"When did you arrive, Isao-sama? I never sensed your Reiryoku until now," he said, creating a burst of spiritual pressure to shed off the gigai which, until now, had caused him to be powered-down for the sake of seeming "alive." 

Isao shifted Yue to rest on one arm, sliding the wakizashi back in its sheath. "How many times have I told you not to drop your Zanpakuto, Yue? Hakuda isn't everything. Don't anger it more than necessary." It made little sense to Yue, who simple nodded absently, her eyes on the blue sky peeking out from the dense foliage. They started swirling together, making her head swim so she dropped her eyes, resting her head on Isao's arm. Isao merely shifted her again, sliding his free arm underneath her back for support. "I arrived a few moments before the boy was taken. It was quite a hard task finding you two, might I add. Were you two in gigai the whole time?" 

"After the initial attack, yes. We didn't know how long until a rescue team would come so we prepared to live with the humans for a time. I'm relieved that we didn't have to," he confessed. "Did they discover the cause of this Hollow infestation? Why are there so many?" he continued.

"Come." He motioned for Kouta to follow him as he made his way out of the forest. A series of shadows passed over their heads, blocking out the light and temporarily dimming the area. "This isn't common knowledge, Akimoto-san, so I trust you'll keep this to yourself. These Hollows are much more organized than your average Hollows and those we've observed in the past. Something isn't right with these Hollows. My men are heading towards where the nest might be." 

Kouta didn't pretend to know a lot about Hollows. He hardly knew much of anything about the Seireitei and the Gotei, regardless of his father's position. "Are they possibly the same organism? Could this Hollow be able to multiply?" But he knew what Hollows were capable of. "The Twelfth is currently looking into it but it is entirely possible. There could be an organism complex enough to clone itself." Isao replied.

They walked back out into the clearing and continued on past the barn, taking a turn that led him into another clearing. Isao stopped on the way to pick up Yue's second wakizashi. He slid it back into the second sheath, the disturbance doing nothing to wake Yue's passed-out form. 

A Senkaimon lay open just ahead, waiting for Isao to pass through with Yue. Just before he stepped though, he turned to Kouta. "Thank you for staying with her and taking care of her." He motioned to Yue's asleep figure nestled securely in his arms. 

"It was my duty, Isao-sama." He said bowing. "The two students who we managed to keep intact are in a barn in that direction." His voice didn't seem concerned or held remorse for the fallen Shinigami. Perhaps it was a defense mechanism.

"I'll meet you back in the Seireitei," he said, placing a hand on Yue's arm as if that was going to comfort her. He then quickly turned and headed in the opposite direction. Now spiritually aware of the Yukihiro House, he followed where it was strongest.