I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 10: Xcution

"It wasn't a Hollow that slashed Uryuu."

Ryuuken's words took a while before sinking into Inoue.

"…Not a hollow…? Then what? It couldn't have been Shinigami, could it?" She thought as she attempted to figure out what's going on.

"But it wasn't a Shinigami either, of course… I examined the residual Reiatsu in his wound…" Ryuuken stated, clearing Inoue's previous doubts. "And honestly… It's doubtful it should be even referred to as Reiatsu… I've never encountered that type before."

"So that means…" Inoue attempted to speak but was interrupted.

"Don't ask anymore. I've told you everything I know." Ryuuken paused for a moment before continuing. "Uryuu was also most likely unable to discern anything about his assailant. So it's that he's not telling you two anything… It's that he can't."

"Oh no…"

"… this is just a guess… but this enemy… may be human." Ryuuken dropped the bomb, causing great unrest to Inoue. He continued his explanation. "A human who has obtained some kind of power we're not familiar with. Which would make them more closely related to you and Sado-kun than a Shinigami. Broadly speaking, Uryuu, as a Quincy, is probably also in that group. Assuming that Uryuu was attacked because he's similar in nature to the assailant… Then the next victim… will either be you or Sado-kun."

…

Ichigo ran through the dark streets, holding back his frustration. Not because he thinks his friends are keeping something from him, it's that they DO. He stopped after a while and leaned on a pole.

"What's going on!? Something's going on behind my back!" Ichigo released his anger out but it wasn't enough. "Isn't… Isn't there something I can do!?"

Ichigo paused for a while and came to a decision. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The phone rang for a while before someone answered.

"Hello, you have reached Xcution." The person on the other line answered. "This number is not registered. Are you a new member? Please state your name."

Ichigo produced silence for a while before answering. "… Kurosaki Ichigo…"

"Kurosaki Ichigo-sama. We are already aware of you. Welcome to Xcution. Now then, Kurosaki Ichigo-sama, please hang up the phone." The speaker instructed.

"…Huh?" Ichigo was confused by this, but the speaker gave out more instructions before he could complain.

"After hanging up, please dial this number again followed by the number 00800, and then hang up before the call starts. After that, call the same number again, and hang up as soon as the phone finished ringing. On the third call, you will be connected directly to Ginjou Kuugo-sama."

Ichigo hesitated for a while, before following the given instructions. After completing the procedures, he finally reaches Ginjou.

"… That was a real pain." Ichigo complained as Ginjou greeted from the other line.

"Oh let it go, It'd be a pain for me if I didn't do that."

"There's something I want to talk to you about." Ichigo directly stated.

"I'm sure there is. Otherwise, you wouldn't be calling me, right?"

Ichigo didn't get to reply before Ginjou's next words.

"But this is too short notice. How about tomorrow? At 2000 hours. There's a derelict apartment building in district 7-1-1 of Choubara in Narusaki city. Come to the front of it. I'll listen to what you have to say there."

Ichigo, slightly surprised at Ginjou's sudden hospitality, attempted to speak up but was once again interrupted.

"… and relax. I think I can help you out."

…

The next morning, Ichigo was at school, deep in thought because of the previous events. How Ishida was attacked and how his friends seem to distrust him because of his lack of powers.

"Kurosaki-kun!" Inoue called out, slightly startling Ichigo before he turned around. "Hey, do you know anything about Sado-kun?" She asked in a confusing manner.

"That's a pretty broad question. Do I know anything? Anything about what?" He asked.

"His condition!"

"… did he catch a cold?" Ichigo asked again, completely failing to understand Inoue.

"Oh I guess you didn't know. I went to his class earlier to tell him about Ishida-kun, but seems like he hasn't been in class lately." Inoue stated, shocking Ichigo and sending him into deep thought again.

"What? Didn't I just talk to him the other day? What the hell is going on here!?" Ichigo thought, completely ignoring Inoue's words.

"Um… if you like, you're welco-"

"Sorry, I've got some stuff to do." Ichigo said as he started to walk away.

"Oh okay. I'll just report to you if I find out about something!"

"Sure, thanks." Ichigo continued on his way, obviously concerned about Chad's safety.

…

Nozomi was spending some time in her room, still in thought about what happened between her and Ichigo yesterday. She heard some noises from outside as she lay down in bed, and decided to check it out. She peeked from upstairs and saw Ichigo sneaking out again

"Ichigo! He's slipping out again!". Nozomi thought as she decided to follow Ichigo to finally find out what he's hiding. "Gh, he's fast!" She had difficulty keeping up with him and avoiding being spotted. Things didn't make it easier when Ichigo started running faster.

"I can't catch up. I'll lose him at this rate! I guess I have to." Nozomi thought as she changed to her Shinigami form and headed to the roofs to get a better view.

Ichigo finally slowed down after reaching Choubara, causing Nozomi to hide behind a pole, despite the fact that Ichigo can't see spirits at the moment.

"… A derelict apartment building… I guess this is the place." Ichigo said as he catched his breath for a while.

"Yo." Ginjou appeared behind him and called out, greatly shocking Nozomi.

"What? It's that man again! What's Ichigo doing meeting up with him?" Nozomi thought in surprise.

"5 minutes early, how professional." Ginjou commented.

"3, actually."

"So, what'd you want to talk to me about?"

"A buddy of mine got his ass kicked."

"And?"

"I want you to give me a hand."

"Searching for the culprit? But I thought you didn't trust me?"

"You know about me and my dad… So you're probably not a normal human."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"It's not that I trust you. But I-"

"Don't have anyone else to turn to?" Ginjou finished Ichigo's statement again. "All right, follow me."

Ginjou led Ichigo inside the building, but before he himself entered, he faced in the direction Nozomi was hiding and made an unsettling smile.

"Wha- He can see me? But how?" Nozomi thought before attempting to follow them, but sensed two people with a high level of Reiatsu coming from a distance.

"I don't believe it!" A female voice said. "The nerve, sleeping in a place like that!"

"… sorry." Her companion apologized, his low and raspy voice instantly being recognized by Nozomi.

"What? That voice…!" She thought as the two figures came closer.

"Oh don't give me that sorry crap!" The female voice reprimanded. "I had to come look for you, think about how I feel!" The girl paused for a while before continuing. "Oh , now that I think about it, why did Ginjou make me come look for you? He should've come himself!"

"Ginjou…? That's the name of the man Ichigo was talking to!"

"Hey! Wait just a minute! How about saying something! It's your fault I'm in such a bad mood! Hey! I know you're thinking something! So say it!" The girl demanded.

"I was just thinking that you're pretty good at carrying on by yourse-" The man attempted to speak but was stopped when he was apparently hit.

"They're coming!" Nozomi thought as the figures came closer. She immediately moves away to avoid being caught. She took another glance at the two figures, but was frozen upon seeing who the man was.

...

Ginjou led Ichigo in the building and they both entered the elevator.

"Truthfully, I'd like to ask you to put this off after you've taken care of my request, though." Ginjou opened up a conversation.

"You mean the thing about my dad? … I haven't seen him since then… But I'm sure I can look into-"

"It was a joke." Ginjou interrupted. You don't have to look into it. That was just to pique your curiosity."

Ichigo was surprised but failed to complain when the elevator's door opened.

"We're here." Ginjou said as he led Ichigo to a door with a swiper. "Swipe your card here."

Ichigo did as told, opening the door and revealing a giant bar-like room. The room's inhabitants all looked at Ichigo upon his entrance, and he returned their looks.

"Why is it so big in here?" Ichigo asked, who was immediately answered.

"We knocked down the walls of 5 apartments and took out the floors of 3. We have some members with money." Ginjou stated and paused for a while before turning to face Ichigo, indicating the start of a serious matter.

"So, before we get down to business, let me tell you about our objective first." Ginjou started.

"… your objective…?"

"Yeah, our reason for getting close to you." Ginjou stated before pausing for a while. He continued after a while.

"Our objective… is to restore your Shinigami powers."

To those who've been reading my story up to this far, thanks a lot guys. I'll be posting the next chapter later if I can finish it so stay tuned. Ja ne.