I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.

Acceptable Answer

Kurai sat down atop the tree branch looking around. Below him his temporary partner snored happily, ignoring the fact that their mission was to find out why the target was still in the human world, rather than where she belonged, not to sleep. Just as he decided to wake his partner up, the target stepped into view wearing a yellow sundress and a white sunhat. He smiled and she jumped as his partner stretched.

"Hello there comrade," he smiled rolling to his feet.

"It's you," the target growled as a stuffed yellow bear fell out of her backpack.

"Sorry," he sighed rubbing the back of his head. "I hate to be caught napping but these missions get so dull sometimes that I just can't seem to stay awake."

"Mission?" the target scoffed. "What kind of mission are you on?"

"Come now Rukia," Kurai sighed from his spot in the tree, startling her. "You really can't guess? You were expected to report back."

"K...Kurai," Rukia gasped. "I see. And who are you?"

"Rukia Kuchiki," Kurai's partner mused. "That's a name everyone at the Soul Reaper Academy knows. Let's face it, you're famous. Adopted into the noble Kuchiki family. You were known to the rest of the student body as the Princess of Rukon District. Eikichiro Saido. You remember me now don't you? I was older than you but you know my reputation."

"You're not as famous as you think you are Saido," Kurai snorted. "She won't remember you."

"Ah well, I suppose we should get down to business," Saido sighed and Rukia instinctively took a defensive position. "Hey, settle down. All you gotta do is answer a few questions."

"Oh wait, the Stealth Force," Rukia guessed.

"Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!" Saido cheered pulling a string on his hat which lifted the top center which had the Kanji for 'correct' on the underside. "Woo hoo! That is the correct answer. Johnny tell her what she's won!"

"Would you just knock it off!?" Rukia snapped.

Kurai dropped from the tree, driving his elbow into Saido's head and making him drop to his knees.

"Didn't I tell you to cut that out?" Kurai growled hauling him back to his feet. "Besides, she's only half right. I got sent to make you talk if you resisted."

"Fine, sheesh!" Saido groaned turning back to Rukia. "They're getting pretty irritated with you back there. They wanna know why you're still here."

"I'm still here because the hollows keep coming," Rukia stated. "Orders come in too. It's simple as that."

"That doesn't explain why you're dressed like a high school girl," Saido stated clearly meaning to make fun of her.

"What?" Rukia questioned before covering herself like she was indecent in a gigai. "What's the difference? I'll wear whatever I want to!"

"Oh don't be so embarrassed," Saido smiled. "It just looks like you're finally growing up into a woman."

"What's that supposed to mean," Rukia demanded.

"Oh stop you're killing me!" Saido laughed. "Why not admit it, you're involved with that kid whose mom was killed by a hollow! The guy with the spiky hair?"

"What are you talking about?" Rukia demanded.

"You feel sorry for him?" Saido questioned bending down so their faces were level. "Or are you looking for fun in the human world?"

"None of your business Saido!" Rukia snarled. "Shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you!"

"Nothing to be embarrassed about my little flower," Saido smirked raising a finger before hugging his shoulders and twisting to mock her. "Everyone needs love and I guess the best you could do was a human boy to get all smoochy with."

She raised a hand, charging a kido spell to make Saido leap back before the spell dissipated.

"Saido," Kurai spoke up after watching their exchange. "Two questions. First, do you really think angering the Princess of Rukon District is a good idea? You're lucky she didn't blast you."

"Good point," Saido nodded. "Too bad though. I think that's the only excuse-"

"I wasn't done," Kurai growled, his mood alone cutting off Saido mid-sentence and making Rukia's eyes widen. "I said two questions. My second is, what do you mean 'best you could do'? Is there something wrong with humans that I am of yet unaware of?"

"Uh...I...n-no...Kurai...I meant nothing by it," Saido stated bowing. "I apologize."

"Wait, do you outrank him?" Rukia snorted.

"A lot's changed Rukia," Kurai stated. "Our superiors need an answer. If it doesn't please them, you know what will happen. You may want to consider changing your opinion of lying."

"It doesn't matter," Rukia snarled. "I have no intention of returning until I'm done."

"Well, we tried," Saido sighed drawing his sword only to find Kurai's own at his throat.

"Rukia!" a voice off to one side called.

They all turned to look and saw the boy Saido had been referring to, Ichigo, running toward them followed by the stuffed lion.

"Rukia!" Ichigo called. "Are you alright? Who are you? And what do you want here?"

"Well, it's spiky head," Saido greeted. "Are we really visible to you Lover Boy?"

"Kon, who are these clowns?" Ichigo demanded looking at the stuffed lion.

"I dunno," the lion shrugged.

"Hm, mod soul," Kurai thought aloud raising an eyebrow.

"You brought me here in a panic, you said it was an emergency you fur ball!" Ichigo snarled.

"Never mind about me right now," Saido grinned. "Tell me about yourself son. Just what do you do?"

"Don't say it," Rukia warned.

"I'm a substitute soul reaper," Ichigo stated.

"A Soul Reaper?" Saido smirked as Kurai looked to Rukia to see if he was telling the truth. "Is that right? I'm still waiting for the punch line, because that has to be a joke. Rukia. That's a big mistake. What you've done is considered a serious crime."

"Why?" Kurai spoke up. "I'd like to know."

"Rukia was wounded defending me and my family from a hollow," Ichigo spoke up. "She couldn't stand, much less fight the hollow. In order to save my family and her, she gave her powers to me."

"I see," Ichigo nodded. "All of them Rukia?"

"I meant to only give half but screwed up and gave him almost all of them," Rukia stated.

"This may be better," Saido mused reaching a hand up to his hat. "It'll be more fun to kill a Soul Reaper impostor than just another dumb gigai. So let's do it!"

He hurled his hat skyward, charging as Ichigo asked what he was talking about. At the last second, Ichigo avoided the first slash, then the second.

"Cough it up Kon!" Ichigo demanded shoving his hand into the lion's mouth and pulling something out, swallowing it.

"Sick," Kurai smirked. "Not in a million years."

Saido slashed at Ichigo again just as Ichigo's spirit, now wearing a Soul Reaper robe and holding a massively oversized zanpakuto separated from his body, blocking the slash as the body landed on its rear, looking around in terror for a moment before beginning to cough.

"Not bad, you're human and yet you're able to transform," Saido stated. "I'm interested in knowing how you got that ability."

"I don't give explanations to anyone who attacks me or my friends," Ichigo stated standing.

"Wait Ichigo, just stay out of it! Rukia pleaded running over to stand between them. "It's my battle, not yours."

"What can you do?" Ichigo questioned pushing her out of the way gently. "You don't have your sword. Move it Kon!"

Kon, now in Ichigo's body, leapt out of the way and Ichigo and Saido both charged. Their blades met before Saido jumped back. He leapt at Ichigo again, slashing then punching off Ichigo's blade and flying past, jumping off a tree and slashing at Ichigo as he reached him again. As their blades met again, Saido spun, kicking Ichigo in the stomach. Ichigo flew back, landing on his feet before charging and slashing at Saido. Saido blocked it then began slashing one attack after the next for several seconds before knocking Ichigo back.

"You amateur," Saido sneered. "You're using your strength to cover for your weakness. But really you have no tactics and no skill at all."

You shut your mouth!" Ichigo shouted standing and charging again just as Rukia's soul pager went off. Kurai sprinted forward, blocking Ichigo's blade as he slashed at Saido.

"Hollow, Ichigo," Kurai stated and Ichigo looked to Rukia who confirmed it.

"It's close," Rukia stated. "And strong. Come look at this. The Soul Energy reading is higher than usual."

"Yes, way out of your league," Saido agreed, suddenly behind Rukia.

"I know that Spiritual Energy," Kurai growled. "I'm going with you two. Saido, you will wait until I return. I'll decide how to proceed."

Saido sighed but nodded and Rukia, Ichigo, and Kurai all sprinted toward the hollow.

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