SailorStar9: Chapter 34 is up, this is Chapter 35 (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny.

Chapter 35: Sneaking In

"There, there." Orihime beamed, she, Sado and Yoruichi having found Uryū by the waterfall. "Hello, Ishida!"

"Inoue, Sado." Uryū blinked. "What are you doing here?"

"We asked Yoruichi to follow your Spiritual Aura." Orihime explained.

"Yoruichi?" Uryū echoed.

"What are you doing?" Orihime asked. "Camping?"

"You're training, huh?" Yoruichi guessed.

"Who's there?" Uryū went on high alert.

"Where are you looking?" Yoruichi chided. "Over here. I'm Yoruichi."

"A cat?" Uryū exclaimed. "A cat is…?!"

"So?" Yoruichi chided. "What's the big deal just because a cat can talk? Don't be such a wimp."

"That's right, Ishida." Orihime agreed. "It's no big deal."

"No, I don't think it's strange if one is mildly traumatized by it." Sado corrected.

"Men have such a hard time adapting to things." Ami teased. "Isn't that right. Yoruichi? I mean seriously Uryū; it isn't as if you haven't dealt with talking cats before. Luna, remember?"

"I'm sorry." Uryū composed himself. "But what did you want from me?"

"Actually…" Orihime started.

"Kurosaki is going to Soul Society?" Uryū was shocked when Orihime conveyed the news.

"Kurosaki is going to rescue Kuchiki." Orihime explained. "So I thought we should tell you too."

"Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with me." Uryū stated.

"Kuchiki's life is in danger." Orihime reminded.

"I'm a Quincy, and I can't forgive myself for losing to a Shinigami." Uryū remarked. "That's why I train. Kuchiki is not my concern."

"I see…" Orihime relented. "You're doing your best in your own way, huh? I'll think it over carefully again. It's certain that I'm undergoing changes. I'm afraid but I want to know what it is. See you, Ishida, Ami." She bade the pair farewell as the trio left.

"You're still going to do this, aren't you?" Ami sighed, once the trio left.

"I'm sorry." Uryū kissed her forehead. "I know you'll object. That's why…"

"You never change." Ami sighed. "Guess I'll be going as well. Mercury Comic Power!" she transformed and teleported off.

"Please watch over me, sensei." Uryū prayed, kneeling down and unsealed the box that held the Sanrei Glove. "All right, it's complete." He winced, recalling his new weapon one week later. "Thank you, sensei."

"Looks like I'm not the only one who upgraded." Mercury smiled, reappearing in a flash of light, her 'Cosmic' suit was no more.

"And what do we call you now?" Uryū grinned.

"Eternal Mercury." Mercury returned his grin.

"Sado, why are you here?" Ichigo blinked, seeing Sado on a crate in front of Urahara Store.

"Kuchiki Rukia once saved me." Sado replied. "I'm going too."

"Huh?" Ichigo was taken aback. "What?"

"What, you didn't hear?" Uryū sighed. "No way will I remain defeated by those Shinigami. We're going too."

"Now we're all here, too." Orihime added.

"Hey, what's going on?" Ichigo was confused.

"Pretty slow on the uptake, aren't you?" Yoruichi chided.

"Yoruichi." Ami beamed.

"Kid, don't tell me you didn't notice the increase in the hidden powers of these three." Yoruichi chided. "While you were training to regain your Shinigami powers, these four were also training in their own way. Instead of criticizing them, bow your head and thank them."

"A…" Ichigo stammered. "A cat just spoke!"

"He's not a cat." Ami scolded, petting the feline. "He's Yoruichi. By the way, Orihime, you owe me 500 yen. Fork over."

"Remind me never to bet against you." Orihime whined.

"I guess it's shocking after all." Uryū admitted. "But, wait a second, you two bet on him freaking out!?"

"Yup." Ami beamed.

"That's it." Urahara called to the teens' attention. "We can't keep talking outside. Let's go inside. Here we go." He brought the group into underground basement and snapped his fingers, summoning a Senkaimon. "This is the gate the leads to the Soul Society. It's known as the Senkaimon, which is written, 'Tunnel World Gate'. Now listen very carefully. Before that…" he slammed Benihime's shaft into Ichigo's forehead, separating the teen from his body. "Let's continue. This gate has a layer of Reishihenkanki, Spirit-Particle Conversion Machine on top of a normal Senkaimon. As you already know, the Soul Society is a world of spirits. It is impossible to enter that world unless you have the form of a spirit. However, only Kurosaki, as a Shinigami, can cross through. So we will use the Henkanki to convert you into spirits."

"In other words, even without extracting our sprits by going through this gate." Ami surmised.

"Correct." Urahara agreed. "You will be able to enter Soul Society like that. However, the time we have to open the gate and connect it to Soul Society is four minutes. I'll do my best and hold it for four minutes. If you can't cross over in that time, you will be trapped between the Soul Society and this world."

"What should we do?" Orihime wondered.

"Go forward." Yoruichi replied. "I told you that the heart and soul are connected. The important thing is what you feel in your heart and the will to move it forward. I will be your guide. Go forward, only those who can do that can follow me."

"Are you babbling in your sleep or what?" Ichigo retorted.

"Isn't that's why we're here?" Ami reminded, pulling out her transformation talisman. "Mercury Eternal Power!"

"You understand, kid." Yoruichi reminded. "That if you fail, you cannot return."

"So I just have to win, right?" Ichigo grinned.

"Are you ready?" Urahara asked, he and Tessai keeping the gate open. "Run in the instant it opens. I'm counting on you." He muttered, the group entering the gate.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.