Northeast Seireitei

[TherosAestas]

Suzume had intended to accompany Hideo to meet with the head of the Kuchiki clan, but an unsettling feeling had descended upon her and the need to discern its source was much more vital to her at that moment. She oversaw as Inei and Amaya triple checked the vaults. Nothing had been compromised. Everything was accounted for so what was bringing her such discomfort?

As Suzume stepped out of the vaults, determined to push her growing unease aside, the soft tap of wood against stone slowly drew nearer. She’d heard that sound many times before but why was she hearing it now? The tapping grew louder and louder but she stood frozen despite her attempts to move. This couldn’t be happening. She’d been nothing but good to him! Why now!? The soul society was peaceful, but perhaps that was precisely why now.

The taps turned to thuds. Wooden stilts striking stone as they carried someone far heavier than her closer. The clanking of a metal censer on chain punctuated his approach, ringing out like a death knell in the impossibly silent courtyard.

“Tiny puppeteer.”

Inei and Amaya also stood frozen, their limbs refusing their will to move as a shadow stretched long and thin over the miniscule Feng.

“How easily the puppeteer becomes the puppet.”

A clawed hand clamped down on Suzume’s shoulder. She didn’t register the pain, only the faint metallic scent on the breeze as blood blossomed around the points where Jigitarisu’s claws pierced her flesh. Her muscles screamed as they tried to work against his influence but to no avail. A sound like branches scraping escaped his lips as he delighted in her struggle. He loved his mistress, yes, but she’d grown weak, dependent on a man who brought her nothing but his own family troubles. He couldn’t understand how she saw him as worthy.

“Su-zu-me!”

He chimed her name in that sing-songy way he always had, but now with something darker underlying. The playful, carefree Fox was gone and all that remained was Jigitarisu. Cold. Unyielding. Bloodthirsty. With a twitch of his finger, Suzume began to move. He didn’t need to tell her where he was taking her. She knew where.

”Hideo.”

The singular name left the small Shinigami’s lips, broken and twisted. Her voice was entirely wrong as if her mouth was moving by someone else’s accord. Suzume appeared first before Hideo and the head of the Kuchiki clan, she believed his name to be Kinko though she didn’t know much about him. Blood rolled in vibrant rivulets down her left arm, her gaze distant and vacant as clawed hands emerged from the shadows behind her. They creaked like ancient twigs snapping as they moved to pull the strings, her strings. The last semblance of control slipped from her tiny body.

Jigitarisu’s face peered out from the shadows, his eye glowing red, his mask cracked and shattered and a cruel smirk on his lips.

“More than just the scoundrel to play with. What fun!”

His left hand slowly rose into the air as Suzume’s head mimicked its movement. Jigitarisu’s predatory gaze never left the eternally smiling Shihoin. His fingers quietly plucked strings as he made her jaw work again.

”Hideo.”

A dark gleam filled with already pitch black eye as he observed them. With the smallest flick of his wrist, Suzume’s body went skidding across the ground, leaving a smear of blood where her left arm dragged. In that same moment, Jigitarisu had melted back into the shadows. Suzume didn’t move. Whether it was because she could or because she just refused to was unknown.

Not even the tap of his stilts or clanking of chain heralded his approach this time as he emerged from the shadows, his staff swinging toward Kinko as the censer chained to it overflowed with scarlet incense and small shimmering particles that flew through their air toward Hideo and peppered the ground.

Jigitarisu melted into the shadows again as his voice rolled off the smoke, a singular word, condemning them both.

“Unworthy.”

​

 

[StephDLegend]

“Hmmm.”

While not given a direct answer, Kinkō appreciated the honesty. He’d have to work with those being offered to get a clearer answer.

“Very well.”

The little Hideo shared of the Date clan was as much as Kinkō was told by Captain Taro Date himself. How could one clan be shrouded in such secrecy that even the heads of the noble houses were ignorant?

“Do you think they wish to replace one of the families? Or perhaps they wish to declare themselves the fifth?”

The very thought was troubling. Still, his expression remained calm, his arms folded.

“That’s a good question. Truthfully, I do not know. A lot has changed since then.” He had been just a child when his family was slaughtered by those who were supposed to be allies. That tragedy changed everything for the survivors, down to the way they were raised and trained. “I’d seek counsel before I make a judgment. That much I can say for certain.”

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he unfurled his hands. “There’s something else the Date claim to have done in more recent times. The death of my sister. Tell me, Lord Shihōin, how would you handle finding out that your close family was hurt by them?” While he didn’t fully trust the man before him, honesty here seemed like the best move to show his sincerity. Perhaps it was naïve, or maybe it’d be seen as an olive branch. Reparations could only be done if both sides reached for it with true intentions, right?

As their meeting approached the end, Kinkō stood up, ready to shake Hideo’s hand. His eyes shot open wide, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood tall. That spiritual pressure. He turned his head toward the source. To Kinkō, reiatsu manifested along a visual gradient from pale light to deep darkness, reflecting friendliness to hostility, with the most dangerous beings radiating a spiking crimson aura. This presence burned a violent orange-red. His hand dropped to the hilt of one of his swords, fingers curling slowly in anticipation.

When the Fourth Seat of the Eighth Division appeared with blood rolling down her arm, his fingers tightened on the hilt, though he did not draw it yet. While he didn't personally know Suzume Fēng, he knew the Fēng clan's deep ties to the Shihōin. Beyond knowing she was the current head of her family, however, she was a stranger to him.

The distant and empty look in her eyes sent shivers down his spine. Why was she here, battered and bleeding? Why not go to the 4th division and send word to Hideo? Then, clawed hands emerged from the shadows behind her. Kinkō immediately pulled his zanpakutō from its sheath, his grip firm even as his hands trembled slightly.

The entity that stepped forth was indescribable. It wasn't a Hollow, yet it wasn't human either. Its eyes glowed red, and it wore a cracked mask. Whatever it was, its gaze remained locked solely on Hideo, jerking the tiny Shinigami woman around like a puppet as it spoke with a twisted sense of delight.

It casually sent the woman flying across the room with a flick before vanishing. When it resurfaced, it appeared to strike a wide-eyed Kinkō with its staff, scattering incense particles through the air before slipping back into the shadows. However, things weren't always as they appeared. The figure that took the blow wasn't Kinkō at all, merely an afterimage left behind by a Shunpo.

The real Kinkō appeared just outside the doorway, looking in with his zanpakutō drawn and his scarf billowing in the wind. “Let's take this outside. You're getting blood on my floor.” He kept his guard raised, refusing to let the shadowy intruder catch him off guard.

“Shihōin, it seems to have taken a liking to you. Let's lure it away from the others,” Kinkō called out, vanishing once more to reappear in the open courtyard, waiting to see what would follow.​

 

[Jushiro Izanagi]

“Must I remind you, Nagarashi? You may carry the blade but you have never owned the flame. You would do well to remember that unlike you, I’m not a subordinate. I find it curious that your manners have deteriorated in my absence”. ​

Kagutsuchi’s response did not come with an explanation. And it would appear that he had no intention of obeying. Nagarashi is used to this dance, they’re of a similar nature. Although Kagutsuchi is a little more extreme compared to his Shinigami. A frown was promptly formed, showing Nagarashi’s disapproval of the current situation. In the meantime, they had another arrival on the scene. The charred figure of the humanoid canine made its way into the fourth division barracks. This was the third patient in a matter of minutes. The last words heard from the creature was a statement pertaining to unlocking Bankai. Nagarashi figured that he was connected to the unseasoned sapling known as Kuwashii. They had similar injuries, which meant they were either sparring against each other or faced the same opponent. The unconscious duo needed to be tended to, but Nagarashi was far more curious about those still standing. Namely his Captain, the Date and Kagutsuchi.

Listening to Taro’s words brought mild amusement. Fuu was seen as a cog but Nagarashi remembers being referred to as an echo. The Kuchiki listened to the exchange between the two Captains. And as it continued, it was becoming clear why the Date chose to visit the fourth division. His injured subordinate comes off as an excuse to act on his personal desires. Nagarashi did agree with Taro as it related to Fuu’s strength. There was definitely something lurking, he sensed it a long time ago. The hostility radiating from Taro could be felt, enough to excite both Nagarashi and Kagutsuchi alike. This could turn out to be quite an interesting interaction.

Feeling Captain Date’s reiatsu cascade over the area was an indication that things could escalate very quickly. Nagarashi had still yet to respond to Kagutsuchi’s insolence towards him. Instead, he reached down and extended his left hand to grab hold of Kuwashii’s Shihakusho. Lifting her off the ground as if lifting a piece of paper. Nagarashi possesses incredible physical strength. Taking a few steps, the dismembered arm was collected and tossed at Kagutsuchi, a disgusting thing to have to deal with. By this point, Taro was already drawing his Zanpakuto. There was no turning back now. Regardless of his feelings towards these new patients, he still had a job to do. Nagarashi was already heading towards the canine when Fuu made a request. The raven haired man nodded in response and proceeded to move in Hyoroshi’s direction. At which point two more squad members were at hand to lift him onto a stretcher and take him to the infirmary.

He will no doubt return to Fuu and Taro in hopes of seeing their sparring session. For now, he was needed to render aid to his patients. Once inside the infirmary, Nagarashi had three patients to oversee. Sameko, Kuwashii and Hyoroshi. Each one had injuries that were different. There they were now, laid out and in a sorry state. Kagutsuchi watched with glee, happy to see them in such a way. Nagarashi was hating every minute of it.

Sameko was electrocuted and stabbed in the stomach. Kuwashii was suffering from burns and an amputated arm. Likewise Hyoroshi was suffering from severe burns, although all his limbs were still attached. His team of helpers were already gathering the supplies needed. Nagarashi proceeded to do his initial assessment and would prioritise who dies first accordingly. All three patients were checked for breathing, circulation, the extent and depth of their injuries and the damaged areas. He wouldn’t attempt any extensive healing until he was satisfied. Sameko, the
half-starved stray, was already being treated and was stable enough. The two burnt victims needed his attention.

A mere motion of his arm and Kuwashii severed limb was brought to him. The Kuchiki began observing the extent of the injuries, checking to see if it was a clean cut or was it ripped from Kuwashii. Looking at the arm, it can be saved and successfully reattached. But did he want to do it? Not really, but he was a professional and had a rep to protect. Nagarashi ordered for the limb to be cleaned up and prepped for later use. Kuwashii’s burned garments were removed, all the while protecting the young woman’s dignity. Most of Hyoroshi’s garments were gone and so whatever was left was also removed. Sameko suffered the same fate, leaving the areas that needed to be treated exposed. One subordinate cleaned Sameko’s wounds, another did the same for the humanoid canine, meanwhile Nagarashi personally cleaned the sapling’s wounds. He was gradually and carefully restoring damaged skin, connective tissue, and blood vessels. He was careful not to ignore damaged tendons and joints. His team of helpers were instructed to do the same for the others. All working towards a common goal and efficiently as possible.

Nagarashi could hear the clash taking place outside but that was not his concern. He was able to follow it using his Reikaku. However, he couldn’t afford to lose focus. Kuwashii was a delicate situation. He needed to ensure that scarring from the severed limb didn’t restrict movement. He could do it deliberately but that means he would be known for doing shoddy work. The man has a rep to protect and as such that cannot be. Nagarashi knew all too well that this wasn’t a quick fix. Now that the amputated arm was cleaned and ready to be reconnected. Nagarashi positioned the limb against the original point of separation. Ensuring that it was aligned correctly and not facing the wrong direction.

He pondered the use of stitches but opted to challenge his use of Kaido instead. Nagarashi was proud of his skills and was happy to show the onlookers why he carried himself the way he did. His malicious Reiryoku turned into Kaido. And from there it was used to reconnect blood vessels, nerves and muscle tissue. The bone began to heal and once he was satisfied with repairing the deeper tissues. The man moved on to closing the wounds and restoring the surrounding skin. Reattaching a severed limb will leave a scar but that wasn’t Nagarashi’s problem. He may have made the situation look easy but it was far from it. This required precision and skill. Now that the arm was reattached, Nagarashi swapped patients. Hyoroshi’s charred body needed his attention. Kuwasshii will continue to be cared for. In the meantime, Nagarashi was focusing on the canines' deep tissue burns. His Kaido was used to repair those and prevent his body from going into shock.

Kagutsuchi continued to observe the situation, a grin adorning his face as if he knew something that Nagarashi did not. They will soon have their moment.