Author's Note:
Here we are again! This time about a month and a half after the last update, as opposed to. . . well, about ten. Maybe it's because this chapter is about half the length of the previous one, maybe it's because this chapter doesn't feature about half a dozen fights that are started, developed and resolved, maybe it's Maybelline. Either way, the update is here.

Not long after the green-haired Espada had left with Grimmjow, the rest of the group had rendes-vouzed at the battleground. Isshin had taken command, and ordered them to stick together, all of them relocating to a rooftop nearby. Ichigo and Tatsuki had followed along too, as his father had insisted it was for the best, and Ichigo couldn't find it in him to disagree. They still couldn't be sure what would come next, if the Espada would come back or not, if this was just the first...

Plagued with doubts and fears, his mind racing, he was carrying Tatsuki on his back, as he was still in the better shape between them. They hadn't stopped for more than basic first aid, most of the injured still being able to move. As they leapt through the air toward their final destination, he stared at Soifon, feeling conflicted. She was hurt, he could tell; she limped with each move, and he felt an odd sense of sympathy.

She had saved them all, defeating that Espada on her own at considerable risk. But she was also a brutal, ruthless murderer who had butchered good people to a man in front of his eyes. He still couldn't forget, couldn't leave behind the faces of the members of Xcution slain without mercy or respite...

They set down on the roof at last, his father landing first. Quickly he urged them to gather up. Soifon walked a few steps, with noticeable effort, before slowly turning around and sitting herself down cross-legged. Her jaws were clamped shut, and her face was impassive, but it was clear she was hurting.

"Tend to the others," she said irritably, as Isane approached her, "I'll manage."

"Yanno, you did good there," Isshin said appreciatively, "that was one tough Arrancar you just beat back."

"Save your praise," Soifon muttered, "I only barely subdued him. For my troubles, I've fractured a leg and an arm, and I think I've broken a wrist."

Isshin nodded.

"All right, then. Report on its combat abilities."

The formal order seeming to ease her discomfort, Soifon droned out in a monotone,

"Exceedingly powerful. Unrefined, but skilled. Reiatsu easily rivalling that of a captain, if not surpassing it. Close-quarters speciality, emphasis on speed and raw force. Particularly hard skin, acting like armour. Quite disadvantageous to the use of my Shikai. I was able to apply significant force to vital spots using my superior technique, but the hardness of his body and skin caused considerable damage to my person in the process. Expect a learning curve in adjusting to this passive ability of theirs."

Isshin nodded approvingly.

"And how would you rate him against your fellow captains?"

"Our data is inconclusive," she said cautiously, "but based only on this, I do not foresee most captains failing to defeat it. Its power and killing instinct, however, would make it a lethal foe to anybody of that rank. This is without considering anything like further powers and abilities, of course."

Isshin put his hand on his chin, thoughtfully.
"Anything else of importance?"

"Both the Arrancar that I engaged in combat and the one that withdrew him from battle referred to themselves as "Espada" of a certain number. Based on the way that my enemy boasted about his number, and the other announced hers along with her name, it stands to reason that Aizen instated a system that assigns high-ranks within his forces to the strongest of the Arrancar, not unlike the taichous of the Gotei. Though considering how the male Arrancar followed the orders of the female, it might also be a rating of strength."

Isshin sighed.

"And yours wasn't even that high ranked, was it?"

"Seventh."

He shook his head.

"Damn... well, good job beating him, at least. Looks like you saved my boy's skin in the process, too. I won't forget that."

"I require no favours for doing my duty," Soifon said coolly.

"Ah, look at you," Isshin said with a grin, "so cold, even when you're getting a pat on the back. Relax yourself. Ya did good. In fact, you all did," he said loudly, for all to hear, "and I'm proud of each and every one of you. Aizen tried to stick it to us, but we stuck it to him!"

Soifon shot him an unimpressed glare.

"Unlikely. He was trying to-"

"We can discuss that later," Isshin cut her off. Smiling, he patted her head, "just relax for now. You kicked ass and took names. You done us proud."

"...you do realise," said Soifon, glaring at him even harder as his hand ruffled her hair, "that if my arms were not fractured, I would be breaking your wrist right now?"

"That's exactly why I'm doin' it," Isshin beamed, and laughed, "everyone, we stay here till we get patched up. I want updates on any kind of unusual activity. We're not out of the woods just yet."

He turned to Nemu. "What do we know so far? Report."

"Yes, Captain," said Nemu, "as much as I have gathered so far, it seems they are indeed a very advanced type of Hollow with numerous physical characteristics unique to their kind, such as the thick skin. Although they appear humanoid, their reiatsu is decidedly hollow in nature, and..."

She went into a long ramble of known facts, and Isshin nodded along, seeming quite focused.

It was a strange thing, thought Ichigo, seeing him switch from one side to the other at the drop of a hat. One second, he was an obnoxious, idiotic goofball who took nothing seriously, and the next he was a captain, speaking with authority, emanating competence. That was Shiba Isshin, and Ichigo wondered whether he should feel proud of embarrassed. Unable to decide, he settled for a bit of both.

Not without some difficulty, Ichigo averted his attention from his father (who was still dealing with what sounded like important official procedures), and looked over to the corner of the roof where Rukia had been set down. At the present, Isane was tending to her, and she seemed to be regaining consciousness.

Losing the last bit of interest that he still had in what Isshin was doing right now, Ichigo jogged over to her, just as Isane left (though not without giving him a bemused side-glance).

"Hey. How are you doing?"

"I feel like I could and should sleep for several hours," Rukia said, as she awkwardly got up. Without thinking, Ichigo offered his hand to help pull her up, but she rejected it with a gesture. "What happened after that guy got me?"

"I- I kinda lost it. I attacked him in a rage, first with just my Shikai, and then with my Bankai. But it... none of it was enough. He just knocked me around after messing with me for a bit," Ichigo muttered, looking embarrassedly to the ground. "I let my anger get the better of me, and in the end, I couldn't even protect you. If it hadn't been for Soifon, we'd both be dead."

"You couldn't protect me?" Rukia asked, sounding incredulous. "Ichigo, if anything, I failed to protect you! I'm more experienced than you in both combat and these kinds of missions, so it really should've been me who should know better than to attempt fighting an Arrancar with that kind strength!"

"But if it hadn't been for me, this guy wouldn't even have come after you! He only showed up because of my reiatsu! If it hadn't been for me, he would've gone for someone else, and left you alone!" Ichigo objected.

Rukia shook her head.

"I honestly doubt that this Arrancar put much thought into who he went after. I believe he would have also shown up if you had not been there. So if anything, you being there saved my life once again."

"But-!"

"I'm trying to be grateful here, Ichigo. Why can't you just accept that?" Rukia said, rolling her eyes.

Taken aback, Ichigo scratched his head.

"...Guess we're both bad at protecting people, huh?"

Rukia grinned. "Now that I can more easily agree with."

oOo

By its very nature, Las Noches, and, by extension, Hueco Mundo itself, was a place where violence was the most commonly understood language. Being the primary home of all things Hollow, attempting to kill somebody was simply a more commonly understood approach to initiating a conversation with them than just starting with a simple greeting. (Though as some more cynical individuals might note, the same could also be said about Soul Society, the further reaches of the Rukongai in particular. Or the world of the living, in certain places.) And while the still relatively recent rule of Aizen had somewhat changed the tone in Las Noches, he was still very far from changing its official language. Violence and all kinds of fighting were and remained the most prominent means of getting your point across.

However, even with the various types of fighting that occurred every day in Hueco Mundo, there were still some kinds that were just a bit rarer than others.

A simple, albeit heated argument was one of these kinds.

And as chance might have it, one was happening right now, in the throne room of Las Noches. Of course, it wasn't exactly meant to be an argument, as it was officially labelled a post-battle report of Grimmjow's attack on Karakura Town. But as said attack went anything but as Grimmjow expected it, he wasn't exactly in the mood for a calm battle report.

Instead, Grimmjow glared up at Aizen sitting in his throne, a mad glow in his eye.

"So why didya have me run with my tail between my legs like a fuckin' coward?!" He yelled up at the de facto king of Las Noches – partly out of anger, and partly out of necessity. For whatever reason, one of the first changes that Aizen had made to the place when he took over was to put the throne a bit higher than where his predecessor had it.

'A bit higher' in this case meaning on top of a roughly thirty foot high stone block.

While this did make it even more clear who was ruling over Las Noches, and allowed whoever was sitting on the throne to look down on anyone before him even more than usual, the practical value of this all was still a mystery to Grimmjow. Being too high up to be properly understood was one thing, but Aizen was also so far away that it was doubtful that he'd even be able to tell if the Espada was flipping him off, which he was half in mind of doing right now.

"Simply because you are too important to lose in such an ultimately minor battle." Aizen responded, somehow managing to speak loud enough to be perfectly understood without having to raise his voice. "There was no reason why I should let you throw your life away at this point."

"No reason my ass! Every one of my Fraccion fought till they dropped dead, so why shouldn't I?! Seem like reason enough for me!" Grimmjow roared back. He was aware that the other Espada in the room were probably looking at him with bemusement, but right now he couldn't care less about them. He didn't even need to turn around to know how everyone else looked at him. Nel, being the weakling that she was, was probably the only one in the room actually concerned about him. Every other Espada (as well as that four-eyed science guy, Szayel – little prick wasn't even an actual Espada, but apparently still important enough to be part of this) was either entirely indifferent, or watching this with glee.

Aizen sighed, again somehow managing to do so loud enough that everyone in the room could hear him, much like how a school teacher would sigh while explaining a simple lesson for a third time – a concept well known in all of the three major realms. "That is the flaw in your thinking. And not just you; all of you Arrancar still fail to realize that you are now all part of a bigger picture. You aren't all just part of your little packs any more, which live or perish all together. Every last one of you must carry us further towards our goal-"

"Get to the point!" Grimmjow yelled impatiently. Despite his anger, he was aware that he was treading on thin ice, but right now he didn't even care if he crashed right through it into freezing water.

"My point?" Aizen asked. His voice was cold, but definitely not making the ice that Grimmjow was treading on any thicker – moreso the opposite. "My first point is that you would do well to calm your temper, Espada Septima. Seeing as you have suffered a great loss, I have ignored most of your little tantrum thus far. I would prefer keeping you as the current Septima, but if you are truly this desperate for death, then I will do you the favour. There are plenty of Arrancar that would die to become a member of the Espada. Or rather, would let others die..." His voice trailed off, but the threat remained in the air, lingering over Grimmjow's head like a sword hanging by a thread.

Grimmjow shuddered. "...My apologies, Aizen-sama. I spoke out of line," He then said, putting just enough effort into his tone that it seemed like he had calmed down and was subservient. But beneath the surface, he was still boiling with anger, even moreso after the further humiliation.

"Good." Aizen said, readjusting his glasses condescendingly (at least that's what it looked like from down here. He might have also just flipped him off). "Now, my actual point is this: I want you to fight in the decisive battle against the Gotei, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. And as luck might have it, you won't have to wait for that too long."

"Which means that you will have your chance to get yourself killed soon enough."

Grimmjow's head snapped to the left. The comment had – unexpectedly enough – come from Ulquiorra, who was giving Grimmjow a look that was essentially the emotionally dead equivalent of a smug grin. Grimmjow responded with the fiercest glare that had been seen in Las Noches in decades while also flipping Ulquiorra off.

Then he turned around and simply left the throne room.

As this had been a simple battle report, and not an official meeting of the Espada, there was no more reason for him to stick around – and he had been humiliated enough for one day already.

Luckily for Grimmjow, Aizen was done with him, anyway. But even so, he still had some parting words for him: "I expect the Espada Septima to be present at the next meeting I call in. Should you chose not to, then another will be found. I hope I must not spell out what this means for you, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."

Grimmjow didn't even look around.

But had he spared one more look for the other people in the throne room as he stormed out of it, he might just have noticed one more thing: Momo looking after him thoughtfully.

oOo

A few hours had passed, and dawn was not far off. Isshin had declared that danger was likely to have passed for the time being, and the Shinigami had begun to disperse. Tatsuki, for her part, had entered a strange state of sluggishness; she had trouble focusing, and standing up was rather a challenge. She had been carried as they moved locations, and was now seated on a park bench. The person who had set her down there, she realised after some time, was that sweet doctor person... Isane. Yes, Isane.

"Arisawa-san?" said the medic, and her voice sounded a little muted, like it was further away than Tatsuki knew it should be, "Arisawa-san, can you hear me?"

"How you doin', good-lookin'?" Tatsuki mumbled, not really sure why she said it. Everything seemed so... strange.

Isane sighed.

"Just a second. I'm going to try something."

"Sure..." Tatsuki muttered.

Isane quickly rambled some sort of incantation; Tatsuki couldn't make it out. She did feel a surge of power, and suddenly, Isane thrust her hand forward, her palm pushing into Tatsuki's chest.

"Hey-" Tatsuki mumbled a protest, but a second later, she felt a wave of power enter her, and rapidly, things began to clear up. She took a deep breath, and shook her head, feeling confused as things returned to normal of a kind.

"I, uh, what?" she said, rubbing her forehead. It was as if some thick haze had just lifted, like the world made sense again after being wrong in a way she couldn't put her finger on.

"I used a portion of my own reishi and transferred it to you," explained Isane, "you were suffering the effects of some pretty extreme reiatsu drainage. This should do the trick."

"Yeah," Tatsuki muttered, and flexed her arm a little, standing up, able to keep her balance without much effort, "yeah, I... I still feel tired, but that's better. That's some good healing, doc."

Isane shook her head.

"That's not healing. Healing is fixing injuries and treating wounds. What you had was... different."

"Different?"

Isane looked her in the eye.

"Arisawa-san, you very nearly died of reiatsu exhaustion."

"Wh-what?" Tatsuki said, a little shocked.

"The sluggishness you felt was your soul working at its bare minimum, trying to maintain its basic form. It decreases higher brain functions until it replenishes itself. That's why I gave you a bit of my energy- and not a little, either."

"...you can die from that?" Tatsuki said, still in disbelief.

"Very much so," Isane said, nodding, "it's rare, but it can happen. You expended quite a lot of reiatsu in your fight, did you not?"

"Yeah, but... I could have died if I didn't," Tatsuki still mumbled the words, feeling like a school child scolded for recklessness.

"It happens," Isane said reassuringly, "and if almost dying is a price worth paying to win, then so be it."

"Really?"

"We are a military organisation, after all. I don't like it, but that's the way it is. You may not be one of us, but you've made yourself part of this. But with that said... do you really think you couldn't have been more careful?"

"I... well, s-sure, I guess," Tatsuki stuttered, "I mean, my Bankai is a huge power drain... and he was really tough... I mean, I beat him. That counts for something, right?"

The very thought of it was disheartening. The fact that she had beaten an Arrancar, part of Aizen's new frightening elite, had been uplifting to think of. That she had come this close to dying... she had no idea.

"If you say so."

"Look, I had to! He was... so strong. If you fight hard and win, that's what counts. That's how it should be!"

"Arisawa-san," said Isane, and Tatsuki heard a firm edge to her voice, "as a doctor with centuries of experience and an expertise in matters spiritual, I can tell you that another fight like that has a high likeliness of killing you. You shouldn't even go close to another battle until you've regrown the energy you lost."

"I... I mean..."

"I'd be willing to help," Isane continued, "but you have to listen to me. You must learn to control yourself better, or the hollows we face won't even have to try to kill you."

Damn it. Damn it! She had felt so confident. So strong! Sure, it had been draining, but the power she gained had made her feel on top of the world. It had been like... a high.

"...yes, sensei," she said dejectedly, balling her fists.

"Good," Isane said and nodded, "I want you to come see me again tomorrow. Right now you need to sleep a lot, and eat a lot, and most importantly stay out of trouble."

"For how long?"

"Two weeks at a bare minimum. I can't be more precise until I've analysed your reiatsu. Each person has their own type, unique to themselves- it's a bit like DNA, really. For now, just rest. Stay home from school a day or two."

"...yes, sensei."

She wanted to smash the pavement next to her, summoning the energies she had to wreak some havoc- but found that what she could draw on was faint, slight.

"I'll just... go home," she muttered.

"I'll accompany you," said Isane, "to make sure you're safe."

Tatsuki nodded. The idea of being protected felt off, but she was not the expert here. And she had felt so good...

oOo

And so the night passed, and the next morning came. Despite, or rather, because of, the multitude of heated battles to the death that had occurred during the night, the people of Karakura Town started the new day in a perfectly normal fashion, barring some exceptions that could not be ignored. For one thing, most of the Shinigami's battles had caused collateral damage in the town, which, in lack of the knowledge of what really happened, were chalked up to acts of vandalism by thugs. More seriously, three civilians had been killed by the Arrancar before they themselves were killed. Once again, since the authorities had no way of knowing what really happened, they had to settle for the next best answer of criminal thuggery. And while this was of course a huge tragedy to the families of the deceased, life in general just went on as it usually did.

Therefore, as it was customary for such an ordinary day, Uryu was heading to school during the early, still somewhat cool morning. And as it had been customary for some days now, Orihime was there.

"Tatsuki-chan won't be joining us today," She said, foregoing any kind of greeting in favour of the information. Usually, Tatsuki did join them, as there was no way that she'd leave Orihime alone with Uryu if she could prevent it in a way that did not negatively affect her conscious. "She was involved in last night's fights, and will have to recover for several days. Kurosaki-kun won't come today either, since he's also recovering from last night's fights. But Tatsuki-chan has said that he hasn't been as badly injured as she was, so he'll be back sooner."

Uryu nodded, having already expected to be informed by Orihime. "I sensed the two of them being involved in the battles last night, so I kind of figured that this would be the case. Still, it is good to hear that they got through this alive."

"We really should have been out there, helping them…" Orihime said, looking solemn. "If we had been there, they might have been able to make it through this unharmed."

Uryu hesitated, biting his lower lip. This conversation was quickly heading towards subjects about which he was certain that Orihime would not like what he'd have to say on the matter. But on the other hand, he was certain that she'd be able to tell if he didn't speak his mind, and press on until he did.

"…well, even if we had been there, I don't think that we would've been able to be of much help," He then said, trying to avoid the touchier subject for now. "You still remember our fight against Kuchiki Byakuya, don't you? I think it would have been similar to that, even if none of these Hollows that appeared her last night were as strong as him. Neither you nor me would have had the endurance to be able to last long against them."

"I mean, yeah, of course I still remember that. But we did win against him! I know that we're at an advantage in these battles, but if we work together, then we can overcome that weakness! And couldn't you have used your stone thing to power yourself up?"

Uryu frowned. "I could have, yes. But using it would have made me a prime target that needs to be eliminated as quickly as possible. The risk would have been simply too great." Of course, there was also the issue of the stone being able to corrupt him, but he was quite determined not to mention that…

"But you can't be certain that it really would have gone like that. The Shinigami of the Gotei were there, and Tatsuki-chan and Kurosaki-kun as well! Don't you think that they would've prevented these hollow-guys from swarming you?" Orihime argued.

Uryu grit his teeth. Now they were really getting close to the things he wanted to avoid talking about.

"...And you can't be certain that the Arrancar couldn't have come up with a strategy to still take me out, either. The risk was simply too great for me," He said half-heartedly.

"You were intimidated. I get it," Orihime said, sighing. "To be fair, that's also the reason why I didn't go out there last night. But it just… feels wrong, you know? To have these powers and abilities, and not use them to fight against something like that. That's not how it should be, and I don't like it."

"Well, is there even any reason for us to fight? This is the Gotei's fight, not ours. And while I admit that what they're doing is important, I feel no need to do fight their battles for them, especially with what-" He cut himself off. This was what he specifically had avoided saying up to this point – and of course, it just had to slip out of him, as things that are better left unsaid tend to do.

And just as he had expected, Orihime gave him a look that was as unhappy as it was chiding. "But even if this isn't our battle, this is our home town! If it's in danger, we need to do something about it! And Tatsuki-chan and Kurosaki-kun were out there as well! I know you're having more difficulties at the thought of being friends with them than you have with me, but they're still your friends!"

"I guess." Uryu mumbled with a sigh. It would be better if he didn't say anything else. And as much as he didn't want to acknowledge it out loud, she had been right about Kurosaki and Arisawa also being his friends... though knowing her, she knew that she was right.

Orihime silently looked at him for a moment. Then she shook her head. "You know, this does remind me of something that I wanted to ask you," She remarked, sounding rather thoughtful. "With all of these things going on around town recently, I really should be getting back into training this Fullthing-power! I haven't really done much with those ever since we came back. And since you already helped me with this before, could you perhaps help me again?"

"Uh- wha-? Sure, I guess?" Uryu blurted out, before he could even fully process what she had said, completely caught off-guard by the sudden change of subject.

"Great! Then let's start today, this afternoon!" And with that, she ran ahead of him, leaving Uryu to sort out his thoughts, wonder what he had just agreed to, and run after her.

oOo

Renji dashed up the mountainside, keeping his gaze constantly focussed at the peak way up above him. He had to get up there – nothing else mattered now. At the same time, he tried his best to stay mindful of his surroundings. He knew that at any time, from any place, there could be an attack coming for him, knocking him back down into the valley that he came from. While he was fully intent on getting to the peak, Renji knew that it was highly unlikely that he'd manage to do so now, of all times. After all, he had already failed too often at it.

And sure enough; not a moment later, he could hear a familiar voice yell "You're open!" before a red energy beam hit him, knocking him off the mountainside. What followed was a multiple minute long consistent tumble back down that, while not particularly painful, was still more than just a minor inconvenience. When he eventually stopped down in the valley, he didn't even bother getting up and just lay there on his back, staring up into the clear blue sky.

"Don't you want to get up, and give it another go?" The voice from before asked him. Renji didn't even need to see it to know where it originated from. He already knew.

"Why should I bother, Zabimaru? I've already tried this at least a dozen times today, and I'm not making any real progress." He noted in defeat.

The spirit chuckled, and moved its baboon-head right into Renji's field of view. "At this rate, I will never grant you the full powers of your Bankai, let alone the powers that you would've had if you had attained your Bankai naturally."

"So ya keep telling me." Renji grunted, and sat up. The rocky ground was hardly comfortable for that, but it beat having a conversation by looking up at a baboon. "I think by now, I've already heard your complaints about me getting my Bankai with this method more times than I tried to climb this fuckin' mountain."

The spirit grinned, which looked rather silly, considering its inhuman face. "No, I'm pretty sure you still have me beat there. You have been trying to get up there for quite a long time, after all. Remember when you first managed to come here, and could barely climb up?"

"Yeah, yeah, I recall. No need to take me on a trip down memory lane," Renji said, getting up to stretch himself. "So since mountain climbing for Bankai's a bust, can ya at least help me refine Shikai some more?"

"Not now," The spirit said, shaking its head. "In case you haven't noticed, you have a visitor that has already been waiting for a few minutes for you to end your meditation."

Surprised, Renji paused for a moment. Then he closed his eyes...

...and opened them up again in the real world. He was still sitting in the garden of the Squad Five barracks, and as Zabimaru had said, he had a visitor, who was waiting for him to end his meditation in a respectful distance.

"Kuchiki-taichou!" Renji exclaimed, jumping up. "I'm sorry, I did not realize that you were here!"

Byakuya made a calming hand gesture, and said,

"There is no need to be upset, Renji. As far as the Gotei is concerned, we are on equal standing now. And if a fellow captain is busy with his meditations, then it is only natural that I have to wait."

"I guess old habits just die hard, Kuchiki-taichou." Renji said, smiling weakly. "What brings you here, though?"

"Just earlier today, Squad Eleven received a status update from Shiba-taichou about his mission in Karakura Town. Deeming it unnecessary to call in a Captain's meeting for just this, Yamamoto-soutaichou has instead decreed that the message be relayed between squads. And since I know that you too take a personal interest in this mission because of Rukia, I reasoned that I might as well deliver the message to you personally." Byakuya said in his usual unemotional manner which Renji knew all too well – well enough to read between the lines.

"Has something happened to Rukia?" He asked, feeling a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"There has been an attack by Aizen's forces last night. A group of Arrancar appeared in town, and engaged Shiba-taichou, Soifon-taichou and the Shinigami accompanying them. Rukia in particular received considerable injuries at the hands of a particularly powerful Arrancar, although I am told it was nothing that Kotetsu-fukutaichou couldn't easily patch up. Aside from that, there were no casualties, and all but one Arrancar were disposed of."

Renji let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear."

Byakuya gave him the hint of a smile, which for him was already the equivalent of a wide-mouthed grin. "It seems to me that you need some more time to fully adjust to the role of taichou. A taichou needs to be able to receive reports such as these without making his feelings towards them known to the world," He paused for a moment. Then, he added: "...Or at least they should."

Renji suppressed the urge to laugh. He knew Byakuya's feelings towards captains like Shiba Isshin or Zaraki Kenpachi well enough.

"I suppose this is just something that I will just have to grow into eventually," he said instead.

"As I am sure you will. You have been a good fukutaichou in the time you served in Squad Six, and I'm certain that you will be a good taichou as well. As a matter of fact, I am only just noticing just how much you really did for Squad Six, now that I no longer have a fukutaichou…"

"No suitable successor yet?"

Byakuya shook his head. "No yet. But I am certain that someone will be found in due time. Leaving that aside however, it is time that I take my leave. There still is quite a lot of work to be done today."

With that, he turned around to leave. Renji however, following a sudden whim, said: "Actually, Kuchiki-taichou, there is something that I have been wondering."

Byakuya halted, and turned back around. "Yes?"

"Well… the thing is. This entire situation with Aizen is serious. And Yamamoto-soutaichou even keeps saying how this is the biggest crisis that the Soul Society has been in for centuries. So, what about Squad Zero? Shouldn't they, as a squad consisting of former captains, be able to turn things more into our favour?" Renji asked.

In truth, he had been wondering about Squad Zero ever since he became a captain. The common belief among the regular Shinigami of the Gotei was that this squad, which acted as personal guard for the Soul King himself, was something that only captains knew all the details about, and that the squad itself only appeared when there was a great danger to Soul Society itself. But so far? So far, there was no Squad Zero anywhere to be seen, and no one had told Renji even the slightest thing about it.

Byakuya stared at Renji, seemingly completely taken aback. Whatever he had expected his former vice-captain to ask him, this was not it.

"…Squad Zero only answers to the Soul King himself. Their first and foremost duty is to protect the royal palace and his majesty himself. If the Soul King sees no need to send them out, then we are not to question it," He finally said. Then he turned around, and without even waiting if Renji had anything to say in response.

The new captain of Squad Five meanwhile just stared after him, unsure on what to make of that response – or rather, what it implied. Renji knew him well enough to know what he had meant.

Byakuya didn't know anything about Squad Zero, either.

oOo

Tatsuki had woken up feeling unbelievably sluggish. Having halved her normal sleeping schedule aside, she felt positively exhausted, and it hadn't been difficult to decide to call in sick. So she had stayed home from school, gone back to sleep for a good five hours more, and woken up hungry well after lunch. After a slowly eaten breakfast, she had finally gotten tired of lazing around the house, and headed out to the park to train a little, just enough to work up a sweat. Isane's advice, shocking as it was, had made her think. She had a long way to go yet, and... well, she had to take this seriously. But that didn't mean just sitting on her ass.

Ichigo, as it turned out, seemed to have similar ideas, as she sensed him not far away. The two joined up and, after finding an undisturbed field, began a light spar. At Tatsuki's request, they both stayed in their human bodies. If Ichigo found that odd, he gave no indication of it.

In this form, of course, he had the advantage of strength and reach, but Tatsuki had never been one to back down from a challenge. They ran through a series of fights, sometimes taking it slow to re-evaluate their past moves. It was an old routine, one they hadn't had time for in a long time, and the familiarity of it felt reassuring to Tatsuki. After all, he was one of her oldest friends, solid like a rock. It almost made her forget about... well, almost dying.

Eventually, though, she started to feel light-headed, and called for him to stop. Ichigo obliged, and followed suit when she sat down cross-legged in the grass. The both of them were warm and sweaty, having worked themselves fairly hard.

"So uh," she began after they'd taken a breather, "how was last night for you? 'Cause my memory is kind of hazy."

"Now there's a statement you could take out of context," Ichigo said dryly. Tatsuki laughed.

"I'm serious," she said, after taking a long breath, still feeling a bit woozy, "I used up a lot of energy and... things are a bit of a blur. I kicked some kind of hollow-man's ass, and... the rest is a bit foggy."

"...it could have gone worse. A lot worse, actually," Ichigo said, his face darkening toward the end of the sentence.

"That guy you fought... he was something else, huh?"

Ichigo shook his head.

"Shit... I don't even know what to say. He was just so strong. So fast. I feel like he could have turned me into paste if he hadn't found that stupid captain..."

Tatsuki shook her head this time, but with approval, not despair.

"I remember that part, at least. Did you see that? It was crazy. She just... totally manhandled him. Like it was nothing."

"...sure," Ichigo said with uncertainty.

"I mean, there's- there's something else, you know?" she continued enthusiastically, "I know you don't like what she did, but you have to admit... she's got some skills."

"I suppose it does count for something that she saved our lives," said Ichigo, sounding a bit dour.

"I'll say. And I mean, it's not just the power. She was like water, man. He barely even got a hit in, and then bam, when the time was right... she just destroyed him. That's what a captain is, I guess. Seems we were lucky to have faced an honourable guy like Kuchiki. If it was her..."

"We'd all be dead for sure," Ichigo said gruffly.

Tatsuki nodded. "For sure. Um... are you okay?"

Ichigo grumbled.

"...got a lot on my mind. My stupid dad, this whole... weird ass world, this war coming to our town, and then this bitch captain that you can't stop fawning over."

"Hey, hey now," Tatsuki said defensively, "I can't help being impressed by a martial artist, alright? It's like watching Bruce Lee at work, or something. I'm not saying the Gotei has never done anything wrong or that killing people is okay, but..."

"But she looked really cool yesterday?"

"She did," Tatsuki admitted, and despite herself, a small grin crept across her face.

As she spoke to him, feeling herself become more at ease, she wondered if she should tell him what happened. As far as she knew, only Isane knew about her mistake. She should, but... part of her hated the idea of acknowledging a mistake like that. It would have been such a stupid way to die. It would have been downright embarrassing. She should tell him; who else could she tell?

"Hey, Ichigo..." she started hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"Um... do... do you think I get overconfident?" she said, feeling a little resentful of herself for her pride.

"Well... yeah," Ichigo said, like it was obvious, "you do. Ever since you first got those powers. Not always a big deal, but... you do."

"You think I could do something about it?"

She had to do something about it. Not knowing the limits of her powers had almost killed her not a full day ago.

"I don't see why not. Why do you ask?"

"Well..." Tatsuki said, again at the cusp of letting it out, "I uh, last night, I... I sort of underestimated my opponent. Used a bit too much power. Isane said that's why my head's all fuzzy. I'll totally be okay, though," she added hastily, "I uh, I just..."

"Got so worn out I had to carry your sorry ass afterwards?"

"That," Tatsuki mumbled.

"Well..." Ichigo said thoughtfully, "I mean, neither of us have had these powers for more than a couple months. We're like... novices. Actually, that's exactly what we are. Novices with the powers of a master. Yesterday... yesterday I was helpless. You won yours, but it wore you out. I think the both of us should just take it easy. Maybe... maybe this war isn't our war."

"I'm surprised to hear you say that."

Ichigo shrugged.

"I have a whole life to live, even if I'll be a Shinigami for a lot longer than my body will last. I don't want to die. I just found my dad. This whole Gotei thing... I guess it makes me feel like I don't want any part of it. Being human's good enough."

Tatsuki nodded affirmatively.

"But we still got these powers."

"That we do. We rushed out our Bankai, both of us, so maybe now is the time to just... take one step after another. Walk before we run."

He looked her in the eye.

"Let's train together, you and me. Nothing advanced, just regular stuff until we learn how to control our powers properly. Leave the fighting to the adults."

"And if we have to fight? If they threaten our families?"

"Then we fight," Ichigo said resolutely, "but as a last resort, not a first. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Tatsuki said with a smile.

"Now," he said, standing up, "another round? I think you almost got me last time."

"Don't get cocky, Kurosaki," Tatsuki said with a grin, "I'll whoop your ass as a Shinigami and I can still whoop your ass as a human."

"Then let's see it," Ichigo goaded her. Both in good spirits, they assumed stances again.

oOo

"An alleyway, really? Ya sure ya don't wanna wait for twilight? Maybe a spot of rain? Hell, we should all be wearin' trench coats, just to make the picture complete."

Hirako Shinji, Kisuke noted, was in one of his ornery moods. Standing in a side alley, flanked by Aikawa Love and Muguruma Kensei, they had agreed to meeting with him, although not happily, it seemed. He was himself accompanied only by Yoruichi, for these words could very well be sensitive, and it wouldn't do for them to be overheard and misunderstood by lesser minds.

"You're one to talk," he said cheerily, lazily twirling his cane a bit, "the looks on your faces? That retro getup of yours? Those biceps Kensei is flexing, that mean stare? You're all a few tattoo sleeves short of looking like Yakuza."

"Enough banter," Kensei said bluntly, "you called us, and we answered. We owe you, but don't think it means we'll put up with your dilly-dallying."

"Fair enough," Kisuke said, and shrugged, "the time comes, gentlemen."

"A time for what?" said Shinji, "Don't give me no cryptic bullshit. Tell me what you damn well mean."

"A reckoning," Kisuke said, his voice dropping the casual cheer he had exuded a second ago, "Aizen has made his move. You know this by now."

"What's it to you?" said Love.

"Oh, I don't know," said Urahara, "perhaps a group of talented, uniquely powerful individuals might want to have a word or two with the man who treated them like throwaway experiments and made them shunned by the only home they had?"

"You want us to join your little crusade?" said Kensei.

"Have you considered," said Love, "that perhaps we are content with our current situation? That perhaps peace is all we want?"

Kisuke fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"Firstly, gentlemen, if this were a crusade, you would know. We're a bit short on zealotry and religion to call it that. This is much more... calculated. Secondly, if you say you have no desire to get back at Aizen, I know you're lying."

His eyes narrowed, and he stared them down.

"Because I lost everything the same night you did. I was betrayed just like you were. And although you are no blood-mad war hounds, I know each and every one of you is no pacifist. I know what it's like to lose a whole life and have it fester for a hundred years. I don't know what it's like to live with a hollow in your head, but I can't imagine it's all that enjoyable. So tell me, do none of you want to take this once-in-a-lifetime chance to give our mutual enemy a proper kick in the testicles?"

"Maybe," Kensei said apprehensively, "but maybe we just don't trust you all that much."

"That I understand," said Kisuke cheerily, "hell, few people do. Something about being a former intelligence operative turned mad scientist has a strange way of making people wary of you. Isn't it strange?"

"Make people laugh, make them lower their guard," said Shinji joylessly, "your coyness won't do you much good, Urahara."

"Then consider my arguments."

"...just what is the idea?" said Shinji, his voice almost hiding a sense of intrigue.

"Aizen, of course. Decimate his forces. Ruin the fundament of his ambition. We strike when he is preoccupied with the Gotei. He will anticipate us, of course, but it won't be able to stop us. The Gotei still commands considerable power, and diverting anything toward us mid-fight will make him that much weaker."

Shinji nodded. "And then what? Got some mad science that'll deal with the bastard himself?"

"There are contingencies," said Kisuke vaguely, "I'll be blunt: I need your people for their raw power. Leave the rest to me."

"And then what?" Shinji insisted, "When the Gotei learns we exist and decide we're freaks to be done away with?"

"Oh, believe me," said Kisuke with a glimmer in his eyes, "when this has ended, they will be in no state to object."

"Is that so?"

"They'll practically beg for you to come back. Nothing challenges traditional opinions like desperation, I find."

"You're asking us to stake a lot on vague statements and ideas."

"I am."

"When you agree you aren't trustworthy."

"The choice, gentlemen, is yours," said Kisuke, and shrugged, "you can reasonably expect me to do my utmost to kill Aizen Sousuke. Is that not so?"

"I suppose," Shinji muttered.

"And does it seem reasonable that a Gotei weakened by war might not object much to your existence?"

"Perhaps."

"You will be soldiers. Your lives will be expendable. That is honesty I think you can believe in. Whether you take this chance or let it slip, that's up to you."

Shinji gave him a scrutinising stare.

"...we'll talk it over with the others. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. I'll tell you this, though: if even one of us says no, we're out. We stick together no matter what."

"That's all I ask," Kisuke said politely.

"See ya around, bucket hat," Shinji muttered, and turned around, his two companions following suit.

"Bye now!" Kisuke exclaimed cheerily.

After they had gone out of sight, Yoruichi spoke up.

"You think they'll go for it?"

"Eighty-seven percent sure," Kisuke said, staring out into the distance, "they'll be rightfully sceptical of me, and of leaving the peace they have behind, but... what they lost is like an old wound. They won't be able to help themselves. And once they've committed... once they've done that, nobody but I will be able to help them."

Author's Note:
And now, since (as you might have noticed) both me and my co-writer found the concept of Aizen putting his throne on a big-ass stone block (that, unless I'm entirely mistaken, was not there when Barragan ruled over Las Noches) to be absolutely ridicilous: The concept, taken to its logical conclusion.

"And that," Aizen concluded, "is the full extent of my wicked plan to destroy all of the Gotei in one fell swoop!"

There was a long silence as he stared down from his throne, situated on a lovely, giant, cubical rock, onto his assembled Espada, a long silence finally broken by Grimmjow going:

"Huh?"

"I think he said 'swell goop'," said Halibel helpfully, "although I'm not sure why Aizen-sama would be so enthusiastic about slime."

"Surely a sign of genius well beyond our understanding," said Ulquiorra.

"Fell swoop, you nincompoops!" Aizen burst out irritably.

"Hell droop?" said Grimmjow, "Aizen-sama, that makes no sense at all."

"Don't you dare disrespect our lord's plans for hell itself," Ulquiorra said, in a dispassionate, emotionally dead tone, that in normal emotions translated to heated.

"FELL SWOOP!" Aizen bellowed.

"Oooooh," said Grimmjow, "see, now I understand. That last part. Literally everything else was gibberish to me."

"You ignoramus, pay attention already!" Aizen shouted, "I just laid out my whole plan for you, and I am not doing it again!"

"Um, Aizen-sama?" said Neliel.

"YES?!" Aizen snapped.

"To be fair... I didn't hear any of it either."

"Me neither," said Halibel, and there was a general murmur of agreement from their fellow Espada, except Ulquiorra.

"You little..."

"What was that?" cried Grimmjow, "Aizen-sama, speak up!"

"Listen," Aizen snapped, "you're telling me not one of you heard what I just said?" He turned his eyes to his most loyal servant.

"Ulquiorra, did you not hear?"

"... of course I did, Lord," said the white-skinned Espada smoothly.

"Then what did I just say?"

"...beg pardon, Lord?"

"WHAT DID I JUST SAY?"

"Oh. Er..." said Ulquiorra, his mind working in overdrive, "I was so er, awestruck with the genius of your plan that I failed to fully comprehend it, sir. I need only your direction, not a subtle understanding of strategy."

"You didn't hear a single word, did you?"

"Pardon?"

"I SAID, YOU DIDN'T-" Aizen grunted, and leaped down from his throne to face his subordinates.

"You didn't hear a single word, did you?"

"To be fair, Aizen-sama," said Halibel, "we can all hear you now."

"Are you implying there is something wrong with my throne?" said Aizen irritably.

"Of course not, Lord," said Ulquiorra quickly, "it is very majestic and imposing. You have great taste, sir."

"Why don't you get on your knees and suck him off while you're at it," Grimmjow scoffed.

"I would, but that would be inappropriate. We reserve that for private times- I mean, shut up you mongrel scum!"

"Quiet!" Aizen commanded, "Look, I didn't make this grand speech to the Gotei, reveal my hand early, give up a massive tactical advantage and plan an enormous attack on the organisation I served for hundreds of years and not get myself a throne on a thirty-foot rock, all right?"

"Have you considered speakers, sir?" said Halibel mildly.

"Oh for crying out loud..." Aizen muttered, "do you have any ideas what those cost? Our budget is stretched thinly already!"

"You could always try and get sponsored by a company," suggested Grimmjow, "how about um, Coca-cola?"

Aizen shuddered.

"Look, I may be a megalomaniacal overlord, but I'm not that evil."

"You could just tell us your plan normally," said Halibel.

Aizen groaned. "But I already did it! No, screw it- that's too much effort. The invasion plan is off!"

"Sir?" said Ulquiorra.

"No buts!" demanded Aizen, "I'm going somewhere else where my taste in thrones is appreciated! Like the bahamas, or florida, or Westeros!"

"Westeros isn't real, sir," Halibel pointed out.

"Just for that, you don't get to come!" Aizen snarled, "All of you non-killjoys, come on- we're going to seize the Iron Throne and then you'll see whose throne is cooler!"

And that is the story of how a throne single-handedly saved the Gotei Thirteen, while simultaneously introducing the third most bizarre turn of events into a popular low fantasy series that it ever had. Critics loved it, hailing it the Dark Souls of television, which was just like the A Song of Ice and Fire of video games.