Ichigo stared at Gin in confusion.

"You... you died! I saw you! And you were with Aizen!"

"Yup!" Gin said with a smile.

"Then..."

"I brought him back, Kurosaki-kun." Orihime said, walking out of the shop.

"Ah, Orihime-san." Gin greeted.

"Inoue..."

"Matsumoto-san and Byakuya-san wanted me to try and... I was able to. But Urahara-san told me I should never do it again so long after death. He said I would mess up the distribution of the Soul Society and the World of the Living if I did it too many times."

"You brought me back many times."

"But it was usually right after you died. It was a bit of a wait for Gin-san."

"Nyeh, that's true." Gin said. "Besides, I can't do anything anymore. I can never be in a seated position of the Soul Society, Head Captain Yamamoto said so." he said, holding up his pointer finger to quote the old man.

"Gin was speaking the truth when he said that he was only following Aizen to avenge Lieutenant Matsumoto. With that being proven and no one else to cause a stir, he was imprisoned until a couple months ago." Byakuya explained.

Gin waved again and then handed the tape to Byakuya.

"Here you go! I have to go back and do sweeping."

"Sweeping?" Ichigo asked.

"What you would called 'community service'." Urahara said from the door of the shop.

"Bye-bye! Can I use your Senkaimon, Urahara-san?"

He nodded and Gin used flash step to leave the company.

Ichigo stared after him.

"What just happened?"

"I'll explain." Urahara said.

********************

"When Aizen was sealed and everything settled down, Byakuya came to me for advice on Gin. He and Byakuya are friends you know."

Ichigo looked at Byakuya as he sat, listening with his eyes closed.

"He is an acquaintance." He clarified to Ichigo.

"Nuh uh!" Yachiru yelled, skipping over to Byakuya and pointing. "Bya-kun and Snakey have been buddies for a long time."

Byakuya's eyebrow twitched a little at being caught and he opened his eyes to look at Ichigo, who was looking at him.

"He is a close acquaintance."

"FRIENDS!" Urahara yelled, slapping the stubborn man with his folded fan. "You're friends, Kuchiki-sama." He turned back to Ichigo. "Anyway, he remembered that Orihime had healing powers and wondered if there was anything she could. It was so touching! He even brought him-"

"Matsumoto brought him." Byakuya said with deep annoyance.

Rukia blinked and Byakuya stared at Urahara with a death glare.

"Fine then, "Matsumoto" brought him here and I asked Orihime if she would mind bringing him back for me. Before I did though, I had to ask Byakuya-san why he wanted him brought back. He had betrayed the Soul Society and even made threats against Rukia, siding with Aizen. If he was all about rules, then why bring this criminal and betrayer back to life? He said that you knew Gin was not really a traitor to the Seireitei in all actuality. He was mostly a little boy with a little boy's promise that led him into bad things. That and I remembered when I asked you so long ago if Aizen had anyone in cahoots with him. You said, "Whatever is done is done by Aizen's hand. The choice to follow him was the only choice made of their own accord." In dealing with Aizen, I understood then what you meant."

"So I brought Gin-san back. He was a little too far gone but with help from Urahara-san and Kurotsuchi-taicho, I was able to do it."

"Mayuri?"

"Mayuri implants detectors in everyone at some point in time in the interaction of people. With a few tweaks of reiatsu and a couple of small sacrifices from Byakuya and Matsumoto, we got him back. There were a lot of strings to pull."

"I'm sure Rangiku is happy." Ichigo said.

"Urahara-san, what about Nii-sama? The Hollow..." Rukia asked, bringing everyone back to the real situation at hand.

"Ah, yes, so it's really up to you, Kuchiki-san, but the best course for you would be to visit with Shinji to get training. The Head Captain seems to be warming up to those of Vizored-kind and has even let Shinji, Hiyori, and Kensei back into the Soul Society. I wonder if your grandfather could pull some strings for you..."

"I do not need my grandfather's help to take care of my own business. Why can't Kuro- Ichigo teach me?" he asked, gesturing to Ichigo.

"I had to be taught myself and I'm not the traditional student. Even Shinji realized that I was not like they are. You will have to train at a pace you can keep up with."

"Are you implying that I do not have the capability to learn how to control myself as fast as you, Kurosaki Ichigo?" Byakuya asked, a dense feeling surrounding him.

Ichigo blinked. "I never said that."

"Then why do you treat me as if I cannot do anything you can? I have been a Soul Reaper longer than you. I am older than you. I am more skilled. If you can do it, then I can."

"No. You can't." Ichigo said with a glare.

Byakuya was silent for a moment, closing his eyes, and then opening them again, looking at Ichigo. His sclera black and irises bright blue. Ichigo only stared at him as Rukia and Renji gasped.

"I am stronger than you will ever be."

"I don't think so."

"You never want to teach me to get stronger, especially when it comes to surpassing you."

"You're acting like a child. You haven't changed since the day I met you. Spoiled, haughty, abrasive and uncontrolled."

Byakuya breathed in and calmed down. He blinked and then looked at Ichigo again, his eyes normal.

"You are wrong, Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Then take my advice and let them teach you."

Urahara put his hand on Byakuya's shoulder and smiled.

"Don't worry, Kuchiki-san, you'd be much better taught by the Vizored than by stinky old Kurosaki-san."

"Hey!"

"True. His technique is unreliable."

"HEY!"

"A firecracker."

"A louse."

"Hothead."

"Incongruent."

"Unreliable."

"No form."

"Chaotic and disorderly." they both said.

Ichigo was on the floor in a name-calling coma, twitching on the floor as Byakuya turned to Urahara.

"Do you think they will teach me?"

"If they helped Ichigo, then why wouldn't they help you? You're more valuable than he is..."

Yachiru laughed. "Look, Kenny! Icchi looks like a sea urchin!"

Byakuya nodded. He believed he would get things done.

******************

Byakuya went home and came out of the Senkaimon, shaking his head a little from the strange feeling in his head.

"It's happening again, isn't it, Bya-kun?"

Byakuya turned to Gin as he came from the shadows and began to walk in step with Byakuya.

"Yes."

"Kurosaki-san gonna help ya?"

"No. He is useless."

Gin laughed. "Nah, he's just sporadic... and analytical... He's creepy."

"Creepy? I would think you are at the top of that list, Gin."

"You are too truthful, Bya-kun... But Kurosaki-san is too observant of things. He catches things someone like him should not be able to catch. Hidden meanings, purposes for fighting, things like that. That guy is one odd kid. No wonder you're friends with him."

"I wonder why you think we are friends in the first place." Byakuya said, not looking at him. "You are beneath me."

Gin laughed. "And I'm smarter than you. See? We both walk on each other's superiority every time we talk. It's a thrilling challenge, eh, Bya-kun?"

Byakuya looked at Gin as he smiled and sighed.

"I am not in the mood for your riddling dialogue."

Byakuya did flash step and Gin watched him, shading his eyes and his smile turned into a frown. Hmm... Aizen's experiment is manifesting quickly. Run, Byakuya, while you still can. If Kurosaki-san can't help you, then no one can.