I know I'm taking so long to update! I'm really really really REALLY sorry! I'm so busy with college now, that I barely have time to think!

For those of you who corrected me on the use of 'hakama', thank you very much! I didn't know that was only the pants. I wonder what the robe is called ...? Thank you to all who reviewed as well!! I love you all!

Chapter 11: A Strange Wind Blows Through Rukongai

I fell asleep for the first time in Ikkaku's arms that night. The sake was all gone by the time dawn broke across the skies that enveloped Seireitei, and as I surrendered to unconsciousness, the early morning light consumed the shadows and bathed Soul Society in a warm glow.

When my eyes opened, the sun was halfway to its zenith.

Ikkaku had thrown a blanket over me some time in the night, and his strong arms were wrapped tightly around me. When I awoke he was still sound asleep, and when I shifted and disentangled myself from his arms his eyes fluttered open. He grumbled and sleepily grasped after my hand, catching my fingers and squeezing gently before letting me go. My robes were somewhat rumpled, and I straightened them absently as I stood, strapping on my sword.

Ikkaku sat up and stretched, yawning and scratching his neck. I pulled him to his feet despite his protests.

"We're late, Ikkaku," I said casually, running a hand through my hair, "and I haven't had the time to fix my hair." Ikkaku rolled his eyes.

"C'mere," he muttered, pulling me around to face him. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he began to run his fingers through my hair, his touch making my scalp tingle. After a moment he stopped and gave a satisfied nod.

"There y'go," he said, "you look good." I touched my hair warily.

"Let's go then," I said, giving him a moment to grab Houzukimaru.

We strolled into the Eleventh Division headquarters. Zaraki-taichou was at his desk for once, minus one lieutenant and looking very irritable.

"Ikkaku, Yumichika," he growled as we entered, "you're late."

I bowed swiftly.

"Apologies, Zaraki-taichou. I slept late and had to spend extra time getting ready."

"Ahh, cut the crap. We've got a situation outside the walls."

"Situation?"

"Yeah. But the Eleventh Division's not allowed to check it out. They haven't determined the threat yet."

"Any ideas, Taichou?" He rolled his eyes at me.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be here. But I can guess as well as you can."

I glanced at Ikkaku. He had a grin growing on his face, and I could read the thoughts behind his eyes.

"Such trouble so early in the day," I murmured under my breath. The Captain fixed me with a solid glare that would have had a lesser shinigami trembling.

"Stop whining," he ordered, "and what the hell's with your hair today?"

I straightened, surprised, and looked at Ikkaku, who was carefully not meeting my eyes.

"Ikkaku-san ..." I said quietly. The killing intent in my voice would have done anyone proud.

"Uh ... let's go," he spoke over my next words, a touch hurriedly, grabbing my arm and dragging me towards the door. I caught sight of my reflection in one of the windows.

My screech of rage was probably heard all the way over to the fourth division headquarters. My beautiful feathers were missing, and my hair was as messy as Ichigo's usually was, albeit much cleaner and shinier. I yanked my arm from Ikkaku's grip.

"Ikkaku!!" He turned and looked at me guiltily. I spared him no room for explanations or apologies. "How dare you! My hair! My perfect hair! It looks like - like -" I couldn't bring myself to say it. Ikkaku cleared his throat and looked at his feet, turning red.

"I think it looks good," he mumbled, quietly so Zaraki-taichou wouldn't hear.

"But it looks like -"

"It's fine, Yumichika," roared the Captain from behind his desk, "I was messin' with ya. Now stop squawking and get outta here!"

"Hai, Taichou!" Ikkaku and I said simultaneously.

As the doors swung shut behind us, I fixed Ikkaku with a hostile look.

"Don't think this gets you off the hook," I warned, tossing my head angrily. He grinned back at me.

"Hey, you needed a style change anyway. I did you a favour." We walked in silence for a moment.

"We should see if Rangiku-san has any information for us," I suggested finally. Ikkaku glanced over and nodded.

"Yeah, good idea. But mostly I just wanna check it out for myself."

"The Taichou said that we're not allowed to," I pointed out. Ikkaku grinned.

"It wouldn't hurt if we just happened to stroll by and got caught up in whatever's going on, would it?" I sighed.

"I think we should ask Rangiku-san. Maybe it's not even worth checking out."

"Aah, you're probably right."

There weren't many shinigami wandering the streets of Seireitei, and by the time we reached the Tenth Division we still hadn't seen a soul. Hitsugaya-taichou was not in his office, and even the barracks seemed as lifeless as though all within had simply vanished.

"This is ... strange," I said softly. The wind kicked up a thin layer of dust that swirled around the hems of our robes. I suppressed a shiver.

We stood in silence for a long moment, scanning the grounds for any sign of a tenth division officer. Finally, Ikkaku turned to me.

"Let's drop in on Renji, then," he suggested. I nodded, not betraying the cold dread that was creeping up my spine like death.

"... Yeah. Let's go."

The strange quiet was broken only by the soft shifting of our feet across the ground as we made our way towards the Sixth Division. The uncanny stillness that had settled over Seireitei didn't disappear even when we reached the gates to the Sixth Division.

"Where the hell is everyone?" Ikkaku burst out. I shook my head wonderingly.

"Ikkaku? Yumichika?"

We turned simultaneously at the sound of Rangiku's voice. The fukutaichou was obviously in a hurry to wherever she was going, but she spared us a look of surprise.

"Rangiku-san, where is everybody?"

"They're in Rukongai."

"Rukongai?!"

"Yes. Hitsugaya-taichou left a note for me to meet them there as soon as possible."

"Why aren't you with them?" She grimaced in distaste.

"I drank a little too much last night," she said, rubbing her neck with a chagrined little laugh. "Fell asleep in the Ninth Division and didn't wake up until ten minutes ago. Shuuhei-kun, Ichigo, and Orihime-chan are still sound asleep."

"The Eleventh Division's been grounded," Ikkaku cut in. "Know anything?"

"Aah ... not really, but I can guess." Putting a finger to her chin, Rangiku contemplated us for a moment. "If the Eleventh Division's been grounded, then obviously it's a delicate situation. The Head Captain must be worried about things getting out of control. You Eleventh-Squad members are all so hot-blooded, after all, fighting would break out in no time."

I ignored the 'hot-blooded' comment and did some contemplating of my own.

"Yet all the other squads have been deployed, I assume? Sixth Division and Tenth Division are both gone. Which means there's obviously some danger."

"Of course."

"Rangiku-san, what's going on out there?" Rangiku's expression became grave.

"I can't tell you," she admitted, "Hitsugaya-taichou left me orders not to. But I can tell you that if you just happen to walk past the gates, you might encounter something interesting. But anyway, I've got to hurry."

Once Rangiku had disappeared from sight, Ikkaku turned to look at me.

"What do you think, Yumichika?" I sighed.

"It sounds like a complicated situation, whatever it is," I admitted. "I can't help but be curious, but at the same time ..."

"... There's a bad feeling in the air," Ikkaku finished for me. I gave a sharp nod.

"I don't know what ..." I began, before biting off my words. I don't know what we should do. Ikkaku looked at me solemnly for a long moment.

"I think we should go for a walk," he said gravely.

"Ikkaku -"

"It'll be fine, Yumichika." He bent down and placed a light kiss on my lips.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Ikkaku sighed.

"So do I."

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The rest of Seireitei was as dead as the Sixth and Tenth divisions had been. Ikkaku and I were undisturbed as we headed for the great walls that separated us from Rukongai, and only the eerie wind noticed our passage. I was tense, but Ikkaku was as relaxed as though he knew exactly what was going on. Only his eyes betrayed him, sharp and distinct, taking note of everything around him. I restrained myself from resting my hand on the hilt of Fuji Kujaku.

By the time we reached the walls, my nerves were on the edge of splitting. We headed side-by-side for the gates.

The first thing I noticed was a shape, blurred from the dust kicked up by the uncommon wind. A moment later, that shape solidified into the serene figure of Squad Six's Captain. He glanced at us as we approached.

"Madarame-san, Ayasegawa-san, you should not be here," he said mildly. "This situation is not for the Eleventh Division to handle."

"Kuchiki-taichou, what is going on?" I asked outright. The dark-haired Captain fixed me with his cool eyes.

"Head Captain Yamamoto is conducting an investigation. It does not concern you."

"Captain -"

"Yumi-chaaaaan!" The sudden yell came out of nowhere along with a pink-haired cannonball that latched itself onto my leg. Ikkaku and I were both taken by surprise.

"Y-Yachiru-fukutaichou! What are you doing here?"

"Kenny's in a bad mood! So I thought I could help him out!"

"Forgive me, but you should not be here, Vice-Captain," Captain Kuchiki said quietly. Yachiru turned her bright smile towards him.

"Bya-chan!! You're here, too?"

Ikkaku and I exchanged looks, and he mouthed Bya-chan? with a horrified and wondering expression. A muscle clenched subtly in Captain Kuchiki's jaw.

"Please return to the Eleventh Division, all of you," he replied formally.

"Aww, you're no fun," Yachiru said. "I promised Kenny I'd find out what's happening."

"Head Captain Yamamoto is dealing with a situati-"

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The sudden scream took us all by surprise. Kuchiki-taichou flash-stepped to the gate. Ikkaku gave a loud oath and followed, with Yachiru and myself in his wake.

"Captain Yamamoto," the Sixth Division yelled, "are you all right?" A moment later, the gate opened.

The scene beyond them was like one from my darkest nightmare.

The buildings closest to the gate were smashed apart, some half-standing on the bones of their previous foundations, others toppled completely. The fourth, tenth, and thirteenth Captains flanked Head Captain Yamamoto, zanpakutos in hand, accompanied by Kira, Renji, and Rangiku. Our view was mostly blocked by the additional squad members, but neither I nor Ikkaku needed eyes to feel the foul reiatsu that hung in the air. Kuchiki-taichou joined Hitsugaya-taichou, and the remaining three of us joined Rangiku.

Once the seated members were out of our way, there was nothing to hinder our view of the situation. Yamamoto was speaking to a creature that crouched on hairy double-jointed legs, a creature that swung a heavy bludgeoning tail tipped with two long spikes which raised an echo of remembered pain in my body. A mouthful of razor teeth bared in fury accompanied wicked claws that could grasp so very tightly. Between Yamamoto and the demon lay the sprawled form of a shinigami from the tenth squad, blood pooling around him.

Rangiku looked up at us as we joined her, and there was a dark look in her eyes.

"Damn it," she muttered. "The fool was too reckless."

"What happened?"

"He thought Yamamoto-taichou was in danger," she replied soberly. "Ahh ... idiot ..."

"Rangiku-san ..."

It was then that I noticed the strange silence from beside me. I turned, darting a quizzical glance at my companion.

But Ikkaku was no longer there.