A/N: Thanks so much for all your wonderful reviews! I really wanted Yuzu to go off on Byakuya at least once before resolving their relationship, because while their interactions were sweet before this, there was a bit of an element of Yuzu acting like he was perfect. I wanted to make it clear to Yuzu that he's not, that he has a lot of flaws and that occasionally she needs to stick up for herself, and I wanted to make it clear to Byakuya that she's still a Kurosaki and will stick up for herself, and that she's not at all afraid of him.

Alright. As promised, I bring you plot. ^^ Thanks for reading!

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

Chapter 33: Enemies at the gate

"Fukutaicho?" Shiyougi stood outside of Yuzu's room the morning on the next day, knocking on the door. "Fukutaicho, are you okay? Fukutaicho…"

There was no answer. The third seat sighed, lowering his hand from the door and stepping back into the hallway. He glanced at the big man next to him, he and Koyanagi exchanging weary looks. Behind them, a group of concerned shinigami had stopped to watch, some of them shuffling in place as they stared at Yuzu's door.

The whole Division had heard the fight between the captain and vice-captain yesterday. How could they not, when they had all been standing in the mess hall while it was going on, just a few feet away?

"Still nothing?" asked Koyanagi, glancing at the closed door.

"Nothing," said Shiyougi, scratching the back of his head. He let out a frustrated sigh, glancing back down the hallway. From the looks of things, the captain hadn't come in this morning either. Which meant he was technically the highest-ranking person here.

Dammit. How had the Sixth gotten into this mess?

"U-Um…e-excuse me, Third Seat Shiyougi…" said a shy voice from behind him. Shiyougi looked over his shoulder to see Kawamoto, the girl who had dealt the final blow in the training exercise yesterday, standing behind him, her hand curled uncertainly over her chest. She stared at the door. "Is—is the fukutaicho going to be okay?"

He glanced from Kawamoto, to Koyanagi, to the concerned shinigami standing around in the hallway. Shiyougi took a breath, and realized that he knew what he had to do. The Sixth couldn't stay like this for long. It was time to take drastic measures.

"Yes," he told Kawamoto, his expression hardening in determination.

"Yes?" Koyanagi repeated from beside him, looking confused.

"Yes," Shiyougi repeated, more firmly. He turned away from the door, starting off down the hallway. "Koyanagi, you're in command," he said. "I'll be back soon."

He didn't wait for a response, feeling the others' stares on his back as he stepped out of the barracks and into Seireitei.

Kurosaki Ichigo was at the Sixth less than an hour later, walking through the halls with what felt like every shinigami's eyes on him. He ignored all of them, a determined frown on his face as he walked the familiar path towards the vice-captain's quarters. When Shiyougi had dropped by his house earlier to tell him what had happened yesterday, he had pretty much come running. Rukia walked beside him, keeping pace with him as the two of them made their way through the halls towards Yuzu's quarters.

He had been to this part of the Sixth before, just a couple of months ago. When Yuzu had been promoted to vice-captain, he had helped her move her things from her old room into the larger room traditionally occupied by the vice-captain of the Sixth. But he hadn't really been this far into the Sixth Division's barracks since then. Unlike the office, which was near the door to the building, the Sixth's officers' quarters were further in, closer to the heart of the Division. Most Divisions didn't take too kindly to having other captains running around their barracks for no reason, so his visits with Yuzu had been limited to the more public parts of the Sixth.

Today, though, no one tried to stop him or Rukia as they made their way down corridors and around corners, the few shinigami they met parting to let them through. The mood of the Sixth was tense, the shinigami that did watch them watching them carefully. The whole place felt like it was on edge, and he didn't like it. It only led credence to Shiyougi's story, and he didn't like Shiyougi's story to begin with.

He came to a stop in front of Yuzu's door, knocking twice.

"Yuzu, it's me," he said. "Open up."

No answer. Ichigo took a breath and placed his hand on the doorknob, knocking again. "Yuzu," he said. "I'm coming in."

When no response came, he tugged once on the door, sliding it open easily. The door opened, revealing a bright, well-lit room. Yuzu stood in front of the door, staring at him with wide-eyes. She was dressed in her shihakusho, her vice-captain badge tied to her arm, and looked surprised to see him there. "Ichi-nii!" she said. "Sorry, I was in the bathroom and didn't hear you knock! I—."

"Move," said Ichigo, frowning down at her.

The girl's eyes widened as Ichigo placed a hand on her arm, cutting her off and pushing her gently but firmly out of the way. The illusion shattered, the fake Yuzu disappearing from just beneath his grip. As the illusion broke, the light went with it, revealing Yuzu's real room. Ichigo paused with one foot inside the room, taking in the scene.

The windows were closed, leaving the room in darkness. Yuzu sat in a corner by the window, her zanpakuto's fans open on either side of her with the sash forming a half-circle in front of her. She didn't look up at him, one of her hands resting on the fan's handle. Her other arm was wrapped around her knees, which were pulled close to her chest, and her eyes were red-rimmed. Her shoulders shook and she grabbed herself tighter, not looking up at them.

He froze, staring at her. Beside him, he heard Rukia take in a sharp breath before suddenly stepping forward, moving around him and going to his sister's side. She dropped down to a crouch beside Yuzu, placing one hand on her shoulder, but Ichigo found himself frozen in place, unable to do anything but watch the scene.

"It's okay," Rukia was saying, turning Yuzu to face her. "Yuzu, it's okay."

Yuzu's eyes filled with fresh tears, widening as she saw Rukia next to her. "Rukia-nee…" she said, her voice breaking.

"Shh…" said Rukia, her expression softening. She reached out with one hand, smoothing Yuzu's hair out of her face. "It's okay..."

He couldn't watch this anymore. When Yuzu clutched at Rukia suddenly, sobbing into her shihakusho, and Rukia's arms went around her, rubbing her back in soothing circles and murmuring meaningless words of reassurance, Ichigo simply turned, his fists clenched as he stormed out of the room.

Byakuya opened his eyes to the sound of a commotion in his hallway. Footsteps pounded on the wooden floors outside, followed by angry shouts from his guards and muffled entreaties from his servants, both male and female. The whole commotion seemed to be coming closer and closer to his quarters.

"Stop! Stay where you are!" said one guard.

"Kuchiki-dono does not wish to be disturbed—," a servant started.

"Please calm down, Ichigo-sama—."

"Leave the premises immediately! You are not welcome here!"

All of those pleas must have gone ignored, because eventually a knock came at his door. Byakuya sighed, pushing himself out of bed and walking over to the door to his chambers. He slid it open, giving the shinigami on the other side a cold look.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," he said, glaring at his brother-in-law. "What—?"

He never got to finish that sentence. Ichigo's fist sailed through the air, slamming into the side of his face. The force of the punch, and the unexpectedness of it, threw him back, and he fell backwards onto the ground. Before Byakuya could say anything, Ichigo turned, ignoring the mixture of enraged and surprised shouts coming from his household staff and walking away.

Ichigo was still seething when the soutaicho's summons came a few hours later, calling for an emergency captains' meeting. He walked through the meeting chamber with a scowl on his face, taking his place next to Renji without saying a word. The other captain blinked, glancing over at him as Ichigo fixed his gaze straight ahead, through the space where Unohana would stand when she arrived.

"Oi," said Renji, frowning at him. "What's eating you?"

A vein pulsed in Ichigo's jaw, his hand clenching into a fist. "Nothing," he said.

"It's not nothing. I'm not stupid," said Renji. His eyes widened as a thought occurred to him, and he turned towards Ichigo more fully. "It's not Rukia, is it? Did something happen to her?"

"No, it's not Rukia," said Ichigo sharply. "It's—."

He fell silent as the door to the meeting chamber opened again, admitting another captain. Ichigo glared at Byakuya as he stepped into the room, his back straight and his eyes fixed ahead of him as if nothing had happened that day. The slowly purpling bruise on the side of his face was the only sign that something might have been wrong. Renji stared at it, open-mouthed.

"Kuchiki-taicho—," he said, as Byakuya took up his position opposite them. "Your face—"

"It's nothing, Abarai," said Byakuya icily, not turning to look at Renji. "Leave it alone."

"But—," Renji began.

Byakuya's eyes hardened, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees as he glared at Renji. "I asked you to leave it alone."

Renji fell silent, snapping his mouth shut. He glanced at Ichigo beside him, who was studiously avoiding looking at Byakuya. For his own part, the captain of the Sixth wasn't looking at Ichigo either, the two of them glaring daggers at the walls just past each other. His eyes widened as he glanced from one to the other. Comprehension slowly dawned on him, his eyes widening further as he stared at them. "You're not serious…" he said.

"Oho?" The door opened again, admitting Yamamoto-soutaicho, flanked by Ukitake and Kyoraku. The captain of the Eighth was staring into the room, one hand on his hat as he looked between Byakuya and Ichigo. "Yama-jii, it looks like we don't have to wait for Kyoka Suigetsu after all," he said. "We've got a war brewing right here."

Yamamoto ignored him, moving between the lines as if Kyoraku hadn't spoken and taking his place at the head of the column. Renji immediately tore his gaze away from the other two captains as the soutaicho passed, fixing his attention straight ahead of him. Other captains began to enter the room shortly after, Unohana Retsu taking her place between Soifon and Byakuya, and Hitsugaya Toshiro stepping into his space next to Kyoraku. Zaraki-taicho arrived next, followed by a serious-looking Shuuhei.

Renji paused, watching as the lone vice-captain in the room took his place between Komamura and Zaraki, keeping a step behind them to signify that he wasn't truly of the same rank they were. He wondered how long that would last. As the highest ranking member of the Ninth Division, Shuuhei had been acting captain for just over twenty years. He couldn't have been the only one hearing the rumors that he was close to achieving bankai and taking control of the Division for real.

It would be fitting if that happened. After twenty years, he couldn't imagine anyone else taking control of the Ninth.

He turned his attention away from Shuuhei as Mayuri walked through the door, bringing their number up to a full thirteen. The captain of the Twelfth took up his place at the end of the opposite line, and the soutaicho slammed his cane onto the ground, calling the meeting to order.

Yamamoto didn't waste any time. He looked up and down the lines once, taking in all the captains standing at attention, his gaze lingering the longest on Byakuya and Ichigo before coming to a rest down the center aisle. The old man's eyes were fixed on the door as he spoke, his hands resting on the head of his cane. "At 0700 hours this morning, the Shinigami Research and Development Institute reported a large reiatsu anomaly amassing at the borders of Southern Rukongai. After conducting research on the anomaly, Kurotsuchi-taicho determined that it was the early stages of the formation of a dimensional gate, similar to the reiatsu signatures noted in Inuzuri before Kyoka Suigetsu's attack, and in the living world during the Arrancar incident ten years ago." His eyes opened, fixing on Mayuri. "Is that correct, Kurotsuchi-taicho?"

"The anomaly is much larger than in either of those incidents," said Mayuri, taking over. He tilted his head to the side, surveying the others. "But yes, otherwise correct."

"Larger?" asked Renji, his eyes widening as he turned towards Mayuri. "What do you mean larger?"

"I meant what I said, you ignorant buffoon," said Mayuri, his eyes narrowing at Renji. "In both geographical size and measurements of spiritual power, this anomaly is at least two orders of magnitude larger than the one detected in Inuzuri."

"So it's big," said Zaraki, glancing up at Mayuri. A small grin began to break out over his face. "That means it's carrying lots of stuff, doesn't it?"

"I suppose you could say that," said Mayuri, turning his attention towards Zaraki.

"Any strong guys?"

Mayuri shrugged, his head tilting further with the gesture and making it look as though it was not attached to his body. "If you consider the sheer amount of matter being transported through this gate, statistically speaking, it's likely," he said. He gave Zaraki a look of disdain, waving his hand dismissively. "Although your definition of strength leaves much to be desired."

"Oi," said Ichigo, his fixed glare breaking as he turned towards Mayuri. His eyes widened. "How many are we talking?"

Mayuri gave the small sigh of a long-suffering scientist, curling his fingers inward and tilting his head the other way. "Estimates are unclear at this point. Perhaps four thousand, maybe five thousand Hollows."

Ichigo's eyes widened further, staring at Mayuri. Renji found himself staring as well, and realized when he saw Hitsugaya and Shuuhei staring at Mayuri that he wasn't the only one. From across from them, he saw Byakuya turning towards Mayuri as well, a hint of surprise breaking through his composure for a moment. Beside him, Unohana only looked resigned, and beside her, Soifon watched with keen interest, one hand on her waist. Ukitake and Kyoraku simply stared ahead, their expressions unchanged, as if they had heard all this before. Komamura simply sighed, resting one hand on his sword. Zaraki, to no one's surprise, looked excited at the prospect.

"The number is high, but the Gotei 13 has the manpower to match it," said Ukitake, when silence fell. "It would take a much larger force to take Seireitei."

"It's a trap," said Soifon, her hand clenching into a fist. "She's trying to draw us out."

"But what can we do about it?" asked Renji. "We can't just ignore five thousand Hollows."

"I say we go for it," said Zaraki, grinning. "It'll be fun."

"We can't just 'go for it'," said Soifon, her eyes narrowing. "Fighting a force like that would leave Seireitei undefended—."

"It's true that it's probably a trap," said Hitsugaya, looking up. "But if we do nothing, then it doesn't matter. We'll just get overrun."

"I will point out that Hollows gain power from those they feed on," said Mayuri, smiling. "One can only wonder what will happen if five thousand Hollows are allowed to roam freely through Rukongai before arriving at Seireitei."

"We are not letting them loose in Rukongai," said Ichigo, folding his arms and scowling at Mayuri.

Ukitake nodded gravely from his position at the end of the line. "It would be a massacre," he said.

"But we can't just waltz right in there without thinking this through," said Soifon. "This is Aizen's zanpakuto!"

"I agree, we have to think it through," said Hitsugaya. "But we need to decide on a course of action now. We—."

"Silence!" said the soutaicho, slamming his cane on the ground and putting an end to conversation. The room stilled, the captains quickly stepping back into line. Yamamoto stared at each of them again, before turning his attention back to the center of the room. "We are not children, to bicker and cower before such a threat. We will not leave Seireitei undefended. But neither will we refuse to act. We have an estimated eighteen hours before the gate is complete. The battle will occur tomorrow morning."

He moved his gaze back up and down the lines, before settling on Soifon. "Soifon-taicho, I want a complete survey of the battlefield done before sunrise tomorrow. I also want Onmitsukido guards on every level of Seireitei, and a message relay system set up between the battlefield and Seireitei, to be used as needed. Your messengers will provide support during tomorrow's battle. The remainder of the Second is to watch the enemy's movements, and keep us informed on the situation in Seireitei."

"Sir," said Soifon, inclining her head slightly.

"Unohana-taicho," said Yamamoto, moving on to the woman next to her. "The Fourth is to provide medical support during tomorrow's battle. A contingent of healers will remain in Seireitei in case an emergency occurs here. I leave it to your discretion who to place in command of that force."

Unohana nodded, bowing her head.

"Komamura-taicho, Hisagi-fukutaicho, the Seventh and Ninth will remain on guard in Seireitei. Should any disturbance occur, your Divisions are to deal with the problem swiftly. You will be assisted by half of the Eighth Division, under the command of Ise-fukutaicho, and a quarter of my own troops." Yamamoto paused to glance at Kyoraku. "Is this acceptable?"

"Yes," said Kyoraku, breathing out what might have been a sigh of relief.

"All others will assemble to meet this force," said Yamamoto, looking at the other captains. "The vanguard will consist of the Eleventh Division, under Zaraki-taicho."

Zaraki grinned in acknowledgment, and Yamamoto's eyes moved past him, landing on Ichigo. "The Fifth Division, under Kurosaki-taicho," he continued.

Ichigo nodded, his expression hardening in determination.

"And the Sixth," Yamamoto finished. "Under Kuchiki-taicho."

Ichigo's eyes widened, and he turned sharply, facing Yamamoto. "Oi," he began. "Gramps—"

"Understood," said Byakuya calmly, inclining his head.

Yamamoto tapped his cane on the ground before Ichigo could protest, the sound echoing in the meeting room.

"Dismissed!"

The door opened to light.

Outside, it was broad daylight, the sun shining down from a cloudless sky. Karin was standing on the street opposite the clinic, Ongetsu beside her. The spirit said nothing, his eyes fixed on the clinic's front door. Shadows wreathed him like a cloak, dark enough to blot out even the blinding light of the sun.

This is the clinic…said Karin, her hand still on the doorknob as she looked around. Why are we here?

Ongetsu's voice was solemn. She looked down at him and realized that at some point he had dropped the rabbit, and was instead holding the scythe, the blade pointed down towards the ground as if in judgment.

Watch.

The door to the clinic opened and a girl stepped out.

No. Not just any girl.

Herself.

Karin watched, wide-eyed, as a version of herself ran out from the clinic, dressed in her blue and white middle school uniform. She looked about thirteen, with the high ponytail that Karin had already begun to wear at that age, and her school bag slung over her shoulder.

She was grinning.

"Hurry up, Ichi-nii!" she said, looking back into the house. "We're gonna be late!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," said Ichigo, grumbling as he stepped out of the house. He was dressed in his gray Karakura High uniform. "What the hell are you in such a hurry for anyway?"

The girl grinned. "It's a secret," she said, turning towards him. She raised her hands up, holding her school bag behind her head.

"Oh, a secret?" asked Ichigo, stepping closer towards her. "So it's such a secret that you can't even tell me about it, huh? What kind of secret is this, Karin?"

He reached out a hand for her head, but the girl simply stepped backward, moving easily out of reach. She tossed a smile over her shoulder, rushing forward towards the bikes that were parked by the gate. "You'll see later. Just come on."

Ichigo sighed, running a hand over his face. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he watched the girl. "Fine," he said. "I'm coming."

The girl had already reached the bikes, and had tossed her school bag into the front basket, swinging one leg over the seat. "Race you there!" she said, taking off without looking back.

Ichigo's eyes widened, and he ran for his own bike. "Dammit, Karin!" he said, hurrying to catch up with her. The girl laughed as she rounded the corner on her own bicycle, leaning forward to pick up speed.

Karin found herself staring, watching as Ichigo followed her.

There was no way that could have been her. That girl might have looked like her, but the way she smiled and laughed, the way she made Ichigo smile…

It couldn't have been her.

That's not me, she said, not looking at Ongetsu.

Isn't it?

Karin shook her head, her eyes still fixed on the corner the girl had disappeared around. That…can't have been me.

It's not, said Ongetsu. But it's who you could have been. A person who loves, lives, and fights with all her heart. You weren't meant to live your life in a cage, Karin, even a cage of your own making.

The spirit sucked in a breath, his grip faltering around the shaft of the scythe. Karin glanced at him, and in that moment, saw him as he was, not as the spirit that had tormented her these past few years, not even as the parts of herself that she hated, but what he really was.

A child. She'd never stopped to think about the fact that her zanpakuto spirit, the representation of her soul was in many ways…just a child.

We were…he said, supposed to be free.

Gold eyes shimmered, and for the first time since she had known him, Karin found herself afraid that her zanpakuto spirit would cry.

She hadn't really cried, not since her mother died. It didn't surprise her that that was another part of herself—another part of her heart that she had shoved onto Ongetsu. The spirit released the scythe, a tear beginning to trickle down his cheek.

That's all I wanted…

Oi…said Karin, turning to face him. Ongetsu stared at her, reaching up a hand to scrub at his face with the sleeve of his hoodie. Karin took in a breath, crouching down so that she was at eye-level with him. That person you just saw, she said, holding onto his arm and looking him in the eye. I can't be her. That person's dead, you understand? She's never coming back. I will—we will never be that soul again.

I know, Karin-chan…said Ongetsu, looking at her. I know…

But I…Karin shook her head, her voice catching in her throat. Maybe I can try…to be something close. I'm not the kind of person…that knows how to open up anymore. But I can…learn to be. Okay?

So don't cry.

Ongetsu sniffed, looking up at her. Karin hesitated, then reached forward, grabbing the boy and pulling him into a hug. He tensed, his eyes wide as she wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes and resting her chin on his shoulder.

I'm sorry, she said. I hurt you. I've been hurting you for a long time. I'm so sorry, On. I'm—

Ongetsu moved suddenly, his hand gripping her arm and cutting her off. A grin spread on his face, and he leaned forward bringing his hand up to her shoulder.

He whispered two words into her ear, the shadows swirling around them.

Karin's eyes widened.

TO BE CONTINUED

Omake

Flashback: During the argument

The mess hall was, pun not intended, an absolute mess. A group of nervous looking shinigami clustered around the door, their ears pressed against it as they tried to listen to the argument going on in the hallway. They probably didn't need to have bothered—the sounds of angry muffled voices coming in through the walls was enough. Shiyougi Hideki leaned against the wall, his arms folded and watched with a sigh as a group of terrified looking shinigami actually started huddling in one of the corners. Conversation rang out in the room, mostly kept to whispers.

"Hey, is this okay?" asked one shinigami.

"Should we do something?"

"What's happening—?"

"Oi, Shiyougi, what's going on?" asked Koyanagi, walking over to him from the door that led into the kitchens. "I just went to the bathroom, and when I got back, everyone was like this."

"Mommy and Daddy are fighting, and it's scaring the kids," said Shiyougi dryly, his eyes on the door.

An angry voice filtered in through the room, followed by a colder one. Shiyougi's eyes widened slightly as he heard the crack of a door slamming, and the group of shinigami by the door to the mess hall visibly recoiled. Koyanagi stared at them, droplets of sweat forming on the back of his head as the group started muttering among themselves.

"I—I see," he said.