Undermining the Mission Chapter 1: Seireitei, a bleach fanfic

Hello! This is an archiving on my stuff on livejournal. This particular story will be updated every 5-6 weeks, in bulks such as this as each arc is done. If you want the smaller chapters faster, go to the aizen/ichigo livejournal community.

Title: Undermining the MissionPairings: Aizen/Ichigo and othersRating: PG13Warning: Yaoi, some violenceSummary: Not one day into the Soul Society and Ichigo breaks Urahara's plans. Neglecting to tell information has long and strange consequences.Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach or anything affiliated with it

Chapter One (Introduction)

"I will rip you apart." The expression on that Ryoka's face was almost priceless. Such a serious thing he was. He couldn't but laugh even a little.

"You're such an interesting guy. Aren't you afraid of me?"

"Absolutely no-"

"Oi! Stop messing around Ichigo! let's retreat first!" Gin knew he found what Captain Aizen had sent him for- those humans. The switch in facial expressions, besides being so quick and obvious, had a truth to it as if that was what he was really feeling. It probably was. The cat he wasn't sure of though. Was it Urahara or Shihouin? Or somebody else entirely.

Something was off though.

The boy was arguing with the cat and seemed to have no awareness of what exactly was going on. For a moment, only brief, Gin wondered about the holes in his Captain's plan- there were none as of yet. Maybe..just maybe. He interrupted the odd yelling/ conversation between Ichigo? and the cat.

"Why do ya want in here so badly anyway? To see the pretty boy- Kuchiki?" Wow. Again with the fact reactions- this kid was really interesting!

"Eh?! You know the jerk going to kill his sister?!" The cat was besides itself now as it was trying to claw its way out of the grip of another dark skinned kid besides a rather buxom girl and some guy with glasses. Bor-ring! Best speed this up, some of the unranked shinigami were finally coming to the chaos.

"Well Ichi-berry, " The kid looked comically agree at this name, he so had to get Kana-Chan to use it. " I think I can help ya a bit there. Got to hurry though!" He shunpued over to the kid and pulled him aside. Man he loved those expressions.

"Stop! Ichigo get back here now!" With one arm draped over Ichigo's shoulder, Gin pointed his zanpakto toward the soon-to-be-former Gate Guardian before any of the other merry band could come in.

"Ticket for one though. Shoot to kill, Shinsou." Shinsou basted through the Giant's stomach and sent him flying into one of the village house. This was a good morning! A new playmate, fun, and destruction, what more could he ask for?

"What the hell was that, fox-face?! Why-" Smiling even wide her clamped his free hand against Ichigo's mouth leaving only muffled noises of anger and he tightened the shoulder grip.

"I'll explain, but we've gots to go. Captain Aizen's going to looove you!" And they were off before any of the little ants, as Aizen liked to call them, even saw them.

After the blur ended, Ichigo found himself in an empty hallway of sorts with no windows and large doorways. Faintly there was a smell of blood around but that could have just been from fox-face's sword. He found himself just leaning against the wall with Zangetsu's pressure comforting him.

'I hope Jidanbou is alright. Orihime could probably patch him up but how are they all doing? Yoruichi is so going to be pissed.' He felt himself blanch at that one. Never in his entire life of fighting punks to gangsters to most recently hollows, did he ever thing he'd be afraid of a cat! Whispers from the next room over stopped and another person followed fox-face, only he looked..well normal. More normal then any other person he had met in the past few weeks.

"Hello there, Ryoka. You seem to have wandered a little far from your home, haven't you?"

"What's a Ryoka?" The man's composure left him for a minute and behind the dorky glasses Ichigo thought he saw eyes widening. The smile on his face only got brighter and more assuring.

"A Ryoka is a wonderer from outside the walls of the Seireitei. And pardon our rudeness, I am Captain Sousuke Aizen of the Fifth Division and my comrade behind me," Fox-face. " is Gin Ichimaru of the Third Division." A swift look back and forth between the two faces brought Ichigo only one conclusion. He's still fox-face as long as he's dubbed Ichi-berry. Oh wait. They need his name.

"Ichigo Kurosaki. You want to help Rukia?" Aizen looked a little surprised while fox-faced chuckled so much his shoulder's shook.

"Rukia you say? Not Kuchiki-sama?" He must have seen how puzzled I looked, cause he went right to the heart of the question.

"Dear boy. Where are you from?" Now was when he hesitated. Should he really be telling the enemy about what was going on? But then again...they could have just killed me before. It was worth a shot and Yoruichi was going to kill him anyway. I explained everything to them. From Rukia's hollow, to her brother (Kuchiki-hime for Gin. I'm liking him more and more) to Urahara and how I became a shinigami again. Gin had long since perched on the wall next to me, almost making me feel cornered but at the same time disarming that with jokes. Aizen however looked a little odd. By the end of the explanation he was laughing and holding his head.

"What so funny about Rukai getting killed?!" He was starting to piss me off. Without warning he pulled me up from the slouch and held my shoulder up for eye to eye contact. This guy had height on me I didn't notice before.

"...Urahara...didn't tell you anything? Giving away shinigami powers and not reporting back is an offense without a doubt, but not execution worthy. She's being murdered because of something Urahara put inside of her Gigai. It is a devices that transcends the line between Hollow and Shinigami. Only a few seated officers know this. I thought at least he would have told you everything about this mission." Aizen walked away and talked to fox-face who looked serious when he wasn't smiling.

'I know I shouldn't believe a Shinigami but...Urahara would do something as fucked up as that not tell anybody. This is the only thing that really makes sense. Damnit!' Both of the captains were looking at him.

"Ichi-berry" Fox-face " We've gots to go to our meeting now." Aizen finished the thought.

"Please, stay in the rooms down that hallway but do not pass this room. Its warded so no other shinigami can get in..or out for that matter. I think we'll be able to help each other out." When they left I trudge onto the stairs.

"Rukia...you'd better be okay at the end of this." This wasn't the plan at all...

but he never was told the plan, was he? Ichigo lingered on that particular note.

Chapter Two(Becoming the Safety)

It had been a few hours since Aizen and Ichimaru had left Ichigo to himself in the strange building. Like most of the other places Shinigami lived were overly tall and plain white. A few hallways lead to what he guessed were rooms but they looked sort of abandoned. What really got his interest was the library a few floors down, maybe even underground if he knew what floor he was on to begin with. There hands to be thousands of books on one cases alone, some huge while others look like small pamphlets. Ichigo nearly tripped over a slab of black stone that he hadn't notice before.

'Well its either the directory or the check out list. Definitely the check out, the books seemed to be in order and some are repeated.' The some of the repeated ones caught his eye, like "Status of Interment Unit" and a few records about crop growth and water potential. 'This isn't a library its more of a hall of records.' The last book on the list really got Ichigo curious.

"Rogue and Criminal Shinigami"

Rukia.

Not sure how to work it, Ichigo tried to walk into the shelves only to be blocked again by the slab which he now realized followed him around. Taking a chance he hesitantly pressed his hand against the name of the book and watched the lettering glow for a moment before going back to normal.

'What a gyp' He turned to move out of the hall, which was of no use to him, until he heard paper fluttering.

"AHHHH!" Out of seemingly no where a book started flying right at him. Ichigo knew how to deflect a book being thrown at him thanks to the days when Karin, Dad, and himself managed to annoy Yuzu enough to get involved in the fight, but that was a thrown book. The book being sent at him had to have rockets or something attached to it. Before he could even try to stop it, the binding of the book slammed into the bridge of his nose and sent him flying back into the wall before flopping down peacefully on the floor next to him. As if it were innocent.And somewhere, miles away, Uryu Ishida tripped over a rock.

Aizen came back from the Captain's meeting as quick as he could safely do. The plan was for he and his subordinates to escape to Hueco Mundo after getting the Hyougyoku from the body. Thanks to Gin's risk taking- which worked out for them- a new plan could be made without sacrificing their positions...it was all a matter of how well they got Kurosaki to their side. He had arrived in time to see the boy figure out the directory and put too much reiatsu into the tablet and the subsequent attacking book.

'It is like watching an infant.' Sousuke watched as the boy glared at the book from against the wall and gently picked it up and went to the back pages. 'Of course, for his friend. He isn't a complete idiot after all.' Though really, it didn't matter how intelligent those he used were. After all Abarai was the epitome of a simpleton and even he had uses.

"If had but less reiatsu into the summoning, it would have come a lot gentler." Kurosaki looked up from the book to him, to the tablet, and back to the book. It was almost cute.

"But I didn't do anything except touch it." Sousuke couldn't figure it out. From what he had heard and experienced, the boy could pick up some ideas quicker then Shinigami with decades more experience and in others it was like trying to instruct a rock. As precious as time was, it might be useful to teach Kurosaki something about controlling his spiritual pressure. A few minutes of silence passed when Sousuke really looked at the boy.

He looked like he'd been slapped in the face.

"Is something the matter Kurosaki?" Best leave off the honorific. -San would be too formal and -kun might be too informal.

"This book...why do they make it?"

"Some Shinigami, for better or worse, have done things the question the power of the central 46. The soul society has a king, but a very useless one. He doesn't even stay in this dimension, he and his family are separate, like Earth and the Hollow World is separate." Kurosaki kept nodding along and Sousuke wouldn't lose his chance. "So the Central 46 is a republic of sorts that runs the lives of the Rukongai and the Seireitei and for lack of better words, they are a gathering of prudish old men that refuse to be questioned." He snorted and Kurosaki rolled his eyes back to another page in the book.

"So its their way or death?" He seemed a little shocked that they'd let those fools keep in control and he hadn't even given reasons yet.

"Yes and they have done a number of questionable judgments to otherwise innocent people, like your friend Kuchiki-sama." Kurosaki interrupted him not too politely.

"Why do you call Rukia that?"

"Well it is her name." Gin must be a bad influence, his humor was rubbing off on him. Baiting humans was disturbingly fun if only for their expressions and this boy was full of them.

"I know that but what about the respectful part?" By now Kurosaki had gotten up and brushed himself off and Sousuke lead them into a common room with some benches for some sort of decorum instead of the floor. It was like talking to a first year student- questions upon questions about little things no one had ever told Kurosaki. For hours the conversation ran from the noble houses to the four basic principles of shinigami, all given individual attention. He had even shown the boy a few things, like suppressing reiatsu for starters. Sometimes giving the truth would be easiest and best since it forms a trust. Then others, like the matters of the Shinigami Courts, could be bent a little in his favor.

To his satisfaction, Kurosaki didn't need much convincing. He knew the Shinigami would be his enemies. Just as they are his.

"Kurosaki I'm afraid I have to leave for the night. Make yourself comfortable in one of these rooms. We'll need to discuss the plans for you helping your friends tomorrow. Ichimaru as well as Tousan will be joining us. You need not worry, he's got a sense of justice that even the government can't corrupt.

--It was after Aizen left when Ichigo was able to look at the book again.

"That basterd..." Only one entry behind Rukia was another familiar Shinigami. Captain Isshin Tanimonban of the 10th division, abandoned the Seireitei 60 years ago and disappeared 21 years ago into the human world in an untraceable gigai. It even had a little memo,

"Arrest any affiliates, family or otherwise, if applicable." Ichigo knew he wasn't the smartest kid in the world, but he did work hard and had his moments. Something as black and white as this couldn't be ignored.

21 years since his parents met.

An untraceable gigai, from Urahara, not doubt.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!" Ichigo never got this angry. His father, a Shinigami captain, had just set his entire family up for disaster. They even had a photo of him to go by, his appearance hasn't changed at all.

'All those years when I thought I was crazy... he knew about ghosts and didn't say anything!' Ichigo's opinion of Shinigami were falling lower and lower by the hour.

Locked in the safety of Gin's room, Sousuke spoke about his afternoon with the Ryoka.

"It's a sign of the age. Humans move much faster then us and for the past two decades no one trusts their government from all those little wars." Gin nodded. They were indeed little wars compared to what Shinigami did. Only one enemy ever had ever stood against them- their population was now one and half.

"Captain Aizen, I really don't think you need to convince him of much more. He already wants to wreck the Seireitei. Let him have his fun. I kinda want to join him." Gin could openly admit that he liked people. Playing around with Little Toshiro and Ran-chan was great and besides Aizen and Tousan, the only other captain he got along with was Kenpachi Zaraki. Ichi-berry seemed like fun.

"The best part of this? I don't even think he'll mind being used if we keep Kuchiki alive and send the other Ryoka back tot he human world. What did we do to deserve a gift like this?" Gin perked up at his Captain's words.

"Gifts? Can I wrap him in little bow?! It'll give Kira something to do for awhile."

Chapter Three (Steps towards the Pale)

Ichigo found himself running through the 3rd division grounds making a beeline for the Soukyoku and Rukia's cell.

"In case this doesn't end well, you've got to just remember- Ichimaru took you to the Third Division and kept you there with my help. At the end... it would be best if you saw me at the enemy, it will make things easier for Kuchiki, you, and the rest of the Ryoka." Ichigo had only the barest hints of what was actually going on with the three Captains, except that there was something like a coup d'tat going on. He didn't know what to do about them. Follow their plans or wing it?

Aizen gave him discerning chills and foxface, while funny, was the same. Tousan he had spent the least amount of time with but he seemed the most true. Obviously he was planning with the other too but he was terse and didn't offer any front and it was something Ichigo appreciated- the coldness aside.

On the other hand was Urahara and most of the Shoten. They lied, deceived, and endangered him and his friends.

Ichigo decided that he was at a very mean crossroads of life, as cheesy as it sounded. Could he really just let this chaos happen just to save Rukia? Only a few steps away from the tower and he got a definite answer.

"Long time no see. Remember my face?"

"Renji Abarai" The asshole lifted the metal guard completely off of his face and we started walking towards each other. This wasn't going to be a friendly hello either. We just needed to get into range of each other.

"If you're still alive, then Rukia's power can't be restored."

"Back then, didn't you take her away because you wanted to kill her?! What's the point in saying that now!" The gap was closed and between their faces were they swords hitting each other on anger rather then aiming.

'C'mon Zangetsu. Rukia's depending on this.'

When she first came to the Soul Society with the others, she believed that she had grown up a little and could actually help. That died only a few minutes in this place. Orihime knew that it was going down hill after the Captain, as Yoruichi told them, dragged Ichigo off into the Seireitei and out of their reach. Chad couldn't even really sense him and they were close.

After spending a quiet night with the Shibas, her, Chad, Uryu, Yoruichi, and Ganju burst into the shield it just got worse. They had all landed together but slowly that fell apart. A mob scene of brutes had separated Chad and Yoruichi from them while the rest of us ran away.Next they ran into This man whose face was painted black and white with a strange hat. He blew up some of his own division members and she only just managed to get a shield up to save them and the drunk man that found them. He was a Captain since he had that white haori on and he started talking to her. Making offers about dissection and the "good" benefits of experimentation.

"Inoue, get out of here now! We'll hold him off. Get to Kurosaki or Sado." She couldn't even muster words as she ran away. Only a few rows away she could already tell that the fight was over and Ishida, Shiba, and drunk guy had lost.

And here she was. Curled underneath a window in some building with that Captain looking for her.

'This..can't get much worse can it?' Not a second later Orihime let out a whimper; another Captain had appeared in front of her, his haori obstructed by a very pretty pink one. She could imagine his eyes looking at her from beneath the straw hat.

"Yare. What do we have here? Nanaoooo-chan! Did we get a pretty new third seat?" She heard his voice again.

"Creature! Where are you! I swear your feminine sakes will be kept fully intact- we don't need production when we can just use blood." Orihime tightened herself even more and tried to get as far away from the window's view as possible. The Captain in front of her looked out of the window and cupped his hand into his mouth.

Orihime felt her heart stop in her throat.

"Oi,Oi, Oi. Mayuri get out of here. You're scaring all the pretty LAAADDIIEESSS!" he winked at her and Mayuri scampered off as if he had a dog at his feet.

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS DIVISION CAPTAIN KUROTSUKI! YOU WILL ALSO NOT BE SUBBING IN FOR NEMO IN THE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION MEETINGS!"

Maybe there was a dog.

"AND YOU!" A thick book flew into the Captain's face, who crumpled next to her and started crying.

"My sweet Nanao-chan hates me!" Orihime looked up out of the window and saw a stern looking woman with very piercing eyes.

"You're one of the Ryoka, aren't you?" For the first time in over an hour, Orihime felt like she could speak again.

"Yes." A straw hat covered her head a good deal of her face.

"We're going to have to do a better job of hiding you."

Aizen looked down at the Quincy and Shiba from the roof. Mayuri beat them easily and the Quincy nearly gave up his powers but a quick sleep spell had stopped that. If they were to keep Kurosaki under finger, some concessions had to be made.'Keeping children alive. It's no wonder humans are easy to plan for, they ignore things unless shoved under their noses.'

In fact, he was quiet happy with Mayuri. Over half the Seireitei had been afraid of him and now Kurosaki's friends were a part of that group as well. It would be amusing to see if the boy "did" him in.

"Come Gin. We'd better make sure they're still pieces left of the Ryoka with Shihouin."

Chapter Four (Returning is not an Option)

For a better part of the time, Ichigo and Renji just kept slamming into each other, until Renji released his sword, and that's when the blood really started to spill. Ichigo was actually quite happy with how Urahara had taught him. If he had been taught special maneuvers or tricks, he's be stuck with them as a default style- he spent enough years in karate to know that. Ichigo had nothing but his own methods for doing things and it had been working. Until about...two slashes ago from Renji's sword.

'Find the opening and... the opponent becomes defenseless.' It seemed if Renji could only call his sword out three times, so he dove into the ground to avoid the final strike and jet set himself into the red head.

Renji's image flickered for a minute before disappearing and he felt the compacted blade slash into his left shoulder- theoretically he arm should have been severed off. Ichigo stumbled back a few feet.

"You can't beat me. Rukia is going to die because of you, so now I have to kill you!" In a shocked daze Ichigo saw Renji running towards him ready to make the final slash when Zangetsu's voice sort of whispered through his head. He saw his training with Urahara again and the deep gorge he left in the ground. Ichigo grabbed Zangetsu and brought him up in a block and skidded a few feet back. Yesterday's conversation with Aizen started making a little more sense.

"Knowing your sword's attacks is like knowing its name, useless until you find it out." Back into an attacking stance, Ichigo felt the old man's hand on his left shoulder and felt the blood slow a little. Without his permission, Ichigo found himself muttering after Zangetsu.

'Get'

"Suga"

'Ten'

"Sho!"

From the sword's blade shot a blast right towards Renji, who was not prepared at all, and threw him into the wall behind him, his shoulder is as bad of a condition as Ichigo's. Zangetsu disappeared and Ichigo felt himself heave over onto the blade, with Renji collapsing.

"Kurosaki, you'd better save Rukia." Ichigo honestly want to go make sure the other guy was alright, but he couldn't even make sure he was fine himself. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a small shinigami scurry over to Abarai and perform some sort of healing thing before turning towards him.

"Uh...can you walk at all?" Ichigo nodded and reattached Zangetsu to his back letting the shinigami lead him into a sewer? He looked like he was almost afraid and Ichigo realized- this shinigami knew he was a Ryoka. After being hoisted down and practicably dragged into a room, the shinigami introduced himself.

"My name is Hanataro Yamada. Would you..happen to be Ichigo Kurosaki?" Hanataro looks almost hopefully at me while he heals my wound.

"Wh-what?! If you know who I am why are you helping me?!" He spent the rest of the hour healing me and telling me about Rukia's prison sentence.

We were only a gateway away from Rukia and I am not a touchy-feely person but for all god I loved Hanataro that minute.

He had her freaken key.

"Don't worry too much. I have no idea what you were thinking, but at least you'll be taken care of now." Momo Hinamori stood in front of the 5th division cells that held the three Ryoka that invaded early in the morning. After scrapping through 11th division and being incapacitated by Captain Kurotsuki, Captain Aizen had brought them here for their arrest.

"Captain Aizen is a very good man so you won't be treated badly. He's even letting you all stay in the same cell! Try not to worry, you might be let off easy or something." Inwardly Momo hoped something happens to help them all. These three Ryoka apparently came to stop Rukia Kuchiki's execution. Mom knew she wasn't that terribly close to the girl, they were classmates and were always polite and kind to the other.

She left the prisoners and went into her captain's office.

"Captain Aizen?" The door slide open a minute later but only enough to let her captain peek through, as if he were hiding something.

"Ah. Hello Hinamori-chan. Is there anything I could help you with?" Momo looked around and felt for any other people in the area but there were none. Still the cautious voice in her head, who sounded like Toshiro, told her to get inside the office to talk for secrecy. She bowed her head and rushed out,

"Please Captain Aizen! Let me in. I swear I won't tell anybody anything." Since she was bowing she couldn't tell what her Captain's expression was but after a moment of silence the door shifted open enough to let her in. She looked around the dim room and saw a deep black cloak and hat laying on a table.

"It belong to a former associate of mine. Hinamori, I didn't want to involve you in this, but I think the Ryoka are right about Kuchiki's execution.

"Captain Aizen..." Her Captain Aizen was a good man so she would just have to help him anyway she could. It was the right thing to do.

After thanking Hanataro profusely for getting them as far as they did Ichigo just stared at the metal door blocking the building. Rukia was behind that and in a few minutes she would be free. He'd meet up with Aizen and he'd remove whatever the hell it is in her and then they'd get his other friends and home free. He felt Chad's pressure blink out awhile ago but it was slowly coming back. Ichigo knew that he had it easy compared to what they must have gone through.

'Inoue and Ishida are smart enough to get out of trouble and Chad's gunna be fine. Wish they weren't in danger in the first place though.'

"We're in Kurosaki-san!" Hanataro pulled back to let Ichigo in first. Hanataro was so happy that Rukia's savior had really come for her. Now like a knightly prince he was going to carry of the gentle women in white off the bridge and into their freedom! It was such a pretty thought.

"OI! RUKIA WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE DUMBASS!"

Hanataro decided that maybe this was an alternative fairy tale and the dragons were looking for love.

'Nanao-chan is really scary.' Orihime sat in the 8th division barracks with the Vice Captain next to her. Since she had been found by them either she, the captain, or both had been around her and they asked her to explain everything. She might have lost them a while when she was talking about the goobly bowling ball trashcan, but it was nice to get it out anyway. Since her clothes were a dead getaway, Ise had lent her a simple kimono to wear and Captain Kyouraku made her wear a straw hat.

"Ah, Vice Captain Ise, may I ask who this pretty little lady is? My name is Enjyouji Tatsuhusa." Orihime imagined that the man was trying to be suave as he pulled his little braids into attention.

Wow. He has licorice ropes for hair.

"Hello! My name is-" Ise smacked her nose with a fan! She felt the tears welling up from the hit. Why were people always hitting her in the head?!

"Captain Kyouraku's nephew is getting married and she had to met the whole family, but unfortunately was delayed in leaving because of the ryoka's. Isn't that right Sumumi-sama?"

"Yes! That is absolutely right!" Obviously shinigami don't give thumbs up. These people were really strange.

"Ah! My Nanao-chan and pretty niece-to-be are getting along great! To my office!" She liked this captain. He smiled a lot and was pretty funny but Ise never seemed to appreciate it. They all shuffle into the office and Captain Kyouraku pulled out some sake and cups.

"Its been a long day and the rest of the week will be even longer. My Nanao doesn't drink but you probably want to knock a few back, eh?" She made extreme x motions with her arms.

"Uh-uh no way. I'm took young to drink!" The Captain dropped the sake cup and Ise looked at her in confusion.

"Just how old are you and the rest of the Ryoka?"

"We're only fifteen." The 8th division leader just looked at her in open mouth shock.

"Yes, we really need to hurry up." Orihime worked her finger around her cheek- it was little sore from the hits she got from Yoruichi and Ise. "Summer vacation ends in only a few days!"

"Ichimaru!"

"Hmm? Ohh Little Hitsugaya! Wha ta' nice surprise!"

"I don't know what kind of game your playing, but you had better leave Momo out of this!"

"That's an odd way to say hello. But I promise. I'll neva touch a hair on her pretty little head. Not even the fuzzy parts."

"Momo...I want you to be careful around the 3rd division, especially Ichimaru."

"But why Toshiro?"

"Just please, listen to me once."

"Matsumoto! Why are you just coming into the office NOW?!"

"Captain, I was drinking with Yumi in the 11th division when we saw someone flutter over into the 12th!"

"Why were you drinking instead of working?! And so what?"

"We couldn't feel any spiritual pressure from the black figure at all!"

–--

Hanataro listened to the two argue and scream at each other for a couple of minutes before Kurosaki just lifted Rukia over his shoulder and started walking out towards the bridge.

"Kurosaki-san why did you..." Standing halfway on the bridge was Byakuya Kuchiki and Jushiro Ukitake, both captains. He had to warn Kurosaki to get away from them-

"Byakuya..."

"Kurosaki-kun you really need to get out with Rukia fast! I-I I'll hold them off!" The two went silent and gave him the same look of disbelief. I had to do something! Before either of them could answer I ran forward to about ten feet in front of them, it's a good distance away from either- so all I had to do was get Hisagomaru to- to-

Oh. I think I've forgotten something.

"GET AWAY YAMADA-SAN!" Rukia is screaming at me to move but Captain Kuchiki is drawing his sword and I can't move and I -

Momo knew she had to follow Captain Aizen's request to the key. She had to get information in the 12th division and the only way to do so was to completely cover herself in the black reistu cloaking cape.

She can't look back if anybody is following her.

She can't draw her zanpakto out and attack.

She must not get caught.

Why would Captain Kurotsuki want to do such a horrible thing? This was all too confusing for her.

'Hinamori, I do not wish to think this about my former Vice Captain, but please try to avoid Ichimaru.'

'Ah! Toshiro said the same thing too!' Aizen looked very upset for a moment and he hugged her.

'Momo, for your safety, you should be leery of Captain Hitsugaya as well. I hope I am wrong, but its only for the best.'

Captain Aizen never lied to her. She knew what had to be done to make everybody safe now. He even told her about the other two Ryoka wandering around and how they probably would help her if she gets in trouble.

'If you happen to run into an Ichigo Kurosaki, please inform him that the others are quite safe.'

Time to find out Kurotsuki's plans about hollows.

Chapter Five (The Breakdown of Words)

Ichigo watched as Byakuya was about to hit Hanataro, when the small guy had been flung back and a woman took his place. He knew he had never met her before but something was familiar about her, but he had never met anybody with purple hair. The other captain with white hair stepped up to Byakuya too, and held his wrist.

"Ho ho, that was scary. I think that's enough terror for one 7th seat, don't you agree, Captain Kuchiki? There seem to be more pressing matters." The captain looked over to him, or rather Rukia who was struggling in his arms.

"Captain Ukitake!" The woman peered over and started to take steps towards Byakuya, muttering something he couldn't hear.

"He is no one. No one worth anything. Worth less then even the ones in shock." The Kuchiki-hime pulled his wrist out of the captain grasp. Ichigo felt the spiritual pressure around him but didn't think to much of it. Soon he noticed that Rukia had stiffened in his arms and gained a catatonic look to her, the same with Hanataro lying on the bridge floor.

"This is the end of his meaningless skirmish. And what of you, Yoruichi? Has the Shihouin House fallen to the ranks of useless drifters and criminals?" Although he didn't want to, Ichigo dropped Rukia to the ground at the flurry of action. Byakuya pushed his hand towards Yoruichi,

"Bakuda 9 Strike." A flash of red light headed right towards the woman and she froze up for a minute. Kuchiki-hime brought his sword in a short arc to hit her and Ichigo ran forwards to parry it, or as was his intention. To his credit, he did block a sword. Somehow Byakuya slid past him and zoom out of his way and he came face to face with the other Captain, who seemed equally as shocked to see him.

"What the? Where did they go?" Ichigo pulled back his sword and looked around truly, which might have been a stupid idea at the time.

Jushiro blinked owlishly at the shinigami in front of him that looked so much like Kaien. He thought the boy was going to attack Kuchiki and went to stop him, only to find themselves alone for the moment. He dropped out of his thoughts when he heard the whistling walking away from him. Apparently he considered the threat over.

"Hey Rukia, get up you're like a sack of potatoes most of the time, and now you'd just be dead weight." Jushiro was affronted- why was this boy being so rude to such a sweet girl?

"Excuse me, but what are you doing?" The boy looked at him as if he were the one being annoying.

"I'm getting Rukia out of here, what's it to you?"

"I am her Captain and just can't let you endanger her like that, you must understand." Jushiro poised his sword into an attack stance. The shinigami hadn't faltered under the spirit pressure as of yet, but he hoped he wouldn't have to actually battle today- it wouldn't look good even if he did win with ease. A bark of angry and mocking laughter almost, ALMOST made him face fault.

He wasn't that sickly looking, was he?

"Can't endanger her like?! You're the bastards that are going to execute her!"

That was a very good point, he must admit. A very very good one.

"..How exactly are you going to hide in the rukongai?"

"Why there? We're going back to-" Yoruichi had arrived again, without Kuchiki trailing behind, and knocking the boy out.

"Yoruichi, what on earth are you planning" She hefted the boy onto her shoulder and turned without trying to answer.

"Ukitake, I have no involvement with this shinigami laying besides Rukia, but I don't believe he meant any harm."

"He'll be fine. He's one of Retsu's."

Unohana was miffed, miffed being the closest thing to anger that any of them seen, unless you count that look she specifically reserved for the 11th Division- them. Yumi and Yachiru were practically preening about the cute little tea cups, while the Vice Captain made sure nothing was broken, broke, or in the process of being broken.

She told them so at the door. And that 3rd seat Lemur or something looked a little shell shocked at being in a room with real men.

Zaraki and Unohana were having a staring contest- she was staring directly at him and he was staring at the table. Ikkaku decided that the teapot between then was the loser.

"Captain Zaraki, I'll be blunt with this. What did you do with my 7th seat, Hanataro Yamada?" As if by karmic will, she look went straight to him. Of course he had to be the last one to see him.

"Ikkaku, you know something you spill it now." 'So I can leave this hell NOW!' didn't need to be said.

"HewenttothewhitetowerafterfollowingRenji!" And the top tier of the 11th division ran out of the 4th's room so fast, his currently invalid men hoped to whatever god might be listening that Unohana's anger didn't reflect onto them.

The only damn people that understood were Captains Kyouraku and Ukitake. They knew to fear.

"Why?! Why did you only take me back!!" Ichigo slammed the woman into the wall as soon as he woke up and he found himself alone.

"The person with the highest chance of survival back there was me!! This was Ganju and Hanataro, and even Rukia may have been killed!" Ichigo was above and beyond pissed. Things were actually going right and Rukia might have been safe by now.

"You dolt. It's me, Yoruichi. Don't think so highly of yourself. You had no chance of surviving that fight. No on there could have beaten Byakuya." Yoruichi?! She did seem a little remorseful but...

"Why then? Why didn't you take Rukia instead of me?"

"It's true that..back there..no one could have defeated Byakuya. But in three days time, it may be possible for you. That is why I've brought you back."

And here he was now, picking up random swords trying to figure out which one of them was really Zangetsu.

Yoruichi knew everything that was going on and had told him nothing. She was ready to just pit him against Byakuya, not even wondering if it was even needed.

Suddenly it didn't seem so bad that he might have accidentally helped send the afterlife into a coup. Aizen seemed a whole lot better then these manipulative people in comparison. Ichigo knew to some level that Aizen was using him for something but at the end they would part ways, no harm no foul. Aizen needed something, He needed something and it wasn't really going to effect the other.

He wished that could be said for the trusted people in his life.

Chad was grateful to any friends he might come across, since in school his size, demeanor, and ethnicity but maybe he should be a little more selective.

After beating a few dozen shinigami Chad came across a very pretty man and an equally bald one with a cool looking dance. Yoruichi had left before saying that she was looking for Ichigo and he had no help for against them. The pretty one sapped almost all of his energy out while the bald guy just sort of beat him around. Then they had asked if anybody was stronger then him.

Ishida had more experience and accuracy.

Inoue could stop or fix anything they did.

Ganju knew a few spells to escape them

Ichigo was stronger then him.

"Nope. Not anybody with us." He didn't know if Ichigo was still around or even alive, so it wasn't technically a lie.

Now he was in a jail cell with Ishida talking to butterflies, Ganju picking at his cuts, and an obsessive Vice Captain. Whoever this Aizen was, he sort of pitied him. A soft click of geta sandals started down the hallway, but only the Vice Captain seemed to here it- Ganju and Ishida were arguing...again.

"Hi! Are you Hinamori Momo?" Inoue?! Hinamori smiled and nodded before letting Inoue in and left to give them some privacy. Besides the sandals, she had her hair up and under a straw hat and a purple kimono.

"Inoue?! What happened?" Ishida finally notice her coming in.

"Well, I ran away from the Captain and hide behind a window but Shunsui and Ise-chan hid me and now I'm Sumumi and I'm marrying his nephew!" Inoue beamed as she said this all with one breath.

Chad blinked and wished, not for the first time, that Ichigo had been here to filter some of the crazy down.

"Girl!" Nemu Kurotsuki hurried over to her father side. He was never happy when he was angry. He then shoved a piece of hair into her hands.

"I want you to find out whose hair this is an eliminate them. They have no business what so ever in my personal labs.

Nemu nodded and went right to work. It was a serious request and it probably had consequences.

'Whoever this poor fool is, me killing them would be a mercy.' Since gut feelings were no concrete, she could not base anything on them. Though, she felt as if she had seen this shade of brown hair before, and the indent would fit nicely into a bun.

"Rukia Kuchiki. In light of recent events, it has been decided that you're execution will happen in 29 hours."

Rukia thought she had quenched whatever hopes she had after she woke up in the prison again, but she shouldn't have felt like crying this much.

Chapter Six (Prelude to the Sudden)

"Thank you so very much for meeting me here, Captain Unohana, Captain Hitsugaya, and Vice Captains Kotetsu and Matsumoto." Sousuke bowed in rest at the old Captain and towards Hitsugaya for modesty. If he gave a little respect to the child he'd comply...like the child he was.

"Why would you ask us to come here Aizen? The central 46 is off limits to even us Captains until they call for us." Unohana remained silent while Matsumoto chatted away in Kotetsu's ear who tried shushing her.

"It's about the execution. Most of us have been wondering if it legit or not, but that's only a fraction of it. Ryoka managing to invade and slip by Captain Ichimaru's watch, Captain Mayuri almost insanely desperate to get his hands on the gigai... it all seems too choreographed. The two of you have been tight lipped about the whole thing and I was hoping to have you help. No, just wait! I'm not asking you to rebel against the execution just help me delay it for an investigation."

"Isane...do you notice anything wrong?" Unohana spoke finally and left the Vice Captains and Hitsugaya confused. He resisted the urge to smirk like it was nothing- he'd be at this for a century already. He expected nothing less from Unohana.

"I see what you mean. Do you think we should..." Unohana looked at him as if she expected him to say something more. She probably suspected that he had something to do with the goings on, but he had left very little evidence. Hitsugaya finally caught on.

"Matsumoto back up, I'm break down the door" So quick to lose his temper and take control.

'Little Hitsugaya is going to crash and burn and I doubt it'll have anything to do with me.'

Sousuke knew how to deal with rash. He'd had Renji as subordinate once and only just recently dealt with Kurosaki. He was different then the captain destroying the door in front of him though. Kurosaki would run head on into a challenge and fight like his life deepened on it but he also seemed to have value in information. 'But its in his human nature. Hitsugaya knows better then to question the inane things in the Seireitei. Who should care if nobles had certain rights or if the higher districts rarely were allowed to be shinigami? Or that most were only taught a fraction of what they truely could do?' Sousuke did. Gin had lived that and proven to be nothing short of a genius- in fact he was in Hitsugaya's place many years before. Much better attitude though. Hitsugaya probably didn't even know about his own Vice Captain, just that she was friends with Gin.

Sousuke would not deny that Rangiku Matsumoto was probably the second strongest Vice Captain in the Gotei 13 and she had come from the same district as Gin. She was a former slum girl who just barely escaped being a whore, most likely. All Hitsugaya would see is a lazy and sometimes comforting Vice Captain, but not caring about why.

'And perhaps that's why Kurosaki was different. He was someone who couldn't stop caring. Laws and afterlife be damned.'

That was what Sousuke could work with. He cared too. He heard Hitsugaya gasp and the shinigami rushed into the gloried crypt.

"Captain Unohana! Who on earth could have done this?!" Kotetsu looked positively disturbed so he laid a hand on her shoulder and let some warm reistu flow between them- just because he used people didn't make him heartless. Something like this was really no bather at all. Unohana, Hitsugaya, and he started to look through the bodies passingly- all dead, courtesy of Gin.

"Matsumoto-san, any thoughts?" She knew Gin as well as he did and she could break it all right now.

"I wonder if it's too early for sake." She sighed and acted playful when her Captain started yelling about the repercussions of this. He didn't bother hiding a sigh for relief, let them guess about it.

"Normally it is, but after this, " he gestured to the bodies, "Maybe some sake with an old friend is just what is needed, eh, Captain Unohana?" Matsumoto wasn't like Hinamori. They both had caring hearts, but he didn't have to worry about the blonde breaking. Gin deserves some sort of happiness or else he'd kill Matsumoto himself. A strong heart and unbreaking will could be the end of him and she had no real use, except being Gin's.

Momo looked at the Ryoka sadly. She didn't want them to be worried but hiding it wouldn't help anybody.

"Excuse me, what are your names? I'm here for personal reasons, that all" Momo waved her empty hands around as if to say no tricks around here. She had even left her zanpakto, Tobiume, at the door.

"Sado Yatsuda."

"Ganju Shiba!"

"Uyru Ishida."

"Well, you should already know mine, but its Momo Hinamori. I don't want you to get upset or anything, but Rukia's execution is in about a half an hour and I still haven't been able to find Kurosaki-san. Yes, I know about him and that's why I'm trying to help you guys." Momo paused for a minute and wondered if she was doing the right thing. Captain Aizen said any choices with the Ryoka til this was all over were up to her.Because he trusted her.

She started turning the key to unlock their kido proof cell when she saw the tip of someone's sword through her chest before the red blood started staining it.

"Guh..!" Momo twisted the key the rest of the way before kicking the person behind her and dashing to the other side of the room. She felt the blood ripping everywhere and started swaying on her feet.

"Vice Captain Kurotsuki?! Why?!" Momo started crying before passing out on the floor.

'Captain Aizen, I'm sorry. I didn't do a good job.'

Rukia thought at least the last few moments of her life would be nice. And on her bridge to death stood Ichimaru Gin, someone she could not help but hate and fear.

"Good Morning Rukia-chan!"

"Gin Ichimaru." It she got spit poison she would have done it then. Or if she could have spit at all, the collar wouldn't' let her though.

"You never change do ya? You should be callin me Captain Ichimaru, not Gin. If ya don't speak properly, you'll get scolded by your big brother. Is Kuchiki-hime going to be here today?"

"Why are you here, Captain Ichimaru!"

"Oh relax Rukia, we've known each other for so long. I won't tell. And I just dropped by to tease ya a bit." The same taunting voice he used every time they met. Tease me, TEASE ME, like I wasn't just about to go and die!

"Are you afraid to die?"

"W-what did you say?" He had the gall to ask that?

"You get all scared when somethin hints at you dyin. Would you like me to save you? Ah! But wait. The 'Ichi' you want is here!" Before Rukia could even form an answer Ichimaru unsheathed his sword and slashed through to of the guards while someone behind her took out the other two.

"H-huh?"

"Ichi-berry! Ya made it in time. He's gunna be in his office right over...there!" Rukia saw Ichimaru point over towards where the 5th Division was and felt someone haul her up and over a shoulder, without turning her around.

Ichi-berry?

"Ichigo?!"

"Hey Rukia. Yeah...sorry I'm late but Yoruichi wanted me to be even later then this. Can't believe the crazy cat."

"Bah, cats are crazy. Ichi-berry, would ya mind doin me a favor?" What on earth was Ichigo doing, associating himself with someone like this? What was going on.

"Look after my kitty, will ya?"

"Sure?" Gin smiled even brighter and started for her neck and she passed out.

Ichigo couldn't believe what Yoruichi had told him. Go to the Soukyoko once Rukia's gonna be attack cause then no one can reach you and then fight her brother! He might have paraphrased it a bit, but why wait? All he had to do was grab Rukia and bring her to Aizen and he'd get her set right.

Fox-face's request was strange but her didn't care and he also knocked Rukia out. That was a plus no matter how you look at it. Ichigo was doing his best not to get caught on his was to the 5th Division Courtyard, but got a little worried when he noticed someone else heading the same way. And it wasn't anyone he knew.

A sinking feeling had settled in Ichigo's stomach (yeah, he knew it sounded stupid but hey, it was what happened.) He was glad for having learned bankai in two days, but being out of the loop like this (again) wasn't fun. Something serious had happened and he missed it.

That stupid, useless thing! Sometimes he wondered if the honor of creating her was worth dealing with all of her faults. Pathetic human faults that she should not have. Nemu wasn't human, shinigami, or hollow! She is a false soul in a false body that some how decided to suddenly get a will of its own!

Why on earth would she be there of all places? The only two things she has been overly exposed to have been the human body or death. If she had wandered off into the 4th or 11th divisions it would make sense! But what was she doing in the 5th?

"When I get to that girl she had better have an explanation for this. I'm three hours behind my paper work now and Akon can't fill in."

Mayuri Kurotsuki's attitude that morning wasn't made better when he was sent a photo of two little kids, like Nemo. False and everything. And functioning perfectly, able to blend in with humans.

He really hated Urahara.

Shunsui stood outside of his friend's house with the two 3rd seats waiting for Jushiro to get out with the thing-a-ma-bobbie that Yoruichi had given him. The doors slide open and Jushiro feel out, face first and empty handed.

"Couldn't get it unsealed?" Sip.

"Nope. Looks like we're going to have to ambush Yama-jiji ourselves. Kiyone," The 3rd seat stuck her tongue out at the other before screaming.

"YES SIR! I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ORDER ME TO."

Shunsui slugged the rest of his cup down. How Jushiro dealt with those two he'd never know. Admittedly he did do things to screw them up every know and then, like switching out his medicine for mint toothpaste just to see who would blame who.

After all, the person would have endangered his life, but was also thinking about health.

"Kiyone, find you sister and make sure Unohana is fully occupied."

Shunsui paled a bit. Unohana was evil, pure and simple. He felt sorry for the 11th division sometimes, but he'd rather them get the evil them him. How was he supposed to know that it was her niece? He took another sip.

"To rebelling against Ole Yama, for an unseated chick, whose brother could care less!"

Soi Fon looked around. The only Captain's present were Tousan and Yamamoto. This was beyond strange. She knew some weren't going to come, like Zaraki. Apparently he considered Execution a cheap way to die, and she agreed. Suicide missions were at least useful.

For Unohana and Ukitake to not show was almost blasphemous. Even though they were the same age, Soi Fon knew she could never truly understand Byakuya Kuchiki like her.. Like she did.

"Why hello everyone!" Gin Ichimaru walked off of the bridge from the White Tower to the Execution Grounds.

"Captain Ichimaru, explain yourself." He grinned even wider.

"Well I took care of ya execution for you. And then me and that bleached ryoka talked about pets." He turned to look directly at her, or she assumed since his eyes were always closed.

"We talked about kitties. Apparently he's met your favorite cat." The sound of three people stopping at break neck speed happened next as two white haori's slammed into the Captain Commander.

"Captain! You! Get Ichimaru restrained now!" She yelled at her Vice Captain- as if he were going to do anything- when the third intruder held her arm out.

" Soi Fon, miss me?"

Byakuya had to move quickly to get to the execution grounds, or else he'd miss the entire thing. Although it wasn't abnormal for his pathways to be deserted there was not a sign of life, decent or otherwise around. Just as he was about to leaves the main doors of the 6th Division they slammed shut and were sealed with a kido he had never seen before.

Quickly his hand went to Sebonzakura. Forbidden kido. None of the Ryoka would know that or be strong enough to know, so who ever was hear was a fairly high level shinigami.

"Come out now." Byakuya looked around before finally settling on the obvious. A young woman was sitting on the benches right next to the door.

"I was wondering when you would notice Captain Kuchiki."

"What is your purpose here Vice Captain Ise?"

"Paperwork, I'm afraid. Its come to Yachiru's and my attention that Rukia will be very dead by the next Shinigami Women's Association meeting. Will you still be attending or can I just take the Kuchiki name off the roster?" Byakuya's eyebrow raised. Not many would dare mock him in such a way.

"Release the Kido, Ise." She snapped her books shut and threw it down while standing up.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, sir. Orders. And you know what happens when the law, order, and systems are just forgotten, don't you?" The light glinted off her glasses and she pulled her tanto out of her sleeve.

"Of all the Vice Captains who might have approached me like this I expected it to be Abarai. Not you."

"Vice Captain Abarai, offense clearly meant, is a monkey brained idiot. Just to warn you, if I die, the seal is permanent."

"Scatter, Sebonzakura."

"It's a good thing you walked in when you did Inoue, or she'd be dead." Ishida was aiming right for the other woman's heart while Chad and Ganju had her pinned down painfully. Not a minute after the demure shinigami tried to kill Hinamori, Inoue rushed in as Chad actually brought himself to hit a woman.

"She'll be fine. I think I have most of it healed by now."

"OPEN THIS DOOR INSTANTLY YOU WRETCHED THING!" The girl spoke for the first time.

"Captain Kurotsuki-sama. I can not." Inoue paled and Ishida nearly dropped his bow.

They were trapped this time.

Chapter Seven (One) (Closure Part I)

How this man was allowed to stay as a Captain is beyond thought. He doesn't take any of his responsibilities seriously and mocks everything the Gotei 13 stands for.' Tousen stood besides his fellow Captain Kommamura and their Vices and watched and heard the 11th Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki and his top five seats, minus Renji Abarai who just transferred to the 6th division.

Zaraki was a insult to society, Ayesekawa too frilly, and the little girl had no place in an army. Madarame was perhaps the only redeemable one, but his hard headed refusal to go to a normal division would not help him at all. Kaname was thankful that Hisagi wasn't of the same mind frame. He was used to the idea of change, but he would admit that he wasn't comfortable with the sudden change in the plans. Only Ichimaru would be heading to Heuco Mundo and he'd be taking Mayuri Kurostuki with him to be killed, leaving Aizen and he to take care of the Seireitei. Most of this plan was hinging on some Ryoka that may or may not live to see the end of all this.

'Speak of the devil.' Rather then seeing, Kaname heard three bodies hit the floor below them- Iba, Kurosaki, and presumably Kuchiki. Without warning the two men with Zaraki jumped into the pit as well and slurs and curse were the only thing that he could distinguish.

"You're the fucker that got Renji!"

"GET OFF ME YOU YAKUZA LOOKING MORON!"

"Nice one on Abarai, maybe now he'll take better care of himself."

"Who are you?" He was proven right, Madarame did have some sense in him.

"None of your business. I'm just going to take Rukia and get out of here, alright?" Interesting. He wasn't actually looking for a fight?.

"Captain, may I?" He nodded and Hisagi left to take care of things.

"Hey, I thought we were supposed to 'talk' about something here? I've got a squad of shinigami to rescue." Zaraki said it so mockingly, as if he were really serious.

"THAT ITS ALL OF YOU WEIRDOS OFF!" Kurosaki blasted his reiatsu and the men of him fell off a bit. He picked up Rukia an started dashing away when Tousen felt Kommamura release his sword and a giant hand and blade crashed down between the buildings, blocking the boy's escape.

"So you can fight, huh? Well either way I call dibs on this one first- he's got better reiatsu then ya do." He could imagine the grin on Zaraki's face and discreetly made for his sword. All the Captain had to do was attack Komamura and he'd be open game.

"Captain Zaraki, I think not. I can not allow this Ryoka to pass, especially with the criminal, in such a manner. Nor can I allow you to slaughter him. He seems like a decent person however dastardly he acts."

"Dastardly?! You're the ones trying to kill an innocent girl!" blends in with

"Even better, I get two fights for one." The others men has dispersed into their own fights far away- Zaraki's men obviously didn't want to get caught in the madness. He hears rapid foot steps coming closer towards them and Komamura defending the area.

"Sajin, let me handle Zaraki. You would be the better option to capture the Ryoka safely." Mind set or not, he was still needed for Aizen's plan.

"Suzumushi, smash his limbs." Komamaura wouldn't kill Kurosaki, but he was certainly allowed to destroy Zaraki. It shouldn't even bother Ichimaru, he was leaving in a few hours anyway.

Renji looked down into the 6th division courtyard which had been completely sealed off by Nanao Ise, of all people, to fight with Captain Kuchiki like he had intended. So what if he was a little hurt, he knew the captain's attacks well enough to evade them.

'But apparently so does she.' People didn't talk about seniority unless you were either a 20th seat or a Captain, it just didn't matter, but the word around was that Ise had thirty to forty years more experience then his own Captain.

From what he could see Kuchiki had already unsealed his sword but Ise hadn't and was using mostly Kido and Flash Steps to avoid. Every dodged attack made him feel worse and worse.

He had a Bankai, that was supposed to even the ground between him and his Captain. The Vice Captain fighting him didn't have Bankai and probably poor skills with a sword and was doing better then he ever had. Where did he actually stand in rankings? Reitsu flared up where the execution site. He'd forgotten about Rukia! Renji ran as fast as he could to the edge of the cliff side and up all those stairs before the pressure started to choke him a little. Three figures in white haoris flew off the grounds and almost immediately it was more durable.

'Was that Captain Yamamoto, Ukitake, and Kyouraku?' He caught his breath at the top and ran towards Omaeda, who was just staring at the fight in front of him. 'Please at least let me be better then him!'

"Omaeda, where is Rukia Kuchiki!" Renji point zabimaru towards the guy and got no reaction. He looked around and noticed all the men in uniform black outfits unconscious or disabled with Captain Soifon and an attractive dark skinned woman fighting each other in hand to hand combat.

Oh. This was a very-

"Nice view, ain't it Abarai?" Startled Renji turn around, as did Omaeda, who finally remembered his orders.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on here!" Quite plainly, the words 'dumbass' were reflect off their faces.

"Betcha lookin for Rukia, right Abarai?" Whatever Ichimaru had been planning to say was cut off by a very deep scream. The dark haired woman had kicked Soifon to the ground, who collapsed and started sobbing very noisily.

"Why. WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE ME WITH YOU!" None of the men heard the answer before Soifon was picked up and had her face crushed in the woman's chest who was hugging her and rubbing circles on her back. Omaeda went back to staring and Ichimaru sort of blinked in that direction before watching as well.

Rukia was fine for now, right? Besides Kurosaki was supposed to look after-

"...neither of them have underwear do they?" Ichimaru rapidly shook his head.

Mayuri was getting very fed up with Nemu. Who was she to contradict orders like this? Even if she was starting to act like a person, this wasn't human behavior! It was childish. The door was coming down, his division or not.

Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, and Kotetsu were heading to the 5th Division to get Hinamori and find out what the spiritual pressure was. Unohana said she had to take care of something and Aizen had offered to keep inspecting the bodies for anything unusual- he said they looked sort of familiar. A kido blast near the prison cells made them go even faster.

"Captain, do you think it's the ryoka again?"

"No it shouldn't be. They didn't seem to have any knowledge of Kido and Hinamori should be there with them."

"Should I alert the other captains now, Captain Hitsugaya."

"No, wait until we find out who did this" The three turned to see the wreckage and Captain Mayuri standing in front of it, cursing.

"Nemu your worthless creature, you can't even contain a few powerless ryoka!" Kotetsu approached first.

"Captain Kurotsuki, if you would just calm down." Hitsugaya noticed something then. There was an unusual barrier surrounding where the room had been, centering around a young girl who had Hinamori next to her, in bloody clothes.

"What happen to Hinamori!" The ugliest Ryoka jostled his arms and showed Nemu being held captive.

"This broad stabbed her! Orihime was just healing her, honestly."

"On his orders. I understand that we are prisoners, not lab experiments." The archer? Spoke up and glared at Kurotsuki, who then glared at the girl.

"You know those gifts I was going to give you, like healing after dissections? They're gone now. Nemu either kill them or incapacitate them now!" Hitsugaya hadn't felt this angry in a long time. The girl who had probably saved Hinamori's life was shaking in the middle of her own defense from this creature. There wasn't any surprise in Kurotsuki's cruelty.

"Reign over the frosted heavens, Hyorinmaru!" Kurotsuki turned around to see Hitsugaya's blade slice right through him, leaving him a gelatinous blood on the floor, occasionally bubbling. Matsumoto smacked him on the head.

"WHAT, were you thinking!"

"Stopping him. Look at what he's been doing."

"But Captain Hitsugaya, we are in a state of emergency. The Central 46 is dead, the Captains are scattered, and now you've just assaulted with the intent of murder on another Captain, your senior. That does not look good for you." The three squabbled a little and Orihime dropped the barrier, nearly exhausted. She never had to make one that large or keep it up for so long. Yasutora and Ganju let go of the Shinigami's arms but Ishida kept his arrow tracked on her.

Nemu could have smashed all their bones and made her escape under her captains orders, but she didn't. Part of her understood that what she had done to Hinamori was terribly wrong and even through the barrier she felt Matsumoto's reistu and knew she would never help this situation.

The Shinigami Women's Association were all her friends. Her studies indicated that they weren't extremely close, but it was more then she would have had. Rangiku laughed at things she said and Nanao and she had often worked together for organizing events. Yachiru, Momo, and even Kiyone all made her comfortable with them. She walked over to her captain's form and dropped freezing solution onto him.

"Vice Captain Kurotsuki, what are you doing?" Rangiku was the one to question her.

"He'll reform if he's not frozen a little. He did order me to kill Vice Captain Hinamori. I am very sorry." Nemu bowed to Captain Hitsugaya.

She had been treated better by her enemies then her own father.

'Repeated failures from the same experiment means it is useless. Therefore, I should stop this useless attempt for his affection. Its all reasonable, isn't it father?'

She wasn't going to worry about his reaction- mercy only last so long.

Chapter Seven(Two)(Closure Part II)

It wasn't often that she had an opportunity to see people mess around on this grand of a scale and not be a part of it. The three captains were fighting in a clear out area of the Seireitei and far enough from the Rukongai that no one would be seriously hurt- just scared for a while.

Jushiro was doing fine and it looked as if the new dosage of his medication was working or he was hiding it very well. Even Shunsui seemed to be sober and serious about this fight and with good reason.

Yamamoto was very mad at them. She valued life yes, but what was so special about the rankless shinigami? Jushiro had her as a subordinate but even Shunsui wouldn't let himself be roped into attacking the General like this. It had to be his idea to begin with, but why. This fight was going beyond normal shinigami skills.

All zanpakto have unique traits, but those three had hell between them. Fire, Lightning, Wind, and Water clashing together without being completely there. It was like their reitsu keep clashing with each other and no end in sight. They needed something earthy and to the ground just to bring any sort of safe balance between them.

'But that won't happen. We are the dead that have pass on and made sure we weren't tied down. We are flighty and go with a tide. It's the hollows that stay with a safety.' Retsu let them have their fun for long enough- it was a serious circumstance now. She made sure Isane was safe with Hitsugaya and not around for this. Many of the other captain's probably couldn't handle it.

"May I join you three?" Retsu pointed her sword in the middle of their "arena". Only Shunsui had the misfortune of realizing she was there.

"Now, Retsu-sempai, we've got a really good reason for this." The world was obviously against him. Jushiro had lost his respect and started yanking at the General's beard.

"NOT TOO FUN IS IT YAMA?!" And spit bloody phlegm in his face while the General( still shirtless) tried pulling his student over his back and flipped the body over his shoulder head first.

"Duck Shunsui. You'd better duck." He took her warning and clamored behind a rock.

She aimed her nodachi to the wrestling men and chanted,

"Ooze from the mist, Minazuki." and proceeded to drenched the space in front of her with a blue and sticky saliva that hardened into a glue. None of the men could move more then an inch from where they were covered. Their wounds were being healed but their reistu, while not being absorbed, couldn't pass through all the gunk, for lack of better words.

"General, we have a problem worse then anything they or their cohorts have done in the past." The Old Man looked very ruffled and sarcastically replied.

"These angels? They've done nothing wrong. What's the big emergency?"

"The Central Forty-six have all been murdered." That certainly got their reaction and attention. Unohana smiled and wondered if the General would cut his beard off or ask for help first since the mucus wasn't letting go.

'This is crazy!' Ichigo hoped that Rukia was still sleeping somewhere safe despite knowing she was just a tucked away beneath a bench. He's spent the past thirty minutes dodging giant body parts and a sword as large as a city block, never mind the actual Captain himself. In the same area he had to dodge random kido spells and blades being thrust into the air and some guy names Kenpachi Zaraki's insanely crushing reiatsu-curiously enough it was him and Kenpachi versus Tousen and the helmet guy. The two next him had reached a momentary statement when he decided enough was enough. Zipping behind the latest gauntlet, Ichigo caught his breathe and plunged his spiritual pressure into Zangetsu.

"Bankai!" The other three completely stopped in shock- the battle reached a whole new level.

Kenpachi was elated. The ryoka was going to give him one hell of a fight sooner or later. Komamura was now slightly worried at the compressed black blade that was going to be attacking him at any moment. Tousen wondered if Aizen knew.

Kenpachi got tired of the waiting and started his fight with Tousen again while Ichigo's new coat of sorts blew in the wind. Sajin tried to follow him but he just blurred in and out of sight when he felt three great slashes across his torso and the ryoka went back to his spot, stationary again. He didn't want too, be he was about to bring around his own bankai when he felt something incredibly unsettling.

General Yamamoto's reistu had just plummeted. Without even remembering the fight he turned towards the direction where the energy was last felt when his head started ringing and he felt air around his fur.

Once again the battle was halted for a moment. Ichigo and Kenpachi stared at the furry man was swaying lightly from the swords impact near his head.

"So THAT'S what you really look like."

"I give up. All you shinigami are weird. Every damn one of you." Tousen felt a little sorry for his friend- he had spent year terrified about people finding out his true appearance and now the worst all people saw it, Zaraki. Komamura was torn between his own pride and what was happening to the Captain.

"Ryoka!" The fox face turned to the boy. "What are you during with The Captain Commander?"

"The who? I don't give a fuck about any Captains except that asshole Kuchiki-hime" Zaraki' slaughter could be heard around and whoops.

"I like this one!" A little pink haired girl appeared his shoulder next.

"Hey, Ken-chan, is this the one that got baboon brains?" Tousen sighed and went to aid Komamura in finding the Captain leaving the fight unfinished. Let the savages talk amongst themselves.

"Sajin...do you need a cloth?" He finally caught up to his larger friend's steps.

"No Kaname, no. Maybe it'll make for a nice change." He could appreciate a truth in himself and not worry about the illusions of others.

"Besides, I've tried a few of the biscuits Iba leaves around for the strays and they are quite good." It took all of his composure not to fall off the roof for that one.

He didn't kill her. Challenging him had been a very foolish thing to do and it was worth a death sentence but he didn't do it. Logically for only one reason- the deal ended when she went through it alive.

That didn't explain why he was using flash steps with her over his back to the 5th Division to meet with a certain human. He saw the boy carrying Rukia past them without even a car and turn down into those courtyards. Also there was the massive explosion not too far from the 5th's office itself. Byakuya slowed his pace down one he felt Ise's breathing became too harsh.

"BYAKUSHI!" The small and pink Yachiru on top of Zaraki's shoulder looked down at him.

"Whatcha doing? Hey is that glasses-chan? Where are you taking her? Are you two playing fairy tale?"

"No, I am looking for a human ryoka." Zakari grinned and the bells in his hair chimed just a little louder.

"What a coincidence Hime, so are we."

- --

Gin looked down at the various battle sites in the Court, most of them centered around the Fifth's area. He knew he was a little naive compared to Aizen and Kana-chan, but he would miss a few people around here. Rangiku for one and his only other friend, Kenpachi. They were both Rukongai slummers like him so they'd get over it.

' 'til I can convince them at come ta Heuco Mundo, at least.' Forget what Kana-chan said about Kenpachi, he was a genuinely nice person, unlike some the shinigami had to offer.

It wasn't all bad though. He liked to thought that he got a new friend out of it at least. He'd probably be seeing more of Ichi-berry then either of them had thought. Aizen had an interest in him and he never really lets go of things or people he likes.

"Bye-Bye Seireitei." Gin stood up when he heard the binding spells on the two women start to loosen and wiped the blood off of Shinsou- Omaeda and Abarai were no fun at all.

'But now I get at have the fun I want!' He sighed and dived down into the streets. If only he had enough time to paint all these stupid white walls. Oh well. Las Noches was about to become a lot...brighter... then his Captain intended. He should really have known better then to leave him without a baby sitter.

Chapter Seven(Three) (Closure Part III)

Somehow it was too perfect. Gin was off making a mess and Kurostuki was set up to be the mastermind and the ryoka had brought the Hyougyoku right to him. The boy was waiting a little way away as he used another one of Urahara's wonderful inventions- completely undocumented of course.

"She'll be fine right?" Kurosaki sounded worried for his friend and not as completely trusting as before. Before Sousuke could answer he was cut off.

"Look, I get it. You're doing some sort of coup thing, but Rukia doesn't have anything to do with it, neither do my friends and me." He looked so stubborn and serious, as if he would do anything to stop him if he lied. So he didn't.

"I'll try by best to go in from organs that can heal. We don't know what will work. And don't worry, your friends are completely safe."

'Though, you are very stupid if you believe you aren't involved with this anymore.' In fact, despite being sent here by Urahara and led by Yoruichi, if any of this ever was reveled and they were all somehow detained, Kurosaki would undoubtedly be an accomplice.

It would be easier since Gin had pretty much knocked her out with enough trauma for a few days. Where he spelled hand went the skin, muscle, and bones of the container pulled away to make a hollow little hole with the prize in easy reach. It was a small black marble with crystal shields all around it and he pulled out and let the project decompose away.

"Rukia!" Kurosaki caught her before she fell and watched the hole heal itself seamlessly.

'It's awfully small...and the recipient is unharmed! See? It all worked out fine Kurosaki, now we've got to fix our alibis. I have your compliance, right?" The boy was cradling the body to his chest and nodded after a moment.

'Just help the Captain and finish it up. Then this kookiness will be done with for good.'

Had Ichigo known that Aizen's thoughts were the exact opposite, he might have considered just screwing everything up and hoping for the best.

"Well at least some of ya are enjoin yourselves!" As ridiculous as it was Gin was standing on the highest roof between the 5th and 6th Divisions with a bucket of Mayuri Kurostuki.

"Didn't think he'd go all gooey on me at this point though. Kinda mean aren't ya, Hitsugaya?" The captains and vice captains in front of him made for a very amusing sight. Little Shiro looked like he was three steps away from a tantrum and Kotetsu and Ran flanking him ready to pin him down. The Senior Captain's were covered in a sort of goo with someone even more fox faced then him. Tousan hovered nearby close to Kuchiki-hime and Hinamori and Ise were laid on the ground, unconscious and injured. Soi Fon and Yoruichi looked as if them wanted to pounce, but were being held back Unohana. The ryoka were not too far behind the injured, but Aizen and Ichi-berry hadn't gotten there yet. Ken was off waiting by the side near Hitsugaya.

"Captain Ichimaru, explain your actions." The Captain Commander Banged his staff to the ground and three more figures appeared behind Hime and Tousen.

"Oh! Captain Aizen, Ichi-berry! I didn't think you could get out of my office. Ya lookin better then before." Gin smiled and drew out his sword and made a quick dash over to the crowd Aizen made.

"Shoot, Shinsou." He looked as if he were going to aim for Rukia but went right for Hime, right through his right shoulder. At the same moment his Captain made to 'hit' him, but actually knocked him back and gave him the Hyougyoku. Not a moment later and the ryoka were the first to attack.

Apparently they didn't like him being near Ichi-berry. The Quincy and strange boy launched their attacks, one of them looks curiously like a punch from a hollow's arm. The busty girl ran forwards before Unohana could and started healing the sword piercing.

'Aww! But I wanted it at stay!'

The sky ripped open and the Menos consumed him in their transport beam along with the bucket O' Captain.

"Sorry Captain. Most of ya are just too boring. You need some more fun in your lives and I'm going to do it. Ran, Ken, No hard feelings, eh?"

All you could hear was Kenpachi growling out "Son of a bitch."

There were a mess of people all around giving aid to any of the captains involved with the conflict and Orihime started healing Ichigo.

"Shihouin, please come here." Yoruichi walked over to the four Seniors, already knowing what they were going to ask.

"Yes, Captain Commander?"

"Ishida Uryu, a Quincy. Inoue Orihime and Yasutora Sado, humans with hollow like powers. I am now assuming that Kurosaki Ichigo is at least part shinigami, correct?" Yamamoto asked her and Shunsui broke in,

"Please, dear god, tell me he isn't yours and Kisuke's!" Retsu stepped on his foot, but Jushiro looked just as fearful.

"No, he's not ours. He's Isshin's kid. He changed the name from Tanimonban to Kurosaki but the boy doesn't know yet." They all nodded their heads, except Yamamoto.

"Shihouin, no matter what sort of calamity he may have helped prevent, he will die. The only factor is when." She couldn't help but give a smirk.

"Guess that's one good thing from this. Those idiots are dead now."

"GAAAAHH!" It had been a few days since Gin flew the coup, and despite his instincts telling him to get away from Aizen, Ichigo found himself running into the man's office at 10 at night.

"Kurosaki?"

"Lock the door. LOCK THE DOOR NOW!" Ichigo ducked under the desk, ignoring Aizen's legs when the shutter opened again.

"Hey Aizen, have you seen Ichigo around? I wanna fight him!"

"Sorry Captain Zaraki, I haven't seen him since this morning. Maybe in the Kuchiki grounds?" The Captain grinned and ran off with Yachiru, glad to have a lead. "You may come out now Kurosaki." Ichigo awkwardly climbed through Aizen's legs and plopped on the seat normally taken by the Vice Captain.

"All you Shinigami are crazy. Insane." He heard the captain chuckle and glared at him. He was actually pretty comfortable saying what he felt around the guy as opposed to someone like Komamura.

"I heard from Tousan that you have a bankai." I scratched my head and blushed a little.

"Yeah. That was what Yoruichi dragged me away for..." He had obviously let his disdain for her show through.

"What's wrong Kurosaki?"

"Nothing. Hey..what did Urahara get banished for anyway?" Aizen stiffened for a minute and there was a long pause before he stood up and shut everything in his room and sat across the table from Ichigo.

"It's forbidden to be spoken about, again the." He made a gesture with his head meaning the now dead central 46. "He experimented on Shinigami and finally got caught when he did it to a few Captains and Vice Captains about a century ago." It was unusually quiet in the division normally full of laughter and friendly chats, as if they felt the seriousness.

"What did he do to them?"

"He gave them masks, essentially. Made them half shinigami and half hollow, a vizard. They all escaped but they were going to be executed." Ichigo froze and Aizen stopped talking for a minute. He didn't trust Aizen, but he was at that crossroad again. He didn't trust Urahara either. Now all he could think about was the hollow mask that formed on his face when he became a shinigami, and when he found it on his shoulder- the one Renji tried to cut off.

"...Aizen? Can their mask be removed?"

"They'll always be vizards, but I assume they can take the mask off. Why?" Ichigo went into the folds of his robes and pulled out a gritty porcelain like mask that would fit perfectly onto his face and placed it on the table between them. Aizen's eyes widened from the mask to him.

"...I think he did it to me too." The captain's hand reached over the table grabbed his shoulder forcing him to look up.

"Kurosaki, I won't tell anybody about this, so long as you don't"

"Thanks"

"You should head back to the barracks and sleep, you're leaving before noon tomorrow." Aizen went back to his desk and Ichigo slid open the door and something broke. Maybe it was how the blue-black night killed the warm colors of everything in the room, including the people, but Ichigo felt very strange after he left the office.

When Ichigo got to the room he shared with Chad in the barracks, he was glad that his bets friend was awake.

"Hey Chad? When we get back to the real world, can I stay with you for a few days?" His best friend nodded and looked at him.

"I'll tell you everything that happened once we're alone there. Thanks Chad."

Chapter Eight (Reality Bites)

Unlike their marathon run through the tunnel when they first arrived, Ichigo and everybody else were being escorted by one of the captains, Shunsui Kyouraku, the same one that had hide Orihime. Yoruichi didn't come back with them this time since she needed ' to take care of some business first.' and they found themselves alone in a park.

"Well, I guess..keep out of trouble? Want a drink?" All four of them looked as if they were less then amused. Apparently do to some space/time configuration between the two worlds before noon translated to 4 am and they would arrive in the real world at noon.

"Oh and here." The captain tossed a scull badge at him.

"Use it to get out of your body. You're a cadet or something..I don't know" Orihime actually looked worried now.

"Captain Kyouraku, is everything okay?" The extravagant man stopped before grabbing onto her and sobbing on what the boys hoped were her shoulders. Ishida looked ready to shoot him anyway.

"No! Besides Nanao-chan being in the hospital and leaving me to do all the paperwork, she's been hanging around with Kuchiki! Nanao-chan doesn't looove me anymoooore!" Enough was enough and while Ichigo dragged/threw the captain back into the tunnel, Chad picked up Orihime and put her on a bench. She looked down at her hands before looking up again.

"So, what do we do now?" Ichigo and Chad shared a look that the other two noticed. The taller boy nodded and started walking towards his apartment. Ichigo sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"Inoue, Ishida? I'm staying at Chad's for awhile. I'll explain everything there." He caught up to his best friend and let the other two decide if they wanted to know cause he wasn't going to force them into anything.

"Inoue, how serious do you think this is?" Ishida could call Kurosaki a friend if torture had been the other option, but that didn't mean he knew what the other was thinking. Orihime looked down to the ground again.

"Probably very. If nothing else he isn't going to see his sisters and he loves them more than anything in the world. Something really bad must have happened." She started running after the other two leaving Ishida behind.

'Go home and sew or meddle in Kurosaki's life.'

"Wait up! Inoue, do you even know where Sado lives?!" Uryu pushed up his glasses and followed the girl who strolled down the street haphazardly.

They weren't friends. He just didn't have anything better to do.

"KISUKE URAHARA! WHERE IS MY SON?!" The residents of the shoten cringed at their most frequent caller as of late- Isshin Kurosaki. Of course he only called at peak shopping hours and late at night when his other children were gone. It had been a week since the invaders returned-with an escort, mind you! To the human world and not a single one of them came to check in with him. Kisuke imagined that Ichigo would be just a little mad and avoid him for a while but the kid went beyond that- he's avoiding them and ran away from his own home.

'Somehow he heard about his father and his real family name. How though?'

"Uhh sorry Isshin, no idea call back later! Buh-bye!" He hung up the phone just in time. Yoruichi had returned along with Shinji and Hiyori and they had to talk. For seriously.

"Why hello Kisuke! What made you contact us after..what? Thirty, forty years?" Shinji smiled at the other blonde man and started eating the merchandise, while Hiyori looked like she wanted to pounce and kick him, most shockingly of all was Yoruichi was still in her human form. Something had gone seriously wrong. The silence went on in the shop for a bit before the woman started talking.

"Aizen's still running free in the Seireitei and he may or may not have the Hyougyoku." Hiyori jumped up and scream and bits of cracker flew out of Shinji's mouth.

"WHAT THE FUCKING HELL DO YOU MEAN THAT ASSHOLE HAS THE HYOUGYOKU?!" Kisuke sighed and explained how he tried to destroy it, the Rukia problem, and who went and Yoruichi took over once they reached the Soul Society.

"So this kid, Kurosaki, got caught by Ichimaru and started acting cold towards you, so what? He's just a kid." Shinji was pissed but quickly lost interest in the story- who cared about a few ryoka. Kisuke lowered his hat and muttered something none of them heard.

"What was that Kisuke?" Yoruichi leaned over and made him look up and speak louder.

"There was, well there was an accident when he was regaining his shinigami powers. Not my fault!" The shop owner was panicking and the other three braced themselves. What had happened.

"Well stupid captain?!" Hiyori was quickly losing her patience.

"He's a vizard. That's kinda why I called you here." The four of them planned into the night about what to do about this problem and only succeeded to add to it. Yoruichi didn't tell them about the Captain Commander's judgment, Kisuke didn't tell about his family, and Shinji and Hiyori just went along with the supposed plans. They were just going to kidnap the kid anyway. How much trouble could it be?

Roughly another month passed between Ichigo bunking at Chad's house and the kidnaping of Yuzu by Hiyori. It might have been successful if both Karin and Tatsuki were not five feet away from the other girl.

'Who was that midget going after Ichigo's sisters?' Tatsuki knew she wasn't in the loop completely when it came to Ichigo, but still she did realize that something was going on in the Kurosaki household. Something that seemed completely normal. After him not being around all summer and then the new friendships with Ishida and Orihime along with him still not living at home meant only one thing- Isshin had finally gone too far with something.

"Scram Keigo." She didn't have karate practice today and the others were busy except that weird little guy who treated Ichigo like an idol. Weirdo.

"B-but I finally got him to go out with me!" Without even waiting for him to leave fully she took his chair and food.

"Hey Ichigo, what's new?" A side long glance to the still freaking out classmate and they both went into plan G.

"Hey did you get the answer to part B on the lab..."

"UUGH! Why?! Why do you always do this to me?!" Keigo stormed out of the court and left the two alone.

"I'm a little upset with you Ichigo. We've known each other four about eleven years now and you don't tell me anything anymore." She took his milkshake and gave him Keigo's- she didn't need to get his germs. Ichigo didn't say anything and Tatsuki went on.

"Aw well it's probably for the best isn't it? Just remember that I've known you sisters since they were born too and I won't let anything happen to them." Her old friend sighed and looked at her gratefully. She could see that he looked a little tired so maybe it was just a few more ghost problems.

'He's loads of fun around Halloween.'

"So...did your dad get mad when you came out of the closet?"

"What the hell Tatsuki?! I'M NOT GAY!" He took the basketful of french fries away from her. It was soo on.

"Of course you are! Only a gay man would look at Orihime's chest and not like it and she's been hitting on you for ages now!"

"Maybe you're the lesbian and are just trying to project your problems on me!"

"I'm not the one on a date with Keigo!"

"THIS ISN'T A DATE! We just went to a movie and had...some...burgers...shit. He doesn't...does he?" Victory was in the shape of two baskets of fries. And her poor friend looked so confused.

"Duh. That's why I had to come save you. Everybody wants a piece of the poor little strawberry." She laughed when his face reddened but it quickly went back to normal as a sly smirk came onto his face.

'What ever he did this summer it was good for him. He actually seems a little happier.'

"Should you really be eating those fries, Tatsuki-chan? You're pushing your weight class as it is aren't you?" A full on french fry war took place at the table much to the annoyance of the poor junior from their high school.

He wasn't going to be the moron telling those two to knock it off.

The ten eleven remaining Captains of the Gotei mulled over what they heard. The traitors were planning on evaporating Karakura town to make the King's Key.

"Captain Yamamoto, I would be happy to bring a few of my men to the town to protection." Sousuke already knew who he was going to bring and it was doubtful that there would be any opposition that he wasn't willing to amend to.

"Very well. 3rd seat Ikkaku Madarame will also be joining you as well at Vice Captain Izuru Kira. Depending on how well it goes, Madarame is looking like our best bet as a Captain. Zaraki, your sure he has reached bankai?" The old man really doubted this but it was the 11th, he was willing to suspend disbelief. He continued after a bark of 'yes'.

"Captain Ukitake, you've had enough time to mull over this. You will have a Vice Captain selected before the month is over. Speaking of that, Kyouraku, since you've held numerous complaints about paperwork, there will be a temporary transfer of Vice Captains. Abarai will be switched with Ise to the 6th Division, a more active one." Shunsui's pathetic whimper was almost worth as much as seeing the Kuchiki blush.

If he had to be old and feign senility, then he was going to have fun with it.

"As for the 12th Division, Akon will be the new Captain. Since Kurotsuki is currently stripped of her duties, an experienced Vice Capatin would be appri-"

"I would be happy to volunteer my own Vice Captain to ...aid... the 12th Division. The transfer papers will be ready promptly." Soi Fong didn't even let him finish.

'Aw well. All the new Captains have to be hazed a little.'

"Very well. Captain Aizen continue on with the plan. We'll meet again next week."

Izuru felt a little odd walking behind the 3rd seat. Technically he was the superior officer, yet this man could probably take him down, if Renji was to be believed. Still that wasn't the point of why they were in the human world in the first place.

"The Spirits are ALWAYS with you!"

'What an idiot.'

"Yo! Kanoji, c'mere."

"Fans?"

"Nah. We're the spirits, now get you ass in that office."

'My, Madarame is blunt.'

"BWAAAAAA! This will prove to be interesting."

"Sure, why not."

Ichigo walked into his favorite class- literature- and waited for the new teacher to show up since the old one had gone insane after mangos started following her around. He was reviewing his notes on Macbeth, another favorite when the teacher slide into the room.

"Hello class, I will be your substitute for a while." That voice rang in Ichigo's head.

'No. It's over. Ended. I'm not involved with it anymore!'

"My name is Sousuke Aizen. I'm sure we'll have time to get to know each other later." He looked up and met the dark brown eyes he knew could be cold. In his dazed sort of vision he saw Ishida stiffen, the only other person in this class that knew Aizen.

'I think... I think I'm in too deep.'