Gotei Meeting

Gotei Meeting

"Um... thank you for taking care of me these past few days."

The other person remained silent.

Arima Shizuya could only scratch at the corner of his mouth and force an awkward smile.

"Also, could you pass a message on to Captain Unohana? Thank her as well for looking after me during this time..."

The other person paused, then half turned around with a distinctly displeased expression.

"Shouldn't that have come first?"

Arima Shizuya understood at once.

Another one of Retsu Unohana's diehard fans, probably...

While Arima Shizuya's thoughts churned away, Retsu Unohana, who had been riding Garganta to her destination, had already landed on the other side.

This was a broad, secluded courtyard, a gathering place Retsu Unohana knew exceedingly well.

The Squad Members who had been waiting there for some time wore grave expressions as they stood on either side. Only after Retsu Unohana sheathed her Zanpakuto did they slowly step forward.

They bent at the waist and bowed.

"Captain Unohana, this way, please..."

"Mm. You've all worked hard."

It was merely a routine procedure, yet it still carried an air of solemn dignity.

That was Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's principle, and a rule that all outsiders who came here were expected to observe.

Naturally, Retsu Unohana was no exception.

Guided by the Squad Members, Retsu Unohana proceeded straight ahead and eventually entered a spacious main hall.

Dozens of figures stood within. Tall, short, fat, thin... their physiques varied, and even their utterly incompatible temperaments now stood side by side.

They turned their gazes toward her, witnessing the arrival of the final captain.

No one spoke.

Only the old man seated upon the raised platform slowly opened his eyes.

His body was frail and withered, a white beard hanging from his face.

The cane in his hand was as wrinkled as his skin, emphasizing his advanced age.

Even so—

The light in the old man's eyes remained vivid and bright. He stared at Retsu Unohana, who had just entered the hall, then swept his gaze around the room before speaking in a deep voice.

"Everyone is here. Let us begin without delay."

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

He brought down the wooden cane in his hand, and its sharp knock echoed through the hall.

The unscheduled Gotei 13 meeting had begun.

"First, Chōjirō Sasakibe will summarize the work of this period. Everyone, pay attention to matters relevant to your own duties."

Normally, Vice-Captains were not qualified to attend a Captain Meeting.

But Vice-Captain Sasakibe was ultimately an exception. Having served as Head Captain Yamamoto's aide for many years, his competence and professionalism had long since earned everyone's recognition.

He stepped forward half a pace.

With his small black mustache and high-collared clothing, Vice-Captain Sasakibe, dressed somewhat like a gentleman, began summarizing the recent reports.

It did not take long, merely a written report lasting a little over ten minutes.

Once that routine portion of the meeting had concluded, Yamamoto gave a low hum, signaling that the agenda had entered its next phase.

"So be it. You must all remain diligent and do your part in protecting the Gotei."

"Now that the pressing matters have been addressed."

"If there are matters requiring discussion among you..."

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's voice was calm and steady. As though drawing back the curtain on the meeting, he made his opening declaration.

"Speak freely."

"Understood!" x12

No matter how rebellious or insolent they might be, everyone wore solemn expressions and gave the appropriate response.

Such was the authority of the Gotei 13, and the common understanding shared by all present.

A brief silence followed.

But it was soon broken as a figure at one side of the assembly spoke after a moment of hesitation.

"Uh... although saying this may embarrass someone, duty compels me to speak my mind today."

The speaker was a spirited man with a round afro and white-framed sunglasses.

He stepped forward half a pace, pushed up his glasses, and spoke with obvious disdain.

"Four days ago, a certain troublemaker stirred up trouble in the Inner City District, causing quite a disturbance..."

"I won't name names. I hope the person in question will come clean himself."

So spoke Aikawa Rabu, Seventh Division Captain.

More than half the gazes in the room immediately converged in one direction.

Guiganjo, standing near the back and lost in thought, jolted in surprise.

"Huh?!"

Not wanting to become the center of attention in a place like this, Guiganjo reacted strongly.

"It was just a little conflict, a conflict! Why are you being so damn petty about it?!"

"This isn't the first time! As the Inner Courtyard Guard, we've had quite the headache dealing with this sort of thing! Who do you think cleans up after you every single time?!"

Aikawa Rabu shot back in a voice no softer than Guiganjo's roar.

He had no intention of sparing the other man's pride.

"Guh..."

Cold sweat instantly beaded across Guiganjo's forehead.

Accustomed to being arrogant and domineering in daily life, he did not know how to deal with someone on equal footing at a time like this.

"And I heard the one you fought was just a student from the True Spiritual Arts Academy."

The person who interjected had a head full of blond hair. With his arms crossed, he twirled a lock of hair in his right hand and wore a faintly mocking smile.

"You picked a fight, only to get hurt yourself, and now it has to be discussed in such a serious setting..."

"Heh heh. Just thinking about it makes me want to crawl into a crack in the ground. How ugly."

So spoke Kensei Muguruma, Third Division Captain.

Damn it! Guiganjo desperately wanted to curse back.

But under Yamamoto's gaze, this "clash" could only be constrained by reason and rules.

He was being ganged up on.

But considering that the Parties involved had never been especially well-liked, he could not show too much weakness now.

After all, other people's opinions did not matter. What mattered most was that Yamamoto could not look down on him.

Guiganjo angrily swung his right hand and retorted heatedly.

"I just didn't use my true ability! Besides, that brat was slippery as hell... Right, he definitely mastered Shikai!"

"So you mean that, to take down a student who has only just learned Zanpakuto release, you need to focus with all your might?"

A frivolous, teasing voice came from nearby, the sort of voice that could make veins bulge just by hearing it.

Hirako Shinji, Fifth Division Captain, grinned extravagantly.

"You're a captain, yet you behave worse than an ordinary Squad Member. Aren't you terribly unfit for the role?"

He already looked carefree and unserious, but now that sharp, venomous side of him was even more apparent.

"And even putting aside the trouble you started, your reputation is already awful. Up to now, you've killed plenty of Squad Members from your division, haven't you?"

"They didn't die at the hands of Hollows or mission targets. They died after being brutalized by you. Hey, what do you take your subordinates' lives for? Your personal property?"

"Well~ captains do indeed have the authority to discipline their subordinates, but to be honest..."

"Everyone probably hates someone as arbitrary as you."

Hirako Shinji bared his teeth, raised his right hand high, and shouted.

"So, there should be people in favor of that, right?"

After a brief silence.

A figure who had remained silent until now raised his right hand and spoke in a somewhat uneasy tone.

"Um..."

Kisuke Urahara.

Though he had a beard and dressed like a mature middle-aged man, he now wore the sort of expression one might use to ingratiate himself with others.

Yet... what he said made even Guiganjo considerably more nervous.

"I do think that kind of conduct is rather inappropriate."

What he said was not especially important. At this moment, the important thing was taking a stance.

Four people had voiced their opinions.

Such a situation had never occurred before.

Why did this turn out like this? What unforgivable thing did I do? I've always done things this way! Why are these people all chewing me out this time?!

Guiganjo's face was already covered in cold sweat. He did not know whether it was because his wounds hurt or because the situation had simply frightened him...

It was at that moment.

The slender figure standing beside Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni delivered the "fatal blow."

"You lost to someone worse than an ordinary Squad Member, yet you're still making excuses here, trying to absolve yourself of your past crimes... You really do seem beyond saving."

Yoruichi Shihouin.

Unlike her usual simple attire, she wore the haori symbolizing a captain. With her arms crossed, she slightly raised her chin.

"As the Eleventh Division judges by strength, your conduct up until now naturally has its own logic."

"The bigger Fist wins! A division devoted to warriors needs someone as full of fighting spirit as you."

"But then again, you lost to some nobody, and now you're twisting yourself into knots to make excuses... Hey, don't you feel even the slightest bit ashamed?"

The high-spirited woman chuckled as she spoke words that sent a chill down Guiganjo's spine.

"If you have any sense of shame left, how about taking your own life right here?"