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Yamamoto lead Kyouraku into his personal office and closed the door once both of them were inside. He made his way over to his desk and sat down, leaning his staff against the desk as he did so. "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about, Captain Kyouraku Shunsui?" He asked in quite the official voice.

Kyouraku sat down in front of him across the desk and looked around. He remembered at that moment that once the door to the Commander-General's office was closed no one would be able to hear them or spy on them due to a constant barrier set up by the 12th squad. He leaned in close to the old man and set his chin in an open palm, supported by his elbow which rested on the desk. "Yama-ji, today I was walking through East Rukongai and upon seeing the slums again I suddenly remembered something..." Kyouraku paused for a moment, waiting to see if Yamamoto had caught on to what he was going to bring up next. The old Commander showed no signs of recognition, sitting with a stone cold expression on his face.

"Sir, normally I would abide by the laws set by you and the former Central 46, but right now I feel that it is of pressing importance to break one certain law."

"The laws are not to be broken!" Yamamoto replied sharply.

"I understand that," Kyouraku continued, "But it is for the good of Soul Society that I bring this up. As you know Sousuke Aizen is in Hueco Mundo, preparing to attack us and the Living Realm. This is known by all shinigami. What isn't known by all shinigami is that there are other shinigami in Hueco Mundo. A select group that was bannished there about 600 years ago-"

"And they do not exist." Yamamoto interrupted abruptly.

"Of course they don't," Kyouraku said, deciding to play this game with the old man, "but if they did exist I am sure that Aizen would understand that such powerful individuals would be strong allies. I would think that it would be in Soul Society's best interests to contact this hypothetical squad and try to keep them from joining Aizen's forces. Essentially each of those in that squad are of Captain strength after 600 years of being surrounded by hollows and they would definitely be a threat to all of us."

"Shunsui, what is said in this office stays here, understood?" Yamamoto said gruffly. Kyouraku nodded and Yamamoto continued, "The 14th Squad, should they still be alive, is a terrible threat to Soul Society. Knowing their Captain they will do anything, and I mean anything, to destroy our way of life. What you say is true. It is of utmost importance that they do not join up with Aizen as he has the power to release them from Hueco Mundo."

"Precisely!" Kyouraku exclaimed as it seemed that Yamamoto understood what he was thinking. "My suggestion is this: Send me to Hueco Mundo. I will find them and speak with them myself. No one else other than the older Captains and Byakuya know of their existance and it is crime to educate the younger ones about them, so I would be the only one to be able to go. I wouldn't dare send anyone else as they would surely be killed, but I think that my old friendship with Ikkimaru may allow me some leaverage in negotiations."

"You aren't just saying this because you opposed to their disbandment, are you?" Yamamoto said with narrowed eyes.

"Of course not. My Vice Captain was killed by one of theirs in the riots. I wouldn't ask for this unless I thought it was necessary." Kyouraku responded. "Please. I don't want Aizen getting any more powerful and this will at least prevent that from happening."

"We couldn't stand to loose you." Yamamoto said with a slight hint of compassion in his voice. "Shunsui, you were always a promising student and a magnificent Captain. To lose you to those dogs would be a misfortune completely unbearable. All of Soul Society would be affected if you were to be slain in Hueco Mundo. You may go there, but if you don't return..."

Kyouraku understood what Yamamoto meant. He stood and bowed, "Thank you, Yama-ji." He said as he bowed.

"You cannot tell Nanao," Yamamoto added, "Just tell her that you need to go away for a while. Until we understand our standing with that squad a little better we must uphold the laws."

"Of course..." Shunsui stated as he turned for the door.

"Enter." Yamamoto said, waiting for his former student to enter his office. Once Jushiro was inside and the door had been closed Yamamoto's eyes shifted over to the white haired Captain and said, "A problem has occurred. Captain Kyouraku has brought to my attention that the bannished squad will now be able to leave Hueco Mundo with the help of Former Captain Aizen. Our fear is that in return they will do Aizen's bidding and make things much more complicated and thus Kyouraku has asked to travel to Hueco Mundo to speak with Former Captain Shurajou in order to ask him not to ally with Aizen. Though he asked to do this alone I want you to accompany him since your health seems to be better now. He's leaving soon so you should hurry to the Eigth Squad's Headquarters and meet up with him. I'm leaving this entirely to you two and trust that you will keep this entirely secret. We cannot break the laws set in place by telling the younger ones of mistakes long past."

Yamamoto shifted his eyes back to his desk where papers sat neatly organized. He was finished talking, but if Ukitake had a question he would gladly look back up.

A knocking noise once again sounded from the outside of Yamamoto's door before Ukitake entered. "Good news, we met with Ikkimaru and he's agreed not to grant Aizen his squad's aid. There's no promise that he'll help us, but it's at least a step in the right direction, yes?" he said.

"We saw only four of them. Ikkimaru, his lieutenant Nagaharu Kuchiki, the 4th seat Mugoi Yuunou, and 7th seat Dreza Kyden. I'm not sure if there were more or not, but those four seemed to be the only ones left. It is amazing that they've been able to survive for 600 years in Hueco Mundo, but they seem to have grown all the more powerful for it." Ukitake explained.

He seemed hesitent for a moment before adding, "Yamamoto-sensei, with all due respect, I think it may be a good idea for us to consider making peace with them before they decide to do something drastic. Ikkimaru still carries a heavy grudge against you. I have no question about whether or not they can be put down a second time, but I believe the body count this time would be even greater. That's not something we can afford at this time, as you very well know."

After several moments of silence in waiting for an answer from Ukitake, Yamamoto cleared his throat and said, "You see, it's not that easy. How can we trust one man to know how to solve all the problems we have? He was trouble 600 years ago and I doubt he would be any better now. Even worse so, I'd say. If you can come up with a way to deal with him peacefully then I will hear it. Keep your ideas between you and Kyouraku-taichou, though. Until more is known it is still forbidden to speak of them. Understand?"

A tear appeared in thin air in a secluded area of the 1st Squad HQ, opening to reveal a silver haired Shinigami wearing purple armor. Nagaharu stepped through and got his first look at Seireitei in over six hundred years. Pausing for a moment to take it all in from the high vantage point of the 1st Squad's main building, he heaved a sigh, opening his arms to the sun and whispered to himself, "I'm home."

But, now wasn't the time for celebration, he had work to do. The best place to place the device would likely be near Yamamoto's office, or better yet in it, but Haru wasn't that hopeful. With a quick look around to make sure the coast was clear, he made his way quickly inside to find a place to plant the first device.

Yamamoto sat at his desk, reading the different papers that only he could sign, when suddenly he felt a strange twinge in the back of his neck. His old eyes slid their gaze up from the documents and looked around suspiciously. "Chojiro... Could you come in here for a moment." He called out to his vice captain. The man quickly entered with a bow and Yamamoto continued, "Something doesn't feel right. Increase the guard in our Division." The lieutenant bowed and said, "Yes Sir."

Fortunately for Haru he was already well out of the division and the guard would not spot him. If he were to come back, however, it would be a different story...