"'What if he did that with Ichigo?' As in, used hypnosis to make us think Ichigo was killed, when he's really alive? Why would Aizen go to all the trouble?" Urahara asked, an eyebrow raised slightly.

"It would destroy morale, wouldn' it? The Shinigami Daikou who acheived Bankai in three days, and beat a whole shitload a' enemies without gettin' killed, the invincible kid fightin' only to protect his friends, dead? Who would stand up to Aizen, if he couldn't?" Shinji sighed, and leaned back. "It's perfect for Aizen and his plans, those Shinigami're all so simple minded sometimes when it comes to reasons to fight."

Hiyori was strangely silent and downcast, her hand still curled in Shinji's. She was looking down at the table, though she did nod, almost imperceptably, at the last sentence.

Urahara pulled his hat over his eyes. "I think we'd know by now, Hirako. Like I said, it's been a year. If Ichigo hasn't been unveiled yet, he's most likely, truly, dead."

"Prob'ly, but still..." Shinji closed his eyes and sighed lightly. "...It's possible."

"Shinji...we should get going." Hiyori murmured, turning to look at him.

"Oh, right." Shinji turned to Urahara as they both stood. "See ya around, Kisuke."

Urahara stood as well, and smiled lightly. "I'll walk you to the door."

Shinji shrugged, but nodded all the same. "Alright."

The three walked through the store, and, upon arriving at the door, Urahara turned to Shinji. "Hirako, is she-" He started in a low voice.

Shinji's lips curled up slightly. "Yeah, she is. Not all that far along, though. How could you tell?"

"She seemed mad and a little bit...off. And, scientist's intuition."

"You better not do any weird ass creepy experiments." Shinji's eyes had widened marginally when Urahara had said the last sentence. "Got that?"

Urahara smiled. "Got it."

As he watched the two leave, Urahara's head tilted slightly to the side as he leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "Everything's changing." He muttered with the same light smile, before he turned, closing the door to the shop behind him.

--

"Pregnant, hmm?" Aizen's fingers danced across Hinamori's cheek, as he looked down at her with an almost sinister smile. "You've just found out?"

"Y-yes, Aizen-taichou. And I came to tell you."

"Of course. Do you know how far along you are?" He asked, his fingers abandoning her cheek to land, delicately, on her stomach.

"No, Aizen-taichou. But not that far, since I only just found out, I guess..." She murmured, her fingers curled up in his shirt.

"Hmm." He replied noncommitally, his arm still draped around her easily, with the knowledge she wouldn't move until he let go, while his other hand trailed down her stomach where, inside, a child was growing with the promise of another loyal subordinate locked in its small heart. He smiled, really smiled. "You'll have to take it easy, Momo. We want to keep the baby, and you, healthy. After all, this is another person we have to raise."

"Of course, Aizen-taichou."

--

"So what do you want for dinner, Uryuu?"

"...I don't know. I don't really mind, I guess."

"You don't? What about onigiri with some fruit in it?"

Uryuu blinked, then smiled lightly at his girlfriend. "How about we go out to eat, Orihime?" He asked, suppressing a shudder at her choice in food.

"Okay!" Orihime smiled widely. "But first, I need to drop some stuff off. And tell Hitsugaya-san that we're going. Oh, do you think he'll want to come, too? Or should I make dinner for him...?"

"Orihime, relax. If he's survived as long as he has mostly on his own, he'll be fine if you're gone a few hours."

"Are you two talking about me again?"

The two teens turned, seeing Hitsugaya standing in the doorway of Orihime's apartment, his arms crossed and a glare etched onto his features.

"Ah, Hitsugaya-san! You don't mind that me and Uryuu are going out for dinner tonight, do you?" Orihime yelped, surprised to see the white-haired Shinigami, even though he also lived in her apartment.

"No. I was planning on heading out anyways."

"Oh? Where to?" Uryuu asked, interested.

"Urahara Shoten. I figured I would drop by for a little while. I'll probably eat dinner there, if Urahara doesn't mind." Hitsugaya scratched his head, eyes closed. "I don't know when exactly I'll be back."

"That's fine; stay out as long as you want, Hitsugaya-san!"

Hitsugaya merely nodded and turned to walk away, but turned back to the two and spoke. "Please lock the door this time, Inoue."

"Okay!" Orihime gave a thumbs up, and grinned.

Uryuu turned to her. "You mean you never lock your door...?"

--

"Byakuya-bo!"

"I'd prefer if you didn't call me that."

Grinning, Yoruichi sat down. "Oh yeah? Get over it."

"Do you want some tea, Yoruichi?" Isshin asked, hands behind his back.

"No thanks, but I know you've got sake out. Gimme that."

Isshin grinned, and gave Byakuya a look that seemed to say; "I told you so!" before he scampered off to get a fresh jug.

"So there was an arrancar, huh?"

Byakuya nodded. "Renji dropped by not long ago. He said it was the Eighth espada, according to Rukia."

"He go over to his girlfriend's?"

"I suppose that he may have. But it's not my place to care." Byakuya replied with a sigh.

Yoruichi smiled lightly. "I guess not."

"Sake's here!"

Yoruichi was now grinning again. "Good! Gonna join us, Isshin?" She asked, taking the jug from her friend.

"No, I actually have some work to do in the clinic, although having Yamada-san here helps..." Isshin gave a dramatic sigh at the prospect of work, but smiled. "And besides, I should leave you two lovebirds alone..."

He only barely dodged the flying, hot spoon fresh from Byakuya's tea cup.

Yoruichi laughed as Isshin left the room, leaning toward Byakuya as she took a drink straight from the jug. "You need to relax, Byakuya-bo. You're too tense." She moved so she was behind him , her hands resting on his shoulders. "Tell you what. I'll give you a massage...if you play some tag afterwards." She muttered next to his ear, still grinning.

A small anticipatory shudder ran through his body as she tightened her grip on his shoulders, kneading at the knots in his back. She was silent as she did it, but her hands as she massaged his shoulders spoke for her.

This went on for a few minutes until, with a light slap to his newly eased shoulders, Yoruichi straightened. "All done. How's that feel?"

"Better. Thank you." Byakuya replied, standing.

"Good. Now then...about that game of tag..." She spoke, grinning.

Byakuya let a small smile curl his own lips as well, before they both disappeared from the kitchen.

--

Urahara climbed down into his underground training ground by ladder and wondered if perhaps he should invest in stairs. They definitely would serve for a cooler entrance. But, that was for another day. As of now, he merely smiled when he saw Rukia and Karin both laying, asleep, on the ground not far from the ladder. As he got off the ladder, he walked over and crouched, placing a hand, lightly, on Rukia's shoulder.

"...Rukia-chan."

Rukia's eyelids fluttered, and she opened her eyes, looking up at him. "...Kisuke?" She sat up, rubbing an eye and yawning. "I fell asleep?"

"So did Karin." Urahara smiled. "You're probably just tired from earlier. That arrancar did take quite a bit of your reiatsu, after all." He extended a hand, which she took gratefully.

"Yeah, that's true. Are Yuzu and Jinta back yet?" Rukia asked, sitting up.

"No. I don't think you've been sleeping all that long."

"I probably haven't." Rukia replied, before looking down at Karin. "But Karin-chan fell asleep, so maybe I have."

"Oh, that reminds me." Urahara turned to Karin, placing a hand on her shoulder, much like he had with Rukia. "Wakey wakey, eggs and bac-y, Karin-chan."

Karin's eyes flew open and she jumped up in a fists up position. She then realized it was only Urahara, and relaxed. "Don't do that! I thought you were Dad, Urahara-san!"

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I just woke you up because there's someone here to see you." Urahara replied, his fan in front of his face. He looked up at the ladder's entrance, moving the fan so that his speech didn't come out quite as muffled. "Come on down!"

Hitsugaya jumped down the trapdoor the ladder connected to, landing in a crouched position, then standing, slowly. He walked over to Karin almost immediately. "How's your training going?" He asked, looking down at her slightly.

She didn't answer his question, merely grinning and poking his chest. "Ha, you're still only a little taller than me!" She spoke.

"...Urgh." Was all Hitsugaya could say, turning away, a vein barely popping on his forehead. "You know, I'm a guy, so I'll always be taller than you."

"Not if I hit puberty first."

"Bombs away!" Urahara shouted, scampering off behind a rock witha very surprised Rukia in tow. He peeked out from behind it, waving his fan. "Okay, go ahead and explode now, Hitsugaya-kun."

Hitsugaya slapped his face with his palm, and sighed. "...I give up."

--

Yuzu and Jinta walked into the shop, Jinta lugging around five of the six grocery bags. He saw Tessai, and handed them over. "Hey, Tessai, where's Urahara-san?" He asked, taking Yuzu's one bag.

Tessai looked over towards the trapdoor, and nodded his head towards it. "Down there, as well as Rukia-san, Karin-san, and Hitsugaya-san."

"Hey, maybe we should lock 'em all down there, and see who kills each other first?"

"That would be bad, Jinta-kun!" Yuzu exclaimed suddenly. "WHat if someone really did get hurt?"

Jinta blinked, then waved his hands in the air. "No, Yuzu, I was only kidding...Sorry." He spoke the last part quieter, blushing.