Southwest Seireitei
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Listen While You Read
Itaku Ohei
Naruki City, much like Karakura Town, held a reputation for being one of the most dangerous locations within the World of the Living. Historically a hotspot for spiritual activity, and a feeding ground for the hungering Hollows of Hueco Mundo, such was not the case in recent times. Like the Thirteenth, the Tenth had seen an unprecedented decline in Hollow activity within Naruki City of late; peculiar, and yet a mystery unresolved, although in truth, who was complaining? Surely not those who pledged their lives to the Division whose duty it was to oversee its protection.
Unfortunately, a tragedy struck the Division nonetheless, upon the recent discovery of the Division Captain’s death. The late Captain Masaro Yasui held a favorable reputation among the Gotei 13, known to possess a work ethic above all others, and a love for duty; known to be a staunch royalist, he was one of the Captains alive during the previous Commander’s trials, and one of several witnesses for the prosecuting body. Alas, he had been found lifeless and bloodied but a month ago, a realization that shook the Division and the Gotei 13 to its core, for he was, alongside the Commander, the Captain of the Ninth, and the Kenpachi, as one of the strongest Shinigami within the Seireitei.
After his demise, the Division’s responsibilities fell upon the shoulders of the Vice-Captain, Isao Kurokawa, who was on all accounts, a shell of a Shinigam who could never fill the shoes of his deceased Captain. But alas, such was military hierarchy, and so the next-in-line would inherit the authority. However, there was one Shinigami lurking within the ranks of the Tenth who held immense potential; a devil in angel’s clothing, a fact that had eluded his superiors, colleagues, and subordinates alike. His name: Itaku Ōhei; his rank: Third Seat.
The Third Seat had received notice in the early morning of a summons by his Vice-Captain. Upon arriving at the Vice-Captains office, Itaku would find the door closed, to which he would know to indicate the Vice-Captain would be in a private meeting. Although peculiar that no spiritual signatures were felt within the space beyond the sliding door, if the Third Seat were so inclined to attempt to snoop; and no sounds to boot. A knock on the door would return silence.
“Good morning, Third Seat Ōhei,” was spoken from behind. With a glance back, the Charmer would find a fellow seated-officer. “I’ve already knocked several times, no response. I didn’t want to disturb him further…you know how he gets.” The young lady paused, seeming apprehensive, and then continued. “I’ve got troubling reports from the First. I’ve been waiting to hand them to the Vice-Captain, but here, I think it’s best if you deliver them.”
She handed them over.
If Itaku were to read them, he’d find the following:
The murder of the Ninth’s Gate Guardian; suspect unknown, motives unknown, time of death estimated to have occurred sometime in the early morning.
The attempted murder of several high-ranking Central Forty-Six members sometime in the morning; suspect known, motives unknown, believed connection to the murder of the Gate Guardian.
Strange spiritual energy signatures assessed across the Rukongai; the Vice-Captain of the Fourth, and the Fourth Seat of the Fifth, are reported to have massacred a village in the 48th District of the Western Rukongai. The Vice-Captain of the Third has reportedly also been seen with the two, though his involvement is yet unknown.
An ancient artifact has gone missing within the vaults of the Eighth, known as the Fūin no Kagi (封印の鍵, seal-breaking key). No further details.
So many strange happenings, what would the Silver-Tongued Devil do?
Itaku Ohei
Naruki City, much like Karakura Town, held a reputation for being one of the most dangerous locations within the World of the Living. Historically a hotspot for spiritual activity, and a feeding ground for the hungering Hollows of Hueco Mundo, such was not the case in recent times. Like the Thirteenth, the Tenth had seen an unprecedented decline in Hollow activity within Naruki City of late; peculiar, and yet a mystery unresolved, although in truth, who was complaining? Surely not those who pledged their lives to the Division whose duty it was to oversee its protection.
Unfortunately, a tragedy struck the Division nonetheless, upon the recent discovery of the Division Captain’s death. The late Captain Masaro Yasui held a favorable reputation among the Gotei 13, known to possess a work ethic above all others, and a love for duty; known to be a staunch royalist, he was one of the Captains alive during the previous Commander’s trials, and one of several witnesses for the prosecuting body. Alas, he had been found lifeless and bloodied but a month ago, a realization that shook the Division and the Gotei 13 to its core, for he was, alongside the Commander, the Captain of the Ninth, and the Kenpachi, as one of the strongest Shinigami within the Seireitei.
After his demise, the Division’s responsibilities fell upon the shoulders of the Vice-Captain, Isao Kurokawa, who was on all accounts, a shell of a Shinigam who could never fill the shoes of his deceased Captain. But alas, such was military hierarchy, and so the next-in-line would inherit the authority. However, there was one Shinigami lurking within the ranks of the Tenth who held immense potential; a devil in angel’s clothing, a fact that had eluded his superiors, colleagues, and subordinates alike. His name: Itaku Ōhei; his rank: Third Seat.
The Third Seat had received notice in the early morning of a summons by his Vice-Captain. Upon arriving at the Vice-Captains office, Itaku would find the door closed, to which he would know to indicate the Vice-Captain would be in a private meeting. Although peculiar that no spiritual signatures were felt within the space beyond the sliding door, if the Third Seat were so inclined to attempt to snoop; and no sounds to boot. A knock on the door would return silence.
“Good morning, Third Seat Ōhei,” was spoken from behind. With a glance back, the Charmer would find a fellow seated-officer. “I’ve already knocked several times, no response. I didn’t want to disturb him further…you know how he gets.” The young lady paused, seeming apprehensive, and then continued. “I’ve got troubling reports from the First. I’ve been waiting to hand them to the Vice-Captain, but here, I think it’s best if you deliver them.”
She handed them over.
If Itaku were to read them, he’d find the following:
The murder of the Ninth’s Gate Guardian; suspect unknown, motives unknown, time of death estimated to have occurred sometime in the early morning.
The attempted murder of several high-ranking Central Forty-Six members sometime in the morning; suspect known, motives unknown, believed connection to the murder of the Gate Guardian.
Strange spiritual energy signatures assessed across the Rukongai; the Vice-Captain of the Fourth, and the Fourth Seat of the Fifth, are reported to have massacred a village in the 48th District of the Western Rukongai. The Vice-Captain of the Third has reportedly also been seen with the two, though his involvement is yet unknown.
An ancient artifact has gone missing within the vaults of the Eighth, known as the Fūin no Kagi (封印の鍵, seal-breaking key). No further details.
So many strange happenings, what would the Silver-Tongued Devil do?
Nobody
Member
The Gotei 13 was a military and thus, as an extension it was also something...more. Those serving in the military are jointed together by a common cause, they live together, fight together and...at times die together. This way of life causes relationships to form where these soldiers view one another as family, a fraternity of brother and sisterhood forged in blood — or so it should be. This is not the case for the Seireitei, not today's Seireitei at least. Currently, there is no love loss between divisions, and with things as they were that divide was only growing. It is for this reason that Captain Yasui was such an oddity, a breath of fresh air, air that has become stale upon his death. His untimely demise stoked the flames of distrust, suspicion and paranoia made themselves at home in the hearts and minds of the members of Squad Ten believing the murderer to be another Division's Captain given recent turmoil. It only made sense afterall, for who but another Captain could kill a Captain? Especially THEIR Captain. The Division was dispirited, the hearts of the people heavy — for everyone save one individual.
"Good evening everyone! Ah, Haruto-kun, chin up! None of that moping today. Akane-chan, I heard you've been improving your jinzen! That's wonderful news, keep it up! Oh if it isn't-"
His cheerful voice announced himself down the hall, strolling casually through the barracks greeting one member of their squad after the other. Everyone seemed in such low spirits, yet Itaku was always a welcomed warmth of sunshine. His teeth seemed to sparkle when he smiled in greeting, his lavender locks tied in a ponytail swished and swayed with each bouncing step. This series of greeting and working to lift the spirits of everyone up continued, delaying his scheduled appointment for a bit but, no matter. He was sure the Lieutenant would understand. There wasn't much he'd do anyways even if he didn't understand, rather what could he do? The answer was of course, nothing. Delayed by nearly five minutes he finally arrives before the Lieutenant's office to find the door...closed?
"Hmm, interesting."
The Third Seat quietly mused, one hand stroking his chin while the other rested casually on the hilt of his Zanpakutō. If that stand in had his door closed, it could only mean that he was in some form of private meeting. Odd, even if Itaku was a little late, it wasn't enough for him to have been pushed out of line. Why would the Lieutenant call for him after all if he had another engagement as well around this time? Especially without telling him to possibly expect someone to be showing up as well as a forewarning. The man was incompetent, but this incompetent? He paused and pondered for a moment, closing his eyes briefly.
"...Hmm, no reiatsu."
He took a brief peek with his Reikaku to peer at what lay just beyond the door, expecting to get a hint of who the Lieutenant was meeting. To his surprise, he found that not only couldn't he detect the spiritual pressure of whoever the line skipper was, but even that stand in of a Lieutenant's reiatsu was absent from inside the room. Itaku believed he had a pretty good grasp on Isao's capabilities as a Shinigami. To be able to purposely hide his reiatsu from him...yea, no. Isao was not that capable. This further served to pique the Third Seat's curiosity. His feet, adorned in more chinese styled foot wear than the tradition tabi sandals, inched and slid closer to the door, straining his ears for voices, whispers, mutterings...anything. Instead, he found only silence. Should I just knock on the door then? He asked himself, growing weary of attempting to secretly pry. A disgruntled sigh escapes him as he lifts his hand to knock when-
A voice calls out to him from behind. With the hand he had intended to use to knock still lifted up he spins to greet present company.
She informs him, prompting him to glance towards his still lifted knocking hand before bursting out in a fit of laughter. "Haha yes yes indeed, I know exactly how he can get. Thank you for informing me."
Wiping away a tear brought about from his hearty laugh. Still, he silently wonders why exactly she had been here looking for the man in the first place. He stared at the woman who seemed a bit on edge, reluctant even. His disarming smile ever present in the end she could only relent. As if to answer the question that was on his mind, she continues on.
"Oh no, troubling news you say? Sounds...rather dire."
Despite the concern in his voice he was giddy with curiosity. Some news that would ruffle Kurokawa's feathers? Give him a headache? Cause him untold stress as he tries and fails to resolve whatever the problem is? Yes, he would absolutely deliver such news to him. He retrieves the documents from her with a smile and a nod, 'Now, lets see what we have here.' Eyes scanning between the lettering and the words before him. 'Murder? Another one?' He continues scanning, fingers leafing through the pages. 'An attempted murder this time? They're either terrible at their job, or they weren't meant to succeed to begin with. Intriguing.' Again he finishes reading before flipping the page to the next report, perusing its details. As he read his brow perked up in curiosity. 'The slaughter of a Rukongai village is nothing new, and so not worthy of being reported. I hardly think that nut case and her tag along are enough to disrupt the balance..' He takes a moment to ponder. 'They mentioned strange spiritual signatures prior to the report of the massacre..are they trying to imply the two are intertwined somehow?'
He glosses over the bit of the old man being seen with the Nut case and her luggage. While it would definitely be interesting for the Geezer to be caught up in something so...so nefarious, the chances were unfortunately slim..Maybe he'd look into that a bit more, for curiosity's sake. Shrugging off the thought for now he continues with his reading. 'A missing artifact? Sounds important. I doubt it up and walked off on its own, I wonder what it does...' His imagination ruminates for a bit on the possibilities. Depending on how useful or how powerful, he wouldn't mind putting in some effort in finding it. What would come after finding it was something he could ponder on when or should it happen. There seemed to be a lot going on and among the bits of information being relayed to the Lieutenant he couldn't help but wonder why the Tenth was being informed about the Rukongai troubles. It was out of the scope of their responsibility, and there were plenty of other methods at the Gotei 13's disposal to bring in the three named individuals should they believe the three to be guilty of some crime or taboo. So, why then were they disseminating this information to them? Chances are if the report was reaching Tenth, it was reaching other Divisions as well one way or another. With tensions high and distrust between divisions and fellow shinigami already equally as high, what was the end game? Was someone trying to light the powder keg that was the Seireitei right now? 'I'll need an exit plan..just in case.'
The original messenger of such troubling news having fulfilled her duties in passing on the report to someone higher than herself was more than likely heading off elsewhere. Whatever she had planned would have to wait.
"Hey there! You know, even if the Vice-Captain is busy, isn't it rude to have ignored you for so long after you came all this way?"
His arm draped around her, he casually steers her back to the closed door of the Lieutenant. Bringing his free hand to his chest he shakes his head, as if lamenting the trouble she had gone through.
"I feel, he owes you an apology. So, lets make sure he knows he has to be a little more understanding going forward, okay? Okay!"
He speaks without hardly a pause, giving the woman no time to actually get a word in edge wise, no time to push away or to try and stop what happens next.
Crash!!!
"Oh Vice Captain-kuuuun!"
Itaku sends the door flying open with a heavy and audible crash. With a toothy grin on his face, his arm still draped around his peer. Strategically, and intentionally the woman is placed in such a way that perspective wise, she seemed more a living walking shield rather than willing company. He gazes into the office and finds-
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The Charmer did what he does best, manipulating his environment for his benefit. With an arm over her shoulder did he guide the fellow seated officer toward the Vice-Captain’s door. With a crash did the Vice-Captain’s office door break open; with the female seated officer positioned in a manner to act as a shield for Itaku, did they peer inside would find-
The Vice-Captain sat behind the desk atop his chair, motionless, mouth agape, wide open white eyes rolled back into his skull, body motionless. Lodged deep into his chest was his own Zanpakuto, his otherwise pristine Shihakusho coated in the dried red of his blood.
It didn't take a genius to see, that the Vice-Captain was dead.
If one were experienced with spiritual forensics, they’d find traces of a strange spiritual signature; one that didn’t belong to Shinigami or Hollow, but that seemed to be both. They would also conclude that he had been killed sometime this morning.
Nobody
Member
"L-LIEUTENANT KUR-"
The young woman finds her words cut short by a hand, specifically Itaku's hand. Her eyes shift over to gaze at the Third seat. He shakes his head, bringing a single finger up to his lips.
"SSSSSshhh"
He shushes the girl, her reaction was reasonable. They had already lost their Captain through unknown means, or rather...an unknown killer, now here before them lay their Vice-Captain...dead. Itaku locks eyes with her, his gaze unwavering yet comforting all the same. It was only once he was assured she could and would restrain herself did he slip his hand away. He inches his way towards the door sticking his head out, glancing one way then the other. He focuses both his gaze and his mind as a matrix of threads begins bleeding into his perception. He traces the threads back down the hall, each one glowing and strumming as they react to the reiatsu of his squad mates as they go about their duties and lives. He takes his time reading the spiritual vibrations, each one telegraphing the proximity of others to their current location.
.
.
.
For now..it seemed they were in the clear. He returns to the woman, placing both hands on her shoulders, again he ensures his eyes lock onto her own.
"Listen, I know you're scared..I am too-"
A lie, but a necessary one. He couldn't very well have her announcing what was going on, not right now at least. He needed to buy some time to figure some things out. With the Captain and now the Lieutenant dead hierarchy dictated that the authority regarding the Division fell on him...for now. This was good, he could use a little authority right now. The fact that, unlike him when the woman couldn't get the Vice Captain to come to the door she opted to remain outside the office, this meant that she wasn't a wild horse and would adhere to her chain of command — that she'd follow HIS command.
"But, we don't know who did this. If we announce it now, the barracks will be up in a panic."
The woman quietly sobs, tears trickling down her face, as she quivers in place looking from Itaku to the Lieutenant then back at Itaku again.
"B-but, But maybe he's still alive! You were a member of the Fourth weren't you?! They call you the Miracle Worker, CAN'T YOU DO SOMETHING FOR HIM?!"
She grips his shihakusho, causing it to scrunch in her tight grasp as she pulls on him, pleading, begging him to do something, anything. He touches her hands with his own. Gently, and calmly he removes her hands from his attire, yet he keeps her hands in his as he shakes his head.
"He's dead, there's nothing I or anyone else can do to change that fact. If I could bring him back to life..I wouldn't be a Miracle Worker, I'd be a god. I'm no god..he's gone, we have to accept this."
His voice never changes in pitch or volume, as he speaks quietly to the distraught woman, grounding her to the reality of where they were at. She solemnly hangs her head, her tears sprinkling the ground beneath and between them.
"For now, I need you to keep anyone from coming this way while also discreetly seeing if anyone noticed someone coming by to visit the Lieutenant in his office earlier today. We'll meet up later so you can tell me what you find then."
He once again places his hands on her shoulders, patting them once, twice before giving them a gentle squeeze as he flashed her his signature smile.
"Go, and be brave for me. I'm counting on you..."
He sends her off, watching as she trots out of the office and down the hall. He doesn't take his eyes off of her until she vanishes from his sight. 'She said she knocked several times with no answer prior to me getting here. Means of the people to come by here. Suspect number one.' He resecures the door to give himself some privacy. If the lovely little first suspect fulfilled her role as ordered, it would mean that even if someone came by, seeing the Lieutenant's door closed would tell them he was not only alive, but in some manner of private meeting just as he had assumed as well. The others weren't as...charming and creative as him to not only barge in, but to do so with impunity. The Third seat makes his way to his late Lieutenant's corpse. He folds his arms, shihakasho slipping slightly down his left shoulder.
"Even in death...you prove to be both a nuisance and a source of entertainment. Now...who would want to kill a nobody like you?"
He steps to Isao's side bringing his face parallel to the lifelessly hanging skull. "Will you tell me old man?" He asks the corpse, though of course no answer was given. Not verbally and not yet at least. His eyes trace the Lieutenant's corpse from head to toe, before shifting to the zanpakuto buried in his chest turned scabbard. 'Hnn' He walks around both the corpse and the desk, shifting to the other side as he tilts his head to get another perspective of the body. He says nothing this entire time, emerald hues taking in all that is before him, before he looks back towards the door for the briefest of moments. 'Hnnn' He drops to one knee, staring at the body, then the chair, then looks beneath the desk. He lifts himself back up then walks back over to the first side he had started when approaching the body. Again, he lowers himself to the ground on one knee, staring at the corpse, beneath the desk, then looks both behind and underneath the chair. He leans back, angling his body just enough to stare back towards the door, the entrance into the Lieutenant's office. 'Hnnnnn' He picks himself back up, brushing his knees off and saunters over towards the door, staring back towards the the desk and the Lieutenant's dead body behind it.
"You careless man. Seems whoever killed you was someone you knew, and possibly trusted...or, at least someone you weren't cautious about given the lack of an actual struggle in here."
Itaku is by no means, an investigator or agent of justice...but he is a schemer. While Investigators may recreate a crime scene so as to solve it, Itaku however...looks at the scene before him from the perspective of a perpetrator. To not only get into the Division barracks, but get to the Lieutenant's office and inside it with him inside, then kill him while he was otherwise unawares. This person, whoever they were, was quite the talented little manipulator. 'While I'm in awe of your ability to pull this off, this place is my playground...and you weren't invited to play in it.' His warm smile ever present there was a notable sharp glint in his eye. He continues on with his thoughts.
"Given the coagulation of the blood, current level of rigor I'd estimate he died say...6, maybe 8 hours ago? Give or take."
A former chief member of the Fourth Division's Healing Corps (治癒衆, Chiyushū), Itaku is able to not only assess an injury and determine how long ago it was received, what caused it, what hand wielded the weapon and ow much force was placed behind the swing or blow...but he can generally determine a person's time of death should they have expired one way or another, rather it was natural or any foul play was involved. He stares at the man's cold lifeless body.
"Definitely foul play involved."
What truly intrigued him was the strange spiritual signature he was detecting. It was feint, mere traces left behind...but it was there. A spiritual signature that was not only foreign...but unnatural. His eyes perk up a bit as he recalls something he had recently read. 'Strange spiritual readings from the Rukongai...I'd say this certainly qualifies as strange.' He couldn't help but feel the two things were connected somehow. Did Lieutenant Kurokawa find something out? Did it have anything to do with why he had called for him at his office? Wait, perhaps he should look at the report as a web..everything intertwined together by threads one to the other. Not just these recent events, but past ones too. He stares at the corpse before him then, becomes curious about another corpse as well. He goes back to Isao's desk, rummaging through he grabs and folds a series of papers, securing them in his shihakasho. He does not read them so remains uncertain if they were meaningless and the perpetrator had taken any and everything of worth when killing the sad incompetent Vice Captain...or he was lucky enough and the man had a brief moment of brilliance and foresight to hide something in plain sight. Disguise something important as worthless. He'd have to take a gander at a later time.
"I'm sure they've probably brought it to the Fourth Division for autopsy by now. I should go take a look myself."
He heads back to the door and takes one last look at his former superior. 'Don't worry old man Kuro, I'll be sure to scold the person who touches my things.'
"Stabbed with his own zanpakuto...how pitiful indeed."
He opens the door, then carefully and quietly secures it back shut behind him. There were answers waiting for him, that he needed to find — and he will have his answers.
Traveling to Northeast Seireitei: Fourth Division Barracks -> From Southwest Seireitei: Tenth Division Barracks
Listen While You Read
An enormous blade’s edge of vibrating red screeched as it rose to the sky, its immense power reverberating within the Fourth Division, and those adjacent to it. Surely, anyone worth their salt within the Seireitei would feel the spiritual energy screaming off the forbidden spell; Shinigami from all over the Seireitei stopped what they were doing, their full spiritual attention commandeered, many coming out of their Division buildings to look upon whatever had caused it. When the crimson edge dissipated, and its singing power diminished, all that accompanied the colorless, rising smoke cloud was an unforgettable stillness.
On the precipice of new beginnings, the cursor of history slid ever closer to the edge of an eerie quietness; it was a silence layered in three parts.
The first layer was one that played its empty tune to the physical senses. If one were to look up at the shaded sky, an already gloomy overcast would have seemed to have gotten darker, and stiller, as the clouds remained in place as if holding their breath. If one were to listen, they would find emptiness in the wake of the once sweet whispers of the wind. If one were to reach out to touch the world, all they would feel is a numbness beyond the pale.
The first of three.
The second layer was one that spoke its hollow words to the spiritual senses. It hid behind the physical in wait for those well-enough attuned to notice it. Where once the spiritual bands of Souls glowed inharmoniously across the Soul Society, existed a blank gray that spread for miles and miles, to the ends of the City of Wandering Souls. Everyone, it seemed, ceased to exist.
The second of three.
The third layer was one that existed on a plane beyond the conventional. A quietness so deafening, so overbearing, so empty, that its presence could only be perceived by those who, when confronted by a world devoid of stimulus, could completely relinquish their bodies, minds, and souls to absolute nothingness. Only then would they realize that time had stopped.
The third of three.
This was a rare brief lapse in time, a serene moment of quiet that preceded a storm not seen, and yet brewing for centuries. What seemed like an eternal silence came to a thundering halt as the world returned to color, waves of technicolor reverberating throughout the Soul Society like layers of film, and those who lived and breathed within it. The entirety of the Seireitei, and the Wandering City, trembled as the spiritual power of unburdened Souls twisted around one another in a battle of Reiatsu.
Listen While You Read
An enormous explosion of purple, larger than the Ittō Kasō that came before, erupted at Sōkyoku Hill; even those not initiated in Reikaku would sense the Captain Commander’s roaring Reiatsu, and in opposition, the equally magnificent spiritual pressure of the Captain of the Ninth, Hitoshi Shihaimono.
In the Northwestern Quadrant, the Reiatsu of the deadly Captain of the Second, Nobu Tsunayashiro, and that of the esteemed Captain of the Fourth, Sachiko Kuchiki, would be sensed at the ready to strike one another down.
In the Southeastern Quadrant, Captain Arisu Nakazawa’s radiant spiritual pressure could be felt clashing with that of the passionate Captain Kusumoto’s.
Lastly, within the First District of the Northern Rukongai, one Souls spiritual pressure could be felt across the entirety of the Soul Society, reaching out even beyond the known Districts, and drowning out all others; it was a spiritual signature so demonic, so filled with killing intent, that the blood of his future victims would be tasted upon the tongues of all; such a signature belonged to the Kenpachi, Kenta Murakami. Alongside him were two, that of the Twelfth’s Captain, Hatsumei Takaki, and that of the Sixth’s Captain, Etsuko Nakajima, the latter of which faded quickly…
With the Soul Society under siege by an immutable song, it was a miracle that the words that would soon ring within the minds of every Shinigami would be heard nonetheless. Those of a Kidō background would recognize the sensation belonging to Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra (天挺空羅, Heavenly Rickshaws in Silken Air), coursing with the spiritual signature of the First’s Third Seat. Her voice spoke clear as day, filled with shock and anger.
“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!“
And like that, her voice was gone, leaving the denizens of the Seireitei to decide their course of action; a crossroads had presented itself to each Shinigami, a choice that would change the course of both their lives, and that of the history of the Soul Society.
Yet, there were a handful of Shinigami who would receive an additional message, as the respective hell butterflies fluttered to land on their shoulders…
An enormous blade’s edge of vibrating red screeched as it rose to the sky, its immense power reverberating within the Fourth Division, and those adjacent to it. Surely, anyone worth their salt within the Seireitei would feel the spiritual energy screaming off the forbidden spell; Shinigami from all over the Seireitei stopped what they were doing, their full spiritual attention commandeered, many coming out of their Division buildings to look upon whatever had caused it. When the crimson edge dissipated, and its singing power diminished, all that accompanied the colorless, rising smoke cloud was an unforgettable stillness.
On the precipice of new beginnings, the cursor of history slid ever closer to the edge of an eerie quietness; it was a silence layered in three parts.
The first layer was one that played its empty tune to the physical senses. If one were to look up at the shaded sky, an already gloomy overcast would have seemed to have gotten darker, and stiller, as the clouds remained in place as if holding their breath. If one were to listen, they would find emptiness in the wake of the once sweet whispers of the wind. If one were to reach out to touch the world, all they would feel is a numbness beyond the pale.
The first of three.
The second layer was one that spoke its hollow words to the spiritual senses. It hid behind the physical in wait for those well-enough attuned to notice it. Where once the spiritual bands of Souls glowed inharmoniously across the Soul Society, existed a blank gray that spread for miles and miles, to the ends of the City of Wandering Souls. Everyone, it seemed, ceased to exist.
The second of three.
The third layer was one that existed on a plane beyond the conventional. A quietness so deafening, so overbearing, so empty, that its presence could only be perceived by those who, when confronted by a world devoid of stimulus, could completely relinquish their bodies, minds, and souls to absolute nothingness. Only then would they realize that time had stopped.
The third of three.
This was a rare brief lapse in time, a serene moment of quiet that preceded a storm not seen, and yet brewing for centuries. What seemed like an eternal silence came to a thundering halt as the world returned to color, waves of technicolor reverberating throughout the Soul Society like layers of film, and those who lived and breathed within it. The entirety of the Seireitei, and the Wandering City, trembled as the spiritual power of unburdened Souls twisted around one another in a battle of Reiatsu.
Listen While You Read
An enormous explosion of purple, larger than the Ittō Kasō that came before, erupted at Sōkyoku Hill; even those not initiated in Reikaku would sense the Captain Commander’s roaring Reiatsu, and in opposition, the equally magnificent spiritual pressure of the Captain of the Ninth, Hitoshi Shihaimono.
In the Northwestern Quadrant, the Reiatsu of the deadly Captain of the Second, Nobu Tsunayashiro, and that of the esteemed Captain of the Fourth, Sachiko Kuchiki, would be sensed at the ready to strike one another down.
In the Southeastern Quadrant, Captain Arisu Nakazawa’s radiant spiritual pressure could be felt clashing with that of the passionate Captain Kusumoto’s.
Lastly, within the First District of the Northern Rukongai, one Souls spiritual pressure could be felt across the entirety of the Soul Society, reaching out even beyond the known Districts, and drowning out all others; it was a spiritual signature so demonic, so filled with killing intent, that the blood of his future victims would be tasted upon the tongues of all; such a signature belonged to the Kenpachi, Kenta Murakami. Alongside him were two, that of the Twelfth’s Captain, Hatsumei Takaki, and that of the Sixth’s Captain, Etsuko Nakajima, the latter of which faded quickly…
With the Soul Society under siege by an immutable song, it was a miracle that the words that would soon ring within the minds of every Shinigami would be heard nonetheless. Those of a Kidō background would recognize the sensation belonging to Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra (天挺空羅, Heavenly Rickshaws in Silken Air), coursing with the spiritual signature of the First’s Third Seat. Her voice spoke clear as day, filled with shock and anger.
“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!“
And like that, her voice was gone, leaving the denizens of the Seireitei to decide their course of action; a crossroads had presented itself to each Shinigami, a choice that would change the course of both their lives, and that of the history of the Soul Society.
Yet, there were a handful of Shinigami who would receive an additional message, as the respective hell butterflies fluttered to land on their shoulders…
Hachiko Goseikanjo
Captain Kuchiki’s voice…
“My dear Hachikō. I’m sorry that this information had to reach you in this way, but forgive me; Captain Shihaimono pleaded that I keep our plans away from all, even my most trusted.
What you’ve just heard is true. Captain Shihaimono leads us in rebellion against the Captain Commander, and the Central Forty-Six. The Soul Society has suffered too long, and our patience has run thin. Kō, my love, I plead to you: believe in Captain Shihaimono’s cause, and help us see it through.
My blade has crossed with Captain Tsunayashiro’s; I do not know if I will see you again…
…find me.”
Fuyuko Munetoshi
Captain Shihaimono’s voice…
“Vice-Captain Munetoshi, listen to my words; let them ignite the fire within your heart.
As you did with me, and I before you; we as the Ninth, have pledged to protect the Seireitei from its enemies, both foreign and domestic. The Gotei 13 is a shadow of itself, filled with rot that has been festering for too long; if left untreated, the disease will eat away at us all.
That is why we must defend it against itself. It is time to cut out the cancerous tumor, and allow the Soul Society to heal.
I kept my plan away for you, to protect you; I see now that it was a mistake. I hope you can forgive me.
Now, protect the Division from anyone who would seek to do it harm.”
Shin’eki Uemura
Third Seat Akinawa’s voice…
“Rusty! HELLO?! The Captain’s vanished and Vice-Captain Tsunyashiro just got woken up by that transmission! He’s PISSED! Where the hell are you?! Hurry up and get here before the Vice-Captain loses his shit!”
Within the chaos two Shinigami stood firm, both of them from the Third. The Gentle Breeze of Tamaya and the Hero of Kusajishi, two Souls with destinies intertwined, decided upon their paths. To the Southwestern Quarter of the Seireitei they marched; upon the Manor of the Shiba their wrath would fall.
From the emptiness their existences were born, the Hero himself first, the winds at the gates of the Shiba manor angered upon his wake, and then his Vice-Captain came to be by his side.
The Shiba Estate was a large and expansive fortress, a landmark the Great Clan built ages ago and maintained on the laurels of their historic exploits. Walls of beige stone as tall as those of the Seireitei itself rose around its perimeter, the ornate and thick gates before the duo closed shut and heavily guarded from the inside, barring the two from entering. Unfortunately, these details were obstructed from the view of the attempted infiltrators, for the entire place was protected by a humming and spiritually dense sequence of Kido barriers, known only to well-studied Kido masters.
This particular barrier was a combination of four iterations of the same spell erected to surround the estate, known as Ryūbi no Jōmon (竜尾の城門, The Gate of Dragon Tail; Viz "Dragon Tail Castle Gate"). Those well attuned with Reikaku would discern the barrier to have been erected by a Soul of Great Spiritual Power, Spirit Class 3. Attempting to sense beyond the barrier would yield a peculiar image, that of immense spiritual signatures lined up in sequence across the perimeter.
Before any action could be taken, a young Shinigami male’s presence came to be some distance behind both the Old Man and Hachi Ikimaku; he looked too young to be in the service, much less to hold the rank of Vice Kido-Chief. Alongside him, a purple-haired Shinigami manifested from the end of his Flash Step, whose outward noble appearance would assuredly put the two from the Third on edge; turbulent times, as they were.
From the emptiness their existences were born, the Hero himself first, the winds at the gates of the Shiba manor angered upon his wake, and then his Vice-Captain came to be by his side.
The Shiba Estate was a large and expansive fortress, a landmark the Great Clan built ages ago and maintained on the laurels of their historic exploits. Walls of beige stone as tall as those of the Seireitei itself rose around its perimeter, the ornate and thick gates before the duo closed shut and heavily guarded from the inside, barring the two from entering. Unfortunately, these details were obstructed from the view of the attempted infiltrators, for the entire place was protected by a humming and spiritually dense sequence of Kido barriers, known only to well-studied Kido masters.
This particular barrier was a combination of four iterations of the same spell erected to surround the estate, known as Ryūbi no Jōmon (竜尾の城門, The Gate of Dragon Tail; Viz "Dragon Tail Castle Gate"). Those well attuned with Reikaku would discern the barrier to have been erected by a Soul of Great Spiritual Power, Spirit Class 3. Attempting to sense beyond the barrier would yield a peculiar image, that of immense spiritual signatures lined up in sequence across the perimeter.
Before any action could be taken, a young Shinigami male’s presence came to be some distance behind both the Old Man and Hachi Ikimaku; he looked too young to be in the service, much less to hold the rank of Vice Kido-Chief. Alongside him, a purple-haired Shinigami manifested from the end of his Flash Step, whose outward noble appearance would assuredly put the two from the Third on edge; turbulent times, as they were.
Otokogi has only ever glanced at the Shiba manor in passing, never taking long to let his eyes linger on the absurd structure. It isn’t until today when he stands before it that he truly takes in the enormity of this fortress within the Seireitei. He looks to the left and then to the right, the only thing he can see is a protection spell that Otokogi can only assume is a bit overkill even given the current situation within the Seireitei. Ryūbi no Jōmon, cast four times to surround the Shiba manor and to protect the clan from invaders. As a teacher Otokogi is able to recognize what the spell is, he is no master in the art of Kido however he can learn of spells and their effects without knowledge of how to cast them for himself. He makes no attempt to attack the structure or even touch it, should Hachi make an attempt to do so he would try to stop him to avoid setting off any traps laid within the spell or within the land itself. Stroking his beard he gets a sense for the spell, a high grade Shinigami had to of casted this as the signature is similar throughout all four versions of this spell. Upon sensing past these barriers Otokogi senses more souls within, all of which are strong in their own right.
”Ah, they’re locked up rather well and are on guard. Not sure if it is because of the earlier message or for other nefarious reasons. No matter, I have an idea of how to get inside without touching the barrier, we just-”
The oldman halts his words as he senses two new signatures behind him, he glances over his shoulder to get a look at who it is before fullying turning around to look at them. His left hand rests on the hilt of his Zanpakuto, bracing himself for a confrontation with the pair in case they are there to protect the Shiba. He narrows his eyes at the first one with brown hair and a rather tired expression on his face as if he has been up for days, surviving on coffee alone. He is much too young to have that sort of expression on his face but after a few seconds he recognizes him as the young man who made waves in the Academy prompting an early graduation for him. The one beside him however is unknown to him, surely someone he may have seen in the Academy but how many thousands or hundreds of thousands of souls has the old man seen come through that place? Without a name or any sort of behavior that made them stand out it was impossible for him to remember who the man is and that alone makes him dangerous.
”Are you two here on the orders of the Captain Commander or are you here on your own accord? I shall make it very transparent that I am against the Commander’s orders and will not allow the Rukongai to suffer injustice from these nobles any longer.”
Otokogi laid his cards out on the table for the new arrivals to see plainly and clearly, he is still in the mindset of not wasting time. If these two men are here to defend the nobles he hopes their motives are made clear so he can take proper action against them swiftly and to carry out the infiltration plan he had just crafted.
The Shiba Manor–not unlike many of the structures within the Seireitei–was a massive palace compared to the humble living conditions of the Rukongai’s outer rim. It had a regalness; a designation about its structure that screamed “I was here first.” It felt old and was guarded by large, impassible walls rivaling even those surrounding the Seiretei. Both Hachi and the old man stood before them, eclipsed by their shadow. A rather quiet hum radiates from its perimeter, almost imperceptible to those whose senses weren’t as acute. Even still, the two of them stood, forced to gaze upon the glory of the main gate. His pride overcame him, refusing to feel inferior in the face of a barrier set before them by those who were clearly responsible for the chaos that the Seireitei was plunged into.
“Man.. Fuck all’ this-!”
Just as the wind would erupt in a violent uproar behind him, so too would his Zanpakuto appear in his hand in a fervent grip. In a crescent arc, it is swung with force toward the massive gate, aiming to tear the immovable metal panels asunder. The wrist of his sword hand becomes victim to a firm yet comforting grip. Two singular fingers, the thumb and middle–interlock around the base of his wrist to cease his momentum gently. The monsoon is quelled, and as the whistling wind ceases its howling, The Gentle Breeze causes the air around them to become just that. He halts the Hero’s impatient outburst, bringing attention to that of which the Shiba’s defenses were composed of, as well as the readied souls that lay within. As the Old Man lets go of Hachi’s arm, his blade becomes rested by his side, a more observing gaze overtaking Hachi’s expression.
At that moment, Hachi also perceives the souls inside, their spirit class somewhat screaming at him behind the barrier erected around the compound. They were in a situation that was clearly going to require a bit of finesse, and then force. No matter, they’d find a way; they always did. Oto’ stops mid-sentence, taking notice of the two individuals that began to approach from behind them that seemed to also have the Shiba mansion in their sights, but with what goals in mind? If Oto’ turned at any point to bring Hachi into his sights, he would find his frame had silently displaced itself. Those arriving would also find no silhouette accompanying The Gentle Breeze, but instead, His shadow is now cast over the man with the violet hair, the clinking of Yuushi’s metal serving as an intentional indication that he had arrived, a subtle cue that acted only as a courtesy to the fellow shinigami before them before their allegiances could be confirmed.
There is an awkward silence that follows, Hachi aware of his surroundings and watching the two onlookers intently. Despite his rather intimidating nature, internally his curiosity was piqued. Both individuals looked fairly familiar, though it was common knowledge that Otokogi spent more time on the Academy side of things than Hachi had ever conformed to. Still, his purpose as an enforcer had to be maintained, regardless of his ignorance of their capabilities. Had he been by himself, he may not have acted so brashly, but knew that The Old Man was more than capable of bailing him out of any mess, rather that be with his words or his blade–Had it ever come to that.
“Answer wisely, Yo’.”
Bane
New member
With everything going on, the Seireitei is in the throes of total civil unrest. Frantically, squadrons of Shinigami shunpo through the streets unaware of who is friend and who is foe, ignorantly following the orders of their superiors to condemn and fight those they know nothing about. Among the chaos, Kasuka and his purple-haired lackey go completely unnoticed. This is a usual occurrence for the bland looking boy, but in this instance it is their lack of division affiliation that causes them to be ignored. Though shunpoing in a hurry like everyone else, anyone who passess the two individuals remains unsure where their affiliations lie. Neither rebel nor royalist can place them, and so opt not to attack them lest they conflict their own orders. It would be wise for anyone with a purpose to move in this way, as it is by moving in squadrons that shinigami accidentally identify their loyalties to this conflict.
Regardless, arriving at the Shiba manor is a simple enough feat. The barriers, and the signatures behind them, are both immediately observed by the boy detective. He is unconcerned about the structure of the barrier itself, being of a class three spiritual pressure himself. The Kido-Corps Vice-chief is confident that even this captain-class Bakudo spell falls under his purview, as the foremost expert on this type of demonic art. The signatures behind the barrier are of interest, as the child suspects that they are not powerful due to being Nobles, but rather due to being Hollows. If this proves true, it would be a relief, as it means the Hound of the Seireitei is hot on the heels of the treacherous Fifth Division Captain, and that much closer to retrieving the stolen artifact. As such, the situation upon arrival is of no surprise to the detective, and his expression reflects as much.
”Are you two here on the orders of the Captain Commander or are you here on your own accord? I shall make it very transparent that I am against the Commander’s orders and will not allow the Rukongai to suffer injustice from these nobles any longer.”
“Ok.”
Removing two cigarettes from his hair, Kasuka walks past the old man addressing him. Of course, he recalls Vice-Captain Aijō from his days in the academy. The two never connected in any sort of student teacher relationship, but the boy did enjoy the old man’s philosophy courses. In fact, Aijō’s declaration of intent was hardly necessary at all, as Kasuka was able to correctly assume the man’s loyalties based off his philosophy in those courses alone. The glimmer of recognition behind the elder’s eyes shows that once again Kasuka’s reputation precedes him. In any other instance this would continue to be an annoyance, but here it means that he can save time, something he’s always grateful for. Introductions would not be necessary, as the two Vice-Captains are familiar with the other’s authority.
“Answer wisely, Yo’.”
The end of Kasuka’s cigarettes light with sparks of reiatsu, their smoke filling the air as his shoulder passess by Aijō. Behind him, the physically imposing Shinigami seeks to intimate the deceptively clever Itaku. Kasuka pays neither any mind, as he assumes Itaku can fend for himself and doesn’t care if he can’t. Instead, his stride and gaze upon arrival remains uninterrupted, until his nose comes only an inch from the Shiba Manor’s barrier. Ash drops to the floor, as each cigarette is burned to their halfway mark after a single inhale. Ryūbi no Jōmon, cast four separate times. What a perplexing choice. Why wouldn’t the caster utilize the much superior Shijū no Saimon (四獣の塞門, The Gate of Four Beasts; Viz "Four-Beast Blockade Gate"), which equally utilized four castings of a Bakudo? Perhaps the caster is incapable of utilizing the other three barriers, thus failing to complete the set. Could be that their experience only led them to learning the single Gate of the Dragon Tail, rendering them ignorant to the other three beasts.
Without incantation, an orange cube manifests itself around the white-pillared walls of a single one of the dragon gates. Its reiatsu signature belongs to that of Kasuka, as at least two of the three other Shinigami present would be able to sense. Curious, given that still, the boy’s Reiatsu is no stronger than a starving dog’s. Perhaps this is why, ignorant to his identity, Hachi had targeted Itaku instead of Kasuka. Such is the benefit of anonymity, the level of underestimation that the boy detective much preferred. This orange Bakudo of Kasuka’s own making is able to manifest around a single Dragon’s Gate, because the gate is dependent on its physical contact to the other three, due to the lack of Shijū no Saimon’s spiritual barrier connection. Once fully engulfed, the entire structure simply disappears, manifesting perpendicular to its original spot, much like an open door. A teleportation spell, or rather, a teleporting Barrier, known as Hako Okuri (匣遺, Farewell Box). Unique perhaps to the Vice-Kido Chief, this is certainly a rare spell, one that even Aijō in all of his years would have seen only a handful of times. Itaku on the other hand, would recognize it as a larger rendition of the orange cube that Kasuka had used to whisk away his coffee cup from earlier.
Fortunately, this means that the Ryūbi no Jōmon was shifted, not broken, nor destroyed, simply moved out of the way. Without necessarily being tampered with, it is unlikely that the original caster would notice anything had occurred to the barrier at all. Rather than being alerted through tampering, what would undoubtedly gather the attention of the enemy was the perception of numerous spiritual beings waiting primed on the other side. Further, any countermeasure inlaid into the barrier upon contact either physically or spiritually would not be triggered. This is because Kasuka, as well as the Hako Okuri, and his Reiatsu composing it, never come into contact with the barrier itself. Instead the orange cube was erected around the structure, slipping through the gaps between it and its parallel white walls. Everything inside the Hako Okuri is what is transport away, even being able to transport what’s inside into the insides of another person, place, or object.
Two cigarette filters drop to the ground, as Kasuka continues walking forward, having never broken stride despite the massive scope of what he just pulled off. Additionally, no mind is paid to the trio behind him, as he is almost assuredly expecting them to jump into the fray of whatever is about to come next. Without a doubt, these barriers were erected not by the Shiba Clan for protection, but containment. Why else would such a dramatic and visually impairing barrier be used, and why placed around the outsides of the compound's walls? Rather than being concerned about the consequences of his casual actions, Kasuka is relieved to see such suspicious activity, as it means he is on the right trail. Even still, this means that whatever answers he is seeking are not about to be given up voluntarily. Are the Shiba actually in cahoots with the conspirators? Or are they simply being used by them? Had Hashimoto already utilized their cannon, and launched himself to the Royal Palace?
All of this is ignoring the worse case as well, that these barriers like everything else remain a distraction from the true target. He has yet to hear back from the Kido Corpsmen in the Central Underground Prison, and with his Shikai on the way it is likely he himself will be teleported away any second now. If that’s the case, then he shouldn’t be playing so coy. Aijō’s actions seem to have been radicalized by the events of today, but his presence here at the compound as an infiltrator rather than watchmen signify he is not in league with Hashimoto. Beyond this, Kasuka’s own experience with the man’s political ideologies gives him confidence in believing that Aijō truly is looking out for the people. This means that for the first time today, the boy detective has someone he can trust. With no other choice, this trust would have to apply to the fast-footed brute accompanying the old man.
"Hey, guys."
Stomping out his cigarette, just as the previously obscured signatures would become revealed, Kasuka looks back over his shoulder to the trio.
“Secure the Kakaku Taihō. Stop Hashimoto.”
The tired voice rings out, said with the same level and urgency one might use to have a door held open for them. With this, Kasuka puts both hands behind his head, leaning back casually, as he continues his stride into the lion’s den, unsure if his next step would be into the Shiba Compound, or the Central Underground Prison. Regardless if their target was the Royal Palace, or the forbidden Muken, the Boy Detective’s investigation put the perpetrators in Check, ensuring that the next move would bring him closer to the case’s conclusion.