Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. In this chapter, I own Jonouchi Uchiki and Kalinda Yochi. That is all.

Hope you all enjoy!

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Chapter 8: A Day Out

Jonouchi yawned as he walked into his kitchen to fix himself something to eat. He wasn't too hungry, a small sandwhich was fine with him. He reviewed the events from the day before in his head, smiling. There was no way he would turn Rukia over to the Soul Society.

He sat down at his table, nibbling the crust of the sandwhich. A knock soon came at his door, and he called for them to enter.

"I heard you were back already." a voice said. The door opened, and in walked the 3rd Squad Vice - Captain, Kaze Akurei. "I've brought somebody with me." he said as he was followed in by a dark haired girl. She was just as tall as Jonouchi, about 5 '5'', maybe a bit taller. Her hazel eyes blended well with her shoulder length, dark brown hair, and instead of the traditional Shinigami Robes, she wore a basic black kimono. "This is our newest Squad member, straight from the academy." Kaze Akurei said, pausing for a moment afterwards. He suddenly threw his hand up, and a gust of wind hit the girl from behind, blowing her closer to them. She gasped, but got the hint that she should introduce herself.

"My name is Koukeisha Karasu." she smiled.

"She passed the graduation exam with ease." Kaze Akurei mentioned. "We really need to consider which seat she should be placed in."

"How good is she? Would a higher rank be a better choice?" Jonouchi asked.

"She's pretty talented. She knows almost all 99 Destructive Arts. She's a master at using Flash Step, but her offensive abilities aren't too great." he said, eyeing her.

She glared at him. "My offense is just fine." she growled.

"Well, she sounds quite interesting." Jonouchi smiled. "Is the 3rd seat open?" he asked.

"Are you kidding?" Kaze Akurei snapped. "Yamamoto wouldn't allow you to place her in such a high rank to start with. I'd suggest a 5th seat position." he said.

Jonouchi laughed. "That's just as high!" he thought to himself. "That sound ok to you?" Jonouchi turned and asked Koukeisha.

"Sure!" she exclaimed. "That would be great!"

"Well, you're really talented, we'll give you that." Jonouchi said.

"Thank you, Captain!" she said, bowing.

"Mmmhmmm. Don't mention it." he told her, smiling. "You are dismissed, 5th seat Koukeisha - san.

"Thanks again, Campbells - san!" she called. "Mmm mmm good!" she laughed Flashing out of the room. Kaze Akurei laughed.

"What did she call me?" Jonouchi asked, embarassed.

"Nevermind." Kaze Akurei replied. "Now, why ARE you back after just one day?" he asked. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

"I couldn't handle it. My Gigai was malfunctioning, so I came back. I reported to Yamamoto about it and he suggested sending someone from my Squad in place of me." Jonouchi laughed nervously. "Still haven't picked yet... Maybe that can be Koukeisha's first mission?" he said, trying to change the subject.

"Stop with the damn jokes." he said, glaring. "Tell me what REALLY happened. Jonouchi just sighed.

"I guess there's no use hiding it." he said. "But PROMISE me. you WILL keep this a secret. Between you and I. That is all." Jonouchi glared at Kaze Akurei.

"Does Yamamoto know?" he asked Jonouchi.

"Yes. Well, most of it. I left out a few minor details."

"Then I'll keep it to myself. Just as long as Yamamoto knows."

Jonouchi explained the situation that took place in Karakura Town the day before. How th Hollows swarmed the streets, about the Gillian. And how a Shinigami Substitute was able to hold off a Cero. He told him about Rukia, the Shinigami who lost her powers to the same Shinigami Substitute, who risked his life to save his friends and family.

Kaze Akurei was quite shocked, but agreed not to turn over Rukia or Ichigo. "It's insane..." he said, nervously. "Somethings going on." he stood up, stretching. "If my prediction is correct, it won't be long before they find your friends."

"That's been worrying me." Jonouchi replied.

"Well, I'll try to think of something. In the mean time, I better get back to work." Kaze Akurei said, walking to the doorway. "Later." he said, Flashing away.

Jonouchi stretched. He knew he could trust his Vice - Captain. "He might have a bad attitude..." Jonouchi thought. "...but he's a good kid." He walked over and shut the door. He turned to walk away, and the door swung back open, hitting him hard and knocking him over.

"Oh my..." came a surprised voice. Jonouchi looked up to see Kalinda Yochi standing in the doorway.

"Um..." he hesitated. "Hi..." She helped him up, glaring at him. "What?" he asked innocently.

"What are you doing back alread?" she asked angrily. "You said you'd be gone for a week. One day later, I come to clean up for you. And here you are." she said, poking him in the forehead.

"Are you mad?" he asked her. She sighed and smiled.

"No. It just would've been nice to know you were back."

"My Gigai was screwed up." he said, making up an excuse. He didn't want to make her worry over the Gillian incident.

"You don't have to explain yourself to me. I'm just glad you're back." she said.

After a few moments of awkward silence, she spoke up. "So who was that girl who left a little bit ago?"

"Oh. Kaze Akurei brought her here. She's the newest addition to the 3rd Squad."

"I'm sure..." she smirked.

"It's true!" Jonouchi defended. "Kaze and I decided to give her a 5th Seat. She passed the Academy Graduation exam with a breeze."

"Ok, ok. I believe you." she laughed. "So, did you have a good time?" she asked him.

"Not really. It was kinda boring. I missed being here." he replied.

"Aw, you just missed me and you know it!" she said, meaning it only as a joke.

"Yeah, I know." he smiled, causing her to blush.

"So, why ARE you back so soon." she asked, changing the subject.

"I already told you." he said. "My Gigai was malfunctioning so I sent in a replacement." he paused for a moment an smirked. "Like you didn't miss me too." he laughed.

"You were gone less than a day..." she scoffed. "Don't give yourself too much credit."

"Well..." Jonouchi smiled, suddenly being hit with an idea. "I guess a movie is out of the question?" she blushed, looking quite startled.

"Wha... What about your work?" she asked.

"I don't have anything to do on saturday." he said.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt..." she said. "Fine. Saturday."

"Meet me at the Senkaimon at 7:00P.M. Saturday night." he said. She turned to leave and pointed to Jonouchi.

"Do NOT be late..." she said firmly. She smiled and leaned toward him, kissing him on the cheek. She snickered at his startled look, and Flash Stepped away.

The next few days went really slow, but eventually they passed. Jonouchi smiled. He didn't see Kalinda around the Senkaimon, so he knew he was early. Just as he planned. He waited a few moments, and nearly had a heart attack when somebody grabbed his shoulders and screamed. He quickly turned, and there stood Kalinda, smirking.

"Where have you been?"she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

"What!?" Jonouchi exclaimed. "I was waiting for you!"

"Well, I've been here." she said, linking arms with him. "Shall we go?" she asked. Both walked through the gate and before long, they were in the familiar town of Karakura. At least, to Jonouchi it was. They walked down the street, people staring at Kalinda's odd lavender colored hair.

"Here we are." Jonouchi said, leading her into the building.

"What are we going to see?" she asked him.

"What do you mean?" he replied. "A movie..." Kalinda stared puzzled at his blank expression and laughed.

"WHICH movie?" she asked him again, pointing to the theaters schedual.

"There's more than one?" he asked. She laughed some more and sighed.

"I forgot. There were no movie theaters when you were still living." she paused, thinking of how to describe it. "Well, new movies come out all the time. People come to the theater and buy tickets to see the movies." she started. "There are hundreds of movies, and several different types. Sorry, I forgot you haven't died just recently."

"Yeah... I miss the old air." he sighed.

"That one." she said, pointing. "We'll go see that." she pulled him along, Flash Stepping past the ticket booth, into the correct theater.

Both took a seat and the movie started. The spooky background music sent chills down Kalinda's spine. She sat and waited, hoping that the feeling would pass. The movie started with a brutal murder scene, she was beginning to feel sick. She had a deathgrip on Jonouchi's arm.

"You ok?" he asked her, worried. She slowly nodded as something popped out in the movie. She felt her heart jump, but stayed silent. She would NOT let him see that she was scared.

The movie eventually ended, and they left the theater. She had forgotten how much horror movies scared her. "Never again..." she panted, heart beating rapidly. "I HATE horror movies."

"That scared you?" Jonouchi asked. "Come on! I mean, we fight Hollows everyday. That was nothing." he laughed.
"Shut up!" she blushed, punching him in the back of the head.

"Ow... That hurt..." he said.

"Good!"

They walked around a bit more, trying to decide what to do. Jonouchi thought for a bit, and recalled working at that restaurant.

"Wanna get something to eat?" he asked.

"That actually sounds really good right about now." she smiled, clinging to his arm.

"There's a pretty good place nearby." he said.

"And HOW do you plan on paying for this?" she asked him.

"Good question..." he laughed. "Well, if you don't mind, I could cook for you this time?" She paused and smirked.

"You, cook?" she snickered.

"I can cook..." he frowned, taking offence to the comment. "What do you think I do for my meals, huh? he asked her.

"Before I started cooking for you, I thought you ate all your meals out." she smiled. "Either that, or you'd steal your meals."

"I am not a theif!" he scowled, feeling hurt.

"Well, ok then. I'll let you cook for me today." she smirked.

Both returned to Soul Society through the Senkaimon, and returned to his house. "Make yourself at home." he smiled, letting her in. "I'm going to get started with dinner. What would you like?" he asked her, looking in the refrigerator

"Hmmm..." she thought outloud. "I'm really not sure. Do you have a menu?" she smirked.

"No..." he said, confused.

"Surprise me..." she said, stretching out on a nearby sofa.

She laid there for a bit, wondering what it was that he was making. After a few minutes, she began to doze off. She listened to the sizzling sound of the frying pan. Her eyes grew heavy, and soon she was off to sleep.

She heard the roar of the ocean waves. The air smelled salty, she could distinctfully taste it. She relaxed as she laid out on the sand, looking to the cloudless sky. The sun felt warm on her skin. There was nobody around. It was so calm, but she wasn't happy. She felt lonely. Like at any moment, she would just break down and cry. She wanted to cry. This emptiness scared her.

She got to her feet and looked to the sun. There was something strange about it, something oddly familiar. There was a loud screeching noise, and in a few moments, a stream of fire was shot down from the sun. She paniced and ran as the wave of fire approached her. She struggled, but didn't stop. She couldn't stop. If she did, it would be the end.

She continued across the beach, stumbling over the sand dunes. Looking back, she could see that the flames were drawing near. She hurried, trying to leave what seemed like an endless beach. As she hopped another sand dune, something caught her foot and she slid, landing on her stomach.

She gasped as she fell, looking around for the cause of her fall. There was a small object protruding from the sand, shining a brilliant red. She tugged the object from the sand, surprised by what the object was. It was her Zanpakuto. The moment she drew the sword from the sand, she was hit by the stream of fire from the sky.

The flames hit her body and bounced around her, reforming directly in front of her. She stared in amazement as the flames re-assembled, a loud screech again blaring across the beach.

The flames took the form of a giant bird. It stared at her, a sorrowful cry escaping its opened beak. Kalinda began to reach for it, trying to feel the warmth of its flames. But she felt nothing. It was strangely cold.

The bird roared angrily, and the fire began to flare out. There was a sudden change in temperature, the wave of heat throwing her backwards and she landed on her back. She sat up, clutching her shoulder. She had sat up just in time to see the bird charge her. She was engulfed in the flames, severe pain overtaking her body. She gasped hearing another screech before she blacked out.

She shot up from the sofa, a loud gasp escaping her lips.

"Bad dream?" came a voice. She looked to her left, noticing Jonouchi sitting next to her, arm around her waist.

She blushed, wiping away a few tears that had gathered in her eyes. "How long was I out?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"About fifteen minutes is all." he replied.

"That's it?" She had thought it was much longer. He nodded.

"Dinner should be ready any minute now."

"Great..." she sighed. "I'm starving."

Jonouchi and Kalinda both sat down for dinner. She eyed the meal in front of her, actually quite surprised.

"You made this?" she asked, smirking.

"Yes... I did..." he replied, noticing the teasing smirk she gave him. He watched as she took a bite and smiled. "I hope you don't mind seafood." he said, also beginning to eat.

Both he and Kalinda finished supper, and Jonouchi collected the dishes. "So, how was it?" he asked, drying his hands off.

"Excellent." she replied, smiling. She got up and sat down on the sofa, watching him.

"What?" he asked, puzzled.

"Nothing..." she said. "Don't worry about the dishes right now. Take a break." she said, motioning for him to take a seat. Jonouchi walked over and sat down.

"So, did you have a good time today?" he asked her.

"Of course I did." she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm tired..." she yawned, cuddling close to him. Jonouchi blushed, as she pulled herself up to him so they were face to face. He gently pressed his lips against hers, and she smiled. "I love you... Jou - kun..." she said, smiling. Before he could reply, both of them drifted off into a deep sleep.

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Chapter 8, done. Hope you all liked it, and sorry it took so long. I'm going to get to work on chapter 9 ASAP, it should only be a couple weeks. From here on, the plot starts to unfold, so keep checkin back! Thanks! and remeber to review! haha.