Lessons in Humanity
Chapter One: Coming Home
Below the earth, in the Urahara Shop's secret basement, Kisuke Urahara waited. Once a captain of the 12th Squad in Soul Society and the founder of the Technological Department, he spent his days of 'retirement' selling goods to Soul Reapers, also known as Shinigami and Balancers. He was well suited to the commercial industry; he knew the needs of the average Soul Reaper, could create things others could only dream of, and knew how to make a large profit off of it. Sadly, he couldn't attend to business lately, as his friend's son was due back from Hueco Mundo, home of the Hollows, Arrancar, and Sosuke Aizen. Aizen, of course, was one of the most dangerous and frightening beings in existence. His Zanpakuto's release, Kyoka Suigetsu, could hypnotize all that saw it, subverting their senses to his will. If that wasn't enough, he had learnt and mastered a large number of Soul Reaper techniques, and some thought it very possible he had at least a cursory knowledge of every known technique.
Several months ago, Aizen had put a plot into motion. Slaughtering the Chamber of 46 that commanded Soul Society, he began making moves towards capturing the Hogyoku, an invention of Urahara's making that allowed the barrier between Soul Reaper and Hollow to be crossed. Though it was hidden within the soul of Rukia Kuchiki, a young Soul Reaper (young by their standards, but truly well over 100 years old), he had managed to take it and now used it to create an army. Soul Society was busy preparing for the upcoming war, which would easily result in a slaughter.
Though only three had entered Hueco Mundo from his shop, he assumed that there would be a few others coming back as well. The three that had entered were Yasutora 'Chad' Sado, Uryu Ishida, and Ichigo Kurosaki. Chad, a large man, had a right arm that could unleash destructive force as well as resist incredible damage. Before he had left, Kisuke noted that such an ability seemed similar to the powers of a Hollow, so he was sure that Chad's power would be stronger when he returned. Uryu was one of the last Quincy, an ancient order of humans that killed Hollows using a variety of arrows. He had lost these powers during an earlier (and, he thought inwardly, oddly similar) venture into Soul Society, but had regained them via special training given by Ryuken Ishida, Uryu's father.
Ichigo Kurosaki, however, was by far Kisuke's biggest concern. Without ever having the Hogyoku used upon him, Ichigo had both the powers of a Soul Reaper and a Hollow. Of course, Kisuke himself had overseen the boy's training in the original method of... But his thoughts were broken as the gate opened by its own will. 'Someone's opening it, but who?' Though the three of them were indeed powerful, none of them knew enough of Kido, the Demon Arts, to possibly open the gate. It was then that he noticed the gate was not really opening, but rather it appeared an Arrancar was using their ability to open a hole between the worlds, known as Garganta, right on the opening. He readied the cane he always held, in what most would think a vain attempt to prepare himself. In reality, the cane was the form of his own Zanpakuto, 'Benihime' the Blood Princess. Its ability to manipulate a crimson mist, not unlike blood, allowed him a variety of techniques.
From the darkness emerged the first of those who had gone into Hueco Mundo; Orihime Inoue. The reason for the mission was to rescue her, taken for her abilities that, according to Aizen himself, reached into the realm of God. That she came back was key; even if they had survived, the damage they had done would be for naught, as Orihime could repair any sort of wound. Behind her came Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad, all smiling grimly. Next he noticed Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, another Soul Reaper. The two had gone to help Ichigo rescue Orihime, as had been expected. However, beyond the six of them was something that surprised him.
Peering out from behind Ichigo was the form of a small girl who was obviously an Arrancar. On her head were the remnants of her Hollow mask, and though her hole was obscured, he recognized the feel of an Arrancar's Spiritual Energy. It was for this reason that he drew his blade, for behind the returning champions were four very powerful Arrancar, all of which had the unmistakable feel of the Espada, the ten strongest Arrancar in all of Hueco Mundo. Though Aizen had used the Hogyoku on many Hollows, there was no mistaking the level of difference between a Numeros, a common Arrancar (as common as an Arrancar could be), and an Espada.
Looking, he recognized all four. First came one with blue hair, the remnants of his Hollow mask attatched to his cheek. The last time he had seen him, his left arm had been missing, but it had grown back, and he suspected that Orihime had been coerced into helping with that. Another with odd bumps on his head likewise had an arm removed, but this one's right arm had either been restored or re-attatched. Either way, it was back, which couldn't bode well. The third looked somewhat emo, what with the mascara, melancholic looks, and hole in his throat. However, Kisuke had seen that one move before, and knew better than to let his guard down around him.
Kisuke blinked while looking at the three Arrancar behind the Soul Reapers. Suddenly a loose wire in his brain connected, and he realized that one of the four that had been there had vanished. Turning, he found a blonde Arrancar with a small crown and a hole in his lower chest right behind him. 'Again?' he thought, before dodging. The Arrancar came at him one more time, then seemed bored and lay down as though to sleep. With that over, he turned to the other Arrancar and raised his cane, waiting for them to challenge him. However, as he looked at them, he saw their faces held something akin to shame and defeat.
"You guys... Did you win?" he asked tentatively. There was an awkward silence for but a moment.
"Hell ya!" screamed Ichigo. Kisuke was taken aback by this. "We fought about half the Espada, got Orihime back, and these four are on our side now!" As soon as he said that, the blue-haired man rushed over to him and grabbed his collar. "Your side? You stupid fucker, I'm only against Aizen, got it? I'm gonna be the one to kill him, got it Kurosaki? After him, it's that fucker Ulquiorra and then you!"
Ulquiorra sighed and sat down as the two of them began to get into it. "Yammy, if Grimmjow gets out of hand, crush his skull." Grimmjow turned his head. "Don't make me laugh. That fucking pansy's so weak, I could kill him with one arm tied behind my back even if he released!"
"What about with one arm cut off?"
"He knows what it's like to lose an arm too. Of course, he lost his right arm, so to make it really fair I'd have to take his left one real quick. Maybe halfway through killing him would be a good time?"
'No honour amongst thieves,' thought Kisuke.