Chapter Twelve – Questions, Answers, and… A Party?

Ichigo's first evaluation of the mission to Karakura had been correct; it was a failure. After leaving the Bount Mansion, they were under the impression that they could press Yoshino for information about possible hiding places of the tribe of immortal humans.

However, that plan went up in smoke when they returned to the apartment they had been using and found Yoshino was nowhere to be seen. Yoshino Sōma had disappeared without a trace. This led Ichigo and Miyako to come two conclusions.

Yoshino had left the apartment of her own free will.

Someone had found her and taken her against her will.

Ichigo couldn't be sure which one was the more likely of the two, but it did leave one thought firmly in his mind; someone had tipped off the Bounts that the Soul Reapers were looking for them. It seemed unlikely that the Bounts had decided to simply up and leave their place of residence on the day Ichigo and his team were looking for them, but one question remained unanswered.

Was Yoshino the one who told the Bounts they were coming, or was she the victim in all of this?

To Ichigo, the thought of Yoshino being the one who informed the Bounts of their movements seemed unlikely. Why would she be on the run from them, and why would she be so willing to tell the Soul Reapers, the Bounts supposed enemy, all about their abilities?

All of this and more was running through Ichigo's head as he and his team were running through the Senkaimon, back to the Soul Society.

"Hey, Ichigo, are you alright?" Shūhei asked, upon seeing the Lieutenant in distress.

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm alright. I'm just trying to figure out what to make of the situation in Karakura, and what to tell Captain Aizen. I have a feeling he's going to be disappointed that I failed." Ichigo replied.

"Don't worry, Ichigo. Captain Aizen is a kind, understanding man. If you tell him exactly what happened, I'm sure he won't be too disappointed, if at all." Miyako said from the head of the pack.

"Well, I guess we'll see soon enough, won't we? The exit is just ahead of us." Ichigo pointed in front of him, to where a doorway of bright light had appeared and was rapidly increasing in size.

As the three rushed through the gateway, they were engulfed by a flash of light. Barely a moment later, the light had subsided and they were now standing on familiar ground.

The Soul Society. The Seireitei. Home.

"Well, this has been real fun guys, but I'm gonna be heading off. I need to report in to Captain Tōsen. Catch you later!" Shūhei said with a quick wave before he vanished in a blur of Flash Step.

"Indeed… I must report to Kaien, unless Captain Ukitake has recovered from his current bout of illness. It was a pleasure to work with you, Ichigo." Miyako said with a smile, as she bowed to her cousin.

"Likewise, Miyako. I hope we can go on another mission together sometime. I just hope the next one is more successful." Ichigo chuckled, bowing to Miyako before they both parted ways with Flash Step.

###

Over at Squad Five, Captain Aizen was overseeing the training of his new recruits. It was a bright, sunny day, so he decided that it would be a good idea to do some teamwork-related exercises out in the Squad Training Yard, rather than be cooped up inside all day, learning about Kidō and how to effectively use them in battle against Hollows.

"Ah, welcome back, Ichigo. How was the World of the Living?" Captain Aizen asked almost as soon as Ichigo materialised behind him.

"Same as ever. Turns out it's only been about six weeks since I died there… Who knew?" Ichigo said with a shrug as his Captain turned to face him.

"Ah, yes… Not many people are aware of the different temporal resonance each realm has. I imagine it was quite a shock to you." Aizen spoke, a warm smile on his face as he adjusted his thick-framed glasses. "I don't mean to be rude, but how did the mission go? I'd very much like to hear about what happened."

"Oh, yeah… Right. I suppose I do need to tell you what happened, huh?" Ichigo said, scratching the back of his head nervously.

He was the Lieutenant of Squad Five. Captain Aizen had selected him to be his Lieutenant because of his skills. He had also recommended to the Head Captain that Ichigo take point on the mission to the World of the Living for the very same reason. He was a little worried about having to tell his Captain that he had let him down.

"That would be ideal, yes. Come, step into my office. We can discuss the mission over a cup of tea." Aizen put his arm around Ichigo as he ushered his Lieutenant towards his office.

As Ichigo entered the Captain's office, he was offered a seat in front of Aizen's desk. He sat down and watched as Aizen poured two cups of tea.

"So, what happened? Was Captain Kurotsuchi right when he said the culprit was a Hollow?" Aizen asked, looking at Ichigo as he took a sip of his tea.

"Well, not exactly… Turns out the most likely guilty party were a group of people known as Bounts." Ichigo began.

"Bounts?" Aizen repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I don't believe I've heard of such a thing before. What is a Bount?"

"From what I was told, a Bount is a spiritually aware human that can live forever by consuming the souls of dead humans. Apparently, humans have been known to refer to Bounts as vampires." Ichigo explained.

"An immortal human? How intriguing… Where did you learn of this?" Aizen questioned.

"I actually ran into one of the Bounts by happenstance. She was trying to escape them when she ran into me… Literally." Ichigo said, rubbing his head in the spot where it had hit the concrete the first time Yoshino ran into him.

"I see… Then what happened?" Aizen took another sip of his tea, beckoning Ichigo to do the same.

"Well, that's where things get… Complicated." Ichigo said, looking at his Captain, who raised an eyebrow.

Ichigo spent the next hour telling Aizen all about what happened in the World of the Living, starting with the meeting with Maki Ichinose and Koga in the hospital, to his fight with Utagawa and Grimmjow, followed by his subsequent rematch with Ichinose, and ending with what happened at the Bount Mansion and the disappearance of Yoshino.

"I see…" Captain Aizen stood up and poured himself another cup of tea. "What do you make of all this, might I ask?"

"Honestly, Captain, I don't know. The fact that the Bounts had cleared out of their mansion and Ichinose ambushed us leads me to believe the Bounts had been tipped off to our presence. Logically speaking, I'd assume Yoshino to be the one who told them, as she was one of the few people who knew about our being there… But that would make no sense, given the fact she willingly told us everything about her comrades." Ichigo explained.

"It would seem you're questioning the validity of the information given to you by the informant, as well as their motivations for telling you what they know. That's good, you're learning quickly. However, there is one thing that I'm curious about…" Captain Aizen began.

"What would that be, sir?" Ichigo asked, looking at his Captain with confusion.

"You said 'one of the few people who knew about our being there'. That would suggest others knew as well. Would you mind explaining that to me?" Aizen asked, his smile now gone, his face now had a look of interest. "And before you try to make up some elaborate fabrication, just know I've been at this a long time. I learned a lot about the art of deception, thanks to my former Captain."

"Ok, Captain, I haven't been entirely truthful with you…" Ichigo began, holding his hands up. "There was someone else who knew we were there… Well, three someones, to be exact."

"Let me guess; Kisuke Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi and Yoruichi Shihōin?" Aizen said, as he put his cup back down and returned to his desk.

"Wha-? How did…? How did you know that?" Ichigo asked in shock.

"When you mentioned three people knew, it wasn't hard to figure out. Those three have been on the run from the Soul Society for decades." Aizen explained.

"Yeah, they mentioned they were no longer welcome in the Soul Society… Something about being in the wrong place at the wrong time?" Ichigo said, remembering what Kisuke said to him.

"Really? Is that what they told you?" Aizen said, letting out a humourless chuckle. "No, no, my dear boy. I'm afraid they've been lying to you. Would you like to know why they are on the run? Kisuke Urahara murdered my former Captain and several other Captain and Lieutenant Class Soul Reapers."

Ichigo merely looked at Aizen, his jaw hanging open. Aizen took this as a sign to continue.

"You see, Kisuke Urahara was the Captain of Squad Twelve and the founder of the Department of Research and Development. He was always curious about the unknown and would devote most of his time into experiments. It was soon after he became Captain, he made a terrifying creation. An object that is capable of turning Soul Reapers into Hollows, and vice versa. He called it the Hōgyoku." Aizen explained, looking at Ichigo, who seemed more and more surprised as he learned more.

"Several decades ago, Kisuke Urahara was experimenting on citizens of the Rukon District, trying to turn them into Hollowfied beings. It took us about nine years to catch him in the act, but during that time, he murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent souls in the Rukon. At one point, the Head Captain sent a team of Soul Reapers from Squad Nine to investigate. When the team arrived at the site where all the souls had vanished, Tessai Tsukabishi, with his knowledge of Kidō, used a Forbidden Kidō to trap the members of the squad in place so Kisuke could experiment on them. Only one from that team made it back alive that night, none other than Kaname Tōsen. The only reason he survived was due to the intervention of my Captain, and several others. Unfortunately, while they were able to save Kaname, they lost their lives. Kaname was able to make it back to the Seireitei and inform Head Captain Yamamoto. The next morning, we found and arrested both men." Aizen retold the story of what happened to his former Captain and several other Soul Reapers.

"No way… Kisuke didn't seem like the evil mad scientist type. He seemed nice to me. Hell, if you told me Captain Kurotsuchi was involved, I'd believe that." Ichigo said, thinking back on his meeting with the man in question. "But there is one thing I'm curious about; how does Yoruichi fit into this?"

"Ah, yes… Captain Shihōin was guilty by association. It was none other than her who broke into the chambers of Central 46, where she proceeded to assist the two criminals escape from justice. Her actions inevitably sealed her fate too." Captain Aizen looked at Ichigo before carrying on. "Ichigo, that individual who killed that Bount and almost killed you… That… Arrancar, as you called it; I have reason to believe it was a creation of Kisuke Urahara's."

"No, that… That's not possible… He never made any mention of Kisuke, nor did Kisuke make any mention of the Arrancar. When I told him what it was, he looked just as confused as I was." Ichigo said, shaking his head.

"That's all well and good, Ichigo, but let me ask you something; was it coincidence that Kisuke Urahara just happened to come across you after you nearly died that night? Do you really think he and Tessai just somehow managed to be in the exact same area as you when you were attacked?" Aizen asked, causing Ichigo to think for a moment.

"But that wouldn't make any sense though. I mean, why target me? What reason would Kisuke have for wanting me dead? He doesn't even know me." Ichigo said, earning an agreeing nod from his Captain.

"Alright, then perhaps you can tell me more about your father. He was once Captain of Squad Ten, but he disappeared almost twenty years ago. Why did he keep the knowledge of him being a Soul Reaper from you, if he knew you could see spirits?" Aizen looked at Ichigo once more. He could see his Lieutenant was giving his words some serious thought.

"Well, Dad told me he never really believed in spirits and that I was just making it up. He claimed that because he couldn't see them, they weren't real." Ichigo said, recalling an argument he had with Isshin one night when he was late home for dinner because he was helping out a spirit.

"Interesting… Are you familiar with power transferral?" Aizen asked.

"No, not really… Wait are you saying Kisuke stole my dad's powers?!" Ichigo asked in disbelief.

"No, no… Although that wouldn't surprise me. It's likely that your father lost his powers because of something Kisuke Urahara did. Perhaps he had no knowledge of it, or perhaps he gave them up willingly, who can say?" Aizen said with a shrug.

To Ichigo, this revelation hit him like a freight train, but to Aizen, however, this was simply another move in his little game to try and coerce Ichigo into joining him. Aizen knew exactly who was behind the deaths of his former Captain and the other Soul Reapers, and how Isshin had lost his Soul Reaper powers, but he wasn't about to tell Ichigo the truth.

To Aizen, this was a game of chess, and while there were still many pieces in play, and there were still countless moves left to be played, Aizen already had Ichigo in 'Check'.

"If there is anything you wish to discuss with me, my door is always open to you. If that is all, you are dismissed for the day, Lieutenant." Aizen said, his usual warm, kind-hearted smile was on his face again.

"No, that was all. Thank you, Captain." Ichigo said as he stood up and headed towards the office door.

"Oh, Ichigo…" Aizen said, causing Ichigo to turn and look back at his Captain.

"Keep this little talk between us. Most of the Captains and other Seated Officers who were around when this happened are still ashamed of how easily they were fooled by Kisuke Urahara. They'd prefer to keep that night buried away and never discuss it again; especially the Head Captain. So, as far as anyone else is concerned, we never had this conversation." Aizen looked at Ichigo, who simply nodded in return.

"I understand, Captain." Ichigo bowed one more time before leaving the Captain's office.

So… Gin decided to pick Grimmjow for the mission. Odd, I never would have expected him to do that… Aizen thought as he poured another cup of tea, making a mental note to ask Gin about his choice.

###

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Tatsuki? What if Dr. Kurosaki is still grieving?" Orihime asked as her best friend dragged her down the street to the Kurosaki Clinic.

"Would you relax, Orihime? Isshin is cool. He's not the sort of guy who'd simply clam up and become a hermit because he lost his son. When his wife died, he was like a rock for his kids; he'll be fine." Tatsuki said dismissively as they reached the Kurosaki Household and knocked on the door.

"Oh, would you look at that, no-one's home. Well, we tried. Let's go!" Orihime said after there was no answer within five seconds.

"Would you cut it out, Orihime? This might be our only way of finding out how to contact Ichigo. Don't you want that?" Tatsuki asked, grabbing Orihime by the collar of her blouse and pulling her back by her side.

A few moments later, the door opened and standing at the door was none other than Isshin Kurosaki.

"Well, I've been wrong before…" Tatsuki mumbled to Orihime, upon seeing the sight of the Kurosaki patriarch.

Isshin Kurosaki was a mess. His hair was scruffy and unkempt, his beard was very, very messy, he had bags under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept in days and he was incredibly pale. In one of his hands was a mug of coffee and in the other was a TV Remote. He was wearing a white bath robe and a pair of pink slippers.

"Oh, hello girls. Fancy seeing you here. What can I do for you?" Isshin said; his voice was weak and croaky. Tatsuki assumed this was the first time he had spoken in days. "If you're looking for Ichigo, I'm afraid he's not here right now… I'm sure he'll be back soon." Isshin's eyes began to water slightly.

"Ah, jeez…" Tatsuki whispered. She was sorely regretting coming to see Isshin now. She had no idea he was like this. "Actually, Isshin, that's why we're here; we wanted to talk to you about Ichigo."

"Really, what's wrong? Is he failing his classes at school? Oh, I told that boy he should spend more time focussing on his studies and not going out to run errands for the family." Isshin said, shaking his head sadly.

"No, that's not it… Look, I'm just going to level with you. We saw Ichigo yesterday. He was… Different. He was wearing this black robe and carried a giant sword with him. Uryū told us he was something called a Soul Reaper." Tatsuki said, and upon hearing the words 'Soul Reaper' Isshin dropped the mug of coffee and the TV Remote.

"A… A what? I'm afraid I don't know what that is." Isshin said, trying his best to feign ignorance.

"C'mon, Isshin, you really expect me to believe that? Your reaction would beg to differ." Tatsuki said, raising an eyebrow.

"What, that? Oh, don't be silly, Tatsuki! That was just… Just… That was just because I got a shock from the remote for the TV. You know how 'shocking' those batteries can be, right?" Isshin replied, laughing weakly.

"Tatsuki, I think we should just go… Maybe Uryū had better luck with his dad…" Orihime whispered, watching as Isshin bent down to pick up the broken coffee cup and the remote.

"Yeah, alright… Sorry to bother you, Isshin." Tatsuki sighed in defeat.

"Oh, it's no problem girls! Say, if you see Ichigo on your travels, be sure to let him know that dinner will be ready soon. I think Yuzu is making his favourite!" Isshin said as he waved to the two girls as they left the Kurosaki Residence.

"Man, what happened to the Isshin from nine years ago? That guy was rock solid. But this guy? Pfft, a stiff breeze could knock that guy over!" Tatsuki said, shaking her head.

"He's in denial, Tatsuki. You know the five stages of grief; the first stage is denial." Orihime said, helpfully.

"Yeah, I know, I know… I just… I don't know, after Masaki's death, I thought nothing could break the guy, but I guess losing your only son at such a young age would be enough to break anyone." Tatsuki replied as they walked down the street. "I can only hope Uryū had better luck…"

###

Uryū rubbed the bridge of his nose before putting his glasses back on and sighing. Talking with his father proved difficult at the best of times, but trying to talk to him about his Quincy heritage and the death of his mother? Uryū knew he had a mountain to climb.

Shaking his head, he walked through the sliding doors of Karakura Hospital and made his way towards Reception. He was greeted by a young female nurse.

"Oh, good afternoon, Uryū!" She said with a bright smile. "How can I help you today?"

"Good afternoon, is Ryūken in his office?" Uryū asked, nodding at the nurse.

"Hmm, let me see…" She turned to a computer and began typing things into it. "Ah, yes! His afternoon is mostly free! He has surgery to perform in a few hours, but you're more than welcome to go see him!"

"Thank you." Uryū nodded once more and made his way towards the elevators. He entered one and hit the button for the top floor.

After a few minutes, the elevator dinged and Uryū got off and walked down the hallway. Right at the end, there was a pair of large wooden doors, which had the name 'R. Ishida – CEO and Director of Surgical Operations' on a golden plaque in the middle of one of them. Uryū knocked and waited for a response.

"Enter." The response came. Uryū simply rolled his eyes at how blunt his father was and opened the door.

Ryūken Ishida was sat behind his desk, examining a patient file for his upcoming surgery. He always liked to spend several hours preparing, it was one of the reasons why he was one of the best doctors in all of Japan.

"Uryū…" Ryūken regarded his son with a narrow stare, before returning to his file. "What do you want? I'm busy."

"Nice to see you too, Ryūken." Uryū replied coldly.

"Is that anyway to address your father? Show some respect." Ryūken snapped, placing the folder on the desk and closing it. "I'll ask again; what do you want."

"Answers." Uryū demanded, getting a rise from Ryūken. "I want to know more about what happened to mother nine years ago."

"You already know what happened; she fell into a coma then died three months later. There's your answer." Ryūken spoke, an icy tone evident in his voice.

"I know that much, but did you know that on the day mother fell into a coma, Ichigo's mom died?" Uryū asked, causing Ryūken to scoff.

"Of course I did. As much of a bumbling imbecile Isshin is, he's still my friend. I went to her funeral, so I left you with Sōken, remember?" Ryūken looked at his son, wondering why he was asking these questions.

"Yes, I remember… It was the only time you willingly let Grandfather look after me. That aside, you don't find that coincidental? That on the same day Ichigo's mom died, mother just so happened to slip into a coma?" Uryū asked, examining his father's actions, trying to get a read on him.

"Why the sudden interest in this, Uryū? You've never been one to talk about your mother's passing, or anything to do with Ichigo Kurosaki, or his mother." Ryūken questioned, looking at his son more intensely.

"Very well, I'll simply cut to the chase; Ichigo Kurosaki is a Soul Reaper and I believe that such an occurrence is more than mere coincidence. To become a Soul Reaper, one must possess a large amount of spirit energy. Considering that fact, and the fact that we come from a long line of Quincy blood, it stands to reason someone in Ichigo's family had large quantities of spirit energy that were passed on to him." Uryū said.

"Don't tell me how spiritual lineage works, Uryū… Remember who Sōken entrusted with the Quincy Cross. I know more than enough about how the spirit world works." Ryūken countered dangerously. He didn't like where this was going.

"Then you, of all people, must know that there's more to what happened nine years ago, other than mere coincidence!" Uryū said, raising his voice slightly.

"Watch your tone with me, boy. I'm not some half-wit imbecile like that Asano boy you go to school with. Don't talk to me with such disrespect!" Ryūken growled.

"Then just answer my questions! Is the death of mother linked to the death of Masaki Kurosaki?!" Uryū yelled.

"Of course it is! You'd be a fool not to know that!" Ryūken snapped, slamming his hands on his desk, causing the room to grow silent for a few moments.

"What happened? It was a Hollow, wasn't it?" Uryū asked; his voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"No… A Hollow was not responsible. It was someone closer to home…" Ryūken said, not looking up from his desk. "Tell me, have you ever heard of the Kaiser Gesang?"

"The Emperor's Song? Sure, it's a tale in Quincy History that makes mention of a sealed King." Uryū replied, recalling what his Grandfather had told him when he was a child.

"Then tell me what the tale pertains to…" Ryūken demanded, more than asked.

"According to the tale, once the seal has been broken, the King would regain his heart after 900 years, his intellect would return 90 years later, followed by the return of his powers nine years after that. What does this have to do with anything?" Uryū asked. He knew Ryūken despised his Quincy bloodline, so why was he trying to quiz Uryū on a tale from their history?

"Precisely, and the way the King regains his powers is by taking them from Quincy that are deemed 'impure'." Ryūken explained, looking at his son again, hoping he could connect the dots.

"Right, but what does a tale from Quincy History have to do with anything?" Uryū asked, causing his father to sigh.

"You really are a fool, aren't you, son?" Ryūken said coldly. "Both your mother and Masaki Kurosaki died as a result of losing their powers."

"What?" Uryū whispered. He couldn't find the words to form a proper reply. "But then that means…"

"Yes, Masaki Kurosaki was a Quincy. An Echt Quincy at that. Once upon a time, we were arranged to be married, as I am also an Echt Quincy. Arranged marriages between Echt Quincy were common, in order to keep the already dwindling bloodline 'pure'. Instead, she ended up marrying Isshin, while I ended up marrying your mother, who was a Gemischt Quincy." Ryūken began.

"Does Dr. Kurosaki know his wife was a Quincy?" Uryū asked.

"Such a stupid question… Isshin Kurosaki was a Soul Reaper. There's your connection to Ichigo. His father was one of them." Ryūken snapped. "Now stop interrupting, if you want me to tell you the truth."

Uryū simply stared at his father, who took it as a sign to continue.

"What happened to Masaki and your mother was tragic, and one of the reasons why I lost faith in the Quincy name. They died, because some bastard King decided they were 'impure'. So he took their powers and their lives. Your mother would have died immediately, were it not for her powers. Masaki, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. The reason she died, was because she lost her powers battling a Hollow long ago, and Isshin gave up his powers in order to save her life. Since she had no powers to lose, the Quincy King took her life instead. Kanae was a different story. Since she still had her powers, after the King took them, she fell into a coma. She remained there until the effect of losing her powers was too much for her body to cope with, and she died." Ryūken had sat back down in his chair, taken off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

"I don't understand… If Masaki was an Echt, why was she killed? I thought the Quincy King only took power from those he deemed 'impure'." Uryū asked, trying to wrap his head around what he was being told.

"You're right, but Masaki married and had kids with a Soul Reaper. In his eyes, she was just as impure as your mother, or any other Gemischt Quincy for that matter." Ryūken said, putting his glasses back on.

"So, what you had said about not embracing the Quincy life because there was 'no profit in it' wasn't true?" Uryū asked.

"No, that part is still true, much like what I said about you having no talent for the craft. But the main reason is because I refuse to believe in a King who so callously executes his own kind simply because of their blood, or who they share their souls with, and I want you to have no part of that either." Ryūken glared at his son before picking up the file on his desk once more. "Unless you have something else to discuss, you can get out. I have an operation to prepare for."

Uryū merely shook his head and left his father's office, slamming the door behind him for good measure. Ryūken simply scoffed and began going over the patient file again.

###

"Argh, come on! Why the hell can't I get this right?" Renji yelled, looking at his hands.

"You're not focussing enough, Renji. Look at where you want it to go, and focus only on that." Izuru said, trying to help his friend.

"Oh, yeah, thanks Izuru. That's great advice. What other pearls of wisdom have you got for me?" Renji replied dryly.

"Jeez, Renji… Izuru's only trying to help. Don't bite his head off!" Momo scolded the redhead.

"Well, sooooorry! I can't help it that I'm struggling to focus. First Ichigo graduates after one year, and now this?! You know what this is, right? It's bullshit!" Renji growled, dropping to the ground in a huff.

Renji, Izuru and Momo were all over at the Academy Training Field, helping Renji practice his Kidō. Needless to say, it was not going well.

"Knock it off, Renji. You're acting like a child. So what if you're struggling at Kidō? Izuru's not exactly the best at Zanjutsu, and I'm not the greatest at Hakuda. Everyone has their weak points. You're good at Zanjutsu, so just stick to improving at that." Momo said, sitting next to Renji, with Izuru on the other side.

"Tch, that's easy for you to say… You're not the one who's getting left behind." Renji scowled.

"What are you talking about, Renji? No-one's getting left behind. Look, if you're that worried about it, why don't you just ask Ichigo for some help when he gets back?" Izuru suggested.

"Yeah, that's a great idea! I'm sure Ichigo would be more than happy to help you out, Renji! Why don't you ask him?" Momo said, with a bright look on her face.

"Nah, why bother? He's too busy playing 'Mr. Big Shot Soul Reaper' to help someone like me." Renji grumbled.

"Well, if you're going to act like that, you can do it on your own." A familiar voice spoke from behind the trio, causing them to turn around. All three of them saw Ichigo walking over.

"Hey, Ichigo! You're back!" Izuru beamed, standing up and bowing to his friend.

"ICHIGO!" Momo yelled in excitement, as she stood up, took three steps, leapt into Ichigo's arms and gave him a deep, passionate kiss as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Wow… That's certainly unexpected…" Renji said, trying his best not to stare at the couple openly making out in front of him. "Ahem!"

Momo heard Renji clear his throat in order to get her attention, resulting in her climbing down from her boyfriend and smiling like a goof.

"What? I missed him. It's been like a month." She said, looking at her two friends, who were simply grinning.

"Hey, we didn't say anything…" Izuru said, holding his hands up.

"Heh… It's been a month for you, but only three days for me. How have you all been?" Ichigo said, smiling.

"Yeah, we've been good. Well, Momo and I have at least. Renji's been a grump for the past few days now. Ever since…" Izuru said, looking at Renji, who merely sighed.

"What, what's happened?" Ichigo asked, looking from Izuru, to Renji then to Momo.

"Oh, well, apparently, if Renji can't improve his Kidō by the end of the month, he'll be forced to remain in the Academy until he improves. He says that his instructors have all but given up on him and refuse to teach him. So he's a little bummed out." Izuru said.

"Oh, so that's why he's being such a grump. Look, Renji, I don't mind taking some time out of my days to help you… Unless you'd rather have me doing my 'Mr. Big Shot Soul Reaper' stuff instead?" Ichigo teased, causing Renji to turn red from embarrassment.

"Yeah, about that… I'm sorry, Ichigo. I just thought that, what you now being in a Squad, you'd forget all about us. I guess it kinda stung when you graduated after just one year." Renji said, looking down at his feet.

"Why, Renji? Everyone has different talents. Momo and Izuru are good at Kidō, and you're good at Zanjutsu. Don't be ashamed that someone is better than you at something." Ichigo said, trying to cheer his friend up.

"Yeah, but you're good at everything! Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō… You get the idea. Why can't I be good at everything like you?" Renji said, still sulking.

"Look, man, don't worry about it. You think I'm the best at everything? Think again. Captain Unohana is the best Kidō users in the Soul Society; Captain Soifon is one of the best Hakuda Masters around, and Captain Zaraki's skills with a blade and his raw spiritual power… Well, it's terrifying. Even Captain Kyōraku is considered to be the best swordsman in the Soul Society. The only one who can outclass all others in every field is the Head Captain himself. You can't be the best at everything, Renji. Even if my growth rate and talent is excellent, there's always going to be someone better than me, like Captain Aizen." Ichigo said, hoping that would lift Renji's spirits.

"What's Captain Aizen like, Ichigo? I've always wanted to meet him!" Momo said, tugging on Ichigo's sleeve.

"He's a really nice guy. He's always willing to assist me with my training and will always be ready to give me a push in the right direction so that I can perform my duties as a Lieutenant and a Soul Reaper more efficiently." Ichigo said with a smile.

"Ohh, he sounds so cool! I can't wait to graduate and join Squad Five with you, Ichigo!" Momo said, hugging her boyfriend's arm.

"Yeah, I agree. Captain Aizen sounds really nice. He even does a Calligraphy Class at the Academy, and it's so popular with the students, that some have to sit outside in the hallways because the classes are packed!" Izuru said with a smile.

"What about you, Renji? It sounds like Squad Five would be the place for you to go if you want to get better at your skills, since I'm sure Captain Aizen would be more than happy to help you." Momo said.

"Ah, what the hell! Sounds good to me, but I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Right now, I need to practice my Kidō, so that I don't get left behind!" Renji said, with a renewed sense of determination.

The four friends were all about to take a break for the morning, until another Soul Reaper Lieutenant arrived by way of Flash Step.

"Excuse me, Lieutenant Kurosaki? I hate to interrupt your day, especially since I know you just returned from a mission earlier this morning, but would you come with me? There's something that requires your assistance." Ichigo turned around and saw none other than Nanao Ise standing before him, the large book she carried with her still in her hands.

"Oh, hey Nanao. What's the matter? I'd be more than happy to help with whatever it is you need. Did Captain Kyōraku pass out in the Squad Eight Fountain again?" Ichigo asked.

"No, not today. I think he's doing his paperwork – stress the word 'think'. I asked Third Seat Enjōji to watch over him until I return, but Captain Kyōraku always finds a way to wriggle out of his duties. Last time, he had a recording of someone writing on paper and turning pages that he played on a loop while he went out drinking with Lieutenant Matsumoto. I don't even know where he got something like that from." Nanao sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.

"Damn, Captain Kyōraku sounds like he knows how to party." Renji said, earning a disapproving look from Nanao.

"I'd advise you keep such comments to yourself, Mr. Abarai. The last thing I need is Academy Students encouraging him or trying to emulate him." Nanao said.

"Uhh, right… Sorry, Lieutenant Ise." Renji said, bowing in apology.

"That's alright. Now, Lieutenant Kurosaki, if you please?" Nanao gestured for Ichigo to follow her.

"Oh, right. Lead the way, Nanao. I'll see you guys later!" Ichigo waved before following Nanao with Flash Step.

"See you, Ichigo…" Momo said, sounding dejected.

"What's the matter, Momo? You'll see Ichigo later." Izuru said.

"Yeah, I know, it's just… Well, he only just returned and now he's off again." Momo sighed.

A moment later, Ichigo returned, much to the confusion of his friends.

"I almost forgot…" Ichigo began, before putting an arm around Momo's waist and pulling her in for a deep, lingering kiss. After several long seconds, Ichigo broke the kiss and look at Momo. "I'll see you later." He smirked and lightly kissed her on the tip of her nose, before vanishing again.

"Okay, now I'm satisfied." She said as she turned to her two friends, smiling like a goof once again.

"Well, well… Aren't you a woman pleaser?" Nanao said with a slight grin as Ichigo caught up to her.

"Ah, what can I say? She hasn't seen me in a month. I figured I owe her a little bit of affection." Ichigo said with a smirk as the pair raced across the Seireitei.

###

Over at Squad Three, Captain Gin Ichimaru was going over some paperwork that his Third Seat had given him. Having no Lieutenant certainly made his job more difficult, but he managed all the same. He was so engrossed in his duties, that he didn't hear the door to his office open and close.

"Ahem!" The visitor cleared his throat, causing Gin to look up from his desk.

"Oh, good morning, Captain Tōsen! Or is it afternoon? I can't tell; I've been locked in this stuffy room all morning!" Gin said, fanning himself with a Squad Expense Report from their last mission.

"It's still morning, Gin. Captain Aizen wishes to speak with you." Kaname said, his sightless eyes looking out the window Gin had installed just for him.

It was a cruel joke, but Gin always found the humour in the fact that every time Kaname came to his office, he'd stare at the exact same spot on the wall, so he decided to put a window there. Every time he'd enter his office, Gin would always chuckled to himself; something that Kaname never seemed to notice.

"Oh, really? Well, can you say 'saved by the bell'? I was just looking for a reason to stretch my legs." Gin said, standing up.

"Not now. This evening. The usual meeting place." Kaname said, not moving as he spoke. Gin thought he was talking to a statue that had been given the ability to talk.

"Ah, I see… One of those meetings? Very well, I'll be there, Kaname! Don't you worry about that!" Gin said, flashing the man a smile, even though he knew the Squad Nine Captain wouldn't see it.

Captain Tōsen merely nodded before leaving Gin's office Gin sat back down and returned to his paperwork.

"Hmm, this is much too boring. I wonder where I put those playing cards…" Gin said to himself as he began to rummage through his desk. "Ah-ha! Found you! Let me see… Perhaps I'll build the Eiffel Tower today… Hmm, no, that's much too easy… Ooh! I know! Let's build Buckingham Palace! I've always admired the Queen of England. She has such nice dogs…"

###

Ichigo and Nanao had arrived at their destination, and it confused Ichigo greatly.

"Uhh, Nanao? Why are we outside the Squad Six Barracks?" Ichigo asked.

"I don't know the specifics, I was just asked to escort you here, as Captain Kuchiki wishes to see you." Nanao said, looking at her fellow Lieutenant.

"Huh? Captain Kuchiki? Oh, man… I hope I haven't done anything to offend him…" Ichigo said.

"No, no… It's nothing like that. Captain Kuchiki needs someone to assist him with something, and I was told he asked for you personally." Nanao said, smiling when she saw Ichigo breathe a sigh of relief.

"Oh, well that's good. I was gonna say, I've been in the World of the Living for the past three days, or a month for you guys. I couldn't have done anything recently." Ichigo said as he and Nanao walked up the steps to the main offices of Squad Six.

As he and Nanao were about to enter, they both saw Yachiru leaving with a handful of candy and a lollipop.

"Hey, Nana! Hey, Ichi! Welcome back!" She said happily.

"Lieutenant Kusajishi, what are you doing here?" Nanao asked, looking at the small girl.

"I was just visiting Byakushi's Grandpa! I wanted to talk to him about building a pool for the Women's Soul Reaper Association!" Yachiru beamed, taking another lick of her lollipop.

"Oh, please don't tell me you've already started building it again… Lieutenant Kuchiki won't be impressed, you know." Nanao said, shaking her head.

"Naw, don't worry about Byakushi, Nana! He said yes!" Yachiru said, still smiling widely.

"What? How on earth did you manage to convince him to allow that?!" Nanao cried in shock, dropping her book to the ground with a loud thud.

"Oh, it was easy! I just simply told him that Byakushi was a meanie for destroying our last pool and told him it'd be a great addition to his house! Plus, I told him it'd be a great way for Sana to relax on a day like today. Oh, and I also told him it'd be good for his old bones too!" Yachiru explained, taking a pause to shove some chocolate in her mouth.

"Ohh, please don't tell me you called Captain Kuchiki 'old'…" Nanao groaned.

"Yeah? What's wrong with that, Nana? He is old! Not as old as Gramps, but he's still up there!" Yachiru said, looking at Nanao with a confused look.

"Yachiru, you can't go around calling Captains 'old'. Especially not when they're also the head of a Noble Family." Nanao explained.

"Why not? He agreed with me. He even laughed about it." Yachiru said.

Nanao really had no words to respond to that.

"Well, I'll be seeing ya! I need to go make sure Kenny hasn't killed Baldy today!" Yachiru giggled as she walked off. "Bye, Nana! Bye, Ichi!"

"Well that was… Odd." Ichigo commented.

"That's Yachiru for you. Always so full of energy and never thinking before she speaks. Perhaps that's why everyone loves her." Nanao said with a smile. "Shall we go inside, Lieutenant?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah… Lead the way, Nanao." Ichigo said, holding the door open for the bespectacled Lieutenant.

"Oh, thank you… And they say chivalry is dead." Nanao commented.

"Nah, it's not dead, it's just some people don't know what it is. In fact, I doubt anyone in Squad Eleven knows how to spell 'chivalry'. Well, except maybe Yumichika. And I'm pretty sure Kenpachi thinks it's some form of fighting technique." Ichigo replied, causing Nanao to chuckle slightly.

Nanao led Ichigo through the halls of the Squad Six offices, finally arriving outside the Captain's office. Wasting no time, she briskly knocked on the door.

"Come in, Lieutenant Ise." Ginrei said from the other side.

"Good day, Captain Kuchiki. I have brought Lieutenant Kurosaki, like you requested." Nanao said, bowing to the Nobleman.

"Ah, thank you, Lieutenant. I appreciate you doing that for me. You are free to return to your duties. I do hope Shunsui hasn't passed out in the fountain again…" Ginrei said with a faint smirk.

"Yes, well, anything is possible for Captain Kyōraku when I'm not there to babysit him. Have a good day, Sir Ginrei." Nanao said, bowing to the Captain once more before leaving Ichigo and Ginrei alone in the office.

"Please, Ichigo, have a seat. There is something I'd like to ask of you." Ginrei said, beckoning Ichigo to take the seat in front of the Captain's desk.

"Yes, Captain? What can I do for you?" Ichigo asked, sitting down opposite Ginrei.

"I have a proposal for you, and please give it some consideration before you answer. It's… Rather unusual, but it's also quite important." Ginrei began. "Now, I will be honest, I did ask Kaien first, since he is the Shiba Clan Head, but he suggested I ask you, as you are also a Shiba."

"Alright, what did you need me to do, Captain?" Ichigo asked.

"Well, considering you've only been in the Soul Society for about a year, I'm sure you're not aware of how the Noble Houses collaborate with one another." Ginrei said, causing Ichigo to shake his head. "Indeed… Well, every year, one of the Four Great Noble Houses hosts a lavish party to celebrate the Summer Equinox. All the Heads of the Noble Families will be in attendance, as well as a few of our Captains. This year, the Kuchiki Family will be holding that distinct honour. However, there's a slight… Problem."

"A problem? I'm sorry, Captain, I'm afraid I don't follow." Ichigo said, looking at Ginrei.

"The problem, Ichigo, is that Byakuya will not be able to attend, as he is currently away on an assignment for the Head Captain; an unavoidable situation, I'm afraid. However, with that in mind, it is deemed acceptable for the Host Clan to bring in a substitute, one of Noble birth that can represent the Clan at the gathering." Ginrei explained, causing Ichigo to gulp. He had an idea where this was going.

"Let me guess, you asked Kaien and he said no?" Ichigo asked.

"Well, yes and no. As Kaien is the oldest member of the Shiba Family, he is going to be representing them along with his wife, Miyako. When I asked him if he'd be willing to represent the Kuchiki Family, he was a little hesitant, as that would mean his younger brother, Ganju Shiba, would be representing the Shiba Clan. Let's just say Ganju isn't the best fit for these sorts of events." Ginrei said, shaking his head at the notion.

"Uh, yeah… That's putting it mildly…" Ichigo muttered, thinking back to the time he first met Ganju Shiba, his other cousin, on top of Mount Koifushi. "So, if you asked Kaien and he declined, I'm guessing he suggested I fill in for Byakuya?"

"Exactly right, since your father was the Head of the Shiba Clan before his disappearance over twenty years ago you are, by right, a Shiba yourself. Add on the fact you're also a Lieutenant of a Squad, you're more than worthy of being Byakuya's substitute." Ginrei explained.

"Hmm, alright Captain, what do I need to do?" Ichigo asked.

"So you'll do it? Marvellous!" Ginrei said, clapping his hands together and smiling. "In case you weren't aware; as Byakuya's stand-in, you'll be accompanying his wife, Lady Hisana."

"Oh, really? Interesting. I'm pretty sure I'm the only Lieutenant who hasn't met her, am I right?" Ichigo asked.

"That is correct. She's a kind young lady, and a very special one too, considering she was able to melt my Grandson's icy heart." Ginrei said with a slight chuckle. "Anyway, you asked what is required of you. Allow me to give you a quick rundown. As you will be representing the Kuchiki Family, you'll essentially be the host of the event. You and Lady Hisana will arrive together and enter after all the other guests have announced. From there, you will be the one to address the crowd with a rousing speech – don't worry, I'll see to that myself – then you'll spend some time conversing with the Clan Heads of the other Houses, and finally, you and Lady Hisana will be the first ones to dance together, to properly cap off the evening."

"Huh, d-dance? Oh, crap… I, uh, don't know how to do that, Captain." Ichigo said, looking rather worried.

"Is that so…? Hmm not to worry, my boy; I'll have one of my attendants teach you how to dance properly. Just so all our bases our covered, I'll even have them teach you the proper etiquette that is expected of the Head of a Noble Family." Ginrei said with a nod.

"Thank you, Captain, but what about my Squad duties? I just returned from the World of the Living; I'm sure Captain Aizen has many things for me to do." Ichigo began, but stopped when Ginrei held up a hand.

"Again, that has all been taken care of. I was talking to Kaien this morning when Lady Miyako returned. It was then he suggested I talk to you. So, I went over to your barracks to personally ask you, but Captain Aizen told me you had just left. I explained to him what I wanted to ask of you, and he was more than accommodating. He's officially given you time off to prepare for this event and won't allow you to return to active duty until the day after the party." Ginrei explained, earning an impressed nod from the orange haired Lieutenant.

"Well, Captain, it seems you've thought of everything. Yet, one question does spring to mind; why was Nanao the one to come and get me?" Ichigo asked.

"Ah, yes, that… Well, I was just going to wait until you returned to your barracks and have Captain Aizen send you over, but I ran into Lieutenant Ise, who was more than happy to seek you out for me. Such a nice, well-mannered young lady, she is. Sometimes I think Shunsui fails to see that in her, only noticing the… Physical aspects of women, above all else." Ginrei sighed. "That is beside the point; I still haven't told you when the party is, have I?"

"No, you haven't, Captain. That piece of information would be helpful to have." Ichigo said with a chuckle.

"Indeed it would. Well, the Summer Equinox is four days from now, so we have a lot to learn in that time, don't we?" Ginrei said, leaning back in his chair.

"Four days?! Wow, that's really no time at all. Sorry, Renji, looks like your Kidō training will have to wait." Ichigo muttered.

"Hmm, what's that? Kidō training?" Ginrei asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah… My friend from the Academy, Renji, is struggling with Kidō and is worried that if he doesn't improve soon, he'll be held back until he gets better. So, I decided I'd try and fit in his training around my other duties." Ichigo explained.

"Ah, I see… Well, how about a compromise; you can spend the next four days preparing for the party, and I'll personally see to your friend's Kidō training." Ginrei said, causing Ichigo to look at Ginrei with shock.

"Y-You're serious?! Wow, thank you, Captain Kuchiki! Renji is going to be thrilled to have a Captain as his teacher!" Ichigo said, standing up and bowing to the Squad Six Captain.

"No need to thank me, Ichigo. It's the least I can do for you; this event is very important for the Kuchiki Clan, our honour and reputation is at stake. The next time you see your friend, be sure to send him over to my office when he has a spare moment. We'll start immediately, and I suggest you do the same. Plus, it'll be a good opportunity to get acquainted with Lady Hisana." Ginrei said.

"Of course, I'll go let Renji know the good news, and then I'll get started. Thanks again, Captain Kuchiki! See you around!" Ichigo called out, as he left the office in a run, causing Ginrei to smile.

"It's so good to see the young ones so energetic and full of life." Ginrei said with a smile as he returned to his paperwork.

###

"Fucking stupid Ulquiorra and his fucking smartass attitude. That asshole claims he wants to help me, yet he refuses to tell me what the fuck that stupid book says! Fuck that prick!" Grimmjow yelled as he stormed down the corridor of Las Noches.

Ulquiorra had given Grimmjow a book that had belonged to Nelliel, 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, but it was all in Chinese, which Ulquiorra had refused to translate. Now Grimmjow was pissed off even more and still had no idea what secrets the book held.

"Hey, you! Dickhead!" Grimmjow yelled at an Arrancar that had walked past him in the corridor.

The Arrancar who Grimmjow had so eloquently referred to as 'Dickhead' sighed and turned around. He was a slim Arrancar with scruffy black hair, which was partly braided in a ponytail and had golden eyes. His mask fragment took the form of a Sabre-Tooth Tiger's skull that sat on top of his head.

"What do you want, Grimmjow." Ggio Vega asked, looking at the blue haired Arrancar.

"You know how to speak Chinese?" He asked, causing Ggio to scoff.

"What the fuck kind of question is that?" He countered, causing Grimmjow to scowl.

"Because, asshole, you're wearing clothes that closely resemble that of someone from China, and the only reason you'd willingly wear that would be because you have some sort of connection with that place." Grimmjow reasoned, earning a surprised grunt from the other Arrancar.

"Very perceptive, Grimmjow." He said in a mocking, sarcastic tone. "Even if I did know how to speak Chinese, what makes you think I'd teach you?"

"Look, asswipe, I've got a book here that's all in Chinese and I can't fucking read it, and since Ulquiorra is being some kind of 'moral, code of ethics' wanker, he won't translate it for me, so I figure you could do it instead." Grimmjow said.

"Huh, you have a book that's written in Chinese? What is it, some kind of porn magazine you found?" Ggio taunted with a condescending smirk.

"Get fucked, Vega. It's a book, an actual book. Don't believe me, see for yourself." Grimmjow growled as he pulled the book out from the waist of his pants and handed it to Ggio, who looked at it in shock and awe.

"H-How did…? This is an original copy of Master Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'!" He exclaimed, examining the book carefully. "Where did you steal this from?"

"God, I'm going to beat the shit out of you in a minute… It's not mine. It belonged to Nelliel before she… You know." Grimmjow muttered, causing Ggio to simply nod in understanding.

It was no secret to all in Las Noches that Grimmjow had feelings for Nelliel, and all knew what he was capable of when someone teased him or made inappropriate comments about her. Even Baraggan told his Fracción to mind what they said around the volatile Arrancar.

"Alright, fine. I'll help you, but as long as I get to make a copy of this for myself. I've always wanted to have my own copy, transcribed from Master Sun Tzu himself." Ggio said, staring at the ancient book with an excited grin on his face.

"Yeah, whatever, just as long as you help me read it and don't damage it, got it?" Grimmjow growled, grabbing the Sabre-Tooth Arrancar by the scruff of the neck as he spoke the last two words.

"Yeah, sure… No problem, buddy!" Ggio said, putting his hands up defensively.

"Fuck off, Vega. Just because I'm letting you help me, doesn't mean we're friends…" Grimmjow replied. "Just get started, I don't have all day."

Both Ggio and Grimmjow headed back to Grimmjow's room, where the pair would start to decipher the secrets left behind by the legendary Chinese General.

###

Sōsuke Aizen hummed as he walked down the large flight of stairs to his hideout. Since Ichigo had returned, he believed it would be beneficial to have a meeting with Gin and Kaname, both of whom were waiting for the man as he arrived.

"Ah hello, Gin. Kaname." Aizen said with a nod as the two Captains returned the acknowledgement.

"Good evening, Captain Aizen. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Gin said, sitting on a table, kicking his legs back and forth.

"Well, Gin, since Ichigo has returned from the World of the Living, I thought it would be prudent to touch base and see how things were going." Aizen explained, taking a seat in a nearby chair.

"Oh, I see. Tell me, how did my prize fighter do against your venerable Lieutenant?" Gin said with a large smile on his face.

"Yes, I wished to discuss that with you; why did you select Grimmjow, of all people?" Aizen asked.

"Well, I thought it'd be a good idea to select someone who loved a good fight and wasn't afraid to get their hands dirty. Grimmjow seemed to fit that bill perfectly." Gin replied, nodding.

"I see… Were none of my Espada worthy enough to accomplish this task?" Aizen said with a slight grin.

"Oh, it wasn't that. I just thought Grimmjow would be a good candidate. Plus I figured I could test his loyalty to you. I'd say that he passed. What do you think, Captain Aizen?" Gin said, looking to his former Commanding Officer.

"Just what are you trying to imply, Gin? That Grimmjow is suitable for a place among the Espada?" Kaname said with an air of disgust at the idea of Grimmjow becoming and Espada.

"That's a great idea, Captain Tōsen! I think Grimmjow should be promoted to an Espada! Don't you agree, Captain Aizen?" Gin said, his signature wide grin spreading across his face again.

"He has accomplished his mission admirably and it was vital to our future endeavours… A great suggestion, Kaname; Grimmjow shall become my Sixth Espada." Aizen said with a nod.

"Ooh, number six? Grimmjow is going to be thrilled by such an honour!" Gin said, applauding the blue haired Arrancar, despite him not being present.

Kaname wanted very much to protest Aizen's decision, but he knew better than to question his master when it came to his plans and judgements. Kaname, instead, simply nodded in agreement.

"Now the interesting part; it seems Ichigo has come into contact with none other than Kisuke Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi and Yoruichi Shihōin. For the time being, I have managed to keep the situation under control by telling him Kisuke Urahara is a villain and that no-one is to know about what happened. It is unlikely he'll move against us, but if he does, I've managed to plant the seeds of suspicion in Ichigo's mind. That will do, for the time being." Aizen said, pressing his fingertips together.

"What of the boy's Inner Hollow, sir?" Kaname asked.

"Oh, yes, Grimmjow said that–" Gin began, only to be stopped by Aizen.

"I'm well aware of what happened, Gin, thank you. Ichigo already told me everything. It's very good that he's been able to trust me so quickly. From what he told me, the process should be underway, although it's hard to say how long it'll take for his Hollow to fully mature. I can't risk subjecting him to the Hōgyoku right now. Not until I get my hands on Kisuke Urahara's one and combine the two. Should I do it now, we run the risk of having him perish as a result of 'Soul Suicide'." Aizen explained, tapping his index fingers together.

"So, what do we do in the meantime? It's not like Kisuke will just give it to us if we ask nicely." Gin said, frowning.

"Not to worry, Gin. I'm currently working on a plan that'll get us what we want. In the meantime, go about your normal duties and I'll keep a close eye on Ichigo. I've currently given him time off in order to assist Ginrei Kuchiki with a Noble Party that's coming up soon." Aizen commented.

"Would it be too soon for Ichigo to start learning Bankai? Maybe an explosive increase in his power will help speed things along with his Hollow?" Gin suggested.

"It is certainly an avenue I'm considering. Again, this whole situation boils down to a simple 'wait and see' circumstance. After Ichigo resumes his training in a few days' time, I'll see if he's capable of learning Bankai…" Aizen said, leaning back in his chair, creating a myriad of plans and counterplans in his mind.

Being a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Sōsuke Aizen was certainly no pushover when it came to combat, and his Zanpakutō's Shikai was especially frightening. However, the most terrifying aspect of Sōsuke Aizen wasn't his strength, or his Shikai; it was his intelligence.

In moments, he would be able to plan out an idea and have multiple solutions to any and all scenarios that might come into play. If one tried to think of any way to undo Aizen's plans, Aizen would have already considered that idea and created several options that would result in his victory.

Sōsuke Aizen was truly a frightening man.

###

After agreeing to be Byakuya's stand-in for the Kuchiki's Summer Equinox Celebration, Ichigo had returned to the Academy to inform his friends what was happening.

Izuru was surprised but happy that Ichigo got to attend a Noble Family's party.

Momo was upset that she couldn't go with him, but was still nonetheless happy for her boyfriend.

Renji, on the other hand, had passed out from shock when he heard he'd be receiving Kidō training from Ginrei Kuchiki himself.

Once Ichigo had told his friends what had been asked of him, he immediately left and made his way over to the Kuchiki Manor. He knew one of Ginrei's attendants would be waiting for him and it'd be bad form for him to show up late, especially since Ginrei was going to all this trouble just to help him,

Ichigo had arrived outside the main gates of the Kuchiki Manor, where a short, old man was waiting for him. He had short, grey hair and a long grey beard. He was wearing a set of white and blue robes with a gold medallion. Both the robes and the medallion had the insignia of the Kuchiki Clan. Upon seeing Ichigo, the old man shuffled over to Ichigo. Ichigo was about to greet the old man, until he was smacked over the head with a large stick.

"Oww! What the hell was that for, dammit?!" Ichigo yelled, clutching his head in pain.

"You're late! Unacceptable!" The old man screeched.

"What are you talking about? I'm right on time. Captain Kuchiki told me to be here at this time!" Ichigo replied, confused.

"Unacceptable!" The old man hit Ichigo again. "This isn't your Squad's barracks! You will address the Head of this House as 'Sir Ginrei' or not at all! To answer your first question, I shall give you your first lesson; if you're on time, you're late. Always remember that!"

"Right, right… I got it. So, who exactly are you?" Ichigo asked, looking at the old man.

"I am Daisuke Yamato; Head Attendant of the Kuchiki Clan and attendant to Sir Ginrei himself. You are Ichigo Shiba." Daisuke said, more than asked.

"Uh, actually, it's Ichigo Kurosaki…" Ichigo began.

"Silence!" Daisuke screeched, whacking Ichigo again. "As you are attending a Noble Family's party, you will be addressed as a Shiba, for they are Nobles themselves. Ahh, I have my work cut out for me, Sir Ginrei." Daisuke sighed and turned towards the gates and entered the compound. "Follow!"

Daisuke led Ichigo into the Kuchiki Manor and what Ichigo saw inside floored him. The manor was exquisite; the walls were painted pure white, with intricate and highly detailed patterns acting as a border between the walls and the ceiling. The floors were polished hardwood; so well polished, in fact, it was as if Ichigo was walking on a brown tinted mirror. There were marble statues on pedestals along each side of the hallways and large paintings and tapestries hung from the walls.

"Wooooow…!" Ichigo breathed, taking in the sight before him.

"As this is your first time inside the Kuchiki Manor, I will allow that uncivilised reaction, but only once!" Daisuke warned, holding up his stick as he carried on down the hallway. "Since you shall be accompanying Lady Hisana to the event, I believe it would be sensible to allow the two of you to get properly acquainted."

Ichigo continued to follow Daisuke through the house and into a large garden with a Koi pond. Over in one corner, there were several attendants digging a large hole in the ground. Ichigo couldn't help but smirk at what they were doing it for.

"Yachiru's pool…" Ichigo commented.

"Yes, I received a message from Sir Ginrei to begin preparations for Miss Kusajishi's pool. I'm sure Lord Byakuya won't be pleased, but at least she got permission this time… The amount of times both of them have ruined this garden, I'm glad Sir Ginrei has finally put a stop to it once and for all." Daisuke said, shaking his head.

The pair walked over a small, wooden bridge that crossed a small stream that connected the large Koi pond with a smaller one on the other side of the garden. Ichigo couldn't help but smile as he saw two large Koi fish, swimming down the stream together.

On the other side of the garden was an isolated building that had large sliding doors that open all the way, exposing the entire front of the building to the scenery of the garden and the cool breezes that came with it.

"This is where Lady Hisana spends most of her time while Lord Byakuya and Sir Ginrei are at work. Wait here while I announce your presence to her." Daisuke said, holding up a bony, wrinkled hand.

Ichigo watched as Daisuke opened one of the doors slightly, entered then quickly closed it. A few seconds later, he saw Daisuke reappear, beckoning him to come over.

"Lady Hisana, may I present to you Master Ichigo Shiba, your partner for the Kuchiki Summer Equinox Party, who is standing in for Lord Byakuya, at the request of Sir Ginrei!" Daisuke declared, summoning Ichigo into the room. "Be sure to bow to her when you address her!" He whispered in Ichigo's ear, holding up his stick to reinforce the point.

"Good afternoon to you, Lady Hisana." Ichigo began, bowing before the Lady of the Manor, causing Daisuke to nod. "It is an honour to–" Ichigo suddenly stopped when he looked at Hisana properly for the first time. "RUKIA?! What are you doing here?!" He shouted, taking a step back.

"FOOL! How dare you address Lady Hisana in such a disgraceful way!" Daisuke screeched, whacking Ichigo with his stick once again.

"Please, Master Daisuke, stop!" Hisana called out, causing the old man to freeze as he was about to hit Ichigo again. "How do you know that name?" She asked calmly, looking at Ichigo. Ichigo noticed there was something that looked like hope in her eyes.

"Huh? You mean Rukia? She's one of my friends from the Soul Reaper Academy. Why do you ask?" Ichigo said, seeing Hisana's eyes start to sparkle with joy.

"She… She's my sister!" Hisana whispered, causing Ichigo to look at her with shock.

###

A/N; Surprise, motherfucker! I bet you weren't expecting an update from me so soon, huh?

Yes, Ichigo has returned to the Soul Society and already his life is as chaotic as ever! Returning from a tiring mission, only to be thrown into a Noble Party by Sir Ginrei! I thought this would be a cool thing to do, as it'd allow Ichigo to meet with some of the Captains and learn just how interesting ritzy parties can be. If you don't like the idea, well, sorry.

Uryū finally learns the fate of his mother and Masaki, and why Ryūken hates his Quincy Heritage. Plus, Isshin is a total mess, and in denial. Poor guy. We'll see more of Ichigo's friends later on, as they start to take a bit of a presence in the story.

Looks like Grimmjow finally found someone to help him with that book of his. I cannot take credit for that. All credit for the idea of introducing Ggio to the story should go to SnowyAssas1n. Bravo, again!

Speaking of Grimmjow, I'm sure some of you are like 'What the fuck, yo? All he did was beat up Ichigo a little bit. Why is he getting promoted to Sixth Espada already?' Well, the reason for that is simple. I have BIG, HUGE plans for Grimmjow later on, so having him become the Sexta Espada is really a moot point. It's merely just to line up with Canon before I diverge to a path of my own.

That's another point I wanted to make; my links to Canon. I really shouldn't need to tell you this, but I will, since some people have left reviews telling me my story is wrong, because it differs from Canon Material… It's a fucking Fanfic, alright? Why in the hell would I just re-write the exact same story Tite Kubo has done? Yeah, some things are the same here as in Canon, but that's just to give you a baseline as to where it'd be in regards to Canon. I shouldn't have to say this, but I guess I do now. I'm writing something that borders on AU, because most of the things that happen here are my own ideas, blended with Kubo's or they're simply Kubo's ideas redefined to suit my own purposes. There, rant over. Let us not have to do this again. Please?

Back to the topic; Ichigo and Hisana meet, and Hisana finds out her sister is alive and well, and studying to become a Soul Reaper! Does this mean the two sisters will finally be reunited? The answer is yes, because I always wanted to have a story where Rukia and Hisana were reunited and living together as a family again. So there's that.

Daisuke Yamato was my own creation. I just thought it'd be funny to have an old man screech at Ichigo for being 'unbecoming' for someone from a Noble Family, and hit him with a giant stick for the exact same reason. Also, I picked Daisuke as 'Dai' means 'Great/Large' and 'Suke' means 'Help'. Rather appropriate, considering he's Sir Ginrei's Head Attendant and serves the man personally, don't you agree.

Once again, Aizen doing what he does best; planning and manipulating. Let's see just what happens with that as the story progresses, shall we?

Before I get into reviews for this Chapter, I'd just like to thank all who have Favourited and Followed this Story. You are the reason I write this, so thank you for all the love and support! In just six days, this story has garnered almost 2,000 hits and that is absolutely incredible (At least, it is to me!). Thank you all so much!

Right, I think that's everything, time to do the reviews!

Antex-TheLegendaryZoroark; I'm pleased you enjoyed this. I know you have questions, but let me ask you one; Who's 'Shiro' and 'The Old Man'? Do you mean White and Zangetsu? As for what happened to Ichigo, well… You'll just have to wait and see, hehehe…

Zaraki Jaegerjaquez; Did… Did you just call Ichigo a Nazi? I don't know whether I should be confused or insulted. I'm not 100% sure what 'Alemania' means, so I really don't know what you mean. Although, I got a laugh out of you calling most English-speaking people 'Potato Couches'. I love it! The term is 'Couch Potato', by the way. That being said, you do have good English skills, friend!

SnowyAssas1n; I won't lie; I really didn't like the Bount Arc, but since that's the only one that took place in the World of the Living for the most part, I figured I'd just throw it in there somewhere, y'know? Well, like I've said, I have BIG plans for our favourite blue haired Arrancar, so keep reading to find out what that is! Once again, thank you for suggesting Ggio to be the one to help Grimmjow out. I know he didn't get much of a part in this Chapter, but at least he's now in it, right? Hope you were pleased with his small role.

Chayner; Y'know, I never really thought of his Quincy Heritage as motivation for adding that ability to his repertoire. I just thought it'd be a neat, unique idea of mine that is better than just firing off a condensed charge of spirit energy. Plus it is like an 'Ultimate Move', meaning it can't be used like eight times in a row, like his normal Getsuga, so there's that.

SnoopDoDoubleG; Good, as I never write a Chapter with less than 10,000 words. 10,000 is my minimum, so you can always guarantee my works will be really, really long!

ZeroSquadSephiroth; Thank you! It took me ages to come up with the title. The description, however, was all Snowy's idea. He came up with it in one try and it was too incredible not to use, so credit to that goes to him!

Fathira; Don't worry, I won't forget about Momo. The only reason she's taking a back seat right now is because Ichigo is a Soul Reaper, and she's still in the Academy. Their paths would rarely cross until she becomes a Soul Reaper too. Not sure how I'm going to go about that though… I'll think of something!

Pyrofoxxxx; No, I think you got confused with something. This is a Fanfic meaning it doesn't have to reflect Canon in every aspect. I'm well aware Aizen had those cloaks when he attacked Isshin in the World of the Living. Secondly, I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about when you mention the flow of time. Aizen went to Karakura to create the Ōken, and to do that, you need 100,000 Souls and a Jūreichi 1 Spirit Mile in Diameter, which just so happens to be in Karakura, but Kisuke moved the real town to the Soul Society in an attempt to slow him down. Ichigo was in the Dangai for three months, only because time moves 2,000 times slower in there, relative to the World of the Living. To Ichigo, it was three months; to Aizen, it was only an hour. Ergo, you're wrong. Also, the Soul Society has been in the Feudal Era for Millennia, as the Head Captain has been alive for over 2,000 years and it was the same then as it is now. The Feudal Era of Japan encompassed the Kamakura Period to the Azuchi-Momoyama Period, and that was from 1185-1603. After that came the Edo Period, which some Districts of the Rukon are said to imitate anyway. Point is, the 'Feudal Era' only lasted 418 Years, while it's always been like that in the Soul Society. Translation; You don't know what you're on about, it's called a fucking setting for a reason, it has nothing to do with the flow of time, and (As good Ol' Chopper Read would say) you're a fuckwit.

Colbet11; Yes, it was the longest Chapter to date, as I couldn't stop writing stuff, unless I severely reduced the quality of my writing and that's not about to happen. I still hope you enjoyed it. As far as things go, the Arrancar will only be appearing in small roles until the story moves to Hueco Mundo and Las Noches. Then they'll become more prominent and the Soul Reapers will be in the more minor roles. It's a shame you find Keigo annoying; I like him. He's a lot like Kon; comic relief. Since Kon won't be in this Fanfic (sorry everyone who loves him), I figured Keigo would be a suitable replacement. But, you can't please all tastes. At least you weren't a dick about it, like some people. Yes, the 'special room' is something of a recurring theme. All that BDSM stuff will be more prominent in Las Noches, which I'm sure you knew, if you read all my other A/N's. All in all, I'm pleased you're satisfied and I hope you keep enjoying what I create!

That's all from me! I hope to have the next Chapter up in about a week! This one took me like 2.5 days, so I'm hopeful that it might be sooner. Depends on how busy I am with work.

Pastasaurus, out!