SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 1 out, this is Chapter 2 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Ishida/Hasu, minor pairing Hitsugaya/Karin

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.

Chapter 2: Invasion of the Shinigami World, Again

In Seireitei, at the exact moment when the Bounts entered Rukongai...

"I shall now begin our special meeting." Yamamoto declared. "I have verified that the ryoka had snuck in. Here's what we know. Each Squad will follow the former number 2 emergency formation. In view of the gravity of the situation, 10th Squad Captain, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, will be put in charge of capturing the ryoka."

"Yes, sir." Hitsugaya received the order. "But..."

"The information has become rather complex." Tula stated. "Not to mention, the information leak from Squad 12. The correct information must be screened and relayed to each Squad."

"Yes, madam." Hitsugaya nodded.

"And one more thing," Yamamoto continued his orders. "This is the most important part: kill anyone you believe to be a ryoka without any hesitation."

In the Squad 10 barracks...

"Have any Squad already left?" Hitsugaya questioned his subordinates.

"Lieutenant Ōmaeda from 2nd Squad had taken everyone from his Squad and headed out." the Squad 10's 3rd Seat reported.

"Any others?" Hitsugaya pressed.

"Likewise, Lieutenant Iba from Squad 7 has headed towards Rukongai." his 3rd Seat answered.

"All right." Hitsugaya accepted the report. "Keep on top of information like this. Gather up all the reports from each Squad and bring them to me. Don't let a single thing slip by."

In Rukongai...

"There there are!" Ōmaeda arrived with his Squad members. "I was the first one here."

"You're pretty impressive for slipping past all of those walls." Iba praised, cornering Kariya and Koga.

"Kariya, can you please leave this to me?" Koga requested.

"Yeah, it's perfect timing." Kariya replied. "Try it out."

"Zeige Dich, Dalk." Koga summoned his Doll.

"Call the emergency relief Squad!" Hitsugaya barked, he and his Squad arriving too late to see Ōmaeda and Iba were utterly defeated and the Bounts had vanished. "Everyone else, give back-up support and get information on what happened."

"Captain!" Matsumoto returned to her Squad. "I'm a bit late. I've just returned. I'm terribly sorry. I've failed to complete my mission and have allowed the ryoka to sneak in."

"I'm the one who dispatched you." Hitsugaya reminded. "I'm responsible. Don't worry about it. Did you find anything out?"

"Nothing worth reporting." Matsumoto replied. "But, the Bounts' location can't be detected. Even just now, the only Reiatsu with killing intent that I felt belonged to the two Lieutenants."

"This is a pain." Hitsugaya hissed. "Keep searching for more clues." he ordered his Squad. "Matsumoto, we're going back to our base."

In a grassy plain elsewhere...

"Did you feel that Reiatsu just now?" Ichigo asked his companion.

"Yeah, it seems that some Shinigami fought with a Bount." Rukia replied.

"But you didn't feel the Bount's Reiatsu, did you?" Ichigo inquired.

"So, it's the same here as it was in the real world, huh?" Rukia realized.

"Why are you getting lost in thought during this emergency?" Yoruichi deathpanned.

"That's right!" Ririn, in stuffed doll form, agreed. "Standing next to each other like that. It's so gross. You aren't even lovers."

"What are you saying, Ririn?" Rukia chided.

"I'm not sure why, but it's just plain gross." Ririn pouted.

"Well, calm down." Kurōdo soothed. "We'll lose to the Bount if we fight each other."

"Exactly." Noba agreed.

"I know that." Ririn whined.

"Kurosaki, Kuchiki." Inoue called out, returning with Ishida and Sado in tow. "It's terrible!"

"She moved." Sado explained.

"That Kūkaku really likes moving." Yoruichi sighed. "Let's just check some places I think she might be."

"There is one more thing I have to ask a favor from all of you." Yoruichi requested, the group having eventually tracked down Kūkaku. "I need you to collect data on a person called Ran'Tao.

"Ran'Tao?" Ishida echoed. "Who is that?"

"Ichigo," Yoruichi turned to the orange-head beside her. "You heard the history of the rise of the Bount from Kariya, right? Long ago, the leader of the research group that spawned the Bount was Ran'Tao."

"Are you saying that this Ran'Tao person is still alive somewhere?" Rukia realized what the older Shinigami was implying.

"Yeah." Yoruichi nodded. "He was exiled from Seireitei more than four hundred years ago; rumor has it that he lives somewhere in the depths of Rukongai."

"If we find this bastard, we may be able to learn something about the Bount, right?" Ichigo asked.

Omake: Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide

In Urahara Shop...

Renji: (Pulls the sliding door of Urahara Shop open) Hanataro, how's that kid doing?

Hanataro: Renji, he's okay now. He's through the worst of it.

Renji Really? That's a relief.

Hanataro: Where is everyone?

Renji: In Soul Society.

Hanataro: It's very kind of you, Renji. You came here just to check up on him.

Renji: There's that, too. I was told to clean the place up before I head out. (Starts sweeping)

Hasu: Did they seriously leave Hanataro behind?

SailorStar9: In the next chapter, Yamamoto is explaining the origins of the Bounts to the assembled captains, and a messenger informs him that Rukia is fighting a Bount. Byakuya arrives just before Yoshi delivers the finishing blow on Rukia. Following the fight, several buildings in the Seireitei explode.