AN: so how long has it been since I updated? You know what, nevermind I don't wanna know…It's 2am here and ya'll are lucky ducks for getting a chapter this week. Now it's off to bed for me, enjoy…
Chapter 29
"This plan is suicidal." Yoruichi's words caused the chatter around the low table to die.
Ichigo didn't even look up from what he was examining to answer. "When have they not been? What exactly is this again?" He held out the pen shaped object in question while Yoruichi just rolled her eyes.
Urahara sighed. "Do you know what an Epi-Pen is?"
Ichigo scratched his head. "Yeah, they help when someone is going into anaphylactic shock. But I'm not allergic to anything…"
"I didn't say it was an Epi-Pen. Keep up. It's a portable shot of Atropine."
"You think he's going to be poisoned by an organophosphate?" Isshin asked skeptically while Ichigo just looked even more confused.
"Not necessarily. But I do know Mayuri likes toxins that wreck havoc with the parasympathetic nervous system. Atropine will help keep his heart beating…unless Mayuri goes for an anagonist sympathetic response then we don't have to worry about keeping his heart rate up."
"Well, that would be good, right?" Ichigo asked as he peered into the small hole at the end where the needle dispenses when the other end is depressed.
Urahara and Isshin exchanged a look. "Well, in that case we would be more worried about you going into cardiac arrest," Urahara answered lightly.
"Gee, sounds like fun. Who exactly was the idiot that decided this guy would be good for captaincy?" The room got deadly quiet. Urahara was trying to look innocent while Yoruichi and Isshin were glaring daggers at him. "You're not serious? It was you?!"
Urahara scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"How…" He held up his hand to forestall the explanation. "On second thought I think I would rather not delve into your thought process."
"Why don't we just kidnap Nanao and hide the two of you away?" Yoruichi asked, obviously still not satisfied with the current plan.
Ichigo shook his head. "Not fair the her or the child. It's not either of their faults that I am what I am."
"So poetic and selfless!" Isshin tried to get to his son across the table but Ichigo threw a cushion in his face.
Yoruichi sighed. "At least let the idiot take care of his own mess for once."
Ichigo looked towards Urahara. "No, he'd be missed if he didn't come back."
"And you wouldn't be?" It was the first time Chad spoke since they all took their seats around the low table.
Ichigo chewed his bottom lip while he thought of how to phrase what he wanted to say. "Urahara has Jinta and Ururu to take care of still. Yuzu and Karin have Goat face here, even if he is insane." He licked his lips before he continued, "If I have to die to keep my child safe and to take that monster out," he shrugged. "It will be worth it."
"What about your child?" Chad asked quietly. "Wouldn't he rather his father be around to watch him grow up? To teach him and to guide him?"
A humorless laugh escaped Ichigo's mouth. "Who am I to teach or to guide?" He shook his head hard before loading the black cloth bag on the table with the equipment spread out around it. "All this talk is useless anyways. There is no other viable choice."
He stood and slung the bag over his shoulder. He smirked at the three still sitting around the table. "Why do you all look so dismal? This is me we're talking about…you think I would just roll over and die? No faith in me at all, I swear." He shook his head and acted hurt.
Yoruichi shook her head in exasperation as she stood. Ichigo had no warning as she tackled him and kissed his cheek. "You better come back or I'll have to come drag your ass home myself. Is that understood?"
Ichigo squirmed out of her clutches. "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya."
Chad was next in line. No words needed to be spoken he simply laid a hand on Ichigo's shoulder before nodding once and exited the room with Yoruichi.
Ichigo suffered through one of his father's energetic 'hugs' for three minutes until he threw the man off. "Don't you have two daughters to annoy?"
Isshin's face sobers for a moment. "Be safe, son." Ichigo nodded before giving his father a sincere hug. Isshin let go of his son reluctantly and left the shop wiping his eyes.
Then it was just Urahara and Ichigo in the quiet room.
"Remember to hit the green button first, then wait until you're inside to hit the red one." Urahara rattled off. "If you don't hit the green one, I can't help you."
"You've told me all this already. And you are going to be in my ear the entire time in case I forget something. It's not like you to worry so much."
"Well, I've tried to make this fool proof but I might have underestimated the fool I was planning it for." Urahara retorted.
Ichigo snorted. "Thanks." He turned on his heel and headed for the door. "Just be ready, buckethead. Don't fall asleep on me or something."
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Toshiro was on his way to the First Division for the captain's meeting when he very nearly ran into Renji headed the other way.
"Ah, Captain Hitsugaya. They moved the meeting. Didn't you get the message?" Renji scowled and he answered his own question. "Of course not. Damn, and I thought I was the only one they were messing with. Got my butterfly about two minutes ago."
Toshiro caught a flicker of black headed his way and lifted his hand just as the butterfly got to him. He sighed as the message ended and the butterfly fluttered away. "I thought this was a captain's meeting, why the hell are we meeting in the 46 chambers?" he muttered as he matched Renji's long stride.
"I don't know, but I don't like it." Renji muttered back quietly.
They weren't late but they were the last captains to take their place in the line behind Yamamoto. There was a definite tension in the air as it was apparent not everyone knew what the emergency meeting was about. The mandatory ceremonial openings were observed and then Yamamoto called Unohana to the floor.
Toshiro only listened with half an ear as Unohana explained what the squad from Third Division found and her observations. His mind was focused on the empty space where the Fifth Division captain should be standing.
They hadn't had a rank higher than third seat since the end of the war. Momo had bounced back from her delusions to lead her men during the climax of the war and some how managed to channel the anger she felt at being betrayed and used it to fight and win. She had been taken out only two days before the final battle by a ruthless group of arrancar that had cornered her squad away from the main body of the camp. They found the fallen squad ringed in fallen arrancar.
Toshiro's focus snapped back to the present when he realized Unohana had stepped back into line. Every face seemed to be in some state of shock or concern after hearing about the tragic occurrences.
"It is apparent that the Districts have decided to rise up against us."
Toshiro couldn't help the open mouthed face of shock at the Chair's words. His shock was obviously shared by the majority of the captains. Toshiro couldn't see the captain commander's face to judge his reaction but nevertheless was quite shocked when he spoke.
"I agree."
