BSD
Administrator
The first of those summoned by the Commander begin to fall in. Without hesitance, without reluctance, they react to his dominant presence as any would. Not unlike his predecessor, he was a madman for order, for obedience. This like many other of his traits, were highly regarded for, and respected. Although the Stealth Corps Commander was ordered to send out summons for a few others, there arrival changes nothing, especially the urgency, surrounding the Captain Mukuro and Honoka Oki debacle. Just as Higen insists--no--demands, Kyomu begins his report.
”As everyone is aware, Fuyuko Kasumi is the current Lieutenant of the First Division, a spot once occupied by Honoka Oki. While Head Lieutenant Kasumi was promoted to the position there was never an official demotion of Honoka, at least not in a manner which would explain such a drastic change in Lieutenants. It is a fact that would only transpire if Honoka had died or...if she was missing.”
The Commander remains stoic, unfettered and unmoved by the reiteration of facts by a much more mature Kyomu than he has come to know.
”Despite Honoka’s disappearance, there seemed to be little to no fuss, nor was there any manner of explanation given, at least not genuinely or truly. As not only a Noble but a high ranking Shinigami of the Seireitei this was a rather...huge matter, where not even rumors could be heard prattling from the snoopers of the Ninth Division.”
There was no lapse in his truth, Honoka fled a near century ago, not completely unbeknownst to Higen. She was not exactly hiding, but simply remained in a place that she herself had deemed the safest. He was not ignorant to her crimes, to her whereabouts, to her intent. And perhaps it was in false judgement that he gave her the time, the opportunity to make herself proper. It was the small remaining speck of their former relationship that permitted the breaths she took, and nothing more. Kyomu, despite having a connection with the woman herself, was a man of action and nothing more. There was no empathy to be had, no second chances outside of the one Shobatsu had given him many years ago. Every soul that he came across was constantly on trial, a trial in which he would unhesitantly act as the executioner.
”Intelligence, revealed that the Former Head Lieutenant was believed to be pregnant, and while the father has not been...technically confirmed there are...assumptions. Regardless, it stands true that Honoka abandoned the Seireitei and for One hundred years remained unaccounted for, had not returned nor had she been brought in.”
Truth, again perhaps in Higen’s own error, he believed the situation to be manageable. Akarui, while not at fault, was tasked with silently dealing with the matter over time, a Mother’s love shared between the two, perhaps could assist us in reaching the most rational outcome with Honoka, and the child. His speculatory existence was no secret to Higen, either, confirmed some time ago by her own wife. Still, he did not act maliciously, or with haste. While patience was a virtue, perhaps it was the cause for this situation’s inevitable escalation.
”Intelligence further revealed that Lieutenant Katsuo Oda has been in communication with the fugitive Oki, further confirmed when he was apprehended leaving from the Oki clan Compound. It is known that the Lieutenant has voiced his stance regarding the standards of the Gotei 13 many times in the past, and it is this same stance that would undoubtedly have him aid the fugitive subject in question rather than taking any action towards her apprehension. The young woman who was also found in the vicinity and as she is the subordinate of Lieutenant Oda I was unable to determine her involvement if any, so she was detained as well.”
While Akarui was given a specific task, a directive from the Commander himself, no other shinigami was supposed to have consciously known of the former Head Lieutenant’s whereabouts, and to interact with the fugitive constantly without report was.. Treacherous in it’s own way. Treachery, however great, was punishable the same without descrimination. Higen was familiar with Katsuo and his stances, and whilst his activism was usually harmless, it had gotten him along with a comrade into a great deal of trouble.
”When I arrived at the Oki compound where Honoka was revealed to be, I attempted to bring her in with words alone. Unfortunately, before I could even finish speaking the former Head Lieutenant became immediately hostile. Deeming verbal negotiation to be pointless, I had intended to kill her on the spot, if not for the intervention of the former matriarch of the Oki Noble Family. The elder Oki appeared to reprimand Honoka Oki, but then moved to negotiate the terms of her surrender. I warned her...I warned them both about the severity of the situation and the ramifications of their actions and its effect on their clan...they didn’t listen, and Honoka instead chose to attack me and my men.”
Despite the plethora of thoughts that wandered in the Commander’s head he remained silent, his expression unchanged. In a way he was confused, almost shocked at Honoka’s actions compared to her more composed demeanor in previous times. But then he remembers, just as quickly as he had forgotten, the mother bear often acts frantically, uncouth, when it feels as though its cub is in danger. While this was understood, and even respected, it could not be excused. Before Kyomu speaks again The Shining Knight had already speculated on the outcome as a result of Honoka’s defensive actions. Through attacking her detainers, she begged for the wrath of a beast, a weapon, in which Higen tried his best to keep far away from Honoka, the child, from it all.
”As the clan had worked to hide the fugitive, had refused to corporate and had made their stance against me known during the fulfillment of my duties, the Oki clan were deemed a threat to the Seireitei, and so I killed every man, woman, and child in the compound of the Oki clan with the exception of Honoka herself and the former matriarch. I left the older Oki alive admittedly to act as collateral to threaten Honoka should she choose to attack again. Securing the fugitive, along with Honoka’s child and your family that was present at the time, I rendezvoused with the rest of my men and we returned here to present the parties to you. End report.”
The grumblings of a frustrated old man escape his lips, resonating throughout the hall, seemingly reverberating against the walls as he fills the room with his presence. He feels like a titan, even sitting, his very essence overbearing and hanging over them all with the weight of a massive anchor. His finger taps gently against his chin, as the phantom falls back into position. The Commander had even felt the need to speak, slowly, he engages in opening his mouth, in parting his lips, in rolling his tongue, but before he can declare anything there’s a-
”No…”
”Katsuo, our family accepted you into our home despite our rules against adoption. Bending to the wishes of a distraught mother who gave birth to a set of twin boys, one of which was still born. They bent the rules established by the First Oda to mend her heart and gave you a home. This home you were raised in has strong loyalty to the Gotei Thirteen, we do not question small grievances here and there because they are but small cogs that make up the grand machine. Everything we do as Shinigami is to maintain balance, peace, and order. That woman, Honoka Oki, is a criminal, a traitor and you know this. Yet you still visited her, knowing full well what would happen if she were to be caught. Her clan, slayed by the hands of Captain Mukuro, if not so driven by his duties, what if he paid a visit to the Oda clan soon after? What if he slaughtered them next?”
The commander remains silent. Normally he would question Captain Oda was speaking out of turn, but it was uncharacteristic. As a family matter, he can not punish passion. He remains attentive as the Kido Chief continues.
”Through your actions you have endangered the lives of the Oda, our ability to serve the Seireitei, and most importantly you’ve endangered my family. You do not think, you cast judgement without thought, you wish leniency upon our enemies like the Quincy, the same filth that rented our home asunder sixteen-hundred years ago. They are not friends, we kill them without hesitation. Honoka Oki left her post without a word, and gave birth to a child who should not exist. A child you probably showered with gifts, a traitor whom you visited, a traitor you should have killed. If not killed, reported.”
”Let it be known to all that the Oda have no involvement in this, if I must stand before Central Forty-Six to prove this I shall. These are the actions of an individual and so I shall cast judgement upon said individual for his crimes, his slight against my Clan, and for endangering the lives of my Clan. Katsuo, I strip you of the Oda name, the gates of the Oda Manor will forever be locked and barred to you. You may think this judgment harsh as you do all things in the Seireitei but we Oda do not and will not mingle with criminals and traitors. We faithfully serve the Gotei Thirteen with all of our being. From this day forward you are now known as Katsuo Toshiyuki, return to your original last name. You will no longer act out false notions of ‘justice’ in the Oda name, should you act out it will be in your name, alone.”
”I have nothing to add on the Oki situation other than all traitors should be killed. That is all.”
"Saiko has nothing to do with the actions of myself… and, your wrong Captain Oda, Captain Mukuro. I think about my Duties, do my job, but I also worry for the future of the Gotei 13…. If we continue killing those who have been nothing but loyal all their lives for the seireitei we are no better off than we were 100 years ago, or even 1000…. I am Loyal to my Head Captain and Gotei 13, but I believe Honoka, and the child deserve a chance at life. If you kill the boy's mother in front of him or anything resulting in Violence… what would be the benefit of such a thing? Teach him the laws… teach him our ways, help Honoka…. And I see a warrior fit for the Gotei 13, someone future shinigami could stand beside… if we were to kill them both it would be a waste of resources and… souls… I didn't report it because I too wanted Honoka to come back on her own time, and peacefully…"
"Your decision, Captain Oda, although painful, is an understandable one… I want you, and all here to know that I agree with it. My actions were my own, a pathetic attempt at restoring the kinship between the Oda and Oki… I know now how Naive I am… to think Clans could even get along with one another and settle their differences in a peaceful manner… I just… wanted to make my mother happy with seeing them again, getting along with her former and new family… family is something important to have in this world… it makes everyone feel belonged, cherished. I can't have that if I put it in danger…"
"Similar to that is one's squad… and Division Thirteen is all I have left now. If you feel you must, Demote me for my actions… but please… don't lock me away. Don't send me away, because I feel I can still do good, for the Seireitei and Division Thirteen… I can still fight for my home, and the people that are still Under me… Not as an Oda, but as Katsuo Toshiyuki…. The boy from the Rukon… with little to nothing to his name… say for a promise to a friend that one day when a Shinigami tells a spirit that they are going to a better place, they really mean it… and that it is not just a white-faced lie to get the spirit to enter a place filled with misery and pain… so much pain…"
"This has already stripped me of my honor… Don't strip me of my life and Duty too… when I can still use it to serve the seireitei, and the Head Captain…Please don't punish Saiko. She was looking for me, we were going to return to 13th Division Barracks and start working on something that could help us all train better… at least in theory…"
----
“Silence.”
The Commander did not ask for any tirades, any long dialogues, any insignificant words to justify a fool’s mistake. He was not here to invest energy into people’s feelings, into their personal problems. If anything, this would serve as a reminder that the many families of Soul Society do not have the Gotei 13 in the chokehold as they did in the past. Instead, your family, your nobility, none of it matters; strength and order are the things that keep everyone protected. The blood coursing through you or the spelling of your surname does not dictate anything, here. Look how easily the Oda were exiled, and then reinstated when willing to fall in line. Look how disposable the Oki had become, at the hands of an imminent betrayal. Solidarity, not family, remains important. The Commander almost released a chuckle. The bold nature of the Lieutenant was both admirable, and laughable.
“Do you forget you lie in chains? Or perhaps you forget where you stand. Do you know who you address? Speak without my permission again and your fall from the Oda’s grace will be the least of your worries.The Gotei is not an order of evolution, of change. It is an order of strength, and nothing else. It is our strength, our power, that retains the balance of souls. It is our power, and strength, that keeps our enemies at bay. Soon young Katsuo, you will be put in a situation where your soft ideals will be the end of your life, and perhaps the lives of many you love. Think long and hard about this, your, and our future depends on it.”
“Now…”
Just as he finishes his reprimand, the room begins to fill.
“Present as r-requested, Commander."
Omoni’s own words of curiosity are drowned out by the relatively present and vocal tone of the formerly timid Captain Nakamoto. Both of them had arrived as requested, filling the room and taking their respective places beside their Captain peers. The Commander leans further back in his chair, the massive throne finds its arms and back shifted from the shape of a lion’s head, with massive horns stretching out from behind the Shining Knight. He relaxes, and stares at those before him.
Captain Mukuro had become a man of near genius intellect and tactical prowess, as opposed to an angry hate-filled boy they detested the former commander. The development of his own views and ideals, and the separation from the sinister motives of his Clan, allows the Captain to put his duty first, perhaps more so than any other. His maturity has taken him far above exploiting the weaknesses of his peers, and doing his best to collapse them mentally so that should the time come, he would be able to strike relentlessly and without warning. He, like many others, now understands the strength in union, and the power of solidarity.
Captain Oda, a man corrupted by the soul of a hollow, has since found enlightenment. His stern fist, his ruthlessness, his dedication to the military’s success. All of which, coupled with his very own undeniable strength and skill, forced Higen to respect and acknowledge him despite what the man had truly become. The two of them would never be friends, but beyond anything they had an understanding that relied on each other to keep the integrity of the Gotei 13 alive.
Captain Nakamoto, the frail boy who nursed the Commander back to health. His ingenuity and prodigal skill when it came to the medical arts no doubt lifted him to the position of Captain, but it appeared at first that his spine was left with his formerly seated position. He cowered, he ran, he hid, he avoided conflict at any and every turn. If you are a medic or not, in times of war, everyone must show the will and drive to fight. With time, he shed his youthful flaws, maturing into a Captain worthy of his peers’ respect. He would have ample opportunity to prove himself to the Commander in the days to come.
Captain Yugure, a product sculpted by Kyomu himself, had grown to be a formidable combatant. She has the tools, the youth, the speed, the strength. Her lack of identity is what will hold her back as a Captain, and once she finds herself, whether it be on the field of battle, or in the face of death, her true potential will realize itself. It is her, and the other young Captains that are the very future of the Gotei 13.
Captain Hageshi, the newest of the bunch. The Hag finally decided to stop being stubborn, and realized that we had been ushered into an era of complacency, where her strength was needed to shift the scales. She would restore the Combat Division to its former glory, of this he was sure.
A look at all of these faces only conjures one memory from his mind-“Weakness.”
“That is what my eyes see.”
"Lieutenant Atsuko Ise of the Seventh Division reporting, Commander Kagayaki"
"An unknown assailant has murdered Captain Itsuki Asakura. Upon my investigation into his whereabouts, I discovered his body within the Kuroari district in the Rukongai. Captain Asakura's body was bloodied, in tatters, and dirtied by the unidentified presence."
"Currently, his corpse is undergoing an autopsy at the Fourth Division's barracks. Our enemy had no respect for what this represents. I did not elect to allow for this to go with his body, as its meaning and importance belong to you, Commander.
As if there wasn’t enough to worry about, the Seventh Division Captain’s absence was more than just happenstance. He had opted to ask for proof but the presence of the Captain’s Haori before him would have to suffice. The Commander scoffs, looking at the Lieutenant on the floor without the slightest change in expression. Behind her, Lieutenant Hyouzoku kneels into place. Thoughts plague the Commander. How is he to measure the events that have taken place? Are they the welcoming of a dark era? The beginning of a storm that lies in wake along the Horizon? Like crashing tides against golden sand the Shining Knight is bombarded with problems, problems that require him to develop a solution. Partly, Higen is unhappy. Like shackles, he is bound to the responsibilities left to him by Shobatsu’s imprisonment. Ironically, it is he who truly feels like a prisoner. In the past, he did whatever possible to avoid responsibility. And now, he has more responsibility than anyone standing before him.
“Thank you, Fall In.”
He commands, addressing lieutenant Ise with his thanks, yet addressing both of them as he’d watch them fall into place in respective corners of the room. The Commander’s Gaze shifts outward, as he collects the expressions of all those gathered before him today. Akarui, Captain Nakamoto, Captain Oda, Captain Yugure, Captain Hageshi, Captain Mukuro, Head Lieutenant Kasumi, Lieutenant Ise, Lieutenant Hyouzoku; Even the prisoners, Katsuo, Saiko, Honoka. Higen cared not about limiting conversations to be had around children, their minds fully capable of retaining the gravity of each word said; a memory they would hold forever. His eyes scatter across the room, as Lieutenant Kiyoshi slithers in behind his Captain. The Ise woman had every right to report the death of her Captain, but just why was he here, uninvited, disrespectful, he blew clouds of smoke in the rear of the room. Nibui’s presence was not unfelt, but at least he had the sense and decency to wait outside as Hageshi’s escort.
Higen grumbles beneath his breath.
“Careful young Shusuke, the last man to smoke in this hall did not make it back to his barracks. The woman responsible happens to only be mere feet from you.”
An ample warning, to some a simple jest or an attempt at embarrassment, but those who knew the Commander well knew of his seriousness. His gaze darts over to Shusuke before his orbs lock onto the center of the room again. The sounds of a victim of a very long day escape the Knight as his stance becomes erect. He rises from his throne, and takes a single step down from its raised platform to stand statuesque before the audience.
“Honoka Oki.”
“A century ago, you abandoned your post, you abandoned the Gotei 13, you used your influence and clearance to not only visit, but fraternize with the traitor Murasaki and conceive a child. In an act of good faith I have let you and this child carry on in exile, with hopes that a peaceful resolution would present itself to me, to us. I was naive in this matter. I allowed our friendship, or former friendship to give you the freedom you did not deserve. It is because of this, your clan lay in ruins, nearing extinction. It is because of this, that you and your child stand before me today, under my thumb.
He pauses, exhaling deeply as he ignores the state of those in the room. His eyes come to a close, never once making eye contact with the traitorous criminal.
“I cannot disagree with Captain Oda. Traitors are the worst kind of enemy, the enemy in which you thought was a friend. There is no one more deserving of death. However, as it happens.. I am not in the habit of killing children. Many in here, and out there, will protest to see you face the Sokyoku. But unlike me, they do not understand the war to come, and how we need minds and soldiers to not only fight it, but to win it. Since you seem to enjoy your visits to prison entirely too much, this is not an option for you. I will say this only once. Join the academy as a probationary instructor, prepare our shinigami with your knowledge and skill so that we may continue our existence, or face the halberd immediately.
He pauses again, perhaps they would think the traitor was receiving a clean break, maybe the commander looked too lenient or weak. In truth, they did not know Honoka in the way that he did. Her family was no more, her lover imprisoned for eternity. At what level did she value her life? What punishment would death or imprisonment truly be? No, Higen would do much worse than either of those things.
“But hear this..”
“The boy will be taken by me, raised next to my own son, in my home. He will never recall the stories of his father. He will never again know the touch of his mother, he will be taught to loathe and despise the treason you have both committed”
“But, he will live.”
“This is the best you have done for him. This is the life your decisions have given him. Those were your choices, your mistakes.”
With cruelty, the commander rips the woman’s heart from her chest, and gives her a truth that will seem like nails on a chalkboard to hear. How would she respond?--It didn’t matter. She would comply, or die, and the Gotei 13 would be the same tomorrow as it is today. He waves his hand gently, almost like a swat, a man swatting away insignificant problems that he had no interest in dealing with or investing too much of his energy into. He looks over to the omnitsukido agents, barking at them from a distance.
“Release Lieutenant Toshiyuki and his companion. Perhaps his mistakes will act as motivation moving forward. Without the Oda name to lean on, I implore you to shape your own identity and to most importantly, do your job.”
“On the subject..”
“Lieutenant Hyouzoku, Lieutenant Toshiyuki.”
“As acting heads of your divisions in the absence of a Captain this affects you the most. The world of the living has been steadily compromised over the course of a century or more. Attacks, more frequent; devastating events like the Togabito happening without cause or explanation. With officer Maeda’s Hueco Mundo expedition failing, and Officer Mochizuki’s hell expedition also… failing, we can only begin to assume that this influx of events in both Karakura Town and Naruki City are due to an increasing number of active spiritually aware and powerful humans.”
“From this moment forward, all interaction with said individuals that does not include their destruction or detainment is completely forbidden, a fatally punishable offense. Furthermore, our presence in both cities needs to increase exponentially, monitoring for these threats, and handling them with great haste. Both of your jurisdictions are, at the very least temporarily, crossed; You are both to use any and all resources available to destroy or contain enemies that threaten either Karakura Town or Naruki City. You will be collaborating more with Captain Hageshi’s division when lacking the manpower to complete said tasks, while also being assigned specific medical units by Captain Nakamoto to help maintain a foothold in the World of the Living during battle.
The Commander had set the focus on a particular group, a particular enemy, but in truth they were the least of their worries. If anything, they were a bug to be squashed beneath their feet; a pest. He was not ignorant to the threat posed by both the quincy and the arrancar respectively, but had the least amount of information when it came to developing a plan against them. He had still suspected his former third seat’s involvement with a Quincy woman, but did not press the issue further, only for the reason that he may unwillingly bring the quincy to their ruin with his treachery, giving Higen the advantage he so readily desires.
“Captain Oda.”
Complete any open projects with your Kido weapons and have them deployed to the respective divisions capable of operating them as a front line of defense. You, and your chosen group of priests will work directly with me to also develop a multi-tiered barrier capable of further enforcing the barriers of the Seireitei. I need this done immediately, as the darkness encroaches.
A deep exhale escapes him, his posture shifting to find more comfort in standing so painstakingly still. His visage diverts to Captain Hageshi, new to her captaincy.
“Captain Hageshi. You have granted my wish and reached for Captaincy, and you know of all people know the simplicity of your purpose. You are to develop the most pristine fighting force the Gotei 13 has seen in one-thousand years. Your division is to be feared again, envied again; I will have it no other way. I give you full permission and control over actions that would otherwise be shunned upon in order to complete this task. The bulk of our military is in your hands.
The Commander begins to pace, only in a small circle in his immediate area, until his back is completely turned to the chair in which he once sat. His hand reaches to grope the throne’s arm, delicately in an almost reminiscent cadence.
“I will be transparent with you all.”
“We may have appeased Central-Forty-Six with our training in recent years but…”
“I fear we still do not yet have the strength to face what is to come. While we stand here, the Gotei 13 has still not fully recovered from the events of the Shattered Dimensions event. With Captain Asakura’s death, there are only five individuals, not including myself, that wear a white coat.”
The commander takes a pondering pause, pivoting his body to face the crowd again, his stance firm and unmoving. A vein along his forehead bulges from its stationary position as his blood courses through his body.
“Our enemies do not just come from beyond our walls, or beyond our realm. Many of them may be beneath our very noses.
“Shobatsu Murasaki-”
“A man who imprisoned himself after committing his crimes; I am unsure if Muken has the ability to hold him indefinitely. And should he rise from his prison, I do not know what monster has grown and festered in those chains, or if it is one even more dangerous than the one that went in. We need to bolster our forces, in any and all ways, we need a show of strength to tell just what heights we have reached; what our hard work has created.”
He looks to Lieutenant Ise, the shadow of the fallen Captain, and thinks of the strife that the rukongai districts have endured under their watch, even on the brink of revolt.
“We will have this show of strength, we will discover the most powerful among us. But we will also make it a spectacle.. Yes.. We will pull the districts back into the fold and give them something to cheer for, something to watch. There will be a tournament. A tournament to identify the strongest in our ranks; no, not just in our ranks, the strongest in all of Soul Society. Let us cast our net far and wide, and utilize every resource we have to find warriors for our war, and to eliminate the weak.”
“Captain Yugure, you will host this tournament, using Ninth division and its resources to broadcast the coverage while also spreading the word to gather participants in the meantime. We have to have coverage in a multitude of districts and spread arenas throughout Soul Society to create the best viewing experience. I leave this solely up to you.”
“Captain Nakamoto, Coordinate with Captain Yugure to find suitable locations to pitch medical tents capable of resuscitating participants when needed or deserving. “
“Captain Mukuro, Take this opportunity to thin your cells, spend your time gathering prisoners of the Maggot’s nest you deem suitable to compete.”
“All Captains, excluding Yasu, your participation is required. There will be no rules, no restraints, no limitations. Ensure that every participant knows that at any moment, their life could be forfeit. “
“Lieutenant Ise, the moment the autopsy of the Captain’s remains is complete I want a report sent to Captain Nakamoto first, which he will then share with Head Lieutenant Kasumi based on his findings.”
“Two weeks time.. In Two weeks time we will find out who is the most powerful of you all. In Two weeks time we will unify the Rukongai and the Seireitei in a way foreign to all times previous to now. In two weeks time, we will have…”
