(A/N: I have nothing to say)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of Symphonia

3rd Person pov

While the residents of Aselia made their best attempts to rally the citizens that lived on its terrain (or in its skies where the people of Exire were concerned) things continued to grow restless in the Soul Society.

"You dull witted imbeciles! This isn't a mechanical failure. Someone sabotaged our network! And when I find the person that did this I will pickle them in a vat of acid!" Mayuri raged. He was still midway through his restoration process so he wasn't looking his best. His face looked like a decaying human skull. His teeth were still golden yellow and there was black eye paint around his eyes and lips. His blue hair was in a single line on his head. He looked like a painted member of the walking dead.

"Bad day Captain Kurotsuchi?" A calm, suave voice called from the doorway into the control room.

Mayuri looked behind him to see Talbumosuke leaned up sideways against the doorway. "Atrumier." He gnashed his teeth. "Are you responsible for this? If you are I don't care how noble your family is, I will make you suffer!"

"Actually, I just dropped by cause I heard you were having trouble." He walked into the room and pushed a swivel chair out of the way. "Thought I'd see what the problem is; maybe help out a little."

"Hrn," Mayuri scowled.

"If you'd like I could see if I could repair this 'sabotage' for you. You seem like you could use some beauty rest," Talbumosuke offered.

"Very well, I have much more important things to take care of anyway. Good day to you Captain Atrumier," Mayuri walked away.

Talbumosuke bent down and examined the damage. He connected a few wires before realizing how having the network shut down could play to his advantage. He stood up and looked over to where Nemu was standing. Without her captain to order her around the young woman looked like she just blended in with the rest of the scenery. "Vice-captain," Talbumosuke called to her in a calm kind voice.

"Hai, Atrumier-taicho," Nemu responded.

"Are there any computers that are actually working? I believe I might be able to bring the network back online remotely," he told her.

"There are a few computers in Mayuri-sama's private lab, but no one is allowed in their without Mayuri-sama's permission," Nemu said.

"Well your captain did say that I could have a shot at repairs. I don't think he'll mind, especially if it gets the network back online," Talbumosuke stated.

"I…very well…follow me," Nemu led Talbumosuke to Mayuri's lab. Talbumosuke sat down at Mayuri's main computer and typed away. Nemu stood behind him, peering over his shoulder, as she would with Mayuri. With a few precise keystrokes Talbumosuke brought up the networking grid. He then set up a database listing on the right hand side of the screen. The database ran through a list of every Soul Reaper in the Gotei. "Hmm, it appears some of these files were corrupted in the sabotage," Talbumosuke stated. "I'll make a note of it to your captain for you." There were indeed a few damaged database listings, but Talbumosuke's was not one of them. Since technobabble was not Nemu's forte she missed it when Talbumosuke took his record off the readable signals. He then proceeded to reboot the system manually from Mayuri's computer. The power to the whole department came back online and signals could be tracked again. A scrap of paper came out of the nearby printer. Talbumosuke handed it to Nemu. "Here's the list of damaged readouts. We'll be able to track the Seireitei no problem right now, save these readouts, but we can't get to any of the living worlds without the patch job to the blown fuse box."

Nemu bowed politely, "Mayuri-sama will surely be pleased."

"He will indeed," Talbumosuke said. He continued to look into Nemu's eyes.

"Atrumier-taichio…is there something the matter?" Nemu was confused. Talbumosuke was inside her personal space. Not that Nemu even had the notion of such a concept, considering how she had smothered Uryu with her breasts once before, but at the same time, seeing her reflection in Talbumosuke's eyelids made her feel funny.

Her hand clasped the paper that the 9th Division captain was offering her. "Vice-captain Kurotsuchi," he reached his hand up and stroked her cheek, "has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look?"

"B-beautiful?" Nemu stuttered. She knew what the word meant. To call something beautiful meant it was pleasing to the five senses in some way. She never thought, not once, that such a word applied to her.

"Of course," Talbumosuke cupped her chin and stroked her cheek with his thumb, "you are very lovely indeed."

Nemu started to feel confused. She wasn't used to this. She'd never had anyone tell her these things. Her purpose was to follow her captain's orders and not do anything else. Mayuri drove it into her how useless she was, but here was someone else complimenting her on pure aesthetic value. Nemu was unsure what to do. Screaming was one option, but for some reason Nemu just wanted to wait to see what would happen.

As if things weren't strange enough for the artificial Soul Reaper they became even more confusing when Talbumosuke pressed his lips to hers. Nemu was taken aback. She knew what a kiss was. It was a sign of affection for someone special to you. Was she special to Talbumosuke? She didn't know, but she was interested in finding out. She didn't know much about the 9th Division captain. But…no that would go against her orders.

Talbumosuke backed off of Nemu and left her standing there holding the list of corrupted profiles. "There can be more of that if you'd like," Talbumosuke told her.

"I…" Nemu was unsure of how to respond to what had just occurred. The woman buried inside her was bursting with excitement while the artificial soul reaper she always manifested on the outside wanted Talbumosuke to just leave so she could later forget what had just happened.

The former won out. "What…can I do…Talbumosuke-sama?"

Talbumosuke merely grinned.

Kyoto University

Lloyd and Rukia appeared in the center of the parking lot of the University. Yuan had dropped them in a very safe area. There were no pedestrians around to see Rukia and Lloyd appear from out of nowhere.

"This is place seems as well developed as Sybak," Lloyd commented.

"That shouldn't come as a surprise. Sybak is probably the Aselian equivalent of a Japanese University. Now hush so I can find Ichigo," Rukia focused her mind to draw out the spirit ribbons. One red thread caught her eye and she grabbed it. "This way, follow me!"

Lloyd followed Rukia's sprinting legs as best he could. The two seemed to be travelling away from the school. "Wait if Ichigo goes to school here why are we going away from it?" Lloyd asked.

Rukia's eyes darted around town until her eyes landed upon an analog clock hanging on the wall of a store. "Judging by the time it's the middle of the afternoon. Ichigo's probably home," she told Lloyd.

"So we have to go all the way to Karakura Town?" Lloyd moped.

"No, the signal's too close and I can definitely sense Ichigo's reiatsu. He probably has an apartment set up somewhere," Rukia answered.

"What's an apartment?" Lloyd asked.

"Ugh," Rukia palmed her face. She looked back forward and answered Lloyd's question as they ran, "An apartment is a separate home people here use in order to cut down on travelling time. Unlike Aselia most people don't use an inn. A lot of people move out of their parent's house and move out on their own, especially when your chosen higher education is so far away from home."

"I don't fully understand, but what's important is that we can find Ichigo here right?" Lloyd asked.

Rukia nodded.

The two continued to run until they arrived at a single apartment that was squeezed into two complexes. It was a split level apartment, with the bottom level containing both the garage and the basement and it had a staircase leading to the upper level. "He's inside there. We made it," Rukia beamed.

"Great, let's go in," Lloyd ran up the staircase and began banging his fist on the door. "Hey! Ichigo! Open up!"

Inside Ichigo and Sheena were in the middle of a wrestling match in between the sheets. Music was on and the atmosphere had been intensified by the incense Sheena had set up. Things were just getting to the main event when Ichigo heard the banging on the door. Both individuals stopped. Ichigo turned his speakers off in aggravation.

"I thought you tipped the Pizza guy," Sheena said.

"I could've sworn I did," Ichigo got up and grabbed his pants and proceeded to put them on as he headed for the door. He heard more banging. "I hear you! I hear you! I'm coming sheesh!" Ichigo finally made it to the door and opened it. "What?"

"My someone's in a foul mood," Rukia commented.

It took Ichigo a few moments to take in the fact that both Lloyd and Rukia were standing at his door step. "What the hell are you two doing here?" Ichigo groaned.

"Ichigo we need to tell you something. It's urgent. Everyone on Aselia is going to die!" Lloyd exclaimed.

"What's going on Ichigo?" Sheena called from the bedroom.

"We're going to have to put what we were doing on hold, get dressed. We've got company," Ichigo called back.

"Can't you tell them to wait?" Sheena called.

Ichigo turned his whole body around, "Would you turn away the hero of Aselia with a message of urgency on his shoulders?"

"Lloyd's here?" Sheena called. There was a pasue. "Got it, I'm getting dressed."

"What were you two doing exactly?" Lloyd asked.

"Not important, both of you get in here," Ichigo jerked his thumb inside.

Rukia shot her head all around Ichigo's living room. "Well your apartment is certainly in better condition than your old bedroom."

"I would appreciate it if you didn't inspect my house, thank you. It's up to my standards and that's all that matters," Ichigo grumbled.

"What's the matter Ichigo did we interrupt you're little frolicking time with your girlfriend?" Rukia teased.

"As a matter of fact, yes." Ichigo said grouchily.

I'm hoping his mood approves when he listens to what we have to say. Rukia realized what she just thought. Then again…

Rukia's thoughts were interrupted by Sheena coming out in a dark brown bed robe and pink slippers. "Can't you guys take this seriously?" Lloyd complained.

"Hey you're the ones who barged in on short notice," Ichigo reminded him. Lloyd just growled.

"Easy there o' hero of righteousness," Rukia told Lloyd. "Anyway what we have to say isn't the best of news."

One Explanation Later

"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" Ichigo rose to his feet the moment Rukia mentioned the genocide declaration.

"I can't believe they would do this," Sheena snapped. "Where do they get off?"

"This is all that bastard Talbumosuke's doing isn't it?" Ichigo questioned.

"That's what we're figuring. Unfortunately there's no evidence to point to that. The battles that took place in the Seireitai were enough to put Central Forty Six on edge. It's possible Talbumosuke just pushed them off the cliff so to speak. We can't charge him with anything for doing that," Rukia responded.

"Oh that's great! Guy declares genocide on my girlfriend's home planet and just gets to waltz on through his life. Absolutely wonderful," Ichigo said sarcastically.

"So what's being done about it? I mean Ichigo and I are just two people. We really can't make that big of a difference can we?" Sheena asked.

Rukia shook her head, "The others are rushing all over creation to get Aselia prepped for war. We can't stop the war from occurring, but we can prevent it from turning into a one-sided bloodbath. The problem will be the captains and higher ranking soul reapers. There's no doubt Captain Zaraki will follow orders without question and Captain Kurotsuchi will definitely want research materials. We can count Nii-sama and the others out of the equation since they want the fighting to end, but we need extra hands so we can figure out what's really going on."

"What do you mean, Rukia?" Lloyd asked.

"Oh right, I guess I forgot that part last time," Rukia said. "We, that is Nii-sama and the others who sent me, believe that this genocide is a decoy to some larger plot. If Talbumosuke is really responsible for pushing Aselia over the edge then there's no doubt he'll be plotting something else."

"Yeah, Urahara-san called him Aizen's Apprentice. There's no way that guy isn't using some form of backup plan," Ichigo said.

"Aizen's apprentice?" Rukia questioned.

"Oh that's right, you weren't there. Before we stormed Aselia the last time Urahara said that Talbumosuke was Aizen's underling. He's Aizen's backup plan for whatever Aizen was trying to do," Ichigo told Rukia.

"Yes…yes it's all starting to make sense. I'll relay this information to the others." Instinctively, Rukia pulled out her Soul Pager. When she saw the blank screen she remembered she had been cut off. "Oh right…forgot about that."

"You can't contact the Soul Society?" Ichigo asked.

"We couldn't risk my being found out," Rukia stated. "So Unohana-taicho infiltrated the research bureau and had me cut off from the Soul Society. She said she'd make things look like an accident."

"So then what do we do?" Sheena asked.

"We'll have to get to Urahara's shop. It's my only way back. We would have to go to Karakura town anyway to get Orihime and Kiku," Rukia said.

"I'll make my rounds and round up who I can as well. If we want a fighting force to rival captains I know exactly who I can get," Ichigo stated.

"So we may actually have to split up once we get to Karakura town won't we?" Lloyd asked.

Ichigo nodded. "Rukia can go and deal with the Urahara Shoten. You and Sheena can go to Orihime's place to get her and Kiku. I'll go my own way."

"You sure that's a good idea?" Rukia asked.

"Don't worry about me, we can do this. Aselia will not fall on my watch," Ichigo said sternly.

"Sheena do you think you could summon Origin?" Lloyd asked her.

"Well that came out of nowhere," she said, "I could, but why?"

"Combined with the Eternal sword and the summoning I think we can get Origin to drop us right on top of Urahara's shop even with such a low mana world," Lloyd answered.

"Leave it to me," Sheena said and whipped out his summoning card, "The ruler of…"

"Hey hold on! Let's take this outside! I don't want my roof blown sky high!" Ichigo exasperated.

Sheena stopped her summoning, "Oops, yeah that wouldn't be good would it."

"Yeah and while we're on the topic of forgetting things," Ichigo reached into his pocket and pulled out a cloth pouch. He dumped a small green sphere into his hand and swallowed it. He entered into his Soul Form. Kon pushed Ichigo aside, realizing he was mobile and tried to glomp Rukia.

His attempts at affection were answered with a punch to the back of the head. "Same old Kon I see."

"Would you cut that out? Hey may be the one feeling the pain, but I'll be the one having to deal with the brain damage later!" Ichigo complained.

"Anyway let's go outside and get going," Rukia said and walked back outside. Ichigo just grumbled at the fact that Rukia was not going to apologize for her actions.

"You know the drill Kon," Ichigo said as he massaged his own forehead, "Go to my classes. Don't get me arrested," he picked up Kon by his hair, "And for the sake of my sanity, don't bring strange girls home!"

"She wasn't a strange girl. If you realized how much that girl liked she wouldn't have wound up in jail you jerk!" Kon snapped.

"Oh yes, because I'm such a sensitive guy. Sensitive enough to cheat on my own girlfriend!" Ichigo shouted sarcastically.

"You barely saw each other up until she moved in!" Kon argued.

"Dammit Kon this is not up for debate! I don't mind if you go down to the strip clubs and drool, but I would appreciate it if you stopped hitting on girls from my class!" Ichigo said. "I swear to god one of these times I'm going to have some girl confessing to me that she got pregnant and I'll know exactly who to blame!"

"Hey can you blame the fact that you've got quite the charm with the ladies?" Kon said putting on a charming face and cupping his chin.

"I don't care! It's my body! My house! My rules! If you don't like it I can always have you mailed back home and get a new mod soul." Ichigo said and then put on a cocky grin. "My dad would have no problem putting you in my sister's doll. You could be his mod soul and you'd have to put up with Yuzu every. Single. Day."

"No! Please anything, but that! Have mercy!" Kon held up his hands in prayer.

"Then do what you're told and stop bellyaching when I give you constraints," Ichigo said.

"But you're constraints are too…constraining," Kon complained. Ichigo rolled his eyes.

"Hah!" Sheena thrust her fists out and whacked both Ichigo and Kon in the cheek. "All right enough! Both of you! Ichigo, we have more important things to do than argue with Kon. We can always fix what he screws up when we get back. Kon, I swear on Martel if we come back and Ichigo has an STD because of you, I will crush your pill form into dust. Now, Am I clear?" Sheena was rather enraged upon speaking her last statement.

"Yeah…no problem," Ichigo had never seen his girlfriend so angry before. Neither had Kon.

"You got it Melons. I'll be on my best behavior," Kon told her. Sheena whacked him with the side of her hand.

"I told you before not to call me that! I outta smack you!"

"Please don't warn me after you do it," Kon whined. Sheena glared. "I mean, yes…sorry."

Sheena took a deep breath. "Right let's get going." She walked out the door.

"Man I have never seen Sheena so upset," Ichigo rubbed his neck.

"You should probably talk to her when you two have the chance," Lloyd suggested.

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious," Ichigo mused.

"I was just trying to help," Lloyd said apologetically.

Ichigo rested his arm against the side of his doorway. "I know you were. Sorry it's just…we thought this was all over. In two months Sheena and the Mizuho are all moving to Japan and we can finally be happy together." Ichigo's fist tightened fiercely. "And that bastard Talbumosuke just has to go and screw everything up."

"He'll get his. You and I will make sure of that," Lloyd told him.

"Yeah," Ichigo pushed off his doorway and headed out the door.

Lloyd saw that Ichigo seemed to be a little more conflicted than he was letting on. Something's bothering him, but what? Lloyd sighed. Ichigo's never been one to openly talk if he didn't feel like it. I'd better not press the issue. Besides, I wouldn't be his first choice of people to talk to.

Soul Society

Central 46 Chambers

The doors of the Central 46 were pushed open as a shadowy figure stood at the top of the stairs.

"Who's there?" one of the council members shouted.

"No one is authorized to enter the Central Forty Six without a summons notice. Leave now and you'll be given merely a warning," the figure was told.

The visitor cracked a grin and flew into the room with amazing speed. A bloodcurdling scream was heard followed by blood splattering the walls. "Alert the Gotei Thirteen! We're under attack!"

The members of Central 46 began dispersing into different directions to try and escape whatever evil had just wrought itself into the chambers. However, the visitor had no interest in the members of the Central 46. He strode down the hallway to the elevator and took it down to the Muken. Upon entering into the lit dungeon the visitor turned out to be one Album Atrum. A few members of the Central 46 were waiting for him.

"Don't move!" one shouted.

"Hands in the air!" another shouted.

Album Atrum did so only to smirk and wave one hand over his face, donning his hollow mask. The etchings of the mask had a single line running sideways across the eyeline and a line running down the middle, separating the mask down its middle. A red circular pattern, made to look like a ruby, was painted into the center of Album Atrum's mask's forehead. Two fin-like structures spread out past his ears.

The members of the Central 46 had barely any time to get a glimpse of Album Atrum's mask before he was behind them sword just a click out of its sheath. He clicked his sword back into its scabbard and two wide gashes appeared on each of the Central 46 members. They fell to the ground dead. Album Atrum removed his mask and stood in front of the door to Aizen's chamber. He ripped off the arms of one of the dead corpses and used it to open the door to Aizen's cell.

"Hmm, two visitors in such a short span of time," Aizen chuckled to himself, "My luck seems to be turning around indeed." Album Atrum lit the candles to Aizen's cell.

"Enjoying the prison life Aizen?" Album Atrum questioned.

Aizen chuckled, "It's not so bad once you get used to it. I've passed the time by counting the stones on the walls or the number of noises I hear. Sometimes I count my own breaths."

"Very funny," Album Atrum said.

"What are you doing here?" Aizen asked his visitor.

"The name's Album Atrum," the rogue Soul Reaper introduced, "You have something I want Aizen. I am here to take it."

"And what could I possibly have that you could need?" Aizen asked. "I was stripped of all my possessions when I was locked up in here."

"All, but one," Album Atrum reminded Aizen. "I'm here for that." He held his palm up and curled his index finger towards himself. A pulse gave off in Aizen's abdomen as if something was trying to wrench itself from him. It pained Aizen in doing so and the man bent over as much as he could considering he was bound so tightly to the chair he was sitting in.

"What?" Aizen gasped.

"The Hogyoku knows its true master and its true purpose," Album Atrum told Aizen. "I must say it did indeed serve you well for what you used it for, but the Hogyoku can be put to better use to a much more sinister plan." Album Atrum curled two fingers this time and the Hogyoku gave another lurch. Aizen began to cough and grit his teeth as he stared at Album Atrum.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with," Aizen warned.

"I don't?" Album Atrum questioned and laughed. "I don't intend to use the Hogyoku like you did. It is just a tool. A self-aware tool, but still a tool. And it knows that I will use it to its fullest extent. You were selfish with it Aizen and when a higher power came along the Hogyoku rejected you. I don't plan to make the same mistakes you did. Eliminating Central Forty Six? They're worth more to me alive than dead. Gain power to start a revolution? Wrong move. You need to start a revolution to gain absolute power. And once you have power you can do anything you want." Album Atrum pulled with four of his fingers. The Hogyoku lurched again and Aizen grunted in pain. "Your resistance is disturbing Aizen. Or are you waiting for your precious apprentice? You want to turn the Hogyoku over to him don't you?" Album Atrum laughed and walked up to Aizen's cell. "You put too much faith in him." Aizen shook with fear when he got a good look at Album Atrum's face. Fear. He'd only felt it once before and that was when Gin had attempted to kill him. Once again the cold emotion gripped him tightly. Here in the Muken he had no power. The Hogyoku was attempting to leave him and he had not a weapon on him. The pylons in his cage had made him tame as a kitten. Even if that were not the case he was still tied to a chair.

"You…but why? I…I made you who you are!" Aizen shouted.

"That's right you did," Album Atrum said and put a hand on his sword handle, "You also taught me never to trust anyone, least of all you." He unsheathed his sword and cut down the bars to Aizen's cell. Album Atrum then held up his hand again. He beckoned the Hogyoku to his will. "Why are you resisting? This is what you hoped for isn't it?"

"We were…supposed to work together," Aizen hissed.

"Plans change. You should know that," Album Atrum responded.

"AtruUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Aizen shouted out as the Hogyoku was ripped from his body, leaving a large bleeding wound in his abdomen. Aizen sat, powerless, panting in his seat.

Album Atrum looked at the Hogyoku. "So this is the fabled crumbling orb I've heard so much about. Hmph." The rogue soul reaper pocketed the trinket. "Now the question is what am I going to do with you sensei? I could just let you suffer and bleed out, but knowing you, even without your immortality granted to you by that little marble I just took, you'd be tenacious enough to tell all of the Gotei what is going on. I'm afraid I can't have that."

Aizen looked desperate. The end was here. He knew it. He was staring down the face of his personal grim reaper.

Album Atrum put his fingertips to his forehead. "Farewell Aizen Sosuke," He summoned his mask. A swirling read light gave off from the painted jewel on his forehead.

"AAAAH! AAAAAAAAH!"

Unbeknownst to the chaos within the chambers, Captain May Stowa made her way to the Central 46 in response to the distress signal.

After a few moments Album Atrum burst through the roof. His hollow mask was upon his face and a pair of demonic wings was spread upon his back. He flapped the wings and shrunk them in and then looked at the Hogyoku in his hand as he stood on air. It is true. The Hogyoku really can grant its user any wish it desires if one knows how to master it. Good thing I won't be relying on that power to complete my plans.

"Intruder!" May shouted, hand on her Zanpakuto. "Who are you?"

"The name is Album Atrum," the man folded his arms. "I am the Vanguard of Soul Society's destruction. Judging by your haori I take it you are a captain. Well captain are you going to bring me in?"

"Come quietly and I won't have to resort to force," May told Album Atrum.

"Tell me, in any time that's ever been told to the person on my side of the good versus evil conflict when has that ever worked?"

"Very well then. If you won't come in by choice. I'll force you to submit by force," May drew out her sword, but didn't swing it. "Chant, Sento!" (Battlemage) A cold, wintry gale force gave off from May's Zanapakuto. May's Zanpakuto changed into a long staff that seemed to be made purely out of ice and diamond ore. It was like a mage's staff out of a fantasy setting RPG. An orb of pure ice blue energy glowed inside the head of the staff. May's shihakusho caught on fire transforming the robes a bright red-orange. Patterns of yellow flames attached themselves to the hems of her robes. Her hakama transformed into a long skirt, a pattern of flames also aligned themselves along the hems. The embroidery on May's new uniform was yellow. Golden bracelets attached themselves to May's wrists. They sparked with pure electricity. "Now," she said holding out her palm as a ball of flame appeared in it. "Witness the power of the Captain of the 5th Division!"

To be continued…

(A/N: May Vs Album Atrum. Finally the 5th Division captain takes a step in the spotlight. Meanwhile Ichigo, Sheena, Lloyd and Rukia make their way to Karakura town to gather the rest of the troops. And before anyone says anything, Aizen IS Dead. Album Atrum killed him. This is Word of God saying that even if there's no observation of the body that Aizen was done in by Atrum. Only one person has correctly guessed the correlation between Album Atrum and Talbumosuke. Kudos to anyone else who can figure it out. Anyway, see ya peeps).