• • •

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Ankoku-Tatsu questioned, her voice echoing skeptically throughout my mind.

I laughed, my eyes closing from the excitement and a smile stretching across my lips. "Of course this is going to work! I'm surprised that I didn't think of this soon enough!"

I didn't understand why Anko was so doubtful about this plan. After all, I thought that it would go off without a hitch. Shinigami looked the same, for the most part, so who were they to accuse people of being a 'Ryoka'?

Of course I looked a bit different from the other Shinigami, but I was still a Shinigami no less. I even had a Zanpakuto. They wouldn't be able to accuse me of not being a Shinigami.

"They might know your description." My Zanpakuto spirit warned, "News of the Ryoka has probably spread quickly. It's been several hours after you all have broken in, after all."

"That's why I've put my hair up!" I answered, running my fingers through my thick ponytail. "It's more difficult to see the red highlights when I have my hair up like this. And with my bangs pinned back like this, I can even use the black to cover up some of the red."

I grinned at my reflection in one of the windows on a nearby building. I was somewhere in the Ninth Division now; it'd taken me that long to come up with a plan.

I decided to head to the Thirteenth Division first. Then, I'd be able to see if Rukia was in a cell there. If she wasn't, then I'd probably head back to the Sixth Division. And if she wasn't there, then I'd have to beat her location out of some Shinigami. Well, that's if I hadn't gotten the information out of someone by then.

"Besides, no one really knows me here. If I run into anyone, then I'll just run with it." I whispered, smoothing out the front of my Shihakusho.

Now was when I really wished that I had opted to wear the hakama pants that were standard for the uniform. Nobody really opted to not wear them; maybe only a handful of individuals. Even so, I'm sure not too many of them chose to wear thigh high striped stockings…

"Hey, you! What are you doing all by yourself?!"

I cursed lightly under my breath, wincing a bit as I studied reflection in the window for another second before I turned around. "Excuse me?"

"I asked who you are and what are you doing out here by yourself?" The guy restated his question, his hand resting on his Zanpakuto's hilt at his side. I eyed his Zanpakuto, trying to read the reiatsu coming from it; it wasn't much. If anything, I'd think that this man was a lower ranking seat.

He wore the traditional sleeveless Shihakusho of the Ninth Division. I only knew it was traditional because I had once questioned the Fukutaicho of this division: Hisagi Shuhei. I only knew him from my connection with Yachiru and the Shinigami Women's Association. And by being a member of the Association, I got to know Matsumoto Rangiku. If you know Matsumoto-Fukutaicho, then you know almost all of the Fukutaicho's.

"Well?" The Shinigami in front of me questioned, eyebrows furrowing at my lack of response.

I bit my lip, adverting my eyes from him. "I'm sorry. I just got a bit lost and I was trying to find my way back to my Division. But, there's just so much chaos going on, I don't know where to go."

"Which Division do you belong to?" He asked, dark brown eyes scrutinizing my Shihakusho.

"Thirteenth Division," I answered, raising my eyes so blue met dark brown. Tugging at a wisp of black hair that wouldn't pin back, I continued. "News doesn't travel very fast around the Thirteenth Division because Ukitake-Taicho is usually under the weather. So I went out to see what all the ruckus was about, but I ended up getting lost. I blame it on my recent graduation and wanting to impress the other members of my Division."

The Shinigami seemed to relax at my response. The tension drained from his shoulders and he removed his hand from his Zanpakuto.

"I'm sorry for causing you any trouble." I hastily replied, putting my hands on my knees as I bowed a bit at the waist. The key to getting out of this successfully was with good manners and a bit of charm.

Laughing, the Shinigami ran a hand through his golden brown locks. "You're no trouble at all. I just assumed you were a Ryoka at first because you were all by yourself."

"Ryoka?" I questioned, making sure to furrow my eyebrows to appear confused.

"Yes, Ryoka." He nodded. "They're the intruders that have broken in recently. News of that has traveled to your Division at least, right?"

"Oh, was that the bright flash of light in the sky that occurred earlier?"

"Yeah," The Ninth Division Shinigami laughed. "That was them."

I nodded, pursing my lips a bit. "So that's why everyone is running around like crazy. Especially in the Eleventh Division. When I passed through there everyone tried to attack me!"

"Eleventh Division members are like that." He shrugged. "It doesn't matter if you're a friend or foe, they'll fight you no matter what. I'm surprised that you were able to escape from them."

Sheepishly laughing, I brought my hand up to rub the back of my head. "I guess you can say that running away is my specialty."

"Why didn't you stop in the Tenth Division to ask what was going on? I mean, you could have stopped at many of the other Divisions."

"Oh, um…" I hedged, biting my lip. "I wouldn't chance stopping by the Twelfth Division; I wouldn't want to be drafted for crazy experiments. I just ran as fast as I could through the Eleventh; nobody even tried to help me there, they just tried to fight me. I think I somehow bypassed the Tenth Division… I didn't find the Taicho or Fukutaicho's office, not that I'd get the guts to bother either one of them anyway…"

"That makes perfect sense." The Shinigami smiled down at me, resting a hand on my shoulder. "That information is so accurate I know you can't possibly be a Ryoka!"

I faked a surprised look. "You still thought that I was a Ryoka?"

"Well, as I said… You were by yourself and you do look a bit suspicious…" He hedged, hastily removing his hand from my shoulder and rubbing the back of his head. "Anyways, I am Ito Hansuke; Seventh Seat of the Ninth Division!" [Ito = That Wisteria, Hansuke = Helpful Friend]

"Kokawa Junko, new member of the Thirteenth Division." I hesitantly responded; was it safe to divulge my real name?

"Now, Kokawa-San, would you like me to help you back to your Division?" Hansuke asked, grinning down at me.

I softly exhaled, smiling up at the taller male. Actually, he was around Ichigo's height, so I was used to looking up that much. "Thank you so much! You only need to point me back on the correct path. I lost it when I frantically ran about in the Eleventh Division…"

"Alright, follow me!"

I giggled, matching his strides. "Thanks again. I'm honored that a Seventh Seat would help a non-seated member."

"It's no big deal," Hansuke sheepishly smiled, "You looked so lost and confused, this is the least that I can do. Especially when I wrongfully accused you as a Ryoka."

"It's quite alright." I replied, "But, do you guys in the Ninth know anything about the Ryoka? I haven't heard anything other than they're strong since I began looking for information worthy enough of reporting to my Division."

"Actually, we've heard that the Ryoka are humans!"

Score! I'd found someone that would hopefully answer all of my questions!

Take that, Anko!

"Stay on your toes," My Zanpakuto spirit warned, "You aren't safe yet."

"Humans..?!" I gasped, widening my eyes as I looked up at the Ninth Division Seventh Seat in horror. "Humans actually made it to the Soul Society?!"

"I know, it's very shocking." Hansuke nodded. "We're assuming that there are five of them, considering that when they entered the Seireitei and the light appeared, it shot out in five different directions."

"That makes sense." I nodded.

Okay, so they didn't know our true number. There were six of us total, plus Yoruichi as a cat. So I'm guessing that'd make seven.

"We think the strongest one has obtained Shinigami powers." Hansuke continued.

"A human with Shinigami powers?"

"As unlikely as that sounds, yes." He nodded as his eyebrows furrowed a bit in concentration. "He has bright orange hair and carries a Zanpakuto close to his own height. We just received a Jigokucho not too long ago that reported the orange haired Ryoka managed to take down Madarame Ikkaku; the Third Seat of the Eleventh Division."

The gasp that left my lips wasn't purposeful.

"And not too long ago, we felt Abarai-Fukutaicho's reiatsu increase. It felt like he was fighting against the Ryoka. Nothing about that has been confirmed yet, so we can't assume much."

"I made a good decision to come to the Ninth Division." I giggled, "You guys must be the center of knowledge; Seireitei Communications is from here too, right?"

"Yes," Hansuke nodded, "But with the recent Ryoka invasion we've had to focus on trying to find the Ryoka."

"Do you know what the Ryoka are after?" I questioned.

Hansuke hesitated. "There have been rumors, but nothing officially has been announced."

"Oh," I sighed, "Well, what are some of the rumors?"

"The usual," He shrugged. "World domination, wanting to take over the Shinigami to use them to influence the World of the Living, to overthrow the Sotaicho and rule in his place… to save the criminal Kuchiki Rukia…"

My eyes bugged out at that last response. "To save a criminal? What for?"

"Kuchiki Rukia-San is a member of the noble Kuchiki family. Some think that they might have paid for some people to rescue her, even if she is adopted into the family. Others think it's because of her crime; some question if she should really die. But, we don't really know for certain either way." Hansuke sighed. It seemed like the lack of official information bothered the Seventh Seat.

Slowly nodding my head, I hummed a bit. "Well, that does make a bit of sense. Kuchiki Rukia-San is a member of my Division, if I recall correctly. I never really got the chance to see much of her; she wasn't around lately. The next thing I know, she's being executed."

"Kuchiki-San's execution date keeps on pressing forward; they've already moved the date up a couple of times." Hansuke noted, "Because of such, they've already taken her to the Senzaikyu. That just shows that it's not much longer until she's executed."

My eyebrows furrowed. "The Senzaikyu?"

"Oh, that's right. You're new so you don't know much about the old customs. Usually, that building isn't used that often. The Senzaikyu is the tall white tower in the center of the Seireitei. I'm sure you've seen it?"

"Yes, now that you mention it, I remember seeing a tall white tower." I muttered, my eyebrows furrowing even more. "You said it isn't used often. Why is that?"

"The Senzaikyu is, as the name indicates, the place criminals are kept to repent their sins. As such, it's also referred to as the Shrine of Penitence. A prisoner is kept their until their execution date; when it's time, they are escorted to Sokyoku Hill where the execution takes place." He recited, sounding like he was reading from a textbook.

"Poor Kuchiki-San," I sadly muttered, looking down at my zori clad feet. "To be isolated for so long before brought to her death…"

"I understand. However, you have to remember that Kuchiki-San broke the law." Hansuke sternly said. "Although we frown upon the taking of her life, it is what's best. Occasionally some must perish to show others that the law is still important."

"…I see…" I murmured, feeling my gaze harden into a glare as I continued to look down at the path that I was walking.

This jerk thought that Rukia deserved death?! What was he thinking? Obviously he was brainwashed or something. Who cares about the laws? Rukia did what she had to do; if she hadn't given her Shinigami powers to Ichigo then all of them would have died.

"Here we go." Hansuke spoke up. "This is the path that will take you back to your Division. Just stick to it and you'll be home in no time. Although, I do advise that you take caution when passing the Eleventh Division; they're probably still worked up."

"Thank you so much!" I smiled up at him, bowing at the waist once more. "I'll remember this kind act that you've shown me. I'll try and make it up to you one day, Ito Hansuke."

The golden haired Shinigami sheepishly smiled. "It's no problem. Maybe later, after all this mess is over, we can go get a drink together?"

"I'll keep that suggestion in mind." I smiled, inwardly rolling my eyes.

Was that all Shinigami here thought about? Drinking?!

Waving to Hansuke, I began walking down the path. There was a couple of other Shinigami walking on this path as well, so I was on edge. As soon as I could I needed to get off of this road. It was much too populated; I'd be found for sure in no time.

"The Senzaikyu?" Ankoku-Tatsu questioned, "At least you got some information out of him. I didn't know you were that good of an actress. And you even managed to get a date out of it. How wonderful!"

"Shut it, Anko." I hissed, glaring at the landscape in front of me. "It's not a date; even if it was, I wouldn't go anyway. He was just some random Shinigami. All of them are too alcohol obsessed."

"That's true," Anko responded. "But now we know where Rukia's at, if that Shinigami was telling the truth. I think he was though, his reiatsu didn't fluctuate like it usually does when people lie."

"Was my reiatsu fluctuating the whole time?" I softly questioned, feeling a bit of worry settle in the pit of my stomach. Was he able to figure out that I was lying and tell me wrong information?

Ankoku-Tatsu's confidence soothed my worries. "Your reiatsu was steady; that's why I said that I didn't know you were that great of an actress. Now, I think you need to find a way off of this road and start heading towards the tall white tower."

"Yeah, let's go." I whispered, my hands clenched into fists as I jumped off of the main roads and took to the rooftops. I was close to the outskirts of the Ninth Division… I didn't have that much further to travel before I'd make it to the center of the Seireitei.

A sudden burst of reiatsu nearby caught me by surprise. Skidding to a halt, my hand found its way to my Zanpakuto's hilt. I could feel my muscles tightening, setting me on edge.

My bright blue eyes quickly scanned my surroundings.

I didn't see anything to exceptional. There were plenty of old storage buildings that I'm guessing the Ninth Division didn't use anymore. They looked abandoned but probably full of junk.

That reiatsu felt strangely familiar… I knew I'd sensed it somewhere before.

But where?

It was growing closer… I could feel it.

Quickly withdrawing Ankoku-Tatsu from her sheath, I eyebrows furrowed at the resounding sound of metal clashing against metal. I'd barely blocked the blade that was aimed at my back.

Cutting my eyes upwards I took in the tall, lean Shinigami that had attacked me.

Short dark black hair and sharp deep gray eyes. Three scars ran down the right side of his face; starting a bit above his right eye and trailing down the rest of the right side of his face. The familiar sixty-nine tattooed on his left cheek, as well as a gray colored stripe running across his left cheek above the number and continuing across the bridge of his nose.

The number nine printed on the Fukutaicho badge that was tightly tied around his bare arm.

Of course I knew this reiatsu.

"Hisagi-Fukutaicho…"