Chapter four

Wow. Just…wow. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. It didn't even matter to me that he looked completely human. That was a sentiment that was jumped on by several other members of our party.

No I was more focused on another issue.

He was beautiful. Damn near perfect! I've never seen such an angelic looking person before in my life! And his energy, it was beautiful as well, and massive but controlled…powerful! Though. I could feel it just below the surface of his skin. It was so overwhelmingly strong, godlike I wanted to say but refrained. Perhaps I was just being a bit dramatic. Khalin's awe filled face didn't help much though. I felt the light react strongly to his energy, eager to join it. My face heated up like it always does in such situations as I eyed him with nothing short of pure wonder on my face. His glowing eyes roamed over each one of us carefully, inspecting us, judging us before he gave a nod and a smirk.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Uryu Ishida, president of the Ryoka."

All I could do was nod. I dare not talk, less I stutter like an idiot and embarrass myself. I did notice that Min'Shahi was blushing as well. So was Kinawei. Wow I didn't think either of them were capable of such a thing. I'd tease them later. Okay maybe I wouldn't they'd eat me alive.

Lord Uryu gestured to the four people behind him who had remained silent, finding amusement in our states of awe or bliss at having entered this spirit energy enriched world for the first time. Noticing them for the first time I was once again shocked to see…human shapes and bodies with a few obvious and subtle differences. I examined all four of them, feeling wonder once again fill my being as I eyed them Three of them were around my age, and the last one looked to be in his mid twenties. I noticed first and each one of them looked to be well acquainted with each other already.

A red head male with a smirk and a large club resting on his shoulder dressed in white like Lord Uryu.

Next to him was a young woman with dark blue/black hair and thick claws for fingernails and protruding canines dressed in chest, shoulder upper leg and forearms armor that pulsated with energy. She had a rather plain looking ball tucked under her arm, resting on her bare waist and what looked to be a shotgun at her other side on the hip.

Another girl sat next to the first. She was dressed in black and white and was very…scantily clad. She had green hair and one visible beautiful pink colored eye. The other eye was covered up by a part of the horned helmet she wore. The left horn was broken though. I was utterly shocked to see the gaping round hole in the middle of her stomach and would have voiced my concerns had it not been for her knowing grin. I shut my mouth before any words could be said.

The last was the man with short black hair a rather timid look about him. He was equipped with a single small sword and a pack of some sort strapped to his back. He looked both nervous and excited. It was odd seeing that particular combination on someone's face.

"These four will be joining you as well. They are here to represent their peoples as you are here to represent yours." He gestured towards the four. "Introduce yourselves."

The red head gave an annoyed snort but took a step forward anyway, brandishing his club. "Yo! The name's Jinta. Nice to meet ya I guess." I noticed Min'Shahi snort very quietly and Kinawei sigh. Lalyia smiled and Conall gave a grin.

The other male stepped forward next. He gave a bow and a slight nervous smile.

"Hello. I-I am Hanataro." He bowed at the waist, somehow looking very formal. I thought he was adorable.

The green haired girl spoke next, her hands resting on her hips. I felt my face heat up as I looked at her. She was dressed so…loosely. With that little vest that covered her back and only her breasts, leaving the rest of the skin exposed, and her panty looking lower garments and finally the fur boots that covered her legs and feet.

"My name is Lilynette," she said simply. The last girl gave us and emotionless look before she said, "The name is Karin." Her lips parted in a slight smirk, accentuating her feral features more, her fangs and her pointed ears.

We all introduced ourselves as well, Masheon said something about Lilynette being sexy, not surprising.

Min'Shahi made fun of Hanataro's Softness, also not surprising. Over all it went pretty well.

I think so at least.

Ishida looked at each of them intently, fascinated by how similar, yet so different they were compared to their older counterparts who had come earlier.

Most of them were young. Good. That made things easier for Jinta, Lilynette and Karin but there were a couple who held age, power and wisdom about them. Also good. If they had managed to progress as far as they had on Azeroth and still be levelheaded when it came to members of their enemy faction then they would be a great help to the young ones, a buffeter so to say. They might even help Hanataru out of that annoyingly timid shell of his and into the man he has the potential to be.

Heh Ichigo…He would use this as a chance to make Hanataru grow. Oh well. Hanataro was a good choice anyway.

After the final introductions were made He cleared his throat, gaining their attention.

"I don't know much about Azeroth But I have a basic idea from what Vol'jin-Dono and Valin-dono have told me." He adjusted his glasses. "So we will direct you in a way similar to which you would be directed on your world. During the week you spend with the Ryoka we will assign different tasks to you. I hope you can complete them with little problem."

Min'Shahi snorted. "Of course," she said. "We were chosen after all. Bring it on."

Ishida crossed his arms, a smirk on his face. The rest of the group except for Jinta, and Karin tensed.

"Very well then." He turned. "Follow me."

He turned and began to head out. The group followed and began to chatter amongst themselves.

I must admit, I was…struck dumb by this man as he introduced himself.

If I thought Lady Tyrande was the greatest source of spiritual power I had ever seen, then this man could have very well been spirit energy itself, compacted into human form.

He was…breathtaking. I couldn't avert my eyes from him and Neither could the Orc or the human. He was that awe inspiring.

I heard a snicker and turned to see the red head male with the club…Jinta looking amused and unsurprised.

"Don't worry you'll get used to him. Ishida has that affect on all the ladies," he said with a knowing grin. I scowled at him and refused to look at him.

"Whatever," I heard the Orc say as she crossed her arms and stubbornly tore her gaze from lord Uryu, looking off to the side with an upturned nose and chin. It was pretty amusing.

He led us for well over an hour. We walked along a road that looked like it hadn't been used in years and judging from the look on Lord Uryu's face, he wasn't used to walking as slow as we were. He seemed tense, as if barely holding in excess energy, like he was used to moving at far greater speeds. The others from this world looked the same way.

I remembered lady Whisperwind, telling me that these people were so tied with the spirit of their world that they were essentially spirits themselves. Perhaps they were used to gliding or flying. Fascinating.

The four from this world, the ones who would be travelling with us for the next month were chatting with the others, inquiring about the similarities and the differences between the blood elf and I and other such subjects. I wanted to sneer and harshly correct them and remind them that there was nothing similar between that cretin and I but I held my tongue. They didn't know but they would learn in time.

Besides I was just as curious about them and their world as they were about ours.

"We're here," I heard Lord Uryu announce and we all quickly came up to him to get a look at the capital city of the people called Ryoka.

I lost my breath.

The group from Azeroth…none of them could contain the pure astonishment at the sight that greeted them.

This was the Ryoka main city. It was…amazing.

The sheer size of the city alone was enough to stun them all into silence. But the aspects of the city finalized the deal.

First of all was the fact the many parts of it were floating. Massive buildings made of glass and metal stood supported on floating chunks of land connected to each other by bridges and overpasses. Other masses of land were occupied by huge trees and other such vegetation with plenty of exotic looking birds flying to and from their roosts. Homes rotated in a circle around a huge white spire with a five pointed cross as the top that gleamed in the sun and even more homes and buildings for business dotted the ground for…miles almost in a circle with a beautiful river running right through the middle of it. A section of the cycle of rebirth flowed right through the center of the city as well, crisscrossing the river and bathing the city's citizens in its essence.

Then there were the citizens themselves.

Now, Kinawei understood the thought of being spirit energy compressed into human form.

Because that's exactly what these people essentially were.

She saw a woman, tall and beautiful with bronze skin, glowing purple eyes and hair that was transparent and looked like it was underwater accentuated by her snow white sundress. She saw a little girl who looked like a spirit, transparent blue from head to toe with glowing void-like eyes and hair that looked like silk spun by a goddess of the stars.

She saw a young man, laughing gleefully as he rode across the sky on a platform of transparent red. His left arm nearly invisible against the sky as it proved to be composed of spirit energy alone.

All of this…was simply too much. Is this what happens when the spirits and the people are in complete harmony? To think that the people of Earth were so…astounding! The people of Azeroth could learn so much from Earth!

Ishida chuckled as he watched the group show numerous levels of amazement before he adjusted his glasses and spoke.

"I welcome you to Karakura Town, capital city of the Ryoka." He looked back over city and gave a slight, proud smile.

"Come then. I shall take you to where you will be staying for the next week."

They followed him in silence, ignoring the amused chuckles from Jinta and Lilynette.

As they walked through Karakura town, all activity stopped as the people got good looks at the group from Azeroth. Excited whispers broke out and quite a few were not so subtly pointing.

Min'Shahi wanted to growl. Uncomfortable couldn't even begin to describe how she felt. She wasn't used to getting so much attention, let alone, attention as positive and…welcoming as the attention she was getting now.

Khalin was pleased and felt extreme respect for these spirit beings. His own connection to the sprits, elemental in nature cried out in joy for being in such a…right environment. He had no doubt that the Night elf felt the same way. The more he looked around, the more his fascination and dare he admit it, excitement grew. He couldn't wait to get out and do a bit of exploring. At first he had been wary of coming here. When he had first heard that this…Earth was plagued by the Burning legion, he expected to see a ravaged world much like Outland.

He was reluctant to come here.

But now he's glad he did. Earth was indeed under siege by the legion. However unlike Outland or Azeroth, this world was…more than prepared to fight them. There were no signs of the demons anywhere near this city nor had he spotted any signs during the trip. He figured that the legion had yet to gain a good foothold in this world and had to resort to keeping on the move in the most remote parts of Earth, never fully able to establish a permanent base despite being on such an empty world.

The people of this world had in power what they lacked in numbers and were too aggressive towards them. And they could get to them in an instant from what he had been told by Cairne of their portal technology and other similar natural abilities. These people were truly remarkable. He understands the purpose and the…necessity that Earth accept Azeroth as an ally and a…friend.

Jake felt different the moment he stepped into this world. There was something wrong yet, comfortable about what was happening to him that made him feel…different. Like the plague that hadn't quite left him was being washed away. Lady Sylvanas hadn't seemed to notice anything changing about her from her brief time to this world but he knew something was up the second he set foot here. He hadn't felt that…alive in a very long time. What was happening? He didn't know but he didn't worry too much. He'd cross that bridge when and if it came to that. For now he was just going to enjoy tormenting the young paladin.

"Boo!" he exclaimed, stepping out of the shadows next to Nashaula, making her yelp then scowl as he laughed at her.

"Get away from me!" she yelled, making him laugh some more.

The group arrived at a rather large looking house ten minutes later where Uryu proceed to knock on the door. A second later the door swung open and a blonde man wearing a green and white bucket hat opened the door.

"Well Ishida-San! It's about time you got here." He looked at the assembled group and grinned hiding his smile behind his fan.

"Wow! Just look at you guys! Come in, come in. Have some tea."

He stepped aside and allowed for Uryu and the group to come inside.

The place was a beautiful building that held a lot of white, much like the rest of the city. There was a portrait hanging above a fire place of a beautiful dark skinned woman with purple hair and golden eyes, as well as a picture of a very muscular man with cornrows and glasses.

Numerous members of the group noticed the blonde man give the pictures a mournful glance for just a second before his cheery demeanor returned.

"So these are the representatives from that Azeroth world eh? how fascinating!"

He gave a sweeping bow. "Pleasure to meet you, I am Urahara Kisuke, businessman extraordinaire and all around amazing guy!"

Uryu snorted but Lalyia laughed. "I like him," she said.

Kisuke continued. "This is my humble abode. You will be staying here with me for the next week and helping out the city with numerous tasks and such. Nothing too hard…I think."

Here he gave a fake nervous chuckle, waving his fan in front of his face.

Jinta snorted.

"Anyway," began Kisuke. "Make yourselves at home. Your room has already been prepared for you and Dinner will be ready in a jiffy."

He gave Uryu a smile and a nod. "I got it from here. Go ahead and get back to your office."

The Quincy adjusted his glasses and nodded. "So be it Kisuke-San. Farewell for now."

And he was gone, leaving the group with Urahara.

"Your room is down the hall and to the left, can't miss it. Go ahead and unpack whatever you might or might not have brought and meet back up here."

Then he turned and headed off, presumably to the kitchen.

"Wait," said Min'Shahi sounding incredulous. "Did he just say room? As in a singular room that we have to share?"

Kinawei's eyes unconsciously drifted to Masheon who merely grinned back at her. She scowled. Conall just shrugged. "Les jus go see wha' the room looks like. Perhaps it's a large one."

"Large enough for all of us? I doubt that," said the Young Orc warrior.

"Ah, but it would make sense mon, began Lalyia. "They be forcing us to interact outside of our quests, making us…bond."

"Makes sense," began Khalin.

"And not to worry!" piped up Jinta with a grin as he clapped Hanataro on the back and slung and arm around Karin who glared at him. "We're here as well. If you guys aren't the best of friends by the end of the month, then we'll resign as warriors and Hanataro will wear a dress."

"H-hey! Why would I do that?" exclaimed the Shinigami man looking a bit distressed.

The club bearing teen gave a grin. "Then we'll just have to make sure they bond then wont we?"

Pfft," said Min'Shahi, giving Sampson and his void walker a look that clearly said, "Fat chance of that shit happening."

"Let's just get to this room so we can unpack," said Kinawei with a tired sigh. They had done a lot of travelling in the last couple of days and it was understandable that they would be a bit tired. She figured she'd worry about the room issue after she's had a bite to eat and has rested.

They made their way to the room quite easily and with very little words.

When they opened the doors to the room they froze.

"Well I'll be," said Conall with a grin.

The room was huge. There was more than enough room for the fourteen of them. There were several pillars with a series of hammocks. There were a few mats placed of the floor as well as several shelves and hooks for whatever they may need to hang there. The room was sparse and bare but that would change very soon.

Lalyia reacted first. "The top be mine mon!" she exclaimed with a laugh as she leapt towards one of the hammocks. Masheon gave a smile and gently patted the head of his worg before walking into the room and claiming the mat closest to the window.

Sampson chose a hammock as well while Kinawei chose a mat furthest away from Masheon as she could get. She even glared at him for emphasis.

One by one, the group settled into the room. Numerous weapons and supplies were unpacked and decorations were set up. It was actually quite fascinating to watch the different cultures meld together in this room as the space each person had claimed simply wasn't enough for their items. They felt a bit uneasy about leaving their weapons. Growing up where they had, had required that they equipped their weapons and armor at all time, but Jinta, Hanataro and Karin had assured them that they would be fine for the night without them.

It took a couple of minutes but the adventurers from Azeroth finally relinquished their weapons and gear before they all headed back towards the main room.

It was there that Kisuke greeted them with a smile. A teenage timid looking girl in a dress with pigtails was next to him, a slight blush was decorating her face, showing just how incredibly shy she was.

"Ah! Hello again," greeted Urahara with that infamous grin of his.

"Please sit. Enjoy the meal. You must be hungry after your trip, Ne?"

The group looked down and saw a large feast displayed before them. Many were foods they didn't recognize but it all smelled amazing. And Urahara was right. They were all hungry.

Nashaula's mouth watered as she plopped down.

"Ooh! It smells divine!"

Her companions gave nods of agreement as they all took seats around the marvelously displayed food. They all found it a bit odd that there was a lack of chairs.

Urahara took his position at the head of the display and gave a goofy smile while the pigtailed girl sat next to Jinta.

"So then," he began while waving his little fan. "Tell me about yourselves."

As soon as Uryu stepped into his office, a voice spoke up. "Heh took your ass long enough. Jeez."

Without even turning he adjusted his glasses and said, "Grimmjow," in greeting. He then turned to the two others. "Kurosaki, Arisawa-San."

Ichigo was standing by the window, with his arms crossed, his gaze was drifting over Karakura town with a look of love and admiration.

Grimmjow was sitting in Uryu's chair with his feet perched upon the desk, much to the Ryoka president's annoyance, and Tatsuki was leaning against the wall opposite of Ichigo, her tail swishing back and forth.

It was silent for a second before Ichigo turned to face the white clad man.

"What's your impression of them?" he asked. Ishida adjusted his glasses again, making grimmjow's eyebrow twitch before he gave a slight smile.

"They have potential," he began. "The denizens of Azeroth chose wisely. There are a couple of obvious animosities but that is typical in any group thrown together."

Grimmjow hummed. "Anything specific we should know about?"

The president shrugged. "The night elf and eth blood elf despise each other, well it's more like the night elf despises the blood elf. The orc seems to dislike the demon tamer an-

"Wait did you just say a demon tamer?" asked Tatsuki, interrupting Uryu. He nodded. "A gnome, he appears to have tamed a low level demon, a voidwalker I believe."

They all took on contemplative expressions. Voidwalkers along with wraiths and mana worms were some of the most annoying demons they had had to deal with. They were relatively weak but notorious for draining the energy from wherever they could. The people of earth were constantly killing them off to protect the cycle of rebirth. And the more reitsu they drained, the more powerful they became. Luckily they seemed to be able to destroy any bases before they gained to solid a foot hold. Protecting the cycle of rebirth was first and foremost in priority.

"I do not know if more people like him exist on Azeroth but I can only assume so. The tamer and the demon though seem to get along fine and neither have displayed any suspicious activity."

At the nods of his companion's heads, he moved on to the next subject.

"The…forsaken man…The reitsu will change him the most I believe."

"Hmm, ya don't say? What makes ya say that? I didn't notice anything wrong with Windrunner other than the fact that she was like a hollow almost," asked Grimmjow, looking very interested. Ishida guessed he could understand a bit how the hollow was feeling. The similarities between Windrunner and Grimmjow were obvious.

Still though.

"Windrunner-San is a rarity even among her…species. I believe you will know what I mean when you meet Jake-San in a week," he said. Grimmjow snorted. Tatsuki snorted as well. "Alright guys enough of that crap. Who'd ya send to the group?" She grinned widely at Ichigo. "I for one sent your sister." Ichigo's eyebrow rose but he said nothing.

Ishida said, "I sent Jinta. It will be good for that big ego of his."

Grimmjow laughed. "Hah! I sent that brat Lilynette. Lazy ass asked me to."

Ichigo shrugged. "Hanataro," he said simply.

The group then enjoyed a couple minutes of silence, each one of them lost in thoughts of the coming future.

They looked forward to it.

"Who knows Ichigo, you may even be able to find a girlfriend at last. If you fail with alien chicks than you fail as a man," said Tatsuki with a chuckle.

Ichigo glared. "Shut up dumb ass. Like you're one to talk."

Tatsuki only laughed some more.

AN: Once again, sorry for the late update. Tell me what ya thought.