The Fallen Series (a Bleach Fanfiction) by Seth's Kiss:

Official Summary: "They all made the biggest mistake of their lives: they forgot that Aizen always had a back-up plan, with it usually being far, far worse than the first."/Rated for reason.

A/N: Hajimemashte, my name is Seth's Kiss (the reason I call myself that is quite simple, but rather riveting: if you want to know about it, just ask, I'll tell), and after reading fanfiction for more than 10 years (huh, who knew?), I've decided (more like, I was swayed by my very convincing, supporting friends) to write my own fic: this is my 1st try, so any advice within your reviews is warmly welcomed. If this story is not to your liking or you sense something off, please do mention it, but in an exceedingly polite way: if this fic offends you, my advice is very simple: don't read it.

Disclaimer: I do not and will never own Bleach or its characters, they exclusively belong to Tite Kubo (if Bleach did belong to me, there would be very drastic changes, such as the whole series having much more 'romance'); I do own everything else (plot, other characters): they come from my eccentric and endless imagination. I'd also like to apologize in advance if any of the characters are in any way O.O.C, so let me know when you think they are: I mean, I'll try as hard as I can to keep them in character, but I tend to let my writing take over my imagination at times.

Warnings: This fanfiction will contain dark mature themes (captivity, slavery, torture, blackmail, humiliation and so on (it gets worse the further you read...or better, for those of you who enjoy stories like these)), so it will be rated M. Also, I usually don't like writing with cuss words, yet do expect to find one or two, here and there within the chapters. Again, if these themes or anything else doesn't appeal to you, either because it offends you or you are still underage: Please, don't read...

Part One: Victory Falls:

The Fallen: Prologue (Part 1): The After War:

In the Real Karakura Town, still situated within Soul Society:

Pale white skin shattered from Sosuke Aizen's Hollowfied form as the Kidou seal embedded within his core started to take effect.

Horrified, he stared at the Hogyoku completely aghast while Ichigo Kurosaki collapsed to his knees out of sheer exhaustion, his Shinigami powers slowly but surely leaving him, all while Kisuke Urahara, all dishevelled, arrived and explained what was truly happening to Aizen.

"Curse you Kisuke Urahara!" he spat out, fury and rage blazing upon his features: "I loathe you! I despise you! Do you hear me?! This is not over yet! Never! I-"

Silence cut off the raging soul as Urahara's Kidou finally took over, sealing him...

Ichigo lowered his eyes and breathed out shakily, as fatigue washed over him.

It was over; the war was finally all over.

But somehow, the young man couldn't bring himself to feel relief. Ichigo frowned at the uneasy feeling. He knew he should be relieved by this ending, but why wasn't he?

It was as if he had a strange yet strong foreboding that this wasn't going to be the last time he and the others would be up against Aizen. And that thought truly alarmed him.

"Ichigo-kun?" called out Urahara, drawing the young Shinigami Substitute's attention "A penny for your thoughts? You seem almost unhappy, if not somewhat afraid."

Ichigo huffed in slight annoyance: nothing got past that weirdo's perception: "Is it really over? I mean, this is Aizen we're talking about, the one who always has a back-up plan, the one who can literally turn others' lives upside-down... Do you-? Do you really think that this seal will really keep him at bay forever, Urahara-san?"

Urahara slowly blinked at the young one's words.

Tto be honest, he didn't know the answer himself, yet the sandy blond male felt the need to say something to soothe the boy's growing anxiety: "You know Ichigo-kun, forever is an awfully long time. So, stop worrying about something that is so far away. Besides, even if it really wasn't over, the only thing that can undeniably stop him, for now, is that seal - and the Hogyoku itself as well, since it presently rejects the now immortal Aizen due to that small depleting lapse of power, thanks to you, Ichigo-kun. We'll just have to suppress his reiatsu so he won't be able to fuse with the Hogyoku anymore. ...Or something like that."

Ichigo deadpanned at Urahara's explanation: "Something 'like' that? You make it sound so simple and easy, but you're just as clueless as I am, aren't you?"

"Oh...Ichigo-kun!" exclaimed the shopkeeper, in an annoyingly mocking, high-pitched tone as his eyes widened and then filled with mirth "I never knew you were this perceptive! And here I deemed all along that you were a mere idiotic simpleton!"

"Hey, I totally resent that, you eccentric weirdo!" shouted Ichigo angrily, unease forgotten, as he jumped up to stand taller than the now sniggering Urahara who was hiding his grin behind his ever-so faithful and indispensable fan "Who are you calling-?"

"...Ichigo!" a young light tomboyish voice suddenly called out to the orange-haired teenager.

He turned to see Rukia Kuchiki running up to him, followed by Renji Abarai, Chad Yasutora, Orihime Inoue and Uryuu Ishida, smiles upon their now relieved faces...Relieved because the war had ended, relieved because their friend was fine.

Ichigo's eyes widened at the bandages that were mummifying his friends, Chad, Renji and Rukia in particular: "Whoa. Are you guys-? What happened to you?"

"Silly boy," exclaimed Rukia snootily, but couldn't help the corners of her mouth from forming a smile "Did you honestly think you would be the only one fighting?"

"What she said," interjected a smirking Renji, with a raised tattooed eyebrow "Thought we were gonna just stay there arms crossed and dilly-dally carelessly?"

"Hmph," snorted Uryuu, re-adjusting his glasses "We're tougher than we look."

Chad just jabbed a thumbs-up in his best friend's direction with a reassuring smile, making Ichigo arch his eyebrow; the tall tannned teen seemed to be the one with the most bandages.

'Ah, well, if he says he's ok...' deemed Ichigo with a gentle grin as he nodded at them.

Quiet sniffling made him turn towards the other girl of the group, seeing her look at him with wide, teary, but delighted eyes, as Orihime whispered softly: "I was so worried. I'm really glad you're okay, Kurosaki-kun. I almost didn't recognize you. I was so afraid you- I mean, I thought you were someone else."

Ichigo's brown eyes softened at her: "Don't worry, Inoue. It is me. And everything is-"

He was abruptly cut off mid-sentence as he dropped face down straight to the ground, causing his friends to gasp and rush to his side, calling out his name.

Convulsing viciously, Ichigo's vision slowly faded to black, as he heard Urahara inform his shocked friends: "He's gradually losing his shinigami powers. And soon, he'll lose them permanently..."

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Not too far away, standing up to gaze at the clear blue sky, a young tomboy girl in a school uniform, exhales deeply as she closes her eyes: "Looks like it's over..."

"What is, Tatsuki?" questioned an auburn haired boy, wearing the same school uniform, who was sitting beside her on the grass.

"Whatever the heck just happened, Keigo" replied Tatsuki Arisawa in a relaxed voice, the gentle breeze ruffling her short messy black hair "Whatever it was: it is over. Ichigo won, I guess. He kept his promise too: I can feel that Orihime's back."

Keigo Asano just blinked, not knowing what to add to that. Looking over his shoulder, he glances at his other classmates, Chizuru Honsho and Mizuiro Kojima who were sitting mutely, before he states: "Wonder what's gonna happen now..."

"What's going to happen now..." interjects Chizuru adamantly as she stands up "...is that you guys are going to tell me what all thiswas...or is all about."

Mizuiro, Tatsuki and Keigo glanced at each other before just staring at her. Bristled, she shouts: "You promised! I have the right to know!"

Mizuiro nodded at her words: "It's true, you know: We did promise..."

"But..." began Keigo disinterestedly "We don't know the whole story ourselves..."

"Chizuru..." sighed Tatsuki without restraint "We'll tell you what we do know..."

As she explains what happened recently and how Ichigo was involved in it, Keigo overhears up rustling nearby. Looking in the direction of the noise, he detects an individual staggering further into woods not far from where he was seated with his friends, the large trees' leaves dimming the light around that person, shadowing it. Interest overtook his fear, so he got up and went in the forest, his friends unaware as they were too engrossed in Ichigo's perilous exploits: Tatsuki was narrating them, Chizuru was listening to them and Mizuiro was just nodding, having heard them before.

Keigo trailed the mysterious being, noticing that it was limping and carrying something...more than something actually, more like two things maybe, but he couldn't make out what they were. It wasn't until they reached a treeless clearing that Keigo could see that the person he had been following was a tall caramel-skinned woman, with vivid blonde spiky hair, finishing in small tresses flowing along her bare back, which was facing the young student. She was holding under her arms three other women, two on one side, and one on the other side: they appeared out cold and in dire shape, but the blonde woman was the one who was bleeding all over.

Keigo stammers out spontaneously: "L...Lady! You're hurt! Do you need help?!"

Turning her head just barely in his direction, but enough to reveal sapphire streaks upon her tanned cheeks and a brilliant green stare which freezes Keigo to his core, she speaks in a deep imposing voice as a dark black gate opens in front of her: "Your concern's appreciated, but be gone, human."

Keigo just stares dumbly as she walks in unsteadily before it magically closes after her, disappearing as if neither she nor that entrance had ever existed.

"Whoa..." he murmurs, before his expression turns all mushy "I think I'm in love."

Within the Seireitei:

"Welcome back, Kuchiki-taichou, Zaraki-taichou, Lieutenants Kusajishi and Kotetsu, 7th Seat Yamada! Thank you for your hard work!"

Hordes of Shinigami from the 6th and 11th Division knelt in seiza to greet their superiors and the subordinates who had accompanied them, as they strode out from the Garganta that brought them back straight from the Hueco Mundo's deserts.

While Hanatarô Yamada and Isane Kotetsu were being thanked appreciatively by the bulky intimidating brutes of the 11th Division, Kenpachi Zaraki, with little Yachiru Kusajishi glued to his bare muscled shoulders, and Byakuya Kuchiki continued their walk back towards their respective barracks, escorted by their men who were fretting over their wounds...yet their worries were frostily shoved aside.

Suddenly, a dozen Senkaimon opened revealing those who had participated within the War against Aizen in the fake Karakura town, most of them carried in hurriedly by members of the 4thDivision that had been sent there to retrieve them.

Amongst them, Yamamoto Shigekuni Ganryusai, Gotei 13's Chief Commander and 1st Division's Captain, was shunning away those who tried to tend to him, while leaning, with his only arm, having lost the other during the War, against his lieutenant, Chojiro Tadaoki Sasakibe, who was in total tip-top shape having not participated at all to the battles.

Yumichika Ayasegawa, the 11th Division's beautiful 5th Seat, was unharmed but unconscious within Ikkaku Madarame's battered and bruised arms, the 3rd Seat of the same Division as Yumichika's. The latter was glaring lividly at Izuru Kira, the 3rd Division's lieutenant who was the cause of Ikkaku's best friend's current condition. But his seething scowl went unseen as the one concerned was too occupied to notice: Izuru was kneeling beside a member of the 4th Division who was healing his former captain, Gin Ichimaru, a traitor in the eyes of the Seireitei for siding with Aizen during the latter's betrayal but brought back to be healed nevertheless by an adamant and resolute Rangiku Matsumoto, the 10th Division's lieutenant, who was currently crying quietly, cradled within the warm, affectionate arms of Shuuhei Hisagi, the 9th Division's lieutenant, who, despite the circumstances, was secretly glad to be able to comfort his crush.

Looking over his shoulder and seeking Sajin Komamura, the 7th Division's Captain, Shuuhei becomes instantly rigid when he sees that the healer beside the captain in question shook her head apologetically and sorrowfully to Tetsuzaemon Iba, his now grief-stricken lieutenant, faithfully by his captain's side ever since he had been gravely injured by Aizen; she then covered Captain Komamura's inert body with a white sheet... Shuuhei swallows down difficultly the knot of anguish now wedged within his throat and, after gently caressing Rangiku's hair and handing her over to Izuru, he stands up shakily to join Tetsuzaemon who was in mourning for the deceased captain...

The 2nd Division's Captain, Soifon, was marching far away from the healers, violently hitting her lieutenant, Marechiyo Omaeda, every time he insisted that she unquestionably needed medical care, especially due to the fact that she had single-handedly cut off her own left arm, in a battle against the enemy, as it was poisoned and gradually consuming her own body.

The two pass in front of a group joined instantly by Isane, lieutenant to Retsu Unohana, the 4th Division's Captain, who was currently trying to save the life of Momo Hinamori, the young 5th Division's lieutenant, who was severely wounded and not very far from the verge of death, while her childhood friend, Toshiro Hitsugaya, the equally young 10th Division's Captain, sat beside them, hoping with all his heart that she would survive the injury he had himself inflicted upon her when Aizen had used her as a shield, while everyone was under the influence of his zanpaktou's spell.

Nanao Ise, the 8th Division's lieutenant, who had stayed behind at the Seireitei during the War, quickly came closer to her captain, Shunsui Kyoraku, who was bandaged up and sitting beside the healers who were taking care of Jushiro Ukitake, the 13th Division's Captain, himself surrounded by his ever two faithful yet utterly ridiculous 3rd Seats, Kiyone Kotetsu, Isane's younger sister, and Sentaro Kotsubaki. Nanao was very surprised to witness the former 8th Division's lieutenant of a long time ago, Lisa Yadomaru nearing them, before sitting down next to Shunsui and leaning her head tiredly upon his shoulder. The last that the current lieutenant heard, was that Lisa had had completely vanished...

Nearby, Kensei Muguruma, the former 9th Division's Captain of Lisa Yadomaru's epoch, sat cradling a heavily bruised Mashiro Kuna, who was his lieutenant at the time he was captain, while she was being tended to by a healer crouched over her. Next to them, Roujuurou Outoribashi, mostly nicknamed Rose, who was once the 3rd Division's Captain, Love Aikawa, who was the 7th Division's Captain long ago, and Shinji Hirako, who had been the 5th Division's Captain at the same time as his friends, all watched as Hiyori Sarugaki, the former 12th Division's lieutenant, was slowly healing up, having been brought back to life by Unohana previously in the Fake Karakura Town. Standing next to them, Hachigen, ancient member of the Kido Corps, was flexing his now restored arm that he had lost during the War, also healed by Unohana...

The Vizards, which was how Shinji, Hiyori, Rose, Love, Mashiro, Kensei, Lisa and Hachigen were identified, just like Ichigo was, had been requested by the Commander himself to accompany them for further curing: he had stated that their aid during the War had been more than indispensable and that he solemnly owed them more than just an apology for what had happened years ago, which was because of Aizen...once again. The Vizards, stubborn and hesitant at first, had eventually relented as their wounds, especially Hiyori's, were worsening instead of healing. Of those conscious, they glanced at each other, before nodding in understanding: would see what the apology consisted, and should it be tolerable, they'd move back to the Seireitei again.

As Ikkaku, still holding onto his friend, ran over to Captain Zaraki's side and began his 'report' on the 'situation', Captain Kuchiki carried on walking towards his barracks, hastily passing in front of Soifon and Omaeda, not at all wanting to deal right now with the one who had just joined two: it was the mischievous yet stunning princess Yoruichi Shihoin, former Captain of the 2nd Division a long time ago...

"...Yamada!" cries out suddenly Rukia, her panic-stricken voice immediately drawing a few Shinigami's attention and amongst them Byakuya's, as he halted in his steps. Glancing in her direction, he sees his bandaged younger sibling, her face etched with worry and her eyes wide with frantic dread, stumbling over as she hurriedly made her way to the 4th Division's 7th Seat, followed by Uryuu, the young Quincy, and Renji, Kuchiki Byakuya's lieutenant.

"R...Rukia-san?" stuttered Hanatarô, with a concerned expression "Don't! Don't run: you'll hurt yourself! Slow down, you're in a critical condition!"

Ignoring his warning, she only slows down when she reaches him, trying to catch her breath, before she abruptly grabs onto the front of his robes and yells urgently: "It's terrible! You have to help him! Orihime is doing all her best and so are the other healers, but...but it...it's not working! It's not! He needs more help!" "Kuchiki-san..." hesitated uneasily the boy, his usually droopy eyes now very wide "Who... What are you taking about?"

"Ichigo, it's about Ichigo!" cut in agitatedly Renji, the name of his former rival now 'best friend' catching the 11th Division's Captain and his 3rd Seat's full notice "It's bad! You have to save him! ...Fast!"

"Yes, please hurry! He's loosing all his powers...and his spiritual essence! He... He's dying!" stammered Uryuu, just as hysterically worried as his companions. Morbid silence wove itself over those present who heard those horrifying words...

"Ichigo is...No, no, no...No way, that's impossible..." spoke up Shinji unevenly with wide shocked eyes, voicing what the others' weren't able to as they were too taken aback to do so, while Yoruichi was shaking her head in denial as she abruptly slumped within Soifon's ever-so devoted arms.

"I'm afraid it isn't" replied her childhood friend who had just shunpo-ed beside her, gingerly laying a comforting hand upon her shuddering shoulder, while locking his shaded grey eyes into Shinji's disbelieving brown eyes: the man's expression was so solemn that Captain Yamamoto, Soifon, Toshiro, Kenpachi and even the usually apathetic Byakuya, who had rushed to his sister's side, to equally become concerned.

"Urahara!" called out the Captain Commander's booming voice, catching the sandy blonde man's full attention "What is the meaning of this? Explain yourself!"

"Of course" nodded Kisuke Urahara in consent, drawing his favourite striped hat even further over his already shaded eyes "Ichigo sacrificed all of his Shinigami powers in order to surpass Aizen..."

This one sentence caused many to gasp in horror, like Rangiku and Izuru amongst others, or widen their eyes in shock, such as Shuuhei and Ikkaku, as the other continued: "He is currently losing all his abilities and his reiatsu is also significantly decreasing at a disturbing rate. Orihime-chan and a few healers are doing their best to save him, but if his reiatsu keeps lessening this quickly, he'll..."

Urahara didn't finish his sentence for he couldn't bring himself to, however he didn't need to because everyone present was fully conscious of the danger the young teen was currently in.

"Unohana-taichou!" called out Yamamoto commandingly, looking in the woman's direction who nodded instantly her understanding.

She turns over to Uryuu who the one standing the closest to her before asking: "Where is he?"

"The Kuchiki Mansion" replied hurriedly the young Quincy as he absentmindedly pointed to the where the mansion was situated...as if they all didn't already know...

As she and a few members of her division shunpo-ed towards the mansion trailed by Renji, Uryuu and Chad, though he moved at a lot slower pace than the first two, Byakuya glances with raised eyebrows towards Rukia who stutters apologetically: "I didn't... I didn't know where else to take him."

He just stares silently at his younger sister's exhausted and grief-stricken face before he motioned to her gently with his head to follow him back to their domicile.

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The atmosphere in the Kuchiki's Mansion was quite tense but also rather hectic, as the Clan's personal healers were running back and forth with any medical supplies they could lay their hands on, in hopes of them being capable of aiding the young Substitute Shinigami in surviving the sudden severe changes his soul was enduring.

A few amongst the healers had stayed near him, trying every single curative Kidou they were aware of, while Orihime Inoue, filled with anxiety and concern for the one she harboured a crush on, conveyed all her exhausted strength within her barrier to maintain his wavering reiatsu at a quasi-stable level long enough for someone to hopefully come along and reinforce it...

"Inoue-san?" called out a calm collected voice, drawing the young girl's drained eyes towards the person who had just arrived.

"Unohana-san!" cried out Orihime relieved, the tears she had been holding back, now streaming freely down her cheeks "Please, Unohana-san...He...He's..."

"I know" said the elder woman with a reassuring smile while resting her hand on the girl's shaking shoulder "Urahara-san just explained everything to us. Leave it to the 4th Division now."

"I..." began the dark orange-haired girl while blinking her eyes slowly and tiredly "I can help...If there's anything I can do..."

"You've done remarkably well so far" replied Retsu with soft eyes "You can rest now."

Orihime just stared at first before nodding acceptingly, retrieving her healing barrier at the same time as the 4th Division's captain, 7th Seat and subordinates drew up theirs, whereas Isane and a few others had stayed behind to heal the other wounded near where the Senkaimon and Garganta had been opened.

She then moved to get up but having done so too quickly, she felt dizzy and abruptly fell within Renji's arms, as he had been the first to arrive at that very moment, followed by Uryuu, and then a much winded Chad moments later.

"You ok?" asked Renji worriedly, while Uryuu came closer and placed his hand upon Orihime's forehead as Chad just stared anxiously at the tired young girl. She blinked exhaustedly with a small smile: "I'm fine...Just overdone it a little bit, I think... I really like your new haircut, Erza... but I didn't know that one of your armours turned you into a Shinigami..."

"Ha?!" exclaimed the red-haired lieutenant baffled with a comical expression, as Orihime fainted against him "What the heck's she talking about?"

"Don't worry about it" Chad chortled quietly while Uryuu just readjusted his glasses, hiding a smirk behind his hand.

As Renji pressed the two on for answers while laying Orihime down for some of the healers to check on her, Yamamoto, Chojiro, Kisuke, Yoruichi, Soifon, Shinji, Rose, Love, Kenpachi, Yachiru and Byakuya arrive, without Rukia though, as her brother had relentlessly insisted upon having her restored to health before anything else were to happen, causing her to quickly albeit slightly reluctantly heed to his order...

There, they gathered near Ichigo's bedside, as Retsu, Hanatarô and the other healers, along with the Kuchiki Clan's own, fought to stabilize his reiatsu. Amongst the others present, Kenpachi and, surprisingly, even Byakuya, had also moved closer, eyeing the young man who had saved his own town...as well as their own world on several occasions, even though he was told that it wasn't of his concern.

"How is he?" asked suddenly Love hesitantly, almost afraid of hearing the answer.

"Not good, not good at all...We're doing all we can, but I can't guarantee anything for the moment" Retsu said as she shook her head, causing Uryuu to bite his lower lip, Chad to frown and Renji to punch the wall, hastily apologizing to his captain when the latter gave him a meaningful glare which could have been interpreted as: 'You are in my residence here, Abarai: Contain yourself and leave my walls alone.'

Shinji's gaze drifted over his young friend's frame, noticing he seemed a little older, before he frowned: 'He doesn't harbour any wounds at all: How can he be dyin'?'

Yet it was undeniable: he could distinctly feel Ichigo's reiatsu lessening at an alarming rate despite all the 4th Division's and the Kuchiki Clan's healers' efforts. If it really kept going on like this...Kurosaki Ichigo was effectively going to die...

"His reiatsu is still decreasing, Unohana-taichou" whispered Hanatarou nervously.

"Yes..." admitted his captain "I'm afraid so. Apparently, our competences aren't enough, as this is the first time we've encountered such a predicament...But..." "Why?" choked suddenly Yoruichi on her own voice, her mouth having gone dry as she cut off the Healer, "I mean, how could you not be able to do anything at all?"

Retsu locks her sudden uncharacteristically wide eyes with the Flash Goddess: "You see, the thing is, whatever technique he used to acquire such an important amount of power to rival Aizen's, allowed him to absorb more than he could take, transforming his body to adapt to the change, and now that he accomplished what that power was destined for, it is all flowing out, along with his own reiatsu..."

"Like a balloon that completely deflates until nothing is left..." whispers Kisuke horrified while gripping at his hair as he understood exactly what she meant.

"Oh my God!" cried out abruptly Uryuu, frustrated due to what he was hearing and the fact that he was unable to do anything "Where's Mayuri when you need him?!"

"In the Hueco Mundo" replied Akon who had shunpo-ed in followed by a few members of the 12th Division, as they brought along several machineries and vials.

"What the...Now?!" exclaimed Shinji shocked, before glaring angrily at Akon "Somebody get his ass back here!"

"Shinji!" reprimanded Love half-heartedly, gripping at his friend's shoulder.

"Calm down, Shinji" soothed Rose softly, knowing though that it was pointless.

"Calm down?!" yelled the lead-Vizard outraged, shrugging off Love's hand to glare at him and Rose "How the bleedin' heck can I calm down?! I can't just..."

"Silence, Hirako" uttered commandingly Yamamoto, completely freezing Shinji in his rant "Shouting is not going to help, so quieten down."

"And what?" whispered Shinji, looking at his former superior with defeated eyes.

"Hope..." replied Kisuke straightforwardly, his eyes closed "That's all we can do..."

"Ha?!" bellowed Kenpachi, having kept silent since the beginning but was now livid "That ain't good enough! Hope ain't gonna magically keep alive, is it?! Who I'm gonna battle if he's dead?!"

"Honestly" scowled Byakuya disapprovingly, not even bothering to look at the other "Is that all you ever think about?"

"Yeah, don't you?" retorted the 11th Division's Captain furiously, towering over the younger captain.

"Forgive me if I have something called an existence, something a wild beast thirsting solely for battle such as yourself, is unconditionally ignorant of" countered the Kuchiki noble heatedly, this time shifting solely his glare directly into the others' narrowed eyes. Kenpachi Zaraki snarled viciously ready to give out a rather nasty come back at the other when suddenly a pained intake of breath echoed within the room caused everyone's attention to snap back towards the orange-haired teen.

Ichigo's body suddenly arched brutally upwards before falling back upon the tatami he was laid on, only to convulse very violently. His eyes flew open but were dark and vacant while his breath became irregular gasps, overrunning each other as they escaped his parted rickety lips, as he breathed in...But was unable to breathe out...

"What on earth did you do?!" seethed Shinji threateningly to Akon, who just gave him a calm detached look, proving that this wasn't at all his doing.

"What's happening to Ichi?!" cried out Yachiru anxiously, jumping down from her Kenpachi's shoulders and trying to move closer to the Substitute Shinigami's side.

"He's going into shock!" warned one of the healers loudly.

"We're loosing him!" shouted out abruptly another, both of them inadvertently answering the little pink-haired girl's question, while the others just watched on horrified as they witnessed him choke viciously on his breath...maybe his last one...

For once, Restu Unohana looked panicked and completely out of options, as she looked over to the Captain Commander with wistful eyes, before glancing over to the others present, finally landing her gaze upon Chad and Uryuu, as she whispers apologetically: "I'm so sorry..."

Chad, Uryuu and Renji's expressions turned into ones of dismayed horror, not believing what they had just heard. The other room's occupants seemed just as horror-struck, while Soifon lowered her eyes respectfully: "He was very brave..."

"Shut it!" Shinji and Kenpachi snapped their heads in her direction to glare at her heatedly, shouting at the same time "Not another fuckin' word!"

Uryuu's wide eyes flew over to where Orihime laid; blissfully unconscious, unaware of what was becoming of her love interest's fate: should she ever find out, the Quincy knew that it would devastate her...after all she went through to make sure he lived...

Looking over to Retsu, Chad asks in pleading voice: "There has to be another way!"

The 4th Division's Captain shook her head regretfully: "I'm sorry, it is out of our hands: there's nothing more we can do. If Kurotsuchi were here, maybe, but..."

"Hanatarou!" exclaimed suddenly Renji, startling the young healer in question "Remember what you did to save that kid the other time back at Karakura Town when those blasted Bounts attacked? You took some of my reiatsu to save him."

Retsu Unohana's eyes widened in surprise, looking over to the 7th Seat of her Division: "You did what?!"

"Of course" said Hanatarou with realization, before hastily asking another healer to bring forth the equipment necessary and then turning back towards the others "We have to act quickly. Um, who amongst you is willing to give him some reiatsu?"

"Me!" boomed out Kenpachi deafeningly, his imposing voice completely drowning Chad's, Renji's and Uryuu's, causing the latter to glare at the captain in question.

Hanatarou trembled a little at the 11th Division's captain's presence but hastily uttered: "It could work...yet for Kurosaki-kun, if coming from only one person..."

"It could kill that person!" interjected Retsu with wide distressed eyes "Abarai-san was lucky to even be alive as it is! And then again, it was just a human child...but Kurosaki-san has an exceptional reserve of reiatsu and I should know, so coming from one person would mean their own demise as an outcome! Even for someone with such an extensive amount of reiatsu as Zaraki-taichou..." ended the 4th Division's captain while staring steadfastly at Kenpachi who looked rather annoyed by her interference yet remained rather silent as he rolled his eyes and looked away.

"And what if all the Captains did so?" asked Yamamoto calmly, drawing all the room's occupants' attention to him, most of them surprised he was even suggesting a solution "We each have a large quantity of reiatsu respectively, so should Kurosaki Ichigo take from us all at the same time, theoretically, it will drain us...but not kill us... Am I right, Unohana-taichou?"

The female healer captain in question regarded her commander with a thoughtful expression while her eyes slowly lost uncertainty, before nodding sharply: "I suppose it is worth trying...but quickly, we don't have much time. Might I ask for all those present with the level of captain's to come closer? We must proceed immediately" she calls out, addressing the Seireitei's current captains directly...and the former captains indirectly...a request that was understood by them all, so Rose, Shinji, Yamamoto, Love, Soifon, Yoruichi, Byakuya, Kenpachi and Kisuke drew closer, as they were all more than willing to save this boy after all he had done for them.

"Now then" stated Retsu, switching into a more calm and professional tone while she extended a hand towards them "Each of you hold out a hand towards mine and concentrate as much of your reiatsu within it as you can, whereas I'll act as an intermediate catalyst between you and Kurosaki Ichigo."

Most of them nodded in understanding while the rest just held their hands ready, by now focusing their reiatsu, each glowing with a very strong bluish white light, whilst Kenpachi was surrounded by his own bright yellow light and Byakuya shone of a pure white radiance.

The 4th Division's captain breathed out before declaring out determinedly: "Now!"

The flow of reiatsu suddenly rose outstandingly, filling the room with a rather suffocating spiritual energy that Retsu drawed in through one hand and let it surge through her till it reached the other hand rested on Kurosaki Ichigo's dying form.

Overwhelmed by the raising energy, all the healers including Hanataro, the members of the 12th Division and Akon, along with Uryuu, Chad and Renji who had taken Orihime with them as a precaution, all went to stand outside and wait.

Back inside, they all looked on at the young teen, still convulsing, all while focusing their reiatsu as Retsu had asked... At first, nothing seemed to happen, making a few amongst them slightly despair, when suddenly, Ichigo stilled...and breathed out, as his breathing finally evened out and shuddering frame completely calmed down.

Yoruichi and Love were the first to sigh out in relief, but it was cut short when the Unohana spoke up: "Please don't rejoice so hastily: It may not be over just yet."

As if on cue, Rose abruptly swayed before he fell to his knees, causing his two fellow Vizards to voice their concern: "Rose!"

Smiling at them with a strong and sudden exhaustion, he whispers inaudibly: "I'm... I'm fine...Just a little...worn out..."

Overcome by a similar drained feeling, Kisuke grit his teeth before steadying his gaze upon the boy they were frantically trying to save as a desperate thought rose from inside him, one he shared almost everyone within the reiatsu-crammed room:

'...Don't dare die on us...Ichigo Kurosaki...!'

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Eyes wide, hearts pounding with anticipation and dread, Chad, Uryuu, Renji, Rukia, who had eventually joined them, and Orihime, who had, in time, woken up, all stood outside with a few other shinigami, waiting, hoping, whilst helplessly sensing the immensely terrifying fluctuations of reiatsu coming from the mansion, until, steadily, it all began decreasing, some together, others one after the other, making everyone outside glance worriedly at each other, wondering what happened.

Moments after, the front door suddenly opened revealing a very exhausted-looking Unohana stepping out before instantly glancing towards her Division's members: "Hurriedly tend to the Gotei captains as well as all the others inside, if you please."

As her Division hastily rushed to heed to her command, she shifts her attention to the orange-haired teen's worried-stricken friends, gauging them slowly one by one: Chad stood taut, Renji was biting his lower lip, Hanatarou was biting at his nails, Uryuu had a hand over his mouth and Rukia was tightly holding onto Orihime who had her hands clutched together against her chest, all of them staring back at her with anxious eyes, very anxious for none could feel Ichigo's reiatsu any more. Unohana's next words, however, caused them to jump with joy, immensely relieved:

"Kurosaki Ichigo lives."

Hanatarou cheered loudly, Uryuu quietly let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, Rukia and Orihime hugged each other, tears of delight shining within their eyes, Chad sighed happily whilst Renji beamed before they both high-fived. The 4th Division's captain smiled at them pleasantly, just as happy as they were, before her face turned stern: "Now that this is settled, it is time for you to rest."

Shuddering and paling at her authoritarian stance, the group of friends hastened to comply as quickly as they could and in their hurry, Rukia bumps into someone. Turning to face the person, Rukia smiles brightly in recognition and, as she walks off again, refers to the young man reverently: "Please take good care of Nii-sama!"

"Set your worries aside, Rukia-sama" responds the other gently "Leave it to me..."

Reaching the door, the young man, with beautiful bright blue eyes and long silky black strands escaping from his unkempt ponytail, apparently having done it in a hurry, rushes in, glancing briefly over to where the young orange-haired teen laid, surrounded by a few healers from the 4th Division as well as a couple members of the 12th, before directing his focus upon eyeing Byakuya's extenuated features as the latter was slumped against a nearby wall and breathing out with difficulty.

Drawing closer while removing his upper blue coat-like robe and draping it over the clan leader's shoulders, the man bends down to the other's level and smiles gently: "You appear to be in quite a state, Byakuya-sama. Allow me to guide you to your quarters and tend to you."

The Kuchiki noble wearily lifts his eyes to the other as he speaks softly: "That would be nice, Tetsuya. Thank you."

The man named Tetsuya gives the other an acknowledging nod before aiding the noble to his feet and hastily leading him out of the room before anyone else paid attention to their sudden departure.

Reaching the Kuchiki Head's private quarters, Tetsuya lets himself in and aids the Clan's leader to sit comfortably upon his futon before returning to slide the doors shut, leaving the two in the calm and dim atmosphere so familiar to Byakuya, making him sigh out serenely: to say that the last few hours weren't chaotic for him would be a rather absurd understatement...and to think that it wasn't entirely over. "Now, now, Byakuya-sama" chided Tetsuya warningly as he kneeled beside the other man "Do me a grand favour and forget anything that you are due to do afterwards for the sake of your own health."

"I am in perfect condition, Tetsuya, thank you" informed calmly the 6th Division's captain, feigning ignorance as to what the other was implying, though he knew it was futile as Tetsuya had the knack of noticing whenever his health was vacillating.

"Byakuya-sama, please" snapped the blue-eyed man sternly "Don't pretend I'm oblivious to what's clearly all over your features. I don't know what you did, but you are exhausted and entirely drained. You need at least a whole day's rest...if not two...or maybe even a week to make sure..."

"A week?" echoed Byakuya, his eyes widened barely before they narrowed at the other "As the Kuchiki Clan's leader and as a captain of the Gotei 13, I cannot afford to have a week off out of the blue, Tetsuya, especially not now."

The blue-eyed man was about to give a come back when the other seethed through clenched teeth: "Sosuke Aizen's trial is tomorrow morning."

Tetsuya instantly clamped his mouth shut and looked away: "Ah...I see."

Byakuya glanced towards his faithful attendant: "After that, if you still deem it necessary, I shall consider taking a few days rest...though I really doubt that it'd be possible..."

Smiling softly, Tetsuya turned back his gaze towards the grey-eyed noble: "Heh, you truly are stubborn, Byakuya-sama."

The Kuchiki leader arched an eyebrow at that: "Weren't you supposed to do something, Tetsuya?"

The young blue-eyed man chuckled as he bowed his head and headed over to an adjoined room to retrieve a set of fresh new clothes and a few bandages, before returning to Byakuya's side and setting everything beside the futon's edge, Tetsuya then sat near the young Kuchiki leader and began disrobing him. Once he got rid of all the upper layers, he checked the other's pale smooth skin for any unhealed injury...and was unsurprised to find none, just a few bruises and even fewer faint scratches, both seeming to heal properly. As he let his nimble fingers glide over the noble's back, kneading away any strain, Tetsuya hummed appreciatively: "Well, you healed up rather nicely, Byakuya-sama. The 4th Division, I presume?"

Byakuya nodded, while closing his eyes and relaxing within the blue-eyed man's exceedingly talented touch: "They are extremely good at what they do and throughout the years have gotten even better at it."

"But they don't give out massages, do they?" grinned Tetsuya, already knowing the answer, as he focused on a rather tense knot between the other's shoulder blades.

Gasping quietly as his attendant managed to rub out the knot, Byakuya's expression turned teasing: "No, they don't. Maybe I should suggest the thought to them."

"Eh?!" exclaimed Tetsuya, accidently digging his nails into Byakuya's back and making the latter hiss and arch away at the unexpected pricking sensation "But that's my responsibility! Hear this, Byakuya-sama, they've already taken away my task of healing you, I will not allow them to take yet another. As your personal attendant, whatever will I do if I cannot tend to you?"

Byakuya looked over his shoulder at Tetsuya with wide eyes: "Can you not handle banter, Tetsuya?" he then lifts an eyebrow "And, honestly besides you, do really think I'd let anyone take care of me like this, yet alone massage me?"

At that, the young blue-eyed man flushed fiercely: "Oh...I...I, um...I'm sorry?"

The Kuchiki leader rolled his eyes at the other before returning to his initial position whereas Tetsuya cleaned away the punctures his nails had left.

They remained in silence for awhile, while the blue-eyed attendant finished applying the necessary medical aid to the other's entire body, before bandaging what was left and dressing him up with the fresh clean robes.

Carefully taking out the Keiseikan from Byakuya's hair and putting them by the bedside, Tetsuya then takes out a comb and began to brush the long dark black glossy hair within his slender fingers.

The Kuchiki Clan's leader had once again closed his eyes but this time his attendant's relaxing touches were softly dragging him to slumber, his fatigue now taking the better of his senses, only to be swiftly jolted awake when Tetsuya's soft voice suddenly rose: "Byakuya-sama, I'd like to ask you something, if I may?"

"Go ahead" replied the other in a thick tone of voice, before he cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed that he had given up to sleep that quickly: he must be more tired than he thought.

"Oh...Did you fall asleep, Byakuya-sama? I'm very sorry" apologized Tetsuya in understanding, before smirking proudly "God, I'm good."

At that, the Kuchiki leader nearly chuckled, so instead he coughed: "You were saying, Tetsuya?"

Curiosity taking over conceit, the blue-eyed man returned to the initial conversation: "Ah, yes. Who was that young boy? You know...that orange-haired one. I don't think I've ever seen him before. Is he one of us?"

Halting his fingers and the comb from brushing the other's hair, Tetsuya strained his ears for a response but was only met with silence. Frowning, he whispered softly: "Byakuya-sama?"

But Byakuya didn't hear him as he was carefully mulling over the other's words: Was Kurosaki Ichigo to be considered as one of them? A long time ago, he would have vehemently stated: 'Absolutely not.'

Now...he wasn't so sure.

First of all, Kurosaki Ichigo has fully been acknowledged by many within the Seireitei as full-fledged Substitute Shinigami...yet that didn't make him a member of the Gotei 13. Then, there was the fact that he had undoubtedly flown to the Seireitei's rescue every time it was necessary, without seeking glory, a rather remarkable trait in a warrior, Byakuya had to acknowledge...but the fact that no one had asked for his help and that more often than not, the Seireitei's problems were no ones but the Gotei 13's, bothered the Kuchiki leader to no end.

Also, he saved Rukia, even when he, as her adoptive brother, couldn't. As annoyed as he was by that, he had to admit he did feel grateful Kurosaki Ichigo had opened his eyes at that time...before it had been too late.

Lastly...he stopped Sosuke Aizen... Something he knew he wasn't the only one grateful for... But did that all really make Kurosaki Ichigo one of them?

"Byakuya-sama?!" yelled out Tetsuya, making the person in question jump slightly, before refocusing his attention on the blue-eyed man's worried expression "Don't do that to me! Zoning out like that all of a sudden: are you alright?!"

"He's name is Kurosaki Ichigo" replied Byakuya calmly, slightly confusing the other before he remembered the question he had himself asked before "A Substitute Shinigami from Karakura Town."

"Ah...I've heard of him. Rukia-sama's saviour, hm?" commented Tetsuya in awe, before realization dawned on him "Wait. Why did it take you that long to answer?"

Instead of responding, Byakuya glared with no ill will, grabbed at his futon's sheets and, cocooning his entire body within them, spoke in a voice muffled by the covers:

"Like you said, I must be tired. Good night, Tetsuya."

Tetsuya just blinked in disbelief before he spluttered out: "But...hey! Since when do you even listen to me, Byakuya-sama? You're just trying to weasel yourself out of this conversation, aren't you?"

As he received no reply, Tetsuya's taken aback expression morphed into one of mischief, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. Nearing the noble's huddled form, the Kuchiki's attendant leans over on his knees and hands, before poking gently at Byakuya's frame and whispered lightly: "Byakuya-sama?"

When a soft snore met his ears, Tetsuya nearly let out a heartfelt laugh, before he regained control and whispered again: "Oh my...Looks like he fell asleep."

Shifting to sit beside the young man resting near him, the blue-eyed man hummed thoughtfully before whispering yet again, but loud enough to be heard: "It reminds me...of a time when we were a lot younger... We were actually in a very similar situation...and I knew exactly how to solve it."

Upon hearing those words, the clan leader's form jumped quite distinctly making Tetsuya smirk. The covers then shifted until a little opening appeared from which popped out Byakuya's head, revealing narrowed eyes that stared at his attendant: "You wouldn't dare."

"I would have dared, Byakuya-sama" Tetsuya grinned widely "But it seems it won't be necessary to tickle you awake as you already are."

Byakuya's lips parted in slight surprise before they curved into a small smile: "What gave me away, dear cousin?"

"You do not snore" the other chuckled while crossing his arms "Never have, even when you are dead tired."

Byakuya's rare smile abruptly faded as he tried to hold back a yawn, raising a hand to hide his mouth, but Tetsuya saw it anyway and chuckled lightly as he stood up: "Well then, I'll let you rest now. Sleep well, Byakuya-sama."

"Thank you, Tetsuya" replied the Kuchiki leader softly, as he got back within the covers and closed his eyes, easily drifting asleep as his cousin slide the doors closed.

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Of all the places Urahara Kisuke thought he'd never set foot in ever again, he had included the Captain Commander's personal sector of the 1st Division's barracks.

His main reason for not ever considering being in that particular place, was because he initially deemed that he would never even return within the Soul Society, let alone the Seireitei itself. After all, he had long been a wanted man, accused of committing nonexistent crimes, or rather the very real crimes of another...yet it never occurred to him to point out his innocence, no matter how many times he had had the occasion to do so. For Kisuke, it wasn't of much importance, especially since those who mattered knew the truth and that was more than enough for him...

Now, at the current moment, he truly wondered what he was doing here, standing before the seated old man glaring at him and waiting for an explanation Kisuke really didn't want to give: he had played his 'minor' part and now he wanted to leave.

"You're not going anywhere" declared Yamamoto firmly, as if reading the younger one's mind "Until answers are given."

Kisuke sighed and decided to relent: the sooner he got this over with, the quicker he could find a way to get away in all discretion...but that didn't mean he was in any obligation to the old Commander everything: "Answers? Regarding what exactly?"

Yamamoto's brow furrowed deeper: "Now don't you play dumb with me, Urahara. You know exactly what I'm asking."

"More like demanding" muttered the blond under his breath, before he cleared his throat at the vivid glowering scowl sent in his way "What I mean is that I would really like to know beforehand what it is you're referring to exactly. Because I may give you all the answers you wish, old man, but I'm not sure that they're what you want to hear...or know for that matter."

The aged captain regarded the other before stating knowingly: "You may give me answers, yet you'll somehow find a way to omit what you don't want me to know."

"Exactly so" admitted Kisuke flatly, looking straight forth at the elderly before him.

Sighing deeply, Yamamoto closes his eyes and makes a statement that Kisuke was not at all expecting: "My inquiry has nothing to do with the events that occurred a hundred years ago...nor does it particularly include you, Shihoin or, as I believe to have overheard, those who call themselves the 'Vizards'."

The blonde's grey eyes go wide, stunned beyond words: "It doesn't?"

"No, it doesn't" confirmed the other, opening his eyes again and revealing to Kisuke an aware understanding in them "What has been done is done, and no matter how gruesome and scarring it resumes itself to be, this horrid past...cannot be changed and, for that, I am truly apologetic. I may be old but I am no fool, though I do admit to have being fooled, then again, we have all been: the sole responsible behind all this is... Aizen Sosuke...and my inquisition will concern him and him only."

Kisuke could only stare with a slackened jaw: he hadn't believed that the stubborn old man would one day willingly admit that he had been wrong...or even apologize.

Yamamoto's eyes glinted with mischief as he said to the astounded man before him: "Aren't you afraid that flies will easily acquire a free nest?"

Slightly indignant, the blond man clamped his mouth shut with a gentle glare making the old captain chuckle. Kisuke's expression went taut as he declared quietly: "Even so, despite knowing and being sorry about it all, it doesn't mean in any way..."

"...that I am forgiven, whether by you or by them, I know" finished Yamamoto with a stern nod "I'm not asking for forgiveness either. But if punishing the one truly responsible for this entire suffering can put us all at ease, I'd gladly forgo it."

The eccentric shopkeeper, despite being continuously taken aback by this discussion, managed to utter in a tone that did remain though quite guarded: "So...what is it about Aizen that you want to know?"

"Is he defeated?" asked the old man, wanting to at least have this info cleared up.

Recalling the conversation he had earlier with Ichigo where he was trying to reassure the sceptical teen, Kisuke's face turned rather grim: "Currently, yes, that is a possibility; permanently, on the other hand...well...that remains to be seen."

Indirectly heeding the other's words from before, Yamamoto's fierce glare returned tenfold, not at all liking what he was hearing: "Meaning?"

"When he was overcome by Ichigo, a Kidou I had embedded in Aizen beforehand took its toll and sealed him due to his reiatsu wavering at that very moment..." informed Kisuke as he looked away "So far as I know, it should keep anyone easily imprisoned even when the effects of the seal solely return to their elementary form; nevertheless, I strongly doubt that it will have any long-lasting effect on him..."

Thick silence struck, sharpening the atmosphere around them...until a livid captain slammed his remaining hand atop his desk...hard, making the cup of tea quietly resting before him to jump out of its skin and shatter to pieces on the floor: "So you are saying that nothing can be done?!"

"No, old man, I didn't say that: I've implied it" countered softly Kisuke, noticing with surprise that Sasakibe had been in the room all along: he came forward to replace the broken cup, clean up the mess before silently retuning to his corner...

"And there's difference between the two that I am not aware about?" snapped the elderly captain through clenched teeth.

Ignoring the angry jab, the blond continued: "What I am implying is that Aizen might eventually break free; now what I am saying is that if no precautions are taken now, then what I have previously implied would become more than just an eventuality."

Yamamoto blinked slowly, before reclining back in his seat with a deep thoughtful expression: "I see."

Kisuke respectfully kept quiet as his former commander was in thought, for he himself was also lost in his own, so when Yamamoto spoke up again abruptly, the pale blonde startled: "I would like to request your assistance in making sure that he is eternally kept at bay."

The eccentric shopkeeper blinked before inquiring cautiously: "May I ask why?"

"Because you seem to know how..." declared the old man in a matter-of-fact tone "In addition, you more are aware of Aizen than we are."

"Ah..." smiled Kisuke mysteriously "No, not me...That would be Ichimaru Gin..."

The old commander's brow furrowed: "Ah, yes: that fiendish and traitorous boy."

Kisuke closed his eyes as he shook his head slightly: "Please, don't be harsh with him and show some leniency: you may see him as a traitor, just like you once saw me, but, also like I, he is not your enemy nor is he an enemy to the Seireitei...Besides his knowledge on Aizen could be quite beneficial and useful to you. I think it is better to have an element like him on your side, no?"

Yamamoto considered the younger's words before nodding solemnly: "I shall consider that. So will you aid us?"

Forcing an uneasy smile, Kisuke lifted his index finger: "I will, on one condition."

"Which is?" asked Yamamoto with a heavily raised eyebrow at the blonde's face.

The other was about to voice it when an abrupt soft yet firm knock interrupted him.

"The captain Commander said not to be disturbed!" called out Sasakibe, once again reminding Kisuke of his existence...uh, rather presence.

"Forgive my intrusion..." uttered the voice of a certain female healer captain "...but I have an urgent matter to discuss with him."

"Can it not wait?" insisted the 1st Division's lieutenant with a frown, whilst the two other occupants of the room were shortly left to their respective reflections.

From behind the door, they could practically all feel that dreaded polite smile of hers: "Like I said, it is urgent. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't, would I?"

The three men within the room instantly sweat-dropped before the old man relented: "Let her in."

Lieutenant Sasakibe once again left his corner to let the 4th Division's captain in.

"I have rather distressing news" Unohana informed with a solemn expression as she entered, her eyes lowered as she whispered: "It's about the young Kurosaki Ichigo."

Kisuke paled as his voice rose distraughtly: "But I thought he had been stabilized!"

"Stabilized, certainly so" confirmed the woman, maintaining the same stance "However, for him to be in perfect condition...that I cannot declare with certainty."

"Speak clearly, Unohana-taichou" commanded Yamamoto whilst frowning with concern at the head healer's words.

Slowly raising her eyes to let the others witness the anxiety within them, she voices: "Not only has he utterly lost his powers...there are also... many severe symptoms of enhanced comatose... I fear Kurosaki Ichigo won't be waking up any time soon..."

Amongst the ruins of Aizen's fortress, Las Noches, within the Hueco Mundo:

"Ah...Research, research, sweet research..." chanted a rather peculiar looking skeleton-like being in the middle of the debris that was once Aizen's fortress, whilst being caught up within his very important dissecting of a gargantuan bodily mass.

"Mayuri-sama?" called out tentatively a young black-plaited woman with dark big green eyes in a calm monotone voice as she approached him, careful to dodge the scalpel that was aimed at her face, grazing her cheek only barely, before it embedded itself behind her in the stone, that once used to be a wall of Las Noches.

"What is it, Nemu?! Can you not see that I am unavailable?!" screeched angrily the creature she addressed to as Mayuri, known within the Seireitei as Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the 12th Division's captain...also known to most to be a complete madman.

"My deepest apologies, Mayuri-sama..." apologized politely Nemu Kurotsuchi, his scientifically manufactured daughter and lieutenant, with a low bow...though it went completely unseen as the crazy scientist ignored her, looking back at his prize with unrestrained glee. Nemu maintained her bow for awhile, before she added in the same tone of voice "As you required, I departed searching for more Arrancar corpses, but found absolutely none."

That made the insane man freeze in his actions: "What did you just say?"

"As you required, I departed search..." repeated the young lieutenant, before being abruptly cut off by her now seething captain.

"No, no, you silly child: I heard you the first time, I'm not hard of hearing!" shouted Mayuri, seemingly appalled at the mere thought of being unable to hear "That would be undoubtedly hindering for my research... Being deaf... Ugh, what a truly horrendous thought..."

Snapping out of his short-lived reflections, his golden orbs stare pointedly at Nemu who never moved from her initial position, thus never got to see his glare.

"But how is that even possible? Both the beast and the prissy prince fought other Arrancars before they battled this one..." Mayuri paused as he pointed at the gigantic Arrancar before him to emphasize his words, before continuing his rant: "And that incompetent Substitute Shinigami brat and his cohort of clowns also fought and defeated other Arrancars, if I heard... I mean, remember correctly. So, where are they?! They couldn't have just run away: they were dead! Last time I checked, dead corpses cannot move on their own volition! That would be absurd! Yet so very convenient...Ugh... Are you sure you even searched properly, Nemu?!"

"Yes, Mayuri-sama" confirmed the young woman "I looked all over the ruins, even ventured beyond them: I did not locate a single cadaver, not even a drop of blood..."

"Impossible!" deadpanned the mad scientist "Not even a drop of blood, you say? With the bloodshed that occurred here in the past few hours? You... You simply overlooked...Come, foolish girl: I shall show you how to conduct a real investigation."

The dark green eyed woman straightened and nodded quietly, while Mayuri got up dusting his robes and muttering: "Honestly, to make a great mind of my status tire himself over something so time-consuming is unpardonable... Let us go, Nemu..."

"Yes, Mayuri-sama... Please do forgive my incompetence" apologized Nemu yet again as they both began re-exploring the ruins, in hopes of finding what she didn't.

Unbeknownst to them, they were not entirely alone. Hiding behind the debris and camouflaging their reiatsu throughout the whole conversation between the two Shinigami, a young slightly tanned female Arrancar with dark sea green hair and large brown eyes, holding an unconscious and gravely wounded blue-haired male Arrancar slung over her shoulder, stared at the retreating Shinigami before her eyes flitted over to the huge Arrancar laid on the sandy ground, who was once the 10th Espada, El Decimo: Yammy Rialgo.

After making sure that he was dead and that the coast was clear, she secured her hold on the other and sprinted out across the Hueco Mundo's deserts, seeking out a safe place for the both of them...

After running around for awhile, she finally comes upon a rather passable hideout: it was a small secluded cave, yet well concealed behind a few stray quartz bushes. Coming closer but halting at the entrance, the female Arrancar inhales through her nostrils, sniffing out for any possible danger.

Once she found none and ensured that it didn't belong to anyone else, she let herself in before laying the wounded Arrancar upon the sandy grounds. She then scanned his injured body while pressing her hand gently to a rather deep gash to the left side of the juncture between his neck and shoulder: it wasn't that lethal, yet with all the blood seeping from it; it was definitely the most pressing amidst his other wounds. The female Arrancar then shifted her gaze over to a profound gash on the left side of his chest, only a few centimetres from his heart, which could have effectively killed him...had his heart been there.

This particular person had been born with his heart on the right side of his chest when he was human...but very few knew that, and she was one of those few.

Quickly blending and garbling her saliva in her digestive system, she coughs it up and lets it dribble upon her free hand. As gross as it seemed, it was the only way she could heal him, as her particularity, was that her saliva had healing capacities...

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Eyelids slowly, heavily flutter open to reveal hazy yet intense bright blue orbs, which flitted to gaze around the inside of a small cave, rather rarely found within the mostly endless deserts compiling the greater part of the Hueco Mundo.

A weak shuddered breath escaped from parched lips, catching the dark green haired female Arrancar's attention, sitting upon the pale white sands near the cave's entrance. "Grimmjow-sama!" cried out the female happily "You're finally awake!"

Blue eyes locked on to her large childish brown ones, as a gruff, worn out voice rose: "What...Where...?" he coughed violently due to the dehydration and exhaustion, heaving slightly as trickles of blood slowly began seeping from the sides of his mouth.

The young female began babbling frantically, as she began to softly wipe away the drops of blood with the tips of her slender fingers: "Ah! Easy, Grimmjow-sama, easy! I've healed your worst injuries but didn't get to heal everything. You'll have to take it nice and easy...and slow for awhile. Besides, your fight with Itsugo must have drained you, even if he didn't really hurt you that much; Nnoitra's attack was the one which caused most damage... You're still coughing blood because of it..."

As if on cue, Grimmjow choked on even more blood. Swiftly turning his head to the side, he spits it out and then leisurely looks back towards the female before glaring at her in confusion: "Who the heck is Itsugo?"

"EH?!" exclaimed the blinking stunned girl "You don't know?! But you fought against him! You know...the orange-haired Shinigami! You remember...right?"

Grimmjow's eyes snapped wide open in recognition, before narrowing them into slits while echoing his enemy's name: "Ichigo Kurosaki..."

"Exactly..." nodded the female Arrancar solemnly "Itsugo Kurzakee..."

Grimmjow gave her a weird look; before he chuckled, amused, then winced almost immediately at the strain it put on his throat and neck, causing the other to give him a rather worried look: "Be careful...My saliva can heal pretty well but I'm rather weak myself, so I couldn't help out much. I'm really sorry, Grimmjow-sama."

"It's fine..." heaved the feline-like Arrancar, as he stubbornly tried to sit up, pointedly ignoring her attempts to keep him lying down; she eventually gives up and helps him sit upright against the cave's wall "Damn that brat and his principles..."

"Why are you so upset?" asked the female as she frowned in confusion "I saw you, Grimmjow-sama. You're the one who let him land that last blow..."

He was about to retort harshly when he realized what she has said: "Ha?!"

"He was worn out and most of his strength was sapped 'cause of his mask, yet when he neared you with his blade, you didn't defend yourself: you let him defeat you." "He didn't defeat me!" snarled Grimmjow "I wouldn't be alive had he ended me!"

The female just shook her head: "You should know by now that my Itsugo doesn't end the people he fights: he isn't that kind of warrior, he's noble and honourable... Maybe that's why you let him win: When you heard him say that he wasn't here to fight for glory but in order to save his friends, you couldn't fight him any more... More like you no longer needed to... I guess he made you remember, didn't he?"

The former 6th Espada just scowled at the sand in response, not denying her words, before asking in a soft concerned voice: "How have you been, all this time?"

She blinks at him repeatedly before smiling pleasantly: "I've been ok."

Arching an eyebrow at her, Grimmjow hisses slightly: "Don't... (Coughs)...Lie."

"It's true!" she replies loudly with vigour, straightening up defensively "I've been very, very ok! Better than how I ever felt when under Aizen-sama's orders."

His eyes widen slightly, as he flinches at the title, before they narrow warningly: "Don't ever call him that again. He doesn't bloody deserve to be named that way..."

The female Arrancar winces at his expression, completely understanding it, before she apologizes: "I'm sorry, Grimmjow-sama: I won't call him like that again. I..."

"And while we're at it..." he interrupts curtly "Edit the 'sama' from my name too."

He glances at her to find her gaping at him with an extremely offended expression, so he snaps tetchily: "What?!"

She shakes her head furiously: "For him, I can understand, but you..." she then gazes at him with wide heartfelt eyes "You saved me...and so many others... The least we could do for you, since you never wanted to be repaid, is to follow you without question and give you a title...Your title, Grimmjow-sama...as you've been, are and will always be the true king of the Hueco Mundo more than anything else."

He rolled his eyes and looked away, when in reality he was somewhat embarrassed by her strong sentiments of devotion and loyalty...But not that unfamiliar to it... She wasn't exaggerating when she referred to him as the Hueco Mundo's true King: at a time, he had been considered as such by many, well before Aizen came, and well before even Barragan Luisenbarne had auto-proclaimed himself as such.

What made him rather unlike the other two wasn't based on his sense of leadership, his unique strength or his imposing personality...But his feline characteristics, making more perceptive and protective over those who opted to follow him; though it was out of pure instinct, this 'catlike affection' of his, hidden under a fierce exterior. Grimmjow sighs, closing his briefly: he hadn't felt like that for awhile... Free...and capable of feeling emotions that were truly his own...He had actually missed it...

He opens them again and glances over to the female Arrancar, who was watching him closely with a warm expression as he speaks: "Nelliel Tu Oders-something..."

"Oderschvank... Call me Nell, like you used to" corrected Nelliel as she nodded with a soft smile.

"Fine...tell me, Nell" he began "Ichigo Kurosaki defeated that Aizen, didn't he?" Nelliel acquiesced still harbouring her smile, so Grimmjow continued, his features now going entirely dark and his pupils narrowing into slits "Is it all over then?" Her smile brutally faded as she lowers her gaze, answering in but a scared whisper:

"For now..."

A Garganta suddenly opens beside them from inside the cave, revealing a very battered and bleeding bright blonde-haired and tan-skinned female Arrancar, who was pulling, well, more like dragging, from each black-gloved hand, two more female Arrancar, one with dark olive hair and pale skin, the other with brown hair and dark skin; and one other younger female Arrancar, with bluish black hair and white skin, slumped over her shoulders. With shaky, tired legs, she forced herself forward: it looked like she was about to collapse into a heap at any given moment.

"Tia-chan!" called out Nell happily and worriedly at the same time, getting up in order to rush to her aid, but was abruptly stopped by a strong grip upon her arm, holding her back "But Grimmj..."

"Whose side are you on, Hallibel?" asked Grimmjow wanting to know right away.

Lifting her head with effort, her bright emerald narrowed eyes stare directly within the feline Arrancar's own: "N...Not on Aizen's...Jeagerjaques...Never again..."

At that answer, he lets Nell go attend to Hallibel and her Fracción's wounds, who their mistress gently deposits to the ground before crashing to the floor herself, heaving slightly.

Nell moves closer to start healing the blonde-haired woman first, but was stopped by a trembling hand and a shaking head. The once 3rd Espada, El Tercero: Tia Hallibel, then points over to her three unconscious Fracción, Mila Rose, Appacci and Sun-Sung, declaring in a firm voice: "Them first."

Nell was about to protest but then nodded when she saw the resolve within the other's authoritative eyes and goes to crouch beside them...to heal what she could. She then blinked repeatedly when she saw that any damage they had undergone was significantly reduced: "They're in better condition than you are, Tia-chan."

"I know" asserted the blonde-haired woman breathily "The girl...with healing abilities...did what she could...before the...Shinigami...could notice..."

"Orihime-chan...Is she back safe and sound?" questions Nell with bright eyes, to which the other confirmed with a curt nod. Hallibel then shifted into a seating position, slouching against the cave's wall before she glances over to Grimmjow who already had his eyes locked on her: "Can...Can you move...Jeagerjaques?"

"Can you?" retorted the other, arching an eyebrow at her utterly ridiculous question: she seemed to be critically wounded, with a gash on her back and what appeared to be a deep stab injury in her chest, not very far from her heart was, along with a few bruises and several scratches here and there. In other words, she seemed to be just as drained and hurt as he was.

"I'm fine... It doesn't matter... I'll... I'll get over it" she breathed out erratically, but maintained her intense gaze, never letting it crumble, instantly making him frown with unease: Grimmjow knew her well enough to make out that even if she seemed very calm upon the surface, internally, she was furious...and distressed.

"What's this about?" he questions hesitatingly, not really sure he wanted to know.

"It's best if you saw...with your own eyes."

000000000000000000000000000000000000

After a few moments, leaving the other four behind to recuperate, Tia and Grimmjow emerge from the cave, not fully healed enough to battle but stable enough to walk about unhindered; having both gave into Nell's obstinate persistence upon them being sufficiently fit so they could sonido should they encounter the need to.

Swiftly moving around Hueco Mundo's sands in their preferred travel technique, the two Arrancars advance towards the location Tia wanted to show the blue-haired Arrancar. All of a sudden, she stops, turning towards Grimmjow who halted as well: "How can you trust me, Jeagerjaques, after all I've done?"

His gaze flits over to her sharply: "Do you still abide by Aizen?"

"Never" was her immediate and resolute answer "I will never ever forgive what..."

"That's enough for me" he cuts in, not needing to hear the rest "Where to?"

Tia stares at him with slight wide eyes, before she asks: "Can we abide by you?" Her question startles Grimmjow, clearly not expecting it: "And why? You're a Vasto Lorde, Hallibel, a powerful one at that... You don't need to abide by me..."

"I really do insist, Jeagerjaques" maintained the female Arrancar her tone adamant "Besides, you know why... I doubt I'd need to clarify it you of all people."

"Ugh..." groans the other in defeat "Do what you want, woman. Now...Can we go?"

She nods her thanks quickly, hiding the small relieved quirk of her lips, before they took off again, making the pale white sands swirl around at their sudden departure.

Stopping later on only a few meters away from the ruins of Las Noches and crouching behind some debris, the feline raises his eyebrows in surprise: "Here?"

Hallibel Tia acquiesces with her head before she brings a finger to her lips then points for him to look over the rock hiding them. He eyes her inquisitively before quietly and cautiously sliding himself upwards to peer over the stone, before Grimmjow's expression harshly changed to one of utter horror upon what he saw...