Soul Societies, part 2.
Because his four best assassins and Kibune Makoto are dead, and because he has Kasumiōji with no groom instead of Kannogi with no bride, Kumoi is left with no choice but to accept. Aizen's intentions, after all, give him to chance to prove the Bakkōtō's superiority against a greater challenge than just Yamamoto's pets.
He knew that whatever the three rogue shinigami wanted at the Soul King Palace, it wouldn't involve him because lesser clans like the Kasumiōji were only founded after Yhwach was defeated.
And he knew this to be a chance to claim the Seireitei for his own when the surviving faction is at it's weakest.
Following the announcement that Kurosaki Ichigo (who reluctantly accepted that Kumoi can't presently afford to harm Rurichiyo) Sado Yasutora, and Inoue Orihime were nearly killed, Dang Thao is escorted from the Goban-tai detention area by Buford and four of the Keigun. "It was only Kira's report of his suspicions regarding Kibune Makoto after defeating him that your execution order was rescinded. Prior to that, I had hoped you would have used what time you had left in Level Two to realize your mistake." He tells her on the way to the Juniban-tai.
Once outside, Thao sees the others of the Goban-tai, including Hinamori. She approaches the latter as Buford motions for the Keigun to not follow. "Hinamori-sen-"
"Just san will do; we were in the same class at the Shin'o." The actual Fukutaichō requests from her.
Thao nods before taking a dogeza stance. "Hinamori-san... forgive me!" She shouts, then speaks of that night at the refinery in the world of the living. She reveals that she was always ashamed that despite being five years older, she was among the students who hid while Hinamori convinced Abarai and Kira to fight back. "I had sworn to be just as dedicated to those shinigami who took me in after Kiganjō-Taichō was slain by Zaraki. Then, when Kotetsu-Fukutaichō announced what that man did to you, wh...o should have been-n like a daught-... and the flames, the screaming..." She finishes while sobbing.
Unohana-Taichō personally informed Hinamori that nobody from what was left of the Goban-tai was able to visit her due to the rioters until after Sasakibe-Fukutaichō forced them to back off.
"Dang-san... you can't do that to yourself." She said while placing a hand on Thao's shoulder, but the gesture was soon ruined. "You have it all wrong. We both know all of this to be out of Aizen-Taichō's character."
At the Juniban-tai, Yamamoto, flanked by Suì-Fēng, Hitsugaya and Pendleton, approaches the former fugitive, who is now traumatized enough without being strapped to an operating table. "Dang Thao, as the Chūō Shijūroku has only refilled half of it's vacant positions, the Goteijūsantai has decided that you will be temporarily reinstated as acting Gobantai fukutaichō on the condition that you be monitored at all times." He explains to her.
Suì-Fēng, Amagai, Kuchiki, Komamura, along with Kira had been against it, while Unohana, Hisagi, Hitsugaya, Zaraki, and Kurotsuchi had abstained.
"That... that makes more sense than needing to hear it... in this house of horrors." Thao says as she keeps tugging at the straps. "What am i in for?" She asks, figuring it was a better question than wondering who voted against it.
Kurotsuchi grins and motions to a screen, informing her that he will be installing a listening device in her Bakkōtō. "Reverse engineering of the specimen Kibune possessed after Abarai-Fukutaichō presented it to the Sōtaichō reveals, aside from the lack of a remote override, the presence of a crude equivalent to the reiraku." He states, and continues with it being that invisible feature that explains how Kibune Makoto was able to make his hybrid weapon fly around. "Having taken the liberty to scan your weapon, we have discovered it's been upgraded as well."
"We are also to install a more direct counter-measure." A woman with a purple/blue robe, ringed staff, and glasses states. "I am Kidōshū Sōshi, Ran'tao." The woman informs her.
"And what does such an esteemed lady mean by direct?" Thao asks her as that object is shown next to her Hakusui on the screen. She's told that in the event that she's killed, a miniature barrier will breach, releasing a high level Hadō that should eliminate her remains and the attacker.
Suì-Fēng speaks again. "You would have been given an Onmitsukidō standard issue explosive, but those have never been used against Menos Grande or Arrancar. "If one of the latter could fracture Yoruichi-sama's limbs, then..."
Thao went pale at the implication, but accepted the terms.
"I'm leading a small unit to assist Kurosaki Ichigo. As your actions have made it necessary to forbid you from entering the Seireitei and transfer you to replace Amagai-Taichō as a Keiratai leader once Aizen's greater crimes have been dealt with, you are to be part of this unit." Hitsugaya tells Thao while Pendleton was tying the fukutaichō badge back onto her sleeve. "Provided that you survive this mission." He added, not enjoying that he'll have to work with somebody who made Hinamori upset.
When the devices were in place, Suì-Fēng gave Thao one last directive. "Kurosaki Ichigo told me his nakama includes a girl named Arisawa Tatsuki. She was the fourth survivor of the Arrancar. When you are in the world of the living, ensure no further harm comes to her."
Buford and Hitsugaya lead Thao to the senkaimon, where four others are waiting.
Matsumoto, who tells her that Kaichō made a headband saying "doo-doo head" on it for when, or if, she attends the next SWA meeting... which Thao is fine with not doing since the second encounter with Yoruichi convinced her to forever avoid similar shinigami.
Madarame admits being impressed that someone spiritually weaker than Yamada lasted as long as she did against him, two other sanseki's, and a fukutaichō.
Yumichika didn't care so long as she keeps that putrid excuse for a Zanpakutō away from him.
Abarai only accepted after hearing about the measures taken to keep Thao in her place.
Thao later takes Hitsugaya's vanguard to Ichigo's classroom due to having been in the building before, only he's not there. Hitsugaya assumes he was given the wrong room number and checks his Denreishinki when Rukia appears in a window. "Hitsugaya...kun, Nii-sama notified me that you would be arriving." She lets him know as actual students watch from the back of the room.
Hitsugaya's eye twitches at the suffix that Hinamori must have told her about, and he asks where Kurosaki is, only for their Denreishinki to go off.
"It's not too far from here; I'll handle this." She says, and jumps down from the window.
One of the students, with glasses and short red hair, and who had been staring at Matsumoto, speaks up. "I'm not sure what's going on or what you want with Kurosaki-san, but he was here this morning. He left with the new kid who's name is on the board there." The group all turn to see a name spelled backwards.
Thao knew the name after having checked the scroll inbetween the ones for Suzunami(1) and Aizen out of boredom.
The team leader was about to alert Yamamoto about this when they heard an obnoxious voice behind them. "Hey! Who in the world is stirring things up without me?"
Following that, Histugaya's team is led by Rukia to Ichigo's house when the Juban-tai pair stops. "Taichō." Matsumoto exclaims in a serious tone about one of the people on the other side of the Clinic's glass door.
"That's his father and sisters, or am i mistaken?" Thao asks while scratching the back of her head, only for Rukia to remind her of an event from 20 years ago with The Sketchbook. "Oh that's right; i had just been promoted to juhachiseki when he disappeared." She says, and Rukia turns a page.
"And he's the uncle of the deceased Shiba Kaien." She went on as Rukia does so again.
"In other words... Kurosaki Ichigo is a Shiba?!" She then yelled, forcing all six to cover her mouth and rush out of the family's view.
After the black-haired daughter leans out the door without finding them, Matsumoto turns to Hitsugaya. "How do we proceed?"
Knowing what she meant by that, he only shook his head. "We don't; he's not among our objectives."
"I dunno who's down there, but put a sock in it!" They then hear from the second floor, and notice a small yellow thing take a second look. "Nee-san, you're back and you brought me presents!" It shouts, then jumps towards them. "I'll take the mega deluxe one firs-!"
"What is that supposed to be?" Yumichika asked about the thing Matsumoto gave a check hook to without looking. Rukia ignored the former, however, and instructed him, Renji, Matsumoto, and Ikkaku to find a way into Ichigo's attic while Hitsugaya and Thao stayed out of sight on the roof as Renji kept the struggling creature under his armpit.
With his patience already thin, Ichigo balks at the sight of the seventh unwanted guest. "I would be asking why you're here after double-crossing us." He says to Thao, but lets it go.
"Dropping the subject so easily?" Rukia asks him while tilting her head. "Did you forget what happened?"
"Tōshirō included her in whatever you're here for, so she must be-" He started to say, but was interrupted.
"Suppose it's not the attempt on Kasumiōji-sama's life that i refer to."
Shinigami Zukan.
Before going to Ichigo's school, his reinforcements are at an old bi-level. "The wretched fugitive, Urahara Kisuke." Hitsugaya thought as he and Renji suspected all manner of Seireitei property to be hidden in various spots.
"Yamamoto-Sōtaichō warned us that he is every bit as devious as Aizen." He thought next as Ikkaku looked over the cheap merchandise. Yumichika stayed outside, under the impression that the building hadn't been cleaned "since the humans started using those funny looking lamps".
"We are to be on our guard at all..." He was finishing as his fukutaichō fawned over a pigtailed employee with white and pink clothes... while Pendleton's fukutaichō lay defeated nearby, having lost the chance to do so first.
"Matsumoto!"
1. This is the name of a character from The 3rd Phantom who was the non-canon precursor to Shinji Hirako.