I apologize for the long wait, but the next few chapters should come out much more quickly. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed/followed/favorited.

When the dust cleared, both Renji and Ichigo were sprawled out on the ground.

Renji groaned in pain and tried to get up, but his sore body protested and he failed miserably. He glanced over at Ichigo, who was having much better success at recovering than Renji was.

Ichigo still held Zangetsu in his hand, though he had let go of Zabimaru following the Getsuga Tensho explosion. He winced in pain as he got to his feet, but he was glad to see that Renji was in worse shape than he was. He walked over to the downed lieutenant.

"You still alive over there?" Ichigo asked him.

Renji glared weakly at Ichigo. "As if an attack of that caliber could kill me."

Ichigo smirked. "Trash talk all you want, but you don't look very good to me."

"Shut up," Renji replied. His gaze then softened. "... Mind if I ask you a question?"

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead."

"... Why are you risking your life to save Rukia?" Renji asked, somewhat hesitantly. "You barely know her."

"That's not true. She saved my family, and she saved me… She's my friend, and that's all there is to it," Ichigo answered. "What about you? You seemed to know Rukia when you saw her back in the real world."

Renji shut his eyes, as if trying to hold back painful memories. "She's my best friend. We've known each other since we were kids."

"What?!" Ichigo exclaimed. "Then do you know that she's about to be executed?"

"... Yes," Renji said softly. "There's nothing I can do about it. That's just the way it is."

"Bullshit." Ichigo's eyes were hard. "Instead of fighting against me, you should have fought beside me. If Rukia's really your friend, then why aren't you trying to save her!?"

"I can't!" Renji shouted. "Do you know how powerful the Soul Society is? How powerful the captains are? I can't do shit about it!"

"So if you can't beat them, you join them?" Ichigo said, clearly disgusted.

Renji screwed his eyes shut. He didn't want to think about Rukia, Ichigo, the Soul Society, or anything.

"Well?" Ichigo prodded.

Renji was silent.

"... I'm weak," he finally admitted. "I'm weak. I can't do it. I can't save Rukia from anything, I never could. Even when the Kuchiki Clan came to take her, I couldn't stop her from leaving me."

"If you're weak, then get stronger!" Ichigo told him. "How do you think I felt when you came down to Earth and obliterated me? I felt weak as fuck! But look at me now. If you have a goal, then you fight to achieve it, no matter what it takes."

"That's so clichèd," Renji said, though he couldn't hide the small smile that appeared on his face.

Ichigo sat down next to him. "If you really want to save Rukia, then we'll do it together. How does that sound?"

Renji's smile grew wider. "... Sounds pretty good."

"A shame to hear you say so, Lieutenant Abarai," a third voice suddenly said.

Ichigo wheeled around to see a man with long black hair and cold, gray eyes standing a few feet away. The man wore what Ichigo recognized to be a captain's haori.

Ichigo got to his feet and immediately readied Zangetsu.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked somewhat nervously.

"C-captain…!" Renji gasped.

Byakuya spared a glance at Ichigo, then turned his gaze back to Renji.

"You actually lost to this filth, Renji?"

Reji ignored his captain's comments. "I-Ichigo, you have to get out of here!"

Ichigo didn't move. "Renji, who is this guy?"

Byakuya turned towards Ichigo. "I am Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of the Sixth Division. I assume you are one of the intruders?"

"Kuchiki?" Ichigo repeated. "You're related to Rukia?"

"I am her brother," Byakuya simply replied. "Now, I would advise you to put down your sword and come quietly. There is no need for further fighting."

"Run, Ichigo!" Renji yelled. "You can't beat him!"

Ichigo grit his teeth. "Shut up, Renji! Getsuga…"

Before Ichigo could even begin channeling spirit energy into his blade, a powerful force slammed into his stomach and sent him sprawling onto the ground.

Ichigo coughed up blood and looked up to see Byakuya standing over him. He's so fast!

Cold steel touched Ichigo's throat, and the orange-haired soul reaper froze.

"Any further movement and I will slit your throat," Byakuya warned.

Before Ichigo could even think about what to do next, Byakuya flash-stepped away as a red beam sliced through the space he had occupied a second ago.

"Sorry, but I can't allow you to do that."

Ichigo glanced up to see Urahara holding Benihime, smoke drifting from its tip. Accompanying him were Yoruichi, that small, blue-haired captain from before, Chad, and Orihime.

"Kisuke Urahara," Byakuya stated. "You have quite the nerve to return here."

A smile danced upon Urahara's lips. "I know, right?"

"Watch your step, little boy," Yoruichi then said to Byakuya. "We've got you outnumbered."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed dangerously. "... Take your human soul reaper and leave the Soul Society. If I see any one of you here again, I will kill you."

With that, the silver-eyed captain disappeared in a speedy flash-step.

Urahara let out a breath as he put down his sword. "Whew, that was tense."

"You're lucky we arrived in time, huh Ichigo?" Yoruichi said with a smirk.

Ichigo gingerly got to his feet. "Yeah. Thanks."

"Cheer up," Urahara told him. "You may have gotten your ass kicked by Byakuya, but we're not going to be set back by such a small thing, right?"

"... He beat me with a single punch. He didn't even draw his zanpakuto until I was already on the ground."

"Captain Kuchiki is too strong," Renji agreed. "We can't beat him."

Ichigo looked at Renji, then remembered what he had just told the red-haired lieutenant a few minutes earlier. He felt ashamed at his own defeatism.

"Shut up, Renji," Ichigo said, his voice growing more confident. "That guy can't be invincible. If we have to beat him to save Rukia, then that's just what we'll do."

Renji looked confused at Ichigo's sudden change in demeanor, but Urahara cheered.

"That's the spirit!" the shopkeeper cried. "You just need to get a bit stronger, that's all."

Yoruichi nodded. "And we know just the place where you can do that."

Uryu stopped as he felt a strong spiritual pressure close by. He cursed under his breath as he looked up at Sokyoku Hill, which was only a couple flights of stairs away.

Damn it, I'm so close!

Nevertheless, he conjured his bow as he prepared for the inevitable fight. A few seconds later, a soul reaper flash-stepped onto the platform between Uryu and the next flight of stairs.

Uryu took in the appearance of the shinigami. The strange figure wore black and white face paint and had blue hair, and he wore a strange hat on his head. His red eyes were disturbing and filled with curiosity, and he had an unnerving smile on his face.

However, what caught Uryu's attention the most was the white captain's haori the soul reaper wore.

So it's a captain.

"Oh, my. What do we have here?" The captain said in a slithery, diabolical tone. "A Quincy?"

Uryu's eyes narrowed. "How did you know that?"

The captain frowned. "Are you stupid? You hold a bow in your hand and you wear the uniform of the Wandenreich."

Uryu said nothing.

"I am Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of the Twelfth Division," the captain introduced. "And you are?"

"Uryu Ishida, Quincy," Uryu said as he aimed his bow. "Nice to meet you, Captain Kurotsuchi."

Uryu fired his arrow, but Mayuri drew his sword and deflected it with ease.

The captain grinned. "Likewise."

Uryu sped away using Hirenkyaku, then appeared directly behind Mayuri.

If long distance attacks won't work, then let's see how he handles a Heilig Pfeil from close range, Uryu thought as he released the arrow.

However, the captain managed to Flash-Step away a fraction of a second before the arrow pierced his back. When Kurotsuchi reappeared, he smiled madly.

"Your Hirenkyaku is very good, Uryu Ishida, as is the potency of your Heilig Pfeils," Mayuri complemented.

"You seem to know a lot about Quincy techniques," Uryu observed.

"I've done quite a bit of research on them. Unfortunately, I haven't had a good test subject in a while. My last one was some frail old man… What was his name again? Oh, right, I remember," Mayuri paused and grinned evilly. "Soken Ishida."

Uryu gnashed his teeth together and resisted the urge to fire another arrow at the grinning bastard's face.

"... So you killed him?" he asked instead, his voice laced with venom.

"No. He was already dead when I got to him. However, I quite enjoyed dissecting him." Mayuri pointed his sword at Uryu. "And I'm sure I will enjoy cutting you open just as much!"

Uryu fired a series of arrows, but Mayuri blocked the first two and then dodged the third. The captain rushed at Uryu, but the Quincy used Hirenkyaku to avoid Mayuri's slash.

"You're quick," Mayuri noted. "Looks like I will need to start trying. Rip, Ashisogi Jizo!"

Mayuri's zanpakuto transformed. It turned a dull gold color, and its one blade split into three prongs. The face of a child appeared near the hilt, also a gold color.

Uryu observed the process. So this is his shikai. I need to find out what its ability is.

"So your zanpakuto just changes color and turns into an ugly baby," Uryu taunted. "Am I supposed to be impressed?"

Mayuri frowned. "Fool! Ashisogi Jizo does much more than that. If you are hit by its posion-coated blade, your limbs will be completely paralyzed!"

Thanks. Now I know to fight from afar, Uryu thought as he fired another arrow. I knew a scientist-type like him wouldn't be able to resist talking about his achievements.

Mayuri blocked it again and Flash-Stepped towards Uryu. The Quincy tried to escape, but Mayuri followed closely behind. Soon enough, Uryu was within range of Ashisogi Jizo.

Kurotsuchi stabbed at Uryu, but the dark-haired Quincy blocked the weapon with his bow. Mayuri then tried another slash, this time aiming at Uryu's right shoulder, but Uryu once again brought his bow up to absorb the blow.

So this is the speed of a captain, Uryu observed as he barely blocked another sword strike. I can't even fight from a distance because he's too fast to run away from.

If he couldn't fight from afar, Uryu decided that he would need to attack from close range again. When Mayuri's next attack came, Uryu deflected it with all of his strength, catching Mayuri off guard for a moment. Uryu used that opening to quickly launch another point-blank Heilig Pfeil.

Mayuri side-stepped and dodged the arrow, but surprise flashed across his face when Uryu disappeared from in front of him. The captain whirled around to see Uryu behind him, his bow raised.

The captain raised his sword to block Uryu's arrow, but the shot never came. Instead, Uryu fired an arrow at the previous Heilig Pfeil, and the arrow which had originally missed Mayuri came flying back towards him.

Too shocked to react, Mayuri cried out in pain as the first arrow dug into his leg. He winced as he pulled it out and tossed it to the ground.

My mobility has been compromised, the captain realized. I truly have no choice but to use my full strength.

"Tell me, Quincy, have you heard of bankai?" Mayuri asked.

Uryu frowned as he thought back to the information Urahara gave him on the Soul Society. He knew that all captains had a power beyond shikai, but he had hoped to neutralize Mayuri before the captain could use it.

"I've heard of it," Uryu replied.

"Is that so? Well, now you are about to see it as well. Bankai!"

Uryu watched in horror as a huge, golden, caterpillar-like baby materialized behind Mayuri. Poison gas flowed out from the baby's mouth and nostrils, and Uryu realized that it was the same poison that coated Mayuri's sword.

He tried to speed away from the beast, but Mayuri Flash-Stepped in front of him and kicked him backwards. Uryu scrambled to his feet to try and escape the monster, but he suddenly felt his legs become heavy. A few seconds later, he collapsed.

Shit, I can't move! Uryu thought as he lay on the ground.

Mayuri cackled. "It's over, Uryu Ishida! Now you will join your kinsman right after I - what?"

The captain suddenly stopped mid-sentence as he felt his arms and legs becoming numb. He then hit the ground, and his bankai stopped moving as well. The baby cried out as its master became immobilized, then disappeared and reverted back to sword form.

Mayuri began sweating as he lay on the ground, frantically trying to understand what had happened. "W-what's going on?"

"Finally kicked in, huh?" Uryu observed from where he lay.

Mayuri looked at him with a mixture of confusion and horror. "What are you talking about! This can't be happening! I am immune to Ashisogi Jizo's poison!"

"Remember that arrow I shot at you that missed and then hit you when I deflected it with another arrow? It didn't actually miss the first time. I was aiming for your sword."

Mayuri's eyes grew wide. "You… You coated your arrow with my zanpakuto's poison?"

"Yes. The Quincy reishi that was contained in the arrow helped to disrupt your own reishi within your body, which is why the poison worked," Uryu explained. "It just took a bit longer to kick in."

"... Genius! Marvelous, Uryu Ishida," Mayuri finally exclaimed. "I never thought you would have been able to pull off something like that. You truly are a unique specimen."

Uryu didn't know how to take that. "Thanks, I guess? Anyway, how long does it take for this poison to wear off?"

"About two hours," Mayuri replied. "Seems like you're stuck here for the moment. But don't worry, we have much to discuss... How many Quincies do you think there are left in the world, Uryu?"

"Two. My father and me," Uryu answered, a bit confused at why Mayuri was asking about such a thing.

"Wrong," Mayuri said. "According to the data my researchers have gathered, Quincy spiritual pressure has been detected in a few places in the Soul Society."

Uryu was surprised to hear that. "Really? Who are they?"

"We don't know as of yet, but one things is for certain," Mayuri looked at Uryu, a devilish grin on his face. "You and your father are not the last Quincies."

Momo smiled sadly as she stood in the captain's office in the Fifth Division barracks. Her new captain had gone out, so she was alone in the office. She approached the desk, which was still covered with the late Sosuke Aizen's belongings.

Her breathing hitched as she saw the photo of her and her captain smiling together. The two were dressed in traditional garb, and it was obvious that the photograph had been taken at some kind of festival. Momo picked up the frame and fondly rubbed the picture.

Captain Aizen…

She remembered his smile, his embrace. She shut her eyes and tried to stop the tears from flowing.

Momo sat down in the chair. It still smells like him…

She eyed the drawers on the desk and decided to open them. The first one contained a few pens and an unopened pack of pencils, and the second one only had an empty jar of salted peanuts in it. However, when she opened the third drawer, she was greeted with the sight of an envelope.

She picked it up and read the writing on it. For Momo.

Her heart began beating faster as she hurriedly tore open the envelope. Inside, she found a handwritten letter from her precious captain.

Momo read it over, and her eyes widened as she finished. Her hands trembled as she neatly folded the letter and put it in her pocket.

She then began speeding towards the Tenth Division, specifically the captain's quarters. Tears filled her eyes and threatened to fall as she Flash-Stepped towards her destination.

Toshiro… Why?

When she got to the Tenth Division, she found Toshiro Hitsugaya in the courtyard. The yard was mostly empty save for Toshiro, but also present were his lieutenant and, to Momo's surprise, Gin Ichimaru and Harukaze Kuchiki, her new captain.

The four looked up when Momo arrived.

"Oh, hello, Momo. Did you need something?" Toshiro asked.

Momo walked over to him and pulled out the letter. She handed it over to him silently.

Toshiro took the letter with a raised eyebrow, but his expression changed to one of horror when he finished reading it.

"Wait… Momo, I…"

"What does it say?" Rangiku interrupted.

"It was written by Captain Aizen, and it says that he feared that Toshiro would kill him," Momo answered, her hard gaze still fixed on Hitsugaya. "It all makes sense now."

Toshiro looked bewildered. "H-how does this make sense?! It's nonsense!"

"It was written by Captain Aizen! I know his handwriting!" Momo yelled. "He wouldn't lie like that!"

"But it doesn't make sense!" Toshiro insisted. "Why would I kill Captain Aizen?"

"Captain Aizen did mention to me a few times that you didn't like how close he was getting to Momo," Gin cut in. "Not saying you would murder him for that, but…"

Toshiro's eyes were wide with shock as he turned to Gin. "What?"

Momo unsheathed her zanpakuto, her eyes brimming with tears. "I've heard enough!"

"Wait, Momo!"

Toshiro's plea was ignored as Momo released her zanpakuto and sent an explosive ball of spirit energy at him. He dodged the attack and reluctantly drew his own sword.

Rangiku reached for her zanpakuto, but Gin stopped her.

"Let them handle it," he said. "It would be better if you don't interfere."

Rangiku glanced at Gin, then at Haru, who had been watching the shocking scene unfold.

Harukaze continued to stare as Hitsugaya froze another one of Momo's meteors.

Could Hitsugaya have actually killed Captain Aizen? He wondered. He did warn me that a traitor in the Seireitei was responsible… Could that have been to throw me off and remove himself from suspicion?

"Momo, stop this!" Hitsugaya shouted as he dodged Momo's attack.

Momo rushed at Hitsugaya and slashed at him, forcing him to lift his blade in defense. The two swords pushed against each other, fighting for dominance. Though Hitsugaya was a captain, his physical strength wasn't much better than Momo's.

"Why did you do it!" Momo demanded.

"You have to believe me, I didn't do it!" Hitsugaya replied.

Momo suddenly stopped pushing against Hitsugaya's sword, and Toshiro thought for a moment that she had finally snapped out of her rage. However, that was proven untrue when Momo flung her sword upwards and sent a ball of spirit energy into Toshiro's face.

Hitsugaya barely managed to block it with his sword, but the explosion at such a close range sent him flying. He coughed as he got to his feet.

"That's it," Haru said from the sidelines as he reached for his zanpakuto. "I can't let this go on. Momo is my responsibility now."

"No need," Gin replied. "It'll be over soon. A lieutenant is no match for a captain, even if that captain isn't going for the kill."

Sure enough, once Hitsugaya got to his feet, he Flash-Stepped over to Momo and froze her entire right arm with one swing of his sword. Surprise flashed across the brunette lieutenant's face as she felt the cold hit her.

"Sorry Momo, but -" Hitsugaya's sentence was interrupted when a blade pierced through his stomach.

Everyone turned to look at Gin, who had released his zanpakuto and skewered Hitsugaya from afar.

"Ha, sorry," Gin said with his strange smile, "but I just couldn't let Captain Aizen's murderer get away."

Blood spurted out of Toshiro's mouth, but no one moved. Everyone was still in shock over what just occurred.

Suddenly, a new figure Flash-Stepped into the room. A horrified expression raced across Captain Retsu Unohana's face as she took in the scene.

"What is going on here?" she gasped.

In a flash, Gin's blade retracted and returned to its small size. The Captain of the Third Division then smiled before flash-stepping away. No one bothered to give chase.

As soon as Gin exited, Rangiku rushed to her captain's side. Haru stood dumbly, unsure of what to do.

"Toshiro!" Momo screamed, tears streaming down her face.

Unohana moved to tend to Hitsugaya. "Please unfreeze Lieutenant Hinamori's arm, Captain Kuchiki."

"R-right," Haru said as he walked over to his lieutenant and used a weak kido to begin melting the ice. Haru briefly glanced at her, but Momo looked away, her eyes filled with sadness and shame.

What the hell just happened here?

Kaname Tousen checked the surroundings to make sure he wasn't being followed before knocking on the door to the meeting place of Central 46. After a brief pause, Kaname entered.

When he stepped inside, he found the room devoid of all reiatsu, save for one man who sat at one of the chairs in the front row.

Sosuke Aizen had traded his shinigami uniform for some whiter garb, and he wore his hair slicked back with a single strand hanging over his face. He had also removed his glasses.

Aizen looked up from a book he was reading as Kaname entered. "Ah, Kaname, you're here."

Tousen bowed his head. "Sir."

"I heard Gin is doing quite a fine job stirring up trouble."

Kaname nodded reluctantly. "Yes. He tipped the Sixth Division off to Rukia Kuchiki's location, leading to her arrest and the subsequent invasion by the humans and former captains. He has also made it appear as if Toshiro Hitsugaya was the one who killed you, and I am told that Captain Hitsugaya has been attacked by Gin and is now in critical condition."

Aizen sighed in disapproval. "I told Gin not to do anything too violent. Well, I suppose it's alright."

"Captain Aizen… Are you sure that you can trust Gin?" Kaname asked.

"What makes you think I trust him? In fact, I don't even trust you, Kaname."

Kaname froze. "... I understand, sir."

Aizen smiled knowingly. "Just because I don't trust you doesn't mean you can't trust me, Kaname. The leader is always predictable, as he is directing the big picture. It is the subordinates who fill in the details that are unpredictable."

"Yes, Captain Aizen."

"I want to show you something," Aizen said. He closed his book and picked up a sack from the ground beside him.

He opened it and revealed a large golden key with strange markings on it.

Though he could not see it, Kaname sensed strange spirit energy emanating from the object. "What is it?"

"The Oken."

Kaname barely managed to prevent his jaw from dropping in surprise.

"So you've found it?" the blind captain asked.

"Yes. It was located under Central 46, just as I hypothesized it would be. The door to the vault required the blood of each member of the council in order to open, so it was good that we took care of that part beforehand."

"Does this mean we can go to the Royal Palace now?"

"No," Aizen said as he fingered the cover of his book. "According to the literature on the subject, the key must be activated in order for it to work. It is not enough to simply procure the key."

"And what would we need to do to activate it?" Kaname asked.

"The Oken needs one additional ingredient to activate," Aizen said with a smile. "The blood of the current Captain Commander."