Chapter 5: Tactics

This is far more fun than it should be. Sōsuke Aizen had to bite his tongue to keep himself from bursting into a full on grin as he walked behind his fellow captains out of the meeting hall. It hadn't been a particularly interesting meeting; they never were. Updates from field troops, changes within the thirteen squads, some captains complaining about… well he hadn't actually paid attention to anything after he had heard the names 'Kaien Shiba' and 'Karakura Town'.

His mind had exploded with a thousand different thoughts about his plans; all of them. The ones that had been implemented, the ones that were in the process of panning out, and even the ones that weren't quite moving yet. There were new plans as well; new ideas that were just begging his brilliant mind to pick them up, spread them over a table so he could dissect them, and reassemble them better than they were before. That was, of course, how it worked. Nothing was petty or useless after he was finished with it. For him, picking up a rock and polishing it into a priceless gem was easier than the process of selling the gem to a greedy noble.

Everything was easy for him. Of course no one knew just how easy. If they did they would have been able to see that for over one hundred years he'd been pulling at carefully laid strings to weave a picture of perfection; his own perfection. And with my flawlessness comes exactness of the world.

Everything would be as it should be, not the broken excuse of a mess things were now. He wondered how the mindless dribble that walked around Soul Society didn't see their world for what it was; a complete waste. A nonsensical cast system of kings, nobles, fighters, farmers, and piss poor people doing things that never mattered for longer than anyone could remember a person's name. Well it wouldn't be that way for much longer.

He had finally reached the moment when all his work was paying off and all of his waiting was going to come to an end. Not that the work had been any variety of hard, difficult, or even daunting, but the waiting had started to grind on his nerves after the first thirty years of throwing things into action. Waiting to find the right people… ah no he waited to find the right pawns, on top of sitting around for the perfect moment to start the small gears of his much larger machine. It was a game of patience, a tactical war that only he was aware of; an epic battle that he would win before anyone knew what was coming.

Sure things didn't always go exactly as he planned them, but that was part of the fun. It would have been boring if everything had fallen into place like the pieces to every game of 'Go' he ever played. When Kaien had actually survived his encounter with the hollow that killed his wife, it was a twist that sent a thrill through Aizen. At first he was angry about Ukitake getting involved, the older Captain always had to get involved, but he soon realized the benefits he would be able to reap by having the now grieving Shiba around. He was definitely a better subject than Rukia Kuchiki. He was just as likely to take the bait as Rukia, but Kaien would hold onto it for different and, quite possibly, better reasons.

If Kaien had died Rukia would need someone to take his place. That was easy enough; find someone who looked and acted the part and the girl would be hooked, probably. Shiba needed someone to relate to, someone to empathize with, and that would be the sinker. A replacement is just that; something you get attached to for a short time, but changing circumstances could always tip the scales in the wrong direction. When you find someone you see yourself in, that's where the bonds start, where friendship puts its ridiculously stubborn foot on the ground.

The girl would have been easier to use; grieving over the loss of her beloved vice-captain and mentor. She was never an incredibly sturdy person to begin with; mediocre combat and Kidō skills at best and a 'Yes Sir' flew out of her mouth easier than her own name. How she had managed to produce a Zanpakutō like Sode no Shirayuki baffled Aizen, but he'd figure that out eventually as well. He had never seen her use it widely as to date, maybe it was just one of the other great blessing she received without actually earning it, like being adopted into the Kuchiki family.

That had thrown everyone for a loop and that was also Aizen's biggest problem at the moment. The young Captain Kuchiki was an essential asset to his prior plans. Well he still could be, but he'd have to use the brash Captain in a different way than he had been planning. Easy enough; file that thought for stretching later.

Kaien was more difficult to work into his plans. Well, 'difficult' in the same way that getting Captain Kyorako to drink was difficult. Put the bottle down in front of him and he was done for. Put that in front of Kaien and he was done for.

"You look like you're thinkin' about something real hard Captain." Aizen didn't have to turn to know who spoke up behind him. Gin Ichimaru's broken grammar and grating accent was enough to give him away. The young Captain picked up his pace to match Aizen's and turned to him with his usual smug smile. "The meeting wasn't that gripping."

"There's more on my mind than just a meeting Gin." Aizen's lip curled into his usual sickenly sweet smile and he turned to face his fellow Captain. Peripheral showed him that Captain Hitsugaya was scowling behind them. He raised his voice just enough, "I was thinking about how we might be able to take a little bit of extra work away from Captain Ukitake's squad. They seem a little overwhelmed since Vice-Captain Shiba was assigned to field work."

"Curious that they put him on that assignment." Gin said, almost as if to himself. "You'd think a Vice-Captain would have more important work to do."

Aizen tilted his head to the side; pretending to think. "Ah, but he did just lose his wife. I can only imagine the grief he must be feeling. Perhaps he just needs a small change of pace until he can find his feet again."

"Sounds like you got it all figured out."

"Hardly, this is merely speculation." Or not.

Gin nodded, the slightest break in his smile flashing his white teeth. "Well you certainly are being generous thinkin' about helping them."

Aizen waved a hand through the air as if to shoo away a fly. "Nonsense, it's what any one of us should do." He looked over his shoulder flashing a grin at the short Captain behind him. "Don't you agree Captain Hitsugaya?"

The younger Captain's turquoise eyes stared at him, surprised by being suddenly let into the conversation. He recovered quickly, glancing off to the side. "Of course, if you should think of anything let me know if my squad can help."

Aizen nodded. "I will, thank you Captain."

Hitsugaya folded his hands into his sleeves uncomfortably and nodded as he turned to meet Aizen's gaze again. "As you said, it is what any of us should do. Have a good afternoon." He broke off around a corner, disappearing in a blink.

Gin chuckled to himself. "Such a warm conversation." He tilted his head forward in a small mock bow. "Be seeing you around Captain."

Nice one Gin.

Aizen let teeth flash the sky as he looked up at a few passing clouds with a grin wide enough to taunt the sun.

Oh yes, he was having far too much fun.