Chapter 37 - Invaders (2/2)
”Don't do anything at this point. Inform me if anything urgent appears, or if the Captain wakes up.” Itachi said before walking into his office.
Kiyone nodded and returned to Ukitake's room.
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A day later. Itachi receives news of Rukia's capture and rushes towards the confinement cell. He walked into the jail and saw Rukia, who was sitting in the center of the room. She was wearing white robes and she looked like she lost weight.
”Kuchiki.” Itachi said.
Rukia slowly lifted her head up. She looked towards Itachi standing outside the cell. She felt slightly overwhelmed.
”Vice-Captain…” Rukia was about to say something but remained silent.
”Kuchiki, how did this happen?” Itachi asked.
Itachi narrows his eyes. Based on her story, there should be no reason for heavy punishments to be issued. He bid his farewells and left the hall. He runs into Renji on the way out. However, he simply nods in greeting before making his way out.
Renji looks back as he sees Itachi leave. He turned around and headed towards Rukia's Cell.
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Itachi left the building and moved towards the First Division barracks. He was greeted by the First Division Lieutenant who stood outside the main hall.
”I'd like to meet with the Captain Commander.” Itachi declared.
”Uchiha, whatever you have to say, I can relay it for you. The Captain Commander does not just meet with anyone who requests to see him.”
”I see, then please pass on this message.” Itachi told what he had to say to the First Division Lieutenant Sasakibe before making his way back to the barracks.
'The sentence should not be that harsh based on what I gathered from Kuchiki. She is also from the Kuchiki clan, so it would make sense if Captain Kuchiki did something about her sentence.' Itachi thought to himself as he made his way back to his office.
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”Lieutenant Uchiha! Take a look at this!” Kiyone hands Itachi the paper. As Itachi reads it, his normally calm composure changes into shock. Sentaro hovers his head above Itachi's shoulder and shouts in surprise upon reading it.
”What?!!! Kuchiki is being executed?!!!!” Sentaro yelled right next to Itachi's ear. Itachi looks at him sternly and Sentaro gets down on his knees and apologizes. Itachi ignores him and continues reading.
”She is being charged with Unauthorized lending of shinigami power and late return. And for those reasons she is being sentenced to death? Not only that, but her death is being held at the Soukyoku, which is primarily only for Captains who have broken the law. Something isn't right here…why is her sentence so severe.” Itachi said out loud, still analyzing the situation.
”I don't understand it myself either, but-” Kiyone is interrupted as a loud voice echoes throughout Seireitei
ATTENTION ALL CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS. YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING. I REPEAT… ALL CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS, YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING.
”We'll figure it out later. Is Captain Ukitake well enough to attend the meeting?” Itachi asked Kiyone. Kiyone shook her head.
”No he can't get out of bed today.” Kiyone replied.
”Very well. Send a hell buŧŧerfly saying he is ill. I'm sure they'll understand. In the meantime, I'll go by myself.” Itachi ordered to Kiyone, then vanished from his spot.
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”Abarai and Iba!” Momo said sitting on the floor with her back against the wall as she saw Renji and Tetsuzaemon enter the waiting room.
”Hinamori. You're the only one here?” Renji questioned, looking around.
”I think so…” Momo replied. Suddenly the door opens up behind them and Rangiku enters the room.
”What do you expect? All the Captains and Lieutenants are scattered around Soul Society with their own missions. It'll take at least half a day to gather everyone.” Rangiku commented as she entered the room. ”Though...I can't find my Captain and my head hurts.”
”Rangiku, who is your Captain?” Renji asked.
”It's that Hitsugaya fellow.” Tetsuzaemon added in.
”Oh you mean that kid prodigy? I think Uchiha told me about him. Apparently he and Uchiha did an all out sparring session that went too out of hand and got in trouble with the Captain Commander later on for it.” Renji commented, vaguely remembering the story Itachi told him years ago in a dango shop.
”Oh? Lieutenant Uchiha fought him? That's impressive. I think I was on a mission with him over twenty years ago back when he was in the Second Division. Although I never got to see him fight.” Tetsuzaemon replied, remembering the hollow extermination mission.
”By the way, Abarai, have you seen Captain Aizen?” Momo asked Renji as he finished his conversation with Tetsuzaemon. Renji freezes momentarily and remembers the secretive talk he had with Aizen about the suspicious nature of Rukia's execution.
”N-no...Haven't seen him.” Renji quickly replied. Hinamori looks down on the ground, disappointed.
The door opens again and everyone looks to see Itachi has arrived.
”Ah! Uchiha!” Renji exclaims as Itachi walks into the room with all eyes on him. Itachi looks around the room at the other lieutenants.
”So not everyone is here yet I see.” Itachi commented as he walked over to Renji.
”How's it going Uchiha?” Renji asked Itachi.
”Well my Captain is still sick so I'm just here by myself. But how are things holding up with you?” Itachi asked Renji, knowing about Renji and Rukia being childhood friends.
”I guess I'm hanging in there…” Renji replied bleakly.
”Abarai, do you find anything strange about Kuchiki's execution? The premises and the nature of it are too severe.” Itachi commented as he leaned closer to Renji. ”Being sentenced to death with a Captain's punishment. Is that not suspicious?” Itachi asked. Renji began sweating bullets as what Itachi said was very close to what Aizen had said previously
”Uh huh...yeah.” Renji replied, even more unsure about what was going on.
For the next half an hour, the Lieutenants all sat quietly in the waiting room, waiting for their Captains to return from the meeting. Suddenly, the silence is broken as a loud alert sounds throughout the building.
ALERT ALERT. INTRUDERS IN THE CITY. ALL PERSONNEL SHOULD REPORT TO THEIR STATIONS. I REPEAT. ALERT. INTRUDERS IN THE CITY.