Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long to update. I had a lot of distractions and wasn't able to sit down and write. Like I promised, this chapter is at a proper length.
Enjoy.
Komamura walked down the streets of Seireitei on his way to the captain's meeting room. He remembered years ago when they would have one or two meetings a week. Now with the war, they were having three to four a week. The amount of wfork he was responsible for was enough as it was. And when they had a meeting, that was at least an hour off his day he could have been using to work. He would never complain out loud, he knew that communication between the captains was absolutely necessary.
He arrived outside the hall five minutes early and waited outside with everyone else. He looked around at all the captains who had come with their vice captains at their sides. He absently looked to his side and saw no one, Tetsuzaemon was gone. The reality of it shook him every single day. He remembered a particular meeting a while ago, when Yamamoto advised them to look for new shinigami to fill the vice-captain position. Soifon had found a new lieutenant easily enough, he had found his own easily enough as well.
He knew that his 3rd seat was qualified enough to take the position, but Komamura couldn't bring himself to fill the position so easily. Tetsuzaemon was more than just a soldier, he was a friend. Komamura trusted that man with everything and everything. The same way he trusted Tousen and Hisagi. In Komamura's eyes, no one could fill Tetsuzaemon's spot. The only other man that Komamura could consider his lieutenant was Hisagi Shuuhei. He would be honored to have Hisagi as his lieutenant but that wasn't going to happen. Hisagi had his own ambitions. And even if he gunning for captaincy, Komamura wouldn't fill Tetsuzaemon's position so quickly.
The doors of the the captain's hall opened and Sasakibe Chojiro stepped out and waved the captains in. He stepped aside and politely allowed the captains to pass. Komamura was the last to walk through the doors and Chojiro closed them behind him. He would most likely start the lieutenants meeting. Komamura stepped into his place in line and waited patiently. Everyone took their positions and stood two lines facing each other with Yamamoto standing at the front of the lines.
He tapped his cane on the ground once before he began. "I'd like to start off by informing you that the vizard have departed to the real world this morning. They will be staying with Urahara Kisuke for an indefinite amount of time. It is my understanding that they will be launching an attack on Las Noches some time soon. I request that every one of you are prepared to travel to Hueco Mundo should they need assistance."
Komamura sighed inwardly as he took a step forward.
'Here it goes.' He thought. Komamura hated interrupting Yamamoto but, now was the best time.
"My apologies Soutaicho." He began. "I feel I should interrupt you now at the beginning of the meeting rather than later on during more pressing issues." He said politely.
"Very well Komamura-taicho. Speak your peace."
"Lieutenant Hisagi wishes to take the captain's position of the 9th division. I would like to nominate him to fill that position." Komamura said.
"Lieutenant Hisagi approached you personally with this request?" Yamamoto asked.
Komamura nodded.
"Does Lieutenant Hisagi plan on taking the Captain Proficiency Exam or does is this Personal Recommendation?"
"This is through Personal Recommendation." Komamura said.
"Very well. Would the six captains who are recommending Lieutenant Hisagi for the position of Captain of the 9th division step forward one by one and state a brief explanation as to why he would be able to fill the position. Starting with you Komamura-taicho."
"Lieutenant Hisagi displayed great merit during the battle in Karakura. His actions and tact are what kept both me and himself alive while we fought Tousen Kaname."
Komamura stepped back into his spot in line. Soifon stepped forward once he was finished to state her reason.
"After Lieutenant Hisagi approached me and asked for my recommendation I reviewed the reports from Karakura. His methods of battling Tousen were ingenious. The ability to think quickly and develop a competent strategy is what we need in these times of war." Soifon stepped back to her spot in line.
"What did he do?" Kenpachi asked.
"Didn't you read the report?" Mayuri asked with an impatient tone.
"Fuck no. Why would I do that?" Kenpachi replied with a grin.
"It is required to read the reports. That's why!" Mayuri snapped back. The two of them bickered all the time, Mayuri had little patience for Kenpachi and Kenpachi loved to instigate him in hopes of having a reason to fight.
"Hisagi used the chain of his Shikai in combination with Kido to track Tousen in his own Bankai." Byakuya interrupted before their argument got out of control.
Kenpachi snorted. "His Bankai isn't hard to counter."
Mayuri opened his mouth to argue but Yamamoto slammed his cane on the ground nip the argument at the bud.
Unohana stepped forward to fill the silence. "I interviewed Lieutenant Hisagi personally for an hour when he approached me for my recommendation. Through that conversation I learned that he is a very intelligent and mature individual. He has a strong sense of morals and leadership. He is ready to lead the 9th division." She stepped back into her place in line.
Kyouraku Shunsui stepped forward. "Hisagi-san approached both me and Ukitake. He is the strongest lieutenant we have. He'll do a great job as captain." Shunsui smiled and stepped back. Hitsugaya stepped forward.
"Kyouraku-taicho is correct when he states that Hisagi is the strongest lieutenant. I've spoken with Hisagi many times before. He is mentally ready to take the position. While he may not have achieved Bankai I know that he is close. It won't be much longer before he does achieve Bankai."
"Yes lieutenant lacks Bankai. But it's clear that his power is equal to a captain's Shikai. I'm willing to bet that he could fight evenly with most captains in this room with both parties using Shikai."
He stepped back and Yamamoto spoke up. "Very well, bring Lieutenant Hisagi in."
Hisagi stood stoically as he listened to the others speak. The vice-captain's meetings never lasted very long. They didn't have much to speak of, so they finished up quickly. He looked through the room, the much less populated room, and frowned. He missed them all.
"Shuuhei-san! Why are you so quiet?" Rangiku walked up to him smiling.
"Just thinking." He said with a smile. His eyes automatically dropped to her cleavage.
"I heard you and Isane-chan went on a date." She said in a sing-song voice.
He forced his eyes back to her face. She smiled at him like she always did when he blatantly looked at her chest. It didn't bother her, she knew that Hisagi had a perverted side, and it wasn't like she tried to be modest about her huge breasts.
"Yea we did." He said, his eyes dropped again to her chest for a split second and he brought them back up to her face.
"Wellllll?" She asked with the same sing-song voice. "How was it?"
"It was good. I had a lot of fun."
Rangiku clapped her hands together with a huge smile on her face. Hisagi's eyes once again dropped to her chest. Her hand movements caused them to jiggle ever so slightly.
'Fuck.' He thought as he brought his eyes back up to her face. He looked over to Isane who wasn't paying attention. He was glad she wasn't watching. She could be coy and shy at times but she still had a fierce personality.
"Shuuhei." He turned to Komamura who stood behind him. "It's time."
He nodded and turned back to Rangiku. When he turned back he noticed all the lieutenants were looking at him.
"Yo. What's up?" Ikkaku shouted.
"I'm being nominated for captaincy." He said back. A couple of them widened their eyes. He gauged all of their reactions, many seemed to be either happy with the news or surprised. Renji had a small frown apparently unhappy with the news. Hisagi wasn't surprised. Renji achieved Bankai long ago, and while he was fine with remaining lieutenant, there hadn't even been any talk of him becoming a captain. Renji said once that he didn't care if he was captain or not, he just wanted the recognition.
Hisagi said bye to Rangiku and waved to everyone. He heard a couple "congratulations" as he walked. He walked up to the captain's meeting room with Komamura and took a deep breath before stepping inside. Komamura took his position in line with the rest of the captains and Hisagi stood opposite of Yamamoto. He placed his hands behind his back politely.
"Lieutenant Hisagi, six captains have recommended you to become captain of the 9th division. I'm sure you already know that you need three more captains to agree with the recommendation in order for you to become captain."
"I understand Soutaicho." He replied.
"We will cast the vote now. I will go last. I want each captain to step forward one by one and cast your vote with a brief explanation as to why you voted the way you did. We will start with Chick-taicho, then Kurotsuchi and Zaraki."
Byakuya stepped forward. "I do not feel that Lieutenant Hisagi should be captain. While I do not want to belittle his skills nor his intelligence and maturity, he is not strong enough. I admit he is an extremely powerful individual, the lack of Bankai is not something to be ignored. You all know that I did not even support my own lieutenant when some of you wanted to promote him. His Bankai was far from perfect and was not up to par with what a captain's power should be. While lieutenant Hisagi is nearly equal to a captain's Shikai, the lack of Bankai cannot be ignored."
'That's fair I guess.' Hisagi thought, he looked to Mayuri and exhaled. Since there were only ten captains left, he needed nine of them to vote for him. Since Byakuya said no, then he needed everyone else to agree.
'C'mon you freaky guy, say yes.'
Mayuri looked at Hisagi and a small tingle went down his spine. The man was far to weird for his liking.
"I frankly couldn't care less who becomes captain." Mayuri said with a wave of his hand. "Let him be captain."
Hisagi smirked and looked at Kenpachi as he stepped forward lazily.
"Bankai is overrated." He said and stepped back in line, clearly bored with the whole meeting.
"It looks like I am the deciding vote." He said.
...
Hisagi looked around at the other captains. Yamamoto stood the silently, not budging an inch. He stood that way silently for about a minute with out giving any indication that he was even alive. He had heard that Yamamoto would zone out from time to time and not say anything. No one really knew if he was asleep or just thinking.
"I've considered the words of all captains." He spoke up finally, looking at Hisagi. "Most." He emphasized. "Made very good points."
Hisagi glanced at Mayuri and Kenpachi. Mayuri was frowning while Kenpachi was grinning.
"With the opinions of all captains in mind. I vote that Lieutenant Hisagi will..."
The doors opened suddenly surprising everyone. Hisagi cursed in his head at the sudden intrusion.
An older shinigami stepped into the meeting halls. He had a finely trimmed short black beard and short black hair. He walked into the hall with authority. His old wrinkled face stared down all of them as if they were the ones who offended him.
"We are in the middle of a captain's meeting. Remove yourself from our sight." Yamamoto said aggressively.
'Damn he's pissed.'
"The Central 46 demand your presence Yamamoto-Genryusai Shingekuni." He said. The man stood with an air of smugness that reminded Hisagi of Aizen.
"We are in the middle of a captain's meeting. Remove yourself from our sight." Yamamoto repeated. "Tell the Central 46 that I will arrive after we finish electing a new captain."
'Electing a new captain.' Hisagi repeated in his head. 'Does that mean he was going to vote yes?'
"You will not elect any new captains. You will go to the Central 46 now."
'Intense.' He thought.
Suddenly the room was filled with a heavy reitsu. It was so unexpected and came so suddenly that Hisagi grunted softly. He composed himself quickly so that he didn't look weak in front of everyone. His fists clenched and his face hardened in concentration. His whole body went stiff trying not to shake from the blanket of reitsu that was smothering him. All in all he felt that he was handling it fairly well. He heard that Nanao was paralyzed and nearly suffocated from Yamamoto's reitsu. He looked around the room to see the captain's reactions so that he could compare their outward appearance to his own.
Ukitake didn't show any sign of discomfort at all. Shunsui and Unohana mirrored Ukitake, it was as if nothing was happening for the three of them. Mayuri was shifting his weight from foot to foot uncomfortably. Kenpachi was grinning like a mad man, obviously the new conflict had made the meeting interesting for him. Hitsugaya had an uncomfortable expression on and had a few small beads of sweat on his forehead. Hisagi could see the hair on the back of Komamura's neck was standing up. Soifon seemed to be reacting the exact same as Hisagi, with a tense body and clenched fists. He looked at Byakuya who seemed completely unaffected. Seemed unaffected, but just as Hisagi went to look a way he saw Byakuya's jaw clench.
It wasn't until he glanced at Yamamoto that he realized what was really going on. Yamamoto's eyes were open wide with anger. When he saw this that's when he noticed that everyone was glancing at the older shinigami who had walked in. Hisagi smirked at what was about to happen next, he looked back at the older shinigami.
"You dare try to intimidate the Soutaicho of the Gotei 13 with your Reitsu?" Yamamoto said. His words dripping with ire. The room was filled with twice as much spiritual pressure as Yamamoto began to retaliate.
This time Hisagi didn't manage to keep his composure quite as well. His body began to visibly shudder. He looked around the room to see the change in everyones demeanor. Everyones own little method of dealing with the reitsu had become far more pronounced. This time Shunsui, Ukitake and Unohana actually appeared uncomfortable. Hisagi glanced at a very angry looking Byakuya, who was looking back at him. Hisagi noticed the questioning nature of Byakuya's look and realized his mistake. Hisagi shuddered more visibly and dropped to one knee panting. He looked back up at Byakuya and the noble's questioning look faded.
'Hopefully that worked.' Hisagi thought. He looked back at the older shinigami and smirked. The man was beginning to look slightly affected by Yamamoto's Reitsu. Hisagi looked back and forth between the old men, noting who was winning this little stand off. Yamamoto appeared to be sleeping, or at least standing very comfortably. This stand off continued for another few moments before the old shinigami exhaled quickly and took a few quick breaths. It became obvious that the man was holding his breath trying to out match Yamamoto, but lost.
"Ha ha. And we have a winner." Kenpachi said with a manic smile. "Care to take me on new guy?" Kenpachi said staring at the old shinigami, with one hand on his eye patch.
"No he won't Zaraki-taicho." Yamamoto said as he began walking towards the door. "This meeting is postponed until I finish speaking with the Central 46."
He began to walk and as he was passing the old shinigami, the man smiled smugly. He looked at the captains with an expression that announced superiority.
"Don't seem so happy." Shunsui spoke allowed. "Yama-ji isn't the type to keep the Central 46 waiting. If you pulled that stunt under any other circumstances than he probably wouldn't have stopped until you passed out."
The older shinigami looked down at Shunsui as if he were homeless before he turned and walked with Yamamoto towards the Central 46.
"Welcome, welcome." Urahara said in a melodic tone.
The vizards walked into the massive training area underneath Urahara's shop and greeted the man. He stood with Yoruichi and Tessai waiting for the vizards, he had a small pack slung over his shoulder.
"What's in the bag?" Lisa asked.
"Just some equiptment. I'll need it when we get into Las Noches." He said happily. He turned and dragged his cane through the air in a zig zag pattern. The air tore like fabric and a garganta opened. He stepped into it, a path of spiritual energy forming at his feet as a bridge. The vizard stepped up to the garganta but Urahara put his hand up to stop them.
"You don't all need to come. Three of you is fine. Preferably Hachi being one of the three. His skills would be most helpful." Urahara said with a smile.
Hachi stepped forward into the garganta as the other vizard spoke on who would be going with them. After a few moments Rose and Lisa both stepped into the garganta. It closed behind them and the four shinigami took off into the void towards Hueco Mundo."
"So Yoruichi. How come you aren't going along with him?" Shinji asked the dark woman.
"They'll be back soon. Besides It's been a while since I've seen any of you."
"It has been." Kensei said.
"We've missed you Yoruichi." Mashiro said loudly and hugged the other woman. Kensei's brow twitched in irritation at his former lieutenant.
"So what do we do now?" Mashiro asked with a finger on her chin and looking up.
"Well we coul..."
"Oh, this shop has candy doesn't it?" She asked Yoruichi, interrupting Kensei.
"Well I'm sure it does." Yoruichi said. Before she could say anything else Mashiro took off out of the underground training area and up to the shop.
"Fuck." Kensei swore. "You should have lied. You think she's crazy now?"
Yoruichi shrugged.
"Ahhhhh!" He shouted in frustration and dropped into a sitting position and hung his head.
"Why do you always get so bent out of shape with Mashiro?" Shinji asked. "We don't have much of a problem with her hyperness."
"That's because all of her hyper attention is set on me." Kensei groaned.
As if on queue Mashiro came running back into the training area. Kensei quickly got to his feet but was knocked back down as Mashiro barreled into him. She sat on his chest looking down at him.
"Why are you on the ground Kensei?" She asked.
"FUCK!!!"
"So what's the plan?" Lisa asked Urahara as they walked through the dessert of Hueco Mundo.
"Well, we're going to infiltrate Las Noches, do some scouting, maybe beat up some arrancar and then leave." He said. "Well, not before we put this little baby to use." He swung the bag he was carrying as he walked. He was clearly excited with what ever contraption he brought along.
They walked for about ten minutes before they reached Las Noches, they all shunpo'd to the palace quickly and stood outside the wall.
"Hachi, can you do the honors?" Rose asked. He waved his hand toward the wall and gave a bow.
Hachi nodded and walked forward. He brought his hand to his head and summoned his hollow mask. With a clap of his hands he created a glowing box in the wall. He waved his arms and the box of kido was pulled from the wall. the large section of wall that was inside the box of kido came out as well. He moved the box out of the way and ended the kido spell then removed his mask. A perfect square hole was left in the wall of Las Noches that the group leisurely walked through. They ran through the halls of Las Noches as quickly as possible. Urahara said that he needed a nice large space to set up his invention. They turned a corner and ran into an empty room. At least they thought it was empty until they noticed a fat arrancar looking at them from a corner
"DIE SHINIGAMI!" The thing shouted as soon as he saw them.
The arrancar began to charge a cero but both Rose and Lisa charged him. They raised their swords and swung. Lisa cut him across his waist first, and Rose brought his down on the hollow's shoulder. He screamed and slashed at Rose but the vizard pulled his sword out of his shoulder and spun to avoid the claw. Lisa thrust her sword through the center of it's chest as Rose continued to spin until he was behind the arrancar. WIth a quick powerful slash, Rose cut the arrancar's midsection in the same place Lisa had first cut. His slash met with the damage that Lisa had left and cut the arrancar in half.
"I'm going to need you to erect a barrier and hide us the best you can Hachi." Urahara said as he closed the door. Urahara pulled a small rubix like object out of the bag. He sat cross legged and began to pump his reiryoku into the rubix. "If you could strengthen your barrier as much as possible. It'd be much appreciated." Urahara said politely. The rubix like object began to float and glow. Urahara nimbly touched it with his fingers as the object began to shift and turn on itself randomly.
"How does it work?" Lisa asked.
"More importantly. What does it do?" Rose added.
"Do any of you know how a computer works?"
They all nodded. While computers were extremely uncommon in soul society, the vizard lived in the real world for half a century.
"Do you know how a computer virus works?"
They nodded slowly. They knew what a virus did, but they weren't entirely sure how it worked.
"Well basically. This thing is searching and scouting the entirety of Las Noches. It's mapping it. And once it finishes mapping, it will start planting little bugs."
"I assume all of it is made of your reiryoku?" Hachi asked.
"Yea, that's what the barrier is for. There are webs of my reiryoku rapidly moving through Las Noches. Your barrier will buy us some time before they find out where our location."
"Wait, if you have a net of your reiryoku spreading though Las Noches. That means every single living being in this palace knows we're here." Lisa said, a hint of panic in her voice.
"That is correct. Be ready everyone. From the feel of it..." He said as he moved his fingers over the gyrating device.
"...There are already a few who found us through your barrier Hachi."
Rose sighed in frustration. Drawing his sword again.
"And whoever it is, they're strong as hell."
"Yamamoto-Genryusai Shigekuni. You stand before us because we no longer feel that you can properly fulfill your position as Soutaicho!"
Yamamoto stood in the Central 46 chambers alone. The room was completely pitch black, the only light was the spotlight on Yamamoto. He stood looking at the dark silhouettes of the Central 46 members. He gave no sign that what he just heard had affected him in anyway. He stood there silently waiting to hear the reasons for their accusation.
"Your leadership has resulted in the slaughter of the previous Central 46, the destruction of the Sokyoku. The defection of three captains, the deaths of various lieutenants and seated officers. As well as the fact that you have failed to end this war quickly." The members of the Central 46 took turns speaking. Yamamoto never heard the same voice speak twice.
"War's are never ended quickly." Yamamoto replied with a neutral tone.
"The fact that you could not defeat Aizen in the Karakura battle is jaw dropping. Three captains and a few hollow were all that was stopping you from winning. And even with the help of the exiled you could not win."
"I do not blame any of you for not knowing what battle is like. It is only natural that you would not understand." He replied.
Angry chatter rose through the Central 46. Yamamoto stood patiently and waited for them to calm down.
"If you insist on removing me from my position as Soutaicho. A position that I alone have held for the past two thousand years, than I will be electing Unohana Retsu to fill the position."
"You will not elect anyone to fill the position." One of them spoke up before he turned to leave. "You will not leave, we aren't finished this meeting just yet."
"If you do not wish for Unohana Retsu to become Soutaicho than that is your decision. But I would like to inform you that the position will be filled with either her, Ukitake Juushiro or Kyouraku Shunsui."
"You think we will allow your preferred captains to fill your position? If we did that than there wouldn't be any change in leadership. And the same failure will result."
"I am not nominating 'preferred captains' as you put it. Those three captains have been captains of the Gotei 13 for over three-hundred years. They are the only ones qualified to take the position of Soutaicho." Yamamoto said.
"Wrong." Someone said rudely.
Yamamoto merely waited silently for them to explain themselves.
"We have chosen to elect the new Soutaicho. Someone who hasn't been apart of the Gotei 13. Someone who hasn't been tainted by your failed leadership."
"The position of Soutaicho cannot be filled by someone who is not part of the Gotei 13. It is against the law!" He said with a slam of his cane.
"We are the law." Someone said back defiantly.
"You think you are the law. I thought that we proved to you that you weren't when we vetoed your decision of re-banishing the vizard?" Yamamoto said.
"Yes you did manage to overturn that decision. However..."
Someone else finished his sentence. "...we have declared the war measures act. We are in war times. And during war times, this act allows us to have full control of soul society."
"We are bending the rules to allow someone we feel is fit to take the position of Soutaicho. Hosokawa Okahito."
The old shinigami who had so rudely interrupted the captain's meeting had stepped forward into the light with the same air of smugness as before. He smiled a wrinkled smile at Yamamoto and stepped back into the darkness."
"That is not all. We feel that your tainted leadership will continue to taint the Gotei 13. Therefore..."
"...We are removing you from the Gotei 13. You may reside anywhere within Rukogankai as long as you do not cause trouble. You are hereby banished from Seireitei indefinably."
"Very well." Yamamoto said. "Remember. That this banishment cannot last forever. Once the war ends, or if Hosokawa is deemed unfit for Soutaicho. And he IS unfit. I will be back."
Yamamoto turned and exited the Central 46 chambers.
Ukitake sat down and breathed heavily. His illness began to act up as they waited for Yamamoto to get back from the Central 46. Retsu was running her healing hands over his chest to help him through the pain. While it was impossible to cure or remove the pain completely, healing kido could ease the pain significantly. He breathed in more calmly as the pain in his chest subsided, with the pain lightening he could focus on other things. Namley, Retsu's soft hands running along his chest. Her cool fingers traced lines down his chest as her hands moved up and down healing him. He smiled and looked into her eyes. He nodded, telling her that he was fine. She gracefully helped him to his feet and he leaned in close to her ear. Close enough to whisper, but not close enough to catch the eyes of any other captain.
"You and I should have tea later today." He said quietly.
"Is tea your new code word now?"
"Yes and no. I would actually like some tea before I do dirty things to you." He said with a low growl.
She giggled in response. Before he could say anything else Shunsui clapped him on the back fairly roughly.
"Feeling better Juushiro?" He asked.
Ukitake coughed, a little bit of blood splattered onto his hand.
"I was feeling fantastic until you did that." He said as he coughed again, this time much more blood came up. Retsu ushered him to take a seat and began to heal him again. He heard Shunsui apologize several times.
'Retsu is probably giving him one of those super scary glares that she's so good at.' He thought. He sat with his eyes closed and breathed in deeply as Retsu ran her hands along his chest again, healing him. He hummed silently to himself and listened. If it weren't for the talk of the other captains, he could probably fall asleep. He sat like that for a few moments until Unohana pulled her hands away. He could hear the rustle of her robes as she stood.
He opened his eyes to see all of the captains watching Yamamoto as he entered the Captain's meeting hall, the old shinigami from before followed him. Ukitake slowly got to his feet and stood to attention.
"The Central 46 have invoked the war measures act. They now have authority over the Gotei 13 and the four noble houses."
Chatter broke out through the captains at the news. The 46 were already being enough of a problem. Now that they had almost complete authority, it meant a hell of a lot of trouble for them.
"With this new authority. They have decided to temporarily banish me from Seireitei. This man, Hosokawa Okahito will be filling my position as Soutaicho."
"Like hell he is!" Shunsui and Ukitake shouted in unison. Ukitake coughed lightly afterwards, but didn't spit up any blood this time.
"It is what the Central 46 has decreed." Yamamoto said. "You will follow the law."
"Sorry Yama-ji." Shunsui said. "But we're not the same law abiding shinigami as you."
"If you go. Then we go." Ukitake said. He turned and stepped towards the door. He saw Shunsui and Komamura mirror him. Yamamoto slammed his cane into the ground hard. They turned to face him.
"We are in the middle of a war! You will not abandon your posts over asinine foolishness!"
"He's right. We cannot allow personal reasons to put lives at risk. We have responsibilities." Unohana said. Ukitake shuddered slightly. She was giving of that aura that struck fear in everyone around her. She looked at him with a look in her eyes he recognized.
'Fuck. I think my childishness just cost me my "tea". I''m going to have to do some damage control later.' He sighed in frustration.
"You will treat Hosokawa Okahito as the new Soutaicho." Yamamoto said with authority.
"Yes you will, because I am the Soutaicho now." He stepped forward and waved his arms. "Now I need to inform you. That the Central 46 has given me more authority than the Soutaicho would normally have. To demonstrate my new authority, I'll be filling the missing captain positions.
"You have the authority to elect shinigami to captaincy by yourself?" Byakuya asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I do. Now I introduce the three new captains of the Gotei 13."
"Hosokawa Seiichi." A young male shinigami with long black hair stepped into the captain's hall.
"Hosokawa Jiro." A slightly older male shinigami stepped into the captain's all.
"And Hosokawa Koaru." A female shinigami stepped into the captain's hall.
"You elected your children for captaincy?" Byakuya asked. With rude disbelief in his tone.
"Yes I did. And I would like to inform you that these three captains have more authority than everyone else. The Central 46 feels that you are all tainted with the improper leadership of Yamamoto. They trust myself and my choices for captains more than they trust any of you. So while you may technically all have seniority over these three new captains, they in fact, have seniority over you.
'This is going to be bad.' Ukitake thought. The hall erupted in angry outbursts. Eventually Yamamoto silenced the room. Even though he probably didn't care to hear what Hosokawa was going to say next, Ukitake knew how much Yamamoto hated listening to the captains argue or shout.
"Now, We will kick off this meeting properly." He said as he lightly nudged Yamamoto out of the center spot at the end of the lines. "Yamamoto. You are no longer needed here. You have two hours to remove yourself from Seireitei. I suggest you get going."
Hosokawa waved his hand to Yamamoto as if he was shooing a fly or telling a child to get lost. Ukitake scowled at the immense display of disrespect. Yamamoto merely walked out of the room. To Hosokawa, it seemed like Yamamoto was submissive and obeying him. But Ukitake knew Yamamoto better. The old man followed the law to the tee. And this banishment was only temporary. When he came back, he would be coming back with vengeance. Hosokawa would face Yamamoto's wraith, just not today.
"To start things off..." Hosokawa stopped as the Gotei 13 began to leave. "Where are you all going. We're in the middle of a meeting."
"Well we have a lot of work to do. And while you may have complete authority, there still isn't anything you can do to stop us from leaving short of trying to force us to stay. And I doubt you have the balls to try and start a fight with all of us." Shunsui said.
"I am Soutaicho. I will not tolerate this insubordination! You will show me the same respect you showed Yamamoto."
"Naw. I think we'll show you the same respect you showed him a few moments ago." Kenpachi said with a dry laugh.
The captains all walked out of the hall together. Shunsui was right when he said that Hosokawa couldn't do anything. They'd all probably get a write-up on their record, some budget cuts, some disciplinary actions on their respective divisions. But all in all, there was nothing he could really do to stop them from walking out. Ukitake looked back at the hall. The only ones that remained inside were the Hosokawa family and Kurotsuchi Mayuri. Mayuri staying behind didn't surprise Ukitake in the slightest.
'He probably wants to suck up early.' Ukitake thought. 'Perhaps Hosokawa will approve some of the research that Yamamoto wouldn't allow Mayuri to conduct.'
I'll be updating soon. The next chapter will have some serious fighting. Be ready for the action.
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