Title: Discussions

Rating: G, action, humour

Pairing / Characters: Ukitake Jyuushirou, Kyouraku Shunsui, Urahara Kisuke, Hitsugaya Toushirou, Kurosaki Ichigo, Kuchiki Rukia, Kuchiki Byakuya, Inoue Orihime, Kurosaki Isshin

Word Count: 1, 307 words

Warnings: Spoilers for the manga for Isshin's past

Summary: A twist! A second shocker! A surprise appearance from the past! A third, completely unexpected shocker!! READ THIS SUMMARY FIRST!

A/N: I took liberties with the Hougyoku since we don't know what else it can do, so I made stuff up.

Just so we're all clear, there are no pairings in this ficlet. I only included Shun and Shirou in the first chapter for comedic impact with regards to the gigais. So yeah, just so we're all clear…

Shunsui caught his breath at the boy's foolishness. 'Stupid child –'

The six of them were frozen in shock as beyond reason, Ichigo roared a command and an arc of blue light soared towards the Menos.

'Give her back, damn you!'

'What is he talking about?' Yoruichi wondered aloud, still shocked at the level of anger she was seeing.

'Rukia!' Byakuya gasped, his eyes on the Menos. Jyuushirou's own anger rose when he saw what both Byakuya and Ichigo were looking at – suspended from the Menos' claw, a thin trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, slender form limp, was Rukia. Her zanpakutou lay on the floor, shards glittering in the fading light, and in the sudden silence, a command.

'Chide, Senbonzakura.'

Ichigo didn't even blink at the flow of blades directed at the Menos, who roared in rage , dropping Rukia to swipe at Senbonzakura. For once moving faster than even Yoruichi, he threw his zanpakutou to one side, leaping forwards and catching her before she hit the floor.

'Ichigo-kun! Leave them to us and get your friends to safety!' Jyuushirou shouted.

Ichigo backed off, grabbing Zangetsu and retreating towards his wounded friends.

Smooth as ever, Shunsui was already tackling a hollow, Hitsugaya close behind. As the young captain unsheathed Hyourinmaru, he was already flying through the air towards a second hollow who seemed hell bent on tearing him apart.

Ichigo paid them no mind, his exhausted body finally at its own limits. He sank down beside Inoue, laying Rukia on the grass. His bloodied hands were gentle as he smoothed the hair away from her face, and Inoue turned to him, her eyes wide with shock.

'Kurosaki-kun – '

Ichigo mistook her concern and said gently 'she's just unconscious, Inoue. I think she hit her head. She'll be fine.'

Inoue shook her head impatiently. 'It's not that, Kurosaki-kun. You're hurt –'

'It's nothing, don't worry about me. How are Chad and Ishida?'

As he hoped, Inoue focused on them. 'They're fine. I've just finished healing Sado-kun, and Ishida-kun is going to be fine.'

'You weren't hurt, were you?'

Inoue shook her head. 'No.'

'Thank god,' Ichigo muttered, scrubbing his hands through his hair before dropping his head into his hands and yawning. 'So tired…'

'Ichigo-kun.'

Ichigo's head shot up. 'Already?' he asked.

'The Menos retreated,' Jyuushirou told him calmly, 'and we've taken care of the remainder of the hollows. We're heading back to Kisuke's now so we can take care of your injuries.'

'I'm fine…'

Kisuke snorted. 'Like hell you are. You can barely stand, let alone move.'

Ichigo glared at him. 'You bastard, I can handle this –'

Byakuya pulled him to his feet, draping his arm around his shoulder. 'You fought well, Kurosaki Ichigo, but it's time to let us take over. You can't protect your friends if you're injured.'

Grumbling under his breath, Ichigo allowed himself to be helped by Byakuya, noting with glazed eyes that Jyuushirou had picked up Rukia, that Chad and Ishida were already on their feet.

He fought back a sigh. This just wasn't his day.

'Kisuke – do you have any idea why Menos are gathering in this area?' Jyuushirou asked, cupping his glass of tea. 'Is it possible that Aizen is involved?'

Kisuke shrugged, idly refilling Shunsui's sake cup.

Jyuushirou caught the action, and glared at him, knowing exactly what Yamamoto was going to say when he found out. Shunsui sent him a faint, knowing grin, and Jyuushirou shook his head, looking away from the dark eyes.

'It's possible of course, but I doubt it. After all, I never included it in my notes, Aizen would never be able to use the Hougyoku that way.'

Hitsugaya straightened. 'Wait, what do you mean 'that way'? '

Kisuke's expression was somber. 'The Hougyoku can be used in a variety of ways, Hitsugaya-kun. Why do you think I was exiled because of it? Not only can you force a shinigami to attain hollow powers and vice versa, but it can also be used as bait to attract other hollows, Menos Grandes, and whatever else might be lurking in Hueco Mundo.'

Shunsui put his untouched sake cup on the table at the same time as Jyuushirou set down the glass of tea. Both their expressions were troubled.

Both Yoruichi and Byakuya's eyes narrowed.

'Does anyone else know of the hougyoku's abilities?' Byakuya asked.

'Yes,' Kisuke said simply. 'Aside from myself, three people are well aware of what the Hougyoku is capable of.'

'Oh my god,' Hitsugaya mumbled. 'This is a disaster – if Aizen ever finds out, the chaos and destruction the world would be thrown into –'

'Calm down, Hitsugaya-kun,' Jyuushirou told him sharply. 'The hougyoku's capabilities have been kept secret for close to two centuries, nothing is going to change that now.'

'How can you be so certain, Ukitake? We don't know who else has been kept in the loop, or whether or not we can trust them.'

'Oh you can trust them all right,' Kisuke said calmly. 'One of them has long since given up his shinigami robes, the other two are seated in this room – and I can assure you, they are Soul Society's most trusted captains.'

Byakuya's eyes widened. 'You mean –'

Kisuke inclined his head. 'That's correct, Byakuya. The first is Kurosaki Isshin, who gave up eternity for a human woman. The other two are none other than Shunsui and Jyuushirou. Please believe me when I say that neither of them would have willingly given up this secret – in fact, it's entirely possible that Isshin has forgotten all about it.'

The former shinigami laughed suddenly. 'Children tend to do that to you.'

Yoruichi glared at him. 'Why didn't you tell me, Kisuke?'

'For the same reason I never told anyone – to protect them. If word got out that they knew, what do you think would happen? The last thing I want to hear is that my friends have been killed because of it. No, no one else will ever know about the Hougyoku.'

Byakuya's mind raced, wondering exactly what this new information meant with regards to Kisuke's defection from Soul Society all those years ago. If they knew, and Kurosaki Isshin knew, then that could only mean …

'I've been waiting all week for something like this,' a new voice said abruptly.

Hitsugaya spun around, hand going to his zanpakutou's hilt instinctively when he saw the tall, slender shadow inside the doorway.

'The unusual gathering of hollows… and now, the presence of two people I never expected to see again. Jyuushirou, Shunsui… it's been many years, hasn't it?'

Shunsui, Jyuushirou and Kisuke exchanged broad grins as the figure stepped into the light.

'I trust you've been looking after my son?' the stranger enquired, an equally broad smile on his face.

Byakuya stared at the newcomer, taking in the dark, intelligent eyes, the shinigami robes, the zanpakutou at his side.

'Kurosaki Isshin,' he murmured.

Isshin's smile widened. 'Got it in one. Kuchiki Byakuya, I presume?'

'How did you –'

'Know? Your sister has been a guest in my home for quite some time now. The resemblance to Hisana is uncanny.'

'You knew Hisana?' Byakuya whispered.

Isshin sat down beside Jyuushirou, his eyes gentle. 'I was the one who performed her soul burial, Byakuya. She was just a child then, and I guided her straight to Inuzuri. It wasn't the best area for someone as delicate as she was, but I assume you already know why she was sent there.'

Byakuya nodded. 'I know… things were different then –'

'Which brings me to my next question – what the hell are you doing here?' Shunsui demanded, his own eyes bright.

Isshin laughed softly. 'Who do you think has been dealing with hollows when Ichigo has been too exhausted, Shunsui?'

Yoruichi's jaw dropped in a silent gasp.