16 Chapter 16

Ulquiorra looked on silently as Starrk arrived.

"Starrk," Shirou called before his gaze remained on Lilynette before frowning. "Is she okay?"

Starrk nodded, but his gaze was rather stern for someone who normally lazed around for most of the day. It was evident that Lilynette's injuries had drastically changed his mood, although he still did appear nonchalant.

"What happened?" Starrk repeated.

Shirou didn't really know how to respond. Apart from Apacci and Mila Rose dealing with the Shinigami, he knew just as much as everyone else around him; namely, nothing of use.

It was at this point while Shirou and everyone else was struggling for an answer that Ulquiorra Cifer stepped forward while stretching a hand out towards Starrk.

Starrk raised a brow, but quickly understood what Ulquiorra wanted after noticing the direction of his gaze.

"My eye," Ulquiorra said simply.

Starrk stared at the eye in his free hand, but was still confused. When Lilynette had first dropped injured in front of him, he didn't think much about the other things that appeared along with her. At the time, he was far more concerned about Lilynette's well being. He may not say it, and he may not show it in his actions either, but he depended on her; her existence, something that could never be replaced. And seeing her injured, it was enough to instantly rouse him into action.

Without much thought into it, Starrk then gave Ulquiorra back his eye.

"You'll all see what happened in a moment," Ulquiorra spoke before then crushing the eye in his hand.

From the crushed eye, a thin film like dust was squeezed out as the eye reduced itself to ashes. This thin film then began to show images of things that the eye had seen from the hands of Aaroniero.

After each scene, Shirou's gaze grew more and more morbid, while Starrk's remained the same up till the point when Lilynette involved herself in the matter.

By the time the images faded away, no one spoke a word, all eyes turning solely towards Shirou.

Just from what everyone had seen, it was all but guaranteed that Silent had been apprehended by the Soul Society and would probably be placed in fortified holding.

Even still, Shirou only furrowed his brows before coming to a decision. Brans had been the first to come down to the Human World with Silent, and knowing his personality, he would not have attacked unless forced. Meaning, that Brans would have surely tried to reason with his attacker, yet Kisuke still attacked him anyway.

Thinking a step further, he began to process things from an objective perspective. An ability he had reluctantly picked up after many years of understanding his own intuition, and his own experiences. Aizen was on the side of the Shinigami, but in reality, his interests never lied within the Court-Guard-Squads. Meaning that his allegiances were questionable, but ultimately not against those who dwell in Hueco Mundo. That is, based on his behaviour and general disposition to hollows.

Kisuke on the other hand appeared to be a third party unrelated to the Soul Society at all. However, if that was so, why then would Kisuke act in favour of the Soul Society and attack Brans? As a Shinigami, it was only natural for them to hunt and slay hollows, however, not to the extent that Kisuke had displayed. In fact, it was almost as if Kisuke was trying to find information on certain matters rather than attack for the reason he had specified to Brans at the beginning.

This information was provided by Brans himself, and conveyed to Starrk who shared them with Shirou after watching the recording in Ulquiorra's eye.

Soon, Shirou was able to get a rough picture of the current situation and the current players on the board.

Aizen was a mystery. Someone who may, or may not be trusted.

"Trusted of course," Kyoka's voice echoed in Shirou's mind.

"Oh, shut up," Gae Bolg grumbled.

Shirou ignored the spirits banter.

As for Kisuke, he was also an unknown, but he may have some relation with the Soul Society. This assumption was only further solidified after taking the time to look for the orange haired boy and his sister that were recorded in the eye, but finding nothing on the ground below.

They must have been moved. And the only one capable of doing that in the chaos must have been Kisuke Urahara. It wasn't a bad thing though, rather it was commendable as he had saved the two from any danger incurred by the battle between Apacci and Mila Rose verses the Shinigmai captain. Still, he couldn't help but speculate what a man like Kisuke had in mind with the humans.

However, that matter could be saved for another time. Presently, there was something far more pressing.

"If the Shinigami will not release one of our own, then we will leave them with no choice," Shirou spoke decisively.

An air of excitement and blood lust filled the area. What hollow would not grow excited thinking about attacking the base of their most hated enemies?

Harribel, Starrk, Nel, and the rest didn't voice any complaints, and silently decided to come along.

For Harribel, it was just something she felt inclined to do. To follow Shirou for the type of hollow he was.

For Starrk, it was for a debt to be repaid. Aaroniero had risked his life to save Lilynette, the least he could do was attempt to save him.

Nel however, was different. She didn't fight just to follow after Shirou's back, nor did she have any obligations. It was just that living outside of the Vasto of White's domain, all she had heard of the famed hollow was his terrifying strength. And after meeting him in person, she understood that the rumours regarding him were true on some levels, but false on others. He didn't attack without reason, nor did he appear heartless, rather he cared too much.

And it was because of this reason that Shirou cared too much that she knew that he was a friend she could not let go of. He would never betray her, or move against her best interests.

It would be too much of a shame if Shirou were to die. Besides, Pesche and the rest enjoyed living in the Vasto of White's domain. If asked, she could reason that she was fighting for a stake at her home.

It was only Ulquiorra who put on an expression of incomprehension.

"I do not understand," Ulquiorra spoke after a moment of contemplation. "You wish to save a companion?" He asked, staring at Shirou.

Shirou nodded without hesitation.

"Then what do those that follow you mean to you?" Ulquiorra asked, his gaze moving towards the other Vasto Lordes and even the groups of Adjuchas-class hollows. "You all will go and try to save a single companion, but what about the losses? Surely you don't believe you won't suffer any casualties? Are their lives worth any less than your companion's?"

Ulquiorra's words were reasonable and apathetic. In fact, looking at it from a logical perspective, it didn't make sense to risk the loss of one's strength for something so insignificant when compared to a whole.

Because of this, even Nel and many other hollows couldn't help but frown. It was only Harribel who remained unmoved, her expression normal as she had a firm belief in sacrifice.

"In the face of absolute power, what use is that reasoning?" Starrk asked instead, when a conflicted expression appeared on Shirou's face. "If you have the power to defend all, then your arguments mean nothing."

Ulquiorra had no words to respond to Starrk's answer, but Shirou couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong with it. However, he wasn't sure on what was wrong about it either, just that it was he who should answer Ulquiorra's question. For Ulquiorra, and for those listening in the crowd.

"Even if it may be wrong," Shirou began. "It's still something I must do."

The group of hollows stood still, a majority of them even straightening their backs. Shirou's words were simple, but the effect they had was far more effective than anything people like Aizen or Kisuke could have had come up with. After all, if Shirou would sacrifice everything for a single comrade, doesn't that mean he'd do the same for them?

Ulquiorra stared quizzically at Shirou, as if he was some puzzle he could not possibly solve. "I do not understand," he could not help but mutter. Objectively speaking, weren't the weaker Adjuchas just running towards their deaths? Shouldn't they be feeling depressed for throwing their lives away? Yet their appearance spoke otherwise. They were invigorated. He truly could not understand how such meaningless words could spark such a reaction. His eyes once again trailed towards Shriou's figure, curiosity and something else filling his gaze.

It was in fact, this something else, that caused him to follow after Shirou in the first place.

As Aizen had not specified anything of him at the moment, and this strange feeling had yet to be resolved, he walked slowly towards the opened Gragantia Shirou had created along with the rest.

Moments later, not a single hollow remained in the skies above Karakura Town.

Realizing this, a man wearing a hat and clogs pushed his hat down over his head and silently walked off into the distance, disappearing an instant later.

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Ichigo's body was aching all over, and even the slightest of movements elicited the sounds of protest.

What happened?

Images flashed through his mind.

A friend.

A battle.

His inability and the ones who suffered through it.

Almost unknowingly, his expression darkened, his muscles tensing and his eyes flashing open.

Above him was a plain roof with an overhead fan spinning lazily, almost mockingly. Yet he knew such a misconception was due to his own frustration. Beneath him was a futon, and beneath that were hard tatami mats that seemed oddly familiar, yet he couldn't bother to care at the moment as the initial grogginess left him. What came instead, were the final memories before he had passed out.

Karin! Mom!

Like a startled cat, he sprung up, his muscles groaning in protest as acute pains came from his stabbed chest area. He didn't pay much attention to it and instead frantically looked around the room before relaxing somewhat when he saw the sleeping form of his sister Karin opposite from him. Still, he didn't relax fully. How could he when he remembered exactly what happened that night.

The departure of Rukia Kuchiki.

And the sudden appearance and sacrifice of one he had thought long dead.

"Damn it!"

The sound of his fist colliding with the hard floor echoed throughout the room, a considerable portion of the skin covering his knuckles scraped off. He didn't care though.

He was just too furious at himself.

He was weak.

No, not even weak, insignificant to the point where he couldn't even stand and fight for those he cared about.

"Now now, Kurasaki, you should take it easy after your injuries," the voice came with the subsequent opening of the sliding door adjacent to the room.

He stared confused for a moment before he connected the appearance of the man to the one in his memories. "Hat-and-clogs?"

Hat-and-clogs pouted, but then opened up a fan to hide behind. "It's Kisuke. And is that anyway to call your saviour? I vaguely recall pulling your ungrateful self out of harms way. Of course, with the other two as well."

His eyes widened when he heard Kisuke say 'other two.'

If Karin was one, then maybe-?!

"I'm probably not who you were hoping for," Ishida spoke as he stepped into the room. Bandages covered his arms and chest, but he didn't seem too worse for wear.

"Ishida, I," he began before Ishida raised a hand.

"Save it Kurosaki," Ishida spoke. "Urahara has already told me what happened."

Ishida wore a stern expression. Based on what Urahara had told him, it was more than likely that who the Shinigami had taken was his fellow Quincy. And how could he call himself a Quincy if he just stood by and did nothing while one of his own had been captured? Especially one he had gotten to know in the course of several days of training. She indeed wasn't able to speak, but it was clear to him that she was gentle by nature. The fondness in her expression when she stared at the world around her, and the way she would earnestly copy his training methods to improve herself at an astonishing fast pace; they were all signs pointing that she must have only unlocked her powers recently and was still adjusting to them.

The fact that she was taken was quite grating on Ishida's nerves. He had been unable to do anything aside from speak out. And what good were words in a battle?

Ishida's irritation was clear for all to see, his back unnaturally straight, and a brooding look over his face as he contemplated his next actions.

At the moment, Ichigo just didn't know what to think. Instead, he finally collected himself enough to voice his concerns. "Rukia, what are they going to do to her?" He asked for clarification.

"Well," Kisuke folded his fan and sat down at the corner of the room before replying grimly with a tilt of his hat. "She broke one of Soul Society's greatest laws. As a group that has been established for an untold number of years, they are heavily inclined towards tradition. Laws are Iron Clad to them after all."

"Get to the point," Ichigo spoke irritably.

"They'll kill her you fool," a black cat spoke walking towards Kisuke and siting itself firmly on his lap.

The answer shocked Ichigo. "B-But isn't she still one of their own?!" He demanded.

"And this is why I was trying to be less direct about it, Yoruichi." Kisuke sighed, yet still began petting Yoruichi's back. "It prevents the trouble."

Ichigo glared at Kisuke.

"Which is why I always preferred the direct approach," Yoruichi spoke before licking her paws clean. "Still, you can't change what the Soul Society has decided aside from rare occasions."

Ishida grunted from the corner of the room in an unspoken sign of agreement, his arms crossed together as his gaze appeared unfocused.

"Then," Ichigo's mouth suddenly went dry, but regardless he had to know. "Then what about…"

Ichigo didn't even need to finish for others to understand who he was referring to.

"That," Yoruichi was left at a loss. Clicking her tongue and, in a rare occasion, glared at Kisuke.

Kisuke scratched at his head awkwardly. "Now c'mon Yoruichi, he wasn't that bad, and besides he's helped out the Soul Society in his own ways."

For some reason, the expressions Ichigo could see on Kisuke and Yoruichi's faces sent a numb feeling coursing through his body. He swallowed before insisting.

"Tell me," he then demanded when moments later neither of the two spoke.

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Captain of Squad Twelve, but better known as the overseer of the Research and Development division of the Soul Society," Ishida began, recalling what he had heard from Rukia's own mouth. "He has quite a reputation involving him and his experiments that most Shinigami fear staying in close contact with him."

Kisuke gave a sour look to Ishida as Yoruichi bore at him with her eyes, as if questioning his past decisions. Unable to bear the attention, but unwilling to admit it, Kisuke once again opened his fan and hid behind it. "In my defence Yoruichi-"

"If you say 'in the pursuit of science,' I will gouge your eyes out," Yoruichi warned.

"…" Kisuke wisely kept his mouth shut, and instead turned his eyes towards Ichigo.

"Experimentation," Ichiog muttered. His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it still echoed across the small room.

Karin, who appeared unconscious at the other side of the room seemed to tremble, but it didn't appear as if she was awake.

"From what I know of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, he is a scientist with little to no ethics involved with his research," Yoruichi spoke seriously. "The longer Mayuri has to research, the less likely it is for the subject to survive."

Without warning, Ichigo stood up and grabbed Kisuke by the collar. The abrupt action forced Yoruichi to jump off Kisuke's lap and land gently on the ground, a twitch on her eye.

"Calm down, Kurasaki," Kisuke spoke, raising one of his hands to persuade Ichigo to release him. "With your strength, what can you possibly do?"

The knuckles of Ichigo's hands were white, his eyes slanted, and a furious glow to his face. This glow was in fact his remaining spiritual energy running rampant like river torrents, causing a disturbance in the air and producing a faint wind.

Ichigo's hands shook after processing exactly what Kisuke had said. It was true. What could he do?

He was weak.

His sword was broken.

Could he even call himself a Shinigami anymore? The power that he had once been able to feel was now out of his reach. Instead, all that he was left with was the tiniest of portions that was just enough to convince himself that he still had his power.

With that thought in his mind, he weakly released his grip on Kisuke's collar and clicked his tongue.

"Is that all, Kurasaki?" Ishida spoke, pinching the bridge of his nose before shaking his head in disapproval. "Surely there is a way to regain your strength." He then turned his gaze towards Kisuke. "Isn't that right?" He intoned. "You wouldn't have saved Ichigo and help bring up this matter if you didn't have a means to aid him. Am I right?"

Kisuke smiled wryly. "Indeed, I do know of a way or two," Kisuke admitted. "However, whether or not Ichigo is capable enough to survive it is another matter entirely. Now the question is," Kisuke turned towards Ichigo, "are you willing to accept the consequences?"

There was a silence in the room, but it was clear that Ichigo had already made his decision from the moment Kisuke had verified a method to recover. "Do you even need to ask?" His intentions were not something that could easily be misunderstood. "Of course, I'd accept."

"Even if you become something you may regret?" A light flashed in Kisuke's eyes from beneath his hat.

After Ichigo made up his mind, nothing would be able to change it. "If this method can grant me the strength necessary to save them, then you should already know that my answer remains the same."

The ticking of a wall clock echoed within the small shop in a distant part of Karakura town, the sound causing a strange tenseness to form.

Kisuke idly sat back down, and Yoruichi once again made herself comfortable on his lap. "Is that decision the same for you, Ms. Kurosaki?"

All eyes turned to the startled figure of Karin Kurosaki who was lying still at the corner of the room.

"There's no point in continuing to pretend to be sleeping any longer," Yoruichi sighed. "Besides, just like Ichigo, it's easy to tell what kind of personality you have."

"Then count me in too," Karin abruptly sat up. Her hair was disheveled, and bags were forming under her eyes, but it was apparent that she wouldn't let any of that stop her. Even the sound of her voice was calm and determined, not a trace of hesitation as she finally realized the extent of what exactly her brother had gotten involved in.

She knew that it wasn't her imagination about what happened on that night. Even more so when she and one of Ichigo's friend defeated one of those monsters quite recently. More than anything though, she couldn't allow herself to stay out of this. How could she when it involved her mother?

Sitting up, she involuntarily shivered remembering what her mother had endured to protect them the previous night. Evidently, Ichigo was too, his expression growing colder and colder. Still, there was another emotion in his eyes that was quite apparent. Fear.

"No," Ichigo immediately denied. "It's too dangerous, Karin."

Instantly, Karin's expression grew furious. "And it's not for you!" She argued.

"Just listen to me, Karin. It's different alright!" Ichigo yelled in frustration.

"How?!" Karin pushed herself to her feet and glared. "It's okay for you to go and risk your life to gain strength, but not me? How could you possibly think like that! You don't know what its like to worry about whether or not someone else you love will get taken away from you." Karin grew quiet, lowering her head as moisture gathered in her eyes. "It already happened with, mom."

Ichigo was speechless, his mouth opening, but no words coming out despite how much he wanted to refute Karin's words.

"You can't stop me," Karin lifted her head, her expression scathing. "No, I won't let you stop me. I couldn't do anything before. I, I was helpless, and I won't allow myself to feel that way again."

Her word said, Karin then opened the sliding door of the room and walked out.

"Karin wait, we're not done here!" Ichigo called out after her, but got no response.

"That was quite insensitive of you, Kurosaki," Ishida spoke with a shake of his head. "If you truly wanted her to back out, then direct confrontation is not the way to go about it. As things stand now, there's no way you are going to get her to change her mind."

Ichigo grunted and kicked at the floor. "Damn it, why won't she listen to me?" He muttered to himself. Karin and Yuzu had always heeded his warnings, never protesting as they shared a trust between siblings. They should have known that all he wanted was to keep them safe.

However, what Ichigo didn't understand was Karin and Yuzu's feelings knowing the danger he was walking into. It was like sending a loved one to a war where one didn't know if they would return or not. That feeling of uncertainty was not a comforting one.

And now that Karin was presented an opportunity to fight along side her brother, how could she possibly feel when said brother refused even with good intentions. Mere frustration was not enough to describe it.

"Ishida, you," Ichigo began, but couldn't find an appropriate response, causing him to scowl as there was sense in Ishida's words.

"Now now, Kurosaki, you should calm down for now," Kisuke spoke. "As things stand at the moment, there's no harm in letting your sister try. In fact, you can even go first to demonstrate. Based on how lively you are, you should be up for the task, even more so no that time is of the essence." Kisuke nodded his head and Tessai walked into the room and motioned for both Ichiog and Ishida to follow.

"You should go as well," Kisuke spoke to Ishida. "You'll find the training space I have quite adequate to suit your needs."

Ishida blinked, but then nodded when moments later Ichigo followed Tessai without hesitation. Ishida followed soon after.

"I don't like this situation," Yoruichi spoke in the silence created after everyone but herself and Kisuke left.

Kisuke hummed in agreement. "Often matters out of our hands are the hardest to deal with and predict. That being the case, how has the training been going for that other group of friends?"

Yoruichi absently inspected her claws before replying. "They are doing considerably well, but with their current level of power, I'm not sure if they will be up for the coming task. Especially with what we've seen recently."

"Vasto Lordes," Kisuke mused. "They're rare even in Hueco Mundo, but to think so many of them would appear together in the Human World."

"Could it be Aizen?" Yoruichi asked with a frown. "The ramifications of such a thing is not something to be taken lightly. At least if the situation was like that, then I believe it would be best to inform Shinji and the others. Especially knowing the current level of the captains of the Thirteen-Court-Guard-Squads."

Kisuke placed his fan down on a table and took off his hat before staring at Yoruichi. "Let's not get too ahead of ourselves," Kisuke began as he placed a hand under his chin. "Although it seems unlikely, and I was never one to trust my gut like those battle hungry maniacs, this really doesn't appear like something Aizen would do. Though I can discern that he may have had had a hand in a few related matters."

Yoruichi raised a brow. "And how would you know this?" She asked.

"A scientist's intuition," Kisuke smiled smugly.

"Humph," Yoruichi snorted. "It takes one to know one I suppose."

"I'll just take that as a compliment," Kisuke said to avoid any arguments. "For now, we really don't have much time. If my assumption of where those Vasto Lordes and hollows went was accurate, the Soul Society may just have their hands full at the moment. Meaning this time-frame is our only opportunity to prepare for the retrieval of Rukia Kuchiki. We can't allow her and what she possesses to fall into Aizen's hands."

Serious matters over, Kisuke revealed a grin and placed back on his hat. "What's say you and me get down to business and show them 'rotten kids' the ropes, eh?"

Yoruichi deadpanned, a twitch forming on her brow. "No more T.V. for you."

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"How is the Captain, Unohana?" An old man walked into the medical bay of the Fourth Division of the Court-Guard Squads.

The Fourth Division was the squad in charge of healing and relief teams. Because of this, a majority of the other squads looked down on the fourth for their lack of combat strength, and none more so than the battle maniacs of the eleventh division. Said members of the Eleventh division even going out of their way to hassle any members within the Fourth's barracks.

However, today was different.

A Captain was hospitalized after all.

"He's stable for now Head-Captain," Unohana Retsu bowed politely.

She was a woman of moderate stature who had her long black hair parted down the middle and tied into a small bundle that ran down her back. On her person, she wore the standard Captains Haori with the number four emblazoned on its back. She was the Squad Captain of Squad Four.

"What could have had happened in the human world?" Unohana asked with a frown. "And why didn't we receive any reports if a hollow strong enough to injure a Captain appeared?"

She directed this question to Head-Captain Yamamoto who stood with a frown. Indeed, he did not get any reports regarding the matter despite its importance. This was something he could not understand as the surveillance teams on the Human World were trained to immediately report any abnormalities.

Of course, if Head-Captain Yamamoto could not answer the question, neither could the other Captains in the room answer it.

"Perhaps there's a traitor in our midst?" A Captain with silver hair and sly smile stepped forward. "Never know when one might turn up."

"Care to share then Gin?" Aizen spoke softly from the side.

Gin Ichimaru's lip twitched upon seeing Aizen before his eyes narrowed sharply, something that the youngest Captain in the room did not miss.

Toshiro Hitsugaya seemed to detect something from the interaction between Gin and Aizen, but didn't bring up the matter as he instead grew perplexed by it. Did one of them know something?

It can be said that for a kid to be promoted to a Captain at such a young age, his skill would have had had to have been exceptional. His mind and comprehensive skills were no exception. Even if he looked young, a boyish appearance with long spiked silver hair and immature features, he was not someone to be underestimated.

For now, Toshiro kept his curiosity to himself, and didn't speak for fear of speaking out of line like Gin Ichimaru who didn't seem concerned about such things. Then again, Aizen was here to reprimand such behaviours.

At that moment, Renji Abarai burst through the doors, carrying with him Rukia Kuchiki and a bound Kaien Shiba.

Rukia was unconscious at the moment, hanging limply from Renji's shoulder while Kaien trailed leisurly from the back, a sheepish expression on his face that changed upon spotting a long white-haired man standing in the corner of the room next to a row of Captains.

Evidently, Kaien's expression wasn't the only one that changed, almost everyone had some sort of reaction to Kaien's appearance aside from Mayuri. Even Head-Captain Yamamoto couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"C-Captain?" Renji had to blink multiple times as he saw Byakuya's injured form on the hed being attended by Unohana. "But that's impossible," he muttered. How could Byakuya have been injured so badly? It shouldn't have taken him too long to return to the Soul Society and report, but here was his Captain now? It felt as if a portion of his memories were missing, but he just couldn't make sense of it.

As Renji was momentarily left at a loss, the Captains were focusing their attention on the trembling back of the Captain of Squad Thirteen, Jushiro Ukitake. He was a man with long white hair that flowed directly over his back, and he had broad features that made him appear friendly. Yet at the moment, those friendly features were displaying an expression of shock that didn't abate until another Captain placed a hand on Jushiro's shoulder.

This Captain was the leader of Squad Eight, and best friend of Jushiro Ukitake, Shunsui Kyoraku. He was a tall man with long brown hair tied into a pony-tail that fell over his flower designed Haiori. Out of all the other Captains and people resent, only he had any idea about what Jushiro may be feeling at the moment. After all, Squad Thirteen had only ever had one Lieutenant. And that Lieutenant was Kaien Shiba. A Shinigami long thought to be dead.

"K-Kaien?" Jushiro spoke hesitantly.

"I'm sorry for worrying you Captain," Kaien spoke softly, his expression guilt ridden. "But that was a battle I alone had to face to avenge Miyako and let her rest in peace."

His words were enough to eliminate any of Jushiro's doubts. After all, aside from himself and Rukia, no one was able to witness Kaien's death. Thus, the words Kaien spoke struck home with Jushiro who immediately grew enraged when he noticed the restrictions placed on Kaien in the form of sealing Kido.

"What is the meaning of this?" Jushiro immediately demanded of Renji, startling Renji from his stupor.

The other Captains remained silent watching the scene. After all, Jushiro wasn't a fool and definitely would not be able to mistake the identity of his cherished Lieutenant. The indignation found in Jushiro's voice was even more of an indication about Kaien's identity.

Renji was speechless under the questioning of a Captain level Shinigami, but he quickly pulled himself together after seeing the state Byakuya was in.

He ignored Jushiro and immediately turned to Head-Captain Yamamoto.

"Reporting!" Renji yelled. "By the orders of Captain Kuchiki, I have come to deliver news of an abnormal power arriving within the Human World, yet it appears I have arrived too late." Renji bowed his head, knowing that he had failed in his mission.

Yamamoto furrowed his brows. "Then you do not know of what happened in the Human World to Captain Kuchiki?"

"No, Captain, I do not," Renji admitted. "Captain Kuchiki had me evacuate the area along with Rukia Kuchiki and Lt. Kaien Shiba before the enemy arrived. Captain Kuchiki deemed us too weak to be of any use."

"Then why is Kaien bound in kido?" Jushiro asked from the side after getting permission from Yamamoto to speak.

Renji furrowed his brows. "Captain Kuchiki administered the bindings himself. I'm not sure why though."

A woman grunted after hearing Renji's response. She had short black bangs that covered the majority of her forehead, and her hair was tied into pigtails bound with white cloth in a criss-cross pattern. She was Soifon, Captain of Squad Two and leader of the Soul Society's Stealth Forces.

"It's too convenient," Soifon spoke. "You should understand exactly what I mean Head-Captain Yamamoto. Someone presumed dead for all these years suddenly turning up at this precise moment? This is too suspicious. As someone who was once taught by her Byakuya should have been able to understand that."

"Head-Captain, there's no doubt in my mind that he really is Kaien Shiba," Jushiro insisted. "We should release him."

Yamamoto didn't speak right away, rather, he turned his attention back on Renji.

"How exactly did Kaien Shiba appear, and what actions did he take afterwards?" Yamamoto questioned.

Obediently, Renji began to recount the previous events based on what he knew of Kaien and what he saw Kaien do.

"I knew it, he's a spy," Soifon immediately spoke before drawing her sword to Kaien's neck. However, a sudden pressure forced her to stop her blade inches away.

"Sheath your blade Captain Soifon," Jushiro spoke in warning.

The fact that Renji clarified that the Kaien present in the presence of most of the Captains was able to call forth a Shikai was significant. After all, if this Kaien was truly an imposter, it would be impossible to release Kaien's Zanpakuto, Nejibana.

However, that didn't mean Kaien could account for his actions.

"He helped hollows," Soifon spoke coldly. "He created a Gargantia."

"And he should have an explanation for his actions," Jushiro argued, a hint of hesitation flashing across his eyes before it vanished to be replaced with resolve. "Kaien?" He prompted.

Kaien smiled bitterly.

"The only one here who should be able to understand me is you alone Captain," Kaien spoke. "You know of what happened that night. That hollow, it, it somehow merged with me, but there's one thing you should know. It didn't die when Rukia slayed it. Instead, it managed to escape into Hueco Mundo."

Just as Kaien had said, no one other than Jushiro understood the context of what Kaien was saying as they weren't present when the event occurred. However, based on Jushiro was reacting at the moment, it was enough for the others present to get an idea of the truths Kaien spoke.

"I managed to survive in Hueco Mundo." Kaien finished for the time being.

"Why didn't you come back?" Jushiro asked helplessly. "The others and I would have had had helped you."

"I am part hollow," was all Kaien needed to say to silence Jushiro.

After all, a similar case had occurred with the previous captains of the Court-Guard Squads, and they were deemed traitors to be killed on sight, banished from the Soul Society.

"Which gives me all the more reason to end you now and maintain the honour of the Shiba Clan," Soifon spoke putting strength into her sword.

"Stand down, captain," Jushiro's voice was stern, the warning in his voice before disappearing to be replaced with protective hostility.

"There's no more point in questioning him about anything. His actions speak louder than petty words," Soifon argued. "He helped a hollow!?"

No one spoke after Soifon's outburst. Even Head-Captain Yamamoto could find no faults with what Soifon had said.

A Shinigami's duty was to slay all hollows and purify their souls to maintain the natural balance of the world. To aid one was tantamount to treason.

In the tense contemplative silence, Kaien's voice echoed out softly. "I saved you all from a tragedy," he said. "Yet I fear Captain Kurotsuchi's actions may already be unredeemable."

"Saved us?" Jushiro asked curiously.

Kaien looked up, a serious expression on his face that even gave Soifon a start.

"The Vasto of White," was all Kaien said after a moment.

The name itself seemed to carry an unknown weight to it when it came out of Kaien's mouth. Not only did it render all conversations null, it sent a shiver down some of the less experienced Captain's backs.

Everyone present knew just how powerful a Vasto Lorde was, and for this Vasto to carry a title, its strength must have been evident.

Soifon scoffed. "Saved us? Vasto of White? How is any of this related to your actions of saving a hollow, and bringing up Captain Kurotsuchi's name?"

"He is different from other hollows. Hell, if he were a Shinigami he would be the kind of person who'd naturally become a Captain by his own right," Kaien said.

"And you know this how?" Shunsui asked from the side.

Kaien smiled wryly. "If I could not return to the Soul Society, then at least I could contribute by gathering information in Hueco Mondo."

Kaien's words sparked looks of admiration from Jushiro and a few from the others present like Renji.

"Get to your point," Soifon spoke impatiently, yet it was clear that the accusation in her voice had toned down. "How is everything your saying related?"

"The person Captain Kurotsuchi took. He will come for her as he would for any who follow him," Kaien spoke with a hundred percent confidence. "The Vasto of White-"

An explosion rocked the very foundations of the Soul Society, the defensive mechanisms of the Seiretei activating and large walls descending from the red tinted horizon.

"The King of Hollows."