Two years after the war quite a bit had changed within the Soul Society. Shunsui Kyraku had become new head caption, Shinji had taken back reigns of the fifth division, Rose had taken over the third, and Kensei had taken back the ninth. All of the vizards along with Urahara and Yoruichi had been relieved of exile. Urahara and Yoruichi chose to remain within living world but would occasionally help their original divisions when needed. Moshiro had become Kensei's co-lieutenant along with Shuuhei, Hiyori being Shinji's lieutenant. Isshin Kurosaki had taken over the eighth division, his twin daughters living with Orihime for school and visiting their father on weekends and vacations. The biggest and most noticeable differences however were that two surviving espada, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques and Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, had taken up residence as allies in the Soul Society, and Ichigo Kurosaki had been missing without a trace since the end of the war and was now presumably dead after many searches of all three worlds.

XXX

Urahara stood in the twelfth division along with Mayuri, staring at what should have been impossible. After the war Mayuri had set up reistu detectors around Las Noches just as a precaution and as of the moment, two years later, several exceptionally large reistus were being detected.

"This is impossible! We searched that damned land thousands of times over with a fine comb! There is no way any other espada, or arrancar for that matter, could have survived without our knowing!"

"Well, Mayuri, it seems it is possible seeing as we are looking right at it. I suggest we get a team, caption class, to investigate this matter. We must not take it lightly."

"I suppose you're right."

XXX

A meeting had been called and all of the captions along with their lieutenants and any one else that may have been involved in the war were gathered in Shunsui's new head quarters.

"I would like Byakuya, Joshiro, Renji, Shinji, Kensei, Kisuke, Yuroichi, Isshin, Grimmjow, and Nelliel to accompany me on the mission."

The captions nodded in agreement with their newest head caption when a small voice spoke up.

"Excuse me Mr. Kyraku, I was wondering if I could accompany you as well. I now I'm not much in the offense department but I am capable of defending myself and healing others should it be necessary."

The others in the room turned to Orihime, then to their head caption.

"I suppose you're right, you may come but please try to stay safe."

The young girl nodded enthusiastically as everyone dispersed to prepare for the mission.

XXX

The group arrived at Los Noches with little troubles, just the occasional low level hollow that was dispatched easily. They were all the way in Aizen's old meeting hall before they encountered someone. The first to make a sound was Orihime, who gasped.

"Ulquiorra!"

The fourth espada was sitting on a soft looking pillow that resembled the others around a low rising table that had replaced the high backed chairs and throne that were once there. The man sighed, already showing much more emotion than he had during the war.

"I am to assume you are here due to your reistu detectors sensing us, yes? I do apologize that you've taken so many away from daily duties to come on what you will find a pointless mission. We have been here since the end of the war. Obviously we are no threat seeing as we have harmed nothing, and have no plans to. The only reason your reistu detectors picked up on is was because a certain mad man can not seem to contain his curiosities."

Kyraku was the first to speak after that.

"Woah, woah, slow your role there. Why couldn't our detectors sense you before this? And how did you avoid all the many searches that have been out here?"

"Your detectors were disabled soon after they were implanted, and we happen to be very good at hiding."

Another series of questions followed, ending in the group sitting on pillows opposite the espada as they spoke rather calmly, considering two years ago the were battling each other to the death.

"So, Ulquiorra, I am aware that Grimmjow and Nelliel are able to be here with us because they survived the war. However as far as I've known, you met your end in the war in a battle by the hands of Kurosaki Ichigo. How is it you are here speaking with us?"

Urahara voiced a question they'd all been wanting to ask.

"To be completely honest with you we're not sure. Szayel has been working to figure it out but so far has found nothing. Soon after the war the espada and arrancar that now reside here started slowly appearing and rebuilding Las Noches."

"Who else came back? Have you seen my fraccion?"

Nelliel's eyes were full of hope as Ulquiorra sighed sadly.

"Unfortunately we have not, I am sorry. However the remaining espada are Harribal, Nnoitra, Szayel, Stark and Lillinet, and myself. Harribal and Nnoitra's fraccions also showed up, along with Grimmjow's Shawlong, Yylfordt, and Di Roy."

Before Ulquiorra could say anymore Grimmjow shot up from his sitting position.

"Where are my fraccion!?"

Those from the Soul Society tried to have him sit back down and speak calmly, not wanting to start anything but he refused, demanding to know where his men were.

"It would be advised you don't see them as of now. There are some…complications with them coming to see you."

"And what the hell complications are those, batshit? That you don't wanna lose any more of your precious army?"

"No, we are no longer an army, just a group living together to survive. If you really wish you can see them. Just know you brought the punishment on yourself."

"My fraccion. Now."

Ulquiorra sighed before pulling something that looked very similar to a cell phone out of his pocket and hitting a button before putting it away. Not a moment later Yylfordt arrived with Shawlong at his side.

"Where's Di Roy?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming, this bitch it heavy."

Everyone in the room, save Ulquiorra, Yylfordt, and Shawlong, looked questioningly behind them to where the voice of Di Roy had come from. The blonde figure walked in slightly hunched over, so the person on his back would stay where they were. The person appeared to be asleep, their head, which was covered by the black hood of a sleeveless sweatshirt, layer on Do Roy's shoulder while their arms lay loosely around his neck and their jogger clad legs locked at the ankles around Do Roy's waist.

"Is he really still asleep? Has he eaten anything today?"

Yylfordt shook his head at Ulquiorra's question. Before Grimmjow had the chance to ask who it was the male climbed down from Di Roy's back and straddled Grimmjow, who was sitting cross legged on a pillow, and laid his head back down after making himself comfortable and wrapping his arms around Grimmjow's neck as if it were the most normal thing. Grimmjow raised a hand to yank the male off of him but before he could make contact the hand was grabbed be Shawlong who simply shook his head in warning. Grimmjow growled in response but lowered his hand, knowing Shawlong always had a good reason behind his actions. Isshin was the next one to speak.

"Why can't I feel any reistu coming off of them?"

He looked to Ulquiorra for his answer.

"He and his counter part wear small pendants around their necks to conceal their reistu. They were found after the war, well, he was found struggling with his counter part, so they were brought here to be taken care of."

"Counter part?"

That particular part had piqued Shinji's interest, Yylfordt being the one to answer him.

"Yes. This young boy has a separate part of himself that we have managed to separate and manifest to live as its own being. Though they can join together to fight if need be. In all honesty it's quite odd and we don't completely understand how its possible."

Shinji nodded before Yoruichi added her two cents.

"Does this 'young boy' have a name?"

Yylfordt smiled before walking over to the male on Grimmjow's lap and crouching, bringing his finger up to scratch gently at the hooded figure's cheek.

"Time to wake up sleepy head, there's people here that would like to meet you."

The male shook his head and nuzzled Grimmjow's shoulder before settling again.

"You can stay right where you are, but do you think you could take your hood off for us?"

"Like hell he can stay right where he is! What do I look like? A chair?!"

Shawlong placed a hand on Grimmjow's shoulder.

"Grimmjow, this boy has wanted nothing more than you since he was found. We've had to sedate him on many occasions to stop him from going on a wild search for you out in the sands where he would surely die due to his current health."

"Why the fuck would he want me?"

Yylfordt sighed before shaking his head.

"I honestly have no idea seeing as you have no sympathy or compassion. All he's wanted is you and you can't even be pleasant?"

"Pleasant? I don't even know who the fuck he is! And I'm Letting him fucking sleep in my lap, isn't that enough?!"

Yylfordt was about to snap back when Di Roy interrupted him.

"This has all just become a giant mess. You two need to calm down. Take his hood off, these men, and woman, deserve to see who he is. He was theirs after all."

The last comment received many strange looks, though no one questioned it because they were too busy watching as Yylfordt pulled back the hood to reveal a head of shaggy orange spikes that were slightly longer than they once were. A few in the room gasped, others too shocked to speak. The orangette blinked his eyes open slowly, taking in what he could see of the room without moving his head. Once he assessed where he was he lifted his head slightly to rub the tip of his nose against where Grimmjow's neck met his chin, humming in content.

"M-my son. He's…he's alive."

Isshin was up and out of his seat faster than anyone could blink, rushing towards his son, only to be stopped when he received many warning growls, one of which was from Grimmjow. Who, after realizing what he had just done, looked down at the small male nuzzling his neck. Ulquiorra huffed a breath of amusement, knowing a growl like that out of Grimmjow would only mean one thing.

"It looks like you excepted him as a possible mate then, Grimmjow?"

"Why the fuck would I wanna mate the bastard that nearly killed me? Besides, he's a fucking-"

Grimmjow stopped to look down at the eyes that were now staring up at him and sighed. These weren't Kurosaki's eyes, these eyes were broken, pleading with him, not eyes of piercing fire that promised pain.

"Aw, hell."

Grimmjow bowed his head to nuzzle the smaller males neck before growling and biting down gently, yet hard enough to leave a small mark. Ichigo smiled before suddenly pushing Grimmjow down so his back was on the floor, proceeding to lay fully on top of him with full intent to go to sleep. At this point Isshin could only sit and watch from the floor, tears flowing down his face. Renji and Shinji simply looked on in shock, over joyed on the inside that their good friend had survived, and Orihime simply smiled at him.

"Why don't you all stay here a night? I doubt Ichigo is going to let go of Grimmjow any time soon and I believe his father would like to stay with him."

Ulquiorra suggested to the head caption, thought on it a moment.

"We won't be attacked in our sleep?"

"No, the espada carry no ill will towards any of you, nor do the fraccion. Lower ranking arrancar and adjucas wouldn't dare pull anything that idiotic."

"Very well, but we are not to be separated into groups smaller than four."

"Well, I was going to suggest you stay with the espada instead. It would provide better protection and comfort. You would stay with Joshiro in Starrk Coyote's room. Shinji and Kensei would stay with Nnoitra Gilga. The woman could stay in my room along with Byakuya and Renji. Urahara would be with Szayel, along with Yuroichi. Nelliel would stay in her former quarters with Harribal and her fraccion. Then Isshin could stay with Grimmjow's fraccion, which is the room directly next to Grimmjow's room where he would be staying with Kurosaki."

After thinking a moment and discussing it a bit with Joshiro and Byakuya Shunsui agreed to stay with the espada.

XXX AUTHRS NOTE XXX

Yet another story. For those of you that follow me and read anything else I have posted, I know, I know, I keep posting the first chapter and leaving it. I promise I haven't left them behind, I'm just working very, very slowly on them. Reviews always help though, they let me know there's still people interested in my works. So, as always, review follow and favorite, thanks for reading, have a great day.