The Karakura Protective Force could only stare in shock.
Of course, that could be forgiven. Captain Commander Yamamoto had used the abilities of his zanpakut?, Ry?jin Jakka, to isolate Aizen and the two other renegade captains from their arrancar forces. At that moment, the shinigami had expected the Arrancars to attack.
Normally, they would be right.
This Loop was not normal. This was a Loop where Kisuke Urahara had once again, convinced Ichigo Kurosaki to take up the position of the Arrancar, Shirosaki. And as usual, Baraggan took exception to the Arrancar always covered in the cloak and hood.
Thus why this time, instead of the creepy Viking-like Arrancar, it was a severely covered oneùwith over twenty extra female Arrancar in his Fracci¾nùtaking command.
The first command?
ôTexam Hold æEm, no wilds,ö Shirosaki stated, as the assembled Espada and a few Fracci¾n gathered around a table on a nearby rooftop.
ôMwah,ö spoke up Captain Shunsui Ky?raku, ôarenÆt you guys gonna fight us?ö
ôWhy should we?ö asked Shirosaki, not even looking up from his cards.
ôIsnÆt that AizenÆs plan?ö asked Captain J?shir? Ukitake.
ôIf he had a plan, he didnÆt tell us,ö waved off Shirosaki. ôAnd quite frankly, since the man always told us to never trust him, IÆve decided since he wonÆt even try to get his ass out of the fireùliterally and figuratively speakingùwhy should we expend our energy to die in his name?ö
ôBut you outnumber us,ö stated Ukitake.
ôMost of my Fracci¾n are medicals,ö Shirosaki continued. ôTheyÆre just here to heal wounded. The rest I got from the former Segunda Espada. If they wish to through their lives away for a moronic quest, who am I to stop them.ö
The six Fracci¾n looked at him in surprise. ôYou-you mean it?ö asked Avirama Redder.
Shirosaki paused, upping the pot by a large amount, before turning to the Arrancar. ôI taught you what I felt was enough. Go do with it what you will. As I said, if you wish to die for a moronÆs quest, than do so. If you wish to die for the thrill of battle, then do so.
ôI simply tire of you complaining of no fights.ö He paused, looking at his cards. No way does Starrk have a flushà ôI raise fifty.ö
Ukitake simply palmed his face. ôShunsui, this is truly the oddest fight we have everùShunsui?ö he asked, looking about.
ôMwah, how much to get in?ö asked said Captain, now pulling up a chair beside the Espada.
ôSHUNSUI!ö yelled Ukitake. ôWHAT ARE YOU DOING?ö
ôCanÆt you tell?ö he asked. ôIÆm getting in on the game.ö
ôDo you have anything to trade for chips?ö asked Shirosaki.
ôI have this bottle full of hundred-year sake,ö he replied, setting it on the table.
Pausing for a moment, Shirosaki took it, shook it to see how full it was, then took out the stopper to sniff it. Deciding it was worth something and not poisoned, he slid over nearly half his chips, earning a curious eye from the other two Espada and the playing Fracci¾n.
ôWhat?ö he asked. ôIÆm tired of AizenÆs tea.ö Besides, this stuff was way better than what Kisuke usually got.
<hr>
ôWow, Captain Aizen,ö muttered Gin, looking about the fire. ôIt must be a stand-off. I ainÆt even felt a power increase.ö
ôGin.ö
ôYeah?ö
ôShut up.ö I knew I should have dealt with the one Arrancar to show common sense.