Captains' Assembly Hall

"Next in Line":

The assembled captains waited in the Assembly Hall, hoping the commander would destroy the monster who had taken so much from them. On call if something else happened. Events seemed to happen in sets of threes in the past couple decades. Aizen had kidnapped three women on his return. The Ayakashi had killed Kita's parents on Tervaden's orders, before he attacked - and nearly killed Kyoraku - and then Soul Society had been set aflame. And most recently, on the eve of the takeover, a swarm of arrancars had attacked, followed by the Ayakashi, and then the gods' powers.

Now, it had begun with Aizen kidnapping the eldest of the seraph's children, followed by the hated monster attempt to take another leader from them. The third. .... Would that be the end?

Or was something else going to happen?

The tension mounted in the room as the first division shook from the battle between Urahara and Sada Teruo. They barely breathed when Ashimitsu's lieutenant sent a Hell Butterfly reporting the safe return of the Ichimaru boy. What registered with them more was that the boy feared for the school.

And then, Kisuke's reiatsu vanished. Along with their loathed enemy. A few captains cursed. Byakuya's eyes narrowed.

And a scout rushed in from 12th Division. Out of breath, he leaned on his knees. "Captain Kurotsuchi reports ... that Karakura is being attacked. Bombs-- like before."

It was the third blow.

"Now what?" Sajin growled.

Byakuya closed his eyes. "We don't let panic take hold and trust the Kurosakis and their strange allies to deal with the town." He called a Hell Butterfly to him.  "I'm sending 11th Division to protect the Academy until our commander's time limit of playing in Las Noches is up.  He disappeared too quickly to have been killed."

"Mutsu, join Abarai in releasing Hirako.  Keep him from going ballistic.  If that means hitting him in the head with your fans, so be it. But I want him here as well.  Without his curses and reckless lunges into danger." 

Hitsugaya, join Zaraki with a squad of your division. We will discuss what to do about this threat while you set up a perimeter. Keep the students within the dorms and the buildings immediately nearby. Ukitake was working on some kind of shield there. We may be able to figure it out in time with Tessai here. No one is to linger outdoors until we have reached a decision."

"Ashimitsu, where is that boy now?" 

“With the grief from the loss of the Commander and Ukitake, combined with his mother’s pregnancy, that would be a potent threat on the boy,” Kuchiki murmured. “And considering the fact that the boy didn’t stop to tell you to protect people today, we at least have more than 24 hours to prepare for the disaster on the academy and students – if he cannot find this key. That is something we have not been fortunate enough to have before.”

A couple nodded.

“Furthermore, I highly doubt it will be easy to acquire the vessel to awaken said Hougyoku if he was given the key. Not with either the Snake or Tervaden/Tetsuya nearby or at her side. And her own experiences.  Those are also points in our favor.” As a couple started to murmur to each other, Kotetsu worrying about the effect of this on Kita’s babies, Byakuya let himself worry about the final prong in the supposed threat.

If Aizen had indeed threatened Makino, that meant Saya would be involved. Once she learned, she would not stay at home. It also meant that the feelings between Ichimaru’s son and his possible daughter were most likely more than a simple infatuation. The brothers would not be pleased. And he could be set up to deal with this matter before he had decided what to do.

“We need to know the details and protect the Academy the most.”

He would have to speak to the Masanobus and try to get Kin let him lead them in protecting Makino – and by association, Saya -- after this meeting.

Kuchiki blinked to disguise his lapse of attention. “Yes, we should, though if the boy has been trained by some of the best, he will be heading here on his own.” He turned to Nori. “Before you go deal with Hirako, have your lieutenant find Sojiro Ichimaru. He knows the mother and son well. He will know whether to disturb their meeting or not. And his presence shouldn’t set off the unreliable temper of her husband.  When the time is right, bring the boy here." 

As Nori nodded and turned to leave, Byakuya looked to Ashimitsu. As long as he was the leader, there was something else he could do to improve their chances. “Ashimitsu, gather your lieutenant and fetch the boy's father. Kisuke's keeping him in the Rukongai somewhere. That's all the Hatter told me when I demanded to know his plans for something else. I don't care if you have to bludgeon or bloody the snake for him to cooperate. Get him here."

Kuchiki closed his eyes in lieu of actually rolling them in public. “That is another reason I recommended that that particular lieutenant find the boy. Sojiro is a headstrong, independent boy which could be difficult enough, but if he does pull something like his father, there are few better than Izuru Kira to figure out what he is up to and to enforce cooperation.”

“This is hardly the place or time to discuss the mysteries of men and women,” Kuchiki muttered, halting the roving discussion in its tracks. “Miyamoto may be able to control her men in some aspects, but that has hardly applied when she was in danger. I suspect it could the same with the younger Ichimaru.  From what I have seen, his protective streak is wider than his sire’s.”

Tsukiro grinned. “It is that.” He bowed and shunpo’ed out.

Kuchiki turned to Isane. “Kotetsu, I am asking you to linger here in case the Commander returns injured or he is too stubborn to listen to me about treatment.”

Before she could respond, he lifted his head to the tallest of their comrades. “Komamura, could you keep your nose out for any… unpleasant return… if Urahara were to lose this gamble. Teruo’s theatrics are hard to miss.  But I would prefer less of our subordinates to see it if it were to happen." 

"Get him up and over to the table. Lay him down there." Isane explained to them as two of the captains helped Kisuke off the floor. Byakuya taking Benihime from the floor as well.

"I am fine." Kisuke informed them as they took him over to the large table in the room. "Really, it's just my reiatsu needs to replenish."

They sat him to the table as Isane stepped up to him and started examining him. A she did Byakuya walked over resting Benihime to the table at his side. Kisuke looked to him. He gave him a weak smile.

"I need to get to Kita and Kadaj. Now before anyone else does."

"You're not going anywhere until your strength returns." She paused and looked at the acting Commander. "You said someone was dead. Did you kill that demon that took Kyoraku and Ukitake from us?"

Kisuke shook his head. "He could be anywhere. Lets just hope he is close." He looked to Byakuya again. "Where is Sojiro? He needs to hear this as well." He slid off the table top his legs wobbling under him as he steady himself with a hand to the table.

Taking Benihime he sheathed her as she turned back to a cane. He smirked and winked at Isane as she frowned at him for not resting. "I will be fine." He patted the top of her head. Then looked back to Byakuya.

"I was not able to find out what all that was about. Do you know anything yet?"