Ichigo's POV

After I got home I replayed everything over in my head. Renji, that bastard. What was Urahara was doing in Soul Society, and why did Yorouchi and Tessai go with? Yorouchi wasn't banned like the other two, but it still struck me as odd. And I was sure Renji had something to do with the lack of contact available to Urahara. He was one step ahead of me already, and I didn't like it. He knew I would go straight to the shop, so he got there first. Damn, I wish I still could use shunpo.

Rukia's POV

After we expertly snuck in to the back of the meeting hall, we sat down and listened in. Soutaicho, Hitsugaya-taicho and Nii-sama were all at the front with their lieutenants, standing tensely. They appeared to be arguing. Hisagi-fukutaicho stepped in to break it up.

"STOP! We don`t have time to be bickering like petty idiots! We need to come up with a plan, and listen to Soutaicho." Hisagi gestured for Yamamoto to continue, unhindered.

"Thank you." He looked older for some reason, strained. "In the absence of Mayuri-taicho I have ordered our previous twelfth captain to help us."

That kind of surprised me. Urahara was allowed back into Seiretei? The crowd murmured restlessly to themselves.

Then I remembered. Oh, right. Aizen had confessed to the whole Hollow experiment thing under torture, and Urahara and Tessai's ban had been lifted. I saw both Tessai-san and Yorouchi-sama sitting off to the side, watching.

"He has agreed to aid us in the search for a way to reinstate Kurosaki Ichigo's spiritual power." I instinctively cringed from hearing his name, causing a few shinigami around me looked over at me. They had felt my reistu waver. I felt Shunsui-taicho put a hand on my shoulder. It was either to make me feel better or to ensure that I wasn't going to try to run away. Again.

Urahara stepped up to the head of the table and turned to look at us. He wasn't wearing his hat, but he kept the usual clothing. I liked him without his hat… Even if I disliked and distrusted him.

He rubbed the back of his head and chuckled lightly. I could almost feel the nervousness emanating from him. He cleared his throat, and in an attempt to seem professional he stopped smiling and put both hands on the table.

"Thank you. I realize this is a very important meeting, for all of us." He looked right in my direction. "We are all here because of one thing: Kurosaki Ichigo, and the problems in thereof. After much thought, I believe I may have stumbled across an answer." The crowd all gasped and leaned forward expectantly. I noticed a few people with their mouths hanging open, thinking 'How can Kisuke go this long without joking?'and 'Is he serious?' I smiled to myself.

"Soul Society has gone a very long time without Ichigo, and we managed. Every time something or someone poses a threat to us or the human world, we take it down. Now, who here believes Aizen was crazy?" A few people raised their hands, a few cheered. I just kept smiling.

"Yes, he was crazy. And crazy strong. I believe there will never be anything stronger than Aizen Sousuke. And there is no need to bring back Kurosaki-san`s spiritual powers."

A few seconds silence, then:

"WHAT? You're supposed to help us!"

"You're useless!"

"Where's Mayuri-taicho? He'll fix that Ichigo brat!"

Many people were outraged, including myself. It was my turn to yell.

"Stop it! What are all of you talking about?" Everyone turned in my direction, and all eyes were on me. Okay, this is weird. I hadn't really raised my voice, but I was standing on the table. Which I guess is sort of an attention grabber. After being shut away so long they didn't expect me to come at all. I cleared my throat.

"Urahara is the most brilliant scientist to ever walk either world. Even if he`s annoying. Really annoying." I paused to take a breath. "Really, really, really annoying. And he may not be as experienced as Ukitake-taicho or Shunsui-taicho, but he's smart. And if he says there won't ever be any danger stronger than Aizen or one that we can't face without... him... " Ichigo "...then, then we don't... need... him..." My voice turned to a whisper, and sudden tears raced down my face. It was true. They didn't need him. Soul Society would survive. They were only panicking, being big babies. Me, on the other hand…

I turned to run away. I was proud of myself, I had lasted that long. The tears were coming faster, faster, turning rapidly into sobs. Dammit! What the hell is wrong with you?

My feet pounded against the ground, tears drying on my cheeks. Through my blurred vision, though, I saw Renji, leaning against the barracks. He was smirking. Why… he, he knew this is what was going to happen! He practically planned it. That bastard.

I knew he stilled loved me, of course. Only it was turning in to an obsession. I had felt his reistu by my door everyday for the last two months. I had been convinced he was spying on me and so I spoke with Ukitake-taicho. He had said that he knew nothing of the sort, and never noticed him around me. The bastard must have mastered some type of light bending kidou to be able to do that.

I ran hard, nearly reaching my quarters before my foot caught on something and I pitched forward, hands reaching out instinctively to break my fall. Pushing myself up, I forced myself to run again. Tripped, felt my head connect with a hard surface. Swallowed a yelp as hands suddenly grasped at me, big and strong, digging into my shoulders, pulling me up with liquid strength. It felt like I was being dragged across the dusty wood. Then, abruptly, they released me and I dropped like an anvil. My head hit the floor with a resounding crack! Dazed, I thought I heard footsteps running away from me, and then towards me.

"Rukia! Are you okay? Rukia…" Their voice was fading, blood pounding in my ears. I must have really done something to my head. How pathetic of me…

"I've got the answer. I know what I have to do now…" And then the blackness took me.

Light cracked into my room, warming my face. I shot up like a rocket, groggy and confused. What the hell…?

My eyes wandered to the table beside my bed. A glass of water sat there, half-full. Gratefully, I wrapped my fingers around it and poured the cool drink down my throat. Ukitake-taicho must have put it there.

What had happened? A dull throbbing pounded through my head, a scab crusting along the side.

"Good morning! Rukia-chaaa~aann! You were rather naughty last night, running away from the meeting! And yelling at all those nice people…" I cried out helplessly as the voice boomed loud in my ears. Shunsui-taicho! And... was he drunk? Why yes, yes he was. Shock. Amazement.

The captain stumbled lazily towards my window, hands pressing against the sill. Suddenly, he doubled over and vomited over the edge. I felt my stomach twist a little. Eeww. But the mandatory disgust was distant. Last night was coming back to me in surges, now. A small smile quirked at my lips, the first in a long time. I had a lot to do.

I summoned two hell butterflies, each conveying a separate message for two different people. That done, I went outside to wait for their arrival, especially that of a certain blond's. I had something I wanted to tell him…

Ukitake-taicho emerged suddenly from my room with a sigh. "Hello, Rukia-chan," he greeted politely when he saw me. "How's the head?"

"Fine," I answered, not really caring. "Is Shunsui-taichou doing alright?"

My captain sighed and sat down on the damp grass. "If dead to the world counts as alright, he couldn't be better. I told him not to have that last drink..."

We made polite conversation, and waited.

After a few minutes the first person arrived. Ise Nanao, here to pick up her taicho. Who was lying passed out in my room. At eight in the morning. I shook my head in exasperation.

"Thank you, Rukia-chan." With those curt words she walked confidently into my room. A few smacks and a grumbled reply followed by more smacks and an loud oof! later, Ise-fukutaicho and Shunsui-taicho stumbled out of the room. He was slung over her shoulder, and I marveled at the strength of the little Nanao. Or maybe she was just used to it. I wouldn't be surprised.

They left, and Ukitake-taicho and I sat down for a cup of tea. Before we could even take a sip, however, the door burst open, revealing a frazzled looking blond.

"Sorry I'm late. I forgot my way and the hell butterfly didn't wait." He looked as though he had just stumbled out of bed, something I'm almost positive he did indeed do. The obvious sex-hair kind of gave it away.

"Urahara, sit down," I said calmly. He looked at me surprised, as though he expected something different. But he sat down gingerly nonetheless. He was sore, it seemed. I chuckled to myself, but composed my face right away. There was no time to waste.

"I need a gigai. Now." I had lost mine; Kon had probably stolen it. I shuddered a little at the thought.

Urahara looked at me, and slowly a smile grew on his face.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Hope you liked it. I'll be updating once-a-weekish from now on unless my muse decides to beat me with a stick. So it's not really up to me. REVIEW. BTW THIS STORY IS NOW BEING BETA-READ BY THE MOST AWESOME PERSON OF LIFE, KAKASHI'S BITCH. Head down to her profile and check out her stories.