Summary: Mayuri's little plan to get rid of Ishida doesn't work out so well.
Rukia rushed into Byakuya's office, anxious and worried. She bowed quickly as soon as her brother looked up to her.
"I got here as soon as I could Ni-sama." She panted. "I am sorry. Ichigo refused to come. He said he was not going take the trouble to come to Soul Society unless you were more specific."
Byakuya frowned, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Please don't be angry Ni-sama." Rukia quickly blurted out. "I'm sure he meant no disrespect. He can be so stubborn sometimes. Please, tell me why you summoned us and I will tell him immediately."
Byakuya's frown deepened. "You are mistaken Rukia. I am not angry. I am puzzled. I never summoned you at all."
Rukia's eyes widened in confusion. "But…if you didn't send for us Ni-sama…then who did?"
Perched high on the roof of a nearby apartment building, Saitoh Hideki had an excellent view of his prey. The young man exited the front of a shabby, rundown apartment building, book bag slung over his shoulder. Suddenly, he stopped and turned around. Someone had called out to him. A very pregnant young woman followed him carrying a wrapped bento. He had forgotten his lunch apparently. He accepted it and a kiss on the cheek, then continued on his way, his young wife waving goodbye. What a touching scene of domestic tranquility. What a lucky young man. Ishida Uryuu. Enjoying all the happiness he had stolen. Saitoh's face burned with rage. The Quincy could never love Nemu the way he did. If it weren't for the hated interloper, he would be the one married to Nemu, he would be the one accepting her home made lunch, he would be the one expecting his first born son. It was all he could do to keep himself from swooping down on him and gutting that freak right in front of her eyes. He fought to control his anger as he went over his plan once again. That fool Zennosuke Kurumadani had been a perfect tool. He had been delighted with his new friends company, allowing Saitoh to patrol with him, showing him every nook and cranny of his prey's territory while constantly bragging about his non-existent prowess. He wasn't on patrol today. A little powder in Kurumadani's drink last night made sure of that. Saitoh's little ruse in sending Kuchiki Rukia a spoofed text message from her brother ensured she would return to Soul Society and take the infamous substitute with her. There would be no shinigami in town today besides himself. Now, using the Quincy's routine against him, all he needed to do was wait as the fool walked unknowingly into the killing ground.
Walking to the university every morning, Uryuu found cutting through the abandoned factory yard saved him a good ten minutes, although he had to watch his step. There were many piles of angle iron and broken equipment with sharp, rusty edges. In some places, the path was very narrow, so he had to pay attention as he weaved his way through it. Perhaps that was why he was taken by surprise when stranger called down to him from the roof of a nearby abandoned factory.
"Quincy!" He shouted down in a harsh, gravelly voice. "We must talk. I have urgent news for you."
Looking up, Uryuu saw a strange shinigami standing on the rusted steel roof of the old factory. Short and stocky in build, his face was obscured by a scarf covering his mouth, nose and hair. He sighed and adjusted his glasses
"Look, whoever you are, I'm sure whatever the problem is, you don't really need me and I have to get to school. If you need help, it would be better for you to ask someone else in Soul Society."
"You don't understand." The stranger replied. "I'm not here to ask you for help. I'm here to offer it."
"I really don't see why I would need any help right now, especially from a stranger hiding his face." Uryuu called back.
"You will in a moment." The stranger assured him. "It concerns your wife."
At the mere hint of a threat to Nemu, Uryuu's insides froze. Dropping his book bag, Uryuu instantly appeared on the roof.
"What was that you said about my wife?!" He snarled advancing on the stranger. The man held his hands palm out to calm him down.
"Take it easy Quincy. As I said, I have news for you about your wife that could be very important. I mean you no harm."
Uryuu stopped walking towards the stranger and made a visible effort to calm down.
"All right. You have my attention. Who are you and what information do you have about my wife?"
"My name is not important." The shinigami replied. "What is important is that even now, Captain Kurotsuchi has not forgotten about you or her. He hates you more than anything, and plots for ways to bring you down and take her back."
Uryuu sniffed. "Is that all? That's hardly news."
"Perhaps not." The stranger agreed. "But what I have to tell you next might surprise you."
"Very well." Uryuu said. "Tell me."
"You'll have to come closer." The strange shinigami said as he beckoned Uryuu forward. "I'll have to whisper it to you."
"Whisper?" Uryuu asked "Considering I don't even know you, I think it would be best if you just tell me what it is from where you are."
"You don't understand." The man replied. "I'm taking a huge risk meeting with you. I am from the twelfth division myself. I chose to meet you here because it is remote enough that Captain Kurotsuchi may not have planted any hidden spycams or microphones here, but I can't be sure. That is why I'm hiding my face and disguising my voice. Even so, if I reveal what I know in the open and Captain Kurotsuchi hears about it, he will know exactly who I am. Please quincy, for both our sakes, come closer. What I know about Nemu will change everything."
Uryuu was clearly displeased with the situation. But what choice did he have? Warily he approached the disguised shinigami.
"All right." He said stopping just in front of the man. "We're close enough now. What is this secret you have about Nemu?"
Leaning forward, Saitoh Hideki softly breathed what he had to say in a voice so low, he could barely be heard. "The secret, quincy, is that your wife…should have been mine!"
Before Uryuu could react, the man smashed something on his head that exploded into a cloud of dust. Coughing and trying to wipe the dust out of his eyes, he was unable to prevent Saitoh from taking his quincy cross off his wrist. Roaring with triumphant laughter, Saitoh leaped to the top of the abandoned factory's water tower. Finally getting his eyes clear, Uryuu rubbed some of the dust between his fingers and gave it a sniff.
"Hollow bait?"
"That's right quincy!" Saitoh mockingly yelled. "Soon this area will be swarming with hollows. By stealing my beloved away from me, I'll see you dead, body and soul! Without your cross, you're helpless and I made sure no shinigami will come to your rescue. Your soul will be torn to shreds and it will be weeks before your body is found, if ever. Don't worry though, quincy. I will be sure to comfort Nemu when her husband cruelly abandons her. Your child will call me father and never know you existed. Think of this and despair as you die!" He dangled Uryuu's cross out before him. "Do you know what the best part is quincy? I'll be standing right here watching you the whole time with the source of all your powers just out of reach. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Uryuu frowned in annoyance as he blew the dust out of his glasses. Putting them back on, he appeared before Saitoh in an eye blink and snatched the cross out of his hand.
"And just who told you that this was the source of all my powers?" He asked. "I only need it for this."
Slipping his hand into the bracelet, he quickly ignited his bow. Snarling in anger, Saitoh disappeared. Uryuu was about to follow when the first wave of hollows attacked. They were all rushing at him, mouths agape, screeching and roaring. He went airborne to engage the first wave, a fusillade of arrows pouring from his bow. Being low level hollows, he had no trouble dealing with them, but the problem was, he had to deal with them. In the meantime, he could feel his attacker getting away. If he couldn't follow him soon, he would be able to open a portal back to soul society and make good his escape. Fortunately, he could feel help already on the way as a massive bow wave of power pulsed toward his location. The air around Ichigo exploded as he appeared in the sky.
"Getsuga Tensho!" He shouted as he swept the skies with a burst of crackling blue energy. Instinctively taking Uryuu's back, they worked together to deal with the swarming monsters. Between the two of them, all of the hollows were quickly wiped out, although more would soon be on the way. Ichigo took advantage of the lull in combat to do what he did best…complain.
"Dammit Ishida, what the hell did you do this time? We're late for class!"
"I didn't do anything Kurosaki, a shinigami did this." Uryuu sourly replied. "He threw powdered hollow bait on me and took off running."
Ichigo was immediately confused. "Huh? A shinigami? Why would he do that?"
Uryuu shot down some newly arrived hollows. "How would I know Kurosaki? He spouted something about Nemu and watching me die, then I had to deal with this situation."
Ichigo slashed a few more newcomers down. "We better catch up to him and find out what he's up to."
"Gee, you think so?" Uryuu sneered. "I never would have thought of that. I was waiting for you to get here for that very reason lunkhead! You stay and handle these hollows and I'll chase him down."
"Why don't you stay here and I'll chase him down?" Ichigo replied.
Uryuu launched a wave of arrows to deal with the increasingly heavy number of hollows racing towards him.
"Have you finally learned to track strangers by their reiatsu?" He asked.
Ichigo sullenly frowned. He hated admitting weakness.
"No." he muttered.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you Kurosaki." Uryuu goaded.
"No, no I can't." Ichigo yelled striking down still more hollows. "Are you happy now, mister high-and-mighty quincy? You're better than me at tracking, OK. So I'll stay here and you go after him."
"Thought you would see things my way." Uryuu smugly responded. Aiming at the water tower, he shot a hole in its side. As the stagnant water streamed out, he rushed to stand under it and began vigorously scrubbing his hair and face.
"What are you doing?" Ichigo demanded. "This is no time to take a bath."
"Shutup!" Uryuu sputtered. "Use your head! If I don't wash off the hollow bait, they'll just follow me. This will also neutralize it so it won't attract any more."
"I guess that makes sense." Ichigo conceded as he fended off some huge hollows that had dropped down from the sky.
Uryuu left his improvised shower and shook the water out of glasses.
"OK, I'm going after him!" He announced before disappearing.
"I'll catch up once I'm done here!" Ichigo yelled. He looked around at the cloud of caterwauling hollows swirling in the air and leaping to the ground. New hollows arriving slowed down as the effects of the hollow bait wore off but there were still a lot of them.
"Man, I am going to be so late for statistical analysis." He groaned.
Saitoh cursed as he unlocked the gate back to Soul Society in a nearby vacant lot, impatiently shifting on his feet as he waited for them to open. His revenge had failed. His plan to watch as his hated rival was torn to pieces hadn't worked. Well he knew better now. Since the quincy had no idea who he was, he had time to plan another attack. And next time, Ishida Uryuu wouldn't see it coming. With the gate finally open, he rushed to enter. Before he could, a blue arrow of pure energy whizzed a hairs breadth away from in front of his nose.
"Going somewhere?" Uryuu asked.
Saitoh roared in fury as he ripped his zampakuto out of its sheath. Using all his speed, he rushed towards his enemy.
"Hope you like close quarters combat." he shouted swinging his sword in powerful arcing attacks. "I'm not giving you the opportunity to shoot me!"
Uryuu blocked the attacks with his bow.
"That suits...me...fine!" He grunted as he absorbed the shocks.
Reaching behind his back, he pulled out a seele schnieder only to have Saitoh knock it from his hand. With the return swing aimed as his head, Uryuu stepped into the arc and grabbed Saitoh's wrist below the hilt. Not hesitating for even a second, Saitoh's empty hand shot out and grabbed Uryuu by the lapel. Pulling him forward, he smashed Uryuu's forehead with a vicious head butt. Reeling backwards, Uryuu had to dodge quickly while trying to recover from the pain and disorientation. Saitoh managed to score cuts on his arms and slashed a shallow wound along his ribs as Uryuu advanced to clinch with him, using both hands now to stop Saitoh's attack.
"Give it up, quincy." Saitoh snarled in his face. "I'm far stronger than you!"
"Maybe so." Uryuu admitted between gritted teeth. "But I'm smarter."
Quickly grabbing Saitoh's headscarf, he pulled it down over Saitoh's eyes. As the shinigami fought to move the scarf back and regain his vision, Uryuu locked his sword hand with an armbar and forced him to drop his zampakuto. Twisting sideways, he smoothly converted the lock into a throw, sending Saitoh face first into the pavement. Before he could regain his wits, Uryuu landed on his back, his knees knocking the wind out of his opponent. Struggling to breathe, he was powerless to stop Uryuu from removing his belt and tying his hands behind him. Uryuu finished by tying his feet then tying them to his opponent's hands leaving Saitoh helpless on his stomach in an uncomfortable bow shape. Ichigo appeared just as Uryuu got back on his feet.
"Aw man, I missed all the fun." He griped. "Looks like he got you pretty good though."
"Shut up Kurosaki." Uryuu gasped. "The important thing is I won. Now let's see my would-be murderer's face."
Suiting action to word, he reached down and pulled the scarf from Saitoh's face.
"Hmm. Nobody I know." Ichigo said scratching his head. "You?"
"No." Uryuu replied. "I've never seen this man before in my life.
Saitoh ignored them both. He lowered his head to the ground as tears streamed down his face. All of his hopes and dreams, all of his plans for a future with himself and the women he loved had died. He closed his eyes as the sobs tore from his throat and only wished he could die too.
He could feel the waves of negative energy pulsing through the air. Hollows making their way to the real world from Hueco Mundo. Lots of them. And Uryuu seemed to be the focus for all of them.
"Doctor, are you all right?"
Ryuuken shook his head. "I'm sorry nurse, I'm afraid my mind may have wandered a bit. Please go on."
She resumed her description of the patient's latest symptoms as Ryuuken struggled to pay attention. Uryuu was fighting hard. He could feel it. He was holding his own, it was obvious. Still he felt relieved as the Kurosaki boy showed up. Uryuu was not alone, he had help. He was going to be fine. Soon the number of hollows fell, then disappeared entirely. His son was safe.
"Doctor, you really don't look well. Are you sure you are OK?"
Ryuuken sighed and adjusted his glasses. "I'm not sure. Perhaps I will go to my office and lay down for a moment. Have Dr. Takeshi look this over."
"All right doctor. I hope you feel better soon."
"I'm sure I will." Ryuuken assured her as he left. He berated himself for allowing himself to get distracted. Uryuu hadn't called or otherwise contacted him in all the time since he had left. It was obvious he didn't want his father in his life anymore. He supposed he should get used to the idea that he no longer had a son. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but feel glad that Uryuu was unharmed.
Mayuri sighed. "You know, a great general once said, 'Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.' Well, that didn't work out like I planned at all. Saitoh's a thug, a simple, stupid blunt instrument with no subtlety to him. I was sure with the proper motivation, he would sneak up on that pathetic husband of yours and knife him in the kidneys. He's done it often enough before. I don't know why he felt he had to get fancy now. I suppose love makes you do strange things. Who knew the man had a streak of romance hidden in his soul?"
Nemu's only response was to groan and clutch at her stomach.
"It's all right Souken." She crooned as she rocked back and forth. "It will be over soon. Just relax, everything is all right."
"The little brat really doesn't like me." Mayuri observed as his scanner turned some very interesting colors. "A surprising amount of awareness in such a rudimentary life form. Oh yes, I'm going to have a lot of fun studying him someday."
Nemu got up and went to the computer desk dutifully logging in this latest attack. Mayuri continued his monologue undisturbed. He missed having her around as a sounding board for his ideas.
"At least Saitoh fulfilled his main function admirably." He said. "There was no way old man Yamamoto or the Council of 36 could pin his attack on me. How could I predict or prevent an attack from man distraught over a broken heart? He will spend the rest of his life in the maggot's nest while he gets over it. He'll never know his burning passion was just artificial memories I put in his head. It's a sad state of affairs all around. Still, even though I was not implicated in this mess, I still have to come up with a way to get rid of that quincy. If only I could work out in the open, the fool wouldn't have a chance. Unfortunately, all of my best attacks would point straight to me."
"This one is even stronger than usual" Nemu whispered under her breath. "What is causing this?"
"Don't you worry my daughter." Mayuri chortled "I'm not out of pawns yet. I admit, losing Saitohs services was a huge loss, but there are others even more secret, even less connected to me that I can use. I'm nowhere near finishing this game yet. And that thieving quincy can't stay lucky forever."
"Easy, Souken." Nemu said as she stroked her stomach. "Let Mama pay off the bills and I'll get a snack. Would you like that? Would that make you feel better?"
Mayuri watched with interest as Nemu pulled up her bank's web page and logged in.
"That's right." He muttered to himself. "Money is a lot more important here in the real world. It's very hard to survive without it. And it can be handled by computer programs? How interesting. How very interesting indeed."
His eyes gleamed as an idea struck him. He grinned widely as he stroked his chin.
"Make no mistake Nemu, I haven't given up on destroying that fool and bringing you home where you belong." He declared. "It will just take more time that I had originally planned. However, while I'm setting that up, I'm afraid things are going to get very uncomfortable for you here in your little love nest. Oh yes, very uncomfortable indeed!"
Nemu lifted her head and glanced all around the apartment. That was very odd. For a moment, she thought she had heard something. It was very faint, almost completely inaudible. She wondered if she had simply mistaken the usual creaks and groans the building gave off for something else. That had to have been it, she concluded. She had to have been imagining things. She had to have imagined, even if it had only been a faint whisper for a split second, that she had heard her father laughing.
"Here." Nemu said to Uryuu as they snuggled beneath the comforter. "Put your hand here. Can you feel it?"
Uryuu laughed. "Yes I can. He's got a strong kick."
"Bedtime Souken" Nemu called out. "Mama and Daddy are trying to sleep."
That made Uryuu laugh more. "Somehow, I doubt he'll listen"
She smiled and shook her head. "No, he never does."
For a time, Uryuu was content to lie beside her, his hand on her taut belly, feeling his son kick at unpredictable intervals.
"So you really don't know this Saitoh Hideki?" He asked.
"I knew of him." Nemu replied. "He was on our division's roster and drew his pay from us. I don't recall ever meeting him."
"He seemed to really know you." He murmured. "He was crying the whole time while we waited for Soul Society to pick him up. He kept screaming that you were meant to be together and you broke his heart."
Nemu got up on her elbow and looked down at her husband.
"Uryuu. Are you jealous?"
"Me?" He exclaimed "Jealous of that guy? Never! Don't be ridiculous."
Nemu arched her eyebrow at him.
"Well, maybe a little." He admitted.
"You don't think we had some kind of relationship, do you?" She asked
He shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I'm pretty sure he was just a crazy stalker."
"Then why should you be jealous?"
He reached up to stroke her face. "Because I'm selfish. Because I don't want to share my beautiful wife with anyone else."
"Are you going to lock me up in a box?" She responded. "Do you want to hide me from the world?"
"Sometimes." He admitted. "Sometimes I feel like I should keep you in a high castle tower or a deep cavern underground, like a dragon guarding a treasure."
"Then why don't you?"
He smiled. "Because I treasure your happiness more."
She smiled back as she bent down to kiss him.
"You can guard me just as well in this futon." She declared. "Your arms are my castle."
"Then come inside." He said opening his arms. "It's dangerous out there."
Snuggling together, they quickly fell asleep with no idea of the trouble that lay ahead.