Summary: Rookie cop Ichigo learns that some things are most definitely not what they seem, especially when he gets partnered up with Rukia. Meanwhile, Urahara offers Renji a "get out of jail" card when he asks him to infiltrate the mob known as the Gotei 13. At the same time, the Ishida heir goes missing, and it's up to Special Operatives Chad, Orihime and Tatsuki to find him and bring him back.

Written for NaNoWriMo redux, December 2005/January 2006, which took place on lj. In total, it's about 86, 000 words, approximately. I've edited it slightly for typos, but not really much else. The writing isn't my best, but it's my first try at something that's not either humour/parody or cotton candy-esque romance. There are about thirty chapters, give or take, and I'll be posting as I edit, which probably won't be very quick.

The Hyourinmaru was eerily silent and empty when they entered it, Matsumoto running ahead of them to key the code to allow Shunsui and Nanao in.

"Thank you, my dear," Shunsui said, clapping a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Matsumoto called, giving a cheeky grin and wink before leaving them alone.

When the door had shut behind her, Nanao handed her superior the folder. He took it and put it on the closest mahjong table before pulling out a chair for her, which she stiffly sat in. he took the seat to her left, pulled the folder closer to him and began to scan its contents.

"He's not going to run for Chief Executive," Nanao told him after a moment. Shunsui looked up from the papers and frowned.

"Do I need to publish that?"

"No."

"How boring." He shut the folder and regarded his favourite spy, a smile creeping up his face. "How's the political life treating you, Nanao?"

"Well enough, Sir," she said, handing him her clipboard. "Please sign here."

He raised an eyebrow. "So careful," he murmured, but did as she asked, removing the cap of his heavy, square, gold ring and stamping the paper after the signature.

"I am a spy, Sir," she said, standing. "I could very well be a double agent."

"Would you really betray me, Nanao?" he asked, sounding hurt, but the light amusement in his tone clued her in.

"If the price was right."

He clutched at his chest, rumpling his shirt. "My heart bleeds!"

Ignoring him, she stood. "If that's all, Sir."

"I've a name, my dear."

"I know, Sir."

"Are you this cavalier with Jyuushirou?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "I have been nothing but professional with Mr. Ukitake, Sir."

Shunsui paused and reached into his jacket to pull out a cigar and silver lighter. He smoked for a while and then finally said, "You need to be careful about saying his name. There could be spies around."

"Like Abarai, Sir?"

He looked at her with respect. "Does anything ever escape your notice?" he asked admiringly.

"I try not to miss too much."

"What do you think he wanted?" Shunsui frowned. "I'm sure Kuchiki knows, but isn't saying anything. And that rookie cop was with him. One thing for sure, Abarai wanted to be seen. Was probably counting on it."

Nanao thought for a moment. "Was it a warning?"

"Perhaps. But now he's blown his cover to us and we know he's definitely playing both sides." He frowned. "I wish that priss Byakuya would just /say/ something. Renji's his subordinate."

"I'll ask around," she said.

"Sit down."

"I'd rather not."

Regarding her through his lashes, he smiled. "Very well then." Paused to take another drag, letting the smoke linger in his mouth before blowing it out. "Do you regret any of this?"

She looked uncertain and pushed her glasses up. "Regret what?"

"Becoming a spy. A go-between for Juushirou and I. Oh for Heaven's sake Nanao, sit down, I beg of you!" He fluttered his eyes at her, and reluctantly, she complied. "Much better."

"Have I ever expressed displeasure with my job, Sir?"

"No, but you never express much of anything." Reaching out with his free hand, he caught her chin and tilted it up in Hyourinmaru's dim lights, examining the angles and planes of her face. Her lips tightened, and with a subtle, but very definite movement, she jerked her face from his hands.

"It is true that I could have had a career in politics. It is also true that with my qualifications, I would be able to enter any field. However," and she reached out to grab the discarded folder, "I also like this job."

"Good. I'm glad." He gave her a wide smile, which she ignored. He leaned closer so that she could smell the tobacco on his breath and her spine straightened. "Tung Chee-Hwa was a fool for letting you go."

"His suspicions about me were legitimate, Sir," she said woodenly.

"Yes, I suppose so." Paused. "It all worked out for the best, I suppose. Jyuushirou entered politics, you ended up as the Police Commisioner's head secretary," he moved his chair closer so that he could slid his arm comfortably around the back of her chair, "and you were placed under my jurisdiction."

"Shared with Mr. Ukitake," she reminded him, pushing her glasses up and gathering papers and the folder. "If you'll excuse me, Sir, I must return to the office."

He pouted but drew back a little. "If I didn't know better, I would say that you liked him more than me," he whined.

Her shoulders relaxed minutely and she stood. "It is my job."

He sighed mournfully. "You don't even want to have a drink with me?" he asked.

"I'm sure Ms. Matsumoto would be happy to take my place," she said. Her heels made no sound on the soft, plush carpet. "I'll discover as much as I can about Abarai's motives and the person with him. Good day, Sir."

She paused when the door swung up and her hand went automatically for slim, almost-invisible knife she had strapped at her waist. Shunsui had not moved, but his shoulders were straighter than before. His posture did not change when he saw who the newcomer was. "Ahh, Sousuke."

"Hello Shunsui." Aizen looked at Nanao, who had already brought her other arm up to hug her folders and clipboard to her chest. "Hello Miss Ise."

"Good evening, Mr. Aizen," she said in her usual clipped tone.

"I did not expect to ever meet you, especially in such...eclectic surroundings."

"The Police Commissioner's public relations head was ill today, so I came to give Mr. Kyouraku a message." She slid a glance at her boss, gave both Mafia Lords a frosty smile and nodded her head before leaving, slipping out the door.

"Bye Nanao!" Shunsui called to her retreating back. "Maybe we could do lunch one da--"

The door closed with an audible click. Shunsui gave an exaggerated sigh and slouched in his chair, keeping an eye on Aizen, who took the seat that Nanao had just vacated. "How sad," said Shunsui. "I was really hoping she would accept my offer."

"Is that why you brought the Police Commissioner's head secretary to the Hyourinmaru? To ask her out?"

Shunsui looked affronted. "I am not that simple!" he declared. "I was also going to buy her a drink."

"The bar is outside."

Shunsui gave a mock scowl. "And have Abarai report on the unsuccessful nature of my love life to Kuchiki? How demeaning would that be?"

"I doubt Kuchiki would care."

Snorting, Shunsui relit his cigar, reaching into his jacket to offer his peer one. Aizen declined, and Shunsui smoked for a moment to make sure his cigar wouldn't go out again. "You're right, he wouldn't. But he would tell the old man, who would ream my ass if he found out I was dating a politician."

"Miss Ise is not a politician."

"She's the police commissioner's head secretary. That makes her even worse," Shunsui pointed out. "They know everything! All the secrets, the inworkings of the office, the real news behind the police commissioner's extra-marital affairs." He sighed and placed the back of his hand on his brow. "A perfect match for a media mogul!"

"She is indeed, a very good match for you." Aizen paused for a moment. "For Jyuushirou as well, I suppose."

Shunsui raised a brow. "Why do you say that?"

"They're both very calm, very controlled, and he seems to have the kind of gentle personality that would wear down her hard one."

"This is assuming that they know one another," Shunsui reminded, his hands suddenly feeling very cold. "I suppose they would have met at functions and parties.

"Yes, well..." Aizen paused. "What do you think of Abarai and his young friend, Ichigo?"

Trying not to feel disconcerted at the sudden shift in subject, Shunsui replied, "I think he is either a very cunning or a very foolish young man."

"I agree. I spoke with him after you had left the lounge. It was almost as if he wanted to reassure us of his loyalties, but he was protecting his friend at the same time." Aizen stood up and tucked the heavy wooden chair back under the table. "It'll be interesting to see how he'll play this game."

"You make this sound like mahjong," Shunsui said, gnawing on his cigar. "I'm thirsty. Let's go out and have a drink."

Aizen smiled faintly. "Sure. I'll buy the first round."

"Come in."

Byakuya let himself in, closing the door behind him silently. "Sir," he said, bending his waist at a small incline.

"Sit down, Byakuya."

Byakuya complied, crossing his legs and placing his hands in his lap. He looked at his superior across the desk. "How have you been?"

Yamamato waved a wrinkled hand. "The same. You look well."

"Thank you." Byakuya paused. "You wanted to talk to me."

"You've taken young Abarai back under your wing."

Byakuya nodded. "Yes."

"As a double agent." Yamamoto paused and lifted a file from his desk. "I thought your sister was adequate."

"I thought it best to provide her incentive."

Yamamoto made a noise in his throat and flipped through the file, pausing at a photo. Byakuya forced his hands to relax. "You ought to trust her more. She's grown a lot. Looks a lot like her sister."

"Sir." Byakuya's voice was cold. "What is the point of this?"

Yamamoto clucked his tongue. "You're too uptight, Byakuya." He stroked his long beard for a moment, his eyes dark and shuttered and stood up. Clasping his hands behind his back, he moved to the windows. Looking out at the metropolis, he said, "I am very old."

Byakuya did not reply.

"What do you think of Sousuke?"

There was a knock on the door. It opened to reveal a fairly young secretary with a pair of small cups, and steaming pot. She poured them cups of tea and left, taking the tray with her. When the door had closed, Byakuya reached for a cup and sipped.

"You've very good tea," Byakuya murmured. "Very strong. Where did you get this?"

"From an herbalist in China." Yamamoto turned from the window to take a cup himself. Veins ran from his hands up his sinewy arms. He moved with the liquid grace of someone thirty years younger, no movement waste as he tasted the tea. "What do you think?"

Byakuya took another sip and rolled the hot liquid on his tongue. "Very good. Can't quite pinpoint the bitter aftertaste, but its initial impression is very smooth. Golden almost. I'm not quite sure what I think of it."

"I see." Yamamoto's eyes cut into his Mafia Lord. "How have things been?"

"Very good. We have just received a shipment. It looks to be very profitable."

"I look forward to hearing your report at the next meeting." The old man's eyes hardened. "I do expect a full account of everything."

"Yes. I will make sure of it."

"Bring Abarai and your sister along." Yamamoto's gave a sharp bark of laughter at the stony expression in Byakuya's eyes. "Don't worry, I won't kill them. Not yet anyway."

"I would prefer if you didn't kill my subordinates."

Yamamoto settled back into his chair, his tea carefully cradled in his hand. Byakuya finished his cup and poured another, raising the teapot at Yamamoto, who shook his head. "She just wants to please you. You ought to be easier on her."

"I am going easy on her."

"Not everyone calls their sister-in-law a subordinate."

"Not everyone is in a gang," Byakuya replied, equably.

Yamamoto finished his tea, nodding graciously when Byakuya poured him another cup. "You know, I never told you this, but my brother was a gangster. He was fifteen years older than me.

"I found out when I was seven. He came home, his arm shot to pieces and blood dripping in the foyer. I bound him up and took him to the hospital. We said it was a robber. I was thirteen when I joined the gang. He was second in command to some bigshot and I wanted to impress him, but no matter what I did, it seemed as if he always had to bail me out. Told me I was a nuisance. I shot him. He said, 'Looks like you're not a worthless piece of shit after all' and died.

"Took me years to work my way up. I killed, slept around, blackmailed people and clawed my way up here. And now, the only thing I have to say is that if I had to do it again, I probably would. Fucking bastard. Probably said that to me on purpose." His eyes bore into Byakuya's. "Your sister's different. Don't fuck her up the way your wife was."

"If I may interrupt," Byakuya said, setting his teacup down on the oak desk, "she asked for this assignment."

Yamamoto shook his head. "This is why you could never lead the Gotei 13, Byakuya. I'll see you at next week's meeting."

"Very well." Byakuya stood, bowed briefly. Before he could open the door, he heard a voice behind him say, "She's your sister, Byakuya. Not a subordinate."

"I know." Byakuya left, closing the door behind him gently.

end chapter ten

Notes: What can I say? I'm uh, indisposed. No, seriously, life has been a bitch. Mea culpa.

Coming up: Young and Dangerous. Tatsuki wakes up, and Yumichika's in drag. No, really.