(Day 5)

Large, shoji doors slowly slid to a close behind Renji, leaving the captain standing in the night's sky of the World of the Living. Or, more specifically, right above the Japanese township named Karakura Town.

He hadn't been too keen on leaving his lieutenant alone. Being a captain was a lot of responsibility and Renji knew first-hand how taxing it could be on the lieutenant. However, he had promised his wife he would do this today. Besides, he agreed it was the least he could do for their friend.

Don't get him wrong, Renji did agree that purification would be the best course of action. Ichigo was strong enough, as is. He didn't need them. On top of that, he would be less of a target and anomaly. Renji was aware of how Ichigo's mere existence offended people. It was why his wife's division had such a high transfer rate. He didn't blame Ichigo, it wasn't the kid's fault he had those powers to begin with. But removing the Hollow powers just seemed logical.

It may even fix that weird Zanpakutō of his.

He had met the Hollow Zanpakutō a couple of times. It often resulted in a hostile atmosphere. The spirit had an uncanny resemblance to Ichigo, though it was less severe now the Hollow dressed differently. Honestly, without the markings, the Hollow could pass as a normal Zanpakutō. Yet, there just was something about him. Something dark and primal that just put him on edge.

He still vividly remembered the glare the Hollow had given him during that Muramasa affair. Renji shivered. He couldn't imagine his own Zanpakutō being tainted like that. Imagine anyone allowing their Zanpakutō to suffer like that.

Renji shook his head. No, he shouldn't think like that. Ichigo and his Zanpakutō didn't know any better. They make do with the cards they have been dealt. From the small bit of interaction he had seen, the two seemed to have a good relationship. That was the most important.

With a sigh, Renji headed for Kisuke.

The lights were off when Renji landed before the store. He walked up and knocked on the door.

Renji knocked again, 'Urahara, open up! I know you're home!'

When his answer was silence, Renji stormed to the back. There, he resumed his banging.

'Damnit, Urahara! It's urgent!' This time, he didn't stop pounding on the door. Renji kept on shouting, demanding the shopkeeper to open up. When his hand actually started to ache, Renji paused. He took a moment to collect his breath, nursing the side of his palm. Fine, if the man wanted to be difficult, Renji would use his weakness. He called out again, this time, merely raising his voice loud enough to be heard inside, instead of the whole town.

'It's about Ichigo'.

As soon as his friend's name fell from his lips, a light went on in one of the rooms. A frown settled on Renji's face, taking a step back from the door in advance. He had never understood the relationship between Kisuke and Ichigo. The shady shopkeeper would literally drop everything for his old pupil.

Meanwhile, Ichigo would often complain about the man's less than straightforward personality. He always had to be extremely specific whenever he needed Kisuke's help and even then the man would find a loophole to get a little something extra out of it. At the end of the day, however, Ichigo did trust Kisuke to deliver on his word.

Another light lit up and the door was unlocked. The screen was pulled aside, revealing not who Renji was expecting. Instead of a bucket-hat wearing blonde scientist, it was a purple-haired noblewoman that stood in the doorway. Dressed in a robe that barely covered her assets and left nothing to the imagination, Yoruichi gave Renji a glare that could kill. Fortunately for Renji, he had averted his gaze the moment he realised who opened the door and in what state of dress, sparing him an untimely demise.

'Renji, if you just said Ichi's name to get Kisuke out of bed, I swear I will—'

'They plan to purify him'.

Yoruichi paused, her spiritual pressure losing its deadly edge. Leaning back, her eyes narrowed, taking the man before her under scrutiny. Slowly, she pushed herself off against the doorpost.

'Come in'.

Renji slid the door behind him shut before he followed her. She led him to the tearoom, where she lazily gestured for him to sit before vanishing behind a partition. Accepting the invitation for as it was, Renji removed his zanpakutō from his hip and took place on one of the pillows.

'Where's Urahara?'

'Taking a cold shower', Yoruichi answered off-handedly, followed by the sounds of ceramic dragging across wood. 'You want something to drink?'

'N-no, thanks'.

Golden eyes peeked around the corner, a Cheshire smile revealing after. 'Wow, that's an impressive colour you've got going on there'. Yoruichi disappeared again, water hitting the sink briefly. 'You would almost think you're still a virgin'.

'I-I have a daughter!' Renji sputtered out in defence.

'How is Ichika doing, anyway?' Yoruichi asked. 'I haven't seen her in a while'.

'Oh, she's well', Renji said. 'She is in her third year of the Academy. She's got a good head on her shoulders though she lacks the discipline to follow through. Once she gets something, she tends to go on to the next thing, instead of perfecting the technique, you know?'

'Quantity over quality, huh?'

'I hope not', Renji said. 'If she goes out on missions, I rather have her know one Kido really well to use it without incantation, than seven that need time to be charged'.

'Sound like she's just trying to find her thing', Yoruichi waved off, raising her voice over the sound of boiling water. 'Learning and trying out a bit of everything before narrowing down on what she likes'.

'Rukia said the same'.

'Because it's true!' Yoruichi said. 'Ichika has been surrounded by experts that have trained her since she could wielder a stick. Madarame taught her zanjutsu. Rukia guided her with kidō. Ichigo explained the basics of hōhō and you practised hakuda with her. That kid has had the best preparation for becoming a Soul Reaper in history!'

'Just the basics isn't gonna keep her alive on missions, Yoruichi'.

'But her mastery over those basics is'. The smell of coffee drifted through the room. 'Ichika is very committed to becoming a Soul Reaper, she wouldn't have stuck through all those years of training if it had been a phase'. Metal bounced against ceramic. Yoruichi appeared from behind the partition, holding a mug in each hand. 'Trust me when I say she knows how much one mistake can cost her'.

The door slid open, revealing a shower-fresh Kisuke. Yoruichi handed him a mug, which he cradled in his hands. The man mumbled a thanks, to which the woman whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, Renji saw the man smirk at the words.

'I'll leave you two boys alone', she said, giving the man a kiss that nicked the corner of his lips before making her exit.

Kisuke looked at Renji, 'Since you're still alive, it must be quite serious'. He knelt down at the table, taking a sip of his drink. 'So, tell me why you are banging on my door at two in the morning?'

'They want to purify Ichigo of his Hollow'.

The spoon stilled. Kisuke sighed, 'I was afraid you would say that'.

'You make it sound he will die, or something', Renji noted. When Kisuke didn't refute it, he became less confident.

'Because he will'.

'How can you be so sure?' Renji pressed. 'Maybe Kurotsushi did figure it out. He found a way to purify the Visoreds, hasn't he?'

Kisuke shook his head, 'The Visoreds situation and that of Shiba are fundamentally different. It truly is impossible without it ending in Shiba's demise'.

'But he knows it's different! He would have kept that in mind-'.

'Then he either made a mistake, which I find unlikely. Or he lied and wants to use the opportunity to experiment on Ichigo, which I find more plausible', Kisuke said. 'Whatever the case, it is impossible'.

Renji sat back. So, Rukia was right. It will kill him.

'When are they planning to do it?' Kisuke asked.

'Uhm... it hasn't been decided yet, actually', he told. 'The Head-Captain gave us a week to gather information and wants to discuss it at length before making a decision. We have until the end of the week'.

'And what will be discussed specifically?' Kisuke asked. 'Whether Shiba needs to be purified because he has Hollow powers? Or if his Hollow is too dangerous?'

'I think the latter, it wasn't said'.

Kisuke nodded, 'That's good. We can work with that'. He turned towards the door, 'Yoruichi, could you get something for me?'

The door slid open and the noblewoman in question entered. 'How did you know I was listening?'

'I would have been disappointed if you weren't', Kisuke said. 'But could you get a box from downstairs? Labelled: K1-ZG-0K'.

'Where downstairs?' Yoruichi asked.

'That downstairs'.

The woman nodded and left, 'Gotcha'.

'You have a box for this situation at the ready?' Renji asked.

'Shiba knew this would happen eventually. So, he gave me permission to document and save everything concerning him and his zanpakutō', Kisuke told.

'Not that you would have needed that permission', Renji said.

Kisuke didn't respond to the accusation. 'May I ask what happened to result in this situation?'

Renji shrugged, 'From what I've heard, Rukia had sent Ichigo on break. Something happened and half-an-hour later, she finds him in the Fourth with severe spiritual-energy depletion'. He rubbed his forehead, 'Apparently, his Inner Hollow took over and started lashing out while the healers were tending to him...one he actually injured'.

Kisuke 's eyes hardened at the news. He pursed his lips into a thin line before chugging the last bit of his coffee.

'Since he was a danger to both the healers and Ichigo's survival, they forcibly materialised him in a cell where he Hollowfied almost immediately'.

The mug was put down. Kisuke nudged it aside with his fingers, 'That's not good'.

'What's not good?' Yoruichi asked as she returned, a box under her arm.

'That Getsu-san made a ruckus', Kisuke replied, accepting the box and opening it up. 'One that will take quite a lot of evidence to shift into its proper light'.

'Proper light?'

Yoruichi sat down as well, 'Well, why do you think Getsu did what he did?'

Renji shrugged.

'You can answer truthfully, we won't tell', Yoruichi waved off. 'Give me your honest answer'.

'... To escape care', Renji said. 'To take advantage of Ichigo's condition and do whatever it wants'.

Yoruichi sighed, her cheek resting in her palm. Her free hand, she used to point at him lazily. 'That. That is exactly what the rest thinks'. She lowered her hand and slipped her fingers through the ear of her mug. 'And exactly the opposite of the truth'.

Renji frowned, 'How do you mean?'

'You see the white spirit as Shiba's Inner Hollow. As something that awaits its chance to cease control from its host and destroy everything around it', Kisuke said, taking a photo from one of the files and placing it on the table. Renji pulled it towards him, taking a look.

It showed the spirit in question in Hollowfication. It roared at Kisuke, who had his blade drawn and released.

'If this is supposed to change my mind... this supports my view, doesn't it?' Renji asked.

'Context is important, Abarai-san', Kisuke told, adding another photo. This one showed Ichigo, laying on the ground a few ways behind Kisuke. 'You see, I caused him to Hollowfy'.

'Why would you do that? Was it an experiment?'

'For reasons I am not permitted to disclose, he had to fall asleep', Kisuke told. 'Shiba told me he felt tired after Hollowfication, specifically sudden or forced Hollowfication. So, I aided Shiba in materialising his spirit and...' he paused, 'Want to take a guess as to how I achieved this?'

'You attacked him?' Renji offered, referring to the white spirit.

'I attacked Shiba'.

Renji frowned, 'I don't follow'.

'I used a Kido to make it seem like I critically injured Shiba. That is why he lays on the floor', Kisuke explained. 'I will admit, he wasn't in the best state mentally and physically, so perhaps that's why it was so easy'.

'You are saying that you attacking Ichigo, is what caused him to Hollowfy?'

'Correct'. Kisuke pulled another photo from the file. 'Fortunately for me, Shiba woke up sooner than I had anticipated'.

Renji blinked at the photo he was shown, rubbing his eyes to check if he wasn't seeing things. He wasn't.

The Hollow was in the corner, cradling Ichigo in his arms. Ichigo didn't seem too happy about the arrangement. With his arms crossed and scowl deep, he was the picture of a petulant child. The rest of the area was a war zone.

'You have got to be kidding me'.

'See? Completely the opposite', Yoruichi said.

'From all the tests and observations I have made over the years, I can say with certainty that Getsu-san is a Zanpakutō, first and foremost. One that values his wielder's life and wellbeing above his own', Kisuke said.

Renji stared at the photo, noticing how the Hollow was nuzzling the orange tresses. Explaining why Ichigo looked so annoyed. 'You have more things like this?'

'I have the video of it here'. Kisuke pulled out a disk. 'I have decades worth of notes, photos, rapports and videos. However, it will take a while to go through them all'.

'I have all night'.

'Good, we will need it'.

'I'll make another pot'.

#

TO BE CONTINUED

BLEACH – Tite Kubo