Absolute Terror.

After I left my apartment I stopped the closest Shinigami to tell me what had happened during my sleep. The answer shocked me. Not only had Abarai Renji been defeated in a position very close to the prison of Rukia Kuchiki but the Ryoka had vanished once again, furthermore the Seireitei was now on high alert – meaning that all Shinigami were allowed to carry their swords with them.

“Orders are order.” I mumbled and got Merc from my quarters. ‘The hell is happening?’ he quickly asked. ‘I don’t know’ I answered. ‘But whoever these Ryoka are they managed to bring the whole Soul Society into turmoil in not even two days.’

With no new orders from Soifon I went back to the vice-captains meeting to pick of where I had left yesterday. I was met by a scream. “CAPTAIN AIZEN?!” That was Hinamori’s voice. I as well as everyone else quickly went over to the lieutenant.

And everyone’s eyes fell unto the corpse of Aizen Sousuke. I barely noticed what happened next. Hinamori attacked Gin, Kira intervened then Hitsugaya showed up and sent both to prison.

One of our leaders had just died and there was no way the Ryoka could have done this on their own. We had a traitor in our midst. I had to rip my eyes from the Captain. Aizen had always been kind, a good leader with good men following him.

Amongst my confusion I heard Hitsugaya “If even a drop of her blood is spilled I will kill you!” a threat, one captain to another. No doubt, the Gotei 13 were crumbling from within. And there was nothing I could do against it.

From here on out the only thing I could do was go with the flow and organize more search parties. I heard of the defeat of Zaraki, the second defeat of a captain, then Renji vanished from the hospital. Next the captain of the science division was defeated, by a Quincy no less. Doubt spread through Seireitei, was Rukia really guilty? Do we need to execute her? I grit my teeth and simply did my work until one day I couldn’t take it anymore.

“The HELL.” I shouted and punched the wall. I had retreated back into Soifons office, surely nobody would bother me her. “Idiots, all together.” I said angrily as I walked back and forth. “First they don’t do their work at all, then they do it sloppy and now they question orders?”

“Frustrating isn’t it?” I spun around. Soifon stood in the entrance and looked at me, I quickly kneeled down. “I’m sorry, Soifon, but it’s impossible to continue under these conditions. There is no order, lieutenants and captains run around like headless chicken while the Ryoka rampage through the inner sanctum.”

I spoke without thinking, causing me to lash out at the captain. “I know, which is why we decided to move up the execution.” I looked up, surprise written on my face. Soifon’s iron eyes looked down at me, “Rukia Kuchiki lies at the heart of all of this, with her execution mere hours away the Ryoka have to stop their little game of hide and seek and all those that dare to think of rebellion will have to show themselves.”

She turned around and signalled me to follow. “So let’s attend the grand finale shall we?” Her composure was radiant. I went after her, silent, there was nothing left to say. We stood at the partway of the Soul Society and I would follow Soifon until the end.