Bleach #8

Ichigo arrived at Urahara's shop to find an odd sort of people, congregated together in front of a Senkaimon, he saw, Shinji Hirako, talking to Urahara, while Yoruichi, Lisa and Kensei where having a whispered conversation on the other side of the room, Hachigen, and Hiyori where sitting in at the table having tea.

"You know" said Ichigo making them all know that he was in the room "if you all acted a little less conspicuous, and you hid your emotions better, when you heard me enter, then I may not know that you were talking about me"

He walked farther into the room and say at the table, they all saw that he was wearing a black suite, with black shirt, tie and shoes, he graved a cup from the table and served himself tea, he then looked at Urahara and said "So Urahara What was all the whispering about?"

Urahara looked uncertainly towards Ichigo for a moment before replaying "You see Ichigo, we think that Soul Society might be in way over their heads, and as such we believe that we should do something about it, plus don't forget the fact that your friends are currently helping out the Kasumioji family heiress".

"I haven't forgotten anything Urahara" said Ichigo looking at Kisuke over the top brim of his cup "I know where my friends are and I also know that soul society can't win this fight by them alone"

They all looked unsure at Ichigo, as he continued to sip his tea while letting what he said sink in to everyone. "In the end" said Ichigo putting his cup down "I am going to be the one more likely to finish and end this threat, but that doesn't mean that we have to do it when they want us to do it, for all they know I am not going to lift a finger"

"But you are planning to help then?" said Shinji looking out the window towards the mountains in the distance.

Ichigo laughed at that "Of course I am, after all my friends are in the middle of it aren't they?" he asked looking at everyone to see their reactions.

"How are you going to help them if you have stated neutrality?" asked Yoruichi for the first time entering the conversation.

Ichigo smiled in a way that almost made it feel colder than what it was and replayed "Well I am going to go there to inspect and make sure that my friends are fine, and since your ban from soul society has been lifted after the whole Rukia incident, then it is time that my friends had an ambassador sent, to make sure there is no snags in there endeavours, plus with the noble house of Shihoin starting up negotiations about a treaty between us, I see no problem in you making contact with soul society and letting them know" Ichigo waited for a moment, before continuing "also remember that I will be going to Soul Society as the Vizard ambassador and as such, diplomatic treaty is expected"

Everyone was dumbstruck by what Ichigo said at the moment, they could not believe that after the experience he had recently, which was a first one, that's true, but nonetheless it seemed as the hot headed Ichigo who would jump at the chance of a fight or defend his friends had been gone long ago, and in his stead was a shrewd thinker who knew the consequences of his actions and at the same time, had the power to back up what he said.

"When are you going to leave then?" asked Shinji looking back into the room.

"As soon as Soul Society opens the portal" said Ichigo calmly taking his cup between his hands.

"What makes you think that there will be a replay stupid?" asked Hiyori about to through the sandal that she was holding high above her head.

"They don't have a choice" said Ichigo leaving the cup on the table "By now Rangiku has done her part, she has told them that I have been going out of my way to not get involved and has warned them that my power has increased dramatically, so the only thing that they can do is accept my visit, after all with one crisis already going on, they can't afford to make a new front" he looked at Kensei "Isn't that right Kensei Taichou?"

Kensei looked taken aback for a moment before replaying "Yes, from a military point of view you have them in a headlock, in a position in which they can't refuse you, well played Ichigo"

Ichigo smirked at that "indeed" he looked at Yoruichi "please make contact with them Yoruichi, the faster the better, after all if something happens to my friends, who knows who I might just kill" he laughed at her expression, as well as the rest of them.

Meanwhile in Soul Society things were not going as well as they had planned, Uryu and Chad had gone to the palace of the Kasumioji family, to rescue Rurichiyo at her wedding, when they were about to rescue her however, Uryu realised that she was not the real one and, after captain Soifon realised what happened, she went to inform the Gotei thirteen about it, Enryu was currently AWOL as well as Kenryu and the real Rurichiyo was nowhere to be found.

The Kasumioji family was in lockdown, with no one being let in or out and the search for the princes was on.

However in the captain meeting that was currently taking place in the barracks of the first division, things were not going very smoothly.

"What do you mean that they have been going into lockdown?" asked Kurotsuchi smirking knowingly towards the second division captain.

"The leader of the family at the moment a person named Kumoi has asked the Gotei 13 not to interfere while there private forces look for the missing child, at the same time; he is asking for the heads of the humans Uryu Ishida, Quincy and Sado Yasutora for disrupting the ceremony and according to him, bringing shame for the Kasumioji family"

Soifon was interrupted however, when the doors to the meeting room opened and a messenger ran up to the captain commander and knelt in front of him.

"Captain Commander you have a message" said the messenger without looking at the captain commander.

"What is it?" he said sighing at the interruption.

"Sir we have just received a message from Lady Yoruichi Shihoin stating that one of the leaders of the Vizards requests to come to Soul Society to make sure that the humans are safe, and that we are taking care of them"

"Who is this leader of the Vizards?" asked Shunsui from his spot on the line next to his lieutenant Nanao Ise.

"Apparently it is ex-shinigami representative Ichigo Kurosaki" the messenger said inclining his head to the side "the Lady Shihoin also said that an immediate answer would be preferred"

Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni looked his age for the first time in centuries, he looked at the messenger for a moment, before replaying "tell her that we will open a gate, and send an escort for the ambassador of the Vizards tomorrow"

"Hai" said the messenger and he ran off to deliver the message back to Yoruichi.

"Why did you accept Genryuusai-sama?" asked Captain Komoamura looking intently at the captain for his answer.

"We had no choice" he said "something is going on that involves the Kasumioji family. On the other hand we cannot take the luxury of denying entrance for Kurosaki to see his friends, which could have been seen as an act of war, since he could have interpreted it as we holding them pricioners, and we don't know just how powerful he is at the moment"

The Captains and lieutenants were in silence for a moment "What are you planning on doing once he gets here Yama-jii?" asked Shunsui.

"For all intentionally purposes Ichigo Kurosaki will come in a diplomatic position, as such we will have to hold hosts to him, with everything that it entails, protocol will be observed and I will be leaving the itinerary to Captain Kuchiki" he looked at said captain who nodded and went back to his blank expressionless self.

"Also he will be staying in the visitor quarters of the tenth division, since Lieutenant Matsumoto is the one who has spent the most time around him recently it would stand within reason that he will feel more comfortable with you escorting him around than anyone else" he looked at Rangiku who just nodded and blushed slightly at the comment.

"Finally Zaraki Taichou please beware of the fact that he is being sent in a diplomatic mission, as such there will be no death matches between the two of you, unless he proposes or has soiled one of your honour, that last comment goes to anyone in the room" he said looking from Zaraki to Kurotsuchi.

"That is all, you are all dismissed"

With that all of the captains went their own way.

Back in the real world however, Yoruichi entered the room where Ichigo was talking to Shinji, Kensei and Urahara, he had changed a lot after the incident with him controlling his hollow and his Zanpakuto, at times she could clearly see him the Ichigo that she had trained for Ban-kai, and then she could see Zangetsu clearly through, with that calculating edge around him, but the thing that disturbed her the most, was that the hollow had always been latent and she could feel it, even if it is just traces of it.

"Soul society has answered the message, there will be a gate opened tomorrow, and they will send escorts" she said looking at Ichigo.

"Excellent then" said Ichigo looking back at his fellow Vizards "You know what to do while I am gone then"

"Yeah we will, don't worry about it" said Urahara "Come on, when have Tessai and I failed you anyway?"

"It is not the result that has me worried Hat-and-Clogs but your methods" he said looking at Urahara "Anyway, I must be off I have lots to do before I go tomorrow" he turned to Yoruichi "I'll be here at eleven"

He walked out of Urahara's shop and walked towards the Hospital in Karakura, where a certain Ryuken Ishida was waiting for him.

Ichigo walked into the reception of the building and said to the receptionist in a pleasing and nice manner "Hello" when she was looking at him, she got frightened by the eyes "are you Ok?"

"Yes sir" the receptionist said "Your eyes, they are not the most common of colors, that is all"

"Ah yes, I have heard that all day, do not worry they are not my true color of eyes of course" he lied smoothly "I am here to speak to Dr. Ryuken Ishida, he must be expecting me"

"Right away sir" said the attendant she checked her computer and dialled a number on the phone "Hello I have a Mr." She looked at Ichigo.

"Kurosaki" he provided.

""Mr. Kurosaki here, he says he has an appointment with Dr. Ishida, and that the Dr. Is expecting him" she waited for a response before hanging up and saying "He is waiting for you in his office on the 17th floor"

"Thank you" said Ichigo and he walked towards the elevators.

When he arrived at the office, Ryuken Ishida was already seated at his desk and waiting for him.

"I really hope you are not wasting my time Mr. Kurosaki" said Ryuken while pushing his glasses farther on his nose.

Ichigo's expression changed and darkened "I am no fool Ishida, and I will not tolerate to be talked to that way" he let a little of his hollow reitsu leek before sitting down.

"Now I have come here today to bring you an offer" he looked at the face of Ryuken intently.

"What kind of offer?" he asked curiosity picked.

"Well let's just say that aiding Soul Society is about to get more practical" he said looking at his hand "If you get my meaning"