A plot is revealed

"All right Kari, if that's really your name…" said Hitsuguya suspiciously.

"Who told you the contents of that letter? I thought only Hinamori had read it!" said Rangiku.

"She was the only one to read the original. But there's something I try not to let too many in on. I'm not a normal girl," said Kari.

"We could tell that by looking at you," they said in unison.

"Woah…stereo. Anyway, the reason I knew what was in that letter is because I'm an anime and manga otaku…a big one."

"Ha-ha, now what's the real reason?!" said Toshiro, not believing her.

"You didn't believe me before, and look what happened," Kari pointed out.

"Maybe, but knowing events before they happened simply because you're an otaku doesn't make any sense!" retorted Toshiro.

"It does if you look on the cover of vol. 16 from Bleach," said Kari as she handed him the manga volume.

"I don't…what the hell?! Is that me?!" said Toshiro in surprise.

"Yup…you had an almost identical reaction that Urahara and Yoruichi had. Anyway, the contents of that letter, as well as your fight (with a few minor changes) are in that particular volume. Oh, and Rukia's execution date will be pushed up again."

"This is getting confusing…" said Rangiku.

"That's what I said the day I first came to Japan, and look where I am now," said Kari amused.

"What?"

"I haven't always been so good at Japanese…I'm originally from another continent called America. Before I came to Japan, Hollows and Soul Reapers were just characters out of my Bleach manga."

"This is still making no sense."

"I was attacked my first night after I arrived in Japan. I ended up with a busted up bicycle and sprained ankle in Urahara's shop," Kari continued.

"So the reason you're able to use other Zanpaku-to is…?" said Rangiku.

"I guess it's because I'm a huge fan of the series…so much so that I memorized the names and attacks. Something must have clicked when I first started trying to get my Soul Reaper powers," said Kari with a shrug. She noted with amusement that Toshiro's confusion was growing as he attempted to read the book.

"I can't even read a word this says!" he said in frustration.

"That would be because you've never had to read in English before. I was the same way before I learned Japanese. So now do you believe me?" said Kari.

"I do. After seeing you help Hitsuguya-taicho with Hinamori, I'm more willing to believe what you say."

"I'm more inclined to believe you as well, since you did show us where you got your information."

"The reason I did that is because I trust you. I would have shown Soifon or Yachiru, but I didn't want to risk it."

"So what do we do now?"

"Now we have to wait until we get the announcement that Rukia's execution is tomorrow at noon."

"What?!"

"Before I go with you to investigate the truth, I need to go get something."

"What? Another manga volume?" said Toshiro sarcastically.

"Hana-chan's Zanpaku-to, Hisagomaru. Its ability allows it to heal wounds instead of inflicting them…at least until the red gauge on the hilt is full. Then it returns the wounds it healed to the enemy."

"I have just one question then…is Aizen dead and is Ichimaru working with him."

"No and yes. Aizen wasn't dead…that was his Zanpaku-to you saw."

"How?"

"His sword can make others see things that they believe to be real, correct? He used his sword to fool everyone. Ichimaru was in on this entire thing…as well as one other. Any more questions?"

"You said before that part of the letter Aizen wrote was true. That this entire execution was staged to steal something. What were you referring to?"

"The thing he is trying to steal is the very reason Urahara had to get away from the Soul Society…if it fell in the wrong hands, then everyone would be in danger…from a Hollow/Soul Reaper crossbreed."

"No…how is that…?!"

"The thing he created, the thing he couldn't destroy even though he tried, was an item that could blur the difference between Soul Reapers and Hollows so badly that the line would become almost nonexistent. He ran away in order to prevent it from falling in the wrong hands."

"I can't believe he would make something like that…" said Toshiro.

"I think his motto is similar to one I know very well. 'Anything worth doing is worth overdoing'." (This is the MYTHBUSTERS favorite motto!)

"So what are you going to do?" asked Rangiku.

"I'm going to the execution. I think we should warn them before they kill her. Want to know why Rukia was sentenced to die?"

"She has the device inside her."

"Wow…you really are a genius," said Kari impressed.

"What's going to happen while you're at the execution?"

"You two are going to the Central 42 and find out why the date kept changing…and you encounter Ichimaru's assistant captain. You two both go after him, only to find out that Hinamori followed you. She discovers Aizen wasn't dead and fails to realize she's in danger until he gives her a deadly wound. Toshiro…well, I shouldn't reveal any more. I'm going to go get Hanatoro's Zanpaku-to. I'll meet up with you inside the council room."

As she headed towards the execution ground, she knew that she probably wasn't going to get much approval for appearing. Sure enough, Soifon wasn't too happy to see her.

"What're you doing here, Kari?! You're not a captain or an assistant captain!"

"I'm here to prevent someone from dying. She's not the one you want," said Kari.

"Whatever. Where's your captain?"

"He's fighting one of the people you should be after," replied Kari.

"Sure… I'll believe that when I see it," snorted Soifon.

"Oh? That orange haired ryoka/substitute Soul Reaper will block the blade in its final release with just his Zanpaku-to. And it WILL happen."

"And how many will show up?"

"Less than half. You, Unohana-taicho, Byakuya-Taicho, Ukitake-taicho, the General, and another whose name I can't remember."

"You're right…but what about the others?"

"Aizen and Ichimaru will be fighting against Hitsuguya in the Central Council room, while my captain will be fighting Tosen and Komamura."

"Aizen is dead. You saw his body on that wall just like we did."

"Actually, all I saw was a blurry form of a Zanpaku-to. Unlike you and the others, I need glasses to see anything clearly; and this is the first time I've ever seen Aizen in person, so it didn't affect me as much," explained Kari.

"Sure…whatever. Just stay out of the way."

"Will…(not)…do."

"What was that? I didn't catch that," said Soifon.

"Nothing…I said 'will (not) do!"

"You do know…?"

"I know…if I get in the way then you won't hesitate to kick my ass. You're no fun sometime, Soifon-san," said Kari.

"That's taicho to you!"

"It's easier to say 'san' than 'taicho'."

"We'll take about this after the execution," said Soifon irritably.

"I'm telling you, the execution will not HAPPEN."

-----

When Rukia was lifted up to the air, Kari waited patiently for the Sokyoku to be released. Then she said loudly, "You do know that this whole thing is a set-up for something else, right, Byakuya-taicho?"

"What're talking about, Kari-san?" asked Unohana.

"I mean that the ones who concocted Rukia's execution wasn't the Central 42. Someone's using this entire execution as a cover-up!" said Kari.

"What proof do you have?!" said the General irritably. (Didn't like her little outburst.)

"If you don't believe me, then go to the Central Council room and see for yourself! Everyone is dead. They have been ever since those R and D idiots found Rukia. Aizen isn't dead either," Kari said, equally irritable.

"That's not possible. We would have…" started the General.

"Would have known? Not likely. Aizen, Ichimaru, and a third person have been making all the decisions from the Central 42 the entire time…there was always at least one of them in the room, except during the captain's meeting. That's why Aizen staged his own death," said Kari.

"How do we know this isn't a stalling tactic?" asked Byakuya.

"Ichigo Kurosaki has already achieved Bankai in less than three days. He will appear and stop this thing if I can't. You can quote me on that if you want," retorted Kari.

"I'll deal with you later, loud-mouth," hissed Soifon.

"If you don't believe me, then go ahead and try to kill her. Ichigo will appear."

Ichigo did appear…as the assistant captains attempted to stop Renji from getting away with Rukia, Kari snorted.

"You're wasting your time. Your assistant will be the first to get knocked out Soifon, then the first company's assistant captain, followed by Unohana-taicho's assistant. Byakuya will finally go after Ichigo after Unohana's assistant is down."

Sure enough, it happened exactly as she said it. That was when Soifon looked at her in wide eyes.

"How… How did you…?"

"I read a lot. Now, for my disappearing act…!" said Kari before Soifon could react.

-----

As she appeared in the room, she saw that Toshiro had yet to attack Aizen. She immediately tapped him on the shoulder with a wink.

"You take care of Hinamori, I'll deal with Aizen! Mind if I borrow Hyorinmaru?"

"Sure…good luck. You're going to need it; Hyorinmaru might not work for you."

"Trust me, he will listen to me once he realizes what is at stake."

Who're you supposed to be?

My name is Kari. Nice to meet ya, Hyorinmaru.

Where's Hitsuguya?!

He's protecting Hinamori. Mind if I use your Bankai and vision?

Bankai I can understand, but vision?

The only way I can avoid being caught by Aizen's stupid Zanpaku-to is by taking off my glasses. My vision is a bit blurry, so it'll be hard for me to see anything in this place. Think you can handle using me as a medium?

In other words you're just a puppet. This'll be different…

"He doesn't mind. Make sure to keep away from the pissed off ice-dragon, okay, Toshiro?" joked Kari as she handed him her glasses.

"He's that mad?"

"He never did like Aizen's Zanpaku-to. So the fact that he's letting me use Bankai means he's really mad."

-----

I'm ready when you are, Hyorinmaru.

-----

"Bankai!" said Kari/Hyorinmaru.

"What?!" said Aizen in shock.

"Oh, I forgot to warn you that the girl has some sort of ability that lets her use Zanpaku-to other than her own," said Ichimaru bored.

"Daiguran Hyorinmaru!" (Translation: Great Crimson Ice Ring.)

At first Toshiro thought he knew what his sword's final release looked like. But when Kari used it, Hyorinmaru took a completely different form. Instead of the head being on the sword itself, or any part of her body with only partial transformation, she had literally taken the form of Hyorinmaru! The sword itself was at the tip of the tail, swinging like a scythe.

"I don't believe it…that looks nothing like my Bankai!" said Toshiro in disbelief.

"Interesting…seems the girl has a love of dragons. That would explain the different form…" murmured Hyorinmaru. (By murmured, I mean the only one who could even understand him was Toshiro. All the others heard was a lot of growling.)

"What…? How are you…?" said Toshiro in shock.

"The girl loves dragons…more so than foxes it seems. Right now all she wants to do is bite Ichimaru's head off, followed by Aizen."

"Knock yourself out."

Hyorinmaru/Kari roared for good measure. (Even though they both knew she would have one hell of a sore throat in the morning!)

They flew towards Aizen, since he posed a greater threat. As they drew closer, it became very obvious to Kari that he was a doppelganger sword. She veered off towards the other Aizen, which was the real one. Their attack caught him off-guard; he thought they'd fall for the fake like everyone else. The onslaught continued for five minutes straight. Then Aizen did something that took her off-guard; he used Toshiro and Hinamori as a barrier.

"Do you have NO shame man?!"

Due to his cold-hearted tactic, he gained the perfect moment to attack; he struck at the very core of the Shinigami/Zanpaku-to dragon. Kari and Hyorinmaru barely managed to separate in time, but the damage was done. That was when Toshiro retook his sword and tried his luck. Kari came to a moment later. When Unohana and her assistant arrived, Toshiro was near death along with Hinamori. Right as Ichimaru and Aizen prepared to vanish back to the execution grounds, Kari managed to get into their teleport and went along for the ride.

"Looks like we have a hitchhiker," commented Ichimaru.

"So it appears," said Aizen as he prepared to attack Kari. It was then that Kari realized something. She heard another voice calling out to her from Hikari no Kage!