THE SEIREITEI

The Seireitei

Peace at Last

“Peace,” the Captain-Commander had said. “Peace is what we have and what we will continue to have.” 

The horrified shouts and angry yelling of the Central Forty-Six did little to show their approval. With a sigh, Captain-Commander Jukan Hinaai clapped her hands. That brought the sage’s attention back to her, and she looked up to their masked faces with disapproval. “Why is peace so hard for you people to grasp?” 

“Tell me, Hinaai, how does one expect to have peace with bloodthirsty monsters? Have you forgotten what a hollow does, or are you just in league with them?” The tone of voice made Hinaai perk an eyebrow. 

“You’ve read the reports, I assume,” she began, hands folded under her breast. “This new kingdom in Hueco Mundo has already approached us in the Mortal Realm. They’ve eliminated the Hohlreich and have even returned to us the prisoners the former kingdom took. They want peace, and we should accept it. Does wanting to stop eons of bloodshed make me a traitor?” 

Silence. Hinaai closed her eyes and kept her arms wrapped tightly around her. For forty-five days the Central Forty-Six argued her. If they went one more, then it was a good sign. Or a bad omen, she noted. 

Sitting on the highest dais was the sage with the Ichi symbol painted on his veil. He cleared his throat and rose his hands to end the meeting. When he spoke, his tone was neutral. “Tomorrow, Captain-Commander, you shall have your answer. We shall either go to war with this new arrancar kingdom, or we shall make peace with it. This meeting is adjourned.”