A/N: Wow, I'm really shocked at how many hits this story has gotten, thanks so much everyone! I know the last chapter was particularly hard to get through, the idea being that one hard chapter explains why subsequent cooperation would come more easily now that everyone is aware of the consequences. Also, I'll give better warnings next time.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that is Bleach nor do I profit from my admiration

Warnings: none

Chapter 5: Revelations and Blindsides

Kisuke felt weak. His gigai was dehydrated and his reiatsu felt depleted. Opening crusty eyes, he looked around his darkened room. Ururu was asleep by his bed, her head and arms draped lightly over his chest. He smiled softly as he looked at the exhausted little girl.

Groaning, he tried to move but his body was still so slow to respond. Ururu woke at his movements and immediately hugged him tightly, crying silently. Footsteps sounded outside the room and seconds later, the door slid open to reveal Tessai and Jinta.

"Out." Tessai rumbled quietly as he gently lifted Ururu from the bed and guided her out the door. Kneeling next to the bed, he began casting a healing spell as Kisuke stared at the ceiling, willing his body to relax as much as possible.

Yoruichi suddenly appeared in the doorway, her face impassive, golden eyes scanning his body intently before settling on his clear, gray-green eyes. Upon seeing her, he struggled to get up.

"Don't Kisuke."

Ignoring her command, he continued to struggle, finally able to stand. His head was bent over and his normally sturdy shoulders sagged as he paused to steady his ragged breathing. Yoruichi's heart ached to see the one person stronger than herself so close to breaking. She wanted to grab him and hug him, reassure him as she had when they first arrived in this world, but like then, she knew he would reject her support. Kisuke never dropped his guard, not since he was exiled. The real world had altered him nearly as much as hollowfication had altered Shinji and the others. Kisuke never genuinely smiled anymore, and his kindness was always met with heavy suspicion from those he was trying to help. His keen intellect was still there, but more times than not he seemed sly and underhanded rather than inspired and brilliant.

Suddenly, he reached out a thin but steady hand to her hip, pulling her against him into a tight embrace.

"Kisu-"

"Yoru. It's time to join Shinji."

For once, he stared at her intensely, straight to her core, eyes burning with resolution. She felt his reiatsu spike, blowing her hair and rattling the door. He gently kissed her forehead before he exited his gigai for the first time in one hundred years.

Urahara was training below the shop against Yoruichi, trying to catch her shunpo. He felt unbearably slow, but he had improved exponentially in the last few days. He had already worked with Tessai and was waiting for the Vizards to stop by.

He didn't know if Seireitei would accept him back but at this point he didn't give a damn. Mayuri needed to be stopped. It was his fault the lunatic was loose in the first place. Worse than that was the fact he hadn't been there for his former lieutenant. He had heard she'd been cut down before he opened the garganta and it had taken more self control than he thought he possessed not to rush to her and bring her to Tessai.

Perhaps that was why he was so angry with Yamamoto and Soul Society. It wasn't the 100 years he had known the vizards in the real world, helping them, protecting them, becoming family with them that had caused him such panic when Hiyori fell. No, it was something so much simpler. He was a captain and one of his soldiers had fallen while he was away…again. They had tried to separate themselves from Soul Society for 100 years but when it came down to it, despite rejecting them, soul society and all of its damn doctrines wouldn't let go of them.

Almost like a siren's call from Seireitei, all the events set in motion over one hundred years ago had been waiting for this moment and it was time to make amends and set the record straight.

Stopping on a rock, he motioned for Yoruichi to stop.

"Kisuke, tired already?" She chuckled as she saw her old friend doubled over and sucking in breaths.

"Tired of tag at least." Kisuke smirked and disappeared in a flash of shunpo, materializing behind Yoruichi, foot flying to her knee. She countered easily, jumping up and kicking out towards his head, knocking off his ridiculous hat.

"I hate that hat Kisuke. Everyone does." She felt a jab to her side but quickly knelt to kick at his feet. He side stepped easily and flipped back a few feet.

"No one understands my hat, it gives me mystery and it gives-"

"No one gives a rat's ass about what it gives." Yoruichi shunpo'd and lifted the offending object off Kisuke's head. In a rare fit of irritation she easily ripped it in half. Smirking at a stunned Kisuke, she tossed the two halves aside and tapped her foot impatiently.

Suddenly, in an explosion of shunpo, Kisuke emerged behind her, one dexterous hand caressing her cheek, the other lightly slipping behind her and under the waist line of her catsuit to give an appreciative squeeze of her toned ass.

"You'll pay dearly for that later, Shihouin-sama." He whispered as he lightly licked the outer edge of her ear. Pulling his hand from her pants, he gave her a resoundingly hard slap across the ass and was away before she could react, looking expectantly at the opening from the shop.

She was still in shock that Kisuke had been able to slip past her guard and the heated promise in his whisper when she heard a loud, obnoxious voice. Rolling her eyes, she stretched out the kinks that were beginning to form as she watched the vizards jump down to the ground.

"Oi, Kisuke! What's this I hear about you dumping your gigai?" Shinji walked up, twirling his newsboy hat on a long index finger. He looked Urahara up and down, one finger over his lips and his head cocked to the side appraisingly.

"Well, I s'pose we've waited long enough. You really are serious? Shinji was unnaturally somber as the man responsible for his salvation nodded slowly.

"Quit the girl talk and let's get to it." Kensei growled as he checked the wrappings around his hands, making sure they were tight but not restrictive.

"Guess you'll want it easy at first, nerd." With that, Kensei launched himself at the shopkeeper, releasing his zanpakuto.

"Baka." Lisa muttered as she sauntered over to Yoruichi and leaned against a rock. Pausing to take off her glasses and check them for smudges, she finally asked, "Is he reacting to clown face's attack or has he finally grown a pair?"

"Hard to say. He was always biding his time, you all were. Aizen's strong, and Soul Society is missing more captains and lieutenants now than when you guys were exiled. It's no secret that before this war, the captains were barely civil to each other. After your hollowfication, the divisions distanced themselves from each other and grew more formal. If I had stayed, the only person who would have been any fun would have been Kyoraku." Yoruichi involuntarily shuddered at the thought.

"Soul Society can't afford to snub us anymore. They've relied on Ichigo and his friends and they've asked Kisuke for help on different things for awhile now. All off the books of course."

She sighed heavily as she watched Love join the fight despite vehement protests by Kensei. She was a little unnerved by Lisa's silence. But then again, Lisa had always been a woman of few words.

"I don't know if any of us will survive this. Even if we win, I'm not sure I want to rebuild." Yoruichi couldn't bring herself to voice her fears much above a whisper.

Lisa's eyes narrowed, as she recognized a confession when she heard one. Impassively, she watched Kensei transform into his hollow and send Urahara flying. At least the nerd had decided to cowboy up and fight finally.

"As long as Aizen is dead, I don't care what happens or who survives." Lisa stated bitterly. As she turned to walk away, Yoruichi gently grabbed her arm. Carefully, Lisa shook her hand off but paused to look back.

"We have company."

"Oi, Ichigo!" Renji easily jumped through the window into Ichigo's room, with Hisagi right behind him.

The room was empty but the sounds of someone showering were coming from the bathroom and they had noticed the twins were downstairs when they approached the house. Renji and Hisagi sat on the bed, backs against the wall and feet up, waiting patiently for the substitute shinigami as the others waited outside. Hiyori flew through the window, landing ungracefully on the bed and jostling the two tattooed lieutenants. Climbing off, she turned and dared them to complain, smirking when Hisagi folded his arms tightly across his chest and simply closed his eyes while Renji glared at her before sitting back again.

Curiously she wandered around the room before settling on rummaging in Ichigo's dresser, pulling drawers open and lifting random items of clothing up for inspection.

"Hey chibi, you shouldn't just go through someone's stuff!" Renji snapped as he watched the blonde vizard inspect what was clearly Ichigo's underwear drawer.

"Not worth it Abarai-san." Hisagi had opened his eyes and he was watching Hiyori with a mixture of amusement and irritation.

"You say somethin' hedgehog?" Hiyori retorted whirling around, brandishing a pair of boxers. She hated when people talked as if she weren't there.

"Sarugaki, put that down. Abarai, make this quick." Hitsugaya was perched on the window sill, eyebrow twitching. He disappeared an instant later and Matsumoto and Yumichka could be heard complaining to him about stopping at the mall.

Hiyori huffed as she stuffed the offending pair of boxers back in the dresser. Grinning evilly, she moved back to the bed and squirmed between the two men who immediately shoved to opposite ends of the bed. Renji accidentally elbowed her in his haste to put some distance between them and got an immediate fist to the stomach for his efforts. Quickly he lashed out and grabbed Hiyori's ankle in an attempt to toss her through the open window but she grabbed at the blankets, catching the edge of Hisagi's hakama in the process.

Against his better judgment, Hisagi decided to try and extricate his hakama from Hiyori's grasping hands and ended up getting pulled into the flurry of limbs and curses on the bed.

"Get off me you pervs or I'm gonna kick ya in the nuts!"

"Stop thrashing, and stop pulling hair you brat. FUCK!"

"Both of you stop mov-"

"What the hell are you doing!" Ichigo stood in the doorway in only a pair of jeans, a towel slung around his neck and an angry scowl.

Instantly the three struggling bodies froze before Hiyori gave one last kick to Hisagi's head and slid out of Renji's chokehold.

"No need to be rude." Renji muttered as he shoved Hiyori off the bed and stood up.

Hisagi stood up with an impressive amount of dignity, grimacing slightly at the now messy bed.

"We're going to Urahara's. Something's developed and Abarai-san wanted you to come." Nodding slightly at Renji, he exited the room through the window.

"Tch, so you wanted him?" Hiyori asked slyly as she followed Hisagi out the window, already irritated by something Hitsugaya was doing outside.

"Renji, what's going on?" Ichigo was rummaging around his dresser looking for a shirt. When he didn't hear a response, he stopped and looked up at the older shinigami who was fidgeting slightly.

"Oi, just spit it out already!" Ichigo settled on a faded gray tee shirt and pulled it on impatiently.

Renji seriously considered Shuuehi's words about thinking things through before acting and he realized he was about to give the same advice to Ichigo. Instead, he decided to simply dangle some bait and drop the bomb later if things didn't go smoothly.

"I'm forcing Urahara to open a garganta now that he's woken up. We've sat around enough and it only lets them get stronger." Renji briefly met Ichigo's skeptical eyes and knew he was right to withhold the information about the Kuchikis until they actually faced Urahara.

Flashing his trademark grin, one he knew Ichigo hated, he paused at the window sill to toss out a taunt that would guarantee Ichigo's help.

"Snap out of it dumbass, or I'll do it myself and leave you behind." Renji counted to three as he sailed through the window before he felt Ichigo's reiatsu spike and come charging after him.

Ururu greeted the mixed group as they arrived at Uraraha's shop. They followed her to the trap door that led down to the training ground. Dropping down, they saw Yoruichi and Lisa gathered with Shinji, Rose and Hachi. Love, Kensei and Urahara were approaching them and Renji felt Hisagi's reaitsu spike briefly. He turned to take a closer look at the built former 9th division captain who was scowling at the moment. He decided he liked the guy.

"Urahara, open the garganta. I'm not waiting around anymore - what the hell?"

If Renji hadn't been just as shocked as Ichigo to see Urahara out of his gigai and sporting bloody cuts and bruises, he would have taken issue with Ichigo's lack of "we" mentality.

Somewhere Matsumoto let out an appreciative sigh and was promptly smacked by Hiyori.

"Sorry Kurosaki-kun, it's been awhile since I've been in my real form. But, I can see we have much to discuss. Shall we all go upstairs and have tea?" It was odd to hear Urahara being sincerely polite for once instead of acting the fool.

"Cut the crap Urahara-san, just open the garganta now so I can go save Rukia and the others!"

Ikkaku suddenly smacked Ichigo on the back of the head. "Hey asshole, there's a bunch of people that need to go get the captain and the others." Apparently he was tired of Ichigo's one man show as well.

Glaring at Ikkaku and annoyed by the various snickers coming from the other shinigami, Ichigo took a step towards Urahara and grabbed the front of his shihakushou. "I'm serious Urahara-san, this isn't a fucking game."

"Indeed it isn't Kurosaki-kun." In an instant, Urahara had grabbed Ichigo's wrist, spun out under it and flipped Ichigo to the ground neatly, gently stepping on the substitute shinigami's chest and leaning down.

"The circumstances are much different than when Inoue-san was taken." Urahara stared at Ichigo a moment longer before stepping back and helping him up.

"So don't just go in with guns blazing, dumbass." Kensei muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear. Renji decided he really liked this guy.

"We are not going anywhere." Hitsugaya walked from the edge of the group where he had been quietly talking on his communicator to Soul Society.

"What the fu-"

"Shut it Madarame. We are here to gather information only. We are under strict orders to return to Soul Society as soon as we have debriefed with Urahara. And there won't be any unauthorized sneaking off to Hueco Mundo again, Abarai."

Despite being the tallest shinigami there, it was unnerving how someone nearly half Renji's height could still physically intimidate him.

"Yoruichi, Hisagi reported that one of the Espada delivered some of Kuchiki taichou's personal belongings?" Hitsugaya remained stoic, ignoring Ichigo's startled flare of reiatsu.

"Yes, Kisuke was still recovering when Grimmjow appeared outside the shop. He asked if Ichigo was around, then he threw the gloves, scarf and kenseiken on the porch. He was not aggressive other than verbally, but when he tossed Kuchiki's things down, he specifically stated that he had no part in that. We are trying to figure out what exactly he meant, but clearly Byakuya wouldn't have relinquished them without force."

"So, Byakuya lost a fight and they took his things. What other kind of message is there?" Ichigo's voice had gained some of the self-confident cockiness he was so famous for. His earlier irritation at being the last to know apparently gone from his memory.

"Baka. You are so naïve." Lisa broke her silence to roll her eyes. Getting a nod from Yoruichi, she patiently explained.

"Someone like Kuchiki Byakuya would not have just lost a fight and given up those things. Those are the very symbols of his clan's rank amongst the nobility. In the world of the living, it's the equivalent of the monarchy of any country giving up its crown jewels, heirlooms passed down for numerous generations or relinquishing their coat of arms. Except in Soul Society, there's even greater importance because there are so few noble families in comparison to the modern world of the living where practically every country has some kind of royalty, whether by blood or celebrity."

Renji actually sympathized with Ichigo who still looked confused. People were people, one person's life shouldn't be venerated more than another's simply because of what family they were born into. People should be valued on their own qualities and accomplishments…not just those of some long dead ancestor.

Or at least, that's what an orphan raised in the slums thought, but what the hell did he know. He still bowed to the four noble families on sight.

"For fuck's sake Kurosaki. The only way to get those things from Kuchiki is to have either killed him, or done something equivalent…like torturing or nearly killing someone else. Now do you get it, dumbass?" Kensei was done with the handholding. War was ugly and if the kid couldn't handle it, he had no business being there.

"Alright, other than the obvious, is there any way that this could be something more subtle from Aizen? He doesn't do anything random. How does this fit into his bigger plan?" Hitsugaya seemed to have tuned out everyone except Urahara and Yoruichi. The three of them had subconsciously moved to the center of the group, leaving everyone else straining to hear what they were saying.

"True, Aizen always has a plan, that much was evident one hundred years ago. He's down to two Espada and the Arrancar that took out Ukitake, though I am sure he is creating more as we speak. His numbers are low, but then, so are ours. Either he's telling us that he can turn us to his wishes, or it's an illusion to make us think that and he has Kuchiki imprisoned and essentially useless if he brings the fight to us. Regardless, it's meant to throw us into confusion and possibly division. Splitting our forces even more and going to Hueco Mundo at this point in time is the last thing we should do."

Urahara's calm analysis was completely at odds with Ichigo, Renji, Ikkaku and Yumichka's instincts. However, the exiled ex-captain had proven his ability time and again to be the only person capable of countering Aizen in their century long battle of chess.

Hitsugaya turned to connect his communicator to Soul Society to relay Urahara's analysis when suddenly his tracker started beeping frantically.

"Espada!"

Instantly bodies were in motion. Ichigo was gone, along with Ikkaku, Yumichka, and Renji, with half of the vizards torn between following and staying put.

"Dammit! Matsumoto, Hisagi, go after those fools but don't engage. Make sure they don't do anything stupid!" Hitsugaya resumed calling Soul Society, not waiting for their agreement.

Shinji waved the other vizards off lazily. "There seems to be two more reiatsu that just appeared."

Suddenly, Hitugaya was gone.

Shit shit shit.

Rukia and Hinamori's reiatsu just appeared with the Espada. Grimmjow to be more precise. What the hell was going on.

"Renji –"

"I know Ichigo. We're almost there."

Momo! Dammit, why won't twelfth division pick up the connection? What the hell is going on.

He could feel the others just ahead of him, they were arguing with Hisagi and Matsumoto as they headed for the Espada. None of their limiters were released, but they should be able to take the Espada easily, and Ichigo and Ikkaku had bankai. The trick would be getting the Espada alive.

Don't do anything stupid.

"Rukia! Hinamori!" Renji couldn't believe his two friends were standing calmly next to Grimmjow, who had each small shinigami loosely by the arm.

Rukia wouldn't meet his eyes and Hinamori looked dazed, like she did right after Aizen's defection. Hitsugaya had caught up with them and was now standing in front, much to Ichigo's annoyance. The spike in reiatsu had brought Ishida and Sado running on the offensive as well as Orihime.

"Hey! What kind of pussy wears bells in his hair?" Grimmjow smiled ferally.

"Madarame!" Hitsugaya's warning went unheeded as Ikkaku charged Grimmjow.

"You fucking bastard, I'm gonna wipe that shitgrin off your fucking face!" Ikkaku yelled as he released his shikai.

Grimmjow easily tossed Rukia and Hinamori to the side as Ikkaku attacked. Hinamori avoided Hitsugaya's gaze and looked past him to Matsumoto.

"Rangiku-san? Help me…" Her small voice trembled as it trailed off.

Matsumoto glanced at Hitsugaya questioningly before he gave her a curt nod, more than a little hurt that she asked for his lieutenant rather than him.

Matsumoto went over to her friend, wrapping a protective arm around her and pulling her close.

Rukia stumbled towards Orihime, holding her left arm awkwardly. A dark stain on her shihakushou.

"Kuchiki-san! Are you injured? Please don't move!" Orihime rushed to her friend and helped her lean against a building. Quickly she called on her shun shun rikka and engulfed Rukia in healing light.

"First bells, then feathers. What the hell kind of division are you guys from? Why ya dolling up?" Grimmjow laughed maniacally and easily threw Ikkaku to the ground.

"I've never seen anything more pathetic. Hardly worth a fight. Where's Ichigo?" Grimmjow challenged, folding his arms over his chest. Ikkaku was panting heavily, blood dripping into his good eye.

Ichigo moved to attack Grimmjow but Yumichka suddenly appeared in front of him and held up his hands.

"No, Ikkaku isn't done yet. Please don't interfere." Yumichka turned to look at Grimmjow impassively as he leaned down next to Ikkaku and grabbed the back of his shihakushou.

"Nah, Ulquiorra was right. Yer all nothing but trash." The blue haired espada stood up, hauling Ikkaku to his feet.

"Got another message for you shinigamis though." Grimmjow smiled again, charismatic and terrifying at the same time. He flicked something small and metallic in Hitsugaya's direction and another in Ichigo's direction. While they were distracted Grimmjow opened a garganta

Suddenly, voices started coming through Ichigo's communicator.

"Get to the Fourth!"

"It's nothing, I'm not hurt-"

"No, he's attacking Fourth! where's Soi Fon Taichou?"

Ichigo's communicator cut off as Hitsugaya's started.

"Hitsugaya-kun?"

Hitsugaya froze as the betrayer's voice came through the communicator.

"Where's Momo-chan?"f

Renji slowly turned to look where Orihime was healing Rukia, already knowing that neither girl would be there.

Hitsugaya frantically looked for his lieutenant and Hinamori, but neither woman was in sight.

"Where's Yumichka? Ikkaku?" Sado asked quietly.

"Dammit!" Hitsugaya hissed before he let himself give in to instinct and screamed until his throat felt raw, freaking nearly everyone present out.

Regaining his composure, he turned to the remaining group. Military training and his own preternatural control set in. Steeling himself for the inevitable protest, he mustered all the authority he had and very quietly commanded:

"Preservation of Soul Society is more important than any one person. We are completing this mission and going back to assist in Soul Society's defense."

For once, even Kurosaki knew when to keep his fucking mouth shut.

A/N: Hey, sorry for the lackluster chapter, I found it ALOT harder to write than any of the others and am still not happy with it, particularly the garbled POV switches. Also, seems like there was a bit of Ichigo bashing which wasn't my intent and this chapter and the next strays from being renruki centric before it gets back to them.

Preview: next chapter will show what is happening in Soul Society.