Arrows of the Soul (Closed)

This is a closed thread for myself and Armphid. Read and enjoy, but not audience participation, please

Name: Hana Stevens
Age: 18
Appearance: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v316/angeicmar/?action=view&current=shequincy.jpg
Profession: Student, Quincy
Personality/Bio:
In public, Hana is quiet and polite, an excellent student and kind to a fault. When she's one-on-one with most people, however, she is impulsive, quick to anger and even quicker to forgive - or assume forgiveness, whether it's given or not. She spends a lot of her time reading or walking, when she isn't studying, practicing archery, or performing her duties as a Quincy.

Her mother was Japanese, her father American, and she was raised in America. Her parents died in a car accident when Hana was ten, and she was raised by her grandmother. Last year, her grandmother died, and she decided to finish her junior year at her current school and then transfer. Her grandmother had always planned to take her back to Japan at some point, and Hana decided that there was no better time than the present.

Her grandmother and mother were Quincies, and Hana is following in their footsteps. She has a great deal of potential, and hopes to be able to expand her powers while she is in Japan. Her mother came from Karakura Town originally, and so that was the town she picked to transfer to.

IC:
Another box emptied. Hana brushed her hands briskly together and straightened up, looking around. The small apartment looked sort of like home now. As much as it could. Pushing her hair off her face, the teenager grabbed the empty box and leaned out the front door to drop it outside, waiting for her to carry it and its fellows to the dumpster.

As she looked at the stack and tried to decide if she could carry another box down, or should do it now, the door next to hers opened up and a pretty, large-chested, red-haired girl stepped out. "Oh, hello!" The red-head shut her door carefully behind her, and held out one hand. "I'm Inoue Orihime. You must be the new tenent! It's great to meet you!"

"Pleased to meet you, Inoue-san. I'm Hana Stevens. American." They shook hands, and Hana tilted her head slightly, a small smile on her lips. "Those are lovely hairpins." And they weren't just hairpins, were they? The girl had a strange reiatsu, and not the first one she'd sensed since she'd gotten here.

Orihime nodded, and touched one of the pins lightly. "They were a gift from my brother." She smiled, a little apologetically. "I'm sorry, I have to leave to meet some people. Would you like to come along?"

Wow. What kind of person would offer to bring along someone they just met . . . Orihime was probably just very nice. But . . . "No, thank you. I still have some unpacking to do, and I've got to get ready for school tomorrow."

"You're starting at Karakura High School?! I go there!" She looked at her watch and blinked. "I'm so sorry, I really have to run! But I'll see you in class tomorrow, okay?" Orihime started down the stairs backwards and waved happily. Hana waved back, and picked up her boxes before heading down the stairs after her new friend.

Maybe tonight, before she went to bed, she'd go up onto the roof and set up a target to practice her archery. The landlord had said it was fine, as long as she didn't hit anyone, or break windows. Humming tunelessly, she headed back up the stairs two at a time, ready for more unpacking. Things were looking up already.

Name: Ishida Uryuu
Age: 18
Appearance: see attachment
Profession: Quincy, Student, ...Tailor?
Personality/Bio: Uryuu grew up without a mother, and his father spending almost all of his time at his hospital. As a result, he was more or less raised by his grandfather, Sooken. From Sooken, the young boy learned about his mysterious powers and the tradition, history, and downfall of the Quincy. After his grandfather was killed by Hollows, which the shinigami watching him did nothing to prevent, Uryuu devoted himself to becoming a powerful Quincy and proving his superiority to any shinigami.

When classmate Ichigo Kurosaki gained shinigami powers, Uryuu stepped forward as a Quincy to show that he was better than Ichigo. The two were not adversaries long, eventually settling into a grudging "friendly" rivalry. Despite their mutual protestations about disliking the other, Uryuu has proven to be one of Ichigo's most reliable, loyal, and powerful allies. He has also come to befriend Yasutora "Chad" Sado, and even shinigami Rukia Kuchiki. He was friends, distantly, with Orihime Inoue before events began to unfold, and feels very close to the ginger haired buxom beauty.

During the rescue of Rukia Kuckiki and events in Soul Society, Uryuu lost his Quincy powers for a time, and with them, his purpose and reason for living. Training with his scornful and abusive father returned them, stronger than ever with hard training, at the cost of making a promise never to be involved with shinigami again. A promise that he almost immediately broke, although he used a vague loophole to get around it.

After the recent upheavals in Hueco Mundo and Karakura Town, Uryuu is back home and more powerful than ever before. He feels he has proven himself the greatest Quincy to have lived, and is worthy of the name, The Last Quincy. However, the veracity of that title is now doubt...


Clever fingers held the gaping wound apart, the gash wide and deep. Blue eyes, like cold steel, gazed grimly at the maimed victim. One long fingered hand pushed a set of thin, rectangular glasses up the nose of an angular, handsome to the point of being pretty youth. Nearby, the patient's loved one watched, her eyes wide and afraid. He nodded once, then bent to the surgery at hand. Carefully and precisely, he cleaned the area of foreign debris before beginning the transplant. What had been removed had to be replaced, but it was tricky. It had to be just right, or the consequences would be dire. Finally, he nodded once more, and those agile fingers started to place the sutures, carefully lacing and stitching together that great tear. "...There."

Uryuu Ishida leaned back from the small, stuffed figure that lay on his desk. A doll that looked well worn and used was there, it's googly eyes staring and blank. Mikiru Ogawa darted in and snatched up her beloved stuffed animal, hugging him to her child-like body. "Oh, he's as good as new! Thank you, Ishida-san! It's like the dog never got at him at all!"

Uryuu said nothing for a few moments, putting his sewing kit away. Class hadn't yet started, and the room was in the hustle and bustle of students who were almost late. He, of course, had been here nearly twenty minutes ago. "It's nothing." She stood there, smiling, hugging her bear a few more moments. Without looking, he spoke again, "That's all, right? Then we're done, go sit down."

The girl's eyes went wide, then narrowed and she angrily stalked back to where she sat. Uryuu felt a bit of satisfaction, he'd done that well, and now he wouldn't have to worry about her pestering him for a while. She would again, when she wanted a few skirt or needed another of her precious, useless stuffed animals repaired. He didn't know why he bothered. If she cared for them so much, how did they keep getting damaged, anyway?

He sat up a bit straighter, feeling a familiar reisatsu, and rolled his eyes. A moment later, the hand thumped down on his desk, "Hey, you didn't have to be so rude to Mikiru." Ichigo Kurosaki, substitute shinigami and all around lout, loomed over his desk, orange hair in it's usual spiky mess. "You could lighten up a little, Uryuu."

"Mind your own business, Kurosaki," the Quincy snapped back, "and if I was going to take advice on socializing, it wouldn't be from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Surely even you can figure that one out."

"Hey! You bet I can, and don't call me Shirley!"

There was a rush of movement, and a tiny but powerful fist slammed into the lanky youth's stomach, blasting the wind from him and knocking him back, "Idiot! Can't you ever just do what I tell you to?" Rukia Kuchiki shook her head, "Honestly, Ichigo." She looked over at the Quincy, "Ishida-san, we're having another meeting tonight, at Cafe Moderno. You'll be there, won't you?" Her voice was sweet, but the large, violet eyes that stared at him didn't match the sugary tones or the dulcet smile on her lips. They promised pain if he didn't comply.

"...Of course, Kuchiki-san."

"Ha! And you call yourself a man!"

Uryuu sniffed, "You'll be there too, Kurosaki, I'm just managing to do it without being beaten up by a girl."

"What? I don't get beaten up by her, and she barely qualifies as a girl, anyway!" There was a loud crash as the petite Rukia seemed to have "accidentally" thrown her desk into Ichigo, sending him tumbling across the room.

Uryuu sighed as the two began to quarrel behind him. "More of the same this year, I see."

Hana took the slip from the principal's office with and bow and a quiet "Arigato" before heading out to the class room. They'd all cooed over how good her Japanese was, and how sad it was that her family was dead. She smiled sadly the whole time, taking in their sympathy and letting it wash over her, trying to stifle the real sadness that their words brought up. Nana had been her best friend, and the wound was still new there. But it wouldn't do to cry in front of these people, not even remotely.

So she indulged in a little sniffle as she walked down the hall, then put herself back to cool composure. She'd asked about Orihime, and found out that they were in fact in the same class, which was nice. At least she'd know one person. Though they said the teacher would assign her a guide, to make sure she adapted well. Whether or not it was Orihime, at least she'd get to know someone else.

One hand on the door, and she froze. There were strong reiatsu in there. Her brows pulled together in a pretty frown, and her head tilted to one side. Orihime, two shinigami, something she'd never felt before - almost like a Hollow, but not quite - a few others that were stronger than regular humans, but undefined, and . . . her grin was almost feral. Another Quincy. How innnnnnnteresting. Strong, too, by the feel. Better and better. Maybe this was why she'd come to Japan.

Again, she took a moment and got her face under control, checking her uniform to be sure it was straight and everything was tucked in. And opened the door to the classroom, slipping inside and closing the door behind her softly. The class seemed a little unrestrained, but there was nothing horribly wrong with that. Hana walked across to the teacher, handing the slip over with a bow and a smile. Her eyes traveled over the other students, matching faces with reiatsu.

Orihime - she waved slightly, and the red-haired girl waved back enthusiastically - was sitting between a shinigami, a small, dark-haired girl with the biggest eyes Hana had ever seen, and a girl who looked like she could kick the ass of any guy in the room. The other shinigami was leaning against the wall, his red hair sticking up in spikes as he chatted with the puzzle-piece she'd sensed, the one with the Hollow-taste, who looked like he was the one guy in the room the tough girl couldn't beat to the ground.

Then her eyes found the other Quincy, and she almost snorted. Him? Well, they did tend to be slender, and that he was. But those glasses, and that hair . . . inwardly, she sighed. Japan. What could you do? If you looked past that, though, he was sort of attractive, with a cold demeanor that she thought she recognized from times when she'd looked in the mirror over the past seven months. And . . . oh, wasn't THAT interesting. He was trying to covertly watch Orihime.

Then he looked up at the teacher, and Hana had to flip back the pages of her memory to find what had just been said. Then, she bowed deeply. "Hai, sensei." Hana opened her mouth, ready to rattle off her brief history to the class in Japanese, when the teacher held up one hand.

"In English, if you please. Since we're starting the day with English, you can start us off, Stevens-san."

Shrugging, she bowed again. "As you wish, sensei." Facing the class, hands behind her back, she bowed again - her stomach was going to be flatter than Madonna's after all this bowing. "My name is Hana Stevens, and I am from America. I was at the top of my class at my last school, but decided to transfer after my family passed away. I beg your indulgence as I learn about the school and all of you." Another quick bow, and she glanced back at the teacher.

"Very good, Stevens-san. Please, have a seat." The woman flipped through a notebook. "Let's see, why don't you sit near Ishida-san? He's our top student, and we'll have him be your guide until you feel comfortable here."

The wide eyes on the Quincy told Hana where she'd be sitting, and his name. He hadn't been expecting that, and she could guess why. He probably wasn't the most popular guy in the class - the top students rarely were, and his general carriage said that he got flustered around girls, pretty or not. This was going to be fun.

She walked over to the desk next to him, and bowed formally. "Ohayou gozaimasu, Ishida-san." As she slid into the seat, legs crossing easily, she added, "I hope I won't be too much trouble for you."

As the new girl was introducing herself, Keigo Asano sighed lustily, "Oooh, a golden haired angel from across the seas! And bounteous in chestage as well!" He half rose, "Oh, I am the poor, the wretched, given to you, oh sweet lady liberty!"

Mizuiro Kojima smiled, "She is pretty, and her Japanese is good too. But I wouldn't get too excited, Keigo. If she's a transfer student in to this class, she's probably secretly a soul sucking monster." His thin lipped, wide smile never wavered as he spoke. "We haven't had a good pattern with them, after all."


"Very good, Stevens-san. Please, have a seat." The teacher flipped through a notebook. "Let's see, why don't you sit near Ishida-san? He's our top student, and we'll have him be your guide until you feel comfortable here."

Keigo rose to his feet at that, "What? Oh, come on! Why give that four-eyed freak the first shot?"

Uryuu's head snapped back, "Be silent, Asano! You're embarrasing the whole class, don't you have any shame!"

Mizuiro shrugged, "It doesn't matter, she's just shoot you down anyway, even if you were first. Besides, we've seen this before too. She's going to end up falling for Ichigo." He shrugged, "Just wait and see."

Uryuu looked back from the two fools to find that the new student had taken her seat beside him. He nodded to her, feeling he should reply more out of duty than any real desire too. Why couldn't the teacher have assigned babysitting Stevens to Kuneida? She was tied with him for top student, after all. "Ohayou gozaimasu."

He would have left it at that, had he not glanced up to note Orihime's huge amber eyes on him. She smiled, nodding her head encouragingly. He sighed. Of course Inoue would want him to be friendly. "It's no trouble, there's not a lot to figure out here, and you seem to have more on the ball than certain fools who shall remain nameless."

From behind there was a wail, "You meant me, didn't you Ishida-san? HOw can you be so cruel?"

"...Not that they need to be," the Quincy finished with a sigh. He looked back at the girl. She was pretty, he'd dare say beautiful. And with the shinigami and Bount, he'd seen a few beauties in his time. "I'll apologize in advance, Stevens-san, our class is full of idiots and poorly behaved louts. They get out of hand frequently."

Her smile was small and restrained. "I understand. America is full of idiots and poorly behaved louts. I'm sure they won't bother me too much." Hana pulled out a notebook, thinking about how much power Orihime had over him. Clearly, the boy was sprung. Understandable, really, she thought as the teacher started class. Orihime was very pretty, and sweet, and . . . those tits had to be rare in Japan.

Hana took notes, trying to appear interested, though she had no doubt that English would be a subject that she would do very well in with very little effort. He was right about one thing, at least. That Asano guy was an idiot. She'd definitely have to deal with him at some point, if possible. But it was more interesting studying her newest competition and guide. In theory, she should try to make friends. Which would be a challenge - he clearly had eyes only for Orihime. But she had a suspicion that it would be far, far more fun trying to irk him.

Ah, well. Have to see how it went.

After the English lesson was over, the teacher looked at them with a small smile. "Ishida-san, why don't you start the tour for our new student now? Take as much time as you need, feel free to use the old staff room, where all the kids make out, if you like. You're only young once!" She made shooing motions with her hands. "Go on, get moving."

Halfway through the tour, Hana was keeping the fast pace that her guide was setting, and grinning to herself. He wasn't interested in showing her around, and wasn't bothering to hide it. All of his descriptions of the things she should know about were short and terse, he was just short of a run, and she wasn't falling behind - which was bothering him a little as well. She'd managed to restrain the urge to prick at him thus far, but . . . she wasn't a saint, after all. "So," she said casually, "where's that make-out spot the teacher mentioned?"

And then she laughed. "I'm kidding. Lead on." Hana had kept walking, but he had stopped almost dead in his tracks. Without looking back, she added, "Or you can just enjoy the view, if you'd rather."

The young Quincy had frozen in his place when she asked about the make-out spot. What was she thinking? Why would she...? They'd just met, and besides...then her other comment floated back. He felt blood rushing to his face. He hadn't really been looking at her before, but not that she said it, his body moved automatically. He blushed, his cheeks scarlet as his eyes took in her retreating form and how she swayed and moved. "That's not, I wasn't-I mean, I'm not...it," he tried a few times in a strangled voice. Damn it! This was not how a proud Quincy should act!

"Th-that's irrelevant to what we're doing now," he finally managed to get out. A few long strides caught up with her, his blush somewhat faded. "And don't group me with Asano, I don't look at girls when it's inappropriate." Better. "...Hurry up, we're almost done." And then he could get away from this strange girl, and her...well, get away from her.

Inoue wouldn't be happy with the rest of his tour, even more clipped and terse than the first part had been. They finished up outside on the athletic fields, the cold archer pointing out the areas used by the different clubs and teams. "If you want to join any of the teams, you'll talk to the coach. ...He doesn't like our class though, so don't be surprised if he rejects you out of hand." He nodded then, "That's everything. I'm sure you'll do fine."

He was about to walk away, when he heard a voice calling, "Ishida-kuuun!" The two teens turned just as Orhime bounced up to them, smiling broadly, "Tour's over, right? Great! Hana-san, come sit with me and the girls! They all want to get to know you, and we can talk about all the juicy gossip, and you can try my red bean paste and peanut butter filled green peppers!" The ginger haired beauty grabbed the startled girl's hand, pulling her away, "You don't mind, right Ishida-kun?"

"..No, of course not." He was a bit stunned, as he always was be her vivacious and forward nature. "Enjoy your lunch, Inoue-san, Stevens-san."

Suddenly, another voice bellowed out over the field, "Yo, Uryuu!" Ichigo was leaning out one of the windows beckoning, "Come on, Keigo's buying for us all today." From behind Ichigo there came a wailing cry of remorse. "You comin'?"

"In that case, yes."

It was hard to keep from laughing. She'd bothered him more than he'd ever let her know, that was clear. The innuendo combined with her casual acceptance of him looking at her . . . oh, she would have more fun with him than she'd had in years. It was obvious that he wanted to be rid of her, probably because she'd managed to fluster him more than anything. And, of course, given that she actually was new, and wanted to spend time with him - to learn about his powers, of course - and couldn't resist the chance to get under his skin already . . . well, she'd have to tell the teacher that she still needed more help.

As Orihime bounded up to them, she blinked, then smiled broadly. The other girl didn't notice his fascination with her, thought it was probably obvious to everyone else with two working eyes. But she grabbed Hana's hand and tugged her along. Hana waved brightly to him. "Thank you for the tour, Ishida-san! Have a good lunch!" Then she turned to Orihime, moving faster to keep from being dragged along like a kitten. "Red bean paste and peanut-butter-filled green peppers?"

Hana found herself sitting on the ground in a circle with the other girls, a green pepper pressed into her hand, before she knew what was happening. Orihime settled next to her, and started introducing the others. Within a few moments she knew that the shinigami was Kuchiki Rukia - the name suited her - the tough girl was Arisawa Tatsuki, and the girl with glasses that kept trying to grope Orihime was Honsho Chizuru. Tatsuki covertly handed her half of a sandwich, with a whispered, "Here. Try the pepper, then drop it and eat this instead."

She looked at the other girl, then shrugged and studied the green pepper with a curious expression. Hesitantly, she took a bite. Chewed. Shrugged. "Tastes like peanut butter and celery, with a little more bite. Another bite, and she rolled her shoulders - everyone was looking at her. Orihime was beaming, the others were staring wide-eyed. Except Rukia, who was eating a pepper of her own, seemingly focused on it. "Arigato, Inoue-san." She swallowed, and looked around. "I'm afraid I don't know any juicy gossip," she said, a little uncomfortable with all the attention.

"That's all right," Chizuru said, her eyes travelling down Orihime's body before fixing on Hana's face. "You're gorgeous, that's all I need. Almost as pretty as my sweet Hime!"

"Dammit, Chizuru, stop that!" Tatsuki frowned at the other girl, one finger pointing at her. "I've told you to knock it off, and I mean it!"

Orihime shook her head. "It's all right, Tatsuki-chan. Don't worry about it. So, Hana-san, what did you and Ishida-kun talk about on your tour?"

"Ummm . . . the school?" She wasn't sure that she should mention the only non-school conversation, since they'd probably be convinced that she was interested in Ishida. Which she was, but it wouldn't be wise to tell them that, or the real reason. Especially with Rukia there. "We didn't talk much; he seems a little shy."

"He's not shy," Rukia said, taking the last bite of her pepper. "He's just very proper and proud. A lot like Nii-sama."

Orihime nodded, and the others looked at Rukia with interest. Obviously, this was the first they'd heard of her brother. But then, Rukia changed the subject quickly, changing from abstracted and serious to a more normal teenage girl. "Tell us about you, Hana-san. Where did you live, in America?"

"I . . . well, we lived in . . . ." Lunch passed faster, with them asking her questions about where she lived, and Orihime's questions about the food, and boys.

The wind always seemed to blow a little stronger and howl a little more loudly up on the roof of the school. The gang of boys that were centered around Ichigo usually ate up here, Uryuu having joined them some time ago at the strawberry's insistence. The quintet lounged about on the sun warmed surface, food packages fresh from the cafeteria and a few select vending machines open and the contents in varying stages of defilement.

Uryuu wasn't listening to the buffoonery of Asano as he yammered on to Ichigo, occasionally protesting or near weeping as another of Kojima's witticisms cut him. Unlike Sado, who listened but said nothing, he wasn't paying much attention to the other boys at all. His cool blue eyes were looking down through the chain link at the small grove on the school property where the girls of their class gathered to eat. He could see them there, mostly, and sense them certainly. Inoue's reiatsu was as clear and pure as ever, though Kuchiki's was muffled somewhat. She was hiding it, or trying to. Probably until she was sure the new transfer student was actually what she appeared to be. Given their track record, Rukia, that vizard, it was a wise precaution.

But there was nothing to worry about. Out of all of them, his senses were the sharpest when it came to detecting, following, and identifying reiatsu. The girl was a normal human, a bit more spiritual energy than most, but nothing out of the ordinary. ...So why was he watching her now?

"Hey!" He tilted his head to one side, avoiding the empty can of soda that would have struck him. "I asked you a question, pay attention!"

The quincy frowned looking back, "I don't have the inclination to answer your questions, Kurosaki. But if you're going to act like a child over it, I'll indulge you, if only to save us all from you making a scene worthy of Asano."

As Keigo whined and whimpered, Ichigo just scowled, "Whatever, anyway. So, what's the deal with this new girl? You took her around and talked to her, right?" Uryuu nodded. "So, is she just what she seems?"

For the first time all lunch, Sado's low voice rumbled across the roof, "I don't think so."

Uryuu shook his head, "You're right and wrong, Sado-kun." He turned his head to look down at the grove where Tatsuki was kicking Chizuru off of both Orihime and Hana. The pink haired lesbian had apparently decided to try and compare the breasts by fondling them. As the beat down commenced, the archer's eyes regarded first Orihime, then the object of conversation. "She isn't like the way she acted in class. She's discourteous and crude even, but bold and unhesitating. Similar to Kuchiki-san but without her redeeming qualities. And like Kuchiki-san, she pretends to be a sweet and polite girl in front of others."

"That so?" Ichigo shrugged, "That's not so bad, I guess. If you don't like her, she's got to be all right." Ignoring the dark look Uryuu shot him, the substitute shinigami continued, "Anyway, what about her power? You sense better than any of us and you were with her on that tour."

The Quincy again shook his head, "Nothing. Her reiatsu is stronger than a normal human's, but not abnormally so. She doesn't even has as much as Kojima, Arisawa, or Asano."

Ichigo sat back, leaning on his hands, then looked up at the sky. "Huh...well, maybe we got lucky and she's just a regular transfer student for once."

Chad shook his head, "...Our luck...is all bad."


The rest of school went without incident...well, for THEIR class. As the students filtered out at the end of the day, Uryuu walked off to the side of Ichigo and his friends, as usual.

"All right, Ichigo," Rukia pushed past Asano and Kojima, "Let's go home, Yuzu-chan's teaching me how to make her curry tonight and I don't want to be late."

The strawberry snorted, "So go have fun, you don't need me for that."

"Of course we do." The petite shinigami folded her arms over her chest, looking up at the lanky youth. "It's going to make a mess and someone has to do the dishes before the curry clumps on them."

Ichigo rounded on her, "What? You're making the mess, you clean it up!"

"How rude!" Rukia flared, standing up on her tiptoes and still only managing to come up to Ichigo's chin, "I'm going to be working my poor, little figners to the bone for your meal, you can at least have the decency to do the dishes!"

Shaking his head, Uryuu tried to slip past the growing argument. He thought he was clear, until he heard Rukia's deceptively sweet voice calling to him, "Club Moderno, Ishida-san! See you at 8!"

He looked back to see Ichigo bent over in a headlock, arms akimbo. The Quincy sighed, a half-hearted smile on his face, "Right. 8 o'clock, I'll be there."

Humming to herself again, Hana made another quick note on her homework and closed her textbook. That was all done, and the evening stretched before her, void of anything besides what she wanted to do. Brilliant. Since all she'd had in the apartment for dinner was ramen, she'd made some and eaten it, and reminded herself to stop at the grocery store before she came home from school next. Man does not live by ramen alone, after all.

She'd changed out of her uniform and into jeans and a light, long-sleeved shirt as soon as she got home, and did her homework sprawled out on the floor, legs bent at the knees and kicking in the air. Now that she was finished, she flipped over onto her back, her legs crossed. It was getting a little cooler now, and perhaps a sweater would be in order. Or a hooded sweatshirt. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Her head was buried in one of the totes marked "Clothes" when there was a knock at the door. "It's open!" Hana's hand closed around two thin hooded shirts - enough to keep her warm, not enough to overheat, but which one? - and padded toward the door in her stocking feet even as she heard it open.

"Hana-san?"

"Konbanwa, Orihime-chan."

The ginger-haired girl pointed at the door. "You know it isn't wise for a girl alone to leave her door unlocked. Anyone could just barge in and steal from you, or take you captive." Her face took on a dreamy look, and Hana just stared as she started to ramble. "But then, you might develop Stockholm Syndrome, in part because he was strong enough to catch you, but also because he was just the kind of man you'd dreamed of, and only comitting crimes because he was too noble to sell out working for a major corporation as a high-powered attorney, and you would run off and get married and have lots of beautiful, noble children." She came back with a blink. "I guess it's not so bad after all, Hana-san!"

". . . Right. I'll . . . keep that in mind, Orihime." She shifted the shirts to her left hand, using the fingers of her right to comb through her hair. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Oh, no. I just . . . I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

Hana shook her head and held up the shirts. "Just trying to pick what to wear, that's all."

"Are you going out?"

"No, I had no plans to. Why do you ask?"

Orihime grinned, and Hana knew that she'd given the right and the wrong answer to the question. "Then you can come with us! Now that you've met everyone, you'll fit right in! We're going to Cafe Moderno because Kuchiki-san wants to try it." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, even though they were totally alone in the apartment. "She says it's for a meeting, but I know that she just wants to go there, and likes having company. And likes having the boys pay."

Hana nodded slowly. From what she'd picked up of Rukia's temprament, that sounded about right. She and the girl were very similar, and she'd done similar things enough times back home. "I don't know that I'd be welcome, Orihime. I barely know anyone, really."

"Of course you will!" The other girl pouted prettily, and Hana felt herself crumbling. It would be nice to be around people, and that expression was so terribly sad and hopeful that no feeling person could say no to it. "I promise! I like you, and Kuchiki-san likes you, and I'm sure Ishida-kun likes you!"

Not likely. "How can you tell?"

"He showed you around the school, right? He had to like you from that!"

There was a large hole in the other girl's logic. But how could you want to disabuse her? She was so innocent. "I . . . guess I could go. If you really think it'll be okay with everyone else."

Orihime hugged her, and Hana smiled despite herself. Then Orihime pulled back, and studied the shirts in Hana's hand. "Wear the blue-and-white one. It'll look pretty with your hair." Sighing, Hana dropped the green shirt and slipped on the other. It was mostly white, with blue trim around the hood and zipper, and a small Quincy cross embroidered on the inside of the hood. Unless someone looked closely, it was just a sweatshirt. And even if they did, she could say that it was something she'd found in a store. But that would twinge a little, since Nana had made it for her, saying that looking fashionable was no excuse for letting your heritage go.

Orihime waited for her to zip it halfway, and then dragged her towards the door, pausing just long enough to let her grab a pair of sneakers and slip them on. "So, who all will be there?"

"Me, Kuchiki-san, Kurosaki-kun, Sado-kun, and Ishida-kun."

She shouldn't have worn this shirt. Give yourself away on the first day. Smooth, Hana. If anyone would notice the things that she didn't want anyone to notice yet, it would be him. Maybe . . . well, showing up with Orihime would pull most of the attention off of her anyway. Maybe it would be all right.

They turned a corner, and Orihime started waving. Hell. Hana put on her best innocent smile, noticing with amusement the way his face fell when he saw her standing there. He'd hoped to have private time with Orihime. Hehe. "Ishida-kun, isn't it great? Hana-san's coming to the cafe with us! I promised her she'd be welcome, don't you think she will?"

Uryuu's lips shifted into...not a smile, exactly, but an expression of bemused acceptance. Orihime was Orihime, and she'd taken a shine to the new girl. Though he wondered if she knew what Stevens was really like. He may have to try and warn her. "...You make everyone feel welcome, Inoue-san," he tactfully replied. "Let's go then, we don't want to be late."

"Or Kuchiki-san will be mad!" Orihime grinned, then cocked her head to one side, "Although SHE's never on time either..." Uryuu strode along, the two girls just a bit behind. "You'll like this place, Hana-san, it's supposed to have an American flavor to it! Though I'm not sure what that means exactly...but it'll be like a little piece of home to tide you over until you feel at home in Karakura Town!"

This wasn't a good idea. Uryuu looked back, hardly listening to the two girls chatter. There probably wasn't any business that they'd have to talk about, but if there was, Stevens would be there...and they'd have no real reason to send her away. Not only that, but neither Kurosaki nor Orihime were subtle people. One of them might let something sensitive slip...

Then his ears perked up as Orihime gasped, "Oh, and I love that sweatshirt! It looks so nice! ...Blue and white, just like what Ishida-kun likes to wear, right?"

He looked back, and his eyes narrowed a bit. It was close...white was white, but the Quincy blue was a very particular shade. It could just be a coincidence...but this was an unusual garment for a teenager to wear. It was handmade, he knew enough about sewing and stitching to see that. And masterfully too. He drifted back a bit, gazing openly at the garment. It was probably nothing, just a..."Wait a moment."

He stopped, taking hold of the hood of her sweatshirt, despite the rudeness of it and stretched the material out. His eyes were wide as he stared down into it. That symbol! That was no coincidence! It was a Quincy Cross! "Impossible...Stevens-san, where did you get this?"

Hana blinked. Orihime would have to mention the shirt. All right. Well, we can work with this. "What do you mean? It was a gift from my grandmother. She got it for me a few years ago."

Orihime was wide-eyed and incredulous. "Ishida-kun! What are you doing, pulling on Hana-san's shirt like that? And it was a gift, too! I hope you haven't damaged it for her!"

Hana shook her head, then turned to look at him steadily. "It's all right, Orihime-chan. I'm sure that Ishida-san is just interested in where he could find one for himself. It is a unique garment; I've never seen another like it." There, not a lie in the whole mess. "I'm sure he didn't mean to be rude., but as just taken by curiousity."

His eyes narrowed again, growing colder at her hidden barb. He was prepared to start into it, but he felt Orihime's eyes on him. Her expression was one of severe disapproval. He looked at her for a moment, then back at Stevens' steady gaze. "Of course."

He released the hood, "I was curious, Stevens-san, that design is very interesting, and the stitching used is quite cunning. I'd like to know more about where it came from." His gaze was no less steady than her own, and quite a bit flintier. "I'm sure we can discuss it later." He held her stare for a few moments longer, then turned and started to walk again, "...gomen."

Orihime watched after him, then looked at Hana and smiled a little worriedly. "Um, well...let's go, don't want to be late, right?"

Cafe Moderno did have an American flare from a Japanese point of view. It was loud and full of bright lights and was playing rock and roll music. The waitresses all wore blond wigs, and many of the items on the menu were "authentic" American cuisine. Which also meant they were a bit pricey. Chad and Tatsuki were, of course, already there waiting for them. While Tatsuki greeted the other girl, Chad looked over the women to catch Uryuu's eye. He nodded once, the Quincy returning the gesture. Best to be cautious, after all. Rukia and Ichigo appeared later, Rukia complementing them all on being early and berating Ichigo for making them only on time...despite the fact that they were fifteen minutes late.

Soon the teens were inside, seated at a table with drinks, their orders having just been taken. Rukia looked over at Hana, her large eyes hesitant, "So...Stevens-san." The girl's presence meant the real business of this meeting would have to wait. And the first time she had some too! "How are you adjusting? I'm sure it's a big change, right?" She reached into her bag, producing a manga, "I've studied America, and it must actually be refreshing to live in a place with so few car chases and vicious street gangs!"

Hana smiled at Orihime as reassuringly as she could. Even though she wasn't feeling sure at all. He clearly hadn't believed her, and didn't like the phrasing she'd used. Good, and bad. Thank god for Orihime's trusting nature. And she felt a little guilty for her sort-of betrayal of that trust, but . . . she didn't really lie, and it was important to determine whether she could trust these people before revealing herself. With two shinigami in the mix, it was hard to say whether or not they would have trouble with her.

When Rukia and Ichigo got there, Hana got the sense that she was actually intruding on some business that they were to discuss. But Rukia tried to be personable, asking about America. And she got her information from manga? Oh, no. Hana nodded slowly, not wanting to make her new 'friends' upset by contradicting what looked like a long-held belief. "It is a rather big change, yes. But I . . . we lived in New Mexico, which has fewer car chases and gangs than other parts of America." She smiled shyly. "And living next door to Orihime-chan will be a big help, I'm sure."

Their food came quickly, and the conversation lulled after that, broken only by Rukia's accusations that Ichigo ate like a monster, and his assertions that he did no such thing, and she was too critical of him, what about the way Tatsuki ate? Tatsuki, for her part, raised a fist to him, and told him that if he wanted to get his ass kicked, he was going the right way, and kept to her plate.

As they were finished, Hana's phone began to vibrate in her pocket, and she pulled it out. "Oh, I'm so sorry! It's one of my friends from America, I should take it. I'll go outside." She felt eyes on her, and flipped the phone open. "Allison, what's up?"

She pushed the door open, and stepped outside, leaning against the cafe wall. "No, nothing. Just out with some people from my new school." A sudden, unexpected pressure made her stand up straight. "Ally, I need to run . . . yeah, another one of those things. Bug ya later." Snapping the phone shut, she slipped it into her pocket and jogged down the street, climbing up the fire ladder on a building.

When she was on the roof, she rotated in place, getting a feel for where the Hollow was. There it was . . . relatively close. Good. Leaping easily from roof to roof, she stopped a few buildings away, kneeling down. At least three of the people she had been with were sworn to stop Hollows. And she wanted to get an idea of what they were like in a fight.

But if they didn't get here soon, she'd have to take care of things herself. Killing Hollows was to protect people and souls, and if they weren't swift enough to handle that . . . ah, here they were. Ichigo in the lead, Ishida a close second, and Rukia behind. Followed by Sado and Orihime. Well. Not the best speed, but the shinigami would have had to change out of their bodies and . . . huh. Tatsuki must have stayed behind.

They were there, the Hollow was there, and they . . . were arguing? "You've got to be kidding me." Shaking her wrist, Hana let her Qunicy Cross fall out, calling in her spirit bow. Standing, she aimed quickly and shot, just as she heard Ichigo yell, saw another flash of blue from the group. Her arrow hit first, and there was a stunned silence after the Hollow's death bellow. Cover blown to pieces - any of them could track the arrow's flight, so there was little point in running - she posed on the roof, still braced to shoot, her clothing magically changed to a blue-and-white one-shouldered minidress, the skirt fluttering in the soft breeze.

"I said, I'll handle it!" Ichigo swung Zangetsu off his back, holding it out in front of him as the massive Hollow reared up and bellowed. Chad's arms had already changed, the giant's tremendous might holding up a building that the mammoth-like Hollow had torn the foundation out from under with it's tusks. Orihime's Flower Gods flitted about, the tender hearted girl "healing" the damaged building so it would be good as new.

Rukia flew in from the side, kicking Ichigo in the head and sending him tumbling, "Idiot! I'm the senior officer here, I'll handle it!"

"Senior...you're no officer! You don't even have a seat!"

"At least I'm an ACTUAL shinigami!"

"Oh, yeah? Which of us can reach bankai, huh?"

Uryuu lifted his arm, Ginrei Koojako springing to life, "Too slow, Kurosaki. How you shinigami get anything done escapes me." He drew back his arrow, sighting and releasing in one swift motion as Ichigo yelled at him to wait. THe blue bolt of spirit power flew true and swift, aimed to pierce the Hollow right between the-

Another bolt of blue, launched from a completely different angle lanced sideways through the Hollow's head, cracking the mask in two horizontally. The beast's body was already crumbling as Uryuu's shot passed through it. Uryuu's blood went cold, his blue eyes lying to their widest, the pale youth all but gaping in shock.

"This reiatsu," Rukia gasped, "Why didn't I feel it before?"

Ichigo swung Zangetsu in front of his as he pivoted, "It's strong too! And out of nowhere!"

Orihime's eyes were wide, her lovely face shocked, "It feels like...like Ishida-kun, but different!" Behind her, Chad stared, the eye not obscured by his wavy thatch of hair wide and huge.

Uryuu turned, feeling it now too, knowing what it meant, but his mind refusing to accept it. His hands shook as he saw her standing there. His eyes flew over her clothes, lingering for a moment on the cross on her breast, to the flaring spirit energy bow in her hand. The bow that was pointed at him. The group as a whole stood as if rooted to the spot, stunned into silence by both the surprise and the impossibility of what they were seeing. The silence crept on, feeling like an eternity.

Uryuu's hands flexed into fists, his eyes narrowing furiously, the collected youth almost baring his teeth and snarling. "Ishida," Ichigo cried, "wait! Don't-" The Quincy was gone in a blur of white, his hirenkyaku rocketing his across the distance.

He reappeared in front on Hana, Ginrei Koujaku still alive in his hand, "How dare you!" His mind was a blank, his immense control and discipline gone, obliterated. "I am Uryuu Ishida, the last Quincy! Student of Sooken Ishida, and heir to the Quincy legacy!" His voice was slightly higher than normal, only a touch, but a sign of how close he was to losing control completely. She couldn't be! It was impossible! He was the only one! He had to be! It was all he had! "How dare you pretend to claim that for yourself! Explain this now!"

"I pretend nothing." Her voice was a chilly as she could remember it being, and her hands were steady on the bow. "And if you are the last Quincy, Quincy, then I must be a figment of your imagination. That Hollow must have been too, since my arrow killed it." She raised an eyebrow at him. "And I am Hana Stevens, student of Tobito Yumi." Hana waggled her bow at him. "Clearly, there is no one Quincy legacy, since I have one, too."

Her mouth firmed into a hard line. "If you need more explanation than this, I don't know what to tell you. I'm not lying, I'm not pretending, and if you can sense reiatsu at all, you'll know that." Eyes wide and serious, she looked at him, the blue light from both of their bows illuminating their faces in the growing dimness. "I have no desire to be the last Quincy. I came here hoping that I wasn't the last, after my grandmother died. If you truly want to be the last, however," she let her bow vanish, the light on the roof dimming, "then you can be. All you have to do is kill an unarmed girl." Her clothes had changed back as well, the only change the Cross dangling from her wrist as she spread her arms. "What matters more, Quincy? Honor, or being alone for the rest of your life, without anyone to understand you?"

Uryuu's eyes flashed at her challenge, and his mouth became a thin line, his jaw clenched so hard he thought it might break. How dare she! How dare she even imply such a thing! "You may be a Quincy, but don't presume you're on a level to understand anything about me," he grated out. Ginrei Koujaku vanished abruptly, "And if you think I would do what you just offered, for any reason...then no matter what you know, you also do not understand the true meaning of the pride of the Quincy."

He floated back a few feet, his feet steady on the invisible reiatsu gathered and held by his power. "You knew." It wasn't even a question. "You knew what all of us were, that's why you lied about your sweatshirt earlier. To cover your tracks. For what purpose?" His eyes were cold still, but only just, a fire lit beneath them. "Why were you spying on us?"

There was a blur, and Ichigo and Rukia appeared on the same rooftop that Hana was on, flanking her. Both of the shinigami had their swords put away, though Rukia was still somewhat tensed for action. Ichigo, scratching his chin with one finger, just looked from Hana to Uryuu, and back again. "...She doesn't look like your sister..."

That idiocy managed, for the moment, to drive Uryuu's anger and inward personal crisis back. "What? Of course she doesn't, she's not my sister, you idiot! She's half-American for one thing!"

Rukia had a hand on her forehead, shaking her head, "Honestly, Ichigo...don't you ever think?"

"Hey! I do too!" The substitute shinigami snorted indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest, "If Ishida's the last Quincy, and him and his old man are all that's felt of the blood, then she has to be related, right?"

"Apparently...I am not the last." Which was good. So why did he feel...betrayed, cheated even, by that fact. The moment of buffoonery had given him a chance to recoup some of his control, shocked him partly back to himself. The deep hurt that he felt was still there, but...he was in control again. He should say something to...recover for his outburst. "...You...shoot well, Stevens-san," he manged, nearly biting his tongue as he all but choked the words out.

He grew a bit red, feeling both Ichigo and Rukia staring at him. "Whoa...wait a minute...Ishida never complements anyone!" Ichigo looked back and forth from the male Quincy to the female. "...maybe this girl is actually Ishida, and he's a doppelganger or something!"

There was a loud meaty thump as Rukia rammed her fist right up Ichigo's face and into his nose, knocking him off the rooftop. From below there was a heavy thud, and a squeal of "Kurosaki-kun!"

The senior shinigami surveyed the young girl on the rooftop with her large eyes. Eyes that suddenly showed a hint of her true age and experience. "Ishida-san is right, Stevens-san. You did hide what you were, and you did spy on us. I don't suspect you of anything, but I'd like an explanation."

Her eyes flashed when he told her she didn't understand the true meaning of pride. He thought she was so poorly trained that she would think he'd be willing to kill just for a title? How dare he! But then he moved on to her supposed dishonesty, and her mouth firmed again, just as the two shinigami appeared on either side of her. At least they had put up their swords, that was a good sign.

But the indignation remained. "I didn't lie. And I never spied on you." She looked around, and sighed. "And this isn't really the place to talk about this, is it? Wouldn't it be better to have this discussion somewhere that you all can feel more in control, and possibly not have to worry about a random janitor coming up and wondering what we're doing?"

Rukia nodded once, slowly. "That makes sense. Ichigo, go get your body and mine, and we'll go to your house," she yelled over the side of the building.

"My house!?"

"You heard me! Now go on! And apologize to Arisawa-san!"

From below, Orihime gasped, "Oh, Tatsuki-chan! I'll go with you, Kurosaki-kun!" And then the patter of feet as they headed back towards the restaurant. Rukia sighed and motioned to Hana. "Off the roof - we'll go to Ichigo's as a group."

Hana nodded. "I'll go down on my own, and land next to Sado-san. Just so you don't think I'd try to escape." Her eyes found Ishida's, and turned cold. "I do have some measure of honor." Before he could speak - and she could tell that it would be a doozy if he did - she used hirenkyaku to go off the roof and land next to Sado. Deciding it might be funny to joke, and hoping she wouldn't regret it later, she looked up at him. "You can carry me, to make sure I don't try to run." Rukia had lept down right after her, and caught it, snorting a laugh, then turning serious again. But Ishida . . . floated down with an expression like a thunderhead, and it only got darker when he heard her offer.

But Sado smiled slowly and shook his head. "I trust you not to."

"Ah, but they might not."

His voice rumbled again. "Ishida-san has honor, and you are a Quincy like he is."

Her smile was as slow as his, and she avoided looking at her fellow Quincy. It would only infuriate him more. "Arigato, Sado-san." She turned to Rukia and spread her hands. "You'll have to lead, or at least direct, since I don't know where we're going."

Uryuu felt so tense he was surprised his bones were not breaking through his skin. He had never, ever been so angry in his life. His face was stony and hard, his eyes coldly blazing, his hands actually shaking with the effort of containing his apoplectic fury. "She...is nothing like me, Yasutora," he said in a quiet voice. That it came from him made it all the worse. From the one of his friends who probably understood him the best, and thought the best of him, next to Orihime.

Chad stood a moment, stunned. Ishida hadn't called him by his last name since the first time they'd gone to Soul Society. The Quincy rushed past the giant and the girl who'd exploded into their lives. "It's this way," he said tersely. Chad looked down at Hana, and nodded, walking alongside her.

Behind them both, Rukia watched for a moment, then frowned. "...Now I'm going to have to write a report on tonight for sure..." Maybe she could get Ichigo to do it...

The Kurosaki Clinic and household was brightly lit, save for the windows of the twin's room. From one of the first floor windows came the flickering blue light of a television set, and dimly a "boo ha ha ha" could be heard. The four teens were in the shadows of the lee side, Uryuu already climbing up to the window and sliding it open as Rukia explained below that they'd have to be careful not to wake up Ichigo's sisters.

As the window slid open, there was a disgusted snort. "Finally! Ichigo, I've been waiting all day for you to come home! You never take me out or let me go anywhere anymore, and I'm putting my foot down!" The tawny golden body of the rugged stuffed lion that the mod soul Kon inhabited stood on the bed, arms imperiously resting on his hips. "From now on, you'll-you!" The plushie recoiled in horror as Uryuu slid through the window and onto the bed. "You...you monster! You-you've killed Ichigo and come to claim me for your own! To torture me with your wicked designs! Well, take this!"

Uryuu grunted with annoyance as the little lion leaped onto his face, small hands pounding on the Quincy's forehead, his legs wrapped around the youth's chin. "Take that, and that, and that, and that!" He leaned back, "And now, the finishing move, the Golden Kon-gakkk!" A slim hand reached in from outside the window, squeezing the lion's head and prying him off before throwing him across the room to slam hard into the wall.

Rukia came through, Hana and Chad behind her as Uryuu stalked into the room, any bit of cool he had regained gone due to the mod soul's mortifying assault. "I forgot about him," the violet eyes shinigami sighed, "this might make things even more difficult."

"Ah?" The lion lifted it's head, his eyes suddenly huge and teary, "Ah! NEeeee-samaaaaaa!" The lion launched through the air as if shot from a cannon, shooting toward Rukia's chest. She pivoted, letting him fly past and backhanding him to shoot him out the open window past Hana's head, hurtling over the next several houses with a whining cry.

The door creaked open, Ichigo standing there, Orihime just behind him. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing important," Rukia shrugged, shutting the window behind the last of them.

Ichigo shrugged, closing his room door. "Old goat beard probably won't bother us, he thinks I'm in here studying with Orihime." He looked at Hana, then the others. His gaze lingered on Uyruu. The proud archer had moved to be furthest away from the new girl, as well as the others. He was leaning against a wall, his arms folded over his chest, glaring deliberately away from the group. "Well, I guess we should get started, huh?" He sat down on the floor, "Might as well do the introductions again, for real this time. Hana, I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, substitute shinigami. I started out as just a normal human...well, not normal, I could always see spirits and talk to them, but...anyway. That's me." The others went around the room, re-introducing themselves with a bit of background, of their real background in some cases.

When it came to Uryuu, he didn't move a muscle. "...She heard my introduction back there, and we all heard hers. Now let's get on with this and stop wasting our time." He was so angry. So angry it hurt. His head ached, and there was a stabbing pain in his chest. "We've already said too much for someone we don't know."

"Oh, but Ishida-kun, we do know Hana-san!" Orihime reached out, putting a hand on one of Hana's. "She's clever and pretty and nice and she put that Hollow down, zap-pow! I trust her, don't the rest of you?" Saying nothing, Chad just nodded.

Ichigo smirked, "She's already got more going on than Ishida did when we met, she didn't call down an army of Hollows and a Menos for some stupid contest." The male Quincy's jaw tightened noticibly, but he said nothing. Noting this, Ichigo grinned, continuing, "And she can shoot that bow without cutting her fingers, unlike someone I remember from back then."

Hana was a little taken aback by the suddenness with which they were trusting her. If she were dangerous, she could . . . well, that was what he was worried about, wasn't it? That she was some sort of terrible person, out to harm them. And his snapping at them . . . not very mature at all. She'd thought he was better than that. But his mouth was open, ready to respond angrily to Kurosaki's jabs. Instead, she stepped forward.

"Thank you, Orihime-chan, for your trust. And I'm sorry, Kurosaki-san, but I don't think it's fair to speak so about him. I appreciate the support, but . . . he's right." She looked at the floor between her sneakers and shrugged. "You all are very kind and trusting, but . . . he's right that you shouldn't really trust me until you know my background." She raised an eyebrow at Ishida, knowing that her agreeing and sort-of standing up for him would drive him bonkers - especially since he couldn't say anything about it without sounding like a fool. "I think you'll trust me afterwards, but that's up to you."

Hana shifted her stance so that she was straight, her hands clasped behind her back. "My grandmother married an American during the war, and came to America with him. She was a Quincy, and it didn't frighten him. So she stayed. And found that there were Hollows in America as well. And a small community of Quincies and shinigami, working together." Her eyes traveled over Rukia and Ichigo, both back in their bodies. "She was amazed, but pleased. And began working with them. She'd said," she coughed, avoiding Ishida's gaze, "that there had been a Quincy here who had wanted that, but it never worked out."

Shaking her head slightly, she turned her eyes back to the floor. "Anyway. My mother was born there, and she was a Quincy as well. So Nana trained her, and mother married an American as well, and then I came along." Her smile was soft and wistful. "Mom and dad were pleased when I was able to start training - three generations of Quincies, all working together. And it was an outlet for my energy.

"When I was ten . . ." her voice faltered, and the smile fell away. "When I was ten, my parents were in a fatal car crash - hit by a drunk driver. Nana took me in, and kept my training going until she . . . died as well." Her hands behind her back were tight together, her knuckles white. "That was seven months ago. She'd talked before about coming back, with me. To show the Quincy she'd known before that it was possible for his dream to become reality. So, I finished the school year, packed up everything, and left."

Hana spread her hands, shrugging. "I didn't really lie - I just didn't tell all the truth. I wasn't sure how you would all react to me. I knew what you all were, and I thought . . . well, I was a little surprised that none of you could tell. I wanted to see what sort of people you were before I said anything. But tonight . . . I didn't know how long it would take, so I . . . I didn't want anyone to get hurt."

She looked around at them, letting them all meet her gaze - except Ishida, of course - and she sighed. "I'm sorry I decieved you. But I didn't spy. I have more honor than that."

Uryuu actually bit his tongue to keep from saying anything when she said he was right not to trust her. She was saying it just to goad him, and he...he couldn't say anything about it! She'd supported his point, and just...she'd...she'd robbed him of his right to be indignant. He felt a sick gnawing in stomach starting to accompany the throbbing in his skull and his hurt in his heart. He felt trapped.

As she talked about her grandmother going to America, Uryuu gasped, his eyes widening, his anger momentarily forgotten. In America...the shinigami and the Quincy worked...together? He thought his grandfather's dream...that...that HE'd been the one to realize it, even if sensei was dead before it had happened. But it wasn't. It had been done, in Souken's own lifetime. Uryuu...had failed even in that...he'd never even been able to succeed.

Ichigo cocked his head to one side, "Shinigami and Quincy together, huh?" He was leaning back on his hands, and shifted to look at Uryuu," Hey, Ishida, wasn't that what your grandfather wanted? You told me that, right?" The Quincy couldn't talk, the implications in all of this just too massive for him to even say anything. There was just too much there. There was...a whole colony of Quincies? How many were there? He'd...had sensei known? Did Ryuuken? He numbly nodded, not even really hearing what the strawberry had said.

Hana's story continued, the others listening carefully. As she spoke, Uryuu grew more and more pale, and his hands shook ever so slightly. Finally, the girl came to a close, humble, even demure in those moments.

Before anyone could speak, there was a blur of movement, and Orihime was hugging Hana tightly, her eyes bright with unshed tears, "Oh, Hana-san! What a sad story! I'm so sorry!" She pulled back, hands clasped to her bulging chest, "You poor thing, but it's okay now! We all forgive you! Right, everyone?"

Chad just nodded, the Japanese-Mexican youth having said his share already back at the site of the battle. Rukia did the same, "Your precautions made sense. I didn't advertise my presence here when I came to Karakura Town anyway," she said, leaving out the fact that she hadn't needed to. Everyone figured it out anyway, and Uryuu had known immediately what she was. "Your reiatsu hiding ability is impressive, Hana-san. Even Ishida-san couldn't detect you."

Ichigo shrugged, "Yeah, that's something, all right. Anyway...you're fine with me, Hana." The lanky boy shrugged, seemingly disinterested in the rest of the proceedings. "I didn't really think there was anything to forgive in the first place."

The room fell silent, and almost as one, the youths within turned their heads to look at Uryuu. The Quincy was deathly pale, his eyes were wild, and when he looked back at them, his gaze was distant and unfocused. Almost as if he wasn't seeing them, but old memories and things he thought were certain. They were waiting for him to respond. HOw...what did he even feel? Everything. He was angry, he was disappointed, he was pleased, he was grieving, he was sympathetic, he was jealous, he was terrified, he was lost. "I...this is...a lot to take in all at once." He shook his head, "I need to...some time to think about all this. Alone. Please excuse me, everyone."

"What?" Ichigo scoffed as the thin boy walked back to the window, lifting it open. "Hey, don't leave! What the hell are you running away for?" The substitute sat back up, his hands resting on his knees, brows knitted, "You're a jerk, Ishida, but you've never been a-"

"ICHIGO!" The name thundered from Rukia's tiny frame with a force that took them all aback, "Shut up! Let Ishida-san go." He looked back at her, and their eyes met, he nodded once, and in a flash of hirenkyaku, was gone.

"...What the hell, Rukia?" Ichigo crossed his arms over his chest, sulking. "What was that all about?"

"Those of us who like to think sometimes need some time alone to do it, Ichigo," she sniffed.

Before he could retort, Chad's soft voice spoke up, "It's more than that." He fixed Ichigo with a direct look, "Do you remember what I said when we were going to Soul Society to get Kuchiki-san back? About Ishida?"

"Uh....that his clothes were wierd?" Ichigo scratched his chin, "Uhhh...something about him being complex, right?"

"That's right." Chad's gaze turned to look out the window, "Complex things...are usually fragile."


Miles away, at the coursing mountain river where he and his sensei had trained together so long, Uryuu Ishida appeared as if from nowhere. He fell to his knees on the bank, looking out over the water. "Sensei...what...does this mean? If she is right then...everything I've wanted...I've made myself into, tried to be...what was it all for? Who...am I now? What's.. there's nothing left..."

He sank back on his butt, knees bent and his arms around them, curling up tight as his eyes stared off into the darkened woods, trying desperately to salvage something from the crashing remains of his identity, purpose, and life. No matter how he looked at it, it all came back to the fact that he'd been wrong about everything his identity and purpose in life had been built on. It was all wrong.

Hana looked out the window, her eyes traveling over the darkened skyline of the town. "It's that, Sado-san, and it's more than that. He's not as fragile as all that." She tilted her head to one side, then turned back to them. "I didn't realize . . . I might never have come, if I had known. If he was raised to think he was the only one left, and his grandfather was the one my grandmother knew . . . it's . . . ." They were all looking at her, and she blushed. Had he run into this problem before? It sounded so stupid and egotistical to say that you hoped to be able to make a name for yourself, that you wanted to be the one who helped bring to life your teacher's aspirations for you. But it was just hoping that the people you cared for would be proud of you. And she'd taken away what he felt he had to be proud of. "Never mind, it wouldn't translate."

His reiatsu was still out there, flaring and dimming wildly. It wasn't a comfort to know that she'd done that. And it didn't even help to know that she hadn't done it on purpose. "But Kuchiki-san is right. He wasn't running away." Her voice took on a small hint of arrogance, and had she known them all better, she might have heard Ishida in herself. "He's a Quincy, after all."

Ichigo looked at her, his expression assessing her. When he opened his mouth, she didn't know what to expect. "Eh. I'm sure you're right, Hana. He'll be fine." He flopped onto his bed and laid back, one knee bent. "Oy, Rukia. What did you have to talk about at this stupid meeting, anyway?"

"My meetings aren't stupid!"

"Whatever. Did this one have a point?"

The dark-haired girl sputtered, and before she could speak again, Hana spoke up. "I don't want to intrude, if you did have some business. And I . . . I'm sure you'll want to talk about what's happened. So I'll go on home, if you don't need me any more tonight."

Orihime blinked. "Hana-san, you're welcome to stay! I mean, you're part of our group now, and . . . ."

"I'm not, Orihime-chan." Hana shook her head to stall the other girl's protest. "As nice as you all are, I'm not part of your group yet." She made a face. "Joining a group means that both sides have to consent. And Ishida-san was here before I was. If he has a problem with me, then I can't join you. It wouldn't be fair."

Ichigo snorted. "He's got a problem with me, and we're doing fine."

"It's . . . not the same, Ichigo," Chad contributed, and shrugged when the other boy looked at him.

Hana shrugged as well. "You two have complementary strengths. He and I . . . he's stronger than I am. You'd be trading down, if it came down to it." That hurt, admitting that. But it was true. "If he can't come to terms with my being here, then . . . I'll go back home. It's the only honorable thing to do."

"Hana-san! Don't say such things!" Orihime's expression was fierce. "I'm sure Ishida-kun will come to like you as much as we all do!"

It was hard to believe an eighteen-year-old girl could be that naive. But . . . "I'm sure you're right, Orihime-chan. But until then, I can't in good faith be part of your group. We can be friends, but nothing more. I'll see you in school tomorrow."

She walked over to the bed and opened the window, stepping over Ichigo's body as the talking stuffed animal Rukia had pitched outside climbed back in. "About time! Whoa . . . who are you?" Hana blinked once, then shook her head. "I think this is another thing I shouldn't know about until then." Placing a foot on the window ledge, she launched herself out, using hirenkyaku to land half a block down the street without hurting herself. Standing there for a second, she sighed. This had been the worst first day at a new school ever, bar none. Time to go home, make a cup of tea, and curl up in bed.


The next day before class started, Hana lingered in the girls' bathroom until a few seconds before the bell rang. She had a feeling that, if she were earlier, Orihime would have tried to bring her into their circle. And the warmth of that friendship was too seductive for her. She'd meant what she'd said last night, and Orihime had such strong enthusiasm that it was hard to refuse her.

She opened the door, and realized her mistake in waiting so long. The only seat left was the one she'd had yesterday. Well, this wouldn't be awkward at all. Hana slipped into her seat as the bell rang, keeping her eyes on the top of her desk. "I'm sorry, there's no other seat," she said softly.

Uryuu's eyes shifted over to her, regarding Hana silently for a moment. Part of his wished she was uglier. It would make dealing with her easier, somehow. "Don't apologize," he said. To all appearances, it was as if the disturbances of the previous day hadn't even happened. "It's nothing."

He was stock still for another few moments, then reached down into his bag and pulled out a something wrapped in white cloth. This was a decision he'd come to toward dawn, before he went home to shower and change.

He hadn't slept, most of the night had been spent at the stream, just thinking. After a few hours, he'd stripped down and waded into the water, trying to use it to clear his mind and calm himself. He didn't know how to deal with...the everything that he felt. So he'd pushed it away. It was still down in the pit of his stomach, gnawing at him. But he was in control of it for now. He hadn't done well last night, but he...he couldn't, wouldn't apologize. This would have to do.

The bundle was about two and a half feet long and had been distending his school bag slightly. He handed it to her, "Here. Things are serious in Karakura right now, I''m sure the others told you. These might help if you get caught alone." He hesitated a moment, then mumbled out, "If you don't know how to use them...I can show you after school."

Then he turned away, his eyes fixed on the blackboard, and a faint blush on his pale cheeks.

At the back of the room, Mikiru blinked and leaned over to Kuneida. "Psst! Ishida just gave the new girl a present!"

She took the package, trying to restrain her curiosity. Whatever it was, odds were good that opening it here wouldn't be wise. So, instead, she took it with a murmured "Thank you," and set them next to her bag. There was a tension about him, and she could tell that he still would have trouble dealing with her. But at least there wouldn't be a destructive outburst - or battle - in school.

And she really, really, really needed to tamp down hard on the impulse to tease him about blushing. So Hana bit her lip, and tapped her pen on her leg, trying to channel the urge into some other pathway. And then she felt eyes on her, and turned her head to see Orihime, wide-eyed and grinning, giving her a thumbs-up. Hana smiled slightly and shrugged, trying to act non-committal. It didn't mean that he would be willing to have her join them.

At lunch, Hana managed to avoid Orihime - which wasn't that difficult, since the ginger-haired girl seemed to have vanished into thin air. So she sat down with her back to a large tree, pulled out her lunch and took a bite of the sandwich she'd packed. Not her best work, but still not bad. As she ate, she looked at the end of the white-wrapped bundle sticking out of the top of her bag. She knew she should wait until she got home to open it. But she was alone, and no one else was even nearby.

Setting her sandwich down on the bag and lifted the bundle out of her bag, setting it across her lap. Long, clever fingers unwrapped the cloth carefully - she'd definitely heard the clink of metal-on-metal when she'd moved it - and exposed . . . two swords? They didn't feel like normal swords, and she could feel a strange sort of commonality between them and her spirit bow. But she'd never seen anything like them. And had no idea what to do with them. She wasn't a swordsman, and . . . well, he'd said he'd help her, and she'd have to hold him to that. Because otherwise, she'd probably hurt herself.


On top of the roof, Ichigo threw himself down on the ground near Uryuu, waiting while Chad held the door for Rukia and Orihime. When the tall boy released the door, it swung shut, cutting off Keigo's wail of disappointment. Rukia walked over Ichigo, stepping on his stomach, before stopping, hands on hips, in front of the young Quincy. "Well, Ishida-san? Did you have enough time to think last night?" Her tone was stern, but her face was a little less so - if he still needed time to think, she'd probably let him have it. But not a lot of it.

From the door behind Chad there was a muffled pounding and a rather pathetic wailing cry. The big youth just shook his head, staying propped up against it, his massive arms folded over his chest. Orihime's hands were over her mouth, though whether it was to restrain herself from speaking or in worry over Rukia confronting Uryuu, it was hard to say.

"Well?" The huge violet eyes regarded him, the tiny girl managing to exert more of a feeling of authority and menace than she had any physical right to.

The Quincy set his lunch aside, "You forget, Kuchiki-san, that I don't answer to you. Or to any shinigami."

Rukia bristled almost visibly, but it was Ichigo who beat her to the verbal punch, "Yeah, yeah, we got it already. Come on, tell us what you decided, and it better be the right choice, Uryuu."

The archer sniffed, "Of course it is. I just thought about what you would do and chose the opposite."

"What was that?"

Before Ichigo could get up and lunge at Uryuu, Rukia's foot stomped hard on his stomach, silencing him for a moment. "And?"

Uryuu looked at her, then to Orihime, and lastly to Chad. Then his eyes went back to the petite shinigami who had changed all their lives so much. "...Our greatest weakness is our lack of ranged capability beyond myself. Tactically, having another distance fighter would be to our advantage." Rukia's foot began to tap slowly, and he felt a sense of impending kicking. "Also, as a Quincy," it took quite a bit of effort to get that out and not choke on it, "she is trustworthy and honorable."

Behind Rukia, Orihime was nodding rapidly, obviously trying to keep herself from bouncing up and down or shouting. She smiled, beaming at him. From the door, Chad spoke, "So, if she joined us..."

Uryuu caught the larger boy's eyes for a moment. Somehow, he felt Chad knew what he was going to say, he just wanted it spoken. "I would have no objection."

"Oh, Hurray!" Orihime could control herself no longer, "Yaay! Now it's even boys and girls! And Hana-san won't have to go home! And we'll all be friends! And we'll move to a trendy apartment in Tokyo, and all hang out, and drink coffee out of Huuuuuuuge cups, and be all fashionable and twenty-somethingy!"

"Heh," Ichigo scoffed, "I don't think he'd want an apartment with all of us, Orihime, just Hana. He's getting all sweet on her, giving her presents." The Quincy glared at him, making the orange haired youth grin even broader. "What'd you give her? Flowers for the pretty girl? A love letter?" Uryuu blushed, and Ichigo started to laugh, "What's wrong, she turn you down? I bet she-uuummf!"

Rukia stood over Ichigo, who was still sprawled out, but in a different position and several feet from where he started, one small fist shaking, "Knock it off, you clot! Just because he knows how to be sweet is no excuse!"

Behind them, Uryuu blushed even brighter. Sweet? He...a proud QUincy wasn't sweet! "Th-that's not it! It's...a tactical gift. She's not as strong as she could be, and things are dangerous now, so I gave her something to help. That's all."

"Yeah, I bet you want to give her something," Ichigo managed to get out before Rukia's avenging fist crashed home again, "OWww! What the hell, Rukia! Just 'cause no guy's giving you presents is no reason to hit me! Maybe you should try being less manly for a change!"

Chad shook his head. "...that was the wrong thing to say..."

The swords were rewrapped and back in her bag, and Hana leaned against the wall of the school, waiting. She'd been waiting for at least fifteen minutes. What on earth was taking so long? She'd taken off her sweater and tied it around her waist, and was tapping her foot almost impatiently as she waited. Orihime had left a little while ago, giving her a happy smile and a promise to talk to her later tonight as she was dragged off by Tatsuki. Ichigo and Rukia had left together, Ichigo with a black eye and a nasty bruise on his arm and Rukia dragging him by his ear. And Sado had vanished with a nod, which she returned in kind.

So now she was waiting here, after school, like some sort of idiot with a crush - which she totally did not have. The door opened, and she stood up straighter. And . . . Chizuru walked out. Her eyes lit up when she saw Hana, who sighed. "Stevens-san! My favorite American!"

"Hello, Chizuru-san."

"Waiting for me? I'm flattered!" The pink-haired girl smiled sweetly and stepped closer to her prey. "My heart belongs to Hime, but you are very appealing. I might not be able to say no to your advances!"

Hana sighed out loud this time, and shook her head. "I assure you, Chizuru-san, I would never dream of taking you away from Orihime."

Two arms went around Hana's neck, and Chizuru smiled. "Of course not! But that doesn't mean we can't have a fling! I know Ishida-san gave you a gift, but that's all right! Our significant others will never need to know of our secret love!"