(A/N: And so the saga continues. This chapter will officially bring Noble Flames into the Soul Society arc so please enjoy it all.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of the Abyss

Asch's pov

6 years later

It's been really frustrating having to be only a 3rd Seat because of what happened. Byakuya found a suitable replacement not too long after my demotion by the name of Ginjiro Shirogane. The guy did his job well, but about a couple months ago he resigned to do, of all things, sell eyeglasses. So once again we are, without a vice-captain…until today. I've heard things buzz about from my former equals, now my superiors, in rank that in a month we shall be getting a new Vice-captain by the name of Renji Abarai. Apparently he's been around almost just as long, if not maybe longer, than Dreck and I have and has been in 11th squad for most of the time. I wonder what this guy is like.

Luke's pov

I was filing through paperwork when I received a worksheet notice that had signatures from Captain Aizen and Captain Ukitake on it. The notice was to be looked over by me, signed and given to Rukia. She was being transferred to a post in the world of the living, Karakura Town. I looked over the sheet. Everything seemed to be in order. I signed my name and went to go find Rukia.

"Oi, Rukia," I called as I walked down the hall.

"Ah, Luke-fukutaicho!" I heard Sentaro call out, "If you're looking for Rukia follow me, I'll help you find her!"

"No, Luke-fukutaicho, I will," Kiyone pushed Sentaro out of the way having just come down the hallway herself, "I have a much better sense of direction than monkey-brain here."

"You do not liar! You're the one who got lost trying to find how to get to 3rd Division last week remember?" Sentaro shouted at her.

"Says the man who couldn't find his way to Captain Komamura's office while on 7th Division grounds!" she shouted back at him.

I sighed, ""Listen argue about it later after I deliver the mission details to her. This needs to be done ASAP.

"Hai fukutaicho!" they both said professionally and took off to look for her.

Figures, I sighed, after eight years they still haven't changed.

I found Rukia off in one of the common rooms by herself.

"Oh there you are," I said.

"Ah Luke-dono what is it?" she turned to look at me.

I pulled the slip out of the folds of my kimono, "I have a mission spec here for you. You're being transferred to the world of the living station Karakura Town the form asks that I see you off this afternoon. You'll be staying there for a whole month." I told her. I sure wish they'd give me a transfer position to the world of the living, I grumbled internally.

"A-arigato Luke-dono, I humbly accept this mission from you," Rukia bowed her head.

"Hey come on you don't have to be that formal about it," I said.

"G-gomen," Rukia apologized.

"You don't have to apologize either," I said, "Look you're departure time is in a couple of hours, get something to eat, relax and I'll see you off to the Senkaimon."

I took Rukia to the Senkaimon and watched her walk into the bright light of the gate, "See you in a month," I told her.

She smiled and headed into the Senkaimon and with that Rukia was gone.

I smiled contently and then went back to my office to see what other duties I had for the day.

1 month later

Asch's pov

The day had arrived when our new vice captain would be coming into our squad. Of my own accord I waited outside the division entrance for his arrival. He came promptly 5 minutes before his scheduled arrival. That was a good thing, soldiers who arrive at their post before necessary show the sign that they are eager to carry out their orders. I took a look at my new superior. He had Red hair tied up into a Pineapple shape with tribal tattoos all over his body. The lieutenant's armband is what made him identifiable as the new vice-captain otherwise he would've looked like just a regular Shinigami.

"Vice-captain Renji Abarai arriving for first day on the job in Division 6 of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, who am I standing before?" he asked me.

Quite the professional this guy is, either he's a hardened soldier or he knows how strict this squad is, either way he seems well rounded for this position, "Asch Fon Fabre, 3rd Seat of the 6th Division."

"Fon Fabre?" he asked with a look of inquiry and then after a brief pause asked, "Any chance you're related to Luke Fon Fabre former 16th seat of Squad 11 and current vice captain of Division 13? You look a lot like him."

"Not related, just acquainted," I responded. I refused to put myself in the same area of familiarity as him.

"All right fine, I won't press, did Captain Kuchiki ask you to come wait for me?" he asked.

"No, I took it upon myself as a soldier should to see in his new superior," I answered.

"I see," he said blinking, "Anyway, mind showing me to my office?" he asked.

"Follow me," I answered turning around. I led Vice Captain Abarai to his new office, which used to be my office, "If you have anything you need don't hesitate to ask," I told him seeing as I was next down the chain of command that I'd be the one being given the most orders by him.

"Thank you Asch," he said and then looked at me when I didn't budge, "Something the matter?" he asked.

"You haven't dismissed me yet, it would be unprofessional for me to leave your presence without a formal dismissal," I told him, okay, maybe he's trailing a bit in professionalism here.

"Er right, sorry, dismissed 3rd Seat Asch," he told me.

"Sir," I said clearly and left.

13th Division

Luke's pov

Today was the day Rukia was supposed to come back. I waited near the Senkaimon with a day's worth of rations set up so I wouldn't miss her coming back. I waited all day. When night fell Captain Ukitake came by.

"Luke you're still here?" he asked me.

"She never came back," I said, "She still hasn't returned."

"She'll come back," he said.

"But what if she's hurt, what if something happened to her?" I asked.

"Calm down Luke," he told me "Rukia is most likely fine. If anything happened to her, 12th Division would send out a warning signal that she was disabled and the paperwork would be placed on either my desk or yours. I don't recall having gotten such a handout this entire month have you?" he asked.

I sighed, "No sir," I answered.

"Good," he said and grinned, "Now what's say we head back to the barracks and have a nice home cooked meal Sentaro and Kiyone have been in the kitchen all day with several other squad members."

I'll bet it was for Rukia's return.

"Don't start getting down on yourself, I know what you're thinking, it's not a welcome back for Rukia, Kiyone and Sentaro got into an argument this morning over who could cook a better meal and they've been coordinating a team to cook with them since. It's really lively back at the division," he chuckled.

I sighed with a smile, those idiots.

"See now there's a good expression, come on, let's go back to the division," Ukitake said to me.

"Okay," I nodded and followed him back to the barracks. I looked up at the sky, please be safe Rukia.

1 month later

Asch's pov

I walked towards my captain's office with a armful of paperwork to give him only to see him and Renji headed out of the office lobby with Renji wearing some strange goggles.

"Ah Asch is that today's paperwork?" my captain asked.

"Yes sir," I responded.

"Leave it on my desk, Renji and I have somewhere to be today. Until our return you are in charge," my captain told me as he and Renji walked passed me, "I trust you to keep things in order."

"Yes sir," I annunciated loudly.

Luke's pov

It had been a whole nother month and Rukia still wasn't back from her trip, I was getting worried. Captain Ukitake said that no report had been filed about Rukia's gone missing into the world of the living and I confirmed it with my back copies of my paperwork. I still found all this really troublesome so I decided to talk to Professor Nebilim to see if she had anything to say on the subject. Thankfully she wasn't busy when I arrived and saw me almost immediately.

"What seems to be the trouble Luke?" she asked me as she stood by her desk in her lab and leaned against the back of it.

"Well I'm worried about Rukia she went to the World of the Living two months ago, but she was only supposed to stay there for one month, neither Captain Ukitake nor I have received any word about their being trouble, but I wanted to make sure," I told her.

She laughed, "Is that what this is about?"

I looked at her confused.

She walked over to her computer and clicked a couple of times, "Rukia's status and mission has shown no signs of waning," she stood erect and gestured to the computer screen, "Her soul pager is not malfunctioning or damaged and the hollows attacking her area are all being dealt with as they appear. She is perfectly okay," Professor Nebilim told me. I smiled in relief, "However, from what I was told, Captain Aizen, who originally asked for Rukia to be stationed in Karakura Town sent for Captain Kuchiki and Vice Captain Abarai of Squad 6 to retrieve her. I don't know the full details, but I fear something may have happened, however, according to Rukia's linked charts," Professor Nebilim clicked a key on the main frame, "her health is not at risk."

"Th-thank you Professor Nebilim," I bowed.

"Luke you don't have to thank me, you're a superior officer in my rank," she told me.

"It wouldn't be right you are still my superior in seniority so it's only respectful that I bow," he said.

"Don't say that you make me feel old," she chuckled. "Anyway if you want to go see Rukia's return you should go to 6th Division's Senkaimon."

"Right thanks Professor Nebilim," I took off and made for 6th Division. Maybe I could see Asch while I was there

6th Division

I made my way to Asch's Division to greet Rukia at her return alongside Captain Kuchiki and the newly appointed Vice Captain Abarai. I've known Renji for a while. I never thought he'd eventually become a vice-captain. I was really surprised the first the first day he walked into a Vice-captain's meeting. Since he and Momo are good friends and Momo and I are nakama he sort of became one as well. He's a pretty decent guy compared to some of the other thugs that existed in 11th Division.

I continued my leisurely walk through 6th Division when Asch contacted me, the hell are you doing dreck?

Professor Nebilim told me Rukia was coming back to Soul Society and that your captain and vice-captain went to go get her so I was coming to greet her back seeing as I saw her off to the World of the Living I figured it's my responsibility to see her back to the squad, I answered.

Yes I know, if you wait for them at the Senkaimon they will be back with her, he told me.

Yeah thanks, that's where I was headed, although I don't exactly know where the Senkaimon in your division is, could you show me or tell me how to get there? I asked him. In all honesty I really didn't know and it's not like there's a map for the entire Seireitai down to the last detail.

No, find it yourself, he told me, or ask one of the lower seats. I'm busy since my Vice Cpatian and Taicho are out.

All right fine, I sighed. I guess I should've known better to ask Asch. He would be swamped with work if both his superiors were out.

It took me a while to find the Senkaimon and when I did it was just activating. I saw Captain Kuchiki emerge first followed by Renji who had Rukia in…chains! What the hell!

"Captain Kuchiki, what's going on?" I rushed onto the scene, "Why is she in chains?"

I had spoken to Captain Kuchiki, but it was Renji who answered me, "Rukia is under arrested for the Fabrication of a Substitute Shinigami. Her punishment has yet to be decided, but we're taking her into custody. We were sent to the World of the Living to get Rukia and bring her back, and in the process eliminate the Substitute she fabricated. We left him alive within an inch of his life. You can see Rukia during visiting for now she's coming with us to the 6th Squad Penitentiary."

"Wait a minute, Rukia's 13th Division's responsibility, why wasn't I sent to fetch her?" I asked rather ticked off.

"Captain Aizen is the one who selected Rukia from the ranks of your division for this particular mission, both you and Captain Ukitake signed off on that. Which means that in the case of her retrieval as you should know already Luke he makes the call as to who goes and gets her, and if she was in any sort of legal trouble lock her up, or in the case of medical trouble, escort her to the 4th Division. We received anonymous reports that a Substitute Shinigami had been fabricated and Captain Aizen gave Renji reiatsu detecting goggles making our search that much easier. Now if you'll excuse us we shall be taking her to the penitentiary," this time Captain Kuchiki was the one who spoke.

"Damn it. I'll be back rukia, just wait for me," I said and took off.

Asch, I called in my head.

He sighed, what is It now Dreck?

Rukia was arrested just now. What can you tell me about Aizen since he was the one who signed for this mission?

Aizen was involved? Asch asked in shock and then went silent for a minute, well from what I know about him, other people would tell you an entirely different story, he acts really nice and well mannered, makes himself out to be one of the nicest guys in all of Soul Society, but there's just something off about him.

What do you mean? I asked.

Two words: Van. Grants, he said bluntly.

Van? You think he is pulling off teh same tricks as he did? I asked.

Consider this, Asch started to explain, after my demotion I spoke to Nanao and she let me into the secret archives building kept in 8th Division, these are official records of details of incidents the truth of which may have been covered up by Central 46. Apparently 100 years ago 4 captains and 3 vice captains of the 13 court guard squads were all caught up in an incident that turned them into half-hollow, half-Shinigami hybrids commonly referred to as Vizards. Urahara Kisuke was blamed for everything, but during his trial with Central 46 he claimed that Aizen was the perpetrator in the incident. However, according to Central 46 Aizen, who was a lieutenant at the time was seen in Seireitai at the same time of the incident by no less than 100 seated officers and one Captain, Kyoraku Shunsui. I spoke with Shunsui and he confirmed this, said Aizen even looked in his direction and waved when he said goodnight to him. Nanao was there that same night and she remembered the events clear as day. I can't vouch for Kyoraku-taicho's reliability, but Nanao is absolutely certain she saw Aizen. Aizen's own captain, Hirako Shinji, was one of the victims, years later Aizen takes up the mantle of Captain. Over the years of his captaincy, Kaname Tosen, Komamura Sajin, Matsumoto Rangiku, Ichimaru Gin, Abarai Renji, Hisagi Shuhei and Kira Izuru have all been in 5th Division at some point in their lives. Momo too, but she still is. That means that a good portion of some of Soul Society's most well respected figures, were at one point underneath Aizen and no one can say anything bad about the guy. Then you and I come into the equation, powerful components right from the get-go and neither of us have been a member, or seated officer or 5th Division yet, but Ion has.

What do you mean? I asked.

One of Ion's previous positions in the Gotei 13 was in 5th Division, the records document such, Asch stated, Also think about it, look at where you and I stand right now, we are of vice-captain class reiatsu on our way to Captain's rank through Bankai training. We have been in the Gotei 13 in a short span of time, took our final exams within our first year of classes and became seated officers shortly thereafter.

Where are you going from this Asch? I asked.

If you would shut up for five minutes I could finish explaining, Asch stated angrily and then said more calmly, I think Aizen might be scared of us. If he really is plotting something he may have had everything going smoothly, then we show up, fresh to the table, and we have yet to have him as a superior, Aizen may have some form of power over those who have been his subordinates and since that's a very good portion of the current vice captains and captains in the Gotei, he may have felt secure, but our showing up may have him on edge, because we have yet to be his underlings and already we're rising through the ranks, Aizen may have planned out my demotion for this very reason. Now all of a sudden he sends Rukia, an unseated Shinigami, from outside his own squad to the world of the living. Now all of a sudden she's been arrested for some form of legal trouble, tell me Luke what exactly was Rukia arrested for anyway?

You're saying Aizen has something cooking up like Van once did? I asked, when Asch didn't reply I answered his question, Well Rukia was arrested for fabricating a substitute shinigami.

Hmm, Asch seemed like he was in thought, that's strange.

What is it? I asked.

Think about how Subsitute Shinigami are formed, they have to borrow power from the giving Shinigami, this law is set as high class crime amongst Soul Society, but it is also hard to detect, especially Rukia went alone. If she had been staying at her station working with this Substitute it would mean she had a Gigai, which makes it even harder to know that there's an issue. I find it very peculiar that my Captain and Vice Captain all of a sudden found her so conveniently and quickly and that they knew that there had been foul play, he explained.

Asch seemed to have some thesis he was trying to work out I figured whatever information I knew would be beneficial, According to Captain Kuchiki, anonymous reports detected that Rukia had created a Substitute Shinigami and that Aizen had giving Renji reiatsu seeking goggles to make it easier to find her.

Interesting, the way Asch said that made it seem like I had just made his day, anonymous reports, yeah that's a good way of saying Aizen's covering his ass and the reiatsu seeking goggles make the convenience all the more suspicious. If that's the case it means Aizen knew right from the get-go of sending Rukia out on her mission that this would happen. I don't know what his aim is just yet, but I'm damn well sure he's hiding some form of dark secret. He didn't say anything and then after a bit said, You can call me crazy if you want to just about everyone else has. Even Nanao, she says I'm being paranoid. Even Ion and Largo think I'm being a bit too edgy about this or that it's "all in my head".

At this point it doesn't make sense why Rukia would get arrested in the first place. I will say though that I also had my doubts about his behavior.

Geez and to think you're a vice captain. By law the fabrication of a Substitute Shinigami is a high-class crime because it can lead to the creation of rogue Shinigami. Still I'm glad someone sees things my way, albeit it's you, but even so, Asch stated dully.

Well you are talking against a man who had influenced most of the lesser members of the Gotei as far as I'm concerned, I said.

True, but that may be part of the illusion he's trying to create so he can strike when we're at our weakest. Remember you and I have both seen this before. Now that I think about it, I think it's a good thing we haven't told anyone about where we came from, I spoke to Ion and he hasn't spoken up to anyone and I'm going to say the same thing to him I said to you, don't tell anyone about our past experience. If Aizen is truly about to pull something like Van did then it is absolutely essential we don't let it slip that we have seen this before! Asch emphasized the importance of that last statement and then calmed down, I don't like working with you any more than I have to Luke, but if Aizen is making some sort of plan behind the scenes I want your help in all this if you're willing to trust my judgment. That means anything you think might be related to this no matter how insignificant it may seem, even if its what Aizen had for breakfast, I want to know about it and I'll relay anything I find out to you together we may be able to catch him in the act and tear away the wool he's pulled over everyone's eyes. Are you with me? Asch stated.

Alright, now how does this relate to Rukia's situation? What would Aizen gain from this? I asked him

I don't know just yet, Rukia's punishment has yet to be decided so there's no telling exactly what his goal is. However, although the chance is small Aizen's goal may also be the individual that Rukia transferred her spiritual power too. If Aizen knew from the start this was going to happen it means he planned for this and therefore our mystery substitute is a very import piece to this chessboard, Asch theorized.

But according to Renji the Substitute was left within an inch of his life, I said.

Like I said the chance was small, but still if his demise isn't confirmed we can't write off the possibility that he's not a key factor here, this is Aizen we're dealing with, he has a manner of being known as one of the most brilliant minds in all of Soul Society possibly surpassing those of Captains Kuchiki and Hitsugaya and said to rival those of former captain Kisuke Urahara, Asch enforced and then continued, the bottom line is we need to keep a close eye on the situation, got it?

Yeah, I said, I've got your back.

Good, gotta go I can sense Renji's presence headed in my direction, Asch terminated our telecommunication. Right now I figured that, for now, I would head back to my division and see if I couldn't do anything to help Asch with his investigation, if what he said was true then Aizen had to be stopped. I don't know what Aizen's plotting, if anything at all, he may be a bit suspicious, but I can't say if, for certain that he's up to something, but Asch made a good point about him being just like Van. For now, I'll place my faith in Asch and I will support him until we find out the truth.

(A/N: Luke's last statement does not give you Yaoi fangirls the go to jump on the LukeXAsch bandwagon! However, we all know Luke is the type of person who easily puts his faith in his friends. And yes Asch figured THAT much out on his own and cue lampshade hanging and ironic foreshadowing to some of his statements. I know that, for the most part, this chapter turned into one whole big discussion between Asch and Luke, but we'll see more of the actual SS arc in the next chapter. Please review and if you haven't subscribe and fave as well. If you do I may update that much quicker)