The two men stared at the now empty spot in front of them with vacant eyes. Neither of them had been able to fathom what had happened; they had fought their sensei, and then got word of a supposed dead man's return and how he's now a traitor to the Soul Society, and had watched said sensei bow his head to his students and shunpo away.
Scenes ran through their head as they tried to work out how the traitor had betrayed them, had blindfolded all of Seireitei and sugar coated the truth. Instead of just a Captain's 'death' and the ryoka invading, something much worse had come upon them instead.
"You have a bit of blood about to run into your eye, O noble 13th Division Captain," said the brown-haired man cheerfully. His pale companion lifted a hand up to his head, still holding one of his dual blades, and cautiously dabbed at the cut with his forefinger. His brought it back down to his face and blinked, as if confused as to why his beloved teacher had inflicted this wound upon him. After a couple seconds of deep thinking, the white-haired man turned to his partner and grinned. "You're not so clean yourself, Shunsui."
"Hah! Whatever, Jyuu-kun. It's just a scratch," retorted Kyoraku, trying to cover his smile with an angry face. However, it looked so childish that Ukitake burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry," he stammered out in between chuckles, "It was just your face, and just..." He paused. A pensive expression washed over his face. "Just that this whole situation seems so unreal and horrible that its almost funny, y'know?"
Kyoraku looked at his best friend with something like pity. "Jeez, Ukitake. You always try to make the best out of a bad situation."
"It's not like that," said Ukitake, shaking his head. He looked up at the clear sky. It seemed darker somehow. Almost as if Aizen had poisoned it with his deeds. "I'm not going to do that. This whole scenario is too corrupted to make jokes. I can't make the best out of this bad situation."
He bowed his head and now gazed at the blood spattered ground with disgust. Kyoraku sighed and joined his best friend in reminiscing over the battle.
"He's going to pay, you know. For what he's done to everyone," said Ukitake softly. The 8th Division Captain glanced sideways at his friend and frowned; he knew that the white-haired man's worst anger is as quiet as a mouse.
"I swear you go off into your own little world sometimes, Jyuushirou," said Kyoraku tiredly as he closed his chocolate eyes.