Dimensional Jump Chapter 31: Yamamoto's request

"Tatsibura..." Kisuke spoke to gain Haro's attention as he watched the vampire squirm beneath the pillars. Ultimately, he failed and decided to just lay there in defeat. "You'll remain here until further notice," That's all he said to the vampire, who grumbled with his head laying on its side. He was glad he made it in time before there were more casualties, he couldn't wait until this whole vampire thing was finally done and over with. The last thing he wanted was for Kaiorin to come back and rampaging over him being alive again. Turning around, Urahara gave a questioning look to the Captains and saw Byakuya sheathe his blade, giving him a slight nod.

Nodding back, Urahara smirked and sighed, then adjusted his hat to hide more of his face. "Well, I wonder how long it'll take before he's found. Muraka Shizi shouldn't be too hard to locate, right?" Asking the vampire, he shoved his hands within his sleeves and held them there, all the while glaring down at Tatsibura with a frown.

"Hmhmhmhm, Kisuke Urahara... You surprised me, yet again.~ I had my doubts that you would come out of your way to stop me; oh how terribly wrong, was I?~" Haro sung with a menacing, playful voice and tried his best to look up at the man from his position; his head struggled to raise since those pillars were pinning him. "You truly do go against orders, don't you? Breaking the law to drop in and say hi? Exiled from the Soul Society after something going wrong, by your hands?~ Truly-" Before he could finish, Kisuke's foot stomped hard onto his head and forcibly buried his face into the ground with a faint grunt.

"That's enough from you," As infuriating as it felt to him, he couldn't show that he was fazed by those words. Even til this day, he regrets his mistakes despite being forgiven and he knew that the vampire was just trying to dig deep to make him furious.

Out in the world of the living, scouts had spread out in large numbers to search for the person. Through dark alleys, cracks, crevices, holes, shops, homes, and more, they searched. Looking for each citizen who would even sort of come close to the name. "Ma'am, I see a young soul reaper fighting a hollow; he has orange hair, should I question him about Shizi?" A male scout, who's backside was only in view, asked his Captain for permission.

"Anything would help at this point! That's Ichigo Kurosaki! Go, inform him about Muraka Shizi!" That's all the reaper heard from her on his end, before acknowledging her words and answering. "Sir!" he nodded to no one in particular and took off.

Ichigo landed on the street after slicing a hollow's mask in half with his giant blade. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, before returning his zanpakuto to his backside. He looked over and saw Orihime healing an unconscious human, who was victimized by the hollow to start with. "You alright, Orihime?" he asked with a smile, soon walking over to her side. He watched her stand up and dismiss her power, feeling rather relieved that she managed to heal him in time.

"Yes, thanks Ichigo," A sweet smile formed after she viewed him from her side. "He'll be okay, he just needs to rest now," Replying, she saw Chad and Uriyu coming over in their casual clothes. Uriyu adjusted his glasses while Chad rubbed his neck, frowning. "Chad, Uriyu! It's nice to see you two again, it's been a little while," The young woman greeted and fully faced them, with Ichigo doing the same.

"Yeah, we haven't see you in some time. What's up?" Orange-top questioned with worry and stepped a bit closer. Concern was in his brown eyes, it never hurt to be worried about friends.

"Nothing to worry about, Ichigo. We just saw you killing a hollow, that's been the first one in a couple weeks now. It's been surprisingly quiet lately, hardly any hollows have been showing up." Uriyu commented and shifted in his posture.

"I agree... Ever since that weird vampire attack in the Seireitei two years ago happened, hollows haven't been invading. Just on rare occasions they do; you think it might have something to do with that woman?" Chad questioned, not once moving his gaze from his two friends in front of him. "I forgot her name..." A sweatdrop fell when he looked away and scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Yeah... Maybe," Ichigo answered and recalled that time when he met Kaiorin and the last time he saw her in the soul society. "I think Ikkaku said that she was a hollow dragon and soul reaper, right? Ever since she became Captain, the past two years she's been coming to the world of the living to fight hollows. Though, Ikkaku would always go after her and practically drag her back to the soul society; she always rambles on about how bored she is..." The orange-top sweatdropped and had one eye twitching. "Seriously, she's worse than Kenpachi. At least he doesn't go around literally trying to pick a fight with everyone she meets," It was a bit annoying to witness every time she was around, however she always did seem to get the job done regardless...

"Hey, look on the bright side!" Orihime chimed in with a single clap of her hands and giggled, catching their attention. "Even though she's the way she is, she did help me out a little in Las Noches. Plus, she can't be all bad I mean... She's married!" she giggled and raised her arms up happily, only to suddenly get the image of her and Ichigo doing the same. A beautiful image of her wearing a wedding gown and him in a tuxedo, the mere thought nearly made her have a nose bleed; she had to cover her nose and turn around to hide her red face. "Stop it, stop it, stop it!" Mentally screaming, she managed to compose herself and straighten back up.

"Really? Ah, I forgot she got married," Chad commented. Though their little conversation had to come to a halt, when three scouts appeared to the side of them and walked up to Ichigo.

"Kurosaki! Captain Soi-Feng ordered us to inform you about Muraka Shizi. He's wandering around in the world of the living somewhere and needs to be found immediately. We are in a grave situation so it's significant that those who're allied with us in the world of the living, must help locate this person. Anyone who has seen this person must report to us at once!" The man who spoke to his Captain over the mic, explained to the orange-top with a strict and deep voice.

"Muraka Shizi?!" All four of the friends exclaimed in unison with surprise, just to see the scout nod.

"Shizi, I heard their name being announced over the com in our school!" Orihime made an outburst after their little unison.

"Then they're around our age, they have to be! That narrows it down!" Ichigo said with a risen voice after looking at his friends. Viewing the scouts now, he gave a nod of understanding and a strict face. "Alright! We'll keep an eye out for the person!" Not even a thank you, the male scout reached to his mic and spoke.

"It's been concluded that Muraka Shizi is around the age of fifteen through eighteen! He attends Katakura High School!" With that, he and his two comrades used shunpo and vanished, leaving the four friends alone again.

"Come on guys, we need to help!" Ichi exclaimed and watched all of his friends nod, taking it very seriously. "Let's spread out!" he added and waved a hand out to the side. Everyone bolted in opposite directions and serious faces, all picking out their own destinations to search.

Back in the Soul Society; Rukia appeared at the top of the grand staircase that led to Yamamoto's office. She felt so much worry, thoughts of Haro's predicament, fear of another invasion appearing, and concern for her brother of having to face that vampire. Her lips frowned and her fists clenched, however, she had to focus on the one task that Kurotsuchi assigned her.

Her feet moved closer to the doors and her hand lifted to knock on them, only for a voice to halt her in mid-action. "I will assist, miss Kuchiki," Rukia's blue eyes looked over her shoulder at the Squad twelve's Lieutenant and gasped.

"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi! Hey, I thought he wanted me to ask the Head Captain. What's there to assist?" The young woman turned to fully face her and stared curiously.

"He ordered me to make sure you pick an intelligent individual to assist with his device. Anyone without a proper high-level IQ may cause the device some problems due to the complexity of the system," she explained to the young woman and kept her hands clasped together in front, not once changing her emotionless expression.

"Yeah, sure... Makes sense," That was all Rukia replied with, before turning to face those doors again.

On the inside of Yama's office, he was looking through files and other paperwork that required his attention. His brows knitted at reading upon a particular piece of paper, causing him to stroke his beard in thought. "Strange..." He trailed off, then picked up another piece of paper.

His reason for not confronting Haro himself, was because he was trying to find out how he even came back alive. Doing his own research and thinking to himself about all of the possibilities, though nothing seemed to give any hints other than the fact that someone had probably found his heart somewhere. "If someone found his heart... Then there's a chance that the person had left it near his corpse, on his corpse or someone may have dragged his severed body into a closed-in space..." he mumbled to himself, trying to figure out who may have been the culprit. It's just, nothing...was clicking except those few possibilities and they all seem to point to a single person aiding him; but who?

Upon hearing a knock on his doors, he lowered his paper and stared strictly at them. "Who is it?" Strong, deep, and just as serious as he appeared to be; Yama heard Rukia's voice echo on the other side.

"It's Rukia Kuchiki and Nemu Kurotsuchi, sir. May I come in? This is urgent," The young woman's voice, as urgent as she sounded, there was a hint of worry lacing her voice. With a simple yes from the old man, Rukia opened the doors. She and Nemu both walked in, only to close the doors behind them.

She bowed and rose back up just as quickly, still having that serious face of hers plastered. "After finding someone I was looking for, who was in Captain Kurotsuchi's lab, the Captain asked me to go see you about some possible volunteers for his invention," after she explained, Nemu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Head Captain, sir. My Captain asks of you for an individual with a high-level intellect; one that could assist with the device, let alone understand him." After she stated that, she rose back up and watched him grumble to himself.

He was thinking, his eyes moved down and stared into space. "So, he fixed some of its issues?" He didn't even need to see her nod in return, to know that she confirmed his words. "Very well... Kisuke Urahara is occupied with the vampire along with a few other Captains, stalling him until they find this living soul," he started and closed his eyes. "There is no one else to truly ask for... Unless..." he trailed off and thought deeply; long and hard on the only other person he could think of that would be smart enough to help the intelligent Captain. "There's no choice, she's the only one..." he mentally noted with a sigh of defeat.

He opened his eyes to the two ladies, he didn't like the idea too well but it appeared that they had no real choice. "Inform Aurora Kisaki that her intellect is needed. If all goes well, she may even redeem herself and regain her rights to enter the Soul Society again," he paused for a moment and moved the paper he was reading, aside. "Aurora Kisaki is at Kisuke Urahara's shop under house arrest; with supervision, she may be allowed to assist Captain Kurotsuchi! Dismissed!" he was absolute, his words were solid and they had no say in the matter.

Rukia gulped at the mention of that lady vampire, however she was tugged by Nemu's hand who was just about to leave the office. Reluctance, she nodded and turned on her heel to leave, closing the doors behind them.

Yama let out a breath he didn't know he held and his eyes moved back down to the paper he previously scooted aside; he was all alone,. "I do hope she has learned her lesson now..." Sympathy for the woman emerged, she was like a daughter to him long ago and he had missed her after her disappearance eons ago. He knew about her personality, what she was like; but two years ago when he and Kisuke confronted her under that moonlight, when the truth was revealed, he felt so sorry for her. He thought he knew her so well, only to find out that her motives was from the death of her husband. Yama frowned and closed his eyes, he hoped that she'd redeem herself so she could live happily with Reicon and him in the Seireitei. If anything, she was almost like family to him... As mentioned before, like a daughter.

Through the Senkaimon, Rukia, Nemu, and a couple of escorts rushed out with haste. They hurried along and shunpo'd as fast as their legs could carry through the streets. "Kisuke's shop..." she mumbled with nervous sweat rolling down her face. That woman made her uneasy... Nemu was right next to her, keeping up with her speed and the escorts were right behind them. Rounding corners, jumping across rooftops and soon coming across a familiar shop down below; they rushed to the front door as fast as possible. "We have to do this," Her mental words echoed as a nervously shaking fist reached up to knock on the door.

Right before she even managed to leave one sound on the surface, the doors slid open and revealed Reicon who stared down at her from his nearly eight-foot height. She felt so small in compassion to him! So tiny, like a bug to a giant! Regardless though, she lowered her hand and confidently stared at the cyborg. "We're here to get Aurora Kisaki. Head Captain Yamamoto requested that she assists Captain Kurotsuchi, seeing that there's no one else capable enough at the time," she explained, though she never expected for the vampire lady herself, to overhear her words.

"Reicon, love; let her in,~" Her seductive, sweet and mature voice reached the cyborg's ears. He nodded and turned to the side, keeping the door open for Rukia and Nemu to go in. The escorts stood outside and waited, after the doors closed then looked at each other.

Rukia just stood there eyeing the vampire with caution and felt Reicon move behind her to get back over to his beloved. Nemu appeared unfazed, as usual, she simply put her hands together and waited. "I'm needed, you say? I'm positive that the twelfth division Captain would despise my presence, however... I am curious as to how the gothic Captain is fairing in the other dimension. Hmhmhm, there's so much mystery to be solved, so much drama to be dealt with..." she hummed in thought and her only-working eye squinted as she smirked.

"Yes, Captain Kurotsuchi fixed some issues with the machine and he needs a volunteer to help test it I believe," Rukia answered and watched the woman shift in her sitting position. Kisaki was sitting the cushion with her legs to one side like a lady, while a cup of blood sat before her on the table.

Her fan flapped open and she hid her grin, then reached down to grasp her black-laced hat. It laid upon her head and covered up a lot of her upper face, making her have a mysterious vibe. "Unfortunately, I don't know what I could do to possibly make up for what I did two years ago..." She trailed off and frowned behind her fan, before standing up. "I... Only wish to deeply apologize, to express my guilt..." She felt horrible, even to this day, for killing off innocent half-breeds in her life. It felt like anything she'd do, wouldn't make up for her crimes. "I hope assisting him will grant me some sort of forgiveness..." she mournfully spoke and lowered her head; her vampire eye glistened with sorrow and guilt. "Let us be off, Ronin. We mustn't keep them waiting.~" Kisaki spoke and changed her tone, trying to cover up the grief in her voice with a sing-song one.

She didn't even sway her hips seductively, she simply just walked out of the house with Reicon following behind. For a moment, she paused in her step and smiled faintly over her shoulder. "Tessai, give those kids a warm hug for me, please. Before they go to bed," With that, she left, along with the others. Tessai who stood in the doorway to the back room, hummed in thought and nodded to himself.