Rukongai

[Kuvello]

The bright shine from the superficial sun shone down upon the realm that was inhabited by pluses. Who ever it was, that concocted the blue-prints for the realm known to an innumerable mass of individuals as the Seireitei, be it a deity or otherwise had seemingly wanted to accentuate the dichotomies of what it meant to be a plus and a minus, or menos in common-man’s terms. Perpetual day, perpetual night, how could one ever tell the passage of time with such cycles as these? While the world of the living seemed to possess the best of both worlds, it was the hunting grounds of both parties, arguably hallowed grounds contested by some religious sects within some very minor and perhaps even extinct parts of Hueco Mundo.

The rustling of leaves as a warm breeze cascaded through them would give way to a large bridge located over a large canyon. Hanging. Suspended by ropes and large pillars, seemingly made of some kind of dark, stained wood. The sheer size of this man-made construct became the very name-sake of this District’s name in the Southern Hemisphere of Rukongai. District #58: Kurahashi (黒い橋, Black Bridge). Though not named for its distinct color or hue, the bridge’s original namesake was derived from a much darker lore, as the very bridge’s construction came at the price of many casualties, centuries, and generations before the final nail was driven. With each concept changing slightly due to changes in nature, or subsequently understanding that previous measurements did not meet needed, or previously intended requirements.

While the concept of why the bridge was built in the first place has been lost to time, many within the district say it was created in order for those pure of heart to escape the confines of hell to reach paradise.[ As Kurahashi neighbors District #57: Jigokukairō (地獄回廊, Hell's Corridor)]. Others say it is because a dangerous beast sleeps at the bottom of the canyon, and it was placed there in order to stop the beast from feeding on the families of those who had fallen victim to it. [Mainly told to children in order for them to not accidentally wander onto the sides of the bridge; to scare them from falling off.]

Within the garganta (黒腔, Black Cavity), walking along a salmon hued panel-road constructed of reishi, the figure of 5th Division's newest member would find himself closing in on a condensed area of spiritual energies, contained within an area of approximately 100 sq miles, a small feat for the temp-shinigami. In his duration, the hollow would begin to run through alias to undertake, after all, giving out his true name would not only blow his cover, but allude to his intended subterfuge.

"Lets see...should I go with Uemura? Nah he seems like an individual who's more well-known.... perhaps Genjima? Asagiri? Asagiri works.... now then what about-"

Triangulating upon an area, as he casually strolled about, a blank expression cascaded over his face as he pulled his rod and tackle zanpakuto from his shoulder. Slashing the pole toward the side in an arch that resembled something more of sword stance, the Arrancar would emerge from the manifesting garganta. looking behind him as the otherwise miasmic darkness appeared as something more akin to a festered block of swiss cheese with spatial distortions encompassing both the world of the living, Hueco Mundo, and now the Seireitei, as it remained suspended in the air, allowing the young-appearing male to exit.

As the shuhakusho adorning figure exited the garganta, the portal would begin to collapse upon itself, folding and closing like some cubical origami display as a small rift remained within the guise of a squared hole in the surface of a nearby tree. Acting quickly, as he didn't sense a soul near him, and being sure to keep his presence erased all together, the arrancar would begin shuffling his white hakama and his black-patterned kimono into a area he would have carved into the tree with his bare hands, resembling that of a nook forged by some feral animal.

Hiding the evidence of his affiliation, and dressed to the teeth hiding any noticeable indication of his very nature, the "shinigami" would make his way into the clearing as he happened to stumble upon a bridge and
a pack?
a cluster?
a gang?
Yea, that probably works; A gang of kids.

Walking out of the shrubbery and forest the interloper would look around as he allowed his fishing rod to rest on over his shoulder and neck as he strolled.

"My, what a lovely day for fishing. Don't reckon you kiddo's could help a lost soul find his way?"

As if he were speaking in a foreign tongue, the nearby children would look strangely toward the man. Their eyes wide with both interest and hesitancy.

"You sure do talk funny for a Shinigami, how'd you get those clothes?" Yea, I want to dress up like that too! Maybe then i'll get some dang respect around here!"

The same expression would be mirrored from Kuvello onto the kids, though arguably they were indistinguishable from him in size and height, perhaps only being relatively taller than one or to of the other teens that were around. Had he been found out that quickly? Why were these people in tattered fabrics? Was this not the Seireitei? Where were the rest of the shinigami?

"Wh-what do you mean? I'm just as much a shinigami as any? I-I Uh, I love nothing more than reaping those hollows!"

The expressions of the children's faces would remain blank as a few of them who seemingly were in charge of the, horde? , exchanged glances with one another.

"Oh yea? Then if you're a Shinigami, then why aren't you carrying a sword? every Shinigami I see carries a sword! All you have is a lousy fishing rod and some clothes you stole from a bath house or something! Is that supposed to be scary? That's stupid, who goes around swinging a fishing pole around, you'd be better off finding some stick in the woods. Why wouldn't he just use a knife? Oh yea, that would be better!"

Listening to the kids argue amongst themselves, it would become very evident that they saw himnot as a hollow, or even a shinigami but some kid like them who was just out and about causing a ruckus trying to get attention. He could use this guise, oh yes, he could use this guise very well.

"Y-Y'know you're right! Yea, I took it right off of that shinigami guy, kicked him right in the nuts too when he caught me trying to take his clothes, I was all like "SWOOOSH~! How's this for a BANKAI!" and then he doubled over as the sound of bells clang in the distance!"

Like magic, the "shinigami" had won over the minds of the youth, his tall tales instilling visions of grandeur and awe as he captivated them, hoping to lure any other ideas from them, allowing them to lay out the puzzle pieces he would need to fabricate a tale that would not only gain their trust but also give him the information he needed. Turns out, most of the adults around here didn't much care for those "black-cloaked weirdos" anyway. In fact, it seemed as though the people of Rukon and hollows had more in common than they were lead to believe.... seems like the only thing the Shinigami would make, were enemies, and judging by the towering behemoths of reiatsu he could vaguely feel off in the far, far distance it seemed that they couldn't even get along with one another, wouldn't the world be better off without such a scurge as the Shinigami? ​

 

[Estarossa]

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10 months later

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​

 

[Kuvello]

Ten Months... Forty-something weeks passed at what seemed to be the blink of an eye. To the Arrancar, the days here seemed to have passed much faster than he would have anticipated, compared to the ever present night that seemed to encompass his stomping ground. To the denizens of District #58, "Asagiri" as he had become known as, had managed to gather very little intel about the inner workings of the Seireitei, save for the flux's in spiritual pressure that would radiate outward. Much to his surprise, not a single Shinigami would have come to investigate the steady signature of hollow reiatsu.

Though to say the reiatsu that was radiating from the Rukongai was "Asagiri's" would be a fallacy. In fact, even before he opened the garganta his spiritual presence had been withdrawn to the point that he was practically invisible. The surrogate Shinigami acted as a beacon, taking in everything, in terms of reiatsu, and what little information he could gather from the locals. Much to his own surprise the citizens of Rukongai possessed a hatred for the Shinigami that rivaled in comparison to the Hollow as a race, if only he were able to meet with promising individuals of whom he could potentially sway to joining his cause.

"Yo! Asagiri! Headed back into the woods again today? Takayama is looking to people to play a game!"
Turning to face the rugged dressed boy, of whom Kuvello had come to know as Saito. The arrancar dressed in a shuhakusho would smile as he nodded to the boy's question.

"That's right, I'm still waiting to hear from my friends, to see if they'll be joining us, or if they need me to return."

---

---

As if by clock-work, every day during this Ten Month "Excursion" as he had come to call it, the Arrancar would have made a daily trip into the woods to not only make sure his clothes hadn't been discovered, but to also meet with one of his associates who took the time out of their duties to relay messages to and from Hueco Mundo. The initial idea was for the portals he had partitioned in both World of the Living, in Hueco Mundo would be distressing enough to get the attention of the Seireitei to shift their attention to Hueco while he and his underlings, former fracción, invaded Rukongai to stir that much more chaos, however no more than a few days in, it seemed that his original plan had fallen apart, as very few individuals came to investigate. From word of mouth, only a handful of Shinigami arrived into the world of living to investigate, and every hollow within La Soberanía was concerned for being the blame for such an elaborate scheme. So much so that even Estarossa himself left to meet with the Shinigami scourge to prove their innocence.

The need for hollows to lick the boot of the Shinigami left a sour taste in Kuvello's mouth, once upon a time the strength of Las Noches was a force to be reckoned with, so much so that the Shinigami took it upon themselves to wipe out the organization all together. Though it seemed that during this whole scheme, another party was taking advantage of the chaos and seeing to their own ideals, as an unknown hollow arrived in Katakura Town. It had been nine and a half months since he closed and ordered the closure of the Garganta and Kūmon (空門, Air Gate; Viz "Sky Ridge") from the worlds. His prowess and leadership had proved their point, but now would be the time to reconvene with his underlings and supporters to begin recruiting. The need for the return of Las Noches was ever apparent, and with it a new regime of leadership.

---

As the Arrancar made his way into the shaded area of the forest, the canopy of the trees casted rays of sunlight through the breaks in the foliage onto the ground beneath. His eyes focused on a area on bark of a tree, as a space-time distortion seemed to cut a polygonal portal into Hueco Mundo. A silhouette of a figure would come into view as Kuvello, or "Asagiri" performed Descorrer (解空デスコレール, Desukorēru; Spanish for "Drawing Back/Opening", Japanese for "Loosed Void") as the portal grew larger now providing a wider angle of the shadow figure of which he would begin speaking to.

"Well it's been a while since you and I last spoke, I take it all is well?"

"Indeed it has been, and it's been eerily quiet, we haven't had any intel from our 'friends' in La Soberanía, and it seems the activity within the Human World has lightened up drastically. Which can either mean Shinigami patrols have increased, or another force within Hueco is emerging, I'll continue to keep you posted mi-lord."

"See to it that you do, I can't imagine I'll be staying here much longer, the reservoir is drying up more and more with each passing d-"

The sound of a twig snapping from behind would cause the arrancar to go silent as his sentence was cut off, and without even bothering to save face, nor giving a chance for the potential intruder to explain themselves, the small garganta would blip out of existence as it became a single black vector then shrank out of sight. Using his sonido, the Arrancar closed the short distance as he found his hands clasping around the curious teen's skull before rotating it a full three-hundred and sixty degree's.

This was not one of the usual kids of whom he hung around with, in fact he did not know the identity of this person, however he could not allow his true identity to be alluded to. Grabbing the corpse by his hair, the arrancar would perform yet another sonido, as his figure vanished all together, only to reappear in a clearing in the distance, of which he would toss the body onto a pile of decaying corpses. Discarding of the bodies like this would no doubt allude to a serial killer, but it would conceal his hollow nature no doubt, and because nobody had found him out yet, it was the perfect plan. How easily it would be to remain off the radar, and how easily it would be to shift the blame onto the neighboring "bandits" should anyone ask of the unfortunate soul's disappearance.

Flashing back to the tree line, the "Shinigami's" figure would flicker back into existence as he began to run back toward the village.

"Saito! Takayama! I'm back, from my meeting with the Captain! Looks like I'll be sticking around for a little while longer~"​

---

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[Kuu]

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Four had been moving for weeks on end, never stopping in its search for strange, weird, bad things to report back to Shibuya. It doesn't know what a hollow is, really, only able to vye for the vague feeling of understanding it received from its master.

It was enough, though, for it to finally find a strange, strange, straaaaaange boy. Dressed as a Shinigami, yet feels nothing like one– feels like nothing at all. Empty, void of anything to make him real aside from the physical form he totes and the voice he lets out toward other boys.
​

"Saito! Takayama! I'm back, from my meeting with the Captain! Looks like I'll be sticking around for a little while longer~"​

Captain? That's not right, not at all. Four trails him, flattened along each surface it transfers to. Should the Not Shinigami stop, it will follow suit, appearing as nothing more than a splattering of ink in the shape of a Centipede. Whether he can sense it or not is questionable, as it is unaware of anything about this person beyond his appearance and the nothingness he is.​

---

​

 

[Kuvello]

​

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Walking down the worn path from his 're-manifestation', Kuvello would look toward the village, his emerald eyes shifting in their sockets as he felt an uneasiness. In all of his time spent in these 10 months, the fluctuations of reiatsu from shinigami had been felt and cataloged based on threat potential. Though with no face nor name to match to said reiatsu signatures, the point of categorizing each individual was a fruitless venture. This time however was different.

This time, the uneasiness originated from the hollow's own paranoia. The feeling of being watched, he had just dispatched of a unknowing spy, only moments ago, and now the familiar sensation was upon him again. 'Asagiri' would feel a faint pressure from the ground near him, however the interloper would make no gestures or glances toward the inkling of spiritual pressure, rather the details that came with it would be noted within his mind.

Continuing his way, the arrancar's attention would begin to fragment, allowing an allotment for keeping tabs on the spiritual pressure as it would undoubtably follow him, small and tingly in nature. One could describe it like that of a crawling insect. No doubt a well thought out tactic, should the Arrancar's own reikaku and paranoia have not been dialed to the maximum that they were. Had it been anyone less aware, such a minor detail could've gone unchecked, however such tasks were not affordable to the former Espada.

As he made his way through the village gate, the visage of the 'shinigami' would disappear, as he moved fast and silently, the final stroke of relay the tracking spiritual pressure would see before being reduced to dust. In the movement of his sonido, the arrancar would dial into the centipede's location as he both identified and caught the insect midstride as the boy fired off a concentrated bala from his fingertip, reducing the area in which the black spot occupied, into a crater roughly the side of the boy's own head in circumference.

With this rather flashy and explosive display, the humanoid hollow would raise his gaze only to find himself having captured the attention of nearly everyone within his immediate surroundings. If the boy possessed a heart, the sound of it's palpitations would undoubtably flood his ears. A wave of ice would run down his spine, as if he was plunged into a spotlight. He would no longer be able to remain here, such was too much of a risk, if not for the tracker, but for word to get around of his sudden arrival and disappearance.

It was time.

The charade was over.

"Asagi-"

End the Facade

Before Saito was able to finish acknowledging him, the Arrancar moved toward the boy gripping the cheeks and jaw of the boy's skull, the grip of Kuvello dislocating and subsequently breaking the jaw of the boy his voice became muffled and then silenced in the same instance as Kuvello held the boy's limp body up, Saito having lost consciousness due to the sudden pain that inflicted him.

Dropping the boy's body, the Arrancar's eyes would widen as a twisted maniacal smile began to slowly etch it's way across his lips. The nagging hunger in the back of his mind had been chomping at the bit all of these Ten Months, and while he had gone for much longer without hunting or killing anyone, to be within the company of the denizens of Rukongai was equivalent to torture, such easy pickings, and yet he had to blend in.

No longer was such things necessary, no longer did he need to save face.

The tension in the air became palpable, as the fear of the on-lookers became realized.

In a flash, the Hollow vanished; the next second, blood curdling screams began.

Making use of his unusual zanpakuto, Kuvello would begin the final phase of his invasion:

The Erasure

Like that of a Master Angler, the Arrancar would begin casting his tackle forward, allowing the barbed hook of his zanpakuto to penetrate multiple citizens at once, effectively shish-ka-bobbing each and every soul his zanpakuto came across, before draining them of any reiryoku they may've possessed before rendering them into orbs, of which would remain clung to the barbed hook until plucked off by Kuvello. With each dozen souls lost, a madness within Kuvello would become more and more apparent, as the animalistic tendencies of the arrancar began to return to him once more.

Casually tossing the orb of harvested reiryoku, the Arrancar would gaze down upon his work, his white attire now cladded upon his figure, the entirety of a village slaughtered in no more than a brief moment, the ground soaked in blood, truly a diabolical sight, but such was a sight that entrusted his security. Clenching the orb of captured Reiryoku through the unique use, and skill of his zanpakuto, the Arrancar would begin to bite into the purple hued orb as his hunger became satiated, and his strength restored as he began to lick his lips, the taste was tart, as his mouth began to contort.

"Itadakimasu~"

​

---

Before shoving the final portion of the orb into his mouth, the Arrancar would tap the air next to him as he waved to the vacant destruction that he left behind him.

---Returning to Hueco Mundo---​

 

[admins]

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1 Year and Six Months Later

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[Jushiro Izanagi]

The trip to the Rukongai districts felt like an age but Izanagi made good time. His day so far was an odd one, the sudden meeting between himself and captain Date. In addition to this a few spectators were present. Izanagi did not mind such things, it was normal for others to be drawn to him. Even without realising it themselves, he was just a magnet. Here he is now on a mission, he travelled with such speed and purpose, that the towns folk could not catch a proper glimpse. Not only that but he was being careful to avoid being seen, not to mention his destination was a place of seclusion. Far out into the woods, where only the vile criminals and dangerous would dare to traverse. It was perfect for the Captain, since he spent some time preparing the place. He had a little shack, one capable of housing him, while providing certain amenities.

The area around where Izanagi would come to stay, was surrounded by trees and bamboo copse, wildlife thrived in such a place. It was peaceful, and the air felt untainted. Not too far around from his lodgings was a spring that would provide him with running water and other things. A hot spring was present in the area, one that will surely prove to be useful at some point. He had food, clothing and toiletries as proof that he intended on spending a little bit of time in the area. The masked one touched down, taking note of his surroundings. During his journey he made sure to scan the area far and wide. Thus far, he sensed no one or anything that could pose a threat to him. Still, he would remain vigilant, this way an uninvited guest wouldn’t get the drop on him.

Here he was now at his destination, he stood outside his lodgings, one that was one story tall, twenty feet long and wide. A bit cramped compared to what he’s used to, and at the same time it was plenty. Izanagi entered, opening up the windows, one of each side of the lodgings. Fresh air entered the space and in time the musty smell would fully escape. In the meantime though, he began to unpack a few things in an effort to make himself a little more comfortable. His bed was made for when he needed it. Izanagi decided to take a moment and sit in the doorway while contemplating a few things. He had given a warning to Kazuki in hopes that his Lieutenant would surprise him. The masked one still couldn’t shake the feeling that something might be brewing. The stillness of the hollows bothered him, especially with that Estarossa suddenly going inactive. There were no sightings of him in Naruki city or Karakura town for that matter.

Then there was the current state of the Seireitei that was in a predicament of its own. These were all things which plagued the mind of the captain. And while he was sitting there being plagued, he was multitasking but failing. After sitting down and contemplating, his Reiryoku went to work, lending itself to the demon arts. Izanagi being a master of the arts, he is capable of utilising kido in ways that many could ever dream of. One such way was by using his whole body as a medium, and not just his hands. He is capable of releasing kido through his legs and just about any other area of his body. What he was trying to accomplish was something more. This would require a great deal of focus for the man. What Izanagi found himself working on was something he discovered well over a year ago. He came into the knowledge of it all and decided to research it even further. He was like a dog with a bone, dedicating himself to his studies. He consumed all the knowledge in regards to the theory portion of it all. The time had come for him to do the practical portion and marry the two together.

Izanagi wasn’t expecting this to be easy but it will surely be worth it.

 

[Estarossa]

From Northwest Seireitei: Third Division Barracks

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Taro arrives at the supposed barren wasteland in the Southern Rukongai’s Seventy-Ninth District, Tenki. Upon his arrival the Vassals of the Date Clan were finishing their preparations to make use of Date Bakudo #15. Tengoku no mōsō. A man approaches Taro, kneeling before him and keeping his eyes locked onto the ground.

”Date-sama, Preparations are nearly complete, the last few Vassals are getting into place now for the spell. Once you cross our threshold we shall cast the spell. If I may be so bold as to ask, who will be running security for us while we focus on the barrier?”

”My Lieutenant, Yūrei Tsukikage. He should be arriving shortly. Since this is Clan business I’m certain he won’t hesitate to kill any filth that strays too close, not that he needs a reason to do that. What about the balance of souls, what does that look like?”

”My lord, we can, at absolute most, dispose of around 300 souls without affecting the balance. Being slain by us will throw them back into the cycle of reincarnation, so ultimately things should be fine.”

Very well, have the additional Vassals within the barrier and are ready to slay a total of 250 souls. That should be enough to dwindle the populace or at least get the point across. After which, we burn this place and leave nothing.”

The Vassal nods his head and Taro walks past him. Knowing that his Lieutenant would be the one guarding them they could focus all their attention on the barrier. This spell, when channeled by an individual is reasonably strong, enough to stop mid level Kido or maybe a Cero from a weaker Arrancar, but it is not a spell meant to be cast by an individual. This spell was designed for a combined group incantation to obscure a location from sight and sense. It is made to keep things out as opposed to in and with so many Vassal’s surrounding the district to cast it the barrier becomes nigh-unbreakable, the only exception being to kill the ones conjuring it. This is where Yūrei comes in, as a Lieutenant to Taro and as someone whose family is affiliated with the Date clan he is more than fit for the task of playing gate guard, a role that will not go to waste today because Taro fully expects a visitor or two. Once the Captain has passed the line of Vassal’s they begin chanting in unison and a pitch black dome begins to form over the entire Seventy Ninth, Southern District…

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The Date

The Date clan has existed for as long as the Great Noble Clans, or at least seemingly so. They have been in their shadow for eons, existing as their executioners, assassins, and doing what must be done for the sake of the Soul Society above all else. Because of this the Date act as balancers for the Soul Society specifically, to maintain the status quo. They never step out into the open, always living and acting in secret and in the shadow’s. The Date acted as the spearhead when the Great Nobles marched upon the Royal Palace to Divide the Soul King. It was the Date who made sure any loose ends were taken care of to ensure the truth of the Soul King was kept secret, only accessible through deep recorded research. It was the Date who were called upon by the Tsunayashiro and Shihōin clans to aid in the Kuchiki massacre centuries ago. And it was the Date that dwindled the number of Shiba, down to only two. However, that most recent atrocity was done under their own discretion, although Central Forty-Six asked the Date to handle it, the clan already made preparations to do so for one simple reason, the Soul Society is dying.

It is a figure of speech to say that the Soul Society is dying. From the Great Nobles becoming drunk from their power on Central Forty-Six and causing the Great Degradation, which in turn lead to unrest in the Rukongai, creating rebels against the Gotei Thirteen, which then lead to a Civil War within the Gotei Thirteen itself. The full might of the Gotei Thirteen was decimated and a gaping wound was left that continues to bleed to this day, slowly killing the Soul Society. Captain’s rising, then falling, getting sick and having to abandon their post, the constant in fighting that resulted in the death of many Shinigami and staple members of the Gotei Thirteen. Should a hostile force invade the Gotei may not survive to see another day. But that is why the Shadow of the Date is being cast over the Seireitei and Soul Society, to stagnate the bleeding and seal the wound. Taro talks with authority and a sense of being higher than others because he is not acting as a Captain, he is acting under Noble Authority. It is that same authority that has brought him to the Rukongai to deal with a final loose end of the great degradation, the last scrap of rebellion in the Rukongai, the last vestigial flame that could spark another rebellion…

---

Inside the dome the sun up above looks like it is shining through tinted glass, enough to illuminate the space within the dome but not enough to snuff it out, this is by design. As Taro walks a woman appears to greet him, she bows, speaks his name respectfully only for his hand to reach out in an attempt to grab her throat. Her form collapses like wisps of smoke only to appear a few paces behind him, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

”An illusion, how quaint. Not only are you rats, hiding from the eyes of the Seireitei but you have a traitor in your midst as well.”

”Please, Captain Date, understand that we are doing this for-”

”So you have an informant on the inside as well, most likely affiliated with the Third Division. Considering you know my name, I haven’t done anything noteworthy to be known out here by anyone.”

The illusion shifts, Taro is now in a small room with a table and two chairs, the woman being on the other side of the table from Taro.

”You should have a seat.”

”And you should prioritize your safety.”

The woman raises an eyebrow and her form collapses into a wisp of smoke yet again as Taro’s Reiatsu rains down.

The Collapse of a Lie

”A battle of Shinigami is a battle of Reiatsu, I’ll just crush your illusion into dust before reducing you into nothing.”

Taro’s Reiatsu filled the room, the structure around him fading away bit by bit and eventually the ground at his feet began to change, what was once dirt and gravel started to turn into tile, a sight unseen this far out in the Rukongai. Then, very quickly, his Reiatsu washes over the entire district, unveiling a place full of life and well constructed buildings. For centuries this rogue Shinigami has hidden it from view, allowing this place to grow and prosper in silence and unseen. Considering Taro was able to do this with such ease means that the Shinigami here must be at most Spirit Grade 4. The citizens of this district hide in the buildings, watching from windows as Taro and the rogue Shinigami stand in the middle of the tiled street. The rogue Shinigami is an older gentleman, old enough to have seen a lot and know equally as much. Someone wise enough to even give Otokogi pause in his actions and make him think. He was a survivor of the Unhallowed wars, seeking asylum away from the Gotei 13 to avoid any more fighting as he saw much strife taking place in the Rukongai and so he became a leader, a beacon of hope. With his Zanpakuto he casted an illusion over the district and using what contacts he had left in the Seireitei he slowly built the district up, in secret. In truth it was this man who pointed Otokogi in the direction of the Shiba and it was this man who is the reason for their first culling.

As of right now none of that matters, the veil is lifted and now he is faced with Taro, a man who has no ounce of sympathy in his bones. With all this commotion going on, on the inside the outside world is none the wiser thanks to the barrier. The only way someone would be able to notice what is happening is only if they physically saw it, but with Lieutenant Tsukikage on duty they won’t get very far. Back on the inside Taro approaches the aged Shinigami who makes use of low level Hado, namely Shakkahō, to slow the Captain, who only holds up his arm to cover his face from the smoke that rises from each explosion. The rogue fires a blast into the ground to kick up more dust, smoke, and debris thinking it would be enough for him to close the distance and use his Zanpakuto specifically on Taro. Should he impale the captain he would be able to warp the world around him specifically with illusion. So the blade pierces through the smoke and finds no purchase with its attempted strike, merely wafting through the air at nothing. The rogue turns to defend himself only for Taro to grab his wrist, break it and proceed to lift and throw him into the ground, knocking the air from his lungs.

”I am about tired of running around, tying up old loose ends from the Civil War and other unfortunate events that preceded it, with you being among the oldest. Given your age you must have served in the Unhallowed War then became a deserter shortly after that. Hiding here, hiding shit in a golden toilet, how utterly foul.”

Taro looks around at the buildings, this “golden toilet” as he put it is about as accurate as he can get in describing it. Such beautiful and well maintained buildings hiding out here on the outskirts of the Seventy Ninth District, harboring souls who would probably kill each other for a single sandal to put on their feet. He places a foot on the chest of the rogue and calls out to his Vassals who were lying in wait for the illusion to be broken.

”Vassals, proceed with the purge. 250 souls, do not discriminate on who is purged.”

”No!”

The old man shouts, swinging his Zanpakuto that is caught by the Captain’s hand. With a grasp that could turn coal to diamond the Zanpakuto is well and truly stuck in the hand of Taro Date who watches on as the Citizens on Tenki run about, screaming, trying to hide only to be cut down in the street, between buildings or even in their very homes. The rogue tries to free his Zanpakuto from the grasp of Captain Date and readies himself to use another Hado, but the foot on his chest adds a bit more pressure, enough to crack his ribs and sternum immediately halting all thoughts of a counter offensive as he screams out in pain.

”You idiots of the Rukongai forget what this place is, what its function is. This is merely a waiting room for reincarnation. We either let it happen naturally or we can speed up the process. You dirt mongers get so upset with protecting things that are nothing more than assets to the grand design of our worlds. Fighting to protect scraps on the plate that are better left to the hogs. If it isn't the Cogs making a fuss or causing trouble it's filthy Vermin like you who want to reignite long dead sparks.”

Taro removes his foot from the man’s chest then reaches down to grab his wrist. It looks like he applies only the slightest bit of pressure which causes it to make a horrid pop then crunching sound. The wrist was not merely broken, it was reduced to fragments that even the best medics would struggle to repair. This action elicits more screams but also makes the man drop his Zanpakuto. Taro removes the scabbard from his victim and sheaths the blade, holding it out for a Vassal to collect, which is done promptly.

”This is a sacred tool, not fit for scum like you to swing about so haphazardly without form or purpose. Now, as we turn Tenki to ruin, your body shall remain here, broken and shattered as a reminder to all who try to go against the Seireitei, and against the Nobility who helped bring structure to the world you live in. You will pay homage with your flesh.”

As the carnage unfolds around them, citizens of Tenki being slain, Taro reaches down and grabs the man by his shin, raising him and quickly flinging his body backwards as if he were nothing but a pair of nunchucks, the rogue’s head is caught between the Captain’s elbow and torso. Captain Date adjusts his body, inhaling softly as he opens his eyes to reveal his evil green eyes.

”Obladi Oblada naniyorina no wa buji ga ichiban”
Obladi Oblada means “Life goes on”. Japanese text translation: ”It's best to prioritize safety”

Taro then performs the Zanjutsu technique known as Ryōdan with a human body. The Rogue is slammed into the ground, a small explosion erupting in front of Taro as the body makes contact with the ground, dust and debris flying up into the air. As the dust settled the body was not recognizable, it sat in a crater filled by its own blood. The Captain looks at his handiwork then up to the carnage his Vassal’s are creating as he places his hands behind his back to watch the Date Clan purge traitors.

To the rest of the Soul Society no one would notice the spiritual signatures of so many souls vanishing thanks to the barrier. And when the barrier falls it will still be none the wiser as it will seem as if nothing changed, nothing more but a passing breeze in time.

---

​

 

[Itami]

From Northwest Seireitei: Third Division Barracks

Another blur of form, Yurei shifting into view midair. His body is in the same posture as always. His back is to Captain Date by twenty or so feet, Enough to acknowledge orders but be out of earshot from anything Captain Date doesn't want Yurei to hear. Yurei's eyes scanned the horizon and the small cracks in the Rukongai. The Tenth Division didn't seem like the type to let things go, so he turned to watch and see if they would be followed or left alone. Tilting his head slightly, Taro Date's way when he heard his name spoken; ”My Lieutenant, Yūrei Tsukikage. He should be arriving shortly. Since this is Clan business I’m certain he won’t hesitate to kill any filth that strays too close." This was all Yurei needed to hear before his form once more shifted in a blur of Shunpo.

Yurei's form would appear sixty more feet away from the Date's business, His sense was good enough to detect anyone coming to investigate out of normal means, but he understood Captain Date enough to know that nothing else mattered except the success of said business.

Taking a side stance in the direction they came, Yurei would look down at the barrier being formed. Taking his left hand and reaching for his shirt, Yurei would grab it and twist the fabric around his fingers and into a balled fist, pulling it the cloth gave way instantly, ripping to shreds and falling from his torso. This revealed a hardened and toned muscle mass.

Taking a breath in, Yurei would then fully draw his zanpakuto, holding it out his controlled reiatsu would wake from its slumber. A powerful indigo flaked with specs of silver consumed Yurei's body and Zanpakuto. His deep voice seldom heard would then over the skyline hold out his Zanpakuto in a reversed grip and whisper the words; “Kage o dake, Kagehime.”(Embrace the shadows, Shadow Princess)

With the command to his Shikai spoken, Kagehime would explode with the rushing force of a geyser, pushing into the sky like starlight. Yurei held his sheath in his left hand and his Zanpakuto with a jagged and shark tooth edge in his right hand. Yurei himself would suddenly feel cold hands gently pressing on his neck and face, each hand of this sudden specter of reiatsu now visible, her hands caressing the parts of Yurei's face that were deeply scared.

Yurei's breath was now visible like the atmosphere was now colder. The Rukongai residents that weren't in the barrier, would now be backing away from the location post haste. The pressure Yurei exerted on them would break them mentally. Each burst of Yurei's now Shikai enhanced Shunpo, to a corner or bend around the barrier, resulted in small casualties of those who became too paralyzed with fear or phantom pains to move from Yurei's path.

Location: Southern Rukongai Seventy-Ninth District: Tenki
Posting Order: Tarō Date → Yūrei Tsukikage →

​

 

[Jushiro Izanagi]

Izanagi continued to use the stillness of his surroundings to keep him focused on the task at hand. Kido energy flowed throughout his body, filling his arms, legs, torso and other areas. Unlike the usual dispersing or release of kido energy that he is used to. What he was attempting to accomplish would require him to maintain it. Simply shooting it from his fingertips, palms or legs was a far cry from the kind of mastery he wanted to achieve. Nevertheless though, he wasn’t about to slow down because it was proving difficult. The masked one stood up and after taking a few steps he found himself several feet away from his lodgings. His Zanpakuto on his left hip as he stood there contemplating the different ways in which to achieve what he wanted.

The captain closed his eyes, breathing in and out in a steady rhythm. If he were to think back on what tended to happen when faced with adversity. He didn’t simply think his way out of it, there was usually a combination of thought and physical actions. Perhaps he wasn’t going to reach his desired goal by standing still and hoping for the best. His body and muscles needed to be stimulated while his brain was being fully engaged. “Earlier you forced me to exchange pleasantries with that bitch. Even worse, it was a pointless exchange, one that I would’ve preferred you avoided”. A woman’s voice could be heard and her words directed at the captain. His voice sounded sweet but danger lurked within her tone.

Manifesting opposite Jushiro Izanagi was a woman who stood no more than five feet seven inches tall. She has long beautiful raven coloured hair, sporting a blue kimono being held in place with red material that is wrapped around her waist. Notably the left side of her face is badly burned, so much so that her skeletal structure can be seen. Meanwhile the right side of her face remains untouched with blue eyes appearing both ghastly and yet alluring. She stood with a red umbrella opened above her head while casually resting on her left shoulder. “It's been a while since I visited you like this. We usually converse in the inner and not so much in your realm”. Her digits tapped against the umbrella as she stood there staring at her Shinigami.

Jushiro straightened up, his eyes now opened as one side of his mask dissolved revealing only half of his face. His golden coloured eyes staring back at his Zanpakuto spirit. “I would prefer not to discuss what happened earlier in the day. It was all round weird and a little unexpected. To think you’d appear to me like this, you missed me?”. He inquired with a smile and flirtatious grin.

“Don't be ridiculous. How can I miss someone I gotta put up with everyday? I simply grew tired of watching you fail over and over again. It's honestly painful and heart breaking to sit back and watch. That and I don’t think you have the right level of motivation when it comes down to it. Your life isn’t on the line and you haven’t been backed into a corner just yet. That is also part of the reason that I’m here”. The umbrella twirled as she spoke while hinting at her intentions. As much as she aims to protect her Shinigami, Kisshouten can be a savage when it comes to helping Izanagi. She wasn’t above making his life difficult in order for him to be all the better for it.

“No need to be like that, I thought we liked each other? Why else would I even bother putting up with you?”. Izanagi was playful as he spoke but also knew that Kisshouten appearing to him like this was for a specific reason. “Ever the joker I see, let's see who has the last laugh shall we?”. Kisshouten’s words caused him to change his posture while taking care to shift his weight in preparation. The umbrella twirled no longer as she brought it down in front of her. And as it came down it morphed itself into Kisshouten’s Shikai form, a clear sign that she meant business. The tip of the blade pointing towards the ground while being held in her right hand. Seeing his Shikai in the hands of another always gave him a new perspective. A new found appreciation for his Zanpakuto.

“I wonder if you’ll prove yourself worthy one more time”.