The calm before the storm was not a brief, silent moment, but instead an expanse of restructuring over the course of three centuries. Three hundred years prior, the Gotei 13- No, the
entire world was completely different. Everyone performed their duties idly, with little to no worry or fear outside of what came naturally in their field of work. They were vulnerable and weak, incapable of predicting, and inherently preparing for an event that would be the damnation of many. The times have shifted, and those who bore witness to the horrors of the past refuse to live in its shadow, ever watchful, ever diligent.
Large, metal doors could be heard unhinging, the iron casting a resounding echo in a large, courtyard-like area. They opened slowly until the entirety of their glowing interior was revealed, the light enough to blind nearby observers who approached its rays with little warning. Watching as the
Senkaimon (穿界門,
World Penetration Gate) opened in their presence were two Tenth Division guardsmen with elongated pikes resembling naginata. They created space between themselves and the spirit gate, avoiding the sway of its doors while preparing to greet whomever had returned. For a moment there was nothing, silence, no noticeable shift in the light or a projection of an oncoming traveler’s silhouette. And then one appeared, large, indistinguishable, and certainly not in the shape of a man. The guardsmen’s posture shifted into one more tense and alert, their shoulders high and stiff as they gripped the shafts of their weapons with arduous palms. Before they could even identify the strange figure, its shadow became more defined, growing closer to the gate’s exit.
THUD
The guards’ faces grew grim, their reshaped asauchi trembling at the same pace as the rest of their body. They’d been momentarily consumed by confusion and fear as the dismembered head of a gargantuan hollow shot through the Senkaimon’s threshold, slamming against the ground with tremendous force and rolling before just barely stopping at their feet. A trail of blood in random splotches—that would soon be their job to clean—followed the head, staining the mimicked cobblestone. One of the pair raised his weapon, his purpose to bring swift justice on what remained of this hollow, slashing its mask, and undoubtedly “ruining” the head. Before his blade could descend completely upon his decapitated foe, a single foot would exit the Senkaimon, before a full figure manifested into Soul Society.
“
K- Kagayaki-Taichou!!”
They bowed in response to his presence, a few other division members flocking into the Senkai-Gate Courtyard just behind the primary living quarters of the seated members. He walked over to the head, still silent, his haori swaying in a faint breeze. He looked down to it in disgust, then over to the guardsman with the same expression, just before two Shinigami exit the gate behind him.
“
Aoi.. Make sure this head gets to the Twelfth Division for research immediatetly, if anyone attempts to stop you, or splits the mask before it’s stabilized, they will personally have to answer to me. Jishii. Get seventh seat Yakimono to give me his report on the abnormal hollow activity in Naruki as soon as possible. And both of you, sheath your blades within these walls.
The two Shinigami listened intently, bowing and then responding to their captain before dispersing to do their individual tasks, each of them concealing their zanpakuto instantly and yelling in unison.
“
Yes, Taichou!
Yes, Taichou!”
They’d vanished that instant, the head gone as well. The guards still hadn’t moved from their bowing position, somehow petrified with fear, embarrassment, or both.
“
You two.. clean this mess up. Now…. Where is Lieutenant Kasumi?”
