"I thought you were an interesting kinda kid, but I guess you're actually pretty creepy." — Gin Ichimaru.
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For a change, the news did not constitute any huge change for Itachi in respect to his duties. Soi Fon and Gin were looking into Amagai in search for any deeper connection to the Kasumioji. He and Yoruichi would be looking into Koga Kuchiki, while they also ensured that the burial ceremony went off without a hitch, as that was what was most important in the immediate future according to the Head Captain.
The timing was the most unfortunate thing as it presented a weak point, as well as options, for Koga Kuchiki to target.
The optimistic scenario would be if they managed to deal with Koga Kuchiki within the week, but that was being too hopeful. The most likely thing to happen was the most damning of all.
From the Head Captain's words, it was imperative that the burial proceeded without any interruption.
"He's going to attack the burial, isn't he?" Itachi asked loudly which made the Captains' brows twitch, showing that they also arrived at the most logical answer.
At least they had little to worry about in a brazen attack in the middle of the Seireitei due to the barriers that covered it, but that was hardly any consolation.
"But that would be moronically suicidal, wouldn't it? Surely he's not so stupid as to attack a gathering of Captains." Komamura said, rightly so if not for the fact that it was also the perfect time to cripple them, on the basis that Koga's Zanpakutō was active.
Komamura seemed to realize that point as well as he frowned heavily. Itachi idly noted that none of the Captains even entertained the fact that they would lose. All they were worried about was the burial being interrupted and the collateral damage and death toll of their Shinigami.
Koga could wreak as much havoc as he wanted. It never for once changed the fact that he would lose – that was how all the Captains thought
"If any of you oafs get to gut the pig, try as much as you can not to damage his Zanpakutō." Mayuri suggested, earning a few disgruntled looks which he openly scoffed at.
"Sure, we'll take that as our priority, right along as we figure out how to minimize collateral damage." Shinji's sarcasm was not humorous enough for Mayuri given the frown that came to his face.
"So it's a waiting game then." Isshin looked both put off and irritated. "I can't say I'm enjoying this new trend."
"This is why I hate turn-based games," Kyōraku complained tiredly, and Itachi agreed. It was becoming a cliché song and dance at this point, where their enemies would have the preemptive attack from the shadows and all they could do was react to it and wait for the next attack.
The flip side of the coin was that they had no way to change it. They did not go out and about looking for their enemies, or scheming to see if they could dig one out. They were mostly a security force for the three realms with their main duty being preserving the status quo.
The Shinigami were not a warring force that was going about to conquer and claim lands and resources. The fact that there were also no other foreign powers in the Soul Society(coupled with the extinction of old enemies) meant that their usual enemies came from within, in the current fashion of treason and rebellion.
This meant that they rarely ever knew when to expect an attack from an enemy factor. A turn-based game like Kyōraku said.
The meeting didn't continue for long after that as there was nothing more to add to it so the Captains dispersed and went their way, leaving Itachi and Byakuya lagging behind.
"Follow me," Byakuya said as he took the route that led towards the 6th Division, while Itachi silently followed behind.
"I would ask you to leave him to me, that is if he is brazen to come after me, but I doubt you will agree with such a thing."
Itachi already knew the reason but he still felt compelled to ask. "Why?"
"He is a stain on my father and grandfather's honor. I would see that it does not become a stain on mine, or on Hisana and Rukia."
"If he comes after you." Itachi said.
"If he comes after me." Byakuya repeated.
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...…
[POV: With Gin]
There was something creepy about the Kasumioji that Gin was having a hard time putting a finger on, and whatever it was was slowly irritating him. It wasn't the creepy elders or the static guards. It wasn't the way the entire Clan felt like it was being drained.
There was something here that was pricking at Gin, like a tease, and as the secret enthusiast, he was very inclined to find out what it was.
He remembered Aizen looking into the Kasumioji and the Tsunayashiro and whatever he had found that had greatly amused him(or not) that he let them be.
As he went through his library of secrets to see if he had anything on 'Kasumioji', he silently trailed the young man, Amagai Shūsuke, as he walked through a patch of land(one that was externally owned by the Kasumioji), but then chuckled to himself.
'This one is sharp.'
The boy was paranoid enough to start going in circles either because he sensed he was being followed or because it was a routine. Either option was intriguing to Gin.
At this point he had two thoughts; to spook or not to spook.
The obvious thing to do was to mark it down and retreat if the target was getting suspicious, but that was too predictable. It was breathing space. They would be giving him the rope and letting him tie the noose at his own pace. Gin was not that kindhearted.
He would prefer to set up the plank, knot the noose, push you off the edge and THEN he would let you choose whether to breathe or not.
"Well, hello there." Black stepped out from behind his little rock with a hearty wave. "I didn't know this spot was taken."
"Who are you?" The heavy suspicion and threat on the man's face was so on point that Black couldn't help but chuckle.
"Mask," he pointed at the featureless cage on his face, and then pointed at himself. "No tell."
"You're trespassing on private property. Now if you're not going to introduce yourself, I'll have to ask you to leave." The warning in the tone couldn't be misplaced, nor could the Zanjutsu stance he took.
"Come on you, what's all the negativity for?" Black took a lazy step forward and Amagai mirrored him by taking a fearless one forward.
"You're standing on my father's grave. Don't tempt me." His sword flashed to his hand but his eyes never left Black's mask.
Black likely could tell what was going on in Amagai's head. He was probably wondering if he had been busted and some secret op from the Onmitsukidō had come to take him in. The key to that would be identifying any obscure identification on his mask, but that was a dead end because the mask lacked any.
Gin was a dead man as long as everyone was concerned. Snake was a masked secret agent directly under the Captain, and seeing the mask anywhere meant someone was about to die, mostly the person who saw it.
As for Black, he was a blank. Gin was dead and the Captain commanded Snake. Black was the only one who was free from it all. Everything he did was what he wanted to and because no one could order him otherwise, not even the Captain.
"Who are you, and what Division are you from? And don't think about lying to me." Amagai threatened, slowly looking assured of his safety due to his position as an elite of the Onmitsukidō. The Lieutenant would be the one here if he had been found out, and she would not have come alone. "Why have you been following me?"
"No one, dunno, plain curiosity." Black replied as he counted down his fingers. "Like I said, I thought this hiding spot was free."
Amagai took a deep breath and readied his sword. "I'll be taking you in. For your sake, don't fight."
The smile behind the mask widened at the new and utterly interesting development. Now all he needed to do was prod a little to see which hole the rat would run into. Unfortunately for Amagai, any action he took after this would just heap more suspicion onto his head.
If it were up to him and Soi Fon, he would have just kidnapped Amagai and wring out everything he knew, just from the basis of suspicion. Good thing he wasn't the Captain.
His amusing thoughts were cut off by the gleaming edge of the blade that went towards his ribs, making him gasp in mock horror. "What happened to taking me in?"
Amagai didn't answer and just gripped the hilt of his Zanpakutō with both hands with the tip pointing dead at Black.
How stupid, Black thought. The man before him was already a name marked on a list and here he was posturing.
Oh look, now there's killing intent.
Black shook his head. 'Rookies.'
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