Chapter 112 - Aftermath (1/2)

- Unknown Place -

Five figures sat around a round table surrounded by a sombre atmosphere. Shadows covered their features as one of them started speaking.

”It seems Minamoto Itsuki has passed.”

”It's better this way, he was becoming powerful way too fast. And those eyes…”

The second figure seemed to shiver as he remembered the report of Soul Society's fight.

”Although what Aizen spoke off was mere speculation from his part, he seemed to say the truth, if not close to it.”

A third more elderly figure spoke,

”But damn that Yamamoto, how could he have not reported that? It seemed like he knew the true powers of the boy's eyes from before.”

”I don't doubt it, he was his student.”

The first figure went to reassure them,

”But its fine, Itsuki has gone, Aizen came infinitely close to finding out about us and Itsuki was close behind. However, with these two out of the picture…”

”Aizen has escaped.”

”I know but what can he do now? The Hogyoku has rejected him, and he is not more powerful than Yamamoto, or even Division Zero without it.”

Everyone seemed to agree at the figure's words. Silence encompassed the fourth figure with a more feminine voice started speaking,

”The Soul King has become more fragile; we need to find someone to replace him.”

”Yhwach still hasn't awakened yet, but he will most likely attack Soul Society, we can make him the new soul king after he is defeated. Even if we can't there is another candidate.”

”Who?”

”Kurosaki Ichigo and there is also Ukitake Jushiro.”

”What about her?”

”Who? Matsumoto Rangiku?”

”Yeah.”

”I'm not sure yet. She was supposed to take the soul king's place after it died yet Aizen had already taken the portion of Soul King's power from her.”

The elderly figure spoke once more,

”Its fine, she was the most successful. If all else fails we can just use her instead and even if she can't, isn't she pregnant?”

”Who's the father?”

”Reports say its Minamoto Itsuki.”

”Him again? Actually, that's even better, if the child inherits his eye's powers, we can take them in and try to find out the secrets of it. If we can't make it ours, we can still make use of the child and make her into a trump card…”

- Seireitei -

Within the Kuchiki manor, Rangiku had a blank look on her face as she stared into space, holding her stomach. Hisana sat next to her with worry in her eyes but she didn't know how to console her.

When Rangiku had heard about Itsuki's death, something broke inside of her. Itsuki was her everything as memories flashed by in her head, from when they first met to when they joined the academy and their life as Shinigami. Memories played like on record as the feeling being broken kept nagging at her. With the announcement of life in her belly had, however, started patching those cracks but only barely.

It was the only memory of her lover and she had to be strong for the child. Soi Fon and Yoruichi felt the same, they thought of Rangiku's child as their own. Soi Fon was promoted to Itsuki's position while Yoruichi stayed in Soul Society, watching over Rangiku and the baby.

Suddenly, a Jigokucho appeared next to Soi Fon as she sat there.

Getting up, Soi Fon addressed the other three women in the room,

”There has been a call for an emergency meeting, I'll be taking my leave first.”

The other three girls nodded as silence once more descended onto the room. However, it was suddenly broken by a pink and white head peeking through the doors.

- 1st division HQ -

”What?!”

”Indeed, Aizen Sosuke has escaped.”

”But how? Hadn't he lost his powers after the Hogyoku rejected him.”

”Yeah, but he still had his reiatsu.”

”But that was also sealed off.��

The one that was the most aggregated was Soi Fon, from what she knew, the one to kill Itsuki was Aizen. She also felt the other captain's to blame but for her, Aizen was the prime target.

”Silence. Anyway, Captain Kurotsuchi, keep an eye out for any strange movements in the Dangai and try to see if anyone has seen anyone who had entered or left soul society. The rest of you stay on high alert.”

Everyone nodded and were about to leave when Yamamoto's voice once more rung out,

”Kuchiki, Shunsui, Soi Fon and Ukitake, meet me in my office.”