Merry Christmas everyone.

The Shogun himself presents a Christmas present to his readers before they gut him for his tardiness.

Enjoy!

And of course, I do not own Bleach

Chapter 11:

Refuge, Memories and Thoughts, admist the Angry Night.

"Ohhh."

Ishida woke up from what had been the second time he had blacked out today. A white cloth covering the gash on his forehead, there was a slight pale red stain but for the most part the wound had stopped bleeding.

He examines his surrondings, a small but respectable bedroom, a few candles to provide lighting laid about. Obviously the home is a peasant's residence, humble but liveable.

Now that his head is clearing, he could fully picture the face of Orihime coming to aid his plight. So mostly likely this was her home.

His senses now detect the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor.

"I think he's awake now Mother."

The sliding door opened to reveal Orihime and two other people, one an older boy, presumably her brother perhaps? And a woman that was most likely her mother.

"Ishida, are you alright?"

"My head beginning to clear now, so yes, and I thank you for your aid."

"What happened to you?" asked the boy.

"I was attacked by a whole gang of samurai, I believe I heard that samurai who attacked, your sister right?" The boy nodded in reply. "I see."

"Toyori did this to you?"

"Yes."

"Ishida, if I were you I'd recommend to be careful around him, Toyori commands a detachment of the Kyoto garrison and he's known for carrying grudges."

"Heh, it appears Aizen doesn't seem intrested with morality for choosing commanders. Any thug who swears obedience will do."

"You are a monk of the Quincy aren't you?" Ishida nodded in reply

"Thank you for helping my daughter, if their is something we can pay our..."

"It is alright, the Quincy does not depend on money to sustain ourselves."

"Well Ishida, um, if you don't mind would you like to stay here for the night? I don't think the storm will pass until morning."

Ishida thought of Orihime's offer for a moment, normally the Quincy does not wish to be a burden on anyone except if they themselves come to your aid. He certainly knew going out into the storm would be a bad idea, and he was hungry.

"If it is of no burden to you, I accept your hospitality."

"It's not a problem, we haven't had guests in a while actually. This is my brother Sora, and my mother's name is Seiya." Both individuals in question bowed in respect.

"Thank you."

"Come on, Father should be heading back from the fields. By the way Ishida."

"Hmm?"

"For dinner, how would you like Natto with Umeboshi?"

...

"What?

Urahara Shop

The storm had forced almost all the shops to close early, Urahara among them as he began shutting the windows.

It was while he closed his shop though, his eyes caught a glimpse of Zangetsu, it's silk covered blade standing still.

And now, a memory of years ago struck him, this storm and the driving rain.

Oh yes, now he remembers that day.

6 years ago.

"Were closed!" Urahara had closed shop early due to the storm, but someone didn't seem to pay heed and opened the door.

"I said we were..."

The indivdual in question appeared before Urahara, clad in a tattered cloak and carrying a large sword. His forehead had a few gashes and guts as he panted heavily to catch his breath.

"Kanonji?"

"U-u-urahara-san, water, please."

Quick to respond Urahara proffered a gourd to Kanonji, taking several large gulp he could know speak more clearly.

"Thanks, if I wasn't so thirsty though I'd ask for some Izu Sake."

"Kanonji, why are you here?

"It's not for tea and dumplings if your wondering, apparently Aizen had found out where Zangetsu was. He sent a whole battalion to attack our shrine. We did our best to stop them but they were so many."

"That's the sword there right?"

"Yep, managed to get it away before they seized the shrine."

"What happened to the other monks?"

"That I don't know, right now their hunting us down one by one. Figured sooner or later they'd catch me so that's why I came here. That and I knew you'd have some Sake around Urahara-san."

"You still haven't paid me for the last few bottles Kanonji." "I'm a monk, why am I supposed to use money?"

"Why did you become a monk in the first place?" Both men ended up laughing for a few seconds. Urahara then returned to the issue at hand.

"I don't understand, the Emperor has blessed Kiyomizu, why would Aizen dare defy him?"

"Believe me, I wished he didn't, but with Aizen, when you have a good chunk of the country under your thumb, and a army of soldiers to do your will, the rules don't apply much nowadays." Kanonji took another swig from the gourd. "Anyways, Urahara your about the only guy whom I can somewhat trust in this city, I figured maybe you could keep the sword safe."

"Are you crazy!? You haven't guessed that Aizen will search the rest of the city would you?"

"But what I do know is that I can't keep Zangetsu with me and risk it's seizure, you and me both know what would happen if Aizen gets his hands on the sword as well as the others, so please Urahara, will you do this?" And as he said that, Kanonji proffered the blade to Urahara.

A few moments of hesitation fazed Urahara, finally he grabbed the sword by the grip.

"I'll do it."

"Forgive me Urahara-san, I didn't want to place this burden on you, but I don't know other way."

"It's okay Kanonji, I'm just a little shocked that's all." Urahara went into the back room to place the sword.

"Anyways Kanonji, where are you going?"

"I'm going to make a try for the Quincy's temple, even Aizen's not that reckless enough to bloody their noses, at least not yet."

"They'll be hunting you down like a dog, you think your chances are good."

"Well, I kept the most powerful weapon in the world away from a blood-thirsty tyrant, if I die, at least it was in good service right?"

Right before Kanonji walked out, Urahra threw a second gourd at him. Upon catching it he took a large swig, then swiped his face clean, adorning a smile of delight."

"Ah, Izu Sake, what could potentially be my last as well."

"Figured you might want something for the traveling, anyways, take care."

"And to you as well, if I do die I'll send your regards to Isshin-sama, farewell my friend."

Since that day, the Great Sword had stayed in his care. He hadn't heard from Kanonji since then, most likely Aizen's samurai caught him.

"I guess his sacrifice paid for all those gourds of Sake." He thought in bitter amusement.

The more he looked at that sword, the more he wanted to know, what exactly was Zangetsu's power? What made it so that thousands would die to posses it?

Deciding he would find the answer, Urahara unravled the silk covering, then held the hilt with his two hands.

Without much warning, a wave of power seemed to course from the blade and into his body. Eyes widened, he could see the blade emitting a blue aura. The pure power from the blade started to shake shop items off their shelves, vases tipped over, swords rattled in the racks.

Finally Urahara dropped the blade, gasping for breath after what had been quite a rush. Once he regained himself he rewrapped the blade with the silk.

"All that power, I felt as if I could take on a whole army. So Isshin, this is what your concern was wasn't it."

Urahara went to his bedroom, there he found his old kimono, the symbol of the Kurosaki clan on the back.

"In the wrong hands Zangetsu could destory this country, in the right ones though, it can be the key to the people's dreams."

"Perhaps."

Kurosaki Residence

"Your cooking is quite delicious, thank you." Rukia bowed to Masaki.

"I'm sorry there wasn't food to go around." "It's alright, I understand."

The bowls of food now stood empty, Karin and Yuzu were picking them up for cleaning while the conversation continued.

"It seems the populace is starting to grow restless from lack of food."

"There hasn't been a good harvest in years, plus with winter approching and Aizen's campaigns, it's hard for anyone who isn't a samurai to feed themselves." Ichigo remarked as he drank the last of his tea. "It sounds like the storm's starting to lighten up."

"Well, in that case I can leave tomorrow morning." Rukia stood up from her seat and headed to her room.

"You heading to bed now?"

"Yes, I do want to make my way across the city early due to the soldiers gathering here."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for breakfast?"

"No, I'll be fine, thank you for all you've done."

"It's no problem, just if you could tell me something."

"Hmm?"

"What are you really doing here in Kyoto anyway?"

Rukia needed a moment to reply, obviously it would be dangerous to compromise her mission here.

"Like I told you, I'm just traveling down the road."

"In time such as these, I'm surprised."

But before Ichigo could answer further Rukia beat him to reply.

"Sometimes, what you want to know, may be best to forget." She walked into her room. "Good night, Ichigo." And without another word closed the door.

Ichigo was still perplexed at Rukia's behavior. Was there something she had to hide?

He quickly shook that thought off however "Oh come on, I've barely even met her now I want to further pry her own privacy? She'll be leaving anyway so what's the use."

Still, he couldn't help but start thinking of the circumstances that brought him to meet her. How he helped her in the noodle bar and accepting his offer to stay at his home. She even gave her name. True he had been around girls before, but this one, she was different from the rest.

So perhaps, perhaps there was something that meant them to meet.

But that thought soon left his mind "Heh, since when does stuff like that happen".

"Perhaps my stay will soon oulast it's welcome."

Rukia was starting to get rather pertubed at the way Ichigo questioned her, he was lucky he only knew little, otherwise she'd have to kill him.

And that would be rather rude, given his hospitality, and for being a common townsman seemed rather knowledgeable beyond a lout.

No! Why was she thinking like that, barely a day she knew this Mashiba Ichigo and now affection comes in, like it was destiny?

How idiotic, He was just a person that offered her food and shelter for the night, nothing more needed to be thanked.

She now has a mission to accomplish, for one thing she had to find the spy the Quincy had sent in. And with this storm it may not be until next morning they meet up.

However, the storm and the lack of soldiers on patrol offered her a chance to gather information on the enemy.

Afterall, as Sun Tzu said "All war is based on deception."

But before she proceeded to climb the window, she felt that she couldn't leave without offering the family her thanks.

Grabbing a brush, the cup of ink in the room, she prepared a note to be read next morning.

By which she'll be gone, never to see them, or him, again.

So she thought

Even admist this storm there were still some people walking the rain-drenched roads.

A single man, a straw hat providing protection from the rain makes his way tonight, where does he go, what does he want, no one knows.

He does notice something though, the footsteps of someone in pursuit, several people in pursuit actually.

"You there! Stop at once!" The man stops upon hearing his voice.

"I see you men have finally caught me. My regards to your pursuit."

"You are under arrest for stealing supplies from Lord Aizen's army and the murder of several of his soldiers! The punishment of which is death by public execution!"

"So if your trying to kill me, why did you bother to review my crimes?"

"I have no need to explain myself to a lowlife thief like yourself, seize-"

The guard had no time to finish his sentence, a small throwing knife had cut his throat, blood poured from the gash as the guard collapsed to ground. The other soldiers hastily prepared their weapons, ready for a fight.

"Everyone's in a rush to die these days." He spoke while removing his hat, revealing his loud red hair tied into several bangs and a black tatto pattern on his forehad. Then, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Well then, who's first?"

Post Battle Report:

Kanonji seems OOC to me but I wanted to give him some role in the story besides his comic relief in the manga and anime.

I really feel as if I could have done the IchiRuki scenes better but they have just met, hopefully I can better develop their relationship.

So Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, and Meri-Kurisumasu. And Hark the Hearld Angels sing.

Oyusama.