A dead woman lay by the banks of a river. And over her, there stood a Hollow.

Approaching this scene, Kujaku Kuchiki glanced around uncertainly. Rain came pouring down, swelling the canal, although it didn't make a sound. All the same, no one else here moved.

Whose dream was this?

Nobody seemed familiar. Certainly not the Hollow, a great green shaggy thing whose pelt was untouched by the rain. And the lady had fallen face-down, so he couldn't see her face. Blood leaked out to stain the puddles beneath her.

Uttering a loathsome chuckle, the Hollow suddenly bent lower, the lure dangling from its mask retracting back into its fount. Watching, the dream mage couldn't help but shudder at what he knew must come next. He wanted to call out for help, stop this from happening somehow.

Just as he thought this, a blue bolt of energy shot across the river, forcing the Hollow to leap back with a snarl of thwarted rage.

To Kujaku's relief, an old man in a tattered robe followed. A blue bow made of spiritual energy held securely in one hand continued to train upon the beast. Gray-haired but steely-eyed behind his glasses, the archer walked across the river on thin air, his feet supported by disks that formed and disappeared at each step until he stood over the woman's body.

"You have taken more than your fair share," he told the Hollow.

At this the creature uttered a deep, echoing chuckle. Despite being reassured at the Quincy's presence, Kujaku couldn't help but shiver at this sound.

"There is no such thing," it uttered in a voice like stone grinding together. "If I want something, I take it." Crouched on all fours, the hairy Hollow sniffed the air like a dog, and then grinned, tongue lolling obscenely from its mouth. "And if more should come along to try and intervene, why, I'll eat them t–"

Quick as a flash the old man fired. A volley of blue arrows soared through the air, but the Hollow slid to one side, deftly sidestepping the attack. It then charged like an angry boar at its enemy, who turned adroitly to meet it, limber despite his age. The string was already drawn; there didn't seem any way he could miss at this range.

Right then the lure on the Hollow's huge head sprang out again. Something emerged from it that looked almost like a mannequin, or a doll. It had no features. But for some reason when he saw it, the Quincy froze. His face grew white with horror and disbelief.

"Darling?" he whispered.

Whatever he had seen, Kujaku clearly couldn't, no matter how hard he looked. But all too visible were the red claws that sprang from those stubby fingers intent on skewering the valiant old soul.

"LOOK OUT!" the dream walker screamed in spite of himself, knowing all too well it made no difference. This was a memory dream. He couldn't influence the actions; only observe them.

But to his relief, something did happen. Out of nowhere a figure he hadn't noticed 'til now sprang forward with a wild cry, swinging a curved spear as he did. His target was the hanging lure. However perhaps owing to the fact that he had announced his presence, the Hollow was able to jerk its head aside in time. Still the blow connected, and there came a pained roar.

Kujaku watched with renewed anxiety. The Hollow had scrambled back to regard them with narrowed red eyes. The talons of its hand lay severed and bleeding on the ground. The person responsible for this rose up with a frown, draping his weapon over one black-robed shoulder. Kujaku's heart soared as he recognized the uniform of a shinigami, though somewhat antiquated, not sleek and modern like he was used to seeing. It looked more like the kind his father wore.

Rubbing his bald head, the death god spat impolitely. "Peh! Damn; thought I had you for sure there."

"And you even tried sneaking up on him," a new voice sang. "Just like they taught us at the Academy!"

They were then joined by another shinigami who came sauntering over, although this one was so pretty he seemed weirdly out of place in this grim locale. He had an orange collar attached to his sleeve with tags, and there were actual feathers woven into his eyebrows. This new fighter strolled into the battlefield as though someone so outrageous belonged there by right, stopping a few yards away to regard them with a lazy smile and hand resting on his unsheathed blade.

"Noble death gods," the elderly Quincy spoke up, executing a short bow while readying his weapon once more. Whatever spell had been cast on him appeared to no longer be active. "Paltry though my efforts may be, please allow me to assist you in disposing of this monster."

At his speech both shinigami shared a look. The pretty one chuckled and ran a hand through his silky black hair. "Ah, pardon me, old-timer, but that's not how we do things in our division. Ganging up on an opponent, even one as utterly hideous as that…" He flicked a glance at the crouching Hollow, wrinkling his noise as though detecting a foul odor in the air. "Well, it's simply not beautiful, understand?"

The archer seemed taken aback. "But surely together we…!"

"Hey, gramps!" the bald one growled, slapping the haft of his spear into his free hand with a sharp smack while never taking his eyes off the Hollow. "You're in the way. We've been tracking this guy for a solid week! He's worth a buttload of cash, and I ain't gonna let that much bounty slip through my fingers now, y'hear?!"

Watching this altercation, Kujaku couldn't help but wonder why they were arguing. Surely the old man had a point. The Hollow seemed wary at being confronted by three opponents, certainly not as confident as before. Its eyes drifted between them and the corpse of its latest victim as though debating whether it was worth the risk of staying to duke it out. Maybe that mesmerizing trick it used only worked on one person at a time? If they all fought together, it couldn't possibly…

It seemed the beast had reached that conclusion too. With one final backward glance it turned and sped off.

"HEY!" the bald shinigami exclaimed indignantly. "He's doing a scarper! Yumichika, move it!" And he took off in pursuit.

Already drawing a bead on the fleeing enemy, the Quincy reared back in surprise as a hand came down on his bow. "Mm-m!" the pretty spirit wagged a finger in condemnation. "No interfering. This is his fight, understand? You can follow, and if we lose, then it's all yours. Until then, no fireworks." Purple eyes narrowed in what might have been an implicit threat. "Got it?"

Blinking, the old archer let out his breath before allowing his bow to dissipate. "Yes, honored shinigami. I shall do as you instruct. Please excuse me now." So saying, he summoned his floating technique and soon sped across the sky fast as one of his arrows.

Back at the sight of the brief battle, only Kujaku and the handsome death god remained. The latter rubbed a finger beneath his nose and sniffed before turning his attention to the dead woman. Crouching beside her, he examined the body for signs of life, and finding none, let out a heavy sigh.

"Such a waste," he murmured.

At this point something occurred to Kujaku. If the lady was already dead, where was her soul? Had the Hollow eaten it beforehand? But then… why did he stick around?

It was only then did he notice the boy lying beneath her, half-hidden by the corpse and covered in her blood. Even like this, there was no mistaking that orange hair.

Suddenly Kujaku knew whose dream this must be, and he felt deeply ashamed.

Perhaps as a result of this, the imagery began to fade abruptly around him. Before it did, though, he saw the shinigami reach a hand into his robe and emerge with a cellphone. Pressing some buttons, he brought it to one ear and waited patiently. Then his eyes brightened.

"Hello, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou? This is Yumichika Ayasegawa from the Eleventh. Regarding that deal we made, I just ran across what I think might be a Quincy, so if your putrid parent is still interested…"

Everything faded into whiteness, and Kujaku came awake to feel himself being shaken.

"Shotoku! Wake up!"

He looked up to find his father kneeling anxiously beside his bed. Blinking, the teen sat up. At seeing this, Ichigo let out a shaky sigh and leaned back. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Jaku nodded. "I was dreaming."

"I know. But you were thrashing around and making these sounds, I thought…" Ashen-faced, his distraught parent passed a hand over his eyes. Then he stood up.

"Sorry. I just worry."

So saying, he left the room, looking back as the door closed behind him. "Sweet dreams, okay, kiddo?"

Feeling more tired than before he actually went to bed, Kujaku could only nod in response. He settled back down on his pillow, gazing up at the ceiling. For him to have seen that dream… should he feel bad? But there was no way to control it. Not yet, at least.

Fortunately, the rest of the night held only peaceful rest for him.

When Ichigo slipped carefully back under the covers, he heard Rukia ask, "Everything alright?"

"I don't know." For a while he just stared at the ceiling, then turned to look at her. "Should we be doing more? I think it might be getting worse."

"Mmm." Apparently she was only half-awake. "Isane says… they're both fine. Nothing's… wrong." And she yawned before flipping over to drape an arm across his chest comfortingly. "Just go back to sleep."

His fingers twined gently around hers in search of comfort. Rukia had never shared his concerns about these dream journeys their son took. They had spoken about it at length several times. But if he could only make her see…

"I know why we decided not to before," he spoke carefully, feeling his way across what he knew was dangerous ground. "But do you think we should ask someone besides Isane to look at them? I can't believe I'm saying this, but… Urahara might–"

"No."

Nothing sleepy about the way she said that. Still, he persevered. "Not him specifically, and definitely not Kurotsuchi. But what about Akon? He's always seemed reliable."

Rukia pulled her hand free, flipping around to face the wall. "I won't have anyone from the Bureau examining our children."

They didn't say anything more after that. There was no point. The matter seemed to be tabled for the time being. Ichigo could understand her resistance to the idea. Heaven knows the thought of Mayuri Kurotsuchi or Kisuke Urahara taking an interest in his kids sounded like a nightmare on its face.

But Kujaku's escapades in dreams were only increasing. He seemed to spend as much time asleep as awake lately. The school had called more than once about him drifting off in class, sometimes so heavily even the teacher got worried. There had to be something they could do about this.

This is my son we're talking about. He can't sleepwalk through his life. Not like me. And if Rukia doesn't understand how I feel, then I might have to do something about it on my own.

Sand slid beneath her feet, nearly causing her to fall down a dune. But Hiruko kept walking.

The eleven-year-old had no idea where she might be or how she had gotten here. Most likely this was a dream. No surprise there. Only now, she had something to go on. A small orange glow in the distance indicated a fire, and that could mean people. As it turned out, she was right.

"The story of how we first met! So anyway, there I was…"

A loud, happy voice accompanied by laughter carried to her on the wind. Her short legs quickened their pace.

"… surrounded by a dozen mean bastards…"

"You said it was only four."

"Four, a dozen, what's the difference?"

Ignoring a muttered comment of 'Eight,' the speaker resumed his tale with gusto. "My back to the wall, the stolen gold tucked under my arm, I was prepared to lay them all low, when suddenly someone said, 'Mind if I join in?'"

In a short time, Hiruko could make out a bonfire with what looked to be three people around it. Two of them were normal enough. They wore the reassuring attire of shinigami, something she knew well by now. The third, however, made her leery about approaching. He was a giant, absolutely enormous. Despite this, the huge fellow let out great booms of cheerful mirth that made her think he must be friendly.

"I turned around…" Leaping up, the bald fellow then demonstrated. "… and there he stood! Unarmed, smiling at me, smelling like a bordello, with feathers in his hair. At first, I thought he was a woman! But then I caught the look in his eye, and I knew… knew, uhh…"

The giant noticed her at the same time as the storyteller. He bent down and whispered in a rumble to his compatriots, and they all watched as she approached. Trying to appear confident, Hiruko came over and sat on what looked to be a petrified log of some kind. She held out her hands to the fire, glad for the warmth it offered.

For their part, the three shinigami appeared mystified by her appearance. They glanced at one another and shrugged. Finally the smallest of them, a lank-haired little fellow with big eyes, leaned over to catch her attention. "Hello, little one," he said kindly. "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

At this the bald hatchet-faced man snorted and threw back a jug of liquor. Wiping his mouth with a laugh, he nudged the giant's leg with his elbow. "Waddaya think, Jidanbo? She some kinda Hollow bait, sent to lure us in?"

The great muscle-bound fellow reached down and idly flicked his comrade in the head, earning him an angry glare. Out loud he said, "Our guest is a human, Ikkaku. Nothing more."

"Oh." Ikkaku seemed to muse on this, then grinned like a shark. "Oi, kid!" he called, and when she looked at him, he held out the gourd. "You wanna drink?"

"No, she does not!" the small death god yelped, leaping up and snatching the offered alcohol. He took a belt himself, shivered with a gasp, then turned back to Hiruko wearing a friendly smile. "You don't have to worry. You're safe now. We're…" and he indicated around the campfire, "… shinigami. We'll protect you."

That was reassuring. "Okay," she said.

"Back to the story." Ikkaku resumed his tale, indicating for Hiruko to join in, which she did. "I could tell his blood was up, just like mine! I'd never seen anyone so excited to get in on a fight before. And without a second thought I answered, 'Hell yeah, man! And if we win, I'll split this here gold with you on drinks!' And he looks at me and says, 'Well, aren't you beautiful'."

Wearing a satisfied and somewhat crazed grin, he flopped back down. "And then we beat all their asses."

Now in better company and no longer quite as cold, Hiruko decided this must be one of her weird dreams. They happened sometimes. She was never quite sure where she'd end up. Her brother Kujaku said in times like this, she should try to find out as much as possible, so the lost child plucked up her courage and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"It's an anniversary," the short one explained.

"We are celebrating the date of a friend's death," Jidanbo added with a reflective rumble. He then raised his kiddy-pool-sized dish, and the other two did the same. They quaffed their liquor, letting out great bellows of satisfaction afterwards, which made Hiruko laugh. At this Ikkaku again offered her a drink, which caused his tiny partner to scold him severely.

"Ah, lighten up, Hanataro." Ikkaku reclined on one side, scratching his stomach. He then brightened as an idea seemed to occur to him. "Oi, sweetheart!" he called out to Hiruko merrily. "How's about you pour us three handsome warriors our drinks, eh?"

"A brilliant idea!" Jidanbo boomed. "Saké tastes better when a lovely lady serves it." He smiled warmly at her, his cheeks bright red and face practically glowing with good cheer.

"Lovely?" The compliment pleased Hiruko. She always felt her hair was a mess and her eyes were too big.

"Indeed! You are a beauty, to be sure!"

"And we can tell her stories as payment," his bald friend added when Hanataro seemed about to pipe up in protest. "Nothing wrong with that, right?"

After further discussion, they finally agreed that this was alright. Feeling proud to be included, Hiruko happily did as they bid, sharing out drinks from ceramic flasks into their dishes and obediently following Ikkaku's instructions about how to pour and bow afterwards. Jidanbo's cup was too big to fill, but he had a large barrel nearby from which he dipped a ladle, and he permitted her to add a small amount, chuckling good-naturedly at how earnestly she concentrated so as not to spill a drop. And when no one was looking, Hiruko would sneak herself a tiny sip. It made her cough, but she liked how warm the liquor made her head feel.

"Let's see now, what next?" Rubbing his chin in reflection, Ikkaku then slapped his shin violently. "So there's this shinigami fellow, right? We're kicking his ass, when all of a sudden, he uses shunpō to get behind us. Must've been the first one we ever met, cuz I remember being really surprised at how fast he moved. But then…! He's got behind us, and we're totally exposed, y'know what he does then?"

"He starts boasting." Hanataro shook his head, chuckling.

"YES! He's all like, 'Such a pity you country bumpkins…' something or other. But before he can finish, WHAM! Without turning around, Yumi elbows him right in the face!"

Here Ikkaku demonstrated, coming back to his audience wearing a tooth-blazing grin. "The guy goes staggering back, and he straightens up and then… and I'm not making this up, he looks at us and goes…" He adopted a solemn expression, lifting his chin to sniff haughtily. "'I suppose no one ever told you louts… swords… they're stronger when you use two hands.' And then he…"

A bout of drunken giggling came over him, and with an effort he managed to gasp out, "… takes… one hand, his free hand…" Ikkaku lifted his left hand and waggled it demonstratively. "And he… slowly, like he's thinkin' real hard 'bout what he's doing… he takes it, and he puts it… over the hand that's holding his sword! And the two of us look at each other, and we just CRACK UP!"

At this he started laughing so hard there was no choice but to join in. Another gulp of booze found its way down Hiruko's throat during the distraction, and soon enough she couldn't help but laugh as well.

Finally Ikkaku caught his breath enough to continue. "Because seriously, have you ever heard anything so dumb? Like he thought he was revealing the secrets of the universe to us! And I'm like, 'Oh, no! Not the mythical TWO-HANDED sword style!" And Yumi's like, 'That technique has been forbidden for centuries! But now he's unsealed it! HOW WILL WE SURVIVE?!' And we're howling fit to burst!"

He winked at Hiruko, who had sat down and now listened with a rapt look on her face. She smiled back in a way that made him feel pleased with himself. "Long story short, we bent him over backwards and shoved his head up his ass so's he could sniff his own farts easier."

"Language, please," Hanataro warned. Taking a sip of alcohol, he gazed up at the starless sky, where a great gibbous moon hung. "You know, come to think of it, he was the only officer from the Eleventh that I never saw in the healing huts. Well, except for that business with Rukia-chan's execution, and that had more to do with his appearance. The firework Ganju hit him with didn't do much damage, but it messed up his hair, and he declared that he couldn't allow any of the lower-seated officers in his division to see him in such a condition."

"I remember that," his bald comrade laughed. "He looked ridiculous! I popped my stiches laughing."

"And even then, he absolutely refused to let any of us touch him, or perform healing of any kind." With a sad shake of his head, little Hanataro returned his attention to the fire. "The Eleventh were always such a handful for us to deal with. But where would we be without each other?"

Here Jidanbo stirred, his pronounced features growing contemplative. "That bond will soon be reaffirmed before long, if Captain Zaraki's assessment is correct."

"No doubt." Lifting his head, Ikkaku sniffed as though scenting something on the wind. "War's on the way. It won't be long now! We'll get the go-ahead before too soon, and then it'll be a full-scale assault on the dead zone."

"I wish I could be there…"

"HA-HA!"

All three shinigami turned in surprise toward the little girl sitting on a log. She looked from one to another with a great big smile on her face. Cheeks flushed, weaving back and forth slightly as though unable to find her balance, she suddenly fell to her knees, the empty saké flask rolling across the sand.

"Little miss, here, let me take that from you," Hanataro spoke solicitously.

He reached for the flask, and Hiruko yanked it back, then proceeded to lead him on a merry chase around the fire, darting nimbly if somewhat drunkenly out of reach. The other two roared at this spectacle and egged them on, causing the spindly medic to fume in exasperation. At last he managed to catch her by the wrist.

"Alright, now just…"

As he did, the girl twisted suddenly, pushing back against him to knock him off balance. while at the same time grabbing his hand. She then yanked hard, sending the shocked shinigami flipping over her shoulder to land flat on his back where he lay blinking up at the sky.

Ikkaku's eyebrows rose. "Beautiful move, sweetheart," he complimented her.

At this she spun around to face him and proceeded to lose her balance, sprawling beside Hanataro. Hesitating, as though uncertain how her own body worked, the girl began to crawl carefully forward until she reached the wiry fighter, who watched her in bemusement.

Before he could even frame a question, tiny arms wrapped around his neck, and a big wet kiss was planted firmly on his hairless head.

"Love you, ya big bald lunk!" she crowed happily.

Ikkaku felt somewhat embarrassed at this display of affection, and managed to extricate himself from her grasp. Their little charge took no offense, merely laughed and curled up by the fire. At a gesture from Hanataro, Ikkaku consented to drape the robe he had on over her to keep the kid warm. They then spent several minutes discussing what to do about this odd little fugitive.

"Hey," Jidanbo pointed out. "She's disappearing."

Sure enough, when they looked over, Hiruko's body had started to fade. Moments later the straw blanket had settled gently on the ground.

The Three Heavenly Warriors could only puzzle over this occurrence. Eventually, though, they decided no harm had come of it, and presently returned to the reason for their being together. The drunken frivolities lasted long into the night, and by the time they disbanded to make their way home, all had forgotten about the mysterious visitor.

Poor Tosen…

He sat alone in the dark. And yet, at the same time…

Poor blind Tosen…

Kaname Tosen was never truly alone.

Chest bare, wearing only a set of silk trousers, the warlord of Nirvana maintained a rigid posture even while seated cross-legged on the floor of his chambers. He breathed in, savoring the feel of air entering his body, rich as always with potent spirit particles. It practically caressed him with every movement. Being blind, Tosen had always been sensitive to his environment in a way he suspected those encumbered with sight were not. Sometimes he wondered if even Lord Aizen himself could appreciate the world they inhabited to the same degree as himself.

Poor blind Tosen. Can't see a thing, and tells himself he's superior for it. Poor, poor Tosen.

The morning sun had just peeked over the mountains to bathe their world in golden warmth. He could tell by the subtle rise in temperature throughout this section of the palace. Having finished his meditations, Kaname Tosen rose and dressed himself. None of the servants were permitted to aid him in this task, or even enter his rooms. He had no wish to become soft. And for a true samurai, luxuries were kept to a minimum.

Poor Tosen. Nothing to do, so he goes for a walk. Can't see a thing…

Suzumushi slipped into the belt to hang securely at his waist. Now suitably attired, he headed out into the corridor.

… but I can.

It had been over a decade now since he became a Vaizard at Lord Aizen's command. From that day, Tosen was forced to deal with the mockery of his Inner Hollow. It whispered to him from one moment to the next, probing incessantly at what it considered to be his weaknesses, seeking to undermine his determination and break his confidence in himself and those he served.

But Tosen remained resolute.

Poor Tosen. Can't see the looks they give him. Doesn't know how much they hate him.

As he strode along, passing servants quickly moved out of the way and bowed humbly. Kaname did not speak to them. There was no need. He was a true shinigami, a loyal retainer in service to the Lord of all realms. And he made sure to impress this upon those who did not follow his example.

Poor Tosen. Poor blind Tosen.

Eventually he found his way to the courtyard. A platoon of guards waited there for him, formed into neat orderly rows. None spoke at his approach. No show of inspection was made. Instead their leader strode past them. "Come," was all he said. And they obeyed.

The patrol was conducted in impeccable fashion. They moved swiftly to investigate a potential rebel hideout that a captured soldier had insisted under torture could be found here. Even as they approached, however, Tosen could already tell they would find nothing. And sure enough, the area proved deserted. His squad mingled about the lush tropical arbor, watched by innocent local wildlife who had no idea of the peril represented by armed men.

Kaname himself remained in the center of what might have been a small campsite at some point in the past. He could detect traces of a firepit and the telltale signs of human activity. But nothing indicated any recent activity. They had been lied to. Again.

Poor Tosen. If only he could have seen the man's naked face, he would have known sooner.

But he had known. This was not the first time a captured rebel had endured unspeakable agony only to continuously offer resistance. Such a show of devotion might have been admirable were it not in service to a doomed cause. The remnants of Zero Squad, those who had not seen fit to bend the knee to their true Lord, remained at large in Nirvana. Lord Aizen had tasked Kaname with rooting them out and ending their token rebellion. It was a mark of trust his master placed in him that he did not allow any of the other captains to accompany these pursuits, so that none might question his authority out in the field. In this way, he kept Nirvana safe, just as he had the outer limits of the Rukongai back when he commanded the Ninth Division in Soul Society.

Poor Tosen. Poor blind Tosen, relegated to a meaningless task just to get him out of the way, so they don't have to look at him moping about.

Of course, the Lord of Heaven could have easily pinpointed those ragtag survivors and eradicated them in an instant. But such a thing was beneath the will of God. And so he entrusted this task to his most stalwart samurai, a man whom he knew was beyond reproach and could be trusted with such an important activity.

Out of sight, out of mind. Poor blind Tosen…

Tosen did not deign to use his Hollow helm on this outing. It would be foolish to rely on that dangerous power overmuch. Such terrible force should be reserved for when it made the most sense to use it. Always reserved, always carefully contained. He held himself to the highest standards.

Poor blind Tosen.

When Kaname had concluded there was nothing to be found here, he ordered a return to base. The soldiers obeyed without hesitation. They respected his decision. There was no point wasting time, after all. The journey was made in silence, with none of the mindless chattering and pointless argument that marked less disciplined bands. One need only remember the example put on by the Kenpachi, that egregious ogre, and his own slovenly uncouth subordinates. They caused rampant devastation to the Rukongai and its inhabitants on a regular basis, and yet the other captains and Central 46 never took Zaraki to task for it. Oh, they handed out a few warnings and light punishments here and there, but for the most part, nothing. It was believed that as long as the Eleventh won battles, they should be granted some leeway in terms of behavior pertaining to less martial pursuits.

How many crimes were overlooked for the sake of appeasing those odious barbarians? How many tears were shed by the innocent victims they took advantage of and left carelessly in the dust, bitter and frustrated at having no recourse to gain justice? Such crimes would never be overlooked under Lord Aizen's rule. The wicked had no shield to hide behind mighty enough to withstand the power of the Almighty. Those who abided by the law were not only allowed to live in peace, but given prosperity. And those who flaunted it, believing themselves deserving of leniency and special treatment for whatever piddling reasons they might imagine, were dealt with openly and assuredly.

Justice was served, sometimes at the end of a blade. He had carried out his duties secure in the knowledge that any blood shed was done swiftly, mercifully, and without malice. Tosen dispensed capital punishment only at the bidding of the one true ruler of Heaven.

Poor Tosen. Reduced to a feeble copy of Yamamoto, blindly serving his King.

A light meal had been set out for him upon his return, which he ate on a veranda overlooking the training grounds. Drills were conducted, both of swordsmanship and kidō, all of which he took pains to oversee. There would be no chance of lackadaisical sloth and indolence to enter their ranks. Lectures on various topics were scheduled for later, as well as suitable entertainment of a less serious bent. It was important to give the men some time to relax and taste the bounties of serving their King, after all.

The rest of his day was spent in meditation. There were no meetings that needed his attention, otherwise he would have surely been informed. When twilight settled, and the chill of the evening sank into his skin, Tosen permitted himself a small comfort. Secluded in his private residence, he poured out a small measure of wine before bed and sat nursing his cup. This much he would allow. Tosen knew the perils of drink, and would not fall for any unsubtle snares less secure individuals allowed themselves to walk into heedlessly. He knew himself. He was resolute, firm, and held no doubts about the choices he made.

Poor Tosen. All alone, too frightened to reach out for company.

Kaname was no fool. He knew that he could not fully trust himself, not anymore. A part of his soul lived only for its own ends, without regard for decency, morality, or humanity. But he would never succumb to his dark side. It would remain locked away 'til the day he died.

Unwilling to let another into his chambers, his bed, for fear that they might slit his throat in the night.

Satisfied, he took a small sip of the former King of Soul Society's private stock. The taste coursed all the way down his throat, and his milky eyes closed in reflexive bliss as this most ancient balm served to draw away the shroud that had settled over his thoughts.

Can't even bring himself to admit he wants a woman…

Tosen sighed, letting himself relax for the first time all day.

And the only one he did…

A small sound almost like a sob escaped his throat.

Never asked what she thought of him. Never even saw her face. Never knew what she looked like. But I did…

"SHUT UP!"

The cup shattered against the wall.

How much she would have thanked you, had you only been brave enough to try.

Long black braids rustled as his shoulders slumped. A sob wracked his frame, followed swiftly by another. And like so many times before, Kaname Tosen slumped to the floor and wept, bitterly grinding his teeth and striking his skull with sharp force, unmindful of the pain it caused. There could be no worse agony than what he kept inside his head, inside his heart.

Is this what I survived for? Is this the purpose I was born to fulfill? If so, they why am I still afraid?

Poor blind Tosen…

"Akon-san?"

Of all the people Renji Abarai might have expected to meet here, the dour-faced chief technician of Ibis Squad would never have even made the list. For his part, Akon seemed in no way surprised to find the Co-Captain of Siamese Company accosting him. Coming down the path from the main house, he simply nodded his head in greeting.

"Captain Abarai."

Why is…

… he here?

"Why are you here?" It felt a little rude to ask, really, but something about this encounter made Renji's skin prickle with apprehension.

"Komamura asked me to visit." Akon made this sound so natural, as if the long-time member of the Shinigami Research and Development Bureau showing up like a doctor making a house call was just an everyday occurrence. He certainly didn't look troubled about being accosted by the superior officer.

Eventually Renji arrived at the conclusion that whatever this might involve, it didn't include him. So instead he gave an absent salute and went marching by. "'Scuse me."

"Certainly."

The captain strode past, and the horned scientist turned to watch him go. As usual, his face remained unreadable, but inwardly Akon debated whether or not he should ask.

In the end, he deemed it inappropriate on a professional level. And with that he headed back home.

Renji followed a cobblestone path until he reached the main manor. While miniscule in comparison to the likes of the main Kuchiki residence, the retirement villa belonging to Sajin Komamura still seemed palatial to his eye. He had a vague impression of owning some sort of domicile in the new heavenly domains as a result of being a captain. First Seats were no longer required to remain in office until they died, after all, but the former slum rat had never bothered to visit his purported property or given much thought to it at all.

Now, though, he found himself wondering somewhat sourly if Komamura had gotten a leg up on him in that respect as well.

'Oh, listen to you, bemoaning your poor lot in life. Can't you feel happy for the big furry fellow? Had you not driven the lovely lady into his arms, he might never have gotten laid!'

Thank you, Imaginary Ayasegawa.

'My pleasure!'

Were it not just a figment of his imagination, Renji would have strangled the annoying hallucination a long time ago. Fortunately he had long experience with multiple voices competing for his attention.

No more stalling. Time to…

… get in there and do this, brother.

His zanpakutō had the right of it. He had put it off long enough. And with that settled, Abarai reached up and rang the entranceway bell.

After about a minute, the door opened, and he found himself staring at a huge furry chest.

'Not quite the decolletage you were hoping for, eh, Renji?'

Shut up.

His gaze lifted higher, to meet the gleaming yellow eye of Sajin Komamura, the house's owner. The former captain regarded his erstwhile successor with an inscrutable expression.

"Ah, Taichou," Saijin spoke before Renji could get a word out. He seemed neither confused nor surprised to find him here. "Won't you come in?" The giant stood aside and beckoned for him to enter.

"Yeah… sure." It was rather irritating to find Komamura so genteel about all this. He behaved as if he didn't have a care in the world. All well and good for him. Not like he had much to worry about these days.

Meanwhile, Renji remained quite confounded both professionally and emotionally. Years ago he had set a goal for himself as a way to settle once and for all the issues that had cropped up in his life. And very soon that goal might just be achieved. But even so, the fact remained he had a lot to work out in respect to certain people. And it was best to get started with the one who was most in contact with him these days.

After all, they were in charge of the same division.

The door shut behind him. A brief glance around confirmed the manor's tasteful exterior was replicated on the inside, being rather tidy and classy. Coming about, Renji and Komamura faced one another. Neither spoke.

At last Saijin said, "Nel is waiting in the garden. Feel free to go on ahead." And he went shambling off down a corridor.

"Thanks," Renji grumbled at his retreating back. Feeling somewhat insecure, he then followed the unmistakable aura of arrancar down twisting unfamiliar lanes until he found himself in a small enclosed garden. There sat his co-captain, Neliel tu Odelschvank. The gorgeous Hollow had on a light yutaka as she reclined on a bench, dipping the fingers of one hand into an ornamental koi pond right beside her. As Renji watched, appreciating the sight of her bare legs put on display in this position, Nel suddenly snatched up a fish and popped it into her mouth, swallowing reflectively.

'Charming.'

Shut it. You know what she's like.

It was time to get down to business. Crossing the garden, Renji coughed to get her attention. "Hey, Neliel. I mean… Lieutenant Odelschvank."

Great. Already screwing it up.

You are not here on official business. Why not…

… try to loosen up a little?

Good idea.

"So listen, Nel, I was thinking…"

"I'm pregnant."

Huh… that's weird. Could have sworn she just said she was pregnant.

His zanpakutō made absolutely no response.

Guys? What's up? You're acting weird. Like she said she was pregnant or something.

'Renji?'

What?

'Get your head out of your ass, and listen.'

Renji stood staring straight ahead without saying a word. Observing this reaction (or lack thereof), Nel sat up and crossed her arms. "Well, it's no big deal, really. Akon just got back with some test results I asked him to run. He agreed that it's impossible for a Hollow to have children under normal circumstances."

Still staring, Renji felt his throat tighten.

"And that's all there is to it, really. The whole thing's impossible."

Turning her head suddenly, Nel vomited the fish back out into the pond. It frantically swam as far away from her as it could and hid under a lily pad. She passed the back of one hand across her mouth with a grimace of frustration.

"Only I'm nauseous. And I want to eat strange things all the time. Like… ice cream. And pickled vegetables."

After what seemed like a very long time, Renji finally managed to suck in the tiniest amount of air, enough to ask…

"How…?"

"I think it's something Aizen might have done to me. Remember when I told you that it seemed like my Hollow hole was getting smaller?" Casually, like this whole conversation was no big deal, Nel opened her mouth and pointed to the back of her throat. "Just guessing, but I think when Aizen learned Ichimaru and I were sleeping together…"

"Huh…?"

"He secretly did something to me, as one of his experiments. He was always crazy about fiddling with Hollows, seeing if there were ways to improve them, that sort of thing. Usually without their consent."

"Why…?"

"But back to the main topic." The arrancar stood up and began walking out of the garden. Renji mindlessly turned to follow. "Both shinigami and Hollows can take on each other's traits, so the prospect of a true hybrid from birth isn't that far-fetched. We're all fundamentally the same, deep down. And most of the shinigami I've slept with had a taint of Hollow in them. Ichimaru, Komamura, you…"

"Who…?"

"I always meant to ask you about that. Maybe later." When they reached the kitchen, Saijin had already prepared a scrumptious repast and now busied himself laying out dishes. Nel took her seat at the table and began to tuck in. Between mouthfuls of rather ordinary fare by her standards, she continued. "So I'm thinking eventually all that influx built up over time, resulting in me becoming pregnant. I'm not sure if this means you're all the father, or only one. It might even be Nanao. Or Hitsugaya."

"What…?"

This came from both Renji and Saijin. The dog man almost dropped a plate of sizzling sausages. Meanwhile, Captain Abarai's brain was still running on fumes.

After taking a sip of tea, Neliel cast tranquil eyes at them both. "So we're going to have to sit down and figure this out. Probably after the current operation in Hueco Mundo is complete. I'd appreciate both of your support. Because frankly, I'm at a loss." And she began to wolf down some pancakes.

Renji blinked several times very rapidly, and finally said….

"I'm going to throw up."

Which he promptly did. Fortunately, Saijin had placed several buckets around the house for Nel's convenience, so there was little mess.

Tatsuki Arisawa could count the number of times she had been in the Kunieda home on one hand. Ryō could hardly be called open and engaging at the best of times. Even after joining the same underground cabal, they hadn't seen fit to socialize after hours much. That bit of subterfuge evidently hadn't come as much of a gamechanger to Ryō as the others. After all, she had a lifetime's worth of experience being involved in illicit undertakings.

Nobody had never actually come out and said it. But it seemed pretty clear that the Kunieda were yakuza. Right here in Karakura Town. Who'd have thought?

"So how's married life treating you?"

"We're happy." Kneeling on the floor wearing a white kimono, Ryō slowly and carefully drew a katana along a whetstone. Scchhwick. The sound it made reminded Tatsuki of sharpening knives in the kitchen. Kind of relaxing, really. "I see you dyed your hair again."

"Yeah." She scratched her scalp self-consciously. The red dye still felt itchy, but that would go away in time. A flicker out of the corner of one eye got her back on track. "Ichimaru says they'll be making their move within a year."

"I see." Scchhwick. Kunieda kept her attention bent on the task before her. Then, just when Tatsuki thought she had nothing more to say, the gang mistress added, "Has he told you what he expects from you?"

"No." Curiosity compelled her to ask. "You?"

"No." Scchhwick. "But I can guess…"

That got Tatsuki's attention. It caused her no shame to admit that Ryō was the most intelligent out of the four living actors Ichimaru and Matsumoto had tempted over to their side. Even back in high school, she was at the top of their class. And while not everybody knew this, she had graduated from Tokyo University with honors, earning a Doctorate in Anthropology of all things while outperforming challengers on the racetrack. Ryō refused offers to compete professionally, whether in the Olympics or otherwise. But it was this shared appreciation for athletics that had kept Tatsuki closer to her than any of their other friends since graduating high school.

The Olympic champion glanced around the spacious room of the manor she found herself in. Antique wall scrolls on display, Japanese cypress flooring under the tatami mats, and the sliding screens held the work of masters in the Kano style, blending breathtaking paint with shimmering gold leaf. This whole complex was like something straight out of the Shogunate plopped right in a residential district of town, and nobody saw fit to comment. So it came as no surprise that Ryō held an interest in cultural history. By the look of it, her family had been quietly living in this region since the Tokugawa era.

While Tatsuki considered this, the young mistress of this house explained. "I believe Ichimaru selected me because he wanted to find out how effective my Intimidation was, and its limits. Roping in Kon got him you, as well as a potential informant on the doings in the Kurosaki household."

"He's never spied on them," Tatsuki interjected bluntly.

"Of course." Here Ryō held the blade up before her eyes, examining their reflection in the length of folded steel. She didn't seem to care about the issue one way or another. "Then there's Tezima, who can be considered an informant and double agent for the Hollow side. Thanks to her we know about Rose, and Grimmjow." Picking up the black lacquer scabbard, she carefully slid the katana back inside. Scchhwick. "I believe we are Ichimaru's contingency plan should Soul Society fail to handle the Hollows. Grimmjow aims to become a vasto lorde. If that happens, it's possible not even the entire Gotei 7 will be able to stop him."

She then turned her head to regard her houseguest leaning against a wall. Those cool black eyes made Tatsuki shiver involuntarily, which caused the martial artist to feel restless. "So where do I fit in? Am I just the muscle who can potentially kill those two?"

"No. If Gin wanted them dead, I think he'd have already done it by now. He seems to have ways of getting around and following people that nobody is able to catch on to. Believe me, I've tried."

A faint hint of annoyance crept into her words at that, which actually served to give Tatsuki a sense of relief. Nice to know she wasn't the only one who had never stopped mistrusting the two renegade shinigami. All the same, it was even more disturbing to learn that even with all of Kunieda's acumen and resources, the kitsune had managed to elude her.

Ryō continued. "I think he wants them to succeed in their respective endeavors. That's where we come in. My power can get us close to Grimmjow without him noticing. Right in his face, if need be. And once we're that close, you can do the same thing to him that you did to Ulquiorra. After that, you'll be strong enough to challenge anyone. Even Aizen."

As she spoke, Tatsuki's shadow on the wall writhed. It slid to one side, becoming an image of a man with horns and wings. This demonic figure then stepped off the canvas to join them as the midnight silhouette of Ulquiorra Schiffer.

'I will not share space with Grimmjow.'

"Relax. You'll always be my favorite roommate." The incorporeal fiend turned to glower at her, but she let it slide. Tatsuki was more intrigued with what her friend had suggested. "So you think he wants me to absorb Grimmjow?"

"Yes." Here Kunieda's face became thoughtful. "I must say… you two seem to be getting along better than ever. If I may ask, what finally changed things?"

"We had a heart-to-heart."

"You'll never get anywhere just keeping to yourself, you know."

"Your opinions hold no relevance for me."

"Okay, how about this… tell me a story."

"I am not here to alleviate your boredom."

"I'm serious. If you don't want to talk about what happened, if it's too much to handle right now…"

"I do not…!"

"Then start small. I'm willing to help. Tell me your goals. What do you hope for in your future? Where did you come from? You keep reminding me you're not human. Maybe that's the problem, but also the answer. You remember things about yourself a living person can't. What's the first thing that ever happened in your life?"

"I am not alive."

"Don't dodge the question. You know what I mean. What's to lose by revealing something that tiny?"

"… Blood."

"Oh… seriously? Is that all? Like birth blood, or something?"

"It was not from birth. The blood came from death."

"Okay, now that's how you start a good story! Go on…"

Perhaps he secretly appreciated her praise, for he consented. "Humans were sacrificed, throats cut and hearts removed from their bodies. An offering to their god. To me. With every one, I took strength and form. Yet I was imprisoned. I could not leave. Despite this, I saw all around me. The passing of time, movement of sun, moon and stars. Oftentimes it felt as though I were in two places at once. There was no way to interact. To move, or speak. I had no purpose I could divine, nor any way to achieve it. As if I did not truly exist at all. Nothing about my existence made any sort of sense. And this continued for centuries."

"That would've driven me crazy too."

"I seek no sympathy. And do not interrupt."

"My bad. Go on."

"The world was open to my sight. Countless humans lived their lives and died under my gaze, preyed upon by Hollows and each other, with death gods shepherding the souls of the departed. Battles were fought, and even greater sacrifices made in my name. Prisoners of war, conquered peoples; a veritable feast. No shinigami for them. They were mine. Yet as I continued to grow, so did my emptiness, and the certainty that this could not last. No matter how many sacrifices I received now, I was dying. Without anyone even knowing I had existed, or told me why. A god of nothing, perishing alone and unheard. The contradiction was tearing me apart, until my presence at last held impact, and the very planet itself cried out in horror. Storms gathered. The earth trembled. Fear gripped the land. Then the death gods came in full."

"Shinigami?"

"A mighty host of them."

"Were you scared?"

"I did not care. My turmoil was all that mattered. It had consumed me down to almost nothing. It held me in place. I was erupting from being unable to leave. All I could think of… was death. One more death. Just one more human sacrifice, to keep me going for a little longer. If I could only hold out a bit more, then I might find the answer. I might know why! But there was no death. No blood to sustain me. I had reached the point of no return. Until I realized… I could offer myself."

"What?"

"My death. My heart and blood. To feed the need within me. I could kill myself. The last sacrifice. So I did. And in that instant, when I tasted my own death, even as it left me, I realized I had a soul."

"Soul, huh?"

"After that I took everything the world around me had to offer. Humans, death gods, Hollows… my death pulled them all in at once. A hurricane of souls. Their flesh became my flesh, a vessel for me to inhabit. The moment passed, and I existed, though nothing of the old me remained. I lifted my head, raised my arms to the full moon high above, and for the first time, I was free."

The tale had ended.

"Hey. You know something? You're good at telling stories."

He stared at her.

"Feel any better?"

"No."

"You really mean that, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Dead from death… talk about 'X-Files'."

"What?"

"It was this sci-fi American show. Ichigo's kid sister Yuzu got hooked on it, made me watch a few episodes. Anyway, they had all kinds of weird shit, and in one there were a bunch of vampires who could only be killed by other vampires. But in order to become a vampire, you had to kill a person, and this one lady, she decided to kill herself to become a vampire and kill the other vampires at the same time. And apparently that worked. Because they all died."

Silence followed.

"You are a terrible storyteller."

"Thanks."

"The power of death…" Kunieda Ryō mused to herself. "Is that what you call your ability? Universal Death?"

"I don't call it anything." Walking past her and Ulquiorra, Tatsuki studied a screen painting showing an emperor holding court in his garden, with tame beasts and retainers gathered all around. It got her thinking. "I used to think we were a menagerie," she spoke softly. "A troupe of beasts that Ichimaru put together to protect himself in case trouble came knocking. But if you're right, then… he plans to use us when the war starts."

She turned back to look at them both, the human in white, Hollow in black. "We just might be the heroes in this story, guys."

Kunieda flicked open a fan and held it before her face, one eyebrow lifting over her wintry gaze. "Superb."

"I would rather be dead."

Ulquiorra made his own enthusiasm abundantly clear. Yet in spite of this, Tatsuki Arisawa couldn't help but smile. For some reason, she was actually feeling hopeful again.

Dyed red hair slipped out of the corner of one eye, making her shiver.

Kneeling before a gravestone, Soifon did not move a muscle when she said, "How may I be of service, Noboru-sama?"

Busted.

Oh, like it's that big of a surprise.

From the boughs of a great cherry blossom tree spreading its pink foliage wide over the cemetery, a small black and white capuchin monkey came scampering down and gamboled over to join the Viper Company captain. Moments later it had transformed into a brown-skinned youth tugging on a Special Forces uniform before kneeling at his captain's side.

For a while nothing more was said between them. The ninja woman kept her eyes closed with hands clasped. Sticks of incense burned before the tombstone, a simple white slab virtually identical to its neighbors, stretching out in countless lines across numerous levels of this place. The graveyard of the Gotei 13 held very few standouts; a particularly powerful lieutenant, or some hero who gave her life for the sake of a superior officer. Few others warranted fanfare.

The one they currently sat before was no exception. Noboru Shihoin read the name on the slab. "Who was he? An old boyfriend?" he asked with all due nonchalance.

"No," his retainer said in a way that sounded oddly kind. It made him squirm to hear it. "This man killed the fiend that murdered my brothers and grandmother. He died doing so."

"Oh."

Noboru read the name again. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't bother to think about that now. Inwardly the prince cursed himself for that boyfriend comment. Feng wasn't stupid. In the hopes of staving her off from drawing any conclusions, he instead said, "It's nice of you to still come out here and look after his grave."

"I do what I can. For him, and the family he left behind." Before he could follow up on that, she struck fast and hard. "Why are you here? The campaign will begin soon. Do you wish to review your orders prior to departure?"

"No."

Smooth dialogue, partner.

I know, okay? Don't distract me. I'm nervous enough about this as it is.

Okay, kid. You're on your own.

Deciding to emulate Feng's blunt mode of conversation, the Shihoin heir screwed up his courage. "Feng, how would you like to go on a date with me?"

At first it didn't appear as if she had heard him. Then just as he was considering repeating himself for good measure, she abruptly swiveled around to face him. Those cold black eyes had narrowed to an even greater degree than usual. Was she thinking about killing him? Wouldn't be the first time.

At last Soifon spoke. "I am yours to command, Noboru-sama."

That hurt. Worse than if she had just said 'No.' But oddly enough, it didn't cause him to lose hope. Because he had imagined several scenarios about how this might play out. And while some of them were admittedly fantastical, Noboru understood that the most likely response would be her trying to convince him this was a bad idea, whether with her words or a swift kick to the head. And this right here, reminding him that she was a servant who must do whatever he requested of her… that was exactly the sort of cruel, heartless, lowdown tactic a Feng would employ in the pursuit of her duties.

He knew better than to ask what Soifon might do if he actually ordered her to accept the invitation. She would. But it wouldn't mean anything. That was just Feng obeying her liege's command. This went beyond that. And he wanted her to understand.

"Nice try, Feng." He smiled at her, undaunted by those chilly eyes and whipcord muscles capable of tearing his head off. "Let's try again. How would you…" He pointed at her meaningfully, earning a faint flicker of an eyebrow possibly indicating annoyance. "… like to go on a date with me?" And he pointed to himself.

"You are a child. I want nothing to do with you in any regard other than my professional capacity."

Another telling blow. Maybe it was time he tried hitting below the belt too?

"I like you, Feng."

If the graveyard had been dead silent before, now it was an absolute void of sound. Like the lingering remnants of every shinigami here stretching back for thousands of years suddenly held their breaths, nudging their neighbors and whispering, 'Can you believe he just said that to her?' 'I know; he's so dead!'

Her teeth were grinding hard enough to be audible. "Noboru-sama…" she growled low.

"I'll admit, it came as a shock to me as well," he continued like this was the most natural conversation in existence. Which it very much wasn't. If Feng knew just how much strain he was under right now, she might actually feel sorry for him. "But I've gotten to know you better over the years. You're not the antiquated killing machine I first took you for; you're a lady with real history and class! What more could a prince ask for?"

"Someone who will not kill you in your sleep," Feng spoke with a level of icy dispassion that would surely have spelled death for anyone not named Shihoin by now.

Noboru remained unfazed. He stared right back at her, perfectly at ease. "See? You've even got a sense of humor. People might look at us and think we're so completely different we'd never hit it off. You remember when I said I'd find you a man? Well, I was serious about that. And I gave it a lot of thought! They'd have to be a great fighter, so at first I focused on the Kenpachi…"

It almost looked like she was about to puke there, so he quickly redirected the conversation. "But I realized he doesn't have a sex life! I asked, even 'Gossip Girl' Kotetsu couldn't find any leads. So from there I zeroed in on his Third Seat, but the guy's kind of a blockhead and he'd probably say something that would get him killed on the first date."

Now Feng appeared to be experiencing some kind of existential crisis. Had she never carried on a discussion like this before? No girl talk, ever? That came as no surprise. Maybe he should ask some of his lady friends to help her in that regard?

"Ganju Shiba, his brother Kon… that gigante Chad who Ichigo Kurosaki went to school with ranked pretty high, but he's taken now… where was I? Oh, right, your lieutenant Hisagi, or Captain Hitsugaya–"

"ARE YOU INSANE?!"

"But none of them fit the bill!" The kid threw up his hands in an expression of exasperation. "I wanted you to be happy with whoever I found, so I thought they had to be someone who could match up with you; strong, quick, clever, kinda married to their job already, maybe a little bit crazy…"

All of a sudden he looked at her, and his face broke into a supremely warm-hearted smile the likes of which made Feng immediately see the resemblance to his mother, which prevented her from interrupting again.

"And then it hit me; I was going about this all wrong! Look at Ba-san and Kurosaki. They don't fit together at all at first glance. But when you watch them, and see just how invested they are in each other – in their lives, their habits, their devotion to making one another happy – you'd have to be an idiot not to see that they're really in love! And that's what I want for you, Feng! I want you to be loved!"

The previous agitation had passed. Now Soifon sat still as the tombstone at her feet. She regarded him without expression, but it seemed clear that she was at least paying attention now. Not just arbitrarily dismissing his words as a mischievous child's impulsiveness. Could it be that he was actually getting through to her?

Gold-rimmed grey eyes bore into her agate ones, trying desperately to get across what he really intended. "I was thinking so much about all your good qualities that I forgot the bad ones. And after a while, I had to admit that I sort of kinda… liked you. At first I couldn't believe it. I thought I must be going crazy, and I focused again on what an epically huge pain in the ass you were to be around. But that segued over into what a nice ass you have, and that got me thinking about your good points again, and from there it just… gradually built up to what we have today."

"I appreciate that you value me, Noboru-sama." She then reached out and placed her hand over his heart, a move that surprised and excited him at the same time. Could she feel how fast it was going? Is she going to try a sneak attack? Does she want me to put up a fight, like Mama and Papa did when they first started dating, or…?

"But what we have… is an oath. One that can never be broken."

She could practically feel his heart skip a beat. Soifon focused unblinkingly on his face, letting this loving, trusting soul understand how much that meant to her.

"I will serve you faithfully. I will act in your best interests. I will even die for you if needs be, whether or not there is another in my line who will continue to carry on our name." She made a gesture down at the grave of her family's benefactor, as though to emphasize what it meant. "But though I live for you, I cannot live with you. You are the sun. I am simply a shadow cast by your light. And though it might pain you to hear this, I do not wish for anything more."

His body was shaking as Soifon stood up. There was neither cruelty nor compassion to be found in the way she looked down on him now. Only resolve. "Report to your detachment in Hueco Mundo. Someone will be watching you to ensure your safety during the operation, but it will not be me. Do not fail in your mission."

She withdrew then, leaving him alone.

He tried to draw in a breath, and it turned into a sob.

Whoah… easy there, kid. Don't overdo it. Hey, hey, listen to me; you're gonna be all right, y'hear?

"Of course I am." Noboru wiped a forearm across his eyes angrily. He didn't care that he had spoken out loud. No one was around to hear it anyway. At first the boy tried telling himself that he had suspected as much, and there were still many paths he could take here. Only when he tried to stand, his legs gave out halfway, and he found himself sitting heavily back down again to collapse forward. Sprawled on the manicured grass, he started sobbing with frustration and unrequited longing.

Why does this have to hurt so much? I'm crying like some stupid kid! Why did I have to go and do that? I should have waited, maybe 'til I'm older, then she wouldn't have just shot me down because… because I am just a kid!

Noboru?

Be quiet. Leave me alone.

Even as he thought this, what felt like a hand settled on the top of his head.

"Don't ever give up on the ones you love," someone spoke.

Who the…?!

The young prince sat up with a start. He peered about the grounds, but no one was to be found. Not Feng, not anyone.

Blinking, he remained confused and uncertain for a while. Then, almost against his volition, his eyes drew down to the name on the gravestone once more. It read…

DAICHI YAMADA.

Some lingering impression left him sure he had heard that name before. What he knew for certain, however, was that the previous self-pity and feeling of worthlessness had passed. Instead Noboru Shihoin found himself filled with fresh resolve.

Okay. Round 1 goes to her. But this match isn't over yet, Feng. Just wait and see.

In love with a lady who doesn't love you? Kind of a running theme in this story, huh?

You said it. Maybe I should talk to someone who knows the kind of situation I'm in? Like Kon, or Renji. Or Kiyone Kotetsu.

Not unless you want to sit through another three hours of hearing her gabble on about how great her Nii-sama is.

Good point. Looks like Captain Abarai it is! Good thing we're on a mission together. That means he can't get away.

Attaboy! Go get 'em! Grill those lovelorn losers and let Cupid's arrow fly!

Exacta!

Unbeknownst to Noboru, somewhere in the Viper Company headquarters, Hisagi Shuhei shivered violently. Wondering if he might be coming down with a cold, he went to brew some tea.

Nel's pregnant. I'm the father.

Someone nearby coughed. "Ah, Lieutenant Abarai? We've received the go-ahead from Soul Society. Shall we… proceed?"

Renji glanced over at the person who had spoken, then turned away. "Yeah. Sure, Rikichi. Let's go."

He began to walk forward across the shifting sands, his zanpakutō resting comfortably on his shoulder in its released form. Behind him came the soft, steady tramp from hundreds of disciplined shinigami. Their resolve held firm despite what lay before them. Yet all the same, he knew how important it was that they see an officer go in first. Lead by example. How else could you get them to walk into certain death?

Nel's pregnant. I'm the father?

Only a few feet ahead loomed the oversized wall of howling sand and wind that comprised the dead zone of Hueco Mundo. This locale had served as a boundary marker for ages; only the strongest of Hollows dared venture past its border in hopeful search of what might lie within. The grains of silica gleamed sharp as glass, moving at speeds that practically rendered them bullets. A person who walked in there unprotected would be flayed alive in under a minute.

Nel's pregnant. I'm the father?

"Activate your Reishūkaku," the lieutenant called out. At the same time, he thumbed a ring on his right hand. Immediately the small glass globe set into it activated, and he began to feed his reiatsu to it as instructed. Immediately a barrier formed around him. Without hesitation the grim-faced fighter stepped into the dead zone.

Nothing happened. A clear spherical space now existed around him past which the gale could not penetrate.

Renji allowed himself a small sigh of relief. This bit of Shiba sorcery was really something. Once upon a time, it had enabled Ichigo and his ryoka cohorts to penetrate the supposedly impassable barrier around the Seireitei in spectacular fashion. Lord-Commander Kuchiki had approached Kukaku about using her family's technology to give all their people safe passage into the dead zone. After rigorous instruction in their use from both the lady and her brother, she had then volunteered poor Ganju to prove its worth by entering the dead zone himself. In the end, she had to kick him in, but he came out without a scratch.

Now it was time for their long-awaited planning to bear fruit. Renji had thought about little else for the past three years. He remained committed to his aspiration. But now…

Nel's PREGNANT. I'M the FATHER?

'Renji, dear boy? I know you're long used to having voices in your head, but if you carry on like this, you're really going to develop a split personality.'

You must focus, brother. Do not…

… let what you recently learned consume your thoughts. All will be well.

How can you guys say that?! For one thing, Nel's pregnant! For another thing, I might be the father…!

'Yes, we've established that. Anything new to report?'

Yeah! Despite all that, she still insists on LEADING THIS MISSION!

That was rather more cause for concern than he had previously held. Right now on the other side of the dead zone, Captain Neliel tu Odelschvank was heading up her own detachment from Siamese Company. The Vaizard captains, accompanied by a corresponding lieutenant apiece, were in charge of their own brigades. Shinji Hirako commanded forces hand-selected from Ibis Squad, many of which had served under him during his tenure as head of the Fifth Division. His partner had gotten members of Greyhound for the same reason. They could reassure the other shinigami who never met those two men of their effectiveness and trustworthiness.

The goal of this operation was both far-reaching and far-sighted. At its core, it was simply an attempt to breach and pacify the dead zone. Groups of sorcerers from the Kidō Corps and the Arashi clan's Mashō accompanied every detachment, bearing the materials to construct permanent towers within those deadly confines. These fortifications would serve as beacons and waypoints. Should either of their targets approach within a certain vicinity, the outposts would send a message to the gathered shinigami army alerting them, allowing them to pinpoint their locations. Spells could then be deployed to give them immediate access and pull off a coordinated attack.

In this way, the Gotei 7 aimed to eliminate both Grimmjow Jaguerjaques and Rōjurō Ōtoribashi.

Of course for the Vaizard, it also held a personal element. Finally a chance to dispose of their murderous former comrade had come. Renji liked to think the same for himself, though. He had a bone to pick with Grimmjow, after all. As the last Espada left in Hueco Mundo, the Sexta represented his only real chance to defeat one of their number on his own and thereby complete the task he had assigned himself lo those many years ago.

For upon taking careful self-reflection of himself, Renji Abarai had decided that he needed a win. Something real and solid he could hold up to the world (and Nel) to show them (and her) that he was worth another look. A captain was no big deal. Sheesh, there were practically dozens of them lying around, retired or not!

But an Espada-slayer? A person who took on one of the most dangerous breed to ever crawl out of Hueco Mundo, a remorseless killer hand-picked by Aizen Sosuke himself to lead his armies against Soul Society? That would serve as a real accomplishment. A way to distinguish himself! She… they could then all see that he wasn't just some hick from the sticks who lucked into a captaincy because a bunch of them got de-powered or flat out defected. Renji Abarai was a champion of their world, willing to risk his life to subdue a threat against them all! And Nel in particular. Because Jaguerjaques had left little doubt that he considered the captains of Siamese Company to be his personal prey, ever since the Autumn War.

Eliminating that threat would have to serve as Renji's way of assuring Nel he didn't view her as a cheap fling, a roll in the hay, a tussle in the sheets. He held her in high regard no matter what some might whisper behind the adjuchas general's back. She wasn't a substitute for his unrequited affections. He stayed with her all those years because she was an exciting and amazing person who had a rockin' body and could probably eat him if she wanted to.

Also, Nel's pregnant. With my kid… and… possibly Komamura's.

How did that work out, exactly?

For now, he decided to occupy his thoughts with the job at hand. And so Renji led his force deeper into the dead zone, towards one of the pre-selected points they had established thanks to recon work done beforehand.

Upon arrival, work proceeded swiftly. The Corps and their Arashi mages began to construct the waypost inside the safety of their group's combined Reishūkaku barriers, which covered a fairly large space and afforded them a decent view of their surroundings.

Standing apart from the building crew, Renji's eyes scanned their environment from behind a pair of pricey sunglasses. This was part of the first ring they planned to form, followed by concentric circles within that eventually might lead to the very heart of the dead zone, which they speculated might be where Rōjirō and Grimmjow were hiding. Neither had been seen or heard from in years, but their continued existence had never come into doubt. The Vaizard insisted Ōtoribashi, or the Hollow he had become, still lived. And from what he had seen for himself, Renji knew that the Sexta Espada was one tough customer who should never be counted out. His lifelong goal was to become a vasto lorde. And if he ever actually succeeded in that respect…

Well, he'd seen what one of those monsters could do. Even with everyone on their side, from Kenpachi Zaraki to Ichigo Kurosaki to the captains themselves, in the end should it come to blows against a vasto lorde, it was still a toss-up who'd come out on top. So they had to end it now before that ever became an issue.

With Grimmjow dead, I can move on. I can leave all my old worries behind. Aizen's locked away in Nirvana, he's never getting out. I wonder… did Unohana survive? Did she join Zero Squad and lead the fight against him? Maybe they're still battling it out right now. Damn, I wish she was here. I'd give anything for one last chance to tell Retsu how I really felt, how her touch made me feel, how I wished we could…

'Switching your sights already, Renji? You really can't help yourself, can you?'

The voice of Imaginary Ayasegawa disturbed him so much he almost missed the telltale flash of movement just beyond the limit of the Reishūkaku barrier. Guilt and self-recrimination took a backseat to battle training and duty. Whipping Zabimaru on high, Renji was just about to let fly, when a shape sprang from those swirling confines and struck him in the shoulder. He cursed, stumbling backwards, his attack thwarted, but before he could shout an alarm…

"Sorry, El Capitán. Just didn't want to be hit by any friendly fire, y'know?"

Recognition and irritation dawned even as the person behind the attack emerged into sight. A long red power pole retracted back into his hand as he came up before the angry fighter, and Noboru Shihoin grinned cheekily up at the tall captain with Hanuman draped casually over one shoulder. The young member of the Stealth Forces sported an earring containing his own Reishūkaku globe, enabling him to traverse the dead zone unmolested.

"So how's it going?" Noboru strolled on by Renji without regard for having just assaulted a captain. There were times this kid behaved more like his father than he might ever believe, acting as though he could do no wrong and everyone should just get out of his way. But at least he seemed to be taking his assignment seriously.

"We're making progress," his redheaded ally stated tersely, trying not to make it sound like he was giving a status report to the kid. As if he needed an even more swelled head. "Anything from your end?"

Noboru left off examining the undertaking and swung to face him. "Not a peep. I was just thinking about ducking out and going to explore." His head shifted restlessly from one side to another. "Any idea which direction Las Noches might be? Probably a ton of interesting loot left over there."

"We picked that place clean years ago. It's dead." Zabimaru still at the ready, Renji turned back to scanning the perimeter. "Just stay here with us for the time being. Better bored than dead."

"Boredom's for people who are too scared to go looking for fun," Noboru corrected him. "But I get what you mean."

In a flash he hopped forward, and before Renji could even react, a small black monkey had landed on his shoulder. It grinned at him for a moment. "You mind? Four eyes are better than two."

"Get off!" With irritation he sought to shrug the pest away. "I thought you were outgrowing this shit, kid."

"I'm accommodating. Might as well get away with it while… I…"

All of a sudden Noboru went still. His head rose, black eyes blinking fast.

Renji took notice. "What's wrong? Do you feel something?" Quickly he scanned their environment for sign of what might have raised Noboru's hackles.

"Don't you hear it?"

"What?" This situation was making him nervous. Boasting unusually sharp ears, the former street thief allowed himself to grow still the way he sometimes did back when hiding in the alleys, waiting for his pursuers to pass and it was safe to emerge. But nothing beyond the endless howl of the dead zone met him.

"The song! It's here! It's in this place!" Noboru spoke fast now, like he was too excited to explain. "I couldn't hear it all the time, but now all of a sudden, it just started up!" He looked at Renji, an expression of incredulity on that simian countenance. "Do you not hear that?!"

When Renji only stared back without saying a word, the monkey uttered a curse and leapt off his shoulder to go racing into the storm.

"NOBORU!"

The young prince of the Shihoin moved as fast as he could, speeding recklessly in pursuit of that elusive melody. There were no words that he could discern in the song. Instead he heard only pain and grief, all mixed with a plaintive call for help that tugged him irresistibly on.

Nothing visible existed beyond the range of his protective barrier. All the same, he realized he wasn't making much progress moving as a monkey. With a curse, Noboru dropped his animal guise, reverting to a naked boy before powering through the storm.

But in the howling of the gale around him, he suddenly found he couldn't make out the song any more.

"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU?!" he shouted in desperation, pivoting about in an attempt to catch a trace of it once more. "I'M HERE! DO YOU HEAR? TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE!"

Nothing. Just the mad roar of this cyclone beating at his ears, mocking him in his impotent frustration.

When no new leads came, it occurred to him that he had done something very stupid coming out here alone. There were other enemies besides their targets living in the dead zone. Hollows the likes of which made the regular denizens of Hueco Mundo pale in comparison, leftovers from the time of Barragan Luisenbarn's rule, and horrors that might never have been human to begin with. Before any of them could find him, he'd best make his way back to rejoin his comrades at base camp.

Which was… where, exactly?

Uncertainly Noboru looked behind him. Did I come from that way, or am I all turned around?

As he stood debating, a rushing noise reached his ears. Before he could even think about it, Noboru already dove to the ground.

Just in time, as something huge went swooping over him, uttering an angry roar.

The young agent regained his feet smoothly, whipping out Hanuman as he did so. Through the morass of sand and dirt around him, he caught a glimpse of an absolutely gigantic shape flapping away. He sent his zanpakutō snapping out after it, but though Hanuman extended well past the range of his force field, he still struck nothing.

Wish I could bend. Like a whip, yeah? That way I could cover more area with an attack instead of just a straight line.

We'll work on that later. Right now we have to concentrate on getting out of here.

Around him, the barrier flickered. Noboru realized he had neglected to concentrate his energy into the Reishūkaku orb. In this environment, that could prove fatal. Striving to calm himself, he refocused his abilities, just as what felt like a semi slammed into him from behind.

The impact droveNoboru into the desert hard. It knocked the breath out of his lungs, and he inhaled a mouthful of sand at the same time. Coughing and struggling to draw breath, his control faltered. And with that, the protection of the Reishūkaku dissipated, leaving him at the mercy of the storm.

Noboru had never felt anything like this before. It took his breath away even as he managed to gasp in a lungful of air. The wind hit like a Huge Hollow's fist, sending him tumbling helplessly across the wind-blasted plain without stop. Sand tore into his skin hard enough to draw blood. Horrified, the prince could only scream in agony as he felt himself being flayed alive.

Then even that was cut off, as a giant clawed foot crashed down and bore him to the ground.

For just an instant he felt glad, because being crushed like this actually diminished the amount of his skin vulnerable to the sandstorm. But as his bones began to creak, that quickly became cold comfort. Struggling to breathe through gritted teeth, he managed to crack an eye open.

Over him there loomed a huge white mask.

Hollow!

The beast's mouth suddenly opened wide. As it bent to devour him, Noboru Shihoin felt a strange medley of confusion, disbelief, exasperation, and guilt. With death approaching, the only thing he could remember was one of Soifon's lessons. When all else fails…

"HELP!"

His voice seemed pitiful in comparison to the tempest all around them. But all the same… someone heard.

A dull boom sounded. Above him the Huge Hollow went soaring back with a screech, abandoning its prey. Too stunned to question, Noboru instinctively sought to move, only for this to reinvigorate his injuries from before, leaving him bleeding and moaning helplessly.

"Do not move."

Not like he could, but okay. Moments later the fallen soldier felt a gentle hand press against his naked back. With it came the whisper of healing kidō, serving to rejuvenate him. Though visibility remained diminished, he still recalled the danger they were in, and looked back towards where he had last seen his attacker.

The desert around them was clear. Towards the edge of this protected space, his blurred vision made out a huge black shape, mighty wings flapping slowly as it hung against the storm. But it did not attack. For between it and him stood a figure robed in white. An arm extended out to one side, revealing a gleaming spike like an elongated fingernail. With no fear whatsoever this slight figure marched forward towards the heartless horror. A long braid of hair swung behind them.

Is that… Feng?

There came a roar greater than even the dead zone's mad noise. With that, the Hollow sprang backward to go rushing through the wall of sand. The sound of wings beating furiously diminished into the distance along with any trace of the Hollow's presence. Noboru shut his eyes tight as the wind of its passing stung him with more sand. Still, it didn't hurt much. Maybe something to do with the person healing him?

"You may stand now."

He realized it was a woman who had spoken. That reminded him of his current denuded state, and without another thought for the potential peril around them, he hopped nimbly upright. A bit of magic manifested his Stealth Forces uniform once again, and with some adroit wiggling and stretching, the prince managed to dress himself in record time.

Satisfied of his dignity being intact, he turned to regard his rescuers. "Oh, hey! It's you!"

Green eyes stared back without a hint of recognition in their depths. Even as she rose to stand over him, Nemu Kurotsuchi maintained a passive expression that in no way indicated how close they might have just come to death. The lieutenant of Ibis Company only gave a small inclination of her head. "Young Master Shihoin."

Check for needle marks. She might have injected you on the sly.

"Utterly absurd!"

This scratchy voice caught his attention as a slight man in a white coat went barging past them. Noboru gave a start as Mayuri Kurotsuchi spun his head about and snapped, "Nemu! Secure the boy! We're leaving!"

"Yes, Mayuri-sama."

Noboru found himself plucked off his feet and held under the crook of the emotionless woman's arm. Nemu opened a large sunshade and took up step beside her parent, solicitously shielding him with the umbrella despite there being neither sun nor wind to disturb his stroll. Before he could even think to question this arrangement, they were off.

Gazing somewhat blankly ahead, Noboru's attention was caught by the sweep of a long blue indigo braid draped down Mayuri's back. The madman held a hand up near his head, snapping his fingers restlessly. Doing so drew the eye to the ridiculously long middle fingernail, a sign of privilege in olden imperial times.

Oh… so he's the one I saw.

Try not to be disappointed. Did you think she was secretly tailing you because your impassioned confession melted her cold heart?

No! I mean… maybe for a second, okay?

Man, you are still a kid.

He let himself feel that humiliation for all its worth, even greater than being slung around like this by a woman. Their odd party continued on, the dead zone seemingly kept at bay by another energy field similar to the Reishūkaku, but different as well. It traveled with them, emanating either from the demented scientist or his obedient offspring. Or both.

I wonder where we're going?

It didn't take long to find the answer. The storm retreated before them, revealing a creature so bizarre Noboru could only gape in disbelief. It looked almost like some kind of giant hairless gorilla squatting on its haunches. The thing had blue skin of a rather pretty turquoise shade which was entirely out of place on its misshapen body. It looked to be about twenty feet tall at the head… that is, if it had a head. Where a neck and skull should have been, there was nothing but a smooth stretch of unblemished skin and shoulders.

A palanquin with white silken draperies took up space between the great brute's shoulder blades. It was here their path ended. At their approach, a purple carpet unrolled like magic to form a staircase leading up to the covered carriage. Mayuri ascended first, grumbling all the while, with Nemu and Noboru bringing up the rear.

Numerous cushions were spread on the small space of the palanquin. Flopping down onto a pile with legs crossed, the sour scientist produced a riding crop and struck savagely at the headless beast's sides. "Up!" he groused.

Their conveyance obediently did so, leaning forward until it crouched down on all fours with knuckles buried in the sand.

"Forward!"

Another flick of the lash, and the blue-skinned brute began trundling forward at an awkward but careful gait. Between its shoulderblades, the palanquin swayed back and forth as though they were riding a particularly ungainly camel. But it remained in place, and the trio's departure proceeded without further ado.

At a nod from her father, Nemu consented to deposit Noboru, who quickly copied his host's position to sit cross-legged on the cushions. Maybe it was delayed reaction to a near-death experience, or the simple craziness of this whole situation, but he found himself in a state rather resembling euphoria. And so Noboru wasted no time rattling off, "Thanks for saving me, Clown Kurotsuchi! I mean Clan Kurotsuchi," he corrected himself when Mayuri's golden eyes narrowed. "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

Having pulled a hookah from nowhere, the scientist took a drag on this pipe and exhaled a stream of blue smoke through his nose. He had on a red fez with a long golden tassel, and a gold-rimmed monocle was attached to his coat by a delicate gold chain. Adjusting the sword tucked through a purple sash at his waist, Mayuri reclined back and said, "We were collecting specimens. That one in particular was a rather remarkable sort, and would have made for an excellent research subject. That is, until you came blundering in and ruined our hunt!"

Noboru realized he was referring to the Huge Hollow. So they had been hunting it? Crazier things had happened. Perhaps contrition was in order?

"Sorry about that, Your Eminence." He bowed forward quickly at the waist and came back upright. "I'm still young, and despite my family's best efforts, I screw up a lot. If I can make it up to you in any way, just ask."

Mayuri sank back into his seat with a rumble of disquieting laughter. "Oh, have no doubt that I will, boy. You can rest assured that your family will compensate me for my troubles." He appeared to be mollified somewhat at this thought. Or maybe it was the title 'Your Eminence?' Noboru had abruptly remembered that Aunt Rukia told him she used this to refer to Mayuri when they met, and it always pleased him, so he had followed suit. Certainly didn't seem to hurt in this situation.

"For the time being, you may enjoy our hospitality." The mad scientist's monocle flashed as he darted a look at his daughter. "Nemu! Show the wounded prince some courtesy!"

"Yes, Mayuri-sama."

When she reached over and pulled his head down to rest in her lap, by this point Noboru felt certain he must have suffered a concussion. What other explanation could there be for all this whacky stuff happening? However, when the pallid beauty began to rhythmically stroke his hair in a soothing fashion, twining her slender fingers through his inky locks, he came to the conclusion that hallucination or not, this was damn comfortable. And so he just went along.

It was when he had just felt himself drifting off to sleep that it occurred to him losing consciousness around Mayuri Kurotsuchi might be interpreted as an invitation to exploratory surgery, and he abruptly fired off a question to keep himself awake. "Say, Your Excellency? Pregunta loca, but by any chance, did you happen to hear a song right before we met?"

Mayuri's head tilted to what looked like a painful angle, incisors worrying his lower lip and smoke drifting from his nostrils. "Song? No. I've never had a song stuck in my head. Too much going on up here for that." He tapped his forehead meaningfully. For all that, though, a glitter of something inscrutable made his golden eyes flash, and he bent down to peer into the prince's eyes. "What did it sound like, pray tell?"

In a distant voice, Noboru recalled. "Like someone in pain asking for help."

"Hmmm…" Far from being annoyed, an expression that might have almost been sympathy passed over those painted features. "Well, well. Perhaps we gained something interesting after all?"

He then brought up a holographic screen and keyboard to begin typing away diligently, ignoring them both. While Nemu continued to give him a scalp massage, the exhausted prince once again had to fight off sleep. He let his eyes wander around, settling on their transport's tremendous shoulders moving up and down.

Huh… that's funny. It looks like there's a big '10' tattooed on its quadricep.

Maybe it's a model number? Like for cars. Mayuri might have a whole stable of these things.

Let's remember not to ask about that.

Gotcha.

They continued on their way out of the dead zone. Back where they had left, Soifon remained on guard in case the enemy returned.

She remonstrated herself internally for allowing Noboru to slip his leash like that. But she had caught up to him in time. Of course, his current host was not to be trusted any more than a Hollow. Soifon prepared herself to keep a discreet but watchful pursuit until they were in more trustworthy company.

Before she did, however, the Viper Company captain gave one last look back in the direction in which the Huge Hollow disappeared. Was it her imagination, or had she felt something back there? An almost… familiar feeling.

Irrelevant.

Yes. You're right. Let us return to what matters.

And so she began her stealthy pursuit of the blue behemoth and its troublesome burden.

Movie night at the Usagi Shoten had come.

It was an event that all involved looked forward to. One day a week, the kids were allowed to pick a sweet of their choice from the store's stock while they all sat in the den and watched the show together. This time it had been Ichigo's turn to pick the title, and for their viewing pleasure he selected the classic anime series Dororo, a tale of samurai and demons set in the Warring States period. While there wasn't enough time to watch the entire season, he felt certain his selection would resonate sufficiently to make his family clamor for more.

"If that dog barks again, I'm going to scream!"

Sadly, this was not quite the case.

Blowing out his breath, Ichigo reached over and plucked a strawberry-flavored poki from his daughter's possession. "Hey!" Hiruko yelped, snatching the packet up and glowering at him. Her father simply shrugged and proceeded to crunch down on his purloined treat, a subtle reminder that life wasn't always fair.

"This is so old," their daughter complained again as she sprawled on the floor, flinging out her bare feet and glowering at the flickering black and white screen as though its lack of color offended her.

"Shush, Kuko," Shotoku scolded her mildly. He only used this old nickname when he felt she was being a pest, and when his little sister elbowed him sharply for it, he added, "I like it. If it's not your thing, you can just go to your room."

"You would. And stop talking like you're an adult already," she retorted, burrowing back against the sofa and crossing her arms. "You're thirteen years old. It's creepy."

"That's enough." With a sigh, Ichigo reached down and squeezed his daughter's head lightly. She grumbled and fussed a little, but consented to pipe down, and he settled back into the joy of her mother's embrace.

"The drawings are beautiful," Rukia murmured, snuggling up against him on the futon couch.

Ichigo was secretly glad to find her so appreciative, and would have happily continued the conversation. But some things took precedence. "Gonna use the bathroom," he whispered in her ear.

Rukia gave a grunt of comprehension without taking her eyes from the screen. She appeared to be enthralled, so his choice was a hit with at least two of his critics. The third had proven hard to please of late, but maybe it had something to do with age.

Supposedly girls matured faster than boys. He would need to have a talk with Dad if things got any worse. Isshin Kurosaki used to come over for movie night, complaining that the house was cold and empty now with both girls away at college. But he seemed to have less time and inclination of late. Nanao might have something to do with that.

Sliding open the lavatory, Ichigo flicked on the light and nearly screamed upon finding a man peering in through the bathroom window.

Fortunately for his dignity, he recognized the flaming red cock's comb right away. Shutting the door quickly, Ichigo raced over and flung open the window. "Renji!" he hissed. "What the hell do you think you're–?!"

"I gotta talk to you!"

The was a wild, desperate look in the other man's eye that made him bite back whatever he had been about to say. Ichigo came to a decision. With a careful look over his shoulder, he hoisted himself over the frame to join his unforeseen visitor outside the house, keeping the window open in case a speedy retreat was needed.

Upon finding his feet, he was surprised to find the shinigami captain wearing jeans, a t-shirt and bandana. Clearly this was a gigai, but why would such a thing be necessary?

Renji caught the way he was looking at him and glanced down. "Untraceable gigai," he whispered hoarsely, scratching at his chest as though it itched to be wearing mortal garb. "I didn't want Rukia to know I was here."

Ichigo scowled in confusion. "So you waited outside our bathroom?"

"I needed to catch you alone!" The captain's eyes darted about nervously, as though he were a criminal in fear of pursuit. Renji then drew closer, and his tone dropped an octave. "Something's happened. Something… big!"

A chill stole over him. "Aizen?"

"What? No! Fuck that guy! This is bigger than that!"

Now Ichigo felt thoroughly confused. "Renji?" he spoke in a tone normally reserved for dealing with unruly customers on the job. "Maybe you want to calm down and explain to me what's going on."

Maddened eyes blinked rapidly. For the first time it seemed as though Renji had some idea of how he must look. His shoulders sagged, and he shut his eyes to take a deep breath. When they opened again, he had grown a lot more calm. The haggard shinigami then looked at Ichigo and said in a fierce voice, "Neliel's pregnant."

To his relief, Ichigo stopped himself from saying 'Congratulations' in time. That would have been all kinds of wrong, considering what he knew about the living arrangements both top members of Siamese Company currently shared. Instead he responded with, "And…?"

"I think it's mine."

A very salient point cropped up right then. "I thought you two broke up."

"We did."

"When?"

"Five years ago."

Ichigo let that statement sink in. When it didn't seem to have quite the effect he had hoped, he then asked in as delicate a fashion as possible, "And since then… she's been living with Komamura, right? At least, that's what I heard from Ishida." Funnily enough, the Quincy was expecting his first child in about a month. Gotta remember to get something classy for the baby shower…

The twitch in Renji's eye drew his attention back to the prospective madman. "What I mean is," Ichigo added quickly, "if you haven't been… together… in five years, then why…?"

"Are you not listening to me?!" Renji demanded hotly. "A Hollow… is pregnant… with a SHINIGAMI'S CHILD! What about that sounds like it should make any sort of sense?!"

"Ichigo?"

Both men froze as Rukia's voice carried in from the house. Hurriedly he stuck his head back through the window. "Yeah?"

"Is everything alright in there?"

"Yeah, sure." Just say the first thing that comes to mind! "I'm… having trouble forcing it out. It's a groaner."

Silence. Then…

"We sell a product for that, you know."

"I know." This was fast becoming the most humiliating moment of his life.

"Hold on. I'll get you a box and leave it by the door."

"Thanks, sweetie."

The sound of her footsteps departing down the hall allowed his stomach to unclench a little. Turning back to the source of this night's troubles, he found Renji flattened against the side of the building like a thief looking to evade capture.

Time to get serious. "Renji, why did you want to talk to me?"

Satisfied that he was not in danger of being caught, the harried fugitive disengaged himself from the wall and stood up straight. "I'm going to be a father."

Debatable, he thought privately. "And?"

Abarai stared at him. His throat worked up and down. Finally he blurted out, "How do you do it? How do you be a parent?"

Right then it all became clear. And just like that, any lingering animosity or frustration at being put in this situation went away. Because the anxiety gripping his friend at this very moment was one he himself had experienced to a dispiriting degree. Ichigo Kurosaki felt closer to Renji Abarai in that moment than at any other point in their lives together… or deaths. Even the shared camaraderie of battle or aiming to rescue the same woman couldn't compare to this.

"Renji…" He gripped the shinigami captain's shoulders gone iron-hard with stress. "You're scared right now. And yes, I know exactly how that feels. But trust me…" A happy smile split his face, so real it caused even Renji's anxiety to die down at the sight. "It gets better. And when the time comes, you will love this."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"Okay… thanks, man." The tension had gone out of him. Once more Renji looked like a human being. He gripped Ichigo's hand in his, squeezing tightly, which he reciprocated in a true show of male solidarity. They both smiled at each other then, and laughed a little, recognizing how this should be an awkward moment for each of them but not feeling in the least bit uncomfortable.

After a while, Ichigo indicated with his head back inside. "Okay. I'm gonna go crawl back into my bathroom now."

"Right." Neither of them seemed to find anything odd about that remark. "I'll let you know how things work out." Then, in a nervous rush he said, "Don't tell anybody, alright? Especially Rukia. We've still got a lot of details to work out, and there's the big mission coming, not sure when, but I'll definitely keep you in the loop."

"I'm looking forward to it."

They exchanged a nod. Afterwards Renji turned and disappeared into the night. True to his word, Ichigo took this chance to clamber through the window. As promised, a box of gastrointestinal assistance merch was waiting for him out in the hall. He took it with him and rejoined his family, who were arguing hotly about whether or not a man could actually survive with no body parts.

"So eyes, ears, arms… did the demons get his balls too?"

"MOM!"

Yup. They were definitely going to watch this series to the end.

To be continued…