[A quiet hum and his expression softens slightly, the tone of his voice more rueful than teasing when he answers her.]
No you don't.
Most people hate it when they can't do anything. You hate it when you can't do everything. There is a difference, you know.
[A pause as he considers Rukia's situation, and then he shakes his head, the frown etching itself again between his brows.]
Ginrei-sama will make sure that she's protected from the family, at least. But maybe you should send her to the Living World for a while, just to be safe. Abarai won't have the time to watch her like he normally would.
[He doesn't say any more for a while, his mind running over the remaining seven captains. Seven. In little less than a year they had lost almost half of their strength and even in his current state, Kyouraku is well aware of the danger. He had debated it with the Old Man before the war - before they had known for certain what kind of a threat Aizen would bring to bear on the white walls of Seireitei. Had asked if it was a mistake to send divisions to fight who had no captain to follow. If it was wise to expect a vice captain to lead when you showed no confidence in their ability to do so. If it was dangerous to enter a conflict with reduced strength when the Central 46 was still in disarray.
Still, Yamamoto had remained steadfast - had told him that the war would prove who was fit to wear the haori better than any test - that if the Gotei failed, then Seireitei would be lost, and Kyouraku had accepted it, despite his own misgivings. But now Yama-jii was gone, and Byakuya and Komamura too. Now six divisions lacked a captain, not just three - and the Gotei itself lacked a leader - a decisive force in times of crisis. And Shunsui knows the noble houses of Seireitei well enough to be certain that even now, that weakness will not have gone unnoticed - that before the Gotei even has time to mourn its dead, there will be secret meetings taking place and alliances forming that have everything to do with power, and little to do with protection.
He also knows that it's been well over a century since Jyuushiko was naive enough to believe otherwise and despite a renewed desire to just drink himself back into oblivion there's another soft sigh against her hair.]
no subject
No you don't.
Most people hate it when they can't do anything. You hate it when you can't do everything. There is a difference, you know.
[A pause as he considers Rukia's situation, and then he shakes his head, the frown etching itself again between his brows.]
Ginrei-sama will make sure that she's protected from the family, at least. But maybe you should send her to the Living World for a while, just to be safe. Abarai won't have the time to watch her like he normally would.
[He doesn't say any more for a while, his mind running over the remaining seven captains. Seven. In little less than a year they had lost almost half of their strength and even in his current state, Kyouraku is well aware of the danger. He had debated it with the Old Man before the war - before they had known for certain what kind of a threat Aizen would bring to bear on the white walls of Seireitei. Had asked if it was a mistake to send divisions to fight who had no captain to follow. If it was wise to expect a vice captain to lead when you showed no confidence in their ability to do so. If it was dangerous to enter a conflict with reduced strength when the Central 46 was still in disarray.
Still, Yamamoto had remained steadfast - had told him that the war would prove who was fit to wear the haori better than any test - that if the Gotei failed, then Seireitei would be lost, and Kyouraku had accepted it, despite his own misgivings. But now Yama-jii was gone, and Byakuya and Komamura too. Now six divisions lacked a captain, not just three - and the Gotei itself lacked a leader - a decisive force in times of crisis. And Shunsui knows the noble houses of Seireitei well enough to be certain that even now, that weakness will not have gone unnoticed - that before the Gotei even has time to mourn its dead, there will be secret meetings taking place and alliances forming that have everything to do with power, and little to do with protection.
He also knows that it's been well over a century since Jyuushiko was naive enough to believe otherwise and despite a renewed desire to just drink himself back into oblivion there's another soft sigh against her hair.]
You'd better tell me everything, Ukitake.