Welcome back my faithful readers. I'm glad you stuck with me so far! Obviously you have if you're reading this! My OC request is still open! Details at the bottom. Thank you to Phantom Claire and Mer-mer for your reviews! Now on with the show! After this disclaimer!Yuna:Erm… What?

IF: Never mind!DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BLEACH NOR THE CANNON CHARACTERS. I DO OWN THE PREMIERS, NEO-GOTEI, AND THE PLOT!

See you lovelies at the bottom~!

Ichigo had managed to move himself so that he was leaning against the wall instead of laying on the floor. His injuries were throbbing painfully and he couldn't get himself to think clearly, his mind was hazy with pain.

He wasn't sure of how long it was since Tadashi had walked in and claimed his lips, thought he figured it would be in the same day. It was odd to not have any sense of time. The teen really wished he had a watch.

His stomach tightened painfully, he was starving, he really just wanted something to eat even if it was small. He knew that his captors wouldn't be that accommodating. He wondered if his friends were looking for him or had they given up. For once in his life he was wishing that he wasn't alone.

He had always preferred to deal with things on his own, it was his personality. He had been close to his mother and she had been killed right before him. Somehow he had gotten friends, how he wasn't entirely sure. Though when he became a Shinigami he tried to distance himself further, but instead he ended up bringing the small group closer.

The door screamed as it was opened. He turned to look at who was entering the room. To his surprise it was Masao. He hadn't seen the man since his first "session". He looked displeased. He turned his gaze to the teen huddled in the corner. He didn't step into the room. Leaving Ichigo wondering what he was going to do.

"Yuna went into the World of the Living." Masao began. "There's a group of shinigami looking around for you. Yuna and her tops were sent there to stop them."

Ichigo looked up shocked at the information, and more than a little scared. He wondered if Yuna had just left or if she was already back. The grin of a victor adorning her face. Masao didn't give anything away.

"According to the information we got back it was a six man team, headed by a young Captain with white hair. The fight was impressive leaving a few of the shinigami with severe injuries. One's probably already dead." Masao shrugged.

Ichigo felt the breath catch in his throat. Toshiro was looking for him! He wasn't sure why that small thought sent hope soaring through his chest. He was actually hopeful about his outcome for the first time since he came here. Yet worry sat heavy in his stomach like a stone. Who was it that was gravely injured? Who else was in the team searching for him?

Those questions rattled around his head long after Masao vanished shutting the door behind him. Ichigo felt himself fall further into the dark void that was slowly consuming his mind one of his friends was possibly dead because of him.

He sat curled up with his knees brought to his chest, The position was painful but he couldn't bring himself to care. His mind was whirling with all the thoughts. He knew that for sure Toshiro was searching for him. He assumed that Rukia and Renji were part of the team and Toshiro would have his vice captain with him, but the other two were a mystery to him.

He stared blankly at the door. The hope that he had felt had long since dissipated, there was nothing hopeful about his situation. He tried to keep his spirits up but he couldn't. All he could do now is wait for the next time somebody walked through that door.

†††††††

Yuna was a person that wasn't easily frightened, yet when she had to report a failed mission to the king she was shaking like a leaf. She walked through the large set of doors. The king and the other premiers were standing at attention as she walked through the door.

All eyes turned to her. She remained steady as she walk straight up to the King. She bowed low. When she raised her head she kept her eyes trained to the ground.

"What do you have to report?" Sachio's voice boomed through the room.

"My- It was a failure milord." She whispered.

"A failure?"

"Yes. My team and I were unable to dispose of the Gotei dogs." She said.

Sachio chuckled. "Ah, young Yuna. Always one to make sure she isn't put above her team."

Yuna was waiting for the anger that was sure to come. Sachio spoke. "While you didn't kill them like I had hoped, our guest does not know this. Also they now know our strength. It will be only a matter of time before we have what we want from him. This may get us there faster."

"Sir?" Yuna questioned.

"All in due time." Sachio waved his hand smiling warmly "Now go to your spot and tell us about who you encountered. Bring in you away team!"

Yuna walked to her position quickly. She stared blankly across the room. "Only one of my team made it back."

Sachio looked surprised but not bothered by the information. "Bring them in. Then you can tell us about your fights"

The doors opened to reveal Osamu. He strolled in and stood by his premier's side. He looked around wearing a bored expression, he got annoyed looks from several of the other captains.

Yuna began her report. "The leader of the search party was Toshiro Hitsugaya, the Captain of the Tenth division. They still have Matsumoto as the vice-captain. Vice-Captains Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai are also on the team. There was a member of the eleventh Ikkaku Madarame, and the last one I'm not entirely sure of, he was at least vice-captain rank."

Sachio nodded. "So as of right now Soul Society is down four captains, four vice-captain, and two high ranked shinigami, who we can assume are pretty powerful. They're still licking their wounds from the winter war."

The premiers remained quiet, waiting to see where the King was going with this line of thinking. The king continued. "If we attacked now, we would have the advantage, even without the help of Ichigo's hollow. They wouldn't be expecting it either."

Enyo spoke up. "What about those we have undercover in Soul Society? They wouldn't know our plan. What about them blowing their cover?"

Sachio glanced at the beautiful woman. "They'd just have to join the attack after our appearance. They won't need to worry about their cover if we win."

"And if we don't?" Tadashi blurted.

"Then we'll retreat back to here and get the hollow." Sachio replied not concerned by the outburst.

"If I may speak?" Osamu quietly asked.

"Go ahead Osamu." Sachio spoke calmly.

"We do not need to rush the invasion of Soul Society. From my fight I could tell the dedication these shinigami had to our captive, they won't give up the search so easily." Osamu began. "Besides, you said yourself milord, I apologize for overhearing, that we may speed up getting it is we want from the substitute shinigami if we tell him about the fight."

Sachio arched an eyebrow. "That I did. You are correct we do not need to rush the invasion. Everything will stay as planned."

The rest of the premiers relaxed slightly. Sachio dismissed the other four and Osamu. Leaving Yuna and himself in the room. The blue-haired girl turned to look at her king. Her king was walking towards her.

"I am disappointed in you Yuna. I sent you on that mission because you've been in my rebellion for years, many years before even Daichi joined up. I have faith in you."

"Sorry, milord." Yuna bowed deeply.

"I gave you the chance to prove yourself, we finally get to take revenge against those you shamed us. Yet you threw it away." Sachio continued he was now only a foot away from the ex-shinigami.

Yuna said nothing, unsure of what her king wanted. It was true that she had served under him longer than any of the others, and they had this sort of bond that the others would never understand. They were kindred spirits. Both being alienated by their beliefs.

Sachio walked closer and slid his fingers underneath Yuna's chin. He gently pushed it up. "You were ignorant. Yet I do not fault you, this way when the final battle begins you have a reason to fight your hardest, after all you lost four of your tops."

"I also swore that I would kill the Captain of the eleventh." She replied coolly. Trying her best to ignore the close proximity of her Kings face.

"That's my girl!" Sachio said with a deep throated chuckle.

Yuna allowed herself a small smile. "Yes, milord."

"You're dismissed be prepared to deal with our guest tomorrow." Sachio stepped back.

Yuna dipped her head and turned to walk out of the throne room. She knew she hadn't been punished because of her familiarity with the King. As she stepped out Daichi was standing outside of the door.

"Eavesdropping, Daichi?" She said walking past him.

"No. I'm just leaning against a wall." He pushed himself off of it.

Yuna laughed. She knew the large man was merely worried about her. They were close despite their animosity around each other when others were present. She also was aware of how Daichi looked at her when he thought she wasn't looking at her. The longing in his eyes was enough to blow her away. She felt bad about not being able to return it.

"Whatever." She said lightly.

"How're you going to make it seem like you're speaking the truth?" Daichi said pushing off of the wall next to him.

"In the state he's in? It'd be harder to convince him that we're lying. He only has our word to believe." Yuna said with a sigh.

"What's up?" Daichi asked laying a large hand on the girl's small shoulder.

"I don't like doing this. He's a formidable foe, yet we're making him practically unusable." Yuna turned to look up at him. "Why can't King or Enyo use their abilities to fight for us instead. His hollow could be unpredictable. I don't trust the damn things."

Daichi nodded. "His spirit is strong. If the King had any other way I'm sure he would be using it. He could use a boy like him. But if his will is so strong to fight off a full hollowification, then breaking the bosses or Enyo's charm wouldn't be that hard."

Yuna shrugged off the hand. "Perhaps. It doesn't mean I have to like it."

She walked down the hallway to her wing. Daichi watched her go.

Yuna sighed once more. She needed to think of a good story since her team had died and she knew that all of the shinigami had survived, providing that they all got healing.

†††††††

Toshiro was sitting in the room with the round table. The four injured shinigami were once again being treated, this time they were being healed to full health, as they weren't being threatened with certain death.

His vice-captain was in that room as well, she had said she was going to check on the rest of their team. He let out a sigh. He hoped that the others got any information from their fights, since he didn't. They were already ahead of the game. They knew that they had a way to tell what the Gotei 13 was planning, which most likely meant that the squads had been infiltrated.

They also knew one of the leaders, or premiers as they were called, was named Yuna Hasegawa, and Ikkaku would know the name of her zanpakuto which would help them a lot when they searching for information about, this gang or whatever they were fighting.

Urahara emerged from somewhere in the candy shop and was now approaching the young captain, he looked to be in a better mood than what he had been since Kurosaki's disappearance.

The white haired captain arched an eyebrow as the ex-captain approached him. Urahara didn't stop until he was sitting across from the frosty captain. The young captain waited patiently as the older man got situated.

Finally Urahara spoke. "I started to analyze the data we got from when Miss Yuna opened the doorway."

"And?" Toshiro grunted.

"And I should be able to get a portal up and running soon." Urahara said casually.

The icy captain perked up. "How soon?"

"A week or a month." Urahara said with a wave of his fan.

"In other words, you don't know." Toshiro mumbled.

"Its something we've never come across before, so don't expect us to be on top of it." Urahara said.

There was a long release of air from Toshiro. "I know. Its just-" He stopped himself unable to find the words that would express his thoughts clearly.

"We're all worried about him. We don't know the extent of our enemies powers, and I have a feeling what we just witnessed and fought was the tip of the iceberg."

Toshiro nodded. "I agree. I don't like it but all we can do is wait for them to make their next move."

The two shinigami sat in silence, both lost in their thoughts. One was thinking about how to progress his research to a faster pace, and the other was worrying about what was happening to the orange-haired shinigami. Was he in pain... or were they being lied to about him being still alive?

Toshiro shook the thought from his head. He stood up suddenly earning him a look from Urahara. He didn't think he needed to justify the reason for his sudden departure. It was probably obvious anyway. He turned and walked out of the room, his captain's haori swishing behind him as he went.

Rangiku was just walking out of the room where the others were being treated. She saw he captain's small frame walk down the hallway. Her eyes softened, her captain was really worried about Ichigo. She hadn't seen him like this since Hinamori was hospitalized way before the Winter War, when they first learned of Aizen's betrayal.

Then again the young captain hadn't been himself when he learned of Ichigo losing his powers. He had distanced himself from everyone, he had been even more irritable at her typical behavior.

He disappeared around the corner and the strawberry blonde shinigami knew that he wanted to be alone. She walked out into the hallway. She wasn't really sure what to do. Not wanting to leave in case she was needed, but she also didn't want to stay and do nothing.

She peeked her head into the room her captain came from and saw Urahara looking thoughtful about something. Rangiku turned on her heel and walked back to where she had came from. She figured she could provide support for her injured teammates.

She walked in, not surprised to see that nothing had changed.

All four of the injured shinigami were sleeping. Yumichika was on his stomach because his back was still red and sore looking, Ikkaku had several bandages wrapped around his body and was sprawled, one of his arms was laying across Yumichika. Renji, who was in the worse condition was off to the side snoring loudly, his torso exposed to show an array of bandages. Rukia was curled up, protecting her tender front from further harm.

Rangiku still hadn't figured out how the young Kuchiki could've survived with an injury like she had, much less perform a healing kido on herself. I'll ask her about it when she wakes up.

With that the busty woman leaned against the wall. While she was happy that they were no longer in any danger she couldn't help but think how nice it was to get some sort of action, to show progress.

Deciding that she would go for a walk after all she stood up. Walking out of the room she was surprised to see that the hall light had been turned off. She walked further down the hallway, she peered into the room where she saw her captain emerge from. She saw Urahara laying with his head on the table. She thought she saw a figure walking out of the door on the other side of the room. She continued on towards the back door.

She felt the night air before she was even close to the door. Did someone leave it open? She wondered silently. She turned to corner to see her captain standing with his back to her. It was interesting to see him in something other than his uniform for once. He was wearing a pair of pajamas he borrowed from Jinta, they were roughly the same size though Jinta was slightly shorter so she could see her captain's ankles.

She strolled up next to him. She knew that he knew she was there, she hadn't been overly stealthy and he would've sensed her reiatsu anyway. He continued to look up at the sky, his emotion unreadable.

She had nothing she wanted to say, and she was sure her captain was lost in his thoughts. The pair of them stood together in a comfortable silence, before a stiff breeze blew by them, even though it was late august the breeze made her shiver. She looked over to her captain, he didn't seem bothered by the cool breeze. He never was affected by cooler temperatures. Or maybe he's so zoned out he doesn't notice. A little voice in the back of her head supplied.

She shook that thought off. Rangiku was about to head back inside when her captain's voice stopped her.

"Just now, I felt his reiatsu again."

She turned around, his back was still to her so she couldn't read his expression. "Ichigo's?"

She saw his head nod. "Yes, it felt... distressed."

"Distressed?" She arched an eyebrow.

"That's the impression I'm getting. It also felt hopeless. I can't really make heads nor tails of it."

Rangiku stared at the back of her captain. "He's probably more confused than we are."

Toshiro grunted. "Yeah."

Sensing that the conversation was at its end Rangiku continued to walk inside. As she was walking away she thought she heard her captain mumble something like "at least he's alive."

She sighed. For the sake of her captain, she hoped that they would find the substitute shinigami. She headed to her room she was staying in for the time being. Her captain undoubtedly would return to Ichigo's house, more specifically his bedroom.

Ichigo, stay safe. She prayed before turning in for the night.

And there you have the rather short, chapter 7. I hoped you enjoyed it, this was a tricky chapter to write, but I think that it ended up well. What do you think. As of right now I need 4 more premiers but send in your OC's they will make an appeance at least once during the story. I want some boys submitted.

I'd like

Name

Weapon (name optional)

Power

Backstory

Description

Personality

Anything else you want to add.

Well that's it for this chapter. I'm off to finish chapter 8! Later! ~IF