Exiled

Them:

"So who is HE?" Renji asked, for his spot against the wall. 

"Taki," Kariuzu responded. "He runs the group of them. He's hardheaded and stubborn. He is the strongest of them. And the angriest." 

"How well do you know him?" Byakuya asked, his arms crossed against his chest. 

"I don't really. As Jo said, he never really trusted me, I got the other information from everyone else. All I know about Taki is that he found the others, he protected them from hallows, and he is paranoid." Kariuzu supplied. 

"Interesting," Kurosuchi added, his mere presence causing Kariuzu to shiver at his creepy voice. She'd started learning their names at this point. And the Captain of squad 12 gave her the creeps. 

"He's surrounded himself with others who would die or kill for him because he has protected or saved them." Byakuya supplied, his face never changing. 

"Exactly. He has a loyal following, they are dedicated solely to him." Kariuzu supplied. 

"Then why try to talk to them?" Shinji supplied. He'd been quiet on the walk back from the prison. 

"I know them. You have to understand." She supplied, looking at him, pleading with her eyes. "They are angry, they feel betrayed by the people who were supposed to protect them. I spent time with these people, they aren't bad people."

"Of course not," Shinji replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm, and it hurt her. 

"They probably aren't." Rukia added, "They are angry. I don't know what I would do if I was one of them, but I'd be angry too." 

"Right, I'd be pissed, I'd want payback." Ichigo supplied, eyeing Shinji and Kariuzu suspiciously. 

"But-" Shinji started, and Ichigo glared hard at him, the blond hair sighed and looked at the floor. 

"When I finally joined in with them, Taki did his best to avoid me, to keep his distance. I think this group has been here in the Soul Society for awhile. About 6 months ago, they disappeared, that's when I realized they were planning something. I got what information I could, and ran, and had to find a way to get here. Without access to my Zanpakuto, I couldn't just open the door to get here. I couldn't do anything, so I had to get the word out and Kisuke finally helped me out." Kariuzu explained stepping away from the Captains. She forced herself to breathe deeply to control her emotions. As always Shinji knew exactly how to get under her skin. 

"I don't know exactly what their plans are like I said, they never fully trusted me." Kariuzu finished. 

"Guess you didn't do enough," Shinji responded, and she froze.

"SHINJI!" Ichigo shouted, grabbing his fellow captain by his robes. 

"Ichigo," Rukia acted fast, trying to pull Ichigo off Shinji.

"How dare you?" Ichigo demanded, pushing Shinji against the wall. 

"Don't act like you even know her, Ichigo! You just met her." Shinji responded, not even fighting back. 

"What's that suppose to even mean?" Ichigo demanded. 

"She's a master manipulator," Shinji said, looking at her with dark angry eyes. 

"Ichigo, let him go. If Shinji wants to act like a spoiled brat." Kariuzu said, her voice soft. She put her hand on her nephew's shoulder. Ichigo reluctantly let him go, and Kariuzu looked at Shinji and punched him in the face. 

"I don't know why you seem to be so angry with me, Shinji. But this isn't the place or the damn time." Kariuzu said, her voice cold as she looked at him sitting on the floor. "Now that, that is over. Back to Taki."