The unspeakable silence fell upon the room as both Captains and lieutenants stood still,some had sweat trickling down their temple. The room was so tense that the tension could be sliced through with a knife...uh,a zanpakuto in this case. Why was everyone so tense if you may ask?
Well,after the war with the Quincies and the Soul Society was fixed back to shape Aizen Soūsuke's sentence was lifted off in one condition...that he would be put under supervision by one of the Captains or capable lieutenants in the Gotei 13. The order was clear,this person was going to live with the treacherous man for God knows how long(until the higher-ups were convinced it was safe to have a man like Aizen roaming around freely).
That said, knowing the trouble he'd caused Aizen stood next to Kyōraku with a cocky smirk, knowing damn well that everyone in the room was intimidated by him. The cocky bastard held himself high, staring at everyone down as if they were nothing but pests. Kyōraku sighed...
Kyōraku: As we all know,it is my fault we are all stuck in this situation in the first place. I'm the one who went on and asked for the "devil's" help-
Zaraki: Exactly,now you should go on and live with him. Don't drag us into your mess.
Aizen: Am I supposed to be the devil?
Kyōraku: Aizen,please...and I understand your concern Zaraki-taicho and I wish I could carry this out on my own but by order of the king I am forbidden to do so.
Sui Feng:(pissed) You mean you are not allowed to face the consequences of your actions and that you should let other people carry them for you?!
Kyōraku: That's not what I'm saying, Sūi Feng-taicho,but as we all know I am the Head Captain now therefore I won't have time to keep an eye on-
Mayuri:And you think any of us do?
Aizen:(chuckles) That's...a good question.
Most of the shinigami glared at him and Aizen raised his hands in surrender,a deceptively sweet smile on his face.
Shinji: Will he still be sealed?
Kyōraku: Half sealed,yes. The higher-ups allowed him to be sealed of half of his power.
Rukia: It's still dangerous,that man can still take us on with half of his strength. We can't take that risk.
Byakuya:(nods) I agree with Rukia. Not that I am saying we should go back on our word but releasing Aizen Soūsuke is not the greatest idea. He is too powerful for any of us to maintain, keeping him locked under Muken is a great idea at best.
Isane: Not only that,we don't know if Aizen-tai...I mean Aizen-san still plans on overthrowing the king.
Aizen: I do plan on killing him,yes. That fact should be obvious.
Kensei: See? He isn't even trying to hide it.
Kyōraku: He promised to behave for as long as he could keep his freedom, being tied and locked up isn't the greatest reward after helping us so much in the war,is it?
Lisa: But he still plans to destroy the king!
Aizen was enjoying this,truly seeing the shinigami fight along themselves over him amused him. He wanted more.
Kyōraku: That's what supervision is for, isn't it? He is to be kept under strict supervision so one will notice if he's up to something. Besides,his zanpakuto is not with him. It is kept somewhere where he won't be able to find it.
Renji: You make everything sound so easy.
Toshirou: It's called sugarcoating.
Kyōraku: I'm not sugarcoating anything,we all know the kind of man Aizen is.
Love: Exactly, he's manipulative and deceitful...what if he tricks his...um,the one in charge of him into cooperating with his schemes?
Kyōraku: Then it will be our job to keep an eye on the supervisor...
Zaraki: "Babysitter",stop sugarcoating it.
Kyōraku:(lazy smile) Sorry,my bad.
Shinji:(sighs) I'll take Soūsuke.
Aizen raised an eyebrow in amusement while everyone else stared at the blonde,shocked.
Hiyori: What?
Shinji: I'm the one close enough to clearly state that we have some kind of a..."relationship"...and I've seen his schemes before so...I think I'm the best candidate for this.
Lisa: You've finally lost it.
Kyōraku: You're right Hirako-taicho but...the person who will be in charge of Aizen's care has already been chosen.
Sūi Feng: What?
Kyōraku nodded and Aizen smirked,both of their eyes shifting to a certain captain who tensed and pointed a pale, smooth finger at himself.
Byakuya: I?
Kyōraku nodded and the noble managed to look shocked before-
Renji: Bullshit! I won't let Byakuya be handed to that monster to do as he pleases right on a silver platter. No way!
Rukia: Renji is right,my brother has no connection to that man therefore he holds no responsibilities to take him in!
Aizen: It's cute how you think he has a choice. Your "king" ordered it, it's his job.
Aizen stated out mockingly making Renji grit his teeth hard.
Renji: But-
Byakuya: It is alright,Renji. I can handle it,you will be there to assist me too won't you?
Renji paused at that calm voice and turned to Byakuya with disbelief written on his face.
Renji: How can you be so calm about this? Byakuya-
Byakuya: I know. But it is like he said,this is the task the king himself has assigned to me, rejecting would be like disrespecting my own king. It is my duty.
Renji: Fuck-screw the rules!
Renji shouted at the noble who immediately frowned, silencing him.
Byakuya: Just who do you think you are raising your voice at?
Renji: Byakuya-
Byakuya: I am taking Aizen Soūsuke into my mansion.
Byakuya said this time to spite his husband and Renji looked ready to kill someone. Oh yes,after the Ginjou incident the two men had gotten married so now Byakuya and Renji were officially married.
Renji: You're making a huge mistake. He's going to bury you alive.
Byakuya's frowned deepened and his eyes lowered slightly,he was getting ready to say something when an amused chuckle rang out and both man turned towards the culprit,Renji looked annoyed and Byakuya was back to his stoic self once again.
Aizen: A falling marriage? This will be fun.
Renji: Who the fuck told you our marriage is falling?
Zaraki: It is falling. Even I'm not sure what the two of you were trying to do, you're not suitable for each other -always fighting about something. It's obvious that the two of you clash,you don't see things eyes to eye.
Byakuya: And who if I may ask made you judge of my marriage? Renji is a good husband,he just happens to be an idiot sometimes.
Renji:(blushes) Hey!
The man exclaimed and his blush intensified when Byakuya gave him a soft look, Zaraki rolled his eyes and Aizen let out an annoyed sigh.
Kyōraku: Alright then, Aizen Soūsuke is hereby put under Abarai Kuchiki Byakuya's supervision. Any complaints?...Good. You're dismissed.
Kenpachi and Mayuri left immediately while every other captain threw sympathic looks at the noble captain before leaving. Now remained Byakuya,Renji,Rukia, Aizen and Kyōraku...
Kyōraku: Again, I apologize about this Kuchiki-taicho. But if you need anything, anything at all-
Byakuya: Who sealed Aizen Soūsuke in the first place?
Kyōraku: Eh...Urah-
Byakuya: Then why would you not take him and put him under Urahara Kisuke's supervision? Why me?
Kyōraku: Uh, well...you see, Kisuke cannot be trusted-
Byakuya: Then do not offer me your pitty,I do not need it.
Byakuya turned and left,Renji and Aizen following behind as they stared down at each other. Rukia stared after his brother then back at Kyōraku bemused.
Rukia: Why? Why would you put this burden on my brother? Byakuya-niisama doesn't deserve any of this!
Kyōraku: You're right, little miss Rukia but...Byakuya is the most disciplined one in all of the Captains plus he has the biggest space and necessities to house Aizen,not only that but he's also surrounded by the most and powerful shinigami.
Rukia: So that's it? You're taking advantage of Byakuya-niisama because he has connections?!
Kyōraku: No, we're not taking advantage of him. Think about it,every other captain or vice-captain here would've wanted to use Aizen for their own benefit. Zaraki for fighting,Mayuri for his experiments...not even Shinji would've been able to resist it. But Byakuya...I know his heart will not allow it-
Rukia gritted his teeth in pure anger.
Rukia: His heart...HIS HEART?! How much of that man's heart do you plan on destroying huh?! First he has to deal with his family and now you too? You're all taking advantage of my brother's kindness because you know damn well that he's weak hearted! You want to rip him apart!
Kyōraku: Rukia-
Rukia: No,NO!
The girl said furiously,tears pouring out of his eyes.
Rukia: Do you know how much Byakuya tries to protect his heart but all of you are just so eager to shatter it over and over and over and over and over again! He's breaking... Byakuya-niisama is breaking slowly and soon enough there'll be nothing left of his heart. Why?... You're all trying to rip his heart out and never,not even once has my brother ever cried about it -he never sheds a tear. Even when people take advantage of him,Byakuya gives and gives...he never complains. That's why... that's why I try all my best to not become one of those people who shatter him, that's why I don't want to bother his so much but you...you...
Rukia stood shaking,tears falling widely over her face.
Rukia: Assigning that monster to him was the last straw you pulled.
Rukia whispered before she wiped the tears off her face, turning on her heel...she left a defeated looking Kyōraku who stood there staring at the floor.