General Yamamoto Genryusai looked over his captains and lieutenants in disgust. Nearly every one of the lieutenants appeared to be thoroughly drunk and several of the captains seemed just as bad. Jushiro often struggled to remain standing throughout a long meeting, but this was the first time his lack of balance was due to intoxication. The frail captain was leaning on the giant to his right, and he and Zaraki were both trying to suppress laughter at some shared joke. Toshiro's hair was dripping with water, and he was glaring at his father who seemed a little tipsy himself, although it was difficult to tell as Gin was always saying such odd things at meetings anyway, and, of course Shunsui was drunk, too, but over the centuries Yamamoto had gotten used to that. It never seemed to affect his abilities to think or fight when called upon to do so.
But the lieutenants! Even the usually responsible Lieutenant Kotetsu had stumbled in and was having trouble standing still behind her captain. As far as Yamamoto could tell the only ones not thoroughly inebriated were Lieutenants Ise, who glared whenever she looked in his direction, and Ayasegawa, who somehow managed to look bored despite this being his first act as the lieutenant of the Fifth.
"Who is responsible for the deplorable state of my lieutenants?" Yamamoto demanded.
"That would be me," Gin answered cheerfully. "Although I would have been quite happy to serve about half as much sake--do you have any idea how much it costs to get everyone completely smashed? I don't see how everyone else manages to have so many parties. They must put them on the division tabs--can I do that? Almost everyone at the party belonged to the Gotei. Surely the Gotei would like to foot the bill?"
"It would not!" Yamamoto answered firmly. "What inspired you, Captain Ichimaru, to choose tonight to intoxicate so many of the Gotei's top officers? Surely, you are aware we are in a state of high alert and may all be called upon to defend Soul Society at a moment's notice?"
Gin frowned. "I did tell Ran that it didn't seem like the best time, but I'd already lost the bet--you know, if you could have been a proper father," he said, turning abruptly to Kurotsuchi. "And not forced your daughter to resign there wouldn't have been any bet for Ran to win so it's really all your fault."
Kurotsuchi frowned back at him. "I have no idea what you are talking about. I know nothing about any bets. I think you must still be intoxicated. I can help you with that if you would like. I have several different remedies that--"
"No, thank you, I'm not that drunk," Gin answered. "I was about two hours ago. You ought to have come to Ran's party. I probably would have drunk anything you'd given me, think we all would have if you'd told us it was alcohol."
The scientist looked intrigued. "I will have to look into these 'parties' in the future. I would be glad to attend if they would provide me with willing test subjects. Perhaps, I--"
"Enough of this nonsense," Yamamoto interrupted, angrily. "Reports have come in of attacks on distant settlements in Rukongai, attacks by large groups of hollows, that have destroyed whole villages as they are making their way steadily toward Seireitei. They are composed of more and stronger hollows than have been seen in Soul Society in centuries; there are possibly even Menos Grande within their forces. They are coming from the north, east, south, and west, and are a threat to everything in their path. The Gotei must mobilize immediately to intercept the hollows before they reach any large population centers."
"Were there any Arrancar among the attackers?" Kurotsuchi asked, looking excited.
"There were not any reported," Yamamoto answered. "It appears Aizen may be saving his strongest warriors for other purposes. He sent two Arrancar to Karakura today in what appeared to be a test of our strength. Lieutenant Shiba reported the slaughter of nearly two dozen humans before he and Substitute Shinigami Kurosaki Ichigo were able to intercept the Arrancar, one of whom he identified as the same Ulquiorra who so easily alluded our forces only days ago. The other was a much larger Arrancar called Yammy. He reported that both Arrancar almost immediately withdrew to Hueco Mundo despite the fact that Kurosaki was temporarily incapacitated, and Lieutenant Shiba, himself, was no match for the pair alone."
"Well, that was lucky," Gin said, smiling pleasantly.
"Do you have any guess as to what the Arrancar were doing in Karakura or why they withdrew so quickly, Captain Ichimaru?" Yamamoto demanded.
"Just getting a look at Ichigo, I suppose," Gin said. "Might have been seeing if we'd done anything to protect Karakura yet. I mean, according to Urahara, the Hogyoku can't be done yet, but why not destroy Karakura early if they can? Does Aizen really need the Hogyoku to create the Oken? Does anyone know?"
Yamamoto turned to look over the gathered captains, but no one spoke. "These early feints may only be meant to spread out and weaken our forces. However, we cannot leave the people of Rukongai or Karakura undefended. Divisions Five, Seven, Nine, and Eleven will coordinate under Captain Komamura to deal with the threats to Rukongai as quickly as possible. Understood?"
Kenpachi shrugged. "Long as I'm killing hollows I don't care who you put in charge."
"Wish you people'd make up your goddamned minds," Hisagi said. "Calling me in to send me to Rukongai--wasn't I a fucking traitor yesterday? Thanks to you no one in my division trusts me. Hell! I doubt half the people in this room trust me! What the fuck did I ever do to anyone? Shit, I'm gonna hurl!" And with that he stumbled from the room, and they could all hear the sound of him vomiting loudly outside the door.
Nanao chased after him, only bothering to say, "Excuse me," as she ran.
Kyoraku flinched. "He really is a good boy, most of the time," he said, defensively.
"I'd be a bit put out too if everyone was doubting my loyalty," Gin said, and he grinned hugely. "Well, honestly, as I'm me not him I expect it, and I wouldn't think too much of you all if you did trust me, but if I was Lieutenant Hisagi I'm sure I would be hurt, and probably a bit traumatized after yesterday. It's not usual for most people, being nearly killed by an adorable little coworker, and then you all blamed him for it--out of curiosity, how far did you get with the torture before Shiro reported Hinamori's confession?"
"Easy for you, isn't it? Looking down on all of us and judging, acting arrogant and superior when you're nothing but a murdering traitor," Soifon snapped. "You're probably right; we were wasting our time on Hisagi, but if we were to take you down to an Inquisition for a few hours I'm sure we'd learn a useful thing or two."
"Oh, don't start thinking like that," Gin protested. "I promise I'm far too much of a coward to have held anything back. Even if I'd wanted to keep you in the dark about a few things I wouldn't have dared, not and risk an Inquisition. I'm really quite sensitive to pain, you see. Just the thought of it will keep me talking all day long--but it really isn't necessary anyway. We're friends, remember? We're all on the same side. There's no reason to go about threatening anyone. We've found our spies. Nakajima's our mastermind and Hinamori's the kido expert. All we've got left is to pick up all the little minions that were helping out. Surely your stealth squad is up to that?"
"Of course they are," Soifon said icily.
"Well, then, let's call this meeting good and all go home to our nice warm beds," Gin said, cheerfully.
"I believe I'm in charge here, Ichimaru," Yamamoto growled.
"Oh, yes, sir, quite right! I'm afraid the sake's muddled me a bit too. I'd forgotten all about you."
Yamamoto glared at Gin a moment longer before he continued. "The wall guard is to be doubled immediately with Divisions Two and Ten taking responsibility for wall security. A captain-class officer must be available at all times in case of emergency. Eight and Thirteen will take over citywide security as they appear to be the only divisions prepared to work together on the complicated issue of city-wide patrols. All patrols must contain a seated officer ready to raise the alarm the moment an enemy is sighted within the walls. We are officially at war. We will not allow Soul Society to fall to Aizen."
His sharp eyes surveyed the gathering of the strongest of his men, the core of his army.
"But the defense of Karakura cannot be neglected. I doubt Aizen will make any major moves before he is completely prepared; his current plan appears to be to keep us too occupied to move against him, but he may take advantage of any opportunity left open to him. Shun, I assume Lieutenant Ise can manage the coordination of the Eighth with the Thirteenth without your oversight?"
Kyoraku looked surprised by the question. Yamamoto was not surprised. It had been over a century since he had sent a senior captain anywhere outside of Seireitei, longer since one had been sent to defend the World of the Living, but his forces had been stretched thin. Two captains had turned traitor. Two lieutenant were out because of babies--this was why he hated having young women in the Gotei, call him sexist if you wanted, but what use was a baby-maker to an army? And the Sixth was useless too, thanks to another woman; the only thing Kuchiki or young Abarai would be useful for at this point would be sending on a suicide mission to Hueco Mundo. They'd probably take a few of Aizen's Arrancar with them too, but as far as strategic military maneuvers, they'd be useless. So Kyoraku was it.
"Course she can," Kyoraku agreed, finally. "Nanao-chan can handle things just fine."
"Then you will go to the World of the Living and work with Lieutenant Shiba to prepare for any future Arrancar attacks," Yamamoto told him. "I trust we will not have to fear losing another two dozen human souls in a single attack."
"Are you saying my Lieutenant failed in his duty, sir?" Ukitake demanded, a little loudly because he was still drunk.
Kyoraku answered before Yamamoto could. "I'm sure Shiba-kun did they best he could; poor Nanao-chan and Ran-chan were completely helpless with just one of those fellows. He says he couldn't have handled them himself and they retreated for no reason, but he must not've done too bad, eh? Didn't even get injured, did he?"
"You should work with him while you're there, Shun," Ukitake said, all defensiveness vanishing immediately. "I'm afraid I've failed him as a captain in some ways. I haven't been able to help him with bankai. He's very close. You could get him there. If you wanted. If you're not too busy napping. Or finding pretty human women to chase."
Kyoraku frowned back at his friend. "I think I like you better sober."
Ukitake nodded. "I think I do too."
Yamamoto glared at the pair of them. "Need I remind all of you that while we are at war ready status, all vices are prohibited during both on and off duty hours and that includes alcohol and women?"
"Oi!" Gin said, loudly. "I've read all seventeen books of Gotei statutes and standards of shinigami behavior, mostly because I was wanting to see what I could get away with, but it's only the women you aren't married to who are vices, not the ones you are, so please remember to differentiate. Ran would be terribly annoyed with me if I called her a vice, either that or pleased; that's one of those things I'm never quite sure about, so best avoided altogether. So please remember, wives aren't vices."
"That is nice," Ukitake said, leaning over to look down at Gin. "I'd completely forgotten that exception. Thank you for letting us know."
"I don't suppose there are any exceptions for any varieties of alcohol they might have in the World of the Living?" Kyoraku asked. "I was looking forward to a nice aged scotch."
"Afraid not," Gin answered, smiling pleasantly. "But I don't think they've gotten around to writing rules against all the newest human drugs if you're interested."
"Enough!" Yamamoto snapped. "You are going to the World of the Living to work, Shun, as I hope you will remember, and Jushiro, I am deeply offended by your current state of inebriation. I expect it in others, but you--"
"You threatened Nemu today," Ukitake interrupted. "Be happy I'm here at all."
For a moment Yamamoto stared at the sickly captain, but for once he did not look frail or weak. Anger, that until this moment had been hidden beneath a drunken haze, blazed in his dark eyes and burned in the heat of his reiatsu. He had known Ukitake Jushiro since his childhood, guided him from the Academy to his place as a captain, but in all those years he had never seen anything like this from the calm, quiet, gentle man. He knew Jushiro could be determined, stubborn even, when he believed something was right. He would not have been surprised if Jushiro had chosen to die to protect his subordinate, Rukia, from a death he dreamed unjust, but even so, Jushiro never put his own personal feelings into his decisions. He did what he believed was right without considering what it meant to himself, and so afterwards, when the problem was resolved it was always possible to make peace without any anger or bitterness. It had not occurred to Yamamoto that this time would be any different. He did not understand 'love', and he certainly didn't understand Jushiro's attachment to Kurotsuchi Nemu, but this, he did not like this.
He turned his gaze from Ukitake, refusing to answer the man's anger. One day Jushiro would realize how much this so-called love was weakening him, but for now it was best left alone. Yamamoto knew from long experience that some things had to be allowed to run their course.
"Kurotsuchi," He said calmly. "I want a revised plan for the capture of a Arrancar ready by morning. I need Zaraki's strength here so you will have to rely on the strength of Kuchiki and Ichimaru to accomplish your goal. I have no doubt you will find a way to succeed. Now, Ichimaru, if there are no further questions, you are all dismissed for the evening."