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Rancid putrid smells, stings and burns the nose and eyes while darkness temporarily shields those same burning eyes from the horrid sight that awaits those brought into this terrible place, this...hell, otherwise known here as Jaaku Dōtoku (邪悪道徳, “Abandoned Morality”). It is impossible to say if the lack of lighting was intentional, some final act of mercy to prevent their minds from continuing to dwell on what cruel fate awaits them..or was it the opposite? Designed to distort one’s perception of time and length while traveling to further instill a feeling of dread and panic?
Among the sound of whatever liquid found itself dripping onto the ground, were the steps of an individual, one not trained in erasing their presence and silencing their movements. It appeared the compound found itself another guest, for the first time however..this guest was a
willing visitor.
Introductions are made, the master of this damned domain reads off the resume of another to this guest. He does not hide what awaits her here 一 suffering, cruelty unlike any she’s ever seen, ever experienced. The guest speaks and it is the voice of a woman, from the tone of her voice she had spunk, attitude. How long would that fire last before the extinguisher that was Ochitsuki? From her words it was clear something was offered to her; her question was a reasonable assessment of the concoction, a correct one.
SPLASH
The sound of a liquid being sloshed into the face of another, into the face of this woman. The Overseer instructs the other, his voice overriding the sound of crushing, grinding and stirring.
And then the screaming commences
Her voice strained as the high pitch screams bounce along the grotesque walls. The grinding, scraping and stirring continues, unhindered. The steward proceeds to tell the screaming woman just what is going on with her body, listing off the various symptoms almost exactly as they begin taking effect. Words that fall onto deaf ears. The screaming is soon replaced by coughing, then dry heaving and retching. Minutes pass by quickly..quickly for everyone save the hapless woman. Only once she has been cured and brought back from the threshold between life and death does the Oda’s voice come through again. She is offered no time to rest, no time to prepare herself as she is instructed to drink yet another concoction.
When she speaks her voice comes out hoarse, yet the fire, the attitude remains despite having suffered. Perhaps this wasn’t enough to break her, perhaps she was stronger than any of them knew, and so she drinks.
Lingering above, sprawled back almost lazily on a wooden scaffold is Yogen. Kyomu is well aware of the names, faces, voices, reiatsu, families and habits of everyone under his command 一 how then could he be unaware of the Oda’s personality, his dark tendencies? He knew Ochitsuki was something of a wild horse, a rabid dog that would chew anyone and anything down to the bone simply to watch them bleed and suffer, the boy needed to be kept on a leash. Yogen, who was draped overhead, was there to be that leash.
Again he listens to the sounds of the woman’s suffering, the commands issued by Ochitsuki to his attendant after crushing and grinding his next little blend. He allowed her to suffer, enough to where a normal man or woman would welcome death before she was cured of the second vile creation. It was clear that the woman’s defiant nature was tugging at the man’s cruel nature. His programming to obey his Captain had begun its battle with his twisted habits and desires, the desire to break the spirits of those bearing a brave or strong front. It was a habit he didn’t care to hide from her.
SPLAT
’Wha- did she really just spit into creepo’s face? Hardcore’
Yogen glances down at the party from above, his interest piqued as the girl’s defiance still burned strong, almost appearing to have grown stronger as a result of her suffering. While he had initially despised being left behind to play nanny, he was growing increasingly thankful for his current assignment, becoming more amused by the moment.
Stab
The spectating Yogen sits upright as a blade pierces the woman’s stomach. The sound of the Oda’s hand pushing its way into the bloody hole in her stomach causes his eyes to widen as her entrails are pulled out. His eyes widened not out of disgust and horror at the actions of the steward, but rather fear that he had slipped up.
’Fuck, that crazy bastard. Should I intervene? She’s not going to die is she? No, that idiot wouldn’t go too far. The boss said the creep knows not to kill her.’
His mind frantically works to assess and evaluate the situation at hand. The entire time his reiatsu does not waver, remained stomped and suppressed within him along with his presence and his breaths. It is only when he hears Ochitsuki instruct his silent aid that he calms himself. As instructed the disfigured man moves to tend to Himari’s injuries while also purging the poison that corrodes and assaults her body from the inside.
”Spit at me again and I’ll take a rib and you won't be getting it back.”
Yogen has nothing to say. Ochtsuki who was already an unhinged individual to begin with was a terrible pairing with this woman whose fire refused to be doused. If things continued to progress in such a manner, she may very well push Ochitsuki over the edge, causing him to cross the line.
” Why don't you just kill me, hm? That was the plan all along right? Just get it over with. I was stupid to think for even a second that I was going to be welcomed here.
He sighs as he listens to her, his amusement quickly turning into a headache. He found himself back at square one, wishing the Captain had brought him along to the Rukongai instead of sticking him in here. It was times like this that he actually missed Yasu, knowing that she probably would have been the one Ochitsuki was thrown on rather than him. The thought of missing that pink haired brat was enough to give him goosebumps. The next instance Yogen is standing amongst the three, his body acting as a barrier between Ochitsuki and Himari.
”That’s enough Ochitsuki. The boss doesn’t need this girl broken-broken. Geez..you could at least explain to her WHY you’ve gotta go this far.”
He glances into the Fourth seat’s eyes, unwavered by the single red eye he is peering into, or at the tear of blood rolling and trickling down his cheek. He lifts a single brow at the Oda, turning to face the tormented new recruit.
”You’re right, our fourth seat is a crazy son of a bitch. You’ll get used to it.”
He assures her before scratching the back of his skull. He places his hands on his hips and looks her over, his arms then moving to fold over his chest. Its as if he was thinking something over, mulling over whatever thoughts were splashing around in his head before finally choosing to speak again.
”As you might have gathered by now, we’re not like most of the other Divisions in the Gotei 13. While the other squads tend to deal a lot with hollows and the like, our targets are nine times out of ten going to be those who look like you and me.”
He begins his explanation, giving her this time to settle herself and properly recover, while also allowing Ochitsuki to tend to his eye, not that he cared or would even appreciate the gesture.
”Secrets, lies, deception, information and assassination. These are all things we deal with here in the Second Division, and because of that we have to be able to do certain things and endure certain things to get the job done. Ingesting and being exposed to various poisons and toxins to strengthen and build our resistance to them, enduring pain and torture so as to avoid spilling any information should we ever get captured on a job. Hell, it also helps in battle I mean..if you can endure being tortured in this place there’s very little an enemy can do to you that’ll prevent you from being able to continue fighting.”
He lays things out for her one by one, explaining the method to the madness, the logic behind her suffering and torment. It was a cruel world they lived in, a world that the others have the luxury of not knowing or ever having to step foot in. The Onmitsukido not only gaze into the abyss...they immerse themselves in it.
”You weren’t brought here to die, trust me..if the boss wanted you dead...you wouldn’t be here. Though I think its a good idea to shift the training a bit before returning to conditioning your body to more of creep boy’s little mixtures.”
He shifts his gaze back over to the Fourth Seat. A change of pace would be good for him too, help simmer that little psychopathic tic in his head to make sure the job is done more carefully.
”How about we get her familiar with the places on the body she should focus on..for torture and for battle. Won't hurt if we get her familiarized with these things a bit before the boss gets back.”
He turns his back towards Himari, fully facing the Oda. With his back to her she is unable to see Yogen’s lips silently move. Lips forming four little words.
‘Chill. The. Fuck. Out’
Ochitsuki was good at what he did, no..he was
great at what he did, but Yogen certainly didn’t want to have to explain why the newby got mutilated or killed on her first day. What were they supposed to do if Ochitsuki drove the girl into killing herself? He heaved a heavy sigh.
This assignment
really sucked.
Further down within Jaaku Dōtoku lay yet another path. Torches rest along the cold jagged walls, barely illuminating the path ahead. Various cages line each side of, men and women of varying sizes and ages housed within, everyone of them worse for wear. Their bodies appeared thin, nearly malnourished, hardly an inkling of reiatsu felt within their weak forms. The attire of some were that of the shihakusho of shinigami albeit torn and dirty, others appeared to be dressed like Rukon residents from varying districts, and others were clothed in the same attire as the residents of the Nest of Maggots. Truly a melting pot of souls.
Further down lay more rooms, the stench of blood and death choking the very air. The floors and walls were painted with blood, some old...some new, chains and metal bindings dangled loosely from the ceilings and walls, clattering like horrific windchimes from the cold draft blowing through, further carrying the rancid stench of this place to those still alive. A fact known by very few, that there was a floor within the Jaaku Dōtoku that led and connected to the Maggots Nest. This was that floor.
It was a necessity, as the Nest held not only those dangerous for their power, but also for those with dangerous or conflicting ideologies. Sometimes a thought, an idea was more dangerous than a blade or spell. Such individuals were spirited away, escorted to Abandoned Morality to be questioned, tortured and then sent to the nest...and sometimes vice versa.
GRRRRRRrrrrr
A growl, low..deep, guttural echoed down the halls throughout this forsaken floor. It was an inhuman noise that sounded like no Hollow anyone had ever faced, nor did its sound resemble one any recognizable animal would or could make. The people in their cages, sprawled along the ground, slumped against the walls do not move in response to this sound. It is a sound they have grown used to. In the beginning there were some who were terrified the first time they heard it, some having gone mad believing that their captors were keeping some horrible beast locked away that they would eventually be fed to. Over the years and centuries however, with the weakening of their bodies, came the weakening of their reiatsu, followed by the weakening of their spirit and finally their minds. Though they weren’t dead, one could hardly count these people amongst the living.
The walls begin to rock and shake, a weak little quake that quickly dies out. Another occurrence that is not uncommon to those here, or within the compound or Nest. Minutes pass by and then, the entire South Eastern quadrant of the Seireitiei rumbles, the ground rocking and shuddering, the foundation of the barracks and buildings within the quadrant tested. It comes suddenly, forceful in nature knocking those unprepared onto their backs and faces. Before the ground can crack or split, before any actual damage to the buildings or structures can be done...it ceases, and the ground settles once more into a state of calm and stillness.
Further along the floor, through the darkened path that leads from one hell hole to another, entering into the Nest, venturing further into its bowels, lower than almost anyone other than the Captain of Second and the Warden of the nest have ever been is what appears to be a steel door on the ground, bound by several chains. The briefest of investigations will reveal the door to be made up of properties not unlike Sekkiseki, the door leading into a room that is designed as more of a pit than anything, its walls composed of and reinforced with the same material. There is movement inside, indicating that there is a living being locked away. It is known that inside the Maggots Nest the prisoners are mostly free to roam about unchained, and unbound with only a select few ever being locked away. It begs to question then, who this subject was locked away, to demand such measures be taken.
Inside a cell made to completely lock away and weaken one’s spiritual power and pressure, this power instead finds itself pressing against the very walls made to confine it. Though it cannot be felt outside of the pit, its strength is enough to cause the earth to respond to its clash against its prison. Inside the individual lets out a pained and furious roar followed by a single word..no, a single name.
”HA...GE...SHIIIII”
