Hmm, so...school. Literally, I'm reading 300 pages a week. It's time consuming. I'm finishing a reading assignment as you read this chapter. I apologize for taking longer than the usual week to update. I'll try to stay on time!

That said, I really love this chapter. It's one of my favorites now for a lot of reasons, but it does exactly what I want it to, so I hope you'll like it too! Plus it's super long, so that makes up for my late update also...right? *hopeful face*

Off topic: Have you read the latest manga chapter in Bleach? HOLY COW! Let's just say the last two chapters of Bleach have gave me the perfect amount of inspiration for Ichigo's character in this chapter! bwahaha!

On Topic:

You all are amazing readers and reviewers! Thank you so much for the amazing feedback and the great support for the story you've given! I hope I can live up to Kubo's standards and yours as well! THANK YOU!

Special Thanks to the following:

Heatherbell, theloverofanime (You ARE seeing Ichigo this chapter! The Vasto Lordes, or at least Sonido and Trigger [tee hee], are unaware that he's not in Hueco Mundo at this point. We'll find out more on Karin and her captors this chapter too! As for pairings...hmmm, so you're on to me huh? Well, last chapter did reveal some things about Leta certainly. As for Rukia/Ichigo/Renji...for Rukia and Ichigo I think it's undecided right now, but Renji DEFINITELY has feelings for Rukia. At least in this fic!) Orion101 (Thank you! To be honest, Hanatarou is one of my favorite Bleach characters! Weird, huh? He does NOT get enough screen time! To answer your question, He was Unohana's date because she asked him...that, and all the other Fourth squad members were too afraid of her to go with her.) bleach-chan (I'm so happy the Ichigo revalation was a good surprise for you! haha! Also, You'll see the whole interrogation take place next chapter! I hope you end up liking it! It's going to be fun to write.) Stormcrowley (Thank you so much for the review! Just seeing that you take the time to review is amazingly great and supportive. Many thanks!) KKH913 (Why thank you! Hmmmm...as to your comment...You'll find out this chapter! bwahaha!) Turtle-Chan in Blue (I wish Las Noches was like Las Vegas! haha, it'd be more fun there. As to who we're bribing, I'm thinking you're talking about Lyall? You'll have to wait until next chapter to see him again.) bloodyrose1294 (Thanks! I hope you like this chapter!) and Ann Kip (Thanks! I'm excited to see how you all like the chapter!)

NOTE: There is SOME vulgar language AND...ADULT CONTENT in this chapter. Ye be warned it's T for Teen for a reason!

Carry on!

Romania Black

Chapter Forty-Four

We seek Exhile
Not to hide our shame
but to Gain it back.

Cold.

This was the first sensation Karin Kurosaki felt as she blinked her eyes open.

There was darkness surrounding her; only pale moonlight shining down and illuminating the frozen marble slab she was laying upon. Marble?...Oh! Karin jolted upright, her frantic eyes searching in a panicked state about the darkness around her. She started to look around the darkness, rotating her body on the stone bed, afraid to leave the comfort of the protective, yet revealing moonlight. The hollow! The hollow knocked me unconscious and then-

"Take it easy," A voice cooed from the darkness. Karin recognized it to be the female hollow's that kicked her, and slowly forced herself to stop moving and sit upright on the slab. "No big bad monster's going to harm you here," The voice snickered from the shadows.

"Too late," Karin growled, trying to figure out the source of the voice.

The hollow sighed, "Normally an insult like that would cost you a kick to your little face," There was a tiny pause, "But Sonido made me promise," Her voice was gritting, as if she didn't want to say it, "not to hurt you while he was gone."

He's not here? Karin's eyes widened. She had to fight the urge to laugh triumphantly, If he's left, I just have to deal with her! She's tough, but I can just release Yakyuu and- Suddenly a horrific notion careened through her mind and Karin dropped her hand to her side, then her eyes followed and she gasped loudly.

Yakyuu was gone.

Her zanpakuto was no longer attached to her hip. In fact, she wasn't dressed in only her black body suit any longer; she was wearing a white pair of flaired pants similar to Sonido's and a white half shirt that was sleeved to her elbows. Luckily, the skin-tight body armor was still under these hollow clothes, but her sword...

"You!" Karin shouted angrily at the darkness in front of her, "Where's my sword?"

The female hollow laughed lightly, "You just figured that out, huh? Oh, that's rich..."

"Where," Karin yelled with more fierceness, "Is Yakyuu!"

"Will you just shut it, already?" From the shadows in front of Karin, the hollow's face leaned forward into the pale moonlight, the broken mask casting a shadow over the rest of her face. "It won't do you any good, you know," The hollow grinned evilly, "Your sword isn't here anymore."

"What did you say?" Karin frantically tried looking around the slab, desperate to find it. Then the gears in her mind clicked together, her voice a realizing groan, "Sonido-"

"Ahhh," The hollow nodded with a satisfying sigh, "You catch on fast. Yeah, Sonido decided you were a bit of a threat with that Shinigami sword on you, so he took it with him to hide it," She stated casually, resting her head in the palm of her pale hand. Karin decided the hollow must be sitting as she was. "Good thing too," Her eyes gleamed, "You might have escaped otherwise against little ol' me."

Karin's fists were clenched, "You...you witch. How dare you two..." She couldn't organize her thoughts to say anything else, her mind was so distraught and panicked.

"Hmmph," The hollow grunted in an amused fashion, "That's a title I haven't been give in a while." Her white teeth were like ivory, "I'm flattered."

So that's it then, Karin thought dismally, Yakyuu is gone, and I'm defenseless here. If she was left out of the loop before, now she was just clueless and ignorant. On top of that, I'm stuck with this witch of a hollow...Wait...A fact from earlier suddenly flashed before Karin's mind, and she settled down on the slab, her hand scratching her chin, wondering if using the information she knew before her unconscious state would help her here. I need to know some information about these two before I do anything else... The hollow looked at her curiously as she thought to herself. It was worth a shot,

"That's odd to me," Karin finally muttered, causing the hollow to glance at her with a slight frown, "You like being called witch, but before...you said you hated that name. You know...the weird one-"

"Yes I know what you're talking about," The hollow snapped impatiently, her voice laced with anger, "And I told you not to-"

"It's just that," Karin cut her off, "I've heard hollow's have weird names like Konso and Sonido, but..." Karin was still hesitant to say the name; afraid it would cause her to receive another kick to the stomach.

"You idiot," The hollow growled, "How dare you call him that so casually! As if he's some ordinary hollow!"

This caught Karin off guard, "Huh?"

The hollow-girl sighed in agitation and leaned back into the darkness, now her pale legs sticking out into the moonlight. Karin's eyes had adjusted to the bleak shadows around them, and she could make out edges of the white mask,

"Sonido's not his real name, you fool," The hollow said softly, her voice drastically more mature than five seconds prior. Karin felt a chill escalate up her arms. "Are you that dumb to our language?"

"Well," Karin retorted hesitantly, with forced strain, "I've never been to the realm of the hollows before, so how would I-"

"Then shut your mouth and listen," The hollow-girl cut her off with a bite of her voice. "Sonido is a term used to describe the speed of a hollow. It's a synonym for the Shinigami term Shunpo."

Like the Flash Steps Yoruichi uses? Karin wondered to herself, as the hollow continued. "Then why is he called that? Is it a nickname?"

There was a pregnant pause, before the hollow replied, "Why the Hell should I tell you?" The childishness was back in her voice.

Karing groaned to herself, Damn, she's back to normal...and no good information...

"Now for the remainder of your stay in Las Noches, there will be some ground rules," The hollow stood up and basked in the moonlight, standing over Karin with an authoritative stance. "Made by me," She snickered maniacally.

"Las Noches?" Karin's eyes widened, glancing around her, "This is Las Noches?" It looked like a plain, moldy, darkened room to her; nothing like a palace. "I was expecting something...something..."

"Grander?" The deep voice rumbled through the room, causing both Karin and the female hollow to jump. The chiseled body of the Vasto Lordes appeared from the darkness, his mask ominously looking down at the young Shinigami. "This is but one room of our palace, but it reflects the atmosphere as a whole. Las Noches was once much more prestigous, but all that we once had is nearly turned to dust."

"You're in a talkative mood," the female hollow grumbled, clearly upset her chance to lay down the rules was ruined.

"Where is Yakyuu?" Karin demanded, her eyes narrowed angrily at the Vasto Lordes. Powerful or not, he was going to tell her where he'd hidden her weapon.

"I see it didn't take long for her to discover it was missing," Sonido observed coolly, his focus turned to his partner, who didn't smile in return.

"You knew it wouldn't," The hollow-girl frowned, unimpressed.

"Why did you steal Yakyuu?" Karin gritted her teeth, demanding an answer, "How is that fair in a fight?"

"In a fight, only fools play fair," Sonido breathed, his deep voice rattling inside the mask, "Is that what you take us for? Or did you think we'd let you walk around as our prisoner, armed and dangerous?"

Karin winced, realizing he was absolutely right. She was their enemy, and now perfectly defenseless. "So," In her heart, she dreaded asking the question, but anxiety and curiosity ovewhelmed her, "What are you going to do with me?"

"Yes," the hollow-girl smiled evilly and looked eagerly at her comrade, "What are we going to do with her now? We could string her up by her feet and-"

"No," The Vasto Lordes stopped his partner's words with a sharp reply, "Our plans have changed."

"Eh?" Both Karin and the hollow-girl looked equally surprised.

"We are leaving Las Noches immediately," Sonido said bluntly.

Then we're...leaving? Karin thought increduously.

"Are you kidding me?" The female hollow stomped her foot as she screamed, "We just treked three days to get here! We walked all this way here and I had to carry this brat half the way while you just complained that I had to do my share of the work load, and now you're telling me that we have to pack up and leave this palace to go somewhere else? Why in Hueco Mundo would you have me go to all the trouble of getting this brat here when we're about to-"

"Trigger," Sonido placed a hand on the hollow's mouth, silencing her despite her immediate disgust at the word. "There is no waste of time;. Las Noches was a stepping stone towards our destination," His dark blue eyes looked down at his partner's confused face, "...we're taking her to see The Elder."


"It's strange being back in Karakura Town," Toshiro Hitsugaya noted as he walked down the street adjacent to Karin's home, side by side Yoruichi, who had transformed into her black cat form.

"How so?" The cat's voice was deeper, much more a man's, which made it all the more difficult for Toshiro to adjust to, the voice constantly catching him off guard. Nevertheless, Toshiro sighed deeply, staring off into the distance ahead of them,

"It's...just strange not being able to sense...everyone," He stumbled finally. The cat Yoruichi gave a breath of a laugh,

"Ah, I understand," The cat's yellow eyes gleamed knowingly. Toshiro, slightly confused, thought this was honestly unnerving as the pink rose in the apples of his pale cheeks. The cat and captain stopped at the entrance of the Kurosaki Clinic, both looking straight up at the window they assumed was Ichigo's.

"Should we...go in through the window?" Toshiro crossed his arms at his chest, an eyebrow raised in pondering how they should enter the home.

"No," The cat's eyes were golden as they looked up toward the window, "Let's go straight from the ground floor. The youngest, Yuzu Kurosaki, should still be in class."

"Good point," Toshiro crossed through the glass doors and held it open so Yoruichi could follow. The glass door to the Kurosaki household shut with a soft 'clink' and Toshiro ruffled his hair with his slender hand, "The most obvious place he could be is his room, right?"

"You'd think that," both Yoruichi and Toshiro spun their heads to the right, the deep voice coming dead-pan from in front of them.

Isshin Kurosaki stood at the doorway leading to the living room, his thick arms crossed in front of his dark blue polo casually, leaning against the frame. His dark hair spiked straight into the air, he looked at Toshiro and Yoruichi with a very uncharacteristicly grim stare. Toshiro felt the breath freeze in his throat; the aura he was presenting was nothing like that of the jovial man he'd witnessed drunk at Ichigo's going-away celebration only a month prior.

"Isshin," Yoruichi bowed its cat head curtiously.

"I should have realized they'd notice sooner or later," Isshin grunted, his dark blue eyes trailing from Yoruichi to Toshiro, giving the young man an enraged stare. The Captain noticed they were the same color as Karin's, "The Council send you?"

"Actually, the Council knows nothing about this," Yoruichi said matter-of-factly.

"Heh," To Toshiro's surprise, Isshin's frown started to curve into a smirk, "That devil Urahara, huh?" He scratched his forehead out of irritation, "I swear that man keeps better tabs on my family than I do."

"I wouldn't say that," Yoruichi pit-pattered toward the tall man, Toshiro cautiously following behind her, wondering to himself whether Isshin knew about Karin or not. A chill running up his spine as Isshin glanced at him coldly told him he'd best not ask. "Is Ichigo here?" Yoruichi looked up at Isshin.

His smirk faded back into a frown, "Yeah, he's here in the living room." He motioned with his thumb to the room behind him, and Toshiro walked past him to see into the room. Toshiro's teal eyes widened.

The white couches in the living room were pushed back against the wall, one blocking a large poster of a woman with burnt orange wavy hair giving a "peace" sign to the cameraman, the background a field of multi-colored flowers. In the middle of the open space sat Ichigo, his shaggy bleached orange hair in his eyes, the back hanging down to the base of his neck. He wasn't wearing Shinigami robes, instead a white t-shirt and jeans, so Toshiro assumed he was in a gigai. Sitting beside him in the floor was the first surprise: Orihime Inoue, in a pink flowy skirt and pink tank top, her long dark orange hair in a low ponytail draping down her back. Her hands were raised as if she was warming them next to a fire, and that was when Toshiro saw the second surprising sight.

Positioned directly in front of Ichigo and Orihime was a small child with teal wavy hair and a white, cracked Hollow mask perched on top of her head, surrounded by a glowing orange light. Her large hazel eyes looked past Ichigo and Orihime and saw Toshiro and Yoruichi.

"Look, Itsigo! We have guests! One of them's a cat too!"

Ichigo and Orihime both simultaneously turned their heads to look; their eyes growing larger at the sight of the two.

"Miss Yoruichi!" Orihime cried out in surprise, her face breaking into a large, nervous grin.

"Toshiro," Ichigo said calmly, his dark brown eyes focused on the Captain as he nodded his head curtly.

Still refuses to acknowledge me as Captain, Toshiro sighed in an agitated fashion.

"Sorry for the intrusion," Yoruichi said with a gentleman's voice, "but we were informed you'd returned to the Real World, Ichigo, and felt we needed to make a personal visit."

"I could understand you being here, seeing as I got this Gigai from Urahara," Ichigo said casually, his eyes lingering on Toshiro, "But why did he come as well?"

"Did the Soul Society send him?" Orihime asked curiously.

"Hardly," Yoruichi replied, eyeing Toshiro with a Say-nothing-yet expression. "I would question why you're back here first, Ichigo," The cat's eyes narrowed on the Shinigami Substitute, "You had been in Hueco Mundo only a month, correct?"

The Shinigami's eyes narrowed slightly, "I was, but there's been some weird activity there lately," Ichigo said with his fist pressed pensively against his chin, "Activity that was really bothering Nel." He motioned to the small hollow-girl in the floor beside him.

"Really?" Yoruichi and Toshiro glanced briefly at each other. The Vasto Lordes, they both thought grimly.

"Yeah," Ichigo stretched his arms over his head; as Orihime gave him a curious look, "Nel said there were some books that I needed to see that could explain it," He glanced at the girl with the teal hair, "But she couldn't access them while we were in Hueco Mundo, as she is now anyway."

"As she is now?" Toshiro blurted out, glaring at Ichigo, "What does that mean? Why can't she show you this information?"

"Cuz, silly," Nel, the Arrancar smiled a toothy grin, "Nel can't read!"

Toshiro stared blankly at the Arrancar, his voice incredulous. "What?"

"Nel's form diminishes into this child-state when her reitsu depletes," Ichigo explained, looking fondly at Nel. "Apparently she loses some of her adult intellectual abilities as well," He smiled faintly.

"But when Nel's big, she can read!" The Arrancar nodded her head through the orange light around her.

"Her mask was cracked by the Espada Nnoitra a long time ago," Ichigo continued, "I hadn't thought of her needing her older form again, since she was happy as she is, but considering we need this information..." His voice trailed off for a moment.

Yoruichi's cat eyes widened slightly, "So you're-"

"Orihime is going to restore her mask to what it once was," Ichigo commented quietly, his face illuminated by the orange light of her shield. "Then Nel and I will return to Hueco Mundo."

The two Shinigami stared at Ichigo and Orihime with equally bewildered, silent expressions. Isshin sighed heavily in the background,

"Here it comes," The former Shinigami smirked.

"You-You're going to restore her mask?" Toshiro stared with his mouth open slightly, "Is that even possible? She's an Arrancar, right? Isn't that a bit...ludicrous?" His voice ended on a high note.

"Beyond that," Yoruichi added, her cat voice calm, "Once you return to Hueco Mundo, Ichigo, what are you hoping to do with this information?"

"I'm not sure," Ichigo replied dully, "But I figured there was no point staying there with her all confused and bothered if there was no way for me to know why."

Nel nodded her head, her childish voice a high squeak, "It feels weird and dark there!" She saw Toshiro's unimpressed frown deepen, causing her to add, "Weirder and darker than usual!"

The diminuitive captain sighed, "I don't understand any of this," His hand palmed his forehead.

"Ichigo," The black cat mused slowly, her voice a deep drawl. Toshiro perked his head up; the sound of her voice indicated where the conversation was heading. "Captain Hitsugaya and I didn't just come here to probe your absence from Hueco Mundo."

Here it comes, Toshiro gritted his teeth, the fists his hands were balled into were clenched at his side.

"Oh?" Ichigo looked interested, Orihime's head turned to them as well, "Why else did you come?"

"There has been a disturbance within the Soul Society," Yoruichi was obviously choosing her words carefully. "This will sound disturbing, but please remain calm."

Orihime open eyes towards Ichigo, Nel's eyes misting a little as she did the same. Ichigo stared hard at the cat, "Go on. What happened?"

"Against the Soul Society's defenses, a Vasto Lordes breached the divide and entered the Sereitei."

There was a breath of pause. Orihime's eyes widened considerably, while Ichigo continued to stare silently at Yoruichi. It was both Nel and Isshin who broke the silence first.

"Vasto Lordes?" Isshin yelled in outrage, "What on earth are you saying, Shihoin? A Vasto Lordes break into the Soul Society, that's insanely unlikely! What are the circumstances for why-"

"V-V-V-Vasto Lordes?" Nel quaked, her voice stuttering wildly as she raised her hands to her head in terror, "B-b-but dat's impossible! It-It couldn't be-"

"-it was there?" Isshin's voice was simultaneously drowning out Nel's as hers did the same, "What aren't you telling us?"

"Waaaahhh! Itsigo!" Nel's misty eyes burst into large fat tears rolling down her cheeks, "Dis must be what those books talk about! That weird Activity-It had to have been one! Itsigo-"

"SILENCE!" Toshiro yelled loud enough that the walls of the Kurosaki clinic seemed to shudder. There was instantly a tense silence shrouding the room.

Orihime had her hand pressed against her upper lip as she quietly turned to the Substitute Shinigami beside her, "Ichigo?"

Ichigo gave Nel a soft look, his eyes very parental, "Nel," He said gently, "You think that activity we were feeling was a Vasto Lordes?"

The little Arrancar nodded feverishly, "Nel's sure of it now! It makes sense, Itsigo! I didn't think it was possible before because usually the Vasto Lordes are recluses, 'specially after Aizen was in Hueco Mundo."

Ichigo turned to his father, "I'd like to know the answer to dad's question, though," He eyed the black cat, "Why would a Vasto Lordes go to the Soul Society?"

Toshiro's knuckles were white from his fists being gripped so hard. He looked nervously to Yoruichi, who sighed softly, clearly dreading this part of the exposition.

"Ichigo," Yoruichi sighed.

"Out with it," The Substitute Shinigami glared coldly.

"How long have you been home?"

This clearly caught Ichigo off-guard, "What? Oh, uhm, since last night."

"And have you seen your sisters today?" Yoruichi prodded carefully.

"No," Ichigo's eyes narrowed in frustration. His expression plainly showed his view that this conversation was pointless, "I went to bed immediately; then this morning Nel and I went to Orihime's. Why? How is this relevant?"

"Let me try and explain more directly," Yoruichi sniffed the air with her cat nose, "Can you please tell me where your sister's spirit energies are now?"

Ichigo gave the cat a are-you-serious? look. "Fine," He replied eventually and closed his eyes, as if concentrating, "Yuzu's easy; she's at the Karakura District Junior High School. And Karin-" He stopped mid-sentence, and suddenly closed his eyes shut tighter. There was a pregnant pause. Orihime and Nel were watching Ichigo intently, as Toshiro and Yoruichi gave each other another hesitant glance. Isshin silently watched the scene unfold.

Ichigo's eyes finally snapped open, his expression dumbfounded, "I...I can't sense her."

Yoruichi hung her head; Toshiro's fists were shaking. Orihime gave Ichigo a concerned look, "What do you mean?"

"Just that," Ichigo looked to the girl beside him, his face confused, "I can't sense her spiritual pressure at all...it's like there's a wall-" He suddenly caught his words in his throat and shot a furious look to Yoruichi, his hazel eyes wide in realization. "-Yoruichi," His voice was calm, but there was an ice to it that made goosebumps form on Toshiro's forearms, "Why did you ask me about Karin?"

"She's not here, Ichigo," Isshin broke into the conversation so bluntly and out of the blue that Toshiro nearly fell over in surprise. "Not in Karakura Town that is."

The trio sitting on the floor stared at the retired Shinigami. Yoruichi had her eyes closed in utter embarassment, as Toshiro came to a horrific conclusion. He knows. He knows Karin's gone. He could have cursed himself for not realizing it, He knew when Ichigo became a Shinigami, so that means when Karin-And the reason for Isshin's cold looks earlier made perfect sense. He knows it's my fault that she's a Shinigami-

"What did you just say, dad?" Ichigo had risen to his feet, his hands straight at his side. Orihime popped up beside him, the orange shield still surrounding Nel.

"I was going to tell you after Nel was healed," Isshin shut his eyes in frustration, "But then Yoruichi and him showed up," Another icy glance at Hitsugaya, "and I figured I'd let things play by ear...but there's no use in that now. We're just wasting time."

"Ichigo," Toshiro said calmly, to Isshin and Yoruichi's surprise.

"Captain, it would be best if you-" The black cat interjected, but Toshiro cut her off,

"No, Yoruichi, I need to be the one to say this." Yoruichi saw the shame reflecting in his eyes but a sudden resolve glowing as well, and nodded her soft head slowly, backing away from him to sit beside Orihime on the floor opposite Nel.

"I'm tired of this waiting game," Ichigo growled.

"Sorry," Toshiro smiled a ghost of a grin, that quickly fell to a frown, "Ichigo, while you were gone," His throat was hesitant, but he managed to say the words, "Lieutenant Momo Hinamori and I were here in Karakura tracking down the remains of an Arrancar that had arrived the day you left." He let Ichigo nod before continuing, "The day Vice Captain Hinamori and I were scouting the area, the Arrancar and another ambushed us. I managed to destroy one, but the other left unscathed." Toshiro knew this part would be the hardest to say, so he took a breath.

"What does this have to do with Karin?" Ichigo's eyes were narrowed in agitation. He looked to his father for more explanation, but the old man was focused entirely on Toshiro.

"That day, the one Arrancar ambushed myself while I was in the company of your sister, Karin."

In one instant, Ichigo's attention was completely controlled by Hitsugaya; his hazel eyes were alert and staring at the Captain as if seeing him for the first time. Toshiro continued quickly before he could speak,

"I sent Karin off with Hinamori before she was injured severely, but-"

"Severely? You mean she was hurt?" Ichigo questioned incredulously.

"Let me continue!" The impatience drawing out in Toshiro's voice was now laced with anger and anxiety, "I killed the Arrancar that attacked the two of them but because of my negligence, before I could get there, your sister was placed in the line of fire-"

Ichigo's eyes were fire, "What in Hell are you saying-"

"-so to save her life, Lieutenant Momo Hinamori struck your sister with a zanpakuto and gave her the power of the Shinigami!" Toshiro yelled in a breath.

A pin could have been dropped onto the floor and would have been heard by all. Yoruichi sighed with sadness, looking towards Nel, who was staring befuddled at the scene. Orihime had rose to her feet and was now wrapping her arm around Ichigo's. At first the gesture seemed to be out of sympathy, but upon second glance, it was clear that Orihime was grabbing Ichigo's arm to keep him from punching Toshiro.

"Y-you," Ichigo said in a delirium, "You're telling me that Karin-that my little sister-"

"She's a Shinigami now," Toshiro finally replied, his eyes looking away.

"You BASTARD!" Ichigo roared and lunged for the Captain.

In that moment, three things happened: Isshin jumped in front of Toshiro, Orihime gripped Ichigo's arm in an attempt to hold him back, and Yoruichi jumped up in a flash to face Ichigo. A large puff of smoke enveloped the group, and Ichigo rammed straight into the naked body of Yoruichi in her human form.

"ACK!" Ichigo cried out in shock and ricocheted backwards, a spout of blood spurting from his nose as he cracked his head on the outer edge of Orihime's shield surrounding Nel. He crumpled to the ground as Orihime crouched beside him, straightening him forward.

Nel pushed her hands against her chubby cheeks, "Oh no! Itsigo! It's a good thing dat shield was up, otherwise you'd of crashed into Nel!"

Ichigo slowly cricked his neck to look at the small Arrancar, his voice weakened, "Y-y-yeah, good thing..."

Toshiro's face was a brilliant shade of crimson, forcing his eyes to look away from the scene.

"Dammit," Ichigo glanced up to Yoruichi, then quickly darted his eyes from the cat-woman, "I should've known you'd pull some cheap-ass move-"

Yoruichi placed her dark hands on her hips, a large grin sprouting on her face, "You never cease to amaze me, Ichigo," Her honey voice cooed, as she glanced behind her shoulder, "Sorry, Isshin. I hope you don't mind me vulgarly transforming here, but I decided it'd be the best way to stop the conflict."

"Oh no, no," Isshin waved his hand with eager dismissiveness, "I'm just glad you were thinking on your toes-err, paws, heh heh."

Toshiro wasn't fooled though as he noticed the former Shinigami's cheeks flush pink. I'm sure that's not all you're glad about, He thought angrily, before noticing that Ichigo was looking right at him.

His teal eyes narrowed, "I'm sorry, Ichigo." He finally spoke, causing Isshin to stop chuckling, and Yoruichi to drop her grin.

Another pause, and Ichigo scratched his head, his eyes shut as if thinking. After a couple of minutes, the Substitute Shinigami spoke, "I'm still pissed at you Toshiro. And you dad," He opened his eyes to stare at Isshin, "for not telling me about this when it happened. But," His eyes lingered on Orihime, then Yoruichi and quickly flashed back to Toshiro, "What can I do about it now?"

"Remain pissed at me?" Toshiro offered with a subtle smirk, attempting to lighten the mood.

It apparently worked, because Ichigo's face broke into a dark smile, "You'd better believe I'm going to be."

"I hate to ruin this moment of reconciliation," Yoruichi sighed, brushing a lock of purple hair from her face, "But Karin's new Shinigami status isn't the worst of our problems. Ichigo," She turned to give him a sharp stare, "You will not like hearing this next part."

Ichigo's smile instantly faded, "What is it?"

"It's a long story, but basically," Toshiro paused, "Karin's no longer in the Soul Society," Toshiro stated gravely.

It didn't take a second for Ichigo to put two and two together. "You're kidding me..." He growled, his hands balled into enraged fists at his side. "This Vasto Lordes took her? Why?"

"That's what we're going to figure out," Yoruichi said congenially, "Given you'll aid us in finding her."

"You're damn right I will!" Ichigo slammed his fist against his other open palm.

Isshin nodded, "I'll keep things in order here. Orihime, will you help me? I'm sure I can get Ryuken's son to help us maintain order in Karakura Town."

She nodded, "Uryu can help too!"

"First thing's first," Ichigo's eyes were blazing as he looked at Toshiro, "I need to go to Urahara's Shoten and give this Gigai back. Also-"

"ME!"

There was a large ripping noise as a flash of pink smoke exploded into the room again, and Orihime's orange shield shattered into thousands of transparent shards that evaporated into the air. Yoruichi jumped back in a flash, grabbing Orihime to get her out of harm's way. Isshin and Toshiro had backed up as well. Ichigo, unfortunately, didn't react in time. Nel, her body elongated, filled out, and returned to her former adult state, had knocked Ichigo to the ground as she burst from Orihime's healing shield.

"Don't forget me, Ichigo!" Her higher-pitched voice was soft but firm, fists raised high in determination. She suddenly blinked and looked around her, "Oh! Where did Ichigo go?"

Nel had been wearing a long green burlap sack of a dress up until her reversion back to her normal form. The sack dress, however, did not stretch like Nel had and instead had ripped in half; with the lower portion positioned snugly on her hips and the top tightly wrapping around her large chest.

Orihime's cheeks were flushed, as she pointed to Nel's feet, "Uhm, he's down there."

Ichigo was lying on his back directly below and in between Nel's legs.

He closed his hand quickly over his nose, which was streaming blood, "N-Nel, please get off of me..."

"But I'm not on you Ichigo!" Nel smiled, then stepped aside to appease him, "Silly!"

Toshiro sighed, his head in his palms, "Why has today been so difficult?"

Yoruichi gave Isshin a sly look, "Things just became more interesting, wouldn't you say?"

"I've never had this many nude women in my house," Isshin smirked as he rubbed his chin.

"Dad!" Ichigo snapped through his covered mouth and nose.

Orihime looked from Yoruichi to Nel, and then around the room in general, "You know, I wonder where-"

"Will all of you just shut up?"

A voice called from the stairwell, and the entire group turned to see a small stuffed animal walking in frustration down the wooden stairs. "Geez! It's like I can't sleep for two minutes without someone yelling and carrying on about something ridicul-"

Kon, the mod-soul inhabiting the body of a stuffed yellow lion doll froze at the foot of the stairs and looked blankly at the group, his eyes slowly scanning each one.

Ichigo.

Isshin.

A Shinigami I don't know.

And-

His black bead eyes froze.

Orihime...s-sandwiched between t-t-two near-to-full-on...n-n-n-naked..

"NEEEEEEEE-SAAAAAAANNNNN!" The doll burst into the air towards Yoruichi and Nel, "Please let me be a mascot in your delicious garden of exotic-"

In one swift motion Yoruichi kicked the stuffed animal to the ground, Kon's face buried facedown beneath her foot.

Nel raised a fist timidly to her lips, her eyes glancing over the other members of the group.

"What's his problem?"

Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up! I hope you liked it!

Anyway, next chapter, Interrogation time with Byakuya, Leta, Layla, Renji, and Lyall!

I'll try to have it done soon!

Cheers,

Romania Black