Author's Soundtrack:

The Razor's Edge (Piano Version) by Digital Daggers

Photos in Darkness by Two Steps From Hell (line break)

Chapter Six

"It was the chip."

Rukia tried to turn and look at Bell as she spoke, but the angle was difficult from her position on the bed. One of the medics finished cleaning Rukia's wound and prepared to inject an antidote into the raw flesh around the injury. She had tried to wave the medic away when they first arrived at the infirmary, but he wielded the syringe like a weapon and quickly silenced any of her protests.

Ichigo might have been amused and reminded her she'd shown no mercy when he'd been injured, except all he could feel was a heavy ball of guilt wrapped in self-loathing settling into the pit of his stomach.

He stood in the corner of the room, staring at the frayed tear that stretched the length of her back. The white bone of her spine peaked out from between the pink muscle and tissue, and he wondered if she knew just how close Nnoitra had been to severing her spine and crippling her.

There was no doubt she would heal. The flesh and muscles would mend themselves, and the skin would return to its unmarred olive perfection, but it didn't erase the grisly sight in front of him or the pain she was clearly feeling. She put on a brave face, only showing her discomfort with the occasional wince or quiet gasp. But he'd experienced what that weapon was like, the teeth gripping the flesh and shredding it as it tore through skin, muscle, and nerves, and his injury hadn't been as deep or as large as hers. She was amazing and infuriating, and he was glad they were speaking again.

She still hadn't told him what caused her reaction in the morgue, but there was no point in brooding about it. She'd declared her trust in him and he was going to take it to heart. Now they could fully focus on their mission to hunt Aizen down and be rid of him once and for all. Nnoitra's death was disappointing - though equally pleasing - but despite that, they were making progress. Staring at the chip in Bell's hand and her giddy smile, he was sure of it.

Ichigo had never seen the doctor look excited. For the most part, she was fairly severe. Her serious disposition helped keep rambunctious and argumentative patients from trying to intimidate or escape her treatments. That stony glare had worked on him more than once. He realized she was rather pretty when she smiled - and a little scary at the same time. There was a crazed glint of excitement in her green eyes that reminded him of a mad scientist.

"What was the chip?" Rukia grunted as she gave up and settled back on the bed.

"What caused the rogue's body to deteriorate. From what I can tell, the chip released a signal to the brain, convincing his body he was starving. In an attempt to keep itself from dying, it consumed his glycogen reserves, devoured his fatty acids. Then the cells began consuming the protein in his body, which resulted in the loss of his muscle mass -"

She stopped and realized Rukia wasn't interested in a complicated breakdown of the process. The joy in her smile dissipated slightly. "Basically his body ate itself to stay alive."

"That takes time, days," Rukia remarked, her voice strained as the medic sunk the needle into her back. "This happened in seconds."

The light was back. "That's where this gets interesting. Apparently, the chip also released a synthetic chemical that expedited the process. I'll need time to analyze and research it further, but from what I can tell, instead of allowing the body to naturally slow the metabolism this chemical accelerated it."

It made sense. Sort of. Ichigo wasn't entirely sure about the science behind it all, but it matched their experience with the other vampires they found. Marisa Pipers came to mind, her stomach near bursting with blood, but her body starved. Even if their bodies had been able to process what was in their stomachs, it wouldn't have saved them.

"Does it receive signals?" Rukia asked, resting on her elbows as the medic finished his treatment and began wrapping her torso. Ichigo turned his gaze, directing his attention towards the doctor instead of the slight, gentle curve of Rukia's bare chest. How could she not hear her brother's voice in her head lecturing her about modesty? He certainly could.

"Potentially. I would imagine, with today's technology, as long as the chip is programmed for it and you have access to a satellite, you could send a signal. I recommend you have one of the techs take a look at it to confirm, though." Bell pursed her lips, clearly unhappy with the idea of handing the device over to anyone.

"If he used a satellite, maybe we can track him," Ichigo considered aloud.

The doctor shrugged. "It sounds feasible, but that's not really my field of expertise."

Ichigo and Rukia shared a look. It was possible they may have found a way to finally find Aizen.

The medic finished dressing Rukia's wound, and she sat up, slipping on a clean shirt. "Thanks, doctor. You've been very helpful."

"Of course." She handed Rukia a small bottle of pills. "We injected an antidote, but I recommend taking one of these every 12 hours for the next few days to help ensure the injury heals properly and quickly."

Rukia eyed the pills with distaste, but took them anyway and hopped off the bed.

"One more thing."

Ichigo could feel Rukia's irritation levels rising as Bell stopped them again.

"I found an interesting residue on the chest wound of our rogue. It was just around the edges on the surface, but there were small ice crystals that formed and burned their way into his skin. I thought they would melt in the heat of the room, but when I took a closer look, they were actually growing at a very slow rate. After a bit of studying, I noticed that as the temperature of the body continued to drop, their growth slowed as well."

The expression on Rukia's face was one of bored indifference. "Thank you, doctor. I'll add it to my report."

Rukia's reply baffled Bell, but she didn't press the issue and returned to her work. Ichigo was curious himself, but he wasn't going to ask her about it until they were somewhere free from prying eyes and ears. He was aware of her struggles with her power and any progress should have been exciting, and yet she didn't look particularly thrilled as they waited for the elevator. If anything, she looked grim. Was the pain from her wound getting to her?

Or perhaps she was thinking about Bell's revelation. Or maybe she was thinking about that asshole who'd gotten the jump on him. He scowled, irritated by the man's presence in his mind and London. Several questions itched at the back of his mind, but the potential answers made him hesitate asking them. Rukia had lived a long life. She might be young compared to other vampires, but 150 years was still a long time to him. There was her husband, but were there others? Did she remarry? Did she take any lovers? Was Ashido one of them?

Was it any of his business?

As the elevator doors opened, a man approached them from the hall.

"Councilor Kuchiki."

"Yes?" He could hear the exasperation in her voice. Her hand held the elevator doors open in hopes of being able to make a quick escape.

"Councilor Yadoumaru has requested you join her on a call with the Chancellor in his office."

Rukia frowned. "The Chancellor isn't here?"

"No, Councilor. He departed for the Gathering a few hours ago."

"Right." She waved a dismissive hand when Ichigo gave her a quizzical look. "And I suppose you don't have any insight as to what this meeting is about?"

"I'm afraid not, Councilor."

"Fine. Ichigo, you're coming with me." She stepped into the elevator and dragged him inside. When the door shut, she leaned awkwardly against the wall and he worried the medication the doctor had given her wasn't working. "If I'm going to suffer through a meeting with Shinji, you're going to suffer as well."

"What's a 'gathering'?"

She pursed her lips in consideration, her brow crinkling in thought and discomfort. "I suppose the simplest explanation is that it's a meeting of all Chancellors across the globe to discuss current rules and regulations. They review the last 50-100 years and determine if there need to be any adjustments to our laws." She shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position that would allow her to relax but not pull at her wound.

"I thought all Councils had their own rules."

"They do, which is why those meetings usually break down into arguments." She smirked bitterly. "Each Council prefers to maintain a certain level of freedom and control separate from the others, but there are core rules they all agree to."

"Keeping vampires hidden being one of them."

She nodded. "Correct. They're supposed to consider what is best for our race overall. It's a nice thought but rarely works like it should. Most of the time they just end up fighting, and sometimes the Gatherings end with some Councils targeting others."

"Sounds like a fun family reunion."

A small bubble of laughter echoed in the elevator. "I'm just glad I don't have to deal with them. Council politics are exhausting enough as it is."

Wasn't that the truth? Ichigo didn't envy Rukia her position as a councilor. She was expected to dedicate all of her time to the Council and her department. Even with the investigation, she still had to maintain appearances. She was overloaded, overworked, and he could see it wearing on her day after day. She tried to hide it behind thin layers of makeup, but he could see the wear and tear. And now she had an injury that would take even more out of her.

The elevator chimed and the doors opened. As they approached the office doors, Ichigo could hear muffled voices. The Chancellor's office was sound-proofed to a certain degree, making it difficult for even vampires to eavesdrop on important and confidential meetings, but they could still make out voices and tones.

Rukia gave three short knocks and waited. The door opened, and Lisa waved them inside.

"Ah, Rukia, Ichigo, we were just speaking about you."

A large television mounted on the side wall displayed Shinji's face. In the background, Ichigo could make out the elegant surroundings of the Council's private jet.

"Why do I find that worrisome?" Rukia replied sardonically.

"Because you should." Lisa closed the door and walked back to Shinji's desk. She sat in the chair and pressed her hands together in somber contemplation.

"I don't like how comfortable you're making yourself in my office," Shinji remarked flatly.

"You mean you don't like that I managed to organize and reduce the massive piles of paperwork in the few hours you've been gone?" Lisa shot back.

"They were organized! And I was going to get to them eventually."

Lisa raised a doubtful eyebrow. Shinji scoffed and pouted.

"Perhaps we could get to the reason for this meeting," Rukia suggested impatiently.

"Right. First, could you explain why it is that every time you find a lead to Aizen they end up dead?"

"For the same reason birds fly, fish swim, and you whine," she quipped. "Because they do."

Ichigo suppressed his chuckle into a tight-lipped smirk. Even Lisa looked amused as Shinji gapped at Rukia. Before he could recover, she continued, taking on a more serious tone.

"It wasn't our intention. It seems that Aizen was a step ahead of us, again. However, we've made a rather important discovery in the process. In our latest targets, we discovered a chip implanted in their brains. This chip, from what we can tell, acts as a kind of leash. Aizen can track and monitor these rogues. If they're captured, or he feels they're in danger of revealing too much about him, he triggers the chip to induce a deadly reaction in their bodies and release a chemical - both of which result in the target dying quickly and painfully."

"You're saying he managed to create a chip that allows him to not only track his minions but kill them instantly as well?" Lisa stared at her, not in disbelief, but with deep concern.

"The tracking is simple enough. The chips function like tags researchers use on animals. GPS tracking would allow him to know where they are exactly. Dr. Bell is the one who discovered the chip's other functionalities. It's still a theory, but she wants to do more testing and research. Given our previous experiences, I'd say this holds some weight.

"I'm going to be sending the chips to your contact, Shinji. I'm hoping he can pull more information from the chip, maybe even give us a way to find Aizen's location."

"You'll want to take care of that sooner rather than later."

Rukia studied Shinji. "Why?"

"Lisa?"

Lisa set a file on the desk. Inside were profiles for Ashido Kano and his team of 6. Ichigo recognized each of them from the rooftops. At the bottom of each page was their mission statement.

"To located the Lady and deliver a top secret message to her," he read aloud. Confused, he looked up at the others. Shinji and Lisa were serious, while Rukia was stunned.

"You're joking," she said with a hitch of laughter. "The Lady? What did Ashido do to have someone send him on this wild goose chase."

The shadow of curiosity ghosted across his mind, but he ignored it.

"I volunteered."

Ashido stood in the doorway, arms crossed in front of his chest, his expression guarded. Ichigo's chest tightened and he struggled to keep himself from moving in front of Rukia.

"Please, show yourself in, Agent Kano. No need to knock." Shinji commented dryly.

"Why?" Rukia asked, ignoring Shinji's annoyance. "You can't honestly believe she exists."

"The mission was offered by someone I would give my life for. He wouldn't waste my time." His words were sharp, like a weapon drawn, warning Rukia to tread carefully. His change in demeanor was odd. A few minutes ago Ichigo was convinced they were lovers, now they seemed more like distant friends who parted on very unpleasant terms. "According to him, the Lady is real. She's alive, and she's living here in London."

"And you want permission to look for her."

"Correct."

Rukia looked doubtful. "You're skill set is wasted on this mission."

The complement seemed to ease some of the tension ratcheting in Ashido's posture and he gave her an easy smile. "If I get to meet with the Lady, I'll consider it worth the time."

"Recognizing the friendly relations we've shared with the Japanese Council in the past decade, I don't see a problem with giving you access to our territory. An escort will be provided to help with your search." Shinji's offer seemed diplomatic enough, but the smirk hinted at something else.

"That won't be necessary," Ashido replied, rejecting Shinji's offer with a dismissive wave. "We have an address. One of my agents is confirming the information is up to date as we speak."

Shinji's lips began to spread into a wide, malicious smile. "I apologize. I seem to have given you the impression that the escort is optional."

The newly budding pleasant atmosphere died quickly as Ashido leveled a glare at Shinji. "Our mission is supposed to be secret. The more people involved, the more risk we run of it being leaked."

"You either accept an escort or you can get on a flight back to Japan."

Lisa shifted uncomfortably under the intense weight of the tension. Rukia was watching more with interest than concern. If she wasn't worried, Ichigo had no need to be bothered and chose to enjoy the showdown.

It was clear who was going to win - the person with the most authority. And even though he wasn't even in the room, Ashido conceded. His posture softened and he broke his gaze with Shinji. "Very well. I will accept the escort as long as it's Rukia Kuchiki."

Something possessive inside Ichigo snapped and a low growl rumbled in his chest. He felt a sharp jab in his stomach and the sound ceased immediately. Rukia shot him a warning glance and gave a single firm shake of her head.

"Councilor Kuchiki has her own responsibilities, however, considering the sensitive nature of this mission and your previous relationship, I think we can lend her to you for a brief period of time."

Ichigo gave Shinji a withering glare, but he was ignored.

"I'll be going as well," Ichigo declared. He might not get much say in whether Rukia was involved or not, but he sure as hell wasn't going to let her go off on her own - old alliances or not.

"No," Ashido replied curtly, "just Rukia. I have no interest in dealing with a pup."

"What did you call me?" Ichigo took a step towards him, but Rukia held out her hand. He snapped his eyes to her. Was she really going to agree to this? After what they had talked about?

"If I go, Ichigo goes."

Relief and gratitude quelled the irritation. Amusement joined them when Ashido looked surprised.

"Ichigo Kurosaki is Councilor Kuchiki's bodyguard. They go as a pair. I'm sure you understand." Shinji's words were tactful in nature, but his tone was one of unquestioning authority. This decision would not be challenged. Ashido would agree to the terms or he would have to find another way to get in touch with the Lady.

Ashido expelled a sigh of defeat. "Very well. I'll be sure to inform you when we are ready to meet with her."

"You are dismissed."

Bowing, Ashido spared one last glance towards Rukia and then left the room. Once the door was shut, Shinji sighed in exasperation. "I hate diplomatic shit."

"That was you being diplomatic?" Lisa mocked. "I think a walrus could have maneuvered that conversation more gracefully."

"Oh shut up," Shinji snapped. "My patience for bullshit is at an all-time low, which is just what I need considering I'm getting ready to swim with the bullshit masters of the world. At least he agreed to take Rukia and Ichigo, just like I told you he would. "

"You think he was lying?" Lisa inquired, ignoring Shinji's whining and attempt to gloat.

"Through his perfect white teeth."

"So what do you think he's really up to?"

"I believe him about finding the Lady - or at least someone who might be using her name. But he has more than a note to give her. You don't send someone like Ashido Kano to deliver a message."

"I agree." Rukia added, her brow furrowed as she contemplated the elements of the situation. "Anyone can deliver a message. Ashido is a highly skilled spy for the Japanese Council. He's stealthy, dedicated, loyal, and very coercive. Despite him withholding information, I don't believe he's an enemy."

"You hope, anyway."

Rukia chose to ignore Shinji's remark. "Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

"No. That was it. Keep me in the loop if you find anything out about the chip. I'll be sure we're on a secure line."

Rukia nodded and turned to leave the office, Ichigo right on her heels. She was silent as they walked down the hall. Ashido was gone, probably to the guest rooms a few floors below. Was she thinking the same? Did she want to go and meet him?

Did it matter if she did?

He scolded himself. He had no right to involve himself with her and her old acquaintances. All of her ties with Japan had been severed. She couldn't call home and speak with her brother or friends. Ashido was a little piece of home. Who was he to take that from her?

She pressed the button to summon the elevator. Uncomfortable with the silence, and the thoughts he was having, Ichigo decided to ask about another piece of vampire lore.

"So, who is the Lady?"

"The Lady is a legend amongst vampires, an old women parents use to scare children into behaving. Kind of like the Slavic Baba Yaga or English Black Annis."

He stared at her blankly. "I have no idea what those are."

She rolled her eyes. "Basically old scary women who hunt children and eat them or wear their skin."

Ichigo gawked. "Who the hell tells their kids those kinds of stories?"

She gave him a quizzical look. "You're father never told you about Kuchisake Onna or Hanako?"

He thought for a moment and remembered his old man telling him about the beautiful woman with the sword wound that stretched from ear to ear, and a young girl who appears in toilets in vivid detail. When he was ten, he and a few friends had even tried to summon Hanako. Of course, his father had told him about more than just those two. It was a surprise he'd made it out of childhood without being permanently scarred. Then again, he was a vampire now. That had to say something.

"Right. Point taken."

The elevator doors opened. As they stepped inside, Rukia continued. "Supposedly, the Lady is one of the oldest vampires in existence. According to legend, she was around 2,000 years old when she disappeared."

"Is that a big deal? I thought vampires lived forever."

Tilting her head from side to side, Rukia hummed as she debated her next words. "Maybe. Maybe not. Immortality is the general assumption, but we don't actually know for sure. Most of us are killed by unnatural means - battles, political machinations, personal quarrels. We age, but very slowly. So, death could happen naturally, but there's no record of it. Excluding the Lady, Genryuusai is perhaps the oldest vampire we know of."

"What about the First?"

"Him too."

"Assuming she's real then, she's lived this long by outsmarting other vampires."

Rukia smirked. "You could say that. Legend says she's extremely intelligent, always out-maneuvering her enemies, and punishing children who are stupid and don't study. Another legend is that she demands complete loyalty from the few allowed to surround her. They're asked to sacrifice something important to prove she is the center of their world. If there's ever an inkling of doubt, she devours them."

Ichigo felt his body grow cold. "Devours them? Like, cook them for dinner and eat them?"

It was clear she was enjoying his discomfort. Her smirk widened and her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Not exactly. It's said she drains them of their blood, bathes in it, and then cooks the flesh. It's then fed to those who remain to serve as a warning of what happens to those who are not dedicated to her."

And then she laughed. The sound of it was rare and pleasant, like a sunny day in England, warm like the summer sun. He wanted to hear more of it, but just as quickly as she started, she stopped.

She chuckled in amusement. "They're just legends, crafted to scare temperamental children into behaving for their parents. There might be an inkling of truth, but the majority are exaggerations for better storytelling. No one wants to hear about the old lady who gives her subjects a slap on the wrist when they annoy her."

"I'm kind of glad I missed out on those stories."

"I'm sure," she said, laughter still dancing in her voice. "Instead you grew up with stories about women with scissors for hands, werewolves, and vampires."

"Ha ha. You're hilarious."

At the base of a forested mountain, hidden by canopies of green and unattended foliage was a solitary manor. Once extravagant, the large home had been left to decay. Large windows, expensive pavers, and handcrafted statues decorated the exterior, warping and crumbling from neglect and exposure to the elements. A large iron gate with dangerously speared tops prevented any trespassers from entering and warned others off. The driveway lead up to the house and circled around a dried and broken fountain filled with dead leaves. Two vehicles were parked in front.

Inside, the manor was in as much disrepair as the outside. Ten bedrooms were stuffy with stale air, their windows sealed from misuse. Moth and rodent chewed furniture were covered in large white sheets coated in thick layers of dust and debris. The kitchen begged for attention, and the finished basement was stained with large browning signs of water damage. In the basement's empty library, a bookcase was miraculously clean. Behind it was a stairwell that spiraled down into a narrow tunnel. It descended into darkness where the terrified and pained screams of men and women echoed.

At the end of the hall was a large steel door leading to another hallway with small lights bolted to the wall every few feet. Between each light was a thick door. Narrow windows near the top allowed for easy observation. A second slot near the bottom allowed for food. At the end of the hall was the control room, protected by another steel door. A camera was mounted above it, a red glowing light indicated it was recording. Inside was a wall full of screens and monitors, many of them looking into the small rooms behind the doors.

Halibel tapped her finger impatiently on the edge of her clipboard, watching the screens intently. She had hoped for faster results, but if she pushed too hard, the subjects would deteriorate and all her work would be ruined. And then there were the unknown side effects of the modifications. Aizen had expressed the importance of isolating and removing specific qualities and traits from the samples, but that removal resulted in instability that displayed in the subjects physically and mentally. Much to her frustration, she had failed to deliver a perfect specimen, and Aizen's tolerance for delays was dwindling quickly.

Numbers four and five were near completion. Ten and eight still required at least another week for development. Seven and nine would take a few more days. It should have appeased him to see progress, but only one seemed to hold his interest at this point. Her eyes flickered over to the monitor labeled "#01".

Inside she could see him, cowering in the corner like the first day he arrived. As far as she could tell, there was nothing special about him. She'd had more interesting results with that pain in the ass Nnoitra. With this one, he was nothing but typical and bland. His survival of the experiments so far said something, but other than that, there was nothing worth noting. His transformation time had been typical. His recovery typical. His Rage typical. Yet Aizen was fascinated with him.

"He will be the first."

Halibel swiveled in her chair and stood, quick to bow her head. Aizen stood in the doorway, an amused smirk hinting at the corners of his lips.

"Sir, I didn't realize you would be coming today."

"Is an announcement necessary when I'm returning to one of my own homes?" His pleasant voice sent freezing shivers sprawling across her skin and down her spine.

"Of course not, sir. I just meant that, since I wasn't expecting you, I don't have any tea prepared."

He walked into the room, dismissing her apprehension with a lazy wave of his hand. "I didn't come here for your tea, Halibel. I'm interested in how One is progressing."

She tried not to roll her eyes at the predictability of it. "As expected, sir. He has been in the Rage for two days. Given his trend of typical responses, I expect him to come out of it in another two days. I was planning on evaluating his behavior to see how the transformation has affected him as well."

"I'd like to see him. Open the door."

Halibel stared at him. "Sir, I don't think that's wise. In the Rage he could-"

Aizen turned his head slightly and looked at her. Her heart slammed to a halt. "Are you questioning me?"

Every nerve in her body seized. Dangerous. This was dangerous. "No, sir," she managed to get out without a stutter. "I will take you to him immediately."

Grabbing the keys from the table, Halibel entered the hall and made her way to the door with "#01" etched into a plaque on the wall. She wasn't necessarily concerned about him going wild and killing them. On the contrary, she didn't want to risk losing any more subjects. Of the new batch, One was the closest to being complete. As boring as she found him, he would still be able to provide her with important information.

And Aizen wanted to risk it just for a peek.

Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door and held it open for Aizen. He moved past her and into the dark room. The attack she'd been expecting didn't come. When she looked inside, she saw Aizen standing in front of One. He was motionless, like a statue. She would have mistaken him for one with his pale skin, if not for the mop of black hair and brilliant green eyes that peered out from between the shaggy tresses.

"How fascinating," Aizen said after a few moments of silence. "It seems he's already finished with the Rage."

"That's-"

"We can begin the next phase shortly. Give him a bath and some clothes. He must appear presentable." Aizen started to leave when he paused, glancing back at the newborn vampire. "You will require a new name. How about. . . Ulquiorra?"

"Ulquiorra. . ." the newborn tested the name on his tongue but gave no sign of acceptance or rejection.

"Very good. Halibel, I look forward to seeing the next two completed. I have the perfect tests for my new breed of vampire."

Author's Notes: Sorry for the slightly delayed update! I was feeling a bit down this week and didn't get to proofing this chapter until today. We're learning a bit more about the vampire world and getting a sneak peek at what our favorite villain is up to.

Thanks to those who followed and favorited, and to Haru, lightdesired, and girlcardisme who left reviews. Haru, I couldn't reply to you privately since you used a guest account, but those are some great questions. You'll just have to keep reading to find out the answers ;). I hope you all continue to enjoy the story! Please continue to R&R. I love hearing from you guys!