"Why did Aizen not stop us?" Soifon asked as she panted for breath. They had finally been forced to stop due to her extensive injuries. There was little protection in the vast wasteland but they had found a bit of bare rock that dipped down in the sand, offering some shelter. Soifon leaned against the grey stone and watched Hitsugaya through half closed eyes.
"He lost his memory too. He doesn't know how to use his powers."
"What?" Her eyes snapped back open. "I think you need to start from the beginning."
Toshiro told his story and Soifon smiled as he concluded.
"So Aizen is powerless, Gin is still at the level of a third seat and they are trying to maintain their cover in a den of monsters. We'll never get another opportunity like this."
"Wait, what do you mean? Aren't we going back to the Soul Society?"
"Not any more." She tried to stand but failed and slumped back against the rock.
"See, you're in no shape to fight."
"Then heal me."
Toshiro stared back at her.
"What do you mean? I don't know–"
"Yes you do, Hitsugaya. You got us out of that room, you still have your soul reaper instincts. You can do it if you try. The chant goes like this."
She went through the chant slowly and Toshiro concentrated, remembering it in its entirety the first time. Then he held out his hands and felt the power radiate out of his body and into hers. He could not heal her completely, but much of the damage was repaired. She stood and stretched while he sat and rubbed the fatigue from his eyes.
"We have to make our move. We may never get another chance."
"What about our zampakutos?"
Soifon frowned. "Yours is in the Soul Society and Tossen took mine. These will have to do."
She bent and picked up the two swords they'd taken from the arrancars. They didn't seem to be zampakutos, just regular steel. Toshiro took his and tested it out in the air with a few skilful flicks and jabs. Then a thought struck him and he turned back to Soifon.
"Why is my Zampakuto there? Did Aizen capture me from the Soul Society."
Soifon regarded him for a moment before swinging her own sword around a few times and offering only the blunt reply, "yes."
"Why?"
"Because you held valuable secrets. But if they are gone now, the danger is passed and we can eliminate Aizen once and for all."
"He's really that powerful?" Soifon let her sword tip drop and drove it into the ground. Her eyes met his and he found it hard not to flinch from the intensity of her gaze.
"Yes, he is. And you and I are going to stop him. You are a captain of the Gotei Thirteen, wether you remember it or not."
Toshiro gripped his own sword tighter and took a sobering breath.
"Okay. What is the plan?"
Aizen sat in the throne room, completely alone except for his second in command, neither of whom remembered what exactly they were doing in Heuco Mundo. Aizen had sent Tossen after the prisoners just to get him out of the room. No, that was not entirely true. Toshiro was the only one who knew their secret. He had to be eliminated.
"I don't like just sittin'."
Aizen turned to say something to Gin but his breath caught and he felt a wave of foreign energy wash through him.
"Captain?"
He clutched his chest and Gin moved to his side. When Aizen's face became contorted in pain and his hand flew to his chest, the second in command did not hesitate before ripping back his uniform. Gin's hand paused in shock when he saw a small golden object embedded in his captain's chest.
"What is that?"
"I– I don't know..." Aizen swallowed and the moment passed. His body began to feel normal again.
"What just happened?"
"It felt like it was...communicating with me. It feels alive."
"Okay, we really need some answers." Gin sighed sitting back. Aizen pulled his robes back together and a moment later there was a series of hollow thuds at the end of the great hall– someone was knocking.
"Enter."
Aa tall, slender arrancar with a wicked smile and a large eye patch entered and came up to them.
"Lord Aizen, Ichigo Kurosaki has reached the palace. He is already inside. Shall I destroy him?"
Aizen just barely let his eyes shift to Gin to see if he recognized the name but he saw no hint so he nodded to the espada.
"Go ahead."
It seemed the other had seen the second of hesitation but said nothing and bowed out of the room.
Aizen stood in a frustrated rage.
"This can't go on. Is there nothing you can do to restore our memories?"
Gin stood too but shook his head helplessly. "No sir. Not that I know of."
"Dammit."
There was a thunderous explosion, the room shook and the doors rattled. Both men stopped and listened to the sounds of battle beyond the doors.
"I'm guessing that is Ichigo Kurosaki."
"They're gone."
Renji stummbled to a halt, digging deep into the silver sands and dragging Rukia with him. She pulled her hand out of his grasp to catch her balance.
"What?" he asked as the girl brushed sand out of her bangs.
"Orihime, Uryu and Grimmjow. Their spiritual pressure vanished. I think they returned to the world of the living."
"You think what? How?"
"Grimmjow. Orihime always tried to convince me he wasn't so bad."
"Didn't she think Uluqiorra wasn't so bad either?"
"Okay, maybe not the best judge but in this case she might have been right. Why else would he have taken them back?"
"I don't know but I'm sure he has his reasons. Now what? That's the reason Ichigo came here in the first place and why we're here chasing after him. He's going to get himself killed for nothing.
"Not nothing. Captain Hitsugaya is still here.
Just then Rukia and Renji felt the immense wave of Ichigo's spiritual pressure.
"Its started." Rukia said solemnly.
"That idiot. Just because he can move faster than us with his hollow mask doesn't mean he can take Aizen down on his own! He doesn't stand a chance. They already eliminated five good soul reapers."
Rukia side and her shoulders slumped visibly.
"If he managed to get the stealth squad, what chances do we have? And we don't even know what he did to Captain Soifon."
"We just have to hurry up then." Renji said, grabbing her hand in his once more. "This won't be easy, but we can't give up."
"I know."
"We're home." Uryu exclaimed and he jumped up from the ground full of elated energy. But there was no movement behind him and he turned to find Grimmjow and Orihime still on the ground.
"Orihime?" He pushed the bloodied arrancar off of her and pulled her into a sitting position. She was awake but weak.
"I just got the wind knocked out of me." She smiled weakly.
"Here. I think I can carry you."He pulled her onto his back and stood.
"Wait!"
"What, are you hurt?"
"No. But you can't just leave him."
"Why not? We're home, we don't need him, he was an enemy anyway."
"He was protecting us."
"Only because he needs your powers. What do you think will happen if you can't get them back? And what will you do with him in the mean time?"
"I– I don't know..."
"I think I can help with that."
Uryu spun, carrying Orhime around with him. She felt relief when she saw the striped hat shadowing those mysterious eyes.
"Mr. Urahara!"
"Orihime my dear, I'm glad to see you're alright."
Tessai was behind him and moved to inspect Grimmjow.
The shop keeper's grin faded. "And I see you've brought back a souvenir from Heuco Mundo."
"He really did save us. More than once."
The grin returned and Urahara was as light hearted as ever. "Then we owe him. Tessai!" His assistant nodded and put and arm under Grimmjow, hoisting the unconscious man to his feet.
"Come on Uryu. There is much the three of us need to discuss."
"Orihime." The boy said looking above him to see her face. "Who is this guy and how does he know about all this stuff?"
Urahara stared back at the boy stunned for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and looked back to Orihime.
"Yes indeed, it seems there is much to talk about."
Hyorinmaru hummed slightly in the grasp of the soul reaper that held it. He touched the cool steal lightly, as if to sooth the distressed zampakuto.
"You are right, he should not have to pay for my mistakes. But if his life is the price for saving all worlds, I know he'll pay it gladly."
The consciousness that flickered through the sword blazed intensely for a moment then faded. Yamamoto replaced it in its sheath and set it down. He sighed deep, his whole being drained, exhausted. He sat back in his chair, still feeling a twang of pain from this wounds from Aizen. It had only been a few days however his healing abilities were extraordinary.
The old commander felt the messenger approaching and stood up, taking his time as he walked to the door. He opened it just as the soul reaper raised his hands to knock.
"Oh, Head Captain sir, I was just coming to deliver the news. The humans Orihime Inoue and Uryu Ishida have returned to the world of the living. A third, unidentified soul came with them but it has already been confirmed that is was not Captain Hitsugaya or Captain Soifon."
"Where are they?"
"At Kisuke Urahara's, sir."
The Head Captain picked up his ancient staff and stepped outside. "Then I guess I'm paying a visit to the world of the living."
Made a farily significant mistake last night when publishing (I had Uluqiorra back in the palace...silly me) any way, here is the corrected version.
HAPPY CANADA DAY!