The trip to the temple was quiet and uneventful, with Yuiko leading the way. She let all of them in and then showed Yume and Orihime to the women's dressing area. Once they put their purchases away, Yuiko made tea for everyone.

"Yuiko...we go to meditation room? Want to look at books," Yume asked politely.

"Sure," Yuiko said. "We can put the futons in there to sleep later."

"You're spending the night with us, Yuiko-san?" Orihime wondered. "Pillow talk would be fun!" Still, though, she already missed Tatsuki and Chizuru, and hoped they were well.

"Sure, I can stay," Yuiko told her. With that, she led the others to the west meditation room. Aizen, meanwhile, made his way to the east meditation room to set up for the night.

Eagerly Yume showed Orihime some of the books on the shelves. "Maybe...learn something...about your ability," she said hopefully. With that, she took a book and started reading where she had left off. Her brown eyes widened when she got to the attack techniques. "I show...my Sousuke," she told the girls, getting up to find him.

It didn't take her long to find her son, who was practicing his calligraphy and enjoying a cup of tea in the east meditation room. "My mother? Are you all right?"

"My Sousuke...found book. Try...to learn more spells."

"It is always good to expand your repertoire," Aizen complimented.

"My Sousuke...think I need...learn attack technique?"

Aizen shook his head and lowered his eyebrows. "No, I do not. Your husband would not want you to learn attack techniques either."

"Good. Not want to attack."

"My mother...that gentleness is one thing I appreciate about you." He lowered his head. "I wonder what might have happened if we had never been separated."

"Not know. My Sousuke...do bad things before...but still impressive. Intelligent...talented...always good to me."

Aizen stroked his mother's soft hair. "As much as it pains me to say this, I have rarely seen two people who complement each other as well as you and your husband do. Your desire to protect him is as intense as his desire to protect you."

"Thank you...my Sousuke. We eat now?"

"That is a fine idea. Would you please bring the others and the food?"

Dinner was a quiet but cordial affair, with everyone taking turns talking about purchases from the store. As expected, Yume was delighted to receive the photo book that Katsuhiko had sent for her. Once everyone was done eating, Yume and the girls went to set up their futons. "My Sousuke...I love you," Yume said softly.

"My mother...I...love you too."

"So happy...hear that. Sleep well, my Sousuke."


"Good grief, Yamada!" Kirinji barked as Seinousuke emerged from the shower with his haori tightly wrapped around his lean body. "I can't examine you like that."

"It's not as if you left me a towel or anything."

"Fair enough. Get back in there. I'll bring your towel."

After a few moments, the patient came back out with the towel wrapped around his slim waist. "This is embarrassing. Let's get this over with."

"Show me where you were injured."

"Ribs...right arm."

"What's with all these bruises and scars on your back?" Kirinji wondered, seeming genuinely concerned.

"Uh, do you mind examining me first?"

"Yeah. Guess you're right." He did a kido scan on his patient's ribs. "How long ago did you say this injury occurred?"

"About a week, I guess."

"Your ribs are almost completely healed. You just have some fracturing." He cleared his throat. "I don't recognize this technique. Just who treated you?"

"Well...Hanatarou did a lot." He gave a peaceful smile. "Then Yume picked up where he left off. She used priest techniques."

"Yume...that's your wife?"

"Yeah. She learned the priest techniques from looking at books."

Kirinji's eyes opened wide. "I think I'd like to meet Yume." He looked Seinousuke in the eye. "Now tell me where these bruises came from."

"That's where Hanatarou used his shikai on me."

"Uh, what? Why'd the kid use his shikai on you?"

"It's not what you think. I've never seen a shikai like it before."

"Uh, you're not into any weird stuff, are you?"

"Cut the crap. You should know that the Yamada family can transfer injuries and illnesses from one person to another. My ability's more like kido. Hanatarou's is his shikai."

"Go on. This could be interesting."

"Hanatarou can't attack. When he hits someone with his sword, he's actually absorbing some of their injuries."

"So where does the transference come in?"

"There's a meter on the sword. When it's filled up from hitting the target, he can unleash an attack."

"And this attack is...?"

"All the charged-up injuries and illnesses he absorbed."

Kirinji's eyes opened wide. "This IS interesting. I think Nimaiya needs to have a talk with you two."

"It's an amazing ability. Hanatarou's pretty impressive...even if he doesn't think so."

"He has a lot of potential. Of course, you haven't reached yours, either."

Seinousuke pensively closed his eyes, which had clouded over with regret. "I know. I can't train him or teach him any of our family's techniques at this point."

"That's why I'm training you, boy. Who do you think taught Retsu everything she knew about healing?"

"Yeah. I know." For the first time, he smiled wryly at Kirinji.

"That's better. Now why don't I show you to the hot springs so you can finish recuperating? Then we're training...hard." He gave a mysterious smile. "I think I want to train Hanatarou, too."


"Lieutenant!" Ogido called. "Deputy Director Akon asked for some blood samples from the other Hollows. Are they here?"

"I'll look for them and have them all meet you in the examination room."

"Thanks, Lieutenant." The handsome youth showed Grimmjow and Ichigo to the examination room and had them sit down. The others were in there soon enough. "If you'll all have a seat, I'll try to hurry." He expertly drew blood from all of them and labeled the vials.

"Ogido-kun, do you think Isane-san would let us spar some more?"

"She shouldn't mind. She's been trying to find something to keep you all from being bored." A smile crossed his face. "It's definitely been more lively around here."

"OK, thanks. Would you let me know when Yamada's back? I need to ask him some questions."

"Sure. He'll probably call a meeting to share information." With that, he left to make his rounds.

"Let's find Ganju and Chad. They're probably bored out of their minds. They'd probably like to spar." He turned to Grimmjow. "Would you take everyone else to the training area? I'll be there."

The Hollow popped out. "I want to spar!" He looked at Grimmjow with some interest. "Maybe I'll spar with you."

"I owe you one for calling me cannon fodder," Grimmjow snapped. "Get your butt out there." The two left, sparring verbally the whole way.

"Lieutenant!" called Iemitsu. "I just got a Hell Butterfly from Squad 3."

"What did it say? You sound worried," Isane responded.

"There's a situation out there. Quincy soldiers are storming Squad 3 headquarters. Everyone's in a frenzy. And..."

"And what?" Isane urged.

"We thought Lieutenant Kira was dead, but I've just been told he's trying to fight off the soldiers alone. He's hurt pretty badly and could use some help."

"I'll go on ahead," Ichigo offered. "I'm guessing they need a healer too."

"I'll be there behind you," Iemitsu told him. "I can't use shunpo."

It didn't take long for Ichigo to reach the Squad 3 sector. All he had to do was find the scuffle, which wasn't hard. Once he let Kira know he was there, he started trying to fight off the soldiers. Just for practice, he decided to practice as many techniques as he could against these less-powerful opponents.

"Hey, Ichigo!" blared the Hollow. "Leaving me behind?"

Ichigo shook his head at his bombastic alter ego. "Go ahead and fight. Just don't hit me or Kira-san."

"I'll TRY not to," the Hollow purred. "Let me at 'em!" With more enthusiasm than most would have, he ran over to a huge group of Quincy soldiers on the other side of the field. In his usual berserk manner, he unleashed a steady stream of Getsuga Tenshous, obliterating the low-ranked Quincy effortlessly. "Catch up, Ichigo!"

"Seriously..." Ichigo sighed. He rushed some of the soldiers and knocked them out with roundhouse kicks. Once he was finished with his part of the field, he went to where Kira was. "Tell me what happened after we're done here."

Kira nodded wordlessly as he continued casting Hado #58: Orchid Sky at the remaining soldiers. Finally, all the soldiers were either unconscious or dead. With a deep sigh of relief, Kira sat down. "Thanks...Kurosaki-kun."

"Iemitsu-san from Squad 4's on his way to look you over. Want to tell me what's going on?" Ichigo responded, sitting down next to Kira.

The Hollow strutted over. "You want a blood transfusion?" he smirked.

"No, he doesn't want a blood transfusion!" Ichigo snapped.

Kira watched this interaction with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "That fire Quincy attacked us. Next thing I knew, I was unconscious and buried under the rubble."

"We met the fire Quincy!" the Hollow piped up.

"So how'd you get out from there?" Ichigo asked.

"Captain Kurotsuchi and Lieutenant Kurotsuchi dug me out of there. He said he'd already turned Rangiku-san and three captains into zombies."

"There you are!" called Iemitsu. "It took a while to climb through all the corpses." He shook his head. "Lieutenant Kira, I hate to suggest this, but I think we should take you to the clinic. I'll do preliminary treatments, but Lieutenant Kotetsu will probably want to look you over too."

"Yeah. I don't think I like this zombie stuff."

Iemitsu cleared his throat. "Deputy Director Akon and...Acting Captain...Yamada are actually trying to find ways to reverse the zombie effect."

"Good." Kira looked quizzically at the others. "Hanatarou's a captain now?" He smiled weakly. "He's a distant cousin, you know."

Ichigo shook his head. "No. His brother."

Kira's eyes opened wide. "Oh. I haven't seen him in years."

"Let's get you to Squad 4. We'll finish talking there," Iemitsu suggested pointedly.


"These are looking good," Hanatarou said excitedly. "It's been a long time since I got to cook."

"Maybe you've discovered a hidden talent," Hikifune told him brightly. "You're a natural at this."

"You're too kind. You've been a big help already, Hikifune-san."

She checked her computer. "I got an e-mail from Kirinji-san. He's just finished examining your brother."

"Oh? How is he?"

"He's in the hot springs right now." She looked Hanatarou in the eye. "Kirinji-san says he wants to train you too. Seems your brother told him about your shikai."

"I guess I can go over once we're done with the omelets." He smiled shyly. "My brother said he wants one."

Hikifune found a pair of bento boxes and loaded them up with warm rice and Hanatarou's rolled omelets. "There you go! One for you and one for him."

"Thanks again, Hikifune-san," the young man said gratefully "But how will I know where Kirinji-san's house is?"

He soon got his answer as Kirinji knocked at the door. "You ready, kid? Your brother's just fine."

"I can't use shunpo. Is that a problem?"

"You're a third seat who can't use shunpo? You're going to learn while you're up here."

"I hope you'll teach me a lot, Kirinji-san."

"Now there's the attitude." They walked faster until they reached Kirinji's house. "You're going to clean up and soak in the hot spring." He gave a sly smile. "I'll remember a robe for you. Your brother was pretty put out that I forgot to leave him a robe." Once they were inside, Kirinji did a quick kido scan. "You don't have any injuries for me to treat. You're just exhausted. The hot spring'll help that too." He led the young man to the shower and dug out a robe and some towels. Once Hanatarou finished, he found his way to the hot spring.

"I'm here, older brother," he said quietly. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm starting to feel better. My shoulder still hurts, though."

"I see." He looked his brother in the eye. "Hikifune-san showed me your old yearbook picture."

"She was always threatening to blackmail me with that," the older brother winced. "So what, did you get a good laugh?"

"Older brother...I didn't laugh. It just made me understand how hard you've worked."

Seinousuke closed his eyes and sighed. "Do you...hate me still?"

"No. Hikifune-san said I'm a natural at cooking reiatsu food. It's nice to know that I'm good at something."

"That's good." He looked his younger brother in the eye. "We're both going to work hard."

"Yeah. I still want you to train me, though."

"You're going to learn from the best. I'm not sure what I can teach you that they can't."

"I want to learn some bakudo. And...I have a feeling you know some of our family's techniques."

"Yeah. I think bakudo suits you."

"I wonder what Kirinji-san's going to teach us."

"I hope someone teaches you shunpo. A senior officer should be able to move around."

"Yeah...I know." Hanatarou lowered his head. "Hey, older brother?"

"Huh?"

"I made rolled omelets. Hikifune-san gave me a bento box to put yours in."

"Sounds good." The older Yamada stared at the doorway. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And who might you two be?"

"Your senses are as sharp as ever, Yamada," Kirinji remarked. He turned to his two assistants, Kazuo and Kazuhiro. "All right, you two. Have fun."

The two brothers looked quizzically at each other. "I don't think we're having a swimming party here," Seinousuke said warily. "Watch them."