Disclaimer: I own nothing affiliated with the Bleach franchise. All rights go to Tite and whoever else. I just take credit for my OC.

Editor's Note: Hey this is the editor and other writer who doesn't get any credit. Just call me Primo. Anyway, if you're reading this it has been a week since chapter 3 was originally posted. Cy has been busy with her own shit so she asked me to lend a hand with updating and going back to other chapters to fix mistakes or things that were left out. One important detail: I can't remember if it was mentioned or not in the first chapter but this story takes place almost exactly 1 year after the war. In that time Ichigo already did the whole Xcution thing so now he has his powers back and everyone's appearances are matching to that time line. So it's just a progressive time line. Okay now you can read the story. Had to clear the air.

Chapter 1
Coming To Terms

October, 2002
One Year after the Invasion of White
Karakura Town

Kisuke Urahara witnessed many wars in his relatively short time in the world of the living. For him, the scariest part was watching what happened after the war. There is always a great uncertainty leftover from conflict, especially in regards to what tomorrow holds for the loser and who will take their place.

This war was no exception. Sosuke Aizen and his Arrancar army had been defeated, Karakura Town was saved, the Gotei 13 and Visoreds sustained no fatalities, and the fortress of Las Noches was in ruin and suffering heavy casualties to boot. Ichigo Kurosaki sacrificed his Shinigami powers only to gain them back after the ordeal with Ginjo, Sosuke was imprisoned, and the Arrancars who once served under him were left wondering, "What comes next?"

Hueco Mundo was now under occupation of Squad 12 and Captain Kurosutchi so the surviving Arrancar were forced to hide in the world of the living. Kisuke- being the odd philanthropist he was- sought to provide them refuge at his shop. Central 46 sent out orders that all Arrancars be executed, but Head Captain Yamamoto was turning a blind-eye. He thought of them as just another set of victims to Aizen, as did most of the other captains. Orihime Inoue was still grieving the death of Ulquiorra and wanted to help his comrades recover from the war in any way she could. Tia Halibel assumed command over the remaining Arrancar and was hoping to find a peaceful post-war settlement. Right now, the 4 of them are holding a meeting at the shop to determine the future and safety of the Arrancar.

"Now that all representatives of the involved parties have arrived: I, Head Captain Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto of the Gotei 13 declare this post-war summit in motion", bellowed the ancient Shinigami. "Tia Halibel, since it is your kind's future we are discussing you may be the first to voice your thoughts."

"Thank you, Head Captain", she replied with a small bow of the head. "The very least I hope for is a lasting peace between the Shinigami and Arrancars and our continued asylum from persecution. It would be preferable if we could return to our homeland of Hueco Mundo, but given the situation that will not happen for a long time."

"I'm worried Karakura may not be safe for much longer", Orihime added in. "There are more Shinigami that are searching for the Arrancars and it's only a matter of time before we're found out."

"Inoue-san, are you suggesting that it is no longer safe for me and my people to stay in Karakura?" asked Halibel.

"Yes, I fear that will be the case very soon."

"Then it is agreed that the Arrancar should not remain in Karakura town for much longer", cut in Yamamoto. "Then we must find somewhere else for the Arrancar to take refuge. Somewhere the Central 46 would not question the intent of the Gotei 13 if we refused to pursue you there."

"Is there anywhere that is beyond the Soul Society's jurisdiction?" asked Halibel with genuine skepticism.

"I'm afraid there aren't many safe places left in the world that aren't overseen by the Gotei 13", answered Yamamoto.

"Urahara-sama, can you think of anywhere the Arrancar can stay hidden?" asked Orihime.

"Hmm, only one option comes to mind, but I know you definitely won't like it, Head Captain." Kisuke takes a sip of his tea and then sets it on the table. "Plus it could be dangerous for everyone, even the Seireitei itself if we made contact with him. Depending on how much word has spread about Aizen's arrest, it could spark a new war" Kisuke concludes in an ominous tone.

"Urahara, you cannot seriously think of turning to that man to aid us," Yamamoto worriedly cut-in. "For all we know, he still harbors great hatred towards the Soul Society. It's better if we continue to leave him alone."

Both Orihime and Halibel look at the two Shinigami with curiosity and light distress from what was just said. I'm sorry", says Halibel, "but who is this 'he' you keep referencing?"

Yamamoto shifts his head down as if he was uneasy and Urahara takes another sip of tea before speaking. "Dìyù zhī ménjiàng." Both women at the table look confused while Yamamoto shivers slightly. "It loosely translates to 'Hell's keeper'. Around 70 years ago during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War, that was the name the Chinese Communist Party gave to a man who fought alongside them against the invading Imperial Army of Japan. He was a native-born Mexican sent from the United States by the name of Ramón Hernandez Sinclair, and he was also a Substitute Shinigami similar to Kurosaki-kun."

"This is all very interesting", Halibel cut-in, "but what does this story have to do with our current situation?"

"Also," Orihime added with open interest and excitement while raising her hand, "how can he be Mexican, but also be from the United States?"

Kisuke grins and then replies, "To answer your first question, I'm getting there. As for the second, that is another interesting story for a different day. So where was I?"

"Oh, the part where he's a Shinigami like Kurosaki-kun," Orihime blurts giddily.

"Right, well long story short he killed a lot of Japanese soldiers. Like, he could have made a city sized blanket out of the skins. And it was-"

"Wait", interrupted Halibel. "Did you say skins?"

"Oh, good god, don't remind me!" exclaimed Yamamoto.

"Yyyyeah, he actually skinned a lot of guys alive. It scarred the Imperials and played a big part in winning back Shanghai. Plus there was the live de-braining and disemboweling" Urahara trailed on.

"Holy shit!" shouted Halibel. Orihime was petrified and Yamamoto looked like he was about to vomit.

"Yeah! That's exactly what the Communists said. 'Holy shit!' But that's not important. All the Killing going on during that time was really disruptive to the flow of the transmigration of souls and his role in the war wasn't helping any. Ramón was breaking the rules of the Soul Society by involving himself in conflicts amongst the living and it was rumored that he frequently visited Hueco Mundo. Normally a Substitute Shinigami cannot be punished in accordance to this law based on the fact that they are still amongst the living."

"However," the Head Captain cut-in regaining his composure, "sometime during the war evidence was brought against him, suggesting that he was planning on launching a coup d'état to kill the entire Central 46 and then overthrow the Soul King. To make matters worse, Ramón's wife had recently been murdered prior to his involvement in the war and there was strong evidence suggesting his involvement. He was declared a 1st class capitol offender and orders were sent from Central 46 to execute him on-site."

"Oh wow!" cried Orihime, getting totally drawn into the story.

"Ultimately, it was the then-recognized Squad 5 Captain Sosuke Aizen who located and confronted Sinclair and a makeshift army of Hollows and grievously wounded him when he tried to reenter the Seireitei" continued Kisuke. "I had known from the start that Aizen was the one who orchestrated his incrimination and death of his wife. It wasn't until after Aizen's defection that it became clear both Sinclair and I were framed by Sosuke."

"Hmph, how very like him", murmured Halibel.

"Sinclair fled to his original base of operations in the United States to heal his wounds" clarified the Captain. "For the last 70 or so years he has been staying there, blocking himself and the entire area from any influence from the Soul Society. Because of that one man, we won't step within a thousand miles of the state of California."

"California?" Orihime angles her head slightly in confusion. "What's in California and why won't the Shinigami go near there?"

"And again", Halibel interrupted in her monotone, "what does any of this have to do with the here and now?"

Yamamoto takes a sip of his tea before answering. "California, more specifically the San Joaquin Valley is where Sinclair resides. As to why we don't go anywhere that far west anymore is because up until two years after he went into exile we regularly sent Shinigami to pursue him. The trouble was that too many were dying to justify capturing him. So in general, we try to avoid anywhere West of Utah, East of Hawaii, South of British Colombia, and North of Oaxaca."

"Hmmm, I don't know where some of those are, but that sounds like quite a spread", stated Orihime doubtfully.

"That's because it is Inoue-san", responded Halibel in an exasperated tone. "The size of the boundaries you just described is so insanely huge and particular that it is unbelievable. As in I literally can't believe it, Yamamoto-dono."

"It goes to show how dangerous he is and how much we don't want to upset him", replied Yamamoto.

"It would also make the perfect excuse to Central 46 for not pursuing you and the surviving Arrancar any further," cut-in Kisuke with a serious look on his face. "The hard part is getting him to respond to our attempts at contact."

"How hard will that be?" asked Orihime.

"Next to impossible", Urahara answers. "He's still extremely bitter about the death of his wife and being framed for it is pouring salt on the wound. As for all that coup stuff, he couldn't care less. All personal grudges aside, he is careful about who he works with. I'm the only business contact he still has in Japan, and even so it's an unspoken rule that I don't call, he calls me unless it is absolutely necessary."

"So you're not going to get us his permission?" asked Halibel sounding slightly let down.

"I didn't say that", replied Kisuke putting his hands up in defense. "I'm just letting you know ahead of time that he's going to take some convincing. He's only comfortable dealing with people he knows and are not Shinigami."

"Hmm, wait. You said he used to visit Hueco Mundo regularly right?" asked Orihime.

"It was rumored, but that small army of Hollows that appeared with him to invade the Seireitei seems to support it" answered Yamamoto.

"Well I'm thinking maybe at least one of the Arrancars here in the shop has to know Ramón-san from way back then. Maybe we could get them to convince him, you know. Like for old times' sake", says Orihime with rising enthusiasm.

The others look at Orihime with astonishment and nods of agreement when suddenly a laugh comes from behind the sliding door leading to the training ground where all the Arrancars have been staying, and out steps Grimmjow. "Ah ahahahahahahahahah! Well how about that shit. She's huge tits and huge brains. I gotta say that's a good fuckin' idea you got there."

Almost instantly after his crude comment, Nelliel in her adult form is next to Grimmjow and delivers a knee to his gut and a backhanded slap to his face. "Grimmjow, you pig. Keep such crude thoughts to yourself and what have we discussed about eavesdropping", she says scolding him calmly as he curls up on the floor.

"*Hack* *cough* You stupid, crazy cunt," he wheezes out. "The fuck's the matter with you. You were listening too-oohhhooo goddammit," Nell delivers another kick to Grimjoww's gut.

"Halibel-sama, please forgive our interruption, but I couldn't help but overhear Urahara-sama and Yamamoto- dono discussing a man named Ramón."

"Eat my ass," Grimmjow lightly rasps. This time Nell steps on top of his face.

"Tell us child, does this Ramón sound familiar to you in anyway?" asked Yamamoto.

"I don't know if they are the same person, but I knew a man who that went by the name Ray came to Hueco Mundo often."

"Did anything about him standout to you, anything particularly unique in his appearance?" asked Urahara.

"Hmm, I remember he wore a gray hat with a wide brim…and he was always wearing sunglasses even though it was always night. His hair was long and pitch-black and he had a deep scar that went down his face from his left eye. Oh, and he always wore Hawaiian shirts under a big corduroy trench coat…and on the sleeve next to his left shoulder was a red armband with a strange emblem I'd never seen before" Nell answered.

Both Yamamoto and Urahara looked at Nell with anticipation. "Nell-chan, what did this emblem look like, describe it?" asked Urahara.

"Um, well it was like a black star…but inside the star was what looked like a sledgehammer and a sickle" finished Nell.

"Urahara-san?" trailed the Head Captain.

"Yeah, that sounds like our guy" answered Kisuke. "Nell-chan, how close do you think you were to Ray?"

"Oh, he was always super friendly" she responded excitedly. "He liked for me to call him 'Uncle Ray'. Whenever he came to visit he would tell me stories about his adventures in the world of the living. Even after my mask was cracked he would come visit me."

"Well then Nell-chan, how would you like it if we were to all go see Uncle Ray?" asked Urahara.

"It would be wonderful! I've really missed hearing his stories", exclaims Nell.

"Then it is decided", Yamamoto says commandingly. "Nell-san should be the one to speak to Sinclair."

"Hold on a sec", said Grimmjow standing up. "If this Sinclair guy is human, he must be so fuckin' ancient by now that it should be hard just to move in the morning."

"What's your point, Grimmjow?" asks Halibel

"Well, I'm just curious. What the hell kind of person is we getting involved with here?"

Author's Note:*Gasp* A cliffhanger? I know, fuck me right. Anyway, I try to update when I can and sorry if this story feels slow. It gets way better later on, trust me (knock on wood). Reviews are welcome. Flames, we love em'. Stay easy.