A/N: Stuff is picking up now eh?

Reviews:

Swift: I've always thought Uryu was pretty cool, but that's just me. Anyway that does sound like a cruddy story. And from your other comment you like him too.

Hwon: I'm amazed you can even imagine that fight without knowing how Sozo can fight, not that you won't know ofr much longer though. As for Chad, I've not forgotten him, he's just not the type to but into the dialogue y'know?

Raven: Sozo does indeed have an odd power, which will be hinted at in this chap. Mai, I'd watch out for her if I were you. And Kaku is indeed dangerous, I mean c'mon the guy's invisible to everything except the naked eye. You know something's going on there.

Chapter 10: The Enemy

The two of them stretched. "Done at last!!! Wooohoooo!!!"

"Calm down we still have 3 hours left.!"

"Three more hours will be nothing!"

"Umm excuse me! You two need to stop slacking and clean this area over here."

Renji sighed. "Yeah yeah we'll get to it."

"If you don't get moving I'll have to tell Unohana-sama and then you'll get another week tacked on!"

Both Renji and Rukia were immediately at attention and moving. "We're moving!"

They were stopped, halted in place by a young man no taller then Rukia and with hair color to match. "What do you say to me?"

The two of them sighed. "Right away…Hanatoro-dono…" Their disgust was palpable to everyone except the brimming seventh seat of squad four.

Rukia and Renji had been temporarily placed into a squad four cleaning patrol as part of their punishment for entering Hueco Mundo without authorization. To their further dismay they had been placed under none other then Hanataro Yamada, who took glee in his ability to finally wrangle respect from someone under the constant threat of an extended sentence.

After a few more hours of washing the sewers clean of filth that would surely reappear moments later, the three of them were off duty for the day, and Rukia and Renji were glad that their internship had come to an end. "Thank you so much for all the help, Abarai-san, Rukia-san. I've never gotten so much cleaned before! I guess a little help does pay off!"

"That's something that I was wondering about Hanataro, aren't you the leader of a unit as the seventh seated officer? Where are they? Shouldn't they be helping us?" Renji threw his broom down before saying this, and looked over at the much shorter Shinigami.

Hanataro wrung his hands before scratching the back of his head as he said "Well, they are supposed to, but they never do. Despite my superior medical abilities, they're all much better in combat then I am so they beat me up whenever I try and get them to do anything unless Unohana-sama or Kotetsu-dono are nearby."

Rukia shook her head. "You really shouldn't put up with that sort of thing Hanataro. It's not right. Couldn't they just assign some weaker but more medically oriented Shinigami to your squad?"

Hanataro shook his head. "The people under me are the entire division's weakest fighters, right above me. To be honest I can't even fight at the level of an academy undergraduate."

Rukia and Renji both went slack jawed. Renji immediately went over and grabbed his head. "Well the you should ask for help, like lessons." He released Hanataro's head and put a hand to his chin. "Yeah, I could teach you Zanjutsu and Rukia can help you out with Kido!"

Hanataro was almost tearing up as he heard this. "You really mean it?" Renji nodded, as did Rukia when he glanced at her. He sniffled. "Wow, you're both so nice, and after I took advantage of you like this!"

Rukia scrunched her brow. "What was that about taking advantage of us?"

Hanataro's tears were immediately dry. "Well uhhhhh, the truth is none of us in the fourth squad had the authority to extend your sentence. Ehehehehe…"

They glared at him, and in unison: "LESSONS CANCELED!!!!"

"The nerve of that guy, I should grind him into dust for tricking me like that! I mean…" As Renji spouted anger towards Hanataro he and Rukia walked through Seireitei. Then they reached a crossroads. Squad 6 barracks were right. Squad 13 barracks were left.

Rukia started off towards the left. "I'll see you around, Renji."

"Right Rukia. Hey the fights aren't done yet. I'm sure we'll have plenty of chances to keep working together. You know Ichigo's got no chance without our help."

"I know." She kept on walking.

Renji sighed and watched her go. "You really should just admit your endless love for her."

Renji froze. But then he relaxed. "Yeah, right after you and Yumichika hook up."

Ikkaku's head poked over the roof tops. "What the hell are you insinuating!!!"

"I don't meddle in your relationships so don't bother me about mine."

Shortly after Rukia had wandered away from Renji she saw something very familiar. Two things to be precise. To make sure she ran forward, until there was no doubt in her mind. "Ishida!"

The black haired and bespectacled person turned their head and adjusted their glasses. "Oh hello there, Kuchiki-san."

Rukia looked back and forth between them. 'Wow, these two are really similar.' She thought this because both Nanao and Uryu had greeted her in an identical fashion. Her eyes finally focused on Uryu. "Ishida what are you doing here?"

Ishida turned away from her to look around. "I died, this is where people come when that happens correct?"

Rukia growled with frustration. "You know damn well what I mean! Why are you in Seireitei? I had heard you refused to join the Shinigami and were going to stay in Rukongai."

"Well that's not exactly right, I just wasn't interested in going through your academy, so I trained independently." He shifted the load in his arms.

Rukia finally noticed that though he was dressed as a commoner of Rukongai he was holding a shihakusho. "So you're done already? And they've accepted you into a squad?!"

Ishida nodded. "3rd seat of squad 8. Although…"

Nanao sighed. "I told you already if you keep telling people you're stronger then I am I will give you my position, and then you can be his assistant. It would be freedom for me…"

"Anyway…" Ishida changed the subject. "I refuse to put this thing on until I've made some modifications to it. It's too loose, so it doesn't serve my combat style well."

"Enough chatting, the old man wants to see you immediately to give you an evaluation. I'd like to be on time." Nanao started tapping her foot.

Uryu nodded. "Right. I'll see you around, Kuchiki-san."

"Oh wait one more thing." Nanao started rummaging around her shihakusho, eventually pulling out what looked like a very small frog with one eye very large and the other small and closed. "Yachiru-chan has ordered that you are to get a picture of what Byakuya-sama's undergarments look like." Rukia blinked at her. "I'd like to say this was a joke, but she threatened to sick her captain on us if we don't take her completely serious."

Rukia took the camera with trembling hands. "Were those her exact orders?"

Nanao sighed. "Actually se used the words panties several more times then I am comfortable with, and I didn't feel that it was necessary. Just do it please, I feel like keeping my head through the next meeting."

Rukia began walking away, fumbling with the device as she went. Ishida watched her go, then without turning to face her asked Nanao "What was that all about?"

Nanao turned and started walking. "Official Shinigami women's association business. Mention that conversation to anyone and Yachiru-chan will likely have Zaraki-sama kill you in your sleep."

Ishida didn't feel any need to question any further.

The six sat in a circle. Seijin was the first to speak. "Tell me, Menboku-sama, do you believe that Urahara man for an instant?"

Sozo took a deep breath. "Unfortunately no. Though it is true that we cannot go to soul society without an open senkaimon on the other side, if he indeed has the power to force one to manifest, it would be ludicrous to believe that he could not simply contact them in some other manner."

Kaku raised his head. "So, either he cannot return us to soul society as he promised, or he can, but is contacting them first in order to learn about us."

Mai stopped fiddling with her harp. "So, what do you think they will tell him?"

Sozo turned once more to Kaku. "From the information I've been able to gather, it would seem it has been about two millennia since our imprisonment."

Ayame tensed. "How can you be sure?"

"I found an establishment known as a library. Within it were a large number of books, which contain vast amounts of information, in both written and visual form. The written language has changed considerably, but I was able to discern from the illustrations and the context within the writing that some vast amount of time has passed, close to or even surpassing two thousand years.

Seijin crossed his arms. "Perhaps such a vast amount of time has erased us from the history of soul society. In which case, we should be welcomed as allies against the traitor, Aizen."

Mai began to play a simple tune. "But, if they haven't forgotten us, what will they think of us?"

Sozo sighed. "No doubt, as murderers and evils."

"Mai is the only one among us that could be considered a murderer…"

As Seijin said this, Mai strong a bad chord and her finger started to bleed. "Shut up Seijin. What about Sozo?"

Sozo turned, but before he could speak Ayame burst out. "How dare you. Menboku-sama is not a murderer. He is a blessing from…"

"That is quite enough, Ayame. Thank you for defending me." He reached out and held her hand tightly. "Try to remember. I never want you to lose your fire, only for you to control it."

She nodded. Then bowed. Seijin stood, casting an enormous shadow over the gathering. "Enough, Urahara-san is our only lead."

Sozo also stood. "Yes, and today is the day he promised to have the gate open. We should definitely go speak with him. No, I'll speak with him myself. And maybe, I'll be forced to unleash you, Sutegoueru."

"So you really want to do this on your own? What are you stupid or something?"

"Such harsh words from such a beautiful woman. But I would endure them if it meant more opportunities to look at your tantalizing form!"

Yoruichi scoffed and deftly grabbed Urahara's fan away from him. She then just as deftly snapped it in two.

Urahara began crying up a storm. "HOW COULD YOUUUUU THAT WAS MY FAVORITE FAN!!!"

Still unwilling to put up with his nonsense, she punched him square in the face. She then picked him up by his shirt and stared right into his face. "This isn't time for your jokes and games Kisuke!! Why do you want to fight them alone so badly!!?"

Kisuke sighed. "In all my years serving under him I only saw Yamamoto looking that terrified right after I told him about my Gigai. Whatever this Sozo Menboku can do, it isn't normal. Why else would I be instructed to avoid using my bankai above all else? And that's precisely why I need to fight him alone. I need you to keep Orihime, Ichigo, Sado, Keigo, Mizuiro and Tatsuki away while it's happening." She finally let go of him so he sat up on his own. "None of them, especially Kurosaki have the patience to battle an opponent like this one needs to be. And if we told him not to use his Bankai, I could see him looking right at me and yelling something like 'like hell!!' or something."

She couldn't help but laugh at his poor imitation of Ichigo. She topped when she began to sense the coming of five powerful reiatsus. "They're coming."

"They sure are. That's your sign to get going." She gave him the eye. "Don't worry I'll be fine!" 'really, how tough could he be…'

"Sorry, only one of you is allowed to go in right now."

Sozo tilted his head. "Excuse me?"

"Kisuke wants to talk with your leader before he sends you guys over to Seireitei. There's just something that's needs clarification, that's all."

Sozo looked up with curiosity at the dark skinned female that was addressing him. He looked down and smiled. "So, he intends to kill me after all." Her body tensed, confirming his assumptions. "Very well then. Kaku, you are in charge while I am gone. Fighting will be a last resort only."

Kaku nodded. "Of course sir."

Then without hesitation, Sozo walked into the shop.

"This is so stupid." Kon groaned. The catapult had been surprisingly easy to drag around, and he had seen surprisingly few people along the back streets he had taken to get here. Then he just had to line the thing up, hop in, and hit the lever. 'The flying part isn't so bad, pretty nice actually!! Why didn't I want to do this!!" Quite suddenly his plush body smacked against a hard glass window. 'oh yeah, that's why…'

His impact did not go unnoticed. Ichigo, Orihime and Chad instantly recognized the plushy and wondered what the hell he was doing. After a second or so of being plastered to the window Kon dropped off and plummeted back to the ground. While the students around them began muttering something about how it must have been a lame prank, Ichigo stood up. "Hey Sensei! Can I be released from class please! I have to go!"

The teacher slammed her fist down. "Everybody sit down and shut up! You too Ichigo, you can hold it till lunch. "

Ichigo growled and sat back down. He wasn't listening t the teacher though, and running out again would be bad idea. He suddenly had a stroke of inspiration while sitting there. Ichigo reached into his pocket and gripped his talisman. As his Shinigami self came out, his body hunched forward, looking like it had fallen asleep. Of course the teacher started yelling immediately, but Ichigo, now invisible, rushed out of the classroom and to the nearest fire alarm.

With the school bells ringing and ringing and the entire building emptying Ichigo and co was easily able to slip out after picking up Kon.

Once they were a good enough distance away Ichigo held up the toy and shook it. "There better be a good reason I just set off a false alarm. Get talking Kon!"

"Geez you don't have to yell at me!! And put me down I refuse to be demeaned like this!!! What about basic human rights!!"

"You aren't human!!"

"How can you say that about me I thought we were friends…"

While Ichigo and Kon continued to verbally abuse each other the other five looked on. Tatsuki's eyebrow was twitching. "So, the stuffed animal can talk. Now I've seen everything."

Keigo was simply flabbergasted. "Man, Ichigo sure has some weird friends huh?"

Eventually Chad stepped forward and removed Kon from Ichigo's grasp to place him on the ground. Orihime also knealt down in front of him. "Why did you launch yourself up like that, Kon-san?"

Kon dusted himself off. "Well, I guess I can't ignore a question from someone as beautiful as you Orihime-chan. Urahara and Yoruichi sent me to give you guys a message. He said 'don't come anywhere near the store today, we are renovating and the whole place is ruined'"

Ichigo scratched his head. "That's it, what a bogus load of…" He stopped, as he could suddenly sense a massive wave of reiatsu. Even with his dull senses he could tell it was Urahara, fighting. Ichigo grabbed his talisman again and leapt out of his body. "Everyone, go to Orihime's house and take my body. Stay there until I come to get you. Mizuiro!! Go!!"

Kon started flailing. "What are you talking about he just told you to stay away from the shop didn't he!!"

Ichigo looked right at the plushy. "Like hell I will! Now you go too!"

Ichigo took off, while Mizuiro opened a portal and Keigo and Tatsuki started hefting Ichigo's body with Kon riding it through. Orihime was about to go through, but she stopped and shook her head. She turned and looked at Chad, who just nodded. Mizuiro called for her to come through. "Ichigo is going to need our help, so we'll go on ahead. But we want all of you to stay there ok!"

After that Chad grabbed the edges of the portal and shattered it using his reiatsu. "Alright, let's go."

Kisuke was not there to greet him, but a whole had been opened in the floor, revealing a massive chamber beneath it. He leapt in, and at the bottom he saw Urahara standing there, sword already drawn. "Can I at least ask? Why are you going to try and kill me?"

Urahara shook his head. "I'm not really good at trying things, I just end up doing them. As for why, well, the old man said you really need to be killed. While some might believe he's wronged me in the past, I still trust him a lot. So when the old man says someone really needs to die, I'm not really one to question it to much."

"Old man? Who are you really, and who is this giving orders to you?"

Urahara raised his head slightly , fully revealing his eyes to his guest. "I am Kisuke Urahara, former captain of squad 12 and founder as well as first generation chief of the institute for research and development. I don't take orders, but Captain Commander Yamamoto has been known to give me advice every now and then. Huh?" Sozo's eyes were bulging at something.

"Captain commander, Shigekuni Yamamoto?" Urahara's mild surprise was still visible to Sozo. "heh…heheh…I see…If that is the case, then Soul society is beyond peace. I will have to take it by force once more." He drew the sword of his that had the western style guard. "Take that which is rightfully yours, Sutegoueru!"

A/N: yay for action?