Hey, sorry everyone. I know it's been awhile, but it's finally done. I've had it done for awhile now, but it was stuck on my other computer... I had no idea the floppy disc or CD R ports didn't work. Haha... Well, without any further stalling, here's chapter 10!

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Chapter 10 : Punishment of Soul Society

Jonouchi looked at the impaled body, fear racing through him. All of the Vice-Captains wore the same fear stricken expression. He heard a small cry and glanced over his shoulder. It was the 5th Squad Vice-Captain, Hinamori Momo. She had taken all of it in, and finally realized what happened.

"Captain... No..." she sobbed as the 6th Squad Vice-Captain tried to comfort her.

"Have you informed anyone else?" Jonouchi asked Kaze Akurei. A moment passed before he spoke.

"N... No..." he stuttered. "I came to get you, and that was it."

"Go retrieve Commander Yamamoto immediately."

"Captain Hitsugaya will be here soon. Matsumoto Rangiku has left to inform him, as well as Commander Yamamoto."

"Very well. Then we need to see what we can do about that poor girl." Jonouchi replied, walking towards Hinamori. He got down to her level so that he could see her face. Her eyes were red, tears falling down her cheeks like waterfalls. "Hey, it'll be ok." he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"No... My Captain... Captain Aizen is dead." she replied blankly.

"Listen. I want you to turn around and leave. We will take care of your Captain. This isn't a place for you to be right now." There was no reply. "Renji! Kaze!" Jonouchi called to the Vice-Captains. "Get hinamori away from here, now. Being here will just upset her more."

Both Vice-Captains helped her to her feet and forcibly tried to walk her to a safer place, away from her Captain. After a moment, she fought back. Both Renji and Kaze Akurei struggled to hold on, but she broke their grip.

"NO!" she screamed, running to the wall where her Captain was. "I won't leave him!" she cried. "CAPTAIN AIZEN!"

She was suddenly stopped, someone had caught hold of her arm while she was running. "You need to listen to your superiors, Hinamori." the person said to her. Her head turned, staring over her shoulder.

"Toshirou..." she gasped.

The 10th Squad Captain stared her in the eyes. "You have to address me as Captain, just like everyone else." Hitsugaya growled. "Listen to me, Hinamori. Go with Abarai Renji. This isn't a place for you to be."

There was a long moment of silence as Renji walked over to her. "Come on, Hinamori. Everything will be fine." he said, helping her away from the scene. He noticed the expression of fear and anger in her eyes. This was going to haunt her for a long while.

Jonouchi walked over to Hitsugaya. "Well, what do we do now?" he asked.

Hitsugaya looked at the corpse and scowled. "I guess we just wait for Commander Yamamoto." Hitsugaya was lost deep in thought, watching the hanging body of the deceased Captain.

Kaze Akurei tapped Jonouchi on the shoulder, motioning towards the path. Commander Yamamoto was quickly heading towards then with the 12th Squad Captain following closely behind.

"What happened?" Yamamoto spoke firmly.

"It seems that the Vice-Captains found him like this." Hitsugaya said.

"Actually, Hinamori found him. We were all waiting to start our meeting. She was late, which is very unusual for her. We heard her scream and we all rushed here. When we found her, she was just staring at the body in a trance." 10th Squad Vice-Captain Rangiku Matsumoto explained.

"Poor girl. I don't blame her for being so upset. She was dedicated to Captain Aizen and Squad 5." 7th Squad Vice-Captain Tetsuzaemon Iba replied.

"Kurotsuchi." Yamamoto called, turning to the 12th Squad Captain. "Clear this scene and do NOT damage the body." he said. "All Vice-Captains will report to their respective Captain and inform them that an emergency meeting will be held. Captains Hitsugaya and Jonouchi will follow me." He said, walking away. "Report to the meeting room when you are finished here, Kurotsuchi." The three Captains did as they were told, as did the Vice-Captains.

"You heard the Commander!" Mayuri shouted. "Take care of this crime scene! Take samples, photographs, and put this whole area on lock down. Whatever you do, do NOT damage Aizen Sousuke's body or I will have your head!"

Jonouchi followed close behind Captains Yamamoto and Hitsugaya. He didn't feel safe being around Mayuri Kurotsuchi. His heart was racing with fear. He had no clue as to who or what could kill a Captain without a struggle. Something was horribly wrong. His thoughts immediately turned towards the Menos he saw in Karakura town. It was a lower class Menos, a foot soldier. But perhaps something a bit stronger? An Adjuchas maybe? But how could something so huge and powerful enter the Seireitei un-noticed.

Before long, all of the 13 Court Guard Squads had gathered, minus Aizen Sousuke. Mayuri had just entered, giving Yamamoto his written report. "Very well..." Yamamoto spoke. He balanced himself on his cane, clearing his throat. "We will now get this meeting under way."

"Wait, Commander. Captain Aizen hasn't arrived yet." 13th Squad Captain Ukitake informed him.

"That is what this meeting is about." Yamamoto replied. "We are here..." he paused. "To discuss 5th Squad Captain, Aizen Sousuke's murder." Several Captains remained quiet, and others eyes widened with fear. "His body was discovered impaled by his own Zanpakuto to the Eastern Great Wall."

"Are there any clues to whom might have killed him?" 2nd Squad Captain Soifon asked.

"No. There are no clues whatsoever." Mayuri replied. "No fingerprints, nothing. It's very puzzling. My men are searching the crime scene and working in the lab as we speak."

"That is quite puzzling. Almost as if it were the perfect crime." 7th Squad Captain Sajin Komamura stated.

"Oh, I will catch this little bug. Nobody makes a fool of me. My observation skills are second to none. Even that old fool Kisuke Urahara's skills were nothing to mine. Mark my words, I will catch this criminal."

"This crime is simple to solve. It's far from the perfect crime." 9th Squad Captain Kaname Tosen replied.

"How so?" Mayuri asked, aggravated that Tosen thought he had solved the case so simply.

"Jonouchi Uchiki. Were you not the last person seen with the 5th Squad Captain?"

"How should I know?" Jonouchi asked. He was shocked that Tosen suspected him of committing the murder.

"Last night you drew your Zanpakuto to Aizen, did you not?" Tosen asked.

"Yes, but-"

"When was this?" Yamamoto asked, hints of anger showing in his voice.

"About 3, maybe 2 in the morning."

"Why were you even at the 5th Squad Headquarters that early?" Yamamoto asked.

"I was visiting a friend the night before. I guess I fell asleep and by the time I woke up, it was early the next morning."

"So, you were the last one seen with Aizen?" Yamamoto asked.

"Yes, I was. But-"

"Jou Couldn'ta done it." Zaraki spoke up. "I stopped him and carried him home."

"And you stayed with him at his house until Aizen's body was discovered?" Tosen asked.

"Well... No..." Zaraki frowned.

"So you have no way of proving the 3rd Squad Captain's innocence?"

"No..." Zaraki answered, aggravated.

"I'm quite ashamed that you would believe on of our own would do such a thing." Captain Ukitake commented towards Tosen.

"Who else besides a Captain has the ability to kill a Captain?" Tosen replied.

"It easily could have been a Vice-Captain or a higher seated officer." Captain Kyoraku stated in a bored tone.

"He's right. Kira Izuru, the Former 3rd Squad Vice-Captain has still not been captured." Soifon said, scowling at Tosen.

"This is true." Yamamoto nodded.

"It very well may be, sir. But Jonouchi is still a suspect."

Leave that for me to decide, Squad 9 Captain. It isn't your place to solve this crime." Mayuri growled.

Jonouchi quietly stood. "Well..." Yamamoto started. "Until we get a reply from the Court, you all are dismissed. Kurotsuchi, please deliver this report to the court." he said, handing the report back to the Research Captain.

Jonouchi stood outside his house, looking to the sky. He entered, finding guests inside waiting. Kaze Akurei, Koukeisha Karasu, and Anna Sakkidatta were sitting around looking at him. He smiled and closed the door behind him.

"Well... What now?" Kaze Akurei asked.

"We wait." Jonouchi replied. "It's in the hands of the court now."

"Do they know how Captain Aizen was killed?" Anna asked.

"No, but I'm Tosen's prime suspect."

Anna gasped, the others just gave a vacant expression.

"Why!?" she cried.

"Because..." Jonouchi said, taking a deep breath. "...I was the last one seen with him. Last night when I was walking home he spotted me. Apparently, it happened right after."

"What were you doing at the 5th Squad dorms that late to begin with?" Koukeisha asked. Both Anna and Jonouchi blushed furiously.

"I went to visit Anna..." he said blankly. There was a moment of silence, but it was broken by a loud knock at the door. "Come in." Jonouchi called.

In walked Zaraki, followed by Hitsugaya and Ukitake. "Hey, Jou." Zaraki smiled.

"Hey guys." Jonouchi replied.

"We just wanted to stop by and check on you." Ukitake managed a small smile. "It must be hard."

"Eh, not really." Jonouchi shrugged. "I didn't do it, so there's really no reason to stress over it."

"That's the way to be!" Zaraki grinned, patting him on the back. "Don't let them unnerve ya!"

"We all know you didn't do it." Hitsugaya said.

"He's too nice." Koukeisha said, both her and Anna laughing.

"And that's exactly what Soifon said. Only in a more aggravated tone." Ukitake laughed.

"We're all on your side, Jou." Zaraki said.

"Well, most of us are. Soifon, Unohana, and Kyoraku as well. Even Mayuri, as uncaring yet disappointed as he was, said there was no evidence at all linking to you." Ukitake grinned. "The only ones that believe it was you are Tosen, Sajin, and Byakuya."

"To hell with what they think." Kaze Akurei and Zaraki both said at the same time.

"You may think that. But remember. They're Captains. They have just as much say in this as any of us." Hitsugaya replied.

"Which is none at all." Koukeisha pointed out. Hitsugaya didn't like her smart remarks.

"We just have to hope for the best." he frowned.

The day passed slowly, the court not reaching a verdict. It wasn't until the next afternoon that a decision was made. A knock came at Jonouchi's door about 3:30P.M. Soifon stood there frowning. "Jonouchi Uchiki, a ruling of the Court, you are to come with me. You are under arrest." Jonouchi was deathly scared, but it didn't show. He couldn't show any expression of sadness or fear. He just nodded slowly. Kaze Akurei and Koukeisha got to their feet, standing in front of their Captain. They each placed their hands upon their Zanpakuto, ready to defend him.

"Stand down." Jonouchi said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "I'll be back." Koukeisha slowly shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.

"This wasn't my decision." Soifon frowned, her eyes trailing off elsewhere. Jonouchi could tell that this was against her will. She placed a spirit restraint upon the 3rd Squad Captain, draining his Reiatsu. She led him off, Jonouchi looking back to his group.

Kaze Akurei, Koukeisha, and Anna remained at his house for sometime after. Their eyes remained fixed on the door, as if awaiting the Captains return. The door slowly opened, and all shot up from their seats. They were disappointed when it was Hitsugaya who walked in, and not their Captain. There was a deadly serious expression on his face as he entered. He saw the looks of hope in the 3rd Squad Captain's friends eyes, and this greatly depressed him.

"Where is our Captain?" Kaze Akurei growled, staring at the young Captain with a deadly glare.

"3rd Squad Captain Jonouchi Uchiki..." Hitsugaya startedm a grave tone to his voice. "...is to be executed in exactly one month from tomorrow. This is the Courts final decision."