The Arrancar was upset that he hadn't been able to get the girl ,but knew that if he waited he would a be able get her when Hin have the order to let the hollows out.

Claudia still felt as if she was being watched, even as the both of them entered the shop. "Pete...I think it may be a good idea for me to stay here for a while," she said. She just hoped that his "spider sense" as he called it from time to time, was telling him the same thing.

" I agree. I think Kisuke will agree with you too. " Pete said since they were supposed to go back home in a few days. He would ask if he could stay here in Japan too so he could make sure Claudia was safe from this Gin guy. Pete didn't like the feeling he was getting and knew that things would be changing soon.

"I can see what you're thinking already Pete. You should go back," Claudia said as they entered the shop, waving hello to Kisuke.

" Alrigth I will, but you know Artie isn't going to like this. " Pete said but knew when it came to anyone's safety ,Artie didn't take any chances.

Kisuke waved back and could see the look of concern on both Pete's and Claudia's faces. " I can see you both feel it too. Let's go inside so we can talk." He said concerned and would suggest that Claudia stay here a while longer. He knew Arthur would agree that Claudia's safety was important and that her staying could be a good thing.

"Artie's always been protective of us, it's in his nature. And he's sometimes a little too overprotective, at least when it concerns me," Claudia responded before hearing Kisuke and nodded. "We can," she said as she answered the shop owner.

" How was your shopping trip ? I hope you got the things you wanted for your friends. " Kisuke said wanting to make casual conversation before they got to the back room.

" We did. I got Mika a book on Japanese legends. Artie I got a collection of Vintage American baseball cards. He says he doesn't like baseball but I've watched him get excited over the World Series." Pete said.

"Thanks for asking Kisuke, we did," Claudia said with a grin as she listed some of the purchases that she got.

" I'm glad you did. " Kisuke said and then sat down at the backroom table." I have a feeling both of you can sense the tenseness in the air. I feel it would be best if Claudia stayed here at the shop until Gin is taken care of. I don't want him to be able to capture her once you both are back in North Dakota." He said in a concerned tone.

"I think it's for the best here as well. I'm sure we could eventually find ways to stop this person that you keep talking about, but until we can see them, they have free pickings on whatever they want to do. And that includes kidnapping the squirt here," Pete said. "Ow! what was that for Clauds?" he asked as he rubbed his arm lightly.

" For calling me squirt! I'm not a kid!" Claudia said feeling frustrated.

" We do have ways of capturing Gin, but we need to somehow distract him long enough for what we have planned to work." Kisuke said. "I can be the one to tell Arthur if you prefer." He added since this wasn't what they had planned for in the first place.

Pete chuckled lightly at that but didn't say anything after that, knowing that Claudia was worried but just didn't show it. "That might actually be a good idea," he replied to Kisuke, knowing that it might be better for him to explain it to Arthur.

" I'll call him tonight when I know he'll be awake. It's hard to remember that he's on the other side if the planet while most of my other friends live here in town. " Kisuke said knowing that both Pete and Claudia were feeling worried.

Pete nodded. "I know what you mean," he said. With so much traveling that he and Myka did searching down artifacts, he understood how quickly it could get confusing.

" At least I can tell him some good news. He was concerned the Captains wouldn't understand how to use a Tesla. " Kisuke said and hoped the Regents wouldn't get involved with this. He didn't like how they did things but would work with them if he needed to.

"Yeah, that would be a good thing," Claudia responded, knowing that Artie would like to hear the good news about that.

" I will tell him the real reason why you are still here but I'll work on a cover story so the regents don't get suspicious. Trust me when I say I don't wan them to find our about your powers. They found out about a friend of mine's powers and had her join them. " Kisuke said thinking about Fumi Yamada. He knew Tetsu was concerned that Hoshi or Katia would be asked to take over their grandmother's empty spot. .

"As much as I hate hearing you say that, especially when my mom is one of them, I understand," Pete said as he kept the anger out of his voice. He understood that the Regents could get a little hasty or stubborn when it came to something that they wanted done. If he had to compare them to something in history, it would be the people who suspected others of witchcraft.

" I do apologize Pete-San for my harsh words about them. I didn't know your mother was a Regent. " Kisuke apologized. He hated how certain things made him angry and had him forget to think his words carefully like he usually did. " Anything else either of you would like to discuss?" He asked after a while.

"It's alright, and I understand," Pete said as he easily accepted Kisuke's answer. "We all don't like the Regents for our own reasons. Mine is that my mother didn't bother telling me about being a Regent," he said shrugging lightly before a light grin came over his features. "Well there is something I'd like to discuss, but I know Magneto here would kill me for it..." Pete started to say.

( sorry about taking so long. Went to a friends to watch some football. )

" What would you like to discuss and saw an annoyed look on Claudia's face. He hoped it wasn't about her apparent crush on Ichigo.

(ah. My football teams won today, so I'm a happy camper)

"Well seeing as Artie is the only one who knows where Joshua is, I wanted to have Artie pass along a message about his sister," Pete said with a light grin. Sure he was being the annoying older brother, but he couldn't help himself.

( My team won too. Now they are 2-1. I just hope they make the playoffs this year. )


" I can have him do that. What is the message? " Kisuke asked hoping that this wouldn't get Pete in trouble.

(Which team? Mine are the Cowboys (also 2-1) and the Panthers (1-2) and I forgot something...Josh was already in Japan. Still, Artie could get the message to Josh quicker than they could)

Pete saw Claudia glaring at him and shrugged lightly. "Clauds, it's better that he hears it from you or one of us, even if he is here in Japan. Just think about it for a few seconds," he said, hopefully pacifying the young woman.

( Lions. It was a good game too. )

" You're right. But I know Josh will be worried and that's the last thing I want. ' Claudia said , still not happy.