"Well, well," Kyoraku said as he was led into the prison beneath the First Division. Seemed like Yama-ji wasn't going to trust even the entire Punishment Force to keep him contained. He was both flattered and annoyed; it was nice of Yama-ji to think he could manage an escape, but also annoying because he had already thought of three different ways to escape Soifon's if it turned out to be necessary. It was going to be a lot bigger pain with the old man breathing down his neck.
"At least the company's good," he said loudly.
Ukitake nearly jumped at the sound Kyoraku's voice. He had been dozing on a cot in the cell across from the one Kyoraku was being shown into. He yawned and looked curiously over at Kyoraku and his escort of guards. "What are you doing down here?" he asked finally.
"Didn't you hear? I'm your co-conspirator," Kyoraku answered. "It seems I hid Rukia for you."
Ukitake frowned, and for a moment he seemed to be thinking that over. "Really? That was very kind of you, I suppose," he said finally. "I don't remember having asked you to do so, but I've been informed I did a great deal I don't remember. They say I sent Byakuya-kun to Division Four-that I do wish I could remember, I must have been impressive."
"That's what I heard," Kyoraku agreed. He leaned against the bars of his cell to watch his escort walk away. All but two left; the final two guards turned and stood against the wall, staring down the single hall between the cells. "Don't remember, huh?"
"I really thought I was with Nemu-chan, but I've been informed being with your wife is as good as having no alibi at all."
"That's only because they don't know Nemu-chan, never met a worse liar in my life," Kyoraku said, "I do understand their suspicions, two of your subordinates broken out on the same night, I'm afraid I believed it myself for a bit."
"I am sorry about that," Ukitake answered. "I hope it didn't cause you too much trouble."
"We'll have to wait and see how it turns out. Everyone's alright for now though," Kyoraku answered, sitting down and patting his shihakusho looking for a pipe. He found one quickly, but no tobacco so that was a bit of a disappointment. "No sake either," he mumbled to himself.
"Nor any tea," Ukitake told him. "I think I would appreciate a nice, hot cup of tea right about now."
Kyoraku raised his head and turned sharp eyes on his oldest friend. "You feeling alright?"
"I'm fine," he answered, but Kyoraku didn't miss the fact that he was shivering.
He got to his feet and called to the guards at the end of the hall. "Hey, one of you get the captain a blanket. Yama-ji's not going to be very happy with you if your prisoner ends up at the Fourth because you let him catch cold."
Ukitake smiled slightly when he saw one of the guards leave to fetch a blanket as directed. "Even in prison I get special treatment," he said softly.
"That's right," Kyoraku agreed. "It's because we all just love you so much."
"So nice of you. I do hate being a bother, even if I should be used to it by now." He rubbed his forehead as he spoke, a telltale sign of a headache, and sighed. "I'm sorry, Shun. I'm sure you're bored, but I think I'm going to have to lie down for a bit."
"Don't worry about me," Kyoraku answered, but in his mind he was already going over various escape plans. Up to now he had only considered being locked up a bit inconvenient. If things got serious he knew Nanao'd find a way to let him know, and he'd break out. Otherwise he intended to let the others work things out; they were a clever bunch, and you really did have to let the young people take care of things themselves as much as they could; how else were they going to grow? But he'd be damned before he was going to let his friend relapse just because Yama-ji was too stubborn to listen to what was really going on.
Gin sad down on one of the tables on the lower level, avoiding the dried blood of one very dead member of Central 46 while being careful not to bump into the rotting corpse of another-who knew how long it'd take to get that smell out of his haori if he touched it. He watched Aizen release a Hell's Butterfly before he spoke.
"Should I go get Rukia now or are we going to let them fight over her a bit first?" He asked.
"You know where she is?" Aizen asked.
"Well," Gin said, slowly, scratching his head. "Can't be anywhere too hard to find if she's still with Shiba-he's never been too sharp."
"But Kyoraku is, and talented enough he was able to completely obscure Shiba's path away from his division."
"Maybe Tosen just wasn't paying attention," Gin suggested. He had been on Central 46 duty the night before, while Aizen was out framing Ukitake. Tosen had been following Kaien, and had lost him at the Eighth.
"He's less likely to have been distracted that you would have been," Aizen answered dryly.
Gin was well aware of why he hadn't been chosen to follow Kaien. It had definitely been the right call, but he didn't have to admit it. "You think? Tosen always seems awfully interested in that lieutenant of his."
"Gin," Aizen said, his tone a clear rebuke.
He sighed. "They wouldn't have let me in for a booty call anyway-well, Ran would, but everyone else would be against it-there are a few female Arrancar, aren't there? In Las Noches?"
"There are, not that it will matter to you." Aizen raised his head to look straight at Gin. "Do you think I'm not aware that the one and only woman you have ever slept with is your wife?"
Gin managed a careless shrug. "Ran's easy, but I'm sure I can expand my horizons if necessary."
"You needn't pretend," Aizen answered. "I've told you before, if she means so much to you we can bring her along."
"Nah, the family's been an entertaining hobby, but it only really works here, kinda difficult to transplant, bit like a garden would be. No real point in bothering with that much work. I'm sure Hueco Mundo will have its own amusements anyway."
Gin was very aware of Aizen's eyes on him as he spoke, and he knew that sooner or later that lie was going to catch up with him. There was no way Aizen was going to leave it be. Someday he was going to have to prove that Rangiku and the kids meant nothing to him, and he knew he had to be ready for it.
"I'm sure you will find the Arrancar amusing," Aizen said. "And there will be women, if that really does interest you."
"I could take up drinking if I get bored; I could be a womanizing drunk-wouldn't that drive Tosen mad?" Gin was grinning hugely now. It was an amusing thought; immorality really got on Tosen's nerves, like he hadn't figured out they were the bad guys. "And an adulterer!" He added gleefully. "That'll really get under his skin."
"That is a hobby I wouldn't mind you giving up," Aizen said, finally looking away. "Why you find it necessary to harass a useful ally is beyond me."
"He hates me anyway," Gin said. "I might as well enjoy it."
"That could be your life's motto. Beyond that extraordinarily foolish girl you married, I can think of no one who does not at least dislike you."
"It's a gift," Gin said, finally hopping down from the table. "If I don't get to go Rukia hunting I suppose it's time I got back to the archive."
"Yes, it is," Aizen agreed, and as Gin reached the chamber door he added, "Don't worry, Gin-kun. The fun is just about to start."