The Invading Army Part 1, 1-1

Hey there, Captain Hitsugaya! What's up? Something happen today?

No, just reporting in here. I was being grilled on the cleansing progress in the Tenkai zone.

Oh, that should all be finished by the end of today.

What?!

That's what Nanao said in the report she sent me.

That Rangiku! She knows she should be including that in her report as well.

Sorry, but can you please pass on that update?

I'm all done over here, Nanao.

Well now, that means we've completed our share of the cleansing. Very nicely done.

So, Nanao. Since we've finished with all our work here, what do you say the two of us reward ourselves just a little?

*Beep Beep Beep*

Hi, Rangiku here.

Rangiku, you idiot! Do you know how many times I've tried to call you?! Explain to me why I haven't been receiving any reports from you!

I'm sorry, sir! I was too busy working all this time. We finally finished our assignment, so Nanao and I were about to take a break and go out for some-

Get back here right now!

Geez, what's up with this passageway? It's creepy.

True, but it is the designated path for us to use.

Nanao... Tell me, do you sense anything strange here?

What's strange?

Huh?!

You are concerned about Lieutenants Matsumoto and Ise?

Yes, I haven't been able to reach either of them since yesterday when they said they were returning. I'd like to check to see if there's any record of them passing through the Precipice World.

Hey, Inaba. Bring me the Precipice World traffic log, would you please?

So, we're looking for Lieutenants Matsumoto and Ise, that correct? Well, at this time, we have no record that they returned from the world of the living. Perhaps they haven't passed through the Precipice World yet.

But they had to!

This is all starting to get pretty strange, if you ask me.

The situation is becoming clear to me. What do you think, Captain Kurotsuchi?

Well, if their entrance wasn't recorded in the traffic log, then they both must still be in the world of the living.

But that doesn't make any sense to me, sir. If they stayed there, we would've heard from them by now.

Could they have had some sort of accident in the Precipice World?

Our Research and Development Department monitors the Precipice World 24 hours a day. Are you really suggesting that we missed them?

Yes.

Hah! What?! So, you're going to blame your subordinates' lack of training on me?!

Hey, hold on. We gotta work together. We'd like to confirm that the both of them are safe.

Excuse me, Head Captain, but I have timely news to share. Lieutenants Matsumoto and Ise have just arrived and wish to report in.

Rangiku! What the hell were you doing for the last 24 hours?!

Huh? What's the problem?

Nanao, where did you go off to on your way back?

Nowhere. We did as ordered and came straight back here after completing our mission.

Exactly! You were screaming in my ear just a few hours ago, Captain.

A few hours?!

Yes, almost exactly three hours.

Well, that means the time axis is out of sync.

So it does seem something has gone wrong in the Precipice World.

Then I am calling a captains' meeting immediately.

Captain Kurotsuchi, report.

Well, after a detailed study of the data from within the Precipice World, I have discovered that a "stretching of time" gap has formed between the world of the living and the Soul Society.

And this gap is continuing to grow even larger. So at this rate, within the next day or so, we will no longer be able to intervene in the world of the living.

An adjustment can be made immediately, but I'm more worried about the cause. I would like to do a detailed survey of the Precipice World first.

Very well. Regarding this latest incident, I appoint Squad 12 Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi to be in charge of organizing and conducting the survey.

I also order Squad 11 Captain Zaraki to provide security within the Precipice World for those involved.

I also order Squad 6 Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and Lieutenant Abarai...

...as well as Squad 10 Captain Hitsugaya to assist Captain Kurotsuchi in his field survey. And you will all work together cooperatively. Dismissed!

............

Excuse me, sir.

Ah, Inaba. A group of officers needs to enter the Precipice World to do a survey. Would you mind showing them the way?

Of course. Understood, sir.

Hey, we've established communication with Captain Kurotsuchi.

What took you so long?!

Sorry about that. We had trouble making adjustments. How do things look? Figured out what's going on?

Hmph. As I suspected, the cause of the problem was man-made.

Haha! Oh, Kenny! Being here's a lot of fun!

Huh?

Stop it! I couldn't care less if you fools turn into space-time dust, but I won't allow you to interfere with my survey.

Sir! There's something coming!

You've returned!

We suddenly lost all communications with the Precipice World, sir. And since then, a state of emergency has been declared.

What about Captains Kurotsuchi and Zaraki?

We haven't heard from them.

We're heading to Squad 1. We found something important in the Precipice World that we need to report.

So, you're saying when you arrived there, you didn't meet up with Captain Kurotsuchi and the others?

That's right.

What are you here to report, then?

We found this near the area where we were supposed to rendezvous with Captain Kurotsuchi's group.

I'm not sure, but perhaps it's connected to this incident. I believe this warrants further investigation.