Northwest Seireitei
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Her first ten months within the Gotei were rather dull– a period to grow more accustomed than anything, spent unravelling the hidden nooks and crannies within 12th, handling logistics and budgetary issues, assisting in production chains where she had to, and the temporary healing duties she was handed- and the last ten have been building upon the first, wrought with a constant influx of considerations and what-if scenarios to ensure her foundations would be strong enough to hold the weight she was keen to take on.
The Shiba Incident, while abrupt in conclusion, shook her enough to force her hand. Shibuya had hoped she would not have to rush herself too much in the initial stages of her power grab, to be able to merrily skip her way to the top at her own pace, but with two souls equal to her own being eliminated(death, arrest), as well as the Captain Commander's untimely murder, the imminent danger and continuous unrest, her options became null.
For a few months she seemed to do nothing but her normal duties, shuffling through paperwork, scribbling numbers and long-winded letters, only occasionally taking seconds to tear open a small notepad and write there as well. Normality, though, has never existed beyond a veil, obscuring quiet preparations.
One such preparation had skittered off her body perhaps a month ago, travelling the distance between the Seireitei and Kurahashi (黒い橋, Black Bridge). The hollow signature(s) their sensors had picked up weren't much, not worth sending an actual Shinigami to inspect; doubly so with the considerations given to how hostile Rukongai citizens are toward them. So much busywork tempted her to leave it, allow the thing to continue doing as it pleased– Though with it still being a pest, she decided to finally do something about it.
The case grew curious when Four had arrived, no signs of a hollow attack as it roved the land, watching for anything even vaguely strange or wrong.
It took weeks to find an oddity, every instance of hollow energy dissipating as quickly as it appeared, leaving Four to continue moving, always sticking close to every surface it crawled over, its presence nothing more than that of a normal, average Centipede.
What it found, eventually, was certainly interesting.
While Four searched, Shibuya shifted her focus forward, toward her own ambitions.
In a deep, dark lab, locked behind a door with a rather impressive pre-requisite reiryoku threshold and known to, what she assumed to be, none living but herself, laid a particular room. This room, while remaining a mystery to onlookers, ate up much of Shibuya's time and energy. Those curious enough, or who happened to stumble upon the woman exiting it were met by dead, tired, weak glares, her usually pristine posture curled, knees wobbly, exhaustion radiating from her every pore. Disheveled in ways she only allowed herself to be when she was panicking and couldn't care less. Any questions sent her way were brushed off, ignored, fatigue laden as she struggled to stay on her feet.
Each day that passed seemed to make her worse for wear, only a single Centipede unaccounted for to prevent what was likely a severely mentally taxing situation none would ever be privy to, so long as Shibuya had her way. Secrets are best kept close to oneself, a lesson she hadn't had to learn, rather inherited from a selfish madman. That is, until a day came about where she hadn't made her way down to that room, beggaring yet more questions from the members of 12th paying her mind. Her airy reply was simple, "I've no current need of it,".
What the statement means remains to be seen, though her confidence in herself has tripled, asserting herself more and more visibly, eventually announcing her intent to become Captain of 12th Division. The first time she had spoken aloud a goal of hers– most still remaining buried far from gawking eyes and ears.
Months ago, during the Shiba Incident, saw Shibuya sending messages to Kurayami Shizukana in reply, offering her condolences and time to themselves for a 'girltalk', which has yet to come to fruition. A continuous string of excuses made by Shibuya despite the two-person gathering being her idea in the first place, willingness to pause for even a second in her struggle within That Room nonexistent until she had accomplished the first step in her plans. Initially, the first step was completely different, to schmooze and engage in the ever-joyous game of politics– Which is to say, Shizukana had been her priority before restructuring. The more she mulled over the events that had transpired around her, the more she had to alter her to-do list.
Well, there is no better time than the present, she supposes.
Shibuya pulls her denreishinki from her obi, flipping it open to tap out a string of texts directed the younger woman's way.
Keniro Senko
Finally… waking up from a fourteen hour power nap “I think I'm ready to go! Time to start training.” spoken aloud to himself leaping out of his sleep energized and ready to go. As he wiped the slob from his cheek the aggressive howl of a growling stomach roared even louder. …”perhaps getting something to eat sounds a lot better” thinking out loud once again, the discomfort was all over his face. Pulling out several hidden snacks stored in his shihakusho. Devouring every bite as if it were going to be his last, the young master’s appetite was far superior than anyone could imagine. Having little manners and extremely high confidence Keniro can come off as a bit obnoxious as he walks around with his head held high as if he was invincible. Wiping the crumbs off of his outfit he’d drag his fingers through his hair pushing it over to the side, his hair short and dark with shaved sides. Keniro’s Zanpakuto in its sealed state was still much larger than he himself, and so he would carry upon his shoulders whilst it being held in the clutches of his palms. The only thing flashy about the kid was his unique golden earrings that gleamed brightly as the sunlight reflected on them. As he gathered his bearings the young master prepared to set out for the day forgetting his shoes in the process however that didn’t seem to bother him a bit as he continued his day as he normally does by doing his usual daily routines.
As he walked around the thirteenth division the eyes of the other unranked shinigami watched him like a hawk as if they were remaining cautious of his unusual exploits. Everyone knew he was a sucker for practical jokes, his pranks often led to his victims being embarrassed and highly agitated. His revolting laughter only helped to further enrage those already furious. However today was different there was no prank or trick planned for the day and the young master continued to his destination without acknowledging a single glare. He embraced his role as the menace of the thirteenth division. Despite being one of the most disliked individuals in the division he was not without friends as some of his elders found some of antics quite entertaining.
Reach his point of intertest Keniro could be found in the training ground practicing his kido as worked on mastering the spell known as Hadō #31 Shakkahō, each shot fired struck the target with an explosive force strong enough too effect not only one but multiple training dummies and set the initial target ablaze. Impressed but not satisfied the young master continued to training relentlessly. His end goal was to master the spell in a short period of time so that he may use the spell to its full potential, in doing so he would reflect on the time he first learned to use the technique and how far he has come. Many of his classmates doubted him at one point given his physical appearance, belittling him with their eyes alone only to discover the prodigy of their generation to be the person they called a "tiny little pip squeak". The insult only motivated him to get stronger and that he did surpassing his classmates with ease and even achieving new levels of power far beyond what the could have ever anticipated. A smirk crossed the young masters lips as he was done pondering over the past as he always knew he would prove his doubters wrong and to do so so suddenly only helped to fuel ones ego. He'd continue training using the dummies as target practice meanwhile he could sense another individuals rapid approach to the thirteenth division for a brief moment as was able to detect the direction that they were coming from, had they any interest with him he would be more than willing to answer and questions or summons in the meantime he was dead set on training and honing his skill at least until he got hungry.
GhoulBunny
Member
Sayuri wasted no time in fulfilling her duty and quickly flash-stepped towards the Thirteenth Division headquarters. Her medium-length, purple hair billowed behind her as she moved with unparalleled speed through the corridors of the Seireitei, her Shihakushō flapping in the wind. Sayuri was known for her exceptional speed and precision in combat, and she put all of her skills to use as she raced towards her destination.
Upon reaching the Thirteenth Division headquarters, Sayuri was greeted by the sight of a calm and orderly atmosphere. Despite the recent losses suffered by the Thirteenth Division, they remained composed and focused on their duties. Sayuri admired the resilience and dedication of her fellow Shinigami, knowing that they would stop at nothing to protect the Soul Society from any threat.
Keniro Senko, a squad member of the Thirteenth Division, was waiting for Sayuri in the courtyard, his expression serious and determined. Sayuri approached him and delivered the urgent message.
“Oi, Senko, I got a message for ya,” Sayuri’s voice could be heard as she came closer to the man. “A few months ago I came across an Arrancar...and it seems that hollow activity has increased a shit ton more than normal so...You should keep an eye out in case shit hits the fan."
With that, Sayuri coughed, looking away from Keniro. She really needed a drink. A strong one.
Trying to be civil was harder than Sayuri would like to admit.
“That’s all I had for ya, so I’m off. I’m sure the shits in my squad are already in Naruki and I hate missing out on stuff so...adios.”
And with that, Sayuri quickly was gone, not even looking back. She was almost like a shadow as she jumped from roof to roof, heading towards the gates of the world of the living.
>>>>Heading to Naruki City<<<<
StephDLegend
Member
----------------------Coming from Central Seireitei: 2nd Division Barracks----------------------
Kinkō arrived at the barracks of the 12th division and entered slowly. He was half expecting to have to deal with the shinigami at the front desk and that she would turn him away. As he walked, he pulled out his Denreishinki and texted Shibuya.
'Oi, short stuff!
I am by your barracks.
Got some free time to say hi?'
With the text sent, he simply waited while observing the members of the 12th division.
Kinkō arrived at the barracks of the 12th division and entered slowly. He was half expecting to have to deal with the shinigami at the front desk and that she would turn him away. As he walked, he pulled out his Denreishinki and texted Shibuya.
'Oi, short stuff!
I am by your barracks.
Got some free time to say hi?'
With the text sent, he simply waited while observing the members of the 12th division.
The happenings in Rukongai hadn't caught her interest much, even as Four prattled on within her head about the strange boy it had caught wind of, how he felt nothing like anything it had felt before, inane thoughts of a dumb creature. Her attention was, however, caught as it repeated to her 'Where? Where? Where?', chanting the word over and over as it searched and scoured for all of a second before being eviscerated by something it couldn't follow. Centipede's, for as useful as they are, are bound by far more than Shibuya herself. They lack her prowess, her cunning, her utter and complete perfection and confidence in her sensing abilities, leaving them moreso as disposable informants. Four had only managed to see the moment the boy had vanished, but that in-and-of itself was enough to tell Shibuya all she needed to know about their little invader.
Sharp, carnivorous teeth grind together, scraping painfully across one another, frustration radiating off the woman, her pathway toward the surface clearing with every step, the various 12th members steering away from her– Fear, or, more likely, anticipation. Wary of what may have set the 5th seat off, and whether it would be smart to even risk pushing her over the cliff she seemed to be teetering on.
Well, all but one.
"Lady Harai," he begins, matching her pace as he appears from one of the many passageways within 12th, "It would seem a village in Kurahashi has been wiped out,"
Shibuya sighs, her already budding headache pulsating ever louder, blood rushing through her ears, helped none by her teeth grinding harder into one another, jaw clenched. "I gathered as much," the man's head tilts, questioning, but Shibuya offers no answers.
"Let me guess, one of those Arrancar did it?"
"Er, yes, ma'am. Judging by the spiritual signature it released," he blinks, a hitch to his steady pace, "How–"
"None of your business, boy," she snarls, "Alert the 3rd seat and prepare a report,"
With the flair of a pompous actor, she turns on her heel the moment she stops within a lift, hakama flowing along with the motion, "I will bring the issue up with a few contacts, so assure Central within the report that the situation is trivial at best for the moment, but that with this breaking of the treaty between those stupid animals and us they should consider more long-term defensive and offensive options, lest we be caught off-guard again. Understood?". He nods, rushing off back into twelfth to find Teashi Nanami.
With her headache only growing, she pushes a button within the elevator. It's one thing after another in this accursed place, she laments, bitter that she's being dealt another awful hand.
A beep from her obi draws her attention, pulling the device back out.
A quick tap sends the texts off just in time for another set to meet her.
The lift clicks into place, allowing Shibuya to step off as her nose curls and brows crease at the message from her cousin.
A rude child he is, certainly. Were he not of her mothers clan her tolerance of his lack of manners toward her would be call for her mounting ire– Alas, she flips her device closed, pushing her way through to the 'waiting area' to meet her unexpected guest.
12th is a maze of doors, pathways, insurmountably complex in its layout, only traversed and known by those within the division themselves– A few of those dimly lit halls happen to lead to and from the barracks and the S.R.D.I, allowing the squad free access to and from both buildings without ever having to see natural sunlight. Granted she'd argue it'd be good for a few of those hermits to go outside and smell something other than the pungent stench of steel and sweat for once in their lives. When she makes Captain she'll have to consider mandatory outdoor excursions.
"Kuchiki-kun, a pleasure as always," her words, for all she tries to be cordial, come out tense, her jaw stiff, "Forgive me for assuming that it isn't familial longing that brings you here,"
Frea
New member
it's been nearly a year had passed and Nanami was mainly silent after the confrontation with the 5th seat about the Shiba instance. Her views remained those who helped or rather the own shinigami should've been trailed about killing their kind. But rather though Nanami had tried to perfect her own Bankai within the last few months, with trial and many errors to this day. Well...Errors were due to the incompetence of her lower peers who kept interrupting her. Though she was also still monitoring the bizarre activity in the world of the living, though occasionally she did have to get up and get some rest. Her looks weren't as appealing as they usually were her hair was a mess and as well with no make-up, her eyes had dark bags underneath them and her office, well that somehow was still miraculously clean despite the fact she had lack of sleep for the past 10 months.Stretching her legs, she decided to take a trip around the division, she noticed someone from their division catching the attention of their current 5th seat, and Nanami decided to hide around the corner listening in to their conversation. The purple-haired woman dragged her denshi out of her pocket and started to make notes of their conversation little by little, even though she wasn't supposed to she was eavesdropping and it wasn't her usual thing to do after all, she couldn't care less about many people, however, this particular conversation had piqued her interest, enough that she was taking notes of it.
"None of your business, boy,"
-
"Alert the 3rd seat and prepare a report,"
Oh, how she disliked how Harai spoke to people with quite a bitey tone, it wasn't particularly nice, but then again- Nanami couldn't fault how much of her blunt temper had its perks particularly when in situations they required, after hearing the alert Nanami herself, the much taller and higher-seated woman had appeared out of the corner she was eavesdropping in and in a tired toneage that she tried cover-up.
"No need Harai, I've heard the conversation."
She looked over at the red-headed woman with a blunt expression and tone in her voice.
"Good eye, Though must admit those Arrancars, are quite...Amusing."
She seemed to have quirked up a bit before she noticed that Harai was already off, seemingly it could've been a message on her denshi that might've required the attention. Of course, this could be urgent so Nanami followed the redhead only to see a familiar male she had seen before. Kinko Kuchiki, the male that came to see her about something around a year ago, maybe months ago? She saw how Harai was trying to be civil with the male, by off it she seemed familiar with the kid. Coming up behind the small lady and speaking a question.
"So, you two related or something? perhaps...he's your son?"
She tried to make a light-hearted joke to try and ease the attention in the atmosphere, though potentially her words could've made Harai more tense.
StephDLegend
Member
Kinko waited for Shibuya, seeing that she didn't reply to his text that meant that she was either on her way to him or too busy to have checked it. Either way, he wasn't in much of a rush anyway. He hadn't been able to see her for a while, partly due to being busy as the 3rd seat of his squad as well as training his new bankai. He still couldn't believe that he had a bankai. Even so, he was still pretty limited in his use of the power.
Not long after, he heard her greeting. He looked down to see his cousin and he nodded to her. She was being formal with him which was fine. He was formal with almost everyone else but when it came to her, he dropped most formalities unless it was during a certain time and/or place. She apologized for assuming that he was there for something other than their familial bond. "No need to apologize for thinking such however you'd be wrong this time. I hope it isn't a bad time."
He noticed the third seat of the division walking up to Shibuya. He simply assumed she was going to give the short woman a message but instead she asked a question about their connection. Really, her son? They didn't have that much of a resemblance, did they? "Quite an intriguing observation. But yes, we are indeed related." He smiled. Now the other question, he thought it would be interesting to observe how Shibuya would respond.
Not long after, he heard her greeting. He looked down to see his cousin and he nodded to her. She was being formal with him which was fine. He was formal with almost everyone else but when it came to her, he dropped most formalities unless it was during a certain time and/or place. She apologized for assuming that he was there for something other than their familial bond. "No need to apologize for thinking such however you'd be wrong this time. I hope it isn't a bad time."
He noticed the third seat of the division walking up to Shibuya. He simply assumed she was going to give the short woman a message but instead she asked a question about their connection. Really, her son? They didn't have that much of a resemblance, did they? "Quite an intriguing observation. But yes, we are indeed related." He smiled. Now the other question, he thought it would be interesting to observe how Shibuya would respond.
"No need to apologize for thinking such however you'd be wrong this time. I hope it isn't a bad time."
"No? Consider me surprised, then," bitter frustration sunk into her words, venom biting just behind her teeth as she huffed out a terse laugh, "I had anticipated some political strife to add to the docket,"
What was another problem for her plate, after all? She's a genius, someone who can only gain from solving the world's problems by herself, aspirations higher than the common fodder of those above and below her.
"When, on what is a seemingly constant burgeoning war, is there truly such a thing as a 'Good Time'?" she laments.
That being said, the headache caused by losing Four evidently affected her more than she thought it did as she finally notices Nanami, the other woman's words drawing her attention.
"So, you two related or something? perhaps...he's your son?"
Her head turns slowly, an exasperated, yet blank, expression sliding onto her face.
"My son?" she asks, plainly, her eyes flicking to Kinko, then back to Nanami, "You're joking." it's a statement, as plain as the prior rhetorical question. Related they may be, Shibuya hardly looks the part of a main-line Kuchiki, having branched off long before either of her companions were born, or died, and Kinko shares little in-common with the Harai– Not that Nanami would know the latter. Nonetheless, she's become accustomed to feeble, awkward attempts at humour coming from the rest of 12th Division, so at the very least her statement was just that- a statement of the obvious.
"Hardly." her head rolls back into place, one of her hands coming free of the clasp behind her back, wrist flicking a vague gesture as she continues, "Were he my spawn he would be far, far away from the halfwits of Seireitei," a joke, matching Nanami's own in executed dryness.
"Kuchiki-kun is a cousin, on my mothers side," her gesture shifts, smoothly transitioning to the direction of the boy in question, "Who has so kindly come to aleve me of my duties for the time being," it's almost snarky, the way she implies the weight of her work will fall to the 3rd seat once she goes on break– Though she's well aware it won't, but she's a petty woman that craves a 'win' no matter how made-up it may be.
Said work she takes to assume Nanami is at least aware of, whether because she heard Shibuya say it herself, or because that grunt spoke to her.
"I do hope alerting Central to our little… 'Issue' isn't too much of a problem while I'm away, Miss Teashi,"