Livia woke to the sounds of the other two girls waking up and getting ready for school. She yawned, stretched, and felt a cold nose on her hand that nearly made her jump. It was Genkaku, and he licked her hand, tail wagging. {Hey, boy. How was last night?} she asked him with her mind. He huffed out a woof, and then lay down beside the bed. Livia took a deep sigh, and then convinced her body to get up.

Rukia was sitting on her own bed, looking at Livia as if she were studying her. Livia decided to pretend ignorance, so said in as cheery of a voice as she could manage in the morning, said, "Good morning…" and meandered off to the bathroom, her three hounds trailing after her like the obedient dogs that they were. Genkaku was a white Chihuahua, Chuujitsu was a pale lab, and Chinmoku a Neapolitan Mastiff. They were a motley lot, the 20 hounds, but they worked together better than the sledding teams that win the Iditarod. And right now, they were using their special abilities to make her seem like a normal human—Genkaku making her spirit ribbon appear white, Chinmoku silencing her spiritual pressure so that others were not affected by her spiritual pressure or could feel it, and Chuujitsu binding the two together with loyalty, as that was what his name meant.

Yuzu made breakfast like she did every morning, and because she had gotten up so early, Livia decided to take a shower. She could feel a routine in the making, but she was fine with it. Ichigo and Rukia were talking, Yuzu and Karin were filling their plates and talking…which left Ishin to talk to, and Livia really didn't want to have his overly energetic actions and speech this early in the morning. So she took her food, scarfed it down, and went back to the bedroom to do something with her hair. After playing with it for a little while, she pulled it back into a messy bun, as was common in the states for high school girls to do. She quickly dressed in the uniform, and marveled at how a skirt that short could offer cover for any part of her butt, but she had seen Rukia wearing the uniform, and nothing was uncovered, so she didn't worry too much about it.

And then Ichigo was yelling for her to hurry up, or they would be late for school. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her book bag, and ran downstairs to catch Ichigo and Rukia standing by the door. "Sorry, guys…I just wanted to do something with my hair before we left. I kinda want to make an impression on people…" and she let her voice trail off, shrugging as she slipped on her shoes and followed them out the door.

They met two guys on their way to school, Keigo and Asano as Ichigo introduced them. Keigo was overly exuberant, just like Ishin, but Ichigo easily beat him to the ground with a clothesline arm to his face. The introductions were made, Ichigo made a few vague warnings about how the two were womanizers, and left it at that. They tried to make conversation on the way to school, but once it became apparent that she wasn't a morning person, they soon left her alone. 'My conversation wouldn't've been that stimulating, anyway,' she thought. She had been awful at flirting when she was alive, and that talent didn't suddenly decide to develop once she became a soul reaper. She thought that Kootta had taken any ability she might've had, and hogged it all to herself. Frickin' perv.

At school, she was forced to introduce herself to the entire class before she took a seat in the back row. She was in the same class as Ichigo and his friends, and she was almost relieved that they were all there. It was easier to keep an eye on them all when they were always together like this, and that made it less of a hassle for her to avoid them at each turn if she had to leave to take care of some business, such as hollow or minor arrancar.

And so the day went on, and Livia was able to zone out most of the time. English was her first language, so she didn't have any issues with that class, science, math and art were all easy for her. She might not be able to flirt, but she had been able to draw like a professional since she was in high school…when she was alive. PE was OK as well, as her gigai was specifically designed to allow her some of her normal movements, as if she were in soul form and not just in a false body. She awed a vast majority of the students with her abilities in all of the classes, but she brushed it off. Livia might enjoy knowing that she was better because of the many years she went through high school, but she never really gloated her abilities.

And all the while, the hounds were near her, watching her and keeping everything about her in check. She tried to ignore them, but occasionally she caught herself looking at them and talking to them with her mind. It was just a natural thing that she always did that she didn't even notice how often she did it…until now.

So she banished all the hounds, willing to take the risk of having someone pull up spirit ribbons and seeing her red one. As the dogs vanished with their eerie howls that made several kids in the room shiver, Kootta reappeared beside her. She had one delicate eyebrow raised, and asked, Was that really necessary? I mean, they are helping you keep everything hidden…why are you putting yourself…at…risk… Kootta looked around her, a smug smile appearing on her face. No way. You summoned me. In a class full of guys. You ought to have known better by now, dear Livia. Now I will be bugging you about hitting on all of these hot young men.

{Just shut up and pay attention to the teacher for me. Let me know if she calls on me, and what the answer is, alright?} Kootta pouted slightly, but then nodded, and looked to the front of the classroom.

Livia pretended to be paying attention to the teacher in the last class of the day, but she couldn't. It was bothering her, the lack of activity that she felt around her, the lack of hollows that were supposed to be flooding the area. It was too strange, and it was really worrying her mind—like a brain teaser. Where were they?

As they were finally let out of class, Livia approached Ichigo, who was talking to Orihime, Chad, Ishida, and Rukia. "Um…Ichigo? I'm going to go out for a walk. I'll stop by the house to drop my things off in a little bit." He nodded, a worried expression crossing his face. Livia smiled. "It'll be alright. I just want to get my walk over with now, in case I don't have time to after doing my homework. I'll be back before it gets dark." So she turned around and waved, leaving the room and exiting the school building. She meandered for a little, in case someone noticed her, and then made her way—discretely—to Urahara's shop.

Jinta and Ururu Were both cleaning up the shop as she swung by. Her spiritual pressure hidden, they didn't notice her at first. So when she tapped Jinta on the head with the hilt of her manifested Zanpaku'to, He turned and nearly jumped out of his shoes. Ururu started to giggle, and Livia was just laughing. "That wasn't funny, guys. And besides, how am I not able to feel you spiritual presence…well, anywhere?"

Livia just grinned slightly maliciously. "Wouldn't you like to know, Jinta. I'll tell you later, but first I need to talk to your boss…" And speak of the devil, around the door came Urahara, yawning as if he just got up from a nap. "Urahara, I need to speak to you…privately."

He just gave Livia a slightly quizzical look, then said, "Right this way, Olivia. Let's go to one of the other rooms." So Livia went inside, and sat her book bag down near the counter. He then looked at the two kids and said, "Remember guys, if anyone comes over, they are not to know that Olivia here is a soul reaper. Don't blow it, or you will ruin her career, and the King himself may order your heads to be permanently removed from your bodies." The two gulped, and then started to furiously work again.

They went into one of the other rooms, and they both sat down, kneeling. Livia willed herself out of her Gigai, leaving it in a sitting position, but now her soul form sitting beside it. "This shouldn't take too long, so I'll keep it brief. I was sent out here to help control the hollow situation. There are supposed to be hollow and Arrancarr appearing everywhere, and hollow flooding the streets." Livia smacked her hand down on the table. Livia saw Kootta jump out of the corner of her eye, and that reminded her that she was there. It was just so natural for her to be around…she continued with what she was saying. "Where are all the damned hollow, Urahara? Where are the arrancar? Where is that rogue captain that you keep telling me about…this Aizen person?" She stood up, and amazingly, her Gigai did the same. It was because she kept the spiritual link between them, like she did the first time that she met Urahara. "Why the hell am I even here if there is no issue at hand?"

Urahara just sat there for a moment, before he said, "Well, Livia, Aizen is currently in Hueco Mundo, gathering his forces for the attack here in Karakura town. Because he is calling his forces to him, less are appearing here in the real world. Arrancarr aren't showing up because he has called them all back to his side, and they stay there like the obedient dogs that they are. Because the last time any Arrancarr showed up, the captain and lieutenants here in the living world were overwhelmed, you were called here to help out. Nothing more, nothing less. So keep up your façade of a student from America…and only help where there is too much for the others to handle, got it?"

Livia glared at Urahara. He was such an insufferable bastard at times…

Livia! I feel Rukia's spiritual pressure coming! Kootta started to fade, and the three hounds appeared again. Livia slipped back into her gigai, and sat there. "Shit…she's already here…"

"Urahara! I need to speak with you." And now Rukia was in the store. 'Shit shit shit shit shit!!' Livia thought, pivoting so that she had her weight on one foot, and the other knee on the ground, looking towards the door.

She heard the rustle of clothing, and saw Urahara sit up. "Let me take care of this, and then you can leave." And so he walked out the door, and started a conversation with Rukia. She heard him walk Rukia up to the front of the store, where she couldn't see into the back rooms. Livia quietly slipped open the screen door, and listened to what they were talking about.

"…but her spirit ribbon is white. I swear, Urahara, that the girl living with the Kurosakis is a soul reaper. Her spiritual pressure that day that I came back home was off the charts, even greater than Ichigo's. I was just wondering if you knew anything about her, or if you could get any information on her from your connections."

"Hmm…well, I'll see what I can do. By the way, I need to know this girl's name before I can do any searching."

"Her name is Rei Olivia Seishin, as she introduced herself. She used the American version of introduction, as she comes from America, so Seishinn is her family name…" There was a moment of silence before Rukia spoke up again. "Urahara…who's school bag is that?"

'Shit!' Livia thought, trying to think of a way to save herself. And an idea suddenly came to her. She ran back to the bathroom with padded footfalls, flushed the toilet, and then walked up to the front. "Thank you, Mr. Urahara for the use of…your…bathroom…" She looked at Rukia's stunned expression, and tried her best to look confused as well. "Rukia, what are you doing here? Isn't this kind of out of the way from the Kurosaki's?"

Rukia glared at Livia, and said, "I could ask you the same thing. Why are you out here?"

Urahara started talking again at that moment. "Oh, she takes walks by here nearly every night. I was surprised to see her come by this early today, but she explained that she had homework to get to, or something along those lines." He smiled at Rukia, who now directed her glare at him.

"But still, seriously, why are you here, Rukia?" Livia asked, her face full of curiosity.

Rukia's face started to turn red with frustration. "I just felt like walking this way, and Urahara here was good friends with my parents. Is that such a hard thing to understand?" she said in a defensive voice.

Livia backed up a step. "No, but I was just curious. I'm sorry." She turned back to Urahara, at the same time calling out a fourth hound, Shinjitsu, the Norwegian Elk hound, to watch the conversation and to report to her once they were done talking. "Thank you again, Mr. Urahara. I'll stop by again tomorrow on my walk." She turned to Rukia just before she left, and said, "Bye, Rukia. I'll see you at home."

And she walked away, gritting her teeth at the fact she was nearly caught. Again. {Is it just my luck, Genkaku, that I keep having close encounter while I'm here? You know, one day I'm going to be caught…and then I will have lots of shit to answer for. Especially Renji.} Genkaku growled at Renji's name. {Oh, take it easy. He was a friend, even thought we had to fight him to figure out our strength, and for training. He was a really nice guy, for a lieutenant. Byakuya was just intimidating…} and so Livia kept talking to the hounds like this until she got home, where she had to finish the sickeningly easy work that had been assigned to her.

And that was another night that the gang got together at the Kurosaki's home. The first to arrive were Hitsugaya and Matsumoto, the latter waving like an idiot at Livia, and quickly walking over to her to talk about…something. Livia's mind wasn't really on the conversation. It was on the people that seem to come through the door in waves.

The next wave was Ichida and Chad. And then Orihime, who also came over to talk to Livia and Matsumoto. Then there was a bald man and one that had some weird eye decorations…colored fake lashes?

And the last to come through is the one that made Livia pale, much to Orihime's and Matsumoto's shock. "Livia, are you alright? Livia?"

Livia just shook her head, and said, "Yea, I'm fine. I just thought that I was seeing an ex boyfriend of mine walk in. Who is that guy with the red hair?"

Orihime looked, and giggled. "That's Renji, a friend of all of ours. He can act tough, but he is really a nice guy at heart." Orihime leaned closer, and whispered, "Everyone knows that he has a secret crush on Rukia."

Livia was still looking at Renji, and she said his name just once. And upon uttering his name, the person of her intense scrutiny looked at her, and also froze. But he must've quickly shook it off because her spiritual pressure felt like a normal humans. But, unlike the other guys, he walked towards them, his eyes plastered on Livia. "C'mon, guys. Let's get upstairs." As they all said their affirmatives, his eyes still didn't leave hers.

So, to try and throw off suspicion, she said, "Umm…do I…know you? You seem familiar, but…not. They said your name was Renji, and it's a pleasure to meet you…but I can't shake this feeling…" Then Livia's eyes brightened, and said, "I know! I saw someone who looked like you on the plane ride here!! Did you recently visit the states?"

Renji's expression was that of a baffled male, and he just shook his head. "No, I've never been to this 'States' place that you're talking about. I'm sorry, it was nice to meet you to…" and he left it empty for Livia's name.

"Seishin Livia. And it's a pleasure to meet you, too." She held out her hand for his shocked expression. Her face fell slightly, and her hand did too. "I'm sorry…I won't shake your hand if you don't want me to…" and she turned and walked away, her demeanor saying that she was hurt.

And all that that insufferable male did was turn around and walk up the stairs. Oh, well. That would make him leave her alone until he got up the guts to talk to her again. She giggled to herself once, then trotted outside to sit on the roof, like she said that she usually did at night. That was when Shinjitsu came running though the air, and skidded to a stop right in front of her. "Good job, Shinjitsu. Go and rest with Kootta, and tell her what happened. She'll tell me later tonight, in my dreams."

Shinjitsu let his tongue loll out of his mouth in a doggie-smile, then disappeared. At that moment, Rukia appeared in the street below, and she jumped—jumped, damn it, where everyone could see her!—to Ichigo's window. And so the conference started. And it started, with Rukia asking about Livia.

"Urahara is taking an interest in the girl. The last time this happened, it was with Chad and Orihime, and they both had their own spiritual powers. Do you think that she could have her own spiritual powers?"

Renji snorted. "It's possible…I'm pretty sure, actually, that she is the reincarnation of a former member of squad 6. Remember that spirit of the sword that we encountered a while ago? Well, this girl looks exactly like the woman who wielded her. AND, to add to things, she has the same name. But I know that she died, so the only explanation is that she is a reincarnation."

"Which would explain," Rukia said, "why sometimes I feel as if I'm looking at a fellow soul reaper, and not a normal human. Maybe we should talk to Urahara about her, get him to find out what her spiritual ability is." Livia had to hold back a laugh. Her spiritual abilities were so much, that they didn't even know that she was a Shinigami…that's what Urahara would say if he was allowed to say anything.

"Well, whatever she is, that isn't what we're here to talk about." Ichigo said. "Has the Soul Society installed that…thing in your apartment yet, Orihime?"

"Oh, yes, it's done. We can probably use my home as the meeting place from now on…" She trailed off, then said, "If Livia has spiritual abilities, wouldn't she be able to see soul reapers? Wouldn't that be the easiest was to figure out if she has any abilities at all?"

The others seemed to think about it for a moment, because the room was silent but for breathing. And that made Livia think. How was she going to react to one of them appearing in front of her in soul form? It would explain many of the quirks about her, if any of the others were to notice her talking to the dogs…and she would be involved in the meetings. And that last point is what decided her. She would "see" the soul reapers in their soul forms, if only for that one reason. And she could say that she already had her powers under mediocre control…and she would show dogs that Renji hadn't seen before, and they could be her spiritual power. She nodded to herself, her mind made up. And, since that was decided, she could relax.