10

Escape

…

"Have you told Katashi yet?" Ukitake asked.

Toshiro shook his head vigorously. "I can't. I can't tell him that I'm…that I'm supposed to kill him!"

Ukitake watched as the boy in front of him unraveled. He'd only had his brother back for a month and now Soul Society was going to force them apart again. He was torn between loyalty to Soul Society and his want to keep Katashi close.

"I can see that you're not going to be able to do it," Ukitake noted.

"But I have to," Toshiro said. "I know that it would be better for him because he'd finally be able to find peace and be rid of that Hollow part of him, but I selfishly don't want him to leave again or…to be the one to have to do it. Still, I would never forgive myself it I let someone else do it instead."

Ukitake placed a hand on Toshiro's shoulder. "Have you ever considered asking him?"

Toshiro looked down at his feet. "How?"

"I can't answer that for you, Toshiro," Ukitake said. "This is something you'll have to figure out on your own. Meanwhile, I will talk to Soul Society and see if we can lessen the extremity of their plans."

"Are you sure you're not too sick still?" Toshiro questioned.

"I am fine," the man answered. "Now, why don't you go lie down for a little bit? I think you need some time to think."

Toshiro nodded and vanished from the room. Ukitake watched carefully before speaking. "Katashi, I know you're there, you can come out now."

The black-haired teen appeared from around the corner. "My reiatsu is completely hidden," he stated. "How did you know I was there?"

"Because eavesdropping used to be one of your favorite pastimes," Ukitake recalled. "Toshiro picked up his curiosity from you, you know."

"I heard all of it," Ulquiorra said. "They have actually requested that Toshiro kill me?"

"Yes," Ukitake responded.

Ulquiorra's vivid eyes drifted to a blank spot on the wall. It was like he was looking a hundred years in the past. "I do…not know how I feel about that."

"I can't imagine you would," Ukitake remarked.

"It would…be the right option, as defined by Soul Society," Ulquiorra thought aloud. "As Toshiro said, I would no longer be any part Hollow and if he could not complete this action, they might view him as disloyal."

"I don't think many people would blame him for being unable to slay you," Ukitake answered.

Ulquiorra finally met the man's eyes. "I am trying to think of what life would be like for him afterward."

"Katashi…"

"If it is inevitable that they will kill me," the younger continued, "and all goes as according to their plan, then at least I know that there will be many who will care for him."

"Where is this all coming from?" Ukitake questioned, searching the boy's empty eyes wildly.

"Cold logic and probability," Ulquiorra answered.

"We're going to try to avoid that outcome," Ukitake refuted.

Ulquiorra blinked. "I think that over time, Ichigo Kurosaki might come to take my place."

"Why do you say that?" the older man wondered.

"I talked to him," Ulquiorra said. "That look in his eyes…he's someone who wishes to protect. He might be able to do so better than I would."

Ukitake looked surprised. "I thought you disliked Ichigo."

"I find him more of an annoyance," Ulquiorra answered. "However, I feel some strange sense of unexplainable familiarity."

A soft chuckle came from Ukitake. "It's because you two are more alike than I think either of you would like to admit."

"In what way?"

"Both of you have this need to protect," Ukitake said. "Always. Whenever what you've been protecting is taken away, you find something else-someone else. Both have younger siblings with high reiatsu who you would risk your lives to keep safe. Both lost a parent to a Hollow at a young age. Both of you struggle with inner Hollows of your own. Both scowl more than smile. Have you noticed?"

Ulquiorra distinctively frowned. "I see. In that case, I definitively think that Kurosaki would be able to act as an older brother figure to Toshiro once I am gone."

"What about Orihime? She would miss you as well."

"Orihime has plenty of friends," Ulquiorra replied. "I am more of a hindrance to her happiness. Over time, she will forget."

"You sound like you think the world may be better off without you," Ukitake said.

Ulquiorra's stare was cold. "I have already told you, I am simply using logic."

"Katashi?"

"Yes?"

"Not everything…can be explained using logic. Sometimes, you have to use your heart."

Ulquiorra's hand lightly touched the metal ring that hung around his neck, right over where his heart would be. The one keeping his Hollow in check. He clenched his hand around it.

"I see."

…

Ichigo tried to smile for his family.

He really did.

But knowing that Soul Society might steal him away from his life in a matter of days was a hard thing to bear. He kept looking at their faces and knowing that he might never see them again. Well, except for Karin, that is. She was on the list, too, but maybe…maybe he could convince them that there wasn't any threat in leaving her here. So he would never get to finish his human life. That didn't mean she had to suffer the same fate!

Ichigo had to suddenly excuse himself from the dinner table. He hid in his room where no one could see him place his head in his hands: where no one could watch him slowly breaking down.

The door opened and small feet padded in. An unusually soft voice asked, "Ichigo?"

The boy's head whipped up to meet the stare of his visitor. "Karin," he whispered.

She ducked her head down. "I knew something was wrong."

"Nothing is-"

"Ichigo, don't lie to her," Rukia interrupted, stepping in through the open doorway. "She deserves the truth."

"But Rukia-!"

She fixed him with an icy glare. Ichigo's protests died in his throat. He sighed. Then, patting the bed next to him, he said, "Karin, come here."

She did as she was told. "What's going on?"

"How much do you know about Soul Society?" Ichigo's face was completely serious.

"Only a little," she answered. "It's where all the Shinigami live."

His frown deepened, if that was at all possible. "Well, things over there are a little…messy, right now. I don't expect you to understand all of this or not to be angry. The thing is, they've asked me to go there."

"For how long?" she questioned.

"For forever, Karin."

She finally understood the pain in his eyes. "No!" she shouted. "No, you…you can't!" She whipped around to face Rukia. "Why?"

The older girl couldn't meet her eyes, gazing instead toward the floor. "The captains have decided that it would be the best solution."

"So Toshiro is in on this, too?" that small girl demanded.

"No," Ichigo answered. "Toshiro is completely against the plan. He called it crazy right after…"

Ichigo was unable to finish his sentence.

"She'll find out sooner or later," Rukia insisted. "I think she'd rather you tell her."

Ichigo nodded. Gently, he placed his hand on his Karin's shoulder. "I'm not the only one on the list to be moved, Karin. He called it crazy right after they read your name."

Ichigo thought she would panic or scream or even break her promise to herself and cry. Yet, all she said was; "Oh."

Nothing else, just; "Oh."

"Karin?" he asked, gripping her shoulder tighter.

Then, Ichigo saw something that, to him, was almost unbearable. The light faded from Karin's eyes, her face became emotionless, and she said, "I see."

"What do you mean by 'I see'?" Ichigo argued. "There's nothing to see. There's…I'm going to try getting you out of this, I swear. I never wanted you to be involved with Soul Society."

She blinked and looked up at him. "Is this because I used kido?"

"Where did you learn that word?" Ichigo asked.

Her voice still held no tone as she answered, "Toshiro taught me."

"Toshiro…" Ichigo shook his head. "No, that wouldn't have been why. The plan was decided before that."

"Then because I attacked Hollows?" she continued, her brows creasing a bit.

"Karin, how long has this been going on for?" Rukia wondered.

"Ever since Ichigo left…that first time," she muttered.

Pain began to seep out from under the mask. Pain from Ichigo's long departures, pain from never knowing when or if he'd be back, pain from realizing that soon she would have to leave, too. Ichigo saw this and wrapped his arms around her. Rukia chose this moment to leave. They needed some time alone.

…

"Who knows, Tatsuki, maybe it'll be fun!" Orihime suggested energetically.

Tatsuki only raised an eyebrow. "Who are you trying to fool?"

That said, Orihime's happy façade dropped. She ducked her head. The orange-haired girl had been given the task of breaking the news to Tatsuki: that Soul Society wanted to uproot them all. While everyone was still going to fight for their right to stay in the human world, it was a good idea to prepare for the worst.

"I guess it's not as bad for me," Orihime whispered, "because I don't have any family and all of my good friends are being relocated, too. Your family is still here, though, and your martial arts team, and all of this is so sudden…"

Tatsuki sighed and sat back against her best friend's wall, closing her eyes and raising her head to the ceiling as if she was praying. "Well," she said, keeping her tone even, "at least we'll be together, right?"

Orihime forced a smile onto her face. "That's right! All of us will. You, me, Ichigo, Ulquiorra, Chad, Uryu, and Rukia will be there, too, because she's a Shinigami, plus Renji-but I don't know if you remember him. Oh, there's so many people that I'll have to introduce you to!"

Tatsuki smiled softly, letting Orihime play out her over-energetic little rant and scenarios, obviously trying to distract the both of them from the big problem: the hard times and huge changes ahead.

"…they have sparring there, too, because pretty much everyone in Seireitei knows how to fight. I'm sure you could go one-on-one with someone and even beat them! You're so strong, I have no doubt about it!" Orihime was making punching motions in the air to add to the effect of her forced enthusiasm.

"So, when should I start packing my bags?" Tatsuki asked, making an attempt to keep her voice light.

"I don't know," her friend answered. "We haven't heard much else and everyone's still fighting Soul Society on it."

"Not even an estimate of how long we have left?" the short girl remarked. "I'm taking a point off of their score for sloppy work."

Orihime's lips lifted softly at the half-hearted tease. Tatsuki…Tatsuki was tough. If anyone could do this, it was her.

…

Ira and Ari sat back to back, identical concerned looks upon their young faces. Grimmjow leaned against a wall silently. Even Kaeliel lacked the usual loudness in his aura.

"Something ain't right about this," Kaeliel muttered. "There's no way those Shinigami would welcome us into their precious Soul Society with open arms."

"Isn't it obvious?" Ira scoffed, the childish mischief stolen from his violet eyes.

The same effect was displayed on Ari. "They're going to dispose of us and our powers one way or another."

Both heads nodded in synchronization. "We never should have asked for their help."

"I hate to say it, but I agree with them," Kaeliel replied. "We should've known those stuck up ba- would never help us."

Grimmjow's head nodded slowly, sternly. "Then we're leaving."

Ira and Ari stood, hands joined. "When?" they asked.

"Now."

"Ah-ah, not so fast," Urahara's voice rang out. The man quickly slipped through the sliding doors, making sure no one was following him. He was holding a backpack.

"I will destroy you if you get in our way," Grimmjow threatened.

"I'm not going to," Urahara replied. He threw the bag at Grimmjow. "Actually, I'm here to help. I heard Soul Society's plans. They have ordered your deaths. Seeing as you've come in peace, I cannot allow that."

"So what's in the bag?" Kaeliel wondered.

At this, Urahara's mad scientist grin appeared. "Oh, just a few little going away gifts." He walked over and pulled out a small vial. "First off, these are pieces of Soul Candy that I've modified. They'll overcome the devices implanted in your gigai. You'll be able to get out if you need to." He placed them back inside, replacing them with a black wristband. "Second, this is one of my newer inventions. If you put this on in soul form, it will completely hide your reiatsu. Just take note, it will automatically deactivate should you enter Soul Society. I've packed quite a few in here, in case any are damaged." This time, the scientist brought out four cards. "Lastly, these are fake identification cards. They will help you get by in the World of the Living if you choose to stay instead of returning to Hueco Mundo while it is so disorderly."

"Why are you doing all of this?" Grimmjow asked.

Urahara hid under the shade of his hat. "I already told you. It would be unjust for me to sit by and watch Soul Society slay those who hold no ill intentions."

The man was thoroughly surprised when two pairs of small arms gripped him around the waist. Ira and Ari exclaimed, "Thank you, Mr. Urahara!"

He ruffled their dark silver hair gently, almost affectionately. "You're welcome. Now scram before we're all caught and sentenced to death."

"What about Ulquiorra?" Grimmjow questioned. "Do they plan to murder him as well?"

"Yes, from what I've heard," Urahara answered. "I've already spoken to him and offered the same protections. He refused. He said he had his own solution."

Grimmjow nodded sullenly. He understood. "We will be leaving now, then."

"You better go quickly," the ex-Shinigami ushered. "You'll want to get as far away as you can while it's still dark out."

With that, Grimmjow began to push the small group of Arrancar out the door, down the hall, and into the night. Urahara tilted his hat toward their vanishing figures. A small black cat crawled up to his legs. The man bent down to stroke her ears.

"What have you done now, Kisuke?" Yoruichi demanded.

"Hopefully, the right thing," he answered.

…

Special thanks to: windlily, -SoManyUpsAndDowns-, 69EmoGaaraFan69, fan girl 666, rachel-angelhero, and Azublue.

You guys are my inspiration!