Hey~
Sorry for the drag. Stupid exams keep me away from writing.
Anyway. Here's another chapter. Hope you like it.
Feedback is appreciated anytime

"Wait. Did I get it right?" Kasumi looked at Urahara in disbelief, when the latter told her what he wanted. "You want me to go with those kids to Soul Society and basically save Rukia for them?"

"Well, they need help," Kisuke shrugged as though it was nothing much.

"It's the same thing. No," Kasumi categorically shook her head in disapproval. "It was fine when it was just training, but I am not going to go to Soul Society and risk for a girl I only saw once."

"We need someone with experience to go with them or else they will kill themselves."

"Then why don't you go?" Kasumi complained, but she understood perfectly that they can't go alone.

"Yoruichi is going, but-"

"Then it's decided. They have Yoruichi with them and I'm staying out of this," Kasumi cut him off.

"You didn't even think it through," Kisuke complained and fanned himself. "But I guess, it's understandable," he said already knowing the reason behind it. "He is still in tight control."

"Nothing has changed," Kasumi sighed in both relief for Kisuke not pressuring her anymore and sadness for the control thing. "Father is still controlling me like a puppet whenever he can. I'm sure he would have my head on a silver plate if I rebelled and went with Ichigo to save Rukia."

"Sounds like him," Kisuke nodded in agreement. He had chance to meet Mr. Seika few times and he was already sure that the man was no joke. "What are you going to do?"

"Father will arrive to Karakura today and then we are going to leave to our mansion in Soul Society."

"Convenient," Kisuke smirked.

"Did you hear me correctly, Kisuke? We are going. Father is coming as well, so whatever you just thought about is not going to work," Kasumi shook her head; however mischievous gears in her head were working as well.

"I am sure that you will be able to help," he chirped no longer worried about kids he was about to send to Soul Society.

"Don't expect too much, Kisuke, but I'll help them as much as I can," Kasumi rolled her eyes at a sudden change of attitude. "Anyway, it's time for me to go," she stood up and made a small wave.

"7 days."

"Huh?"

"Just so you know, they are leaving in 7 days," Kisuke explained and led his guest out.

"Hello, father," Kasumi greeted Mr. Seika once she got into hotel room she has been residing lately.

The older man was sitting in comfortable armchair looking like a boss. His slightly graying hair was the only give away of his age as his frame and eyes were screaming about the undying strength.

"You're back finally. I didn't hire Kanryuu for you to ditch him, you know," Mr. Seika commented but didn't even look up from newspaper. "Dress up. As soon as you're done we are leaving."

"Yes, father," Kasumi bowed slightly and left for her room.

Cursing the idea of dressing up, she picked the Kimono she specially prepared for today. Yes, dressing up in Seika's vocabulary means Kimono, a fancy one, that is.

"Who the hell is still wearing those ancient clothes in 21st century?!" she complained loudly to no one as she pulled her hair up to a messy bun.

*Apparently everyone in Soul Society.* Kasumi answered her previous question as she was staring at all those woman passing by. Every single of them was wearing a luxurious Kimono, but then again it was one of the richer districts.

"Let's not waste any time. I have an appointment this evening with important people," Mr. Seika rushed his daughter and Kanryuu, who struggled with suitcases and likes at the back.

"May I ask who is coming over?" Kasumi asked as formally as she could. Her father was going to make her behave formally all the time in Soul Society, so why not start now?

"No one. I am going to see my old friend," he answered, leaving Kasumi to search through all her head for his friends' names.

"I will go for a walk later," Kasumi informed him, carefully eyeing his reaction, so that she could take back her words if needed.

"Kanryuu will go with you," he said back calmly. "And no buts," he added once he saw Kasumi already opening her mouth to protest. As if she could, actually.

Kanryuu, who was working for a carrying horse, smiled in satisfaction at hearing Mr. Seika's order. If it's the old man's orders Kasumi will not ditch him and he will have a chance to show his true strength in extreme situation. *You can do it!* he thought to himself encouragingly.

At the same time, Kasumi sighted in despair. *Is this rookie going to follow me day and night?* she thought grudgingly and glanced at the bodyguard behind her, who was smiling out of blue. *No. I'll allow him to come with me only over my dead body, which he wouldn't be able to protect.* Kasumi shook her head and a sight of Kanryuu running away like a scared kid flashed in her mind.

Kasumi diverted her eyes to already visible mansion which belongs to Seika's family for long ages now. The huge mansion was one of not many things that she missed while she was away. On the other hand, gossip lovers-servants were not to her liking at all.

"Whoa~ Look! It wasn't just a rumor that they are coming back."

"The young lady is finally home."

"I wonder if they are going to stay for a long time."

Whispers from all corners have reached them once they passed the gates to their mansion. Every servant in sight was openly staring at the head of the family and his daughter and was flooding them with compliments.

"Mr. Seika, it's good to see you in Soul Society," the head maid chirped once we were within hear reach. The bubbly older woman was like a family member as she was very close with family, so when my stone-like father hugged her, no one was surprised. "Kasumi, dear, you have grown up!" she pulled me into hug after looking me up and down."

"Good to see you too, Lisa," I smiled.

"I think we need a special dinner on this special occasion, don't we?" She continued her chirping. "It's not every day that all 4 noble families are in Soul Society."

Father turned down the offer and informed her on our evening activities, while Kasumi had to bite her lip as to not let out a sound.

*So that's why he was always calling our family a noble one while we were in Human World.* Kasumi thought. A huge urge to face-palm appeared, but she got satisfied with a mental one. *How could I not understand?* It didn't matter anymore and Kasumi new better than to dwell on her denseness.

"Kasumi, let's go. I'll show you your room," Lisa said cheerfully and basically started dragging Kasumi along, leaving Kanryuu to trail behind with Kasumi's belongings. "I have made some rearrangements since you're not a kid anymore."

"I'm sure it looks perfect," Kasumi nodded with a smile.

True to Lisa's words, Kasumi could hardly recognize her own room. The small childish bed was replaced with a lavender color Queen bed, which was taking nearly half of her room. The new wardrobes were bigger and more spacious and the small table in front of mirror was already containing loads of beauty care products.

"It's awesome," Kasumi nodded in approval and the older woman could hardly contain her happiness.

"It's good to know that you like it," Lisa clapped. "Your personal bathroom is left untouched and you must know where those doors lead," she pointed at a slide door at the other side of the room.

"Garden," Kasumi answered and rushed to open the doors.

It was just as beautiful as she remembered. It wasn't anything grand, but Kasumi loved this nature corner. Tiny fishes were calmly swimming in small pond, Sakura trees lazily swayed to the music of wind.

"I was personally looking after it," Lisa proudly announced.

"I don't know what I would do without you," Kasumi laughed in delight and hugged her. "By the way, the number of doors leading to it didn't increase, right?" Kasumi asked after she let go.

"There are only three, including these ones," Lisa answered. "Well, I'll leave you to it. I still have to show your bodyguard his place and I don't like him," Lisa wrinkled her nose and left with a laugh.

"Heh," Kasumi smirked. Lisa didn't change at all over those years and that's what makes Kasumi like her.

Kasumi looked back at the garden. Her smirk grew at the thought that no one else knew why she cared about the number of doors. Well, it is simple – her runaway path is through the garden. Convenient, isn't it? One doors are between her room and the garden, another – between the street it Seireitei and the 3rd – between garden and guests room, which is never used. A perfect place.

"Sorry, Kanryuu, but you are doomed to be left behind," Kasumi grinned; the idea of running away on her first night here was exciting.

She rushed to get a shower and get dressed in one of her usual attires, which looks like Yoruichi's quite a lot, if I might say. The only difference that Kasumi's clothes were mainly black and lavender. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and finished with wrapping a lavender scarf around her neck.

"Took me quite some time," Kasumi muttered looking at the clock on the table beside her bed, which was flashing 18:00 brightly. It wasn't dark outside, but it is better hurry if she doesn't want to crash into her bodyguard.

"Maybe next time," she smirked at the mansion she was leaving behind and closed the door to garden. "Freedom," Kasumi cheered silently as the noise of Seireitei reached her.