"You raze the old to raise the new."
― Justina Chen, North of Beautiful
"Report," the Soutaicho boomed as they settled in their respective places.
"Damn," the Captain of the Second muttered. Why was it her who should always begin? She could feel their eyes on her. "Ten sectors damaged, twice as many people dead, and seventy six were hurt." She sighed. "And that's not all. The man in Muken has escaped." Masks of shock and fear filled the other captain's faces, as Sui bit her lips in frustration. Even the Soutaicho raised a brow.
"Who?" Kenpachi asked.
"I am responsible for this whole situation due to my lack of foresight." She spoke firmly. "Aizen has escaped and we have no idea yet as to where he has gone to," she continued frowning. "I believe that this was a feint attack. They came here to save their master."
"I'll have to agree with that," Shinji replied. "There were a lot of damages yes, but it wasn't a full blown attack, as you may have noticed. They suddenly retreated although they weren't losing."
"Meh," Kanpachi snorted. "They're just a bunch of cowards."
"I think I need to get back on my research," Mayuri sighed, annoyed.
"You won't be able to do your 'research', Captain Kurotsuchi, if Aizen declares war again," Retsu smiled. There was a slight lull in the words exchanged.
"Well, couldn't it be possible that Aizen took advantage of the commotion?" Kyoraku suddenly asked, clenching and unclenching his . Everyone could feel his reiatsu, out of control and almost tangible.
"Kyoraku," the old man murmured.
"The evidences points otherwise," Sui spoke. "He couldn't have known that there was a commotion, and he couldn't have escaped the bakudo by himself." She was apparently frustrated with the whole event.
"Aren't you underestimating him too much?" Hitsugaya spoke gruffly. "That man is powerful and ambitious. He is a megalomaniac and a threatening one at that."
"You also underestimate my Division," Sui spoke sharply. "Do you honestly think that we had put on him a very simple Bakudo? If so, then you are very naive, Captain Hitsugaya. We offer a lot more 'merchandise' for prisoners like him. We are no fools." She sighed annoyed. "Nevertheless, I claim responsibility of this incident."
"Don't worry about it, Captain Sui Feng," Retsu spoke. "None of us could have guessed their thoughts."
"I should have at least the foresight to fortify it," she uttered to herself. "And my men should have enought mind to think of it."
"So you have given them apt punishment, I take it?" Mayuri asked, slightly interested.
The woman stared at him levelly. She knew what he was proposing. "Unfortunately, there was nothing left to punish, Mayuri."
The Soutaicho, sighed as he sank in his chair. These things were wearying his old bones already. "Tea, Yamamoto-sama?" Chojiro asked as he stood by.
"Yes, please," he murmured. He hoped that Aizen stays quiet this time and choose to exile himself from Soul Society. That was a very unlikely though, and he knew when it was possible and when it was wishful thinking. He should call for the Second Division immediately.
Kyoraku strode through the halls of the Fourth Division, consciously lowering his reiatsu, trying to calm himself. Ukitake had decided to stay beside the Eighth Division Vice-captain, considering that the white-haired man needed to visit the hospital for his sickness too. "Kyoraku," the man said by way of greeting.
"How is she?" he murmured.
"Safe," the white locked man replied. "She lost a lot of blood from that wound. She's lucky, it didn't pierce her heart and that she didn't drown in her own blood."
"My poor Nano-chan," the man sighed, touching the girl's cheeks, then he kissed the girl's forehead. "She'll kill me for this when she wakes up."
"You should rest, Shunsui," Juushiro sighed. "Even Nanao would recommend it to you, if she found you in this state."
The Eighth Division Captain sighed. "You're right. These are one of the rare moments she's going to ask me to sleep." He sighed again. "I'll be going ahead, Juu." The man nodded as the door closed.
"Are you okay already, Vice-captain Ise?" Ukitake asked as he noticed her stir.
"Yes, Captain Ukitake," she murmured. "Did I make Captain Kyoraku worry?"
The man chuckled softly. "I know you know the answer to that, don't you, Vice-Captain?"
She blushed, "I didn't even notice the enemies approach. I should have-"
"Even seasoned warriors make mistakes, Vice-Captain Ise," Juushiro smiled reassuringly. "You should rest. Remember administration isn't Kyoraku's forte." Nanao smiled as the man left the room.
Sui Feng growled as she strode towards the Twelfth Division. As much as she loathed to do it, she must see the videos that the could have been taken of the attack of the Maggot's Nest, and the only person that could provide it was one of the vilest men that could ever exist. She smirked to herself, one of the vilest men indeed.
She opened the division's doors, striding through in the division's halls, watching the cameras mounted around. It wasn't like the man cared who went in and out of the division as long as the person didn't take any information with him. She hurried as she watched the man's staff fiddle around the various specimens on the various tables and desks scattered around. While she could appreciate the work ethic, she utterly hated the mess the whole division was in. Didn't anyone take the time to even properly arrange the files on their desks? It's a miracle that they could catalog any information.
"Mayuri!"
"What do you want, woman!" the man scowled as he hunched over his work. "I'm busy here."
"You have videos from the attack, do you not?"
"What attack?" the man asked as he turned to the petite woman.
"From the Maggot's Nest. I know you've managed to put cameras within it," Sui growled. "Spill it, clown face."
"Sounds insulting from a vertically-challenged person," Mayuri scoffed. "I have to say that I am impressed that you noticed, Captain Sui Feng."
"Shut it," she growled, "just show me what's happened."
Mayuri rolled his eyes. "Too impatient. Follow me," he spoke as he turned away from his work. "Nemu, take care of that for me. You know what to do."
"Yes, Mayuri-sama."
"The video does collaborate what you theorized, Captain Sui Feng," the man sneered. "Why are the long face?"
"I'm more troubled about something else, entirely," Sui murmured. "Don't you think the intruder is too knowledgeable with the Maggot's Nest?"
"True," the man's sneer fell off. "That has a very frightening implication, doesn't it, Captain Sui Feng? Especially among your ranks."
The woman gritted her teeth annoyed. "Good day, Captain Kurotsuchi."
"I'm willing to let you test the truth serum that I have created, Captain Sui Feng," the man spoke gleefully. "I have been looking for some test subject, you see-"
"Didn't you see how my men died, Captain Kurotsuchi?"
The man frowned sullenly turning annoyed. "Fine be that way. I was only giving an alternative."
The woman snorted, leaving. A traitor among her ranks. Even Mayuri found it a terrifying situation.