Linake and Amaya found themselves standing in the middle of Squad 1's Great Hall, It was just as Linake had pictured in her mind when she had feared being caught, only the punishment she now understood wasn't going to be as severe as her wild imagination had concocted. She felt uncomfortable standing in the middle of the Hall with all 13 Captains of the Guard present. She understood that Head Captain Kyoraku had his responsibilities and the news of the two women's behavior had spread across the Seireitei like wildfire. Everyone knew about their attempt to sneak in and see Sosuke Aizen and about their powers.

It had taken the two women two full days in order to get their bearings back and Linake had been thankful for Captain Kurotsuchi's ability to synthesize a drug for Amaya. Linake had been taken aback by the revelation of her friend's ability and even though she felt a sense of sisterly pride in knowing her friend was growing stronger she could see the toll it was having on the younger woman's mind. She still wasn't used to being able to hear what everyone was thinking and it was worse for her when she could hear the negative thoughts people thought they were keeping to themselves but still even now Amaya stood with her head held up high ready to defend her actions.

"We all know why I called this Captains Meeting so I'm not going to waste any time." Kyoraku began to speak as he stood at the head of the room.

Linake kept her gaze forward not trusting herself to look to her right. She hadn't seen Captain Zaraki since the night of their fight even though he had tried to come and see her once but she had practically begged Hanataro to tell him that she was asleep. She still felt embarrassed by her behavior and It was difficult for her even now because she swore she could feel his intense gaze burning a hole right through her back and even though it made her stomach fill with butterflies she refused to look back at his handsome face.

"I've spoken with both of the ladies in private and by now everyone knows what's happened anyways. Amaya Mori and Linake Ohayashi are here by forbidden to leave the ground of the Seireitei for any reason. Also, you are to stay within the area of the Squad 1 barracks when not performing your daily chores in The Squad 4 Medical Unit, you will be escorted to and from by someone of Lieutenant or Captain rank. Is this understood?" Kyoraku announced.

"Yes, Head Captain." Linake answered.

Amaya's brow furrowed in agitation as she looked up at the Head Captain.

"I can hear everything that is being thought about me as I stand here in this room. I understand that Sosuke Aizen at one time was an enemy to the Soul Society. I even understand that he has caused a lot of irreversible damage to many, even some of the Captains present here today have suffered from his past actions. I am but a mere human who has been welcomed into your world, but even still I will not apologize for my curiosity or my feelings." Amaya boldly addressed the room.

Linake's head fell forward in complete disbelief. The two of them had just been given a reprieve from prison and here she was about to challenge the very core of the system within this world.

"Maybe if she wants to be around Sosuke Aizen so bad we should just toss her in The Muken with him." SoiFon, the captain of squad two sneered.

Lianke's gaze lifted and her eyes locked onto the petite Captain of Squad 2. She knew it would be ill advised to pick a fight with another Captain and she knew that they all had every right to be angry about the past but something was bothering Linake and it had been ever since she had overheard the conversation between The head captain and the Captain of Squad 6. Amaya stood silent not allowing the Squad 2 captain to bait her into an argument. Head Captain Kyoraku sighed heavily and looked as if he were about to speak but Linake couldn't seem to keep her mouth shut.

"It is under my understanding that Sosuke Aizen assisted Ichigo Kurosaki in his defeat against Yhwach and that he himself walked right back into the Muken without so much as lifting a finger in fight against any of you. Does that also count against him?" Linake asked.

Amaya brought her small hand up and took a hold of Linake's in silent thanks for sticking up for her in such a way. Linake knew that she was probably pushing her luck and had just opened up a whole different can of worms for herself and she could feel the uncomfortable change in the room around her as her words seemed to take their effect on all of the Gotei 13 Captains.

" It seems that a lot of information seems to be released without my knowledge." Kyoraku replied staring down at Linake.

"I can't help what I overhear. I also know that it was you yourself who chose to let him out to begin with, Head Captain. Now, in order for that to happen it would have meant that even after everything he put you through in the past you still had enough faith in him to assist the Soul Society in that battle." Linake continued.

"I am the one who asked for his assistance and even back then it hadn't been a very popular opinion." Kyoraku replied as he lifted his hand and scratched the side of his beard.

Linake could see that she had driven her point across by the silence in the room. She could even feel that some of the hostility she had sensed earlier had began to dissipate around them.

Amaya squeezed Linake's hand giving her silent confirmation that the thoughts in the room had in fact started to change a bit.

"What exactly is it you are after, Miss Ohayashi?" She heard the deep calm voice of the Squad 6 Captain Byakuya Kuchiki ask.

Linake turned her head giving the Captain enough respect to look him in his memorizing dark grey eyes.

"I'm simply trying to understand why there is still so much animosity. I also don't see how Amaya having a relationship of her own free will with Sosuke Aizen is any of anyone else's business." She admitted.

"So you would have us just let her be manipulated by him then?" Nanao Ise interjected.

Lianke turned her attention forward once again and she was met by the Squad 1 Lieutenants intense grey blue stare.

"How are you sure that is his plan? He didn't summon Amaya to go look for him, she did that on her own." Linake started to continue her debate but Amaya squeezed her hand again.

Linake looked over at her friend and realized she was going to speak for herself this time.

"I now have the ability to read a person's every waking thought, so my being manipulated should not be a concern." She countered.

"Alright. Let's not get carried away here. Even if I were to consider what you're proposing it's not a decision that I have the power to make on my own." Kyoraku replied.

Linake smiled.

"Then take the issue up with The Central 46. I am sure they are already aware of what has happened here. I'm also sure they wouldn't argue the fact that allowing him to have some form of a relationship with Amaya would be a pretty decent way of giving him something in return for his assistance and not to mention the cooperation he has seemed to give these past 13 years." Linake countered.

The head captain narrowed his gaze at Linake and she could feel that she had hit a nerve.

"Well, you seem to be pretty educated in the way our politics work." He replied.

Linake didn't understand why he would be surprised about her having the knowledge, after living among them for so long she would have been forced to pick up on the politics of any world she lived in if she had planned to survive in it.

"If that is something you have a problem with, Head Captain, it can be solved by opening the Senkaimon and letting me walk through it." She retorted.

Linake felt the squeeze of Amaya's hand and even noticed that the younger woman looked up at her profile as she registered the meaning behind Linake's words. Amaya felt her chest tighten at the thought of Linake going back to their world and she didn't understand why she would even say the words. She was standing there fighting on her behalf in order for her to see Aizen, yet, she hadn't even spoken to Captain Zaraki once since their fight.

The Head Captain didn't seem to be at all fazed by Linake's curt remark instead he simply let out a small chuckle before he replied.

"We've had that discussion before, Miss Ohayashi and I still don't like the look in your eyes." He replied knowing that the other Captains wouldn't understand his meaning.

Linake met his gaze and in that moment she understood that the Head Captain was more intelligent then she gave him credit for. The look he was talking about had to be the utter defeat that she felt inside herself, the almost painful embarrassment that she couldn't seem to shake off. He wasn't going to let her run away.