Chapter Eighty Nine:

Byakuya stood in Division One restlessly, he wasn't alone. Anyone who was anyone was present. Taichou and Fukutaichou alike, the only exception was the noisy presence of Ikkaku and Yumichika who had been invited purely because of their connections and talents. The Espada and the Visored were also present, far more integrated with the Shinigami than they had been a few short months ago.

Starrk had made firm friends with Ukitake and Kyōraku, seemingly enjoying their aged wisdom and relaxed natures, and most likely Kyōraku's less than medicinal saké consumption. Harribel and Nelliel had found a girlfriend in Matsumoto, preening beneath the Division Ten Fukutaichou's carefree attitude to life and work and men. Szayel had made connects in Division Twelve and it was terrifying. The mere thought of what he could be capable of doing while working with Kurotsuchi made everyone's skin crawl in horror. No one slept with their doors unlocked anymore.

The biggest surprise among the Espada, was Grimmjow. Everyone, Byakuya included, had expected the Sexta to find contentment in Division Eleven with the likes of Kenpachi and his rabble. And yet... When the blue haired panther wasn't in Division Six, he was in Division Four with Unohana. The Kuchiki heir wasn't sure if he was more surprised, or if Unohana herself was.

According to Grimmjow, he would continue to stalk Division Four for as long as it took to learn Unohana's secret. Upon further poking, the Sexta had simply muttered something about the woman's smile, the smile that made even Taichou class Shinigami gasp in fear. Apparently, learning that smile was more important than any amount of destruction Division Eleven could offer.

Byakuya chuckled to himself quietly at the thought of Grimmjow shocking them all by becoming a medic. Unlikely. But an amusing prospect nevertheless.

Casting an eye around the room again, he saw Rukia and Tōshirō Hitsugaya talking fervently in the corner. They had been speaking frequently ever since the day after Rukia had unlocked her Bankai, and even now the white haired Taichou still seemed concerned, although his stance and expression was open and considerate. There was no question that their youngest Taichou would continue to coach his sister until she could use her new abilities without endangering her own life.

Rukia's Bankai... He was still amazed and in awe by that statement. Already she seemed to hold herself just a little bit taller, and with greater pride than before. Bankai was no easy feat, and the fact she had practically unlocked it while sleeping was laughably Rukia-like. She had always been far more gifted than she gave herself credit for.

"You're fidgeting." Renji commented from his side.

Hissing in annoyance, he glared at the redhead, "Wouldn't you be? You know how important today is for me."

"For us all." Arms folded in frustration, "We all care about Ichigo, we all want him back. If Urahara has managed to find a way... It affects us all!"

"I didn't realise everyone in the room was planning to marry him." He growled.

"For the love of- You're crabby when you haven't had enough sleep. Which is all the time these days."

Byakuya's retort was silenced, the sound of wooden clogs on the floor outside made his heart stutter. He turned and watched as the doors opened wide, revealing the every goofy grin which had become Urahara's trademark over the years.

"Hello, hello. This is quite the welcoming committee." The blond's smile seemed to grow, "It's very nostalgic, all this."

"Come in, Urahara-san. There's no use lingering out in the hallway." Kyōraku chuckled, gesturing with his hand for the man to come in, "No Yoruichi this time?"

"Ah, regrettably she had to remain in Karakura town. She's been unwell recently. Some awful stomach bug." He replied nonchalantly as the doors shut behind him and he strode into the middle of the room, striped hat removed politely and tucked under his arm.

"Yoruichi-sama is ill?" Soi-Fon's ears had pricked at that, "What have you done to her now, you fiend?"

Urahara glanced at the small woman with puzzlement, "Nothing? It's a stomach bug?" He sounded less and less sure of his own answer under Soi-Fon's scrutiny.

"Send her our best wishes." Ukitake smiled, "You said you had news to share, Urahara-san? I fear we are all most eager to hear it."

"Ah, yes, of course." Rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully, Urahara's eyes seemed to pause on Byakuya's for a long moment, sobriety turning his smile into an expression of seriousness, "I wish to discuss Kurosaki-san."

"Is he alright?" Renji was the first to respond, even going so far as to take a step forwards with his urgency.

"Have you seen him?" Rukia tore herself from her talk with Hitsugaya immediately.

Urahara lifted a hand to silence the battalion of questions, "I have seen him occasionally... Although I've remained out of sight. It seems he is unwilling to visit the store, I'm not sure why. He is... Coping, more or less."

"More or less?" Byakuya felt the words escape him before he had a chance to stop them, "Don't talk in riddles, Urahara."

Sighing, the blond rubbed his chin, "Yoruichi-san has been following him when I can't. It's been less frequent since she got ill but she still ventures out to monitor him. Physically, he's fine. He's doing fantastically in terms of adjusting to the loss of his powers and he has suffered no permanent ill effects of using Mugetsu."

"And mentally?" Nelliel asked quietly.

"I cannot be sure. Ishida-san has mentioned some concerns, it seems Kurosaki-san fills his time with working or babysitting the Ishida children. When he cannot do either of those things... He begins to disconnect. He grows angry, restless... Violent. Just a few days ago he got into a street fight, while it was entirely justified he didn't try to avoid the situation."

"What do you mean, justified?" Grimmjow snorted.

"The men he beat up were the parents of some children who have been bullying the Quincy children. Their leader also happened to be a young man who used to bully Ichigo as a child. So, yes it was rather justified." The man folded his arms and sighed, "I'm confident he isn't at risk of doing anything foolish unless something changes drastically but... He is very isolated."

"You can take the warrior out of the battle... But you can't take the battle out of the warrior." Yumichika said with an uncomfortable breath.

"Indeed." The blond agreed.

"Have you made any progress on restoring his powers?" Shinji asked.

Urahara let out a buff of breath and seemed to gather his thoughts, "If I am to speak plainly... Before arriving today I had exhausted every idea I'd come up with. I was out of ideas. Everything I had considered had failed in testing."

The Kuchiki heir's heart sank immediately, he was sure it showed on his face from the way he caught Rukia looking at him.

"However..."

Byakuya's gaze jumped back up and he watched as Urahara placed his hat back on his head, pulling his trademark fan from his sleeve in a restless action.

"The original reason for my visit to Seireitei was not to meet with you all. It was as a result of an invitation I received."

"An invitation?" Renji quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes... From the guards of Muken." The blond's expression had darkened slightly, "Aizen requested to see me."

"Sōsuke-kun did?" Kyōraku hummed, "This is the first I've heard."

"What did he want?" Starrk asked quietly.

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, the Espada and the Visored had become incredibly still even while their reiatsu fluctuated in a silent warning of frustration and anger at even hearing the man's name. Byakuya clenched a fist at his side as well, remembering the day he'd watched Aizen be sentenced.

Urahara licked his lips, "He asked me if I had uncovered a way to restore Kurosaki-san's Shinigami powers."

"Wait, what? Why would he care?" Hisagi asked gruffly, scowling, "How did he even know you had been trying to find a way?"

"I don't know. And when I asked, he wouldn't answer." The blond answered softly, eyes scanning the occupants of the room, "But as reluctant as I am to admit it... I now owe Sōsuke Aizen a favour, for he has potentially given me everything I need to bring Kurosaki-san back."

Byakuya felt his heart skip a beat and he gulped, "Are you confident?"

Urahara looked at him for a long moment, seemingly considering his reply before he dared to speak, "I am."

"Then indulge us Urahara, with this sudden brainwave." Kurotsuchi's tone was less than friendly as he looked at his former superior with distaste.

Hands clasped together, the former Taichou sucked in a small breath, "Aizen reminded me of a fact that should have given me all the answers I needed to begin with, it was foolish of me not to have considered it... As you are aware, Kurosaki-san's father was a Shinigami. Isshin... May have been the first person to actually realise something was amiss with Aizen. They clashed just before Isshin left for the World of the Living. He hid his heritage after borrowing a special Gigai I had been working on at the time and eventually got married and lived a very Human life."

"Is this going somewhere?" Byakuya asked impatiently.

"Yes. Because his Human life wasn't quite as Human as I first thought. Upon my own exile I had the pleasure of meeting his wife, Masaki. Kurosaki-san's mother." Urahara paused, "She was a Quincy."

"What?" The Kuchiki heir stared, "She was what?"

"I know, it seems unlikely for a Shinigami and a Quincy to get along, much less end up married with children!" The blond laughed.

"Did Ichigo know?" Renji looked between Byakuya and Urahara curiously, "Did he remember it when his memories were restored?"

"Not to my knowledge." Byakuya muttered.

"I'm unsure how much Kurosaki-san was aware of by the time he fought Aizen for the last time." The blond stated, "However, it is likely that Zangetsu was aware. According to Aizen, it would make sense that Zangetsu was not just the facet of Kurosaki-san's Shinigami powers, but also contained the knowledge and wisdom of his Quincy heritage."

"So you are telling me..." Ukitake trailed off, "Ichigo-kun was a Quincy, a Shinigami and a Hollow... All at the same time... All along?"

"From the moment the Hōgyoku was used on him, yes." Urahara nodded once, "But this benefits us. Kurosaki-san never unlocked his Quincy powers, because of Aizen bringing him to Soul Society before he hit adolescence. Had Kurosaki-san reached twelve... Thirteen years old in the World of the Living his full powers would have been realised."

"How does that help us?" Starrk poked, "If anything surely it makes it harder to bring him back. Quincy are different to Shinigami. Their powers are destructive and relentless. Rather than purifying Hollow souls they obliterate them."

"While that is entirely true, it still gives us a chance." Urahara looked at the Primera, fluttering his fan thoughtfully, "To put it simply, while Kurosaki-san has entirely lost his Shinigami powers, you cannot lose something you didn't know you had."

Byakuya frowned at the cryptic way the man spoke, but then his eyes brightened suddenly as everything made sense, "He never lost his Quincy powers... Because he never knew he had them! He still has reiatsu, Quincy reiatsu, it is simply locked away!"

Urahara smirked as he glanced at the Kuchiki heir and nodded once, "Exactly, Kuchiki Taichou! Exactly. As long has he still retains some reiatsu, no matter how deeply it is hidden... It will be possible to restore his Shinigami powers. I have yet to work out a way to do it... But I'm confident that it can be done!"

"Whatever resources you require will be at your disposal, Urahara." Kyōraku murmured, "Make use of Kurotsuchi Taichou, and Szayel-san if you require them."

Byakuya almost snorted at the look of displeasure on Mayuri's face at the prospect of being bossed around by his former Taichou again. Szayel seemed content to help if it meant experimenting without limits.

Everything aside, whether it was Kurotsuchi's complaints or Szayel's eager suggestions already rabidly bouncing around the room, Byakuya felt himself relax. It was a microscopic action, probably unnoticed by most. His shoulders lost some of their rigidity and he allowed a small breath to escape his lips as they loosened. There was hope. After months of waiting, wishing, wondering. Urahara had brought him hope, it was in the most unlikely circumstances and with the strangest of sources but at last, there it was. A glimmering little glint of hope.

"Urahara." Grimmjow's gruff baritone suddenly interrupted Byakuya's thoughts.

"Yes, Grimmjow-san?" The blond blinked.

"You said Aizen wouldn't tell you why he was willing to help bring Ichigo back," The Sexta's arms were folded and his stance was almost defensive, "But you said you owe him a favour now. Has he named the favour?"

Urahara froze, every muscle in his body seemingly turning to stone as he lowered his gaze to the fan in his hands. His jaw set in a hard line as he spoke, "Yes. He has."

"What could Aizen possibly want from you?" Renji scowled.

"I shudder to think." Shinji hissed.

"A promise." The former Taichou muttered, swallowing harshly before he released a nervous chuckle, "A promise to... Have Kurosaki-san visit Muken to see him, upon his return to Soul Society."

Byakuya was sure the very world had ground to a stop as blood suddenly rushed in his ears, "You... Did... WHAT?!" He roared, his usual calm demeanour vanishing in a flash, "HOW DARE YOU MAKE THAT PROMISE! AFTER EVERYTHING AIZEN DID TO HIM! YOU HAD NO RIGHT!"

He felt several strong pairs of hands wrapping around his arms, barely registering the fact he had attempted to storm towards the blond in his fit of rage. His fists were clenched, his reiatsu crackling in silent warning. He was seething. Rage bubbling in a way it hadn't since his childhood. A brief glance to his left revealed Renji and Kira holding his arm, while a look to his right showed Hisagi and Harribel holding the other.

The sound of a fist hitting flesh made Byakuya blink in surprise, his gaze drawn back to the blond as he watched Grimmjow's hand withdraw, knuckles split from the impact. The blue haired Espada was panting hard, his face the picture of unrelenting fury as the blond recoiled with a bloody nose.

"Ichigo will not be settin' foot in Muken." He snarled.

Urahara seemed to stare at the Sexta for a long moment, silent and contemplating, perhaps calculating how much he valued his life before he responded, "Kurosaki-san has his own mind. Has any one of you ever managed to prevent him doing something he was determined to do? It is almost certainly his choice if he accepts or refuses the offer given to him."

"Enough." Ukitake had moved forwards, resting a hand on Grimmjow's shoulder reassuringly, "Let us take one step at a time for now. First things first, Urahara-san must discover the correct way to perform this feat. We can work on everything else after that point."

It was at that moment, Byakuya noticed Szayel was tapping away at the data pad he seemed to carry everywhere with him. The pink haired Arrancar was frowning deeply, but then quite suddenly broke into a self satisfied smirk.

"I think... Perhaps, I might have a way. But it will take some time to set up." Szayel rose to his feet, approaching Urahara, "And the scenario is rather... Niche."

"Szayel..." Byakuya breathed, "Tell us everything you know."

"Before that." Urahara spoke again, his voice taking a strangely serious turn, even more so than it had before, "There was one last thing... That Aizen saw fit to share with me."

Feeling his irritation return at the mere mention of the former Taichou rotting in the bowels of Division One, Byakuya let out a growl, "What now?"

The blond's eyes fixed on his, his smile gone. His nervous ticks gone. His fan... Gone. The nobleman felt a chill run through him at the sight. He hadn't seen that look since childhood... Since Urahara had been in charge of the Maggot's Nest. He didn't feel like he was looking at a goofy shop keeper right now. He didn't feel like he was looking at a former Taichou either. He felt like he was looking right into the mouth of a feral lion.

"Aizen sensed a disturbance through the Hōgyoku. Something stirring in the distance, originating in Las Noches, but passing to another World. Something dark, powerful... And brimming with emptiness" His voice was low, dangerous, "I fear we will have to move fast if we are going to restore Kurosaki-san's powers before it is too late."

"Too late?" Renji repeated uncertainly.

Urahara's eyes never left Byakuya's, the Kuchiki heir felt another chill slide through him like frigid fingers before he slowly... Slowly, slowly, slowly looked at Grimmjow Jaegerjaques. The blue haired Espada met his gaze, he could see a swirl of fear in those azure eyes and he knew they were thinking the same thing. He wasn't sure why. He wasn't sure how. But he knew... He knew what Aizen had felt. He knew why they'd have to hurry.