Southwest Seireitei

[admins]

Listen While You Read

As Vice-Captain Aoji laid out his ill-advised justifications for his criminal actions, Chōko’s expression grew angrier by the declaration. To accuse a Great Noble House of such stature with the crime of inter-racial fraternization, all with nothing more than hearsay was simply preposterous; infuriating; unforgivable.

“Little girl?” she chuckled, speaking under her breath. She let the old man speak his falsehoods, listening intently at his every misguided and despicable word. When he spoke to her Clan’s choice to stand on the sidelines while the Tsunayashiro and the Shihōin were left unchecked, it struck a chord with her, visible to the Old Man. Where pure anger existed, was now injected with a hefty dose of guilt.

When he finished threatening, she stood in silence, her piercing brown eyes glaring at her enemy.

She gave out a frustrated laugh, and declared, “...unbelievable. I can’t believe I respected you. Of all people…” she shook her head in disbelief. “...you know nothing! You’re just an old fool following the breadcrumbs laid out for you like a blind dog salivating at the faintest trail. Vizards?! What Vizards?!” she said in a manner to suggest the Old Man look around his environment. Whether he believed it or not, every fiber of her being, even her spiritual pressure, spoke of a sincere heart. “I know nothing of them! Maybe you should ask those whose duty it is to record the Soul Society’s history!”

Her nostrils flared.

“Did it ever cross your mind that those sniveling Tsunayashiro and Shihōin were the ones misdirecting you? Trying to pin their atrocious acts upon me and my family? None of my kin would ever fall so low as to fraternize with Hollows, never in a million lifetimes!”

Her teeth clenched tight with anger. “I fucking hate the Tsunayashiro and the Shihōin! They’re a blight on the Soul Society, on the Seireitei, on us all! I wish I could rid this place of their disease…but I cannot, the Shiba cannot; with the Kuchiki nearly extinct at the hands of these very same, we had no choice but to do nothing, because we could do nothing.”

She shook her head again with intense anger and disappointment. “I can’t believe you would fall so short of your reputation; it does not precede you, Gentle Breeze, not in the slightest. Now I see Captain Shihaimono’s cause to be true, the Seireitei truly needs purging…”

Holding her Zanpakuto before her by the saya, she unsheathed its shining edge.

“...of Shinigami like you. May the spirit of Daiken (Daiken Shiba, First of his Name) lay witness to my Oath: Vice-Captain Aoji, I will take your life for the crimes against my family.”​

 

[Adonai]

---

The Conversation Continues

“...unbelievable. I can’t believe I respected you. Of all people… you know nothing! You’re just an old fool following the breadcrumbs laid out for you like a blind dog salivating at the faintest trail. Vizards?! What Vizards?!”

Otokogi does not respond, he lets the woman vent, allows her a moment to vent her frustrations and emotions in full without interruption. With his blade in his right hand he uses his left hand to stroke his beard as he listens to her, she spoke genuinely and honestly, this much he could surmise. He continued to listen, unmoved by these outburst of emotions.

“I know nothing of them! Maybe you should ask those whose duty it is to record the Soul Society’s history!”

He would be doing no such thing, those in power are already at the highest peak of said power, they control the Soul Society, so they believe, they are the authority that no one can question. If they wanted to create Vizards they possibly would have done so already, they have the history to read over to figure out how. Their pride, however, would not let them taint their noble blood with such foul power. It is this line of thought that makes Otokogi wonder how much does this woman know about her own clan and the people in it.

“Did it ever cross your mind that those sniveling Tsunayashiro and Shihōin were the ones misdirecting you? Trying to pin their atrocious acts upon me and my family? None of my kin would ever fall so low as to fraternize with Hollows, never in a million lifetimes!”

Her immaturity begins to show, holding such strong beliefs that no one in her family would seek to obtain power, that someone outside of herself would make a deal with the devil to restore the Shiba. Worst case scenario, what if her entire clan plotted on her downfall? Removing an idle leader in exchange for one that is progressive and makes moves for change, one that was promised to obtain higher powers to allow the Shiba to rise up once again. Tenki (天気, heaven) is a place that exists off the record, it is a barren district for all the rest of Soul Society knows which allows it to remain secret and allows it access to the secrets of others. A hub of information is what it is where the coin of nobility holds little value, a person's word means much more. That being said, the influence of the Tsunayashiro and Shihōin holds no power there, not to mention it is their actions that have ravaged the Rukongai to begin with. Their reputation would unravel and be destroyed should the Rukongai find out Tenki is siding with nobles.

“I fucking hate the Tsunayashiro and the Shihōin! They’re a blight on the Soul Society, on the Seireitei, on us all! I wish I could rid this place of their disease…but I cannot, the Shiba cannot; with the Kuchiki nearly extinct at the hands of these very same, we had no choice but to do nothing, because we could do nothing.”

An excuse, had his words fallen on deaf ears? Again her immaturity shows, blinded by her station as head of a great noble clan could she not see or realize people were against their takeover? There was always a choice and they chose to do nothing. Doing nothing and living in silence is an easier pill to swallow than the other chance of facing complete annihilation. He shakes his head and continues to stroke his beard in silence, before him stands a leader too scared of making choices until they are forced too. Now she chooses to stand, now she chooses to fight because she is left with no other choice. It’s an ironic situation because the Rukongai reacted in the same way, mistreatment backed them into a corner until they had no choice but to push back against their protestors with riots… But at least they did something.

“I can’t believe you would fall so short of your reputation; it does not precede you, Gentle Breeze, not in the slightest. Now I see Captain Shihaimono’s cause to be true, the Seireitei truly needs purging… of Shinigami like you. May the spirit of Daiken (Daiken Shiba, First of his Name) lay witness to my Oath: Vice-Captain Aoji, I will take your life for the crimes against my family.”

An Attempt At Reasoning

”Put your sword away you ignorant woman. Throwing your life away by fighting me is not the way you should die. The only mistake I made here today is assuming that you, Chōko Shiba, were my target, my enemy.”

He looks around the room for a moment then back to the Shiba head.

”My information source is never wrong, how they feed me the info, however, may be questionable. Had you not thought that maybe someone right under your nose was conspiring against you? That, maybe, they were sick of how you did things and wanted to change it? Someone promising them power or rather helping said someone with their experiments to acquire said power. It’s understandable for you to not take stock of who allies with you within your own clan because they are family, they would never turn their blades against you or one another. Look no further than the Kuchiki who plot each other's deaths daily and possibly slay one another under cloak and dagger to get closer to becoming the head of the clan. To think yours wouldn’t be possible of that reveals to me that you are immature indeed.”

Otokogi sheaths his blade and turns his back to her to exit the room, but stops in the doorway.

”Young lady, you have a good heart, one that is unseen in nobility. Guard that heart, do not succumb to the same wickedness as the other three. If you still believe me to be wrong or misinformed then feel free to attack me, but know, I will not allow myself to die so easily.”

His ears perk up almost as if something caught his attention, it was the spell Tenteikūra.

"This is Vice Captain Fuyuko Munetoshi!

The Captain Commander has been defeated!

Many of the captains that have sided with him are dead or soon to be! All Shinigami are ordered to stand down! No more blood is to be spilled!

Any available members of the Fourth squad is requested to give medical aid to those upon Sōkyoku Hill Top Priority to the Commander and one other!"

On a mission of his own Otokogi had ignored this entire civil war which he assumed was nothing more than a smoke screen for the real pressing matters. Someone else is running about promising power to people and having them turn against their masters for said power. That young man who helped lift the wall earlier, before he vanished into thin air he mentioned a name. He was brief and to the point about it.

”Secure the Kakaku Taihō. Stop Hashimoto… The Captain of Fifth Division? What would he… It’s making sense now. I believe I know who may have been using your people, Shiba-san, the Captain of Fifth Division, but until I myself know more I cannot say for sure.”

He takes another step and vanishes from sight, provided Chōko allows him to leave unimpeded. Upon arriving outside he spots the Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Arisu Nakazawa speaking with Hachi and the other individual who arrived with Kasuka. Still some distance away and not entirely out in the open he hides behind rubble to wait and listen to see how things play out between them instead of jumping into the mix right away. Another thing on his mind is what the hell actually happened to Kasuka and how did he vanish so quickly without no one noticing?

---

​

---

---

 

[admins]

“Captain Hashimoto…?” she repeated after the Old Man, eyes blinking out in thought. “...using my people? B-bu-but wha-, for what?” Like a lightbulb, light returned to her face, eyes widened. “Vizards!?”

The metaphorical life drains from her existence as she lowers her Zanpakuto, slumping over, her visage falling to shadows. Anger-filled whimpers emanate from the black that covers her expression, resounding across the room as Vice-Captain Aoji departs uninterrupted. The thought of betrayal from within her kin left her defeated, and if true, it would spell the end of their Clan.

A hell butterfly manifested upon her shoulder, and as it fluttered away, the Head of the Shiba uttered…

“...where are you, Densagi…?”
​

---

“You’re killin’ me Hachi!” the Captain replied in a high-pitched, cracking voice. He started tapping at his temples rapidly to support his point. “Brotha’, that’s precisely why you’ve gotta use this,” he then pointed at his own heart. “And not this. I know, man, I know who you are deep down, and I get it, I used to be like you, trust.”

He then gestured at the scene around them, the death and blood. “This shit’s unforgivable, you know it, I know it, purple-hair knows it, and most importantly, Central Forty-Six-”

Then, an interruption came suddenly, a second Tenteikūra. Two in a day, man what the hell? With the message finally transmitted, Captain Nakazawa looked down and chuckled. “Man, I don’t even…so that's what Cap' Kusomoto was about. Dumbass...”

He looked up at Hachi, and then Itaku, his words directed at the purple-haired Shinigami, “Yo, you’re his friend right? Slap some sense on him, wouldya?” Eyes meeting Hachi’s, he continued. “I got a lotta respect for ya too, and that’s why ya gotta listen to me. You heard the Vice-Cap', no more blood. So put the damn sword down, and I’m finna take you in. The law’s the law man, and what ya did here, ya gotta deal with the consequences.”

His hand went to rest upon the hilt of his own Zanpakuto, stashed at his side.

“It’s happenin’ one way or another, brotha’.”​

 

[Aqua]

​

"Ahaha, It's Itaku. Itaku Ōhei! Try to remember it this time will ya?!"​

Itaku, eh? Hachi would do his best to remember it. He was somewhat good with names, especially when they were attached to such conniving faces. Still, the man hadn’t done anything to raise alarm as of yet. Meanwhile, Captain Nakazawa Continues.
​

“You’re killin’ me Hachi!”

“Brotha’, that’s precisely why you’ve gotta use this,” he then pointed at his own heart. “And not this. I know, man, I know who you are deep down, and I get it, I used to be like you, trust.”

“This shit’s unforgivable, you know it, I know it, purple-hair knows it, and most importantly, Central Forty-Six-”​

What does he know? How was he before? Was he enslaved and oppressed by the nobles he has jumped in so valiantly to defend? Had they attacked his home time and time again? So recently as of but a few hours ago? Nah.. Hachi didn’t think so. If something is unforgivable in the eyes of Central-46, a conglomerate of nobles with zero representation for the true people that make up Soul Society, then it’s something Hachi is proud of doing. The Captain’s “inspirational” monologue was cut short by another Tenteikura, blaring into their ears.
​

"This is Vice Captain Fuyuko Munetoshi!

The Captain Commander has been defeated!

Many of the captains that have sided with him are dead or soon to be! All Shinigami are ordered to stand down! No more blood is to be spilled!

Any available members of the Fourth squad is requested to give medical aid to those upon Sōkyoku Hill Top Priority to the Commander and one other!”​

The war tries to end in the same way it began, with a broadcast detailing what has transpired and who was on who’s side. While the broadcast was meant to calm the storm, Hachi’s mind begins to race in response. What “side” was Captain Nakazawa on? Hachi vaguely remembers feeling the Captain’s Reiatsu clashing with that of Captain Kusumoto; a signature that has since faded. No fool, Hachi is well aware of what this meant, and well aware of the acts Nakazawa-Taichou had taken part in, which may even surpass that of what Hachi took part in here at the compound. But if that was the case, what was his real reason for trying to bring Hachi in? If the bloodshed had ended? If everyone had come to blows, and if one side had “won”.
​

“Yo, you’re his friend right? Slap some sense on him, wouldya?“ I got a lotta respect for ya too, and that’s why ya gotta listen to me. You heard the Vice-Cap', no more blood. So put the damn sword down, and I’m finna take you in. The law’s the law man, and what ya did here, ya gotta deal with the consequences.”

“It’s happenin’ one way or another, brotha’.”​

Hachi glares intently at the Captain before him, something off about his demeanor, something false about his words. There may be no ill intent behind them, yet they still weren’t sitting right with the 3rd Seated Officer.

“Respect? Consequences?”

He mutters under his breath.

“Did you respect the Gotei 13 when you fought and possibly killed other Shinigami.. A Captain at that? Nah, Nah. Where are the consequences of that? Who gon’ hold you accountable? Lemme guess… you’re absolved, right? What about the others responsible for the other fallen Captains? You gonna ‘take them in’ too? What about the actual cause of all of this? Did the brain in that big-ass head of yours ever think about bringing consequences to whoever started this shit in the first place? Nah.. of course not. You just like them’. Only know how to punch down. You think you’re like me but you’re nothing like me. That makes you a hypocrite man–”

The final word of his monologue drags a bit. Hachi sighs, looking at the environment around them, the debris and dead bodies cluttering the once beautiful courtyard. Itaku is noticed some distance away, almost like a spectator waiting for two people to come to blows for his own enjoyment. Hachi brings the blade of his Zanpakuto to pick at his teeth, loosening any food remnants from between them. The katana then drops to his side, as he begins to contort his wrist, rotating his Zanpakuto in a figure-eight. The wind swells, and the dust kicks up and creates limited visibility within the area once more.

“Face our enemies, Yuushi.”

A large twister consumes the area, its diameter stretching just in front of the Captain’s face. Had he any hair, it would blow indiscriminately in the violent wind. The Captain, however strong, may begin to feel his footing slip, the oppressive gale refusing to be penetrated, pushing against every bystander with all its might. The dead bodies unable to resist find themselves tumbling like wayward stones, clattering against debris that also finds itself cleared from the immediate area. The cleansing of all things within the tornado is only a mere bellwether for what was to come; A catalyst to an event that up until this point, Hachi intended to avoid. The column of wind that spiraled upward toward the heavens for all to see, subsides and disperses into the atmosphere. The eerie howl of the retreating squall screams at each individual in its perceptible range. The dust begins to settle, revealing a silhouetted Hachi eclipsed by a massive tool, swung over his shoulder just as his sealed Zanpakuto had been moments before.

“—And I hate hypocrites’.”

The massive, fan-like bladed axe rests over the shoulder of the violent gale. The crimson-wrapped shaft of the polearm is held firmly, as gathered wind coalesces around the base of the weapon as if waiting to be released. A long, emerald ribbon is tied along the golden ring at the bottom of the weapon, fluttering in the breeze. Was he insane, willing to come to blows with a Captain? This was that stubbornness and pride that was always spoken about when Hachi’s name was floated around the many circles of the Seireitei–his unwillingness to ever stand down in the face of what he stood for. He simply wouldn’t be denied. If Captain Nakazawa wanted to bring Hachi in for his apparent “crimes”, which were no different than what anyone, anywhere, had been committing during this time of chaos here in the Seireitei, he’d have to bring in his corpse. Hachi had already assessed that Itaku wasn’t the type of individual to selflessly put himself on the line for someone he barely knew, and would probably refrain from intervening—but he was open to surprises. Would this Captain, so adamant about using his “heart”, have the heart to kill yet another comrade?

 

[Nobody]

“You’re killin’ me Hachi!”​

Captain Nakazawa seemed intent on trying to get his point across to Hachi who, although much MUCH calmer than he was before, didn't seem the type to mince his words or to easily bend, especially after having already come this far. 'The Captain seems equally stubborn.' I silent spectator Itaku remains mute as he prattles on.
​

“Brotha’, that’s precisely why you’ve gotta use this, And not this."​

As the Captain motions from his head to his heart Itaku found himself actually agreeing with the statement. 'Heh, he actually said something smart. The heart is a powerful tool, but easily swayed. Especially when it comes to love. Its so easy to manipulate people who love others.' The Charmer smiles inwardly, the previous murmuring in his head quieted as he contemplated the Captain's words, and the mantra continues as he keeps his peace...for now. The shades resting on the Captain's face hides his eyes and thus, makes his intentions, and his true heart difficult to read and gauge. No matter, whatever he truly felt would come out one way or another. The man motions to the horrific scene surrounding them, again remniscent of a parent attempting to scold a child on the mess they've made in their absence.
​

“This shit’s unforgivable, you know it, I know it, purple-hair knows it, and most importantly, Central Forty-Six-”​

Itaku's brow lifts when he is mentioned, prompting him to point at himself quizzically only for all their attention to be briefly shifted thanks to the intervention of another voice. 'Tenteikūra...'
​

"This is Vice Captain Fuyuko Munetoshi!

The Captain Commander has been defeated!

Many of the captains that have sided with him are dead or soon to be! All Shinigami are ordered to stand down! No more blood is to be spilled!
Any available members of the Fourth squad is requested to give medical aid to those upon Sōkyoku Hill Top Priority to the Commander and one other!”​

The ending of the transmition brings a chuckle out of Captain Nakazawa...and out of Itaku as well. Strange it was, that even with the broadcast of the conflict beginning, and even now with its end, the Central 46 have been oddly silent. Surely it was NOT in their best interest for the Gotei 13 to slaughter one another almost indiscriminately, even moreso when it seems that those who stood against the status quo and by proxy...them, were the ones to stand victorious. Where were the Onmitsukido? What about the Noble families private military for they certainly existed. However all these things while curious are not why Itaku chuckled. No, what he found hilarious was that this Lieutenant Munetoshi made the announcement of their Commander's defeat and the death of Captains sound...so - so jubilant, and triumphant. 'Heh, are yall that pleased with the successful slaughter of one another. Yes, the heart truly is an amusing little thing.'
​

“Yo, you’re his friend right? Slap some sense on him, wouldya?”​

Again, Itaku is pulled from his thoughts, and...again he points quizzically to himself in response to Captain Nakazawa's words. The Captain tries to disarm Hachi with his words but...his next few words seem contradictory to what he claims Vice Captain Munetoshi requested. 'Odd. From the broadcast it seems they only defeated the Commander and didn't kill them...while they did kill other Captains...or are still actively killing them given how the message was worded. It also doesn't seem as though they've gone to attack Central 46, the true governing body of the rules we're forced to abide by meaning that...despite the blood spilled, if Central 46 doesn't change...nothing changes and the traitors are, by law still traitors.' Something was amiss here. The Captain said the law was still the law so...does that mean this entire thing, while it may have seemed chaotic, disorganized...and spontaneous was actually something sanctioned by the Central 46?
​

“Did you respect the Gotei 13 when you fought and possibly killed other Shinigami.. A Captain at that?"​

Again, the man is pulled from his thoughts, this time by Hachi's voice. As Hachi speaks his words somewhat mirror what Itaku was wondering about just moments ago. If Captain Nakazawa was being honest and genuine, and truly meant his words...then, this meant that what he needed now wasn't to antagonize Hachi, but to try and shift Hachi into an ally to help him take down the legal traitorous Captains. If they were to take the broadcast as true, this meant that he who believed in the letter of the law as a Captain...was now alone and outnumbered against his peers. Itaku's hand comes up to his chin as he tries to think once again. No, they were still missing something. The Vice Captain claimed everything was over but, she was more than likely oblivious and simply followed the whims of whoever it was that had given her this information, undoubtedly a Captain, HER Captain to be specific. A sudden gust of wind sweeps into the compound, dust and debris lifted up and fluttering around, causing Itaku's hair to become disheveled and forcing him to avert his eyes to shield them. The sleeve of his shihakusho was brought up to shield his face, his feet sliding along the ground, the man forced to widen his stance to brace himself. The winds howl as they whirl about frantically before finally, the storm passes, allowing the dust and debris to settle and fall respectively Bringing his sleeve down he gazes towards the stormcaller, Hachi who now stands with odd weapon in hand. 'Is that his shikai?'
​

“—And I hate hypocrites’.”​

Itaku watches as wind gathers and swirls about the strange axe-like fan. Almost mesmerized by the sight before shaking his head.

"Whoa whoa! Hey everyone, lets slow down for just a second!"

Itaku waves his hand as he moves to run between the two individuals. He holds one hand out towards Hachi, and one towards Captain Nakazawa.

"Captain Nakazawa sir, don't you find it strange? With such a huge mess taking place all throughout the Seireitei...where's Central 46? You said the law is the law right? So, with Captains being killed...why have none of us heard a whisper from those who make the laws and thus, judge what is and isn't legal?"

Hachi assesses Itaku to be one above or...below self sacrifice depending on one's perspective, especially for a man who was but a stranger not that long ago. And he is correct in that. Itaku has no dog in this fight, however what he doesn't like is the feeling that even now...he's still a pawn in someone's little game, and Itaku Ōhei was NO ONE'S pawn. He wouldn't be manipulated, for it is he who does the manipulating.

"Hachi, I don't know what your story is or why you feel what you do about nobles, but I do know one thing. The deaths here, and even the death of the Captains who fought to keep things as they were wont change anything. If the Central 46 doesn't change, nothing changes which means...we're missing something. Someone's using us."

He shifts his gaze back to Captain Nakazawa, both hands still up.

"ALL of us. So rather continuing playing at this losing game of theirs...I suggest we flip the board."

His eyes break away to gaze towards where Old man Oto had gone previously. From what Itaku could tell....there wasn't a clashing of reiatsu. Strange, if they weren't fighting, then what was that killing intent he felt earlier? 'Did the old man figure something out? Lets hope he found something that can help.'

 

[Adonai]

---

Oto continued to watch the exchange between Captain Nakazawa and Hachi from a safe distance. The reason he didn’t interfere right away is because he wondered what the Captain had to say and what side of this chaotic mess he stood on. With new information in hand he had to play his cards right, he had to make sure whoever he told about Captain Hashimoto was someone he could trust and not a collaborator of the treacherous Fifth Division captain. The more he listened the more it began to sound like he was just on the side of law and order, odd since there has been no new law or order established considering a civil war just ended, was he truly trying to uphold laws of the old regime? While this was a curious notion to think about, it was irrelevant to the grander scheme of things that was unfolding in the shadows, shadows that are slowly being pierced by light to reveal these schemes.

Seeing Hachi release his Shikai was enough to make the elder realize the situation was reaching a boiling point, he had to act now before the Violent Gale started to fight. Considering the conviction of both these men if Oto tried to stop either one of them if they were in the middle of fighting, one of them would capitalize on that opening to slay the other. Before this even became a possibility he sprung into action, well not exactly sprung as he casually approached the group, clearing his throat to get their attention.

”Ahem! Excuse me, gentlemen, I think we need to take our self righteous acts…”

He glances over at Captain Nakazawa as he says this.

”And our frustrations…

He looks at Hachi this time.

”And direct them at the true enemy who is behind all of this. Captain Hashimoto is the real traitor in our midst. The recent chaos caused by Hollows in the Rukongai and maybe even this civil war, were all distractions from whatever he was truly planning. An elaborate smoke screen, created so we can blindly chase our tails while he is free to do as he pleases. Kasuka, the young man who was here earlier said two things. Secure the Kakaku Taihō. Stop Hashimoto. We can consider the first one completed, yet ironic that our paths converged here. As for the second one… I’m not even sure where to begin on where to look for the Fifth Division Captain.”

Oto began to lay out his theory on how the recent death of the Gate Guardian, the Hollow/Shinigami Reiatsu mix that was reported in the Rukongai, and the information he gained from a source he won’t elaborate on were all connected. Explaining how the Shiba here, excluding their leader, Choko Shiba, were working for Hashimoto in an effort to possibly create Vizard’s. If these theories are correct it would explain the strange hybrid Reiatsu signatures that were reported, that he somehow managed to get close to creating them in some form or another. As he continues talking he references The Mother of Vizards being the only other person who found a way to create them but that is when he stops talking, a cold sweat washing over him as more pieces fall into place. The death of three Captains prior to the start of this war, all within the span of three months. Now this civil war has not only dwindled the Gotei’s fighting force further but forced the Captains and Lieutenants to scatter across the Seireitei, locked in combat with one another.

The old man looks towards Central, his brow furrowing as forehead is dotted with sweat, clenching his fist. During all of this mess, of all the Reiatsu signatures that were flaring up or fading, Hashimoto's was one that was never sensed as if he was never involved in any sort of conflict. He looks towards Captain Nakazawa, a man who seems keen on upholding the laws of the Seireitei and asks him two important questions.

”Captain, when was the last time you saw Hashimoto and who is guarding the Muken if the Commander was on Sōkyoku Hill fighting?”

---

​

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[admins]

Hachi’s glare didn’t sit well with Captain Nakazawa, for it spoke of failure; failure on the part of the Captain to reason with the Third Seat; failure on the part of Hachi to understand the circumstances in which led the two to cross paths. In the end, the Captain allowed Hachi to speak fully, listening to every word, hazel eyes locked onto the Third Seat behind the gray of his shades. Alongside the Third Seat’s declaration of hypocrisy, came the overbearing howl of the Wind.

A twister formed before them all, picking up steam as it expanded, pulling everything in; corpses, dirt, rocks, and even those still breathing. The Violent Gale, as Hachi Ikimaku was known, had finally made his entrance and took center stage. The force of the now spiraling winds that rose to the heavens forced the Captain to concentrate his immense spiritual energy throughout his form, condensing it into a thin yet dense Reiatsu that worked to plant his proverbial feet into the ground so as to defy the Wind-Walker’s forceful gales. Even so, his feet budged forward, quite the feat for the Third Seat. Upon the Captain’s visage was a sour expression, supported by a palpable frustration communicated through his spiritual pressure.

“Cap' Kusumoto jumped me...it’s like talkin’ to a damn wall-”

Before the Captain could continue, the purple-haired Shinigami intervened. The Captain listened to what the boy had to say. The perspective presented made the Captain ponder on the probabilities of such occurrences.

“Hmmm…”

Again, before the Captain could speak up, another player hopped into the arena. This time, someone of great stature and notoriety within the Seireitei as a whole.

“Aww shit, not you too, Vice-Captain Aoji…don’t tell me you took part in this,” the Captain spoke before the Old Man began divulging information, gesturing at the death surrounding them. The Vice-Captain’s declarations forced the Captain’s brows to furrow. Only when the Old Man finished did Captain Nakazawa respond.

“Yea, I haven’t felt Cap’ Hashimoto during all this…yea, that don’t seem right. Somethin’s off. Last time I saw him was, what, a couple month’s ago during the Cap’ meeting we had when the other Cap’s were put down? Never seen him since…Muken, huh? This don’t sound good at all. Even if you're all fuckin' with me, can't take that risk.”

He sighed, visibly perplexed, directing his following words at Hachi, “Put that shit away. We’ll revisit this after I figure this Hashimoto crap out.” He then pointed at Itaku and said, “You’re telling me things,” and then he pointed at the Old Man, “and the Old Man’s telling me something similar. Vice-Captain, I trust you, but if you’re pulling my chain it’s gonna cost ya. And if you had anything to do with this Shiba craziness, you’ll have to answer for it just like Hachi. Don’t try runnin’ to the World of the Living, cause I know every nook and cranny, and I’ll find ya.”

Before he vanished to the iconic sound of Shunpo, the Captain said, “And for the love of the Soul King, stop killin’ everybody.”​

 

[Aqua]

"Whoa whoa! Hey everyone, lets slow down for just a second!"​

The man assumed to be a bystander, seems to have more mettle in this fight than Hachi originally perceived. Yet, instead of possibly helping, he intervenes to stop any potential bloodshed between the Captain and the Third Seated Officer. Hachi, oblivious, fails to show any inclination that he had been perturbed–that his now target was somehow magically safe from the wrath he had yet to incur. His gaze–unrelenting–hardly takes in the sight of Itaku waiving his hands like someone on a tarmac, doing his best to stop things just before they’d gotten started.
​

"Captain Nakazawa sir, don't you find it strange? With such a huge mess taking place all throughout the Seireitei...where's Central 46? You said the law is the law right? So, with Captains being killed...why have none of us heard a whisper from those who make the laws and thus, judge what is and isn't legal?"​

Itaku’s words continue to flow but somewhat fall on deaf ears. Hachi hears, and perceives, but does not bother to comment based on the fact that this information played perfectly into his pre-existing idea of how C46 was structured anyway. They weren’t adjudicators and lawmakers. They were the filthy rich and powerful pulling puppet strings from the shadows, just as they had been doing for hundreds of years. Hachi may have been one of these strings–yes–but at least he was able to get some frustration out while the chaos continued to brew.
​

"Hachi, I don't know what your story is or why you feel what you do about nobles, but I do know one thing. The deaths here, and even the death of the Captains who fought to keep things as they were wont change anything. If the Central 46 doesn't change, nothing changes which means...we're missing something. Someone's using us."
-
"ALL of us. So rather continuing playing at this losing game of theirs...I suggest we flip the board."​

Wouldn’t change anything? It made him feel a little better, at least.. Just what was Itaku suggesting? They take the fight to C46 directly? Who was the target? Like a loaded gun, Hachi seemed primed and ready to be pointed in a direction and simply told to fire, his care of the semantics was far out the window at this point. It wasn’t until The Old Man came back into frame that Hachi’s Reiatsu begins got calm, dwindling down a bit to be nothing more than–ironically–a gentle breeze.
​

"Ahem! Excuse me, gentlemen, I think we need to take our self righteous acts…”

”And direct them at the true enemy who is behind all of this. Captain Hashimoto is the real traitor in our midst. The recent chaos caused by Hollows in the Rukongai and maybe even this civil war, were all distractions from whatever he was truly planning. An elaborate smoke screen, created so we can blindly chase our tails while he is free to do as he pleases. Kasuka, the young man who was here earlier said two things. Secure the Kakaku Taihō. Stop Hashimoto. We can consider the first one completed, yet ironic that our paths converged here. As for the second one… I’m not even sure where to begin on where to look for the Fifth Division Captain.”

”Captain, when was the last time you saw Hashimoto, and who is guarding the Muken if the Commander was on Sōkyoku Hill fighting?”​

The Violent Gale’s demeanor is shifted as he listens intently. The Vice-Captain is someone that he can trust undoubtedly, so it is only natural that amidst all this confusion his words hold the most weight. He raised several questions, questions to which the answers were lost to Hachi. Captain Nakazawa breaks his silence, seemingly taking in all of this as well, information that he hadn’t yet thought of it seemed. He was so adamant about coming here, to the Manor, and stopping “this”, that the bigger picture eluded him. As far as detectives went–if that’s what he was playing as–his skills were lackluster at best. Now, he does his best to arrive late to the crime scenes, pointing fingers at the nearest bystander and proclaiming them a suspect. How typical, perhaps he did deserve an ass-whoopin’ after all.
​

“Yea, I haven’t felt Cap’ Hashimoto during all this…yea, that don’t seem right. Somethin’s off. Last time I saw him was, what, a couple month’s ago during the Cap’ meeting we had when the other Cap’s were put down? Never seen him since…Muken, huh? This don’t sound good at all. Even if you're all fuckin' with me, can't take that risk.”

He sighed, visibly perplexed, directing his following words at Hachi, “Put that shit away. We’ll revisit this after I figure this Hashimoto crap out.” He then pointed at Itaku and said, “You’re telling me things,” and then he pointed at the Old Man, “and the Old Man’s telling me something similar. Vice-Captain, I trust you, but if you’re pulling my chain it’s gonna cost ya. And if you had anything to do with this Shiba craziness, you’ll have to answer for it just like Hachi. Don’t try runnin’ to the World of the Living, cause I know every nook and cranny, and I’ll find ya.”

“And for the love of the Soul King, stop killin’ everybody.”​

Hachi in fact does not put his weapon away. His shikai, a weapon of great comfort, can be kept up just as simply as breathing. And while his rather imposing Reiatsu had subsided, the weapon would stay released. The Captain finds himself running from the fight after being told he would be forced to atone for his own wrongdoings. He vowed to revisit it at another time when it could simply be settled now. Even still, this was a promise that Hachi would not soon forget. To even imply that the man who had already risen to the challenge of facing a Captain whose own power probably far superseded his own, would even consider running–was an insult of the gravest measure. Hachi’s expression becomes one of.. Boredom once more. It seemed that The Old Man had garnered some revelations during his delve into the compound, things Hachi would like shared. But first-

“You ever come between me and a good time again we gonna have problems, I-Ta-Ku’!”

He gestures towards Itaku, flaring his free hand about angrily, almost tantrum-like; his demeanor is reminiscent of a child who’s had his toy taken away. The infliction in his voice emphasizes Itaku’s name, paying homage to their earlier moment where he’d suggested he better not forget it.

“Oto-Sensei- What happened in there, and what’s the move?”

His gaze shifts now, onto the Vice-Captain who he hoped would shed more light on the situation. Better yet, they’d need to do something else besides just stand around these dead bodies.

 

[Nobody]

“Cap' Kusumoto jumped me...it’s like talkin’ to a damn wall-”​

The Captain seemed frustrated and, overly adamant about his innocence if you asked Itaku, as he remains firm in trying to combat the hot headed Hachi with words instead of blade. Itaku's intervention stops the Captain from speaking further as he listens to every word spoken and, for the most part seems to be considering the weight of the Charmer's words...unlike the Violent Gale. 'Damnit, stubborn fool. Doesn't look like he's listening...no, doesn't look like he even cares' He tries to consider his options, on what else to do to get the Third's third seat to stay his blade when a helpful hand should arrive...in the form of s Gentle Breeze. The Captain groans at the Lieutenant's arrival, perceiving the elder to be yet another wild horse on the loose. The Gentle Breeze's words dispel those thoughts.
​

"Ahem! Excuse me, gentlemen, I think we need to take our self righteous acts…”

”And direct them at the true enemy who is behind all of this. Captain Hashimoto is the real traitor in our midst. The recent chaos caused by Hollows in the Rukongai and maybe even this civil war, were all distractions from whatever he was truly planning. An elaborate smoke screen, created so we can blindly chase our tails while he is free to do as he pleases. Kasuka, the young man who was here earlier said two things. Secure the Kakaku Taihō. Stop Hashimoto. We can consider the first one completed, yet ironic that our paths converged here. As for the second one… I’m not even sure where to begin on where to look for the Fifth Division Captain.”
”Captain, when was the last time you saw Hashimoto, and who is guarding the Muken if the Commander was on Sōkyoku Hill fighting?”​

The Elder's return aids Itaku in de-esculating the situation, thankfully too because he had great doubts that Hachi would restrain himself any further had the old man not shown his face. Itaku's hands slowly begin to lower as he listens to the Vice-Captain. Again, Captain Hashimoto is mentioned, yet something else the elder said piqued Itaku's curiosity. 'We can consider the first one completed? Well...I guess in a way, he's correct...'
​

“Yea, I haven’t felt Cap’ Hashimoto during all this…yea, that don’t seem right. Somethin’s off. Last time I saw him was, what, a couple month’s ago during the Cap’ meeting we had when the other Cap’s were put down? Never seen him since…Muken, huh? This don’t sound good at all. Even if you're all fuckin' with me, can't take that risk.”​

Months since Captain Hashimoto's been seen? That was extremely suspect. Even if the Divisions were at odds, did no one question this absence? Or, was it Captain Nakazawa and those he sided with who alone remained in the dark to Hashimoto's whereabouts? Itaku desired answers yet he was continuously given nothing but more questions. Why was Lieutenant Kurokawa killed? That was the only true question he was interested in having answered, the only mystery he cared about. Again, it had nothing to do with loyalty or comradery, he just needed to know what would make Hashimoto dain to touch one of HIS men?! A funny thought process, that he would consider his Lieutenant, someone who by all accounts was his superior, to be someone who worked for him.

The Captain puts his battle with Hachi on hold...for now, and offers the elder a warning before rushing off. Itaku was truly dumbfounded. He takes a moment to look at the death and destruction surrounding them before gazing back towards the direction Captain Nakazawa had left from. 'Huh?' Did he truly believe these two would flee from him or...anyone for that matter?
​

“You ever come between me and a good time again-"​

Itaku's eyes slide over towards Hachi who addresses him as the man gestures his way, waving his hands and flaring his nostrils, again giving the impression of a child in front of the Charmer.
​

"-we gonna have problems, I-Ta-Ku’!”​

Itaku only smiles in response to the juvenile threat. When Hachi questions the old man on the intel he's gained and what he believes they should do next, Itaku steps forward, equally curious about such things.

"Yea, what is in the Muken that would make you ask who was guarding it? Or, perhaps I should say WHO is in the Muken...that you're worried about getting out?"

The old man has been alive longer than he or Hachi, there's no telling what he knows or who he knows. Another big question that was on his mind however was, 'Just where did you go Kasuka?' With things perhaps settling outside what would make the boy vanish so abruptly? Where would he go? And wh-'Ah..I forgot about the body.' Itaku slams his fist into his open hand. 'I suppose by now someone's found the stand in by now. Hopefully not Sayuri...she'd definitely cause a scene.'

 

[GhoulBunny]

Time is such a crazy thing. One moment it’s slow, the next it’s fast. You could never guess how time would move for you or for those around you. You can only choose what you are going to do with the time. And one can say Sayuri Daichi has done a lot with her time.



Having gotten tired of being stagnant in the Eleventh Division, the young Shinigami had found herself to be transferred to the Tenth Division to the happiness of her ex comrades and the complete disappointment to her new ones. It wasn’t her fault that she tended to find people annoying. They could either stop being annoying or leave her alone. And if they didn’t do the latter…well she would knock it into them until they did.



Even though she hated attention, her moving from the roughhouse that fit her personality to the tenth was shocking to some. What would a brute like herself accomplish there? But she was tired of just being known as a brute. Tired of just being known as a hot head. She was tired of that title being hung onto her head like a plague. It was time for a change.



Which is why she was in her new lounging in tenth Division. She didn’t mind the looks, the whispers. She was used to it. She didn’t give to flying fucks what these pests thought of her. She knew what she wanted to do. And she knocked everyone who wanted to challenge that to the ground.



There was only one person who didn’t look at her like she had grown a third head or run away from her like she was a plaque. And that was her somewhat of a friend Itaku Ōhei. And that said friend was who she was looking for.



They were meant to meet up as soon as she got her transfer, but the bastard was nowhere to be seen. And the more Sayuri bursted into room after room and corridor over corridor, the more pissed off she got. Where the hell was he?!



“I’m going to crush him the moment I see him, stupid twerp,” She mutters to herself, sending a few people who were walking on the other side of her running past.



She finally has had enough before to quickly walks over to a worried looking officer.



“WHERE THE HELL IS ITAKU ŌHEI!?” She shouts, her voice bouncing off the walls. It seems to stop all movement from everyone in the room. The office looked even more worried, his body visibly shaking as he worked up the courage to answer her.



“H-he is in a meeting…with the L-Lieutenant,” He utters out, causing Sayuri to get even more pissed. “B-but I don’t think he’s seeing anyone…he’s been busy.”



Sayuri doesn’t say a word, just pushes past the officer roughly as she makes her way to the lieutenant’s office. How dare he tell her to meet up and then not tell her about he had a meeting. He was going to pay for wasting her time.



She didn’t waste two seconds as she made her ways down the halls towards the Lieutenant’s office. It didn’t phase her one bit that a girl was standing in front of the door.



“Um, Sayuri Daichi…Itaku Ōhei informed me not to let anyone-“ the girl started to tell her before Sayuri grabbed the girl by the front of her Shinhakushō, her face pulled inches from hers.





“Get out of my way before your face gets permanently tattooed to the floor,” Sayuri threatens, causing the girl to quickly panic and nod. Sayuri didn’t give the girl another look as she quickly pushed past her, quickly opening the door ready to blow up the room before the sight before her completely stops her in her tracks, killing intent gone in a flash.



There, sitting motionless and hunched over behind his desk was the Vice-Captain clearly dead. There was no sign of Itaku or anyone else in the room, just the dead man. Her eyes quickly roamed the room, trying to see if there was anything left behind but she couldn’t truly see anything. Clearly nobody has seen the dead Lieutenant or hasn’t reported it. Everything was undisturbed.



Sayuri curses under her breath, just what she needed on her first day in the division. She quickly makes her way to the dead man’s corpse, not even bothered by it. She’s seen enough death to be disturbed. She examined him closely.



There wasn’t a struggle, which means he probably was killed by someone he knew. As she moved around the body, she quickly noted the strange sense of foreign spiritual pressure around the office. She had never sensed anything like it. It had to be connected to whatever or whoever killed him that’s for sure.



As Sayuri moved to get closer to the ex vice captain, her movements were stopped by a loud boom of a females voice.
“This is an emergency broadcast! This is Third Seat Takenaka!



The Seireitei is under attack! I repeat, the Seireitei is under attack!



A group of Captains, led by the traitor Hitoshi Shihaimono, have declared war against the Gotei 13! The Captains of the Fourth, Eighth, and Eleventh have joined the Betrayer’s cause!



The Captain Commander’s order is that the members of these rebel Divisions stand-down; those that follow the Commander’s orders shall be pardoned for such treason; those that defy his orders, he will personally execute!



All other Divisions are to infiltrate the Divisions of the rebels, and arrest all who do not denounce their treasonous Captains; those who resist are to be eliminated!



I repeat! Those who resist are to be eliminated!“



Well that sure did change things. She glanced over at dead vice captain. He clearly died linked to all of this. And the fact that her former captain of the Eleventh Division was now considered a betrayer… This was a lot for Sayuri to take in. Which made her even more annoyed.



Where the hell was Itaku?!

She huffs, quickly making her way out of the room. She didn’t know if she needed to report the vice captain dead or what? She hates having to be thrown into such mess. Clearly Itaku was here earlier, which is why he tried to stop anyone from coming into the room. What was he even doing leaving the Lieutenant like this? What was he planning on doing? As she thinks another message is broadcasted.

“This is Vice Captain Fuyuko Muneroshi!

The Captain Commander has been defeated!

Many of the captains that have sided with him are dead or soon to be! All Shinigami are ordered to stand down! No more blood spilled!

Any available members of Fourth Squad is requested to give medical aide to those upon Sōkyoku Hill Top Priority to the Commander and one other!”

Sayuri felt aLittle better, having heard the threat had been taken cared of. But she needed to get the Lieutenant taken cred of. It was fair for his dead body to just sit there. She quickly walked over to a group of officers, all dazed by the news of the attacks.

“Vice Captain Itto Kaso is dead in his office and needs to me moved quickly. It must have been on of the betrayers who killed him. Move fast.”

the officers gasped but didn’t waste time as they made their ways to the Lieutenant’s office. First the Captain and now Lieutenant both dead. Two top pillars taken from them in a snap.​