Chapter 1: The Traitor and his Maiden

She couldn't believe it. She couldn't. She was traumatized. Shocked. Hopeless. Void. But why would she be void, one is bound to ask? The answer is simple.

Head-Captain Yamamoto and Vice-Captain Sasakibe had been slain.

Outrageous, isn't it? The leader of the famous Gotei 13 and strongest Shinigami to date had been slain. And by whom? A Quincy. Yes. Truly outrageous. Considering that the Quincy had been slain by the Gotei more than centuries ago. However, it turned out that the Quincy the Shinigami had slain were just the weak ones. The strong ones, from what she had gathered, were hiding in a secret place, unknown to the rest of Soul Society.

Another thing that she had gathered from the squads was the name of the Quincy that had slain Head-Captain Yamamoto. He was none other than the Quincy Emperor, Juha Bach.

Hinamori Momo, Vice-Captain of the fifth division and the proclaimed "Kido Queen" let out a hopeless sigh. She was writing a report for the Captain of the fifth division. Wait, Captain? Yes, after Soul Society had won the Winter War against Aizen Sousuke, former Captain of the fifth division, Hinamori had acquired a new Captain. Once more Hinamori let out a sigh and looked out of the window. It was a full moon that night. How ironic. That was when suddenly someone knocked at the door of the Division Five barracks.
"Come in", she responded. She interrupted her work and gazed at the person she had allowed in. She was quick to swiftly bow her head.
"Welcome, Captain Hirako.", she greeted him politely. The Captain frowned.
"Hinamori, how many times have I told ya not to be so polite around me? Geez..", the Captain scolded his lieutenant.
"This is the proper fashion of greeting your superior.", Vice-Captain Hinamori replied formally. Her Captain groaned.
"Just call me Shinji. I'm no man for politeness. Besides, we are at war. Politeness doesn't matter anymore." His look went to the papers Hinamori had prepared.
"Did ya finish yer paperwork?", he asked.
"Hai."
"Great, great. Just wanted to tell ya that all Vice-Captains and Captains are assembling in the Division One barracks.", Captain Hirako informed casually.

Hinamori frowned. Her new Captain was very different from her former Captain Aizen. So reckless and he was clearly lacking manners. Captain Aizen was always polite and never lost his composure. Wait, what was she thinking!? She quickly shook her head and heard Hirako call her to go to the meeting in the Division One barracks.

"So.. to see if everyone's present, I will call your names.", sounded Kyoraku Shunsui, Captain of the eighth division. "Captain Kyoraku of the Eighth is present."
"Vice-Captain Ise of the Eighth is present.", stated Nanao, Captain Kyoraku's lieutenant.
And so, all Captains and Vice-Captains of the Gotei 13 reported in: Muguruma Kensei of the Ninth with his Vice-Captain Hisagi, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto of the Tenth, Kenpachi and Yachiru of the Eleventh, Kurotsuchi and his daughter Nemu of the Twelfth, Ukitake and his newly appointed Vice-Captain Kuchiki Rukia of the Thirteenth all the way to Captain Soi-Fon and Omaeda of the Second, Otoribashi "Rose" Rojuro of the Third and Vice-Captain Kira, Komamura Sajin of the Seventh and Vice-Captain Iba, Unohana and Isane of the Fourth, and, last but not least, Captain Hirako Shinji and Vice-Captain Hinamori of the Fifth.

Well, it was more accurate to call them Gotei 12 for now, since, technically, the first division went extinct.
"Captain Kyoraku", Hinamori's voice sounded politely, "Why have you called the Vice-Captains to this meeting?"
Every Vice-Captain looked at her with disbelief. Since when did Hinamori become so serene and calm?
"Good question, Hinamori-kun.", replied Captain Kyoraku seriously. "As you know, our Head-Captain Shigekuni "Genryuusai" Yamamoto has been slain by the enemy leader Juha Bach."
"So are we here to mourn his death?", she asked.
"Not quite.", Kyoraku stated. "The reason why I called both Captains and their respective Vice-Captains in is to discuss very important issues."
"Like?", Vice-Captain Kira inquired,
"Selecting a new Head-Captain for example?", Vice-Captain Hisagi suggested.
"Yeah, that sounds like the most logical option right now.", commented Matsumoto. "Without a leader, Soul Society will fall."
"I concur.", Rose agreed. "The Vandenreich will probably speculate that we will be helpless without Head-Captain Yamamoto."
"But there is no one who can replace Genryuusai-dono!", Komamura insisted with rage, his default emotion at the moment.
"I agree, Sajin.", Shinji finally spoke. "No matter whom we select, he will still be leagues below Yamamoto-san. This Juha Bach fellow will decimate him even faster."
"Not to mention that his Bankai will be stolen..", Hitsugaya added.

After minutes of heated discussion followed a wave of silence. It was obvious that all parties exhausted their arguments and don't know what else could be added to the discussion.
"Well", Captain Kyoraku broke the silence, "After giving it plenty of thought, I too agree that we shouldn't make rash decisions. There is no one who can replace Yama-jii.. and personally, I don't even want anyone to replace him." Everyone looked at him with surprise and made approving glares.
"However", he continued, "This status quo can't go on for much longer. The Gotei is plunged into deep chaos because there is no true leader. If this goes on for much longer, they will fight amongst each other and eventually we will fight each other as well, because we have different mindsets of Yama-jii's.. successor."
"So what is your suggestion, Captain Kyoraku?", Vice-Captain Hinamori inquired calmly.
"All divisions need to establish a strict order within their divisions to prevent havoc. That is a short-term solution, but it should work for now. Until we found an appropriate successor for Yama-jii. "
Everyone nodded slowly. "I take it there are no objections?", Kyoraku asked everyone. Silence.
"Dismissed."

Hinamori did not return to the Division Five barracks until the moon stood high in the Seiretei; she had gone to kill several Menos Grande that wreaked havoc in a forest nearby, killing several civilians. But when she arrived, she wished she had not. The Division Five barracks were desolate; half of them were destroyed.
"No one's there..", she whispered and clung onto the hilt of her Zanpakutou. Carefully, she looked around to search for any familiar faces.
"Captain Hirako?", she yelled. No one was answering. "Akiyama-sanseki*?", she yelled the name of her newly appointed Third Seat again to the void. Still, no answer.
"Damn..", Hinamori cursed. "What happened..?" She sighed and slowly walked around the Division Five barracks, hoping anyone would be found to tell her what happened.
Soon, she arrived at the door of her chambers and opened it slowly. But what she saw went way beyond her wildest nightmares.

Blood everywhere, the smell of dead flesh was poising her nostrils and she covered her mouth with her hand to escape the disgusting smell. All of the bodies were torn into pieces. Terrified from the image, she rushed to her desk and looked underneath. No one.
But Hinamori was sensing the reiatsu of someone in her chambers. Kido, she thought.
"Kai.*"
The Kido spell dissolved, revealing a tall figure in front of the relatively short Vice-Captain. He was quick to get on his knees.
"Lieutenant.", he stated.
"Akiyama, what are you doing here?", the addressed asked sternly.
"Hiding, Lieutenant.""From what?", she yelled. "And where's the Captain?"
"Captain Hirako is headed to battle, Lieutenant. The Vandenreich-"
"What about them!?", she screamed fiercely and grabbed Akiyama at his Shihakusho.
"The Vandenreich.. sent soldiers to deal with the lower level Shinigami in the Seiretei..". he gasped. "Most of the members of our division are dead. The ones skilled in Kido managed to hide somewhere.." Hinamori let him go.
"What..", she whispered. "What about the other divisions?"
"I don't know, Lieutenant.", Akiyama responded sadly. "The Captain didn't utter a word..""Bastard..", Hinamori growled and clenched her fists. "I thought he would be Captain enough to protect his own division."
"The Captain put a protective Kido around our barracks.. but he had to leave for battle.", Akiyama tried to comfort her. Hinamori did not say anything to him and turned away.

"Lieutenant", he said. No response. "Run." That statement made her widen her eyes. "Run..?", she repeated.
"Yes.", Akiyama said. "Neither order nor safety do exist in Soul Society anymore, Lieutenant. Please escape."
"I can't run, you idiot!", she yelled and slapped him. "Soul Society will fall if we run! We are the Gotei 13, we need to protect the innocent!"
THE GOTEI IS NO MORE!", Akiyama screamed. "Don't you see..? Even Kurosaki Ichigo.. has likely been imprisoned by the Vandenreich."
"But the Royal Guard-"
"The Royal Guard won't come to save those who fail to protect Soul Society, Lieutenant."

Hinamori was shaking in fear as she thought over her Third Seat's words. He was right. He was right. Soul Society.. was lost. Literally. The Head-Captain Yamamoto and Kurosaki Ichigo were the pillars, no; the chief protectors of the Seiretei and of all Soul Society. Without them, everything crumbles. But Yamamoto had been slain. Kurosaki Ichigo was in all likelihood taken prisoner by the Vandenreich. Hinamori sunk her head and let out tears of anger. Juha Bach. How she hated that man. For driving Soul Society into chaos.
"Lieutenant?", Akiyama uttered nervously and put a hand on her shoulder. She was sobbing audibly. Poor girl, Akiyama thought. He had never seen her so helpless since the Winter War.
"If only Captain Aizen was still around.. he is a genius.", he sighed. Hinamori widened her eyes. Captain Aizen?, she thought. Wait a minute.. that's it! That solves the puzzle of our despair right now!
"You're right.", she responded firmly and headed for the exit from her chambers. Akiyama, puzzled, followed her swiftly. "Wait, Lieutenant, where are you going?"
"To the Avici prison.", she replied.
"Avici? Wait, no.. you can't possibly-"
"He is Soul Society's joker, Akiyama-sanseki. If this doesn't work, then Soul Society falls."
"But.. this is against the law!", Akiyama insisted. Hinamori turned around and gave him a frowning look.
"What law, Akiyama-sanseki? There is no law in chaos, nor in war."
"But Lieutenant-"
"NO BUTS!", she cut him off sharply. "You will follow me, Akiyama-sanseki. This is an order from your Vice-Captain, as of now Deputy Captain of Division Five!"
"H-Hai, Vice-Captain Hinamori!", he shouted firmly. He had to trust her. He simply had to. She smiled.
"Alright then, onto the Division One barracks!"

It was no surprise to her that the Division One barracks appeared larger than they were at night. The smell of death was most apparent here; the first division was the largest division of the Gotei 13. Hinamori pushed the port, attempting to open it but no avail.
"What's wrong?", Akiyama, next to her, asked.
"The door is sealed by Kido.", she stated calmly. "We cannot enter unless we dispel it."
And so, Hinamori pressed her hands on the port and let her reiatsu flow through it. Akiyama gazed in awe as his Vice-Captain concentrated deeply. She truly was the Kido Queen. "Kai", she said and the door rushed open. A shot of air breezed through, not fazing them. Hinamori and Akiyama clung onto their Zanpakutou as they entered the darkness inside the Division One barracks. Akiyama was quick to seal the door behind them and ignited a reiatsu ball so that they have light.
"Lieutenant", he said.
"Yes?""Why did we come to the Division One barracks?"
"The Avici prison is located underneath these barracks, Akiyama-sanseki.", Hinamori responded politely. He nodded and followed his Vice-Captain.

They stopped eventually when they went down the stairs underneath the underground prison Avici.
"Why did you stop?", Akiyama asked surprised.
"Akiyama-sanseki"
"Hm?""This is forbidden ground. Should my plan fail, I will probably be sentenced to the same level as Captain Aizen.", she said.
"Why are you telling me this now?", Akiyama wanted to know.
"You can either turn back now or follow me in my quest to save Soul Society, Akiyama-sanseki."
Akiyama thought for a moment. What his Vice-Captain said made a lot of sense. He could either turn around and live as a law-abiding Shinigami or follow Hinamori and risk imprisonment for treason or even death. He shook his head. It was too late to turn back now.
"I will always follow Vice-Captain Hinamori", he replied. "Such dictates the law of the Seiretei." She smiled.
"So you will stand by me?"
"Always, Lieutenant. Always.", he promised.
"Well then. Let's put our plan into motion."

They entered the gruesome Avici prison and earned hateful looks from the prisoners that were incarcerated. But the two Shinigami ignored them all and continued walking. It almost seemed like an endless walk and Akiyama was clearly exhausted.
"Lieutenant, you forgot to mention in which level Captain Aizen is sealed..", he groaned.
"We arrived.", she stated as she stopped. Akiyama gazed at the banner that displayed the name of the prison level.
"This is the lowest level of the Avici prison and where Captain Aizen was imprisoned.", Hinamori stated. "Are you ready?" Akiyama nodded.
"Muken", she spoke and the door opened at that command.
They slowly walked in the darkness and saw a figure that was bondaged with black bondages. Akiyama stepped behind his Vice-Captain as she slowly undid those bondages to reveal the traitor's face. Feeling the movements, he opened his eyes, making Hinamori smile.

"It's been long, Captain Aizen.."

to be continued

*sanseki = Third Seat
*Kai = release