"Is it possible to succeed without any act of betrayal?"
Jean Renoir

"A petite woman with black hair, with above average hakuda skill," the Soutaicho repeated, eyeing Sui Feng and Mayuri Kurotsuchi warily.

The two nodded. "But it would be certainly almost impossible to know who this person, Soutaicho," Sui spoke softly, slightly nervous. Yes, even she was afraid of the old man.

"And why would that be so, Captain Sui Feng? Enlighten me," the man commanded.

"That description fits almost all the kunoichi found in my division," the woman replied, steadily, trying not to anger the already vexed.

"Realistically speaking, the range of people that fits that description is about 30 to 40 percent of the total female population," Mayuri supplied. "It will be such a pain to question them one by one."

"Can't the Onmitsukido handle that?" the Soutaicho asked.

Sui gave a small grimace at the mention of the name. "It's a delicate situation, Yamamoto Soutaicho," she murmured. "You never know who is listening."

"You know your jobs," the man spoke his voice carrying the tone that implied they were dismissed.

"The what?" Sui growled as she returned to her barracks.

Omeada shook nervously. He was afraid, and had every reason to be. "It's gone, Captain," he shivered. "Something is missing."

"I'm asking you what is missing, Vice-Captain," she growled rounding on the big man. "And I will not repeat my words a third time."

The man gulped trying to tarry the inevitable, not that he actually could. "We-ell," he began nervously. "It's very confi-"

"Spit it out, Omeada, because I'm sure you don't want me to rip it out of you."

"H-hai," he yelled, straightening up. One could see that he was still trembling though. "It's gone," he spoke shivering when he caught the silver eyes glaring at him. "Aizen's zanpaktuo's gone!" With those words the woman disappeared, flashstepping to the chamber where the sword was hidden.

Sui gritted her teeth, turning back to the fat man. "Get everyone who was on guard here. Everyone starting from yesterday to the last shift today. Do you hear me, Omaeda?"

"Yes, Captain," he spoke slightly relieved that he was not going to be the subject of the tongue lashing and punishment, as he looked for the said people.

"I'll have someone's head for this," the woman growled, storming off.

"Is there any problem, Mayuri-sama?" Kurotuchi Nemu murmured at the man who stood on, looking at the work he had abandoned earlier for the meeting with the Soutaicho.

The man shook his head. He had no proof, just a hunch and hunches weren't good enough. "Get back to your own business," he snarled as he bent down back to his work. He shrugged, he should convince the woman to have dinner with him to test out the new truth serum he made.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi usually isn't very keen on theory but sometimes they were all what a scientist has. He must prove or disprove the various premises that make up the theory, to see if it still stands. The man grinned. It will be an entertaining experiment. He wonders what machinations are going to bet in motion due to his interventions. He giggled happily as he continued his work. Interesting days were coming.

A new Twelfth Division recruit jumped as he heard a mad cackle. "Uhm, Akon-senpai, what was that sound?"

"There is a 75% chance of that being our Captain," Akon replied, mumbling it on his cigar. "Don't mind it. It just means that either he has a new subject to experiment on, or a new contraption to be used on a subject."

"Oh I see," the recruit replied, giving a sigh, turning to another researcher.

"Just hope you're not the subject though," Akon said after the young man who visibly paled, stumbling and tripping on his own feet. Akon smirked to himself. Sometimes it was fun playing with the new recruits.

"Brilliant, am I not, Lord Aizen?" she smirked as she entered the cave.

The man who sat on its far side stirred. "This is not the place for a god, is it, my little spy?" he murmured, narrowing his eyes.

"If you wish, I can take you to the Rukon Districts," she replied sighing, slightly chastened. And then she smirked again. "You are now powerless against me, my lord."

"Enjoy your power over me then," the man replied, distasteful. The woman laughed. This was one of the few things that ticked the former Captain, her insolence that is. The woman seemed to get her kicks from insulting him. He sighed inwardly though, because, although she had not been a very prominent part of the betrayal, she had been a help to them.

The woman suddenly flung a cloth-covered object to the man. "I no longer have power you, Lord Aizen," she smirked. "I'll try to find lodging in Rukongai, if you want," she said as she turned towards the cave's mouth, before disappearing in a gust of wind.

Aizen never understood why she joined his quest for godhood, as he uncovered the object that was flung at him. He smiled to himself as he felt the blade pulse on his hand. Why, indeed? Ichimaru and Tousen he could understand. Both men's ambitions were rooted in revenge, and perhaps hers as well. But why was she here? Why is she still helping him? He shook his head, banishing the thoughts, there were more pressing matters to attend to.