Never Lose Hope

Chapter 22 Tears and Betrayal in the Gotei 13

Rukia's POV

   I forced a smile onto my face as I greeted everybody at the table. 

"Good morning everyone!" 

"Morning." everybody chorused softly, holding their heads, moaning about hangovers.

"Want something to eat?" Isshin asked, getting another plate. I shake my head and thank him.

I waited and smiled at everybody till we got down to serious business.

"Alright, where's Byakuya?" Urahara checked his list "Usually he's the first one here."

"Nii-sama is out for today. He requests being alone." I said quickly, not really telling a lie. Urahara looked at me strangely and just went back to his list.

"Where did he go?" Ichigo whispered into my ear.

"I don't know. He didn't tell me." I lied, before Urahara started.

"First things first, what are we going to do with Kaname Tousen in our basement." Hitsugaya taicho stated before Urahara could talk "I don't like him alive."

Everybody nodded in agreement, while I stood neutral.

"We can't just kill him. That would set a bad example for the future Gotei 13." Yamamoto soutaicho stated "Although, I would like to see him strung high with his g-"

"Let's not get into the details, Yama jii." Kyoraku lifted his straw hat "There's some children here after all."

"I've heard worse." Karin muttered.

"Alright then, let's take a vote." Ishida spoke up. We all stared at him.

"May I ask why a quincy is here?" Soi Fon narrowed her eyes "Isn't he a enemy to the Seireitei?"

"He's saved our lives." I answer "He's probably one of the smartest of us around here."

Ichigo, Orihime, chad and the others nodded in agreement.

"A vote would be the best way to determine his fate." Hisagi muttered "But Tousen taicho isn't as evil as Gin and Aizen are!"

"But he's committed crimes far greater than the law!" Mayuri pointed out "Although, if you guys want him dead, can I use him as a test subject?"

.....

Everybody ignored him.

"Let's take a vote, shall we?" Urahara said "Rukia, you first. And you can voice your brother's vote too."

I glance around at everybody.

"No execution." I breathed "For both Nii-sama and I."

Everybody groaned at my answer.

"Hanataro."

"No execution."

"Hisagi."

"No execution."

"Kira."

"Execution."

"Ikkaku."

"Execution."