[BSD-RP] Soul Society: Northwest Seireitei

[Shinigami]

Now stood before the Captain, Nibui expects the assault to continue from her but instead, she does not step forward, she does not swing a weapon. She stands tall, her eyes transfixed on her old friend and soon she speaks up.
“Didn’t ya’ hear me the first time?”
Come to think of it, Nibui isn't entirely certain of what the Captain is referring to, perhaps the inaudible mumbles that he heard soon after his thrashing is what she spoke of? Regardless, those words were no clearer than his mind at that point. He inhales, preparing to give out a response in a louder tone than he is used to.
"I ha-..."

Then he is interrupted by the boisterous roar of the Captain. Her words are clear and to the point. Momentarily however, it's as if he had just been battered once more. Shell-shocked by the statement, he stands there in silence briefly. Listening to whatever else the Captain has to say, this time with his attention fully granted.
“You’re my Lieutenant! N’ if I’m wrong...I’m gonna make me right!”
In all these years, Omoni Hageshi has changed naught but her position and in this sense, there is comfort in this familiarity and stasis. With the Seireitei as a whole being a chaotic plane, shifting dramatically in response to a single action, this is most definitely a comfort. In this comfort, Nibui remains silent, he stares on towards the Captain but not in wait for her action or more words. Instead he stands there in contemplation. Just what is he to reply with, words? Actions? Both?
His right hand still clutches Jubokko, the length of the blade nearly matching his height and yet it holds steady in a single hand. His charcoal tinted eyes glance down toward the wooden blade as it sprouts a few small branches here and there, crimson leaves budding among the tips of those offshoots. Then his focus returns to Omoni and he speaks out loud, nowhere near as loud as the Captain herself.
"Then come and make it a reality!"
As the final syllable of reality leaves his lips, Jubokko is twirled in the hand of Nibui before being slammed down into the floor beneath. The blade digs into and embeds itself Into the earth and stone, allowing for the blade to hold itself upright, even so, Nibui's hand remains on the handle, waiting for whatever response the Captain may find suitable.
In the depths of his consciousness, there lingers that oh so familiar voice. A whispered scream that calls out to him, unanswered but growing in it's ferocity with each second passing. While he remains physically unphased, those with a keen perception into the spiritual presence of others might notice something. The bindings that once held the Shinigami back, now halved, allow the release of a frightening Reiryoku and Reiatsu. It is clear that the once perfect control over his Reiryoku now falters here and there, flaring up against his will but still it remains under a strict and refined grasp.

 

[Shinigami]

The situation before them was only getting worse. If she wasn't currently holding their late Captain's body, she would certainly be chipping away at her thumbnail with her teeth. An anxious habit that manifested in very rare situations. Atsuko knew all too well that she was taking a risk as the Guardian of the Seventh by allowing for Sanyu to remain in Kuroari and aid with relief. Yes, there would be more members of their division headed to the district, but this meant nothing in the face of the potential adversity they could face. A Captain-level—no, perhaps even something beyond a Captain-level threat was within their midst. With the hound of the Rukongai gone, she was the prime investigator within the Rukongai. However, she had no time for an investigation within the district itself. What she needed to do was have the body examined by the medical experts within the Fourth Division. From there, she along with Captain Nakamoto could potentially deduce some of the potential scenarios that may have occurred. At this rate, however, that would not be happening anytime soon. Situations such as the ones that they were currently in could not be rushed, but her persistence in asking to get past the gates was something that held merit. Yes, Zen'no was indeed doing his job. In fact, in any other situation, she would not have had an issue with waiting. Despite this, her innate bias towards Captain Asakura continued to manifest itself. Still fresh from her outburst, it would likely take a bit more time for her to regain the rest of her rational thinking.
The only thought on her mind outside of her Captain was - once more - that of Sanyu. A sickening knot continued to tie itself within her stomach. Her anger that had seeped out almost paled in comparison to her worry. Letting another person that was important to her die would only serve to push her over the edge. Although she was worried, what remained of her deduction skills began to quell her racing thoughts. It was unlikely that the target would appear in the same spot so soon. Even if they had left the body there since the time of the last letter the Lieutenant had received, a reappearance would be sloppy. She was confident in her skills when it came to battle, but she was even more confident in her abilities to work well with others in a combat situation. Zen'no's words find themselves echoing throughout her head.
“I am aware of who you are and your purpose, Lieutenant Ise. I apologize for the unfortunate situation, but I regret to inform you that you will be unable to pass through at this time. I am unable to oversee this properly, and with the danger that killed your captain still unknown and existing in the Rukongai, this has become a dangerous situation. You have no knowledge of these whereabouts nor the identity of the spoken offender, you will not pass until a viable escort arrives.”
Audible only to Signy, a click of her tongue had escaped her. An intense amount of frustration began to overcome her. Her attention was diverted by Signy before she herself could respond to the gate guard.
”Was it wise for us to leave Sanyu and the others at the scene? Whomever did this, did manage to kill a captain.”
It wouldn't be wise of the Ise to remain silent. Based on how the Hoshi was conducting herself as they waited, she was nervous - and rightfully so. The braiding of the late man's hair did not bother her, for she knew that this, too, was a nervous habit. At least she dealt with things better than Atsuko had recently. A light tone comes from Atsuko, devoid of hostility and filled with certainty.
"Whoever they are... They are good enough to kill a Captain. As such, they must hold enough intellect to understand that striking twice within such a short period would only lead to them getting caught. For now, Sanyu is safe. We won't keep him in Kuroari for an overextended amount of time. Rest assured, I will ensure his safety."
For a brief moment, her composure had come together entirely. Instead of snapping at her 5th seat, she maintained the sophistication that a Lieutenant had to have. Unfortunately, this composure was fleeting with each passing second. Not to be mistaken for Reiatsu, the Ise Matriarch's Reiryoku begins to swell.
And it begins to...
Grow...
And Grow...
And Grow...
The woman's eyes narrow as she stares at Zen'no, readying herself to take a major risk in order to hasten the rate at which she can achieve answers. However, this is halted entirely by the presence looming in the distance. Judging by its makeup and refined nature, it must be that of a Lieutenant's or higher. Recalling the guard's words, she reaffirms that she was not denied entry permanently. Instead, she had to await an escort. So, then, this must have been them. A second of further inspection revealed that it was Shusuke Kiyoshi—the Lieutenant of the 9th with whom she had spoken to on occasion a few times before. While not friends, they certainly held mutual respect for one another. As he inspected the body briefly, she bore no ill intent. Given his background, an examination of some kind was to be expected. While unlikely, maybe he would notice a detail that she hadn't when she assessed his body back in Kuroari and along the way. What came next would shock her more than anything.
“Excuse me, Lieutenant Atsuko, while I acknowledge your request to re-enter the Seireitei, It would be without my due diligence to ask you what you saw out there? While I cannot say for his internals, did you properly examine your Captain for a potential cause of death? Are you confident that it is even him at all?”
A brief show of surprise had taken over her face. Flabbergasted, to say the least, she nearly felt insulted by the Kiyoshi Lord. Perhaps this concern had risen because of the fact that he did not know about her own deductive prowess. Instead of lashing out, she answered the man. Even while holding back her spiteful words, they were still brazen in nature.
"Lieutenant Kiyoshi... Surely you do not mean to insult me? If anyone knows Captain Asakura's physical anatomy down to the bone, it would certainly be me. For a hundred years I dealt with this man—day in and day out. When I came upon this body, the first thing I did was assess it in order to determine if this was some sort of farce. I assure you that this is, in fact, Itsuki Asakura. I have a few ideas of the cause of death, but unlike those that I intend to have carry out an autopsy in the Fourth Division, I am no expert on various trauma both internal and external."
Pausing briefly, she looked over the man once more before she would answer his initial question.
"As for what I saw... Well, I only saw a district filled with despair and people who have given up on life. Those souls are incapable of caring for themselves, so they certainly would not attack a Captain. And even if they had, no one there was strong enough to carry out and attack and win. The culprit is still at large and nowhere to be found."
They were only extending the amount of time it would take to properly answer the questions they had for her.

 

[Shinigami]

Signy had her attention fully focused on Itsuki’s hair when Atsuko spoke to her about how the person who’d done this was intelligent enough to know not to attack again in such a short window of time. Nodding her head along to her words, the alien feeling of concern that had blossomed within her withered as quickly as it’d arisen. After all Atsuko was right, Sanyu and the others would be fine for now. Without even looking at her lieutenant, and even though she’d made a point to make her tone light and void of hostility, Signy could still tell her emotions were a tumultuous storm inside of her. She’d learned young how to read people’s emotions even if they showed now outward expression of them; one of the few blessings she received by being born a Hoshi she supposed.
The silence grew thick between them as they waited before the gate and within moments the shift happened. Signy’s hands froze mid braid though as she sensed the change in Atsuko’s reiryoku. Instead of saying anything, she just silently observed her lieutenant, waiting for the tipping point. It was sure to come, and when it did, she was ready for it. However, Atsuko’s growing reiryoku was quelled, if only for a moment, by the arrival of their escort.
The tipping point would not arrive, at least, not yet.
Signy’s gaze shot over to the lieutenant that was now approaching them. She recognized this man, even felt in a way that she knew him, even though they’d never met. He was the Kiyoshi that plagued the tales of her husband’s exploits from his time as a criminal. Her lips stretched into a smirk of contempt. Though she did not like this man, she felt almost appreciative to him. If he had ever managed to catch Elk, she would never have met him. However, her dislike of him only grew as he spoke to Atsuko.
“Excuse me, Lieutenant Atsuko, while I acknowledge your request to re-enter the Seireitei, It would be without my due diligence to ask you what you saw out there? While I cannot say for his internals, did you properly examine your Captain for a potential cause of death? Are you confident that it is even him at all?”
Signy’s entire being froze. Had she just heard that correctly? Did he really just call into question their ability to identify their own captain? Her mind floundered for a second and even Shori seemed to have nothing to say about it, leaving Signy to understand that she was just as taken aback by that. Just as she opened her mouth to make a snide remark back at the lieutenant, Atsuko answered his questions, and though she was clearly holding back from snapping at him, Signy could still feel the venom in the way spoke. Her mouth shifted into another smirk, only this time instead of contempt it was due to amusement. Rather than interject anything, she simply folded her hands together behind her back and listened, her knuckles turning white from the pressure with which she squeezed her fingers over each other.
After all, sometimes biding your time is the best course of action.

 

[Shinigami]

Certainly not meaning to offend nor discredit the Lieutenant of Seventh. She was a highly capable and level-headed officer within the Gotei Thirteen, known for her shrewd intellect and abilities with Kido, Atsuko would make a great interim Captain until a proper military power is seated to lead the division. However, today she was overcome with emotion, allowing her judgements and decision making to be ruled by her deep seated feelings she had harbored for her late superior. He wasn’t sure it was love, he was almost positive it wasn’t. But a keen admiration between Captain and Lieutenant. It even made him stop to reflect on his own relationship with his own, but only briefly. Her body language was stiff, and her entire presence seemed to be raw and reactionary. He purposely posed his statement and question in the slight form of a disrespectful tone to have a final gauge on her placement in the situation, obviously hurt and displaying signs of deep anger and sadness, even for those who were able to conceal their true demeanor and mask a completely different personality. ”I now must place extra care in my eyes...because of you, Ensō…” the final thing his friend taught him, in the most unconventional manner. He stole a quick glance to the Seventh’s Lieutenant's subordinate, almost if not more annoyed as the de-facto leader of the division. She tried to hide her feelings well, but not from the impervious perception from Lord Kiyoshi. Atsuko could no longer stay coiled, she soon struck with her words in response to his question.
"Lieutenant Kiyoshi... Surely you do not mean to insult me? If anyone knows Captain Asakura's physical anatomy down to the bone, it would certainly be me. For a hundred years I dealt with this man—day in and day out. When I came upon this body, the first thing I did was assess it in order to determine if this was some sort of farce. I assure you that this is, in fact, Itsuki Asakura. I have a few ideas of the cause of death, but unlike those that I intend to have to carry out an autopsy in the Fourth Division, I am no expert on various trauma both internal and external."
She paused but he digested her words, taking no offence he allowed her to finish her statement.
"As for what I saw... Well, I only saw a district filled with despair and people who have given up on life. Those souls are incapable of caring for themselves, so they certainly would not attack a Captain. And even if they had, no one there was strong enough to carry out and attack and win. The culprit is still at large and nowhere to be found."
He placed a hand along his jawline and scratched at his chin pondering what he had just heard. A killer strong enough to best a Captain…? What were the odds? Furthermore, what is afoot within the Rukongai? Not a century prior, a Garganta scraped itself across the sky and helped lay waste to countless districts and killed many as well as causing distraught across the Seireitei among its own ranked members. A storm was coming, and it would soon be colder than ice. Still in deep thought, the gargantuan guardian of the gate, in an attempt to grab the attention of the raven haired leftenant simply pointed and ’tapped’ the Lord Kiyoshi on his shoulder, but the sheer size of his appendage ended up shoving him forward upon his back. Quickly catching himself, his thoughts broken and stored away for later on. Zen’no wished to speak with the Lieutenant. Walking away from the ladies, and taking to the rear part of the guardian as he shifted his own body to turn and kneel towards his superior to express his concerns.
”Lieutenant, I’ll keep a weather eye out on the Rukongai and report if anything takes place or if any knowledge comes to my ears. For now, it would be best to probably get the body out of the open areas and the eyes of onlookers.”
The best course of action, Shusuke would have to carry out his sleuthing on his escort to the Fourth Division alongside the members of the Seventh. He had already allowed them passage so now he must escort them inside seeing as this is the body of a Captain that is also in transport. He also wondered if the Captain of Fourth or its members would allow the former detective to sit and chime in on certain occurring factors found in the body. He signaled to the two ladies as he peered out front the hulking dark frame of the Western bulwark. Zen’no soon rising to his full and glorious frame, the largest of the giants who kept the gate walked over making the large porcelain like walls of the Hakutomon look like a fence in his visage. Bending down and reaching underneath the crust of the Sekiseki barrier and grabbing hold of the loose opening seamlessly, and almost effortlessly raising the entrance to the gate above his head clearly and clearly to reveal the Seireitei at long last. All with one arm, Zen’no was truly the mightiest of the Four Gate Guardians, his strength always impressed Shusuke. Soon the Ninth Lieutenant gestured to the women to accompany him inside the Seireitei, the importance and speed in which getting the body to a proper coroner is the most paramount objective.
”We’ll talk in more detail within the walls of the Seireitei. Follow me to the Central Seireitei, Lieutenant Ise. Uzu, accompany the subordinate of Seventh to Fourth with the body of the Captain please and report the results of the autopsy to me as well. No stone left unturned, that's a direct order. I trust Uzu greatly Lieutenant, if you have any in your own men, then we should get going.”
His Shunpo immediately was initialized. Taking off towards the Fourth’s barracks, he still remained at a level in which Atsuko’s subordinate could keep up with the both of them. Time was certainly of the essence, not just for him but seemingly across the Seireitei itself. Uzu stayed behind and didn't move a muscle until everyone had departed, taking care of the rear from his Lieutenant. Soon enough they all would have the answers.
Northwest Seireitei ———————————— traveling to ———————————— Central Seireitei

 

[Shinigami]

Northwest Seireitei ———————————— traveling from ———————————— Southwest Seireitei
Hiroka found his way back into the barracks of the Eleventh, his gaze set forward with every step. Originally the plan was trailing along with Shoumetsu to track down the Ninth's Captain, Yasu Yūgure, but it transformed into a brawl within the Sixth's turf. Where it may had been enjoyable to test the strength of the shinigami he had encountered at the Sixth, it overall was a detour that bore no fruit. The battle itself was over swiftly and the Ninth's Lieutenant had trailed off on some matter. He could have tailed him but had decided it wasn't within his interest to continue the chase, leaving that option up to his comrade's own discretion.
The barracks had always been home to the clashing of reiatsu, but there was a presence of two alien forces. The pair were entirely unfamiliar to Hiroka. Was a similar situation to which he had just partaken in occurring here? No, that was unlikely. The pair were at odds with each other and not with any others that were present. He maintained his stride but directed his path right for the sources of the signals.
Once on the scene, the Burst Prince noted a crowd gathered, observing those at the epicenter of the exchange. Their spiritual energies were wild and certainly not yielding in their influence. He pushed through the spectators making his way to the front of the group, fully focused on doing so. While proceeding his attention was ripped away for a second as one of the onlookers bellowed out towards him.
"WATCH WHERE YER GOIN' ASSH-"
The man's aggressive reaction to being shoved aside was cut short as he was met with a leer that was sharper than any blade.
"H-Hiro... Fourth Seat Ikari. My apologies. Go 'head."
The tone in the unseated shinigami changed in that instant as he did not want to have a first hand experience with the living incarnation of wrath.
Hiroka made no verbal response to the male. Instead simply redirecting his optics towards the pair once again. He continued moving onward though It was not long that he was met with another obstruction, a massive rift dividing the impromptu battleground. The tan-skinned male remained on the boundary, standing ahead of the others who were wary of the chasm. Whether it was sheer curiosity to who they were or the adrenaline still pouring through him from the brawl before, it didn't matter, his mind was made up. It was unlikely he'd be met with a civil conversation but he wasn't sure if he even wanted one. He lowered his right hand down upon the sheath of his weapon, tapping the center of his thumb against its tsuba. Hiroka took a moment to note that the Eleventh members did not look as if they dared to cross the divide, let alone get too close to it. It was likely it was created for the sole purpose of ensuring that response.
In a more honed examination of the unfamiliar souls, he caught the presence of a white haori upon one. His eyes narrowed while he took a few steps backward. The male leaned forward as he broke into a sprint and launched himself upwards into the air, clearing the gap in a single bound. The planting on his feet upon the ground came with the eruption of his own monstrous reiatsu, acting as a declaration of his presence. Hiroka kept his grasp on his weapon though his free hand remained limp at his side. It was not within his direct intention to intervene between the pair but likely his entrance came with that risk. He was prepared for whatever the response was as he stood still, allowing for whatever response there was to be had.