Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and never will.

Ichimaru Gin's POV…

At the sudden rush of spiritual pressure I jump back, the chair I was previously sitting on flying off to one side and hitting the wall with a loud bang. I continue to squint through the glare of bright blue, ignoring as now the medical cot slides violently to the far side of the room with a resounding crash. I hear another sound, clinking, that's much softer. I tilt my head to one side, at ease even while being reduced to rely almost solely on hearing, with my sight and reiatsu senses temporarily overwhelmed as they are. It's not as bad as one might think, considering how I'm not in any rush to get to him, just as how he's not in any rush to get to me… And without me to open up, or even find the door for him? Good luck with that, Ichigo-kun...

After several seconds of him scrambling aimlessly and then trying to forcibly bash his way out, I let out a lengthy, exaggerated sigh. "Ichigo-kun, why don'tcha just settle-" A splattering of a few droplets of blood not my own landing on my cheek and a slight whooshing sound is all the warning I have before my temporary ward does something stupid, but not totally unreasonable nor unexpected. He attacks me head on in flurry of surprisingly well-trained hakuda. As he relentlessly continues his assault, I notice his wrists and hands. They look terrible- blood-coated and ruthlessly rubbed raw, layers of skin forcibly peeled off. He really held nothing back when freeing himself.

In the midst of our back and forth blows, there is a kick and two swift punches on his part- simple, but well-executed. I block the last punch, feinting one of my own while delivering a swift, brutal roundhouse kick to his side. He winces in pain, jumping back to avoid my next kick. He shifts from a front stance to a back stance as he anticipates my next move.

I don't follow. Instead, smiling cheerfully, I reach towards the sheathed blade at my side. He panics, weaponless as he is, fear striking his expression as he rushes forward- desperate to stop me from releasing shikai, perhaps? "Just kiddin'~" From my other hand a golden Horin appears. It is too late for him to avoid, Ichigo-kun having already committed himself to the charge. The bakudo wraps quickly around Ichigo's left ankle, yanking him off his feet. "Bakudo #9: Horin," I announce to solidify the kido. A bit tricky, those Kōjutsu Eishō kido, with which the words are said after the fact, though this time my performance is flawless. My ward, not wasting anytime, reaches down to tug at the glowing spiritually entwined rope defiantly as I use it to drag him across cold tiled floor.

There is a small, hardly noticeable hitch in my breath. Power abruptly courses through the kido, power not my own. It matches and then quickly overwhelms the level of reiryoku I am using to fuel the technique, shattering my control over the low level bakudo and allowing it to dissipate into common reishi. Grin dimming ever so slightly, I allow him to struggle dizzily to his feet with cut wrists still freely dripping crimson red.

This leads me to look at the reiatsu suppressor in the form of an electronic appearing bracelet around one of his arms. Although he managed to get out of the cuffs, this other object remains untouched. Its use as a reiatsu suppressor may have failed spectacularly, but its other use still remains to be activated. The true purpose of the 'bracelet' is to trigger the remnants of the poisonous drug in his bloodstream. Once injected (as it has been), it will linger and cannot be purged naturally or even detected unless one knows exactly what they're looking for… In all honesty, it's rather dangerous to activate so soon after he's suffered under it's effect, but I'd rather take this chance than test continued resilience of the Sekkiseki walls surrounding us. If the walls fail, shinigami would be on us like flies to honey, and that just won't do~…

"What are you doing?" Ichigo demands gruffly, watching with all the alarm of a cornered animal as I reach into the inner pocket of my uniform and draw out a palm sized activation remote. Deciding the best way to deal with an unknown is to destroy it, he darts forward when I don't respond. I press a button… Ichigo is in front of me, a fist just grazing the side of one of my cheeks as I dodge. The medical cot behind me shatters instead at the impact. My heart is thumping wildly as I grin practically from ear to ear. It's been a long time since I've felt so…. challenged. For some reason completely unknown to me, even though both the 'bracelet' and the remote show signs of the poison that worked so well before once again at work, Ichigo-kun seems completely fine. Better even. He's focused, radiating energy and fighting for all it's worth.

A downward kick is easily sidestepped a moment later, cracking tile where I stood moments before. Without missing a beat, the kid turns around to try to sucker punch me. I raise my hands to block and redirect the force of blow, grinning cheerily all the while.

Kaname Tousen's POV…

I frown with deep seeded mistrust as the scene plays out on the screen before me, and to make matters worse I'm entirely in the dark to the exact details with no reiatsu sense to help me. Beside me is the Aizen-sama, patient and at ease as always. Sometimes I wish he would be a little less patient and at ease. Ichimaru Gin, although greatly skilled and intelligent no doubt, is a liability in the end… He follows direct orders without hesitation, but he still has a way of acting on his own that doesn't sit well with me. Aizen-sama calls it 'initiative' and 'creativity'. I call it taking risky action without consent of superiors. Sometimes I fear Aizen-sama, although aware of the risks of having Ichimaru Gin around, dots on his fukutaicho too much to do really anything about it. He did after all raise Ichimaru from childhood...

But then I recall that Aizen puts the future and justice above all and would never let anything or anyone disrupt his plans.

Including Ichimaru Gin. The man believes he sent the surveillance system into an undetectable loop of some sort, leaving him to commit whatever he wishes in the lab in secrecy. Aizen-sama is not fooled; he has been keeping track of Ichimaru's progress closely. "Isn't this reason enough for punishment?" I ask.

From my vivid reiatsu sense, I 'see' Aizen-sama give me a placating smile as he rests his cheek on one fisted hand, propped up on his chair's armrest. His response is gentle and wise. "Tousen-san, my fukutaicho is an independent minded young man that seeks the same goals we do. His loyalty is unquestionable, but he sometimes feels that he can do more. As long as he does not allow his initiative to lead to folly, I am content to let him do what he will."

I bow my head in submission to his judgement. "As you say…" I still don't understand, but Aizen-sama's judgement is beyond reproach.

All is silent before the live video that plays before us, until, "Tousen-san? I can tell you still have questions. You needn't restrain your curiosity."

I silently start, surprised once again by Aizen-sama's intuitiveness. "I am curious… If you trust him so readily, why do you keep watch over him now?"

"To make sure his initiative does not lead him to folly," he answers simply, and with care. "Eager as he is to serve, he is not immune to…. misguided judgements after all." That I do not doubt for a moment.

I nod in understanding, thoughtful. Trust yet confirm, the age-old platitude sounds in my mind. The sound of battle once more reaches my ears, and I briefly mourn my lack of true vision. I have largely been able to overcome my disability and improve myself because of it, even, but there are some instances in which nothing can be substituted for true sight. Watching videos is one of them, and besides sound and Aizen-sama's occasional, helpful commentary- I am largely unaware of what is transpiring between the boy named Kurosaki Ichigo, and my colleague Ichimaru Gin…

"Have you noticed, Kaname?" I hesitate uncertainty. "Excuse me. I mean if you have noticed the discrepancy in my fukutaicho's actions?"

I shake my head slowly. "I do not know Ichimaru Gin as well as I should. Much of what he does puzzles me." I reply honestly. I am humble man, who only wishes to follow the path of justice and lest bloodshed, which goes hand in hand. Ichimaru Gin is a snake of man whose silver tongue repulses me, and mocking politeness garners my ire. We have never seen eye to eye, for both practical and abstract reasons.

"It is of no issue. What I've noticed is that his interrogation of the boy was ill done. Usually, he would not waste time coaxing or attempting to trick information out of the detainee. Can you tell what may be different about this situation?"

I purse my lips. "... Nothing but the detainee."

"Exactly," Aizen replies promptly, straightening from his previously leisure posture. "It seems my dear fukutaicho may have some sort of fondness for children, to the point he would not be willing to... use more painfully persuasive methods."

I tilt my head slightly. "Isn't he only following your order concerning harming the boy?" I inquire quietly.

"Not at all. I specifically said not to permanently harm when bringing him in. If Gin-kun feels he simply must question the boy, there are more forcible interrogation techniques that does not involve permanent harm, but can be equally if not more painful. Yet. He has neglected to use any of these. Usually, he would dive right into these methods after a brief inquiry. My fukutaicho has little patience for such things."

"But here, he spent several minutes on intimidation and speech alone." I note thoughtfully aloud, my respect for the supposed snake of a man slowly rising. Maybe the path of Justice is not yet completely lost to him… The wish to avoid unnecessary harm when there is another path is an admirable trait, after all...

A surprised scream sounds from the video feed.

Soifon's POV… Hours later.

I rest for a brief moment on the roof of the city hall, careful to keep low to the roof and away from the edges least someone below see me. I frown deeply, scanning the distant city life around me. Somewhere out there... I think with deep-seated ire. That boy is laughing while I flounder here. All night and all morning have I been searching for even a trace of where he could have gone or could be hiding. No such luck. It's like the boy vanished without a trace, even though I can feel the remnants of his presence all over this city like a peculiarly strong, lingering and unpleasant odor. Then there is my fifth seat who has still not contacted me and seems to have disappeared himself. The man was good, both in spirit and ability. A real pity and mystery then, leading me to suspect foul play. Had the boy attacked and killed my operative, before covering it up and leaving in secret? From reports, it appears as though he has trouble reigning in his power, but then again appearances are deceiving. Is there a third party involved? Could a hollow have gotten to both of them?

That'd be an easy answer to deal with, wouldn't it? comes an irritating buzzing sound from inside my mind. Face it- you've been outwitted! Now it's just a matter of finding out by who. So stop pouting you stupid pessimist and put those workaholic tendencies to good use!

I'm not pouting, Suzumebachi; I'm analyzing, so cease with your annoying buzzing.

That's not annoying buzzing! I'll show you annoying buzzing. Buzzzzzzzzz~ There, hear that?! Buzzzzzzz-

Enough!

BUUZZZZ- Can't hear you! BZZZBZZZZ!

I sweatdrop. I can't believe this is my zanpakuto…. I think to myself, but of course, nothing can stay 'to myself' with a zanpakuto sharing one's mental facilities.

Hey! You should be nicer to me. I am your sword, shield and saving grace after all. I am your very soul!

I snort. When did you become so poetic?

Since now! Seriously, stop being so lame and do something! My eye twitches in irritation, but nonetheless I take heed. Closing my eyes, I fall into a deep trance, trusting my zanpakuto to notify me of any danger nearby. Meanwhile I try to find any trace of hidden reiatsu. Like all the other times I've attempted it, it is extremely difficult. In a city created of reishi and covered by subject's earlier lingering reiatsu imprint, it's more or less finding a needle in a haystack. None the less I persist. I can sense the Shiba Head and his little pet almost immediately. They have been here for awhile, and I am content to leave them to their own devices as long as they do not interfere with my own search. I become agitated though at the feeling of many eleventh division members in the distant, and silently hope they'll pass by. Dealing with those fools is the last thing I want or need.

I continue my search, expecting to find nothing more, and am pleasantly startled when I am proven wrong. A thin thread. Unmistakably reiatsu (reishi doesn't move this way on its own), yet there's so little of it I can't make out who it belongs to. Was it there before? I'm unsure. I really seem to have found a needle in the haystack. Without wasting any time, I dart off, scrambling to locate the source, although I am forced pause several times to reorientate myself along the way. Finally, after one last shunpo my surroundings blur and come back into focus to reveal…

Absolutely nothing. Frustration mounts as I scour the area. Some distance away from the city, I find myself in any empty clearing. Nothing but dirt. I squint my eyes, reaching out with my senses. No. That reiatsu is definitely here… My gaze lowers to the ground. Underneath me? Beyond this discovery however, I can discern nothing more. Resisting the urge to shake my head in frustration, I order my temporary partner that has followed me here to continue the search in my absence. I turn away and begin to shunpo. Wait! Where are we going?!

To get back up. I respond in a less than pleased manner. If I'm to comb that city and the surrounding area properly with so little to go on, I need more men. I'm at loathe to admit it, but I refuse to let my personal pride get in the way of completing the mission.

So why not just use the Denring- Deneren- ugh. You know what I mean!

I blow some of my hair away from my face as I run in the air. Denreishinkis. If you had been paying attention earlier, you would have realized that they are offline. Interference.

Denreishinkis! That's it. But why not send the underling then?

Why do you think? I am faster. I snap in response- the answer should have been obvious.

But aren't you afraid of him disappearing too while you are away, all the way out here by his lonesome?

Someone must continue the search.

… That's cold~ So cruel, Sui-feng.

I glower at nothing, though I wish it was a certain sassy, big mouthed zanpakuto of mine. ...I never hear of any of the other shinigami having a chatterbox for a zanpakuto. Why do you feel the need to talk into every silence?

'Cause I'm not like the other zanpakuto. Do you want to know why I'm not like the other zanpakuto? I say nothing, not willing to encourage her if she is not willing to give me at least a semi-serious answer. Hey! Don't be rude! Answer me… Answer me!... Fine. You asked for this. BzzzzzzzzBzzzzzzBzzzzzBzzBzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-

Oh, for the love of- Fine! Why are you not like the other zanpakuto?

Because they're so LAME!

I sigh, inwardly and outwardly.

Madarame Ikkaku's POV…

"Alright! Where are you, Ichigo-teme!?" I yell out at the entrance to the City on a Hill, random pedestrians turning around in alarm at the sudden abundance of shinigami at their front door step, and not just any shinigami! "The eleventh division would like to have a word or two with you." I announce, grinning wildly and clutching Huzikamru in hand with roughly a sixth of my division to back me up. This will be fun.

Kuchiki Rukia's POV...

"What? Oh no..." I say, frowning worriedly, but sure enough I can't be mistaken. Many of the eleventh division members are flaring their reiatsu wildly at one of the gates to the city, and I can just make out one of their voices from where Kaien-dono and I are standing. We had let the silver-haired young boy go back to his life a long while back, and were about to give up hope of ever finding the mysterious orange-haired shinigami on our own when they showed up. "Why do you think they're here, Kaien-dono?"

I ask one of my mentors, and now my surrogate father, looking at him out of the corner of one eye. He purses his lips into a thin line. "Same reason we are, I suspect. Rangiku-san. She has never be to good at keeping secrets, especially when sake is involved. The tenth and the eleventh having the same haunt doesn't help matters."

I fully turn to stare at him with my dark eyes, surprised. "But surely Matsumoto-fukutaicho would be extra careful with such delicate information?" I ask, confused and having a hard time that such a kind lieutenant could make such a terrible mistake.

Kaien-dono glances at me before making a regretful shake of his head. "Her, like many others, having been going to the bottle in the recent years in hopes of staving off guilt, fear and similar emotions. Rangiku-san is a good woman who feels strongly responsible for the people of the tenth, and the thirteenth are not the only ones who have lost people in this whole mess."

"I see…" I say quietly, mournfully, wondering how I would deal with the stress if put into a similar situation, wondering… "How do you deal with the stress, Kaien-dono?"

He pauses for a moment and smiles softly at me, taking my hand. "I share the burden with people I can rely on, and spend lots of time with the people I love." He chastely kisses my hand. "Like with you and your surrogate mother. My family is more than enough to keep me going…" I stand there, speechless and touched. This moment would be perfect, if only brother could talk to me this way too. If he could rely on me, and even love… No, of course he does. Why else would he have adopted me, so many years ago?

Because you remind him of his dead wife. That's why he keeps you around, yet only at arms' length, if even that- all for the nostalgia. That terrible little voice of mine reasons at the back of my mind. I've heard the whispers; I've just refused to accept them.

Kaien-dono squeezes my hand, bringing me back to the present. He speaks up in a casual tone, always acting as though he has things well-under control. "Come on, Rukia, let's keep tabs on those ruffians."

Madarame Ikkaku…

Did I miss him? I think grumpily, wondering if my target has already left town and I dragged my ass all the way out here (getting lost two times along the way), only to turn back. "Damn, where is he?!" I snap, kicking an empty wooden wagon over.

"Where's who?" comes the neutral toned voice of a man in strange uniform, not at all like regular shinigami garb. Much too tight, and of a different fabric. He peers at us with a disapproving gaze, backed up by a couple of men in similar garb who seems much more anxious than the one at front. These are no common thugs or gang members, but I'm not sure exactly what they are. They're not even town elders or city militia. I've heard Aizen has some weird ideas and weird people here, but I didn't exactly believe it until now.

Seeing no harm in it, I say, "An orange haired guy in shinigami garb. Seen him?"

"Shinigami garb? No, no one like that here."

I narrow my eyes disbelievingly, feeling the remnants of his spiritual energy all over the place. "You sure about that?" I ask with a threatening edge.

"Yes," is the flat response.

At least the guy gots guts. "Listen…."

"Officer Suzuki."

"Right. I know that teme is here, so don't even try playing dumb. Where is he?"

"No one in shinigami garb with orange hair has been to this city," he repeats calmly.

"You're lying!" I yell, brandishing my zanpakuto dangerously at him, trying to get a reaction.

He doesn't give me one, doesn't even blink. "I promise you sir, I am not. There is none of that description here. Please call off your men and return peacefully to your home."

My eye twitches. "You're really starting to piss me off, ya know? I don't like your attitude."

"I'm sorry to hear that, sir."

Is he seriously mocking me?! I open my mouth to snap at him when I suddenly feel the reiatsu I've been searching for burst back into existence somewhere close by. I grin in anticipation. "You're in luck," I tell the man before running off with some help from shunpo. I find the guy I have been looking for some time later, sticking his head out of some stinking alley way, hair a mess and glancing carefully from left to right. I appear in front of him, laughing. "There you are! Where have you been hiding?" I jeer, grinning at him.

He looks up at me, startled, and takes a step back. "What…."

I roll my eyes good naturedly. "What do you mean what? You didn't honestly think our little spar was the last you'd see of me, didja? You're not half bad in a fight; I don't mind testing the edge of my blade with you every now and again. You can even consider it a lesson in sword fighting, free of charge! Mostly." I laugh boisterously. He laughs along with me, if a little less boisterously.

"Ahahaha- Right. Listen. I'd love too, but I think you have bigger issues right now…" he comments, stepping completely out of the alley way and pointing at something behind me.

Puzzled, I look behind me to see…. a planted cactus next to a wooden building. "Eh?" I turn back around and blink. Ichigo-teme is not there. I glance from side to side to see him running away for all it's worth. "Hey! The hell do you think you're going?" I speed after him.

"Away from you!" he yells back, running now with a low level shunpo.

"I can see that." I point out, exasperated. "What I mean is why?"

"Why do you think?!" He picks up even more speed, and I'm honest-to-Kami puzzled. I know he isn't a coward, and from our interaction he seems to enjoy fighting, so why the sudden change of heart? Determined for an answer and another good fight that I've been craving, I doggedly keep after him.

Unfortunately, he proves to be one slippery son of a bitch. Even when I get some of my division members to help me corner him, it is hard to pin him down thanks to that heavy reiatsu of his that hangs around everywhere. Interesting way of hiding yourself while on the go. I grudgingly admit to myself. I perk up however when I just manage to see Ichigo-teme turn into a narrow street that we have been on before. From experience now, I know that there are only two entrances/exits- this one and another nearby. I motion to one of companions to slip around and cut our target. Getting the idea, he darts off to comply. He should make it in time, as the street curves around towards this direction again later on. With this in mind and inevitable, I eagerly make my way forward, eventually rounding the curve mentioned before-

-smacking right into the guy I told to cut Ichigo-teme off. I stumble, nearly falling, and now my forehead is throbbing. Snarling I slam my fist into a nearby wall, infuriated. "You sneaky bastard, come back here and face me!"

He doesn't.

Shiba Kaien's POV...

We find him backing out of a private residence, apparently having used a window on the other side to escape his (other) pursuers and not being welcomed inside by the sounds of it. "Sorry, sorry, I'm leaving, ok?" he tries to placate the angry women inside, who are currently throwing things at him. He dodges a small tea cup only to be subject to an old shoe a moment later. That hits him square on the forehead and he stumbles back some, dazed. Immediately I step forward catching him by the shoulders and steadying him. He stumbles over his words to apologize to me, regaining his footing and stepping away.

"Hey, no worries," I respond cheerfully as he catches sight of me, eyes widening. "Fancy meeting you here," I comment with a friendly grin, stepping forward to get a better look at him, make sure he isn't hurt-

-and getting punched in the gut for my efforts. Rukia lets out an alarmed yelp and I let out a breathless wheeze. I guess I should've known better. I remark inwardly to myself, watching as the boy runs off the opposite direction from us. Rukia and I had changed back into our uniforms in order to draw respect from the 11th division members scattered about. With their ignorance, they're more likely to ignore me if I started ordering them about without blatantly appearing as a shinigami to them… Of course, this is a double edged sword as I've now discovered…

"Please wait!" Rukia shouts, stepping forward and waving her hands frantically. "We're not going to hurt you!" The boy seems surprised by this and after what seems to be a fierce internal deliberation, decides to stay. Just the same, he draws his zanpakuto (rather sloppily in my opinion, but surprisingly not too bad for a beginner) and tenses, eye flickering between Rukia and I.

Meanwhile I manage to regain some of my breath (the kid's strong!) and offer him an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that; I didn't mean to startle you," I assure while carefully drawing my zanpakuto out, sheathe and all. I watch closely as the child rears back, an alarmed and almost wild look in his eyes. I gently lay Nejibana on the ground and step back, motioning for Rukia to do the same. She complies, though reluctantly. I don't blame her. It goes against everything we shinigami know to leave our zanpakuto somewhere; it goes against our training at the academy, against common sense, and against just our gut instinct… But we'll do it anyway, if that'll help him feel more at ease.

Thankfully it does. He seems a little more wary now, and a little less wild. "We're not here to hurt you." I repeat Rukia's words.

He looks at me doubtfully. "Then what do you want?" he inquires after a tense moment, brows furrowed and brown eyes narrowed.

"To help." I bulldoze forward before he can get a word in edgewise. "I know you must be frightened- I would be too, if there were a bunch of strangers with swords chasing after me. Those lunatics from the eleventh didn't help matters at all…"

"Lunatics from the eleventh…" he repeats slowly, ever so slightly loosening his grip on his zanpakuto. "You mean the bald guy who was chasing me earlier, along with his merry band of nutjobs?"

I crack a smile. "Yes, that's them alright. I'm sorry about that, really. They have no authority to come after you- they did that without consent and on their own volition." I explain patiently. Of course, Rukia and I are doing the same technically, but I wisely decide not to share that tid bit.

He nods stiffly. "Why?" he then asks quietly, shifting from foot to foot restlessly. The small action seems to bring him pain, though I can detect no signs of injuries on him. I read between the lines. Why are you trying to help me?

"Because…" I say slowly. "Not only are you someone in need," I start, looking him in the eyes."You are also more similar to us than you might think and have helped my family and I more than you can imagine." Now the boy seems confused, but also curious and willing to listen. I give him an encouraging smile and while suggesting, "Why don't we just relax for a moment, maybe find someplace indoors, and you can ask us all the questions you'd like?" He pauses, but after a lengthy hesitation he begins to straighten from his defensive stance and lower his zanpakuto, seeming hopeful.

A swift, sudden attack from above quickly ends that notion on both sides.

Soifon's POV…

I pull back in frustration when my well timed and perfectly executed kick is blocked with a speed and readiness of which I don't expect. From the looks of it, he didn't expect any of this either, and reacted on pure instinct and succeeded on dumb luck. I had meant that blow to render him incapacitated for retrieval- with my uncertainty of what has happened to my subordinate and the sudden onslaught of brutes from the 11th, it is too risky to play nice... Yut it seems like things are going to be a bit more difficult now. Fine, as long as I know where he is. I grumble internally, readying for another assault when I hear a cry of protest.

"Soifon-taicho, stop this now!" A familiar voice has the gall to order me, and I briefly glance to see Shiba-fukutaicho glaring at me along with his Kuchiki pet, both with an expression of mixed concern and outrage.

I grudgingly drawback, not willing to fight a fight on three fronts just yet. The Shiba clan is just crazy enough to try something stupid like that, and they are one of the main, five noble families after all. From a lesser noble family, I am obligated to show the Shiba clan leader respect. "Shiba-fukutaicho," I greet with a stiff (but low) bow, all the while keeping a close eye on the target and being sure to address the raven haired Shiba by his military title. "This task has been delegated to my division and I. Please step aside." The Thirteenth Division members have positioned themselves in front of the target, much to my ire. The target himself is just as described, minus the uniform.

"Yes, but it may also be considered a diplomatic mission." Shiba replies with his usual quick thinking and wit. Damn him. "As Kuchiki Rukia and I are currently training with each other off duty, my role as clan leader takes precedence, in which case I have complete authority to speak for the Soul Society if I come across a dire situation that I feel requires my attention." Again, damn him.

"You are in uniform…?"

"Merely to make sure the Eleventh Division members are aware that I am not to be argued with." I could argue with this logic. At the same time I know in the end it'll get me nowhere.

"Sir," I say, trying my hardest to be reasonable and to keep a respectful tone. "You are not fully aware of the situation at hand. It'd be best for the safety of everyone, including the boy, if we do not waste time on niceties and bring him back to the Seireitei- immediately." I don't like sharing revealing even that much, but if it'll convince him to comply, I'll do it. There are too many unknowns in all of this, and arguing while twiddling our thumbs is not going to help matters.

He narrows his sea green eyes at me. "Then explain it to me."

We can't waste anymore time! But I bite my tongue and only glower at him in return, inwardly debating on an adequate response.

"Because the way I see it…" he goes on when I don't answer instantly. "You decided it was a great idea to attack a young child I was already speaking to, and who was just about to settle down to have a civil conversation with. What in the name of the Soul King drove you to do that?" He inquires, voice dangerously low. I grit my teeth, attempting to reign back my feelings with some difficulty.

"There you are you orange-haired ba-AH- UGFH!... Soifon-taicho!" Comes the alarmed, muffled exclamation from underfoot. I squint down at him as I would at an ant, my foot planted on the back of his head. I let him up and he scrambles back, a tooth missing and some blood flowing from his mouth. He quakes like a leaf under the combined acidic gazes of Shiba Kaien and I.

"And Clan Head Shiba! I didn't know-"

I scoff loudly. "Stop your blubbering, fool. Who are you?"

"Madarame Ikkaku." Behind him a few of his comrades round the corner, wearing identical idiotic looks of glee, only for their expressions to rapidly transform to ones of horror as they abruptly rush to stumble backwards and out of view.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes some. "Of….?"

"Of the Eleventh Division!" Even in his current position, the moron can't help but puff his chest out in pride.

I snort quietly. Figures. I'm about to tell him off when Kuchiki makes this Kami-awful squeaking noise and tentatively exclaims, "Kaien-dono, Soifon-taicho!" I turn to see her pointing at… nothing? My eyes widen. The target is gone. In the distance behind me I can just make out a flurry of unsettled dust, where he must have shunpoed through only a brief moment before.

Great. Just great.

-DIVIDER-

Hitsugaya Toshiro's POV… Several minutes later.

"For the last time, stop laughing and tell me why I'm being followed by a bunch of asshole shinigami out for my blood!" A smack sends the already beaten and near toothless shinigami sprawling backwards. I wince, looking on with nervousness from behind the corner of a wooden home, abandoned for the day are off no doubt diligently laboring away at their job. Taking opportunity of the temporarily abandoned neighborhood, my wayward new friend has dragged in his former pursuer for, er, questioning. Neither has seen me yet, and I'd like to keep it that way. I would like to give Ichigo-san the benefit of the doubt, but in all honesty, it isn't looking good for him. The shinigami wouldn't bother with someone like Ichigo unless he did something majorly wrong, right? Or not. To my relief, it starting to seem to be the latter. Ichigo-san has no idea why he is being sought after by the shinigami and seems hopelessly confused and more than a little panicked by it.

The shinigami spits up blood and chuckles, still dribbling the substance. I wrinkle my nose in disgust. "They really weren't kidding. Yer crazy good, 'specially for a kid! Barely saw you coming." My eyes widen. Is Ichigo really that fast? To be able to out strip a death god in terms of speed? Unless…. I stare down at my hands. Unless he's like me. Unless he has the potential to become a shinigami too.

My attention snaps back up when the agitated Ichigo-san takes the beaten shinigami by his collar, hoisting him up to the air and shaking his sword in a vaguely threatening manner with his other hand. "That's not an answer."

"Pft- Isn't it obvious?" The blood coated shinigami, face pierced with several silver ornaments, sneers challengingly at the mercenary in front of him. "We came to fight you! To see if you're really worthy of all that praise Madarame gave you." His speech is pretty garbled, though I am fairly sure this is what he said after some brief deliberation.

"Who?" Ichigo-kun asks gruffly, scowling in bewilderment. "Hey! I asked you a question." No answer, even after a harsh shaking. The guy has fallen unconscious, leaving Ichigo-san with a look unease.

Mustering my courage and taking a deep breath, I step slightly out from behind my cover. "Over here!" I whisper fiercely, trying to gain his attention.

I succeed. He whirls around, unceremoniously dropping the shinigami as he goes. "What…?"

I give a small huff, motioning him to follow me. "Come with me. I know this city better than any shinigami! I can get you out of here." I slip back between the gap in the buildings. If he doesn't follow, that's fine. It would save me the trouble. Offering to help a fugitive get away from shinigami… Have I gone mad?! But despite my misgivings, I find my heart pumping in excitement- I've never felt this way before.

In the end, he does follow me. After a brief hesitation, and hearing the closer-than-he-would-probably-like sounds of some authoritative figure dishing out orders, Ichigo-san rounds the corner and follows me. I lead the way, weaving through the narrowest of gaps between buildings, through private gardens and abandoned buildings. Unfortunately though, we can't keep this up forever. I purse my lips, peering out from underneath a trap door at the dusty street in front of it. I've taken him through an old cellar Yasuda's men previously used for storing less-than legal goods. The cellar is actually a bunch of basements they had connected to store more and spanned several blocks, but we have now reached the last optimal exit, since beyond here it caved in.

I turn my head slightly to see the older male waiting patiently behind me. I can just imagine the oppressive anxiety he must be feeling, but surprisingly enough after I offered my help, he seems be largely impassive at this whole situation. "What's next?" he inquires quietly, resolutely. Putting his complete trust and faith in me. An odd, almost happy feeling wells up in me at the thought, but is swiftly doused at the knowledge of what we have to do next.

"There's no other way. To get to the next cellar, we'll have to pass the street in front of us. It seems abandoned now, but…" We both can hear the padding of feet in the distance. Several feet.

He nods curtly, striding forward. "I'll just have to take that chance… Tell me where it is, you don't have to risk yourself for my sake. You've done more than enough." I glance up at the orange-haired older boy in surprise. If I was in his position, I would take any advantage I could get… I mull over his proposal.

"... I still want to help you, but maybe it'd be for the best if we crossed separately…"

"Fine by me. Where's the next cellar?" I describe him the entrance, hidden underneath the front porch of the house just across the street.

"Ok, got it. I'll go first." I silently agree and step back a few paces, giving him some room. I hold my breath when a few seconds later he slips out, closing the door with barely a creak behind him. Listening intently, I uneasily wait for any sign of my friend being found out, but to my relief hear nothing. Relaxing, I inch my way toward the rotting, wooden trapdoor and peek out. The cost is clear. With ease, I slip out and make my way across the dusty road.

A hand encloses around my upper arm, a hand belonging to a person who wasn't there a split second before. "Hitsugaya-kun."

Crap! I think internally, recognizing the person to be Shiba Kaien, one of the shinigami I meet earlier on… and is currently searching for Ichigo. It's alright. I can play this off, he can't see Ichigo anyways. Ichigo's already in the other cellar. He'll be fine. I'll be fine.

"Shiba… sama." I greet politely, offering a bow and peering belatedly up at the man. He is accompanied by that girl again, I note.

Shiba smiles at me and returns the bow, although as station and status dictates, it is not as low as mine. "I'm surprised to see you here with all the chaos currently," he admits. "Didn't you say you live somewhere just outside the city?"

I nod. "Visiting a friend," I explain shortly. True enough… I add silently, careful to keep my gaze on them and from wondering to Ichigo's current hiding place.

He seems to accept this readily enough. "I heard you may be joining us in the Seireitei. Is that right?"

"That is right. I've actually decided I will." His expression brightens and he pats me lightly on one shoulder.

"Congratulations then! If you ever need any help with anything, feel free to stop by the Shiba compound sometime. We aren't near as stuffy as the other nobles, and actually love visitors."

"I'll keep that in mind." I promise with another bow, this one of gratitude.

"Be sure to do that… Say, Hitsugaya-kun, have you seen Ichigo-san since the last time we spoke? I know he may not want to speak with me at the moment, but to just know he is safe…? He may be in some serious danger at the moment, and we're worried." For all intents and purposes the noble seems completely sincere, and he will soon be my superior in the military… It would only be wise to trust him, and could only benefit me later on to tell him what he wants to know… What's Ichigo to me, anyways? I barely know him. Helping him doesn't better my life in any way… right?

"No, sir," I reply mostly stoically, but with a hint of regret. "I barely know the man." How true. I've really gone insane. Why am I doing this?

"Well, we don't want to hold you up from visiting your friend… One last thing though. When would you like to be picked up by Rangiku-san?"

"Whenever she can come, please." I can't afford myself any more time than that. The dreams, if that's what they indeed are, are getting worse.

"Right then, I'll be sure to tell her. It'd be for the best if you get home quick Hitsugaya-kun." I promise I will and he smiles, waving as he begins to stroll away. Kuchiki-sama pauses to wish me well before following. I wish them farewell and idly stroll towards my original destination, but am sure to completely avoid this trap door. I'll join Ichigo-san through another entrance further up ahead, when I am definitely out of view.

Shiba Kaien's POV…

A sparse minute after the encounter the 2nd division duo lands at my side, Soifon and her masked compatriot. "You do realize he was lying." It's not a question. "Why did you let him go?" The petite captain inquires coldly.

It's hard to tell where exactly Ichigo is, his reiatsu signature being less of a dot and more of an area of fluctuating spiritual pressure. However it was pretty plain to see by the way that it especially stuck to Hitsugaya-kun that they had been in direct contact, and rather recently too. "I have an idea that should satisfy everyone." Turning to face the woman, I patiently explain to her the details. As I do so, her eyebrows slowly raise in interest, and maybe even some appreciation, although I can still detect some agitation under the surface. My plan probably takes much more time than she would prefer, but the perks may outweigh it all if done correctly.

Her response is clipped and confident. "I see… No time to waste then."

Hitsugaya Toshiro's POV…

I let out a small sigh of relief as Granny's and my cottage comes into view. "Well, we're out." I glance back at him. Strangely enough, he doesn't even look relieved. He just scowls and nods his understanding. I grind my teeth in nervousness, looking away. I would offer him to stay at my place for awhile, but I need to remember that if we're found out, I'm not the only who would be in trouble. So would Granny. "It's not safe anywhere near here… But I suppose I could give you enough supplies to get you some ways away."

He blinks down at me in grateful surprise, that scowl easing up slightly. "I'd appreciate it. Already do actually- what you've done for me is beyond brave, and more than I could ever ask for." His words sounds earnest and genuine as he nods, as if to emphasize the point.

A rare, entirely sincere smile makes its way across my features at the sentiment. Heroic. He's saying I'm heroic. "You're welcome…" An idea comes to mind and I slyly add, "Ichigo."

He sputters a bit, blatantly flabbergasted. "What?"

I smirk. "Surprised? You really shouldn't be. You know my name after all, don't you?" I point out, remembering how he said me by my given name the last we saw each other. I wonder who he heard it from, and am about to ask him this when he speaks up.

He clears his throat, straightening his posture. "No offense, but… no, not really." He seems extremely sheepish as he admits this. "Have we… met before?"

"Er…." I stare blankly. Is this some type of bad joke? "You don't remember me?" I inquire dubiously, the smirk slipping off my face in a mixture of confusion and indignation, although mostly the former for the time being.

"It's not just you," he is quick to assure me, and I don't know whether to be relieved or just plain baffled by his words. He continues. "It's everything. I don't remember anything."

Girl-of-Action- For those who are currently panicking- don't panic. And don't form any angry mobs, please. *hides* Remember, this is still Ichigo through and through. Same lovable personality and haphazard, but powerful fighting techniques… More or less. He's just a bit, um, amnesic at the moment. Keep the faith, is all I'll say about that here!

Lemme make something clear regarding Gin real quick. I am not trying to make him into a 'good' guy. He's not good. Far from it. However, he's not entirely evil either. He has his own twisted sense of morality. That being said he'll try to avoid murdering/harming innocents unless Aizen directly orders him otherwise. He'll even be kind to some people who amuse him from time to time, though that doesn't mean he necessarily cares for these people. The list of those he truly holds dear is very short to say the least.

Now for Soifon…. I've noticed how many fics like to expand on her, erm… Well, there's no nice way to put this. Her bitch-y qualities. I'm not trying to do this, although it may kinda seem that way after the little stunt she pulled in this chapter. I don't particularly like or dislike her myself, but I feel like I understand where she is coming from and doesn't deserved to be bashed. That's one of the reasons why I added her POVs to this chapter. If you think about it, there are several logical reasons why she'd avoid 'playing nice' like the Shibas are. She's a soldier first and foremost. Unlike Kaien and Rukia, she's never had the opportunity to be anything but. (This is why I feel her zanpakuto is so childish actually, but that's a discussion for another time). What's a soldier/assassin's duty? Complete their mission at all cost. What's Soifon's mission? Bring Ichigo safely to the Seireitei. In this chapter I'm pretty sure I laid out some solid reasons to why then, from a stealth force agent's point view, the way she went about it is for the best. If given the right incentive however, she can be convinced to change tactics…

Moving on, a big thank you to Harbinger of Kaos, Accursius, Cute Kirby and Tenshi, who have been kind enough to discuss the story with me beyond that of reviews. Thanks guys!

Thanks as well to the community "The Gates of Infinity" for adding this story to their list!

And thank you to all of my readers for your favorites/follows/views and reviews. To those reviewers who I couldn't respond to via pm, I will now respond to below.

KK: Ichigo hasn't had the chance to prove himself worthy of being treated as an equal to this Soul Society... so until he does they'll be treating him as the very young child people decades if not centuries older will naturally view him to be… Excluding certain people, that is. *cough*11thDivision*cough*. Anyways, glad to hear you're enjoying it! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing~

Skyray: That's the spirit! You know, at one point I actually wrote an AU fanfic with a genderbent Ichigo. I got 7 chapters in, and realized it was really the same plot as canon with a few changes. Scraped the whole thing, and so happy I never posted it. Beyond Death on the other hand went completely AU at the very first chapter.
Thanks for reading and reviewing, Skyray. ^^

Guest #1: This is some good insight! I guarantee you that this matter will be brought up sometime within the next few chapters. :D Thank you for reading and reviewing.

125b: Slow moving? If you are speaking of update time, couldn't agree more. However, if you are speaking plot-wise…? It may be taking Ichigo some time to actually get to the Seireitei, but there are very good reasons for this and I'd hardly call these first ten chapters 'slow'. Either way though, I still appreciate you fav/following. ^^

Guest #2: Lol, I totally understand where you are coming from. When I was thinking of a way for Ichigo to die… I didn't exactly want to use a dramatic final battle- I felt that would be too unoriginal and expected. At the same time, I still wanted something traumatic (to a point) that also allowed Ichigo some time to think before he died… Geez, sounds so harsh when I write it down, but there it is. x3 Ichigo himself though was just as disbelieving as you are. The thought of him dying in anything that wasn't of a fight or peacefully in his old age never crossed his mind.
Even if you didn't continue with the story and will never read this, I still thank you for checking out Beyond Death. :)

Guest #3: First off, just wanted to give some credit where credit is due and say that it is your comment that really got me motivated and through a tough writer's block. It was great to hear how excited you are for my story, as well as your hopes for Beyond Death. You made some wonderful points regarding those three characters. Rest assured that they will reach that point, but it will take quite a bit of character development along the way. Remember, in canon it took Ichigo /years/, several trials and a certain shinigami to help him reach that point… So even with his death, I doubt that they'd suddenly decide to get along.
Of course, now that Ichigo lost his memories and they all have a fresh start, things might go quicker...
Thank you for reading and reviewing~ :3

Okay guys, I've lost count of how many times I've said thank you in this author's note. Pretty sure you get the gist now~ Instead I'll end this by saying Ja ne~ (Cya~)... and HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^-^ Anybody have any New Year's resolutions? Mine is to have faster update times for this story… And to finish the next college semester with straight As. Wish me luck, please, gotta feeling I'll need it. O~O

P.S. Recently I joined a Bleach, text based rpg called 'Bleach Soul'. It's still needs a great deal of work, but I'm convinced the more members it has, the better it'll be. It can be played for free and has so much potential. If you're interested, check it out here. www . bleach-soul . com