Gin's face was tight as he made his way down the empty fifth division hall. The shadows clung to his frame and his footsteps were silent as he moved, still unnerved by the genuine smile he had seen on Aizen before he left. He paused, glancing towards the flickering candle that illuminated the far end of the wall and clenched his firsts in the safety of his overhanging sleeves, a frown tugging at his lips. Ichigo had drawn too much attention to himself, was too interesting of a specimen to someone like Aizen. He hardened his resolve against it, knowing that he would have orders to follow and had to see the kid as just another one lost to the cause, even if Matsumoto's devastated face was something he had to witness in the future.

He was falling, falling, falling! Ichigo jerked, eyes snapping open as he watched the ground approach at a breakneck pace. A scream caught in his throat, and just as he felt the impact, was forced from his lungs as he cratered the ground. His vision blacked out for a moment, and he found himself on his side, coughing and gasping, the noises barely audible over the ringing in his ears. Slowly, his blurry vision began to sharpen, and his lungs burned less with the added air. His back ached from the collision and he barely managed to take in his surroundings. Smooth glass was under his palms and he carefully tilted his head up, looking around at the vertical clouds. Gravity took over and he felt his stomach bottom out as he began to fall again. Another scream escaped his mouth and he flailed, swinging his arms in a desperate attempt to right himself and perform a miracle.

Strong arms grabbed him from behind and propped him back up. "Oi calm down! Yer not falling!"

Ichigo blinked, the hammering of his heart making his whole chest pound. He knew that voice. He twisted his neck around, straining to look up at the shadowed figure behind him. Ichigo stood up straight, oblivious to how he was no longer falling in the sideways world. Shafts of light peaked past the clouded sky and illuminated the white clad figure in front of him. He gasped; it was like looking in an inverted mirror.

"Woah!" A smile stretched across his face and he flung himself towards the figure who looked like him but had his brother's voice.

"Onii-san!" His arms wrapped around his neck and a large smile grew on his face at finally being able to see him. "You're finally here!" Because it couldn't be anyone but him.

"Oi! Oi!"

Ichigo ignored his startled exclamations and laughed, his small body shaking with the gesture. Arms tentatively hugged him back, warmer than he thought they would be. Their grip tightened and he wiggled, adjusting himself so he could breathe easier. Ichigo pulled back slightly, wanting to see his face but frowned at the expression his onii-san had on. His brows were drawn tight as if in pain, and his lips were pressed together tightly. Golden eyes focused on his briefly before he felt his face shoved into the crook of a white neck. The arms around him tightened further and Ichigo stilled, a sense of foreboding filling him.

"Onii-san?" His voice was quiet and unsure, but he hugged his elder sibling back just as vigorously. He wanted him to know he would always be there for him, even if he didn't understand what was wrong. Something wet landed on his cheek and he tried to move his head up to look but his brother wasn't budging.

"You're gonna be okay."

Ichigo blinked, confused but nodded. "Of course. I have you with me!"

"Tche, stupid brat." His older brother grumbled into his hair and Ichigo pouted, his hands yanking at the white shihakusho.

"Don't be mean you jerk!" Ichigo gave another tug and felt silky strands tangle in his fingers.

"Son of a bitch ow!"

Ichigo laugh turned into a squeak as he was dropped. His brother was scowling at him and rubbing his head to relieve his aching scalp.

"Che, shoulda known you'd be so much trouble." The grumble was half hearted and Ichigo was positive his older brother meant nothing of what he said. He laughed at his obvious attempt at sounding cool and launched himself back towards the voice that always guided him. A long suffering sigh was let out by his bleached twin but he didn't fight the hold he was wrapped up in. They were quite for a bit, enjoying each other's company before Ichigo jerked and looked around.

"Wait, where are we?"

A hand smacked him on the back of his head and he winced at the volume of his brother's response.

"This is how you get yourself into trouble you idiot!"

As soon as Unohana approached the 12th division brigaded doors, they opened before she even had a chance to pause. Her smile was nowhere to be seen even as a part of herself felt a sense of satisfaction at their fear. She knew Kurotsuchi was well aware of her past, she hadn't stopped him from digging when he had first joined the division. After all, now she had leverage over him, knowing full well what her smile could do to a man that knew her bloody past. To ensure his silence on the matter, only a glance was needed, and he had understood, sealing her file and never speaking of it to anyone ever again. He was arrogant, selfish, and underhanded, but he was still a genius and knew when not to push too far. Her case just happened to be the first he refused to speak of.

Unohana hummed to herself in the dark hall, unphased by the smell of chemicals and the occasional whiff of decay. The low hum she used echoed in the concrete building quite well, and the dim fluorescent lights only highlighted the sinister smile she gave to a passing camera. She could feel the still air thickening as her measured steps grew closer to the main lab, her even footsteps just barely audible, like war drums on the horizon. Unohana knew full well how to keep herself silent, but sometimes the slightest noises could cause even the more dimwitted animals a sense of caution. Kurotsuchi was neither an animal nor dimwitted and she planned on using that to her full advantage. His mind would be racing as fast as his heart by the time she met him.

"Mayuri-kun" Her voice was low and her smile stretched slightly further as she spoke to the door. It was opened in less than a second my Nemu, the woman keeping her gaze low and away from her face as she bowed and gestured her inside.

"Thank you, dear." She kept her face even as she saw the hairs on the woman's arm rise. Her eyes swept across the lab, idly taking note of various monitors and notes scattered about before she laid her gaze on the captain, his posture hunched over a screen and his fingers moving in a rapid pace.

"Wait there, you came unannounced." His voice was harsh and he didn't turn towards her, but she smiled and nodded knowing it wasn't going to be seen. Unohana tilted her head to the side slightly and resumed her humming, tucking her hands into her sleeves and watching in satisfaction as his fingers trembled minutely. A moment later he paused and cursed under his breath before spinning around to face her, his eyes narrowed in a show of hatred even as she saw the underlying fear he tried to hide.

"What is it woman?" He crossed his arms, face contorting in annoyance.

"Mayuri-kun, I was hoping to collaborate with you." Her smile was as pleasant as always but she trained her eyes on his jugular for a single second, letting him know she would not be taking no for an answer. She saw when he swallowed, noting that his throat had tightened with how slow his Adam's apple was to rise again.

"And just what could you possibly need from me?" He looked away from her, playing it as brushing her off with a wave of his shaking hand. Prey knew when to run, but Mayuri was cornered by something he couldn't escape.

"My grandson you see," and here she paused, letting it sink in that she held someone dear to her heart. "He's sick, reiatsu unbalanced, and I fear without proper information his situation will worsen." It was silent for a moment, only the hum of fans and occasional chirp of a monitor dared to break the silence. Behind her, she could feel a spike of fear and she turned, smiling at the frozen Akon in the doorway, a file held loosely in his hand. At the top, pinned neatly with a paperclip, was a picture of Ichigo, his smiling face tipped up towards the sun in childish joy.

"Oh, I see, you're prepared after all." Her voice was steady, it wasn't like she didn't know he had an interest in her boy, but this only added fuel to the fire. Akon opened his mouth but was unable to say a word even as a cold sweat broke out across his forehead. She glanced away, doing him the favor of completely ignoring the 3rd seat. Her reiatsu buffeted her ever so slightly and she pinned her flashing eyes on Mayuri, smile widening to show her teeth. Under it, the captain's spirit squirmed like the pinned bug he was.

.

.

.

Where Have I been?

A couple of you have asked what's taking so long so let me begin *ahem*

1. I had finals and finally graduated uni (woo!)
2. I got covid right after for the first time (it beat my ass)
3. Spent the time after with family and moved to full time work at my current job.
4. Got sick and turns out long covid is a thing for me so I was constantly tired and it took a few weeks. Still recovering from it all.
5. We got hit by a hurricane and I was without power or internet for a while. I didn't even have phone signal.
6. The long covid symptoms strike again.

So, now I'm here. Looking for a job that fits my field while trying to motivate myself to move. At least I can still read fanfics, writing on the other hand was way harder to do. Random headaches and dizzy spells didn't really do it for me. On the bright side, I can now describe these better for writing purposes.

Now as far as updates, they may be more random and less consistent so please bare with me.

Thanks for everything!