2. Welcome back

The great imposing gates of the Karakura maximum security prison loomed ahead. The huge black fence that obscured the sky and hid the sun. It was the gates to hell itself. Rukia felt her skin crawl as they neared the cursed prison.

"Don't worry, your friends are still here."

"What friends? That snake Urahara killed them all!" Rukia glared at the man who somehow knew her.

"Oh, well you can make new ones. I guarantee you will be spending quite a lot of time with them from now on." The black-haired clone of Ichigo rose from his seat and got off of the bus first. Rukia frowned.

One of the large guards lifted her by the throat and hurled her out of the door. She landed on her knee and pain blazed through it, making her unable to stand up. More guards filed out and formed a circle around her.

"Please! My leg, it hurts, can I just wait a second-" A large fist crashed into her face and she fell face first into the orange dirt. It tasted ashen in her mouth and she coughed most of it up, but some of it went down. She spluttered and crawled onto her knees, only to be kicked in the ribs. Blood spurted out of her mouth and flecked the ground beneath her, just as she collapsed into it. It felt like her ribs had been shattered by the blow and now every breath brought agony.

"Still a weak little kitten, eh Kuchiki?" The man knelt down and brushed back the dusty strands of hair from her face.

"Why?" It was all she could utter before passing out.

*****

NEARBY POLICE STATION

Isane read through a report about the Prisoner Trade case. It was her work in this that got her promoted. She wanted to thank Ichigo and Rukia for helping her. Without them, she would not only have not solved the case, but she would also be dead.

She picked up the phone and dialled Rukia's number. It rang eight times before it was answered.

"Hello?" It was a male voice that spoke.

"Oh, I must have the wrong number, unless this is Rukia Kuchiki's number?" She felt stupid.

"This is the right number. I'm just taking her calls while she's working."

"But she only works at a cafe? Why would she be so busy that she could not answer?" Isane asked, suspicions arising.

"It's you isn't it, Isane?" The man asked.

"What? How do you know my-"

"Listen, and listen well! I have Rukia and soon enough, all of you will be pawns in my game! Do not even try to resist, you will only face fatal consequences!" He hung up.

Isane dropped the phone and ran off to find her co-worker, Unohana.

*****

The black haired man laughed. "If my assumptions are correct, she will inform her superiors and send a unit to this very prison. She will warrant a search and check everywhere...except she won't find who she is looking for." He cast his gaze down to Rukia, who was starting to wake up.

"Oh..." Rukia got on her hands and knees and was helped up by a guard.

"Come, we have not much time."

Rukia was led into the familiar building. She had no possessions to give, not even hope. She did not try to escape, she knew it was impossible. She knew where she would go next; she would go to the lockers where she would be 'cleaned'. She closed her eyes and still knew the way, but the guards made her turn in the opposite direction. "Where are we going?"

"To a new facility. This is one is not yet prepared for you, so you will spend some time in isolation."

She was led to a narrow corridor with the label: 'solitary confinement' above the door. She remembered the terrors of this place all too well. Thankfully, of the three members of this place, two were dead and the other one had escaped.

She was gently shoved inside a cell marked '0001503'. She had no idea whether the number meant anything, but took mental note of it. She sat down against the padded white wall and stared at the back of the door. Something was bolted over the window. It was shiny and black and resembled a screen of sorts.

Meanwhile, outside, Isane had parked her marked car outside the facility. She and Unohana both got out and stared at the intimidating large prison. Isane stroked the holster at the left side of her hip. She had a faint idea that it would be needed for where she was going.

They approached the gate and pressed the buzzer. A clunky mechanical voice responded.

"State your business and you names."

"Isane Kotetsu, Karakura police force. We have a search warrant for this building regarding a missing person's case!"

"Missing persons? What makes you think they would be here? This is a prison, not a shopping mall." The mechanical voice yelled. It made the speakers crackle.

"Resistance will only make you more suspicious." Unohana muttered.

"Very well, waste your time." The mechanical voice replied. The gates clicked and slowly drew apart, letting them in. Isane stared at the ground. Not too long ago, the wet mud was soaked in the blood of criminals...and the inmates. She frowned. She did not want to come here, but it was necessary. She walked to the door which was opened for her by a familiar friend.

"Hi Isane, what's up?" Kiyone asked cheerfully. Her blonde hair bounced about as she tilted her head.

"I have a hunch that Rukia is here." Isane said coldly.

"I never saw her..." Kiyone looked to the floor with a confused expression. "Oh well, it couldn't hurt! But...Urahara is no longer here. All of his croneys are dead too. Why would you suspect the new owner?"

"Because it was my understanding that this place would be demolished after the incident. Instead, a new manager was shipped in only days after the court case. I think something suspicious is going on. The prisoner trade is no longer an issue, but...I don't know...I have a bad feeling!" Isane's eyes darted about, frantically searching.

"I hope you're wrong! This new guy seems so nice! He reminds me of Ichigo as well."

"Ichigo?"

"When you see him, you'll know!" Kiyone winked and then sat down at a computer and began typing up something. Isane ignored her and walked past the main office to where Byakuya's office was. Now the door was unmarked. It was opened slightly. A man with spiky black hair was sitting facing away from her. She knocked lightly and he spun around on his chair. He was Ichigo! Kiyone was right. He looked exactly the same, except for his hair colour.

"Hello...Mr..."

"My name is not of importance. Now what would a young woman like yourself want from a prison owner?"

"I...I have a search warrant." This mans calmness was throwing her off-course. "I have reason to believe someone is being held captive here."

"My, that is just awful! Who would do such a thing?! Do you suspect one of my guards has..." He trailed off. "This is news to me, but I'm glad to help in any way I can!"

Isane cleared her throat. "Well, um...I'd like to start the search in the solitary confinement cells, if you don't mind?"

"No, its fine with me, just don't go in the cells, we only have one person, but he's crazy! Open the door and he'd bite your throat and kill ya!" The man drew his thumb across his throat and laughed. "It's quite scary, but a man of my position has to try and conquer such fears." He led Isane to the isolation cells. The hall was white walled and seemed to stretch on far longer than it actually did. She passed row after row of empty cells.

"They are all empty, have the prisoners been behaving well?" Isane asked.

"No. The riots a while ago, some moron opened the cells. They got out and had to be stopped by force. It's a shame, but it had to be done."

"You had them all killed?" Isane asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not me, the old manager. Some old coot...Yammamoto or something. He's apparently disappeared over seas and hasn't been heard of ever since. "The man smiled as they stopped outside the next cell. "This is our only resident. He doesn't respond to anyone, so questions would be a waste of breath."

"Why won't he answer?" Isane asked, curious.

"I'm not sure. We've had a psychologist come see him, but because no questions could be answered, he couldn't rule anything out."

"I see..." Isane stared at the man who ran around the cell, growling like some kind of animal. She stepped forward and placed a hand on the glass, but then the man ran up to the window and bashed his face against it. Isane screamed and jumped back.

"We should move on. He's rather reckless when he has an audience." The man sighed and led her to the last row of cells. They were empty too. They then came back the way they came and checked the offices.

She went through all the drawers and found nothing but endless paperwork about the prisoner deaths from the riots. She left and met Unohana in the main office.

"There's nothing here. We were wrong to suspect you sir."

"No problem. I hope you find you're missing person."

"Could we have your name please sir?" Unohana took out a notepad.

"My name, fine. If you must know, its Ganju Shiba." The man smiled broadly and waved as the officers left. When the car drove off, he laughed hysterically. "They actually bought it! How stupid!"

"Sir, you told us all that as your name." A secretary said.

"It is, my dear...for now." The man apparently known as Ganju replied. He grinned wickedly and returned to his office.

*****

Rukia lay awake all night. She could not relax at all. She stared at the white padded ceiling for several hours before her eyes began to drift close.

"Rukia...You must do something for me..." A man was talking to her, but she could not see him, it was so dark and they were in the middle of a forest. Tree branches covered his face.

"But...I can't!" Rukia cried.

"Do it! If not, then we'll both be killed!" The man shook her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out something.

The memory stopped there, but then another began.

Rukia was kneeling beside a man. He was lying face down. Pouring rain had messed up his hair so that it was an unrecognisable mess. "No..." She whispered. She rolled him over and began to resuscitate him. His hair had flopped all over his face. She brushed aside the strands near his mouth and she gave mouth-to-mouth. She pressed down on his chest and her hands came away red. His chest was bleeding profusely. She screamed at him to keep breathing, but he had stopped long ago.

"No!! Come back K-"

Rukia shot up in her cushioned bed, her heart pounding.

Confusion and mystery now plague the prison and those involved. What is 'Ganju's' real name? What has he got in store for Rukia? Will Isane find her? wait and see in the next chapter!

Please review!!