Doing pretty decent at having a schedule and keeping to it so far! Current plans for DE are back to the original last Tuesday of every month posting schedule, so look forward to that every month! I've got several chapters ready for editing thanks to NaNo and I'm doing my best to stay ahead of everything! Enjoy!

Kaito snarled and ripped himself free the moment Ishida's grip loosened. "The fuck was that?!" Kaito shouted, whirling around to glare at Ishida. Fear and fury beat against his mind, Ichigo and Shiro's emotions driving his own to greater heights. "How dare you—"

"I'm not letting you sacrifice yourself for us, senpai," Ishida interrupted, meeting Kaito's glare with a stubborn gaze.

"So letting other people sacrifice themselves is just fine! Just so long as it's not the one capable of surviving combat against a Captain!" Kaito clenched his fists. Felt the hilt in his hand. Took a step back. He wanted to strike, wanted to hurt them, but that—that was not—he wasn't—no!

His blade dropped to the street with a clang.

(He would not turn his fury on the teens!)

(He needed out!)

"When they're not potentially wanted for the murder of another Captain, yes," Ishida said coldly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Sado-san made his decision, as did Shiba-san, and that Captain seemed more interested in a peaceful resolution than in combat."

"Because he's strong enough to win against almost anyone!" Kaito shook his head and ran a trembling hand over his face. He needed to go. He needed out. He couldn't—they had almost hurt their friends! "This is—no. No, I can't—I won't just… No."

Kyoraku's reiatsu was already settling down. Kaito turned to face it —

(No. No, they couldn't be too late—he wouldn't let—no!)

— and lunged —

A golden barrier appeared in his—in their path. Surrounded them. Trapped them.

(Isolated him!)

(They couldn't sense anything—!)

(He would not be suppressed again!)

Inoue winced at his glare, but the barrier never wavered. He snarled and lashed out. Slammed his fists against it without even a ripple. He needed out. Needed free.

(Out. He needed out! He refused to be trapped ever again!)

"Kaito-san, please," Inoue pleaded, stepping closer and looking up at him with wide, tear-bright eyes. "Please, you can't go back!"

Kaito lunged. Slammed his fists against her barrier again. Snarled in her face. "Let. Me. Out!"

Ishida moved behind Inoue. Rested a hand on her shoulder —

(In support. Support against them—)

— and said, "There's no point in going back, senpai. Unless you intend to leave us behind hoping to rescue them?"

Kaito grit his teeth. Tried to dig his fingers into Inoue's barrier. Tried to tear it down.

"They'll be fine," Ishida continued, tone calm and even. "The fight's over and neither of them feel hurt. Everything will be fine."

"You can't know that!" Kaito snapped, slamming his fist against the barrier again. "Everything has changed!"

"Not enough for me to worry about something that is unlikely to happen." Ishida adjusted his glasses again and moved to stand at Inoue's side, hand still on her shoulder. "From your words, that Captain could have killed them during combat. There's no logical reason for him to capture them instead of kill unless he means them no true harm."

Kaito shivered and leaned against the barrier, head bowed and eyes squeezed shut against the tears that wanted to fall. He felt empty. Hollowed out and exhausted as their emotions guttered and burned out. "You don't understand," he whispered, hand flattening against the barrier. "You don't understand…"

(Kami, let them never understand…)

(Let them never feel like him.)

(Let them never feel like they would never be good enough.)

The barrier vanished.

Kaito stumbled forward, knees buckling at the sudden lack of support.

He was tired. He was so tired…

(He was so useless…)

Ishida caught him. Pulled him close and held him up. "It's all right, senpai," he said awkwardly. "We'll be all right and so will they." He adjusted his grip on Kaito and glanced over at Hanataro. "Hanataro-san, is there somewhere we can rest for a while?"

"Y-yes. There's an—we can—uhm… the sewers? It's… over there?"

"Can you walk, senpai?"

Kaito shrugged and straightened, ignoring the way his body swayed. He refused to be a burden. Refused to be weak. "I'll be fine."

"'Fine' is questionable," Ishida grumbled, tugging Kaito back to his side and catching him when he stumbled. "The answer is no." Before Kaito could protest, Ishida tugged Kaito's bags free and held them out to Hanataro. "Hanataro-san? Will you carry these?" When Hanataro took them, Ishida pulled Shiro's blade away and held it out to Inoue. "Inoue-san, could you carry this and his other blade? Thank you."

"B-be careful with his zanpakutou," Hanataro fretted as he slung Kaito's bags over his shoulder. "A Shinigami's blade is important to them…"

"I will!" Inoue said, then inhaled sharply. Metal clattered against metal and Kaito dredged up the energy to crack open his eyes to look. She was holding Shiro's blade awkwardly, using Ichigo's as a buffer as much as she could, and the next words out of her mouth were stern. "Stop that. You can be angry at me, but stop making me try to drop you!"

"U-uhm… maybe you shouldn't…"

Inoue ignored Hanataro and continued to speak, tone gentling, "It's only for a bit. Just until we get Kaito-kun to a safe place!"

(*Shiro…*) Kaito murmured, prodding at the other in his mind.

Shiro growled, tired and angry and trembling —

(*I know. It's okay. She won't… she didn't know… I won't let that happen to you.*) He pulled Shiro closer. Pulled him up and in and opened his senses. (*Never again.*)

Shiro clung to him. To the offered freedom. To the promise. He clung close and breathed, still tired-angry-trembling but… less. They closed their eyes and let Ishida support their body, ignoring the way Ishida's reiatsu turned worried at their sudden action.

"Thank you," Inoue said, accompanied by another clatter of metal-on-metal. "I promise I'll be careful."

"I'm going to pick you up, senpai," Ishida warned them. "It'll be faster to move that way. All right?"

"Bit late to ask that, isn't it?" Kaito muttered without heat, then shrugged. He supposed at this point it didn't matter. It was just another moment of shame to add to the collection.

But it was still shame and they couldn't bring themselves to look at the others, keeping their head down and eyes closed. Kaito didn't want to see any of their expressions. Shiro didn't want to give away his continued presence. Neither wanted to see the others' reactions to their previous fury and current helplessness.

(Didn't want to see the pity and disgust the others certainly held for them now.)

"I'm sorry for that, but not for keeping you safe." Ishida knelt and lifted them up into a princess carry, holding them close against his chest. "Hanataro-san, if you could lead the way?"

"Y-yes, of course."

They let their head rest against Ishida's shoulder. Being carried was humiliating, and if either of them had an ounce of energy—

But they didn't and neither did their body.

"I hate you," Kaito murmured against Ishida's shoulder. He ignored the sour taste of lie on his tongue. Ignored the way Ishida's reiatsu brushed against his own in something like concern. Ignored the sadness in Inoue's and the worry in Hanataro's.

(Lies. Lies. It had to be lies.)

"That's all right, senpai," Ishida answered adjusting his grip and pressing reiatsu filled with the sensations of calm-safe-trust against Kaito's senses. "If that's what it takes to keep you safe, then that's fine. Hate me all you want."

Kaito snorted and pulled in his senses as much as he could, leaving Shiro to keep watch. Ishida's reiatsu was disorienting, his-but-not and filled with emotions that hurt.

(He didn't remember feeling so strongly about anyone but Ichigo at this point.)

(Ichigo…)

He knew where Ishida's emotions were coming from.

('Keep him out of trouble, will you?')

Ishida was just following Kurosaki's request. His concern — his worry — was directed at Kurosaki's reaction to these events, not at Kaito. He'd have done anything — had done anything — Ichigo requested when it was him in Ishida's place, and even the thought of failure was horrible. Why would Ishida be any different?

(*You can't know that,*) Ichigo insisted, exhausted but intent. (*Kurosaki's words might have made him pay closer attention, but that doesn't mean his concern is any less real.*)

"I'm going to carry you down into the sewers," Ishida warned him, steps slowing as they reached wherever Hanataro had led them. "We can rest there for a bit."

"Not a good idea. Can't stay out of sight for too long—"

"Senpai, you're dead on your feet and we just ran into a Captain. Staying out of sight makes sense."

Kaito scoffed at the idea. "Shinigami don't operate on logic." He tensed at Shiro's sudden spike of worry and reached out. Sensed how Ishida's reiatsu coiled close. "What are you doing—"

Ishida stepped forward, reishi gathering beneath his feet.

They fell.

Kaito gasped and grabbed at Ishida's shirt, barely swallowing back Shiro's string of profanity.

(*Goddamn ass! Doin' shit wit'out practicin'! Fuck 'at!*)

Ishida's control solidified. Their descent evened out. "Sorry about that," he said sheepishly. "I thought I had the trick down."

(*He was just trying to mimic me,*) Kaito told Shiro in exasperation, though he agreed with the other. "Did you even practice that or did you only watch me?" he couldn't help but ask.

"I practiced it!" Ishida stepped off the reishi platform and moved a few paces away, likely to give the others a chance to descend. "Just… not when carrying anything."

Kaito was tempted to believe him. Beyond the initial jolt, the movement had been too smooth for something unpracticed. (*Can't blame him for not practicing with carrying things, either,*) he grumbled at Shiro. (*I wouldn't have thought to.*)

(*Going down is harder than up, too,*) Ichigo added.

(*Yeah.*) Kaito frowned and tapped on Ishida's chest. "Are you going to put me down?"

"No," Ishida answered, arms tightening around Kaito. "You can barely stand on your own. Please, will you trust me and let yourself rest?"

Kaito clenched his jaw. He hated this. Hated being weak. Being reliant.

(*He's fuckin' right, Koneko,*) Shiro grumbled, drifting away from front and pulling Kaito into their mindscape with him. (*We can't do shit right now.*)

(*Continuing to push yourself will only lead to failure,*) Zangetsu spoke up, resting a comforting hand on Kaito's shoulder. (*You need to rest and recover your strength before doing anything further.*)

(*Ishida and Orihime are trustworthy.*) Ichigo reached out and wrapped Kaito in a hug. (*They'll keep us safe. And we'll be better able to fight for their safety if we rest.*)

Zangetsu nudged them back, steadying their steps and helping Ichigo bring both of them down into a pile of blankets. He settled at Ichigo's side, presence warm and reassuring, and his hand still resting on Kaito's shoulder. (*Rest. Our body needs it and so do all of you. A few hours will mean nothing to the Shinigami and everything to us.*)

Kaito whined and slumped against Ichigo's chest, shifting until he could hear his best friend's heartbeat. "If you insist," he murmured.

(*Damn well better b'lieve we do,*) Shiro said as he threw himself down at Ichigo's side and draped over both of them. (*Th'Old Man'll keep watch. Y'trust 'im, right?*)

(*I do.*) Kaito gave in. Relaxed. Hoped his fears would let him sleep.

Distantly, he felt his body being set down. Felt a blanket pulled over him and a warm hand settling on his shoulder. Felt Ishida's reiatsu quiet into a gentle, protective hum and Inoue's turn warm and soft. Felt Hanataro lean in and brush a hand coated with a healing kido over his chest.

Kaito sighed and turned his head away.

Sleep claimed him soon after.

Kaito woke with a start and jerked upright, one hand fumbling for his swords and the other scrubbing at his eyes. He needed— he was—

"Senpai, senpai, it's alright. You're alright."

Ishida's voice cut through Kaito's disorientation. He twisted around and squinted at the teen in confusion, wondering why Ishida was so close. Inoue and Hanataro weren't much further away either, sitting together and sharing something between them, but Ishida was within reach and that… that didn't make sense.

Ishida shifted and stretched his legs, setting aside a folded blanket. "We're still in the sewers and no one's yet come to bother us."

Kaito looked away and scanned the area, taking in the dimly lit tunnel identical to every other tunnel they'd traveled through already. There was no way to tell the time or where they were without leaving the tunnels, and his own sense of time and direction were muddled by waking somewhere he didn't expect.

But at least his swords were nearby, Kaito thought in relief as he pulled them closer. He ran his hands over both hilts, reassuring all of them that they were still together. That they hadn't been separated. "How—" he grimaced at how hoarse he sounded and cleared his throat to try again, "how long?"

"A couple hours?" Ishida offered him a bottle of water and a couple of rice-balls. "Hanataro-san slipped out to get us some food not too long ago and said it was getting towards evening."

He accepted the offered food and drink and moved back to sit against the wall. (*Did we really sleep so long?*) he asked the others, feeling their surprise reflect his own. (*I don't remember waking…*)

(*You didn't,*) Zangetsu said, pleased. (*Having Ishida and Inoue guard your rest was more effective than I expected. I am glad.*)

Kaito frowned at the bottle in his hand and rolled it across his palm. He didn't know how to feel about that knowledge. He trusted the teens, he did, but he didn't expect that trust to extend to falling asleep in enemy territory.

Maybe he'd just been too exhausted to dream. Or maybe Hanataro had done something?

He didn't know. He didn't know if there were kido to put people to sleep or how it left a person feeling. His father had never used something like that on him that he knew of. He didn't feel drugged, so maybe…

(*I think you're over-thinking it,*) Ichigo broke in. (*Hanataro's always asked before he does something, right? So I doubt he'd do something without asking you this time.*)

(*Well… yes.*) He took a deep breath and set it out. Ichigo was right. And if he was curious, he could just ask. Hanataro wouldn't lie to him.

(*I don't think it's that surprising how long we slept.*) Ichigo paused in thought before saying, (*We were all exhausted. We trust Ishida and Orihime and even Hanataro, and the sewers dampen reiatsu enough that no one can really sense through them. Why shouldn't we sleep better?*)

(*Because I couldn't sleep well even with Yoruichi watching over me?*)

(*Nah, s'diff'rent,*) Shiro disagreed with a sleepy yawn. (*Y'were already on edge cause a'Aizen havin' th'other's trapped. This time, ain't Aizen that's got 'em an' y'know it.*)

(*But they're still trapped—*)

(*They have almost certainly been taken to the Fourth by now, just as you and the others were last time,*) Zangetsu offered. (*You know the Fourth is a safe place for them. Nothing will happen until after the execution is over.*)

Kaito breathed out and tried to pull Zangetsu's certainty into himself. There was nothing he could do about it anyway, not with the execution scheduled for the next day.

(He hoped Kurosaki would forgive him for not protecting everyone.)

(*Stop that! You've done nothing wrong,*) Ichigo scolded him. (*Focus on what we can get done. We need to find a place to sleep before nightfall if we don't want to remain here.*)

He considered it for a moment, scanning the thick walls and darkness beyond the pool of light cast of Hanataro's lamp. They'd used the sewers to good effect throughout the day but something about remaining within them for an entire night sat poorly in his mind.

The very thing that protected them could also be used against them. If someone crept up on them with unkind intentions, no one would ever know what happened to them. That they'd so far escaped that fate was a miracle.

Ishida rose from his seat and packed up, tucking the two blankets back into Kaito's bag and zipping it closed. He slung the bag over his shoulder and turned to stand in front of Kaito, reaching down and offering his hand to help him up.

Kaito stared at Ishida's hand, then glanced up to meet his gaze. The offer was… different. Unexpected.

(A relief.)

(Despite their similarities, Ishida had grown so much in the short time Kaito had known him.)

(It gave him hope.)

He reached out and accepted Ishida's help. Let the teen help him to his feet. Ishida's soft smile was both humbling and strange, an expression he'd never seen the other wearing, and Kaito had to look away.

(He didn't remember wearing such an expression in his entire life.)

Kaito stepped away from the wall — away from Ishida — and busied himself with scanning the area again. Not that there was anything new for him to see, or that looking around helped him place their location at all. All he could see was darkness and more darkness, with a hint of a crossroad in the distance, but no ladder anywhere in his limited sight.

"I was thinking we could still do some harmless trouble-making if you believe we still need to call attention to us," Ishida offered as everyone gathered around. "The three of us are decent at moving across the rooftops, so we could start there?"

"You… still want to do this," Kaito said in disbelief, looking between them. They nodded before he could say anything else, silencing his protest before he could voice it.

(Why were they so loyal? Why was Hanataro so loyal?)

(The other two he might understand, but Hanataro?)

(It didn't make any sense.)

"We'll all keep an eye out for Captains this time," Inoue said with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry that we put all of that on you alone, Kaito-san."

"Uhm… I have a question." Hanataro swallowed and looked down, shoulders hunching in as he tried to make himself look smaller. "Why… why were you… the Captain of the Twelfth is… that's who you… uhm… you're avoiding him?"

Kaito hesitated, debating the merits of revealing at least some of his reasoning to the others. He could already feel Ishida's stare drilling into him; his past self was far too clever by half. "He knew my father," Kaito admitted, looking off into the darkness. "I would… rather not come into contact with him."

"Senpai…" Ishida paused and grimaced, then forged on, "Senpai, how many of the Captains would know who you're related to on sight?"

"On sight? Uhm…" Kaito chewed on his lower lip and considered what he knew of Seireitei and the Captains. "Maybe less than half on sight? I think… more if they have time and a clear look at me." He ticked Captains off on his fingers as he ran through the list. "First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth on sight. Second, Third, and Ninth after a bit? Well… I might be wrong about Second." It all depended on how much attention Soi-fon had paid to his father over a century ago. Urahara had said they'd never gotten along and advised him to avoid Soi-fon at all costs, so maybe she would recognize him. "Most of them I don't mind. But there are a few I would rather just… avoid."

Ishida and Inoue exchanged angry looks at his admission and Kaito took a cautious step back to keep both in sight. He hadn't expected them to be angry at him—

"That bastard played us!" Ishida growled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kaito froze in confusion. "What?"

"The Captain who held us," Ishida clarified. He shared another look with Inoue and Hanataro. "He told us you were already walking a fine line and us breaking out would only compound the problems you'd have."

Inoue nodded, more frustration and annoyance in her expression than he'd ever seen before. "When the other Captain left us with him, he… he said something weird about it being a shame if we were the reason your heritage was discovered…"

Kaito grimaced and rubbed at his forehead. Leave it to Aizen to threaten them with Kaito's safety. That it had worked was his own fault; if he'd just told them how many of the Captains would know him on sight — or by reiatsu signature — Aizen's threat wouldn't have held so much weight in their minds.

(His fault. Always his fault.)

Ichigo huffed. (*You couldn't have known he would do that!*)

(*If I had given it a moment's consideration—*)

Inoue's slender hand came to rest on his arm, making him start and focus outward once more. She stared up at him sadly and took his hand in hers. "It's alright, Kaito-san," she reassured him. "You couldn't have known—"

"I did, though," he cut in gruffly, though he didn't have the heart to tug his hand free. "Father warned me about specific Captains and his relationships with them, and if I had passed that warning on to you—"

"Maybe it would have changed something, maybe it wouldn't have," Ishida interrupted in annoyance. "Maybe he would have used a different threat, or maybe he would have decided to just deal with us when his first threat didn't work. We have no way to know, senpai."

"We're all fine. You helped us out and now Kurosaki-kun is training to help you out!" Inoue grinned up at him and gave his hand a squeeze. "Oh, I bet he'll look so dashing in bankai! What do you think it will look like?"

Kaito stared at her, uncertain how to answer that question. He knew what his Ichigo's bankai looked like, but did that also apply to Kurosaki? Was there a way to know what a person's bankai was before they gained it?

"We—we won't… uhm… you can't really know? Until he gets it," Hanataro piped up, then started to fidget when the three of them turned to look at him in curiosity. "Uhm… bankai is—it's unique? And… and no one knows until they get it. Y-you can… well sometimes—I mean—" he paused and took a breath, hands trembling as he clasped them together. "Usually, a shikai can hint at bankai, but not—it doesn't always…"

"So Kurosaki is going to turn out more ridiculous than before," Ishida said with a sniff, a familiar hint of amusement in his tone that Kaito recognized from his own past.

"Ishida-san!" Inoue protested with a laugh. She let go of Kaito's hand, sticking her tongue out at Ishida as she did. "He won't look ridiculous, he'll look dashing! So there!"

Ishida snorted and bit his lip, failing to hide the grin creeping in. "If you insist."

"If you two are quite finished ribbing Kurosaki-san when he isn't around to defend himself, perhaps we should get moving," Kaito suggested. "Hanataro-san, will you lead us out?"

"O-of course!" Hanataro smiled shyly and turned towards the intersection Kaito had spotted. "Th-this way, please."

They spent the late afternoon tormenting the Shinigami from the rooftops, even leading a handful of chases across said rooftops. Kaito knew that the Captains were aware of their antics, and were likely also aware that they were just buying time, but most of them seemed content to remain away.

Kurotsuchi continued to stalk them though. Every time Kaito felt they'd gotten far enough away, the monster would turn and approach once more. It left him on edge and uncertain of the monster's goals; why approach but not reach them? Why allow Kaito and the others to continue to escape?

(He felt like a mouse before a predator, able to escape but unable to find safety.)

(Why had Kurotsuchi not approached while they rested?)

(What was he waiting for?)

Kaito led them as best he could, burying his anxiety beneath the needs of the moment. He didn't dare stop for long; not now, not yet. But his body was lagging despite his best efforts and he knew the others could tell.

Ishida watched him with narrowed eyes and Inoue hovered whenever they paused to rest. Even Hanataro looked concerned, wringing his hands and edging closer as if expecting Kaito to stumble at any moment.

Their concern grated, even as he had to accept that it was warranted.

(He was so tired…)

"Kaito-san?" Inoue spoke up when they lingered on a warehouse rooftop for longer than a handful of minutes. "Do you know where we should sleep tonight?"

He glanced at the sky and the low-hanging sun and shrugged. "No idea."

"W-we could sleep in the sewers?" Hanataro suggested.

Kaito took a moment to reconsider the idea; the sewers were hidden and unknown, with confusing, maze-like corridors that twisted a person's sense of direction into a knot. But there were no hidden nooks, no places they could tuck themselves away and be assured of safety.

"No. It's too vulnerable," Kaito decided. "We go down there for more than a few hours and we're leaving ourselves open to attack." He chewed on his lip and watched the sunset, trying to think of a solution. If he had been alone, he'd have found some little-used warehouse and done his best to catch a bit of sleep. But with Inoue and Ishida and Hanataro with him…

The question became, how much did Kurotsuchi want to capture them?

"O-oh. Uhm… I can't—I don't know anywhere—uhm… sorry…" Hanataro murmured, staring at the ground.

Inoue pulled Hanataro into a hug. "It's okay! We don't really know either. I'm sure we'll find somewhere!"

They needed to hide where no one would expect to find them. Where no one would dare to sneak up and capture them.

(*S'too bad y'can't jes ask Kenpachi,*) Shiro complained. (*Betcha he'd fuckin' hide us fer th'chance t'fight again.*)

(*Kenpachi, huh.*) Kaito pulled the brim of his hat down and considered it. Kenpachi had switched sides last time because Ichigo gave him a good fight. And this time they'd parted amicably, with a promise for help if he needed it.

And hadn't his father said something about Divisions being like fiefdoms where no other Captain dared intervene?

Tempting, tempting…

"You have a look I'm not entirely certain I like, senpai. What horrific idea has spawned in your head this time?" Ishida asked warily.

Kaito hummed and shot Ishida one of his father's best 'who, me?' grins, the sheer audacity of the idea making him giddy. "Oh, nothing much! Just a simple little idea of where we could spend the night! Nothing terrible, nothing terrible."

Ishida's lips compressed into a thin line. "I'm not going to like this, am I."

"Your suspicion wounds me deeply," Kaito said dryly, "but I promise the idea has merit." And it wasn't like he would make any of them deal with Kenpachi or the rest of the Eleventh by themselves.

Inoue giggled and let go of Hanataro. "Kaito-san is teasing Ishida-kun horribly. Where will you have us hiding?"

"That is a secret," he told her with another of his father's cheeky smiles. "Come on, come on. I'd like to get there before dark, I think."

The three exchanged looks, but followed him willingly enough across the rooftops. Kaito honed in on Kenpachi's familiar signature and let it lead him to the man; it seemed like he was already back at the Eleventh, if Kaito remembered the Division's location correctly. Surprising, considering the combat they'd had the night before, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Kenpachi's presence would smooth their way into the division with fewer questions asked.

Disbelief-exasperation-resignation radiated from Ichigo as they approached, his friend unable to find words to express everything he found wrong with this decision. Zangetsu felt more pragmatic about it, willing to take a chance on an agreement between warriors.

Shiro was just excited to be within fighting distance of Kenpachi again.

(Kaito couldn't say he blamed him. Fighting Kenpachi had been fun.)

"Y-you're kidding," Hanataro protested as they came within sight of the barracks. "Y-you—they won't—they're n-not going to… to let me in…"

"Don't worry about it," Kaito tried to reassure Hanataro. "Remember what I said about telling people I kidnapped you? Same applies here. Just stick close and I'll take care of anyone who bothers you."

"Senpai. Senpai, please tell me we're not going to hide where I think you're bringing us," Ishida all but begged.

Kaito laughed and dropped from the rooftop, landing in front of the Eleventh Division's gate. "We're going to hide exactly where you think I'm taking you," he said with a sharp grin, spreading his arms out to encompass the barracks. "Kenpachi and I have an agreement, after all!"

Inoue blinked at him, glanced at the barracks, then stepped up to Ishida's side and tugged at his sleeve. He bent down enough for her to whisper in his ear, a look of resignation crossing his face at her words.

"When this goes bad and we have to fight our way out, I reserve the right to tell you 'I told you so', senpai," Ishida declared as he straightened up.

"Oh ye of little faith. Watch in awe as a master works, kohai," Kaito teased Ishida, more confident in his decision with every protest the others brought up. If the idea was so unthinkable even for them, then hopefully no one else would believe it either. "Now, let's go meet with Kenpachi and get us a place to sleep."

He rested a hand on Hanataro's shoulder and gave the timid Shinigami a reassuring look before steering them both through the gates and into the division. Inoue and Ishida fell into step with him as they crossed the courtyard together.

Silence fell across the Shinigami gathered in the courtyard, everyone staring at them in shock and rising disbelief. A few even scowled, hands going to their zanpakutou and gazes locked on Hanataro.

Kaito bared his teeth at them and spiked his reiatsu. Sent them scattering like leaves.

He had a Captain to meet and refuge to negotiate.

(And maybe another fight to win.)

(Please let Kenpachi demand a rematch.)

(He could use the stress relief.)