Long before Ichigo and his friends made it to the Rukongai. Before Ichigo learned the name of his Zanpakuto. Rukia sat alone in her cell.

She stared out the small barred window with a long sigh. Lately, she had been doing this… staring out the window as she thought long and hard- What about? She had no idea, mostly how Izuru and Renji were doing. Otherwise, her head was mostly empty with anxiety. Had she fucked up so much that Ichigo will fail to save her? Or will the rescue be sped up? Will her execution day be sooner?

Given her circumstances, Rukia was still treated much like a noble in solitary confinement. Her clothes were made of soft cotton, and a new laundered one was presented every day. The food, though bland, was filling and never left her wanting for more. But this imprisonment was lonely.

A few days after her imprisonment, she got her first visitor.

"I said let me see her!" Rukia could hear an all too familiar voice from the opposite end of the door shout. "I'm the Lieutenant of the 6th Squad and you will let me pass!"

By some sort of miracle, Renji barged his way through the door and froze.

"R… Renji!" Rukia chirped, offering him a cheerful smile. She had almost forgotten how to use her words. "Hi!"

"I heard… I mean I was told- you…" Renji rushed to the bars, cupping her face in his hands. He chewed on his lower lip and scanned her face. It was as if he was finding the answers to the world's secrets found somewhere in her. "It has to be some kind of joke, right?"

"Um…" Rukia mumbled. Her voice was a breathless whisper. "What do you mean?"

"The execution, Rukia. You're going to be killed," Renji said bluntly. "It has to be a joke. Why would you be executed for this? You're… you're the first Soul Reaper to get this punishment in centuries!"

She offered him a crooked smile.

Renji's face twitched. Sclera reddened and Rukia felt the hands holding her face oh-so-tenderly begin to tremble.

"There's a plan, right? Right? Captain Kuchiki wouldn't just… just let you die like that! It's some big prank you two have been planning- and you somehow got Izuru involved? Someone stole the council's seal to make that order, right…? A rival noble? Rukia?" Renji's voice cracked so, so many times. "Rukia, I just got you back."

Rukia paused and sighed. She put her tiny hand atop Renji's. "I… didn't do anything with a plan… well, not this time anyway. I'm… honestly worried."

Renji looked over his shoulder, confirming no one was listening in. He spoke in a lower voice. "We're going to make a plan- Izuru and I. We'll get you out of here. Izuru suggested I work on my bankai and… well," He let go of Rukia to scratch his neck. "Honestly, he wouldn't tell me much besides that. But whatever he plans, I'm game for it. Lot of Soul Reapers aren't happy with the news either- we might have allies."

Rukia blinked up at him. "..." Her frown was deep and a promise of wrinkles. "Tell him… I want to have a word the next chance he gets…"

Renji scratched his cheek. "I'll pass on the message… Captain Ichimaru's been keeping him on the world's shortest leash ever since we brought you back. The non-seated officers have been doing his paperwork deliveries." His eyes widened slightly. "Anything I can bring you? To make things comfortable-ish? Er… well, I guess prison is meant to be uncomfortable. But maybe I can bring you a treat? Or the drawing kit you keep in your closet?"

Rukia's eyes widened. "How did you know I kept my drawing kit in my closet?" She raised a brow and crossed her arms, leaning back on one leg and cocking her hip.

Renji physically gulped when Rukia moved her hips. "Your brother ordered me to bring you those robes- something about the Kuchiki princess shouldn't be wearing peasant cotton, prisoner or not. Your closet has way too many clothes. By the way, It took me a full ten minutes to find those robes you're wearing."

"Why would my Aniki ask you to grab my clothes?" She was a bit confused. "When he could just ask a servant?" She raised a brow.

Renji threw his hands in the air in surrender. "How am I supposed to know? Probably wanted to see if I'd raid your underwear. He's been giving me hell ever since he figured out you were dating me and not some human." He slammed his palm against his face. "I think he would have preferred you dated a human."

A guard stuck their head in the room. "Time's almost up."

"You bastards didn't say there was a time limit!" Renji barked. "So shut the hell up!" When the guard retreated, he returned his attention. "Anyway, like I was saying, do you want me to bring you anything?"

"My drawing kit if they let you." She smiled.

"Yeah… yeah I can do that… We'll figure something out."

Rukia smiled slightly, before waving her hand in the 'c'mere' motion.

Renji blinked and moved closer. "What's up?"

"Come closer!" She chirped and he moved till he was standing against the bars. "Now bend down~"

Renji was confused and it left his heart racing. He did as he was told.

Standing up on her tiptoes, Rukia quickly pecked him on the lips. "Thanks for coming by, Renji. It really made my day."

Renji sputtered and blushed red. "Y-yeah!" He stammered. "No problem!" He turned around. "I'll uh…. Be right back with that art kit!"

"See ya~!" She giggled, before letting her smile fall as Renji faded from sight. She turned back to gaze out the window.

Gin was on a mission to make someone's day worse than it already was. He hummed a sweet tune to the rhythm of his feet hitting the wooden floor, loudly announcing his physical presence. It was almost too easy for him, as the fancy screen doors were pulled open to let in fresh air. Right where they should be, was Gin's lovely target.

"Ya seem rather down in the dumps, Captain Kuchiki," Gin said with a casual wave, approaching the shorter captain.

Izuru was behind him. His head was down and avoiding looking at anything that wasn't his own feet and the hem of Gin's haori.

Byakuya didn't look up from his paperwork. There were slight bruises under his eyes, barely discernible to those who didn't pay close enough attention. A thin layer of concealer made the futile attempt to hide the evidence of his lack of sleep.

"You've lost weight," Gin continued to comment. "Not surprised, considering it's not every day someone sends their little sister to their death. How are ya holdin' up?"

"I'm fine," Byakuya said blatantly. The hand holding his ink brush twitched. Little flicks of the dark substance skipped across the finalized repair form on his desk.

If possible, Gin's grin grew even wider. "Yer lying~ But it can't be helped. You have orders. I couldn't possibly imagine letting someone I care about dyin'!"

"You care about someone?" Izuru finally piped up. Regret became his personality trait for the next minute, as he was pulled into a suffocatingly affectionate hug. "Captain, I will kick you and it will hurt."

"I couldn't possibly let people I care and love for die! No siree, I would fight for their lives, and not be a FAILURE to them."

Izuru swung a leg back to give Gin a full 30 pounds of force poured into that kick when he was dropped flat on his face.

"Just kiddin'~! I know yer a stickler for the rules, Captain Kuchiki. Always have~ You'll go to the execution and watch lil Rukia burn alive." Gin bent down and grabbed his lieutenant by the back of his Shihakusho. He paused, looking down at Izuru with a thin line for a mouth. "When did you start weighing so much?"

Izuru ignored Gin with an eye roll. The blond got up and brushed himself off. "Captain Kuchiki, if you ever need assistance with anything, send Renji my way. I'm sure my captain wouldn't mind lending me out for support. Right, Captain?"

"Yes yes~ that's what comrades are for! Sharing their subordinates!" Gin agreed easily, turning away as he continued to drag Izuru like the man was his personal ragdoll. "I'll send some nice sake your way. Yer gonna need it. Tata~"

Byakuya sighed deeply with his eyes closed and started the grueling process of restarting the form. He had certainly lost weight in the last week or so… he wondered how Ichimaru even noticed.

Three weeks. It took almost three weeks and Rukia's relocation to the tower for Izuru to visit her. How he managed to convince the guards to let him visit, Rukia will never find that answer.

Not that it mattered. She had to wait almost a month for him to visit her.

"A big… empty room. Lots of big empty rooms," Izuru said more to himself than anything, as he looked around the room. "This world has an obsession with big rooms with almost no furnishing."

Rukia was humming softly and sketching her friends on a piece of paper.

"Ichigo's here, along with his buddies and Yoruichi… Uh…" Izuru made a sound by sucking on his teeth. "I had to kick him out of the Seireitei while Gin… ya know… cut off the big guy's arm. They'll probably have Kaien help them inside- he's on vacation to help his family. Um… I'm sorry that it took me so long."

Rukia continued to draw, humming in acknowledgment.

Izuru breathed in very slowly. "Is this because I told Ichigo characteristics about Aizen? In my defense, the first time those two meet, he nearly gets sliced in half. Main character or not, I don't like the idea of a kid I've known since he was a baby nearly getting himself killed." He crossed his arms over his chest, not to look bigger, but to look smaller.

He's rambling now. Trying his hardest to keep his gaze on Rukia. "I've been talking with others. They're not happy about your execution order- really only seems like the older Soul Reapers are fine with it. Probably gonna stage a coup… I'm dying to test my bankai on Yamamoto and see how fast he crumbles."

"So you just know everything now, huh?" She commented blankly. Never moving her eyes from her paper. Etching Izuru's jawline on the page. She was talking to her drawing of him rather than actually focusing her words at him. "Nice to know you don't need my help. I can finally relax." She puffed out a sigh.

"Oh, don't give me that!" Izuru snapped. "Tanner, I- I'm trying, damnit! We don't know how much just being in Ichigo's life has changed! We need as many people on our side as possible! We don't know if he'll awaken his bankai on time or if he'll be fast enough! What did you want me to do? Sit on my ass, twiddle my thumbs, and do my duties as the forgettable side character?"

Rukia bristled. "You really think I haven't thought about if we fucked up the canon so much that I could just die tomorrow instead of on the day of my execution in the original story?!" She set her pencil roughly, it clacked on the cut stone floor. She stood up and moved so she was standing directly in front of Izuru.

"Luna…" She had tears in her eyes. "I'm literally a helpless, sitting duck here. I can't do anything but wait!" She rubbed at her eyes to try and get rid of the tears. She was frustrated, she always cried when she was frustrated and it made her angry.

"I- I can't do this anymore," Izuru confessed, and he took a shaky breath. "You have three options, Tanner and you better pick one before I make the choice for you. Option 1: I tell someone the truth. You pick who. Option 2: I... I barter for your life with Aizen."

He wilted as Rukia's gaze pierced into his soul.

"Aizen gets stabbed the same night Ichigo and the others make it in here. He'll have free movement. I'll... I'll give him information- stuff he couldn't have access to on his own- like that dumb ball he wants."

"It's called the Hogkyoku," Rukia stated, staring up at him with an unamused frown. "What's the third?"

"I'll break you out of here. Right now," Izuru whispers like a knife gliding through a fish's stomach. "I'll blow up that eastern wall and we run. I'll kill everyone that gets in our way, and I'll hide you..."

"But... then the target will be on you?"

"Better me than you... always better."

"Luna, you're not being fair about this. None of these choices-"

Izuru finally straightened up. His eyes dulled. "You have until I get to zero to pick. 5..."

"Can't there be a fourth option? Wait for the story?!"

"4."

"You're putting yourself at risk! I can't-"

"3."

Rukia couldn't breathe in a pattern. She grabbed the front of Izuru's robes. "Please… For once, don't be impulsive."

"2." Izuru raised an arm towards the eastern wall. "1..."

"Okay!" Rukia cried, tears coating her face. "I guess you could tell Renji… He'll probably hate me for the rest of my life if he finds out I took over the original Rukia's body…" Her heart panged at the thought. "I could never tell Nii-chan…"

Exhaustion swept over her small body. Rukia's knees buckled, but she didn't hit the floor. She was pulled into the protective embrace of her dear friend. Rukia could feel the world slowly swaying, as Izuru rocked their bodies in a slow, gentle rhythm. A one-sided waltz on a small platform.

Rukia almost wanted to go to sleep. Almost.

Then Izuru talked again.

"Renji will understand… I'll make him understand. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry but I have to do this." Izuru's shrug was heavy, and slow. Everything he did now was slow. "There will have to be a point where we'll need to come clean to everyone we care about… I'm sorry. I can't… lose you. If I do, I won't have anyone."

"You have the Kurosaki family, at the very least." She murmured. Izuru smelled of honey-scented products. It made her realize… when they were just Luna and Tanner, she never got to learn Luna's scent. Was it the same? Different? "And I don't think Gin will want to lose you either."

Izuru puffed out a laugh. The sound felt good against Rukia's head. "Honestly, Rukia… you're the one who developed all those relationships… not me. I just tagged along… the Kurosaki's love you."

Rukia smiled. "You'll see, Izuru. Don't get all depressed, okay?" She murmured, "Besides, I don't plan to die easily anyway… I will be putting up a fight if I have to."

"Well, I mean, push comes to shove… We can always see what happens when you double the weight of an ancient execution site a bunch of times," Izuru said with a forced chuckle. The pair parted, and Izuru put a hand on Wabisuke's hilt. "Maybe I can slow down the halberd-naginata-thing."

"It's called the-" Rukia was stopped short with a long finger pressed against her lips.

"Shhhhhhh. It doesn't show up enough for me to care," Izuru shushed then pulled Rukia into a tight hug. "You'll be okay."

Izuru let her go, reaching into his sleeve and pulling out a small book. "You missed out on this year's collection, but Yachiru saved you a copy. Byakuya is on page 9."

Rukia perked up. "I might have missed it…" She smiled slightly. "But at least you guys always keep me in mind when it comes to pranks!"

"Frankly, it was our best work this year! Nearly everyone looks like they came out of a shojo manga- except Aizen, I uh… fixed his hair to… you know." Izuru winced a smile. "Best to keep that copy hidden. I'm sure in the next few weeks they're going to try to destroy all copies with his face on it."

A knock on the door signaled that Izuru's time was up. He frowned, but gave her one last big squeeze and rushed out before the guards got suspicious.

Finding Renji was easy. Getting him alone was tough. But, Izuru managed to convince him to have the talk in the redhead's quarters. All he had to do was tell him it was about Rukia- something important he should know.

"I have one request, Renji. Please… please just know Rukia loves you, so so much. There's not a poem in this world, no words the human tongue has mastered, that could be used to tell you how much love she has for you. I'm the one that pressured her into agreeing to this conversation…" Izuru paused, eyes widening for just a second. "And no, Rukia and I are not in some kind of secret relationship. It's totally platonic. That would be like me dating my sister."

"Rukia said the same thing about you." He crossed his arms and raised a brow at him. "What was it you wanted to say?"

"I should… probably explain my situation first… will make it easier to explain Rukia. I'm… Not Izuru?" He tried with an awkward grin.

Renji frowned, tilting his head. "You sure look like Izuru to me?"

"Well… This hasn't been Izuru for…" His blue eyes shifted, both calculating the math and also acknowledging how crazy this sounds. "20 years? He- well, he died to a Hollow wound and my soul was put in this body mere moments after his passing. I don't know why or who did it, but it happened?"

Izuru paused only for a moment, not even enough for Renji to process what he just heard. The blond tapped the side of his head.

"He's still here though. Like a sentient disembodied voice. He helps me remember what squad is where, and the names of Kido spells because… um… I don't remember any of that. I can't even remember the full names of the people I should." Izuru laughs a very high-pitch, nervous laugh. He grabbed his hair and looked to the side. "What am I even doing? I sound absolutely insane, how do you prove this kind of stuff when you can't even remember names?!"

"You do sound insane." Renji deadpanned.

"Well… Hm… what would be proof? Is it reasonable to assume Rukia never told me about the three friends you two had, as children? They died, and at their graves, you suggested the two of you become Soul Reapers." Izuru suggested with a shrug. "Or, tomorrow morning, Momo is going to scream- because 'someone'-" He raised his hands in quotes "-'kills' Captain Aizen and pins his 'corpse' with his Zanpakuto…

Renji paused before he commented. "You're serious…" He didn't know whether to laugh or shout.

"Yeah… and you guys are all fictional to me… like, you're from a book… a lot of books. So, like, I know of key things for the next two years- but I can't remember any names," Izuru was muttering now but still clear. "Captain Aizen is like, the big bad guy? His sword casts perfect illusions and such, blood on his hands is redder than your hair. Captain Ichimaru is involved too… and I think Captain Tosen? But we haven't cared enough to check on him. So, um… yeah, Rukia's execution was Aizen's idea. The council is dead."

"But Captain Aizen said his Zanpakuto casts like… confusion on enemies." Renji himself was confused.

"Oh no, not even close, Renji. Just looking at his sword once is enough to make you fall under the hypnosis." Izuru blinked a few times. "I haven't looked at his Zanpakuto yet- but the original Izuru has… it's useful. I'm sorry we kept this a secret from you… we feared you wouldn't take the information well."

Renji's head swam with all the information. "Wait. So if I'm right to assume this. Rukia… Isn't the Rukia I grew up with?"

Izuru visibly deflated.

"Rukia… got sick. Really, really sick and passed roughly a month after she entered the Kuchiki family. My best friend- look, we don't know why we're here or how. It's just the same time she took her final breath, my friend was thrown in there. She's there, like how Izuru is with me and guided my friend for a number of years." Izuru bowed his head. "I'm sorry."

Renji shook his head, and it took a few seconds to unclench his jaw. He took a long, deep breath. "It's not like you guys had control. Rukia is… Rukia whether she's the one I grew up with or not." He offered a crooked smile. "I love her. And you're my friend, Izuru. I can tell you care about us."

"Glad to know you acknowledge we didn't have control… frankly, if I had a choice I wouldn't be…" Izuru gestured to himself. "Rangiku would have been preferable, or just any woman, really. My friend got lucky to be all tiny and cute- I got turned into a man. And I have to look at Captain Ichimaru every day."

"Wait… You're a woman!?" Renji shouted, eyes practically bugging out. "That explains so much." He slapped his palm to his forehead and sighed.

"Yeah, I know. Rukia had like… 20 years to practice her routine and shtick before getting comfortable. I had- a week to a month to adapt before meeting all of you? Honestly, I thought you were just dumb when none of you were suspicious that I refused sake…" Izuru shrugged. "Oh, yeah. One last like… major secret? Remember that relative of mine in the 4th? Masaki? You said her hair was pretty."

Renji nodded slowly. His funky eyebrows raised particularly high.

"She's not my relative. Her real name is Kurosaki Masaki. That orange-haired kid you fought to arrest Rukia? That's his mom. She's a Quincy- a full-blooded one too. Ichigo doesn't know that his mom is here or that she's a Quincy- Rukia and I wanted to surprise him."

"And how did you plan to surprise him? Won't he be angry?" Renji frowned.

"Eh… Probably? But he'll get over it once his brain registers his mom's alive. Her soul was supposed to be eaten by a Hollow, but Rukia and I got there in time to save her… We put her in the 4th to keep her protected from Aizen," Izuru said with a pause, realizing he stopped calling "Aizen" with the proper title. "This conversation never leaves this room. I will never, in a million years- address this to you again without Rukia by my side. If I approach you and start trying to talk to you about this- that's not me. Any questions?"

At Renji's silence and a slow shaking of his head, Izuru beamed a grin. "Good! Because I can't remember anything else right now anyway!" He shot to his feet, dusting off his hakama. "Now, I'm going to go hang out with Captain Ichimaru tonight so I can avoid dealing with the hassle of everyone thinking he stabbed Captain Aizen. It's really a big headache."

And the blond left without another word, a happy hum to tune knowing that crisis averted. They have a new ally!

Not gonna lie this chapter made me a little anxious writing some of those scenes. I hope you enjoyed this one nonetheless! It was honestly quite fun regardless haha!