Chapter 10: Reinforcements

Disclaimer: Not mine. Kubo Tite's.

…

Chapter 10

Reinforcements

…

Abarai Renji was lounging on a hill, absently chewing on the end of the remains of a fish skeleton between his teeth (the head was long gone), watching the tail move up and down. He was a captain now, but unlike the other captains, he had very little work to do as his lieutenant, Kira Izuru, took care of most of the paperwork. He smirked as he thought that the same couldn't be said for a certain 10th Division captain; in fact, it was the other way around, with Rangiku-san leaving all the paperwork for her captain. Since Rangiku-san often invited him to go drinking with her, he dropped by the 10th Division office to glimpse Hitsugaya taichou drowning in paperwork equally often.

Now that Renji thought of it, he hadn't seen the little silver haired boy around lately (not that he was so puny any more). Then he remembered that Hitsugaya taichou had left for the real world with his lieutenant and Rukia. With both the Captain and Lieutenant of the 10th Division away at the human world, the 3rd seat was probably slaving away at paperwork. He snickered at the thought; paperwork was one headache he didn't have to deal with.

The latest news in the Seireitei was that the candidate for the 5th Division captain seat had backed off, because he had yet to acquire his bankai. The 3rd seat had moved up to the seat of lieutenant as the new graduates from the shinigami academy had poured in, but aside from that, the 5th Division was as leaderless as ever. He racked his mind for people who had achieved their bankai, but his mind drew a blank - aside from Madarame Ikkaku, who had point blank turned down Renji's plea to take over a division four years ago.

Renji dismissed these thoughts. As he stood up and stretched, ready to get back to work, or rather lack thereof, a messenger approached him with a report.

"Abarai taichou, there are orders to attend the captains' meeting."

After giving a grunt of assent, Renji waved the messenger off. Slowly he meandered over to the 1st Division headquarters, where all the captains' meetings were held.

Upon arrival, Renji saw that he was the last captain to get there. Noting the tense atmosphere, he squared his shoulders and strode over to his place in the two lines, with Yamamoto sou-taichou at the head. You would never imagine that the Commander was actually incredibly muscled beneath that wrinkled exterior and the baggy hakama he wore, Renji thought. Most of the shinigami who hadn't seen him personally participate in battle probably thought that Yamamoto sou-taichou was hunch-backed with age, since he always used that staff of his to walk along.

The aforementioned Commander announced in his gravelly voice, "All of you present must have heard of the current situation in Karakura town." He paused to look sternly around with his slitted eyes at all of the captains, save for the absent Toushirou and the as of yet to be replaced 5th Division Captain. "I called you all here because Hitsugaya taichou requested for reinforcements. He originally requested for Abarai taichou and Hisagi taichou and 11th Division's 3rd seat Ikkaku…"

Thinking of Rukia and Ichigo, Renji said immediately agreed to volunteer himself. "I am free."

Yamamoto sou-taichou nodded his head once in approval. His eyes flickered to Shuuhei, the 9th Division captain, next. Shuuhei bowed. As you command, Sou-taichou."

Scanning the rows of captains to his right and left, Yamamoto asked, "Anyone else?"

Once again, Renji spoke up. "Umm, can Kira come as well?" He had felt that things had been uncomfortable between him and Izuru ever since he'd taken over the 3rd Division. He couldn't blame Kira; they were year mates after all, and he wouldn't like working under one of his year mates, either. Their captain and lieutenant relationship just couldn't be like Hitsugaya taichou's and Rangiku-san's. The trip to the human world was a chance for the two to work out the tension. Renji also suspected that Izuru was still mourning the loss of his former captain, Ichimaru Gin, acutely.

The commander raised his shaggy eyebrows. "Your lieutenant? Very well. Any other volunteers?"

When no other captains stepped forward, the Commander turned Renji and Shuuhei, "I will leave you both in charge of the formation of the team to be dispatched to the human world. Dismissed."

As each of the captains filed out one by one, Renji approached his former senpai from the shinigami academy. "Hisagi senpai." He held out his hand, and Shuuhei clasped it strongly. While they were walking, Renji said, "I've already got a person in mind, if you don't mind."

Reading Shuuhei's curious expression, Renji elaborated, "It's Ikkaku-san, like the sou-taichou mentioned was originally supposed to be on the team. Do you want come along?"

The two wound up in front of the 11th Division barracks. Renji called, "Oi~ Ikkaku-san!"

A bald guy (god forbid you point it out to him) stuck his shiny head out of a sliding door. "Oh, if it isn't the Sanbantai taichou* gracing us with his presence." Grinning cheekily when Renji made a face at the title, Ikkaku nodded in a more polite manner towards Shuuhei next. "And Hisagi taichou as well."

*Sanbantai taichou = Third-division Captain

Renji rolled his eyes as he sat down. "How many times do I have to tell you drop the formalities, no matter how sarcastic they are?"

Scooting through the open screen door, Ikkaku asked, "Anyways, what're you doing here?"

Growing serious, Renji explained, "We're headed towards the human world and the sou-taichou commanded us to putting a team together." The unspoken question, whether Ikkaku would join or not, hung in the air.

Ikkaku groaned, "Again?" Four years back, Renji had recruited him as a member of the reconnaissance team dispatched to the human world to warn Ichigo and back him up against the arrancar, a new threat at the time. Renji and Shuuhei's expectant faces shined towards him. It was either stay safe and sound in Seireitei and leave his swordsmanship skills to rot, or go to the human world and get a chance to fight. Deciding that the latter was more desirable (which didn't take much time, given the nature of the 11th squad, renown for its love of fighting), Ikkaku agreed. "Alright, alright… I'll go." He turned around and shouted, "Oi, Yumichikaaa~!"

A man with a bobcut poked his head out of the same room that Ikkaku had come out of. "You're going to the human world and wanted to know if I wanted to come along?" Yumichika guessed accurately, as he had been eavesdropping from the beginning. His face broke out into a sunny smile, and he said, "Of course I do!"

Dusting off his hakama, Renji stood up and said, "Well, now I've got to head back to prepare, so let's meet over at the Senkaimon at sunset."

Splitting up with Shuuhei, who said he had some last minute stuff to write up for the magazine he was in charge of publishing (Seireitei Communication Monthly), Renji then headed towards his own division office.

Izuru was working at a desk when his captain entered the room. Once he noticed Renji had returned he greeted him. "Oh, welcome back. How was the meeting?"

Renji scratched his head bemusedly. "I swear, you know more about what's going on in Seireitei than I do." He sat down behind his desk. "How did you know we had a meeting?"

Shrugging, Izuru replied, "Word gets around. And I knew that you wouldn't stay out that long on the hill."

Renji briefly considered how best to word his request tactfully, but gave up soon enough, considering it too much effort. Subtlety had never been his forte anyways. "What d'ya say to coming to the human world with me?"

Izuru was surprised to say the least. "What for?"

"Reinforcement team." was the succinct answer.

"Sure. Why not?"

Despite what Renji thought, Izuru did not feel resentment towards Renji at all. He had not been able to achieve bankai yet and did not begrudge Renji of the 3rd Division captain's rank. Besides, he had never been one to begrudge his friends for anything.

When the sun set, the five shinigami met at the Senkaimon, each accompanied by hell moths. Glancing briefly at each other, they stepped through the screen doors.

…

Down in the basement of Urahara's shop, Karin was having a much more of an easier time honing her skill of breaking rocks with her legs and feet than she had with her fists. She had gotten it on the first try, which was more than she could say the same training for her fists. She didn't have a single bruise on her legs. Whether she round housed, drop kicked, or swept her leg around, the boulder on the receiving end of her choice attack flew into pieces. It was almost too easy.

Yoruichi sat atop a boulder that hadn't been broken yet and observed her. After a while, Yoruichi clapped her hands. "Okay, today we stop here."

Karin looked up, surprised. "Already?"

Surprised, Yoruichi glanced down at her from her high vantage point. "Unless you want to continue…?"

'It's what Ichi-nii would say.' Karin thought firmly as she replied, "Yes. I do."

Smiling at her student's enthusiasm, Yoruichi stood up and gracefully jumped down from the boulder. "Then we'll get started on hand-to-hand combat now, shall we?"

…

"You sure took your sweet time getting here."

"We were only informed of the need for reinforcements today afternoon."

Toushirou, though a good 15 centimeters (roughly 6") shorter than Renji, still managed to make the older shinigami quail under his glare.

"That's no excuse to arrive in the dead of the night." Toushirou sighed and raked a hand through his silver hair. "Well, now that you're here, might as well give you a briefing on the status of Karakura."

Ichigo spoke up in a deadpan voice. "Sorry to interrupt… but… do we have to carry this discussion in my room?"

His statement was punctuated by silence. He had a point. Including Ichigo, there were nine people crammed into Ichigo's small room. Rangiku took up the lion's share of Ichigo's bed while Rukia and Ichigo himself were perched on the edges; Toushirou was leaning against the desk; all the other male shinigami sat on the floor. All in all, the room was quite cramped. They could move out to the Kurosakis' living room, but that would take some explaining, as the reinforcement squad of five had sneaked in through the window, much to Ichigo's displeasure.

"Then," Toushirou suggested icily, "shall we go to Urahara's?"

Not noticing the sarcastic tone threaded through Toushirou's voice, there were murmurs of approval, and the group members each leapt out of Ichigo's window one after another and landed soundlessly on the ground. Soon enough, only Rangiku and Toushirou were remaining. Sighing heavily, Toushirou ran a hand through his hair again. Having noted her captain's agitation, Rangiku asked him once they were alone, "What's wrong, Taichou?"

Toushirou shook his head, then stopped himself and admitted, "I don't trust Urahara."

"Are you sure your distrust isn't related to a certain black haired girl?" Rangiku suggested in a teasing voice. At this suggestion, Toushirou rolled his eyes. But that gesture took rather a lot of effort, because what she said struck a nerve; it did have to do with Karin. 'Just not in the way Matsumoto thinks.' Toushirou thought.

He hastily changed the subject. "We should get going, since they took my suggestion to heart." With that, he jumped out of the window. Rangiku stood there for a moment, staring after her captain and wondering how she would get him to admit his feelings. Then, realizing that she would be the last to arrive to Urahara's shop, Rangiku quickly leapt out the window as well.

Urahara felt the numerous spiritual presences approach before they actually arrived so he had time to prepare his trademark props. Upon their arrival, he was already standing outside of his shop wearing his hat, cape and sandals, accessorized with a cane and fan.

"Welcome - "

Without waiting for Urahara's invitation, most of the shinigami stampeded into Urahara's shop. Toushirou walked by and muttered to Urahara, "Don't think I'm not onto you…" Urahara smiled rather indulgently at this.

Renji noticed this exchange between the two, and wondered what it was about. Leaning close to Ichigo who had also overheard and also looked confused, Renji asked in a whisper, "What's all that about?"

Ichigo shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

…

Karin and Yoruichi fought well into the night and even until dawn, even though the fake sky ceiling showed nothing of the time.

Though at first, Karin was clumsy and rather slow at coordinating the physical attack and the spiritual energy together, after a few hours facing Yoruichi (whom she highly suspected was going really easy on her) she was starting to get the hang of it. Though she still couldn't quite keep up with her teacher, Karin was speeding up with her attacks nonetheless. Meanwhile, Yoruichi was slowly driving up the pace and strength behind her attacks to match Karin.

Suddenly, they felt masses of spiritual pressure coming from above. Though they didn't pause in their sparring, both were acutely aware of the presences above them; but Karin inevitably became distracted. She yelped when Yoruichi landed a blow. "You're getting distracted! If you had been fighting an arrancar you'd be dead by now!" shouted the older woman.

Furiously, Karin turned her attention back to blocking Yoruichi's attacks. The two continued to exchange barehanded attacks, but Karin thought they might as well have been carrying weapons with the weight, the shock, and the numbness that followed each of Yoruichi's attacks. Karin was just about to surrender when she heard her older brother comment, "So this is what you've been up to?"

At Ichigo's voice, Karin stopped what she was doing and her head snapped around and therefore didn't see Yoruichi's fist aiming straight towards her unguarded head.

Ichigo cried out to his sister, "Watch ou - "

Too late, the blow landed and blasted Karin back into a boulder, which shattered upon the force and speed of the contact. All of this happened in a single second.

Yoruichi straightened in dismay, because she had expected her student to block that kind of strike. She threw a glare at Ichigo, who had run over to Karin's prone form. "Imbecile! You distracted her!" she rebuked.

Indignant but still worried for his sister, Ichigo defended, "What were you doing, hitting her with that much force in the first place?"

"That's because she was parrying attacks of the same strength until you came along!" Yoruichi retorted.

Clucking her tongue, Yoruichi strode over to the motionless Karin and extricated her from the remains of the boulder. Yoruichi hoisted her over her shoulder in fireman's hold, much in the same fashion as she had done for Ichigo four years back in Soul Society. As she passed Urahara, she shot him a glance as if to say 'what the hell did you bring him down here for?'

She also passed several shinigami who had leapt down into the training space after Ichigo.

"She's just unconscious." She reassured Toushirou, who crossed his arms and muttered something about not caring in the first place.

The shinigami reinforcments looked curiously at the girl draped over Yoruichi's shoulder as Yoruichi leapt up through the hatch. Rukia explained to them, "She's Karin, Ichigo's younger sister. Well, one of two anyways."

"Well, unlike Ichigo, she is aesthetically pleasing enough." Ichigo glared at Yumichika. "Che."

Pretending not to hear, Yumichika continued, "Not as beautiful as me, though."

"She was one of the first to go under hollowfication." said Rangiku, bringing the temporarily derailed discussion back on track.

The other shinigami were surprised at this declaration. "Then why is she still in human form?" Shuuhei asked in disbelief.

"Because she defeated her inner hollow." Toushirou answered shortly. Then he picked back up the briefing that he had cut short in favor of leaving Ichigo's room.

"Listen up," he sharply commanded, and the other shinigami obediently sat themselves down on the ground or on various boulders. "The cases of hollowfication, no doubt you've heard, have been caused by needles infected with spirit particles that trigger the hollowfication process. Every time we sense the perpetrator, it's too late and he's already gone, leaving behind a target transformed into a hollow. I need you guys," here he nodded towards the reinforcement squad, "to help us to capture this culprit."

Glancing at Ichigo, Toushirou continued, "The day before yesterday, there were arrancar sent to capture Karin." The shinigami traded uneasy looks. "I think it's because Karin is the only one that has successfully overcome the hollowfication."

The shinigami all began talking at once.

"That means – "

"- the one behind all of this is…"

"Most probably Aizen." Toushirou finished. "The choice of infecting Kurosaki's younger sister and retrieval method is what Aizen would do."

Shuuhei hissed out a breath. "Aizen…" He was no doubt remembering his predecessor and former captain, Tousen Kaname.

The shinigami sat there in silence, the greater part of them dwelling on the fateful day that they had found out Aizen had betrayed the Gotei 13...

…

After a very painful dream where all the boulders she had ever smashed had come back to take their revenge on her, Karin's eyes fluttered open. Groggily, she felt a dull ache in her back. She was brought up to sudden alert wakefulness when the dull ache turned into a sharp pain. Wincing, she sat up slowly, taking in her surroundings. Of course the pain was real... in dreams you couldn't feel anything. She saw Yoruichi staring at her. Groaning, Karin asked, "What happened? One minute I was looking at Ichi-nii... then..."

"First lesson: Never take your focus off of the enemy." Yoruichi emphasized. "Even if your brother is talking to you. Got that?" Then she carefully turned Karin around and placed her cool hands on Karin's sore back. Wearily, Karin nodded in understanding to Yoruichi's question, feeling the soothing Kidou energy healing her. She still didn't know what had happened after she had turned towards her brother, but she didn't ask.

Soon, Karin's aching back felt as good as new, and she stood up and stretched out her body.

When the two went back down to the training grounds, Karin was surprised to see several unfamiliar faces. Sweeping her gaze over the five new faces, she discovered that she faintly recognized their spiritual presences, except for the one with three vertical scars over his eye.

"I see five new people. Are you guys all shinigami wearing gigai?"

The tallest one with red hair and weird tattoos over his eyebrows and neck answered, "Yeah. And I hear you're Ichigo's younger sister."

Putting her hands on her hips, Karin corrected, "My name isn't Ichigo's-Younger-Sister. It's Karin." She looked them all over again before plopping down on the ground. "What're your names, anyways?"

The bald guy pointed to himself and declared, "Madarame Ikkaku. 3rd seat in the 11th Division. I live to fight." He jabbed a thumb over to the rather pretty looking guy next to him. "This one, the 5th seat, lives to preen himself." The pretty boy swatted Baldie's thumb away and fluttering his eyelashes, said, "I'm Yumichika Ayasegawa."

The red haired guy with tattoos said, "I'm Abarai Renji. Captian of the 3rd Division." The gloomy looking blonde guy introduced himself next. "I am his lieutenant, Kira Izuru. Pleased to meet you, Karin-san."

Karin waved aside the honorific. The last one remaining was the guy with the scars. "Hisagi Shuuhei here. Captain of the 9th Division."

"Enough with the introductions." Everyone turned to Ikkaku, who had spoken. "It's time to find the bastard behind these hollowfication cases!" he roared.

Raising an eyebrow, Toushirou said in a flat voice, "And exactly how are we going to find the perpetrator, pray tell?"

Freezing for a moment, Ikkaku paused and admitted, "I don't know."

Everybody sat in silence, pondering the solution.

Eventually, someone suggested, "How about I intentionally get captured by the arrancar?"

...

AN: sorry for the short chapter. ._.