The cuffs lay like a second skin. Tight. Unmovable. But not with permanence. Just the barest spark, flickering like an ember in dying coal, remained of his spirit pressure.

Only time would regain what had been sealed.

The green eyes closed against the pulsing light of written Kido. Floor to ceiling, every type of Bakudo imaginable had been laced into the very framework of the windowless room. Underground perhaps? The air contained a stale, recycled quality to it that was similar to the windless atmosphere of Hueco Mundo.

He had told that great fool he could do it alone.

Assistance was as unnecessary as undesired.

The task was simple. Scouting for the boy whom now was regarded as nothing but trash to the viridian streaked face of the Arrancar.

But, he hadn't been heeded.

A trap had awaited them, one that defined the term given by Kisuke Urahara as 'know your enemy'.

Observation. Simply put. They wished to observe their enemy- imprisoned, powerless and wait to see if they could gather information about his Lord. The fools, Ulquiorra thought apathetically without a trace of hostility. He would never divulge a single sentence that could be detrimental to their plans.

Lord Aizen's.

He was an instrument merely, to see himself as otherwise went against all logic.

Solely a method for the destruction to encompass the entire world.

(*)*)*)

"He hasn't moved in two days." The shopkeeper's hushed voice made the Shinigami beside him turn sharply. Violet-blue eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously. "Why haven't you disposed of it yet? Keeping a captured enemy as a pet goes beyond even sane levels for you, Urahara."

The slat on the door drew back, the fair-haired man quirked a twisted smile. "Why, Ms. Kuchiki. How could you ever doubt me?"

Rukia blew air from her lips, her eyes rolling discreetly to the ceiling at the man's act. Really. Some things never changed. For one being the aforesaid man's attempts to study the world around him by gaining subjects like herself in the past. It wasn't pleasant being a so-called lab rat. So, she could in part sympathize in some strange way with the Arrancar.

Be her enemy or not.

So, she scowled and crossed her arms over her thin chest. Being in a Gigai for the change of the seasons in the living world was relatively unpleasant as she was faintly cold. Chilled. Though she wore a sweater over the summer dress.

"Spit it out then. What is it you want?" she didn't like having to lie about her reasons for venturing out so late, particularly to Ichigo. If the man's call hadn't been so-well secretive! Rukia would never let it slip how much his message disturbed her. Making her believe something was genuinely wrong yet when coming...

"I want you to watch over my little project." he said it so plainly that at first she was sure she hadn't heard correctly. Urahara smiled a little in the dimness of the narrow corridor. From a room two doors down, the faint sound of Kido chanting could be heard in a deep male voice. His assistant Tessai, hard at work reinforcing the barrier around their prisoner.

"Ms. Kuchiki..must I repeat myself?" a note of teasing colored his low tone.

She had to shift a little closer to hear.

"I am asking you to guard my pet- as you call him. Get him to talk, see if you can find out anything about Aizen. You can do that much at least."

She stared at him, her confidence in her prior belief that her hearing was going bad from Ichigo's yelling, proved nearly null. Urahara had said...but no! That was crazy-! If Soul Society found out-? "You're mad." Rukia denounced flatly. "Why would I assist you for anything-?"

"Oh, I don't know..." the man tilted his face to the ceiling as if reading words only he could see. "..'cause I'm such a sexy irresistible shopkeeper?"

Rukia wanted to hit him then. "Get somebody else to do your dirty work. I'll never cover for you." The venom was back in her voice. Yet he was unaffected by it. The smile merely returning as a curve across his mouth, his cane tapping the floor thoughtfully.

"I see. So, that is your answer to my kind offer."

What was he talking about-? "What offer?" her eyes flashed, her advance threatening despite her diminutive stature.

"..oh, just if you do not help me with this one thing, I will never assist Kurosaki-kun ever again."

Rukia stiffened. He wouldn't. "You can't-"

"-do this?" More of a smirk, the heave of broad shoulders covered by the green haori. "Please, Ms. Kuchiki. I am simply a dealer, shopkeeper some might say, with an inclination to experimentation."

"..you're crazy." she breathed in some awe though less respect for the man. There was a difference between regard and the previous inspired emotion of awe. He was a masterful manipulator. She could see how he had once been the Captain of the Twelfth Company.

"That I am." Urahara inclined his head gravely. "Do you agree then?"

"What good will it do?" Rukia muttered more to herself, feeling the lightest chill dance along the fine hairs of her arms. Her glance went to the door, behind which resided the humanoid-like Arrancar. Only a thin sliding door of thin wood sealed by Kido spells ensured it remained there. The man was beyond crazy if he thought he could gain anything by keeping it alive.

The creature was a Hollow evolved past rudimentary intelligence. There was no pity nor humanity remaining within its cold cyan gaze.

She shivered then berated herself silently for it. She was a Kuchiki- and Kuchikis never showed fear! Taking a breath to quell the warnings going off inside her, she said in a firmer voice than she truly felt. "I..accept." The ramifications were such that she didn't want to contemplate at the moment.

Urahara clapped his hands lightly, "excellent choice, Ms. Kuchiki. I knew you'd see the light."

Her fists tightened. He was just using her...she kept her face impassive, unfeeling, knowing better than to let her seething emotions show. "I still say you're insane."

"Watch and see..." Urahara smiled mysteriously, his gaze resting on the door, his thoughts focused solely upon the occupant inside. "There is always...after all a method to my madness."

-TBC...

Disclaimer: don't own Bleach.

AN: had the idea for a while. Au during the first invasion- when Ulquiorra and Yammy enter the living world and very AU after this. Thanks for reading :)

No flames-haters-stupid comments!

Reviews appreciated and loved :)