Chapter 233: Interplay
"Thank you for coming. I'm certain you have other matters to attend, so on behalf of the Soul Society, allow me to welcome you and express our gratitude for your assistance in the previous matter..." expressed Ukitake, cupping his hands and inclining his upper body slightly in greeting.
"I simultaneously have more and less free time than most..." countered Vahn, casually cupping his own hands but keeping his back straight as he asked, "Now, what did you wish to discuss?"
"Straight to the point," noted Ukitake, offering a curt nod before rising to his full height and gesturing to the low-lying table that had been prepared in advance, set with an antiquated-looking tea set and some snacks native to the Soul Society, specially infused with Reiatsu.
Stepping past Ukitake, Vahn took his seat first and proceeded to prepare himself tea rather than waiting for it to be made for him. Ukitake noticed this, but instead of insisting the process be left to him, he smiled, took his seat, and waited for Vahn to finish preparing the pot before revealing, "As you are no doubt aware, we were regrettably...unsuccessful in our efforts to detain the former Fifth-Division Captain, Sosuke Aizen. Fortunately, his co-conspirators, Ninth-Division Captain Tosen Kaname and Third-Division Captain Ichimaru Gin, were apprehended without significant incident. The former offered considerable resistance, but the latter surrendered without a fight..."
"I am aware," confirmed Vahn, nodding.
"Right..." started Ukitake, his smile gaining a hint of wryness as he added, "To that end, allow me to thank you on behalf of Seventh-Division Captain Komamura and Second-Division Captain Sui-Feng. Due to the malignancy of former Captain Aizen's Reiatsu, their injuries might have worsened with time. Instead, they simply vanished—much like my disease. We presumed this was the result of your intervention."
"You presumed correctly..." affirmed Vahn, nodding a second time before appending, "But that was me accepting responsibility for apprising you of Aizen's treachery, directly resulting in Captain Komamura's and Sui-Feng's injuries. If the Soul Society intends to solicit my aid or assistance directly, due compensation must be offered and agreed upon..."
Following his assertion, Vahn closed his eyes, creating a deliberate lull where he could enjoy the mellow, somewhat earthy fragrance of the tea in his cup. The aroma alone was enough to make him feel refreshed and send an invigorating wave through his body, so he couldn't help but smile when he sampled it directly, causing his throat and chest to warm as the Reiatsu infused within permeated his cells.
Waiting patiently for Vahn to open his eyes, Ukitake offered a nod of his own, confirming, "But of course. That's one of the reasons I asked Vahn-sama here. Though, before that, there are some things I've been asked to confirm—hopefully without coming across as too interrogatory."