Orihime wandered through the hallways, getting to know her way around, and hoping familiarity would erase her bad memories of this place. As she explored, her mind drifted to her favourite shinigami. She had been worried when Kurosaki-Kun and Kuchiki-San had come back to Urahara's shop holding hands, but they hadn't actually said they were together, Ichigo had nodded at everyone, but that could have just been a greeting, and lots of friends hold hands, and she hadn't seen them actually do anything yet. She nodded to herself; she still has a chance… she hopes.

Tomasu couldn't help but notice the suspicious stares, it was understandable, to be honest, he didn't understand why Kurosaki-Sama had accepted him so easily, one minute he was an officer in the gotei 13, the next he was staying with Kurosaki Ichigo in Las Noches.

It was perfectly understandable that they were suspicious of his new loyalty, but it still made him uncomfortable. Truthfully, he was angry at himself for believing soul society's lies, and angry at them for ruining Ichigo's image. The man was his hero.

Tomasu was terrible at kido, so he had always dropped out of the shinigami academy, never lasting more than a year. But Ichigo had shown the whole of soul society that you don't need to be good at kido to be a good shinigami, he had taken on four lieutenants and two captains without using a single kido.

So Tomasu had rejoined the academy, and graduated after two years on his sword skills alone, and because he had an abnormally strong connection to his Zanpakuto, he had achieved bankai in just five years training, while still at the academy, something no-one had ever done before. And it was all thanks to Ichigo. And soul society had turned everyone, including him, against Ichigo with vicious lies, with some even calling him the second Aizen.

He remained lost in his thoughts until he bumped into the man himself, "Oh, sorry Kurosaki-Sama, I was lost in my thoughts."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow, "Sama? Just call me Ichigo."

"Alright then, Ichigo, I can't thank you enough for letting me stay here."

Ichigo smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, "it's no problem, how are you settling in?"

"Fine, fine, everyone's still a bit suspicious of me, but that's to be expected."

Ichigo nodded, he had anticipated that, "I thought they might, don't worry, they'll come around, they've all just gotten over a huge betrayal, they're just a bit wary."

Tomasu nodded and hesitated before saying, "I have to ask, why did you accept me so easily?"

Ichigo shrugged, "not sure, I just went with my instincts." at that moment, an out of breath Yoruichi appeared.

Ichigo was worried, "Yoruichi-San, what's wrong? Is it Hanatarou?"

She shook her head, "no, his execution is in thirty days, he's fine for now, it's Keigo, Mizuiro and Tatsuki."

Now Ichigo was really worried, "what about them?"

Yoruichi had regained her breath, "soul society is going after them in order to use them against you, and they're sending thirty of the stealth force to collect them."

Ichigo nearly shouted, "What! When?"

Yoruichi looked him dead in the eyes and just said, "Now."

Ichigo went pale, "Yoruichi-San, fetch Nel and meet me in Urahara's lab, Tomasu, come with me." they both nodded and headed off to their destinations, and Yoruichi noticed that Nel was the closest one to them who would be able to keep up with her and Ichigo, the kid's Reiatsu sensing abilities were getting much better.

They were all quickly assembled in Urahara's lab, apparently Yoruichi must have told him to ready another garganta on her way back from soul society, because he was ready to open one the moment Yoruichi and Nel arrived. Ichigo quickly thanked Urahara, who gave him an earpiece to contact the scientist when they were ready to come back.

They proceeded through the black abyss of the garganta, and rushed through the darkness, Yoruichi and Nel in front making a path for Ichigo and Tomasu. As a result of their haste to get there as soon as possible, they soon arrived in the world of the living.

After asking Yoruichi to check, Ichigo was relieved to find that the stealth force hadn't arrived yet. Ichigo analysed the place they had come out in, and quickly recognised the area.

Keigo and Mizuiro were furthest away, with Tatsuki being in the centre. Luckily all three were at home. Ichigo considered sending Yoruichi or Nel to get Keigo, quickly deciding against it, for obvious reasons. He also realised that neither Keigo or Mizuiro were likely to trust Tomasu.

He quickly decided on a plan and turned around to tell the others, "Okay, Yoruichi-San, you go get Mizuiro, I'll get Keigo, Tomasu and Nel, you guys go to Tatsuki's house and we'll all meet up there, got it?" Tomasu and Nel both looked at him confused, and Nel asked, "Where is Tatsuki's?"

Ichigo slapped his forehead, why hadn't he thought of that? "Okay, sense the three strongest reiatsu in Karakura, besides ours, got them?" they nodded, "Tatsuki's is the second strongest, alright?" they nodded again.

Just as Ichigo was about to Shunpo away, he felt a senkaimon open in the distance, and he furrowed his eyebrows, "no-one's coming out of it"

Yoruichi shook her head, "yes they are, the stealth force are experts at suppressing their Reiatsu, we have to hurry." and with that, they separated.

Ichigo reached Keigo's house without incident, which worried him. He knew his friends could take care of themselves, but he was still apprehensive. He climbed through an open window into Keigo's house, and immediately wished he hadn't, as he had entered Keigo's bedroom, he had seen something no-one should ever see their friend doing.

"DUDE! KNOCK BEFORE YOU ENTER SOMEONE'S BEDROOM! DON'T JUST COME STRAIGHT THROUGH THE…w-window." Keigo screamed at him, and Ichigo sincerely wished he had come through the front door and shouted for him.

"look Keigo, I'm sorry, but I'm in kind of a hurry here, you're in danger and I need to get you out of here."

Keigo's eyebrow twitched. "What the hell dude! You rescue us from some creepy bug guy, then you disappear for like a week without a word, and then you come storming in here saying I'm in danger!"

"Keigo for fucks sake just pack your stuff and come with me! Please." the last word he added with such a pleading look in his eye that Keigo couldn't help but simply nod.

"okay Ichigo, I'll come, but you are explaining everything later, understand?" Ichigo nodded back in response, and Keigo was about to grab a suitcase when Ichigo noticed a flare of reiatsu, and frowned.

"Shit, Tomasu's in a fight." he noticed Keigo slowly packing and sighed, "Keigo, essentials only please, we have to hurry." all he got was a glare in response, however, he couldn't help but feel a bit smug when Keigo hurried up slightly, putting aside the manga he was about to pack.

Urahara wandered through the lab, keeping himself occupied while he waited for Kurosaki-Kun's call. The lab intrigued him, every lab had a few hidden rooms, but this one was completely cloaked in mysteries. Every few hours he was discovering something new, and he had made it his mission to know everything about it by next week.

He noticed a very slight difference in the brickwork of the wall he was examining, and smirked as he pushed it, triggering the hidden catch. A door sized portion of the wall slid away like a cliché human horror movie. He walked through and stared in awe at the facilities he had uncovered. well he thought, that's one problem solved.

Tomasu and Nel had gotten to Tatsuki's safely, and Tomasu had opened the door to shout Tatsuki's name. He was interrupted however by a foot hitting his face.

After he had quickly shouted that he was a friend of Ichigo's, Tatsuki had stopped pulling back for a punch and reluctantly apologised. She had let him and Nel in, and they had proceeded to explain to her that she was in danger, and she had to come with them.

Tatsuki was still understandably suspicious when Nel saw a flicker of motion outside. She went to the window and gulped, "Tomasu, you may wanna have a look at this."

He moved to the window, and immediately discerned the source of Nel's discomfort. Poised outside were thirty Amitskudo, and one of them shouted "we know you're in there, come out with your hands up."

Tomasu turned to Nel, smiling, "they're scared of us, that's good."

Nel frowned, "what makes you think they're scared?"

He smirked, "simple, they announced themselves. Amitskudo never make their presence known to an enemy unless they're scared. Nel, how are you at group battles?"

She shrugged, "not great, I'm better at one on ones."

He nodded, "okay then, I'll go out there and fight them, as I'm good at group battles. You stay in here and guard Tatsuki, just in case any of them manage to get past me. That okay with you?" she nodded in response, and he stepped out.

He unsheathed his Zanpakuto, and watched the Amitskudo carefully as he said, "infect, Kurushimeru.' his blade transformed into his black scythe, and he shunpoed forwards, inflicting a shallow wound on one of his opponents.

He saw the blood flying through the air and grinned, one down. He spoke the last words that shinigami would ever hear, "destroy, Kurushimeru." and with that simple phrase, the virus he had infected his opponent with activated, and the man was disintegrated from the inside as his cells were broken down.

He watched the eyes of his remaining opponents for weakness. They would have been briefed on his Zanpakuto's ability, that it could infect people with a virus the moment it draws blood. But reading about it and watching your comrade disintegrate before your very eyes are two different things.

He finally saw a small flicker in one of his enemy's eyes, and he smiled as he pounced on his victim, like a viper attacking it's prey.

He surveyed the scene in front of him, counting the bodies and ash piles, thirty. They were all dead, he smirked and was about to go back inside the house when a senkaimon opened a few feet away, and out stepped the squad two captain.

Soi-Fon looked at him with a cold gaze, before looking at her fallen men. "impressive Tomasu, a shame you decided to turn traitor, we were just about to approve your captaincy.

He glared at her in turn, he did not regret his decision. He readied himself to fight her, and was about to strike when Yoruichi and Ichigo appeared to his left, carrying, he assumed, Mizuiro and Keigo.

Soi-Fon's eyes widened at the sight of her mentor, as she set down the human she was carrying. Soi-Fon then noticed Ichigo and considered opening a senkaimon and escaping, when Yoruichi shunpoed over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Soi-Fon looked up into the eyes of the person she cared for more than anything and anyone in the world, and she was surprised to see Yoruichi looking down at her with sadness and tenderness in her eyes.

"Soi-Fon, one hundred years ago I fled from soul society, a fugitive, for helping a friend escape an execution. To this day, I still do not regret it. There is one thing, however, that I do regret. I did not take you with me."

Soi-Fon's eyes widened at this, and Yoruichi was smiling down at her, eyes glistening, "just a few days ago, I did something similar, I fled soul society once again, to help Ichigo, and again I do not regret doing so. However, I don't plan on making the same mistake twice."

Soi-Fon could barely believe what she was hearing, while Yoruichi could feel a great weight being lifted, she had wanted to say these words since the moment she had been forced to flee again, with no time to talk to her student.

"Soi-Fon, will you come with me, to Hueco Mundo?" the small captain looked up at her master, eyes brimming with tears of joy and was extremely annoyed when Ichigo interrupted.

"actually, Yoruichi-San, I meant to tell you. It wasn't just me that was going to be executed, everyone who had ever helped me was on the execution list, including you." the eyes of both females widened at this, and Soi-Fon was outraged, how dare they try to hurt Yoruichi-Sama!

Soi-Fon looked back at Yoruichi, and nodded. "Okay, I'll come." Yoruichi grinned, and leant down, kissing the small captain.

Ichigo was surprised at this, especially when Soi-Fon reciprocated. Then he remembered Urahara's amusement when questioned about his and Yoruichi's relationship. He noticed Tatsuki's door opening, and out walked Tatsuki and Nel.

Ichigo suddenly realised that they were all here, and had better get back to Hueco Mundo before reinforcements arrive. Luckily Yoruichi and Soi-Fon separated at that moment, with the former grinning and the latter blushing, and Ichigo called Urahara on the communicator, "Urahara-San, can you open the garganta now?"

Urahara replied happily that he would, and Ichigo wondered what the hell he sounded so amused about. The garganta opened, and the humans stared at it in wonder. After Ichigo had assured them that it was perfectly safe, they cautiously walked through, with Yoruichi and Soi-Fon taking point, in order to create a path for the rest of them.

It was about three minutes before Tatsuki asked, "so Ichigo, what the fuck is going on?" she heard Ichigo sigh in response.

This is gonna take a while, thought Ichigo, "I suppose I'd better start at the beginning, what do you know about soul reapers?"

"…so then they arrested me, and sentenced me and all my friends to execution. And when I escaped, and we all went to Hueco Mundo, they went after you guys to try to use you as hostages!" all three of them gasped.

"those assholes!" Keigo exclaimed, and for once Tatsuki agreed. Ichigo had been through so much, he had put his trust in this soul society, and they had betrayed him. She put a hand on his shoulder, and he smiled at her.

"Thanks Ichigo." she said

"no problem, anytime." he replied, rubbing his head.

It had taken them much longer to get back through the garganta to Hueco Mundo, owing to the need for them to slow down for Tatsuki, Mizuiro and Keigo. As a result, Ichigo had just finished explaining when they saw the exit.

They walked out, and Urahara was there, ready to greet them, "So, I see the mission was a success, it would seem we have one more recruit we didn't expect! How are you Soi-Fon?"

Soi-Fon glared at him in response, and Yoruichi chuckled, "you two will never get on, will you?" and with that the new couple walked out of the room.

Ichigo noticed the clock on the wall, it was much later than he thought. "Tomasu, Nel, could you do me a favour and find Tatsuki, Mizuiro and Keigo rooms, I have something I need to do."

They both nodded, Tomasu saying "sure thing" and Nel answering with a cheerful "no problem Ichigo!" and he smiled his thanks.

However, before he was able to leave, Urahara addressed him, "Kurosaki-kun, when your free, I have something important I discovered today that I need to show you." Ichigo simply nodded again, assuring Urahara that he would visit tomorrow.

Tomasu picked up Tatsuki and Keigo's luggage, and Nel picked up Mizuiro's. Then something occurred to Tomasu, and he turned to Tatsuki. "wait a minute, when the hell did you pack your stuff? When I left you were still dead suspicious of us."

Tatsuki looked a bit embarrassed, "well, when you were fighting, I noticed that you had the same look on your face as Ichigo did when he saved me from that Aizen guy, and I decided to trust you."

Keigo and Mizuiro looked surprised at this, and Tomasu shrugged nonchalantly, though secretly he was pleased to be compared to Ichigo. "oh, okay then." He turned around and kept walking, and they soon came to some rooms that were empty. "right, there's a bunch of rooms here, pick one you like and unpack your stuff, toilets just down there, main hall's at the end of the corridor on your right, my room is just down the hall if you need me, and Nel's room is two doors down from mine. Any questions?"

The three humans shook their heads, and while Mizuiro quickly chose a room, Tatsuki and Keigo got locked in a debate about who should get the biggest room. A little way down the corridor Nel turned to Tomasu, and said "didn't you only get here a few hours ago, how the hell do you know this place so well?"

He shrugged, and answered, "I have a perfect memory, I remember everything no matter how obscure or irrelevant. Gets a bit annoying but it does come in useful." Nel's eyebrows raised in surprise, that was impressive.

Ichigo walked into his bedroom, and though it was dark, he immediately discerned two things, Rukia was on his bed, and there was a piece of paper on his desk. Rukia looked up as she heard the door open, and smiled.

"the note of the captains is on the desk Ichigo, do you want to read it now, or later?" Ichigo suddenly noticed something he hadn't registered before, now that his eyes had adjusted to the lower light levels. Rukia was on his bed. Naked.

"later"

A/N yup, there's a lemon next chapter! :) let me know what you think of the overhaul, how else you think i can improve, and anything else on your mind. feel free to message me if you have any questions, i won't bite. much.