Author's Note: Thank you so much for your support of this story. I was amazed by all the kind words and reviews. I hope you like this chapter as well.

All characters from Bleach belong to Kubo Tite and I make no money from this story.

I do own some of the ocs in this story others when they arrived are borrowed with permission.

Chapter 2: The Victims of a Down

Renji took first watch beside Rukia just inside the barrier that surrounded Urahara's shop. Renji kept staring down at something on his wrist as they kept watch.

Rukia looked at him. "What's that?" She asked noticing him looking at something.

Renji blushed and dropped his sleeve. "It's nothing..." He remembered worried blue eyes and soft blond hair.

Rukia raised an eye brow. "You know I haven't met this new person you've started seeing."

Renji coughed. "There's no need to worry about that. Let's just keep watch."

More time passed and now the moon was high in the sky. There had not been so much as a lower level hollow disturbance.

Renji turned to Rukia, "It's quiet why don't you go in-" He was cut off as a large amount of reiatsu was released not far away from the shop in the local park. The shop shook from the force of it. "I spoke too soon."

"It's an espada…" Rukia said feeling the strength and virility of it.

"It's more than one." Renji replied moving to leave the barrier to investigate. "Go inform Kuchiki taicho and Urahara-san while I investigate."

"Be careful." Rukia shouted then headed inside.

Renji carefully left the barrier and headed towards the park being mindful in case he was attacked from behind.

He made it to the park just in time to see a garganta trying to close with little success. On the ground near the poorly closed garganta lay two espada. One injured and the other seemly shaken.

"Grimmjow, wake up!" Nel shouted trying to rouse her larger male counterpart.

Grimmjow was apparently out cold and bleeding profusely from a large wound on his back.

Nel looked up and saw Renji. "It's you!" She shouted jumping up. "You have to help me. You're Ichigo's friend please help us!"

Renji was startled to say the least by this situation. Before he could respond two more espada appeared through the garganta landing not far from Grimmjow and Nel. They turned and with a large amount of effort closed the garganta.

Renji recognized two of these former espada. The one on the floor named Grimmjow and the one whom had called out to him was the little green haired girl, Nel. The other two stood not far away from Grimmjow. One was a female with long blonde hair and blue eyes. The other was a short male with short black hair wearing a white helmet with a broken horn on it. Both of them had injuries.

Renji watched as Nel ran from him to the blonde waving her arms.

The blonde turned concerned eyes from Grimmjow to the little arrancar. "You're alright?" She asked as the little green haired arrancar wrapped her little body around one of Tier's legs.

Nel looked back towards the closed garganta then to Grimmjow and began to shake.

"It's alright Nel. Grimmjow will heal... We'll all heal..." She promised looking over to address Renji for the first time. Her hand went instantly to her blade.

"No Tier, he't a friend. He knows Ichigo." Nel said quickly tightening her arms on Tier Harribel's leg.

She looked down at Nel then nodded her head understandingly. "Shinigami do you know the location of Ichigo Kurosaki?"

Renji was about to respond when a portal opened near where the garganta had closed.

Two beings stood before the closing portal. One was tall with long wavy black hair, glowing yellow eyes and skin that resembled warm caramel. This person was dressed in a grey pantsuit with a black tie and a katana on his back. The other was slightly shorter with short choppy blue hair held out of the way of golden yellow eyes by a set of thick safety goggles and dressed in a white lab coat splattered with blood.

"What bad specimens you've been... Running away from the lab." The blue haired person spoke in a calm tone.

Harribel retrieved her blade, "Ulquiorra take Grimmjow and Nel and go." She commanded the former 4th espada.

Ulquiorra began to pick up the unconscious male and called Nel to him.

Nel would not let go of Harribel. She turned to Renji, "Help us."

The blue haired person looked at Renji for the first time. "Ah, a high level shinigami. León, can I have him? He would be simply beautiful to dissect after some tests of course…"

The dark haired man smiled, "If it would make you happy, Kurotsuchi."

Renji's seemed confused as the blue haired man rose a hand, " Bakudō number sixty three, Sajō Sabuku."

Renji found his arms pinned to his sides and himself unable to move.

Kurotsuchi smiled, " So simple..." He laughed approaching Renji. "I will punish you sorry excuses for experiments in a little bit for now... I want to experiment on my new prey." He disregarded Harribel as he went to Renji placing his palm before the stunned redhead's face, "Inemuri."

Renji's eyes widened before they closed. He was knocked out cold.

Harribel took Kurotsuchi's moment of distraction and attacked. "Cero."

León stepped forward and blocked the attack. He then reached down picking up the knocked out Shinigami. "Come Kurotsuchi... We will deal with the runaways another time."

Kurotsuchi nodded, "I will return for you once my experiments on this one are completed."

'Saltar." They spoke in unison disappearing into nothing just as Urahara and Byakuya arrived.

Chapter 2 concluded

And so one character has been taken away and the former espada have arrived.

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