Rukia was beyond relieved to be away from Byakuya. It hurt her to see him. She was actually looking forward to being at the meeting and getting to hang out with Renji and Ichigo afterwards. It was like old times again. She was enjoying being able to talk with Ichigo again. Renji was always there for her, but her and Ichigo had a connection that was beyond words, beyond anything she had ever understood. It was nice to have him in her life again, even if like before, there time together was only temporary.

The breezes through Soul Society had been very cold lately, an omnipresent reminder that the enemy was watching them. Rukia wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly. The sun was beginning to set. Rukia heard a small cry, stopping to check around. She noticed her shadow… it looked… doubled.

'Rukia,' she heard a voice whisper by her ear. She turned around, but saw no one. 'Rukia…' there it was again! It was feminine, gentle, not like a child though. She was beginning to feel uneasy, deciding to ignore the voice and get moving. As she walked, she noticed from the corner of her eye that another shadow was walking along side hers… Rukia drew her zanpakuto fearing that the hooded man was near.

'Come out!' she called out, defending herself against an invisible enemy, 'come out you coward!' Nothing happened. She sheathed her zanpakuto again and began to walk faster. I must be going mad.

'Rukia! Rukia!' the whispering was back only louder… the ground began to feel as though it were moving, her began to spin… Rukia was lost once she landed on her hands and knees… everything was spinning. She saw images, incoherent images that flashed through her head so fast like shots from a gun. She saw a house, waves crashing, people in a crowd, she could hear yelling, crying, chaos… she saw the dark hole, she felt herself being pulled into it…

&&&&&

Renji had been on his way to the meeting from the Sixth Division when he heard a voice…'Rukia…' He stopped and looked around. Strange, I don't see Rukia anywhere… is someone calling her? He was about to take another step when he heard it again, 'Rukia…help her…help!' He grabbed his head; it felt as though the voice had entered inside him. It sounded like a woman, frantic. Instantly, Renji tried to sense for Rukia's reiatsu, she was not far from him. He started to run when he felt his head begin to spin. He lowered himself to one knee, taking a moment to restore himself… 'Rukia! Rukia!' The whispers came back and Renji felt himself pulled from his thoughts. He didn't know what to make of the voice, but he knew he had to get to Rukia immediately.

&&&&&

Rukia was in water, struggling to reach the rope. She had to pull herself out. Reach higher! Get out of here! Her muscles ached, she could not jump… what was happening to her… Suddenly two arms wrapped around her torso—

'Rukia!' Renji screamed. He had found her standing, spaced out then she had abruptly collapsed. He was holding her, shaking her. She woke up fast.

She was surprisingly calm. 'Renji?'

'Oh thank god,' he said hugging her tight. 'God dammit Rukia, what the hell is going on?'

Rukia looked him dead in the eyes, 'Renji… I think I'm going insane.'

He stared at her blankly. 'Wh-what?'

'I… these dreams, something is inside my head… I'm starting to see my face change in the mirror, I feel like I'm being watched all of the time… I hear voices, I—'

'Rukia… the same thing just happened to me, they're happening more and more. It's not just you anymore.'

'You've seen things too?'

'I heard a voice, just before I came to you,' he replied, 'it sounded like a woman, whispering your name, it told me to help you...'

'I heard a woman calling my name as well.' This was interesting... could it be possible that is was the same voice?

'Do you think he's playing games with us? Perhaps we should notify Captain Kurotsuchi…'

Rukia shook her head. 'No, for some reason, I do not think voice was his… it felt… comforting to me. Like, it was looking out for me.'

'You can't just trust voices you hear coming from nowhere Rukia. I wish I could understand this. I hate not knowing anything.'

'I don't know anymore, I'm not sure of anything.'

Renji grew concerned. 'Hey, it's going to be okay Rukia. You're tough, you can fight whatever this is. Soul Society has withstood mightier enemies.'

'It's not just that…' Rukia said, running her hands through her hair with frustration, 'it's…' She wanted to tell him about Byakuya, how he had hurt her, how confusing he was being... but she couldn't. To be honest, Rukia wasn't worried that Renji wouldn't understand. She just wasn't sure if anything could be fixed.

Renji embraced her, 'it's Ichigo being back right?'

'What?' she asked, confused, wondering where that had come from.

'It's okay Rukia. You've handled everything with him so well. You guys are acting now like no time has passed between you. Maybe… maybe this is a second chance for you both.' Renji really wanted to make her feel better. He couldn't imagine how traumatizing everything had been for her.

Rukia sighed at Renji's words. Bloody fool. 'There is no second chance for Ichigo and I Renji. But thank you Renji.'

'Things happen for a reason, there is a purpose to why Ichigo is here with you again.' He smiled at her. Typical Rukia, he thought. She can be so similar to Captain Kuchiki it freaks me out...

Rukia decided it was time to let this conversation go. She was feeling very upset and was vulnerable after everything that had been going on. She didn't want Renji fueling futile fantasies of some immaculate, romantic reunion with Ichigo. She did not want that to happen.

The women's voice lingered in her ears as she walked. Who was it? For some reason, Rukia knew it wasn't from someone wishing to do her harm. Maybe things will be different the next time he comes near me...

They walked in silence to the meeting hall. Renji elbowed her lightly. 'So…' he paused, 'Is everything…good at home?'

'Why?' she inquired. Something has to be on his mind…

'Jeez Rukia, chill out. You were just in the infirmary!' he responded.

She calmed a bit. 'Oh, sorry I didn't… I'm sorry. I'm fine though, just a bit tired. Why are you asking about my home?' It was an odd question, what could he have meant by that?

'Captain Kuchiki said you're practically moved out?' he asked, rather timidly. He hadn't wanted to bring it up but he knew his captain would be expecting some information.

Rukia gasped at this, 'Nii-sama told you that?'

'Yeah, he hasn't been in the best of moods lately, well, for him anyways,' Renji pointed out, 'but yeah, he I dunno, he made a comment about it the other day. Asked me how you were. Not like I've seen you much though. Everyone's been so bus—'

'How dare he,' she said angrily to herself. What was Byakuya's problem? If it bothered him so much why had me not just come to her about it? 'Nii-sama can be so arrogant, so—'

'Did I just hear Rukia Kuchiki about to smack talk her brother?' a voice interrupted her from behind. It was Ichigo. Renji himself looked shocked at what had just come out of Rukia's mouth.

Rukia jumped around and was blushing mad, partially embarrassment, mostly rage. 'Ichigo Kurosaki when will you learn it is rude to barge in on a conversation.'

He smirked at her. 'About as rude as gossip? Beside, I know how much you love it when I surprise you.'

She hit him, semi-lightly, shaking her head. 'What brings you over here? Other than to bother me?'

Ichigo laughed. 'Rukia, don't be so uptight. I just wanted to know when your little lieutenant session would be done. Chad, Uryuu, and Inoue and I will meet you both after? Perhaps we can do a patrol?'

'Should be doable, but Rukia cannot go with us.' Renji looked at her worriedly. He hated that he had been so busy with the Sixth Division he couldn't keep an eye out for her.

'I am sure if I requested so, I would be allowed to go. So many have experienced what I have now.' It doesn't really matter where I am; this attacker seems to find me. It was a dismal fact, but true.

&&&&&

The meeting was lead by Chōjirō Sasakibe, the lieutenant of the First Division. He revealed the new theories both Mayuri and Urahara had inferred from the evidence they had collected. ['From the microbes that Captain Kurotsuchi implanted on Rukia Kuchiki—' began Chojiro___'What?!' exclaimed Rukia, 'when did he do that?'___'No body ever seems to know how…' Chojiro admitted, an uneasy feeling washing over him]. To the agreement of most, more patrol squads were implemented. Those previously banned due to experiencing strange phenomenon, like Rukia, were permitted to go now. So many had been affected it did not matter at this point. If anything, having people out there to draw the enemy in might be a good thing.

Despite the new developments, Nanao was still troubled by something, 'has there been any research done into how to fight this enemy? Are we just expected to rely on shunpo and jumping abilities alone?'

'At this point Mayuri-sama and Urahara-san are in the process of determining the mechanism of how the spirit particles are changed,' Nemu replied.

'So we have to rely just on our wits and basic skills?' Renji asked.

'Uh oh! Pineapple head's not going to make it…' Yachiru said, smiling mischievously. Renji glared at her and was elbowed lightly by Tetsuzaemon Iba. 'Don't worry Pineapple head! I will protect you,' Yachiru taunted.

Matsumoto sighed deeply. 'The problem is if he gets inside your head and entraps you in a dream... there is no way to pull yourself out.'

'We'll just have to anticipate that, and fight it as best we can,' Rukia said, smiling at Matsumoto.

'OH!' whined Marechiyo Ōmaeda, 'I don't want him in my head!'

'Not like there's much going on in there anyway…' Renji muttered under his breath.

'Don't worry Maki-Maki!' chimed Yachiru, 'everyone says you're very thick-headed so you'll be fine!'

'What?!' burst Marechiyo.

'Silence,' Chojiro demanded calmly, 'this is a war situation. No unnecessary travel outdoors unless you are on patrol. Your captains have all been given strict instructions. Everyone has a place to be at an appropriate time. As Lieutenant Kurotsuchi has reminded us, for the time being, we will be at a slight disadvantage. Like a single arrow, we will be broken if we stand to fight alone, but as a bunch we cannot be taken down. That is the strength of Soul Society.' Chojiro eyed everyone in the room, they all nodded in agreement. Now it is time for the hard news… 'Lastly, Captain Commander Yamamoto wishes there to be a squad of shinigami to patrol the forested area where Captain Hisagi, and Lieutenants Matsumoto and Kuchiki were injured. There were high levels of this man's spirit energy, we think that clearing could be a hideout.'

'Can you say that for sure?' asked Nanao. She did not like the sounds of this plan at all.

'It is possible at this point Lieutenant Ise. To know for certain we need people to investigate it further.' Chojiro had not been looking forward to bringing this topic up at all.

'Are you wanting a group of lieutenants to do this?' asked Rukia.

'Captain Commander Yamamoto wishes for it to be composed of non-captain, non-lieutenant, and non-third seat level shinigami. We need our best here.' Chojiro replied.

'That is a suicide mission!' objected Renji.

'I have to agree with Lieutenant Abarai,' Nanao added, 'is there no other option for gathering information?' Her mind was taken about just over one hundred years ago, when her lieutenant at teh time, Lisa Yadomaru along with a few others, were sent on a mission similar to this... Lisa never came back, well, not the same anyway...

'Mayuri-sama believes that the enemy needs our reiatsu, our spirit energy to attack. Using live shinigami to—' Nemu began.

'You make it sound like they are using them as bait,' Tetsuzaemon interrupted.

Nemu sighed, 'we need the enemy to show in order to study him.'

'Unbelievable! That cannot happen! There has to be some other way!' protested Renji.

Chojiro sighed. 'There is considerable risk, but it is how the Captain Commander and our research team feel is the best way to learn more. I apologize but it is orders. Begin to assemble teams. One member from each squad should meet at the First Division in two hours time from now. No exceptions. Dismissed.'