Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

A/N: Well here is the next chapter. I still surprise myself how fast I get this things out...in any case, this is the first of a two-to-three chapter Arc. The point of it being Diamond Dust Rebellion. I hope I didn't lose too many readers with the last chapter...since this one is back to the quality of the older ones. Enough talk, here's the chapter, please read and review.

Rukia: About time.

Ayumi: I know...I was barely in the last one.

Ichigo: Oh get over it.

A/N: Yeah what he said.

A week later~

"This Captain's meeting is now in session. The subject before us is to pick a Squad to escort the Oken, a Royal Family artifact." Yammamoto said.

"I could go, as long as my Lieutenant stays here." Ichigo offered.

"So could I, along with my Lieutenant." Toshiro said himself.

"Why can't you take your Lieutenant Captain Shiba?" Yammamoto asked.

"Personal reasons…she hasn't been feeling well lately and I don't want to push her too much." Ichigo said, with Unohana and Jushiro wearing knowing smiles, while Byakuya frowned at him.

Yammamoto nodded and turned to Toshiro, "Your Squad will escort the Oken Captain Hitsugaya. Captain Shiba, you will be stationed in the World of the Living as backup. This meeting is adjourned."

Ichigo nodded along with the rest of the Captain's and left the room, immediately heading to the Manor to tell Rukia he would be gone for a while.

"You have to go back there again?" Rukia asked tiredly…she hadn't had much energy lately.

"Yeah, apparently they decided that since I used to live there it was best to send me. I wish they would give me a break once in a while though." Ichigo answered.

"Oh you should have expected this when you became a Captain, Ichigo." Rukia said.

"I know, still annoying though." Ichigo sighed.

"Oh go on Strawberry, the sooner this is over the sooner you can get back." Rukia said, pushing Ichigo along.

Karakura Town~

"ICHIGO!" Isshin yelled, jumping at his son who just raised his arm, knocking the older man down.

"Nice to see you too Dad." Ichigo said, just walking along like nothing had happened.

"So mean…and where is my fourth daughter!" Isshin yelled jumping back up despite the fact his nose was bleeding profusely.

"She's still at the manor…and you know why old man." Ichigo answered, still ignoring his father.

"Hello Ichigo, nice to see you dear." Masaki said once Ichigo walked into the kitchen, a bruised Isshin sulking behind him.

"Nice to see you too Mom…where's Ayumi, Karin and Yuzu?" the young Captain asked.

"Your lovely sisters are at school Ichigo." Isshin said around the towel Masaki had given him.

"Hmm…I guess I'll get comfortable then, no point heading to school when I'll only be here for one day." Ichigo said, sitting down on the couch and turning on the TV.

"What do you mean you'll only be here for one day!" Isshin yelled, almost dropping the towel.

"I'm only here as a backup for Toshiro. Besides, you should know how much work a Captain has Dad." Ichigo said, relaxing on the couch.

"What do you mean lots of work? Just make your subordinates do everything." Isshin said.

"Umm…you do realize Rukia is pregnant so she can't do much work, and the rest of the Squad had to do that enough with Ichimaru in charge. Besides, it keeps me busy." Ichigo said, remembering how lazy his dad was when he was a Captain.

"Come on dear, leave Ichigo alone, I'm sure he wants some rest." Masaki said, leading the older man away from Ichigo.

Soul Society~

"No sign of anyone Lieutenant. Such a massive procession though." a random Reaper said.

"That's good news…though you should expect it to be this big, not everyday that a Royal Artifact is moved." Rangiku said, before heading off to see Toshiro.

The Captain was standing on the cloud with the Royal procession, watching them move along. When Rangiku appeared next to him, Toshiro turned towards her.

"Such a large amount of people isn't it?" Rangiku asked.

Toshiro just nodded, before turning back to watching the procession. But all of a sudden an explosion went off behind the two Reapers. They spun around, only to see a fire breaking out in one of the buildings. A blue ball of lightning shot out of the burning building, knocking over several of the guards before they could even react to it. The few guards who did react were killed soon enough, their staffs unable to stop the ball.

By that point a red fireball had joined the blue one and was massacring the newly arrived members of Squad 10. Toshiro jumped into the fray and started to corner the balls, but they flew off, and when they did, the young Captain felt a blade cut into his side. He quickly jumped aside, and saw a man wearing a cloak and Hollows mask…and holding a very familiar Zanpaku-to.

"Captain!" Rangiku yelled, starting to run towards him.

Toshiro just looked over his shoulder and ran off, chasing the man who took the Oken, leaving his Squad behind to clean up the mess on the flaming cloud.

Karakura~

"Hmm…it's got to be close by…there!" Ichigo said, tracing the Spiritual Pressure he had felt to a forest on the outskirts of Karakura Town.

It seemed empty enough considering how isolated the forest was, but Ichigo could feel the presence of a Kido barrier, and a well made one at that. So he drew Zangetsu and cut a doorway through the barrier. On the other side was a clearing in a beautiful area of the Rukon…but it wasn't beautiful right now. The place was covered in bodies, both of Soul Reapers and Kido Corps members.

"What happened here?" Ichigo mused, walking into the field of bodies.

"Someone went through here like a tornado…I wonder if it was Aizen or one of his cronies." Shiro added.

"I doubt it was Aizen or his people, there is no trace of his reiatsu." Zangetsu added.

Ichigo nodded, but soon found himself surrounded by a bunch of Stealth Force members. Thankfully the Haori he now wore at all times in his spirit body kept them from attacking him. And they soon cleared to let Soi Fon through anyway.

"Captain…what happened here and why didn't anyone call me for help?" Ichigo asked, knowing it was his job to back up Squad 10.

"The attack was to sudden, Squad 10 didn't have a chance to call for backup. As to why we haven't called since, well this type of investigation isn't your job. Just stay in Karakura for now and keep an eye out for Captain Hitsugaya." Soi Fon said, before breaking the barrier and leaving a very confused Ichigo back in Karakura.

He wasn't alone for long though, pretty soon Ayumi and Uryu joined Ichigo. Both of the teens looked as confused as Ichigo felt.

"What's going on Ichigo, we were both heading home from school and felt some pretty serious reiatsu." Ayumi asked.

"I'm surprised you felt it though, since you are horrible with your reiatsu." Uryu said, looking over at Ayumi.

"Oh can it four-eyes. Back on subject…what did we miss Ichigo?" Ayumi asked again.

"A Royal Family artifact was being transported. I was stationed here as backup. All I know is the procession was attacked and that Toshiro is missing." Ichigo answered.

Before the other two could talk, they felt an icy cold settle around them, along with it starting to snow. At first Ichigo looked at Ayumi who just shook her head, and pointed at a short figure stumbling through the trees. It was Toshiro holding a brown robe and barely able to stand. As soon as the young Captain reached the group he collapsed to the ground, obviously exhausted from hiding his reiatsu.

"What are you going to do Ichigo…shouldn't you have to report him in?" Ayumi asked, looking at the sleeping Captain on her bed.

"I don't know…I haven't heard his side of the story yet. And after what happened with Rukia…I just don't know." Ichigo said, sighing heavily.

"But wasn't the whole thing with her Aizen's fault?" Ayumi asked.

"It was Aizen's fault that it went so far. But Central 46 would have ordered Rukia executed anyway. So I'm not going to hand Toshiro over to them until I know more about what is going on." Ichigo answered.

"What are you two talking about?" Toshiro asked, having finally woken up.

"Toshiro! I was wondering how you ended up like that." Ichigo said.

"It's Captain Hitsugaya…and if you must know I was trying to find the person who took the Oken." Toshiro answered, the fact that Ichigo was a Captain the only thing that let him say that much.

"That's all? How did you end up in such bad shape then? I mean you could barely walk when we found you. And you were saying Kusaka…and I have no idea who that is." Ichigo said back.

Toshiro just glared at the other Captain, "That is none of your business Shiba. Now let me sleep."

And with that Toshiro just turned over on the bed and ignored the other two Reapers. Both Kurosaki's glared at Toshiro, but they knew they wouldn't get anything else out of him, so they just left the room. Toshiro turned over once again once they left the room and thought about who he had seen on the building.

"Kusaka…how are you still alive…and what are you planning to use the Oken for?" the young Captain mused.

"Ichigo, we need to figure out who that man Toshiro is talking about is. Are you sure you don't know, you've been in the Soul Society for 40 years now after all." Ayumi said.

"Trust me, I know how long I have been there. But I don't know anyone named Kusaka. I wasn't around Toshiro until he became a Captain after all." Ichigo answered.

"I know, maybe you should call Rukia and ask her to do some digging." Ayumi suggested.

"I'll call her, but I won't make Rukia do the work…maybe I can get Sumi to do the work…"Ichigo mused.

"Yeah of course King, make your Squad do all the work. At least your letting the Queen relax." Shiro said.

"Oh shut it Shiro, no one asked for your opinion." Ichigo shot back.

"I didn't ask for yours either King. I just think your being lazy, that's all." Shiro said.

"Why you little…your lucky hurting you hurts me!" Ichigo yelled at his Hollow.

Ayumi was looking at her brother like he was crazy, which wasn't that far off…

"Ichigo are you okay? Did you zone out there?" Ayumi asked.

"Huh? Yeah I'm okay Ayumi, just an argument with my Hollow." Ichigo answered.

"I still feel weird that my brother has a Hollow inside him…"Ayumi said.

"Its not as weird as you would think." Ichigo said.

"Yeah it is Ichigo, it's not normal to have a Hollow." Ayumi said slowly.

"Why you little…let me at her King! I need to get her back for calling me weird!" Shiro yelled.

"Oh get over it Shiro. You can't kill my sister." Ichigo shot back.

"I'm going to go contact Rukia now." Ichigo said, opening the Shiba gate and leaving Ayumi behind to watch Toshiro.

Shiba Manor~

"Hey Rukia, are you here?" Ichigo asked, looking into his room.

"Yeah I'm here Ichigo. Did you need me for something?" Rukia asked.

"Yeah, do you know anyone named Kusaka?" Ichigo asked back.

"Kusaka? No never heard of anyone with that name. Why do you ask?" Rukia answered.

"Are you sure? Well can you keep a secret for me?" Ichigo said, and at Rukia's nod he continued, "Well I found Toshiro and he's staying at my house for now. But when we found him he said Kusaka under his breath. I assume that's who attacked him, but I didn't know anyone with that name."

"Well I can look through the records and see if I can find anyone with that name." Rukia offered.

"Don't worry about it Rukia I'll just get Sumi on it." Ichigo said, before a butterfly flew up to him.

"All Captain's report to Squad 1 barracks for an emergency meeting. The Lieutenants and Third Seats will mobilize the Squads." The message read.

"Hmm…that didn't take long. I'll handle the meeting and Sumi will handle the Squad." Ichigo said, moving to leave.

"Oh come on Ichigo, I'm not a cripple." Rukia complained.

"Of course you aren't, but Sumi can handle the Squad." Ichigo pointed out before leaving.

Squad 1~

"The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the attack and theft of the Oken. Captain Soi Fon step forward." Yammamoto started.

"Yes Head-Captain. We have finished our investigation of the battle area, and while we haven't found out who launched the attack we have figured out that Captain Hitsugaya has deserted his post." Soi Fon said.

"No he didn't! My Captain would never desert his post, he was chasing the thief!" Rangiku yelled.

"Sit down Lieutenant Matsumoto!" Yammamoto yelled.

"Yes sir." Rangiku said, getting back on her knees.

"Since Captain Hitsugaya has yet to report in, he will be considered a renegade. We must make every effort to capture him and find out what he is doing. Until then Squad 10 will be locked down and confined to barracks without their Zanpaku-to's. This meeting is at an end." Yammamoto said, banging his staff on the ground leaving a stunned group of Soul Reapers in its wake.

A/N: That was shorter than I would have liked, but at least I got it out eh? In any case, hopefully I can have another one out soon. Please let me know how this one was though.

Ayumi: About time you gave me some real screen time in this story.

A/N: Oh stop complaing.

Ichigo: Don't pick on my sister.

A/N: I wasn't though...