AN: Let me make something clear – this story is based primary on the Anime and what has been revealed in it up to its end. I never could get into the manga and the events covered in it after the anime's conclusions as wellany consequent revelations not featuring in it won't necessary appear in this story at all or if they do, they would likely be altered to serve the narrative.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Star Wars, they belong to their respective creators and/or copyright owners. I make no money from this story. It is not for sale or rent.

Chapter 5

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Part 1

=DA=

Soul Society

Four minutes, that was how long the second invasion of Soul Society in mere days lasted, yet the effects of it would be felt for decades if not centuries, that much Yamamoto knew. He glared at the tears in reality, watching as the Negation left his dimension and the cracks in the air closed without a trace, leaving pristine night sky behind.

"Captain-General, we need to have words about what happened tonight." Ukitake spoke with cold formality before vanishing in the direction of his Division.

Yamamoto sighed and leveled a weary look at the members of Fifth Division who chose not to follow Aizen in whatever madness he was up to now. They were all potentially compromised, had to be interrogated and kept under close observation in the future. Best case scenario as far as they were concerned? Not all of them were traitors like Aizen, just a thin shield between the agents he had left behind and Gotei 13. At least handing them should be relatively simple. The same couldn't be said about the members of Tosen's division and whatever spies Aizen had spread throughout the rest of Gotei 13.

"You will stand down and are now confined to quarters until ordered otherwise." Yamamoto ordered, ignored the sullen looks his prudence earned him and went to check on Soi-Fon. She was very much alive, thankfully, and busy binding her wounds to the best of her ability.

"Sir." The Commander of the Stealth Force nodded stiffly.

"Your orders are thus…" Yamamoto began while using a Kaido to get her up and running. This wasn't a time for the Captain of the Second Division to be out of action if it could be helped. "First, arrange the close observation of the remaining Fifth Division members, interrogation and investigation can wait for a bit. We need to secure Soul Society first. You're to work with Captain Kurotsuchi to restore order and figure out how we lost the shield. At the same time, you will track any remaining invaders and take them into custody if practical, kill them if not…"

=DA=

Thirteenth Division Barracks

Soul Society

Jushiro was glad to find his subordinates and friends intact during Aizen's breakaway. Ukitake's division had suffered no damage during the diversion that allowed Sosuke to escape. He found his two Third Seat Officers in the courtyard issuing orders and ensuring the security of the complex and surrounding area.

"Captain!" Kiyone exclaimed. "What happened?! Are you all right?"

"Physically, I'm better than ever." Ukitake smiled wanly. "My disease is gone and that is one of the few good news tonight. Has there been any issues over here?"

"None to speak of, Captain! The Ryoka is our guest, as much as anyone with so many Bakudos keeping him in check could be. As far as we know, no one is the wiser and he is still officially in The Tenth's custody."

That particular sleight of hand came after a brief brainstorming between Ukitake and Kyoraku. While the boy, who was apparently Isshin's son did come on his free will, if reluctantly, they still weren't taking any chances – said child managed to beat Zaraki of all people and he hadn't even achieved Bankai yet. The last thing anyone needed was for Ichigo to go and do something stupid in an attempt to rescue Rukia before either Jushiro or Shunsui could properly speak with him about what has been happening.

Besides, helping Isshin's son by trying to keep him out of the worst fallout of the current mess was for the best anyway.

"Good. Release a third of the Division for search and rescue, the rest maintain security over the area. I'll speak to our guest now." Ukitake said and entered the Barracks. While he wanted to go check on Rukia right now, he had to clear up a few things first – like the status of Ichigo Kurosaki and the boy's knowledge.

The good news was that Isshin's kid was indeed still a guest of the Thirteenth Division, Aizen hadn't used Negation to retrieve him obviously, nor had he sent someone to do it for him. That much was good if not conclusive. The boy wasn't an illusion, which was also a good news.

"Ichigo Kurosaki, we need to speak. To the best of my knowledge, Rukia is fine now and she should not be executed today." Ukitake said once he found himself face to fake with the boy.

Indeed, the resemblance with Jushiro's deceased lieutenant was uncanny. Paint Kurosaki's hair black and the two of them would be almost identical.

"Rukia's safe?" Ichigo perked up at that. The boy sat on a bed in a room near Ukitake's own quarters and while his Zanpakuto was nearby, both were bound by more than enough spells to stop even Zaraki cold, making them little more dangerous than a regular soul wielding a stick if they decided to get up to no good.

"She is." Jushiro nodded. "You heard the commotion, we were attacked tonight, twice. I'm afraid that tonight's events bring your own actions and those of your friends under even more of a suspicion, or so the Captain-General will see it." He explained. "I'm personally neutral on the matter and want to get to the truth. Ichigo, tell me what you know about Captain Aizen, Kisuke Urahara and the truth behind Rukia's sentencing."

Kurosaki groaned at that and for a moment looked just as young as he really was, before he scowled at the nearby wall. "I'll talk." Ichigo grumbled. "I said it before, I came to save Rukia just like she saved me a few months ago when that Hollow went after me and my family. If it wasn't for her, that thing would have eaten us all. Perhaps not Dad but he wasn't at home that evening."

"That's what I gathered. While technically against the law, I personally see nothing wrong with what Rukia did in order to survive that night. In fact, I'm glad that she did it, otherwise I've lost another friend." Jushiro said softly. "Tell me about Kisuke Urahara and Sosuke Aizen."

"Hat and clogs?" Ichigo rubber the back of his head. "He's an utter bastard."

"Urahara you mean?"

"Him." Kurosaki grumbled. "Do you know what that bastard did to 'help' me regain my Shinigami powers?" Ichigo scowled angrily. "He cut off my soul chain, bound my hands behind my back and kicked me into a damn deep hole! I was there for days and almost became a Hollow!"

"Indeed?" The way things were going, the one sentenced and in need of execution wouldn't be Aizen, certainly not Rukia. The Exile on the other hand? "I want to know more. Do go on, Ichigo, it's important."

Ichigo spilled his guts, his resentment of Urahara overwhelming any gratitude he might have felt for the man. All it took were a few probing questions and explaining that the Exile was responsible for Rukia loosing her power, put the Hogyoku, whatever exactly that was in her, and perhaps he was even behind her execution in order to ensure that Rukia's soul was gone and with it that devise. While the latter was a speculation on Jushiro's part, he wouldn't put it past Urahara, considering the lengths the man went to in order to get rid of the device for good.

Besides, it was nice to have another confirmation that Urahara was behind the human children invading Soul Society – none of them apparently knew of any way to either get in the Spirit Real in first place, much less through the barrier or back into the living world. Did Urahara use them as bait and a distraction? Was this all about a shot at Aizen? Perhaps an attempt to kill to birds with one Hado? Ichigo's story raised more question than it answered. Ukitake made a mental note to go visit the Shibas once an opportunity presented itself. Kukaku would undoubtedly have something to say about this as well. And once the situation in Soul Society stabilized, he would be making a visit to the living world, not only to return Ichigo and his friends if at all possible, but to have words with Isshin Shiba as well.

However, first he was going to get Rukia out of that damn cell and have that conversation with Yamamoto.

=DA=

Part 2

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Palace of Penitence

Soul Society

At the top level of the prison, Jushiro found a group of very confused and scared guards. He had to reassure them that now the crisis was more or less over and there would be no hordes of Hollows coming to eat them before they granted him access to the cell. Ukitake found Rukia sitting in a corner as far away from the door as she physically could and starring in the distance with a far away look in her eyes. She looked like a mess, nevertheless a bit better than the last time he came to visit.

"Rukia?" Jushiro asked gently as he made his way into the cell.

"Captain?" His voice brought Kuchiki out of her stupor and she jumped up with energy Jushiro hadn't seen her display since returning from the world of the living.

"It's me. There have been some developments as you undoubtedly noticed."

"I heard the fighting. What happened? Is everyone all right?"

"No fatalities as of yet that I know of, though there are a lot of wounded. First keep in mind, he'll recover. Byakuya was one of the injured."

"Brother, what did you do…" Rukia groaned.

"He got caught in a Hado, though as I said, he will be all right once the Fourth are done with him. I understand you met Aizen tonight?"

"He and Hinamori came to visit and promised to help." Rukia nodded with a sad smile.

"Well, he did, though not in the way you think, I recon." Ukitake sighed. "There have been complications. First tell me everything that Aizen and Hinamori did and said. I'll explain what exactly happened once you've answered my questions. It's important, Rukia."

"Captain Aizen told me that as soon as he has dealt with the invasion, peacefully, he would be preparing to meet with Central 46 first thing in the morning to plead my case. He also said that he would do his best to take in the Ryoka alive…"

"That much he did. Every Ryoka he encountered tonight, he brought in without harming them, including Ichigo Kurosaki. He's in fact at our division right now. Rukia, when were you going to tell me that Kaien's uncle is very much alive and in the human world?"

"What? I know Ichigo and Kaien look very much alike but…"

"Isshin Shiba, the former captain of Tenth Division, now going by Isshin Kurosaki. That's no coincidence, Rukia, you ran into Kaien's family in the living world. It came as a shock to Ichigo too when Aizen connected the dots about his origin."

Rukia gasped, covered her mouth in shock and took a step back, pressing her back against the wall.

"My reaction was similar." Jushiro added with a small smile. "However, we have other priorities right now. Aizen made certain claims about Kisuke Urahara and a device that Exile put into you."

Rukia flushed with anger at that statement.

"He did. Urahara met me shortly after I gave up my powers to Ichigo so he could save us along with his family. That man in fact aided me in covering up the Hollow attack and provided me with a gigai…" Rukia grimaced. "It wasn't until earlier tonight that I was told it had been a trap. The gigai had been modified to place some kind of device in my soul, which if left inside for much longer would have destroyed my Shinigami powers."

"Aizen removed the Hogyoku from you then?"

"It wasn't Aizen but a woman who claimed he sent her. Her she called herself Aria…" Rukia proceeded to explain what happened.

As he listened to her account, Ukitake rubbed his forehead in frustration. While this did align with Aizen's account, it was a reminder that with his Bankai and illusions, the man could practically be at two or even more places at the same time, which didn't do him any favors. In fact, such an ability, no matter how useful, would enable the man to cause no end of trouble if he was in fact a traitor. With such a Bankai, Aizen could be at one place, being the nicest guy ever, while his Zanpakuto did his dirty work for him. Or it could be the other way around, Aria, the spirit could pose as Aizen while he was up to no good. This by itself made proving that Aizen wasn't a traitor that much harder and when combined with the strikes at Central 46 and the archives…

Naturally, this wasn't lost on Aizen. No matter if he was traitor or not, he had little choice in the end – without solid proof, he would have been likely damned anyway once the government reformed, especially once the new Central 46 comprehended what Sosuke's Bankai allowed him to do.

As if everything else that happened tonight wasn't bad enough, there was the issue with what the hell was the Hogyoku and why was it so important!? Aizen now had it and at least in theory that might be better than the thing remaining in Ukitake's hands given what he did to destroy it. Or perhaps this turn of events was an unmitigated disaster…

After Rukia finished her explanation and answered Jushiro's question, he gave her a brief rundown of the events that happened tonight, or at least what he believed happen.

"In the end, Captain Aizen took credit for the orders to have you executed so you're clear at least until Central 46 reforms. While I don't believe he actually created such orders, as tonight proves that he didn't need you dead in order to get to the Hogyoku, that's not how many will see it. It's an utter mess, Rukia and you're one of the people right in the middle of it. Now come on, we're going home." Jushiro placed a hand on her shoulder and gently led her towards the exit.

=DA=

Fourth Division Barracks

Soul Society

The medical corps was busier than ever, with their Lieutenant taking charge and constantly shouting orders redirecting emergency teams from one critical case to another as soon as they could stabilize the condition of a high value patient. This was precisely the wrong time for Captain Unohana to go missing, yet if the rumors were true, the Fourth's Captain wouldn't be returning until some time tomorrow if ever.

Hearing that Retsu Unohana had left with Aizen could no longer shock Byakuya Kuchiki. All he could currently do was lay down, wait for the healers to be done with him and reflect on what happened this damned night. First the mishap at Fifth Division, then the short interrogation session forced upon Aizen in a nearby room, the way the Captain-General let him go, yet sicked the Stealth Force on him so the rest of the Captains could observe his actions… All that had been highly irregular already, and what followed… Kuchiki groaned and not in pain. His wounds barely registered and not just because of the painkillers and Kaido the healers were using on him.

Byakuya still couldn't get over the way Aizen went to meet Rukia and spoke to his little sister. That should have been him, he should have been the one providing reassurance and comfort to Hisana's sister. Just like he should have been the one to do everything within reason and beyond to get her sentence expunged before it could be carried out.

What did he do instead? For the honour of the Kuchiki Clan, for the duty he was sworn to uphold, Byakuya was one of the first to condemn Rukia. He was in fact the one who brought her in to be sentenced in the first place.

All because of the machinations put into motion by a single man, Kisuke Urahara. For all Kuchiki knew, it was the Exile who had engineered Rukia's confrontation with a Hollow she couldn't best, it had been him who ensured she had no other choice but give her powers to a human so she could survive and become a vessel to destroy that thing, the Hogyoku. Rukia would have lost her powers as a Shinigami, then she would have been executed in such a way that no trace remained from her soul, thus erasing any possible evidence of what that man did to her… and Byakuya played straight into the Exile's hands.

It was such a fine treachery that would make the Clan Elder's proud, and very happy that Rukia, the last trace left of Hisana would be gone.

However, it wasn't enough for Urahara to spit on Byakyua's pride, it wasn't enough to use him against his own sister, that man's perfidy and treachery went even further. Kuchiki didn't know for sure how much of Aizen's words were true and what the Captain-General implied at the end, well he wasn't sure, though he had his suspicions, but that was neither here nor there. Urahara went a step further, he used Rukia's sentence to carry on his own vendetta against Aizen, engineered an invasion and who knew what other crimes, including the two attacks that backed the Captain of the Fifth into a corner.

If it wasn't for Byakyua's need to keep the last shreds of pride he had left, he would have laughed bitterly at that point. It made no sense for Aizen to willingly consent to be interrogated for a second time thins night if he was a traitor, just like it made no sense that Sosuke engineered the destruction of the two places that might hold evidence confirming his story; because if Aizen was the heartless traitor Urahara painted him as, Soul Society would have truly burned this night, and many Captains would have perished. Aizen was good enough, experienced enough, that if he intended to betray them during the Captains' meeting, many of them would have died tonight. Instead, while gravely injured, there were only two men in any danger of perishing – Zaraki Kenpachi who apparently ran afoul of one of Aizen's agents who came to extract him, and Ichimaru, who brought the Exile back and thus committed treason himself.

Ichimaru Gin who had only one person in the whole of Gotei 13 who was even close to his friend, Sosuke Aizen, the same person he betrayed this night. Small wounder that Aizen gutted him like a fish, yet left didn't murder him when he had a golden opportunity to do so. With the right medical assistance, the crippled Captain might even fully recover one day.

It was obvious really. Whatever Aizen was, he was no traitor, his actions tonight proved it. Unfortunately, he was no longer an ally either, not after what happened. Damn Urahara to the deepest, hottest hole in hell!