Disclaimer: Don't own.
A/N: I was originally intending to introduce a certain someone else in this chapter, but a certain somebody decided to make his presence known. This chapter would also be longer, but... you'll see when you get to the end!
Wish: DIAMONDDUST REBELLION! 18 DAYS TO GO!
The world should hide from the crazed me who has a countdown on the whiteboard in her room.
Urahara, Hawkeye, and Hitsugaya were sitting and talking while waiting for Inoue. Actually it was mostly Urahara asking questions while the others gave reluctant answers. "I don't think I've met him before. Is he one of the replacements?"
"The replacement. There are no others. He is the new Fifth Division captain." Hitsugaya answered.
"Yes… I don't believe you mentioned his name. He looks kind of familiar…"
"Edward Elric."
A shocked look registered on Urahara's face. "Elric, you say?"
"Yes. Does the name mean anything to you?"
Urahara laughed out loud. "If I were to tell you that I think that Edward is the son of one of my dear friends, I don't think you'd believe me!"
"I'll believe anything," Hitsugaya said stonily.
"I don't doubt Hoenheim becoming a shinigami," Riza added.
"Way to ruin the party," Urahara finished moodily.
Matsumoto traced Orihime's reiatsu to the Kurosaki household. Most likely walking back with Ichigo and Rukia and fretting over Ichigo like a teenaged mother hen. Landing in the front yard, she peeked in the window and saw Orihime, Rukia, and Ichigo just as she had expected. Since she was still in Shinigami form, slinking through the wall was no big deal.
Rukia barely managed a whisper. "Matsumoto! What are you doing here?"
"Why are you whispering?"
"Ichigo's dad has a friend over."
Matsumoto raised a questioning brow at Ichigo, who just shrugged.
Matsumoto, being spirit and thus assuming that no one in the household could hear her except for the three in front of her, didn't bother to lower her voice. "There's an emergency at the shop; Elric-taichou's been hurt."
"It's worse then Urahara's skill?"
Matsumoto nodded. "His entire right arm has been ripped off to the point where Kurotsuchi can't fix it."
Ichigo interrupted. "His right arm? What would Kurotsuchi have to do with his right arm?"
"Oh, right, you guys wouldn't have noticed because you've never seen him out of the gigai. Elric-taichou's right arm is mechanical. He's had it since before he went to the Academy, so Kurotsuchi can only do so much to repair it."
"Ah, it's a pity Winry-chan's good work was destroyed. She'd go berserk if she knew."
Shocked and stunned silence. In unison four heads turned towards the closed door.