Chapter 36: Truth Seeker

Twelve hours before

Within the captain meeting halls every captain of the gotei stood awaiting Rukia's words. Amongst them was the youngest captain and one that was called a prodigy. A white haired, short and young Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya of the tenth stayed quiet throughout the entire meeting, but was carefully listening to everything being said. He was coming up with a conclusion that though Lieutenant Kuchiki had been in the living world for several months, it was determined that she was not at fault. However, she had come into contact with several spiritually endowed teenage humans and possibly even the traitor. This alone didn't make sense. Former Captain Urahara had been off their radar for over a hundred years. Meaning, he had purposely made himself know to the Lieutenant.

Why? he wondered as he touched his chin in deep thought. Could it be his claims of innocence were true? He shook his head. No. That can't- He then recalled his former captain, Captain Isshin Shiba, had once commented on believing in Urahara's innocence before being killed by an unknown hollow. His thoughts were interrupted by the bellowing of the head captains voice.

"Kisuke Urahara, is one of the most wanted criminals of Soul Society." Yamamoto's voice, though old held strength within it. "Lieutenant Kuchiki, you will tell us where this man is! If you do not comply, actions will be taken against you."

All eyes turned towards the small young woman standing next to her kind and gentle captain. Hitsugaya saw determination filled the woman's eyes. Her time in the living world has changed her. he thought, remembering how she would have told the head captain instantly. She's going to protect them, Urahara included. Why? Does she owe him something? He saw her opening her mouth to answer, when suddenly the alarms began going off stating intruders were invading the Seireitei.

Hitsugaya was relieved. He didn't want to see the promising Lieutenant be punished. However, now he wanted to know whether Kisuke Urahara really was the enemy he had been made out to be or if they had another who was responsible for the deaths of those captains and lieutenants.

Yamamoto's commanding voice was heard over the alarms. "Captains, prepare your squads and bring me these intruders!"

Walking out of the meeting room and entering the hall, he saw his lieutenant standing there. He felt annoyed by her not doing anything but perhaps her laziness would one day be her salvation.

"Matsumoto!" Inwardly he smirked as she jumped slightly when he spoke. She never was paying attention when she should be.

"Captain!" Rangiku exclaimed in surprise. In her arms were reports she had finished while waiting outside the meeting room. Her captain had not allowed her to sneak off to enjoy a cup or two, or three, with Shuhei and Kira. Instead, she had to finish the reports of their last mission outside the captain s meeting room. She of course had pouted a bit.

"Let's go." Toshiro ordered her causing Matsumoto to perk up.

Her captain's voice had changed a bit. What happened in that room? She wondered as she followed her shorter captain. " Captain?" she questioned, not sure why they were not following the others to find the intuders. "Where are we going?"

Hitsugaya looked over his shoulder towards her. "We are going to the hall of records." he told her with a definite tone to his voice. "I believe we may have been tricked into believing one of own was an enemy when another might be the true instigator."

Rangiku cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Who captain?" she inquired but received silence as her answer.

Upon arriving in the hall of records, Matsumoto found herself feeling a bit intimidated by all the shelves filled with books with names upon them. "Everything is recorded here. From the moment one becomes apart of the gotei to their deaths." Hitsugaya spoke as they walked past the wall of books. "This place use to be taken care of by the bookkeeper, until it was automated by the creator of the Research and Development Institute."

Matsumoto's eyes widened at this information. She had heard of that man, everyone had by now and if you hadn't you'd been living under a rock for the last century. They turned down a second hall and approaching the large computer screen. The screen automatically turned on. "This is the new bookkeeper, though a lot of the older captains still use physical books to look into the records." he finished explaining. Approaching the keyboard he typed into the search engine the name, Kisuke Urahara.

In the living world at the Urahara Shoten, the former captain and now exile, Urahara saw the light on one of his computers to off. Looking towards the sleeping Masaki, Kisuke stood up and walked over to the computer. Tessai appeared behind him. "Boss?" he questioned his friend.

Kisuke blinked I surprised. It would seem someone was search his name through the records. Bringing up mission reports from the day of the incident. Reports on where his reiatsu was before, during and after the incident. Reports appeared on his screen of his abilities, including if he was able to create false reiatsu appearances, which he wasnt; at the time.

"Somebody is about to get themselves killed." he muttered quietly.

"How do we prevent that?" Tessai inquired with concern.

"We can't." Urahara stated with sadness in his voice.

In the center of the Seiretei park a ball of energy formed a senkaimon with a royal clan seal upon it. Stepping out of it a man with dark hair, a torn haori upon his left arm, who wore the shinigami uniform. Isshin Shiba, now Isshin Kurosaki, stepped into Soul Society for the first time in twenty years. With a burst of energy he vanished into thin air as he used his faster flash step and headed towards his boy's position.

At that same moment Hitsugaya was putting together the truth and found himself in a difficult position that was soon cut clear when Matsumoto's scream pierced the halls of records.

M-Angel: Yay! I brought everyone's favorite ice captain into the story. Finally! Yes, he's going to hurt by Aizen, but things are going to progress from here on.

Murder leo - I'm glad you're enjoying this story.

Eyilin - Yep and he's here to my I butt!

Zaiakai16 - Thanks!

Xiyou-chan - I'm glad you like the story. Yes, Isshin's is now helping his boy's and no Masaki won't be going to Soul Society.