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Chapter 5

=DA=

Part 3

=DA=

Fourth Division Barracks

Soul Society

Unmitigated disaster – that was the best way Yoruichi could describe the events of this night. From the moment Aizen of all people arrived at Kisuke's supposedly secret training ground, accompanied by her little bee and that unfamiliar woman, to the end of the improvised trial, when Aizen should have been exposed as the monster he was. Instead, that man almost managed to slither his way to freedom and get away with everything. Even worse, when Yamamoto decided to arrest him for reasons of his own, certainly not what had been revealed up to that point, that much was obvious to Yoruichi, the combined might of Gotei 13 was unable to take him down.

It was then and there, the Flash Goddess knew she would die, bound and helpless. All she could do was watch the Black Coffin descent and engulf everything, then Kisuke got nearly torn apart trying to protect her, and that was just the beginning. For one glorious moment Yoruichi thought that it was all worth it in the end as she watched Aizen dissolve under the influence of Gin's Bankai.

Predictably, it was at that point that the monster had to crush her hope and stab Ichimaru in the back. After that, the battle went outside and Yoruichi could finally feel her own wounds over the shock. If it wasn't for Jushiro, she would have likely bled out just like Kisuke and Byakuya.

That was how she found herself stuck at the Fourth with a young girl who looked and acted as if she was barely out of the Academy slowly binding her wounds while Sasakibe watched warily over them. All she knew about what happened since the initial clash was from overheard bits and pieces of conversations.

Someone had put down Kenpachi hard – they were treating him in a nearby room and he nearly expired two times already. There were other wounded, a long list of them or so she gathered and this time, their recovery would be much longer than usual because, shockingly enough Retsu had left with Aizen, apparently on her own volition, along with at least half of Fifth Division.

Yep, tonight was a disaster all right and Yoruichi suspected that Aizen would be far from the only one blamed for it. It was obvious really, even with all the evidence that the man was a traitor, no one had bothered to release her restrains. In fact, every few minutes Yamamoto's Lieutenant would replace or reinforce the Bakudo spells keeping her as dangerous as a newborn kitten. Otherwise, the man refused to even speak with her and the way one of them most respected officers in Gotei 13 looked at her, the sheer loathing, that hurt more than her wounds.

Where exactly did it all go so terribly wrong? At least Ichigo should be more or less all right with either Shunsui or Jushiro. The thought that Aizen had went to talk with the boy's other friends and who knew what he did to them, it tasted as unmitigated failure.

=DA=

Komamura sat in his hospital bed with his back leaning against the wall while a pair of healers bound his wounds before a third one followed with a Kaido. He was still trying to wrap his head around what happened tonight. First Aizen went odd, then did them all two great favours by first ending the invasion bloodlessly by simply gathering some information and speaking to the Ryoka, then he got Captain Ukitake healed by one of those children, a feat the whole Fourth Division failed at for many centuries.

Afterwards, they were betrayed. There were many betrayals that happened tonight, some harder to stomach than others. It was Ichimaru, that snake, who started it all by bringing in the Exile. Then the Captain-Commander himself betrayed the trust they all had in him by simply taking that man's words at a face value and immediately placing Aizen under suspicion and forcing him into interrogation then and there.

From that moment on, Komamura wasn't sure what to believe. Did Central 46 betray Gotei 13 with its actions? Them being the government, could they betray Soul Society considering that they made the laws and set policy? Was Aizen a traitor or merely a good soldier following orders? Was Urahara behind the destruction of the government compound and the Central Archives out of spite and thirst for vengeance against Aizen? Or did Aizen arrange it so no one could be sure that he was saying half-truths at best, which should have been impossible? Perhaps there was a third faction striking from the shadows and removing loose ends as implied tonight?

Komamura didn't know what exactly happened at the meeting after he left to investigate the attacks with Kurotsuchi. Did Aizen reveal his true colors as a traitor? Did something push him into treason?

If Tosen was to be believed, it was the later. However, Kaname proved himself a traitor tonight when he cut young Hitsugaya from the back and unleashed his Bankai against Komamura.

Yet, despite that, Komamura couldn't get the words of his treacherous friend from his head. "I'm still doing what I've been always doing, my friend. I'm following the road of least bloodshed and justice. Can you say the same after what you heard tonight?"

They fought then and Komamura was loosing until Negation tore its way through the sphere of darkness created by Kaname's Bankai and extracted the man to Hueco Mundo.

What madness was that? How could Aizen and Kaname work with Hollows? Well, if Aizen's Zanpakuto spirit could be believed, it was no madness, it was another treachery wrought by Central 46.

"A hundred years ago, our government deemed the so called Vizards to be too tainted, too dangerous to live, much less be allowed to remain part of Gotei 13." Aria announced as the Negation dragged her towards the Hollow World. "Yet, they saw potential in that research. Not to improve the power of Shinigami as originally intended, but to use as a weapon in case Gotei 13 ever turned against them." These two, she waved a hand at the odd Hollows who came to aid Aizen, "are a prime example of said contingency – Vasto Lordes who now possess Shinigami powers. They were meant to be mere mindless weapons aimed at Gotei 13 and only waiting for an order to be unleashed." The spirit smiled bitterly. "All things considered, its a good thing that my Master didn't obey that particular order."

Everyone in the area heard that proclamation. Many refused to believe it, however those who knew Central 46 best, they were unsure, because something like that? It sounded just like their 'wise' government. Komamura himself was torn. How much of what happened tonight as genuine treachery and how much was caused by Central 46's mindless arrogance? Did it really matter in the first place? Kaname certainly believed that to be true strong enough to turn his blade against friends and comrades in arms.

Perhaps the same was true for Aizen as well.

=DA=

Part 4

=DA=

Fourth Division Barracks

Soul Society

Toshiro Hitsugaya wanted to scream bloody murder and it wasn't because of the deep wound in his back that came perilously close to cutting through his spine, neither because of the fist sized hole in his shoulder. It wasn't due to his current situation – stuck face down in a bed while healers did their best to fix up his wounds. Despite his injuries, Toshiro was one of the luckier Captains cut down during the battle. While emergency teams went for Ichimaru, Kenpachi and even Urahara, that bastard, initially Hitsugaya warranted a bit of a lesser priority, and the squad that went to administer first aid weren't exactly the best the Fourth Division could offer, and they all flaked down the moment everyone fighting above them unleashed an overwhelming amount of Spiritual Power.

Two things happened afterwards – Toshiro had to freeze his own wounds to avoid bleeding out and he was still in the field even if pretty much out of commission when Aria, Aizen's Zanpakuto spirit, dropped her bomb. Hitsugaya knew precisely what kind of bastards populated their government, so he couldn't find it in himself to nay-say the spirit. Oh, it was certainly possible that Aria gleefully lied to sow discord. It was also possible that she was telling the truth as she knew it.

That was the heart of the problem really. Everything Aizen said made a disturbing amount of sense. The vague and not so vague crimes he confessed to, Toshiro could see Central 46 ordering them done. Damn it, what he suspected the Research and Development Bureau was doing even now, legally, wasn't much worse than what Urahara accused Aizen of only for the man to practically admit it and more.

Nevertheless, authorization or striking on his own, orders or no orders, Aizen had done a lot of questionable things, apparently. Including making Hollows even more dangerous and worse, smarter monsters. Just for that, the man should be stuck into prison for a long, long time, though that was perhaps Toshiro's own bitterness speaking, because once upon a time he was in such a position, forced to follow orders he loathed. And he did carry them out in the end, he cut down his friends because of Central 46's laws.

If Aizen really had received orders by the government, could Hitsugaya really hold anything the man did as a consequence against him? Probably not. If Aizen had authorization, something that was very much in question. Damn the Exile and whoever bombed the archives. Those two strikes all but ensured that Soul Society would descent into a civil war and if that wasn't done by the rogue Captain of the Fifth Division in order to muddy the waters, Toshiro could almost agree with the man's decision to cut his loses and flee Soul Society. \

Hitsugaya failed to bite off a bitter chuckle, though it at least came out as a pained groan. There were too many ifs in what happened tonight and he knew he was holding to them as a safety blanket, because if he accepted Aizen's explanations, well in that case he didn't know what the hell he was supposed to do besides scream incoherently at the not existent heavens.

Because really, if Central 46 had ordered the creation of enhanced Hollow army in order to use it against Gotei 13 in case the Shinigami turned against the government, an idea that was getting more and more attractive, then what was the point of everything Toshiro has been doing ever since he entered the Academy? Why did he bother serving Soul Society and protecting it as a member of Gotei 13? He had to kill one of his best friends because of Central 46's laws, Momo was now missing or so rumor had it, possibly fled to join her Captain and who knew what madness would happen in the coming days and weeks.

At this point it would be so easy to say to hell with everything… and do what? Become an exile himself? Over something that might be a lie by Aizen? That was the tough truth, the only truth there was at this point – there was no way to say for sure if Aizen really was a traitor, merely someone who until recently slavishly followed Central 46's orders or something in between, and until Toshiro was reasonably certain of what was the truth, he had no bloody idea what to do.

=DA=

in the vicinity of First Division

Soul Society

Shunsui stood in the air where not so long a battle raged and did his best to wrap his mind around what happened tonight. Couple of hundred Shinigami ran all around like headless chickens, some to investigate the aftermath of the battle, others to deal with the collateral damage or in a futile attempt to secure the area until the shield could be re-established. Members of Yamamoto's own division provided security, while Second Division investigators and researchers from the Twelfth bickered over the evidence left from the raid. At least the healers were mostly gone with the exception of couple of squads doing search and rescue over the rubble left by stray attacks.

On one hand, the devastation could have been so much worse it didn't bear thinking about – it had been clear since the first few moments that the invaders were only really interested in survival, not murdering anyone, that mess with Kenpachi notwithstanding. Otherwise, given the apparent long range firepower both of those beings had, a large chunk of Soul Society would be little more than burning craters right now.

On the other hand, the true damage dealt to Gotei 13 went so far beyond the physical destruction and casualties it wasn't even funny. It didn't really matter if Aizen was truly a traitor or merely a man who followed orders and the government decided to use him as the fall guy. Either way, what Sosuke did tonight sundered Gotei 13 and unless the situation was handled with the utmost care, it could deteriorate to unthinkable levels, for they were already fighting a civil war, both with Zanpakuto and Kido, as well as words.

Yamamoto, obviously would stand up to his decision. Objectively speaking, detaining and binding Aizen until a proper investigation could be carried out was the right call… just one Sosuke couldn't agree to if he was guilty or if he was afraid that certain parties would take the opportunity to silence him while helpless.

Second, Soi-Fon would obviously continue to do her job, the most she might go out of her way for would be perhaps pleading Yoruichi's case. Considering what happened with the Black Coffin, the odds that the Commander of the Stealth force joined Aizen were minimal. What's more, if there was anyone at least vaguely aware what the man has been up to and keeping an eye on him for Central 46 it would be Soi-Fon, who was either none the wiser or had reasons to keep her mouth shut. Neither option filled Shunsui with confidence.

Zaraki was obvious – he would remain on Gotei 13's side and

gleefully look for rematch.

Kurotsuchi too, if for different reasons. Kyoraku shuddered at the mere thought what Aizen might have been authorized to do in the shadows if he was telling the truth, considering what Shunsui knew for a fact the Twelfth Division did as a matter of course. Sosuke might have had no choice but to flee in the end, because there surely were things that Gotei 13 and Yamamoto himself would never condone, no matter if Central 46 gave authorization and orders. Things like creating an army of whatever those two were to use against Gotei 13 in case they decided that the government had gone too far and needed replacing.

Well, he had to add himself to the list of those who would remain loyal, provisionally, so he could investigate everything that have been happening in Soul Society ever since Aizen came anywhere near the Academy much less graduated.

Technically Ichimaru had no other choice now but to support the loyalist faction, even though he might be military useless with his spine severed. Unohana might have been able to do something about that, perhaps the Twelfth division's research might come in useful. The obvious solution was surely out of reach – while he hadn't received confirmation, Shunsui was sure that Aizen had one of his people retrieve Orihime Inoue, the human girl who managed to heal Jushiro.

That was six loyal Captains, well five and the Old Man who was worth an army by himself.

Aizen was rogue if not traitor, Tosen had either decided to side with the man due to his own history with Central 46 and what nowadays passed for their justice, or perhaps he had always been Sosuke's man, another thing to investigate.

Aizen's Lieutenant Hinamori was missing as well, small wonder that.

Speaking about Jushiro, right now it was anyone's guess which way he would jump. Shunsui hoped that his oldest friend would wait for more information before he made his own choice. Then again, both of them had already decided to commit treason today at noon if Central 46 didn't change its mind and while that was a moot point now, the mere fact that the decisions of their government had led both of them to such a radical measure said everything that needed to ever be said about Central 46.

Toshiro would be pissed off, that much was a given, and with his best friend and perhaps something more, Hinamori obviously on Aizen's side, it was a coin toss where he would ultimately jump barring damning evidence about Aizen's actions coming to light.

On the face of it, Byakyua would remain loyal. In practice, Shunsui knew the man, knew how much standing by honour and duty cost him. With the revelations about what happened to Rukia that came to light tonight, the only thing Kyoraku was sure as far as Kuchiki went was that the man would want Urahara's head. Beyond that? He couldn't say for sure.

The same was true about Sajin Komamura. He might remain loyal, or he might go seek his friend Kaname.

Finally, there was perhaps the nastiest shock that happened tonight, Retsu Unohana went with Aizen, though hopefully only to try and learn more about what the man was up to. If she decided to side up with him for good, it would be disastrous and to make things even more interesting for Gotei 13, if she returned either tomorrow or in the next few days, they wouldn't be able to really trust her any more.

So six loyalists, two confirmed rogues or perhaps genuine traitors, one powerhouse who was their best healer currently missing and no to be trusted even if she turned up and five Captains who might join Aizen if he made a good case for himself.

This was all Urahara's fault and the worst thing was that right now, Kyoraku couldn't see a good way to punish the Exile. They might just need him and the Hollowfied Captains and Lieutenants he was certainly in contact with. If they could be brought into the fold, Gotei 13 would be in a much better military position, yet doing so was almost guaranteed to lose them at least a few of the Captains currently on the fence. More than a few of them would blame Urahara for tonight's disaster, for good reason too.

"What a mess…" Shunsui muttered glumly.