Chapter 53: Gotei 13 Invading Arc: Move Out

Minata's POV

"Master, is there something wrong?"

"I'm just feeling a little unsettled, that's all." I say as I look up at the sky. We were sitting on the roof of Urahara's shop, biding our time as we waited for Ichigo to come back from the Dangai. Everyone else was inside waiting for his return, but I decided to wait out here in the fresh air.

It was getting a little stuffy in there.

"You think Ichigo will be successful on his mission?"

"If he wants to gain his powers back, he must be."

When Urahara told the rest of us that he figured out a way for Ichigo to gain back some of his powers, we were all rendered speechless at what he had to say. Honestly, who would walk into the Dangai just so they could be swallowed by the Kototsu? Like, really?

Urahara managed to explain the specifics of the plan before anyone could voice even a hint of displeasure, but still, even after the explanation, the plan still sounded a little crazy to my ears.

"Kurosaki has proven that he can be quite determined when he puts his mind to it."

"Of course he has," I say in complete agreement. "If he wasn't, Byakuya would be down a sister."

"Speaking of Byakuya, do you think he and the other captains are okay?"

"That, my dear zanpakuto, is what I'm unsettled about." I slowly admit as I lay back on my elbows. Ever since Byakuya and the others left to infiltrate the Sereitei, I've been feeling a little on edge, as if I had an instinctual feeling that things really weren't going well for them right now.

. . . Then again, when was the last time things went smoothly for our side anyway?

Not wanting to dwell on dark thoughts, I turn to see Mizukiri with a wistful look on her face. Usually, the only reason she had that look these days was due to a certain masked samurai. "Thinking about Senbonzakura again?"

"Maybe . . ." she mumbles as she looks away, probably to hide the blush that was no doubt coloring her face.

"Is that why you asked about Byakuya and the other captains? Because you're worried about him specifically?"

"A little . . ." she grumbles as she continued to look away. I couldn't help but smile at the way she was acting. Senbonzakura had started courting her around the same time Byakuya started courting me, and their courtship did not go ignored by the other spirits. Most of them have been quite supportive of the two's relationship, but Haineko and Kazeshini can't help but tease them about it every once in a while, especially Haineko. "Senbonzakura is just like Byakuya in demeanor, but he tends to reflect his younger self at times, especially when he's angry or irritated. Chimpette and Snakey can attest to that . . . Hopefully he doesn't do anything stupid."

"He's with Byakuya. He never does anything stupid when he's around him. Trust me," I say with a smirk as I dust myself off. "C'mon, let's head inside. Maybe Ichigo came back while we were up here."

We both leap down to ground level, just as the door slid open to reveal an emerging Renji. He was still a little banged up after Inaba's attack in the park earlier, but at least he was standing on his feet.

"Oi Minata, I was just about to come and get ya. Ichigo came back!"

"Oh good!" I say as I step onto the porch. "Was his mission successful?"

"As successful as it could be," he tells me as we walk further into the building, Mizukiri silently following behind us. "He's not at the same level that we're all used to seeing from him, but it should be enough for however long this ordeal with that Inaba guy lasts."

When we finally reached Urahara's underground bunker, everyone was already ready to go, waiting by two senkaimons. One was the official looking senkaimon that we're all used to going through, and the other was the personal one of Urahara's own making.

"Oh good, we're all here now," says the scientist, now serious rather than his usual witty, charismatic self. "While Ichigo, Kon, and I sneak into the Soul Society through the natural senkaimon, the rest of you will travel through my personal one and act as a distraction while we infiltrate the 12th Division barracks. With Inaba now having Nozomi in his clutches, his focus will be on her more than anyone else. That's a distraction for him, and we're going to use it to the fullest."

"Have there been any word from the others in the Soul Society yet?"

"Sorry Lieutenant Matsumoto, I still haven't gotten any word from them, but knowing them, they're too stubborn to be defeated at this point, some more than others. . . I think they're fine," he says, just as the personal senkaimon opens up. "Alright everyone, it's time for you guys to move out!"

"Damn, it's like he's almost kicking us out of his place at this point." I couldn't help but chuckle at Renji's comment as we started going through the door like a quiet procession, with Madarame and Hisagi taking lead.

"Well, he has mentioned to me that you do act like a freeloader whenever you visit the Human World." I was quick to say, just to see what his reaction would be.

"He, he TOLD YOU THAT?!"

"Oh, come on. You should have seen this one coming!"

Yeah . . . He didn't disappoint.


Byakuya's POV

"So, what's this I hear about you courting a certain Fukudome heiress?"

"It's none of your business Yoruichi." I was quick to say as the dark skinned werecat approached me from my left. We were staying at the Shiba compound at the moment to rest and recover after the tides turned in Inaba's favor during the battle in the 12th Division barracks. Yoruichi had been quietly observing me during our entire stay, as if she wanted to ask me something but didn't have the words for it yet.

. . . Well, until now.

"None of my business?" she asks, acting slightly offended. "Well, that may be true, but did you really expect me to hear about the newfound relationship between two of my former students from third parties, and NOT get interested? If that's the case Byaku-bo, you don't know me as well as you think you do after all."

"She does make a good point master."

My only response to my zanpakuto was to simply glare at him, particularly in a stone-cold fashion.

"Come now Byakuya. I'm only teasing." she says with a cat-like grin. "Besides, I had a feeling that you and Mina would hook up eventually."

"Oh, did you now?"

"Why yes . . . I was so confident about it, I made a bet with Kyoraku about it when I was still a captain. I could say more, but I don't want to bog you down with the details." she says I resisted the urge to frown, not because I wanted to show disapproval of her thinking that I couldn't handle the details, but because she and Kyoraku made a bet about Mina and me in the first place. "Anyway, yes, I did have a feeling that you would eventually court Minata. The connection between you two has been so apparent over the years, you would have to be blind to not see it coming. It may have taken years, decades even, but it happened, like I thought it would . . . Still, I must ask: your elders didn't push you into it, did they?"

"No; the decision was all our own."

"Excellent! Now then, we need to get moving. It's time to head out, and the others are ready to go."

I make no move to follow Yoruichi. Instead, I watch her until she disappears, my mind going over the conversation we just had, particularly the line where she mentions my supposed 'connection' to Minata.

"Master, what do you suppose that was about?"

"I do not know exactly Senbonzakura, but I think that was Yoruichi saying she approves of my courting of Minata . . . At least, I think it was."

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