"Take the blame," Kadaj answered, honestly. It had been his plan anyway, but he hadn't banked on a witness to complicate things. "Kuja needs to be notified," he said, dispassionately, "and Illua."

After that....

His motorbike was already ready to go. It had been since just before the Arrancar had left. He'd told Tayuya he was just going to leave, on the quiet, without Grimmjow to try and stop him or get some idiot idea about challenging Orochimaru into his head. All he'd have to do was last Orochimaru out, and then he could come back....

Except that he couldn't last Orochimaru out. Not really. If it wasn't this time, then in three years they'd go through it again, and again, and again.... He wouldn't be able to dodge it forever. Sooner or later this fight was going to have happened, and Kadaj wanted it to be on his own terms, when he stood a chance.

"I'm sure Aizen will find out when he gets back," he added.

Boy would that be fun. Kadaj felt a pang of guilt for leaving Nnoitra to it, but there was no way he'd be able to stay in the Palace. Not with Tayuya. Definitely not with the rest of Orochimaru's subordinates, who would all be gunning for Kadaj after this.