"Kenshin's pretty good. Have to say I feel sorry for him though," Ichigo replied. "Though I don't know about the other one you mentioned. I'm currently reading Full Metal Alchemist and Black Cat," he added on.

"Of course I am. Dai-kun and Ichigo are still the same as they were six years ago and everything else seems as if nothing has changed." Isshin said with a small smile.

" I like FMA. I need to read it again. Haven't read Black Cat but I'll look into it. I do admit I did read some of Naomi's favorite series. She likes Fairy Tail and One Piece. She let me read Fruits Basket and Azumanga Diaoh when I was starting out." Daisuke said looking at Ichigo's collection.

" I'm glad they are still friends. They always have been similar in personality. " Eiko said with a smile. " I have a feeling they will be a good team fighting hollows. "She added.

"Fairy Tail's pretty good, though I tried One Piece. After a while it just got too over the top for me," Ichigo admitted.

"That they have, and it wouldn't surprise me either, if they work together as a team," Isshin replied to Eiko.

" I agree about One Piece. I've been watching the anime of Fairy Tail lately and want to get started on the manga. Been busy with soccer and my job though. I work at one of the library branches in Yokohama. The main one never needs help but the smaller ones around the city do. I work at the one closest to my high school. " Daisuke said.

" I know Dai-chan can help Ichigo with the things he might have trouble with as a Quincy. I want to teach him the basics and a few moves only Vandenreich know." Ren said. He was doing his best to relax, since being around so many Shinigami could be nerve wracking to a Quincy who wasn't use to sensing so many at once.

"I sometimes watch the anime, but it's better to just read the manga. Like with Fruits Basket that changed around the whole plot or with Naruto and all those anime fillers," Ichigo said, just to name a few examples that he knew off the top of his head. "Speaking of soccer, how is that going? Although I should probably warn you now, Karin-nee-chan will probably want to talk your ear off when it comes to the sport," he added. It was actually nice to hear that Daisuke had a job as well.

"I have a feeling that he will be of great help, although if you don't mind me asking, what type of techniques do you have in mind for teaching him?" Isshin asked, curious. If Ren said that he couldn't tell him, then he wouldn't pry anymore out of the old man, but that didn't mean he could try, right?

" I agree with you on fillers. I've given up on Naruto for now. Soccer is going great. I'm the goalie and our team is doing pretty good. We have a game tomorrow but Hibiki will take my place as goalie. Coach Abe likes to give everyone a chance to play. He says it's good teamwork and I agree. " Daisuke said.

" I want to teach Ichigo how to use Blut. Not to the extent Vandenreich does, but enough to give him an advantage. I also want to teach him to use some short range attacks. But I first want to see how Ichigo fights as a Shinigami. I feel that is the best way to fully unlock his Quincy abilities. " Ren said.

"Goalie, huh? I bet you have to fight all types of fangirls off, don'tcha?" Ichigo asked, teasing Daisuke. It was nice to hear that his coach was allowing everyone to play at least once though.

"I heard about that technique. It allows the user to either raise defense or offense for a period of time if I remember correctly. Although I should warn you...well first, what do you know about Vizards and Arrancar?" Isshin asked Ren. He knew that this was technically Ichigo's secret to tell, but Ren needed to know if he was going to train his son.

Daisuke blushed a bit. " Not really. Usually the girls like the Akira Tanaka. He's basically our team's star player and is quite popular. I have friends, but not as many as he does." He said looking down. He had a crush on a girl in his class, but knew she would rather hang around a better looking guy like Akira.

" Not much really. I've heard the terms, but not exactly sure what they are." Ren said in a concerned tone. He had a feeling that Kisuke had left something out when he had been told about the events two years ago.

Ichigo noticed his downcast look and felt bad for asking, "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked," he said instantly. He knew what that was like though and offered his condolences. "Please don't tell me he acts like Sasuke though..." he said, trying to coax a laugh out of his cousin. He had a feeling that he also had a crush on a girl, but didn't want to ask him about it, at least not yet.

Isshin explained the concept of Arrancar and Vizards to Ren and how Aizen had created both, one by accident and the other on purpose. He also explained how Ichigo tied into all of it. He had forgiven Kisuke with time, but it still annoyed him that he did something extremely dangerous and risky towards his son.

(have Daisuke ask Ichigo about Tatsuki, tease him about her being his girlfriend?)

Daisuke laughed. "Not really, but maybe a little bit. Are you and Tatsuki dating? I remember you and her use to argue a lot when she came to visit." Daisuke asked after a while.He remembered Tatsuki, but couldn't figure out the name of the other girl his cousin had been friends with.

Ren listened and understood what they both were." I understand now why Kisuke never went into detail with the terms, since I would have asked how Ichigo was involved." Ren said. He didn't mind that Ichigo was also part hollow and wondered how it effected Ichigo's fighting.

Ichigo blushed lightly at that. "Tatsuki, Hoshi and I are just very good friends. What about you Dai? I'm sure you're dating someone by now," he asked. He would admit that he had a slight crush on his karate partner from the past, but there was no way in hell he was going to admit it.

Isshin nodded. "Yeah, and yes, when I found out about it I was quite annoyed at Kisuke for quite some time. But I suppose the risk was worth the reward since it helped win the war against Aizen," he explained.

" Sort of. I've been spending more time with my best friend Suzume." Daisuke said blushing a bit. He had been friends with Suzume since they were in second grade and had been going places together. They also were planning to go to the same University together.

" I'm glad that man was defeated. I know it came at the cost of Ichigo's powers though. How did he regain them?" Ren asked wondering if Tetsu had something to do with it.

Ichigo saw Daisuke's blush when he was talking about his best friend. "And let me guess, you haven't told her about how you feel, have you?" He asked.

"Actually, it was his daughter that helped reawaken Ichigo's powers," Isshin said. "And I'm glad that she did. While he had a normal life for a while, he was miserable. I could tell."

" Not yet. She has a crush on Akira and I don't know if she feels the same way I feel about her. Love is too complicated ." Daisuke said.

" I'm glad she was too." Ren said remembering Hoshi and also Tatsuki. " What can you tell me about Captain Hitsugaya? Kisuke was being his usual self an didn't tell me much. " He said.

"You're not kidding," Ichigo said. "Sounds like you got your work cut out for you though," he added.


"Toushiro's an alright kid. He's mostly calm and collected, but also a genius and very calculative," Isshin said as he explained to his father-in-law how his replacement acted. The fact that he was open-minded was also a plus in the ex-shinigami captain's book.

" I do. " Daisuke said with a sigh. " What can you tell me about Urahara-sensei? Grandpa wants be to go with you guys later and I'm kind of nervous. " He said.


Ren nodded. " I'm glad that someone is willing to listen. I just hope that the Captain Commander is willing. " Ren said. He feared the worst if no one beloved him , since the Vandenreich leader had tried for years to prevent Ren from telling anyone.

"Ren-jiji wants you to come with us?" Ichigo asked, surprised. "He's an okay guy. He can be a bit secretive and a pain in the ass, but at the same time he's working on his own agenda, he's helping you with yours. There's no reason to be nervous about him or his employees," Ichigo replied as he answered Daisuke's question.

"He will listen, especially if he knows how vital this information is to them. Although even if he doesn't listen to you, I know that Ichigo and some of his friends will help. Though with all that's happened already, I have a feeling he'll listen to what you have to say, or what Toushiro and Soi-fon report to him," Isshin said in a serious voice.

" He does. He and dad say it's important to build alliances with those who have proven themselves trustworthy. I'm glad there's no reason to worry. It's just strange sensing so many Shinigami in one area. " Dai said. He knew they could be trusted and hoped he could meet some of his cousin's friends. "How did you meet Rukia-San?" He asked after a little bit.

Ren nodded solemnly. " I know I shouldn't worry so much, but I never thought this day would come. I've held on to this information for so many years. I know know I can finally die in peace, though I intend to live to be at least 110. " Ren said with a grin .

"I understand, but they know that you're with me, and they trust me. I actually hand-picked them for this mission so that Naomi wouldn't get too nervous to be honest," Ichigo admitted as he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Although it's funny that you ask about the midget...she's actually the reason I became a shinigami first instead of a Quincy, at least I think," He said before telling Daisuke how he met the petite shinigami.

"You plan to stick around for that long? Oh the horror..." Isshin replied with sarcasm. He knew that Ren knew he meant nothing by the jibe. "But it will be good to actually put this all behind us. I know Ichigo and myself want some payback for what they did to Misaki-koi."

" That's interesting how you met her. Grandpa mentioned that Karakura had been sent to Soul Soicety that same year. I know that Nee-chan was here when that happened." Daisuke said remembering how worried his family had been , since Naomi called often when she had time away from school.

Ren laughed." I do want to see my great Grandchildren." He said. " I also want payback. Not only for Misaki-chan, but my father and my mother also. They treated my father badly, and I didn't realize it till it was too late to save him."Ren said. He hated it that those he loved the most had gone though so much pain at the mercy of the Vandenreich. and felt he had to make it right.

"I'm just glad Aizen didn't go after Naomi and your sister like he tried going after my friends," Ichigo admitted, remembering how Tatsuki explained about his reiatsu just about choking her out. "I'm just glad he didn't know that she was one of my friends, otherwise I'd hate to think what would have happened," he added.


Isshin shook his head, but one could see the smile that was still on his face as he did so. "If you say so Ren, though you may have to wait until Karin gets of age. My son has all these female friends and hasn't shown an interest in any of them," he complained in a jokingly matter. Once they met with Kisuke, Toushiro and Soi-fon, the jokes would be over...at least for a while.

" I'm glad he didn't go after either of them. "Daisuke said solemnly. He was glad that Aizen had been imprisoned, but knew that the Vandenreich were much worse than he was." I don't want to think about it either. I can't imagine losing my sister like dad did." He added, remembering how sad his dad had been after his Aunt Misaki had died.

"He'll show interest soon enough." Ren said with a grin. He knew that once he spoke to the captains today, things could get dicey. He didn't want Naomi's graduation to be ruined by the Vandenreich, but knew that they wouldn't pass up a chance to get to him.

"I'm glad as well. I'm just glad that we won't ever see him again," Ichigo said, hoping that he hadn't somehow just jinxed himself.

"True. So what do you want to do when it comes to tomorrow, or do you think we should start brainstorming ideas after we talk to Kisuke and the others?" Isshin asked.

" I hope you don't either, though I want to fight if he does." Daisuke said." So what are your Shinigami powers like? I have a feeling Naomi told you about my Quincy abilities a little bit.." He asked a few minutes later.

" We should start brainstorming. " Ren said. He didn't want to ruin Naomi's party that was later today, since he had a feeling something big was going to happen, and that it was a good thing.

"I believe she did, but with everything that's been going on, it slipped my mind," Ichigo said sheepishly while scratching the back of his head. "Though I can tel you about my powers I suppose," Ichigo said before telling his cousin about Zangetsu, it's unusual shikai and bankai as well as it's special abilities in both. He also told Daisuke about his Vizard powers, hoping that he wasn't put off by the information.

"Alright then. Now then...where do we start?" Isshin asked after getting a pad of paper and a pen.