[BSD-RP] Human World: Naruki City

[Shinigami]

It had been ten years since Naruki had ended up as "hell on earth". What was only just a few moments seemed like years, and Sukoshi was fighting for his life. Having gotten involved, wanting to play hero, that was something that he never wanted to do again. He saw what it did to the other people like him, and whatever those folks in those black robes were with the swords. Whatever that thing was, it had sent Naruki into a spiral, but for some reason, not a single soul remembers that day other than him. Sukoshi had run far, and he didn't know how far he had gone, or where he had gone, he just knew that he had to get away as far as he could. The rest of the years went by in a blur, and here he was, ten years later, at the very top of his line of work and still rising.
“I’m getting tired. That’s enough.”
Another flash of the camera goes off, and then the sound of murmurs as the overhead lights buzz on, blinding those accustomed to the darkness during the photo shoot. Dressed in a tan jacket from Stephania’s brand, Sukoshi Okoku was one of few faces that directly wore her materials and represented it on magazines, social media, runways and award shows. It was getting cold, and the new line of autumn showcases were closing in. Unfortunately, this had meant that he would have missed Stephania’s showing earlier in the evening, though it was on her orders, surely she wouldn’t be too angry with him. The sound of pattering heels clicked on the floor as someone came, clattering away with phone in hand. He comes face to face with his assigned assistant that he truly didn’t like anymore than the next person. She was all about deadlines, and he followed them as ordered, but the way she went about it was infuriating.
“I just got a call. Mr. Kaiyo wants to see you in his office.”
“Did he say what for?”
“No.”
He watches her saunter off, giving nothing else and a sigh escapes and he readies himself for a meeting with Stephania’s right hand. Pulling gently at his sleeves, he slides into a car that caters to him at any and all times. Having been given the directions prior to his arrival, the car speeds off towards Hansha, and Sukoshi stares out of the window, watching the lights of the city of Naruki pass him by and reflect against the windows. In no time, the car comes to a screeching halt in front of this tall and dark building and he climbs out, thanking his chauffeur and walking inside, his hands stuffed into his pockets. The guards pay no mind. Sukoshi’s face isn’t one that can be mistaken for any other, and his skin complexion was rather rare around these parts of Japan. The building was silent, save for gentle taps of his shoes, as he ascended upon the elevator to the top floor to meet with the man in the shadows.
The secretary of his comes to open the door and in he steps… to an empty room. Sukoshi looks around, closing in towards the man’s desk and dragging his finger along the glass edge and he leans against one of the large windows that peer out into the open scene of the human world below. A view he’d seen multiple times, and truthfully, he was very tired of it. A yawn follows and he tussles up the purple mop that sits on his head.
“You asked to see me and you aren’t even here.”
In frustration, he stomps back down, clicking his tongue at the secretary that just watched in surprise as he leaves. Down the elevator he goes, annoyed that his time was wasted, yet when he gets outside, Sukoshi comes to the scene of Hansha greeting this other individual. Walking down, he comes up behind the renowned CEO of Stephania Brand and peeks over his shoulder to catch sight of Yayoi just before him.
“You asked to see me yet you aren’t there to greet me -- Who is this?”

 

[Shinigami]

A Killer’s Paradise
In the city, never truly dead or inactive, with people ever traveling from one place to another a certain female walks alone..or, at least she believed herself to be alone initially. She will soon come to learn that when treading through the darkness…one is never truly alone. Her surroundings become suffused in reiatsu, it is as if this spiritual pressure is competing with the darkness of the night, no, it's as if the two were intertwined. Though her surroundings are familiar, her pulse rises as if thrust in some foreign land, uncertain as to what or who is around her. She grows more anxious with every step.
A voice creeps from the very darkness that maliciously terrorizes the young woman. The voice is calm, indifferent and accompanied by a man with dark hair and pale flesh. The woman’s mind races, attempting to connect the dots. While it's true she was scheduled for a tour, she knows that she has not revealed her…”uniqueness” to those in the company. Furthermore, that was undeniably reiatsu that she had felt. She can’t help but to wonder what their angle was. Were they aware of what she was and what she could do? Were they people like her? It made sense if they were presenting themselves in such a manner, it's like they weren’t even attempting to pretend being normal. None of this sits well with her as she demands answers, no..demands the truth behind the motive of his actions.
As the woman readied herself, her guard maintained, her senses sharp, another individual approached to join them. Not unlike the woman, this.. Yayoi Tachibana, the newcomer appears less than pleased with the strange pale man who introduced himself as Hansha Kaiyo, the current CEO of Stephania’s Brand. The company was well known, their clothing considered luxury items to many.
“You asked to see me yet you aren’t there to greet me -- Who is -”
CLANK, CLATTER
”Oh sh-”
There is the sound of movement in an alley, adjacent to those gathered. Immediately after the sound of a bottle rolling on the ground, is a voice that is quickly muffled. The darkness hides the identity of this person, but those spiritually aware can feel it, the flickering of mediocre spiritual power. It fluctuated as if trembling.

DRIP
DRIP
DRIP
Remnants from the bottle spills out, dripping out slowly. The stale liquid begins forming a puddle, one of many within the rancid alleyway, smothered in shadow and darkness, cluttered with garbage. The silhouette of an individual sits pressed against the wall. From its outline, its hands appeared to be covering its mouth, body quivering as it lay flat against its sturdy support.
DRIP
DRIP
DRIP
The person's eyes clenched shut tightly, as if that alone would wrap them in a shroud of invisibility. Their presence, and reiatsu betraying not only their existence, but their location along with the level of their spiritual strength, or rather..the lack thereof. Was there something special about today? That all these spiritually aware beings, these humans who were more than others of their kind would find themselves coalesced in this location? Of the four reiatsu signatures, as it stood, right now this Hansha individual seemed to be the strongest, and the most dangerous. Whoever this cowering individual was...one could only hope they hadn’t bit off more than they could chew.

 

[Shinigami]

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"Really...? Who the hell do you think you are coming out of nowhere like that? And no I don't mean repeat what you just said, Mr. CEO. Give me a real answer as to why you are here."
He stands in silence, staring at her then raising an eyebrow curiously. Hide away objects in her possession all she may, things concealed in the shadow’s cannot remain a secret from Hansha. His sensory ability is phenomenal and combined with his shadows it becomes something even more. Height, weight, equipment on their person, and even a measurement of their power are all revealed to the man meaning that Yayoi’s knife is already revealed, naturally as it casts a shadow due to her attempt to hide it. How she may use this knife is unknown, as well as her abilities, just because he knows what she may have on her does not mean he can counter it. He continues to adjust his cuffs, his eyes shifting to the side to a more familiar presence, that of Sukoshi. He steps forward, asking a question of his own.
“You asked to see me yet you aren’t there to greet me -- Who is this?”
Killer or Fighter?
Before he can respond to this he hears glass hitting the ground, a bottle to be exact, in an alley adjacent to them. The eyes of this pale CEO narrowed as he glared down the shadowy alley and to be honest while the man was fleeing he did not like what this individual had on his person in the slightest. Some sort of sicko, perhaps he is that murderer that has been stalking Naruki all this time. Hansha is not a good man, the concept of a daily good deed does not exist to him. It is not his responsibility to do the cops and investigators job, it is not his place to give up information for free, and most important of all he does not get paid to do it. However, this individual had an inkling of spiritual power, human, a Fullbringer. Hansha’s precision sensing of Reiryoku told him this and while the well of this power felt shallow there was a slight hint that there was more. Yes, if one were to knock out the bottom of this well one would see that it ran immensely deep.
Hansha is a killer, not a fighter. He does not exchange blows with opponents, no he does not have opponents. He strikes, they die and become a victim. For Hansha to be caught up in a fight means he has miscalculated the threat level of a potential victim, able to see all that casts or touches darkness can be quite blinding. This is why he did not continue his attack against Tsukune’s partner.
At this point he has been staring down the alleyway for about a few seconds not saying a word. He is weighing his options currently. This man is a witness to his power, more than that he is a Fullbringer who can be quite troublesome down the line. Drinking alcohol in a dark alleyway, the ramblings of a drunken fool can snowball into rumors as outlandish as these rumors may be it can bring unwanted attention. An officer who may be a Fullbringer could pick up on this and begin tracking Hansha’s activity, or maybe even some other do-gooder. Silencing him now is the best option, however if the bottom of this well proves to be false and is immensely deep he will end up in a fight. He doubt’s the two with him would assist him, Sukoshi isn’t much of a fighter and Yayoi has no reason to aid him as they have just met and she currently feels threatened by him. This is a hard decision to make but he ultimately makes a choice by asking himself one simple question.
”Will attacking this man make me money?”
NO
A decision is made and so he decides to move this gathering elsewhere, away from this potential murderer.
”Tachibana-san, bear with me for a moment, you too Sukoshi. We need more privacy.”
Using his Fullbring ability, Kuro Sanpo (Black Stroll, 黒散歩), he drops himself, Sukoshi and Yayoi into their shadows and before they know it they arrive in his office. There is no strange wormhole effect, they arrive here as if they had walked through a door. His Reiatsu finally fades from the city, all at once as if a veil was lifted, the origin point for it being unknown save for the three who saw Hansha. Finally, with those he needs to speak to gathered together he begins to speak about business at last.
”Drinks anyone? Coffee, juice, water, alcohol? I do not keep soda or sugary drinks in my office so if that is your taste forgive me for not having it in stock.”
He walks over to his small collection of alcoholic beverages and begins pouring a glass of whiskey before getting down to business.
”Now, Tachibana-san, originally I wanted to test something, a theory Miss. Stephania and I had about you. Given your ‘talent’ and yes I do not consider playing video games a talent, we suspected you were a Fullbringer. But with your reaction to me and the sudden appearance of that knife it seems our theory has been confirmed fact.”
He paces over to his desk, leaning against it crossing one foot over the other while his free hand rests against the desk itself. He swirls the whiskey in the glass, eyes shifting between the two people in his office.
”That said, there is something more that Miss. Stephania would like to offer you now, more than just a sponsorship. This is what people like to call an opportunity.”
He tosses a card in her direction, it glides along the air right to her palms, one with a logo that should be all too familiar with Sukoshi.

After tossing it he takes a sip of his drink and looks at Sukoshi who probably has no idea why he was called to the office as he wasn’t even scheduled to work the show tonight. Hansha never worries about how he phrases his words, never bothers with sounding too harsh or too mean his words are spoken as they are meant to be. His question to Sukoshi is blunt and to the point and asked in a casual manner as if he were asking what the model’s favorite cereal was.
”Sukoshi, how about I take your Fullbring powers off of you, yeah?”
He takes another swig of his drink.
”You aren’t much of a fighter or killer and to be honest they seem like quite the burden on you. You can focus on living a normal life and put more time into modeling or retire without a care in the world. You know this company can put you up somewhere nice, far away from this world of Hollows and Shinigami. You’d be giving them to someone you trust and know at the very least, if not me, give them to Stephania. Unless…”
He stares at him from just above the rim of his glass, forming an inquisitive glare that had more curiosity behind it than malice.
”... You plan on keeping them, if so I would love to see how things develop from there. Anyway, both of you take some time to think over what I’ve said. Tachibana-san, you are welcome to explore our place here or I can send you home. Same for you as well Sukoshi, if you want to pace around and make an appearance on the show floor you’re more than welcome to.”
He takes another sip of his drink and sets it down on a coaster on the desk.
”Miss. Stephania is also here if either of you wish to speak to her. She is my boss so don’t think I did any of this without her knowing because… She already knows you two are in this building.”

 

[Shinigami]

x

"Well, it seems you and your CEO who is probably watching security cams somewhere, know what I can do now. Sure might be useful right? Well, my power could be yours, on some conditions that will prove to be more than fair… if you want to listen."
In part, it was true. Now she had a semblance of knowledge to his abilities, but that single ability could not be the depth of his power. Stephania had to know more; everything. Most important of all, yes. It will prove its usefulness to her if he accepts her own conditions to his official integration into Xaltation. There were no favors or gifts, this was a now a business transaction, and he has her undivided attention.
"Please, continue."
Her piercing golden eyes remain fixed on him, looking him directly in the eyes as he continues speaking, watching his movements, and paying close attention to his words. Her fingers slowly curl around her bicep, as if holding or hiding something against her body, away from prying eyes.
"If that was you, or your dark haired friend, and this was some sort of warning or test, I hope that is the last of it, because I was going to… offer my services to your cause, as a bonus, no money involved… just resources, which I could provide myself… My request is simple… my family and friends remain unharmed by yourself and your comrades. This includes Mikoto and his family, seeing as he is a dear friend."
"I can assure you, it was no such thing. And these are all your terms, Furaiyori-san?"
There was a single objective, and it was neither warning or test. Simply death, a truth she'll likely never divulge to the male. He was different than her, different than Hansha. He had bonds to others he holds dear to his heart. Blood ties and forged bonds that are alien to the woman. Stephania fiddles with a single thread held between her fingers, rolling it along the surface of her thumb. A stray thread taken inconspicuously from the man's wardrobe that quietly drove her mad, being out of place in her perfectly crafted event. She takes his conditions into careful consideration, as he continues speaking, making his case to the woman.
"Fact is, I'm getting older. I'm more seasoned compared to other Fullbringers, my experience could also help your younger allies too. I don't expect to be hired with open arms at first... And, I don't attack Shinigami unless they attack me. Only Hollows... And other fullbringer that threaten me first. One must defend ones self you know? What do you think... Sound fair...?"
For a brief moment, her eyes glance away from Tsukune, feeling the spread of Hansha's spiritual energy spread outwards once more. Her eyes turn back and lock on the chef after the CEO disappears from the vicinity, appearing elsewhere in the city, convening with Yayoi, soon to be joined by Sukoshi. For an instant, minute as it may have been and practically unperceived by anyone but her, the strings of all three and an unknown person became briefly intertwined, if not for Hansha's quick thinking to remove not only himself, but also the streamer and the model from the public. Now they were back in the safety of his private office to resume their conversation.

"Surely you understand, having experienced the cruelty of the world that we may not protect everyone we care about. While we at Xaltation have no interest in injuring civilians, other parties may not be so selective of their victims. Your outlook on life certainly differs from my own. The corporate world does not allow for many friendships, the number of people I trust can be counted on one hand, I hope I can come to trust you, and you I."
She extends her hand, offering it for a handshake, agreeing to Tsukune's terms and conditions to his contractual employment with the brand as the company chef, meant to prepare any and all beverages the staff, but most importantly, his true purpose with Xaltation.
"I understand the battlefield may not be the place for you anymore, perhaps it never was. If at any point you feel your abilities become a burden, you can willingly surrender your powers to the person of your choosing. Humans like us... we live a difficult and violent life, striving to survive simply to be allowed to exist, while other races only wish to exterminate us due to the nature of our abilities and nothing more."
Her handshake is firm despite the daintiness of her perfectly manicured hand. The elongated stiletto nails hide miniature barbs on the underside of the nails, barbs that long since had clutched a thread from the man back on the party floor, during his partner's collapse. As her hand pulls away from his, the thread that was only visible to her, now becomes visible to the man before her. While he's watching this, behind him, the articles of clothing on Kazuki shift and reform on his body, altering his clothing in the blink of an eye, just as she'd previously done to her own clothing moments before.

Maybe he will think her cruel and heartless, or perhaps, in her own twisted way, she is forcing a type of mercy on the man and his loved ones, unbeknownst to him. Either way, with a swift motion, she pulls off her golden earing, although beautifully intricate and decorative, it is as sharp as a blade, and with this, she severs the thread in an instant and it immediately dissipates. Every memory, every sentiment, every instance of interaction of Tsukune with Mikoto, Kazuki, and Haruka vanishes from their lives. Now complete strangers to one another. His ties were a liability, and if Mikoto ever proved to become a nuisance, she needed a loophole to their newly formed contract. With this, the two were no longer friends as their bond was severed by her technique Setsuzoku Kiru (接続 切, Lit. Connection Cut”), and she or company were free to act without worry of loosing a newly acquired ally. As for Kazuki and Haruka, arrangements will be made by secretaries to establish them outside of the island they reside on within the next few days, sustaining them through the company. No harm would come to them from her personally.
She gestures to the door.
"There are others I'm eager for you to meet."

 

[Shinigami]

"Surely you understand, having experienced the cruelty of the world that we may not protect everyone we care about. While we at Xaltation have no interest in injuring civilians, other parties may not be so selective of their victims. Your outlook on life certainly differs from my own. The corporate world does not allow for many friendships, the number of people I trust can be counted on one hand, I hope I can come to trust you, and you I."
A sad story, but one he's heard before… from Mikoto nonetheless. Why do Fullbringers harm one another when there is a much bigger threat at stake? The lives of humans everywhere are in trouble from these hollow beasts yet they squander their gifts on personal greed and self-indulgence…
"My outlook on this life doesn't much differ from your own, only I value life and wish to save as many people as I can with what gifts I have been given before I die… material items and fortune is nice… but, the most important thing in this world can't be bought with money…"
He said, to her look of sadness. In a way, he sort of knew what they would do next, since he signed a contract with her to protect the people he cared about. He noticed the change in Kazuki, and watched the man walk off. The man who was Tsukune's childhood friend, nearly 30 years of friendship… was gone in an instant. Tsukune was old, and wise now, and what she was doing was seen as a blessing… because now Kazuki would never have to worry about Tsukune again… no more of him staying up late at night waiting for the chef to come home… No more days of leaning on Kazuki's warm chest…
Tsukune was lost in his own shortened, and darkened world as Stephania continued speaking, about the cruelty of the world, but at the moment all he could think about was the connections she'd just destroyed, in mourning almost… without them having to be dead… but he was dead to all of them now.
"There are others I'm eager for you to meet."
She gestures at the door. Tsukune sighs, having picked up a bad habit of smoking from his friend Kazuki, he lit one and stuck it in his mouth, then put his hands in his black jacket, closing his eyes with a heavy sigh.
"Alright Madam…. Lead the way, I shall follow.."

And with the removal of one thread, a new one is woven… Tsukune though sad, is also eager to see where this one stretched out to.