Summary: Ishida and Nemu find a way out.

"Be still." Nemu said.

She carefully reached out to Ishida's face with the tweezers. Working them under the flap of skin on the cut to Uryuu's cheek she found the tiny shard of obsidian and gently pulled it out. He winced slightly, his eyes staring sightlessly at her without his glasses. At best, she would be a fuzzy blob to him.

"Got it." She said. "You were saying?"

She dropped the volcanic glass in a small cup she had found.

"So then she pulled out a piece of paper and said you had missed three play dates already." He said.

Nemu smiled slightly. She should have guessed Yachiru would miss her. There were few people she could play with in Seretai.

"I'll have to make it up to her when we get back." She said

The jewelry and headdress she had worn had been casually discarded in a pile by the wall. She had wiped the makeup off as best she could. As she had only been stunned, it didn't take much healing from Hanataro for her to feel better. Uryuu had tied up the high priest and his follower using strips from their capes. Since they were obviously trapped in the underground chamber for now, Nemu had insisted Uryuu receive medical attention before they decided on their next move. He sat on the ground stripped to the waist as Hanataro worked on the gash on his shoulder. It had been worse than Uryuu had thought. Borrowing some of Hanataro's instruments, Nemu was working on the smaller injuries. She placed her hand on his cheek.

"This might feel a little strange." She told him.

Her hand glowed. Under her palm, she could feel as the skin and muscle knit itself back together. Soon, the wound was completely healed.

"There." She said as she removed her hand. "Not even a scar."

If Uryuu noticed her hand had lingered for just a moment on his face, he gave no sign. She carefully picked up his glasses from the floor and put them on his face. His eyes regained focus and met hers.

"Thank you." He said as he rubbed the now healed spot. "That's the one thing Quincys never developed. High speed healing techniques."

"Is there anything else I can fix?" She asked.

Uryuu adjusted his glasses. "No, I'm fine now."

"Your hand." She said.

"What? Oh, that. It's nothing."

Uryuu's knuckles were split open and bloody from knocking out the priest earlier.

"Give it here." She ordered. "Archers need their hands. You may have cracked a bone."

"I'm sure it's OK." He replied.

She didn't ask again. Taking Uryuu's hand, she held it between her palms. In the glow of her healing spell, she saw Uryuu face relax as he allowed her to work on his hand She ignored how loud her heart was in her chest. She was merely being thorough in ensuring her rescuer's well being. It wasn't her fault his hand needed attention. She still couldn't believe he was here, really here in front of her. It wasn't a dream or a hallucination or wishful thinking. He had come for her.

"It was most unusual for Soul Society to stage a rescue operation like this, especially if the second division failed." She said. "I didn't expect anyone to come for me after the first week."

She looked up from her healing. "While I am grateful to everyone who came to save us, I have to ask. How did you get involved?"

Uryuu glanced off to the side, looking a little embarrassed. "Well, Ichigo thought Chad and me might be useful, so he stopped by to ask us if we wanted to help out. It was either this or spend the weekend sewing"

Nemu smiled. "You value me more than sewing. I'm flattered."

Uryuu gave a low, quiet laugh at her little joke as he turned his head to look at her. Their eyes met and held. She really was lovely when she smiled. He liked seeing her happy. He also would have liked a warning before the pain lanced through his shoulder.

"Ahhhrrgh! That hurts!" He ground out between gritted teeth.

"Sorry" Hanataro said. "I'm bringing some nerve endings back on line. Don't mind me."

Uryuu wasn't sure that was possible. His shoulder felt like it was on fire. He turned back to Nemu. He noticed that her hands had stopped glowing.

"Um, I think my hand is done." he said.

Nemu started a bit and looked at his hand as though she had forgotten all about it.

"Sorry Ishida-san. Yes, you are healed now."

He flexed his hand after she let go, still warm from her touch. There was nothing to show it had ever been injured.

Nemu sat back on her heels, looking downward as her mind raced. After Hanataro finished up Uryuu's shoulder, he would need no more tending. She had no reason to touch him anymore. She had so many things she wanted to say with no idea how to start. All the conversations she had in her mind of what she would say to him if she ever saw him again fled her memory, leaving nothing but a feeling of awkwardness. As she struggled to come up with something to say, Uryuu broke the silence first.

"Uh, Nemu-san?" He said.

She glanced up at him.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry I didn't try to contact you. You know… after you left."

Nemu glanced away suppressing a grin.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"I was thinking of saying that exact same thing." She replied. "I kept thinking I should have sent you a message once in a while, just to let you know how I was doing."

"Why didn't you?" he asked.

Nemu took a moment before answering.

"I thought I would never see you again. I had to manipulate circumstances to be with you last time. The opportunity to visit the real world doesn't come up very often. I thought it best if I made a clean break."

Uryuu grinned. "Looks like fate had other plans. Here we are."

Nemu smiled back. "We do seem to keep running into each other. I actually took this assignment because it took me far away from the real world. I thought I should avoid bothering you anymore. I didn't succeed it seems. So why didn't you contact me?"

This time it was Uryuu who needed a minute to think.

"Right up until,…you know, I didn't have any idea you, uh, had feelings for me. I didn't know what I should do. To tell the truth, I guess I was just too chicken to see what happens next."

Nemu blushed a little. "I really am sorry for that. It was not right for me to force intimacy on you. I know you can't make someone to return your feelings. At that time, I thought I was leaving for good and…I just thought I would regret it if I never at least tried."

"So that was your goal the whole time?" Uryuu said with a grin.

Nemu gasped. "No, Ishida-san, please don't think that's all I wanted. I was legitimately studying you. I really wanted to get to know you better."

Uryuu decided to stop teasing her. "That's not always a good thing. I'm sure after a while you saw how boring I am."

"No," Nemu replied, "After I got to know you, that's why I wanted to kiss you."

Uryuu looked stunned. Nemu couldn't believe she just said that either. It was true. She had found him handsome and brave before, but in the short time they had been together, she saw he was also thoughtful and kind, thinking of others and willing to help them in his own peculiar way. Even someone he should have considered an enemy. It wasn't like her to be so bold with her feelings, but she felt she had to tell him everything now. It was time. She would unburden herself of her greatest fear. She would tell him exactly how she had harmed him, how she had contributed to the fall of the Quincy. She would probably lose his friendship. He would probably hate her. It had to be done. He deserved to know. If she lost him forever, that was justice. For his sake and the sake of her own soul, she would do this as a small start on paying for her sins.

"Ishida-san, I told you before that I have done many things for the twelfth division. Things you may find unforgivable." She said

"Yes." Uryuu replied. He drew closer, leaning in to hear.

"Well, I …." She looked over his left shoulder. "Seventh seat Yamada, would you like to move closer so you can hear?"

Looking to his left, Uryuu could see Hanataro's face was almost right next to him as he leaned over his shoulder.

"Oh, uh, sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to pry!"

He sprung to his feet blushing furiously and waving his hands in front of him in a conciliatory gesture. He spoke very rapidly.

"Uh, Ishida-san, you'll have to wear those bandages, but you should be able to use that shoulder now. Uh, tell you what, I'll go look at the prisoners."

They watched as Hanataro picked up his kit and scrambled quickly over to their captives.

Uryu turned back to Nemu. "You were saying?" he asked.

Nemu tried to continue, but it was too late. Her courage had fled.

"It was nothing." She said. "I'm going to look around."

She turned away from Uryuu and got up to walk around the chamber.

"Nemu-san?" Uryuu said to her back.

"Yes." She replied.

"When you threw that thing to me, did you call me Uryuu?" He asked.

Nemu looked at the ground and blushed. Now that she thought about it, she had used his name familiarly in the heat of the moment.

"I'm sorry, Ishida-san. I won't do that again."

"Well, it's alright if you want to." He replied.

She could feel her face heating up. She couldn't face him just now.

"Thank you…Uryuu-kun."

She hurried off to the far corner of the chamber.

Uryuu got dressed, carefully checking his equipment as he did so. He took extra care placing the black obsidian object inside his tunic. He felt someone's angry gaze on him the whole time. Looking across the room, he was not surprised to see the prisoners glaring at him. He walked over to where Hanataro was healing the younger man's split lip.

"How are they doing, Yamada-san?"

"They only have minor injuries Ishida-san. I will be finished shortly."

Finishing the man's lip, he moved down to the ribs. Uryuu was surprised when he was addressed by the older one.

"You seem different from the others in your tribe. Are you also a lieutenant?" He said.

Uryuu straightened himself up to his full height.

"I understand you are not familiar with us, so I will excuse the insult. I am not a lieutenant. I am not a Shingami at all. I am a Quincy."

The terms meant nothing to the priest, but the situation seemed familiar enough.

"You are a different tribe? So I take it you were betrothed to Lieutenant Nemu to form an alliance with the Shinigamis?"

Uryuu's eyes went wide with shock. "What? No! We're not betrothed! Why would you say that?"

The older man shrugged. "Call it a hunch. She seemed glad to see you, and you did look awfully close just now."

"Nemu is just a friend, that's all." Uryuu said.

Tezcatlipoca had his doubts. He saw no point in arguing at the moment. "So your tribes are already allied?" He asked.

"No, there is no alliance between Shinigami and Quincy. Her people nearly wiped mine out. Her father alone tortured over 2000 of my people to death." Uryuu replied.

The younger priest, Ixtlilton grinned wickedly. "Ah, I see. You are stealing her away from her father for revenge!"

Uryuu's eyebrows almost merged with his hairline. The very idea!

Ixtlilton continued, "We don't do that much these days. It take a bold warrior indeed to woo a maiden in the heart of enemy territory."

Tezcatlipoca nudged his underling with his elbow. "Don't be stupid. That doesn't make sense. Why would he be fighting with an enemy tribe if he was trying to steal their princess. They'd kill him."

Uryuu had enough. "Look, it's complicated all right. Just drop it."

He squatted down on his heels to be eye level with the prisoners. "Let's start with the basics. Who are you guys?"

Ixtlilton's grin was somewhat different but no less wicked.

"You have the honor of addressing the High Priest Tezcatlipoca, greatest sorcerer in the city and empire of Mictlan. Your insolence has been noted and your punishment will be great!"

"Aren't you a little young to be the greatest sorcerer in all blah, blah, blah?" Uryuu asked.

Ixtlilton frowned. "Not me you fool, him!" He indicated the older man with his elbow. "I am Ixtlilton. It's not good to cross me either."

Uryuu couldn't say he felt very intimidated.

"I think I'm pretty safe at the moment." He said.

Tezcatlipoca replied, "At the moment, perhaps. Eventually, your friends are either going to be captured or leave. Once they're gone, you can be sure our friends will be the ones to dig us out."

Uryuu raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem worried. I would think you'd be troubled by the possibility of this room caving in, or suffocating. This must be a very secure vault. I bet there's more than one way out."

"You're welcome to look." Tezcatlipoca replied. "It's not like I can stop you."

Uryuu took him up on that. Rising to his feet, he went over to the main door to examine it. It had no handle or switches that he could see. He knew it had slid downward so it was probably hydraulic. But how was it activated? On either side of the door were carved stone brackets to hold torches and colorful mosaics of some fantastical creatures. The brackets looked solid. He tried them anyway. They didn't budge. Did the door only open from the outside? That made no sense. Even if you only worked in here with the door open, accidents were bound to happen. What would make a good control that didn't look like a control? He spun around to face the priests.

"It's the mosaics, isn't it?" He said. "What's the combination?"

Tezcatlipoca looked impressed. If the discovery bothered him he gave no sign. He shrugged.

"I guess there's no harm in telling you. First the left eye, then the right eye, then the left ear and the right paw."

Carefully following the instructions and keeping his eyes open for a trap, Uryuu worked the combination, pushing in the colored tiles on the mosaic of the beast until they clicked in place. With the last piece, he stepped back expecting some kind of trick. As the door rose up, he saw no trick was necessary. Rubble from the collapsed tunnels spilled into the chamber.

"How do I make the door stop!" he yelled at Tezcatlipoca.

"What? I can't hear over the falling rocks! Ha, ha, ha, ha!" He replied.

Uryuu didn't find the prospect of being buried alive funny at all, but the rocks didn't take up too much space and soon stopped falling in. There was now a small hill of stone and dust filling the entire doorway. He couldn't even fit his head outside.

Tezcatlipoca jeered, "Feel free to leave whenever you like."

Uryuu did not appreciate the joke. The front door was definitely not an option. At least he eliminated one obvious route. Maybe they could try the ventilation shafts?

While Uryuu had been looking at the possible exits, Nemu had carefully examined the entire chamber. It was huge and lined with shelves containing all manner of objects and substances. The shelves were labeled with glyphs that she couldn't read. One area was filled with samples from animals and plants. Another, different types of metals. What really stood out under her examination was how the storage vault was constructed. This was no natural cave. It clearly had been excavated and reinforced to withstand forces like whatever collapsed the tunnels. Pillars and arches shored up weak points and spells further strengthened the walls. She finished her examination and stood before Tezcatlipoca.

"I know what this place is." She announced. "This is your specimen vault."

Tezcatlipoca eyes narrowed. "So what if it is?"

"It tells me how we are getting out of here. Everyone makes their vault to suit their tastes, however, certain features are always standard." She replied.

"What do you mean, standard features?" Uryuu asked.

"Just as underground training rooms typically have a blue sky painted on the ceiling, specimen vaults are always made to withstand any natural or unnatural force. They are compartmentalized according to the nature of the specimen. And they always have more than one way out."

From the look on Tezcatlipoca's face, she was obviously right. He was trying too hard to appear nonchalant. However, no other exit was visible.

"Are you sure Nemu-san?" Uryuu asked. "Why would you even need more than one exit?"

"You could be trapped otherwise." She replied. "For example, if two toxic substances mix, it could create poisonous fumes or start a fire. You may not be able to get to the main entrance."

"How are we going to find one?" Hanataro asked.

"We start with the easy way." She said. She turned to the high priest and looked him straight in the eye. "Where is it?" she demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He said.

"Don't you?" Nemu replied. She walked over to a shelf and picked up a vase.

"This looks like seeds of some kind. Very small and fine. It probably took a long time and a lot of effort to gather them all."

She smashed the vase on the ground. She opened a jar.

"Some kind of oil. Was it difficult to extract? Did you have to refine it?"

She slowly poured the entire contents of the jar on the ground. Tezcatlipoca's anger was visible even through all the face paint. Ixtlilton looked like he was going to be sick. Nemu picked up a box from another shelf.

"Some kind of animal parts, No doubt from a rare and hard to find species."

She scattered the contents across the floor.

"How dare you!" Ixtlilton cried.

"What's that? You have something to tell me?" She asked.

Ixtlilton opened his mouth, but closed it quickly under Tezcatlipoca's glare. He hung his head in sorrow.

While Nemu looked for the next item to destroy, a shelf on the back wall caught her eye. It was not marked with glyphs like the other shelves. Everything on it was plain and as ordinary as could be. She strode over to the shelf and gave it an appraising look. Glancing over to the captives, she saw they both had their head down and were avoiding her gaze. It was as good as a neon sign to her. Grabbing the shelf frame, she pushed it over on its side, the bowls and jars clattering across the floor. She gestured to the wall behind it.

"Gentlemen, your exit."

Uryuu saw the faint outline of what could be a door etched in the wall. He may not have believed it was a door if it weren't for one thing. A small mosaic on the right hand side. The same kind as the one on the main door right down to the animal depicted. He quickly approached the lock and entered in the same combination as the other door. Much to his satisfaction, the door slid upwards into the ceiling.

"So this was why you were so confident your people could get to us quickly." Uryuu said to Tezcatlipoca.

"You really shouldn't use the same combination on all the doors."

Looking at the tunnel, he saw some rocks on the floor from where the roof had caved in, but none of it was serious. It was usable.

"Shall we go everybody?" He said as he waved towards the exit.

"Wait!" Tezcatlipoca shouted. "You have to take us."

"Why would do that?" Uryuu asked.

Tezcatlipoca looked him in the eye, replying with great sincerity.

"Those tunnels wind and branch off and are loaded with traps. Only someone like myself can successfully navigate back to the surface. You need me."

"And what's to stop you from leading us around in circles forever." Uryuu asked.

The high priest smiled. "Self interest. You don't know who you've got there. That woman was the first glimmer of hope for the empire's survival in a long time. I'm coming along to keep her as safe as possible. If I can alert friendly forces on the surface to recapture her, so much the better. You can refuse me if you wish, but I guarantee you, you will wander around in there until you die of old age it the traps don't get you first."

Uryuu, Nemu and Hanataro looked at each other. They quickly came to an unspoken agreement.

"Alright, we're taking you. Yamada-san, cut their bonds."

"Yes, right away." Hanataro said as he quickly snipped through the cloth strips using surgical shears.

Tezcatlipoca used his walking stick to get to his feet. He paused to rub at his wrists were the cloth had restricted his circulation.

"That's better." He said. "Now if you will follow me."

"Wait." Nemu commanded.

Striding up to the high priest, she yanked his headdress off and throw it across the room. Next she did the same for the tattered remains of his cape.

"I know I'm pretty spry for someone my age miss, but don't you think that now is not the time?" he said.

"Shut up." Nemu replied. "All your real power is stored externally. I'm not taking any chances."

Taking his walking stick next, she held it horizontally and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she broke off the elaborately carved top piece, tossing it aside with the other objects. She then bent to take a look at his artificial foot.
"Hey, come on, I need that!" he protested.

She ignored his protest and ran her hands across the carving. She tapped, then tapped again, then drove her fingers right into the wood. She pulled out a hidden compartment filled with various stones. She held it before Tezcatlipoca's face.

"Huh. I forgot those were there." He said.

"Let's see what else you may have forgotten. Spread your legs." She ordered.

The High Priest recoiled at this affront to his dignity. "I beg your pardon?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Nemu seized him by a very tender part of his anatomy and gave a warning squeeze letting him know she was prepared to apply a lot more pressure if he continued to resist.

"I will not repeat myself. Comply or else."

Every male in the room winced in sympathy. Even Hanataro.

She found three more stones.

Tezcatlipoca, now standing without his headdress, his walking stick and prosthetic foot mutilated, grey streaked hair tousled and unkempt, looked rather pathetic and helpless.

Nemu turned to Ixtlilton. He began to frantically disrobe.

"OK, now we can go." Uryuu announced. "Mr. High Priest, you and your buddy here will be in front leading the way. Yamada-san, keep your zampakuto on them at all times."

"Huh? Oh, uh yes, I will keep them in line. You bet!" Hanataro said as he clumsily drew his sword.

Tezcatlipoca looked insulted.

"Don't let his awkward youth act fool you." Nemu said. "At home he is known as the divine wind of steel that harvests without mercy!"

"I am?" Hanataro said. "Oh, that's right. Yes, that's me. Divine wind of harvests and stuff. Uh, get moving! Grrr!"

Tezcatlipoca leaned towards the shaky youth. "GRRAH!" he shouted.

"Ahh!" Hanataro cried as he nearly dropped his zampakuto. "Hey that's not funny. Come on you guys, let's go."

With a few sullen backwards glances, the two men picked up torches and entered the tunnel, picking their way past the stones and debris from the damaged roof.

"Our turn next." Uryuu said as he picked up a torch. "Here, let me help you over this rock."

He took her hand and helped her over the obstacle. When they got to level footing, he didn't let go. Looking at his back as he led her down the passageway, she should have been ecstatic. Instead she felt incredibly guilty. She didn't deserve this. Uryuu was treating her as always with kindness and respect. If he only knew the truth. He would despise her, hate her with all his heart if he knew who she really was, what she had done. She didn't want to tell him, but she knew she couldn't live with herself allowing him to continue believing she was a decent woman. It hurt so much that she couldn't bear it anymore. He had to know the truth.

"Ishida-san, remember earlier when I said I had something to tell you? About how I had done bad things in my past?"she asked.

"Yes, I remember. Did you take my advice? Have you consulted with the Fourth division? And I thought I told you to call me Uryuu?" he replied.

"Um, yes, I did as you advised. It was very helpful. That's not what I want to talk about. It's about you. It's about the Quincy." She said.

Uryuu stopped walking. He didn't turn around. "Go on."

"I'm not as old as I appear Ishida-san. I'm less than one hundred years old. I wasn't there when Mayuri-sama started to test the Quincy to destruction. But I was there for the finish. I assisted him in many experiments. Even the last."

Uryuu's back stiffened. His grip tightened on her hand.

"When we took your grandfather…I was there. I…helped. I realize what we did now,…but…Uryuu….I'm …I'm sorry…" She trailed off.

How could she explain what it had been like. How operating on a living soul had been as easy as tying a shoelace? How when she first became aware that she couldn't see the difference. A task was a task. She knew better now, but it was too late. Now, she was going to pay for her crime. Now he would see her for the damned soul she was and his eyes would fill with hate. If her turned and looked at her like that, she hoped she could somehow die on the spot. He still faced away from her. She touched his shoulder. Her voice quavered on the edge of tears.

"Uryuu?"

Uryuu's mind crashed inside his skull like waves against a storm struck beach. He had always known Nemu was a part of the twelfth division. He supposed on some level, he must have been aware she had assisted in the destruction of the Quincy. In the torture and mutilation of his Grandfather Souken. Inside he could feel the rage swelling up within him, calling out for vengeance, for him to take his bow and strike her down! He could see in his mind the bloody, flayed remains of the most important person in his life. How could he not avenge him? How could he just stand there without taking action? What could he tell his Grandfather? He pictured in his mind his kindly, wise sensei and asked in his mind, what shall I do? What am I supposed to do? What would you want me to do? In that moment, his mind seemed to gain a kind of peace. He could see his Grandfather smiling at him. He knew. Without hearing a word, he knew what his grandfather would want. His Grandfather's face was replaced by another. A young girl thanking him for showing mercy. Offering to save his life. He knew then what to say. He felt her touch his shoulder.

"Uryuu?" She said.

"I guess I never really thought about it." he said, "How you were involved. I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to forgive the person who did that to Grandfather. But, I don't know that person."

He slowly turned around. "The Nemu I know is kind to her enemies. The Nemu I know wants to think for herself and do what is right. If that Nemu needs a friend to help her find her way, I'd like to be that friend."

Nemu's eyes were bright with unshed tears. "You really mean that?"

Uryuu nodded. "It's a lot to accept, but I'll do my best. It's not easy to turn your life around. I won't hold the past against you. I'm sure Grandfather would like that."

"So we're still friends?" she asked.

He gave a wan smile. "Yes, Nemu-san, we're still friends.

Nemu had the brightest smile he had ever seen. Suddenly a thought struck her.

"Wait here." She said. "I forgot something in the vault."

"Forgot something?" He asked. "Like what?"

"Not to worry." She replied. "Just wait here."

She returned to the specimen vault as fast as she could over the rocks and debris. Entering the chamber, she held out her palm. In order to make a Kido strike powerful, you had to call out the incantation. For what she intended, a small spell was more than enough. A red fireball flew from her hand to hit the oil she had poured out earlier. The wooden shelves soon caught fire, the flames leaping for the ceiling. She guessed a reverse sequence on the mosaic would close the door and was pleased to see she was right. The fire was spreading all over the vault, destroying thousands of valuable samples and unique specimens.

That'll show them for trying to use me as a prize cow, she though as the door closed.

She was trying to become a better person. She was trying to become forgiving and charitable as she sought forgiveness for her own misdeeds. She would just have to count today as a setback and try again harder tomorrow. As the shelves crashed into the flames, feeding the conflagration, she would never know that one whole rack had been labeled with the glyphs for "Foreign Princess".