I do not own Bleach or any of its characters

Chapter 3 - The Plan

They were running through the hallways of Las Noches. She was intent on finding the Hogyoku, and for some reason that he could not remember he was not trying to stop her.

"What do you plan to do if you actually find it?" He remembered taunting her.

"I'm going to reject its existence. I am going to destroy it so Aizen can never use it to create the King's Key." She responded hotly.

Reject the Hogyoku, impossible. The girl was deluded. "Aizen-sama will never allow it." He replied.

"I'm not going to give him a choice." She shot back defiantly.

He couldn't help but smile inwardly at her tenacity. He had learned in his time spent with her that she was a stubborn girl, and there was a part of him that held no doubt that she would do just as she had said. Still he would not give her the satisfaction of knowing his thoughts.

"Karakura Town has probably been destroyed by now. Why should you even try?" he asked.

She stopped running and stared after him. When he too stopped and turned to her she said, "Nothing you say will stop me. I know that my friends are safe. I believe that the Soul Society will defeat Aizen. But I will no longer sit on the side lines and watch helplessly. I am going to do my part. It's a promise I made to myself not long after you brought me here. I will destroy the Hogyoku."

He stared at her for a moment and then said simply, "I see."

She scrunched up her face for a moment and waited for him to continue. She fascinated him. The way she believed, even when all the evidence was contrary. He would see what came of this.

"Then I guess we should continue on in this direction." He said and then began to run again.

"Eh." She responded and then she started to chase after him. Catching up again she panted, "Why are you doing this?"

"I guess I'm just curious. Your pathetic belief that your friends could come here and defeat Aizen's forces actually had some merit. I am interested to see just how far this will go."

"Oh." She replied and then smiled.

"You understand though that if it seems as if you will succeed, I will have to stop you."

Her smile gave way to confusion.

"Aizen-Sama placed me in charge when he left. Even in this state of being I will not abandon Las Noches."

Her confusion disappeared and once again she wore a look of determination upon her face. Much better, he thought to himself. He would not have her believing that he was her ally. Much had happened since she came to this place, but his loyalty to Aizen would never falter.

The pain in his chest greeted him as he struggled to regain consciousness. It was no longer searing, but a dull steady ache. Though it caused him discomfort it was nowhere as debilitating as it had been earlier.

Slowly he opened his eyes. The room was dark. The only illumination came from a lamp in the corner. The light was just bright enough to make out his immediate surroundings. The room was a rather simple; constructed of wood with very few furnishings. A screen door was off to his right. It was currently closed, guarded by a black cat that was sleeping in front of it.

He was definitely not in Hueco Mundo. Could it be the Soul Society? No, that wasn't a possibility. He distinctly remembered hearing something about not involving the Soul Society. Whoever held him was obviously not on good terms with them.

Once again his attention was drawn to the cat by the door. As he stared at it the animal opened its eyes and returned his gaze. As he looked into its golden eyes he couldn't help but feel that there was something about the cat that wasn't ordinary. Information he had gathered in the past, but could not call to mind at the moment.

The cat stood and stretched lazily. Opening its mouth it let out a loud yawn. Slowly it made its way to where he lay. Stopping in front of him it sat down again.

"So I guess you're going to make it after all," the cat said in a rather masculine voice.

His eyes opened wide in surprise. He wondered if maybe he had hit his head as well when he was injured. "You can talk."

The cat laughed and said, "Of course I can."

"But cats cannot talk. This is not possible."

The cat let out a sigh and said, "I guess all males are the same whether they're Arrancar or human. Why is it so difficult to believe in a talking cat?"

In all his years of existence he had seen many strange things. In truth a talking cat should not have been so odd, and yet for some reason he could not reconcile himself to it. Arguing the point though would have been a waste of time. Instead he focused on more pressing issues.

"Where am I?" He asked.

"Where do you think you are?" the cat returned.

Ulquiorra couldn't help but feel frustration creep into his being. He did not like games like this. Trying to keep the irritation from his voice, but failing miserably, he said, "I assume the World of the Living."

"You would be correct." The cat returned.

He let out a sigh and struggled to think of his next question. His thoughts were becoming increasingly muddled and he was beginning to feel lightheaded.

"How did I get here?"

"We brought you here after Aizen ran you through with his Zanpakuto."

His eyes widened at this revelation. His memories of what occurred after Orihime brought him back from ash were vague and full of gaps.

"Why?" he said before he realized that he was speaking.

"Why did he run you through, or why did we bring you back?" the cat countered.

Unsure of what he actually had meant he asked, "Why did you save my life? I do not know you. You had no reason to help me."

"We did it for Orihime."

"Now Yoruichi you shouldn't be so testy with our guest."

Ulquiorra looked up at the door to the room. Kisuke Urahara stood there smiling. He was unsure of what shocked him more, the man's sudden appearance or the fact that he had not recognized the cat before him as Yoruichi Shihōin. He had been thorough in his investigation of all of Soul Society captains. He knew about Urahara and Shihoin's past, as well as their connection to Aizen. He was aware of her shape shifting abilities, and yet all this information had escaped him.

"And what reason would you give, Kisuke?" Yoruichi shot back.

"Compassion?" he said.

"More like intellectual curiosity." She returned.

"I resent that comment."

"Even if it holds merit?" she stated.

Urahara sighed. Looking at Ulquiorra he said, "Honestly I can't help but feel a slight bit of responsibility for your existence. Well your existence as an Arrancar. Your human condition is another problem all in itself."

He couldn't help but feel confusion at the Shinigami's words. Arrancar, human, nothing was making sense. Around him the room began to blur.

"I feel hot." He said to no one in particular.

Suddenly a hand was placed against his forehead.

"He's burning up." Yoruichi said.

Looking at her he saw that she had returned to her human form. The sight of her nudity as she leaned over him caused him to flush even deeper than the fever had.

"Yoruichi, I think you're causing our guest even more discomfort." Urahara said; his voice indicating that he found the situation very humorous.

"Honestly, what is it with this generation? Is the sight of a naked woman that overwhelming?" she asked irritably. She removed her hand from his forehead and sat back. "This isn't good. He's got and infection."

Ulquiorra could feel himself burning up from the rising fever. His body had begun to ache in a way that he was not familiar. His eyes became heavy and he found that it took too much energy to keep them open. Closing his eyes he slipped into a state of semi consciousness.

"Damn it! I finally get the bleeding under control and now this. Why is it that I'm having such a hard time healing him?" Yoruichi said frustrated.

"Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he used to be hollow?" Kisuke asked.

"If Orihime rejected that existence, wouldn't he simply be human?" she returned.

"That is something that I haven't quite figured out yet. But if he is human then I think I can at least help with the infection."

"Where are you going?"

"I have a call to make."

He could hear footsteps receding and then the closing of the screen. Beside him Yoruichi let out a sigh.

In a voice laced with annoyance she said, "I sincerely hope that you are not more work than you are worth." She grew silent, but once again he felt her cool hand gently touch his forehead. When she spoke again her voice was softer. "Kisuke, why is it that I am the one who ends up taking care of all your strays."

He was at a loss for the meaning behind her words. Gradually he slipped into darkness. The cool hand on his forehead though felt right. Somehow the gentle touch did more to ease his discomfort than anything else.

He sat quietly beside the fire. His thoughts were on his father. His unspoken fears had come to pass. Over the course of the spring his father's health had deteriorated rapidly. His legs began to pain him more and more so that by the summer he could not walk unaided. When harvest time came his father was completely bedridden. The effort to walk, even with assistance was too much for him.

With this new development came an even more terrifying manifestation. His father's internal systems had begun to fail as well. He found it harder to swallow the foods that were prepared for him, and what he could get down disagreed with him to such a degree that he was in constant agony. By the beginning of winter he had wasted away to what seemed to be half of his former size. The only thing he seemed to tolerate any more was a watered down mush similar to what one would feed a very young child. Once Daisuke had stolen a taste of it and found it to be so bland that he had spit it back out immediately.

Still his father persevered with dignity. He spent many a cold winter's day listening as Daisuke would tell him stories about the things that he had observed around their tiny farm. He found that the more details he remembered, the happier his father would appear.

Yet as he related these stories he could not help but noticed how sad they made his mother. She would sit quietly mending their clothes or cooking their meals with tears streaming down her face. She was careful as to not let his father see her sorrow, but he knew that the man was aware of the pain his illness caused his wife.

This was the one thing that he understood weighed heaviest on his father's heart. He was afraid for his wife and son. Their future would be bleak without him.

One day before he had lost his mobility, he had given Daisuke a letter. He asked him to deliver it to a friend of his in the village. He had told him that his friend would know what to do with it. He wondered about that letter frequently. Who had his father been in contact with? Why did he not share its contents with him? And why had he completely hidden its existence from his mother?

Now as his father's life was coming to an end Daisuke put the letter from his mind. All that mattered was his father. From across the room he heard the man gagging as his mother tried to feed him. Even the tasteless mush was no longer going down.

He rose and walked quickly to where his father lay. His mother was crying and his father was speaking softly to her trying to bring her some comfort. As his father's health had begun to decline noticeably, his mother continued to hold on to hope that he would recover. Daisuke knew differently. He did not cling to false hopes. He knew that his father was dying, and his father respected him enough to always be candid in their conversations. He never once tried to coat the truth in false pleasantries.

Now he looked at his son as he approached. He said something to his wife and she turned to look at Daisuke. Rising silently she walked away carrying the uneaten food with her. He took her place by his father's side. The man's breathing was labored and Daisuke feared that he would not last through the night.

Still he smiled at his son and spoke in a whisper, "I am so sorry that it has come to this. I wish it were different, but I know that my life is coming to an end."

He paused to breathe and gather his thoughts. Daisuke remained silent.

"You are a strong boy Daisuke. I know that you will survive this, but your mother, she cannot face what is happening. She will need you even more after I am gone."

Once again he paused. This time it took longer for him to recover his breath. Tears began to stream down his father's face as looked again at his son. At that moment a terror sank into his young heart. The reality that he had thought he had understood was nothing compared to the actual event. His father was going to die. Franticly he reached out and grasped his father's hand.

"Please don't… please don't die…"

His father squeezed his hand and spoke again, "Daisuke I need you to listen to me please."

He looked up at his father. He tried to calm himself so that he could give his father his full attention. Silently he nodded his head when he felt that he was once again in control.

His father smiled sadly and continued, "When I am gone your mother will need your strength. I am entrusting you with her care. Please make sure that she eats and gets rest. Don't let her succumb to her sorrows."

His father grew silent again and closed his eyes. The tears still continued to flow. The pain of what he had to say was worse than anything the illness had brought to him so far.

Opening his eyes again he said, "I need you to understand something. This is of greatest importance. There will come a time when you may be offered help in your situation. No matter how much you may dislike what you hear, you must accept that help. All that matters is your survival at this point. Do what you have to do to see that you continue to live. Make any deal that you need to in order to keep your mother safe and to stay alive. Please promise me that you will do this."

Daisuke did not quite understand what he was agreeing to, but he would have done anything at that point to alleviate his father of his burden. Nodding his head he said, "I will do whatever is required of me."

His father smiled and closed his eyes. His words were the last he ever spoke. Hours later he was dead. Daisuke knelt beside his mother at his father's side. She wailed inconsolably. He too felt a pain so deep that he wished he had no heart. He would have gladly traded it to be free of this grief and sadness. What good was it anyways if it only led one to such misery?

He was still burning with fever when he regained consciousness again. His chest hurt with each breath he took, but this was different from the pain of his injury. This was more a feeling of tightness. It restricted his breathing and made him feel as if he was drowning.

He heard voices around him; Urahara, Shihōin, and a third he had never heard before.

"I don't understand why he is so sick." Yoruichi said.

"You used Kido. That took care of his injuries, but you know that infection can set in, especially if his lungs were compromised." The voice was definitely male, and the hands that began to probe his body were not that of Yoruichi. Though they were just as gentle, the actions were more purposeful. He understood that this man knew exactly what he was looking for.

Hands felt his neck and then moved down to his armpits. Then suddenly they were gone. In their absence a cold, metal instrument was placed on his chest. The unexpected chill made him pull back involuntarily. A soft hiss escaped his lips.

"Sorry, I know that must feel very cold, but it can't be helped." The metal device was removed and replaced several times. Hands were then on him again gently moving him onto his side. The metal instrument was then placed on his back. After a while he was laid back down.

"It seems as if he has pneumonia. It shouldn't be too hard to treat with conventional medicine."

"That simple, eh?" Urahara said.

"Sometimes basic human medicine can do wonders. I gave up Kido spells a long time ago, though I admit they would probably come in handy every now and then."

"I would suppose that in your line of work you don't have as much need for them." Yoruichi commented.

"I don't know, with Ichigo for a son I may need to brush up on them if I want to keep him alive."

"Kurosaki," he rasped. He was finally able to open his eyes and was met with the confused gaze of a man with dark hair and in desperate need of a shave.

"You know my son Ichigo?" he asked. "How is that?"

"You really don't want to know." Kisuke said.

"We fought." Ulquiorra stated.

"Really."

"I killed him – twice."

Kurosaki's father stared at him for a moment and then began to laugh. Grabbing his side he sat back. Tears began to stream down his face.

"You find that funny?" he asked feeling annoyed by the man's antics.

Calming down enough to talk the elder Kurosaki said, "You kids today have such active imaginations!"

"That they do." Urahara piped in.

These people are all insane, he thought to himself.

Ichigo's father regained his composure and said, "I'm going to leave you this medicine. Make sure he takes it as directed and this should clear up quickly. I'll try to stop by in a few days to check up on him."

"We appreciate it Isshin." Urahara said.

The two men rose and headed for the door. Standing beside it they began to talk in much quieter voices. Ulquiorra closed his eyes and tried to listen to their conversation, but found the effort took too much energy.

Yoruichi shook him gently and said, "Take this before you fall back asleep." She placed a pill on his tongue. Easing his head up she had him sip some water. "Now swallow."

The water felt cool on his throat and the pill went down without a problem. He looked to the door, but the two men had left. He closed his eyes, again fighting the exhaustion. Without wanting to he slipped back into a restless slumber.

"So what's really going on Kisuke?" Isshin asked the Shinigami.

"What do you mean?"

"That boy, he's not human is he?"

"You tell me. You're the one who examined him." Kisuke shot back.

"He looks just like every other kid at Ichigo's high school, but somehow I don't think that's the case." He stared at Urahara for a moment and then continued. "I don't know what kind of trouble you're into now, but try to keep my kid out of it."

Kisuke smiled and patted Isshin on the back. "I'm always looking out for him."

"Yeah, sure you are. Just try a little harder.

Kisuke watched him leave. As soon as the doors to the shop closed Yoruichi was beside him.

"Well that was very beneficial." He said.

"How so?" she asked.

"I think I figured out the plan to keep Soul Society in the dark."

"Care to enlighten me?"

Placing his arm around her shoulders he walked her back to the room that they were keeping Ulquiorra.

"It's really quite simple." He began. "We just have to get him to fit in with the rest of Karakura High."