Introspects
Summary: The soutaicho's thoughts when Aizen left.
So. They were gone. Never to return. Traitors. Ex-Captains. He wasn't completely sure how to feel about that.
On one hand, he had always encouraged others to follow their dreams. He had taught them and guided them for decades until now. They had been a bit unruly, yes, a bit secretive in their own secretive way, yes, but even so...
He hadn't expected this. No one really had. The former Fifth Division Captain had been kind. Nice, intelligent, and efficent at leading as well as running and managing his squad.
The former Third division Captain had been more than a bit odd and slightly creepy but still managed to keep his squad up to standards. Surpassed them even. How he could still be lazy and creep out anyone when he had the squad to run daily was a mystery to all.
Finally, the former Ninth Division Captain was a man who believed in, no, worshipped justice and was completely and utterly obsessed with it. How he was turned to the other side was yet another mystery.
Sure, the Gotei weren't perfect and had some flaws that needed correcting but it worked. It worked to save souls, to purify hollows, to protect each and every of the innocents our there, to bring those who had commited horrendous crimes to the light where they would be judged as fairly as any legal system could do.
Shinigami put their lives on the line every single day to do all those things and more. The Gotei didn't need a war where more lives would be lost. What was the point in that? After all, at least two or more Shinigami died or were injured severly enough that they had to take some time off to recover every two weeks, if not less.
He wanted to end this war fast. There was no need to waste valuable time that could be used for something else far more important. He had finally gotten enough support to start improving the farther districts of Rukongai when the whole thing had happened. Now, he would have to earn the noble's and new Central 46's trust and support back all over again which would take even longer than the first time he did it. Thank the spirits that the Kuchiki weren't a problem.
His grip tightened around his disguised sword. He would kill Aizen himself, he decided. There was no need for anyone else to get hurt by the madman. Last he heard, the Fourth were still hard at work with three of the captains and two of the vice-captains. And that did not even begin to count the rest of the seated officers. Or the many, many unseated officers.
Yes, he would kill Aizen and his companions soon. Until then though, he had no choice but to order the others to prepare for war and wait. He had always hated the latter part. If it was for Soul Society though, he'd wait. And then, when the time came, he'd kill.
I know, I know. It's a bit short but this came on me without warning and it was all I could do to keep up. And it turned out pretty nicely so I guess it's ok. R&R please!