9: Gender Altercations

Wit is a treacherous dart. It is perhaps the only weapon with which it is possible to stab oneself in one's own back.

-Unknown

"They are really all the same aren't they?" She thought angrily as she fled the scene. "I can't believe that I was here helping him for these last couple days! He just thought I was some dirty streetwalker! Even if I was don't you think he'd still appreciate the help the selfish prick!"

She continued for a while, slowing once she got tired to breath a little more and look around.

The streets were fairly clear for the late afternoon on a weekend. A few groups or individuals and several couples were wandering along, completely unaware of the monsters and struggles going on around them. She blinked a little as she watched the world so at peace. Her life had been like that once…before the well…before such sweet unawareness was stolen from her.

Now it was happening again…first she'd lost Inuyasha to return to this world and even the promise of a simpler life was now quickly being drawn away by this new and perhaps scarier world.

"I apologize for my thoughtlessness." Byakuya was there, she hadn't heard him or even sensed his approach. She jumped a little and turned around, blushing a bit as she heard whispers and realized the people around them were staring. Comments were already starting as to his wounds and outfit and they were in a manner of moments starting to get a crowd.

She just reacted, much as she used to whenever Inuyasha would get too open about his ears and pulled Byakuya off the main road and into an alley. Or she tugged and he relinquished his feet to follow her for the moment. She shook her head a little when they finally seemed to find an alley without anyone in it.

"You can't just wander around dressed like that and bleeding through the streets." She frowned up at him and he blinked down at her, keeping his face mostly expressionless as she chided him. "People will freak out, you are lucky no one started taking pictures of you."

"I was going to head back to my estate but you ran off." He pointed out. "Do you still wish to accompany me and exchange tales?"

She had a small frown at that, even if she wanted to she couldn't run away from it…the more she knew and understood the safer she would be, as well as anyone she might need to help in the future. She nodded a little. "That would be okay I guess…"

She was still angry but he had at least apologized, which was something that seemed like it would be hard for him to do. She would have to let it go so she could learn more of what was happening.

"You need to avoid the streets though like that." She frowned a little as she re-evaluated his wounds, a couple of the slashes were deeper than he let on. "Another issue men have, always acting tough even if they're in pain or danger."

"Then I imagine this will have to do." He commented.

Kagome had her mouth hanging open. It had happened so immediately she didn't have any clue what to do other than gape. She was in the air, he'd picked her up and they seemed to be sliding through reality at a pace that made her dizzy, it was exponentially faster than she'd ever moved with anyone in the feudal era. They had already settled somewhere else. When she finally noted for certain he was carrying her she was already being set down.

"You could have asked first." She huffed a little. "There's another manly trait; all assumptions!"

"Would you have said yes?" He blinked at her. "Why were women so difficult?"

"Well…probably…" She frowned more. "But that's not the point…"

"Come." He nodded toward the inside, there was no reason to continue to argue over such a point.

She frowned but walked after him, it seemed like he wasn't going to listen at the moment anyway…oh if she could tell him to sit…

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

"He's going to be all right?" Rukia was still a little surprised at the tale Ishida gave her of the short time he was back in the mortal world. "I wonder how he got trapped in the mortal realm…perhaps that was some sort of back up plan for Aizen, I heard that he's fled with a handful of others back to Hueco Mundo."

"What about Orihime and the rest that were there?" Ishida blinked a little, trying not to sound too concerned for his fellow students when he posed the question.

"Ichigo apparently found her, they're being seen by Captain Unohana for wounds." Rukia replied, smiling a little but not rubbing in the anxiety the Quincy felt. "I guess that a few of the Arrancar and Kaname Tosen managed to escape with Aizen but some of the stories are pretty outrageous that I've heard from the onlookers so I'll have to wait for any official report for more information."

"So this battle we won but we're still worried about the war." Ishida nodded a little at the information. "I imagine I'm done here in soul society then. Are you returning to the mortal world?"

"Well, I am the soul reaper for your town but it depends on what soul society needs. We also suffered losses and I'm not sure what will need to be done. I might be busy with helping the squads before I'm sent back to my usual assignment." She shrugged once. "Though I'll be there to check on brother if he doesn't return sometime soon. You should meet up with the others so you can decide when you'll be heading back. You still have school to return to, so I wouldn't recommend lingering too long."

"Yes." Ishida nodded to that sentiment. "I guess I'll have to go and wait on Ichigo like usual."

Rukia had to offer a small smile and a wave before she headed off toward where Renji was helping some of the injured to see what she could do.

Ishida glanced after her and then toward the building that was working as the makeshift hospice…then headed back toward the gate he'd taken to return to the mortal world to begin with. He had already said it; he had no reason to remain here…

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

"Sir, are you well?" Tosen asked, standing near his slick-haired boss on the top of a tower somewhere in the endless wasteland of Hueco Mundo. A torch the only light, as there was no illumination offered from a starless sky.

"I hadn't foreseen someone defeating Gin." Aizen answered honestly, he was irritated but showing that wouldn't do him any good in front of the calm blind ex-captain behind him. "Though it is a loss to us we don't have time now to grieve. With the loss of the Hogyoku we will have to move to our secondary plan immediately. Are the troops in the places that I requested?"

"Three of them have not reported in as such." Tosen replied with a small shake of the beads in his hair to accompany his negative answer. "The other four are waiting as asked but there was a fragmented report of some sort of captain level interloper."

"Byakuya shouldn't have been in the condition to do anything, but the rest of the captains were with us…perhaps Urahara, I didn't see him during the battles." Aizen commented. "We'll have to learn who it is that is killing our members. Take whichever members you see fit and have them replace the currently missing ones. I will have the issue of this killer dealt with."

"Sir." It was a sort of positive answer and a moment later the blind man had vanished, off to do his assigned task.

Aizen stood for a moment, eyes looking out at the sandy cool desert below though not really seeing it, mind busy with the dozens of plots that needed to be accomplished. "Ulquiorra."

The green eyed arrancar stepped up from the inner portions of the tower where they'd relocated. His face expressionless - though that was nothing new. "Lord Aizen."

"You heard what we were speaking about." the former captain finally turned his eyes from the desert to consider one of his more favored - and still alive troops. Ulquiorra had no damage remaining from the battles that had taken place, that Orihime girl was always too nice about healing her enemies. Though she had worked to his advantage yet again.

The pokerfaced man just nodded to the question. "I can attend to the issue of the person attacking the other arrancar."

"Good." Aizen moved his eyes to the stormy sky this time. "IIf the battle becomes too much then return here. I'd rather have information than the lack of another of the arrancar. Be on your way then."

Ulquiorra simply bowed and vanished much the same way Tosen had.

"I don't have too long to pull this off, though at the very least he should buy some time." Aizen frowned then as no one else was left around, plans going awry wasn't something he was accustomed too and he held in the deeper desire to spread some rampant destruction to wane the growing rage at the issues that were cropping up.

Unexpected circumstances were a wrench in any villain's master plan and this was starting to dismantle the fine machinery of the factory he'd built…

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

It had been almost a full minute.

And it wasn't just one of those times where you think it feels like time is really lingering, Kagome could see a fine clock on the wall behind the now finely dressed captain. Byakuya had changed his outfit into a dark blue suit that had been fitting to him perfectly, his sword was still nearby but he wasn't actually wearing it, he had taken out the hairpieces and Kagome had to admit that when he let his hair fall freely like that there was a certain sexiness to it.

Of course, that wasn't the first thing on her mind with the clock starting on minute two.

She had finished her tale of the past and was convinced through the long silence that he thought she was a complete nut. She was blushing by the time he finally offered her a response.

"That is some story." He continued to stare at her and that didn't help her blush. "It has been sometime sense I heard any of the tales about priests but it does make some sense, from what I understood the priests and priestesses of old lost much of their power but that their descendants in the various areas of the world had become the Quincy. It explains why your energy so resembles theirs."

Kagome nodded a little, taking in the extra piece of information. He had already given her a good if simplified explanation of who he was and the spiritual world he was a part of, even the war. They had chatted for many hours between themselves and the moon had edged away the day as it rose. It had been some time sense the sun had set. The lack of light a silent alarm as to just how late it had gotten. She had called her mother earlier and did mention she wasn't sure when she would be home but she felt guilty for making her family worry…

"If she knew just how dangerous this was she wouldn't be nearly so understanding." Kagome thought to herself as she looked at the stars from inside. The room where they were seated had a gloriously magnificent sunroof, clear windows offering her a rare view of the dark horizon.

"If you are a true priestess as you say then you will need to be trained." He couldn't guess her thoughts, assuming she was more amazed by the new things she was being told. "There will be many a hollow or other creature of a criminal nature attracted to your energy. It is purer and more natural so it is more of a delicacy to them."

"Why is it they always wanna target the pure ones?" Kagome thought with a small smile at her own joke. "It makes sense, but I can't miss school…mom would go nuts."

"I'd think a trainer could be arranged in the mortal realm for you." He commented, sipping at the drinks he'd had brought to them. Other than the wondrous home and expensive suits he also had various servants at his beck and call.

"Why couldn't you just teach me?" She had forgotten she even had a drink before he had drank some of his. "You are a noble and priests used to be considered nobility…maybe the training is similar."

He resisted the frown that he wanted to offer. "Is she comparing herself to me?"

"I have much to do as a captain. I would not have the time to offer for such training…and nobles and priests being similar not-withstanding…the training for soul reaver's would be too suffering for a mortal to accomplish." He gave her the most diplomatic answer he could muster for her.

Kagome was about to say something else when one of the servants entered the room again, bowing deeply and holding it toward Byakuya.

"It's like I'm not even here." Kagome pondered sarcastically. "If he's really a nobleman it makes sense…I'm just some random commoner…gotta love the feudal system."

After Byakuya nodded the man spoke, though was still bent over respectfully. "I have received a missive from soul society, you are to travel to the shop of Kisuke Urahara and take his assistance in returning to your station with the greatest haste."

"Understood, that is all." The haunty tone of voice he used with people was something that was so cold it made Kagome surprised he'd been so kind with her this whole time.

He would definitely be leaving then if he was called, at least he seemed to have a sense of duty with that pride. She got up. "Well, I should be heading home then anyway, I bet it'll make Mom feel a lot better if I return tonight. Thanks for the snack and all the information…guess I'll be seeing you Kuchiki-kun."

She waved and gave him a friendly smile before heading back toward the way she had come in, she doubted she'd actually see him again but it seemed like a good idea to at least leave it on a positive note.

Of course, she was unaware of how much that particular nickname bothered him.

He frowned after her a moment but rose himself, he needed to return to his duties, he would send someone from his squad back to keep an eye on her until something more official would be done. Honestly a little relieved to just be returning to work…the mortal world was always such a bother…

End Chapter

The plot thickens! …well not really…it's just sorta opening up. Figured I'd toss in the emo-guy for he seems pretty powerful and to have a good set of fans in his emotionlessness mask like state of emoness? Okay well now that I'm done making up words I'll stop babbling…for now!!

-Aura

P.S. Thanks for all the continued reviews. They make me feel warm and fuzzy and let me know I'm not writing this just for shits and giggles - there are folks out there that like my deranged mind.