Summary: Mayuri launches the next phase of his attack.

"Be careful you fools!" Mayuri snarled. "That's very delicate equipment!"

"Very sorry Captain Kurotsuchi." A shinigami carrying a heavy crate replied.

Mayuri scowled as he supervised the work crews. These were the least experienced, least proficient members of his division. He could have been done much faster and more efficiently with his seated officers. Of course that would have presented other difficulties when they were finished.

"Get the power generator online first." He ordered. "We won't be able to check anything until that's complete."

"Right away Captain." One of them answered. What was his name again? Oh well, it hardly mattered. It was only important that they did as they were told. He nodded in approval at the rocky landscape around him.

There was still so much about the dangai they didn't really understand, including why pocket dimensions, called valleys of screams, formed and branched out from the mainstream. He had many theories and experiments planned for the future, but for now, it was enough that this particular valley existed for his purposes. Finding a stable valley had been difficult. Now that he had, his equipment could shore up its stability making it an undetectable base of operations that would last for years. The nameless drones of his division labored intensely under his close supervision, completing all the vital installations by the close of the day. There was nothing else Mayrui needed to do that required help.

"Fall in men." He ordered.

It didn't take long for them to form a line in front of him.

"Good job everyone." Mayrui said. "Today's work was absolutely crucial. Not only was it incredibly important, it had to be done in secret. No word of this can ever be leaked to Soul Society. That is why I selected you for this assignment. Only you had the right blend of qualities to ensure this mission would be a success. I couldn't have done it without you."

He paused a moment to let his words sink in. Predictably, the men glanced at each other and smiled, basking in their commander's praise.

"And now." He continued, "I give you your reward."

Only a couple noticed him pulling the detonator from his sleeve. Most still had a silly grin on their face when the explosions started. At first they were rooted to the ground in shock, then they ran in circles in a blind panic trying to flee their inevitable fate. One by one they blossomed into fire and ash, shockwaves churning the air. The last one was thrown from his feet. Crawling towards his commander, his eyes were glazed with terror and disbelief.

"Why Captain?" He wailed. "Why?"

His body began to ripple and swell before exploding, finally joining his comrades in oblivion. The only sound left in the dimensional pocket was Mayuri's cruel laughter.

"Ha, ha, ha!" He chortled as he watched their ashes swirl. "That never gets old."

"Come on! Come on Hakuho!" Morishita Hideki shouted at the screen. On his small black and white portable TV two massive sumo wrestlers struggled for victory. "Yes. Yes! No!" He groaned. His favorite didn't lose. In fact, he had no way of knowing who won. His TV screen had gone white with static. He cursed and slapped the hapless device trying to get the picture back.

"Miserable piece of junk!" He growled. "Can't a man enjoy a simple sumo match? Is that too much to ask?"

"I beg your pardon Morishita-san." Nemu interrupted. "Is this a good time? I could come back later."

"What?" He answered turning his attention back to the front desk. "Oh, good afternoon my dear. Sorry you had to see that. What can I do for you?"

"I've come to pay the rent." Nemu explained politely handing her landlord the envelope.

"On time as always." He commented as he logged in her payment and wrote out her receipt.

"I don't mean to pry." He said as he handed her the receipt. "But I can't help noticing you seem to be having money troubles lately. That young husband of yours seems to be working himself into the ground."

Nemu held back a sigh as she accepted the receipt. It was true. Uryuu's friends were doing all they could to help, but things were still tight.

"You know, I could hold off on the rent for a month or two if that would help." Morishita continued.

"I appreciate the offer Morishita-san." Nemu replied. "I don't think Uryuu would accept it. As long as he can make the payments, he will insist we do so."

Morishita humphed. "Just like his grandfather. Did I ever tell you about the time we…"

He was interrupted by the blare of his TV coming back to life, the announcers hashing over the last match.

"A stunning defeat for…brrrrt… and now that means….rrerrkk"

"Defeat for who? Means what?" Morishita demanded. He began hammering the case of the old device again. It was no more effective than before.

"Perhaps it is my turn to beg pardon for prying." Nemu ventured. "Wouldn't you be better off with a new television?"

"I suppose." He admitted. "I have one upstairs, but I don't understand the thing. Everything has to be done with a remote. There's buttons on the side, but they're confusing. I can never figure that thing out. This one here has knobs and dials you can turn with your hand. I can understand that. Why don't they still make ones like this? If only it wasn't so worn out."

"Can you get it repaired?" Nemu asked.

Morishita shook his head. "That would cost a fortune even if you could find someone willing to work with vacuum tubes or whatever it uses these days. No, I think this time it's finally over. Time to throw this old set away."

As she watched her landlord reluctantly shut off and unplug the machine, an idea suddenly popped into her head.

No names were exchanged. Matsushita Kai had made things very clear. He was to obey the stranger and do whatever he was told. At the moment, the thin blue haired man was looking him over like a side of beef.

"I supposed you'll do." He allowed. The thug before him was huge and muscular. "You seem sturdy enough. With my help, you will have the power to accomplish the task I require. What I need you to do is very simple. Kill a man in his sleep. Stab him through the heart quickly and quietly. You don't have any problems with that, do you?"

The enforcer shrugged his thick shoulders. "No. Seems simple enough."

The stranger nodded. "Very good. This elixir will not only give you enough reiatsu to exist in the real world, it will also allow you to overcome any difficulties you may encounter. If the target should awake, you must defeat him and kill him as quickly as possible. If any shinigami show up, you are to run even if the target is still alive. It would do none of us any good if Soul Society took an interest. Do you understand?"

The big man nodded. "Kill the target. Run if I see a soul reaper."

"And one more thing." The man added. "There will be a woman with him. A pregnant woman. She is not to be harmed. If anything happens to her, you will suffer in ways that would astonish hell. Do I make myself clear?"

The big man nodded. His philosophy was simple. There were thinkers and there were doers. He let others handle the thinking. He was perfectly content with the doing part. Especially since he was very good at what he did. The well worn dagger in his sash was like an extension of his hand. This would be just another job in his a long and bloody career. The smaller man handed him a map.

"Meet me here at this time." He directed. "The portal will drop you off almost on top of the target."

The assassin tucked the map into his sleeve and left. In his mind the job was as good as done. Since it was going to be a while before he left, he wondered what he'd have for dinner.

"I'm home." Uryuu announced entering the apartment. He tiredly began removing his shoes. "Have you noticed a strange smell lately? It smells like something burning, something electrical. It's pretty strong now."

His shoes put away, he turned his head and suddenly the strange smell made sense. Nemu put down her soldering gun and raised her safety goggles.

"Welcome home. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."

As Nemu bustled over to the small kitchen space, Uryuu took a moment to look over the strange new additions to their apartment. There was a small work bench with a stool in the corner, a shelf behind it bolted to the wall containing various small electronics from alarm clocks to toasters to VCRs. A case of tools, clamps and other such items littered the surface of the bench next to a dissected walkman.

"Nemu, what's all this?" He asked.

She excitedly rushed to his side. "Isn't it wonderful Uryuu? I've started my own business! Many of the tenants here are retirees who cannot afford new electronics, so I am opening a repair shop. As soon as they heard, everyone came by with things they wanted repaired."

She hurried over to the workbench, picking up a book and some tools. "I borrowed some money from our landlord and got these tools second hand. The repair manuals came from the library. If I keep getting orders at the current rate, I will be able to pay back Morishita-san in two weeks. And everything is so easy! There are no bio-organic interfaces or hybrid technology of any kind. It's all just wiring and circuits. I can make this a paying concern in about a month. I can help bring money in for the family. And then you won't have to work so hard."

He knew he was staring. She was so happy. Her face was flushed and shining, her eyes bright with joy. And yet all he could feel was shame and failure. First they were living on her savings, now she was supporting him with a home business. What kind of a man was he? He was supposed to be supporting her. Instead he'd had to rely on her ever since they got married. His feelings must have been showing on his face. Nemu's smile faded and disappeared.

"Uryuu?" She ventured. "Is there something wrong? Do you…do you think I shouldn't do this."

He forced a smile and moved forward to take her into his arms.

"There's nothing wrong." He said. "I am the luckiest man in the world to have you as a wife."

He put his hand over her swollen belly. "Are you sure this is safe though? I wouldn't want you to strain yourself."

She shook her head. "I won't lift anything too heavy for me and I don't handle any toxic substances. Are you really fine with this?"

Uryuu took a deep breath. Taking a moment to think, he tried to reconcile his feelings. They did need the money. He realized his embarrassment at being unable to provide for their little family was his own problem. It stung at his pride. The quincy held their pride in high esteem. It helped them to survive when it seemed they might not make it as a people. He also knew that pride could lead to disaster. He had to push that pride away before it did any harm. And he could see this would really make Nemu happy.

"I'm better than fine." He replied. "I'm proud of you."

And he meant every word.

The trip to the real world went just like the stranger described. He drank the strange potion, stepped through the ring of light and here he was. It was certainly different from soul society. The buildings were enormous, the roads all paved and street lights everywhere. A normal person would have stood gawking for hours, might even have found themselves overwhelmed by the unusual new environment. Of course, in order for that to happen the person would need to have an imagination. The assassin didn't have this problem. Buildings were buildings, streets were streets and his target was his target. The aging tenement walls provided plenty of handholds allowing him to climb up the walls to the targets apartment. The strange potion he had taken made it easy. He'd never realized how people with spiritual power felt before. It made him feel powerful and invincible. He could feel himself growing stronger by the second. The stranger had printed an odd symbol on his chest before he'd left. He told him it was to suppress this energy and allow him to stalk his prey undetected. It was in the shape of a black thistle. He hoped it was doing it's job. Soon enough, he was pushing up the window and entering the dark room beyond.

This wasn't the first time he'd crawled through a window to take a life. As soon as he entered, he crouched down to let his eyes adjust to the gloom and get his bearings. The room felt small. The air was still and warm. Shadows and shapes marked the location of furniture. Most importantly were the sounds. There were no footsteps in the hallway, no voices from people in other apartments. No chance of interruption. Best of all, he could hear breathing. Just off to his left, he could hear two people gently inhaling and exhaling, deep in sleep. That would be his target. Rising up, he quietly made his way towards the sound. The dark square on the floor had to be a futon. He noiselessly slid his dagger from its sheath. Now he only had to get close enough to make sure of the target. It wouldn't do to violate his orders and kill the woman by mistake. Closer and closer he crept, the sound of their breathing assuring him they were helpless. Then it suddenly stopped.

"Ouch." He heard the woman mutter as woke.

"Huh?" The target murmured as he came to. "What's wrong?"

"My ring." She responded. "It's pinching me."

"Pinching?" He asked. "Maybe you should take it off."

"No." She answered. "It's not like that. It's moving. It's vibrating and pinching my finger."

"Huh. That's strange. Let me take a look." He said getting up.

Well this made things simpler. There was no question now where his target was in the darkened room. Slipping up behind him, the assassin readied his dagger to plunge it into the unsuspecting victims back.

"Uryuu! Look out!" Nemu cried.

He didn't even question his wife's warning. Using Hirenkyaku, he instantly crossed the room and turned on the light. To his surprise, he saw a huge man in archaic clothes standing in the middle of the room holding a dagger.

"Can I help you?"

The man didn't hesitate for a second. Throwing himself at Uryuu, he tried to stab his victim through the heart. Uryuu almost scoffed. With his powers and skills, he would have no trouble subduing the invader. Or so he thought. The block and counter attack he tried to use were swept aside. Before he knew it, he was on his back struggling to keep the blade from entering his chest. The man was impossibly strong! Inch by inch the sharpened steel pressed downward, cutting through the cloth of his pajamas, slicing into his skin. He gritted his teeth to keep from crying aloud. He wasn't going to give his attacker the satisfaction. The worst part was the man's face. There was nothing there. No hate, no anger, nothing except a strangely workmanlike interest.

Nemu rose to her feet and watched in horror as Uryuu struggled against…something. She couldn't see exactly what it was although she knew it was there and dangerous. Her instinctive attempts to feel the enemy's reiatsu were fruitless. Trying to focus, she began to make out a vague shape. Uryuu had to be fighting a spirit being of some kind. As she continued to look, a blurry, man shaped outline began to appear. Whoever or whatever it was, it was making Uryuu bleed! She grabbed a chair and smashed it down on the form. It had no effect. She wanted to fight, wanted to kick the intruder to pieces, but her condition wouldn't allow it. She punched where she judged the attackers kidneys would be. Her first punch had no effect. Her second punch, using her left hand, did a lot more damage. She saw the man clearly as soon as the ring contacted his skin.

"Gryaaaargh!" The man howled as powerful currents wracked his mighty frame. Uryuu took the opportunity to throw him off. Leaping to his feet, he activated his bow and fired. Somehow the assassin managed to dodge his arrow. Shot after shot missed as the thug ran for the window and dived out headfirst. Uryuu ran after him.

"No, don't go!" Nemu pleaded.

"Don't worry." Uryuu assured her. "He caught me by surprise before. I'll be ready for him now."

Nemu watched helplessly as her husband jumped out the window. He was a powerful and experienced warrior. She shouldn't be worried about him. Still, there was something strange about the person who attacked them. Something unnatural.

Catching up to the villain wasn't easy. He wasn't emitting any spiritual energy. For someone that strong, there should be at least a little leakage. Fortunately, there were few people out this late at night. Taking to the air, he figured the first running figure he could see would be him. He zoomed down when he spotted him, spraying a wall of arrows in front of him to block his path.

"That's far enough." Uryuu announced as he landed. "Who are you and why did you attack me?"

The man's only response was to attack. Dagger held low, he charged. Uryuu could not permit him to close the gap. With deep regret, he launched several arrows right into the man's chest. The man stopped in his tracks, bending over the pain. His dagger dropped from his hand. Slowly he sank to his knees on the ground.

"I am sorry." Uryuu told him.

Even now, the man said nothing. He gripped an arrow as if to pull it out. No, Uryuu observed, not as if, he was pulling it out! One by one, he removed every shaft from his body and rose to his feet. A strange glowing halo of energy surrounded his body.

"How is this possible?" Uryuu breathed.

That thought was driven from his mind as the man suddenly appeared before him. Was it flash step? Was the man a shinigami in disguise? He had no more time for questions as a rain of blows began to pummel him. He was too strong, too fast! Uryuu's defenses and counterattacks could do little more than slow the damage as fists as hard as iron punished his body. The beating grew worse as he grew weaker, the man's punishing attack crushing flesh and breaking bones. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so helpless against an opponent. One last blow to the head sent the quincy crashing to the ground. The shock and pain paralyzed him. It was going to take time for him to recover. Time he wasn't going to get. He could do nothing but watch as the man went back to pick up his dagger. Relentlessly, his attacker stalked back over to Uryuu's fallen form to finish the job. His face still had that odd, emotionless expression. Just a man doing a job. Nothing personal. Standing over his victim, he raised his weapon for the final blow. He was glowing brighter than ever. Only the glow was different now, more familiar.

"You…you're on fire." Uryuu gasped.

This information caught his assailant by surprise. Looking down, he saw his legs were actually on fire. His skin rippled and bulged, flames bursting out and spreading all over. For the first time, Uryuu could see real emotion in the man's face.

"Help me!" He screamed in agony. "Help me! Aaaaaaahhhhhh!"

There was nothing Uryuu could do. As he watched, the assassin burned white hot, the flames shooting high into the sky. In less time than it takes to tell, the huge man was reduced to a small pile of ashes. Swirling in the night wind, soon even that meager evidence of his existence was gone.

"Uryuu, you're hurt!" Nemu cried when he staggered through the door. "I've called for help. Dr. Kurosaki should be here any minute."

"I'll be fine." He assured her.

"Stop that." She scolded as she led him to the couch. "You are seriously injured. You could have been killed. You can't ever do that again Uryuu. I need you. Your child needs you. You have to be more careful."

"I know, I know." He groaned as he lay down. "That's not important right now."

"Not important!?" She exclaimed. "What could be more important than surviving to see your son being born?"

He weakly held her hand. "You. You helped me."

"Of course I helped you." She chided. "I'm your wife."

He weakly shook his head. "That's not what I meant. You were able to help me. You could see him. Hurt him. Nemu, I think you're getting some kind of power."

Just what in all the various forms of hell had gone in on there? Mayuri wondered. The passive sensors he used to track and monitor Nemu and that quincy did not allow for visual recording in the apartment. They would be too noticeable and vulnerable to detection. The latest footage ran on two screens before him. The visual from the outside cameras showed the thug Matsushita had lent him climbing in the window. That would be all he could see for a while. The other screen showed a series of lines indicating power usage. There were only two. As a baseline normal human, Nemu did not show. It amused Mayuri to show the quincy boy in his own color, light blue. The assassin was an appropriate shade of blood red. The suppressor on his chest also sent back data on how the reiatsu enhancement elixir performed.

As expected, the red line was on a steady upward incline. The power would build and build until it overwhelmed the host's body. Just as designed. The boy's signature was a gentle sine wave, smoothly rising up and down. He fully expected to see it come to a sudden stop. Instead there was that strange anomaly. A third line appeared. No knowing the cause he had to computer assign a yellow line to it. It started out faint, intermittent. The boy's blue line trended upward as he regained consciousness. It spiked as he engaged in battle. The lines from that point onward were typical for combat. That odd yellow line strengthened and trended upward. What was it? Where was it coming from? Suddenly, the yellow line spiked. Seconds later, he could see the hitman fleeing out the window on monitor one. From this point forward, the passive cameras had full visual from multiple angles.

Mayrui had to confess, he found the sight of his hated enemy being beaten to within an inch of his life great fun. It was too bad the killer spontaneously combusted before he could finish the job. It was just bad timing. If he had been able to kill the boy in his bed as planned, he would have had plenty of time to return to soul society and die quietly at home, erasing all evidence of Mayuri's involvement. It was unfortunate that he had been seen. Even so, the possibility that his attack could be traced back to the eleventh division was slim. He had a much more interesting problem to tackle at the moment.

"There was only one other person in that room." He mused. "Did something change for you Nemu?"

His need to know, his constant hunger for more data, gnawed at his very soul. He was going to dig deeper into this anomaly. While he was not going to give up his goal of wiping out that disgusting quincy, perhaps he needed to shift targets from the boy to his daughter. Bring her in a little earlier than planned. He was going to learn just what exactly was going on.