Imagine this crew walking down a long hallway, slow motion, like we're angling for the climactic fight of the movie. Or something. Look, I like dramatic shots, okay?

Even, or maybe especially, in writing.

.

There was a chill in the air, pronounced and sharp, as Hitsugaya walked through the court looking about as calm as a hurricane. It said something about him that he still managed to draw attention toward himself, through sheer elemental force, despite Kenpachi Zaraki following behind his right shoulder. To his left, Ikkaku Madarame fell into step beside his old commander.

Yumichika Ayasegawa and Momo Hinamori brought up the rear, each followed dutifully by a shadowless child. Hibiki carried a stick tucked into his sash, while Izumi kept punching her palm. Both looked ready for a fight, for as much as that counted for anything, and it didn't seem to cross either of their minds that three captains might be more intimidating than they were; or that said captains were the more likely explanation for why other soul reapers kept giving them all a wide berth.

"Where are they headed?" Hitsugaya asked.

Zaraki grunted. "Where else?" he asked. "Outside the court. In Rukongai, where they can do what they please untracked. Nobody out there is gonna give them trouble. They've got no reason, and every reason not, to stick their neck out for a reaper."

Hitsugaya frowned. "That's fair," he said.

Yumichika had his sword drawn, and he kept sliding his palm along the blade. Every so often, blood would trickle from his palm; he seemed to like it. The grimace on his face was the sort of thing he normally wouldn't tolerate—too many wrinkles—but he was clearly too focused on his target right now to care very much.

"Do you honestly think he was stupid enough to target a vice-captain?"

Yumichika didn't sound like someone unconvinced, who was expressing incredulity; he sounded like someone who desperately wanted to be reassured. He wanted, very much, to believe that his adversary was exactly that stupid, to have made such a brazen move.

"I got my doubts," Ikkaku said. "I think there's somebody else involved here. Don't know if they're pulling the strings, but they're definitely the reason he's getting so damn bold." He waved a dismissive hand. "I'm pretty sure the old bastard's never had the strength or the spine to move on his own, and he's always needed some kind of backing to get anything done. He's the perfect middleman; he's never been a frontrunner, and he never will be."

Yumichika put a hand on his friend's forearm. "You're always so sweet," he said, "talking down my enemies like that. It's delightful; it really is. You're a doll."

Was he being serious? Nobody knew; least of all Ikkaku, who rolled his eyes.

"Kasumioji," Hitsugaya muttered. "Just the sort of family to want a coup against the Court." He shook his head. "I ought to have known, as soon as I saw their name come up, that they'd be a bigger part of this than I hoped. Things never go the easy way."

"Just how powerful is this fuckin' family?" Zaraki asked.

"They tried to move against us once," Yumichika said.

"They're just below the Four Great Houses in terms of influence," said Momo.

"So, you think they're trying to run their little conspiracy again," Zaraki said. "How likely you think it is they're gonna bring those parasite weapons into play again?"

"Who's to say?" Hitsugaya asked sardonically. "We're weakened. This is a period of transition, and everyone knows it. This is the perfect time to make a move; while we're trying to rebuild. I get the feeling this man, this Nishi, never would have tried something like this with Captain-Commander Yamamoto in charge."

"No shadow can outrun the sun," Yumichika muttered.

"Exactly."

"So, are the Kasumioji using Nishi," Zaraki asked, "or is Nishi using them?"

"Who's to say?" Hitsugaya repeated. "If I was going to guess, though, I'd say the first."

"So, they're aiming to use this guy to wind their way up the pecking order."

"Apparently."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Zaraki didn't look like he wanted to be corrected, at all, "but isn't this a trap? We're doing precisely what he wants, aren't we?"

Hitsugaya turned to look over his shoulder. "Does that bother you?"

Zaraki grinned. "Not in the slightest."

"Good. Because I think giving this man precisely what he wants is one of the few ways we end this without losing a lot more people." Hitsugaya looked grim, but darkly amused. "Let us see how you handle all of us at once, Mister West."