Chapter Twelve

Going Home... Almost

Squad One Barracks, Captains' Quarters, Three Days Later...

Raymond turned toward Nick and the rest of his family minus Jasmine. "The last time I saw Lora, she said she was going to visit you at the Visored base," Raymond said, his eyes falling on Tabitha. "That was twelve days ago."

"Twelve days!" Raymond exploded. "And you still haven't tried to figure out where the fuck she is? What the hell is wrong with you, Raymond?"

"Mom, calm down! Captain Barrett has other, more important duties than just to make sure his Lieutenant gets to her social visit. Now, where do we start looking?" Nick scolded his mother, smiling internally at the expressions Tabitha's face took.

"Y-y-you're right, Nick. I'm just worried about her. Lora in like a daughter to me, and without her life seems like it's missing something."

"Oh, mom. Are you sure there has been no kind of ransom note, random traces of her Spiritual Pressure, anything?"

"No. No such events have occurred. What should we do? We have to find her soon, or something even worse could happen."

"I agree," Nick nodded, looking at his father, mother and Katie, who was holding the twins. "Mom, dad, I'm sorry we can't stay longer and help at the moment, but right now, Jasmine needs some support, and Katie and I can be spared. When everything with Jasmine has been finished, we'll come back and help look. Captain, I'll be back." Nick saluted Raymond while him and Katie left the office.

After the teens' departure, Raymond looked back at his friends. "I am sorry to delay your plans of going home, but if anyone could help me with Lora's disappearance, it would be you. You guys are the only ones who know her as much as I do myself, and Tabitha is the only one who knows more than I due to the bond they share."

"Thank you, Raymond, but right now we have to figure out a way to find Lauren and get her back." Elias said, earning nods from his wife and friend before they began thinking about what would happen next.

Squad Four Barracks, Infirmary Room 12...

Nick, Katie and the twins entered the room to see Jasmine with James next to her and Captain Highwind ushering in a newcomer. The new person, a woman that looked around Tabitha's age, had auburn-colored hair and a pair of six-pointed star-shaped hairclips on the borders where her long hair framed her face. The Squad Four captain nodded towards Jasmine, Katie, Nick and James, saying. "This is her. Jasmine, guys, this is Orihime Inoue Ishida, and she's the one we sent for to see if we can help you out."

"Hello. It's great to meet you. Now, which one of you is the one I'm here for?"

Jasmine cleared her throat. "Me, ma'am."

"Alright. So, what exactly is the situation?"

"Well, a few days ago most of my family was kidnapped by an Arrancar. I was the only one left at the place we were staying when my brother," She nodded towards Nick. "Came home and found me lying on the floor unconscious. My Zanpaku-to was lying next to me, broken in half. I can still sense my Zanpaku-to's separate Spiritual Pressure, but everyone we've asked says that the sword itself can't be fixed." Jasmine explained.

"Hmm. Well, where are the pieces of the sword?"

"They're right here, Mrs. Ishida," Highwind said, handing her the two pieces of Jasmine's Zanpaku-to. "How is your husband, by the way?"

"Uryu's just fine. He wanted to come along, but sadly, the new hospital he's opening in Meteor Heights rescheduled it's opening ceremonies for today, so he could not join me in being here for a couple days, but he'll arrive sometime later, most likely. He may have to open a hospital, but he still wants to be a good father to his children unlike his father was to him. Now, let me see what I can do," She placed the two pieces on the bed adjacent to Jasmine's and said. "Soten Kisshun, I reject!" As she said this, one third of each of her hairclips sprung forth, encircling the broken sword in a bright orange light.

Nick looked on in wait, along with Katie, Isabella, Kairi, Jasmine, Squad Four Captain Highwind and James. I hope this works. He thought.

With Rangiku, Gin and Riku...

Rangiku pushed Riku on the swing in the park close to the Visored base. The baby boy laughed as he swung back and forth. Suddenly, Gin appeared next to Rangiku. "Ran, I thought you ought to know that Orihime is here." He told her.

Rangiku turned to him sharply while still pushing her son. "Really? Why is she here? Why is she even in America?"

"Well, she's here to try and help out Tabitha's daughter with her Zanpaku-to, I hear."

"That's good. If anyone who would be able to come and help Jazz out, it would be Orihime. So, how did your little hearing with Captain-Commander Unohana go?"

Gin's eyes opened and widened in shock. "I actually thought I wouldn't be afraid of her anymore, but it seems that I was sadly mistaken. Her eyes... And that smile," He began cocking his head to the side. "Thank Ichigo I don't have to see that smile again." His voice sounded shaken and terrified.

"Oh, come on! It can't be that bad." Rangiku argued, hiding a smirk.

"You were never looked at with that smile because you never gave her any trouble. Every Captain, except for probably Toshiro, has been looked at with that smile, and freaked the fuck out! Even Ichigo got the look once, before he went and finished off Aizen."

"Please, Gin, do not mention that name to me. You don't know how long it was after that final battle that Momo went insane for him again. It drove Toshiro crazy before she finally snapped out of it and they got together."

"They actually got together? Wow, what a surprise. But, they aren't anymore, right? Toshiro is with Ichigo's little sister, isn't he?" Rangiku nodded. "I actually thought they would have to kill Hinamori off in fear of her becoming a threat. It's good to see I thought wrong."

"Well, enough of that, Gin. Go and visit with someone. We'll be going home soon enough, and you may never get another chance to see them again. I'll come find you when we're about to leave."

Gin sighed as he kissed his wife. "Alright, I'll go see how Byakuya is. God only knows he still owes me for getting Kenpachi off of his back during the whole 'Execution of Rukia Kuchiki' incident."

"Well, go have fun. Tell him I say hello as well, will you?"

"Of course I will. See you later." With that, Gin Flash Stepped away from the park.

Back At Squad Four Barracks...

Nick was now sitting outside of his sister's room next to James, Nick holding each of his daughters in his arms. Suddenly, the door opened and caused Nick to jump as Captain Highwind came out. "So... Is there a verdict?" The seventeen year old asked, worried about his sisters' situation.

Tony smiled at the concerned sibling. "We were able to repair your sister's Zanpaku-to," Nick jumped up in excitement at the good news. "But, there's still a small problem."

Nick looked at the Captain of the Fourth Squad straight in the eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Well, your sister's Zanpaku-to is fixed and she can fight with it once again. But, the Zanpaku-to's own Spiritual Pressure cannot be found. Orihime tried everything she could, but the Spiritual Pressure wouldn't come back. We expect it to just replenish itself slowly over time, but that may not be the case. So, until we can determine what has happened with her Zanpaku-to, I would like you to keep a close eye on her. I will keep her here to hone her healing skills so she can stay away from the front lines, but you have to make sure she doesn't get herself killed if she has to be put on those lines of battle. Can I count on you to do this for me?"

"Of course, sir. Jasmine is my sister, and I would rather die than allow any of my family to make that sacrifice, no matter if the situation is accidental or not. But, in your professional opinion, Captain," Nick looked away to hide the tears that were forming in his eyes. "What do you believe happened to Jasmine's Zanpaku-to spirit?"

"Well, Nick, you and I both know that I nor anyone has all the answers. If I had to guess, I would say that Jasmine's Zanpaku-to spirit has fled somewhere in order to keep itself alive. It could have also separated from Jasmine's soul entirely. But I would rather take the former, because there has to be a third party behind the scenes for the latter to occur."

"Would we be able to deduce which option has actually happened?"

"There may be a way, but your mother has made specific instructions not to hand any of your family to the Twelfth Squad as long as Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi is still here. All I have to say about the matter is: If the spirit of Jasmine's Zanpaku-to really has abandoned her, then we'll have a battle on our hands. A really big battle that could change the Soul Society forever."

"How so?"

"Don't push the knowledge of what I know, Nick. It may make that certain conflict happen sooner rather than later if you were to know. Now, go get some rest. Jasmine will be staying here for the night under observation, just in case her condition suddenly worsens during the night. Plus, I believe your girlfriend would like to see her daughters again after not having them with her for most of the day."

Nick nodded. "Yes. Thank you, Captain Highwind. I'll come by tomorrow to bail Jasmine out of the infirmary." Tony laughed at the joke as Nick left the Squad Four barracks with his daughters.

A/N: Finally got done with Chapter Twelve of this story. For those of you who have read my new Bleach fan fic Hollows Within, thank you for being patient with this story for updates. Now, this one is close to being done, I am confirming that 100%. And, if anyone who reads this story has seen the newest seasons of Bleach to be released in Japan, you probably know where the next installment is going. Anyone who gets the answer right without having to go to an anime streaming site or a Wikipedia website just to figure it out gets a mention at the beginning of the next installment. Now, I believe this story will have only one chapter left. Maybe two, but I wouldn't count on it. Alright, there probably will be a second chapter to finish this one off, but I don't know yet. It all depends on how I end the next chapter.

Next Time: The mystery around Jasmine's Zanpaku-to spirit disappearing will be revealed, as well as the arrival of an old 'friend' of Ichigo and the other Japanese Soul Reapers who just might be the catalyst between this new situation. Arrancars are not going to be Part IV, so don't expect another Arrancar to appear. The first one died so quickly the others couldn't possibly know what happened to him. It also doesn't help that the previous Arrancar went to the Soul society on his own accord. Alright, until next time.