A Boy and His Dog

Disclaimer: Eh, you know the deal.

-ooo-

PLEASE NOTE: This story willNOTbe continued. I am uploading the remnants of my works, incomplete/unedited/rough as they may be, for reader perusal. There will be author's notes/commentary within the text to reflect this. PLEASE EXCUSE THE EXCESSIVE CAPS LOCK, apparently this is how I kept track of notes in my chapters. Since I'm not continuing, they're all there in raw form. :P

For more information, read my author's profile for details. Thank you.

-ooo-

A/N: For the curious out there… "xxx" denotes scene breaks within the same setting (i.e. Real World, Soul Society, etc.) or group of characters (Ichigo's interactions, Hanataro's misadventures, etc.) while "-ooo-" denotes major shifts in time/setting/characters. Just so you know, since I'm a chronic scene-skipper and all. Though…why is it that fight scenes only last a few minutes, but take forever to write on paper? DX

WARNING: Some blood and gore ahead. Mostly thanks to Stabby Weapons Of Rampant Destruction & Slewing. If you don't like, just skim the first two italicized sections of this chapter—it's mostly hack and slash stuff. :p

(The Inner World.)

When the swords left their boxes, Ichigo had retreated, flash-stepping backwards as fast as possible. Unfortunately, the falling swords simply shifted direction to follow.

"GEH!" Ichigo blanched. 'Isn't that cheating?!'

He fumed as ten swords left the pack to speed towards his vitals. He dodged the first two, used the third as a stepping stone, knocked away another pair while getting grazed by the eighth and ninth, which left a nasty cut on the side of his arm.

"!" A frustrated Ichigo hacked at the last sword, which promptly shattered like fragments of glass.

He blinked in surprise, because that was some pretty weak metal—before lunging to the side as the three blades he dodged doubled back for a renewed assault. One flick of his wrist sent his Khyber knife through two more blades, which splintered on contact into more fragments.

Ichigo chanced a glance at the main body of swords, which moved like a school of fish to hem him in a circle. Glittering blades surrounded him upwards, downwards, and all around. By instinct, Ichigo broke two more swords that tried to ambush him from behind, and watched as five more left the main pack of swords to replace their fallen brethren.

"So that's how it's gonna be?" Ichigo growled. "I'll have to cut myself out of here, ten at a time?"

He flexed his fingers. "Doesn't seem that hard."

For a second, Ichigo stared off against ten floating swords, wondering how best to strike. The next thing he knew, they vanished from sight. 'What the—'

Shplort.

Ichigo coughed, staring down in disbelief at five swords sticking out of his bloody torso. He coughed again, warm and wet and sick, and pain exploded through his senses, fire and ice twisting his insides into shredded tissue—

Ichigo sucked in a breath, the air burning like swallowing the sun whole and he gasped as his hands scrabbled towards the closest handle sticking out of his chest, trying to get it away, get it out—

—and fumbled when he grasped nothing but air.

'Wha…' Ichigo blinked. The swords had disappeared, as had the pain. Only the blood remained, staining his shirt and coating the inside of his mouth with a salty aftertaste.

"Focus, Ichigo," a voice intoned, and Ichigo swerved to face the bastard screwing around with his perceptions. He was floating directly over Ichigo, above the sea of swords, forcing the teen to crane his neck to see him properly.

"Even if the swords aren't real, your mind can only take so much pain before it wakes up," his zanpakuto spirit said. "Don't waste time."

"You—" Ichigo stiffened, then abruptly jerked to the side as a swarm of swords tried to skewer him again. "—really don't like playing fair, eh?"

"Technically speaking," The figure spread out its arms, palms facing up, in a mock gesture of peace. "It's still one on one."

"Doesn't mean much when you have your own—oof—personal sword army," Ichigo knocked away another swarm and almost swore as an errant blade flew past his guard to stab his thigh. Like the others, it faded after a few seconds, leaving behind a fresh bloodstain.

'I don't think they have laundromats around here,' Ichigo thought somewhat hysterically, 'The heck—'

He hissed sharply as something sliced across his back, and spun around to shatter another blade. "This is getting really freakin' old!"

In a flurry of exertion, he found and broke twenty more swords before zeroing in on his target. "Yo! Zanpakuto spirit!"

Above the layer of floating swords, the hooded figure tilted his head but otherwise made no reply. Ichigo smiled thinly. "I think it's time we end this!"

And with a burst of reiatsu, he launched himself upwards—straight at the mass of swords.

xxx

In the underground training area of Urahara Shoten, two figures blurred and clashed, their swords sending sparks into the sky. Ichigo stifled an annoyed growl as Urahara blocked his attacks with a frightening amount of foresight and no apparent effort.

The man hadn't taken him seriously for their entire fight! First leading him on a stupid chase around the training grounds, and then peppering him with spells…Urahara was almost as bad as his zanpakuto!

"Why won't you face me seriously?" Ichigo demanded, giving an extra hard shove when Urahara blocked his blade with two fingers and a yawn, Benihime waving merrily over his head.

"Hmm? I wonder why~." Urahara sang, before his eyes narrowed. "Maybe because…you're wasting my time."

Ichigo stiffened, right as Urahara grabbed his wrist and flung him into a pile of boulders. He flailed uselessly through the air before landing with a spectacular crash amongst the rubble.

Hissing in pain, Ichigo quickly struggled to his feet. It hurt, yes—damn but did it hurt—but compared to what his zanpakuto spirit put him through, this was like a landing on a cushion. A pile of hard, jagged, pointy cushions, granted, but still—better than the ends of five hundred swords.

xxx

Ichigo cursed as he pushed against an unyielding wall of sharpened metal. As soon as he'd changed course for the zanpakuto spirit, the summoned swords had shifted to block him. Instead of many, they now moved as one, forming a literal wall of spikes that forced him back every time he tried to advance. Ichigo could block 10 swords, but not 100, and those that slipped past his guard sliced his skin with the sting of a thousand cuts. He bled, profusely now—his skin a mottled, bloody mess of tiny oozing wounds. His clothes weren't much better, shredded tatters of fabric drenched in crimson fluid.

Beyond the gnashing, glinting mass of bloodied blades he could see—and sense—his zanpakuto spirit. Watching, and waiting with an expectant air, silently indifferent as Ichigo struggled, faltered, and struggled again.

And in the meantime, those swords that didn't cut him—stabbed him. Repeatedly. Again, and again, and again—heart, chest, shoulders, limbs. Each time he froze, trapped in a haze of pain until the blades dissolved and he could push forward—only to be stabbed by another and another until he lost count and the pain of dying over and over again pushed his mind to the edges of fraying resistance—but then Ichigo would grit his teeth, pull himself together with sheer force of will, and deny them—deny himself—from breaking apart.

A brief flash, a startled glance, and a sword had rammed itself through his throat. Ichigo choked. He lost his grip on his splintering mind, and for a second he hung on the precipice of pain and insanity, trying not to fall, to fail—

—far above, the hooded figure shifted, and Ichigo caught a glimpse of widened eyes—

'Not yet!'

He seized on that image, and held it before him. That was his zanpakuto spirit. What had Komamura taught him?

They were the other half of your soul. A source of strength wrapped inside a source of weakness, tied to their wielder by an unmistaken bond. They were stuck together, because they were one, and that—and that meant—

Ichigo squeezed his eyes shut and focused on one thought.

'STOP.'

A sword froze in mid-air, inches away from his face. Around him, others stopped moving as well. The spirit glanced at him, surprised, but Ichigo was already speeding upwards, his sword raised to strike—

Clang.

Just in time, the spirit raised his own blade to block the blow, but the force of it was strong enough to knock off his hood. Brown eyes stared into a pair of startled blue ones before the spirit frowned and wordlessly summoned a fleet of swords to flank his back. Ichigo, after narrowing his eyes, managed to do the same.

"I see you're learning," the spirit said.

Ichigo gave a bloody grin. "Just balancin' out the odds."

xxx

Urahara rushed him and Ichigo, too slow to dodge, raised his sword to shield. It only delayed the inevitable as the shopkeeper punted Ichigo into the boulders with a well-placed kick.

"Give up, Ichigo." There was no mirth in Urahara's eyes this time, only a serious, considering gaze that found the teenager wanting.

"…I'm not going to lose," Ichigo growled, struggling to get up. But the next moment saw Urahara slam a clog against his chest, knocking him flat on his back.

"Don't bother," the shopkeeper spoke. "At first, I thought there had to be a reason you unlocked your powers so quickly. But you haven't even called on your zanpakuto for the entirety of our fight. Aren't you the one not taking things seriously, Ichigo? Or are you really just this weak?"

Snarling, Ichigo pushed the shopkeeper aside and lunged, but it took all of three seconds before Urahara had trapped him against the boulders a fourth time, Benihime singing softly at his throat.

"Sorry, but that's not going to cut it."

xxx

"There's no way you can touch me, as you are now," the spirit spoke, as they exchanged blows within a swirling storm of swords. "No matter how hard you try, it's impossible. You lack experience."

"I know," Ichigo replied. "But I have to win anyways."

"Look at you," the spirit said, and its tone bordered on disbelief. "Bathed in blood. Covered in wounds. It's a miracle your mind still exists in this realm."

Ichigo grimaced as an errant sword pierced his shoulder, but shrugged off the pain to parry a thrust aimed at his throat. "Your point being?" he rasped.

"Why do you persist?" the spirit pressed. "You are just a boy. You should be afraid of me—I who offer you nothing but promises of death and pain. Why won't you give up?"

"If you're really my zanpakuto spirit, then you know why."

Something like pain, twisted with fury, marred the spirit's features before he shook his head. "You don't understand. That captain—he told you to live—"

"If it wasn't for him, I'd be dead already," Ichigo interrupted. "What's the big deal with facing death twice?"

The spirit shoved him back, hard. "You're throwing your life away!"

"I'm not going to die!" Ichigo shouted back. "Not before I rescue Komamura!"

"He's a lost cause!"

"He's my friend!"

"Give it up!"

"I WON'T!"

"I'LL MAKE YOU!"

Klshuk.

"…"

"You…" the spirit trailed off, its trembling hands gripping the hilt of its blade.

"I see…" Blood dribbled down Ichigo's chin as he calmly observed the sword sticking out of his chest. "Your sword…doesn't…disappear."

"Why didn't you dodge?"

"Been gettin' stabbed…this whole time…" Ichigo strained to speak the words. "Once more…won't make…a difference…"

In one motion, Ichigo grabbed the hilt in the spirit's hands and pushed the blade in deeper. "Though…gotta say…" he grimaced as the sword advanced, inch by agonizing inch. "This hurts…like…hell."

"What…" the spirit said, dazed. "…are you doing?"

Blazing brown eyes pinned him in place. "Accepting…your promise."

"How…?"

"Death and pain…" Ichigo took a deep breath. "That's what…you said…you'd offer me…right?"

The spirit couldn't look away as Ichigo's face split into a bloody smile. "Sounds 'bout right…for a…shinigami…"

xxx

(A/N: More swordfighting was supposed to go here if I remember correctly. Ends with the usual victory as seen in canon.)

Still trapped by his opponent, Ichigo reached with his left arm towards Urahara's hat, the right still bracing his sword against the shopkeeper's.

"It's cheating if you use your hands, Ichigo-kun," Urahara said.

"Who said I was?" Ichigo retorted. His left palm glowed and Urahara's eyes widened—

'A kido spell? No, impossible, he shouldn't know any—'

xxx

Silence.

Slowly, the spirit touched his face. He withdrew his fingers, observing the splotch of blood staining his tips, and gave a long sigh.

"…I yield." And then, before Ichigo's eyes, he started breaking apart from the feet up, fading away into nothingness.

"What the—" Ichigo took a step, but the spirit held up a hand.

"Wait."

Ichigo froze, and as the last fragments of the spirit faded away, the teen felt a warm glow in his palm. He blinked, perplexed, as a slender sword materialized in his left hand. His fingers wrapped instinctively around the hilt, sending a shockwave up his arm and through his body. The Khyber knife in his other hand thrummed in response, and for the first time in his life, Ichigo felt…complete.

He considered the newer blade. It was light and sleek, more suited to precise strokes and quick slices than his larger weapon(1). To a casual observer, it looked unbalanced, but in Ichigo's hands the swords felt right, a perfect meld of opposing forces.

'So I have two swords, huh? Didn't know it worked like that, too.'

'Right for instinct, left for reason.' Ichigo nearly jumped when he heard the spirit's voice in his head again. 'One ruled by strength, the other by skill. That is our power as your zanpakuto.'

"What do you mean, 'our' power?" Ichigo asked. "There two of you or something?"

'Your heritage is a unique one, Ichigo,' the spirit replied. 'And because of it, your potential for growth nearly limitless.'

"What's that supposed to mean?"

'When the time comes, you'll understand,' he said. 'Wield us well, King.'

Ichigo blinked as the world started to pull away at the edges. Instinctively, he realized he was waking up, and panic flared through his senses.

"Wait!" Ichigo shouted at empty air. "You never told me your name!"

He felt rather than saw icy blue eyes regarding him with something akin to resignation.

'You already know it.'

xxx

"ZANGETSU!"

Instinct had Urahara casting a shield before Ichigo's shout, but it wasn't enough to block the massive wave of reiatsu that surged forth and knocked him off his feet. When Urahara recovered his bearings, Ichigo was standing before him with a smirk. His right hand rested on the hilt of his Khyber knife, its tip planted firmly in the dirt. The blade had gained a wicked-looked curve that seemed to mock him with a leering grin. His left hand held another sword aloft before his chest, Urahara's hat neatly skewered on its end. As Urahara stared, Ichigo frowned, before glancing at the shorter, thinner blade.

"Sorry," Ichigo apologized to his zanpakuto. "I didn't know I had to say your name."

'He didn't know—' Urahara facepalmed, before shaking his head with a sigh. 'Ah, well. A dual sword wielder, huh? I should've guessed, the sneaky little brat.' He opened his mouth to congratulate the teen—

Whump.

—as Ichigo flopped face-down on the ground, out cold.

'Looks like training took more out of him than expected…'

xxx

'Hey, Zangetsu?'

'What is it, Ichigo?'

'Thanks. For lending me your power.'

'…it was yours to begin with.'

'But it was yours to give. So thanks again.'

'…'

'And I promise you—I won't die. So…stick with me, all right? We'll get through this together.'

'…'

'I will always be by your side, Ichigo.'

xxx

(A few hours later…)

"WHADDYA MEAN, IT'S OVER?" Jinta was incredulous. "YOU MEAN WE MISSED THE WHOLE THING?!"

Beside him, Ururu stifled a yawn as she clutched her blanket. "Can we go back to bed now? It's only four AM…"

-ooo-

It was a good thing, Hanataro mused, that Hisagomaru's shikai worked instantaneously. At least he'd made sure Lieutenant Iba wouldn't die before treatment. He, on the other hand…

"I-I only c-c-cut him to c-close the w-wound!" Hanataro stuttered past the zanpakuto blades pressed against his throat and chest.

"He's telling the truth!" Rukia called from her position by Iba's head. "Lieutenant Iba's not bleeding anymore!"

Ikkaku and Yumichika exchanged a glance, before the former nodded for the latter to confirm Rukia's findings. Hanataro exhaled softly as one sword withdrew itself, only to suck in another breath as Ikkaku pressed his blade harder against Hanataro's neck.

"Better pray she's right, shortie," the shinigami hissed in his ear. "Or else we'll make ya pay,"

Hanataro resisted the urge to gulp as he briefly squeezed his eyes shut. 'Stay calm, stay calm…they say stress is good for the blood, right? Keeps the heart pumping, and all that. I…I should think of this as survival training …'

"Looks like Kuchiki-san's right," Yumichika drawled. "Don't know how he did it, but Iba's head wound is gone." He wrinkled his nose. "Aside from all the blood, of course."

Both Hanataro and Ikkaku noticeably relaxed at his words, and the Fourth Division medic started to hold out some hope of getting out alive from this mess when—

"AIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

A girlish shriek pierced the air, causing Ikkaku's blade to slip and nick Hanataro's cheek, narrowly missing his left eye. Ikkaku cursed as he spun around to face the newcomer—which, as it turned out, was none other than one of the Fourth Division medics, holding a clipboard and trembling in fear.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"I-I-I'm so sorry!" the girl exclaimed. "I thought—it's just—I s-sensed a spike in reiatsu so I c-came to see what was the m-matter and-and…" She trailed off, eyes tearing up in fear. "I'msososorryIdidn'tmeanitpleasedon'thurtme!"

"I can't understand your mumblin'!" Ikkaku growled. "Can't you talk normally?"

The girl cringed. Sensing Ikkaku's temper, Hanataro decided to speak up. "Um, excuse me…" His eyes squinted to make out the words on her nametag. "Ueda-san, was it?"

To his mild consternation, the girl in question flinched before nodding miserably. Meanwhile, Hanataro could feel Ikkaku glaring daggers into his back. 'Better me than her. Better me than her…' he silently chanted the words like a mantra to calm down, though his knees were still shaking."Um, okay. You know me, right? Hanataro Yamada—I'm a medic too."

The girl nodded again, eyes wide.

"Good. Great." Hanataro held up both hands in a calming gesture—only lowering his right arm when he realized it was still holding Hisagomaru. "Well, we've got a patient here—" A quick glance back at Iba, who was still on the ground. "—who needs medical attention. Blunt trauma to the head, coupled with blood loss and possible internal bruising. Can you help us out?"

The girl licked her lips, before nodding once more. "Y-yes."

"Okay. Ueda-san, how about you go inside and find a team to take our patient in?"

Ueda-san sucked in her breath, glancing between Hanataro and the rest of his tagalongs, before taking a few steps back and sprinting inside the hospital. Hanataro exhaled in relief. 'Well, that wasn't too bad…'

xxx

"Lieutenant Isane, you have to hear this!"

The tall, silver-haired lieutenant peered sleepily before brightening at the sight of a young blond medic fidgeting before her.

"What's gotten you so worked up, Nami-san?"

"Yamada-senpai beat up some thugs from the Eleventh Division!"

Isane blinked. "What?"

"I heard it from Miharu-chan, who heard it from Chise-san, who was comforting Ueda-san who saw the whole thing outside the hospital!"

"When was this?" Isane asked, concerned. If Eleventh Division members were picking fights on Fourth Division property, then it deserved attention from no less than Captain Unohana herself.

"Just this afternoon!" Nami babbled on excitedly. "You can ask Kuchiki-san from the Thirteenth, she was there too—oh, but it was awful! There were three of them—I heard Yamada-senpai knocked the first one out, but the other two were seated officers! And Ueda-san says there was blood everywhere! Yamada-san even got his face cut up!"

"Kuchiki and…Yamada?" Isane repeated the names slowly. "Wait, you can't mean Hanataro Yamada? The seventh seat?"

"That's the one!" Nami's eyes shone. "Ueda-san said the thugs were going to attack her too, but then Yamada-senpai just raised his zanpakuto and held them back." She paused for a bit, blinking rapidly. "Even though Yamada- senpai was shaking from battle fatigue, he stood up for her sake. Ueda -san said she would have been a goner if it wasn't for him."

Isane sank to her seat in disbelief. "I can't believe it…"

"Me either," Nami admitted.

"You're certain Hanataro fought them?"

"Yes, definitely," Nami nodded. "That's why one of the officers was holding him at sword-point. His zanpakuto was covered in blood, too!" As Isane paled, Nami leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. "I thought it was scary at first, but now that I think of it, it's kind of cool, huh?"

"That's one way to put it…" Isane trailed off. She still had her doubts—Hanataro was such a sweet, polite young man, there was no way he'd willingly hurt anyone, much less the trigger-happy Eleventh. But then again, his brother had been Fourth's lieutenant before Isane took the position, and she remembered his reputation well.

Seinosuke Yamada, the man who took orders from no one but Unohana herself.

Now there was a man who struck nightmares into his victims almost as well as their captain. Perhaps Hanataro had picked up some traits from him? She mentally winced. 'Oh Kami-sama, I hope not…'

"Where is Hanataro now?" Isane asked suddenly.

"Huh?" Nami blinked. "Oh, I heard he was checking up on the defeated shinigami. They had to put him in the hospital."

"Take me there," Isane said, getting up from her desk. This was something she had to see for herself.

xxx

Meanwhile, in a patient room on the second floor of the healing division, Hanataro was nervously wiping off blood from Hisagomaru.

"—and so, when I cut someone, the wound heals," Hanataro explained in a rush of words. "It's much faster than bandages when there's an emergency."

"Huh." Ikkaku looked impressed. "You got some guts, shortie. What's your name?"

Hanataro gulped. "It's not important," he muttered, but Rukia spoke up.

"He's the seventh seat, Hanataro Yamada!"

"Ehh~? You know this guy, Kuchiki-san?"

"He's been helping me deliver reports for Captain Unohana."

"Has he now?" Yumichika looked positively gleeful as he shared a knowing glance with Ikkaku.

"We should tell Renji he's got some competition," Ikkaku muttered in a low voice—which, as it turned out, wasn't low enough.

"What about Renji?" Rukia asked.

"Man stuff," Ikkaku said evasively. "Nothin' you need to worry 'bout."

"Obviously, Renji needs to work on his…ah, paperwork skills," Yumichika added.

Rukia huffed. "Nii-sama mentioned his division was taking on extra work." Her eyes took on a dangerous glint. "Has Renji been slacking off? I'll give him a piece of my mind—"

"Nothing like that!" Ikkaku raised his hands in a placating gesture. "The pansy's gonna—I mean, Renji'll be fine. Trust us." His snickering suggested otherwise, though, and Rukia's eyes narrowed.

"Why are you laughing, Madarame-san?"

"I'm just, haha, happy, ha, Iba's all right!" Ikkaku stuttered, conveniently snagging Hanataro by the collar before the medic could slip out the room. Hanataro yelped as Ikkaku threw a friendly arm around his shoulder. "But man, healin' with a sword slash—that's sick, shortie! You gotta hang 'round the Eleventh sometime, I'd kill to have you for a match!"

'I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult…or a death threat.' Hanataro swallowed. "Um, I should be getting back to work—"

"He'd definitely be helpful against the captain," Yumichika said thoughtfully. "Maybe you'd last more than six minutes, Ikkaku."

"Yumichika-san," Rukia tried.

"Yeah? You think so?" there was a considering glint in Ikkaku's eyes. "Maybe I'll take him to the next rematch, eh?"

'A rematch? W-with…Captain Kenpachi?!' Hanataro paled as he saw his life (Afterlife? Death? Life-after-death? Honestly, he wasn't sure anymore) flashing before his eyes. 'I wouldn't even be able to stand under that kind of spiritual pressure!'

"Yumichika-san." Rukia tried again.

"Good idea," Yumichika nodded. "Knowing the captain, he'll drop by again next month." He glanced at Hanataro. "We can take him then—"

Hanataro squeaked in protest, but the noise was stifled when Rukia spoke up. "Excuse me, both of you!"

The two Eleventh Division officers raised their eyebrows when the room temperature suddenly dropped a few degrees.

"Eh, Kuchiki-san?" Ikkaku said. "You want a match with the cap'n, too?"

Rukia scoffed. "What? No, that's not it. I was asking about Renji—"

"Oh, him," Ikkaku snorted. "Gotta say, he's gotten a lot weaker recently."

"Weaker?" Rukia frowned. "Why, is he sick?"

"Nothing like that," Ikkaku snickered. "Just that—no offense, Kuchiki-san—ever since he's been promoted, all he does is paperwork."

"His…fighting prowess…" Yumichika said carefully, "Has probably gotten rusty."

"Oh yeah," Ikkaku nodded vigorously. "I bet even Yamada here could take him on in a fight, and win!"

Hanataro looked alarmed. "N-no, no, no, I couldn't possibly—"

"You think so?" Rukia cupped her chin thoughtfully. "That might be true."

Ikkaku stopped laughing. "Eh?"

"Hanataro-san is strong enough to walk around Seireitei without his zanpakuto," Rukia observed. "He even told me he forgets it half the time."

"Erm." Hanataro spoke up. "That's because—"

"And it's Lieutenant Isane who holds on to it for him," Rukia continued, giving Hanataro an encouraging smile. "Maybe he can train with Renji and help him regain his strength!"

"All right~! Pansy versus shortie! This I gotta see!"

"I must admit, Renji's behavior is shaming the credentials of the Eleventh," Yumichika tapped his chin with a frown. "We should match them up one day, in front of all the squad members. If anything, it'll whip him back in shape."

"W-wait a minute!" Hanataro cried. "Y-you're all making a mistake! I can'tfight someone like him! I—I've never had the experience and besides—I'm a medic!"

Ikkaku and Yumichikia blinked, looked at each other, and blinked again before staring at Hanataro.

"Oh, is that what you're worried about?" Ikkaku snorted. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I completely understand," Yumichika nodded sympathetically.

"Wha—huh, you do?" Hanataro said. "You're not going to kill me for…I dunno, not fighting him?"

"'Course not!" Ikkaku slapped Hanataro on the back, nearly sending him toppling. "We know you're not from the Eleventh!"

Hanataro exhaled in relief. "Oh, thank goodness. For a second there I thought—"

"So of course, we'll find a way to train you up first," Yumichika added. "Teach you the right skills, the best moves—all to kick Renji's butt for the greater good, of course."

'What.' Hanataro's thoughts screeched to a halt. "Wait, that's not what—"

"It is very noble of you, Hanataro-san," Rukia was looking at him with suspiciously bright eyes. "Renji has been my friend since childhood. I know how important it is for him to be strong. To think that you're willing to challenge him and guide him back on his path in life—"

Somehow, any protests Hanataro had shriveled up and died in his throat with a whimper.

"Kid's got a good heart," Ikkaku grabbed Hanataro in a headlock and gave him a noogie. "Don't ya, Yamada-shortie?"

"Then it's settled," Yumichika nodded. "We'll train Yamada—and Iba too, once he's better—get everyone stronger, and start some fights. Win-win for everyone."

Ikkaku chuckled. "Heh, I can't wait!"

Hanataro was speechless. 'Just how…did it turn out like this?'

xxx

Meanwhile, Nami and Isane were making good time around the hospital.

"The room should be right down the next—oh!" Nami skidded to a stop as she rounded the corner, before hastily backing away.

"What is it?" Isane asked.

"L-lieutenant Isane! It's them! A-and…Yamada-senpai!" Nami stuttered.

'Them?' Isane frowned and peered around the corner—only to see Hanataro walking down the halls between two taller shinigami. And not just any shinigami, Isane realized as she sucked in a breath. One was Eleventh Division's Fifth Seat, Yumichika Ayasegawa. And the other—the bald guy with his arm draped around Hanataro's shoulders—wasn't that Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame?

"Are they…friends?" Isane found herself whispering.

Nami looked incredulous. "No way! They were in a fight to the death!"

Isane considered that, before shaking her head. "I've heard that's how friendships work in the Eleventh. You try to kill each other, and end up being friends if you both survive."

"Oh…" Nami blinked. "Then I guess…if they're not attacking Yamada-senpai…"

"Friends," Isane nodded firmly. "Either that, or friendly rivals. At least we know his life won't be in danger."

They watched on as Hanataro disappeared with the two shinigami past the next set of doors.

'A Fourth Division medic befriending the Eleventh…I thought I'd never see the day.' Isane mused. 'I wonder what Captain Unohana will think?'

xxx

A/N: ICHIGO MEETS HIS FRIENDS WHO HAD DECIDED TO COME WITH HIM. HE BALKS, BUT CHAD JUST SAYS HE'S ALWAYS PROMISED TO FIGHT BY ICHIGO'S SIDE AND ISHIDA SNIFFS AND SAYS KOMAMURA OWES HIM A DEAL TO FIND HIS GRANDFATHER, SO HE'S GOING TO MAKE SURE KOMA DOES BEFORE HE DIES OR ELSE, ON HIS PRIDE AS A QUINCY.

ICHIGO LOOKS TO ORIHIME, WHO TURNS UNEXPECTEDLY SERIOUS WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW KOMAMURA TRIED TO SAVE HER AND HER FRIENDS THAT DAY IN THE HOLLOW ATTACK. SHE WON'T FORGET HIS SACRIFICE, AND SHE'S GOING TO HELP HIM BECAUSE HE'S HER FRIEND TOO.

ISHIDA DOESN'T PROTEST BUT SHIFTS A LITTLE GUILTILY BECAUSE IT WAS HIS FAULT, TECHNICALLY, THAT THE ATTACK ON KARAKURA STUFF HAPPENED. ICHIGO IS SILENT TOO BECAUSE HE THINKS OF HIS SISTERS AND HOW CHAD PROTECTED THEM AND ALL THAT.

LAST GOODBYES TO KON, URURU, JINTA & ETC, AND THEY'RE OFF.

-ooo-

(1) '…it was light and sleek…' – So every time Ichigo breaks/upgrades his sword in the manga, they come back as…something different. And recent chapters have him with this big oversized knife and kitchen cleaver thing. Consider AU!Ichigo to have his own set of dual swords too—except the cleaver has been replaced with a more, well, typical sword that's long and thin. Quincy precision and all that. (I always thought his final Zangetsu forms looked unfinished, like they were chipped off the ends after Ichigo's whole spree with splitting his soul/destroying his bankai/insert traumatic event here.) To me, Ichigo's dual-natured power naturally translates to two swords—so I kept the idea, but modified the design. His blades are both Zangetsu, but embody different aspects of his spiritual heritage. Anyways, that's my headcanon & I'm sticking with it. :)

INFILTRATION ARC

A/N: The chapter opens with Mayuri entrusting the 12th Division to Akon while he and Nemu go off on "personal business". Akon is secretly relieved that they can work without their captain hovering over them 24/7.

TIME DILATION VIA DANGAI, etc. Team Ichigo enters Soul Society and attempts to enter the door, only to get blocked by Jidanbou until the arm-wrestling match. (Basically another canon station. Anyways, Gin appears as usual and does his slicing thing…before telling the intruders they're not welcome in the white city, etc.)

Ichigo and his friends stared in horror at the bleeding stump of JiRANDOBO?'s shoulder. The silver-haired shinigami had sliced clean through his arm.

Gin kept his smile intact as the gates to Seireitei began to close before their eyes. With the combination of shock and spiritual pressure keeping them at bay, there was no way the Kurosaki brat and his lackeys would try to get past him now.

'Ya all comin' in now would be too early for Cap'n Aizen's plans. Best ta keep yer faces outta sight for a bit.'

*Ting-a-ling-ting~*

Gin arched an eyebrow minutely as he heard the familiar jingle. 'Eh…this is ah lil' unexpected…'

xxx

*Ting-a-ling-ting~*

'Aren't those…bells?' Ichigo paused with a frown, his ears picking up on the sound. More than that, though, the hairs on his neck were prickling, and unconsciously, his hand had tightened its grip on Zangetsu. 'Something's coming…' Behind him, Chad moved to shield Orihime, while Ishida suddenly straightened and Yoruichi suppressed a hiss.

At the same time, Smiley Face muttered under his breath. "Can't these gates close 'ny fast'uh?"

*Ting-a-ling-ting-ting-a-ling-ting-ting~*

'Be careful, Ichigo,' his sword whispered. 'This one is dangerous.'

'Got it,' Ichigo automatically slipped into a battle stance.

The next second, there was a terrific crash as something landed in front of the gates, sending up a storm of dust. Ichigo raised a sleeve to shield his face, his friends following his lead.

Then, he choked as a wave of spiritual pressure slammed into him like a wall of spikes, forcing him to take a step back. Peering through the haze, he could vaguely make out a wide, dark shape—which suddenly lengthened as the figure stood up, easily towering over Ichigo and friends.

*Ting-a-ling-ting~*

"Ooooh, you all look so funny! Let's play!"

'A little girl's voice?' Ichigo's frown deepened. But then the dust cleared, revealing the mysterious figure.

Or as it turned out, mysterious figures. Standing before them was a monster of a man, rivaling Komamura in height, dressed in shinigami robes generously splattered in varying patterns of dirt and dried blood. His eyepatch and spiky hair reminded Ichigo of a pirate—until he noticed the strange, pink-haired little girl sitting on his shoulders who was regarding them curiously.

"Aha! Pick the orange guy with the ugly face, Kenny! He looks fun!"

'U-ugly face?!'

And then Eyepatch split his face into a grin that was anything but reassuring.

"You. You look strong."

"Yeah?" Ichigo said, cautiously raising his sword. "You don't look half-bad yourself."

Eyepatch blinked, before throwing his head back in a guttural, ringing laugh—thanks to the bells tied to the ends of his hair. "You've got guts, kid. I like you already."

OBVIOUSLY KENPACHI IS INTERESTED, BUT GIN TAKES KENPACHI AWAY VIA KIDNAPPING TO THROW HIM OFF ICHIGO'S TAIL. YACHIRU LARUGHINGLY FOLLOWS THEM.

'They can't catch da kid,' Gin thought, 'Cause Cap'n Aizen needs 'im later for 'is plan ta work…and I need that ta happen so mah plan can work too…'

RUNAWAY KIDDNAPPING OF KENPACHI COMMENCES. KENPACHI IS NOT AMUSED.

The silver-haired captain skidded to a stop and tossed Kenpachi next to him on the roof, where Yachiru merrily started to dance on his chest.

"Kenny got captured by Ginny~" the little girl singsonged.

"Che," Kenpachi snorted, and with brute strength burst through the ropes holding him prisoner. ("Yay! Kenny escaped!") "Let's go, Yachiru,"

"Now, now, don't be hasty, ya two," Gin said. "No need ta chase after some nobodies for nothin'."

"They're not nobodies!" Yachiru huffed as she hopped onto Kenpachi's shoulder. "We're gonna make friends and play!"

"Ya wound me, Lieutenant Kusajishi," Gin said in mock hurt. "Ain't I good 'nough ta be your frien' too? And here I was thinkin' we could play tag."

"What the hell're you talkin' about?" Kenpachi snorted.

"Well…you and the lieut'nant can be 'it'…and try ta catch me," Gin explained. "And if ya do, I'll challenge ya to a fight."

"And why would you do that?" Kenpachi asked suspiciously.

Gin shrugged, grinning foxily. "Ah jus' wanna have ah lil' fun."

"Ken-chan's never fought Gin-chan before, right?" Yachiru said, bouncing up and down. "Let's do it!"

FIGHT CHASE FIGHT SMASH THRASH CRASH GOES HERE. TO NOBODY'S SURPRISE THERE'S A LOT OF CHAOS AND PROPERTY DAMAGED INVOLVED, UNTIL-

A black and yellow blur buzzed onto the scene before a figure appeared between the charging captains.

"YOU ARE ALL HEREBYUNDER ARREST FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE!" Sui Feng snarled, grabbing both men by the collars before they could collide.

"Aww, don't be like tha, Feng-chan!" Gin grinned cheekily. "We were jus' havin' sum fun!"

Kenpachi grunted and rolled his eyes.

"It was a game of tag!" Yachiru exclaimed. "And Ken-chan was winning!" Her eyes brightened. "Bumblebee, you're fast, aren't you? Wanna play with us?"

"Playtime is over," Sui Feng snapped. "OMNITSUKDO!"

Instantly, twelve more figures materialized around the group.

"Take these three in for custody! And I'll have you know if you resist arrest, I'll personally decide your punishment without consulting the Head Captain!"

xxx

MEANWHILE, ICHIGO AND FRIENDS CONTINUE ON TO KUKAKU SHIBA'S HOUSE FOR SOME CANNON TIME. THE HEAD CAPTAIN CALLS A MEETING FOR ALL CAPTAINS THANKS TO GIN & KENPACHI'S ACTIONS, THUS CUTTING THEIR JAIL TIME SHORT.

THE NEXT MORNING, KIRA IS NOTICEABLY ABASHED WHEN HE PICKS GIN UP AS HIS ESCORT, BUT GIN IS PRETTY CHEERFUL. SUI FENG PERSONALLY ESCORTS KENPACHI AND YACHIRU TO THE CAPTAIN'S MEETING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT LATE/LOST.

xxx

On the other side of Sereitei, Hanataro is having a rather strange morning.

OPEN WITH HANATARO'S DAY. HE OPENS HIS LOCKER AND GETS A FLOOD OF CHOCOLATES, CANDY, AND FLOWERS FROM HIS FAN CLUB. HE DOESN'T KNOW THEY EXIST AND ASSUME THAT SOME POOR GUY GAVE AWAY HIS (HANATARO'S) LOCKER NUMBER TO AVOID A BARRAGE OF GIFT FROM FAN GIRLS. BEING A PRAGMATIC SURVIVOR TYPE, HE DECIDES TO KEEP THE CHOCOLATES SINCE THEY MAKE TASTIER SNACKS THAN RATION BARS DURING HIS CAMPOUTS IN THE SEWERS. THE FLOWERS HE DROPS OFF IN A BIG BOUQUET AT THE RECEPTION TO BE GIVEN TO PATIENTS WHO NEED SOME CHEERING UP.

HE WALKS THROUGH THE HALLS AND SEES GIRLS GIGGLING AT HIM, POINTING, AND WHISPERING AMONGST THEMSELVES. HANATARO REVISES HIS INITIAL MISTAKEN-FANGIRL THEORY AND GUESSES THAT SOMEONE'S DECIDED TO PLAY ON A PRANK ON HIM, AND NODS BACK POLITELY WITHOUT COMMENT. REALLY, SHINIGAMI COULD BE SO JUVENILE WHEN FEELINGS OF THE HEART WERE INVOLVED, BUT HE REALLY WAS TOO BUSY (AND MATURE) TO BOTHER WITH SUCH THINGS WHEN HE HAD A JOB TO DO. HE GOES ON HIS USUAL CLEANING SEWERS TRIP, THE LAST ONE FOR THE MONTH.

"What took you so long this morning, squad leader?" a young brunette medic frowned as Hanataro hurriedly ran to their side, cleaning supplies in hand.

"Sorry, sorry!" Hanataro bowed. "There was something I had to take care of."

"Sounds serious."

Hanataro shrugged it off. "It's nothing important. If we hurry, we can start the new month right. Squad 14 will break the consecutive record for fastest cleaning crew!"

Small smiles and a few quiet cheers greeted his statement, and Hanataro felt himself at ease again. Yes, the sewers were the place to be for a shinigami like him. No drama, no fuss, no…fangirls.

HANATARO'S GROUP CONTINUE TO THE SEWERS, ONLY TO SEE THAT IT'S BEEN "TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE" BY THE 12TH DIVISION. WEIRDLY ENOUGH, HE KNOWS THERE'S NO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TODAY AND SO TAKES IT ON TO REPORT TO THEIR CAPTAIN AFTER THE CAPTAIN'S MEETING IS OVER. HIS GROUP DISPERSES.

xxx

BACK AT CAPTAIN's MEETING YAMAMOTO INTERROGATES GIN ON HIS ACTIONS FOR CUTTING JIDANBOU'S ARM AND REBUKES HIM WITH KENPACHI FOR CAUSING CHAOS IN THE SEIREITEI

(THE 11TH WAS A MESS, THE 9TH PARTIALLY HIT AND MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE ABOUND. GIN SMILES AND KENPACHI SNARKS. YACHIRU GOES TO BOTHER UKITAKE FOR MORE CANDY.)

THERE IS NO REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE 7TH BECAUSE IBA WENT TO TRAIN HIS BANKAI WITH IKKAKU AND COMPLETELY MISSED THE MEMO. BYAKUYA SAYS HE'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IBA'S SLIP.

MEANWHILE HITSUGAYA KEEPS GETTING ANNOYED BY MAYURI, WHO STANDS NEXT TO HIM AT THE MEETING ROOM. HIS HANDS WON'T STOP TWITCHING.

CAPTAIN'S MEETING INTERRUPTED BY INTRUDER ALERT WHEN ICHIGO'S CANNOBALL GROUP BREAKS THROUGH THE BARRIER.

KENPACHI AND YACHIRU WHIZ OFF, SUI FENG DISAPPEARING SOON AFTERWARDS

SASAKIBE NODS TO YAMAMOTO BEFORE LEAVING AS WELL

UKITAKE AND KYORAKU EXCHANGE GLANCES BEFORE FOLLOWING SASAKIBE DISCREETLY FOR THEIR OWN AGENDA.

TOUSEN AND HISAGI SCATTER ON BEHALF OTH 9TH DIVISION.

UNOHANA AND ISANE WALK LEISURELY OUT

HITSUGAYA FROWNS AND FOLLOWS MAYURI AND NEMU, A SUSPCIOUS HUNCH IN MIND.

AIZEN STOPS BYAKUYA ON THE WAY OUT, WHO TELLS RENJI TO GO AHEAD AND ORGANIZE SQUADS/CONTACT THE 7TH TO DEAL WITH THE INVADERS. WHILE THEY CHAT, MOMO LOOKS ON AND DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION UNTIL GIN CREEPILY SMIRKS AT THEM.

AIZEN ASKS ABOUT WORK, BYA IS COOL AND DISTANT AS ALWAYS, SO AIZEN SAYS HE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS SOME MATTERS OVER TEA SOME TIME

BYA ISN'T ENTHUSIASTIC BUT DOESN'T DISAGREE EITHER.

MOMO PRIVATELY MARVELS THAT THE CAPTAINS AREN'T AFFECTED AT ALL BY THE CHAOS UNRAVELLING IN SEIREITEI AND GETS MUSHY-EYED OVER HER CAPTAIN AGAIN, THOUGH SHE THINKS BYAKUYA'S RATHER COLD.

BREAKS OUT OF HER DAYDREAM TO ADD IN A SCHEDULED VISIT FOR CAPTAIN AIZEN TO BYA'S HOUSE THAT NIGHT

UKITAKE AND KYORAKU FIND AND CORNER SASAKIBE TO TALK TO HIM OVER KOMAMARU. SASAKIBE ISN'T THAT ENTHUSIASTIC, SO THEY KNOCK HIM OUT AND DRAG HIM OFF FOR A LOOOOONG HEART TO HEART.

HITSUGAYA AND RANGIKU CATCHES AND CONFRONT THE FAKE MAYURI/NEMU

WITH UNOHANA, WHO SENSES SOMETHING OFF ABOUT THEIR REIATSU. TURNS OUT IT'S AKON + HIYOSU IN SPECIALLY DESIGNED SUITS MADE TO RESEMBLE MAYURI AND NEMU. THEY CLAIM THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR CAPTAIN IS, ONLY THAT HE TOLD THEM TO LOOK AFTER THE 12TH IN THEIR PLACE.

AKON ADMITS THAT MAYURI WAS IN A BAD MOOD BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO EXAMINE THE PRISONER

HANATARO ARRIVES TO ASK ABOUT 12TH DIVISION REQUIRING MAINTENANCE IN SEWERS WHEN IT'S 4TH DIVISION'S PRIOIRTY AND EVERYTHING'S UP TO DATE (HE KNOWS, HE'S HEAD OF THOSE MAINTENANCE CHECKS HIMSELF)

MORE SUSPICIONS RISE

MORE DISCUSSION, FOCUS ON HANATARO WHO PALES AT HIS SUDDEN EPIPHANY. HE TUGS ON UNOHANA'S SLEEVE.

"Er, captain?" Hanataro said hesitantly. "I don't know if this is important, but…"

Unohana smiled kindly down at him. "Go ahead, Hanataro."

"R-right," Hanataro nodded quickly, avoiding Toshiro's piercing stare. "Um, well see, about the Sokyoku…there's a route that leads there, from the sewers…"

"…which were shut down without explanation by the Twelfth Division," Toshiro finished, glaring at the shaking lab assistants.

"T-that wasn't our idea, we swear!" Akon sputtered. "T-the captain might have done it before he disappeared…"

"So Captain Kurotsuchi could be in the sewers?" Rangiku wrinkled her nose. "Oh, yuck."

"More to the point, if he's trying to get illegal samples from a prisoner, then he should be stopped," Toshiro said, looking towards Unohana. "I can track him down, but it'll be faster with a guide."

"Yes, I quite agree," Unohana nodded. "But I'm afraid I'll need to oversee matters at the hospital. Things are looking to turn busy very soon."

"Hanataro knows the sewers inside out, captain," Isane piped up. "He could lead Captain Hitsugaya,"

Unohana seemed to consider it, before nodding. "A good idea." She turned to Hanataro, who distinctly felt that his week was getting more and more complicated by the minute. "I'll leave Captain Hitsugaya and his Lieutenant Matsumoto in your hands, Hanataro."

"Yes, captain," Hanataro demurred.

Toshiro gave Unohana a brief nod. "Thank you."

Unohana smiled before a small explosion drew her attention to the west. She exchanged a brief glance with Isane before the two flash-stepped from sight.

Hanataro shifted awkwardly on his feet as he waited for new orders. "Uh…"

"Matsumoto, send out two Hell Butterflies. Tell our division to deploy patrol teams against the ryoka and get a group here to collect our prisoners and the suits they used," Toshiro said.

"Geez, captain, are you going to save these for dress up next Halloween?" Rangiku asked, glancing doubtfully at the Mayuri and Nemu disguises. "I'd say one Captain Kurotsuchi is enough for Soul Society, don't you?"

"We're holding them as evidence," Toshiro replied curtly, as Akon and Hiyosu cringed in the background. "And you—Hanataro, was it?"

"Yes, sir!" Hanataro quickly stood at attention.

"Where's the quickest entrance to the sewers?" Toshiro asked.

"There's a manhole cover two streets over," Hanataro said after a quick calculation. "We can get in from there."

"Captain, do we really need to go down there?" Rangiku interrupted. "Why can't we cut him off at the Sokyoku instead?"

"We can't be sure that he's not there already," Toshiro replied. "If that's the case, we risk missing him altogether. No," he shook his head. "The only thing we're reasonably certain of is that Mayuri's using the sewers to cover his tracks. We'll have to catch him at his own game."

Rangiku gave a mournful pout but nodded as she summoned the butterflies.

xxx

(MEANWHILE, REAL MAYURI AND NEMU ARE NAVIGATING THE SEWERS AND COMPLETELY MISS THE RYOKA INVASION ALARM)

RENJI GOES TO 7TH DIVISION AND MEETS RUKIA COMING OUT WHO SAYS IBA ISN'T IN

THEY WONDER WHAT'S UP BEFORE YUMICHIKA ARRIVES AND EXPLAINS IBA AND IKKAKU ARE BOTH DRUNK AND OUT COLD AFTER THEIR TRAINING…

A COMMOTION INTERRUPTS THEM, AND THEY RUSH TO FIND A FIGHT WHERE ICHIGO AND GANJU HAVE DEFEATED A BUNCH OF SHINIGAMI OFFICERS

RENJI COMMANDS THEM TO STOP, THEY TURN…2 THINGS HAPPEN

1) GANJU SEES RUKIA, GOES INTO RAGE MODE, AND ATTACKS. RENJI INTERVENES AND THEY BATTLE WHILE RUKIA RUNS TO GET HELP.

Ganju: "THAT'S THE SHINIGAMI THAT KILLED MY COUSIN!"

ICHIGO RAISES HIS SWORD WITH A FROWN. "IS KILLING FRIENDS AND FAMILY A COMMON THING AROUND HERE?"

RUKIA BRISTLES. "T-THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED! I—"

Renji: "RUKIA, GET OUT OF HERE!"

Rukia: "WHAT? BUT RENJI—"

Renji: "THAT'S AN ORDER FROM A SUPERIOR OFFICER! GO ALERT THE BACKUP!"

Rukia: CLOSES MOUTH AND NODS. TURNS TO RUN OFF

Ganju: "DON'T YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!"

RENJI BLOCKS HIM. "HEY! YOU GOT BUSINESS WITH HER, YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH ME FIRST!"

2)ICHIGO RAISES AN EYEBROW AT YUMICHIKA AND COMMENTS ON HIS COLORFUL "GROWTH" ABOVE THE EYE. YUMICHIKA IS NOT AMUSED AND WHIPS OUT HIS SWORD FOR A FIGHT FOR BEAUTY AND HONOR. EVENTUALLY HE USES HIS REAL SHIKAI…

WHICH ICHIGO MAKES EXPLODE WITH HIS GIANT REIATSU.

RENJI DEFEATS GANJU, BUT BEFORE HE CAN GET ICHIGO, YORUICHI STEALS HIM AWAY.

ISHIDA AND ORIHIME END UP TOGETHER, DEFEAT 2ND DIVISION LIEUTENANT OMAEDA

'If that was an example of Soul Society's finest, then we have nothing to worry about,' Ishida thought privately as Orihime toed the unconscious form of the 2nd Division lieutenant.

"Ishida-san?"

"Yes, Inoue-san?"

"We should hide the body, right? Maybe in those bushes over there?"

"A-ah, you're right, of course…" 'Why are her eyes sparkling?'

"And then maybe we could leave a note, like—'Mess with the best, fall like the rest'—to scare off other challengers. What do you think?"

"I don't think that's necessary, Inoue…" 'She's really getting into this, huh?'

"Aww, okay…buuuut at least we can steal their clothes, right? And their weapons? And some money, in case we need to bribe someone?"

'Inoue-san, were you a highway robber in your past life?'

THEY RUN INTO THE 12TH DIVISION, WHERE ISHIDA REMEMBERS KOMA'S WORDS AND DECIDES TO SNEAK IN

(POSSIBLE BECAUSE MAYURI AND NEMU ARE GONE, AS ARE AKON AND THE HEAD SCIENTIST, SO NOBODY IS AROUND TO GIVE REAL ORDERS TO THE STAFF MILLING AROUND)

THEY KNOCK OUT SOME PPL, SNEAK AROUND LABS AND GET SOME DATA AND EXPERIMENTAL DEVICES, LOL

LEAVE VIA BACKDOOR, TURN A CORNER, BUT!

SHUUHEI, ON PATROL, SENSES SOMETHING AND TURNS TO CATCH A BUSTY FIGURE WITH ORANGE HAIR

"MATSUMOTO? WHAT'S SHE DOING WITH THAT GUY? THAT'S NOT HER CAPTAIN…"

EXCEPT….IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MATSUMOTO, MAKING HIM SUSPICIOUS.

HE FOLLOWS AND CUTS THEM OFF WITH HIS SQUAD MATES, DEMANDS TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE

COMMENCE BATTLE!

WHEN ISHIDA LOOKS LIKE HE'S ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING DRASTIC, ORIHIME ACTIVATES A WEIRD SCIENCE EXPERIMENT AND BOOM!

SHUUHEI GETS COLLARED TO ISHIDA. (OR SOMETHING—IT'S TO HOLD EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS IN PLACE—SO CHAINS ON WRISTS)

ORIHIME: OOPS?

THEN THEY'RE SURROUNDED BY SHINIGAMI AND USE SHUUHEI AS A HOSTAGE TO ESCAPE…

SHUUHEI STRUGGLES, NATURALLY, BUT THEN ORIHIME USES SOMETHING ELSE AND FOOOM! GASSES HIM TOO.

ORIHIME: I'M SORRY, SHINIGAMI-SAN! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!

IN SEWERS, MAYURI AND NEMU ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS UNTIL THE AIR AROUND THEM STARTS FREEZING. CURSING, MAYURI ORDERS NEMU TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AS A DISTRACTION WHILE HE RUNS AHEAD.

NEMU FACES OFF WITH EVERYONE, SAYING THAT SHE CANNOT ALLOW THEM TO PASS BECAUSE OF "MAINTENANCE ISSUES"

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN NEMU, RANGIKU, AND HITSUGAYA CAUSES THE SEWERS TO EXPLODE UPWARD INTO STREETS, WHICH HAPPEN TO BE THE 11TH DIVISION.

RANGIKU SAYS SHE'LL DEAL WITH NEMU, WHO IS SUDDENLY CAUGHT IN AN ALL-OUT-BRAWL BETWEEN THE 11TH DIVISION MEMBERS.

HITSUGAYA AND HANATARO CONTINUE THEIR CHASE OF MAYURI, WHO WAS ALSO BLASTED ABROAD

MAYURI USES POISON GAS AND HANATARO GETS A GAS MASK (because medical supplies 24/7) WHILE HITSUGAYA FREEZES SOME, BUT INHALES ENOUGH TO GET PARALYZED BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO MINIMIZE COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO THE REST OF SEIREITEI

HANATARO SAVES THE DAY BY HEALING ENOUGH PPL WITH HISAGOMARU TO DEAL A BLOW TO MAYURI'S SCIENTIFIC CONTRAPTION, (cue more Yamada Is Actually Crouching Moron Hidden Badass rumors here) ENRAGING THE SCIENTIST, WHO'S ABOUT TO KILL HIM WHEN…

THIS IS WHERE SUI FENG ARRIVES AND SPEEDILY ARRESTS THE PREPETRATORS FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE OF SEIREITEI

HANATARO IS LET OFF WITH A WARNING AND ORDERED TO CONTACT THE FOURTH TO CLEAN UP THE MESS

THE LEGEND OF HANATARO's KICK BUTT PROWESS THUS ADDS ANOTHER CHAPTER (he defeated a captain and wiped out the entire 11th Division)

UKITAKE AND KYORAKU TAKE OPPORTUNITY OF CHAOS TO TALK TO SASAKIBE AND ASK HIM TO HELP IN THEIR PLAN TO SAVE KOMAMURA

SASAKIBE IS RELUCTANT BUT THEY EITHER FIGHT OR TALK IT OUT OR BOTH

THEY FLASHBACK TO THEIR PAST AND COME TO DIFFERENT REALIZATIONS ABOUT THE PRESENT.

BYAKUYA GOES BACK TO OFFICE, AS DOES AIZEN, TO WORK.

GIN DECIDES TO TAKE A NAP 'CAUSE HE'S TIRED FROM KENPACHI FIGHTING

UNOHANA MANS THE HOSPITAL

IBA IS KNOCKED OUT WITH IKKAKU

TOUSEN PATROLS LIKE USUAL

MEANWHILE, CHAD ACCIDENTALLY STUMBLES UPON KENPACHI WHILE THE LATTER IS LOOKING FOR ICHIGO AND NEARLY DIES FROM THAT BATTLE. LUCKILY, THE UKI + KYORAKU + SASAKIBE TRIO ARRIVE IN TIME TO APPREHEND THE INVADER INSTEAD.

ORIHIME AND ISHIDA ARE DOING GOOD WITH THEIR ESCAPE UNTIL THEY MEET UP WITH TOUSEN, SHUUHEI'S CAPTAIN. ISHIDA HAS SOME EXPERIENCE WITH HIS BANKAI AND PUTS UP A GOOD FIGHT WHILE THEY DEBATE ABOUT THE NATURE OF JUSTICE.

IN THE END, THEY FIND THAT THEY HAVE SOME SIMILARITIES IN VIEWS BUT ALAS, TOUSEN STILL HAS TO TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY AND SO KNOCKOUT IT IS.

ISHIDA ALMOST BEATS HIM BUT THEM RUKIA ARRIVES WITH BACKUP, INTENDING TO GO HELP RENJI, AND HELPS TOUSEN IN ROUNDING THEM UP INSTEAD.

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ICHIGO AND YORUICHI'S ESCAPE, THEY MEET UP WITH IBA AND IKKAKU. IKKAKU DEMANDS TO KNOW WHO HE IS BUT IBA RECOGNIZES HIM AS THE KID HIS CAPTAIN MENTIONED AND TAKES HIM UNDER HIS WING, CHIDING HIM FOR CAUSING CHAOS DURING AN INVASION.

IKKAKU ISN'T COMPLETELY CONVINCED BUT RUMORS OF THE 11TH FALLING TO CHAOS HAS HIM RUNNING OFF TO HIS OWN DIVISION.

ICHIGO AND IBA JUDGE EACH OTHER WARILY BEFORE IBA INTRODUCES HIMSELF. THEY HAVE A TENSE CONVERSATION AND CALL A TRUCE SINCE ICHIGO WANTS TO RESCUE KOMA AND IBA…ISN'T EXACTLY AGAINST THE IDEA HIMSELF.

-ooo-

BANKAI TRAINING EXCERPT

"Wait," Ichigo said as he held up a hand.

Yoruichi flicked her tail in irritation at being interrupted. "What is it?"

"You're not really a cat, are you?"

"What do you think?"

Ichigo paused, considering. "Do werecats exist?"

Yoruichi grinned. "Wanna find out?"

xxx

"LOOK, I'M SORRY I ASKED, OKAY?"

"What's wrong, Ichigo? Didn't you want to know?"

"I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! JUST HURRY UP AND PUT ON SOME CLOTHES!"

-ooo-

ICHIGO AND IBA TRAIN THEIR BANKAI SIMULTANEOUSLY, MORE OR LESS.

AIZEN AND BYAKUYA MEET FOR TEA, PART ON RATHER COLD TERMS. AS IT TURNS OUT, BYAKUYA'S BEEN FINDING SUSPICIOUS EVIDENCE HERE AND THERE THAT AIZEN'S LET HIM SEE TO LURE HIM INTO SUSPICIONS. MOMO WITNESSES THE AFTERMATH AND OBSERVES THAT AIZEN AND CAPTAIN BYAKUYA DON'T SEEM TO GET ALONG VERY WELL…

THE NEXT DAY, SHE FINDS HER CAPTAIN'S DEAD BODY, SPURRING ON THE FAKE AIZEN DEATH ARC. AIZEN LEAVES BEHIND A NOTE THAT SEEMS TO IMPLICATE BYAKUYA (BECAUSE HE'S SALTY HE DIDN'T GET TO USE RUKIA FOR HIS GRAND PLANS) AND AN EMOTIONAL MOMO TAKES IT TO THE KUCHIKI RESIDENCE, DEMANDING ANSWERS. IT'S RUKIA WHO ANSWERS THE DOOR AND TRIES TO CALM HER DOWN, CONVINCED HER BROTHER IS INNOCENT.

MOMO SHOUTS THAT BYAKUYA ISN'T EVEN HER REAL BROTHER, HIGHLIGHTING HER SELF-DOUBT. RUKIA PRIVATELY RESOLVES TO ASK BYAKUYA WHEN SHE CAN ABOUT THIS NEW TURN OF EVENTS.

HITSUGAYA, MEANWHILE, IS RECOVERING AT THE HOSPITAL AND TELLING RANGIKU TO INVESTIGATE EXACTLY WHAT MAYURI'S UP TO WHILE HE'S INTERRED.

THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME BECAUSE MAYURI BREAKS HIMSELF OUT IN USUAL CHAOTIC FASHION, BUT HELPS ICHIGO'S FRIENDS TO ESCAPE ALONG THE WAY.

MEANWHILE, THE EXECUTION DATE GETS MOVED UP, AND GIN GOES TO SEE THE PRISONER LED TO CERTAIN DEATH. HE TRIES TO PROVOKE HIM BUT KOMA IS UNMOVED, UNTIL…

-ooo-

"I have already accepted my fate. If the Captain Commander has no objections to my death, then I shall meet it with dignity."

"Che. Ya know yer no fun to tease at all, Koma-kun?" Gin looked put out. "All tha' yappin' 'bout 'honor' and 'loyalty'—why, yer almos' as bad as Tousen!" He suddenly grinned. "Whadd'ya say I make things more interestin', and kill off these guards?"

The guards in question stiffened, hands tightening around their swords, but Komamura cut in with a growl.

"Don't."

"Oooo…scary stuff, a puppy showin' his fangs…" Gin's smirk twisted cruelly, and he drew his zanpakuto. "Makes me wanna kill 'em all the more."

Komamura looked murderous. "You wouldn't dare—"

"Shoot to kill, Shin—."

With a roar, the giant leaped towards Gin just as the latter flash-stepped away. Komamura crashed to the ground as his guards watched on in shock.

"Juuuuust messin' with ya," Gin singsonged from a distance. "Heheh, yer pretty predictable, ya know, Koma-kun?"

Komamura said nothing as he struggled to his feet, hands still cuffed together.

"That's a nasty look yer shootin' at me there. Guess I better take ah' hike, eh?" Gin waved his sword at the two guards, who were viewing him with more than a little bit of trepidation.

"C-captain Ichimaru…"

"Ya'll take care of 'im, ya hear? Don't think he'll run off, though, bein' so loyal an' all."

"Don't you have duties to attend to, Captain Ichimaru?" Komamura growled between gritted teeth.

"As a matter o'fact, I do," Gin grinned. "Gotta catch them ryoka runnin' amok in Soul Society. They're good at hidin', like mice."

Komamura's shoulders noticeably tensed.

"Course, that jus' makes it more fun ta hunt 'em down."

The former captain of the Seventh stayed silent as Gin sauntered away, and the guards didn't lower their swords until he was out of sight.

Crack!

Startled, they turned to see that cracks had formed on the floor where Komamura was standing.

-ooo-

BYAKUYA FINALLY GETS IT IN HIS HEAD TO INVESTIGATE CENTRAL 46 FOR ANSWERS, LEAVING RENJI TO MANAGE THINGS AT THE 6TH AND 7TH. RUKIA SEES HIM AND TAGS ALONG, BUT UNKNOWN TO THE BOTH OF THEM, MOMO FOLLOWS AT A DISTANCE, STILL DISTRAUGHT OVER THE LOSS OF HER CAPTAIN.

THEY ENTER THE QUARTERS AND FIND THE USUAL COLLECTION OF CORPSES AND DEAD BODIES. THEN THEY GO DEEPER, AND SEE AIZEN HIMSELF, ALIVE AND WELL.

-ooo-

Rukia sucked in a breath. "That's—" She suddenly stumbled, as something knocked into her shoulder. Rukia's eyes widened as she caught sight of the petite shinigami running past her. 'Lieutenant Hinamori?'

"Captain Aizen!" the girl cried, a mixture of hope and raw, yearning need. "You—"

There was a faint rush of air across Rukia's face, and the next thing she knew, Momo had crashed to the ground in an unconscious heap. Fabric rustled, and Rukia turned to her side, where Byakuya had his hand on his zanpakuto sheath. She hadn't even seen him move.

"Attacking my lieutenant without provocation," The smiling figure of Aizen Sousuke stepped forward, not even sparing a glance at the unconscious girl. "How callous of you, Captain Kuchiki."

"A necessary precaution." Byakuya replied. "She followed us here. Who's to say she isn't working with you as well?"

Rukia's eyes widened. 'W-what? Working with Captain Aizen…? What does nii-sama mean?'

"It seems you've figured it out." Light glinted off Aizen's glasses as he lowered his head in a thoughtful smirk.

Byakuya's voice was calm. "There were inconsistencies in the reports I requested from the council."

"Naturally," Aizen agreed. "Seeing as Central 46 stopped giving orders about a month ago."

"You were careless, near the end."

"And you were always too thorough and proper, Kuchiki, after she died," Aizen smiled. "A pity. Together, we might have been something great."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "The Noble House of Kuchiki will never associate with likes of traitors."

"Ah, but that's what they want you to think, don't they?" Aizen drawled. "It's happened before, you know. I've found evidence of it, in these very courts. Your grandfather's—"

"And neither do we deign to listen to their drivel," Byakuya said, unsheathing his zanpakuto. "I will stop you now, Aizen Sousuke, and bring you in for judgment before the Captain Commander. Rukia!"

"Yes, nii-sama!"

"Take Lieutenant Hinamori and leave this place," Byakuya commanded.

Rukia's eyes widened, but she nodded. "I understand." Fighting a ryoka was one thing, but a longtime captain of the Seireitei was another. In addition, they were in an enclosed space with an injured party. It was better to retreat and let her brother and his opponent fight it out alone.

"I see you're still trying to protect her," Aizen smiled. "Hisana would've been proud."

"You have no right to speak that name," Byakuya said, and now there was an undertone of ice in his voice. "Rukia, go."

She had already shifted Momo onto her back, and Byakuya moved to shield her as she hurried towards the door—only to bump into an obstruction. Blinking, Rukia looked up—and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Captain Tousen!" she exclaimed, "You came just in time! Nii—Captain Kuchiki's fighting Captain Sousuke, and—"

She saw the object headed her way but couldn't duck in time with Momo on her back. With one backhanded slap, Tousen sent them both crashing to the ground.

"Ruki—" Byakuya began, before dodging a blow from Aizen.

"I couldn't agree with her more, Tousen," Aizen smiled as he crossed swords with the Kuchiki head. "You do have impeccable timing."

"Both of you…" Byakuya narrowed his eyes. "I see, that's how it is."

"You cannot hope," Tousen replied, drawing his zanpakuto, "To obstruct the path of justice, Byakuya Kuchiki."

"You will not be able to use your shikai here, Captain Kuchiki," Aizen observed. "Not while your sister is in the same room."

Byakuya glanced at Rukia, who was holding her shoulder but looking determined, then back at Tousen. "Don't take me so lightly." He flash-stepped to the other end of the room, and held his zanpakuto before him.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

-ooo-

CUE EPIC ILLUSION FIGHT HERE, WITH BYAKUYA USING HIS BANKAI AS HIS SENSORS/EYES IN A ROOM WHERE AIZEN AND TOUSEN HOLD SWAY. RUKIA HOLDS HER OWN AS WELL, BUT IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE ENTIRE ROOM DISSOLVES INTO CHAOS.

IN THE END, IT SEEMS BYAKUYA WINS….

Sphhhhlt!

Aizen's face twisted in a mixture of shocked surprise and pain, before collapsing around the sword buried in his stomach.

"No…" the figure gasped, trembling hands grasping for the hilt of his opponent's zanpakuto.

"I won't let you die," Byakuya said. "Until you've answered our questions."

"No…" Aizen breathed weakly. "I…I'm not…"

Byakuya frowned, and mercilessly dug the blade deeper, eliciting a sudden, sharp cry. "Silence your feeble excuses,traitor."

"…nii…sama…"

He froze.

"…h-he…he tricked…you…"

Before his eyes, the image and form of Aizen Sousuke shrank and faded to a small, ashen-faced figure clothed in black shinigami robes. A small, choked name escaped from his lips.

"Rukia…"

His sister was impaled on the end of Senbonzakura, blood pooling around the wound and soaking the ground around her. She was looking at him with impossibly wide, impossibly bright eyes, a trickle of red leaking from the corner of her mouth as her fingers clutched nervelessly at the blade.

'Impossible.'

Byakuya's heart stopped, and a cold, sick feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. This…had to be a trap. Some sort of illusion, or a trick, he knew how Kyokya Suigetsu worked—but no, he could smell her blood, wet and warm on his fingers, feel the weakening signs of her reiatsu as she stared at him, her life fading away and her eyes never leaving his like Hisana on her deathbed, her hand reaching, reaching for his face in one last good-bye and a whispered wish he'd promised to fulfill—

Aizen had done this. Aizen had—had made him stab—

Slowly, Rukia's eyes closed, and she fell forward with a sickening splurt, head hitting Byakuya's shoulder.

And his entire world shattered around him.

-ooo-

Momo regained consciousness in degrees, holding her forehead in pain. 'What happened?' she thought groggily. She'd been tracking Captain Kuchiki and his sister all the way to Central 46, when he'd opened the doors and stepped inside. Then she'd followed him into the darkness, and then—

—for a brief, glorious moment, she remembered seeing a glimpse of Captain Aizen, and she had ran to hug him, so shocked and happy and relieved that he was alive, so glad that everything had been just some nightmare—and then something had struck her head and knocked her out cold.

'Was it…a hallucination?' Momo thought, dizzily getting to her knees as she looked around—and froze.

Bodies. This room—Momo vaguely recognized it as the main chambers of Central 46—was littered with dead bodies. Rotting corpses hung over the seats, bent at distorted angles, their blood painting the floors and ceiling—and Momo gagged instinctively as the horrific realization came with an overpowering stench of death and decay.

'Ugh!' Momo covered her nose, recoiling in fear and disgust. 'I…I can't believe it…Who did this?! What kind of monster—'

There was a low, soft, moan.

Momo's eyes widened as she turned towards the voice, free hand darting to her zanpakuto. How stupid, to let her guard down so easily! She'd been following Captain Kuchiki before she fell unconscious and he—

'W-what…?'

She sucked in a breath.

'What…am I seeing…?'

He was kneeling on the ground, both hands gripping the hilt of his zanpakuto. And Senbonzakura, bloodstained and dripping, ran clean through the torso of one Rukia Kuchiki. Momo choked back a strangled sob.

'He stabbed his own sister…!'

Instantly, everything clicked into place. Her captain's words, Byakuya's new position as dual head of the Sixth and Seventh, the Kuchiki Clan's long history in Seireitei—in a moment of terrifying clarity.

'It was never Captain Ichimaru!' Momo realized with growing horror. 'Captain Kuchiki was the real mastermind! He must've killed Captain Aizen, then massacred Central 46 to gain power! And when Rukia protested, he stabbed her! Which means—'

"Y-you…YOU TRAITOR!" Momo screamed, charging forward with her zanpakuto raised in the air. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

She brought down her sword. Byakuya didn't move.

-ooo-

A/N: This was as far as I got in the original brainstorm/plotting session. No, Momo didn't kill Byakuya because Unohana arrived in time to stop her (and save Rukia). The main group gathers at Execution Hill to witness the death of Komamura. In a surprise twist, Ukitake, Kyoraku and Sasakibe turn on the Captain Commander and try to prevent a meaningless death. Sasakibe urges his Ejisai-dono to remember his founding ideals for Soul Society, and to not be stuck in the past and its rules (in a adaptation of canon where Ichigo tries to convince Byakuya not to follow the rules and give up her sister).

Yamamoto does not take this well and commences a fight with his three former disciples, while Ichigo frees Komamura from the execution stand and throws him to Iba to escape.

Everything gets interrupted when the Evil Trio reveal themselves and make their grand plans known. Aizen orders Koma snatched and forces the latter to bow before him to acknowledge his superiority. It turns out Koma had always wished to be "normal" to fit into Soul Society, thus allowing the Hogyoku to take root in his body. Aizen harvests it pretty easily and makes his escape to Hueco Mundo. End Rescue Arc.

I didn't plan out the rest of the plot, only that the group to visit Karakura Town would be slightly different: Hitsugaya + Rangiku yes, along with Ikkaku and Yumichika, but also Shuuhei to tag along. Hanataro continues to make his name bigger and bigger in the Living World, and eventually becomes a living legend by the end of the story.

Ichigo masters his zanpakuto powers and uses strategy + finesse + Mugetsu to defeat his enemy. Aizen can't figure out why he's lost until Ichigo points out, from what Komamura taught him, that shinigami aren't gods.

He can accept the loss of his powers a bit more easily here, especially when a certain brown dog keeps finding a way to 'visit' him without anyone the wiser. Never did get up to planning the Fullbringer + Quincy War arc, except I remember Hanataro would be around to notice the similarities of a certain big bad to his certain big brother…

As I've said, times have moved on and I probably won't be continuing this story. Here it is in all its unedited, rough, writer's scribbles form. You're free to use the idea, adopt it, rewrite it, etc! I wish you the best of luck.

Goodbye to you all, and to ! It was fun while it lasted, folks.