Summary: Nemu is caught in delirium, Ishida arrives in Soul Society.

11 Days Ago

Tezcatlipoca was furious. "What do you mean she's not snapping out of it?"

Patecatl accepted his responsibility for this situation. He gestured towards his patient.

"When she woke up this morning, she should have been awake and alert. Instead, she's still like this."

He waved his hands in from of the woman's staring sightless eyes.

Tezcatlipoca remembered what his best healer had said to them before they had begun to operate. "I thought you told me the potion was safe!"

Patecatl held his hands up. "It is! This almost never happens."

"Almost never?" The high priest shouted, "That's not the same as never, Patecatl."

"It was a calculated risk." The healer said. "Which would you prefer? The slight possibility of her being stuck in a trance or the near certainty of a stopped heart?"

He refrained from pointing out that the High Priest had insisted on working on her right away. Pointing fingers would not help anyone. He thought he had said too much already.

Tezcatlipoca sighed. "Is there an antidote?"

"No your holiness" Patecatl said, "There is no antidote, or counter agent. It simply wears off. In most cases, it opens people up to pleasant dreams and takes them outside of themselves for a while."

He frowned. "In her case it opened up a part of her mind she probably didn't want to see. Now she can't look away."

He looked down on the poor woman who stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Is there anything you can do?" Tezcatlipoca said.

Patecatl shrugged. "I can try a few things. There are stimulants that may help. I can try waking her up with music or lights. It's all theory though. I've never had to do it before."

Tezcatlipoca looked down on the patient. He had worked on her for hours cutting and draining strange substances from her body and her blood. Some of it had been pretty nasty. He had lost two acolytes, one who touched a red substance and one who breathed in fumes from a tiny amount of crystals. Their deaths had been slow and painful. They had taken great pains not to damage or injure her in any way. There weren't even any scars on her body to show what they had done. The energy it took to heal those wounds had been enormous. It was all to serve one purpose. He looked over to the healer.

"You know what's riding on her recovery." He turned to leave the room. "If you can't save her mind, at least save her body."

The Imperial line had to live on. Surely they could keep her alive long enough for that.

Patecatl raised his cup to his lips. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a drink. This was serious. He sketched out in his mind the treatments and therapies he would employ. If things went bad, it wouldn't be because he wasn't trying. He couldn't believe his potion had caused this to happen. As he was about to leave, he noticed her face looked a little flushed. He put his hand on her forehead. Did she have a fever?

Two Days Ago

The trip through the gate was uneventful. Considering how many times Ishida had risked life and limb to make similar trips, it was almost a disappointment. Following the people in front of him, he entered Soul Society and joined the group standing before a young man. He was small and slender with a tattoo over his left eye.

"Good evening sir." He said. "I am Rikichi. You don't have any bags to carry?"

Ishida saw the young man was already carrying Ichigo's wrapped up suit.

"I'm fine, I don't have anything." He said. "So where is the gate to this new dimension?"

"They're still working on it." Renji said. "It should be ready in the morning."

"In the morning?" Ishida replied. "You mean we're not going now?"

Renji smirked. "Hey, this isn't some half-assed amateur strike. We're going in with full Soul Society planning and support. You're finally going to see our true capability"

He stretched and yawned. "Right now, the plan calls for us to get a good night's sleep."

Ishida couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"But what about the captives? What about Nemu? Anything could be happening right now."

A voice behind him said. "Do not concern yourself. They are safe for now. You will be briefed in the morning."

Ishida turned around to see the regal visage of the Captain of the Sixth division, Kuchiki Byakuya.

Renji, Richiki and Rukia bowed low saying "Captain and "Ni-sama" respectively.

"Lieutenant Abarai," the Captain said, "You were supposed to inform our guests of the captives' status and what they should expect upon arrival before they left the real world."

Renji blushed with embarrassment. "Sir, I did as you instructed with everyone except Ishida-san. I asked someone else to do it for me since he was going across town to get him."

He shot Ichigo an ugly look.

"What?" Ichigo protested. "I told him the basics at least."

"The basics!" Renji replied. "He didn't even know we're not taking off until tomorrow!"

"Look you!" Ichigo started.

It would have been difficult for Captain Kuchiki to care less.

"Both of you shut up. Lieutenant Abarai, show our guests to their quarters. We have much to do tomorrow."

Rukia bowed to her adopted brother again. "Good night ni-sama. I will return to the thirteeth division barracks."

Suiting actions to words, she strode off towards her divisions headquarters and was soon around a corner and out of sight.

"Yeah, I'll be turning in too." Ichigo said. He gestured to the young shinigami carrying his suit. "Follow me Richiki." He started to follow Rukia.

The air around Byakuya started to shimmer.

"Kurosaki Ichigo. Where do you think you are going?"

Ichigo stopped, "Huh?" Everybody was staring at him. "Well Rukia said she was going back to the barracks, and I… uh…" he trailed off as he realized how bad that sounded. He finished up lamely. "Uh… nowhere?"

Byakuya's tone could have chilled a volcano.

"You have been provided quarters with my division. I suggest you go there, directly there, immediately."

Renji seized the opportunity to get them all away from his captain's wrath.

"Yes, uh, this way everybody, this way. Richiki, step lively, go, go!" Everyone followed Richiki towards the sixth division barrack.

Renji bowed to Byakuya before leaving.

"Have a good evening Captain." He said, then turned and left as fast as he could.

Byakuya stood in place without saying a word, watching them as they left. If he was keeping an eye on a particular red haired boy, it would have been hard to tell.

"Here you go guys." Renji waved his hand around to indicate the barracks room. "All the comforts of home."

The room had two bunk beds with thin coarse blankets and a small wardrobe.

"I would be staying here myself, but as a Lieutenant, I get my own room."

Richiki placed Ichigo's suit on one of the lower bunks.

"I will be across the hall if you gentlemen need anything. It's so exciting to be a part of an actual mission. Have a good night." He bowed and left.

"I'm leaving too. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Renji said. "We'll be getting up bright and early, so I wouldn't start any pillow fights."

Laughing at his own joke, Renji left for his room.

"I guess this bed is mine." Ichigo said as he went to the bunk where Richiki had placed his suit.

"I'll take this one." Ishida said, taking the other bottom bunk.

Chad said nothing and lifted himself on to the upper bunk over Ichigo. The bunk sagged and groaned dangerously.

"On second thought, I think I'll take this one."Ichigo went over to the other top bunk and climbed in. "Goodnight guys. I hope none of you snore."

Ishida sniffed. "The very idea."

Chad grunted and turned his body towards the wall.

"Ishida, can you get the light?" Ichigo asked.

"Get the light? What do you take me for?" Ishida replied.

"You're on the bottom. You don't have to climb like me and Chad do. Stop griping."

Ishida couldn't refute the logic, but he wasn't pleased about it. With bad grace, he stomped across the room and turned out the light.

"There, happy now?"

Ichigo was never one to pick up on sarcasm.

"Sure. Thanks Ishida. Goodnight."

Muttering under his breath, Ishida took off his boots. He put his glasses in his right boot to keep them safe. As he lay down on the bunk, he tried to put his irritation aside. Sleep was going to be a long time coming. He never in a million years would have thought he would be spending the night in shinigami barracks. It had all happened so fast. Shinigami were supposed to be his enemies. Nemu was the daughter of the shinigami he hated most. During their time together, she had hinted that she was responsible for truly vile acts that would horrify him if he knew. He had no doubt that was true. He was pretty sure it was not because she wanted to do them. He remembered her helpless on the ground as her so-called father kicked and beat her until blood streamed from her mouth as she cried out in agony. All because she had asked for help. It was the first time in his life he had wanted to kill something besides a hollow. That man raised her to be his assistant. If he told her to do something horrific, how could she say no? It made him angry to think about it. He wouldn't be able to sleep that way. He decided to think of other times. He tried to remember her face when she was with him. She sometimes looked sad. He had been careful to treat her with respect and be considerate of her feelings. It had been rewarding to see her open up and smile. He could almost see her face now. Her eyes were bright with wonder as he showed her around town. They talked easily and naturally as he explained things she had never encountered before. She told him fascinating things about shinigami lore he didn't know. In fact, is seemed to him that she held her hand out to him. He took it and she led him along a path. He saw they were going to the waterfall where he would go to get away from things. She stopped and turned to him, taking his other hand. She said something he couldn't hear. He leaned forward to hear her better. She also leaned forward and said it again. He still couldn't hear. He got closer, her face filling up his whole vision. He saw her lips move again. He drew even closer. A pillow hit him in the face.

"What the hell!" he sputtered.

"You were snoring!" Ichigo said. "I can't sleep when people are snoring."

"Well put some cotton in your ears, you jerk!"

The nerve of that guy! Ishida thought. He turned over on his side and tried to get back to sleep.

11 Days Ago

She stumbled down a dark tunnel being pushed and shoved by the hands of people she could not see. She could hear an angry growling noise coming from the direction she was walking. She exited the tunnel into a coliseum filled with indistinct figures who began to chant as she came into view.

"It's her." The voices said.

They got louder and louder as the chant swept through the crowd.

"It's her! It's her! IT'S HER!"

A harsh white light appeared in the center of the arena and she was shoved into it. She tried to shade her eyes from the glare and see who she was facing. The chanting voices crashed against her with an almost physical force.

"IT'S HER! IT'S HER! IT'S HER!"

She turned around within the light, confused and afraid. Suddenly, the voices stopped. A lone voice called out, she couldn't see where from.

" *uro***i N***, you have been brought before the council of your victims to face justice for your crimes against us. Do you have anything to say?"

She had heard her name, she was sure of it! What had it been? If only she knew who she was.

The voice thundered in her ears as the question was repeated.

"Do you have anything to say?"

"I'm sorry." She said. "I don't remember committing any crimes." Hoots of derisive laughter came from the stands. "If I have done anything, I can't remember."

"You can't remember me?" a man's voice said. "You skinned me alive, just to see how long I'd survive."

As he stepped into the light, she saw a walking cadaver, with no skin and his bones showing in places.

"What about me?" another voice said. "You cut out my eyes and ran me through a maze."

She turned to see a mutilated man enter the light.

A woman called out, "You put me in a box with poisonous gas!"

Another voice, "I was crushed by your machines!"

More and more people approached her, burned, torn, mutilated, all calling out her crime against them.

"I'm sorry." She cried out, "I can't remember any of this. I'm sorry for your pain, but I just don't remember!"

Hands began to reach out to her. Completely surrounded, she could not get away. First one then another hand grabbed onto her clothes and she could feel herself being dragged down.

"Stop, please!" she said. "I don't understand!"

Every direction she looked was now filled with the rage twisted features of badly wounded people who declared her a murderer. It was only a matter of time before she was torn to shreds.

"Vengeance!" The crowd chanted, "VENGEANCE!"

"Stop!" A man shouted over the crowd. "Stop this at once!'

The circle of angry faces looked away from her to where the voice was coming from. They parted to let him through. Approaching the circle, she could see an indistinct figure walking slowly. The light glinted off a medallion on his chest. It was a cross of some kind. As he came closer, she could see he was an old man. He had a kindly face with frizzy long hair and a mustache. He was dressed in brown robes with a cape. As he came close, he peered at her through his glasses.

"Do you remember me child?" he asked.

"No," she replied. "I'm sorry, but I do not."

She looked around at the people around her. For all the ones she could see, she knew there were hundreds more she could not, waiting in the shadows.

"Did I really do this? Are all these people my victims?

"I'm afraid so." The old man said as he came closer. "There's a lot of anger among them, a strong desire for revenge."

"And you?" she asked. "Did I also harm you? Are you also here for revenge?"

"No," he said, "you may have harmed me, but I want no revenge. I came to tell you I forgive you."

"Forgive me?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied, "I forgive you because you didn't know what you were doing. You did as you were told and as you were taught. You had no idea what you were being asked to do was wrong. You were as one asleep." He held out his hands. "Everyone, please. I cannot change how you feel. I can only ask you to try and forgive this woman. It was not her wish to do those things to you. She didn't know enough to refuse. Justice will come to those who deserve it. For now, let us go back."

He lowered his arms and stood patiently looking out over the crowd. First one, then another looked away. Some began to walk back into the shadows. More soon followed. The circle cleared leaving her alone with the old man. He turned back to her.

"Don't worry child. Someday this will all make sense to you." He began to walk away.

"Sir," She said. She waited for him to turn around. "Thank you. Thank you for helping me."

He smiled and walked back to her. He took her hand and held it between both off his.

"There is no need to thank me." He said, "I was glad to help. Seeing a sad face is unbearable to me."

Looking into his kind face, she couldn't help but to smile back. She noticed now that he was close enough that his robes were open in the front. Her smile faded at what she saw. His chest cavity was opened and completely empty. He had been totally eviscerated. And she remembered. An operating room. An equipment tray. Following orders. She remembered. She had done this to him. It was all true! SHE HAD DONE IT!

She was definitely feverish. Patecatl had been right to get some cloths and cold water. Placing a wet rag across her forehead, he picked up his healing stone and started working on completing his healing of her concussion. It should help.

"What is going on in there Lieutenant?" He said as he looked into her eyes. "What is it you see?"

Healing the body was something he could do. Healing the mind was not. How such a young woman could have demons in her mind that would put her in this state was beyond his understanding. If she couldn't break free, she would either be insane or dead.