Thanks to NorthernShinigami, gonebattlefield and an anonymous reviewer for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Chapter 1: Mission
Unohana sighed. They had been called to an emergency Captain's and Lieutenant's meeting. Usually, she wouldn't mind too much, if only it wasn't for the time. Attending a meeting at two in the morning is extremely troublesome.
Other than Squad 1 and Squad 12, she and Isane were the only ones already there. It was understandable, given the time, that there were many not there yet. She herself had hastily put on her Captain's Haori over her nightclothes.
She glanced towards the door when Captain Sui-Feng and Lieutenant Omaeda entered. He looked as though he was still half asleep, while Sui-Feng looked the same as always, with the exception of her dishevelled hair.
Next to arrive was Captain Hitsugaya, dragging a half asleep Rangiku Matsumoto behind him. He managed to put on his Captain's Haori, but, like her, he still wore his nightclothes. Captain Zaraki arrived next, Yachiru completely asleep on his shoulder. Which might explain how they managed to arrive on time.
Captain Ukitake was helped in with a newly appointed Lieutenant Kuchiki. Unohana had to admit, Rukia would make a great lieutenant for the squad. And speaking of Kuchiki, Byakuya arrived, alongside a sleepy Lieutenant Abarai. Unohana had to suppress a giggle. Renji was wearing some kind of pink kimono and his hair was left down, which, in her opinion, looked wonderful.
Lieutenant Kira entered next, his tired appearance making him seem more depressed than usual. Lieutenant Hinamori was not far behind, her hair loose. The Fourth Squad Captain felt sorry for the poor girl. Lieutenant Hisagi came in next, wearing his shihakusho, but not wearing any other accessories.
Captain Komamura and Lieutenant Iba arrived next. The wolf-like captain looked particularly irritable, and his fur was bristling slightly. Finally, Captain Kyoruku arrived, being dragged by the ear by Lieutenant Ise, muttering a few complaints.
"I see we are all here," Yamamoto said.
"This had better be good," Zaraki grumbled, and many of the others mumbled their agreement.
"This is extremely important," Kurotsuchi said. "The Department of Research and Development detected a strange spiritual pressure around two hours ago. It came from Heuco Mundo and stretched towards the World of the Living."
"And this couldn't wait until daylight?" Shunsui complained.
"The spiritual pressure was the strongest in Heuco Mundo," Kurotsuchi explained. "I never said that it was originally from there."
"You said, and I quote, 'It came from Heuco Mundo'," Byakuya said.
"Fine," Kurotsuchi huffed. "When we first saw that the signal is nothing that should be found in Heuco Mundo, we searched through the archives for similar energies. And that is why we couldn't wait until morning." He fixed the group with a stern glare. "The origins came from Hell."
At the last word, everyone was wide awake, including Yachiru. Unohana felt her face grow pale.
"Are you sure?" Izuru whispered. "I mean, it could have been a mistake?"
"I triple checked," Kurotsuchi said. "There is no mistake. And, that's not the worst of it. In all the other records of the spiritual pressure from Hell, something went in. A few hours ago, something came out."
"Do you think that Aizen is behind this?" Hitsugaya asked.
"There is no doubt," Yamamoto said. "If he gained allies from Hell, then without a doubt, there is a great threat."
"Add the fact that it's a virtual unknown, and we have extra problems," Kurotsuchi said. "And I would like to point out that I am officially not the craziest Soul Reaper to have ever lived. Just for the record."
Many of the lieutenants, and even a few captains, avoided his gaze. Unohana herself caught herself thinking something along those same lines a few times.
"Regardless," Yamamoto said, "we need to think of something. If Aizen has indeed allied himself with the forces of Hell…"
"He'd go for Karakura," Rukia said. "He's already shown an interest in Ichigo, and there have been a few reports of Arrancars appearing in Karakura."
"She's right," Renji said. "The odds of them going to Karakura are extremely high. With your permission, I would like to go and lend Ichigo my support."
"Why you?" Rukia exclaimed. "I can go as well."
"Quiet!" Yamamoto said. "If your claims are true, then we would need to send someone. A seated officer outside the captains or lieutenants class. Any suggestions?"
"Yeah," Zaraki said. "Ikkaku and Yumichika. They've proved themselves to be capable. Besides, with no one to fight, they have nothing to do."
Yamamoto sighed.
"Very well," he said. "Inform them of their mission in the morning."
"But before that," Unohana interrupted. "I would like you to send Yumichika to me. There are a few things I need to discuss with him."
Zaraki grunted, and she was satisfied that she had at least been acknowledged. As far as she knew, she was the only one that Yumichika Ayasegawa let know about his predicament. The only one he trusted with this little fact.
She sighed. She had best get enough sleep before she dealt with Yumichika.
…
He looked up to the man whose face was hidden in the shadows. His mouth hurt, and he could taste blood. His blood, but it did not come from his mouth.
"Are you ready to play again?" the man asked as he screamed, body screaming in pain.
…
Yumichika awoke with a start. He was trembling, and he was covered in a cold sweat. He looked around. He was still in the room he shared with Ikkaku. He was safe.
'Was that a dream?' he wondered. 'Or, was it once reality?'
He looked up. A pure white butterfly was fluttering near the window, its wings reflecting what little light there is. He never saw something like that before, but he was filled with a sense of familiarity.
"What are you doing here?" Yumichika whispered in awe.
The butterfly fluttered away, and Yumichika was left to ponder the strange phenomenon.
…
There was a knock at the door. Nnoitra grumbled as he went to open it. If it was Tesla, then…
Yanking the door open, his eye widened in surprise when he saw who was at the door.
"Can I come in?" Luppi asked.
Nnoitra stepped aside and allowed the smaller Arrancar access. Luppi was probably the only one Nnoitra was nice to. Many of the Arrancars liked to joke that they were long-lost brothers, due to the similarities in hair and eye colour. They weren't far from the truth.
"This about that spiritual pressure?" Nnoitra asked.
Luppi nodded, looked thoughtful, then shook his head.
"I saw him," Luppi said. "In a dream. It was…"
Luppi's voice caught in his throat, and Nnoitra wrapped an arm around him. He knew exactly who he was referring to. And he knew the pain that came with it. After all, he felt the same pain as well.
"What do you think happened to him?" Luppi asked, looking at Nnoitra with large eyes.
Nnoitra sighed.
"If he's lucky, then he went to the Soul Society, or he was reborn. As long as he has a new life."
Luppi leaned against Nnoitra, and the two lay down in the large bed. Luppi sniffed.
"Hopefully, it doesn't end the same way."
…
"A mission?" Ikkaku asked.
Ikkaku and Yumichika were in Kenpachi's office. The captain had just told them about the strange spiritual pressure and that they were to determine if what came from it was a threat, and if it indeed belonged to new allies of Aizen.
"This seems strange," Yumichika remarked. "I don't like the sound of it."
Kenpachi sighed.
"Right now, it doesn't matter. We just need you to go there and help Ichigo out," Kenpachi said.
"Understood, Sir," Ikkaku said.
"Oh, and one more thing," Kenpachi said. "Yumichika, Captain Unohana told me that she would like to see you before you go."
Yumichika blinked in surprise. He nodded his head and departed with Ikkaku.
"I'll go pack," Ikkaku said. "Go and see Captain Unohana. I'll meet you at the Senkaimon with our supplies."
Yumichika nodded and used flash step to go to the Fourth Squad Barracks. He had a suspicion he knew what this was about, and knew that the woman, while normally patient in this regard, wouldn't wait forever.
…
Nnoitra was on his way to the meeting room. He wanted to fight a few Menos, just to be sure that he wouldn't lose his skill. He really didn't want to sit in a boring meeting. On the other hand, he might be able to provoke a fight out of either Grimmjow or Yammy, or perhaps one of the others.
When he opened the door, he saw that the only one already there was Szayelapporro, his arms folded on the table and his head resting on his arms. He looked asleep.
Nnoitra arched a brow and went to sit next to the pink-haired Espada. As soon as he was seated, Szayelapporro jumped in surprise, his eyes scanning the entire room before settling on Nnoitra. The startled look was replaced by one of suspicion.
"What do you want?" Szayelapporro muttered, trying to take a proper seat.
"We have a meeting, don't we?" Nnoitra responded, grin widening. "And it just so happens that the two of us are the first to arrive."
Szayelapporro fixed him with a blank look before looking away.
"I'm not in the mood right now," Szayelapporro said. "So, if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep. Wake me when the others come."
…
There was a knock on the door.
"You may enter," Unohana said.
She looked into the lavender eyes of Yumichika Ayasegawa.
"You wanted to see me?" Yumichika asked.
"Yes," she said, gesturing to the chair on the other side of her desk. "Please, have a seat."
He closed the door and obeyed. She dropped her usual smile and looked at him with a serious, but soft, expression.
"Yumichika," she said, "have you remembered anything? Anything at all?"
He looked down and to the side, a thoughtful look on his face. He looked up to her, and she could tell that he was disturbed.
"Last night," he said, "I had a dream. I don't know if it's something that happened when I was alive, but…" He swallowed, and the captain could see that he was upset.
"What happened in the dream?" she asked.
"I was… tortured. I could taste my blood, and I could feel every blade. Do you think… it actually happened?"
She didn't know what to say. When Yumichika first became a Soul Reaper, she had done a check-up, wondering what someone like him would be doing in Squad 11. The conversation drifted towards life as a human. Yumichika said that he has no memories from before the Soul Society. The only time that was supposed to happen was if the soul died when they were too young. But Yumichika claimed that he was eighteen when he arrived. Which begs the question: What happened that caused him to lose his memories?
"I hope not," Unohana whispered. "Is there anything else you can remember?"
"There was a man. I couldn't see his face, but when I saw him, I felt terrified. Do you think it's possible that he killed me?"
"There are hundreds of possibilities," Unohana said. "You said it happened eighty years ago?"
"I arrived in the Soul Society eighty years ago."
It wasn't what she wanted to know, but it also implied that there was a possibility that Yumichika didn't arrive in the Soul Society directly after death. Which raised even more questions than answers.
"Around what time did you have this dream?" Unohana asked.
"I don't know. Midnight, perhaps?"
She stiffened. That was the time that the strange spiritual pressure appeared. Was there a possibility that the two events were connected?
"I want you to notify me of any other dreams you receive on your mission," Unohana said. "You can reach me via soul pager. Please, I would like to know about this."
Yumichika nodded and stood up.
Unohana only hoped that he would do as she asked him.
…
"What's taking Lord Aizen so long?" Harribel asked.
"No idea," Grimmjow shrugged. "This just needs to hurry along."
"I'm sure he'll be here soon," Gin said, shrugging nonchalantly.
"He's probably making his new friends feel welcome," Szayelapporro said.
"What new friends?" Gin said, smile disappearing.
The door opened, and Aizen entered, followed by ten Arrancar.
"Them," Szayelapporro said.
Nnoitra's eye lingered on one of the new Arrancars. He was around a foot shorter than Nnoitra and had long, white blond hair tied back in a low ponytail. He had pale blue eyes, and his skin was extremely pale. He wore the standard Arrancar uniform, but the collar was pulled up. The remains of his mask sat atop his head and resembled a skull. But what disturbed Nnoitra was the fact that he knew the face. A face that he never wanted to see again.
The Arrancar's gaze fell on Nnoitra and he smirked. It would seem Nnoitra's not the only one that recognised the other. Even though Nnoitra changed drastically, while his face looked exactly the same.
"Before this meeting can start," Aizen said, "let's have tea, to welcome our new friends."
It was then that Nnoitra noticed that there were ten extra chairs. He was glad that he sat in the centre of Szayelapporro and Ulquiorra. It meant that there was no way for him to sit anywhere near him.
"Szayel," Nnoitra hissed in a low voice, but enough to catch the scientist's attention. "Where exactly did they come from? Because I know for a fact that one of them should be rotting in Hell."
"They all should," Szayelapporro whispered. "That's where they came from. And no matter what I do, I know that there is a special place in Hell for me because of this."
'So, that's why he looks like that,' Nnoitra thought. 'You did it this time. There are some things you shouldn't mess with. I can't believe you were such an idiot.'
"Now, let's get started," Aizen said. "According to my spies, the Soul Reapers are aware of what happened last night and are sending two officers to Karakura Town."
"If you don't mind," one of the new Arrancar said, "could you send one of us? We need a little… field test, if you will."
"I thought so, too," Aizen said. "The Soul Reapers they sent are Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa. They specialise in combat."
Nnoitra's eye widened and he looked over to look at the blond Arrancar. His face was neutral, but his eyes reflected a mix of emotions. The most prominent being anticipation.
"If I may," he said, "I would like to go."
"Now, Adesto," Aizen said, "I was hoping you would help Szayelapporro in the lab. Perhaps next time?"
Adesto sulked but nodded his head. Nnoitra glanced over to see Szayelapporro look a little pale. He himself felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
'As long as he stays away from Yumichika, I can't complain.'
…
"Welcome," Urahara said, his tone friendly, but hiding something.
Yumichika rolled his eyes as Ikkaku huffed.
"Nice to see you too, Kisuke," Yumichika said, his voice slightly sarcastic.
"Well, aren't you a grumpy bunch?" Urahara said as he led them towards his shop. "What can I do you for?"
"Gigais," Ikkaku said. "And a place to crash."
"I see," Urahara said. "Well then, follow me."
A few moments later, they were seated around Urahara's coffee table.
"Any idea about that spiritual pressure?" Yumichika asked, fidgeting slightly inside his gigai.
"It's definitely similar to that found whenever the Gates of Hell appear," Urahara sighed. "Unfortunately, not much is known about it. It's officially a more dangerous place than Heuco Mundo."
"What makes you say that?" Ikkaku asked.
"There were survivors from Heuco Mundo. Anyone who's ever gone to Hell has never returned. Eventually, research on Hell has been labelled as a taboo."
"Think it would stop Captain Kurotsuchi?" Yumichika asked.
"He's the one that decided that it would be taboo."
Ikkaku stood up, causing the other two to look at him in surprise.
"I'm going to see Ichigo," Ikkaku said. "Let him know about what's going on and get him to join up."
…
Ichigo was lying on his bed, listening to his inner Hollow complain. He had learned how to control his Hollow half, thanks to the Vizards, and realised that his Hollow enjoyed battle. So, when there was nothing going on, the Hollow complained, but couldn't do anything. It was rather amusing, and it blocked out Kon's complaining, so it was a bonus.
'Come on! Let's go look for whoever caused that spiritual pressure. PLEASE?'
'It disappeared before we could pinpoint it,' Ichigo thought, knowing that his Hollow would be able to hear it. 'My combat pass didn't go off, so it wasn't a Hollow. I'm not sure what it is.'
So, could you please stop complaining now? You're giving me a headache.
'Thank you, Zangetsu.'
There was a tap at the window. Curious, Ichigo went to open it, only to come face to face with Ikkaku and Yumichika.
"What are you guys doing here?" Ichigo asked.
"Is that any way to greet your friends?" Yumichika huffed.
"Alright, I'm sorry. Come in. Now, what are you guys doing here?"
"That spiritual pressure from last night," Ikkaku said. "Know anything about it?"
"I felt it," Ichigo said. "And something about it felt familiar. Couldn't figure out where it came from, though."
"That's because the epicentre was in Heuco Mundo," Yumichika said. "What you felt was what little of it leaked towards Karakura, where it was felt strongest within the World of the Living."
"Heuco Mundo?" Ichigo whispered.
'Okay, maybe it would be hard to go after it.'
"That's not the bad part," Ikkaku said. "The spiritual pressure is similar to what some Soul Reapers have experienced after fighting particularly nasty Hollows. Hollows that were even worse in life."
Ichigo gasped in realisation.
"Are you saying… that spiritual pressure came from Hell?!"
'Oh, hell.'
Ichigo frowned slightly at the pun.
"Yes," Yumichika said. "And something came out of it. There's a chance that whatever it was would come here, since Aizen has an interest in you."
"And since everything seems to happen around Karakura," Ikkaku muttered.
At that moment, an overwhelming spiritual pressure could be felt. Yumichika and Ikkaku's soul pagers went off while Ichigo's combat pass went off.
"Looks like we have company," Ikkaku said as he and Yumichika discarded their gigais.
"Kon, I'm trusting you," Ichigo said, pushing his arm into the plushie's mouth and grabbing the pill. He stuffed the pill in his mouth and his soul separated from his body. He looked warily at the mod soul. "Behave."
"Fine," Kon huffed.
The three Soul Reapers departed for the cause of the spiritual pressure, none of them mentioning how… wrong it felt.