Well, we're back with yet another chapter everyone. Thank you to all of those who decided to leave a review for the previous chapter, it's truly appreciated. But before we begin...we need to discuss something. Greatkingrat88, if you would please?

ANNOUNCEMENT: It has come to our attention that Erza's zanpakutou, whose name is supposed to translate to "soul of steel", has an embarrassingly inaccurate translation. Neither of us have any real knowledge of Japanese, and it's a considerable mistake on our part. While most people wouldn't notice, knowing it's wrong has grated at me, and I feel compelled to correct this error. I know it's asking a lot to embrace a whole new name, and you have our apologies for letting this error happen in the first place, but we believe in admitting when we've done something wrong, and in correcting ourselves when we've become aware of it. Please, be patient with this change.

The new name- or rather, more accurate name- for Erza's zanpakutou is Hagane no Tamashii.

I'll be going back to change this name in previous chapters when I have the time, but this may not happen for a long while.

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!

Sword sheathed with considerable effort, Erza limped back from where she had come to see where Rangiku had gone. Several bones were broken for sure, which would normally have been manageable, but she was suffering from pretty severe reiatsu exhaustion. Her reserves had to be at a critical level right now, and her vision blurred; it took considerable effort just to keep focus on anything while walking.

Erza Scarlet was tough as old leather, though, and somehow she kept on walking. The world around her seemed difficult to understand, to perceive, and it was a complete surprise to her when she heard Rangiku calling out.

"Commander!"

"…Oh," said Erza, slowly turning toward where the voice had come, having to adjust her head and blink several times before the vice-captain was more than a vague, indistinct black shape somewhere on her field of vision. "Rangiku. You alright?"

"God damn, Erza," Rangiku said, almost irritable, "I should be asking you that. You look like hell."

"Just… a bit tired," said Erza weakly.

"You're practically grey," Rangiku said. "What happened to you?"

"Used more than I should have," Erza said, realizing the effort it took just to talk. "Beat him, though. He fled. Bastard…"

"That… that's good," Rangiku said, moving to support Erza, trying to put her commander's arm over her own shoulder.

Erza winced. "Other side," she said, gritting her teeth. "I'm… really hurt there."

Rangiku nodded. She hurt plenty, herself, but Erza looked half dead.

"How'd you do?" said Erza. "I guess… you won?"

"…Yeah," Rangiku said evasively, "just barely. Come on, we've got to get you patched up."

"Mission," Erza said stubbornly. "Shinigami. Arrancar out there."

"Not on your life!" Rangiku said firmly. "You need a healer, now."

Erza sighed, too worn and weary to object. "Uhm," she said, "that other espada…"

"Oh, hell," Rangiku muttered. "Yeah, the big guy we found… can't very well leave him be, can we?"

"Got to know," said Erza. "Let's check. Then… we'll go back. Headquarters. Okay?"

"Okay," Rangiku said hesitantly. "Yeah, sure."

Slowly, they made their way toward where Yami had fallen. It was fortunate it was close by; every step felt heavy now, every breath laboured.

Somewhere in her state of exhaustion, barely aware of her body moving, Erza wondered what she'd do. Could she really leave such a monster alive? She had never thought there was any moral justification for killing the defenseless, but she knew this notion was not shared by any of her teammates except maybe Momo, much less the Gotei at large. A hollow was a hollow, as far as the average shinigami was concerned, whether they were man-shaped or not. And, a hollow had no rights. There was no mercy, no moral consideration for a monster who lived only to devour souls.

Erza knew they could be more than that. She also knew most of them were not. If she let a brute like Yami live, would it not be her responsibility when he went on to kill more? Could it not, in fact, be a moral responsibility to act for the greater good and kill him?

It was a hard sell. It was not about the individual- not entirely, at least- but about whom one became if one killed the defenseless, if one appointed oneself judge, jury, and executioner. The Gotei disagreed- but then again, the Gotei also thought nothing of tyranny, thought nothing of spilling anybody's blood if it was necessary. That was not her, and she hoped it never would be.

But, the alternative… was what, exactly? Keep him imprisoned? For how long could they keep doing that? For how long would Yamamoto tolerate it?

As she slowly began to regain a bit of focus, she realized a choice would have to be made soon, and she had the feeling she would rue it either way it went.

Yami Rialgo woke up to pain of a kind he'd not known for many years. Feeling nauseated and weak, he propped himself up, trembling, straining against his own twitching body. He was in a bad way, blood having pooled around him. He had to have been out for some time; his blood, which decorated the pavement like some kind of macabre piece of impressionist art, had started to become sticky. A great wound ran from shoulder to hip, and he was sure he'd nearly been split in half. Grunting and grimacing against the pain, he stood up. He had to get away, somehow. He had to find his way back to Hueco Mundo, or he'd soon die. The world spun around him, and he couldn't quite remember just how to get back. It eluded him, like a word trapped at the tip of the tongue. Nearly falling over, he leaned against the side of a building, the wall creaking under his sheer weight.

Kuchiki Byakuya burned with a pride wounded as only the pride of a nobleman could be. He was wounded in body, too, his uniform stained with blood, but as he descended toward the street levels of Karakura Town, that seemed like a distant, irrelevant pain.

He had so very, very badly needed to face an espada in battle and defeat it. He had needed to erase his past shame the only way he knew- in service to the Gotei, by strength of arms as one of its finest. It was a need he had felt from the very start of the mission, a need that had grown and grown until it was like the hunger of a starving man, like the thirst of a man stranded in a desert, like a physical desire that needed to be fulfilled to make life bearable.

The chance had been given to him. He had taken it, he had thrown everything he had into it, and he had failed.

Because that was what it was. As much as he had blamed that uncivil bastard of a shinigami and his traitor father, he knew he could not have defeated Ulquiorra Cifer alone. He would make no excuses. No, he had failed, and to rub in that failure, the traitor Shiba Isshin and his crude, unrefined bastard son had been the ones to save his life. Part of Byakuya would rather have died alone than let that happen.

So, as the treasonous Shiba had taken off, Byakuya had summoned what strength he had left and headed for the streets of Karakura to find whatever there was left to find. Much to his chagrin, most battles had been settled, the opponents either slain or driven away. Honourable combat, it seemed, would be denied him this night, and the thought made him grasp the hilt of his blade tight. His eyebrow twitched, and he knew he was on the brink of losing his well-honed calm. He found that he didn't care nearly as much as he should.

Then, like a gift from the heavens, he sensed the presence of an arrancar in the city. Weak and wounded, but certainly present. An enemy. Something. Gritting his teeth, Byakuya headed toward the source with speed.

Yami blinked, and forced himself to focus despite the pain and weariness. He felt the presence of an oncoming enemy, a shinigami- a captain of the Gotei, judging by the strength of the reiatsu. Normally, he'd have relished it, but now it filled him with fear. Damn it-

"Arrancar."

The voice was cold, bitter cold, and Yami stared down the street. He'd blinked, and the next second he had stood there, a bloodied spectre of red, black, and white, his black hair hanging in inelegant stripes, sweat and blood ruining an image of perfection.

"Hey-" Yami began, raising a hand.

"For the crime of daring to invade an area under the protection of the Gotei," said the captain, leveling his blade, "you will be punished appropriately."

His voice trembled, and Yami wondered how badly wounded the captain was. Maybe he could take him-

The next second, his hand sailed through the air before landing on the street, fresh blood spurting from the new wound at the stump of Yami's arm. He let out a pained cry, looking at it with shock.

Destroy him. That was the idea running through Byakuya's mind, insofar as any thought passed through it at all. With merciless abandon, he surged forward, his blade coming down on the wounded espada. The monster made a clumsy attempt at batting him aside, but Byakuya evaded it easily. As exhausted as he was, the espada was clearly worse off, and Byakuya would take full advantage of it. His Senbonzakura came down, carving a fresh wound into the espada's chest, and the satisfaction of the espada's pain momentarily blinded Byakuya to the loathing he felt for himself. Again his blade came down, and yet again, his arms working with deadly precision and grace to bring pain to the monstrous creature. He could hear Senbonzakura call to him at the back of his mind, objecting to the senselessness of it, but Byakuya had had more than enough. Almost mindlessly, he struck the espada over and over without regard for efficiency or mercy.

"Knave!" He snarled. "Foul brute! Vile, abominable creature! Receive your just reward and die as you were fated to die, by my hand! Bastard! Scoundrel! Dishonourable beast!"

With cut after cut, Byakuya pushed back the espada, one fresh wound after another carved across his chest, his legs, his midsection, staining red whatever hadn't already been dyed by the espada's blood. Byakuya grit his teeth, and felt a sense of elation. This was the kind of battle he had deserved all along, one where he stood victorious, triumphant, supreme.

Soon, the espada was a horrible mess of red, of sliced flesh and fresh pools of blood. Roaring out his fury, finally losing his famous calm, Byakuya ran the monster through from tip to hilt, before twisting the blade.

Yes.

Erza hadn't sensed anything, and only realized something was wrong when Rangiku aggressively poked her shoulder, pointing, a horrified look on her face. Erza blinked and slowly woke up, having drifted off into semi-unconsciousness in their short walk, and stared. Slowly, her mouth formed an 'O'.

Kuchiki Byakuya was laying into the espada with the recklessness and brutality of a berserker, shouting incoherent insults, somehow seeming all the worse for his perfect diction and pronunciation. He was stained red with the blood of his enemy, the black and white of his uniform all but gone. Yami sunk to his knees, and it seemed absurd that he had stood at all; his chest and arms looked like minced meat.

"W-wait," he rasped, raising the one arm he still had. "I give, I- I give!"

"Byakuya!" Erza cried, realizing her voice was faint, faint with exhaustion. "Kuchiki Byakuya! Captain Kuchiki, stay your hand!"

If Byakuya heard her, he gave no sign of it. With the smooth precision of a master, he leveled his blade, and in one clean swing, he severed Yami's head from his shoulders. He stood still there for a few seconds, breathing heavily. The Moon shone down on him, and, doused in the blood of his enemy, he was a frightening sight. For a second, Erza wasn't sure which one of them was supposed to be the hollow.

"Holy hell…" Rangiku muttered. "What's wrong with him?"

Yami's body toppled over, and Erza started to limp forward, a surprised Rangiku nearly staggering as she had to keep up the pace. Ignoring the pain in her body, Erza walked forward, unsupported, until she came face to face with Byakuya. He had a satisfied look on his face, looking eerily calm compared to the screaming spectacle he'd been only seconds ago.

"Captain Kuchiki," she demanded, "what are you doing?!"

"Commander Scarlet," Byakuya said, sounding every bit like his calm, collected self, "you do not look well."

"Never mind me. What are you doing?"

"This?" said Byakuya, staring down at Yami's corpse. "Naturally, I have executed a powerful arrancar, as is my duty. I take it you, too, were victorious?"

Erza trembled, her hands balling into fists as Rangiku hurried up to her side.

"You listen here," Erza began, "this kind of behaviour… I mean, what- what is this?"

"Justice."

"I know justice, and this isn't it!" Erza snapped. "You listen well-"

At that moment, several gateways opened in the sky, and dozens of powerful signatures poured through them.

"The reinforcements!" Rangiku burst out. "Now they show up!"

Erza blinked, and looked up. It really hadn't been long- whatever Aizen's method had been, it hadn't lasted more than twenty minutes, half an hour at most. It had been enough to execute a massive strike. There was much left to improve on, it seemed.

Up in the sky, heading toward them, she sensed Lisanna. She came toward them, flanked by a dozen of her most elite fighters and, to Erza's relief, medical teams following closely behind.

"Looks like we missed the fun, huh?" Lisanna said, after executing a smooth landing. She took a look at Erza, then Byakuya, then at the carnage around them. "Damn. Aizen's people don't hold back, huh?"

"Invasion… repelled," Erza said, her breath laboured. The burst of energy she'd felt when she had seen Byakuya was wearing off, and her body was letting her know enough was enough. "…Just."

"I'll say," Lisanna said. "We'll stay here and provide assistance, gather a report, and then head back, okay?"

Erza nodded weakly.

"Don't worry," said Lisanna. "All the enemies seem gone. Looks like Aizen got sent packing."

"Only… the beginning," Erza managed, before collapsing.

She felt Rangiku by her side, failing to catch her, and soon after she felt people rush to her side, medical aides from Lisanna's division. Just before she passed out, she looked to where Byakuya was. He had gone.

This isn't over, thought Erza, before finally passing out.

"There, all done."

"Huh," said Tatsuki, sitting up as the orange glow faded. "I mean… I still feel faint and stuff, but… wow. I don't think I'll get used to how good this works out."

"I hope you don't have to," Orihime said sagely, "and yes, you probably feel weak and such from your fight. I can bring back power, but… it takes a lot more effort. I just put everything about you back together where it should be. I hope that's enough?"

"Oh, don't worry about me," Tatsuki said hastily. "Work on Ichigo instead; he looks a right mess."

Masaki had, thoughtful as she was, decided to pick up Orihime on the way back home, and on the way, they'd found an exhausted, wounded Tatsuki. With Isshin in tow, they had all wound up back at the Kurosaki residence, where Orihime had set about undoing the damage they had suffered during the evening.

"Oh, don't mind me," said Ichigo sarcastically, still in his shinigami form, bleeding on the couch. "I'm just fine and dandy, me. Don't hurry on my account."

"If you've got the energy to sass people, you're clearly not in that bad a state," Masaki said sharply. "In fact, maybe Tatsuki needs some more mending?"

"Hey, hey!" Ichigo said hastily. "It's my turn, alright?" He grimaced, and grit his teeth. "I'd really rather not hurt like this any longer than I have to."

"You only have yourself to blame," Masaki chided him. "Nobody asked you to put your life on the line, but you just had to go there anyhow. And only to be saved by your mother and father, at that."

"I get it, I get it," Ichigo grumbled.

"Not that I'm complaining," said Isshin, who had beamed with happiness all the way home.

"This will not be a regular occurrence, do you understand?" Masaki said strictly, wagging a finger at him. "Your first responsibility is to your family, and we can't have you throwing yourself at lethal danger just because it's fun."

"You're killing me here, baby!" Isshin said. "I mean, I only just got them back-"

"Work first, family second, gallivanting with a sword a very distant third," Masaki insisted.

"…Can I at least go hunting on weekends?"

"Occasionally," Masaki granted. "On your own time, that is."

"Score!" Isshin cheered.

"Don't get carried away," Masaki cautioned him. "Actually…"

"They sure are spirited," said Orihime as she leaned in over Ichigo, smiling at their continuous bickering.

"Tell me about it," Ichigo muttered. "I thought dad was an oversized kid already, and now?"

"He's more like you than you think," said Orihime, muttering the words to summon her sprites under her breath. As the orange glow enveloped Ichigo, he frowned.

"I can't say I feel very flattered."

"Maybe you should, actually. He's not a bad person. And he did bail you out."

"Well… yeah, that's true," Ichigo admitted, very, very grudgingly. "Sorta. Basically. Yeah."

"You look terrible, actually," Orihime said, as Ichigo's wounds began to mend. "Was he very strong? Your opponent?"

"Like you wouldn't believe…" Ichigo muttered. "I… I thought I kinda, sorta had a handle on things after we left the Soul Society. A bankai and all. Beat a captain. Even got hollow powers now. But that guy… he was just way out of my league. Even Byakuya couldn't measure up to him. This whole war… Orihime, I'm not even sure I can handle it."

"Really?" said Orihime, surprised. She'd never thought there was anything he couldn't do, anything he couldn't accomplish if he tried. But, she looked into his face, and besides the frown on his face, he looked… worn. Tired, and not just weary from a fight.

"Yeah. I mean… I guess I have to admit that some things… are just beyond me."

"Ichigo," she said, looking him in the eye, "are you okay?"

"Uh?" he said, taken aback. "Um… Orihime, this whole thing… I mean, I'm just fine. Just got a bit overwhelmed, that's all."

"You've got a lot going on, don't you?" she said quietly. "You became a full shinigami of your own choice, but then… then this whole hollow business, a war coming to your town, and you can't stay out of it."

"Can't I?"

"No," she said, shaking her head, "because it's not who you are. You could never stand by and watch. So, you try, even if you don't have to."

He gave her a strange look.

"I'm actually pretty jealous of that," she said solemnly. "Most people would stand aside and leave it to people like Erza. There would be no shame in that. But, you're strong, both in mind and in body, and you make it your business. I admire that. I wish I was strong like that, but… all I can do is stand on the side and help you when the fight is done."

"The hell are you saying?" Ichigo protested. "Orihime, you're incredible. No one has a power like yours. You think meatheads like me or Tatsuki would be worth anything without someone to patch us up?"

"And what if I wanted to be more?"

"Well…" said Ichigo, a bit lost. "Look, you got… you got something incredibly important here. Don't knock yourself for… not being what the rest of us are. We don't all, uh, have to be the same."

"I… guess. It's just that… I feel like everyone else has come a long way since we started, and… well, I'm not keeping up, am I? One day… it's silly, but I feel like you'll leave me behind."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Yes. Maybe it is," Orihime said. "Oh, all done!"

Without them having noticed it, Ichigo's wounds had closed, Orihime's magic having done its work. Every wound he'd gained was gone, reversed as if it had never been there. Ichigo stood up as the orange light faded, stretching himself.

"I'll second what Tatsuki said," he said, flexing his arm a bit. "This is great work, Orihime."

"It was nothing," Orihime said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Just make sure to get a lot of rest, okay?"

"Can do," Ichigo said, shooting her a salute. She giggled.

"What?" said Ichigo, concerned. "What's so funny?"

"You know how I said you were more like your dad than you think? You just looked like him."

"H-hey!" Ichigo protested. "That was, like… a sarcastic salute, okay? Not a corny, uncool one!"

"It was very cool," Orihime reassured him.

"…Are you being sarcastic now? I can't tell."

"That's how you know it's good sarcasm."

"I'm so confused," Ichigo groaned. "Damn it, I… I'll just go to bed. See you in the morning, okay?"

"See you," Orihime said, cheerily waving to him as he left in a huff.

It was early in the morning, at least by Yoruichi's standards, but it was no surprise to see her busy little bee dutifully at work by a desk in a back room in the store, sitting cross-legged on the floor. After getting a bit of toast and a mug of coffee to tide her over breakfast-wise, Yoruichi walked back to find her again, not bothering to change out of her night shirt, an old and worn t-shirt. Dressing, as far as Yoruichi was concerned, was something to be done only when necessary.

"Have you slept at all?" said Yoruichi with a yawn, taking a swig of coffee. After her business had been settled the night before and she had assurance everything was settled and everyone was alive, she had gone back to bed, but it hadn't seemed like nearly enough.

"I'll sleep when I'm finished."

"You'll burn yourself out, you know."

"Commander Scarlet is indisposed on account of severe injuries, and the same is true of Captain Kuchiki," said Soifon neutrally, her hand artfully dancing across a sheet of paperwork, no doubt scribbling down an elaborate account of last night, "and although I am told they are being successfully treated, they are both recovering from serious exhaustion. That makes me the most senior member of the team, and acting commander."

"…and I take my duties very seriously, yes," Yoruichi said, teasingly imitating Soifon.

"Sometimes I marvel at the thought that you once sat where I sit," Soifon said dryly.

Yoruichi laughed, quietly appreciating her old pupil's growth. That little bit of talk-back was more than Yoruichi had expected, and a good sign- it meant Soifon wasn't totally submissive, that she hadn't entirely fallen back into that old servant-master mentality.

"Have you considered I act this way because I used to sit there?" Yoruichi chuckled. "Sleeping in was probably one of the biggest perks of going rogue."

"So, why are you up now, when it isn't even noon?"

"Oh, I don't know," Yoruichi said with a shrug. "Last night got me fired up, I guess. Have you eaten breakfast, at least?"

"You have a strange fixation on my health."

"It's not strange at all," said Yoruichi. "It's this thing we call 'caring'. It must seem very strange to a little bee, I know." She sat down next to Soifon, and ruffled her pupil's hair. For a moment, Soifon looked annoyed, but her stern expression soon melted into a subdued smile.

"Look, I have a full report to write," Soifon said, a little more relaxed now. "I've already had to interview everyone available and I still have to take a statement from the commander. I'd like to get it done by the end of today, and still fit in all the administrative duties a commander has to account for, not to mention an analysis of the defense at large and where it could be improved…"

"That's a, 'No, I haven't eaten,' then."

Soifon sighed. "No, I guess not."

"Toast?" Yoruichi suggested. "It's not very nutritious, but it's better than nothing."

Producing a tray from behind her back, she smiled and held up a piece to Soifon. Reluctantly, as if breaking off from work for a minute to eat was an insult to the holy act of labour, Soifon took the toast and bit down on it.

"It's sweet," she muttered.

"Orange marmalade," Yoruichi said.

"I question how healthy it is."

"You could always get up off your feet and make some very healthy porridge with fruits in."

Soifon frowned. "So I'm away from my desk. You're not subtle in your designs, Lady Yoruichi."

"Not trying to be," Yoruichi said happily. "But, seriously… you need to relax more."

"Not the time," Soifon said stubbornly.

"You know, we have subordinates for a reason."

"If you want something done properly, you do it yourself."

Yoruichi rolled her eyes. Some people naturally thrived on hard, painfully boring work, and her adorable students was one of them, obnoxiously so.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't write a report and go over all that… stuff," Yoruichi said, making a vague gesture with her hand, leaning herself against the wall, "but you really are overworking yourself sometimes. Like, do you ever have fun?"

"What is this 'fun' you speak of? Does not compute."

Yoruichi laughed; Soifon had been completely deadpan in her delivery.

"See? You can joke. Now, take that attitude and, I dunno, move it to a night out."

"May I remind you there's a war on?" Soifon said seriously. "If there ever was a time to apply oneself and work hard, now is it. Worry about my social life if we survive what's coming."

"Sure, sure," Yoruichi said, realizing she rather disliked the casual grimness of what Soifon had said, if we survive, taking for granted that they might not. Yoruichi was generally optimistic, and she had been away from the kind of danger the Stealth Force presented long enough to have shed that mindset. "But, eventually, this mission ends. We'll not always see each other all the time."

That one hit home, and Soifon put her toast down, sitting quiet.

"Of course I'll make sure to visit," Yoruichi said hastily, "but maybe you should have friends besides me?"

"Like who?" Soifon said.

"I dunno. Maybe Erza?"

"Her?" Soifon scoffed. "She's dangerously radical in mind, and seriously lacking in professionalism."

"Neither of which is a requirement for being friends."

Soifon paused, thoughtfully chewing down the last piece of toast.

"Maybe. Making friends was… not exactly a priority for me. Ever."

"It helps," said Yoruichi. "I… I can't imagine what you had to go through. I lost a lot of people, too. when I ran away, but at least I had Kisuke."

Soifon said nothing, but Yoruichi could feel her stiffen when she heard the name.

"What I'm saying is," she added hastily, "we all need somebody. Even if you're a captain, or a commander of the stealth force. Most of us need lots of people. I used to think that wasn't true, but… being back here, having you in my life, and all these other people… I know I've been wrong. So, don't make the same mistake."

Soifon nodded.

"I'll think about it," she conceded.

"I'll leave you to your work, my busy little bee," Yoruichi said, standing up and ruffling Soifon's hair another time. The conversation had taken an awkward turn, and without her meaning for it to end up that way. Still… she had said something she felt she ought to say.

Relationships of any kind were tricky work.

It was well past noon when Erza woke up in her bed, her body feeling heavy and her head heavier still. A cheery note on the nightstand informed her that Orihime had done her best, and indeed, there was not a scratch on her body, just an intense weariness. As she edged her way out of bed, she realized she was still weak from the suites of last night's fighting, healing or no healing. For a moment, she considered just staying in bed to recover. Soifon had to have a good handle on things, right?

But, Erza remembered that she had been given a mission, a great responsibility, and it was one she could not bear to stay away from just out of weariness. So it was that, tired though she was, she walked into the command central around one o'clock, slowly mustering the strength to go about her day. A fussing Momo got her up to speed on the previous night's events, and Erza felt grateful that most of the red tape had already been taken care of. After she was interviewed in detail by Soifon about the night's battle for half an hour, the intelligence officer was finally satisfied, leaving Erza to her own devices. Erza, slowly feeling more invigorated- relatively speaking- set up in an office at the back of the shop.

As Soifon was about to exit, Erza said, "Where is Captain Kuchiki?"

"Captain Kuchiki reported in earlier this morning," Soifon replied, "a little worse for wear, although I believe Isane treated his injuries quite effectively. Currently, he is on patrol in the city."

"Summon him," Erza commanded, "right now."

Soifon frowned, and looked as if she might object, but instead she replied, "I'll see to it there is a replacement to his shift, then. Shall I make it clear this is an order?"

"Please do," said Erza.

Kuchiki Byakuya. Earlier, when she had struggled just to get out of bed, she had forgotten all about it. But, after breakfast, when the world had started to make a bit more sense, it had come back to her. The sheer madness of it. The sight of Kuchiki Byakuya, going berserk on a defenseless enemy. Arrancar or no, something was wrong there, and not just morally.

It took over half an hour for the captain in question to show up, and Erza had started to get impatient. When he finally entered through the doorway, he looked perfect, immaculately groomed, neatly trimmed in every sense of the word, both in bearing and in clothing. He looked spotless, and Erza would never have guessed anything was wrong if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes the night before.

That's the thing, isn't it? She thought to herself. He always looks composed outwardly. But inside…

"Commander?" said Byakuya, as reserved as ever.

"Be seated," Erza said, gesturing to the chair opposite her desk.

He complied, quite gracefully. If he was wounded, he gave no sign of it; only a slight weakening of his overall reiatsu output gave any indication that he had been in a serious fight less than a day ago. She stared him down. Quite neutrally, he stared back.

"Do you know why I called you here?" she said at last.

"I do not, commander."

"Really?" she said, an edge in her tone. "No clue at all?"

"If I had an idea, commander, I would have said so when you asked."

Under the desk, Erza made a fist. Was he lying to her, or was he just delusional?

"Last night," she said bluntly. "It's about what happened last night."

"I do not understand," said Byakuya calmly. "I have already given a full report to Captain Soifon. I engaged the fourth espada, and with the… aid of auxiliary fighters Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Isshin, he was driven away. I then continued sweeping through the city and engaged another espada, whom I defeated in single combat and subsequently purged-"

"Bullshit!" Erza snapped, surprised at her own anger and energy. "That's not how it went, and you know it. You lost your mind completely, and you displayed savagery of a kind I would have expected from Zaraki Kenpachi. Actually, scratch that- Kenpachi is a thug and a murderer, but he would at least not maul a helpless enemy!"

"I confess I do not understand, commander," said Byakuya, infuriatingly calm. "Your account seems exaggerated at best. I defeated and executed an enemy. Perhaps your battle left you delirious? I have been told you suffer from severe reiatsu exhaustion-"

"I'm not going to do this," Erza snapped, cutting him off. "I'm not going to play along with whatever games you're trying to pull. I'm not going to sit here and argue with you as if there's any question as to what happened. I saw you savage a helpless foe, and execute him when he tried to surrender. Rangiku saw it too. Now, are you going to admit to what you did or not?"

"There is nothing to admit, commander. You are mistaken-"

"You're off the mission," Erza spat, interrupting him again.

That worked, better than Erza had expected. For a moment, Byakuya's calm façade dropped, and he reeled back as if he'd been struck physically.

"Commander-"

"I would have expected this from somebody like Kenpachi," Erza said, her voice trembling with anger, "but not you. In fact, you are the last person I would have expected it from. There is something very, very wrong here, and the fact that you choose to pretend there isn't only confirms it. I noticed it earlier- when you nearly rushed into a closing garganta, as if that wouldn't have gotten you killed. With your overzealous attempts to get our prisoner executed. There is something wrong with you. I just didn't realize to what extent. Your judgment is clouded, and your mind is gone astray, Kuchiki Byakuya. As you are, you are a danger to the mission, to your comrades in arms, and to yourself!"

As Erza roared out her accusations, for a moment she saw naked emotion play across the nobleman's face: anger, fear, horror, determination, desperation. As she fell silent, though, his face hardened again.

"Commander, I urgently ask you to reconsider. This is a total overreaction."

"It is done!" Erza snarled. "Pack your effects and report back to sixth division. I will see about finding a replacement."

"You cannot!" The words burst from Byakuya's mouth, and Erza realized that all this time, his calm had only been paper-thin. "Commander, you cannot!"

"I'm your commanding officer," Erza replied coolly.

He stared at her helplessly. Then he grit his teeth, hissing out the words, "Do you expect me to beg? Is that what I must do?"

"No," Erza said, shaking her head. "I don't want to see you humbled or humiliated. I want to know what's wrong, and if you won't tell me- if you won't recognize what the problem is- then I have no place for you here."

A pained expression passed the nobleman's face. "It is not… proper for a clan lord to discuss personal matters."

"That is the price," Erza said, "not money, not favours, and not humiliation. Pay it, or get out of my sight."

He fell silent, and a not inconsiderable part of Erza pitied him for the helpless look on his face, struggling to maintain that false appearance of calm.

"It is… possible," he began slowly, "that last night, I may have been… reckless. It will not happen again."

"Do better," said Erza mercilessly.

"How?"

"You went berserk. You lost control. Now, I don't know you very well, but I do know that's the last thing you would normally do. Something is wrong here. Tell me what it is."

She saw him ball his fists, and helplessness turned to fury.

"You're angry," she said. "Use it. Hate me if you have to; I don't care."

"Captain Erza Scarlet," he said, his voice becoming quiet, "what is the worst thing you could possibly do?"

"Captain Kuchiki?"

"That is not a rhetorical question, commander. What is the very worst thing you could ever do? The most horrible thing you could ever imagine doing? Something so incredibly shameful that it would go against the core of everything you stood for. What would that thing be, commander?"

Now it was Erza's turn to fall silent, as she explored a line of thought she'd rather have left well enough alone.

"If…" she said with some deliberation, "if I caused the death of my closest companions, through recklessness, or irresponsible action, or carelessness, or callousness, it would be the worst thing I ever did. If the deaths of the best, most important people in my life were my responsibility, it would be the worst thing I could ever imagine."

"Imagine, then," said Byakuya, "that, aware of this possibility, you dedicated your life to not doing just that. Imagine that you lived for their sake, for their betterment. Imagine that you made every choice you perceived as correct, to live a moral life. Imagine that in spite of that, in spite of making what you thought were all the right choices, you still found yourself responsible for doing the worst thing you could imagine. What would you do, commander, if that happened?"

"I would be crushed," Erza said quietly, realizing where this was going, "and… I suppose I'd do anything to make it right."

"Anything," Byakuya said, his voice trembling with anger. "Anything, indeed. When I was young, commander, I defied my parents in a considerable way. I married against their wishes, to a commoner. It was scandalous, but I was young and headstrong, and ignored their admonishments. They died before I could reconcile. In time, so too my wife died. On my parents' grave, I swore to always act honourably and in accordance with the law. To my wife's memory, I swore to find Rukia and protect her always. My wife, she was… Rukia's elder sister."

"I… see," Erza said, feeling torn. What he had done was savage and cruel, but now, like never before, she had a window into the man's soul.

"I made all the right choices," said Byakuya. "I became a successful clan head. Under my watch, the Kuchiki rose to absolute prominence. I honoured the promise to my parents, and when Rukia was found, I honoured the promise to my late wife."

"You became everything you thought you should be," Erza said with a nod.

"Indeed. For a time, I thought I had found the right path. For a very long time, even, I thought I was as good a person as I could have been expected to be. I had atoned for my sins, and I was leading my clan to a bright future. But then…"

"But then Aizen set her up to be executed."

Byakuya nodded.

"My entire life, I dedicated to lawful service to Yamamoto Shigekuni Genryuusai and the Gotei Thirteen, to whom I swore an oath of loyalty, both as clean head and as captain. Yet now, my choice was what? To throw away my honour and all I worked for to save Rukia, or to obey the law I've sworn to uphold and fail the oath I gave to my dying wife? Either one, commander, was like severing an arm. I went as far as settling my affairs. I was going to commit seppuku after her execution. It was the only way left."

Erza breathed in sharply. "Captain Kuchiki-"

"It was a matter of honour," he said bluntly. "I am not suicidal, but honour is everything to me, and honour has its price."

Erza stared at him. For a second, she forgot his ruthless opposition to Rukia's liberation, his elitism, his support of the Gotei and all it entailed, and her heart ached for him. He had suffered in a way she'd never known. Worse, he had suffered alone. Men like Kuchiki Byakuya really thought of themselves as singularly powerful, bearing their burdens in silence because sharing a burden would be a sign of weakness. Had she found herself in a similar position, she would have had people to talk to, other perspectives, emotional support, and advice. Any pain like this that she ever felt would be shared, and all the lighter for it. Kuchiki Byakuya had shouldered his pain alone, and it had nearly broken him.

"Even so," she said at last, her voice gentle, "look where your fixation with honour has taken you."

He nodded. "I… have not acted rationally. Yet, I cannot for the life of me see any other way. I have ached for this more and more every day after my disgrace. I wish for nothing more than to expunge my shame the only way I know- with direct service to the Gotei, in battle, in the greatest war it has ever faced. I believed, as I still do, that if my life was spent in its defense, it would be a sufficient exchange for the shame I so eagerly brought on myself."

"You say you aren't suicidal," Erza muttered, "yet you seem all too eager to spend your life."

"I would sell it dearly," Byakuya said, his face hardening. "I would have to. Nothing less would suffice. All captains are fated to die in combat one day, regardless. Service is for life, and only in death does duty end. Mine would simply come… a bit sooner. To be free of this… this disgrace…"

She looked in his eye, and felt uncomfortable at the look of him. There was relief written in his face at the thought of the ever so dramatic end he described. It was not healthy. Perhaps that was just the fundamentally different mindset he had clashing with her own, but she was not about to tolerate it.

"To summarize the matter," she said firmly, "you feel you have committed a grave error, and you wish to make amends at any cost- up to and including the loss of your own life."

"Yes."

"…Have you considered anyone besides yourself here?" said Erza sharply. "I hate to say this, because as different as we are, I still sympathize with you. You are in serious emotional distress; of that there is no doubt. But, even if I hate to say it, I will. How is this not selfish?"

"Commander!" Byakuya said angrily.

"If you die in battle, where will that leave Rukia?" Erza said harshly. "Do you think she will feel happy that the elder brother she practically reveres, god knows why, died with his honour intact? Do you think your clan will be better off with or without you? I don't know how many Kuchikis there are, but there have to be dozens, probably hundreds of people depending on you."

"It's a matter of honour!"

"How can you value honour more than Rukia? More than your entire family? If there was even one lesson you should have taken from Soukyoku Hill, I would have thought that was the one."

"You do not understand," Byakuya said, shaking his head. "You never will. The burden of a nobleman is-"

"Answer it. Which one do you value more? Your family, or yourself?"

"I live for something greater than myself!" Byakuya declared angrily. "I've lived a whole life for others, never asking anything for myself! It is my role in the world. How dare you insinuate this is about me?"

"How is it not?!"

He fell silent, and Erza stared him down. He stubbornly stared back, trying and failing to assume a calm, stoic face. Defeated, he averted his eyes.

"The answer is that you're in pain, you don't want to be in pain, and you don't know how to deal with that," Erza said, her voice turning smoother, gentler. "That part I understand. Do you know my past, Kuchiki Byakuya? I once saw my friends slaughtered before my eyes. The difference was that after that, I had help. You have had none."

"What help is there?" Byakuya mumbled. "I will not trouble anyone else with my burdens."

"I am not giving you a choice," said Erza, plainly. Putting her elbows on the desk, she leaned forward, and looked him in the eye. Her voice quiet and understanding, she continued. "I will allow you to remain on this mission, on the following conditions.

"Firstly, you are to attend therapy with Vice-captain Kotetsu. She helped me once, and now she will help you."

Byakuya raised an eyebrow, but did not protest.

"Secondly, I will have to discipline you. You have demonstrated a clear lack of restraint and failed to report it in time, allowing it to endanger your field performance. That must not go unpunished."

He looked oddly relieved at the mention of punishment, perhaps because it was something he could understand.

"And given these conditions… I will remain here?"

Erza nodded. "Isane will evaluate you. If she says so, you go home. Either way, you will attend every session she has without fail. Any hint of resistance, and you will be sent home immediately. Is this understood?"

After a pause, Byakuya nodded. "I… accept," he said quietly.

"You will discuss everything we mentioned today. It will, of course, be entirely confidential. Do you recognize you have a problem?"

Grudgingly, after a pause, he said, "Yes."

She nodded. "Then that's a good enough start."

"For how long?"

"Until she says stop."

Byakuya paused, took a deep breath, and Erza could see the frustration.

"Very well. I will apply myself in this task as eagerly and competently as befits a captain of the Gotei."

"…Yes, that works," Erza said. Therapy was hardly a task, but whatever helped.

"And my punishment, commander?"

"I… I'll think of something," said Erza, unwilling to go with the obvious route. A lashing would be simple enough, but she hated the idea of physical punishment. It seemed barbaric, and counterproductive.

"I see."

"We are through," said Erza. "By my command, you are ordered to take the rest of the day off to reflect on this."

"Yes, commander."

"And, Byakuya?"

"Commander?"

"For pity's sake, talk to Rukia. If something's this wrong with you, keeping it all to yourself only makes it worse. I know you don't have a lot of friends, but you have someone, and that always beats having no one."

Byakuya stood, and quite hesitantly, he nodded.

"Am I dismissed, commander?"

"You are," Erza said.

He bowed courteously, and slowly walked out. Erza watched him leave quite curiously. There was more to Kuchiki Byakuya than she had ever known. He had seemed to her always like a human icicle, cold and indifferent, but in the end he was anything but. It was reassuring, somehow, to know that a seasoned captain such as he had such troubles of his own, yet managed to uphold his duties.

All the same, it was troubling. She sighed. In the middle of an important mission, too… should she have sent him home after all? Was she too kind? She shook her head. There was no room for self-doubt right now. Her decision had been made, and she would stand by it.

"Mr. Kurosaki."

The flat, unforgiving voice of Mr. Kanata, the science teacher, woke Ichigo with a start. He had slumped over his desk, his eyes inexorably closing together. He was just so tired. Between his daily sessions with the visored- which were thankfully becoming easier to handle every week- worrying about the future of his town, and handling all of that along with school, the stress was mounting. He'd often end up getting to sleep late after catching up with homework. Last night he'd gotten in bed late, on account of the battle with Ulquiorra. He hadn't been able to sleep until four in the morning, simply lying awake, fixated on the raw and massive strength of the enemy. The thought of such a powerful enemy, the thought that there were more of them out there, stronger still… the thought of what would happen when Karakura eventually became their chosen battleground had kept him up. People would die; he was sure of it. At best, it would just be combatants, but battle wasn't always so neat.

So, he had lain awake, turning and tossing in his bed, and woken up in a near-zombified state by his mother determinedly waking him up, practically throwing him out of it. He'd lasted through most of the day, but now, in the afternoon, he'd finally had enough. He had fallen asleep, and now his teacher had called him out. Everyone was looking at him. Some students, always gleeful to see somebody humiliated, were giggling.

"Huh?" he said, still dizzy.

"Am I boring you, Mr. Kurosaki?"

"Uh, um, n-not at all," Ichigo stuttered, blinking.

"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me about the function of a cell?"

"Well um, the thing is…" Ichigo stuttered, desperate as his teacher coldly stared him down. "The thing is, the cell is… it is…"

"Sleep on your own time, Mr. Kurosaki," said Kanata icily. "Your record has been good in the past, but if I catch you doing this again, you will be disciplined accordingly. Is this clear?"

"Yes, sensei…" Ichigo mumbled, wiping his eyes. Anger boiled inside him.

"Geez, Ichigo," Keigo said with a grin, as they exited class, "how late are you staying up these days, huh?"

"Leave him alone," said Mizuiro, walking next to them, "for your own good."

Keigo, never one to let self-preservation get in the way of a good jibe, continued. "Are you out hunting punks again? Or could it be you got a giiiirl-friend?"

Ichigo, humiliated from the event in the classroom, frustrated with the pressure he faced, and all around angry, snapped. "You know what, Keigo? You're an idiot. If you don't have anything smart to say, why don't you just… shut the fuck up? Oh, sorry- that would mean you wouldn't say another word again, wouldn't it?"

"Geez, relax," said Keigo. "I get it; it's tough. I was just hazing you-"

"You don't get it!" Ichigo said angrily. "You don't get anything. Neither one of you do! You have no idea what I have to put up with, and here you are, running your mouth like you actually had a clue!"

He was fired up now, and even if deep down he knew this was the time to stop, he wouldn't. Something had burst.

"Hey, man!" said Keigo angrily. "It's not our fault you keep cutting us off and just hang out with your new friends, okay?"

"You're a loser, Keigo," said Ichigo flatly, "so beat it. I don't need this bullshit in my life. Fuck off."

His tone was cold, harsh, and direct, well beyond the bickering they'd done so far. Keigo's expression changed.

"…Yeah, okay," he said, all anger drained away. "Fine. I'm leaving. See ya around, I guess… whenever that is."

With that, he turned around and left, and Ichigo stared after him, already regretting his words.

"Keigo!" he said, calling out to his friend, but he was ignored.

"You know," said Mizuiro, "I don't know what's going on with you, but that was pretty cruel, Ichigo."

Ichigo grit his teeth. "I wish I could tell you-"

"Why can't you?"

"Fine!" Ichigo said, balling his fists. "I moonlight as a reaper and it involves fighting some extremely scary people, and I'm really worried a lot of people will die. That's the truth for you!"

"Ichigo," said Mizuiro, shaking his head, "if you don't want to tell us, you could just say 'no'."

"I…" Ichigo trailed off as his friend walked away to join Keigo. Angrily, he slammed a fist into the nearest wall, and winced at the pain of it. God damn it!

"Ichigo."

"Not now, Chad," said Ichigo angrily, not even the familiar rumble of his friend's voice able to soothe his anger.

"I know it's difficult. But-"

"No, you don't!" Ichigo said, not even bothering to keep his voice down. "No-one does! You got it easy, Chad! You don't have a demon stuck in your head that wants to eat you! You don't understand a goddamn thing! You're just as stupid as the rest of them!"

He was boiling with anger now, the dam finally burst.

"I know you don't mean that," Chad said patiently.

"I mean it, Chad," said Ichigo, taking a deep breath, finally beginning to restrain himself, "not now."

"After school, then," said Chad with a nod.

"Fine. Whatever." Ichigo said harshly.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. Ichigo thought about finding Keigo and Mizuiro, but he couldn't. A mixture of shame and caution stopped him. He had been cruel, unfair, all because of his own stress, his own problems. They deserved better. Then again, it might be better if they were kept at arm's length. Right now, he seemed to attract danger, and those two… they had no strength of their own. He even thought of skipping on Chad, walking home on his own, but finally thought better of it. If this was what he had become now, the kind of person who snapped on his friends… then being the kind of person who bailed on them was even worse.

They walked together in silence for a bit, until the school was well out of sight, and they were alone. Ichigo stopped.

"Alright, make it quick," he said, sounding sharper than he had meant to. "I'm supposed to go train with the visored after this, damn it all…"

"Back there…" said Chad.

"I treated them like shit, I know," Ichigo groaned. "No need to rub it in."

"It is you who is doing that," Chad pointed out. "Besides, they are your friends. They will forgive you. There is no need to scold yourself for it."

"Yeah, well… I deserve it," Ichigo muttered.

"You've lasted a long time on your own," Chad remarked, "with such a burden, too."

Ichigo shrugged. "Yeah, well… what can I say? It's not like I have a choice."

"A lot is asked of you."

"More like demanded," Ichigo said. "I… I talk to Orihime sometimes, and that's something, but… Chad, I feel like I'll explode sometimes. There's the war coming, and I can't ignore it, but… it scares me. I'm scared of dying, but even more I'm scared it will be my family. I could leave it to the others, but…"

"But, you can't. You could not, not without being someone you are not. I know. I feel the very same," said Chad reassuringly. He was remarkable sometimes, Ichigo thought; he spared few words, but he made the ones he spoke count. Ichigo nodded.

"There's the war. There's the hollow in my head. I… I wish I could talk to Erza more- she always knows what's going on, but… well, she's really busy, and I can't blame her. Not her fault. I just… I have a lot on my plate. That's all."

"Too much," said Chad.

"…Yeah."

"You need people who understand."

"Look, it's nice and all, talking it through," said Ichigo, "but you're not much of a conversationalist; we both know that. And, I don't want to bother Orihime too much…"

"No man is an island."

"Yeah, well… what can I do?"

"Take some time on your own. If you break down, there will be no point in all this training. You need space to be you. Recover. Recharge mentally."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a place," said Chad, "and an association of people. People like me. People with… powers. People who know what people like us go through. I believe, Ichigo, that such kinship would prove invaluable."

"Who?" said Ichigo. "An association? What kind?"

"They call themselves the fullbringers. It is they who have helped me refine my powers and grow them."

"Chad," said Ichigo sharply, "who are these people?"

"They are good people."

"We're in the middle of preparing for war. How can you be sure they're good?"

"I've met their leader. He wants only to help. He has offered nothing but aid, and asked for nothing in return. I've already spoken to Orihime."

Ichigo frowned. Chad was not a bad judge of character, but he felt a bit anxious either way.

"Do you have training tomorrow?" said Chad.

"No," Ichigo admitted.

"Then come with me. Spend some time there, with people like us. People without a stake in this conflict, with no sides and no demands to make."

Ichigo paused. Someplace to just… take it easy. No-one to order them around, just people who knew. People who'd have some idea of what he was going through. People who weren't busy all the time. Who weren't making him do this and that, even if it was for his own good.

"Yeah, okay. Maybe," he said with a nod. "But, if I don't like it, I'm out of there," he said, pointing a finger at Chad for emphasis.

"Nobody is compelled," said Chad with a shrug.

"Who are they, anyway?"

"Humans with power. They keep to themselves, mostly. I will introduce you."

"Right… tomorrow," Ichigo said with a nod. "Maybe."

"Tomorrow," Chad said, nodding back.

Erza sat in the office, silently cursing the less mentioned role of a captain. The previous night's action had incurred a considerable amount of paperwork, most of which now fell on her. After writing her own report, she now had to go through the accounts of everyone else involved, make sure they all made sense, and compile the knowledge from each one into a report for the head-captain. Soifon had already done some considerable work, and Erza was grateful for it, but it had still taken her most of the day to go through this. She almost wished she still had injuries from the previous night to blame, to get out of it. A fight for her life was one thing, but the accursed stack of papers in front of her was getting the better of her. She was relieved, in fact, when a polite knock to the door interrupted her gruellingly slow progress.

"Enter," she said, looking up.

It was Soifon, naturally; she had worked tirelessly. Erza wondered how the woman did it. Part of her was envious. Part of her resented the fact that somebody could handle this joyless aspect of their work so effortlessly.

"Commander," said Soifon, sitting down opposite Erza's desk, "I have gathered statements from the auxiliaries as well."

She put a thin folder on the desk, and Erza resisted the urge to groan. Another stack of papers to add to the pile, another burden.

"Well done, captain," she said neutrally.

"Actually," said Soifon, "if you have the time, there is a matter I would like to discuss."

"If it is important enough to bring to me, I'll make the time," Erza said, all too eager to lay down the papers for a few minutes. Soifon nodded.

"I am sure you will have wondered at your role as commander," Soifon began, and her voice was totally neutral, not a syllable betraying any real emotion.

"I have," Erza said. "Political, I suppose. I am expected to prove my worth. Both you and captain Kuchiki are more experienced, so why put me in charge? Yamamoto wishes to test my loyalty. Such is my reasoning."

Soifon nodded. "I have observed you so far."

"Was that Yamamoto's order, then?"

"I would have done it with or without orders," Soifon said dismissively. "An inexperienced commander is always a potential danger, to herself and to her team."

"And what is your conclusion, captain?" Erza tried to sound as neutral as Soifon did, as calm and collected, but there was a strain in her voice.

"Capable," Soifon admitted, "yet I've found cause for concern."

"Concern?"

"I am loyal," Soifon said, sounding surprisingly forthright. "It is a trait I value. It will perhaps not be a surprise, given my past. Giving not only the mantle of captaincy to an anarchist openly opposing all I stand for is cause enough for concern, but the role of command of such a mission? Almost unprecedented in its scale? Yes, I am concerned. I was concerned from the start, and that concern has intensified since. I mistrusted you from the start, for the reasons I just mentioned. You were once Aizen's. You sympathized with hollows, and I believe you still do. You have a quality to your heart that may well be a weakness. I believed, and perhaps I still do, that that quality is at best a hindrance and at worst treasonous."

Erza took a deep breath, focused, and made sure to keep calm. Soifon was levelling some considerable pressure, seemingly out of nowhere. Like Yoruichi, she knew how to work people, undoubtedly from her training. Was she trying to provoke a reaction?

"What is your conclusion?" she asked, deciding to try to hide her emotion until there was something to really take offense to.

"As of yet unclear. I know there are things recorded that, if I reported them to the captain-commander in an uncharitable light, could remove you from command."

"Such as?"

"Irregularities. Your sudden disappearance a few nights ago alongside the espada Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez being one of them. I know he was lying. He is good at deception, but you are not. You hid something there, at a crucial time. A secret meeting with our enemies, perhaps? You have fought plenty of arrancar, yet none of considerable strength were killed yet. That might seem entirely like a good front for an undercover agent. We already know of your disapproval of the Gotei, which mirrors Aizen's."

"Would I make it that obvious?"

Soifon scoffed. "You've read too many novels. In real life, you'll find, most conspirators and criminals are the ones most likely to be guilty, most likely to have a grudge or a cause. Unsubtle, clumsy behaviour has given away quite a few traitors in my time."

"You said yourself I'm not good at deception."

"Yet perhaps you are better than we expected."

"If that is the case," said Erza, "you might well be interrogating a traitor. All alone, by yourself. Isn't that dangerous?" She stared Soifon down, a hard look on her face.

Soifon shrugged. "I'm not intimidated by the prospect."

"Enough," said Erza, balling a fist. "If you're going to accuse me of treason, come out and say it."

"There is no accusation," Soifon said, looking at her intently. "There is the possibility. I've kept it carefully in mind and observed you. I've made a conclusion, and I felt it necessary to address it."

"What is your conclusion, then?"

"I need the truth first," said Soifon. "Fill in the blank for me. You value honesty, I know it- so be honest, and know that much depends on the answer."

"Fine," Erza said, and took a deep breath. She paused, and groaned a little, the groan turning into a chuckle.

"This is funny to you?"

"It is," Erza said, "but not in a ha-ha kind of way. More in a… painful and awkward kind of way."

"The truth," Soifon insisted.

"Fine," said Erza, taking another deep breath. "You want to know about Grimmjow? About back then? I… I wasn't honest with you then, and I'm sorry. I should have been, but my judgment was… compromised."

She paused, but when Soifon didn't interject, only staring back at her with that piercing look of hers, Erza continued.

"The truth of the matter is… the night before that, I had an… incident with my vice-captain."

"A falling out?"

"Sort… of," Erza said. "We kissed. Turns out we had feelings for each other, and I was really not prepared to handle that. Give me a sword and a madly dangerous enemy and I'll handle it even if it breaks every bone in my body, but relationships? That's… crazy difficult for me."

Soifon's impassive mask broke briefly into a look of incredulity.

"I was in a state of shock, so I bullied the arrancar into taking me hollow hunting. It didn't help much, in the end. The next day I put it off as far as I could, but I had a talk with Momo. That's it, really. Now, tell me if I'm lying."

"I've trained considerably in deducing the truth out of liars," said Soifon, giving her an odd stare, her eyes having widened a little, "and… everything I know tells me you're being honest with me. It's… unexpected, is all. You're… in a relationship with your vice-captain?"

"We're in a something," said Erza, "and I don't think either one of us is comfortable putting a name on it right now. It's… very new ground for me."

Soifon paused, and she looked odd for a second. "And, that is all?"

Erza nodded. "I've fought my hardest every time. I disapprove of the Gotei, but I meant it when I swore fealty to it. I want to change it from within. I despise Aizen and his madness, its cruelty and bloodshed that could never be justified. Is this a lie, captain?"

Soifon shook her head. "That was… unexpected," she said at last, and cleared her throat. "Well… well, that's not the explanation I expected at all. But for what it's worth… I believe you."

"So, what is your conclusion, then?"

"I believe you are loyal to the cause against Aizen, at the very least," said Soifon, "even if I consider your loyalty to the Gotei to be on shaky ground. I also believe, quite firmly, that this is not the time to be reporting fellow captains for treason on loose grounds and gut feeling. You are a capable commander, Erza Scarlet. You were quite thorough in your arrangement of the city's defense, and it was tested well last night. We lived, and they did not. Your style… I disapprove of it, but it works. You fight well. The only issue I was left wondering at, prior to last night, was your capacity for leadership with regards to morale."

"And that, too, has been settled?"

Soifon nodded. "I heard your conversation with Kuchiki Byakuya."

"You listened in."

"Of course I did," Soifon said dismissively. "You were under suspicion of treason. That is more than enough for me."

"And, what did you make of it?" said Erza, a little tense. That had been a very personal moment, and reason or no, she disliked the privacy of it having been spoiled.

"You disciplined a very proud, headstrong team member stepping out of line, and you did so with consideration for the team itself and its coherency. You were perhaps a bit softer than I would have liked- I would have flogged any team member of such lacking discipline- but all the same, he is a considerable asset. You handled it… well enough. I trust you to lead, for better or for worse."

"Even if I'm an 'anarchist' bent on the downfall of the Gotei?"

"Do not make light of it," said Soifon sharply. "In time, that may prove to be your undoing. But for now… for now, you are, in my view, capable enough. No more deceptions, though."

"No more deception," Erza agreed.

"You've done well enough," said Soifon, "but you need to do better. You were nearly killed last night. You are still headstrong, still prideful, and still too soft. The war to come will have no place for such flaws."

"And to think, I almost thought you were praising me for a second."

"I do not praise or admonish. I state the facts of the matter as I see them."

Erza nodded. "That'll do, then. Am I to resume my work knowing I won't be put on trial for treason, then?"

"So long as you do not commit treason, yes."

Erza breathed out. "Well, good. Now… I have a stack of papers that need my attention."

"Leave it to me," said Soifon. "I am nearly done writing a report that is, without trying to seem arrogant, better, anyhow. You are a commander, so command."

"…That would be insulting if it weren't both true and a relief," Erza muttered.

"Consider it a friendly gesture."

"You may have to work on the whole 'friendly' part," Erza said with a smile. "Nevertheless, it's appreciated. I'll… I'll go to headquarters, then."

"There will be a full report done when you come back," Soifon assured her.

Erza stood up, and smiled warmly, putting a hand on Soifon's shoulder.

"Thank you," she said.

Soifon stiffened at first, then relaxed.

"…You're welcome. Commander."

It was not quite night yet, but on Isane's advice, Erza had left earlier than planned, joined by Momo. Soifon was now in charge, and Erza knew that right now, she trusted no one else to run the operation in her absence. A strange situation, given that only hours before Soifon had all but accused her of treason, but then again, the alternative was Byakuya, and he was a mess. But, despite the friction between them, despite their different beliefs, she trusted the Stealth Corps commander to run a tight ship.

So, she had come back to her apartment, feeling more tired than ever. Her reiatsu would recover naturally over the coming days, she had been told, and the worst was behind her. As she was right now, she only just had the energy to walk to her bed and collapse onto it. She didn't fall asleep quite yet; she still needed to wind down, but right now, she had energy for nothing more than lying awake, staring at the ceiling.

After some time, Momo walked into the room, carrying a tray with a couple of mugs of tea and some sandwiches.

"I was wondering where you'd gone," said Erza, smiling at her.

"I thought you might be hungry," said Momo, gently setting the tray down on the nightstand. "I know you're tired, but it's not good to skip on a meal because of it."

Erza laughed, and wearily, she propped herself up.

"What would I do without you, huh?" she chuckled.

Momo blushed, and smiled. "Go hungry, I guess!"

Erza nodded, and reached for a sandwich. They ate in silence, and although Erza spilled a bit of tea on the bed covers, it was by far the best time she'd had all week. Then again, she had just been through yet another life-or-death conflict, and anything was bound to seem heavenly compared to that.

Still, as she took her last bite and emptied her cup, Erza felt genuinely happy. She was happy that nobody had died. She was happy that she hadn't failed. She was happy that she wasn't going to be marked a traitor. She was happy to finally relax and get a bite.

She was happy to just… be, to have this quiet moment by herself with Momo.

"I read the report," said Momo quietly, setting aside the cups and lying down on the bed next to Erza. "Did it hurt a lot? The fight?"

"I should ask you," Erza murmured, and it seemed like everything was a little hazy. She was mildly delirious with the weariness of a hard day's work behind her, and warmly comfortable with a cup of tea inside her. She felt relaxed in a way she hadn't in forever. "I wasn't the only one who took a beating in the line of duty. You did well, I hear."

"Oh, it was nothing," Momo said, an appreciative smile lighting up her face. "I just wanted to know how it went for you… It can't have been easy."

"It wasn't," Erza agreed, "but you know what? I'd rather not talk work right now. Right now," she said, running a hand over Momo's shoulder, "I'm tired. I just want to relax a bit and then go to sleep. Get up tomorrow with my batteries recharged. Well… mostly recharged, I guess."

"Sure," Momo said, smiling even wider at Erza's touch. At an impulse, Erza put her hand on Momo's, and gently squeezed it. Momo eagerly took her hand, and for a while, they just lay next to each other, looking at each other.

She looks so happy, thought Erza, is that all it takes? Being… friendly with each other? Holding hands?

She'd like to imagine it was, but she doubted it.

"I told Soifon, you know," said Erza.

"Huh?"

"About us."

"Y-you did?"

"Well… she sort of ambushed us. She asked, and there was, uh… sort of a threat of reporting me to Yamamoto. So, I was… honest. That's the way it'll be. If someone asks, I won't lie. I know we said we'd keep it to ourselves, but…"

"N-no, I understand," Momo said hastily. "If you had to, you had to. No questions there."

Erza nodded. "Glad you understand."

Momo nodded back, quite keenly. "Of course I do."

"This is nice, you know," Erza murmured with a yawn, lazily locking her fingers in with Momo. She lifted both their hands up demonstratively. "Being… together. Just us."

"It really is," said Momo, "like you wouldn't believe."

"Uh-huh," said Erza, yawning again. "But… it'll be like this a lot, I guess. Just a small moment here and there in between work."

"That's enough for me."

"Good," said Erza, "'cause… 'cause…" she yawned again.

"You need to sleep," said Momo affectionately. "Come on, let's get you under covers."

"No, no, I'm fine," said Erza, slumping over on her back. "Not that sleepy. I can stay up a bit. I just… need to… rest my eyes a bit."

She closed her eyes, and struggled to open them.

"Just resting your eyes, eh?"

"Uh-huh," Erza muttered, already beginning to drift off to sleep. "C'mon… let's talk a bit more. Enjoy ourselves. Tell me about… about your fight."

"Well," said Momo, "it was very difficult, but in the end, my superior spellcraft won out."

"Mhm."

"I really wasn't prepared for the rainbow unicorns, though."

"Mhm."

"Erza, you're asleep, aren't you?"

"….Nah," Erza said, lying nearly motionless on her back. A few seconds later, there was a slight snore.

Momo smiled to herself. Tired, but not as tired as her beloved captain, she got up, fetched a blanket, and slid onto the bed, draping it over the both of them. She leaned into Erza, sleeping peacefully, and smiled widely, feeling almost euphoric. She was going to take care of her no matter what, and if all they got were a few moments here and there… that would be enough. She would live for them. Soon, she too joined Erza in a deep, peaceful sleep.

Erza did not sleep undisturbed. While her body lay at rest, her mind was elsewhere. Bathed in radiant light, she stood in the marble palace of Hagane no Tamashii, her zanpakutou. It was a strange thing to stand there in gentle sunlight, the world looking at peace, free of the oppressive weariness that had held her back the entire day.

"Hagane no Tamashii," she said, bowing lightly to the spirit, perched upon his golden throne. He stared down on her, his face serious but not stern.

"My master," he said.

"I sensed your thoughts," said Erza. "Were you not pleased with the battle from last night? Did I not live up to your expectations? Did I not vanquish my enemy and bring him to his knees? Was that not glory to you?"

"It was," admitted the spirit, almost grudgingly, and a smile briefly passed his face at the thought of it.

"Then, why was I called? I do not mind spending time with you, but this time you summoned me. You do not often go that far."

"We won," said Hagane no Tamashii, "but only by the skin of our teeth."

"He was resilient. If I fought him again… if I fought him again, knowing his style, his strengths, and his arsenal, I am confident I would do better."

"I expect no less. Yet, even under the best of circumstances, the match is too close for our liking."

"Not satisfied, even with victory, oh king of this realm?"

"The stakes are raised," said Hagane no Tamashii, raising a hand up toward the sky demonstratively. "The war that comes will be a trial of fire for us both. You saw her, did you not?"

"Her?"

The spirit's voice had a tone of admiration as it spoke. "Tier Halibel. She has become a magnificent creature, has she not? Radiating with power. I long to conquer it."

"Yes…" Erza said. She had almost forgot about the dark-skinned espada, towering over her.

"She nurtures a grudge against you," continued the spirit, "and loath as I am to admit it, she is far stronger than you are at the moment."

"Strength is not everything."

"I doubt her technique will be as simple as that of the idiot espada you defeated," said the spirit dismissively. "You must be ready to fight somebody of her calibre if you are to lead soldiers into this war."

"I am ready for anything," Erza said confidently.

Hagane no Tamashii snorted. "So you think. Yet, you were nearly brought to your knees by a knuckle-dragging lecher of a beast not a day ago. You are not ready- but you must make it so that you are, and soon."

Erza nodded. "…Yes, you're right," she said, after a pause. "I must grow stronger still."

"Your bankai is still imperfect," said the spirit. "There is much still to learn, and more still to master. The time has come."

"Yoto benizakura?" said Erza. "The daemon blade? You allowed its usage despite its being unfinished."

"Among other things," said the spirit evasively. "Yes, among other things… but you will start there. Master first the daemon blade, master, and become like unto a hammer that crushes your foes. When you master that, I shall permit you to learn more."

"Aizen could strike at any time."

"All the more reason to waste no time."

Erza sighed. "You've never stopped being demanding."

"Are you not grateful for it?" said Hagane no Tamashii. "If I had asked less, where would you be?"

"Not your master," Erza admitted. "No… this path is not easy, and it shouldn't be."

Hagane no Tamashii smiled, very briefly. "And, that is why I still call you master. Sleep well, for you have much to learn, and precious little time to do it in."

"And, if I fail?"

"Then you die doing your damnedest, dragging down as many enemies to Hell with you as you can."

Erza shook her head. "You are as grim a spirit as you are arrogant and demanding, sometimes."

He glanced back at her, seeming to take the jibe with good humour. "Just as you can be, master."

Erza shook her head and laughed. "I'll go sleep, as you said. Tomorrow… tomorrow, I'll make time to train as soon as my duties allow for it."

"See that you do."

Alone in the confines of his office, Aizen sat leaned back in his chair. He had calmed considerably since last night- although last night was something of a misnomer; it was always night in this place of eternal darkness- and his typical confidence and self-assuredness had naturally returned to him. He would not be rattled by the prattling of a hack who had a weak hand and knew it perfectly well. No, everything was, by and large, still going exactly as he had intended.

By and large.

But, something had come up that was, if not a cause for concern, then at least strange. On Aizen's request, microscopic probes had latched onto everyone traveling to Karakura, providing a wealth of combat data without the combatants being any wiser to it. He had personally gone through it, preferring to get a sense of it directly, rather than relying on Szayel's reports. The scientist was precise enough, but his mind could never be as sharp as Aizen's own. If he had the time to spare, there was no reason not to do what he would always do better.

Nnoitra's data had been fascinating in its own right. The espada was, of course, rather predictable, but Erza… she had continued to grow and continued to struggle. He had enjoyed it.

But, not so much that he had failed to notice the missing piece of the puzzle. Every privaron save one had died, all without irregularities. But Yami… Yami was a strange case. He had engaged an enemy with the signature of a quincy- Ishida Uryu, Aizen knew- after the quincy in question had defeated his opponent. It had been terribly one-sided. But then… then, another quincy signature had shown up, tremendously powerful. It had overwhelmed Yami completely in two strikes.

At first, Aizen had assumed it would be the quincy's father, Ishida Ryuuken, but the signature was not only anomalously powerful compared to the likes of Ryuuken, but completely anomalous in its signature. It was powerful enough to match the upper echelons of his espada, powerful enough to defeat Yami in two strikes.

There were other quincies in this world.

It was the only conclusion. Aizen was well-read on most subjects, and had always found the quincy method interesting, if a bit over-cautious and anal retentive, although he supposed that was a natural by-product of humans harnessing a power that did not come naturally to them. But, this… this signature was different from anything he'd heard of. It represented an unknown, and Aizen hated unknowns. A spanner in the works was the last thing he needed. Was it just the one? Were there more? Would it interfere? Was it just attending to quincy business?

They certainly would have no reason to oppose him. They had been brutalized by the Gotei, and a war against it should not be objected to by whatever survivors were left. But, all the same, it was an unknown factor. It needed to be pinned down, assessed, and, if necessary, exterminated.

If it even appeared again.

He was not troubled. In fact, he was more confident than ever. But, maintaining a complex set of plans meant minimizing the unknown variables as much as possible. Who was this quincy? Friend, foe, or neither? Inscrutably, he shook his head and smiled. He had to admit, the mystery of it was intriguing.

Well now, despite their being little to no action quite a lot sure happened huh?

Let's start off with Byakuya. I have some words from Greatkingrat88 regarding this subject, as he can convey it far better than I could.

"So there we go- that's Byakuya's path coming to a head. I know some of you have mentioned you found his behaviour obnoxious, which is rather the point. This is a man with serious issues and no way to process them, and it only makes sense it would end up being too much at some point. This is not the end of it by any means, though. He'll have more to learn in the future, and the lessons won't be easy for him.

Strictly speaking, I do believe I'm making him a little OOC, but I strongly dislike the Japanese stoic trope, where showing no emotion is confused with strength of character. I hope you'll forgive me taking liberties. And if you won't… well, I'll probably take liberties anyhow."

We've also began to foreshadow the next arc. We'll be taking a bit of a break from the arrancar to try something new. Several of you readers havce wanted us to do things differently than cannon and that all begins here.

Next we have the scene with Hagane no Tamashii. Erza has been working on obtaining new armor for her bankai, but hasn't really had the time to do so. With her rather close battle with Nnotira, it's become clear to her that the current level of strength she has just wont be enough. So from now on, whenever she is seen using a new armor, assume that it is from her training to improve her Bankai.

Well, that's all I have for you this time. Thank you all so much for leaving your reviews, it truly is appericated. I cant wait to see what you all think of this chapter as well.