Hey everyone, we got another chapter out and ready for you. This is a bit of an interlude, the calm before the storm sort of thing. Don't you worry, we'll get to the cool fights soon enough, next chapter in fact. I hope you all enjoy.

Thanks once again to Greatkingrat88 (for writing) and jcampbellohten (for being our Beta)

Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun.

"So, just how much do you remember?"

Isane's voice was calm, dispassionate, and without judgment. Erza, seated on a comfortable chair in the vice-captain's office, had come to see her the moment she had gotten back from the world of the living, practically dragging Isane away from her duties. She had not even stopped by her Fifth Division office, or even reported to Yamamoto. She was due to do so today, but right now, she needed help.

"It... it's mostly a blur," Erza murmured, repeating something she was sure she had said three times already. "I- I remember realizing who he was, and then... then..."

"Then it all becomes difficult."

Erza nodded weakly. Isane looked her in the eyes.

"Erza, forgive me if I'm being presumptuous- and stop me if I am- but do you really remember nothing, or is that what is more comfortable to tell yourself?"

No more lies.

"I do remember things," she admitted after taking a deep breath, "just... in a haze. Kind of like being drunk, I guess. I mean, not really, but... it's the best I can think of."

Isane nodded. "So, you engaged the arrancar?"

Erza nodded. "I lost my mind. The gentei kaijou lifted, I got my full powers, and then..."

She shook her head, hanging it low in shame.

"I beat him to death. With my bare hands. I think... I think he had no chance. He begged me to stop, but I didn't. I kept... I kept pounding his head until it was pulp. Even when he died, I didn't... I didn't..."

"You're safe here," Isane said reassuringly, "and you can stop if you want to."

"No," Erza said, her voice shaky. "No, I need to recognize what I did. I... Momo eventually snapped me out of it. That's the whole of it, Isane. What do you make of it?" She said the words, dreading- and needing- the answer.

"What is your concern, Erza?" asked Isane, her voice calm and even. "What is it you're afraid of?"

"Have I lost my mind, that's what I'm asking, all right?!" Erza snapped. "I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, but..."

She groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"Right," said Isane, and sighed. "While this is very... out of character for you, this does not, by your description, match any kind of psychosis or mental illness. It sounds more like a mental breakdown, the kind intense stress might produce."

Erza looked at her friend, feeling tremendous relief.

"You think it was because this was the hollow that killed your friends?" Isane continued.

"...Yeah," Erza muttered. "I mean, what else? That- that thing, what he did... I mean..."

"It was immensely traumatic and had a severe impact on you as a person."

"Yeah," Erza nodded.

"However convenient an answer that is, I do not believe that is the cause."

"What?" said Erza, surprised, almost angry. "That's the same bastard who killed my friends!"

"And you saw me in therapy for years for that," Isane countered. "You processed your grief in a healthy way. You still visit their graves. Tell me, Erza, did you often think of revenge? Of crushing this monster, making him suffer like you suffered? When you think of your friends, is that what comes next in your mind?"

"...No," Erza muttered, "I think about the long nights when Marisa helped me study, about Remon's pessimism, Sensuke's joking manners... I think about the way they were. I think about it and I feel both happy and sad at the same time."

"Have you ever thought of revenge?"

"...No," Erza said, realizing it was true, "revenge wouldn't make anything better for anyone."

"And yet you snapped."

"Where are you going with this?"

"Erza," said Isane firmly, "you processed that grief, but then you went on to carry Aizen's secrets for- well, for many years, I assume. You, a person characterized by her preference for forthrightness and honesty, forced to keep secrets. Forced to live with the idea of violence against the order your friends were part of. Then, to make matters worse, you were cast out and you lost your friends for twenty years. In that time, did you ever talk about it with anyone else? Did you ever try and process it?"

"...No. I kept it to myself. It was my burden to bear."

Isane nodded. "That does sound like you. But you've suffered real grief for twenty years, on top of having to go against your nature for god knows how long, and now you're back with everything you need... but it's all still there. Am I correct?"

"...I guess, yeah."

"I won't elaborate on how bad it is," said Isane slowly, "but you've kept a lot bottled up inside you. I believe, based on what you've told me, that it was this stress that caused your breakdown, not an old grudge."

"So... I'm fine?"

Isane shook her head. "I wouldn't say that. You're not mentally ill, but in order to avoid further incidents, some action needs to be taken. Normally I would recommend a leave of absence, but unfortunately, I am quite sure the captain-commander would overrule me the moment he heard of it. So instead, I'll order this: therapy three times a week, no matter what, unless you're out on a long-term mission or we're actually in the midst of armed conflict."

"But we're preparing for war," Erza objected.

"And still you made the time to come here, because you needed help," Isane replied. "If we have to, there's quite a lot we can do, isn't there?"

"Three times a week," Erza repeated thoughtfully, "for how long?"

"Until I think you're healthy."

"That could take years," Erza said with a weak smile. Isane being there for her, here and now, had uplifted her troubled mind considerably.

"Then it will take years."

"Thank you," Erza said simply.

"What are doctors for?" said Isane, smiling back.

"Report."

Yamamoto's tone was short, commanding, and Erza made ready to obey. He would not tolerate hesitance. She had reported to his personal office, and aside from himself, only Soifon was present. New intelligence had to be evaluated by the most relevant authorities, it seemed. Erza stood to attention, hands clasped behind her back.

"The night before yesterday, there was a sudden burst of spiritual activity in Karakura Town. As I was present along with vice-captain Hinamori, I immediately investigated. We recognized the spiritual make-up as that of multiple hollows- ten in total- except different, far advanced. These were the arrancar. Confident in their power, they waited for our arrival. Along with the human assets we secured as part of the deal following Aizen's revelation of treachery, we engaged them directly. I took on their leader while Hinamori and our allies tackled the rest."

"Then what?" Yamamoto demanded.

"I... I should add," Erza said, her voice quieting, almost stumbling.

"Speak up," Yamamoto said firmly.

No more lies.

"Their leader was the same hollow that once butchered my friends from academy, sir," Erza said, taking a deep breath. "I confess I... lost my temper. I wound up killing him very thoroughly."

While losing my mind in the process. That much, she was not ready to admit to.

"Never mind that," Yamamoto scoffed. "Did you take any prisoners?"

"It did not occur to me, sir. I was... distracted."

Yamamoto grumbled. "Shame. It would have been as good of an opportunity as we ever had to gain inside information on the workings of Aizen's new army."

"With respect, sir," said Erza, "I do not believe they would have yielded much useful information. They were all... weak. Originally Gillian, according to the data my vice-captain sent to Twelfth for preliminary evaluation."

Twelfth hated her, of course, but Nozomi did not. Having friends in the right places helped.

"Weak? Your initial report, signed by your vice-captain, described them as monstrously powerful," Soifon said sharply.

"They were," Erza said cautiously. "I suspect they were, for their rank. But, we lost nobody. I believe these were among the weakest Aizen had to send."

"Conclude the report," ordered Yamamoto.

"Yes, sir. I engaged the leader, and in the meantime our allies each fought and killed one each, with the exception of the quincy, who managed to eliminate four by himself. After the threats were neutralized, I secured the area and my vice-captain reported back."

"Why not yourself?" Soifon asked.

"I was... overwhelmed," Erza admitted. "Personal grief. Old wounds."

"That's enough of that. Conclude," Yamamoto cut in.

"As you know, another day of vigilance and investigation was requested. Unfortunately, it yielded nothing."

Yamamoto nodded. "These arrancar. Describe them."

"They are much like the arrancar we know, from what little our files have yielded across the years, but... stronger. Leaner, meaner, and more powerful, just like Urahara Kisuke's theory suggested. They possessed several enhanced abilities, like especially tough skin, acting like armour, or the ability to fire off cero with ease and with speed. They by all means look like a perfection of the natural hollow process of evolution."

"And if stronger ones appear?"

"I can't be sure," Erza said, shaking her head, "only I know it will take better fighters than our allies to hold them off. May I make a suggestion, captain-commander?"

"You may."

"I would like us to remove the gentei kaijou entirely until the war is over, sir. These lower ranked arrancar were dangerous enough, and the thought of facing a stronger breed at one fifth of our power... the time it takes to unseal would make it dangerous, perhaps even lethal."

"A fair proposal," Yamamoto said, and nodded sagely. "I will give it due consideration."

"Why strike Karakura?" Soifon wondered aloud. "What does he gain from it?"

"That, commander of the stealth force, ought to be you answering, not asking," said Yamamoto sternly. A bit surprised to be put on the spot, Soifon continued.

"It could very well be random chance, but I find it unlikely. Karakura town has long been a hub of spiritual activity, and I can think of only a handful of areas with similar levels of power attached to them. There is also the personal connection of Captain Scarlet."

"You think he targeted it because it's my home?" said Erza sharply.

"You would know better than most," said Yamamoto.

"I... maybe," Erza said confusedly. The thought hadn't occurred to her yet, not with everything else going on, but Aizen was certainly capable of such villainy. But he never did anything without purpose...

"His aim at this point must be considered unknown," Soifon said, "although I do not believe it is a coincidence he chose that place to make his first move. Whether it is to twist the knife in an old wound or because it is significant."

"I agree," Erza muttered. "The bastard never does anything by mistake."

"In light of both your expertise," said Yamamoto firmly, "I hereby order a task force to be assembled to counter living-world threats from Aizen's army. Our duty is to protect the living, after all, and we cannot afford to sit idly by while Aizen ravages their world. It was good luck you were in place, Captain Scarlet- or maybe not, but that's irrelevant- but the next time, we must be ready."

"To station soldiers there at this time? Based only on the one attack? Captain-commander, what if Aizen strikes elsewhere?" Soifon interjected.

"Then we will redeploy," said Yamamoto gruffly. "This is a provocation that cannot go unanswered. The Gotei has been challenged, and it will not back down."

"It would have to be multiple captain-class fighters. Three at a minimum, to ensure mission success. Can we afford to do so at this juncture?" said Soifon.

"We cannot afford not to do so," Yamamoto said sternly. "Erza Scarlet. This is your home town, or it was for twenty years. Do you know it well?"

"Fairly well, yes," Erza said, a bit surprised.

"I understand you have seen Vice-captain Kotetsu for an evaluation. Are you fit for duty?"

"She said as much, yes," Erza concurred.

"Then I appoint you to head this taskforce. Take as many officers as you like, with the exception that you may not take more than half of our captains and vice-captains from their post."

Erza blinked. This was an almost unheard of responsibility, a military operation of a scale not seen in centuries. Captains rarely ventured into the field more than one at a time, their power being as great as it was. The thought of assembling half of the remaining captains... it would be an undertaking that would turn into legend.

"Captain-commander, I..." she said, at a loss for words.

"Understand that you are given considerable trust here," said Yamamoto sternly, "and it is only being given because this area is well known to you. If you are compromised, or unfit for leadership, your second in command will relieve you. Understood?"

"Understood," Erza said firmly. "Starting when, and for how long?"

"I want a team assembled and deployed no later than tomorrow, to stay indefinitely. The stealth force will continually update you about recent developments, and you will brief them in return. You stay there for at least a week, perhaps longer. We know not when Aizen will make his move, but we will be ready for it."

Erza nodded. "Yes, sir!"

"Dismissed, both of you," said Yamamoto.

"Understood, sir," Soifon said, and bowed. Erza did not bow, herself, but both of them quickly stepped out of his office. As the door close behind them, Soifon shot her a look.

"What?" said Erza. "Was I being too disrespectful for you again?"

"Yes," Soifon said offhandedly, "but that is beside the point."

"Which is?"

"...It's nothing, really," Soifon said and shrugged, turning around. "I have too much to do to waste my time, anyhow."

Soifon was not a very pleasant person, even after Yoruichi's return had caused her to ease up, but Erza still felt some sympathy for her. Raised to be a servant, having to deal with abandonment... not everyone would turn out good-natured after something like that.

"You wondered about something, enough to call my attention to it," said Erza, "and you do not strike me as the kind of person who would do that frivolously."

"I am not," Soifon said, her tone short.

"So, ask."

Soifon turned to face Erza, and stared her in the eye. "It's personal, which makes it an obnoxious waste of paid work time."

"Then why ask?"

Soifon sighed. "It's about..."

"Yoruichi."

Of course it was. Who else?

"I have been made aware that Lady Yoruichi and yourself were close during your absence."

"We were good friends, yes," said Erza. "I used to spar with her. Before the kids grew up, she was one of the few people I considered a reliable friend."

"What was she like?"

Erza felt a little uncomfortable. As cold and professional as the little captain of Second came across, this was something deeply important to her, and what Erza said could impact her, negatively or positively.

"She was... devious. Light-hearted. I never saw her sad. It was easy to see why she got along with Urahara."

"I see," Soifon said, narrowing her eyes.

"But they're not much alike, aside from that deviousness," Erza added. "She's outgoing, friendly, and charismatic. She puts you at ease. Urahara Kisuke makes you suspicious, makes you feel like he's hiding something from you, because he usually is. Yoruichi... she was somebody I felt I could trust."

"I thought the same once."

"Soifon," said Erza solemnly, "I cannot speak to what happened between you and her, but I will tell you this: as good-natured as she is, as kind as she seemed, I always got the sense that she never relaxed around others. Not fully. It was like she always... kept a bit of distance. I didn't know it then, but now I can see why. She missed you, and she felt guilty; that is what I believe."

"She told me," Soifon mumbled. "I... should not have doubted her."

"I would have, too," Erza added hastily. "It's not her fault, and not yours, either."

Soifon nodded. "I suppose that satisfies my curiosity."

Erza looked at her. The thought of the little captain stuck in an office digesting intelligence reports... no, she could be doing a lot better.

"Come with me," she said suddenly. "Join the mission to the world of the living."

Soifon's eyebrows rose ever so slightly. "I couldn't possibly. This is as busy as I have been in all my time as commander of the Stealth Force. Our office is nearly overwhelmed with report after report that needs evaluation, reviewing, and filing."

"You are a talented fighter, Soifon. Wouldn't you be more useful on a combat mission?"

"I would, yes, but..." Soifon sounded hesitant. "No, I cannot indulge in personal preferences. My place is here."

"Well," said Erza with a slight smile, "I was given a free pass to pick anyone I wanted..."

"If you ordered me under the captain-commander's authority, I of course could not refuse," Soifon said stiffly.

"Consider this, then," said Erza enthusiastically. "Can you imagine any place of greater strategic importance than Aizen's next target? What intelligence could be more important than that?"

"That is assuming this isn't a waste of time."

"If it isn't, then all it will have cost you is time out of the office. If it is... then you'll have direct access to fresh intelligence to evaluate yourself. No need to shift top-priority work to any of your subordinates."

"I could bring a team of my own, I suppose..." Soifon said hesitantly, "operatives to work in the background. Direct assessments of a potential battleground."

"It's settled, then!" said Erza quickly, before Soifon had a chance to change her mind. "You are absolutely right- we need you with us. And I'm sure Yoruichi won't mind tagging along."

"...Yes, I suppose she wouldn't," Soifon said, sounding mostly professional, but just a little bit excited.

Erza nodded. "Consider yourself my first recruit."

Soifon made a face. "I will have to make preparations. Tomorrow by morning at the earliest. See that you have assumed a team by then."

"Yes, sir!" Erza said cheerily.

Erza's feet took her next to Tenth Division. She would have to stop by Fifth eventually, of course, as she owed her subordinates an explanation, but this notion of a mission had lifted her spirits, despite the events of the last few days. She was still ashamed of having lost control, still terrified of having lost Tetsu no Tama, but being cooped up in the office would only have made that worse. A real life mission, a deployment with a group of fighters... it was almost nostalgic. This was not ideal, but it was a silver lining.

She had no intent of actually pulling fully half of the remaining top-seated officers; that would be both irresponsible and quite the overkill. Such a force might escalate the conflict, not to mention the possibility of Aizen finding a way to combat all of them at once, cutting the remaining opposition in half. No... a small group would be better. Fewer things to keep track of, and more officers at home to respond to threats elsewhere. She knew exactly where to start.

Rangiku blinked. She had had a lie-down after drowning her sorrows at a bar the night before. She had managed to get some paperwork done, a few duties here and there, but her headache had intensified and, confident in the knowledge that her anal retentive, joyless professional of a captain would carry most of the weight, she had taken a nap.

She had woken up to another joyless professional staring her down, albeit one far more manageable.

"Erza?" she said, blinking uncertainly as she sat up.

"Asleep at work, Rangiku?" Erza chided her.

"Just... resting my eyes, really," Rangiku lied.

"How are you holding up?" Erza asked bluntly. Rangiku was fairly sure what she meant, but decided not to bite.

"Oh, it's... work. A lot of work. You wouldn't believe how hectic things got after... that incident," she murmured, standing up. Her head was still pounding, albeit less so than before. "Well, actually, I suppose you would, being our newest captain and all. How's that working out?"

"Not what I was talking about," Erza said, shaking her head. "Rangiku, you've been drinking. I can still smell it. The Rangiku I knew from before would drink, sure, but usually not in the middle of the week."

"Since when are you little miss social detective?" Rangiku said sourly.

"I'm not. But I do have eyes in my skull and a functioning brain. Rangiku, how are you doing?"

Rangiku sunk back into the couch, and looked Erza in the eye.

"Everyone always thought he was a real bastard, you know," she muttered, "and I don't blame them. He creeped people out, and he knew it. But me... I knew a side of him nobody else did."

Erza nodded. "And then..."

"Then, he turns out to be just as big of a bastard as everyone thought he was," Rangiku said bitterly. "Gin, that son of a bitch... you think you got a read on somebody, and..."

"I know. Believe me."

"Well, you got it worse than I did, which means I'm not at the bottom of the ladder. Always something, I guess."

"You know," said Erza, "wallowing in it isn't good for you. It isn't good for anyone."

"Well, it's not like I can take some time off to deal with it," Rangiku muttered, "so I drink. It works."

"We can't take time off, no," said Erza, "so how about a field mission?"

"What, now?" said Rangiku, a bit surprised.

"Long-term. At least a week, in Karakura. I've got a blank check from the old man himself to pick anyone I want."

Rangiku blinked. Erza wasn't one to exaggerate, much less lie. "You're serious."

"Tomorrow morning," Erza said firmly, "we'll stop by Urahara Kisuke's for gigais for all of us. Surveillance, guard duty, and some off-duty hours. Who knows, I might even let you take me shopping."

"Huh..." Rangiku muttered.

"Don't you want to see your old captain again?" said Erza, knowing that was bound to have an effect.

"Well..." Rangiku said, pausing to think. She had joined Erza's mission not long ago for this exact reason. And now...

"So you'd take me away from Captain Hitsugaya and his veritable mounds of paperwork and constant insistence on being prim and proper? Why would I be protesting that?"

"It's settled, then," said Erza with a smile.

"You'll talk to the captain?"

"Already did. He was very impressed with the orders from the captain-commander."

"You think of everything, don't you?"

"I try," said Erza contentedly.

She headed toward the Kuchiki manor next. Rukia was soon due to return to duty; the paperwork was finished but her powers were still in the process of recovery. She had been coming along nicely as far as Erza last had heard, so it was worth the try.

Erza entered the mansion undisturbed, servants scurrying off to announce her arrival to the mansion's master. Byakuya, still recovering from his injuries, had on recommendation from Unohana- recommendations that few would disregard- so far taken on limited duties at his division. Perhaps today he would be at home. Regardless, she would deal with him as necessary. Rukia was a soldier, not his property.

She found Rukia in the manor's back yard, having stripped off her jacket and sweaty with exertion as she swung a bokken enthusiastically at a training dummy, repeating the same movements over and over. It was like Rukia, all right- she was not the type to idle around on her free time, especially not after such a long absence. Erza approached her quietly, Rukia seeming quite focused on her training.

"Correct that overhead swing," she said firmly. "You are almost overextending."

Rukia yelped, jerking around with the training blade in hand, nearly losing her balance.

"Geez," she said irritably, "it's like I'm back at the academy again, or something."

"I'm glad to see you recovering," said Erza with a smile. "Are you back to where you were?"

"Almost," Rukia said with a nod. "I can hear my zanpakutou's voice. Yesterday, I could call her out again. It was... something else."

Like seeing a loved one after a long journey, Erza thought, a pained memory of Tetsu no Tama shooting through her mind.

"I know it all too well. And your spiritual energies?"

"Almost fully charged," said Rukia. "I believe I could return to duty soon, but my revered older brother says he believes it best to wait until I am fully restored."

"Well, he would," Erza scoffed. Seeing Rukia's look, she added hastily, "I am sure he only looks to protect you. But there's no use just staying here, training, right?"

"...Right," Rukia said with a nod, flexing her sword arm. "No, I didn't become a shinigami to do nothing. What I went through... it was difficult, but you have to move forward."

"I wholly agree."

"So," said Rukia, her eyes narrowing, "I'm sure there's a reason you came here. A captain has no time to waste these days."

"I was concerned about you."

"I am sure you were. Just as I am sure that was not the only reason."

"True enough," Erza admitted. "I have been ordered to put together a team for a mission in Karakura. I could use somebody with experience of the area."

"Me?" Rukia said. "Who else?"

"Captain Soifon, Rangiku, and that's it so far. I have a few more ideas."

"Two captains at once?" Rukia said, sounding surprised. "What use would I be, then?"

"You're strong enough to match even a vice-captain," Erza said, "so I have no doubt you'll pull your weight."

"But..."

"You're good friends with the kids, too," said Erza, "and I think that could also be useful."

"You're their aunt," Rukia pointed out.

"...It won't hurt," Erza said. "At any rate, I won't force you to come. But, would you rather sit back, or get out in the field, maybe make a difference?"

Rukia gave her a long look, curious.

"You pick Captain Soifon, who will no doubt be followed by Miss Yoruichi. You pick Rangiku, who will be seeing her old captain. Now you pick me, to come see the friends I made before... all of this. Captain Scarlet, are you putting together a mission or are you doing a charity tour?"

Sharp of tongue; that was Rukia, alright.

"I won't lie," said Erza, "I considered more than just combat ability here. But, nobody I chose, you included, is somebody I didn't think could handle themselves in a fight. Is that clear?"

"I believe you," said Rukia. She sighed, and looked up to the sky, pondering the thought. "I... can't deny I want to. It would feel good, stretching my legs again."

Erza nodded. "I knew I could count on you."

"But-" Rukia cut herself off, staring over Erza's shoulder. Erza, noticing the change in her demeanour, looked around. Kuchiki Byakuya was standing at a respectful distance, looking at them. As they paused, he came closer.

"Captain Scarlet," he said with a nod.

"Were you eavesdropping?" said Erza bluntly.

"I sensed your presence, and assumed you had business here," said Byakuya simply. "It seems I was correct. What do you wish of Rukia?"

"It is a mission, elder brother," Rukia blurted out, "into the world of the living, Karakura town."

"No doubt in response to the recent events, then," Byakuya concluded, "which means you are here to recruit for a team to maintain a presence there. Deduction, Captain Scarlet, is not eavesdropping."

"Look, she already accepted," Erza began, "and she is not under your command-"

"I would like a moment in private, if you please?" said Byakuya. "I have not yet objected. I would appreciate it if you kept your assumptions in your mind rather than in your mouth."

"Of course, elder brother," said Rukia quickly.

"Wait by the entrance," said Byakuya to Erza. "This will not take long."

Erza, knowing she was a guest here, had little choice. She nodded. "Very well, Captain Kuchiki."

Byakuya nodded back and turned around, Rukia following by his heel.

As Erza left them, Rukia felt keenly aware of her state of being, jacket left behind and cooling sweat trailing down her face.

"Elder brother, I am not presentable at the moment," she said. "If perhaps I could change clothes first..."

"It is of no consequence," said Byakuya, and just like that, it was of no consequence. Somewhat nervously, she followed her brother to the Kuchiki manor gardens. They walked through the cherry orchard, past the ponds and the meticulously well-kept flowerbeds, until they came upon an ancient cherry tree, looking well past its prime. A small shrine was located before it, unassuming and surprisingly plain for such a luxurious place. Rukia said nothing, knowing it would be highly inappropriate for her to address the clan leader before he addressed her. Even asking to change had been a stretch.

"Have you seen this place before?" said Byakuya after a long while, staring at the tree as if enthralled by its presence.

"From a distance, elder brother," said Rukia. "I do not spend much time in these gardens. They were made and are maintained for you first of all."

Byakuya nodded slowly. "This is where I go to remember her. I take no time for leisure or personal joys, but... on occasion I wander here and indulge in memory."

"My... my sister. Hisana." It was still a strange and unusual thought.

He nodded. "All these years I kept the truth from you. Does it anger you?"

"What my elder brother does is not for me to question."

"Perhaps you ought to. I had little reason." He turned to look at her. "Out of a desire to honour her wishes, I have in the past done things to protect you. I used my influence to keep you from gaining a seat as an officer, despite you being more powerful than most. Does that anger you?"

Rukia shook her head. "No, elder brother."

The very thought of him caring that much, in fact, was deeply moving. She had always thought of herself as a bother, a stray taken in as pity, and to know she was that much more precious... it completely overshadowed it.

"Do you wish to go to Karakura?"

"My wishes are irrelevant. I will not go against the clan head."

"Then it is settled."

"I... will not go," Rukia said with a nod, feeling a pang of regret. Seeing them all again, these people she owed everything to... it would have meant something.

"You are a member of this house, and as such a servant to it. In turn, we all serve the Gotei. Rarely do these interests conflict. Yet, I have come to question some of my ideas as of late," said Byakuya thoughtfully.

"Elder brother?" said Rukia confusedly.

"I kept you away from danger so as to protect you," said Byakuya, staring intently at the shrine. "It seemed the logical way of accomplishing safety for you. Yet, it has been made amply clear that I cannot protect you at all times. That my method was... insufficient. In the end, you weren't protected."

Not even from me, was the line he never spoke, but only thought.

"Brother, I..."

"Times change, and so must we. It seems to be the motto of this new and uncertain world. Rather than keep you away from danger, it is time you learned to face it directly, that you grow strong enough to protect yourself when I cannot. To that end, I have already recommended you for a promotion to Captain Ukitake. It is past time you had a seat that matches your strength."

Rukia, feeling a little overwhelmed, simply stared at her revered elder brother.

"Furthermore, I do not object to your joining this mission to Karakura. You will need the experience in the war to come. I fear you may be injured or even die, but in the coming conflict, so might I, so might any one captain left in our ranks. The time for selfish desires is past."

"I... elder brother, thank you," Rukia said sincerely.

"I ask but one thing of you."

"Whatever you would wish for, elder brother."

"I would join this mission, if it were possible."

Rukia blinked. "Brother, are you not still recovering from your injuries?"

"Much like yourself," said Byakuya, "I am nearly at full health, the mercies of Fourth Division having seen to that. I grow weary of desk-bound duties. A leader must know both the way of the blade and the way of the bureaucracy, but war cometh, and I must sharpen my blade."

He still wants to protect me, thought Rukia, partly touched, partly feeling a little odd that he would do such a thing after such a grandiose speech about independence.

"Then we'll ask Captain Scarlet," said Rukia.

"Come," said Byakuya firmly. "We shall not delay. Let us join her presently."

Erza hadn't waited for too long when she sensed Byakuya approaching the manor gates, Rukia in tow. Before too long, the stoic captain faced her down, his zanpakutou strapped to his belt.

"Well?" said Erza. "Do I have to take it up with the captain-commander, or...?"

"My elder brother wishes to join the mission," said Rukia, almost excitedly.

"Huh?" said Erza in surprise.

"It seems clear to me that a mission of this import would benefit greatly from my experience and skill," said Byakuya dispassionately.

"Uhm... sure it would?" said Erza, still processing it. "I mean..."

"Are there any issues?" said Byakuya.

"I... I didn't expect you to volunteer," Erza said earnestly.

"Rukia," said Byakuya, "it is well past time you cleaned yourself up. Stale sweat is unbecoming of a Kuchiki."

"O-of course," said Rukia. "I'll, uh, I'll see you later, Erza."

"Tomorrow at dawn, my division!" Erza cried out, as Rukia hurried away. The girl nodded, and hastily made her way into the manor grounds.

"So," Erza said, turning her gaze to Byakuya, "are you going to be holding her hand all the time? Is that your condition?"

"My reasons are my own," said Byakuya stiffly, "but if I am honest, I believe you can relate to the frustrations of having been deceived, having fought for something that turned out to be a lie. How it festers at night, how an office only makes it worse. Can you not?"

"...So, you're telling me you could use some action," Erza said with a nod. "I can believe that. But don't expect me to believe that's all it is about."

"I have resolved to let her spread her wings further than before," said Byakuya, sounding especially stiff, "yet doing so is more difficult than I imagined. Is this unusual or strange to you, captain?"

"Not at all," said Erza, shaking her head.

"Will you deny me this?" said Byakuya, sounding unusually blunt.

Erza stopped to think. She had no particular love for Kuchiki Byakuya; his conservative, dogmatic adherence to tradition, his dedication zealous enough that he'd rather kill his own kin than break ties with it. She had no love for those who considered beliefs more important than people.

But all the same, Kuchiki Byakuya was but a product of a system, deceived, manipulated, and used just like she had been, albeit more indirectly. Beneath that stoic, dispassionate facade was a person, no doubt hurting like she had hurt, like she still hurt.

Not to mention that among the captains, few had more competence as a warrior and a fighter, and fewer still had more competence as a leader and an officer. Yet, his pride might make him difficult to work with...

"I will not," she said at last.

One ought to give people a second chance: that was the kind of person she was. He said he wanted to let Rukia be more free- and if he was willing to say the words, he deserved a chance to prove he had changed.

"Very good," he said, nodding. "Tomorrow at dawn, then. I will not tarry."

"I will lean on your experience as a leader," Erza added. "You will be a valuable member of my team."

"Yes," said Byakuya, "I will."

Some things, though, did not change.

Erza had headed back to Fifth Division after her surprisingly easy recruitment of not only Rukia, but her esteemed elder brother, as well. She was not quite done recruiting, but she couldn't delay for too long; her subordinates were bound to wonder what was going on, and the record had to be set straight. On her way to the office, she bumped into Nozomi. The green-haired girl looked surprised, but smiled at her captain.

"Erza!" she exclaimed. "I mean, er, captain."

"Nozomi," Erza said, smiling back with a nod, "how are you coming along here in Fifth?"

"Oh, you know, just trying to catch my bearings..." said Nozomi, fidgeting nervously.

"You'll settle in just fine," Erza said.

Truth be told, they'd had to create the position of science advisor from scratch, and much of the necessary equipment simply wasn't around. Twelfth wasn't going to help, and a lot of what Nozomi would need as a consultant- scientific instruments, a filing system, computers, relevant literature- had to have been ordered from outside the division. The unfortunate truth was that the mod soul simply didn't have too much to do at the moment.

"I'm sure I will," said Nozomi, "but, um..."

"Yes?" said Erza.

"You're going to the world of the living, aren't you?"

The question was sudden, Nozomi bursting with excitement.

"How did you know?" Erza said, surprised. "Nozomi, how would you know? Were you spying?" Her tone turned strict.

"You're gone for two whole days, there's a huge incident, and even when you come back, you spend half the day going who knows where," Nozomi explained quickly, "so I check with First to see what's going on, and they tell me there's a mission. That's it. No spying, I promise."

"All right, then," said Erza, allowing herself to relax.

"So... can I come?" said Nozomi excitedly.

"Why?" Erza said bluntly. "This is a real mission, not a fun trip."

"Look," Nozomi said, "I am stuck here doing nothing. If I came with you, I could at least get some raw data on these arrancar to analyze. I could do actual science advisory stuff. You know, the thing I'm supposed to do?"

"That's fair," Erza said, "but I had thought to ask Nemu." Seeing Nozomi's dejected expression she added, "But... I suppose I could use more than just one advisor."

"So, I can go?" Nozomi said hopefully.

"You sound unusually keen," said Erza. "Is this really all boredom?"

Nozomi bit her lip. "Well... actually, I'd really like to meet Urahara Kisuke."

"That man?" Erza scoffed.

"I've studied his science from before he was exiled. His work in mod souls was centuries ahead of its time. Captain Kurotsuchi wasn't able to improve on it to any great extent. Somebody like him... a genius who can make bodies out of nothing..."

"It's a personal issue," Erza mumbled. "I guess I understand. Yes... yes, I think I do." Nozomi's existence, of course, was a rarity. Most people didn't have to deal with the existential problem of having been deliberately created, artificial and unreal.

She nodded. "You can come," she said, and Nozomi's face lit up. "Just, uh, don't... don't trust him too much," she added, a little uncomfortable with the idea of Nozomi under that man's scrutinizing gaze.

"Can do, captain!" Nozomi said. "So... when are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow at dawn."

"Who else is coming?"

"Hum... Captain Soifon, Rangiku, Rukia, Captain Kuchiki, and I'm going to ask Nemu and Isane, as well. We're going to need a medic, and Nemu is probably the only scientist I know besides you that doesn't hate me or at least pretends to to appease their captain."

Nozomi whistled. "Three captains? In one mission?"

Erza nodded grimly. "Aizen might be stepping up his aggression. We must be ready to meet it. Three captains at once is more than we've seen in a long time, but we're entering a potential war zone. Nozomi, people will die in the coming conflict, and it might just be us. Be aware of this."

Nozomi swallowed. "Well, we don't carry these swords for nothing, do we?"

She sounded brave, but Erza recognized nervousness when she saw it.

"We don't," she said firmly. "Just be ready. As an advisor you're less likely to be on the frontline, but prepare for anything. Maybe it'll all amount to nothing. Maybe it won't. Better to be prepared and not need it, than to need it and not be prepared."

"Yes, sir!" Nozomi said firmly. "I'll uh... I'll go pack right away!"

As the girl hurried away, Erza reflected. She had, she realized, thought of this like an adventure. Sure, in her head she had always been aware of what she had just said, about the implications, but a not-insignificant part of her had remembered a simpler time, from over a century ago, when she and a bunch of friends had gone on adventures for a guild, facing danger bravely and always pulling through. She had picked, with a couple of exceptions, good friends to join this mission. Some or even all of them could wind up dead, and if they did then it would be on her shoulders.

This was the nature of soldiery, the nature of the Gotei. This was no guild, and the enemies were not some random, easily beaten dark guild. They faced a threat anathema to all they stood for, one ,that had harnessed everything they considered wrong with the world. And worst of all, nothing they did could create peace or avoid this conflict.

So, the only choice was to face it headlong. Whether she had chosen friends or simply colleagues, they would all be at risk of dying still, because they were soldiers and this was war. Aizen... how many would have to die for his lofty ambitions, on either side?

Aizen Sousuke sat perched on his throne, a marvel from which he could stare down on all his subjects. It was a pre-existing design, quite pleasing for something of hollow make, and made in a fashion he could appreciate- high over everyone else, putting whoever sat in it far above their subjects. It was fitting.

Currently he held court, more than half of his espada assembled; Neliel, Halibel, Nnoitora, Ulquiorra, and one of their youngest brethren as well. All eyes were trained on Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, who had gone down on one knee before the throne after respectfully asking for an audience. It had been clumsy and inadequate etiquette, but Aizen had to appreciate the self-control it had to have taken for an animal like him to bother with civility. Whatever he had come for, he had to really want it.

"Stand," Aizen said, after having made the septimo wait for well over a minute. Grimmjow complied.

"What would you bring before me, my espada?" said Aizen. His tone was quiet, cool and calm, but inwardly he smiled. The antics of this simple-minded brute were amusing to him; in a sense, Grimmjow was like Hueco Mundo's blind brutality distilled into a single person, blinded by the veil of personal ambition, achieved only through brute force.

"It has, er, come to my attention, Lord, that ya showed some, er, interest in a par-ticular area of the world of the living," Grimmjow started slowly.

Aizen kept his cool, but felt an urge to chuckle. Watching this brute try to harness civil language to get what he wanted was akin to watching a toddler try and fail to walk.

"So, it, er, seems to me, that..."

"Do not waste your lord's time," said Ulquiorra, a quiet menace in his flat voice. "Speak your peace, or hold your tongue."

Grimmjow shot him a hateful glare. "Fuck it. Lord, I'm askin' for your permission to go to Karakura with my boys and fuck shit up till it's properly fucked, that's what I'm askin'."

"How very ambitious a topic to bring to court," said Aizen bemusedly.

"Why would you expect Lord Aizen to comply?" said Halibel coolly. "What cause is there to indulge your childish need for gratuitous violence? Our lord would not see us reveal our hand early simply to appease your appetite for destruction."

"My tercera makes a good point," Aizen mused. "Why should our enemy know more about us than they already do?"

"Well," said Grimmjow, feeling a little more relaxed now, "yer lordliness didn't seem to mind that when it came to the trash ya sent to die just recently."

"Because they are trash," Aizen countered, "disposable. Our enemies could learn only basic facts from them, and none of them were taken alive."

"Exactly, lord," said Grimmjow sharply. "They was trash. And just how much can ya really learn from trash? Ya want to test something that can pack a punch, like my boys. Like me. You want to see what we can do, don't you? I ain't no egghead like that glasses freak you got locked up in yer lab, but I'm betting they'd be getting real hard when they saw what we could do. Ain't that true?"

"So it's now about providing research data?" said Ulquiorra, a hint of disdain in his unemotional voice. "You are painfully transparent, Grimmjow."

"What you see is what you get with me, mime boy," Grimmjow said, shooting him a glare and a malicious grin. "Sure, I just want to wreck shit, but that's not to say Lord Aizen and I can't both get somethin' we want."

Nnoitra sneered. "You're like a fuckin' woman, Grimmjow. First tryin' that silky language shit, and now this? You're just a little bitch trying to get some action."

Grimmjow glared at him angrily. "Why don't we let Lord Aizen decide, fuckface?"

"My espada, calm yourselves," Aizen said smoothly, and immediately Nnoitra and Grimmjow both eased up, turning their eyes toward him. Respecting superior power was built into their very spine marrow; when he commanded, they listened.

"Grimmjow makes an interesting point, albeit entirely by coincidence," Aizen continued. "While we gained valuable data from that last attack, there is only so much we can garner from the bottom of the barrel. The arrancar I sent were weak, after all. Grimmjow, tell me... how strong are your 'boys'?"

"They ran with me for ages, lord," said Grimmjow confidently. "They're all Adjuchas, old, hard, and strong. The ones what were smart, strong, and ruthless enough to go where the trash couldn't. They're drawn from the best of the best, and with what you did to 'em, they're a match for any shinigami. They're strong, lord, and they'd do anything for me. I only pick the best. My pack got no room for weaklings."

"Spoken with confidence," said Aizen, nodding quietly as if contemplating it. In truth, he had already made up his mind, but there was no reason not to make him sweat a little.

"Lord?"

"I consent," said Aizen after a pause, "on one condition."

"Name it, sir!" Grimmjow said quickly.

"You are the septimo espada. You are expected to make a major contribution to the coming war, like all of my ten blades. To that end, you must not reveal the full extent of your powers. You will take your group, as soon as convenience allows you, and you will sow terror in their hearts, but you will not show them the released state of your blade. You will not use resurreccion. Our enemies must not know the full extent of our powers until it is time."

Grimmjow nodded, and although he was a little disappointed, it was a good enough compromise. "You got it, sir. I'll keep it nice and simple."

"This is a direct command," Aizen said strictly. "Not even if your life is in danger are you allowed to disobey it. You must flee the battlefield before you consider using it. Is this understood?"

"...Yes, sir," Grimmjow said reluctantly. While he had no problem with retreating if it was necessary, this restriction was irksome.

"Then I command you to go, with haste."

Grimmjow's face split into a wide grin. "Yes, lord!" He turned to Nnoitra, gleeful. "Suck my dick, sexta! You can sit here on your ass growing fat while I get out there, wrecking shit like a proper hollow!"

"You watch your mouth, you little shitstain," Nnoitra growled.

Grimmjow, in a display of universal humanity, gave him the finger as he cheerily marched out of the throne room.

The others watched him leave. Once he was out of earshot, Halibel stepped forward.

"Lord," she said gravely, "that animal is a blunt instrument, suited for nothing but destruction. Does my master truly believe he will follow orders when pushed?"

"No," said Aizen, shaking his head, "but then again, Karakura is not that heavily defended... not yet. But you're right- I will not take that risk. Neliel?"

"Y-yes, lord?" said Neliel, a bit surprised to be called out.

"Follow him at a distance. Do not be noticed. If he disobeys, be ready to step in. Otherwise, only observe, whether he wins or loses."

"Yes, lord," said Neliel courteously.

"Who knows," said Aizen, in a tone that was the verbal equivalent of a shrug, "perhaps he will prove himself to be better than you expect. It is worth the chance."

"And if not, lord?" said Ulquiorra.

"I will not tolerate insubordination," Aizen said simply.

As he stared down on his espada, Aizen felt a sense of satisfaction. Grimmjow's actions would become useful, regardless of the outcome. If he obeyed, then he had potential; if not, then he'd serve as an example to the rest of Aizen's espada. And whatever happened... whatever happened, he'd gain new data, and the satisfaction of seeing the Gotei tremble before his might. The coming few hours would be interesting to watch.

Well there we have it. The motivations have been laid out, and the next confrontation is right around the corner. I hope that you all like the characters ive chosen for the team this time, their all characters that I wanted to do more with, and I promoise amble screen time for them all.

I do however want to make one thing clear, or make it more obvious. Grimmjow's fraccion are NOT at the same level of power they were in cannon. They are, in fact, stronger. Now why is that? Well, we figured out after the initial confrontation with the arrancar, the odds of the goite continuing to use gentai kaijo would make little to no sense, so it was best to remove it. Now if this was their cannon counterparts, the fighting wouldn't be so suspenseful.

But their is an important difference this time. This time, his fraccions arnt gillians...their adjuchas. Now, in actualiy, they already ARE, since that's what we saw them as in Grimmjow's flashback, but when they first showed up and died, they were Gillians. Retcons, they happen in comic books AND manga apparently.

So this time we're going with the approach that their on the higher tier of the hollow evolution. Their still not as strong as any of the Espada mind you, but their more comparable to, lets say, what Harribel and Barragans Fraccions were capable of, if not even stronger than that!

Its going to get a lot more interesting from here on out, I promise you that much.

But that's all for this chapter. Please let us know what you think in the reviews.