Chapter 24 takes place during the time Kaze is in the physical world.

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Chapter 24 : In Waiting

Jonouchi sighed as he stared off into the distance. His trusty 5th Seat, Koukeisha, repeatedly piled paper work onto his desk. "Why am I doing this again?" He asked her, smiling.

"Because, CAPTAIN, it's your JOB. Part of it anyway." she laughed, laying another stack of papers. "That's about all of it." she said, taking a step back.

"That's ALL of it?" Jonouchi asked, staring at the massive piles of papers that lay before him.

"For now." she smirked. "I'm sure there will be more later."

"Wonderful." Jonouchi smiled sarcasticly.

"Don't worry, not as much as there SHOULD be." she grinned.

"And why is that?"

"Because... Kaze is on vacation. Which means he's not around to break stuff. So, you have no worries about other Squads filing complaints against him."

"That's a relief..." Jonouchi sighed, looking out the window to the location of the training fields.

"What's troubling you, Captain?" Koukeisha approached him thoughtfully. "Is it the Hollow?"

"It's quiet..." Jonouchi replied. "He's been gone just over one day, and the whole Squad's already down."

"He'll be back soon enough, Captain..." Koukeisha frowned, also looking out the window.

Jonouchi continued to read and sign the papers throughout the course of the day. He eventually stopped reading them. Most of them were unimportant matters. Permission requests from 11 Squad to use the 3rd Squads training grounds, and a request from the 4th Squad to borrow a few 3rd Squad members as training dummys for the new 4th Squad members to practice. Jonouchi laughed and allowed them both. One request caught his attention. 12 Squad was requesting donations to help fund the Research Facility. An idea struck him right then and there. He signed the original, and made a copy. He had donated a good amount, but not too much. He stuck both the original and the copy in his pocket, and continued signing. He was gonna pay a visit to Captain Kurotsuchi later.

Time passed quickly, and soon there came a knock on the door. "Hello, Captain." Jonouchi looked up and smiled.

"Hey, Kalinda. How are you doing?"

"Good, just stopping by to check up on you. How's the paperwork?"

Jonouchi sighed, letting out a light laugh. "Kind of annoying."

"Aw, I'm sorry." she frowned. "How late you gonna be out?"

"I'm just finishing up here. I'm just gonna pay a quick visit to Captain Kurotsuchi after this, then I'm heading home."

"You mind if I come by tonight? I can make dinner for us both." She offered, smiling.

"Of course!" Jonouchi smiled. "You know you're always welcome at my place."

"Ok, I'll see you tonight then. I have a few more errands to run for Captain Ukitake, then I'll be done."

"Sounds like a plan." Jonouchi said, giving her a quick kiss before she left. He turned and looked at the desk. The paperwork was finally done. He cleaned up the office, and locked up. Sighing and stretching, he headed off into the direction of the Research Facility. Jonouchi approached the main gates, and was stopped by two guards. "I'm here to pay a visit to Captain Kurotsuchi." Jonouchi smiled. The two guards stood down, letting him pass.

"It's not too often we get other Captains here. Sorry we were kinda jumpy." one guard spoke.

"Don't worry about it. I just have a request of your Captain." Jonouchi grinned, showing them the signed donation form. Jonouchi walked through, beginning his search of the Captain. It wasn't long before he was stopped in the hallway.

"Captain Uchiki, my Captain is looking for you." It was Captain Kurotsuchi's daughter, Nemu. "Follow me please." Jonouchi did as he was told, and it wasn't long before they encountered the Captain.

"My, my. If it isn't Captain Uchiki. What brings you to my facilities?" the Captain spoke.

"How did you know I was coming?" Jonouchi asked.

"Simple..." Captain Kurotsuchi paused. "There are cameras installed throughout the entired facility. Nothing gets in or out without my knowing." he said with a devilish grin. "Now, back to my question. Why are you here?"

"I have a request to make." Jonouchi said.

"I'm listening."

"As a researcher, you must get new ideas all the time. It must be simple for a mastermind like yourself to come up with ideas and inventions in practically no time flat."

"All of my inventions have been made carefully, and taken a good bit of my time. And neither flattery nor insult will get you anywhere with me. Now get to the point." he spoke, kind of angrily.

"I want you to invent something for me. I want you to invent something that can possibly stop Aizen, and I want in on the creation."

"Invent something for you?" the Captain asked, kind of annoyed. "What kind of invention, if I may ask? I have to know where to start. I have to know what you want before I can invent anything!"

"That's just it. I don't know. Maybe something that can bind his Zanpaku-to, just SOMETHING."

"Inventing is more difficult than it sounds." Kurotsuchi glared at Jonouchi. "You make it sound like it's childs play. Like it's something an everyday average person could pull off. Something YOU could pull off." Jonouchi just sighed.

"If I thought I could pull it off, I wouldn't be here asking you, now would I?" Jonouchi paused. "I don't care if we get anything out of this in the end. I just want to TRY."

"What reason do I have to help you?" he asked Captain Uchiki. Jonouchi reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper.

"This is your reason." Jonouchi smirked.

"Is that my donation form?" Kurotsuchi asked.

"Yep. Already signed and ready to go. All you have to do is agree to help me. Just a verbal agreement." Kurotsuchi examined the paper, stunned.

"You are actually willing to donate this much?"

"Yes, if I have your help in return."

"Then it is a deal, Captain Uchiki." he said, shaking his hand.

"Just a couple more things." Jonouchi spoke.

"More requests?" Captain Kurotsuchi asked.

"Yes, Captain. Just a couple. I want to be kept up to date with the progress. Anytime you find something new, any idea you have, I want to know. And also, nobody, and I mean NOBODY is to know about this project."

"Going against the laws of the Soul Society again are we?" Kurotsuchi asked with a smirk. "And you expect me to go against them as well?" he laughed for a moment before continuing. "You have yourself a deal. This is nothing new to me, either." he grinned, walking away. "I will keep you up-to-date, Captain. Meanwhile, don't let out word about this, or it will mean the end for us both."

Jonouchi grinned triumphantly as he left the Research Facility for his house. He was in the best mood ever, and since he was going to spend his evening Kalinda, nothing could ruin his night.

He entered the doorway silently, sneaking up behind her. He quickly kissed her on the back of the neck, and she jumped, startled.

"Don't do that! You scared me half to death!" she blushed, slapping him.

"Ow..."

"Serves you right." she grinned, kissing him. "So, the wedding date is coming up soon. You excited?"

"Of course I am." he grinned, sitting at the table. "What day is it again?" Kalinda turned and stared at him blankly.

"You mean, you forgot already?"

"Sorry... I had a lot on my mind when you told me before."

"It's ok... Oh! How was your visit with Captain Kurotsuchi?" Kalinda asked, setting the food on the table and sitting down.

"It went well. I'm donating a little to their Facility. I guess they're a little low on funding."

"That was nice of you." she smiled. They both ate their supper, and talked amongst themselves for quite sometime. It was earlier into the night before they decided to head to bed.

Jonouchi exited the restroom just after brushing his teeth. "Damn, you're a good cook." he grinned. "I guess it's nothing I haven't told you before though." She just blushed and smiled.

"Thank you." she said. Jonouchi sat on the edge of his bed, watching her. She was standing in front of the mirror in her pink nightgown, playing with her hair a bit. She ran her fingers through it, pulling it back behind her head. She noticed a small shimmer and she removed her hand, letting her hair fall back down into place. It was the ring he had given her. She eyed it for a moment, blushing. She looked to the mirror, and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed in the reflection. She turned around and walked over to him, kissing gently. He kissed back, a little surprised. She brought her knees up on the bed and put her weight against his, pushing him flat on the bed. She nipped his neck gently, and kissed it. He was a little red in the face from the sudden "attack", and was quite speechless.

"Um... I, I-"

"That's for scaring me earlier." she said with a small smile, and continued attacking his neck. She bit her lip and put her lips next to his ear. "I love you, Jou-kun..." she whispered.

"And I love you." Jonouchi whispered into her ear, kissing her on the side of the neck. She gasped a bit, but didn't stop him. He shifted his weight so that he was now on top of her. She lay there helpless, but not fighting back. She blushed, smiling.

It was well after midnight, and both Kalinda and Jonouchi lay in bed, wide awake. Kalinda was cuddled close to him, smiling.

"What do you want to do after the wedding?" Jonouchi asked her, kissing her gently.

"I haven't really thought about it..." she lied. "As long as I spend that time with you, I'll be happy."

"Likewise." Jonouchi spoke, kissing her once more. Then, there was silence. Through that silence came a knock at his door. He sat up and bed. "Hold on, I'm coming." he shouted.

"Captain!" came a call, that he clearly recognized as Koukeisha's. "It's Kaze! He was attacked at Karakura town! He's at the hospital, but he's in critical condition!"

Jonouchi's heart stopped. "Get going! I'll meet you there right away!" he shouted, throwing on a black haori.

"Right!" came an answer as Koukeisha took off.

"Damn it, Kaze!" Jonouchi thought to himself. "Please be ok!"