Shunsui puts his plan into action and gains the help from a very peculiar ally. Can he help save Soul Society?

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Chapter Four The Plan

There was a loud creaking sound and streak of light slowly slipped into the chamber.

'Please don't let too much light in…you'll disturb my work.' came a cackling voice from the shadows as Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake weaved through the small gap that had to be the door.

'Always one for good hospitality aren't you…' he smiled, the other man stepping into the light, his face that of a pharaoh, his lips turned up into a nasty smile, his teeth a bright gold, the white captain's haori draped over his shoulders. '…Kurotsuchi Mayuri.'

The captain was tapping his finger against a bottle, his forefinger's nail far longer than the others, almost looking like a claw.

'What can I do for you?' he grinned, placing the bottle on the desk with a chink.

'Well for starters we'd like to be able to see in here.' Shunsui laughed and Mayuri sighed unhappily.

'Why can't you just leave me to myself…?' he moped before flicking on a light switch, the sound of all the powerful bulbs turning on in unison humming loudly.

'Wont this disturb your work?' asked Ukitake sceptically. The scientist turned away.

'No. I just hoped it would make you turn away.' he said bluntly. He strolled down the aisle, countless concoctions lined up on shelves, his assistant and lieutenant, Kurotsuchi Nemu working hard on something that looked like a sheet of metal, but seemed flexible.

'That's interesting…' Ukitake smiled to her. 'What is it? Armour?'

'Skin.' she said, not looking up. His face dropped.

'Skin?'

'Yes. It's been plated with a flexible metal substance that has been dried and stitched onto the skin. Master Mayuri wishes for himself to be covered with it when it is perfected so as to be invulnerable.' she explained in a monotonous tone.

'Enough talk Nemu, back to work.' Mayuri snapped, even though she had never stopped working. Ukitake scampered hurriedly over to his friend who was sitting down in front of Mayuri, eyeing a glass of potion.

'So, what is it you need?' Mayuri asked again eventually, not looking at them, instead flicking through countless files.

'I need something from you in order to complete a little task of mine…' Shunsui explained vaguely. Not buying it however, Mayuri pried further.

'Do tell…' he requested. Smiling slightly, Shunsui realised he would have to win the mad scientist's help.

'I'm guessing the recent murder hasn't gone unnoticed?' he said simply. Mayuri rolled his eyes.

'I've expressed little interest. It's only Shinigami involved after all.' he said, turning his back on them. Ukitake stepped forwards.

'We need a way to secure the innocent squad members of the 5th Division's release. Both for their sakes and lieutenant Momo.' he said, his fist clenched. 'The Head Captain is refusing to listen to reason.' he continued, Mayuri listening intently.

'Basically, Yama-ji said that if the murders continue tonight, he will release them.' Shunsui explained.

'I see…but what makes you think I can help? You just need to sit and wait.'

'That's the whole thing.' Shunsui smiled. 'I want to go a step further. I'm going to catch the killer.'

Ukitake's eyes widened.

'You never said anything about this!' he exclaimed. Kyoraku ignored him and pressed on.

'I need you to transform me from the captain figure that everyone knows and loves…' he said with a slight grin. '…to a Shinigami in the 5th Division.'

Mayuri stroked his chin.

'I see…' he said, clearly intrigued.

'I will be on patrol tonight and, if the killer really is a Shinigami, he wouldn't attack me knowing I was a captain. But as a simple guard, like Kurobishi before me, I'd be like bait.' he said, his plan flourishing.

'So, what, you want me to use cosmetics or something?' Mayuri asked. Ukitake stepped forwards.

'I like this plan. It will work, but he needs to look genuine.' Ukitake said, placing a hand on Kyoraku's shoulder.

'Oh I can do it.' Mayuri said, observing the captain. 'But, whats in it for me?'

Shunsui lifted his hat a little.

'Can't you just do it for a fellow captain?' he grinned. Mayuri's smiled subsided. 'Or whatever's better for you.' Shunsui said, bringing his hat down over his eyes and resting his head on his arms.

'I want peace and quiet to conduct my experiments.' said the scientist simply, shrugging his shoulders. Shunsui opened his eyes.

'That's it?' he said, surprised.

'Yes.' nodded Mayuri. 'Something wrong?'

'No, no, no! Everything is great.' smiled Shunsui.

'Very well, return just before the 5th Division patrol begins. I will have everything ready for you.' said the scientist, waving them off.

'Thanks a lot.' grinned Shunsui, winking at Nemu as they left, sweeping elegantly through the door and closing it behind them again, sealing them back into darkness.

Shunsui and Ukitake made their way back to the Captain's Hall, the evening wind swirling around them. Ukitake looked up at the glowing Sun and smiled.

'It's nice to know that this will all be over soon.' he said as they walked, his hair floating in the breeze.

'Yeah…' Shunsui said, his face distant. Ukitake decided not to bother him and they carried on down the path. They arrived in the Captain's Hall and closed the door, trapping the increasingly bitter wind outside. Shunsui removed his straw hat and ruffled his hair with his hand. Ukitake beamed as Captain Unohana approached them, the calm, motherly look on her face.

'Ah, Lady Unohana! How're things?' he said, waving at her. She nodded in response.

'Well thank you Jushiro. I've been talking to people who claim to be witnesses.' she said, the last part darkly. Shunsui looked up.

'Really?' he said quietly. She nodded again, looking out of the window.

'They claim to have been out walking on the night of the murders. Two people from the 7th Division claim to have heard a loud snapping noise during the night and one member of the 6th Division agrees. So far though we've had no confirmed reports.' explained the captain, her face worn with worry.

'A loud snapping noise eh? I'll make sure to look out for that…' Shunsui thought to himself, not taking notice of what Jushiro was saying.

'This is a nightmare…' she continued. 'We are supposed to be collecting Kurosaki Ichigo tomorrow night…' she sighed, furrowing her brow.

'Lady Unohana, maybe you should rest…' Shunsui suggested, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder. He grinned. 'Don't worry, this will all be over soon.'

The captain smiled back at him, then at Ukitake and turned to leave, walking slowly out of the Captain's Hall, closing the door silently behind her.

'Looks like Miss Hinamori isn't the only one being affected by this…' Ukitake said, shaking his head.

'Hey there, Mayuri!' Shunsui grinned, waving at the disgruntled captain who was hunched over a desk. Ukitake came in behind the flamboyant man, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

'So, you got my mask ready?' Shunsui said eagerly, rubbing his hands together. The night was approaching fast outside, the Sun had slowly vanished from eyesight and the black sky was creeping in to take its place.

'Mask?' Mayuri said, slightly puzzled.

'Yeah. That is what you've done…right?' Shunsui said slowly, the smile slowly going from his face. Mayuri's face however curled up into an enormous grin.

'I'm afraid not.' he sneered. 'Come here Nemu.'

'W-wait a minute…' Shunsui said, fiddling with the strand of hair hanging down in front of his face. Nemu came in and snatched the captain's straw hat straight from his head. She then removed his pink haori, seemingly dancing around him.

Mayuri advanced on the captain who threw his hands up in front of his face. The scientist held a bottle of green liquid up in front of Shunsui's face and shook it about, the bubbles fizzing like crazy. Sweat began to trickle down the captains face and he leapt up, backing away.

'What are you going to do to my handsome face!?' he cried. Instantly, Nemu appeared behind him and grabbed his shoulders, forcing him into a seat.

'Wait, wait, wait!!!!' he cried, but the liquid slowly dripped onto his face…

'Wakey, wakey!' came a voice and the captains eyes fluttered open to see Ukitake smiling down at him.

'Oh no…it's not the morning is it?' Shunsui groaned, rubbing the back of his head.

'No, you simply fainted for about five minutes. Good thing you came to though, you need to get moving.' Ukitake reminded him. Then Shunsui remembered.

'My face!' he choked, hauling himself up off the floor. Mayuri handed him a mirror and he dared himself to look. He was faced with a handsome young face, not even a whisker protruding from his peachy skin. His eyes were a deep blue and his hair was spiky and a striking blonde.

'What is this…?' Shunsui gawped, feeling his cheeks. 'I'm about twenty years younger!'

'Actually it's a device I've been working on and was able to perfect in time for your use. It's a gigai that works on specific body parts. In your case, your face. You can remove it by simply swishing your hand over your face.' Mayuri explained, clearly incredibly proud.

'So, you haven't actually done anything to my actual face?' Shunsui said slowly. Mayuri's expression turned to stone.

'No.' he said bluntly, his moment crushed.

'Ah ha! Now I can save the day all the while keeping my stunning good looks!' he cried, leaping up into the air.

'That's great Casanova but you need to get moving, Lieutenant Hinamori knows you are taking patrol tonight so get a move on.' Ukitake told him. Nodding, Shunsui made his way out of the laboratory, using Shunpo to dash towards the 5th Division.

Ukitake watched him across the Seireitei, already at the 13th Division's quarters. He narrowed his eyes and slowly turned the handle to his chamber. Before doing so, he shot a look around behind him, the wind picking up a bitter chill.

'Good luck, Kyoraku…' Ukitake whispered to himself before slowly, closing the door.