"Well? No way you actually trust that Ichimaru bastard." Zaraki was actually smirking for once, rather than the usual smile-from-hell.

(Author's note: Don't waste time trying to imagine it. It is a completely out-of-place look for him, but he probably would be at this point.)

"I doubt anyone besides Matsumoto-fukutaicho and Izuru-fukutaicho truly trust him. But there has never been any evidence of wrongdoing."

"Well, true. But surely you noticed the way he always makes small talk with ya?"

"Is that illegal?"

"No, but you know why he does, right?"

Byakuya paused. "I have suspected that I know the reason. I noticed he normally speaks to me only when he has a reason, and that he only makes small talk when my younger sister is walking with me. Do you believe I'm close?"

"Yeah. That guy's a sadistic creep. He has less business running a division than I did."

"Because of one idiosyncrasy? You are clutching at straws, Zaraki." He hadn't forgotten the rank, he'd omitted it out of exasperation, but Zaraki didn't seem to notice. "We have no idea why he made small talk. We suspect, but we have no proof."

"You can't prove Yachiru did anything, either."

"She has suspect abilities, that cannot be explained any other way."

"Her soul was trying to get control of an immense amount of alien reiatsu that I accidentally sent through her."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"No. I was just hoping you would so I wouldn't have to splatter you all over the walls." Zaraki's voice began to get louder as he spoke the last six words, and he reached for a gikongan dispenser.

"Was that a threat, Kenpachi?" Byakuya put his hand on Senbonzakura's hilt.

"No, it was a fact, Byakuya." He pulled out the Chappy-box...

"Okay, that's enough!" Renji decided that it wouldn't do to tear apart such an expensive looking house.

"My apologies, Abarai-fukutaicho. Did you have anything salient to add? I'd rather hear it than any unfounded accusation this barbarian has to offer." His hand left Senbonzakura. Renji sighed in relief.

"Well, first off, I really don't trust Ichimaru-taicho either. I don't know about Aizen-taicho, or Tosen-taicho, but..."

"Have you any proof?"

"If I did, we wouldn't be calling him 'taicho' anymore..."

"My sentiments exactly." Byakuya's voice became darker as thought about the pained looks on his sister's face during those "conversations."

"Well, what about the gatekeepers?"

"We have no proof of wrongdoing to implicate them, either."

"Yeah, but, now that I think about it, there's just something about the North, South, and East gatekeepers... I don't know. I know you avoid them, too. One time, you took your family servants on a longer route just to use the West Gate instead of the North."

"It doesn't matter. We were digressing either way. The issue at hand isn't their trustworthiness, it is Zaraki's, and to a lesser extent, Urahara's."

"Oh, yeah! Sorry... the thing is, I worked under these two. They wouldn't get involved in something like this. They're too proud of their powers, they'd consider it cheating."

"Yeah, I kind of don't like these powers. I have 'em now, but I don't think I'm going to use them much."

"It surprises me, as well. But then, Kyoraku's own fukutaicho participated in such experiments..."

"Nanao-fukutaicho?!" Renji's jaw dropped again. "No freakin' way!"

"No, the one before that. Yadomaru Lisa. It was back when I first got this job, back before Byakuya was even a shinigami."

"I remember my grandfather was surprised. He didn't think she was capable of such betrayal. It surprised everyone. Given this surprise, I don't know why we should rule out the possibility that these two might have done the same."

"Look... that's ancient history..."

"Not ancient, even by human standards. There are still mortals living on Earth who were alive back then. Not a large number, but you understand my point, I am sure. At any rate, there are lessons to be gained from history, even thousands of years ago. It is true of humans, it is true of shinigami."

"At any rate, we are accomplishing nothing. How about this... I agree to let you leave here, but in exchange, you tell me where you are going, in case I should like to know. I will steer the investigation away from that area, to whatever extent is safe. However, if I find you are hostile towards Seireitei, I will personally lead an attack force to take you dead or alive. I will prefer dead."

"I already told ya, I don't know. I was told where the gigai where, and where to find the senkaimon. I don't know exactly where it leads, okay?"

"You have no idea where you are going?"

"Probably Karakura Town, but for all I know it could be Argentina. Well known hiding place for scumbags, right?"

"Argentina? I had no idea you were as evil as the criminals in hiding there. Oh well. So, you conjecture Karakura Town, but have no real knowledge. Very well. I warn you though, I will not be able to steer the investigation away from you, with such little information. I could try to steer the investigation away from Karakura, but that would be impossible to hide, not when the town is certain to be under heavy surveillance."

"It would be easy you to lose yourself that way, as well. Such little information makes my deal worthless. I could, however, put a tracking spell on you, that you could remove when you reach your destination. That would be all the information I would need."

"To do what? Help me, or arrest me?"

"Whichever is just."

"Yeah, because nobles don't do anything to help their public image, and they're the most trustworthy people in the world."

"I see. Well, then. I suppose you had best convince me to release you. I shall waive the time limit. You may have as long as you like, as long as I do not become convinced you should be arrested."

"Good. So, then. You're not sure I can judge character the way I say?"

"I am not certain that they are trustworthy. I am also not certain that that helps your case."

"Well, I only brought that up because..."

"Why'd I bring that up?"

Renji thought for a second...

"Oh yeah. Zaraki-taicho wanted to prove he could tell who was cool and who wasn't so it meant something when he said he trusted Urahara to be a good guy. That mattered because Urahara was the guy Zaraki-taicho was staying with, and it'd look bad if he was a bad guy."

"I see. This only matters if we assume you are trustworthy. If you are not, Urahara could be as loyal to Seireitei as Soifon-taicho, but you might kill him."

"You can trust me."

"That is what we are attempting to establish."

"Yeah, but come on! Abarai trusts me..."

"That is only to be expected. Abarai-fukutaicho has all the loyalty of a dog."

"What?!"

"Do you deny it?"

"Uh, eh...No."

"Good. I think now we see why the fact that Abarai-fukutaicho trusts you does not require me to."

"Okay, you got us. I guess we can't prove you should trust us."

"Are you going to attempt to bargain with me, or are you going to fight?"

"Which one gets us a better chance of leaving without getting hurt, or drawing attention on our gracious hosts?"

"I do not intend to allow you to bargain. That leaves fighting. The barrier should hide our reiatsu, until I am killed or incapacitated."

"Oh, come on. Isn't there anythin'... Could you try to get an audience with Central 46?"

"What would that prove?"

"You could check to see if they'r imposters."

Byakuya's fingers snapped together. "Of course. We could use the opportunity to attempt to get your case and Urahara's re-investigated."

"Urahara's? Don't worry there. He got set up good. The only way he's getting cleared is if someone turns states."

"What do you mean?"

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo----Flashback---xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"So, how long these imposters been set up?"

"They only recently began their work. Up until now, the ringleader's been counting on doctored evidence to remove his enemies."

"How thorough is he?"

"An American Court could inject me with the evidence he used... of course, I did do some of it, but I got cold feet before it got anywhere near as bad as he wanted it to look. I figured out the theory, but I didn't actually turn anyone: I took some cell cultures from myself and Hiyori-san, and the results scared me into dropping the project. The ringleader was the one who turned my friends. As for Tessai, he had nothing to do with it. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

He gave a guilty feeling grin. "I could have done it better than he did, too. Weird thing to be proud of, I guess..."

"Gotcha. 'Nd who is this 'ringleader?'"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"I'm pretty good at taking harsh blows... You should see the cut I got getting my job."

"Okay, it was Aizen-taicho."

Zaraki's eyebrows went up higher than ever.

"What... No bullshit?"

"No bullshit."

"Well, I knew he was too good to be true but... god-damn."

"Well, think anyone else'll buy it?"

"No. I'll tell 'em not to trust 'im if it comes up, but... shit! Good thing he's dead..."

Urahara and Kensei shared a look.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo----Flashback Ends---xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Well, it's true he did some experiments, but he stopped at cell cultures. He never did it to the extent he was convicted of, and Tessai was completely innocent."

"I see. Well, the case against Tessai was weak already, but Central 46 refused to look into it, especially not after he escaped."

"In any case, I would like to dispatch my men to investigate, if we are agreed that we will attempt this recourse?"

"If it'll get me out of here without having to draw any attention, sure."

"Sounds like you've done a 180! Maybe Red Pineapple-head can look at your sister without you castrating him now!"

Neither Byakuya nor his subordinate cared to respond to that outburst.

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