Tea with Aizen

The war is over. A few uncounted people and the few that sit drinking tea with Aizen are all that remain of the Gotei-13 and the Espada combined.

Stark sits directly to Aizen's left, though slumped would be a more accurate description as he lightly snores with arms folded.

Directly to Aizen's right, Kuchiki Byakuya sits stiffly; his light green scarf dyed a rusty brown from repeated struggles as a new injury, inflicted only minutes ago as the screaming started, seeps from a bruised mouth. Yachiru sits on his lap. Pink head buried into the chest of her new surrogate father.

Beside the noble, Urahara sits with his hat on still, as with eyes shaded he sips at his tea and keeps his thoughts hidden.

Shuuhei has nothing to say, his eyes communicating his feelings for him. Ulquiorra sits across from the tattooed man wearing the same dead expression – the only difference being that he has always worn it.

Yammi shadows half the room as he towers behind his superior, not being permitted a seat at the table, his heavy features moulded into a mimicking mask of sorrow.

Further along the table Captain Unohana and her lieutenant stare at Aizen with calm indifference.

Strangled cries echo now and again in answer to Mayuri's absence. Orihime, seated on Aizen's knee as he gently holds her to him, is deathly pale with grief as her face twists in time to each cry of pain.

The last in this ensemble, Matsumoto only has eyes for Orihime as she tries to communicate her support through watery smiles.

But they do nothing to still Orihime's horror, for there can be no denial and even Yachiru recognises the noises for what they are. Ichigo Kurosaki and Ishida Uryuu lie upon Mayuri's operating table.