AN: As far as this story is concerned, Ichigo's human friends did leave their bodies behind at Uraharas when they left for Soul Society. Kisuke using a device to directly convert their physical bodies in souls makes little to no bloody sense for all kinds of reasons, especially given the implications, which to the best of my knowledge aren't covered at all, like using the same process in reverse to ressurect people, because obviously Ichigo's human friends had no trouble regaining their bodies when they get back to the living world. As far as this story is concerned, you need to leave your living body behind if you go to Soul Society. All Urahara's portal did was ensure that Ichigo's friends didn't die and could in fact return to their bodies.

Because if that isn't the case, someone, like say Aizen, would have abused this like a champion if for no other reason but to fuck with Soul Society. I'll be adding this as an AN with the next update, which should be covering the return to the living world and the resulting shenanigans.

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 6

=DA=

Part 5

=DA=

Senkaimon

Soul Society

In half an hour of conversation, Ichigo learned more about what meant to be a Shinigami, the real purpose of their existence and about the basics of his skills than anyone bothered, or in Rukia's case, managed to teach him, in the months since his first gained Shinigami powers. He knew that at least part of the fault was his. Initially, Ichigo wanted nothing to do with this whole Shinigami business, which in hindsight might have even been for the best. That said, once he had decided to act as a Shinigami, he should have been asking more question, applied himself more and not just on the fun stuff like bladework, or Zanjutsu as it was officially dubbed.

Which begged the question, how much would Urahara told him if he asked? Ichigo wanted to believe that he hasn't been just a disposable tool for the Shinigami masking as a shopkeeper. His captivity and the hints about the heap of trouble he found himself along with the friends he dragged into this, forced him to reassess that hope. Not so long ago, it all looked so simple and obvious – he would save Rukia, he would beat everyone who stood in his way.

"And then what? Did you really think that Gotei 13 would have simply let you leave with her?" Ukitake had asked when he visited him in the aftermath of the battle that shook Soul Society, a battle Ichigo had to miss due to being bound with more spells than he could count.

Truth to be told, Ichigo hadn't really thought that far ahead. He had been too busy fighting and trying to find Rukia in the first place, then training to unlock his Bankai, something he would now have to get the hard way apparently, and even in that he had been incredibly lucky according to Zangetsu. Ichigo grimaced at that though. Was it simply arrogance on his part that let him this far only to fail in the end? He keenly remembered that fight between Yoruichi and the two other women, and while powerful, they were far from the most powerful Shinigami he would have had to face to rescue Rukia. Even if he had achieved Bankai, now that he had a bit of time to think about it, Ichigo wasn't sure he could have faced any one of those three on an even footing.

Oh, he would have tried, he would have thrown everything he had into the task of saving Rukia. Now he knew it would have been all for naught. The odds were great he would have failed, and even if he somehow managed to get her, she would have lost her Shinigami powers, because he would have taken her away from the only person capable and willing to help her.

Ichigo grimaced, wondering how everything turned into such a mess… He didn't think, that was the truth. He merely acted and reacted, trusted that Urahara, someone who he really didn't know, knew best. And now this.

Kurosaki really didn't want to think about his father, about what Goat-Chin really was. Did Isshin know about him being Shinigami? Did he really let him go to Soul Society so unprepared and clueless? Ichigo certainly hoped not, however considering how they nearly got themselves killed for nothing, well, he needed answers. He needed them bad.

At least it looked like Ukitake kept his word. As soon as they arrived in the so called Senkaimon, the doorway back home, the other Captain he met at the training areal, Shunsui was it, appeared, bringing Chad and Ishida. The cheerful man wearing pink kimono materialized in a Flash Step, one hand holding Chad's shoulder, while he had the Quincy by the scarf of his neck. It was telling that Ishida was still bound by at least couple of spells and if his scowl was anything to go by, he was anything but happy about the recent developments.

"I got this one just in time." Shunsui shook Ishida. "A contingent from the Twelfth were about to pick him up for Kurotsuchi. I'm not sure if he's simply pissed off because he failed to capture you yourself, Quincy, or because it has been some time since he had one of your kind to play with. At any rate, you should be grateful that Jushiro here decided that sending you all back to the world of the living would be for the best."

"Thank you for that." Ichigo hurried to nod in gratitude.

"The more I learn about Soul Society the less I like this place." Chad grumbled.

"Me too." Ichigo grimaced. "Are you two all right?"

"I'll live, Kurosaki. What about you? Rukia?"

"I'm fine as you can see. They tell me that Rukia is no longer in danger. Right?" Ichigo asked.

"She should be fine at least until Central 46 reforms, likely afterwards as well, especially if Captain Kuchiki decides to put his considerable resources behind her. He's not only a Captain of Gotei 13 but the head of a Noble Clan, which counts for a lot." Kyoraku explained. "Now we best be off before the Old Man decides that its for the best to use you three to appease the masses."

Yeah, that particular revelation didn't make Ichigo happy at all. As Ukitake explained, the original plan was to throw them all to the wolves because people would want someone's head, preferably multiple someones, for the debacle that has been both their invasion and Captain Aizen apparently going rogue tonight.

It wasn't lost to him that this was what waited him and his friends from the first moment they stepped within Soul Society as invaders. He had merely believed that they would manage to fight their way out too, somehow. Now? Not so much, especially when both Yoruichi and Urahara were in custody, healing from wounds they suffered this very night.

"Where's Orihime, Ichigo?" Ishida asked.

Kurosaki winced at that.

"Our best guess is that she is currently a guest to Captain Aizen. The last we knew of her, she was at Fourth Division under Lieutenant Hinamori's supervision." Ukitake filled them in. "That's Aizen's XO. They're both currently missing."

Ishida cursed quietly at that. "Damned Shinigami." He added loud enough that everyone was sure to hear him.

"It's not all bad. Not necessary at least. Considering what has been happening lately, Aizen might have merely pulled them out to keep them out of the crossfire, or he might have someone he needs healed, perhaps both." Ukitake tried to be reassuring.

"I guess…" Ichigo muttered darkly. So much for rescue anyone.

"Now let's be off. Karakura town, Japan, right?" Shunsui asked.

"That's right." Ichigo nodded. "What about our bodies?"

"They should be at Urahara's place, which coincidentally is going to be our first step before seeing the three of you safe back home." Ukitake added.

"Good enough, I guess." Ishida grumbled, while throwing mistrustful looks at the Shinigami, didn't appear to care at all.

=DA=

Part 6

=DA=

Karakura Town

Japan

What happened just before they left through the Dangai, the weird tunnel-like realm that connected Soul Society and the world of the living, offered Ichigo even more food for thought. All of them had to get a tattoo-like seal from the people overseeing and maintaining the Senkaimon – the Kido corps. He heard about that from Renji during their fight, however at the time, Ichigo was too busy to pay much attention. As it turned out, that point had been important – everyone with Lieutenant's level of Spiritual Power or more, was required to have such a seal before going to the world of the living, because otherwise they would not only attract Hollows similar to the way that weird Hollow bait Ishida used, they would also effect the people around them and not necessary in a good way.

"I'm pretty sure you're the reason why your friends developed their powers, well Ms Inoue and Chad over here. The Quincy is a different matter, obviously." Shunsui's words were enlightening.

In theory, that should have been a great thing. In practice, they all were very lucky, because usually living people and their souls didn't develop powers when exposed to overwhelming levels of Spiritual Pressure. More often than not effects in fact was bad and could even lead to an untimely death. The math was simple – high enough Spiritual Pressure could be lethal and someone like Ichigo, who already had Captain's reserves and terrible control was a walking time-bomb when in the world of the living. His very presence could prove fatal to people nearby when outside his body. For those powerful enough, merely releasing their Shikai or Bankai could cause area of effect physical damage, outright kill regular humans even farther away.

Those were things Ichigo obviously needed to know, however certain parties apparently decided he should remain oblivious. Obviously, by the time they got back to Karakura town, he wasn't a happy camper, especially when it turned out that whatever Urahara did to ensure his friends could enter Soul Society without dying first was the reason for the time limit – his stunt had called the cleaner they barely outran. In comparison, this time around, they simply walked – no pressure, no weird monster trying to eat them.

Happy he was not. At least, there was no fresh disaster waiting for them when they materialized a few hundred meters above the town. For a moment Ichigo startled and almost lost his footing, then he gasped and whirled around to look at his friends. Ishida was in the air, using his Quincy quirks, while Shunsui held Chad in place, shopping him from plunging to his death… if a soul could die from a mere fall.

"Now, Ichigo, please lead the way. I promise, we won't let anything happen to you three while you're under our protection." Ukitake prompted him to act.

"Sure." Kurosaki nodded and looked around. It took him a few moments to figure out where they were so he could point at Urahara's shop, which wasn't visible from their position. "Over there, about two kilometers that way."

The two Captains dragged them to a point in the air roughly above the shop using Flash Steps fast enough that it left Kurosaki's friends breathless. Ichigo was pretty sure that they were gleefully showing off.

"That building over there." Kurosaki pointed down and in a blink of an eye they were at the front door.

"There is some pretty good Kido concealing this place. I can't barely sense a thing and I'm standing right here." Shunsui whistled. "Tessai hasn't lost his touch."

"Too bad he got himself kicked off the Kido corps in the first place." Ukitake said and let go of Ichigo's shoulder before using one of his sheathed swords to knock trice.

They heard shuffling feet and soon the door opened, revealing a young, bleary eyed girl wearing a spotted pajamas. "Yes?" She asked with a yawn before her eyes focused on the Shinigami and she blanched.

"Hi there, Ururu!" Ichigo awkwardly waved. "We're here to pick up our bodies. Please lead us to them and we'll let you sleep in peace afterwards."

Meanwhile, the two Captains were peering at the child with interest.

"Shinigami." Ururu stated in a flat tone.

"Ukitake, Jushiro, Captain, Thirteenth Division, Gotei 13." The white haired Shinigami introduced himself and a moment later, Shunsui followed suit, in the same manner too. "Identify yourself, please."

"Tsumugiya, Ururu. Enhanced Mod Soul, Anti-Shinigami Class."

"Ururu! Who is it? Why didn't you wait…" Jinta ran to the front of the store brandishing a bat and froze when he saw who the visitors were. "Ah…" He smiled nervously, glanced at his weapon, then at the Captains and very carefully put the bat away. "Hi. Do you want candy?"

"We're here to pick up a few bodies and if Tessai is around, we would like a word. Otherwise, we don't intent to cause any trouble." Ukitake smiled gently and spoke in a reassuring tone.

"It's the carrot top, your still in one piece?" Jinta asked. "I don't think it is of any use to pretend we don't know why you're here and that we don't work for the boss?"

"Both Urahara and Lady Shihoin are currently in Soul Society recovering at the Fourth Division after some unpleasantness that happened tonight. Lady Shihoin might drop by in the foreseeable future." Shunsui added.

"What about the boss?" Ururu asked.

"I don't think he'll be free to come anytime soon. Can we come in?" Ukitake asked.

"It's not like we can stop you even if we tried. The bodies are in the basement under protective Kido. You should be able to release them." Jinta grumbled. "Are you sure you don't want any candy?"

"Perhaps next time."

"Am I the only one who finds this strange?" Ishida whispered to Ichigo.

"I already know two so called mod souls, one's a crazy rabbit, the other is a pervert currently inhabiting a plush toy back home. You know Kon well enough." Ichigo hissed back.

"More modified souls? What is Urahara playing at?" Shunsui wondered aloud.

"That's a long story, and technically we aren't supposed to talk about that particular disaster." Ukitake muttered. "Let's go put you three back into your bodies."

Somehow, Jushiro wasn't surprised to find out that the basement was almost a mirror image of the secret training ground they found Ichigo and Yoruichi at below the Executioner's Hill. If there was any doubt who made and maintained that place, this dispelled it.

They found four human bodies laying on futons on the ground near the entrance and each one was surrounded by a transparent blue dome.

"A stasis spell. I should be able to release them easily." Ukitake said after examining the Kido for a minute. "What about Ms Inoue's body? I don't really feel comfortable leaving it here."

"Well, if my father is really a Shinigami, we might be able to do something at home." Ichigo suggested.

"We'll take it with us then. A cloaking spell should ensure no one sees an unconscious girl floating around." Shunsui offered.

"Good enough for now." Ukitake nodded and began chanting. A few seconds later, the dome surrounding Chad's body vanished.

The large boy winced and doubled over in pain as a white chain emerged from the center of his chest and shot at his body, linking them together. He had one moment to groan before his soul got pulled back into his body, which convulsed a few times. Only then did he awake with another groan.

"Are you all right, Chad?" Ichigo exclaimed.

Ukitake waved a hand glowing with a diagnostic Kaido over Chad and smiled. "He's just stiff. More around a bit, slowly and it should pass. You might want to get some food and water in you stomach soon. The same goes for the rest of you." That was more in the line of an order than a suggestion. Either way no one felt like arguing with the man who apparently knew what was what.

Ukitake repeated the procedure two more times and Ishida soon shot into his own body. Ichigo on the other hand simply remained standing and stared at his sleeping body.

"What the hell?" Kurosaki exclaimed.

"I was afraid of that." Ukitake spoke kindly. "Ichigo, you told me that Urahara cut your Chain of Fate when you agreed to his offer to restore your powers."

"What of it?" Ichigo demanded. He had a very bad feeling about this.

"Has anyone explained to you what exactly a Chain of Fate is? While it is possible to get a living human into Soul Society if you have access to the right equipment and then return them to their bodies, as you just saw, well in your case…" Jushiro waved at Ichigo and his body. "By cutting your Chain of Fate, Tessai basically killed you. Without examining your body closer I can't be sure if it is really your original body modified to act as a gigai or merely a gigai made in its image."

Ichigo speechlessly stared at his body.

"Then again, I might be mistaken." Ukitake frowned and knelt besides Ichigo's body. He raised a hand lit up with Kaido and began scanning it.