Summary: Mayuri is having a very busy day.

"…and by implementing a computer based report system, we can free up dozens of shinigami in every division for field work." Mayuri concluded.

"Question." Byakuya interjected. "What will be done with the archive of paper files?"

"I have a work center already set up to transcribe the files into the database, both as searchable content and as scanned copies."

"What about the implementation phase?" Ukitake asked. "What training will our people receive if we switch over to this new system?"

"My cadre of instructors are ready to start classes whenever you like. Afterward, we will have a support center to deal with any problems that might come up."

"This all sounds very good in theory Captain Kurotsuchi." Captain-Commander Yamamoto said. "However, I don't believe we should implement this new system all at once. I would like to see this done on a trial basis first. Would any captain like to volunteer their division?"

"I'm willing to volunteer." Hitsuguya responded. "It can't be any worse than relying on my lieutenant."

Yamamoto nodded. "Very well Captain Hitsuguya. You will coordinate with Captain Kurotsuchi to set up a pilot program and keep us informed of your progress. As there is no other business on the agenda, you are all dismissed."

He struck his cane on the ground signaling the end of the meeting. The captains dispersed, making their exit from the meeting hall. Captain Unohana made her way to the twelfth division commander's side as they walked out.

"Captain Kurotsuchi, that was a wonderful idea you proposed. You have been working extremely hard for the Gotei 13's benefit lately."

Mayuri glanced at her sideways. "It is my job, Captain Unohana."

"Nonetheless, you have been doing a lot lately." She replied "In fact, it's a complete turnaround from just a few months ago."

"Is there some kind of point you're trying to make Captain?" He asked scowling. "I'm a very busy man."

"I'm simply wondering if this isn't some kind of compensating behavior. First you fall into inactivity, then you start putting in extreme amounts of overtime. Both are symptomatic of avoidance behavior. I understand you must feel a great deal of grief and pain losing N…"

"DON'T SAY HER NAME!" Mayuri shouted as he whirled to face her. "That person doesn't exist for me anymore! I am perfectly fine and don't need her or anyone else!"

Unohana quietly absorbed his angry outburst before answering, a pool of serenity in a turbulent world.

"Be that as it may, if you need help, even if it's just to talk to someone, please remember I'm here for you."

Mayuri took a deep breath. "My…apologies Captain Unohana. I understand you are trying to help, but believe me, I am fine. Now if you don't mind, I have a very full schedule for today."

As if on cue, his cell phone's alarm went off.

"You see." He said holding up the device. "A reminder for my next appointment. Good day to you Captain."

Unohana politely bowed in farewell as he took his leave. She watched as he quickly strode away, his steps jittery and uneven, betraying his inner turmoil. There was something troubling him deeply, she was sure of it.

"…three, two and one. Keep your balance ladies, now we're going to work the left leg. Remember not to move your foot too high off the ground, first forward, then to the side. And, five, four, three, two…"

Nemu was actually starting to sweat a little as she followed along with the pregnancy workout video. Well into her second trimester, her belly protruded before her, pushing out the front of her maternity dress. She was careful to maintain her balance as she swung her left foot up then to the side, then back down to the floor. It was a part of her daily routine. On school days, she would get up early to fix Uryuu's breakfast and pack his lunch. He would go off to his classes at Karakura University and she would do the shopping for the day. Returning home, she would do the housework, then exercise, then rest for a while until it was time to make dinner. Uryuu would come home in the evening, usually full of exited talk about his classes in textile science or drafting and sewing and he would listen to her talk about her day. On weekends, they would take long walks in the nearby park, or watch movies together or simply sit quietly at home, enjoying each other's company. Nemu couldn't remember a happier time in her life. And yet…something was missing. Freed from the hard work of a Lieutenant in the Gotei 13, she sometimes found herself missing her old life. She could still feel the pull of the laboratory. She still missed the thrill of discovery. Well, she wasn't always going to be a housewife. Uryuu agreed that after Souken was born, Nemu would look for her own career. It was something to look forward to, but at the same time, she regretted that someday she wouldn't carry this increasingly lively spark of life within her. She was thinking this very thought for the millionth time when the attack hit.

Gasping slightly, she put her hands on her stomach, the exercise video forgotten.

"Not again." She murmured.

It wasn't a physical pain. It was more of a mental/emotional spike. It was the feeling she was getting from deep inside. From Souken. Something was making him very upset.

"Are you all right, baby?" She crooned stroking her abdomen. "Is something disturbing you?"

She didn't understand what was causing it. Dr Kurosaki had been unable to find a physical reason for these outbursts. A physical reason wouldn't have made sense anyway. What Souken was feeling more than anything was fear. What could possibly provoke a reaction like that in an unborn baby? Her great fear was a hollow was stalking her child, even at this early stage, but Uryuu, and later Urahara, had not been able to find any trace of the deadly creatures. Still, on a fairly regular basis Souken became emotionally disturbed and that discomfort was transmitted directly to her.

She absentmindedly shut off the television and went to sit down at the computer desk. She had been using a spreadsheet to track these episodes. Pulling up the program, she logged in the latest symptoms and information. This occurrence definitely fit into the pre-existing pattern. Always about this time of the week. Always when she was alone. If only she had some proper analytical equipment. Simply recording the events felt so inadequate. She curled around her belly protectively. While no one had found any evidence of an outside threat, she still felt afraid. Some hollows were not mindless beasts. Some were very clever hunters. What if one of them was after Souken? How could she know? What could she do to protect him? She forced herself to relax when she realized her fears were upsetting Souken even more.

"Don't worry little one." She cooed. "It's all right. Everything is all right. Would you like some ice cream? Would that help?"

It would certainly make her feel better. She ate several different dairy products a day to help supplement her vitamin and calcium intake, from yogurt to skim milk, but her favorite was butterscotch ice cream. While she limited herself to only one serving a day, she really looked forward to it. Getting out of her chair, she strode across the apartment to the refrigerator. Mayuri had to jump a little to get out of her way.

"Fascinating." He muttered under his breath as he viewed the readings from his scanner. The energy patterns around the fetus were like nothing he'd ever seen before. It was getting most of its energy from its mother as expected, but it was also pulling it in from his surroundings. That was not unusual for a quincy child. His data on the race showed they all did that. What was unusual was the core of power it was generating internally. Quincies did not do that. Shinigami did. The subject seemed to be expressing both sides of its heritage. Very interesting.

Nemu had served herself one small cup of ice cream and was sitting once again at the computer desk while she ate it. Cursing the inability to observe the subject's development in a proper lab setting, he set the scanner down where it could continue to record. He watched his daughter in disgust. She was burbling away between mouthfuls of ice cream, talking nonsense to her unborn child. Didn't she realize it hadn't developed to a stage where it could process language yet? Foolishness.

Pacing around the apartment, he tried once again to understand how she could seem be so happy in such a shabby environment. The apartment itself had obviously seen better days long ago. All the furniture was second-hand and probably hadn't been high quality even when new. He saw many patches and seams, the quincy's handiwork no doubt. The small kitchen table was covered with scratches, the chairs were wobbly and held together with wire. Had they found them in a dump? Even the electronic devices, primitive real world junk that it was, were all battered, obsolete models. The pictures and decorations on the walls seemed to be the only nice things they had.

He looked over the images as he did every visit. There was the boy's high school graduation. His college commencement ceremony. Their wedding pictures in those ridiculous quincy robes. Some had his friends in them as well, especially that freakish Kurosaki boy. The only constant companion in all of them was Nemu. She stood proudly by his side, her face wreathed in a serene smile. Pathetic.

There were a few paintings as well. A landscape. A scroll. A plaque saying "Guts" for some reason. Finally, the one he hated. Nemu had either found or created a painting of a thistle. A black silhouette on a white background. The symbol of the thirteenth division. It infuriated him.

"You don't deserve this." He hissed as he glared at her. "You are not a part of my division anymore!"

He fought the urge to slap it down. She could neither see nor hear him and it wasn't that unusual for pictures to fall off the wall by themselves, but why take a chance by signaling his presence?

Finishing up her ice cream, she got up to wash the cup in the sink. The whole time, she smiled and patted her stomach as she kept talking and talking to the baby. Nauseated, Mayuri turned away. This was not the daughter he created. This was not what she was designed for. What would it take to open her eyes to the absurdity of the path she was taking? The alarm from his cell phone alerting him to his next appointment was a relief. He turned off the scanner and put it in its case.

"Sorry I can't stay longer my precious daughter." He sneered. "I have to meet someone. Very soon, that so-called husband of yours is going to meet him too."

Before Nemu's unseeing eyes, he opened the senkaimon. She didn't know he had left. She only knew Souken was finally calming down.

Every division has one. That one guy that everybody knows, but nobody knows what he does. Tenth seat Saitoh Hideki filled that role for the twelfth division. Saitoh was unique in that he was not a lab tech. All of the lab techs in the twelfth division were cherished and had long careers, even ones like Tsubokura Rin. Non-laboratory workers had a notoriously short life span. Still, Saitoh Hideki was there, year after year, seeming to live a charmed life amid the many "experimental side effects" and "industrial accidents" that claimed his fellow shinigami. Even stranger, anyone trying to figure out just what Saitoh duties actually were seemed to run afoul of an "accident" soon after.

Saitoh was easy to overlook. Somewhat short, he had dark shaggy hair, a square face with dark eyes and a pug nose that looked like it had been broken a time or two. He wasn't too careful with his hygiene either, having a couple of day's worth of stubble and untrimmed nails. He was the kind of person who could hang out unnoticed along the back wall of pretty much any bar, marketplace or back alley. He was unremarkable, unmemorable and expendable. That is what made him so valuable. He wondered why he was being summoned now. It'd been a long time since Captain Kurotsuchi needed him. He knocked on the door three times as regulation required.

"Come in." He heard the captain say.

Saitoh entered stopping the customary three paces before the captain's desk.

"Tenth seat Saitoh Hideki, reporting as ordered sir."

He bowed low, waiting for Mayuri's nod before rising again and standing at ease.

"You wanted to see me sir?" He asked.

Mayuri grinned and arched his fingers before him. "Yes, Saitoh. Have a seat. It's been a while since I last contacted you directly. When's the last time I needed your services?"

"That would be the new recruit who saw something he shouldn't have, captain."

"Nobody ever found the body, did they?"

"And nobody ever will, sir."

They shared a chuckle over memory.

"Let me tell you why I've called you in today, Saitoh. Do you remember our work with the Quincy?"

Saitoh nodded his head. "It was a while ago, but I remember it well. You certainly made it worth my while sir."

"Well we're having Quincy trouble again."

Saitoh's eyes widened. "You mean there are still quincies left, sir?"

Mayuri stared at him dumbfounded. "You don't read the papers much, do you Saitoh?"

"Can't say that I do, sir." Saito agreed amiably as he dug around in his ear.

Mayuri sighed. At least he was dependable.

"Yes, there is a quincy survivor in Karakura who has been most troublesome to me. I have a plan to eliminate him, and I'm entrusting you to carry it out. The most important thing in its implementation is discretion. Seireitei must never know of our involvement."

Saitoh leaned back with a smug grin. "I've never let you down before, have I sir? Oh wait, did you say Karakura? That's the thirteenth division's beat now. It would look kinda suspicious if I got caught operating there."

"All part of my plan." Mayuri assured him. "Ukitake was sloppy with his posting and created some exploitable vulnerabilities. All will be made clear once you know the plan."

"I'm ready whenever you are, sir." Saitoh said eagerly leaning forward. "Just tell me what you want and I'll see to it that is runs smooth as butter."

"I'm afraid it won't be that simple, Saitoh." Mayuri said standing up. "For this operation, I require a deeper level of commitment. Please follow me."

Jumping to his feet, Saitoh followed his captain as he led the way deep into the bowels of the laboratory complex. There were many security doors and barriers along the way. Soon they were in that part of the building used only by Mayuri himself. Saitoh was dutifully impressed, especially when they reached their destination.

"Here it is." Mayuri said with a flourish. "The memory overlay laminator. In principle, it acts much the same as the memory chikan, only far more powerful and precise."

The machine before him was a metal table surrounded by tubes, wires, ceramic insulators and several large electrical coils. Mayuri went to the podium-like control panel and brought the device online, the room filling up with a low humming sound and an eerie blue light. Once he was satisfied the machine was sufficiently warmed up, he waved at the metal table indicating Saitoh should get on it. The tenth seat hesitated.

"Uh, I'm guessing you're going to be changing my memories, captain?" He squeaked. "Is this really necessary?"

"Of course it is." Mayuri insisted. "Don't worry so much. I'll explain as I strap you in."

"Strap me in?"

"It is essential you remain motionless during the procedure. Now get on the table, that's an order!"

Reluctantly, Saitoh did as he was told. The stainless steel was cold on his back as he lay down. Mayuri lost no time securing the various shackles and tie downs, explaining as he worked.

"You see, for my plan to succeed, it requires the agent to carry a set of preconceived ideas and beliefs that cannot be learned second hand. It goes beyond bluffing, beyond acting, must in fact be indistinguishable from a sincere conviction on the part of the individual."

"I don't understand captain."

"Of course you don't you twit." Mayuri casually stated as he secured Saitoh's arms. "What I'm going to do is implant false memories directly into your brain. These powerful electromagnets will actually alter the connections and pathways in your brain allowing me to enter in any scenario I wish. When I'm done, not only will you know the plan, you'll believe you thought it up yourself."

Saitoh lifted his head and looked at the various straps and chains that now criss-crossed his body.

"Um, sir." He quavered. "I don't mean to sound cowardly, but I can't help noticing there's what looks like dried blood on these restraints."

"That's because the process causes excruciating pain." Mayuri explained grabbing Saitoh's head and forcing it back down. He put a strap across his forehead to prevent him moving.

"You didn't say anything about there being any pain!" Saitoh yelped.

"Don't worry." Mayuri assured him. "You won't remember it at all. You never did before."

Taking a marker from his sleeve, he carefully, he drew a bullseye over the pathway to the temporal lobe.

"You did this to me before?"

"Of course. Whose blood do you think that is on the restraints?"

Touching a switch on the menacing looking focal point of the machine, he turned on a small red light. It shone down on the prone shinigami's forehead. Mayuri adjusted the device until the red light was pointed directly at the bullseye.

"Wait a minute captain! Wait a minute! Isn't there a way to do this without the pain?"

Mayuri put his finger on his chin as he thought about it. "I suppose I could come up with a way with a little more research."

He went back to the control panel and held his hand over the activation switch.

"But where's the fun in that?"

Saitoh Hideki barely processed the sound of Captain Kurotsuchi's hand slapping down the switch before his world exploded into a blue-white universe of pain. Deep in the bowels of the twelfth division's compound, no one would be able to hear his screams. Howling in agony, his cries amplifying as they echoed off the stone walls, he couldn't hear the sound of Mayuri laughing.

"I'm home." Uryuu announced as he took his shoes off in the entryway. He didn't get a reply. Nemu was nowhere in sight. Frowning slightly, he put on his slippers and checked the bathroom. She wasn't in there.

"Nemu?" He called out.

Walking further into the apartment he walked around their threadbare couch and saw her. She was fast asleep, the small throw blanket that normally covered the couch pulled around her shoulders. He smiled and knelt down beside her. She looked so beautiful and at peace. He took a moment just to admire his lovely wife. It still felt a little odd to think of himself as a married man. Being lucky enough to marry someone like Nemu felt like more good fortune than he deserved. In their time together, she grew more open, more confident every day. As the days went by, he was getting to know every facet of her and it made him fall even deeper in love. He reached out to stroke her face, watching as her eyes fluttered open.

"I'm home." He repeated leaning over to kiss her. Nemu smiled as she returned the kiss

"Welcome home, husband." She said.

"Hello in there."Uryuu said into his cupped hands over her stomach. "Aren't you going to welcome your father home?"

Nemu laughed. "He knows you're here. He's glad your back."

Her smile quickly faded as she remembered something.

"Dinner!" She said. "I forgot to make dinner."

"It's OK." Uryuu assured her as he got up. "I can cook tonight."

"You shouldn't." Nemu said as she followed him. "You've already spent all day in school."

"Don't worry about it." He replied as he started to take ingredients out of the refrigerator. "After the day I've just had, this will help me take my mind off of it."

"You had a bad day in class?" she asked.

"No, school was fine." He said taking out the cutting board and selecting a knife. "It was what happened on the way home that a mess."

He selected an onion and began to slice it up.

"Kurosaki and I were going to the train station, when we felt hollows attacking on the other side of town. It was one of the strangest attacks we ever saw. The hollow was a parasite type with one big one controlling lots of little ones. They were like little spiders and they were everywhere. Fast too. It was everything I could do to keep them contained. As soon as I killed one, it seemed like two more would take their place. Naturally Kurosaki had to be the big hero and take out the main hollow. He's so aggravating like that. That took care of the little ones too as they actually were just an extension of the host. Then Kurosaki had the nerve to thank me for the "assist", like I'm his sidekick or something, and then the town shinigami, what's his name, the one with the afro, finally shows up and he…"

Suddenly he realized what he was saying. He put down the knife and looked up from his work to see Nemu staring at him.

"I'm sorry." He apologized. "I shouldn't be talking about things like that."

Mentally he kicked himself. He had been doing his best to keep things about hollows and spiritual matters to himself. Today had just been so irritating, he forgot to leave it at the door like he usually did.

"It's all right." Nemu told him. "I don't mind if you want to tell me things like that."

"It doesn't bother you?" He asked. "I didn't want to remind you about being a shinigami."

"It's all right." She insisted forcing herself to smile. "It may no longer be a part of my life, but it's still an important part of yours. Don't hide things like that from me Uryuu. I want to know everything you're doing. Even if it involves that."

Uryuu could see it bothered her least a little bit. Still, he resolved to do as she asked and not hide anything more from her. Of course, he might tone things down a little before he told her.

"I'm sorry." He responded. "I won't keep things like that from you anymore. How about you? How was your day?"

She glanced away and didn't answer right away. She knew how he was going to react.

"It happened again."

Uryuu rushed over to her and took her in his arms as if to shield her from harm. He placed his hand on her belly as he fired off anxious questions.

"Are you all right? Is the Souken OK?"

"We're fine." Nemu replied. "It was the same as always. Something made him very afraid. I didn't see or hear anything."

"I'm staying home this week." He announced. "I'm going to find out what's causing this."

"No don't." She said shaking her head. "You need to go to school."

"I insist!" He declared. "Who knows what's going on? I will not allow you to stay here unprotected."

"You can't do that." Nemu asserted. "You have to think of your grades. It may be nothing at all."

"How about just this day next week?" He bargained. "These 'attacks' or whatever they are always seem to happen on this day."

Nemu thought about it for a moment.

"All right." She agreed. "Just one day."

She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. He was rigid with anger and fear. He had worked with Urahara and Isshin and everyone else he could think of to find out what could be frightening the baby. It made him worried sick. Someone had to know what was happening. Once again, the temptation rose within him. Ryuuken. Maybe there was something he knew that would shed light on the subject.

No! He was not going to go crawling back to his father at the first sign of trouble. He was going to protect his family without his help. The scrolls. Maybe there was an answer still hidden in the ancient quincy scrolls. He hadn't found anything yet, but he still had hope. Tonight, when Nemu went to sleep, he would get them out and pore over them until dawn. He would find a way.

Zennosuke Kurumadani plopped down on the bar stool with an air of sullen defeat. Even his afro seemed to sag with discouragement.

"Bartender! A bottle of your best saké." He ordered.

Seeing who had given him the order, the bartenders face took on a sour expression.

"You again! Didn't I have to garnish your wages to get your bar tab paid?

"It got paid didn't it?" Kurumadani pointed out. "Now c'mon, bring out the saké."

"Uh-uh. First let me see your cash."

Grumbling under his breath, Kurumadani rummaged through his pockets and began putting coins on the bar. He checked every pocket. Then he checked them again. He ended up with a very small pile of coins, all in low denominations.

"That's just enough for a beer." The bartender declared scooping up the coins.

Kurumadani was outraged. "A beer! After the day I've had, I need something stronger than that!"

The bartender put a freshly filled mug down in front of him.

"Too bad. You're gonna hafta make do with this. And if you give me any more lip, I'll toss you out on the street and you won't even have that."

Kurumadani scowled, but he kept his mouth shut. He picked up the beer and took a sip. After the bartender went to serve another customer, he muttered staring into the foam.

"It's just not fair I tell you. A shinigami shouldn't have to work under such conditions. It's not right."

"I couldn't help overhearing your troubles." A stranger said as he sat down next to him. "Tell you what. I happened to get some bounties lately. I'll split a bottle with you."

"Really?" Kurumadani replied with a rapidly spreading grin. "Hey bartender!" He turned back to his new found friend.

"Gee, thanks buddy. Got some hollow bounties huh? That must be nice."

"What's the matter?" The stranger asked. "Your sector's been running dry lately?"

"Hardly." Kurumadani sniffed. "There's plenty of hollows on my beat. The problem is I have all these weirdos in town killing them off before I can get there. It's not fair! How's an unseated shinigami supposed to advance in a place like that?"

"Sounds rough." The stranger said as he paid for the saké. "You wanna talk about it?"

"Sure pal." Kurumadani said accepting a cup. "Say, what's your name?"

"Saitoh. Saitoh Hideki"