Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anyone or anything from Bleach. It's as simple as that. Everything else, however, is mine. :D

WARNING: Grimmjow's mouth!

Chapter 21: The Opening Salvo

Grimmjow slouched out onto the porch of the shop, his hands in his pockets, and slid the door shut with his foot.

"Ah, Grimm-san. Have you come to join me for some moon gazing? It's a lovely night for it."

"The fuck?!" Grimmjow flinched violently before turning a glare on Urahara.

Urahara merely chuckled. He sat, gaze turned upwards, with his legs hanging over the edge of the porch. "I'm joking of course, though it is a lovely night. I'm sure you've got better reasons for coming outside, however."

Grimmjow muttered something extremely insulting under his breath before turning away. He did look up at the moon, however. It was full tonight and that was strange for Grimmjow to see. The moon in this the world changed, waxing and waning as time passed. It was so unlike Hueco Mundo's moon, which was forever a crescent. Grimmjow had no memory of coming to the real world as a lower level Hollow, but after spending several days here he thought he now understood why so many risked themselves again and again to return here.

Grimmjow stepped down off the porch. "I'm going back to Hueco Mundo."

"Is that so?"

"Yea," Grimmjow growled, throwing another glower over his shoulder at Urahara. He didn't like the Soul Reaper with the funny hat very much. He reminded him too much of Aizen. "I've been gone for too long. It's my kingdom and I'm not about to let a bunch of stupid Soul Reapers take over it again."

"Would you like some assistance?" Urahara asked, all traces of frivolity gone.

Grimmjow's temper flared. "Fuck no! I don't need help!" With that he opened a garganta and stalked inside, quickly disappearing into the swirling nothingness.

Urahara sighed as the garganta closed behind him. He hadn't actually thought that the Arrancar would accept his help, but he'd felt obligated to offer it anyways. He was certain that whatever was going on was beyond anyone's ability to anticipate. Aizen was just that kind of opponent. And as much as Urahara enjoyed playing this very dangerous kind of chess he wanted to end the game before things got out of hand.

And there had been one very small part of him that had hoped Grimmjow would accept his help. While Arrancars didn't have hearts- the holes in their bodies attested to this fact clearly enough- they did have zanpakutos. And, as he'd learned during Grimmjow's stay, that did something to ease the emptiness of a Hollow's existence, to bring them closer to something resembling the human they once were.

Urahara turned his gaze upwards to the moon again and sighed once more, his mind swirling with half-complete plans and the very strong sense of looming danger.

…

Toshiro glanced around the table, arms folded across his chest and his scowl fixed firmly in place. There were all accounted for except for one. This displeased him— no. It pissed him off. "Where's Grimmjow?" he finally asked.

They were meeting once again to try and figure out what Aizen's plan could possibly be and what Mom—…Hinamori's next move would be. Gathered around the table with him were his two subordinates, Urahara, Yoruichi, Rukia, and Ichigo. Renji was absent as well- apparently he had disappeared just like Ichigo's daughter- and while Toshiro wasn't pleased there was little he could do about it. All in all Toshiro's day was not getting off to a satisfying start.

"He's gone. He returned to Hueco Mundo last night."

Everyone turned startled gazes on Urahara. "What?" Toshiro asked, stunned. "By himself?"

Urahara shrugged. "I offered my assistance, but he refused."

"He would," Ulquiorra sighed. "He's too prideful and too stupid to accept help. Especially from us." If Toshiro didn't know better he would have thought there was something regretful in the other Soul Reaper's tone.

"In any case there's nothing we can do about it now," Toshiro ground out, rubbing at the spot where his nose met his forehead in an attempt to alleviate the headache that had already started behind his eyes. "We'll just have to carry on without him."

Toshiro glanced at everyone gathered around the table in turn before continuing. "We've already discussed this, but I want to go over it again just to make sure we didn't miss anything. So, why do—"

"Hold that thought, Hitsugaya-taicho." Toshiro irritably turned to Urahara as he stood.

"Urahara, what are you…" Toshiro's voice trailed off as what was unmistakably a knock on the front door echoed back through the shop. Without another word Urahara swept out of the room.

Everyone was quiet as they listened to Urahara answer the door. There was another man there and they spoke for several minutes before the soft thump of footsteps announced Urahara's return.

Toshiro's eyes went unbelievably wide and shock rippled through his body once he saw who Urahara's newest guest was. "I would like to introduce Gin Ichihara," Urahara said, his tone a forcefully controlled neutral.

"It's nice to meet all of you," Ichihara replied, that haunting smile on his lips as he bobbed a quick bow.

Toshiro's brain just couldn't process it. He looked just like him, he looked exactly like him. Even the reiatsu that slithered into the room like was the same. The only difference was his hair color.

Ichihara chuckled. "That look you all are giving me sure is familiar. Like you've all just seen a ghost. I had a student who gave me that exact same look the first time we met. Renji Abarai, I think his name was."

That statement definitely provoked a reaction. There was a flurry of movement as hands suddenly went to the hilts of swords or clenched into fists. Ichihara took an involuntary step backwards at the sudden hostility.

Toshiro did his best to force himself to calm down. No matter how much this man looked like Ichimaru, he wasn't him. He didn't deserve to feel all the lingering animosity that Toshiro and most of the others in the room carried. And Toshiro wasn't sure how much he hated Ichimaru anymore anyways. His final act of double-crossing Aizen certainly hadn't erased the smear of his earlier betrayal, but, somehow, Toshiro understood that he'd done what he thought was best.

Urahara let out a low sigh as he settled on the floor once more. "Please have a seat Ichihara-san. And I think it'd be best if you told everyone what you told me at the door to, ah, explain your presence here."

"Of course," Ichihara replied, sitting as well. Toshiro couldn't suppress his shiver as the man's smile widened. "Well I suppose it all goes back to Renji Abarai, actually. There was a certain incident several years ago with him and another one of my students- Sachi Kurosaki."

"You teach my daughter?" Ichigo exclaimed. Toshiro noted it was more of an accusation than a question.

"Why yes, I do. I'm a history teacher at her high school. It's an honor to meet you Kurosaki-san." Ichigo didn't reply. After a long and awkward pause Ichihara cleared his throat and continued.

"In any case there was a certain incident several years ago that resulted in Kurosaki-san being turned into a Soul Reaper. I have powers of my own and have been combating Hollows in Nagasaki for a long time, but the appearance of two Soul Reapers seemed like a stroke of good luck. I made a deal with Abarai-san and Kurosaki-san to divide the work between us. Kurosaki-san and I maintain that agreement to this day when she's in Nagasaki."

"I was aware that she returned here for the summer of course and that she carried out her Soul Reaper duties here. But I was very surprised when there was a fight here several days ago that was so intense I could feel it in Nagasaki. Not only was Kurosaki-san fighting an incredibly powerful Hollow, but Abarai-san had returned as well. So, curious and concerned, I decided to come and see what had happened and if there was anything I could do to help. So, here I am."

Ichihara gazed around the room at everyone, his grin fixed firmly in place. Again no one responded, everyone still too stunned to do more than stare. "Ah, there it is again," Ichihara commented, his tone casual. "I would love to know why all you Soul Reapers keep giving me that look."

"It's a very long story, Ichihara-san," Urahara said softly.

"That's alright. I'm very curious."

"Well—"

The teacups on the table rattled loudly as Rangiku abruptly stood. Everyone turned to stare at her, but her gaze was fixed on Ichihara. Her face was blank, but the expression in her eyes was contorted in pain. "E-excuse me," she said, her voice shaky. "I'm going to…ah…use the restroom." With that she turned and fled the room.

"Matsumoto!" Toshiro called, beginning to rise, but he was stopped by Yoruichi's hand on his arm.

Toshiro turned to glare at her and was surprised to see sympathy in her expression. "Just give her some time to herself," she whispered.

Toshiro looked at the door again, worry twisting in his gut. With a sigh he sat back down again. Yoruichi was probably right. But he really hoped she'd be ok by herself.

…

Rangiku collapsed to her knees as soon as she'd shut the door to the room she was staying in. She tried to hold back her tears, but she couldn't and so they fell, dripping onto the tatami floor and shaking her shoulders with shuddering sobs.

Gin. Gin.

She'd never imagined that she'd see him again like this. She'd been devastated when he'd died. Especially after his last, final act of heroism as he'd attempted to stop Aizen. For a long time she'd lost herself in drink, hoping that the alcoholic haze would ease the pain.

It didn't, of course. And, eventually, she'd become so disgusted with herself that she'd nearly stopped drinking altogether. She threw herself into her work and training like she never had before, though she still did everything she could to annoy her adorable captain and show him that life was far more fun than he thought it was. Part of it was always an act though and somehow she knew that Toshiro saw through it. But, slowly but surely, Rangiku had healed. She'd been able to carry on her with her life sad that Gin was gone, but happy she'd that he'd been in it all the same.

But now…now Rangiku felt every little bandage and stitch that she'd put in place to cover the hole in heart coming undone. He was just so much like him. His face, his smile, his voice, even his reiatsu was exactly the same. But that man wasn't Gin. Wasn't her Gin. And Rangiku just couldn't handle it.

Rangiku curled herself into the tightest ball she could as she felt her heart breaking all over again.

…

A week passed, but nothing happened. Toshiro was starting to go stir crazy. They'd conducted their investigation about Sachi's fight with Grimmjow as best they could with all the main actors gone and delivered their report to Soul Society. They'd also hashed and rehashed every possible angle on the newest desertion from Soul Society until it made Toshiro's head spin.

But they hadn't figured anything out. And there hadn't been any word from Grimmjow either. So that just left Toshiro frustrated and impatient as he waited in Urahara's cramped little shop for something to happen.

The fact that Ichihara was still around didn't help anything. He'd also settled in the shop, claiming that he wanted to be around in case something else happened so that he could help. His presence dramatically increased the tension in the air in whatever room he was in and Rangiku had become incredibly skittish. Toshiro also knew that she'd become reacquainted with sake over the past week. As much as it bothered him he didn't blame her. Ichihara unnerved him too.

In any case, Toshiro feel like he was about to explode at any moment. Tapping his fingers against his elbows as he sat leaning back against a wall in Urahara's dining room didn't help. Urahara, humming along with the song on the radio as he went over his inventory, seemed completely relaxed. So did Yoruichi, who had apparently fallen asleep lounging on the floor. Ulquiorra never seemed upset and so it was only natural that he sat there calmly drinking tea. Down the hall Toshiro could hear the TV- Tessai was watching some kind of silly game show with the young woman who also lived in the shop. Ichihara and Rangiku were somewhere else, though that wasn't unusual as they'd both kept to themselves a lot the past couple of days.

Toshiro sighed and slouched further down, scowling at everything like the moody teenager he was. The domesticity of it all made him want to scream. Something was coming. He knew it was. And he couldn't handle waiting anymore!

In retrospect, Toshiro often thought that perhaps he should have been more appreciative of the downtime he'd had. At the time, however, all he could feel was dread as the gargantas opened in the sky above Karakura.

Yoruichi was up in a flash as though she'd never been asleep. Urahara mysteriously had all his papers, which had previously been scattered all over the table, in order. The sound of Tessai and Ururu running past echoed in the hallway as Toshiro scrambled for his zanpakuto.

He'd only taken one step towards the door right behind Urahara and Yoruichi, however, when the flash of light off naked steel stopped him. Ulquiorra stood in the doorway, his bare blade in his hand and his face as impassive as always.

"Ulquiorra," Toshiro growled, his hand going to the hilt of his zanpakuto. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm afraid I can't allow you or anyone else in this room to pass, Hitsugaya-taicho. Hinamori-sama has important business here and you cannot be allowed to interfere."

"So you've been lying all this time? You're betraying us, as well?!"

"Yes." There was no hesitation in his reply.

Toshiro's blood boiled. "You bastard," he snarled, making to draw his sword, but pausing when Urahara held out a hand to stop him.

"What?!" Toshiro snapped. The other man ignored him.

"Are you sure there is no way for us to convince you to let us go?" Urahara asked Ulquiorra. "No terms you'd be willing to negotiate?"

Toshiro thought he saw indecision flicker briefly in Ulquiorra's eyes before he answered with a curt shake of his head. "No. My orders are clear."

The only warning they got was the pounding of running feet before the door to the dining room was suddenly thrown open. "Urahara-san! There are Arrancars and…and…" Toshiro watched in wide-eyed surprise as Orihime's voice died in her throat.

Orihime couldn't believe it. She really just couldn't. She was dreaming. She had to be. Ulquiorra stood before her in Soul Reaper robes, an unsheathed zanpakuto in his hands. His mask and the markings on his face were gone. But those eyes…those bright green eyes she would recognize anywhere.

Orihime felt her heart rate increase, as he looked at her with eyes filled with wonder. That was a strange thing from Ulquiorra. He didn't feel wonder or awe or anything as powerful or positive as that. But there it was, written as plain as day on his face.

Orihime didn't know what it meant exactly, but the sadness that had weighed down her heart since that day in Hueco Mundo was gone. And it was the sudden lightness in her chest that allowed her to utter his name. "U-Ulquiorra?"

The sound of his name on her lips shattered the spell that the woman's appearance had cast on Ulquiorra. He recognized her instantly, of course, and despite what the years had done to her they'd been kind. She was still beautiful. Ulquiorra had known this objectively all those years ago, but now he truly felt it. It baffled him to find his heart suddenly racing and his cheeks warming.

In that very last moment before his death as an Arrancar he'd grasped what it meant to have a heart. But he'd never really tapped into those feelings after his rebirth in Soul Society. He'd carried on, living day in and day out simply because that is what one does when alive. His work as a Soul Reaper brought him no great joy. It was just his duty. But now, for the first time in any existence that he could remember, he felt truly alive.

Ulquiorra didn't really understand his feelings. He didn't understand why the woman made his heart race and his palms sweat and his stomach all tingly. But he did know that he liked it. And that he was…happy to see her again.

"Woman?"

And then she was gone, taken in a burst of shunpo by Yoruichi as she and Toshiro took advantage of Ulquiorra's distraction to make a break for the door. Ulquiorra didn't understand his sudden sharp sadness that the woman's disappearance caused anymore than he had the joy. All he knew was that he suddenly didn't feel like fighting anymore.

"So, Cifer-san…" Ulquiorra glanced morosely over his shoulder at Urahara, who was giving him a knowing smile. "What are you going to do now?

…

Ichigo nearly dropped the plate he was washing when he felt the garganta open almost directly above his house. Rukia was on her feet in an instant, racing for the door with Ichigo hot on her heels, the plate once again submerged at the bottom of the sink. They skidded to a stop in the middle of the street just in time to see two figures stumble out from the garganta and fall more than descend to the ground.

As they passed underneath the light of the street lamps Ichigo was finally able to see who they were. "Grimmjow! Nel?!" They landed in the middle of the street, the full-grown Nel supporting the unconscious Grimmjow with his arm around her shoulders.

Rukia dropped her hand from the hilt of her zanpakuto as Nel glanced up, her eyes widening in excitement and relief. "Itsygo!"

"What happened?" Ichigo asked, rushing forward.

"Grimmjow-sama confronted the Soul Reapers who look like the Espada. I stopped them from killing him, but there wasn't anywhere safe to run so I decided to come here." Nel's expression, which was weary and worried, softened slightly as she met Ichigo's eyes. "It's good to see you again."

Ichigo's eyes roved over the two Arrancars. They were both worse for the wear. Nel, dressed in a tattered white Arrancar uniform, was covered in scratches and gashes that oozed blood. Grimmjow's injuries were far more serious, however. He was bleeding profusely from multiple wounds, the largest being a deep cut in his side. His clothing was soaked crimson and blood was quickly pooling beneath him in the street.

"Let's get him inside," Ichigo said, falling back into doctor mode. He moved to Grimmjow's other side and pulled his free arm over his shoulders. Rukia rushed to open the door to the clinic.

"Itsygo, there's something else I need to tell you," Nel began, but Ichigo cut her off.

"Tell me as we go. I need to stop the bleeding if he's going to have any chance of surviving until Orihime can get here."

"But Itysgo—"

Nel didn't speak again as her attention was diverted to bringing Grimmjow inside and into an exam room. It wasn't until after they'd heaved the other Arrancar onto the table that she tried again. "Itsygo—"

"Rukia, get me some gauze and bandages please."

"Itsy—"

"Here you go."

"Hey Itsyg—"

"Don't you fucking touch me!" At that weak snarl all eyes snapped to Grimmjow, who was glaring up at Ichigo with unfocused eyes.

Ichigo, who had frozen temporarily in surprise, jabbed a large wad of gauze into the wound in Grimmjow's side eliciting a hiss from the other man. "Shut up or you'll bleed to death," he snapped back.

"Itsygo!"

"I don't fucking care," Grimmjow panted, his face contorted in pain. "If you touch me one more fucking time I'm…gonna…"

Grimmjow's voice died in his throat as reiatsu suddenly pulsed in the air all around them. Above the house and all over Karakura gargantas were opening, allowing a flood of Arrancars and the traitorous Soul Reapers into the real world.

Ichigo swallowed hard as he trained his eyes on the ceiling, the pressure of the reiatsu from the beings in the air above making his limbs feel heavy. "What…What's…"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Nel shouted, her patience gone. "They're coming!"

Ichigo turned to Nel, as a cold sweat dripped down the back of his neck. The presence of this many strong Arrancars and Soul Reapers who were doing nothing to suppress their reiatsu was hard on his body. That and the fact that they were everywhere. Karakura and its defenders didn't stand a chance.

"I'm sorry Nel," he muttered, his mind still in the air above the house.

"Ichigo." Ichigo started as he felt Rukia's gentle hand on his arm. He looked down and met her gaze and suddenly felt a wave of calm wash over him. Her deep purple eyes were kind and tender as she offered him a gentle smile. "Don't worry. Nel and I will take care of this."

Rukia turned to the other woman, her expression now one of a hardened warrior. Nel met her eyes steadily and nodded. They both headed for the door, but Rukia paused as Ichigo called her name.

She looked back over her shoulder at him. The corners of his mouth were turned down into his characteristic frown, but there was only worry in his eyes. Worry that he'd lose her again. Rukia couldn't stop herself from smiling as warmth filled her chest.

"I'll be fine, Ichigo."

Ichigo felt his anxiety ease slightly as Rukia turned around and darted for the door. There was no uncertainty in her voice and her confidence gave him confidence. She would be fine.

"You all make me want to puke," Grimmjow muttered under his breath, his tone bordering on petulant.

Ichigo jabbed another wad of gauze into Grimmjow's side causing the Arrancar to flinch before fixing Ichigo with a fierce glower. "Shut up."

…

Uryuu was just finishing up some paperwork at the hospital when the gargantas opened. He was so surprised that his pen slipped, causing what was supposed to be his signature to be a tangled mess. Uryuu glared at it irritably for a moment before pushing his glasses up his nose and sweeping out of his office.

The night air whipped at Uryuu's clothes as he stepped out onto the roof. One of the gargantas had opened nearby and he wasn't surprised to see a figure waiting for him.

"Ah, the Quincy. How nice that I get to play with you again."

Uryuu looked up into the smirking face of Szayelapporo Granz. Uryuu had been told that the former Espada had been reborn in Soul Society and recently defected so he wasn't surprised to see the other man dressed once again in an Arrancar uniform. His glasses were no longer the stylized version of his Hollow mask and were now simple wire frames. Several Arrancars stood behind him, all looking appropriately cowed.

"It's interesting that you would say that," Uryuu commented dryly. "Considering how things ended for you last time."

Szayelapporo's smirk faded a bit before returning full force, something psychotic glinting in his yellow eyes. "A halfway decent point, Quincy. If you remember, however, it wasn't you who ended me, but Mayuri Kurotsuchi. You and that pathetic Renji Abarai were helpless against me until he showed up!" Szayelapporo laughed.

"That's true," Uryuu replied coolly. "But I don't like Kurotsuchi. In fact I hate him. And you can be sure that I've worked very hard to make sure that I'll never be beholden to him again."

"Be careful," Szayelapporo replied playfully, the Arrancars behind him shifting uncomfortably. "I've spent the last 29 years working under that man. I doubt there's anything that you could come up with that would possibly beat him, let alone me." Szayelapporo laughed again and then slowly drew his zanpakuto, allowing it to screech as it exited its sheath. "Come, Quincy. Let's play. I want to see what the years have wrought you."

Uryuu allowed himself to smirk as he unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt sleeve, letting his Quincy Cross dangle free. "Yes, let's."

…

Izumi played with her dinner with her fork, unable to do anything more than pick at it.

"What's wrong?" Kenji asked, coming up beside her and placing another glass of water next to her plate.

Izumi turned to him, expression downcast, and bit her lip. "It's just…I don't know what to do anymore."

Kenji sighed silently before sliding onto the stool next to hers. There were in her father's Mexican restaurant where Kenji worked as a waiter. Izumi helped out at her mother's dojo just down the street, so she often came by for dinner. It was unusual for her to be this quiet, however. Normally she would spend her time chatting with the regular customers or singing along with the loud Mexican music. Something had to really be bothering her.

"It has to with Sachi, doesn't it?"

Izumi turned away and fixed an ashamed gaze on her plate. "Yes. I'm worried about her. And I feel really bad for being so scared of her before. I know she didn't do all that stuff on purpose but…" Izumi's voice became a whisper here and Kenji had to lean in to hear her over the noise of the restaurant. "I'm still scared."

Kenji sighed again and adjusted his glasses. He'd been scared of Sachi too after seeing her Hollowfication and, if he was being honest, he was still kind of scared. But Sachi was his oldest friend besides Izumi. And her Hollow was a part of her. He was the kind of person who didn't let a lot worry him so it was something he'd already moved past.

Izumi however…she was the kind of person who would beat herself up about stuff until it drove her mad.

Kenji gently reached out and laid his hand on top of hers. "Please don't work yourself up over this," he said kindly, a faint blush staining his cheeks. Even after two years together Kenji was still shy about showing physical affection. "I know Sachi won't be mad at you when she gets back. We'll just talk it over with her then. I'm sure it'll be fine."

"You're right." Izumi sighed. She gave Kenji a fond smile. "Thank you. I feel better now."

Kenji didn't even have the chance to return Izumi's smile as the gargantas opened overhead. The two of them froze, fear turning their blood to ice as the reiatsu of Soul Reapers and Arrancars oozed over the city.

There was a massive clatter from the kitchen and Chad dashed out. He glanced frantically around the restaurant and spotting Izumi and Kenji seated at the bar. "Stay here," he told them before sprinting for the front door. Izumi and Kenji, shaken from their shock by the racket from the kitchen, exchanged terrified glances before following Chad out the door.

Chad only made it halfway down the street before he was under attack, a massive ball of energy bearing down on him.

"Dad!" Izuimi shrieked as it hit, creating a massive explosion.

The smoke cleared, revealing Chad with the full shield of his Brazo Derecho de Gigante activated. Chad looked skyward, searching for his attacker. "Yammy," he breathed.

Kenji looked up and swallowed nervously. In the sky above them was a giant of a man with bushy orange eyebrows and a nasty look on his face. Beside him was a smaller man with dark skin and several Arrancars stood ranged behind the two.

"Hey, I recognize you," Yammy said, pointing at Chad. "You're one of the little fleas that tried to kill me in Hueco Mundo." Chad didn't respond. "Not very talkative huh? Well, whatever. You'll be dead in a minute anyways."

"No. I won't," Chad finally replied, his deep voice easily carrying in the night air.

"Eh? What was that?" Yammy sneered.

"I said you're wrong. You're nowhere near as strong as you were when you were an Espada and I've gotten stronger since I was in Hueco Mundo. I'm going to be the one who wins this fight."

"What was that?" Yammy snarled, his eyebrow twitching in irritation.

"Enough of this banter, Yammy. We have a mission to carry out from Hinamori-sama. That should be our focus," the dark skinned man said.

"Shut up, Zommari! But fine. The big one is mine."

"I see. So you'll leave me with those children," Zommari replied scornfully. His eyes widened as a blue arrow shot by his face, missing his ear by a hair's breadth.

"We may be children," Kenji called, his voice chilly. "But we'll be more than enough to take care of you."

"Izumi…Kenji…" Chad murmured, looking over his shoulder at the two of them. "Go back to the restaurant."

"No dad," Izumi replied, stepping forward, her own armor activating and coating her limbs. "Two Soul Reapers and all those Arrancars are too much for you to handle on your own. Kenji and I are going to help. Right, Kenji?" Kenji nodded affirmatively, pushing his glasses up his nose as he did so. Izumi shot her father a smile before turning back towards their enemies in the sky, her eyes hard.

Chad felt his lips quirk upwards in a smile. Tonight he had yet another reason to be proud of his only daughter.

…

Renji's tumbling fall finally came to a halt, leaving him in a pile of rubble from a broken boulder. He ached all over and he really just wanted to lie there for a while. Maybe even take a nap. Unfortunately that wasn't an option.

"Look alive, Renji!" Love shouted, his voice distorted through his mask, before swinging his released zanpakuto down towards the other man. Renji scrambled to his feet and managed to get out of the way just in time. There was a massive cracking sound as the ground behind him broke and the remains of the boulder were ground into dust.

Renji didn't even have time to catch his breath has the sound of a guitar chord echoed above him. He threw himself to the side as Rose's zanpakuto smashed into the ground. It bounced, heading straight for Renji's head until Renji deflected it upwards with Zabimaru.

There was a massive explosion somewhere to Renji's right and he blinked, wide-eyed, as a blur of black and orange shot past him, missing him by barely more than a foot. "Sachi!" Renji called after her as she tumbled through the dirt.

"Pay attention to your own fight, baldy!" Hiyori snapped, pausing before Renji and shooting him a glare from behind her Hollow mask.

There was a shout of 'Getsuga Tensho!' and Hiyori flinched before disappearing. "Shit!" Sachi's attack roared past Renji before Sachi flickered to a stop in front of him.

"What were you saying, Hiyori?" Sachi called to the other girl who returned the snarky question with a rude gesture.

Sachi winked at Renji. It still gave him a bit of a shock every time he saw her with her Hollow mask on but he'd gotten used to it by now. It didn't frighten him anymore because it was a part of her and he loved her. All of her.

"Well don't just stand around flirting!" Hiyori finally shouted, her limited patience already spent.

"Yea, yea," Sachi replied, rolling her eyes, but Renji could tell she was smiling behind the mask.

Renji's was watching Sachi, a silly little grin on his face, when a shadow fell over him. "Eyes up here, lover boy." Renji jumped to the side once more as Lisa landed in the spot he had just been standing in.

Lisa swung the massive spear that was her released zanpakuto. Ordinarily Renji's dodge would have put him out of the way of an enemy, but with that spear Lisa's reach was ridiculous. Renji was forced to block with his own sword and quickly found himself being pushed sideways, his feet scrabbling for traction on the dusty ground.

It was then that the gargantas opened and the crushing reiatsu crashed over them all like a wave.

Sachi, halfway through an attack on Hiyori, froze. This pressure…she recognized it instantly. Arrancar. But there were so many. And there was Soul Reaper reiatsu mixed in with it. Could they be the Soul Reapers who had deserted from Soul Society a week ago?

She didn't know. She didn't care. She just knew that this was very, very bad. Sachi bolted for the stairs, her mask dissolving in her panic.

"Stop." Sachi put the brakes on so fast that she nearly fell over. Shinji was blocking her path. "You're not ready yet." Shinji's face was completely passive, like he didn't care one way or another if everyone Sachi had ever known or loved was in mortal danger. But she thought that for a moment she saw a faint glint of sympathy somewhere in the depths of his eyes.

"But…" Sachi knew she wasn't ready. That she couldn't fight using her full Hollow powers for more than a minute yet. But what could she do? They needed her! She couldn't let everyone die! The thought made her stomach roil and brought tears to her eyes.

Sachi stood there for a very long moment fighting with herself, torn between the part of her that screamed at her to run very fast and fight and the part that stood there quite calmly and stated that this was not a good idea. Sachi was so lost in thought that she jumped when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"I'll go." Sachi turned, surprised, to see Renji smiling at her warmly, his eyes tender in a way that gave her butterflies.

"But…"

"You're not ready yet. That's fine. I've been training my ass off and I feel great. You can leave this to me, don't worry."

Sachi bit her lip and dropped her eyes to her feet. She trusted Renji, of course she did. But she wanted to be there to help, to fight. And, as a little voice in the corner of her mind reminded her, she was stronger than him.

"Sachi…" Renji's voice was a quiet murmur this time, meant for her ears only. She hazarded another glance at him and quickly found herself trapped in his gaze. "You can trust me. I won't let anything happen to the people you care about. I promise."

Confidence. Conviction. And that emotion that Sachi had seen so often recently, but that she didn't dare put a name to. It was all there in his eyes. She felt her resistance grumbling. How could she not trust Renji to stop the enemies now looming in the sky over the city? She loved him. She knew he could do this.

"Ok," she whispered.

Renji flashed her a brief smile and gave her shoulder a squeeze before heading for the staircase. Hacchi healed him quickly, removing the damage done by his training, and he headed up the stairs with a nod of begrudging respect from Shinji. Sachi watched him go with a guilt-ridden expression and a worry heavy heart.

…

Toshiro felt his heart sink down to somewhere around the level of his feet as he stood in the middle of Urahara's yard and gazed upwards. Ever since it had been revealed that Momo had deserted with the former Espada he'd clung to the hope that things were not all they seemed. That Momo had somehow been forced to leave against her will or that she was under some kind of spell again.

But, as she smirked down at him with distinct self-importance, it was very clear that all traces of the girl he'd grown up with in Rukongai were gone. "You're making an awfully scary face Shiro-kun. Aren't you happy to see me?" she called, her tone mocking.

Pain rippled through Toshiro's chest and exacerbated the anger burning in his blood. "That's Hitsugaya-taicho to you," Toshiro snapped back, his tone frigid.

"Oooh, still so touchy."

"Please stop this Hinamori-sama," Tia said with thinly veiled contempt, taking a step forward. "We have a mission to complete and it does not involve provoking Hitsugaya-taicho."

Hinamori glanced over her shoulder at the former Espada. "You're right, of course," she replied with a cheerful smile. It was gone in a flash, replaced by a dangerous glint in her eye and a low, threatening tone. "But don't ever speak to me like that again. Remember that it is me who Aizen places absolute trust in."

"Yes. I'm sorry," Tia replied, dropping her gaze and looking appropriately chastised.

"Ah, Hinamori-taicho! Or I suppose I should say Hinamori-san now, shouldn't I? And Starrk-san and Louisenbairn-san and Hallibel-san! What a pleasant surprise! What can I offer you all from my humble shop today?"

All eyes turned to Urahara as he stepped down off the porch of his shop with a flourish. He glanced upwards wearing a friendly smile, but his eyes were steely.

"Quickly, Orihime," Yoruichi whispered to the other woman. They stood hidden in the shadows in the far corner of the yard. Yoruichi gave Orihime a gentle push down the alley that led out to the street. "It isn't going to be safe for you to be here soon."

"But what if someone gets hurt?" Orihime whispered back, her gaze jumping worriedly between Toshiro, Urahara, Tessai, and Ururu, who were all standing in the yard. Her eyes flicked upwards then to enemies she'd thought she'd never seen again. Anxiety twisted in her stomach.

"We'll be fine Orihime," Yoruichi assured her with a cocky grin. "Go where you're needed."

Orihime nodded once, hesitantly, before taking off down the alleyway. She'd barely reached the end when Baraggan's voice booming arrogantly from above her stopped her in her tracks. "Ulquiorra! I thought it was your job to make sure all the ants stayed inside the shop and out of our way?"

"That was my job." Orihime felt herself turning, as if in a dream. There, standing on the porch of the shop with his hands in his pockets and as coolly self-assured as always, was Ulquiorra. Orihime's breath caught in her throat and she realized that it really had been him standing in the shop a minute ago. It had been so surreal that she hadn't been sure once Yoruichi had whisked her away like she had. But she was sure now. He was alive.

Time seem to slow down for one very long and beautiful moment as Ulquiorra's brilliant green eyes flickered to the side and met Orihime's. She felt her heart jump nervously and excitedly and happily and in so many other ways. His gaze was filled with the same wonder as before and something else that made Orihime feel like she was floating.

As quickly as the moment came it was gone and Ulquiorra's gaze returned to the figures in the sky above him. "But I've had a change of heart." Those words made Orihime feel inexplicably giddy for some reason and so, feeling much happier than she should have considering the situation, she darted out of the alley and down the street.

Baraggan's response to Ulquiorra's pronouncement was to scoff. Momo just looked faintly amused. "Disappointing, but not surprising. In any case, it doesn't change anything."

Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed with just a hint of irritation. "We'll have to see about that."

"As amusing as this," Yoruichi interrupted, stepping up beside Urahara. "What exactly do you want here so badly that you would concentrate your strongest fighters here?" She eyed Momo, the three former Espada, and the Arrancar ranged behind them with scorn.

The corners of Momo's mouth curled upwards into a smirk. "Why don't you just ask Urahara? You know what I'm here for, correct?"

"Yes," Urahara replied, all his levity gone. "And you're not going to get it." His cane was had disappeared and in its place was his sheathed zanpakuto. He drew it slowly, letting the steel blade shriek against the scabbard. Toshiro and Ulquiorra echoed him, drawing their own swords, as Yoruichi, Tessai, and Ururu prepared to fight.

Momo's smirk widened and something not quite sane glinted in her eyes. Behind her the traitorous Soul Reapers and the Arrancar drew their own weapons. "We'll just have to see about that."

…

The night air was cool as Rukia ran back out into the street with Nel right behind her. In the air above them she could just make out several figures. In a few bounds she was up on the same level with them. Rukia heard Nel gasp as the other woman came to a stop beside her.

"Well, well. Nelliel. Long time, no see," Nnoitra sneered.

"B-but…but how?" Nel asked, staring at her onetime subordinate and nominal archenemy.

"Heh. Funny thing- apparently Hollows actually do go to Soul Society when they're killed by a Soul Reaper's zanpakuto." He motioned to the sword on his hip and his now present left eye.

Nel blinked, stunned, and then her expression hardened. "I see. In the long run it doesn't matter though. The outcome will be the same."

Nnoitra's grin turned into a crazed, eager smirk. "We'll see about that."

"Hold on a second," Rukia said, authority dripping in her tone. "What're you and the rest of the traitors doing here? What could you possibly gain by attacking Karakura?"

"That isn't any of your concern." "Stand down or we'll kill you all!"

Rukia's eyes roved to the men that had just spoken. The shape of Aaroniero Arruruerie's reincarnation in Soul Society was by far the strangest of all the former Espadas. He had taken the form of Siamese twins joined at the hip. They were both dark haired and skeletally thin, with sunken eyes and chalky skin. The one with the deeper voice was Aaroniero, the one with the higher Arruruerie. They both carried a zanpakuto.

"You think so, huh?" Rukia murmured softly. She took a step forward and drew her zanpakuto.

"No." "We know!"

The Arrancar's behind the two former Espada bristled. "The Arrancar is mine!" Nnoitra called to them before turning towards Nel with a manic grin. Nel's eyes narrowed, her hand wrapping around the hilt of her sword.

It was then that the shout echoed around them. "Howl! Zabimaru!" There was the sound of something whistling through the air followed by anguished cries as several of the Arrancars were cut down by Zabimaru. Renji leaped over the heads of Nnoitra, Aaroniero, and Arruruerie and skidded to a stop beside Rukia.

Nniotra scoffed as Aaroniero and Arruruerie glared. "Renji Abarai." "What an unpleasant surprise!"

"Heh…" Renji smirked confidently and then abruptly doubled over as Rukia punched him in the gut.

"Where the hell have you been?!" Rukia shouted.

Renji coughed violently before responding. "Training! And was that really necessary?!"

"Of course it was! And what do you mean, 'training'? Why did you have to disappear for a week to train?!" Rukia punched Renji again.

"Ack…damn it, Rukia!" Renji wheezed. "I was training with the Vizards, if you must know!"

Rukia froze, taken aback. "The Vizards?"

Straightening, Renji nodded. Then a flash a green caught his eye. "N-nel?"

Nel smiled and wiggled her fingers at him. "Hi!"

"W-what? B-but…!" Renji spluttered.

There was a human roar from above them. "I've had enough of this shit!" Nnoitra, eyes ablaze with rage, landed between the three of them and swung his sword violently.

Nel stopped him, the ringing clatter of steel on steel echoing as their swords crashed together. "I'm afraid we'll have to catch up later."

Renji and Rukia exchanged determined glances and turned to face their enemies.

Renji braced himself as Aaronerio and Arruruerie drew their own weapons and the remaining Arrancars followed suit. He could do this. He had to do this. For Sachi.

…

Rangiku jumped so badly when the garagantas opened that she nearly dropped the bottle of sake she'd been drinking from. She didn't hesitate to throw it across the room, however, as she scrambled to grab her zanpakuto from where it rested on her dresser. After some fumbling she managed to tie it to her belt and throw the door open.

As she darted out into the hallway a flash of black caught her eye. It was…Ichihara? Rnagiku paused. She knew that she was needed outside, that her captain needed her to have his back. But something about this just seemed strange. Why was Ichihara running farther into the shop when the enemies he'd claimed he'd come to help fight were right outside?

After a minute of wavering hesitation Rangiku turned away from the door that led outside and dashed after Ichihara, as if pulled along by an invisible force. He'd gone down into the training area beneath the shop. Cautiously Rangiku followed.

She glanced around as her feet hit the dirt at the bottom of the ladder. She didn't see Ichihara anywhere, but she could faintly feel his reiatsu on the far side of the massive room. She frowned. He was trying to hide it. Why? This was only getting more and more suspicious.

It was as Rangiku was approaching him, moving carefully between the shadows of the boulders and suppressing her own reiatsu, that the explosion went off. Surprised and alarmed Rangiku sprinted forwards, moving into shunpo until she rounded the corner of a narrow gulley and froze.

Ichihara was standing next to the outside wall of the training area, a large hole before him. Rangiku watched as he reached into it and pulled out something small and glowing.

With a horrified gasp Rangiku ducked back around the corner and pressed her back up against the wall of the gully. Her heart pounded and her mind filled with panic. She recognized it. Of course she did! How could she not?

The Hogyoku!

Rangiku didn't understand. What was it doing here? Why did Urahara have it? She thought it had been sealed away with Aizen!

Rangiku's panicked thoughts blocked her senses and she didn't notice Ichihara's approach until it was too late. He slammed Rangiku up against the wall at her back and seized both her wrists as she made to grab for Haineko.

"Nuh uh," Ichihara tutted, smiling, as he twisted Rangiku's wrists painfully. "I can't let you do that, now can I?"

"You bastard," Rangiku hissed, trying to forget how excruciatingly familiar Ichihara's face was. "What are you doing down here? Why do you have the Hogyoku?"

"Hmm? Oh, that was my mission."

"Your…mission…?" Something in Rangiku's brain shorted out. Cold dread pooled in her stomach. "You're betraying us." It wasn't a question.

"That's right!" Ichihara answered cheerfully. "Though I don't think I was really part of your group long enough for this to be considered a betrayal."

Rangiku's eyes lost their focus as she gazed out past his shoulder, struggling to understand. This was Gin. He wasn't her Gin, but he was Gin. And he was betraying her again? She didn't understand…she didn't understand! The aching in her chest was so fierce that Rangiku was sure it was about to crack and spilt.

"Why?" It was the only thing she could think to ask, the word passing through her lips as barely more than a whisper.

"Why?" Ichihara's grin faltered and then fell away completely into a frown. "You want to know why…" he murmured.

"Tell me, Rangiku. Do you ever dream of your previous life as a human?" Rangiku gasped, her gaze snapping back to Ichihara's face. He'd never called her by her given name before. He stared back at her with heavily lidded eyes, pale blue irises glinting in the artificial sunlight.

"I'll take that as a 'no'. Well, let me tell you, I've had dreams of my previous life as a Soul Reaper. Every night since I was a child they've haunted me. Faces of people I don't know, horrible things that I've never done." Ichihara sucked in a breath before his voice dropped, low and threatening. "And I can't stand it anymore."

Rangiku was trapped in his gaze. She couldn't look away as fear, horror, and a strange attraction that she didn't understand kept her frozen. His eyes burned with a mixture of hatred, anger, and a desperation that Rangiku wasn't sure that she could- or even wanted to- name.

"But you know who's always haunted me the most?" Rangiku flinched as Ichihara released one of her wrists, preparing to be struck or killed. But, despite the danger, she couldn't find it in herself to stop him. She was completely and utterly shocked when she felt his fingers against her cheek, stroking her cheekbone once, soft and tenderly. "It's you, Rangiku."

Rangiku's heart was pounding in her throat. Tears pooled in her eyes and threatened to spill. There, in his eyes- that was her Gin. "G-gin," she managed to choke out.

Recognition flashed through Ichihara's eyes and he suddenly pulled away. He turned, took a couple steps away, and stood, shoulders taunt. "That's why I'm doing this." His voice was thick. "Because I just want to be a normal human. I'd do…anything for it."

Ichihara took the Hogyoku from his pocket and fingered it for a moment before glancing over his shoulder, sadness on his face. "Goodbye, Rangiku."

With that he was gone.

Rangiku collapsed to the ground, tears pouring unchecked from her eyes. She'd been able to handle losing him once. She'd gotten over losing him twice. But a third time? No. That was something she couldn't deal with.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone. Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out. I don't really have an excuse beyond that I was busy, so hopefully the length (22 pages) and the fact that a lot of stuff happened will make up for it.

Anyways, things are really taking off now. Yes I made Momo the bad guy. Mainly because I just don't like her very much. And she already has an established relationship with Aizen, so meh. And I finally introduced some more of the pairings. In case you weren't sure they're UlquiHime, GinRan, and sort of GrimmNel (I'm actually more of a fan of NnoiNel so that will probably get some time at some point too). Still not sure if I'm going to work the HitsuMatsu in yet.

I got twelve reviews for the last chapter! Thank you so very, very much to Kurisetina, Imaginary Owls, Lady Island Rose, Kyoichi Amaya, RedTheAmazing, D happy, Zororenjilover, Xxdreamergirl95xX, Luafua, Magimagus, and shadowknight1121! I hope you all aren't too mad at me and you'll still review this chapter!

If you missed it with the author's note RedTheAmazing did the awesome cover art!

I've got only a couple weeks left in my semester, so hopefully the next update will come a bit sooner. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading!

imagination junkie