Chapter 37: Switching Sides
Byakuya's POV
The 6th Division barracks . . .
I usually walk through its halls as a man who others can look to as a model example of what a shinigami is supposed to be.
Strong in strength, resolve, and fortitude.
Loyal to both his fellow shinigami and to the Gotei 13.
Willing to sacrifice their life in order to maintain the greater good and to protect the Sereitei.
Tonight, I am a man that represents none of those things. I am a man who has now willingly went against the people he has fought with time and time again to side with the race that have turned their backs on those same people, all in order to avenge a dark moment in the Kuchiki Clan's history.
Starting tonight, for the sole purpose of rectifying a dark cloud in the family lineage, I am a traitor to the Gotei 13.
"It must be strange for you to come back here Byakuya Kuchiki."
"And why do you say that Senbonzakura?" I ask as we stand in front of the main gates, now empty of any guards. The samurai stands stoically to my left, his arms crossed over his chest as he too looked at the building in front of us. He had not spoken a word to me since he made his threat back in the spirits' hideout, and I did not blame him. Just like how I am protective of Rukia, Senbonzakura was protective of Sode no Shirayuki. Seeing me actually slay her right before his eyes must have shaken him, then again . . .
. . . He was the one that suggested the idea in the first place.
"You used to lead the shinigami in this division as their captain," he answers in a plain tone. "You are coming back here as a man on the other side of the law. It must be strange to come here when you're now a traitor to the people you used to serve with."
"We both know the story is not entirely real. Soon, everything will come out into the light. For now, we have to continue with our task at hand."
"Of course . . ." Senbonzakura tells me as I walk onto the property, leaving him to bring up the rear. We keep our spiritual pressure low as we walk to the front door. We manage to not encounter that many Shinigami while traversing the hallways relatively undetected. When we do encounter one, either Senbonzakura or I quickly dispatch them before they could raise any alarms.
I had just finished taking out two of my subordinates when her spiritual pressure grabs my attention. It's not long before I hear her footsteps, stopping about ten feet from where I'm standing.
"Brother . . ." her voice cuts into the silence, relief flooding into it like water streaming into a koi pond. "It is you. Where have you been?"
I don't answer her. The silence starts to consume us, and I could feel her agitation start to grow from where I'm standing, which means my ruse is working as well as I had hoped. A wise man once said that if a lie can mislead members of your family, it can mislead anyone. Right now, I am hoping that the wise man's words are true.
"Why won't you answer me?" I
"Here is his answer."
"Senbonzakura . . ." my sister says in alarm as I hear her feet move along the floor. The small audible gasp rings in my ears, and I can easily guess why. The sight of one's zanpakuto broken in pieces can be a shock to anyone. "That's . . . Sode no Shirayuki. I can't feel her spiritual pressure. What have you done to her?"
"With your zanpakuto in the state she is in now, you have no hope of defeating us."
"Us . . ." my sister mutters in disbelief as I feel her eyes now on me.
"You will not interfere with our plans. You will stay out of our way." I warn her.
"Brother, what did you do?"
"Let me show you." I can already see what's going on behind me without even turning to look: Senbonzakura, standing over my sister with his blade at the ready, a moment away from striking her down. However, I didn't put into account Abarai, his spiritual pressure instantly alerting me of his presence as I hear metal strike metal.
"Captain, care to explain what's going on here?" my lieutenant asks me as I feel his stare right in the back of my skull. "Have you really joined their side?"
I don't answer him. I slowly turn around to face him, giving my redheaded lieutenant a leveled gaze.
"Fine then Captain Kuchiki, if you want to be like that, then you leave me no choice," he tells me as he points his sword in my direction. "Captain Kuchiki, I have to detain you as a material witness in the Zanpakuto Rebellion incident. Lay down your sword."
His words, the conviction behind them, as well as Rukia's disbelieving gaze secures it. They both are starting to believe that I've turned my back on the Soul Society, that I'm turning my back on my post and my allies. They're starting to believe that I'm a traitor. Inwardly, betraying the Sereitei is the last option that would come to mind in terms of tricking everyone else, but what must be done must be done. If I am going to clean away the cloud that still hangs over my clan, I have to do what I have to do in order to succeed, even if it means I must betray my own people.
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