"Well this is a surprise! Ichigo actually coming straight to me for guidance! How momentous is this?!" Kisuke Urahara said excitedly as Ichigo and Karin rolled their eyes. They were at Urahara's shop and Ichigo had just asked if they could use the Tenshintai.

"Can we use it or not?" Ichigo asked impatiently.

"Relax Ichigo, it's already down there waiting for you. Toshiro and Rangiku should be along any minute to assist in Karin's training and Yoruichi is around here somewhere. Oh and I should give you a heads up that the training area doesn't have the limitations placed on your powers like there is up here so feel free to cut loose." Kisuke said as he opened the secret passage to the underground training facility.

Soon Ichigo and Karin emerged into the wide open area and leaning against one of the nearby rock formations, was the white humanoid shape of the Tenshintai.

"There it is. The Tenshintai." Ichigo said as Karin looked the device over.

"How does it work exactly?" Karin asked curiously.

"Quite simple really." A male voice said from behind. They turned to see Yoruichi in cat form sitting on a rock nearby.

"You must take your Zanpakuto and run it through the chest of the Tenshintai, allowing your Zanpakuto's true form to take control of the device." Yoruichi explained as Karin drew Hekireki Megami and looked at the blade curiously for a moment.

"What are you waiting for? Just do it." Ichigo said calmly as Karin shrugged and stabbed the Tenshintai. In a sudden burst of electrical energy the Tenshintai took on the form of Hekireki Megami's true form.

"Ooh talk about your power surges." Hekireki said as she stretched with bolts of electricity pulsing around her at random spots.

"So you're my sister's Zanpakuto huh?" Ichigo said, unimpressed. Without warning a bolt of lightning struck the rock formation he was standing in front of, the bolt missing his head by mere centimeters. The hairs on the back of his neck were even standing up. Hekireki was standing with a smug expression on her face with her arm outstretched towards him.

"Why yes I am. The name's Hekireki Megami. But you two can call me Heki." Hekireki said pointing towards Ichigo and Yoruichi before she turned towards Karin.

"You on the other hand have to call me by my full name at all times. You know how annoying it is when people read your name and call you Karen instead of Karin right? Well that's why you call me by my full name instead of the nickname. Got it?" Heki asked as Karin blinked surprised.

"Am I always this demanding?" Karin asked as Heki's eye twitched in annoyance.

"Demanding?! You do realize that by insulting me you technically insult yourself. I'm a representation of your soul and as such I'm practically YOU!!!" Heki yelled with her voice sounding like thunder. Without warning Heki got the bottom of Karin's foot slammed up against her face.

"Tell it to someone who cares." Karin grumbled as Heki glared at her in disbelief.

"Oh it's ON!!!" Heki shouted as she and Karin started brawling. Ichigo hadn't budged an inch since Heki had shot the rock formation and Yoruichi was sweat dropping from a comparatively smaller rock formation right next to Ichigo.

"(Sigh) I guess stubbornness runs in the family." Yoruichi said frustrated.

"Stubborn?! Since when have I been stubborn?!" Ichigo asked angrily.

"Oh not again." Yoruichi mumbled, none of them noticing as Toshiro and Rangiku arrived.

"Bakudo number nine! Geki!!!" Toshiro commanded as Heki and Karin suddenly froze with an aura of red light surrounding them.

"Bankai is a symbol of how effectively a Soul Reaper works with their Zanpakuto! NOT how well they FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER!!!" Toshiro shouted.

"Sorry Toshiro." Karin said sheepishly.

"I can see why you like him, he is cute." Heki whispered into her ear as Karin blushed furiously. Fortunately only Karin heard what she said.

"Now then. Hekireki Megami, your task is to show Karin how to achieve Bankai. I would suggest getting the lesson started." Toshiro said as Heki nodded in agreement.

"True. But I warn you. Achieving Bankai for someone who has only so recently achieved Shikai is going to be both very strenuous and very long. I highly doubt that it's going to take three days. Five at the least is my estimate." Heki said as Karin sighed.

"Do whatever it takes Heki. Karin is going to need the strength for the challenges ahead." Yoruichi said as Heki nodded.

"Agreed. Now then Karin. You ready to try and best me?" Heki asked as a soccer ball appeared in her hand. The soccer ball however was glowing bright yellow with bolts of electricity surging through the cracks between each of the pentagonal patches of leather.

"Just show me what to do." Karin said as she dropped into her playing stance. Heki smirked and snapped her fingers. Instantly the entire area turned into a make shift soccer field with a single goal at one end made of solid stone like the rest of the rock formations in the underground training area.

"This may look like an ordinary soccer ball but it is far from ordinary. A simple touch will send a devastating electrical shock through you that matches the strength of a naturally occurring lightning bolt. It is essentially the equivalent of getting struck by lightning. Now then…" Heki said as she set the ball on the ground and looked at Karin with a challenging glare.

"…Kick it into the goal." Heki said as Karin blinked in disbelief.

"Are you nuts?! It'll kill me!!!" Karin freaked as Heki looked unimpressed.

"Suit yourself." Heki said as she reared her foot back and kicked the ball right at Karin, which slammed right into her stomach which as expected, sent an ultra powerful bolt of electricity through her and sent her flying towards the back wall.

Ichigo caught her mid flight however and the ball vanished, leaving a smoking Karin behind.

"Karin come on! You've got to do this!" Ichigo shouted worriedly to his younger sibling as Heki stood unperturbed at the sight.

"She has to do this on her own Ichigo. You can't be there to save her anymore, as much as it may kill you inside. I admire your protectiveness of her and Yuzu but this is something that she must do by herself." Heki said.

"Even if it kills her?!" Ichigo shouted angrily.

"Don't think I'm completely unaware about what you've gone through Ichigo. I know that every time you grew stronger, it took a near death experience to give you that strength. Your battle with your inner Hollow and Zangetsu in order to regain your Soul Reaper abilities, your battle with Kenpachi to gain your resolve, your battle with Zangetsu to gain your Bankai, your battle with your inner Hollow for control and to gain Vizard abilities. Don't even make me mention your battle with Ulquiorra Cifer when you lost control of your inner hollow and eventually regained it." Heki said as Ichigo blinked surprised.

"How do you know all that?!" Ichigo asked in shock.

"Think about it Ichigo. I'm your sister's Zanpakuto. Zangetsu is your Zanpakuto. You are Karin's brother and if two souls are related, so is their respective Zanpakuto. Meaning you can just as effectively wield me as Karin could wield Zangetsu. Hell you could even wield your father's Chuushuunomeigetsu and your aunt's Hensen Tatsujin…because we are all connected. Granted you may not be able to wield them as well as you can your own Zanpakuto but you can wield us. We Zanpakuto can hear each other's voices at times when our wielders cannot. We may not even be physically present but our spirit is always awake. Zangetsu, Chuushuunomeigetsu, Hensen Tatsujin, and even Yuzu's Sanctus Curator, can all communicate with each other. We are as much family to each other as our wielders are. Zangetsu has been there for your best and your worst battles and he has told me everything there is to know about you and how you got to be so powerful." Heki explained as all four of the Soul Reapers present listened in surprise.

"I never knew the Zanpakuto could speak with each other." Toshiro said as Heki shrugged.

"It's how we work. There's a lot you guys don't know about us. We know the potential our wielders have with us in their hands but sometimes they surprise us and take that potential beyond our initial beliefs. Sometimes they fail epically. That's enough talk for now. It's time to continue getting her ready." Heki said as Ichigo looked at Karin to see she was awake and ready to go again.

"Bring it on." Karin said with a determined look on her face. Heki smiled as she created another soccer ball and kicked it towards Karin who swung her foot back and then hit the ball with her foot, still getting shocked but she ignored the pain and kicked anyway. The ball however only bounced a couple inches away from her.

"The ball is heavier than your average ball. What weighs it down and gives it its electrical charge is all the doubt, the fear, and the hesitation, you harbor within your soul. But I promise you that by the end of five days, maybe earlier, maybe later, you will be able to kick that ball into that goal without feeling even so much as a tingling sensation from the ball." Heki said as Karin gritted her teeth and kicked it again, sending it a couple inches further.

"Then let's do this!" Karin shouted as she started again.



Meanwhile in the Soul Society…

Kaichou, Jushiro, Shunsui, and Soi Fon were in a sector of the twelfth squad's research center as they examined data collected from the Senkaimon.

"Anyone have a clue what the heck is going on with the Senkaimon yet?!" Soi Fon asked in frustration. Techno babble was not her thing and there was a surplus of it at the moment.

"Not yet." Jushiro said as he and Kaichou looked over a long ribbon-like sheet of data. Kaichou proceeded to smirk and allowed a chuckle to escape her.

"Find something?" Jushiro asked curiously.

"Nothing relevant. Just a bit of déjà vu." Kaichou replied.

"What do you mean?" Jushiro asked confused.

"It just seems like forever since we last worked together Jushiro. I really missed it." Kaichou said with a smile towards the Captain of squad thirteen.

"It has indeed been a long time. I've missed working with you as well." Jushiro said as he returned the smile.

"I've been meaning to ask. How's your um…condition?" Kaichou asked cautiously. Jushiro just smiled as he continued looking over the sheet.

"It's been better lately. I still have my bad days but I've recently been doing much better than normal." Jushiro replied.

"Good. I'd like to know when you have bad days. I know you don't want me to worry but I still want to at least be there for you." Kaichou said as Jushiro sighed, still with a smile on his face.

"I know." Was all he replied.

"What's the deal with them?" Soi Fon asked Shunsui who merely smirked and shrugged before replying…

"Old flames."

"Old flames? What kind of answer…oh I get ya." Soi Fon said as realization hit. Kaichou and Shunsui had been much closer than they were at the moment. She wasn't sure if the two still cared for each other or not.

"You know I don't think the answer we're looking for is here. But then again, why are we looking for data on the LeBlancs if we're looking at the Senkaimon data logs?" Soi Fon asked.

"I have a hunch that the LeBlancs and the recent activity with the Senkaimon are related. If they are then we might be able to head off an invasion at its source. I just need to find what I need." Kaichou said as she turned to a computer console and started inputting commands.

"Head it off, how?" Soi Fon asked impatiently.

"By discovering how to enter the LeBlanc's world from this end." Kaichou explained.

"And how are we going to do that?" Shunsui asked as he and the others gathered around Kaichou and her console.

"Simple." Kaichou said as a trio of vertical and very squiggly red lines appeared on the screen, causing Kaichou to smile ear to ear, "We figure out how the enemy did it…and exploit it."

"I take it this is how we're going to do it?" Jushiro asked as Kaichou giggled slightly.

"You know you're cute when you're almost right Jushiro…well you're cute twenty four seven but still. This data, when put in the correct hands, will allow us to build a portal device similar to a Senkaimon or a Reishihenkanki that will allow Soul Reapers to pass through into the LeBlanc's realm. Getting out on the other hand will be a different issue." Kaichou explained.

"So what is this data anyway?" Soi Fon asked.

"They're what the sensors detected every time a LeBlanc entered the Soul Society. They're the energy signatures of the portals they use." Kaichou replied as she forwarded the data to Captain Kurotsuchi and then saved the data onto a flash drive. She then pocketed the flash drive.

"Now then, let's get some dinner. I'm starved." Kaichou said as the others shrugged and followed after her.



Back at the Kurosaki Clinic…

Yuzu was busily making dinner but with the assistance of Rukia and Momo. Nel had hidden her Gigai somewhere in the house and she was standing guard of Kon who was still possessing Ichigo's body.

"Hey Rukia? Are you and Ichigo going to get married?" Yuzu asked, catching Rukia off guard and causing her to drop a sack of rice. Fortunately the bag didn't bust.

"Uh…where did you get that idea?" Rukia asked confused.

"Well you have been sleeping in his closet all this time. Dad was wondering if there was something more to it than just that. Not quite sure what he meant but he said that if Ichigo was doing something wrong that he hoped he would at least marry you because of it." Yuzu replied as Rukia blushed a deep shade of red.

Momo however found the entire question hilarious and was finding it increasingly hard to contain her laughter. Nel rolled her eyes, knowing that Isshin was both an authentic genius but also a certified wacko at the same time. She hoped that she knew Ichigo better than that.

"I think it's a bit early in our relationship to be discussing that Yuzu. I mean come on we only just found out our true feelings for each other." Rukia replied.

"Yeah besides Ichigo's too stupid to realize what he's got until it hits them in the YEOW!!!" Kon yelped as he suddenly was slapped across the face with a Hierro enhanced hand from a certain Arrancar.

"You may be in Ichigo's body but don't consider yourself safe for even the slightest second. I am purposefully settling for a strict Hollow only diet but I may consider forgoing it and having a little snack." Nel said as she licked her lips with a hungry look towards the mod soul. Kon didn't know whether to be frightened beyond belief or turned on by her.

"Nel quit terrorizing Kon. Ichigo still needs him to take over his body when in public." Rukia said as Nel gave her an innocent smile from over her shoulder. They then heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Yuzu said as she ran for the door but with Nel nearby just in case. Fortunately it was only Orihime and Tatsuki.

"Hey Yuzu. How are you feeling?" Orihime asked as Yuzu let them in.

"I'm fine. I was just making dinner. Where's the other girl? Nemu?" Yuzu said as she hurried back to the kitchen.

"She said she was going on patrol. She left her body at my place. So where's the sour strawberry?" Tatsuki asked.

"He's at Urahara's shop, helping Karin learn Bankai." Momo answered.

"Okay then why is Ichigo sitting right here then?" Tatsuki asked confused in reference to Kon.

"Actually that's Kon in Ichigo's body." Rukia replied. Tatsuki shrugged and then noticed Nel had taken a curious interest in the large poster on the wall of Ichigo's late mother, Masaki.

"What'cha looking at?" Tatsuki asked the former Espada.

"Is this Ichigo's mother?" Nel asked as Tatsuki nodded.

"Yeah. Masaki Kurosaki. I kinda wish you, Rukia, and Momo could have met her." Tatsuki said as Nel arched a confused eyebrow towards the girl.

"Why what happened to her?" Nel asked. Things instantly became very quiet save for a couple of sniffles from Yuzu. Nel instantly caught on.

"Oh…I'm sorry I…I didn't mean to bring it up." Nel apologized somberly. Tatsuki then grabbed Nel by the arm and dragged her towards the stairs.

"Come on; let's go where we can talk in private." Tatsuki said as she and Nel walked upstairs, leaving the rest downstairs. The doorbell rang again shortly afterwards. This time it was Chad, Ikkaku, and Yumichika. The latter two were in their respective Gigai's.

"Well-well. What brings you three here?" Rukia asked curiously.

"Like you don't know Rukia. We've got the same orders as you and Momo. We're supposed to keep the kid safe from the LeBlancs and generally anyone who's dumb enough to try and harm her." Ikkaku grumbled.

"That and Rangiku reminded us of our orders." Yumichika added.

"I'm sure Yachiru would be pleased to hear of your hesitation next time." Momo said as Ikkaku and Yumichika turned pale.

"T-t-t-t-that won't be necessary." Ikkaku whimpered as Rukia snickered.

"You're mean Lieutenant." Rukia said with a smirk as she and Momo gave each other five from behind the counter.

"Anyway where's Ichigo? I can tell that he's not in his body because that dumb mod soul's there." Ikkaku asked.

"He's helping Karin achieve Bankai." Orihime explained.

"Typical." Ikkaku grumbled.

"Perhaps I should consider joining them next time. I could stand to learn Bankai myself." Yumichika pondered.

"It's getting kinda late and Dad, Ichigo, and Karin aren't back yet. I'm not as worried about Ichigo and Karin as much as I am Dad right now. Where could he be? His dinner will get cold." Yuzu said as she glanced towards the window.

"I'm sure he's fine. He's a Captain level Soul Reaper and he can handle himself." Rukia reassured.

"What I want to know is how did a Soul Reaper with such an obvious Kido based Zanpakuto manage to become Captain of Squad eleven?" Ikkaku asked.

"As I understand it, the no Kido rule was implemented with the Captain before Captain Zaraki." Yumichika replied.

"I think he's right. Maybe if we asked Isshin personally he'll tell us." Momo suggested.

"Captain Zaraki did mention that he once held the title of Kenpachi. Perhaps there's a reason he used Kido for his fight with that LeBlanc." Ikkaku pondered.

"Wait how do either of you know about the battle? Were you there or did you just hear about it?" Rukia asked.

"Captain Zaraki and Lieutenant Kusajishi told us about it." Ikkaku said as Rukia nodded understandingly. Finally the door opened and in walked Isshin, still in his Soul Reaper form.

"Well! We sure have plenty of company!" Isshin said as he walked past the crowd and headed for the stairs just as Tatsuki and a somber Nel came down.

"And where were we just now?" Isshin asked with a sneaky grin towards the two descending women.

"I was explaining to Nel who she was." Tatsuki said as she pointed her thumb over towards the "Masaki forever" poster. Isshin's grin vanished.

"I'm sorry." Nel said meekly.

"Don't worry about it Nel. She was avenged several months ago." Isshin replied. He then turned towards Rukia, "Tell Ichigo I want to see him in private when he gets home. There's something I need to tell him."

Rukia nodded with a worried expression as Isshin climbed the stairs to return to his body.



End Chapter 29.

Soul Reaper Illustrated Guide.

At Chad's house, Chad, Ikkaku, and Yumichika sat around the table silently.

"So…" Ikkaku said in an effort to make conversation, "…you're part Mexican?"

Chad merely nodded in silence.

"Any particular hobbies?" Yumichika asked, eyeballing the bass guitar leaning against the wall.

"Guitar." Chad replied.

"You any good?" Ikkaku asked as Chad shook his head.

"Prove it to us then." Yumichika said as Ikkaku handed the guitar to Chad who took it without hesitation and set it into a playing position. He immediately started playing a soft tune.

"Any other hobbies?" Yumichika asked as Noba instantly appeared in his plush turtle form.

"He's not one for conversation." Noba said as Yumichika and Ikkaku looked at each other.

"You don't say?"

The End