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Post by Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri on Feb 3, 2023 18:05:04 GMT -6
Mayuri was heard from down the hall as he walked toward the assembly hall doors. He was cursing and complaining about the announcement that was made just moments before.
"A reset!?" Mayuri commented. "I don’t know what the Soul King needed with my experiments, but my lab was fine. There was no need for it to be affected." His hands flew up in the air, then shoved the doors open into the assembly hall. He was still going on.
"Now I have no specimens! My lab is empty! Empty!"
Catching movement with his keen hearing, Mayuri went silent and turned, looking at his fellow captains. "Hmm."
He quickly returned to his rantings under his breath as he strode to his location in line. "The balance," he gave an annoyed huff.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Feb 3, 2023 21:06:22 GMT -6
Juushiro chuckled as he entered with Shunsui and Kisuke. It was a strange thing to be happy about, but hearing their current leader of the 12th division ranting about something in his lab as he entered the Captains Hall filled him with nostalgic warmth. With everything that was broken around them and the trials before them, it was encouraging to see something still the same as before the disaster.
“I am sure you will acquire more before long, Korutsuchi. You’ve never lacked for experimental material. Even more so than your predecessor.”
Kisuke brought his hat down over his eyes. “What can I say? I’m picky about my work.”
Juushiro shook his head lightly, giving Toshiro a hopeful smile before taking his place on the other side.
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Feb 3, 2023 21:32:02 GMT -6
"Hopefully, we all have time to seek out what calms each of us after a little more time," Shunsui murmured, sharing a look with the shopkeeper.
As the little noise settled down, he slowly made his way back to the front, to the weather-worn chair that had once belonged to Yamamoto, which now belonged to him. Ignoring its comfort, he placed his hat on the top, his hand smoothing over the knots in the old wood. Much like the desk in his office, it had seen many hard days. Turning, he looked over the captains before them, unsurprised to see the exhaustion in most and noting the faces that seemed a little on edge. Rest would help some of the weariness in the air, but truthfully, a nap would only soothe so much right now. Unless it were a full a day napping in the sun with a bottle of fine sake and Nanao at his side. Then, he guaranteed a different result. Alas, he probably didn’t deserve to chase that dream if he couldn’t do what he had set out to to do by calling the meeting at this time. Glancing to Ryo, taking heart in her smile, he sent a prayer up the Soul King that he could protect this interlude and cultivate a good peace with the little knowledge he possessed.
"For now, I convene this meeting of the Gotei 13, and pray the Soul King guides our steps in preserving what we gained by his assistance."
The doors closed behind him.
"We have much to discuss, my friends, but I'll surrender the floor to Kisuke Urahara first. To the details of the matter of Sousuke Aizen."
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Feb 4, 2023 2:20:37 GMT -6
Kisuke walked up beside Kyoraku adjusting his hat so to look out at the captains that had joined before them. "From the announcement everyone heard, Aizen is not out of the picture."
"So what happened exactly, I heard you say the Soul King was behind this." Nori questioned.
Kisuke's head nodded slowly. "Yes, the Soul King was not pleased with the interference of the Goddess Sumi nor the God Alister. He stripped the Goddess from the vessel and Alister was freed from Vale."
Tsukiro's eyes widened. "Kita is without Sumi? Were her memories restored?" Worried and knowing the consequences of this Tsukiro cast his eyes to the floor, rubbing his temple. His eyes lifted his tone slightly calmer, but still worried for Kita. "Is she alright?"
"I will talk with you about this after the meeting, now is not the time." Kisuke informed the boy. He looked back out at the other captains. "As I was saying. Because of the interference from Sumi and Alister, the Soul King reset the balance, sending every being that did not belong to Las Noches back to the realm they call home. It seems it also affected the hollows, Espada, and Ayakashi." His hand lifted as he adjusted his hat once more. "With the exception of Vale Tervaden. He sent him to hell. Which I was informed of after we all returned back to the shop." He looked to Kyoraku. "And for some reason, I was given Tervaden's zanpakuto."
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Post by Captain Ryo Hirabayashi on Feb 4, 2023 2:39:22 GMT -6
“You were given Tervaden’s zanpakuto…But, not Aizen’s?” Ryo questioned.
Kisuke nodded. “The god returned Aizen’s zanpakuto to him after he shattered its blade. And, he reduced his strength to that of a Lieutenant.”
“So, both men are still a threat?” Ryo looked around the room at the stone faced Captains. “Lesser beings have escaped hell. You being handed Tervaden’s zanpakuto only means that he has to make himself known to get it back. And, the strength of a Lieutenant does not suggest a lack of power. We have Lieutenants that possess the strength of a Captain…but simply lack the rank. Renji Abarai, Ikkaku Madurame, my own lieutenant Hisagi Shuhei. And, let us not forget that Sousuke Aizen is a master Kido practitioner.”
Kisuke raised a hand. “If I may continue, Captain.”
Ryo took a deep breath and clenched her first. “Forgive me. Please…continue.”
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Feb 4, 2023 15:49:42 GMT -6
Nodding to Ryo, Kisuke then gave everyone in the room his full attention again. "Ryo is right. Even as a lieutenant Aizen was very strong. Now if that is his power level now," Kisuke shrugged. "However, if Aizen grows any stronger from this point forward. I will be the first to know."
Kenji narrowed his eyes as he looked at the floor. He had hoped that the only people his father would tell about being tied to Aizen were the Captain Commander and Ukitake. He shook his head but said nothing.
"Do you know where Sousuke Aizen is, Urahara?" Sajin rubbed his ear. "That is the only way I imagine you would know his strength at any given time."
Toshiro hummed low in his throat, his eyebrows scrunching together. He couldn't tell the answer to Komamura's question. On one hand, Toshiro expected that if he knew he would have told them already, but on the other maybe he didn't want the Gotei to immediately devise a plan to prevent Aizen from doing anything, lieutenant-level strength or not. No doubt some in the Gotei would want to take advantage of Aizen's weakened state. Or, there was the possibility that Urahara didn't know at all and it was some other divine intervention allowing Kisuke to keep tabs on Aizen.
Kisuke's head nodded slowly as he adressed Sajin's question, "Karakura. I know this, only because he paid us a visit our first night back," he looked pointedly at Sajin. "And it doesn't matter where Aizen will be holding up residency, I will always know his strength level."
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Post by Kenji Urahara on Feb 4, 2023 16:29:49 GMT -6
"Dad!" Kenji clenched his fist as he lifted his head and looked in his father direction. But, he didn't look at his father. He looked at the Captain Commander. "Don't be an idiot...Just tell them..."
"Kenji!"
Stepping forward, and out of place, Kenji spoke loudly. "Aizen and my dad are brothers! And, the reason he knows...the reason he will always know how strong Aizen is...Is because that damn god bound them together. Aizen gets stronger. My dad gets weaker. That's the big secret..."
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Feb 4, 2023 17:13:02 GMT -6
The commander released a sigh and lowered his head. “Calm down, Kenji Urahara. You are the baby captain here, and most here already know about the connection between Aizen and our friendly shopkeeper. No one gets to choose their parents, least of all when one is a flighty god. Now simmer down.”
“But my dad’s…”
“Your dad is a smart cookie. He can handle himself, and there is always a catch to a god’s deal. If he’s not panicking, you shouldn’t be.” He reached into his kimono and pulled out a chocolate bar, making many people in the group chuckle. “What? Juushiro is the only one allowed to carry sweets to calm people down?”
Kisuke adjusted his hat. “Well, when we do it, people seem to think there’s something wrong with it. Something about not trusting old men with candies. Even if he’s older than me.”
“Don’t drag age into this,” Shunsui muttered.
He tossed the candy bar at Kenji. “Take a bite and chew on your words for a bit. Another outburst and I’ll send you to my office afterwards for some words of wisdom. You’ve been through Aizen’s gauntlet. This should be a piece of cake.”
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Post by Kenji Urahara on Feb 4, 2023 17:23:08 GMT -6
Kenji bent over and picked up the chocolate bar. His face twisted at the sound of chuckles that filled the room. "You think this is funny? You're the Captain Commander and you're tossing candy bars at the baby captain to sooth him?" Kenji threw the candy bar across the room. "What is wrong with you? All of you...? Kenji stepped back feeling Toshiro wrap a hand around his arm. He looked over his shoulder at the man he was meant to replace. Then, he looked at his father. His father's face didn't show it. But, he imagined a look of disappointment.
"I can't do this." mumbled Kenji as he began to make his way toward the door.
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Feb 4, 2023 17:33:48 GMT -6
Kisuke took center room watching his son storm toward the large assembly hall doors, with a silent kido the doors were sealed.
"Kenji Urahara! One more step," was all Kisuke said to him.
The boy stopped just as his hand rested to the doors. "What is your point in all this?"
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Post by Kenji Urahara on Feb 4, 2023 18:07:21 GMT -6
"What's my point?" asked Kenji. "What's my point?!" he asked again, this time shouting. "My point is that three days ago we were prisoners! Prisoners! And...And...And, now...Now you all are standing here like statues like nothings happened."
The room was quiet. Kenji looked at his father...and only at his father. "You all have had centuries to learn how to pretend not to be afraid. But....But...Bu-Bu-But," Kenji could barely speak, feeling himself gasping for air as he became overwhelmed. "I turned 20 just 16 days ago...And, for most of those twenty years I've either been a prisoner or scared shitless because of some hollow or Aizen."
Kenji took several deep breathes in an attempt to calm himself. "I want to go home..." he mumbled. "I just want to go home..."
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Feb 4, 2023 18:18:34 GMT -6
Kisuke sighed, his shoulders going a little more relaxed. He never stopped to think what Kenji might have gone through. He felt ashamed of himself for not taking his feeling into consideration. He just assumed, and he was wrong.
Kisuke walked up to his son clasping his hand to his shoulder then pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry Kenji. I didn't even stop to think how this had affected you."
He pulled back from the hug, cuffing the back of his sons neck as he shook him softly. "Go wait out in the hall. I'll be there in a second."
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Post by Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya on Feb 4, 2023 18:25:59 GMT -6
Toshiro frowned deeply and let out a heavy sigh of disappointment. Not in Kenji but in himself. In the heat of battle he had named him captain, not expecting to survive. And he had. Yet even if he hadn't this meeting would have ended up the same. Toshiro hadn't taken the time--even while he was in Fourth Division--to consider that Kenji might not be ready for the responsibility, even if he had the physical ability, to perform as a captain.
Toshiro stepped forward and turned to Kenji. "Kenji. I am deeply sorry for putting unnecessary pressure on you. Do not feel obligated to take my place. You should be with your family, not making up for my failures." He bowed deeply to Kenji. "Please forgive me for being insensitive."
Kenji nodded in response to both his father's permission to leave and Toshiro's apology. But, he was ashamed of himself because of his outburst. He turned towards the Captains and the Captain Commander. "I...Sorry..." Kenji moved quickly, leaving the room but taking care to hold the door as it shut as to not make noise.
Toshiro turned around to face the elder Urahara and Kyoraku. "I apologize. This is my fault for making hasty decisions in the heat of battle. If I had not put the kind of pressure that I did on him, this would not have happened." He bowed again to the two of them.
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Post by Urahara Kisuke on Feb 4, 2023 18:55:44 GMT -6
"It's fine Hitsugaya," Kisuke looked to Kyoraku as he adjusted his hat. "I'm taking my boy home. I'm sure you can handle the rest of this."
The commander shook his head. "Don't apologize, Urahara. You've done enough for now. I'll call you with an update."
Juushiro looked to both of them. "No one should apologize. Kenji has been strong, too strong, and sometimes, something drastic is the only way to break it." He lowered his head. "Like someone else we all know," he murmured, recalling Rukia's previous shutdown, wondering if she would break again. He looked to Kisuke again. "I can try to visit the shop soon, even if I can only stay briefly. Tell Kenji I'll see him then."
Kisuke nodded with a slight bow and a tip of his hat to his friends, he turned and did the same to the Captains watching the show. "I wish I could have explained more, but right now my son needs me more then then Gotei. Have a good evening." Kisuke turned and took his leave of the assembly hall, finding his son where he ask him to wait.
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Post by Captain Nori Mutsu on Feb 4, 2023 19:45:45 GMT -6
Nori watched as the elder Urahara exited the hall. She sighed softly, her heart going out to the young boy, and it made her think of her lieutenant. Another boy that has been place in a hard spot more than once because of who his former captain was.
She just hope that Izuru knew if he ever needed someone to talk to she was always there for him. Once the doors closed, her attention went back to the others in the room.
"I know this is probably more of a question for Urahara. But what did the boy mean when he said they were bound together?"
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