Aftermath…
It had been three hours since Aizen escaped to Hueco Mundo. The fourth squad was in chaos as they tried to heal the wounded. Hanatoro personally healed Kari, and then helped carry her down to the fourth division healing station. By the time she came too, she had a LOT of visitors.
"Ow…where…where am I?" she said slowly.
"Kari-san, you're awake!" said Hanatoro, relieved.
"Good to see you up again Kari," said Yumichika and Ikkaku.
"Yay! Candy-girl's okay!" said Yachiru happily.
"I'm awake with a real nasty headache. Now where am I and what happened?!" she demanded, irritable.
"Candy-girl is grumpy today," said Yachiru disappointed.
"What did you expect from a N.A.M.P.?" chuckled Ikkaku.
"NAMP? What's that?" asked Hanatoro.
"Not…" started Kari.
"A…" continued Yachiru.
"Morning…" said Ikkaku.
"Person…" finished Yumichika with a laugh.
"Kari, you should seriously consider creating an organization for fellow NAMP Shinigami."
"I know…I already know the perfect name for it too!" laughed Kari.
"What?"
"The guild of Non-Morning People!"
Her fellow squad members all laughed. Hanatoro was still clueless as to what the joke was.
"Um…"
"Sorry Hana-chan! It's just I'm never someone you'd want to cross first thing in the morning when I'd just woken up. These three generally avoid me until I've had my morning dose of caffeine…" chuckled Kari.
"Oh…"
Kari felt her eyes begin to droop. They all noticed, and decided to let her sleep some more.
Three days later…
"I am soooo glad to finally be out of bed again! No offense Hana-chan, but it is kinda boring in your division when your stuck in bed all day!" laughed Kari.
"Yeah…I know. The entire squad has been swamped with the injured, and I don't know how we're gonna deal with your squad once they're well enough to complain!" said Hanatoro.
"Well, I think I know how to help with that problem…"
"How?"
"You'll see…" said Kari mysteriously, before disappearing.
"Well I am glad to see you up again, Kari-san," said Unohana.
"It's good to be out of bed, Unohana-taicho."
"Is there something you needed, Kari-san? We are a bit busy at the moment, what with all the wounded…"
"Actually there is. Hanatoro-kun reminded me of a certain problem that is sure to arise very quickly once squad 11 is back up and running again."
"Oh? And what problem is that, Kari-san?"
"My squad has never been on equal grounds with yours, at least not until I came in. I was wondering if it would be alright to help your division with the wounded…at least until things settle down again."
"So you wish to volunteer? That is certainly a strange request, Kari-san."
"It will certainly keep the whining fools from my own squad from complaining too much though. I just wanted to know if it was okay to help out is all…" said Kari nervously.
"You are more than welcome to help out, Kari-san. Do your best!" said Unohana.
"Arigato, Unohana-taicho…" said Kari as she left to help out.
"What the…Since when is there an 11th squad seat helping out the 4th?!" said one of the Shinigami.
"Since when do we care?" retorted another.
"Hello boys! How do you feel today?" said Kari cheerfully.
"Fine…Aren't you an officer of the 11th division?" the first one asked.
"Yes…I'm the 4th seat. Why?"
"The why are you helping out with the 4th division? I thought you lot hated them!"
"Just because I belong to the 11th doesn't mean I automatically hate the 4th. I'm only helping out because they're swamped," said Kari with a glare.
"O-okay…" said the Shinigami nervously. (Everyone had heard of her temper…and her little problem of sending people into the critical care unit for crossing her.)
"I must say, Kari-san, this is certainly the first time your division has been so cooperative with us. None of them have even dared to insult us since you started helping out!" said the third seat of squad 4.
"Probably because they know they'd have to deal with me if they messed with any of you."
"I must admit though…I did have some misgivings when you offered to volunteer in around here…"
"I know… But I figured I might as well help out since I'll get bored otherwise," shrugged Kari.
Kari helped out for several days, and as a result, the squad members of the 11th division rarely raised a hand against the 4th division. Even Yachiru helped out with the work. (Kari convinced her…though how was anyone's guess.) Then came the day that Ichigo and the others had to return to the Human world…
"But Kari-san, why do you have to go with Ichigo to the Human world?" asked Hanatoro, upset.
"Because my real body is in the human world, and if I don't go back I might die for real! And I really don't want to have to wear a Gigai. Besides…I have certain things that need to be taken care of. I'll be back soon, kay?" said Kari reassuringly.
"Kari-san…"
"I'll come back, I promise," repeated Kari.
After dealing with the Cleaner, and then falling into another one of Urahara's inventions, Kari was relieved to see home again. As soon as they landed, Kari immediately went back into her own body. (Although it was a bit thinner than she remembered.)
"Morning Kari-chan!" said Urahara cheerfully.
"Morning Kisuke-san."
"So how did you enjoy your little visit to the Seireitei?"
"Yeah, about that…" said Kari carefully.
"What's wrong? Did they find out you were a Ryoka and lock you up?"
"Nope…you're talking to the 4th seat of the 11th squad," smirked Kari.
"What…! I can't believe you got a seat position in just a few weeks!"
"Yup…which means the only place I can visit is the Human world. I mostly came back to tell you the news. That and I have a few things I need to take care of."
"Like what?"
"Like getting a laptop and retrieving my body. I can't leave it lying around you know," Kari pointed out.
"True. How are you going to explain why you're wearing a ryoka outfit when you return though?"
"I plan on making a Soul Reaper outfit to wear back."
"I'll help you then. But only if you tell me how your first trip there was like," said Urahara.
"Deal."
Kari told him all about the Soul Society, he listened with avid interest. When she finished, Urahara was looking at her with wide eyes.
"You became the 4th seat and somehow got the 11th division to start giving the fourth the respect they deserved?! You continue to amaze me, you know that?"
"Thanks…I do try my best," chuckled Kari.
When she prepared to return to the Seireitei, she had quite a few things with her. She had a new laptop (with a special modification so she could surf the net in the Soul Society), a set of Happy Bunny pjs (for Rukia), a lot of hard and soft candy (for Yachiru) and various other things. She bid her friends a short-lived good-bye, then went back into the Seireitei and headed straight to her room. Next, she gathered up a few of her items and went to see a few of her friends.
She stopped at Rukia's room and dropped off her little surprise with a note; I know how bummed you are about the fact Ichigo left, so I brought something to cheer you up. Kari.
She ran into Yachiru and gave the girl the soft candy, and then went to see Rangiku to give her something. Instead she ran into Yumichika.
"Kari? I didn't know you were back!" said Yumichika surprised.
"Yup…and I brought you and Ikkaku-kun something. Here…" said Kari as she handed him a mirror.
"What's this?"
"A mirror. I know how much you enjoy beauty and all, so now you can look at yourself all you want."
"Thanks…what did you get for Ikkaku?"
"This…think you can give it to him for me? I have to give the others their stuff too," said Kari, handing him the gift.
"Sure…" said Yumichika, running off to find Ikkaku.
She ran into Rangiku and gave her the things, then found the others. When she finished, she went back to her room, got something and went out into a small clearing where no one would bother her. She set it up, then laid down and relaxed.
ONE HOUR LATER…
"Kari-san! Where're you?" yelled Hanatoro.
"Hana-kun! Why're you yelling?" retorted Kari.
"Yachiru-san was looking for you…"
"Ah…probably wants the rest of that candy I'll wager."
"Actually it might be because of that seat meeting you missed…"
"Seat meeting?! I thought they only had those for lieutenant or above!"
"Well we have meetings too…"
"Hanatoro-kun…I think I need to do something before I go batty…" said Kari.
"Kari-san? What's wrong?" asked Hanatoro, concerned because she didn't use his usual nickname.
"It's just…I know what's going to happen. I need to find how to use my Bankai before it's too late to try…"
"Kari-san, where are you…?"
"I can't say how or where I'm going; just know I'll come back when you need me, Hana-chan…"
"Kari…"
"I'll be back, just you wait. Until then, I'll be seeing you, Hana-kun!" said Kari as she gathered the things she needed, and prepared to leave, even though she just got back. She knew if any of the other found out she was leaving again, they'd want to know why. So she came up with an ingenious trick to keep them off-guard. She left her original soul behind, and only left with her Shinigami form and a Gigai. Since her Soul Reaper form and true form were so similar, she doubted they would be able to tell the dif. She left the Soul Society and her life behind, to try and discover how to bring forth her Bankai. She didn't look back as she left…
(Yeah, I know this is a really bad way to end the fic. But, I am continuing it! Next up Kari will test her luck and skills as she lives in the world of D N Angel! ((Yes, I know it's another D.N.Angel fic, so sue me!)) Enjoy!)