(Karin/Toshiro, Uryu/OC) Nothing is easy, not for these two from the Soul Society. They've come to fight, but she must standby and watch her ex-subordinate fight. He must survive long enough to destroy his target. The problem is that she is called away at the last second and his power fails. Now, all rests upon the shoulders of two separate missions. But how can help reach them both in time?

"Hitsugaya Toshiro reporting in. Target acquired. Pending further notice."

Toshiro's aqua eyes darted to the left. She was standing, quite tranquil, on an electric post. She'd been talking to her squad for nearly half an hour. What was she talking about? The latest hair styles?!

He heard the fuzz and click.

"All members are in position. Prepare for Arrancar. They will arrive in 0.07 seconds."

"Understood." Toshiro put the reciever back into his pocket. "Hey, you ready?"

She turned to look at him and Toshiro just smiled. Her ivory skin, her emerald eyes, her black hair, her green tattoos.... not really what the Gotei looked like, but she was pretty good at looking like that, like her own person. She wore a pure white kimono with a black kimono underneath to show her status in the Gotei. Around her waist was a rich, green sash. The armband she wore for her Gotei was purple.

"Of course, I'm always ready." She turned her back and her hair settled. The symbol on her back was a blank Gotei symbol. That was the way her squad was. Namelessly there. "Block it off. I don't care how long it takes. We need to black it out before it gets here. If that thing erupts here, we're in danger. No, no, no. That's irrationally thinking. We're here to protect his majesty, not to make more trouble. Yes, standby is good. Thank you, ma'am. Yes. No. No. Roger." She clicked the receiver off. "Ready for the battle, Toshiro?"

He smiled to himself this time. The only one who thought he wasn't an "elementary kid" was his ex-captain. She'd only been his captain for two weeks before her promotion, but everyone in the 10th Division loved her. They were happy she chose her next follower so well. "I'm ready for just about anything, Cifer-taicho."

She smiled and looked at Toshiro. "My name isn't so, since I'm at your level. I'm Ummamachi."

"Then I'm just Toshiro."

She sighed and hopped into the street. "ja ne, Toshiro."

"Yeah." He looked up. Despite the discomfort of his gigai, he was hoping he'd see her, just before his fight would begin. But something was wrong about seeing her. All the same, he hopped down and made his way to the soccer field. 'Just watch her play for the last moments before a possible death.'

"Kurosaki!"

"Catch it!"

Toshiro looked up and was able to turn and kick the ball back into play. Karin looked at him and Toshiro felt that same, safety that she'd ensured. He had let her stop him from destroying a Hollow for that reason alone. She had a sense of spirits. He assumed that she was good enough to sense them, and see them. Toshiro just watched her as she dashed back into the game.

"If only you were a Shinigami, Karin. Maybe they'd see you as a valuable ally. You're not like your brother, though."

He felt the shake and noticed that Karin and her soccer buddies went down. The barrier was here, up and running. Toshiro walked over and picked up the ball. Placing it beside her body, he knelt down. He felt something might go wrong and something would happen to them. It was impossible to tell. All he wanted was to be just like Karin, have a family and a normal life. Ah, that would've been lovely, in another life. But this life must be lived first.

"Hitsugaya, preperations are complete." Soi Fon stood a few feet away. Her gigai was dressed in a Chinese gi. "What're you doing? That girl's just a human."

Toshiro looked down at Karin. "I know that." He just stared at her before he got up and slipped out of his gigai. When he was sure it was a safe distance away, he kicked off with Soi Fon not far behind. As he shot up to the other captains, Toshiro wondered what kind of zanpakto Karin would've had as a Shinigami.

---Ummamachi---

She noticed that something was missing. She'd found a hospital to perch on so she'd be a safe distance away. Not having used a gigai, she wasn't easily spotted. But she did a head-count and noticed several captains were missing. Counting on her fingers she determined the number of Arrancar there would be left.

"Mirror, alert message."

She jumped and hit the reciever's button. "Mirror."

"Confirmation code?"

"All that is flesh and mask, Nothing but the soul's shield."

"Confirmation complete. Message transmitting."

She hated waiting for the message's transmission. It took forever and a day.

"Mirror, Garden, and Crow, you are to report all information. No matter how small. I want updates to know what decisions I must make."

In unison with the other two, Ummamachi responded. "Yes, your majesty!"

"Mirror and Crow, be aware of recalls from the other Shinigami! Garden, man your post with your life."

"Yes, your majesty."

"That is all."

"Yes, understood."

Ummamachi flopped back and sprawled out on the roof. The Arrancar weren't expected for another minute, so, it was time enough to catch a little break. She heard something like footfalls nearby and got up, rather quickly. She was on her toes and crouched down. Her hand was touching the blade that hung at her side. She always tied it with a string and let the end of the sheath come just an inch off the ground. That way, when she was in her attack pose, she could easily draw and slice in one motion.

She gasped when she realized it was a human. Why hadn't he been transported when the barricade had gone up?! Was he that strong spiritually that he could withstand the trance and then the transport?

"Shinigami...."

"Y-yes?" She tried to hold her composure and blank expression. 'How can he see me? Is he an exiled Shinigami? Or is he a Shinigami Substitute?'

"What's happening?"

Holding her breath, Ummamachi tried not to blurt it out. "Who are you?"

"Ishida. Now, tell me."

"Well, Ishida-san, there's a battle about to begin." She stood up straight. "How can you see me?"

He didn't say anything, he just stared at something in the far distant sky. "I am...."