Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. I only own Asuna.
"It looks like Jidanbō's wound closed up. I hope he'll be okay when he comes to again," Orihime stated as everyone stood outside, Asuna's arms were crossed over her chest.
"Big bodied men like him have plenty of stamina and strength," Chad said. "I'm sure he'll be fine before long."
"Yeah, you're right," she agreed. "It would take a lot to permanently harm someone as big and powerful as Jidanbō."
The question now is: who exactly is this Kūkaku Shiba we're supposed to be looking for?" Uryū asked as he turned to his friends, hoping to find an answer from them. "As usually, Yoruichi left out a lot of the details."
Orihime held a finger up to her chin. "It would have to be someone Yoruichi thinks could get us into the Seireitei without going through the gates."
"Which would probably mean someone with great skill," Asuna added while latching her hands behind her.
"Wow! I wonder if it's a smart, purebred cat with pedigree papers! I hope so," Orihime stated as she demonstrated each cat she named before turning to the left and did the same. "Or an American short haired type! Or even a Dalmatian!"
"Orihime," Chad started. "Just because it's someone Yoruichi knows, doesn't mean that it'll be a cat. And by the way, a Dalmatian is dog." He corrected her.
"Are you sure?" she asked in slight disbelief. Asuna rolled her eyes and sighed.
It was Uryū's turn to come up with something. Something more realistic other than a Dalmatian. "Judging from the name 'Kūkaku', I'd say we're going to be dealing with a well-built man, probably a powerful samurai warrior." He suggested and Chad shook his head.
"Nah, I think he'll be more of a hermit type master," Chad stated.
Orihime came up with a brilliant idea as she crouched down to draw in the dirt a combination of all their ideas. "Ta da! A hermit type, samurai warrior master with the ears and tails of a cat." Asuna facepalmed shaking her head.
"He looks anything like that then we're in trouble." Chad stated and Asuna nodded her head.
"Aww," she pouted. "How about I draw him with Dalmatian spots instead?" She asked glancing at her drawing.
"Not bad, Orihime, except you forget to give him a cape," Uryū said.
"I always forget something!" Orihime pouted.
Uryū pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose, "What's the hold up with Ichigo?"
"He's inside; should I call him?" Orihime asked while standing up.
He started walking toward the house's entrance and left his companions. "That's okay. I'll go get him."
They watched after him before Orihime thought of another idea. "Now, I have to think up another version of Kūkaku, maybe with a bigger head!" She went back in position as she tried to think of a different image.
"Orihime . . . maybe you're thinking too hard," Chad said, hoping to stop the poor girl from using all of her mental strength.
Asuna glanced towards the direction Uryū went and frowned seeing him standing near the open door in pure shock. "Huh?! What do you mean 'not going'?"
"That's what I said! You guys can go on without me," Ichigo said while resisting to be reasoned with. "I'm staying here to finish my battle with that pinhead from yesterday!"
"That's not an option!" he retorted before he reached forward and grabbed his uniform. "You're coming with us, even if I have to drag you myself!"
Ichigo quickly grabbed something and struggled to stand his ground. "If I don't show up, he'll think I'm a chicken!"
"Who cares what he thinks!?" Uryū yelled as Orihime popped her head in through the open door.
"Hey, what's up? Aren't you two ready to go yet?" She questioned.
"Get in here, Orihime! Help – me – get – him – outta here!" Uryū said while tugging and yanking with each word.
"Leave me alone! I'll beat that boar riding punk quick and catch up to you guys before I –," Asuna winced as Yoruichi leaped into the room, scratching at Ichig's face, leaving three, bleeding scratch marks there for him. There was pure silence before a loud scream was heard from the injured boy.
"What's wrong with you? Have you forgotten why we came here in the first place?!" Yoruichi scolded at the orange haired boy. "Lives are at stake. Rukia's life in particular is in your hands. Surely, you haven't forgotten about that."
Ichigo lifted his body up and went back into an indian styled sitting position.
"You don't have time to waste on foolish grudge matches with strangers! " he continued without needing his input. "Are you ready for the task at hand?"
Once Ichigo came to an understanding of the situation, the group slowly followed behind Yoruichi.
The sun had rose up by now and brought light to the Soul Society. As they were walking, Ichigo stopped as he stared up the blue sky, groaning from the amount of time they had been searching for the house.
"Looks to me like we're heading out to the empty country side! Are you sure this is the right way, Uryū?" he asked said boy. He didn't hear a response and repeated himself. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"
"Just be quiet!" Uryū snapped. "I'm following the elder's map, and according to this, we're almost there. If you don't like the way I'm guiding us, then why don't you take over, Great Leader?"
"Don't get your panties in a wad; I was just wondering," he mumbled as Asuna chuckled behind them.
"Kūkaku Shiba is probably the type of master who likes to keep his identity secret by hiding away out in the wilderness!" Orihime piped in cheerfully.
"That would make sense, but it's not the case, here," Yoruichi said. "Living in these types of surroundings is Kūkaku's personal preference. The fact is, Kūkaku moves frequently, but the houses themselves always look much the same." They started up a grassy hill and resumed the conversation. "I guarantee you'll know it's the house when you see it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ichigo asked with a sweat drop. He didn't like where this was going.
"You'll see soon enough. Just wait." A few more steps taken later, Yoruichi sat down as they reached their destination at last. "Ah, it looks like we've arrived." He waited for their reactions from each person.
"What?!"
"No way!"
Oh, it's fantastic!" Only Orihime would say that.
"Hm?"
"Like I said, you'll know it when you see it," Yoruichi must have been having fun messing with their heads.
Ichigo and Uryū stared at the small house with two, giant stone hands holding a red banner with Kūkaku's name written on it. "What kind of person would want to live in a house like that?"
"I don't know, but whoever he is, he sure doesn't care about keeping his identity a secret!" Uryū added. "And building houses like this one . . . It's no wonder why he doesn't live in town anymore!"
Asuna sighed shaking her head and crossed her arms.
"I bet he's not allowed to live in town anymore!"
"Hm," Yoruichi ignored their comments as he stared at the home. "So, this time the banner is held up by giant, human arms. That's actually quite clever, don't you think?"
Asuna nodded her head. "I think its perfect," she stated smiling.
"That is one word for it, I guess . . ." Uryūcontinued to gape in shock as he sweat dropped.
"But, not the one I was thinking of. . ." He finished.
"Come on, let's go." Asuna called towards the group as she followed behind Yoruichi.
Noticing that Uryū and Ichigo weren't following Yoruichi turned towards them. "What's the matter with you two? Hurry up!"
"Alright," Ichigo speed walked ahead of them before pausing and tured towards Uryū. "Oh, and Uryū, you better not tell anyone I went into this place, or you'll pay for it!"
"Don't worry about that," he said while catching up with the others.
"Halt, strangers!" two men shouted and the group stopped and glanced up seeing two men.
"Who dares trespass here?" one man wearing mostly yellow asked for the other to answer.
"Foreigners from the looks of it, and two of them are Soul Reapers!" The two jumped down from their place on the stone hands as they crossed their muscular arms. They narrowed their eyes at them in wonder of their group mixture.
"Very suspicious. . . I, Koganehiko," the one started.
"And I, Shiroganehiko," the other one continued.
"Cannot allow you passage inside this building!" they both ended together.
Ichigo's grip on his sword tightened in annoyance of this hindrances popping up every time they would come close to an important place.
"Begone!"
"Or advance now, and be killed for your insolence!"
"Crap, more gatekeepers," Ichigo mumbled. "This Soul Society is just one annoyance after another."
"Hm?" the burly guards noticed something pop out from behind Ichigo and Asuna watched their eyes widened. "Master Yoruichi!"
"A descending staircase right from the front door?" the Uryū thought aloud. "Now, that's just weird."
"Kind of makes you wonder how they get to the upstairs, huh?" Orihime added while she indeed wondered this exact thought.
Koganehiko held his head high as he spoke to the feline that followed from below. "A thousand apologies for not recognizing right away that it was you, Master Yoruichi. We had no idea that these trespassers were your servants!"
"It's my fault. I should have sent word ahead that my companions and I were on our way here." Yoruichi stated and Koganehiko laughed as they finally made it to the bottom.
"You're too kind, such generous words from such a great person." He stopped as ge turned to face them, "Please, wait here while I announce you're arrival," he said before communicating through the doors. "Master, we have visitors!" A short silence followed after.
"Now, you may enter." Koganehiko went on his knees as he opened the doors, revealing a woman resting on a few pillows in the empty room.
"Well, it's been a long time, hasn't it, Yoruichi?" the woman said while leaning against the purple pillows. She had long, messy black hair that was covered in bandages that parted in half at her back. Her busty chest was exposed through the provocative robe she wore, a black symbol on the center. She wore a white skirt and had more bandages on her feet. A small sword was attached to her wooden right arm as it too had bandages wrapped over its shoulder. Her left arm bore a black tattoo proudly on its upper section.
This entire appearance had completely struck the teenagers. "K – Kūkaku is. . ." The only one that was calm about was Asuna.
"A woman?!"
"You assumed it was a man, but I never told you that," Yoruichi said as he turned to the astonished teens and child.
"I see you brought a bunch of brats with you," Kūkaku said as she looked over the party her eyes widening slightly when she found herself staring into Asuna's eyes.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Asuna Kuchiki," the group found themselves staring from Kūkaku to Asuna. "I never imagined that a noble such as yourself would be associating yourself with them." Asuna's eyebrows furrowed together.
"Excuse me?" She asked and Kūkaku's eyebrows pushed together and she laughed.
"Well, it seems that you don't remember who I am but I do remember you, little girl. Tell me Yoruichi, what is a Kuchiki doing in my household?"
Asuna stared at surprise at the woman, her eyes widening. "I shall explain that," the feline stated. "First though, I have a favor to ask of you, Kūkaku."
"That is usually the case when you look me up, Yoruichi. Is it dangerous?"
The feline took a moment to answer with a simple, "Probably."
The woman smirked as she gave a short laugh. "It's been a long time since we talked like this . . . Well, well, my friend, lucky for you, I enjoy danger!"