-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Everwatchful Oda
In the matter of an instant blood is spilled at the Oki residence, their walkways and buildings are running and stained with the Oki life force. An attack from another clan perhaps? Another Shirogane situation unfolding? No, neither one of these things are the reason the fault of this lies solely, not with the butcher, but the stubbornness of one Honoka Oki. A strange situation unfolded in this compound, the arrival of Second Division, the demands made to bring Honoka and her child before the Captain Commander. However, there were eyes on this situation long before the arrival of the Second Division. From the moment Katsuo Oda arrived at this compound is when
he began to observe, when
he relayed such info to the rest of the clan. Former member of the Twelfth Division, a man whose body is possibly more metal than flesh, and creator of Jigoku no semi
(地獄の蝉, Hell Cicadas) which have a sweet tooth for Jigokuchō and the information they carry, Amida Oda.
His drones follow and watch all three members of the Oda clan within the Gotei Thirteen, within reason. Still a loyalist to the Gotei he does not pry on sensitive matters, things that are meant to remain a secret, such as the halls of the Kido Corps, or what lies within the walls of the Second Division. He is but an uncle keeping tabs on his kin, however there is one problem child, one who seems to be at the center of situations he should never be in, Katsuo Oda. For the likes of Tenzen and Ochitsuki the Cicada do not go unnoticed, even the perceptive eyes of Captain Mukuro may have picked up on them at some point in time as they watched Ochitsuki grow into a fine killer. However, Katsuo would have never noticed these beings mostly due to how he is kept in the dark about the behind the scenes activities of the Oda Clan.
The drones were there when Katsuo was arrested during the Kuchiki Manor events, the drones were there when he subdued a bat hollow and returned it to the Seireitei. They have watched him from the beginning, observing and monitoring his growth from academy to Lieutenant and now they observe as he makes a criminal offense. Amida takes great interest in the blue eyed Oda’s activities as of late, the constant visits to the Oki compound who the Oda pay no mind to. The thread that connects them is one that is ignored and easily forgotten lest someone brings it to the forefront of conversation. Which begs the question, why is Katsuo, a person with no blood ties to the Oki, visiting them? Were the Oki manipulating him to turn against the Oda? Feeding him false truths perhaps? No, these issues would have been easier to understand, something they can handle even but the truth was something they could only observe and not get involved with.
What the Jigoku no semi learned is that the Oki were hiding not only Honoka but her child as well. Lips are at their loosest, guards are at their lowest when people think they are safe and secure. What may soon become public knowledge was learned by the Oda at the same time Katsuo learned the truth, the son of Shobatsu Murasaki. This information sent a chill down Amida’s spine, not because of who the father was but because of the implications. That man was sent to Muken, there was no way the Commander they once knew would fraternize with his subordinates. One of two things may have happened, a birth made possible through mixing of DNA samples or Honoka met with Murasaki in the Muken, a grave offense. Then why did the Oda not report such a thing? Simple, because Katsuo was there, someone who was raised to know and understand how loyal the clan is to the Gotei Thirteen and the Seireitei as a whole. A miscalculation and misjudgment as a whole on the clan assuming the boy would do the right thing, instead he showers them with gifts.
On this day when the veil of comfort was pulled away from Honoka and her child is the same day the Oda feel an inkling of a threat towards themselves. Would Captain Mukuro also threaten the Oda considering Katsuo was there as well? Will the once exiled clan now face execution like their estranged cousins? No chances will be taken and so the formerly exiled clan begin making preparations to save the only unprotected member of their clan who has Oda blood flowing through their veins, Munashii Oda. Her father is clearly not on the list of priorities for obvious reasons. A parade of sorts is formed and sets out to collect the girl and her mother from the third district of the Northern Rukongai.
Kawagishi and her daughter Munashii continue to enjoy their day out together, no true goal in mind, just aimless enjoyment of the nice weather. From a distance a man comes running towards them, he falls and it snags the attention of every citizen in the immediate area. They wonder what's wrong with him and what could he be running from. Someone helps the man up as Kawagishi keeps her daughter close, living in secrecy has put her nerves on edge anytime something out of the ordinary happens. The fatigued man is asked what is wrong and gathering more air into his lungs he shouts for all to hear.
”THEY’RE HERE!!! I THOUGHT THEY NEVER LEFT THEIR DISTRICT BUT THEY’RE HERE!!!”
The Oda
Confusion takes hold of the crowd with the mother backing away slowly with her child, a child who seems anxious and ready for a fight. Soon more people come running, pushing past and through the crowd gathered around the first man. Each of them shouting and screaming about some group arriving and before the mother could run off herself she finally hears the name of who has arrived.
IT’S THEM! THE ODA ARE HERE! RUN! HIDE!”
With the name in the ears of everyone the group quickly breaks apart running into buildings and barricading them and the windows. The only two who remain on the street are Kawagishi and Munashii. No one makes an attempt to help her, they themselves are too fearful to draw up courage to do so. Then, in the distance it is seen, a crimson flag representing blood adorned with a symbol all seem to fear.
While others cowered in fear the two females in the middle of the road only seemed to show happiness and joy. The denizens of the Third District thought them mad for showing such emotions, perhaps fear had clutched them so tightly their emotions have been thrown off. With the sight of the flag comes the sound of marching, two rows of ten soldiers each are first seen through the dust kicked up by the civilians running about, behind these soldiers is a black carriage with red decals. Behind this carriage was another two rows of soldiers. The Oda Clan had descended upon the Third District of Northern Rukongai.
Ordinarily a clan would not go to such lengths to retrieve one of their own, they would move discreetly to collect one of their own and avoid as much attention as possible. But this is the Oda clan, they do not hide, they walk in silence when they choose, fear, oppression and strength are associated with them. “The fear is more potent when they know we don’t lie.” Words from Ten’yuu Oda and it is clear from this small demonstration of military might that those words ring true. Only few noble clans exist with enough gaul to oppose them, the others are forced into shallow whispers as they know what would happen if such words were to reach the ears of the barbaric clan. The procession draws nearer, the stern hardened faces of the Oda soldiers are clear and present for all to see from their haphazardly boarded up windows, like their masters these men will not hesitate to cut down anyone.
Grace of Murder
The small platoon stops, the row of soldiers part and line themselves along the buildings to the left and right as they stare at the doors and windows of the inhabitants. There would be no foolhardy opportunist charging out on this day. The carriage is brought lower to the ground as the men holding it take a knee and the one who steps out is none other than Grace of The Oda herself, Ten’yuu Oda.
The beauty of this woman would be quite captivating if not for the overwhelming murderous intent radiating from her, so potent that it felt as if stealing a glance at her would cost one their life. Despite all of this someone does approach her, running at full speed in fact, this bold individual is no one else but her Granddaughter. The woman with an air of true royalty an dnobility kneels down to meet her granddaughter as they embrace each other with a warm hug. Ten’yuu rises to her feet with Munashii in her arms as Kawagishi approaches,
”It’s so good to see you again mother. Given the grand spectacle I assume our time in isolation is over?”
Ten’yuu laughs, able to grasp what she was saying was nothing more than a joke, she and the family knew why they were separated, Tenzen is a paranoid man, but with good reason. As strong as the Captain of Fifth Division may be, his absolute weakness are his wife and daughter. If used as leverage against him one could manipulate the Oda head to do whatever they want. However as his family now stands before his mother the hope of some rival clan or hostile entity taking them hostage has depleted to almost absolute zero.
”Indeed it has, however not by orders of your husband. Something rather… Tragic, has happened and because of certain stipulations we need to ensure the safety of our own until the storm has passed.”
Kawagishi’s smile fades, even if she was born in the Rukongai and not of noble blood she knows affairs with these clans can get ugly. Whatever happened was enough to make the Oda move out in force to pick them up, clearly they are prioritizing their safety above all else at the moment. Munashii looks at her Grandmother then to her Mother and repeats this a few times before finally asking the question that's been born in her mind.
”What’s going on? Is someone after us?”
Normally a Grandmother would tell the child not to worry, everything will be fine, they wouldn’t clue them in on what was going on. It should be all smiles, pats on the head, and a kiss to the cheek but Ten’yuu isn’t one to mince words, even with her granddaughter.
”We aren’t sure yet, your uncle was somewhere he shouldn’t have been. The ripple effect of that tragedy may reach us at any moment, we have to ensure your safety.”
With a scowl on her face the innocent look of a confused girl fades, there is no doubting the blood that flows in her veins as she speaks her next words.
”If people are after us let’s just kill them. If we kill enough they'll stop coming eventually, right?
The spirit of the girl is enough to elicit a chuckle from her grandmother who sets her down. She casts a smile Munashii’s way then towards Kawagishi.
”I can give more specific details on our trip back to the Manor. I’m sure there are prying eyes and ears on us, even here, however all will become public soon enough. Now, shall we?”
She gestures towards the carriage and the three make their way aboard. The men carrying it rise to their feet, shifting themselves to carry the vessel on their opposite shoulder as they now make their way back towards the First District. The soldiers in the back now take the lead as the others return to formation to follow the procession. In a matter of a few moments they were gone allowing the civilians to return to their normal lives, well not right away. They were shaken terribly, to have the Oda clan parade through your living space is as close as one can get to flirting with death. They are perceived as monsters who will kill just for the fun of it, they strong armed their way into the Central Forty-Six so who's to say they won't use such tactics again to claim something else? The Oda clan, killing to kill again, killing all.
