Reflexively, Byakuya reached for Senbonzakura's hilt. In that small, succeeding moment, he seemed eclipsed by the kidō's incandescence, unable to answer in kind.
But Aizen spoke too freely. Too indulgently. It was that same serpentine tongue that permitted an opportunity.
❝ Now then, I believe a suitable exchange is required. I hope you're quite durable for this. ❞
From point blank range, 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐊𝐎𝐇𝐎 was fired directly at the shinigami as lightning encapsulated and bathed him in an explosion of electricity.
Sparks lit through the cyclone's turns. And those sparks, glancing across manifold lethal edges at once, ignited into a robust conflagration that consumed the traitor in its sudden ardour, once-electrified blades now heated to dangerous temperatures.
He glanced, a long and disapproving look, towards her histrionics. Outwardly, he did not seem touched by her pleas to his kinder nature. But after a strenuous silence, he voiced his thoughts.〝 If you were to forbid the Shinigami Women's Association from setting foot ...
“Don’t use big words that I don’t understand!”
A suspicious squint at the taller Captain, humming in thought.
“You see, I would, sir, but I’m just a penniless lieutenant. There’s a wage gap, you know. The world is a cruel, cruel place.”
〝 So be it. 〞Byakuya removed a small, white note-pad from his haori's inner linings, and began to read from its immaculately-detailed list.〝 The mats that Kusajishi-fukutaichō has drawn over with crayons are relics from the foundation of the Soul Society. Restoration ...
... begins at 700,000,000 kan. Employing architects and gardeners to safely close the underground tunnels will require additional labour costs of 18,000,000 kan per foot of disturbed land. In addition to that, I will have to drain and sanitise the baths. Would you care to ...