Binding Contract

Chapter 11: A Different League

Gin stared at Rangiku. He had a few moments before he was supposed to report to Satoru, so he was cleaning up and changing clothes his quarters. Rangiku had been told to stay with him. At the moment, she was staring at the wall. Gin smirked and looked away from her.

Rangiku immediately looked at him. "What?" she asked. She hated when Gin laughed and she did not know why. It usually meant that he knew something she did not. After not receiving an answer, she probed further. "What is it, Gin? Why are you laughing?"

Gin shook his head. "I ain't laughin'. I'm snickerin'," he said. He snickered again at the look on Rangiku's face.

"Gin..."

"Fine, fine." He leaned forward from his position. "When did ya achieve it?" he asked.

Rangiku's eyes widened slowly. Then she looked away from him quickly. "Achieve what?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Ran-chan. I can tell when yer lyin'. Ya can't hold water when it comes ta me," Gin said with another snicker. "So, when did ya achieve it?" he asked again.

Rangiku sighed. "A few weeks after I was fully-healed," she said with a sigh. "I haven't told anyone yet, not even Hitsugaya-taicho. So keep your mouth shut, Gin. I mean it."

"I ain't gonna tell. Eventually, you'll hafta use it in battle. Don'tcha practice with it, too? Ya gotta master it some time," Gin said. "Well, I gotta go see mah boss. Gonna walk me?" he asked with a smile.

"Isn't that my job right now?" Rangiku stood up and followed him out. After a few moments of silence, she looked up at Gin. "How'd you figure it out?"

"Ya made it so obvious." Gin looked down at her. "Ya released without the command."

Ichigo sighed as he sat down next to Rukia's bed in the Fourth Division. Her eyes fluttered open and she took in the sight of Ichigo. Smiling, she sat up. She noticed his somewhat pensive expression and her smile disappeared. She picked up a pen and paper which had been sitting beside her bed. She scribbled something down and held it up for Ichigo to see.

After reading Rukia's message, he sighed again. "I saw one of those mask-less Arrancar in the transient world." His hand moved to his neck, remembering the feel of the chain strangling him. "There were two. One with a mask and one without. The one with a mask was so fast; faster than me."

Rukia raised an eyebrow. She wrote again and held up her message. "Faster than you using Tensa Zangetsu?"

Ichigo shook his head. "You know Satoru's feelings on me and my bankai. His speed was incredible. He was only the Octava, though. The mask-less one... She was in a totally different league altogether."

Rukia wrote something again. "A different league?"

Ichigo nodded. "I'm pretty sure she could've made sport out of the one I was fighting. She seemed to be ranked higher than him, too." He narrowed his eyes. "How long before you can talk again? I hate reading your scribble... Ow!"

Rukia sat her pad down after she dealt Ichigo a blow. She crossed her arms and looked away from him.

"Just a few more days, Kurosaki-san." Unohana had entered the room. "It isn't that Kuchiki-san can't speak; I have just bound her from doing so until her vocal chords have healed sufficiently. She'll be able to yell at you in a few days."

Ichigo turned to see the elder shinigami moving towards Rukia to check on her. "Thanks, Unohana-san," he said.

"It is nothing, Kurosaki-san. My job is to heal."

"Only to heal?" Ichigo cleared his throat. "You must be a very good fighter, too. Right?" he asked.

Unohana smiled as she finished up with Rukia. She faced Ichigo. "I had to learn how to handle a zanpakuto as well, Kurosaki-san."

"Any good with it?" Ichigo asked, smirking at the woman.

Unohana stared at him for a moment. Then she chuckled to herself as she started to saunter past Ichigo. "There is a reason I am feared, Kurosaki-san." She opened the door to the room. Before she stepped out, she glanced back at Ichigo. "You have never wondered what the reason is?"

Gin stood before Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Satoru. He was giving his account of his "visit" to Aizen's compound in Hueco Mundo. The two men listened attentively while Satoru appeared bored. She only seemed to be paying attention at different points of the report. When Gin was finished, they all looked at her. Seeing that she had nothing to say at that moment, Ukitake looked back at Gin.

"I don't understand why he would just send you back. Did he want you to tell us of the new Espada or something?" he asked.

Gin shook his head and shrugged. "I'm just as clueless as you, Ukitake-san. But, I can tell ya about the Espada in detail now that I've seen all of'em," he said. Everyone looked back at Satoru, who simply waved her hand. Gin nodded. "Well, there's ten, of course. The top five are all mask-less. There's four ladies and six guys. The biggest thing I noticed about them is the discrepancy of power between the fifth and sixth and the first and second."

"Discrepancy of power?" Kyoraku asked.

Gin nodded again. "It was so great. The difference between them was strange. I guess Aizen wanted me ta relay all this to ya; a scare tactic, maybe."

"Scare tactics? That seems mighty... novice for Aizen. What do you think, Midori-san?" Ukitake looked at Satoru. "Does that make any semblance of sense to you?"

"No," Satoru said simply. "I do see what he meant by the 'discrepancy of power,' though. The one with green hair was far superior to the one she was sent to retrieve. Pity I never got her name..."

"Zeppelin. She's the Quinta Espada," Gin said. "Believe it or not, she seems ta be the weakest of the top five," he said.

"The weakest, eh? Was the difference that great, Midori-chan?" Kyoraku asked, looking back at her. Satoru gave a slight nod and Kyoraku whistled. "Seems like we got a tough one ahead of us."

"Between her and the Primera, how great was the difference?" Ukitake asked.

Gin appeared thoughtful, as if searching for the right way to explain it. Then he snapped. "I have a feeling that the Primera could beat all the Espada simultaneously if she felt the need. The gap between her and the Segunda, the one who beat me up, is ridiculous."

Satoru stared at Gin for a moment. Then she crossed her arms. "Ichimaru, do you know anything about Aizen's zanpakuto?" she asked.

"About Kyoka Suigetsu?" Gin's simply smiled. "What do ya wanna know? Maybe I can help."

"A weakness. No zanpakuto is omnipotent." Satoru drummed her fingers on her arms. Kyoraku laughed to himself. Satoru moved her eyes to him. "Something to say, Shunsui?"

Kyoraku cleared his throat. "Well, your zanpakuto's powers are pretty omnipotent."

Satoru smiled at him. "Only in bankai, dear." She glanced back at Gin. "Well?"

Gin tapped his chin. "Well, there is one thing he told me when I was a kid..."

"She did not wear a haori?" Aizen was also interrogating Ferrol and Zeppelin. Ferrol shook his head. "By now she knows I know who she really is."

"I'm pretty sure she knows that as well," Zeppelin said. "The way she conducted herself around the others was indicative of her status. She even managed to best Ferrol in terms of speed."

Ferrol bristled at this accusation. "She was not faster than me." He glanced up at Aizen. "She had some weird power. It made me mixed-up and queasy at the same time."

Aizen looked away from them, in deep thought. Mixed-up and queasy? She apparently used her zanpakuto's powers. It might be illusory. But what kind of illusion it projects is the question, he mused.

"Determining her zanpakuto's powers, strengths, and weaknesses is a secondary goal. Right now, there is another objective; one that must be revisited."

Harribel swung the door to Orihime's apartment open. She glared at the new visitor, waiting for them to say something. Instead, he seemed to be in awe of her presence a little. With a roll of her eyes, Harribel let out a barely audible sigh. This seemed to snap the kid out of his trance.

"Uh, I'm looking for Inoue Orihime. She still lives here, doesn't she?" he asked.

Harribel continued to size him up. "And just who..."

"Uryū!" Orihime pushed her head past Harribel's left side. Nel was on Harribel's right side. Both were smiling at the young man. Uryū, feeling the slightest bit intimidated, stepped back a bit. Although Orihime and Nel were smiling happily at him, Harribel's glare outweighed both.

"Is there something you need?" Harribel asked irritably.

Uryū swallowed and looked away from Harribel and back at Orihime. "I just came to check on you. I was feeling an odd reiatsu around here," he said. He noticed Harribel about to say something and shook his head. "I know your reiatsu. This was an unfamiliar one. You didn't feel anything?"

Harribel stepped to the side to allow Uryū inside. They went to Orihime's living room and sat down. Nel and Orihime watched the hard glances that Harribel and Uryū were exchanging and continued looking between the two.

"What's going on?" Nel asked.

"What was this unfamiliar reiatsu you speak of?" Harribel asked, ignoring Nel for the time being.

Uryū cleared his throat. "There was a pretty powerful reiatsu hovering over this place. I have been checking on the building every now and then to see if I could catch whoever it is. I never see them."

Harribel nodded. "Hmm... They seem to avoid my pesquisa quite easily. Nelliel, have you noticed anything?"

Nel shook her head. "Not since we first came," she said.

"Wait a minute. What's going on? Someone's been spying on us?" Orihime asked. She looked between the other three. They all just exchanged glances. Orihime crossed her arms. "Hey! You can tell me! It's not like I'll just turn to mush or anything."

Uryū nodded. "I think someone might be targeting you again."

"Is that true, Harribel? Is that why you and Nel are here?"

"Yes. Urahara and the soutaicho asked us to watch over you. Whoever is watching you seems content to hide in the shadows for now." Harribel sighed. "It is only a matter of time before they decide to act."

"What do you mean?" Nel asked.

"They won't sit by idly forever. They're watching and waiting for something. We just don't know what it is yet," Uryū said. "Don't worry. You have enough protection, Orihime."

Orihime nodded slowly. She had thought that her days of a target were long gone. That apparently was not the case. Who or what could possibly want her now? "Any ideas on who might want to hurt me?" she asked, not really caring who answered her.

"Who else?" Nel mumbled.

Satoru sat watching the other seniors talk amongst themselves. She herself was thinking deeply and only half-listening to them. Gin's information had been most helpful indeed. He had given the secret to Aizen's zanpakuto.

Well, at least there's a way around it. But how would you take advantage of it? You'd have to be fast as or faster than Aizen. Then there's the fact that one under his zanpakuto's influence would not even realize when it was activated, she mused.

"Midori-chan, what are you thinking?" Kyoraku asked. "Have any ideas on what to do with this information Ichimaru gave us?"

Satoru smirked. "While Ichimaru's information was very helpful, I'm not the one who really needs it. I'm not under such a... spell. I think this information is most useful to you all." She leaned back in her seat.

"If all we have to do is touch the blade, that's fine. However, that seems to be far easier said than done," Ukitake said.

"That's true. Our only hope is to trust in someone who isn't under its influence." Kyoraku looked at Satoru. "Think you could be our eyes, Midori-chan?"

Satoru stared at him blankly before smiling. "I would if I could, Shunsui. However, this Kyoka Suigetsu controls all five senses. Even if I were to yell at you all, who says you would be able to hear me. Or how would you know that Aizen isn't making you believe that I am him and you attack me instead? I believe that was the case with Hinamori-fukutaicho."

"She draws a valid point. Hearing is one of the five senses. Still, everyone sans Midori-san of substantial power is under the influence of Kyoka Suigetsu. It'll be hard to devise a plan around it. We don't even know when Aizen could activate it," Ukitake said.

"You two did not take into account my own zanpakuto's abilities. Aizen may not know the complete mechanics of it, but through his subordinates' accounts, I'm sure he has a general idea. His zanpakuto screws with what you perceive as reality. My zanpakuto does the same, but in a totally different way." Satoru began to stand. "And unlike his zanpakuto, NO ONE knows the way around it. The only person who did is dearly departed. Good day, gentlemen. We will continue this at a later date. I believe Kurosaki is awaiting my presence."

Hiyori was back in Satoru's office. She was doing paperwork. She would occasionally glance over at Gin, who had his feet propped up and was staring out the big window in the office. Rolling her eyes, she next set her sights on the flame-headed boy waiting for her superior to return. Ichigo sat fidgeting like a child.

I wish Satoru-san would come back. These two are working my nerves, she thought angrily. No sooner had her thoughts finished then did Satoru come sweeping in the office. Hiyori looked up immediately, sitting her pen down.

Satoru smiled over at Hiyori. "It is nice to see you well, Sarugaki-fukutaicho." She took notice of the stack of paperwork on her desk and frowned. "You haven't been doing the paperwork alone, have you?" she asked.

Hiyori crossed her arms. "Ichimaru is too dense to do anything, Satoru-san," she said.

Satoru nodded and glared at Gin. He simply shrugged innocently. "Ichimaru, you get paperwork duty for the next three weeks. Hiyori-chan is going to help me whip Kurosaki into shape." She ignored Gin as he began to protest. Instead, she turned towards Ichigo and beckoned him forward. "Let's go, Kurosaki. Hiyori-chan, take him to the training fields. I will be down shortly."

Hiyori left with Ichigo. As soon as the two were gone and the door shut behind Satoru, she glanced over at Gin. He was retrieving the paperwork from Hiyori's desk. When he made it back to his own desk, he smiled up at his superior as she approached him.

"Your information was very helpful, Ichimaru," Satoru said.

"I only aim ta please, Satoru-san." Gin leaned forward. "But don'tcha wonder why Aizen-taicho sent me back here?"

"No," she answered with a shrug of her shoulders. "Should I be wary, Ichimaru?"

Gin's smile faltered for a moment or two. Then he shook his head, the smile reappearing. "I s'pose not, Satoru-san," he said.

Satoru nodded and turned to head to the door. "By the way," she opened the door, "Aizen isn't your TAICHO any longer." She disappeared through the door.

Gin sat back in his seat. He had not even realized that he referred to Aizen as his taicho. It had been a mere slip of the tongue, as it had been habit for him to do so for almost 100 years. He assumed that Satoru had not taken it to mean anything and was only warning him that others might not take it so lightly.

That woman really is somethin' else. Everyone else woulda been yellin' treason from here ta next Sunday, he thought. He glanced down at the paperwork and sighed. Now I know why Ran-chan is so reluctant to do this stuff...

Grimmjow let out a long, loud sigh. Everyone in Urahara's underground facility looked his way. He ignored them and kicked a rock away from him.

"What's your problem?" Ulquiorra asked, not really caring to hear the answer.

"It's boring down here. Why are we being kept down here like some prisoners? We haven't done anything wrong... yet," he said.

Stark glanced over at him. "You say that as if you plan on doing something wrong," he said to Grimmjow.

"I haven't planned on it. I'm just tired of being cooped up in this sandbox. I ain't a cat."

Yoruichi could hear the moans and groans of the ex-Espada. He did have a point. They were being held as though they were captives. They were not allowed out of the store; Nel and Harribel being the exceptions since they were helping protect Orihime. She stood from her position next to the trap door leading to the underground room and headed to Urahara.

Urahara spoke to her without even looking up at her. "Something on your mind, Yoruichi-san?"

"The Espada are getting restless down there. Well, at least the Grimmjow one is. Even though they are hollows, I don't think we should keep them down there like prisoners," Yoruichi said.

"A point you have made, Yoruichi-san. Nel-chan checked in with me the other day. She said that they have noticed a suspicious reiatsu following Orihime-chan around," Urahara said.

"They haven't confronted this person?" Yoruichi asked.

"I suppose it would be difficult to do so if this person kept in the shadows." Urahara glanced up at Yoruichi. "They can only sense this person; not see them. They aren't necessarily cloaking themselves well."

Yoruichi nodded. "Almost as if they want them to know that they're there. I don't suppose they're expecting us to seek them out if they don't attack first." She watched Urahara shake his head slightly. She sat down next to him. "Well, I'm certain that when the time comes, Harribel and Nel will take good care of Orihime-chan."

Urahara hummed to himself, tapping his fan on his chin. That part I'm not too sure about, he thought as he heard the front bell ringing. He immediately stood and went to tend to his customer.

It was not a customer.

Rangiku dropped to her knees. Her zanpakuto reformed in her hand. She was breathing heavily and sweating. She glanced around, seeing that she had caused quite a mess in the forest she was practicing in. The area around her had been flattened.

"Whoops," she whispered, putting a hand to her chest. She noticed that her scarf was gone. "Where..." Rangiku looked around frantically. The scarf was one of the things she held especially close to her.

Damnit! Where did it go? She tossed broken branches around, searching high and low for the scarf. She came to a large tree and saw it hanging off a branch. How did it get up there? She reached up for it only to have it pulled away from her hands. Frowning, she jumped up to catch it only to be denied once again.

"Very funny, Gin! Give it back!" she yelled up into the branches.

Gin poked his head out of the leaves. "How'd ya know it was me?"

Rangiku's left eyebrow twitched. "Who else would play such a childish game with me?"

"Chibi-taicho doesn't play with ya? That's no fun," Gin said as he hopped down. "I can't stay long. Satoru-san would be mad if she caught me out here."

"So why are you out here, Gin?" Rangiku asked. Gin hopped down and handed Rangiku her scarf. She immediately placed it back around her shoulders. "Well?"

"Oh! Well, I wanna see yer new trick," he answered with an impossibly wide grin. "I sensed ya practicin' out here and I came runnin'. Show me what ya got," he said.

Rangiku fingered the hilt of Haineko. Its spirit was itching to show Gin what she was made of. Rangiku knew better than to be goaded into a fight with Gin. She knew that although he was far more powerful than her, he wouldn't ever hurt her. However, Rangiku was competitive and so was he. A "friendly spar" would end up with someone in Unohana's ward.

"No. You'll see it when I use it on the bat..." Rangiku paused as she saw Shinsō extended under her chin. She looked down at it and then up at the smiling Gin. "Gin..."

"I wasn' askin' ya, Ran-chan. I could fight ya out here til I make ya release." He retracted the zanpakuto. "Ya don't wanna fight me for real, do ya?"

Rangiku's eyes narrowed. Without her even completely acknowledging it, Haineko released itself and attacked Gin in her defense. Gin seemed indifferent to the attack, but retreated nonetheless. The ash of Rangiku's zanpakuto swirled around her for a moment.

"Ya've got better control on Haineko now. I like, Ran-chan."

"Before I show you," the ash started to swirl faster around Rangiku, nearly making her invisible to Gin, "tell me why you are so interested in seeing it."

Gin shrugged lackadaisically. "No reason, really. Just ta be nosy, I s'pose," he said.

Rangiku smiled. "Nosy, huh?"

"Yeah. Nosy." Gin readied his own zanpakuto in its hidden place. Seeing how he rarely carried it out in the open, Rangiku had to wonder how he managed to fit it in his sleeve. "Don't worry, Ran-chan. I won't attack ya til you're ready," Gin said with a cheeky grin.

Rangiku's smile disappeared. He thinks he's so strong. Haineko, kick his ass.

With pleasure, Rangiku-sama.

Gin could not hear the words Rangiku spoke next. All he knew was that there was an explosion and he was included in it.

At the same moment, Orihime and Nel were walking down the street with Uryū in tow. He was glancing around suspiciously while Nel and Orihime ate ice cream and talked. There was something about the way the wind was blowing that unnerved him. It felt as though it was blowing from his back. The flags above him said otherwise, though.

What is going on? He looked at Orihime and Nel. They obviously had not noticed anything.

Just as they came to Orihime's building, the shattering of glass was heard. A body followed the falling glass. Nel pushed Orihime into Uryū, who ducked undercover as Harribel landed on the ground.

"Tia-san, what's going on?" Nel asked, searching her pockets for her soul candy. Harribel was not paying that much attention to her. Instead, she was staring up at the hole from which she came. Nel followed her glance. "Who is that?"

A green-haired woman with chains surrounding her stared down in a superior way over them. Nothing on her said "hollow" but that was obviously what she was. She seemed to take note of a few things before pointing at Nel and Harribel. A small green light began forming at her fingertip. Realizing the implications of such an action, Nel moved to grab both Uryū and Orihime to move.

"What's going on, Nel?" Orihime yelled. She turned her head in Nel's arms to see the explosion where Harribel was left.

"Will she be okay?" Uryū asked, not enjoying being in Nel's arms.

"Will she be ok? That's Tia Harribel you're talking about. One of those..." Nel slid to a stop as a heavy reiatsu hit her. She glanced ahead of her, seeing the newcomer. He was bald and was walking as if he had all the time in the world. "Who are..."

Orihime watched Nel slump to the ground. Uryū had already passed out from the weight of the reiatsu bearing down upon them. She briefly wondered why she was not feeling what they were feeling. If it was strong enough to take Nel out, then she should not have even stood a chance. She looked back up at the newcomer.

Like the other, nothing about him said hollow except his reiatsu. There was no hole or mask. He looked like the average guy; albeit one with burning red eyes. He stopped a few feet in front of Orihime and watched her with a curious eye. Then he simply extended his right hand. Orihime caught sight of the large "2" tattooed on his muscular arm.

Orihime looked at his hand and then back up at him. This scene seemed oddly familiar. She shook her head. "I am not going with you. I've already played this game once. I refuse to do it again."

Surely someone will come before he forces me. I just have to stall. But... But what if no one comes?

"It would be best if you just went to him."

Orihime turned to see the green-haired hollow behind her. She remembered this one from a few days back. There was not a scratch on her. In fact, she looked as if she had not been in a battle at all. Orihime could see slightly past her and all that was behind her was a cloud of dust and nothing more. She'd left nothing but destruction in her wake.

Tia-san... What's happened to Tia-san? Orihime closed her eyes. She could feel no one. She could not even sense Ichigo's father. Even the other ex-Espada seemed to be missing.

"Inoue-san, Jannik does not take rejection lightly. Plus, he does not like to attack women; especially ones that are clearly weaker than him."

"Zeppelin, do not scare the girl. She's already about to pass out." This one came from up above. He also had no mask or hole, but his hair was spiky and dark blue. His eyes matched perfectly. He was dusting off his frilly white shirt as he landed softly next to Zeppelin.

"Where is Brynner, Jessen? You were supposed to stay with him." Zeppelin said.

Jessen shrugged. "He'll catch up. He was having far too much fun with this purple-haired lady. I pretty much had to do all the work." He turned his attention to Orihime. "Jannik won't wait forever. He's giving you a choice, but..."

"... it really isn't a choice," Zeppelin finished.

Orihime swallowed. She now knew what happened to the others. She had no choice. She doubted they would kill her if they went through all this trouble just to kidnap her. But what is her purpose now? Soul Society would never fall for the same trick twice.

Aizen now has a use for me. But what? The red-head slowly reached out to the quiet one called Jannik. Well, at least I know he won't atta...

Orihime was pulled forward. The hollow before her smiled as she was inches away from his face. His eerily perfect teeth seemed out of place. He placed two fingers on her chest. Orihime blinked. She looked down and saw blood. She looked back up and coughed blood onto Jannik's face. He removed his hand before releasing her. Orihime wobbled for a moment before falling to the ground.

Anemoon dropped Ryūken's arm as the man slumped to the ground. Isshin was already out cold. Chad was not far from him. She could hear and sense two other beings nearby. They were not of substantial power at all, so she did not need to tend to them. She knew one was obviously aware of her presence, but the other was just scared.

"I have no intention of harming either one of you. And these three aren't anymore than knocked out. They'll live. I will leave you now. They should wake soon." With that, Anemoon walked out the same way she came: the front door.

Karin knew Yuzu had not seen what had attacked their father, Chad, and Ishida-san. Although it was not gory or particularly hard to watch, it awed her that someone so tiny could simply punch all three in the gut and render them unconscious.

Who was she? WHAT was she? Was she one of those hollows? Karin thought.

Satoru frowned. She knew Gin had left the office five minutes after she had gone. She knew he went to chase down Rangiku. What she did not know was what was going on where he was. At the moment, Rangiku's reiatsu was exceeding his, which was odd to say the least.

"Hey!" Ichigo yelled. He was holding a cut on his cheek made from a misguided horizontal strike from Satoru. "I really don't see how it's fair that in your unreleased state you fight with that sharp thing. When you are released, you fight with a piece of wood."

"A piece of wood?" Satoru's frown deepened at Ichigo's description of her zanpakuto. "Did you just call my Sakayume a 'piece of wood?' Did I hear you correctly, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo immediately rethought his words. Maybe that wasn't the best way to describe her... He was too slow to realize that Satoru was attacking him. He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for the blow she was about to give him.

The clanging of metal made even Satoru blink. She looked up to see Shinji standing between her. Hiyori had even come out of her trance. She had not sensed him arrive at all. Satoru straightened up and looked at their two zanpakuto. Then she took notice of Shinji's face.

"Spit it out."

"It would seem that we have a situation."

"One that can't be handled without my presence?"

"One that REQUIRES your presence." Shinji glanced around, sheathing Sakanade again. "Where's your delinquent fukutaicho?"

"Off being naughty with Matsumoto-fukutaicho. I shall have his head later. But what is the problem now?" Satoru said, putting Sakayume away.

"The transient world is the problem."

"What? Has it suddenly collapsed upon itself like a neutron star?"

Shinji appeared confused for a moment. "What's a neutron... You know, shut up for a moment and listen. This is really important!" he yelled.

Satoru stared at him blankly for a moment. Before he could say anything else, a hell butterfly floated between them. It obviously had a message for Satoru. She lifted her hand to receive it.

"Satoru-san, your presence is requested immediately. There has been an attack in Karakura Town." It was Byakuya's voice. Satoru sent the butterfly on its way and started to walk away. Hiyori followed quickly after her. Shinji's jaw dropped.

Ichigo stepped up beside him. "Well, it looks like Byakuya has more pull than even you do," he said with a smirk. Shinji glared at him and pushed him ahead.

"Shut up, Ichigo."

Meanwhile, Rangiku found herself kneeling to catch her breath again. Gin was sheathing Shinsō again. He walked over to her and offered her his hand. She stared at it before taking it. He pulled her to her feet. Like always, Gin had "won" their small bout. It had taken considerably more effort to do so than he thought, but he had won it nonetheless.

"That was pretty good, Ran-chan. Ya've come a long way since I last fought ya. What do ya call that thing, anyway?"

"It's not a 'thing,' Gin. And the name is Haizume," Rangiku said.

"Haizume." Gin tapped his chin, thinking back to the vicious attacks he had been dealt. His arms still stung and his sleeves were somewhat shredded. "Quite an appropriate name."

Rangiku looked towards the Seireitei. "Gin, it seems that everyone is gathering."

Gin nodded. "Yep. Looks like there's a meeting." He looked down at Rangiku. "Race ya!"

Before Rangiku could register what he said, Gin was gone.

AN: Sorry for the late, late, late update. But hey, this story didn't have to wait a year like "Simply Deep" did. Anysmoo, a cookie for anyone who guesses what Haizume means...