As Aizen and Neliel continued down the hall, the sound of clashing blades caught their ear. Aizen used his kido to scan the area. Without waiting for Neliel, he used shunpo until he was outside the door to the room with sounds. As much as he hated Yamada's habit of listening on on conversations, he couldn't help listening in on the angry talk coming from the other side of the door.

"Haschwalth! How can you be so loyal to Yhwach?" a loud voice demanded.

No response.

"We were going to destroy him, the same way he destroyed our home!"

"Bazz-B. You understand nothing, even now."

"I understand just fine. We made a pact, and you didn't keep it!"

"No, Bazz-B, you don't understand. My fate is intertwined with His Majesty's."

"So you're just fine with him trying to use Auswahlen on me?"

"If it is to further his goals and establish his kingdom, then it is a necessary sacrifice."

"Unforgivable." Aizen stepped away from the door as the temperature steadily rose. He would wait for the outcome of this confrontation before involving himself.

"Are you sure about this, older brother?" Hanatarou asked nervously.

Wincing from the impact of another blow from Hisagomaru, Seinousuke nodded wordlessly. The two brothers studied each other before turning their attention to Askin.

"Do you know that guy?" Hanatarou wondered.

His brother nodded once again, trying to conserve his strength. Like Aizen, he was suspicious of Askin's explanation of 'death dealing,' but there was no way he would give the Quincy the chance to use it on his beloved Yume, whatever it was. Ah, Yume. Ogido had had to coax her out of the room once she had seen Hanatarou hitting her husband.

In the library, Ogido tried to calm Yume. "Mistress Yume, I know you're worried. Please trust Hanatarou-kun. He has a lot of respect for his brother."

"Then why...? Why hit Sei-kun?" Yume cried.

The young man took a breath. "Do you know what an empath does?"

Yume shook her head. "Empath? Not know what that is."

He bowed to Yume. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I heard your husband explain what he did to the priest."

She nodded but said nothing.

"That's kind of what an empath does."

"Not understand. Explain clearly."

"OK. As Hanatarou-kun said, that technique is unique to the Yamada family. Your husband used it to take away Aizen's injuries and transfer them somewhere else."

"Go on. Still not quite understand."

"Hanatarou-kun's sword does the same thing. He's using it to take away your husband's lung problems."

"Not try to hurt Sei-kun?"

"No. He's trying to help your husband. He has to hit Yamada-san to charge the sword up."

"Hit Sei-kun...charge sword up?"

"That's right. I know it's hard to see someone hitting your husband. But Yamada-san is recovering a bit every time Hanatarou-kun hits him."

"Start...to understand now."

Ogido nodded at her and smiled. "It's an amazing ability. Once the sword is charged up, he can attack with it. He'll be transferring your husband's health problems to that Quincy out there."

Yume's eyes widened once she finally understood. "OK. Thank you...help me understand. Hanatarou...nice boy." She turned to the shelf behind her. "We read in here? We...try to help too."

The Hollow continued to study Barro. He was pretty sure the "gun freak" had no more guns, but he wasn't taking any chances. He could hardly wait to see Barro's expression once he felt the brunt of "Getsuga Tenshou: Hollow Ichigo style." The thought excited him.

"What are you smiling about, white one?" demanded Barro.

"Just thinking about what you're going to look like when I'm finished with you."

"You are a smug one. Enough talk, 'real Ichigo.'"

The Hollow concentrated his reiatsu into the blade of Zangetsu. Once he was satisfied, he ran with determination toward Barro. Without warning, he released his own version of Getsuga Tenshou. Unlike Ichigo's, this attack was a concentrated blast of black fire, more like a spear than like a raging flame. The Hollow watched cautiously as Barro tried to block this attack, which had deliberately been aimed at the midsection. As much as the Hollow wanted to kick Barro's tail just to teach him a lesson, he grudgingly held back.

Barro dropped his gun as he fell to the ground. He wasn't reaching for another weapon, which the Hollow thought was a good sign. Now flat on his back, Barro gasped for breath as he subconsciously moved his hands to his wounded stomach.

"You done yet, gun boy?" the Hollow asked sarcastically. "There's more where that came from."

"What was that, white one?" Barro's good eye narrowed curiously.

"Ha ha ha! Why would I tell you my secrets? I'll do another one and let you figure it out for yourself."

"Aizen! Why didn't you wait?" A winded Neliel had finally caught up to him.

"I heard the sound of weapons clashing. My curiosity was aroused."

"Is it Grimmjow?"

"No. It seems that there is dissension within the ranks of the Quincy."

"So what do we do? Can we use that to our advantage somehow?"

"That is a possibility. We should wait for the outcome of this battle and then question the victor."

"But what about Grimmjow?"

"He is likely to find the other members of your party. Shihouin Yoruichi should be able to keep Grimmjow in check."

"Yamada!" Iemitsu came running to the room, where a quizzical Askin was watching Hanatarou hit Seinousuke in the back with Hisagomaru.

The two brothers stopped and stared at Iemitsu.

Iemitsu gave them a baffled look. "Just what are you doing, Yamada?"

"As you can see, he's using Hisagomaru on me," the older brother said impatiently. "Or don't you know what Hisagomaru does?"

Iemitsu cleared his throat. "We've got guys from Squad 11 here. Captain Zaraki's in bad shape."

Hanatarou's mouth dropped. "Captain Zaraki? What happened?"

"It's pretty bad. He needs treatment right away. Madarame is beside himself."

Seinousuke cleared his throat. "Hanatarou, get me some clothes. Have Ogido-kun get the triage room ready. Iemitsu, tell Madarame to take his captain there."

"Big brother!" Hanatarou insisted. "I'm not done treating you yet. You should be in bed."

"Then finish treating me after Zaraki's taken care of. You're assisting me in the triage room."

"Assisting you...?" Hanatarou's voice trailed off as he realized his brother's intentions. "I'll...be right back then."

Iemitsu shook his head as he muttered and left the room. "Who does he think he is, anyway?"

"I heard that, Iemitsu," the older Yamada snapped. "Stop complaining and go! There's no time."

Once the fighting had died down behind the door, Aizen cautiously nudged the door open. Haschwalth was standing over Bazz-B, who was now nearly unconscious. "End this pointless resistance, Bazz-B."

"If you're going to kill me, just do it already!"

"I will not kill you, Bazz-B. You will survive, and acknowledge your folly when His Majesty establishes his kingdom."

"Shut up already!"

"If I may interrupt..." Aizen said calmly.

"Aizen Sousuke!" For the first time, Aizen noticed consternation in Haschwalth's eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I am perfectly capable of detecting and following spirit energy, Jugram Haschwalth," Aizen replied disdainfully.

"If you are here..."

"You know my answer already. I will not ally myself with you Quincy.'

"You are indeed a rude one, Aizen Sousuke. If you are here, you are an intruder. Intruders must be dealt with."

Aizen raised his eyebrow in amusement. "And you think you are capable of defeating me?"

"You will regret your foolish decision to oppose His Majesty."

"Ah yes, another imbecile. Nanana Najakoop already discovered the folly of attacking me."

"How insulting. You truly think Nanana Najakoop is on my level?"

"He is every bit the sycophant you are, Haschwalth."

"Shall I show you the price of your arrogance, Aizen Sousuke?"

"How insulting," Aizen retorted mockingly. "Shall I show you how vast the chasm between you and me is?"

"I would love nothing better than to humiliate you."

Aizen turned to Neliel. "Question that Quincy called Bazz-B. Have him guide you to Halibel." He threw her a small bottle. "Doubtless Halibel will want to avenge the defeat of Ayon. Use this to sedate her if she proceeds unwisely."

Neliel nodded with some disapproval as she dragged Bazz-B to an obscure corner. "Start talking."

"Now, Jugram Haschwalth, we may fight uninterrupted," Aizen declared.

"Let me question him first," Ichigo said sternly.

"Spoilsport!" the Hollow spat. "I want to finish kicking his butt."

"Then how about this? If he doesn't answer our questions, you can be more...convincing."

"Then I hope he's stubborn." The Hollow cackled with a strange excitement.

Seinousuke threw his clothes on and ran to the triage room. He loved the rush of urgent medical situations, but this situation worried him. His head was starting to feel woozy. He'd have to ask Hanatarou to look at it once they were finished with Zaraki. As he reached the doorway to the triage room, his thoughts went to Yume.

"Big brother!" Hanatarou exclaimed! "You look ready to pass out yourself."

Isane ran in to the triage room. Her eyes opened wide as she saw Seinousuke prepping the examination table. "What's this?"

"There's no time to explain. Brief me on Zaraki before he gets here."

Quickly she explained what had happened to Zaraki. She shook her head as she put her gloves on to assist the two Yamadas.

"No, Isane. Your job is to examine Madarame and Ayasegawa. They might have ingested some of Kurotsuchi's poison. They need to tell you everything. Report to me when you're done."

She nodded to him and went to question Ikkaku and Yumichika.

"Big brother?"

"What?"

"You're going to help us out?"

"Yeah. Only until we've dealt with this situation. I'll explain later."

Their conversation was interrupted by Ogido, who ran into the room to report that Askin was trying to leave.

"Good. Make sure he's gone. I don't have time to deal with him right now. Then go back to Yume. She's your responsibility right now."

"Coming in!" yelled Iemitsu, wheeling an unconscious Zaraki in on a stretcher.

Seinousuke took a deep breath as he sent Iemistu to help Isane. He handed Hanatarou a mask and put one on himself. "Let's get started then, Hanatarou. Don't breathe this stuff in." This didn't look good. Despite his own questionable moral code, he hated Kurotsuchi's disregard for allies. He closed his eyes and began a high-level regeneration technique.

Hanatarou said nothing as he watched his brother concentrate. He started his own healing technique on Zaraki. Even now, in this situation, the older brother seemed to be enjoying this. But Hanatarou knew better than anyone else that Seinousuke was pushing himself too hard. He wished he had the courage to be more blunt with his brother.

The older Yamada started breathing heavily. "Iemitsu was right. This is pretty serious."

"But not anything you can't handle, right?" By now, Hanatarou was more concerned about his brother than about Zaraki.

"Yeah." Seinousuke could no longer ignore the throbbing in his head. "Can you do a healing technique on my head?"

"Brother? What's wrong with your head?"

"Please...just do it. I can't stop until Zaraki wakes up."

"Sei-kun!" Yume yelled from the doorway. She ran over to his side.

"No! Yume! You'll breathe in the poison!"

She shook her head violently. "You let me help!" She erected a barrier around herself and her husband.

"Why did you come? It's dangerous!"

Yume closed her soft brown eyes and rested her hands on her husband's head. Softly she murmured, "Power of water, element of life, spirit of healing, restore and refresh." Soon her husband was enveloped by a cool, airy mist. "That...priest technique. Level 10," she said simply.

Hanatarou's eyes opened wide. "Thank you, Yume-san. Be sure to let us check you out after we finish here."

"Quincy gone," she told them both determinedly. "Bald guy made him leave."

"Lady Yume! You can't be in here!" yelled a young female voice. It was the same young girl who had made the badge for Yume.

"Not leaving! Help Sei-kun!"

Ogido bowed apologetically to the older Yamada. "I apologize...Yamada-san. Once Mistress Yume heard you were going to treat Captain Zaraki, there was no stopping her. Ninth seat Jou and I both tried."

Seinousuke chuckled as he looked gratefully at Yume. "It's all right. I can actually use the help from all of you. Ogido-kun, run the machines. Jou-kun, examine Yume to be sure she didn't ingest any of the poison. Yume-love...do you have a technique you can use on Zaraki?"

"You and Hanatarou...heal him. Only have energy...heal your head. Zaraki...hurt too bad for me." She once again focused her energy on her husband's head. "Sei-kun...please hurry."