A/N: A note on some of the latest chapters of Bleach. This story is again, firmly in AU status, since I started writing it (well, Phases, anyway), long before any of these things were actually canon (I think the original story was started before the Visored were promoted to captaincy). That said, I'm going to try to bridge the gap between this story and the canon as much as I can without making the story contradict itself.

Such as with Isshin and Toshiro and Matsumoto. I guessed right that Isshin used to be the Tenth Division captain but guessed wrong in that Toshiro and Matsumoto didn't recognize him—they so did and just didn't tell anyone. So to make Toshiro not a horrible liar in the relevant chapter of Phases (where he tells Karin he would have told her about her dad if he knew but he didn't, only guessed), I'm going to say that while that while Toshiro for some reason didn't make the Isshin Kurosaki/Isshin Shiba (Ankoujin in this story, see above author's note again ^^) connection, Rangiku totally did and just didn't say anything.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. At all.

Chapter 16: Calm before the storm

Yuzu's task turned out to be a visit to the Tenth and Thirteenth Divisions, to deliver the official reports of their visit to Tokyo. When Byakuya gave her the order, at around nine-thirty in the morning, she couldn't say that she was surprised. Disappointed, maybe, but not surprised. Still, she nodded, tucking the folders he had given her under her arm and turning to leave. On the way out, she asked for permission to remain outside of the division for part of the afternoon, to visit her father. Byakuya agreed.

Yuzu decided to pretend that she didn't notice his relief.

She stopped on one of the rooftops overlooking the Tenth Division, letting out the breath she was holding. It was already around ten o'clock, and no doubt her brother would already be at the Sixth Division for his meeting.

His secret meeting that apparently had nothing to do with her, and was taking place in her office.

Are you angry? asked Jungetsu as Yuzu leaped from the rooftop to the ground, one hand on Jungetsu's guard to keep the sword in its sheath, and the other closed tight around the files in her hand.

A little bit, Yuzu admitted with a sigh. It's obvious that something's going on. I don't like how Ichi-nii's first reaction when something serious happens is to hide it from me. I know he's trying to protect me, but it wasn't nice when I was a child, and I'm not a child anymore.

You should say something, then, said Jungetsu. Maybe…

Yuzu shook her head, approaching the Tenth Division gates. No, she said. It's not really worth causing trouble over. They'll tell me soon, I'm sure.

Jungetsu frowned, but said nothing more. Yuzu sighed again, resolving to put the matter out of her mind for now. If Byakuya wanted to keep secrets from her, then that was his prerogative as the captain. It wasn't as if she was anything more to him than his subordinate officer. And as for Ichigo…

Well, that was a can of worms that she didn't want to deal with right now.

She stepped through the Tenth Division gates, walking towards the administrative office. The Tenth, like the Sixth, seemed to have an air of anticipation everywhere around it, as though they were all waiting to be sent into battle again. It surprised Yuzu that two Arrancar and a group of powered humans could cause such a stir, but then again, the Tenth also had more reason than any other Division to be worried about what was to come. And besides, she thought, thinking back to her history lessons at the Academy, the last time Soul Society had ignored a potential threat from a group of humans, they hadn't come out on the better end of the exchange.

Well, they had, in the end, but they didn't know it at the time.

She knocked politely on the door and opened it, fully expecting to see Hitsugaya-taicho seated at his desk. Instead, the captain's desk was empty, and the office's sole occupant grinned, raising her arm and waving from behind her own desk.

"Morning, Yuzu-chan~" said Rangiku, grinning.

"Rangiku-san!" said Yuzu, blinking in surprise. "Are you back to work already?"

"Unfortunately," said Rangiku with a dramatic sigh, gesturing at the work that Hitsugaya had no doubt left for her. She looked much better than she had the last time Yuzu had seen her, with the bandages peeking out from under her shihakusho the only sign that she had actually been hurt. "Mou, the taicho is terrible, isn't he? I just got back from the hospital, and he leaves me all of this."

Yuzu gave Rangiku a polite smile, sweat drops forming on the back of her head. She tried not to think about the amount of work she usually found on her desk, on busy mornings in the Sixth.

"Is Hitsugaya-kun not in?" she asked, looking around the office.

"The taicho left for the human world last night," said Rangiku, waving her hand dismissively. "He isn't back yet." She smiled slyly. "I think we all know why~"

Yuzu flushed a bright red, deciding not to think about that. She reached for the file folder tucked into the crook of her arm, handing it towards Rangiku. It had the kanji for '10' written on the front, in Byakuya's neat calligraphy.

"U—Um—our report from the human world," she said, quickly composing herself. "For when Hitsugaya-kun gets back."

"Hmm?" asked Rangiku, taking the file from her. She flipped through it, casually skimming the words written there. "Oh, that's right, you did go to the human world. How was it?"

"Um…it was…" Yuzu thought back to some of the events in Tokyo, from Byakuya's cluelessness with regards to technology to her fight with Jin and the arrival of Kiyomizu and Catalina. "…interesting," she finally said.

"I'll bet," said Rangiku, with a grin. "Anyway, I'll put this right on the taicho's desk so he can see it when he comes in."

"Thank you, Rangiku-san," said Yuzu, inclining her head politely. She watched as Rangiku moved around her desk, walking over to Hitsugaya's and placing the folder on the top of the captain's current pile. She seemed to still be moving stiffly, but other than that, she looked fine. Thankfully, it seemed like her own attacker wasn't using whatever substance Jin had used to suppress reiatsu. She rubbed at the bandage on her arm unconsciously, waiting for Rangiku to finish.

"So," said Rangiku, when she was done. "Where are you off to? Back to work?"

"Sort of," said Yuzu, holding up the second file. "I have to get this to either Ukitake-taicho or Rukia-nee, since the Thirteenth is still technically in charge of Karakura Town. And then I'm going to go visit my dad. It's been a while." Byakuya and Ichigo's meeting would probably still be going on, which meant that she wasn't wanted back at the Division in any case. Couldn't have vice-captains underfoot when captains were discussing important business, she thought sourly.

Alright, maybe she was annoyed with Byakuya too.

"I see," said Rangiku, grinning. "Well, say hello to Isshin-san for me."

"I'll do that," said Yuzu, nodding. "Take care of yourself, Rangiku-san."

"You too," said Rangiku, waving at her as she left. "Don't work too hard."

She had a feeling that that would be virtually impossible in the weeks to come, but she smiled and nodded anyway.

The visit to the Thirteenth went along more or less the same lines. Ukitake-taicho was in the office for once, this being a good month for him, and Rukia was not. Ukitake explained that she had left with some of the seated officers and some of the rank-and-file for a few training exercises, leaving Sentaro and Kiyone here to assist him. The two of them bickered and squabbled in the background over who was assisting him more, all while Ukitake thanked her for coming all this way and flipped through the report. He questioned her on some of the finer points for about half an hour, before sending her on her way with a small box of sweets to share with her father. Yuzu left in a stranger mood than when she walked in. She liked Ukitake, and talking with him had definitely helped put her at ease, but at the same time, the white-haired taicho had given her the look that told her that he understood far more than she let on, particularly when asking her about Byakuya.

She wondered if anything could stay secret in Seireitei.

Since it was around noon, she stopped at a restaurant to pick up a pair of bento boxes before heading off to Rukongai. After some thought, and remembering that Karin's informant was living with her father, she bought a third. Yuzu decided to put every thought about the Sixth Division, its captain, and his meeting with her brother out of her mind for now, approaching the house in the First District that her father was living in.

Isshin had turned the decent-sized home into a clinic, similar to the one that he had established in Karakura Town. Souls in Rukongai still got sick and injured after all, and many of them could not get treatment in Seiretei. She knew for a fact that people from some of the further districts occasionally showed up here, as far down as districts in the thirties, and when that happened, Isshin never turned anyone away. He didn't charge much, and charged even less when it was clear that the people he was treating didn't have the money to pay.

Just like in Karakura Town.

The difference now was that Yuzu and Karin couldn't exactly act as nurses. Although, she thought, smiling as she saw Asakawa Kaito walking past with an armful of medical supplies, it didn't look like he was short for help.

"Good morning, Asakawa-kun," she said, raising her hand and waving at him.

Kaito smiled back at her, hesitantly. He was dressed in traditional clothes now, much like most of the residents of Rukongai, although he still wore his glasses. He looked as if he was adjusting well. She smiled in sympathy anyway. She remembered how it felt to suddenly find oneself in Soul Society. Even though Kaito had known about the afterlife before he died, and unlike Yuzu, hadn't been surprised to find himself dead, the transition could still be a shock. It was no wonder that konsou worked by removing memories. It was just easier for some souls that way.

Not for her, of course, but for others. Especially depending on how they died.

She put the thought out of her mind, realizing that her thoughts were taking a turn for the dark again. Yuzu raised her hand, showing off the cloth-wrapped package of bentos she was carrying.

"Is my father here?" she asked.

"Isshin-san is in the clinic," said Kaito. "I was—uh—just going to bring these to him."

"Great," said Yuzu. "We can go together. You should have lunch with us, Asakawa-kun."

"Ah, well—," Kaito flushed. "I mean, that is—I don't think I should—." He adjusted his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose. "—I have a lot of things to do," he finally settled on.

"I see," said Yuzu. "Well, I have lunch for you if you want it." She smiled, holding the bag in both hands in front of her, so that Kaito could see. "I didn't have time to make lunch today, but the place I got these from is really good—it's popular in Seiretei."

"Kurosaki-san," said Kaito as they walked. "Um—don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure you're related to Kurosaki Karin?"

Yuzu smiled. "We're twins," she said. "Why?"

"Just wondering," said Kaito, as they stepped into the clinic together.

Kurosaki Isshin stood with his back to them, speaking to a young child who sat up on the examination table. The boy was sniffling, bandages wrapped around his right leg from what looked to be a bad cut, but other than that, he seemed to be alright. Isshin smiled at him, patting him on the head.

"There," he said. "All better. See? Like I told you. It didn't even hurt."

The boy sniffed, looking up at Isshin with tears streaming from his eyes. "So, I'm not going to die?" he asked.

"Not if you follow what Doctor Kurosaki tells you and keep it clean," said Yuzu, immediately stepping back into her role as nurse. She stepped forward, facing the boy, and held up one finger at him. "Make sure the bandages are fresh, and don't run around on it until the stitches are out."

Isshin turned around at the sound of her voice, his eyes wide. "Yuzu?" he asked. "Could it be? I have children?"

Yuzu gave him a guilty smile, holding up the bento boxes in her hand. She'd meant to come down more often, but since getting promoted, she'd discovered just how busy the life of a vice-captain was.

"Hi, Dad," she said. "I brought lunch."

Lunch ended up lasting through the rest of the afternoon, since Yuzu was in no particular hurry to return to her Division. She and Isshin sat in one of the rooms designated as the dining room, the sliding door thrown open to admit the sunlight. The remains of their bento boxes were stacked up beside them. Kaito had returned to his room a little while ago, not wanting to intrude. Yuzu sat in seiza on the tatami, lazily scratching the ears of Kodomo, the calico cat that had curled up next to her.

"I heard about Karin going to human world from Ichigo," said Isshin, picking up one of the cookies that Ukitake-taicho had sent. "That was a few days ago, though, and I haven't heard anything since then. Have you?"

"Nothing," said Yuzu, shaking her head. "But then again, no news is good news, right? If something had happened, we'd know about it."

Isshin grinned. "Especially with Toshiro looking out for her," he said.

Yuzu nodded. "If something happened, all of Soul Society would know," she said, taking a bite out of her cookie.

"How have you been doing?" asked Isshin, looking over at her. "I've heard all about Ichigo and Karin, but nothing about you."

"Me?" asked Yuzu. "Oh, you know." She clasped her hands together in her lap. "Same as always. Busy—with the Division."

And a captain and older brother who shoo me out of my own office when they want to have secret meetings, she thought, with a small twitch. Her hand tightened briefly around the cookie as she raised it to her mouth, taking another bite.

"Aha…and how is Kuchiki doing these days?" asked Isshin, smiling slightly at her expression.

"Same as always," was her cool response.

"Okay, now I'm curious," said Isshin, grinning. "What exactly did Kuchiki do to get himself in the doghouse?"

"Ask your son."

Isshin looked up, interested, and opened his mouth to ask another question, but whatever he was going to say was cut off by the arrival of a shinigami at his door. Both of them looked up sharply, turning towards him. Yuzu's eyes widened when she realized it was Shiyougi. The third seat was all business today, with no easy smiles or nicknames for her. Yuzu immediately got to her feet.

"Shiyougi-san," she said. "What's happened?"

"Fukutaicho!" said Shiyougi, straightening up. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the taicho needs you back at the Division immediately. Something's happened in Rukongai."

"Did he say what it was?" asked Yuzu.

"No, just to call you," said Shiyougi. "He just got word of it himself a little while ago."

Yuzu nodded, her previous concerns forgotten. She turned towards Isshin. "Sorry," she said. "I have to…"

"I know." Isshin got to his feet, walking over to her. He opened his arms, embracing her. Yuzu hugged him back. "It was nice seeing you again," he said, as he pulled away, placing both his hands on her shoulders. The smile faded from his face, his expression becoming serious. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will," Yuzu promised. "I'll come back as soon as this is over."

"I know you will." Isshin smiled at her, not one of the over-the-top grins that he so often gave, but one of his genuine smiles, the sad smiles that only came up when he was thinking about Masaki. "You," he said. "look more and more like your mother everyday."

Yuzu blinked. "Like Mom?" she asked.

"I'll tell you all about her someday," Isshin promised. He grinned at her, then gave her a playful shove in Shiyougi's direction. "Go on," he said. "Don't keep the captain waiting."

Yuzu nodded, hurrying to Shiyougi's side. She looked back over her shoulder, giving Isshin one last look. Then, she and her third seat exchanged a nod, and they were both gone, flash stepping away.

The next day in Karakura Town was bright and clear, the air laced with the scents of spring and not a cloud in the sky. Karin and Toshiro walked through the streets, heading back towards Kusanagi's headquarters. The streets were clear, most of Karakura Town's residents still at school or work. She heard the sound of a car horn honking in the distance, and across from her, a mother with a toddler on each arm walked down the street, passing them without even looking.

She would have sworn that the youngest kid gave them both a look.

Karin frowned, one hand closing around Ongetsu's guard. She glanced at Toshiro, who walked beside her, his eyes fixed straight ahead as he scanned the street for any dangers. It was an ordinary spring day. Why did she feel so strange, like something was building?

It felt like the calm before the storm.

A cold feeling suddenly washed over her, stemming from the sword in her hand. Karin froze, her eyes wide as a chill crawled up her spine. She glanced around her, but there was nothing. No enemies waited in the shadows, the air was clear of strange reiatsu, and not even the smallest Hollow seemed out to get them today.

And yet, that feeling…like a hand had closed around her heart…

Something's coming…said Ongetsu in the back of her mind. The zanpakuto spirit didn't sound eager to meet it. Something…

"Karin?" asked Toshiro, looking back at her.

The feeling passed as soon as it had come, Ongetsu's voice retreating back into the shadows. Karin released her grip on the sword, wiping her hand on the front of her robes. "It's nothing," she said, taking a few quick steps so that she was standing beside Toshiro again. He frowned at her, but nodded, the two of them continuing to walk through the streets.

The whole time they walked, she didn't let her guard down.

"Taicho!" Yuzu flash stepped into the Sixth Division's courtyard, Shiyougi appearing at her heels. Byakuya stood in front of the open doors to their office, a jigokucho resting on his finger. He looked up at her as she approached, and whatever anger she had felt towards him about leaving her out of his conference with Ichigo vanished when she saw the look in his eyes. They were a cold steel gray, barely concealing what appeared to be genuine concern.

Whatever the news was, it wasn't good.

"Kurosaki," he said. "There's been a disturbance in Rukongai. The Sixth Division will investigate."

"Hai," she said, nodding.

"Pack your bags," he said. "And alert the others. Shiyougi, Koyanagi, Yamagishi, and Okada will accompany us. Nagai and Shirogane will manage the Division in our absence."

Yuzu stared as Byakuya listed off the names. Shiyougi, Koyanagi, Yamagishi, Okada. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seats of the Division. Whatever was happening, it was important enough to send almost all of the Sixth's high ranking officers out to deal with it. Beside her, Shiyougi appeared to have come to the same conclusion. He offered Byakuya a grim bow, then left to make his own preparations.

"Taicho," said Yuzu, as Byakuya began to turn away. "If I may ask, where are we going?"

"The site of the disturbance," said Byakuya, looking over at her. "The seventy-eighth district of South Rukongai. Inuzuri. We leave within the hour."

He walked away, the office door closing behind him before she could say anything more.

TO BE CONTINUED

Omake: The First Days of Spring 02

As the last traces of Kenpachi's voice finally faded away, the microphone screeching in its wake, Kurosaki Ichigo slowly pulled his hands away from his ears, glancing around at the other occupants of his table—a stunned Rukia, a traumatized-looking Hinamori, a terrified and suddenly sober Renji, and an unconscious Izuru, slumped over a small collection of sake bottles. He blinked, letting the ringing fade from his ears, then promptly glared up at the stage, where Kenpachi was grinning at them.

"Oi, what the hell, Kenpachi?" he asked, getting up and pointing. "What was that all about?"

Kenpachi looked inordinately pleased with himself.

"What are you complainin' about?" he asked. This is a karaoke bar, ain't it?"

"Karaoke means singing," said Ichigo. "Not—whatever the hell that was. Are you trying to turn us all deaf?"

"Oh?" Kenpachi's grin widened. "You sayin' you can do better, Ichigo? Then come up here and prove it."

"Like hell," said Ichigo, folding his arms. "I am not singing. Now get off the stage. You're drunk."

"Sounds like someone's scared," said Kenpachi, still grinning.

"This is stupid," said Ichigo, glaring. He turned, beginning to walk back to his seat. "I'm not scared. And I'm not singing."

"If you're not scared, then come up here and prove it," said Kenpachi, pointing dramatically at Ichigo and causing him to stop. "Never pegged you for a coward, Ichigo!"

"You take that back!" said Rukia, getting to her feet. Her chair clattered over behind her. "My husband isn't a coward."

"Oh, yeah?" asked Kenpachi. "Then, why doesn't he get up here and prove it, Kuchiki? He's hiding behind you now?"

Rukia's eyes narrowed, and she reached for her sword. Ichigo glanced back at her, eyes wide. "Oi, Rukia—," he said.

Renji immediately reached out, grabbing Rukia by the arm. He watched Kenpachi, eyes wide as he tried to maneuver Rukia back into a seat. Ichigo stared at her, trying to remember how much she had been drinking that night.

"Disgraceful," said Byakuya from where he was seated alone at his own table, behind theirs and up against the wall. He raised a sake cup to his mouth, taking a sip without looking directly at him. "Kurosaki Ichigo, you dishonor my sister with your cowardice and myself as your brother-in-law."

"Shut up, Byakuya! You're drunk too!" said Ichigo, whirling towards him and pointing.

Byakuya's eyes narrowed dangerously. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing?" he said, putting down his cup. "Especially when you are the one who is so obviously intoxicated."

"Huh?" Ichigo blinked in genuine confusion, frowning at the Kuchiki head. "What are you talking about? I've barely drunk anything all night."

"You're so tilted that you can't even walk straight," said Byakuya, taking another sip. His usually pale face was slightly flushed, though his expression was as composed as ever. "That is an obvious sign of drunkenness."

…

"THAT MEANS YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S DRUNK!" said Ichigo.