"I don't have any idea what you're so upset about," Gin said crossing his arms, "I mean you didn't really expect Aizen to just let you walk in there did you?"

"I'd say there's a difference between walking in as you so put it and this," Byakuya said cooly.

"Oh see that's where you're wrong," Gin leaned forward, lacing his fingertips together and placing his chin on them, "see with Aizen there is no difference."

"Why are you referring to him in the present tense?" Byakuya asked, "he's dead."

"Tell me, do you really think that something like death will stop someone like Aizen Sosuke?" he asked.

"Why can you not give a simple reply?" Bykauya demanded, his patience wearing thin.

"My reason for being nice is gone," Gin said simply, his smile widening, "as is my reason for being wicked," he moved his fingers behind his head, "I'm like a ship without an anchor, bobbing in the waves."

Byakuya's lips pressed into a tighter line but that was the only outward indication of just how close he was coming to ripping off his Kenseikan and murdering Gin Ichimaru with it. Or maybe his scarf would be better. Either one was appealing so long as he never had to see that maniacle grin again. All of Soul Society had been stunned when Gin had been nothing short of distraught over Matsumoto's death. Apparently Hinamori had managed to bring him back to the way he used to be on some level. Frankly Byakuya wasn't sure which was worse. Frustrated his eyes found the papers that had been the source of all the madness. They were blue prints for Aizen's original idea of Las Noches, detailed blue prints. It seemed that the castle they were about to go into was embedded with enough Spiritual Power that it could essentially guard itself. Of course that was bad news for them considering they were the enemy it was guarding against. Not to mention it seemed that Aizen had managed to inspire a fair ammount of loyalty in enough Hollows to have it be a serious problem. All in all it looked as though there was a very high chance not all of them were going to be back.

"Captain Kuchiki."

He turned his head to see Soifon standing there.

"Captain Soifon," he replied formally

"Your presence has been requested by Vice Captain Kuchiki."

"Family squabble?" Gin asked innocently, "did the Ryoka boy finally confess true and undying love? I suppose now that he's dead it'll make things a whole lot easier."

Byakuya felt his fists clench but Soifon touched his hand and walked forward, placing the wrapped bundle she was carrying on the table. She opened it and exposed a very familiar Wakizashi. Gin's slitted eyes opened fractionally at the sight of Shinso.

"Now then," she said, "lets discuss these traps of Aizen's."

Break

"Well?!" everyone jumped to their feet as soon as Soifon exited, the bundle tucked under one arm.

"He said that the palace is only going to let 10 people with our level of power enter it," she said, "now, Aizen didn't think that Gin or Tousen would betray him but after the interwarring with the Espada he assumed that if anyone were too it would be one of them," she continued, "unfortunately Las Noches is currently in lock down."

"I can get us in," Hinamori said evenly, "I was able to fool the box so this should be like a really big box."

"Right," Soifon said, "well once we're inside it gets interesting," she pointed to a place on the blue print, "Aizen's office is at the center, unsuprisingly. Now the corridors are able to be moved around, ensuring that people are able to get where they're going. The problem is that only an Espada can manuver the corridors."

"We have four of them," Renji said.

"We have four Shinigami," Soifon corrected, "there's no guarentee that they'll be able to move anything."

"Shit," he muttered.

"Yes," she agreed, "and in addition to unmovable corridors we've also got the fact that this is Aizen's office. And, like most untrusting dictators, he's got it locked," she sighed, "now according to Gin the lock works similar to a Captain's Lock except for the fact that you need a physical key which is divided into four parts and put in different places in the hallways," she looked at the rest of them, "which means that we've got to split up, find the four parts of the key and get it to the office, find the notes and get the hell out of there as fast as we can."

"The fastest way would be to split into five two-man teams," Byakuya said.

"Right," Soifon said.

"I'm going with Hinamori," Hitsugaya said, his voice making it clear that it was non-negotiable.

"Okay," Soifon looked at them, "you two will go to the office since Hinamori seems to be the one with enough of Aizen's Spiritual Pressure to get the door open," she looked at them. Orihime whispered something, her eyes watching a spot on the map where one of the key fragments was, "what?" Soifon asked.

"That's the room I was kept in," she said, her voice quiet but her eyes shown with determination when she raised her head, "I'll go there," she pointed at the spot.

"I will as well," Ulquiorra said, "I know that wing of Las Noches very well."

"Alright," Soifon said before Ichigo could open his mouth.

"I'll go there," Nel sang out cheerfully pointing to a spot on the map, "wanna come?" she asked looking at Renji who nodded, "cool!"

"I am familiar with this tower," Halibel said pressing a finger to the space, "and any possible traps it might contain."

"You and Captain Kuchiki will go there," she said. Both nodded seriously, "that means you and I get the labs carpet," she said. Grimmjow glared but nodded, "the rest of you are going to establish a perimiter around Las Noches. It seems that Aizen managed to inspire loyalty in a few Hollows so we should plan for a fight," she looked at them seriously, "we're leaving in an hour or so, I suggest you say your goodbyes."

One by one they filed out until the only two left in the room were Grimmjow and Soifon.

"Got no-one to say goodbye too?" the former 6th Espada smirked from where he was leaning back in the chair.

"No," Soifon said curtly, her eyes going back to the map. He chuckled, "what?" she demanded after a moment.

"Just suprised," he said, "on the battlefeild you seemed rather enamored with that cat chick," he laced his fingers behind his head.

"Not anymore," Soifon snapped.

"Oh really?" he leaned forward as though that was the most interesting thing he'd heard in weeks, "why not?"

"Why don't you go find someone else to ammuse you?" Soifon replied angrily, "I'm sure there's someone at the 11th Division you can amuse yourself with."

"I already worked my way through them," he said, on his feet instantly towering over her, "I'm looking for more of a," his grin widened, "of a challenge."

"While I would love to beat that smirk off your face," Soifon said, "I wouldn't want to risk making you more useless when we get to Las Noches," she turned to go only to have him manuever himself in front of her, "what do you want now?" she demanded, frustration lacing her voice.

"What's your name?"

"Soifon, Captain Soifon," she said, like it was a challange.

"I didn't die yesterday," he replied.

"No, just became a Shinigami," she replied raising her chin.

"So Soifon isn't your real name," he grinned like it was a victory. She glared angrily, "come on, you can tell me," he continued, his voice low and tauntingly sweet. She smiled coldly in return.

"Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi," she replied, the Zanpakto coming to life, "do you know why we're going to the posin labs?" she asked, "because I've been a guard most of my life and any poison's I don't have some kind of immunity against I can stab myself with Suzumebachi, removing them instantly," she tapped the point against his skin, "it would be a wise decision not to alienate me," she finished.

"No alienation intended," he replied with a smirk, "I just like to know the name of the people I'm dying with."

She glared and turned, walking to the door. He crossed his arms and shrugged, unwilling to give her any kind of satisfaction. She stopped in the doorframe.

"Shaolin Fon," she said finally, "and if you tell anyone those traps are the least of your worries."

"Huh," he grinned, "hey Shaolin," she whirrled around, her eyes flashing and barely managed to catch the bundle contianing Gin's Zanpakto that he threw at her, "don't want to leave that lying around."

Break

It was a rare week when Byakuya found himself in front Hisana's grave twice but he figured that the week had already been so strange it made an odd kind of sense. Byakuya had never seen the sense in talking to someone who could not hear him. He had never talked to Hisana's grave, never stood there and wept. He had wept once for her, just after her death, when he was unprepared for the agony that soared through him. He had allowed himself that moment of weakness just as she breathed her last. He wished he could have shown it sooner, he wished he could have found the words to tell her that in his own way he had loved her.

"I don't know what to do."

His voice was soft and almost unrecognizable. He was stunned. He hadn't realized he had spoken the words until they had left his mouth. He had avoided her grave in the time of his greatest conflict when Rukia was to be executed. Every flash of anything that reminded him of her he had hidden away and refused to look at. Even now he was disgusted with how he had acted. One of his hands rose on its own accord to cover the slightly raised skin on his chest where he had taken the blade for Rukia. It hadn't been enough, he knew it could never be enough. He doubted that after his actions even if Hisana could hear him she wouldn't listen. It was a pity because at the moment he had never needed her guidance more.

"Brother."

Anyone else would have jumped. Being Byakuya and a Kuchiki he allowed his eyes to widen fractionally but by the time he turned to face Rukia he was composed. She was shifting her weight and looked rather guilty which meant she had either done something very brave or very stupid. Given the status of her relationship with Isshin's son, he had a feeling that it was probably closer to the latter. Then his eyes found the simple band around her left finger. His eyes narrowed fractionally, something she missed since her own were locked on the ground.

"I do not recall giving Kurosaki permission to ask for your hand in marriage," he said, his voice unreadable.

"No," she said looking up at him, her eyes bright, "but it would not make a difference."

She looked so much like Hisana in that moment that he felt his heart break all over again. The same quiet determination shown through her eyes, the same defiance that her sister had shown time and time againwhen the Kuchiki elders fought to separate them. Even when he had proposed he had warned her. He had given her time to leave with her dignity but she had refused him. She said she needed him, he had never really told her how much he needed her.

"No," he agreed finally, "the rules have never made much of a difference to him."

"And it won't if you put Ichigo back in the Fourth Division again," she replied stubbornly.

"He opened his own wounds," Byakuya replied evenly, "I brought him back to ensure he was alright."

Rukia huffed and crossed her arms. Byakuya fought down the urge to smile. He wondered if Hisana had lived, if they had children, would he feel this way? He had thought he had to protect Rukia, even after his actions almost got her killed. Now she was, well, she was an adult. A Vice Captain, an engaged woman. He felt pride well up in him, even if she was sometimes too open with her emotions.

"Weddings in the Kuchiki manor usually take place in the south gardens," he stated. Her eyes widened in almost comical suprise, "during the evenings. When you have chosen a date you should tell the staff a week or so beforehand to make preparations. As my sister you are expected to invite members of the other Noble Houses and the Captains as a formality."

"Brother I—" she looked up at him, her eyes shining once more, "I did not expct you too—" she stopped when his hands rested on her shoulders.

"You may become Rukia Kurosaki," he said, "but you were Rukia Kuchiki before that."

She threw herself into his chest, wrapping her arms around him. He would have chastised her for such a blatent display of emotion but then he remembered the split second before she was to be killed by Gin Ichimaru and he could not bring himself too. Instead he wrapped his arms around her, his white Captain's robe surrounding her.

"Come back saftely," she whispered into his chest.

He could not bring himself to give her false hope. Instead he gently held her at an arm's length and picked up the bundle contaning his scarf and the Kenseikan before, pressing it into her arms.

"Brother—" horror contorted her features.

"I leave you as interm head of the Kuchiki Clan," he said, "I have left my orders with the Elders. If I do not return I name you, Rukia Kuchiki, Vice Captain of the Thirteenth Division, my sister, as the 29th Head of the Kuchiki Clan."

"I would not wish that for the world," she whispered before tightening the bundle to her chest, "but if you do not return I accept it."

"Thank you," he said before she pulled him into another desperate embrace.

Break

"So four Espada, three drifters and a shitload of Shinigami walk into Las Noches—"

"If you continue this rediculous joke I will kill you," Ulquiorra cut him off as he fastened the cloak around his shoulders.

"You're no fun," Grimmjow muttered as he did up his own, "I don't know how that woman puts up with you."

"Her name is Orihime," Ulquiorra corrected automatically.

He realized his mistake about the same instant Grimmjow did. For a moment they were silent, his eyes wide with horror and Grimmjow's wide with shock. Then Grimmjow's face split into a grin. Ulquiorra tightened his lips as he doubled over laughing. He frowned though, the laughter was not malicious but rather very amused. Grimmjow was obviously in a very strange, very good mood. Odd considering they were about to go to what was probably their deaths. When he finally got himself under some semblance of control he straitened up and looked at Ulquiorra.

"You couldn't do this when we were in Las Noches the first time?" he laughed, "me and Apache totally had a bet going, you could've made me some money."

"Do what precisely?" Ulquiorra asked, one of his eyebrows arching in confusion.

"Fall in love with Orihime," Grimmjow replied as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What?" he demanded, his entire body going completely numb.

Fall in love?

Trash.

Stop it!

With that insuferable woman?

If you do not eat I will force feed you

Who was so damn confusing it made his head spin. Always talking about her heart, her humanity. At first he wanted to choke it out of her. Then he wanted to make sure it never left.

I'm not scared

No, not scared of anything. Espcially not of him.

When you look at me what do you see?

He didn't know and he had a feeling that Grimmjow's comments weren't helping him to figure it out.

"Hey!" a hand was waved in front of his eyes, "soul search later, I'd like to make it to Las Noches before becoming decorations for the 2nd Division," Grimmjow snapped.

"Grimmy are you gonna be carpets?" Nel asked with a grin from where she stood in the doorway wearing similar garb, "'cause I don't think you'd be very good at that."

"You should go tell that to Soifon," Grimmjow said tightly.

"Okay!" Nel said brightly before Grimmjow grabbed the back of her cloak.

"I wasn't serious!" he shouted.

"You looked serious to me," Nel said twisting around so that they were facing each other, "I bet she thinks your cute, even if you're an asshole."

"Cute? Him?" Halibel raised an eyebrow in diseblief before turning to Ulquiorra, "wide eyed vacant stare, unresponsive, what did you do to him?" she demanded turning to Grimmjow.

"I didn't do anything," he said holding up his hands defensively, "I might have pointed out his feelings for a certain orange haired ex-prisoner but its not like I attacked him—" he frowned, "again."

"And how did you know of his feelings?" she asked coldly.

"I called her woman and he corrected me," he said.

"Oh my," Halibel said, suprise written all over her face.

"Ulqui's in love!" Nel sang before the other two former Espada smacked their hands over her lips, "mmph?"

"You do not mention this," Halibel said, her eyes serious, "is that clear?" Nel nodded.

"Make her swear," Grimmjow hissed. Hablibel looked at Nel expectantly. The green haired Shinigami gave a weak smile and raised a hand, extending her pinky finger.

"What is this?" Halibel demanded.

"Its a Pinky Swear," Grimmjow snapped.

"Come again?"

"Pinky Swear," he sighed, "you hook your finger around hers and then you swear," he said.

Halibel's face made it clear that she was not amused with this theory but none the less she hooked her much darker pinky around Nel's own didget and swore.

"That goes for all of you," Halibel said looking at them, "we know, better than anyone, what Aizen is capable of. We cannot let any emotional attachements get in the way. We are all survivors, something we've proven time and again. We cannot let Aizen kill us."

They all nodded before slowly going to where they were to meet the rest of the Shinigami.