| abstract | - "I can't believe it..." A young man with long white hair and a uniquely styled turban was standing in front of four life size containers. "They're gone...someone got to them..." He had thought no one had known about his experiments, but for someone like him who knew things he shouldn't, he should have known there were others out there who knew about was he was doing. He was furious, though his face did not show it. He walked up a flight of stairs, and turned to the door that closed behind him. He pressed a code into a pad, the room dissolved, as did the pad. He walked up into the main lab, and pressed his hand to a small pillar, blending in with several others. It opened, sliding layer after layer in the shape of a spiral staircase. Inside was a glowing sphere. The Hōgyoku. "So it's still here." He sealed it back off, before heading to another part of the lab, entering a hidden doorway, where a young girl was sleeping peacefully. He gently shook her awake. "Momo. Wake up. We have a problem." "They've been stolen?" Momo was surprised to hear what Kaito had to say. She had assumed all his creations were kept under wraps. "Yes..." He sighed, his eye trained on her. He held out what seemed like several parchment envelops with special seals on them. "Take these to the addressees. Each of them are several of the people I have been monitoring, unbeknownst to them of course, and they are ideal for a mission like this." "Of course." She took the envelops from his hand. "I'll be back soon." She drew on a special reiatsu cloaking cloak so that she could not be detected by others and snuck out of the Twelfth Division Barracks. Sighing, a certain person rested against a tree in Rukongai. This person, while appearing beautiful with long, ash-blonde hair that reached down to his hips, was certainly an unpleasant individual to be near. His hair was parted in the middle, and the front part of his hair was cut straight in a bob stroke. His bangs extended down to his shoulders, and there was a singular strand of hair always hanging between his eyes. His large, droopy emerald eyes shone brightly, fitting with his long eyelashes. Miroku had a highly slender, effminite and feminine figure, with wide hips and long legs. Of course, this greatly contrasted with his jerkwad attitude. "Yet another day of doing absolutely nothing..." These thoughts raced through this person, Miroku Kuujou's mind. While his very existence was a "paradox", he was generally unassuming towards anything- "As if I could be important." He thought, as the breeze rushed through his long hair. Kaito made it easy for Momo to find the individuals to whom the letters were addressed, having a sample of each of their spiritual signatures (no one knows how he managed to procure them) latched onto each parchment envelope. Momo was able to feel this spiritual pressure and follow it to the only matching signal, a person resting against a small tree. Female? No, male vibes emanated from him. She walked over to him. "Excuse me, ma'am? Sir?" She spoke softly, but her voice was able to get his attention. CRACK! Before Momo could utter another word, Miroku swung his right arm out, fist clenched. His fist struck with the force of a miniature freight train, sending the Reigai barrelling across the asphalt, which was quickly torn up as she tumbled along the ground at a frightening speed. Turning around, the Hollow-Shinigami merely gave the Reigai a cold, indifferent gaze, as he spat in a semi-threatening tone, "...What the bloody hell do you want, woman!?" Such grace and politeness could only belong to Miroku Kuujou. "Hmm...It is unusual for some to approach me like that. Maybe the dumb cow wants something." Miroku's train of thought once again disembarked, as he began to conjure up possible explanations. Though he would not regret his action nor apologize, he approached the woman and grabbed her by the neck, hoisting her into the air, demanding, "So...What is it!? Don't waste my time, you dumb cow!" "B-Bakudō #1, Sai!" Despite being thoroughly shaken by being suddenly attacked, Momo had enough sense to at least pin her attacker down, watching as the spell did it's trick, forcibly removing his arms from her and binding them to his back. She breathed deep, rubbing her neck. "Oww..." She murmured. She pulled out the parchement envelop addressed to Miroku, and placed it in front of him. "Sorry about the spell, I truly am. But you did attack me first..." She quickly undid the spell and jumped away from him. "My master requires your help. Please, read that letters." She vanished through the use of Shunpo, wanting to leave him to his thoughts before he could attack her again. Staggering to his own two feet, Miroku slowly wandered over to the letter, picking up its slightly torn form. At that moment, he began to analyze its contents. "A-Agh! Get the hell off me!" A feminine voice called in another location in the Rukongai. An extremely effiminate figure struggled. This person had highly feminine characteristics, as he could be compared to one of those 'tall, dark and bishojo' women in anime. His eyelashes were long, and his hips were slightly wide. His hair extended down to his ankles, and it curled away from his body in a horizontal direction near the end. There was a slim forelock of hair at the top of his head. His bangs were parted in the middle, and two locks of hair extended from the sides of his face down to his shoulders. Struggling against a certain devil woman, who was attempting to strip him naked and force him into a French Maid's outfit, Gai Nagareboshi's mouth let out a torrent of curse words. "D-Damn devil woman! Get off me, this instant!" The devil woman refused to comply, as she merely responded, "But Gai Nagareboshi~ We had a deal~!" It was Momo's misfortune to walk into the middle of this. It would seem the cloak had the added bonus of allowing her to phase through walls, and it simply made it much easier for her to get where she needed to go. She looked at the envelop she had used to trace the energy here. "E-excuse me." She spoke, trying to ignore the very awkward scene unfolding before her. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I have a summons for a Gai Nagareboshi?" Wresting himself free from the devil woman's clutches, the Mototsu quickly scurried over to the Reigai, deftly snatching the letter from her hands. Shaking Nika off his bare leg, Gai Nagareboshi began to look over the contents of the letter. "Unghh..." A feminine figure sighed, as they leapt from their bed. This effeminate young man whose features were almost completely feminine in appearance with wide hips and long legs, as well as multicoloured eyes which were large and droopy yawned. His blonde hair was worn in a bun which spiked up slightly at the top, gently flowing out to the left side, with several strands of hair sticking out at the sides of the bun as sort of waves. Despite it being early in the morning, Yuuki Kaburagi was one to always keep his hair in its signature. The temperature outside was stinking hot; perhaps a shower would do the trick. Stepping into the bathroom, Yuuki disrobed, flinging his traditionally feminine pajamas to the glistening white floor. Sliding the shower door open, Yuuki slowly turned the tap of the shower on. A cold sensation ran down his body, before such iciness became warmer. The feeling of the water running down his back at a high pressure was refreshing. Momo was standing inside Yuuki's house, and there was a note pinned to the envelop adressed to Yuuki. "Momo, be careful. This one is crazy." There was a small drawing of a smiling Chibi Kaito that followed this note. She crumpled the note, frowning, and made her way up to where she could feel his spiritual pressure. The bathroom. Not good. She phased easily through the bathroom door, stuck the letter onto the door on the inside, and snuck out. Sitting on the rooftops, a young man with bright orange hair looking out of Yasuraka Town. He heard a slight ruffle behind him, and turned his head. Momo was standing there. Ichigo didn't look too pleased to see her. He knew what her arrival meant. "Kaito wants me?" "Yes. It's urgent." Ichigo heaved himself up. "Whoo boy..." He formed a Senkaimon. "I'll go on ahead then." Walking along the road to Seireitei, Gai sighed in bemusement as the wind rushed through the Mototsu's long hair. "Who the hell is he, callin' me here..." Several probabilities ran through the Mototsu's mind. The tone in which the letter was written in seemed dubious at best; it felt like it was written by someone of neutrality directed towards his close-knit group. Therefore; it could be considered dangerous, yet at the same time, a harmless request. "Tch...How paradoxial. It'd be best to keep my eye on this guy." Of course, Gai Nagareboshi was extremely protective of his friends- though good old paranoia managed to amp this up to eleven time and time again. "Graaaaah!" Miroku Kuujou tore at his hair in irritation and frusteration. It was a one in a million chance to recieve a letter of such importance for the Hollow-Shinigami hybrid, and instead of reacting in excitement due to being thought of as "important", for some reason, it managed to irk him greatly. "Damn bastard...Along with his cow, they'd hafta be two of the most freaking annoying people on this damn plane of existence..." Miroku realized that he had called nearly everyone who he has met "the most irritating person on this plane of existence", though he summarized that everyone except numero uno was a waste of space. Still, despite supposedly detesting everything that authority stood for, he complied with the contents of the letter, thinking to himself, "The sooner I get there, the sooner I solve that bastard's mess...And the sooner I could...ask to remove the Hollow side of myself." Miroku vehemently hated his hybrid status. Behind his mask of a cruel, apathetic psychopath, there was an urge to fit in. The traveling two were quickly joined by two others, a boy with long raven hair, and another boy as effinimate looking as Miroku, Isshōmaru Ureshii. Like Gai and Miroku, Momo had been sent to fetch them. The peacefulness of the setting was quickly disrupted when Isshō quickly recognized Gai's spiritual pressure. "Gai!?" Isshō's voice simply oozed delight. He immediately ran towards Gai and wrapped him in back breaking hug. He'd met Gai before, but their last meeting was a sparring match. Isshō had been just as annoying then. Jin looked on at this scene and he sweatdropped. "Didn't we get called for something important? What good is a hyperactive little girl going to be?" "G-Gah...! You're almost as bad as Yuuki, you know that!?" Gai yelled at Isshō, struggling to free himself from the Shinigami's iron grip. Sighing, the Mototsu uttered under his breath, "Such misfortune..." Every day was a bad day for Gai Nagareboshi. Miroku merely took no notice of this, and continued to rest against the wall with his arms crossed in apathy. Isshō rubbed his face happily against Gai's. "I'm just happy to see you! You've gotten much better looking than before!" Jin sighed, and walked over to Miroku. He gave him a once over, and extended a hand in a gesture of courtesy. "It seems we're all stuck in this, we might as well get along, yes?" The Mototsu growled; pouting in annoyance. It appeared as if he would have to shelve his irritation for now. "...Well, it's good to see you again, too...I guess." Too much of this person reminded him of Yuuki; yet while they shared the same air around them; Isshō did not seem utterly insane. Miroku glanced away; his physical gestures were an attempt to signal that he did not want nor care about forming any bonds- even if they were temporary. He would continue to stick to his policy of looking out for number one until the very end. Jin didn't look offended. He was similar to Miroku, he didn't enjoy the company of others. He, however, was able to fake it. "Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine!" Isshō continued squealing with delight. His iron hold was difficult to break. Someone was going to have to step in, and Jin did not seem to want to trouble himself. Gai looked at Miroku; hoping to recieve some assistance in restraining Isshō. Of course, being the jerkwad he is, the Hollow-Shinigami hybrid merely smirked at the Mototsu. His silent jeer said a thousand words; Miroku was never one to show affection nor concern towards anyone. Of course, Gai theorized that this was because of his Hollow side, though he could be dead wrong. "....Heheh, damn idiot. Don't expect a shred of help from me." Gai scowled at Miroku, continuing to complain, "Why you, of all people? Why not Mitsuru? At least, he's helpful...And pretty dreamy, too..." The Mototsu almost fell off-track in his thoughts for a brief moment, only to resume his defiant screaming as his 'attacker's' grip tightened by the second. Isshō simply threw subtly to the wind at this point, taking Gai's distraction at trying to break out of his hug as a chance to kiss him full on the mouth. Jin's eyes now wandered over to a large willow tree that he hadn't noticed before. WHAM! Before Isshō could do anything that could ruin Gai forever, two sandals made their imprint upon Isshō's cheek. Knocking the Shinigami to the ground, Yuuki quickly scooped Gai off the floor. Fear ran though the Mototsu's mind, as he correctly guessed that something even worse was about to be inflicted upon him. Isshō landed on his ass, rubbing his cheek. "Now that wasn't nice at all." He whined. His eyes landed on who had smacked him. "Yuuki!" His eyes sparkled at the second arrival, and he got up, moving swiftly enough that he was unnoticed, wrapping Yuuki in an iron grip hug and completely knocking Gai out of his arms. Jin sighed. They would be stuck in this one spot forever, he was sure of it, while that girl went back and forth in a mad hugging frenzy. "...Tch. I expected as much. You two are shockingly similar..." Gai uttered under his breath, before gaining a brief moment of relaxation. Still, this feeling welled up inside of him. Something bad was about to happen any moment. "I don't know which one I want more...!" Isshō whined, enjoying the feel of hugging Yuuki. Before this discussion could go any further, Momo appeared in front of them in a shimmering flash of light. "If I could have everyone's attention please." She sounded rather nervous, like she was speaking on stage in front of a large crowd. "Before we go any further, I have to mask your spiritual energy. Master's mission cannot be compromised so soon." "What about your energy?" Jin pointed out. Momo gesture to the cloak she was wearing. "This conceals mine. You can't feel my spiritual pressure can you?" Jin realized she was right. Momo's hands glowed a bright white and she raised them, letting the light burst from them and wash over each and everyone of them. "We can now proceed. Before we do, is there anyone who would like to turn back?" In an instant, Miroku dissapeared. Gai merely sighed at such a development, as Yuuki could only stare at the Mototsu- such an action managed to send a shiver down Gai's spine. Even though Yuuki Kaburagi had been "fixed", his actions clearly indicated that this was not the case. "...Alright, so what's the gist of it. Fess up, woman." "My master is waiting for you in the Twelfth Division Barracks. It will all become clear when he explains it." She started to walk, and Jin took it that they should follow, and he did so. Isshō reluctantly let go of Yuuki to follow as well. Ironically, the formerly psychotic Shinigami known as Yuuki Kaburagi felt a slight shiver travel down his spine from that person grabbing at him. Noticing Yuuki's frightened expression, Gai let out a small chuckle, which suspiciously sounded like a giggle. "Ha. I find it amusing how you have no problem with violating my personal space whenever you feel like it, but when that person gets in your face like that, you look like you're a kid who's been told that Santa doesn't exist." Yuuki merely glared at Gai; which caused the Mototsu to quiet for a moment; sane or not, Yuuki was still...Yuuki. They were able to reach the Twelfth Division barracks without too much incident. Jin thought someone had noticed them but he was mistaken, it had been a cat. Momo led the group through a back entrace, to avoid being seen by lesser Squad Twelve members. They walked up a small flight up stairs to Kaito's hidden lab, where Momo quickly discarded her cloak and removed the spell on the group. As soon as she did this, Kaito emerged from a door, looking at the group. "Welcome back Momo." His eyes narrowed. "Aside from Ichigo, I seem Miroku isn't here. Ichigo is with me, but where is Miroku?" "He vanished a short while back." Momo explained. "I'm not sure really what that means." "No matter, he'll be back." Kaito sounded ertain. Always one to skip formalities, Gai, breaking from his usual personality, inquiring in a quasi-threatening tone, "...Dammit, just tell us what's going on." "Patience Gai-kun, or I'll give Yuuki-kun here an injection of "Essence of Insanity"." He held up a small syringe. "I do realize my letters to each of you were unspecific, but that was for a reason, I couldn't have the letters being intercepted during Momo's delivery. Of course, I had completely faith in Momo's skills." He assured her, before carrying on. "Recent inventions of mine, four Reigai-based units designed for battle, have been stolen. I have no idea who would have done this, because the entire project was kept secret, only Momo and my Lieutenant knew. My task for you all is simply this. Find them." Jin interrupted. "Find them? You make it so so easy. You have no idea who stole the units, and we're even more in the dark than you, and you say "find them". Kaito smiled. "Perceptive. I was hoping someone would ask." He threw glittering objects at each of them. They caught them. It was a crystal for each of them. Upon hearing of the "Essence of Insanity", the Mototsu became silent, before meekly asking, "A-Anything but that..." It was obvious that Gai had suffered enough at Yuuki Kaburagi's hands; there was possibly no Mitsuru Inazuma to sweep him off his feet to safety this time. Catching the crystal, Yuuki stared at the gemstone, enthralled at its...shininess. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in the dark about its function. "U-Uh...If I may ask, what is this thing, exactly?" "Those are samples of Crystalized Reiatsu." Kaito said cheerfully. "You think they're shiny now? They glow brighter when they get closer to their original source. I've tweaked these samples, they also will function as tracking devices, to help lead you towards whoever has stolen the projects. I'd do this myself, but I have to maintain appearances." Jin tucked the crystal into his shirt. "Very interesting to say the least..." "I'm going to go out on a limb and ask something: How powerful are these things, anyway?" Gai asked. If worse came to worse, then he would have to activate his Envoy of Destruction form to obliterate them all in a single attack; at the cost of Soul Society. "That's right, I should fill you in on them all." Kaito passed each of the people there piece of paper, that detailed the abilities and strengths of each unit. He figured it was better than explaining it verbally. "As you can see, the fifth one is...well, the most troublesome." "Wait, there's a fifth? Why on earth would you make a fusion form!?" Gai exclaimed, deeming Kaito as insane as a certain devil woman. Really, too much power was...too much. The Mototsu had faced many foes who could be considered "broken", and while these lot were high on the list, they were nothing compared to Kazuma or Eienrai. Kaito smiled. "It's nothing for you to concern yourself over unless you happen to be in the Seireitei at the wrong time. And now, before I send you all off into what could be certain death, allow me to introduce the final member of your team." As if on cue, Ichigo Kurosaki stepped out from a different door, a bit taller than he had been and certainly much more powerful, though only Momo and Kaito knew that. "How do you feel?" Kaito asked, looking Ichigo over to make sure nothing had gone wrong. "Fine." Strangely, Ichigo sounded indifferent. It was obvious he did not hold much affection for Kaito. "This will defintely help me." He looked over at the group of people. "So, these are my teammates?" "Yes." Kaito turned to the group. "Ichigo came early, and I've already filled him in on what's going on. So, unless there are any questions, you're all set." Noticing the orange-haired youth in front of him, Gai crossed his arms in dissatisfaction, perpetually irked by Ichigo Kurosaki's existence- and that of Tite Kubo's writing. Clearly, the man smoked crack 24/7. "That Kurosaki bastard...You're saying he's tagging along?! Seriously? I could floor him in a single blow." Gai's doe eyes sharpened; making him the spitting image of his adoptive mother. Or perhaps it was the other way around. After all, it was the whole 'chicken and the egg' dilemma all over again, due to the Mototsu's vague age. Ichigo frowned at this, but decided to hold his tongue. "Calm yourself Gai-kun." Kaito held up the syringe again. "Ichigo here is a Reigai, and not the genuine article. Of course, being a Reigai, he's stronger than Ichigo is, so, I would watch yourself." He walked over to Jin and handed him the syringe. "Keep hold of that in case Gai-kun acts up." "Uh...sure." Jin said, taking it and putting it in a pocket that dangled so he wouldn't get injected. Becoming quiet, Gai immediately thought of using Kōshinho to grab the syringe and break it. Meanwhile, Yuuki merely thought of hurrying up with such a bothersome "errand". "All I can say now is...good luck." Kaito said, pressing a button they all hadn't noticed. Immediately, a trap door opened up beneath them and they all fell straight through. Kaito couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, I am a bastard."
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