A knock resonated from the goth's door, waking her and Dao up. The man grumbled at the annoying sound and felt the need to pummel the one who had woken him up. With drowsiness evident in the punk's slits, she groggily stood to her feet and rubbed an eye. "Who the hell's knocking at this hour...?" she asked, whilst sluggishly making her way to her door. The old ruler apparently slept on a pile of blankets on the floor, cause he was just sitting under them with a none-too-happy expression.

Just when she touched the handle of her door, her brother rushed it open and made her fly to the other side of the room. "SISTER!~ HURRY, IT'S A DISASTER! SOME HOLLOW MANAGED TO GET INTO THE HOT SPRINGS AND IT'S VERY POWERFUL!" he shouted only to get a foot planted square in his face and had it stay there.

"WHAT THE HELL, DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK?!" Kai yelled in question. Nothing seemed to process until like...five seconds later. With her one leg up, her foot glue to his face, and a fist clenched up into the air, she blinked in curiosity. "Wait...a strong hollow...? LET'S GO, I WANNA KICK ITS ASS!" she got really excited at the news of a hollow invading but little did she know that her bro was up to something. Just before she got to bolt out of the door, her great granddaddy's arm randomly stretched in the scene and jerked her backward by her collar. "What was that for, old man?!" she turned around harshly and bared her teeth only to be given a strict glare from the said dragon.

"What are hot springs...?" he questioned and had the most fierce look in his slits. If the hot springs hold...water... I cannot allow her to go... mentally noting, he saw the goth quirk a brow.

"I just heard people talk about hot springs when my bro and I lived in the Rukongai... They said it was a relaxing place, just sitting in the water feels great. So...yeah, I've only heard of others talk about it, I've never been in one though. Well- looks like I get to now! Get to fight in the hot springs, who WOULDN'T pass this chance up?! Hahahaha!" Kai laughed and clamped her hands on her hips. Dao's face went sour at hearing that the hot springs held water and that you had to get in it.

"You may go...but DO NOT get into the water... I wish for you to only defeat the hollow, I shall come with you, for safety reasons..." he demanded with a grumble, something wasn't right...he acted as if the water would just tear her apart...

"Tch- I can jump in if I want, the water's not gonna hurt anyone!" yelled the goth before facing her bro, then grabbed his wrist, and went out the door. With Morgus being dragged by her death grip, he heard Dao emit a dangerous growl. Once the door shut the said Vasto Lorde was alone in her apartment, with his fists clenched and sharp teeth on the corners of his mouth becoming visible, he too decided to leave.

She does not understand the dangers... I must prevent her from ever attempting to get in... he stated in his head as he left, making the door slam shut and slightly shake the inside of her dwelling.

"This way!" Setsuen yelled as he ran ahead of the goth, which is surprising since...he was in her death grip earlier... They were both sprinting down one of the pathways, rushing past everyone who was in the lane. As per usual, Kai's reckless behavior caused her to bump into people, knock them down and make them fly upward from her carelessness. Dao on the other hand was smart, he was racing across the top of the walls and kept an eye on his descendant.

"YOU ACT LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD'S GONNA HAPPEN, BRO! IF WE DON'T GET THERE IN TIME THEN I'M SURE THE OTHERS WOULD HAVE ALREADY KILLED IT BY THEN!" the punk yelled from behind him only to stop abruptly when they saw Ikkaku skidding to a halt towards them. "What the kirk-firk-nick are you doing?!" she yelled at the man and watched him jog in place with his sheathed zanpakuto on one shoulder.

All he did was raise a brow, he didn't seem too panicked...odd... He looked over at Morgus only to see him stare back at him and shake his head no. "Yes, Madarame! Why are you not at the hot springs, fighting that hollow?!" Setsuen questioned and made sure, that Ikkaku read between the lines.

"Oh, right! Kai let's hurry, it might snatch one of the bystanders!" Madarame stated in a pretend gasp, then faced the opposite direction and ran off. Morgus followed and left two very confused people behind. Both Dao and Koumetsu had a risen brow, but they followed along nonetheless. "Hey old man, aren't those two acting, oh I don't know...SUSPICIOUS?!" Kai yelled out for him to hear, who only nodded in return, kept his gaze forward, and remained up on the wall.

After they caught up to them, they all managed to make it to the hot springs. Standing just outside of the place, Kai put her hands on her hips and tilted her head, it was showing their backsides staring up at the sign that hung above the entrance. "You said...there was a hollow here... I don't sense a damn hollow... Better not be lying to me bro or your ass is mine!" she jerked her head to the side and bared her teeth, her veins and slits glowed from slight anger.

"Oh, don't worry sister...it's here.~" Morgus answered with a smirk and squinted eyes. He waltzed right in like he owned the place, having Dao and Ikkaku follow suit. The goth just sweatdropped, she looked annoyed by this and didn't understand what was going on. Continuing into the place, she was just about to turn around after shutting the door when a bunch of people shouted in unison.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Rangiku, Ikkaku, Morgus, Yumichika, Shunsui, Ukitake, a small kid with pink hair, Ichigo, Uryu, Orihime, Rukia, and more all screamed out. That shout knocked the goth on her butt, stunning her by their sudden appearance. Kenpachi, Unohana, and all of the Captains were there...they were mostly...hidden behind the crowd, aside from Shunsui and Ukitake of course. Kai's one eye was twitching at the sight, while Dao's eyes were wide and his mouth in a flat line.

"Who told you it was my birthday?! Only-..." Before she finished, she slowly looked over at her brother with the deadliest of glares ever. "Morgus..." she finished in a lowered voice, making him stiffen up and hide behind her Captain. Kenny looked over his shoulder at the man with his usual, I'm bored, face and grumbled. "DON'T CHICKEN OUT ON ME!" yelled the birthday girl who was about to race after him until Rangiku jumped in and hugged the daylights out of her.

"Happy birthday Koumetsu!~ Setsuen told us all about your birthday!" she happily stated then let go.

"Sister, I only wanted to celebrate your birthday since I hardly could growing up... When we lived in the Rukongai I wanted to celebrate it every year! I couldn't though, since we were on the streets... So I decided to try and make up for it now, knowing we're both Soul Reapers!" Setsuen chirped and came out from behind Zaraki, with a genuine grin.

"Huh...well...I...never... I never had...a celebration before..." Kai was at a loss, shocked to the point where she was almost speechless. Her gaze wide and astonishment evident in them, she never had a birthday before... The next thing she knew, Inoue ran up to her and hugged her too. She froze in her spot at the contact, she certainly wasn't used to this kind of thing.

"I will never forget what you did for me in Las Noches, you kept me company when I needed it the most! You even tried to save me, you stood up for me and everything... Thank you, Koumetsu! I hope we can be close friends, I really enjoyed how you would talk about the Espadas and such!" she gleefully spoke and let go, clasping her hands together in the praying gesture right after; she smiled sweetly and had a soft engulfed her emotional eyes.

Kai blushed slightly and looked away, nodding all the while. "Y- Yeah...sure... No problem..." the goth muttered, then looked in her peripherals and viewed her.

"I have a gift for you, that I'm sure you'll love; but for now, let's have a good time at your party ok?!" Orihime beamed and giggled with her eyes shut. Kai nodded, stuffed her hands in her pockets, and smirked.

"Yeah, even Ikkaku has a present for you!~ It's not something you can wrap up though, it's-" Yumi was about to finish when Madarame cut him off by jamming his elbow into his ribs. "Oof- What was that for...?" he asked and looked over at the third-seater. Seeing him shake his head, pink had dusted his cheeks and his eyes were narrow. "Oh, right! Forgive me but it's a surprise.~" he finished and smiled her way, then looked over at their Captain. "Captain Zaraki, isn't there something you wish to say?" questioning Zaraki, he tucked his arms within both sleeves and peered over at the tall man.

The said Captain nodded, walked up to the goth, and planted a hand on top of her head. That action made Dao raise his guard, he was leaned up against the wall now and had his arms folded. "Koumetsu, starting tomorrow, I want you to come down to my dojo... I'm gonna have to test everyone out and see if they have what it takes to be a seated officer. I'm sure you'd pass with flying colors, so don't be late!" he demanded and smirked down at her, after seeing the biggest grin stretch on the punk's face.

"HELL YEAH, I'M IN!" she pumped a fist into the air and shut her eyes.

"C'mon Kai, let's go in!" With that everyone strode into their separate hot spring room, one for males and one for females. All the women in the hot spring room were sitting and relaxing in the waters, wearing a towel around their bodies. The only person that wasn't in the water was Rangiku, Kai, and Orihime.

"Come on, Koumetsu! This is your first time ever going to a hot spring, there's no need to be shy!~" Matsumoto rose her voice and stood near the door, waiting for the goth to make an appearance.

"I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS SEEING ME WITHOUT MY MAKEUP!" That was all she heard from the said hybrid. Rangiku giggled and marched right in, then came back out with the punk in her grasp. She was dragging her by the wrist, with the goth's body being pulled with her. Her hair was down, her makeup was off and she wore a towel that really...hugged...her curves.

After she was forced out of the changing room, she stood to her feet with a beet-red face and her arms crossed. "C'mon, just for today? You look even more beautiful without your makeup on! Besides, your black makeup would only get washed off from the water," she smiled and walked over to the edge of the spring, then sat inside. "Now c'mon it's alright, the water's just right!~" her voice rose and she waved her hand, gesturing for her to get in next. Inoue was just staring at her in awe, looking at Kai's complexion and how it looked feminine.

"Yes, it's ok! Here, we can go in together!" the girl cheerfully encouraged and lightly gripped onto the said hybrid's hand. She flinched at the touch and looked over at her; before she got to say anything in return, the kid pulled her over to the edge and tugged on her gently.

"Fine I get it, just let go!" the goth shouted with a big blush on her cheeks and jerked her hand away. Seeing the girl back way slightly to give her some room, the goth stared down at the water like it was the most challenging thing ever. Slowly, she lowered her foot towards the water, let the tip of her big toe touch it, and stood there. She gulped at the feeling, then soon put her whole foot in. It felt nice, the hot water felt relaxing just by her foot being in it. More, she let her whole body sink in after getting in all the way.

"Koumetsu, how does it feel?" Unohana questioned with a soft smile and tilted her head to one side. It was quiet...not one sound came from the punk... She looked dazed, the goth's slits were hazed slightly and lowered down towards the water; her lids were halfway over her eyes. "Koumetsu?" the Captain questioned the punk, yet...still no answer.

"Ah-...ah...I don't...feel.....very..." Before she got to say anything, she tipped over and fell clear into the spring. Everyone panicked and rushed after her, lifting her up out of the water and dragging her out of it. They laid her on the flooring around the spring while Orihime was trying to snap her awake.

"Koumetsu! Koumetsu!!" Inoue yelled and tried to gain her attention, Unohana, her lieutenant, Rangiku, Rukia, and all the other women were surrounding her...well...except Soi-Feng... She was still sitting in the water, having a confused face.

"Orihime, use your power to heal her!" Rangiku shouted in worry only to see the girl shake her head.

"I'm sorry, I left them in the changing room! I didn't want to lose them!" in a panicked breath the girl answered and her eyes scanned the goth all over in hopes of some sort of idea to wake her.

~~~Next door~~~

On the other side in the men's department (lol, like at a clothing store.~), all the men were having a good time and laughing to themselves. The only man who wasn't enjoying himself was Dao. He was standing up against the wall that divided the women's and the men's bath. His arms crossed and head lowered; no one heard but him when Kai's name was mentioned loudly. His eyes widened at the words, then turned around and jumped up on top of the divider. His towel still wrapped around his waist, he was crouching a bit and looked for his descendant. I knew it... That was all he said in his head, whilst scanning his slits around the women's hot spring.

"Hey, what are you doing?! You can't go over there!" Hitsuguya exclaimed, making everyone's attention glue to the said dragon. Everyone aside from Kenny, Shunsui, Byakuya, and Kurotsuchi, began complaining or trying to make him get down. Dao just jumped off into the other side, avoiding some of their grabs, and rushed over to his great-granddaughter.

"Well...he's gonna die.~" Kyoraku stated sarcastically, making Ukitake sweatdrop and chuckle with his eyes closed. Everyone else started laughing at his comment, except Kuchiki and Mayuri.

~~~Women's hot springs~~~

Dao had surprised all the women in the bath, making some squeal and some gasp. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?! THIS ISN'T WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO!" Soi-Feng shouted in embarrassment, while the others just backed away and hid inside the water.

"I am not here to gaze upon your bodies..." the elder dragon answered with his gaze viewing Koumetsu, then kneeled down on both of his knees soon after. "She is wet...did she get in...?" he questioned them all while looking their way, hoping one of them would answer. All he got was a bunch of nodding from them. He looked back down at her, scooped her upper body into his arms, and felt her forehead. He grumbled at feeling her temperature getting colder and colder, so he spiked his reiatsu and cuddled her tightly with his eyes shut.

"Why did you raise your spiritual pressure?" Unohana asked and blinked, all she got was silence from the man until...

"She will die if she does not get warmed up! Soaking in water will cool off her from the inside, regardless of how hot the water is. The lava in her body is not strong enough to withstand the temperature that this liquid provides... I am able to get in and soak for a little bit but she cannot be in it hardly at all, lest she faces certain death!" yelled the ancient dragon with his strong voice, and his piercing slits grew brighter while viewing the other women. They all stood shocked in their places, not even moving an inch.

As time passed, it showed the woman laying on Dao's lap. She stirred in her spot, moved her head from side to side and was squinting her closed eyes. "Will she be alright?" Inoue asked only to see the ancient dragon nod. His spiritual pressure lowered back down, it wasn't long until he heard small groans from the goth.

"I... I want...." As Kai spoke in her sleep, Orihime, Rangiku, Unohana and her Lieutenant all leaned in out of sheer curiosity. "Music..." With that they all comedically fell backward, their legs stuck straight up whilst one of them twitched.

They all recovered from their hysterical moment and stood back up. Unohana stepped closer to Dao and kneeled down next to him, with her gaze glued to Kai's frame.

~~~Elsewhere~~~

Back with Maiya and Haro, they were making their way towards the hot springs. The maroon-haired girl had a pouting feature to her, while the man she held onto looked amused. He was giving away a goofy grin, was giggling, and thinking about the gothic woman he ran into. It's quite rare to come across a pure gothic person, let alone a woman.~ he mentally mused, not once noticing that they had stopped and that Maiya was muttering to herself about his flirtatious habits.

"Hey, Haro! Would you stop daydreaming?! We're here, now come on; I wanna relax, and what better way to do it than the hot springs?!" she excitedly cheered and turned to the said man with happy features. Once she had looked up to him, her smile turned upside down at seeing that..he wasn't listening... Hearts floated and popped above his head, he had flat lines for eyes and a silly open smile. "COME ON ALREADY, WE HAVEN'T HAD A BREAK LIKE THIS IN FOREVER! I DON'T WANNA WASTE TIME JUST STANDING AROUND!" she threw a cute tantrum and jerked on his wrist, pulling him in the building with her. All she heard from him were words that were barely audible, clearly still thinking about Kai...

Once inside, she let go and crossed her arms with her mauve eyes darting up at him. "Time to go our separate ways..." said the elven-eyed girl and turned on her heel, making her way towards the women's changing room. Haro was left standing there, it took a few seconds for everything to process what just happened. Snapping out of his daydreams, he looked around and quirked a brow.

"Maiya...?" he questioned in hopes of hearing her answer. Not even one sound... Tatsibura kept looking around until he finally spotted the men's changing room; it was next to the women's. He grinned real big, eyes squinted and mischievousness was written all over his face. The vampire walked over and opened the women's door, his friend wasn't there... She must've changed already.~ he assumed in his mind. His head peeked in through the door, looking from one side to the other hoping no one was in there. Sneakily he stepped in, viewing all of the women's clothes, then came across the goth's attire... His eyes widened at the sight, basically...you could hear angels singing with holy light emitting from her clothes... A huge blush painted his cheeks while he remained frozen with a dumbfounded look to him. He rushed over and looked through her clothes, finding her red hairband in midst of all her things. His mouth grinned, then soon grabbed it and jolted out of the room, straight into the men's changing room.

This is the most perfect idea, to make her come to me!~ When she does, I'll tell her I found it and held on to it until she came looking! Technically it's true, I did, find it.~ She will be so thrilled to know I found it for her, she would HAVE to show some sort of appreciation! he mentally cooed, while changing out of his attire and wrapping a towel around his waist. The very image of Kai smiling sweetly with a flush on her cheeks and kissing his cheek came to his mind and made his face light up. He stuffed the tie into his folded-up robes and marched right into the hot spring.

In the waters, Ikkaku was just sitting there minding his own business and sitting next to his Captain. "Man, I wonder if Daomig'rah ever got chewed alive in there... Why he jumped over there is beyond me..." he said to his Captain, who just grunted in reply and leaned back in his spot.

"I doubt he would spy on women while they bathe... He does not seem like the type," Yumichika butted in and had his eyes shut, not even looking Madarame's way.

"He's a man, I'm sure even he has hidden temptations.~" Shunsui spoke up and chuckled at his own words, he too had his eyes closed and was enjoying the warm water.

"I don't know Shunsui... I agree with him, I doubt he would be the type. He shows little interest with Soul Reapers, so female Soul Reapers probably mean very little to him," Ukitake commented, he was next to Shunsui and was smiling contently.

"Well, he mated with a female Soul Reaper ages ago...so I doubt that is the case," Mayuri said with his intellectual tone, he was in the far corner and away from everyone.

"Oh my, I wasn't expecting a group of Captains to be here.~" Haro's hypnotic voice rang through the room. With just his towel on...you could tell he wasn't very beefy with muscle, yet he did have some and it was well built. He paced over to the water's edge, sat down, and placed his feet in it; a sigh escaped his lips while everyone had their eyes glued on him.

"You're the new member of Captain Soi-Feng's squad, aren't you?" Jushiro questioned with a friendly smile.

"Yes, I am in fact. What's going on here, why have you all gathered?" he asked in return, making Ukitake chuckle lightly. Haro had a casual smirk on his face, rather feeling pleased with the atmosphere; both of his elbows rested on his knees with him leaned over.

"We're here to celebrate Koumetsu's birthday, her brother informed us about it," the said white-haired man answered. Tatsibura lightly gasped at the news and surprise was evident on his features.

"Then I'll just have to wish her a happy birthday, then! How could I do that though...?" he questioned to no one in particular, contemplating. Kurotsuchi had his eyes focused on the man's diamond-shaped slits, they didn't look normal...

How odd... His pupils are like slits...only they are shaped like a vertical diamond. Hmm...now where have I seen those before...? Mayuri asked in his mind with a finger going to his chin in thought.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!~ Don't forget to leave a comment, I'm always happy to hear from my readers! \o/