1.13

The Captains stared at Hajime, Jushiro, and Shunsui. Now, not only do they have the Ryoka they also have traitors.

Soi-Fon acted quickly, attacking Jushiro's third seats first and destroying them brutally.

"Hold it, Soi-Fon!" Jushiro ran from Shunsui's side to go and rescue his third seats.

Everyone gasped when old man Yama's walking stick stabbed into the ground in front of Jushiro's foot, stopping him. "No one move," he ordered. "This crime... a Lieutenant freeing a convicted criminal and aiding in her escape will be solved by capturing the the treasonous officer and putting him to death. Thus, his fate is sealed," he harshly spitted out. "But that is the least of our problems. What you two Captains have done here today is a crime of far greater magnitude. Surely you both understand that your actions are unforgivable!"  Head Captain ended with a stern yell.

Jushiro and Shunsui don't say anything, causing Hajime to step up, "Yes, we know this Head Captain," he said, adding the honorific.

Head Captain stared at his third student. He had an inkling he was also involved but now he just proved it.

"Well," Shunsui smiled, grabbing Jushiro's shoulder, "guess we've got no choice. Are you ready, Jushiro?" Shunsui subtly warned their allies. "Looks like we're gonna have to make a run for it." Shunsui finished before shunpoing off.

Hajime doesn't hesitate, leaving the hill and following Shunsui. Hajime and Shunsui's lieutenants following faithfully after them.

On the way down the cliff, Jushiro shouted, "Wait, Shunsui! I can't abandon my squad!" From Shunsui's shoulder.

Hajime appeared next to the two in a flash, hearing Jushiro's protest.

"Just clam down," Shunsui said, "Did you really want to fight old man Yama with all those others around? If we did that, a lot of people would end up dead. Now it's just the three of us," Shunsui said, glancing at his two friends, "for the moment."

Hajime quirked his eyebrow, "There's another getting closer, as well," he pointed out.

"Well, we better concentrate!" Shunsui said, "We're almost to the ground."

Once reaching the ground, the three Captains land.

"That should do it," Shunsui said, "We're pretty far away from everything."

"Yes," Jushiro agreed, "Far enough to be out of danger. For a while, at least."

Shuhei and Ise arrived, both panting heavily from trying to keep up with their captain.

Hajime glanced at the two worriedly, they won't be able to stay when the fighting started.

"Hey, Nanao," Shunsui smiled, "slow poke," he teased.

"You didn't have to leave me back there, Captain!" Ise protested to his teasing.

"Captain...." Shuhei stuttered out, trying to catch his breath.

Hajime glanced worriedly at them when he saw Ise freeze up. Shunsui, Jushiro, Hajime, Shuhei, and Ise looked to the front to see Head Captain Yamamoto waiting there for them to finish talking.

"I must say, you got here quicker than I expected you to," Shunsui commented.

"Chasing children," Old man Yama started, "It's been many years since a mere juvenile delinquent could get away from me." He then looked up at his three students, "Let us finish this! But I shall be using far more than my fists." Old man Yama stood up, fire emitting from his body.

Hajime tensed when his teacher started to advance toward his friends and himself.

When the Head Captain stopped, his reiatsu sky rocketed. Shuhei and Ise froze up and crumpled to the floor, gasping while trying to withstand his spiritual pressure.

"Listen well," Old man Yama started, "Be gone from here! I have neither the time nor the patience to teach mere infants like you how to breathe." His strong voice resonated inside the Lieutenants's mind.

Shunsui glanced at Hajime; however, the man was already one step ahead. He quickly grabbed Shuhei and Ise from the floor and shunpoed a far distance from the fight. He set them down on grass to let the two catch their bearing, sweat soaking their faces and tears streaming down their eyes. "We shouldn't have let you follow us," Hajime said to the two, silently scolding himself. He used his hands to brush the hair out of their faces, "Rest now." Hajime said before shunpoing back in mere seconds.

"Your flash step is impressive. Obviously, you've worked long and hard on it to be able to cover so much ground so quickly," Old man Yama praised.

"It's all because of your teachings," Hajime replied politely.

Head Captain huffed, slightly amused by Hajime's polite brush of his compliment. "Looking back, the three of you always exhibited exceptional strength." Yamamoto started to reminisce. He turned his attention to Shunsui, "You spent too much time chasing girls, Shunsui, and your behavior was wild."

Hajime huffed in amusement as old man Yama continued, "But you were intelligent. And your ability to see the truth far outshone that of the others in your class." The Head Captain turned to his stoic student, "Hajime, you had a cold attitude towards people, but your charisma and skills outshined that. You were a natural," old man Yama praised then turned his attention to his last student, the one who kept the trio together, "And you, Jushiro, you had a weak constitution. But you more than made up for it with your daring and your popularity. Everyone looked up to you." Head Captain's eyes warmed as he stared at the men his students became, "And when it came time to battle, you three defied the imagination. No one could hold a candle to either one of you. You had such strong will... training endlessly, continuously honing your strength. My faith in you three was rewarded when you all became the first Captains of this academy, which I created. You all are my pride and joy, like my own sons," his voice cracked a little at the end. "I believed in you. And though we might have thought different thoughts, I always felt that we walked the same path." Master Yamamoto picked up his wooden staff, it engulfed in flames and revealed his zanpakuto. "Now it appears I was wrong about you. I am deeply disappointed," he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

"Master Yamamoto," Jushiro tried to say.

"Do not say anything. The time for words is long past," Master Yamamoto grabbed the hilt of his zanpakuto.

Hajime, Shunsui, and Jushiro tensed, slowly moving their hands towards their own sword's hilt.

"Draw your swords," he commanded as he withdrew his blade and slashed.

All three quickly drew a sword each before jumping back from the force of air from their Master's blade. The trio landed a few feet away from where they were standing, now crouched on the ground.

"What is the meaning of this, you three?" Head Captain demanded, "Do not tell me you intend to fight me without even releasing your zanpakuto?"

Shunsui adjusted his hat, "We're still hoping to avoid fighting at all, old man Yama, if we can," he explained for them.

"Silence!" he shouted. "I taught you better than that," he scolded. "You three know that can be no forgiveness for those who defy justice," Old man Yama recited his teachings.

"And also taught us that sometimes we must carry our justice on our own, Master," Shunsui shot back.

"That is the reason we carry our swords in the first place. Is it not, Master?" Jushiro joined.

"Such foolish talk," old man Yama said. "You have no right to decided what is right and wrong. It is your duty to accept the true justice of the world!"

"Then what is the true justice of the world? Who determines right and wrong? Are they even correct?" Hajime challenged, standing up. Jushiro and Shunsui joined him as they stared down their Master.

"Did you not hear me before?" Head Captain asked. "The time for words... has passed," he dug his sword into the dirt and threw his arms up, letting his Captain's coat fly away from potential harm. Head Captain drew on his powers as his body was engulfed in flames. He shed the top of his shuhakusho, letting it dangle around his waist. Despite being well into his thousands, his body did not deteriorate. The Head Captain chuckled as his scars glowed in the fire. He felt rejuvenated, finally able to let his power out. Cracking his knuckles, he grabbed his sword. The fire from his body joined with his zanpakuto, surrounding the blade as Head Captain picked it up. He raised his sword.

Hajime sensed the next move and quickly raised a water barrier as the fire slash approached the three. Upon contact, steam engulfed the area. Jushiro and Shunsui raised their arms to shield their faces from the intensity of the fire and the hot steam in the air.

"All things in the universe turn to ashes," Head Captain released his shikai, "Ryujin Jakka!"