It's always great to see how much lurve my stories receive from everyone x3 So enjoy... (yeah, I'm too lazy to make some long, smartass comment xD)

P.S. Every Bleach character belongs to Kubo-san. :D

7. Against the law

Blinking at Rukia's last words, Ichigo suddenly pieced together the facts. They wouldn't have taken the girl, unless they were planning to use her as bait for Ulquiorra. So what was he supposed to do? Lure the Espada into a trap? That was against his principles on fair battle. He needed someone to talk to... someone who could advise him on what to do next. And that someone was Urahara Kisuke. With his mind set on that, he broke out into Shunpō along the now empty streets until he finally reached the shop. After hearing everything, Urahara fell silent for a while.

"I see... I do believe your assumption is right, Kurosaki-san. I have heard rumors of the latest order the Gotei has received from the King himself. Apparently they want to capture Ulquiorra and test his Hierro to see if they can apply that to Shinigami. My opinion is that it's a futile research, and it will just torture Ulquiorra for nothing."

Blinking, Ichigo suddenly frowned dangerously. Sure, Ulquiorra was his enemy and he was sure the Espada would never have shown him the least bit of mercy... but he was human and he couldn't just stand aside and let someone be tortured, when he could do something to help them.

"I have to find Ulquiorra, Urahara-san."

"If he's the one who brought the girl here and she really is in his care, then he should come back for her. I suggest you find out where he brought her and wait for him there."

With a nod, Ichigo left the shop in a rush. Following the traces left from Shizuka's reiatsu, he finally found the old warehouse at the edge of town. Seating himself on the edge of the roof, he now awaited for the Espada to show up. He knew for sure that he was going to have a hard time getting Ulquiorra to believe him... hopefully he could manage that before dying at the hands of the Espada.

Hours passed in that time, the sun moving in the sky. Yet, at the end of that time frame, a Garganta opened to reveal Ulquiorra, who stepped through. When he saw Ichigo, he gave no outward reaction, aside from poking the Garganta to close it, so that he could not get past him and infiltrate Las Noches without him there. If they were going to do battle, it would be in the Living World. Jumping to his feet at the massive reiatsu, Ichigo almost invisibly gulped and turned to face the Espada.

"Ulquiorra..."

His throat was dry and he found that he had barely even uttered the Arrancar's name. He didn't want to fight, but he knew Ulquiorra would not be swayed if he decided that a battle was unavoidable. His brain desperately searched for some way to tell the Espada that his protégée had been arrested by Shinigami. After all, he was charged with defending Soul Society...

"...If you have come to do battle... then you need not speak to me. Take up your sword, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Even now, Ulquiorra stood calm, hands in pockets. He had no issue with destroying the world of humans with their battle, and couldn't quite understand why Ichigo would. Humans were so... weak, and ignorant. For the most part... for the most part? Inwardly he shook that thought off. That girl was really getting to him for some reason he had yet to understand.

"I... I'm not here to fight you."

There, he'd said it... there was no way around it. He didn't want to be part of an unfair scheme. It didn't matter that Ulquiorra was his enemy, it didn't matter that it was his duty to slay the Arrancar. If he was going to kill Ulquiorra, it would be after an honest battle.

"That girl you brought here..."

He paused again, almost swallowing his words. Ulquiorra's devoid gaze wasn't something easy to endure, even for him. The Cuatra Espada somewhat frowned at that vague mention of Shizuka, his hand trailing toward Murciélago. If Ichigo harmed, abducted, or destroyed that girl he would finish him off there and then, leaving nothing for that weak hearted woman to be able to restore him to life. Still, he decided to listen for the moment and find out exactly what had happened. Briefly eyeing the Espada's hand, Ichigo took a deep breath.

"I... I want to..."

How could he say it? It went against all his principles as a human and Shinigami. But in the end, wasn't Shizuka still human?

"I want to h... help you get her back."

Even as he said those words he felt his inner Hollow stirring. Apparently his master's odd decision had piqued his interest. So much so that it wasn't long until he heard the Hollow cackling in the back of his mind.

"You're such a softy, king."

Before Ichigo could even so much as growl at his Hollow, Kurotsuchi's voice hurt his ears.

"Well, well... I see you found him faster than we expected."

Turning his gaze upward, Ichigo frowned as he saw Mayuri along with Byakuya – who was now holding Shizuka by the arm – Hitsugaya, Kyoraku and Ukitake. Apparently Yamamoto wasn't taking any risks.

'Get her back?' Ulquiorra mused somewhat puzzled.

When he turned to see the Captains, one of them holding Shizuka by the arm, his gaze narrowed.

"...I see."

It was all he said, though fighting at full power with her so close by would have been stupid. Above all, he had to assure her health, survival and an ability to return her to Aizen. That, however, didn't seem to be possible now. They were almost certainly here to slay him. Despite his anger at their taking her, he released the Zanpakutō's hilt and lifted his hands.

"I surrender..."

If he could even slightly prolong her life by not exposing her to the depths of his reiatsu, even at the cost of his own life, he would. Such was service to Aizen. A sinister grin spread on Mayuri's lips when he dispelled the Kyokko behind Ulquiorra, which had covered the machine along with two of his scientists. Within moments, what looked like a cage made of reiatsu particles closed around the Espada, having been triggered by the machine which was now draining the Arrancar's reiatsu.

"That was easier than I thought..." Kyoraku muttered, poking his sakkat back to scratch his head.

"It was too easy." Hitsugaya frowned.

Meanwhile Ichigo somewhat stared at Ulquiorra... he'd never been able to imagine hearing those words come out of his mouth. Apparently he'd been right... Ulquiorra did have some feelings for Shizuka. Ulquiorra felt his strength being gradually depleted by that Shinigami creation. It would take quite some time, he knew it, but in the end the machine would probably do the job. That was, if it had been made to withstand the sort of reiatsu that he gave off.

"...Long live Aizen Sousuke."

Surely, Aizen would avenge them, out of anger for the destruction of his most trusted subordinate, and Shizuka. Shizuka... turning up his head, he gave her a gaze of something... warmth. While minimal, it was there. If only he could have held her one more time.

Rubbing his hands, Mayuri finally motioned his men to stop the machine. After all, they didn't want him dead... yet. But Mayuri was sadistic enough to leave Ulquiorra with just enough reiatsu to keep him awake. Oh, he had such plans for that Arrancar, once he was done with the tests for his Hierro.

"Take him back to the barracks. I'll be there as soon as we report to the SoTaichō. Make our guest feel at home..." he told the two scientists, opening a gate for them.

The ominous shade in his tone, made Ichigo frown as he watched the now helpless Espada. That was so wrong... and Shizuka shouting Ulquiorra's name through tears wasn't making it any easier on him. Even if his mind hadn't yet grasped it, his heart was already set on his following actions. By all means, he was going to sabotage those experiments... no one was going to kill Ulquiorra, but him.

Even Byakuya had to close his eyes, in an attempt to take himself elsewhere, away from that scene. That, however, would not weaken his grip on the girl. He felt... sickened with himself. Surely, Hisana would condemn him for it...

Ulquiorra gave Shizuka no words, though what little reiatsu he had left spiked dangerously when he heard her cry, fueled by some unseen spark of emotion, before turning to nearly nonexistent levels. Immobilized, he mentally prepared himself for death as he was taken back to Seireitei, the Captains accompanying them.

"You'd better not kill him. That's my job..." Ichigo scowled at Mayuri.

The Taichō instead merely grinned.

"By all means, I want him alive. He'll make an excellent test subject."

With an annoyed sigh, Hitsugaya withdrew his Zanpakutō to open another gate for all of them. That was, after all, the reason why all the Captains hated Kurotsuchi. He had no morals and didn't mind experimenting on anyone, regardless of their race. Even so, why did he feel sorry for that Hollow? He could tell that – aside from Kurotsuchi – everyone there, even Byakuya, felt rather sorry for having to obey that order. Were they actually feeling sorry for Shizuka and were transferring that feeling unto Ulquiorra? The heart truly was such a mystery.

"I'm going with you. I wanna talk to that old geezer." Ichigo stated bluntly.

Outwardly he seemed unaffected, though if one were to look closely enough at his gaze, they would have been able to notice that he'd already decided to do something which, by Soul Society's laws, was unforgivable for any Shinigami.

Byakuya said nothing as he kept a grip on Shizuka's wrist. Yet, he moved closer to the others, observing but not including himself in their conversation as the portal was prepared for them to go through. However, it seemed to him that the Hollow and Plus were indeed lovers. Would he have wanted someone to kidnap Hisana from him? No, of course not... but, wasn't that the law? Justice? It was the law... but it was far from just.

After arriving in Seireitei, Byakuya gave Shizuka to Kyoraku on the way into the Ichibantai barracks, so as to go on ahead of them. Entering the room before the others, he awaited their presence before he spoke.

"...The capture of Ulquiorra was a success, SoTaichō-sama. The girl was also flawlessly captured, as you can see. However..."

He then lifted his hand, pulling off his haori. Reflexively shaking it to dust it off despite its cleanliness, he folded it in the same way he had received it at the ceremony.

"I can no longer serve you, so long as this mission continues. Do you require my Zanpakutō, as well?"

Yamamoto sat there and briefly watched him, turning his head from side to side.

"No. You may go."

The Head of Kuchiki then turned his back on the old Shinigami and everyone else there, parting from the room. Blinking at that, Hitsugaya along with the other two Captains and Ichigo himself, turned to watch in disbelief as Byakuya left the hall. Mayuri, however, was the only one of them who didn't seem impressed at all.

"If you will excuse me then... I must go tend to my guest." he grinned before turning his back on them to leave as well.

Once he was gone, Ichigo finally turned to Yamamoto.

"How many Captains are you willing to lose to this mission?"

After all, he was sure that others would follow Byakuya's example soon enough.

"...If you desire to protest, do not do it here. Take your grievances to the Central Forty Six." Yamamoto answered with a sigh.

He was, however, certain that no one was going to listen... and there was little to nothing he could do.

"I'll do something even better."

With that he left the hall, casting no glance to any of them.

Wooo don't you just love it when Ichigo gets all angry and makes threats? It kinda gives me this tingly feeling inside xD Review please and look forward to the next chapter. :)