One Love, Endless Time

by Cass Ichirof

Bleach with a different approach. Can hollows have a heart, if so can they lose it? Ichigo passed long ago. A distraught Shirosaki and a portion of the Quincy King Juhabach have lived on for centuries waiting for a chance at Ichigo's rebirth. Will Ichigo be reborn? Will he be the same person they once knew? Plan is for the story to come close to the actual anime/manga at intervals.

28. Chapter 28

Hello everyone :)

I'm back xD

We have Chapter XXVIII – finally!

Same good disclaimer, reminder and warnings:

Friendly reminder: this story will be slightly AU and some characters might be OOC. For anyone who is not into YAOI, please do not read any further, this is not going to be your cup of tea :) By now, all of you who are continuing to read on and supporting me, I know you know what this story is about, so fear not and please read on :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its characters, they all belong to Tite Kubo-Sensei etc., etc.

WARNINGS: Spoiler alert for anyone who is not up to date with the manga and only watched the anime! Somewhere along the way might contain, but is not limited to include: dark themes, suicidal thoughts, heavy sexual contest, yaoi (again xD) and some other themes not suitable for under-age reader. Read at your own risk and discretion! :3

Dear Lord it's been forever since the last chapter. My deepest apologies everyone!

As proof of my regret here comes one hell of a chapter. It's the longest to date and my biggest record in both length and posting delay.

Without further ado, please enjoy – I know I had lots of fun getting this one done x3

---

Chapter XXVIII

Upon Soren's leave, lifeless silence befell the forest and, though the sun was rising, not a single bird chirped while the wind remained calm and unmoving as if nature itself sensed an unspoken need for quietness. Or so it felt for one Shihoin Yoruichi. The cat may seem stress-free, what with her body being leisurely sprawled on the hybrids shoulders.

However, in reality, she felt the heavy tension lingering in the air. It was as thought the area surrounding them was separated from the rest of the waking world. Had it not been for the light emitted by the central stone, they surely would be engulfed in darkness. That too was unusual, but she refrained from speaking. There would be time for it later. For now, she had to tread carefully, least the youngster whose shoulders she occupied went completely ballistic.

Her feelings must have been reciprocated by the stoic Emperor, if his firm yet calm stance was any indication. Although, now that she looked more carefully, she could see hints of anger, frustration and sadness in those deep reddish-brown orbs. The man's left hand which was on top of the central stone was also twitching and, occasionally, gripping the unfortunate stone a bit too firmly. Which made her come to another fascinating realization. Just when did the man put his hand on it? She should have perceived or at least sensed when that happened. Yet, here was the solid proof that she failed to notice something so trivial.

A deep exhale resonated around them, courtesy of the Quincy King, whit that whichever spell encircled them abruptly broke. The pressure was noticeably reduced. Still, the Hollow member of their group kept the same posture. It was as though the change in the atmosphere overlooked him entirely. His head was dejectedly lowered down and his eyes covered by long fringes. His expression was a deep frown, bordering on fury. Yes, she was not out of the woods so to speak. And oh man, was that ironic or what? Even for someone like her.

Looking back at the Emperor, she was astonished to see a large black substance towering over the imposing male.

'When did he do that? Wait! Is that his doing in the first place? So many questions, so few answers.'

As the regal man approached them, so did the shadow-like form, confirming her suspicion that it was in fact the Quincy King controlling whatever obscured thing was. Instinctively, she must have tilted her head in a questioning manner, as the man simply nodded his head as though assuring that everything was under control. The elder male gently placed his right hand on the Hollow's left upper arm. Before long, darkness enveloped them in a tender caress.

---

At the Urahara Shoten one shop keeper was restless and busy plotting. The normally laid-back scientist was swimming within his mind in an ocean full of chances, odds, possibilities and other likelihoods. Never had he imagined the Hogyoku would have been this troublesome. Ever since he found the gem and activating it, life has gone upside down. And yet, even after all the issues surrounding the mysterious trinket, he had to admit, it brought lots of excitements… challenges he would have never got to experience. Thus, no matter how crazy it might sound, he was glad he encountered the tiny thingamajig.

'Now then, I have a better understanding of the situation. Seems like the Quincy Emperor and Shirosaki-san were not lying. They are keeping many things to themselves, that's for sure… Especially names… But who am I to judge? After all, I too have my little secrets here and there. What bothers me the most is that I can't get a proper reiatsu reading from either one of them, even with the cloaks I provided. They were supposed to collect some interesting data, especially from Hollow-san… Aw, such a shame. Looks like they are much more careful than I gave them credit for. Plan G it is then!'

Suddenly much more animated than a few minutes ago, the crazy scientist resumed to do what he does best. Analyzing the situation and all conversations which transpired on this long night.

What the shop owner did not expect was the abrupt disappearance of his subjects of interest along with his long time best friend.

"Oh… this isn't good. How…? Urgh… They sure don't make my job easy and here is thought Shirosaki-san's Garganta was remarkable for leaving no traces of ever being opened or closed… But this feels different. I just hope Yoruichi-san will be fine."

His mumbling was cut short by a deep grunt of "Tenchou, everything is fine." A large hand grabbed his left and he was given a hot cup of tea. Honestly, Tessai-san was so keen on everything even without being told a single word. At times, it was frightening.

"I know Tessai-san, she's good and will return to us one way or the other. Just make sure you don't tell her about my quick lapse. She can be quite scary when she knows we were anxious about her whereabouts."

A light shiver passed through both males and while one left to get a few hours of sleep, the other typed frantically on a mini computer-like device.

"Just be safe Yoruichi-san. There is much we still don't know about these fellows."

---

'Freezing! What is with Quincies and the cold? First that forsaken place in the middle of nowhere and now this?! Whatever this is…'

These were Yoruichi's first thoughts on the darkness which engulfed them. The youngster, on whose shoulders she rested, did not flinch at all. Not even the slightest move or reaction. It was worrisome. She preferred the spirited, easy to tease daredevil, thank you much. Even so, she was confused. What was going on in that white head?

'Guess I'll bring the subject up once we're out of this arctic black-hole! Not even my fur can keep me warm enough. I'm probably more sensitive than usual because the Hollow's skin too is cooler than that of a regular human. I really didn't need the additional chill!'

Her inner annoyance met an early death-stop, as the obscurity was slowly, but surely dissipating from their surroundings, taking away the bitter icy sensation. Looking around she was surprised to find they were elsewhere. It was still dark, a round room with no windows. Still, even shrouded in dark she could make out certain objects and items.

A large picture of sorts decorated the right wall, underneath it stood a small cabinet. On the left, like a sore thumb, stood out a large closet, probably the same shade as the cabinet. Not that a closet is unusual in any room, but this one was simply too large to be a mere decoration or storage.

Movement caught her attention and she could see the Emperor move with sure and steady steps in the direction of the suspicious closet. Though it should be impossible for humans to see much considering the room was not lit up, the man seemed unperturbed and was gently caressing the large piece of furniture. Shortly after, a clicking sound resounded through the silent chamber. The doors opened, but there was nothing inside safe for another door in its middle.

'How intriguing.'

Opening those doors lead to another chamber. The first thing which captured her attention was the light. The reason being as there were no switches or other devices which produced electricity and yet pale blue light illuminated the room the moment they went inside as though the tiny suite knew when people required it to shine.

From what she could tell at first glance, the facility was to be used as an emergency complex, if the kitchenette, cabinets and bed were any indication.

'Hmm…The door closest to the bed must be a restroom of sorts. Most likely, the cupboards are filled with food supplies and other necessities. Most interesting. It reminds me of the room we visited in Wandenreich not too long ago. Although, it looks like this one doesn't change. Shame. I would have had nothing against some tuna.'

The cat's musing was broken, when she felt someone lifting her from the Hollow's shoulders, followed by a calm voice.

"Apologies, Shihoin-san, but you may want to step down for a bit. Shirosaki is truly trying hard not to burst-up in flames of fury."

She gazed into those reddish-brown orbs and silently nodded her furry head in understanding. A small, sad looking smile was her only reward.

Several tense minutes flew by. No one was ready to make a move nor a sound. Anxiety and tension rising steadily as a tide.

Finally, unexpectedly, a loud exhale echoed within the small site, taking with it most of the pressure away. Yet, it neglected to remove the palpable apprehension lingering in the air.

Shirosaki was opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. It would have been amusing, if it wasn't such a dire situation. Ossan knew. Any mocking at the present would result in catastrophe. He could only pray Shihoin-san would be as understanding as he himself. It appeared there was no reason for worry, as Shirosaki crossed his hands around his chest and started to pace in small circles, immersed in thoughts, murmuring every few seconds.

"That bastard… And he continues to irritate me to no end… He still does as usual, testing and experimenting. It's why I hate crazy-ass-wanna-be-scientists… But it should have all been destroyed… We did infiltrate his labs… Yeah, we… we blow them up and made them go boom like lovely fireworks… There shouldn't have been anything left… How? Did we miss something? Is it possible there was another one? What did the bastard say again? Something about 'dungeon-turned-lab'… Just where did he hide this one… A dungeon…"

Gradually, Shirosaki paused. His whole body was tense, but after the Hollow's circling around, the stiffness in the air had somewhat lessened. He looked at his companion, searching for something in those upset reddish-brown eyes. Yes, Shirosaki could see them sparkle with an unnatural light. Two being interlocked into one. He had to ask now or abandon his chance.

"You wouldn't know about any dungeons Soren might have turned into a laboratory, would you?

The question had come as a surprise to the older male. He closed his eyes and rummaged through his memories for anything that could possibly match that description. Yet, nothing came to mind. Any and all dungeons had been in public spaces. As in any other empire, there were always knaves and scoundrels who broke the law. Thus, it was imperative to have sturdy prisons for transgressor. Naturally, those were for human culprits. Any spiritually-aware offenders were dealt with at the palace. Most times such crimes were brought forth by lack of control or knowledge.

In those situations, the Emperor always made sure to thoroughly investigate each case individually. Those who used powers, but were not aware of having them, were trained in control and, by the end of the training, recruited. Based on their general knowledge and skills, these men and women turned to become army members, servants, tutors or anything else, depending on their desires, intellect, eagerness, dedication and preferences.

Regrettably, there were also those who were aware and well in control of their reiatsu and punishments were dealt accordingly. These were also taken care of on a case-to-case situation. If it was a rich transgressor, monetary fines did not have an impact on the wrongdoer but was highly effective against poorer classes. For richer brats there were other penalties which depended on what such individuals hated the most. It was exceedingly rare they required to use force or death sentences. Still, there were situations which required such harsh measures.

Back on the topic at hand. He did go through a huge mental list of all cells, dungeons, jails, lockup houses and prisons. They were all relatively small and in the open, separated from other public buildings, therefore there were no opportunities to make them larger. Also, the capacity was minimal as verdicts were quick and efficient. Human malefactors were notorious and their judgement harsh and to the point. Public displays were not enforced, but on occasion, proved to be a good reminding method.

"No. All were either too small or under my jurisdiction. None of the ones I am aware of could have possibly been refurbished into anything reminiscent of a laboratory."

The way it was said, left no space for doubts or second guessing. At least in Yoruichi's opinion. And yet, Shirosaki did not seem content. If his calm yet angry words were any indication.

"Dig deeper. There must be one… Actually, there is one, am I right?"

Shirosaki took a few cautious steps closer to the Emperor. Barely audibly he whispered.

"The same one where he had been tortured."

At those words, Ossan's eyes became huge. Instantly reddish-brown turned an intense and bright sky-blue. Unbeknownst to his travel companions, an unknown location accompanied by faint screams flashed before Ossan's eyes.

The space was huge and dark…no… there was a candle or two flickering in the distance with each jerk of a rusty colored leather whip. Agony… there was so much pain and suffering… Hide… he had to conceal… No! He had to pull someone out of there… Away from the anguish and mind-breaking torment.

Ossan started to shake on his spot. His hands reflexively wrapped around himself in an attempt to shield his body from the unbearable living nightmare. He was trembling and panting. His reiatsu spilling out in dangerous waves. Sky-blue eyes were glowing from too much reiatsu. Shirosaki was astonished and more than a little fearful for his partner. He had not expected such a strong reaction. Without further delay, he grabbed the older male by the shoulders, calling him out. He tried with all his might to shake him out of whatever had entrapped the usually stoic and collected man. Somehow, he knew this was not supposed to happen.

"OSSAN! SNAP OUT OF IT!"

His efforts seemed to be in vain. Nothing he did or said was getting him anywhere near calming the other down. That is, until a memory ran amok in his overly worried brain. A similar situation, but a different person. Yes, the one he did to had been asleep and waking from a nightmare, while Ossan had been fully awake. He closed his eyes for all of two seconds. He hoped it would work. Once he opened them, he placed his hands on Ossans' face, forcing the male to watch him face-to-face, eyes-to-eyes. His next sentences were uttered calmly in a soft voice.

"Ossan. Look at me. Focus on nothing but my eyes. Watch closely. I know you can do it."

There must have been recognition, though the blue orbs were still glazed, trapped elsewhere, in another time.

"Good. You're doing great. Keep your attention on me… That's it. There is nothing but you and me. Now, I need you to breath with me. Take a breath in… Good… Slowly, let it out. Just you and me. You're looking at me and my eyes… nothing else matters. Come back to me."

Like an enchantment, all the agony, fear and misery dissipated and Ossan was back in control of himself. He blinked a few times as though clearing both his spirit and mind. Shirosaki released him, but never removed his eyes from the other.

Taking a deep breath, Ossan looked around. His mind doing a fast-forward recap. The Shinigami Aizen and his accomplices, the rough unusual Hollow destroyed by Masaki, her injury which would be healed by either the Shinigami Taichou or Ishida Soken, Soren's meeting and plans… He had taken a very upset Shirosaki to the underground passage of the destroyed mansion to avoid an angry reiatsu explosion from his protégé… They had been talking about something… Then nothing but gold amidst impenetrable darkness. Something had been wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on what precisely.

A loud puff of air from his pale ward made him look back into those captivating eyes. Why would he think they were fascinating? His train of thoughts was broken but a deep masculine voice.

"Well, that was weird. But please don't mind me. I have nothing against watching the two of you going at it, as long as you let me participate at one point or the other."

It took a full second for the cat's words to register in the minds of the occupants. Naturally, it was Shirosaki who fully comprehended the meaning behind those words and he laughed lightheartedly while giving the cat an amused evil look only a Hollow could bestow upon another soul.

"Aw… Is the kitty feeling left out? No worries, you can watch me all you want right here, right now. That is before I go to bed. Once at the Shoten we do have rules. And as I said, watching, no touching."

Shirosaki deliberately moved his right-hand index finger in a 'no-no' fashion, smiling like a predator about to pounce on its unsuspecting prey. It was enough to make Yoruichi bristle and shiver at the challenge. She really needed to find a way to get back at the unruly Hollow. The tease.

Ossan, being the most composed individual among the trio, dismissed the whole situation in favor of asking Shirosaki a question of his own.

"I apologize for temporarily forgetting myself, but I do expect a full explanation Shirosaki. Now, have you cooled off long enough so we can be on our way back? It has been an extremely long day and I would prefer to take a rest before contacting Haschwalth to give him all the updates. Not to mention, forewarn him regarding PePe Waccabrada and all other traitors."

Yoruichi was surprised at those words. Did the Quincy King not recall what had just transpired? It was both peculiar and rather disturbing. Especially considering the reiatsu output. Another thing she noticed, was the Hollow's reaction. It certainly did not seem like an action made many times. The concern was genuine and his first efforts were a natural course which she would have attempted as well.

But the second option, the one which did pacify the older male down, had been unusual. It had been a big gamble and a dangerous move. She had seen people getting killed when pulling off such a move. The Emperor had been down memory-lane, a deep and forgotten one at that. People in such situations can react rashly and may injure the one trying to bring them back on track. Grabbing the individuals by the shoulders guaranteed some safety as hand movements were restricted. It also gave you an additional reaction time, enough to avoid being severely injured.

Nonetheless, the Hollow released the shoulders and grabbed the face instead. Dangerous and stupid. Focusing on the face, the youngster would have had absolutely no chances of defending himself and the response time to avoid fatal wounds was minimal to none-existent. There were so many scenarios where this situation could have gone wrong and in so many ways it was no laughing matter.

Still, here they were, all safe and sound. She would have to figure out a way to make sure the Quincy King slept at the Shoten for a while. The Emperors' reiatsu was too heavy and hazardous for normal souls. She hated to admit, but she herself would have been crushed, had the energy been directed solely in one direction. It was a saving grace that it was spilling at random. Jut as thought the man did not want to release his hold on his power but was not focused enough to prevent bits and pieces of it from leaking in fast and hard punches. If that is the case, then his true power must be beyond terrifying. Oh boy, they were in for a bumpy ride, that's for sure.

"Yeah, sure Ossan. We really do need to get some sleep. Do you want to stay here? No hard feelings, but I think this is the best place for you to rest tonight… well, today. You said it yourself, this place is protected and no reiatsu signatures can be felt from the outside no matter how much you use it. I can take the cat-lady and meet you in the morning. You know what, make it late afternoon."

Ossan was about to agree, but Yoruichi would not allow it. She had to get them both to the Shoten. At least they could gather some data and Tessai was very capable when it came to barriers. If she combined her power with the ex-Kido Master, it should be more than enough even against a power of such magnitude.

"Nonsense. I would suggest we all go to the Shoten for the night. Tessai may not look like much, but his barriers are very impressive. It would also spare us the trouble of going back and forth. Furthermore, the Shoten is very nicely guarded against any listening devices. Kisuke may be a pervert, but he I one hell of a genius. It will also be easier to contact Haschwalth-san from the store. I am sure Kisuke has already made a few gadgets to facilitate exactly that."

She tried not to seem too eager, but her efforts were a lost cause to the two men. Shirosaki had his notorious smirk firmly plastered on his face, while Ossan was contemplating the probabilities. In the end, he decided to agree just for the fun of it, to see just how good the mischief-trio was.

"Very well. Shirosaki, think you can open a portal to the shop or at least near it from here?"

Shirosaki was a bit surprised by the answer. He had been almost a hundred percent sure Ossan would have declined the offer. Oh, well. It could be very entertaining. Thankfully, his smirk prevented anyone from noticing his astonishment. Concentrating for a few seconds, he tried to see if he could surprise the annoying Getabōshi. His sadistic smile, followed by a flick of his hand was answer enough.

"Sure thing. Hop aboard the MS Garganta. It's not going to be a long journey, but it will be short and worth the trouble."

With that said, he entered the black void without a second thought. Yoruichi gently hopped on the older males' shoulders and made herself comfortable. Without words, Ossan entered the Garganta, his blue eyes glowing in the deep darkness.

The Garganta opened right behind an unsuspecting shopkeeper who was in the process of destroying his keyboard. Needless to say, he was thoroughly startled by the sudden appearance of the three missing individuals. Shirosaki did make him slightly jump when he grabbed him from behind. Having seen the Garganta and the remaining two right behind the impish Hollow, calmed his frying nerves down. Something he would never confess. Not even under threat of torture.

"Ah, good morning everyone. Welcome back."

Shirosaki, who was snickering, just waved the greeting off, his tone playful and treacherous.

"Not now Getabōshi. We're all tired so we are all going straight to bed. Ossan will sleep in my room. Hope you have a futon or something like that. Oh! As a precaution, I suggest not disturbing us until we get up on our own. You may also want to make some really good barriers just in case. Good night and see you later."

Without any delay, Shirosaki grabbed the silent Ossan. He made sure both cloaks were removed from them and dragged an unwilling Ossan to his room. Leaving behind two surprised faces. On the way, they met Tessai who had overheard the conversation via transmitter and prepared an additional futon in the guest room. No words were exchanged, but a kind smile and a nod of the head from Shirosaki made him aware the other was thankful.

Back in the recently appointed 'conference' room, one Urahara Kisuke and Shihoin Yoruichi wordlessly watched the two unruly characters leave in the directions of the Hollow's room.

"Well, Yoruichi-san. I dare say the night was eventful."

Yoruichi was not impressed. She expected a better reaction out of her long-time friend.

"Cut the crap Kisuke. You totally lost us for a while there. And don't even think of lying. I know for a fact that we were gone without a trace. The transmitters were off, else I would have heard your maniacal keying. I'll give you more details in a couple of hours. In the meantime, have you noticed anything unusual?"

Urahara nodded his head in understanding. It was true, it had been a long day.

"Hm… You mean besides a change of colors in the Emperors eyes, nothing much. My cloaks were not able to get even a sliver of reiatsu. And after all the trouble I have gone to prepare them."

The last sentence was said with a little whine. Not for the first time, Yoruichi wondered just what was going on behind Kisuke's intelligent eyes. She knew him very well by now and though he was trying to hide it, Kisuke was already scheming one thing or the other. That was all the reassurance she needed and she too made her way to one of the guest rooms. With a last glance at her friend, she quietly added.

"You know, you may want to actually listen to the Hollow's suggestion."

That got the others attention.

"Not to worry, Tessai-san is probably already on it as we speak."

Yoruichi scoffed at the childish behavior.

"You didn't catch my point. But since we're already playing games, know that we should make it triple the maximum strength."

Those words did make the shop owner pause and become instantly serious.

"It is that dire."

"Just so you know, I was not the one to bring them here. They had no tips and no guidance from my side."

An ominous silence followed. Tipping his had forward, Urahara considered the meaning behind his friends' antics. For Yoruichi-san to say such a thing… He knew he had to act and take it to heart. Kurosaki-sama and Shirosaki-san were most certainly no ordinary Quincy and Hybrid.

"Understood. I'll ask Tessai-san to do his best."

Speaking of the devil, mentioned man approached the duo with even more dreadful news.

"There will not be a need for my expertise tonight Tenchou."

Blinking in surprise, Urahara shot a curious look at his associate.

"What do you mean?"

Tessai took a big breath before continuing.

"There is already a barrier in place. I've never felt it being placed. Hence, I'm positive it must be a hard one to bypass. I could probably go outside, but I'm not confident I would be able to re-enter easily."

That was most certainly not normal. Something that a Kido Master wouldn't be able to preach? This gave the silent scientist an even greater motivation to pry the secret behind the two guests sleeping in his humble abode.

"Very well then. I guess it is time we all do go get some rest. I have the neat sensation that things are about to get even more interesting."

With that everyone within the shop retired for the night-turned-sunrise. A few hours would do all of them some good.

---

If there was one thing Shiba Isshin hated more than paperwork, it was early mornings. Seriously, why would anyone want to willingly rise from a comfortable bed before noon? Looking around, he noticed he was not in his bed. Huh? Must have been one of the reasons he woke up in the first place. The other factor may have been distributed to the yelling outside the room. Speaking of which… giving the chamber a once over, he realized he was in the Fourth Division healing wing.

As thought zapped by a Byakurai, his memories came flooding back. The strange occurrences in the World of the Living, his deceased men, the weird looking Hollow and the traitorous sword which had pierced his back. Yeah, that one had been a low-blow. Who could have possibly attacked him without his notice?

There was more. Just at the thought, a gentle smile graced his features. A beautiful and strong girl. Masaki. Such a lovely name, for such a remarkable lady. Though it was normally a name for males, somehow it fit her to a T. His reminiscence was interrupted by the sliding of doors.

A slender and very youthful woman with stone blue eyes and long-black hair worn in a large braid came into the room. She wears the standard Shinigami-Taichou uniform tied-up with an obi instead of the normal sash. Her expression is serene, but Isshin was no fool. He knew that despite the Fourth Division Taichou appeared calm and tranquil, she was far from that. In fact, he could not hear anything outside, which meant she already had dealt with the loud bunch.

"Good morning Shiba-Taichou. How do you feel today?"

Boy was he glad he had not been on the receiving end of her ice-glaze.

"Ah… I am doing fine. Thank you very much Unohana-Taichou. Looks like it will be another beautiful day today."

Seems like he passed the initial test as Unohana appeared to be pleased.

"Indeed. I am here to double check all your wounds have fully healed and to inform you of the upcoming Captain's meeting which will be held as soon as we finish. It should take no more than six minutes considering the rate with which you normally heal. The Sōtaichō is very impatient to hear why you left for the World of the Living without authorization."

Isshin nodded in understanding, not daring to utter a single syllable. In most cases, he would have already received a message with his punishment for doing something without permission. Just as he was pondering what made him so special, Unohana-Taichou proceeded to clarify.

"Ah. I am sure you are wondering why he is being so lenient. Well, your injuries are to blame, as well as my contribution."

The confused look prompted the Fourth Taichou to continue.

"It is highly unusual for a Taichou to sustain so much damage in one single mission. Therefore, I took it upon myself to request for a meeting where you can explain what transpired prior to punishing you. After all, we did not detect much of what happened. Yet, three officers perished and a Taichou returned severely wounded. I believe that whatever happened was far from the norm."

Her response was a pensive look marring the usually jolly Shiba. She was glad she took that decision. She met the Tenth Taichou last night when he returned from the Living World. His state, spoke of a terrible battle. All Taichou's received a report stating that three officers were killed and that Shiba-Taichou had disappeared, making him the prime suspect.

Upon seeing him, she knew the report to be wrong. She was willing to bet, the upbeat Taichou felt guilty after hearing his members died from his Third Seat and decided to take matters into his own hands in hopes of avoiding any more unnecessary deaths. Everything else was just speculation. Though, she was sure he engaged in battle against whatever had attacked his division officers. The lost members were probably either too close to the battle or ended up dying while trying to prove themselves to a Taichou.

Concluding all those thoughts by merely giving a quick glance at her colleagues' wounds, she made her mind and reported to the Sōtaichō. It was fortunate that she was one of the eldest Taichou's alive, more so for being from the first group. She did avoid most of the privileges that gave her, but in certain occasions it did come in handy. Just like in this particularly peculiar case.

As predicted, she inspected the other and within six minutes they were both ready to attend the meeting at Squad One's quarters. For a change the two of them were the last ones to enter the meeting room, besides the Sōtaichō and his Fuku-taichou. It was a nice change of pace to see Matsumoto-Fuku-Taichou and the Eleventh Division Taichou on time. All of the Kenpachis were well known to be late. Shiba-Taichou did seem a little apprehensive, but any anxiety soon dissolved as his famous determination resurfaced. Soon after the double doors of the barracks opened revealing two elderly males.

The first one to enter was an ancient looking man with very long eyebrows and an even longer white beard. Two prominent scars above his right eye speak of many past battles. He wears a greatly exaggerated over-sized Shinigami uniform. The Taichou's Haori is draped over his back instead of being worn. Despite appearing to be old and frail, he has a very muscular body, not that one could see it thanks to the Shihakusho. His eyes are partially closed slits most of the time, but when open, mahogany-red eyes spark with a fierce display of wisdom and a sharp mind. This man is none other than Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the Sōtaichō and Taichou of Squad One. The oldest and strongest Shinigami alive. He is never seen without his cinder colored cane, which conceals his trusty Zanpakuto Ryūjin Jakka the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakuto in all Soul Society. The two eldest are the founders of the Shinigami Academy as well as the Gotei 13, having been around during the creation of Soul Society itself.

The other male is not as old looking, but he was definitely not in his prime. Sasakibe Chōjirō Tadaoki has marigold eyes, short silver-gray hair and a small black handlebar mustache with lightly tanned skin. He wears a white jinbaori over the standard Shinigami uniform, while underneath he wears a white turtle-neck and long white arm guards. The First Division Fuku-taichou armband is securely worn on his left arm.

With the arrival of the two and the loud strike of Yamamoto's cane, the meeting began.

"This Captain's meeting will now commence. Shiba-Taichou you are to immediately give a detailed account of last night's events."

With a nod of his head Isshin stepped forward and gave his report on everything from the moment he came to the World of the Living. He made sure to point out the rare count his subordinates mentioned regarding the mysterious Hollow and its preference to attack during times of rain. The poor sap unaware of the fact it had been two entirely different Hollows. His belief that the Hollow would appear if he was to raise his reiatsu. A plan which backfired and caused the death of his underlings. His battle with the shady Hollow-like creature. It was at this point that he chose to make slight alterations from the original story-line.

He left out the part related to of the unknown Shinigami who attacked him from behind. Since he had not been able to even get a glimpse of the person responsible for that particular injury, he opted to keep it out of records. He would deal with it in his own time. He may act like a goofball, but there was a reason he was the Taichou of the Tenth. Another thing which he left out was the young Quincy's involvement. The poor girl had been so worried about telling him what she was. The leas he could do was to respect her bravery and confidence by not revealing her little secret.

He explained the weird appearance of the Hollow, its movements, techniques. He claimed that once severely damaged by their fight, the Hollow self-destroyed right in front of him wounding him even more, which resulted in his visit to the Fourth Division, where he promptly passed-out from blood-loss.

"And with this, I finalize my report on recent events."

The silence which followed his words did not last long. The Sōtaichō took a few moments to digest everything, but ultimately made his decision.

"I see. Even though you did go without permission, your swift action kept the death pool to the lowest and the damage to the Human World was minimal. Therefore, on this sole occasion, I will overlook your violation of the rules."

Isshin left a breath he had not been aware of keeping in.

"Nice…I… I mean…Thank you very much!"

He deeply bowed to his supreme commander in a humble display of appreciation. Isshin hoped no one would question his narration. A scoff and an annoyed tone momentarily froze him on the spot.

A quick glance was all it took for Isshin to locate the perpetrator. Upon finding out it had been the Twelfth Division Taichou who made the noise, he internally relaxed. The man in question was smaller than Isshin himself. While Isshin towered with his 6'1'', Kurotsuchi Mayuri stood at only 5'8''. Though shorter, the Twelfth Taichou was intimidating in his own ways. He has a skeletal look with a skull-like visage. The outer part of the face is painted in white while the inner portion is in black at the exception of the nose. Golden, calculating and malicious eyes looked at others with either indifference or a desire to dissect. Both ears are stubbed golden cones. His short fingernails are blue, although the fingernail on his right middle finger is as long as the finger itself. A white hat with two ends that point to his right conceal any hair, if there was any and a large purple scarf surrounded his neck.

Knowing the other Taichou well enough, Isshin was sure a complain unrelated to the case was to ensure. True to his thoughts, mentioned Taichou voiced his protest.

"Hah! I personally believe it is a much bigger sin not having brought back the body of this so called 'Mysterious Hollow'. At least with the cadaver we could have determined what made it so different from the others."

Squad Twelfths continuous rambling about wasted opportunities and specimens was brought to an end once the Sōtaichō spoke again.

"In any case. Your account on the Hollow's demise is vague to say the least."

Deathly still silence befell the meeting hall, while the Sōtaichō opened his eyes to look deeply into those of his subordinate.

"Is there nothing else you wish to add to your report Shiba-Taichou? Do you consider there is nothing else worth mentioning?"

The question did not come as much of a surprise to Isshin. Though, it made him think of the relief in the girls face when he did not shun her for being a Quincy. With steely eyes he never wavered when answering.

"Yes. Nothing else."

A mini-staring contest began between the two. Seeing as the Shiba branch head was not relenting, the Sōtaichō proceeded to continue the meeting.

"On to the next subject. Seeing as this case has been finally solved, there will be no need for Kuchiki-Taichou's departure to the World of the Living. Next, we have a constant issue with missing juniors. Due to the now closed Hollow issue in the Living World, those who went missing in action, will now be officially proclaimed as deceased. As much as it pains me to lose young life, we cannot search for each individual. However, this does not mean the remaining absent ones will be left alone. Each Taichou is to make a list of missing subordinates with details as to where they were last seen and with whom they associated with. As of late, these numbers are steadily increasing."

The Sōtaichō made a quick pause to emphasize the importance of the issue.

"Next, the shift in the Jureichi in the World of the Living is causing quite the disturbance and with it we can expect higher class Hollows. This along with missing squad members is becoming a troublesome affair. Since the shift is occurring as per its natural course, we simply cannot worry about possible rebels from with our very own lines. Therefore, I expect a full report by the end of the week. Kurotsuchi-Taichou, you will continue to monitor the World of the Living and the settlement of the Jureichi. You will immediately notify all Taichou once everything is settled down."

A begrudgingly "Hai." Was his sole response. Nonetheless, the elder continued.

"All findings and reports regarding the missing subordinates are to be given to Aizen-Taichou, who will, along with Shiba-Taichou and Kuchiki-Taichou, form a team to investigate, find and bring the absent ones to justice. Should there be proof of a revolution against the Gotei, you will have permission to use force."

A chorus of "Hai, Sōtaichō!" from mentioned Taichou resonated through the hall. Without missing a beat, the Sōtaichō proceeded.

"Komamura-Taichou, Tousen-Taichou and Ukitake-Taichou, you will supervise the opening ceremony at the Academy in a few days' time. Based from the initial accounts, most missing personnel was either fresh or recently out of the Academy. Pay extra attention to those who are about to graduate as well as anyone suspicious no matter the year. With this, the meeting is over!"

The bang of the commanders' cane signalized for everyone to immediately get to their assignments, jobs and missions.

Most Taichou and Fuku-taichou were pleased with the outcome and made themselves scarce while returning to their Squads. Falling behind were the Taichou and Fuku-taichou from Divisions Five, Six, Seven, Nine, Ten and Thirteen. An upbeat Ukitake-Taichou invited the whole group for a cup of tea and to further discuss the assigned tasks. In the end, he ended up getting a positive feedback only from the Taichou and Fuku-taichou of Squads Seven and Nine. The remaining three claimed they had to regroup and discuss the matter of the missing personnel.

Among the Taichou assigned to this particular job, none was as unsettled as Aizen-Taichou. Not that one could tell by looking at the man as he was as collected as ever, with a pleasant smile on his face. Isshin had never had an issue with the male, but he never felt comfortable around him either. For whichever reason, he found the Fifth-Taichou creepy. It all the years he had been a Taichou and even prior to that, not once did he see the other upset. Come to think about it, he never saw any other emotion on the man's features other than the calm and gentle smile.

Considering Isshin was the Taichou of the Tenth and in charge of the investigation unit, he had gathered intel on each Taichou and Fuku-taichou respectively. It was a habit he harbored. The more he knew about others and their quirks made it that much easier to tease and be aware how far he could go with playing or fooling around. Not only that, he had a deeper understanding of their emotions, feelings, stress factors and much more. Therefore, he knew without a doubt that there was something wrong with the Fifth-Taichou. No one could be perfect for that long without snapping at least once.

Another thing which unsettled him was the fact he never managed to get the other into a friendly battle or spar. Aizen-Taichou had been present during his Captaincy test and witnessed Isshins' Bankai along with the Sōtaichō and Kyoraku-Taichou. Since then, not once did Isshin use his Bankai. Not out of laziness as many believed, but due to not having had a need. His Shikai and the many techniques of the Shiba clan made him strong enough to withstand many challenges.

Taking into consideration all these facts, Isshin started to doubt the Fifth's sincerity. The blade which pierced him last night had felt unfamiliar. The only blade he had no contact with was Aizen's and on top of that the lack of data he had was more than enough to make him distrustful. Even as he contemplated all these thoughts, he was surprised the Sōtaichō had assigned Aizen as the leader of this particularly sensitive assignment. It will not be the first time Isshin had to work with the other, but this was the first time he truly disliked the idea. Especially if Aizen was somehow connected to the whole incident.

It was Matsumoto who brought him out of his mussing by giving him a particularly hard elbow to the stomach. Looking at her, her realized he had been utterly lost in thoughts. They had reached the Fifth Division's barracks and he had not even noticed. Apparently, they had been invited to have a cup of tea accompanied by a plan of actions. Good thing he already had most of the information regarding the absent officers in his division. At least it should make things easier.

The tea and chatter took quite a while. It was agreed that all data and intel was to be handed over to Aizen and his Fuku-taichou Hinamori. Kuchiki-Taichou was to discretely investigate the Academy and student records in hopes of finding a connection to the case. Since he was the only Taichou without a Fuku-taichou, he was allowed to involve any division subordinate of his liking. Isshin, along with Matsumoto was to inspect those locations and places where the members were last seen. Since they were mostly taverns and other entertainment buildings, it wouldn't be surprising to see either of them there. In the meantime, Aizen and Hinamori would segregate the list into absent, confirmed dead and missing in action. From there they would solely focus on the absent and MIA agents.

By the time they had finished, it was lunch time. Aizen had politely invited the others to stay and feel at home, but all declined. Kuchiki-Taichou had Caln duties which made Isshin jump on his spot and excuse himself at lightning speed, claiming he was going to be late to his Clan business, leaving a mortified Matsumoto Rangiku behind. The kind Hinamori with her brown eyes and black hair pulled into a bun held in a tied cloth felt sorry for her friend. Rangiku was really unlucky in her humble opinion. To have a Taichou like Shiba-Taichou… Surely, it must be a nightmare. In her eyes, Shiba-Taichou was one of the worst Taichou, right after the monstrosity known as Zaraki-Taichou. At least, the Eleventh Division was known for being all brawn and no brains. At the same time, she felt extremely lucky and relieved she had a wonderful Taichou.

Unbeknownst to the two Fuku-taichou in his office, Aizen was fuming and having a huge internal debate. He had no issues being in charge of this particular task. In the long run, it would benefit him greatly. After all, there were few members he was missing and he had made sure that they were all properly disposed off in tragic accidents. What concerned him was the tiny detail Shiba-Taichou gave them. The Tenth already had some intel regarding the absent officers. That could prove to be a major hindrance. He did not need that guy to snoop around. There was also something at the back of his mind, telling him to be exquisitely careful around the silly Taichou.

'Ah, such ludicrous thoughts. It is irrelevant, really. By the end of the investigation, Shiba Isshin will be disposed off one way or the other. Heh, yes. There is more than one option I could use to assure he is out of the way.'

Finally pleased with himself, the Taichou continued to drink his tea, completely ignoring the two Fuku-taichou who were happily blabbering away. He already had several ideas popping in his mind. Without altering the two girls of his intentions, he released his Shikai and left the room. None the wiser that the person in the Fifth Division office was an illusion and not the real Aizen Sosuke.

---

Morning at the Ishida's had been a chaotic affair. In less than ten minutes the quaint household had gone from calm, to hectic and back to silent. The Lady of the House had been mildly surprised when she found out that her son had gone to school without Masaki. Imagine her surprise, when the spirited ball of energy passed through the house worried she would be late. Oh well, at least the little lady animated the household and brought a never before seen brightness.

Once the chaos subsided, Else was left once again to her own depressing thoughts. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, her solitude was not waning. Ever since the accident where attained her leg injury, she felt useless. She did have her Quincy powers, though they were reduced to half it not to a third of what they used to be. Along with the knowledge that her son was one of the last remaining Echt Quincies, it was more than enough to leave a bad taste in her mouth.

Then the Emperor of all people came out of nowhere along with Masaki. She had known about the girl long before meeting her. Essentially, both families had arranged a marriage between the two several years ago. It was not necessary to reinforce that claim, yet she had done it out of obligation and respect towards the late Lady Kurosaki. Basically, the prearrangement had been only decided among the two of them. Not even their husbands had known. The announcement was to be made once Masaki reached her sixteenth birthday.

Things had moved a little faster than anticipated. Nevertheless, she was sure there would be no issues. Even the staff appeared content to have the cheerful girl around. That alone should make her feel much better. And yet, it was not enough.

Ever since the pale youngster abruptly left, she felt something akin to upset. She was not overly desperate the lovely male left. Not at all, she had her doubts, but it was the manner in which he had disappeared. It would have been only cordial to await morning or at least give her a better explanation. Instead she felt left to tap in the shadows.

Perhaps if Soken spent some time at home, she wouldn't have this sensation of being left floundering. And therein lies the true reason behind her melancholy. Soken had been gone for a couple of days already. Their time spent together had slowly become none existent. As an add insult to injury, she was nearly sure as to why he left for Funftest Feld. He was probably training, becoming stronger, something she could never achieve again due to her old injury.

Not that she did not appreciate his efforts. On the contrary, she was proud he took his duties as the Patriarch seriously. She only felt aggravated because he did not confide in her anymore. Naturally, she would never stop him from doing as he pleased, but she would like to be informed every so often.

A light knocking sound brought her out of the darkest recessed of her mind. The person who interrupted her was none other than Katagiri. That was yet another surprise. Normally the young maid knew better than to disrupt her train of thoughts, especially right after breakfast. Yet, the anxious posture emanating from the servant, raised more than one alert.

"Katagiri, come in and close the door."

Obediently, the maid proceeded as instructed, patiently waiting for her mistress to give her permission to speak.

"Well, go ahead. What could possibly make you disturb me before getting to the study?"

Taking a nervous breath, the young one faltered. Within seconds, she found her resolve and spoke up.

"My deepest apologies, Lady Ishida. I was forbidden from mentioning this to you. However, I am duty-bound to inform you of a certain situation which took place last night."

A frown settled on Else's forehead. She did not like where this was going. She had felt the remarkable disturbance and the reiatsu of a Hollow and Shinigami fight. Though, she could not fathom why it was irrelevant.

"Go on."

Katagiri took another gulp of air before continuing.

"Milady, it's… It involves Lady Masaki."

Several minutes later, one did not need to be spiritually aware to know that Lady Ishida was beyond furious. An ominous silence befell the home, accompanied by the taste of anger and betrayal. Needless to say, none of the servants disrupted their mistress for the rest of the day. All were immersed in their duties and avoided any altercation with their Lady.

---

Despite having had an interesting and prolonged night, one Urahara Kisuke was the first to rise. His overworking mind would not let him rest. So many probabilities, so much work to do, so many mysteries and secrets to unveil. He knew from past experiences that he would wear himself to a shadow. Regardless of the expected chances he would drive himself to the ground, he knew there was nothing that would make him pause. He was thankful he got two hours and a half. There were times when he wouldn't even get a full sixty minutes nap.

He went through all scans, videos and sound accumulated not too long ago. The results were fascinating. Soren sure was a dangerous individual, but so were the two guests he was housing at that very moment. What made him even more alert to the two, was the fact he could not grasp even a sliver of reiatsu. Compared to Shirosaki-san, whose reiatsu felt like a Hollow, if you were lucky enough to sense it, the Emperors' reiatsu was completely off. There was absolutely nothing. It couldn't be felt, sensed or even read through any device he had, so far, come up with. The last resort would be to ask the two males, if they were willing to part with a speck or, hopefully, a chunk.

That on itself, was so out of character for the ex-Shinigami and founder of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Never before had he faced something similar. Well, excluding the Hogyoku, which is on another level, really. He had been so sure his cloaks would yield some results. Alas, he would have to start from scratch.

The eccentric scientist was so immersed in his computer, data and work accumulated during the night that he neglected to notice a feline entering the room. Yoruichi took that opportunity to remind her long-time friend, that she hated to be ignored. She underlined her point by scratching Kisuke by his thighs. His startled and pained yelp was compensation enough for the time being.

"Ah, good morning Yoruichi-san. Did you sleep well? I hope your outburst has nothing to do with recent occurrences…?"

Since the sentence sounded more like a question, she was even more willing to forgive him.

"Nope. Just jogging your memory to pay attention to your surroundings. So… Did you manage to get what you wanted?"

Her response was a grimace accompanied by the lowering of a stripped hat.

"I see. Well then, you'll need all the help you can get. Oh, by the way, the reason we were off the radar was caused by the Quincy."

The gleam in the others eyes told her to continue and not to leave out any details.

"Ah, were to start? I suppose there is no need for me to tell you that the whole thing with Aizen's lab was a fiasco. There was nothing noteworthy, but you heard everything, so I can skip that one. The other part was much more interesting. That man Soren, there is much more to him than I originally thought. And even though he made it easy for us to know what his next few moves are, I'd say to be careful. He is not hiding just a face behind the mask he wears."

Urahara nodded in agreement. Based on what he managed to get, there was much more to this person than met the eyes. The transmitter Yoruichi took with her acted like a camera, therefore he made sure to thoroughly inspect the suspicious male. There were no doubts Soren was an anomaly. If what Shirosaki-san said was true, there was more than a single reason he was obscuring his face. The possibility for there to be a Hollow mask was not completely off the bat. The outfit itself concealed any proper lines and it had been a challenge to determine what laid underneath.

Based on his calculations, the male was robust and larger than Shirosaki-san, muscle-wise. Besides that, he did not manage to unravel anything else, at least for the moment. What made him panic, was Shirosaki-san reaction to certain parts of the conversation. There were no doubts, Shirosaki-san must have been more than a bodyguard to the Emperor's grandson. Maybe he was wrong, as there was no proof if the feelings were reciprocated. And yet, Urahara was willing to bet their relationship to have been much more intimate than simple charge and guard.

For a while, he feared Shirosaki-san would explode and attack. He was not sure who the victor would have been. But it would have brought down the entire mission. At least with the gathered intel, they could work on a counterattack. With any luck, they should be able to use the man to track the third Hogyoku. Not that he would want to use it. He already had quite the headache with one. Which reminded him…he was yet to find a permanent solution.

Yoruichi knew her partner for quite a while, therefore she knew to give him a bit of time to process everything. Once she felt irritated at waiting, she proceeded, not waiting a second longer.

"Anyway! At times I thought Shirosaki would do something really stupid. It looks like he can control himself much better than what either one of us expected. Though, that may have been thanks to the Quincy. Whatever he used to move us, was cold. He took us to some sort of underground passage and an unusual chamber. I am not sure what the commotion was all about. Although, he might have sensed the need to take Shirosaki away his own way."

Yoruichi used one of her paws to scrape around her head. She felt she made a small mistake.

"Oh! Hold on, I believe he too anticipated for Shirosaki to burst out in rage, or so he said. The kid took his time, then exhaled and was mostly normal. Just to let you know in advance, if you didn't get any images, I have absolutely no idea where we were. The room was equipped with all necessary supplies needed in case of an emergency and I am positive it was somewhere underground, since there were no windows. The kid tried to reason that Soren must have some kind of laboratory in an old dungeon. He tried to get some info from the Quincy King and it was then that things got out of hand."

She stopped to gather her memories and to make sure her companion was carefully listening. The frantic nodding, prompted her to resume.

"Kurosaki-san took some time but did confirm none of the prisons he was aware of could have been turned into a facility of such caliber. Kisuke, the way he spoke, it made even me shiver. It was a resolute and final answer which left no questions. Almost like saying that the sun is bright on a sunny day."

She made a small pause to emphasize her credibility.

"What came afterwards was rather disturbing. Shirosaki pressed for a different answer. Kisuke… I can't put into words… the guys' reiatsu was, to put it lightly, monstrous. What's worse, he seemed assaulted by something as if it was not his memories he was accessing… Now that on itself wouldn't be spectacular, if not for the fact that he started to shake and release more and more reiatsu. That, and the change in eye coloration you too witnessed last night. Whatever it was he remembered, it must have been horrible. Honestly, I had the feeling the building would collapse on us. Had it not been for Shirosaki and an idiotic move he pulled, I might have ended up roadkill… Kisuke… for a change, don't fool around… these guys are way out of our league."

With an exhale, the shopkeeper took his friends' words to heart. He was loath to admit defeat this soon into the game. On the other side, he knew Yoruichi never underestimated him nor was she exaggerating when giving him honest advice. Even so, he could not make a promise he may be very tempted to break.

Thus, he stayed silent. He would make his own opinion in due time. Which brought him back to his previous dilemma. Going once again through everything, he knew he would need a reiatsu sample to make his final decision. It pained him to admit, but the sooner the better. He internally concluded that the best and fastest path was a direct confrontation. The saying 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained' came to mind.

There was also the unspoken problem related to Kuchiki Byakuya. He knew Yoruichi would not want to speak loudly about it, nor would she make any requests to keep an eye out for her past disciple. Though, young Byakuya would never confess, he had ever been a student to the former Second Division Taichou. It was troublesome to know there were people out there ready to assassinate him without using the Onmitsukidō or other specialized and private killers. He was aware, Yoruichi kept all those attempts at bay. Yet, here was a never-before-seen situation where ex-Shinigami were hired for the hit. Who could have guessed that an ex-Fuku-Taichou from the Fourth would raise his or her blade with the intent to murder. It was surreal.

A knock on the door, brought him back to reality. Tessai came in without much prompting, in his hands was a brown tray filled with breakfast, coffee and tea. Just what he needed. The big man was a lifesaver and Urahara had to confess he was lucky to have such great companions.

"Tenchou, our guests are awake. They should be here shortly. Is there anything you need me to do?"

Shaking his head in the negative, Urahara placidly responded.

"Not at all. Thank you for the tray, you just came at the right time as usual. Keep the transmitter close at hand. There is still much to be discussed and we still need to keep appearances within the Living World with our shop business. But thank you none the less."

A nod of the head was his sole answer accompanied by the lowering of the tray along with its contents. Once Tessai left, he wolfed down his breakfast. Yoruichi, who also got her share, was already half way through, having started the moment the tray was placed on the round table. Not even six seconds after finishing, Tessai came back and collected the tray with empty cups and plates. His timing impeccable as always. One of these decades, Urahara swore to uncover what kind of trick the glasses wearing male used to achieve such perfect timing.

Urahara made himself comfortable and went back to his work on the portable computer. In the meantime, Yoruichi relaxed and took a nap on one of the many pillows spread around the table. Urahara had no idea how much time passed, but he was next interrupted by yet another knocking sound. This one was different from Tessai's, whose knocks were deep and powerful. Instead, the one he just heard was firm with a careful undertone. He was willing to bet it belonged to the Quincy King. Belatedly, he made a loud call of: "Come in."

Entering the room was none other than a drowsy Shirosaki dressed in baggy cerulean shorts with white stripes around the waist, a navy short sleeved t-shirt with a V-cut and black flip-flops. Oh boy! Was he ever happy he had not announced his bet out loud. Knowing Yoruichi, he would have remained out of sake and food for the next twenty years.

Following behind the Hybrid, was a less lethargic Kurosaki-san, though not by much, if one was to judge his sluggish moves. Though still visibly sleepy, the Emperor was dressed in raven-black suit trousers, a Lycra dark-garnet red shirt, complete with a silk black necktie which stood loose around the neck, ready to be fastened at a moments notice, and black lacquered leather dress shoes.

Urahara slightly envied the man for being able to dress to impress without seemingly trying. Must be in the blood… a gift he had been born with. Either that, or simply second nature for a man of that status. Surprisingly, again, the first one to give the morning greetings was Shirosaki, albeit a little grumpily. The courtesy was mimicked shortly thereafter by the older male.

By this point, there was no need for any encouragement and both sat as by automatic default opposite of Urahara and Yoruichi. With the difference that Shirosaki seemed ready to fall asleep the moment he sat cross-legged, while the other had a much more regal and awake look to him. As thought called by the Gods, Tessai came in the room with two more cups of steaming hot tea which were distributed to the newcomers. The whole ordeal took no longer than forty seconds and as soon as the task had been complete, Tessai left just as quietly as he had come. The silence was interrupted by Shirosaki, who raised his hands high in the air and stretched, making a few popping sounds.

"Ah, man! Wish we could sleep longer. Did we really have to get up this early considering we were awake practically the whole night?"

Kurosaki-san merely gave Shirosaki a hard stare. No words were exchanged, but the Hollow must have gotten his answer, judging by his grumblings about 'hunters', 'irksome blabbering' and some other inaudible nonsense. Taking his chances, Urahara keenly observed the two and their banter. More so, he was attentively looking and searching for even a spark of reiatsu. Alas, it did not take him long to realize that even in such circumstances, the two were careful and diligently hiding their energy from prying eyes, namely his own. Though, that may have been contributed by another discovery the scientist made.

The Emperors eyes, which, not too long ago, had been a splendid sky-blue, were now back to reddish-brown.

'Fascinating! Though, I wonder, why the change? Even better, how did it happen? Could it be related to the memory-incident Yoruichi-san mentioned? The more time I spend with these two, the more I want to figure them out.'

A sneer from the albino prevented his brain from making any further analysis.

"Yo, Getabōshi, any chances of pausing this ridiculous reiatsu scanning you're performing? It's too early to deal with your usual shenanigans. For your health, I strongly suggest you take a break."

The threat was accompanied by a nearly psychotic grin, as though the Hollow was hoping Urahara would give him the pleasure of shredding him to pieces.

Pulling his fan from inside his left sleeve, Urahara joyfully hid his face and cheerful demeanor. But he could do nothing to prevent the smile behind the fan nor the excitement at having been found out so easily. It was so refreshing to have a challenge of such proportions. Waving his fan in his casual manner, he responded.

"Ma, ma, Shirosaki-san, I thought we agreed you wouldn't call me like that again. Besides, I am such a curious person. Since you are so confident in your skills, certainly, you can forgive my poor attempts."

The phrase 'poor' was accentuated with the closure of the paper fan. Shirosaki merely rolled his eyes in a lame attempt to show his mild irritation. Either than that, he let the subject slide, for now.

Next to the Hybrid, the Quincy King gleefully chuckled, surprising everyone in the room.

"Urahara-san, surely you jest!? Your efforts have been anything but meager. I commend you for your hard work as well as the guts it takes. Even so, might I propose a different approach?"

Ossan waited for an indication that the shop owner was listening. Once he got a nod in affirmation he ventured on.

"It may sound absurd to you, but the solution to your problem is rather simple. You need only ask. I see absolutely no issues in giving you a sample. It is the method that compels us not to give you the satisfaction of getting a proper read. It is even more true for Shirosaki here. There are things he has gone through which are first, none of your business and second, a trigger of sorts which motivates him to outright refuse anyone from getting his reiatsu without his personal consent."

Yoruichi, who stopped pretending to nap, gave Urahara a look which screamed 'I told you so!' in a cat-like fashion. At her glance, Urahara did at least feel slightly embarrassed. Before he could just do as advised, the Quincy pushed yet another bit of information through.

"However, I must stress the importance that anything pertaining to our reiatsu will not be made known to anyone but the five of us. That means you, myself, Yoruichi-san, Shirosaki and Tessai-san. Treat it as a contract of sorts, at the exception of us, no one else is to know. Not Hirako-san or any other party. Believe me, you do not want to find out what a breech in the contract could entice."

It was fairly obvious to everyone in the chamber that the researcher was more than a little intimidated. After all, the ever-present fan made a quick disappearance, while its owner raised his hat, for a change, and made direct contact with the Emperors eyes. Honesty and seriousness were radiating from those intelligent orbs.

"Hai. At the sole exceptions of us, I can assure you no one else will be even aware I took it, thus not a single soul will know what I do with it, lest of all of any results my experiments may yield."

Happy with the response, the Quincy King slightly relaxed his posture and reached for the cup of tea. He much preferred coffee, especially with the lack of rest. Still, he wouldn't say no the already offered cup. Anything to keep him going would suffice. He would find a decent place with a double-shot espresso somewhere in town. Worst case scenario, he would ask Haschwalth once they met in the Eldritch room. Fortunately, he managed to send him an early message, informing him both Shirosaki and himself would pay a visit in a short while to discuss certain events.

None moved until Shirosaki yawned and covered his mouth with his right hand. Thanks to the unexpected movement, the remaining occupants were compelled to relax. Taking his chances, Urahara pulled the big guns out on the table.

"Since you have been so generous, I cannot pass on the opportunity and inquire if you both would be willing to share some reiatsu for my records? Oh, and since we are mentioning reiatsu, I hear you have some fairly large supplies Kurosaki-sama. Even with last nights surge, my mantles were unable to get even a flicker necessary for a test."

Urahara prided himself to be a man capable of anticipating many things in advance. In spite of that, the confused expression marring the Emperors face, was not predicted.

'Why is he confused? Either he is an amazing actor, or I am a losing my touch. From everything I have gathered, the Quincy King is many things but a fake. Could it be that by trying to reach a foreign memory, his own got mixed-up?'

Next to the Quincy, Shirosaki visibly bristled. Since Ossan's uncommon behavior had been provoked by his actions, he took it upon himself to cover for the other male. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. Once he did, he locked eyes with Urahara and spoke in a neutral tone.

"Just to clarify, last night Ossan took us to a safe place resistant to reiatsu. I nearly lost it there. Soren… Some of the things he said did not sit well with me. Scratch that! Unknowingly, he infuriated me. To prevent me from going on a rampage, Ossan took me to a familiar location. Mention area is well resistant against reiatsu. In other words, inside a specific room one cannot be felt from the outside. At the same time, the reiatsu inside cannot reach the outside. Not unless Ossan was to remove his 'magic'. Since you are a nutcase science-freak, I am sure you will use our agreement to interrogate me to no end during my stay here. For now, I would like to ask you to let it be."

Although everything was said casually, those golden pools were glowing, particularly towards the end, promising a world of pain, should the shopkeeper press for more. Urahara was not pleased. Not at all. He already lost too many rounds and it wasn't even noon yet. On another note, the Hollow said to drop the subject at the present time, not that he wouldn't get an answer in the near future. In fact, he made it look like it would be only natural to make new questions in the long run. Things were never going to be boring with these two around. Which brought forth yet another brilliant idea.

"Noted. And while we're already mentioning the man responsible for your frustrations. I'd say his next moves are fairly easy to follow… But that would be a lie."

Having figured out not to speak about dungeons, Urahara decided to do the complete opposite.

"He mentioned something along the lines of getting fresh research material from the Academy. It so happens that a new year at the Shin'ō* Academy will start in a few days' time. The Shin'ō Academy, or most commonly referred as the Shinigami Academy, is, just as the name implies, a school for Shinigami. It was re-named 'Shin'ō' due to the new generation of students which, not only included future members of the Gotei 13, but also those who would turn to become new Kidō Corps and Onmitsukidō officers."

With the next intake of air, he already had his paper fan out, waving it animatedly and letting his upcoming words come as fast as possible.

"And so, it would be delightful if you two were to infiltrate, while posing as new students. IT would give us an advantage, as we could monitor all happenings inside and out."

Having made his idea known, he braced himself for a punch or laughter. Fortunately, it happened to be the latter, courtesy of Shirosaki-san, who doubled over in mirth. He did get skeptic glances from both Yoruichi-san and Kurosaki-san. Clearly, unimpressed with his sense of humor.

"Hahahahahahaha! Oh man, you're killing me, no literally, but you get the gits of it. Ha, this is so rich!"

It took several minutes for the unfortunate Shirosaki to calm down long enough to make his opinion well known.

"You want me, a Hybrid-part-Hollow and Ossan, a Quincy to go a Shinigami school?! Hell, I can't remember the last time I had this much fun. Have you forgotten just who Ossan really is? Good luck with that one."

Urahara had a childish pout on his face, pretending to be hurt by such words. Yoruichi, continued to stare her friend as if he lost a few screws somewhere along the road. The Emperor, on the other side, after the initial shock, had a contemplative and curious face.

From the little he knew about Urahara, he was wondering if the man could make something so ridiculous, a reality. With his stern gaze, he encouraged the other to give them all a clear picture of what he had in mind. The intellectual brain took notice of the Quincy's untold request and silently obliged.

"Ma. It's not like I would send you as you are. I can only imagine the uproar the Sōtaichō would make at the mere sight of Kurosaki-sama. No, my idea is a little more complex."

This time all in the room were giving him the stinky eye, demanding an explanation.

"Ah, you see, once I get your reiatsu samples I'll be able to create a special Gigai that will be able to harbor you while you're in Soul Society and Seireitei in general. Please note, I am bound to devise an unprecedented Gigai. One which will already have its form as opposed to the generic Gigai which adapts to the soul it harbors. Oh, let us not forget, I have to make them in such a fashion that they would feel as regular souls. Dear me, I may end up with my hands full."

Yoruichi chuckled and decided to resume her nap. Leave it to Kisuke to think of the most absurd ideas and make them happen. That was a trait which will never cease to amaze. Gauging the astonishment in the Hollow's eyes and the contented smile on the Emperor, she had no doubts the two would agree.

"Well, color me surprised. You make it sound like it will take you a while and at the same time like it will be all done in a jiffy. Not that I have anything against getting to know Shinigami skills. It can only expand my already vast firing arsenal. However, how do you plan on getting us signed-up? Isn't there an entrance fee or something alike? Whether you like it or not, we do not have any currency from Soul Society. Sure, we can pay you in yen and you can probably exchange it. But still, I'd figure any entries must be already long closed if the year is about to start."

Shirosaki's incredulity and acceptance caused Urahara to gloat on the inside. He had no desire to tempt fate with the volatile Hybrid with delaying the inevitable. Therefore, re-taking his paper fan from within his robes, he used the ill-fated object to point in Shirosaki's direction.

"You are absolutely correct young Shirosaki-san. Indeed, most pupils have already been registered. That is, all the nobles and Rukongai citizens from the first fifty districts."

He let his words sink, before continuing.

"Anyway, since there are thirty more districts which are rather distant compared to those up to the fiftieth, there is one final entrance exam just prior to the inaugural ceremony. Normally, candidates from districts eighty to fifty are few and far between. Despite that, they are capable and strong combatants. Because of their battle proves, they are given this singular opportunity to show themselves at the Academy just three days prior to the ceremony. This test will take place in two days from today. Along with Yoruichi-san, I am more than confident we can assure you pass the written assessment."

The last remark earned him a deep gash on the left hip, as the cat was startled awake from her doze.

"Just when did you plan to include me into this crazy mess?! I have better things to do than play teacher!"

Urahara sheepishly massaged the bleeding area, making a mental note to tweak his Gigai in such a fashion that it will be resistant against claws.

"But Yoruichi-san, you are the best expert. I promise, you will benefit greatly from this minor arrangement. Ultimately, it will make it easier to keep an eye out for a certain, now grown-up, raven-head little tyke."

The cat crossed her paws and lowered her head gently on said limbs, mumbling something about 'sly and wily perverted old fools'.

Shirosaki ignored the playful banter in favor of summing the whole situation in his head. Once everything was processed accordingly, he gave his two cents into the mix.

"So, you're saying you can make this Gigai thingy in two days, teach us enough to pass as bloodthirsty souls with a quick hand, eager to get out from the slums of Rukongai. Nice. I both hate and love the concept. There is also the little notion of me already possessing a Zanpakuto, so you'll have to work around that. There is no way in heaven or hell, I'm replacing my sword with anything else. Meh… if you can get these things sorted out, why not? It's not like we've got anything to lose. If Ossan's in, I'm game."

Shirosaki looked intently at his partner. So far, the other had been way too quiet for his liking. Albeit, it was nothing out of the ordinary. But that was on regular days. Ever since they returned, not an hour passed without some sort of excitement, be it positive or negative. Soon, mentioned man announced his opinion.

"I do agree. There are far too many ongoing activities in Soul Society and Seireitei. It would be pointless to pass on such a prospect to have direct intel from within the organization. Taking into account there are two major manipulators experimenting on unsuspecting souls, namely our troublesome Soren and your Aizen, we could benefit greatly from infiltrating. While at it, we may encounter the hiding location of the Haldister fragment. Nonetheless, there are certain quirks which require Shirosaki's and mine attention. I also refuse to leave my last family member unprotected, consequences be damned."

The finality in those words was absolute. Urahara felt a tiny speck of fear crawl up his spine at the tone, finally fully grasping what Yoruichi-san meant when she said she shivered. Not to appear out of it, he resumed in a more serious manner.

"Of course, I will make all the preparations as soon as I get your reiatsu samples. For today, I will personally and discretely tag miss Masaki-san until she safely reaches her home. If there is anything else I can do to facilitate this transition, let me know. The transmitters you currently have, as proven, will work even in Soul Society. Thus, we will not require new ones. Yoruichi-san will teach you everything there is to know regarding the current set-up in Soul Society. Tessai-san will monitor the Living World and together with myself, we will protect Karakura and miss Masaki-san in tandem as to avoid raising suspicions upon ourselves. In return, I do ask for a favor."

Urahara stopped until both the Quincy and Hybrid looked attentively at him.

"As you have overheard, one of Soren's tasks is to assist two Shinigami in assassinating Kuchiki Byakuya. The man in question is the Taichou of the Sixth Division and Head of the Noble Kuchiki Clan, one of the Great Noble Houses. In short, a very important individual as such, it is not unusual for him to be targeted. The only anomaly this time around revolves around the people hired to perform the deed. If at all possible, I ask if you can keep an extra set of eyes and prevent any shots at his life. Ideally, it would be great if we could find out who made the hit on the Taichou. But I am aware it is nearly an impossible feat. Nevertheless, I would be eternally grateful for your assistance in keeping him out of harms ways."

His retort was a sharp nod from the stoic man and a snicker from the albino.

"I say anything that can put a blunder to Soren's credibility, plots and time is more than worth our efforts. By the way, Urahara-san, you probably have it already figured out, but how do you expect us to sneak around? No offence to your brain-work, but if we are to be meek students, won't our movements be, you know, kind of restricted? I don't presume pupils will have much freedom outside of learning hours. Surely, there must be a time-frame when all are accounted for, not to mention a 'lights out' deadline and the likes."

Over and over again, Urahara was getting surprised at the bright mind the Hollow Hybrid possessed. The question had been anticipated, but he did not foresee Shirosaki's trust in his skills.

Taking his infamous fan out, Urahara flapped it dynamically.

"Of course! Everything is calculated and taken into consideration. I will lend you the lovely coats you utilized not too long ago. Naturally, you will only use them when you need to slip around undetected. To avoid any unexpected complications, I will upgrade them to respond only to your respective reiatsu. The rest of the world will see them as measly fancy mantles."

"Seeing as you have everything under control, go ahead and take the sample you require. We will allow you to collect it now. From our side, Shirosaki and I have to settle a few things. We do need to attend an important reunion with Haschwalth in a couple of minutes. Since you are going to be extremely busy, I will refrain from extending an invitation this time. Fear not, I will give Haschwalth your regards. I am sure you understand, it is my obligation and duty to assure he is up to date and mindful of possible threats within out ranks. Soren is playing a dangerous game and I have no intention to let him be the winner."

Ossan's tone left no room for debate and was about to stand up from his spot, had he not looked at Shirosaki, who refused to move.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Ossan, have you forgotten? I called dibs on Soren ages ago. You can all fool around as much as you want, but Soren is mine. Don't worry, I am not so cruel as to utterly obliterate him before you have a go at him as well. How about this? I get first shots, then he will be yours for the second. We can annihilate him together in the third and final round. This time we'll make sure he doesn't get to return. Deal?"

Black on gold met reddish-brown in a stare-down contest neither would win or lose. The two gazes had naught but resolve and a silent agreement. Satisfied, Shirosaki turned his head towards Urahara and Yoruichi, carrying on.

"As much fun as it is to stick around, we should really get going. Haschwalth is not known to be lenient. You see, he won't forgive me if I make Ossan late and I have no desire to become a moving target. It should take us the whole day to get things done on our end, so you can expect us either later tonight or, at the latest, tomorrow. Kitty, we'll see you for classes in the morning, make sure you prepare lots of info for us to go through."

Yoruichi, who never ended her pretended nap, raised her head sternly at her future students.

"Che. You should reconsider. Do you really think you can learn everything there is to know about Soul Society, Seireitei and the Shinigami Academy in only one day?! Don't make me laugh. Even the most accomplished genius would need a week."

Yoruichi made sure to accentuate the word 'everything' as if it was of vital importance. For whichever reason, instead of being intimidated, Shirosaki grinned.

"Aw. Don't be silly, kitty-cat. True, if had to know everything, as you so kindly stressed, we could spend a whole decade or two and still be unable to say we know it all. Here's the thing… we need to know enough to 'pass'. If we are going to pretend to be brutes from the vilest dump in the whole Soul Society, we may as well act as such. Wouldn't you agree?"

Yoruichi silently laughed but was pleased to see they would be easy students. Especially, since they caught on the smallest of details very quickly. On that note, she started formulating plans on how to give them the needed data without having to be present. She wanted to check on Byakuya. He was, is and will probably remain to be, the only male student she willingly took under her wings.

Soi-Fon, was a completely different story. Which reminded her, she would have to pay her a visit. Not like she could make her presence known, she would end up challenged or in bruises for leaving on short notice. That did not mean, she did not watch over her little ones whenever she had spare time.

Raising from their seats, Ossan and Shirosaki exchanged pleasantries and took off, leaving a scheming shopkeeper and a lazy cat behind. As soon as the two's energy disappeared from Karakura, Urahara jumped from his pillow and hurriedly reached for the cushions Shirosaki-san and Kurosaki-sama had occupied. He was overjoyed at the amount of reiatsu the two left behind. There was much more than he had expected.

'Seems like they are the generous types. Ah! What fun! The endless possibilities! Hm… Shirosaki-san's reiatsu is mesmerizing. Just as I thought. But what is this I sense from Kurosaki-sama? Never have I felt something similar. If this is a fraction of his true strength, I dread to calculate just how powerful the unsealed Emperor could be… Bah, no time like the present and I have my hands full… I'll ask Tessai-san to prepare a quiz to simulate the entrance exam to the Academy as a precaution. Knowing Yoruichi-san, she'll find a way out of our arrangement without actually breaking it… Shoot! I also gave my word to watch over the little lady… So much to do, so little time.'

Exhaling loudly, Urahara resumed his work on the computer. With the gifted reiatsu, he should be able to create the two Gigai quickly enough. Modifying the cloaks will be child's play. The true challenge lies in making two believable alias and testing on the reiatsu collected from the, now destroyed, Hollow.

He feared he may end up in even more work if the Tenth Division Taichou decided to return for a stroll. It could be troublesome. Should the Shiba branch Head approach Masaki-san at the Quincy's house, he could very well find himself in a nasty mess. Thanks to the bug Yoruichi-san left at the last Captain's meeting, he knew the Tenth Taichou did not disclose any data related to the Quincy and their involvement. He prayed it would remain so.

Before long, he was immersed in his own little world, disregarding anything and everything around him in favor of getting as much as possible done in one go. He never felt not saw when Yoruichi-san stretched and left the room. He might have even missed Tessai-san bringing in lunch and tea, had it not been for the other's idea of startling him senseless, by loudly dropping the tray on the table.

"Ah! Tessai-san. Goodness gracious. I really need to work on an alarm whenever you or Yoruichi-san walks around. Is it already lunch time?"

He looked at his assistant in the eyes through the thickly framed glasses. Hidden eyes promised to encase him in a barrier for a month or longer, if he was to ask unnecessary questions again or judge the quality of the prepared meal. That was not good for more than one reason. Number one: for a change, he really had tons of work to complete. Two: Tessai-san tried a new ingredient.

That on itself, wouldn't be such a horrible thing to do. The problem lied in Tessai-san using expired or inedible ingredients during those trials. Consequently, Urahara became his regular reluctant guinea pig. On the bright side, Urahara self-taught himself many a remarkable and useful Kaido. They were on a completely new level, able to assist in digestion, toxin removal and acted as pain relief. He looked at the tray exasperatedly.

'Looks like it is going to be one of those never-ending-days. No point in beating around the bush. May as well just end both of our misery and eat away. At the very least, I may find an excuse to skip dinner.'

Taking the nearest plate, Urahara went along and pretended to eat eagerly, appeasing his larger partner. Content at seeing his efforts being appreciated, Tessai stood to leave.

"Ah, before you go Tessai-san… I need your aid in several matters."

Let us say, both were well aware it was going to be an extremely long day at the Urahara Shoten.

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Looking forward to any and all criticism.

By Jove! 29 pages!

Dear me, I solemnly swear, never to write a chapter this long again. It sure takes a lot out of me. But I promise to keep them coming with sufficient length, 15-18 Word pages in Times New Roman size 12 (I need to see the heck I'm writing, if you know what I mean xD)

I apologize in advance if there are spelling mistake – taking the length into account, I am sure there will be more than one. I'll do my best to go through this and my previous chapters sometime in the future and try to find and fix most errors x3

*Shinōreijutsuin / Shin'ō Academy / Spiritual Arts Academy* = as the name implies, it is the Academy nobles and Rukongai citizens with high spiritual energy attend to become Shinigami. Normally it takes six years to complete the course. Although, it is well known that talented 'youth' tends to finish much in advance. One of those being Ichimaru Gin, who made it in one year! Not sure if there was any other Shinigami who broke Gin's record. Though, it is also known that there are those who fail the entry exam and have to wait for the next year. Mostly, such individuals come from the Rukongai. Not surprising, since the poor saps have no school or the possibility to study and prepare in advance.

Reminders: English is still not my mother language. So, if I made any mistakes or errors, please let me know. I am both the writer and spellcheck person – not an easy job! We tend to read what we meant to write and we are unable to see that we made a fatal error. I know this is getting old. But better safe than sorry xD

Until next time, have an amazing day/night ahead :D