Disc: Bleach is the intellectual property of Tite Kubo. Rated for nudity and swearing.

Part 26: Never Meant to Belong

Ichigo wasn't offended to wake up for a second time in the exact same infirmary bed, with none of his friends watching over him. They had other things in their lives beside his tendency to get himself hurt in fights, and he doubted that the Shinigami had much time to be gracious hosts at the moment even if they wanted to.

In fact most of the vast white citadel seemed to be on full-alert, with multiple guards forming checkpoints at each gate, supervised by several familiar faces including Renji and Izuru. Even from his bed he could feel the intensity in the air.

Despite this, from the window he could still make out the figures of various Shinigami civillians, spiritual beings who had been good and honourable enough in life to retain their bodies as 'plus' souls, but lacked the killer instinct to ever join the Gotei 13. He felt strangely satisfied to see them, reminded that the majority of the Shinigami he'd interacted with were born warriors, mostly unconcerned with niceties.

"Baka", he growled at himself as the pain of his newest bruise flared up the moment he tried to stand, placing one hand to relieve the feeling of dull pressure. "Yeah, insult Byakuya's honour when you're injured and he's working and pissed off, very smart Ichigo." He'd lost his temper then, even if it was justified. And lying in bed here now, looking out over the vast city that was the fortified heart of the Seiritei, he could begin to think on other things too.

Samora, Rukia and her brother were hardly the only Shinigami nobles he'd dealt with in his time here. Some were straightforwardly blunt about it, others were annoyingly spoiled by their privileges, but he could still call them his friends. He just hadn't thought about all these ancient Shinigami families in those terms before. "Four 'Great Houses'", he remembered out loud. "Kuchiki, Shihoin, two others I haven't met... and beneath those the Kasumoji and Omaeda."

His world had no such thing. Not any more, really. But Rukia... she's like a princess. Is her brother trying to block me out of her life just because I'm not a noble? Or is it because I'm a human? A rather poor human, he had to admit with a chuckle. The equivalent of a peasant.

There had to be more to this. The 6th squad captain had many qualities that disagreed with Ichigo, but being a control freak wasn't one of them. He's too smart not to realize that Rukia's going to see who she wants, no matter what. Maybe when she was younger he could do that, but not now.

Then it would be up to him to find out. He certainly wasn't going to go marching down into the jail cells again until he had his answer- that would likely just get him sent back to the infirmary, unconscious again. Being knocked out twice in a row was plenty.

There were more urgent appointments, of course. If he'd known where Tatsuki was, no amount of energy loss or threats from his hosts would have stopped him from charging off to find her, and bring her home before some Shinigami could get lucky and kill her. Tatsuki-chan... I'm sorry, he thought out at the afternoon sun. I will find you, and I'll save you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long I have to stay here in this world. I promise.

There were no signs of Spirit Eater attacks that he could see, but he made certain to bring Zangetsu along just in case. His attendants had at least provided him with a long-sleeved off-white tunic that he'd seen on some Shinigami cadets to replace his lost coat, and after another hour he felt strong enough to walk where he pleased, even waving to Renji once he'd been let through the checkpoint that had been set up at the castle gate. Some kind of Kido spell checking out everyone's unique spiritual pressure, to make sure they are who they say they are, he observed grimly. But their enemies could perfectly mimic the energy signature of anyone who they had drained- Reeve could still duplicate his.

He tried his hardest not to let everything else related to that interfere with this momentary peace, merely walking the streets trying to get a feel for a place he'd defended many times but never explored, not like Karakura town. To his surprise, many of the younger citizens gave him pleasant greetings, even calling his name by rote as if he were a respected noble as well. One, a young blond girl with freckles, even asked to be shown Zangetsu's polished black edge, the sight of which brought her enough giddy happiness that he felt embarrassed.

The various stores in the marketplace were clearly suffering reduced sales under a state of war, but hardly a crippling reduction- Ichigo merely thronged his way through the other patrons just as he'd done on the more crowded streets of Naruki. Sure enough, there was an entire shelf of tiny white rabbit figurines lined up along the east wall of the gift shop.

"Amazing. Renji told me about it and I still don't believe it. Chappy the Rabbit?"

"Very popular among the ladies", a squat clerk wearing shades informed him brightly. "Would you like to buy one, Kurosaki-sama?"

The use of title threw him for a loop, but he shook his head. "No thanks. I was just curious about the thing a... friend of mine uses as inspiration for her crappy drawings. I can't believe these actually sell among Soul Reapers."

"Oh yes", the clerk nodded, clearly almost as smitten by him as the girl had been. It was unnerving. "The path of the warrior doesn't desensitize one to appreciating things that are adorable or beautiful."

"Yeah. Too bad this is neither of those."

Rukia would've hammered him for that. The clerk decided not to comment. "Perhaps you'd be interested in something... closer to home, perhaps?"

Following his finger, Ichigo's gaze widened. There was another shelf along the north wall, beneath a selection of gray feudal sculptures, that was divided into a number of shelves stacked closely together to accommodate several different varieties of figurines. Figurines that looked surprisingly familiar...

It was Byakuya he spotted first, the Kuchiki elder's stern features fresh in his mind. Each figure was only about half a foot tall, but managed to capture much of his most common outfit, the voluminous black haori and white scarf with a slate clip covering long and regal black hair. The expressions carved into the wood were limited, but still conveyed a familiar piercing glare.

The rest were here too, he realized in further shock. All of the heroes of the Seritei who had made their names over the centuries by defeating threats to their people. Only the captains actually, but they were joined by a handful of others, both men and women, that he didn't recognize. Former captains, he assumed, slain in the line of duty.

"M... maybe if it had a real-live Bankai", he joked halfheartedly. "Still, that's some impressive craftwork all right."

The clerk beamed. "They are all hand-carved and painted by our owner, lady Tsirimaji, in both the size you see here and keychain size. Like many here, she has great admiration for our heroes. Truly we are blessed to have such respected nobles defending us."

It was then he noticed that Kenpachi, Toshiro and Mayuri were all missing from this tableau, swallowed. "I never realized... that they were respected that much."

"Oh indeed, Kurosaki-sama. But they do not sell as highly as Chappy over here, of course."

Looking half dazed, he nodded back. "Yeah. Sorry to waste your time, but I'm not really into dolls, Mr...?"

"Gendumu", the clerk provided, inclining his round specs in the shop's light. "And do not be afraid of a loss of respect, my friend- people of all ages have enjoyed our shop's products for centuries! They make excellent gifts for friends! If none of those are your forte, then perhaps..."

Ichigo blinked. Gendumu was suddenly looking shifty, glancing around the store to make sure all the other clerks were fully occupied with customers. Satisfied, he ducked behind the counter, bringing up a small wooden box. "Perhaps these?"

Opening the latch himself, Ichigo gasped.

The doors to Mayuri's hidden lab shuddered open, and the harsh light of the desert silhouetted two new arrivals, one hunched over on a cane and the other with an angry jolt in her step. While the strange violet lighting and sinister machinery of the place had to be startling, neither made any noise of shock until they saw the gray-haired Shinigami woman hanging on the far wall like a limp piece of meat, eyes closed and expression pained.

"Shit", Yui Alumirr exclaimed at the sight. "Don't tell me they know about this place already?"

"Not yet", a new voice greeted them from the shadows, Lanis emerging with his sword sheathed. "I have seen a Shinigami strike force attacking this place. But not until tomorrow. This one is merely our prisoner, and I have not seen her escape happening today."

"How reassuring", Yui replied sarcastically. Even with his sanity restored to him by the energies of this world, the gray-eyed Spirit Eater before them remained an amazingly creepy person to her. "At least something's gone right."

"Plan C was a failure", Barton Eishinchi offered mildly. His shadow blended well with the darkness here, but remained ready to strike like some impossibly brutal guard dog protecting its master. "Even though we combined our talents, Kreig, Reeve, Hyn, Demalza, and Nogrand all either fell or were captured in the battle. It was all that we could do to escape ourselves."

"I have seen that", Lanis said calmly, not really looking at any of them. "I told meu mestre of the outcome before your departure."

This hit Yui so hard that she switched off her walkman and ripped out the headphones. "Say again? Maybe I didn't hear you right. 'Cause it sounds to me like you just said Zatsua set us up!"

"It's not like that", another voice protested. Verdade, powerless compared to the rest of them but now entrusted with something equally as important. "This was the real plan. We just needed a distraction for the Shinigami so we could get started."

"Oh." Yui remained livid, managing to intimidate several of the others despite being the youngest one there. "Oh I see. So we were just the decoy? My brother got himself captured for a decoy?!"

"It was no one's fault", Verdade said, trying not to cower. "Besides, Zatsua said that the Shinigami were too sanctimonious to kill their prisoners. You'll see your brother again as soon as we're done here."

From the look on her face it was clear the girl didn't understand all of that. She looked about to lunge forward when another door slammed loudly shut from above. "I believed I had already spoken to your acting commander about our agreement", a high voice came down, poorly masking his fury. "I believed we agreed that there would be SILENCE in MY lab until I was done MY work! So BE QUIET, YOU IDIOTS!"

A second after, Yui scoffed. Mayuri's chalky white complexion and high-pitched screaming was good for a few scares- and Verdade indeed looked very scared of him- but it would take much more than that to stop her own anger. "Go die in a hole, old man."

Captain Kurotsuchi's eyes twiched grotesquely. "Old... MAN?! You brat! I'll have you know I'm a spry 293 years! You-"

"Please excuse her, doctor Kurotsuchi", Verdade offered most humbly- as usual Lanis was merely staring off into space, already knowing how this would end without his interference. "She is young and aggressive, and she has just returned from the battlefield."

Mayuri made a rude noise. "I don't care if she's just returned from Hueco Mundo! You WILL be quiet, or good luck trying to finish this experiment without MY genius!"

Satisfied that this tirade was enough, the captain stalked out in a huff. "He's very touchy", Verdade offered at last. "Please don't aggravate him any more. Zatsua needs him to finish his project first."

"More mad science", Barton noted in sad resignation. "I suppose we have no choice in the matter. Where is Princess Adre?"

"Out. Another diversionary strike with Arisawa and Kiatenin. They're supposed to pull back if things get hairy."

"Which, like, worked out so well for us", Yui growled, making false doe eyes at Verdade's alarm. "Oh, don't worry pal. I heard the old fart's orders." Pressing one finger to her lips, she smiled mischievously. "I won't make a sound."

With Verdade unfamiliar with his colleagues' powers, it was Barton whose aged eyes widened in alarm. "No, don't-"

But the younger of the lava-eyed Alumirr sibings had already returned the headphones to her ears, and started playing a new song just for drama's sake. With the hand that had been pressed to her lips, she clasped her other palm tightly, touching the triangle tattoo. "Ianzamento- Endecha!"

And there was a brief crackle, then nothing. Verdade stared in horror, watching Barton's lips continue to move, speaking with no result. He tried his own words of caution with the same result, realizing in the same instant that he could no longer hear the randomized humming and clanking of Mayuri's machines. The few animals of the desert were completely silent.

Deaf. Gone. The sound was gone. Or rather, something had completely blocked it out. Even Barton's attempt at touching his tattoo and activating his own Ianzamento yielded nothing, requiring spoken words to call upon.

Yui's words would be blocked out as well, but she didn't need any to make her intent clear, leaping up onto the walkway they'd seen Mayuri leave through and blasting the metal doors down with a single soundless kick. The only one of them who could have pursued her elected not to, but Verdade raced up the stairs all the same, his footfalls not even leaving a whisper. Maybe he actually could stop her from ruining everything. And then ride a sparkly unicorn out of here on a rainbow...

Up ahead, he could just make out the confrontation. Kurotsuchi naturally looked outraged by the intrusion, and his voice would normally be tearing through their eardrums in fierce anger... but even now he was realizing that his wide lips and filmy yellow teeth were moving, but no sound was coming out. When his attempt to activate his Zanpakuto failed, the mad doctor seemed to respond more with interest than fear, though Verdade imagined that the moment this 'Endecha' ability wore off he would give them all a piece of his mind. Assuming he even let Yui live.

Then Kurotsuchi lunged with his blade completely unpowered by Shikai or Bankai, and he realized he might have gotten it backwards- the buffeting generated by Yui's vocal cords was invisible and noiseless, but still managed to blast Kurotsuchi into a wall hard enough to crack it in a silent explosion of dust.

Gods help us all, he thought to himself, running along the walkway after her.

Conveniently, Ichigo found Sado and Inoue just outside his next destination, already talking with the nurse there. After assuring them he was fine and accepting a long hug from Inoue and a handshake from Sado, he faced the young-looking Shinigami acting as Prince Shihoin's ward, and nodded. "Is he accepting visitors?"

The girl seemed amused. "He would even if his body was in multiple pieces. The fool has no idea just how close he came to dying. I can let you in, but only for a short time. He needs his rest."

"I won't be long. I just want to talk for a while."

The healer smiled back warmly, again showing Ichigo a degree of respect he still wasn't sure if he was comfortable with, and stepped aside to let them pass. Within the small room, Ichigo could see the damage up close for the first time.

Half the man's gold rings were gone, leaving behind profuse welts all along the scalp only held back by bandages, and a great deal of his brown hair burned away as well. Without his noble haori, the prince seemed completely ordinary, his strange javelin Zanpakuto leaned against the wall next to him. "Damn", was all Ichigo could think to say.

"My sentiments exactly", Samora tried to speak up, his usual annoying cheer slurred by pain. "Though I lament my lack of proper words to express my irritation, like an ancient book that I am forbidden to read."

Seeing Orihime smile at the ridiculous simile, he sat next to the bed. "Samora...san. Sorry about nearly getting you killed before."

The prince shook his head in mock confusion. "Sorry? I've never experienced such excitement in all of my time at the palace. This pain is but a small ticket for such a ride."

And it helps fulfil Byakuya's marriage conditions I'll bet, he thought, already remembering in a rush how he'd come to be here. "Glad you feel that way. And uh, thanks for helping me stop that Nogrand Juno guy."

A polite chuckle. "Think nothing of it, Ichino. That horrible man was going to destroy miss Rukia's home! I simply could not allow such a travesty to pass, not when my Shikai is so well-suited for aerial combat like a shark and the ocean. But of course, I give full credit for the kill to you."

"Right. The kill." Again, actually he didn't feel too badly about that. Mainly because the Spirit Eater had self-destructed after all, so it didn't really count as him killing a human. But what about next time? What if there's another Spirit Eater who doesn't give up so easily? Can I kill them? Kill a human?

Hearing the nurse talking to someone outside reminded him of his limit, and his mind returned to the matter he truly wanted to discuss, the one that had been eating him up the whole time he'd been making his way back to the castle, through the checkpoint and back to the infirmary.

Reaching into his pouch, he brought out a tiny figurine and quickly laid it on the desk next to the bed as though it burned to the touch. The same height as all the others in the store he'd gone to, this one held features even more familiar to him than the rest of Soul Society's mighty 13 captains. They were his own. Wide black coat. A mop of carrot orange hair and slender face in as fierce an expression as could be affected by the tiny dots for eyes and line mouth. There was even a wooden approximation of Zangetsu held in the doll's hands, held at the very angle he'd seen a thousand times in his own hands.

Samora stared into the doll's eyes, not exactly sure what it meant. "You shouldn't have."

"They were in the shop", Ichigo said, explaining to Inoue and Sado as well. "The guy was keeping them hidden in a locked box under the counter, 'cause apparently they're banned by Central 46."

"It's cute", Inoue remarked, reaching out to play with it. "Can I keep it, Kurosaki-kun? Please?"

He shrugged. "Go ahead. I just needed it so I can ask the prince here what this is all about. Byakuya won't tell me. I don't think any of them would be completely honest with me about this, except for you or Rukia."

"And she's on duty", Samora nodded, comprehending oddly fast for him. "She visited me before leaving. She looked very sad, like a dove who abandons her eggs."

"So that leaves you. I can guess what it means, but I wanted someone to tell me the truth."

Samora closed his eyes, though not out of pain. "Yes, only high-ranking nobles would know. I hope you realize that I could get into a great deal of trouble for telling you this, Ichinisan."

"I'll keep it quiet", he promised without hesitating. "But if you don't want to-"

"No." The prince was suddenly adamant. "You deserve to know. My status should protect me adequately from any backlash, like a mighty shield of gold and jewels and unlike the Kuchikis, my family has tactfully avoided any major disgrace for the past century... including auntie Yoruichi."

"Right", Ichigo remembered, wondering for a moment where his old teacher had gotten off to. "She was exiled by them for helping Mr. Hat and Clogs."

"All on behalf of a crime that turned out to be false", Samora concluded bitterly. "She was always very good to me when I was a young scamp, and I often wondered why she never came to visit anymore. My parents would not tell me. But I will not repeat their mistake. Lies help no one, they are like deadly serpents slithering through the undergrowth to bite you in the ankle."

"Um...Thank you, Samora-san."

"Think nothing of it. Now." Taking a moment to force himself up in bed, the prince took the tiny figurine from Orihime, cradling it in the same fashion she had been. "Ever since my lady Rukia stabbed you and gave you the Shinigami powers needed to take over for her, you have become involved in the majority of the recent conflicts plaguing Soul Society. Not only that, but you have been instrumental in resolving a goodly number of them, despite being a Substitute Shinigami."

Ichigo shrugged. The fact that he'd been dragged into so many battles was nothing new to him, and something many others had pointed out. He had never thought to brag about such a thing, and knew that wouldn't have gone over well with the captains anyway.

Samora began ticking off items on his fingers. "First, the incursion of a Menos Grande into Karakura Town. Then the saving of lady Rukia from a death sentence she had not truly earned, and which the Gotei 13 to their shame were being manipulated into carrying out. Then the attacks of the Bount, the situation with the infiltrator Shusuke Amagai and the other Bakkoto users, Muramasa's Zanpakuto rebellion, the Diamond Dust rebellion... and eventually the traitor Sosuke Aizen's own bid for power as well. Nearly every time you have been at the forefront of the battle, defeating enemies that many of our own captains would have difficulty properly subduing, though as you well know many of them would never admit that."

"Kenpachi could have", he offered, trying his hardest to remain modest. "I just got to them first, that's all."

"Perhaps", Samora considered, suddenly breaking into a coughing fit and waiting for it to subside before continuing. "In any event, your status as a hero has risen among the commoners of the Soul Society with every victory. Where once the Gotei 13 were considered our saviours and protectors, now many of the younger ones look to you as a better role model like a bird soaring above its flock. Hence the figurines."

"So they just banned them?" The strength in Inoue's voice surprised them all; she sounded terribly offended by the idea that something so adorable could be confiscated, waving the doll around in anger. "Just because they're jealous of Kurosaki-kun? That doesn't sound like them at all!"

At once, the prince looked ashamed. "That was the decree of Central 46, my dear. It was discussed at length with the four noble families, and it was agreed that in the long-term, it would undermine the nobles' power as well as the respect the 13 captains hold among the people. They couldn't allow you to become an icon in the world of the dead."

Ichigo looked weary, shaking his head. As he'd half-expected, all this political talk was putting him to sleep. "No. I never wanted to be an 'icon'. I don't care if they stop people from talking about me or ban those dolls... actually yes, please do keep those banned- they're freaking creepy. But now, they're trying to cut me out of things completely... and for once, I do have a personal stake in the Spirit Eaters."

Samora looked doubtful. "Of course you do. You said it yourself. Several of your closest friends are Shinigami. But does that mean you feel the need to involve yourself in every single battle the Soul Society engages in?"

Ichigo stared at him, feeling Sado's own gaze on his shoulder. He'd never thought of it in those terms before. "I... I protect who I need to protect. Whoever I can protect. I don't care about 'reputation'."

"Well they do", the prince said sadly. "The case was made by one of the other clan elders that if your success rate continued, the Soul Society might become dangerously dependent on you, if it hasn't already."

"No one wants that", Ichigo agreed vehemently. "But I was actually talking about Tatsuki-chan. I'm the only one who would even make the effort to bring her in alive. I have to stay and fight. So long as there's the slightest chance..."

"Ah. Your friend." Samora seemed to have forgotten about the event that had brought war to his home once more, but the name refreshed his memory. "My apologies, but I cannot help you, Ichiga. The 13 captains all have clear orders from above to exclude you from any battle they feel they can win without you. And you are right- they will show your friend no such mercy. She is doomed."

The grim sentencing caused Inoue to flee from the room, and he could feel Sado moving up beside him in her place. "We have to save her", the taller boy said simply, uncaring of all the prince had just told them. "We have gone against the will of Soul Society before."

Realizing how that might sound, Ichigo studied the prince's face in alarm but found no sign of hostility, only hope. That alone was proof of how much even Samora idolized him. Even if he can never get my name right. "Only if we have to, Sado. We have friends here now. We can't fight them, no matter what."

"Yes. Please don't", the prince agreed. "It would surely break lady Rukia's heart like a mighty hammer to have to fight or arrest you."

"Never", he promised just as quickly as when he'd promised not to breathe a word of this to anyone he didn't trust completely. To his great remorse, he found that several Shinigami had just now been removed from that list. If we want to save Tatsuki-chan... then we can only rely on a handful of people. Non-Shinigami only, until she's safe.

It was a realization that chilled his skin. He always hated lying to anyone, but to save a friend he would construct tall tales worthy of Gin Ichimaru.

As if summoned by his thoughts, the nurse returned, looking impatient. "Your time was up two minutes ago, Mr. Kurosaki. If you would please remove yourself now, the prince has other guests waiting to visit."

He didn't recognize any of the ones waiting out in the doorway. They had the garish look of nobles, direct relatives of Samora with skin as brown as Yoruichi's.

Yoruichi. One Shinigami who might be willing and able to help us, he thought hopefully as they made their way out of the infirmary ward.

Of course first, they would have to find her.

The lack of audible sound was Nemu Kurotsuchi's first clue that something was wrong. No doubt this effect had extended across the entire laboratory somehow, preventing direct communications even through video feeds. She would not have been surprised if her father was ineffectually barking orders to her from his location.

Father.

Fortunately, there was no need. She was not merely the biological daughter of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but a combination of Gigai and artificial soul technologies only he could comprehend, creating a perfect, albeit gender-reversed, clone of himself. When her father was agitated by something, even by her, there was no real need for him to scream at the top of his lungs as he often did. She could feel it. She could feel his displeasure from here.

Something is disturbing father's work. Something coming this way?

For the aforementioned 'great work', the current locus of her father and captain's efforts, was right here before her in the sub-basement of the hidden lab. Surrounded by the usual assortment of machinery backlit with violet, the large cylinder in the center contained Mayuri's latest experiment. Fast asleep.

Trying to feel out exactly what her father would want her to do if he was capable of reaching her properly, Nemu stared into that glass cylinder absently, unperturbed by the pale nude figure within- she had seen much worse in her time with her father. Her own existence had come into being in a place not far off from this one, though she knew enough to guarantee that this was not some kind of replacement for her, regardless of how often father claimed he would do that some day in moments of anger.

This wasn't another Gigai, Nemu knew. It was a human, a woman who had kindly volunteered herself for the advancement of father's research. Though it had been only three days since the experiment had begun, changes had already made themselves apparent on the woman's middle-aged body. Every bit of brown hair had fallen out, the skin brightening into a light shade that reminded her of green tea. The arms and legs had grown substantially in length compared to the human norm, stretching out another few feet, the same effect being applied to the woman's limp fingers.

Then, the pressure. The entire chamber remained resolutely mute, but Nemu could feel the sign of a strong spiritual energy approaching. ... Father? No. He's still upstairs.

A trick. The signature was like her father's... yet not. It felt like someone had borrowed some of her father's energy. Which would explain how they haven't been gassed or crushed to death by the traps yet. They have a part of father's reiatsu, making the detectors think it's him.

But it wasn't Mayuri. She was sure of it now. Whoever was coming had intruded unwanted into her father's lab and done something to hurt him and block out all sound in this hidden laboratory.

They would pay dearly for that.

As the Spirit Eater stepped inside, clad in black fatigues that let her blend in well, Nemu pounced. Her Zanpakuto existed, but despite repeated practice her skill with it had always been an inferior tactic to merely using her enhancedstrength and agility to pound an opponent senseless. This enemy had been wearing headphones and a music-playing device of all things, completely unaware until the first hit sent her sprawling.

Doubtless those rapidly-moving lips were snarling some kind of threat, but the intruder's ability to produce legible words was every bit as impaired as everyone else's. Seeing only anger in those lava-red eyes, Nemu struck again, knocking the music device away, and the headphones along with it.

More mute threats from the intruder. However, this time something stopped Nemu's pounce, propelling her away into the wall. More of the same attack followed, a constant blasting of soundwaves undeterred by the enemy's Ianzamento, keenly felt even if it could not be heard.

But her father had made her body well, durable enough to survive more punishment than any humans and even most Shinigami. Leaping back up felt like trying to move through a wind tunnel, but that was merely difficult, not impossible. To the enemy's apparent shock, Nemu marched forward, ignoring the blasts more and more until she could raise one fist to crush that youthful face and-

The first blow did not distract Yui Alumirr enough to forget about her other innate ability. Ignoring the pain, she clamped one arm down on the other woman's, reaching around and forcing palm-to-palm contact.

And in that moment, all sound snapped back into existence. Nemu grunted and Yui grinned nastily. "Teach you to wreck my music, bitch. Geez... your memories suck!"

Nemu had no time to respond. Her energy was going fast. Already the world was graying out, threatening her with eternal sleep. Not that her father had not delivered such a threat on regular basis, but this kind of death meant she would fail him. Unacceptable.

A desperate hook kick severed the connection and they both fell back, breathing heavily. "You're pathetic", the Spirit Eater barked dismissively. "Your whole life you've done nothing but slave away for that pasty-faced kook! Can't you see how he abuses you?"

"Kurotsuchi-taicho is my father, and my master", Nemu shot back bitterly, trying to regain her focus for the one who had so foolishly disrespected her creator. "You will likely die for disturbing his research at this critical stage." Indeed, she could feel her captain approaching even now. Him and two others, though they both felt as strange and incomplete as the girl she currently faced.

The girl who was now examining the equipment around them, eyes coming to rest on the sleeping body of doctor Jutani Zatsua before she spat in disgust. "And I thought our creator was crazy. Whatever, I'll get you out of there in just a second. Then we can have our little talk."

The kick came from nowhere, sent Yui sprawling. "No way", she marveled once her head stopped ringing. "You must be even tougher than your lunatic of a captain!"

Already suspended on a one-footed Hakuda pose, Nemu shook her head thoughtfully. "You are mistaken. Kurotsuchi-taicho is much more powerful... but I am not a true Shinigami. Draining my reishi will have no more effect on me than draining a human."

Shaking her hair loose as her stood, Yui looked contemplative for a moment. "Really? Well, now I'm kinda sad I don't have time to fight you properly. Even if you're just a servant to that whack job, you've got some nice karate moves there, girl. Almost as good as Arisawa. Sooo... could you maybe hold off for like, just a few minutes while I punish Zatsua?"

But she could tell from Nemu's hard gaze what the answer would be. "It is Hakuda, not karate. And I will not permit you to damage any of Kurotsuchi-taicho's experiments."

"Permit this", Yui replied, a moment's sympathy giving way to the anger that had brought her here. No longer blocked by her Ianzamento, the sonic shriek tore through air, blasting her opponent back into the same wall. The impossible assault did not stop until Nemu had been reduced to clutching her ears in pain, barely moving. The buffeting force of it made it impossible to concentrate. It scattered one's thoughts, overwhelming any attempt as concentrating enough to fight back.

Once satisfied that her target was down, Yui shrugged casually, turning back to the glass cylinder. "Sorry about that. Maybe after this I'll sing you a better song. Something with rock guitars in it, yeah..."

Stepping closer to the tube she seemed to consider methods other than the obvious one for a moment, but then moved back. "And I got a song for you too, Zatsy. Your requiem!" Took a deep breath focusing sound waves-

And Zatsua's eyes flickered open. No longer covered by round mirrored glasses. No longer narrow with brown irises.

No longer human.

And suddenly Yui Alumirr seemed to have gotten something caught in her throat that was stopping her from releasing the sonic scream and shattering the tube. You have been very bad, my child, an elegant voice flowed into their minds, somehow tangible in the air without making any true sound.

You shall be punished.

A/N: Bit of an author tract here by Samora, I admit it. As a natural protector Ichigo doesn't know or care about the effects his victories have beyond saving people he cares about. I'm also not completely certain how the 'canon' character would deal with this particular situation besides certainly defying the will of the captains to do what's right. Hopefully his reckless actions in the following chapters won't seem out of character for him.