Noble Ascension [Byakuya/Erika]

Erika had anticipated this, admittedly they had proven themselves to be more impatient than she gave them credit for. Perhaps the aristocracy believed that striking while they were weakened was a brilliant move. Her tongue was far from silver but she held the words of lead that came to mind about it not being a day since Murasaki's disappearance before trying to shove in a replacement.

"Is that so, Lord Kuchiki? Could you expand on that? I'm a little curious as to what you mean, and I'd prefer there were no misunderstandings here."

She asked and gave him a chance to continue with that statement, giving him an opportunity to go into detail on the circumstances of this decision. In the meantime she reached into the drawer of the desk and took out an envelope. In the same motion she called for Saionji to come to collect it. Things didn't stop just because Lord Kuchiki walked into her office and said it was. After all, the Gotei United did not answer to Central 46. They cooperated with Central 46 and if he expected her to roll over onto her back when it came to Murasaki's vision. He had another thing coming.

"Of this you are correct on all points besides the bit about being Captain-Commander. In fact it is this very same situation that gave rise to the vision of the Gotei United by Ibiki Suika all those years ago when the Captain-Commander - voted in by Central 46 - welcomed demons into the Soul Society. It was that very Gotei Thirteen you and I served in, but it was a situation so devastating that action was required and put forward by Suika, carried on by the Kyorakus until it came to Murasaki."

She talked in a monotonous voice, with no signs of anything really. Her face was blank and apathetic to the arguments he was making. It was an argument of comparison but she had her own, it was a case of sympathy but he brought forward the issues of the Seireitei and the Rukongai being in ruins.

"So tell me, how does what you are doing reestablish order? It has not been twenty-four hours since she disappeared and you look to replace her. The Seireitei and Rukongai are in ruins but you've spent this time sitting there talking about who's going to replace the Captain-Commander instead of actually fixing anything. Meanwhile, we work tirelessly to restore the order you speak of, and this is the very same reason why the Gotei United was formed in the first place. So tell me, why do you wish to inherit a vision you hold in contempt?"

"Clearly you do. You have so little faith in the Captain-Commander's resilience and you've come to claim the position yourself while your sister works tirelessly to save as many shinigami as she can."

No matter though. Erika felt confident that she had stalled him long enough in this discussion.

"Regardless of all that you are correct in some areas though. For example, the Gotei United is dead. It died the moment the Senkaimon was destroyed. You see, the Gotei United can only fund itself through trade agreements with the living world that allows us to maintain income that is not dependent on the government. With that destroyed there is no income. However, it only became official when you walked through that door. I had hoped that you would collaborate to prioritise the current situation above politics like this but that is not the case."

Erika reached down into the draw and took out another envelope. It was exactly the same as the one she had given to Kei just before to distribute throughout the chain of command through the entire Gotei United. It flicked over the desk to stop in front of him. She had anticipated something like this, she wasn't a good politician and maybe if she was better at it then she could have found a way out of this situation. This would have to do though.

Envelope:

She was here because she believed in Murasaki, and the Gotei United, like many others. She was not going to let all the hard work her friend and her predecessors put into this organisation be perverted by the government they worked to remove themselves from. This was nothing more than a powerplay that took advantage of the situation and she had her own card to play.

"You are not Captain-Commander, Lord Kuchiki. Neither am I. It is not in the power of Central 46 to make that decision but this is a decision that is in my capacity. There is no Captain-Commander, there are no captains, there is no Gotei United. I'm not giving you the benefit of this organisation. You think so highly of yourselves and that you can do better, do you? Prove it then but do it like Suika had to - with everything working against you."

Erika let the ramifications of what she wrote sink in. The actual weight was quite heavy. She had dismissed all shinigami from service. Without financial security he would need to hurry to prevent a good deal from leaving for the Rukongai to find work or finding work with different noble families that had different agendas.

By abolishing the Gotei United's name, all the land they had in their possession was no longer under the umbrella of the Gotei United. She doubted the other nobles would like the idea of handing all that over to the Kuchiki. It would upset the power balance of their politics. The maggot's nest had previously been under the Onmitsukido that had served the Shihoin clan for generations. She wondered if they would give that up to Byakuya in this new situation.

"I suppose I should be leaving now. After all, I have an appointment with Lady Koizumi since my master is missing."

He could try and reprimand her. She hadn't discussed what her intention was if it came down to it with Shishiyuki so it was up in the air as to the validity of her statement in those orders. It didn't belong there but stating it there put him in a difficult position. Shishiyuki could decline her but if she did acknowledge it then Erika was going to take full advantage of the flaws of an aristocratic system to make Kuchiki think twice about stirring trouble with another noble family.