The Noble Sort

A/N: Back to some actual development in the plot. The last chapter was needed, though, and why will become clear soon enough. As I always say, all the important information is located in the notes of the first two parts.

And, um, if any of you are big on games, FFXIII. I'm totally advertising it as I'm enjoying the hell out of it. Some definite differences in the format, but the story and graphics are enough to blow you away.

And I apologize for any formatting issues; the uploader page was not cooperating today. At. All.

R & R if you enjoyed the update; it helps me write faster which means I update faster. It's electronic encouragement, really.

Enjoy!

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"The Noble Sort"

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It was late, but she swore she heard someone come in downstairs.

They had dinner hours ago, so she knew her uncle was already in the house. Most likely, someone was visiting. And if a taichou was here this late, something had happened or he had them reporting to him very privately.

She slid out of bed as quietly as possible and headed to the door. Sliding it open just a hair, she saw that there was a light on down the hall, in Gen-oji-san's study.

He had kept his office in this wing of the house for some reason, although he would never explain it. Most likely it was for his personal convenience and he didn't want to say. But if they were meeting in his study, it was definitely private, and one of his closer taichou.

There were only three of them, one of which had been over here earlier in the evening and left sloshed and dizzy. That left only two people who could be in his office with him, and she doubted it was Unohana-taichou.

She tiptoed silently down the hall, making sure to stay against the thicker second wall so that the light splaying through the rice paper front walls of the study wouldn't catch her shadow.

This was not her first eavesdropping trip to her uncle's study, after all. By now, she knew how to do it without getting caught.

She could hear him, faintly, and knew getting any closer was risky but necessary if she wanted to hear him.

She crept as close as she dared, crouching against the wall, and thankfully, she could faintly hear voices.

"…was on the phone with someone, supposedly telling them to get her cats."

Ukitake-taichou. Of course.

Most likely one of her uncle's most trusted was put with her so he could report back her every word and movement.

Go figure. I would be attracted to the spy.

She wouldn't deny it, though. Shishi had been on her about it since he had caught the feeling, so it was useless. He hadn't called him any names, though, so he wasn't too opposed to the guy. He had just teased her most of the night, enjoying her embarrassment.

Like it would ever happen.

"…I assumed she talked to them. Did she say anything about Hirako Shinji…"

"…no, nothing, Genryuusai-sensei. Not around anyone she didn't trust."

Well, duh. She wasn't just going to blab her every secret all of a sudden. Or other people's secrets, for that matter.

It was silent for a moment, most likely as the two sipped at tea. Her uncle always had tea around.

"She did visit Kurotsuchi-taichou."

She heard a cup hit a saucer jarringly.

"She would," she barely heard her uncle mutter; her grin was impossible to contain. She loved the fact that he hated the weird scientist; it was her own little way of getting under his skin.

"I take it you don't approve of…"

"Of course not."

The conversation continued, running through just about everything they had said and done while in the twelfth, and she let the encounter play in her mind quickly. There was nothing that hinted at what she had actually been doing.

"…anything between she and Urahara is not my business."

Ooh, was he angry? She definitely heard some anger and resentment in his voice.

He should know better; it was obvious to everyone that he and Yoruichi were lovers. He didn't have to worry about her shacking up with one of the men he couldn't stand. Well, at least not that one. There were none right now, but you never knew.

"…guarantee that wasn't her only reason, Juushirou…"

Of course he would know that, he knew her better than anyone. But he still didn't know what she was there for, and her phone had been hidden behind her bathroom's toilet tank as soon as she got in the house. Everything else had been hidden underneath the tatami mat, right by the top of her western-style bed. They would have to move the sucker to get to it, and any searchers would most likely just look under it and in between the mattresses.

"…find her something to do until then…"

Until when, she thought.

"…library, or perhaps the academy…"

Yeah, when?

"…have to make sure she is there, do you understand? Everyone will be needed."

Until the battle, she thought, covering her mouth with her hand before her body even had a chance to expel the large breath she felt fighting its way out in surprise.

They were going to keep her stashed here until the battle. Not surprising, really, but she was hoping that a promise to show up and a locator would work on her uncle so she could go back and prepare with her friends.

"…after…"

Yes, yes! Speak up, damn you!

"…assuming we live…" she heard her uncle say, wryly.

Of course. Say it!

"…not sure…where would I put her here…"

"…something could be…"

Come back? Her heart jumped, first in fear and then in a tentative bit of elation at the thought of being able to be around her friends here freely. The rush of jumbled emotion she felt at the idea of being allowed back would have to be analyzed later, though.

"…other taichou…her execution I…"

Oh. Shit.

"…not necessarily. It would not be the first pardon…"

Yeah yeah yeah, remind him of that. Keep him on that track.

"…can be figured out later, sensei. How do we keep her here until…"

Her heart jumped again, her entire body feeling as if it was ready to jump out of a window or hug someone depending on the next words she heard.

"…don't care if I have to put her in a cell…"

Her stomach dropped.

"…Sensei, surely it won't be…"

"…don't let her leave…any circumstance…"

Her heart joined her stomach.

"…no contact with the human realm. None…reinforcements to come get her…"

She finally stood, keeping her hand over her mouth, ready to retreat back to her room.

"…essentially a prisoner…remember that…"

She stifled the sound that was fighting its way up her throat and quickly fled to her bedroom, still making sure to her steps were silent.

She closed the door softly and ran to her bed, jumping on and curling up against the headboard.

She quickly reached over to the right, grabbing Hidaruma and dragging him to her. She pulled her knees up to her chest and sat him in front of her, a solid line of black sheath and silver hilt on the thick and fluffy baby blue duvet. As if he could become a ward against the men just down the hall.

I'm sorry, my dear.

She sniffed.

I should have seen it coming, really. I've been reminding everyone else of it, just not myself.

The sniffling was quickly turning into tears.

I think I was deluding myself, letting myself feel the happiness I once felt here…

Would it be alright if…I came out?

She nodded, knowing he always somehow saw it.

The sword and sheath in front of her fully disappeared in one second, and slowly, a large black dog materialized in front of her. She could feel the springs of the mattress give as his substantial weight—he weighed almost three times what she did—fell on the bed's supports.

He was shaggy and dark, his yellow eyes taking on a bright tint of red as the light from her lamp caught them. He scooted on his belly toward her and she unfolded, letting him come to rest across her legs with his head up on her stomach.

Both of her hands came up to rub his head, and he let out a soft growl.

We will be okay, Minako. I promise it.

I know, shishi.

He cocked an ear and an eye up at her.

Do I look like a shishi to you right now?

Of course not.

She smiled through her tears, grabbing his head with both hands and shaking it. His tongue lolled out as she suppressed a laugh at the very doggy expression on her giant hellhound.

You look like you. Hidaruma. My brave flaming zanpakutou, complete with a bad temper and a hatred of any man I try to date.

She felt his sigh, an unusual huff of large air through his snout.

And you. A crazy shinigami with a penchant for people that can't control their own inner selves. She felt him give her a sly smile in her mind. And pale men that are obviously spying on you.

I doubt you have anything to worry about there, shishi.

You never know. He could be taken in by your wiles. I've seen worthier opponents fall to you.

He won't. He has a very large rulebook, all labeled under that mysterious thing 'morality.'

Hm. Morals. They are not needed.

She looked down at him, considering.

You have gained emotion from this. But you have not gained even my small bit of morality?

I didn't say that, he protested. I just ignore it.

Of course you do. You wouldn't be a baka shishi otherwise.

He nipped up at her hand, playfully grabbing her wrist and twisting. She smacked him with the other one, and he lay back down.

Sleep, Minako. No one will bother you with me out.

He gave her a feral grin, his sharp teeth gleaming in the lamplight.

They wouldn't dare.

I know. I'm safe.

She didn't hear him think 'yes, you are,' and she didn't see the way his eyes lit up in the semidarkness of the room as he took over watch of his charge.

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Everything was fire.

The pain that had taken over her body had fled to the back of her mind. It was just a dull buzz, not the all-consuming power over her nervous system it had been minutes before. Now, everything was fire. It was hot, but it didn't hurt.

She was fire.

All around her there were flames. She could feel Hidaruma shouting in joy in her mind, knew he was with her, and the elation was unbelievable.

She crouched, and then sprang into action. They were high above the scientist on the ground—shouting at them, now—and she had never imagined it would feel like this.

She came back down soon enough, delighting in returning to a somewhat human form—basically herself, but not. There were still flames. It was amazing. She was made of flame.

"Minako-san—I—"

She grinned at him, twirling about, and aimed at a rock a hundred yards away. Her sword literally sprang out of her hand and materialized, although it, too, was flame.

"Himon: Kai!"

The second seal released, even in this form, and the rock was engulfed in flames.

It was amazing.

He let them continue, trying different attacks every so often, getting used to the new form. Shinji had been right, she guessed. All it took was training and hard work.

Finally, though, it was time to go back. She heard him say it, but didn't really understand how. Last time it had been so easy, although painful as hell.

She couldn't…remember…

She thought of what she looked like, but she couldn't remember her body. Had she ever existed like that? What did a body feel like? What was skin?

Hidaruma was panicking now, she could tell. He couldn't remember fur, or steel.

The words had meaning, but not enough.

What was human? Was she human now? Could she be human?

Would she just die like this? She could feel the drain on her reiatsu levels, and they both began to panic.

Going back felt impossible.

She sprang awake to feel someone holding her down by her shoulders, and she screamed. She could hear Hidaruma nearby, whimpering, but he wasn't moving to help her.

There was someone over her. A dark form.

She tried to lash out, panicking, screaming at Hidaruma to help her but he stayed out of her vision, not even moving to rescue her.

She felt her heart start to beat way too fast, even faster than it had been in the terror left from her dream, but finally, finally, one of the arms moved off of her left shoulder and she swung violently, catching the man—she could tell, they always smelled differently—right in the stomach.

He didn't budge, although she heard his exclamation of pain, and then the light was on.

It was her uncle.

She scooted backward, his hand coming up off of her right shoulder now as well, and she backed herself up against the headboard. Her back was stiff and straight, her eyes wide and locked on his.

In her peripheral vision, she saw Hidaruma jump onto the bed, coming to lay against her legs.

"Minako?"

She nodded, unsure she could even speak right then.

She saw his eyes close, and he sank heavily, sitting on the side of the bed. He was already in his sleeping yukata, so it must have been late.

He looked so tired, she realized, more tired than she probably did.

"I'm alright. It just takes me a minute to calm down."

She closed her eyes, concentrating on her breathing like she always did. It was the only way to truly calm down and get focused again. She felt his hand come to rest on her calf, though, and knew that she wasn't alone in trying to fight off the terror the dream had wrought.

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She wasn't doing it. Nope.

No way was she going down there this morning. She was gonna stay upstairs, and then once her uncle left she would just hang around the house all day.

There were many reasons behind this, including the conversation she had overheard the night before and her monumental freak out. She wasn't in the mood to see her uncle. She really wasn't in the mood to see the other one either, although for different reasons.

Is it merely physical attraction?

She saw him lift his head and look at her through the bathroom mirror's reflection.

Maybe. I dunno.

Could it be more? Do you even know him well enough?

She stopped brushing her hair, the question running through her mind.

I think so. He doesn't seem to have changed, and I knew him well then. Am I attracted to his personality? I don't know. Physically, he's my type, but mentally—who knows?

Then just mate with him and get it over with.

She gasped, turned around, and threw the hairbrush at him.

"Ba-Ka Shi-Shi!"

Hn. As if that hurt.

She went back to fixing her hair, which she was leaving down again. It was an easy way to distinguish her present self from her past, and she was keeping it visible for the foreseeable future.

If I had wanted it to hurt, it would have. I promise.

You could try, but you would f—

There was a knock at the door, and then after a short moment it slid open.

"You're really lucky I wasn't changing—" she was cut off by a loud shout.

"What is that?" she heard him exclaim.

"Get off the bed, Hidaruma," she heard her uncle order gruffly.

"That is—that is—" Ukitakte-taichou stuttered.

"Hidaruma," her uncle muttered.

"Is he dangerous in this form, Genryuusai-sensei?"

Would you like to find out? She heard him say in her mind, his dark amusement filtering through her brain. I am sure I could snap you in half if you stand still.

"Shishi, no!"

The very large dog jumped off of the bed about the same time she came through the doorway separating her bedroom from the bathroom, and he sat in front of the two males, watchful. She was sure it had to be quite the sight for Ukitake-taichou; dogs that were the size of a small bear usually were.

"I must admit, Minako-san, when I heard he was a hellhound, I was expecting something…different," Ukitake-taichou said, seemingly lost at the fact that a fiery dog with horns was not standing in front of him. The dog was big, yes, but he looked like a regular dog other than his impressive size.

This is not a fairy tale, moron.

Please, shishi.

He complied, although he did blow a bit of black smoke out of his nostrils.

It wouldn't do to let him think I am harmless, my dear.

She shot the dog a look as stepped up beside him.

No one would, I assure you.

"Oji-san, Ukitake-taichou…what are you doing up here?"

"Minako-san, I am your escort again today. I was hoping we could visit the Eighth Division before heading to my office. I have some work to get done, and then perhaps—"

She cut him off.

"Actually, I think I'm going to stay home today," she said, turning on her heel and heading toward the small writing desk near the window. "I might head over to the old house, but that would be all."

"Stay home?" her uncle said. "You do not wish to visit your old division."

"Not particularly."

Her uncle didn't change his posture or expression, although she could tell he was at a loss. She could actually see some of the confusion Ukitake-taichou felt, though, and triumph flooded her.

Hidaruma barked, suddenly, and the pale man jumped.

"Stupid animal," her uncle huffed, although she could hear the amusement in his voice. He, after all, had a much more stubborn zanpakutou to deal with. He understood.

"Are you afraid of him, Ukitake-taichou?" she said without looking up from the drawer she was digging in. "I assure you, he's not going to attack."

"I—no, Minako-san. He's just very surprising."

She watched her uncle shoot him a look out of her periphery before he turned and headed out of the door.

"I must go. I will see you this afternoon, Minako."

She nodded, making a noise of agreement, and then it was just her and the taichou.

Hidaruma thumped his large tail on the floor, sending out a shockwave of vibration. Unfortunately, this time the pale taichou didn't even flinch. She could feel his disappointment at his failed intimidation tactic.

"Can he fight in this form?" he asked, curious.

She turned slightly in the chair she was now in, nodding.

Can I show him, Minako? It would be…fun.

"He," she chuckled, "he actually wants to know if you would like to spar with him. Well," she said, consideration in her voice, "he didn't say spar."

The taichou pointed at finger at his chest in disbelief.

"Me?"

"Yes, you." Her amusement was clear.

Come on, pale one, let me bite you.

"I wouldn't recommend it, Ukitake-taichou. He is very…playful this morning. He would probably bite you."

Don't ruin my fun, onna!

She saw his brows knit together, and she held in a giggle. If she remembered correctly—

"You should not bite, Hidaruma," he scolded, his finger now pointing at the dog.

Did he just—surely not, Minako!

I think he did, she said dryly.

Hidaruma stood, slowly making his way over to the taichou, obviously stalking his prey.

"Ah, well…perhaps…I'll see you at lunch, Minako-san. Then, maybe, you will go to see Kyouraku and the others with me."

She nodded absentmindedly and he left in a hurry, shutting the door behind him.

She chuckled, turning to the book she had dug out of the desk drawer, and Hidaruma, now sure that her uncle had gone, climbed back on the bed and settled down for a nap.

Good doggie.

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Three hours later they had wandered over to the old house, her mother's home. Hidaruma had stayed in his dog form and she didn't have the heart to make him change back when they were just around the house. A day out might get him to settle down a bit.

She had strolled aimlessly through the rooms, noting the dust and the sheets over the furniture. It had obviously not been touched or lived in since her mother's death.

Once again guilt crept into her heart; she would never live here, either. Most likely the house would sit and rot. It had too many bad memories for her and too few good ones.

No one had followed her over there, oddly enough, although she had felt the extra reiatsu surrounding the grounds not even twenty minutes after her uncle left that morning. He had, most likely, put his own people in place around the house so she couldn't leave. They would stay close but not bother her. And none would be close enough for what she came here to do to matter, thankfully.

She could have tried it from her bedroom, but the chance that Hikaru would overhear and potentially inform her uncle made her wary.

She pulled the phone out and turned it on—she had kept it off when not in use to conserve the battery. The voicemail icon popped up, which meant she was receiving calls while here.

Thank you Mayuri! she screamed in her head.

She quickly checked her mail, noting that all the calls but one were from Lisa, yet again checking to see if she had come back from Seireitei. One, though, was from Urahara, who seemed a little miffed about the fact that he had caught Mayuri using the backdoor to get into his system last night.

He said that he hoped having her phone active was worth it, and that Yoruichi was beginning to wonder where she was and why he had her cats, which he also did not appreciate.

There was also a picture, sent from Yoruichi, of Kiri wearing something odd. She probably didn't want to know, but if he was using them in any sort of experiment, she would kill him. Yoruichi said to enjoy her trip—what had he told her?—and that she would care of the babies until she got back.

She didn't have time to call him now either way; this was something she wanted done as quickly as possible so there was very little chance of her getting caught.

She quickly pulled up her phone book and tapped Lisa's number with her finger, and the phone began dialing.

"Minako."

"Obviously," she said as she moved toward the large window in her mother's bedroom. It looked out over the pond, and it had been her mother's favorite spot.

"What is it?"

She could hear the dread in her voice.

"I'm a prisoner." She sighed. "They're going to keep me here until the battle with Aizen, and then—well, they don't seem to sure we'll live through it, much less what they'll do with me afterward. He wants my bankai, most likely—the barrier would be useful for something in his plans, I'm sure."

"I knew it. Somehow, I just knew it." She heard Lisa slam something down, most likely one of her manga. "So what's the plan?"

"I don't know yet. But I was able to get a friend to wire my phone. I can use it here, so we can keep in contact. You'll have to leave me messages; I turn it off when I'm not using it to conserve the battery."

"Got it."

"Otherwise, I'll just call you when the coast is clear. I might have to stage a breakout."

"If that's what it takes—"

"He mentioned execution, Lisa. He didn't—didn't sound like he would, but…if everything should come out at some point it's almost assured…"

"Fuck. Hold on—Shinji! No, right now. Come here."

She could hear them arguing over the phone, and chewed on one of her nails. She didn't know what time Ukitake-taichou would be back, just around lunch, and it was getting close…

"I thought they told Urahara you weren't, ya know, deep in it, Minako."

"Well, apparently they didn't know everything, Shinji. And you know as well as I do that it was always a possibility."

"Shit. Here's what you're gonna do, ya got it? Listen to me closely, Minako. The next time you get any hint he won't be watchin' you at night, or you can get someone to take you into Rukongai for somethin', you call us first."

"A breakout. I can do that on my own."

"No. You'll just screw it up, dumbass. Ya call me, I'll get Urahara to get a gate open. I owe you, anyway."

"Ok. Shinji—thanks."

She didn't wait to hear a reply, just hit the disconnect button and powered the phone down.

Kami, she didn't want to drag them into this, but she had almost no choice. She couldn't do this alone, she knew it. And she had helped them out before, just like they were helping her now.

You helped them break out of something and I wasn't involved? she heard him ask, sounding hurt.

No. She grinned. But I bailed Shinji and Love out of jail one night, and I seem to remember taking a punch meant for Lisa at a bar a few years ago. Half of them might think I'm too shinigami for their tastes, but they owe me one.

She heard footsteps in the hallway as soon as she turned to leave her mother's room.

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A/N: I haven't noticed any new Japanese words yet, so no Japanese lesson this update. Unless you just want one: "ue, naka, shita!" Ue is above or on, naka is inside or in, and shita is below or under. "Ue ni, naka ni, and shita ni" are now translatable for you guys!