquest will be at hand! The beginning of the Great War is nigh! First we shall conquer the Soul Society by over throwing its king! Then we shall destroy the world of the living! Soon all the worlds will be ours!" The Collector spoke amidst a cheering crowd.

"This…could be a problem." Kaichou said as the hologram ended.



End Chapter 42.

I'm just poking fun at Anime Cosplay, so don't take it personally if you're in to that sort of thing. Also I wanted to show Kaichou having a maternal moment. I will say that she and Yachiru are NOT related. What Zaraki and Kaichou were discussing will be explained in a later chapter.

Radio Kon!!!

Kon appeared at his desk with sunglasses on.

"Yes! Welcome back to Radio Kon! Moving straight on to our next guests, the first is the former Tercera Espada and the other is the current Tres Espada. Please welcome Tia Halibel and Neliel Tu Oders-…Oders-…uh…how do you pronounce that?!" Kon asked as Halibel and Nel entered.

"It's Oderschvank. O-der-sch-vank." Nel answered as Kon looked up and turned towards the two. He instantly froze in shock at the sight of two women with huge bosoms.

"Uh! Kon! Remember what your B.A.A. meetings told you!" Hanataro piped in from over the speaker.

"Right-right." Kon whimpered as he put a blindfold around his eyes.

"B.A.A?" Halibel asked as Nel sighed.

"Booby-Addicts-Anonymous. Chizuru is the president." Nel answered.

"So you are both the Tercera Espada eh?" Kon asked.

"Well actually Neliel is the Tercera and I am the Tres. Technically there is no difference but I still view myself as Neliel's subordinate out of respect." Halibel explained.

"Aww Tia." Nel replied with an appreciative blush.

"So Halibel was under you?" Kon asked with a snicker.

"Well yes. She was the Cuatro Espada when I was the Tercera. I was always on top but then she got promoted after a…small incident." Nel answered. Kon was starting to sweat from trying to resist the urge to rip off the blindfold and leap into Halibel's bosom.

"Damn Nnoitra. Always trying to stick his business where it doesn't go. He got what was coming to him eventually. That Zaraki guy had a good time with him." Halibel said.

"Oh the fun times we had with our Fraccion. It was always the two of us plus Apache, Mila-Rose, and Sun-Sun. Of course Pesche and Dondochakka would join us, I mean just us five girls would be fine but when the boys joined in it finally got interesting." Nel said as Halibel nodded. Kon was turning a shade of red from the pressure.

"Yeah but why did Pesche have to make those damn sandwiches? I mean the salami was always too salty." Halibel said as Nel shrugged. Kon was about to explode.

"Pesche really had no business with making the sandwiches. As lazy as he is, Stark was better. He and Lilynette always made the best sandwiches." Nel said as Halibel nodded in agreement. Finally Kon had enough and ripped off the blindfold.

"THAT'S IT! HERE I COME TO THE VALLEY OF THE GODS!!!" Kon cried as he leapt at Halibel but was caught in her hand by the head.

"I see our restraint has given out. And no one. Touches. ME!" Halibel growled as she charged a Cero in the same hand she held Kon in.

Outside the booth, Hanataro sighed and lowered his head as a massive explosion shook the building.

"Oh dear. Uh please tune in next time when our guest will be…this can't be right…can it?" Hanataro asked in disbelief. The door then opened and Nel and Halibel emerged.

"So do you want to go grab a sandwich?" Nel asked as Halibel nodded.

End.