Vacation Interrupted

Byakuya was relaxing, practicing his calligraphy when a loud, panting voice interrupted from directly outside the door. "Kuchiki-sama! There is urgent news!"

Sighing to himself, the Head of the Kuchiki raised his head and looked at the door solemnly. "Enter."

The door flew open and Byakuya's internal alarms went off when he saw that it was the escort he'd sent with Kurosaki Masaki. The escort was injured, with his clothing ripped and torn, but his blood flowed slowly from his wounds. He had obviously been attacked, but the wounds were shallow, non-critical. It wouldn't have been urgent unless he'd been defeated, and judging by the rate of blood flow, it was a short time ago. Byakuya would have narrowed his eyes were he a lesser man who displayed his emotions and thoughts for all to see. "You have been attacked, and defeated, no more than 10 minutes ago. Your charge was taken from you. Take me to where you were."

Startled at his master's succinct and accurate summation of the news, the escort took a moment to react, then nodded sharply and turned around, running back the way he'd come, using Shunpo as soon as he hit open space.

Following easily, Byakuya mentally nodded to himself and made a note to show some form of appreciation for his trainers; they'd obviously taught the Kuchiki servants well. The escort's Shunpo was mediocre compared to the average Shinigami, but rarely was more skill required. His servant's voice interrupted his musings a moment later. "Here, my lord!"

Byakuya looked around the area. Begrudgingly, he had to admit that whoever the kidnappers had been, their spot was well-chosen. It was outside the grounds of any noble family, and relatively close to the West Gate. The suspect list was maximized: it could have been anyone in the Seireitei.

"Tell me what you can about your assailant," he ordered calmly, but sternly.

"He was quick," the escort reported. "Very fast. Completely covered in dark clothes, except his eyes. Didn't say anything at all, just appeared out of nowhere, knocked Kurosaki-san out with the handle of his sword, and then attacked me. He vanished with her as soon as I was knocked down."

"Vanished? Did he use Shunpo?" Byakuya asked to clarify.

"I, I think so, sir."

"Hmm." That narrows the suspect list down to those trained in Shunpo. Hardly an improvement, but it is one nonetheless. "Is there anything else?"

A nod was his response. "He left this where he disappeared," the servant explained, passing him a piece of paper.

Byakuya scrutinized it with suspicious eyes.

Kurosaki Ichigo,

We have your mother. Come alone to Sōkyoku Hill by noon tomorrow. Failure to do so will result in her soul being summarily banished to Hell.

The 6th Division taicho looked up from the paper, unable to keep his eyes from narrowing. He knew that handwriting – it was that of Soifon, taicho of the 2nd Division. Has she truly gone mad? And surely she does not have the capacity to do such a thing… Then again, the Onmitsukidō is known for information gathering and spying… It may be possible for her to find how to do such a thing, and I know no others with the resources to find out independently.

Alternatively, Byakuya thought critically, Yamamoto-sōtaicho could be aiding her. He would certainly know how to open the Gates of Hell. Neither of them holds any affection for Kurosaki Ichigo. This would fall under his modus operandi to get rid of a threat subtly, as well as test my own loyalties simultaneously. My recent actions, aiding Rukia and Abarai to escape and aid Kurosaki Ichigo, would certainly warrant that.

Eyes dark, Byakuya came to a decision. "Return to the estate. I will handle the situation personally."

"Hai!" The Kuchiki servant, who still remained nameless, acknowledged with a salute and vanished in a burst of Shunpo.

A moment later, Byakuya was gone from the clearing as well. Materializing just outside the 1st Division HQ, he stepped inside. "I require a meeting with Yamamoto-sōtaicho."

Nodding sharply, Sasakibe-fukutaicho led the way. A few moments later, Byakuya stood in front of the sōtaicho. He explained briefly what had happened. "Sir, this appears to be Soifon-taicho's handwriting, and the description my servant gave me seems indicative of an assassin. What are your orders?"

Yamamoto's change in expression was subtle, but the way the temperature rose in the room was enough indication for Byakuya to conclude that Yamamoto was furious. "Arrest Soifon-taicho, and bring her to me immediately!"

So it was not a test, the 6th Division taicho mused. "Hai." Once more, the Head of the Kuchiki flickered away, this time to the 2nd Division HQ. Stepping into the taicho's office, he instead found Soifon to be absent. Focusing his senses outward, Byakuya realized that neither Soifon nor her rotund fukutaicho were nearby. This does not bode well.

With a nod to himself, Byakuya made a decision. He would spend the night scouring Soul Society for Soifon in an attempt to follow Yamamoto-sōtaicho's orders without unduly involving Kurosaki Ichigo. However, should he fail, very few people were capable of catching Soifon should she be located, and Byakuya would contact Urahara to acquire Yoruichi's and Kurosaki's services.

Ichigo woke to the sound of the phone that Urahara had given him ringing. It was early in the morning, the Substitute noted sleepily as he shielded his eyes from the sun coming in from the window. "Mmph?" He groaned, picking up the phone. "Kuro… saki Ichigo speaking," he greeted, his family name interrupted by a yawn.

"It's Kisuke. We've got serious trouble. Ichigo, it's your mother."

Ichigo was fully awake in a heartbeat. "What happened?"

"Ichigo?" Renji muttered, waking up as he felt his roommate's increase in reiatsu. As soon as he saw Ichigo's too-serious face, he sobered up and waited for Ichigo to get off the phone.

The Vizard's eyes narrowed. "I'll be there as quickly as I can." He hung up the phone. "Kon."

"Y-Y-Yes?" the Mod-Soul stuttered, looking nervously at Ichigo's humorless expression.

"Take care of my body while I'm gone."

Renji looked at his comrade grimly. "Ichigo, what happened?"

"My mother's been kidnapped by someone in Soul Society. Soifon is the prime suspect. Tell me how to open the Senkaimon."

Renji winced. Oh, this can't end well. "Try not to fight the entire Gotei 13?" he offered weakly.

"No promises." Ichigo reached into his pack and dug out his Shinigami Representative badge, smacking it against his chest and emerging from his body in his Shinigami form. He drew Zangetsu and looked at Renji expectantly.

The tattooed redhead nodded. "Envision Soul Society as best you can. Then, holding that image, envision where we are right now and compartmentalize them into two separate things. I find it easier to think of them as dimensional bubbles. Let me know when you've got it."

A moment later, Ichigo nodded. "What's next?"

"Remember the Dangai, and place it between your images of Soul Society and the living world. When you have it, focus your intent to cross the barrier between the dimensions and thrust Zangetsu forward," Renji taught. "If part of Zangetsu seems to disappear through an invisible curtain, then just twist and the Senkaimon appears."

Zangetsu began to glow a light blue before Ichigo's eyes, and he slowly pushed his Zanpakutō forward through the air. Just like Renji had said, Zangetsu could still be felt, but the latter half of the sword was invisible. Ichigo gave a sharp twist and withdrew his trusty blade.

The air in front of the Vizard twisted and distorted before materializing the sliding doors of the Senkaimon that would lead Ichigo into the Dangai, and from there to Soul Society. Before he could step through, Renji gripped his friend by the arm. "Ichigo… Are you sure you don't want us there?"

Ichigo looked at Renji. "Yes, I'm sure. I don't want any of my friends to see what I'm going to do."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Whatever it takes." Ichigo broke Renji's grip and entered the dimensional gateway.

"Ichigo!" Rukia's voice cried out as she burst into the room, just in time to see the Senkaimon close behind her friend. "Renji, what the hell is going on? Why is Ichigo going to Soul Society?"

Renji looked at his old friend, fists clenched. "Rukia, you didn't see what I saw, when Ichigo and Aizen continued their fight in Soul Society. He… he…" He shook his head. "Rukia, we need to seriously consider that the Gotei 13 might not exist tomorrow."

"What?" Rukia gasped. "No… he wouldn't…!"

"Ichigo's mother was kidnapped by Soifon-taicho," Renji explained hollowly.

"Oh. Oh no," Rukia breathed, casting her eyes on where Ichigo had disappeared into the Senkaimon. Ichigo…

Ichigo stepped into Soul Society without incident. Not trusting himself not to verbally eviscerate the first Shinigami he talked to, the Vizard focused for a moment on his spiritual sense. The largest concentration of spiritual power, which likely belonged to Yamamoto or a group of taicho, was… This way. Ichigo began walking purposefully, even as he seethed with barely-contained rage. My mother… How dare she? HOW DARE SHE?

Ichigo hardly noticed that every step he took left blackened scorch marks on the pavement; his reiatsu had slipped into its evolved state and his power seethed invisibly around him. It was perhaps for the best that he didn't hear the several Shinigami recognize him and whisper excitedly about him, following at a distance to see why he was in Soul Society.

It was not long before Ichigo reached his destination: the 1st Division Barracks. Entering swiftly, he ignored everyone else and walked with a purpose straight into Yamamoto's office. Byakuya and Yamamoto looked at him as he entered, but stayed silent.

Fine then, I'll break the silence. "How did this happen?" Ichigo asked quietly, but with frigid tones and narrowed eyes.

"Your mother, Kurosaki Masaki, had joined me for a casual conversation over tea," Byakuya replied calmly, apparently unperturbed by Ichigo's bluntness. "One of my servants was escorting her home when they were attacked. My servant was defeated, and she was taken. Evidently, the attacker also left a note which orders you to meet someone at Sōkyoku Hill at noon today, or else your mother will die. The note was written in Soifon-taicho's handwriting. We have not been able to contact her since."

"Don't you have some sort of locator Kidō?" Ichigo asked.

"Yes. Bakudō 58: Kakushitsuijaku," Yamamoto confirmed. "There are limitations to that spell, however. Firstly, it requires the user to remain in one spot. Secondly, there is a range limit. Thirdly, the user must be familiar with the reiatsu he or she is attempting to track, which is why we have been unable to use it to track your mother. Fourthly, there are ways to avoid detection from this spell in any case, which are well known to Soifon and the Onmitsukidō due to their nature as assassins. As a result, its applicability in this situation is low."

Ichigo scowled. "Do you have any other method to track her?"

"No," the Head of the Kuchiki responded. "Soifon, as leader of the Onmitsukidō, has mastered how to erase her presence entirely."

"So the only choice is to have me go along with the note and wait on Sōkyoku Hill," Ichigo concluded darkly, turning to leave. "Fine then."

"Kurosaki Ichigo," Yamamoto rumbled, halting Ichigo's step. "We would have you visit the 12th Division to have a listening and tracking device planted and concealed upon your person, in the event that an unexpected situation occurs. We will, of course, remove the devices after the issue is resolved."

"Alright."

"On a final note, be warned: whoever has your mother has threatened to send her soul to Hell. That is highly forbidden knowledge; any who know the methods are extremely resourceful. I had thought I had destroyed all the records centuries ago. Do not underestimate them."

Ichigo faced Yamamoto seriously. "Got it. Thanks for the warning." When there were no further comments, the Vizard nodded and turned on his heel. Opening the door, he looked over his shoulder. "Let me leave you one of my own: if my mother is not found and retrieved safely, Soul Society will burn." He was gone before they could reply.

"…That was not entirely unexpected," Byakuya finally remarked a minute later.

"No… it was not," Yamamoto agreed heavily. "Can you see why I believe another war is coming? He would sacrifice the entire afterlife to save one soul."

"I understand your perspective, but I respectfully disagree with your conclusion, sōtaicho," Byakuya demurred.

"That's all you want?" Mayuri asked, disappointed with the Vizard's request. "Surely you would let me…"

"No," Ichigo replied firmly. "Yamamoto asked me to get listening and tracking devices, not to donate a limb or piece of my reiatsu."

"It's not like you can't regenerate it," Mayuri tried to persuade him with what he obviously thought was a reasonable argument. "Think of the science!"

"No."

"You can't simply expect me to not to at least get a sample of…!" the taicho exclaimed disbelievingly, only to halt when he felt Zangetsu's tip resting against his Adam's apple. Utter silence fell in the room; no one drew a Zanpakutō on the taicho in his lab. No one.

"I am not a test subject," Ichigo whispered harshly. "And I am not in the mood to put up with anything right now. I am only here because Yamamoto asked me to be. If you are unwilling to help, I will be leaving." He replaced Zangetsu on his back, its wrappings automatically sheathing the blade. Then Ichigo did an about-face and began to make his way out.

Mayuri scowled. "Fine then! Have your trinkets!" He scooped up two rather small, seemingly random devices from a nearby table and threw them at Ichigo, who sidestepped and caught one in each hand. "The one in your left hand is the tracker. It's designed to go on a leg, since you're less likely to lose that than an arm. The device in your right hand is the listener. Just stick it somewhere on your uniform and it'll blend in seamlessly. The devices are largely covered in Sekkiseki stone to prevent your evolved reiatsu from harming them. Now if you aren't here to help my research, get out of my sight, you selfish plebian!"

"Gladly." Ichigo walked out briskly, and then quietly equipped the devices as Mayuri had specified. The tracker was reminiscent of living world tracking bracelets; Ichigo found that it fit disturbingly well. The listener was really just a tiny transmitter stuck on a pin, Ichigo saw, and he just put it on his chest. True to Mayuri's word, it flashed for a moment before blending in, changing the color of the Sekkiseki to match Ichigo's black shihakusho. An illusion? he wondered vaguely.

Shaking his head to clear it, Ichigo refocused on the issue at hand. His face a mask of determination, he flickered away, appearing where the Sōkyoku had been a few moments later. He sat and closed his eyes, focusing entirely on his reiatsu sense. In his mind's eye, he felt hundreds, thousands of reiatsu signatures at the various barracks. Several of them, he recognized as being taicho or various fukutaicho or officers that he'd met, but Ichigo was focused on finding two in particular, and he was looking throughout Seireitei.

Meanwhile, back in the living world, Ichigo's friends had just been told the bad news by Rukia and Renji in the privacy of Inoue's room. Renji watched as his allies, his friends, transformed visibly from vacationing teenagers to combat-ready warriors almost in an instant.

"I knew we couldn't trust the Gotei 13!" Ishida spat, before whirling on the messengers. "Why aren't you two with him?" he demanded angrily.

"Because Ichigo can take care of himself, and someone needed to be here to tell you what was going on," Rukia replied firmly. "Besides, I know I'm no match for Soifon. She's too fast for me, and Renji too."

"Hmph! Thanks for your vote of confidence," Renji said irately, glaring at his best friend momentarily. "Even so, she's right," he agreed reluctantly, turning back to the others. "Also, consider that Ichigo killed Aizen. Do you really think he won't kill anyone and anything that threatens his mother? He blatantly told me that he doesn't want his friends to see what he's going to do."

Chad stared straight ahead, his mind elsewhere… He was back in Soul Society, trying to save his Abuelo… El Brazo Izquierda del Diablo… the smell of blood and death lingered in the air, corpses littering the ground from La Muerte… talking to his Abuelo afterwards…

**Flashback**

"This Kurosaki Ichigo… if his family had been taken by Aizen's forces, and tortured to demoralize him, how would he react?" Oscar asked pointedly.

Knowing that his Abuelo was trying to teach him once more, Chad thought hard about the scenario. "… I think he would snap," he finally said. "Ichigo would unleash his full power and kill them all in a dark rage, or die trying."

**End Flashback**

Chad forced himself back to the present, perfect comprehension cruelly making itself known. It killed him not to be by Ichigo's side during this trial, but Chad understood his best friend's intentions. He was trying to spare them the fear they would feel witnessing him at his darkest, the nightmares from wondering if anything else would enrage Ichigo to the point of transforming him into the murderous beast, the horror of realizing that Ichigo was in full control during every horrible thing he deemed necessary to save his mother. "We should remain here," Chad proposed, silencing everyone else in the room. "We should abide by Ichigo's wishes."

"How can you say that?" Inoue asked disbelievingly. "He needs us!"

"He needs us to stay here in order for him to do what he feels has to be done," Chad corrected. "Everyone has something that they cannot tolerate. Even Ichigo. Right now, Ichigo cannot tolerate his mother being held captive by a powerful member of the Gotei 13. There's no way to know whether she did it on orders from her boss. And if that's the case, Ichigo will kill everyone responsible."

"How can you know that?" Rukia questioned quietly.

Chad considered how to answer for a few moments. He could confess that he'd killed his Abuelo's tormentors, but he wasn't comfortable with revealing that. He could simply say that he'd known Ichigo for a long time, but that made it sound like Ichigo was occasionally capable of murder, and he didn't want that. Finally, he decided on an answer, and simply shrugged. "It's his family. Wouldn't you kill to protect those you call family?"

The others took on varying expressions of pensive self-analysis. Inoue nodded quietly, obviously remembering Baraggan. Rukia and Renji glanced at each other, and nodded in sync. Ishida took the longest, but he finally nodded assent as well. "I… I suppose I understand a little why Kurosaki-kun wants us to stay here," Inoue slowly acknowledged. "But if it were me… if my brother were the one captured… I don't know what I'd do, but I'd want my friends with me to help."

"That's because you're a pacifist, Orihime," Ishida pointed out in a gentler tone than normal. "But… we all saw Kurosaki's Resurrección." A pronounced silence fell upon the room as each of them recalled the terrifying form Ichigo had assumed – thick blood-red patterns adorning bone-white skin, wicked curved horns atop a nightmarish mask, claw-like hands and talon-like feet, and a Hollow hole… "All I'm saying is that if Ichigo doesn't want us to come, then I think it's likely he's going to use it again… He doesn't want us to think him a monster."

Finally, Ichigo was forced to admit that he couldn't find his mother's reiatsu, nor Soifon's, anywhere. Frustratedly scowling, the Vizard opened his eyes and checked the sun: it was approaching noon. Glancing around once more, Ichigo saw someone running towards him. Scowling, he drew Zangetsu. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"I am… Norune Murosuke," the man wheezed. "I was ordered… to deliver this message to Kurosaki Ichigo at noon here…"

Ichigo growled angrily. Another message? "That's me. Hand it over." Almost snatching the paper from the hapless messenger's hands, the Vizard's eyes scanned over it:

Kurosaki Ichigo,

Perform the following tasks. As before, failure to comply will result in your mother's immediate banishment to Hell.

Leave your Zanpakutō and Hollow mask at Sōkyoku Hill.

Remove any tracking or listening devices you may have on you. I will know if you have not.

Keep your reiatsu undetectable, and make your way to the West 4th District by 1:00 PM. There is a bar there known as "The Hero's Hold"; enter it, and look for a blond man wearing blue. He will give you your next message, and proof that Kurosaki Masaki yet resides in this world.

Ichigo scowled upon completion of the note. Zangetsu. How far can I summon you from?

I am always with you. Call me, and I will come to you, one way or another.

Reassured, Ichigo promptly stabbed Zangetsu into the ground, the cloth on the end trailing in the wind. Drawing his Gillian mask, he placed it atop the sword and stepped back. He took off the devices Mayuri had lent him easily, and as he set them down as well, the Vizard realized, Hold on. If it's Soifon, how would she know whether I kept my tracking or listening devices? Does she have someone in the 12th Division? Ichigo privately thought that was unlikely – Mayuri would never tolerate it. Or is there some sort of technology-detecting Kidō or something? Wishing once again that he had better knowledge of Kidō, Ichigo had no choice but to do as the kidnapper wished.

Completely ignoring the still-recovering messenger, Ichigo Shunpo-ed away. Leaving through the West Gate, he looked to the side and noted Jidanbō, the Keeper of the West Gate, was looking at him curiously. "Hey, Jidanbō."

Recognizing his voice at last, Jidanbō broke into a smile. "Kurosaki Ichigo! It has been a while. I do hope you didn't have to break back in? Somehow I don't think my axes would be much challenge to you anymore."

"No, I didn't have to break in," Ichigo reassured him. "Wish I could stay and chat, but…" he turned a serious look outwards. "There's something I really have to do."

"Ah, a mission?" Jidanbō realized, before nodding. "I get it. Time-sensitive and all that. I won't keep ya."

"Thanks, Jidanbō." Ichigo vanished once more, flickering up into the air and then forward at high speed – now that he was outside the Seireitei, he could walk on air just like in the living world. After a few minutes, he landed softly, though to those nearby it would seem as though he had simply materialized.

Approaching a random shopkeeper – Ichigo did not have the time to be choosy – the Substitute quickly asked, "Sorry, I'm a bit lost. Am I in the 4th District?"

"You're close – this is the 3rd District," the shop owner corrected. "Just a few more minutes' walk though. Anyplace in particular you're looking for?"

"The Hero's Hold. I'm meeting someone there."

"Ah, not a bad bar. That's closer to the 5th District… might take you close to an hour, though, unless you got that fancy Shunpo."

"Just point me in the right direction," Ichigo urged. Obligingly, the shopkeeper pointed in the appropriate direction – further west, of course. "Thanks." Once again, Ichigo disappeared.

"Hmph!" the shopkeeper grumbled, turning around and cleaning up his stall a bit. "Youngsters… always in a hurry. It's not like we're gonna die anytime soon. This is a peaceful district."

Several minutes later, Ichigo stood in front of The Hero's Hold. Stepping inside briskly, Ichigo recalled the instructions and scanned the bar. Sure enough, in the corner there was a young man who appeared in his mid-to-late twenties, with short blond hair and a blue kimono. He was sipping some sake, and met Ichigo's eyes unflinchingly as the Vizard stalked over to him and sat across from the blond.

Glancing at the time, the stranger whistled lowly. "You made good time."

"I don't care about that. Where is my mother?" Ichigo questioned firmly.

"I don't know," the man admitted. "All I know was that I was paid a good amount of money to be here, and give you this package if you arrived before 1:00." He reached down to his side and slid a packet across the table.

Taking it, Ichigo quickly opened it. Inside was a familiar-looking orb, and another paper. He quickly skimmed through the new message:

Kurosaki Ichigo,

The orb is infused with a Kidō that will allow you to view your mother by inserting a small amount of your reiryoku into it. Please note that large amounts may break the device, and if that happens, it will not be replaced. This will serve as your evidence that she is still in this dimension, and that she has been left unharmed.

Now that you have received your proof, it is time to get down to business. Simply put, you are a danger to the status quo of Soul Society. So, the solution is to remove you. Your task, Kurosaki Ichigo, is to disappear. Completely. You are to go beyond the bounds of civilization and live alone, never contacting anyone, for the rest of your existence. In return, your mother shall be released, her memory wiped of her time in captivity, and monitored. Should you attempt to contact civilization, your mother will be recaptured and immediately sent to Hell.

We will know whether you are adhering to the rules.

Once again, there was no signature, which was really pissing Ichigo off. It was aggravating enough to be blatantly ordered around, but to not even know who was pulling his strings was simply outrageous.

Worse, Ichigo felt that if he could just get the orb back to the Gotei 13, someone would be able to determine where it came from. He'd never come across an object that could cast specialized Kidō before, outside of the Shiba's cannonball barrier orb. He stiffened. Wait. Ichigo looked again at the orb that was included in the package. Now that he thought about it, the artifact did heavily resemble the Shiba's barrier orb… It even operated similarly, just inserting reiatsu into it triggered the effect…

No way, Ichigo thought in horror. No way would Kūkaku or Ganju do this to me. Not… not unless they had been trapped or forced into making this… Who could do that to them? They move all the time, and Kūkaku would have raised holy hell if something happened to Ganju.

Ichigo, you have no time to sit and contemplate your situation, Zangetsu warned, breaking Ichigo from his musings. You must move.

Right. The Vizard stood abruptly, surprising his partner at the table. "I have to go." Dashing out the door, he leapt up into the air and flickered out of sight, heading west.

Ichigo, Byakuya and Yamamoto are at Sōkyoku Hill and are speculating why you left me there. They are close to the truth. You must move more quickly if you wish to keep to the order not to contact anyone.

Ichigo snorted bitterly. I can't imagine that it'd be hard to imagine my situation… Wait. You're there. There's no way anyone has seen your materialized form outside of me and Yoruichi. Is it possible for me to manifest you wherever your sword is?

It is possible. What would you have me do, once I am manifested?

Startled by the question, Ichigo almost stumbled in midair before regaining his balance. It was a good question. After several moments' private consideration, he nodded to himself. What we need to know is who is behind this. We can't plan any measures to save my mother until we know where she is, and the best way to find that out is to know who planned it.

Looking at the clues we have, we know that the notes thus far have been written in Soifon's handwriting, according to Byakuya and Yamamoto. Soifon has suspiciously gone missing.

However, the second note revealed knowledge of the tracking devices. Granted, that could have been a lucky or educated guess, but how would the culprit know if I kept one, especially the one wrapped in Sekkiseki stone? Mayuri didn't seem like the kind of person to allow someone else's subordinate to work in his lab… So unless he simply didn't know, that rules out Soifon and instead suggests Mayuri and good planning. It can't be out of his ability to duplicate someone else's handwriting given a sample.

But the last note wanted me absolutely gone, and our meeting with Mayuri this morning indicated that he wanted me to stay so he could research and experiment on me. So it can't be him, and I can't imagine that knowledge of how to send someone to Hell would be distributed to non-taicho, Ichigo reasoned.

Have you considered that the writer may simply be lying about being able to detect the tracking devices? It is a simple intuitive leap to assume that you would carry them, given that you are allied with the Gotei 13.

Yeah, but without some way to check, we have to assume everything that was written is true, Ichigo pointed out. For all we know, they might not even have the ability to send Mom to Hell. But we can't take the risk… His eyes were drawn to a forest as he passed overhead in his Shunpo, and he decided to pause for a moment and try to reexamine his situation.

Landing on a rather thick, gnarled branch of one of the trees, Ichigo noted that he was out of sight of any civilians, so he took out the latest note again, rereading it and spotting something of interest. "Whoever is behind this, he's doing this because he wants to maintain 'the status quo of Soul Society'. Not the status quo of the Gotei 13, or of the balance between worlds…" Ichigo thought aloud. "Just of Soul Society. That probably means whoever he is, the bastard was affected by the recent changes to the Central 46. Might even be on the new Central 46 himself. Damn it! As if this wasn't complicated enough already! Now even if I get the bastard, I'll probably have the Gotei 13 gunning for me anyways!" Ichigo rubbed his temples, getting a headache. "I hate politics," he decided.

Use the artifact, Zangetsu suggested. Perhaps you will see other clues.

Mentally agreeing with the recommendation, Ichigo pulled out the orb and, following the note's words of caution, put in as little reiryoku as he could into it. It immediately shone bright white before displaying a very lifelike 3D image in the air above it, picturing his mother and her surroundings, in full color and apparently in real time. Masaki appeared to be sitting down on a simple bed in a comfortable-looking stone room, reading a book. The room was apparently lit by a light fixture on the ceiling. Strangely, Ichigo could not see a door. There must be one somewhere… she's got to eat, doesn't… No, Ichigo cut himself off. She doesn't need food… not unless she develops power of her own. She could be held indefinitely. Damn it!

This also explains why we could not sense her earlier… that stone must be Sekkiseki.

Ichigo nodded – it was a reasonable conclusion. "But that much Sekkiseki… It has to have come from somewhere, and unless they just tore it from the wall, which I doubt, there has to be a record of it somewhere. That'll be your task: find where someone could acquire enough Sekkiseki to make a room like that. If we find that, we'll have a lead to go on."

Understood. Be warned: while I am absent, you will be unable to use Bankai, and your power will regenerate extremely slowly. Use wisdom in future use of reiryoku.

"Got it." Ichigo focused hard on manifesting Zangetsu back at Sōkyoku Hill, envisioning it, willing it to happen. Then he felt the perpetually-calm spirit of his blade leave his soul, and Ichigo smiled tightly – it had taken a large chunk of his power to manifest Zangetsu so far away from himself. "Looks like I have my soul to myself for a while," he quipped as he shook his head and jumped out of his tree, ready to move on.

Zangetsu was slightly disoriented as he materialized on Sōkyoku Hill, but even so he recovered quickly. He'd been given a mission by his wielder, and Ichigo was counting on him.

"Who are you?" a very familiar voice demanded sternly from behind him.

Effortlessly picking up the cleaver that had been driven into the ground, Zangetsu turned around. Affecting an almost-unnoticeable smirk, he turned to face the leader of the Kuchiki. "I am Zangetsu."

"Why were you left here?" Yamamoto intoned quietly. It seemed impossible, but if Kurosaki had been defeated…

"A messenger delivered the next message from whomever kidnapped Ichigo's mother. One of the commands was to leave my physical form behind. I have come here on Ichigo's command: an object with the ability to project Kurosaki Masaki's current surroundings revealed that she is within a windowless room with no visible method of entry," Zangetsu reported. "We suspect the walls are made of Sekkiseki. However, Ichigo is unable to continue the investigation in person due to the final condition for Masaki's continued safety – he must not come into contact with any civilization. He is currently heading west, looking for an area to reside until a plan is established. He has charged me with finding where large amounts of Sekkiseki may be acquired."

"How long can he maintain your manifestation?" Byakuya queried calmly.

"Indefinitely. I am not fighting to remain in Ichigo's Inner World, as Bankai has already been achieved, and Ichigo's soul is strong enough to support prolonged separation." Zangetsu narrowed his eyes behind his tinted glasses at the taicho of the 6th Division. "Now that I have answered your questions, perhaps you can answer mine. Where could a noble acquire large amounts of Sekkiseki?"

"Why do you suspect a noble?" Yamamoto countered with a low rumble.

"That is irrelevant, but in the interests of maintaining a working relationship, I shall answer," Zangetsu acquiesced reluctantly. "The notes we were given indicate that the writer or writers were impacted by the abrupt change to the Central 46 that Kyōraku Shunsui implemented recently. Given what is known of Central 46's election procedures, and the artifact delivered to Ichigo, the signs are clear: it is likely that at least one noble family is involved. Now, I repeat: where could a noble acquire large amounts of Sekkiseki?"

"Sekkiseki can be purchased in small quantities from known dealers in the Seireitei, and from black markets throughout the Rukongai," Byakuya answered, his expression not changing in the slightest. "For larger quantities, a noble family must do business with the Pokire family. The Pokire family was charged by the Spirit King to manufacture Sekkiseki and safeguard the secrets of its development. A law was later implemented that the Pokire must report all such transactions to the Central 46 where the information will be entered into the Daireishokairō."

"I see. Then I require permission to view the Daireishokairō records of recent Sekkiseki transactions," Zangetsu stated flatly, his shaded eyes turning to meet Yamamoto's slits.

"You will need to go through the Central 46 to acquire such permission," Yamamoto replied, opening his eyes slightly to convey his seriousness. "My student's action regarding the Central 46 only impacts their abilities to make critical decisions such as declaring war. Access to the Daireishokairō is not classified as such, and may only be granted by the Central 46."

Zangetsu's face tightened. "If what we suspect is true, I will not receive it. If I find myself without options, I will return to Ichigo, and I believe he will carry out his threat from this morning."

The top of Yamamoto's cane smoldered, throwing off a few stray sparks around his hands as it threatened to burst into flame and reveal the true form of Ryūjin Jakka. "He will find it harder than he thinks to defeat me."

"Ichigo doesn't have to defeat you," Zangetsu replied, tightening his grip on his blade. "Your powers clashing would create a cataclysm that would serve Ichigo's purpose just as well – a vivid demonstration of power, and a statement that he will not tolerate anything happening to his friends and family, even if it means fighting the most powerful Shinigami in the Gotei 13. If you truly wish to prevent a war between the Gotei 13 and Kurosaki Ichigo, you must aid us."

"Why should the afterlife bow to a mere child's desire?" Yamamoto asked dangerously.

"Why should a man not destroy that which continues to do him wrong?" Zangetsu riposted. "Tell me, Yamamoto, what would you do if the situation were reversed? What would you do if some unknown force successfully captured one of your loved ones and threatened to banish him or her to Hell unless you did as ordered for the rest of your days? Would you let that person be destroyed to continue your duty as your position dictates, and eventually catch the villain in the end? Or would you whatever it took, even reduce all creation to ash, to rescue your loved one as your heart commands?"

"I do not have the luxury of acting on solely my behalf!" Yamamoto growled. "I am sōtaicho of the Gotei 13! Regardless of my feelings, my actions must reflect my duties and responsibilities! If I do not obey the law, what sort of example is that to all those under me? 'If you are strong, the rules do not apply?' I cannot simply abandon everything! The one can never come before the many!"

Zangetsu scoffed. "What kind of example is it to abandon those you care for? Ichigo would tear the very skies asunder to protect those he claims as his. He is unafraid to blacken the night, to make everyone fear that he will hunt and consume them under the pale light of the moon, if it will safeguard those he cares for. And he will do just that if given no other choice." He lifted his Shikai blade, pointing it directly at Yamamoto challengingly. "You have three choices, Yamamoto Genryūsai-Shigekuni. Help us, step aside, or draw your blade and stop me by force, because I will not back down, I will not abandon the ideals that my wielder holds within his heart!"