Chapter 26

Up In Smoke

Ichigo Kurosaki and Aaron Higuchi drew their Zanpakutou as they plodded ahead on the Repentance Tower's bridge. Byakuya Kuchiki did the same, and the two sides halted feet away from each other near the center.

"Look at you acting so carefree," said a grinning Ichigo. "You didn't even bother to interrupt us while we were talking with our friends."

"If you're trying to piss him off before we fight, I don't think that's a good idea, Kurosaki," warned a wary Aaron.

Byakuya shared his sentiment. "...Who do you think you're talking to? Why would I need to sneak up on the likes of you? Don't think too highly of yourself, insignificant scum!"

The Captain of the Sixth Division turned up the heat by raising his spiritual pressure. The surrounding area shook in fear, whereas those present felt their senses go numb.

"I-Impossible! He was holding back that much power?!" cried Sharpscale.

The strength in Kana's knees waned, but Sharpscale caught her before she could tip over.

"T-Thanks," she muttered, wheezing for air.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah! N-No problem!" she lied. "Heh! W-Who am I kidding? It's...like a pack of elephants are trampling all over me!"

Byakuya's intended targets, Ichigo and Aaron, didn't budge an inch. Instead, they tightened the grip on their blades, daring the Captain to make another move.

"...Not even a flinch from my energy. It seems you two have gained strength," said Byakuya calmly. "I don't know how either of you reaquired the powers of a Shinigami, but you two should have just returned to the existences you led before. Recklessly throwing away your lives like this is simply foolish!"

"...We aren't throwing away our lives," answered Ichigo.

Aaron added, "We trained way too hard to be stopped by someone like you!"

"That's right! We'll defeat you and then go home with our friends."

"We aren't boasting either! We'll make sure that happens, Byakuya Kuchiki!"

Byakuya paused and wrestled to contain his anger. "...I thought I made it clear scum such as yourselves shouldn't think too highly of themselves!"

He receded from view in the blink of an eye. Though startled, Aaron and Ichigo didn't allow themselves to presume him gone for good. They backed into each other, mentally readying themselves for anything.

"D-Dammit! I knew pissing him off like that was a bad idea!" groaned Aaron.

"You steady saying it isn't gonna change anything though!" barked Ichigo.

"Y-Yeah, but that doesn't mean you keep on antagonizing the guy!"

"I-It's not like he's not gonna try to kill us if I start complimenting him, Higuchi!"

Aaron's whole face reddened. "I know that! Forget I said anything! Someone just tell me what that guy did just now!"

"I-It was Flash Step!" Rukia was quick to say.

"'Flash Step?!' No way! That was more like teleportation!" cried Kana. "W-Where'd he get off to anyway?!"

"Isn't that the million dollar question?!" said Aaron, gritting his teeth. "Tsk! This is like one of those cheesy serial killer movies where you're just waiting for the bastard to pop out and get you!"

While the others panicked, Ichigo stayed composed, took a deep breath and focused all his senses. This led him to not only realize someone was sneaking up on him but enabled him to block a lightning-quick attack from the rear. Byakuya's stunned expression matched those of everyone watching on.

"So, you said I think too highly of myself? I saw every step of yours, Byakuya Kuchiki!" Ichigo proudly declared.

Aaron blinked in astonishment. "W-Wait! Where the hell did he even come from?! I-I didn't see him coming at all!" Regaining his calm, he added, "Uh...g-good work, Kurosaki!"

Ichigo shoved Byakuya back with Zangetsu, putting the battle back at square one.

"...I see," remarked Byakuya after some deliberation. "You've improved more than I assumed."

Byakuya, so focused on Ichigo, failed to notice Aaron Flash Stepping behind him until it was too late. The dark-skinned Shinigami hastily capitalized, spinning like a top while swinging his blade. Sparks flew as Byakuya deflected blow after blow. Yet, it was clear to everyone Aaron was overwhelming him. Heeding this himself, he used Shunpo to gain some space, just as the teenager's wakizashi would have sliced his head clean off.

"Sorry! I don't usually cheap shot people like that, but I saw an opening and couldn't help myself!" said Aaron, unable to stop himself from beaming like a kid in a candy store.

Byakuya was nowhere near as amused. Scowling, he held his Zanpakutou close to his face. "...Ridiculous. Didn't I already say this whole, worthless struggle of yours was pointless? I do not have time to play with mere scum, so allow me to stop you two before you get too full of yourselves. I will show you what you can't compensate for with a thousand years worth of training: the decisive difference in our abilities."

"Man, this guy sure likes to talk," said Aaron casually.

"Tell me about it. If you're going to come at us, just do it already!" exclaimed Ichigo.

"W-Wait a moment! That stance…!" Sharpscale surveyed Byakuya, and the Hollow's anxiety tripled. "B-Be careful, you two! He is about to release his Zanpakutou again!"

"G-Get outta there, CT! Run!" cried Kana.

"Y-You as well, Ichigo! Please, before it's too late!" pleaded Rukia.

The two in question stood frozen in place as Byakuya began to say, "Scatter, Sen..."

A thick, white cloth suddenly wrapped itself around his sword before he could finish. Byakuya became even more floored when he pivoted his head and caught wind of a brown-skinned, black-haired woman crouching in front of him. She was holding the aforementioned cloth.

"You…!" cried Byakuya.

Juushirou Ukitake added, "Y-You're…!"

"N-No way! That's…!" added Arashi Mitarashi.

The three of them proclaimed, "Yoruichi!"

Yoruichi peered at the three in silence ahead of smiling and saying, "Well, isn't this a surprise? I didn't think I'd still be so popular after all these years!"

"'Yoruichi?'" repeated Rukia.

"Do you know her?" asked Hanatarou Yamada.

"N-No, but I've heard that name somewhere before."

"Wait, how come you know who she is, Arashi?" Kana asked her younger brother.

He never got the chance to answer since Byakuya said, "She's the former commander of the Secret Tactics Division as well as the ex-Captain of the Second Division. Yoruichi Shihouin."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Y-You're telling me she wasn't just some cat that lived with Urahara?!" said Aaron in shock. "I-I think I gotta sit down for a minute…"

"...I haven't seen your face in quite some time," Byakuya told Yoruichi. "It's been well over a hundred years since your disappearance. Everyone thought you had died."

"I-Incredible! So that really is the real Yoruichi Shihouin then!" said Arashi, bursting at the seams in excitement. "I-I've read all about her, but never did I think I would get to see her in the flesh like this!"

"You better go get her autograph while you have the chance!"

"D-Do you really think she'd give me one?!" asked Arashi, completely missing the fact that Kana was only joking.

"Wow! You're a total fanboy, aren't you?"

Ichigo leered at Yoruichi and said, "Did you come here to save us all? Thank you, but please, move aside. I have to defeat him."

"...'Defeat him?' ...Even with Higuchi's help, you're an idiot."

"Huh?"

Yoruichi flickered out of sight, and by the time the others tracked her down, she was already done piercing her hand through Ichigo's stomach. He lurched forward and got a final glimpse of Yoruichi before passing out.

"W-What the hell did you just do?!" cried Aaron. "Y-You didn't have to go that far!"

"Calm down, Higuchi." Yoruichi removed her limb from Ichigo and placed the orange-haired Shinigami over her shoulders. "...Unless you want me to strike you down as well."

As upset as Aaron was, he instinctively backed down upon realizing Yoruichi meant what she had said.

"...That was a tranquilizer, wasn't it?" asked Ukitake. "You're trying to save him, Yoruichi."

"'Tranquilizer?'" Aaron inspected Ichigo and determined he really was unconscious.

"Neither you nor Ichigo are ready to take on an opponent like Byakuya," said Yoruichi. "I don't care how strong the two of you have become. That's just a fact. Even if you don't want to admit it, I think you get it as well."

"F-Fine. We won't fight then." Aaron didn't think Ichigo or himself had any choice in the matter anyway. "What do you suggest we do then?"

"Our business here is concluded. We're leaving."

"Eh?! Just like that?"

"...Just like that."

"...What in the world are you two discussing? I will not allow either one of you to escape from here," stated Byakuya, taking a step forward. "I have long surpassed you in strength, skill, and speed, Yoruichi. You have nowhere to run to."

"Oho! When did you learn to talk so big, Byakuya? Think about it. Have you ever once beaten me at a game of tag?"

"...Shall we try one last game then?"

The two vanished right before Aaron's eyes. "G-Goddammit! Would everyone just stop doing that already?!"

Byakuya intended to get the jump on Yoruichi, but she beat him to the punch by reappearing behind him. Unfaltered, Byakuya sliced at the spot she stood. His eyes broaded when he got nothing but an afterimage. Yoruichi was nowhere near him now; in fact, she had gotten well past where Ukitake was and near the end of the bridge. She took pride in this, though the feeling didn't last long. Byakuya caught up to her at last and delivered a vertical slash to her torso. A cascade of blood ruptured from the wound.

"You can't escape me with that level of Shunpo."

Everyone held their breaths when Yoruichi slumped over and appeared to be done in. However, her body transformed into a mere sheet of cloth, and the real Yoruichi smirked as she stood at the heels of an utterly befuddled Byakuya.

"You can't catch me with that level of Shunpo, little Byakuya."

It was becoming hard for the others to keep track of Yoruichi. Now she was standing on top of a tall building above the bridge.

"Wait, what?!" cried Aaron. He found himself under one of her arms. "W-When did you even…?!"

"Three days!" Yoruichi proclaimed to Byakuya. "In just three days, I'll make both these boys stronger than you! Until then, your little fight here is postponed. If you want to follow us, you may, but the Goddess of Flash Yoruichi won't be caught so easily!"

One of her eyebrows heightened at the way everyone was gaping at her like they had seen a ghost. It then occurred to her they were actually scrutinizing something behind her. She whipped herself around to the massive shadow darkening everything in sight yet couldn't believe her eyes. A gargantuan wave of water was moments away from crashing down.

"Where in the hell did that come from?!" cried an aghast Aaron.

"...Is this another one of your tricks, Yoruichi?" inquired Byakuya.

"Nonsense! Even she isn't capable of something like this!" argued Ukitake.

Yoruichi was fast, but even she had to admit there was no outrunning a few tons of water. Rather, she turned back to the others and shouted, "G-Get inside the tower now! There's no way that bridge will hold up against something like that!"

"Tsk! You heard the lady! Let's go! Let's go!" cried Ganju Shiba. He forcefully shoved his companions inside of the Repentance Tower before taking a final glance at the incoming wave. "Y-You've gotta be kidding me! Why does so much messed up shit happen around here?!

"Q-Quit pushing! I think you're forgetting someone!" said Kana.

"What? Who are you...?" Ganju froze. Standing in place like her legs were stuck in glue was Rukia. "Seriously?! Hey, unless you wanna die, hurry up and get the hell over here already!"

It was no use. Rukia couldn't get her trembling legs moving. Fear had nothing to do with it though. Some unseen force was pinning her down.

"Hold on, Rukia! I'ma coming!" cried Kana.

Hanatarou nodded and added, "T-There's still time to save her!"

Arashi restrained them. "No! It's too dangerous! There's no point in you two dying as well!"

"Ganju, shouldn't we...do something?" asked Mayu timidly. Her brother held his head low and chose not to answer. "A-Are we really going to sit back at watch her die?! E-Even if we don't like her for what she did, isn't...isn't this a bit too cruel?!"

Aaron thought so. Without consulting her, he broke free from Yoruichi's grasp and dived toward Rukia. Right before the crushing water impacted the bridge, he wrapped his arms around her, shielding her with his own body. What happened to the two afterward was a total mystery; no one could make out much of anything, nothing alive anyway, in the settling waves of liquid and debris.

"D-Dammit! That stupid punk!" growled Yoruichi. She made a move to go after Aaron and Rukia, yet a stern-faced Byakuya impeded her path. "A-Are you insane?! In case you've forgotten, one of those people who may have just plummeted to their death is your sister!"

Byakuya gazed downward intently, but otherwise said nothing. It was hard to tell what was going through his head.

"CT! Rukia! Can you hear me?!" shouted Kana. Her voice echoed in the abyss below, but she got no reply.

"T-They're gone. They're really gone..." said Arashi numbly.

Hanatarou began to freak out at once. "W-We've gotta go after them! W-Why are we standing around like this?! Rukia...she...she's…!"

Like him, the others were too dazed and confused to suggest a plan of action.

"I-I'll go myself then!" he proclaimed. "There's no way she can be dead! That's...that's just not possible! It's just not…!"

Without warning, Ganju slugged him across the jaw, flooring him.

"W-Why you have to go and do something like that?!" shrieked Mayu.

Ganju paid his sister no mind. Rather, he stood over Hanatarou and said, "Don't you get it?! There's nothing you, or any of us for that matter, can do about the situation now! Even if those two survived the fall, there's no telling where they landed! Do you realize how big this place is?! We'd be searching for days, if not months! On top of that, everyone here is just itching to kill us! I know it sounds harsh, but for the time being, we have to take care of ourselves!"

Yoruichi wasn't sure whether to keep her attention on Byakuya or the two that had fallen.

"...He's going to be upset when he finds out what happened," she said, watching Ichigo sleep out of the corner of her eye.

"You won't have to worry about that or anything else for that matter. I will put an end to you right here and now," announced Byakuya.

"Sorry, Little Byakuya! Despite what just happened, nothing else has changed! I'll make Ichigo stronger than you in three days time, so until then, have some patience! If I were you, I'd worry about tracking down that sister of yours!"

"W-Wait just one moment, Yoruichi!"

The Goddess of Flash snubbed Ukitake when she sped off into the sunset.

"W-What in the world just happened?" Ukitake rubbed the back of his white hair and sighed. "...Don't worry about a thing, Byakuya. I'll have people from my squad track down your sister at once! She'll be alright, I promise."

With his white Captain's coat trailing the wind, Byakuya turned away from Ukitake and started walking away. "...Very well, but make sure you drag her back here when you do. There is still an execution to be had."

"Wait, where are you going?! What about the Ryoka? Aren't they the reason you came?"

"I've lost interest in them. Do whatever you please with that riffraff."

Ukitake frowned. "...He just does whatever he pleases, doesn't he?"

His thoughts shifted to Rukia and the young man who had risked everything to save her. Although he had his doubts either one of them could have survived such a fall, he held onto a small glimmer of hope they could be saved. If they were out there, he would find them. He promised to do so even if it killed him.

"Now then, just what do I do with all of them?" he asked himself as he met the eyelines of the Ryoka glaring at him.

#

The search for the Ryoka was a never ending job for those in the Seireitei. That included a group of weary yet willing recruits from the Ninth Division. Combing every side street and building, they didn't leave a single stone unturned. Despite this, there seemed to be no sign of their targets. These Ryoka, whoever they were, had a habit of popping up in a flash and disappearing soon after.

A surly, mustachioed Shinigami leading the group growled in irritation at this, though he quickly brightened up with a cheery voice nearby proclaimed, "There's no one suspicious over here, sir!"

"Alright! The rest of you hit up the streets over there, and make sure not to let anyone suspicious slip past you! Those damn Ryoka are tricky, so stay on guard!" he boomed. His men gave a salute and went to do as ordered. Their leader, meanwhile, peered at three individuals standing before him. "Good work! We should have those blasted Ryoka rounded up in due time! Anyway, I don't believe I've met you guys before. Are you new?"

Orihime, Uryuu, and Sasune, all wearing Shinigami robes, nodded.

"Yes! I just joined recently! My name is Inoue! Pleased to meet you!" said Orihime pleasantly and with a convincing salute.

Sasune, talking in the same bubbly tone, added, "And my name is Ishida! It is an honor to be working with someone of your esteemed caliber, sir!"

Uryuu wasn't so enthusiastic, mumbling, "...I'm Ishida. Nice to meet you."

Their leader raised an eyebrow. "How come you two have the same name?"

"No relation," Uryuu was quick to say. Sasune's face reddened.

"Bring on the Ryoka already, Boss! I'll pound them into a bloody pulp! Just lemme at 'em!" Tossing a number of punches at the air, Sasune added, "I'll butcher them all with my bare hands and bring back their bloody corpses before you!"

"Haha! Aren't you spirited? It's good to see a new recruit with so much passion for the job!" said the mustachioed Shinigami. He and Sasune shared some hearty chuckles.

"Um...i-isn't he sorta taking things too far?" whispered Orihime to Uryuu.

"Tsk! That idiot always takes things too far! ...I'll admit that he's throwing any suspicion on our true identities off at least."

"You shouldn't get ahead of yourself though, young man!" continued the Shinigami. "The Ryoka have been causing us tons of trouble, so I suggest you not lower your guard if you happen to run into them!"

Sasune nodded and fired himself up for battle. Uryuu thought his older brother was perhaps getting too into character.

The mustachioed Shinigami eyed Orihime just then and muttered, "Not bad..." He inched closer to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Say, want to come to my room tonight? You've probably heard of me! I'm Toshimori Umesada! This year, I'm the Twentieth Seat of the Ninth Division! It's sort of embarrassing to say, but I'm the strongest of everyone here! Don't worry! I know how to treat a lady, and…!"

He fell silent upon noticing he was no longer face-to-face with Orihime, but a scowling Sasune and Uryuu.

Growing upset, he asked them, "W-What is the meaning of this?!"

"Sorry, but Miss Inoue already promised to come to my room tonight, so as you can imagine, she'll be quite preoccupied this evening!" declared Sasune.

"S-She said nothing of the sort, you imbecile!" snapped Uryuu. He then cleared his throat, straightened his glasses, and smoothly told Umesada, "Considering how bad things have become with the Ryoka and the fact wartime exemptions were passed to deal with the threat, I don't believe now is the best time for a seated officer such as yourself to be asking out a subordinate."

Umesada looked ready to erupt like a volcano. "H-How dare an unseated Shinigami like you lecture me like that! I oughta…!"

"Umesada, sir! We've found no signs of suspicious activity over here!" shouted a Shinigami in the distance who was in the company of others. "Please give us our next orders!" "D-Damn! I'll be over there in a second!" Umesada turned back to Sasune and Uryuu. "Don't think I've forgotten about this! After all this is over, you punks are gonna feel my wrath!"

He ran off, and Uryuu stuck out his tongue. "Whatever. Of course, we won't be here when all this is over."

"Don't worry, Boss! We won't fail you!" said Sasune.

"Oh, put a sock in it already!" barked Umesada.

"Tsk. What a loser. Like Miss Inoue would ever give him the time of day."

"Impressive, Sasune. Even total strangers find you insufferable after a while," remarked Uryuu.

"...Why don't you put a sock in it too, Uryuu? Otherwise, I might end up capturing and bringing back one of the Ryoka after all."

"How honorable. Of course, neither myself or Inoue would mind if you turned yourself in. We'd get some peace and quiet for once."

"Alright, that's it! I'm gonna…!"

"Come on! No more arguing, you two!" Orihime got in between the squabbling brothers and shoved them apart. "We're doing such a good job blending in, so we shouldn't draw any attention to ourselves by fighting!"

"M-My apologies, Miss Inoue!" said Sasune with a prompt bow. "I promise not to let the third wheel accompanying us distract me any further!"

As much as Uryuu craved to lash out at his brother for the insult, he restrained himself for Orihime's sake.

"Thanks for saving from that guy, you two!" she said, beaming.

Blushing, Sasune sheepishly retorted, "I-It was no problem..."

"...I just don't like dealing with guys like that is all," muttered Uryuu, pushing his glasses up.

"Judging from how that guy didn't notice a thing, I'd say we sure did a good job of disguising ourselves!" stated Orihime.

"Yes, stealing some uniforms from a few hapless Shinigami was simply genius, Miss Inoue! Of course, I must admit that these robes are rather uncomfortable for a Quincy such as myself," replied Sasune, tugging at his clothing. "I can't believe these people wear this kinda stuff on an everyday basis. They must sweat in places I've never even heard of."

"...Do you have to say disgusting things every time you open your mouth?" asked Uryuu, sighing. "At the very least, you were right in saying we would blend in much easier, Inoue."

Orihime pulled out a small notebook and jotted something onto its pages. "Let's see, I got some information about the Repentance Tower from one of those Shinigami whose clothes we stole. It looks like we just have to keep heading the way we're going to get there. ...Kurosaki is probably already there, isn't he?"

Sasune, picking up on the concern on her features, replied, "D-Don't worry! I'm sure that guy is perfectly fine!"

Uryuu agreed. "We'd better hurry after him though. He'll likely screw things up if he rushes in alone."

"Heh. CT is more or less the same. Those guys are totally useless without us."

"You're one to talk, Sasune. It's amazing we've gotten anything done with you here."

"W-What was that?! You wanna come over here and repeat that, you son of a…!"

Uryuu chose not to indulge his brother in another argument and simply walked away.

"Coward! Come back and fight like a man!" roared Sasune. He became as quiet as a mouse and as red as a tomato after Orihime gazed at him curiously. "I-I apologize for that unsightly display, Miss Inoue! I haven't forgotten the matter at hand! We'll head for that tower where Miss Mitarashi and Miss Kuchiki are on the double!"

"Sounds good to me! Don't forget that I'm counting on you!"

She didn't pay it much mind as she strolled after Uryuu, but Sasune made a funny sounding squeal prior to falling over in pure delight.

"We should probably decide which squad we're in if someone asks. We have to be able to answer quickly."

"That's a good idea, Inoue," replied Uryuu. "Hm, I wonder..."

Still reeling from Orihime's words, it took Sasune a bit to notice he was being left behind. "H-Hey, wait for me, guys! I practically carry this group, so you can't leave without me!"

He tripped over his foot in his haste to catch up, and perhaps because of this, he didn't notice the individual literally phasing out of a nearby wall, one who had been observing them like a pack of lab mice the entire time.

#

Ice cold water dripped onto Aaron's face, awakening him. Piercing pain rattled through his skull, inducing him to sit up and clutch the spot.

"C-Cold..." he said, his teeth chattering. Though he wasn't totally wet, his clothing and skin were damp. It didn't help much that the room he was in was freezing despite a thick blanket covering him. "W-Where am I?"

The cramped area around him was dimly lit by a blazing torch on a stone wall, and there were various wooden barrels scattered about. Aaron stood and peered into one and found all sorts of pickled vegetables. Clearly, he was in some kind of storeroom, but the pair of straw beds, one of which Aaron had just gotten up from, told that it was presently being used as a makeshift bedroom.

It then hit him that there were indeed two beds. There was also someone else there with him.

"Rukia?!"

The thin woman was fast asleep and more importantly, unharmed.

"T-Thank goodness. Alright, Aaron. Let's try to remember what happened."

Most of it was a blur, but he recalled a lot of water, a lot of screaming, and then falling. How he and Rukia managed to survive such an ordeal made him scratch his head.

"Where in the world is this? Am I still in Soul Society?"

A wooden door behind him creaked open, spooking him. Then, a deep, masculine voice said, "You're in my home, kiddo."

Behind Aaron stood a scruffy, middle aged man. Two bangs from his unkempt, short, and black hair hung over his eyes, and he stood out like a sore thumb wearing a bright and blue kimono.

"You hungry?" he asked, holding up a tray of food. "Sorry. I was gonna have more ready for you to snack on, but you woke up in no time at all."

Cautiously, Aaron asked, "Who are you?"

"Me?" The man scratched at his thick beard stubble. "...Ain't that the million dollar question?" He held the food out toward Aaron, who silently stared at it. "Don't worry. I didn't poison it. It ain't much, but it should suffice for the time being."

Though still wary, Aaron nodded and began eating. His host wasn't kidding; the sole thing on the tray was a hard-looking loaf of bread and some cold soup. Nevertheless, he hadn't eaten in what felt like days. His stomach angrily rumbled, and even a pathetic meal such as the one before him looked positively scrumptious.

The scruffy man placed a cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and spewed jet black smoke from his lips. The throat-scratching vapor wafted over to Aaron, who was about to take a bite out of his bread.

"...What? I got something on my face?" the man asked when the teenager glared at him.

"N-No. I just hate that stuff," replied Aaron, fanning the smoke away.

"Heh. Is that so?" The man took another drag on his tobacco despite his guest voicing his displeasure. "You better eat before it gets cold. If you're worrying about your friend over there, don't. There's plenty more where that came from."

That bit of information was all Aaron needed to hear. He dug into his meal with reckless abandon, scarfing down bread and soup until his mouth was too full for him to fit anymore.

Swallowing, Aaron took the chance to breathe. "You still haven't answered my question. Who are you? And what's with this place?"

The man in the kimono blew out another stream of smoke. "...Like I said, this is my home. It ain't much, but it's all I have. As for my identity...I doubt it matters anymore. Still, I doubt a kid like you will be satisfied with that sort of answer, so call me Kagami. Kagami Meigi."

"Kagami? Right. I'm Aaron Higuchi."

The two shook hands.

"Don't worry. You're still in Soul Society, kiddo," Kagami assured him. "We're currently underneath the Seireitei right now."
"Are you talking about the sewers?! No way! There's a place like this down here?"

"...Let's just say this part is a bit...different. No one besides us knows it's here, which is exactly how I like it."

"...Why do you say that?"

Kagami took a moment to reply. "...Let's just say I'd rather people not find me."

Though curious, Aaron chose not to press the issue. "I guess you were the one who saved me and Rukia then. Thanks."

"Don't mention it. You two were lucky you came crashing down around here. Anywhere else and you might've been found by someone less...hospitable."

"W-Wait, how did you know everyone was coming after us?"

"I didn't. At least, not until you just told me." Kagami glanced at Rukia and added, "...Judging from how she looks though, I figured she had something to do with that execution everyone up there won't shut up about. Then, I just put two and two together. Looks like I was right. So, what are you supposed to be, kiddo? A knight in shining armor?"

"...Something like that. Things aren't going so well though. I've only saved one of the people I came here for."

Kagami extinguished his cigarette and made his way over to Rukia. Crouching down to her, he didn't say a word.

"Uh...is everything alright?" asked Aaron.

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing, kiddo. Old timers like me don't get to behold the face of a beautiful woman everyday, so I guess I was just enjoying the moment."

Though picking the most inopportune time to do so in Kagami's opinion, Rukia opened her eyes. They shot around in bewilderment before settling on the man hovering over her. They then dilated, and she let out a bloodcurdling scream as she got as far away from him as possible.

"W-Who are you?!" she demanded to know.

"R-Relax, Kuchiki! You're safe!" said Aaron.

"H-Higuchi?"

"That's right. You aren't in any danger." He glanced at Kagami and added, "Well, I think you aren't."

"...I take offense to that," said Kagami, curling his lips. "You hungry, sweetheart?"

"'Hungry?'" echoed Rukia. "No. I want to know where we are."

"We're underneath the Soul Society right now. This guy here says it's his 'home.'"

Noting Aaron's tone, Kagami stuck another cigarette between his lips and shook his head. "Tsk. I take offense to that too. You kids sure don't know how to appreciate a favor. Anyway, I noticed you call that girl over there Kuchiki, kiddo. Would she happen to be Rukia Kuchiki?"

"You know of me?" asked Rukia with an air of suspicion.

"Relax. I don't know you, but I do know your family. Lookie here. I'm in the presence of real nobility, ain't I? Sorry about the dreary surroundings. The food ain't much either, but it's better than nothing." Kagami headed for the exit but stopped as he reached the outside. "Oh, do make yourselves at home while you're here."

He closed the door behind him, and Aaron and Rukia leered at one another in silence for quite awhile. Both thought they might have still been dreaming.

"Higuchi, what's going on? Where are the others?" inquired Rukia.

Aaron shrugged. "Good question. I don't feel anyone else around but that Kagami guy, so they must still be back at that tower. I say we get out of here as soon as possible. Something about that guy out there rubs me the wrong way."

"I agree. Captain Ukitake was there with Ichigo and the others, so it's likely they're alright, but we should assume the worst nonetheless."

The two left from the same doorway Kagami took but were immediately met by a stone wall. There was a corridor to the left and one to the right. They couldn't tell where either of them led since it was so dark.

"It's freezing here," said Rukia. She crossed her arms to keep warm. "I suppose we really are down in the sewers then."

"At least it smells decent in here," joked Aaron.

"Indeed. Now then, which way do we go?"

Aaron, after some short consideration, opted on the left hallway, figuring he and Rukia could just turn back and go the other way if it lead to a dead end. As they moved, their footsteps bounced of the walls of the cramped passageway, being loud enough to wake the dead.

"A place like this shouldn't exist down here. It's probably man made," stated Rukia. "I doubt Soul Society even knows of it."

"Maybe that Kagami guy build it," retorted Aaron, checking around to make sure nothing sinister was trailing them. "Just how long does this thing go on for? I hope this isn't some sort of maze. Damn. We should've marked our progress in the beginning just in case."

Things grew silents between the two. Rukia began to lag behind since the cold, concrete floor was doing her bare feet no favors.

"Want me to carry you?" said Aaron just then. "You probably haven't had to move this much in some time. That tower you and Kana were in didn't seem too roomy."

"Thank you, Higuchi, but I'll make it. What you said is true, so I should try to get as much exercise as I can while given the chance."

"Sure thing. Say, speaking of that tower, how was Kana holding up in there? She's lost a lot of weight. Now that I look at it, you have too, Kuchiki."

Rukia's expression soured. "...Mitarashi has held up as well as you would expect for a person in her situation. We both have, I suppose. Even for a person as upbeat as her, a place such as that takes a toll on one's fortitude."

"Sheesh. It's that bad, huh?"

"I would be lying if I said it was easy, but that's just how things are for criminals like us. ...This is the price we must pay for our sins."

"You're not criminals!" snapped Aaron. His sudden outburst caused Rukia to jump. "S-Sorry. ...Sorry. I just...don't like the way you talk as if what you and Kana did was so bad. Kurosaki told me what happened when you gave him your powers. If it weren't for you, he and his entire family would be dead right now."

"...You flatter me, Higuchi. However, even if what I did was considered 'right' in your world, that is not the case in mine. I understood this the moment I became a Soul Reaper and even when I gave Ichigo my powers. That's why I'm perfectly fine with the hand I've been dealt. It may seem cruel to you, but that's just the way things are."

"You're...pretty brave, Kuchiki. I doubt there are many who could say stuff like that with a straight face. Still, I think you're wrong, and Kurosaki and I aren't apologizing for coming to save you and Kana. Soul Society killing you two for helping us out is just wrong no matter where it is."

"Fools. No one asked you to come save us in the first place," said Rukia bitterly, biting her bottom lip. Aaron was somewhat glad to hear some fire in her tone since she came off so nonchalant about her circumstances for the most part. "If you and Ichigo were smart, you would've lived out the rest of your days in your world in peace."

"Now you're starting to sound like your brother. Actually, you sound a lot like my older sister too. Yeah, all of you probably have a point. It would have been easier for Kurosaki and I to stay put. Still, I'm just not the kind of guy to sit back and do nothing while a friend is in trouble. I think Kurosaki is more or less the same."

Rukia peered at his grinning face and tried to glean something out of it, something that would explain his optimism.

Before she could, she and Aaron at reached the end of the pathway. Awaiting them was a huge room, a larger one that they would have expected in a place like this. There wasn't much in it despite its size, though a fireplace was roaring in the center, while a couple of wooden chairs were scattered about.

They spotted Kagami Meigi near a life-sized training dummy, and he was unloading a flurry of sword strikes into it. His katana glinted in the light of the fire as he chopped the helpless dummy into pieces.

"...Damn. I gotta make these things out of stronger stuff," he muttered, blowing out a cloud of smoke and crouching down to the dummy's remnants.

"That was pretty good!" said a clapping Aaron.

"Eh? Oh, it's only you, kiddo. Don't scare an old man like that. You almost gave me a heart attack. Anyway, are you two sure you're in any shape to be moving around?"

Aaron ignored the question and made his way over to the man. "You've got some nice moves. I couldn't even see some of them to be honest."

"Neither could I. Still, I believe I recognized a few," said Rukia.

Kagami, taking another hit of his cigarette, replied, "...Is that so?"

"Uh...we hate to get going so soon, but there's something we need to care of right now. It's kind of urgent," explained Aaron.

Rukia bowed and added, "Thank you for your hospitality. We won't forget this."

The two started to leave, yet they halted in their tracks when Kagami uttered, "...You know, I don't mind you going if you feel you're up to it. Even so, if you go back up there right now, the two of you will only die. I say that with absolute certainty."

Aaron, slightly offended, said, "...What are you talking about?"

Kagami eyed the wakizashi resting in Aaron's hilt. "Look, kiddo. Don't take it personally. I can tell you and your girlfriend here are quite strong. You must've noticed it yourself though when you were out there fighting."

"Wait, how did you know what he's been doing? Have you been spying on him?" asked Rukia, her eyelids narrowing.

"...That's not important," replied Kagami, smoothly avoiding the topic. "In your current states, neither of could help yourselves, let alone anyone else. In order to beat a guy like Byakuya Kuchiki, you're going to have to get at least ten times stronger."

"H-He even knows about your brother." Aaron shook his head and felt he was missing something here. "...Alright, just who are you? How do you know so much about us?"

Kagami went over to a close-by ash tray and put out what little remained of his tobacco. Dozens of bent cigarettes rested there, and Kagami was already hankering for another. He patted himself down yet groaned when he couldn't find a fresh pack.

"I must've left it around here somewhere. Dammit," he mumbled to himself.

"I-I believe he's ignoring us," said a frowning Rukia.

"If you're trying to hide something from us..." began Aaron testily.

"Relax, kiddo," Kagami was quick to say. "I may have holed myself up in these sewers longer than even I can remember, but that doesn't mean I don't have an ear to what's happening above me." He sat in one of his chairs and stretched his weary shoulders. "...Listen, I think you kids have potential. You sort of remind me of me when I was younger. That's why I'm trying to stop you from throwing away your lives by rushing back onto the battlefield. You should at least take the time to prepare yourselves. I don't think you understand what you're up against."

He picked up his sword and twirled it around as he waited for a reply. Aaron and Rukia stood by, both unsure what to think or say. There was no time for them to train. Ichigo and others needed their help as soon as possible.

Kagami focused on Rukia. She in turn began to sweat and felt like she was being silently interrogated.

"Y-Yes? Is something the matter?" she had to ask.

"...Something about you is bugging the hell out of me," replied Kagami, stroking his beard stubble.

"E-Excuse me?"

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean any disrespect," said Kagami casually, leading an irritated Rukia to believe he wasn't as apologetic as he would have liked her to think. "You know what? Forget it. It's probably my imagination."

"L-Look, I don't mean to be rude, but this isn't getting us anywhere," said Aaron.

"Fair enough. Let me get to the point then. Your girlfriend here appears to have lost her Shinigami powers. Care to explain?"

Rukia did not, hence why she turned away from him.

"Fine, fine. You don't have to talk if you don't want to. I brought it up because I figure you'll have a hard time helping these friends of yours without being a Shinigami. That's why I'm offering to restore your powers free of charge."

His claim left Aaron and Rukia astonished.

"H-How could you do such a thing?" asked a skeptical Rukia.

"That's easy. I'll just...dammit. Hold on a sec." Kagami fiddled with a rusty lighter that was refusing to ignite the cigarette poking out of the side of his mouth. "Cheap piece of crap. You kids wouldn't happen to have one on you, would you?"

"Sorry. My mom would kill me if she found me with something like that," said Aaron.

"You do realize those aren't good for your health, right?" stated Rukia firmly.

Seeing as how they would be of no help, Kagami tucked the stick of tobacco back into its box and scathingly murmured, "...Just great."

"You seem to go off topic quite a bit," said Aaron, becoming impatient.

"Yeah, yeah. I know you're in a hurry, kiddo. I don't know how your girlfriend over there lost her powers, but..."

"She's not my girlfriend. You keep saying that, but..."

"You want me to help you two out or not? Quit interrupting me already."

Aaron snarled under his breath.

"Good." Kagami smiled. "Now then, I don't know your girl...sorry...Miss Kuchiki here lost her powers, but it looks they aren't totally gone. That means that given some time, they would come back on their own. However, you two have plainly stated you don't have time for something like this, so we'll just have to speed things along."

He got up and sauntered over to an old, wooden chest. He blew the dust off of it before lifting the top and wadding through its contents. Various items, ones Aaron didn't recognize, flew over his head. One in particular nearly hit him in the face, though he caught it at the last second and thought it resembled some sort of ball. It was incredibly light and filled with some kind of liquid. He confirmed this by holding it up to his ear and shaking it.

"I wouldn't screw with that if I were you," warned Kagami.

"Eh? What do you mean?" asked Aaron. He discovered the hard way when the ball suddenly burst, covering him in a sticky, smelly, and red substance. "P-Paint? ...Fantastic."

Though Rukia tried, she couldn't hold back a snigger.

Kagami got a laugh in too. "Yeah, that was a combination paintball and dodgeball I was working on for the kids of Rukongai to play around with. I guess I forgot about it before I could work out the kinks. Don't worry. That stuff is non toxic."

That was the very last thing Aaron was concerned about. Kagami threw him a towel (which just so happened to be in the man's trunk too for whatever reason), and he wiped himself clean.

"You're an inventor then," said Rukia.

"Something like that. I'm nowhere near as good as my Boss though. Heh. Listen to myself. I meant ex-Boss."

Aaron and Rukia waited for him to elaborate, but he never did. Instead, he displayed a jar stuffed with red pills the size of golf balls.

"Soul Restoration Pills," he clarified. "You're going to take one, Miss Kuchiki."

A wary Rukia instinctively gulped and put her hand on her throat. It would take more than a single cup of water to wash one of the aforementioned items down, she thought.

"What do they do?" asked Aaron.

"Normally, when one loses their Shinigami powers, they have to go through a very trying and very dangerous ordeal to get them back."

"Y-Yeah. I can confirm that from personal experience..."

"Fortunately for us, Miss Kuchiki here hasn't completely lost her powers. These pills here will accelerate the rate in which her abilities return. To be specific, they'll return immediately. That's right, princess; you'll be a full fledged Shinigami again just like that."

"Well, it sounds easy enough." Rukia wavered as she hovered her hand over the jar. "...There aren't any side effects, are there?"

"They're harmless. Then again, it's been quite awhile since I tested them out on anyone. There's always the chance you'll grow a third arm or something."

Rukia gasped and jerked her limb back at once.

"It was a joke, princess," groaned Kagami. "I'm serious. You'll be fine."

"She'd better be. If this is some sort of trick..." said a grim-looking Aaron.

"Relax, kiddo. If I really wanted the two of you dead, I would've finished the job a long time ago instead of bringing you into my house and feeding you."

"...Fair enough."

Reluctantly, Rukia took a pill, stuck it into her mouth, and swallowed. Seconds ticked by afterward, though nothing happened. It led her to ask, "Does it have a delayed effect or…?"

Suddenly, she felt her body grow hot. As strange as that was, it was nothing compared to the fact she was glowing brighter than anything in Kagami's abode. Aaron shielded his vision as the light grew stronger with every passing moment.

"W-What's going on?!" he shouted.

"It's fine! It's fine!" Kagami replied. "If she hasn't exploded yet, it's going well so far!"

"'E-Explode?!' I thought you said those pills were harmless!"

"For the love of god, kiddo, it was a joke! Man, kids these days have no sense of humor!"

"I don't think now is a great time to be kidding around, you bastard!"

"Hey, there's no need for name calling..."

Aaron, ready to sock Kagami in the mouth, got the feeling he had met him before. No, that wasn't it. The scruffy man simply reminded him of someone else who had a bad habit of trying to be funny in inappropriate situations.

The dazzling light around Rukia dissipated, and she looked herself over, marveled at the black robes she was now wearing. Tucked into a brown sheath tied to her hip was a Zanpakutou.

"Holy…! I-It worked! You're really a Shinigami again!" declared Aaron.

There was no doubt about it. Rukia could sense power swelling from every fiber of her being. "I-I'd forgotten what this feels like! Incredible!"

"See? I told you kids you had nothing to worry about," said Kagami. "Alright, now that that's out of the way, there's one more thing that needs to be taken care off."

Aaron and Rukia weren't sure where he had gotten them from, but Kagami presented a pair of human-sized and roughly human-shaped dolls.

"They're called Tenshintai," he said, noticing their puzzled visages. "Wait, that was the name, wasn't it? Damn. It's been too long since I heard my Boss say what they were. Oh well."

"There he goes getting sidetracked again," whispered Aaron.

"He's remarkably absent minded," replied Rukia.

"I can hear you two, you know," said Kagami roughly. His embarrassed guests promptly piped down. "Good. You're probably wondering what these Tenshintai or whatever are, right? Of course you are. Let's just say you two will be able to reach a level unlike anything you've ever imagined with their help."

As cryptic as his talk was, Aaron and Rukia had to admit that it was also intriguing. Now they really hungered to learn the secrets of the Tenshintai.

END