Longest stretch 'a sidewalk I've seen without a sewer.

Raphael sprinted across the rooftops, stopping every so often to look down at the streets below. He had been running for about five minutes, and there didn't appear to be a manhole in sight. He thought it strange until he realized something that Ichigo told him earlier. Urahara had recommended the motel to him. If he knew as much about the turtles as he let on, then it was a cinch that the enigmatic man would make sure that Ichigo was staying somewhere that would make it very difficult for Raphael to escape.

He's probably trailin' me, Raphael realized as he looked behind him. Maybe that cat 'a his is on my tail. But if he was aimin' on holdin' me back, why didn't he stop me back in the suite? Guy like him can't really be that much of a weakling, can he?

He stopped again, looking down and hoping to spot a familiar metal cover that would signal that he could get underground soon. Heck, shouldn't there be a subway tunnel around here somewhere? The "M" train stopped somewhere on Metropolitan Avenue, so why couldn't he find-

Raphael shivered. It was starting to get cold, a sign of the blizzard that was headed their way for the weekend. That was all he needed, to be covered shell-deep in snow while he's trying to defend himself against a bunch of domineering old men who make up this Soul Society clan.

Raphael stopped looking down, suddenly aware of someone else's presence behind him. It wasn't like the way his ninja training helped him to pick up the sound of a person's breathing or to feel someone's eyes on the back of his head. This was something altogether different… and he had felt it recently.

"Your spirit power is rising," said an unfamiliar voice behind him. "I wonder if that means you can see me now." Turning around, Raphael was disappointed to discover that he couldn't. He looked towards where the dispassionate voice came from, though, hoping that he was at least accurate enough to bluff. His hopes fell away when the unseen individual said, "It doesn't seem that way. Strange, then, that you can hear me. Or can you?"

"I can hear ya all right, punk," Raphael growled, going for his sai to be on the safe side. This person's English was every bit as perfect as Urahara's, despite having the same sort of presence as Ichigo. A death god? It makes sense that they excel in all the languages of the world. How does that account for the strange shopkeeper, though? "You been followin' me this whole time?"

"Yes," the person said simply. "I've been instructed to take you back to Soul Society, along with the other creature that interfered with the Menos slaying earlier today. If you can take me to him, this will be much easier."

"I ain't never been one for easy," Raphael growled.

The person said nothing for a moment before coolly stating, "Then I will take you back alone, and my lieutenant will carry on with her search and bring him in. If you prefer having your home infiltrated, that's perfectly all right with me."

"Lieutenant, huh?" Raphael asked. "That makes you one 'a them captains that Ichigo and Urahara were talkin' about?"

"Urahara?" The invisible captain sounded shocked. "What does Urahara have to do with all of this?"

"Don't know," Raphael professed, taking a defensive stance against the outline that was slowly beginning to solidify in front of him. Hopefully, if this death god still believed Raphael to be blind to his whereabouts, this fight can be a whole lot easier than either of them had anticipated. "Don't care, really."

As the other person remained silent, Raphael focused more on the shadowy edges that were beginning to take shape. He tried to get himself in the same mindset he was in for the minute or so that he had been able to see that woman's ghost and the giant Menos earlier. Thankfully, whatever he was doing, he was doing it correctly. He managed to make out some sort of black-and-white robes, with another color somewhere in the mix.

At first he thought that the image wasn't fully formed. He was taken aback, then, when a mass of wild silver hair took shape only a few feet off the ground. When the person's downcast green-blue eyes came into view, Raphael forgot about playing blind. "What the-? You're just a kid!"

The stern-faced boy glared up at Raphael, both surprised and annoyed. He seemed as though he were about to make an angry retort, but thought better of it. "I am Captain Toushiro Hitsugaya of the Tenth Squad. In the name of fairness, I should warn you not to judge me based on my appearance. I will have Soul Society open a portal, and you will follow me without resistance to the other side. Are we in agreement?"

Despite Hitsugaya's "warning," Raphael couldn't help but scoff, "Right. Should I hold your hand while we cross dimensions or somethin', shorty? Gimme a break."

Hitsugaya's eyebrow twitched. "Fine," he said as he reached for a sword sheathed at his back. "If that's what you want, then I'll oblige you." Drawing his weapon, he seemed to speak more to it than to the turtle when he quietly uttered, "Sit upon the frosted heavens, Hyourinmayu."

"Great," Raphael muttered, preparing himself for whatever may happen next. "A kid who talks to his swords. Your mom shoulda taken the toy away and forced ya to go out 'n make some friends or somethin'."

He shivered again. There wasn't supposed to be this much of a temperature drop for another two days. He hoped the blizzard didn't start early; fighting a death god—even a kiddy one—was bound to be difficult if he was distracted by snow flurries. Raphael figured out that his "spirit sense" only worked when he was completely aware of it and allowed himself to focus on it, and so-

Raphael cried out in surprise. A harsh gust of freezing wind almost pushed him back over the edge of the roof. He shielded his eyes to prevent them from tearing up, then looked back at the miniature death god. Crud… this kid's makin' the crazy weather!

Hitsugaya stood with his sword raised above his head, point raised towards the darkened sky. The wind was emanating from his weapon, swirling around his small body. Even though his kimono billowed out around him, his aquamarine eyes were emotionless as he stared at Raphael.

"Captain Kurotsuchi has determined that you're reptilian," Hitsugaya informed him. "As such, you must be cold-blooded. That's why I was sent here to bring you back. If you choose to fight rather than return willingly, I can render you defenseless with my soul slayer without harming you." He closed his eyes and looked down, almost as though he were pained. "Captain Kurotsuchi does not want you harmed."

"How's he feel about you gettin' hurt?" Raphael asked, trying to ignore the fact that Hitsugaya's outline was beginning to fade. "Cold or not, I ain't gonna let a little sub-zero temperature turn me into a pup, ya got that?"

"Your spirit power is already diminishing," Hitsugaya confirmed. "Soon, you won't even be able to see me until we return to Soul Society. Trust me, it will be much easier if you simply drop your defenses now."

Irritated by the fact that this little brat could weaken him just by taking out a sword and standing still, Raphael snarled, "The only thing droppin' is gonna be you." He raced towards Hitsugaya, slashing with his sai. It only caused him to stumble when Hitsugaya suddenly disappeared. What the-… no, he couldn't have gone invisible again. I went right through him.

"I admire your speed," Hitsugaya confessed from behind him. Raphael whirled around, surprised to see the death god standing by casually. "Unfortunately, you seem to be unaware of the shinigami technique known as the flash step. So long as you maintain a physical body and I'm a spiritual being, your speed won't be enough to defeat me."

"Thanks for the lecture," Raphael remarked sarcastically, still going for him. "Now how about I show ya what this physical body of mine can do?" He once again swiped his weapon at the boy and, though he could have easily sidestepped it, Hitsugaya chose to parry. It was just as well, since the turtle was finding it more and more difficult to see the death god clearly.

"A worthy adversary for the average human," Hitsugaya stated as he effortlessly defended himself from Raphael's attacks. Both his face and voice were void of any signs of struggle, only causing Raphael to lose his temper even more. "Unfortunately, all you're doing is tiring yourself out and making it easier for your spirit power to slip away. Though you're probably keeping yourself warm, I'll soon disappear from sight and will be able to retaliate as I wish. Wouldn't it be simpler to just follow after me as a guest of the Thirteen Squads?"

"Guest?" Raphael muttered, even more annoyed by the fact that Hitsugaya was correct in every regard. "Puh. Yeah right. According to Ichigo, Urahara, and even Kon, goin' to Soul Society's like me stickin' my head in a lion's mouth. I heard about that whackjob captain ya got that's gonna want to cut me to pieces in the name 'a science. Sorry, it might just be a 'physical body,' but I've grown to like it."

"Captain Kurotsuchi's methods are unorthodox, yes," Hitsugaya admitted, fading more and more from Raphael's sight. "But he is only one captain among the Thirteen Squads and has no more clout than I do. We mean only to discuss what took place today and see if we can't…."

His voice had begun to fade away early on in his spiel, and Raphael was unnerved when, not only did the kid disappear from view despite still parrying his sai, but his voice died away entirely. Crap! When the next swing of his weapon hit nothing but empty air, Raphael tried not to panic. Crap, he once again screamed in his head, aware of the fact that it was so cold he lost feeling in his hands.

He took a defensive stance again, trying his best to concentrate. He could still feel the boy's presence, but with the wind blowing in every direction, it was impossible to pinpoint where he was. He thought back to how smoothly the runt had managed to keep him at bay with his sword, and his anger rose up like bile in the back of his throat. Overcome with the sudden desire to see some sort of emotion on this proud death god's childish face, Raphael thought, I'll kill 'im. The minute I can figure out where these winds are comin' from and he makes some kinda move, I'm gonna be on him like-

He didn't have the chance to finish his simile. Something so cold that it was painful had enveloped his legs, and he looked down to see that his lower limbs were now encased in ice. With another series of growls, he stabbed at the ice with his sai, fervently trying to chip himself out before Hitsugaya decided to come at him with a serious attack. Kid or not, anyone who was captain of a squad of death gods had to be capable of more than just shooting ice beams.

Raphael managed to jostle one leg free and looked up just in time to see another shard of ice heads towards him. Snarling, he swiped at it with his sai. Though it didn't break completely apart, it didn't cause the damage it could have. He hated to admit it, but the contact with his frozen hands hurt immensely, and he wasn't sure that he'd be able to stand once he wrenched his other leg free. Regardless, he continued defending himself from other bolts of ice, shaking his trapped leg in the hopes of loosening his bond. Then something bad happened.

Just as he managed to get himself completely free, he realized that both of his feet were too numb to stand on. At the same time, another blast of frost came at him, and he was too distracted to shield himself. It hit him in the chest, sending him reeling backwards. If the cold wasn't enough to put Raphael out, then hitting his head on the roof's ledge certainly did the trick.

All puns aside, Raphael was out cold.

Hitsugaya looked down at the fallen turtle, making sure that he wasn't simply playing dead. Judging by the way the creature's chest rose and fell and the way his grasp upon his weapons became limp, Hitsugaya was able to ascertain that their quick battle was over. He looked at Raphael solemnly as he sheathed his sword, sending his soul slayer back to sleep. The world around him warmed considerably. Hitsugaya hated it.

Hearing the fluttering of soft wings by his ear, Hitsugaya cocked his head and saw one of the hell butterflies that served as messengers among the shinigami. "Tell them to open a portal," he told it quietly. "And see if you can find Matsumoto." The butterfly flitted away, taking his message with it.

Alone again, Hitsugaya walked towards Raphael and crouched besides him. He was certainly an odd creature, seeming to be a combination of the best features of both humans and turtles. Hitsugaya had certainly not expected to be attacked with such speed and strength, nor had he even thought this creature possessed the amount of intelligence it seemed to have. It was little wonder that Captain Kurotsuchi would want to examine it and its brethren.

But why was Urahara involved? Surely the man was aware of how many individuals Kurotsuchi has apprehended in the name of experimentation, so why should he try to interfere with this one? Is it because of his strange spirit power? The way it fluctuates, similar to that of Ichigo Kurosaki's? Or was it… something else?

"Captain!"

Hitsugaya looked up at the urgent voice. Jumping from the rooftop across from his was his blonde, blue-eyed lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto. He was both surprised and relieved to see that she had the sword-wielding turtle trailing after her. Judging by the amount of stable spirit power coming off of him, it was clear that this one had no trouble seeing either of the shinigami.

He stood and walked towards them. The other turtle saw his companion and tried to push past, but Hitsugaya stopped him. "There is no need for worry. He's just cold and tired. We can offer plenty of warmth in Soul Society."

"His name is Leonardo," Matsumoto brought up cheerily. Apparently, her encounter with this turtle was more much pleasant than her captain's had been with the other one. "And his brother is called Raphael. He's much more reasonable than the others had feared." Offering a sideways glance to the comatose turtle, she mentioned, "I assume the same can't be said for yours?"

"Raphael's far from reasonable," Leonardo agreed, looking at Raphael worriedly. "But… did he attack you? From what your lieutenant's told me, Captain Hitsugaya, there shouldn't have been enough cause to warrant knocking him out."

Hitsugaya was quiet before turning his back on Raphael, looking at Leonardo intently. "When you last saw him, who was with him? Simply Kurosaki, or was there another?"

Leonardo, who had been uneasy about following after Matsumoto despite her friendliness, thought back to what Ichigo had told him and Splinter when requesting that they leave Raphael with him. Ichigo claimed that Soul Society may want them for interrogation—perhaps more—and it'd be best that they stay hidden until they received word that it was all right to emerge. If they were cornered, then the only way to deal with any death god captains was with honesty. They weren't bad, Ichigo explained, but their logic was a little different from ours.

He didn't want to risk getting Ichigo's family in trouble, but looking down at Hitsugaya's stern eyes made it difficult to lie. "Ichigo had his two younger sisters with him," Leonardo finally answered. "Is that bad?"

"Karin and Yuzu?" Hitsugaya asked, surprised. "I see…. What about a man?

Leonardo thought about it for a moment, then brought up with even more reluctance, "There was a… a modified soul with them. They called him Kon, and he apparently lives in the body of this little stuffed animal."

"Ugh," Matsumoto commented. "That little pervert! How can Ichigo leave his precious girls with that annoying skirt-chaser?" Upon seeing Hitsugaya's thoughtful expression, Matsumoto grew serious once again. "Is something wrong, captain?"

Hitsugaya was quiet for a moment before confiding, "Somehow, Urahara is involved in all of this."

"Urahara?" Matsumoto asked.

Having heard the name mentioned, Leonardo asked, "Who's this Urahara? Is this bad?"

"Urahara's presence is seldom 'bad,'" Hitsugaya responded. "Rather, it tends to… complicate things. If Kurosaki mentioned something to you about his involvement, Leonardo, then perhaps you'd be willing to elaborate. You do seem to be much more rational than your brother."

Leonardo wasn't sure what to say. Matsumoto seemed nice enough, and Hitsugaya certainly seemed to exude an aura of honor. Still, his brother was lying unconscious on the ground thanks to him, and Ichigo only managed to state that some shinigami were his friends; he didn't state which ones. "I… I'm afraid I don't really know," Leonardo finally said. "Ichigo never spoke of Urahara to me. All I know about him, I learned from my sensei and someone I met tonight named-"

"Yoruichi!" Matsumoto suddenly cried.

Hitsugaya whirled around. Yoruichi had appeared by Raphael while his back was turned and now had the turtle hoisted on her shoulders. Wherever she was, Urahara couldn't be too far behind, either in body or spirit. "Put him down," Hitsugaya told her, placing a hand on his sword. "I have orders to-"

"I know what your orders are," Yoruichi told him with a smirk. "And while I try not to interfere in your business whenever possible, I'm afraid that's not possible at the moment. Kurotsuchi can't have this boy." Looking at Leonardo now, she mentioned, "I would tell you to run, but you can't outrun them. I can." With that, she disappeared completely, her mastery of the flash step making it seem as though she had vanished into thin air.

Leonardo gaped after her, not knowing what to do. Before he could come to a decision, however, a white light shone behind him. It was the portal that Matsumoto had told him would take him to Soul Society. Yoruichi was right. He couldn't run. Whatever was going to happen to him, he could only hope that the other shinigami would treat him as well as Matsumoto and Hitsugaya had, and this would all blow over before something happened to Raphael.

He looked down to see that Hitsugaya was looking up at him expectantly. "I won't run," Leonardo affirmed. "I could hardly keep up with Matsumoto on the way here, and she wasn't even trying. It'd be a wasted effort."

Hitsugaya continued to look up at the turtle that was scarcely taller than him. He knew that his expression was unreadable, but he couldn't care less about that right now. If Urahara was involved and could get Yoruichi to act with such conviction, then there was much more to this situation than meets the eye. And if that were the case, and this concerned other beings with the same sort of spiritual power as the Kurosaki family, then Hitsugaya would have to choose a side and hope it was the right one.

"Matsumoto," he finally said. His lieutenant looked at him anxiously, aware that something important was under way. After a brief pause in which he continued to gaze at the turtle known as Leonardo, he stated, "We were unable to apprehend either of our targets due to the unexpected interference of Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara. Is that clear?"

Matsumoto didn't even need to question her captain's reasoning. "Yes, captain."

To Leonardo, Hitsugaya said, "Go find your brother or Kurosaki. Find out all you can about this situation. The next time you encounter me or one of the other shinigami, you may not be granted this sort of clemency." With that, he turned and disappeared through the portal. Matsumoto waved cheerily at Leonardo before following after him.

Not knowing what else to do, Leonardo bowed deeply before running off towards the motel in which Ichigo and his family were staying.