NaClO (By invitation, otherwise CLOSED)

[HookerBoots]

Amaya smiled. "Thank you, Isamu-kun. I know that it's hard for both of you," she looked obliquely at Rukia, "to share what you're feeling. But . . . well, it just seems like that's a problem that needs to be remedied." She reached out and grabbed one of each of their hands. "You're friends, and you're my friends. I want you to get along together, like we used to."

Rukia turned red again, and looked down to where Amaya's hand clasped hers. She . . . wanted to connect with them again, wanted to have friends. But she also felt sure that they were lying to her. They wouldn't want to be friends with her, with someone who had killed Kaien. It wasn't possible, and she . . . well, even if they meant it, she didn't deserve it.

The dark-haired girl flickered her eyes up to Amaya's face, trying to assess the odds that she'd be let go without at least trying to make peace with Isamu. It didn't look good. "I . . . was in the wrong as well, that night. I said things I now regret, and said them to hurt you, to try and make you feel as badly as I did." She wouldn't lie to them and say that she hadn't meant them. At the time, she'd meant them very much.

"I didn't come to see you because . . . well, because I didn't think anyone would want me around." Her fingers tightened unconsciously around Amaya's. "I've done a terrible thing, and I . . . people shouldn't want me around."

Isamu looked at her, feeling some sympathy. It was no wonder she'd snapped then, even if it didn't make him feel better about her being insulting to him. "Rukia-san, I . . . I'm sorry you feel that way."

Amaya smiled. They were making such good progress! "Rukia-chan, I understand. Grief is powerful, and I'm sorry you didn't feel that you could come to me and talk." She gave her friend a small smile and a comforting squeeze of her hand. "But here, we'll start building the friendship again!"

She stood up and went to the door, to grab a server and order three bowls of udon, then sat down at the table again. "We'll have a nice dinner, and talk and have tea. It'll be a great night!"

~ ~ ~ ~​

The dinner hadn't been a complete success, but it had gone better than she'd expected. Amaya had even gotten a small smile and a "good night" from Rukia, which was more than she'd gotten in at least six months. And Isamu had told her that Hitsugaya-taicho had wanted to start training her for bankai!

So she'd gotten up early and went to Squad 10's barracks to meet in their courtyard. That was Hitsugaya's suggestion - it would keep the odds of meeting and being delayed by Rangiku to a minimum. She hadn't thought that it would be mostly meditation, however.

The sun was warm and bright, and it was hard to keep herself from falling asleep, especially at first. And then the rock she was sitting on was uncomfortable, and she wanted to shift around. He'd been adamant, however, that perfect stillness was far more effective to the process.

He'd been very pleased at the fact that her sword had talked to her before, without the stress of battle. He seemed like he'd be a tough instructor, but he wasn't really giving her guidance. That wasn't what she was used to, but she was focused internally as much as she could be. The well of her own power, and the sword across her legs, and trying to find where the two joined.

 

[Armphid]

Hitsugaya sat still, his sword resting on his lap. His eyes were closed as if in communion with the spirit of his sword. But for once, the icy wind of Hyourinmaru did not roar through his mind. Instead, he felt a warm presence in his belly and lower that was unfamiliar and yet known all at once.

His ice blue eyes opened and he looked across the garden at Amaya Kuragari. What was it about her? She did have talent, yes, but so did Takeuchi and he had not sought him out for training. Matsumoto should have started bankai training many years ago but he had not even thought to tell her to start, let alone offer to assist her. So why? Why did he arrange for her to study with him? And why did his eyes seek to rest on her, particularly now that hers were closed?

"He is SO cute!" Rangiku ducked her head around the corner from where she'd been peering. "He's got a crush on Amaya-chan and he doesn't even know it!" She sighed, "My breasts are as big as hers though...maybe bigger! But I guess I'm just a sexy big sister to him."

"To us all, Ran-san," Isamu agreed, "some of us just like an incest kink more than others."

"Exactl-ah!" She blinked and spun to face the American. "Takeuchi-kun! What a surprise!"

He grinned back. "Yup. I figured a surprise was about the only way I'd get to see you." Isamu stepped closer. "Now. Why don't we go and you can get what I'm owed from your little gambling ring? Of course, if you don't, I can always do it later. Right after I go interrupt Hitsugaya-taichou's 'training' of Amaya-chan and mention it to him."

"You play dirty, Isamu-kun," she huffed, using the name she'd only used a handful of times when they were intimate or in Amaya's company. "All right, all right. It was fun giving you the run around but it's getting old anyway. Come on."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Is this really all right?" Rangiku's face was troubled.

"I wonder," rumbled massive Captain Komamura. "There is no outright declaration or intent but the idea alone may be dangerous."

"Come now," Sasakibe ran the fingers of one hand down one of his elegant mustaches and then shook his head. "This is just part of the Western Enthusiast's Club; we are deepening our knowledge of the West. In truth, these ideas have been known about from news of the Human World for years."

"But never so openly discussed," Isane fretted. "And Captain Soi-Fon is here, what if she..." Soi Fon chose that moment to glance back at the silver haired giantess who made a strangled sound and fell silent.

"So." Isamu was in front of a pair of chalkboards covered in writing, "It may seem strange but this is the defining concept of government in the West right now and it's a pretty radical idea but when you think about it, it's an elemental truth." The half-breed was treading dangerously and he knew it. But he had consulted Amaya and Momo on this. Presenting it as just 'the way things are in the West' should be all right.

Should be.

"The core idea is that anyone who rules does so because the people let him. They might do so because they're afraid or they need his protection, but the power of rule comes from the consent of the people in the end. People make governments to protect themselves, their rights, and their properly. A good government has the consent of the people and gets their input, responds accordingly, and prospers. A bad government ignores the majority of its people and only listens to a privileged few, creating inequity and hardship, and eventually is overthrown." Now for the really dangerous part. "So, given this as a baseline, what would the Western view of Soul Society's government be?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Congratulations." White haired Ukitake was smiling and the genuine feeling in it made Isamu's heart swell even more than the promotion itself. "And welcome. I am glad to have you as one of us."

"Thank you, Ukitake-taichou. I'm humbled and honored." Isamu bowed low over the paper scroll signifying his new position and his new squad. The two men were in one of Squad 13's tea rooms and there were few present. Other than them, only Amaya and the two Fourth Seats sat in observance.

"No, the pleasure is ours, as the Western saying is, I believe." Ukitake grinned as Isamu's blink of surprise. "I've been stuyding up a little, since you'll be my subordinate. Besides, I hope to go and see the wonders of the Human World someday soon."

Was he really strong enough? Truth be told...he looked it. The change had been gradual but his skin was much healthier in color and he moved with more vigor. His sick days were fewer and further between from all that he'd heard. "I hope you can see it, taichou."

"Indeed. It's given me quite a gift," the older shinigami answered, "it's only right that I pay my respects. As well as defend it; we've just been given jurisdiction over a few parts of the Human World." He shook his head and raised a hand, "But enough about that another day. Isn't there a party tonight? I thought so but I hadn't heard anything."

"Arigatou, taichou," Isamu shook his head, "but no. A few friends and I are having dinner and tea but that's all. I felt that under the circumstances, a big party would be unnecessary."

Kuchiki. Ukitake's dark, wise eyes rested on the young man. And he'd somehow talked Matsumoto out of it, which was more impressive than his sensitivity. "I see. Well, warm times with your friends are best." He stood and turned to face the others in the room, "That is the way of Squad 13!"

"Hai," they answered in unison.

~~~~~~~~~​

"Don't force it, Kotsubaki-san." Isamu watched as green light flared around the bearded man's hands. "It's not like a binding spell or a destructive spell, you have to let the power flow on its own. Try to force it and you can do more harm than good; only higher level healers can do that."

There was a large group of shinigami in the central courtyard of Squad 13. Isamu had suggested a new kido cross-training for the Squad where he could teach the healing kidou he'd learned in Squad 4. Ukitake had called it a brilliant idea and the classes had started within a week.

Isamu made the rounds as the students practiced over targeting dummies normally hacked apart with swords or blown into pieces with kidou. He smiled as he passed one particular student, "Very nice, Kuchiki-san. I think I might have you teach the next class, you're getting better results that I would."

Rukia flushed and bowed her head, "You're too kind, Takeuchi-san." By far. True, she was always talented in kidou and this was coming fast but he was too generous by far. Was he trying to reach out to her? They were genial after the dinner, if not friendly, though she did still try and avoid her old friends. She sighed and kept at it; it was a little annoying though. When would she ever need to know how to heal?

 

[HookerBoots]

With a sigh, Amaya shifted a little where she knelt. The Vice-captains' meetings weren't always this dull, but this was really beyond the pale. The squads took turns hosting them, and this month, they were all gathered at Squad 2's barracks. Omaeda had hinted that this meeting would be incredible, lots of great information that they would need and use.

". . . and that is why the jewelry made by the Omaeda family is the best that one can find in Soul Society. Not that any of you will ever be able to afford it." He nodded, firmly, and shifted position, clearly preparing to go into another lengthy monologue about how much better he was than they were.

Amaya stood up quickly into the silence, looking down modestly. "I beg your pardon, Omaeda-san, but as interesting as this is, I have something that might be of some small interest to the assembled vice-captains."

He looked at her, surprised, and his eyebrows drew together into a small frown. She noticed, and as he opened his mouth, no doubt to reprimand her for talking out of turn, she took a deep breath and leaned forward almost imperceptibly. His frown vanished, and he cleared his throat. "Of course, Kuragari-san. We would all be most glad to hear what you have to say."

She smiled brightly at him and walked up to the front of the assembled group. "Comrades, I'm unsure if you have been aware, but a recent transfer to my squad, our third seat, Isamu Takeuchi, had put forth a new idea." There were a few faces that perked up - Isane, for one, and Hisagi for another - and she went on. "With my support and our captain's backing, Takeuchi-san has been holding basic healing training for any of our squad with the ability."

A few more heads came up; Nemu's, and Sasakibe's, and Nanao's. "But didn't they balk at learning it?" Nanao asked. "I mean, the prevailing attitude towards our healers is . . ." she glanced at Isane, "well known."

"Some did," Amaya said with a fierce grin. "But they learned anyway. And my thoughts on the general treatment of our healers is that we ask too much and give too little to them. But that is beside my point." She straightened her back, fingers laced together at her waist. "In the five months since the training has begun, our major injuries from patrols and battles have diminished by half. Our minor injuries have diminished by two-thirds, and, as Kotetsu-san can attest, we have had only one member sent to the infirmary. Our usual number over that time period is four."

There was a startled silence over the group. Then murmurs started, the vice-captains looking at each other in surprise. Amaya held up a hand. "My friends, let us not interrupt Omaeda-san's presentation any further. However, I'm certain that when he is done, Kotetsu-san will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. I shall put myself at your disposal as well."

As she went to sit down again, she smiled slightly to herself. Maybe that would get that over-stuffed windbag to shut it a little faster.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Ukitake sighed and rubbed his temples. Their sector of the human world was trouble, no question. There were all sorts of Hollows that had been seen there, more than almost any portion of the rest of the town combined. Maybe it was just bad luck - didn't Westerners have the idea that 13 was unlucky?

Regardless, he needed someone else to send out there to patrol for the beasts, the next rotation happened in 3 months, and there just weren't that many shinigami to spare. He caught familiar footsteps outside, and called out, "Kuragari-san, would you come here a moment?"

Amaya poked her head into the room. "Of course, taicho. What can I do for you?" Her arms were filled with papers, and as she stepped into the room, she tripped over something and flew forward. The papers in her arms fell forward, landing on Ukitake's desk in a thick, if messy pile. She sighed as she stood up, then blinked at the pile. "Gomen nasai, taicho. My luck," she rested a hand on her zanpaktou's hilt briefly.

He beamed at her. "It's quite all right. Now, please, sit down. I have something to ask your opinion on." She settled in front of the desk, face attentive, and he went on, "We need to send another person to patrol sector 13-F, but I'm not sure who. We just don't have that many people to spare, given all of our squad members' duties."

There was silence, and he looked up to see Amaya's face. She seemed thoughtful, and he waited to see what she'd come up with. Over the time they'd worked together, he'd never seen her be wrong after making that face. "What about sending Kuchiki-san, taicho?"

"It would be ideal; she's strong enough to take care of almost anything that might show up, and smart enough not to get into something over her head. But you know that we can't. Kuchiki-taicho would never allow it."

Amaya's face spread into a smile. "Taicho, I've already taken care of that. The top letter is from Kuchiki-taicho, who has reluctantly given permission for us to send Kuchiki-san on a short mission." She'd talked very, very fast, and done some very distracting things to get that permission, but she'd by-god gotten it. "I think this would be just the thing. Kuchiki-san can go to the human world, do patrols, and come back. It will make Kuchiki-taicho feel better about the idea of her getting the promotion she has earned over and over again."

The white-haired man studied the paper, then nodded slowly. "I won't ask how you managed to convince him. But this is very impressive, Kuragari-san. I think you're right. This might be the answer to all our problems."

 

[Armphid]

"Ahh, it's coming back!" The young woman pointed up into the sky with one arm, the other over her mouth. She was wearing a pink t-shirt with a beaming Hello Kitty face on it and a pair of blue jeans; looking entirely normal save that she was slightly translucent and there was a metal plate in the center of her chest with a chain connected to it that faded from view after about five feet from her. "Help!"

"What? Aw, man!" The man speaking seemed tall but it was only because his huge, bushy afro added about eight inches to his height. He wore a black robe and hakama, and tabi with white socks, a black sash about his waist. A scabbard was tucked into it and the sword that was normally there shook a little in the man's hands. "Hold on, lady! Yah!" He jumped up and swiped at a dark shape that was darting down from above, only to miss wildly and land on a hedge with a muffled grunt.

The Hollow shrieked in primal triumph at having drawn the guardian away from its prey. The malformed soul looked like a black flying squirrel the size of a car with a white, chalky looking head that looked like a stylized rhinoceros helmet. It wheeled in the air as the clumsy shinigami grunted and tried to wrangle himself out of the hedge.

"Bakudo number 10, Hourin!" A tendril of scintillating red-orange light blasted into the Hollow's path and then wound around it, binding the creature's limbs to its sides. It fell hard onto the pavement with a squeal and thrashed like a landed fish.

The ghost of the young woman and the shinigami with the afro, now disentangled from his shrubbery prison, both gawked at the sight and then followed the line of energy back to its' origin.

The end of the tendril was held tightly in Isamu's left hand. "Kurumadani...come on, man, what was that?" The half-breed shook his head; he'd kept his longer hair at Amaya's insistence, now having flowing auburn locks that touched his shoulder, roughly pushed back away from his face. His shihakusho no longer had the ragged sleeveholes but his sleeves were rolled up and tied in place at the shoulder by bands of fabric that was the maroon of Squad 13. He still wore heavy boots of black leather instead of tabi and the American flag still was embroidered on the back of his robe.

"G-gomen, 3rd Seat, I just-" The man groped for an explanation for a few moments.

Isamu cut him short, "You just panicked and attacked blindly. I know you wanted to protect the girl, but you have to keep your head. It would have gotten her and maybe had a shot at you too, the way you stumbled there." He jerked the energy rope and the bound Hollow was lifted off the air and tossed up high above the rooftop Isamu stood on. His right hand pulled his sword and as the thing fell down, he stepped forward and cut down with a single, graceful strike.

The Hollow did not get to cry out, its body already shimmering away, purified, to reform as a spirit in Soul Society.

"Keep your head when you fight." Isamu opened his left hand and the energy tendril vanished. "If your opponent has a mobility edge like that, use kidou to take it away." He hopped down off the roof and into the street, "I know you're more of a fighting specialist, but even Sai or Hainawa would have made that Hollow fall down so you could finish it off."

"H-hai," Zennosuke bowed. "I will take this advice to heart, 3rd Seat."

Isamu didn't answer. The guy's heart was in the right place but his head was spacy and as full of fluff as his 'fro. That was impressive, at least. How did he get that volume? He walked towards the trembling young woman, his sword resting negligently on his shoulder. "Are you all right, miss?"

"I...I'm fine, what's...I don't understand what just happened!" She looked to be about university aged; cutish but somewhat plain. She looked between the two men. "But you...you two can see me and hear me?"

"That's right." The half-breed sighed. He hated this part. "But no one else can, right? Miss...I'm sorry to say this, but you're dead. That's why no one can see or hear you. That's why you couldn't call anyone on your phone or no one's tried to get a hold of you. It's also why you haven't slept or had to eat or drink in days."

She paled and her lower lip quivered but then she sniffed. "I...I wondered about that. I thought that maybe...but I didn't want to face it. My mother needs me, and so..."

He nodded. It was always something. "I know. That's what's keeping you here, trapped between worlds. Your chain to the life you no longer have." Isamu nudged the end of her chain with his left foot and she flinched. "The thing is, miss, you can't help your mother or anyone else now. And if you stay around and try, you'll just fail over and over. You'll get angry, frustrated, resentful, and your chain will get shorter and shorter...it's smaller than it was at first already, isn't it?"

She blinked and then looked at it. "I guess...I guess it is. I hadn't noticed."

"You haven't started getting bitter, that's why it's happening slowly." A lot of other shinigami would have forced konso on her by now. Others would have offered some words of comfort but still just gotten things over with. He always had to explain it to them. It just wasn't fair otherwise. "But it's still happening. That monster we just purified, it used to be like you. A ghost with a chain. When the chain is all gone, that's what happens. You turn into a monster and you start killing and given that your mother is the bond...well. I think you know where I'm going with this."

"I'd kill her?" She was trembling again. "Oh, but...but I couldn't...I wouldn't..."

"I'm sorry. You would." Isamu shook his head, "Believe me, we've seen it way too many times. But it doesn't have to be this way. We're going to release your spirit and send you to the other side. It won't hurt, and when you're there, you won't have to worry about changing."

"Is...is it...Heaven?"

"...Sometimes. In certain places." He was supposed to lie here, but he never did that either. "I won't lie, there are places where you'll be going that are dirty, mean, and nasty. Violent...where they'd do bad things to a girl like you." He shook his head, "But you aren't going there. When you get to the other side, there'll be someone who takes your name and processes you. You tell that person, he or she'll be dressed like us, that you want to go to West Rukon District 42. If they ask you who told you that, you say Takeuchi of Squad 13. Repeat that."

"R-rukon 42, Takeuchi, Squad 13." She looked confused and her lips moved after she spoke as if she were saying the words in her head.

"West Rukon 42, it makes a difference. Don't forget the district number. It's a good place and the people there look out for each other; they'll take care of you." Isamu raised his sword. "where are you going?"

"West Rukon District 42."

He nodded. "This won't hurt but brace yourself; it's a wild feeling."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Why those districts?" Ukitake was sitting on cushion lying on a beautiful wooden deck under the open sky; a pot of tea and two cups set beside him. He lifted one and sipped.

Was he in trouble? It didn't seem that way but why else would Captain Ukitake want to see him? Isamu took a breath, "Well, West Rukon 42 is where I was sent when I came through. There's a long story but to cut to the end, the people there organized a Community Watch. They keep trouble out, watch each other's backs, see to new arrivals, that kind of thing. It keeps the district ordered and everyone there safer and happier."

The white haired captain nodded, which Isamu took to mean that he should keep going. "Well, I've visited back a few times and read reports. It seems that the surrounding few districts have started doing the same thing. Which means those are pretty safe places too." He shrugged, "I found out about the ticketing system but that there are some loopholes and obscure by-laws about it. If a soul requests a destination, it overrides their ticket. And officers of vice-captain and above can actually issue orders that certain souls be sent certain places on their arrival, but that's for when I'm a captain. Anyway..."

"You do it so that you know that these souls will find a life they can more easily adapt to. One with less hardship." Ukitake nodded and thought for a few moments and then smiled, "It's a kind thing, Takeuchi-san. Please continue."

"Hai." That was a surprise. Or was it? Captain Ukitake was...different than anyone he'd served under so far. The man did seem to care about people, his people and just in general. He was slower to act that Isamu might like, but wise and compassionate. Isamu had crushed on Unohana and respected Tousen...he'd follow Ukitake into Hell itself. This man was a leader. "I'm glad you approve, taichou. Um, if I may ask?"

"Go ahead."

"Why are we meeting out here by the practice grounds?" The deck was attached to a low building up on a hill. Below them was a valley which served as one of the Squad's many training areas. Their area of control in the Seireitei comprised few residences beyond the Squad's facilities, a small village, and a few noble estates, meaning much of it was open ground. That was one reason why they'd been given so much of the Human World to patrol instead of such duty in the Seireitei itself. Down in the practice round, Amaya was putting the female Squad members through refresher hand to hand training.

Ukitake took another sip of his tea. "...I find that watching my subordinates train and work together gives me an appreciation for them and our duties together."

Isamu looked down at the sweaty, grappling women and then over at his commanding officer and raised an eyebrow, "You know, I haven't seen you when I've been putting the guys through their paces."

Ukitake just smiled his usual charming smile and then raised a finger to his lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Congratulations Hinamori-fukutaichou! And Kira," Isamu read. "Ran-san, I don't mean to gripe but is this really appropriate?" He tied off the end of the banner he held and made sure it was firmly affixed, standing atop of ladder.

"It's all I could do to get him to agree to have his name mentioned," the busty redhead replied with a shrug as she tied off the other end opposite him. "If Hinamori-san hadn't urged him, I think he just would have insisted that he not be recognized at all."

Amaya sighed, flipping another paper lantern up to to the ceiling and then spinning to fire a simple kidou to stick it in place and a ridiculously weak version of Shakkahou to light it. "That sounds like Kira-kun. He's backslid a lot since he's joined Squad 3."

"Yeah." Isamu hopped off his ladder, "It's been good for him, though. He's shot up in power and skill a lot faster than he had been. Ichimaru weirdly inspires him somehow."

"Ichimaru-taichou, Takeuchi-kun," Rangiko reproved with a waggle of a finger.

Isamu snorted, "What, has Toushiro gotten into your head or something?"

"That's Hitsugaya-taichou to you!" Isamu jumped as the boyish captain was suddenly beside him, glaring intently.

"Gah!"

Hitsugaya sniffed and strode into the room for the party and looked around, his hands tucked into his sleeves. "It looks all right."

"Ah, taichou! It'll look better with your ice sculptures up!" Rangiku beamed.

The white haired shinigami scoffed, "I'm not doing such a childish thing. My zanpakuto isn't an ice machine for your amusement, Matsumoto." It was bad enough that he had to do that series for the paper. And that the little brat from 11 kept coming by in the summer...

"Aww." Amaya looked disappointed and sighed , brushing her hair back and leaning away. "It would be just perfect though! And I know it would mean a lot to Hinamori-chan if you helped, Hitsugaya-taichou."

"That's right," Rangiku nodded. "I can just imagine the look on her face when she sees all the ice sculptures and furniture and all the rest and realizes that you helped, taichou."

Hitsugaya looked at Amaya and then away, crossing his arms more tightly. "...Well, maybe I can do a little."

~~~~~~~~~​

"I still can't believe it." Momo sighed and shook her head, her hands clasped in front of her as she and the small group of her friends left the party. "It seems like a dream."

"You earned it," Renji shrugged, "Besides, you'd made yourself pretty invaluable to Aizen-taichou in running the Squad. It's not like anyone other than you was surprised." He was supporting Kira, the dour blond drunk enough that he seemed to have trouble standing. Indeed, it was a good question as to whether he was even conscious.

"He's right," Isamu said with a smile. "You have earned it. Take credit, Hinamori-chan!"

She looked troubled. "I am happy, especially that I can be of more use to Aizen-taichou. But I wonder...I mean, I'm not sure I could beat any of you in a fight..."

Isamu shrugged and gave her his most impudent grin, "Nah, but that's all right. You're just the latest in the series of lieutenants whose asses I can kick. No shame there."

Renji laughed uproariously, Isamu joining in despite Momo and Amaya glaring at them. Momo cutely huffed and then smiled, "I don't know about that. But either way, I do know that that's insubordination against a superior officer!" The two men blinked. Momo nodded, "Come along, Takeuchi-kun. We'll have to have a serious conversation about your attitude and military decorum."

"...What?"

Amaya smirked. He was so cute like that! Looking like he'd been smacked in the head with a fish or something. "She's right, 3rd Seat," the pink haired beauty sighed dramatically, "I'm so embarrassed by his behavior. Please, Hinamori-fukutaichou, don't think badly of our Squad."

"...What?"

"It's all right, Kuragari-fukutaichou. All of our subordinates get out of hand from time to time and I know this one is a troublemaker." Her face was as serious as she could make it, though the corners of her mouth were trembling with the effort of not smiling and laughing. "I will have to take him back to my Squad for discipline."

"I fully understand. He does have duties tomorrow." Momo had come to her during the party and it was sort of cute the way she'd blushed as she asked for a favor.

"I'll be sure he is in condition to perform them and back in time," Momo assured her.

"Wait, what?"

Momo gestured, "Come along, Takeuchi-kun. I AM your superior now, so you have to obey my orders."

"She's right," Amaya insisted, "go on and I'll see you at the barracks in the morning."

Isamu blinked and then was pushed by Amaya and stumbled, "Hey! What the...whatever, all right then." He shook his head, falling into step behind the adorably gloating Momo.

Renji looked at Amaya. "What the hell was that?"

"Nothing, Abarai-kun, just a little extra present for Hinamori-chan's promotion."

The tattooed fighter looked confused, "Getting to pull rank on Takeuchi?"

"Something like that. Well, let's get Kira-kun home, shall we? I better use some kidou too...we can't have him show up for his first day as fukutaichou like this!"

"Eh." Renji shrugged as the two of them turned and headed in the direction of Squad 3's compound. "Ichimaru-taichou'd probably think it was funny."

~~~~~~~​

"Ah, Ayaaa!" Momo threw her head back, crying out, her scream not reaching beyond the room thanks to the barrier she had raised before starting all this. She closed her eyes, mouth open, hair askew and wild, her skin slick with sweat and her sweet, pert, plump peach-sized tits heaving as her climax rippled through her and blasted her body with erotic flame. "Ahh...hnn...hmm."

She ran her fingers down his chest and then looked down at him with an attempt at a smirk. "S-so," she said, breathing heavily, "Do you understand now?"

Isamu's mouth opened and shut a few times before he just laughed breathily and then nodded, "Hai, Hinamori-fukutaichou." She giggled and then laid down atop him. He lifted his arms to cradle the young woman's naked form against his own. "Hinamori-chan..."

"You were my first, and it was so wonderful," she said in a sleepy voice. "Now that we'd come this far...I wanted to see if we'd both gotten better at this too."

"I guess that kind of makes sense. What's your verdict?"

She looked up at and blushed deep red but she was smiling. "Hai! Lots!"

~~~~~​

Isamu opened his eyes and then they widened with shock. Standing before him was a tall figure, towering over the seated shinigami, lean looking though it was hard to tell under the billowing black cloak that hid his body completely; stars, nebula, planets, moons, comets, and more all passing through the darkness. A pair of shining armored boots could barely be seen beneath the cloak's edge and from the hood a mirrored featureless mask looked down. "Hitoshirezu Daimyo...you-"

The figure vanished. Isamu blinked and then groaned, throwing himself back onto the wooden deck. Damn it! So close!

It shouldn't frustrate him. Most shinigami never got to this level. A visual manifestation, even a brief one, of their zanpakuto spirit was beyond them. Even those who could achieve bankai rarely got to this level so early in their lives. It took a hundred years or more, unless you were a genius like Hitsugaya or Ichimaru. Most shinigami would be delighted they were at this point.

He wasn't most. It was driving him wild. What Hitsugaya had been vaguely teaching him was starting to pay off. But it was so slow!

He heard feet approaching and sat up, then got to his feet as Ukitake came around the corner of the building the deck surrounded. "Ah, Takeuchi-san. I thought it was you." He looked about, "I thought I saw someone else...and this feeling..." He blinked and looked at his 3rd Seat. "Takeuchi-san, did you manifest your...?"

Isamu flushed and hung his head, "No, taichou. Just the appearance of it, there was no substance and it faded in a moment."

Ukitake was stunned. "That's...very impressive. But very dangerous, Takeuchi-san. If you did manifest it unprepared, it might attack and seriously injure you." He rubbed at his chin, "You and Kuragari-fukutaichou are both strong; far stronger than normal holders of your ranks...but I hope you both don't push yourselves too hard." If Takeuchi was doing this, so was she. His lieutenant was a very talented, powerful, and dangerous young woman; she was also ambitious and had a cunning mind. He liked her immensely. But was she pushing herself too hard?

Of course, after Kaien and Miyako...maybe having stronger subordinates wasn't a bad idea. "You once sparred with Unohana-taichou, didn't you, Takeuchi-san?"

The American laughed, "If you could call it that. She beat me like a drum and she wasn't even trying."

Ukitake smiled. "She's like that. Well. Perhaps I'll see about setting up some training between myself and Amaya-fukutaichou and yourself."

"U-Ukitake-taichou!"

"Perhaps, it might be hard to fit it into the schedule. But I think it might do us all good." And if nothing else, he could determine if they were just being reckless or if they both really were this talented.

If they were...he'd have to think about how to handle it...

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya sat on a bench in the courtyard, swinging her legs back and forth like a little girl. She hadn't expected to be asked to meet Ukitake-taicho on the training grounds, but she'd shown up early - as she always did when something was 'official' - and was a little bored. There were three squad members there, two of them unseated, as well as the 14th seat, who had bowed deeply to her, and then started training extra hard, as if to show her how tough they were.

Her eyes fixed on the middle distance, and she let her mind sort of float. A lot of her best ideas happened when she didn't try to force it, chance links in her thoughts that worked out spectacularly - either spectacularly well, or spectacularly terrible, but always spectacular. Even as she thought, she was idly watching the training session in front of her. She'd have to talk to the tall, lanky girl about the way she held her sword - it was an invitation to disarm her. And she'd have to talk to the young 14th seat, who hadn't already mentioned it.

As she was starting to let her mind wander more, there was a presence behind her, and the trio working stopped all together, bowing deeply in her direction. She looked up, and smiled. "Konnichi-wa, Ukitake-taicho."

He bowed back to the three who were sheathing their weapons and grabbing towels. "Good morning, Kuragari-san. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

She stood up, brushing dust off her rear as she did. "I arrived early, sir, it's no trouble." She looked around the courtyard. "Why did you ask to meet me here, if I may ask?"

The grin that crossed his face lit it up. "Well, we're actually waiting for Takeuichi-san, and then the three of us are going to spar a bit."

Amaya couldn't stop her jaw from falling open. "I . . . we . . . what?" Then she shook her head. "Gomen, taicho. I didn't know that you were interested in physical training with us. May I ask why?"

He had pulled his white hair back into a tail with a strip of cloth, and was limbering up. "I know you are both trying to manifest your zanpaktou's spirits. That can be very dangerous, if you aren't strong enough, or prepared enough." He stopped, looking slightly comical with one hand poised over his head as he stretched his side, even though his face was serious. "I don't want to see either of you come to harm because of it."

She tilted her head. "I see. The best way to assure yourself of our strength and preparedness is to test us yourself. Very well." Her lips curved into a smile. "I have no problem with that, taicho," she said as she tugged her own hair back into a similar tail. "As long as you don't feel bad when Takeuichi-kun and I win."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Flopping onto her futon, Amaya blew out a breath. She'd worked her ass off in that sparring match, and Isamu hadn't fared much better. She hadn't really realized what a difference there was between vice-captains and captains before. It was . . . impressive, and Ukitake-taicho hadn't even released his bankai.

Stifling a groan, she sat up, bracing her elbows on her knees. She had to get stronger, be better. Though he had declared them strong enough to continue their bankai training, it had been humbling in the extreme to get your ass handed to you that hard.

There was a knock at the door, and she managed to shuffle her way to open it. When she did, there was no one out there, just two bentos on the floor. She frowned for a moment, then recognized the handwriting on the note on top. As well as the bunny drawing.

Another groan as she picked up the boxes and shuffled down the hall to the next door. It took a minor miracle of balance to hold them with one hand and knock on Isamu's door with the other, but she did it. At his muffled, "Come in," she sighed and pushed the door open.

He saw what she was carrying, and immediately went shame-faced. "Amaya-chan, you didn't have to make us dinner after all the training we both did. I feel bad, let me . . . ." He took the boxes and saw the note at the same time she said, "I didn't make it."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Aizen sat behind his desk, thinking. His plan was almost in place, very close now. With that foolish girl as his subordinate, the keystone was set in place. He just had to wait until the squads sent someone into the human world who he could easily track, and who he could count on to use Urahara's goods.

There was only one choice, really, and he'd waited a while for someone to break Kuchiki's determination. He wouldn't have thought the nobleman could be won over so easily by something so base, however. Some people had no class, no vision.

Slipping a hand through his hair, leaving one strand dangling over his face, he laughed. Not the friendly, easy-going laugh that fooled the morons outside, but his real laugh; hard, cold, maybe a little mad. The plan was working perfectly, nothing could stop him.

 

[Armphid]

"So, what's the good word, guys?" Isamu knelt down at his position at the head of the table the Squad's junior officers were seated around. He was lucky in a way, that Kaien Shiba had been in charge of this Squad so often during his service; the members were used to a certain level of informality that was hardly common in the Gotei 13.

"Takeuchi-san," Sentaro cleared his throat, the well built man gesturing to his right, "Kiyone and I-"

"No, don't say it like that," the petite blond corrected her fellow 4th Seat with a shake of her head, "Sentaro and I, he's the one who really put it together."

"No, no, Kiyone's being too modest. She-"

"Don't correct me, goat-beard!" She hopped to her feet, "I'm trying to give you most of the credit!"

"You're the one correcting me, and I already gave you the credit, so knock it off!"

Isamu sighed and rested his forehead on one hand. He'd gotten tired of their act quickly and laid into them pretty harshly about the need to work together and not be tearing each other down all the time. This was the result. "You two really need to just do it already and get all this out of your systems." Maybe he should order them to. Could he do that?

Sentaro and Kiyone blushed deeply and looked at one another, and then away. Kiyone huffed, "Takeuchi-san, y-you shouldn't say that at an official meeting!"

"As the highest ranked officer present, I give myself permission," the auburn haired American replied with a fully unapologetic grin. "Now, sit down and give your damn report already! Kiyone-san, you do it."

"Hai!" Still blushing furiously, she sat back down. "Encounters in our area of control, which now includes several provinces around Tokyo at this point, have stabilized. Rates have been consistent over the last few years and our mission members have been successful with no casualties though there have been several injuries, some severe."

Isamu nodded, "All right, Sentaro-san, you go now."

"Hai." Sentaro glanced over at Kiyone and the blush that had faded from his face returned. "However, this year the rate of Hollow incursions has dropped off in all of the districts under our control...except District 3600. It has increased there by a factor of 3."

"Damn. Karakura Town again." What was it about that place? Was it Urahara's shop and the people there? Squad 13 used the place as a contact and supply point for all missions not only in Karakura Town but the surrounding areas. There were a number of other high reiatsu humans there as well. But even that didn't explain why it was so heavily attacked, let alone this recent increase.

He and Amaya both sensed that Ukitake knew something about it he wasn't telling them. Probably some information that was Captains-only.

Sentaro went on, seeing that Isamu wasn't going to speak further. "We've still been successful in District 3600 but there aren't just more Hollows going there but stronger ones. Our last three members have come back injured and the last, Iemura, will be in recovery with Squad 4 for another month."

"I see." Isamu frowned. Damn it! If only they could send Seated officers on these missions, they wouldn't have these injuries. But Soul Society demanded that they could only send officers out on missions under certain extraordinary circumstances or with special permission. "All right then. I'll take this to Ukitake-taichou and Kuragari-fukutaichou." He rose and looked over the others assembled, all of the Seated officers from 4th to 13th. "Everyone, we need to step up our game. I don't want anyone coming back from these missions hurt. Work with your subordinates on training; I want an additional zanjutsu and kidou session a week. Kiyone, Sentaro, handle it."

"Hai," they chorused together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"I see." Ukitake tapped the fingers of his right hand on the report Isamu had given him. Amaya stood at his side and her green eyes mirrored her captain's concern. "This rise in Hollow activity; it's almost like they're being guided somehow."

Isamu nodded, "I thought so too. Taichou, is it possible that some Hollow has made itself king or something?"

Ukitake shook his head, "It's impossible to know. We get no real information on Hueco Mundo and going there, even for reconnaissance, is a suicide mission."

Amaya cleared her throat, "Be that as it may, Ukitake-taichou, we must deal with this information. I think that for now, we can only send our most powerful unseated members to respond in District 3600." She caught Isamu's eyes and nodded, almost smirking. "Which means..."

"Indeed." Byakuya would not be happy. "Notify Kuchiki that as of now, she is on stand-by and will be our first responder to any Hollow incidents in Karakura Town. And be sure to tell her that I am fully confident in her capabilities." He wanted to add that they tell her to be careful as well. But it might undermine her fragile confidence.

"Hai, Taichou!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Don't hesitate to contact the Urahara Shop for supplies if you need them," Isamu said as they walked towards the Senkaimon. "Don't worry about paying them yourself, the Squad has an account set up." He then grinned, "But I check your expense report, so don't just buy a bunch of rabbit stuff, all right?"

"Hai," Rukia said absently. She was even quieter than the normally somber and withdrawn girl she'd been since Kaien died. Her huge eyes were placid but he was sure her emotions were roiling beneath that calm exterior.

"And remember your training. When you fight any Hollows, play to your strenghts; kidou and hit and run sword techniques." Was she even paying attention? "And be sure to report in regularly."

"Hai."

"And be sure to wear your panties on your head for good luck."

"Hai."

Isamu sighed. He purposefully stepped in front of her, Rukia almost walking into him and looking up with a start. "Kuchiki-san," he looked around and saw no one else nearby. "Rukia-san, don't worry. You're more than powerful enough for the mission. You've got the training, the tools, and above all the talent. I believe in you, so does Amaya-chan, and Ukitake-taichou."

She flushed and chewed her lower lip, "Do you really think so, Isamu-kun?" It was the first time she'd called him that since their quarrel at Amaya's promotion party.

"I know it for a fact." Isamu stepped out of her way as the Senkaimon began to glow faintly, "It's almost time." Where was Amaya? She said she'd be here. "Hey, did you ever tell Kuchiki-taichou about your deployment?"

"It's a minor thing, so he probably wouldn't care to know about it..."

~~~~~~~~~​

"Congratulations, Abarai-kun!" Momo beamed as she pushed a letter across the table to him. Kira stood on her right, Ikkaku Madarame on her left, and Amaya was kneeling beside the stunned looking Renji.

Renji's eyes were huge as he stared at the letter and then set it down. A pair of odd, sci-fi looking goggles were on his head. There was no mistaking this caligraphy and the content was clear but. "I...I'm honored, Hinamori-fukutaichou and humbly accept."

Momo laughed, "That sounds so strange coming from you! Don't be so uptight, Abarai-kun."

Amaya nodded, "She's right. Be yourself, Abarai-kun. Obviously that's what got you this far." And maybe a helpful offhand mention of his talents to Byakuya Kuchiki during one of their rendezvous.

Ikkaku nodded, "You're one step closer to that man now, Abarai. Your will has been strong for forty years, don't falter now." He glanced at Amaya who nodded and have a little encouraging gesture out of Renji's field of vision. "You should talk to Rukia Kuchiki now, you know. You're a lieutenant; that's a high enough position for the nobility to respect. You're not too far from her now."

Kira nodded, "You should hurry though, she's on a mission to the Human World. She's leaving later today, I think, right Kuragari-chan?"

The pink haired girl nodded, "That's right. Come on, Abarai-kun. Let's go see her off together and give her the good news!"

Renji looked at the letter lying in front of him and shook his head. "It won't be official for a month. That's her assignment, right? Then...when she gets back, I'll be waiting so I can surprise her with being a lieutenant."

Momo and Kira had tolerant smiles on their faces, while Amaya and Ikkaku looked vaguely annoyed. Kira spoke, "That's to be expected from Abarai-kun."

~~~~~~~​

The Senkaimon was eerily illuminated now and the first set of gates slid open. Isamu placed a hand on Rukia's slender shoulder, "This is it. Got your Hell Butterfly?"

"H-hai." Rukia took a deep breath, the black insect perched on one of her dainty, fingers held out before her.

"You'll do well, Rukia-chan, and we'll be waiting for you." Amaya smiled, "And I'll let Kuchiki-taichou know for you."

"Arigatou gozaimasu." The inner gate of the Senkaimon opened and Rukia felt her stomach tighten up and her heart begin to pound. "I'm going. ...Good-bye."

"Gambatte, Rukia-chan," Amaya called after her as the petite shinigami released the butterfly and ran after it as it fluttered into the gates and the space between dimensions that was beyond them.

Isamu waved, not that she could see it. "Give 'em hell, Kuchiki!"

She vanished from sight as the inner gate closed, the outer one doing so a moment later. The light from the windows of the Senkaimon brightened dramatically and then dimmed down to nothing.

Isamu nodded, "There she goes. I think this'll do her a world of good."

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya sighed and unfolded her legs, stretching out the tightened, stiffened muscles. "What's wrong, Hitsugaya-taicho?"

The younger man looked up, his eyes surprised. "What do you mean? Everything's fine." But there were bright spots on both his cheeks, and he wouldn't meet her eyes.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "You don't have to lie. I can tell there's something bothering you, and you're over there fretting about it while I'm training." She put on a big-sisterly expression, the one that always got the other orphans to open up to her. "Come on, tell me what's the matter."

He heaved a sigh. There had been a few things that had been occupying his mind. And one of them he was certainly not going to share with her - he'd had some very . . . vivid dreams the previous evening. But the other thing . . . well, she was a vice-captain, and responsible enough at acquitting her duties that he could probably tell her without worry that it would get spread around. "Very well. I've got some . . . concerns about a few of my fellow captains."

Amaya put on a curious face, just the right amount of interest, even though her ears perked up so hard she thought they might be pointed now. Had official word gotten out about her and Byakuya? Gods knew it had taken long enough, if so.

"I've seen a few encounters now that don't . . . feel right to me. There's a lot of tension between Aizen and Ichimaru, and I'm not sure what to make of it."

Blinking, the pink-haired girl stared for a moment. That had sure as hell not been what she'd expected. "Well, I . . . don't know. I mean, Ichimaru-taicho has a strange manner about him, you know? He's nice enough, but he's a close talker. Maybe Aizen-taicho values his personal space?"

The words sounded lame, even to her. But the white-haired boy gave her a bracing smile. "That's probably it, Kuragari. Good thinking." That wouldn't stop him from watching the two men more closely, however. There was just something so . . . sinister about that fox-faced captain. "Anyway. Back to it, or you'll never get to see your sword's spirit."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya shifted slightly, turning her head to look up at Isamu. "Isamu-kun, what do you think about Aizen-taicho, and Ichimaru-taicho?"

"Hmm?" He looked down at her around the papers he was looking through. "I don't know. Aizen's always seemed like a good guy. Nice, but stern when he needed to be. Ichimaru . . . I've never really been comfortable around him. And I didn't really like it when you were in his squad, but that's mostly because you weren't with me then, you know?" She nodded. "I also don't agree with his thoughts on fighting, but I don't think that comes as a surprise."

She laughed softly. "It doesn't. Okay, then." She settled back down, her eyes staring up at him without seeing him, really.

"Why do you ask? Did one of them ask you to become their mistress too?" The joke only stung a little now, and he also meant it as a genuine joke.

She smirked. "No, but that's not for lack of sexiness on my part." She pushed herself carefully to be leaning back on her elbows. "Hitsugaya-taicho told me that he thinks there's a lot of tension between them, and I'm trying to figure out why."

Isamu set the papers down and tapped one finger idly on his leg. "You know, that's a good question. Aizen seems like the kind of guy who tries to get along with everyone. And it's not like they would cross paths a lot in any situation they'd butt heads on."

Shrugging, Amaya laid back down. "It's probably nothing - I'm sure they'll work it out eventually." She smiled up at him. "Go back to your reading, love. This was idle thoughts, not something that's got a lot of import."

He grabbed the papers and tapped her forehead with them. "You never know what will shake the foundations, sweet-tits."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Ran-san, really, I don't need to go shopping today!"

Amaya flailed a bit behind the busty vice-captain as she was pulled along towards one of the street markets in Rukongai. "Of course you do! You won't believe the bargains!" Rangiku turned and grinned at her. "There's some cute stuff - not like you can get in the human world, but cute! And you need something new if you want to keep Isamu-kun's eye!"

Huffing, Amaya gave her a firm look. "Ran-san, I don't need anything new to keep his eyes on me."

"Well, you haven't before, but he and I have . . . well. Remember, I'm your senpai! Everything you know, I know and more!"

There was a moment of silence, and Amaya sighed. "Fine. I'll shop, but that's not why I'm doing it. I've just realized that you're determined, and I can't stop the crazy train."

Linking her arm with Amaya's happily, Rangiku started forward again. "It's good you've realized it - my captain may never reach your wisdom!"

"Don't be mean, Ran-san, he just likes fighting with you!" Amaya stopped them at a stall selling summer-weight robes in bright colors. "Oooh, I like this one."

 

[Armphid]

"All right, guys. Not everybody's needed for the rest of the rehearsal, so take off if you want to." Isamu unslung his guitar from his shoulder as he spoke, clicking off a speaker before leaning the instrument against it. To his mild surprise, none of the members of the Soul Reapers, the name they'd finally settled on for their band, made an attempt to move off. All but one of them turned off equipment and set it aside but then they all sat in a loose semi circle around the remaining performers.

He'd expected Kurotsuchi to take off at least. But the doll-like young woman was sedately seated beside Captain Kyouraku...who had produced a bottle of sake and some cups from somewhere and was having her pour while he passed them out.

The group was in a practice space in Squad 8's compound; an old storage room cleaned out by Kyouraku's order for their use. It wasn't a large space but enough for their needs; instruments and audio equipment on one two walls, the other with a few chairs and a bookcase that was messily organized with sheet music, notebooks, and odd items like spare string, drum sticks, picks, and so on.

Isamu stepped back and sat down with the others, murmuring his thanks as Nemu passed him a small cup. He turned his eyes back to the two people remaining in the "performance area" of the little room. "Are you ready?"

Renji nodded, flexing his fingers, "Yeah. I don't care for this slower stuff so much, but it's pretty easy."

There was a moment of silence and then a faint clearing of the throat. Nanao Ise's porcelain complexion was brushed with scarlet as she stood in front of a lone microphone stand. "I...I would prefer it if the rehearsal was more minimal."

"Ara, Nanao-chan," Kyouraku tipped his hat back off his head and smiled at her. "You have to get used to singing in front of groups. Besides, we've all heard you before and you sing so beautifully, how could we want to leave the nightengale's presence?"

Her blush deepened, "Taichou, y-you..."

Isamu shook his head, "Ise-fukutaichou, you'll do great. But a band is a team effort, so if they want to be here, they're here. And Kyouraku-taichou's being a little flowery but he's not wrong."

Nanao's lips quirked a bit and her eyes were bright before she composed herself and then nodded. Isamu successfully fought the urge to roll his eyes. If she liked being acknowledged for it, then why...these guys were so damn Japanese sometimes! "All right, so Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou, can you give them a few measures of the beat before they pick it up?" Nemu held up eight fingers, tapping one foot audibly for a few moments and then counting down on the fingers.

Nanao breathed and started to sing a few beats before the piano picked up and joined in, "Nobody knows who I really am, I never felt this empty before; And if I ever need someone to come along, who's going to comfort me and keep me strong?"

The half-breed closed his and just listened to Nanao's naturally talented and obviously trained voice sing with heart touching emotion. It was part of their latest wave of music; a much more modern take that had moved away from the West and was focusing more on current Japanese music in the Human World. As a result, the song contained both English and Japanese lyrics.

It was a bittersweet song; sad but also hopeful. It reminded him of Rukia for some reason. That thought made him sigh and sink a bit deeper into worried thoughts. She made one report back and it was very...vague. That wasn't like her usual work. And since that report, there had been nothing.

Which didn't mean anything, he reminded himself. Amaya had brought up that daily or even weekly reports weren't mandatory; reports were only to be given if an incident merited it. So there was no need to worry.

Right. He didn't buy that any more than Amaya herself had.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Konnichi wa, Takeuchi-sama!"

Isamu blinked, not having noticed Kiyone in the hallway. "Oh, hey, Kiyone-san." She smiled at him; far more cute than her sister but also far less sexy. "Is Kuragari-fukutaichou in her office?"

"Hai, she's meeting with Hinamori-fukutaichou of Squad 5."

"Ah, thanks." He waved and headed past the petite blond. Amaya had taken to calling on Momo more immediately before Rukia's assignment but certainly since then. It was good to see, the two had been so close at the Academy but since then the sheer factors of time and space had put some distance between them.

He paused at the door to Amaya's office. There was a kidou around it...he took a moment to get a feel for it. A sound muffling kidou. Momo must be here on business then; and it was something that lower officers weren't supposed to hear.

...He didn't like secrecy much.

Knowing he'd get scolded but that they probably wouldn't push him out once he was inside, Isamu opened the door and stepped past the thin membrane of spirit magic that prevented sound from leaving, "Oops, I guess I should have-"

"Ahh! T-Takeuchi-kun!" Momo was staring up at him in shock and her cheeks flared a bright red that spread to the rest of her face and down her neck. He could see that it went this far because the pretty, delicate girl was nude as the day she was born, her legs on either side of Amaya's face and her own hovering over his love's pink haired pussy.

Amaya looked shocked too but then grinned, "Shut the door, Isamu-kun, you bad kid! You should have knocked. Momo-chan had told me she was feeling more experimental lately and she and Kira-kun are currently in a rocky spot, so..."

Isamu closed the door behind him and turned as well, adding a physical barrior kidou to the one already in place on the door. "I can see that. Now I'm doubly not sorry I barged in."

Momo was still blushing but she smiled a little, "Maybe...you'd like to watch?"

Amaya grinned, "Or join in?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

The light slanting in through the windows showed that several hours had passed. Incense burned in holders around the room; the scent overpowering the thick musky odor of sex that had pervaded the air until a few minutes ago.

The three friends were seated around Amaya's little table, all dressed again, smiling. Isamu took a cup of tea that Momo had poured, "Thanks. Hey, Hinamori-chan, can I ask you something?"

"After that, it wouldn't be very nice if I said no, would it?" The willowy girl beamed at him. "What is it?"

"Well," he probably shouldn't out Amaya or Hitsugaya as his source, "I've heard some rumors that there have been some run-ins between Aizen-taichou and Ichimaru-"

"Ichimaru-taichou," Amaya nudged him with an elbow.

He bypassed that little disagreement for the moment. "That they've had some tension between them lately. Do you know anything about that?"

Momo looked thoughtful. "Aizen-taichou hasn't mentioned anything. But I know that he disagrees with Ichimaru-taichou's mischievous ways. He thinks Ichimaru-taichou can get carried away and become cruel, even though he still talks about him like he was still a lieutenant."

"Oh!" Amaya blinked. "I just remembered something! Isamu-kun, when you and Mituskake-san fought that time, Ichimaru-taichou was there. After Aizen-taichou stopped the fight, they kind of had a moment, didn't they?" She nodded, "I remember...Aizen-taichou chided him and Ichimaru-taichou said that "things weren't they way they used to be" or something and he wasn't smiling as much then..."

Isamu shook his head, "I don't remember but I was pretty out of it. You know, Mitsukake's wife came to see me in the hospital." Both girls looked surprised. "She wanted to express her sympathies and apologize...she's a classy lady. She commented that Mitsukake had several encounters with Ichimaru-taichou before it all went down." He ran a hand through his hair, "She said she thought that the captain egged Mitsukake on. And there was that business when I was arrested that time...he showed up out of nowhere to rub my face in it..."

Momo shivered. "I don't like him. It's wrong to say because he's a captain, but I don't like Ichimaru-taichou. He's always leering and standing so close...and touching. Never anything bad, but..."

There was silence for a few moments. Then Amaya shook her head, "Let's talk about something else. Momo-chan, you should see what I bought last time Rangiku-san and I went shopping!"

~~~~~~~~~​

"I'll get it delivered." Isamu took the sheaf of papers Renji held out and took a moment to look at his friend and kind of rival. "You've gotten stronger."

The redhead shrugged, "So have you. We're both still training, so it's no surprise." Ikkaku had finally declared that neither the two of them nor Amaya could learn what they needed to from him anymore and had ended their official training with him. But all of them had continued to practice on their own.

"No, it's more than that..." Isamu gasped and half-rose from his desk, "Abarai, you haven't-"

"Abarai-fukutaichou," Renji growled. Then he shook his head, "Anyway, thanks for taking care of those. Tell Kuragari-chan I said hi."

"Sure." Isamu watched the other man walk away. If he hadn't, he'd bet that Renji was close. Damn it! He had to step it up somehow!

~~~~~~​

"We need to go after her." Isamu stood before Captain Ukitake's desk, at attention. "It's been 30 days since her assignment and almost as long since her last report, she'll be overdue tomorrow. Something must be wrong."

Ukitake frowned and looked over at Amaya, "I am concerned as well, Isamu." He'd taken to calling the young American by his first name over the last few years, much as he did with Sentaro and Kiyone. "But we have reason to believe Kuchiki is fine and is performing within, even beyond, what we expected. There have been several Hollow incidents in District 3600 and Squad 12's Spirit Monitoring has detected all of them being purified, as well as a number of Pluses coming in. As far as we can tell, she is doing exactly what we have asked of her."

"But with no word?" Isamu shook his head, "Something's off on this, taichou. She was so nervous about this assignment I expected to get something almost every day. And there's been a whole month of silence instead!"

Amaya cleared her throat. Privately, she agreed with her love but this was not the way to make this argument. He also wasn't aware of information that she and Ukitake were; that there had been a spike in Hollow attacks in other parts of the Human World. Resources were stretched a bit thin right now. "Takeuchi-kun, we can't know what's happened. But obviously she's blossomed in the field." It was known to happen, though she still had her doubts. "I'm sure there's a good reason she hasn't contacted us or come back yet. Maybe her equipment malfunctioned and she hasn't been able to get a good replacement. Either way, I'm sure she'll be back later today or tomorrow and we'll find out."

 

[HookerBoots]

"Sir! He's back!" One of the techs sitting at a computer terminal in the underground bunker of Squad 12's observation section straightened up. "Hollow #4534, Grand Fisher! He's in a cemetery in District 3600."

Nemu walked over quickly, her empty eyes assessing the readout on the screen. "The usual."

"Roger that." Two quick strokes, and an alert was sent out to every shinigami in the human world. The beast had been plaguing the human world and Soul Society for over 50 years. Maybe this time, they'd be able to do something about it.

"Who is the shinigami assigned to that district?" Nemu's cool voice almost startled the young woman at the console.

"Uh, one moment, fukutaicho." She peered at the screen. "Rukia Kuchiki, unseated Squad 13. She is overdue, however, and has not reported in."

"Overdue. How long?"

"Two days, sir."

Nemu nodded, then moved stepped slightly away. "Keep me informed."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya chewed her lower lip as she listened to Nanao talk about something dull - it was as though the other woman felt like she had to balance out Yachiru's little-kid-crazy by being as dry as possible. These meetings of the Women's Shinigami Association had been an interesting way to waste time, and even now that she was preoccupied worrying about Rukia, it wasn't bad. But all of it was such a waste of time.

Maybe she should talk to Nanao about using the club as a way to actually promote female shinigami and their agenda - try and get more of them seated, and reach Captain level by training.

Before she'd even finished the thought, she was raising her hand. "Vice-president, may I speak?"

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Gomen nasai, Kurotsuchi-fukutaicho, may I have a word?" Amaya tucked her hands behind her back, trying to look appropriately modest.

The doll-like woman tilted her head. "Of course, Kuragari-fukutaicho. How may I be of service?"

"Well, as you know, Rukia Kuchiki-san is overdue from her assignment in the human world."

"Yes. We were aware." Nemu motioned for them to move to a bench and sit. "I am surprised you had not approached me sooner. She is more than a week overdue." There was a pause. "And I am not entirely sure that she is still alive."

Alarm lit Amaya's face. "What? What makes you say that?"

"A day after her scheduled return, our sensors detected a very old, powerful, and treacherous Hollow in her sector. The Hollow was wounded, but not killed. And we have have no response from Kuchiki-san's communicator since that time."

Blinking, the pink-haired girl said slowly, "But there have been other Hollow attacks in that same district since. And they have been purified."

"Yes. But that could be any number of things."

"Like what?"

Hesitation now, and Nemu said cautiously, "I am afraid that Mayuri-sama would be very upset if I shared that with you. Gomen, Kuragari-fukutaicho, but while it is possible Kuchiki-san is still alive, it is equally possible that she is not." Nemu stood up, looking down at Amaya with something akin to pity.

"Would you please watch for her, in any case? Even if there is something wrong, her Squad, her family should know for certain."

The even tone to her voice and strength of her bearing made Nemu want to smile at her. Such spirit - no wonder Takeuchi was infatuated! "Of course, Kuragari-fukutaicho. As a personal favor."

~ ~ ~ ~​

There was a streak of black and a yowl, and whatever it was darted around the corner. Amaya peered after it, but the cat - she thought it was a cat - was gone. "Huh. Strange."

"What's strange?" The voice came from directly behind her, and she gasped a little.

"I didn't hear you, Soi Fon-taicho. Gomen!"

"What's strange?" The petite woman gave Amaya a firm, almost pointed stare.

Shaking her head, Amaya gestured at the alley. "I thought I saw a cat, but when I looked around the corner, there was nothing there. I must have been imagining it."

Narrow eyes stared back at her. "Perhaps." Striding with purpose, Soi Fon headed toward the alley. "Go back to your Squad, Kuragari."

Amaya stared for a moment, then shrugged and turned down the street, heading back to her barracks.

 

[Armphid]

"What's wrong with you, Takeuchi?" The rock garden in Squad 10's compound was as serene as ever, having recently been redone into more circular, winding patterns. Toshiro Hitsugaya was seated, as always, on the tallest rock there with his sword in his lap. The physically child-like captain's icy eyes were questioning. "You haven't done this badly since we started."

Isamu bit back a snarl and instead just shook his head, "Two weeks."

"Two weeks?" Hitsugaya tipped his head back a moment and then forward again, "Ah. I heard that one of your Squad went on a mission to the Human World and was overdue. It's been that long?"

"Yeah." He should have answered more politely than that...but it was hard to be courteous these days. Isamu felt a bit ashamed but he knew he had been more sharp with people lately, even snapping at Sentaro and Kiyone when they weren't making asses of themselves. "The one missing is a friend, Hitsugaya-taichou. A close friend. And it's not just that she's overdue, it's-"

"Right, I remember now," the superior officer interrupted. "No sign of her can be found by the observation unit either." His eyes weren't unsympathetic but they weren't empathizing either. "Takeuchi, you've been a shinigami for a while now. You know that shinigami do die in the line of duty. It's likely that has happened."

"Not her! She's far stronger than her rank suggests!" Isamu was on his feet, sheathed sword held in his hands. "And even if...if she died, we'd know about it! We'd know when and which Hollow did it, and it would be part of the record so we could have our revenge! Instead...there's nothing."

Hitsugaya stood slowly, slinging his blade back over his shoulder. "We're done, I think. Takeuchi, focus on your duty. This incident is no excuse for letting your work slip or your concentration waver. It's enough of an embarrassment for Squad 13 already. Focus on doing what you can to recover your division's sullied reputation."

"I don't give a DAMN about reputation! I care about my friend!"

"You should, if you do want to become a captain someday." Hitsugaya fixed Isamu with a direct look, "Even if you achieve the needed power, you'd still have to be approved by the Captain Commander and Central 46. One who causes shame to the Gotei 13 would never be allowed to lead a Squad." The young captain turned and then was gone in a blurring Flash Step.

Isamu's shoulders slumped and he thrust his sword back into his sash, "We have a different idea of what shames the Gotei 13, Hitsugaya-taichou." Then he stiffened, feeling a powerful presence behind him.

"Yare, yare, suprise findin' you here, Takeuchi-kun!" Ichimaru Gin stood not five feet away, his hands tucked up his long, wide sleeves. "You look upset! Hitsugaya-taichou not sharing candy? I know I always try to get some when I drop by."

The fierce half-breed was wisely able to keep from snapping at the fox-faced captain, taking a deep breath. "No, Ichimaru-taichou. It's nothing."

"Oh? Don't look like nothin'. You ain't got to hide your feelings, Takeuchi-kun." He stepped closer, reaching out to pat Isamu on the shoulder, "A captain's got to look out for those under him, right? Even if they're not his Squad."

Isamu felt a shiver go through him and wanted to edge away; feeling overwhelmed by the man standing so close to him. "That's kind of you, taichou, but it's nothing, really. If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the barracks."

"Sure, sure! I bet ya do. Short handed and all that, what with Rukia-chan disappearing." Ichimaru shrugged and laughed, "I thought you might be concerned but I guess not. You don't like nobles, after all, right? Well, later!" He walked away with a wave, heading in the general direction of Rangiku's office.

Isamu stared after him and felt a whirl of emotions in his gut; shame, anger, frustration, and now...doubt. Was he not doing more because she was noble? Damn it! And damn that man for making him feel even worse!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

West Rukongai District 42 was neat and clean and most of the buildings there were in good repair. Some of them might look obviously patched or cobbled together from different styles but they were sound and safe structures. There was an air of openness to the place and lights glowed on many lanterns in the growing twilight, the watchful eyes of the citizens who dwelled there keeping a casual eye out for trouble. After all, the only real danger was if a Hollow showed up. The gangs and thieves had learned to stay away from this area; the people here were not victims.

A group of people were walking away from the largest house in the district, waving. A man called out, "Welcome again, newcomer! Don't worry, Grandmother will take good care of you until you find a family you like!"

"Ah, yes, thank you. Nice to have met you," Anne Takeuchi answered in a friendly but somewhat distant voice. It did not offend the man and his companions or the elderly woman who sat beside Anne on the porch of her home. Newcomers were often kind of shell shocked at first.

"Well, the people here are friendly enough," Anne said after a few moments. She was older herself, in her late sixties, and her hair was not a steely gray that was bound up in a bun at the back of her head. Her skin was still lovely but wrinkled from age, loss, and laughter. She was not the beauty she once was but still looked far better than many her age; the vestiges of it and her own spiritual beauty shining through. Her eyes were bright still, despite her age. She wore a worn looking kimono and sash; her normal clothes having been taken from her by the strange people in black robes.

Shinigami, the people here called them and seemed to have mixed attitudes. Some were afraid of them, some disliked them, some respected them. She wasn't sure what to think herself. The ones she'd met had been polite, if business-like, in informing her of her...status. But then something odd had happened; when they were getting her "ticket," the machine buzzed and printed out a note of some kind and they began to treat her a little nicer before one of them brought her here and introduced her to the woman sitting beside her.

"Yes," the old woman answered with a nod. "We've learned to be kind to each other, we cant' count on anyone else doing so! And you don't need to worry, dear, this district is a good place. You'll do well here."

"I'm sure. It's still so strange. This...isn't what I expected." She wasn't sure what she'd expected. After the crash, she knew she was dead but then instead of angels and harps; she was in a line in some place that looked like it came out of 1600's Japan. And now here she was, in an even more traditional and backwards looking area.

"I know, dear, but don't worry. You'll get used to things here soon enough." The old woman patted her arm, "And I'm sure you'll be well taken care of once he finds out you're here."

Before Anne could ask what that meant, another voice hailed them. It was a young woman's voice and it was familiar. She knew she'd heard it before but couldn't place it. "Konban wa, Haro-san!" A young woman wearing the same outfit as a shinigami was approaching them...though their uniforms hadn't been parted in the front by large, high, pert breasts that were partially exposed by the uniform, nor had they had shockingly pink hair.

Anne stared at the young girl as she approached and bowed, distantly hearing the old woman's welcome of her and a following admonition to call her grandmother, like everyone around here did. "I..." The other two looked at Anne. "I...I know you. How do I..."

Amaya smiled and bowed, "Yes, you do. It's been a while, Takeuchi-san. I hope you've been well."

The American woman blinked at her a few times and then gasped, one hand going to her chest. "Yes! I remember now; you came to our house that time. You told me about my son. It's...Kuragari-chan, isn't it?"

"Hai," she chirped. "I'm flattered you remember me; it was a long time ago."

"Over twenty years...you barely look a day older." Anne shook her head, her eyes a bit dazed. "Oh, you poor dear, are you...dead too?"

Amaya shrugged, "I'm not sure. I might have died as a child and come here or I was born in Rukongai; I don't remember. But I'm a spirit, either way." She smiled gently, "I was when we met too."

"Kuragari-san," the old woman spoke up, "Why don't we continue this inside? I think Takeuchi-san would prefer some privacy and quiet, don't you?"

"Good idea, Haro, uh, Grandmother!" The old woman had given her a little glare when she'd started to say her name. The three of them moved inside; Anne moving somewhat awkwardly.

Once in, the old woman insisted on making tea while Amaya and Anne talked. Amaya went over a lot of the basics of Soul Society and life as a spirit with Anne, the woman coming out of her daze more as the conversation went on. On the third cup of tea, Anne shook her head, "This is a lot to take it. And it seems like a very flawed system; something should be done about that. Families separated like this!"

Amaya couldn't help but smile. Her love came by his tendencies naturally.

Anne then went on, "But Kuragari...san, I think I should say, since you're a shinigami. If you were a shinigami when you came to our house, why were you there? No one died then...and all you did was-" She gasped again and her eyes went wide, her mouth opening and then closing without speaking.

The pink haired girl just nodded. "Yes. I do know him. It's a long story for another time, but we were there on a mission and he found out you were living nearby and..." She spread her hands and shrugged.

"We...so...he's," her voice was a bare whisper. "My boy is here?" Her eyes were huge and hopeful and unshed tears gleamed in them.

Amaya nodded and then huffed, "He should be right here by now! I told him coming here was important." He was probably going over to Squad 12 again though; the two of them had accidentally been pestering Nemu relentlessly for updates. The doll-like lieutenant was unfazed and even seemed amused by it.

From outside, a masculine voice called out, "Oy, Kuragari-chan, Grandmother, I'm here!" Anne jerked as if an electric shock went through her and her head turned towards the sound of the doors to the outside opening and closing, and of shuffling feet. "Sorry it took a little longer than I thought. I had to go and check with Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou on today's data." The door slid open and Isamu bowed slightly as he entered, "Grandmother, it's good to see you. I'm sorry I don't get by more often."

"Your letters are good enough, dear," the old woman answered, "but you should really say hello to my guest."

"Ah, right." The auburn haired half breed turned to where Amaya and Anne were sitting and then froze in place. His eyes went wide and he felt the blood drain from his face. His mouth worked a few times but no words came out. Anne had both hands clasped over her mouth and tears were now streaking down her face unnoticed and unimpeded. When he was able to speak, it was not in the confident, wild voice that Amaya was used to but much softer and almost scared, like he was a little boy. "M-Mom?"

Anne seemed not to move but was simply suddenly across the room, her arms embracing the stunned young man, "My boy!" Her voice broke as she squeezed him as tightly as she could, "My baby, oh, my Isamu!"

Amaya and the old woman quietly slipped out of the room as Isamu's trembling hands lifted to carefully hug his sobbing mother; his own eyes stinging with tears.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

The sun was shining on the dirt streets of West Rukon 42 and children ran and played, those that were done with or shirking their chores. Isamu sat on the porch of Grandmother Haro, as she was known to the whole district, his mother beside him. It was two days since their tearful reunion and they'd spent hours that night talking, laughing, crying, catching up as best they could.

They still were, of course, there was a lifetime to catch up on for both of them. But at the same time, the feelings between them were still strong and they'd picked up almost where they left off. Anne glanced over at him, "You know, I'm still not sure about that long hair."

Isamu snorted, "I'm...hell, how old am I now? Anyway, the girls like it." He grinned at her.

"Hm. One girl, I think." The faded beauty arched an eyebrow at her son, "Next time you visit you should bring Kuragari-san. I'd like to get to know the woman in my son's life."

"I never-"

"You didn't have to, Isamu," she said with that sureness that only a mother speaking to her child can convey. "A mother can tell." Anne looked over at him, "Something's bothering you. It has been for a while, though I think that my getting here put you off of it. What's wrong?"

"Never could fool you for long." He sighed and shook his head, "You know a little about what we do, right? Shinigami, I mean." Anne nodded, tugging the edges of her kimono closer together. The thought of monsters out there eating souls, and her boy fighting them, chilled her. "Well, one of our Squad went on a mission back in May in the Human World and she hasn't come back. She hasn't reported in either. We can't find any trace of her at all. If she were dead, we'd know, if she were still doing her thing there, we'd know. But there's just nothing. And someone there is killing Hollows and sending souls over..."

"You're worried. This person...she's a friend of yours too, isn't she?" She could see it in his eyes even before she'd asked. "I could tell something was bothering Kuragari-san too, when she took her leave that night. Though maybe she was just worried I wouldn't like her," she teased. "I would be worried too."

"It's more than that." Isamu sat back further and braced himself on his hands, looking up at the porch roof overhead. "She's had a hard time. She's a noble but her family is cold and treats her badly. She had a mentor and a friend and then he died pretty horribly and she saw it happen. She lost her confidence and fire after that and distanced herself from us all." He sighed, "I encouraged her to go on this mission. Hell, I pushed and pulled her every step of the way. Amaya-cha, uh, Kuragari-chan did too but..."

"You feel responsible."

He shook his head, "I am responsible. She never would have gone if we hadn't pushed her to. And even if we hadn't, she's still my subordinate." Isamu felt that helpless frustration welling up in him again. "But there's nothing. We can't find anything about her and I can't do a damn thing! I mean, I've asked to send someone else in, to go in myself, but it's been turned down. I don't know what to do now."

Anne looked at him and then up at the sky. "I'd tell you to wait and see; maybe there's a reason for it. But I also know that's not good enough for you," she smiled fondly. He was so strong and fierce now, her little boy. "So you just have to keep trying. They've turned down your requests so far, but they might not always. Do whatever you can officially, exhaust every option, and then look at unofficial ways to find out and do something." She gestured out at Rukongai all around them, "Surely with all the people out here, someone knows something!"

Isamu blinked. Rukongai? Who in Rukongai would-

He gasped as the memory hit him like a slap across the face.

He was in one of the back rooms in Urahara's shop in Karakura Town. Kaien's face was strained but he smiled as he turned, "It's good to see you again, Urahara-san. My sister refuses to tell me anything about you." He sighed, "I guess she thinks I'd rat you out or something."

"She thinks too highly of you for that, Kaien," the cat responded. "But even a careless word could reach the wrong ears."

"I understand." The black haired lieutenant looked at the others, "Listen up. I'm ordering you all right now that none of this is going into any of our reports, not a single word about any of these people or this shop. I'll have your word on that."

"Isamu?"

"Sorry, Mom, I just remembered something." He shook his head and felt a surge of energy; felt like himself. "You're right. I'll go through the official channels until there's nothing more to do, and after that...I think I know who I can go to for help."

Anne smiled. "I'm glad I could help. But...be careful. I never thought I'd see you again and now that I have, well...I don't want to lose you again."

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"A month overdue." Isamu arms were crossed over his chest, his hands tucked into his armpits. It was good that they were since he was clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles were white and he was trying his hardest to control himself. He had to remind himself that this man was as worried as he was, cared like he did, and was a man he respected. "No contact; not one report or even a distress call. Yet Hollows keep being killed and Pluses keep coming through."

Ukitake said nothing, seated at his desk. He felt sick; the stress of all of this was not reacting kindly with his illness. The white haired captain could almost feel one of his now rare episodes coming on.

"Not only that, but Squad 12's observation unit has been unable to locate any trace of Rukia Kuchiki at all. Someone is doing a shinigami's duty, but there's no way to tell if it's her. She has, for all intents and purposes, vanished." Isamu kept the growl mostly out of his voice. "My subordinate, who I proposed for this mission, has disappeared from the world entirely. Not dead, just gone."

Again, Ukitake did not answer, he just nodded. All of what the young man was saying was true.

The junior officer then shocked his superior by dropping to his knees and bowing low on the ground, his hands pressed to the floor in front of him. It galled him to do this; to prostrate himself in front of anyone was disgusting to his ideals. But he had to try. "Ukitake-taichou, given these circumstances, I humbly request permission to go on a recovery mission to the Human World and search for my subordinate, as well as to investigate the situation. Please, accept my request!"

God, he felt like a worm doing this.

Ukitake had never thought he would see this. Even given the few years he'd known the boy, he knew his pride and his ethics would have precluded such an obeisance. He knew that it had cost him to do this. Which made what he had to say even worse, "I'm sorry, Isamu. Request denied."

Isamu's head came up sharply, "Taichou, we-"

"No, Isamu. This comes not only from me but from higher up." Ukitake shook his head, "The situation in District 3600 is so strange and volatile it has been determined that no further shinigami will be sent in until we know what we are dealing with." Particularly given the special circumstances of many of that area's inhabitants. Privately, he wondered if Urahara had a hand in this somehow. "Especially not someone as valuable as a high seated officer. We could not afford to lose you."

"But we can afford to abandon her?" Isamu was back on his feet now and his face was openly angry. But there was more than fury in his eyes, there was a look of deep disappointment.

"...That is the judgment of the Captain Commander," Ukitake replied. "Isamu, I am not asking you to forgive me or him for this decision. But I will ask that you believe in Kuchiki." Isamu blinked, his eyes now suspicious and unclear. "You and Amaya have been her staunchest advocates and insisted that she be given this responsibility and this mission; freedom to act. Have faith in her to use that freedom as she sees fit. If she hasn't contacted us, there is a good reason why."

Isamu grimaced. He hadn't thought of it like that. But still, a month overdue! "I do believe in her, taichou, but...it's been so long."

"I know. Hold onto that faith for a while longer. We won't give up on her or abandon her." Ukitake stood now as well, making sure to look Isamu in the eye. "I would never abandon one of my subordinates. I will act once we know more and I am sure that we are not sending anyone else into certain death. I will act though the laws of Soul Society bar the way."

The resolve in the frail looking captain's voice was a thing of iron. Isamu felt a rush of shame for doubting the man. "...I believe you, Ukitake-taichou. I'll try to be patient and keep believing."

"Thank you, Isamu. If the time comes that I do need to act on my conscience rather than on my orders, it will be good to have you there with me."

~~~~~~~~~​

"Man, you go through all the trouble to be out in the middle of nowhere and then you do this?" Isamu was standing in a rural area of Rukongai in front of a strangely small looking house with an enormous chimney in the back of it that was four or five times as tall as the house itself; on either side of the structure was a statue of an oni which held one end of a massive banner that read "Shiba Kuukaku."

"I mean, does she want attention or not?" It had taken days for him to find someone in Rukongai who knew the Shiba family and a lot of cajoling to find the location of this place. It stood to reason; they were a rich and powerful family out here, though they were considered to no longer exist by the other nobles who lived inside the Seireitei.

But he also knew she had a way to talk to Urahara. Kaien had all but said so on the Spearfinger mission. And that made her the only one who could help him; and his last resort before he did something blatantly illegal.

He took a step towards the house and then stopped again, feeling a pair of presences watching him. "Gatekeepers, huh? Get on with it then and quit hiding!"

"How impudent!" The bellowing voice came from atop the belly of the right oni statue. A man stood up from out of the shadows; tall and bulging with muscles, wearing a tight Chinese style shirt, baggy pants, and a small hat perched on his head. He had a thin mustache and his hair was largely shaved except at the back where it was pulled into a thin, braided tail. "Daring to come at all to the home of the great Kuukaku Shiba at all, and then to speak so boldly! And a shinigami no less!"

"Terrible!" An nearly identical man, just with a longer face and a different colored shirt, rose up on the other statue. "It cannot be tolerated!" Both men leaped down in front of Isamu, "I, Shiroganehiko, will not let you pass!"

The one that had first spoke bellowed, "And I, Koganehiko, demand that you leave this place at once!"

Isamu felt a surge of frustration and disbelief. Were these guys for real? "I'm not here to fight you but I will if it comes to that. I won't ask to be invited in but I'm not leaving until I talk to Kuukaku Shiba."

"The infidel shinigami dares speak her glorious name!" Koganehiko wailed while his comrade threw his arms about it comic indignation. "What business do you have with Kuukaku-sama?"

"That's between me and her," Isamu answered. "Tell her that I'd like to talk to her about getting a message to Urahara-san." Both men immediately froze in their antics and oriented on him with serious expressions. "And that I was a friend of Kaien Shiba and I'm here on behalf of his protege and subordinate."

"Kaien-sama..." Both men bowed their heads. Koganehiko then looked at his partner and nodded before turning and walking back to the house.

Shiroganehiko held out a hand, "Do not take a step further, shinigami! But your message will be relayed."

Isamu took a few steps back but nodded. He wanted to smash this idiot out of his way and just walk in...but that wasn't exactly polite and he needed Kuukaku's help. "Thanks."

They waited several minutes. Both men kept their eyes on one another, sizing up a possible opponent. Isamu was somewhat impressed. This guy, and his twin too, was pretty strong. If he were a shinigami, he'd have the raw power to be seated, if not the skill or training. He probably had some skills too, otherwise he wouldn't be a gate keeper. But Isamu could take him.

The taller man suddenly stepped to the side and then knelt, bowing at the waist. The door to the house was open and Koganehiko came out of it before stepping aside and kneeling in identical fashion to Shiroganehiko. "All right, start talking, shinigami. You better have a good reason for bugging me," came a female voice, rougher than he'd expected.

Kuukaku Shiba was a little taller than average and slender, with long, shapely legs that were almost fully exposed by the incredibly skimpy robe she wore; the garment also failed to close over her chest and served merely to support a pair of round, luscious, massive breasts that were even larger than Amaya's or Rangiku's huge jugs. Her left arm had a strange tattoo on her bicep and the right arm ended in a stump about eight inches below her shoulder, a short sword belted to it. Her hard eyes were a dark green and her wild, raggedy black hair was woven through with what looked like bandages. Her face as pretty but strong and currently set in an expression of exasperated annoyance.

She was...wow. She was totally different than what he'd imagined Kaien's sister being like. She was also incredibly hot. Kuukuku put her hand on her hips as he gaped a moment. "Well, spit it out, shinigami!"

"Yeah, sorry about that, Shiba-san," Isamu answered, shaking his head. "I'm seeming more of you than I expected and you're damn good looking, it took me a moment to recover." He got the impression that at least amused her but her expression didn't change much. "My name is Isamu Takeuchi-"

"I don't care what your name is, damn it! What do you want?"

He felt a momentary urge to say something unwise but choked it down. "I'm here because one of my friends, one of Kaien-san's former subordinates and one he mentored closely, is missing in the Human World. I know you have a way to get messages there to a certain person who might know something about it. I'm here to ask a favor; please send a message to ask if he knows anything."

Kuukaku's expression was marginally less severe and there was curiosity about it now. "And how do you know I can do something like that?"

"Kaien-san mentioned it on a mission we were on in the Human World. We were in a certain person's shop at the time." Isamu took a step forward and felt the two servants tense but ignored it. "Shiba-san, please. I know it's an inconvenience and I don't mean to drag you into something you're not interested in. But the missing person is important to me, and was important to Kaien-san too. He'd want-"

"Don't tell me what he'd want!" Kuukaku snapped and strode forward, her tremedous breasts swaying from side to side, the beauty now scowling. "He was my brother! I damn well knew him better than you!"

"Then you know he'd want to find out if one of his subordinates is in trouble and needs help," Isamu snapped right back. The striking woman stalked right up to him, glowering up at him without fear. He could feel power radiating from her; she was strong, very strong. But he wasn't afraid of her either. "You're the only way I've got! I've tried to get permission to go myself and been shut down, it's this or nothing! Now are you going to help?"

She said nothing for a few moments. Then she smirked, "You've got balls. And you're different than most shinigami. What are you, a half-breed? Never thought they'd allow that." Those green eyes regarded him for a few moments. "What's the name of this missing friend of yours?"

"Then you'll-"

"Didn't say that. What's the name?"

"Her name is Rukia Kuchiki."

Kuukaku's eyes went wide and then hardened again. She stepped away and turned her back to him, walking back to the house. "Beat it, shinigami. We're done."

Just like that? "Wait! Are you going to help or not?" He took a few steps after her, disregarding the rumbling noises from Koganehiko and Shiroganekiho as they rose to their feet.

Kuukaku stopped at the threshold of the building. "Too much risk to help that one out. Sorry, shinigami. Now get the hell out of here."

"This is what the Shiba family is now?" Isamu snarled, his temper breaking, "A bunch of misfits hiding in the woods and unwilling to make anyone's lives better? You coward!"

She was back to him in an instant, grabbing the front of his shikahusho, "Bastard! You think I'm afraid? Of you? It ain't got nothing to do with that! I'm not helping a damn shinigami! And not that one, for some guy I just met! Not after what shinigami cost us!"

"Cost you? Kaien-san WAS a shinigami, and-"

"And a shinigami killed him!" Kuukaku pushed him and Isamu went hurtling back; the young man startled by her physical strength, many times what it should be. "I know that! I know the whole story! I was against him ever getting involved with you bastards! If he hadn't...he'd be alive right now!"

"Tch." Isamu shook his head, "So he just should've hung out in the woods with you and ignored people suffering? Let Hollows roam free as long as he was safe? ...I thought your clan would be different than the other nobles. But you're exactly the same."

Kuukaku snarled and he felt her spiritual pressure increase, "You got a pair on you, saying that to me."

"I speak my mind to anyone I damn well want to!" The American turned away from her. "I'm sorry for your loss. I liked Kaien-san and Miyako-san a lot. But it doesn't excuse not doing anything when you have the power to. I won't bother you anymore. So long, Kuukaku Shiba."

She watched him go with angry eyes and then snorted. "Arrogant little punk." What he said though, it bothered her. He reminded her, a little bit, of her brother just then. That's something he'd have said. She closed her eyes and hugged her waist with her lone arm. And it got him killed. "Koganehiko, Shiroganehiko!"

"Haa!"

"We're moving the house again. Tomorrow. Make the preparations." She went back into the house, heading down the stairs. She needed a drink and a smoke.

"Kuukaku-sama, Ganju-sama isn't back yet, what if..."

She shook her head, not even looking back at the concerned looks on the two men's faces. "If he misses us, he'll have to track us down. His own fault for running around like a damn fool."

~~~~~~~​

Isamu gasped, "They found her?"

"She's alive," Amaya asked, "isn't she?"

"Hai," Ukitake answered. He looked stricken and more like his old self, pale and frail. Their faces were shining with hope and he hated to dash it. "The observation group picked up a transmission of an entertainment program in the Human World. The star of this show has strong spirit power for a human and he can see and interact with spirits; he goes around trying to exorcise them, but he actually accidentally turns them into Hollows."

He pushed a folder across his desk and Amaya immediately picked it up and opened it, a number of photographic printouts in it. "We've been tracking him, just to make sure that we have someone on hand to kill the Hollow once he's done. So we were watching last night and were able to take these pictures."

Isamu leaned to look over Amaya's shoulder as she looked through the pictures. There were a number of them there; of a dark skinned man in a ridiculous outfit, of a hospital, of a crowd gathered, and there in one of the enlarged crowd shots was the pale, petite form of Rukia Kuchiki. There were others of her as well, running, shouting, and there was a shinigami...but it wasn't her. There was no clear picture of the person but it was clearly a young man; probably 18 years old. There was also a picture of Rukia knocking his soul out of his body with a strange glove.

"She's alive," Isamu said; relief naked in his voice. "I knew it! But why isn't she fighting?"

Amaya cleared her throat, "Ukitake-taichou, these pictures...it...it doesn't mean that?"

"It does." Ukitake's voice sounded tired. "Kuchiki has officially been charged as a criminal; overdue without leave, and worst of all, of lending shinigami powers to a human. She will be retrieved tomorrow night and brought back for punishment."

"They're talking punishment already? We don't even know what happened!" Isamu clenched his hands into fists. "This is bull, taichou!"

Amaya nodded, "I'm sure once we know the story it will make sense. Tomorrow night then, Takeuchi-kun and myself will-"

"No. It's already been decided who will go." Ukitake closed his eyes as if speaking pained him. "Central 46 themselves declared that she will not be retrieved by our Squad and brought back but that her family has the better claim."

Isamu blinked, "What?"

"Tomorrow night, Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai will be dispatched to return her to Soul Society, by force if necessary. Squad 6 will be the ones in charge of her detainment and care."

 

[HookerBoots]

"No! We can't do this!" Amaya was following after Isamu, almost running as she kept pace with him. "Isamu-kun, we can't defy the ruling!"

"Why not?" he snapped back, not turning his head. "The ruling is wrong, and you know it! We all know it, but no one will do anything about it!" His voice turned into something akin to a snarl. "But I will. I won't stand for this tyranny."

Amaya huffed out a breath and sped up a bit, matching him stride for stride now. "It's not a big deal, though, right? They'll bring her back, and then we'll take custody of her." She doubted that a bit, but her argument wouldn't hold water if he knew that. "They probably figured her brother and childhood friend would have an easier time convincing her to come back than we would."

"I doubt that things will play out the way you say," Isamu said, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "But the fact remains that it sets a terrible precedent, that they can take away the duties - the rights! - of one squad and give them to another. Central 46 shouldn't be able to do that without due justification, like incompetence or lack of staffing."

They'd reached the senkaimon by that point, and he'd stationed himself directly in front of it, legs spread in a fighting stance, one hand on the hilt of his zanpaktou. "It's tyranny, Amaya-chan, and you know it."

She leaned against the side of the gate, her arms folded. "It's necessary. Think of all the in-fighting and jockeying for position that would occur without something like Central 46. The squads would spend half their time - or more - trying to decide who would get to do what."

He muttered something, and she raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

He flushed lightly, and cleared his throat. "I said that we do a great deal of that as it is."

"That's my point!"

Suddenly, there were two other people standing there, and Amaya started upright. "What's the point?" Renji asked, his eyes flickering over the two of them. "I didn't expect the two of you to see us off."

Byakuya Kuchiki stood there, impassively, his eyes traveling over both of them before he turned to look at the gate again.

Isamu took a step forward. "I'm not letting you go get Kuchiki-san without me. I'd prefer it if you didn't go at all, and left the task to her squad, as is proper."

Renji looked a little abashed, but said, "We can't, Takeuchi. You know that. Orders are it's me and Kuchiki-taicho. She won't be harmed when we bring her back." Byakuya didn't say anything, simply placed one hand on the hilt of his sword, the other dropping to his side, the fingers of that hand rubbing lightly against his thumb.

Amaya darted in, grabbing Isamu's arm and tugging hard. "Gomen nasai, taicho, Abarai-fukutaicho. He doesn't mean it, it's been a very tense month." He didn't budge, and she grinned at the other two men winningly. "Don't make me do this, Isamu," she muttered.

When he didn't move, she sighed and stepped back. "I'm so sorry," she said softly. "Bakudo #4! Hainawa!" Yellow light flashed from her outstretched hand and stretched out in a long rope, which she wrapped around Isamu. He started to struggle then, and she tugged sharply on it, pulling him toward her and out of the way of the other two. "Again, we're sorry for delaying you, Kuchiki-taicho, Abarai-fukutaicho."

 

[Armphid]

Isamu was too stunned to resist immediately. She used kido on him? She had!

Renji watched the two of them for a moment and then turned to look at the senkaimon as it began to glow. He lowered the outrageous, sci-fi looking visor resting on his forehead over his eyes. "We're coming for you, Rukia Kuchiki." He stepped forward as the gates opened, letting a black hell butterfly flutter on ahead of him.

Byakuya merely regarded Isamu for a moment with his cold disdainful eyes. His cool gaze shifted to Amaya and seemed to soften a hair, the noble inclining his head a hair and then sweeping off to follow his subordinate into the space between worlds.

Helpless rage and frustration surged through Isamu and he wrenched himself away from his pink haired love. "Damn!" He flexed his shoulders and the kido rope wrapped around him burst into flaming fragments, "What were you thinking, Amaya-chan?"

"I was thinking that you were about to die!" She put on hand on her hip and gestured towards the now closed senkaimon, "They were about to kill you. And you know it!" Isamu turned his head away but he didn't disagree. "Even if I'd joined you, we both would have died. We're nowhere close to taking on a captain!"

"It doesn't matter," Isamu snarled. "Winning isn't the point, standing up for what I, what we believe in is the point, damn it!"

Amaya crossed her arms under her breasts. "You've lectured me before about how we throw away lives for stupid pride and then you say that to me? What good would your death have done? What would that have changed? How would you getting killed help Rukia? Or me!" Her large green eyes were wet and he felt a pang in his chest. "I wasn't going to lose you. I almost did once, I couldn't stand it!"

Isamu clenched his hands into fists at his sides and looked away again. "Amaya-chan, I..." He met her gaze and his own eyes were torn between affection, frustration, and helplessness. "You're manipulating me...but I know you mean it." He closed his eyes and leaned back against a nearby wall, "...damn it. All my big talk, my ideas, and I still can't do anything."

She sighed. The immediate danger was over. Amaya stepped up to him and put her hands on his chest. "It's all right. This isn't a big thing, in the long run. They'll go and bring her back and while that's happening, we'll be working with the captain to get everything straightened out."

"IF they bring her back."

Amaya blinked. "What...Isamu-kun, they will. It's Abarai-kun and her own brother. They wouldn't hurt her."

Isamu scoffed, "You don't know Byakuya Kuchiki." Amaya blinked again and then gave him a wry look, quirking an eyebrow. "Your...relationship, you see the good side of him. There was killing in his eyes; I could sense it."

She stared at him for a few long moments. "They won't hurt her. I'm sure of it."

He didn't answer immediately. "...We'll see." Then he leaned off the wall and shook his head, "Well. I guess we should get back and start working on the appeal and reports that Ukitake-taichou is going to ram down Central 46's throats."

"You mean present cordially, Isamu-kun." She smiled a little at that.

"We'll see on that too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Yare, yare, that's a shame!" Tall, lean, silver haired Gin Ichimaru shook his head, tucking his hands back into his sleeves. "Everyone's gettin' all bent out of shape! I thought they were gonna fight, didn't you, Izuru-kun? Squad 6 taichou-san is seriously tense, even for him."

The pale blond man swallowed nervously as he stood behind his captain, both of them perched atop a rooftop overlooking the departure point. "It looked that way, I suppose, but..."

"Yeah, I guess not." Ichimaru shrugged. "Ah, well. Let's-" He stopped then and his smile grew, "You came to watch too, Aizen-san?"

Izuru blinked and turned to see gentle eyed Aizen standing barely ten feet away; the brown haired man's face stern. Petite Momo was alongside him, shifting nervously. "A-Aizen-taichou!"

"No, Gin." Aizen shook his head slightly but his eyes never left the fox faced man. "I came because I thought Takeuchi-kun might do something rash and I hoped to intercede. Thankfully, it was not needed."

"Nah, guess not!" Ichimaru turned around to face the other man and his bearing was a bit more tense than before.

"But you, were you really here just to watch mischief?"

"Well, yeah, I love people watching! It's my hobby, says so in Seireitei Communication and everything."

"Really?" Light glinted out of Aizen's glasses as he looked as best he could into the other man's nearly closed eyes. "You didn't come here then to kill the boy if Kuchiki-taichou didn't?" Hinamori and Kira both gasped.

"Me? Why'd I do a thing like that? You oughta be careful about sayin' things like that, Aizen-taichou, and sticking your nose inta other peoples' business. Might get it cut off someday." Ichimaru stepped forward then, walking past Aizen and Momo, "C'mon, Izuru-kun. Guess we're done here."

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

A hand lifted and rapped on the wood of a sliding door pane. "Taichou, I'm sorry for the lateness but we finally got Squad 10's reports for this month's issue, and I knew you'd want them." Hisagi waited a few moments before his scarred face took on a look of confusion. "Tousen-taichou?"

There was silence. Hisagi frowned. It was a little odd...the captain was usually still in his office at this time of night. But he must be out. "Well, good. He needs to do something other than work once in a while."

The wild looking lieutenant turned and tucked the papers under his arm. "Guess I'll have a little more to do than usual for a while."

~~~~~~~~~​

The lights still burned in the offices of Squad 13's central building as the sun crept over the horizon. A flitting, fluttering shadow danced along a window pane and then moments later a group of black winged butterflies flew into the room. Four heads turned as they entered; Amaya, Isamu, Kiyone, and Sentaro. White haired Jushiro Ukitake did not look but merely held up a hand.

A butterfly alighted on each of the five officers in the room; all looked weary and the large conference table has strewn with books and papers. As each mystical insect touched down, the shinigami in contact heard the voice of Renji Abarai speaking. "Rukia Kuchiki has been apprehended with minimal harm and is currently in the custody of Squad 6; two humans, one wielding shinigami powers were injured attempting to intercede, one slain."

The butterflies then flitted back away out the window. Isamu and Amaya exchanged a weary look. "Ukitake-taichou," Amaya said after a moment, "I'd like to go over to Squad 6 and get Kuchiki-san's statement so we can include the information from it."

"And speak to Kuchiki-taichou about transferring her here where she belongs," Isamu added.

Ukitake took a deep breath and nodded, "Go, b-both...of you." The others blinked at the wavering, weak voice of their captain. "I'm sorry, I..." He wobbled in his seat, "Amaya, Isamu, I'll have to...leave it to you for now." His hands suddenly convulsed and a deep, body wracking cough shook his body. "Sentaro, help me to Ugendo, Kiyone..." His shoulders heaved and another cough shook him.

"Kiyone," Isamu was on his feet, "Go get your sister!"

"H-hai! Hold on, taichou!" The slender blond bolted out of the room as the burly Sentaro moved to his captain's side and hauled him to his feet.

Amaya looked stricken. "Taichou, should I-"

"No!" His voice was stronger now, Ukitake shaking his head, "Go to Squad 6. I won't let...let my illness...fail her...again." He started to hack and couch, covering his mouth with one hand.

Isamu was on his other side, supporting him, "Sentaro, we're taking him to Ugendo now!" He looked at the busty shinigami, "I'll catch up, go to Rukia."

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya sat, impatient, in the office she'd been ushered to when she'd shown up at Squad 6. She had really hoped to get this all taken care of before Isamu showed up, in part to save time, and in part because she knew how he felt about Byakuya. It would be easier if they never ran into each other for this.

The door slid open, and she sat up, her eyes widening, then narrowing when Renji walked in and sat down across from her. "Abarai-kun, what's going on? I've been waiting for ten minutes!"

He sighed heavily, running a hand over his wild red hair. "Amaya-chan, we . . . we can't release Rukia into your Squad's custody."

She looked at him for a moment, her mouth slightly open. "What do you mean, you can't? That's policy, has been for over four hundred years. I have the forms here, properly signed and sealed," she tapped a folder on the table in front of her. "The transfer is proper, and our right as a duly recognized Squad of the Gotei 13."

Renji's face showed discomfort and worry. "I know, but . . . I can't let her go. Orders are that Rukia Kuchiki stays here until her sentence is declared and carried out."

There was a moment of silence, and Amaya settled back on her heels. "Very well," she said, serenely, "I would like to speak with your captain, in that case. This is something that we need to straighten out, and since Ukitake-taicho is indisposed, I am the ranking member of Squad 13."

The discomfort on his face increased, if possible, and he shifted awkwardly. "He thought you might ask that, and requested that you visit him later, when you two can speak privately." Renji's cheeks were as red as his hair, and he cleared his throat nervously. "I'm sorry about this, Amaya-chan."

"Sorry doesn't change it," Isamu said from the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. "I told you this would happen, Amaya-chan."

"Look, half-breed," Renji started, hotly.

"Stop it, please." Amaya's voice was that same, serene tone, but filled with iron now. "I'll be meeting with Kuchiki-taicho this evening to discuss the matter. There is nothing further to be done now." She stood up. "However, Abarai-fukutaicho, I believe that we are entitled to at least visit our squad member." She added in a scathing tone, "Unless orders were no visitors at all, just to make sure we don't spirit her away from the middle of your barracks, to take her . . . a hundred yards away."

Renji stood up, gathering up the folder and handing it to her. "You don't have to take that tone, Amaya-chan. You two can visit her, but the rest is out of my hands."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Oh, hello." Rukia was sitting on the cot in her cell, legs tucked up underneath her. "It's nice of you two to take the time to visit me." She smiled wanly and sat up.

Amaya sat down on one of the benches outside the cell. "Of course we came, Rukia-chan! What else would we do?" She leaned forward a bit. "We're going to get you transferred back to our Squad's cells."

Rukia leaned back against the wall. "I don't mind being here - I expect they won't let me leave until this is all over." She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, looking at the other two seriously. "I knew I wouldn't be taken back to Squad 13 when Renji and nii-sama showed up. They wouldn't send them just to bring me back and drop me off with our squad."

Isamu and Amaya looked at each other. "Look, Kuchiki-san," he said, "Amaya-chan and I are going to fight our hardest, and we'll get you back. I - we," he amended when Amaya elbowed him, "won't let them perpetrate this so-called justice."

The petite girl folded her legs up again. "It is justice."

"What?" Isamu blinked a few times.

"It is justice. I broke the law, knowing what the penalty was. I was aware of my actions, and had hoped that I could recover my powers before I got caught. It didn't occur, and an innocent human suffered for my sake. More than one." She looked over their heads at the wall. "I deserve punishment, and I will not fight whatever sentence is passed down to me."

Amaya took a deep breath. "Rukia-chan, no. It isn't right for you to be punished for doing what you had to do."

"Isn't it? My job was to protect, or die in the attempt." She gestured to her body. "I did neither, and now I am receiving my due for that."

Isamu and Amaya seemed to reach the same decision at the same time. "Very well," Amaya said, standing up. "I hope you aren't too disappointed when your sentence isn't as bad as you seem prepared for. I'm meeting with your brother this evening to discuss what can be done to lighten it."

Rukia smiled slightly, her lips curving just a fraction. "I wish you well in the attempt, Amaya-chan. But nii-sama loves the law more than anything. Even with your . . . persuasion and leverage, I doubt you will convince him to intercede for me."

Isamu growled, "If she can't, I'm willing to try another method."

~ ~ ~ ~​

As Amaya sat at the table in the now-familiar room at the Kuchiki estate, she sighed. It seemed like all of this was just waiting. Waiting to find out, waiting for her appointments, waiting for the right moment.

The door opened, and she glanced up. She'd been surprised by servants more than once already, and she wasn't about to wear herself out improving her posture this evening unless she had to. But it was Byakuya this time, and she stood up, bowing deeply. "Konnichi-wa, Kuchiki-taicho."

"Good evening, Kuragari-fukutaicho." He sat down across the small table, and she followed suit. "Why so formal this evening? I thought I had asked you to be less formal when we are alone."

She gave him a smile that he'd never seen from her before, one with razor sharp edges. "As this meeting is a result of my request for a formal meeting, taicho, I assumed we were not on personal terms."

He felt his spirits sink slightly. It didn't seem like she was going to be reasonable about this. "Ah, well. Perhaps we can get that out of the way, and move on to the rest of the evening. What can I do for the vice-captain of Squad 13?"

"My Squad has filed a formal, proper, request for the transfer of the prisoner Rukia Kuchiki to our Squad, on the grounds that she is a member of our Squad." She pushed the folder across the table to him. "I was told by Squad 6's vice-captain that he could not transfer her as is our right. I would like the transfer, an explanation of the refusal, and an apology."

Byakuya's dark eyes looked at her steadily, as unmoving as a statue. "I cannot grant the transfer. The orders forbidding it come from Central 46, not myself or the Captain Commander. And I am sorry that I cannot give you what you want."

Her breathing had gotten faster, and Amaya was vaguely aware that her vision had narrowed to a thin point, as it did when she was in a fight. "Central 46 issued these orders?" At his nod, she asked, "Why didn't your vice-captain tell me that earlier? I could have saved the time this visit will take!"

"I did not tell him where they came from." He chose not to address that she'd not have come without this reason. "As I said, I am sorry." He reached across the table, resting a hand lightly on her wrist. "Can you forgive me?"

Amaya let out a breath. "I can forgive you for that, because you are not at fault for the orders, and are bound, as we all are, to follow them." She looked at him, turning her wrist so that her hand was holding his. "I do have another request, however, Kuchiki-sama."

His lips curved in that slight smile. "Anything that is within my power."

"Intercede for her." Her green eyes were dark and intent. "She has done only what she had to do to keep the human world safe, and she is punishing herself enough. There should be no execution, no lengthy imprisonment." Her fingers clenched around his. "Rukia-chan should be punished minimally, if at all."

His hand stiffened, then went almost limp. "I . . . cannot."

"What?"

"She has broken one of the chief laws. I cannot . . . it is my duty as the head of the Kuchiki family to make sure that she is punished as harshly as I can." His face was the cold, impassive mask she'd been used to seeing on him outside this house. "Nobles are not above the law. And my House must be above reproach."

Amaya looked at him hard for a moment. "I see. So you will let your sister die - the sister you brought into the family, as I recall - simply for the sake of your pride." Her hand slipped out of his and back across the table. She stood up, gathering her folder again.

"Are you not staying?" His voice was resigned - he knew that this was the end.

She looked over his head. "I'm afraid not, Kuchiki-taicho. As our official business is concluded, I have no other business here." Her eyes looked down at him, almost pitying. "You aren't the person I thought you were, sir. I would prefer it if you didn't summon me to you again." She took a step back, muttered, "By your leave," and strode out the door.

 

[Armphid]

"With the Hollow slain and its soul sent to Hell for purification, the..." Rukia's large haunted eyes closed for a few moments and then she opened them to speak again, "the substitute shinigami performed konso and sent the soul of the boy Yuichi to Soul Society."

The sky that could be seen in the barred window of Squad 6's barracks' lock-up was dark and the light that flickered in the room came from oil lamps on the walls. Beyond the bars, Isamu sat at the visitors' bench with a small table in front of him that had several pages of paper already filled with characters. His hand moved as he took down the notes. "I see. And this was the first time you noticed your powers were weakening instead of returning. Any other injuries or notable outcomes?"

She shook her head, "Nothing to report. Minor injuries were attended to with healing kidou and I used the Memory Modification device to ensure secrecy." Though she wondered if it had worked at all. Sado-san was so strong, physically and spiritually...

"Man." Isamu set his brush down and worked his wrist. "You know, it'd have made this easier on all of us if you'd made regular reports. Then I wouldn't have to do them for you all at once like this."

She looked over at him and there was a ghost of a smile on her lips, "You'd better get used to writing a lot of you want to be an officer. If it was all just brawling and big talk, you'd be Captain Commander by now."

"Why you...I swear," Isamu glowered at her as he stood up and stretched, "first thing I'm going to do when we get you back to the barracks is put you over my knee and give you a good spanking."

"Is that so? Pervert." Her expression fell then and she sighed. "Takeuchi-kun, why are you still here? The general report I gave should be good enough."

"Good enough for shit," Isamu sneered. "It's full of holes so big Komamura-taichou could ride a horse through them." Not sure where he'd get a big enough horse but it was still a good metaphor, damn it! "It's not good enough for us, Kuchiki-san. I told you we're getting out of there and back to us and we need all the information so our appeal is bulletproof."

What proof? "It won't do any good. My crimes are great...I deserve punishment." She shook her head, "Why can't you see that?"

"Because you're wrong." Isamu went up to the bars to look in at the lovely, slender woman sitting on a lone chair in the middle of the room. "You said your duty was to protect or die, and you're wrong. You were there to kill Hollows and cleanse Pluses and you did. Your methods were...unorthodox but you managed to kill or drive off even very powerful Hollows, which is what you were sent to do and beyond what your stated powers should be capable of. You thought outside of the box and found a way to succeed against all odds, even if it was illegal."

"But if it was illegal-"

"The fact that you intended it to be a temporary situation that would change as your powers recovered and the, uh, "substitute shinigami" lost them can modify that, I think." He shrugged, "After all, you were going to get your powers back and wipe his memory, right? So the law might have been broken but upheld in the end."

She blinked. "Yes, but...but that didn't happen. So I did break the law."

"Ah, but without intent," he waggled a finger. "And the fact that your powers didn't return and started to fade further wasn't something you could have anticipated. It also needs to be studied and figured out why it happened."

Rukia shook her head, "You're a fool. That's just trying to twist the law around for your benefit."

"But it's technically correct, which is the best kind of correct for those Central 46 assholes." At least he hoped it was. Truth be told, it was likely Rukia would still face some kind of punishment...but he already knew what he was going to suggest be put in the appeal about that. "I told you, didn't I? We, Amaya and I and the rest of the Squad, aren't going to let them perpetrate this so-called justice on you."

"Even if it IS justice?" She looked at him, "Even if I...know I deserve it? If I want it?"

"...Yeah. Just better get used to your preference being ignored about this, you can be mad at us about it later." He began to gather up the papers, "It's late. Get some rest and I'll be back tomorrow to finish this up so we can get our arguments together. With luck, Amaya-chan will have good news on her end too."

Rukia said nothing for a few moments. "You know better than that."

"...Yeah. But that doesn't mean it's the end of anything. Good night."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu held Amaya against him in her darkened quarters. The pink haired girl's eyes were bright with unshed tears and she sniffed as she snuggled closer. He stroked her head, "I'm sorry it didn't work out, Amaya-chan." He wanted to say "I told you so." He wanted to cheer that she'd put an end to being Byakuya Kuchiki's mistress. But it would hurt her if he did so...and she'd knock his block off.

She sighed, "I just don't understand, Isamu-kun. How could he not do something for his own sister? I...I know he cares, I'm sure of it! Or I was." It hurt. The disappointment ached and made her feel stupid for believing in him; she'd never been so let down by someone else before.

He wasn't sure what to say. God damn it, he had to say something though. He smirked, glad that she couldn't see it. Who ever would have thought that he'd be defending that man? "Maybe he knows that she's going to get off light or that Central 46 has already taken her status into account. He could have meant that."

She lifted her pretty face to smile up at him. "Liar. But thank you for trying." The busty beauty shifted and rested her head on his shoulder. "Stay with me tonight?"

"As long as you want me to, beautiful."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"What did you say?" Isamu was standing by the gate to the Squad 13 compound, a satchel slung over one shoulder that contained his writing supplies and the notes he'd taken from Rukia so far.

Amaya stood next to him and her emerald eyes were wide in shock, her soft lips parted as if she wished to speak. She shook her head, "Is this accurate? It can't be!"

"It is," Sentaro answered. The brawny, bearded man was on one knee in front of them, Kiyone kneeling beside him, and both had a hand on a paper that was held out to Amaya. She took it from their hands. "I hate to bring this news to you."

"Not as much as I do," Kiyone said miserably. It was a mark of the seriousness of it that Sentaro did not disagree with her.

Amaya looked at the paper and read aloud, "The class one felon Rukia Kuchiki shall be confined on death row and twenty five days from now shall...shall be put to death in the Central Court. This is Soul Society's final decision." She shivered, "It has the seal of Central 46."

"Final decision?" Isamu shook his head, "In two God damn days?" That wasn't how it worked! Before a final judgment could be made, a Squad had the right to put in an appeal for consideration in judgment and sentencing. They'd skipped that whole step!

"Twenty five days from now," Amaya murmured, her eyes unfocused as she looked at the paper. Miyako had trained her in the laws of Soul Society as part of her learning negotiation. "Arigatou, Miyako-san," she said under her breath. "It should be thirty five days. That's the traditional grace period for even the final decision to be appealed."

The others looked at her, Sentaro and Kiyone rising now that they had delivered the orders from the ruling council. The slender blond shook her head, "But why would they shorten it? And why not give us our first appeal?"

"I don't know," Amaya went on. "But as far as I know, it's never been done before."

"Limp dick, pencil neck, mother fuckers!" Isamu slammed a fist into the heavy gate; shaking it despite it being thick and strong and reinforced against even spirit attacks. "Somebody's making a power play and breaking the rules to do it! Someone inside Central 46, as if they don't have enough power already!"

Sentaro paled, "K-kuragari-fukutaichou, Takeuchi-sama isn't correct, is he? Surely that can't be the case."

The buxom spirit warrior's eyes refocused and she shook her head, "I think...Takeuchi-kun's right." The other two gasped and looked at one another, Isamu just turning to regard his love with fierce eyes. "Either that or someone's pursuing a grudge against the Kuchiki Clan and using official resources to do it. This flies in the face of tradition and Central 46 never breaks from precedent if they can help it. Someone must be guiding this."

"And they have the unlimited authority of Central 46, with no oversight to do it with, whatever their goals," Isamu added.

The group was silent for a moment; faces grim. Then Kiyone spoke again, "What...do we do now?"

Amaya took a deep breath and hoped she looked and sounded more confident than she felt. But she was not about to let this happen! "Isamu-kun!"

He blinked, "Hai?"

"Go on and get the rest of Kuchiki-san's report as planned and get back here as fast as you can. We're going to file our appeal to the final decision." She turned to Sentaro and Kiyone, "You two!"

They chorused, "Hai!"

"Get into records and pull out the records on grievances. We are filing a grievance with the Captain Commander against Central 46 for overstepping its bounds and breaking the law by removing our Squad's rights without any explanation!" It was unheard of. Official grievances got filed between Squads fairly often, but to do so against Central 46 itself?

"I'm going to go and see Ukitake-taichou to inform him of these developments, then go and talk to some other captains and get their names appended to the grievance." Surely other captains wouldn't want Central 46 being able to do this to them either. They were all staring at her and she blushed. "...Go already!"

"Hai!" Sentaro and Kiyone took off at a run but Isamu didn't move. She turned and raised her brows at him.

He lunged and pulled her into his arms, her gasp muffled as he kissed her with fierce passion. "You," he growled, his lips brushing hers as he spoke, "are so incredible, Amaya-chan. God, I love you. And am so proud."

She pushed him away, her face now bright red. Out where anyone could see! But she was smiling, "J-just get going, 3rd Seat!"

"Hai, fukutaichou!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu handed the last page to Amaya with a nod, "That's it."

She looked it over and then took a deep breath before placing it on the table top and lifting the thin stack that made up the other pages of the grievance document to put it on top. "Yes, it's done."

They were in the conference room again. As before, the long table was strewn with books and documents. In front of Amaya were two documents of many pages; a larger one that was their appeal and the smaller that was their grievance against Central 46.

The idea that they were doing such a thing had sent shockwaves through the Gotei 13 and all of the Seireitei. Hell butterflies had arrived with messages from concerned officers and nobility since the news leaked out. It had, sadly, been inevitable that people would find out. Amaya had gone to several captains to ask them to append their agreement, after all. She had been shocked that four of them had actually done so. Ichimaru, who thought it would shake things up in a fun way, Aizen, Kyouraku, and Tousen. Along with Captain Ukitake's shaky signature and seal, that made for five Captains who endorsed their position. The Captain Commander had to pay attention to that!

"Now we just have to find someone to file and present them for us," Isamu sighed. Even though she was acting as the Squad's captain, even in meetings, Amaya was still just a lieutenant and therefore not allowed to go before Central 46.

"I thought I might offer my help with that," came a steady, gentle voice. Both heads turned to see the spectacled leader of Squad 5 standing in the doorway to the conference room.

"Aizen-taichou." Isamu straightened up and Amaya rose to stand respectfully. "Gomen, I didn't hear you approaching."

"It's all right, I didn't announce myself clearly either. I'm keeping things quiet for now." He stepped into the room and his eyes fell on the prepared documents. "If you are all right with it, I thought I would take these to Central 46 and present them myself in Ukitake-taichou's stead."

Amaya's face lit up with relief, "That would be a tremendous help, Aizen-taichou! I...I can't even begin to think how to thank you!" That had been the biggest hurdle. Well, other than the nature of the whole thing. But he was respected and highly regarded, popular with both the high and low ranks, the nobility and the common folk, and had a reputation for sterling devotion, honesty, and scholarship. She almost couldn't ask for a better person to put their case forward!

"It's huge," Isamu agreed. Amaya might get mad at him for this, but he had an uneasy feeling that he needed to address. "Taichou, may I ask why? Appending your approval to the grievance is one thing, but agreeing to present it...that's a big risk. And I'm sorry, but you don't have the reputation of someone who rocks the boat."

Aizen smiled and actually chuckled, "I suppose I don't, that's true. I'll trust you two with this, since I think you've come to this conclusion anyway." The two younger shinigami were all but leaning forward after that utterance. "There is something wrong with all of this. Not just morally. Central 46 has never done such a thing before. Execution for these crimes is most extreme punishment that was possible and usually a noble would get a far lesser sentence. Then there's the shortening of the grace period and..." He paused and stepped further into the room, shutting the door. "This is knowledge known only to captains, the rest of you are to find out tomorrow. But the place and nature of the execution has been changed."

Isamu blinked, "What do you mean, Aizen-taichou?"

He turned his head to one of the windows in the room and gestured, "The Soukyouku." Amaya's hands clapped over her mouth and Isamu just stared through the window. In the distance, the massive hill, almost a mountain, and the huge white tower that dominated the central are of the Seireitei. "It's use has never before been approved for any shinigami below the rank of lieutenant, and then only two such cases have ever occurred. It is meant for the blackest traitors of captain rank only."

"This is insane," Isamu said.

Amaya nodded, "I can't believe it. What end would using it possible serve?"

"You ask a good question, Kuragari-kun," Aizen said with a grim expression. "I believe that someone is manipulating events and I have some ideas as to why. I think handling this matter for you will help me to see the truth of things; it may force our unknown enemy to show their hand." He stepped to to the head of the table and reached out to place a hand on each of their shoulders, "I know your hearts are passionate but I must ask you...for now, leave this investigation to me. You've done all you can for Rukia Kuchiki-san. I will do my best to make a good case and see what falls our of the tree we are about to shake. But please, trust me to deal with this. I fear it is beyond the both of you, that only a captain will have the power to deal with what is happening."

The two of them looked at one another for a few long moments. Isamu frowned but nodded. Amaya gave him a small smile and then looked up at Aizen. "We understand, Taichou. That's why Hinamori-chan isn't with you too, isn't it?"

"Yes." He nodded, "I fear the truth will be even harder for her when it comes out. But I can't say anything yet. Be steadfast; I feel that soon we will all know what is really behind these events."

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu leaned back against the trunk of an enormous tree; ancient, tall, broad, and gnarled. Some of its branches were bigger around than a man's waist, enough so that a half dozen people could stand on them easily. There were a few such trees in this forest; a richly green and lush one that is in Squad 13's area of control. "Man, what's this all about? I could use less cloak and dagger shit."

He had received a mysterious message to come to this place after dinner this evening. It had been two days since Aizen-taichou had taken their appeal and grievance to be heard and they had not heard anything back. That was to be expected; such decisions usually took time. But it was also nerve wracking as hell.

He felt presences approaching before he heard them, standing up off the tree and turning to face them, blinking as Amaya, Sentaro, and Kiyone all came into the large clearing that the huge tree towered over. "You guys?"

"Isamu-kun," Amaya blinked. She felt uneasy being back in this place. Why had they had to meet here? "You sent the notes?"

"No, I got one too." He felt nervous suddenly. "Who did then?"

"Me." All of them jumped and turned to see the slender, pale skinned form of their own captain standing opposite the clearing from them. His haori and hair seemed to almost shine in the growing dark and his face was serious. "I apologize for such a round about way of doing this but I wanted to make sure we could do this in private."

"Ukitake-taichou," They all moved towards him with Amaya roughly in front of the little group, "You're feeling better?"

He smiled a little, "Much, yes. Not a hundred percent yet, but soon. My spells don't last as long anymore." Their commanding officer looked them over, "I"ve been kept informed of what you've been doing, I approve of your actions so far."

"Good to know, but you didn't call us out here for that, Taichou," Isamu said.

Ukitake made an approving sound and nodded, "You're right. I have been making plans also, for what to do depending on how things go." He licked his lips and took a deep breath, "I want to be prepared even for the worst."

Sentaro and Kiyone spoke as one, "The worst, Taichou?"

"In case we have to fight for Kuchiki's life," he explained. Isamu and Amaya looked unsurprised at the idea but Kiyone and Sentaro both paled and took a step back. "I hope it will not come to that, but if it does...we will all face opponents of great power, who are our friends but for their duties." His heart ached to think of it but if it came to that...he would do the right thing, as he had learned from Genryusai-sensei. "You are all strong, some of you are far more powerful than your positions indicate. But even that may not be enough."

The wind stirred in the branches and swept through the clearing, stirring their hair and the edges of their robes. "Starting tonight, I will train you. We will make as much progress as we can in the time we have and hope that we will not need the new strength we will find together. We will not fight unless we have to...but if we must, then we will be at our most powerful to do so."

~~~~~~~~~​

There was a clang of struck iron that rang dully out over and over again. It started on the west side of the Seireitei and spread from there, alarms struck as the news spread. The signal corpsmen receiving the data cried out from the alarm stations, "Incursion signal detected outside west wall!" The alarm pounded out as they bellowed, "Squads 3 through 8, switch to alert status!"

Isamu and Amaya looked up from the bento they were sharing. Their normal duties had been relaxed to allow for more training at night, the official reason being so they could "deal with the stress of recent events." They both stood as the alert spread.

The American looked to the west, "What the hell is happening now?"

 

[HookerBoots]

"I have no idea." Amaya picked up her zanpaktou and slipped it into the sash around her waist. "But I have a suspicion." She walked to the window that faced west, staring out intently. "I've read over the reports you took. Imagine what would happen if that boy, that substitute shinigami, were foolish enough to come here to save Rukia?"

"She said that Kuchiki-taicho took his powers away, left him for dead." He stood up, staring out the window with her. A cloud of dust plumed over the buildings in between them and the walls.

Amaya stared that way for a few more moments, before turning to look at him. "Urahara-san, and Tessai-san are there. What if they intervened?" She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to pick up the feel of the fight. From this distance, it was a strain, and she couldn't pick up very much. "That's no Hollow. It felt like two shinigami fighting - Jidanbo-sama and someone else, most likely."

Isamu shook his head slowly. "Even if Urahara helped him not die, why would the kid . . . ?" Amaya looked at him from the corner of her eye, and he stopped. "Oh, of course. He feels responsible, wants to help her."

"Like someone else I know would." A huge thud sounded, faintly here, but still enough to shake the walls. She braced one hand on the window, lifting one foot to the sill. "I'm going to go see what it is. If I can help him, or bring him here, we'll have some leverage." Before her motion was completed, she felt another surge of spiritual pressure, and sighed. "Never mind."

"What?"

She peered out, as though she could see what was happening. "Ichimaru-taicho is already there. I think . . . I think that thud was Jidanbo-sama falling. The boy - if that's what it was - beat him. The gate would have opened, and . . . Ichimaru-taicho stopped them." She caught her lower lip between her teeth. "He released his shikai. It's likely that whoever it was is seriously injured, if not dead."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Just open the door, moron!"

The door slid open, the tall, muscular man bowing to let the guests pass into the presence of the most feared and famous woman in Rukongai.

Kukaku Shiba grinned fiercely at the group that walked in. "Yoruichi-san, it's been ages! What brings you here to my neck of the woods? And with such . . . unusual companions." Her eyes traveled over the motley crew of teenagers behind the cat. "A shinigami," she said the word as though it tasted bad, "a Quincy, and two regular humans with irregular powers. Strange."

The black cat sat down in the center of the room, tail twitching lightly. "Business, as usual, Kukaku. We're here on a mission."

"You don't say?" The busty brunette reached over a grabbed a bottle of sake and took a swig from it. "Tell me about it, and why I should help you."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Gomen, taicho," Amaya walked into the room where Ukitake was stretched out on his futon. "I hate to disturb you, but there is a Captain's meeting tomorrow about the incursion and defeat of the gatekeeper." She knelt down near but not next to the futon, holding the note in one hand. "Will you be well enough to attend, or should I go in your stead?"

He smiled wanly at her. "I hate to push this on you, Kuragari-san, but I want to conserve my strength. And I truly don't think I'll be up to it, not tomorrow." He coughed again, covering his mouth with a handkerchief. "Go ahead, with the usual apologies and authorities."

She gave him a grin. "Of course, sir. Can I get you anything while I'm here? I've heard Kyouraku-taicho say you like to slap your nurses' rears." She turned slightly to one side. "If it would help you feel better, you can."

He turned beet red. "It's cruel to tease a sick man like that, Kuragari-san! Go on, then. I'm fine, and don't listen to Kyouraku-taicho anymore, he's a bad influence!"

 

[Armphid]

Isamu read the report again and then stood up and walked to the window of the 3rd Seat's quarters and office. They had been Amaya's before and so he was comfortable and casual in them, despite the fact that they were supposed to be official. "What is he playing at?"

"What do you mean, Takeuchi-kun?" Isane looked up from the table in the room, the tall and buxom healer seated at it along with her far shorter and barely developed sister. She'd come by to visit Kiyone and decided to look in on the both of them at once. Isamu had said he wanted to read this latest dispatch before joining them for lunch. He needed it, so did Kiyone...they both seemed very tired. Of course, they had their duties and the worry about the Kuchiki woman but they seemed more fatigued than they should be.

"Have you read about what happened at the western gate?" The rebellious young man looked over at the two women. "About those ryoka who tried to enter the Seireitei."

Isane nodded and looked at her sister, "Yes, but maybe we shouldn't talk about that now."

"I don't care if Kiyone-san knows," he shrugged. "So you'll just have to deal with it, Isane-san."

"Irresponsible," she muttered under her breath. Kiyone was trying not to look intensely curious and failing miserably. "Fine. Yes, it is very strange."

"Ichimaru was right there just then and he didn't kill or capture the ryoka. He all but let them go," the American came over to the table and sank down to sit. Kiyone leaned forward to pour tea for all three of them, "Thanks, Kiyone-san. Anyway. He could have stopped them easily but he didn't. So what's he playing at?"

"Ichimaru-taichou, Takeuchi-kun," Isane said reprovingly. "I'm not sure...but there's a Captain's Meeting that's been called to address it."

"Yeah, for tomorrow, right?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "What I wouldn't give to be there. All this can't just be a coincidence."

Kiyone sighed and sipped her tea, looking grim. Isane looked between her sister and her friend and sometimes lover. "You think this is connected to that?" Neither answered and she sighed. "Well, there's a Vice Captain's meeting for tomorrow at the same time too, so-"

"Yeah," Isamu said. "That's a way to find out more. I'll be there."

"What?" Isane and Kiyone both blinked. The blond recovered first, "Takeuchi-sama, won't you get in trouble?"

He grinned, "Well, Amaya-chan can't be there 'cause she's filling in for Ukitake-taichou. So that means I have to attend the Vice Captain's meeting in her stead. It's a duty."

"Ahh!" Kiyone clapped her hands together, "Right! That's our Takeuchi-sama!"

Isane frowned, "That's just an excuse so you can find out more about matters above your station." She sighed, "But you won't listen to me anyway...but if the other lieutenants take you to task for it, don't expect me to help you!"

"Tch," he scoffed, "I'll have a right to be there. If they have a problem, they can bring it. It'll make it easier for when-" He cut himself off and grabbed his tea cup, guzzling the hot liquid.

Isane blinked, "Easier for when what?"

Kiyone laughed weakly, shrugging. "F-for when he tries for captain, of course! Getting to challenge a lieutenant would be good practice, right?"

The silver haired healer looked concerned. "I...suppose." That wasn't what he'd meant, she could tell. And Kiyone was covering for him. Oh, dear...what were they planning?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Kuukaku looked over her sakizuki at the three humans who were eating dinner, the big breasted ginger chattering about saving some for their oafish ally who couldn't yet form the Kidou Orb that would make up the cannonball to blast through the Sekkiseki barrier around the Seireitei. The big guy was strong and touch, the kid with the glasses was strong in spirit power and very adept at using it, the girl had talent but seemed like a goofball...and about as focused as a fogbank.

It was good she was sending Ganju with them. They'd get annihilated otherwise.

She set her drinking vessel down and picked up the bottle to fill it, "Oy, Yoruichi."

"Mm?" The black furred cat looked up from a dish of fish that was sitting beside Kuukaku.

"This looks like trouble, and I'm all for that, even if that guy wasn't involved." The ridiculously busty woman looked down at the feline. "But do you think you can pull this off?"

The cat sniffed, "If we're careful and clever, yes. Once we're inside, I can take them all through secret ways to reach our goals." They had to avoid unnecessary confrontations at all costs. There would be enough fighting once they were able to get to Rukia Kuchiki. "It all depends on your help, Kuukaku."

"Hn, well, you'll do fine then." The fireworks master poured herself another dish of sake. "But you know...a little while ago, a shinigami came here." The cat did not look at her but the pair of black ears twitched noticeably at that. "Ballsy punk, exotic looking, asking about me getting a message to your side."

"I see." The cat's tail flicked thoughtfully. That could only be...well, the red head with the tattoos might look "exotic" too but Yoruichi was sure that was not who had visited the Shiba house.

"If you need a hand once you're in there, you might have some allies you didn't expect. Just sayin'," Kuukaku shrugged and lifted her bowl to drink.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Rukia sat on the cold stone of the tall, thin window on this level of the Senzaikyu. Beyond the window she could see the edges of buildings and in the distance a many colored blur of the Seireitei and Rukongai past it, but dominating her sight was flattened promontory of the execution ground and the towering Soukyouku itself, streamers flying from it in the wind, the huge blade stained different colors as the light of the fading sun seemed to be cut by it.

She wasn't really seeing the vista before her though. Instead, her mind drifted back to Renji bringing her here earlier that day. There was something different about him; he was less cocky, less sure. Still a fool. Hadn't he realized this was how it would end?

But then he's taken a chance to speak to her before departing, their escort from the Kidou Corps had taken exception to it but could not protest due to his rank. Ryoka had attempted to enter the Seireitei; four of them and one...one was a shnigami with orange hair and a sword as big as he was.

"It couldn't be." He couldn't come here. And even if he could, he wouldn't. He'd live the rest of his life happy and safe, free from her, from the one who had twisted his destiny. So it had to be a coincidence. That was all.

She closed her large, luminous blue eyes. Her heart tugged at her, whispered into the vaults of her mind, "Liar." It was him. It had to be him. But why? Why had he come for her? "...Ichigo..."

And who had come with him? And why?

She sniffed and pulled her legs against her chest, making herself small as she could as the sunset dappled her gleaming white robe. Ichigo, if it was Ichigo, Amaya-chan, Takeuchi-kun, Ukitake-taichou...why were they doing all this?

She wasn't worth it. Not after what she'd done...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Ha!" Isamu pivoted and threw himself into a kick that lifted him over Sentaro Kotsubaki's shining sword and slammed his foot into the bearded man's jaw, sending him tumbling. He landed and turned as Kiyone Koutetsu leaped at him from behind, her sword held in both hands over her head, reaching out to grab her by her sash and hurl her bodily through the air to land on the recovering Sentaro. "...All too easy."

The 4th Seats rose to their feet, readying themselves to attack their senior officer again. Isamu's answering smile was vicious as he pulled his own sword from his sheath. Before any of them could move further, a voice cut through, "That's enough."

White haired Ukitake was seated on a sheared off stump, cross legged. His dark eyes were serious as the junior officers obeyed. "Isamu, well done. Your hakuda is progressing well."

He inclined his head, "Arigatou, taichou."

"Sentaro, Kiyone, you will do it again. But first, Isamu, switch with Amaya-san, will you?" He looked over at there the pink haired girl stood, her hands set in mystic finger signs, spirit power radiating off of her and flowing up before it visibly faded to form the barrier they were under that hid their reiatsu from any prying senses.

"Hai," Isamu acknowledged. He had to hand it to the captain. These night practices were serious and intense and he'd covered all of their asses. This barrier artifact was apparently something left in his trust by someone named "Shihoiin" and it let them do what they needed to without making a lot of noise. Careful observation would find them and their reiatsu but you'd have to be looking for them. He'd also hinted that there were other relics this person had left him that might be useful.

Isamu walked over to Amaya and took hold of her wrists, smiling at her and giving a squeeze. Then he took hold of the two cloth tethers in either hand and as she released them, went through a series of hand signs and channeled his power into them, as if performing a kidou. "Haaaaa....ousss...I...have it."

"Nn," Amaya acknowledged, lowering her hands with a sigh. It was hard to maintain her power at that level and channel it for so much time! She took a breath, "Taichou, may I rest a minute?"

"...Gomen, Amaya-san," he replied. Ukitake jerked his head, "Sentaro, Kiyone!"

"Hai," they chorused, leaping to the attack against their lieutenant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"These morning meetings are a pain in the ass," grumbled tall and broad shouldered Tetsuzaemon Iba. He pushed his thin sunglasses up his nose as he walked along side red haired Renji Abarai, the other man's hair bound up with a plain white headband. Both men wore their lieutenant's badges.

"Yeah," Renji agreed. "It'll get worse too, everybody'll be late with this kind of disruption of the schedule. I bet we'll be the first ones here." He then blinked, seeing another figure walking towards the same conference room they were, but from the opposite direction. "Takeuchi-kun, what are you doing here?"

Isamu stopped and gestured to the door of the conference room, "I'm attending the Vice Captains meeting." He took hold of the door and slid it open, "After you."

Iba entered, "Did something happen in Squad 13 I haven't heard about?"

Renji stepped inside as well, "No, he's just pushing his luck. Stay outside, Takeuchi-kun, you're in enough trouble as it is, and-ah, Hinamori-kun. You're here?"

Slender Momo nodded, sitting against a wall with her legs pulled to her chest before she rose. "Hai, good morning, Abarai-kun, Iba-fukutaichou." She looked past them at Isamu as he entered. "Takeuchi-kun, what are you doing here?"

Before he could answer, another voice did so, "He's filling in for my dear disciple." Both Iba and Renji's eyes were drawn to the lush figure of Rangiku Matsumoto as she entered. Her strawberry blond locks cascaded gloriously down her shoulders and her kosode seemed perfectly framed to show off her enormous and sumptuous assets today. "She's at the Captain's Meeting, right?"


Isamu nodded, "Right in one, Rangiku-fukutaichou." She smiled at him, not her usual foolish smile but a more mature, knowing look that made him flush. Then she moved to speak to Iba. Isamu breathed a sigh of relief. So far, so good.

"Um, Abarai-kun, Takeuchi-kun." Both men turned their heads to look at Momo. The petite girl moved to stand between them, her voice lowered. "Have either of you seen Aizen-taichou lately? Yesterday afternoon he left the barracks unexpectedly, and he came back, but...and he's been doing that a lot lately. He's acting strange..."

Both men grimaced, "Yeah," they said. Then they blinked and looked at one another. "What?"

~~~~~~~~~​

"You've come." The doors, almost 30 feet tall and thick, swung open slowly onto brilliantly polished wood floors and the stark elegance of the main meeting room for Squad 1. The old but crisp voice of Captain-Commander Yamamoto seemed to somehow boom, but softly, "Captain of Squad 3, Gin Ichimaru."

Amaya took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep her emotions in check. This was so unreal. A full captain's meeting! She'd never been to one before, not where all of them were summoned. And much less to address one of them possibly aiding an enemy...

The buxom beauty was wearing her crispest, freshest uniform and had tried to cinch it closed as best she could...though her efforts were futile and it had slipped wider open again after she finished, exposing a heart breaking, dick hardening, panty moistening expanse of teasing titflesh and cleavage. Her squad lieutenant's insignia was on her right shoulder, it was the priceless badge that Byakuya Kuchiki had given her. She was furious at him and had ended their "relationship" but...she didn't want him as an enemy and hoped this would show she held no enmity.

But he hadn't even looked at her since she'd entered, bowing low and begging the excuse of all those present and informing them of her being here to represent her ill captain. The Captain Commander had granted her entrance and she had almost fainted with relief that he seemed pleased by the humility and courtesy of her language.

Now she stood with scarred and brutal Zaraki towered beside her and across from her freakish Kurotsuchi seemed agitated, his beady eyes darting continually towards the door as they waited for the last captain, the one on whose account this meeting had been called, to arrive.

Gin Ichimaru walked in, eyes narrow slits, his smile wide and thin. "What's all this? An emergency session, and all of the captains who run Soul Society all gathered here, just for little old me?" He paused in between Zaraki and Kurotsuchi. "Oh, or maybe I'm wrong?" He looked over at Amaya, "Ara, looking good, Amaya-chan. You didn't get promoted or something and not tell anyone? I'd remember that party. Don't forget your haori next time though, or you'll get scolded."

Amaya felt herself blushing but shook her head and bowed, "Mooshiwake gozaimasu, Ichimaru-taichou. I'm just filling in for my captain."

Tousen spoke up, "He's on sick leave."

"Ah, again?" Ichmaru shrugged, "Well, I hope he gets well soon."

To Amaya's surprise, Zaraki spoke up, "Knock it off. Don't tell me you think that's why you're here." The man's voice was angry and resentful. "You bastard, I hear you went to play with that ryoka on your own. I also hear that you failed to finish it off. What the hell's wrong with you? You should be able to take out four or five ryoka without breaking a sweat."

"Oh?" Ichimaru tilted his head back, his voice vaguely surprised. "They ain't dead?"

Zaraki's single eye widened, "What?" Many of the other captains were watching as well, though several also had not yet even bothered to look at Ichimaru.

Amaya's eyes narrowed as the fox faced man went on. "Yeah, I was sure they were dead. I guess my instincts are starting to fail me." Did he really think anyone would believe that? Ichimaru chucked, rubbing the back of his neck. She opened her mouth to speak, realized she shouldn't, and bit her tongue just as the diabolic researcher opposite her spoke up.

Kurotsuchi snapped, "Stop the act right now! There's no way someone of captain class could fail to notice when an opponent's spirit has ceased to exist!"

Next to him, white haired Hitsugaya looked away with a sigh, "Not again. A stupid argument between stupid old men." The young captain's words carried through the room, though he nor those arguing seemed to notice.

Ichimaru was still rubbing his neck, "Now that ain't nice. It seems like you're implying that I let them go on purpose."

"That's exactly what I'm saying," the scientist retorted.

"Shut up, Kurotsuchi!" Zaraki stepped forward, glaring at the far smaller captain of Squad 12, "I'm the one talking to him. Or do you want to be done in by me instead?"

The garishly made up man took a step forward now as well, "What did you say?"

Soi Fon rolled her eyes, "Absurd."

Slow eyed Kyouraku pulled his hat down over his eyes, "My, my, tempers are sure running high..."

The two men took another step forward, Ichimaru's smile growing wider as he stepped back out of their way. "Stop." The word was spoken firmly and not shouted but it seemed to have a force of its own that rippled out to strike the assembled captains and pull their eyes back to the seated old man at the room's head. "Enough of this foolishness, how shameful for captains!" Yamamoto had sat up a bit straighter, his eyes as narrow as Ichimaru's. "But now the reason for your being called here should be abundantly clear." The old man's eyes opened and all in the room felt a rush of raw power. "Your independent actions, and allowing the targets to escape, so...how, Ichimaru, do you explain yourself?"

There was a long silence; moments passing as now almost all eyes were on the smiling, teasing captain. Finally, he gave a small shrug, "I can't." Amaya was gratified that she wasn't the only one whose eyes went wide or who inhaled slightly at that. He had no reason to give?

He gave a faint laugh and lifted a hand to rub at his head, inclining forward slightly, "There's nothing to say, I made a mistake. I won't stand here and make excuses. I'll accept any punishment-"

"Wait a moment, Ichimaru." Aizen stepped forward and his usually gentle eyes were hard, "Before we talk about punishment or move past this, there's something I want to ask you first." Ichimaru's smile did not fall but it lessened, dimming and narrowing to a tight expression.

Before anything else could happen, there was a loud, clamorous, dull clanking that rang out through the air. "Emergency Alert!" The voice projected by loud speakers sounded all over the Seireitei, breaking the tense peace like thunder. "Emergency Alert! Intruders in the Seireitei! All squads assume defensive positions!"

Yamamoto rumbled, "What?"

"It can't be," gigantic Komamura said.

"Those ryoka," Zaraki growled.

"Emergency Alert!" The message sounded again and was now joined with the distant sounds of shouted orders, calls for action, the movement of gates and doors, and the rapid rushing of the Gotei 13. "Intruders in the Seireitei! All squads assume defensive positions! Repeat, all squads assume defensive positions!"

A rushing of feet was all the warning she had. "Waa, Zaraki-taichou," Amaya's arms windmilled as she felt a pair of invisible hands push her forward out of his path, narrowly avoiding being run over as the huge man thundered past, "Wait!"

"She's right, Kenpachi, hold on," Aizen called after the retreating figure.

"Hnh." Yamamoto's grumble drew all eyes back to him. "It cannot be helped. The captain's meeting is temporarily dismissed. I will notify you of Ichimaru's status later." He thumped his staff on the ground and his eyes opened once more, "All squads proceed to internal defense positions immediately."

~~~~~~​

All over the Seireitei, eyes lifted upwards. At first, only captains and lieutenant craned their gaze to the heavens but then a bright light came into view, growing brighter and brighter, turning the sky a vivid electric blue.

From the Senzaikyu, Rukia's wide eyes reflected the light and the tower itself seemed to be trembling. "What...what is that?"

Amaya was standing on the roof of Squad 13's barracks, having arrived via flash step a moment ahead of Isamu. Both of them stared, "Coming in from above...and it's got such power. I think...I think it might break through!"

"Damn! They know how to make an entrance." Isamu shook his head, "I like their style. Think it's the ryoka again?" There was a sound like a thunderbolt striking a enormous bell and the membrane that the Sekkiseki walls projected rang into visibility as the brilliant projectile struck it. "It hit! But...it's just sitting there!"

Amaya gaped and then let out a startled yelp, "No, you're wrong! It's...it's pushing through, just slowly! To have such power, concentrated so strongly!" Above the Seireitei, the blue ball seemed to lurch into motion again and the barrier broke with a resounding crack. Then it started to hover, wobbling and starting to flare up. "It's going to explode!" She looked down at where the squad members were frozen in awe in the midst of their duties, "Everyone, get under cover, now!"

Squad 13 leaped into action, no one abandoning their posts but all taking cover behind the fortifications they were manning or bolting under the sturdy roof of the complex's buildings. Amaya and Isamu, however, stayed where they were on the roof, watching the spectacle unfold.

The coruscating ball of spiritual energy seemed to pulse and throb for over a minute before it burst. Four distinct streaks shot away from the center, soaring further apart from one another and down to crash into different parts of the Seireitei. "Whoever they are," Isamu said, "They're here."

 

[HookerBoots]

"No, Isamu-kun! You can't just go haring off to track them down!" Amaya folded her arms beneath her breasts, emphasizing the generous curves as well as her stern demeanor. "We've been ordered not to pursue them unless we encounter them in our area."

He huffed, mirroring her posture as well as appreciating what the posture did for her figure. "Amaya-chan, that's stupid! If we want to stop them, or even just find out what their doing, or," his voice lowered, pitched for her ears, "find out what side they're on, we have to find them ourselves!"

She looked at him steadily for a moment, then tilted her head to one side. "I can't allow you to go in pursuit. However, in this time of turmoil, it is our duty to provide support to our fellow squads. Please, Takeuchi-san, go around to our fellow shinigami and see if they need help." She grinned broadly at him, and winked.

He stared at her flatly. "You just ordered me to go find the ryoka, didn't you? Without actually saying so." She beamed at him, and he sighed. "Fucking politics. Very well, since it would be what I'd do anyway." He hefted his sword. "Stay safe while I'm gone, fukutaicho-san," he said with affection, pressing a hand briefly to her cheek.

"Of course I will," she said, leaning her face against his hand for a moment. "I'm not the one that gets injured when I'm out. You be careful, Mad Wolf."

His grin was wild and reckless. "I won't make a promise I can't keep, but I'll be back to you in one piece, beautiful." He saluted her sharply and flash-stepped out the door.

A tall shape moved into the doorway at the far end of the hall, and Amaya darted over to support her captain. "Ukitake-taicho, should you be up?"

He smiled wanly at her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm fine, Kuragari-san. But I wanted to issue some orders to our . . . trustworthy friends." He gave her a meaningful look and nodded once. "I want to find the ryoka, as soon as possible. I have no doubt they are here for Kuchiki-san's benefit, and there's more power if we're unified."

She nodded her own agreement, and felt a little chagrined. Her ruse with Isamu hadn't been necessary after all. "Of course, taicho. I've already sent Takeuchi-san to do so."

"Always anticipating!" he said with pride, his fingers squeezing her shoulder. "Very well done, Kuragari-san!"

~ ~ ~ ~​

Isamu made his way towards where at least some fragments of the orb had headed. It would be easier to get a good tracking going with a solid starting point. The trail he followed was broad - whoever was here was doing a shit job of masking their reiatsu - and seemed to be going more or less towards the tower where Rukia was being held.

He heard a clash of swords, and an explosion, and sped up. Whoever was ahead had probably found the ryoka first, which would mean some fast talking, or sabotage to get them to come with him instead. Then he heard a mad laugh, and sighed. Ikkaku was there, which meant he probably wouldn't find whichever ryoka was there in less than ten pieces. Dammit!

Coming around a corner, Isamu skidded to a stop, watching the battle in front of him unfold. Sure enough, Ikkaku was locked in a fight with the orange-haired kid in a shinigami uniform - Rukia wouldn't give his name - and the boy was holding his own. There was a pause, and Isamu finally got a good look. And almost lost his balance. The kid bore a strong resemblance to Kaien Shiba, almost uncanny. No wonder Rukia had felt so guilty about the whole mess.

Isamu leaned against the wall of the building he was standing next to, his eyes following the two fighters' movements against the bright sky. The kid was good. It wasn't in his orders to fight him, but after this whole fiasco was over . . . well, training would be good for both of them.

~ ~ ~ ~​

Amaya made her way over rooftops, homing in on where the source of pain and shame was lingering. Her eyes were following the sky, however, her feet moving by memory more than anything. Whatever had happened, it had happened up here, which meant that the ryoka were likely as capable as they were at moving in three dimensions. It wouldn't be good to let your guard down.

One more rooftop, and she stopped, looking down at the large, beefy man lying prone among the shattered roof tiles. "Ara! Ikkanzaka-san, are you okay?" She knelt down, poking gingerly at his shoulder. The large man was clearly breathing, but she'd met him - he was boastful, unpleasant, and had a reputation for fighting dirty when he was outmatched.

He groaned and rolled over, and she gasped in horror. "Oh. Oh, no."

"Dirty, rotten . . . must have cheated . . ." he groaned, rubbing lightly at one of the burn wounds on his chest.

She leaned back on her heels, running a hand over her forehead. "You are so lucky I'm the one that found you, you moron." Amaya ran a hand through the air over his body, feeling the reiatsu. "Bad news, Ikkanzaka-san. You're no longer a shinigami."

He tried to jolt up to a sitting position and failed. "What? That's impossible!"

"Feel where your wounds are. Your Saketsu and Hakusui have been severed." Her face was colored with pity. "Your powers are gone, and forever. I am so sorry."

The large hands moved over his chest and abdomen, terror slowly dawning on his face. "No! This isn't . . . they'll kill me!" Panic evident on his face, the large man looked at her. "Kuragari-fukutaicho, what can I do?! I don't want to die!"

She sighed. "Stand up, see if you can support at least part of your weight. I'll take you to rukongai. Your brother has influence there." She straightened up, dusting her knees off. "Change your name, maybe you can avoid notice out there."

"Become a nobody? I was a 4th seat of Squad 7! I can't . . . just . . . I don't have a choice. They'll kill me otherwise, won't they?" She nodded mutely, and he struggled to sit up. "Give me a moment, please. And . . . thank you for helping me."

 

[Armphid]

He almost jumped the kid when Ikkaku went down. The clean pated fighter fell with the shards of his ravaged zanpakuto in his hands. Isamu snorted; Houzokimaru was so fragile. But even with that...that kid's strength was unreal. He was one of only a handful of people who knew who powerful the 3rd Seat really was and he'd lost to that boy. Even if he hadn't been fighting at full strength, like the dumb ass that he was, it was an impressive victory.

Isamu made ready to leave his hiding place and drive the orange haired youth back before he could finish Ikkaku off and then paused in mid-step.

"Hey, Ikkaku, don't die on me here," Ichigo Kurosaki said. He stabbed Zangetsu point first into the ground and picked up the hilt of the fallen shinigami's weapon. It had turned back into a sword and that meant...yeah! "Geez, you're bleeding all over. I hope there's enough left for me."

The American stared in shock as the invader carefully used the hidden ointment to clean and close Ikkaku's wounds before his own. The golden eyes were wide with surprise. "That's...heh." He found himself smiling, "Well, kid, I already liked your style. But you've got heart too."

Though someone really needed to teach him how to fight. He was wide open all the time; just getting by on raw power and speed. It was ugly to watch but he couldn't deny the impressiveness of his win. So this was the guy who got past Jidanbo and survived Ichimaru's attack...had to be.

He should go down there and talk to the kid. But even as he thought it, Ikkaku stirred and then the two began to talk. He was too far away to hear...but as they spoke, he saw the orange head turned and look away towards..."Damn. Rukia, you're here for her, aren't you?"

Man, he had to keep this kid alive. Get him back to Amaya, if he could. The guy was running off now...but Ikkaku was still down there on the ground. His wounds might be closed but they were still serious.

...Hell. He owed the Squad 11 fighter for all his training. "Don't get killed, kid," Isamu said as he vaulted down to land beside a surprised Ikkaku. "Not until I catch up with you."

"Gah! Takeuchi! How long were you there?"

"Long enough to see you get your ass handed to you." Isamu knelt down and looked him over. "Yeah, I better get you to the closest aide station right away."

"H-hey, no, I'll be fine!" Ikkaku tried to struggle as Isamu lifted him up carefully. "Come on, don't do this, I'll look ridiculous!"

"Tch, that eyeliner's ridiculous." Isamu turned suddenly as there was a series of explosions and a colorful burst of fireworks. And falling out of it was..."Ayasegawa-san?"

"He lost too? These guys aren't kidding around. Well, feels like he's alive, lucky guy."

"We'll see if he feels that way," Isamu shook his head, "I'll have to take you both in for treatment, I guess. Hope that kid doesn't get too far ahead of me."

"Heh. Want to fight him yourself?" As he leaped away towards Yumichika's crash site, Isamu couldn't see his former instructor grinning but he knew the expression that was on the other man's face.

"...Yeah. When this is over anyway." He grinned down at the injured man, "I mean, if he can do that to you, he might be a good warm up."

"You arrogant punk! Wait until I get better! I'll tear you apart!"

"Yeah, yeah."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Amaya's expression was troubled as she bounced, her breasts noticeably doing so well, from rooftop to rooftop. She'd been able to find a place to drop Jirobo Ikkanzaka easily enough; she was met in Rukongai by some of the locals who agreed to take him to where his brother was recuperating. Recuperating after being attacked by a captain and then healed by one of the ryoka.

The giant's arm had apparently been cut off. Not just cut deeply, but cut off! And one of these ryoka had managed to put it back on...that was crazy powerful healing. Who were they?

The Rukongai residents hadn't been willing to give her any more information about it. It wasn't a district where she was well known, unfortunately, and all they saw was her uniform. Well, and her boobs. They had looked at those a lot.

But now what? She was supposed to go to an emergency Vice-Captains meeting. It should be starting any minute but-

The pink haired beauty skidded to a halt, arms wind milling as she almost fell off a roof. Over there! Was that...it was! She nodded. "No coincidence about this."

A few rooftops away, a black feline shape trotted along the crest of a roof. The cat got to the edge and then leaped the twenty yards across the street to the top of the next building and continued on.

Yeah, okay. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but this cat had her curious!

She started to shadow the strange little creature, moving with silence and skill from one spot to the next, always keeping out of its' line of sight. The formidable lieutenant breathed deep, repressing her reiatsu, just in case. A cat shouldn't be able to sense it but then a cat wouldn't also jump that far or be moving with such a sense of purpose.

Amaya carefully drew closer and closer to her quarry until the cat slowed to a walk and then stopped entirely. There was a deep sigh and the sleek little animal turned around and sat on its haunches. "There's no point keeping this up. Come on out, then, Kuragari-san."

She almost fell out of her hiding place. It knew she was there! And her name! Wait, and that voice...she knew it! Amaya walked out from behind a chimney onto the roof. "It's been a long time, Yoruichi-san. You're looking well."

The cat seemed amused by the little pleasantry. "You've hardly changed either. Mm, no, that's not right, is it? Yes, you're much stronger." The cat looked her up and down, slit eyes resting on her badge. "And a vice-captain! Congratulations."

"Thank you. But I'm not here to catch up, Yoruichi-san. And neither are you." Amaya took a few steps closer. The wind stirred her brightly colored hair and her emerald eyes were serious. "Yoruichi-san, are you here with those ryoka?"

The cat looked around. "I don't see any of them here right now, so..."

Amaya raised an eyebrow, "Don't play coy, Yoruichi-san. This is serious. Not just to Soul Society, but to me." Her eyes were full of determination, "There's something coming that I can't believe I'm going to do. And I need to know if there's any chance I'll have more people on my side than I do now." It made her almost tremble to think about; rebelling against Soul Society. "Tell me, Yoruichi-san. Why are you ryoka here?"

The black furry shape didn't answer immediately. Yellow eyes that saw much but gave away nothing surveyed her for several moments. "...Squad 13, hm. And you did impress me that time. Well, Kuragari-san, the reason we're here is simple." The cat head turned and pointed towards the massive tower in the center of the Seireitei and the faint line of the Soukyouku beyond it. "For that."

Amaya followed her gaze. "Rukia...I knew it. Yoruichi-san, there's one of the ryoka in the report; his description-"

"He's the one you're thinking of, the one Rukia gave her powers to." The feline eyes studied her carefully. "Though those powers are gone now, he's gained shinigami powers of his own and he is...startlingly strong."

"I see." He came for her. She should go and tell Rukia. The dark haired girl had been sure that the boy would hate her but he was here to save her! "Yoruichi-san, we're not taking Rukia's situation lying down. Ukitake-taichou has-"

"A plan, I'm sure of it. He's a good man." The cat nodded. "Kuragari-san, he may have told you to bring us back to him but I'm afraid I can't do that. I have to find the others and try to keep them all alive."

She nibbled her lower lip. Should she push the issue? "...I understand. But I will tell Ukitake-taichou about this meeting and your purpose here."

"Of course. And if you can find the others instead of me and keep them safe, I'd appreciate it." The cat's tail flicked and the head nodded, as if coming to a decision. "There's a secret place we can meet. Listen carefully and I'll tell you how to get there."

~~~~~~~~~​

Isamu whistled, "Damn, bad day for Squad 11, huh?"

He was standing in the midst of the entire company, minus it's six highest officers...and that Maki-Make guy, all sprawled out on the street or smashed into walls. They were battered and broken, some of them burned, all unconscious. "Not that they didn't deserve it but damn. This is going to get everyone on the warpath." Did that kid do this?

One of the men moved. Isamu walked over and knelt next to him, "Hey, can you hear me? I'm Takeuchi, 3rd Seat of Squad 13. What the hell happened?"

"We," he coughed, "We were chasing a ryoka, and then another one ran into him. We had them cornered and then they, they grabbed some wimp from 4th and held him hostage. Skinny, droopy little guy with sad eyes, the fucking weakling faggot." Isamu's expression soured. "We, we told them to go ahead and kill him, and then we'd kill them and then-then-" His eyes closed and he shook his head, "There was an explosion and smoke all around. The two ryoka were gone, the pussy with them, and there was another one. Huge, dark skin, he fought with his bare hands and bent and broke our swords, and then...I saw a flash and..."

"Right." Isamu stood up. Their description sounded a lot like Hanataro Yamada. What was he doing here? But if he was the one, and the ryoka took him hostage...Isamu could think of one way they could just vanish. One that nobody would think of at all, unless you'd ever had to muck it out. "Okay, well, thanks." He looked around at the fallen 11th Squad. "...I'm sure someone from that pathetic Squad 4 will come by to keep you alive. If you die before then...no big loss."

He heard the man weakly protesting, asking him to send for help, but he ignored it. They were in the tunnels under the Seireitei. Probably the water lines. You could get hopelessly lost down there, but if you knew them...you could go anywhere. Even...

His eyes rose to the far off tower. He knew where they were going. Which meant, he could take a few minutes to steal a hell butterfly from where they'd now be unattended in Squad 11 and send a few messages before he headed them off at the pass.

~~~~~~​

"There's a lot of absences. No one from 4, 11, 12, or 13," pale faced Kira looked worried. "I wonder if they got caught up in this."

Sasakibe ran his fingers down one of his mustaches and tugged on the end. "There's no word of any trouble in Squad 13's area of control but perhaps she's caught up minding the captain's affairs." It was a rare thing for the debonair Western enthusiast to be at a meeting like this; a sign of how uncertain things were. "Let's give them some more time."

A bead of sweat ran down the forehead of Iemura, his blond hair swept back and up into a flat top and his mirrored glasses showing nothing of his eyes. Did he not count as being someone from Squad 4? True, he wasn't Koutetsu-fukutaichou and he was just here to report...

The door slid open, "Gomen, gomen, minna-san!" Amaya brust in, her hair flying, bosom bouncing, flushed brightly. "Please forgive me for being late; I had an unexpected appointment at the last minute." And gotten that shocking hell butterfly from Isamu on the way here! This was getting out of hand and fast!

Towering Omaeda snorted and opened his mouth to speak but he was cut off by Hisagi, "You're here now, Kuragari-san. It's happened to us all when we've had to pick up the slack."

"Yeah," Iba nodded. "11 won't show anyway and 12'd be here if she was gonna be, so let's get this going."

Amaya nodded, bowed again to the delight of the men in the room, and moved to stand between Momo and Renji. Iemura cleared his throat, "Yes, thank you all, fukutaichou. I regret the absence of our own Koutetsu-fukutaichou but she is currently engaged in triage, as is most of our entire Squad." Rangiku blinked and Iba shifted his feet, Kira growing paler. "I must report that 11th Squad's 3rd and 5th Seats are currently in our care; their wounds are severe enough that they will not be able to return to duty for some time."

Renji hissed, "Ikkaku Madarame lost?"

"Every division has reported minor injuries and members have been sent to deal with those on a case by case basis. Many of them appear to have occurred in accidents or arguments during frenzied hunts for the ryoka." Iemura paused and took a deep breath, "However, Squad 11 has been...utterly annihilated. All but three of its' members are currently undergoing treatment."

Rangiku gasped, "The whole Squad?" All around the room; eyes were wide and mouths fell open in shock.

Iemura nodded, "We have confirmed reports from them of three ryoka. Two of them took a member of Squad 4 hostage before disappearing; one of them was dressed as a shinigami." Renji's hands clenched into fists and he growled, taking a half step back. "The third was the one responsible for Squad 11's destruction. His whereabouts are also currently unknown."

Iba grunted, "Damn. You know, the 4th Seat of my Squad has been out of contact for hours. It's a good bet he's been taken out too." He looked around, "We should send someone to check on him."

Rangiku made a slight noise, her expression distasteful for a moment before she hid it, "That's Jirobo Ikkanzaka, right?"

Wild looking Hisagi blinked, "Jidanbo's brother?"

Amaya sighed, "I have more bad news then. I found him when I was out and...he is no longer among us." Well, it wasn't really a lie!

"What?" Iba turned to face her, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," she nodded. "There was nothing anyone could do. I made sure his remains were returned to his family." That was true too! No one could say she lied! Right?

Omaeda grunted, "Man, that's bad. Jirobo the Wind Scythe, huh? He was a guy who had the right idea too."

Momo frowned, "This is getting bad, isn't it, Abarai-kun?" Silence greeted her comment. The brunette blinked and looked back, "Abarai-kun?" The other lieutenants started to discuss what to do next but Momo reached out to grab Amaya's sleeve and shifted her jaw towards the back of the room. The rear door was slightly ajar and sitting beside it was the lieutenant's badge of Squad 6. "Amaya-chan...."

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya and the others stared at the badge in mute horror. By leaving it behind, Renji was declaring himself a rogue, discarding his duty entirely. If word got out that he'd done this, he'd be killed as fast as the ryoka, maybe faster. Her mind whirled, and she walked over calmly to pick up the badge. "I've told him a hundred times to be more careful with how this is tied on! Honestly!"

Iba looked at her in disbelief. "But Kurargari-fukutaicho, he . . . ."

"Is a dolt, I know." She tucked the badge into her sash and headed for the door. "I think I know where Abarai-fukutaicho was headed next. I'll take this back to him. Have a good day, everyone!" She flashed away with a cheery wave.

The others looked at each other, and Sasakibe sighed heavily. "Well. It's good of her to take that back to him, since he clearly dropped it by accident." He bowed slightly to the rest of the group. "Everyone, dismissed. Go about your business."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Goddammit, Abarai, wait!" Amaya jumped off a rooftop and landed at a run a few feet behind Renji as he dashed down the street. "You idiot! You absolute moron, wait up!" She lunged forward and grabbed the back of his uniform, tugging him backward.

He stopped, turning to look at her, ill-temper evident in his eyes. "What do you want, Amaya-chan? I've got somewhere to be."

"Yeah, I know where you're going. And you're being a moron." She pulled the badge with Squad 6's insignia on it from her sash and slapped it into his hand. "Here. I told them you'd been careless with how you attached your badge. You're welcome." Amaya huffed a breath as he turned without a word and started back the way he'd been going. "You won't be able to find them yet," she called, leaning against a wall.

"Huh?" Renji stopped and looked over his shoulder at her.

She folded her arms over her chest. "They aren't on the city level. You won't be able to find them until they come out. So you might as well wait."

He looked at her for a moment. "Sometimes, you sound a lot like her, you know that? Fine, I'll wait." He looked at the tower again. "But I'm going to wait where they'll be coming out. The sooner this is done, the better."

"What point is there?" she asked, moving along with him. "Do you hate this kid that much?"

"He dies, she gets her powers back. Simple as that."

Amaya smacked him in the shoulder hard enough to shove him off-course for a moment. "Idiot! That won't help! They won't change her sentence because she's a shinigami again!"

Renji scowled, then looked up at the sky with a thoughtful expression. "She'd at least die whole."

"Oh. My. God. Do you have to take classes to be this stupid, or is it a talent?!"

 

[Armphid]

Isamu opened one eye, the other closed. "What's that now?" The tall, athletic American was leaning against a white stone wall that made up part of the boundaries of a narrowed courtyard that led to the towering Senzaikyou; to this entrance on this level, anyway. It went on below ground and, of course, rose up to loom over everything in the nearby area with it's massive compex of outbuildings and supporting structures, all tightly bordered by a massive wall.

Only the raised mesa of Soukyoku Hill was on the same scale. There were other entrances but all of those were in the other buildings clustered around the white tower or off of the mesa. There weren't any service tunnels under the Senzaikyou or the buildings around it, however, for security purposes. If they were in tunnels, they would have to come out here.

It was the direct route. From what he'd seen earlier, he had no doubt that the kid would head right for it. After watching his fight...he knew he was the direct route kind of guy. He wouldn't even think to try and sneak in from one of the other buildings.

Knowing where he'd go, Isamu had just went there and waited. This way he could meet the ryoka, check on Hanataro, and try to talk to them about all this. He could hear voices approaching...but they were familiar, though he couldn't quite make them out...but they were getting closer. He couldn't see them though; there was a thick fog in the lower courtyard.

"I don't expect you to understand. You didn't come up like we did, so-" Before Renji could go on, he was cut off.

"No one would understand, you complete and utter fool!" Isamu blinked; Amaya sounded pissed.

"...Not the same..."

She went on as though she hadn't heard him, "And don't act like we're so different! I'm from Rukongai too, I grew up in an orphanage with only the people there to count on, so don't you dare say I don't understand! I do! But this is just...I don't have words for it!"

Isamu moved to the top of the steps to see Renji striding across the courtyard below with Amaya on his heels, the busty beauty gesturing as she spoke, making her assets heave and jiggle wonderfully. Her stormy expression, however, made him wary of commenting. "Oy, don't you lieutenants have somewhere important to be?"

Amaya and Renji both glared up at him and he felt a surge of fear even as he couldn't help but smirk. Amaya spoke first, "Yes, but this idiot," she cuffed Renji's shoulder, "is trying to commit suicide and I'm trying to stop him, though I can't think of why right now!"

The wolf eyes narrowed, "What's she talking about, Abarai? You figured out why they're here, huh? Going to join them?"

Renji snarled, "With him? No way!" The redhead strode up the stairs until he was face to face with Isamu. "I'd never join with the bastard who did this to her! I'm here to fight him, to beat him, to tear him apart!"

Isamu's face was baffled. "...What? Abarai, that doesn't make any sense. If you have the same goals, then-"

"He did this to her! And now he thinks he can come in and play hero!" Renji threw his arms wide, "After he got cut down like nothing in the Human World, he'll fight all of Soul Society and win? He can't save Rukia! And I'll ram that truth down his throat and save her myself!" Isamu just continued to stare at him in confusion. "He almost beat me before, but that was with the limiter, and then Kuchiki-taichou struck him down so fast it took him ten seconds to even realize he'd been hit. He couldn't even see it! But I could. I'm the one who's able to save her, I have to be!"

Amaya's eyes had softened a bit and her expression was serious and thoughtful. She could hear something in his voice and in her mind the memory of Kaien standing on the branch, insisting he be allowed to fight alone, rose. "...Idiot. But I think I might understand. Isamu-kun, we'll...we'll let him."

Isamu now gaped at his love, "What? But Amaya, uh, Kuragari-chan, why?"

Renji shook his head, "Gomen, Kuragari-chan. And arigatou."

She sniffed, "It's still stupid and pointless. But you go ahead and we'll be here to save you AND him, however it goes."

There was a faint clinking and then a clack of ceramic on ceramic from the fog below and then they could hear Hanataro's high voice, "It's okay. Please come on."

There was the sound of movement and another voice spoke, young but confident and fierce, "Ahh, it feels like forever since I breathed fresh air."

Hanataro spoke again, "Look there, that's the Senzaikyou."

Another voice responded, rough and coarse, "We've gotten close, but man, that's amazing."

Isamu grimaced, "This doesn't make sense at all...but okay, Kuragari-chan, on your say so."

Renji turned and stalked down the steps. As he moved, a wind began to blow and the fog started to thin. He pulled his goggles down over his eyes.

The coarse voice spoke again, "I guess this is where the hard part starts."

The young, fierce voice then spoke. "The fog's lifting..." Isamu and Amaya moved to the head of the stairs and looked down. Renji was more than halfway down the long, long flight of steps now and the fog was indeed thinning. Three forms could be made out; two tall and one short and slender. "Let's hurry."

They watched as the trio moved forward and then came to a halt after covering only twenty feet or so. The rough voice sounded startled, "Huh? What's wrong, Ichigo?"

"There's someone on the stairs," came the reply from the strong young voice.

The breeze continued to blow and the fog grew thinner and thinner. Renji could now be seen standing about a fifth of the way up the stairs, the sheathed length of Zabimaru held almost negligently in one hand and pushing his goggled back up onto his forehead with the other. "It's been a while." He lifted his goggles, "Remember my face?"

Isamu heard Amaya's harsh intake of breath beside him. He looked over to see her eyes wide and staring, her face pale. "Amaya-chan?"

"That-that boy! He's-, no, he' s not, but he looks exactly like-"

"I'd forget it if I could," Ichigo said. The orange haired youth was rangy but well built and his hair was a short mass of orange spikes; his eyes hard, "But I've got a mountain of payback to give to you." He wore a shihakusho and on his back was a huge sword shaped almost like a cleaver with no hand guard or proper handle, partially wrapped up with a long, thin strip of white linen. "Renji Abarai."

Amaya shook her head, "Kaien-dono...is that why she's acting like this?"

"Huh, you even remembered my name." Renji walked down to the base of the steps and gave him a toothy, snarl-like smile. "Pretty damn good."

"Thanks so much," Ichigo sneered back.

"Who is he?" The coarse voice came from a man taller than Ichigo and broader at the shoulders; his arms and legs thick and muscular. He wore a plain tunic with a green vest over it, a red sash, and a pair of large legged black trousers with a curving symbol on them that tickled at Isamu's memory. He'd seen it before. He had heavy boots on and thick bracers with an odd patch of rough, raised ridges, and a green bandana was tied around dark hair. His face was rough and blocky but honest and a short, thick bladed sword was belted horizontally at the small of his back. "The reiatsu I sense from him is on a whole different scale from the others so far."

"Th-that man," Hanataro swallowed. He was almost shaking and his tired eyes were huge with fright, "is Renji Abarai. The lieutenant of Squad 6!"

"Lieutenant!"

"I was honestly surprised," Renji drawled. "I was sure Kuchiki-taichou's attack had finished you off." He was still approaching and now Ichigo started to slowly walk forward, despite a sputtered protest from the man in green. "I don't know how you survived but I'm impressed." He flicked his sword out of the scabbard and swept it out, "But it ends here! I told you," his voice grew lower and rumbled, a growl as much as it was speech, "I'd kill the one who took Rukia's powers!" He began to walk faster, "As long as you're alive, her powers won't return."

Ichigo was walking fast as well now and his hand went to the rough hewn hilt of his huge sword, "What the hell are you talking about? You brought her back just to kill her!" He broke into a run at the same time as Renji did, "Let me pass!"

"You'll have to beat me! Just try it!" Renji's blade swung and the two weapons met; sparks flying and the ring of steel shattering the still air and sending wind whipping away from the clash.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Momo's large doe eyes were thoughtful and worried as she walked beside taller, pale faced Kira. She sighed, "I'm worried, Kira-kun. Abarai-kun...leaving his badge like that, you don't think he's going to do something reckless, do you?"

The mournful blond regarded the petite lieutenant and felt a rush of guilt at thinking just how cute she looked right now. "I'm sure Kuragari-chan was right and he just dropped it without noticing," he said, trying to sound upbeat and convinced. Then he sighed. "But he can be hot headed. I'm concerned too." He was silent for a few moments and then he nodded, "I'll go look for him and see if I can't keep him out of trouble."

"You will?" She smiled and her eyes were bright; the expression seemed to light up the whole area around them and Kira felt a small smile on his own lips. "Arigatou, Kira-kun, that's a good idea. I'd come but I'm needed back at the Squad. Aizen-taichou's been giving me a lot more work lately and going off alone..." Her face turned worried once again and she shook her head, "I'll leave it to you, Kira-kun! Let me know, okay?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"This kid...beating Madarame-san is one thing," Isamu murmured. "But he's holding his own against Abarai?"

"I'm not sure," Amaya countered. The two were still at the head of the stairs, their eyes following the combat below. "I think Abarai-kun is trying to make a statement..."

"Hey, Hana," the burly man blinked and then pointed at the top of the stairs, "Who the hell are they?"

Hanataro lifted his eyes from the fight and then gasped, taking a half step back. "Oh no. The woman's Amaya Kuragari, sh-she's fukutaichou of Squad 13!"

The homely man gaped, "Two lieutenants?"

"And that's Isamu Takeuchi with her, Squad 13's 3rd Seat, they say he could be a lieutenant too but he's got a bad attitude...and he used to be my superior." The young healer shook his head, "This is bad. Even if Ichigo-san wins-"

He was cut off by the sound of Ichigo roaring as he drove Renji back against the rock wall at the base of the Senzaikyou complex. Despite being pinned against it, Renji seemed unfazed. "How could you ever save Rukia? What's your plan? Even if you beat me, there are still 12 more lieutenants and 13 more captains above them and even more powerful!" He growled, "What will you do? Beat them all? That's the only way to save Rukia!"

Ichigo scoffed, "How many? It doesn't matter!" He pressed his blade harder against Renji's. "I'll beat them all! If they get in my way, I'll take them down!"

"Ha! Where's this coming from? You're talking so big because your zanpakuto changed and you think that made you stronger?" Renji's shoulders surged and he threw Ichigo back as if the boy and his huge sword were made of paper. He ran a hand along the back of his weapon, "Roar, Zabimaru!" The blade glowed and enlarged, transforming into the segmented, thick, wicked pick spiked sections of it's shikai. He lashed it forward at the still falling Ichigo. The young man managed to get his sword between him and Zabimaru and grunted, getting his feet on the ground and pushing forward to try and blunt the impact. For a split second, he wavered, then went flying backwards towards his startled compatriots.

The brawny guy and Hanataro scrambled out of the way as Ichigo smashed through the wall of the building they'd been in front of and disappeared into its darkness. The sound of crashing and falling masonry thundered for a few moments before Zabimaru retracted. Renji scoffed, "You think you know my power because we fought once. Let me tell you something; whenever shingami of my level or higher go to the Human World, our strength is limited so we don't cause undue influence on what's around us." He stalked forward and then stopped, looking into the ragged hole in the side of the building. "I'm five times stronger when I was then! No matter how much you think you've improved, you don't even have a million in one chance of beating me!"

There was silence for a few moments and then the sound of stone shifting and heavy footsteps. "So you mean that one is your real power? In that case...beating 12 more guys like you is no problem." Ichigo stepped out of the darkness of the shattered building; the right side of his face was a sheet of blood from a wound higher up on his head and it dripped down onto the stones of the courtyard. "That didn't hurt at all!"

"Brave punk," Isamu murmured. The kid was moving stiffly and breathing hard...and he wasn't quite looking at where Renji was. Despite all his bravado, that had rung his bell but good.

"I'm amazed he can still stand," Amaya agreed. He was hurt a lot worse than he was trying to show. His legs were wobbly and she could see him shifting his head, trying to clear his vision.

Renji sneered, "You've got enough left to talk trash, but it looks like it's all you can do just to stand." He rushed forward and then leaped into the air, swinging the sections of Zabimaru apart and down in a wild blow. Ichigo threw himself to one side, the shinigami's weapon smashing and cutting into the ground, dust and chunks of stone flying. "If only you didn't exist! If she'd never met YOU, Rukia would never have to go through this!"

Renji went wild, vicious slashing and smashing strikes whipping out and chasing Ichigo as he dodged and evaded. The tiling was shredded and blown apart, sections of building rippingly sliced off. "You stubborn bastard! You want to save her that badly!"

"Stupid bastard," Ichigo spat back, "I don't want to save her, I'm going to save her!"

"Bullshit!" Renji flicked Zabimaru in a backhand and the blades swung out before Ichigo could even move. One after another they slid down and through his right shoulder, blood flying, "Her crime got serious because YOU took her powers! Do you get it? This is your fault!" He drew his blades back and launched another thrusting strike, "It's your fault she's going to die!"

Ichigo swung his zanpakuto up to block the thrust, catching it dead and only getting pushed back a few feet as desperate strength surged in him, "I KNOW!" He grunted and swung his weapon to bat Zabimaru away, "I know that! That's why I'm going to save her, why I've got to save her!" His eyes suddenly widened and then narrowed before he roared and rushed at Renji.

"What the hell's he doing?" Isamu blinked.

"Oh, he thinks he's figured out the maximum number of times Abarai-kun can attack before he has to recover!" Amaya bit her lower lip as he dodged left, then stepped right to avoid another, "Don't do it, you brave, stupid kid! There's more to it than that!"

They could only watch as Ichigo parried the third blow and then grinned in assumed victory as Renji twisted his arm back and began to recover Zabimaru. He leaped up, both arms on his sword's hilt for a massive overhead blow, "It's over, Renji!"

A blow that left him wide open as the able fighter of Squad 6 easily hopped to the right and lifted his own weapon.

Zabimaru cut deep into Ichigo's left shoulder, the pick-like spike ont he forward section ripping even deeper into the youth's back. Renji smirked. "I told you." He pulled his wicked weapon back and only deepened the wound, Ichigo crying out and a fountain of scarlet leaping high into the air. "Not even a one in a million chance of beating me."

The boy fell back and collapsed to his knees, sword point down and buried in the ground, gasping for breath and in sheer pain. His wounds seemed to have closed, a property common to spirit bodies, but his eyes were wide with disbelief and agony.

"Going for the gap in continuous attacks is a good idea. Your timing was perfect too." Renji shouldered Zabimaru. "But you still couldn't beat me. You know why? You're too slow and you have no skill." He walked forward to stand in front of the ravaged youth. "The unbridgeable gap in power between us is just that, plain and simple." He leveled his sword at the helpless young man. "Do you understand now? You can't save Rukia. You could never save Rukia." He lifted his sword high for a final blow.

Isamu and Amaya were on either side of him in flash. "That's enough, Abarai-kun," the pink haired shinigami called out.

"You made your point," Isamu added. "It's over!"

"It is." They both cried out, along with Hanataro and the other man, as Renji brought Zabimaru down hard; a cloud of dust billowing up. At the last moment, Ichigo kicked back, skidding away a few body lengths, his zanpakuto cutting a long scar in the courtyard as he slid back. "Tch. You're a stubborn fool right to the end."

Amaya stepped in front of Renji. "There, you beat him, happy now? What did you accomplish, exactly, with this stupidity? Think you've got a bigger dick than him now or something?"

Isamu snorted, "The question is whether he thinks Rukia thinks he's got a bigger one than the kid, isn't it?" He turned around, "Hanataro, get up here and help me stabilize him before we get the hell out of-" He blinked and took a step back. "What the hell?"

Ichigo stood slowly. His body language, his posture, all different. The torn up teen shouldered his massive sword. "Gomen for the wait, Renji." All of the others in the courtyard were looking at him now in shock. His eyes were glowing and light soon rippled over him, a wind whipping up out of nowhere and spinning about him madly. "Here's my resolve. This time...I will cut you."

"What is this?" Isamu shook his head, "His power...it's doubled, no, way more than that!"

Amaya stared. "It's like he's a different person...but he shouldn't push it! Both of you stop, please!"


"I don't know who you are or what your business here is, but this fight's between Renji and me, and it's not over," the orange haired brawler's eyes never left Renji as he spoke. "Get out of the way and let it end."

"You gave me your word," Renji hissed behind them. The lovers exchanged a look and then leaped back and away, out of the path of the two combatants. The red haired fighter shifted his stance, as the wind had only grown and lashed out at him. Ichigo was completely different than just moments earlier.

The orange haired youth rushed forward and Renji lashed out, Ichigo darting to one side. The brought the scything, shredding blade back and it was blocked by the edge of the larger, broader blade; sparks rocketing forth as each section cut across it in succession like a chainsaw. Then Ichigo was inside his guard and the cleaver-like weapon came up.

There was an immense blast of spirit power and an explosion of blue light. Isamu and Amaya stared as Hanataro and his companion shielded their eyes. Amaya called out, "Abarai-kun! Renji!"

His hair came undone and burst free, wild and whirling about him, his goggles and bandana shredded, a deep, ragged rent was in his left side and arced down deep into his body as he flew back to slam upright into a huge piece of rubble. Renji lay against it, trembling, clutching the hilt and one of Zabimaru's sections; the rest of his now broken sword were scattered around him. "I lost...d-damn..it...DAMN IIIIT!"

He lurched forward and fresh blood gushed from his wound. "I...it's my fault, mine. I only wanted her to be happy," he staggered another few steps, "When she was taken into the Kuchiki clan, I thought she'd be safe, eat well, be happy, not a traitor waiting to die. I failed her."

Isamu hissed his breath out between his teeth, "So that's what this was all about."

Renji clutched at Ichigo's robes, "Save her. I'm just a dog, even lower to beg, but please...save Rukia..." And then he fell heavily to the ground and stirred no more.

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya let out a sigh. "Right, cause he's the only one working to save her here. Sheesh!" She darted over to where the two men were standing, studying Renji's wounds, almost ignoring the orange-haired boy who stood panting and bleeding, leaning on his absurd sword. "Dammit, Abarai, you had to go and do this . . . this stupid, stupid thing and get yourself hurt. What is wrong with you?" She turned to Isamu. "Can you at least stabilize him?"

He looked over her head at the road. "I don't think I'll need to. Kira's on his way, he's better at it than I am." The American tipped his head at the road leading to them from the rest of the Seireitei. "We should go. There would be too many questions if we were found here."

The pink-haired lieutenant sighed again. "You're right." She turned to Ichigo, hands on her hips as she studied him. "Yamada-san!"

The slight young man started. "H-hai, Kuragari-fukutaicho?"

"Can you heal this young man?" Her green eyes bore down on the injured young man. He just looked back at her, hand still tight around the hilt of his sword.

"Hai, fukutaicho!" Hanataro looked proud, and a little confused.

Her eyes never left Ichigo's face. "None of you should be found here. Take him back into the sewers, heal him. He'll need his strength."

As Hanataro and the green-clad man moved to support the youth, the orange-haired shinigami lifted his head. "Oi. What's your name, lieutenant?"

She stood straight. "Amaya Kuragari, Lieutenant of Squad 13. Rukia Kuchiki is my direct subordinate."

He nodded, a reckless grin spreading over his face. "I see. And your friend there?"

"I'm Isamu Takeuchi, third seat of Squad 13." Isamu matched the reckless, mad grin. "Someday, maybe, we'll have a chance to fight."

Amaya shook her head. "Men. We're on the same side here, folks. We all want Kuchiki-san to be safe so she can verbally abuse us again. So let's move!"

The trio of men made their way to the sewer entrance, and Amaya and Isamu jumped up onto the roof of the nearby building that hadn't been destroyed, and flashed away. But not fast enough to hear Kira's shout for help when he spotted Renji's body.

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Someone, go get help!" Kira yelled, as he shoved the door open. He and Momo were carrying Renji between them, shoving their way into the courtyard of Squad 6. "You!" he said, nodding at at one of the startled squad members. "Go to Squad 4 and bring a healer back!"

"That won't be necessary," a quiet, measured voice said from behind him.

Momo almost jumped, which would have been disastrous for Renji. "Uwa! Kuchiki-taicho, we didn't see you there!" She gestured with one hand. "As you can see, Abarai-fukutaicho is severely injured, so -"

The nobleman looked at her impassively. "Fools who fight the enemy without orders, and lose, do not get the luxury. Put him in the stockade."

"B-but, Kuchiki-taicho," Momo stammered, "we had no idea as to the power of the ryoka, and . . . ."

"I don't want excuses. Since he was fighting alone, there's no reason that he should have lost." His gaze became sharp. "Take him away, he can heal on his own."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Scrubbing her hands on her uniform, Momo shook her head. "I'll go to Squad Four and send a healer."

"He said not to." Kira looked down at her seriously. "We can't go against his orders, he's a captain."

The petite girl stared up at him with a defiant expression. "I won't sit by and let my friend hurt like that. You can turn me in for insubordination, Kira-kun, but I'm going to get a healer for him."

A smile split the morose young man's face. "That's what I love about you, Momo-chan. The passion. Go ahead, I won't tell." He looked up. "I should go, though. Check with the captain, see what's happened while I was gone."

She looked around briefly and then rose up on her toes, kissing him lightly. "Be safe, Kira-kun."

He took off down the street towards his own squad, and she leaned briefly against a wall. Today had already been so tough, finding Abarai-kun like that, and after his leaving the meeting so suddenly . . . one more thing to add.

As she started down the street, a sudden blur of motion made her jump to one side. When she looked, the shape resolved into the short, white-haired captain of Squad Ten. "Oh, Shiro-kun, you scared me!"

"Hitsugaya-taicho," he corrected almost absently. "I'm glad I found you alone, Hinamori."

"Oh?" she fell into step along side him. "I'm heading over to Squad Four to get a healer for Abarai-fukutaicho. It's nice of you to walk with me."

"Don't be stupid," he snapped. "I don't care that that fool got hurt. I wanted to warn you."

She blinked. "Warn me? About what?"

He looked up at her, crystal-blue eyes hard. "It's your job to watch your captain's back. Keep an eye out, and don't trust some of the other captains." He looked around, tucking his arms behind his back in an effort to look casual that failed miserably. "Especially around Squad Three's captain."

"Ichimaru-taicho? But he's nice, even if he is a little . . . strange sometimes."

"Maybe you are stupid. There's something going on, and that man has had words with your captain." Hitsugaya shook his head. "I don't trust him at all, and you shouldn't either. Just keep your eyes open."

 

[Armphid]

"Are you sure, Yama-jii?" Kyouraku tipped his straw coolie hat back a bit, looking down the line of his fellow even-numbered Squad captains at the seat where the Captain Commander sat. "Isn't that a little excessive?"

"In the light of this most recent event, of Renji Abarai's defeat at a ryoka's hands, a fukutaichou of the Gotei 13, there is no other recourse." Yamamoto's frail looking body was upright and his carriage stiff with resolution. His eyes opened, his pupils small and dark, "I have received permission from Central 46 itself for this! We are now at war with the ryoka."

Soi Fon's hard eyes were vaguely approving, though beside her elegant Unohana looked troubled, as did gentle eyed Aizen. Kyouraku pulled his hat back down to drop his eyes into shadow. The faces of the others were impassive, though their body language spoke on tension for all but placid Kuchiki and grinning, fox-faced Ichimaru. Though attendance was better than most regular meetings, not all of the captains were present at this emergency session. Zaraki was absent, as was Ukitake, though pink haired and ridiculously bust Amaya Kuragari was in his place, her face pale.

"Furthermore," the ancient man went on, "All shinigami are to carry their zanpakuto on all times and on all duties and Central 46 has issued a special wartime decree. Release of shikai is explicitly permitted for shinigami of lieutenant and captain rank anywhere in the Seireitei."

There was an intake of breath from Komamura's helmet and beside him, dark skinned Tousen frowned, "That rule exists to prevent reckless use of power and damage to holy or sensitive places in Soul Society." It was not a major law, particularly in the case of lieutenants who would receive simply warnings for breaking it, but there were places in Soul Society where it was a serious crime for one to release their sword, depending on their rank. The power of a weak shinigami's release was strong enough but the huge amounts of power that were created by lieutenants and captains could cause great danger in certain areas. "Soutaichou, is this truly the least bloody path?"

Ichimaru shrugged, "Yeah, an' what about bankai?"

There was a moment of silence then. Toshiro Hitsugaya grimaced, "That level of power shouldn't be needed."

"Permission is explicitly granted for Captains to use bankai, should they see fit," Yamamoto went on. Eyes widened all throughout the chamber. "None of this is up for debate. There are our orders, as received from Central 46, who have now gone into secure seclusion in the Seijoutoukyorin. We are at war. Go to your Squads and let the news spread! All power and effort is to be put into finding and stopping the ryoka, at any cost!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"Nnn." Bandages swathed his chest and left shoulder, hiding the wild and violent tattoos there, though those on his right shoulder and arms were visible by contrast against the color of his skin in the darkness of Squad 6's stockade. Renji Abarai lay on a futon in the darkness with a thin sheet covering most of his body, nude beneath it. There was a single chair in the room otherwise and a bucket in the corner. Those were standard but the futon was a sign of respect from his squadmates, even though they had thrown him in the cell as Kuchiki-taichou had ordered.

His chest stung some but only a little. The medicines of Squad 4 were potent and Koutetsu had actually been the one to come and heal him herself. That had surprised him; he didn't really know her at all and she struck him as a goody-goody type who'd never help someone who'd broken the rules the way he did.

Though she was close with Takeuchi...maybe she had a thing for bad boys.

He turned his head to see the rest of the area and his eyes fell on the desk that was beyond the cell, past the thick bars and locked door. Zabimaru, sheathed in its sealed state, sat on the desk. Renji could feel his sword's power pulsing through it; slightly marred. It was healing, just like him. And just like him, it wouldn't be long until it was fully recovered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

In the hallway outside, tall and statuesque Isane Koutetsu was packing up her bag. "You did well with your own kidou, Hinamori-san." The younger, far more petite brunette's eyes were worried as she looked past Isane at the door to the stockade. "If you hadn't used it before I got here, it would have been a lot worse."

Momo shook her head, "Kira-ku, ara, san is really the one to thank. He got there right away; he thinks he must have only just missed the ryoka."

"I'm glad that Kira-san's time with us was well spent," the silver haired healer said with a gentle smile, "and that he missed the ryoka. I wouldn't have wanted to have to heal him too."

Momo laughed but it wasn't as silvery or true as usual. So many were hurt. Squad 11 was basically destroyed. What would happen to them? "I wonder...how long will this go on?"

Before Isane could answer, both women felt an oncoming presence and turned to face it. There was a blur of shun-po that resolved into a member of the Inner Troop Court messengers that were part of Squad 2. "Koutetsu-fukutaichou, Hinamori-fukutaichou, I have a message with the latest emergency decrees."

Momo blinked, "Emergency decrees? What emergency decrees?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

"What?" Isamu's wolf eyes were shocked. "They can use bankai anywhere?"

"That's the long and the short of it," Amaya nodded. Her emerald eyes were grim. The two of them were seated outside of a small but well secured storage room in a dimly lit corridor. The door they were in front of was not paper over lattice but steel banded oak that was spiritually empowered and reinforced to be all but impregnable. There was a small barred window in the door; no larger than the span of three fingers. "Though the danger of even a captain's shikai in certain places is bad enough."

"This is getting out of hand fast," the American growled.

"It is. But we must not lose our resolve." The door behind them opened inward and white haired Captain Ukitake emerged, carrying an object that was wrapped in a large cloth that was marked with a family crest unfamiliar to either of his junior officers. The bundle was tall, almost as tall as Ukitake himself, and was generally rectangular in shape, and as wide across as a man's chest. Amaya and Isamu got to their feet as he walked into the hallway and firmly shut the door behind him; the door glowing as various spells reactivated to protect the room and what it held. "Whatever is happening, we will save Kuchiki-san."

Both younger shinigami nodded, "Hai!"

Amaya then tilted her head, "Ukitake-taichou, this room...I don't know that I've seen anything outside of Central 46's chambers so well shielded and protected by kidou."

He smiled, "I'm sorry, Amaya-san, but I can't tell you what's in there or why this room is in my house. An old comrade and friend left me a great many things that belonged to their family and asked me to look after them. All are old and valuable and many...are powerful and exceptionally dangerous. Without talking to them again and asking permission, I can't say anymore."

Amaya looked a bit miffed but she and Isamu fell in behind Ukitake as he began to head down the hallway. The auburn haired fighter's eyes were on the object. "That wrapping...it really masks whatever's under it from all kinds of senses, doesn't it? Taichou, what is it?"

"...I believe you Americans would call in "an ace in the hole" but really, it's our last resort." His face was grim. "Should things go poorly and we have to go against the ruling, this will be the only thing that will give us any chance of victory. If only I can unseal it in time..."

~~~~~~~~~​

Momo's feet were heavy as she walked through the barracks. This was all so wrong, and going more wrong, and all so fast! Kuchiki-san's sentence, the ryoka, Squadd 11's destruction, Abarai-kun's defeat and imprisonment, Shiro-kun's warning about Ichimaru-taichou, and now these orders! War! And shikai and even...even bankai anywhere! The destruction that would cause, the loss of life...such power was so hard to use and not cause widespread damage...

And she was worried about Captain Aizen. He had always been so gentle and kind, so close, warm, and supportive. But lately he was going off alone and not telling her where he'd been or what he was doing. And Shiro-kun had warned her to protect him, to be most careful when he was alone or when Ichimaru-taichou was near.

A terrible battle was coming. And the warning. And none of it made any sense!

She looked up and blinked, finding herself in front of the doors to her captain's quarters. Momo reached out an arm to rap on them but pulled it back and hesitated. Then from within came a quiet but firm voice, "What can I do for you, Hinamori-kun?" A moment later the door opened and warm light spilled over her before the shadow of Aizen's body blocked it. "Is everything all right?"

"H-hai, Aizen-taichou." She bowed and straightened but then shook her head a little, "But so much has happened. Abarai-kun, and Shiro-kun, and now these new orders..."

He smiled and stepped aside. "It must have been a hard day for you. Come inside, Hinamori-kun. We'll talk a little and see if you don't feel better."

 

[HookerBoots]

Amaya pressed closer to Isamu on her futon. "I'm very worried, Isamu-kun," she said, frowning into the side of his neck. "This whole thing seems to be spiraling out of control. First the strangeness with Kuchiki-san's sentencing and sentence dates, and now . . . bankai? Against ryoka? It doesn't make sense. It's like someone wants us . . . I don't know."

"Chasing our tails," he supplied. "Yeah. Everything feels really fishy, but I can't . . . well, I can put my finger on it, but I'm not sure it isn't just the culture disconnect, you know?" He snugged her closer, one hand stroking the bare skin of her side.

"There's something we're missing," she whispered, her fingers curling into a fist on his chest. "I know it, but I don't know what it is." Amaya shifted a little, agitated.

Isamu kissed her forehead, pulling her back against him. "It's okay, love. We've got some time yet, and we'll figure it out." He sighed and rested his chin against her hair. "Sleep, Amaya. We've got a plan, and we'll figure out what we're missing."

~ ~ ~ ~​

"Come on, Ikkaku, go to bed!" Yumichika sighed and leaned against the wall. "You've been doing the 'lucky dance' for almost an hour."

The bald man stopped mid-bounce and just looked at his friend. "Don't you understand? This means we don't have to hold back, these ryoka are strong!"

"Yeeeee-eess, but . . . ." The pretty man studied his nails for a moment. "We were never restricted that way, anyway."

Ikkaku had started his lucky dance again, and paused. His arms went down from their jubilant position over his head. ". . . Then I was lucky before!" And he started again.

Yumichika's head tipped back as he groaned.

~ ~ ~ ~​

The silence was thick around the Seireitei, the only people moving around doing so as quietly as possible. Guards and the occasional Squad 4 member, cleaning up or bringing healing supplies back and forth between their barracks and the other squads. The news of the day had sobered the mood in most of the shinigami.

The darkness was broken only by a few lights in the windows, mostly in officers' quarters. Inside of one of them, a small, slender shape was bent over a table, eyes closed. Momo Hinamori slept draped over the desk of her captain. The light was dim, a small oil lamp in the far corner of the room illuminating her, the lone figure in the room.

 

[Armphid]

In the dim shadows of the transport tunnels under the Seireitei, there was a loud and growling sound that rose and fell rhythmically. Water rushed through pipes along the walls and ceiling of the many tubes that criss-crossed the underground and dipped off into storage and junctions rooms off of the tunnels. On one of those many junction rooms, a large and broad bodied man in clothes of green and cream slept soundly. The injuries he had when he fell asleep healed by the slender, sickly youth whose head rested on his right thigh, the medic in the deep sleep of the exhausted.

Nearby, orange haired Ichigo Kurosaki leaned against a wall as well, watching his friends sleep. The wicked wounds that Renji had inflicted were gone, not even leaving a scar. Despite all his bravado the lieutenant had carved him up pretty good...but it didn't matter. He'd smash through anyone who stood between him and Rukia.

But he wasn't the only one looking out for her. Chad, Inoue, even Ishida and Yoruichi-san were still out there. He knew it in his heart; especially Chad. And maybe others. Those two shinigami earlier could have stopped them dead; he had no energy left after his fight with Renji. Ganju could fight, yeah, but against both of them?

But they'd let him go. They were Rukia's superiors; maybe it was a duty thing. But it didn't feel like it. It felt like something more...like they were her friends too. That made him feel better. The more people helping her, the better.

Maybe then she'd see...

He rose, hearing Ganju's snoring break off. They should get moving soon. It was too bad about her friends not getting a chance to save Rukia, because he was going to be the one.

Today is the day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Amaya turned on the futon and a small frown formed on her lips as she felt a vacancy where there should be sexy, hard bodied warmth. She sat up, the sheet sliding off of her glorious, huge tits as she blinked blearily before her eyes found Isamu.

He was nude and sat straight up with his legs crossed. His naked sword blade was across his lap and his eyes were closed. In front of him was a strange figure that she had never seen before; taller than her love and shrouded in a deep black ragged cloak that seemed to have gleaming points of light, whirling clouds of gas and fumes, hurtling objects leaving cold and fiery trails behind them; a pair of shining metal boots stuck out from the hem of the starry garment and where the face should be was a mirrored mask with no features.

Her eyes went wide and she gasped. The mirror mask turned to her and she saw her own face reflected back; oddly distorted. Then the star cloaked figure vanished.

Isamu cursed and opened his eyes, "Damn it...I could almost feel it!" He leaned back and slid his hands out behind him to catch himself. The shaggy haired shinigami gave her a wry smile, "I'd rather not have you see another failure."

She shrugged and shook her head, "It's not a failure, Isamu-kun. You were so close, I could feel it!" With a wink, she added, "Almost as close as I am."

He sighed, "I can't ever quite catch you...it frustrates me...but it's also damn hot."

The pink haired monster killer stood up, "Hey, don't say that! You're stronger than me in a lot of ways!" She walked over and knelt behind him, her arms slipping around his shoulders, "We're both close. A little more work and we'll get it."

"Yeah." He leaned his head back. "Maybe today is the day."

She shook her head, "Probably not. We've got meetings today, lover. Don't forget! I've got to fill in for the captain, and you've got to fill in for me. And you better get cleaned up if you want to be on time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Today would be the day! Everything would change for the better, she just knew it!

Momo Hinamori leaped from the porch of a building to the third floor balcony of another with an easy flash-step. Staying with Aizen-taichou last night had left her with a warm confidence that made her feel energized. She'd been so worried...but watching him work and feeling his gentle, re-assuring presence made her feel sure it would all work out. Aizen-taichou would take care of everything!

And she'd do her part. Like being the first one there for today's assistant captain's meeting and keep her streak alive. She'd be cutting it close, but this shortcut her dear captain had shown her would make sure she still made it on time!

She hopped up onto the edge of a large courtyard formed between a few of the towering complexes of buildings that surrounded the Senzaikyou. The meeting was going to be held just in that building right over there. She dashed across the open area and then she caught a glimpse of something white flapping just out of the corner of her eye.

Momo turned her head and her eyes went wide. Her face fell and her she felt as if her body had been plunged into an icy river. She felt her lungs moving and the air moving out of her but distantly, as if some other primal force reached out through her. The scream rang out high and clear; a sound full of soulfelt horror, despair, disbelief, and wrenching loss.

 

[HookerBoots]

The scream rang through the Seireitei. There were people making their way to work in different sectors that stopped and looked up, startled by the sound. Several other vice-captains paused, glanced at each other, and then sped up from a jog to a run. They broke into the space between buildings, expecting to see someone being attacked.

Instead, there was Momo Hinamori, on her knees, with tears streaming down her face like a river. "Nooooooo! Aizen-taicho, no!" Her hands were alternately tearing at her hair, pulling it from its tidy bun, and clutching her stomach as though she were fighting the urge to vomit. There was a second of shocked silence and uncertainty, and then the others looked up.

On the tall wall in front of the weeping girl was a sight that would haunt the dreams of the people there for many nights to come. The man looked almost as though he was asleep, his body seemingly at ease. Or, he would have had he not been pinned to the wall by the sword through his chest. Blood ran down his front, dripping onto the ground below him, and was splattered all over him, staining the wall on either side of him, speckling his glasses. Sosuke Aizen was dead, impaled on his own blade, his sightless eyes peering blankly into the distance.

After the moment of shock dissipated, Kira was at Momo's side in a heartbeat, his arms going around the slender girl as her shoulders shook. His own eyes were moist, but he had to be strong for Momo, for her sake. That resolution of strength almost broke when someone flashed into solidity next to him.

"Yare, yare, yare! What's going on with all this racket?" Ichimaru stood there, hands in his sleeves, the ever-present slight smile still on his face as he took in the sobbing woman and the corpse on the wall.

Kira stood up, staying near Momo. "As you can see, taicho, Aizen-taicho has been . . . ." He trailed off as Momo stood up.

As soon as Ichimaru had spoken, Momo had heard Hitsugaya's voice in her head: I don't trust him at all, and you shouldn't either. The fingers of one hand wrapped around the hilt of her sword, while the other hand dashed the tears from her eyes. "You don't have to tell him, Kira-kun. He already knows, since he did this!"

Everyone in earshot stepped back. Rangiku laughed nervously. "Hinamori-san, you're very upset. Please, we understand your loss, but . . . Ichimaru-taicho wouldn't do this."

Her fingers tightened around the hilt. "But he would. I was warned about you, Ichimaru-taicho, and your behavior with my captain."

The smile on the silver-haired man's face only grew. "Such strong words, Hinamori-chan. You don't know that I did anything. I'd have to be quite a monster to thrust your captain's own sword through his heart." His eyes opened slightly, and a sly, wicked tone came from his lips. "Besides, I was in my quarters all night. Whose room were you in?"

Her face had grown steadily redder with rage. At his question, she let out an inarticulate cry and ran towards him, drawing her sword in a deadly arc.

Steel rang on steel as Kira darted between the two of them, intercepting her sword with his own. "Momo-chan, you can't. There's no proof, no investigation yet!"

Behind him, that secretive smile on his face, Ichimaru turned and started to walk away. "Kira-kun, please!" Her face was desperate, tear-stained, and it tore at Kira's heart. "Please, he did it, he killed Aizen-taicho!"

Kira shook his head. "I can't, Momo-chan. You're overreacting, I understand why you're distraught, but there's no rational reason for this."

Her face turned even darker red. "Fine! Fine! Snap, Tobiume!" Her sword shimmered and changed from a smooth blade to one with several projections coming from it, like the branches of a tree. "Get out of my way, Kira-kun, or I'll make you!" She pointed the blade at him, then swung it in a wide, inaccurate arc.

He dodged easily, his face set. "You're blinded by grief, Momo-chan. I don't want to do this, but if it's the only way to make you see reason . . . . Raise your head, Wabisuke!" His sword changed now too, from a straight blade to one with two right angles in it, making the blade look like a question mark.

Both of them came together with another sound of metal-on-metal, the rest of the group staring in mute amazement. As Momo and Kira lunged toward each other again, two more people appeared at the scene, one with the group of vice-captains, the other between the two fighters, one foot stopping Momo's blade, his sword blocking Kira's.

Amaya stared from where she'd appeared, confused beyond reckoning. A tingle behind her ears told her to shut up and watch, and she decided to listen for once. But why were they fighting each other, and why was there a sword just stuck into a building above them?

"You are both to be arrested for this . . . incredible idiocy!" Hitsugaya glared back and forth at them, his face filled with tense, hard anger. "Hinamori, I thought better of you!" He stood straight, his eyes like ice. "Put your swords up, in a time of war, you don't attack your comrades." He looked up at the body on the wall. "And you take care of the dead before you search for vengeance."

Two members of the punishment squad appeared in the area, their normally impassive bearing shaken by the sight before them. But they gathered themselves quickly, going to Momo and Kira and putting their arms in binding kido before muscling them away from the scene. As she passed Ichimaru, Momo glared with all her might; Amaya worried for a moment that she might try something else unwise, or that her wishing for it might cause the man to drop dead where he stood.

Instead, his smile widened marginally, and he turned to the young captain of Squad 10. "Thanks for comin', Hitsugaya-san. I'm sorry ya had to waste your time comin' here ta handle this, but she was out of her mind."

The younger man looked at Ichimaru with no expression, and the devil in his eyes. "I will say this once. If you make Hinamori shed one drop of blood, just one drop . . . I'll kill you."