Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Rukia raised her blade towards the cowering man, Katashi and his men looking on with approving eyes. Her own eyes were cold and her reiatsu was causing a frost on the ground.

"If any of you try something, I will kill you." She paused, letting the words sink in before continuing the interrogation. "Now tell me who runs this."

The man gulped and looked around at his friends for support, who were in similar states. "Uhh, I don't know what you-" Rukia slashed her blade across the man's face, drawing blood.

"Don't be stupid." Rukia's face was impassive as she slid her blade underneath his neck. Years of Kuchiki family tradition had allowed her to hide all but the smallest hints of emotion in her eyes, nothing that he would notice.

"L-look I'm not part of the business, I just get what they want and help them out!" Rukia's eyes flickered slightly with anger and she looked over to Katashi.

"Go and check up on the girls, they'll need comforting and maybe help. If any are injured then take them to Nori and Haru's, I'm sure you can find out where it is." Katashi scowled as always, butnodded, motioning for his men to follow behind him as they went into the house.

Rukia turned her attention back to the man and slowly pulled her blade away from his throat. "I guess you don't know anything."

The man smiled, but it was short-lived as Rukia slammed the hilt of her Zanpakuto into his temple, knocking him out instantly. The ghost of a bemused smile remained as she turned to the next one, her blade once again risingto his throat.

"Do you know any more than him, or am I just wasting my time?" The man shifted uncomfortably and Rukia knew that he knew something.

Concentrating her reiatsu up the point of her blademade the man shiver slightly from the penetrating cold. After a moment'shesitation he looked down and stuttered an answer. "W-well, we get orders from the guy on the floor, who laughed. He gets them f-from...u-uhh...from the s-"

The rest was cut off by a gurgling choke and Rukia took a step back. The man besides him had managed to stab the man from behind him, the blade piercing his lungs and protruding a few inches from his chest, blood already spurting out of the wound.

"We don'tknow where the orders come from." Rukia snarled and slashed across the other man, a bloody trail breaking out across his chest. The two men fell, one dead and one injured, blood seeping from both of them.

Rukia looked away in disgust. She had never expected this kind of filth to exist within the shinigami, and had never wanted to be the one to kill another shinigami. Hollows were nothing, but this...this was wrong.

She looked down as she heard a groan and the shuffling of a body. The man from before, their leader, was waking up. 'Perfect.' Rukia thought, if there was anyone that would have information then it would be him. It was just a matter of getting it out.

Walking over to him as he stood, she waited for him to wobble to his feet. Blood was already dripping from his mouth and he wiped it clumsily away, spitting to the floor.

"Little bastards, I-" The blade at his throat silence him, Sode no shirayuki already touching his flesh.

"You would do well to think carefully about exactly what you say." The man glared back at her, a hint of fear in his eyes as he took in the blade and her cold eyes.

"Tsh, you're just a Lieutenant, not that powerful. Your Captain even had to step in and save your pretty little neck." Rukia's eyes flashed in anger and she flicked her blade down before returning it to his neck.

He gasped out in pain and looked down at his arm, which had a curved slice cut into it."I may not be as strong as a Captain, but don't underestimate me. I have no mercy for people like you so tell me exactly who you are working with."

Pushing his fear away the man chuckled. "Oh really? There are twenty or so of my boys and one of you, since those pathetic souls with you would just get in the way. You really think you're that strong?"

Rukia noticed that a few of the shinigami had edged closer and had dropped their hands to their blades. Without hesitating she released her blade, spinning it vertically and calling out her command.

"Dance, Sode no shirayuki." Her reiatsu spread out around her, dropping the temperature around them and a white blade lifted before her.

"I'll ask you again, who are you working for?Tell me that and you won't need to suffer." The man scoffed at the woman, ignoring the high reiatsu he sensedpushing down on him.

"Don't be silly girl, get her!" It wasn't all of them that obliged, only five moved forwards with outstretched bladed.

Rukia stood still for as long as she could before flash-stepping away as they got within inches of her, leaving them all in the same location. Landing in the air above them, she pointed her blade at them and chanted the command that would seal their fate.

"Some no mai, Tsukishiro."

A white tower erupted from the ground, instantly freezing all of those foolish enough to have attacked her. Rukia landed between the tower and the man who was now looking significantly more nervous than before, small beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"You still have a long way to go, I doubt any of you are even in seated positions." The man growled back at her, his hand dropping down to the hilt of his Zanpakuto.

"Bah, they might not be but I am the 19thseat of the 11thsquad! The best fighting squad." Rukia narrowed her eyes at this.

"Really? Well, I will have to talk to Captain Zaraki about exactly who he promotes." The man barked out a round of laughter, pulling his Zanpakuto out slowly.

"The Captain doesn't care what you're like, as long as you're strong enough then you can get as high as you want!" Rukia relaxed her arm, letting Sode no shirayuki fall down to her side. Looking at the man with contempt she responded.

"You won't be getting anywhere after this. You have disgraced the name shinigami and you are right that your Captain doesn't care, especially not about some random low-ranked officer." The man growled and swung his blade at her wildly.

"Fuck you, bitch!" Rukia's expression didn't change as she brought her own blade up to meet his, the two connecting and sending a flash of sparks into the night.

He struggled, putting both hands on the hilt of his blade and pushing against the white obstacle. Rukia didn't even use her other hand to block the force, simply pushing more of her own reiatsu into the blade and easily holding off the shaking blade against it.

"You're too weak." With that statement she pushed more power into her blade and sharpened it, moving her Zanpakuto up against his.

With a loud crack his blade shattered, Sode no shirayuki sliced through the metal and gracefully returned to Rukia's side, theribbon blowing elegantly in the cool breeze. The officer froze at the sight of his blade so effortlessly shattered, shards of metal falling down and embedding themselves in the hardened dirt.

Rukia raised her blade again his throat and repeated her earlier question. "Now tell me who you are taking orders from."

The man cursed and looked around frantically, desperate for a way out. But there wasn't one, the cold metal of the blade was unforgiving and his blood was turned cold by it. Growling he quickly made a decision, his life wasn't worth this.

"Fine, fine I don't know how that Captain puts up with you," Rukia put the slightest bit of pressure on her blade, drawing a drop of blood. He glared back at her and continued. "Butlike I was saying, I'll tell you who I get my orders from."

Rukia nodded but didn't move her blade. "Speak then, and quickly." He let out a sigh and looked away in irritation. They had never expected an entire squad to be moved down here, it was inconvenient.

"I get orders from a guy in the 78thdistrict..."Rukia widened her eyes. How could it be there? Where she had grown up, had it become even more corrupted than before in her time as a shinigami?

Theman continued, unaware of her surprise, "Idon't know much about him but he is definitely based there. We get orders on what to take, sell, destroy and where to send the girls." He jerked his thumb towards them and leered slightly. "Seems like we have them sent to a fair few district but nearly all in the 60-80 range, we get some of our own from other districts of course-"

Rukia cut him off by placing a well-aimedpunch in his stomach and silencing him. Falling to his knees she looked down on him with contempt. "You are despicable, " Looking up she eyes the rest of the shifty group. "All of you. I will make sure you get the maximum punishment for this from central 46, even if I have to appeal to them myself, you, and the rest of this sick organisation."

Looking around at them once more to get the point across she raised her hand and called a hell butterfly. She did not want help in cleaning up this mess, just help in disposing of the shinigami that came with it. This was squad fives task and they would achieve it bythemselves.

"Lieutenant Kuchiki of squad five, requesting assistance to contain 26 rogueshinigami, more are likely to follow..."

Ichigo pushed through the wild branches that jutted off from the tree's that grew around central 67th. He could hear the occasional crack ahead of him of the girl as she ran, expertly making her way through the plants. Clearly she had done this before.

"Oi, get back here!" Ichigo tried. He didn't get a response aside from the increasing speed of her feet against the soft ground. Cursing, he sped up with only the sounds of her movements to go on and the occasional flash of ragged clothing.

'How can she be here and who the hell is she?' Ichigo wondered as he dodged below a branch. It was impossible, he knew that much. Unless the 12thsquad was screwing with him, in which case he would have a rather large boot to Place up Mayuri's ass.

It wasn't the first time he had a run in with the squad of research and development. The insane Captain had demanded that Ichigo be given to him as a research specimen before he became an official Captain to make sure he was safe. Needless to say his proposition was unanimously rejected by the Captains, even Byakuya. So if this was some ploy to get back at him then Ichigo would not be happy, not at all.

'Either way I need to get to her, if only to prove that it's not her.' Seeing the end of the foliage up above, Ichigo pushed through the bushed and looked around for his quarry. Shaking his head to get the leaves out of his hair he scowled.

"Where did she go..." He wondered out loud, scanning the area for the bob of black hair and the rags that clothed her. He couldn't see anything against the darkness and growled in irritation.

"Dammit, if she looks like her..." Musing about it for a moment he remembered something and looked up in a moment of inspiration.

He caught what he was looking for sitting in the boughs of a tree, half-hidden in the shadows and looking down on him curiously. After she caught him looking she flinched back, moving towards the tree's trunk.

"No, wait!" But it was toolate, she was already expertly climbing down the tree. Ichigo cursed and flash-stepped over to the tree, arriving in front of her just before she got to the ground.

The girl reached the ground and turned, only to be met with Ichigo's scowling face towering over her. She took a step back, hitting the tree and looking up at Ichigo with fear in her wide eyes.

"Uh, please, p-please don't hurt me. I-I'm sorry for watching you, I-I..." She trailed of, looking around for an escape from the imposing shinigami nervously. She had just been curious of what had been happening, she never expected this man to come and get her like those other girls.

Ichigo cut her off with a sigh. "Just stop talking and tell me who you are." The girl flinched back slightly at his sharp tone and Ichigo sighed again in exasperation.

"I-um, well-" Just as she was about to continue Ichigo felt a hollow presence behind him and growled in irritation.

Urahara watched through his monitor, and almost exploded with excitement as he saw who it was that Ichigo had managed to find. Giddy, he called out to Yoruichi.

"Oh Yoruichiiiii!" He heard a groan from her room, followed by a series of curses.

Her door slid open, revealing amessy haired, and irritated Yoruichi. "What is it Kisuke, you know we were up all night." Urahara chuckled and and winked at her.

"Of course, but it seems we will be taking a trip to the Soul-society for our student once again." Yoruichi raised her sleepy eyebrows.

"Eh, Ichigo? Unless you've got something that will make him submissive then it better be good to havedisturbedme." Urahara raised his eyebrows in surprise, leaning slightly closer to her.

"Why would you want him to be..." Yoruichi managed to make a perverted face to rival his own and winked at him.

"Personal reasons, Kisuke, personal reasons." Urahara pouted at the, not so subtle, implications.

"You're so mean, Yoruichi." She just shrugged, stretching out and then grinned back at him.

"I just wanted to take his first time Kisuke, is that so wrong?" Urahara seemed on ponder this for a moment before he answered.

"Yes." Yoruichi pouted, punching him gently on the arm.

"You're no fun any more." Urahara smirked and leant closer to her, a lusty glint in his eyes.

"Oh really, well you know that Ichigo would be young and inexperienced...and would he know what you want my kitty?" Yoruichi glared at the nickname but was overwhelmed by the want for man before her.

Their lips met and instantly tongues were at war, Yoruichi still sluggish and lazy from her sleep, Urahara expertly taking advantage and dominating her. Yoruichi growled in irritation, pulling him closer to her and rubbing her hands up his skin beneath his robes.

Urahara pulled away, smirking back at her. "Still sleepy?" Yoruichi glared at him and snapped her teeth at the finger Urahara prodded her with for a response.

"Fuck you Kisuke. Now enough jokes, if you ever want to be in the same bed as me again I suggest you show me why I am up. Did Ichigo and Rukia do it already?" Urahara pouted back at her, walking back towards his perver-security station.

"No, they haven't even made-out again since that first time. They sure are slow, at this rate they'll never have a child I can corrupt." Yoruichi rolledher eyes and stood next to him, looking at the black screen.

"Hmm, do you think a mini-Ichigo would be as good looking as full-grown Ichigo?" Urahara dead-panned.

"I don't know, but considering the parents I doubt they will let you near him if they get what you want." Yoruichi pouted again, sitting down with crossed legs and resting her head on a hand.

"Yeah, 'spose you're right there. I wonder if I could get Soi-fon to join us..." Urahara's eyes lit up at that and a perverted grin worked across his face.

"I'll get working on something to help you persuade her." Yoruichi smirked back at him then looked blankly at the screen.

"So what is this all about?" Urahara responded by switching on the screen, showing the figure that stood before Ichigo.

"What's so important about that it's just..." She squinted at the figure and her golden eyes widened in shock. "Kisuke, is that who I think it is?"

Urahara nodded happily and leaned back into his chair. "Yes, it seems someone got lucky with the regeneration cycle. I suppose that happens when you die early in Rukongai, or at least relatively early." Yoruichi nodded and squinted at the image again, her own grin braking out slowly.

"So what are we going to do about this?" Urahara grinned back at her and pulled out his fan.

"Well, my dear Yoruichi, we are going to take a trip back with a little experiment I happento have ready." Yoruichi smirked, standing up and going over to him she leant down and whispered back, just an inch from his ear.

"Oh, so this is just a coincidence that you've been so busy with this lately..." Urahara smirked back at her and brought his lips to meet hers briefly.

"Of course my dear, of course."

"Great, just great. Now of all times they decide to show up..." Ichigo continued grumbling as he drew his blade, glancing back at the shadowed girl and giving her a grimace.

"Listen, you just stay behind me okay? A hollow is coming so I'll deal with it then we'll continue this." Her eyes widened in fear and she nodded her head quickly.

Not a second later the hollow appeared, roaring as it pushed asides the treesand landed before Ichigo. He just looked at it with a bored expression and tightened his grip on Zangetsu slightly.

The hollow was centipede-like in appearance, with multiple green and white segments leading up to a cavernous mouth brimming with teeth. It roared again at the Captain and the small girl, taking a few steps forward with itsprongs.

Ichigo brought Zangetsu's sealed form in-front of him and prepared for its attack, not wanting to be caught off guard before the girl. He was proven right as the mouth opened again and a long, spiked tongue emerged at lightningspeed. Ichigo growled as it approached and swung his blade to block the attack, slicing straight through the appendage.

The strange girl backed off at the attack, watching the fight scene with a mixture of horror and awe. She had never seen a hollow before; shehad only heard of them and sometimes heard the sounds of battle.

Ichigo scowled at the hollow, he preferred the straight up ones, without any disgusting features of weapons which they tended to use. He felt a few drops of blood spatter onto his rope and his scowl deepened; he would have to have his haori washed again.

"Can't you just die cleanly for once?" He asked with boredom. The hollow wasn't advanced enough to respond and just roared in pain and anger.

That was enough for Ichigo and he decided to end this quickly, flash-stepping to the hollow he slashed up with his blade and ripped through the white mask. The hollow disintegrated quickly and left Ichigo and the mysterious girl alone once again.

"Stupid things, always at the worst time." Ichigo scowled at the space where the hollow used to be and then turned back around to the girl.

"C'mon, now you have to tell me who-" Another figure interrupted Ichigo's attempt again, causing him to shout out in frustration. "God dammit, what now?"

His response was an angry Rukia glaring at him and folding her arms across her chest besides him. "Don't shout at me for nothing you fool."

Ichigo blinked in surprises and winced slightly as he saw Rukia standing besidehim...looking pissed. "Oh, uh Rukia...what are you doing here?" Rukia continued to glare at him for a moment then looked away in irritation.

"I came to find you after you ran away because I've got the information from them, I also sensed a hollow, which I can only assume you took care of." Ichigo nodded and then smirked at her.

"Great, now we can take them down and clean out the whole of the area. How did you restrain them?" Rukia turned back to him, some of her anger at his rudeness having cooled off.

"A few members of the stealth squad were nearby on a mission. They got my message and relayed it to Captain Soi-fon, guarding the captives temporarily before she could send more men to escort them back to their holding facility." Ichigo nodded in appreciation, reminding himself to explain the whole situation to Yamamoto if he was asked about support from another squad. Not thathe wouldn't be talking to him anyway if this went toofar.

A small noise brought both of their attention to the girl who had her back against a tree and was looking at Rukia with wide, astonished eyes. They were all that was visible from the shadow of the tall tree, the rest of her shrouded in darkness.

"Who's this, and why is she so important?" Ichigo thought he heard the smallest hint of jealousy in Rukia's voice and frowned in response.

"I don't know, that's the problem." Rukia looked over at him like he was stupid.

"I'm sure the number of people who you don't know in Rukongai could populate the living world Ichigo." Ichigo glared back at her and waved a hand at the girl.

"Just look at her, then tell me this isn't weird!" Rukia looked back at him dubiously but complied, smiling at the girl, who seemed to be about her height maybe a hair taller, she held out a hand.

"Hey, can you come forward into the light for a moment? I need to see what Ichigo is so worked up about." The girl shied away slightly and shook her head.

"I-I don't think that's a good idea." Rukia smiled again and gestured forward softly.

"Please, it won't take long." The girl hesitated but did as Rukia asked.

Rukia froze, eyes locked on the figure in-front of her, the woman who was dead. She had been dead for a long time, how could she be back, how could she be here? She had died when Rukia was only a child after all.

There was no mistaking that form though: shoulder length black hair so similar to her own, a petite form to match her own and even the same eyes looking back at her from a softer face. It was her, she had seen her before in pictures.

"I'm Hisana." Her sister, Hisana Kuchiki.

Beta'd by .lyingtonguesareclumsy.

(A/N) Another shortish chapter I suppose D: Oh well, you get plot exposition so that's worth it, right? XD Yus, Hisana is back. If you want to know a secret, that was my original reason for the last 2 arcs, but then they became more important!

About their relationship progression; I'm trying at the moment to balance the plot and the romance and unfortunately or some, we are getting to the peak of the arc, so romance is harder to get in. I do it this way because I kinda want this to be seen as a possible way you could continue Bleach from 423. And Kubo has said that he doesn't want to focus on romance specifically, that doesn't mean I won't at some points though xD

Lastly, a cookie to all those who knew it was Hisana beforehand! I tried to make it vague but I did give you some nice hints, so congrats! Thanks for the reviews and sorry if you tried to PM me recently, my account reset the settings and I wasn't getting alerts and couldn't sned or respond to PM's. All fixed now though!