[BSD-RP] Soul Society: Central Seireitei

[BSD]

The air they breathe has a lasting staleness, with each exhale it tastes sour and coarse from the clouds of dust that have settled in the area. The mammoth of a man shows no sign of exasperation, and if through the thickened huff of dust the Commander is concealed, the power of his breath is enough to shift the air before him. His silhouette reads Titan, every sculpted muscle bulges from place without the need to flex or tighten. The walls of the seireitei itself are more fickle than his skin. His indomitable mass sinks his massive frame into the pathed courtyard just from the sheer force of his weight and presence. A reishi-encompassed cobblestone crumbles beneath him, his body sinking and cratering into the ground. Like a deafening thunderclap, the sound of crashing and cracking splits throughout the area, the ground becomes severed in multiple places, creating a web of destruction purely from the Commander’s existence. The surrounding buildings crumble and fade away; From the Shining Knight an inescapable pressure can be felt, it is oppressive in nature, bold, loud, crippling. Through the dust a beacon emerges, bathed in emerald light. It scatters about in a kaleidoscope of color before being confined to a single entity. The emerald glow tightly hugs the man’s frame, his very skin now causing the sunlight to refract against it, manufacturing a shimmering glint atop the Goliath’s flesh.
“It— Is— Not— Enough!!!

And alas, the Commander roars, perhaps more outspoken than his predecessor, it is his mighty roar that creates a vacuum of wind that inhales and then subsequently dispersed the cloud of debris that had continued to linger. It reveals a disappointed man, fueled by the gravity of his expectations. The three who’d been cursed with masks would surround him, equidistant from each other, the bulwark that was Higen standing unscathed in the center. It is in the spotlight of a clear day that you can see the lack of imperfection—not a single nick or scratch is present on the Commander’s armor. For One-Hundred years he has weathered this storm, and fought this battle. For One-Hundred years he has sculpted this trio with his fists. For One-Hundred Years he has laughed in the face of their most valiant efforts. For One-Hundred years he has stood impenetrable as their commander. But, was it all for naught? “it isn’t enough”, he said. But did he mean it? Was he simply trying to motivate them even further? Push them beyond the limits they had already clearly laid out before him? He cared not even for the word “limit”, for the very word itself was exactly as it was defined; a limit, a crutch, to even think of such a thing was to already put yourself at a disadvantage.
In truth, while Higen was putting the pressure on the three masked, all of the eyes and pressure were on him. He was running out of time. The three that stood before him did not know that they were examples of the promises he had made to the Central-Forty-Six, to the people. His promises could not be seen as empty ones, or the lasting relationship he was attempting to build would crumble before his eyes. They had to be ready, they had to be prepared. They have been thrown into the fire, a regime that little could face. Every day, without rest, they were broken mentally, physically, and spiritually by the Commander—there was no time for breaks, no time to allow their curse to overwhelm them. They would defeat it, or he would defeat them. Perhaps through this all, they had felt the foundation of a genuine relationship with the commander building. They would be completely incorrect. While Higen had learned to both respect and understand to a better degree than the previous, to Him the Visored were simply weapons; weapons in which he had assured the Central-Forty-Six would be honed to perfection in a mere century. Perhaps he was wrong to make such promises, to sell such dreams. The strength of the trio would be the decider, but as of yet, the mighty knight was unimpressed.
Shrugging off whatever it was that had been thrown at him previously, he finds a center of gravity that he had never lost. His footing shifts so that his knees are congruent, his feet square out to create a more grounded stance. His reiatsu spikes just barely, in his standards. To his opponents—however, it would feel as if they had knelt before the Knight, his massive sword bearing down upon their shoulders as h e demands their respect. A blinding flash escapes him, his armor rendered flawless as his spiritual pressure coagulates around him, thick and violent, a verdant supernova oppresses them all. It fluctuates, like a star in the night sky, flashing before them—a distant sun, smoldering in front of their faces. Who would dare approach a monstrous foe? The grumblings of an aging man roll over his lips, stretching across the battleground as a thin echo and perhaps even a warning.
“Give me everything you have!”
He demands them, he orders them. There is a pause, his reiatsu raising the smallest of fractions, yet would be felt all the same. This would not be easy.
“….Or I will take it from you!”
They had known well enough now, that the commander was not one for idle threats—not unlike the former commander, his word was law. They knew that in this instance, a mistake would mean death, a death in which Higen would find no remorse or regret. Choices needed to be made, actions to be taken. If they could come close to conquering this challenge, their true enemies should take refuge in terror.

 

[BSD]

As she quickly came down on the Lieutenant, getting ready for hr Hakuda attack, for the first time in a long time she felt excited. Almost over joyed. She felt like she had finally though through her attacks. She was finally at an advantage. Himari’s small frame and the type of Zan she had was one reason she had to pick up her speed; she felt confident. She could do this.
But, suddenly the clouds were pushed away, her eyes met the Lieutenant, and nothing but fear filled her body at that moment.
He was too fast for her, she couldn’t move out of the way of the swirl Zanpakuto. And before she could ev shout, make any sound, the blade sliced into both of her arms, slicing them as easy as butter.
She didn’t even notice the complete damage at first. She was stuck in silence, stunned at what had just happened. And before she knew it her body fell to the ground.
She would lay there, limp, not even wanting to move. She couldn’t move even if she wanted to. But then, she remembered. Her arms! She tried to move one, but was greeted with nothing but pain. Pain and no movement. She tried the other and was greeted with the same sensation.
The blue haired girl quickly sat up, slowly looking to her left to see an arm not too far from her. Her arm
She struggled to make sense of it. How could this happen? In a training session no less. She would have never thought a friend would hurt her this way. She’d never thought she would be faced with something like this this soon.
As she forced the stub of her left arm up, she saw where her arm was got. Luckily, it wasn’t the whole arm. Just up to her elbow. But, seeing this made her sick. Seeing this suddenly made her be filled with nothing but shock and fear.
Before she could stop herself, she let out a loud scream. So loud it bounced off the walls as miserable tears fell from her eyes.

 

[BSD]

Katsuo saw her face, and heard her scream; and sighed, looking up to the sky then closing his eyes tight.
"Fuck…"
It wasn't very often he said what he was thinking but this time, he felt as though he went overboard with training with Himari… she'd probably never speak to him again. He couldn't blame her. The rain stopped, and the blades went back into their sheaths. He gently approached Himari and picked up her arms first, before trying to calm her down. Of course… getting her to stop crying and screaming was probably going to be the hard part for him… because nobody had done that for him before. He was silent, watching her throw that fit for a while. Like he was zoning out of the situation completely. Not on purpose, just hearing her go off like that gave him bad memories; horrible ones of his deep past in the southern rukon, and from a closer history with living with the Oda. They didn't comfort their youth. They let them scream, even into the darkest hours of the night. Anything that scared them they had to conquer it themselves, as a way of making them get stronger. You either faced it or died trying. He shook his head, getting a little annoyed with Himari's screams… was she a child or a warrior?
"Himari….HIMARI!"
She would have to hate him later. He went to lift her up off the ground, and carry her on his back, to 4th Division Barracks. He wouldn't leave her like that, not like Arashi left him and Oyama… no. He would see to it she's healed and alright before he just… goes. How would he explain this one to Tenzen? I'm sorry for nearly killing your squad member during a training session?
Katsuo had felt it. He was in a strange zone between being himself, and being what others could perceive as a monster; what…how could he talk to Tenzen after what happened to Himari? What would everyone think of him?! Worst of all, what would Himari think of him after this? He dashed her out of Division 5 barracks and headed for Division four.

5th Division Barracks >>>> 4th Division/Northeast Seireitei

 

[BSD]

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Some Decades ago…
”You want to use my power!? Don’t make me laugh! The battles I would fight for you would be boring, disappointing and unsatisfying!!”
Tenzen and his Hollow clash high above in a vast blue sky dotted by white clouds. The clashing of blades echo down to the rolling green hills and trees below. Under one particular tree lays a man with blonde hair whose appearance is vaguely similar to Tenzen’s, if not for his more relaxed facial expression, lack of facial hair and fangs they would be identical to one another. He stares out at the blood red lake while the fighting takes place above. With his head resting on one hand his only other free hand scratches his leg before picking up a small stone, tossing it at the river and then something strange happens. Instead of skipping the stone hovers across the surface of the lake as if not to disturb it, or rather the lake refuses to be disturbed by such a minor intrusion. It almost clears the entirety of it but begins skipping across towards the end.
”Hmph…”
He is unimpressed by the stone touching the lake, it was never supposed to touch it to begin with. The glasses that cover his eyes fall down to the bridge of his nose while he sits up, his legs now crossed and his glowing golden iris’s looking towards the sky. He fills his lungs with air before shouting towards the two fighting.
”Hey! He still doesn’t get it! Hit him harder!”
Tenzen’s eyes shift towards the ground, locking eyes with the man with glowing irises, the man known as Kokūzō, his Zanpakuto spirit.

This moment of distraction gives his Inner Hollow a chance to attack him while his guard is down. This sort of fight has been going on in his mind just as similar grueling match up’s have been going on in the physical world against the Captain Commander. Both of these battles are vital, with the objective being the same, gain control over this affliction or die trying. The stone that was thrown by Kokūzō hovered because, for the most part Tenzen is at peace with himself and accepted himself for what he is, except for the Hollow. He fights against it, refuses to acknowledge its presence yet must use his power to prove he is not a detriment or threat to the Seireitei. Tenzen HATES this Inner Hollow, it complicated his life, whatever sort of comradery he could have had with people is now lost forever all because they fear him, the Hollow. And yet it laughs, it taunts and teases Tenzen endlessly mocking him every chance it gets and never lets him have the peace he seeks.
”Why do you resist so much!? If we fight side by side we could be unstoppable! Think of the memories we could create! Imagine, we can sit by this lake and say ‘Ah those were the days!’ Don’t you want that!?”
”I want you gone, I was strong before you and I can be strong without you.”
The Inner Hollow begins to cackle at him, apparently there is something funny that Tenzen missed. Down below Kokūzō seems passive yet an air of disappointment radiates from him, he is disappointed in Tenzen, greatly. He finally accepted the true nature of his Zanpakuto but he seemingly can’t accept the one thing he has run from his whole life, the true nature of himself. He is so caught up in the past, so scared of repeating the mistakes his father and uncles made that he walks as if he is on egg shells. The existence of this Hollow only increases this fear and yes it is a fear one that Tenzen wont acknowledge. Suppressing and burying emotions and feelings is not control, suppressing them is a means for him to avoid dealing with them, to avoid admitting that he is afraid.
”Come on! Fight me like you did when we first met! You were untamed almost, fighting tooth and nail to survive against a foe who knew your every move, your every technique! Even now that hasn’t changed! I grow as you grow! The techniques you created and learned I acquired them as well! Now imagine what would happen if we were to fight together! Decades ago you were on the brink of combining our strength, I gave you an honest answer and yet you still didn’t trust me, didn’t trust yourself! What are you running from TENZEN!!!”
Denial
He freezes up and while being frozen he is struck and sent plummeting into the ground below. He knows what he is afraid of but won't admit it, won't say it out loud. He rises to his feet to continue this battle, still stubborn, still arrogant. He grips his blade in defiance and all the Hollow can do is look at him with sorrowful eyes and his Zanpakuto spirit only sighs and looks away. There is a moment of stillness between all of them and the only one getting agitated is the owner of this Inner World.
”Why won’t you come at me now? Out of tricks? The techniques I have at my disposal surely aren’t that shallow.”
The Hollow says nothing, only looks at him with those same sorrow filled eyes. Tenzen’s hand trembles with rage yet his face and tone of voice don’t project his feelings.
”What are you looking at? Surely you can’t be pitying me. I am the head of the strongest Warrior clan in the Soul Society, Captain of Fifth Division, Grand Chief of the Kido Corps, what are you besides a leech, invader, trespasser?”
”My existence is not evil, nor is it good. I just exist. What am I? I am you and without those titles you are me.”
Tenzen takes to the skys towards the Hollow clashing swords with him again, his body moves based on the anger he is feeling but he still won't embrace it, the truth staring him back in the face. Tenzen pushes the Hollow back but with his feelings out of sync, out of balance he misses steps in his footwork and is thrown back to the ground once again.
”I am nothing like you, I-”
”Then what makes us so different!? Tell me! Because the only one here who can see some sort of difference here is you! Practice what you preach loser!”
”Ouch.”
Side commentary from Kokūzō who only watches, he knows his insignificant input will urk Tenzen even if only a little bit. However, Tenzen accepted the fact the Hollow is trying to convey when it came to his Zanpakuto. He is Kokūzō and Kokūzō is Tenzen, they are one and the same, however, he won't see the Hollow in the same light and the more his feelings become inflamed the more he will be sent crashing back to the ground. This scene plays on over and over for who knows how long until Tenzen is racing across the sky at the Hollow, screaming with rage and fury. The Hollow is stoic, passive and calm in his demeanor as he fights off the raging Oda he inhabits. Like so many times before he is sent crashing down, this time landing next to Kokūzō.
”Kind of crazy, ain’t it?”
”What’s crazy!?”
”How you’re starting to look and act like him and how he is starting to look and act like you… Or is it the other way around? Or was there no difference to start with?”
Tenzen almost lost it and attacked his Zanpakuto spirit but the thought of this action gave him pause to think, to stop and look up at the Hollow who now wears the face of a calm man blessed with serenity.
”Gotta learn how to be free, no one is more free than us, all three of us to be exact. Literally nothing can stand in our way or stop us, we erase all obstacles and oppressors that stand in our way. In here you aren’t Tenzen the head of the Oda or Tenzen the Captain, or even Tenzen the Vizard. In here you are just Tenzen, in here you are free from all of that and you seem to have forgotten that somewhere along the way. You thought him showing up was going to change that? That he was gonna challenge your freedom?”
Tenzen’s eyes narrow at the Hollow, that is indeed what he thought. This invader came in and took on traits he tried to bury deep within his psyche, within his soul only to have them manifest before him physically. Something he never wanted to confront head on now stands before him. He stands in his own way.
”Just let go cause if you keep this up we’re all going to get killed either by that Commander guy or by execution. I don’t want you to die and believe it or not neither does he. Kind of stupid I have to spell it out to you cause you’re to arrogant and headstrong to see it even after all these beatings. You put shackles on yourself, restricted your own freedom and now you fight yourself to keep the freedom locked away to live out your own version of freedom. But hey, do what you want, suppress him if you can, then we’ll just find a way to get rid of him for good. Then you can go back to living a lie.”
He looks towards his Zanpakuto spirit who looks disheartened by his actions thus far. He holds his blade to see his reflection, a permeate frown etched on his face, the thing he was fighting against this entire time.
”Let go… huh?”
”Yep.”
Acceptance
Tenzen takes to the skies, but unlike all the times before there is no aggression in his ascent. He stands across from the Hollow and both of them are relatively calm, both having relaxed faces.
”Like looking in a mirror aint it? Heh.”
”Hehe, sure is.”
”Took you long enough to see it.”
The Inner Hollow dashes forward and impales Tenzen with his blade, there is no blood on the blade upon exiting out his back nor does blood fall from the wound. The Hollow chuckles with Tenzen doing the same before driving his blade into him. The results are the same, no blood on blade or from wound. They let go of their respective weapons and back away from one another, each blade vanishing into a golden mist.
”Ready to accept me completely and not just my power?”
”If I don’t accept you then, technically, I’m not accepting myself.”
”Aht, aht, aht. Careful how you phrase that or else it sounds like you’re doing it cause you have no choice. You keep saying “I this” and “I that”. There is only us. Me, you, and Kokūzō down there. Come on ,you’re the Buddhist here! You should be the one saying this crap, not me!”
”Heh, yeah you’re right… I picked up these teachings for my own selfish reasons. It was easier to bury my violent and aggressive ways with it. But then you came along and disturbed all of that. All those teachings and-”
”Come on man! Even if I don’t have one I know those teachings come from the heart! You’re born with it, just gotta embrace it!”
The two chuckle for a moment and the sound of clapping nears them, Kokūzō was applauding the success of a new relationship, a new balance.

”Good work you two! Or rather good work Tenzen! Took you all these years and a bit of help but you finally made it!”
”You helped him!?”
”Of course I helped him! Why wouldn’t I help myself? Not like he’s gonna get it right away. Give it some time and he’ll start to understand it more clearly.”
Time was indeed the factor needed to understand himself completely. Time spent with the Vizards and the Captain Commander opened his eyes more and more to his true nature, who he really is as a person. Maybe Higen saw it, saw how aggressive he was becoming day by day, year by year and probably took it as a sign of his Hollow slowly taking over. How many years has it been since a proper Oda walked the Seireitei, one not afraid to speak out against stupidity, against the powers that be or establish a clear line between strong and weak. It’s been too long. The once stiff, awkward Tenzen slowly grew into himself, became who he really is and what others feared his Clan for being. But he wasn’t like Yurui who didn’t know how to turn off his aggression or like his father who is normally calm but will black out and have bouts of raging violence. No, Tenzen found something that allowed him to throttle it, to properly control it without shackling it…

悟 (enlightenment)
He can aim and use his rage, violence and aggression whenever he chooses. His mind no longer contemplates the thought of going too far, regardless of the strength of his foe he will do what he must to defeat them. These past one hundred years he has fought the man who holds the title of Captain Commander, a title that brands him as the strongest soul among all Shinigami. If he did not train against a man like this for one hundred years then he surely would never had reached enlightenment. His soul was finally liberated and free.
Present day
Ultimate Soldier
The oppressive weight of the Knight’s Reiatsu rains down on the area, buildings vaporize, the tile at the feet crack and buckle. For all this oppressiveness that exists it does not stop the Oda just as he did once before he counteracts the Commanders Reiatsu with his own. Never again will something staunch his freedom. Withstanding this is the easy part but withstanding an assault from the Commander is a different story.
“….Or I will take it from you!”
”You will take nothing from us!”
”You will take nothing from us!”
With his mask on, Tenzen shouts back at Higen, challenging his authority or rather challenging his statement. He lashes out at the Commander, does he seek to face him with melee? This has never bode well for The Mad Buddha but maybe this time it will? After launching himself his left hand moves around in front of his mask, offering up a prayer as his golden Reiryoku flows from his hand.
”Bakudo #76: Bonshō!” (梵鐘, Buddhist bells)
”Bakudo #76: Bonshō!”

A giant metallic bell suddenly falls upon Higen, who will quickly find that striking the bell produces a ringing that will throw off his balance, double his vision, produce a headache, and internal damage. Tenzen stops his dash at the halfway point, channeling his Reiryoku into the bell to strengthen it and considering the spell was cast with his mask on it’s durability is that much more potent.
”Arashi, strike the bell with your light! Yasu, attack him from underground! I’ll reinforce this spell!”
”Arashi, strike the bell with your light! Yasu, attack him from underground! I’ll reinforce this spell!”
Tenzen is taking no chances, even though his spell is powerful in his Hollow enhanced state this is the Commander he is dealing with and as such he won't be pulling any punches against him. On this day, to not only stand against but prove his words wrong he will actively be trying to Kill the Commander with everything he has.
”Take refuge in the hollow solace of metal. Obstacles and hindrances block all paths to freedom. Sound will betray and invoke fear. Let freedom be temporary and isolation, forever.”
””Take refuge in the hollow solace of metal. Obstacles and hindrances block all paths to freedom. Sound will betray and invoke fear. Let freedom be temporary and isolation, forever.”
With the use of Kōjutsu Eishō (後述詠唱, Spoken-After Incantation) the spell is strengthened and quite possibly becomes nigh unbreakable. However, Tenzen never purely only has one gambit, no, this man is always steps ahead of his opponents. His body pulses with a white outline while his right hand begins to glow golden with Spirit Energy. His left hand, which was used to cast the Bakudo, now rests on the hilt of his Wakizashi. He has prepared for a number of responses from the Commander, but this isn’t just a One-on-One battle, the Shining Knight also must take into account the abilities and tactics of the other two Vizards as well.
Though it is not seen by anyone else, the Oda’s Inner Hollow stands beside him, a psychotic grin on his face., rubbing his chin.

”What if we pull it off? What if we finally manage to kill the green bastard?”
”Then so be it. Central Forty-Six will just release Murasaki again or maybe someone else. Or maybe this time the seat of Commander will go vacant.”
”Good point, the out come of this doesn’t matter to us.”
”It never has.”

 

[BSD]

Her ears were ringing. Her eyes couldn’t see anything. And the pain was something the young girl never felt in her life.
At this moment, she felt shame that she never felt in her life. That is what caused more pain than her arms being gone. She had though she was doing a good job, she though she had him. But of course, she didn’t calculate her moves correctly. She thought with creating the diversion, she was going to have to have time to attack the Lieutenant from above, her most comfortable position to fight in. But it didn't work.
She failed.
She heard the screams of the Lieutenant but she ignored him, her screams now filled with rage. 100 years, and she had nothing to prove. 100 years, and she got her arms cut like butter on the Lieutenants blade. She felt weaker than she ever felt. She felt like she was gonna vomit.
”What will Tenzen say, coming back to see his 4th seat in this state? She already disappointed him enough. What will happen when he sees this? And Arashi, she didn’t even wanna hear or see Arashi.
She was happy they both were with the captain commander, maybe she didn’t have to see their disappointment in a long time.
She felt the Lieutenant pick her up, and she caught with all her might to make him put her down. Screaming at him, kicking her feet, but to no use. He quietly carried her out of the training room, and Shunpo’d to the 4th division.

Travaling >>>>>>>To 4th, Northeats Seireitei