A/N: So…again I haven't updated in months. But again, not many people have showed interest in my story. Although last month I finally, and randomly, got a review. It wasn't very long or descriptive…But it was positive. So now that I have some renewed interest I will write and release another chapter…and see what happens.

So here it is!

Chapter 3: Interrogation

The man walked through the streets of Seireitei, his new haori flapping behind him. As he rounded the corner towards his quarters at the 13th division's barracks he saw a familiar pink kimono. "Shunsui-chan! I didn't expect to see you here," he said in mild surprise as he scratched his head beneath its sprawl of dirty blond hair.

"Oh, Captain Fukuda. I was just out for a stroll, thinking about Jushiro. My feet must have carried me here without me thinking." The old captain looked at the new sadly.

Fukuda nodded. "He was great man and he was a captain for a long time. He will be missed."

Cheering up a little Shunsui replied, "It is surprising how many powerful Shinigami the old man was able to find to fill out the ranks after our losses though."

The younger man smiled a little at that. "Well Captain Unohana was very thorough in her search. Even I couldn't hide my reiatsu well enough from her! For the most part though, people were just being recognized for their roles in the war. They would have been moved up sooner but there were no openings. But even still we didn't have enough people that they needed to call in that one foreigner to be 3rd division captain!"

Curious now, Kyoraku turned to him and said, "When did you learn Bankai anyway Tetsura-kun?"

"Oh, I don't know…fifty…seventy years ago maybe?"

"You went so long as an unseated Shinigami even after you achieved Bankai?" the older man replied in surprise.

Still casually Tetsura said, "Yeah, I preferred to remain unnoticed." Then he continued a little sheepishly, "I didn't really want the responsibility."

"Speaking of responsibility, I heard Rukia-chan sent a message regarding a disturbance in the real world?

"Yes. She didn't give much detail, but it didn't sound too major. She's is probably just trying to be more official now that she is vice-captain. Well Toshiro-chan said he would look into since he is going there on leave anyways. So there is nothing to worry about." Tetsura said, brushing it off.

A bit of sadness crept back into Shunsui's expression as he replied, "I hope everything is all right. We've lost enough friends in recent times." Trying to get back to his cheery self he finished by saying, "Well I should probably head back before Nanao-chan gets angry. See you another time Tetsura-kun."

As Kyoraku walked away Tetsura called out to him, "How about we get together for some sake later?"

Shunsui called back over his shoulder, "Don't you have work to do?"

Captain Fukuda laughed, "My 3rd seats seem to be used to doing everything, and I wouldn't want to disrupt there work habit."

Shunsui smiled in response. "I would love too." As he continued walking he waved over his shoulder. "Until then my friend."

Tetsura replied softly. "Until then." As Kyoraku turned the corner Tetsura's smile faded a little. Normally he didn't care much for other people. But he liked Kyoraku. He didn't enjoy having to deceive him.

x

As Captain Hitsugaya walked through the senkaimon and looked over Karakura town in the afternoon light he thought to himself, Everything appears to be fine. Captain Fukuda was probably right. It's probably just a false alarm. Either way I plan on going to the Kurosaki household so I will probably be finding out soon enough. The young captain let out a sigh of annoyance before using shunpo to speed him towards Urahara's shop to pick up his gigai.

Approaching the shop he continued to look for things out of the ordinary. Seeing nothing he relaxed more, so that by the time he arrived at the shop he was calm and had nearly forgot about the strange report. He landed in front of the shop to find Urahara standing outside waiting for him, wearing a grin that was obvious even behind the fan he held in front of his face.

"Oh hello Hitsugaya-san! Come to visit Karin-chan again?"

The captain blushed in response to the storekeeper's words but said nothing more than, "I am here for my gigai."

"Well why don't you step inside while Tessai gets it for you." Turning to the large man as they stepped inside Urahara added, "Tessai if you wouldn't mind."

"Of course." The big man replied before leaving through a side door.

Hitsugaya followed Urahara into the sitting room in the back of the store where they sat on the cushions across from each other. Neither said anything as they waited. But Hitsugaya was becoming increasingly unnerved by the expectant stare and grin the storekeeper was giving him. After a few moments he spoke up, "Is there something wrong?"

"Not at all Hitsugaya-san!" Urahara replied, his smile never wavering.

After another uncomfortable minute Tessai returned with the young captain's gigai. Grateful for both the distraction, and the end of the wait Hitsugaya immediately got in the gigai; welcoming the, by now, familiar sensation. "Thank you for your assistance Urahara-san, Tsukabishi-san. I will return if I need anything else." And with that he turned and headed out the door. With his back turned Toshiro didn't notice the storekeeper's smile flicker in surprise at his departure.

As Hitsugaya made his way to the Kurosaki house at a faster pace than usual he thought about Urahara's behaviour. The storekeeper was often strange, but this seemed different. Could it have something to do with that disturbance, he wondered. Toshiro clenched his hands into fists and grinded his teeth in annoyance. Argh! That man is always so cryptic! Well whatever is going on, Rukia and the Kurosakis will be involved. They always are. Deciding there was nothing he could do for the moment he put the matter aside and increased his pace.

x

"Ichigo."

Leaning against the wall, Ichigo turned to the woman sitting on his bed. Seeing her worried look he said, "What's wrong Rukia?"

Rukia sat with a thoughtful expression for a minute before replying, "That man at Urahara's shop. Fugu. There's much that we don't know. Why did he come here? What does he know about us? What does he want from us? What are his intentions?"

"Well what do you want to do about it?" Ichigo said, exasperated.

Rukia promptly replied, "You're done school for the day, so we should head over there now and see if we can get any more information out of him."

"I thought we we're going to wait for Toshiro?"

"We don't know what this man's plans are. We might not have time to wait for Captain Hitsugaya."

Ichigo sighed and scratched the back of his head. "I guess you're right. I'll just tell my family first, and then we'll head over. They'll probably want to come too."

Rukia jumped and punched Ichigo on the head; driving him to the ground. "You haven't told them yet, you idiot!"

Ichigo looked up at her from the ground and said sheepishly, "When we got back last night they were asleep, and then I had school this morning and…" They both suddenly fell silent and turned to the bedroom door. They could hear voices talking at the front door downstairs. Yuzu and a boy it sounded like.

Just then they heard Yuzu shout cheerfully, "Karin-chan! Your boyfriend is here!" This was immediately followed by Karin's shrill reply from the next room of "What!?" and the sound of stomping feet and Isshin's shout of, "Masaki! Our daughters have started dating! They've grown so much! We may even have grandchildren soon!"

As he stood up Ichigo sighed and said, "Looks like we don't need to worry about waiting for Toshiro." On their way downstairs Ichigo and Rukia heard Karin shout, "Shut up you sick old man!" followed by a loud thump. When they got to the bottom of the stairs they saw Isshin lying in a heap with a head on his head and Karin standing over him angrily while Yuzu and Hitsugaya stood in the doorway watching. Yuzu was her usual cheerful self while Hitsugaya stood with his face in his hand seeming very exasperated.

Karin turned toward the door and said, "Hey Toshiro." Then she gestured at her father, who was crawling toward the poster whining Masaki! Our children are so cruel to their father! and she said, "Sorry about that. You want to…" She glanced quickly at the others and continued, "…go play soccer."

Reminded of the situation, Hitsugaya stood up straighter and said, "Maybe later Karin. I also came for another reason." He turned to Ichigo and Rukia before continuing. "Vice-Captain Kuchiki what do you know about this disturbance your captain told me about. He said you weren't very clear in your message, so he couldn't give me anymore information."

Surprised, Rukia replied, "What? I was perfectly clear. I gave all the information we had." Getting a little angry she continued. "Captain Fukuda is so lazy! He's not fit to be captain. He doesn't do any work. I can't believe he sent you here without telling you everything!"

Noticing everyone was paying close attention now, even Isshin had stopped whining to the poster and become more serious, Ichigo sighed and said, "We were just going to tell all of you now anyway. Since Toshiro is here now we don't need to explain twice."

Isshin suddenly interrupted saying, "Has my son finally become a man and is going to announce he is marrying my third daughter and moving out? I'm so proud!"

As Rukia blushed and Isshin went to hug his son, Ichigo punched him in the face and said, "No you pervert!" Then turning to everyone else he continued. "Let's go to Urahara's shop. We'll explain on the way." As they left the house Ichigo paused and turned to Rukia, "Oh wait, I almost forgot. Hey Rukia, you take them to the shop and explain. I have to go get Ishida, Sado and Inoue; they'll want to be there for this." Without waiting for a reply Ichigo ran off.

Rukia yelled after him, "Hey idiot! You don't get to tell me what to do!" Ichigo either didn't hear, or just didn't care, as he continued to run and before they knew it he was out of sight. Rukia just grumbled, "Idiot." and turned back to the others who were waiting, confused. "Let's go. I guess I'll have to explain on the way then."

Since none of them were in spirit form they all got in Isshin's car. Yuzu, Karin and Rukia sat in the back while Toshiro got in the front with Isshin. As they drove Rukia began explaining what had happened so far. "Last night black clouds, that only spiritually aware beings could see, came together over the town. They drew together into a dense, mass which then became a heavily deformed man. After he formed he fell from the sky. Ichigo and I went to investigate, and when we arrived we found Orihime, Sado, and Ishida were also there. It seemed like the man was having trouble staying in a human form. I could sense his reiatsu well enough to tell it was a Shinigami's, but it was very chaotic. It was killing him."

Yuzu broke in, asking "Couldn't Inoue-chan heal him?"

"Her power reverts the target to its previous state. If she tried to heal him he would turn back into the clouds. The best we could do was to use Orihime's power to keep him stable, so we brought him to Urahara."

Surprisingly serious, Isshin nodded and said, "That was good thinking. So I assume Kisuke was able to help?"

"Yes. He put the stranger in a reiatsu sealing gigai to keep him stable. At this point I went to make my report. While I was making my report the man woke up and Urahara and Ichigo questioned him. But all they got from him was that he thought we could help him, and that we already have. That's all we know. Urahara is keeping him at his shop." Rukia turned to Hitsugaya as she finished. "Ichigo and I were just about to go question him again when you arrived."

After sitting thoughtfully for a moment to absorb this information Toshiro asked, "Did this man give a name?"

Rukia shook her head in response. "No. But he said to call him Fugu." After a moment she looked from Hitsugaya to Isshin and asked, "Does any of this sound familiar to either of you?"

Hitsugaya answered first. "I don't recall ever hearing of anyone like that. What about you Kurosaki-san?"

"Hmm. Doesn't sound like anyone I remember, and a power like that isn't something you forget about. And Kisuke really didn't know who this guy was?"

"No. Normally I would think he knew more than he was telling us. But he seemed genuinely curious."

They drove the rest of the way in silence as each of them processed this new information. They were all thinking the same things. What could this all mean; what was going to happen; and who is this man?

x

When they pulled up in the car they sensed that Ichigo and the others hadn't arrived yet. After they piled out of the car Hitsugaya immediately stomped into the shop and shouted, "Urahara!"

The man in question poked his head into the front room and said calmly from behind his fan, "Yes? Can I help you Hitsugaya-san?"

Hitsugaya roared back, "Why didn't you tell me about the stranger who arrived yesterday!?"

There was a pause for a moment while Hitsugaya fumed before Urahara answered questioningly, "You didn't ask?"

Before Hitsugaya could yell back Karin interrupted. "Ah let it go Toshiro. You know he's just messing with you." Then, to Urahara's surprise, Toshiro did calm down a bit. He still looked angry, but rather than yell he just grumbled a bit before falling silent.

Just then Ichigo arrived, with Ishida, Sado, and Orihime trailing in behind him. Seeing the new arrivals Urahara stepped out into the room and said excitedly, "Excellent! Now that you are all here we can get started! He's in the back room, so if you'll just follow me. We were just having some tea while we waited for you to arrive."

After hearing this Hitsugaya bristled again and, although he didn't yell this time, he angrily said, "You're letting the prisoner walk around freely and have tea?"

"Now Hitsugaya-san," Urahara chided, much to the young captain's annoyance. "He's my guest, and it wouldn't be very hospitable of me to lock him in a room and feed him scraps. And even if he were hostile, his body is very weak right now and his reiatsu is sealed."

"Even if he isn't hostile, as a Shinigami who is neither a member of the Gotei 13 nor an allied group he is still considered a deserter and must be brought in for punishment."

Suddenly a raspy voice spoke up from the doorway to the back room saying, "Is that so?" Everyone turned to see Fugu limping into the doorway on a cane. It seemed Urahara had found some clothes for him, as he was now dressed in a pair of green pants and a green shirt that looked like they used to belong to Urahara. Yuzu gasped, and the eyes of those who hadn't yet seen him widened in surprise as they took in his misshapen and sickly form. "But how can you know for sure that I am a deserter? For all you know I could be on a mission for the Gotei 13. Or maybe I was held captive by a mysterious group for a long time and only now escaped. And even if I am a deserter you would still need to know where I came from, as well as how and why I came to be here." Then he turned and looked Toshiro in the eye and said, "Don't presume you know anything about me. There is much you don't know." Then as he turned to walk back into the back room he said over his shoulder, "Now if you'd indulge me, my body is still weak and I need to sit down, and I know that you have many questions."

Together they all filed into the room after him, and as they did they noticed Tessai was already sitting there waiting. As they all took their seats Fugu spoke up so as to get in a word before their questions. "I met a few of you last night," he nodded to Urahara, Tessai and Ichigo, "and although I don't know your names, I recognize a few others as being those who helped save me," he then nodded to Orihime, Sado, Ishida, and Rukia. As he did so he really saw Ishida for the first time and his eyes widened for a moment before he hid it, but no one seemed to notice. "First I would like to thank you for your assistance yesterday. Without your help I would likely have died for good. Now before you start with your questions I'd like it if you would introduce yourselves, as I would like to know who I am talking to."

Toshiro was the first to reply, cutting off a few others, "Why should we tell you our names, when you have yet to give us your true name?"

Fugu gave him a cold look and said, "In this body, in this condition, I am not who I once was. The name I had then no longer fits." He paused and looked down at himself for a moment and muttered, Just as the clothes I had then likely no long fit, before continuing. "Right now I am Fugu, and until I am again who I once was I will continue to be Fugu. At that time I will gladly tell you my name, but until then, my name is Fugu."

Captain Hitsugaya sat back angrily, but didn't say anything in reply. There was an awkward pause for a moment before Orihime hesitantly said, "I…I'm Inoue Orihime. Nice to meet you…Fugu-san!"

Following her example Ishida spoke up next, saying, "I am Ishida Uryu, last of the Quincy." Fugu nodded as if confirming something before turning to Sado.

"Yasutora Sado." Sado spoke shortly and to the point.

Rukia introduced herself next, saying proudly, "I am Vice-Captain Kuchiki Rukia of the 13th division."

Hearing this, Fugu's eyebrows went up and he said to himself wonderingly, "Oh? A Shinigami? I thought I had sensed some in the area." He looked out over the others in the room curiously. "I wonder how many others–"

"I am Kurosaki Isshin!" Isshin shouted, interrupting Fugu's thoughts. "And these are my lovely daughters Karin and Yuzu, and my delinquent son Ichigo! Rukia is my adopted third–"

Just then Karin punched him to the ground stopping him. "We can introduce ourselves you idiot!"

Isshin just moaned on the ground, Why is Karin-chan so cruel to her father.

Yuzu just scolded her sister half-heartedly, "Karin-chan you shouldn't hit him so hard! You might give him brain damage…"

"Pfft! Like that would change anything." Karin replied sarcastically.

Everyone just watched the exchange and Fugu smirked at the family's antics. But a voice pulled him from his amusement.

"My name is Hitsugaya Toshiro, and I am Captain of the 10th division.' Hitsugaya paused for a moment to let that sink in.

After hearing Hitsugaya's introduction Fugu's attention drifted and he muttered, Another Shinigami. Captain of the tenth too. Hmm…Hashimoto must be gone then. How long has it been I wonder? Urahara's eyes flashed at this information, although no one else took any notice.

Not noticing Fugu's response Hitsugaya continued, "And now that the introductions are finished let me ask you: Who are you, and why are you here?"

Most of the humour drained from Fugu's face leaving a cold smile. "I again must assert that until I regain my old form I am, and will be, Fugu. As for my purpose here…I came seeking your help."

Everyone fell silent and leaned forward in anticipation at the prospect of finally getting some answers. "How did you know we could help you?" Rukia prompted.

"I had been in that form a long time. How long, I don't know. I wasn't conscious for most of it, I don't think. But over the last while I regained some control and was able to observe to some extent, and I sensed someone healing great wounds as if they had never happened."

Orihime's eyes widened and she said quietly, "My Sōten Kisshun…"

Fugu looked at her and continued, "Whatever your power is I knew I wouldn't find anything else like it. So I decided to risk it, and even if it failed and I died, well at least I will have tried. But instead, while your power couldn't heal me it did still keep me alive at least. Although this form does certainly pose some problems…" He paused for a moment considering, before turning back to them and saying, "Now that I have answered some of your questions I hope you don't mind me asking one of my own. You are all clearly spiritually aware, and at least two of you are Shinigami and one a Quincy. Are all the rest of you Shinigami as well? You do all seem like an odd group, there must be a story there."

The first one to speak up was again Hitsugaya. "We are asking the questions, not you!"

Karin put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Oh calm down Toshiro. Cut him some slack, he's half dead. Anyway it's not exactly a secret; in fact it's surprising he doesn't know."

Urahara looked at Fugu curiously. "Kurosaki-san is right, it's a fair question. And it is surprising he doesn't know since almost every spiritual being has heard what happened by now." Hitsugaya glared at him and Urahara said quickly, "But that's a story for another time. For now I'll just answer the main question. The only active members of the Gotei 13 here are Kuchiki-san and Hitsugaya-san. However Isshin, Tessai and myself used to be members, but for reasons which can be explained later we are now separate from Soul Society, although allied. Isshin married a human woman who gave birth to Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu. They were born as humans with high spiritual pressure, but recently became Shinigami themselves. Ishida, Inoue and Yasutora on the other hand are humans who have developed powers. Ishida-san as you already know is a Quincy, while the other two have fairly…unique powers."

After looking at them all curiously for a moment Fugu slowly said, "Hmm…humans with unique powers working alongside a Quincy and non-soul society Shinigami, all allied with the Gotei 13. That must be an interesting story and I look forward to hearing it. But Shinigami separate from Gotei 13? Things really have changed. I wonder…" Fugu trailed off and he looked vaguely to the side; his mind clearly wandering again.

Seeing that Fugu was done speaking Ishida asked, "How did you end up the way you were last night. Those clouds…I haven't seen anything like that before."

Snapping back from his thoughts, Fugu calmly replied, "I'm not sure I trust you all enough to tell you that yet."

Seething, Hitsugaya said through his teeth, "This isn't friendly conversation. You are an unknown and possibly hostile being that is under investigation. This is an interrogation. Now answer the question."

Fugu looked Hitsugaya right in the eye and calmly replied, "Make me."

Hitsugaya scoffed, "Don't be childish."

"Oh I'm quite serious. There is nothing you can do to me to make me answer your questions. There is nothing I have for you to take away and I am already a broken man, so threats won't work. So whether or not I answer your questions is completely up to me."

Hitsugaya looked around at the others, and especially Karin, and he thought, Even if I did want to take him back to Soul Society for more 'intense questioning' they would never let me. He leaned back and sighed in annoyance, but said nothing.

After a quiet moment Rukia asked curiously, "From you're reiatsu last night I was able to see that you are a Shinigami. What position were you?"

"Well right now I am a weak and powerless spirit sealed in a gigai. But yes, before I was crippled I was a Shinigami. As for my position in the Gotei 13; I'd rather not say."

Of course not, Hitsugaya muttered before saying, "I don't think we have any more questions that you're willing to answer." He looked at Fugu making it clear this was a dismissal.

As he stood Fugu said dryly, "Right. As I am tired, and you clearly wish to discuss the situation without me here I will be going to bed."

Just as Fugu started walking to the room where he had slept the night before, Ishida stood up and said, "I'll keep an eye on him. To make sure he doesn't eavesdrop." As Ishida followed Fugu out of the room his friends looked after him in surprise and Ichigo thought, That's weird. Four-eyes would normally hate missing a meeting like this.

After he had closed the door and made sure they were alone, Ishida turned to Fugu, who had settled into the bed and was looking at him expectantly. "When you saw me today it looked like you recognized me. And you weren't surprised to find out I was a Quincy. In fact it looked like you had expected it. What do you know about me? What do you know about the Quincy? Why are you really here?" Ishida paused and looked Fugu straight in the eye. "Tell me everything."

A/N: Oooh cliffhanger! Anyways, I mentioned the review that got me writing again was last month. I would have finished this sooner but I just started my first year of University, and then there was mid-terms…and yeah. Well at least that's the excuses I give myself.

Also, I had intended for this chapter to go further into the story, but in order to flesh it out more I decided to extend this part of the story a bit more. And this chapter ended up being longer than expected. So I know I said this last chapter but… I'll do one more chapter like this and then things get interesting.

I also got an idea for another Bleach fanfic recently. It centers around Ichigo's hollow powers and the idea of 'what if Urahara hadn't shown up during the final battle with Aizen?' and 'What ever happened to his hollow after he lost his Shinigami powers?'. It was inspired in part by other fanfics people have written (there are plenty involving Ichigo's hollow powers) and partly by an AMV I watched the other day on youtube. If you think it's a good idea message me, or mention it in a review…If you plan on reviewing.

Lastly, some more official stuff. I would prefer to have a beta reader if anyone is willing to volunteer.[Edit] Found one![End Edit] And as I said last time, I need to do some Japanese translations if anyone cares to help it would be much appreciated. Message me if you're interested in volunteering for either of those. Also I am waiting for a certain someone to send me some information on a couple characters they're helping me with. You know who you are…now hurry up!

So thanks for reading, and please review as the input would be much appreciated! Also I know I say this every time but…I will try to get the next chapter up quicker this time! I am even planning on starting it tomorrow…or later today since I am writing this at 3 AM. So yeah. Until Next Time!