Chapter 25:

It was hot. Normally for this time of year, the air would be slightly crisp but due to a sudden heat wave washing over Japan, the area was blistering. Ichigo could barely sleep in this temperature. He rolled out of bed early and immediately threw his shirt from his person. Some sweat dripped down his body as he willfully strode downstairs. Karin and Yuzu were sitting at the kitchen table, eating with some pancakes set up just for him.

"Ichi-nee," Karin almost panted. "What's wrong with the AC?" Ichigo wiped some sweat from his brow and rolled his eyes.

"Ask your father. He had the bright idea to "fix" it instead of calling someone." Ichigo began fanning himself with his hand and groaned. "This heat is insane."

"Yeah, it's so hot, school shut down for the day." Yuzu chirped in. "What should we do? I feel like the sun in at our front door."

Ichigo shrugged and thought of all possible options. They could just go to the mall and soak up the cool air there like sponges, but that was too far. They could just go to the Kurosaki Clinic, but Ichigo feared that their dad was there and would force them to work. The only other option was the beach. They could just ask dad to lend Ichigo the car for the day, but with only the three siblings it wouldn't be as fun.

Then he got a call. The caller ID read as "Guy with Hat" which he recognized to be Kisuke. The man hadn't spoke to Ichigo since he returned from the Soul Society three weeks ago, so it puzzled the orange-haired teen as to what the man wanted.

"Hello?"

"Ichigo-kun. How are you this fine day?" Kisuke sounded as happy as he normally did, which made Ichigo slightly uncomfortable.

"What do you want Urahara?" Ichigo groaned.

"Always straight to the point. Well we have some guests here. Apparently they're on vacation. Now, can you be their tour guide for the next two days or so?"

"No."

"Great! They're on their way now to Karakura Hotel, be sure to meet them there. And Kurosaki-kun, be sure to wear some trunks. They want to go to the beach." Without a moment's hesitation, Kisuke hung up the phone, leaving the teen to rub his temples slightly.

"Who was that?" Yuzu asked as she noticed Ichigo's face contort into his usual scowl.

"Ugh, just a friend. Looks like we're going to the beach."

"You don't seem to happy about that."

"Well, it could be worst. Just go get ready. And quick warning, there will be a LOT of people you don't know." Ichigo emphasized "lot" purely because he knew that the guests were more than likely mostly of the male gender. He didn't want his sisters around any such people, but it was hotter than normal and he didn't want the twins to die in this oven they called home. He needed some kind of backup to protect his sisters. He picked up his phone and made a call.

-Some time later-

Thankfully, the captains who came were the more manageable. Ichigo hoped that Zaraki didn't come with the group because he didn't think that he would be able to stop the fight that was almost guaranteed to happen between him and Ash. Ichigo gazed upon the visitors with slight annoyance. Karin and Yuzu began to mingle with Akame and Rangiku. Unohana had been talking to another white haired man, whom Ichigo didn't know. Byakuya stood beside Rukia and Renji sporting his usual expression. He also saw several other women but paid them little attention.

Chad, Uryu, and Orihime had agreed to meet the group at the beach, as did Toshiro and Ash. Ichigo secretly hoped that the shinigami would change their minds about heading to the beach, but as the day went on and the heat grew more intense, that idea quickly left his mind. They traveled by a personal bus that Urahara had supplied them and made their way to the nearest body of water.

They arrived at the beach quickly and wasted very little time in setting up. The beach was fortunately and oddly empty. The warm and slightly salty breeze felt heavenly on Ichigo's skin and the warm sand almost massaged his feet. Without a moment's notice, most of the males swarmed into the water, leaving Byakuya and the girls to set up the camp.

"Hi there, young ones." Rangiku said directed to Karin and Yuzu. "I don't think we've been introduced to each other. I'm Matsumoto Rangiku." The woman said, sounding bubbly. Karin never liked "overly happy" people so she inwardly cringed at the woman's smile. Yuzu beamed and waved her hand high.

"I'm Kurosaki Yuzu. And that's my sister Karin. How are you?"

"I'm fine. It's just really hot." Rangiku complained. Karin barely paid attention to the rest of the conversation. Instead she turned her attention towards the woman staring off into the open ocean. The woman was slightly shorter than she was but she looked lost in thought.

"Oi." Ichigo said once he picked up his phone. "Uh. Okay, want us to come closer? No? Okay." Renji turned towards the boy and raised a brow at the conversation he heard. He closed his phone and shrugged his shoulders. "That was Toshiro, he and Ash are here but a little further down. They're coming."

The guys had all entered the water and began splashing rather roughly, while the girls had chose to save the water for later and just talk for now. "So, got your eye on anyone here?" Rangiku asked Yuzu while raising an eyebrow. Yuzu blushed madly to the question and waved her hands in front of her dismissively. "Oh come on, there has to be someone you like? Is he here? Is he coming?"

"Ran-chan, stop asking the girl so many questions. She looks like an apple."

Rangiku pouted and took a lick of her ice cream. Yuzu chuckled nervously, "Thanks Yoruichi-san."

"I don't think she really likes anyone… but she does love Ash."

Several things happened after Yoruichi so casually made this statement. Akame's eyes widened and she began choking on her ice cream, Rangiku burst into laughter, Karin began sweating profusely as she feared Yoruichi doing the same thing to her and Soifon fell over. Yoruichi found it most funny when Soifon fell over. The petite woman had always had outrageous reactions and probably shouldn't have told her about her little attraction towards her star pupil.

"My Karin, you look so tense. Lighten up." Rangiku gave the girl a hearty tap on the back and Yuzu continued to blush brighter than fire itself. Yoruichi took a sip of her tea and made the mood overly serious.

"Ye, my girl. Lighten up. You don't want Shiro-chan to see you like that now would you?" Yoruichi teased again.

The boys only heard the laughter from the girls table as the aggressively attacked each other in the ocean water. This had went from a nice playful day to all out war. Ichigo and Renji worked together in order to combat Yumichika and Ikkaku. Chad and Uryu had also began working together to somehow get a cease fire. Byakuya, though face as stoned as ever, carefully plotted out the demise of both teams. Rukia was on the beach and wouldn't be in harm's way when the battle ensued.

"You guys cannot be serious." They heard a familiar voice speak. They all turned, save for Byakuya to see Toshiro standing on a rock with Ash facing the ocean. Toshiro wore a pair of white trunks with a black dragon design going in a diagonal pattern over his left leg. Ash wore a plain black pair and he and Toshiro both sported dark grey sleeveless shirts.

Enjoying the look of confusion on everyone's face, Toshiro and Ash proceeded to the girl's table to say hello.

A/N: So, I'm aware I've been gone for two months. That's due to me going through that weird point in your life when you transition from high school to working full time. Sorry for the extreme delay but the updates will continue.