(A/N: Here we are back again with another exciting chapter. I'm stumbling through a plague of writer's block as it is, so forgive me if this chapter isn't as good as the others.)

Disclaimer: I still don't own Bleach and I still don't own Tales of the Abyss…darn

Luke's pov

As I left the sixth division I was left with a couple of choices to contemplate. I wanted to tell anyone I thought could help Asch and me with our investigation, especially Professor Nebilim because of her vast knowledge and experience, as well as Captain Ukitake for being one of the senior captains of the Gotei, but Asch might get mad at me if I let things slip and if they didn't believe me I might be next on the chopping block, and that wouldn't look good.

As I traveled through the streets I was suddenly called out with, "Well whatdya know jus da person I wus looking for," I picked my head up and looked around but saw no one until I was tapped on the shoulder and turned around. It was Captain Ichimaru, "Afternoon Luke-san," he said with a friendly wave.

"What is it Captain Ichimaru?" I asked, this guy not only gave me the creeps, but according to Asch he's been in Aizen's corner for a hundred years.

"I heard Rukia-chan was arrested, so I thought I'd drop by ta give ya da news, but judging as to where I found ya, seems like ya already found out on yer own," he said, his smile not ceasing.

"That's it?" I asked, not amused in the least.

"Course dat ain't it, just wanted ta know if ya feel hard on yourself, after all…it was you who made the final signature to send Rukia on her mission," he was baiting me, I couldn't help but let my knuckles ball up and scowl at him.

"I'm not upset," I answered.

"Well whatever," he said walking by me, "By the way Luke-san, do yourself a favor and master yer Bankai as quickly as ya can, who knows when ya may need it."

My eyes flashed open and I whirled around, "Just what the hell's that supposed to," Gin had vanished, "He's gone." After regaining my normalcy I thought aloud, "I should head back to my squad."

Asch's pov

Abarai and I were walking down the hallway towards Rukia's cell. Abarai had asked that I accompany him to check up on her, god knows why, Luke's the one who cares about Rukia not me.

Meanwhile Captain Kuchiki had gone to Central 46 to see if he could appeal Rukia's punishment, which currently stood at execution. I hadn't told Luke, no sense in giving that dreck a false heart attack, though it would provide amusement. We got to Rukia's cell and I opened the door and let Renji in. Of course Rukia started teasing him about his eyebrows and the fact that he was a vice-captain. I had no idea these two had such a familiar relationship with each other.

"Is there something between you two I should know about?" I asked.

"Absolutely nothing at all!" they both shouted rather ticked off. At that moment Captain Kuchiki waltzed into the room.

"What's the verdict?" I asked.

"Rukia Kuchiki will be executed within 25 days time that is the final decision of the Soul Society," he answered.

I started to head out hearing that, "Where do you think you're going?" Abarai asked me.

"13th Division," I answered, "They have a right to know the specifics, as being acquainted with both the captain and the vice-captain I feel it would be best if I went."

"Hold up a second you've still got a lot of paperwork on your desk last I checked don't go shirking your work," Abarai shouted.

"Really, I checked Asch's desk before coming here and it was spot clean," Captain Kuchiki answered.

"But…how…you still had a mountain of files on your desk when I came in earlier," Abarai said irritated.

"I work fast," I answered. Truth be told Captain Kuchiki still saw me as the better man to fit the vice-captain shoes. Although he doesn't say it out loud I can always hear it in his tone of voice with how he speaks to Renji and me. All that was left were the authorizing signatures that I had to get from him anyway for the files in question.

"Do you still have a problem Renji?" Byakuya asked.

"No sir, not at all sir," Abarai answered.

"Good, Asch you're free to go," I walked forward only to be stopped by Captain Ichimaru and Captain Zaraki on my way forward.

"Hey there fallen champion," Captain Ichimaru called out to me as he had been doing ever since I became a third seat, "Where are you headed off to?"

"13th Division to inform the captain and vice-captain of Rukia's current status in the situation," I answered.

"Ah yes Luke-san will be most disheartened at hearin what's befallen poor Rukia-san won't he?" Captain Ichimaru asked rhetorically.

"Please, anyone who came from my squad ain't that soft," Captain Zaraki remarked.

"As I recall Luke-san didn't spend much time at all in your squad," Captain Ichimaru said to Captain Zaraki.

"Something you two wanted to tell me?" I asked.

"Nah, we're just waiting for Captain Kuchiki you go on along Asch," Captain Zaraki told me.

"Hmph," I said and headed off for 13th Division.

Once there I made for Luke's office immediately. Truth be told it was the first time I'd ever been here. Normally I'd just contact him via telecommunication, but I figured Captain Ukitake ought to know as well about the situation. Hesitant at first I finally knocked on the door. I heard stumbling and rushing towards the door before a pause and the door calmly being opened.

"Oh Asch," Luke was bewildered.

"Mind if I come in?" I asked.

"Yeah sure, not a problem," he stated.

"They passed down Rukia's sentencing, you're not going to like it," I told him.

"Just how bad is it?" he asked.

"25 days," I said.

"That's it man," he seemed relieved, "Man that's it I thought she was gonna get at least a year."

"Not 25 days in jail you imbecile, 25 days, period," I glared.

He looked at me confused for a moment and then his face hardened, it wasn't the broken down expression I was expecting, good to see Dreck had toughened up over the years, or at least how to keep his emotional turmoil internal, "You mean she's going to be executed?"

"That's what I heard from my captain he even went to Central 46 to appeal her sentencing. I would've contacted you via telecommunication, but I thought your captain had a right to know as well," I answered.

"So what does this tell you about our investigation anything?" Luke asked. I was surprised he was asking about that of all things, I figured he would've asked about Rukia's well being first, he was probably thinking about it though.

"Hmmm," I said and thought about this added piece to the puzzle, "Public execution is done with the Sokyoku Aizen's objective might have something to do with stealing it's power, it is said to have the power of at least 100 maybe 1000 Zanpakuto. Combine that with the whatever crystal fragments he took from that giant crystal and Aizen could form the ultimate army of spirit warriors."

"Is that the only possibility you can think of?" Luke asked me.

"Quite frankly it's only an estimate, there are probably pieces to the puzzle we don't even know, while I hate to get anyone else too involved, might asking Nebilim if she could forward a copy of the crystal data she collected to my desk, tell her I'm doing research, but don't tell her we're investigating Aizen, got it?"

"Why can't you go ask her yourself?" Luke wanted to know.

"I'm not going anywhere near that building after what happened with that freak Kurotsuchi," I answered contemptuously.

"You need to let go of that it's been almost a decade now Asch," Luke told me.

"I'll hold a grudge for as long as I'd like thank you very much," starting to feel like my coming here was a mistake, "Anyway is your captain in good health, I'd rather not bother him if today is a sick day."

"Captain Ukitake's down by the Coy Pond," Luke told me.

"Thanks," I said and left the room.

1 week later

Luke's pov

It was about sometime in the afternoon when an alarm went off, intruders had been detected in West Rukongai. Immediately I leapt into action and Asch contacted me.

Try to get as close as you can to the action, I'm headed your way, if those idiots think they can just barge into the Seireitai we'll give 'em hell, this place has enough problems as is, Asch told me.

Right, I said. It was kind of weird taking orders from Asch, since I was of higher rank, but at the same time, he had always been smarter than me anyway. Asch and I arrived at the scene pretty quickly where a crowd had taken back a few yards. Shuhei was at the front.

"Luke, Asch, you two shouldn't go out any further, it's not necessary, Captain Ichimaru has the situation under control," he said.

"With all due respect Vice Captain Hisagi," I said, "We'd like a better look."

"Well all right I got no business telling a vice captain and a 3rd seat from two different divisions what to do, just try not to get in Capatain Ichimaru's way," he told us. Asch and I took that as our cue to take to higher ground. As Shuhei had said Captain Ichimaru was handling the situation standing there waiting. I could hear a pretty rough battle going on the other end.

"Sheesh they're still outside the gate, they don't stand a chance against Jiandbo," I sighed.

"Don't get so comfortable, I've got a bad feeling about this," Asch said. Gin casually walked forward as we all watched in panic as the gate began to open, I readied my Zanpakuto, "Stop, Dreck," Asch told me, "Let Captain Ichimaru handle this, captains don't need backup from lower ranked officers against invaders."

I just watched as the gate slowly began to open, via Jidanbo, most likely having lost to whoever beat him, but Jidanbo hadn't lost in decades. When the gate opened on the other side was a kid probably not much younger than me with orange haired and a large Zanpakuto the shape of a crescent moon cleaver, a couple of guys that could pass of as Rukongai civilians, based on his apparel the one in white had to be a quincy, and with them was a small black cat.

That poor cat, I sighed thinking about how Mieu got dragged into the mess my journey ended up being. I watched what was unfolding and watched as Captain Ichimaru attacked so fast that I couldn't see him and he cut Jidanbo's arm right off.

"What the hell does he think he's doing?" Asch shouted, "Men like Jidanbo are hard to come by." He made to charge out into the open.

"Asch, stop don't."

Ichigo's pov

I just had witnessed the guy in front of us, Gin, attack Jidanbo and cut his arm clean off.

"That ain't right Jiandbo," the fox faced guy in front of us said with an annoying accent, "The gate keeper doesn't open the gate."

"But I lost," Jidanbo told the silver haired smiling creep, "It's only natural that a defeated Gatekeeper opens the gate."

"What you talkin bout Jidanbo," the guy walked forward, "The gatekeeper doesn't open the gate, when a gatekeeper is defeated it means he dies."

I rushed forward mad fast and struck as Gin was about to move into attack Jidanbo.

"Captain Ichimaru, just what the heck do you think you're doing?" I looked over to my left to see a guy with long red hair in a Shinigami's uniform step forward.

Who's this guy? I wondered as Gin and I dislodged our weapon lock.

Gin turned his attention to the newcomer, "Oh hello Asch, I didn't even know you were here. As for what I'm doin I'm gettin rid of these Ryoka as need be."

So this guy's name is Asch is it?

"I'm not talking about the Ryoka, just what the hell do you think you're doing attacking one of our own soldiers!" Asch shouted.

"You've got quite da mouth talkin to a captain like that Asch, ya don't want ta get demoted further do you?"

"You're not qualified to call yourself a captain if you're going to cut down our own men," Asch told him.

"Ichigo," Yoruichi called out to me, "While they're arguing now's our chance, let's run through the gate and go for it."

"But Jidanbo," I said worried about the guy.

"Forget about him, we need to go through that gate!"

Growling I rushed forward headed towards my right, "Sorry Jidanbo," I said as my group made to go around the Soul Reapers.

"Honooami Daikoran!" (Flame Wave Havoc)

We all leapt back as another guy with red hair, brighter in this case, with the same build as Asch leapt in front of us and started sending out arcs of fire in all directions. He ended his attack with his legs spread apart, his hand on the ground and his sword in the air in our direction. it was a pretty darn ass long katana and it was on fire. He was holding it in his left hand. "Where do you think you guys are going?" he asked, "Jidanbo's one thing, but I can't let people invade Soul Society."

"Yoruichi who's this guy?" I asked.

"I've never seen him before," Yoruichi stated.

"If you wanted to know my name," the guy said retaking a stance, "My name is Luke, Luke Fon Fabre. I am the Vice-captain of the 13th Division."

He's the same rank as Renji?

"Hey Asch a little help here please? You can argue with Gin later," Luke called out to him.

"Oh yeah, who's going to make sure Captain Jackass here doesn't go and kill one of our own men," Asch shouted.

"Bring that up with Central 46, it's better than sticking your own foot in your mouth by arguing with a superior ranked officer," Luke told him. I started to wonder if Asch was Luke's direct subordinate.

"I'll help too," Gin said as he reached the area too fast for me to have noticed, "We can't exactly let people run freely through the Seireitai now can we?"

"Ichigo we should retreat for now we can't take on a Captain a Vice-captain and a 3rd Seat at the same time," Yoruichi told me.

"Yoruichi-san is right Kurosaki we should retreat for now and find another way in," Ishida urged.

"No, we made it inside and we're going to just press onward, we'll just blow past these guys like a knife through butter and head on forward.

"You guys are idiots if you think you can defeat all of us," Asch said, "And you, you're a Shinigami, so why aren't you on our side?"

"He's just someone gone rogue that's all," Gin said, which was a complete lie.

"I am not, my name is Kurosaki Ichigo, I am a Substitute Shinigami, and I'm here to rescue Rukia Kuchiki from her execution," I stated.

Luke's pov

I didn't think I'd hear those words come out of this kids mouth, here I was all set and ready to go and citrus head has to go and throw a spanner in the works like that.

What do we do? I asked Asch.

We can't let them proceed it'll cost us our jobs, and may very well play right into Aizen's hands, at the same time we at least know that these guys aren't exactly the enemy if their risking their necks for Rukia's sake, they're just idiots, Asch said.

So what do we do? I asked.

Whatever we do we can't let Gin turn them into the Seireitai Blue Plate Special, does your Zanpakuto have a way of paralyzation? I asked, I know it's fire based but…

I can raise my reiatsu to do that, what's the plan? I asked.

Just do that, I can handle the rest, I told Luke.

"You two gonna stand there all day or are we gonna take care of these kids?" Captain Ichimaru asked.

"Don't worry, I got this," I said and then threw my arms out at my sides, "Gekido Baria!" (Rage Barrier) My reiatsu surged like intensely and combined with the fire reiryoku of my Zanpakuto to give off the impression of an intense heat wave everyone but the kid with the orange hair seemed to be affected.

"My turn," Asch said, "Flash, Chikaminari!" Asch released his Shikai and then Shunpoed past everyone and then swung his sword down at his side. Instantly there were several red bolts of lightning that went off at the locations of each of our opponents knocking them out, including the cat.

"Did you have to hit the cat too?" I asked.

"Leave nothing to chance Dreck," Asch said sealing his Shikai and putting it away.

"What should we do with them?" Captain Ichimaru asked.

"We don't have reason to kill them," I said, "We could always just throw them back through the gate and leave them in Rukongai?" Asch knew the real reason I wanted them alive, I thought Captain Ichimaru might have a problem, but he didn't.

"Should we take de kid's Zanpakuto while we're at it?" he asked.

"I don't think that's necessary," I said, "They've born witness to our power they'd be stupid to try and attack again." Really I just wanted the others to have a fighting chance when they did try again.

"A'right ya make a good point, no use in takin a trophy anyway," Gin picked up the cat and Shunpoed over to the gate and tossed it out of the gate. It landed unconsciously, but it was still breathing.

"What are we gonna do about Jidanbo," Asch said picking up the dark skinned kid and the Quincy.

"I'll bring Ion down here to patch him up," I said as I picked up the Shinigami substitute and the girl.

"Patch im up, I thought I said that Gatekeepers die when de open de gate to invaders," Captain Ichimaru stated.

"Men like Jidanbo are hard to come by, besides we took care of his lapse of judgment, I say we just let him off with the warning and the lopped off arm and leave that as his punishment. As soldiers shouldn't we look out for each other?" Asch was practically glaring at Captain Ichimaru.

"Ooooh, scary, aright fine you guys do that I suppose I'll go ahead and report dis and for bein such good helpers I'll even leave out de part about Asch oversteppin his boundaries," he said.

"Hmph," was all Asch returned with.

"Bye bye," Captain Ichimaru shunpoed out of the area.

"That guy puts a bad taste in my mouth," Asch said, "anyway let's get these guys out of the Seireitai." Asch and I dumped the unconscious kids out into Rukongai. The entire time Jidanbo had been holding the gate open with one arm.

"You should close that," I told him, "And don't let those kids back in after your arm gets fixed."

"Vice-captain Fon Fabre,"

"Men like you are hard to come by Jidanbo," Asch told the large Gatekeeper, "Were letting you off with a warning this time." Asch turned his attention to me, "You go get Ion I'll wait here and make sure these kids don't cause anymore problems."

"Yeah," I said and pat Jidanbo's leg, "Take care of yourself big guy," I told him and Shunpoed out of the area.

(A/N: Yes, end chapter, so the scene with Jidanbo happened a little bit differently than it did in canon and Luke is given some cryptic advice from Gin. With Asch and Luke now understanding the situation better than anyone…except maybe Aizen, what can they do about it? Will they be able to expose Aizen before it's too late? You may find out in the next chapter of Noble Flames. Coming Soon! Review plz, don't forget to subscribe and/or fave either if you haven't.)