"Why don't we discuss this further in my office?" asked Byakuya in a tone that revealed that he wasn't actually asking, before he changed his tone slightly as he said to his superior officer, "If you think that is best."

"Yes," replied the commissioner in a tone which expressed his full approval of Byakuya's suggestion, "Best to discuss these matters away from the masses."

"What about us?" asked one of the officers who had assisted with taking down the enraged detainee.

Byakuya didn't answer right away but seemed to consider his answer carefully before he finally replied slowly, "Yes, Hisagi. You and Hitsugaya should be briefed on the situation as I have just now assigned you a new task, so come along with us."

"Yes, sir," replied both officers in perfect unison before Shuhei looked down at Orihime and asked in a kind yet concerned tone, "Can I help you up?"

Still in a daze, Orihime looked at Uryu as if asking for his permission or guidance on how to answer the question. She waited for her friend's nod of acquiescence before timidly taking Shuhei's proffered hand and rising to her feet with an almost imperceptible "Thank you," in the officer's direction.

Feeling Orihime's hand trembling, Shuhei didn't let go right away and instead began to ask, "Hey, are you-whoa! Hold on there!" before he quickly pulled Orihime against his side so that she wouldn't collapse back onto the floor when her knees gave way beneath her.

Coming in on Orihime's other side, Uryu entwined his arm with hers so that he was helping to hold her up as he said calmly, "It's ok. We've got you. Take it nice and slow."

Casting her gaze back and forth between the two men, Orihime said in a small, vague tone, "I don't...I'm sure...there's no...I can't..."

Uryu's normally taciturn features softened considerably as he said, "It's all right, Orihime. You're in shock and we're going to take you back to Captain Kuchiki's office where you'll be safe. All right?"

"All right," Orihime replied before looking around and saying almost imperceptibly, "Detective Kurosaki..."

"He'll meet us in the captain's office soon, I'm sure," said Uryu as he began prompting Orihime to start walking, "C'mon."

For his part, Ichigo had made it to the medical supply closet just fine, but now he seemed to be deep in thought about which brand of headache medicine to choose. In actuality, he was going over the scene he had just witnessed and with each mental replay, his anger kept mounting.

He and Uryu had initially gone with Renji to book Kaede Furukawa, but once they were within sight of their destination, Renji had insisted that he would be just fine and that Ichigo should go back and go over this latest development with the others. Uryu had decided to accompany him and they had made their way back quietly enough when they heard the commotion up ahead. Both Ichigo and Uryu had charged towards the bull pen in tandem and had just run through the doorway when they took in the sight of Orihime slamming into the desk. No further prompting was needed as they each took part in grappling with the manic and insanely strong man. Commissioner Aizen had been the one to land the knock out punch and then when Uryu went over to check on Orihime, Ichigo had decided that it would be best if he removed himself from the entire situation and work out the angry adrenaline pumping through his system.

Coming back to himself, Ichigo grabbed a plastic cup and the first bottle of headache pills he could lay his hands on and unceremoniously dumped a couple into the cup. He then went and snatched an instant ice pack from another shelf and headed for the door.

In the hallway, Ichigo encountered Hirako walking in the opposite direction and saying to his partner, "Man, that was a bit of a close call."

Glowering at them both, Ichigo asked slowly, "What were you two clowns thinking of? Taking that guy out of his cell and parading him around like that?"

Exchanging a look with Officer Aikawa, Hirako shrugged and said, "Just following orders. We were told that you and Renji wanted to question him after you were finished with the other crazy broad."

Scowling ferociously at them, Ichigo said, "First of all, her name is Kaede Furukawa. Second, neither Renji or I asked for him to be brought to us for questioning. Even if we had wanted to, he wouldn't have been able to answer our questions in the state he's in."

Shrugging his shoulders, Aikawa replied, "Like Shinji said. We don't give the orders, we just follow them."

Giving them both a disgusted look, Ichigo threw over his shoulder as he stalked out of the room, "Next time, if you're going to do something stupid, make sure innocent people aren't going to get hurt as a result."

When he arrived back at the bullpen, Ichigo looked around for the others until someone told him where they had all gone. Stopping to get a cup of water from the dispenser in the corner, Ichigo then went over to rap his knuckles against Captain Kuchiki's door. Before he could, Ichigo heard Rukia call his name and when he turned his head he saw her storming towards him, eyes blazing. Hanataro hurried along after her, but he was rather preoccupied with keeping a hold on Kaede's two small children who were wiggling and giggling in his arms.

Hands on her hips, Rukia asked heatedly, "Is it true? Did that guy really hurt her?"

Showing her the objects in his hands, Ichigo replied evenly, "Uryu said she should be fine after taking some aspirin."

Even though she still didn't look quite convinced, Rukia nodded once in understanding before turning to say to Hanataro, "Please take them down to the cafeteria. I'll be along in a minute."

After the young man left with the children, Rukia looked back at Ichigo and asked in a quiet, firm tone, "What happened?"

Pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts, Ichigo replied honestly, "To be honest, I wasn't there when it all started. Uryu and I were coming back after taking Mrs. Furukawa down for processing when we heard a scream. When we came out of the hallway, I saw her hit the desk hard. Everyone struggled for a bit before the commissioner finally got a good punch in and knocked the prisoner out cold."

Frowning, Rukia asked, "But why did he attack her? Did he know her?"

Again taking his time before responding, Ichigo answered, "It seems as though Nikuyoku looks like Orihime the same way Kouman looks like me."

Rukia's face blanched but remained stony as she demanded, "What is going on around here? Why is all this craziness starting now?"

"I don't know," Ichigo said evenly, "but I'm getting real tired of feeling like we're chasing our tails trying to find these creeps."

In Byakuya's office, Orihime had been settled in a chair by the window and Uryu had taken his place beside her while Shuhei moved against the wall on her other side. The captain had offered his own plush desk chair to Commissioner Aizen, who had politely declined the offer with a slight shake of his head and instead stood at the opposite side of the window across from Orihime. As was to be expected, everyone was completely focused on the young woman and had she not been so emotionally and mentally shaken by the incident, Orihime would likely have shown high levels of discomfort at being the center of attention. In this particular situation, the young woman was too deep in shock at the moment to notice anything else.

"Now that we are all assembled," Aizen said calmly as he broke the heavy silence in the room, "I expect someone to give a full account of what happened prior to Ms. Inoue being in the interrogation room during Mrs. Furukawa's interview."

Detective Hitsugaya frowned in confusion and borderline distaste as he inquired, "Pardon, sir, but why was she present during an interrogation? Is she legal counsel?"

"All in good time, detective," replied Aizen evenly, "Let us start from the beginning, shall we?"

"If I may, sir," Renji stepped forward and stood at attention, waiting for permission to begin his narrative.

A small smile pulling at the corners of his lips, Aizen said, "Ah, I was hoping you would volunteer for this task," then he turned to look out the window as he finished with, "Every detail, Detective Abarai, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," said Renji before relating the day's events for the second time, only this time he omitted nothing. When he reached the part about Ichigo seeing Orihime's drawing of the murderer, two sharp raps announced the man in question's return with the needed aspirin. While she didn't initially notice Ichigo's presence, when his hands came into her line of sight, offering her the water and pills, Orihime seemed to wake from her stupor. She sat up a little straighter, took the proffered items and looked up into Ichigo's face after swallowing the medicine.

Despite clearing her throat, Orihime's voice still caught a little as she said, "Thank you."

Instead of answering, Ichigo shook the ice pack to activate the liquid inside, then handed it to her saying tersely, "Here. Make sure it doesn't make direct contact with your skin."

Thoughtlessly, Orihime nodded in understanding before wincing as the pain spiked behind her eyes. Gingerly, she brushed her bangs back to shield just behind her right temple and placed the ice pack over that area. Seeing the beginnings of what looked like a bruise in that same area, Ichigo averted his eyes and moved so that he was standing just behind Orihime's chair. As he did so, an image from earlier once again came to mind. The one of the ghostly hand holding that same light brown hair and with a jolt Ichigo realized why it had seemed so familiar.

"Detective Kurosaki? Is everything all right?"

Stopping himself just before waving his hand dismissively at the commissioner's inquiry, Ichigo chose to say instead, "Umm, yeah. Everything's fine, sir."

While Commissioner Aizen's face retained its usual calm and detached expression, Ichigo got the distinct impression the commissioner didn't believe him because he asked pointedly, "Detective Kurosaki, how long have you been on the clock?"

Knowing better than to try and fudge the truth, Ichigo responded grudgingly, "More than 24 hours, sir."

Arching an elegant brow, the commissioner said, "Highly commendable, detective. Your dedication to your work is to be admired," then he turned to Byakuya as he ended with, "however, it seems to me as though taking at least the next several hours off at home to catch up on sleep would be in order."

Nodding, Ichigo merely said, "Yes, sir," while his mind was already plotting how long it would take him to get home and if his father would be off work by the time he got there. He had a few very important questions he needed answered as soon as possible.

Then, Ichigo sensed someone looking at him intently and decided that he couldn't leave until he took care of one more thing and so gave Captain Kuchiki a questioning look and then inclined his head in Orihime's direction. The young woman had just been severely rattled and Ichigo was sure that if there were many more sudden changes or revelations, she would no longer be able to bear up under the strain.

Picking up on Ichigo's silent inquiry, Byakuya turned his attention to Shuhei and Toshiro as he said, "Your return is most fortuitous as we were just in the process of selected officers able to provide Ms. Inoue with protection as she is a valuable witness in the Kouman and Nikuyoku murders. I assume your return means your other case has been wrapped up satisfactorily."

"Correct," Toshiro replied before querying, "Where does Ms. Inoue live?"

Shaking his head, Byakuya corrected him, saying, "As you saw from the encounter earlier, Ms. Inoue is evidently far more important to this case than we first expected as she bears a strong resemblance to the Nikuyoku personage involved in these murders. For the present, she will be housed here where it will be far more difficult to gain access to her."

"Understood," said Toshiro before holding up a finger and asking, "One thing more, sir. I assume there is not really a set timeline for this particular case?"

"The most we can say for now is that time is limited if we finally want to put an end to these heinous crimes," interjected Commissioner Aizen calmly and yet somewhat imperiously, "I will see what I can do about arranging for extra manpower on this case. Anything else you need, Captain, inform my office. Also, I would be most grateful to be kept well-informed as to any and all developments."

Turning to Uryu, Aizen finished with, "You will accompany me as I intend to stop by your family's hospital and request your father's assistance in acquiring medical and personal records from the other cases around the world of both the accused and the victims. I understand he has some very advantageous global connections which would make obtaining them that much easier."

For just a moment, Uryu seemed on the verge of declining, but when he opened his mouth he replied in his best professional tone, "Yes, sir. May I ask what you hope to gain by obtaining these records?"

The corners of Aizen's mouth curved up just slightly as he responded, "While I am sure we have not exhausted every single possibility, by adding to our pool of persons connected with these cases, a pattern for how these couples are chosen may begin to present itself with a bit more rapidity than if we continue to force our way through material and evidence that we are all extremely familiar with."

Inclining his head, Uryu pushed his glasses up as he said, "I see your point. Allow me to grab a few items from my office and I will join you out front shortly."

Making as if to rise, Orihime looked rather plaintively between three of the most familiar and trusted faces she knew and who were about to take their leave as she inquired meekly, "You will come back...won't you?"

Before Uryu or Ichigo could respond, Aizen reached down to take one of Orihime's hands between his own as he said with what might be considered a hint at a sincere and calming smile, "Depend upon it, my dear," and then to everyone's surprise, Aizen bent low to whisper something confidentially to her before straightening back up and heading for the door.

Hastily and yet sincerely, Uryu also gave Orihime a small smile as he said, "I don't plan to be much more than a few hours. My professional medical opinion is that you should have a lie down during that time even if you don't actually feel like sleeping. Alright?"

"Alright," Orihime repeated automatically and without full comprehension, but Shuhei gave Uryu a wink communicating that he would make sure the instructions were followed.

Finally, it was Ichigo's turn. As he looked down at her, the past and present images melded one into the other, but he managed to regain control of his mind in order to bid the young woman farewell for the present before turning to follow the commissioner and psychiatrist out of the room.

True to his unspoken word, Shuhei stepped into Orihime's line of sight and said in a skillfully coaxing tone, "There's a break room just down the hall with a vending machine and a room connected to it that has a couple of cots for cops to crash on when necessary. Would you care to mosey on down that way?"

Hesitating only momentarily, Orihime gave a ghost of her normal smile as she replied, "Alright."

Outside the precinct, Ichigo made his way to the corner of the street to where there was a bus stop. In spite of the fact that he was dog-tired, had Ichigo's car been in the lot, he would have opted to drive home, but as it was, his dad had dropped him off the day before since Ichigo's car was currently in the shop being fixed. Fortunately for him, the bus that would take him nearest home pulled up just as he came to the corner and so was able to get underway without delay.

While he wasn't able to sleep as soundly as he had when Renji was driving earlier that day, Ichigo did close his eyes and relax during the thirty-five minute trip. Once off the bus, Ichigo walked about five blocks before arriving at the Kurosaki Clinic. The sign outside was still on and from the looks of things, his dad was currently occupied with a couple of patients. Slightly irritated at the delay, Ichigo nevertheless decided that his conversation could wait a bit while he went and got some real shut-eye.

Going in through the front door, Ichigo called out a greeting and was relieved when no one answered. Yuzu was probably out grocery shopping while Karin was likely teaching a class at the Arisawa dojo. That meant he could go straight to his room without needing to talk with his youngest sister about how his day had been. By the time he stripped down to his underwear, Ichigo had just enough mental capacity to yank his cell phone out of his pocket, set an alarm for 6:00 p.m., place the phone on the desk beside his bed and then face plant into his pillow, out cold before he even connected.

However, he needn't have set the alarm as a couple of minutes before six, Ichigo sensed a presence enter his room and he grumbled as he sat up, "You're lucky I need to conscious, old man, so don't even think about it."

Trying to act nonchalant, Isshin leaned against the closet door as he rejoined, "I have no idea what you're talking about, son! I was just coming in to let you know that Yuzu's just about done with dinner."

Scratching his head and stretching, Ichigo rolled his eyes as he muttered, "Yeah, right," before staring directly into Isshin's eyes and stating emphatically, "I need to ask you something and I want you to be completely honest with me. No jokes, no denials, no anything other than the truth."

Picking up on Ichigo's sincerity and determination, Isshin's eyebrows drew together in an expression very much like his son's, crossed his arms over his chest and said simply, "All right. Shoot."

Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Ichigo demanded, "How did Mom really die?"

Author's Note:

Here we go! First real update in quite a while! Hope it was worth the wait! :) But I mostly hope that I'm keeping with a realistic tone, handling the characters and their interactions properly while moving towards the ending I have envisioned...we'll see...we'll see...