Deep Set

What if Aizen's plan all along didn't involve Orihime? What if all he wanted to do was lure two powerful shinigami onto his side? He figured it out all he had to do was kidnap one small child.

Disclaimer- I do not own bleach or any of its characters.

Chapter Seven – The Journey Begins

Arriving at Urahara's shop with surprising speed Hitsugaya ceased his shunpo and entered the building at a walking pace as he reached the door he heard Ichigo and Rukia come to a stop just where he had stood merely seconds ago, deciding not to wait for them as time was of the essence he slid the door open and headed into the shop and then headed down into the underground training room.

Jumping down into it Hitsugaya saw it had changed quite drastically considering he had only been there a mere few minutes ago appearing out of the gate connecting to the Kuchiki gardens. Urahara had obviously been hard at work since he had welcomed them and then pointed them in the direction of Kurosaki's overwhelming reatsu with a flick of his hand, Hitsugaya had also taken that as a hint to get out of his way and had obliged the ex shinigami.

Looking up at the strangely angled poles jutting out from the two large rocks in front of him, he noticed they were exactly opposite, Hitsugaya could hazard a guess that they where what opened the gateway to Huenco Mundo. He was snapped out of his musings however due to the unceremonious arrival of one Kurosaki Ichigo who it seemed had used shunpo to land in the training grounds but stumbled on the uneven ground so had landed with a loud thump on his behind. Hitsugaya watched as Rukia landed behind him stifling her laughter behind her hands. Hitsugaya rolled his eyes at the scene wondering how on earth the substitute could even think about going on such a dangerous mission his own. Granted it was his sister, but that didn't mean he suddenly had the mental discipline and guidance that a Gotei Thirteen Captain had. Ignoring the argument developing behind him with Ichigo's ridiculous claim that she had somehow managed to push him he approached Urahara who had just descended from adjusting one of the protruding poles.

"It's all ready to go" spoke Urahara approaching Hitsugaya and answering his unspoken question, "Once those two finish there little argument" he indicated to the two behind Hitsugaya, "I will explain everything to you all"

Hitsugaya nodded at the ex shinigami before turning to face the other two who seemed clearly of in an arguing world of there own. Hitsugaya managed about a minute before snapping at the strawberry,

"Kuchiki didn't push you it was more likely your lack of balance on your huge feet now will you please stop it!" his voice had risen into a shout by the finish and both shinigami on the other end of his glare stopped there argument after shooting a glare at each other before approaching the pair.

Urahara smiled at them all before starting his explanation, "I will make this quick as time is of the essence" at this he shot a look at Ichigo who looked shamed "This is a sort of Garganta unlike ones made by actual Hollows or Arrancar it only opens the door so to speak"

Hitsugaya nodded again but Ichigo interrupted Urahara before he could continue, "Couldn't you just make a Garganta?"

Urahara smiled before taking out his fan and waving it a few times, "Unfortunately not as I am not a Arrancar" Urahara turned at this to face his contraption, "This will have to do, now soon as I open it you have to go straight through and not stop running until you reach Huenco Mundo understood?"

All responded with a quick yes and Urahara turned back to face them, "Good, now head up closer to it and get ready to go when I shout" All three walked up closer, Hitsugaya shot a look at the other two both seemed now to be very determined, Rukia showing the same look she had shown to her brother when she had asked him to leave, Ichigo showing what Hitsugaya had seen set on his face many months ago in Soul Society as he was rescuing the girl beside him. Hitsugaya turned back to watch as the poles sparked with dark energy and then a line stretched out between them before opening out sharply into a long oval. Hitsugaya couldn't help but smile to himself despite the situation with the determination between the three of them and the determination he knew Karin had within herself everything was going to turn out okay.

"Now!"

He hoped.

---

Ishida wasn't one to eavesdrop but he felt that this situation called for it. He had gotten a phone call from a distraught Orihime blabbering nonsense until he managed to get her to calm down. Once he was sure she was breathing normally again he asked her to repeat whatever she had just said, just slower and if she could at a lower pitch his ears where still ringing from her squeaking before.

Once she had re-told everything she had heard from the meeting with the Head Captain Ishida had been more than a bit shocked. Ichigo's sister was not someone he would have expected to be kidnapped, she was not exactly important unless... Ishida's plotting mind kicked in then coming up with all sorts of scenarios as to why the strawberries sister would be important. None seemed plausible but you never knew with a guy like Aizen. Ishida's frown deepened as he thought of that man and his earlier actions. Ending his call with Orihime he asked her to meet him at Chad's house and from there he Chad and Orihime had ended up here hiding behind one of the many mounds of dirt in Urahara's training ground watching as Ichigo, Rukia and to everyone's surprise Hitsugaya shot of through a gateway.

Once they had vanished they where surprised as Urahara called out to them, "Sneaking is unbefitting of you teenagers" he smiled at them as they walked out from behind there hiding place looking slightly shamed

"We only want to help" spoke Orihime not looking up from her shoes

"How is eavesdropping helping anyone?" Asked Urahara confused looking enquiringly at the three in front of him.

"We want to go help Kurosaki" replied Ishida and he saw Chad nod next to him silently agreeing with him.

"You can help him" Started Urahara, "But you're not going anywhere"

He was cut of from explaining more as a black blur suddenly appeared in front of Urahara glaring down at him. Urahara started and stepped backwards not expecting the furious face of Kurosaki Isshin.

"Where are my children Urahara" he stated, Urahara noted that aside from his very red face Isshin had not gotten out of his gigai and had obviously used Shunpo to get to the Shouten despite the face people may have seen, that meant he was really pissed.

Urahara smiled nervously, "Maybe you better calm down first before I explain" this didn't go as well as he hoped as he found himself of the ground mere seconds later being held by his collar.

"You will explain now before I test on you to see how rusty my fighting skills have gotten" He growled menacingly

Urahara sighed defeated, "Karin was kidnapped" he had decided to leave out that she may have been killed as he was hovering several centimetres of the floor "and your son just left to go retrieve her"

Isshin scowled at Urahara and set him back down on the ground, "And you just let him go?" he inquired

Urahara smiled, "I think you of all people should know how stubborn your son is" Isshin too smiled at that and visibly relaxed the red colour of his face fading away

"True, now that's out the way how's about you point me in the direction he went?"

Urahara shook his head; "Now that I can't do" he inwardly winced after he said that as he watched the red return to Isshin's cheeks

"Why the hell not?!" he exclaimed

"For starters they have gone to Huenco Mundo..." Urahara didn't get a chance to finish as he was cut of by a scoff

"As if I haven't been there before, now open up a gate and I will be on my way"

"We're coming too!" Exclaimed Ishida and he Chad and Orihime all jumped up behind Isshin as if to remind Urahara of there presence

Isshin turned to face them having not registered them being there before and was about to ask them who they where before Urahara cut in,

"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted" he started again glaring at Isshin who turned back to face him,

"You" at this he indicated Isshin with his fan, "Are not going anywhere near Huenco Mundo and for one very good reason, have you forgotten you have three children? What becomes of the one left behind as her family all run of on a rescue mission" He spared no look towards Isshin simply moving on to the teenagers standing behind him,

"You" he continued pointing at Orihime, "I have told before, you are not a fighter you are a healer and your training in Soul Society has done nothing to change my opinion controlled fighting is one thing war is another" he moved on again to the other teenagers

"And you two" he opened his fan this time so both were pointed at with each end, "You may have been training but you are not strong enough yet much more is needed"

He turned his back on the four as he let his words sink in walking away a few paces he stopped and turned on the spot retracting his fan and putting it into his pocket.

"Do you see now why none of you are going anywhere?" he asked taking each expression and seeing each wore a mask of shame and realisation and where really to wrapped up in there own heads to really hear him. Tapping his cane on the ground to get there attention he saw he had it when all pairs of eyes focused on him.

He smiled before speaking again, "Now as I was saying before I was lifted from the ground you all are able to help young Kurosaki and luckily the exact missing thing has walked into our midst"

Smirking inwardly to himself as he saw matching looks of confusion flash over there faces he continued on to explain to them,

"I was intending for you to guard Kurakura after all the only decent shinigami stationed here just left with Ichigo and the one here at the moment..." Urahara searched for a word fit to describe him "is a little incompetent but alas as I just mentioned you all need more training and as our resident shinigami had to leave" Urahara was saddened by that but only because he couldn't boss the red head around anymore "we where in need of a trainer until of course someone suddenly appeared in out midst"

The teenagers turned there attention to the older Kurosaki with interest who began to splutter; "Now I don't know..." He started but Urahara cut him off,

"Face it you need a distraction from thinking about Ichigo and Karin and they could use the training you where a captain and quite an adept healer at that as well" and with that he indicated Orihime who began admiring her shoes again embarrassed by the attention,

Isshin frowned again before sighing heavily; "Alright fine" he begrudgingly accepted and then turned around to face the other three,

"But don't expect me to go easy on you" he smiled devilishly and unconsciously the three shrank back a little unnerved by his smile.

Urahara beamed, "Good now that's settled... Who wants some tea?" he asked as though everything that just happened was completely normal.

The three teenagers accepted his offer but Isshin politely refused, "As you reminded me Urahara I have three children" he smiled softly, "And I'm guessing the one left behind is currently worrying about me as well as her siblings" he chuckled softly before bidding them all goodbye and to Urahara's relief walked out of the training area up to the Shouten. Using shunpo while in gigai was dangerous as they where just not built for that kind of speed.

Turning back to the teenagers he ushered them out of the training grounds, "Well come on then or that offer just might expire"

---
And that's chapter 7 mainly tying up loose ends but it's a chapter nevertheless.

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