A/N: Hello, and thanks to everyone who's decided to give this story a chance! I promise to do my best not to disappoint anyone! Also, good news: I don't have nearly so much to say this time, so I'll get to it a little earlier! LOL
Pairings: (I forgot to put this up last time…whoops!): IchiHime and RenRuki with little hints/mentions of a few others…I think.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, not even a little. And I promise you'll recognize my OCs when they make their appearances.
Second Chance
Chapter Two: The More Things Change…
After the initial formalities of the Lieutenant's Meeting had been covered, Isane took a deep breath and glanced around the room before her gaze eventually settled on the Lieutenant of Squad Two. "Hiryu," she said, addressing the man directly. When she had his – and everyone else's – attention, she added, "What news does the Stealth Force have for us?"
Hiryu had been the Lieutenant of Squad Two for nearly eighty-four years, having replaced Marechiyo Oumaeda after the latter had retired. He was easily as tall as Izuru Kira, with slightly-shaggy dark-blonde hair and piercing dark eyes. He had no unique, distinguishing features (at least in what was visible around his shihakushou), and he wore his zanpakutou over his back.
When Isane had asked her question, Hiryu obediently stood and stepped forward so that it would be easier for him to address his colleagues. He glanced around before he spoke, ascertaining that he did, in fact, have everyone's attention. Some were notably more suspicious than others, but he brushed it off and launched into his speech.
"Since most of you are unaware of what the Stealth Force has been investigating recently, I'll start there," he said. "Two and a half weeks ago Head Captain Unohana received an anonymous tip that there was a group of individuals on the outskirts of the Rukongai who were plotting against the Soul Society. No further details were given, and so Head Captain Unohana asked the Stealth Force to seek out further information in order to determine the proper response."
Murmurs whispered through the group as many pairs of eyes widened.
Hiryu waited for the murmurs to die down, which they did quickly, before he continued. "It took us several days to locate this group, but we did, and unfortunately what we found was not what we had expected. This 'group' of individuals is larger than we anticipated, and they've clearly been plotting for some time – they're well armed, well organized, and well hidden."
"So why didn't you take them out while you were there?" Ichigo asked when Hiryu paused.
The gathered Lieutenants turned their attention to the orange-haired Soul Reaper when he spoke, before turning back to Hiryu expectantly.
Hiryu's expression took a frustrated turn and he said, "Our orders were very specific: we were on a fact-gathering mission and nothing more. We were not to engage in combat unless absolutely necessary, no matter what we found. And, truthfully, from what we saw, I doubt the number of men on the expedition mission would have been enough to properly eliminate the threat."
Rangiku was the next to speak up, one hand on her hip as she asked, "Then what are we supposed to be doing about this, exactly?"
"I don't know the details of that," Hiryu replied. "I reported our findings to my Captain late yesterday afternoon, and I imagine she has already informed the Head Captain. But to my knowledge no decisions have been made yet, other than that we need everyone to be aware of the problem."
"We…are going to do something though, right?" Hanatarou asked hesitantly, eyes casting around the room in the hopes that someone would have an answer for him. His gaze eventually settled on Isane out of habit, and he added, "I mean, if we sit on it too long, couldn't this turn into a real problem?"
"I imagine it could," Isane replied at length, her eyes falling to the floor.
Rukia spoke up next, addressing her question to Isane as well. "But surely Head Captain Unohana won't sit on this information, right? I can't imagine her being so lax with something like this."
"Neither can I," Isane said immediately, lifting her eyes to look at Rukia as she spoke. "I'm sure she'll do something about it soon."
Izuru Kira, current Lieutenant of Squad Nine, said confidently, "I imagine she'll call a Captain's Meeting first, to discuss the issue. We'll probably hear our orders from them."
"I agree," Nemu Kurotsuchi replied calmly.
"Well," Yumichika declared, crossing his arms as he spoke. "I for one hope we don't sit on this information for long. If we act quickly there's no reason why we wouldn't be able to put a stop to them before they become a problem."
"Wait," Takuya Fujimoto, the new Lieutenant of Squad Three, interrupted, turning his attention back to Hiryu. "What did you mean by 'armed'? Armed with what, exactly?"
Hiryu's expression turned grim before he replied, "We weren't able to get inside their hideout – they were careful to always leave a handful of people inside – but from what we saw…it seems many of them have zanpakutous of their own. Whether they have gone through any professional training is impossible to know, of course. And what other, concealed weapons, they may have we also don't know. But several individuals were strapped with other bladed and explosive weapons."
"Then they're not to be taken lightly," Yumichika deduced evenly.
"Not at all," Hiryu agreed.
Silence reigned in the room for several minutes, before Ichigo finally spoke. "This is bullshit," he declared firmly. "We shouldn't be sitting here talking about it, we should be mobilizing a team to go out there and take them down. Yeah, it's good to know they're armed, but so are we. If we go out expecting a fight then I don't see why we wouldn't win. Who cares if there are a lot of them? There are a whole damn lot of us, too, and they don't know we know about them yet."
"Personally," Hiryu said, "I'm with you. But that's not what we've been told to do."
"Still," Rukia added, "Ichigo does have a point. The sooner we act the better."
Isane stood when she saw the others nodding their agreement and she declared, "Alright, I see no reason to continue this Lieutenant's Meeting. I'll go immediately to Head Captain Unohana and make sure she's aware of the situation, and I'll inform her of what we've discussed."
The other Lieutenants stood as well, nodding once more before turning and beginning to file out of the room.
"I'm sorry for not telling you all of the rumors when I first heard of them," Head Captain Retsu Unohana declared as she finished her speech. "But the situation is now something you all need to be firmly aware of if we are to take proper steps in dealing with it."
"Well, I have to say," Shunsui Kyouraku began after a moment's silence, "that's not good news."
"That's a bit of an understatement, don't you think, Shunsui?" Juushirou asked rhetorically, his voice still slightly weaker than usual.
Shunsui lifted a hand and tilted his favorite straw hat at his old friend with a faint grin.
"If I may, Head Captain," Shuuhei Hisagi, Captain of Squad Nine, began politely. When Unohana inclined her head, he continued. "What measures are we going to take?"
"That is what we're here to discuss," she replied calmly. "The one thing I do not want to do is give these men and women the time to enact whatever plans they have been formulating, and the report that Soi Fon gave me inclines me to believe that they are closer to ready than not."
"I absolutely agree," Choujirou Sasakibe, Captain of Squad Three, asserted firmly.
"As do I," Toushirou Hitsugaya agreed with a slight incline of his head.
"If we're all in agreement," Ikkaku began, shifting his weight as he spoke, "then why don't we organize a team to head out and eliminate them?"
"It would be better to take the fight to them than to let them bring it to us," the Captain of Squad Seven, Tetsuzaemon Iba, echoed firmly.
"I do agree," Unohana stated. "Does anyone have another suggestion?"
"We need to take precautions to protect ourselves as well," Byakuya reminded calmly. "I have no objection to an offensive force, but I believe it would be wise to keep forces here as well."
"That's true," Toushirou said. "We shouldn't assume that they aren't aware that we know what they're up to."
"If you ask me," Mayuri interrupted, projecting his voice slightly to talk over the younger Captain, "I think we're overemphasizing the problem. Just send the Stealth Force to handle the situation and be done with it."
Soi Fon cut a sideways glare to the scientist as she said, "You seem to be under the impression that the Stealth Force is just sitting on their hands, Captain Kurotsuchi."
"Well surely you have the manpower," Mayuri returned. "Isn't this what the Stealth Force is for in the first place?"
"That's enough," Unohana interrupted calmly. "The Stealth Force is currently deployed on many assignments, and though I would like Captain Soi Fon to keep a contingent of men on reserve, I would rather not involve them."
Soi Fon inclined her head respectfully. "Of course, Head Captain," she said.
Unohana swept her gaze outward again, looking around the room at the line-up of men and women before her. "I do agree with Captains Kuchiki and Hitsugaya – and to that end, I have no intention of leaving the Seireitei unprotected. And, in the interest of cooperation, I will take into consideration your own preferences for assignment."
"In that case," Mayuri said, "I would like to stay here. This doesn't sound like my kind of problem."
"Very well," Unohana replied, "But I expect you to be ready should a situation arise where we need your particular expertise, Captain Kurotsuchi."
Mayuri sighed, scratching his cheek as he grumbled, "I suppose I can do that."
Unohana smiled before continuing. "Does anyone else have a preference?"
Shunsui spoke up, saying, "I would like to volunteer myself and Juushirou to stay here as well. Although I'm sure we'd both be happy to send men out to aid the fight."
"Ah, yes," Juushirou agreed, with obvious reluctance. "I'm not yet ready for that kind of fight. But I'm sure Ichigo would be happy to fight on the front lines with the others."
Orihime piped up next from her spot between Soi Fon and Byakuya. "If it's alright, I would like to join the front line. I think it would be a good idea to have medical help readily available, and I'll leave Hanatarou here to be in charge of the squad in my absence."
"All excellent ideas," Unohana stated with a faint nod of approval.
"Obviously I'll take a group of my men out to fight," Ikkaku declared.
"With your permission," Renji began from where he stood opposite his former Captain, "I'd like to fight as well."
"I expected as much," Unohana replied with another nod. When no one else spoke up, she said, "Very well. In addition to the volunteers, I would like Captains Hitsugaya and Hisagi to join the offensive, and I would like the rest of you to remain here. Soi Fon and Tetsuzaemon will prepare teams, but remain here as back-up, should it become necessary. The rest of you are to remain here to defend Seireitei."
When everyone nodded, accepting their orders, Unohana added, "Those of you leading the offensive, please select squad members to join you. Also, I will hear suggestions from all Captains for squad members to accompany them, in addition to Lieutenant Kurosaki."
Again, Byakuya spoke up, eyes closed as he casually declared, "I am sure that my Lieutenant would prefer to join the offensive as well."
Renji clenched his fists, but said nothing. He knew Byakuya was right – Rukia would wreak all sorts of havoc if she were left behind.
Unohana nodded again, glancing briefly to Renji before saying, "Very well. Lieutenant Rukia Abarai will also join the offensive."
After a few more rounds of suggestions, Unohana dismissed them, leaving them with instructions to finalize their teams and prepare for departure within forty-eight hours.
"Oh, good, you're here," Juushirou declared when he returned, Kiyone and Sentarou in tow, to find Ichigo staring out over the main courtyard. He was leaning forward, elbows on the rim of the banister that separated the walkway from the courtyard, a severe, thoughtful scowl on his face and eyes narrowed.
When Juushirou spoke Ichigo stood, turning to face him properly and his scowl softening just a little. "Captain Ukitake," he said, "I take it you've heard about the problem in the Rukongai?"
"Yes," Juushirou replied with a small nod. "As a matter of fact, that's what I wanted to discuss with you."
Ichigo stepped back slightly as Juushirou moved to the railing, resting his hands on it and looking out over the courtyard. He stayed silent as he waited for his Captain to continue.
After a long moment, Juushirou said, "Unfortunately, as you know, I'm still not feeling my best. Because of that, I won't be able to join the offensive troops."
"Yeah, but, they don't need everybody anyway," Ichigo offered, sensing that the older man was bothered by the reality of his situation.
"Ah, I know," Juushirou assured him with a faint, almost-bitter chuckle. "But back to my point: as you might have figured out, Head Captain Unohana has decided to send a good-sized gathering of Soul Reapers out to handle the situation before it becomes more of a problem. She's split the Captains nearly in half, actually. And everyone who is chosen for this offensive is to depart forty-eight hours from now."
"Good," Ichigo said with a sharp nod.
Juushirou smiled, though his Lieutenant couldn't see the gesture, and after a moment he added, "Ichigo, I would like it if you would join them."
Ichigo blinked, surprised his Captain would actually volunteer him for a mission like this. It was no secret, after all, that Juushirou was violently opposed to the idea of losing another squad member unnecessarily. Still, it was an assignment Ichigo genuinely wanted, and he suspected his Captain knew that as well.
"Alright," Ichigo replied. "Can I ask who I'll be going with?"
"Well, of course I don't know who the other Captains will choose to bring, but I can tell you the names you'll know," Juushirou said easily.
"Toushirou is the senior Captain, and I suspect he'll bring his Lieutenant. Shuuhei will be going as well, though he said he'll be asking Izuru to remain behind, and of course Ikkaku and Yumichika will be going. Renji and Rukia will also be there, and Soi Fon volunteered her Lieutenant, Hiryu, since he was in charge of the original expedition. And in addition, Orihime volunteered, and I imagine she'll be bringing a small contingent to help take care of the rest of you."
"Sounds like we're not pulling our punches this time," Ichigo declared when Juushirou was done.
Juushirou chuckled again. "I suppose you could say that, yes." He turned, then, and looked straight into Ichigo's eyes before he added, "Ichigo, promise me one thing before you go. Promise me you'll be careful."
Ichigo's lips curved in a gesture that was somewhere between a smile and a grin, and he inclined his head. "Don't worry about me, I can handle myself."
"I know," Juushirou said with a smile, reaching out and clapping Ichigo on the shoulder. "But I have to say it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need to lie down."
Ichigo watched in silence as Juushirou continued on his way to his quarters, Kiyone and Sentarou trailing once more behind him. He was glad to know he'd get a chance to participate in the fighting, but he wasn't stupid – he realized it wouldn't be easy. Even so, it was a challenge he looked forward to.
On the morning of their departure Hanatarou met Orihime in her office as she finished her preparations.
"Oh, good morning, Hanatarou," Orihime greeted with a smile.
"Good morning, Captain," Hanatarou replied, bowing formally. When he straightened, he hesitated before asking, "Um, Captain, are you sure you don't want me going with you?"
Orihime paused, her hand hovering over the zipper to the bag she'd just finished packing. With a reassuring smile, she nodded and said, "Yes, Hanatarou. I want to know Seireitei is properly taken care of while I'm out, and I trust you the most for that. Of course, there's no guarantee that anything at all will happen here while we're gone, but it's always better to be prepared, right?"
"Well, yes, of course," Hanatarou agreed. "But…what if something goes wrong while you're out there?"
"No scenario is perfect," Orihime admitted, swiftly tugging the zipper closed and swinging the bag over her shoulder. "But I'm taking nine squad members with me, so I think we'll be alright. I talked with the other Captains yesterday, and we're going to split our groups up into five teams, each headed by one of us and one Lieutenant. So including me, we'll have enough to put two members of Squad Four on each team. We'll just have to send for back-up if we need more."
Hanatarou watched as she turned, then, and picked up her zanpakutou. He had only rarely seen her use it, and most of those situations had been when she'd still been in training, back when she was still new to the squad. She only rarely carried it with her, as she only rarely ever needed it. But, of course, he – and in fact most of Soul Society – knew what it could do.
As she slipped the sheathed sword into the loop at her hip Hanatarou released a breath and said, "You're right, of course, Captain. But please be careful."
Orihime stepped up to him and smiled brightly. "I will be, I promise! Now, Isane said she'd be willing to come lend a hand if something goes wrong and you get overwhelmed, so don't be afraid to ask, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Hanatarou replied.
Scrunching up her face, Orihime held up one finger and said, "Hanatarou Yamada, I'm too young for that!" With a faint laugh she threw in a wink for good measure before sweeping past him, calling, "I'll see you when I get back!"
Hanatarou turned, watching as she left, and after the door was solidly shut and he could hear her moving away, he whispered, "Good luck, Miss Orihime."
Everyone was gathered at the Western Gate, the nearest exit to their destination, and the Captains and Lieutenants paused to take a moment and organize their soldiers.
"We should break into teams before we leave," Toushirou suggested after everyone was lined up properly. "That way, when we get there, we'll be able to break off that much faster."
"Sounds good to me," Renji agreed.
"I brought enough squad members so that each team could have two of us, of course with me being one of them for my team," Orihime pointed out.
"An excellent idea," Toushirou said with a nod. "Alright, Rangiku, you'll be with me. Obviously Yumichika will be with Ikkaku and Rukia with Renji. Hiryu, you'll be on Shuuhei's team, and Ichigo, you'll be with Orihime."
"Fine with me," Hiryu replied easily.
"Right," Ichigo agreed with a sharp nod.
"Why don't we all split up our men," Shuuhei suggested. "That should give us all a good balance of fighting styles and abilities."
"Yeah, alright," Ikkaku replied.
"Sure," Renji added.
Each Captain quickly proceeded to split up the groups they'd brought, assigning several to each team in order to make the numbers as even as possible. When the teams were decided they turned to the gate once more.
"Now that that's done," Toushirou began, "it's time to go. Once we arrive we'll take a moment to gather our surroundings before branching off. Our best strategy would be to surround the enemy if at all possible. But above all make sure to stay with your team."
A chorus of agreement rang out, briefly, and then the gate was opened.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Eek! Okay, I know this chapter was a little short, but it couldn't be helped! This was just the best place to wrap it up! So, I hope I've sufficiently gotten your interest, and (of course) I hope you enjoyed this chapter! In fact, if you'd be so kind, maybe you could drop me a note to let me know your thoughts so far? And of course, please come back for chapter three!