Bleach (BLEACH)

Hey there Captain Hitsugaya! What's up?

Hi Shunsui, Jushiro.

It's been awhile.

Something happen today?

No, just reporting in here.

I was being grilled on the cleansing progress in the Tenkai zone.

Oh, that should be all finished by the end of today.

What?!

That's what Nanao said in the report she sent me.

That Rangiku! She knows she should be including that in her report as well!

Sorry, but can you please pass on that update?

Umm...

He's pretty worked up.

I think it's nice.

Seeing our own getting angry or laughing about little things...

It's a sign that things are getting back to normal.

That's true.

Ahh.

I'm all done over here, Nanao.

Well now, that means we've completed our share of the cleansing. Very nicely done.

Ah! I am worn out.

Who'd have thought we'd be putting up barriers over such a big area.

This work certainly had to be done...

And after such a huge project, I really expected this,

I mean swapping the Soul Society with Karakura Town!?

Heh, but what I didn't expect is that you and I would be doing this kind of painstaking work for an entire month.

A month already?

Rangiku...?

Ah!

Are you feeling all right?

Of course! So Nanao, since we've finished with all our work here, what do you say the two of us reward ourselves just a little?

What?

Oh nothing. It's just nice to see you acting like your old lively self again.

Really? I've been--

Really depressed! I know, I've seen you!

Oh!

Hi! Rangiku, here.

Rangiku, you idiot!

Do you know how many times I tried to call you?!

Explain to me why I haven't been receiving any reports from you!

I'm sorry, sir! I was too busy working all this time.

We finally finished our assignment, so Nanao and I were about to take a break and go out for some--

Get back here right now!

Aww come on, sir! All work and no fun affects our morale!

Right now, we can't have you two taking time off!

It's always like this! Well, let's go back.

Why do you do this to me every single time?

Everyone's waiting for us.

Aww...!

Geez! What's up with this passageway? It's creepy!

True. But it is the designated path for us to use.

Huh?

Nanao...

Yes? What's wrong?

Tell me, do you sense anything strange here?

What's strange?!

You don't mean some...?

D'ah! Huh!?

Ah!

What's going on here?!

Well, we're back!

My Rukia how I've missed--!

Umph!

Kon, I told you not to leave the room, didn't I?

Bug off! You are not stopping me from giving Rukia her daily hug, ya rat!

Hug?!

Damn right! The feeling of her kick shifting my cotton stuffing...

It's such a magical moment of ecstasy!

You could never understa--

Ack!

You're right, I don't!

Hollow! Hollow! Hollow!

Man! They keep popping up every minute don't they?

That's how it is.

Hey wait! I'm not done yet!

Mmhglf!!

Agh! Whoa! Oof!

We'll be gone for awhile. Try to behave yourself, Kon. Okay?

You too Chappy.

Aye-aye, Sir!

Wait a minute Ichigo! So what am I to you anyway?

Huh? Why bring that up now?

You're always using me when it's convenient!

I'm not just your substitute, you know!

What're you getting at?!

Ichigo, we have to go!

Right! Anyway, keep an eye on things while we're gone!

Hey! Sheesh!

Y'ever feel like tellin' them ta--?

La-la laaa! La! la la la!

ughhh!

Whatta buncha-- Hnh?!

Ichigo! A Senkaimon just opened nearby.

Really? Does it have something to do with Hollows?

Not sure.

Well, we'll handle that later!

Ichigo! Rukia!

Need any help?

We've got it!

Isn't that something? Ichigo sure has been doing a lot better lately.

Yeah. I think it's 'cuz Rukia stayed here to assist him.

So Ichigo hasn't had to use much of his Spirit Energy. That's good.

Hm.

You are concerned about Lieutenants Matsumoto and Ise...?

Yes. I haven't been able to reach either of them since yesterday when they said they were returning.

I'd like to check to see if there's any record of them passing through the Precipice World.

Understood, no problem. Give me a minute, all right?

Hey, Inaba! Bring me the Precipice World traffic log.

Yes sir.

I agree that it is rather odd that you haven't heard from either of them in so long.

Here you are, sir.

Well then?

Ahem! We're looking for Lieutenants Matsumoto and Ise, that correct?

Well, at this time, we have no record that they returned from the World of the Living.

Perhaps they haven't passed through the Precipice World yet.

But they had to!

This is all starting to get pretty strange, if you ask me.

It was right around here, that I sensed something odd.

But there's nothing here.

Well, instead of wasting my free time doing this, I think I'll go find me some beautiful babe.

Whaauauauaua!

Ooff!

Oww-ee-ah! What the heck tripped me?

Whaat?!! Huh?

Nng!

Whoa! What's a girl doing lying here all n-n-naked?

Wait, never mind that. Is she alive?

Hey you!

Hnh?

Just what do you think you're doing?!

It's not how it looks, I was just--!

Hey! Help! This guy's a pervert!

Yaaahhh! Wait you're making a mistake!

Come on, lady! I--Uggh...

The situation is becoming clear to me.

What do you think, Captain Kurotsuchi?

Well, if their entrance wasn't recorded in the traffic log,

then they both must still be in the World of the Living.

But that doesn't make any sense to me, sir.

If they stayed there, we would've heard from them by now.

Could they of had some sort of accident in the Precipice World?

Our Research and Development Department monitors the Precipice World 24 hours a day.

Are you really suggesting that we missed them?

Yes.

Ha! What?!

So you're going to blame your subordinates' lack of training on me!?

Hey, Hold on.

We've gotta work together. We'd like to confirm that the both of them are safe.

Excuse me Head Captain, but I have timely news to share.

Lieutenants Matsumoto and Ise have just arrived and wish to report in.

They're here?!

Rangiku! What the hell were you doing for the last twenty four hours?!

Huh? What's the problem?

This is turning into a farce.

Nanao, where'd you go off to on your way back?

Nowhere. We did as ordered and came straight back here after completing our mission.

Exactly! You were screaming in my ear just a few hours ago, Captain!

Whaa? Wha? Huuh?

A few hours?!?

Yes, almost exactly three hours.

Well that means, the time axis is out of sync.

So it does seem, something has gone wrong in the Precipice World.

Hng! Ghhh...

Then I am calling a Captains' Meeting immediately.

Captain Kurosuchi, report.

Well, after a detailed study of the data from within the Precipice World,

I have discovered that a "stretching of time" gap has formed between the World of the Living and the Soul Society.

And this gap is continuing to grow even larger.

So at this rate, within the next day or so, we will no longer be able to intervene in the World of the Living.

Captain Kurotsuchi, is there any way to stop that gap from expanding?

Of course there is! An adjustment can be made immediately.

But I'm more worried about the cause.

I would like to do a detailed survey of the Precipice World first.

Very well.

Regarding to this latest incident, I appoint Squad Twelve Captain Mayuri Kurosuchi

to be in charge of organizing and conducting the survey.

I also order Squad Eleven Captain Zaraki

to provide security within the Precipice World for those involved.

What?